The Narrator
Livber character sheet: a voice whose survival depends on keeping Elbek inside the story.
The Narrator keeps Elbek inside the story.
The Narrator is a disembodied voice that controls what Elbek perceives and keeps the story repeating. He addresses Elbek directly as “you,” describes his surroundings and sometimes dictates what he must do. He is an unseen antagonist whose existence depends on the narrative continuing.
His survival depends on the story continuing.
Elbek must stay in the loop. The Narrator treats him as a piece of meat that can be moved through the story. When Elbek resists, the voice loses its composure. The White Room in Act 2 exposes how afraid he is of a story that can end without him.
His speech changes as he loses control.
- In control: he describes the world with certainty and uses rhetorical questions to steer Elbek. “In the East, from Livber's grounded ships...”
- Challenged: the descriptions give way to commands. “You won't be able to do that.” Then: “GO TO THE DOOR NOW!”
- Losing control: he starts talking about the work of keeping Elbek alive and asks what will remain of him if the story ends. “I've worked to keep you alive.” “What meaning will remain if I'm gone?”
Elbek’s resistance threatens the Narrator’s control.
Elbek increasingly questions the reality the Narrator presents. Characters such as Leigea, who try to awaken Elbek and break the cycle, threaten the Narrator's control. He needs Elbek to continue moving, but each demand makes his intervention harder to hide.