Choice at The Raven — Belzig's Interrogation and the Medallion's Burn

Marion, torn between sentiment and survival, slips Indiana Jones's medallion from its chain but chooses to pocket his cash, leaving the sun-shaped artifact exposed on the bar. Belzig and three brutal henchmen burst in, turning Marion's private decision into an immediate, violent threat: psychological taunting, rough handling and a glowing poker used to torture for the medallion's location. Indy crashes the interrogation with his whip and .45, a firefight ensues, the curtains ignite, and Belzig grabs the medallion — only to be seared by its supernatural heat and driven fleeing through glass. The scene converts the medallion from MacGuffin to active, dangerous force, escalates the Nazi threat, and forces Marion and Indy into open conflict with real, mystical consequence.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

2

Marion, emotionally conflicted, contemplates Indy's money and the medallion, making a decision to keep the money but leave the medallion on the bar.

contemplation to decision ['fireplace', 'bar']

Four Bad Men, led by Belzig, enter the saloon, interrogating Marion about the medallion, escalating the tension.

calm to tension ['saloon']

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

8

Urgent, determined and protective — single-minded focus on rescuing Marion and wresting control from the attackers.

Indy bursts in at the door, cracks his bullwhip to disarm Belzig by yanking the glowing poker away, raises a .45 and opens fire to protect Marion, fights for control of his pistol with the Giant Sherpa, and helps turn the firefight against the attackers.

Goals in this moment
  • rescue Marion and stop the interrogation
  • prevent Nazis from obtaining the medallion
  • survive the firefight and create an escape opportunity
  • regain control of his personal weapon
Active beliefs
  • Marion must be protected at all costs
  • force and surprise can disrupt Nazi plans
  • the medallion cannot fall into Nazi hands
  • quick, physical intervention is preferable to negotiation
Character traits
decisive physically competent protective calm under pressure
Follow Indiana Jones's journey

Torn and fearful at first (tears, hesitation), then pragmatic and fierce — fear gives way to combative resolve when physically attacked.

Marion removes the medallion from its chain, pockets Indy’s cash in a small wooden box, is seized and roughly handled by Belzig’s men, grabs an axe handle and fells the Mongolian, and watches Belzig grab and be burned by the medallion.

Goals in this moment
  • protect what she values (money) to survive
  • avoid exposing the medallion’s location unless forced
  • outlast the interrogation and escape alive
  • use whatever tools at hand to defend herself
Active beliefs
  • money is necessary for survival and bargaining
  • the medallion is dangerous or valuable enough to get her killed
  • she cannot trust the Germans to bargain fairly
  • she can physically defend herself if cornered
Character traits
torn between loyalty and pragmatism resourceful under pressure defiant and quick-thinking viscerally fearful
Follow Marion Ravenwood's journey
Belzig
primary

Cold, cruel and confident initially; then abrupt, agonized panic and desperation when burned by the medallion.

Belzig enters as the sadistic lead, taunts Marion, heats and brandishes a glowing poker as a torture instrument, orders violence, and in the chaos reaches and grabs the medallion — only to be seared and flee through the glass window in agony.

Goals in this moment
  • extract the medallion’s location by torture
  • acquire the medallion personally
  • demonstrate Nazi authority and intimidate Marion
  • return the artifact to his superiors
Active beliefs
  • violence and torture will quickly produce results
  • the artifact is an object of strategic value
  • he is entitled to assert dominance through brutality
  • his men will follow orders without question
Character traits
sadistic impatient instrumental and commanding shocked when supernatural consequence occurs
Follow Belzig's journey
Supporting 5
Second Nazi
secondary

Obedient and alert, then fatal shock and panic when targeted and gunned down.

The Second Nazi flanks Marion, briefly exposes the medallion by drinking whiskey, takes cover during Indy’s entrance, rises with a submachine gun on Belzig’s order and is shot dead when Indy and the Giant Sherpa turn the .45 on him.

Goals in this moment
  • support Belzig’s interrogation
  • help secure the medallion
  • follow orders to suppress threats
Active beliefs
  • obedience to command ensures survival/reward
  • violence is an acceptable tool
  • the group will succeed through coordinated force
Character traits
subservient opportunistic alert disposable as muscle
Follow Second Nazi's journey

Gleeful anticipation while torturing, then surprise and pain when shot.

