Tethers of Kin Script

Tethers of Kin Pages 1-24 By Rox Rymland Characters Aristo
the Rat King Eema the Queen Mother Magne the Court Mage Raphell Royal Guard Dellmon Royal Guard Eofor Court Member Cyprian Duke and Uncle to the King Rat Relative #1 Warrez the Gharial Rebel Crowd Person #1 Crowd Person #2 Crowd Person #3 Royal Guard #1 Royal Guard #2 Crowd Person #4 Rat Relative #2 Rat Relative #3

PANEL ONE: In the Throne Room King Aristo
is sitting on a throne looking uncomfortable. His mother is sitting on a lesser throne at his right, leaning towards him and talking in his ear. Magne is standing at his left on a lower lever so her head is not much higher than his ears. A) ARISTO NARRATION: “Before I wore the crown, I watched my King diminish. I feared the throne for what it took from him… B) ARISTO NARRATION: “My mother would always remind that only after a fall is one able to rise… PANEL TWO: Eema leans forward hoping to catch the King's worried gaze. 1) EEMA: Several land taxes have not been collected. Lords are short as tenants are refusing to pay. PANEL THREE: Aristo meets his mother’s stare. Magne leans forward to be visible behind him. 2) MAGNE: In a time of scarcity, taxes should be reasonably adjusted. People are not choosing to withhold out of anything other than necessity. PANEL FOUR: The King is now looking at Magne as his mother leans forward to respond to her remark. 3) EEMA: It is due to scarcity that it is most critical to uphold our governance and project a stable front. It is times such as these we most need funds. Resources must go to our guards and our defences. PANEL FIVE: The King looks forward in concern, seemingly tuning out of the conversation, as Eema looks accusingly at Magne. 4) EEMA: And then to our export relations. Our neighbors have not challenged our sovereignty because of our trade of produce. Eyes watch from the north and east, you would have us reveal our vulnerabilities?

PANEL SIX: Magne has an incredulous expression and a stiff
pose as if she is straining to remain calm. On the other side of Aristo, Eema turns her head away and closes her eyes to avoid meeting her gaze. 5) MAGNE: You want to prioritize sending our goods out as trade? The imports we receive from our allies do not feed our people. PANEL SEVEN: Same visual as previous but Eema has opened an eye to side-eye Magne with antagonizing suspicion. Magne leans towards her with a sharp pointed expression. 6) EEMA: Remind me what is the spiritual concern over our nation’s trade and resource allocation? 7) MAGNE: I am both spiritual and concerned. PANEL EIGHT: Aristo breaks from his thousand yard stare and stands up to place himself in between them. The other two look at him slightly surprised. 8) ARISTO: Please, enough. 9) ARISTO: You say we must put on a stable front? I will not hold away in my castle. The people need to know that I am willing to hear them. That I see them.

PANEL ONE: In the City Square a short
ways outside the castle there is an open courtyard. Its edges are lined with booths and shops with mostly empty shelves as well as some temporary shade structures set up for the citizens gathered in protest. There are many people shouting and pushing up against the guards who are blocking entry into the palace. Eema and Aristo are arriving behind the line of guards. PANEL TWO: A royal guard turns away from the crowd and is visibly shocked by the Queen Mother and King’s sudden appearance, addressing the Queen Mother as “majesty” which should be reserved for the King. 1) EEMA: Raphell. 2) RAPHELL: Your Majesty! PANEL THREE: Aristo looks out on the crowd of people, some seem to be crying for his and his mother’s attention while others are pushing against the guards. 3) ARISTO: What is going on here? PANEL FOUR: Aristo looks onto the crowd sympathetically. The guard stands in attention but does not meet the King’s gaze 4) RAPHELL: Highness, the citizens have been gathered all morning, demanding to speak to the King. 5) ARISTO: Why has no one been allowed through? PANEL FIVE: Aristo turns to face his mother in confusion, a guard standing behind her looks uneasy at her presence, signifying the impending presence she has and her notoriety. 6) EEMA: I ordered for us to not be disturbed. PANEL SIX: Aristo avoids his mother’s gaze, hanging his head, submitting to her misguidance.

7) EEMA: A leader must be cautious to place themself
on the same level as their subject. Authority collapses if you make yourself so accessible. PANEL SEVEN: Eema looks into the crowd, showing the chaos their disobedience is causing, making them look unreasonable and wild. 8) EEMA: They will take and take without comprehension of the greater need.

PANEL ONE: Aristo still looking down, perks up
in expression as if he has just thought of something. 1) ARISTO: Has someone been organizing them? PANEL TWO: Raphell points past the crowd towards some tents at the back of the courtyard. 2) RAPHELL: We know not his name. He has kept away from the front line, PANEL THREE: Close up shot of Warrez, a gharial dressed in rags, who is staring back at the King with a very slight smile as to let him know he recognizes he is being spoken of. 3) RAPHELL: but nearly every family head you see here, spoke to him first. PANEL FOUR: Close up shot of Aristo who is still locked onto Warrez, squinting slightly from the distance, looking contemplative. 4) ARISTO: I want to speak to him. PANEL FIVE: Aristo snaps to attention as a group of citizens directly in front of Warrez become hostile, attempting to leap past the guards and throw things towards the King. 5) TOWNSPERSON 1: Down with the monarchs! 6) TOWNSPERSON 2: Ivory towers won't save you from hunger! You cannot eat money! PANEL SIX: Another guard comes in from the left and pushes the King back. 7) RAPHELL: Get back! PANEL SEVEN: Aristo looks upon the scene breaking into chaos with concern with an extended hand towards the guard. Behind him, Raphell is shielding the queen mother from the crowd's possible projectiles. 8) ARISTO: Don’t! Don’t hurt them!

