If you've got the time and the stomach for it,
I've got a story for you.
A tale of magic and witches,
of quests and of monsters.
Of good and of evil.
But make no mistake.
This is no fairy tale.
And there are no happy endings.
The world you know is gone,
consumed by the flames of a great war long ago
when death rained from the sky.
All that's left now are the Lost Lands,
filled with twisted creatures that dwell in the shadows.
What remains of humanity takes refuge in a single city.
Long ago, a mysterious witch,
Gray Alys, emerged from the Lost Lands.
This is the story of how we met
and how she saved the both of us.
Stop your work!
Let this be an example to all.
No one shall defy the church.
They say you can buy anything
you might desire from Gray Alys.
But it's better not to.
And still the people seek your help.
They're ignorant, uneducated.
Some are poor, some rich. All are desperate.
I refuse no one.
Do you know what the church says about the likes of you?
I'm sure you're going to tell me.
That you are of the devil
and it's our duty to root you out.
In the name of the Overlord,
ruler of the City Under The Mountain,
High Priest of the Faith,
I sentence you, Gray Alys,
to death by hanging.
Repent, woman.
What is happening to me?
You cannot be trusted.
You're a slave to the witch.
Hunt her down.
- To me. - Yes, ma'am.
Show yourself, witch.
Do it.
Witch!
I will find you.
You will burn in hell.
You will burn in hell, witch!
The witch that will not hang.
If a man wanted to ambush another man,
this would be the perfect spot.
Jump him while his eyes were still adjusting to the dark.
Maybe even bring three, four friends.
Make sure the job got done right.
This thing has never worked.
But this never fails.
Gray Alys.
Did you recognize my footsteps?
No. Your kindness.
This city gets worse and worse,
but you have always been so generous
ever since I was a child.
Only to you.
You never ask anything of me.
Strange.
You sound no different to when I was young,
but you must be old now like me.
Older.
Much older.
- I'm Jerais. - Captain of the Overwatch.
Have you come on behalf of the Overlord?
Or perhaps his queen?
What brings you to visit one like me?
It is said that for a price, you grant wishes.
What do you wish to buy?
Leave us.
I'm not sure if that is wise.
Some say you came from the Lost Lands
and that you know the things that live there.
Dark, unnatural things.
Is this what you want from me?
To tell you fairy tales?
I want from you the power to become a beast, Gray Alys.
To be more than human. Does that shock you?
I have seen too much to be shocked so easily.
So you can sell me the secret of shapeshifting?
To a wolf?
Are you certain you want what you ask for?
You might not be happy with what you receive.
- This is not your concern. - I am compelled to help.
- But I warn all who come to me. - I'm not all.
- Mm. - Will you accept my offer?
I refuse no one. I'll hire a hunter.
We'll find you a shapeshifter and take its power.
Give me until the full moon
and I will bring you what you desire.
Where will you go?
To the Lost Lands.
What is it, Jerais?
Do you refuse no one?
No one.
Then accept it as my payment. I wish to buy for myself.
This timepiece has been in my family for generations.
It's my most valuable possession.
And what do you wish for?
I want you to fail her.
The Overwatch is sworn to loyalty,
yet you betray your queen.
I am loyal.
I know what's good for her better than she knows herself.
This power that she seeks will destroy her.
I only want to help.
You lie, Jerais.
You reek of jealousy.
I will not argue with you.
If you will not sell to me, I will leave.
I refuse no one.
You shall have what you want.
Argh!
I'm sorry.
What is it you want?
Help me.
Shit.
Did you wet yourself again?
Can't you use the bell,
you old disgusting fool?
The mighty Overlord.
Hard to believe you built all this.
And that they still fear you.
You're nothing more than a filthy pig,
just like all men.
My queen?
All men, except for one.
Don't leave yet.
I have to.
Before they see me.
I can't stay here.
Hurry back. Please.
I will.
Perhaps.
Halt, in the name of the Overlord.
What are you doing here?
The stronger the spirits,
the weaker the senses.
You're coming with us.
