TBF, Mags, you have been doing a lot of the heavylifting for the quest, so this will be in good hands.
To be clear to everyone, this is just me burning out on imagination of the quest, since my muse has been hitting me over the head a lot with so many different ideas that I just can't find myself too interested in this.
I'll still hang out here, though, since this still does have a sepcial place in my heart.
I'd like to thank you all for making this a wonderful experience while it lasted.
I'd also like to thank @Magoose, @Fluffy_serpent, and @Martin Noctis for doing so much to help prepare and write this quest. I couldn't have done it without you all.
Been replaying Fallen Order after Survivor, and after I got to the Kashyyyk Chapter, it left me wondering if we can't convince James Cameron to make the Avatar Trilogy part of Star Wars lore, albeit a part of it where the battle between Jedi and Sith aren't front and center for the audience.
It honestly wouldn't take all that much to tweak the narrative for Pandora to fit Kashyyyk itself, swapping the Company for the Empire, Jake is instead a Stormtrooper and so on, and we treat the story as buildup to what happens in Episode 6 (if we swap Kashyyk for Endor).
Hey guys, you know, I was writing a Solomon Kane Pitch (and I'll spare you my arguments for Bruce to play the character) but I found myself struggling with it so I put it aside for the moment and went on to write other Pitches which already have appeared here. It's just recently that I've found myself with the inspiration to write the story once more thanks to a conversation I had which finally made me see what was the problem, what was it that made the Pitch for Solomon Kane so difficult...
I was trying to write Solomon Kane like it was Conan.
Let me explain a bit more thoroughly; Conan is a character that, like Solomon Kane, has many adventures in his life, makes friends, has loved ones, and could be expanded to have many more adventures if we so want to. But there is a limitation to him; Conan eventually becomes King, grows old and dies. That's his canon ending, what Robert E. Howard wrote, so while we could make adventures and fight for him, he will eventually die in the Hibernian Age, and his adventures will end.
However, Solomon Kane's adventures shine in that they happen in a world that is stuck during the period of change in the Old World, with discoveries in science and revolutions in religion make for an interesting backdrop for a man with wanderlust that holds tightly to his faith. Aside from that, Solomon Kane has no ending at all. During his entire run of adventures, the closest it comes is "Solomon Kane's Homecoming" a poem that describes when Solomon Kane returns to Devonshire, old after many years of travelling, recounting his adventures, the fights he's been in, the people who've died, and how all he wants now is to remain here. Yet, the sounds of the sea immediately have him stand up, grab his weapons, and go out on more adventures, just seconds after his proclamation!
This made me think...perhaps Solomon Kane has no end. Perhaps the character and his adventures will go on forever. Heck, in Marvel there's a line that mentions how some say that Solomon Kane is still wandering to this day. And with all the mystical artifacts and enemies he finds and fights, what's stopping that from being true.
That was my mistake when trying to write the story; I was trying to make them like the Conan movies that would have an ending, when instead the stories should be more like other films that also will never have an end. I should be writing them more like the James Bond Films.
With Solomon Kane, we have a Franchise similar to James Bond, where the main character goes on adventures against different foes, organizations, and then goes to another unrelated one, without the need to mention the previous ones. We could have Solomon Kane fighting Pirates in South America in one adventure, and the next have him rescuing damsels in Arabia. And that's just the Canon stories adapted; we could make stories of Solomon Kane fighting the Wendigo in North America, travelling to Australia, or even China and Japan at one point or another. Perhaps even having him not age thanks to magic, artifacts, or even the grace of God.
One I got into this mindset the floodgates opened, and once more I was able to finish this Pitch, an adaptation of my favorite Solomon Kane story, with elements from the Dark Horse adaptation. I give you:
Movie Pitch: Solomon Kane
in The Nephilim's Castle GENRE: Adventure/Fantasy/Action SUBGENRE: Dark/Historical
FORMAT: Movie (Franchise)
Solomon Kane: A Puritan man from Devonshire, Solomon Kane is a man led by both, his faith and his wanderlust, into a myriad of situations that common men would have died or lost their mind. Though stoic in personality, he also possesses a dry wit and sense of humor when he's near friends or people he trusts.
John Willems: Son of a wealthy Dutch trading family from Colchester. A "gentleman of fortune", which is just another way of saying Mercenary, he's a gregarious man who tends to look on the bright side and is not averse to fight for what he thinks is right. He has a tendency to jump before he thinks and getting into the thick of things.
Baron Von Staler: Baron of in Hessian lands where a plague of Bandits has taken hold. On first glance the Baron is generous, pious, and a true friend to those in his employ, if somewhat weak when it comes to his authority. However, behind closed doors there is another side to him. This side is cruel, demanding, and not averse to killing those who question his commands. His castle is built over the burnt Abbey.
"Baroness" Maharis: A "Heathen Temptress" from the East, or how the villagers and servants at the castle call her. Though not officially the Baron's wife she has been given the title by him. A Muslim who was enslaved and sold in Sicily to the Baron who was charmed by her looks. She is a secretive person who trusts no one, save perhaps for Johan who makes sure she is given some respect.
