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{{Infobox Story SMW
{{Infobox Story
|image = Taren Capel cover.jpg  
|name= Taren Capel
|range = Kaldor City (audio series)
|image=Taren Capel cover.jpg  
|number in range= 4
|series= [[Kaldor City (audio series)|Kaldor City]]
|number= 4  
|main character= [[Kaston Iago]]
|main character= [[Kaston Iago]]
|featuring= [[Kiy Uvanov]]<br />[[Carnell]]<br />[[Ander Poul|Paullus]]<br />[[Layly Landerchild|Landerchild]]
|featuring= Kiy Uvanov
|featuring2= Carnell
|featuring3= Paullus
|featuring4= Layly Landerchild
|enemy= [[Taren Capel]]
|enemy= [[Taren Capel]]
|setting= [[Kaldor City]], [[2890]]
|setting= [[Kaldor City]], [[2890]]
|writer= [[Alan Stevens]]
|writer= Alan Stevens
|director= Alan Stevens
|director= Alan Stevens
|producer= Alan Stevens
|producer= Alan Stevens
|publisher= Magic Bullet Productions  
|publisher= Magic Bullet Productions  
|release date= [[March (releases)|March]] [[2003 (releases)|2003]]
|release date= March 2003
|format= 1 CD, 60 minutes
|format= 1 CD  
|production code= KC004  
|production code= KC004  
|isbn= ISBN 
|isbn= none
|series = ''[[Kaldor City (audio series)|Kaldor City]]'' audio stories
|prev= Hidden Persuaders (audio story)
|prev= Hidden Persuaders (audio story)
|next= Checkmate (audio story)
|next= Checkmate (audio story)
}}
|epcount = 1
'''Taren Capel''' is the fourth audio play in the [[Kaldor City (audio series)|Kaldor City]] series. Written by [[Alan Stevens]], it focuses on [[Kaston Iago|Iago's]] attempt to get to the bottom of a scheme apparently instigated by [[Taren Capel]] before his death.
}}{{audio stub}}
{{you may|Taren Capel|n1 = the Character}}
'''''Taren Capel''''' is the fourth audio play in the ''[[Kaldor City (audio series)|Kaldor City]]'' series. Written by [[Alan Stevens]], it focuses on [[Kaston Iago|Iago]]'s attempt to get to the bottom of a scheme apparently instigated by [[Taren Capel]] before his death.


== Publisher's summary ==
== Publisher's summary ==
Line 53: Line 58:
* Tarenist 3 - [[Jim Smith]]
* Tarenist 3 - [[Jim Smith]]
* [[Yardley]] - [[Alistair Lock]]
* [[Yardley]] - [[Alistair Lock]]
* [[Danl Packard|Packard]] - [[Nicholas Courtney]]
* [[Daniel Packard|Packard]] - [[Nicholas Courtney]]
* [[Zala Vance|Zala]] - [[Jasmine Breaks]]
* [[Zala Vance|Zala]] - [[Jasmine Breaks]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
=== Individuals ===
=== Individuals ===
* [[Carnell]] considers himself and [[Kaston Iago|Iago]] to be "con-men".
* [[Carnell]] considers himself and [[Kaston Iago|Iago]] to be "con-men".
* Carnell once spent 3 weeks researching ‘The Butcher of Zircaster’, whom Iago killed.
* [[Layly Landerchild|Landerchild]] is a senior member of a powerful [[founding family]], and a prominent member of the Company board. He owns several properties.
* [[Layly Landerchild|Landerchild]] is a senior member of a powerful [[founding family]], and a prominent member of [[The Company]] board. He owns several properties.
* [[Bextor]] was found dead at his place of residence.
* Iago and [[Justina Kessel|Justina]] are no longer in a romantic relationship.
* Justina has been having bad dreams of "nothing that makes sense".
* Some commentators say [[Kiy Uvanov|Uvanov]] is only a interim chairholder of 'The Company' board.
* [[Bextor]] was found dead at his place of residence. He is thought to have died of auto-erotic asphyxiation, involving a piece of fresh fruit. In truth, he was killed to prevent him from incriminating Landerchild further with [[The Larson Project]] scandal.
* [[Cotton]] is working directly for Landerchild to aid in undermining Uvanov.


=== Objects ===
=== Objects ===
* [[Stenton Rull|Rull]] gives [[Kiy Uvanov|Uvanov]] a painting, from him and "the lads", of a "snake-like creature". The painting is 200 years old, by an artist named [[Wallbank]]. It was confiscated. Rull suggests Uvanov hang it behind his desk to “intimidate visitors”.
* Rull gives Uvanov a painting by an artist named [[Wallbank]].
* The [[Tarenists]] hardware comes from [[Waste Disposal]].
* The [[Tarenist]]s hardware comes from [[Waste Disposal]].
* An industrial winch was needed in order to get Rull into the emergency vehicle.
* [[Carnell]] has taken [[Kaston Iago|Iago's]] ship to escape [[Kaldor City]]. Uvanov is surprised Iago has a ship.


