Lunora and the Monster King

By H. S. Crow and Sierra Ashe Rottman

Between the avenues of stars, the Kingdom of Nevermore trembles beneath the tyrannical rule of the Banished Oberon. 

This land of dreams and nightmares known as Caligo holds all secrets. With the King's Obsidian law and

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Otherworlds Inc.
• Release date: Apr 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9780998822501

H. S. Crow

H.S. Crow (1988) was born in Florida, to Greek/Colombian and Egyptian/Iranian immigrant parents. For ten years he studied heavily in several subjects such as history, physics, astronomy, theology, and mythology as a means to grow as a writer. His dream had always been to write about the worlds locked inside his mind, beginning with his best selling playwright, 'Lunora and the Monster King' published in 2017. The tale centered around a child refugee within the gripping madness of Caligo. He's also known for his editorial work on Glacias and Project Adrestia, but more so for his comic series, 'Stars of Glass.' Crow, has a deep love for fantasy, science fiction, and horror. Often finding himself creating stories that encompasses a bit of each genre, yet layered with the issues of the real world. He tends to compose film scores for fun, nerd out at comic shops, play magic, and program games. All while leading a Creative Studio called Otherworlds Inc.

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CHARACTERS

LUNORA, a Lost Young Girl.

NICHOLAS, Her Father.

IKO, a Charming Hyperion.

MOTHER LEAF, Keeper of the First Door.

MONSTER KING, Cruel Ruler of Caligo.

ORION, His Arbiter.

AZU, The King’s Guard.

LAZUL, Priestess of Transcendence.

ILESS, a Spirit of Fear.

HASS, a Spirit of Hate.

CRY, a Spirit of Sorrow.

ALFON, a Distrusting Imp.

PETRA, a Ferocious Monster of Whisper Isle.

ARI, His Forgiving Sister.

FIDDLE, a Boater.

COBWEBS, a Troubled Eukarian Messenger

ZOLF, Keeper of the Second Door.

CANUS, a Wolf faced Prisoner

WHISPERING WILLOWS, a collection of perplexed talking trees.

THE OLD ONE, an Ancient tree with many faces.

TATI, Leader of the Dancing MonsterGang

WEEDLEQUACK, aDancing Monster.

BEEPER, a Dancing Monster.

DANCING MONSTERS, a gang of monsters that takes joy in dancing.

BRIEF CHARACTER BIOS:

LUNORA: Is a young girl between the ages of 14-16. She is believed to have lost her memory during an air raid. She is known for her curious nature and for her need to help those around her. She dislikes violence and struggles to stay away from it. Through her struggles as a refugee she has learned to adapt quickly to severe situations. Her high resolve has kept her and her father alive. She is often treated as a naïve girl, but she is far from it. Her secret wish is to one day fly away from the cruel world she lives in and to explore a land of dreams.

NICHOLAS: Is a hopeful man between the ages of 40-50. He and his daughter, Lunora are refugees seeking a better life. They have been on the run for nearly five years. He and his family had a good life prior to a terrorist attack that led his people into public ruin. The terrorist group that committed the act had falsely used the faith of his people to spread hate, thus the world changed and became fearful of anyone associated with the religion that had been falsely misrepresented. Nicholas lost his wife and eldest son to the government that had once protected them. Hate nearly consumed Nicholas, but his daughter gave him a reason to push the darkness away. He was known to base all of his decisions around his daughter. He wants her to have a future, and thus he is willing to do whatever it takes for her to have it.

IKO: Is a white haired young monster with piercing birdlike scarlet eyes. He is known to wear a strange tribal mask of unknown origin. No one really knows where he was born, but the trees rumor his bloodline to be connected to the Hyperions – a tribe that lives in the hottest deserts. He was found in Whispering Willow Forest where the Old One took him in as a son. These trees were the boy’s only family next to the late Princess Aronul – a girl passionate about life and the worlds beyond Caligo. Iko is cunning and hotheaded as well as distrusting and cold. He believes he can save the crumbling world of Caligo, and is willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish it.

