Author’s Note: After I did Exercise #2 in its entirety and put it online, I decided I wanted to restructure pretty much all of Act #1 to have better flow and setup for the worldbuilding and characters’ voices, so apologies for discrepancies between Exercise #2 and this journal.
Act #1: Scene #1— Dolores Prepares to Be Ousted
The opening scene of “Infatuation” (title subject to change) takes place in our narrator and protagonist, Dolores Zima’s, apartment in Boston, May of 2013. It’s very early in the morning, as she prepares to go to a meeting in Kittery, Maine. Dolores is the only character present in this scene, but in photographs around her apartment, we are introduced to Lesley Wynn Kowalski, a younger but wise character who serves as a mirror to both Dolores and the other character introduced: Mariko Sasaki— the love interest and foil to Dolores. All three of these characters are monster hunters who serve on a council dedicated to protecting the average humans from monsters. Dolores prepares for her final meeting as the treasurer of the Hunters’ Council, reminiscing on how her own hubris and love for Mariko have resulted in her being ousted from the Council today. This scene establishes who Dolores is— a woman once in love now at the risk of losing her job due to her mistakes— and the major players in the story. This scene also introduces the Council, catching interest for the dark fantasy elements of this world.
Act #1: Scene #2— Rhiannon & Devana (Artemis’ Children)
It’s April 25th, 1991, still in Boston, but this time in the Zima family home. The scene features Dolores, her mother Kayleigh O’Hagan-Zima, and her little sister Penelope. The scene also references Dolores’ father Leo, older brother Cillian, and uncle Isaac. Dolores, while throwing a baseball with Penelope, sees a Lightstalker for the first time and urges her to go back in the house. Dolores tells her mother that she saw something strange, to which Kayleigh explains that some people can see these monsters and others cannot, including that no one else in their family is a Hunter. Dolores begs her to teach her how to fight them so she can make sure her siblings are safe, to which Kayleigh hesitantly agrees. The scene cuts to January 29th, 2003, where Penelope calls Dolores to ask her about how her work as a financial analyst for the FBI is going, as well as to remind her that their cousin, Dean, is turning 5 soon. This scene establishes who Dolores is as a regular human with a family, while also establishing her isolation from most of them as she has to hide so much of who she is from them for the sake of ‘protecting them.’
Act #1: Scene #3— Wynn Joins The Council
It’s January 2005, the New England Hunters’ Council Headquarters in Kittery, Maine. All thirteen Council members are present, except for one (Sage, who has retired) when Lesley Wynn Kowalski enters. The Council gossips about Sage’s retirement and the newcomer, the child of a well-known New Hampshire Monitor who noticeably broke down emotionally over the years until a drunk driving accident killed her. Wynn establishes themself as an idealist hell-bent on dismantling bias within Hunter society (especially against Hybrids) and protecting the youth. Dolores is visibly jealous as Mariko mentions wanting someone like them to help her with her work. This scene establishes Mariko’s obsession with her goal, Dolores’ toxic tendencies in relationships that sabotage her own happiness, as well as who Wynn is and their role as a foil to the older characters.
Act #1: Scene #4— Dolores And Declan
It’s April 1992, Boston, though the scene’s micro-scenes goes through May 1992. 16 year-old Dolores, her established family members, and Declan Beck are present for this scene. Dolores, looking for a date for her senior prom, starts dating her brother Cillian’s best friend (and by extent, her friend as well due to closeness) Declan. However, neither progress very far in terms of romantic actions, and at the prom, Declan kisses his friend Finn Jules while Dolores ends up making out with her friend Shannon Decker. The two mutually break up and agree to be friends. This scene establishes more of Dolores’ personality and her tendencies to fall in love with emotionally unavailable people (a trend that is continued later on).
Act #1: Scene #5— Psychiatry
It’s May 2008, back in Boston. We’re in a psychiatrist’s office. Dolores and a psychiatrist (Doctor St. George) discuss concerns that Cillian, Leo, Kayleigh, Cassandra (soon to be established as Dolores’ friend from college), and Wynn have regarding Dolores’ mental state following “The Incident” on May 3rd, 2006 (“The Incident” is Mariko’s death at the story’s climax). It’s revealed that Dolores suffers from Prolonged Grief Disorder and alludes to her having previously undiagnosed mental health issues, which leaves Dolores concerned and reflective of Mariko’s paranoia (implying that she may have had her own struggles that weren’t necessarily addressed). This scene establishes a few things: someone close to Dolores has died, leaving her in distress, Mariko also struggled with mental health issues that were not dealt with prior to “The Incident,” and that these unprocessed struggles may have contributed to Dolores’ current situation of losing her job and how that’s associated with Mariko.
