Title: The Monolith

Setting: Fantasy/Midevil (magic before science)

Demographic/Genre: Borderline Shonen, lots of blood, but no naughty language.

Important Character list: (a very brief version of very long descriptions)
Kai - early 20s, long emo-style brown hair.  Long dark red scarf, travelers cloak.  A large black sun tattoo on his shoulder.
The monolith - black wispy cloak with dark blue trim, spikes coming from his left shoulder joint in an array.  Thick shoulderpads, hood, and guantlet style gloves.  Kai becomes the monolith on accident when he kills the shadowlord in the first scene and becomes Kai again after OLDGUY basically kills him.
Felisha - fancy dress that matches whatever fashion environment she is in.  Usually contains black/purple/pink in that order of importance.  Large matching parasol.  She has light blue skin with a black tattoo of living ivy that wraps around her right arm and reaches up onto her neck.  She also has a severe sun allergy.
Old Guy - Not really that old on second thought, just don't have a name for him yet.  He is early fifties with a mustache and connecting gotee.  He is a high ranking military priest, carries a simple white staff and wears a pendant with a maple leaf on it (holy symbol of the goddess Solah)
Grizzled captain - not named yet.  An early forties paladin with a thick five o' clock shadow.  He is stocky, built with a bit of a belly.
Sardis - High general of the kings army (the monarchy has not been designed yet). A seasoned soldier, early 50s.
The shadowlord - Wrapped in thick leather straps that hide his fading appearance (looks almost mummified).  He body is slowly being replaced with what looks like physical shadow that when touched has the texture of glass.  Egyptian style attire.
The Queen of Diamonds, Maera - One of 4 sisters, she is the queen of water serpents and claims to spend time among gems and treasure to find equal beauty as herself.




<--------------    script start    -------------->


SCENE #1 -the past
CHARACTER LIST: kai (V), shadowlord (V), baby felisha, prince tetsu
THINGS OF NOTE - Its the end of what was a long story, the music is subtle as flashes of battle flicker in between black where credits are slowly dissolved in and out.  Unlike the video, the audio is uninterrupted and leaves much to the imagination.  The goal is to give a gist of what is going on but leave many questions unanswered.  A loud soulwell is heard like wind raging through a tunnel.
ART DIRECTION: on a temple with souls pouring out of a hole atop next to an altar where felisha is lying.  Souls in this story are in fact the texture of wind, when a person dies their soul remains and the wind collects these souls and carries them all across the world, this is their afterlife and is not common knowledge. The altar is adorned with runes.  They are on the plane of shadow so the sky is wild fast-moving ethereal clouds, hazy and dark purple.  The Shadowlord is tall and fights with as few moves as possible, hes been alive far too long to waste his time doing flashy attacks and making moves he doesn't have to.
MAJOR PLOT ADVANCEMENT:
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BLACK - The sound of a furious wind can be heard howling into a nearby tunnel and there is a moderate amount of scuffling.  The sound of clashing steel leads you to believe that there is a sword fight.

cut ins - The scene is outside at a ziggurat, where a tall male cloaked in shadow and tightly woven leather straps (the shadowlord) is engaged in heavy combat with two other males (Kai, Tetsu).  Atop the ziggurat is an altar with a baby girl lying calmly (Felisha).  Underneath her makeshift bed is a large spherical hole that seems to have a large amount of wind being sucked into it from every direction.  Despite the deafening howling the baby girl remains calm and still.  Her skin is a light shade of blue and appears to be wafting soft amounts of ethereal smoke that seems to be getting sucked into the wind tunnel.  Her name is Felisha, and she has a strange black tattoo of decorative ivy on her right arm that seems almost alive, writhing subtly.  The focus never leaves felisha as she waits patiently.  This scene is her scene, from her perspective.  From an age where she cannot even speak, or understand her own body functions, she is at peace in awaiting her fate.

Kai - (from off in the distance) Tetsu! Stay back!

Tetsu answers by taking a quick thud and scuffling many yards in one direction. The shadowlord then mutters verbal components for a spell and the sounds of magical orbs can be heard with the Doppler Effect towards him.  The Shadowlord finally comes into a close view when he materializes out of a thick cloud of shadow and smoke next to Felisha.  He holds a dagger high in the air as if preparing to strike her. A fist sized locket can be seen around his neck, violently flapping in the direction of the wind tunnel as if polarized to it.

Shadowlord - May this dagger guide your soul to a cage, a shelter far from the rivers and fjords.  Where I, the winds Sheppard, will consume you till the end of days.

The blade sings through the howling winds as it begins its plunge towards her chest.  But just as the blade is about to strike another thick cloud of shadow and smoke appears.  Once the smoke settles Kai can be seen with the blade deep within his own chest blocking the shadowlord from Felisha.  Falling backwards, Kai braces himself and his hand comes into contact with Felisha and veiny roots can be seen where the two's flesh meet.  He then grabs onto the Shadowlords clothing and pulls him close butting their heads together with a rageful expression of accomplishment.  In between the thick straps covering the shadowlords face, Kais forehead comes into contact with his skin and the same veiny roots can be seen, as if the shadowlord was a tall standing tree burrowing its roots deep into Kai.  

