EMPIRE OF ETERNITY

Animated Intro

by

Kara Allison Stambach

OVER BLACK, GAME INTRO AUTOMATICALLY STARTS:

SFX: Crickets chirp and an owl hoots.

NPC NARRATOR (V.O.)

Hundreds of years ago, the Fifth Age ended in the Silent Apocalypse. A World War fought with untested biological weapons resulted in global pandemics now known as the Twelve Plagues.

FADE UP ON:

EXT. URBAN CITY STREET, 2007 – DAY

PEDESTRIANS stagger, clutch their throats and touch sores appearing on their faces, and then fall to the ground. CARS swerve into other lanes and crash.

SFX: People moan and scream. Cars honk. A baby cries.

CUE MUSIC SCORE:

NPC NARRATOR (V.O.)

Within one moon cycle, billions died. Many species went extinct. Some deaths were swift; most suffered greatly. Those creatures that were to survive… had to first evolve.

CUT TO:

INT. LIVING ROOM – A FEW DAYS LATER - AFTERNOON

A teen GIRL sees the scabby CORPSES of her parents and brothers in horror, but she herself is totally healthy. Grieved, she attempts suicide by slitting her wrists, but to her shock, the wound immediately heals. 

NPC NARRATOR (V.O.)

Some humans developed a rapid immuno-response so powerful they could only be killed by having their hearts or heads removed. These immortals took the name “the Cured.”

CUT TO:

INT. CONVENIENCE STORE – SAME AFTERNOON - DAY

Threadbare SURVIVORS loot a 7/11. A fight breaks out over food. A brutish MAN attempts to punch a young BOY.

The boy lifts his hands. The brute is suspended in mid-air before flying back and crashing through the window.

The other looters flee while the boy gawks at his hands.

NPC NARRATOR (V.O.)

Others suddenly tapped into latent extra-sensory perceptions such as telepathy, telekinesis, climate manipulation, or animal mind control. These people were called “the Gifted.”

CUT TO:

EXT. THICK WOODED FOREST – NIGHT

A WOLF PACK pants, whines, and growls. Their bodies painfully morph into humanoid forms. Their howls sound almost human; their eyes sparkle with intelligence.

NPC NARRATOR (V.O.)

Finally, while most surviving flora and fauna remained unchanged, the Plagues caused a select few species to inexplicably experience neomorphic mutation overnight. Their genetic DNA was somehow altered by the combination of viruses, creating a hyper-evolved state. Within two generations, these animals developed languages, tools, and trades. Their societies divided into Houses based on species, which belonged to Clans based on genera. All hyper-evolved creatures consider themselves members of the over-arching familial order simply called “Kin.”  

TIME CUT TO:

EXT. PRAGUE, 3007 – DAY

A few decrepit urban buildings can be seen from under lush vegetation. WILDLIFE is evident in the sky and background.

Two Spartazonians and one Neo Athonean wander around. Humanoid Wolves, Horses, Ravens, Dolphins, and Chameleons scavenge the ruins for plastics and talk to one another. Some are dressed in leather jerkins or tortoiseshell armor; others wear intricate bone-jewelry. Everyone carries a weapon and moves as their species would.

NPC NARRATOR (V.O.)

In this, the Sixth Age, only the strong survive. Superstitious, Proud, and Territorial, the Cured, Gifted, and Clan nations share a tenuous peace within their wild empire.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. SPARTAZON AERIAL WIDESHOT – DAY

NPC NARRATOR (V.O.)

Out of the ruins of marble and clay found in the south, the Cured used backwards-engineered technology to forge a militaristic metropolis known as Spartazon. There, they train their women to be fierce warriors.

CUT TO:

EXT. SPARTAZONIAN TRAINING ARENA - SAME

In the background, CITIZENS in togas ride on huge bridled INSECTS. The marketplace bustles.

In an open arena, a middle-aged, scared WOMAN gives a seven-year-old GIRL a fencing lesson. They both wear plastic armor. The woman wears a crude stopwatch.

It’s an intense swordfight--no quarter given. Other GIRLS of all ages observe intensely. The teacher kicks the girl off-balance, tips her sword to her student’s throat, and clicks the stopwatch. The spectators good-naturedly cheer.

NPC NARRATOR (V.O.)

