The Tales of the Equinox Flower (2018 - 2020)
- Jun 24
- 37 min read
An animated pilot project commissioned by Lou Jacquet and Flora Sellaye whilst the three of us were students at ISART Digital Paris. From world-building to scriptwriting, and of course including the entire creative bible, I developed the whole project over the summer of 2018 to present it to them at the start of the new academic year. Although the project never came to light as an animated film and ultimately fell through, like so many extracurricular student ambitions, we nevertheless took part in two conventions – Jonetsu and Japan Expo 2019 – with a pre-production dossier, a few illustrations and a light novel to boot.
In a world flooded by water, humans have fled aboard immense flying ships, soaring through the skies in search of mysterious islands of land hidden beyond the clouds. Last fertile patches of a planet that has rejected them, the ship-cities that have sprung up never miss the opportunity to chain them up and drag them along in their wake, as a testament to a humanity that never learns.
Asthar, an apprentice mechanic, sees his young life turned upside down when, one fine day, a dragon crashes into his city. Guided by Raein, a strange young woman he often sees in his dreams, Asthar feels inexplicably drawn to the sacred beast. As he helps the dying dragon live out its final moments with dignity, the mythical creature thanks him by branding him with a burning symbol. A mark carrying hope, leading him on a quest to the far reaches of the world, dotted with mountains, wonders and heart-wrenching losses. A journey that will soon take on the appearance of a one-way trip...
Summary
“Say, Asthar, can you hear me from where you are?”
A world where lands float in the heavens beyond endless seas. Where the winds reign supreme, where nature sparkles with a terrifying beauty. Where the surviving humans have built massive ships capable of holding entire cities, hauling the flying islets they encounter on their wanderings with the aid of giant chains. Others sail the waters on rafts linked together, if they have not built their homes on a massive island, praying every day that it shall never collapse. Regardless, since those ancient times, the lives of all these people have taken on the form of a journey with an uncertain destination. Subject to the whims of drifting islands.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t accompany you all the way.”
Asthar was a young apprentice mechanic living on the outskirts of Baraban, a ship-city shaped like a walnut shell. Not very talkative, if not taciturn, he was learning from his mentor Edog how to maintain the windmills along the ship’s walls that supplied the city with its energy. And when his day’s labour finally came to an end, he liked to stand and watch these dandelions of wood and steel whirling round, usually joined by his childhood friend Magorian, a chatterbox with grandiose dreams. It was a normal, peaceful life, which changed completely the day he spotted a glimmer in the sky.
A clawed, wounded star, plummeting straight towards Baraban. Its wings riddled with holes and its jaws bloodied. The city-ship staggered under the dragon’s impact, engines groaning under the strain. Most people began to flee, and Asthar was about to follow them when a hand seized his. A woman barely a few years his senior, the crimson of her eyes contrasting with her night-coloured hair. Raein was her name. Asthar knew it, having seen her many times before in his dreams. With a knowing smile, she led him against the flow of the crowd, and, surprisingly, the boy accepted his fate. His dreams had been whispering of this moment for some time.
Magorian, for his part, hesitated far too long before following him.
“If only I’d taken your hand at that moment...”
A few brave souls had gathered round the dying creature. The guards stood with drawn swords, their brows furrowed but their knees trembling. No one dared to move. Led by this stranger with her sad cheerfulness, Asthar stepped forward to the dragon’s bedside. Seizing a bucket, which he filled at the nearby fountain, he gave the dying beast a drink. Splattered with the blood of the immense reptile, he persevered. Guided by the girl with ruby eyes, he thus administered the last rites to a scaly god in his death throes, far from his homeland. A god who perished in arms far too narrow to hold him properly.
With its final breath, the dragon’s body burst into flames, bathing the child in light. As the last embers died down, Magorian watched with relief as his friend emerged unscathed. It was only too late that he noticed the symbol that had devoured Asthar’s cheekbone – a symbol that would soon lead him on a quest to the ends of the world.
“Perhaps I could have saved you back then.”
Script
The Tales of the Equinox Flower Pilot Script (2018)
(Writter & timed of "A Child" by Sebastian Zawadski)
SQ1
1/ The Dream | EXT. Day - Unknown Meadow
A view of the ocean flying by. (1) Blurred streaks of a nearby coastline. The shadow of a huge creature darts across the waves.
1| RAEIN - "Long ago, vast continents rose up from the midst of the oceans..."
A slight low-angle shot of a woman seen from behind. She has long blonde hair and is wearing a white dress. Her bare ankles are brushed by the grass. (2) She shields her eyes from the sun with her arm. A dragon soars above her.
2| RAEIN - "It was a long, long time ago... long before the age of dragons." (Pause)
2/ Waking up in a quiet place | INT. Dawn - Asthar's house
Asthar wakes up. His hair is disheveled, his nightshirt is buttoned up wrong. He shows no particular reaction to the dream. (3) The voice still echoes in his head.
3| RAEIN - "... I’ve always wondered whether it was them who forced men to take refuge in the heavens?"
Asthar puts on a cardigan, goes downstairs rubbing his eyes and, once in the kitchen – which constitutes the entire ground floor – cuts himself a slice of the brown bread that sits alone on the table. He gets dressed whilst chewing it.
All ready, he slips on his jacket, which is hanging on a coat hook, and grabs his satchel. Just as he is about to leave, he changes his mind and goes back to the sink to run a trickle of water over his finger and brush his teeth. An old rectangular mirror reflects his grimace and his white teeth. The door slams shut.
3/ The Journey into Dawn | EXT. Dawn - Baraban Borders
(1) Asthar walks across a meadow of thick grass, a solitary figure silhouetted against the morning mist. What appear to be the remains of an aqueduct stand on either side of his house, like swords that giants might have thrust into the ground. In the distance, the edge of a forest can be made out through the mist.
1| RAEIN - "Unless they saved us? What do you think, my dear?"
His path takes him from one floating island to the next, along a narrow track. The mist begins to thin as the first patches of blue sky appear. Far below, an island seems to be crumbling slightly. Heavy metal chains are stretched across the sea of clouds.
