Convergence
Written: 2007
Created by Julie Ruffell and Trish Ellis
Writing © Julie Ruffell 2007.
"Convergence" © Julie Ruffell and Trish Ellis 2007
Description: The walls separating worlds of humans and the magickal creatures of myth, the Unus'Pri, begin to fail, causing a convergence of the two worlds and war. The six-part promo introduces some of the leading characters of the series and tells the story of the beginning of first human/Unus'Pri war.
"Unus Past" - promo issue 3
Full page panel of Zere'El's head in the chest.
SEM'QUEUL (v.o.)
There has never been a sight I have seen more terrible. My mother was the First and should have lived for many millenniums to come. My horrifying than her death was that she had been slain by such a lesser being, her body defiled. Even these things paled to the fact that she has died before we were reconciled.
SEM'QUEUL
MOTHER!!!
SEM'QUEUL (v.o.)
The death of Zere'El at human hands created a new world. Of all the Unus'Pri, the dragons were among the few that the humans could pose no threat to. Their small weapons could never pierce our hides. Yet, here my mother's head had been severed and delivered in a box. I never recovered from that sight.
SEM'QUEUL
Murderers!
Sem'Queul recoils violently, smashing the wall and causing it to crumble in as she makes the opening larger. Bricks and sections of the wall fall toward the royals. Sem throws up her arms.
SEM
Bal'avek!
A protective bubble surrounds the royals and the crumbling wall falls around them, leaving them unharmed. Atlan runs forward.
ATLAN
Sem'Queul! WAIT!
She turns back angrily.
SEM'QUEUL
I will destroy his armies, his kingdom and his people for this outrage! She was the First! There is not a being worthy of taking her life!
ATLAN
Your loss is great, but I beg you to think through your rage and your grief, Sem'Queul.
SEM'QUEUL
RAAW-AH!
ATLAN
Kalen has found a way to kill a dragon. What is to stop him from killing you too? You are the leader of the Unus'Pri now. What would happen to your people if you let yourself be killed?
SEM'QUEUL
So I should not have Kalen pay for this crime?
ATLAN
Kalen will pay for the murder of Zere'El. This I promise you. His intentions are clear and I will destroy him in his kingdom before he brings war to mine. Atlantis' army and the armies of our allies will help you to ensure he pays. We will find the weapon that was used to kill your mother and we will destroy it and its creator before any more dragons are slain. Travel by means of the sea, away from Kalen's men and gather your people. As one, our forces will be rid of the Treknor threat.
Sem'Queul's face is a mix of rage and grief, tears on her cheeks.
SEM'QUEUL
He murdered my mother.
ATLAN
I know your pain too well, my friend. You ensured my father's murderer met justice. I will do the same for your mother's killer.
SEM'QUEUL (v.o.)
He was right, but I did not want to listen. I had been in Kalen's camp, very aware of the weapons his army possessed. There had been nothing that would threaten a dragon. Nothing. My emotions and my head fought hard against each other to decide my course of action. I looked into the eyes of Atlan, Mevel and Sem, the three who had been my world for the last eighteen years. I saw their grief and their fear; fear that they would lose me. Eighteen years did not seem so short a time when I looked into their eyes.
SEM'QUEUL
Have your armies ready when I return, otherwise I will go without you. When I return, I will destroy Kalen and retrieve my mother's body so she can rest.
Sem'Queul takes off.
The ocean. Sem'Queul's shadow on the sea.
SEM'QUEUL (v.o.)
I did not want to face the Unus'Pri. I did not want the responsibility of ruling them. My revenge would not be their first concern. I knew a wave of panic would be sweeping through them and they would expect me to have some solution to their fears and the human problem. They would pressure me to kill all of the humans, of this I knew. I hoped I could direct that fear and bloodlust to Treknor.
