Verse 3, Chorus

not sure who all's still reading this but, I'll keep writing anyways.

Verse 3, Chorus

The night is come

Erloz is sitting by the window, his wife and daughter at the bed.

ERLOZ:               Somethings coming.

THYEINA:          What do you mean?

ERLOZ:               I can hear sounds that ought not be.

Cut to the inn keep counting money. There’s a rattling at the door.

INNKEEP:          (shouting) No Vacancy! Come back tomorrow!

The inn keep puts a metal ring (currency) in his mouth and bites down to test it.

The door rattles more violently.

INNKEEP:          Begone with ya’! I said no vacancy!

The inn keep shrugs.

INNKEEP:          (speaking to himself) Sometimes I wonder if people have half a brain inside em’

The door breaks open. A blood touched wolf (garwal) breaks through with various other

revenant creatures behind.

The inn keep falls back out of his chair. He pushes himself up against the wall. His face

is filled with terror.

The garwal approaches.

Show the innkeeper’s shadow cast on the wall as it is torn apart. Blood splatters on the wall.

Erloz is donning his armor. Thyeina ties it together in the back. He walks toward the

door. He looks back at Thyeina and their daughter, while pulling out a dagger.

ERLOZ:               Stay here.

He hands the dagger to Thyeina.

Thyeina nods.

Show Erloz’ feet walking down the hall. A garlal looks up and charges down the

hall. View from behind as the creature is split in two. Erloz’ figure is revealed through

the split body.

Another garlal down the hall yells out. A third runs behind the first and they charge

together. Erloz charges and stabs through the first creature’s body. It’s claws scrap at

his side plate armor.  

View from outside the inn. A garlal is climbing up toward the window.

Its arm reaches into the room, pulling the rest of its body close behind.

As its head peers in and growls, Thyeina comes down with the dagger, stabbing it

through the throat.

Askah sits near the bed gripping a wooden sword.

Erloz is downstairs. He’s standing amidst the bloody remains of the horde that intruded on the innkeeper earlier.

He steps toward the broken door. Outside he sees the city going up in flames. Dark creatures are running and limping about. Smoke and fog floating about the streets and air.

Erloz walks back into the room with Thyeina and Askah.

Thyeina rushes over to him. He puts his arm around her.

His eye catches the blood near the window (the garlal fell back out the window).

ERLOZ:               We can’t stay here.

THYEINA:          Where will we go?

ERLOZ:               Away from here.

THYEINA:          But where?

ERLOZ:               All I know right now is we have to move.

He looks over at Askah who is still gripping the sword tightly. Her eyes are widely staring at the window.

Erloz bows over her.

ERLOZ:               We need to go my dear.

Askah begins to shake, and tears fill her eyes.

ASKAH:                            Daddy I’m scared.

ERLOZ:               Don’t be scared. I’m here, just like I promised.

ASKAH:                            Don’t leave me Daddy.

ERLOZ:               (Kneeling down) I never will.

Cut to outside the Inn. Erloz is leading the family down the street.                

They pass through a number of alley ways at a fast pace.

They turn an alley to find a group of animated corpses sluggishly moving about.

Erloz rushes forward. With a number of swings of his sword their bodies fall apart.

They begin walking past the corpses when one reaches up and grabs Askah’s leg. She

turns and almost blindly swings her wooden sword down on its head while shouting out. The blow cracks the skull. Thyeina stomps down on the corpse’s neck breaking the spinal cord. It releases its hold.

Askah looks up to her mother with tear filled eyes.

Thyeina embraces her.

THYEINA:          It’s going to be all right. Kadosh is protecting us.

Askah nods silently.

At that moment a band of Dwenfeltian soldiers run past the family with almost reckless abandon. One soldier shouts out “Dracolich”.

Suddenly the building in front of them explodes in a burst of fire.

