WARHAMMER

THE ENEMY WITHIN

1: MISTAKEN IDENTITY

Written by

David Pilling

Based on The Warhammer Fantasy Roleplaying Game's

"Enemy Within" Campaign

E-mail: dpill@icloud.com
 ii.

This screenplay is completely unofficial and in no way endorsed by

Games Workshop Limited.
Games Workshop, GW, Warhammer, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, the
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay logo, WFRP, the Enemy Within campaign and
all associated marks, names, races, race insignia, characters,
vehicles, locations, units, artefacts, illustrations and images from
the Warhammer world are either ®, TM and/or © Copyright Games Workshop
Ltd, variably registered in the UK and other countries around the world
and as further used under licence by Cubicle 7 Entertainment Limited
and others.
Used without permission. No challenge to their status intended.
All rights reserved to their respective owners.
See Games Workshop’s “Intellectual Property Policy “, as published on
its website, for further information.
TITLE SEQUENCE

The Empire of the Old World. On the surface, it is a vast and

fertile place, filled with teeming cities, verdant forests
and mighty rivers.
But a shadow hangs over this world, cast by the dark and
corrupting hand of Chaos. Its minions and Champions are
barely held at bay in the barren north by a host of armies,
wizards and priests.
Yet the greatest danger lies within its borders...
FADE TO:
WARHAMMER
FADE TO:
THE ENEMY WITHIN
FADE TO:
1: MISTAKEN IDENTITY
FADE TO:

EXT. A WOODLAND TRACK - DUSK

A puddled track wends its way through a forest in early
spring.
MAIN TITLE CREDITS
GUSTAV and GOTTFRIED, two village Watchmen carrying torches,
accompany DIETER HEIMLICH, a Chaos Hunter in his early
forties. He is dressed in plate armour with a large brimmed
hat and black cloak, all of which have seen better days.
They drag along a heavily bound captive. It is a CHAOS
BEASTMAN, a six foot tall biped.
Its torso, upper legs and its four arms resemble a hairy,
muscular man but its limbs finish in cloven hooves and clawed
hands. Its head is a mix of goats’ horns and the face of a
wolf. Its mouth is covered with an iron muzzle. It is dressed
in the remnants of clothes and a black breastplate.
The three men trudge along in silence as the Beastman vainly
tries to break its bindings as it yowls through its muzzle.
The forest begins to thin as they reach the outskirts of a
village.
 2.

It is surrounded by a dilapidated palisade and a staked

ditch. They are waved through by two PEASANT GUARDS who are
unarmoured. One is armed with a rough-hewn spear and the
other an agricultural scythe.

EXT. VILLAGE OF ELDENHOF - DUSK

VILLAGERS look on in a mix of horror and fascination and some
begin to follow the men as they make their way into the
centre of the village.
They come to the village square. There is an inn, the INN OF
THE SEVEN SPOKES, and a small chapel as well as a few timber
and stone houses with thatched roofs.
A gibbet stands to the side of the square, with a mouldy
noose hanging from it. Attached to it is a notice. All that
can be made out is a heraldic crest and the heading:
WANTED
Bold Group of Adventurers!
PATRONS of the inn begin to emerge. Amongst them are
MAXIMILLIAN VON KREIGLER (MAX), ELSA BARDHOLDT, MYRA
LUTHERHEIM, LUCIA BELLENGARD and ALFRED DREISLER (ALFIE).
At the centre of the village square is a stone shrine to
SIGMAR HELDENHAMMER, patron deity of the Empire, on a raised
dais. The shrine is of a large hammer set against a twin-
tailed comet. It was brightly painted many years ago. The
words “FOR SIGMAR” and immediately below “FOR THE EMPIRE” can
be seen inscribed on the shrine.
In front of it on the dais is a stone block with iron hoops
on its top. The Watchmen bind the Beastman to the block, its
head upwards overhanging the edge of the block.
We see that Gottfried has a gash to his neck which is only
half-bandaged.
The Watchmen step back either side of the shrine as Dieter
steps forward and unsheathes his sword.
DIETER
Villagers of Eldenhof, I am Dieter
Heimlich, a Hunter of the beasts of
Chaos. See what lurks in your
woods. This Beastman is but a
scout. More will follow.
There is disquiet in the small crowd. Dieter raises his
sword.
 3.

DIETER (CONT'D)
But we shall prevail.
(to the Beastman)
In the name of Sigmar and the
Emperor I cast you back to the foul
wastes from whence you came.

Dieter swings his sword down fiercely. His sword is sharp and
his arm strong but he only partially severs the Beastman’s
neck, dislodging its muzzle in the process.

Dieter hesitates, surprised by its resilience to his blow.

Blood, the colour of the darkest burgundy and viscous gently

begins to pump from its neck and then its mouth. Its
similarly red eyes fixate on Dieter as he raises his sword
again.

Before he can swing again it laughs an unnaturally loud,

bestial, almost daemonic laugh...

CHAOS BEASTMAN
(in a guttural snarl)
You do me a favour human. I welcome
this death. I go to where you will
all go soon. To Tzeentch, God of
Chaos, Changer of Ways and the ruin
of men!

Dieter swings again and the Beastman is beheaded. There is no

applause or cheering. The crowd begins to disperse. Dieter
senses the disquiet. He holds the Beastman’s head aloft.

DIETER
I say again to you, with the
blessings of all our Gods we will
prevail.

The crowd still does not appear to be convinced.

DIETER (CONT'D)
Rest assured the Emperor will
answer your need. I go tomorrow to
Altdorf for assistance.

He has their attention now.

DIETER (CONT'D)
Imperial troops will take the fight
to the rest. This is a fight that
we can win.
(MORE)
 4.
DIETER (CONT'D)
But we can only do so together, in
faith, in the strength of our own
hearts, within the stockades of our
villages, the walls of our towns
and cities and from the battlements
of our mighty fortresses. Look to
your father, your brothers, your
children, your neighbours, your
soldiers, your priests and your
rulers for that strength. Together,
and with Sigmar’s blessing we shall
defeat this evil.
Mid-way through Dieter’s speech, Gottfried is undergoing a
transformation. A dark purple tentacle begins to sprout from
his wound. Befuddled at first he glances down and sees the
tentacle has a sharp-toothed mouth and forked tongue. The
mouth rises to his eye level and shapes into what might be a
grin.
In silent horror, he drops his weapon. Possessed now by Chaos
his mouth shapes into a grin like that of the tentacled
mouth.
He attacks Gustav who is caught by surprise as Gottfried’s
hands close on his throat. Gustav tries to scream. Most of
the crowd panic and runs.
Dieter stops mid-sentence and turns. He sees the tentacled
mouth now rapidly wrap around Gustav’s neck and then enter
his mouth.
It emerges a split second later through Gustav’s right eye.
It grins bloodily before recoiling back out of Gustav’s head.
Gustav drops his knees grasping the stone block for support.
What was Gottfried looks directly at Dieter. His eyes are now
the same colour as the Beastman’s.
GOTTFRIED
(in a similar voice to the
Beastman)
Nothing can prevent the Changing of
Ways.
The Villagers scatter in fear, many into the Inn. Myra, Alfie
and Elsa go with them. Max tries to draw a weapon but is
pushed back into the Inn with the rest of them. Lucia
sidesteps the crowd and continues to look on.
Gottfried advances on Dieter. Dieter draws a crossbow pistol
that has been hanging from his belt, aims calmly and fires.
 5.

The bolt hits Gottfried squarely on the forehead.

He stops in his tracks then slumps to his knees. Dieter
strikes with his sword at the tentacle severing it from
Gottfried’s body at its source.
He falls forward dead. The tentacle quivers for a moment and
then is also still.
Lucia goes back into the Inn.
Only Dieter and a WOMAN remain. The Woman goes to the two
Watchmen. Gustav is still alive, just.
WOMAN
Get a priest! Get the priest of
Shallya!!!
DIETER
Get away woman! He’s infected. Not
even Shallya herself can save him
now.
He forcibly hauls her away from Gustav and hurls her some way
away to the ground.
GUSTAV
(feebly)
Mother...
Dieter swiftly reloads his crossbow pistol pointing it first
at the Woman and then at Gustav. Gustav’s eyes are beginning
to change colour, turning dark red. The Woman begins to
approach her son again.
WOMAN
Gustav, my Gustav!!!
Dieter again points the crossbow pistol at the Woman.
DIETER
(evenly)
I will shoot.
The Woman hesitates but then continues to advance.
We see Dieter’s finger press the trigger.
He has shot Gustav between the eyes. He dies instantly.
Dieter restrains the Woman.
WOMAN
(sobbing now)
What of my Gottfried?
(MORE)
 6.
WOMAN (CONT'D)
(looking to him and then
back to Gustav)
What happened to my sons? They
would be alive if you hadn’t gone
seeking out Sigmar knows what with
them!
DIETER
They were brave. I could not have
captured that fell thing without
them. It clawed him...
(more to himself but still
audible)
And yet..
(not wholly convincingly,
but finally)
He was clawed by it. The wound was
infected. I am sorry...
WOMAN
(helplessly)
What... what of their bodies?
DIETER
Their souls are safe now. Is there
a priest of Morr in the village?
WOMAN
Yes.
DIETER
Then their bodies will be
respected. Take me to him please.

INT. INN OF THE SEVEN SPOKES - EVENING

The inn is busy, full of villagers gossiping nervously in
hushed tones.
At the bar sit Elsa and HULTZ, two coachmen, both dressed in
the weather beaten and faded livery of their coaching line
“Ratchett Coaches”. They are drinking steadily and heavily.
Hultz is middle-aged and burly. Elsa is a young Dwarf, short
but slim for a Dwarf, with long dark blonde braided hair.
Elsa is reading a copy of the “WANTED” notice.
MUSIC can be heard in the background as Max approaches the
bar, clearly not for the first time today.
Max is in his early twenties, tall, athletic and not
unattractive. He is dressed in worn and frayed but once
expensive clothes. He also clutches the “WANTED” notice.
 7.

ALBRECHT, the innkeeper and his daughter INGRID are behind

the bar.
MAX
(to Ingrid)
Ahh, my very dearest Ingrid, I
would like a further draught of
Bugman’s finest Troll Brew if you
please!
Ingrid looks to Albrecht, who nods, and she reluctantly
begins to pour.
MAX (CONT'D)
It’s made by Dwarves don’t you
know? Like...
(looks around and then at
Elsa)
Her? Is she? Are there she-Dwarves?

Elsa hears this but chooses to ignore it.

MAX (CONT'D)
This is my last night here you
know...
Ingrid plonks down his drink.

INGRID
Then drink.

He does.

MAX
Further, it may be one of my last
nights ever? Have you seen this?
(reads from the notice)
“His Excellency the Crown Prince
Hergard von Tasseninck of Ostland
hereby gives notice that he is
currently in Altdorf to recruit a
party of skilled adventurers for...

CUT TO:

Across the room Myra passably plays a small lute on a

makeshift stage. Jet black-haired, keen-featured and in her
early thirties, she is dressed in a black hardened leather
jerkin studded with metal, black trousers and boots. A black
sabre, swordbreaker and dagger all hang from her belt.
MYRA
(singing)
So whatever your wares
(MORE)
 8.
MYRA (CONT'D)
Whatever your cares
Eat, drink and be merry
Because we all meet our Makers
At the End of Times
There is polite applause. She hands round a dark grey
travelling hat for payment.
CUT TO:
MAX
“Applicants are forewarned that
they will be required to undertake
a most perilous mission into
unexplored regions of the Grey
Mountains...”
Alfie has been listening from a little way off. Alfie is a
Halfling. He is slim and youthful looking and could easily
pass for a human teenage boy. He also has a copy of the
notice. He plucks up the courage to approach Max at the bar.
ALFIE
Dear Sir, do I detect nobility?
What family are you from?
Beat as Max is slightly taken aback at the intrusion.
MAX
I’m Maximillian von...
ALFIE
(breathlessly)
I’m Alfred Dreisler sir, at your
service.
MAX
What would I want with a Halfling?
ALFIE
(with a little chagrin)
You can call me Alfie. I am a most
excellent valet sir, formerly of
the Von Manfreds of Turmgever.
MAX
Why would I have need of a valet?
ALFIE
I have letters of recommendation
sir.
MAX
I’m sure you have.
 9.

ALFIE
And I can cook.
MAX
All halflings can cook.
ALFIE
And fight. I can fight.
He takes out a shortsword. As he does so Max swiftly grips
Alfie’s sword arm forcing him to drop it. Undaunted, Alfie
persists.
ALFIE (CONT'D)
Well, doesn’t it say that “The
matter is of the utmost delicacy
and absolute discretion is
required”.

MAX
It does...

ALFIE
A valet is perfect for such matters
wouldn’t you say?
Max begins to walk off from the bar.

ALFIE (CONT'D)
(picking up his
shortsword)
I’m going to Altdorf anyway. Are
you on the coach too?

There is a sudden hush as Dieter walks in. All eyes are on

him. He takes in the surroundings, thinks about going to the
bar, thinks better of it and spies a quiet corner.

There Lucia sits. She is in her late twenties with her pale
blue hair matching her pale complexion and wears a blue-grey
travelling cloak and hood over a dark green tunic and
trousers. She wears primitive metal spectacles and reads a
book.

DIETER
(beckoning to the empty
table next to Lucia’s)
May I?

LUCIA
Of course.

Dieter takes out an ivory flask and pours himself a drink

into an ivory cup banded with wood.
 10.

