Scene #1
FADE IN:
EXT. NEVUAH – DAY.
ESTABLISHING SHOT as we PAN over a lush forested area with mountains in the distance. Dramatic fantasy music, the works.
ZOOM IN:
EXTREME CLOSE on a bug that skitters on the ground. It skitters around until--
Suddenly a foot crushes it.
ZOOM OUT TO:
A CLEARING IN THE FOREST, where a fight is taking place. The trees surrounding the area are thin and spaced in small clusters, giving plenty of light. At the edge of the clearing sits the mouth of a cave with a small wooden sign next to it that reads “Wizdom’s Dungeon”, with a winky face and an arrow pointing into the cave.
The foot belongs to THEO, who stands with her back to the camera, then turns towards us.
THEO has dark cropped hair, red-tinged curved horns and a tail that’s currently lashing back and forth. She wears practical fighting gear, a club strapped to her back and an axe in one hand. She looks mildly beaten up but exuberant, and it's clear she’s in control of the situation.
In front of her we can see she’s fighting three figures- two HUMANS and a DWARF– all wearing leather armor and emblems depicting an hourglass.
They move with coordination, spaced out around Theo.
HUMAN 1
Get over here!
They readjust their grip on the greatsword and hurl themself at THEO.
THEO springs forward as well, meeting them head-on, swinging her axe and yelling.
FREEZE FRAME of her midswing.
A banner that looks vaguely like a D&D character sheet pops up while words scroll across the screen:
SUPERIMPOSED: THEOLOGY LASTNAME, Tielfling Barbarian, age 27. Fun fact: Has bad taste in hats.
Frame unfreezes as the words and character sheet disappear.
THEO’s axe connects solidly, the force of the blow driving into HUMAN 1’s side.
They stagger but stay on their feet, clearly wounded.
HUMAN 1 swings the greatsword in a wide arc at THEO. She just barely ducks under it, sending HUMAN 1 stumbling past her, the momentum spinning them off balance.
Behind her, HUMAN 2 slams a hand to the ground--
A huge fist made of earth and rock erupts upward behind THEO, towering above her.
Roots explode out of the ground and wrap around the hand, restraining it in place and slowing its movement as it strains against the vines.
CUT TO:
MEDIUM FULL SHOT on ELIORAH, one hand raised dramatically in the air.
ELIORAH has pointy ears poking through their long dark hair that covers one eye, the other lined in thick black makeup. Their hair and cloak blow in the wind dramatically, despite there not having been any breeze previously.
FREEZE FRAME on ELIORAH.
Another banner pops up:
SUPERIMPOSED: ELIORAH TEATRAL, Elf Druid, age 86. Fun fact: Tries to sneak in as many song lyrics as they can into regular speech.
Frame unfreezes as the words and character sheet disappear.
ELIORAH’s face screws up in concentration, they spin around as their body contorts and shifts, transforming into a dire wolf.
They do some dnd ass shit
THEO hurls her club at HUMAN 2. They attempt to dodge, but the club hits their legs and they trip, knocked to the ground.
The DWARF scrambles across the battlefield, leaping onto ELIORAH’s back, snarling and sinking their teeth into ELIORAH’s shoulder.
ELIORAH staggers under the weight, trying to shake them off. Their wolf form flickers under the strain.
THEO turns to ELIORAH, but HUMAN 2 grabs her tail, kicking her legs and sweeping her legs out from under her.
Theo hits the ground hard as HUMAN 2 grapples her, pinning her beneath them.
HUMAN 1, still wounded, pulls their axe free from their side with a groan of effort, raising it above THEO while she is restrained. Her tail thumps the ground, writhing.
HUMAN 1 brings the axe down, a clean, deliberate strike--
ALAMI (O.S.)
Watch out!
A chord rings out and a shockwave tears across the ground.
HUMAN 1 loses grip on the axe, which spins away through the air--
ELIORAH manages to bite down on the dwarf mid-shake--
THEO breaks free of HUMAN 2, throwing them off her--
CUT TO:
FULL SHOT of ALAMI, ukulele in hand. ALAMI is largely built, with greenish skin, batlike ears and canines poking out over his bottom lip. He’s wearing a ruff collar, fancy attire, and small round glasses.