Asthar chats with a middle-aged woman at the edge of the fields. Smiling, she hands him a basket covered with a cloth, though a few vegetables are still spilling out. He hands her a few coins before setting off again with a final wave of his hand.
Asthar reaches the edge of the island and climbs a flight of rusty metal stairs. At the top, he finds a goods lift. He attaches his basket to it and pulls on a rope. A bell rings out. Asthar watches as the basket rises up the orange-marbled hull.
Before passing through the door leading out onto Baraban, he turns round and walks towards the platform’s railing. The sun has just broken through the clouds drifting lazily by.
| RAEIN, laughing - "Oh, I don’t know about that. You’re telling me some funny stories. I’m just a perfectly ordinary young girl! (Pause)"
4/ The Glider & the Flames EXT. Morning - Baraban Borders
He spots a glider twirling through the sky. Two figures (Lola & Litchi) are waving enthusiastically at him. Then the glider veers off and heads towards the Gondolas, colourful, glistening blobs visible in the distance, skimming the water’s surface.
A vision of a ship firing its cannons. Wood exploding, sending debris flying in all directions. A vision of the Gondolas ablaze, of soldiers rushing towards fleeing civilians.
Asthar blinks. His hands gently release their grip on the metal railing. He turns back and enters Baraban.
| RAEIN - "You'll be late."
SQ2
1/ Entering through the back door EXT. Morning - Baraban Byways
His figure makes its way along long suspended walkways through immense mechanisms. Pistons roar, gears clatter. As he rounds a ladder, the machinery gives way to stone walls and cobblestones framed by small drainage channels. Asthar walks upstream.
Pan from left to right, eye-level shot, medium shot. The camera remains low and watches Asthar climb the ladder. A slight rotation to end with a low-angle shot.
The dark, damp alleyways open out onto a leafy little square. A wall fountain with a lion’s head, overgrown with vegetation, spouts a steady trickle of water. The water is clear, its gurgling soothing. Small lanterns float lazily here and there, bathing the square in a pale white glow. Asthar walks round a bench, passes under an arch in one of the broken colonnades and leaves the square. Like him, the first figures begin to go about their business.
Aerial shot. He is seen framed by the two channels. He walks past a fountain that gurgles peacefully. He leaves the frame via the alley on the right.
Asthar walks down one last alleyway bathed in backlight. A shot from leg height, then a pan from left to right to follow his path. The sound of the water has been replaced by a muffled hubbub, close by but not quite there yet. Heavy crates have been stacked against the right-hand wall. A man in a sailor’s uniform is sleeping slumped over the largest of them. Asthar, his hand resting on the edge of the crate, pauses ever so briefly before stepping into the light.
2/ The effervescence of those who rise early EXT. Morning - Grand'Avenue
An explosion of sound and light. Laughter, shouts, exchanges sometimes polite, sometimes less so. Asthar arrives on the Grand’Avenue, which is teeming with people. He weaves his way through the passers-by to find himself in the middle of the street.
Stalls everywhere, merchants, shoppers, taverns and beast-men. Right in the middle of this sun-drenched street, Asthar pauses for a moment to look around him. He looks stunned, then delighted, as if he hadn’t seen such a sight in a long time. He gives a faint smile and pushes his hood back, revealing his face to the daylight. He begins to make his way through the crowd.
To his right, an old merchant with his pots displayed on a rug. Next to him, a lizard-man taking an interest in the fabrics of a nervous saleswoman. To his left, a vendor selling small stones with strange patterns. A whole crowd of young girls are chattering away around him. A little further on, two imposing mothers are sniffing at pyramids of spices, their animal paws resting on the shoulders of their respective offspring.
We are inside a restaurant. On the counter, rotisseries are smoking, as is a gigantic dish of rice. Asthar recedes into the background. He walks with a calm, steady stride, his attention fixed straight ahead. In the distance, on a parallel street, a chase has broken out between a gigantic pig and a fox cub.
The chase continues. We can make it out through the alleyways connecting the two avenues. Eventually, the fox child slips into one of these passageways. Shozo comes bounding down the Grand'Avenue, weaving her way through the passers-by. She reaches Asthar, whom she nearly bumps into. (1) He barely has time to react before she had already fled down one of the adjoining side streets.
1| SHOZO, briefly - "'Scuse !"
The screams of the pig-man can be heard behind Asthar. He glances back. Gamina’s voice betrays an eternal despair and no less a sense of breathlessness.
3/ A wonderful ascent
EXT. Morning - Stairs of the Baraban ramparts
Once the chaos had subsided, Asthar begins to climb a series of staircases stretching as far as the eye can see. His path is byturns bathed and shrouded in light and shadow. The sound of the wind grows louder with every floor he reaches. (1) Before long, a whole host of colourful rooftops stretched out behind him.
1| RAEIN, shyly - "Say, Asthar. When it’s all over, will you come back to see me?"
Asthar, lost in his own thoughts, responds aloud to Raein’s ‘memory’. (2) A passer-by, who was about to cross the railway tracks, hears him and stops, surprised to see him talking to himself. Asthar blushes and hurries up the next flight of stairs
2| ASTHAR - "I’ll give it a go. I think I’d always give it a go."
Asthar leads to a new little square. (3) Smaller than the previous one, the fountain is set into an alcove. Two benches flank it on either side. To his left, less than a hundred metres away, he can make out the rooftops of the Librahall. (4) But above all, much closer by, Magorian is sitting on one of the two benches, engrossed in his reading.
3| RAEIN - "...Even if it’s the end of the world? Silly. (She laughs.) 4| Never make promises you won't keep."
Magorian does look up as he arrives. He gives him a nod and, smiling, gestures that they'll catch up later. Asthar hasn’t paused for a single moment; just a brief nod signalling their complicity. He sets off up one final flight of stairs.
His ascent is nearing its end. Asthar can already make out the ochre edge of the ramparts. He climbs one final flight of steps and finds himself at the top of the walls. A single gust of wind hits him full force, rustling through the folds of his clothes. (5) He leans against the parapet as if to steady himself, and turns to gaze at the city, which now unfolds before his eyes.
Zoom out. Asthar’s silhouette, seen from behind, gives us a sense of scale, and, like him, we survey the city-ship in its entirety. The sun bathes the scene in an almost dazzling halo.