DIETER
(taking out paper and
quill)
What’s the book?
Lucia reluctantly shows him the cover. It is titled “OF
PORTENTS AND OMENS”.
LUCIA
You won’t like it.
DIETER
Hmm... In these days I prefer what
I see with my own eyes.
Dieter begins writing. Lucia removes her spectacles and eyes
him cautiously and carefully.
LUCIA
And what did you see tonight?
DIETER
What do you mean?
LUCIA
The watchman?
DIETER
It was an infected wound inflicted
by that thing. Nothing more and
nothing less.
LUCIA
You felt... nothing?
DIETER
No, and who might you be to tell me
different?
Lucia looks at the pages of her book, closes it and looks
directly at Dieter.
LUCIA
For the last year I’ve been a scout
in the Middle Mountains. I’ve seen
similar things.
DIETER
Then it was an infected wound.
LUCIA
To unwounded men.
CUT TO:
 11.

Albrecht is making the rounds of the inn with Ingrid who

collects mugs and tankards.
ALBRECHT
Last orders all now please. Guests
only of the Inn may stay awhile
longer.
The villagers begin to peter out.
CUT TO:
Myra and Max are seated at a table together gaming with cards
and dice. There are two copies of the “WANTED” notice on the
table.
MYRA
You don’t have to convince me. I’m
in. Twenty gold crowns a day and
I’ve heard the Grey Mountains are
so lovely at this time of year. And
in the company of a former
Carroburg Greatsword!
MAX
(putting cards down on the
table)
Excellent, here’s to killing the
monsters and taking the gold!
(takes a big drink)
Roll then.
She rolls two ten-sided dice.
MYRA
(with a sly smile)
Talking of money, I win... again.
She takes money off the table.
MAX
What? How? You Myra are a cheat.
Your dice are loaded.
MYRA
Nonsense, you’re losing because
you’re drunk Max my friend.
MAX
Let me try your dice then.
MYRA
Perhaps tomorrow. It’s late and I’m
bored of winning.
 12.

She starts to collect up the cards and dice. Max grabs her
hand forcefully.
MAX
No, you’ll stay. Cheating is...
In little more than a blink of an eye Myra twists Max’s arm
behind his back, whips a dagger from her belt with her free
hand as she stands, moves behind him and holds the dagger to
his throat.
MYRA
Well perhaps I will. I’m quite
comfortable here now. Anything to
say?
MAX
I look forward to working with you?
She releases him.
MYRA
Until the morning Greatsword.
Lucia is passing and pauses.
MAX
Indeed. Well, aren’t I the lucky
one. May it please you good lady, I
am Maximillian von...
LUCIA
I’m sure you are. I’d like a word
with your companion if I may?
MYRA
Possible companion. And who might
you be?
LUCIA
Lucia. Lucia Bellengard. I’m an
Imperial scout. My detachment had
to stay back at Delberz to deal
with some unrest. I could use a
bodyguard to take me on to Altdorf?
Can we talk?
MYRA
Of course...
MAX
What about me?
 13.

Max stands, brings himself up to his full height and puts his
arm around Lucia.
MAX (CONT'D)
As I was saying to Myra only a
moment ago I am swordsman of the
highest renown and I would be more
than happy to discuss this
somewhere more discrete?

Lucia looks at him kindly, takes his arm off her shoulder and
places both his hands in hers. Max stares back into her eyes
hopefully.

LUCIA
I do appreciate your kind offer
sir, but you see, I do find that
men often tire so very easily.

MAX
I can assure you that I am fully...

She squeezes his hands in hers, her eyes flicker very briefly
becoming azure blue for only a moment as she whispers
something to herself. Max collapses in a heap fast asleep,
still smiling and snoring quietly but fitfully.

LUCIA
Shall we?

MYRA
I think we shall. I haven’t had
this much fun in a tavern since
Middenheim.

Lucia and Myra go to leave as Dieter looks on suspiciously as

Alfie drags Max away to his room.

ALFIE
Well, haven’t we had quite the
night sir...

Dieter returns to the report he has been writing.

Recommendation: As it is at least possible that the captured

Beastman was some form of shaman or other user of Chaos magic
the detachment of troops I have requested should ideally be
accompanied by a priest

He pauses and then adds

or a wizard.
 14.

EXT. THE VILLAGE OF ELDENHOF - MORNING

Villagers are scrubbing blood from the shrine. They wear
leather cloaks, plague masks and long gloves.
In passing, we see very briefly that the gibbet is now oddly
missing its noose.
A rather dilapidated coach and horses sits outside the inn,
with the suspension on one wheel crudely replaced with blocks
of wood. The words “Ratchett Coaches” can still be discerned
amongst the faded paint.
Lucia sits in the coach surveying the scene with her book in
her lap.
Myra stands watch outside, dressed as before with the
addition of a dark grey cloak with large cowl covering most
of her face.
Elsa and Hultz, both wearing chainmail hauberks, are loading
the back of the coach with luggage as Max and Alfie emerge
from the inn.
Max now wears a plate breastplate and plate leggings over
dark red leather armour with his sword and dagger at his
belt. He carries a dark red plumed open helmet and a sheathed
Zweihänder sword.
Alfie wears an iron studded dark brown leather jacket,
leather helmet, his shortsword and dagger. He has a backpack,
a wooden buckler, shortbow and quiver of arrows on his back
and drags Max’s travelling trunk.
ALFIE
I told you mutton and mustard for
breakfast would make you as right
as the Emperor.
MAX
That or the Reikland schnapps.
Max takes a quick swig from a silver flask.
MYRA
Expecting trouble are we?
MAX
(looking over at Lucia)
There’s a lady to protect.
Elsa takes the trunk from Alfie.
Hultz sees another coach approaching.
 15.

HULTZ
Mind your backs!
A well-appointed and freshly painted coach with the logo
“Four Seasons” and “The Empire’s Finest Coach Line 2502-2511
IC” comes through the square at a quick trot, driven by two
COACHMEN who acknowledge Elsa and Hultz politely.
A CHILD PASSENGER has her face to a window. She makes faces
and gestures rudely at Elsa and Hultz. Hultz rudely gestures
back.
A MALE PASSENGER can also be glimpsed who, even in passing,
closely resembles Max.
HULTZ (CONT'D)
All aboard now! Have you all got
your vouchers for the inn? We’ll be
in Altdorf by tonight too.

ELSA
(consulting a checklist)
Where’s Mr Heimlich?

Hultz looks exasperatedly around.

HULTZ
Mr Heimlich? MR HEIMLICH!!!

Dieter emerges from the other side of the square. He finishes

a conversation with a grey-haired villager dressed in black
priestly robes with a chain of bone.

He gestures to Hultz and starts to cross the square. He

pauses at the sight of the villagers cleaning the shrine.

DIETER
It’s not the plague, it’s just
blood.

The villagers pause, then just go back to what to what they

were doing.

DIETER (CONT'D)
I’ve spoken to your priest. You
really don’t have to wear...

One villager tries to shoo Dieter away with a broom.

DIETER (CONT'D)
(to Hultz and Elsa)
I’m coming.
 16.

EXT. A FOREST CLEARING - DAY

The Four Seasons coach is on its side, its uppermost wheels
still whirling slowly and aimlessly and its horses bolted.
Both coachmen lie close to it, one with a broken neck and the
other with a crossbow bolt through his heart.
A little way off PARENT 1 and PARENT 2 lie dead from multiple
wounds across one another.
A small trail of blood leads to ROLF, who is only seen from
behind. The dead Child Passenger’s face looks quizzical and
angelic as Rolf gnaws on one of her hands which he has bitten
off.
Further away from the coach are RAISA and SIG. Sig is
bandaging Raisa’s wounded leg with a rough cloth.
SIG
Do you think you can walk?
RAISA
I think so Sig. It’s not too bad.
Takes his hand kindly, looking around.
RAISA (CONT'D)
Where are the rest?

SIG
Knud and Tomas are in the woods.
Cantric is keeping watch. And Rolf,
well Rolf is...

RAISA
So I see?

SIG
We could try you know?

RAISA
Try what?

SIG
Now Raisa. Right now. Just go. Look
what we have become.

RAISA
I can see what we have become. And
so can you.
 17.

Sig involuntarily opens an extra pair of snakelike slitted

eyes on his forehead. His normal eyes look downcast, his
snake eyes malevolent and watchful.
RAISA (CONT'D)
I could never hide what I am. And
now you can’t either.

SIG
I’m not saying go back to
“civilisation”. Just get away from
them. We could survive. Just the
two of us.

RAISA
Maybe, but not now. They’ll get
themselves killed sooner or
later... or when they’re sleeping
maybe. But not now, they’ll just
track us and kill us.

A piercing bird cry.

Rolf looks up from his “meal”. The skin on his face is fetid
and rotting, his eyes mad and bright. He smiles showing his
elongated yellowed teeth and he grabs his rusted bloodied
hand axe.

EXT. THE ROAD TO ALTDORF - DAY

The Ratchett coach moving slowly on a forest track. Hultz has

the reins.

HULTZ
A priest, a beggar and a coachman
walk into a tavern. None of them
can order a drink. Why?

ELSA
The priest doesn’t drink, the
beggar has no money and coachmen
just take orders not give them?

HULTZ
What? You’re as daft as a
Roadwarden is honest! No, the
answer is a Dwarf had already drunk
the place dry.
ELSA
I hate you Hultz.

The same piercing bird cry is heard.

 18.

ELSA (CONT'D)
Did you hear that?

Elsa tightens her grip on the spiked warhammer in her lap.

HULTZ
It’s a bird Elsa. There’s more
where that came from don’t you
worry. A wizard, a noble and...

The coach begins to round a sharp bend into the forest

clearing where the ruined coach lies at the far side.

HULTZ (CONT'D)
Sigmar’s blessing!

He brings the coach to a stop.

ELSA
(banging on the coach
roof)
Everyone out!

Max, Dieter, Myra and Alfie exit the coach in the direction
of the clearing as Rolf moves towards them swinging his axe
provocatively. Sig takes up his spear and rough shield and
follows him. Raisa also follows but a little off from them.

MAX
(to Dieter)
Monsters! I hope you can fight
Chaos Hunter!

DIETER
I can fight. I just hope you fight
as well as you talk Greatsword.

Max, brandishing his Zweihänder and Dieter his sword and

crossbow pistol immediately advance towards Rolf and Sig.

Myra and Alfie hang back from the charge and counter-charge.

MYRA
(to Alfie)
Stay with me!

There’s another unnatural bird cry, much closer this time.

CANTRIC half-leaps half-glides onto Elsa and Hultz from the

upper branches of an overhanging tree. He is half-vulture,
half-man with a two-handed axe slung over his back.
 19.

His landing sends Hultz and Elsa flying. Hultz falls heavily
towards the clearing side of the coach and Elsa hits her head
on a tree trunk as she is thrown into the bracken on the
forest side.
CUT TO:
KNUD and TOMAS emerge from the woods into the clearing from
behind and to the left of the coach.
Knud is half-skin, half-scales. His eyes are entirely snake-
like. He has a long lizard tail which ends in a spiked club.
He is trying to reload a heavy crossbow as he ignores Myra
and Alfie and advances towards Dieter and Max.
Tomas is a crazed halfling in ragged clothes. What was his
right arm now ends in a rough, heavily serrated sword blade.
He advances towards the coach.
CUT TO:
Cantric cleaves at the prone Hultz with his axe, narrowly
missing as Hultz dodges.
Lucia emerges from the coach carrying a steel quarterstaff,
pointed at one end and with a crescent moon inset with a
small pale blue gemstone at the other, which she points
towards Cantric. She raises her eyes heavenward and intones
soft inaudible words.
Cantric pauses briefly as Hultz gets to his feet drawing a
sword. He is now between Cantric and Lucia. Hultz and Cantric
fight.
Myra sees this stand-off and advances from the coach to try
and intercept Knud.
Alfie goes to follow Myra but then sees Tomas.
ALFIE
(incredulous, shouting)
Tomas? Tomas? What are you doing?
You know me, you know my family!
Tomas pauses and meets Alfie’s gaze.
TOMAS
Hah! Better to serve a God than a
Lord!
Tomas renews his advance.
Panicked Alfie takes his shortbow, fumbles an arrow into
position and looses it. It misses.
 20.

TOMAS (CONT'D)
You never were a soldier Driesler!

Tomas closes on Alfie.

Alfie has no choice but to charge forwards, gripping his

buckler and drawing his shortsword to meet him.

They crash into one another both aiming wild blows.

CUT TO:

As Dieter and Rolf and Max and Sig close on one another,
Dieter fires his crossbow pistol at Rolf.

This appears just to enrage Rolf more. With a manic snarl and
barely breaking step he plucks the bolt from his shoulder as
the four of them converge and fight.

CUT TO:

Cantric swings again at Hultz’s midriff. Hultz attempts to

parry but the power of the swing breaks his sword and the axe
plunges into his side nearly rending him in two. He falls.
Lucia unleashes her spell. An electric blue dart fizzes into
Cantric, arcing across his chest and stunning him
momentarily.

Elsa then charges from around the coach at Cantric’s back

swinging her warhammer. Cantric notices just in time and
dodges the blow. He swings back but Elsa ducks and catches
him hard shattering one of his vulture-like knees and sending
him to the floor and forcing him to drop his axe.

Cantric screeches in anger as Elsa readies herself to deliver

the deathblow. As she is ready to strike Cantric stretches
his wings and manages to fly backwards a few yards.

CANTRIC
What’s the matter Dwarf? Can’t
reach?

CUT TO:

Knud sees Myra’s advance and he diverts his attention to her.

He stops to finish loading the crossbow.

He raises it to shoot at Myra. Just before he can let off the

bolt Myra reaches into her leather jerkin, takes out a
throwing knife and hurls it at Knud. It hits the crossbow
rendering it useless.
 21.

