[WP] Write an episode of a "police procedural" show, but make the setting fantasy.

...

Scribe and Mana Record of 52nd Patrol: Holy Knights of Dotera's Southwestern Territory

Orb footage is filmed on location with the men and women of Church enforcement. All suspects are Guilty until proven Innocent in a court of the Faith.

Holy music plays as the first image appears, detailed and carved wooden piece glowing with the light of white mana.

ACT I: Locals Calling

Scene starts in the High Church of Dotera, symbol of the Southwestern State prominent along the walls and doctrine visible. Priests are humming in sermon as the massive wooden doors open to let out the team of Paladin lead Knights from their morning prayers. Each is wielding a church-blessed weapon, and holds themselves with utmost confidence in their march along the polished stone floors.

Scene soon cuts to a shift in angle and perspective towards the Main Paladin, who stops short by a backdrop of perfectly crafted stone engravings. The man huffs, clearing his throat into and armored fist before he begins.

"Hello devoted listeners. I'm Paladin Drome, here with the Southwestern Church's Divine protectors, leader of the Holy Knights Division. Today, with the help of the Church's Scribe Mages, we'll be recording and documenting with Glass Mana-Spheres a typical and routine day of work under the light."

Recording shifts slightly, presenting the others in company as Paladin Drome begins to pace along side them. His gallant and perfect polished armor reflecting the sun's rays as he raises his hand towards the soldiers. His voice booms as he continues, sound of hymns still floating through the thick wooden doors nearby.

"Here in the Southwestern Territories, most of our God-given work involves patrolling and responding. Out in the back-roads of the Red Stone lands, the villages of Dotera are constantly under threat from vile and heretic scum, or worse. Rogue orcs, Goblins, Bandits: Where the Church lacks a presence, the Dark Mage's influence seeps."

With a wave of command from Drome, all armored soldiers beside drawn their swords and maces with unity, shouting a powerful cry of force and determination. Paladin Drome smiles at the recording's source, wisps of white mana flowing out into the sunlit air.

"But fear not brave and devote citizen of Dotera, for we of the Holy Order will stop at nothing to eradicate such threats."

ACT II: Battle Mage

Footage cuts, and the scene shifts- swirling clouds of mana and lights withing the glass sphere shifting about to a pale fog before resolving once more with a simple scene of a local village. Paladin Drome stands quietly as the wind lifts his cape in dramatic fashion, as the people of the town walk by quietly, bowing in silent respect as they carry on with their daily tasks.

"Today we've received a report from the scribe division of a Goblin invasion that was stopped by townfolk with help from a Battlemage of the Southwestern Territories. Mages of this nature can be deviant to the faith, though often their intentions are no worse than your average merchant's. For coin or services, they provide assistance in the absence of Holy Law."

The image of Drome's face enhances, as the scene slowly magnifies towards him.

"But, we have received an anonymous tip that this Battlemage is operating without Church License. That is a criminal offense."

Scene shifts, fog coalescing on the holy symbol of the church as dramatic organ and choir music plays through an interlude. It quickly resumes from a hilltop overlooking a large field beside a thick forest. Beneath the field a strange plot of blackstone rests quietly, surrounded by a barricade of deeply-driven entrenching spears. Inside of the barricade, a strange metal beast rests silently. From a distance, it almost resembles a large insect- perhaps slain, lying beside an armored carriage of some foreign make. Within that barricaded enclosure, a single man sits plainly visible on a bench of unusual metal, nursing a steaming cup of what seems to be tea of some local variety.

The footage once again transfers its perspective towards Paladin Drome, catching his armored division of Holy Knights atop the hill as well. The Sun of High-noon brings the silver polish of their armor to an almost-white glow. Drome Begins to speak, hushed somewhat as if attempting to avoid alerting their brilliant presence immediately.

