Dunes slide over one another in the blistering desert hear.A shrouded figure wades his way through the endless sands as strong winds blow his beige cloak to the side. As the figure reaches the precipice of a dune a wooden staff with a loose red flag dangling of its side emerges from the sand.
The staff is one of a dozen that snake through the desert,ultimately leading to the town. But when the figure reaches the peak of the dune it appears that the staffs meander their way to a winding tower of smoke in the distance.
*
The white walls of the city of Nezumo gleam in the sunlight. The towering walls mark the end of the desert and the beginning of an oasis. Within the walls are lakes surrounded by palm trees with tributaries that spread throughout the city. The famous Moosalih hawk flies above the meticulously stratified city.
In the epicenter of the sprawling city , a dome shaped building surrounded by six pillars sets itself apart from the others. 6 dapper men sit on either side of one another forming a crecent around a heavily decorated tent. A man wearing indigo threads stands to speak
KINGS SPEAKER: It has been weeks since the last merchant entered our gates.
Not an ounce of gold from our mines in the west.
Winds that once brought fine clothes
Only bring news of misfortune.
Among you are the heirs of the founding families
As well as the most trusted elders of this city.
Your ears and eyes extend beyond the sands of Kanume.
He Who Has No Likeness In This Realm would like to know ;
What they see?
What they hear?
A second slightly older man in bright red linen raises his sceptre to speak.
ADVISOR 1: I consulted the Star watchers of Juba, they say that the six stars of Obedion have dissapeared. They say it bodes misfortune for the realm. A period of turmoil through which we should persevere.
The cloaked figure reaches 5 feet before the gates of the city. He is met by guards who interrogate him.
INT Chiefs palace.Another man comes up to speak.
ADVISOR 1
Some months ago we heard news of a great beast. That ravaged the cities of Akedju, Kanembo and Zazu. Many of their citizens ended up at our gates.
Montage of a creature in the shadows destroying prosperous cities with fire.The Old man now beside himself speaks up.
ADVISOR 2
What proof do you have to support this claim?
ADVISOR 1
They said that any man that stood before the beast was devoured. Leaving nothing but shoes and sandals in its wake.
Montage of same creature devouring warriors, sandels and shoes scattered across the ashes of the buildings.
But I have found a man who has faced the beast two times.Great chief , Council of Nezumo I bring you Red Swordman of the West.
Giant wooden doors to the council room open.
The shrouded man walks in as the council members mumble amongst themselves. His height is well below that of guards who accompany him.
ADVISOR 2
Is he The one who slew the giant of Sigodo?
ADVISOR 3
That cannot be same man who brought the Tyrant Ezumare to his knees.
ADVISOR 4
They say his sword cut the Wicked Tree of Ndombe
Advisor 5
Impossible , he's the size of my young nephew. He's an impostor.
The shrouded man removes his cloak to reveal his face. Much to the the surprise of the council he is young.He wears a red durag, sleeveless Despite his eyes are filled with intent and a tacit rage.
He pulls out the same satchel and throws it to the ground. The kings speaker catches it before it hits the ground.
The crowd is taken aback by the disrespect. But they are soon put at ease when the kings speaker opens the satchel to reveal coire shells doused in Mbisi whale blood. It gives them an almost galactic glow.
A most rare item, especially in those numbers. The Kings Speaker shows this to the council members who all nod in a approval.
KINGS SPEAKER
You may now address the court
DEJI
I am Adedeji, Champion of the West. Soon to be the Milennial Champion
ADVISOR 2
I heard of a man who calls himself, Champion of the west.I also
The cloaked man removes his cloak to reveal his clothes. A red veil wraps around his head. He dons a red vest. His sweat pants are also red. His boots also read.A red hilt
DEJI
Over the years my white robes have been drenched in the blood of anyone. Anything that stands before me.
The council utters a collective gasp.
Djudah has a smirk on his face.
One of the councilmen leans into another to whisper
ADVISOR 3
He lies
DEJI
I have faced off with Umapa,in Kanembu and Zazu. I have tracked its movements through the the desert.He will be in the city within two moons.
ADVISOR 2
That is in two days.
DEJI
Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.
More than enough time for you and your men to evacuate the city.
The council is quiet for some time before the elder council man stands to speak.
ADVISOR 2
You say you were present at Kanembu and Zazu. Two cities that are now in ruins.
Which stands to to say that you were bested in Kanembu
A slightly cartoonish montage of Deji getting slapped away by a tail.
