Document 001 4-14-2015
On a murky, moonlit evening in the Florida Everglades
We meet the hulking Man-Thing who guards a secret threshold. As a slow and silent ship through the mire he draws Toward anyone who may approach the Nexus. Other times, he only remains still. For days.
The Nexus of All Realities in the Florida Everglades
Has been known to magicians and mystics, alien visitors from all dimensions, ghosts, gods and gods greater than gods For ages and eons and across all Realms.
Yet unseen to the naked eye of the unwitting one who draws near it, and so an unfailing, unfeeling sentry stands guard.
Eyes like beetles' backs set behind a massive carcass of rotting swamp and marsh black with the essence of centuries of dead things It knows only to go when a heartbeat stirs the muck and touch whoever is there. A being not prepared for the the presence of this Man-Thing is not prepared to approach the Nexus. the Man-Thing's touch burns anyone with a heart wracked with fear. The Nexus will not sustain a coward.
It's through he or it we first meet Howard.
DOC001 9/14/16
THE EVERGLADES...
A swamp glimmers and glurps in inky moonlight. A form moves through the muck. The Man Thing's red, inscrutable eyes blaze in the moonlight.
JENNIFER: ...but Master Dak'him, is the Man Thing man or beast?
DAK'HIM: He is Neither.
A YOUNG COUPLE SERVICING A STALLED VEHICLE UPON THE ROAD RUNNING BESIDE THE SWAMP.
DAK'HIM: He only knows the emotions of others. Perhaps he only knows his purpose. His purpose is to guard a very special place: the Nexus Of All Realities. With his hands.
WE SEE NOW THAT THE MAN THING IS APPROACHING IN THE DEEP, MURKY SWAMP BESIDE THE ROAD.
DDAK'HIM: His awful hands. He is drawn by his purpose to mortal souls, and if he senses fear in them, they burn in the grip of his awful hands. This is how he protects the Nexus. The Nexus Of All Realities is no place for one who fears death.
DAK'HIM'S LAIR. JENNIFER GESTURES TOWARD A SWIRLING PORTAL...
JENNIFER: Through there? But what of the other rifts? Won't the Man Thing attack your champions?
DAK'HIM: Attack? No. He will fight beside us. I've cast a spell upon these dice. The spell will draw the rifts to only the most fearless of those standing where the realities converge. You must stay. I go now to battle Thog.
EVERGLADES: A RIFT APPEARS SOMEWHERE AMONG THE BANYONS. BESIDE THE ROAD, THE APPROACHING MAN THING IS SEEN BY THE COUPLE AT THE STALLED CAR. THE GIRL SCREEMS IN TERROR, BUT THE MAN THING SLOWS HIS APPROACH AND TURNS AWAY TO PERSUE ANOTHER SOUL.
DEEPER WITHIN THE SWAMP WE SEE ANOTHER RIFT GLOW AND EXTINGUISH IN THE DISTANCE. WE SEE THEN THE MAN THING'S RELENTLESS TRUDGE FROM A HIGH PERCH. THEN, FROM A DISTANCE, WE SEE KORREK, WHO HAD COME THROUGH THE FIRST RIFT, LEAP UPON MAN THING AND THE TWO DO BATTLE.