As he finishes the power chord, the axe spins through the air and klonks him on the head.
ALAMI is knocked off his feet.
FREEZE FRAME on ALAMI.
Another banner pops up:
SUPERIMPOSED: ALAMI ANG SAGOT, Half Orc Bard, age 25. Fun fact: In early drafts he was a Dwarf named Bes.
Frame unfreezes as the words and character sheet disappear.
ALAMI slams to the ground, out of camera view.
CUT TO:
HUMAN 1 stumbles backward, backing toward the edge of the clearing.
At the same time, the DWARF is thrown off ELIORAH and lands hard, quickly scrambling to regain their footing.
ELIORAH, now back in Elf form, draws two shuriken ninja stars.
The shuriken slice through the air towards the DWARF, pinning them to a nearby tree.
THEO whistles--
THEO
My axe!
Breathing hard, ELIORAH grabs THEO’s axe. It is far too heavy.
Trying to throw it back, ELIORAH somehow smacks themself in the face with their own elbow and sends the axe spinning crazily toward THEO’s head--
At the last second THEO catches the axe cleanly. Her face splits into a grin and she uses the momentum of the axe bringing it to HUMAN 2’s neck in one fluid motion, tilting their chin up in a really sexy way.
HUMAN 2’s eyes flash purple.
HUMAN 2
(breathing hard)
Guffin is watching.
THEO tilts her head.
THEO
Unetana lives.
HUMAN 2 hisses, and the form of their body suddenly wobbles, exploding into mist and vanishing completely. THEO’s hand closes on nothing, and she straightens up, scanning the battlefield.
Camera PANS across the forest.
In the distance, barely visible through the trees, there's a glimpse of movement– HUMAN 1 and the DWARF disappearing into the forest, the hourglass emblems catching the light for just a moment before they’re gone.
The camera then dramatically TILTS DOWN to reveal ALAMI lying on the ground, his nose bleeding. Lying on the ground next to him is the ukulele and a pirate hat with a swoopy feather.
ALAMI puts a finger to his lip, then looks down at his bloodied fingers.
ALAMI
Am I… bleeding?
CUT TO:
WIDE SHOT as ELIORAH walks over to him, cracking their knuckles. With each snap, their fingers light up one by one like glowsticks.
Reaching out, they squat and press the hand to his forehead. The glowing fades from their hand as color returns to ALAMI’s face, and he sits up blinking.
ELIORAH helps him to his feet.
In b.g., THEO picks up the massive pirate hat.
As ALAMI stands, it becomes apparent that he's at least a full head taller than them.
Wiping sweat from his brow, ALAMI gazes down at ELIORAH.
ALAMI
Thanks, Eliorah. Really thought I was a goner there.
ELIORAH
(bewildered)
You didn’t even make it to death saves…
ALAMI picks up the ukulele and starts tuning it.
ALAMI
I'm going to write a song in your honor. I love you biiitchhhh…
ELIORAH
Please don't.
CUT TO:
INT. INSIDE THE CAVE – CONTINUOUS
The cave is dank and soggy, dripping with stalactites and stalagmites.
ALAMI, THEO and ELIORAH step inside when suddenly THEO stops and looks around.
THEO
Crap, where's NPC?
The party exchange “i dunno” looks.
The sound of running footsteps and panting echoes in the cave as NPC comes sprinting in. NPC is pale, with chin-length white hair falling into their eyes, and thin pointy ears. He’s wearing a peasant shirt and a dark cloak, under which a skinny tail pokes out, curling around his leg.
NOTZAR
(out of breath)
I-- you-- fighting-- disappeared-- didn't know where you–
(IMPORTANT NOTE: NPC and all other NPCs are voiced by NOGA.)
FREEZE FRAME on NPC.
Another banner pops up:
SUPERIMPOSED: NOTZAR P. CE’ATZMO, Changeling Rogue, age 18. Fun fact: Often forgotten by the party.
The first letters of his initials are highlighted: NPC.
Frame unfreezes as the words and character sheet disappear.
NPC puts their hands on their knees and leans over, catching their breath, then looks up.
NOTZAR
You guys ever notice how I never seem to be much help in combat? Weird, huh?
