Post by walkindude on Jan 1, 2023 22:01:38 GMT
Our scene fades up from black on a library worthy of the castle in a thousand fantastic tales. Two levels high at a glance, the walls were floor to ceiling shelves of a heavy, dark wood themselves laden with hundreds, if not thousands of volumes bound in cloth, leather, iron and less readily identifiable elements. We're still taking this in when the camera moves forward POV style. The sound of heels wrapping smartly against the elegantly patterned wooden floor echoes loudly, but not unpleasantly through the otherwise empty space. Slowing as they close in on a central shelf, a pale, delicate hand tipped with sparkling pink nails reaches out and trails an index finger along a number of volumes until--
“Aaaahhhhh, there it is.”
This hand deftly removes a gorgeous illuminated manuscript from an eye-level shelf and just like that the camera pivots around and heads across the library to a cozy nook occupied by a comfortable wingback chair situated beside a darkened window. A careful ear can detect the spatter of rain against the gloomy glass and the rumble off far off thunder, yet this is distant and non-threatening, little more than a pleasant backdrop to the story about to unwind.
Settling into the chair with a soft sigh, our unseen narrator opens the volume to somewhere in the middle to reveal an exquisite woodcut style illustration of the FAWN Arena.
“Once upon a time, in a world very much like our own, there was a land called FAWN.” the voice began. “While seemingly contained within the confines of a single building, the citizens of FAWN could tell you its borders stretched far and wide and were home to some truly wondrous locales. Indeed there was something, somewhere and someone for everyone within the land of FAWN. For those with the sweetest of teeth consider Cassava's Kingdom of Cakes! Is it adventure you crave? Try exploring the shadowy back alleys of Treymane Street or booking passage with the dread pirate O'Cannon down at the pier. Or perhaps it's perfection and order you crave? Then the glittering spires and colonnades of Dreamland will set your weary soul at ease. Oh, there's a touch of darkness in your heart, you say? If you're feeling brave there's always the shadowy ramparts of Castle Brewster, though it's not a destination I feel safe endorsing. Yes, yes, yes, FAWN is home to all these and so much more, but there's ONE destination that ranks most important among them all. A place where queens, warriors and sensation seekers all gather on a regular basis to settle their differences, vie for supremacy and of course, to entertain the hordes of visitors. Situated in the very heart of this incredible landscape, it's known far and wide...”
The page is flipped to reveal another woodcut, this one very clearly the ring in the center of the FAWN Arena.
“...As the four-sided forest. Now, there are COUNTLESS names who would claim dominion over the Four Sided Forest, with a gold-greedy kitty and a valiant knight only two among many who would have their banners raised above all others. And yet, for all the so-called queens, rulers and empresses, very few have stood up and claimed the mantle of protector of the Four Sided Forest. Indeed, there's only one, so far as I know. A spirited princess and staunch defender of the greater good, she is known throughout FAWN, as Giselle.”
The page turns again and now there's a woodcut of Princess Giselle standing tall on the second rope with her glittering wand raised in triumph overhead.
“Among all her sisters in FAWN, Princess Giselle is the only one to take a vow promising to stand against the forces of darkness should they ever encroach upon the boundaries of the beloved landscape. She's held to this vow even when many of her sisters have treated her dedication with derision and scorn. 'Grow up, Giselle!' they say. 'Fairy Tales aren't REAL, Giselle. Stop living the gimmick and get a life because it's all for show, Giselle! Everyone knows that monsters are only make believe, Giselle!'”
Suddenly there's a massive peal of thunder directly overhead. The window lights up white for a moment, the whole pane rattling in its frame as every light in the library seems to flicker and dance. Eventually the noise dies down, the lights steady out and the narrator closes the book with a soft thump. “But the good Princess Giselle only smiled, shook her head and held her ground. Her post, if you will. Because she knew something they didn't. Not only are monsters real, they're very, very patient. One day, trouble would rise to threaten everything and everyone in the Four Sided Forest. And when that day finally came, she would be ready.”
There's a short pause as the camera finally swings away and around to reveal the smiling countenance of the Glittering Enigma herself, Violyt Goodheart.
