The Wardens - Rise of the Four

TEASER

EXT. ARCHIVES OF JURREN TA - NIGHT
The dark and forbidding ruins of an ancient castle. Sounds of battle come from the interior.

INT. ARCHIVES HALLWAY - NIGHT
FRESS, a middle-aged warrior dressed in battleworn leather armor, helps a badly wounded XERE as they hurry down a torch lit stone hallway. Xere, who wears no armor, is covered in blood and his robes are torn. Xere clutches a large leather bound book to his chest.
FRESS It´s right behind us, Xere. Just a little farther
XERE (nodding) I can make it.


INT. ARCHIVES PRIVATE STUDY - NIGHT
PRIL, a sinewy female of middle age wearing chain armor, studies a map on a table in the center of the room. Worn and damaged bookshelves line the room. TREVEN, a fireplug of a dwarf, kneels on the floor chanting over a candle.
PRIL By Roven! Can you stop that chanting Trev. If Xere couldn´t do anything, I doubt your Gods can hear you in this infernal place.
Treven stops chanting and looks at Pril.
TREVEN The library is warded against focus. Prayer isn´t focus.
POUNDING from the wooden door.
FRESS (O.S.) (muffled) Quick. It´s us. They´re close.
Pril unlocks the door and Fress half-drags the badly wounded Xere into the room and gets him to a chair. Pril quickly closes and bolts the door, as Xere drops the book onto the table.
Treven moves to Xere.
TREVEN What happened?
FRESS (breathing heavily) He´s here.
Pril and Treven exchange glances.
PRIL Harest? The others?
FRESS I don´t know. Four or five fell just getting us out of the chamber. Harest and rest stayed to slow them down. I had to get Xere out.
PRIL (Nodding toward the book) Is that it?
XERE (weakly) Yes.
PRIL Better get to it. We don´t have much time.


EXT. HIGHSTONE TOWER - NIGHT
A small walled keep secluded in the mountains. Guards stand watch and lights burn in the high windows.

INT. MASTER'S STUDY - NIGHT
THE STEWARD, a pudgy man in his late 50s, with a neatly trimmed short white beard and square-frame half glasses sits at a desk covered in parchment. He is writing with a quill.
THE STEWARD (V.O.) (writing) Brothers. I am afraid that we may be too late. I have sent all of my wardens to the Archives of Jurren Ta in hopes of...
KRON, a muscular and athletic man in his late 20s rushes into the room.
KRON Something is happening. You need to see.
The Steward drops his pen and quickly follows Kron out of the room.

INT. HALL OF HEROES - CONTINUOUS
A hallway lined with humanoid statues. The Steward and Kron stop in front of the last five statues. Three of the statues, in the likeness of Treven, Pril, and Fress all pulse with a soft green light. The statue in the likeness of Xere pulses with a harsh red light. The last statue, in the likeness of Harest glows with a very faint red light.
KRON It´s Xere and Harest.
THE STEWARD Yes.
KRON Well - do something!
THE STEWARD It´s not that simple. They´re at Jurren Ta.
The statue of Harest flashes a blinding white then turns dark as small cracks appear in the statue.
The Steward drops his head.
THE STEWARD (CONT´D) Harest.

