Witch Hunter

The Cardinal War had been waged for nearly a decade.

So much death, famine, disease.

The conflict reached a bloody and decisive conclusion,

with Konrad I of the House of Barlow

emerging victorious as ruler, his power absolute.

King Konrad soon consolidated his reach,

unifying his dominion at the border along the Weald,

and his reign continued on, peaceful and fair,

until the King discovered there still remained

one last threat looming in his midst.

Many years had passed when his kingdom

was first beset by rumor, innuendo,

ghastly sighs from the depths.

The tranquil land had begun to change in horrific ways.

Gisela, the Witch of the Weald.

even a whisper of her cursed name

could strike fear in the bravest of men.

Children run and recoil in terror

at the very mention of her.

One by one, old warriors, mercenaries,

and agnostics would seek her out to prove she was

only a myth, or to put an end to her heresy.

But those who entered the Weald

met a cruel and bloody end

as Gisela grew angrier and more spiteful

at each of the challenges,

until the King was left no choice

but to seek an appeasement with her in official capacity.

Volker, why do we not try to sneak our way inside?

Quietly.

Quietly?

We are here by the order of King Konrad.

Let the Witch see us coming.

Caution has value, young Lotten.

You cannot sneak up on a Witch.

She has eyes everywhere.

Then let's pluck them out and finish this madness.

Witch dies tonight.

Quiet.

If we rush in with violence, we do not stand a chance.

Your presence here is merely as a backup, do you understand?

We are here to seek an arrangement

with the Witch, that's all.

You think you can reason with a Witch?

That is folly.

We were sent by the King, your King,

to find out what she would agree to.

Do you understand?

Soon, my love.

Soon.

They're getting closer now.

I can smell their sweat.

And... their fear.

Rise.

Rise.

Rise!

Why have we stopped?

Because we have reached the witch's doorstep.

This is the threshold to her dark layer.

Never send a boy to do a warrior's job.

Your bravado gains us nothing, Willem.

We are here as diplomats only.

By dawn's light, we will have driven this witch

and her dark magic away from our land for good.

By force or by voice, we are only as strong

as our weakest link.

And our chain is strong, right, boy?

-For King Konrad. -For King Konrad.

Volker, are you sure we can make an arrangement with her?

I've heard stories about the witch.

Bewitched men who ate their own limbs

and swallowed their sister's whole.

Cursed beasts taller than trees

that tore up the innocent like mutton or pigs' meal.

Faces chewed up like cow's cud.

This is the problem with stories.

Stories mean nothing to the dead,

and they only scare the living.

We have no time for stories.

We have a kingdom to protect.

Behind us!

A dark magic comes from the woods.

Come on!

Back! Back!

Back! Back! You beast!

Willem!

Stay close!

Son!

We merely seek an audience with the witch in the woods!

There was no need for this!

You wanted an audience?

You've got one. Go now, Volker.

Tell them a story.

Thanks to you and your dead friend's trespassing,

I think your precious little king

has finally outworn his welcome in my lands.

My powers will have reached beyond the forest.

And the beasts, my children,

will destroy King Konrad's kingdom and everyone in it.

Your only son has died this night, Volker.

Leave this place or I shall make you watch him die again

every night until the end of your days.

Volker returns!

Sire, all is lost.

The witch's magic was too powerful.

Willem!

Stay close!

Son!

Lord Hagen returns!

Your Majesty.

Hagen, you promised me your men

would bring me the head of this witch.

All I see is a broken soldier.

Volker has never failed you before, Sire,

but this witch...

she grows stronger by the day.

She's a demon. She's a flesh-eating monster.

I watched her eat Lotten.

She whipped his flesh like it was mutton.

Please, Sire, please, please!

Send me back. Let me redeem myself.

We must stop her before the full moon rises again

or she will send her monsters here.

She will destroy our kingdom.

She will kill our people. Please!

You have already done all you can, Volker.

Go and rest now. This is no longer your concern.

Hagen...

this witch has plagued us for far too many seasons.

The cursed forest encroaches upon our land every day,

infecting our crops with pestilence

and death and vermin.

My men tell me of babies born without eyes,

of our army's horses feeding on one another.

She is already at our door,

clawing inside our home.

If what Volker tells us is true,

then we must take the fight back to her before it is too late.

We must fight smarter, my liege. Not harder.

And to that end, I have an idea.

Ideas are for schoolmarms and poets, Elder Hagen.

Otto, treasured son of the king and heir,

I ask you to trust your Elder Hagen as you once did.

Killing a witch like this is not sport.

But Hagen in this, my son, is right.

No more words. Action is needed.

We need Caspar, the Witch Hunter.

Only he has the skills and experience for a job like this.

Ha ha! The Witch Hunter?

Really, Hagen? Him?

Sire, the witch hunter is renowned for his magic

and his special skills.

He is a drunk, Hagen, and untrustworthy.

He started a brawl that sent one of my best men

to the infirmary for weeks.

-You started that brawl -Father...

We need not this Witch Hunter.

Only I am up to task.

Sire, wait.

You would risk the witch storming our gates,

killing and torturing our citizens?

We must take the fight to her.

Send me, father.

I will sneak in with stealth and take her out

before she catches wind of me,

and we will be rid of this blight once and for all.

And if I fail,

your army will remain here

to protect our beloved kingdom.

My liege, I must object.

Otto, please.

Send your dragons, Sire.

It is the only defense we have.

No.

The dragons are under my care.

They are yet too young, Sire.

They need more training.

They cannot fight a foe such as this.

Roon is right. They are too young,

and they have not flown fair since their mother died.

It is too great a risk to send them.

But, Sire...

Save your breath, Hagen.

You have sent your best...

but I am king.

My blood flows in his noble veins,

the blood of a fighter.

If I had seen as few winters as he has,

I would put my own sword up against this witch.

But, alas...

My Otto, great warrior of this house and land,

champion and heir to my throne,

shall slay this witch for the kingdom...

and protect our citizens from harm.

I am honored, you see it my way, father.

I will enlist my best men.

Otto, this witch and her beast,

they are foes like you have never fought before.

You will need help.

And I will have none of yours, Volker.