Act #1: Scene #6— Declan Calls Dolores
It’s May 2013, back on the train to Headquarters. Dolores and Declan are the only two characters present in the scene. Declan calls Dolores and apologizes for the early phone call but tries to check in with her, as it’s been a very long time since he’s heard from her. She explains that some work stuff has been happening, but the conversation transitions to Declan offering her condolences, as it’s been just over seven years since Dolores stopped falling in love. This scene establishes that Dolores’ career-orientated mind hasn’t changed after all this time, but the topic suggests that she may be closer to vulnerability. This scene also ‘rights’ the timeline so that the second act is chronological again, as if she is relaying the story to Declan.
Act #1: Scene #7— Mariko’s Induction
It’s January 29th, 2003, the New England Hunters’ Council Headquarters in Kittery, Maine. All thirteen Council members are present, including Dolores as treasurer and the new Monitor for Maine: Mariko Sasaki. Mariko’s induction into the Council wraps up, and Mariko instantly makes a name for herself by calling attention to upticks in Lightstalker attacks in northern New England, drawing Dolores in instantly. As Mariko leaves, Dolores approaches her to ask her out, but Mariko’s intimidating boyfriend Marcus “Marc” Coles shows up to pick her up, and Dolores simply leaves her number written on Mariko’s hand, immediately wary of him. This scene establishes Mariko’s personality within the Council and contradicts her strong personality with hints of a relationship that preys upon her, establishing the external threat of a doomsday (the realized half of the true external threat) and major aspects of the internal conflict of the story (Mariko’s relationships).
Act #1: Scene #8— Coffee “Date”
It’s after the first meeting but before the second meeting since Mariko’s induction, at a cafe in Boston. Mariko and Dolores are both present for this scene, and at the end of the scene, the Council returns in its entirety. Dolores and Mariko discuss their goals within the Council— for Dolores, it’s creating a law that prevents children from being exposed to the dangers of fighting monsters, and for Mariko, it’s preventing a potential doomsday event left behind by the failures of her ancestor— with Mariko showing off her intellect, and Dolores only becoming more interested in her romantically. At the end of the scene, we move to a Council meeting where Mariko’s papers she’s submitted as evidence of this potential doomsday event have been tampered with, leaving Dolores and Mariko in unified suspicion of everyone else. This scene further establishes the personalities of the two main characters. This scene also establishes the somewhat one-sided romantic feelings Dolores has for Mariko, as well as the unrealized half of the external conflict: who is the saboteur (a question that goes unanswered as the internal conflict drives them apart and causes Mariko to devolve).
Scene One:
The Trusted One, the leader of Latabat, is running through his castle as it chips, cracks, and crumbles around him. This is important because it shows/foreshadows the conflict of the story and introduces the character who will later become the antagonist.
Scene Two:
In the cavern of Dafarn, Dergek, his family, and their neighbors are farming when the call from the Trusted One echoes in and deafens them momentarily, and this is followed by the Regent of Dafarn’s messenger (who hold the title bailieft) giving Dergek a scroll that signifies his role as one of the chosen travelers. The audience learns who Dergek (the main character) is and gets more insight into how the plot will build in response to the conflict.
Scene Three:
In the cavern of Pernet, Plurmef is slowly walking through her family’s vineyard and tending to the grapes, but is interrupted when their estate’s bell chimes signaling the arrival of Pernet’s bailieft. Plurmef is introduced as the second traveler when her mother calls her over to receive a scroll from the Regent, and the audience gets to know a bit of who she is and what her unique skills are.
Scene Four:
In the cavern of Clarn, the audience meets Flook as he hurries through the shop- and merchant- lined streets on his way home, clutching a gleaming gear against his chest with a proud grin plastered on his face that turns into a confused, shocked frown when he sees his father standing on their home’s walkway with a bailieft. This introduces Flook as another one of the travelers, and foreshadows both his skills with tinkering/mechanics while and his motivation to succeed as it relates to his relationship with his father.
Scene Five:
In the cavern of Rouch, Renege is sitting in her dressing room when her friend, and the Regent of Rouch’s bailieft, Bailey, enters and tosses a scroll at her head, causing Renege’s eyes to light with excitement. In this scene, Renege is shown to be the fourth traveler that will be leaving Latabat on a mission, and we see that she is somewhat unique in the way that she is a high profile actress, she’s close with a member of nobility, and she wants to leave her life behind (for the reason that she finds it monotone, but that is not revealed until later on).