9) DELLMON: Highness, get the Queen out of here! PANEL
EIGHT: Aristo takes his mother’s hands and flees back into the castle looking behind him the whole way.

PANEL ONE: In the map room Aristo is
standing over a table with maps and small figurines for strategy strew across it. The room is rather narrow and tall, with the opposite wall to the door being almost entirely windows. The two adjacent walls are lined with bookshelves. Aristo is deep in though with a pensive expression. 1) ARISTO (Thought Bubble): To prioritize the safety of my guards would be to make enemies of my people. 2) ARISTO (Thought Bubble): Cutting back exports could expose vulnerability with our tenuous trade relations. PANEL TWO: Aristo looks up from the maps toward the window looking worn down by his racing thoughts. 3) ARISTO (Thought Bubble): If rebellion is brewing, is it not my duty to protect the castle and my court? 4) ARISTO (Thought Bubble): At what point does my family come before the rest? PANEL THREE: Aristo slumps his shoulders and leans onto the table for support. He lowers his head and shuts his eyes. 5) ARISTO: To whom first is my responsibility owed? PANEL FOUR: Behind Aristo, Magne appears leaning in the doorway, appearing as if she has been there for a while and has heard the King’s whole internal debate. 6) MAGNE: A crown is a heavy burden, but heavier are your thoughts. PANEL FIVE: Aristo startles upright and turns to look at Magne. 7) ARISTO: Magne. PANEL SIX: Magne walks towards the table to be at Aristo’s side. Aristo now facing the table again turns his head towards her expected direction. His expression has softened.

8) MAGNE: Your majesty. Can I help ease your contemplations
at this time? 9) ARISTO: Is there a magic incantation that can feed my people, arm my soldiers, and satisfy my mother? PANEL SEVEN: Magne has now reached the table and leans against it in a sympathetic show of shared exhaustion and gives a soft smile. 10) MAGNE: There is no magic in the world strong enough to do all of those things, my lord.

PANEL ONE: Aristo swipes his hand across the
table, showing the various maps of the kingdom and neighboring nations. 1) ARISTO: Perhaps a spell of clairvoyance that can reveal to me the path I might take. PANEL TWO: Magne looks down at the maps as if reading from them. Aristo raises an eyebrow sensing Magne is taking the conversation to a place he may not be prepared for. 2) MAGNE: A path already lies before you. You consider your citizens, army, and court as separate parties pulling for your priority. But they are all your people. Though perhaps at different rates, they will all suffer your say, whatever it be. 3) ARISTO: Pontificating, Magne? PANEL THREE: Magne places a hand flat on the map in front of Aristo’s gaze. Aristo avoids it looking off to the right uncomfortably but contemplatively. 4) MAGNE: Your mother’s ambitions would see this city returned to greatness, but her fears could have you starve it out. Do not lose yourself in fulfilling what others want you to be. PANEL FOUR: Magne turns away from the table to face the windows. Clouds have moved to cover the sun, softening and cooling the lighting in the room. 5) MAGNE: There is a weight on the air, a foul pressure that halts my senses. Gives speed to growing unrest in the city. I must warn you, choose wisely where to direct your allegiances. PANEL FIVE: Magne turns back and leans towards Aristo hoping to connect with his stare. Aristo looks down at the table with a furrowed brow. 6) MAGNE: If a rebellion rises against you, this burden of choice will be taken out of your hands. PANEL SIX: Magne stands up straight. Aristo unfurrows his brow and turns his head to look at her with a worried expression, understanding she means well.

PANEL ONE: In a Castle Corridor Eema is
talking to a boar man who is holding palace records. Eema is pointing at the papers in his hands. The boar is standing in attention and looks rather scared of the Queen Mother. 1) EEMA: What of the oldest section of the castle? The palace was built atop the old foundation. Unlocking a long sealed chamber could reveal lost treasures or forgotten weaponry. Or at the very least, provide hidden refuge from a siege. 2) EOFOR: Snort! 3) EEMA: Miles of tunnels once spread throughout the undercity, if they have remained open, they may be our last resort of escape. PANEL TWO: Eema turns to look at her brother calling to her from a little ways down the corridor. 4) CYPRIAN: Eema. We have found something. 5) EEMA: Cyprian, brother. PANEL THREE: In a deeper darker part of the castle, a red and gold tapestry has been pulled aside to reveal a section of the wall with a slightly different stone pattern to it. Cyprian is holding a torch. Eema is standing in front of the wall. They are surrounded by the boar Eema was talking to earlier as well as four other rat family members. 6) CYPRIAN: A facade wall. 7) EEMA: Open it up. PANEL FOUR: The other rat family members get to work breaking down the false wall as Eema watches. A) SFX: CLANG! PANEL FIVE: As the wall gives out, a powerful gust of wind escapes the newly discovered room as if something has been released. All the figures' clothes as well and the fire from the torches blow in the wind.