The Nepalese henchman stands beside Marion watching Belzig torture her with glee, helps restrain her, later draws a Luger and fires before being shot dead by Indy’s .45.

Goals in this moment
  • intimidate and control Marion
  • assist in extracting the medallion’s location
  • demonstrate loyalty to Belzig
Active beliefs
  • brutality is expected and rewarded
  • Marion is expendable
  • the medallion’s acquisition validates their mission
Character traits
cruel eager complicit sadistic delight
Follow Nepalese Henchman …'s journey

Predatory and aggressive until unexpectedly incapacitated by Marion's counterattack.

The Mongolian roughs Marion, moves to surround the bar with a submachine gun, fires blindly during the firefight and is struck unconscious when Marion bashes him over the head with the axe handle.

Goals in this moment
  • intimidate and seize control of the bar
  • help secure the medallion for Belzig
  • use superior firepower to cow resistance
Active beliefs
  • physical force will dominate the situation
  • soft targets like Marion can be controlled easily
  • loyalty to Belzig ensures his protection
Character traits
violent aggressive physically imposing impulsive
Follow Mongolian Henchman's journey
Giant Sherpa
secondary

Alarmed and combative; initially aggressive but rapidly cooperative when recognizing a common threat.

The Giant Sherpa bursts in, tackles Indy and struggles for control of the .45; after realizing Belzig’s intent, he and Indy turn the gun on the Second Nazi, killing him, before being upended by Indy so they can continue fighting amid the flames.

Goals in this moment
  • survive and protect himself in the chaos
  • neutralize immediate armed threats
  • align with whoever offers survival advantage (Indy)
Active beliefs
  • brute force is a primary means of problem-solving
  • alliances shift rapidly in combat
  • survival depends on immediate action
Character traits
fierce powerful reactive primal loyalty
Follow Giant Sherpa's journey
Four Bad Men
secondary

Focused, menacing and confident until their plan collapses under surprise and the medallion’s supernatural effect.

The Four Bad Men function as the squad that storms the saloon: Belzig leads while his three henchmen flank, restrain Marion, threaten with weapons and engage in the firefight; collectively they escalate the scene from intimidation to full-blown violence.

Goals in this moment
  • capture the medallion or extract its location
  • intimidate Marion into cooperation
  • demonstrate Nazi reach and dominance locally
Active beliefs
  • team violence is the most efficient approach
  • their leader's commands are right
  • the mission justifies extreme measures
Character traits
menacing coordinated brutal militarized
Follow Four Bad …'s journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

16
Indy's Sidearm (firearm)

Indy’s .45 Automatic is raised to threaten and shoot at the attackers, used to kill the Nepalese and to try to suppress the Mongolian; it is central to the armed exchange and the struggle for control amid the Giant Sherpa’s intervention.

Before: Concealed on Indy’s person until he draws it …
After: Used in the firefight; remains in play (momentarily …
Before: Concealed on Indy’s person until he draws it during his entrance.
After: Used in the firefight; remains in play (momentarily wrestled over) and is later used until the struggle with the Giant Sherpa ends.
The Raven Saloon Fireplace

The fireplace is the source of the glowing poker Belzig heats and uses as a torture implement; its dying coals are referenced earlier and then become instrumental when Belzig pulls a red-hot poker from it to menace Marion.

Before: A shrinking fire in the hearth; coals hot …
After: Fire contributes to the spreading blaze as curtains …
Before: A shrinking fire in the hearth; coals hot enough to heat the poker.
After: Fire contributes to the spreading blaze as curtains ignite; the fireplace continues as a source of heat amid the chaos.
Saloon Axe Handle (behind bar)

Mahdlo’s heavy wooden axe handle—left at the bar earlier—is snatched by Marion; she uses it as an improvised club to knock the Mongolian unconscious, demonstrating her resourcefulness and converting a leftover prop into an active defensive tool.

Before: Left behind the bar where Mahdlo had placed …
After: In Marion’s hands, having struck the Mongolian who …
Before: Left behind the bar where Mahdlo had placed it.
After: In Marion’s hands, having struck the Mongolian who falls unconscious near the bar.
Raven Saloon Bottles (assorted spirits — counter & shelves)

Assorted spirits and whiskey bottles line the bar and are knocked, spilled and later ignite; one bottle is used by the Second Nazi to drink, momentarily exposing the medallion. Exploding bottles amplify the blaze into a full conflagration.

