Battle For Carcassonne for the movie. Enjoy
FADE IN:
EXTERIOR. THE OUTER FORTRESS WALLS OF CASTLE CARCASSONNE -- SOON AFTER SUNRISE.
The gates of the outer gate open, and the moat bridge comes down, the sound of trumpets is heard, and the army and garrison of Carcassonne is seen marching out. A total of 40,000 soldiers with 15,000 knights and 25,000 foot soldiers are marching towards Aquitaine, to reinforce the army of Duke Armand for the Forest of Châlons.
DISSOLVE TO:
INTERIOR. THE FAY ENCHANTRESS’ TOWER -- DAY
The camera follows Duke Huebald, the last remaining duke of Carcassonne, who was chosen to stay behind for the defence of Carcassonne --along with 500 Grail Guardians and a few thousand peasants-- as the rest of the nobility have gone with the army. He is seen walking across a narrow corridor into the chambers of the Fay Enchantress Morgianna Le Fay. As he opens the door, the lady turns to him, he takes a few steps and kneels.
DUKE HUEBALD:
My Lady.
FAY ENCHANTRESS:
Rise, sir Duke.
Huebald rises.
DUKE HUEBALD:
My lady, we have sent almost all troops in the province, is it not a waste? We are left undermanned, should we be attacked, we might not be able to defend ourselves. Why did you order the men away? The infidel Mallobaude is weak, and Duke Armand’s army is more than enough for his band of brigands.
FAY ENCHANTRESS:
Duke Armand asked for our help, and we have provided. What chivalry do we have? If we do not help our friends and allies when they ask us for it?
DUKE HUEBALD:
But the entire army! My lady…….
FAY ENCHANTRESS:
That’s enough. The usurper is strong Duke Huebald. Stronger than we had anticipated, I fear the combined might of Armand and our army might still not be enough, He is not alone. He shamelessly courted the undead to fight for him, and they are strong. Should Armand fall, they will come for us next. He hates The Lady, and all who revere her.
DUKE HUEBALD:
Fear not my lady, we will triumph. The chivalrous will always win.
FAY ENCHANTRESS:
Perhaps, perhaps not.
FADE TO:
THE NORTHERN OUTER FORTRESS WALLS OF CASTLE CARCASSONNE – JUST AFTER SUNSET.
The camera show a few guards with spears patrolling the walls. The camera focusses on the outer forest. It shows men shambling out of it, towards the walls, first a few, then more, then more and more. The guards notice them, and order them to stop. They make repeated threats and orders, but the men don’t even flinch. One of the guards grabs a torch, and throws it down at the men. It shows one of the men is missing a jaw. Then the skeletons come out of the forest, with more momentum then the zombies, running towards the walls. Most with weapons, and a few with ladders. The guards realize what’s happening, one of them runs to the alarm bell. And rings it like a mad man screaming
GUARD:
(Screaming) We’re under attack!! We’re under attack!!
The entire city-castle comes to life, some come out to see what’s happening, others are screaming for silence. The city garrison (What’s left of it) comes out, armed. Duke Huebald looks out from the window in his chambers.
DUKE HUEBALD:
What in the name of the lady do you think you’re doing?!
GUARD:
My lord, we’re under attack!
DUKE HUEBALD;
What?!
GUARD:
The undead! They’ve come for us, my Lord.
Duke Huebald struggles to put his armour on. Muttering to himself.
DUKE HUEBALD:
I told her not to send them. I told her we’d be vulnerable.
He looks out the window again.
DUKE HUEBALD:
Rouse the entire garrison. You there, find the knights! Have them assemble, to the eastern gate. Tell them to wait for me. Archers! Form behind the walls! Four lines! Fire at will. And the rest of you! I want 800 of you to barricade the gate. And the rest of you! Man the walls!
The archers are shown assembling, in lines of four, they grip their bows, draw their arrows, aim upwards and let loose, almost always hitting their mark, like clockwork. The men are shown assembling at the gate, armed with spear/sword and shield, shuffling nervously. The rest are on the walls, acting just like the men at the gates. The knights are on running to the stables, mounting their horses. Some are wielding their lances and riding to the gate, the rest are their still adjusting their armour with the help of their squires.
Duke Huebald is on his horses, making the way to the front of the Knight's formation, helmet in hand.