Knud draws a mace from his belt as Myra draws her sabre and
swordbreaker. They close on one another.
CUT TO:
Rolf tries to hack at Dieter but Dieter slices off his axe
hand with his sword.
Raisa prepares a spell. She takes out a pair of rusty
handcuffs from a pouch bag and intones gutturally, her eyes
turning the deepest violet.
Rolf flies at Dieter with unnatural speed causing him to drop
his sword as he staggers back but just manages to keep his
feet.
Max strikes at Sig with all his strength. Sig manages to get
his shield in the way but it’s rent asunder by the force of
the blow, knocking him to the ground.
As Max is about to deliver another blow, Raisa unleashes her
spell. His hands are suddenly swathed in black, smoky binds
and he drops his sword crying in pain.
Rolf wraps his remaining good arm around Dieter and tries to
bite him but Dieter takes a dagger from his belt and thrusts
it into Rolf’s chest allowing him to push him away.
Rolf collapses to the ground motionless.
Sig is back on his feet and thrusts his spear at Max. He
dodges Sig’s pass and hits Sig over his back with his bound
hands acting like a club.
Raisa draws a long, curved dagger and advances on Max.
CUT TO:
Tomas lunges at Alfie’s head. He flinches, instinctively
raising his shield. Tomas’ arm-sword penetrates Alfie’s
shield almost reaching his face.
Tomas tries desperately to free himself but can’t. Futilely,
he then tries to kick and punch him.
TOMAS
Well, go on then. Spit me with your
new toy.
Alfie hesitates. He is nearly crying. He closes his wet eyes
and prepares to strike home.
TOMAS (CONT'D)
Not today wet nurse!
 22.

Tomas frees himself by wrenching so hard that he strips the

shield from Alfie’s arm with his arm-sword still impaled in
it, turns and runs.
ALFIE
You filthy... coward!!!
Alfie wipes his eyes, takes up his shortbow, fits an arrow
defiantly, takes time to take dead aim and fires.
The arrow strikes home hitting Tomas in the middle of his
back.
He is pulled up by the arrow’s impact, arching his back as he
tries vainly to remove it with his now arm-sword-shield. He
can’t and falls forward dead.
ALFIE (CONT'D)
(raising his arms aloft in
triumph)
Did anyone see that?

No one pays any attention.

CUT TO:
Elsa and Cantric are still eyeing one another as they
consider their next moves. Then Cantric bows down fully
extending his wings to fly at Elsa.

Elsa takes a blunderbuss from Hultz’s seat on the coach and

points it in the general direction of Cantric as he screams
headlong at her.

She fires. After a moment the blunderbuss belches smoke and

fire, letting off an enormous retort nearly knocking Elsa
from her feet.

Its effect on Cantric is far more dramatic as he is blasted

into an oblivion of chunks of gore and feathers, which settle
gently to the ground.

ELSA
That reached.

CUT TO:

Lucia notices the spellbound Max and races towards him. She
intones as she runs breaking the binding spell.
Max dodges another spear thrust as Dieter engages Sig,
allowing Max to retrieve his Zweihänder.

CUT TO:
 23.

Knud attacks Myra with both his mace and his tail. She
adeptly blocks the mace and jumps over the tail. She ripostes
but narrowly misses as they circle one another.
He repeats his mace and tail assault. This time Myra
anticipates. The swordbreaker does its job nearly breaking
the wooden handle of the mace in two. Her sabre slices off
the spike end of Knud’s tail.
KNUD
Another time she-whore.
He sneers at her and turns to flee.
Myra calmly takes out another throwing knife and takes aim.
It hits him squarely between the shoulder blades and he
pitches forward.
She runs over to Knud and removes the knife from his back as
he is writhing on the ground, his tail thrashing uselessly.
He turns over to face her, raising himself slightly.
KNUD (CONT'D)
You human bitch. Don’t you see
what’s coming?
Myra thrusts her sabre straight into his mouth.

MYRA
(bending over him)
See this.

She re-angles the sabre and with apparent ease pushes the
blade more fully home.

His snake eyes look upwards to see the blade emerge through
the top of his head before they close.

CUT TO:

Raisa stops advancing with her dagger, takes out a handful of

worms and casts another spell.

Three giant dark purple worms burrow out of the ground using
their shark-like teeth between Sig, Max and Dieter just as
they are about to best Sig.

Reacting to this, Myra and Elsa rush over and the four of
them attack Sig and the worms.
This leaves Raisa and Lucia who close on one another.

Raisa takes out the child’s woollen doll again and tries to
cast a spell on Lucia. She dispels it before it is cast.
 24.

LUCIA
Out of spells witch?
RAISA
I don’t need staffs and robes like
you wizard!
Raisa locks eyes with Lucia again intoning a spell. Lucia
looks surprised and then fatigued, bending double as Raisa
advances holding her dagger aloft.
LUCIA
You’ll have to do better than that.
She raises herself on her staff, intones, and strikes Raisa
with the crescent moon end of it.
Electricity arcs all across Raisa’s body.
Stunned, she is helpless as Lucia reverses the staff and
stabs hard straight through Raisa’s windpipe.
As she dies she sees Sig cut down savagely as he is virtually
decapitated by Max. Dieter, Myra and Elsa dispatch the worms
with relative ease.
One worm pathetically raises its head after being cut in two,
which is quickly splattered to atoms by Elsa’s warhammer.
The fight is over.

EXT. FOREST CLEARING - DAY

Myra is examining Knud’s body. She finds a plush-looking
purse which she opens and to her delight it is full of gold
coins. She looks around furtively, sees no-one is watching
and pockets it.
She carries on searching the body and finds a jewelled
platinum ring and a silver locket. She opens the locket.
There is a portrait of the dead Child Passenger. She takes
the portrait out of the locket and pockets the ring and
locket too.
She begins scouting towards the edge of the clearing.
CUT TO:
Elsa is placing a blanket over the body and then the head of
Hultz. Max and Alfie stand close by silent.
Elsa stands up.
 25.

MAX
I’m sorry. How well did you know
him?
ELSA
A little but even that I didn’t
like. But he’s Ratchett’s son so
I’ll get the blame somehow...
ALFIE
We’ll back you up.
ELSA
It doesn’t matter. I’ve had it with
this anyway (beat) I heard you
talking in the inn...
MAX
I seem to recall I did a lot of
talking...
ELSA
About the notice? Adventurers
wanted?
MAX
That, yes. What of it?
ELSA
Mind if I join you? Elsa, Elsa
Bardholdt.
MAX
Well, I would have to...
ALFIE
(pointing at the remains
of Cantric)
Let her Max, look what she did to
that. I’m going to be his squire. I
could be your squire too.
ELSA
Dwarfs don’t have squires...Alfie
isn’t it? Are you a knight then?
MAX
Sort of... but he needs training.
ALFIE
I’m ready. I shot Tomas didn’t I?
Well, what was left of Tomas I
suppose.
 26.

Dieter and Lucia are by the bodies of Rolf, Sig and Ingrid.
DIETER
What College of Magic do you belong
to then?
LUCIA
The Celestial. That’s why I’m going
to Altdorf... to carry on my
training with Magister Patriarch
Julevno.
DIETER
And what kind of witch was she?
She tips out Ingrid’s pouch bag. A collection of bones and
small animal body parts fall to the ground.
LUCIA
A powerful one I’d say.
DIETER
Chaos?
LUCIA
Possibly... possibly not.
Dieter looks unconvinced.
LUCIA (CONT'D)
Not all witches are servants of
Chaos. There are as many hedge
wizard and witch spells of healing
and protection as there are harm
and hurt.

DIETER
Nonsense. Look at what they did.

Dieter points to the dead child.

LUCIA
I was a witch once.

Dieter’s hand goes to his sword.

LUCIA (CONT'D)
All wizards are to begin with.
Well, unless you’re a child of
College Wizards. I was just lucky
to be taken in. My teacher was
abandoned by his own mother and
lived as a beggar before they took
him in.
 27.

Myra is heard shouting from the edge of the woods.

CUT TO:
MYRA
Over here! There’s another body.
The body is KASTOR LIEBERUNG, a well-dressed man killed by
two of Knud’s crossbow bolts to his back. She turns the body
over. Two pieces of parchment protrude from his tunic. Myra
takes them out. She then notices his face. Kastor Lieberung
could pass as Max’s twin brother.
As the others make their way leisurely over, Myra reads the
two pieces of parchment. The first is a letter:

Messrs. Lock, Stöck and Barl

Civil Lawyers, Commissioners for Oaths, etc.
Garten Weg
Bögenhafen
Dear Herr Lieberung,
After many lengthy resources, we have come to believe that
you are the only living relative of one Baronet Lieberung,
late of the town of Ubersreik. This being the case, and any
other, heretofore unknown and pertinent factors
notwithstanding, I am herewith charged to inform you that you
are the sole beneficiary of the Baronet’s last will and
testament (hereinafter referred to as the document of the
first party).
I, the undersigned, acting in my capacity as legal executor
of the aforementioned document of the first party, do
therefore urge you to make your way with all speed to my
offices in the fair town of Bögenhafen. Thereupon, providing
that you can produce an affidavit of your identity as Kastor
Aloysius Lieberung, signed by two witnesses, we shall be
pleased to hand over the title deeds to the Baronet’s manor
house, together with its contents (which include a most
tastefully stocked wine cellar), its extensive estates, and
the sum of twenty thousand gold Crowns.
I remain, your most humble and respectful servant,
Dietrich Barl, K.C., LL.B. (Alt)
Signed this day, the 10th of Nachexen, in the two thousandth,
five hundred and twelfth year of the Empire.
Printed by Schulz & Friedman, Bögenhafen
 28.

Myra only has time to glance at the second piece of parchment

and sees the title “Affidavit” on it before she moves towards
Max pointing her sabre at him.
MYRA (CONT'D)
Maximillian von whoever you were, I
herewith now dub you Herr Kastor
Aloysius Lieberung!

MAX
What in the Old World are you
talking about?

She embraces him mock flirtatiously.

MYRA
We’re going to Bögenhafen.

MAX
Why?

MYRA
Read that and look at him!

Max looks incredulously at the corpse and at the letter. He

looks back at the corpse carefully, tilting his head back and
forth to compare his likeness.

MAX
He’s not as attractive as me for a
start.

MYRA
He’s dead Max.

MAX
And the letter says there should be
an affidavit.

MYRA
That would be this.

She thrusts the affidavit into his chest. Max takes it and
reads aloud.

MAX
“Affidavit. We the undersigned do
solemnly swear that the bearer of
this document is one Kastor
Lieberung. Signed Petra Liebkosen,
Lady of the Court of Middenheim,
Gotthard Goeddels, Komission
Convenor of Middenheim”
 29.

The others now read the parchments. They don’t see that Myra
is for the briefest moment taken aback when she hears the
second name read out.
MYRA
We’ll talk more later eh Max. Let
me keep these safe for you.
She takes the letter and affidavit off a still baffled Max.
At this moment the sound of a coach horn and several horses
are heard. The adventurers draw arms.
Another coach enters the clearing on the track. The black and
yellow coach bears a coat of arms and the name “Von
Strudeldorf”. The VON STRUDELDORF COACHMEN wear black
liveried surcoats over half plate armour and plumed helmets.
It is guarded by four mounted ROADWARDENS and their sergeant
ERICH TUTTENKOPF.
Two men travel on horseback just behind. The first is ERNST
HEIDLEMANN, a studious and pasty-looking young man. The
second is PHILLIPE DESCARTES, middle-aged, well dressed and
foppish looking.
They all stop and Tuttenkopf, gruff, paunchy and ruddy-faced,
walks his horse forward to survey the scene.
He goes over to the adventurers.
TUTTENKOPF
Well, well trouble and Dieter
Heimlich go together like the
hammer and comet. What have you
done this time?
MYRA
(calmly pocketing the
letters)
The coach was attacked by mutants.
We arrived and they’re dead.
TUTTENKOPF
I didn’t ask you.
DIETER
It is as she said Tuttenkopf. Even
you are not that...
TUTTENKOPF
A likely tale. Looks like another
Delberz to me. And it’s Road
Sergeant Tuttenkopf to...
 30.

DIETER
That “boy” was a Chaos Cultist. He
had the mark.
TUTTENKOPF
Who you burnt before anyone saw it!
That boy was a Councilwoman’s son.
They’re all refusing to pay taxes
now. Troops have had to be sent.
DIETER
I see you are still happy to
provide “guard” duty.
TUTTENKOPF
You’ve seen how the roads are.
DIETER
For the usual price?
ISOLDE VON STRUDELDORF pokes her head out of the coach
window.
ISOLDE
I say there! Why aren’t we moving?
She gets out the coach accompanied by her BODYGUARD and
MAIDSERVANT.
TUTTENKOPF
Is anyone injured? Heidlemann,
you’re a Physician aren’t you?
Heidlemann and his pony startle.
HEIDLEMANN
I’m...I’m only a student sir.
DIETER
No-one’s injured.
ISOLDE
Well are we going then?
TUTTENKOPF
Yes ma’am.
ISOLDE
Good, I’ll double what I pay you if
we get there by nightfall.
Isolde and her small entourage re-embark.
 31.

Dieter eyes Tuttenkopf dismissively. Tuttenkopf’s face goes

puce red.
DIETER
What about the bodies? I’ll have to
file a report.
TUTTENKOPF
In your own words no doubt. Dieter
Heimlich, saint and scourge of
Chaos. Very well.
(to the Roadwardens)
Fetch your ropes and get that coach
upright. Brauner you can drive a
coach can’t you? Harness your horse
to it. The rest of you burn the
mutants and bring the other bodies
with you. Descartes, will you go on
ahead and send word?
DESCARTES
Of course monsieur.
Descartes doffs his large, floppy, peacock feathered hat and
seems happy to ride off.
TUTTENKOPF
I’ll stay with the coach. Let’s go.
They set off. Tuttenkopf holds back a little.
TUTTENKOPF (CONT'D)
(over his shoulder)
We’ll get into Altdorf tonight.
They don’t let commoners in after
dusk.

