KNIGHT OF ALANOC redux pages 16 - 47 script

NOTES: If you don't want spoilers or to read a script, please skip this post - I'll have more finished comic pages soon {:^> this is kind of a test post while I think about restructuring this Patreon a little to add more content / different kinds of posts for convenience!

Content warning: Talk of abuse / religious corruption and descriptions of a traumatic sexual experience from a survivor's POV. This is a survivor story and I am depicting certain specific experiences with the intention of showing these characters healing from their traumatic experiences.

This is the almost-final draft of the KNIGHT OF ALANOC script, the final one being what is actually written in the actual comic pages. The following one for the most part is accurate to the book, with only small adjustments like word choice, shortening their sentences, and sometimes a joke here or there being added in. 

The note "NEW" precedes a page that was added for the Redux version, and as you can see, there are a lot of those that add precious context and character development here. A lot of these hints of backstory and developments are presented are unique to Knight of Alanoc's Xerxes and Osric, as they don't fully trust each other since both of them have just exited a traumatic situation. This is most evident in the last few pages of script here - check out how Xerxes just barely makes reference to his ostracizing experience in the Sect of Strato, and how Osric relates with his recent experiences with an abusive partner.

Please enjoy~ Comments appreciated, and please pardon my writing - for descriptions / expressions, I am not as good at depicting in writing as much as I can express in a drawing {:^> 

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16. NEW: Osric makes a plate of charcuterie for himself.

A basic plate of cheese, fruits (watermelon, grapes, etc) and a crust of bread. He remarks to himself: Charcuterie. Delicious, yet difficult to mess up.

Osric eats it by himself, lights off.

Xerxes turns the light on.

Xerxes walks in and goes to change and makes his lunch... Osric is curious.

17. NEW: Xerxes makes himself a more complex dish that looks delicious, using the  same ingredients as Osric's dish (except the crackers), but grilling the cheese, watermelon, and fruit and putting them on skewers.

Osric watches in awe. Xerxes drizzles the bread with olive oil.

After, Xerxes sits with his much nicer dish of food (fruit and cheese skewers with cheese and oil-drizzled bread).

He offers Osric a plate, and Osric declines but he is in awe of Xerxes' skill. Xerxes: Want some? Osric: No thanks... but you really know how to cook, huh? You turned my same ingredients into something like that... That's incredible. Xerxes: Thank you!

Osric pops a piece of crust with cheese on it in his mouth.

Osric, thinking: Hope he leaves some leftovers for me...

18. Next morning, Osric puts on kohl and perfume, and thinks ‘He likes the same things I do. What if this time it works out? What if I could hold his hand, or hold him or--’ He blushes and shakes the thought, then leaves. Xerxes is determined to talk to Osric, and strikes up a conversation as they are dueling. He gets to know him better. 'So are you from a family of swordsmen, Sir Osric?' Osric smirks. 'I'm afraid I'm the first from a long line of nothing.' 'But you're still an adventurer. Like me.' Osric smiles a little, thinking '”Like me”. Maybe...' 

19. And he remembers his ex. They stop, and Osric seems distant for the rest of their training that day. Xerxes breaks the ice by saying ‘Are you wearing perfume? It’s nice.’ Osric is taken by surprise and says, smirking, ‘It’s just part of my daily beauty routine. I do it for my own pleasure, you know.’ X thinks ‘He must take very good care of himself…’ Osric notices him staring and X smiles a bit. Osric looks away to smile because he doesn’t want him seeing. 

20. NEW: Osric wakes up and thinks to himself. 'No! This isn't happening! I'm getting too weak for this guy. I'm ending this right now!' 

He goes to see Lex and is lost in thought. Lex asks how he's been getting along, Osric asks him to get rid of Xerxes: ‘How’s your new partn--’ ‘He needs to go.’ 

'What? But he held his own against you pretty well. I saw your duels.' 'He's an amateur, and he doesn't belong here.' 'Nonsense! Just give him more time. We need all the men we can get.' 

Lex: (moves closer) I know you can do better with a man near your skill level. Osric, laughing dismissively: Do better?! Captain, I really think--

Lex: Exceed our expectations then. Show us who's the best in this legion! Osric, determined: It's no trouble defending a title that only I can achieve!

Osric is steaming and looking determined. Lex, thinking, hands behind back, looking distant at him: You're the best we have. You know that. But I know what makes each of my men tick. You, Osric, need support, drive, and belief in yourself to soar higher... You need fuel for that fire. He and I can only give you so much. The rest is within you...

21. NEW: Captain Lex assigns Xerxes and Osric to go patrol the lands just beyond Alanoc. He briefs them on the situation (world-building) and points to a map on a table with talismans.