Kai - (gritting his teeth) You of all people should know that when I decide to do something, I do it. (sadistic laugh) You shouldn't have trained me so well.

Shadowlord - Don't be a fool...

He interrupts him and then pulls their chests together in an assassins embrace and uses the same dagger to stab the shadowlord in the heart from the back, and off camera strikes the locket he was wearing as well.

Black - The sound of a quick strike and sundered object ring out in slow motion.  Everything gets silent, even the roaring wind tunnel.  But the silence is all but too brief as the sound of 1000 souls are heard moaning and pouring into Kai's body.  Kai begins screaming a scream that no man was ever meant to utter.

Extremely quick flashes of Kai's face can be seen screaming as slowly the sounds of rushing wind drowns him out and the screen cuts to a more permanent black and silence.

(cue subtle music) The logo "The Monolith" appears from ethereal smoke that coalesces across the screen.


SCENE #2 - the present
CHARACTER LIST: Alexander (V), monolith (V), daughter (V), son-in-law (V), wedding crowd
THINGS OF NOTE -
ART DIRECTION:
MAJOR PLOT ADVANCEMENT:
MINOR PLOT ADVANCEMENT:

The words "18 years later" (though I will probably not put the words there in hopes that the dialogue will eventually clarify that fact)

It is evening and the sun can be seen through a soft haze at the horizon.  There are decorative paper lanterns chained together dangling from poles illuminating a wedding ceremony.  Guests are all spread out in tiny clusters chatting while caterers walk around making sure everyone has enough food and drink.  A large percentage of the guests are in what appears to be decorative military garb.

random guy - What a joyous day it is General to see your daughter getting married to a captain in the Easten army!  What a better way to end the war than wed lock the two rival monarchys!

General Alexander - (fake happy) Thank you so much for your kind words.  (after the guy leaves he turns to the company surrounding him with a business face). I care not for ending wars, what matters most is increasing the ranks, and what better way to do that than stealing the hearts of a few rivals.

The men all laugh with malicious grins on their faces at the insinuation.  Upon closer inspection one of the people within his company has a shadowy rune on the back of his neck, and seems to be smirking at a joke of his own.  Alexanders daughter walks up behind him in her full wedding outfit.

Daughter - I'm ready daddy!

Alexander - Of course sweetheart, I'm so proud of you!

The scene jumps to after sun down and the two lovers are taking their vows.  The guests are all seated with exception to the parents that are standing at their respective sides behind the bride and groom.  They overlook a tall ocean view cliff side.

Priest - ...And when the sun doth raise the next day, may it shine in extra brilliance illuminating ONE day so that your love for each other might light the rest.  Do you SONINLAW take DAUGHTER to be your wife, and promise to protect her from all places dark and lightless?

Son in law - I do.

Priest - And do you DAUGHTER, take SONINLAW to be your husband, and promise to bring both joy and illumination to him in even the most dimmest of moments?

Daughter - I do.

Priest - Then by the permission of all those present here today, and by the grace of the lightbringer, our most adored and admired Solah, I now pronounce you man and wife.  And may a kiss bring union, as two souls become one.

As the priest utters those last few words, a violent unholy wind comes over the torches, almost extinguishing them.  But beyond the lack of firelight, a deeper darkness comes over the now frightened crowd.  The viewpoint switches to that of a fisherman who is about 50 yards from the base of the cliff on a small boat.  He looks up and sees a perfect hemisphere of darkness over from where the party is, and he sees the groom falling to his death off the cliffside.  The viewpoint switches back to the guests and the torch lights all quickly come back on and whom appears to be the groom is holding the general in a headlock with a knife close to the edge of the cliff.  Upon closer inspection the groom has the same rune on the back of his neck that the oddly behaving confidant had earlier.

Alexander - Do you have any idea what you are doing boy?  My arrows will bring upon you a plague of darkness like you've never seen.

Son in law - (in a voice obviously not his own) Oh but I do General Alexander.

Alexander - That voice? How do I know you? SPEAK!

Son in law - I am the many as one,  The voice among corpses.

Alexander - Who?

Son in law - You died for me once Alexander, now die for me again.

Alexander - (finally realizing who it is)  My lord?

The oddly behaving groom plunges his dagger deep into the chest of the general and shadowy smoke can be seen rushing from the exit wound and rushing into the boys chest as he jumps with the general off the cliff.  The guests all start rushing the cliff-side as if trying to stop him. The viewpoint switches back to the fisher man who sees the two plummeting.  Right before their bodies hit the rocks below, the boy turns into a mass of shadowy cloth and darts away, closely hugging the water.  By the time the guests reach the cliffside to look over it, all that remains are the two bodies, and the fisherman, who is rowing towards them.