Max begins to react to this but Myra dissuades him.

TUTTENKOPF (CONT'D)
You’ll be lucky to make it to
Sulphur Dock!

He spurs his horse on and they are gone.

EXT. SULPHUR DOCK, ALTDORF

The Ratchett coach sits on the river docks outside “The

Boatman Inn”.
 32.

Just beyond are the imposing, turreted city walls of Altdorf

which bridge the river on a series of arches and beyond them
the vast city can dimly be seen, rising on a hill with ever
higher spires seeming to reach the sky as they are
silhouetted against the Old World’s two moons, the pale white
Mannslieb and the smaller green-tinged Morrslieb.
A yellow miasma hangs over the river, made more so by the
lanterns of the docks and inn.
Dieter, Max, Lucia, Myra and Alfie stand outside the coach,
all trying to cover their faces against the stench.
DOCKFOLK mill about their business still loading and
unloading barges, all with half-covered faces.
Two rough-looking GUARDS stand by the door of the inn.
Several other figures idle in small groups in the shadows,
eyeing the newcomers suspiciously. One, ADOLPHUS KUFTSOS, a
bounty hunter, his face covered to his eyes and wearing a
wide brimmed dark leather hat, stands alone with a good view
of the entrance to the inn and the city gates.
Elsa emerges past the Guards.
ELSA
(seemingly oblivious to
the smell)
Right, do you want the good news or
the bad news?
MYRA
There’s good news?
ELSA
Your vouchers are good for two
nights. I told them Ratchett are
trying out new places for all their
overnight stops.
MAX
And the bad?
ELSA
There’s only one room. With a river
view mind. It was that or the
stables.
ALFIE
It’s not the view that bothers us.
It’s worse than bad eggs in the
sun. What is it?
 33.

ELSA
Didn’t you hear that Road Sergeant?
Sulphur. It’d be worse without it.
The main sewer’s over the other
side of the river.
They reluctantly begin to unpack. Lucia separates her
quarterstaff into four pieces linked by a chain, folds it up
and puts it into her trunk which she begins to wheel into the
inn as Alfie struggles to drag Max’s trunk.
ALFIE
(surreptitiously in
wonder)
Wheels? On a trunk? Are they...
magic too?
LUCIA
(smiling)
No. They’re just wheels Alfie.

EXT. KÖNIGPLATZ, ALTDORF - MORNING

A square just inside the city gates. It is a cacophony of
sound and colour.
As serious looking heavily armoured SOLDIERS armed with
polearms guard the battlements of the city walls, a mix of
noisy STREET HAWKERS, BUSKERS and BEGGARS try to assail the
many PASSERS BY.
A small caravan of wagons, their cargoes covered by garishly
painted tarpaulins, is heading out of the city. The large,
lead wagon has a banner across its top “DOCTOR MALTHUSIUS’S
ZOOCOPEIA”. It is being driven by DR MALTHUSIUS himself, a
gaudily dressed circus ringmaster. CIRCUS PERFORMERS walk
alongside it handing out flyers.
Troops are being inspected by a KNIGHT GRIFFON, mounted on a
DEMIGRYPH, a riding animal that has the head of an eagle and
the body of a lion, the size of a very large horse. The
Knight Griffon is dressed in ornate dark green and gold plate
armour, his open helmet adorned with a golden griffon
spreading its wings.
A WARRIOR PRIEST of Sigmar stands next to him carrying a
large battle standard with a prominent spiked warhammer and
twin-tailed comet insignia.
The troops consist of two platoons of PIKE INFANTRY wearing
breastplates and helmets in similarly coloured uniforms.
 34.

Between the two platoons is a squad of IMPERIAL OGRES, all

between eight and ten feet tall. They are armed with great
cleavers and spiked pieces of plate armour on their shoulders
and elbows. An IMPERIAL ORGE SERGEANT forcibly tries to keep
them in line.
Another large banner is strung part-way across the square
heralding “GRAND STEAM BRIDGE OPENING TODAY!”.
All of these sights are dominated by a huge stone statue in
the centre of the square. A plaque reads “PRAISE BE TO
SIGMAR, EMPEROR AND GOD OF THE EMPIRE”. The statue is of a
well-built, tall and bearded man in old-fashioned armour. He
holds the decapitated head of an orc in his left hand which
hangs down at his side. His head is inclined, looking up at
his right arm which is held up to the heavens. His right hand
holds a large warhammer, its head blunt at one end and spiked
at the other.
Lucia, Elsa, Myra, Dieter, Max and Alfie slowly make their
way through the crowded square.
They are dressed much as they were in the Inn of the Seven
Spokes. Max, however, wears his very best clothes and is
armed with a rapier. Lucia openly carries her wizard’s
quarterstaff.
Alfie takes a flyer from one of the passing circus
performers. Below the town crest it reads:

The Council and Burghers of Bögenhafen

Announce that the Grand Opening of the annual
SCHAFFENFEST
Will be held on the town meadow this
Mitterfrühl Day
As Doctor Malthusius’s wagon passes by a cage can be seen at
the back of it. In it can be glimpsed a three-legged dark
green GOBLIN looking bemused, its legs sticking through the
bars of the cage.
ALFIE
Look, we should be there when it’s
on. You’ll be able to buy the fair
after you get your inheritance!
MAX
We’ll see! Now, how is my
indefatigable squire enjoying the
capital?
 35.

ALFIE
It’s amazing! Will we have time to
go to the Imperial Zoo. I hear
that’s it’s incredible. Is it true
that there’s a...
Two otherwise nondescript men dressed as common artisans who
are in fact CHAOS CULTISTS are keeping pace with the group
trying to attract Max’s attention from a distance. Whilst one
furtively keeps watch the other scratches his left ear with
the little finger of his right hand.
The first time he does this it is barely noticeable. As Max
remains oblivious, it is done more obviously. There is still
no reaction as Max and Alfie continue chatting.
The two Cultists look questioningly at one another. Myra does
now notice the bizarre signals which are then repeated again,
even more pronounced than before as the other looks round
even more conspiratorially.
MYRA
(pointing them out to Max)
Friends of yours Max?
MAX
(looking directly at them)
Err... no I don’t think so. Why?
MYRA
They seem to be trying to attract
your attention.
The six of them now pause and look.
Seeing Max looking straight at them they both now repeat the
secret sign in a ludicrously exaggerated way and in slow
motion. They then look at him enquiringly as if to suggest he
respond.
MAX
(to Myra)
No, definitely not.
(loudly over the general
hubbub to the Cultists)
Who are you chaps? You seem to
think you know me? I’m...
MYRA
(covering Max’s mouth)
Who he is is his own business.
The Cultists again look to one another in silent confusion.
 36.

From the doorway of a house on the square, Adolphus Kuftsos,

his face covered by his hat, whistles and beckons to them.
They look embarrassedly at Max and scurry away to the doorway
which is immediately shut behind them and Adolphus.
DIETER
What was all that about?
MYRA
Well, if Max doesn’t know them I’d
say someone is on the lookout for
Kastor Lieberung.
ELSA
What was that signal?
MYRA
Not something I recognise.
ELSA
I don’t like the idea of secret
signs. Isn’t it only thieves who
use secret signs?
DIETER
I agree. I think there’s more to
this Kastor Lieberung than just an
unlucky coach passenger.
LUCIA
Shall we get on? It’s difficult to
make progress as it is. I don’t
want to keep my Magister Patriarch
waiting.
DIETER
This is as good a place to split up
anyway. I need to make my reports.
MYRA
You don’t need me to come with you
Lucia?
LUCIA
No thank you Myra.
MYRA
Pity, we could use you when we
leave you know?
LUCIA
Thank you. It’s time for me to
complete my training though.
(MORE)
 37.
LUCIA (CONT'D)
But I’ll see you back at the inn
tonight.
ELSA
(taking out the “Wanted
Adventurers” flyer)
Well, it’s time for us to go and
see what Prince von Tasseninck
wants from the rest of us then. I
do hope I didn’t quit for nothing.
Elsa, Max, Myra and Alfie go one way, Dieter another and
Lucia heads towards a third road.
From a window three stories up from the doorway, Kuftsos
looks out. As the group splits up his face disappears.

INT. THE CELESTIAL COLLEGE OF MAGIC, ALTDORF - DAY

Lucia walks through a huge, blue and white stone vaulted
hall. Its ceiling is a series of glass domes in which sit
cumbersome looking telescopes supported on metal trusses and
housed so they can be both pivoted and pitched by a star-
gazing wizard operator.
Only a handful of old bookish looking figures in pale blue
robes make their way to and fro.
A spiral staircase at the end of the hall leads up to the
roof with a series of sixteen walkways then spiralling out
towards its top like spokes on a wheel.
Lucia begins to climb.
CUT TO:
She emerges at the top of the staircase and makes her way
along a blue and white stone bannistered walkway which leads
to an ornate arched doorway.
She takes a nervous deep breath and is just about to pull on
the bell rope by the door.
Before she does the door opens noiselessly. She smiles to
herself, relaxes a little and enters.

INT. PRINCE VON TASSENINCK’S TOWNHOUSE, ALTDORF - DAY

A door is opened by two well dressed, liveried ATTENDANTS as
Max, Myra, Elsa and Alfie enter an opulent receiving room. On
the far side of the room is a desk at which a CLERK sits
writing with a quill.
 38.

CLERK
(wearily, barely looking
up)
Take a seat.
The group sit on four of the available seats. The Clerk looks
up sniffily.
CLERK (CONT'D)
You appear to be two short. The
others were six in number?

MAX
Well, between us I’m sure that we
have what you need. I’m a...

CLERK
Noble fallen on hard times?
(reading from a list of
questions)
Are any of you a wizard?

MAX
We know a wizard. She’s...
CLERK
No then. Are any of you a troll
slayer?

ELSA
I should be one but...

CLERK
Only Dwarves can be troll slayers.

ELSA
I am a Dwarf.

CLERK
Dwarf but no beard. How odd. But...
(writing)
No troll slayer.

CLERK (CONT'D)
Can any of you sail a barge?

They look at one another quizzically.

MYRA
Yes, of course I can. I’ve been
sailing the upper Reik for the
last... three... years.
 39.

CLERK
Forgive me dear lady but you aren’t
exactly dressed for the river?
(writes again)
One likely rogue.
MYRA
Entertainer actually. See...
She points out her small lute by her side.
CLERK
One rogue possibly able to
masquerade as an entertainer. I
assume the Halfling is a thief.
They normally are.
ALFIE
I, sir, was latterly personal
attendant to the Von Manfreds of
Turmgever and am now squire to
Maximillian von...
CLERK
One halfling, not a thief. Well,
there are some more questions but
your services will not be required.
I’ll keep you details on file.
MAX
Is that it?
CLERK
Yes that’s it. The Prince left
yesterday with two groups of six.
Both with wizards and male troll
slayers.
MYRA
What was the point of this then?
CLERK
The Prince left me to deal with the
stragglers. Good day, these
gentlemen will see you out.
The two Attendants move towards the centre of the room.
Reluctantly, the group stand and begin to shuffle out.
CLERK (CONT'D)
Make sure the woman doesn’t steal
anything on her way.
 40.

INT. PALACE OF RETRIBUTION, ALTDORF - DAY

A small, dark wood panelled courtroom with the Emperor’s
crest of a golden griffon, sword and skull behind the bench.
On the bench is VOLA LINDERMANN. She is in her fifties, jet
black hair with a swirl of grey, dressed in black with a
black breastplate. She has a glass eye and a deep scar
running vertically across the eye from her forehead to her
thin mouth.
VOLA
As I said this is not a trial
Dieter.
DIETER
Well that’s what it feels like
Vola.
VOLA
Look, there’s just a shortage of
space at the moment until the
Emperor’s army moves out for the
Grey Mountains to meet the
greenskin incursion. With that and
Ubersreik...
DIETER
I thought Ubersreik was a free
town?
VOLA
It was. The Emperor wasn’t happy
with the Jungfreuds. He’s stripped
them of their title. More troops
and more gold crowns I’m afraid.
As she speaks she gets up from the bench, walks down stiffly
into the courtroom to a barred window. She looks out into an
internal quadrangle where more TROOPS can be seen parading.
DIETER
I see. You haven’t mentioned
Delberz yet. I can explain
everything.
VOLA
You have. I read your report. Not
only did the boy have the mark of a
known Chaos Cult, the Red Crown,
but he was plotting to poison the
town’s main well. I have to say I
thought we had eradicated that one.
 41.

DIETER
There was no evidence that he was
working with anyone else.
VOLA
Good. The town however, as I am
sure you have heard, is now in near
revolt. Yet more troops and money.
Then there’s assistance for
Eldenhof...
DIETER
Surely all this makes the need for
Chaos Hunters the greater? You’ve
seen my report of what happened on
the road. That’s less than a day’s
ride away.
VOLA
A former priest should know when he
is preaching to the converted
Dieter.
DIETER
That was another life.
VOLA
One to which you could return. It
does not pay to forsake our many
Gods.
DIETER
I’m from the Nordland. Give me Taal
or Ulric now perhaps. But you can’t
heal the dead.
VOLA
We all need Shallya’s mercy Dieter.
Dieter looks unconvinced and a little angry.
DIETER
I won’t go back to that. Besides,
those gifts have left me.
VOLA
And this is not in my gift to give.
If it was only my decision I would
happily grant you a permanent
licence.
She walks over to him.
 42.

VOLA (CONT'D)
I am sorry. The Empire needs more
Hunters. And you could be one of my
best.

DIETER
Well in whose gift is it then?

VOLA
For as much as it matters it may as
well be the Emperor himself. There
may be something else at work too.
I haven’t told you this Dieter but
there are whispers, only whispers
mind, of a Mutant Decree.

