EPISODE I

Scene 1:

Setting: The city. Camera pans through the city and finds Jinn-Lir running through various alleys. He often looks back behind him, desperate to outrun his would-be captors.

During this opening montage, he sees Drift forces several times, and runs faster and more chaotic each time. Sometimes he uses magic to repel them or simply to make himself harder to see.

Finally, he comes across his destination: the Temple of Lifeblood. He pauses, briefly. Looks around again to ensure he’s not being chased anymore. Satisfied, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a LEATHER POUCH. He addresses it:

Jinn-Lir: This had better work.

He enters the temple.

Scene 2:

Setting: Inside the temple. Multiple Lifeblood priests are gathering in prayer. Jinn-Lir enters.

Jinn-Lir: I hope this isn’t a bad time

Priest: You’re a wizard, aren’t you?

Jinn-Lir: I am.

Priest: Then it’s a bad time. But regardless. Are you here to offer services? To pray? To seek guidance?

Jinn-Lir: …no.

Priest: Then what are you here for?

Jinn-Lir: I need your assistance in creating…life.

Priest: Then it’s DEFINITELY a bad time. We don’t want any trouble, wizard. We are peaceful folks. Creating life is not something to be taken lightly, especially since I presume you don’t mean it in the…fun way.

PRIESTS snicker. JINN-LIR is having difficulty processing what he has just heard.

Jinn-Lir: The…fun…way.

Priest: Yes. I trust you know what I mean? Not that you look like anyone would have “fun” with you.

PRIESTS begin guffawing.

Jinn-Lir: (to himself) I can’t believe I require their help. Why can’t it be literally anyone else? (to the PRIESTS) You’ve had your laugh, now please. I need your help.

Priest: And why should we help you?

Jinn-Lir: They’re here. That’s why.

Priests: Humor us. Who are “they”? “They” could be anybody. “They” could be your in-laws.

PRIESTS laugh until they snort.

Jinn-Lir: I did not know the Priests of Lifeblood had such senses of humor. Especially in such dire times.

Priests: (now more serious) It is precisely BECAUSE the situation is dire that we laugh. Now come. Say it. Who is it that is tormenting you so that you request the most magical of tricks — creating life — from us?

Jinn-Lir: …The Drift.

Priest: I see. But why are they here? Are they here for you and you alone? Because if so, I would suggest you simply leave. Problem solved.

Jinn-Lir: I think you know full well that is not the case. Yes, they’re looking for me, but you know how they operate. They’ll come for anyone they deem a threat. And that includes you. Priests of peace that you are, you and your abilities would very quickly be seen as a threat if you don’t do something.

Priests: And this something is life. But how?

Jinn-Lir takes out his POUCH.

Jinn-Lir: This.

The priests convene and look it over.

Priests: You want us to turn a bag into a living thing? Explain, and explain well.

Jinn-Lir: It’s not the bag I want alive. It’s what’s inside.

He open the bag and reveals COINS OF DOMMINNIA.

Priests: Are those…?

Jinn-Lir: Yes. Coins of Domminnian. When inanimate, they’re no more valuable than a melted penny. But if you can turn them into literal life, that life will teem with the coins’ innate powers. These coins will then be able to turn ordinary men and women into the warriors we need to fight the Drift and make them pay. Possibly…hopefully, make them crumble.

Priests: And do you have what we would need to make this happen? It’s not just abracadara and zim-zim-bada-wim, you know. We need the ingredients.

Jinn-Lir: I believe I do, yes. I had to make a lot of deals and sneak around a lot of corners to find them. I do hope they’re what you need

Jinn-Lir pulls out several CreationStone Avatars. The priests take them and examine them silently.

Priests: Yes, CreationStone Avatars. These work. Do you know WHAT stones these are? Or are you okay with whatever life comes from them?

Jinn-Lir: I can only hope the life will be useful and helpful. If I stole — er, negotiated — stones that would create naught but an unintelligible blobfish, then all is lost.

Priests: All would be hilarious! (they all laugh)

Jinn-Lir: You will laugh all the way to your temple’s destruction! And your city. And your own. Please.

Priests: Very well. We will create your life! But on one condition.

Jinn-Lir: That is?

Priests: We want the first coin.

Jinn-Lir ponders this, hesitatingly.

Junn-Lir: If I do that, you will weaken my creation from Moment One. The point is to use them to create as powerful and unbeatable an army as I can.