B) SFX: FOOSH PANEL SIX: A black panel. PANEL SEVEN:
A torch lights up and the group is now walking around in the newly discovered room. It is distinctly different from the rest of the castle. Instead of tan stone with red and gold accessories, it's gray stone with deep green and purple accessories. There are gold accents across the walls. The room is long and slender and completely empty aside for a cut out in the floor near the back of the room. 8) CYPRIAN: Is that, gold? 9) RAT RELATIVE #1: And a staircase at the back? PANEL EIGHT: One of the rat's relatives is at the edge of an open pit at the back of the room with his arms extended out as if he's trying to balance. Cyprian has hold of one of his arms to stabilize him so he does not fall in. 10) CYPRIAN: Woah! PANEL NINE: Two rat relatives are standing over the pit trying to look down it. One is holding a torch. Cyprian is facing the pit but his head is turned to look at Eema. Eema is looking away, back towards the wall they broke down, with an uneasy expression on her face as if she senses something has changed after cracking the seal to the undercity. 11)CYPRIAN: There's nothing here. 12)EEMA: Everyone out, cover the entrance.

PANEL ONE: In the Throne Room Aristo, Eema,
and Mange are once again in the throne room. Magne is standing before Aristo as if giving a report. They are passing around papers. Aristo looks deeply concerned. Eema looks contemplative. 1) ARISTO: What is causing this? 2) MAGNE: A deadly blight has seeped out from the undercity. Over half of our crops have been decimated in four nights. Livestock that consumed the deteriorating matter have fallen ill and the contamination seems to be transmissible through contact. PANEL TWO: Aristo looks up from the papers in his hands in concern. Magne remains calm and pragmatic. 3) ARISTO: Have any citizens fallen ill?! 4) MAGNE: Sick to the stomach yes, but not with the same illness that is afflicting the animals. Not yet. PANEL THREE: Aristo looks to his mother for an answer to his question. His mother meets his gaze with appall. 5) ARISTO: What of our reserves for winter? For how long could they feed the people before we must ask our neighbors for aid? 6) EEMA: Ask for aid?! PANEL FOUR: Eema stares at Aristo with an intimidating gaze to impart the gravenss of her words. Magne interjects with an incredulous expression, shocked by Eema’s priorities. 7) EEMA: That would invite an occupation! We cannot consider exposing our vulnerabilities after just four days of concern. 8) MAGNE: People were hungry four days ago! This blight has only exacerbated our critical position. PANEL FIVE: Magne looks to Aristo hoping to appeal to his senses. Eema looks at Magne with a dirty judgmental expression.

9) MAGNE: We must travel into the undercity and root
out this blight. It is familiar to me. I’m sure I could conjure some– 10)EEMA: You want to spread us even thinner? Your reliance on magic and ‘science’ would have us wandering through that necrotic labyrinth as our enemies encroach on our borders. PANEL SIX: Eema stares daggers into Magne as Magne grits her teeth in attempts to restrain herself from lunging at the old woman. 11)EEMA: Do not forget it was the abuse of magic that led the undercity to ruin. 12)MAGNE: It was fear and greed that brought the old reign to its end. PANEL SEVEN: Eema has a snide expression seeking to invalidate Magne, who is now leaning in, having a hard time keeping civility. 13)EEMA: If the spirits favor you so why have you not used such magics to help our crops? 14)MAGNE: Spirits are not concerned with our productivity. Nature is not something to be controlled but understood. The earth does not yield because we ask too much of it. We have repeatedly ruled against our agriculturalists, overfarming the soil with single crops prioritized for export. PANEL EIGHT: Eema and Magne are face to face in opposition of how to proceed. They have pointed expressions at each other. 15)EEMA: The crops that thrive here make us valuable. They ensure us the ability to affect our own fate. That is how we keep our people safe. 16)MAGNE: Nothing thrives here now! PANEL NINE: Magne turns and storms away, leaving Aristo calling after her in concern and Eema looking proud of herself deciding she has won the disagreement. 17)MAGNE: We will not have people to keep safe soon enough. 18)ARISTO: Magne!

PANEL ONE: In Magne’s Laboratory, Magne approaches her
work table and starts gathering materials into a haversack. Magne looks visibly frustrated. Her laboratory is full of books and items of natural history, pinned insects and minerals specimens and gems, vials and jars of colored liquids with chemical labels. It looks much more like an eclectic professor’s room than what you would typically think of for a spiritualist. PANEL TWO: Aristo enters the lab after her with a pleading expression. Magne does not turn to meet his gaze, continuing to gather supplies. Magne is placing propagated plant clipping into a small pouch. 1) ARISTO: Magne please, return with me. I need both your guidance. PANEL THREE: Magne is still moving around her lab, packing things into her bag and refusing to look at Aristo. She is frustrated but trying to distract herself and avoid direct conversation. 2) MAGNE: Why!? We know whose conclusion you will come to. Your mother’s words weigh more on you than they do the scale of reason. 3) ARISTO: You both are wiser than I. I would be irresponsible not to consider each side. PANEL FOUR: Magne finally turns to look at Aristo with a desperate exhausted expression. 4) MAGNE: There are no sides! This blight will starve us, if not then your mother will. We have to track the blight and root it out at its origin. PANEL FIVE: Aristo looks unsure of his words, now avoiding his direct gaze, as if he knows it's the wrong thing to say. 5) ARISTO: We don't have the resources to spare. The people are practically pushing on the doors, sending a party into the undercity with no assurance anything can be done would appear needlessly dangerous and wasteful. PANEL SIX: Magne calls Aristo on his placating bluff. Tired of his inaction she turns away back to her mission of getting ready for her travels into the undercity. She is now at her shelf of chemicals pulling a vial off the shelf to add to her bag. 6) MAGNE: Are those your words or hers.