DIETER
A decree for mutants? To do what?

VOLA
To prevent the killing of mutants
without just cause. As I say it’s
just a whisper. And not one that
you heard from me.
DIETER
I understand.

They hug briskly but affectionately.

VOLA
Do stay in touch Dieter. Sigmar’s
blessing to you.

DIETER
I will. And to you.
(he goes to leave)
Let’s hope this “decree” doesn’t
come to pass.

VOLA
Indeed... indeed.
(goes back to the window,
speaking almost to
herself)
Because there’ll be war if it does.

EXT. OUTSIDE PRINCE VON TASSENINCK’S TOWNHOUSE, ALTDORF -

MIDDAY
The townhouse is set on the river in the heart of the city
and busy with CITYFOLK - humans, dwarves, halflings and a few
very well-dressed ELF MERCHANTS.
 43.

Tall-masted Imperial Navy ships sit in the river close to a

long, high stone bridge with several gaps bridged by
mechanical drawbridges operated by IMPERIAL OGRES.
In the distance in the opposite direction is another bridge
with its new steam powered drawbridge on which a LARGE CROWD
has gathered.
Myra, Alfie, Elsa and Max are outside pondering their next
move. Myra is clearly anxious to get going and looks around
warily.
MYRA
Well, I’m going shopping. See you
later.
MAX
That’s an excellent idea. We’ll
come with you.
MYRA
I don’t think I will be going to
the same places as you Max.
She picks up her lute and begins to walk off.
ELSA
Why’s your lute rattling?
MYRA
No idea. It’s meant to make noise
isn’t it?
ALFIE
If you stole anything...
After some initial resistance Myra allows Alfie to take the
lute.
He examines it. The back of it is hinged and he opens it. Two
small silver candlesticks fall out.
Myra swiftly stashes them back into the lute.
MAX
Myra!
MYRA
They’ll not notice them for days.
We’ll be long gone by then. See you
lot later. Back at the square?
She strums her lute and sings as she strides off jauntily.
 44.

MYRA (CONT'D)
To the Princess’s privy
Attendants could not go
And so, lo...
The trinkets they must...
Givey!

ELSA
As much as I abhor thievery we do
need gold.

MAX
Dwarven morality at its finest!

ELSA
I will make you take that back.

Elsa fingers her warhammer warningly.

MAX
It was merely a jest. Now, we do
need supplies and Alfie needs some
proper armour.

They begin to head off away from the river.

MAX (CONT'D)
Where did you get that leather
helmet?

The two Cultists from Königplatz trail Max, Elsa and Alfie
whilst Adolphus Kuftsos follows the Cultists a little further
off.

INT. MAGISTER PATRIARCH JULEVNO’S STUDY, ALTDORF - AFTERNOON

The circular study sits at the top of a high tower. Its

bluish white stone floor and low wall gives way to a glass
panelled dome held together by thin metal strips and trusses.
A large polished light grey telescope dominates the room.

A slightly out of breath RAPHAEL JULEVNO goes around his

desk, strewn with parchments and silver and glass telescope
components, using it and his pale blue steel quarterstaff for
support. The top of his staff is far more ornate than Lucia’s
with crescent moons, planets and stars depicted with three
large blue gemstones inset.

He seems relieved to sit in his white and blue stone chair.

Lucia follows at a slight distance then stands in front of
the desk trying not to look either exhausted or pensive.
 45.

Julevno is in his early sixties. He is somewhat ethereal

looking with pale, tight skin with a wispy, short grey beard.
He is dressed in exceptionally fine white and royal blue
robes. His eyes are crystal clear pale blue.
He sits with his elbows on the desk and chin in his hands. He
stares at Lucia intently, before smiling softly.
JULEVNO
That, Lucia, was a most impressive
effort. Not many can resist my
probing spells for that long.
LUCIA
That’s... that’s very kind Magister
Patriarch.
JULEVNO
(talking over her)
Your dispelling ability is
excellent, your protection spells
are very effective, your “lens on
the sky” is exceptionally clear.
I’ve also had regular reports from
the Captain of the Imperial Scouts
you were assigned to.
(leafing through several
pieces of parchment)
She was most complimentary of your
abilities. Able to foresee danger
well... weather prediction very
helpful... saved lives on more than
one occasion. There was one minor
miscasting on the astromancy side
of your current repertoire I
noticed today but...
(eyeing her even more
intently and smiling more
obviously)
You are ready.
LUCIA
Really?
JULEVNO
Really. You do not have to be an
astromancer to see that you...
Lucia is about to explode with delight when a large explosion
is heard outside.
JULEVNO (CONT'D)
What in the name of the heavens was
that?
 46.

He gets out of his seat smartly, grabs his quarterstaff and

goes to the domed windows and stares down.
JULEVNO (CONT'D)
Well, well. How in the Emperor’s
name they were allowed to do this
even I don’t know! Lucia, come see.

Lucia goes over to him.

JULEVNO (CONT'D)
I told them... I told them! I
foresaw it. Again, not that you
needed to be a stargazer to see
they’d rushed to open it.
(pointing downwards)
It’s the steam bridge.

A small plume of black smoke and fire can be seen far below.
Panic-stricken SPECTATORS flee back across both sides of the
bridge as TROOPS try to restore order. A dozen or so BODIES
can be seen amidst the wreckage and in the river.

JULEVNO (CONT'D)
Would they listen? All those damn
Imperial Engineers believe in is
blackpowder, charts and diagrams...
well, there‘s nothing we can do
from here.

Julevno goes back to his desk and Lucia stands before him as
before.

JULEVNO (CONT'D)
Now, more important things. You
have a potentially great future.
Your talents are being wasted on
secondments to the Imperial Army.
From what you told me, that witch
you killed was not just some petty
hedgewoman. If only we could find
them earlier they could be
persuaded and trained in another
path. But, be that as it may, you
found your way to the College and
your apprenticeship is technically
not quite complete. That is why you
are here. And I’m afraid that is
where the problem lies.
LUCIA
Problem?
 47.

JULEVNO
I’m afraid so. The problem is this.
I just do not have the time to
complete your apprenticeship. In
their wisdom my Order has
determined that I should put myself
forward as Magister Patriarch of
our Celestial College for the
position of Supreme Patriarch of
the Eight Colleges.
LUCIA
(excitedly)
In the Hall of Duels?
JULEVNO
Yes, it’s a rather crude way to
determine such a significant issue
but it is tradition and it’s been a
good time since a Celestial Wizard
held the position.
LUCIA
(looks over to the
telescope)
Do you already know you will win?
Have you consulted...
JULEVNO
I do not. Never rely on a
prediction of one’s own future or
of a future in which you have an
interest. That can only lead to
delusion not insight Lucia.
LUCIA
Who will you duel against?
JULEVNO
The usual suspects I assume. The
Jade, Amber, Amethyst and Grey
never seem to be that interested.
The Light would be I think but the
stain of the Chaos traitor
Horstmann still lingers even after
all these years. No, it’ll be
Balthasar Gelt, Alchemist of the
Gold and Thyrus Gormann, Pyromancer
of the Bright I expect.
LUCIA
There’s no love lost between the
two of them.
 48.

JULEVNO
There isn’t. Which, my dear, may
well be my only hope... in any
event, I will have to devote all of
my limited spare time in the next
few months to preparing I am
afraid. Of course, if I were to be
successful, then there will be the
politics of the Imperial Court to
deal with regretfully.
LUCIA
I do hope you are successful
Magister Patriarch.
(hesitantly)
Who... who have you appointed to be
my new Magister?
JULEVNO
I have given this much thought
Lucia. Do you know that you are six
months younger than me at the same
stage you are now at?
LUCIA
I’m sure that can’t be right. You
were the youngest ever Celestial
Magister?
JULEVNO
Exactly. I was. Now you are.
LUCIA
You’re... you’re appointing me a
Magister? But I am not ready,
that’s why I am...
JULEVNO
Lucia, in my very considered view,
there is no-one but myself you
could usefully learn anything more
from as an Apprentice. That is not
to say that you are a complete
wizard of course. But you are
worthy of the title Magister. I
have prepared and signed off your
licence.
He stands and hands her a sealed scroll.
JULEVNO (CONT'D)
Congratulations, Lucia Bellengard,
Magister of the Celestial Order.
 49.

LUCIA
I... I...
JULEVNO
You need only thank yourself. It is
your talent that gives you this
rank not me. Now, as I said there
are still many things for you to
learn. Firstly, you may now study
for yourself the spells of a
Magister. For that of course, you
will require a new grimoire.
Julevno takes out a large blue and white leather-bound book
from behind his desk and passes it to her. Lucia takes it
eagerly and automatically starts leafing through it.
JULEVNO (CONT'D)
Ahem...

LUCIA
Sorry, it’s just...

JULEVNO
I understand. Further, I do think
you would benefit from spending
some time with another wizard at
some point. I suggest Karina
Brecht.

LUCIA
The Karina Brecht? I thought she
had been expelled?

JULEVNO
On my investigation an unfortunate
misunderstanding. Her research on
Daemons and the Undead is...
unusual but appears to be genuine.
She has some fascinating ideas as
to the use of “Fate of Doom” for
example. So I happily reinstated
her.

LUCIA
Fate of Doom? But that’s...

JULEVNO
They’re just ideas as things stand.
I have my own thoughts, but...
LUCIA
But isn’t she in Middenheim?
 50.

JULEVNO
She was... and will be. I
understand that she is carrying out
further research north of Kislev at
the moment. I am told that she will
be back by the time of the summer
carnival. I have a letter of
recommendation to her for you.
Julevno hands Lucia another sealed scroll.
LUCIA
I... I don’t have the words for all
of this...
JULEVNO
Good, because none are needed.
He gets up from his chair and comes around the front of the
desk and gently begins to usher her out.
JULEVNO (CONT'D)
Now there’s one more thing.

He goes over to the door to the study as Lucia follows him.

JULEVNO (CONT'D)
A Magister needs a Magister’s
staff.

By the door there is a pale blue metal staff by it. Its top
has a decorated crescent moon and two planets which are inset
with two pale blue gemstones, its bottom sharply pointed.
Julevno hands it to Lucia and takes her apprentice’s staff
from her which he begins to fold up.

JULEVNO (CONT'D)
This one does not fold. I take the
view that a Magister need not
conceal who they are.

Lucia takes the staff and feels its weight. The gemstones
seem to glow a little brighter.

LUCIA
Magister Patriarch thank you...
thank you for everything.

JULEVNO
Enough already. Now what will you
do for the next few months?
 51.

LUCIA
Well, there’s this group of
adventurers you see...

EXT. KÖNIGPLATZ, ALTDORF - SUNSET

The square is quieter than before. PATRONS of several taverns
are drinking on benches and tables outside in the square.
LAMPLIGHTERS go about their business.
The two Chaos Cultists are watching the entrance to
“Angelino’s”, passing themselves off as patrons of the
neighbouring tavern, “The Cat and Fiddle”.
Watching them from the gathering shadows is Adolphus Kuftsos.
1ST CULTIST
This is hopeless. He doesn’t
recognise the sign.
2ND CULTIST
Or more likely is trying to avoid
us. You see what he bought. I’ll
bet he’s already spending the
inheritance for himself.
1ST CULTIST
Well if that was the case why was
he travelling with the cheapest
coach company in the Empire then?
Max, Myra, Alfie and Elsa emerge from the tavern.
Myra has her lute strung over her back and carries a small
thin case. Alfie is now wearing chainmail armour, a small
peaked metal helmet and carries a small kite-shaped shield.
Elsa’s hair is now short, greased into a Mohican and shocking
pink in colour. She has changed her Ratchett uniform for dark
leather and chainmail.
2ND CULTIST
Shhh... look. Let’s go. Remember,
we’re just to follow them for now.
The Cultists start to follow the group and Adolphus yet again
follows at a further distance.
The group begin to head down the road leading to the city
gates. Myra is then seen whispering to the others. Suddenly,
they swiftly disappear down a side street.
The Cultists look at one another surprised.
 52.

2ND CULTIST (CONT'D)

Well come on then. Quick about it.

They pick up pace and go down the same side street. It’s
winding with several dark alleyways off it. The group is
nowhere to be seen.

2ND CULTIST (CONT'D)

Damn it. They must be down here
somewhere.

They proceed more cautiously, peering down a couple of

cluttered alleyways that appear to be dead ends.

1ST CULTIST
I told you this is hopeless.

2ND CULTIST
No, orders are orders.

1ST CULTIST
Look, we know where they’re
staying. You carry on if you want
but I’m going back to “Angelino’s”.
I’ve still got a drink...
As he speaks, he turns back and is just about to walk off
when Adolphus steps out from one of the alleyways. He has a
crossbow which he fires. The bolt thuds into the 1st
Cultist’s chest. He slumps dead onto the ground. Adolphus
reloads.

The 2nd Cultist looks frantically down at the 1st and then
all around him.

2ND CULTIST
(to Adolphus)
You? Why?

Adolphus says nothing but advancing on the 2nd Cultist fires

again. His aim is true again, the bolt skewering through the
2nd Cultist’s neck and he drops dead alongside his companion.

Adolphus flees in the direction of the square.

MYRA (O.S.)
Stay back you three.

Myra emerges from one of the alleyways. She sees the bodies
and Adolphus just as he disappears into the square. She
considers giving chase before thinking better of it.
 53.

MYRA (CONT'D)
Now then, let’s see who you two
were at least.

She begins to rapidly search the bodies. They both have

concealed daggers, which she tosses aside. One has a purse
with a few gold coins which she happily pockets. She opens up
the doublet of one of them exposing his chest. He has a small
purple tattoo of a clawed hand. She does the same to the
other body which bears the same mark.

VOICES (O.S.)
Thieves! Thieves! That way!