As its skeletal structure weakens, The silhouette of a giant creature can be seen rising from amidst the flames. One of it’s massive claws grips onto the burning structure and in the next instant it tears it down and stomps over it, the building collapsing under the creatures weight. The Dracolich raises it’s head scanning the area for the fleeing soldiers.

ASKAH:                            (tears streaming) What’s that!!

ERLOZ:               Run!

Erloz turns and begins running back to where Askah and Thyeina are standing. But as he does so the Dracolich hops down from the ruined building in pursuit of Erloz, the closest human being.

Erloz looks over his shoulder at the Dracolich which is readying a hand to come down on him. Erloz turns and rolls out of the way of the claw as it comes crashing down.

He turns toward Thyeina.

ERLOZ:               Run!

Thyeina shakes her head as she readies her dagger.

ERLOZ:               I’ll meet you at the west gate! Run!

Another claw comes toward Erloz, he dodges and then slashes at it with his sword. The claw is pulled back quickly and the Dracolich bears down on him with open jaws. Erloz’ arm is caught in the creature’s bite and he is then violently jerked up into the air.

Askah looks on in terror.

Erloz loses his grip on his sword. It is flung up into the air amidst the violent jerking of his body.

It lands before Askah.

Erloz is finally thrown down in front of the Dracolich

ASKAH:                            Daddy!!

Askah glances at the sword, and then sprints toward it.

Thyeina is staring ahead blankly.

Askah lifts up the sword and begins walking shakingly towards the Dracolich.

Thyeina notices this and is shocked.

The Dracolich turns toward Askah and slowly opens its mouth. Smoke rising from within.

ASKAH:                            Daddy! Your sword! Come get your sword!

Erloz pulls himself up from the ground and begins running, although with a limp, toward askah.

Askah looks up at her father.

ASKAH:                            I got your sword daddy!

Thyeina jumps on top of askah, knocking her to the ground and covering her with her body.

A shower of flame bursts forth from the Dracolich’s mouth, engulfing Thyeina and Askah.

Erloz drops to his knees. Tears fill his eyes.

The Dracolich grabs him with its claw. Erloz’ expression remains unchanged as he’s lifted up to the Dracolich’ mouth. With a quick snap the Dracolich jaws bite into Erloz’ body.

Cut away to the city burning.

Verse 3, third stanza

The setting of the sun.

It’s night. A woman approaches the gates of Dwenfelt. She dons a cap. A man shouts

from the top of the wall.

GUARD:              Halt! Who are ye’ and what be thy business?

WOMAN:            Please! I have been wondering for days. I just need a place to stay.

GUARD:              What’s this? Is that the voice of a young lass I be hearin’? Yer in some dangerous lands my girl. Best ye go back from whence ye came.

WOMAN:            I was taken captive by bandits, not more than two suns ago. They left me unguarded one night and I’ve been running ever since.

                            Please. It doesn’t matter where. I just need a place to stay.

The guard drops a rope ladder and climbs down. He walks up to her.

GUARD:              Well let’s have a look at ya’.

He lifts her face to face his own.

The man stares at her for a long while, as if he were completely lost in her eyes. She’s quite beautiful. Beneath her cape her clothes are tattered and stripped. The man looks down at her ripped clothing.

…                         (smiling) I wonder what exactly these bandits were doing with ye.

She grabs his hand and pulls it to her chest.

WOMAN:            Please! I could stay anywhere.

Her eyes look up into his seductively.

…                         I could stay with you.

The man laughs.

GUARD:              Yer quite the work aincha’?

He pulls away from her.

….                        Wait here.

He climbs back up the wall and after a moment he has the gate lifted for her.

GUARD:              Come on in mi lassy.

The woman walks in and passes the guard.

WOMAN:            (without looking at the man) Thank you.

The man turns after her.

GUARD:              So what about yer sleeping arrangement?

WOMAN:            Oh yes!

She turns and smiles at the man.

…                         We do need to get that arranged now don’t we.

She walks up to the man and stretches her arm out to him, gently touching his shoulder. The rest of her body follows slowly behind, drawing close to him as he melts into her embrace.