Lex: The Winged people of Sarrat are usually peaceful, but lately some bandit groups with mages have been seen interrupting our caravans and looting supplies en route to our kingdom in Aridiron Canyon. Osric: We already know this, Captain. Lex: Yes, but our new recruits don't. Everyone needs to be on the same page here.

Lex: Long story short, we're not trying to start something with the Winged people. Let's keep it between us and the rogue mages and bandits, and go for a clean sweep when we catch them in our midst. All right, off to your assigned patrol areas. Dismissed.

Xerxes and Osric are walking to their designated area.

Xerxes (reading through the briefing). Osric: Read over that briefing carefully. When we get there, stay close to me so you don't get hurt. Xerxes: Yes sir! I'll do my best.

Osric, looking at him suspiciously.: Why are you so enthusiastic about all of this?Xerxes: Being a knight is exciting! 

Osric *shakes his head*: (thinking) I can't have his blood on my hands. Got to protect his innocent soul...

22. NEW: Osric and Xerxes waiting there.

Osric: They're here! At arms!

Winged bandits and mages attack!

They clash swords against steel.

Fireballs from the trees

Magical energy as they rush in to get closer and fight with their swords.

One is going for Xerxes,

Osric cuts him down!

23. NEW: An electric blast is coming for Osric!

Xerxes has one arm around him, pulling him out of the way against his chest, and cuts down the mage. His right thigh is just grazed by the magic's blast.

They land on the ground. Xerxes is holding Osric against his chest, Xerxes' chin on Osric's head.

They stay there a while. Close up on Osric's face pressed into Xerxes. He closes his eyes.

24. NEW: Osric remembers his ex, Lakoneus.

Style turns to black and white, Osric pressed up against a chest.

Lakoneus kissing Osric's neck. Osric thinking: At that time, I thought: This is what love is.

This is just passion. (Osric frowning and looking worried)

Passion just means you can't control yourself. (Osric trying to push him away. 'Stop. Stop it!') That's just how a relationship with sex is...  Right?

Lakoneus: You say one thing, but your body says another! (No. Stop...) This is normal.

25. NEW: Osric being forcefully unclothed: What are you doing?! Lakoneus: Whatever I want!  (No!! Please...!) 

(It's supposed to hurt, like those stories he liked. He showed me.) 

Osric enduring, crying. (That's just kink... It's not... It's...)

Osric, afterward, alone, crying.

(narration: I always relive this moment. My first time. But it happened more than once.) Osric (clothes being ripped off) (I kept going back to him because he was convenient. Someone I knew where there was no one else. Everyone around me encouraged it too.)

(full color coming back when Osric returns to the present, still against Xerxes' chest, eyes shut.)

26. NEW: Osric, tears streaming from his eyes: ...Please don't hurt me.

Xerxes, holding him gently: I would never hurt you.

Transition shot of trees, small passage of time.

Osric gets him back on his feet by pulling him up. Osric: You okay? Xerxes, with a magic-burned wound on his thigh: Yeah.

Osric, tying some cloth around Xerxes' thigh: You're bad at lying.

Osric walks away.: Let's go. Patrol's over. Xerxes looks at his thigh and gently touches the cloth. He smiles softly.

27. The next day. Osric says with a bit of disdain, 'I have to go supervise the new recruits.' 'Can I come with you?' Xerxes says earnestly. Osric feels something and nods. 'Yeah, come with me.' He realizes and grows flush at the phrasing. (‘Come with me.’ He thinks as he rolls his eyes. ‘Smooth like the fucking canyon walls, Osric.’ Xerxes thinks, ‘I’m a knight! And I get to hang out with the Lieutenant! And he’s so cool!<3’) They go together, and Osric is secretly happy in his company.

28. It's Osric's turn to supervise the new recruits, and they are sparring. Osric tries to instruct a new recruit in sword fighting and he accidentally hurts Osric! His upper right chest is wounded.

29. Xerxes picks him up and rushes him to a white mage, and Xerxes waits outside for him. He’s given the okay to take him home. Xerxes takes care of him.

30. They come home, Osric laying down. Later, Xerxes brings him food - a roast pheasant. ‘Sorry in advance if anything isn’t to your liking, I’m self-taught, and dinner is usually just for a party of one...’ Osric is in disbelief (‘You didn’t poison this, did you?’ ‘If that's what I wanted to do, I'd have done it already.’ Osric laughs.), but impressed once he starts eating.

31. A quiet scene as they eat together. Osric looks at Xerxes in relief. After he finishes, Osric says, ‘Thank you. For taking care of me.’ Xerxes gives him a small smile.

