Download in .pdf format here. It arranged and color coded better.
Interactive Narrative Assignment
Kapish Singh Rawat
Paradox: Soul/2
Game Script Excerpts
Following are a few scenes from the game. One is the beginning scene, while the other 3 occur during various points in the game.
START GAME
Trigger: Player Starts a Single Player Game
Loading Screen
Fade in to:
Opening Cutscene:
Close shot of a Full Moon. Camera Pans out, turns towards the city's skyline. It zooms in on a fairly empty street. Karm, the protagonist is walking home. He's a bit drunk, so is walking with 'shaky legs'. Camera zooms in on his face, showing a happy and content face. Camera zooms behind Karm, showing him turn at a corner of the street.
Screen fades to black
Sudden images and flashes are shown - from a car's headlights, to Alco's face and back to the car's headlights again.
Screen fades to black. A loud screeching sound of a car's brakes is heard, followed by complete silence
Transition to:
In - Game Cutscene:
Thunderstorm sounds. Camera zooms just outside the YamLok's Gate. Yamlok is a city in the sky. The ground is made up of black thunderstorm-like clouds. An old man, the Gatekeeper is standing by the gate. There is a sudden flash of light - Karm 'pops' out of nowhere, falling on the ground.
KARM KARM |
Transition to:
Camera is now in third person position. Player is now in control of Karm
On Screen Help Message: Press T to help Karm recover |
Trigger: Player presses T
KARM (thinking straight, wiping his eyes) Ok, what do I do now? GATEKEEPER Wise choice Mr. Karm. This is YamLok, where all the souls congregate. The gate over there will lead you inside. |
On Screen Help Message: Use mouse to look around |
Trigger: Player may look around the area, for 5 seconds. Cutscene is triggered
In-Game Cutscene:
Camera focuses on the gate as it opens. Music build up followed by a crescendo . A clearly marked path is shown. Control comes back to player.
GATEKEEPER This path here leads you to the Gods... your Destiny's Destination. They.. will decide you fate. |
On Screen Help Message: Use Arrow keys to to move around. Go to the gate |
Trigger: Player reaches the gate
In - Game Cutscene:
Suddenly, another flash occurs, Alco 'pops' out at the same spot. Karm looks at him, with a puzzled look.
ALCO (groans) Damn hangover.. gotta get clean now..(looks around) What the.. am I tripping again? KARM Hey.. haven't I seen you..?? Alco ignores him. Karm is interrupted by the Gatekeeper GATEKEEPER Welcome to YamLok Mr. Alco. Unfortunately, you finally died in the accident.. ALCO (mildly amused) Died? .. (slightly confuse) YamLok.. hmm.. (looks around) Not a bad place.. (finally looks at Karm)umm..Hi? (suddenly recognizes him)...Uhh Ohh.. I think I just saw you... KARM (angrily)Of course!! You were in the car..You %#$# beep sound Do you realize what you've done? Karm runs towards Alco. He tries to punch him, but his fist goes right through Alco's face. Karm and Alco are both startled by this fact. GATEKEEPER It's no use my friends. Your souls cannot hurt each other. KARM (still angrily at Alco, start moving in circles flailing his arms around) Why ?? Do you know how much I need to be down there? How can you be so reckless? ALCO (nonchalantly)Chill dude, you can't do anything now. It's over. Let the people down there take care of themselves. (shrugs)They can all go to hell for all I care. KARM You stupid fool !! I was supposed to take care of my people, down there..(clears his throat, thinking out aloud) I had just got the job..We would have had enough to get by now..(looking at Alco again) It all gone now, all because of you. ALCO (in a serious mood)Hey look, I'm sorry about it. I didn't do it on purpose, I was heavily sedated(cracks a smile on his own joke). (Karm looks up and sighs at Alco's behavior) Really, I'm sorry. (looks at the Gatekeeper) What happens now? GATEKEEPER You both must now follow this path. It will take you to Destiny's Destination, where the God's will decide you fate. ALCO (glancing at Karm, thinking of helping him)Is there any way to go back? GATEKEEPER Go back? That is not possible Alco. You may choose to stay here for sometime. But your, Destiny was already penned down. Even before you were born... Your fate... ALCO (Cuts in, irritated)Yeah, yeah, I know- ITS ALREADY BEEN DECIDED...thats enough...I get the point.. (to Karm)Come on, let's go. By the way, I'm Alco. Its a pleasure to meet you and sorry to have killed you. |
Player in control of Karm again.
| On Screen Help Message: Enter YamLok. Go through the gate |
Trigger: Player enters the gate
Transition to:
Cutscene:
Camera pans out, giving a topview of YamLok, the city of clouds. Various souls are shown wandering around. Karm and Alco enter through the gate. The Gatekeeper follows. The gate closes behind them.
ALCO
(looking around) Who are all these people?
Camera zooms out floating around above YamLok, focusing on the various souls.
The gatekeeper talks as the camera moves around.
GATEKEEPER
Most of them are souls like you – wandering and prolonging their fate. Others are like me. We live here, directing you to the right path. You can tell the difference between us and souls like you quite easily...
Camera switches between a soul and a YamLok dweller. Cutscene ends
Transition to
In Game Cutscene
KARM
(thinking aloud) There's gotta a way back.
Karm starts running left, away from the designated path. Alco watches and follows
ALCO
(shouting)Hey wait up !! Where're you going?
(Karm stops, but doesn't turn)
It's no use, there's nothing we can do here. I vote we follow the path and get this over with. Though I'm not really looking forward to it.
KARM
That's easy for you to say. (earnestly)Don't you have a family? People you care for? (shakes his head)Forget it. Who asked for your advice anyway? Go away..
ALCO
Okay, okay.. but what are you gonna do...Mr. ..umm.. I still don't know your name
KARM
Karm. And right now I am going to look around for a way out of here.. the God's can wait.