Scene Six:
In the cavern of Tabat, Clanas returns from a brief trip to Dafarn where he had been called in to fix an issue with the irrigation systems, casually strolling through the streets with money clutched in one hand and nantes (a somewhat expensive, sweet fruit) in the other. When he gets back to the treatment plant where he works, he sees the bailieft for Tabat and gives him a hard time before ultimately accepting the scroll and going on his merry way back to work, introducing him as a go-with-the-flow, relaxed, semi-carefree character who will join the expedition as the fifth and final traveler.
Scene Seven:
This scene cuts to the evening of the day when the travelers all received their scrolls, and all of the travelers are standing in the foyer of the palace awkwardly when the Trusted One finally comes to collect them. He shows them back to the room with the floating crystal ball and gives them their mission, forcing them to accept it, before sending them off to sleep. This is important because it really showcases the conflict, puts all of the main characters together for the first time to give an idea of how they will interact with/influence one another, and sets the scene for the journey that the five travelers are about to embark on.
Scene Eight:
This is the final scene of Act One. The next morning, at dawn (even before sunrise), the five travelers meet at the gates of Latabat with all the supplies they can carry, preparing to step out into the world. The Trusted One sets them on their way in secret– with no public spectacle at all– and opens the gates, marking the end of Act One and the beginning of the mission.
1. Inside the chicken cage in the store.
Main character, store shop owner
Main character buys a chicken from the shop owner, then leaves.
Introduces us to our main character, tells us he is some sort of farmer or using the chicken for something else. The coins used in the transaction show us that we are not in the present.
2. Outside the shop, on the road of a bustling little old western town.
Main character, passer byes
Main character walks down the street while others meander around, going from place to place
Introduces us to the setting, an old western town, and shows us how the town operates, making it feel more real.
3. The main characters carriage
Main character, deputy
The main character straddles up a horse to a carriage, a deputy talks to the mc from across the street
Gives a voice to the main character showing off his kind mannerisms and his connections to the people of the town.
4. Outside the main characters house
The main character, a motherly figure, and two children.
The main character arrives at this house where two children run out to greet him and an old woman stands by the doorway to talk to him.
Gives us the home area, a place that the main character regards as a safe haven from the outside world. Also introduces us to who the character actually is, the oldest son of this family. Also shows us the father who, despite his age, still works.
5. Inside the main characters house
The family
A family dinner is held, and the main character and his father discuss what the mc is going to do with his life, and when he is going to marry. This turns into more of a heated debate as the conversation continues, before the mother stops it and the father leaves to tend to the farm once more.
Adds conflict, a sense of resentment perhaps but also fully introduces us to the personalities of the main characters family, allowing the audience to connect to them.
6. Dead of night at the main characters house
Main character and his family, the Red Riders, and Red Jackson.
While the family is sleeping, the main character is sitting by a river when suddenly he hears screams and noises coming from his house. When he runs over to see what is happening, his home is on fire and his family has been slaughtered by a gang called “The Red Riders.” The leader, Red Jackson, lops off the arm of the main character as he tries to stop them. They then ride away as the main character bleeds out in the grass.
Sets up the main conflict in the story, gives our main character the big change to their “status quo”.
7. Early morning after the attack
Main character, Burnam
The day after the raid, an old man named Burnam shows up to the farm and helps the mc to the main town
Introduction to the main character’s “wise man” who will help the mc get his goal through training
8. Back in town in a doctor’s office
Main character, Burnam, and the doctor
MC wakes up on an operating table, scarred from his experience. His missing arm has been replaced by a steampunk prosthetic by the doctor, a strange man who talks little. Burnam shows up to talk to the MC about what happened. He shares his experience with the Red Riders.
Connects our MC to another character and gives our character an interesting twist with the new hand on the genre of Old West.
9. Back at the MC’s family home
MC, Burnam
MC and Burnam return to the ashes of the attack. MC finds his dead parents and brothers, whom he buries in the field. He also retrieves his dad’s old revolver, with which he swears to kill Red Jackson with.
Brings our main conflict to the front of the story, setting up the rest of the story with the MC driving it forward for revenge.
1: Jamie, freshly divorced mother of two, is exiting a courthouse with who we can infer is her lawyer based on their interaction. They discuss Jamie’s full custody win, and her lawyer urges her to stick up for her kids.