The title screen appears.
5| RAEIN - "But thank you for that lie. I’ll treasure it."
SQ3
1/ Edog, the 'kindgruff' mentor INT. Morning - Edog's Shack
Asthar arrives at the door of a small shack. He is about to knock, but before his fingers can even touch the wood, the door swings open. He finds himself face to face with an enormous werewolf who towers over him. With greying fur and an imposing build – though marked by the years – his gaze is intimidating when viewed from a child’s height. Asthar takes a step back so as not to get in his way.
His muzzle twists into a smile. With his teeth bared, what had seemed sinister a moment before has now transformed into genuine affection and a zest for life. Edog places a helmet, almost identical to his own, on Asthar’s head and speaks to him. (1) He then sets off.
1| EDOG, with a hoarse voice - "Come on, pop your things inside and come and join me. We’ve got work to do !"
Asthar hastens to obey. He rushes into the shack and comes out almost immediately, having swapped his cloak and satchel for a considerably larger rucksack. He can be seen trotting along the ramparts in pursuit of Edog.
2/ The cogs that have seized up INT/EXT. Morning - Sea of Mills
They are standing at the foot of a stalled windmill. Judging by the way Edog is pointing towards the blades, the two of them seem to be discussing the cause of the breakdown. We cannot hear them.
Inside the windmill. The structure is narrow, with the windmill’s axle running through its centre. Wrapping round the axle is an old spiral staircase. The steps are worn smooth by time, and the air is dusty. Edog, armed with a crowbar, is struggling with the cover plate shielding the central machinery. As for Asthar, he is unpacking the array of tools contained in his bag.
The cover gives way, revealing a jumble of cogs and gears. Edog buries himself in it, his body far too large, contorted into an uncomfortable position. He rummages about, grumbling, then holds out a paw, asking for an adjustable spanner. (1) Asthar gives it to him straight away.
1| EDOG - "Wrench."
That same paw appears again, this time with its finger pointing towards the top of the mill. Asthar complies, tucking a wrench into his belt himself before scampering up the steps. He stumbles, (2)(3) but carry on regardless.
2| EDOG, with a smile - "Watch out, lad."
3| ASTHAR - "Sorry !"
Asthar is perched on the windmill’s sails. He carefully checks the ropes that bind the wooden shafts of the sails together and tightens a few nuts on the mechanical parts. Having finished his meticulous work, he rubs his nose with satisfaction. It is a boy, his face smeared with grease, who calls out to his mentor. (4)
4| ASTHAR, shouting - "I've just finished! We can get this going when you're re-"
The structure begins to shake. Losing his balance, Asthar clings to his sail. It’s the windmill that’s started turning, sweeping him along with it. Asthar lets out a sigh. A feigned look of annoyance crosses his face. Outside the windmill, a guffawing Edog is waiting for him below, hands on his hips and a boyish grin on his face. (5)
5| EDOG, proudly - "Wasn't it whenever I wanted ?"
SQ 4
1/ A weird family snack time INT. Midday - Edog's Shack
Edog’s shack. The walls are whitewashed, and both the wooden floorboards and the furniture are made of light-coloured wood. On the table stands a stoneware vase containing a single tulip. The fire in the hearth has almost gone out. The midday sun barely filters through the window, plunging the room into a pleasant semi-darkness. The door opens, and Asthar, his arms weighed down by the basket he’d been seen hoisting onto the goods lift that morning, steps into the cabin.
Fixed shot, eye-level, from the window and facing towards the door.
He carefully sets the basket down on the table, taking great care not to knock over the vase, then sets down his large bag with a sigh of relief. Edog finds him a moment later, sitting on the floor, taking off his shoes.
Reuse of the same shot, with Asthar appearing and disappearing as he goes about his various tasks. Edog remains focused on his cooking. The sun’s shadow shifts slightly as time passes.
The big wolf puts away his own belongings, then removes the helmet Asthar is still wearing and hangs it up next to his own. With his shoes now neatly lined up against the wall, Asthar heads towards the basket, only to be stopped immediately by Edogar. (1) The boy looks at his hands, then, as if ashamed, rushes into the adjoining workshop.
1| EDOG - "T-t-tt (he clicks his tongue), there’s no way you’re touching my food in that state. Go and wash up, lad, I’ll sort it out."
Edog approaches the basket and lifts the tea towel covering its contents. He seems delighted with his find, then, humming to himself, he goes over to the stove and lights it. Soon, a saucepan is bubbling merrily; Edog has brought out a chopping board on which he has begun to debone a bird.
Asthar returns to the room, still shaking his dripping hands. Standing on a small step stool, he takes over from his mentor to chop the vegetables. Edog stirs the pot, then goes off to add more wood to the hearth.
Crouching with his bellows, he is once again joined by Asthar. The two seem to exchange a few words, perhaps a joke. Edog returns to the stove. Asthar, meanwhile, remains motionless for a few moments, as if struck by a sudden thought. With his shoulders hunched in this way, his body has never looked so much like that of a child. He eventually straightens up. The pot has given way to a frying pan and a teapot whistling softly.
Just then, Magorian arrives. Asthar busies himself here and there setting the table, whilst Edog finishes preparing the meal.
He greets them with a broad wave of his hand; his red cloak joins the others already hanging on the coat rack. Rolling up his sleeves, Mago then approaches the table and helps set out the last few plates himself. He then steps aside to let Edog and the large dish containing their meal through. All three sit down to begin their meal.
2/ A lively digestion INT. Midday - Edog's Shack
The meal is drawing to a close. Only the remains of a feast remain on the table. Mago and Asthar are finishing their plates. Meanwhile, Edog is preparing the cups for tea. (1)
1| EDOG, he blurts out over his shoulder - "What’s it like at the Librahall?"
Mago wipes his mouth with his napkin, then stretches like a cat. (2) Asthar, with his cheeks full, swallowed his mouthful with some difficulty before speaking.
2| MAGO - "Oh, our venerable old fogies on the Council are still debating whether or not to remove the chains from Island 27. (He turns to Asthar.) It’s the one a bit to the east of where you live, Asthar, the little one down below.’"
3| ASTHAR - "I think there are still farmers living there."