MOTHER LEAF: She is the Keeper of the First Door, and a mighty wooden monster with vines and leaves covering her body. She is highly respected by other monsters, even in her mutiny directed at the king. She is known to have a soft spot for humans, especially children. She is a maternal figure with a lot of patience and love. However, her heart has grown weak through the centuries. She has become a broken and lonely creature seeking to have the one thing she has never had the pleasure of enjoying – her own child.

MONSTER KING: The cruel tyrant and ruler of the Kingdom of Nevermore is a hateful horned monster filled with hostility towards humans. His birth name is Shin’olac; however, it is rarely used and almost forgotten by his kingdom. He is from the Qilin Tribe, a race of horned dragon-like creatures. The King believes that all humans are at fault for his daughter’s murder. He was once a benevolent king, however those fleeting days are but a dream. He now governs Caligo with an obsidian fist, and any monster opposing him is often sentenced to death. He is constantly worried about revolts against him and often makes rash decisions in order to diffuse the idea of it. He uses fear to subjugate the realm, and it has corrupted him.

ORION: This genderless monster is the King’s Arbiter, and his most trusted follower. Orion is the only one that understands the King’s inner turmoil, and overall struggle. This monster does not agree with the King’s recent motive and killings, but an oath once made to Princess Aronul has twisted Orion’s perspective. Orion truly believes that there is no choice but to serve, and it has driven the massive armored creature into a tragic and self destructive road.

AZU: A goat legged knight struggling with morality and his place in the crumbling kingdom. Azu is an example of the King’s failing army that deems him unfit to rule anymore. As a King’s Guard he has done a great deal of things, but never murder. The hate spreading in the kingdom is weighing him down. He has learned to play the system in order to survive, but he has grown tired of it. He is lighthearted, kind, and hopeful things will change again.

LAZUL: Deep in the citadel this priestess sits next to Monster King. She is often feared due to her powerful magick. Lazul is a woman cloaked in raven feathers once rumored to have banished the moon from Caligo in order to appease her king. She is a shrewd moon sprite frustrated with how things have become, however her service to the king remains absolute.

ILESS: Is the Spirit of Fear. This dimensional apparition rumored to manifest in the form of a hyena feeds on the fear of both worlds.

HASS: Is the Spirit of Hate. This dimensional apparition strolls at the edges of the Forgotten Ruins in the form of a reptilian monster. It feeds on the hateful energies of the worlds.

CRY: Is the Spirit of Sorrow, and the last dimensional apparition on Whisper Isle that feeds on the sadness of both worlds. This spirit has been rumored to cry quite a bit. It exists as a frightening twelve legged, nine eyed, four fanged monster.

ALFON: Is a distrusting imp with conflicted feelings towards Lunora. He does not hate humans, but he does not wish to die. Alfon believes in order to survive one must obey the rules.

PETRA: Is a ravenous and deranged fish-eyed monster with a sickly complexion on Whisper Isle. He is blinded by the need to live forever with his sister. He devours everything, including his own kind to stall a horrific parasite inside him. He is a creature driven by hunger. His sister is the most important being in his life.

ARI: She is Petra’s forgiving sister. She is a sweet sprite trapped inside a doll. Hope is her curse. She believes that Petra will change. She often sings to her brother, and tries to help him see the wrong he is doing, but she has grown tired of it. She blames herself for what happened to Petra.

ZOLF: A stern warrior, and Keeper of the Second Door. The dusky furred monster guards the entrance to the Kingdom of Nevermore. It is said that he enjoys a good fight when given the chance.

FIDDLE: The highly observant and somewhat dead boater of the Lake Rulia. He is the link between the mainland, and the Whispering Isle.

TATI: She is a dancing four eared rabbit that often enjoys tea with Mother Leaf. She leads the Dancing Monster Gang that often hangs at Mother Leaf Village, named after the guardian that oversees it.

WEEDLEQUACK: She is a duck faced dancing monster that often repeats her last name. She is one of the members of the Dancing Monster Gang.

BEEPER: An adorable three horned dancing fur-ball that often repeats the words Beep, and follows the Dancing Monster Gang.

COBWEBS: The troubled Eukarian messenger of the King is a loyal citizen striving to rise up in Nevermore. In these parts of the Inverse Realm, Eukarians are rare to come by. He finds Lunora a nuisance and an obstacle stopping him from his true goals.