Priests: We need to protect ourselves. We love a good laugh, but we recognize danger when we hear of it. As we are now, we cannot hope to fight the Drift should they come for us. And once they learn you’ve been here, they WILL come for us. So we need a coin, which will create into our OWN temple warrior. He will be our first line of defense, and hopefully the only one we need. After all, why should we just give you what you want and leave ourselves with nothing? Because of what, your word? We don’t trust you wizards as far as we can spit.

Jinn-Lir swallows hard.

Priest: So that is our deal. We will make your bag of coins into a living being. In return, we will extract one coin from your newfound…friend. And then, you can go your merry way.

Jinn-Lir: …I cannot do that. The army I create will be enough to defend you, but they must be under MY command. An organized force is the only way to truly fight the Drift and—

Priests: Two coins then! Since you insist on arguing. That is our final offer. Take it or leave. Oh, and do not try to run off without paying. I promise you. We would NOT be laughing, and neither would you.

Jinn-Lir: …

Priests: This ISN’T one of your negotiations. We have bargained all we are willing to bargain. Two coins, and we do what you ask. One or none, and you are on your own. As is the city.

Jinn-Lir: Fine. Two coins it is. (grumbles) Some priests you are.

Priest: If we were truly bastions of all that is good and light and holy, forever giving and forgiving, we’d be a lot easier to take advantage of. You know that as well as anyone. 

Jinn-Lir, annoyed, hands over the pouch and the CreationStone Avatars. The priests take them and begin to walk off.

Priest: Thank you, wizard. I suppose it rude to do business with you and not know your name?

Jinn-Lir: I am Jinn-Lir. And you?

Priest: …I suppose I’m a little bit ruder than you.

They laugh and walk off. Jinn-Lir storms off to another room.

Scene 3

Setting: A corner room

Jinn-Lir communicates with his superiors, sending a one-way telepathic message that will travel the airwaves and reach his superiors quickly.

Jinn-Lir: The process is happening. The Priests of Lifeblood have what they need. I’m…not proud of what I had to do to get the ingredients, but I hope it will be worth it. Once the Coins of Dominian have life, their inner dormant magic will be infused with energy. And then, we can begin building our army. We can only hope that this is what we will need to stop the Drift once and for all. Also, not sure if you knew this, but these priests are assholes. I know they’re who we need to make this mission a success, but my goodness. They strong-armed me into giving up two coins immediately after creation! Two! And they laugh in the face of…well, everything. I don’t know what you want to do about them once this is all over, but I know I won’t cry at night about it.

He then ends communication and takes a nap. He is later awakened by an off-screen voice.

Priest: (OS) Mr. Junn-Leen! We have a present for you!

Jinn-Lir, aggravated with his name being mangled like that, walks to the priests.

Scene 4:

Setting: The Temple main hall

Jinn-Lir walks in

Jinn-Lir: It’s Jinn-Lir, not…whatever you said. So it’s ready?

Priest: In a way, yes. Presenting…your new best friend.

The priests separate and unveil…a YOUNG GIRL. Barely more than ten. Blue-haired, pale, skinny, and clearly afraid.

Jinn-Lir looks at the GIRL, then at the priests. He is incredulous.

Jinn-Lir: This. THIS is the fruits of your labor. THIS is what my efforts to trudge here have brought us? Oh wait, no no no. This is a joke, right? You priests love your jokes. Yes, YES, I see. Very cute, very funny. And little girl, you’ve played your part magnificently. You all had me fooled! I applaud you (applauds). Now, where is the real deal?

The priests have not shown any expression this whole time.

Priest: Do we look like we’re joking? Laughing? Having a gag?

Jinn-Lir realizes they speak the truth.

Jinn-Lir: No. Come ON. This is seriously the best you could do?

Priest: It is not us. It is the CreationStones. You gave us the Avatars needed to make…this. Had you wanted a burly, 300-pound barbarian, you simply would’ve had to — what’s your word? Negotiate? — different avatars. Even a… (looks down at CHILD) child could do it. (They all laugh at their pun.)

Jinn-Lir: Great. Just great. Now what?

Priest: Now? You give us our coins.

Jinn-Lir: Seriously? From her?

Priest: Yes. That was the deal. Those coins are just as powerful as they would be coming from a burly barbarian. It’s just that you’ve got yourself a girl-pouch.