Unus'Pri council hall. It's full of Unus'Pri, all species. There's a large group of dragon gathered, included Gev'Ma. The huge doors are open, casting a stream of light into the hall. A dragon's shadow is cast across the light as Sem'Queul stands in the doorframe. The Unus'Pri turn to look at her.
Gev'Ma turns from the nervous dragons and moves to Sem'Queul. Her face is determined. He moves to comfort her, but she pulls away.
SEM'QUEUL
My mother, Zere'El, is dead. Murdered at the hands of the humans Treknor. I go to make them pay for this outrage. I will not order anyone to go with me, but I am asking for volunteers to avenge my mother.
The Unus'Pri look nervously at each other.
SEM'QUEUL
I will leave when the sun rises. Those brave enough to join me, meet me here then.
She turns and walks out. Gev'Ma follows.
GEV'MA
La'shen!
Sem'Queul does not look back.
SEM'QUEUL
If you are coming with me, meet me here tomorrow.
Gev'Ma jumps and lands in front of Sem'Queul, blocking her path.
GEV'MA
Sem'Queul, stop.
She does, not moving to push past him, but she doesn't look him in the eye either.
GEV'MA
La'shen, I know you grieve, but I must ask you not to place yourself in danger. There is life within you. To risk your life will risk the baby's too.
SEM'QUEUL (v.o.)
I had nearly forgotten about the fertilized egg within me. I would need to lay and tend to it soon. But it was not enough to hold me back.
SEM'QUEUL
I told my mother that the humans could learn to live among us. Now she is dead, by human hands. How did they kill her? How can it be possible?
GEV'MA
They have created a new weapon. Werv witnessed your mother's murder.
SEM'QUEUL
I must speak with him.
She turns to head back to the council hall, but Gev'Ma blocks her path again.
GEV'MA
It can wait. You must rest. You must grieve. Allow yourself time.
SEM'QUEUL
To allow myself time allows my mother's murderer to continue to breathe. I will not wait to make him pay!
GEV'MA
We are scared, la'shen. To rush will limit the number of Unus'Pri to fight at your side. Please, stay here. Grieve, organize our people and lay our egg. I will work to convince as many warriors as I can to join the fight. We will destroy the humans responsible and reclaim your mother's remains.
SEM'QUEUL
How long would you have me wait?! To let the humans live will make them think they have beaten us. While we cower, they will grow bolder. We must strike, now, destroy Treknor and this new weapon before humans ally with Kalen against us. If retribution is swift, then it will be the humans who will cower.
GEV'MA
And if they have more than one of these weapons? What will you do then? That which can slay a dragon can also slay Cyclopes, Nemeans, Sphinxes, Thunderbirds, Yetis; any who were once invulnerable to humans are no longer. The human numbers are far greater than our own. You may instigate a war we cannot win.
SEM'QUEUL
You would have me do nothing! Sitting here let's them start a war on their terms. It gives them time to prepare, to build more of this weapon. The time to strike is now.
Gev'Ma hangs his head.
GEV'MA
If you will not listen, then I must join you.
SEM'QUEUL
Good.
She starts to walk past him.
SEM'QUEUL
Convince the others.
Morning. Sem'Queul enters the hall. There's a wide assortment of Unus'Pri gathered, but the numbers are far less than what was there the day before. Sem'Queul looks over the gathered. Gev'Ma is among them. As it Werv, a werewolf. There are very few dragons.
SEM'QUEUL
You are the bravest of our people. We must make haste to Atlantis, where we will join our forces with the Atlanteans.
GRIFFIN
I thought we go to slay the humans!
SEM'QUEUL
We will kill those responsible for my mother's death. Atlantis is our ally and their army will greatly boast our numbers. I do not go into battle carelessly.
GEV'MA
We are with you, First.
Sem'Queul starts at being referred to by her mother's title.
SEM'QUEUL (v.o.)
First. It was more than a title for Zere'El. She was called the First because she was just that - the first being. I never thought about what I would be called at her passing, but I had not expected that. I did not know whether to be honoured or sickened.
