Chapter 1 – End Scene

The four get into town and head toward one of the taverns. Even before they reach the door they can hear the sounds of piano music drifting out into the streets. When they open the door, the tavern is full of people laughing, drinking and dancing. The bartender is serving mugs of ale and spirits. Then they get a clear view of the short person who’s playing. 

Janus is seen playing away on the piano like a madman. Fingers fly across the keys and at one point he even uses his toes to catch some really high notes unable to reach from his already preoccupied hands. Krisyana grins at her company’s dumbstruck faces. Janus is a genius on the instrument, which is a wonky tri-folding layered piano. Side compartments open to reveal more keys.

Kris: Meet Janus.

Nina: He plays like he has more than one pair of hands!

Ken: You call those hands? (holds her hears from the loud music) He’s banging on that thing like hammers. Make him stop!

Janus notices them come in, so he finishes the song and everyone claps at his grand finale. 

Wiz: Quite a unique talent you have there (approaches Janus, who takes a bow before closing up the piano)

Jan: Why thank you, Sir. Runs in the family. (looks to Krisyana) Are we all here?

Kris: More than we want to be. Lead the way.

Jan: Just into the next room, please. I’ll be right there. 

We see them depart into the back room. The upper part of the piano is slightly open. The comic page does a downward shot of a hairy spider arm reaching back through the door to close it. Inside the back of a piano is a body wrapped in spider’s sink.

END CHAPTER ONE

Character Dialogue

This is the dialogue I’m following for the comic… I should continue writing the dialogue because I think it’s helpful for the development. I’d say by the time they get off the ship, the chapter is halfway there.

*****

Wisdom introduces Nina. “This is Nina”

Kris is not impressed while Nina refuses to make eye contact.

Kris: I hope you realize what you’re getting yourself into.

She says this to Wisdom. “She’ll be questioned by every official and regarded with distrust whoever else sees her.

Wisdom: Hmmm… Illusion could suffice for now. (illusion inverts her hair color). The meeting is more important than petty questions by townspeople. That, we can get around. 

(Page 17) *Dramatic scene where a bucket falls from above (crow’s nest) and someone shouts “Look out!” Wisdom gets Nina out of the way while he semi-shifts to reveal a pair of wings. The wings protect him from the falling debris. 

EDIT: Added a couple of pages where Wisdom is replying to Kendra about why he’s able to shift and no one see. But Kendra cannot do that. Nina looks up to see where the bucket might have fallen from. There’s a secret streamer in the Crow’s Nest. 

Wisdom: So… When does the meeting take place?

Kris: You’ve arrived in good time. Less than a week. But you’ll be too busy to address such concerns. I should hope this is why you’ve brought your Ember Mage.

Wisdom: Already? I’ve nearly just arrived and you’re sending me away?  (chuckles)

Kris: between conversations, motions for the guards to get their belongings. She tells them they are clear to leave the ship.

Kris: I have someone who wishes to meet with you (at this point they are disembarking the ship). I’ve been told it’s regarding a contract between your people and his.

Wiz: A contract?

Kris: Are you familiar with the Myrr Family Bloodline?

Wiz: Can’t say I am. I’m guessing they’re not…human?

Kris: (smirk) Not even close.

Nina watches guards cart away their luggage. 

Kris: There no need to wait for your belongings, dear. They’ll be taking a different route than what we do. 

Wiz: A shortcut, no doubt. 

Kris grins and they start toward town. 

Kendra: So wait? You’re lining up stuff for him to do so that he leaves? (crosses arms) I hope you’re not expecting us to just sit up in a stuffy room somewhere.

Kris: Where we go, dear, you’ll have plenty of room to let off some steam.

Kendra is not impressed.

Nina looks preoccupied. She has slipped on cape and has a hood covering her face. They’re walking toward town. Nina looks around at all the blooming flora.

Nina: it’s pretty here.

Ken: Would take two seconds to turn to ash. 

Wiz: Let’s get back to the matter at hand. (glares at Kendra)

Kris: Of course. Dark Ones. (not fazed by Kendra’s words, even smirks back)

Nina: It’s not just them. We’re looking for what makes them become Dark Ones.

Kris: So there is a trigger after all. I had my suspicions.

Nina: What remains of Dark Magic lies dormant beneath the earth as a type of energy. It only actives when a living being encounters it. 

Kris not impressed again. 

Kris: You say it’s dormant? Pah! Not enough it would seem.

Wiz: So far only non magic-users have been affected… and some animals. But I take it you’ve had some instances here?

Kris: (looking at Nina) You think our town looks pretty now? You’ll think otherwise once you leave out on the other side. Nothing but barren wasteland. That is what a Dark One would do here unless we deal with them immediately… before they fully change.

Nina: You kill them when they could be helped. (hint of anger here in those eyes)

Wiz: This is another reason why we’ve come. There’s no need to kill anyone. Not anymore. Not with Nina here. 

Kris: And yet she has no magic. Or does she? (glances over to Nina) I’m curious. What can you do that’s any different? Is it because you are one and your Ambassador not know?

Wiz: We’ve been over this before… back in No’va. She is not.

Kris: It has to be related in some way. Why look like a Dark One if it not so?

Kendra: Guess that’s for us to know and you to find out. 

Wiz: Kendra…

Kris: I like a challenge. The unfortunate thing is… you know nothing about me. Keep that in mind. (Directed toward Kendra)

Page 19 – Progress

Page 19 – Adding Color

Still working in adding clothing… must be a hot day LOL

Page 19 Background LineART

Page 18 Complete

Page 18 WIP