CANUS: The comical wolf faced prisoner that still holds Princess Aronul deep in his heart.

WHISPERING WILLOWS: A collection of perplexed talking trees that often repeat things they have heard, or things lost in memory. They are known to drive listeners insane.

THE OLD ONE: Is an Ancient tree with many faces believed to be connected to Caligo, the first earth.

VOIDLINGS: They are monsters that have died with hate, fear, or sorrow in their heart. When dead the body remains trapped in an eternal dance. This phenomenon has sparked many strange beliefs.

SEVERAL MORE MONSTERS

†ACT I†

Scene I

In the cold darkness, strange pillars gleam beneath a single ray of light. Beneath the light, at the center of the pillars, a young girl dressed in soft blues sleeps in a bed of flowers. The girl, named LUNORA, is trapped in her dreams. In the distance, shadowed figures called VOIDLINGS spin harmoniously to the sound of a low hum. They are faceless, and trapped in black obscurity, but one figure appears to be different. Her mysterious gaze holds curious pity towards the young girl. Her name is MOTHER LEAF—one of the guardians and keepers of the first world.

MOTHER LEAF: Long ago, there was a dream within a dream that allowed joy to reign, but that youthful breath drifted away as swiftly as a summer rain. There was nothing left after the dawn, except for a world darkened by a King’s broken heart. Now only Morpheus induced silhouettes dance in these lightless plains. They dance in sequence to the sound of time – unmoved by existence – trapped in a single thought I hope lies within you.

[MOTHER LEAF emerges from blackness with a rusty key in her hand. Her gaze is filled with sorrow as she carefully holds the key to the light. Her eyes glint like iridescent pearls as her leafy hair dangles behind her. She is a creature covered in nature with branches and vines coursing down her head and shoulders.]

MOTHER LEAF: Every key belongs to a lock, and every lock contains a secret. My mind churns for the truth that you hold. Why are you here? I never desired this for you, yet I am curious to know. Is this idle gaud the answer I seek, or is it merely the old memory of a dream I thought I once lived?

[MOTHER LEAF tucks the rusty key inside a wooden pouch tied around her waist before redirecting her attention to the sleeping girl.]

MOTHER LEAF: Wake child. Open those woolgathered eyes. It is time for us to meet again.

[LUNORA wakes up, and slowly comes to her feet. She is in a daze as she starts to notice the pale flowers around her.]

MOTHER LEAF: Welcome little one.

[LUNORA is drawn to the sound of MOTHER LEAF’s voice, but she is quickly frightened by the sight of her. The girl falls back on the meadow, and frantically begins to crawl away from the monster standing over her.]

LUNORA: Papa . . . Papa?

[LUNORA calls for her father once more out of fear before her voice cracks to the discovery of the pitch-black world before her. Her confused stare takes notice of stranger things roaming in the ebonized horizon. Her reaction worries MOTHER LEAF, and the leafy monster steps back in hopes to comfort her.]

MOTHER LEAF: I am sorry if they startled you. They are not a threat, nor am I. What is your name?

[LUNORA hesitates.]

MOTHER LEAF: Please speak. I would love to hear your voice.

[LUNORA touches the black unearthly ground beyond the meadow, and its frigid touch forces her back.]

LUNORA: Where am I?

MOTHER LEAF: Well, you sound as soft as a kiss. Have you ever considered singing?

[LUNORA shakes her head.]

MOTHER LEAF: No . . .? Well, that is perfectly acceptable too, but you should still consider it. It might just make someone smile.

[LUNORA remains quiet for a moment as she analyzes MOTHER LEAF with scrutiny. The leafy monster accepts her distrusting eyes and smiles in return.]

LUNORA: What are you?

[MOTHER LEAF steps closer to her, but LUNORA moves away.]

LUNORA: That’s close enough. Please, stay away.

MOTHER LEAF: As you wish, little one. My name is Mother Leaf, and I am the Keeper of the First Door. I’m a monster like them.

[MOTHER LEAF gestures towards the VOIDLINGS spinning in the shadows beyond the light.]