2: Jamie and her son, Charlie, are watching her daughter, Millie’s, softball game. Millie hits a home run and the family celebrates with ice cream—the camera lingers on the happy family.
3: Jamie drops Charlie off at school. He asks when he will see his dad again, and Jamie has to tell him that she doesn’t really know.
4: The family is eating pizza as their Friday night tradition, sitting on the couch watching a comedy movie. Charlie falls asleep and Millie has a conversation with her mother about her father, and his new role/absence in their lives as well as his past behavior that led them here.
5: Jamie is sipping coffee in the morning, her phone rings and her best friend is on the other side. They make plans and Jamie asks Millie to watch Charlie for a few hours that evening.
6: Jamie leaves the children for a few hours. She spends time with her close friends at one of their houses, they discuss Jamie’s changed family dynamic and her fears that have grown out of it.
7: Jamie returns home around ten o’clock, with Charlie sleeping and Millie watching TV in the living room. Millie surrenders to her bedroom for the night and Jamie takes her spot on the couch.
8: A couple of hours later, Jamie, half asleep on the couch, wakes to a noise from the front door. Seconds later, the door is kicked in and two armed intruders enter the living room.
Scene 1 – Prologue
On a plain black background there is a glittering star that gets crushed into many smaller stars by a giant hand as the background is revealed to be a laboratory of sorts. This intro is mainly for flavor and will make sense later down the line.
Scene 2 – Meeting Our Lead!
We cut to our lead waking up from their rest and getting ready to tackle the day. This scene is mainly to introduce our main character and give a little demonstration as to what he can do. He is inhuman in nature as are the rest of the cast as you all will see so this is a means to that end. Once he is ready he exits his home and makes his way over to visit two of his close friends.
Scene 3 – Pajamas
Two creatures (I haven’t given anybody proper names yet so these are placeholders) who I will refer to as Sun and Moon are in the midst of a heated argument because Sun stole and is currently wearing Moon’s pajamas. They can’t fit Moon but she is still upset about it because they were a gift.
Scene 4 – Sun and Moon
The three meet up and Moon ends up giving our lead the rundown of the argument her and Sun just had. They had agreed to talk about it some other time once our lead came over but Sun just got her so riled up she couldn’t let it go.
Scene 5 – With our powers combined!
Our lead sees a leaf flying in the wind. In the realm they reside, leaves aren’t a thing. Our lead asks Sun to fly up and get it but Sun tells them that he can’t fly that high. This is where we get introduced into the fusion mechanic as Sun and Moon combine into some homunculus rocket thing with an eclipse motif (haven’t had time to work on character design yet) to fly up and get the leaf. When they combined, however, that ended up tearing up Moon’s pajamas (the fusion is bigger than both of them) which will come into play later.
Scene 6 – The… outside?
The two descend with the leaf in hand and they split up, handing the leaf to our lead as they do so. They then break the news to our lead about the existence of the outside. Our lead insists on wanting to see the outside but the say no as it’s not possible. Moon insists on the three going to her tailor to get it fixed suggesting that perhaps The Tailor might know a thing or two about this mysterious green object.
Scene 7 – The Tailor
The trio enter a cylindrical structure (or something with high walls, not sure what specifically yet. Perhaps a cave of some sort?) as apparently this is where The Tailor has set up shop. Moon calls for him and scittering noises are heard in the distance. Then from the ceiling comes down a horrifying centipede-like monster made of many fingers with a giant hand at the front. Turns out that is The Tailor as made evident by the ring with little glasses on top that is worn by the middle finger. While he cannot talk he can make hand gestures with his face if you can believe it. While putting in the request of making Moon a new pair of pajamas, our lead asked them about the leaf in which The Tailor points them in the direction of someone who might know a thing or two.
(Little side tangent about The Tailor! You don’t have to read this part if you don’t want to. I mentioned before in scene 2 that our lead isn’t human. That’s true, because no one here is! This doesn’t take place in our world thus hardly anyone here is humanoid. The first three characters you meet have some human like qualities but for this guy I wanted to go scarily inhuman to remind people where we are. That and because I think the idea of him making hand signs with his face to communicate is really funny to be frank. He’s a nice guy though will not have a main role. But on that note for people reading this I have a question. I’m really struggling to come up with names for these characters. They’re not human so I don’t want them to sound normal but at the same time I don’t want their names to sound like that “haha look at me I’m so quirky” kind of obscure name (that description is a bit rude and I’m sorry for that but I hope you get my point). How do you guys land on names you like?)