DUKE HUEBALD:
This is it! This is it…. Knights of Bretonnia, this is our moment. We have waited our lives for a moment to prove ourselves to the lady. And this is it! While our army is gone. The undead foolishly came here, thinking they have found an east target. But they are wring. We’ll show them, why even the dead should fear the valour of the Knights of Bretonnia.
He unsheathes his sword; the rest of the knights are armed with lances. The gates open, he aims his sword forward.
DUKE HUEBALD:
FOR THE LADY!!
His cry is echoed by the knights, they charge out with unbreakable momentum, trampling down any zombies or skeletons unlucky enough to be caught under the Knights.
The camera zooms through to wear the undead were coming from, revealing them to be led by the necromancer Heinrich Kemmler. He sees the Knights come from the distance and begins to cackle obscenely.
HEINRICH KEMMLER:
He was right!
(Cackles)
Oh, this is going to be fun! This will be very fun!
The faint sound of the trees in the forest breaking and falling apart is heard in the background as Kemmler speaks.
Meanwhile, on the walls, the peasants are fighting valiantly, but the skeletons are on the walls, some are climbing the ladders, on reaching the top, some pull down the defenders, making them fall to their deaths (the height or undead) the rest are on the walls, fighting the peasants on the walls, some are fighting the defenders, while others are trying to make their way down to the rest of the city. While the zombies are outside the walls, they are swarming outside the gates, just waiting.
The knights are making their way to Kemmler, the sounds of the trees breaking intensifies. The Knights are now on the northern walls, they are closing in on Kemmler, when the breaking sound reaches its zenith, and Mannfred Von Carstein atop a Skeletal Dragon comes crashing out of the forest, and lands on the centre of the Knights formation. Knocking multiple Knights everywhere, and killing many.
Von Carstein is seen on top of the dragon, laughing maniacally, he unleashes a spell on the entire city. And flies to the top of the walls. Then he bucks his head back and unleashes a high-pitched guttural shriek. Then flies into the city. The shriek is echoed and matched by another shriek from the forest.
Then from the forest emerge countless fell bats, followed by Vargheists, Varghulfs, and crypt ghouls.
The bats take to the walls, shoving some defenders down the walls, picking some up, taking them to the sky and eating them alive. While the Varghulfs, turn on the gates, crashing them down with force. The Vargheists, fall upon the Knights.
It is then that the spell takes effect. All the soldiers and Knights that died came back, as undead and turned upon those they once called their friends and countrymen.
The next scene is when the battle is almost over, almost all defenders are dead. Some alive are being hunted by the monsters, while others are being fed on by them. The only untarnished building is the tower of the lady where the Fay Enchantress is inside.
MANNFRED VON CARSTEIN:
Where is she?
HEINRICH KEMMLER:
Inside.
MANNFRED VON CARSTEIN:
Is she hurt? Did any dead go near her?
HEINRICH KEMMLER:
She is okay, no one living or dead came near her.
MANNFRED VON CARSTEIN:
Good. But Firstly, is he alive?
Kemmler smiles,
HEINRICH KEMMLER:
Yes, yes. He’s alive. And on his way here.
Two armoured skeletons are seen dragging the still alive Duke Huebald to Von Carstein.
Von Carstein does a mocking bow.
MANNFRED VON CARSTEIN:
Duke.
DUKE HUEBALD:
Filth.
MANNFRED VON CARSTEIN:
Is there really a need for such rudeness, Duke Huebald?
DUKE HUEBALD:
A pathetic creature like you doesn’t deserve mercy or honour, neither in life nor in death.
MANNFRED VON CARSTIEN:
There a reason I left you alive, Duke. It was out of respect. A man like you doesn’t deserve such a dishonourable death. You are strong, and I have need of men like you.
DUKE HUEBALD:
What are you talking about?
MANNFRED VON CARSTEIN:
I am making you an offer, Duke. You can join my retinue. Be part of my personal bodyguard. You…..
DUKE HUEBALD:
SILENCE WORM!! You think I would be fool enough to join you!? I would rather die, than join you. Don’t ever think I would stoop low enough to be in league with you.
MANNFRED VON CARSTEIN:
(Smiles, showing his fangs) If you say so….
He lunges at him, digging his fangs into his neck, he sucks Huebald dry. Then throws his body down.
MANNFRED VON CARSTEIN:
If you think you ever had a choice in this matter you are wrong. I’ll find a use for you yet.
(Looking at Kemmler) I’ll initiate him into my order later. First we have an appointment with the enchantress.