Before: Stocked on shelves and counters behind the bar …
After: Many bottles shattered or exploded, fueling the fire …
Before: Stocked on shelves and counters behind the bar and in use.
After: Many bottles shattered or exploded, fueling the fire and littering the floor with burning alcohol and glass.
Marion/Indy $5,000 cash (wooden box, beside sun medallion)

Indy’s pile of American money motivates Marion’s choices; she pockets it in a small wooden box to conceal cash and survival resources. The money functions as practical leverage and explains her hesitancy to expose either it or the medallion to the Nazis.

Before: On the bar in a loose pile left …
After: Secured by Marion inside the small wooden box …
Before: On the bar in a loose pile left by Indy.
After: Secured by Marion inside the small wooden box left on the bar.
Marion's Small Wooden Cash Box

Marion retrieves this small wooden cash box from under the bar and uses it to conceal Indy's cash quickly — a pragmatic action that signals her priorities and sets up how she is forced to choose between money and the medallion under threat.

Before: Stored under the back of the bar and …
After: Sits closed on the bar containing the cash …
Before: Stored under the back of the bar and empty.
After: Sits closed on the bar containing the cash Marion put inside.
Neck chain for Indiana Jones's sun-shaped medallion (worn by Marion)

The sun-shaped medallion (represented here by the neck chain object) is slipped from Marion’s chain and left exposed on the bar; it becomes the focal MacGuffin. Belzig ultimately grabs it and is supernaturally seared, which turns the medallion from passive evidence into an active, dangerous force that drives the attackers into retreat.

Before: Resting on the bar beside glasses and bottles …
After: It is torn free from Belzig when it …
Before: Resting on the bar beside glasses and bottles after Marion slides it off the chain; partially obscured by bottles until the Second Nazi exposes it by drinking.
After: It is torn free from Belzig when it sears him, rolls across the floor and ends up on the barroom floor as flames and breaking glass scatter the room.
Submachine gun (The Raven — used by Second Nazi; seized by Mongolian; discarded by Marion)

Second Nazi’s compact submachine gun is used as part of the threatening posture and is raised during the firefight; it’s one of the automatic weapons that turns the bar into a war zone before the Second Nazi is killed.

Before: Shouldered by the Second Nazi as he and …
After: Used in the firefight; its wielder is shot, …
Before: Shouldered by the Second Nazi as he and the Mongolian enter.
After: Used in the firefight; its wielder is shot, and the weapon is left amid the carnage.
Nepalese's Luger

The Nepalese henchman’s Luger is drawn during the firefight to threaten and fire at Indy; it is immediately neutralized when the Nepalese is shot by Indy’s .45.

Before: Holstered on the Nepalese henchman.
After: Fired in the firefight; the wielder is shot …
Before: Holstered on the Nepalese henchman.
After: Fired in the firefight; the wielder is shot and the weapon becomes irrelevant in the chaos.
Belzig's Heated Iron Poker

Belzig’s glowing poker is heated in the fireplace, used as a torture tool to threaten Marion’s face, is torn from his hand by Indy’s whip and is flung into the heavy curtains where it ignites them — directly triggering the room-wide fire.

Before: Red-hot at the hearth in Belzig’s hand, brandished …
After: Thrown into curtains where it starts a spreading …
Before: Red-hot at the hearth in Belzig’s hand, brandished toward Marion.
After: Thrown into curtains where it starts a spreading fire that engulfs part of the bar.
The Raven Bar's Brass Spittoon

A heavy brass spittoon is seized by Indy and used as a blunt instrument to smash the Giant Sherpa’s wrist, freeing the .45 during the melee; an improvised weapon that shifts control in a critical moment.

Before: Sitting on the bar counter.
After: Used in combat; its strike incapacitates the Giant …
Before: Sitting on the bar counter.
After: Used in combat; its strike incapacitates the Giant Sherpa’s grip and the spittoon remains in the wreckage.
The Raven's Heavy Curtains

Heavy curtains on a window catch the thrown hot poker and burst into flame, accelerating the blaze across the ceiling and creating exploding bottles; they convert a local skirmish into a life-threatening inferno.