Myra whistles to the others and beckons them. They rush out
of one of the alleyways.

MAX
What in the name of...

ELSA
Enough skulking in the shadows.
Let’s...

MYRA
There’s no time.

Shouts can be heard coming towards the side street.

MYRA (CONT'D)
The Watch are on the way. It’s
never fun being found next to dead
bodies.

She scans the side street for options.

MYRA (CONT'D)
That way. We’ll double back later.

ALFIE
How am I meant to run in...

MYRA
Never mind that! Let’s go!

Following Myra who drags Alfie along, they all set off down
the side street away from the square and then dive down
another alleyway.

INT. THE BOATMAN INN, SULPHUR DOCK - EVENING

The inn is quiet with the INNKEEPER behind the bar and a
smattering of PATRONS.
 54.

Dieter and Lucia are having a drink. Lucia sips from a goblet
of wine and Dieter from his own flask as before.
A heavily built REKS ERNST sits across from them, making no
attempt to disguise he is taking an interest in them. A
BARMAID passes.
ERNST
You. Another brandy. Now.
The Barmaid scurries off to the bar.
Ernst, late thirties, wears black studded leather armour and
is armed with a scimitar.
LUCIA
Well, I’m joining them for a while
at least. Whether that means going
off to the Grey Mountains or to
Bögenhafen.
DIETER
I’ll admit I am intrigued by that
inheritance letter... and the fact
someone’s clearly taking an
interest in our Kastor Lieberung.
LUCIA
Come with us. I’ll feel happier if
you were. You can obviously fight
when you have to... and I know what
you’ll say, but there is divine
magic in you. I noticed it as soon
as I was close to you.
DIETER
Maybe... maybe not. And it’s not
“magic”. And as you well know it is
the favour of the gods, not some
spell from a book.
LUCIA
We all need healing at some point.
DIETER
Hmmpf... you sound like Vola.
The barmaid brings Ernst’s drink over.
ERNST
(to the BARMAID, loudly)
Who are they anyway? If they are
what they look like they are,
there’ll be trouble here.
 55.

BARMAID
Err... I don’t know Herr Ernst.
Ernst catches her arm as she tries to move away.
ERNST
You know. Are they staying here?
BARMAID
They... they came on a coach
yesterday. And they’re leaving
tomorrow. They didn’t give any
names and we don’t ask. Best way
around here.
ERNST
Good.
Max, Myra, Elsa and Alfie enter. They are accompanied by
JOSEF QUARTJIN.
Josef is mid-thirties, bearded and weather-beaten. He is
dressed plainly in a worn brown leather tunic and breeches
and carries a dagger.
MAX
(loudly)
Look who I found! Josef, meet
Dieter and Lucia. Watch yourself
though, this one’s a witch hunter
and she’s a wizard.
Ernst clearly bridles at this.
MAX (CONT'D)
Now, have we a tale to tell you
two. We will of course need drinks.
Alfie?

Alfie is already at the bar with Elsa.

MAX (CONT'D)
Alfie? Oh well done sir. He’s going
to be excellent. Myra, Dieter, meet
Josef. We were in the Greatswords
together. He works the river now.
Own boat and everything. He’ll be
taking us to Bögenhafen in a couple
of days.
Max and Josef sit down. Myra is still standing up, eyeing the
room. She and Ernst’s gazes meet. Ernst sneers at her.
 56.

JOSEF
Nice to meet you both.
MAX
So, those two who were following us
got shot to death not an hour ago.
What do you make of that?
LUCIA
Shot?
Lucia and Dieter look at each other incredulously.
Myra sits down and opens the slim case. In it are two
expensive looking pistols. She very obviously takes one out
of the case, holds it up, and stares back at Ernst.
MAX
Yes. And Myra did some shopping.
MYRA
Before we leave, you may be able to
help us with something. The two
dead men both had the same tattooed
mark on them. Just here. About two
inches long. A clawed hand in
purple?
JOSEF
It’s not a sign I’ve heard anything
of. Riverfolk and wreckers often
have tattoos to mark their
allegiance but not of that. Like
those odd signs they were giving
him....
Josef mimics the scratching of the left ear the Cultists
made.
Dieter and Lucia exchange glances and Lucia shakes her head.
LUCIA
Sorry, I can’t help with that. But
it can’t be good. Did you say you
four are planning to go to
Bögenhafen? What happened to the
Grey Mountains?
MYRA
Already taken I’m afraid.
LUCIA
Well, I have news for you too. If
you would be minded to do so...
 57.

DIETER
We both want to join you and we’ll
go to Bögenhafen with you.
MAX
Well... well that’s splendid. But I
thought...
LUCIA
I have no teacher... for a while at
least.
DIETER
And the Emperor needs troops and
money, not Hunters it appears. But
those signs, if they’re nothing any
of us recognise, they may well
point in a very sinister direction
I’m afraid.
MAX
And what’s that?
Dieter now speaks very quietly and the group bends in closer
to the table to listen.
DIETER
The Red Crown used a common mark to
identify Cultists. They were more
severe as they used to brand
members with the symbol of a crown
hence their name.
MYRA
Cultists? Of what?
DIETER
Of Tzeentch, the Changer of Ways
and one of the four Chaos Gods.
MAX
Really, I thought most of them had
been eradicated? So this lot could
be something similar?
DIETER
Could be, yes. I know that Hunters
are meant to see Chaos just about
everywhere. All I’m saying is it’s
something we can’t discount.
 58.

MYRA
And if that’s right, they presume
that this Kastor Lieberung is also
a member? It would explain why they
look so baffled when he didn’t know
how to respond to their sign. But
what it doesn’t explain is who was
following them and why whoever that
is killed them.
MAX
So we decided...
MYRA
Elsa, Alfie and me decided that we
need to refer to...
(mouths the word “Max”)
As Kastor until we get to the
bottom of this.
DIETER
I agree. Well here’s to your very
good health Kastor.
LUCIA
Hear, hear. To Kastor Lieberung!
May your tankard be ever full.
Dieter and Lucia raise their cups to Max. Max has no drink.
MAX
Where is my drink?
Alfie and Elsa come over from the bar, Alfie carrying a tray
of drinks.
MAX (CONT'D)
Well, you two took your time.

ALFIE
Well, you know what they say Ma...
Kastor. One for the bar, one for
the Halfling.

MAX
What does that even...

LUCIA
(to Elsa)
Wow, I love the look! Good for you
Elsa.
 59.

ELSA
Thank you. If I can’t be a troll
slayer then I can at least look
like one.
ALFIE
(passing out drinks)
Here you go. We’ve got...
ERNST
She, if that’s what “she” is, looks
like a dirty freak in the Carnival
more like. Aren’t Troll Slayers
meant to be bare-chested? Now get
me a drink off that Halfling runt,
freak. And as for you Quartjin I
thought you had more sense.
Alfie turns to Ernst, folds his arms and tries to look and
sound brave.
ALFIE
There’s none spare sir.
ELSA
(to Ernst)
Well, you’re as dumb as a troll at
least.
She unslings her warhammer.
ELSA (CONT'D)
Just me and you troll. Right now.

Myra, Dieter, Max and Lucia stand as one. The inn goes silent
as Ernst also stands, his right hand on the hilt of his
scimitar.

DIETER
No, there’s six of us and only one
of you.

Just as he finishes saying this, the doors of the inn open

and a set of twins spill through.

ERICH and TRUNTER VON LICHTEN enter. They are in their mid-
twenties, very finely dressed, both carry foils and are
drunk.

They are followed by four heavily built BODYGUARDS, who stay

at the main doors. They all wear chain armour and are armed
with swords and daggers.
 60.

ERICH
Well, well if this isn’t a quaint
little place. What a merry little
tour we’re having tonight. To the
bar Trunter!
Trunter has been drunkenly trying to take in the scene. Max
has quickly sat down and has been trying to sink into his
seat, but Trunter spots him.
TRUNTER
But wait, my dear Erich, what have
we here?
ERICH
What? Can it really be? Why, if it
isn’t the little whelp himself?
Maxy von Kreigler.
Max is taken aback before recovering himself.
MAX
It’s Kastor Lieberung now you
wastrels.
TRUNTER
Well Erich, we knew his family was
barely noble to begin with, but to
have sunk so far!
ERICH
From Festerburg to Lieberung to
Sulphur Dock. A tragedy in barely
one act.
TRUNTER
And would you look at the company!
Are any of these good ladies
available for hire perchance? The
pink-haired one looks most
interesting. Dear lady, how much?
JOSEF
Kastor, no!!!!
An enraged Max flies at Erich and Trunter sending them both
sprawling on the ground.
MAX
It’s finally my lucky day. Erich
and Trunter von Lichten. You two
have had this coming for a long
time.
 61.

He starts punching Erich on the ground as Trunter scrambles

away, laughing heartily.
TRUNTER
Get them men! A scrape as well into
the bargain! What a night!
The bodyguards pile in without drawing their weapons. Dieter,
Myra, Elsa and Alfie also join in, again without drawing
weapons and a furious barroom brawl ensues.
Ernst, who has been taking great pleasure in all of this,
sees an opportunity and makes for Myra’s case of pistols.
ERNST
(to Lucia)
Well, I don’t mind if I do.
Lucia is still at the table. She murmurs something to herself
very quickly and softly, and points at Ernst’s face just as
he is reaching for the pistols. An intense beam of light hits
his face temporarily blinding him. He staggers back.
ERNST (CONT'D)
You witch bitch!
Ernst draws his scimitar, still blinded.

LUCIA
Myra!!!

Myra breaks free from one of the bodyguards, who she elbows
in the face. She grabs one of the pistols.

Lucia intones again, she focuses on Ernst’s sword hand and

Ernst drops his scimitar as if it has burnt him.

Myra takes one of the pistols, gets behind Ernst and presses
its muzzle against his temple.

ERNST
It’s new. It’s not loaded my little
coquette.

Ernst struggles free and tries to bring himself round to face

her.

MYRA
You’re quite right.
Just as Ernst tries to swing at her, Myra reverses the pistol
in her hand and strikes him with the butt end hard across the
head, sending him to the floor and knocking him unconscious.
 62.

By now the Inn Guards have come in. Josef is desperately

restraining Max, Elsa is being held by two of the Bodyguards,
Dieter is squaring off against the other two Bodyguards,
Erich and Alfie are grappling on the floor as Trunter looks
on doubled up in laughter from safely behind the Bodyguards.
TRUNTER
The battle of Erich von Lichten and
the Halfling. A tale for the ages!
The Guards separate Erich and Alfie.
TRUNTER (CONT'D)
Oh what spoilsports. Just when it
was getting interesting.

ERICH
(picking himself up)
Well, I think we have exhausted the
hospitality of this fascinating
establishment.
(dusting himself off)
Mmm... sawdust. How very 25th
century.
The Innkeeper has taken a crossbow out from behind the bar
and points it at the adventurers.

INNKEEPER
(to Erich and Trunter)
Now, my Lords, may I very humbly
apologise to you good sirships.
Please have some drinks on the
house for you and your men. As for
this lot... Guards, throw the six
of them out. And you Quartjin, you
should know better. You’re barred
for a week.
(to the Barmaid)
Go and get their belongings and
throw them out on the dock as well.

EXT. SULPHUR DOCK, ALTDORF - NIGHT

Erich, Trunter, their bodyguards, the six adventurers and

Josef spill out onto the dock.

ERICH
Well, it’s been a pleasure as
always. Just too short I’m afraid.
 63.

TRUNTER
Indeed! We must away back to the
comfort of the splendour of
Altdorf.
MAX
Not so soon. This isn’t over. My
honour must be satisfied.
ERICH AND TRUNTER
His honour, he says. And what
honour would that be now?
MAX
I issue the challenge to both of
you.
He unsheathes his rapier and tosses it to the floor in front
of him.
MAX (CONT'D)
You were born together and this
morning you’ll die together. Here.
At sunrise. Your choice of weapon.
ERICH
Very amusing. Only a true noble can
issue a challenge that requires
honouring.

TRUNTER
And as you aren’t, if you ever
were, then we have no obligation.

Erich, Trunter and their bodyguards set off back towards the
city.

ERICH
I’m sure sunrise on the docks is
lovely. Do enjoy it won’t you.

Max has to be restrained by Josef, Dieter and Elsa.

TRUNTER
Now, let us go and rouse some more
rabble. The night is as young as
the women we seek!

ERICH
And guards, once we’re back in the
city you may leave us. There are
some things even you may prefer not
to see.
 64.

Alfie picks up Max’s rapier and hands it to him, who angrily

and rather clumsily sheathes it. He does it with such force
his belt, scabbard and rapier all fall to the ground.
Max looks to Alfie to pick them all up again.
ALFIE
No... no, sir.
Max looks around as if expecting someone else to pick them
up.
MAX
Very well.
He picks them up himself.
As he does this the Innkeeper, Inn Guards and Barmaid
unceremoniously throw the adventurers’ belongings onto the
dock.
MAX (CONT'D)
(to Josef)
Well, let’s get on the barge then.
JOSEF
Whoa! Have I agreed to...

MYRA
We’ll pay our way.

She shows Josef a few coins.

JOSEF
Very well. It’ll save me taking it
from... Kastor at dice.

He beckons them onboard. They collect their belongings and

begin to traipse onto the barge. Amongst the luggage are two
blunderbusses.

ALFIE
(to Elsa)
Two?

ELSA
One was Hultz’s. He and Ratchett
won’t be needing them anymore...
but by the looks of things we will.
They all go up the gangplank and onto the barge.

Adolphus emerges from the shadows, watches them for a moment

and then goes into the Boatman Inn.
 65.

