SEASON 1, EPISODE 9

Opens at Mahoa docks. Felden army gearing up and preparing to sail. Lucan sits on the pier looking out at a ship in the harbor. He swings his legs over the edge.

NIIKA

I wish you wouldn’t sit so close to the edge.

Lucan slides back a bit onto the pier.

LUCAN

Is that better?

Niika sits down beside Lucan.

NIIKA

Much better.

They sit together for a moment, both too shy to start conversation.

NIIKA

You never told me you’ve been to prison.

LUCAN

Yeah… it’s not something I share often.

NIIKA

What’d you do?

LUCAN

Ehh it was… I mean it wasn’t really anything-

NIIKA

Did you kill someone?

LUCAN

What? No! I just have a tendency to… get into trouble. I’m not like Kiyoshi, who knew exactly what he wanted to be all his life. I just can’t see myself working a normal job… the same routine every single day. I’m probably not making any sense…

Niika is a bit surprised that they can relate again.

NIIKA

No, I know what you mean. Even before I hunted the Necromancers… I never really fit in with society. I think… I was-

Kiyoshi’s voice interrupts.

KIYOSHI

Hurry it up, Lucan! We’re ready to sail… unless you’d rather swim.

Lucan stands up and looks down at Niika.

LUCAN

Well… I guess this is it. It was nice getting to know you Niika.

Niika stands up as well.

NIIKA

Yeah… likewise.

They stand for a moment with their arms awkwardly at their sides.

LUCAN

Alright, well, goodbye.

Lucan begins leaving.

NIIKA

Be safe.

Lucan walks almost out of sight, and looks back once more at Niika. Their eyes meet and they each smile. He then disappears and boards the ship.

Cuts to the bow of the ship, Alec is looking over the edge. Kiyoshi approaches and Alec stands at attention.

ALEC

Captain Kiyoshi, sir!

KIYOSHI

At ease, soldier.

Kiyoshi walks to the railing beside Alec and they both look out over the ocean.

KIYOSHI

As a Felina, I can understand being fearful of the oceans, but I suspect this is not what troubles you, Alec.

ALEC

No sir. It’s just… defending against undead and rooting out bandits is one thing, but this…

Alec trails off.

KIYOSHI

This is greater.

ALEC

These undead are coordinated, armed, and ruled by that dangerous psychopath they call the Necrolord.

KIYOSHI

I’ve been serving Felden ever since my grandfather was Captain of the Guard.I was half your age and expected to become the next Captain after… my father. How long have you been in the military?

ALEC

Only three years, sir.

KIYOSHI

In those three years you’ve had more training than any of these Necromancer scum. When we find this Necrolord, I’ll kill him myself and the rest will falter. If you obey my orders and remember your training, we will sail to victory today.

Kiyoshi pats Alec on his shoulder. Alec smiles a bit.

ALEC

Yes, sir.

Alec salutes, and the music rises as a few ships sail out towards Mt. Tempus.

Cuts to Sendaria. Senn’s village is still in ruins, but the fire has settled. There are dead Ardoni still around.

Some Sendaris scouts are seen looking over the place, one of them picks up some of the debris and looks it over trying to piece together what happened.

Music rises and cuts to a funeral, night time. Many Sendaris and a few other clan members are gathered. We see some Sendaris bodies being carried, including Thalleous.

They are buried, and stones are placed above their graves, flat with the grass. The Sendaris master arrives with his staff and touches each stone, and the markings of the dead Ardoni appear on the stone, glowing brightly in the night.

Scene cuts to a small cave where many Ardoni are meeting. The four Ardoni masters and some others are gathered around talking.

ZULIUS KALTARIS

Unbelievable! This is unprecedented! All four Ardoni clans were attacked- one village each, all dead. Slaughtered.

MASTER SIDERIAN MENDORIS

Not just any villages either… they were after the Prime Songs.

They pause a moment to let this sink in.

GALADAR MENDORIS

Many times has Thalleous Sendaris warned of this, and because of his efforts the Prime Songs are safe from the Voltaris… for now.

HADION MENDORIS

Do not be so hasty Galadar, we are not certain this tragedy was the work of the Voltaris. It may have been bandits… or the Unyielding Legion. I have also heard about a Necromancer group rising in the west.

GALADAR MENDORIS

Then what will we do?

MASTER SIDERIAN MENDORIS

As much as it pains me, I must concede with our previous judgement. We are too weak to attack, and we risk too much.

The Nestoris Master walks out from the side and speaks.

MASTER AURELIUS NESTORIS

Long has it been an honor for us masters to light the graves of our dead… so that their markings may shine forever. But the stones we lit today did not signify the passage of elders concluding long life. Today we buried innocents− massacred by an enemy we no longer have the strength or courage to repel. 