LUNORA: Monsters? Do you expect me to believe that? Is this some elaborate government joke towards my people?

MOTHER LEAF: Government? What is that, little one?

LUNORA: My papa taught me not to be rude, but don’t be coy with me. Is this the concentration camp everyone’s been talking about? Is my papa here? Please take me to him. I want to be with him.

MOTHER LEAF: Darling, I am afraid that I cannot. I am not what you think. I am a creature of the fog drifting beneath the unending night.

LUNORA: [Whisper.] Lies.

MOTHER LEAF: [Frowns.] I promise you it is not.

[LUNORA becomes frustrated. MOTHER LEAF reaches for her, but the girl pushes her hand away.]

LUNORA: I don’t believe you.

[LUNORA runs away from MOTHER LEAF with tears in her eyes.]

[Exit LUNORA.]

MOTHER LEAF: Little one, come back!

[Exit MOTHER LEAF.]

[Enter MONSTER KING and ORION]

ORION: My King, the information granted to us is not debatable. There seems to be a human roaming the outer rim of our sacred lands, and it has help.

[The MONSTER KING appears distracted as he stares off into the distance. He wears a scarlet robe with gold trim, and a horned crown. ORION expresses discomfort as he waits for a response.]

MONSTER KING: How long has it been?

ORION: How long has what been my King?

MONSTER KING: Since Aronul was taken from me.

[ORION laments.]

ORION: I dare not contemplate it. The moon still wanes to the memory of her smile.

MONSTER KING: A smile that lingers in us all.

ORION: It is what keeps me alive my King. I miss her.

MONSTER KING: You should. She was unlike any creature to ever roam this world. The night has yet to dream her away from me. I see her every moment my eyes fold, and I am reminded of the enemy that took her away from me.

[MONSTER KING exudes anger.]

ORION: Humans will pay for what they did. Neither the old Gods nor the new will hide them from the tempest that awaits their transient breaths.

MONSTER KING: Those unwished creatures do not deserve to exist.

[Enter AZU, a King’s Guard. He brings a restrained prisoner named CANUS, a furry monster bearing a canine mask. CANUS does not appear to be struggling as he is brought to the MONSTER KING.]

AZU: Oh nightly rain, I did it! My daring King I have captured the traitor!

CANUS: Mercy my Kingliness!

AZU: Kingliness? Did your tail get stepped on traitor? What kind of a badger’s mouth do you have?

CANUS: I am a wolf, and I do not have a tail.

AZU: Ha, what kind of wolf has no tail?

CANUS: This one.

[AZU smacks CANUS.]

AZU: Dissident mutt, enough of you. From here on, you speak when spoken to.

[CANUS nods in annoyance.]

AZU: Forgive me my charming King. He’s not the brightest fish scale.

[ORION expresses embarrassment.]

ORION: Azu . . .

AZU: Yes...?

ORION: He is not a fish.

AZU: [Shocked.] What, what? He’s not?

ORION: No.

[AZU awkwardly laughs.]

AZU: Well, clearly not. Goodness boss, just look at those filthy paws. I’ve never seen any fish carry paws like those. Usually they are cleaner.

ORION: Azu . . .

AZU: Yes...?

ORION: Fish have no paws.

AZU: What kind of fish has no paws?

[The MONSTER KING begins to get angry, but everyone else is oblivious to it.]

ORION: None.

AZU: [Shocked.] What, what?

[AZU glances at CANUS for reassurance, but the prisoner shakes his head in disagreement as well.]

AZU: But, just the last week I caught a nice big one, and the paws on the thing were—

MONSTER KING: [Interrupts] Silence!

[Everyone kneels in fear.]

MONSTER KING: So this is the hob that dares disgrace the memory of my sweet Aronul. I find it amusing that you have the audacity to dally in my chamber like this. To play the fool is a predictable game the guilty tend to partake in. However, your words are diminutive and insipid with the flavor of falsehood. I know what you have done, and it is shameful. Nothing can hide forever, not even a fly. Sooner or later, the rouse of vibrating wings will create a buzz, heard only by those that care to listen. After all, we heard you.

CANUS: Your Kingliness, I did not want to at first, but my heart couldn’t turn her in. I felt sad for the lass.