A pout forms on Mago’s face. He shrugs his shoulders with an air of resignation. (4) Close-up on Mago’s face. As if lost in his own thoughts, Mago falls silent for a moment. He watches as Asthar stands up and quietly clears away his plate. The young scholar flashes a wistful smile and murmurs, almost to his non-existent beard. (5)
4| MAGO - "That’s precisely the problem. It’s on the verge of collapsing, but they’re clinging to it desperately. (Pause, then he continues softly:) 5| Not that I can’t understand, you might say..."
Edog returns to them. His hands are laden with a large bamboo tray on which sit the teapot and three cups. He places the cups on the table whilst Asthar clears away the remaining plates. Noticing Magorian lost in thought and settling down quietly, he decides, in a calm voice, to steer the conversation back on track by bringing up another topic. (6)
6| EDOG, calmly - "I’ve heard you’re planning a trip to the Sacred City?"
Magorian looks up and turns his head towards him. He blinks, as if surprised, then replies, immediately regaining his usual nonchalance. (7) Edog, listening attentively, busies himself in the meantime with pouring him some tea. Mago thanks him, then continues. (8) Asthar, meanwhile, is bustling about them. His cup is steaming lazily on the table, but he’s now busy carefully clearing it away.
7| MAGO, snapping out of his reverie – “Oh. Er… it’s well under way, yes! It’s been nearly ten years now… (Pausing when he sees Edog serving him :) 8| …oh, thank you! So it’s been ten years since they placed an order with us and Oban would like to use this delivery as an opportunity to ‘strengthen our relations'."
This anecdote makes Edog laugh, and he shakes his head. The question he puts to Mago, however, is tinged with seriousness. (9) The same cannot quite be said of Mago, who, with a sharp retort, waves his hand dismissively. (10)
9| EDOG, laughing - "That old codger will never change! I suppose he won’t be making the journey himself." 10| MAGO - "No, of couuuurse not. The deputy mayor will be handling it, and for once, fate has seen fit to open the gilded door of my cage: I received the Council’s official request this morning. I’ll be setting off with them."
Edog is no fool. As silence falls for a few seconds, an affectionate smile tenderly spreads across the wolf-man’s face. He immediately grasped what lay behind Magorian’s irony. Casually, he probes him with one last question. (11) We catch sight of Asthar, who has just finished tidying up. The plates, cutlery and glasses have been meticulously stacked by the sink. That will clearly have to wait, for here he is, taking the cup Edog hands him and heading towards the window.
11| EDOG - "This is the first time you’ll be leaving Baraban, isn’t it?"
With his arms crossed behind his neck and his chair balanced on its two back legs, Mago casts a sidelong glance at Edog. (12)
12| MAGO, sticking out his tongue slightly – “That’s right! What a nuisance, isn’t it?”
Edog’s smile widened even further. Setting down his cup, he reached out a shaggy paw towards the young scholar and ruffled his hair. (13) Mago pushed his hand away as best he could. But he’s off balance and can do little but take it. He can be seen grumbling and muttering under his breath – grumpy, but probably touched by the old wolf’s gesture. Edog can’t help but rub it in a bit more. (14)
13| EDOG - "Congratulations, Magorian. I know just how hard you’ve worked to earn this opportunity…" 14| (Continuing mischievously) – “I hope, in any case, that you won’t forget us once you’ve gone.”
Spotting an opening to break free, Magorian manages to wriggle out of Edog’s grip. He pushes him away with a hand to the face and retorts instantly to the wolf’s provocation. (15) This only serves to heighten the wolf’s amusement, and he adopts a mysterious air. (16), , and can’t help but laugh even harder at Magorian’s reaction. (17)
15| MAGO - "Hey, old man, it’s only a matter of a few weeks. I’ll be back before you even realise it!"
16| EDOG, tragically - "You never know what this uncharted world has in store for us. Or the women of the Sacred City, for that matter…!"
17| MAGO, surprised but suddenly very interested - "Eh, wh-what? Tell me all about it, big wolf!"
3/ The Premonition INT. Midday - Edog's Shack
Whilst the two of them continue to bicker in the background, Asthar looks out of the window. With his eyes fixed on the clouds, he seems to be searching for something. Very quickly, the sky appears to change colour. Purplish, then blackish like a negative, and finally glowing red. The sound of a very distant voice can be heard (1), muffled by the distance. The peace of the early afternoon gives way to the threat of a strange atmosphere. Behind the thick curtain of cloud he was staring at, a sort of luminous trail can be made out. Then the voice becomes clearer, rousing him from his daze. (2)
1| MAGO - "Hey, next time you’ll come with me, won’t you, Asthar?! (Much louder) 2| Asthar!"
Mago calls out to him. Turning round, Asthar apologises for not being there and asks him to repeat himself. (3) Mago does so; Asthar tilts his head to one side and then smiles back. (4) (5)
3| ASTHAR - "Sorry ! I was..."
4| MAGO, kindly – “Next time, you’ll come with me, won’t you?"
5| ASTHAR, smiling - "Oh.. yes, of course."
SQ5
1/ Baraban's final day of peace
INT/EXT. Late afternoon - Various locations
A time-lapse sequence with no dialogue. The music ‘drowns out’ the sound design most of the time.
Baraban's Ramparts
Edog closes the door of the shack. All three, now back in their uniforms, part ways with a grand farewell gesture. Magorian descends the stairs, whilst Edog and Asthar continue on their way along the rampart.
Asthar is harnessed in mid-air. Suspended from the side of the metal rampart, a screwdriver clamped between his teeth, he hammers away at one of the hull plates. Higher up, Edog, cupping his hands to his mouth, shouts instructions down to him. He eventually hauls him up.
Near the Librahall
Magorian enters via the upper floors of the Librahall and walks into a cluttered office. The bookshelves are bursting at the seams; piles of books are even spilling onto the floor. The deputy mayor, who is waiting for him, hands him a pile of files. Mago sighs and heads for his desk. Turning his head to his left, he spots Oban. That irresponsible old man is facing a pile similar to his own. He winks at him, his fingers forming a victory sign. Mago lets out an amused sigh, and the two of them set to work.