INT. THE BOATMAN INN, SULPHUR DOCK - NIGHT

Adolphus sits with Ernst.
ERNST
We’ll do it in Weissbruck. It’s run
by the Grubers. Since the mines ran
dry, so long as you don’t bother
them, no-one much cares what goes
on there. They’ll have to stop
there overnight between here and
Bögenhafen to be inspected and
they’ll be slowed up on the way by
the locks on the canal. If we ride
we’ll get there days ahead of them.
Adolphus has a large scar across his neck which causes him to
speak in a low, wheezing voice.
ADOLPHUS
I met a duellist last night who had
a bad night at the tables. He’ll
help but we’ll need more?
ERNST
Like I said, Weissbruck is a hard
town. I’ve used the Grimmonsons
before. They’re brothers from
Norsca. Superstitious, but good in
the dark and better in a fight.
They came south to find their
fortunes in the mines. Pit fighters
now. If you pay they don’t ask
questions and they’ll kill who you
like for a crown or two.
ADOLPHUS
Good. And for what I have planned
I’ll need someone who knows how to
start a fire. Quietly.
ERNST
Ha! Sofia the Flint. That’ll be
extra.
ADOLPHUS
How much extra Herr Ernst?
ERNST
Three.
ADOLPHUS
Done.
 66.

ERNST
And... I don’t care what you do to
this Kastor Lieberung but the Dwarf
and the black-haired woman are
mine.
ADOLPHUS
You’re welcome to them. All I want
is the bounty on his head. We’ll
leave at first light tomorrow.

EXT. SULPHUR DOCK, ALTDORF - DAY

Myra, Dieter and Lucia sit on the deck of Josef’s barge, “The
Berebeli”.
DIETER
So we’re agreed. Once the others
are back, I’ll go back to Vola at
the Courts and see if I can find
out anything more about the purple
claw symbol or the firm of lawyers
who wrote the letter.
LUCIA
And I can go back to my College.
There may be something in the
libraries.
MYRA
Can’t we do something more... more
direct? I haven’t noticed anyone
watching us this morning. When we
saw him yesterday he was obviously
working alone. I’m guessing that he
didn’t expect “Kastor” to be
travelling in company. Why don’t we
just try laying an ambush?
DIETER
Well, I agree whoever killed those
two must have had a reason and he
took at least some risk by doing it
within the city walls.
LUCIA
But there could be one of a hundred
reasons why?
MYRA
Then why don’t I try to track him
at least when he shows himself
again.
 67.

DIETER
That’s a better idea... you still
have the lawyer’s letter and the
affidavit?
MYRA
Yes. Right here.
LUCIA
Now we’re assuming the inheritance
is fake. If that’s right, it must
mean that someone wants to lure
Kastor to Bögenhafen for some
reason. But then, this Kastor must
have thought there was enough in it
to get those signatures and then
travel here? Can I see the
affidavit again?
MYRA
Yes, if you must.
She hands the affidavit and letter to Lucia.
MYRA (CONT'D)
I don’t see how it will help in
Altdorf, they’re both from
Middenheim. That’s what... over
three hundred miles away?

Lucia and Dieter look over the affidavit.

DIETER
They are pretty prominent people
though if the signatures are
genuine. Petra Liebkosen, Lady of
the Court of Middenheim, Gotthard
Goeddels, Komission Convenor of
Middenheim. Now, I don’t know,
there may be hundreds of ladies at
Court but this Herr Goeddels may be
known here by one of the trade or
merchant Guilds. I can make those
enquiries.

LUCIA
(to Myra)
Wait, didn’t you say something to
me about having fun in Middenheim
on the night we met.
MYRA
Just a turn of phrase. I use it all
the time. For example, Max...
(MORE)
 68.
MYRA (CONT'D)
Kastor is the most pompous man I’ve
met since Middenheim.
DIETER
Talking of which...
Josef, Max, Alfie and Elsa are hurrying down the dockside,
without trying to look like they are hurrying, as they
nervously look over their shoulders as they carry armfuls of
supplies.
MAX
Slight change of plan everyone!
JOSEF
Start untying the ropes to cast
off!
Dieter, Lucia and Myra look around them bewildered as Josef,
Max, Alfie and Elsa embark.
DIETER
Why, what’s happened now?
ELSA
Turns out those two nobles he knew
have gone missing. It’s the talk of
the city. There’s search parties
and everything.
MYRA
Oh genius. He is not just the most
pompous man I’ve met since
Middenheim but also the most
wanted!
DIETER
What? Oh Shallya’s tears! That
means they’ll put two and two
together, make five and we’ll all
be on a wanted list. I’m the one
who is meant to hunt the hunted not
the other...
MAX
I’m sure it will all blow over
Dieter. Just not when we’re here to
see it. It’s not like we were going
to be doing much anyway. Is it?
JOSEF
(pulling the gangplank
onboard)
(MORE)
 69.
JOSEF (CONT'D)
Well, I would have had a crew that
knew how to sail a barge for one.
MAX
How hard can it be?
JOSEF
And a cargo to sell.
MAX
We’ll work our passage. Alfie, go
and untie a rope like the nice man
said. Maybe that one over there.
ALFIE
Ok, captain!
JOSEF
Not that one!!!! That’s the anchor
rope! I’ll see to that. Two of you
untie at the stern and two of you
at the bow.
Myra and Elsa rush to one end of the barge and Lucia and
Dieter to the other. Josef takes out a key, unlocks the
anchor rope and chain and starts hauling it in.
JOSEF (CONT'D)
One on the dock and one on the
barge. That’s it. And get the
supplies and yourselves below deck.
Then you all better get down there
and stay there.

Myra and Elsa untie one rope and Dieter and Lucia the other.
Alfie starts taking the supplies below.

MAX
And what should I do Josef?

JOSEF
Stop pretending you’re in charge
and unsheathe the sail.

MAX
Okay.

A group of sullen looking SOLDIERS can be seen in the

distance slowly marching out of the city. They don’t appear
to be in any great hurry.
An OFFICER gathers them together and orders them to fan out
and they peel off down side streets and along the dock.
 70.

They begin to ask questions of the DOCKFOLK as they are

trying to go about their business. One points in the
direction of the Boatman Inn.
The sail is unfurled. Max looks up at his handiwork and then
to Josef.
MAX (CONT'D)
Well that was easy! I think I’ll
take to river life like a Dwarf to
a tavern. What do you think Alfie?

Alfie has emerged from below deck to collect the remaining

supplies. He stands next to Max who has his arms folded in
pride.

ALFIE
Well, at least you didn’t say like
a Halfling to food sir. We might be
starting to teach you a little
respect after all eh...

As Alfie is saying this the wind picks up filling the sail

which swings towards Max and Alfie from behind. The boom
easily passes over Alfie’s head but strikes Max firmly on the
back of his head.

JOSEF
Well that has. Get him below.

Alfie and the rest go below decks, dragging Max with them as
Josef pushes off from the dockside with a long boat hook.

On the mast there is an icon of Manann. It is of a powerfully

built, black-bearded man with seaweed in his hair and a five-
pointed black crown, his lower torso swathed by waves.

JOSEF (CONT'D)
Manann, God of Rivers and the Seas,
with this token we beg, pray and
beseech you to give us kind winds
and safe passage.

Josef flings a coin into the river.

Wind fills the sail and the barge begins to glide away from
the dockside as soldiers enter the Boatman Inn.

Josef sees this, looks irritated and rummages in his tunic

for another coin.
JOSEF (CONT'D)
And working locks!
 71.

He finds one and throws it into the river.

EXT. WEISSBRUCK QUAYSIDE - EVENING

It is close to sunset. The quayside is still busy but mostly
with BEGGARS and DRUNKS as PEDLARS and MARKETFOLK are packing
up for the day.
Adolphus and Ernst are sat drinking outside the Black Gold
Inn with RUGNAR and NUDRI GRIMMONSON, Phillipe Descartes and
SOFIA THE FLINT.
Sofia is a grey-haired halfling with a half-burned face. The
Grimmonson brothers are hard-faced, scruffy thugs with long
matted hair.
ADOLPHUS
We estimate they’ll be here
tomorrow.
RUGNAR
And who is they exactly?
ERNST
There’s three who can fight. One’s
a Chaos hunter, there’s the boatman
and this Kastor’s a would-be
knight. Then there’s some women and
a halfling. It’ll be easy money.
SOFIA
Especially when they’re on fire.
And once they are I’m done. Right?
ADOLPHUS
Agreed. But that’ll give me a clear
shot at Kastor. Once he’s dead I’m
done too.
NUDRI
Leaving the spoils to us.
DESCARTES
What if it goes wrong?
ADOLPHUS
Then with me you and Ernst there’ll
be enough of us to storm the barge
and take them that way.
DESCARTES
And what of the women?
 72.

ADOLPHUS
They’re not my business.
ERNST
The dark-haired one and the Dwarf
are mine.
DESCARTES
There’s a she-Dwarf? And who else?
ERNST
The dark-haired one’s some kind of
rogue. The other one wears glasses
to read with.
DESCARTES
What does she look like?
ADOLPHUS
It appears you’ll all find out
sooner than we thought.
ERNST
Damn it. They must have left early.
The adventurers’ barge slowly comes into view. Max is at the
prow with Alfie and Josef is at the tiller.
ADOLPHUS
Well, there’s nothing for it. It’ll
have to be tonight. Make yourselves
scarce, get your gear and make your
way to the Trumpet Inn when the
temple bell strikes eleven.
They drink up and disperse into the gathering shadows.
Descartes pauses for a moment as he does so, eying the barge
suspiciously.

EXT. WEISSBRUCK QUAYSIDE - NIGHT

Lucia is on deck. She looks to the dark quayside which
appears deserted. The only light comes from below deck and
from the twin moons.
Adolphus, Ernst and Descartes are hidden behind some barrels
and crates on the quay and to one side of the barge. Adolphus
has his crossbow, Ernst his scimitar and Descartes a foil.
Adolphus’s purse, which hangs from his belt, is obviously
bulging with coins.
 73.

On the other side of the quay and behind a building are the
Grimmonson brothers and Sofia. The brothers are armed with
flails and spiked wooden shields, Sofia with a dagger. She
carries a small black sack.
Having seen nothing Lucia starts stargazing.
Sofia gestures to Adolphus as to whether to start her attack
but Adolphus gestures for them to remain hidden.
Lucia is now staring intently at a small part of the sky. In
a sky filled with stars she sees that several of them appear
to blink and then disappear. Then the light of other stars
appears in a different pattern to before. Lucia is transfixed
but perturbed by this, as the two patterns repeat themselves
again before that small part of the sky goes dark.
She goes below deck into the main cabin.
Adolphus readies his crossbow and signals to Sofia to attack.

INT. THE BEREBELI BARGE - MOMENTS LATER

In the main cabin a small stove fire still burns. Josef and
Max are asleep. All is quiet except Alfie can be heard crying
out in his sleep from one of the side cabins.
ALFIE (O.S.)
Tomas... Tomas... no! Not me... not
me... my arm... my arm...!
Lucia filches gingerly around and finds her reading
spectacles and her “Omens and Portents” book. She flicks
through it scanning the various images of the heavens but
can’t find what she is looking for.
Smoke begins to blow back into the cabin from the fire.
Lucia has her back turned and doesn’t notice this as she puts
down her book and goes to retrieve another from her trunk.
Max is using it as a makeshift pillow. As she does so Max
wakes up.
MAX
(coughing)
Uhhh... well hello Lucia. Now I do
think that Josef would have
something to say about...
Suddenly there is the sound of smashing glass on the deck.
Sofia can be heard cackling manically outside.
 74.

SOFIA (O.S.)
They’re all yours now boys!
Josef wakes up and peers out of the portholes.
Fire is beginning to catch at both the bow and stern of the
barge.
The smoke inside begins to intensify.
JOSEF
My barge! Get out and get water!
Lucia scans the quayside from the portholes on the dock side
of the barge.
LUCIA
No. Wait...
Dieter, Alfie, Elsa and Myra emerge from the side cabins.
Dieter, Alfie and Elsa are in various states of undress, Myra
is fully dressed and armed, her pistols holstered, one across
her chest and the other behind her back.
They are all trying to stop themselves from coughing.
MYRA
What’s going on?
LUCIA
It’s an ambush.
JOSEF
Get out all of you!
Josef gets as far as the main cabin door but Lucia blocks it.
LUCIA
No, that’s what they want. They’ll
shoot you as soon as you poke your
head out. Douse that fire, get what
gear you can and we go when I say
so. I think I can protect you.
Lucia goes back to her trunk, takes out the grimoire that
Julevno gave her and hurriedly scans the pages.
LUCIA (CONT'D)
Now... where is it?
Josef puts out the stove fire by emptying the pot above the
fire onto it. The cabin goes dark. Josef takes his Zweihänder
from off the cabin wall.
 75.

Lucia starts intoning a spell reading from the grimoire.

Elsa gets her warhammer and the two blunderbusses, one of
which she gives to Alfie.
ELSA
(to Alfie)
Be careful. It’s already loaded.
Dieter now has his sword and crossbow pistol, Max his
Zweihänder.
Lucia has conjured a small ball of pale blue light.

EXT. WEISSBRUCK QUAYSIDE - MOMENTS LATER

Sofia is disappearing into the night.
Adolphus aims his crossbow at the cabin door as Ernst and
Descartes stand either side of him, weapons drawn.
Rugnar and Nudri have emerged from behind the wall and look
on as the fires on the barge begin to take hold.
ERNST
What are they waiting for?
The light from the cabin goes dark. A dim pale blue light
gets brighter filling the cabin. The growing light pauses for
a moment at the boundaries of the cabin before expanding
again to cover the deck of the barge.
Max and Josef emerge from the cabin first quickly followed by
the rest. As they do Adolphus fires. His crossbow bolt flies
forward. It is stopped in its tracks at the edge of the blue
dome of light. There is an electrical fizz and the bolt snaps
in two and drops into the river.
DESCARTES
Mon dieu!
Max, Josef and Dieter get buckets and ropes and begin
fighting the two fires.
Lucia stands in the middle of the deck staff in hand
maintaining the blue lit dome.
Alfie, Elsa and Myra take cover on deck either side of the
gangplank.
Alfie and Elsa aim their blunderbusses and Myra one of her
pistols onto the quay.
 76.