Before: Hanging and intact over a window, part of …
After: Ignited and burning, spreading fire across the ceiling …
Before: Hanging and intact over a window, part of bar decor.
After: Ignited and burning, spreading fire across the ceiling and causing exploding bottles and falling debris.
Taxidermied Raven (The Raven bar) — concealing a Beretta pistol

The large stuffed raven conceals a Beretta and anchors the shelf Marion reaches toward; it is struck by gunfire and splintering as bullets smash bottles and ricochet during the firefight, adding to the room’s chaos and debris.

Before: Mounted behind the bar as decor, near where …
After: Damaged by gunfire and shrapnel; the concealed Beretta …
Before: Mounted behind the bar as decor, near where Marion reaches for a bottle and the hidden Beretta.
After: Damaged by gunfire and shrapnel; the concealed Beretta remains untouched in this sequence.
The Raven's Tables and Bar Furniture

Wooden bar furniture and tables provide cover, are splintered in the melee, and are used as staging points for combat — Indy crouches behind them, Marion crawls along the bar, and Belzig and his men dive behind them for cover.

Before: Intact as fixtures in the cramped saloon interior.
After: Splintered, overturned and part of the field of …
Before: Intact as fixtures in the cramped saloon interior.
After: Splintered, overturned and part of the field of debris amid the spreading fire and broken glass.
The Raven's Glass Window

The Raven’s glass window becomes Belzig’s escape route after the medallion sears him; he dives through it to flee the burning room, turning the pane into the climactic exit for the antagonist in agony.

Before: Intact, curtained and serving as a secondary exit.
After: Smashed outward as Belzig dives through; shards scatter …
Before: Intact, curtained and serving as a secondary exit.
After: Smashed outward as Belzig dives through; shards scatter into the night.
Indiana Jones's Bullwhip

Indy’s bullwhip is the decisive tool used to disarm Belzig: it wraps around the poker and tears it from Belzig’s grip, sparking the chain of events that lead to the curtains catching fire and the subsequent firefight.

Before: Coiled at Indy’s belt prior to his entrance.
After: In Indy’s right hand after he cracks it, …
Before: Coiled at Indy’s belt prior to his entrance.
After: In Indy’s right hand after he cracks it, immediately following the disarm; retained by Indy through the encounter.

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
The Raven Saloon (Patan, Nepal)

The Raven Saloon is the cramped, intimate battleground where private grief and commerce collide with geopolitical violence. Marion’s personal choices play out on its bar top; the room’s layout channels the interrogation into a single, explosive set piece as fire, furniture and weapons convert the saloon into a deathtrap.

Atmosphere Tense and intimate at first, quickly devolving into chaotic, smoke-choked inferno with urgent, violent sounds.
Function Battleground and crucible—private refuge turned public confrontation and test of survival.
Symbolism Transforms Marion’s sanctuary into a theater of external political power — her personal world is …
Access Normally a public saloon; at night it is sparsely populated and vulnerable—no formal security or …
Dying fireplace whose poker becomes a torture implement Rows of liquor bottles that spill and explode when ignited Heavy curtains and yak-skin bunting that rapidly catch and spread fire Cramped wooden tables, bar counter, mounted stuffed raven and a glass window that becomes Belzig’s escape

Organizations Involved

Institutional presence and influence

1
Nazis (general organizational force)

The Nazis manifest through Belzig and his henchmen as the organized coercive force seeking the medallion. Their presence turns a local dispute into an operational extraction — they use intimidation, torture and firearms to secure artifacts for the Reich, exposing the reach and brutality of the organization in civilian spaces.

Representation By the collective action of armed operatives led by Belzig (on-the-ground squad), employing symbols of …
Power Dynamics Exercising coercive authority over Marion and the bar — attempting to dominate the scene through …
Impact This scene demonstrates the Nazi organization’s willingness to use brutal, extrajudicial means in pursuit of …
Internal Dynamics Hierarchical: Belzig directs operative actions and expects obedience; the henchmen follow but display varying initiative …
acquire the medallion (artifact) for strategic or intelligence value extract information about Dr. Jones and the artifact’s whereabouts intimidate locals and assert Nazi reach into foreign territories physical force and torture (glowing poker, restraints) firearms and military-style squad tactics intimidation and psychological pressure chain-of-command orders and obedience to leaders like Belzig

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

No narrative connections mapped yet

This event is currently isolated in the narrative graph


Key Dialogue

"BELZIG: "The same thing your friend Dr. Jones wanted. Surely he told you there would be other interested parties.""
"MARION: "No. But I know where it is.""
"INDY: "Hello.""