WERV
We are with you, First.
The others being to repeat the sentiment.
SEM'QUEUL
We need to move with haste. Those who can fly must carry those who cannot. We travel by sea to Atlantis.
Atlantis. Sem'Queul's POV - Sem'Queul and her forces fly over the kingdom. A huge army of humans is positioned between Latrel and Kempt - away from the cities.
SEM'QUEUL (v.o.)
Atlan had kept his word. He had mounted a huge army between Atlantis and her allies. I said a silent prayer to my mother, to grant me the strength to destroy her killers.
CU of Sem'Queul's face - confused and pained.
SEM'QUEUL (v.o.)
The sensation was strange to me. I was not able to identify it. It is not that I have never experienced pain, but nothing at that level before. It was hard to grasp that is was real, that my body had been so terribly wounded.
CU of Sem'Queul's wound. An arrow from a ballista has torn up Sem'Queul's side.
SEM'QUEUL (v.o.)
I was so focused on the pain that I was unable to retain my focus on flight.
Full page panel of Sem'Queul crashing into the ground, the Unus'Pri on her back being violently thrown off.
*TRRRRUMP!*
SEM'QUEUL (v.o.)
I crashed.
The dazed Unus'Pri struggle to their feet. Sem'Queul looks up, but makes no attempt to stand.
SEM'QUEUL (v.o.)
Dirt and gravel dug into my side, increasing my agony. I forced my head up and saw the human army surging forward.
The human army, charging.
SEM'QUEUL (v.o.)
I recognized the colours of the armour. It was Kalen's army. I did not fear for my safety, despite the pain my side. If Kalen's army was within Atlantis' walls, then Atlan had been overthrown in my absence. Kalen must have been waiting for me to leave before he attacked. Where had he hidden such an army?
Streak of flame shoot down on the advancing army.
SEM'QUEUL (v.o.)
The Unus'Pri surrounded me and engaged the humans.
Numerous races of the Unus'Pri crash into the human's front line. Blood splatters. It's a vicious battle. Werv is seen among those attacking. The dragons dive and send rows of flame into the back rows of the army. Hundreds of humans are set on fire and they scream. Other Unus'Pri flight attack by dive bombing, such as the griffins and gargoyles, lashing out with teeth, claws and talons. The Unus'Pri attack with skill, but many of them still fall to human blades.
Gev'Ma dives and shoots fire into the human ranks. He flies up and circles back to Sem'Queul and lands at her side.
GEV'MA
La'shen! Can you move?
Sem'Queul looks up and him, still dazed.
SEM'QUEUL
How did Kalen conquer Atlantis so quickly? And without having to destroy the defenses? The walls have not been breeched.
GEV'MA
Atlantis is not our concern. Kalen's army far outmatches ours. We do not have the numbers to fight an army this immense.
*THAWP!*
They turn to see another dragon has fallen. A ballista arrow has removed the dragon's head, which hits the ground after the body.
GEV'MA
They have their dragon slaying weapon here! We must retreat, Sem'Queul!
Sem'Queul looks at him, dazed and lost, unable to focus on the battle.
SEM'QUEUL
It should not have been possible for Kalen to be here.
Sem'Queul looks at the army. There's a second set of colours.
SEM'QUEUL (v.o.)
I could not understand what was happening. Looking into the army behind Kalen's men, I saw a second set of colours - the Atlanteans!
SEM'QUEUL
Atlan has come to aid us! We will destroy Kalen!
Sem'Queul starts to rise, when she sees a griffin swoop down on an Atlantean. Sem'Queul moves her mouth to order the griffin to disengage, but the Atlantean raises his blade, ducks and then guts the griffin from underneath. Sem'Queul is horrified to see the Atlanteans fighting the Unus'Pri.
SEM'QUEUL
No...