Jinn-Lir: No. The deal’s off. You had to have known what the stones would create, and you bullied me into an unfair deal anyway. So no, this will not happen. I will ensure my army will protect your temple, that’s the best I can do.

Priest: Then you will have done NOTHING!!! Are we to trust that YOU would protect us? It would be safer for to us to run outside and scream, “Here we are, Drift! Come and kill us!” No. We will use the coins to defend yourselves. Try to leave, and we will make you regret it.

Jinn-Lir: You have no way to do that.

Priest: We don’t? We don’t like you wizards, but we do talk with your bosses. And they DO listen to us. We simply tell them you are an Oathbreaker, which is true. Also, that you threatened to destroy our beautiful, peaceful temple.

Jinn-Lir: That is NOT true.

Priest: No, but they don’t have to know that. Besides, what’s “negotiation” without a little white lie every now and then? Now. The COINS.

Jinn-Lir, in a bind, nods his head. He motions to the GIRL, who nervously walks over to him.

Priest: Go on. Talk to your friend. Name her. It’s a lot easier to work with someone if you know their name.

Jinn-Lir: Wouldn’t you know that. Fine. She’s Coin.

Priest: Coin. That’s the best you can do?

Jinn-Lir: She is the best YOU can do??

Coin: Sir…w-what’s going on?

Jinn-Lir: Never you mind that, Coin.

Coin: Coin? Why do you call me that?

Jinn-Lir: That’s what you are. Coins. Now. Did you hear what they said? That they want two of your coins. Do you know what that means?

Coin: …I do. I don’t like it though. Please don’t.

Jinn-Lir: Wait. you do? How? Ah, never mind. Look. I wish your coins could go to…less irksome sources. But I must. Look at you. Quaking and quivering. Do you also know HOW I’m going to do this?

COIN nods, sadly.

Jinn-Lir: I see. Well then. Hold your breath, grit your teeth, bite on wood, do whatever you need to do.

Coin: Please…d-don’t hurt me.

Jinn-Lir: You’re a bag. You’ll be fine.

He reaches into COIN’s stomach and pulls out a Domminnian Coin, bursting with energy. COIN screams and doubles over in pain. JINN-LIR pulls her to her feet, repeats the process. COIN screams and collapses again. JINN-LIR looks at the coins, then at COIN, crying on the temple floor. He hand the coins to the PRIESTS.

Jinn-Lir: Are we done now?

Priest: We are. I would say pleasure doing business with you…but I don’t like to lie.

The PRIESTS walk off, laughing all the way. JINN-LIR grunts, sighs, then scoops up the crying COIN and storms out of the temple.

SCENE 5: 

Setting: Outside the Temple

Lin carries a protesting COIN through the streets and to a nearby pub. He gestures for her to sit down. She reluctantly does. He then sits as well. A WAITRESS approaches their table.

Waitress: What’ll you and your daughter have?

Jinn-Lir: She’s not my…oh, er, ha. Silly little joke we have.

COIN glares at him.

Jinn-Lir: We’ll just have the special.

Waitress: We don’t do “specials.” You can have whatever’s on the wall.

JINN-LIR glances at the wall, quickly decides he doesn’t care.

Jinn-Lir: Agh…surpise us.

The WAITRESS, somewhat confused, walks off. JINN-LIR addresses an angry COIN.

Jinn-Lir: I feel like you and I have gotten off to the wrong start.

Coin: …

Jinn-Lir: I know that look. I’ve given it to many a person whom I don’t like very much. So I know what you’re going through.

Coin: …you know nothing.

Jinn-Lir: I know you just lost a part of you. Two Coins of Domminnian. I know that’s your life, quite literally. And I know that must be a problem.

Coin: OK. Let’s find a big, ferocious beast and have it rip your guts out. Have it sink its claws deep into your belly and just pull everything out! Maybe then you’ll know what I’m feeling.

Jinn-Lir: …

Coin: Oh, and the person who gave me life hates me. Imagine that, wizard! I’m five minutes old and here you are sulking because I’m not big and strong. Imagine your mother being angry that you weren’t born a giant, or a muscle-bound warrior. And right after learning how much she detests you, THEN the giant beast rips out your guts. Are you figuring this out?