7) ARISTO: Magne. PANEL SEVEN: Magne goes over to her
book shelf looking through her many things. She seems as if she is mostly talking to herself. Aristo speaks from behind her looking exasperated. 8) MAGNE: I do not understand you. You always do as you're told when told by everyone but me. 9) ARISTO: Should a king not serve his people? PANEL EIGHT: Aristo’s expression turns softer. He looks tired, as if asking for sympathy for his plight. Magne does not give him any. She turns to face him again slamming a book down on her work table, her expression sharpens. She is frustrated and losing the composure she always tries to keep for the King. 10)ARISTO: A son, his mother? 11)MAGNE: Not at the kingdom's expense!

PANEL ONE: Magne stares Aristo down with an
intense glare. 1) MAGNE: Trying to be what everyone wants you to be ensures you fail to be anyone at all. You're a ghost. Walking in halls you did not build in shoes you cannot fill. Even that which you touch does not move. PANEL TWO: Aristo looks shocked to hear such harsh words from Magne who he considered his trusted ally. Magne looks exceedingly distressed and worked up. Her expression seems to be pleading with him as if begging for Aristo to understand and see things clearly. 2) ARISTO: And what of you?! We both do as we are charged! 3) MAGNE: You are my KING! I have to serve you! PANEL THREE: Magne’s expression softens, still pleading. She looks more forlorn as if she is longing for something she never knew. 4) MAGNE: You, you have the ultimate authority to act, yet you ponder your choices, allowing yourself to be pulled in every direction until you have no choice left to make. 5) MAGNE: I long for the freedom you so blindly give away. PANEL FOUR: Magne, calm again looks at Aristo intensely, hoping to give weight to her words. 6) MAGNE: Burden it may be, but you are not a prisoner to the throne, we are prisoner to you. PANEL FIVE: As Magne has regained composure Aristo is losing it. Aristo looks bewildered and offended by Magne's words. He's kinda flipping out being confronted with the hard truths. 7) ARISTO: Prisoner?! Everything I have given to be the King I never thought myself worthy to be! To be the king everyone wanted me to be! PANEL SIX: Magne, still deadly calm. 8) MAGNE: And who is pleased with your performance thus far.

PANEL SEVEN: Wide shot of the two of them in
the darkly lit room. Aristo is frozen in shock. The scene feels silent and still. PANEL EIGHT: Aristo takes a slight stumble back and his posture crumbles as he becomes smaller. He looks despondent and psychically wounded. Magne leaves the room without looking back. 9) ARISTO: Get out. 10) MAGNE: Your majesty.

PANEL ONE: Night time, Magne carrying her haversack
and staff, dressed in robes, leaves the castle past the courtyard. She sees the guards and angry citizens still protesting throughout the night. There are empty speech bubbles showing nondescript shouting. PANEL TWO: Magne stands in the field of one of the farms that has been contaminated by blight. The crops look as if they have been burned and a warm glow in the cool sky suggests more are currently burning. PANEL THREE: Magne finds a stream near the abandoned farm.The plants around it are necrotic and decomposing and the water looks murky and black. PANEL FOUR: Magne follows the stream back to a gated culvert leading under the castle. It is dripping blackened water and leads into the stream. PANEL FIVE: Magne stands in front of the gate and whispers an archaic tongue. Her hand is placed on the gate as if willing it to open. PANEL SIX: Magne looks back out from the culvert, as if taking in the world before going underground as she does not know what she will find when she returns. PANEL SEVEN: She pushes open the gate and walks into the dark. PANEL EIGHT: We follow her into the dark with an almost black panel besides a blurred out gate in the foreground.

PANEL ONE: Fading in from black as if
a torch was lit we see Aristo walking up to his mother in a castle corridor. His stature is meek and he looks defeated from his argument with Magne. His mothers arms are outstretched towards him. PANEL TWO: Aristo slinks into his mothers arm, looking uncomfortable as his mother is not normally affectionate. He lets her hug him but does not hug back. His expression looks as if he is miles away in thought. Eema consoles him. PANEL THREE: Closer shot on Eema whispering into Aristo's ears, she has a sinister expression with a malicious grin bringing the corners of her mouth close to her ears. Eema is telling him how to move forward. This is the start of the kingdom's fall into oligarchy. PANEL FOUR: The next morning, guard is doubled in the square. Eofor is standing on a podium. Cyprian and another rat family member stands behind him. Above him a sign has been raised which tells of the implemented food rationing. A) BANNER TEXT: Food rationing effective immediately. Wheat, Rye, Oats and Barley: 2 marks per person per day 6 mark limit on families of 4 or more B) BANNER TEXT: CAUTION CONTAMINATION turn over all produce, poultry, dairy, and meat. PANEL FIVE: More protesters are in the square than ever. Warrez is at the front of the crowd now, instigating a fight between the citizens and the guards. The podium is toppled over and Eofor and the rat relative are looking discombobulated and scared. Cyprian is shoving a citizen away. PANEL SIX: Outside the gates of the city walls, a carriage pulled by giant bug-like beasts is being loaded up with crops and bags of grains. Guards stand on either side of the gates, forcing back angry citizens upset that food is being exported while they are forced to ration. PANEL SEVEN: Back at the castle, the guards are shown eating without rationing, drinking ale and laughing amongst themselves. PANEL EIGHT: In the castle dining room, the royal court sits around the grand table with a kingly spread of meats and fruits, other produce and wine. They are all laughing and eating to their heart's content. Aristo is sat at the head of the table dead still. His plate is empty. His mother is to his right with a full plate. She is placing a cut of meat onto Aristo’s plate.