5 thoughts on “JOURNAL # 9”
Author’s Note: After I did Exercise #2 in its entirety and put it online, I decided I wanted to restructure pretty much all of Act #1 to have better flow and setup for the worldbuilding and characters’ voices, so apologies for discrepancies between Exercise #2 and this journal.
Act #1: Scene #1— Dolores Prepares to Be Ousted
The opening scene of “Infatuation” (title subject to change) takes place in our narrator and protagonist, Dolores Zima’s, apartment in Boston, May of 2013. It’s very early in the morning, as she prepares to go to a meeting in Kittery, Maine. Dolores is the only character present in this scene, but in photographs around her apartment, we are introduced to Lesley Wynn Kowalski, a younger but wise character who serves as a mirror to both Dolores and the other character introduced: Mariko Sasaki— the love interest and foil to Dolores. All three of these characters are monster hunters who serve on a council dedicated to protecting the average humans from monsters. Dolores prepares for her final meeting as the treasurer of the Hunters’ Council, reminiscing on how her own hubris and love for Mariko have resulted in her being ousted from the Council today. This scene establishes who Dolores is— a woman once in love now at the risk of losing her job due to her mistakes— and the major players in the story. This scene also introduces the Council, catching interest for the dark fantasy elements of this world.
Act #1: Scene #2— Rhiannon & Devana (Artemis’ Children)
It’s April 25th, 1991, still in Boston, but this time in the Zima family home. The scene features Dolores, her mother Kayleigh O’Hagan-Zima, and her little sister Penelope. The scene also references Dolores’ father Leo, older brother Cillian, and uncle Isaac. Dolores, while throwing a baseball with Penelope, sees a Lightstalker for the first time and urges her to go back in the house. Dolores tells her mother that she saw something strange, to which Kayleigh explains that some people can see these monsters and others cannot, including that no one else in their family is a Hunter. Dolores begs her to teach her how to fight them so she can make sure her siblings are safe, to which Kayleigh hesitantly agrees. The scene cuts to January 29th, 2003, where Penelope calls Dolores to ask her about how her work as a financial analyst for the FBI is going, as well as to remind her that their cousin, Dean, is turning 5 soon. This scene establishes who Dolores is as a regular human with a family, while also establishing her isolation from most of them as she has to hide so much of who she is from them for the sake of ‘protecting them.’
Act #1: Scene #3— Wynn Joins The Council
It’s January 2005, the New England Hunters’ Council Headquarters in Kittery, Maine. All thirteen Council members are present, except for one (Sage, who has retired) when Lesley Wynn Kowalski enters. The Council gossips about Sage’s retirement and the newcomer, the child of a well-known New Hampshire Monitor who noticeably broke down emotionally over the years until a drunk driving accident killed her. Wynn establishes themself as an idealist hell-bent on dismantling bias within Hunter society (especially against Hybrids) and protecting the youth. Dolores is visibly jealous as Mariko mentions wanting someone like them to help her with her work. This scene establishes Mariko’s obsession with her goal, Dolores’ toxic tendencies in relationships that sabotage her own happiness, as well as who Wynn is and their role as a foil to the older characters.
Act #1: Scene #4— Dolores And Declan
It’s April 1992, Boston, though the scene’s micro-scenes goes through May 1992. 16 year-old Dolores, her established family members, and Declan Beck are present for this scene. Dolores, looking for a date for her senior prom, starts dating her brother Cillian’s best friend (and by extent, her friend as well due to closeness) Declan. However, neither progress very far in terms of romantic actions, and at the prom, Declan kisses his friend Finn Jules while Dolores ends up making out with her friend Shannon Decker. The two mutually break up and agree to be friends. This scene establishes more of Dolores’ personality and her tendencies to fall in love with emotionally unavailable people (a trend that is continued later on).
Act #1: Scene #5— Psychiatry
It’s May 2008, back in Boston. We’re in a psychiatrist’s office. Dolores and a psychiatrist (Doctor St. George) discuss concerns that Cillian, Leo, Kayleigh, Cassandra (soon to be established as Dolores’ friend from college), and Wynn have regarding Dolores’ mental state following “The Incident” on May 3rd, 2006 (“The Incident” is Mariko’s death at the story’s climax). It’s revealed that Dolores suffers from Prolonged Grief Disorder and alludes to her having previously undiagnosed mental health issues, which leaves Dolores concerned and reflective of Mariko’s paranoia (implying that she may have had her own struggles that weren’t necessarily addressed). This scene establishes a few things: someone close to Dolores has died, leaving her in distress, Mariko also struggled with mental health issues that were not dealt with prior to “The Incident,” and that these unprocessed struggles may have contributed to Dolores’ current situation of losing her job and how that’s associated with Mariko.