The next day, they’re getting ready. Xerxes wipes off the blood from Osric’s upper chest and cleans his wound. Osric puts his hand around Xerxes’ head after briefly, and they both blush.

32. NEW: They are sparring again. Osric disarms Xerxes, holding his arm after making him throw his sword, and their close proximity makes Xerxes sweat. 

33. NEW: He blushes, Osric realizes, and Osric separates, complimenting him on a job well done. They take a break and drink some water. 

34. NEW: They are sparring against each other again. Xerxes injures his hand from a pommel strike from Osric - Osric apologizes. Xerxes reaches for a potion, but Osric gently takes it from him. O: 'For small injuries like this, it will work faster if you apply it directly.' He massages the potion into his hand. O: 'See? The bruise is fading...' Xerxes is blushing from the close proximity again.

35. NEW: One morning Osric looks at the gift books Xerxes gave him, and decides to give him something as well.

He goes to the bazaar and doesn't find anything special enough.

He idly browses a potted plant stand with standard cacti and succulents.

He decides that he'd rather get something nicer from the upper canyon.

36. NEW: Osric travels to the upper canyon trails to gently uproot red camillias (from bushes in the shade), white clovenlip toadflax, red viscaria, and red lillies. Osric: Why stop at one? I'll get him a handful of flowers that look nice.

He gives Xerxes the flowers in a turquoise blue vase. Xerxes loves them, noting the lillies. 'I love lillies... Osric, they're beautiful! Thank you.'

Xerxes takes a good look at the flowers Osric picked out for him on his desk and brings out his flower language book. 

He deciphers them: [red camillas: you're a flame in my heart; red lillies: I have high aspirations and I love you dearly; red viscaria: will you dance with me?; white clovenlip toadflax: please notice my feelings for you]

Xerxes blushes and looks at the four flowers with a small smile, putting down his book.

37. NEW: Osric is eating during a break and General Ruby walks by. Osric: Ah, General Ruby. What brings you to the training grounds today? Ruby: Just checking in with my favorite Lieutenant. Osric chuckles to himself.

Osric: What can I do for you? Ruby: I'm not here for business so stand down, soldier. (she is smiling)

Ruby: What I am interested in is talking about the new recruit. Osric: Ah. Ruby: How is he treating you?

Osric: He's... manageable. Ruby: Heard about your injury the other day. Osric: Hmh. Ruby: Lex said you let him pick you up and carry you to the healer. Osric: ...What are you getting at?

38. NEW: Ruby laughs: That just doesn't seem like the antisocial, prickly Osric that I know. Lex knows. Everyone else knows... Osric: I was nearly cut in half! What was I going to do, push him away?

Osric frowns and cringes. (Osric remembers trying to push Lakoneus away.)

Ruby: I saw you picking flowers yesterday. Were those for yourself? Your house is usually so sparse... Osric: ...Flowers are a nice gift for anyone. 

Ruby: Oh! So they were a gift! Osric: What's wrong with that? Ruby: Nothing. It's very sweet of you.

Osric: All right. I'm getting back to training now. Ruby: Treat him well, Osric. He seems like a very nice guy.

Osric glares at her with a glance over his back (back to camera), blushingly.

39. NEW: Osric: Hey. Now that we're done training today, I'd like to show you someplace special to me. Xerxes, beaming: All right!

[Aridiron Cove] Osric takes Xerxes to a blue cove. 

Osric: I used to play here when I was little. They call it the Cave of Swords. (blue sword-like crystals jutting out of the ground. blue and green bio-luminescent lights as they enter. The water glows blue.) Xerxes: It's pretty...

They look around

Xerxes is in awe of the glowing mushrooms on the wall.

Osric watches Xerxes

Xerxes turns to look at him, his blue eyes glowing.

40. NEW: They sit on the beach. (afternoon)

Xerxes: I've never seen the ocean before!! It's beautiful... 

Xerxes turns to Osric and smiling saying: You're...

Osric looks at him, hopeful.

(view from behind, can't see their faces) Xerxes, blushing: You're... very nice to show me these places. Thank you. Osric: No problem.

(side view) Silence as they look at the ocean.

Osric: So where did you say you were from? Xerxes: I never said. Osric: Hm.

Osric: I get it. Home is here, everywhere else can go fuck itself. That's how I feel anyway. (Xerxes laughs at this) Xerxes: Those wouldn't be the exact words I'd use, but the sentiment is there. I like your honesty though. Osric: Ah. I'm sorry for my sharp tongue.

41. NEW: Osric: One day when I was here years ago, a wyvern flew by and grabbed my by the shoulder. Gave me a deep scar all across my chest. 