PANEL ONE: Magne is coming out of the
darkness in the undercity. The corridors are thin and tight. It is very dark and toned green, with little light seeping through random cracks. Magne is holding up a test tube which is emanating a pale blue light in one hand and has her staff in the other. PANEL TWO: Walking through a tight corridor, Magne hears disembodied voices under an opening in the ceiling. The opening is emitting the slightest hint of warm light. Magne is pressed against the wall as she is startled by hearing any voices in the undercity. PANEL THREE: Magne looks up the hole in the ceiling to the opening connected to the castle through the room Eema recently unsealed. Empty text bubbles show the nondescript voices. 1) MAGNE (Thought Bubble): This must be connected to the castle. I'm much closer than I thought. PANEL FOUR: Magne is standing in the doorway of a large room. In it are many statues of past kings and multiple tombs and stone coffins. At the back of the room a white light is reaching down from a windowed skylight in the ceiling. The coffins are cracked or pushed open slightly and the blight seems to be flowing out of them like spores of a fungus. 2) MAGNE: The Hall of Past Kings.. PANEL FIVE: Magne is now in the center of the room, having found the blight's source, she must now treat the infection. Her staff is stuck into the ground behind her still emanating its soft light. Placed in front of her is a unique piece of glassware. It looks like a thick enclosed hourglass with no connective opening at the center. With two distinct sections holding two distinct liquids. The blight surrounding the object is unreactive. PANEL SIX: A close up shot of the glass object in the center of the room as Magne places a small live plant atop it. The two sections of the glass cylinder are labeled with chemical formulas. The live plant is growing out of a small burlap bag filled with soil. The blight surrounding the object is now reacting to the presence of the live plant, reaching slightly towards it. 3) MAGNE: Come and get it. A) TOP LABEL: CuSO₄ + EtOH

B) BOTTOM LABEL: P4 + CS₂ PANEL SEVEN: Magne has
grabbed her staff and is now standing outside of the doorway to the hall of kings, just barely looking in. PANEL EIGHT: Another close up of the object in the center of the room, now being crushed and strangled by the blight. There is a small crack in the glass of the cylinder. C) SFX: Tink PANEL NINE: An orange and turquoise flame explodes from the center of the room. The blight is burned to ash disseminating from the center. Magne is covering her ears from outside the doorway to the room. Flames travel past her down vines of blight. D) SFX: FWOoooM PANEL TEN: A close up of the culvert at the entrance to the undercity which is now slowing with clear water. Magne’s feet can be seen in the background signifying she has returned from the undercity.

PANEL ONE: Near the back of the castle
courtyard, surrounded by other awaiting rebel rioters and tents, Warrez stands in front of a fire. Close up on his chest and snout as he sits down on a barrel and looks down at the fire pit. 1) WARREZ: Five days since they poisoned then burned our farms. PANEL TWO: Slightly zoomed out to where Warrez’s full bust is visible as well as more of his surroundings. He is looking out to the crowd now addressing them. His audience looks weary and upset. 2) WARREZ: And still, they send what remains off to placate the north. PANEL THREE: Warrez raises his hands in question to his audience who are growing in anger and upset. 3) WARREZ: Our King's will is not strong enough to defend his people?! To avoid fighting for us, we are left to wither away like the crops in our desolated fields! 4) CROWD PERSON #1: Yeah! PANEL FOUR: Warrez is pointing one hand towards himself and extending another to the crowd, directly inciting the growing anger. 5) WARREZ: He was born of the same blood as you and I, yet he gets to wear the crown! Because he was chosen!? I did not choose him! Did you!? 6) CROWD PERSON #2: No!! PANEL FIVE: Looking from behind a few members of the crowd, Warrez is standing upright with his head facing downward and his eyes closed for dramatic effect with his words. His hands in closed fists are raised to his neck pretending to hold a noose. 7) WARREZ: We let the noose be placed upon our neck the day the rat took up the throne, and now it is being tightened around us. 8) CROWD PERSON #1: Yeah!!

PANEL SIX: Warrez raises a fist in the air to
rally his rebel audience. From behind him we see the crowd in front of him grow rowdy, raising their fists, torches, and tools in solidarity. 9) WARREZ: Now I choose to take back this kingdom. The King has made it clear he does not possess the strength. If his armies will not fight for us, we must fight for ourselves! 10)CROWD PERSON #3: Yeah!! PANEL SEVEN: Close up back on Warrez’s face showing a proud expression foreboding of the oncoming riot.

PANEL ONE: Aristo is alone in his map
room looking distressed over reading over unfavorable diplomatic agreements. He is sitting at the end of the large map table with his back turned to the window wall. PANEL TWO: A large bang followed by yelling from outside the mad room windows startles him into alertness. A) SFX: BRRANG! 1) DISEMBODIED VOICE: Back away! PANEL THREE: Aristo is standing at the window looking out towards the courtyard and castle gates, through the misted glass we see the glow of torches and hear indistinct yelling. PANEL FOUR: A royal guard stands at the doorway of the map room with a sense of urgency. Aristo turns to respond to his address and is already moving towards the door with a worried expression. 2) ROYAL GUARD #1: Your highness! There is a situation at the gates! 3) ARISTO: What has happened? 4) ROYAL GUARD #1: Your mother has called for you! A mob of dangerous criminals is attempting to storm the castle! 5) ARISTO: Where is she! PANEL FIVE: Walking through the halls to find his mother, Aristo sees the mob through the open windows. They are not dangerous criminals, they are mothers and fathers and farmers and tradesmen, they are his people. PANEL SIX: Aristo has an eye opening realization that he has truly made all the wrong choices by not making any at all. He has a shattered look on his face of horrifying realization. PANEL SEVEN: Aristo is approaching his mother who is standing in a crowd of her family and members of the royal court. She has a calm look on her face as if still in denial that the situation is serious.