And unable to stop the carnage in Zazu.
Another monatage of Deji knocked out with a swollen bump on his head as the city burns behind him.
What makes you the man to protect Nezumo.
Deji smirks and points at his head.
DEJI
I know Umappa more than anyone. I know the only thing he enjoys more than flesh is gold.
That is why your men will collect all the gold in the city. Place it the tallest building. When he comes for the gold i will strike and end its life.
Djudah who's face shows concern for the first time since granting this stranger an audience. This was not part of the plan. Outraged by the suggestion.
ADVISOR 1
All our gold, who do you think we are? Fools that will simply yield their gold to vagrant like you?
DEJI
If clinging to your life is foolish than i must ask you to consider it. I have seen Umapa tear through buildings for specs of gold he is drawn to it like a moth to light.
ADVISOR 1
Out of the ques....
The chief beats his drum. The council is quiet and all the council men bow their heads.
The Kings Speaker goes to the chief who's face is covered by a beaded veil and voice is so silent only the kings speaker can hear it.
The Kings speaker approaches Deji, then proceeds to walk around the him as he lectures the chamber.
KINGS SPEAKER
The chief has heard, the chief has seen. And this is what he deems a keen.
All pieces of gold in the city will be saught out and brought to the tower of Biwal.
Montage of soldiers collecting gold dust, stones , statues, swords from around the city bringing it to the tower.
The towns folk will be told to take with them food and clothing for 3 days. They will join a convoy to the the Uyamba oasis in the North where they will stay
Montage of Citizens packing their livestock and other goods on their and following a heavily guarded caravan as it heads into the desert.
50 of our best men will stay with Deji to assist with defense of this great city. If the beast does not come in three days. They will bring his head to the chief on the fourth.
Montage of 50 men guarding the tower of Biwal. As Deji standing at the very pinnacle of the tower looks over the city.
Let any council man who objects leave his hand after the drum.
The drum sounds, all 5 of the council men raise their hands. Djudah stares at them with the most contempt before finaly raising his hand.
The drums beats once more and it is settled.
(Day 1)
We pan through the city that is practically a ghost town.
(Day 2)
The tower is filled to the brim with gold in all shapes and sizes. Guards stand at the entrance and patrol surrounding areas.
(Day 3)
A sands storm comes through the city.
(Day 4)
INT Tower of Biwal
Just a little after sunrise.
Four days later still no beast in sight.
As promised the men head for Deji
A tall heavily armored man , captain of the 50 warriors. leads about 10 men up the stairs as they head to the top. Swords in hand as the creep towards Deji.
Deji is sleeping on the wall of the dome. Sound as though he had no worries.
A gleeming reflection shines on his face.No reaction
The captain of the hit squad is now mear steps away from top of the tower.
The reflection shines once more.
Deji opens his eye to see a light on the distant horizon to the north. He gets up and gives it an attentive peek.
The captain bursts through the door. Sword in hand.
CAPTAIN
The time has....
Deji jumps off the balcony of the tower. The sheer force destroys the roof and shakes the building.
The men trip and fall over one another along the stairs. The captain is almost crushed by debri of the crumbling roof.
We zoom into the shining object in the distance. Zooming straight into the light.
EXT The Uyamba Oasis
Zoom out from the light to reveal that is a gold trinket, a statue of a goddess of some sort, in the indigo robes of Djudah. He is currently in the mouth of a giant scally green lizard with crescent shaped maroon darts all over its body. And big bulgin eyes devoid of any compassion.
(Umapa, The Gold Retriever)
Djudah screams in agony as Umapa cracks what seems like his spine. The people around the encampment scream and panick, Soldiers throw their best weapons; spears and poison tipped arrows at it to no avail. With a swish of his tail he blows them all away.
Umapa throws Djuda up in the air so he can get that final gulp. Just as he's about swallow him he gets hit by a red figure in the jaw. Causing its head to move slightly off point.
The red figure catches Djudah's body before it hits the ground.
DEJI
You Fool, Why don't you people ever listen!
DJUDAH
ah
Some more men come and surround him. Deji lays Djudahs Unconscious body down and shouts.
DEJI
Go far from here. No one gets in the way.
Deji has a determined smirk on his face as he stares straight at Umapa. Umapa cold reptilian eyes do not show any signs of
The beast is my Prey
Deji pulls out the trinket he had taken from Djudah and waves it the air. Gets Umapa's attention.