Jinn-Lir: Very well. I perhaps reacted too harshly to the surprise that was…you. But you must understand. I brought your coins to that temple for a reason. I need to make an entire army of super-soldiers, to fight an evil empire threatening to crush us all. To do that, I need the transformative power of your coins.

Coin: And what of me?

Jinn-Lir: What do you mean?

Coin: What happens to me when I lose these coins inside of me?

Jinn-Lir: To be frank…I don’t know.

Coin: Really? Because I do. I wasn’t born unaware like a regular baby. 

Jinn-Lir: I’ve…noticed that.

Coin: Thirty seconds into my existence, I realized my fate. With each coin removed from me, I grow weaker and weaker. And finally, when all my coins have gone to somebody else, I return to what I was.

Jinn-Lir: The bag.

Coin: Yes. I will lose who I am and become a lifeless leather pouch yet again. I don’t want that. I want to exist and enjoy it. How can I do that if I simply give of myself until I die?

Jinn-Lir: That sounds like all of us, to be honest.

Coin: I don’t care about all of you! I’m going to live. Find another plan!

Jinn-Lir: Now Coin…

Coin: AND I WANT ANOTHER NAME!!!

COIN throws a drink in JINN-LIR’s face, slaps him as hard as she can, then takes off running. JINN-LIR is dazed. The WAITRESS returns

Waitress: Your…meals.

Jinn-Lir: They’re yours. (He starts to run off)

Waitress: Wait! You still gotta pay!

JINN-LIR looks at her, raises a hand, and magic begins pouring out of it.

Jinn-Lir: Your payment shall be me saving YOUR world once I find THAT girl. Enjoy dinner!

He takes off after COIN. However, the little girl is faster than expected, and JINN-LIR soon realizes he can’t find her anywhere.

Scene 6:

Setting: The city

COIN is running blindly through the city, looking for anything that could be considered shelter. Eventually, she runs into a large man: an IMPERIAL WARRIOR.

Coin: AH! Um…hi.

Warrior: Oh, hello there kiddo. What are you doing out here? It’s late. Bedtime was hours ago, right?

Coin: I…don’t really have a bedtime.

Warrior: Really! Big girl you are. Well, you should probably still get inside where it’s safe. A lot of big, mean people out here, many of them looking to pray on a little thing like yourself. So run along, okay?

Coin: …sure. Of course. Thank you, good day.

COIN runs off. The WARRIOR looks back at the child and notices something on her leg — a strange, glowing symbol.

Warrior: Kids are getting tattoos younger and younger these days, I swear. I wouldn’t have let her. Ah well, not my prob—

WARRIOR then realizes what that symbol is: the mark of the CreationStone. Realizing she could be of use to the Drift, he hollers after her.

Warrior: Wait, kid! Come back here!

COIN runs a little faster.

Warrior: Halt!!

COIN still runs. WARRIOR powers himself up and magically reels her back to him. As she struggles…

Warrior: Had your chance to come back quietly, kid. You think I wouldn’t see what you are? 

He grabs COIN and holds her in the air.

Warrior: Now…let’s find out what you can do.

JINN-LIR catches up to them, sees the WARRIOR walking off with COIN in his grasp. He does the only thing he can think of…

Jinn-Lir: Hey! Big man! Let her go!

WARRIOR looks back at JINN-LIR.

Warrior: And who are you?

Jinn-Lir: I’m…her uncle. I…turned around and she suddenly wasn’t there. Oh how her…dad would have my HEAD for this, you know? You know how parents are. So, thank you for finding her, I’ll be taking her back now and she will get a ripe and good time-out, she most certainly will.

WARRIOR clearly doesn’t believe him.

Warrior: Uncle, huh? What’s the kid’s name?

Jinn-Lir: Um…Coi…Coireena. Yes, Coireena! It’s an old family name. So old, nobody’s heard of it for a thousand years.

Warrior: Is that so? Do you realize who I am, Mr. Uncle?

JINN-LIR braces for a fight.

Warrior: I am a proud Drift soldier. This girl has the mark of something very, very important on her. So we will be taking her, if you don’t mind. Not that you should. You’re not her uncle, you’re not anything to her! So why? What does a little guy like you need…

He sees JINN-LIR powering up his hands with magic.

Warrior: OH. You’re one of them. Then you must know of the mark. Well, I would tell you to warn your wizard friends the Drift is here, but you won’t live long enough to warn anybody!

