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i Flic scripts by Ted Halsted and Seth Johnson First Draft, May 15, 2000 Second Draft June 2, 2000 (Printed April 19, 2004) Halsted/Johnson · Page 1 · Rune Scripts 4/19/04 PRONUNCIATION GUIDE Word :: Pronunciation Alric :: All-RICK Atli :: AT-lee Bragi :: Conrack :: Con-RACK Fimbulwinter :: Hel :: Hell Hyndall :: HIN-doll Jarl :: JARl Kopperud :: Copper-RUDE Loki :: Low-KEY Midgard :: MID-gard Mjolnir :: Ragnar :: RAG-nar Ragnarok :: RAG-na-ROCK Sigard :: SIG-ard Sleipnir :: Thorstadt ::Thor-STADHT Utherby :: OOther-bee Valhalla :: Val-HALL-ah Valkyries :: VAL-kier-ees Wendol :: VEN-del Wolfgar:: Wolf-GAR Wotankeld :: WOtin-KELD Halsted/Johnson · Page 2 · Rune Scripts 4/19/04 SCRIPT 1 OPENING NARRATION Characters: Narrator. Setting: The Circle of Odin, Wotankeld--Night Speaking Characters: Narrator The Narrator--Description: An older man, with a storyteller's voice. He should be strong and subtle (not over the top). His voice will set the tone for the story, so it is important that he now sound superficial or melodramatic. Midnight in the Circle of Odin at the center of Ragnar’s village, Wotankeld (“Odin’s Well”). The Runestone of Odin is surrounded by a circle of smaller runestones, each depicting visual scenes from the narration framed between vertical lines of runes. Near the ground, the camera tracks around the outside of this circle to view these smaller stones as the dialogue progresses, each illuminated by small fires burning at their bases. As the narration ends we push between the final stones and tilt up the enormous glowing Runestone of Odin at the center, stars visible beyond the peaks in the background. NARRATOR From birth the Children of the North hear tales of the end of the world. Ragnarok. When wolves will swallow the sun and the moon. When the stars will be snuffed and the earth will tremble. When the gods will face the tribes of giants in a final battle that will ravage all the Nine Worlds. Allfather of the gods, Odin has always smiled upon the human race. To the most devout of his followers he entrusts stones inscribed with his personal Rune, a mark of his power in the human world of Midgard. These Runestones are protected by only the most valiant of human warriors, until the day they are taken by the Valkyries to fight alongside Odin at Ragnarok. Of all creatures, only one does not fear Ragnarok, the evil god Loki. Bound deep in the bowels of the earth by Odin himself, only Ragnarok will set Loki free to have his revenge on gods and man alike. And it is only the power on Midgard of Odin and his Runestones that holds Ragnarok at bay . For a moment we hold on the Runestone of Odin, glowing in the darkness. Suddenly there is a flash of white. When it fades, the sun hangs above the peaks. The glow of the Runestone has vanished in the bright afternoon sun and the smaller stones hold only runes; the magic of the night has passed. This leads directly into Script 2. Halsted/Johnson · Page 3 · Rune Scripts 4/19/04 SCRIPT 2 INITIATION MONOLOGUE: The camera pans down the Runestone and pulls back for a high crane shot of the Circle of Stones. The island is now crowded with miscellaneous villagers and the below characters. (This is done by having identical maps side by side.) Ragnar is down on one knee before the village elder Characters: Ragnar, Village Elder, Jarl, assorted Vikings. Setting: Same as above; same load, identical map on the side Speaking Characters: Village Elder The village elder is the high priest of Odin in Wotankeld and one of the oldest men in the village. VILLAGE ELDER People of Wotankeld, we gather this day to honor one from our midst. Younger than any ever so honored, he is yet wise and strong beyond his years. He has carried shields in the battles at Hyndall and Utherby, and aided in the fortification of this village following the dark tales we have heard from the northlands. Through trial by single combat, he has proven today that he is ready to take a place among the warriors of this village. Ragnar, son of Jarl, kneel here before the Runestone of Odin and hear me. You must now put aside all childish things. Swear yourself to protect this stone and the village that surrounds and upholds it. Swear to stand beside your swordbrothers until death to defend this holy shrine of the Allfather. Raise now your sword and take up the glorious duties of the Odinsblade. Ragnar stands and raises his sword. The assembled warriors and villagers cheer and gesture. Halsted/Johnson · Page 4 · Rune Scripts 4/19/04 SCRIPT 3 VILLAGE EXPLORATION SEQUENCE: Characters: Sven, Wolfgar, Ulf, Alric, Jarl (Ragnar’s father), Ragnar Setting: Throughout the village of Hrothberg; The player will be able to access • a roundhouse, • the village’s stave church, • the common grounds, • the beach with a longship, and • the village longhouse. • See also Gameplay Notes Speaking Characters: Sven, Sigard, Ulf, Alric, Jarl. • Wolfgar is at the beach by the longship. • Sigard is in the commons. • Jarl is in one of the accessible houses. • Alric is in the commons or elsewhere in the village at discretion • The Village Elder is in the Stave Church. • Ulf the weaponsmaster is found in the longhouse. Gameplay: The player will be able to explore the above areas. The player will interact with several NPCs who will congratulate Ragnar and make various suggestions that he go to the longhouse for his combat training. The NPCs will also make comments regarding impending danger and danger rumors. Once Ragnar enters the longhouse, Ulf the Combat Trainer NPC will take over and begin Ragnar’s weapons training routine. NOTE: we can of course use multiples to make the village seem more populated, though only one will speak. Let’s just not put two Alrics next to each other in the same area, of course. Wolfgar (at the beach by the longship): Wolfgar is a grizzled warrior more at home under the woolen sails of a longship than the thatched straw of a longhouse. He waits on the beach overseeing the loading of the village’s longship, Sleipnir. WOLFGAR—DIALOGUE ONE Ragnar! How are you, boy? Ah, I forget myself—a warrior and a man now, aren’t you? Congratulations, warrior! WOLFGAR—DIALOGUE TWO If you see any rope on your way to the longhouse, be sure to bring it down. We need to keep the ship well-provisioned. WOLFGAR—DIALOGUE THREE Lend me your aid later, warrior. The swordmaster awaits you in the longhouse. WOLFGAR—DIALOGUE FOUR One does not keep Ulf waiting unless one would like another scar. Halsted/Johnson · Page 5 · Rune Scripts 4/19/04 Sigard: (at the commons) Sigard is the warrior bested by Ragnar in the single combat mentioned by the village elder, and he remains bitter. He is also a soon-to-be-revealed traitor among the warriors of Hrothberg. SIGARD—DIALOGUE ONE Apparently the weaponsmaster doesn’t share the village’s high opinion, boy. He waits to test your skills in the longhouse. SIGARD—DIALOGUE TWO You may have bested me in single combat, but we will cross swords again one day—and them we’ll see if your skills are all the elders think they are . SIGARD—DIALOGUE THREE Do you seek your courage, boy? If you don’t feel ready to face Ulf, perhaps you’ll meet me behind the stables. I promise to tell no-one who lopped off your sword-hand. SIGARD—DIALOGUE FOUR Stop running about like a frightened lamb and get to the longhouse! Jarl (in the roundhouse) Jarl is the chieftan of the village, Ragnar’s father, and the commander of Wotankeld’s Odinsblade. JARL—DIALOGUE ONE Greetings, Ragnar. I hope you feel fit and ready for your final training with Ulf. Drink mead from my table to fortify yourself, my son. JARL—DIALOGUE TWO You must continue your studies of the ways of war, son. Wisdom will come with experience, and you’ll have need of both in these dark times. Slaughter and destruction sweeps across the land, and I fear it approaches our own village . JARL—DIALOGUE THREE Your mother and I are proud of you, my son. In time you will take my place and sit in the Chieftain’s seat in the village longhouse. Halsted/Johnson · Page 6 · Rune Scripts 4/19/04 JARL—DIALOGUE FOUR Be on your way, son. Despite the ceremony, you must face Ulf before you can truly call yourself a warrior. He awaits you in the longhouse. Alric (at the commons or nearby) Alric is an enthusiastic young warrior, only a few years older than Ragnar and one of his good friends. ALRIC—DIALOGUE ONE Ragnar! It’s fair time the village added your sword to our ranks, friend. Did Ulf. no, I can see you have yet to visit the weaponsmaster. Heh heh heh . ALRIC—DIALOGUE TWO An old man and a girl just came into the village, and they told us that Conrack’s men are burning the Grove of the Gods! ALRIC—DIALOGUE THREE Ragnar—go see Ulf at the longhouse and we’ll get a cup of mead afterwards. I swear not to laugh at your bruises. ALRIC—DIALOGUE FOUR Don’t let me frighten you away from the weaponsmaster, my friend. I’m certain your sword arm is strong enough to complete the training. Village Elder (in the Stave Church) VILLAGE ELDER—DIALOGUE ONE Greetings, young warrior. May Odin guide your sword on the field of battle.
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