Not far away, at the foot of the porch separating the barracks from the Librahall, Coriandre is in the middle of a conversation with Gamina. Or rather, he’s putting up with it. We see him scratching his temple; we can imagine his embarrassed chuckle. The tall pig-man, seen from behind, is fidgeting furiously. In the background, the guard is in the middle of training.
Baraban's Byways
Shozo, in the shadow of the sleepers, is perched on top of a crate. She bites into an apple with the satisfaction of a victor. At her feet, a group of children sit on the ground, devouring their fruit greedily. The indistinct silhouette of Voyageur passes in the background, bathed in sunlight.
Her ear twitches; Shozo looks up, intrigued. Trapped between the two dark walls of the railway sleeper, glinting against the blue afternoon sky, a seabird has just streaked past overhead. The bird flies over the city, leaving behind in the sky the trail Asthar had dreamt of, before veering off course.
Gondolas
Cut to a glider approaching the Gondolas. It lands, crashing against the quay boards. Mama, at the entrance to her tent – fit for a pasha – appears to be haggling with a few merchants. Two unbearable brats, Lola and Litchi, are running around underfoot. Annoyed, Mama finally grabs Litchi by the collar. Her tail bristles. Against a horizon where the wake is becoming ever more visible, large ships sail lazily towards Baraban.
Baraban Borders
Back in the fields, the afternoon is gradually drawing to a close. Agatha, in her dishevelled civilian clothes, is helping an elderly woman tend her fields. The Lorem Ipsum drifts lazily a little further away. On the surrounding islands, other soldiers appear to be helping with the farm work. Agatha leans on her hoe and wipes the sweat trickling down her forehead. A rumbling then causes the ground to shake. As reported on the news, in the spot where she might have spotted the trail, a section of the island above them is collapsing.
Baraban's Ramparts
The sky is now orange. Asthar, back in his morning clothes, has just said goodbye to Edog. With his hands in his pockets, he walks quietly along the ramparts, in no hurry to join the hubbub of Baraban’s centre. His strides are long for his small stature, yet unnaturally slow; nor does he seem to want to cover any distance at all. When he reaches the mill they repaired earlier, he stops and looks up at the sky. There is no trace of the trail, just this colour in the sky that only appears at twilight.
2/ And suddenly, Raein EXT. Dusk - Baraban's Ramparts
Suddenly, the sound of a shattering roof tile makes him turn round. Perched on the roof closest to the top of the city walls, a young girl who has just stumbled. Their eyes meet. Lanky, she regains her balance with an embarrassed grimace. Then she seems to regain her composure, for her clumsiness suddenly gives way to cat-like agility. She climbs effortlessly to the edge of the roof, then leaps nimbly onto the ramparts. They stand facing each other; she is taller than him. A sort of proud pout forms on her face. She is about to speak. (1) (2)
1| RAEIN, trying to find the right words – "Pleased to meet you! I’m Raein. And, er, I’m going to need…" 2| ASTHAR, calmly – "I know. I’m ready to go with you."
Raein stops short, her finger raised, as if she’d just been struck by lightning. Then a smile spreads across her lips. It grows, grows, predatory and mischievous. With her hands behind her back, she takes a dancing step backwards. The evening sun’s rays glint off her long mane. Still wearing that same expression, she then holds out her hand to him. (3) He hesitates for a second, his fingers trembling. He takes her hand. And so the two young people leave the ramparts via that same roof with the broken tile. Above them, the trail has now taken the shape of a sphere.
3| RAEIN, tenderly – “Right then… let’s go!”
The two teenagers race down flight after flight of stairs. Breathless, his cheeks flushed from his pounding heart, Asthar fails to notice, as he rounds a bend, Magorian, who was just about to come back up towards him. His face frozen in surprise, his outstretched hand remains in the air in vain as he watches Asthar continue his frantic dash.
SQ6
1/ A wild chase EXT. Dusk - Stairs of the Baraban ramparts
They run towards the heart of the city. Raein continues to leap from rooftop to rooftop with incredible ease, whilst Asthar tries to keep up with her as best he can. Raein glances back at him and asks him a question on the fly. (1) Asthar, panting, races down the steps two at a time. (2) His heart is pounding, but he isn’t sure whether it’s because of the run or the excitement.
1| RAEIN - "How did you know I’d come?" 2| ASTHAR - "I dreamt about it!"
Raein seems particularly pleased with his answer; crossing a small footbridge spanning the roofs of two houses, she urges him to explain further. (3) Asthar shakes his head, (4) then looks to his left at the young girl running across the roof. Facing him is the famous shooting star.
3| RAEIN, intrigued – "Dreamed? What do you mean?" 4| ASTHAR, out of breath – "I don’t know myself! But I knew you’d turn up in front of me. You, and that strange star."
(5) There she is, moving from his left to his right via an archway between two houses. (6) Raein leaps onto a small terrace, descends a few steps and finds herself by his side. (7) She smiles at him, then, grabbing his wrist, pulls him into a side street. (8)
5| RAEIN, laughing heartily - "You do realise that the adventure ahead of us isn’t going to be the most cheerful one, do you?"
6| ASTHAR - "I-I… Yes. Do I even have a choice?"
7| RAEIN, cheerfully – “We always have a choice, Asthar, we always do!" 8| "This way !!"
2/ The shooting star with clawed wings EXT. Dusk- Baraban Grand'Avenue
They push their way through the crowd. At first, the crowd stands still, gazing up at this strange phenomenon setting the sky ablaze. Then, as Raein continues to lead him along the Grand’Avenue, the crowd begins to move. Hurried, anxious, and finally panicked, people push against the flow of the crowd, all trying to get away.
Our duo slow to a halt. Raein and Asthar have just arrived. The square is narrow, hemmed in by buildings whose storeys rise ever higher. Overlooking the scene, we watch the two children gazing up at the sky. A few brave souls accompany them. Their mouths hang open, their eyes daring not to blink.
It is a dragon that is plummeting towards them. Consumed by strange, smokeless flames, its scales ablaze and peeling away from its carapace, what had looked ferocious very quickly takes on the appearance of decay. The dragon is not attacking the city. But falling.
