by Kati Evans
Here is the full production script for Week 12, Day 4.
To ensure this fills the 30–60 minute window, the Storyteller portion is a suspenseful interrogation drama. I have also included an interactive segment called "The Truth Trap" to teach the audience the subtle (and dangerous) art of answering without answering—the only survival skill a slave has.
Special Instruction: You must copy the "Part 2: The Story" section into a Notecard named Script: The Price of a Secret and give it to your Guest Speaker (or perform it yourself) before the event.
📜 SECOND LIFE SCRIPT: WEEK 12, DAY 4
Event: The Storyteller ("The Price of a Secret") Host: Kati Evans Guest Performer: The Storyteller (Guest or Kati) Target Duration: 40–50 Minutes
🟢 PRE-EVENT CHECKLIST
[ ] Rez the Stage. (Props: A chair for the storyteller, maybe a ledger or scroll on the podium).
[ ] The Storyteller: Ensure they have the script notecard.
[ ] 1:00 PM: Start formal RP. Announce 5-minute gathering.
🎤 PART 1: THE INTRODUCTION (Kati)
(Walk to the podium. Look stern. Keep hands clasped behind back.)
[Chat Block 1] /me steps onto the stage. She does not smile. The topic today is too dangerous for humor. "Tal, Citizens. Welcome to Day 4 of The Circle."
[Chat Block 2] "We have spoken of the Hand and the Leg. Today, we speak of the Tongue."
[Chat Block 3] "Law 6.3.7 is absolute: 'Slaves may not lie.' If a slave is caught in a falsehood, the penalty is Death. Not a whipping. Death."
[Chat Block 4] "But this creates the ultimate nightmare for a slave. What if your Master orders you to lie? What if Loyalty demands silence, but the Law demands speech?"
[Chat Block 5] "Today, our Storyteller brings us the tale of 'The Price of a Secret.' It is the story of Eleni, a girl who thought her loyalty would save her. She was wrong."
/me steps down and takes a seat near the fire, gesturing for the Storyteller to take the chair.
📖 PART 2: THE STORY (For the Guest Speaker)
(Give this text to your Storyteller. They should paste one block at a time, allowing 15-20 seconds for the audience to read and visualize.)
[Block 1] /me sits in the storyteller's chair, wringing their hands nervously. "Eleni was the personal slave of Merchant Varon. Varon was a wealthy man, but he had a vice: He hated paying the City Tax on his imported wine."
[Block 2] "One night, Varon received a shipment of twenty casks of Turian Red. He did not register them. He hid them in the cellar beneath the slave quarters. He told Eleni: 'If anyone asks, we have received no shipments this month. Do you understand?'"
[Block 3] "Eleni nodded. 'Yes, Master. No shipments.' She loved Varon. She wanted to be a good girl."
[Block 4] "Two days later, the Tax Collectors arrived. They were accompanied by two Guards. They had a tip. They banged on the door."
[Block 5] "Varon was out at the market. Eleni opened the door. She bowed low. The Head Collector looked at her. 'Girl, we are looking for a shipment of Turian wine. Has your Master received any casks this week?'"
[Block 6] "Eleni's heart hammered. She remembered Varon's command. She looked at the Collector's eyes. She made her choice."
[Block 7] "'No, Master,' she said clearly. 'We have received no shipments. The cellar is empty.'"
[Block 8] "The Collector narrowed his eyes. 'Are you certain? Lying to an Official is a death offense, girl.'"
[Block 9] "Eleni trembled, but she held firm. 'I am certain, Master. Varon has bought nothing.'"
[Block 10] "The Collector pushed past her. 'Search the house,' he ordered. The Guards tore the house apart. It took them ten minutes to find the false floor in the slave quarters."
[Block 11] "They pulled up the wood. There sat twenty casks of Turian Red."
[Block 12] "When Varon returned home, he found the Guards waiting. He was arrested for Tax Evasion. He shouted, 'I will pay the fine! It was an oversight!'"
[Block 13] "But the Collector pointed to Eleni, who was kneeling in the corner, weeping. 'And what of her?' the Collector asked. 'She looked me in the eye and lied to protect your crime.'"