VIOLYT GOODHEART:
“I have good news from the hinterlands, Princess. Your vigilance is about to be rewarded a hundredfold. But I bear a sobering warning as well. You're not ready for what's coming, not even a little bit. I do hope you'll try to stand against it, though. I would hate for the Four Sided Forest to fall without one hell of a fight. See ya soon, cutie.”
Goodheart offered the camera a small wave, then settled back in the chair and reopened the book to begin a new chapter.
“Aaaahhhhh, there it is.”
This hand deftly removes a gorgeous illuminated manuscript from an eye-level shelf and just like that the camera pivots around and heads across the library to a cozy nook occupied by a comfortable wingback chair situated beside a darkened window. A careful ear can detect the spatter of rain against the gloomy glass and the rumble off far off thunder, yet this is distant and non-threatening, little more than a pleasant backdrop to the story about to unwind.
Settling into the chair with a soft sigh, our unseen narrator opens the volume to somewhere in the middle to reveal an exquisite woodcut style illustration of the FAWN Arena.
“Once upon a time, in a world very much like our own, there was a land called FAWN.” the voice began. “While seemingly contained within the confines of a single building, the citizens of FAWN could tell you its borders stretched far and wide and were home to some truly wondrous locales. Indeed there was something, somewhere and someone for everyone within the land of FAWN. For those with the sweetest of teeth consider Cassava's Kingdom of Cakes! Is it adventure you crave? Try exploring the shadowy back alleys of Treymane Street or booking passage with the dread pirate O'Cannon down at the pier. Or perhaps it's perfection and order you crave? Then the glittering spires and colonnades of Dreamland will set your weary soul at ease. Oh, there's a touch of darkness in your heart, you say? If you're feeling brave there's always the shadowy ramparts of Castle Brewster, though it's not a destination I feel safe endorsing. Yes, yes, yes, FAWN is home to all these and so much more, but there's ONE destination that ranks most important among them all. A place where queens, warriors and sensation seekers all gather on a regular basis to settle their differences, vie for supremacy and of course, to entertain the hordes of visitors. Situated in the very heart of this incredible landscape, it's known far and wide...”
The page is flipped to reveal another woodcut, this one very clearly the ring in the center of the FAWN Arena.
“...As the four-sided forest. Now, there are COUNTLESS names who would claim dominion over the Four Sided Forest, with a gold-greedy kitty and a valiant knight only two among many who would have their banners raised above all others. And yet, for all the so-called queens, rulers and empresses, very few have stood up and claimed the mantle of protector of the Four Sided Forest. Indeed, there's only one, so far as I know. A spirited princess and staunch defender of the greater good, she is known throughout FAWN, as Giselle.”
The page turns again and now there's a woodcut of Princess Giselle standing tall on the second rope with her glittering wand raised in triumph overhead.
“Among all her sisters in FAWN, Princess Giselle is the only one to take a vow promising to stand against the forces of darkness should they ever encroach upon the boundaries of the beloved landscape. She's held to this vow even when many of her sisters have treated her dedication with derision and scorn. 'Grow up, Giselle!' they say. 'Fairy Tales aren't REAL, Giselle. Stop living the gimmick and get a life because it's all for show, Giselle! Everyone knows that monsters are only make believe, Giselle!'”
Suddenly there's a massive peal of thunder directly overhead. The window lights up white for a moment, the whole pane rattling in its frame as every light in the library seems to flicker and dance. Eventually the noise dies down, the lights steady out and the narrator closes the book with a soft thump. “But the good Princess Giselle only smiled, shook her head and held her ground. Her post, if you will. Because she knew something they didn't. Not only are monsters real, they're very, very patient. One day, trouble would rise to threaten everything and everyone in the Four Sided Forest. And when that day finally came, she would be ready.”
There's a short pause as the camera finally swings away and around to reveal the smiling countenance of the Glittering Enigma herself, Violyt Goodheart.
VIOLYT GOODHEART:
“I have good news from the hinterlands, Princess. Your vigilance is about to be rewarded a hundredfold. But I bear a sobering warning as well. You're not ready for what's coming, not even a little bit. I do hope you'll try to stand against it, though. I would hate for the Four Sided Forest to fall without one hell of a fight. See ya soon, cutie.”
Goodheart offered the camera a small wave, then settled back in the chair and reopened the book to begin a new chapter.