Fall of the House of Kings is a daily radio soap broadcasting from the wastes of northern Canada. Written and performed by one man, it is both a call for help and a way to stay entertained by it's lone actor, who awaits a rescue that will never come.
Background[]
Fall of the House of Kings is based on the many records, journals and diaries of the Winston clan, an extended family of industrialists and the wealthy. They constructed a luxurious bomb shelter in 2063 during a fad amongst their associates, though doubted they'd ever use it.
The clan changed it's mind on October 23rd, 2077 when sirens blared across the country. Those who were able retreated to the family shelter, which saw eighteen people occupy it when the doors shut. Initially the family survived relatively well, but radiation seeped in from a design flaw, and the family slowly succumbed to radiation poisoning.
The shelter then sat abandoned for two-hundred and nine years, until a lone drifter named Frazier came across it. Curious and needing a place to rest he entered it cautiously, surprised at it's amount of supplies. He also noticed the skeletons, and began to read through their journal's to see what had killed them all.
The records spoke of a sickness, so Frazier assumed he was safe as the residents were long dead. He also discovered a ham radio and their supply of linens and wash-drier set. He was caught unprepared by a stray tornado as he was preparing to leave, forcing him to return to the shelter. The storm pushed debris over the doors of the shelter, as Frazier discovered to his horror.
He went to the radio to call for help, but got no response back. He maintained this approach for three days before giving up, figuring no one was out there. Cabin fever set in within this first week, and he began reading the various diaries in earnest to have something to distract him. Frazier was surprised at how interesting some of the anecdotes wore, especially since he could see the different points of view.
To help pass the time and hopefully attract attention, he made crude scripts and started to read them over the air. While they didn't bring help, the episodes did entertain Frazier who decided to make more over the next few days. This begun the regular program "Fall of the House of Kings." It has so far gone for two seasons, with a two month break between them.
Program[]
The show itself is based off of the records the family kept of themselves, with events like corporate mergers and deals given entire episodes. Each episode has multiple characters, who are played by Frazier himself in different tones. The dialogue is directly quoted when possible, but often improvised based on their personality. The scripts are written a day in advance and looked over several times.
Cast[]
- Philip Winston; the patriarch of the Winston clan, Philip was a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces and member of Parliament. Despite this he eagerly cooperated with the American occupation, catering to soldiers and politicians. This allowed him to gather the funds needed to build the shelter and hopefully keep his family intact, despite him being an philanderer.
- Victoria Winston; Philip's second wife after the death of the first in childbirth, Victoria is devoted to the children, having been in their lives for twenty-ish years. Despite this she is a recovering buffout addict after being in a car crash and having to do rehab. Hates that Philip cheats, but doesn't want lose the children.
- Bruce Winston; Eldest son of Philip and his first wife, he nevertheless thinks of Victoria as his mother. He was a former college wrestling star in the days before the war, though had trouble coming to grips with his homosexual thoughts and orientation. He was one of the few that wanted Linda to join the family in the shelter.
- Miranda Winston; Philip's second child with his first wife, Miranda was a bubbly, happy young woman. She was very close with Victoria and her father, though didn't care for Linda. Miranda had graduated just before the War with a double major in Anthropology and Marketing. She started to develop mental issues after the realization of the nuclear exchange set in, and she thought the world was destroyed.
- Travis Skybird; Miranda's boyfriend at the time of the war and a First Nations Resident of Canada, Travis was generally liked by the family, though most found him boorish. He was going through his second year of Graduate school in political studies, hoping to organize protests to the occupation. He took the nuclear exchange better than Miranda, though he would begin an affair with Linda shortly before the family's death.
- Evan Winston; the only child of Philip and Victoria, Evan was a sickly child in his youth, and was confined to a wheelchair in his teens. Despite or perhaps because of this he excelled in his studies, and was offered full rides to several prestigious universities, but chose to study in Ottawa to remain close to home. He made it to the shelter in time, and was the last to perish from radiation poisoning.
- Linda Winston; Shrill sister of Philip, devoutly religious and seemingly not wanted in the shelter by the rest of the family, though she managed a spot. Was married to an executed partisan, resents Philip for selling out to the occupation.
- Rebecca Winston; Linda's eldest child, Rebecca was quiet and reserved for most of her life due to her parents' religious beliefs. This changed when her father was executed by the occupation, and she left home to join the resistance. While she did not make it to the bunker, she is a minor player in some stories.
- Brett Winston; Linda's Youngest child, Brett was a high school dropout and drunk, who often spent time in the local jail. Despite this he was still liked by the family and entered the shelter with them. He is one of the few who did not keep a journal, though his actions are recorded by the others.
- George Landswhr; Philip's cousin and a reckless alcoholic, George surprised the family when he appeared at the bunker, and was reluctantly let in. He remained in a stupor for a week until he drank all the alcohol he could, and then went through withdrawals and liver failure. His appearances in the family journals are ones marked by pity and dislike, sometimes both at once.
- Marley; The family Butler, Marley's last name is unknown as no one recorded it. He loyally served the family since the 2040s, helping cover up their indiscretions and manage their issues. Marley was also the family confidante, with all surviving journals mentioning everyone seeking his council.