Xerxes: Sounds awful. Osric chuckles: Yeah, but the scarring looked worse than it had felt. At least, to me. (visual of younger Osric with the scar.)

Osric, skipping a stone into the ocean: I couldn't bear it so I went to a cosmetic mage to get rid of that scar. It was expensive but worth it. I didn't want proof of such a stupid thing that happened to me.

Xerxes: But it was an accident... Osric: Exactly. It exhibited weakness, not strength. It wasn't something I got in a righteous fight against evil. 

Osric: All I want is to keep my dignity. If my image is imperfect, I won't get respect. 

Xerxes: I respect you. Osric smiles.: I know. Thank you, Xerxes.

42. NEW: They walk away.

Xerxes: You know Osric, I've always wanted to be a knight, ever since I was little. To have a higher purpose outside myself. Osric: Oh?

Osric: Are you a religious man? Xerxes, making a face he's never seen before, sort of cringing and fearful: Oh. No. No, no no. Not at all.

Osric, thinking ('A curious reaction...'). Xerxes: I want to do good things. I want to protect everyone I can. If I can help people, if I can save them from being hurt, I'm doing my part to make the world better. Osric: And by being a knight, you're doing it in service to your personal creed? Xerxes: Yeah. Or at least, I can do a lot more good than I would alone. 

Osric: What if one day the Knights of Alanoc do something you don't approve of?  Xerxes: Then I leave. Simple as that.

Osric: ...That's a very bold thing of you to say. I'm impressed. Xerxes: I'm not going to give up my values to the highest bidder. What I do is my choice and mine alone.

43. NEW: Osric: You're really something, aren't you? Xerxes: I try to have some integrity.

Osric looks at him and smiles. 

Osric: A good man with actual values and a kind one as well. Can't believe you're single. 

Xerxes laughs.: Haha! Ah... Thank you... Osric laughs awkwardly too. Xerxes continues: Are you... also single? Osric: I am. Heh.

A silence between them. 

Osric looks at him while they're walking.

Xerxes turns at him.

It's awkward. After a long silence - Osric: ...Want to go up on the hill? To sit. There's a nice view of Alanoc from up there. Xerxes: Yeah, sure.

44. Sunset. Xerxes and Osric talk about how they’re ostracized. 

Osric says ‘When I came here, I was just a kid. I was looking for something to prove.’ Xerxes says his appearance is unlike anyone he’s ever seen. ‘I’m still trying to figure out why I look like this. I don’t even know where I came from.’ Osric thinks, He must not know his parents… and says ‘It’s best not to let the past define you. That’s how I get through most days.’ Xerxes says, ‘If only it were that easy. My mind is either too restless, or I feel absolutely nothing.’ 

45. NEW: (Xerxes and Osric generally talk about having experienced trauma, and gain an understanding of each other through their shared experiences of abuse. They don't say where they were abused/ got their trauma from, only how, and that it happened)

Xerxes (laughs to himself): I don't want to burden you with my thoughts...

Osric, sincerely: Tell me.

Xerxes: I grew up in a place where people like me were not welcome. I was bullied. Harassed. Attacked.

I do not know if you're a religious man, Osric, but... devout people have not been kind to me.

Sometimes I wonder if I am sinful, or if I simply do not understand their reasoning for why I was treated that way. Like, maybe the gods really do not want me. Just like people don't want me.

Osric: I've only known you a little while and you're the kindest, most thoughtful man I've ever met, Xerxes.

Abuse often clouds the mind from the truth about ourselves, doesn't it?

(Xerxes nods solemnly)

46. NEW: Osric: I have also suffered trauma from abuse. Maybe in a different way than you. Hands on me during times when I didn't want that kind of touch. Emotional manipulation. Gaslighting...

It was difficult to talk to you at first because I was afraid. I was afraid things would end up... going badly. That you would overpower me. That you'd hurt me...

Xerxes: I'm glad I'm not that kind of person in your eyes. Osric: You could still be. That fear will still persist. But you seem... not like the type of guy who would suddenly subject me to things without my consent.

(Xerxes softly smiles)

Xerxes: It's strange how these things happened to us.

Osric: I know I didn't ask for it.

Xerxes: Well, no matter who said what to you Osric, I believe what happened to you was real. 

Osric: And I you. Thank you, Xerxes.

47. They sit there quietly, looking into the past-sunset darkness. Osric finally breaks the silence. ‘You can talk to me if… if you’re feeling troubled. No one should face those thoughts alone.’ Xerxes faces him and smiles. ‘You’re much kinder than you think you are, Osric.’ Osric gives a soft smile back at him.

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