JINN-LIR blasts the WARRIOR with magic. This stuns the WARRIOR and allows COIN to wriggle free and run off again.

Jinn-Lir: Little guy, huh??

Warrior: Yes. Little, ugly, useless…and doomed!

They fight. It is an intense magical battle, as the WARRIOR is quite powerful and knowledgeable himself. They exchange advantages several times, showing off what each can do. Finally, JINN-LIR gets the upper hand and knocks the WARRIOR nearly senseless. JINN-LIR prepares to use the rest of his energy for a killing blow.

Warrior: Nah, you’re not worth it. Not now, anyway. Tell your wizard friends I said hi. And that I’ll be back, with others. That girl, and your lifeless husk, will be mine!

He vanishes just before JINN-LIR unleashes a huge blast of magic. JINN-LIR stops himself in the nick of time. After catching his breath, JINN-LIR begins to look for COIN again. He finds her, hiding in a nearby corner.

Jinn-Lir: You didn’t go far.

Coin: I didn’t know what to do.

Jinn-Lir: You could’ve done what you do best: run and keep running. Yet you didn’t. You stayed close by, even with that monster after you. Why?

Coin: I don’t know.

Jinn-Lir: I think you do know. You’re quite intelligent. The Coins of Domminnian have given you a lot of knowledge for being a couple hours old. So don’t tell me you don’t know things. Especially when it’s about saving your own life.

Coin:…

Jinn-Lir: Look. I’m sorry. I was harsh to you in the Temple. I shouldn’t have been. I let my anger over the situation overcome me. You were not what I expected, but that’s…not your fault. We can make this work. You can make this work.

Coin: I still don’t want to. Do you think saying sorry changes anything? You’re still going to use me until I’m nothing but leather.

Jinn-Lir: …Yes. Yes I am, but please hear me out! Don’t run off, please. Yes. I had you created for the sole purpose of using your coins to fight our battle. But that other man? He’s worse. He’s part of the Drift Empire. How much about them do you know?

Coin: I know enough. They are bad. But are they worse than you?

Jinn-Lir: I sure hope so…listen. If your coins go to our cause, it will stop an oppressive regime from destroying innocent people and ruining their lives. You’ll be fighting against pure evil.

Coin: So, I’d be a sacrifice.

Jinn-Lir: That’s…not a nice way to put it.

Coin: But accurate. I’d be sacrificing myself for you and your cause. But maybe I don’t want that. Maybe I just want to stay alive. I want to exist, grow…and be at peace.

Jinn-Lir: Peace? That wouldn’t last very long. If you don’t help us, the Drift will ensure there’s no peace. Thousands, perhaps millions will die. There will be sadness and chaos everywhere, and it will never, ever stop.

Coin:…

Jinn-Lir: Also, you’d likely be a sacrifice anyway. Because that man? He’ll be back with others like him. And they’ll find you. And they’ll FORCE you to give up your coins for them. Meaning they’ll be even stronger, and more will suffer for even longer. I’m sorry to say, Coin, but those are your two choices. Help us, and die knowing you saved an entire kingdom. Don’t, and die knowing you were an instrument of destruction.

COIN ponders everything, and begins to cry. She may be full of knowledge and awareness, but she’s still a child.

Jinn-Lir: (softens) You…don’t need to decide anything right now. You…don’t need to give up any of your coins yet. Take some time. Think it over. But at least come with me and let me protect you until you’re ready.

COIN tries to stop herself from crying too much, at least enough to talk.

Coin: Is…there any way you can make me…not die? You’re a wizard, right? You can keep me alive after my coins are gone, right?

Jinn-Lir: I…don’t know. Right now, you will return to nothingness.
COIN hangs her head. JINN-LIR quickly speaks to avoid further disappointment and/or anger.

Jinn-Lir: BUT! But. I have a lot of magic, and a lot of resources. And I’m as stubborn as can be.

Coin: I’ve noticed.

Jinn-Lir: (laughs) Fair enough. I can’t promise you anything, except for this. If you help us, I will use every bit of magic, and every resource I have, to find a way to keep you alive. And not just alive: strong.

Coin: …Can I get a new name too?

Jinn-Lir: What, you don’t like Coireena?

Coin: (laughs, sighs) Maybe I’ll grow into it.

COIN and JINN-LIR look at each other, then to the road ahead of them. END.