To the north, the Gifted have restored their glowing “city of light” as best as they could without possessing the legendary magic known as “electricity.” Inspired by a Spiritual Renaissance, Neo Athoneans built large universities to preserve knowledge, enhance psychic abilities, and treasure the arts and sciences of pre-Plagues antiquity. The Gifted prize intelligence and wit over strength and speed; a worldview that often earns them Spartazonian scorn.

CUT TO:

INT. NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL - SAME

Sunlight streams through the Rose window, casting rainbows over many shelves of books. The well-maintained church has been converted to a college, where STUDENTS sit together at long wooden tables, murmuring and studying.

One BOY is speed-reading. Another BOY re-shelves books using telekinesis. A TEACHER uses her Wind Power to turn to her students’ books to the desired chapter. Another GIRL is “reading” a book by placing the spine to her temple and moving her lips.

NPC NARRATOR (V.O.)

Slowly expanding their territory eastward, the Clans continued to evolve. Each species is naturally prone to certain occupations. Every House is known to have unique talents and personality traits. All packs, prides, herds, flocks, hordes, and pods are ruled by Alphas. Lying, wasting resources, and killing for sport is taboo for most Clans. Some Houses distrust humans; some Houses support genera equality. But all Clans have clashed with Gifted and Cured at one point, and no Houses could conceive of betraying fellow Kin for humans’ favor.

CUT TO: CLAN MONTAGE

EXT. PLAINS – SAME

Palominos plow fields on their farms. In the distance, Mustangs race across the plains for fun.

RAPID DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. WOODS – SAME

A pride of four lionesses silently tracks a deer. Suddenly, the Alpha gets low to the ground. The pack spreads out. They ready their weapons and hurry after their prey.

RAPID DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. LAKE - SAME

A beautiful Leopard woman lounges on the edge of a lake. Lazily, she swipes her paw into the crystal-clear water and easily catches a FISH. Smiling haughtily, she munches.

RAPID DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. ALPS – SAME

A graceful Falcon perches atop a snow-capped mountain, observing the landscape. His head cocks to and fro; he cries and takes flight.

RAPID DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. DESERT – SAME

A Frill Lizard races across the cracked desert toward a waterhole. Other Frill Lizards puff up and hiss, scenting the new guy. Sensing he’s of their House, they let the newcomer have a drink.

RAPID DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. HOT JUNGLE – SAME

Hyenas set traps to catch small prey.

RAPID DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. PACIFIC COAST – SAME

A male Dolphin walks along the beach, waving hello to everyone: other Dolphins, SEAGULLS, CRABS… even KELP.

RAPID DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. SWAMPLAND MEADOWS, STRAW HUTS – SAME

Outside her straw-nest healing hut, a female Crane tends to a hurt Wild Dog, bandaging his leg with care. Medicine bottles and herb smudge sticks surround them.

CUE SOUNDTRACK: SWELLING CONCLUSION

CUT TO: INSERT BACKGROUND: Empire of Eternity MAP

NPC NARRATOR (V.O.)

This world has become an empire built on instinct and intuition. This wild and savage era is poised for inter-species war. The epic adventures waiting here will put the bonds of love and loyalty to the ultimate test. Will you survive?

TEXT SUPERIMPOSES OVER MAP BACKGROUND:

“CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY”

[Gamer selects from:]

“Gifted, Cured, Clan”

TEXT DISSOLVES TO:

“CHOOSE YOUR CLASS”

[Options for specific abilities and physical features appear for whatever species Gamer has selected, as well as clothing, weapons, skill sets, hit points, and items.

Gamer names and designs their character using the features toolbar, or logs into a previously created character and updates their journal.]

TEXT DISSOLVES TO:

“CHOOSE YOUR QUEST

Rescue Party: PVP: Save the prince, stop the war.

Olympics: PVP: Structured games against other species.

Death Match: PVP: One-on-one fight between Alphas/Royalty.

King of the Hill: PVP: Same species fight to be Alpha.

Treasure Hunt: PVE: Retrieve items outside your territory.

Explore: PC: Detail avatars, travel, and log journeys.”

[Gamer selects Quest. If multiple players are required, Gamer must wait for the necessary team members to log onto Gamer’s server. Once the party is formed and outfitted, the game begins.]

SFX: drums pounding, horns blowing, crowd cheering.

FADE TO BLACK.

                          NPC NARRATOR (V.O.)

Welcome, [Name of Character], to the Empire of Eternity!

GAME BEGINS.