Act #1: Scene #6— Declan Calls Dolores
It’s May 2013, back on the train to Headquarters. Dolores and Declan are the only two characters present in the scene. Declan calls Dolores and apologizes for the early phone call but tries to check in with her, as it’s been a very long time since he’s heard from her. She explains that some work stuff has been happening, but the conversation transitions to Declan offering her condolences, as it’s been just over seven years since Dolores stopped falling in love. This scene establishes that Dolores’ career-orientated mind hasn’t changed after all this time, but the topic suggests that she may be closer to vulnerability. This scene also ‘rights’ the timeline so that the second act is chronological again, as if she is relaying the story to Declan.
Act #1: Scene #7— Mariko’s Induction
It’s January 29th, 2003, the New England Hunters’ Council Headquarters in Kittery, Maine. All thirteen Council members are present, including Dolores as treasurer and the new Monitor for Maine: Mariko Sasaki. Mariko’s induction into the Council wraps up, and Mariko instantly makes a name for herself by calling attention to upticks in Lightstalker attacks in northern New England, drawing Dolores in instantly. As Mariko leaves, Dolores approaches her to ask her out, but Mariko’s intimidating boyfriend Marcus “Marc” Coles shows up to pick her up, and Dolores simply leaves her number written on Mariko’s hand, immediately wary of him. This scene establishes Mariko’s personality within the Council and contradicts her strong personality with hints of a relationship that preys upon her, establishing the external threat of a doomsday (the realized half of the true external threat) and major aspects of the internal conflict of the story (Mariko’s relationships).
Act #1: Scene #8— Coffee “Date”
It’s after the first meeting but before the second meeting since Mariko’s induction, at a cafe in Boston. Mariko and Dolores are both present for this scene, and at the end of the scene, the Council returns in its entirety. Dolores and Mariko discuss their goals within the Council— for Dolores, it’s creating a law that prevents children from being exposed to the dangers of fighting monsters, and for Mariko, it’s preventing a potential doomsday event left behind by the failures of her ancestor— with Mariko showing off her intellect, and Dolores only becoming more interested in her romantically. At the end of the scene, we move to a Council meeting where Mariko’s papers she’s submitted as evidence of this potential doomsday event have been tampered with, leaving Dolores and Mariko in unified suspicion of everyone else. This scene further establishes the personalities of the two main characters. This scene also establishes the somewhat one-sided romantic feelings Dolores has for Mariko, as well as the unrealized half of the external conflict: who is the saboteur (a question that goes unanswered as the internal conflict drives them apart and causes Mariko to devolve).
Scene One:
The Trusted One, the leader of Latabat, is running through his castle as it chips, cracks, and crumbles around him. This is important because it shows/foreshadows the conflict of the story and introduces the character who will later become the antagonist.
Scene Two:
In the cavern of Dafarn, Dergek, his family, and their neighbors are farming when the call from the Trusted One echoes in and deafens them momentarily, and this is followed by the Regent of Dafarn’s messenger (who hold the title bailieft) giving Dergek a scroll that signifies his role as one of the chosen travelers. The audience learns who Dergek (the main character) is and gets more insight into how the plot will build in response to the conflict.
Scene Three:
In the cavern of Pernet, Plurmef is slowly walking through her family’s vineyard and tending to the grapes, but is interrupted when their estate’s bell chimes signaling the arrival of Pernet’s bailieft. Plurmef is introduced as the second traveler when her mother calls her over to receive a scroll from the Regent, and the audience gets to know a bit of who she is and what her unique skills are.
Scene Four:
In the cavern of Clarn, the audience meets Flook as he hurries through the shop- and merchant- lined streets on his way home, clutching a gleaming gear against his chest with a proud grin plastered on his face that turns into a confused, shocked frown when he sees his father standing on their home’s walkway with a bailieft. This introduces Flook as another one of the travelers, and foreshadows both his skills with tinkering/mechanics while and his motivation to succeed as it relates to his relationship with his father.
Scene Five:
In the cavern of Rouch, Renege is sitting in her dressing room when her friend, and the Regent of Rouch’s bailieft, Bailey, enters and tosses a scroll at her head, causing Renege’s eyes to light with excitement. In this scene, Renege is shown to be the fourth traveler that will be leaving Latabat on a mission, and we see that she is somewhat unique in the way that she is a high profile actress, she’s close with a member of nobility, and she wants to leave her life behind (for the reason that she finds it monotone, but that is not revealed until later on).