A dismayed Adolphus begins to reload his crossbow.

ERNST
Forget that.
Ernst whistles to Rugnar and Nudri gesticulating to them to
attack.
RUGNAR AND NUDRI
Waaarghhhh!!!!!
Ernst, Rugnar and Nudri charge towards the barge.
CUT TO:
ELSA
(to Alfie)
Wait...
Rugnar and Nudri are not far off the gangplank. They charge
as one, shields joined. Ernst is still some way off.
ELSA (CONT'D)
Now!
They both fire their blunderbusses at Rugnar and Nudri. The
discharge from Elsa’s sprays them with lead. Their shields
take most of the damage but are splintered to smithereens.
They pause momentarily to cast their shields off their arms.

ALFIE
Elsa! Mine didn’t fire!

Elsa takes Alfie’s blunderbuss and holds it to her ear. A

hissing noise can be heard like a rapid build-up of gas.

ELSA
Damn Hultz!

She holds the blunderbuss back up to her ear.

RUGNAR
Is that the best you’ve got?

ELSA
Try this!

She hurls the blunderbuss at them. It hits the cobbled quay

and bounces right in front of Rugnar and Nudri. Ernst senses
danger and backs off.
NUDRI
(looking down at the
blunderbuss)
(MORE)
 77.
NUDRI (CONT'D)
Like my brother said, is that
really the best you’ve got. I’m
going to flay your Dwarf tits
off...
The blunderbuss explodes in a cloud of flame, smoke and shot,
hurling Rugnar and Nudri backwards.
NUDRI (CONT'D)
My leg! My leg!

His lower left leg is nothing more than pulp. They are both
peppered with flesh wounds. Rugnar hurriedly drags Nudri
away.

RUGNAR
(to Ernst)
You never said anything about
heaven witches and blackpowder you
bastard. I’ll be coming back for
you.

ERNST
And you’ll regret it if you do.
(he sees Myra laughing on
deck)
But not as much as that black-
haired bitch. You’re mine.

Ernst charges towards the gangplank. Myra fires her pistol.

It grazes Ernst’s right shoulder.

ERNST (CONT'D)
Ha! Looks like you need more
practice bitch!

He charges again and is at the bottom of the gangplank.

MYRA
Very well.

Myra unholsters the second pistol from behind her back, aims
and fires at near point blank range.

The pistol shot hits Ernst right between the eyes. Ernst
tries to say something but fails.

MYRA (CONT'D)
Quick learner.
She blows smoke from the muzzle towards Ernst. As if blown
over by that Ernst falls slowly backwards onto the gangplank.
 78.

His body then gently bounces off it and into the river
facedown.
Elsa and Alfie rush to help finish off putting out the fires
as Myra begins to reload.
CUT TO:
ADOLPHUS
(to Descartes)
Come on then! Before she can
reload! Our shares in the bounty
have gone up is all and I need that
bounty.
DESCARTES
(unconvincingly)
Of course Adolphus... as they say
in Bretonnia “la mort avant le
déshonneur”.
Lucia has spotted the two of them and gestures to Max, Dieter
and Josef. The fires are nearly out. They take up their
weapons and advance towards the gangplank.
ADOLPHUS
What?
DESCARTES
Death before dishonour mon ami. I’m
right behind you.
Adolphus takes a step or two from behind the barrels and
crates. Descartes is right behind him.
Before Adolphus can break into a charge to meet Max, Dieter
and Josef who are now on the quayside Descartes thrusts his
foil sharply upwards through Adolphus’s back. It slices
straight through his torso nearly up to its hilt.
A shocked Adolphus looks aghast at the point of the foil
which is right in front of his eyes.
DESCARTES (CONT'D)
Did I ever mention that it was
because of such “idée stupide” that
I left? Mmm... probably not.

Descartes withdraws the foil as blood begins to bubble from

Adolphus’s mouth. He smartly cuts Adolphus’s purse from his
waist with a flick of his foil as Adolphus slumps first to
his knees, his nearly dead eyes catching Max’s as he, Dieter
and Josef stand still looking on, and then face forwards to
the ground.
 79.

Descartes turns to run.

DIETER
(to Descartes)
Hold! Drop your weapon.
Elsa and Myra point their reloaded weapons at Descartes from
the deck of the barge. Lucia has stopped her spell and
watches on, staff at the ready with Alfie.
DESCARTES
(dropping his foil to the
ground)
Well of course monsieurs! Now I
would have thought that you would
be grateful.
MYRA
And the purse.
DESCARTES
Madame?
Myra cocks the pistol.
DESCARTES (CONT'D)
Very well.

He drops the purse onto the floor.

Myra starts making her way off the barge towards Descartes.

Three WATCHMEN and their SERGEANT emerge from one of the

streets by the quayside. The Watchmen carry spears and
shields. The Sergeant wears a brass breastplate and carries a
sword. They all wear armbands with “Weissbruck Watch”
emblazoned on them.

SERGEANT
(hesitantly)
Who goes there? What’s going on?

Dieter continues to guard Descartes who thinks better of

trying to flee.

Josef and Max approach the Watchmen and the Sergeant

brandishing their Zweihänders.

MAX
We’re Imperial Greatswords.
JOSEF
On official business when we were
attacked.
 80.

The Watchmen look nervously to their Sergeant.

MAX
And the attack’s over now.
SERGEANT
Very well. I’m very sorry about
that. Leave the body where it is.
JOSEF
There’s another in the river. Three
of them escaped. One of them
started a fire. Female voice. Two
of them are injured. They said they
were brothers and looked like
Norscans.
SERGEANT
The Grimmonson brothers and Sofia
the Flint. They’ve had it coming
for a while. We’ll deal with them.
Men, false alarm. Back to barracks
now. Let’s be having you. And one
of you tell the priest of Morr.
They quickly exit the scene.
Myra is now on the quayside. She pockets Adolphus’s purse,
searches his body and finds two pieces of parchment.
She unfastens his tunic. He has a faded purple clawed hand
symbol on his chest.
MYRA
Dieter, come look at this.
He goes over to her as Max and Josef escort Descartes onto
the barge.
MAX
You’ll be coming with us for now.
MYRA
(to Dieter)
See. There.
DIETER
Why’s it faded?
MYRA
Because he wasn’t really one of
them.
 81.

She wets her finger and rubs it across the mark erasing it
still further.
MYRA (CONT'D)
See? There’s these as well.

She hands him the pieces of parchment.

DIETER
Hmmm... well let’s get back on
board and see what this fellow’s
got to say for himself.

They both go back towards the barge.

ALFIE
What about this one?

Alfie and Elsa have hoisted Ernst half out of the water with
the boathook.

MYRA
Let’s get him out on the quayside.

She helps them haul his body onto the quayside. She searches
it and inevitably takes his purse which she opens.

MYRA (CONT'D)
Well, well. You’ve better manners
in death than you had in life. You
appear to have paid for the pistols
I shot you with. I should thank you
but I won’t.

She transfers the many gold crowns to her own purse, discards
his, spits in his face and re-embarks the barge.

INT. THE BEREBELI BARGE - MOMENTS LATER

Myra enters the main cabin. The rest are all already there.
Descartes’s hands and feet are now bound.

MAX
Is that it?

DESCARTES
Mais oui. Like I said he was
staying at the Nine Stars. I was
staying there too. I’d had a bad
night at the tables and he wanted
some help. I said yes.
 82.

MAX
Who did he say he was?
DESCARTES
Adolphus Kuftsos. A bounty hunter.
I don’t tend to ask questions.
There was a bounty he was pursuing
and he’d give me a cut if I came
with him.
MAX
What did he say about who he was
pursuing?
DESCARTES
Nothing. It was only when we saw
your barge approach that I realised
who you all were. I saw you on the
road to Altdorf remember?
LUCIA
He was with the Roadwardens and the
coach.
DESCARTES
That was when I got cold feet. I
saw what you had done to those
mutants.
DIETER
(reading the parchments)
He’s telling the truth about where
he was staying... and who Adolphus
was.
He passes the pieces of parchment around.
MAX
(reading)
For the personal attention of
Adolphus Kuftsos
The Nine Stars Coaching Inn
Altdorf
My Dear Herr Kuftsos,
Our enquiries into the organisation
you were able to make some inroads
into are now complete. It appears
to have been of very recent origin
and limited to Kemperbad.
(MORE)
 83.
MAX (CONT'D)
After no little pressure was
applied, one of his compatriots
“volunteered” the name of this self-
titled Magister Impedimentae,
whatever that is. His real identity
is Kastor Lieberung and he fled for
Middenheim posing as a merchant.
Regrettably the prisoner died from
his questioning before a written
confession could be taken. Herr
Lieberung will therefore have to be
dealt with extra-judicially. A
bounty of 50GCs is in place.
As he is no longer of any use to us
alive it will be paid on proof of
his death.
Yours,
Quintus Fassbinder
Finder General
ALFIE
Finder General?
DIETER
Chaos Finder General. I’ve heard of
Fassbinder.
ELSA
What does the second one say?
Max passes Elsa the second letter.
ELSA (CONT'D)
Dear etc... Nine Stars Coaching
Inn... Dear Kuftsos...

We understand that Herr Lieberung

has now left Middenheim.

He is travelling by coach and we

assume therefore that he will
arrive in Altdorf towards the end
of this month.

Yours etc... Quintus Fassbinder.

 84.

JOSEF
All very interesting. If you think
I’m taking you all the way to
Kemperbad you’ve got another thing
coming. Now who’s going to help me
fix my boat in the morning or you
won’t be going to Bögenhafen?
They all raise their arms except Max who raises Descartes’
for him.

EXT. THE SKY ABOVE WEISSBRUCK - NIGHT

The sky is lit by the two moons. The Chaos moon, Morrslieb,
is large and glows an unnatural pale green. Set against it is
GIDEON, a Daemon of Tzeentch, flying through the night on
wide, narrow wings. It is a little larger than a man with
smooth dark purple skin and clutches a scroll in one of its
four arms.
It flies high along the line of the canal which glimmers in
the moonlight. It swoops low as it approaches Weissbruck
gliding low and unseen over the Berebeli before hastening on
along the canal.

EXT. THE SCHAFFENFEST, BÖGENHAFEN - SUNRISE

Gideon lands behind a hedge in a field next to those which
are being laid out for the Schaffenfest. As he lands he
assumes human form, appearing as a well-dressed human in his
early twenties.
LABOURERS are beginning to erect a banner over the entrance
to the fair which reads “WELCOME TO SCHAFFENFEST, THE EMPIRE
FAMOUS FESTIVAL OF BÖGENHAFEN!”.
FARMERS herd their prize livestock into pens. A pig tries to
make an escape and runs towards Gideon. As it gets close to
him, Gideon spots it and glares at it causally. It recoils in
fear, its curled tail between its legs and is herded into
place.
There is a host of tents and stalls being erected. Bleary
eyed STALLHOLDERS begin to set out their wares as Gideon
walks on towards the town gates.
Among them is Doctor Malthusius, already dressed in his
garish circus ringmaster garb, as he oversees his Dwarf
assistant, GRUNNI, who grudgingly sets out tent poles and the
like. The three-legged Goblin sits in its cage itching at its
iron collar.
 85.

The TOWN WATCH is putting out two sets of stocks outside a

large marquee. A wooden sign reads “FESTIVAL COURT”.
Gideon reaches the gates of the walled town which are
promptly opened by two WATCHMEN wearing their best uniforms
as they try to shake off last night’s hangovers and lack of
sleep.

EXT. BÖGENHAFEN - MOMENTS LATER

The town is still asleep as Gideon walks through its narrow
and dark cobbled streets past a mix of workshops, taverns and
homes.
He turns into the town’s main square surrounded on three
sides by the Town Hall and temples to Sigmar, Shallya and
Ulric.
There is a large stone sculpture covered with nesting crows
in the middle of the square. They fly off as Gideon walks by
revealing the sculpture. It is of armoured merchants standing
on corpses of Orcs and Goblins, one with a severed head in
his hand.
A brass plaque reads “2456 IC. BÖGENHAFEN REBUILT. PRAISE BE
TO THE FAMILIES RUGGBRODER, HAAGEN, STEINHÄGER AND TEUGEN”.
One side of the square opens up onto a small park fenced off
with iron railings. A freshly painted sign reads “TRESPASSERS
WILL BE HUNG. BÖGENHAFEN TOWN COUNCIL”. Gideon takes out a
key, unlocks the gate and walks through.
There are several large private houses in the grounds of the
park behind their own walls. PRIVATE GUARDS loiter at each
entrance. They acknowledge Gideon deferentially as he passes
by.
The gates into the grounds of one of the houses are smartly
opened by two powerfully built GUARDS. They wear chainmail
and carry polearms and sidearms. The large doors to the house
are then opened by a bewigged SERVANT.

INT. A MERCHANT HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

A large, well-appointed study. A man sits at a desk in a high-
backed leather chair, his face unseen. Gideon enters.
GIDEON
I have it.
He hands the scroll to the man.
 86.

MAN
Then we can begin.
He gets up and hugs Gideon.
GIDEON
So we can sweet cousin.
Gideon’s face changes momentarily back to his true daemonic
form. Its face is deep purple, its eyes a mix of iridescent
blues, pinks and yellows.
GIDEON (CONT'D)
So we can...

Gideon gently, almost affectionately, pats the Man on his

back.