K&K Pilot Storyboards

The TAPAS special feature this week (I say "this week" as if I successfully do a special feature every week... not even close...) is one that I was a bit worried about when I posted the last one. I simply couldn't find where on my computer I had put the storyboards for the Keys & Kingdoms pilot! I worried I may have gotten rid of them, but no, I have successfully located them, and today I'd like to walk you through that pilot and tell you all about it.

Scene 1: boarded by McKenzie Eby & Naty Jenfjord

We open in an interrogation room of some sort, where some unseen investigators are questioning Airi, a small gargoyle. She explains that she was recruited by her best friend Zaya to locate a mystical sun talisman...

In flashback, set to the song "Get It Done", Airi explains how Zaya had finally pinpointed the location of the talisman she'd been searching for her whole life, how she put together an adventuring party and they made their way through a dungeon, rifling through a storeroom...

Where Airi secretly finds the talisman. Worrying that her entire bond with Zaya might be over and done if she finds her objective, Airi impulsively snaps the object in two, which causes a fireball to ripple out from it and burn the dungeon down.

Scene 2: boarded by Casey Gosselin

Some time later, the slender fey being Zaya is in the interrogation room, and explains that the dungeon they were exploring belonged to her enemy, Jax, a servitor of the fiery god Apep.

She explains how she broke into the dungeon compound, broke open a clock in the storeroom hoping it contained the talisman. She didn't find the talisman and Jax got away, and with that going on, she resents being held in this interrogation room now.

Scene 3: boarded by Michelle Jenfjord

Next in the interrogation room is the ethereal Cristela, who says this all began... the day she was born.

She explains her life story: born in a jungle grove -- alone as an adult, as is the way with fairies --  which she protected for some time before deciding her true calling was to enter the civilized world and recruit others to her cause of defending the natural world.

When pressed, she admits she knows nothing of any actual relevance.

Scene 4: boarded by Michelle Jenfjord

Next in the chair is Stacky, the lone human in the party but far from the most normal one. Asked for information on the other members of the party, she whips out her guitar and launches into "Stacky's Ballad", singing the praises of her fellowship.

Her musical number abruptly comes to an end as Stacky gets booted out of the interrogation room.

Scene 5: boarded by Naty Jenfjord

The next occupant of the interrogation room is Natha Lee, the awkward elven sorceress looking absolutely terrified at the trouble she's in.

She recalls how Zaya urged her to break the clock and finish the quest. She wonders briefly if Zaya wasn't being completely honest about the quest's objectives, but decides to have faith and trust her leader about the good that could be done with the talisman, and the evils Jax is planning.

Scene 6: boarded by Sadie Allen

Now we interrogate Kinzie, a tiny pixie. As we flash back to a fight scene in the dungeon compound, Kinzie nitpicks the petty flaws of every member of the party.

Except for Natha Lee, who we see broke down with fear, but whom Kinzie insists is all right.

Scene 7: boarded by Casey Gosselin

Finally, we share the interrogation room with Maer, a roguish elf. She's a bit surprised to learn what the others have claimed, and clears up the issue, mostly with Zaya's portion of the story.

The dungeon compound they traversed was in fact an ordinary mansion, and their enemy Jax, a foot-tall, rat-like myshka. Though admittedly, Maer isn't certain how the mansion burned down.

Scene 8: boarded by Sadie Allen

The city guardsmen who detained the adventurers let them go, apparently just being too lazy to prosecute them for the destruction of a mansion no one uses anymore.

The adventurers gather together now that they're free to go. Zaya apologizes that the quest wasn't as epic as they may have hoped, but swears that the sun talisman is really out there if they can find Jax and take it from her.

Everyone agrees to stick around, except for Maer, who backs out.

The rest are ready to find that evil priestess and put the sun talisman in good hands... but Airi, knowing what really happened, can only look away guiltily.