Scene Six:
In the cavern of Tabat, Clanas returns from a brief trip to Dafarn where he had been called in to fix an issue with the irrigation systems, casually strolling through the streets with money clutched in one hand and nantes (a somewhat expensive, sweet fruit) in the other. When he gets back to the treatment plant where he works, he sees the bailieft for Tabat and gives him a hard time before ultimately accepting the scroll and going on his merry way back to work, introducing him as a go-with-the-flow, relaxed, semi-carefree character who will join the expedition as the fifth and final traveler.
Scene Seven:
This scene cuts to the evening of the day when the travelers all received their scrolls, and all of the travelers are standing in the foyer of the palace awkwardly when the Trusted One finally comes to collect them. He shows them back to the room with the floating crystal ball and gives them their mission, forcing them to accept it, before sending them off to sleep. This is important because it really showcases the conflict, puts all of the main characters together for the first time to give an idea of how they will interact with/influence one another, and sets the scene for the journey that the five travelers are about to embark on.
Scene Eight:
This is the final scene of Act One. The next morning, at dawn (even before sunrise), the five travelers meet at the gates of Latabat with all the supplies they can carry, preparing to step out into the world. The Trusted One sets them on their way in secret– with no public spectacle at all– and opens the gates, marking the end of Act One and the beginning of the mission.
1. Inside the chicken cage in the store.
Main character, store shop owner
Main character buys a chicken from the shop owner, then leaves.
Introduces us to our main character, tells us he is some sort of farmer or using the chicken for something else. The coins used in the transaction show us that we are not in the present.
2. Outside the shop, on the road of a bustling little old western town.
Main character, passer byes
Main character walks down the street while others meander around, going from place to place
Introduces us to the setting, an old western town, and shows us how the town operates, making it feel more real.
3. The main characters carriage
Main character, deputy
The main character straddles up a horse to a carriage, a deputy talks to the mc from across the street
Gives a voice to the main character showing off his kind mannerisms and his connections to the people of the town.
4. Outside the main characters house
The main character, a motherly figure, and two children.
The main character arrives at this house where two children run out to greet him and an old woman stands by the doorway to talk to him.
Gives us the home area, a place that the main character regards as a safe haven from the outside world. Also introduces us to who the character actually is, the oldest son of this family. Also shows us the father who, despite his age, still works.
5. Inside the main characters house
The family
A family dinner is held, and the main character and his father discuss what the mc is going to do with his life, and when he is going to marry. This turns into more of a heated debate as the conversation continues, before the mother stops it and the father leaves to tend to the farm once more.
Adds conflict, a sense of resentment perhaps but also fully introduces us to the personalities of the main characters family, allowing the audience to connect to them.
6. Dead of night at the main characters house
Main character and his family, the Red Riders, and Red Jackson.
While the family is sleeping, the main character is sitting by a river when suddenly he hears screams and noises coming from his house. When he runs over to see what is happening, his home is on fire and his family has been slaughtered by a gang called “The Red Riders.” The leader, Red Jackson, lops off the arm of the main character as he tries to stop them. They then ride away as the main character bleeds out in the grass.
Sets up the main conflict in the story, gives our main character the big change to their “status quo”.
7. Early morning after the attack
Main character, Burnam
The day after the raid, an old man named Burnam shows up to the farm and helps the mc to the main town
Introduction to the main character’s “wise man” who will help the mc get his goal through training
8. Back in town in a doctor’s office
Main character, Burnam, and the doctor
MC wakes up on an operating table, scarred from his experience. His missing arm has been replaced by a steampunk prosthetic by the doctor, a strange man who talks little. Burnam shows up to talk to the MC about what happened. He shares his experience with the Red Riders.
Connects our MC to another character and gives our character an interesting twist with the new hand on the genre of Old West.
9. Back at the MC’s family home
MC, Burnam
MC and Burnam return to the ashes of the attack. MC finds his dead parents and brothers, whom he buries in the field. He also retrieves his dad’s old revolver, with which he swears to kill Red Jackson with.
Brings our main conflict to the front of the story, setting up the rest of the story with the MC driving it forward for revenge.
1: Jamie, freshly divorced mother of two, is exiting a courthouse with who we can infer is her lawyer based on their interaction. They discuss Jamie’s full custody win, and her lawyer urges her to stick up for her kids.