SCENE #3 - reunion
CHARACTER LIST: tetsu (V), monolith (V)
THINGS OF NOTE -
ART DIRECTION: Souls and wind, a common theme in the storyline.  It is very apparent that the monolith has some sort of unholy wind that surrounds him as it plays with the candle light in the room, changing with the moon/tone of the conversation.  The very same demon that killed the guy in the second scene is seen to have some sort of confused soft side that he wont or cannot admit to having.  The room is purples and blacks and pinks (common colors among those of shadow nobility).  Many dolls are seen throughout the lacy bedroom, lots of tapestries and a family portrait of Felisha and Tetsu above the bed that the camera sililoqies at one point.
MAJOR PLOT ADVANCEMENT:
MINOR PLOT ADVANCEMENT:

The scene is Felisha's room in her fathers mansion on the plane of shadow.  The sky is filled with soft colors as the ethereal clouds race towards the horizon.  A balcony window is open and a soft breeze gently plays with the curtains.  The room is comprised of lacy tapestries and paintings.  Dolls adorn the majority of the furniture.  A painting of Felisha and her father Tetsu hangs above the mantle of the bed.  Lit by sky and blue flamed candles, the room has very many shadows.  The monolith materializes in the balcony window and slowly walks in.  He looks around the room, and eventually has his attention drawn towards the painting above the bed and looks at it nastolgically.  Tetsu apears out of the shadows behind him and startles the monolith.

Tetsu - I knew you would come back

Monolith - Hm? (retreating to a corner of the room heavily cloaked in shadow, the candles in the room pulsate to that of an increased heartrate)

Tetsu - If your looking for me, here I am.  But no, I suspect your not here for me. (monolith doesnt answer, Tetsu turns his back to him and walks to the balcony).  She's gone.  My servants tell me she left sometime yesterday.  (Tetsu tears up a bit)  It's her birthday you know, but I imagine you knew that.

Monolith - (grows very calm as do the candle flames, he seems to be entertaining a memory or perhaps a mental image)

Tetsu - (points offscreen) I remember when we were boys we used to play with my fathers swords in the vineyard over there.  (trys to force a laugh, but then awkwardly pauses) What happened Kai?  I already owe you so much, whatever it is I just want to help you! (starts walking towards him and holding out his hand)

Monolith - (quickly interrupting him, the candles in the room show his sudden rage)  Stay back!  You've mistaken me for someone else, I don't even know who you are.

Tetsu - (retracts his hand and walks away from the window)  Oh no? (not believing his obvious lie) Then why did you come here to this room... 18 years after... after what happened?

Monolith - (materializes at the balcony doorway) Whatever the reason... It wont happen again. (exits)

Tetsu - (walks to where he exited and talks towards the ambiguous sky) We both know better than that old friend.  (looks at the painting of him and Felisha on the wall a closeup of her picture) I never told her...

SCENE #4 - the marketplace
CHARACTER LIST: felisha (V), little girl (V), mother (V), doll vendor (V), Noble Vendor (V), large afternoon crowd
THINGS OF NOTE - this scene tag teams with scene 5.
ART DIRECTION: lots of light in this scene, but never on her skin she always has her parasol. its lacy and allows a little bit of indirect light to spill onto her dress making decorative doily designs.  the port has many other boats and the market place runs all along the docks.  its midday so it is pretty crowded with a buzz of people selling various mundane things like food/spices, jewelry and pets. not alot of exotic things on this port other than the dolls because of the festival.
MAJOR PLOT ADVANCEMENT:
MINOR PLOT ADVANCEMENT:

The scene dissolves in from the picture of Felisha in her room to her actual face looking next to a window from within the cabin of a passenger ship.  The sun is bright though she sits in such a way that it doesn't directly touch her skin.  The ship is coming into port from a large bay, and there are many excited passengers on top deck waving as the port crowd greets them. Felisha is suddenly engaged in conversation by a little girl.

girl - excuse me, miss, how do i get to be as pretty as you?

Felisha - (stuttering and blushing) who me? Aww your a sweetheart!  Are you here with your mommy?

girl - yes ma'am! shes taking me to see the dollys!  She promised to take me if i was good, and i was good all week, I never once hit my brother or nothin!