6) ARISTO: Mother! 7) EEMA: Aristo. PANEL EIGHT: Aristo and
Eema make contact, holding each other's arms in comfort. 8) ARISTO: Mother, what can I do? How do I stop this?

PANEL ONE: Eemas face shifts to one of
disgust and judgement. 1) EEMA: Aristo. You cannot reason with such malefactors. There is no stopping this now. These animals mean to seize the castle and bring us and the kingdom to our knees. PANEL TWO: Aristo is visibly shocked by the coldness in his mother’s words, as he thought she would surely understand the peoples’ concerns and know how to calm them as she always did. He extends a gesturing arm behind him towards the front of the castle where the angry riot is banging on the main doors. Eema is wearing a scowl. Aristo’s uncle Cyprian has started listening in on their debate. 2) ARISTO: These people are not our enemies! They are not felons nor thieves, they are our subjects! They seek only the safety and wellbeing of themselves and their families! If we show them we are receptive to their needs– PANEL THREE: Cyprian has turned his body to address Aristo in apparent anger but Eema has extended her hand to signal his to hold back. Eema glares daggers into Aristo to convey her severity. 3) EEMA: Your subjects would behead the nation of its leadership! What good will that do for their families? No, this reign of terror must end tonight. PANEL FOUR: But unlike any time before, Aristo does not back off in submission, he stands his ground, taking a step towards his mother with extended hands as if pleading with her for reason. Rather than validating this behavior his mother has started to turn away from him. 4) ARISTO: If we are on our knees, it is not under the blade of an axe but a guillotine! This is not a reign of terror, it's a rebellion! PANEL FIVE: Ignoring Aristo’s clear sentiments over the situation she addresses a guard giving him stern but calm command. Aristo moves to intercept them with an assertive pose and determined expression. 5) EEMA: Place cannons behind the gates, let them break down the doors and open fire. 6) ARISTO: NO! Stop this madness!

PANEL SIX: With an angered and incredulous expression Aristo reflects
on his mothers behavior since he has become king. Going through many realizations in an instance he is looking away from his mother, in conversation more with himself than her. Eema is starting to look worried over her son’s change in demeanor towards her. 7) ARISTO: All this time… there have been feelings, moments, things I have failed to learn because I did not want to know the truth. 8) EEMA: What do you intend by that expression? PANEL SEVEN: Aristo stares his mother down with an angered expression, his hands are balled into fists. Eema remains cold and flat in hopes of regaining control and forcing Aristo to stand down. 9) ARISTO: You do not seek this nation's greatness for anyone other than yourself. And you have shielded me from the result of your actions to detrimental ends! 10)EEMA: There was no need to shield you, you looked away at every chance you had. PANEL EIGHT: Aristo looks shocked and angered, gritting his teeth as his mother reveals her true manipulative nature. Her form seems to be getting larger as this malice is revealed. 11)EEMA: I kept this kingdom out of the world powers’ eyes, I kept this family safe and prosperous, I kept those miscreants at the door pacified and you did not just let me, you begged me!

PANEL ONE: Eema standing face to face with
Aristo the two are in a mental battle over who will break their gaze first. But Aristo looks wounded by his mothers words, with an expression of regret over his own shameful past actions. 1) EEMA: Your very first action as King was to give your kingdom away. PANEL TWO: Both Eema and Aristo break their engagement to react to the loud startling noise. A) SFX: CRASH!! 2) ROYAL GUARD #2 (disembodied): They've broken through the gates! PANEL THREE: Across the T shaped corridor with the hallway to the main gate between them, Magne is standing with a worried look on her face. Aristo turns to look at her, shocked. 3) MAGNE: Aristo! PANEL FOUR: Aristo is glad she is safely returned at all after their argument. Behind him, his uncle leans close to Eema to encourage her to start moving. Eema looks to Aristo with a scared but demanding expression, hoping she still has enough power over him that he stays with her. 4) ARISTO: Magne! 5) CYPRIAN: Eema! We must take leave! 6) EEMA: Aristo! PANEL FIVE: Between Aristo and Magne, angry rioters rush past and tackle guards. Aristo is startled. 7) ROYAL GUARD: AHhgg! PANEL SIX: A space in the crowd clears as Warrez enters the hallway between Magne and Aristo, he looks towards Aristo sinisterly. PANEL SEVEN: Warrez starts walking towards Aristo, while his uncle and a rat relative start to pull him down the hall.

PANEL EIGHT: Magne is trying to push past a crowd
of people and is reaching out for Aristo. 8) MAGNE: Aristo!