Stop!
That was half full.
I hear you're a hunter, that you travel the Lost Lands.
I have use of such a man.
Came here to play cards, not to talk.
All in.
You ready to talk now?
What's your name?
Boyce.
I'm looking for a guide.
Someone who knows the Lost Lands.
- I'm expensive. - I have money.
I know you do. Most of it's mine.
Are you worth it?
Would you be here talking to me if I wasn't?
The Lost Lands are no place for city folk.
Why is that?
Because they're weak.
Do I look weak to you?
Look.
Outside these walls, the laws of the city,
of man, even of nature, they don't apply.
So whoever you think you are here,
out there you'd just be a hindrance.
Let's make a deal.
If I ever slow you down,
you have my permission to leave me behind.
And I'll do the same to you.
Why do you want to leave the city?
I'm looking for a man who can turn into a beast.
All men are beasts.
But not all men are monsters.
You're looking for a shapeshifter.
Yes. I need to kill it in its lair to take its power.
I've heard of such a man.
What do you know of him?
They call him Sardor, the Great Wolf.
Where does this man, this Sardor, live?
In a place called Skull River.
Skull River.
That's my destination.
Not many have travelled there.
- No one's come back. - Guide me...
and this can be yours.
I've heard of these. Never seen one.
I'll take it.
And the coin you stole from me.
You'll receive your payment once I get to Skull River.
Friends of yours?
Yeah, I don't have many friends.
Me neither.
Gun!
Argh!
Find them.
That bitch killed my snake!
No one shall defy the Church.
It is the Church that protects the peace
of this city with its laws.
The Church that puts fear into the hearts of the godless.
The Church that keeps the evils
of the Lost Lands at bay.
We are God's instruments,
placed on this earth to protect you from such evils.
Hunt down the sinners, the heretics, and the witches.
Bring them to me and you shall be rewarded.
Gray Alys, with a man.
They left the city together.
The people lose respect for us.
"The witch that will not hang."
Gray Alys has become a symbol of their defiance.
She left you alive on that cross to humiliate us.
This woman needs to die.
There is another matter.
- What is this? - Tell him.
Tell him.
A man and a woman went to see her.
I heard their names.
It was Jerais and the queen.
If the queen has been consorting with a heretic,
it would be her downfall.
Make sure the witch makes a full confession
before she hangs.
No mistakes.
No good.
Never saw a man get emotional about a snake before.
I'm not emotional, it just...
It was a damn good snake, that's all.
Here. The pin was bent. It should work well now.
As long as you stop beating men to death with it.
A clever man might choose to kill his client on the road
and take his payment early.
But no one ever accused me of being a clever man.
This is Ross's place.
He and his sister Mara are old friends of mine.
Are we?
Hey, Ross.
It's good to see you.
And Mara.
- Welcoming as ever. - It's been a while.
You look soft.
The City has been treating you well.
- As have the women, I bet. - Mm.
Ooh-ooh!
Uh, meet my traveling companion, Gray Alys.
Welcome.
A friend of Boyce is a friend of ours.
The powers I want from Sardor
will be strongest in his lair.
How much longer till Skull River?
- A week, maybe longer. - I need him as a wolf.
So we need to get there before the full moon.
That won't be easy.
Well, if it was easy, I wouldn't need you.
The only way would be following the train tracks.
The tunnels cut through the mountains.
It'd be dangerous, but we'd save maybe a day or two.
Yeah.
You need another drink.
Always happy to see me.
It gets boring out here.
Lucky her.
So, who is this woman
you're traveling with?
None of your concern.
Do you like her?
Not the way I like you.
Ah.
Will it be another year until I see you again?
Mm. If I'm still alive.
One year... a long time in the Lost Lands.
You come, you go.
I don't know anything about you.
What do you want to know?
Do you ever get lonely?
I do.
Let me tell you about loneliness.
Think of a child...
out there in the darkness.
Afraid.
His parents beaten to death...
right in front of his eyes.