Johan: The Baron's loyal manservant and Seneschal. Though common in birth he's a very skilled and loyal servant, always making sure that everything runs smoothy in the castle. Always following the orders of the Baron and Baroness, he's also her only friend and the person who knows everything that's happening inside the castle.
Father Stuttman: Head of an Abbey 200 years ago. Legend says that he turned against God when he found a Blasphemous Statue of a Nephilim and tried to convert those in the Abbey, yet instead was confined as he tried to make them see the light, eventually setting fire to the Abbey and dying.
Brother Wilhelm: A humble monk of the Abbey 200 years ago who discovered Father Stuttman's blasphemy and lead the other monks in imprisoning him. However, he was not able to stop him in time for Father Stuttman to burn the Abbey and die with all of them. He's revered in the Baron's lands as a Saint and protector.
The Nephilim: Fallen Angels who were expelled from heaven. Their fossilized carcass was found by Father Stuttman and through their powers brought forth their blasphemy against God, making him believe that he was saving those he tried to convert, that he was doing God's work on Earth.
The year is 1255, the location is Germany. Inside an Abbey near the Württemberg area by the Black Forest there are sounds of banging on a door. It grows louder and louder as we approach, the sounds are more recognizable as pleadings; to be let out, that they don't understand, begging for them to listen to him! The man's pleas are unheard as a procession of monks is walking through the Abbey, bringing oil from the Abbey, carrying torches, with the lead monk declaring that they must hurry, they can't allow this blasphemy to continue as they throw the oil and fire to the area where the screaming comes from, burning it. From the door of the yelling man an odd symbol starts shining, the drawing expands through the door and walls, breaking them apart as the man's yelling becomes distorted, the door continues to break more and more as fire then starts spreading, the door breaks and...
Now the year is 1555, Germany, the same area but a different location. A man walks through the Black Forest, dressed purely in black in a Puritan fashion, the man listens to the sounds of birds, occasionally looking to the sky before his sight once more returns to the front. The tranquility of the forest is shattered however as the Puritan hears loud noises; distressed and loud noises. The Puritan runs quickly and arrives at a clearing where bandits have ambushed a merchant family going through the area. He sneaks in close and enters the fight, using his flintlock pistol and Spanish rapier he manages to cut a swath through the bandits...right until the bandit leader takes one of the victims, a child, hostage and forces him to drop his weapons, taking him prisoner like the rest, after knocking him out with his own pistol.
The Puritan is taken to the bandit camp with the other prisoners where he sees the oddly well-built buildings, not ones designed to quickly run when they were discovered. He and the rest are thrown into what seems to be a barn and locked with the animals there. The Puritan starts looking around and finds another prisoner there. Sandy haired, hands tied behind his back, he'd almost call him a trader were it not from his well-toned physique. The man tries to start a conversation when he sees the Puritan, introducing himself as John Willems from England, trying to find common ground between Englishmen and find a way out, but the Puritan remains silent, looking at him, the prisoners, and the door. John still tries to speak to him, or find a way to stand up, but all end in failure.
Night comes, the sounds of partying are heard from outside. The Puritan lies awake in the darkness, looking at the door. John is asleep when a drunk bandit enters the barn to have some fun with the female prisoners. John tries to protest, but is pushed aside. The distraction allows thee Puritan to strike, tripping the drunken bandit and quickly using his legs to break his neck. He moves to grab his knife and cut his bindings when another bandit, hearing the noise, enters and seeing what's happening attacks him. John quickly tackles him, with both sides grappling desperately, while the Puritan is still cutting his ropes. John is thrown aside, helpless, but before the other bandit can stab him the Puritan cuts his ropes and throws the knife at the bandit, hitting right through the neck, instantly killing him.
The Puritan removes the knight, then cuts John's bindings and asks him to help him free the prisoners. John agrees but asks for his name.
"Solomon Kane." The Puritan, now identified, replies.
John is set to cut the prisoners bindings while Solomon prepares a diversion. Solomon walks stealthily through the camp, seeing the bandit's revelry; drinking alcohol and eating to excess. He hides from the drunken patrols using the darkness, and finds the room where the weapons are stored. He finds his flintlock pistols and Spanish rapier. He also finds many other fire guns, with their powder intact.
He can work with that.
Later, Solomon and John lead the liberated prisoners out, taking advantage of the darkness. They are discovered by one of the patrols who manage to raise the alarm before they are killed. Solomon urges them to run as he stay behind to slow the now alert bandits. John stays behind to help him. They manage to make short work of the unarmed bandits, while the savviest ones go for their weapons at the room, only to find it full gunpowder and set to explode, which it does.
The explosion rattles the bandits and they run. Both Solomon and John do the same, catching up to the free prisoners and escorting them to the closest village. John and Solomon introduce themselves properly once more, and talk about the reasons of their capture; Solomon Kane is a Puritan from Devonshire who is travelling the world, while John is trader's son from Colchester who's decided to take on the mercenary life in Genoa. They arrive at the outskirts of the village of Mittelsten...
