Ruler of the Stars: Part 1

They make a sharp turn as storm clouds gather up above.

EXT. TOWN GATE, DENI - NIGHT
Tayo tries to sit straight on the horse and Hiro is talking to the gate keeper. It's now raining heavily.

HIRO
Do you know where the boss of the Warriors' Guild is staying? General Rowen.
GATE KEEPER
No one by that name has come into this town.
HIRO
What about gamers?
GATE KEEPER
Some of them stay around here. If it's a place to stay you're looking for, there's an inn at the center of town.

He points them in the direction of the city center.

HIRO
Thanks.

They ride for the inn.

EXT. RUINS OF EALAO - NIGHT
Amidst the debris of the rocks and pillars, Gotar is seated. He has been gravely injured. One of his minions brings a green vial to him. He opens it and drinks it.
His hulking frame then stares at his fist. He unclenches it and fire blazes from it. The light from it casts gigantic shadows of him and his minions who surround him, as the rain plummets around them.

INT. GAMER'S INN, DENI - NIGHT
There are only a few gamers inside the inn. They are all drinking and being merry. Our party, Henry, Tayo and Hiro find a seat. Henry places Tayo next to Hiro and goes over to the bar where an NPC is serving drinks.

HENRY
Can I speak to the master of this guild, we need a place?
BARTENDER 2
And you are?
HENRY
Gamers. We need a place.
BARTENDER 2
Give me a moment.

The leaves the serving to his assistant  and goes to into the back of the bar. A moment later two gamers come out. They are Frank and Evan.

EVAN
I was told you need a room.
HENRY
We need rooms and potions if you have some. How much will they cost?
EVAN
What happened to him?

Evan is referring to Tayo.

HENRY
He isn't feeling too well. How much does it cost?
EVAN
Well, it's not about cost. We only attend to our guild members.
(loudly)
Hi Hiro.

Hiro doesn't reply. She doesn't have time for his bullshit. Tayo can move his arms now.

HIRO
(to Tayo)
Can you stand?
TAYO
What about Daro?
HIRO
Gotar attacked. He stayed back to fight. He hasn't... shown up.

Hiro sits Tayo up. Meanwhile, Henry is doing his best to control his anger.

HENRY
This is the only place we could find. We need somewhere to stay and some medicine.
EVAN
Sorry. It's our policy.
HENRY
What the... who's the head of this guild?
FRANK
I am. You're welcome to join.
HENRY
This is not how you make people join guys.
FRANK
Resources are limited we've got to save them for our members.

Hiro arrives at the bar.

HIRO
We are already in a guild, as you already know.
FRANK
Including them both?

Frank is referring to Henry and Tayo. Henry decides to go with Hiro.

HENRY
Yes.
HIRO
So are you going to give us a place or not?
FRANK
No.
HIRO
Henry, let's go.

Henry and Hiro begin to leave.

EVAN
There isn't anywhere else.
FRANK
I can make an exception.

Hiro stops then Henry does as well.

FRANK
In return I'd like to hear what happened to you guys. He was the one who suggested finding the AI right?

Frank is referring to Tayo.

HIRO
We'll share what we learned with everyone once the general arrives.
FRANK
Which is in a couple of days. Whatever information you have will be stale by then. I do have an easy way to reach him though.
HIRO
How?

INT. GAMERS' GUILD ROOM, DENI - CONTINUOUS
Frank removes the communication cube and places it on the table. He taps it a few time rhythmically.

FRANK
Item Activate: General Rowen

A static hologram of the general appears. The picture itself is not too clear and it's obvious it was taken without permission.

ROWEN (V.O.)
This is Rowen, boss of the Warrior's guild. How can I help you Frank?
FRANK
Hello Rowen. I have a member of yours who says they have information on this level's boss.

Hiro steps in front of the crystal.

HIRO
Hello sir. It's Hiro. I am with Ray and Henry, the ones I followed.
ROWEN (V.O.)
Go on.
HIRO
During our search for Ea we encountered the boss of this realm and we have information on where it might be right now.
ROWEN (V.O.)
That's great. We also have made progress on our end. It's the reason we aren't in Deni. We've located the portal to the next dimension.

Evan and Frank don't look surprised at this info. They already know about Rowen's discovery.

HIRO
That's wonderful.
ROWEN (V.O.)
We will ride over to you tomorrow to plan our assault.
(after a slight pause)
If this is truly the final boss of this level, we may need your help Frank. Can we count on you and your team?
FRANK
Of course, we'll be glad to help.
ROWEN (V.O.)
Good. Hiro send over the rest of the details.
HIRO
Yes sir.
ROWEN (V.O.)
Well done, soldier.

The general's hologram disappears.

FRANK
Evan, get the bartender to show them to the house.
EVAN
I'll do it.
(to our party)
Follow me. It's nearby.

Henry picks up Tayo to leave along with Evan as Hiro and Frank stay behind.

INT. GUILD HOUSE, DENI - DAY
Hiro is lying down on the couch humming a tune and moving her hand in a dancing motion. It's the same tune to the score that was used in the trailer of the Epic Realms 2020.
Tayo enters the living room and knocks on Henry's door. She stops humming. He sees her.

TAYO
Hey.
HIRO
Hi.
TAYO
Have you seen any member of the Gamer's guild?
HIRO
No.

Tayo takes a bite from an apple in his hand and knocks again.

HIRO
Henry went to check for his friends. You should be resting.
TAYO
I've slept enough.

Tayo sees Daro's sword. He pick it up and unsheathes it.

TAYO
Do you think Gotar got the professor's sword?

Hiro shrugs.

HIRO
Don't know.

Tayo begins to practice and swing the sword.

HIRO
Please take that outside.

EXT. GUILD HOUSE, DENI - DAY
Though the rain that was falling the previous night had stopped, there are still a few clouds in the sky. Tayo holds Daro's sword up. He remembers his previous encounter with lightning which only makes him nervous.

TAYO
Sangooooo.

He protects his groin region with a hand and waits. Hiro who's watching from a window, wonders what he's doing. Nothing happens to Tayo. Tayo notices her watching. He raises the sword again.

TAYO
Lightning Magic: Lightning? Thunder, aara, eclair, Rai...
(to Hiro)
What's lightning in Japanese?
HIRO
It's rai--

She's interrupted by the sound of an explosion shaking the building.