=== Company Central ===
=== Company Central ===
* Over the last few weeks [[Kaston Iago|Iago]] has been going through the [[divisional archive]].
* Over the last few weeks Iago has been going through the [[divisional archive]].
* [[Taren Capel|Taren Capel’s]] skull and his diary recordings, are stored in the archive room.
* Rull executes "Emergency Plan 4a" as the [[company central]] building is overrun by Tarenist rebels.
* [[Kiy Uvanov|Uvanov’s]] new office has top of the line secutiry, full communication array, and a massive desk in front of a prism glass window. Its refurbishments took a long time to complete due Iago's security suggestions, which included an electrified carpet and fighting fish.
* The [[Tarenists]] attack company central. The plan is to crash an armoured personel carrier through the main gate and into the front of the building, this has apparently been attempted before.
* [[Stenton Rull|Rull]] executes 'Emergency Plan 4a' as the [[company central]] building is overrun by Tarenist rebels.
* The entirety of the company central building is destroyed.
 
=== Tarenists ===
* The [[Tarenists]] believe [[Taren Capel]] will return from the dead.
* A number of secular anti [[robot]] groups have joined the Tarenists.
* [[Ander Poul|Paullus]] is the head of [[The Church of the Taren Capel]] cell. If Paullus is captured the entire Tarenist network will be at risk.
* The Tarenists refer to Taren Capel's diary recordings as his 'last testament'.
* The Tarenists are used by [[The Company]] as a means of social control.


=== Storm Mine Four ===
=== Storm Mine Four ===
* [[Storm Mine Four]] was eight months into the tour of the desert. There were 9 crew members aboard at the time of the [[Storm Mine]] murders. It's been 10 years since then.
* [[Storm Mine Four]] was eight months into the tour of the desert when the murders happened. It had 9 crew members aboard at the time.
* The surviving crew memebers reported that towards the end [[Taren Capel]] dressed himself as a [[robot]].
* Only a select few know about the Storm Mine murders; the official story was they were attacked by [[ore raider]]s.
* Aboard Storm Mine Four, Taren Capel was engaging in a two phase process to turn fully inhibited [[Voc]] and [[Supervocs]] into programmed killers. Phase one involved physically altering the central cortex with a [[laserson probe]] and creating a 'secondary command channel'. Phase two concerned the transmission of a specially designed program to modify the robots basic operational software.
* Taren Capel's diary recordings were recovered from Storm Mine Four.  
* Only a select few know about the Storm Mine murders, the official story was they were attacked by [[ore raiders]].


=== Taren Capel ===
=== Taren Capel ===
* [[Kaston Iago|Iago]] was at data retrieval researching [[Taren Capel]].
* Iago reviews Taren Capel's diary recordings. These concern:
* Iago reviews Taren Capel's diary recordings. These concern:
** [[Borg]], who Capel describes as "small minded, obsessive and petty".
** [[Borg (The Robots of Death)|Borg]], who Capel describes as "small minded, obsessive and petty".
** [[Kiy Uvanov|Uvanov’s]] relationship with [[Zilda]].
** Uvanov's relationship with [[Zilda]].
** [[Ander Poul|Poul’s]] behaviour, how he supects Poul of being an agent for [[The Company]], and how Poul is showing early signs of [[robophobia]].
** Poul's behaviour, how he suspects Poul of being an agent for the Company, and how Poul is showing early signs of [[Grimwade's Syndrome|robophobia]].
** Uvanov playing chess with [[Voc 9|V9]], and how [[Chub]] was taunting Borg about a Voc therapist in [[Kaldor City]].
** Uvanov playing chess with [[Voc 9|V9]], and how [[Chub]] was taunting Borg about a Voc therapist in [[Kaldor City]].
** Iago observes from the diary extracts that Taren Capel is "calm, controlling, manipulative, egocentric, [and] likes to play chess with people."
** The diary recordings are found to be blank when acquired by the [[Tarenists]].
* Taren Capel was raised by [[robot]]s. In his adult life he became a recluse shunning all human contact. 'The Company' indulged him because he was a robotic genius way ahead in his field, and part of the company’s own robot development program.
* Before turning up on [[Storm Mine Four]], Taren Capel had been missing for 6 weeks.
* [[Ander Poul|Paullus]] believes Taren Capel loved humanity and hated robots.
* Uvanov mentions how Taren Capel was strangled to death by a robot.