PANEL ONE: The rat family has fled deeper
into the castle. In the same corridor where Eema discovered the false wall the rat family is coming around a corner with touches, illuminating the dark hallway. There are disembodied voices of the crowd behind them showing the mob is close. 1) CYPRIAN: Down here! PANEL TWO: Faint warm light as well as disembodied voices are coming from the end of the hallway they just turned down. PANEL THREE: Cyprian pulls back the curtain covering the hole they destroyed into the wall. The rat family are making their way inside the small room. Aristo looks confused as he holds the arm of his mother helping her in the dim light uneven footing. 2) CYPRIAN: This way. Quickly! 3) ARISTO: What is this place? PANEL FOUR: The hallway now has the tapestry covering the hole they went through once again. The light from the mob’s torches is stronger to show they are getting closer. PANEL FIVE: Warrez is now standing in the hallway in front of the tapestry hiding the broken in false wall. He is surrounded by the mob of citizens behind and in front of him. 4) CROWD PERSON #2: Where are they? 5) CROWD PERSON #4: Where could they have gone? PANEL SIX: Close up of Warrez holding a finder up to the side of his mouth signaling them to be silent. PANEL SEVEN: The corner of the tapestry is blowing in a draft coming from the room connected to the undercity. There is a slight indication of blight that was not completely eradicated by Magne’s spell creeping out from the hole in the wall.

PANEL ONE: Inside the room is dark with
the family of rats huddled still and silent. 1) DISEMBODIED: Shhh! PANEL TWO: Same scene but the citizens led by Warrez have barged through the hole in the wall and are charging at the rat family who are now all terrified. A) SFX REBEL RIOTERS: RAaagh!! PANEL THREE: The two groups meet in a brawl pushing against each other. 2) RANDOM RIOTER: AHgg! 3) RAT RELATIVE: Herrg!! PANEL FOUR: The citizens have them easily outmassed and are pushing them towards the hole in the ground at the back of the room. One of the rat relatives is already at its edge and looking back at it in alarm. Aristo is at the front of the group trying to reason with Warrez who is directly in front of him looking ready to fight. 4) ARISTO: Please! We can stop this! PANEL FIVE: Warrez cuts Aristo’s reasoning short as he pushes him back hard into the group of rats behind him.The rat family is losing the power struggle and members near the back of the group are pushed into the hole at the back of the room. They grab onto the family members in front of them with desperate terrified looks on their faces. 5) ARISTO: Uhff! 6) RAT RELATIVE: Eek! PANEL SIX: The townspeople have stepped back so as to not fall into the hole with them. Aristo is at the front of the cluster with an expression of despair. Many hands are grabbing onto him as he's falling backwards into the hole. PANEL SEVEN: The royal family can no longer be seen, the townspeople stand alone in the room with Warrez in front looking at the empty black pit.

PANEL ONE: Long vertical panel showing the rat
family falling down into the hole, the family looks terrified and panicked, Aristo looks vacant and lost. The floor of the hole is crawling with blight. A) ARISTO NARRATION: “And down we fell, so long a distance I did not want to imagine the bottom… B) ARISTO NARRATION: “I hoped there would be no need to. That the fall would take me and my reign would end… PANEL TWO: The blight is reaching up to embrace the falling family. C) ARISTO NARRATION: “But what awaited us after the drop was worse than if nothing had been there to brace our landing… PANEL THREE: The blight envelopes the group, softening their landing but tangling them up. PANEL FOUR: Now at the bottom of the pit, the rats try desperately to climb out, clawing at the walls leaving scratch marks and broken nails into the stone. PANEL FIVE: Image of the bottom of the pile, a rat's face and neck is being stepped on by many other bodies. PANEL SIX: Rats are trying to squeeze through the thin corridor but cannot fit or pull themselves free from the tangled pile. PANEL SEVEN: Finally all is still, as the rats realize they are completely stuck, tied together in putrid filth.

PANEL ONE: Large panel of another perspective of
the mass stuck in the thin corridors. A) ARISTO NARRATION: “We had been inextricably tied to one another. As one body, the tight corridors would not allow us to pass… B) ARISTO NARRATION: “So we waited… C) ARISTO NARRATION: “Until we thinned… D) ARISTO NARRATION: “The rotten bodies of those unlucky to have fallen under foot turned to exudate, putrefied by the same blight that we had unleashed... E) ARISTO NARRATION: “No one spoke through that endless night. Not even my mother… PANEL TWO: Dark scene from above looking at Aristo laying atop of the mass of rats, his tail and bottom torso are noticeably covered by other bodies. He looks vacant. F) ARISTO NARRATION: “In my listless solitude I wondered if perhaps she had not survived the fall… G) ARISTO NARRATION: “Or if such a fate would have been better than being crushed, trapped, tangled under the weight of this family… PANEL THREE: Aristo perks up as the mound of rats physically shifts under him as another body gives out and is crushed. H) ARISTO NARRATION: “But finally, there was a shift… PANEL FOUR: Aristo struggles to get his torso free to look for the source of the voice. I) ARISTO NARRATION: “And the silence broke... 1) CYPRIAN: Can you move? 2) EEMA: I am stuck.

PANEL FIVE: Cyprian and Eema are pushing themselves up and
out of the mass or bodies into the open corridor. Cyprian is helping to lift bodies off of Eema. 3) EEMA: I cannot carry the weight. 4) ARISTO: Mother?