SQ7
1/ A God's Agony EXT. Fusk- (Future) Fall's Square
A tremendous crash. The smoke, at first thick, begins to clear. Having destroyed several houses in its descent, the dragon has crashed onto the cobblestones. Those who witnessed this strange spectacle struggle to their feet, most of them dazed. They watch the dragon with fear. The dragon, its mouth bloodied, whimpers, growls and lets out a long, piercing scream. Blood trickles from between its scales. They all take a step back. None dare to flee. Amidst their fear, a certain respect is evident.
The dragon howls again. Asthar is trapped in the middle of this crowd, which resembles a herd. He looks all around him, searching for Raein. He cannot see her. Then suddenly, he feels a push in the back. It is Raein, who, with a whisper in his ear, has just propelled him into the centre of the square.
| RAEIN - "Good luck, Asthar."
There is absolute silence. Stunned silence has robbed the inhabitants of their voices. The dragon Aegelion laboriously stretches his neck and gazes at the boy standing before him. Without hostility, simply waiting for his next move.
Asthar, once again, looks all around him. Strangely, his heart has stopped pounding. His expression shows no fear, only intense concentration. His eyes scan left and right through the rubble. He seems satisfied.
Calmly, he makes his way towards a house with half-collapsed walls. He laboriously pulls out a large wooden ladle, then, with Raein’s help, a bucket. The sound of rolling stones is muffled, as if nature itself dared not make a sound. The sky is no longer really visible; the orange glow of evening has given way to a greyish mist. Asthar walks round the collapsed god and heads towards the fountain which, though its rim is broken, continues to flow. He fills the bucket as the dragon watches.
2/ The Dragon's Legacy EXT. Dusk - (Future) Fall's Square
With the bucket full, the boy returns to his bedside. Raein, who is with him, kneels down beside him and, with a kind of maternal tenderness, shows him what to do. Asthar, his hand clenched, begins to pour water into the dragon’s mouth using the ladle. The god swallows with difficulty; he gasps for breath. He coughs. Blood has begun to pool in his lungs. Red droplets splash onto Asthar, who persists. Once, twice. He continues to give the dragon water; the dragon, his gaze fixed on Asthar, lets him carry on.
Eventually, the bucket empties. The clatter of the ladle against the wooden bucket echoes. The dragon Aegelion then stretches his neck, resting his head against Asthar’s chest. Raein takes a step back to let him do so. On her lips, a narrow smile, both sad and kind. (She turns away.) The boy’s hand touches the dragon’s scales. The dragon then closes his eyes. His scales glow as he breathes his last.
3/ Back to a (new) reality EXT. Dusk - (Future) Fall's Square
Sound has returned. The sound of running can be heard behind them. The Barabaners, led by Coriandre and a panicked Magorian, burst into the square. They rush through the crowd, bayonets drawn.
| MAGO, shouting - "Asthar !!"
But as they arrive, ready for a fight, they find only the young boy standing before them. Asthar turns towards them. Behind him, the dragon is burning out. As the last fiery wisps dissipate, a mark begins to take shape gently on the child’s cheek. Asthar smiles at Mago.
| ASTHAR - "Don't worry. It's over now."
As Mago rushes towards Asthar, the scene ends with a shot showing no trace whatsoever of a young girl named Raein.
Concepts graphiques
Descriptions personnages & décors
Examples of concepts written as part of the pilot project in 2018/2019.
ASTHAR
"The Vagabond" - 13
Asthar has never been one for small talk. Just as accustomed to silence as he is to the company of others, he is a child who never seems worried. Living alone on the outskirts of Baraban in his ancestors’ strange hovel, he follows the same routine every day, which takes him, a few hours later, up onto the walls of the nave, to join his employer and mentor, Edog. Together, they look after Baraban’s windmills. It is meticulous work, but it brings him peace.
Rather of a daring nature despite his apparent shyness, Asthar is someone who always has a faint smile playing on his lips. He is often spotted perched atop the windmills, waiting for Magorian to finish his day before setting off to get up to mischief.
Indeed, it would be difficult to talk about Asthar without mentioning Magorian. His elder brother, a year his senior, has always been his role model, and the only one he has ever truly regarded as a brother. Like family.
The fall of the Dragon and the arrival of Raien will gradually turn his view of the world upside down. Whilst Asthar had previously believed that simply remaining true to himself was enough to ensure that nothing would change, the young girl’s exuberance and the threats now looming over Baraban would lead him to realise that he cannot protect what is dear to him by remaining passive. Furthermore, haunted by these recurring visions, he will be confronted time and again with the question: what is real? Can what he ‘sees’ happen, or will it happen? Is he mad?
As for Asthar, there aren’t really any specific requirements. He just needs to look like a child, and above all, like a good person. Not a simpleton, mind you – especially as it’s not always easy to read his expressions (apart from that smile) – but he isn’t a character the viewer should be wary of, wondering ‘where’s his dark side?’ He does have one, but it shouldn’t be implied by his characterisation. He also has a mark on his face, resulting from his encounter with the Dragon. This sort of scar should be linked to Raein’s tattoo.
PART 2
One of the story’s major twists is that, from the very beginning, only Asthar could see Raein. Everything he told the outside world about her, and all their interactions, were simply seen by others as further evidence of Asthar’s growing madness.
Asthar is deeply hurt by the fact that his integrity is being questioned. Although he has come to realise that he is the only one who can see Raein, this does not change anything. Being regarded as a fanatic when he himself knows he is acting in good faith will affect him deeply, and at a certain point even cause him to distance himself somewhat from Raein. However, upon realising the sadness his own behaviour is causing the sorceress, he will understand that this is not the solution, and that he is merely punishing someone who is in no way to blame.
So, little by little, he will come to accept something he had previously denied: he will accept the idea of being hurt, wounded and offended. And even if it means being a fanatic, he will decide to stay by Raein’s side, alongside his friends and the whole of Baraban, for as long as possible. Right to the very end.
And it is mainly this that will drive him to take on more and more—this long-awaited desire to stay by someone’s side. In doing so, the calm Asthar, who swore by peace, will experience anger. Born of frustration at the inevitability he knows and senses a little more each day.