And near the entrance they find a young man tied up to a cross, weak yet still alive. Solomon shows anger at what he sees as blasphemy and cruelty, with John helping him release the man who can barely walk by himself. The mayor and his men arrive, scared at what they see, and offer the refugees safety and a place to remain in the meantime. He's confronted by both Solomon and John about the crucifixion, the mayor tries to distract them, brush it off, or make any type of excuses but Solomon sees through them all, and eventually threatens him for trying to kill an innocent man. The mayor breaks down and explains it was all by order of the Baron, that the man would serve as an example to those who defied him.
Solomon resolves to meet with the Baron and ascertain the truth of said claims, John tries to convince him otherwise but is unsuccessful, thus he decides to accompany him. John uses what money he was able to keep to buy a horse, but Solomon prefers going on foot. As they leave the mayor brings the refugees into the village proper, some of the hidden villagers finally coming out of hiding.
Inside the Baron's castle the daily activities of a new day take place; cooking, cleaning, grooming the horses, the knights go training, etc. A man, Johan, is looking at the paperwork and making sure everything runs smoothly. A page goes and whispers some information. Johan runs through the castle to the Cabinet
There, the Baron and Maharis, his companion, discuss the current going ons in his fief. Maharis tries to soothe him when he shows distress at the state of their finances, at the lack of discipline or respect from his subjects that make him take harsher measures. Maharis tells him of the need to be more lenient, of making himself be more approachable to which he angrily refuses, quoting sripture about the difference between the ruler and subjects. Johan enters the room and tells the news sent by the Mayor; refugees have arrived at the village, and they were freed by two englishmen who are now on the way to the castle.
Solomon and John talk on the way, Solomon eventually softening his stance on John finding him more agreeable. They arrive at the castle where after asking to see the Baron they are taken to the Great Hall, walking through gothic decorations of angels and devils all over the place, where food and drink is waiting for them. John helps himself while Solomon waits. The Baron, his guards, Maharis and Johan arrive where the Baron welcomes them cordially and thanks them for dealing wit the bandits. John tries to play it cool, but Solomon inmediately asks about the crucified young man at the entrance of the village. The Baron is shcoked at hearing this, and asks Johan why wasn't he told of this? Johan replies that no such news came from the Mayor, but John supports Solomon an what happened.
The Baron thanks Solomon for his actions, and claims he never gave such orders. He explains he's been dealing with bandits that plague the Black Forest for decades now, that because of his inability to deal with them there's been a breakdown in his people's trust, with many believing that the bandits actions are his own, or even supported by him! Even most of his men do not obey him when it comes to chasing the bandits, preferring to take bribes or terrorize his people. Even thinking him a weak and unscrupulous man just because he took Maharis into his house.
Maharis interjects in support of the Baron, mentioning his kindness to those in his employ, and to her in partcular when he saved her from slavers. She asks if they would be willing to stay and help in fighting said bandits. Johna grees, while Solomon says that "only for a while" as he looks suspiciously at Maharis.
Solomon and John are taken to their own quarters as guests. Maharis meets with Johan in the night where she learns more about what happened...and how her plans were derailed with the refugee rescue. Maharis has been using Johan (by seducing him) as the go to guy to slowly but surely put her own men into positions of power that can help her, all under her husband's nose. With the bandits needing time she decides to play nice with the two men who dealt said blow.
Solomon is in his room praying when Maharis visits him. She tries to seduce him, building some level of trust by revealing some of her past as a slave. Solomon sympathizes with her, but bluntly refuses her as he's sworn a vow of chastity long ago. He pushes her out and thinks about what's going on here as he goes to sleep.
Maharis is undeterred and goes to John's room, who is more receptive to her advances, as well as her story; she was a former slave, but she was not released but bought by the Baron to make use of her body. She's been trapped here for over ten years and seen the cruety behind the kind and pius act. John comforts her, and they spend the night together.
At night, Solomon has a nightmare of a Clergyman being locked into a room, yelling desperately as monks burn a church, the fire spreading through the entire building...
Solomon awakes from the nightmare and prepares himself for the day to meet with the Baron. John comes from the room next to him, looking still disheveled after last night and accompanies him. John speaks with Solomon and asks him if he believes what the Baron said. Solomon mentions that he does, as he finds him a pious man, while John thinks he's lying and pushing the blame. They argue as to who they should believe, John pushing to trust Maharis while Solomon is against it. Their argument is cut short as they arrive at the Main Hall to meet with the Baron, who asks of them their help in rooting out the corruption amongst his guards and protecting the people under him. They both agree, with John asking to remain behind as Solomon goes to the Village with the Baron with Johan.
Maharis shows John around the castle, the different decorations that come with it and the rooms. At the same time Solomon, the Baron and Johan are on the way to the village. Both John and Solomon ask their respective guides about the castle, and the nightmare about a clergyman being burned respectively. Both sides tell their respective audience about an old story; The Castle where the Baron resides used to be an Abbey where monks resided, apart from the secular world to meditate on the existence of Christ. One day however, the lead clergyman of the Abbey, Father Stuttgart, on one of his walks through the forest found some odd bones incrusted inside stone, bones that showed the clear existence of wings. Father Stuttgart brought the stone with the bones to the Abbey where he would spend days and nights gazing at it, claiming that it was speaking to him, spreading the word of Christ and a new gospel. He imagined himself a new prophet for the world, and wrote an entire new scripture out of what the statue would say. One that he tried to spread through the Abbey. Thankfully one of the monks, Brother Wilhelm, managed to resist the allure and marshalled the rest of his brothers in Christ to resist it as well.