PANEL ONE: Aristo tries to climb down to
the floor level stepping on bodies, some alive, some dead. His tail is still tangled in the mass but there is more freedom of movement due to so many dying and withering away. 1) ARISTO: You're alive! 2) EEMA: Help me. PANEL TWO: Cyprian helps Eema to stand and puts a hand between Aristo and his mother blocking him from helping her. He stares daggers into Aristo. 3) ARISTO: Uncle? 4) CYPRIAN: You. What you have done. PANEL THREE: Aristo turns away from his uncle and extends an arm towards his mother who will not look at him. 5) ARISTO: It should have never come to this. 6) CYPRIAN: You willed it to happen. PANEL FOUR: Eema stands holding Cyprian’s arm. 7) EEMA: We must move. PANEL FIVE: The rat family stumbles and struggles to move as a unit through the undercity halls. There are half as many alive as there were when they fell down the hole. At least 6 live, 3 are being dragged behind, and 3 have fallen apart in their wake. A) ARISTO NARRATION: “As we started through the narrow corridors we left behind those whose bodies broke down and caught on corners and rubble… B) ARISTO NARRATION: “The remains of those that had not degraded away were dragged behind, all of us connected by the tangled mess that had become of our tails… PANEL SIX: The number of living rats has decreased to five and all are thinning. Aristo, looking frail, stands at the front of the mess. Cyprian stands beside him crouching looking ill and tired.

C) ARISTO NARRATION: “We moved slowly… 8) ARISTO: This way.
There must be a path out of this mire. 9) CYPRIAN: What ruin will you lead us to next. PANEL SEVEN: Aristo still at the front, the other rat relatives are in the foreground cursing him as they look sick and are out of breath exhausted from lugging around the mass of their dead family. Rat Relative #2 speaks while looking down and coughing up blood and black sludge. 10) RAT RELATIVE #3: A King that does not even try to defend his keep.. 11) RAT RELATIVE #2: I am ashamed to share the impotence of your blood. PANEL EIGHT: Rat relative #2 collapses dead ad Rat relative #3 hardly turns to mourn him. Aristo has turned to face them shocked and sullen. D) ARISTO NARRATION: “Those who did not have the will to wander for nothing… E) ARISTO NARRATION: “Faded quickly…

PANEL ONE: Aristo, Eema, and Cyprian stand at
the entrance to the hall of past kings where Magne had set up her bomb, the blight is burned. It no longer oozes out of the past kings’ coffins like it did before. A) ARISTO NARRATION: “Soon, perhaps by their animus alone, only my mother, my uncle and I remained. I still know not what ill will gave me strength… 1) CYPRIAN: What is this place? 2) ARISTO: A tomb. PANEL TWO: Aristo is crouched down as he uses a stone sword from one of the tombs of past kings and cuts the dead bodies from the tied mass of tails. Cyprian watches him with a disgusted expression. 3) ARISTO: Perhaps there is a way out through the skylight 4) CYPRIAN: And to what would we return? PANEL THREE: Aristo stands and Cyprian moves closer to his face in confrontation. Eema stands slightly behind Cyprian. 5) CYPRIAN: Criminals and scavengers looting our castle, a kingdom on the brink of collapse? Should we return to the streets to live out our decay with the rest of your beloved subjects. PANEL FOUR: Aristo is turned away from him now, still gripping the old sword. 6) CYPRIAN: Look at what they have done, there is nothing left of us! Are we to reunite with the executioners you let in!? 7) ARISTO: Very well, you can stay. I’d be more than willing to cut you free. PANEL FIVE: Close up of Cyprian's hostile expression. 8) CYPRIAN: Your idealism poisoned you like it did your predecessor King.

PANEL SIX: Moved forward to see Aristos face in the
foreground with a look of devastation and shock. Cyprian is seen behind him with a malicious expression. 9) CYPRIAN: I deplore that the poison we served to him was not enough to snuff out such weakness. PANEL SEVEN: We see Aristo clench his sword as Cyprian continues to barrate him. 10)CYPRIAN: Even with the strength of a kingdom you could not lift your sword! PANEL EIGHT: A Sword slash is shown going through Cyprian's neck. The sword is already back adjacent to Aristo. Eema is standing next to Cyprian in shock. B) SFX: Slingg! PANEL NINE: Cyprian’s head falls to the floor.

PANEL ONE: Eema’s throat begins to spill blood.
PANEL TWO: She grabs her neck and falls to her knees. 1) ARISTO: No! 2) EEMA: Caughf PANEL THREE: Aristo is now at his mother’s side holding her with a hand on her neck. 3) ARISTO: No no. You are alright! PANEL FOUR: Eema is squinting weakly in Aristo arms as if she is looking past him. 4) EEMA: You… 5) EEMA: Are ruinous. PANEL FIVE: Eema’s body goes limp. PANEL SIX: Aristo sits frozen holding her lifeless body. PANEL SEVEN: Aristo throws his mother aside. PANEL EIGHT: Aristo slowly rises to stand.

PANEL ONE: The tied knot that is the
tails of Aristo, Cyprian, and Eema is lying on the floor. PANEL TWO: The stone sword comes down chopping off Cyprian's tail right at the base of the mass. PANEL THREE: Now cut free from the two other tails, Aristo drags his flesh shackle off towards the left. PANEL FOUR: Aristo walks past the open coffin and drags out a dark green and maroon purple robe. PANEL FIVE: He walks past the end of a past King's statue on the coffin where he took the sword from and grabs its stone crown. PANEL SIX: Aristo sits on the toppled over pile of stone in the shining light, wearing the crown and the robes. In the foreground we can see the remains of his lost family. A) ARISTO NARRATION: “In the end, I alone evaded the fall.”

Tethers of Kin Script

Tethers of Kin Script

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