INT. ARCHIVES PRIVATE STUDY- CONTINUOUS
Xere is concentrating on the large leather book, slowly reading the pages. He is coughing up blood.
Pril stands with her back against the door, her sword in hand.
Fress and Treven stand off to one side watching Xere.
FRESS (whispers) Trev - can´t you do anything?
TREVEN (whispers) I´m afraid not. Nothing works within these walls.
FRESS (Whispers) He´s too weak. He´s going to die.
TREVEN (whispers) Look around. Do you think any of us are getting out.
Xere closes the book and rests his forehead on it.
XERE Finished.
Pril sheaths her sword and moves to Xere. She gently strokes his head.
PRIL Xere. What do we do?
Xere lifts his head and slowly struggles to his feet. He pulls a necklace from under his robe and snaps off the small gem at its center.
Fress and Treven share a glance while Pril remains focused on Xere´s face.
XERE Pril. You know what we have to do. It´s our only option.
Pril realizes she has been holding her breath and exhales.
PRIL There has to be other...
Xere places his finger on her lips to stop her.
XERE Shh. No - it´s the only option. We don´t have time. It took me nearly 5 minutes to get the information from the tome. You have to do it now.
Beat.
XERE (CONT´D) See me in the hall.
Pril places her hand on the back of Xere´s neck and pulls him close.
PRIL (whispers) I love you.
Xere winces in pain as Pril drives her dagger into his chest. Slowly, gently, she lowers his body.
Pril removes the small gem from Xere´s hand, looks at Fress and Treven, then swallows the gem.
FRESS Pril...
PRIL No time. It´s the only way. We can´t be found with the deathstones on us. Go ahead and swallow yours.
Prill removes the stone from her necklace and quickly swallows it. Both Fress and Treven follow suit.
Fress points to the book.
FRESS We´ll need to get rid of this.
POUNDING starts on the door.
PRIL Burn it. Quickly. We can´t let them have it, or any of us.
Fress grabs the book then moves to one of the damaged bookshelves. He pulls the books from the shelves and drops the leather tome among them. He then grabs a torch from the wall and lights the books on fire.
POUNDING on the door intensifies, and the door begins to crack.
Smoke fills the room as the flames spread. Pril, Fress, and Treven stand together, weapons drawn, facing the door.
Prill looks at the others.
PRIL (CONT´D) See me in the hall.
TREVEN/FRESS See me in the hall.
The door shatters inward.

INT. HALL OF HEROES - CONTINUOUS
The Steward and Kron stand in front of the three remaining glowing statues. A half dozen robbed figures have joined them. Some softly crying.
KRON There is still time. Open a portal. I´ll go.
THE STEWARD Kron - we can´t. I´ve never been to Jurren Ta - and even if I had, focus doesn´t work there.
KRON We can´t just wait and let them die.
The statue of Fress flashes blinding white, then turns dark and cracks. This is almost immediately followed by the statue of Treven.
The robbed figures SOB.
The glow from the statue of Pril turns to faint red.
The steward reaches out and gently touches the statue of Pril.
THE STEWARD Goodbye. I´ll see you in the Hall.
The statue of Pril flashes blinding white and turns dark and cracks.

END OF TEASER

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ACT 1

EXT. HIGHSTONE TOWER - DAY
A score of riders approach the tower´s gates.


INT. MASTER´S STUDY - DAY
The Steward sits at his desk, reviewing papers. Kron paces the room.
KRON You know it´s within your purview.
THE STEWARD I´m well aware.
KRON Why not go with 7 or even 8? They killed them all.
The Steward lowers the papers and looks at Kron.
THE STEWARD No one is more aware than I. I have seen far too many good people go grey. It´s not how many we have, but who they are.
A SERVANT enters the room.
SERVANT They´re here.
THE STEWARD Have them meet us in the Hall.
The Servant bows his head and quickly retreats.
KRON Does that mean the decision has been made?
THE STEWARD Yes - selection is complete.
The Steward stands and heads toward the door.
THE STEWARD (CONT´D) Come. We shouldn´t keep the Brothers waiting.


INT. HALL OF HEROES - CONTINUOUS
The Steward and Kron enter and join the COPPER FOCI, the SILVER FOCI, and the GOLD FOCI. These are three wizards of indeterminate age and dressed in ornate robes.
They all stand in front of four statues, each covered with a large white sheet.
THE STEWARD Brothers.
GOLD FOCI This failure is troubling.
Kron bristles at this and starts to step forward but is restrained by the Steward´s hand on his shoulder.
THE STEWARD Troubling and very sad, but not a failure. I´m sure their sacrifice wasn´t for naught.
GOLD FOCI I´m glad you have so much confidence in your people.
The Steward raises his eyebrows and stares at GOLD FOCI, who drops his gaze.
SILVER FOCI Regardless - this is a dangerous situation.
COPPER FOCI Indeed. If a portal has been breached, even temporarily, it would be catastrophic.
SILVER FOCI I assume the selections are final?
THE STEWARD Yes. We can review.
GOLD FOCI Very well. Shall we proceed?
The Steward steps up to the first covered statue, and grabs the sheet.
THE STEWARD Brothers. May I present Elauri - part Alfae and born a shadowwalker.
The Steward pulls the sheet from the statue.