….                        You’re just my type you know. Strong, rugged

She massages the muscles in his upper arm and then strokes the skin by his exposed neck.

…                         …and full of rich, veracious, beautiful

             blood.

The hand that stroked his neck grips him from his lower back, arching his back as she lifts him to her lips, while her other hand snaps his head to the side. In one violent gesture she bites into his neck, blood splurting out as she feasts.

MAN (OS):          Vampyr! Vampyr!

Another guard is shouting from his post not too far off.

The vampire drops the body of the former guard of to her side. Her face fixed on the other guard. Fresh blood still dripping from her mouth.

More guards begin to gather. Running over from every direction.

The vampire remains standing as she was. She smiles.

In the background Lykin and other creatures of the night rush in through the still open gate.

The guards are attacked by the creatures.

The vampire laughs in the background.

Verse 3, Dwenfelt. 2nd stanza

Verse 3, Dwenfelt. 2^nd stanza

It’s just past sundown. Erloz is sitting near the window peering out at the darkened city. Thyeina is asleep on the simple looking bed. Askah is in her arms, but she isn’t sleeping.

Askah sits up, her mother’s arm dropping beside her.

ASKAH:                            (broken voice) Daddy.

Erloz looks over at askah in the bed.

ERLOZ:               What’s wrong girl? Can’t sleep?

Askah’s face clenches as her eyes grow watery.

ASKAH:                            Daddy I’m scared. I don’t like this place.

Erloz gestures for her to come to his side.

ERLOZ:               Come here.

Askah climbs out of the bed and comes toward Erloz. He reaches out for her and lifts her up onto his leg.

ERLOZ:               Don’t be afraid. I’m here with you.

ASKAH:                            Why do we have to be here? Why can’t we just go back home?

ERLOZ:               Sometimes we have to be places where we don’t want to be. That’s part of life.

He strokes her hair.

…                         But you know, wherever we go, we just have to live life truly, and we will always have that truth with us.

ASKAH:              but daddy I’m scared.

Askah looks over at the sword laying up in the corner, not far from where her father’s

sitting.

ERLOZ:               Do you know where that sword came from?

Askah shakes her head.

Erloz lifts her off his leg and stands up. He takes the sword and brings it over to her.

….                        This was given to me by your grandfather. He was a very strong man, but that’s not why he was given this sword. Do you know why he was given this sword?

Askah shakes her head

….                        They gave him this sword because he loved Kadosh, and whatever he did, wherever he was, he always trusted that Kadosh would guide and protect him.

Askah looks at him confusedly.    

He picks her up again and holds her in one arm while grasping the sword in the other.

ERLOZ:               Did I ever tell you about the Dragon war?

ASKAH:              Dragon war?! You mean with dragons?!

ERLOZ:               Yep, it was a long long time ago, but there was an age where dragons were attacking Evellan.

Askah’s eyes light up.

ASKAH:              Really?!

ERLOZ:               It was a hard time, and everyone was sure that Evellan would be destroyed, but then Kadosh sent the Luminaries.

                            The knights of that age loved Kadosh, so when they made swords they dedicated them to An Kadosh, and so that they would never fight alone Kadosh sent the Luminaries to give strength to their blades and together they slew the dragons.

ASKAH:              (sadly) So there aren’t any more dragons?

Erloz smiles.

ERLOZ:               I don’t know. Maybe.

ASKAH:              but daddy, I’m still scared. Why are we here?

ERLOZ:               Sometimes when we do what’s right we have to go through hard times. But just like Kadosh was with Evellan in the days of dragons he will be with us now too.

He brings the sword over to her.

…                         This sword fought its dragons as well. And just like the others Kadosh sent a Luminary to watch over the ones who carried it.

ASKAH:              So there’s a Luminary in the sword?!

ERLOZ:               No, not exactly. But you can be sure that a Luminary is watching over us. That’s why we don’t need to be afraid. You love Kadosh, don’t you?