Felisha - aww (laughs) so your going to CITYNAME to see the doll show too! (suddenly excited)

girl - you too!! Maybe we can go together, mommy can we take the pretty lady with us?! (tugs on her mothers dress)

Mom - whats that honey?

girl - mommy lookie, she looks like one of my dolls! can we keep her, pretty please?!?!?

mom - aww Kayla don't be rude (a small laugh is shared among her and felisha), although she is very pretty, she is not a doll! (looks at felisha) I'm sorry missus, she is an ornery one.

felisha - oh no worries here ma'am, it's just a pleasure to meet a fellow doll lover!  You know I actually have a doll named Kayla! (she reaches into her satchel and pulls out a older doll that is kind of worn and well loved).  My father gave her to me on my 7th birthday, here look! (hands it to her)

girl - oh she is very pretty!

felisha - Can you do me a big favor and take care of her for me for a while?  She has been dying to get out of my bag and do some exploring! (the little girl has a shock on her face and looks at her mother)

mom - oh no no, im sorry we cannot accept this, we have nothing to give in return...

felisha - nothing is nessesary! (big grin) Please ma'am i insist!  she has really been sad all couped up in my bag! Plus I am afraid that I overpacked and need to make room in my bag for more dolls haha, see I plan to buy a few while I'm here!

mom - Uh.. okay i guess so

girl - thank you so much pretty lady! I'll take the bestest care of her I promise!!

Felisha - I'm sure you will (the sound of the docking horn is heard)

Kayla - well it was a pleasure to meet you uhh.. (a makeshift way of asking her name)

Felisha - Felisha.  And it was a pleasure to meet you too Kayla! have fun at the doll show!

mom and kayla - Bye! (exit)

Felisha grabs her parasol from her lap, stands up and starts walking towards the exit.  In attempt to keep the sun off her skin she cautiously opens the parasol out the door leading outside first.  She spends every move ignoring and avoiding the sun.  As she walks she does well to not turn to fast towards it without her parasol.  A few young men help her down the exit ramp of the boat as if she were extremely fragile.  The streets are busy with tourists and street vendors here because of the doll festival.  

Felisha - Oh wow, there are so many! (responding to the large amount of doll vendors)

She wanders around the festival, and passes many different vendors and comes upon one where the nobles seem to be spending the most time at.  The woman vendor seems to be covered from head to toe in the most expensive of gowns and turns to felisha.

Noble vendor - You there, (snotty sounding) judging by your appearance you must be looking for a doll fit for nobles like me.  Please come over here and take a look and my amazing seam work, you wont find anything like it in all of Aeth.  but do not touch anything you don't plan on buying!

Felisha - (awkwardly) Uh sorry no thank you madam.

She makes her way to one doll that she finds herself the most attracted to.  

Felisha - excuse me sir, but your dolls are beautiful! did you make all of these?

An older grizzly man turns to her.  His clothes are humble and quite in contrast to the fine clothes on his dolls, and he has a monocle that he keeps in his eye with a squint.  he has fingerless gloves, and you can see many cuts on his fingers.

Vendor - why yes, (corrects himself) well not alone of course, my granddaughter helps by telling me when she does and doesn't like a dress design (gives a jolly ho ho ho laugh).

Felisha - I would very much like to purchase one but I'm afraid I just cannot choose! They are all so pretty!

Vendor - You know, some of my dolls don't get choosen by cutomers but rather, choose who they go home with.

Felisha - (looks at him like a father telling a bedtime story)  What do you mean?

Vendor - close your eyes and listen.  I can already tell that one of these dolls have been calling your name the moment she saw you.

Felisha - Oh don't be silly.. dolls do not talk.

Vendor - well see that's because you haven't tried to listen. (smiles cleverly)

Felisha - Well no.. I

Vendor - How about you just give it a try, what could it hurt? (urges her with hand gestures) Hm?

Felisha hesitates for a moment but he urges her to try it.  She eventually obeys and closes her eyes.  She slowly turns around towards one of the displays and slowly walks towards it.  She stops and bends down and reaches out.  Just as she is about to grab one a little girl off in the distance yells.

random girl - Hey you! (talking to another random person who joins the girl and they walk off together)

Felisha is startled by the girl thinking that she may have been calling to her and she turns her head and opens her eyes.  After watching the two strangers walk off she realizes that she is also staring at a very exquisite doll that is missing one arm.

Vendor - ahh, her name is Liza. (walks next to her to examine the doll).  

Felisha - wait this is... but the little girl over there... I

Vendor - (he picks up that Felisha still doesn't believe that this was the doll she was meant to have since it didn't actually talk to her, but ignores her, silently enforcing that she was in fact meant to stand up and look at this exact doll) When I was just about to finish cutting the pattern for her arm, my little girl accidently spilled dye all over it!  So I picked went to grab some more cloth to make another one, but I had run out.  So I came to the conclusion that this doll was made this way for a reason.  Almost as if the powers above wanted this doll to be born incomplete...  so that someone else could come along and complete her.

Felisha looks at the doll with sad eyes, and begins to tear up a little bit.

Vendor - (feeling bad that she picked that one) listen miss, I was only jesting you don't have to pick this doll...

Felisha - (interrupting him) No of course I'll take her!  (she pulls the doll close to her chest as if she were a long lost child).

She reaches into her bag to grab her coin purse and pulls out some valuable black shadowy gems.

Felisha - This is all I have...

Vendor - I am sorry but those are far too valuable for this doll ma'am, where did you get those?

Felisha - My father gave them to me for my birthday.