They locked him up and tried to make him see the light, but even then, he remained stubborn, screaming his heresy for all to hear. Brother Wilhelm, feeling the taint of the demonic inside had no choice but to try and burn the statue and hope to drive out whatever malignant force it had. But Father Stuttgart managed to escape and spread the fire through the entire Abbey.
At the end of the story Maharis tells John an extra detail; the Baron is descended from the father who went mad, and his entire family has resided here after the fire. They even built the castle on top of the Abbey, almost as if they were protecting, or looking, for something. Meanwhile, the Baron tells Solomon how the story has spread since the time of his family, just another thing that has hurt his reputation. Solomon consoles the man, while trying to breach the topic of what happened last night, but with no idea how. Johan, understanding, pulls him to the side and asks him not to say anything; the Baron won't believe it, and it's not something that she hasn't tried before.
Arriving at the village the Baron goes to speak with the mayor while asking Johan to introduce Solomon to the man around the village. As they leave Johan quickly gathers the men, telling them about the Baron's decision, to which the man agree to what the Master says, Johan then leaves Solomon and returns to the mayor. As he walks, one of the guards approaches Johan and whispers something only he can hear.
Solomon starts asking questions of the man about the village and the bandits getting the usual kind of answers; coming from the night, seeming to know where to attack, etc. He's a bit suspicious with most of the answers being the same verbatim. John's warning comes to his mind, what Maharis supposedly told him about the Baron but, with no other option, Solomon has to take their words and walk through the village, hoping to find something.
Back in the castle, John is speaking with the guards there, ascertaining their true loyalties, but also learning their patrol schedules around the castle. John sends them on their way as he goes to see Maharis, but on the way he sees a caravan bringing chained man into the castle. Moving closer he sees some wearing clothes he think to recognize and tries to stop them, but they are taken deep below the castle. When he questions one of the guards, he claims they are criminals caught for the Baron to judge. John is rattled and goes to find Maharis, and once he's told of what he saw, she preys upon his protective instincts to help her escape the castle tonight, to which he agrees.
On a whim John tells Maharis about his home, Colchester, his family and how they fled from Dutch oppression to form a new home in England. John however wanted some adventure and thus decided to go for a mercenary life. John does not know why he suddenly thinks about them, but Maharis understands; in difficult times one thinks of home, a safe place. She says this in a genuine sad tone, which has John give some comfort and reaffirm his promise to help her escape. He asks her to tell him more about her home, and she does, a small smile on her face.
In the village, Solomon finds himself unable to ask any questions that don't have any repetitive answers by the villagers. He thinks the guards around him are of no help either. He runs into an alley where the guards try to catch up. A chase ensues, as Solomon moves from alley to alley, jumping over stands, but finally losing the guards. Solomon finds himself in an unknown quarter where he soon is accosted by the people living there. Solomon fights the men to a standstill, demanding they stop to answer his questions but they jeer or insult him. A voice yells to stop, its owner revealing himself to be one of the men who was saved by Solomon, claiming he's not one of the mayor's men.
Back in the Mayor's office, one of the guards enters to report Solomon's escape into the "undesirables" quarters. The mayor is scared and tries to apologize to the Baron. The Baron is willing to spare him, but Johan gives the order to have him killed, which the guards obey without question. The Baron is shocked and angry, and remonstrates Johan about disobeying his orders. Johan declares the mayor's use has run its course...and so has the Baron's. Johan commands half the guards to burn the village and dispose of Solomon, the other half to arrest the Baron and bring him to the Castle. Johan goes with this group, the Baron protesting all the way.
The guards move with resolve, gathering torches with them. Solomon asks more questions about what is going on and where are the rest of the refugees; the man answers the latter, how they were all put in chains and taken away, he only escaped due to sheer luck, watching what was happening and running fast enough into this area where no one seemed keen to enter. As to the former, he does not know. The rest of the men do however; the mayor follows the orders of the Baron to the letter, to subdue and bring any and all who don't share his faith to the castle, and those who try to fight back are crucified.
The men stuck here are the few men who have yet to foreswear their Christian faith.
The Guards are now being followed by the rest of the villagers, also carrying torches and chanting a blasphemous hymn. Solomon hears them coming, but can't do anything as they start throwing torches at the different houses, burning them down and letting the fire spread. Panic spreads through the crowds as they try to escape. Solomon is among them, avoiding the flames and the stampede of people trying to survive. Solomon moves through alleys, houses, jumping through roofs at one point. The wind blows and spread the flames even more.
Solomon finds a way out and sees...
The entire village is on flames, the guards are on front with the heretic villagers around, still chanting the blasphemous hymn which calls for "glory to the Nephilim". The villagers block the way, leaving the guards to fight Solomon. He takes out his rapier and pistol, they fight, it's brutal, but Solomon ekes a win due to experience. The villagers approach Solomon and rush him, he retreats back into the burning buildings as he looks for an alternate route. The villagers jump also into the fray, suffering burns, or coughing due to the smoke, yet with the zeal of fanatics they keep up the chase. House by house, street by street. Solomon runs, fights when he has to, and looks for a way out.