ASKAH:              Of course I do daddy.

ERLOZ:               Yep, that’s my girl. So don’t worry, He’s with us always, He protects us because we love him and he loves us, and you know what?

ASKAH:              What?

ERLOZ:               I love you. And I will always be here to protect you too.

ASKAH:              Always?

ERLOZ:               Always.

Askah smiles.

Erloz picks her up and brings her to the bed.

ERLOZ:               Now let’s get some sleep alright?

ASKAH:              Alright.

Erloz begins to walk back toward the window.

ASKAH:              Daddy?

ERLOZ:               Yes?

ASKAH:              So grandpa gave you that word right?

ERLOZ:               Yep.

ASKAH:              So, so, does that mean that you’ll give it to me?

Erloz smiles. He walks back and embraces her.

ERLOZ:               It’s already yours. I’m just taking care of it.

ASKAH:              Until I’m big enough?

ERLOZ:               Yep.

ASKAH:              Ok daddy, you can take care of it.

ERLOZ:               I love you.

ASKAH:              I love you too daddy.

Fashion in the capital of Everik.

These are some developemental sketches, experimenting with fashion in the capital of Everik. The dress of Erloz and Thyeina would be similir to this, but the dress of the residents of Dwenfelt would be quite different, and thus Erloz and Thyeina would stand out a great deal.

Verse 3, Dwenfelt. 1st stanza

Verse 3, Dwenfelt. 1^st stanza

Erloz, Thyeina, and their daughter are traveling up a path silhouetted by the setting sun.

They come to the city of Dwenfelt. It is surrounded by a large wall, built of various materials. A man yells from the top of the wall as Elroz approaches with his family.

GUARD:              Halt! Who are ye and what be thy business.

ERLOZ:               I’ve been sent to make residence here.

GUARD:              And what makes ye think we’ll have ya?

Erloz takes out a document and lifts it up for the guard to see.

ERLOZ:               I’ve been sent by charge of the Arvagatan.

GUARD:             (laughing) The Arvagatan!? Thou thinks that means something? This be Dwenfelt lad. The Lumivassian order is naught but bar talk here.

Erloz reaches into his pouch and takes out a handful of coins.

ERLOZ:               Does this charge serve better?

GUARD:              (Smiling) Ah now ye speaking tongue lad. Stay where ye be.

The entrance is a steel door fit within the large wall. After a moment the door falls

forward and crashes into the turf beneath, chains following behind.

Cut to Erloz walking down the city street. Thyeina walks beside him and Askah is

tightly holding his side.

Close up of Askah. Her eyes are frightful. She looks over at a man leaning up against a

wall. He’s tall and skinny, but his body is hunched over and his clothes are torn and

dirty.

They walk by a blind man trying to navigate his way with a stick, his eyes are covered with a cloth and he’s missing one leg. Another man sitting in the street, dressed in rags yells at the blind man

MAN:                   Why bother, old man? Just kill yerself and be done with it!

The man laughs and then turns toward Erloz and Thyeina.

Askah grabs tightly onto her father’s leg, and hides her face.

MAN:                   Ah whadda we have here?

He stumbles up and looks closer.

MAN:                   Ye aint from here are ya’s? I can tell by yer fancy dress.

He smiles at Thyeina.

ERLOZ:               Leave us be.

MAN:                   Leave us be? What’s that tone ye using?

He notices Askah hiding behind her father.

MAN:                   Ah don’t be scared my wee one. I only eat little girls when I’m angry.

Askah scurries to the other side of her father.

Erloz puts his arm around her and steps past the man.

ERLOZ:               Don’t follow!

The man turns toward Erloz’ back as they walk by.

MAN:                   There’s that tone again lad. And I was just being friendly.

Erloz and the family continue to walk. The man begins to fad into the background when a masked man with a backpack full of long radishes runs up to him and breaks one such radish over his head. The man drops and the man with the radishes kneels down and picks his pockets.