EXT. ALLEYWAY - DAY
A small, dirty cobblestone alleyway in late afternoon. Shadows stretch across the alley. TARGET 1 and TARGET 2 both dressed in leather armor walk close together carrying a small chest between them.
TARGET 1 You sure it will be safe in there?
TARGET 2 It's four stories up, no windows. They have two armed guards on each level. Plenty safe.
TARGET 1 It better be. We've got too much tied up in this.
The pair move on and enter a small doorway.
As the door closes behind them, ELAURI steps from the shadows. She is a female in her early 20s, petite with shoulder length brown hair. Her features are delicate and her ears a bit pointy, betraying her Alfae heritage.
She smiles, looks around, then steps back into the shadows where she completely disappears.

INT. SAFE ROOM - CONTINUOUS
A small safe room. A pair or torches light the room, which is covered in flickering shadows. The room is sparsely furnished with a table and a pair of chairs.
TARGET 2 (O.S.) What did I tell you. Triple locks.
Locks CLICK and the door pushes open. The pair carry the small chest into the room and place it on the table.
Target 1 slowly walks around the small room, knocking on the walls.
TARGET 1 Looks good. No one is getting in here.
TARGET 2 What did I tell ya.
TARGET 1 Let´s lock it up and get back.
The pair take one final look around the room, exit, and close the door.
As soon as the lock CLICKS shut. Elauri steps from the shadows.
She quickly moves to the chest, pulls a set of lock picks from her sleeve and picks the lock.
The lock springs open and she slowly opens the lid to reveal the chest is filled with jewelry and coins.
ELAURI (softly) Beautiful.
Suddenly a leather-gloved hand covers her mouth and she is dragged backwards.

INT. HALL OF HEROES - DAY
The group has moved to the second covered statue.
SILVER FOCI A half-Alfae and a shadowwalker. This is an auspicious beginning.
GOLD FOCI A shadowwalker. Humph. Need I remind the brothers of Gosck?
COPPER FOCI Yes. There was Gosck.
The Steward fixes the Gold and Copper Foci with his gaze.
THE STEWARD Is that a challenge to the selection?
The Copper Foci looks at the ground.
THE STEWARD (CONT´D) Since I hear no challenge, let´s move on.
The Steward grabs the sheet of the next statue.
THE STEWARD (CONT´D) Brothers. Captain Reese of Port of Swords.
The Steward pulls the sheet from the statue.

EXT. GOLDEN RAM TAVERN - NIGHT
A dark and narrow cobblestone alleyway. Light shines through the grimy windows and a weather-beaten sign with the image of a yellow lamb hangs over the door.
CAPTAIN REESE, a handsome rake in his mid-30s, with shoulder length brown hair and a bronze, but not weathered, complexion, stands in the alleyway in front of the door. He wears the garb of a pirate, and a rapier swings at his side.
Standing next to him is ORRIV, a walking wall of solid muscle, with a shaved head, and a cutlass in his belt.
Captain Reese looks up at the sign.
CAPTAIN REESE You sure this is the place? What´s it called, the Yellow Sheep?
ORRIV (Laughing) Aye Cap´n. I´m sure - and it´s the Golden Ram.
Captain Reese looks back at the sign, then back to Orriv, shrugs, and pushes his way through the door.