=== Robots ===
=== Robots ===
* [[Robophobia]] is endemic in all [[robot]] based societies, [[Kaldor City]] is no exception. It manifests itself in persons with an extreme sensitivity to the physical signals through which all animals, humans included, convey information about their emotional states. Robots lack this 'body language' and consequently it inspires a phobic reaction.
* [[Grimwade's Syndrome|Robophobia]] is endemic in all [[robot]] based societies, [[Kaldor City]] is no exception.
* [[Carnell]] believes [[Taren Capel]] suffered from 'robopohiba', and as such it was the driving principal of Capel's exsistance. In extreme cases the sufferer begins to identify with the cause of the phobia. Capel's belief he was freeing the robots from slavery stemmed from his fear of them.
* [[Voc 31|V31]], associated with [[Carnell]], is a fully programmed domestic [[Voc]] class robot with additional secretarial functions.
* [[Kiy Uvanov|Uvanov’s]] considers Cotton to be "so stupid he’d lose an argument with a dum class robot".
* [[Kaston Iago|Iago's]] other professional qualification, beside an assassin, is robot programmer.
* [[Voc 31|V31]], associated with [[Carnell]], is a fully programmed domestic [[Voc]] class robot with additional secretarial functions. It was first programmed at the east [[Kaldor]] construction centre 6 years and 10 months ago. It’s last upgrade took place on 09/01/90.
* There are 8 million people in Kaldor City, with a total current population of 15 million worldwide. There are 14 million robots.
* Taren Capel's trigger phrase to activate the killer robots is capable of passing like a virus from robot to robot. Within a few hours of its release every Voc, [[Supervoc]], and [[Dum]] in Kaldor City will be infected.
* 10 years is enough time for almost the entire robot population of Kaldor City to have been upgraded.


=== Chess ===
=== Chess ===
* [[Chess]] boards are manufactured in [[Kaldor City]].
* [[Chess]] boards are manufactured in [[Kaldor City]].
* The ancient Indo-European peoples of [[Earth]] have often been said to have a five fold social classification. It is represented in many of the artefacts of their descendants such as in the chess board:
** The Ruling class are represented by the King and Queen.
** The Warrior class by the Knights.
** The Priestly class by the Bishops.
** The Merchant (or Provider) class are represented in distorted form by the Rooks.
** The Menial class by the Pawns.
*** Few people realise this theory is wrong. The Indo-European peoples actually had a four fold system of social classification. The Rulers and the Menials, both of whom are outside normal society, are one and the same. The positive and negative aspects of a single social class. Hence why Pawns become Queens, and why Kings move in much the same way as Pawns do.  
* [[Carnell]] plays chess with [[Voc 31|V31]]:
* [[Carnell]] plays chess with [[Voc 31|V31]]:
** V31 has the white pieces, meaning he has the first move, which Carnell considers to be the advantage. As the game progresses Carnell deduces the pieces represent:  
** V31 has the white pieces, meaning he has the first move, which Carnell considers to be the advantage. As the game progresses Carnell [[deduce]]s the pieces represent:
*** White King's Knight is [[Elska Blayes|Blayes]].  
*** White King's Knight is [[Elska Blayes|Blayes]].
*** Black King's Rook is [[Company Central]].  
*** Black King's Rook is [[Company Central]].
*** Black King is [[Kiy Uvanov|Uvanov]].  
*** Black King is [[Kiy Uvanov|Uvanov]].
*** Black King's Knight is [[Stenton Rull|Rull]].  
*** Black King's Knight is [[Stenton Rull|Rull]].
*** Black King's Bishop is Carnell.
*** Black King's Bishop is Carnell.
*** Black Queen's Knight is [[Kaston Iago|Iago]].
*** Black Queen's Knight is [[Kaston Iago|Iago]].
*** Black Queen's Bishop is V31.
*** Black Queen's Bishop is V31.
*** White King is [[Taren Capel]].
*** White King is [[Taren Capel]].
*** Carnell suspects the white and black Queens to be one and the same.
** V31 moves King's Knight to King's Knight 6. Carnell [[deduce]]s this means the [[Tarenist]]s are attacking "Company Central".
** V31 takes a couple of hours contemplating its first move of King’s Knight to King’s Bishop 3.
** Carnell's first move is Queen’s Knight to Queen’s Bishop 3.
** V31's second move is King’s Knight to Queen 4.
** Carnell decides his second move is Queen’s knight takes... However he is interrupted by V31 who instructs his second move to be Queen’s Knight to King 4.
** V31 moves King’s Knight to King’s Knight 6. Carnell deduces this means the [[Tarenists]] are attacking 'Company Central'.
** Carnell: Bishop to Queen 3.
** V31: King’s Knight takes King’s Rook.
** Carnell: King’s Knight to Kings Bishop 3. V31 predicts this means the [[Tarenists]] are out of Uvanov’s control.
** V31: King’s Knight to King’s Knight 6. Carnell deduces this means Blayes is returning to base.
** Carnell attempts to move a Pawn to Rook 4. However, V31 informs him that is an incorrect move. V31 suggests Carnell’s next move is Black Queen’s Knight to Queen 2. At this point, Uvanov knocks all the pieces off the board declaring game over. V31 restores the chess pieces to the board, but in doing so changes the position of some of the pieces. V31 explains the game has moved on. Carnell observes the White Queen’s Knight and the White Queen’s Bishop haven’t moved all game: a warrior and a priest in some form of allegence.
** Carnell attempts to move a Pawn to Queen’s Rook 4. However, again V31 informs him this to be an incorrect move. V31 suggests the next move should be Black Queen’s Knight to Bishop 1. (Foretelling Iago’s attempt on Carnell’s life.) Carnell observes this to be an illegal move.
* After Carnell has fled [[Kaldor]], Iago notices that the Black Bishop is now missing from the chess game, he suspects Carnell has taken it with him.
 