NPC chuckles awkwardly. The other party members exchange glances.
CUT TO:
NOGA’S APARTMENT- NIGHT.
The apartment is small but neat, with cheery curtains on the windows and a couple of potted plants lined up next to the wall.
Four people sit around a table with a classic D&D setup including laptops, a DM screen, a purple binder (the DM notebook), a hand drawn map, three figurines and a duck monopoly piece.
[NOGA LAZAR, (23 y’o Jewish college student and Dungeon Master, dark curly hair braided out of her face, wearing earrings shaped like D20 dice) stretches, then folds down the DM screen.]
NOGA:
I guess that's as good a place as any to stop. Gonna suck not playing for a while, though. I’m gonna miss this.
(SUPERIMPOSED:
NOGA LAZAR, age 23. Dungeon Master. Fun Fact: Dating David Cohen from New York.)
[THEODORE, (20 y’o college student, reddish hair sticking out from under a beanie, wearing wayframe glasses and an open button down) groans and slumps on the table.]
[SULO (21 y’o college student, short dark hair, wearing a band t-shirt and messy eyeliner) pats him on the back.]
THEO:
Ugh… I still have so much to do… last assignments… packing… R.A. stuff… and I haven't eaten dinner yet.
(SUPERIMPOSED:
THEO REEDE, age 20. Plays as Theo Lastname. Fun Fact: Allergic to cats.)
SULO:
I didn’t know instant ramen counted as dinner.
(SUPERIMPOSED:
SULO DANILO, age 21. Plays as Alami Ang Sagot. Fun fact: Is always wearing something striped.)
THEO:
I do eat real food, y’know.
[NOGA closes the binder.]
NOGA:
Hah, yeah. What's on the menu for tonight?
THEO(mumbling):
…microwaved veggie nuggets.
[SULO and NOGA laugh.]
[SANTIAGO,(18 y’o college student, curly dark hair, wearing square glasses and friendship bracelets loaded on both wrists), looks up in horror.]
SANTIAGO (aghast):
Microwaved? Like not even cooked?
(SUPERIMPOSED:
SANTIAGO MANUEL TORRES, age 18. Plays as Eliorah Teatral. Fun Fact: Skipped a grade in elementary school.)
THEO:
Hey- the dorms don’t have a lot of kitchen options.
[SANTIAGO pushes his glasses up his nose as the players begin packing up.]
NOGA:
I would have made you something to eat. Do you want-
THEO:
No, no. Thanks though.
[He shoves his laptop in his backpack, zipping it closed.]
[Everyone stands up from the table and starts walking towards the door.]
SULO:
Don't forget, next week— beach day, yeah? I invited Kathy and Priya, a bunch of people from my classes, and my sister’s bringing some freshmen from hers, so it’ll be a whole party. You’re coming too, San, right?
[Santiago makes a vague noncommittal noise.]
NOGA:
C’mon, We should hang out as much as possible this summer— say you’ll come.
[THEO flings an arm around SANTIAGO’s shoulders, grinning as they step out onto the porch.]
THEO:
Of course he’s coming! It’s the beach episode! We need to have character development without the plot getting in the way!
SANTIAGO:
Oh shut up, beanie baby. This isn't a TV show.
[SANTIAGO swings his backpack onto his shoulders as they exit NOGA’s house.]
[NOGA waves from the doorway.]
NOGA:
Byeeeeeee!!!!
[BEAT.]
SANTIAGO:
Well. See you guys later. Good luck with your microwave, Theo.
[He gives a little wave and starts walking away.]
[THEO and SULO start walking in the opposite direction.]
SULO:
You going back to the dorms?
THEO:
Yep, yep. Want to walk together?
SULO:
Aren't we already?
THEO:
Oh yeah-
[SULO smiles at him and he blushes, then quickly turns his head forward to avoid eye contact.]
CUT BACK TO:
THE CAVE- NEVUAH
All four characters are frozen in place exactly in the poses they were in at the end of the session, a large Pause symbol floating above them. EXTREME CLOSE UP on NPC’s eyes. Music swells to a crescendo.
He blinks once.
SUPERIMPOSED title card with opening credits:
NOTZAR AS HIMSELF