The boy travels the wasteland,
hiding from the outlaws
and the raiders during the day,
and the creatures and the ghouls at night.
Till one day that boy becomes a man,
and his heart and his mind harden.
But still he travels on, silently,
scared to get close to anyone for fear of losing them.
That is loneliness.
And that little boy was you.
No. Hell, no. Of course not.
I've never cried a day in my life.
You really don t know anything about me.
Those are the last friendly faces we'll see.
There's only the Lost Lands ahead of us now.
What are you doing here?
Offering a prayer for the Overlord's swift return.
Patriarch, the train and a large contingent
of your enforcers have left the city.
- Who authorized this? - I did.
- Where are they going? - To catch the witch Gray Alys.
- She is wanted for heresy. - Your men are needed here.
There is growing unrest in the streets.
You leave us vulnerable, Patriarch.
Witchcraft is punishable by death,
both for the witch and all who consort with her.
I do not care about her or what she does.
- And why is that? - Do not question me.
- I speak for the Overlord. - Forgive me.
But you are right, these are dangerous times.
The Overlord's hand is losing its grip.
I see defiance everywhere.
- And there are rumors. - What rumors?
- I cannot. - What rumors?
Of your infidelity.
Nothing but lies.
Yes. Vile words spoken by the basest of tongues.
But even amongst the scum and rabble, lies have power.
The queen is guilty of consorting with a witch.
I see it clearly now.
Bring me Gray Alys and her confession.
I will do the rest.
The Overlord is dying,
and with no heir, the queen is weak.
Soon, there will be a new day in the city.
And with the new dawn, a new Overlord.
Aah! Please!
- God. - No!
I told you all I know!
Aah! I swear!
No! No! No!
Stop! No!
Skull River!
That's where they're going.
Skull River!
That's where they're going.
Burn it.
Do you have a family out here, Boyce?
A home?
The Lost Lands are a lonely place.
The city, too.
They call it the Rift.
There's a place up ahead where we can make a safe crossing.
Sirus!
Where you at, old man?
That's my friend's cable car.
Old Sirus will take us over for a silver coin.
He keeps fresh horses on the other side.
You're paying.
Sirus?
Wait here.
Boyce?
Seems Sirus had visitors.
So do we.
So you're Boyce. The Hunter.
We asked the old man if you had already crossed.
He wasn't very helpful.
I always liked Sirus.
Who is that with you, hunter?
None of your tricks, witch.
You can't look us in the eye.
Hand her over and we'll let you live.
There's a bounty on her head.
Sorry, she hired me first.
A man of principle. Who'd have thought?
Give us the witch or you both die.
No.
No one shall defy the Church.
You say you're servants of God?! What kind of God is this?!
The vengeful kind.
You came here looking for a monster.
Now you found one.
Boyce...
Behold.
A resurrection.
No!
Boyce, we have to go.
- Argh! - Let's go!
Quick!
Argh!
Ah!
Cut the cable.
Cut the cable!
Cut it!
Argh!
We have to climb!
Come on!
Argh!
Why didn't she finish me?
She tried.
A witch, indeed.
How do we cross?
We have to go around.
Then let's move.
They'll be headed for the mountains.
No. Hell is where they're headed.
You all right?
Drunk.
Hmm!
Thank you.
I could've died back there.
No, you couldn't.
Not until you get me to Skull River.
Okay. I'm ready.
Would you mind stitching me up?
Of course.
I think I'd like to pass out now.
Nice work.
Still hurts.
Drink this.
You're thinking about your friends?
I'm sorry.
Ross was a good man.
Known him a long time.
Mara.
I'm going to kill them for what they did.
Why do you travel out here, Boyce?
I love the city, the people.
A strong drink, good food.
Yet a part of me only feels at home here.
Listening to the wind.
Watching the shadows.
See there, Gray Alys?
See the way the lights shimmer and shift?
You can see shapes in them if you look long enough.
Yes.
It's beautiful.
I knew you'd see.
We're alike, you and I.
In our blood.
We're two of a kind.
I could see it in your eyes.