During a lull in the fighting Solomon hears the whiny sounds of a horse. He starts looking for it, while avoiding the villagers. He has to hurry as the sounds grow more desperate, he follows the sounds to a building already in flames. He enters and finds a horse, but trapped with one of the beams blocking the way. Solomon struggles to move the beam, then finds a way to do so without using brute strength. The Villagers also follow the sounds of a horse, but are trampled when Solomon and the horse burst through the doors and run off through the fire. The villagers try to stop them, or hold them off at many points, but Solomon and his horse manage to evade them, finding a way out of the burning village and making way for the castle.
In the castle, John and Maharis skulk through it, avoiding patrols and reaching the stables where they find a horse. They try to keep quite but the horse makes enough noise to attract the guards. The Guards try to corral them, but John manages to push them aside (though hurting or killing them) and then rides the horse out. Maharis holds on to him as he leads the horse through the castle and barely escapes through the closing doors.
They ride into the night, but are also being pursued by riders. John tries to keep Maharis calm, she tells him of paths he can take to evade the riders. After a tense chase they manage to do so, but are ambushed near a river where the guards once apprehend them. Maharis tries to play the victim, that John had kidnapped her as she thanks them for rescuing her. John is shocked but the guard holding him mocks him, asking him if he really thought he was "the only one that temptress has tried this with before". Once Maharis sees that her act is not working she tries appealing to John once more, but he's less than receptive (and more hurt) by what she's trying to do now. They are taken to their horse and deposited there as the guards lead it back to the castle. They let them know that the Master will decide their fates now.
Back in the castle, Solomon managed to reach it after riding at a gallop. It's night now, and Solomon can clearly see guards at their positions. Solomon sees other approaching guards carrying both John and Maharis, and takes advantage of the momentary lapse this causes in their attentiveness to sneak closer, then climb the wall and sneak into the castle. Solomon sneaks by the guards and follows the guards that bring John and Maharis deeper into the castle, Maharis complaints and threats echoing and giving Solomon another signal to follow.
John and Maharis are taken below, deep below of the castle where the Cellars should be. Instead, what they find is an abandoned, and clearly still consecrated temple, even if the demonic statue is clearly out of place...
...Well, not that abandoned. As in front of a great statue are both the Baron, tied up, and Johan, accompanied by the guards who came with him back to the castle. Upon sight, Maharis once more tries to blame it all on John, tries to use each and every trick she knew worked Johan before, but she is rebuffed as Johan mocks her. After all, how many times where her attempts at fleeing interrupted or outright failed? And who had she talked about them before? The use of bandits to stretch or kill her captors? The Baron, captured and tied up, screams at her about her shameful betrayal, and how he should have never heeded Johan's advice about "saving her". Maharis is angry, claiming he never freed her, and only used her for his "preferences".
The Baron angrily demands answers; why did Johan allow her to try and escape? to even use the bandits to attack his people? Johan chides the Baron that this is too late to play innocent, as he had approved of every one of Johan's suggestions. Besides, the bandits had worked just as he'd said; serving as a threat to bolster the unity of the "faithful" and bring despair and doubt into those who resisted the new gospel. And it worked, they were not trying to escape like before. Wasn't that what he wanted? Really, he was only following the Baron's orders when ordered to find a way to aid in spreading the New Canon to all.
John calls him mad, and the Baron follows suit, replying he wanted to continue what his ancestor had begun...but not in a way that would harm his people. Johan calls him a fool, for believing that such an act would not bring retribution, or even their deaths. Has he any idea of what true sacrifice is, or even what it would take to follow the new Canon and bring a new Eden?!
Solomon is in hiding, but clearly hearing everything that's being said. Johan continues his monologue, about the many sacrifices needed, the rituals that had to be prepared, and how in the end it all came to this; the final sacrifice. It had taken so long, but in the end the last crop from the refugees had pushed the schedule by years. Now, the final sacrifice the ritual required; the blood of a heathen spilled on consecrated ground. This was the reason they had "saved" Maharis so long ago. Johan orders his men to bring Maharis to an altar in front of the statue.
As Maharis is taken along with the Baron to the altar she apologizes to John, claiming that all she wanted was to go home, not to have him killed. John remembers the moment they had before, and his promise to help her, and moves to try and stop them. The guards holding him back wrestle him to the ground as he tries to move. Solomon moves to help, but behind another guard had sneaked upon him and was ready to strike. However, Solomon had heard this guard and disposes of him, revealing his position at the same time. Johan screams to stop him as he drags Maharis and the Baron to the altar, John once more renews his struggles and Solomon helps by shooting one of the men holding him back. It's a mad scramble to see who will succeed; John and Solomon are in the middle of a fight, while Johan has released the Baron and is now convincing the Baron that this final sacrifice will validate all those that came before.
Maharis does not remain still and tries to escape, struggling against Johan's strong grip. The Baron seems to be in a trance as he looks at the blade, at the woman who betrayed him, and seeming to hear an otherworldly voice whispering in his ear. Solomon and John fight against the remaining guards. The Baron raises the knife and stabs at Johan, angry at his betrayal. Plunging the knife deep into his heart. Johan has a look of surprise as he falls.