2: Jamie and her son, Charlie, are watching her daughter, Millie’s, softball game. Millie hits a home run and the family celebrates with ice cream—the camera lingers on the happy family.
3: Jamie drops Charlie off at school. He asks when he will see his dad again, and Jamie has to tell him that she doesn’t really know.
4: The family is eating pizza as their Friday night tradition, sitting on the couch watching a comedy movie. Charlie falls asleep and Millie has a conversation with her mother about her father, and his new role/absence in their lives as well as his past behavior that led them here.
5: Jamie is sipping coffee in the morning, her phone rings and her best friend is on the other side. They make plans and Jamie asks Millie to watch Charlie for a few hours that evening.
6: Jamie leaves the children for a few hours. She spends time with her close friends at one of their houses, they discuss Jamie’s changed family dynamic and her fears that have grown out of it.
7: Jamie returns home around ten o’clock, with Charlie sleeping and Millie watching TV in the living room. Millie surrenders to her bedroom for the night and Jamie takes her spot on the couch.
8: A couple of hours later, Jamie, half asleep on the couch, wakes to a noise from the front door. Seconds later, the door is kicked in and two armed intruders enter the living room.
Scene 1 – Prologue
On a plain black background there is a glittering star that gets crushed into many smaller stars by a giant hand as the background is revealed to be a laboratory of sorts. This intro is mainly for flavor and will make sense later down the line.
Scene 2 – Meeting Our Lead!
We cut to our lead waking up from their rest and getting ready to tackle the day. This scene is mainly to introduce our main character and give a little demonstration as to what he can do. He is inhuman in nature as are the rest of the cast as you all will see so this is a means to that end. Once he is ready he exits his home and makes his way over to visit two of his close friends.
Scene 3 – Pajamas
Two creatures (I haven’t given anybody proper names yet so these are placeholders) who I will refer to as Sun and Moon are in the midst of a heated argument because Sun stole and is currently wearing Moon’s pajamas. They can’t fit Moon but she is still upset about it because they were a gift.
Scene 4 – Sun and Moon
The three meet up and Moon ends up giving our lead the rundown of the argument her and Sun just had. They had agreed to talk about it some other time once our lead came over but Sun just got her so riled up she couldn’t let it go.
Scene 5 – With our powers combined!
Our lead sees a leaf flying in the wind. In the realm they reside, leaves aren’t a thing. Our lead asks Sun to fly up and get it but Sun tells them that he can’t fly that high. This is where we get introduced into the fusion mechanic as Sun and Moon combine into some homunculus rocket thing with an eclipse motif (haven’t had time to work on character design yet) to fly up and get the leaf. When they combined, however, that ended up tearing up Moon’s pajamas (the fusion is bigger than both of them) which will come into play later.
Scene 6 – The… outside?
The two descend with the leaf in hand and they split up, handing the leaf to our lead as they do so. They then break the news to our lead about the existence of the outside. Our lead insists on wanting to see the outside but the say no as it’s not possible. Moon insists on the three going to her tailor to get it fixed suggesting that perhaps The Tailor might know a thing or two about this mysterious green object.
Scene 7 – The Tailor
The trio enter a cylindrical structure (or something with high walls, not sure what specifically yet. Perhaps a cave of some sort?) as apparently this is where The Tailor has set up shop. Moon calls for him and scittering noises are heard in the distance. Then from the ceiling comes down a horrifying centipede-like monster made of many fingers with a giant hand at the front. Turns out that is The Tailor as made evident by the ring with little glasses on top that is worn by the middle finger. While he cannot talk he can make hand gestures with his face if you can believe it. While putting in the request of making Moon a new pair of pajamas, our lead asked them about the leaf in which The Tailor points them in the direction of someone who might know a thing or two.
(Little side tangent about The Tailor! You don’t have to read this part if you don’t want to. I mentioned before in scene 2 that our lead isn’t human. That’s true, because no one here is! This doesn’t take place in our world thus hardly anyone here is humanoid. The first three characters you meet have some human like qualities but for this guy I wanted to go scarily inhuman to remind people where we are. That and because I think the idea of him making hand signs with his face to communicate is really funny to be frank. He’s a nice guy though will not have a main role. But on that note for people reading this I have a question. I’m really struggling to come up with names for these characters. They’re not human so I don’t want them to sound normal but at the same time I don’t want their names to sound like that “haha look at me I’m so quirky” kind of obscure name (that description is a bit rude and I’m sorry for that but I hope you get my point). How do you guys land on names you like?)