Vendor - Did you say it's your birthday? (surprised)

Felisha - well uh... yes it is...

Vender - Well why didn't you say so!  Please take her!  Consider it a birthday present.

Felisha - (looks extremely grateful) Well I... (blushes a little) thank you sir!

As she says that a young cut purse runs by and swipes the back of gems from her hand.  The two of them yell out at him, and Felisha begins to run for him still clutching the doll to her chest.  As she runs she steps out into the sun and trips over a stranger that is unaware of the chase.  Her parasol goes flying in one direction as she falls in slow motion.  There is special attention given to the shadow of the parasol leaving her skin in slow motion.  When the passing of time returns to normal she begins horrifically screaming as the sun begins to cook her exposed skin as if it were 200 degrees warmer.  She trys crawling to the shadow of the horrified crowd around her but they quickly scatter in their own terror as she approaches.  She has trouble finding the words to speak to them within her writing pain.


SCENE #5 - the meeting
CHARACTER LIST: monolith, shady military general guy, felishas scream
THINGS OF NOTE -
ART DIRECTION: other than a few lanterns, the majority of the light is coming from a nearby window. the building is far from regal, dirt floor and wooden walls, the room is more of a temporary home or safehouse for the general. unkempt with papers and a reading desk.  the general is using reading glasses as he pours over documents or maybe a newspaper talking about the last generals assasination.
MAJOR PLOT ADVANCEMENT:
MINOR PLOT ADVANCEMENT:


A well noble looking man is seen unlocking some old wooden doors down a short alleyway at the same port.  This scene is edited into the last one and happens simultaneously.  The doors are plain and shed-like in appearance, blending well into the other rest of the building its attached to.  It is wrapped in a large chain with a fist sized key-lock hanging from it.  The man eventually makes his way somewhat secretly into the room.  The room looks to be a safehouse of some sort.  It is very unkempt and has newspapers/books all over the room.  There is a lantern on an up-slanted desk where the man sits down and befins reading the new paper he had tucked under his arm.  The lantern light starts to flicker with an unholy wind, signifying the entrance of the monolith.

Sardis - I knew you would come for me next (not even looking up from his newspaper).  "General Alexander of king WHATSHISNUTS royal army, slain yesterday evening at his daughters wedding by his son-in-law to be, a captain of the Western coalition."  I tried to think of the people with enough audacity, and skill mind you, to get past Alexanders numerous guards and my mind came up with a blank.  Then I had heard that a witness, a local fisherman, insists that he saw, THREE... people fall.

Monolith - (from a dark corner) How sloppy of me.

Sardis - So I take it your here to kill me as well then?

Monolith - I have memories of you being more eager once.

Sardis - That was along time ago. And I assure you times are different now.  You had your chance to accomplish our goals, and you failed.  Now it's our turn to make up for your embarassment.

Monolith - Yes the shadowlord did fail, but unfortunately for you... I am not the shadowlord.

Sardis - (slightly suprised) Then who are you that wears the face and memories of my former master?

Monolith - I am the letterman, the carrier of masks and burdens (He makes the motions as if unsheathing a sword and from a thick cloud of wispy shadow, his greatsword materializes).

Sardis - I see.  Then if you are not my master, then I will have no problem killing you (gets up to prepare for combat), not that I had one to begin with. (a closeup of the monoliths black smile)

Just as Sardis rises, Felishas horrific scream is heard from right outside.  A closeup of the monoliths face reveals sudden rage.  A rage so violent that his entire personality changes and the flames in the room come under hurricane force winds.

Monolith - (quietly) That voice...

Monolith bursts through the inside locked door with his blade out.  

SCENE #6 - the fight
CHARACTER LIST: monolith (V), a billion guards, felisha (V), old guy (V), grizzled captain (V)
THINGS OF NOTE -
ART DIRECTION: the fight is epic, and over the top.  When the sword is wielded it commands the ocean as if it were Airess herself.  The birds acting psychotic and the odd fish and supposed to lend to the supernatural-ness of the sword.  Since is the last scene where Kai is the monolith, we have to unleash all his tricks and show all his power.  But the priest commanding the power of the sun throws every spell and glyph he can at him in order to defeat him, and succeeds but not without monolith showing alot of resilience to even his most powerful of attacks.
MAJOR PLOT ADVANCEMENT:
MINOR PLOT ADVANCEMENT:

This is the first good look we get at the legendary sword.  He holds it out forward at an angle menacingly as he looks at Felisha screaming in pain and the guards forming around her.  The sword looks extremely fierce with spikes of porous coral and rare metal.  A great eye in the center of the hilt moves as if it were alive and seems to be menacingly searching the audience as if sizing them up for the battle.  Where the handle of the sowrd would be are thick kraken tentacles that grip his forearm tightly.

Grizzled Captain - Seize them both!

