Arrival to Drovak

EXT. DUSTY ROAD – DAY

The wagon creaks across a wide stretch of windswept plains. Jagged hills roll like frozen waves, dotted with dying trees. The sky burns pale blue.

Ryu lies in the back, half-covered by his cloak, head resting against a crate. His eyes, however, never stop moving—tracking the terrain, the curves of the road, every landmark they pass.

Up ahead—a cluster of stone ruins, ancient and hollow, swallowed halfway by earth.

Ryu (flat):"What's that place?"

MERCHANT (without turning):"Old fort. Belonged to some noble house before the undeads raid. Nobody's claimed it since."

(beat)"They say the ground's still cursed."

Ryu watches it vanish behind them.

Farther on, they pass a barren watchtower, leaning like a broken spine.

Then—

Ryu:"You know anything about the Morvain family?"

The merchant stiffens slightly at the question. He doesn't answer at first.

Then—

MERCHANT:"Big name. Old money. Got their hands in half the noble courts."

(beat)"Why?"

Ryu (shrugs):"Just heard the name."

MERCHANT (grunts):"Well, Elrik Morvain's the youngest son. Rich, educated, annoying. But smarter than he looks."

Ryu says nothing else.

He just shifts his gaze to the far mountains rising on the horizon.

Dark. Cracked. Sharp-edged like the bones of some ancient colossus.

LATER – MIDDAY

The wagon clinks past a sunken ravine, where black spires of obsidian rise like claws from the depths.

The wind howls louder here.

Ryu speaks again—eyes narrowing on the mountain pass ahead.

Ryu (thinking):"This place… seems hard for the Empire to expand into. Harsh roads. No flatlands. Easy to bottleneck armies."

(beat)

"The dwarves must've picked their kingdom well."

He glances at the merchant, who hums softly to himself while steering the horse.

Ryu (out loud):"Oi. Are you sure we're getting in safely?"

The merchant chuckles.

MERCHANT:"They don't like strangers. But I've traded with 'em for years."

(beat)"Know a few of the old bearded rockheads by name. Dwarf merchants value consistency—and gold."

Ryu watches the mountain trail snake upward, disappearing behind cliffs.

Ryu (thinking):"I suppose I've never seen a dwarf in my life… just stories. Short people with big strength."

He closes his eyes briefly. The wind shifts again—colder now.

EXT. MOUNTAIN TRAIL – LATE AFTERNOON

The wagon creaks higher through the narrowing path. The road is rough, carved directly into the stone. Wooden guardrails line the edge in places—but many are broken.

the peaks ahead. The sun dips behind jagged cliffs.

Ryu sits upright now, cloak pulled tight, eyes scanning every corner of the winding trail.

Ryu (quiet):"How far?"

MERCHANT:"Two more hours. We'll reach the checkpoint before nightfall—if we're lucky."

Ryu:"And after that?"

MERCHANT:"They'll ask questions. Who you are. Why you're coming. That kind of thing."

(beat)

"I'll handle it.Just look like you're part of my crew."

Ryu (nods once):"Fine."

A few minutes pass in silence. Only the steady rhythm of wheels and hooves.

Then Ryu speaks again—voice low.

Ryu:"What do dwarves sell here?"

MERCHANT:"Metal. Stone. Runes. Armor, mostly. Rare stuff. Not cheap."

Ryu:"…They fight?"

MERCHANT (laughs):"Every damn day. With beasts, cave raiders, drunk brothers, each other."

(beat)"But when they go to war—real war? No one stops them."

Ryu doesn't respond. But he stores the words.

EXT. DWARVEN CHECKPOINT – NIGHTFALL

Torches glow along the path ahead. A stone archway looms over the road—flanked by two dwarves in thick plate armor, eyes sharp, axes across their backs.

The wagon slows.

Ryu lowers his hood slightly but keeps his head down.

DWARF GUARD (gruff):"Name. Business. Cargo."

MERCHANT (nodding):"Farim. Iron trader. Barrels of ore, some tools, and that one's with me."

The dwarf narrows his eyes at Ryu.

DWARF GUARD:"He don't look like much."

MERCHANT:"Doesn't talk much either. He's just muscle."

A tense pause.

Then the second dwarf waves them through.

SECOND GUARD:"Move along. You'll reach Stonegate before midnight."

The wagon rolls on—past the checkpoint and deeper into the mountain pass.

EXT. STONEGATE OUTSKIRTS – NIGHT

Faint lights appear ahead—flickering lanterns half-buried into the rock walls. Smoke rises from vents in the cliffside.

A stone gate, built into the mountain, towers before them. Guards patrol above it. Cranes, pulleys, gears.

The city of Drovak waits within.

Ryu watches it with a calm, unreadable face.

Ryu (thinking):"So this is it. The kingdom below the mountains."

(beat)

"Let's see what secrets you're hiding."

EXT. STONEGATE CITY – ENTRANCE PLAZA – NIGHT

Massive stone gates swing inward with a heavy groan.

Inside—Stonegate buzzes with life. Warm orange lights spill from taverns and forges. Pipes hiss steam through grates. Thick dwarves march, argue, laugh—short, broad, all muscle and beard.

MERCHANT (grinning):"Well, here we are. Watch your step. They don't move for tall folks."

Ryu hops off the wagon, adjusting his cloak. His hood covers half his face.

He scans the streets—stone-paved, loud, layered. Multi-tiered levels spiral downward. Every wall is carved with symbols or runes.

The merchant flicks the reins and turns his cart down a side road.

MERCHANT (calling out):"You sure you'll be alright?"

Ryu (walking off):"Yeah."

(pauses)

"Get home safe, guy with the weird haircut."

The merchant barks a laugh behind him.

MERCHANT (yelling):"It's traditional, you twig!"

Ryu keeps walking, slipping into the crowd.

EXT. DWARVEN CITY – LOWER STREETS – MOMENTS LATER

Ryu blends in as best he can—but he's a head taller than everyone else. Dwarves give him sidelong looks. Some nod. Others grunt.

Smiths hammer glowing metal under open vents. Bars echo with songs in deep voices. Machines clank and hiss from deeper tunnels.

Ryu (thinking):"I stand out. Can't be helped."

(beat)"But I need to go deeper."

EXT. DWARVEN CITY – LOWER STREETS – CONTINUOUS

Ryu navigates the deeper layers of Stonegate. Steam hisses from grated vents. The crowd thins—more armor now, more soot. Fewer merchants, more craftsmen.

He slows near a pipe junction. A dwarf there leans against a wall, sharpening a chisel. Scar across his eye, heavy apron, gray-streaked beard.

Ryu (quiet):"You know where I can find Kurzek Ironsoul?"

The dwarf stops sharpening.

Looks up. Studies Ryu.

DWARF (gruff):"...Kurzek?"

(beat)

"Aye. You got a death wish or just bad luck?"

Ryu doesn't answer. The dwarf grunts.

DWARF:"Third tier forge ring. Go down the red-rune tunnel, take two lefts. His workshop's under the old stone bridge. You'll know it by the hammer marks."

(leans in slightly)"Just... don't touch anything that glows."

Ryu:"Understood."

He nods once and walks off.

DWARF (muttering):"Surface folk and weird metals... Never learn."

Ryu disappears into the deeper tunnels.

Ryu (thinking):"Kurzek Ironsoul. Let's see if you're worth the reputation."