You are pregnant.
You may go now.
Did you hear?
Of course you didn't.
We have an heir.
Not that you had anything to do with it.
Do you want to know who the father
of the new Overlord is?
Boyce.
That's his name.
A simple hunter.
I once was a simple girl myself.
Look at me now.
The train.
We'll need to take the pass or they'll run us down.
It'll be dangerous.
When night falls, demons roam these mountains.
We have no choice.
This is where we make a stand.
Help me with these.
We need a fire all night.
Flame is the only thing they fear.
We don't have long.
Prepare yourself.
Here they come.
Gray Alys.
You should not have
come back here.
Leave him.
Boyce!
Help me! Boyce!
The fire from your hands,
I didn't feel it.
There was no fire.
It couldn't have hurt us.
But to them the illusion was real enough.
Why do you suffer then?
The powers I wield come at a price.
I heard the monster talking to you.
He knew me.
A long time ago.
How?
There is a great treasure inside of this place.
An immense power.
A man came to me.
He was greedy, power hungry.
They all are.
But I can refuse no one, so I helped him.
But this place is poison.
It turned him and his men into what you saw.
He shouldn't have asked me for help.
No one should ever ask me for help.
I should just be left alone.
You're with me now.
There are tracks to the west.
They are close.
The Overlord is dead,
but the queen is with child!
All hail the new Overlord!
The Overlord is dead!
All hail the new Overlord.
And all hail the queen.
All hail the queen.
Hail the Overlord and hail the queen.
Thank you, Patriarch.
Now we both have what we wanted.
You have your heir and I have his power.
16 years until your child will be of age.
We couldn't ask for his authority
to be in better hands.
You are too kind.
I wouldn't have anything, Patriarch,
not without your wise advice and unfailing support.
- I hope that will never change. - Your loyal servant.
Always.
A dirty whore sits upon the throne of the city.
An affront to all that is good and pure.
Our time is running out.
Her power grows stronger by the day.
Find me the witch. Bring me her confession.
Then the witch and the whore will hang together.
But hurry. Do you hear me? Hurry!
Tomorrow we'll reach Skull River.
- Will he be there? - Sardor?
I don't know. I hope not.
I need to face him alone.
Then you will die.
One always has to die.
This is madness.
You should leave.
You did what I paid you to do.
I never should have accepted your offer.
But you did.
Leave, Boyce.
- Save yourself. - No.
Forget this. Turn around.
I cannot.
Why?
Because I have no choice.
No one should ever ask me for help.
Gray.
Come back.
With me.
Don't you understand, Boyce?
I'm cursed.
No one should ever get close to me.
I don't care.
The Patriarch calling to the faithful.
This is the moment we've been working for.
What we've been dreaming of since we were small,
looking up at this place.
But he can take it all away from us.
My Overwatch outnumber his men now.
But he is still dangerous.
Would you do anything for me?
Anything.
You are my good soldier.
You're quiet.
Skull River lies up ahead.
They're coming.
We can't outrun 'em.
We won't have to.
- The witch! - Yes!
Our time is upon us.
Make haste! Do you hear me?
Make haste!
You will not escape us this time!
There will be a new day in the city.
Repent, witch!
No!
Without the witch,
we must take the throne by force.
Assemble my guard.
Do you hear me?
Brothers! Brothers, to me!
There is no use. Your brothers are dead.
You heretic.
In the name of the Overlord,
protector of the City Under The Mountain,
I hereby sentence you, Patriarch, to death.
My God. How many has he killed?
Everyone that's come against him.
Look at all this.
Someone lives here.
Sardor.
This fire hasn't been lit in weeks.
Tonight will be the full moon.
He will come then.
It's not too late to turn back.
We could leave now.
You think he would let us?
Do you think he's not watching us?
You could go. I could hold him back.
No.
It is too late for that.
It will be a full moon tonight.
You're still thinking about that witch.
She promised me.
You don't need what she promised.
You have everything now.
Not everything.
Silver?
Silver.
Your weapons will be useless.