=== Allusions ===
* "That the problem with ambition, it's a useful servant but a terrible master." – [[Carnell]] quotes American author {{w|Laura Ingalls Wilder}}.


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
* During [[Kaston Iago|Iago]] and [[Carnell|Carnell's]] conversation about [[Taren Capel]], Iago seems to be drawing a comparison between Carnell and Capel's behavior. Likewise, Carnell seems to be drawing a comparison between Iago and Capel's behavior.
* ''Taren Capel'' is set one month after the previous instalment, ''[[Hidden Persuaders (audio story)|Hidden Persuaders]]''.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/kaldorcity/posts/pfbid02ARmBGoPkexoNuFdX4QnYEYXipb93YxVpNZuaiVqibB6MVWUHkKJnYeYZcvGRRerzl Magic Bullet Productions on Facebook: "A firm timeline for the events of Kaldor City."]</ref> The third edition of [[Mad Norwegian Press]]' reference work ''[[AHistory]]'' dates the story's events to the year [[2890]].
* During [[Kaston Iago|Iago]] and [[Carnell]]'s conversation about [[Taren Capel]], Iago seems to be drawing a comparison between Carnell and Capel's behaviour. Likewise, Carnell seems to be drawing a comparison between Iago and Capel's behaviour.
* The copyright notice printed on the CD release of this production states: "Unauthorised copying, hiring, renting, public performance and broadcasting is strictly prohibited or [[Voc 31|V31]] will strangle you."
* The copyright notice printed on the CD release of this production states: "Unauthorised copying, hiring, renting, public performance and broadcasting is strictly prohibited or [[Voc 31|V31]] will strangle you."
* This story was part of a recording block that also consisted of: [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Hidden Persuaders (audio story)|Hidden Persuaders]]'', and [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Checkmate (audio story)|Checkmate]]''.<ref>[http://www.radiodramarevival.com/the-true-history-of-magic-bullet-an-interview-with-alan-stevens-producer-of-kaldor-city-and-faction-paradox-part-1-of-2/ The True History of Magic Bullet: An interview with Alan Stevens, producer of Kaldor City and Faction Paradox. (Part 1 of 2)]</ref>
* This story was part of a recording block that also consisted of ''[[Hidden Persuaders (audio story)|Hidden Persuaders]]'', and ''[[Checkmate (audio story)|Checkmate]]''.<ref>[http://www.radiodramarevival.com/the-true-history-of-magic-bullet-an-interview-with-alan-stevens-producer-of-kaldor-city-and-faction-paradox-part-1-of-2/ The True History of Magic Bullet: An interview with Alan Stevens, producer of Kaldor City and Faction Paradox. (Part 1 of 2)]</ref>
* [[David Bailie]] reprises his role as Taren Capel from [[TV]]: ''[[The Robots of Death (TV story)|The Robots of Death]]''. Bailie had given up acting and had only started up again just a few months before series producer [[Alan Stevens]] contacted him. <ref>[http://www.radiodramarevival.com/the-true-history-of-magic-bullet-an-interview-with-alan-stevens-producer-of-kaldor-city-and-faction-paradox-part-1-of-2/ The True History of Magic Bullet: An interview with Alan Stevens, producer of Kaldor City and Faction Paradox. (Part 1 of 2)]</ref>
* [[David Bailie]] reprises his role as Taren Capel from ''[[The Robots of Death (TV story)|The Robots of Death]]''. Bailie had given up acting and had only started up again just a few months before series producer [[Alan Stevens]] contacted him. <ref>[http://www.radiodramarevival.com/the-true-history-of-magic-bullet-an-interview-with-alan-stevens-producer-of-kaldor-city-and-faction-paradox-part-1-of-2/ The True History of Magic Bullet: An interview with Alan Stevens, producer of Kaldor City and Faction Paradox. (Part 1 of 2)]</ref>
* Two specially recorded audio trailers were released to promote this story, both in the form of a short monologue, as read in character, one by [[Paul Darrow]] as [[Kaston Iago|Iago]]<ref>[http://www.kaldorcity.com/audio/tarentrailer.mp3 'Taren Capel' Trailer 1: Iago]</ref>, and the other by [[David Bailie]] as [[Taren Capel]].<ref>[http://www.kaldorcity.com/audio/tarentrailer2.mp3 'Taren Capel' Trailer 2: Taren Capel]</ref>
* In preparation for writing this story, Stevens had the moves to the chess game worked out in detail, including several moves that don't appear in the finished script.<ref>[http://www.kaldorcity.com/features/articles/tcchessgame.html Tournament of Shadows: The ''Taren Capel'' Chess Game]</ref> The equivalents of the chess pieces not stated by Carnell are as follows:
* In preparation for writing this story, Stevens had the moves to the chess game worked out in detail, including several moves that don't appear in the finished script.<ref>http://www.kaldorcity.com/features/articles/tcchessgame.html</ref> The equivalents of the chess pieces not stated by Carnell are as follows:
** White Queen's Rook is [[Layly Landerchild|Landerchild's]] Residence
** White Queen's Rook is [[Layly Landerchild|Landerchild's]] Residence
** White Queen's Knight is [[Cotton (Occam's Razor)|Cotton]]
** White Queen's Knight is [[Cotton (Occam's Razor)|Cotton]]
Line 167: Line 116:
** White King is Taren Capel
** White King is Taren Capel
** White King's Bishop is [[Ander Poul|Paullus]]
** White King's Bishop is [[Ander Poul|Paullus]]
** White King's Rook is [[The Church of Taren Capel]]  
** White King's Rook is the [[Church of Taren Capel]]
** Black Queen's Rook is [[Kiy Uvanov|Uvanov's]] Residence
** Black Queen's Rook is [[Uvanov's]] Residence
** Carnell correctly speculates that the White and Black Queens are one and the same, and are confirmed to be [[Fendahl]]/[[Justina Kessel|Justina]], foreshadowing her fate in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Checkmate (audio story)|Checkmate]]''.
** Carnell correctly speculates that the White and Black Queens are one and the same, and are confirmed to be [[Fendahl]]/[[Justina Kessel|Justina]], foreshadowing her fate in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Checkmate (audio story)|Checkmate]]''.
** Although the Black Queen's Bishop is stated in the play to be V31, it is in fact again Paullus, mirroring his role as the White King's Bishop.
** Although the Black Queen's Bishop is stated in the play to be V31, it is in fact again Paullus, mirroring his role as the White King's Bishop.
* Two specially recorded audio trailers were released to promote this story, each in the form of a short monologue read in character. One was by [[Paul Darrow]] as [[Kaston Iago|Iago]],<ref>[http://www.kaldorcity.com/audio/tarentrailer.mp3 ''Taren Capel'' Trailer 1: Iago]</ref> and the other was by [[David Bailie]] as [[Taren Capel]].<ref>[http://www.kaldorcity.com/audio/tarentrailer2.mp3 ''Taren Capel'' Trailer 2: Taren Capel]</ref>
* The CD cover art was designed by [[Andy Hopkinson]].
* The CD cover art was designed by [[Andy Hopkinson]].
* The third edition of [[Mad Norwegian Press|Mad Norwegian Press']] reference work ''[[AHistory]]'' gives a year of [[2890]] for the events of this story.
* Two specially recorded audio trailers were released to promote this story, both in the form of a short monologue, as read in character, one by [[Paul Darrow]] as [[Kaston Iago|Iago]]<ref>[http://www.kaldorcity.com/audio/tarentrailer.mp3 'Taren Capel' Trailer 1: Iago]</ref>, and the other by [[David Bailie]] as [[Taren Capel]].<ref>[http://www.kaldorcity.com/audio/tarentrailer2.mp3 'Taren Capel' Trailer 2: Taren Capel]</ref>
* The CD cover art was designed by [[Andy Hopkinson]].
* The third edition of [[Mad Norwegian Press|Mad Norwegian Press']] reference work ''[[AHistory]]'' gives a year of [[2890]] for the events of this story.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* [[Kiy Uvanov|Uvanov]] is given a painting of a [[Fendahl#Fendahleen|Fendahleen]] painted by [[Wallbank]], foreshadowing the emergence of the [[Fendahl]] in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Checkmate (audio story)|Checkmate]]''. Justina's portrait of the red pentagram in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Occam's Razor (audio story)|Occam's Razor]]'' is also by Wallbank.
* [[Uvanov]] is given a painting of a [[Fendahl#Fendahleen|Fendahleen]] painted by [[Wallbank]], foreshadowing the emergence of the [[Fendahl]] in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Checkmate (audio story)|Checkmate]]''. Justina's portrait of the red pentagram in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Occam's Razor (audio story)|Occam's Razor]]'' is also by Wallbank.
* [[Carnell]] mentions [[Kaldor City]] is being manipulated and used by something very powerful that has existed for millions of years which has become part of them all. This also foreshadows the emergence of the Fendahl in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Checkmate (audio story)|Checkmate]]''.
* [[Carnell]] mentions [[Kaldor City]] is being manipulated and used by something very powerful that has existed for millions of years which has become part of them all. This also foreshadows the emergence of the Fendahl in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Checkmate (audio story)|Checkmate]]''.
* The bad dreams Justina has been having of "nothing that makes sense" forshadow her place as the Fendahl core in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Checkmate (audio story)|Checkmate]]''.
* The bad dreams Justina has been having of "nothing that makes sense" forshadow her place as the Fendahl core in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Checkmate (audio story)|Checkmate]]''.
* The play closes with a grand piece of misdirection, with [[Kaston Iago|Iago]] managing to convince Uvanov of the danger of the killer robots, and with the killer robots being activated: this created expectations the following plays would deal with a robot-destroyed city. Instead, in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Checkmate (audio story)|Checkmate]]'', this threat is neutralised relatively simply using extracts from [[Taren Capel|Taren Capel's]] diaries.
* The play closes with a grand piece of misdirection, with [[Kaston Iago|Iago]] managing to convince Uvanov of the danger of the killer robots, and with the killer robots being activated: this created expectations the following plays would deal with a robot-destroyed city. Instead, in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Checkmate (audio story)|Checkmate]]'', this threat is neutralised relatively simply using extracts from [[Taren Capel]]'s diaries.
* The story saw the apparent departure of Carnell from the series, although the character may have possibly returned in the following play: it is likely, however, the version of Carnell in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Checkmate (audio story)|Checkmate]]'' was a projection of Iago's mind and/or the Fendahl rather than the actual psychostrategist.  