Ummapa rushes towards his position but just before he's in range he nestles himself in the sand. Deji closes his eyes to try and sense where the beast will come from.
His tail emerges behind him. Deji looks back when he is struck into the air by Umappa.
Deji spins in mid air while throwing shambala's that grow in size. The beads grow in size and bound themselves around the beasts mouth.
Faces on the beads grimace as they squeeze tight around Umapa's mouth. Thouroughly annoyed he tries to scratch them off to no avail.
DEJI
The beads of Jurufa, held together by the eternal threads of Kado. Worth every ounce of gold.
Deji unshieths the sword around his waist. The markings on the sword glow a bright purple as he wields it.
DEJI
This is the sword of Maadi, It cuts through anything in its path. Prepare to die overgrown lizard.
Umapa stops his incessant scratching when he notices the sword. Deji speeds towards him , sword in hand.
Umapa does his classic spinning tail trick but only hits an after image of Deji.
Now Umapa is left wondering where Deji is.
DEJI
DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIE
Deji comes from under Umapa tries to stab it in its throat with his sword; which is now egulfed in a full purple blaze.
The sword bends and breaks upon impact. Deji stares at his damaged weapon in comical disbelief before being slapped by Umappas's claw.
It sends him flying breaking several palm trees in the process.
The giant lizard changes its colors to a more violent red and black as it grows in size. The beads now at their limit have a subdued lok on their face as the threads begin to snap.
They finally do as Umapa opens its mouth to let out a deafining roar.
People are still fleeing the scene as Umapa rages on.
The Golden trinket lies in the sand once more.
The chief and about 25 of his royal guard now stand between Umapa and his prize. He rushes towards the men who stand their ground with long spears but stand no chance.
They are all brushed aside. Bodies sent flying into the air. Just as Umapa tries to grab the gold. Deji snatches it again and tries to speed off.
Umapa moves faster and manages to get half of Deji's body in its mouth. Deji's lower half struggles frantically to escape Umapa tilts its head back to let gravity do its thing.
The chief and what men are left of his guard stare on in shock as Umapa takes a final gulp and swallows their would be savior.
We zoom into the black of the Umappas eyes and see the chief and his men.
WE zoom in further until we see nothing but black
NARRATOR
At first there was nothing but an endless ocean of darkness.
We see the outline of a serpent in the darkness.And patterns of concentrated balls of darkness around it.
NARRATOR
The darkness was ruled by the eternal serpent Apep and its acolites known as the Nun.
We see an orb of light distiguish itself from the sluggish darkness.
NARRATOR
This was until the Orginator freed himself from the dark. And thus began the first war.
A light figure stands on a glowing black platform as he fends off fiendish black monstrosities with one hand emitting rays of light and facilitates the creation of life with the other; balls of gas, planets , asteroids gathers. Galaxy as we know it.
NARRATOR
It was the originator that allowed life to persist in our cosmos despite Apep and the Nun.Only the orginator stood on balance to face off against Chaos.
An epic battle scene in the cosmos as he have gods and titans and planets on one side and a giant snake accompanied by other dark monsters.
NARRATOR
This war raged for eons until the Children of the Originator joined the fray in the final battle for the life.
A light spear rips into the the dark serpent obliterating the darkness around it.
NARRATOR
The first hero slew the eternal serpent and defeated the nun.
We see the cosmos as it is today full of planets and stars glistening in the dark blue.
NARRATOR
And so it was that life would prevail over the void...
We gradually zoom back into the dark of the cosomos
NARRATOR
But the originator warned that Nun would one day return.
A flicker of light becomes visible in the midst of the darkness
And eventually takes form of a sword.
NARRATOR
And when that day comes , just as it did many millenia ago.
We see Umapa about devour the chief as fire arrows ricochettes of its thick scaly hide.
That is until Deji burst through its skull with the iconic Ida Sword. The red blood of the lizard meshes well with his red attire, just as he foretold. His face is determined as usual
NARRATOR
The cosmos will need its Heroes.
A light emenates from Umapa's corpse as it disintergrates. Every thing looks dark in the backdrop of this divine light as it pierces through the clouds.
In the epicentre of this light storm, Deji who seems overtaken by its power screams out.
We can see the light disintegrate and transform into what resembles a necklace around Deji's neck.
NARRATOR
Among those heroes will arise a Champion
FADES TO BLACK