A group of 5 armed guards draw their swords and head towards Felisha as she writhes in pain.  When she finally comes around to looking at the monolith a look of confused recognition comes across her face and her eyes grow wide as she continues to suffer.  Monolith begins a full sprint towards the guards, and in mid charge jumps through a nearby shadow only to pop out of one of the guards and liquify him with a single strike of his sword.  It is as if a single attack turned his incoming wound into water, like parting a sea of red of flesh and blood.  He continues the death dance by stopping a melee swing with his free gloved hand followed by a flurry of martial arts and weapon strikes.  Once he has finished dispatching of the initial wave, he extends his free hand behind him and casts a large dimming globe of shadow in order to cloak the sun from himself and Felisha.  The globe seems to be helping her and she stands to her feet inspecting herself on how the light is no longer harming her then she looks at him intently.  As the monolith holds his pose, the animal life around him begins acting extremely strange, the birds begins screaming and chaotically running themselves into buildings and windows suicidally.  Fish start jumping out of the waters of the nearby bay, and begin hurling themselves onto the dry earth, in an attempt to reach him.

Felisha - You... who are you?  I've seen you in my dreams, not this day but... another... (Her dress is scorched badly around the arms and shoulder areas, Her skin rapidly heals and the tattoo of ivy coiling around her begins blooming with ferocity.  A pale purple light begins emitting from her as she becomes more emotional during his silence.  eventually after no answer she spurts out in tears) Who are you!?!?!?

Grizzled Captain - (in a hushed shock) Such evil... In all my years, such a sight has never haunted my vision. This is far beyond our skill to contain.  (now shouting)  Inform OLDGUY he is needed outside!! (begins somatic gestures to bless the battlefield) May Solah guide our swords to strike swiftly, and our instill our spirits with vigor!! (a magical plane of light is seen falling onto the battlefield in rhythm with the captains hand gestures as he finishes casting his spell, His sword now glows with a brilliance, infused with the power of the sun).

The grizzled captain makes a great battle cry then charges with his inspired troops.  But in a whirlwind of sword flashes, the dark being can be seen easily defeating them with unnecessary amounts of strength.  With a simple gesture of his sword, the bones of the dead sea life around him dart out like bullets from a chamber towards the chests of several guards, slaying them immediatley.  After a minute of combat OLDGUY comes rushing out form the nearby barracks entrance.

Old guy - By solah...

He jumps down to the downhill battlefield and immediately begins casting a slew of spells.  Several small globes of light materialize and begin circling around him.  In a mass of gestures he begins putting combat shields on the many battling troops  and healing the severely injured.  He then begins calling down the sun to destroy the dimming sphere.  A great beam of light begins pounding with great force on the sphere.  With little success he hastens his attempts and begins consuming the orbs around him to empower the mighty spell.  Once the great sphere begins cracking, the monolith addresses the old man and begins clearing a path towards him.  The grizzled captain engages him and seems to be slowing him down but the monolith is only half paying attention to him as he tries to reach the old guy.  Monolith attempts to extend his dimming sphere towards the man but is immediately countered by the elder.  Eventually after much strain and effort, the man calls down a greater beam of thick light that shatters the globe into shards of shadow that quickly dissipate, and hit the monolith as if a building had fell on him.  In attempt to combat the deadly ray that is holding him down as if he were trying to walk against a windstorm, the monolith begins throwing coins in front of himself in attempt to cast a shadow and begins rapidly porting through them.  Bit by bit he gets closer and closer to reaching the Old guy, as the old guy continues adding the spheres of light around him into his spell.  With one final hurrah, he adds the last of the orbs to his spell and the monolith falls lifeless, only feet from where the old guy stood.  The elder then falls to his knees in absolute exhaustion and an intimate closeup of the two is depicted.  The breathless man puts his hand over the head of the steaming/lifeless monolith.  The guards lean in awaiting confirmation.

OLDGUY - It's... alright.  He is not dead, but I no longer sense evil.  Lets not take any chances, take him to a holding cell, I'll have the priests prepare the room.

Still bent over in exhaustion, he looks over to the sword, that aside from its exotic shape and texture, seems to now be ordinary as if it too had fallen in battle.  The eye seems nothing more than painted glass and the tentacles are non existent, revealing an odd handle with 4 crooked finger holes near the top by the hilt (similar to a brass knuckle).

Grizzled captain - Commander are you alright?

Old guy - I am fine captain.. (he looks over towards Felisha curled up nearby)

Felisha was not re-exposed to the sun for too long as she lay with her arms over her head crying, a round shadow is seen move over top of her.  Felisha looks up with her wide blue, tear-filled eyes. It is the doll maker holding her parasol with a smile and an outstretched hand.  The focus then pans over back to the lifeless monolith and quickly zooms into his head and goes black as if delving into his mind.



SCENE #7 - the coma
CHARACTER LIST: kai's mind, the shadowlord, baby felisha, tetsu
THINGS OF NOTE -
ART DIRECTION: its a dream so we have to be "dreamy" with the borders/colors/audio.
MAJOR PLOT ADVANCEMENT:
MINOR PLOT ADVANCEMENT:

An softly reverberated voice chimes in over the black.