Solomon deals with the last guard as John helps Maharis out of the altar, thanking Solomon for his help. Solomon says it was an act of God to stop such desecration and heresy...as well as to help a new friend. The Baron is still in front of the altar, silently looking it all. Solomon looks at him and makes to speak, before his face turns to shock and yells a warning. The Baron turns and sees Johan, looking angry, with no signs of being hurt save for his clothes, and using the knife in his hand he plunges it into the Baron's heart. Blood spills on the altar...
The ground slightly trembles, then bucks even stronger bringing them to the ground. They don't understand what's happening, but the statue in front is glowing now. The blood of a Heathen in consecrated ground...they see the Baron, his blood running through the altar. A small smile in Johan's face, a slight glow in his eyes.
"Should've learned from last time. Never leave the work to an underling, they always fuck it up..." Johan says as he moves from his place, approaching Solomon, John and Maharis without a care in the world.
Maharis is shocked as much as John. Solomon remains calm, but it's a near thing as grabs his crucifix and recites a hymn to God. Johan seems amused at their response, the ground shakes once more and the Statue shines brighter. Johan mentions it won't take long now. After so long, their hour of ascension is at hand.
Maharis is horrified and asks what has Johan done to himself. Johan laughs and mocks her for thinking that he was ever anything like them. Solomon speak in a grim tone, calling him many epithets, including The Father of Lies once more on Earth. Johan seems amused, but once again denies it. He is not his however many times removed uncle. He is more than that...
"Nephilim" whispers Solomon. The mentioned offspring of angels and men; Fallen Angels.
"So it was what your kind called us". Replies Johan, looking at them with disdain and anger after hearing the name. The grounds shake more, now continuously but on a smaller strength. Everyone is petrified save for Solomon who moves to attack him. The fight is short and brutal; Solomon gives everything he has, but Johan tanks it all and even regenerates from the blows. John tells Maharis to run as he moves to save Solomon when he is caught by the Nephilim.
Maharis runs, finding the castle deserted, with no one around. The Door is open and freedom beckons. She looks back, at the place where once more someone is willing to die for her...then moves back into the castle, grabbing one of the torches.
The Nephilim takes obvious pleasure at hurting them, stretching the fight in order to do so. Monologuing about the indignities he had to suffer, the disgrace of being expelled and brought low from heaven. His moment of near ascension so many years ago and how it was all brought low because of that one priest...Stuttgart. It had been Stuttgart who had seen though his words when he was brought to the Abbey. Wilhelm, that ambitious fool who saw himself as the next coming of Isaiah the Prophet was easy to ensnare, his brothers even more. But Father Stuttgart would not listen, he denounced them, spoke again and again even when imprisoned to try and sway them.
Smoke is coming from the castle as Maharis started several fires in key areas where it would spread faster. She set alight her Boudoir, seeing alight with some pleasure. Maharis runs to the Wine Cellars, coughing a little on the way, and breaks them open, letting the alcohol spill and setting it on fire. The fire spreads over the supports, some of them start to break.
The Nephilim stops as the glow from the statue reaches its zenith and the ground buckles and breaks. All kinds of demons and devils start breaking free as Solomon and John stand back-to-back guarding against the creatures. The Nephilim cries out that it took him three centuries, but finally, it's all coming together. With the Denizens of hell at his side he will take over this world, and from there launch a new War on Heaven. "Where the Morningstar failed, I will succeed!"
Solomon and John fight, but are being overwhelmed. The Nephilim looks, not seeing anything going wrong, absorbed in his triumph. They Never see Maharis arriving back, throwing sheets that are soggy with alcohol at the demons and burning them with the torches. The consecrated ground making the fire holy and causing them harm. Solomon and John follow her example (John does so after scolding her for not running) and they continue to spread the fire in the basement. The Nephilim is furious and enters the fight once more. Solomon faces him alone using fire to harm him, John protects Maharis as she spread the fire through the wooden supports. The fire in the castle is running out of control, the supports break and entire areas collapse.
The supports in the basement break and the entire castle is coming down on them. John and Maharis run to the exit, calling for Solomon to escape. Solomon tells them to go, the Nephilim is still fighting him and needs to die. One of the wooden supports falls and separates them. John and Maharis run through the castle on fire, having to double back when the fire is too strong in one direction. Solomon and the Nephilim fight for the final time, the room on fire around them, the statue no longer shining, the demons gone. The Nephilim is furious! Once again, he's been denied, but he won't be stopped forever! He will find another way, and next time...!
"There won't be a next time!" Solomon yells as he body checks him, pushing him all the way to the statue and pining him there with his sword. The push, the constant rumbles, and the fire has the statue fall on top of the Nephilim, pushing the sword even deeper. The Nephilim is trapped and cannot escape. Solomon looks at the fallen supports and climbs out through the holes, escaping through a different route than John and Maharis.