They all bow their heads, some in reverence, others in shame.

ZULIUS KALTARIS

Master Aurelius speaks wisely. I will go forth against the Voltaris.

They all turn towards Zulius.

ZULIUS KALTARIS

Thalleous warned us of a Voltaris attack on the Prime Songs… and the attack came. Before moving them, he told me that the Voltaris were on Mount Velgrin where they killed a companion of his- Hawken. I am no master, and I have no partner in life. I will do what I must to eliminate the Voltaris once and for all.

MASTER SIDERIAN MENDORIS

*worried* What you propose would bring our clans to war.

Galadar steps in.

GALADAR MENDORIS

Master Siderian… we face an even greater danger if we allow the Voltaris to grow in strength. I will go with you Zulius Kaltaris.

HADION MENDORIS

As will I, brother. The only way to end this threat is to face it.

MASTER AURELIUS NESTORIS

The Ardoni will go to war once again.We will send word to the other clans and gather all Ardoni warriors who are willing to fight.

Hadion walks out one doorways, Zulius and Galadar go out the other way.

GALADAR MENDORIS

Many years has it been since we last wielded the Songs of war.

ZULIUS KALTARIS

Let us hope… we remember how to use them.

Zulius fires off an Aggressium Song to test his memory.

Cuts to Senn under water. The Elder Guardian swims over, and looks at Senn, then beams him for a moment as well.

Senn starts passing out, when the Elder guardian throws Senn up and out of the water.

IGNEOUS

Senn! Senn are you alright?

Senn slowly sits back up, coughing a bit. Timber comes over and nuzzles him.

SENN

*coughing a bit* Yeah… yeah I’m fine.

IGNEOUS

What happened?

SENN

I… I don’t know… they just suddenly let me go.

Igneous and Senn look over towards the water. Blocks begin raising out of the water and forming a bridge. Beams are seen coming from the Guardians as they hold the temporary bridge up.

Senn and Igneous look at each other, surprised.

IGNEOUS

I guess we’re clear to pass! Come on.

SENN

Wait! We don’t know if it’s safe!

Igneous hurries off happily across the bridge. Senn gets up and follows, Timber in the rear.

Cuts to Abbigail who sets her bow down, and sits on a rock. She reaches into her inventory and pulls out a pork chop.

ABBIGAIL

This is the last one Sam.

Sam whimpers.

ABBIGAIL

I know…I know. I shouldn’t have given that much food away.

Sam whimpers again.

ABBIGAIL

Well we’re just going to have to go hunting then!

Abbigail picks up her bow and stands up. Sam perks up happily.

Cuts to a moment later, they’re pursuing an animal. 

Sam is moving ahead getting closer as Abbigail draws her bow.

Suddenly Sam turns and lets out a bark as Jalkar bursts out of the side and tumbles over the edge with Sam.

ABBIGAIL

Sam!

Abbigail runs forward in a hurry, but Jalkar appears in her face and cuts her bow sending her arrow flying away aimlessly.

ABBIGAIL

*pain as you are cut by a sword* Ah!

JALKAR

I’ve had enough of you, girl!

Jalkar swings at Abbigail who rolls to the side narrowly dodging Jalkar’s blade. She draws her sword and they fight briefly.

She reaches towards her fallen sword, but can’t quite reach it and it falls over the edge of a small ledge, completely out of reach. She turns around, worried, to see Jalkar closing in for another attack.

Suddenly Sam barks and bites Jalkar firmly on the leg.

JALKAR

*pain as you are bitten* Aah!

Jalkar stumbles backwards over the cliff with Sam still biting his leg.

ABBIGAIL

*in shock* Sam!

Abbigail gets up painfully and hurries over to the edge to see Sam laying limp in a clearing.

Music is very sad. Abbigail hurries down. Jalkar is seen picking the egg back up and hurrying off.

Abbigail reaches Sam and props him up.

ABBIGAIL

*on the verge of tears* Sam? Come on boy, don’t leave me… don’t leave, Sam…please…

Sam’s head slowly goes limp as Abbigail continues holding him in her arms.

ABBIGAIL

*on the verge of tears* No… *sniffle*

Abbigail sets him down on the ground carefully, then looks up angrily.

Cut to Jalkar still limping along. An arrow flies into his arm and he drops the dragon egg.

JALKAR

*pain* Ahhh!

Jalkar turns around and draws his knife back out. Another arrow flies into his chest, and he drops his knife.

Abbigail approaches, and fires once more, killing him. She walks ahead to where the Enderdragon egg sits. She grabs it with both hands, and cradles it as the music quiets for a moment, then crescendos once more.

To be continued.