Kai - This is not a comfortable place.  This skin is not my own... I feel... like I'm crumbling.

Kai awakens in the same position as the fallen Monolith but in a different time and place.  The sky cascades with dark clouds, as if in the eye of a storm.  The wind is mild and he seems to be on a grassy plateau on a cliff side.  To either side of him is a steep fall to the ocean.  There is a large Monolith perched in the center of the exitless plateau.  Kai gets to his knees and inspects himself as if expecting to see wounds.  

Kai - (rubbing his hands on the grass) The grass is... so soft.  I haven't felt anything like this since...

Finally standing up the young man stands up and pauses before approaching the monolith.  It seems to have an unholy hum about is as he gets closer.  It is jagged and textured.

Kai - The monolith, I have seen it before.  It always stands so tall and... strong.  

Kai reaches out to it and runs his bare hand up and down it examining the texture.  The camera is in front of Kai now in a closeup over the shoulder shot.  The shadowlord is now behind him in the distance and out of focus.

shadowlord - (distant as if a memory, not coming from the image behind him) She is a blasphemy Kai, as your lord I charge the task of destroying her.  I know I do not need to remind you of your oath.

the camera switches shoulders, and now Tetsu is behind him.

Tetsu - (distant as if a memory, not coming from the image behind him) Kai, I think my father doesn't approve of my daughter... will you help me protect her from him?  You are my closest friend, swear to me...

Kai - (actually speaking, and starting to cry) what must I do... may my hands guide me to choice my mind cannot make...

A piece of rock falls off into Kai's hand and he quickly looks behind him to see Felisha standing there.  The hum grows louder and the wind begins to grow into a fury.  She seems to be worried and mouthing something to him but he cant hear her in the noise.  She starts reaching out for her and he starts trying to go to her, but the tornadic winds prevent him and eventually blow him off the plateau and carry him off into the sky.

Kai - Wait!


SCENE #8 - the aftermath
CHARACTER LIST: old guy, young captain, kai, felisha
THINGS OF NOTE -
ART DIRECTION:
MAJOR PLOT ADVANCEMENT:
MINOR PLOT ADVANCEMENT:

The camera pulls out of Kai's mind and he is in an extremely well lit cell with no windows.  The walls are solid concrete and there is no apparent source of light and Kai has no shadow.  Felisha is in a nearby room being interrogated.  Two guards can be seen yelling at her through the glass.  

Guard 1 - and just how do you explain your allergy to the sunlight?  Our most pure and precious sun?

guard 2 - I tell you how, because shes a demon.  Just look at her dark skin, an that tattoo!  (the man walks up to her and rips the scorched sleeve from her arm fully revealing the mysterious living tattoo.  It seems pleased in the dimly lit room for the time being.)

Felisha - I'm not a demon! (in tears, clutching her new doll) I... I can't help it, I was born this way.. I don't know why... I... I've even thought of killing myself... I

guard 1 - (interrupting her) Hmph, well maybe you should have, then my brother, whom that monster killed today would still be alive!

Guard 2 - Guard 1! This is not our ways.

Just then another guard opens the door.

Guard 3 - GUARD1 and GUARD2, OLDGUY requests your immediate presence.

Guard 1 - (looks at Felisha sternly) We're not finished. (he takes a dagger from his belt and places it on the table before her)  Do us all a favor.

The men exit.  Felisha stairs at the knife as if entertaining the idea.  Her face is damp and cold from being flooded in tears.  She pathetically looks at her wrists, and her veins seem to surface at the very thought and a few tear drops can be seen plopping onto her soft skin.  Then she looks at her doll that she is still clutching with her other hand, and remembers the story the vender told her about the making of the doll.

Voice of the doll maker - Almost as if the powers above wanted this doll to be born incomplete...  so that someone else could come along and complete her.

Angry with the fact that she even thought of suicide, she knocks the blade to one corner of the room and gets a genuine tearful smile on her face.  She looks proud and relieved as if she passed a test.  Outside Kai's cell the two guard meet up with OLDGUY.

OLD GUY - tell me, what have you been able to find out about their relationship?

GUARD 1 - Nothing sir, she wont say anything.  But she'll crack eventually.

OLD GUY - Private, only those who actually know the answers to the questions they are being asked can "crack," we shouldn't assume or treat her like she knows anything at all... am I understood?

GUARD 1 - yes forgive me sir... I just...

OLD GUY - no amount of anything can make up for those lost today, but there are many things that can disgrace them. (pauses to let the words sink in) you are dismissed.

OLD GUY continues to ponder through the thick window standing between him and the lifeless assassin.  He rubs his gotee in thought as The GRIZZLED CAPTAIN comes down to join him.