The castle collapses. John, Maharis and Solomon all manage to escape in time. The Nephilim screams as he's buried under tons of rock and earth. John and Maharis see the destruction, John going back thinking that Solomon might still be trapped there. Solomon makes an appearance from behind, there is an emotional reunion.
Solomon gives John and Maharis the horse he brought, with John promising to take Maharis back to her home, and for him to return to his own afterwards. "I think I've had enough adventure." Solomon bids them goodbye as they leave, he once more checks on his weapons, and goes on to the road.
The End.
A.N: You know, this one was easier, and harder, than my previous Pitch. Unlike the previous one I did not have that frantic energy that just possessed me to write it down, yet that same lack of energy made it a bit harder to decide on a course. I had to rewrite the characters and story so many times like you wouldn't believe...and at one point I thought it would be fun to add Hansel and Gretel for some reason!
But, I've finished it, and I hope you like it. Please tell me your thoughts and opinions. Valid criticism is always welcomed.
The Script of Solomon Kane shall be completed at a Script Quality Level of: D100 + 40 => 117
In addition, You can choose the following Awards:
[]Men Shall Die For this (In The first Solomon Kane film, all actors will have a Chemistry and SP bonus of +30)
[]The Unending Journey of Soloman Kane (The Howard Estate Grants Lucasfilms and Bruce O'Brian permission to create original stories with the Character)
[]And Wunderlust Takes Us All (Autopass location rolls, as well as a +50 bonus to Special effects rolls and VFX rolls for the Solomon Kane film)
calling the vote early, because holy hell, I'm in for a fun time.
Adhoc vote count started by Magoose on May 7, 2023 at 6:59 PM, finished with 43 posts and 14 votes.
[X] Plan Battle of Yavin
-[X]The Final Day: You set down the Camera and looked at George, to ask him "Are you okay?"
-[X]The Droids You are Looking For: Anthony and Kenny are trying to make things interesting, and you haven't had a chance to spend time with them to get to know them.
-[X]The Princess: Carrie just had one more scene before she was sent back home, with all of them done. She just wanted to make it right.
[X] Plan: The last stretch
-[X]The Final Day: You set down the Camera and looked at George, to ask him "Are you okay?"
-[X]The Droids You are Looking For: Anthony and Kenny are trying to make things interesting, and you haven't had a chance to spend time with them to get to know them.
-[X]The Hero: Mark is slowly getting into his groove, but you wanna know just how it would be for you and him to get along.
[X] Plan The Almighty Last Push
-[X]The Final Day: You set down the Camera and looked at George, to ask him "Are you okay?"
-[X]The Droids You are Looking For: Anthony and Kenny are trying to make things interesting, and you haven't had a chance to spend time with them to get to know them.
-[X] The Grand Moff: Peter is… well he didn't expect much from you. That was until you and George started talking and then got frightened that you were… just as driven as George was.
The Script of Solomon Kane shall be completed at a Script Quality Level of: D100 + 40 => 117
In addition, You can choose the following Awards:
[]Men Shall Die For this (In The first Solomon Kane film, all actors will have a Chemistry and SP bonus of +30)
[]The Unending Journey of Soloman Kane (The Howard Estate Grants Lucasfilms and Bruce O'Brian permission to create original stories with the Character)
[]And Wunderlust Takes Us All (Autopass location rolls, as well as a +50 bonus to Special effects rolls and VFX rolls for the Solomon Kane film)
In addition, You can choose the following Awards:
[]Men Shall Die For this (In The first Solomon Kane film, all actors will have a Chemistry and SP bonus of +30)
[]The Unending Journey of Soloman Kane (The Howard Estate Grants Lucasfilms and Bruce O'Brian permission to create original stories with the Character)
[]And Wunderlust Takes Us All (Autopass location rolls, as well as a +50 bonus to Special effects rolls and VFX rolls for the Solomon Kane film)
[X]The Unending Journey of Soloman Kane (The Howard Estate Grants Lucasfilms and Bruce O'Brian permission to create original stories with the Character)
This gives us the chance for more stories once the ones we have run our, and to expand the mythos beyond Europe and Africa.
And at the risk of causing some trouble, I think there is some arguments in OTL as who really owns the rights for Howard's characters and stories. Of course, perhaps us buying the rights makes it so that said problems don't exist this time around.
Again, you've essentially gotten a reward (a script auto complete), a second reward (a +40 bonus to the roll) and a tertiary reward pick.
And while it's very well written, well structured and obviously a Labour of hard work, it's still a screen pitch getting essentially three rewards.
It'a not just this but, overall, it does kinda feel like the omake bonuses are becoming a bit much.
Even quick joke pitches get Screen Presence. And people have been spamming them. And it's getting a bit concerning how big some of these omake rewards can get.
Except they have gotten larger and larger as time has gone past? We've gone from screen pitches maybe getting a chance to get written, or some other company making it with a d100 roll to them getting auto-completed with huge bonuses and a large reward option. Not too long ago Magoose did end up forgetting the amount of bonuses we have because we had so many due to omakes.
And the rewards have seemingly been getting bigger and bigger. It seems like it could get excessive if this continues.
Except they have gotten larger and larger as time has gone past? We've gone from screen pitches maybe getting a chance to get written, or some other company making it with a d100 roll to them getting auto-completed with huge bonuses and a large reward option. Not too long ago Magoose did end up forgetting the amount of bonuses we have because we had so many due to omakes.