"Below is the reported Battlemage, who has come to hold very high respect for those among the village. Of those we've spoken to, all praised his ability and provided us with some understanding of his circumstances. It is said that he can cast powerful magic from a longer range than most casters- and he used these abilities to slay the Goblins that lived in the nearby forest."

The footage within the glass orb focuses on the tall and dark tree line, dozens of graves with thin stick markers dotting the perimeter. Drome speaks tensely.

"As he is not of the faith, we will need to approach with strength- yet caution. Skittish Rogue Mages can do great harm if they perceive themselves endangered." Many of the company ready their weapons and shields as the Paladin's Hand raises in signal. "I recommend you hold to a safe distance behind the Guard."

The footage seems to bob in a short nod as it follows robed feet as they quickly rush behind the squad of Soldiers, before the group descends the hill and approaches the lone Mage and strange metal creature. The sound of footsteps marching begins again.

"Ho-there. Mage of the Red Stone, I am Paladin Drome of the South-Western Holy Church. We've come on scribe reports that you're the one who has cleared out the Goblin tribe for the locals."

The Mage looks up from the bench setting down the steaming cup as his hands slowly reached for the strange metal and wooden piece at his side. Drome begins to approach the Barricade, stopping at the edge of the sharpened tips. Red stains are visibly present on the wood. The Mage stood slowly, strange metal piece pointing at the ground towards the Holy Squadron's direction.

"Aye... I dealt with the Goblins. Had some help though."

As the suspected Mage replies, Paladin Drome lets out a huff of accomplishment, almost gleeful to the admittance. "We also have reports that you've been operating magics in Dotera's Territories without a licence! Goblins or no- that's a Criminal offense."

The footage freezes for a moment, voice-over cutting through.

"Any admittance of Magic without a licence is a criminal offence for exception of direct pardon from the rank of a Holy Bishop or greater. The punishment for such a crime can range on the degree and reason, but often results in a pittance to the Church, and Jail time."

"Well, I can't do magic at all. So there's no problem I imagine." The Mage quickly responds, as if covering their previous statement. They are still pointing the strange object in the Holy order's general direction, eyes watching the Knights behind Drome with suspicion.

"I have it on witness testimony that you can. How else would you explain all this?" Paladin Drome's tone shifts slightly, less pleased and a hint of irritation slipping into his deep voice, as his armored hands reach towards the first of the spikes. His hand raises in a clear signal to the rest of the soldiers under his command. "I'm afraid by Church Law, we're going to have to take you in for questioning."

The Mage rises, quickly leveling the metal and wooden piece. As the footage zooms to inspect it closer, the piece seems to look like a long pipe of perfect shaping, mounted on a bracket of wood and stock. Atop it there seems to be something similar to a looking glass- of the variety collected by wealthy noble families.

"Well I have it on personal testimony that I really can't use magic, but I can use this just fine- So I'd back right up if I were you."

"No Magic?" The Paladin seemed to hesitate slightly, wisps of faith and mana steaming off into the air from his armor.

"Old Nan says I ain't got more than a lick of mana in me besides a bit of the sight." The suspected Mage raises whatever device is in his hands, aiming it in a manner similar to that of a crossbow- eye peering through the glass piece. "So back off or so help me, I'll shoot right on through that armor of yours and out the otherside."

The footage gets shaky, breathing of the scribe-mage recording through the mana sphere obviously experiencing unsteadiness by the quick escalation of events. The Knights all raise their shields, and Drome's whisper is heard- directed towards the lead armored figure beside him, a holy chime raising slightly in their hands.

"Doubtful without Magic Battle-Mage. Does he speak the truth Cleric?" Drome steps back hesitant for a brief instant.

"He's not casting magics Paladin. In fact, I don't see much of anything but the Fae floating along him and that piece. His mana is unusual in texture, but insignificant."

Drome steps forward, breaking the first entrenched spear as his mace smashes aside a second. The footage captures the splinters as they fly off into the air with resounding clarity as the man's voice booms with the magics of faith. "Then he won't be capable of stopping us from bringing him in, regardless- Freeze him!"