INT. THE GOLDEN RAM TAVERN - CONTINUOUS
A large room that has seen better days. A dozen wooden tables clutter the room, which is dominated by a large fireplace belching out thick black smoke. A small raised stage sits at the back of the room. Two dozen patrons are busy drinking, ignoring the old man sitting on stage picking at his even older lute.
Captain Reese quickly surveys the room.
CAPTAIN REESE Orriv - you sure this is the place?
ORRIV Aye Cap´n. This is where we were instructed to meet.
BRACKSON, a middle-aged stick of a man, with clumps of oily hair draping his face, pushes his way through the swinging doors in back, carrying a tray with clay tankards.
Brackson notices the pair, quickly sets down the tray, and wipes his hands on the stained apron around his waist.
BRACKSON Can I help you?
CAPTAIN REESE Ah, yes - yes you can. Are you the proprietor of this tavern, the Yellow Sheep?
Captain Reese winks at Orriv who smiles.
BRACKSON It´s the Golden Ram - and yes - I´m Brackson, the owner of the finest tavern in all of Port of Swords.
Brackson spreads his arms and beams with delight.
CAPTAIN REESE Orriv - how lucky we are to find the owner of the finest tavern in the city.
BRACKSON Welcome! Please have a seat.
CAPTAIN REESE Ah - well, if it´s all the same do you can you direct us to your other establishment - the finest tavern in the city? I think it would suit us better.
BRACKSON (Confused) What? Uh - this is my tavern.
CAPTAIN REESE I must have misunderstood. I admit, I´ve never heard of the Yellow Sheep, but often these things are kept a secret by the locals.
BRACKSON (irritated) It´s the Golden Ram.
CAPTAIN REESE The Golden Ram. Are you sure. I´m certain the sign hanging outside depicts a scrawny yellow sheep.
BRACKSON Yes I´m certain. It´s my tavern, I damn well should know what´s it´s called. It´s the Golden Ram. Now, either have a seat and order or leave. I´m too busy for this.
ORRIV We´re looking for Master Merchant Haster.
Brackson quickly looks around and his tone becomes icy.
BRACKSON What´s your business with Haster?
ORRIV We´re to meet him here at start of 5th Watch.
BRACKSON That's a time - I asked what´s your business with Haster.
CAPTAIN REESE It´s exactly that. Our business with Haster.
The room has grown quite, with the exception of the old lute player who is still attempting to play. The other patrons have stopped their conversations and steal glances at the exchange.
BRACKSON Have a seat and wait here.
Brackson wipes his hair back, and heads toward the door to the backroom.
BRACKSON (CONT´D) Nothing to see here. Go back to your jaw´n.
Conversation slowly starts back up as Brackson disappears through the door into the back. Captain Reese pulls out a chair. He winks at a BARMAID who giggles and hurries up the stairs to the loft that overlooks the main room.
CAPTAIN REESE (whispering) Orriv - I don´t like this. Head back to the ship.
Orriv nods and exits the tavern.
Captain Reese sits with his back to the wall and surveys the room. Brackson enters from the door in the back and heads right to Captain Reese
BRACKSON (looking around) Where´s your friend?
CAPTAIN REESE I have plenty of friends, you´ll need to be more specific.
BRACKSON The one who was in here with you. Where´d he go?
CAPTAIN REESE He had another engagement.
Brackson steps back and yells up to the loft.
BRACKSON Hey! Is this guy´s friend up there?
The barmaid pokes her head over the railing from the loft.
BAIRMAID Huh - I don´t think so.
Brackson shakes his head and turns his attention back to Captain Reese.
BRACKSON He´ll be out in a minute. Wait here.
Brackson retreats behind the bar, but keeps an eye on Captain Reese. The barmaid descends the stairs, and makes her way to Captain Reese´s table.
BAIRMAID Can I get you something?

Overview and Main Characters.

A Spec script for a fantasy TV Pilot set in the World of Trexlin. A small group, run by the enigmatic Steward and a mysterious council, undertake missions for reasons that remain unknown.

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The Steward - The enigmatic leader of the Wardens. Mid 50s, bald, pudgy and very unassuming.

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Kron - A ward of the Steward, and the new Warden of War

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Elauri - An Alfae Shadowwalker and the new Warden of the Night

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Reese - Pirate, Rouge, Swashbuckler, and scoundrel. He is the new Warden of the Seas

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Pril - Warden of War. Died at Jurren-Ta
Treven - Warden of Prayer. Died at Jurren-Ta
Harest - Warden of Fire. Died at Jurren-Ta
Xere - Warden of Focus. Died at Jurren-Ta
Fress - Warden of Tongues. Died at Jurren-Ta

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Gold Foci - One of the three Foci - a triumvirate who work together with with Steward and oversee the Wardens.
Silver Foci - One of the three Foci - a triumvirate who work together with with Steward and oversee the Wardens.
Copper Foci - One of the three Foci - a triumvirate who work together with with Steward and oversee the Wardens.