And the rewards have seemingly been getting bigger and bigger. It seems like it could get excessive.
They've gotten larger mostly because the effort put into them has gotten greater. The large amount of bonuses is mostly due to how much everyone keeps putting out. Overall, I understand where you're coming from and it is a very valid concern about whether or not things will become too easy, but I think if a bullet needs to be bitten, I think it's better for there to be higher overall engagement and passion at the cost of a few too many buffs.
The clearly joke pitches for instance maybe don't require a screen presence reward? Pitches or omake don't get people revolutionary technology upgrades like the salt batteries?
Clearly people do deserve to be rewarded for hard work, just, sometimes it feels like the omakes rewards go a bit too far. For instance the first Kung Fu Kid pitch got a bonus to writing it, then the Part 2 pitch got an autocomplete iirc. The Part 2 was, if I am remembering what is was correctly, perhaps a bit much in hindsight.
The clearly joke pitches for instance maybe don't require a screen presence reward? Pitches or omake don't get people revolutionary technology upgrades like the salt batteries?
Clearly people do deserve to be rewarded for hard work, just, sometimes it feels like the omakes rewards go a bit too far. For instance the first Kung Fu Kid pitch got a bonus to writing it, then the Part 2 pitch got an autocomplete iirc. The Part 2 was, if I am remembering what is was correctly, perhaps a bit much in hindsight.
Speaking of Howard, could it be possible to adapt the works of his problematic pen pal and good friend H.P. Lovecraft? It would "merely" require tweaking/adjusting the more distasteful parts.
A lot of it qualifies as "distasteful", but Lovecraft could be a good way to branch into horror films.
On another note, I find it weirdly wholesome that the extremely asocial Lovecraft had a pen pal.
Personally, I always thought that the level of rewards went in par with the level of work and detail put into them, and perhaps this sounds a bit selfish and self-vain but I feel I have worked hard on this pitch.
Speaking of Howard, could it be possible to adapt the works of his problematic pen pal and good friend H.P. Lovecraft? It would "merely" require tweaking/adjusting the more distasteful parts.
A lot of it qualifies as "distasteful", but Lovecraft could be a good way to branch into horror films.
Speaking of Howard, could it be possible to adapt the works of his problematic pen pal and good friend H.P. Lovecraft? It would "merely" require tweaking/adjusting the more distasteful parts.
A lot of it qualifies as "distasteful", but Lovecraft could be a good way to branch into horror films.
On another note, I find it weirdly wholesome that the extremely asocial Lovecraft had a pen pal.
I'm a fan of Lovecraft's works and a huge horror geek so I support this wholeheartedly. I also have a handful of Horror pitches in the works, so we should do well enough on that front.
I'm sorry if I caused insult, but honestly I'm not coming after anyone personally for any reason. I just really like this quest, like the tone where it feels like we can fail and get pushed back and struggle.
I've seen good quests kinda end up becoming easier because of the sheer amount and quality of omakes thrown at it, to the extent I saw one quest actually have people make omakes to try and make things harder again.
Omake rewards are a good concept, and again people who work really hard like Kaiser and Overmind and Duke William put in a ton of elbow grease and hard work to earn it. But I'm just worried because I like this quest. It's from a place of care.
Again, I apologise if I've caused any insult. This isn't about anyone in particular, it's mainly just my worries, that don't seem to be overly shared by others, and that's on me.
The rights aren't clearly owned at the moment. Although the legal Gordian knot that is the rights of Lovecrafts work would be cut in the 90's, for now, we could end up signing a deal with one party with a claim, only to get sued by another who also had a claim.
'm sorry if I caused insult, but honestly I'm not coming after anyone personally for any reason. I just really like this quest, like the tone where it feels like we can fail and get pushed back and struggle.
I've seen good quests kinda end up becoming easier because of the sheer amount of omakes thrown at it, to the extent I saw one quest actually have people make omakes to try and make things harder again.
Omake rewards are a good concept, and again people who work really hard like Kaiser and Overmind and Duke William put in a ton of elbow grease and hard work to earn it. But I'm just worried because I like this quest. It's from a place of care.
Again, I apologise if I've caused any insult. This isn't about anyone in particular, it's mainly just my worries, that don't seem to be overly shared by others, and that's on me.
The rights aren't clearly owned at the moment. Although the legal Gordian knot that is the rights of Lovecrafts work would be cut in the 90's, for now, we could end up signing a deal with one party with a claim, only to get sued by another who also had a claim.
If you're talking about the Dracula pitch, then that's all @King crimson, acutally, so full credit to them.
I am working on a pitch that is... let me just quickly check, one second please...
11,577 words long, and I've only passed the... oh, two-thirds mark or around that.
To those worried for my sanity, I would just like to inform that I once spent more than a year writing and rewriting a Nova movie pitch that was over 24,000 words long, sometimes just dropping writing it at times before picking it back up. I never had sanity in the first place.
On topic, I agree that while the rewards may be a bit worrying, the quality of the work should be rerwarded as fully as possible, in my opinion.