The army parts in a manor that allows Sem'Queul to see an Atlantean commander. A CU of the commander - it's Atlan. Sem'Queul then sees that Atlan is standing next to a massive ballista, shouting orders. The ballista is loaded.
SEM'QUEUL (v.o.)
It was the only explanation for how Kalen could be within the walls of Atlantis without having breeched the walls. Atlan at betrayed me.
The ballista fires - straight ahead, not up.
SEM'QUEUL (v.o.)
I stared at the arrow flying at me. I could not accept Atlan's betrayal. I watched the arrow coming at me, unable to move, unable to think.
GEV'MA
RARRRR-AAAHH!!
*FFFTHPT!*
Gev'Ma's body falls to the ground. The arrow protrudes from his chest, his heart destroyed by it. Sem'Queul stares at him in shock.
SEM'QUEUL
La'shen?
Sem'Queul forces herself to her feet and moves to Gev'Ma's body.
SEM'QUEUL
La'shen?
She rubs her cheek against his. She raises her head slightly and yells at him.
SEM'QUEUL
LA'SHEN-N-N-N-N-N-N! RRRRAAAAAWWWWRRR!!!!!
She turns with mad eyes to the army, holding a hand out.
SEM'QUEUL
Sept'ka!
*PPFTHPT!*
A sonic boom blasts a huge hole in the army, knocking them to the left or right, clearing a path for Sem'Queul to reach Atlan. Sem'Queul takes flight and heads straight for Atlan. Atlan jumps into a dive roll to dodge her, his helmet falling off.
Kalen's army has been largely decimated, as have the Unus'Pri. Sem'Queul turns to make another attack on Atlan. She swoops down, and Atlan dives behind the ballista. Sem'Queul crashes into the weapon, shattering it. Atlan is buried beneath several beams, but he's still alive. Sem'Queul comes back again, ready to breath fire when two other ballistae shoot and she has to pull up to avoid the arrows. Soldiers run to Atlan to help get him out from under the lumber as Sem'Queul dives again. Another ballista fires, but she swerves to avoid it. As she does so, Werv leaps on her back.
WERV
First, we are overwhelmed! We must retreat!
SEM'QUEUL The humans have betrayed me! They killed my mother and my la'shen!
She fixes her eyes on Atlan.
SEM'QUEUL
I will not allow him to live!
She blows fire and the soldiers scatter as the remains of the ballista on top of Atlan erupt into flames.
WERV
If we stay, we die and the humans live anyway. You must live, Sem'Queul, if the Unus'Pri are to survive.
She doges another attack as she lets loose with flames into the ranks of the Atlanteans.
SEM'QUEUL (v.o.)
I did not want to flee. Truth be told, I did not want to live. Not only had humans killed my mother, but the Atlanteans - Atlan, Sem - had betrayed me; killed my la'shen. How wrong I had been about them and my mistakes cost me everything I loved.
That thoughts fueled me, allowed my anger to overrun my grief. The humans had to be contained and those responsible for this new weapon had to be destroyed.
But Werv was right. To continue the fight would only result in the loss of Unus'Pri lives. I was wounded and was unable to cast more magick, and I slowed, more at risk to the massive arrows that were fired upon me.
SEM'QUEUL
RETRE-E-E-E-E-EAT!!
The Unus'Pri look up as Sem'Queul flies across the field of battle.
SEM'QUEUL
Retreat!
Sem'Queul drops down and slings Gev'Ma's body over her back. The Unus'Pri flee, collecting their dead as they do. What remains of Kalen's forces follow, only to be cut down by dragon flames. The Atlanteans do not follow them. The Unus'Pri disappear into the woods.
Panel looking at Sem'Queul and the Unus'Pri that fly are behind her, carrying the survivors and the bodies of the dead.
SEM'QUEUL (v.o.)
I would grant them this battle, but I swore Treknor and Atlantis would fall to me.
TO BE CONTINUED...