* The story saw the apparent departure of Carnell from the series, although the character may have possibly returned in the following play: it is likely, however, the version of Carnell in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Checkmate (audio story)|Checkmate]]'' was a projection of Iago's mind and/or the Fendahl rather than the actual psychostrategist.
* The events of [[TV]]: ''[[The Robots of Death (TV story)|The Robots of Death]]'' occurred "ten years ago".
* The events of [[TV]]: ''[[The Robots of Death (TV story)|The Robots of Death]]'' occurred "ten years ago".
* Waiting for the best possible moment to make himself known in a disaster is a technique Uvanov also described in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Corpse Marker (novel)|Corpse Marker]]''.
* Waiting for the best possible moment to make himself known in a disaster is a technique Uvanov also described in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Corpse Marker (novel)|Corpse Marker]]''.
* [[Ander Poul|Paullus]] states how he met Taren Capel on [[Storm Mine Four]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Robots of Death (TV story)|The Robots of Death]]'')
* [[Ander Poul|Paullus]] states how he met Taren Capel on [[Storm Mine Four]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Robots of Death (TV story)|The Robots of Death]]'')
* The characters of [[Zilda]], [[Borg]] and [[Chub]] are mentioned. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Robots of Death (TV story)|The Robots of Death]]''.)
* The characters of [[Zilda]], [[Borg (The Robots of Death)|Borg]] and [[Chub]] are mentioned. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Robots of Death (TV story)|The Robots of Death]]'')
* Iago made the security suggestions for Uvanov's residence in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Occam's Razor (audio story)|Occam's Razor]]''.
* Iago made the security suggestions for Uvanov's residence in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Occam's Razor (audio story)|Occam's Razor]]''.
* Iago and [[Justina Kessel|Justina's]] romantic relationship began in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Occam's Razor (audio story)|Occam's Razor]]''.
* Iago and [[Justina Kessel|Justina's]] romantic relationship began in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Occam's Razor (audio story)|Occam's Razor]]''.
* The character of [[Voc 31|V31]] previously appeared in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Occam's Razor (audio story)|Occam's Razor]]''.
* The character of [[Voc 31|V31]] previously appeared in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Occam's Razor (audio story)|Occam's Razor]]''.
* Uvanov's office was previously destroyed in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Occam's Razor (audio story)|Occam's Razor]]''.
* Uvanov's office was previously destroyed in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Occam's Razor (audio story)|Occam's Razor]]''.
* [[The Larson Project]] is revealed to have been Uvanov scheme to discredit [[Layly Landerchild|Landerchild]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Hidden Persuaders (audio story)|Hidden Persuaders]]'')
* The [[Larson Project]] is revealed to have been Uvanov scheme to discredit [[Layly Landerchild|Landerchild]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Hidden Persuaders (audio story)|Hidden Persuaders]]'')
* The character of [[Bextor]], who is announced to have died, previously appeared in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Hidden Persuaders (audio story)|Hidden Persuaders]]''.  
* The character of [[Bextor]], who is announced to have died, previously appeared in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Hidden Persuaders (audio story)|Hidden Persuaders]]''.
* Carnell plays chess with a robot. As did Uvanov in [[TV]]: ''[[The Robots of Death (TV story)|The Robots of Death]]'', and as will [[Elska Blayes|Blayes]] in [[TV]]: ''[[Storm Mine (audio story)|Storm Mine]]''. In the [[Blake's 7]] episode ''Weapon'', from which the character originates, Carnell boasts how he has beaten the best chess computer available 6 times in a row.
* Carnell plays chess with a robot. As did Uvanov in [[TV]]: ''[[The Robots of Death (TV story)|The Robots of Death]]'', and as will [[Elska Blayes|Blayes]] in [[TV]]: ''[[Storm Mine (audio story)|Storm Mine]]''. In the ''[[Blake's 7]]'' episode ''Weapon'', from which the character originates, Carnell boasts how he has beaten the best chess computer available 6 times in a row.
* 'The Butcher of Zircaster' whom Iago is said to have killed refers to the {{w|Blake's 7}} villian {{w|Travis}}. This name was given in the charity audio {{wi|The Mark of Kane}} to the character, whom Avon shot dead in the television series. It suggests Kaston Iago is in fact {{w|Kerr Avon}} from [[Blake's 7]] going for his own reasons under an assumed name. As do several other pieces of information given in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Occam's Razor (audio story)|Occam's Razor]]''. [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Metafiction (audio story)|Metafiction]]'' plays with the listener’s expectation of this idea.


== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.kaldorcity.com/audios/taren.html Official website]
{{magicbullet|taren.html}}
* {{dwrefguide|kaldor04.htm|Taren Capel}} 
* {{randomstatic|kaldor-city-taren-capel/}}
{{dwrefguide|kaldor04.htm|Taren Capel}} 


== Footnotes ==
== Footnotes ==
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{{reflist|1}}
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[[Category:2003 audio stories]]
[[Category:2003 audio stories]]
[[Category:Kaldor City series]]
[[Category:Kaldor City audio stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 23rd century]]
[[Category:Stories set in 2890]]
[[Category:Stories that crossover with non-DWU series]]
[[Category:Kaldor android audio stories]]

Latest revision as of 20:16, 3 November 2024

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Taren Capel is the fourth audio play in the Kaldor City series. Written by Alan Stevens, it focuses on Iago's attempt to get to the bottom of a scheme apparently instigated by Taren Capel before his death.

Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

"The man was a maniac. Now he's a dead maniac. How can a corpse be a threat?"

Strange times have come to Kaldor City. A long-vanished prophet speaks again; a plot is uncovered hinting at corruption among the Founding Families. Even the robots on which the city depends might hold secrets that no one dares imagine.

Carnell must pit himself against an unseen adversary in a game which may bring him face to face with the dead...

Kaldor City - Taren Capel uses characters and concepts from Chris Boucher's Doctor Who novel Corpse Marker to tell a sinister tale of awakening evil.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

(in order of appearance)

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Carnell considers himself and Iago to be "con-men".
  • Landerchild is a senior member of a powerful founding family, and a prominent member of the Company board. He owns several properties.
  • Bextor was found dead at his place of residence.

Objects[[edit] | [edit source]]

Company Central[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Over the last few weeks Iago has been going through the divisional archive.
  • Rull executes "Emergency Plan 4a" as the company central building is overrun by Tarenist rebels.

Storm Mine Four[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Storm Mine Four was eight months into the tour of the desert when the murders happened. It had 9 crew members aboard at the time.
  • Only a select few know about the Storm Mine murders; the official story was they were attacked by ore raiders.

Taren Capel[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Iago reviews Taren Capel's diary recordings. These concern:
    • Borg, who Capel describes as "small minded, obsessive and petty".
    • Uvanov's relationship with Zilda.
    • Poul's behaviour, how he suspects Poul of being an agent for the Company, and how Poul is showing early signs of robophobia.
    • Uvanov playing chess with V9, and how Chub was taunting Borg about a Voc therapist in Kaldor City.

Robots[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Robophobia is endemic in all robot based societies, Kaldor City is no exception.
  • V31, associated with Carnell, is a fully programmed domestic Voc class robot with additional secretarial functions.

Chess[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Chess boards are manufactured in Kaldor City.
  • Carnell plays chess with V31:
    • V31 has the white pieces, meaning he has the first move, which Carnell considers to be the advantage. As the game progresses Carnell deduces the pieces represent:
      • White King's Knight is Blayes.
      • Black King's Rook is Company Central.
      • Black King is Uvanov.
      • Black King's Knight is Rull.
      • Black King's Bishop is Carnell.
      • Black Queen's Knight is Iago.
      • Black Queen's Bishop is V31.
      • White King is Taren Capel.
    • V31 moves King's Knight to King's Knight 6. Carnell deduces this means the Tarenists are attacking "Company Central".

