Reprobate Brotherhood

Reprobate Brotherhood is a play by the Dynastic playwright Cynis Bei, one of his earlier works. It was adapted not from the classical Shogunate sources that inspire most of the Scarlet Empire’s theatre, but from the Magistrate adventure novels popular amongst the citizen and lower patrician classes.

Plot

Reprobate Brotherhood begins with the death of one of the Imperial Magistrates, who is investigating the source of illegal Guild heroin being smuggled into the Realm by a corrupt official (who has yet to be identified). As is standard on a magistrate’s death, all of his archons are immediately scheduled for execution.

While most accept this fate, two archons declare that before they die they must solve their Magistrate’s last case and bring the heroin smuggler to justice. When their execution is delayed (though never stated in the play, this would only have occurred with a nod directly from the Scarlet Empress), they set out to use their contacts amongst the Realm’s citizens and criminals to solve the case.

There is a great deal of violence, with several swordfights, burning buildings, and a final dramatic showdown as the corrupt official attempts to flee on a schooner filled with Guild mercenaries that must be chased and boarded by the archons and a Merchant Marine cutter for a last duel.

The play ends with both archons being rewarded for their service by a summons to stand before the Scarlet Empress and be named Magistrates themselves.

Production

While the dramatic use of essence effects that characterize Bei’s later plays cannot be seen in the script for Reprobate Brotherhood, it does call for complex mundane effects including stone troughs and structures leading through the audience and across the stage, that can be filled with burning oils to add drama to certain scenes.

Reception

Reprobate Brotherhood received little acclaim amongst Dynastic critics, who looked down on the low-class origins of the tale, the positioning of two low-born mortals as protagonists (wasting the talents of skilled actors), and an excess of battle scenes with pointless flame effects. As V’neef Mahara stated after a performance, the play was “The worst sort of bland and formulaic Magistrate tale, and when audience readies to depart in disgust, lord Bei clashes some swords and lights some fires to keep them in their seats a few moments longer.”

The play was, however, popular amongst soldiers and citizens, with House Nellens and House Cathak both sponsoring several repeat performances over the years.