Because Asthar knows he is going to lose Raein. He realised this at the very moment he realised the attraction he felt for her, as he was transitioning from childhood to adolescence. So he, who until then had been content simply to watch time pass, decides to set off in pursuit of her. So that he might accompany Raein to the very end, whilst continuing to live and make pie-in-the-sky plans with those who remain by his side.
Once Raein is lost, Asthar will return to observing the passage of time. In a sadder way, yet refusing to succumb to cynicism, he will not slip back into the passivity he had as a child. He now walks alongside the flow of time. Now fully involved in the quest for the Lost Lands, and thanks to Dékael who will teach him the ropes, Asthar will emerge as a figure of leadership. No longer the visionary whom people followed despite their doubts, but someone with whom they actually want to share a bit of ‘his’ time.
Asthar’s chara design must convey this aspect, liberated by his emotions. More fragile, yet also more confident. His gaze remains fixed ahead, but is no longer so marked by doubt and fear. Asthar does not wish to die any more than anyone else, but he now knows that his journey is a one-way ticket to Forlorn, the Land of Dragons. There he will be reunited with Raein, but he will lose everything else. His demeanour and behaviour must convey this trembling yet resolute strength.
RAEIN -"The Smiling Witch" - 15?
Not much is known about her. Nor is it clear what to make of her. Having appeared out of nowhere on the day of the Dragon’s fall, she seems far too well-versed in the mysteries besetting Baraban. Yet no one seems troubled by her presence. Magic? Dark powers?
Cheerful and cynical, Raien is constantly getting under Asthar’s skin, teasing him with obvious delight. A big eater, she cares deeply about her appearance and her long hair, even though she favours loose-fitting, seemingly careless outfits. Particularly keen on thrills, she often vanishes from Asthar’s sight to go exploring here and there, reappearing just as spontaneously. Fierce as she is, she nevertheless claims that her name means ‘Rainy Day’ in her native language.
A strange tattoo winds its way down her back. Deep black in colour, it can sometimes be glimpsed through some of her clothes.
Fully aware of her own nature, and despite her swaggering demeanour, she is by no means a fearless witch. Sometimes she lacks courage, and it is precisely at such moments that her smile becomes the widest. Like fangs with which she might tear her own fear to shreds.
For Raein, the aim would be to strike a balance between a wild young girl and, at the same time, a very ‘ladylike’ one. She should be portrayed as equally capable of dressing in boys’ clothes as of wearing an elegant dress. She’s a very ethereal character, yet at the same time down-to-earth. I wouldn’t be opposed to her having a slightly gothic side if necessary. As for her physical features, apart from the tattoo that covers her back and her long hair, I have no specific requirements. She must, however, look a little older than Asthar – that’s important.
PART 2
Raein does not exist. Or rather, should we say that she should never have existed? Despite the appearance of her tattoo, Raein is not one of the Dragon-girls, as those of Forlorn might be. She hails from the Lost Lands, the realm of the gods, and is therefore, in reality, neither a witch nor a young girl coming of age.
Raein is a member of the tribe that guards the border between the world of the living and the realm of the gods, and in that sense is no more than a spirit. Before their arrival in Forlorn, only three people will be able to see her: Asthar, of course – which, incidentally, will lead him to be regarded as a madman by those unable to see this ‘Raein’ – the jealous Sui, and, unsurprisingly, Voyageur. And although she is extremely independent, this is something that will at times make her feel lonely.
And this is where she will feel an immense sense of gratitude towards Asthar. As well as talking to her and putting up with her every whim, he will be the one to offer her a home.
Ultimately, we won’t know much about her motivations. Nor about what led her to choose Asthar in particular. She ‘sensed’ him, she says. Perhaps it was because of his rather unusual lineage. Perhaps it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. With Raein, you never know.
Did she want to save the world? That’s not entirely certain. But what was certain was that she wanted to stay by this boy’s side.
Nevertheless, Raein knew full well what would become of her if she left the Lost Lands. Spirits are not meant to roam the world of the living, however well-intentioned they may be, and are destined to fade away like a bad dream. But, hating the idea of being tied hand and foot, bored on her little patch of land, Raein accepted the notion of gradually fading away in favour of a fuller, more intense life. Above all, she is someone who loves to throw herself into things with gusto, even if she ends up getting hurt in the process.
And life in Baraban, with all its people, is well worth the bloodshed. Whilst Asthar will be consumed by the sadness of this approaching end, Raein will continue to smile fiercely. All things considered, if the name Raein evokes rain—be it drizzle or driving rain—it is water that has never truly ceased to be scalding hot.
BARABAN
The main city-ship in the story. Known as Baraban (“dandelion” in the Lyon dialect) because of the numerous windmills that dot the city’s protective walls, it is also known as the “City of the Wind”.
Indeed, its construction within a volcanic crater allows air currents to rush into the city, skimming the rooftops like seabirds and, at the same time, powering the ship’s blades and turbines with a rustling sound that its inhabitants have come to accept as the melody of ‘home’.
To prevent excessive draughts, Baraban’s streets are rather narrow and the houses numerous and slender. Large, winding staircases criss-cross left and right, creating a multitude of shortcuts much to the delight of the most adventurous children.
Here and there, numerous small squares spring up from the corners of the houses—little patches of greenery with that characteristic damp scent. The sound of the wind does indeed always seem to quieten a little at the sight of these curious wall fountains, the result of the relentless and oh-so-essential water purification carried out by Baraban’s pumps.
Whilst most of Baraban’s buildings tend to share the same sandy or stone-coloured hues, it is not uncommon to see them adorned with colourful mosaics, and in the darker corners, with vines or moss. Long ropes are often stretched between the buildings, from which both laundry and whimsical, colourful fabrics fluttering in the wind are hung.
La Grand’Avenue
The backbone of Baraban, the Grand’Avenue stretches the entire length of the town, from the main gate to the tip of the ramparts. A hub of activity for its inhabitants, it is home to stalls manned by farmers selling their produce, as well as more makeshift stalls set up by travelling traders passing through the town. The ground floors of many of the houses along this avenue have been converted into shops, inns or other places of merriment, so that there is a constant buzz of activity.