The Cleric beside Paladin begins a hymn and cast, but a terribly loud "CRACK" interrupts the song- and a heavy grunt from the Cleric sounds. The holy Chime shatters into dozens of metal pieces- stopping the cast, just the Mage begins to back away from the barricade of spears, metal and wooden piece smoking.

"HE'S SUMMONED FIRE! RAISE SHIELDS!" Paladin Drome's shout is heard in the resulting confusion, as the Magic sphere's footage falls to the ground, terrified scribe's gasps overshadowing the shouts and commands that follow- catching the action of stomping feet and drawing swords. Shouts turn to panic as the metal creature behind the barricade opens a thick and armored gill, and the mage jumps inside- before the creature's eyes light up with a disturbing glow and a terrible growl- lunching forward with dirt and mud thrown back beneath it.

"BEAST-TAMER! VILE SCUM!" Drome's voice is the only still holding to reason as the footage seems to roll in a heightened panic of shouts and clamor, out of the path of the massive creature as it bursts from the protected barricade, trailing a strange armored carriage behind it. A shielded Knight is smashed aside without the slightest hesitation falling heavy to the ground as the monstrosity takes to the hill, cresting it with tremendous speed before reaching the gravel path above it. "AFTER IT! QUICKLY!"

Not missing a single step in the chaos, Paladin Drome leads the charge- leaping bravely after the creature and trailing metal carriage, mace held high and magics of faith swirling about him.

The Sphere shakes with the scribe's apparent efforts to keep in sight of the chase, soon slowing as the creature moves with unnatural speed down the road- far quicker than even a horse's pace might match. In moments all that is left is the sight of rising dust in the air, clouds slowly being swept away by the winds. Many villagers stare in shock at the Holy Knights panting with exhaustion, and a single older villager cackles, withered hand slapping his knee with heaving laughter until a stern old woman grabs him, pulling him away from the Knights and back towards a smaller foot-trodden path away from the road.

Footage focuses once more on Paladin Drome's face, overlooking his now dirt covered armor. Grim expressions turn towards the orb and scribe once more, before the scene ends, fading back to the same interlude as before.

ACT III: Return from Patrol

Scene resumes, once again beside the intricate stone work. All the armor is now either replaced or cleaned to perfection, and many of the Knights stand at perfect attention, for the exception of one who rests on a bench with his arm in a sling- attended to by several priests and clerics.

"As you can see, a career in the Holy Knight's division is nothing for the faint of heart. Any chance meeting- no matter how routine, can quickly spiral out of control."

Paladin Drome's normally pleasant expression still hold a grim look, eyes focused and serious. His tone continues though, confident and prepared as the footage pulls back to show the Holy Church around them.

"As I said before, Out in the back-roads of the Red Stone lands, the villages of Dotera are constantly under threat from vile and heretic scum. Rogue orcs, Goblins, bandits- even rogue Mages like the one we saw today: But fear not brave and devote citizens of Dotera. We of the Holy Order will stop at nothing to eradicate such threats. So long as you believe in the Light, you can place you faith in us as well."

Scene fades with a powerful and dramatic rendition of the holy prayer- sphere's view lifting up towards the glass ceiling of the church- catching the colors of tinted glass and faith-magics imbued within the material as the footage coalesces to pieces of parchment upon a wooden turning table, and the narrator's monotone voice returns.

"As of the time of this mana-recording, all Knights under Paladin Drome's command have fully recovered from the altercation witnessed, but the Rogue Mage of Red Stone has still not been captured. The order of the Faith, and the Holu Church of the Southwestern Territories has posted a wanted bounty upon the man, as well as a reward for any information on his abilities and whereabouts, but none have yet come forward."

Scene ends, and the credits roll by hand and wheel, parchment on the table slowly passing along until the orb fades to black.