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Taren Capel is set one month after the previous instalment, Hidden Persuaders.[1] The third edition of Mad Norwegian Press' reference work AHistory dates the story's events to the year 2890.
  • During Iago and Carnell's conversation about Taren Capel, Iago seems to be drawing a comparison between Carnell and Capel's behaviour. Likewise, Carnell seems to be drawing a comparison between Iago and Capel's behaviour.
  • The copyright notice printed on the CD release of this production states: "Unauthorised copying, hiring, renting, public performance and broadcasting is strictly prohibited or V31 will strangle you."
  • This story was part of a recording block that also consisted of Hidden Persuaders, and Checkmate.[2]
  • David Bailie reprises his role as Taren Capel from The Robots of Death. Bailie had given up acting and had only started up again just a few months before series producer Alan Stevens contacted him. [3]
  • In preparation for writing this story, Stevens had the moves to the chess game worked out in detail, including several moves that don't appear in the finished script.[4] The equivalents of the chess pieces not stated by Carnell are as follows:
    • White Queen's Rook is Landerchild's Residence
    • White Queen's Knight is Cotton
    • White Queen's Bishop is Landerchild
    • White King is Taren Capel
    • White King's Bishop is Paullus
    • White King's Rook is the Church of Taren Capel
    • Black Queen's Rook is Uvanov's Residence
    • Carnell correctly speculates that the White and Black Queens are one and the same, and are confirmed to be Fendahl/Justina, foreshadowing her fate in AUDIO: Checkmate.
    • Although the Black Queen's Bishop is stated in the play to be V31, it is in fact again Paullus, mirroring his role as the White King's Bishop.
  • Two specially recorded audio trailers were released to promote this story, each in the form of a short monologue read in character. One was by Paul Darrow as Iago,[5] and the other was by David Bailie as Taren Capel.[6]
  • The CD cover art was designed by Andy Hopkinson.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Uvanov is given a painting of a Fendahleen painted by Wallbank, foreshadowing the emergence of the Fendahl in AUDIO: Checkmate. Justina's portrait of the red pentagram in AUDIO: Occam's Razor is also by Wallbank.
  • Carnell mentions Kaldor City is being manipulated and used by something very powerful that has existed for millions of years which has become part of them all. This also foreshadows the emergence of the Fendahl in AUDIO: Checkmate.
  • The bad dreams Justina has been having of "nothing that makes sense" forshadow her place as the Fendahl core in AUDIO: Checkmate.
  • The play closes with a grand piece of misdirection, with Iago managing to convince Uvanov of the danger of the killer robots, and with the killer robots being activated: this created expectations the following plays would deal with a robot-destroyed city. Instead, in AUDIO: Checkmate, this threat is neutralised relatively simply using extracts from Taren Capel's diaries.
  • The story saw the apparent departure of Carnell from the series, although the character may have possibly returned in the following play: it is likely, however, the version of Carnell in AUDIO: Checkmate was a projection of Iago's mind and/or the Fendahl rather than the actual psychostrategist.
  • The events of TV: The Robots of Death occurred "ten years ago".
  • Waiting for the best possible moment to make himself known in a disaster is a technique Uvanov also described in PROSE: Corpse Marker.
  • Paullus states how he met Taren Capel on Storm Mine Four. (TV: The Robots of Death)
  • The characters of Zilda, Borg and Chub are mentioned. (TV: The Robots of Death)
  • Iago made the security suggestions for Uvanov's residence in AUDIO: Occam's Razor.
  • Iago and Justina's romantic relationship began in AUDIO: Occam's Razor.
  • The character of V31 previously appeared in AUDIO: Occam's Razor.
  • Uvanov's office was previously destroyed in AUDIO: Occam's Razor.
  • The Larson Project is revealed to have been Uvanov scheme to discredit Landerchild. (AUDIO: Hidden Persuaders)
  • The character of Bextor, who is announced to have died, previously appeared in AUDIO: Hidden Persuaders.
  • Carnell plays chess with a robot. As did Uvanov in TV: The Robots of Death, and as will Blayes in TV: Storm Mine. In the Blake's 7 episode Weapon, from which the character originates, Carnell boasts how he has beaten the best chess computer available 6 times in a row.

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ Magic Bullet Productions on Facebook: "A firm timeline for the events of Kaldor City."
  2. ↑ The True History of Magic Bullet: An interview with Alan Stevens, producer of Kaldor City and Faction Paradox. (Part 1 of 2)
  3. ↑ The True History of Magic Bullet: An interview with Alan Stevens, producer of Kaldor City and Faction Paradox. (Part 1 of 2)
  4. ↑ Tournament of Shadows: The Taren Capel Chess Game
  5. ↑ Taren Capel Trailer 1: Iago
  6. ↑ Taren Capel Trailer 2: Taren Capel
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