GIZZLED - Sir, we have done a thorough search of the dock, we were not able to determine for sure where the warrior came from or what he was doing here on our port.  We did however find an apparently abandoned room that someone has taken recent residence in.  There was just a bed, table and hundreds of old newspapers dating back a few years now.  The locals say its always just been locked, until today. (small overlapping cut scene of them investigating the Generals safehouse)

OLDGUY - A bed you say?  Call me looney but he doesn't strike me as someone who needs a bed.  Perhaps he was meeting someone else there.

GRIZZLED - But then again in the same light sir, he doesn't strike me as a guy who attends meetings.

OLDGUY - Or maybe he was there to kill someone.  (the two look at each other in silent agreement)  But just look at him captain... that boy in there is not the foe we fought earlier.  Something has changed, almost as if his will was not his own.  (changing subjects)  What about the sword?

GRIZZLED - we have made no progress determining its origin, but it definitely raises some curiosity.

OLD GUY - oh?

GRILLED - The weapon seems polarized.

OLD GUY - what do you mean polarized?

GRIZZLED - (cut scene of the sword being investigated) When you pick the sword up it, the metal has a faint attraction to the East.  Do you think it has something to do with the murder suicide of the Eastern armies Captain and the Kings General?

OLD GUY - No captain I don't know for sure, but I do know that the swords owner lies unconscious in the Eastern dungeon (insinuating a polar attraction to Kai).

GRIZZLED - An excellent point.  (looks at the captain and sees a bit of worry)  Forgive me for asking sir, but if the threat is gone as you say, why does fear still linger in your heart.

OLD GUY - Because I fear that this is only the first act of a much longer and sinister opera.

SCENE #9 - the sea's arrival
CHARACTER LIST: queen of diamonds (V), fish troops, shocked crowd, old guy (V), grizzled captain (V)
THINGS OF NOTE -
ART DIRECTION: the sea army is dark and exotic, coral weaponry, and lots of costume pieces that look cool underwater.  The creatures are all rare and magical.  since they usually are underwater they should move weird (head movements, walking etc)
MAJOR PLOT ADVANCEMENT:
MINOR PLOT ADVANCEMENT:

It shifts back to the port where two military scouts are sitting high in the light house.  The sun has just went down and all seems calm along the waterfront. A small fin can be seen traveling quietly through the water to the lighthouse.  A gangly looking creature emerges in silhouette and begins climbing the side of the lighthouse.  The guards seem to be talking about trivial things to keep each other company while on guard.  The creature pokes his head up through one of the windows and using a blowgun puts the two guards to sleep quickly.  The strange creature enters the lighthouse, he appears to be aquatic and covered in camoflagued seaweed.  He oddly walks to the source of light and makes a signal with it.  More of the same tactical sea creatures can now be seen stealthing through the city positioning themselves by guards.  A fog seems to accompany them as they maneuver.  During the positioning one is seen and yells out before he is fatally stabbed.  Premature but still prepared the other hidden ones jump out killing many of the guards in single quick strikes.  When reinforcements start coming out they blow a coral horn and massive half-shark/half-crab creatures come from the bay in an explosion of water and growling.  One of them makes a quick meal out of a bystander as it is guided by a rider onto the battlefield.  Hearing the noise upstairs, the GRIZZLED CAPTAIN and the OLD GUY run out to see what the commotion is.

OLD GUY - (seeing the brewing battle) Stop! (the chaos of battle is far too loud at this point and no one hears him.  He then begins casting a spell to alter his voice, stomping his staff twice on the ground) STOP!!! (his voice booms across the battlefield startling everyone into a standstill). Do not test my wrath, (pause, voice is back to normal but he is still shouting) We have lost far too many today, perhaps we would find common luxury in words rather than death... (gritting his teeth) assuming that you beasts have voice.

Queen of Diamonds - I am here for my sister... (a voice apparently from somewhere in the fog) and she has been defiled by your guards, a punishment suitable for no less than death.

OLD GUY - I am an imprisoner of no sisters and unworthy of such quarrel.

GRIZZLED CAPTAIN - (whispers to him) She must be talking about the girl (but the OLD GUY hushes him)

Queen of Diamonds - I am afraid I do not believe you and happen to know for a fact that she lies within your walls.  I can sense her very essence.

OLD GUY - (assuming she means Felisha at this point) And to whom am I speaking to...

A large sized regal looking water serpent is seen casually parting the crowd.  On top of it is a carriage draped in colorful seaweed and decorated in coral jewels.  A rider is in front of it with a whip and parks the exotic wyrm.  He gets down and kneels down next to the carriage.  A beautiful woman covered in jewels and piercings gets out it, using the servant as a stair and casually looks to the OLD GUY.  Her skin is a light sea green and has very subtle draconic traits.  She carries a staff of decorated coral with a large polished gem at the top.  Her clothes make her appear to be royalty.

Queen of Diamonds - I am Maera, the Queen of serpents, and you will give me my sister... (extreme closeup of her lips followed by a wicked smile) or I will raze this city and desacrate its ashes.

BLACK - Credit Roll