Stacy

Can you stand?

Caelwyn

Probably.

Stacy

That’s not what I asked.

(Caelwyn looks toward the collapsed tunnel.)

Caelwyn

No.

Stacy

Then don’t.

Caelwyn

I have to.

Stacy

Why?

Caelwyn

They’re still out there.

(A long silence.)

Stacy

Caelwyn…

you’re bleeding.

Your hands are shaking.

You can barely breathe.

Caelwyn

I know.

Stacy

You’re frightened.

Caelwyn

I know.

Stacy

Then stop pretending you’re all right.

(He looks away.)

Caelwyn

I’m not all right.

Stacy

I know.

Caelwyn

I’m tired, Stacy.

Stacy

I know.

Caelwyn

No.

I’m tired of getting back up.

Every time we survive something…

there’s another ruin.

Another cult.

Another impossible thing waiting behind another door.

(His voice breaks.)

Caelwyn

What if I don’t have another fight left in me?

(Stacy sits beside him.)

Stacy

Then don’t fight.

Caelwyn

What?

Stacy

Not yet.

Sit here.

Cry if you need to.

Be angry.

Be afraid.

Caelwyn

And then?

Stacy

Then we find out whether you can stand.

(Silence.)

Caelwyn

And if I can’t?

Stacy

I’ll help you.

Caelwyn

And if I fall again?

Stacy

I’ll help you again.

Caelwyn

How many times?

Stacy

As many as it takes.

(Caelwyn wipes his eyes.)

Caelwyn

People always talk about courage as if courageous people don’t break.

Stacy

They’re confusing courage with stone.

Caelwyn

Stone doesn’t feel pain.

Stacy

Exactly.

Caelwyn

Stone doesn’t cry.

Stacy

No.

Caelwyn

Stone doesn’t get frightened.

Stacy

No.

(She offers him her hand.)

Stacy

Stone doesn’t get back up either.

(Caelwyn looks at her hand.)

Caelwyn

Again?

Stacy

Again.

He takes it.

He tries to stand.

His injured leg gives way.

Stacy catches him.

Caelwyn

Damn it!

Stacy

Again.

Caelwyn

Stacy—

Stacy

Again.

He pushes himself upward.

His hands shake.

His eyes are still wet.

He is not healed.

He is not fearless.

He is not suddenly strong.

But this time…

he stands.

Caelwyn

I’m still broken.

Stacy

Yes.

Caelwyn

You could at least disagree.

Stacy

Why?

(She smiles.)

Stacy

Broken…

isn’t the same thing as finished.

A faint buzzing comes from the shattered window.

A rain-soaked bumblebee rests on the stone sill.

Its wings move.

Once.

Nothing.

Again.

The tiny insect lifts—

drops—

then tries once more.

And flies into the rain.

Caelwyn

It doesn’t know if it’ll make it.

Stacy

Neither do we.

Caelwyn

And it flies anyway.

Stacy

So do we.

(Caelwyn looks toward the collapsed tunnel.)

Stacy

Is that courage?

Caelwyn

No.

Stacy

Then what is it?

Caelwyn

Maybe…

that’s the Inner Fire.

Stacy

What?

Caelwyn

Not something that stops us from breaking.

(He takes one painful step.)

Caelwyn

Something that reminds us…

there is still something worth getting up for.

🎲 PLAY EPIC. FEEL THE STORY.

Game: Pulp Cthulhu
Campaign: Mythveil Chronicles
Theme: August · Inner Fire · The Fire That Gets Back Up

The heroes of Pulp are supposed to be tough.

But perhaps we’ve misunderstood what toughness means.

It isn’t never falling.

It isn’t never crying.

It isn’t pretending nothing hurts.

Sometimes courage is sitting among the wreckage, frightened and exhausted, admitting that you cannot do this anymore…

and discovering that something inside you still whispers:

Again.

And sometimes your own fire isn’t enough.

Then someone sits beside you.

Takes your hand.

And keeps the flame for you until you can stand again.

Because being broken and being finished are two very different things.

👉 https://startplaying.games/gm/dunchan

Explore the complete dialogues, research, history, psychology and philosophy behind Inner Fire, Pulp Cthulhu and the living worlds of Mythveil Chronicles.

👉 https://www.patreon.com/c/mythveilchronicles_bydunchanhuntergames