Fearseeker

EXT. HANGMAN'S TREE. NIGHT,

The wind howls, making the three BODIES strung up to the tree knock against each other. FELSEN SOLIDE (22, caucasian, grey eyes and hair) moves under the three and makes a fire before resting against the base and placing a blanket over himself. In the light of the fire, the BODIES gradually come alive.

 

BODY 1

Well, what have we got here?

 

BODY 2

A little lamb whose lost his way.

 

BODY 3

Fresh flesh for the hellions.

 

FELSEN

Do you mind? I'm trying to sleep.

 

BODY 1

It speaks, and so brave in the presence of the

dead.

 

FELSEN

Not brave, you need to feel fear to be brave. I'm fearless.

 

BODY 2

A bold claim. We shall see if it lasts the night.

 

FELSEN

So we shall, now hold your tongue.

 

BODY 3

Oh no, you have interested us now. Why have

you come to this cursed province, little lamb?

Only evil is found here.

 

FELSEN

(Sighs)

I seek a princess. Her name is Eis Kalte.

I don't suppose you would happen to know

in which direction I can find her?

 

BODY 1

Why of course we do, she was one one that ordered

us hanged. Take the eastern road there and in half

a day you'll reach Castle Shudder, where your

princess resides.

 

FELSEN

(Pause)

Thanks. For what reason were you hanged?

 

BODY 2

Rebellion against the crown, though our current

condition does infer an ulterior motive.

 

FELSEN

What do you mean?

 

BODY 3

No time for explanations now, flesh, your fire has

attracted a visitor.

 

From out of the shadows appears a HELLION, a demonic lion.

 

HELLION

What was sought has now been found, your blood

will boil and your bones will be ground, unto

my core your soul will burn - .

 

From beneath his blanket, FELSEN throws out the weight of his chain-sickle, the heavy metal ball smashing into the HELLION'S face.

 

FELSEN

Rotten demons never learn.

 

FELSEN and the HELLION fight, and in the process the three bodies are set alight by the fire. After killing the HELLION, FELSEN tries to salvage what remains of the BODIES, but only the head of one of them is still animated.

 

FELSEN

Danger averted. Now what was that about the

princess having ulterior motives for executing you?

BODY 3

On second thought, I think it will be more

entertaining if you find out for yourself.

That's if the rest of the hellions don't

eat alive you first.

 

FELSEN

A tight-lipped corpse as well as a pessimist.

What use are you to me?

 

FELSEN drops the head and crushes it with his boot. From the darkness he sees the shapes of yet more HELLIONS.

 

FELSEN

The eastern road? No time like the present.

 

Using the fire, he sets the entire tree alight, and slips into the shadows as the HELLIONS are drawn to the flames.

 

FELSEN

The things I do for fear.

 

EXT. CLIFF. NIGHT.

Time has passed and FELSEN has made progress, watching him from the cliff is the princess, EIS KALTE (21, Caucasian, white eyes and hair) along with her Shudder Lords, PARANIOA, TERROR, DREAD, HYSTERIA, and HORROR. All of them are on horseback.

 

EIS

So this is the marauder that's been killing

off my demons... is he a demigod?

 

PARANOIA

No, princess, he is a man; but they say he

is a man without fear.

 

HORROR

So they say.

 

EIS

A feeble excuse, fearlessness cannot defend

against tooth, claw or blade, only the

feelings summoned in their presence.

 

She draws an arrow into her bow.

 

EIS

I shall slay him now and be done with it.

 

HORROR

Pardon my impertinence, princess, but I am

deeply insulted by the idea that this mortal

is without any fear at all. As you know, we

Shudder Lords take great pride in our influence.

 

EIS

So I'll put an arrow through his skull and end

your indignation.

 

HORROR

Pray don't, it would pain me if he died before

we found out if he really was invulnerable to

our powers.

 

TERROR

Please, lure him to the castle, let us test his mettle!

 

EIS

With the ritual so close? I will not allow it.

I have permitted your escapades thus far, my lords,

but on this instance they would put my plans

in jeopardy. This is not some swaggering knight,

this is a brute with the skill to kill a denizen

of the underworld.