They've come against him with silver.
Silver swords, silver knives,
arrows tipped with silver.
They're all dust now,
all those brave, silvered warriors.
Please, don't do this.
We have no choice.
I think he's very close now, Boyce.
What say you?
Not yet. There's still time, Gray.
I think you lie, hunter!
There was never any Sardor.
Only you.
You knew? You knew what I was?
I cared for you.
All this time, you tried to deceive me.
You thought you could bring me here
and kill me like the rest!
You shouldn't have ever
come here... here, Gray Alys.
I tried to warn you.
Argh!
Calm.
You need to rest while the moon is still covered.
You have a gift I'd kill for.
You change at will, full moon or not.
No. It was just an illusion.
To distract you, to leave you vulnerable.
We're the same, Gray.
- Don't you see? - Yes.
Two of a kind.
You are still weak.
Sleep.
Hmm?
Untie me.
I don't understand.
Why? You saved me.
You would not like my answer, Boyce.
It's the moon.
Are you afraid of what'll happen if I change again?
I won't harm you, Gray Alys.
- Not now. - I do not fear you, Boyce.
I know you too well.
I learned all your weaknesses along the way.
I even added to them.
What are you talking about?
I'm so sorry.
But your fate was sealed when you met me.
You were right, Boyce.
Silver weapons were not enough.
You poisoned me?
I had to put silver in your blood.
Why didn't you just let me die?
Because dead things have no power.
Hey, wait, wait, wait!
You... you have to grant my wish.
You can refuse no one. Those are your words.
- What do you wish for, Boyce? - I want you.
I want us to be together.
I want us to hunt together, to fight together.
To find an end to all this loneliness?
Yes, you want it, too, I know it.
I refuse no one.
But there is a price to be paid.
Name it. Anything.
Very well.
The witch is back!
It's her! It's her!
- She's back! - She's back! The witch!
The witch that will not hang!
Get back to work!
The witch that will not hang!
- The witch that will not hang! - Down with the Overlord!
Down with the Church!
Down with the Overlord!
Down with the Church!
Down with the Overlord! Down with the Church!
Down with the Overlord!
Down with the Church!
Take this.
Tell the queen to cut herself,
to drip her own blood onto the skin and wear it.
Tonight will be the end of the lunar cycle.
She must do it before the end of the night.
Then the power will be hers.
Wolf skin?
The skin of a shapeshifter killed in its lair.
Well, Gray Alys, you have done what she asked of you,
but you have failed me.
I did not pay you for success.
Now, give me my timepiece back.
No, Jerais. I've earned it.
But I did not get what I asked for.
But you got what you wanted.
- And what is that? - The queen herself.
There was a man, the father of her child.
You wanted her, but knew he stood in your way.
I have changed that.
Who was this man?
What was his name?
His name was Boyce.
No!
She killed Boyce!
No, please.
It could never have been.
What are you talking about?
He was a beast.
Beast?
What do you know of it?
He twisted you. You changed.
You did this.
I did what I had to do. I protected you.
- You betrayed me. - No, no. I...
You had him killed. The father of my child!
Oh!
- Please. - No!
I would do anything for you.
Then die for me.
I did this for you, Boyce.
So we could be together, hunt together.
The witch that will not hang!
Down with the Overlord!
So, how'd you like my story?
I still don't know how it ends.
Maybe with me skinning you alive,
just like you did to me.
I'm not sure I like that ending.
Too bad.
I knew you were the queen's lover.
- Don't leave yet. - You know what I am.
- I can't stay here. - You said the only woman
you could truly love would be someone like you.
- You are not that. - But what if I could be?
I want from you the power to become a beast, Gray Alys.
- I refuse no one. - I want you to fail her.
- I refuse no one. - I want you.
I refuse no one.
I knew that the queen's desires
would lead to revolution.
And that she would never wear your skin.
I knew you would live.
You're lying.
Just like I know that'll misfire.
They say you can buy anything you might desire
from Gray Alys...
...but it is better not to.
And isn't this what we wished for?