ALCO
Fine, don't say I didn't warn you.(starts moving away) And for the record I never had a family.. and I don't care about people.(pauses) Usually.
Alco, moves on, following the path
Player in control of Karm again
| HINT: Explore YamLok..press X to talk to people |
END SCENE
Scene 2: Karm leaving YamLok towards Destiny's Destination
Background: The player may leave YamLok towards Destiny's Destination at anytime. There will be two different cases. Both described below
CASE 1: Player is at the end of the path facing the gate to Destiny's Destination. The player has not met Mr. Nag yet
Trigger: If player interacts with the gate
Message: Do you want to end this journey? |
START SCENE
Trigger: Player answers 'Yes'
In Game Cutscene:
KARM
(sighing)Its no use, I give up. Like he said, my fate has been decided already.
Transition to:
Screen fades to black, credits roll
END SCENE
Case 2: Player is at the gate again. But this time the player has met Mr. Nag and has collected some of his soul fragments. Player interacts with the gate
START SCENE
| Message: Do you want to end this journey? |
Trigger: The player selects 'Yes'
In Game Cutscene
Mr. Nag runs up from behind
Mr. NAG
Karm, wait.. what do you think your doing?
KARM
I don't want to do this anymore. I cannot change my fate. Let the God's guide me.
MR. NAG
Are you crazy? Once you get in, there's no coming back.
KARM
I know but..
MR. NAG
(cutting Karm short)And what about me?(agitated)What about MY Soul Pieces? Are you going to leave me Half-Souled here forever?
KARM
Come with me..
MR. NAG
Certainly not. (shakes his head in disbelief). Your are weak Karm. I was wrong about you. I thought you were ready to take fate in your own hands, ready to shape your own destiny. (suddenly gets angry, and starts moving towards Karm, fists clenchd)You can't be so selfish. You agreed to help me and you must fulfill this agreement. (shaking his head again,realizing that he can't hurt Karm)
(Makes a long face, seemingly sad, sighs) Unfortunately, I cannot stop you.
Message: Do you really want to end this journey? |
1.
Trigger: Player selects 'Yes'
KARM
I'm sorry Nag. It's just too much..
Karm enters the gate. Screen fades to black
Mr. NAG
STOP.....NOOOOOOO...
Credits roll
END SCENE
OR
2.
Trigger: Player selects 'No'
KARM
You are right Nag, I must carry on now; whatever the consequences. Let's go back..
END SCENE
Player in control of Karm again.
Scene 3: After defeating the Soul Guardian (Boss) in the lava level
Background: After the players reaches the end of Lava Level, he must defeat the Soul guardian in order to retrieve the soul fragment.
Trigger: Player lands the final blow on the Soul Guardian, defeating him
START SCENE
In Game Cutscene:
Nag's soul fragment pops out from the Guardian
Player in control again
Trigger: Player absorbs the fragment using the Soul-Splitter
In Game Cutscene
The Soul-Splitter absorb the soul. Lots of lights and FX as Karm combines his two souls with the soul splitter. The Guardian stirs and gets up again. Karm springs back, ready for combat, again.
SOUL GUARDIAN
Well done my little friend. Your skills are praiseworthy. Unfortunately, your wit isn't..
KARM
(puzzled) What do you mean?
SOUL GUARDIAN
Why do you go such great lengths to capture a soul that is not yours? Are you SURE of this path you follow?
KARM
I don't care. Anything that helps me live again is worth it.
SOUL GUARDIAN
Is it? Can IT be trusted? Can YOU be trusted? Let me warn you, the path you take has no definite end. Your fate...
KARM
(cutting in)..enough with you preaching. It won't effect my resolve. I am ready to fight you again, if needed
SOUL GUARDIAN
Very well then. Take your fragment and leave. I wish you the best and hope to never see you again.
Cutscene:
The Soul Guardian opens a portal. Karm walks through it. Screen fades.
Camera pans atop YamLok and zooms in on the area where the Lava Level gateway is. It suddenly opens, pushing Karm out and disappearing permanently.
END SCENE
Player in control of Karm again
Scene 4: Karm Talks to NAG about his Soul's Erratic behavior
Background: The player may ask Mr. Nag about this anytime after witnessing Karm's Soul's erratic behavior. This occurs when Karm absorbs Mr. Nag's Soul Fragments. This makes it gain Mr Nag's characteristics.
Trigger: Player chooses to interact with Mr. Nag in YamLok
START SCENE
MR. NAG
Ahh, Karm, I see you have collected X number of souls already. At this rate, we'll be out of here in no time.
KARM
(Slightly suspicious) You didn't tell me everything did you?
MR. NAG
About what?
KARM
About what happens when I absorb your Soul Pieces.
MR. NAG
(innocently)I don't know... what happens?
KARM
(angrily)Stop lying !! My first soul was not acting like you told me it would. It strayed from the path I had set for it.
MR. NAG
Really? That's very interesting..hmm..
KARM
(bursts out)HMMM...is that your explanation?..HMMM..
I almost lost my soul there. I would have ended up like YOU. That certainly wouldn't help us
MR. NAG
Calm down Karm. I really didn't anticipate this. (seemingly thinking for a moment) hmm.. Well, you ARE absorbing my Soul. My characteristics could be reflected on it...
KARM
(curious)Meaning?
MR. NAG
....(continuing) Your soul will start acting a bit like me because of this. So it might not do everything exactly, like you think it would.
KARM
That's very helpful.
MR. NAG
Well it IS a logical explanation though. ('matter of factly') I guess you'll have to be extra careful from now on. (smiles) Always keep an eye on yourself, especially after using the Soul-Splitter.(winks)
END SCENE
Player in control of Karm again.