 

DREAD

Too true, which is why we will only spend a day

on him. If he is still unbroken after that time,

which I severely doubt will be the case, then

we will have him executed immediately.

 

EIS

And what if he escapes your clutches like he has

your demons? What if he lasts two further days in

the castle, and is still there during the ritual?

I do not like it. I have not harvested so many

human souls just to risk my transformation on such

a trite fancy.

HYSTERIA

It is not a fancy! His fortitude is an affront to

fear itself!

 

HORROR

If you are to become the Shudder Lord of Phobia

then you must concern yourself with these matters,

princess. Please, spare him for us.

 

He shows her a golden necklace with a diamond in it.

 

FLASHBACK TO:

 

INT. SHUDDER CASTLE. NIGHT.

A younger EIS is shown standing over QUEEN KALTE'S bloody corpse, she is surrounded by the five Shudder Lords. She presents her mother's necklace to HORROR, who takes it.

 

BACK TO PRESENT:

 

EIS lowers her bow.

 

EIS

So be it. Though if he remains a second after your

allowed time then I am calling in the blackguard.

 

PARANIOA

That will not be needed, princess, your word is

law.

 

EIS

That it is.

 

Using her bow she sets off a bolt of magic into the sky, which then summons a snowstorm which plagues FELSEN.

 

EIS

Come then, Fearseeker, escape the cold and

venture to the keep beyond, I will make sure

my father gives you a warm welcome.

EXT. VERLASSEN. MORNING.

Now trudging through a snow-covered medieval city, FELSEN is approached by a royal carriage with horses.

 

DRIVER

Peace, traveler. I have orders from the king to

bring a fearless demon slayer to Castle Kalte.

Would you be such a man?

 

From his coat pocket FELSEN produces the small head of a FIEND.

 

FELSEN

My friend here would say so.

 

INT. CASTLE KALTE. MORNING.

FELSEN is sitting at a long table gorging himself on food, KING KALTE and his entourage regard his rough manners with a touch of disdain.

 

KING KALTE

You must be wondering why I brought you here?

 

FELSEN

It crossed my mind.

 

KING KALTE

I see you are a man of rustic tastes, so I will

not bother to dress my point in ceremony. There

is a fortress to the north, Castle Shudder, it

is filled with demons and I want them all dead.

I will provide whatever you desire as a reward.

 

FELSEN

I'll want a fortune.

 

KING KALTE

It will be granted.

FELSEN

And the hand of your daughter.

 

KING KALTE pauses for a moment, and then starts to laugh.

 

FELSEN

This is amusing to you?

 

KING KALTE

Beyond measure, the princess is not quite the

marrying sort. But as you wish, though I would

warn against it, the king of Verlassen is the

ruler of a cursed land. You will find no

happiness in nobility here.

 

FELSEN

It is not for the crown, it is more of a boyhood

beguin. May I have her summoned?

 

KING KALTE

Dear lad, she is already here.

 

A small piece of ice falls on FELSEN'S head, looking up, he sees EIS is sitting cross legged on the chandelier.

 

FLASHBACK TO:

 

EXT. ANGST ROYAL GARDENS. DAY

A young FELSEN and EIS walk through the gardens, smiling.

 

BACK TO PRESENT:

 

EIS

Hello, rabbit slayer.

 

FELSEN

Hello, princess. I'm glad to say my dreams did not

do your beauty justice. You have grown into a

goddess.

 

EIS

What pretty words, but to no purpose. If you enter

Castle Shudder you will leave it a cadaver. I

would have left you to your fate were you a stranger,

but for old times sake I will warn you; give up this quest and leave this hell-pit now. Swallow that pride

of yours in exchange for your life.

 

FELSEN

I see I do not inspire much faith, but tell me, if

by some miracle I were to cleanse the entire keep - .

 

EIS

I will never love you. I have a heart of ice.

 

FELSEN

Well, then I will make it my mission to melt it.

 

EIS scowls and teleports herself away. FELSEN looks to KING KALTE.

 

FELSEN

Early days.