The family enters a run down inn. The innkeeper stares at them with a perturbed expression. Erloz walks up to the counter.

ERLOZ:               We need a room.

The innkeeper continues staring.

ERLOZ:               Is something wrong?

INNKEEP:          (smiling) Ye lookin’ mighty fancy to be walking in these parts.

ERLOZ:               We need a room. Can you help us, or shall we leave?

INNKEEP:          (laughs shortly) Oh no, I can help ya’. It’ll be six drakma per night.

ERLOZ:               (raising his eyebrow) Six drakma? That’s what I’d pay in Everik.

INNKEEP:          Is that a problem?

Erloz looks around the hall and gestures to call attention to the space around him.

ERLOZ:               This isn’t Everik.

INNKEEP:          Did you wanna stay, or should I tell ya to go else where. Maybe sleep on the street and hope that nothing made its way past the city gates.

ERLOZ:              I’ll give you three drakma per night. You and I both now that’s enough.

INNKEEP:          Fine, fine, come on in. It’ll be nice to have something pretty to look at anyway.

The innkeep looks over at Thyeina.

Erloz slams three drakma on the counter.

ERLOZ:               (looking directly in the Innkeeper’s face) Where’s the room?

INNKEEP:          (Slightly shocked) ah, yea. Here’s your key.

The three walk past the innkeep and he pears at them as they pass.

Of Classes and Social Stratification

I decided inbetween verses to post some of my back story developement. This isn't part of the comic,  that is to say, this won't be included in the actual comic, but it does directly deal with the location in which the story takes place.

Also, I didn't see any comments on verse 2, bridge, so if you haven't read that yet feel free to back track to it.

Anyway here we go.. (underlined words describe historical events and or elements that I will give proper names to some time in the future)...

Classes and Social Stratification

To understand the classes of the current Evellian society it is important to go back to it’s origins. Having been born from the conquest over the Drakavassi during the uprising against the Dragon king, Evellan was from the start a warrior nation. Beorn appointed nobility and rulership to those who held the highest ranks in his army and these nobles in turn gave authority to those under them. Beorn was the grand general and each general under him was given authority over different areas of Evellan, and as new cities were established this authority grew. Under the generals various other highly ranked soldiers were given various seats of nobility, and the rest of the common soldiers lived under their militilistic rule as common citizens.

Before the period of the luminaries if a successor was not appointed by the previous ruler or noble it would be determined through a ceremonial non-fatal tournament. The tournament remained even after the luminaries, but the importance of loyalty and devotion to An Kadosh was also added to the qualifications of all nobility. Nobility that failed to revere the name of An Kadosh were allowed to enjoy the luxuries of a noble’s life but their political influence was limited drastically.

These nobles regained much of their power, however, after the king’s assassination and Rakardian takeover. Rakardia did not change the essential ruling system of Evellan, with the exception of a few executions, but the absolute control of the lumivassian generals was lost to some extent (as the rakardian king had usurped much of their power), and thus distinctions of religious adherhence was no longer observed.

After the subsequent rebellion leading to a new liberation rule was established with the Valkorian line, which did not require adherence to the codes of the Lumivassi. Thus a divide was struck between the Lumivassian and Valkorian nobility. This reached it’s climax after the excommunication of Bravus, the last of the Valkorian line, and subsequent civil war, in which the Valkorians were driven out of the seats of nobility entirely, with the exception perhaps of the city of Dwenfelt wherein they were able to maintain power.

Yet despite the loss of the Velkorian nobility many aspects of that reign remain. The Valkorian reign was primarily a utilitarian militaristic one. Most of the major cities had grown beyond their original borders and thus an inner and outer gate had been erected. Nobles often lived in the castles within the central gate and those considered citizens were allowed to dwell within the inner city. 

In order to be a citizen one was expected to participate in the military and should one be unable to do so they would be deemed a non-citizen and thus unable to live within the inner city. This remained even into the lumivassian restoration, though the new requirement to swear loyalty to An Kadosh and the Arvagatan was added.