Where Baraban’s convoluted, narrow streets give way to a wider avenue, it is not uncommon to find terraces where you can sit and tuck into one of the dishes on offer from the many street vendors. It is also here that the Gondola workers set up their fish stalls once every three days, much to the delight of the residents of the City of the Wind.
As evening falls, the alley gradually quietens down. The crowds thin out and soon all that remains on the cobblestones are the traces of the day’s hustle and bustle. You can then faintly hear the gurgling of the water in the small canals which, disappearing and reappearing in places, flank this street; and further on, through the doorways of the inns, the laughter and toasts of those who until then had filled this Allée.
The Librahall
Three-quarters of the way through Baraban, the Grand'Avenue splits into two paths: one continues the bustle of traders and market stalls, whilst the other, quieter and more secluded, winds its way into the north-east of Baraban. With virtually no change in elevation, this path sees the houses rising higher and higher, until they become veritable cliffs of stone and moss. The sun fades and then disappears beyond the rooftops, and with it come both twilight and silence. Small street lamps illuminate the path with a strangely white light, and one walks on like this for a good minute. Then suddenly, at a single junction, the sun bursts forth and reveals Baraban’s largest square. Nestled and sheltered by these cliffs of houses, the Librahall stands right in its centre.
Old, sombre and imposing: the Librahall is the very image of Oban and his Owl. Weeds have sprung up between the stone slabs, but the papers on Oban’s desk are neatly filed. The ladders and staircases are polished, whilst the shelves a few metres further on are grey with dust. Few people still venture there, such is the extent to which the guilds have taken over the administration of Baraban.
The Librahall has become a sort of monument, a place of virtually inexhaustible knowledge, but there is hardly anyone left but Oban and a few overly curious children to continue leaving their footprints in the dust.
The Byways
Narrow and winding, numerous side streets wind their way between the houses, forming a network of passageways through which one can reach any part of the city. Far from being eerie or disreputable (with the possible exception of some leading to the Lower City), they are the main means of transport for Baraban’s people in a hurry.
Larger cross-streets also connect to the Market Alley, serving as thoroughfares for carts and official processions arriving from the Landings. Less commercial in nature, they also lead to the Grand Staircases, which, as their name suggests, provide quick and direct access to the top of the city walls.
There are currently four Grand Staircases, situated in the north-west, north-east, south-east and south-west of Baraban respectively.
Other staircases, far steeper and narrower, wind their way from the cross-streets up to the city walls, cutting deep into the very heart of Baraban in certain sections. As well as the residents of the neighbourhoods, it is often the mechanics who use them. They frequently provide access to the small squares – the city’s sources of running water, but also places of tranquillity and rest for many workers. It is not uncommon to see the benches occupied at lunchtime or by couples once night has fallen.
MAISON-VOLANTE
Maison-Volante is not a ship-city. In fact, given its unique structure, it is difficult to even call it a city. Many merchants refer to it as the crossroads, or a junction, rather than a city.
Pulled by the Wind Rose, and supported by four other galleons designed exclusively to enable Maison-Volante to exist, it is, above all, a gigantic market surrounded by quays to allow the whole world to dock. Houses are few and far between and mostly shelter women about to give birth, children too young and people too old to take to the skies again, but the majority live aboard their ships, for beyond all the names by which they are known, these Voléens (inhabitants of Maison-Volante) are explorers.
Built mainly of wood, Maison-Volante is a transient city. Every one of its inhabitants knows full well that one day it is destined to fall. Born of an agreement between several pirates who wanted a home to return to, everyone is free to leave whenever they please. “For freedom takes precedence over any overly complicated conviction.”
Maison-Volante is home to those who have decided to come together for a time. But the day will come when circumstances mean that everyone will set off on their own journey once more. The Rose des Vents will then take flight once more, whilst the Bazar and the other neighbourhoods will head out into the deep waters.
Le Cait Sith - (Dekael's Ship)
Dekaelion’s vessel is a wooden frigate painted in a colour halfway between mahogany and burgundy. Far sleeker than the warships of the Sacred City, yet far more fragile, it is a ceremonial vessel that was never designed for war. Numerous trinkets dangle here and there in the passageways, and it is not uncommon to spot some new ‘customisation’ on its hull. Dekael loves tinkering with his ship, which in this respect is a perfect reflection of his character.
Although carefully maintained, its creaks betray its many years of service.
Unlike the other captains present at the Council, Dekael has never scrapped his frigate in favour of a galleon, despite the gain in size and power. His ‘old banger’, as he calls it, is his ship – the one with which he has travelled the world and with which he fully intends to carry on. And this is true even though he gave up the helm a long time ago now.
After all, if the Cait Sith is still sailing after all these years, it’s because no one has yet managed to bring it down, is it not?
On its stern, an inscription is written in gold letters: “In girum imus nocte et consumimur igni”. In other words: “We circle in the night and are consumed by fire”.
CITÉ SACRÉE
Sacred City is not, strictly speaking, a ship-city. Or rather, one might say that it is much more than that. Whilst most ship-cities follow Baraban’s model—that of a gigantic vessel trailing a string of islets behind it—or opt for the wild and erratic approach of Maison-Volante, Sacred City is probably the only one to have chosen to build itself directly on an island and transform it into a vessel.
Thus nestled against an island crowned by a gigantic glacier, Sacred City is probably the most beautiful city ever built. Sleek and meticulously organised into three discs, each tiered like a floral arrangement, it is a marvel of white stone and fountains. Here and there, waterfalls cascade out of the City or the surrounding land to reach the sea, creating a mist in their wake.
The ‘City of Water’ is not the fastest of them all, but thanks to this glacier which acts as a shield, it is largely immune to the dangers of bad weather. Its mode of operation thus differs greatly from that of Baraban or others, who seek out islands to subdue and drag along with them: the Sacred City has adopted a slower pace, not hesitating to stop for a few days or weeks near the floating islands it encounters. Just long enough to drain them of every last drop of their resources.
Visual Novel
A visual novel created alongside an animated pilot for Jonetsu 2019, with Cécile Zwiller providing the illustrations and myself writing the story. Around sixty pages long and serving as a prequel to the original animation, it recounts the youth of Dekael, a disgraced nobleman who became a pirate.