[Block 14] "Varon tried to speak, but the Collector drew his sword. 'A Merchant who cheats pays a fine,' he said. 'But a slave who lies is broken machinery.'"
[Block 15] "They did not even take her to the jail. They executed her on the doorstep of the house she tried to protect. Varon lost his wine. Eleni lost her life. Loyalty to the Master does not override Loyalty to the Truth."
(The Storyteller bows/nods.)
🎤 PART 3: THE ANALYSIS (Kati Returns)
(Walk back to the podium.)
[Chat Block 16] /me stands and nods to the Storyteller. "A hard lesson. Eleni died because she confused Obedience with Law."
[Chat Block 17] "A slave must obey her Master... unless he commands her to break the High Law. If he commands her to kill the Ubar, she must refuse. If he commands her to lie to the City, she must refuse."
[Chat Block 18] "She is Property, yes. But she is Registered Property. She belongs to the City first, and the Master second."
🤥 PART 4: THE TRUTH TRAP (Interactive Game)
[Chat Block 19] /me leans forward. "I want to teach the slaves here—and the Masters who command them—how to survive this trap. It is the art of Evasion."
[Chat Block 20] "I will give you a question. You tell me what the slave should say to survive."
[Scenario 1] "Scenario 1: The Master is inside with a mistress. His Wife comes to the door. She asks the slave: 'Is my husband inside?' If the slave says 'No,' she lies (Death). If she says 'Yes,' she is whipped by the Master. What does she say?" (WAIT 30 SECONDS. Look for answers like "He is unavailable.")
[Chat Block 21 - The Answer] "Verdict: THE NON-ANSWER. She says: 'Master commanded that he is not to be disturbed.' or 'I cannot open the door, Mistress.'"
[Chat Block 22] "She states the Command, not the Fact. She does not say where he is; she says what her orders are. It is the only path through the fire."
[Scenario 2] "Scenario 2: A Guard asks a slave: 'Did your Master steal this bread?' The slave saw him do it. If she says 'Yes,' she betrays him. If she says 'No,' she dies. What does she say?" (WAIT. Answer: SILENCE or "I am just a slave.")
[Chat Block 23 - The Answer] "Verdict: FEIGNED IGNORANCE. She says: 'I am just a slave, Master. I do not know the business of free men.' Or she says: 'I did not see.' (If she can get away with it)."
[Chat Block 24] "But if the Guard presses her? If he demands the truth under torture? She must speak. The Truth outweighs the Master. It is better to be whipped for betrayal than beheaded for perjury."
❓ PART 5: Q&A SEGMENT
[Chat Block 25] "I will take questions now regarding Lying, Secrets, or the Master's Command."
(Signal PLANT A)
[PLANT A QUESTION] (Plant asks): "Mistress! Is a 'White Lie' illegal? If a slave tells me my hair looks good when it is messy, can I execute her?"
[Chat Block 26 - Answer] /me rolls her eyes slightly. "Legally? Law 6.3.7 makes no distinction between big lies and small lies."
[Chat Block 27] "However... a Master who executes his slave for flattering him is a fool who destroys his own wealth. The Magistrate will not stop you, but your neighbors will laugh at you. Save the executioner for crimes that matter."
(Signal PLANT B)
[PLANT B QUESTION] (Plant asks): "Mistress, can a slave lie to another slave? Or does the law only apply to Free People?"
[Chat Block 28 - Answer] /me nods. "The Law protects The Free. If a slave lies to another slave, it is a domestic dispute. The City does not care."
[Chat Block 29] "However, a lying slave is a broken tool. If she lies to her kennel-mate, she will eventually lie to you. Curb the habit early."
🏁 THE CLOSING
[Chat Block 30] /me smooths her robes. "We have survived the Week of Conduct. We have learned to keep our hands off weapons, our fists at our sides, and our tongues truthful."
[Chat Block 31] "Next week is the end. Week 13: The Grand Review."
[Chat Block 32] "We will discuss Slavers and their ledgers. We will discuss the horror of the Poison Slave. And on Friday... we will have our Graduation."
[Chat Block 33] "Those who have attended faithfully will receive the Seal of the Enlightened Citizen. Do not miss it."
[Chat Block 34] "Thank you to our Storyteller. The Circle is closed!"
(Signal Crier/Slave to end.)
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