บท 50: LOTR Casting
(Earl Trek POV)
In all my years as chief of the Gloomstone trolls, I never imagined I'd be face-to-face with a demon in our village. Let alone one seeking me out. And not just any demon, but a Morningstar.
The name alone sends a chill down my spine. Morningstar. Rulers of the largest chunk of the Anatolia Continent. The family that has demon generals and lords at their beck and call. I've seen what one demon lord can do - the kind of power that could wipe our entire race off the map without breaking a sweat.
And now, here's one of their princes, crouching in our humble village, smiling like he's come for afternoon tea.
I grip my staff tighter, hoping the tremor in my hands isn't visible. Every instinct screams at me to run, to hide, to do anything but stand here facing this impossibly powerful being. But I'm the chief. I can't show fear. Not now.
"What can I do for you, my lord?" I manage to ask, proud that my voice doesn't quaver.
As I wait for his response, my mind races. Why is he here? What could a Morningstar possibly want from us? We're nothing in the grand scheme of things, just simple forest dwellers trying to live our lives in peace.
I steal a glance at Eli, my daughter. She looks pale, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and... is that guilt? What does she know about this?
I push the thought aside. Whatever's happening, whatever this Arthur Morningstar wants, I need to handle it carefully. One wrong move, one misspoken word, and it could spell disaster for our entire village.
The fate of our people rests on this conversation.
***
(Arthur POV)
I size up the troll chief standing before me. He's a bit taller than the others, with an air of intelligence that sets him apart. But what really catches my eye is the fear - not just on his face, but mirrored in every troll around us. It's like they're expecting me to breathe fire or something.
Time to put them at ease. Or at least, as much as possible.
"I'm here for a proposal, Mr..." I trail off, realizing I've forgotten a crucial detail. "You are?"
The chief straightens up a bit. "I'm Earl Trek, my lord."
"Earl Trek," I repeat, letting the name settle. "Well, Mr. Trek, I have a proposition for you and your people." I gesture to the crowd of wide-eyed trolls. "I'm offering you a job."
You'd think I'd just announced the sky was falling. Earl's jaw drops, and a wave of shocked murmurs ripples through the crowd.
"A job?" Earl echoes, like he's never heard the word before.
I nod, fighting back a grin. "Yes, a job."
Earl's brow furrows. "What job, my lord? We are nothing but trolls, mere forest dwellers."
Now it's my turn to smile. "That's exactly why I need you. Your magic, your ability to control the ancient trees - that's what I'm after."
The murmuring grows louder. I can't understand a word, but the mix of confusion and excitement is clear enough.
Earl translates their sentiment. "You need us for controlling the ancient trees?"
I nod again, then launch into an explanation of my film project. As I talk, I can see the fear in Earl's eyes slowly being replaced by curiosity, maybe even a hint of interest.
Especially when I get to the part about trading city resources - food, tools, things they can't easily get out here in the forest. It's like watching a flower bloom; Earl's posture relaxes, his eyes light up.
Who knew? Turns out trolls and demons aren't so different after all. We all like a good deal.
***
(Klein Schemer POV)
Two days since Boss Arthur headed off to Gloomstone Forest, and I've been up to my horns in casting calls. Who knew finding the right extras and supporting roles could be such a headache? But we're getting there, slowly but surely.
The elves were a mixed bag. Firfel's on board as Arwen, thank the dark lords. Having a familiar face – and a talented one at that – is a relief. The rest of the elven roles? Not as tricky as I feared. Turns out there's no shortage of elves eager to be part of a Hellfire Studios production.
Dwarves were a breeze. Plenty of them call Morningstar Kingdom home, and they're not shy about stepping in front of a camera. Though I didn't have to cast Gimli – George, the boss's dwarf buddy, practically strong-armed his way into that role. Hope he can act as well as he can tinker.
While casting elves and dwarves has been a breeze, finding our "Hobbits" is proving to be a whole different kettle of fish. Boss Arthur was very specific about what he wants for these roles, especially for the main character.
"Hobbits" - this fictional race Boss dreamed up - they're not your average mythical creatures.
Fortunately, we've found that half-human, half-dwarf individuals fit the bill pretty well.
It's like Arthur had them in mind when he came up with Hobbits. We've managed to cast a bunch of them for the supporting Hobbit roles, but finding our Frodo Baggins? That's turning into a real headache.
Arthur's description of Frodo is ridiculously specific. He needs to have this innocent look, but with a hint of determination in his eyes. Not too tall, not too short (even for a half-dwarf), with curly hair that's just the right shade of brown.
We've seen dozens of hopefuls, but none of them quite hit the mark. Too tall, too gruff, not innocent-looking enough - the list of "almosts" is growing by the day. I'm starting to wonder if this perfect Frodo exists outside of Arthur's imagination.
The worst part? I can't even fall back on using pure humans or pure dwarves. Arthur's adamant that the Hobbits need to be distinct from both races. It's like trying to find a unicorn in a stable full of horses.
Just when I'm about to tear my horns out over this Frodo casting, the perfect candidate walks through the door. This half-human, half-dwarf guy shows up and nails the audition. He's got that innocent look with a hint of determination that Boss Arthur's been harping on about. I'm practically salivating at the thought of finally filling this role.
But before I can even open my mouth to offer him the part, a familiar voice pipes up beside me.
"What's your name?"
I nearly jump out of my skin. It's Boss Arthur, appearing out of nowhere like some kind of magical jack-in-the-box.
"Boss? You're back so soon?" I stammer, trying to hide my surprise.
Arthur just nods, his eyes fixed on our potential Frodo.
"My name is Kurt Vault," the actor says, looking a bit starstruck.
Without missing a beat, Arthur says, "You'll be having the role of Frodo Baggins. Welcome."
And just like that, it's done. Days of searching, and Boss swoops in to make the final call in seconds. That's Arthur for you – always full of surprises.
After Kurt leaves, Arthur turns to me. "How's the casting here?"
I puff up a bit, proud of our progress. "It's going well, boss."
Arthur's smile has that hint of mischief I've come to recognize. "Speaking of which, how's our human casting going in Empirica? Any good news?"
Oh, right. I nearly forgot about that in all the Frodo excitement. "Actually, yeah. Mochi and the crew just sent word. They've locked in actors for Gandalf and Saruman. Seems Eric Roosevelt's been a big help with the casting over there."
"Very good," Arthur nods, looking pleased. He claps me on the shoulder. "I'm heading back to the Eastern Province. We're fixing up a spot for the Hobbit houses there."
Wait, what? "Eastern Province? I thought you were in Gloomstone Forest, boss."
Arthur just chuckles, like I've said something amusing. "Time waits for no demon, Klein. We've got to keep moving, hit all our filming spots, get everything ready. Tomorrow, we're off to the dark province by the Ashen Plains."
Before I can ask any more questions, he's gone, leaving me standing there with my mouth hanging open like some slack-jawed imp.
As I watch him disappear around the corner, my brain starts to catch up. Hang on a second... Didn't he just say he came from the Eastern Province? And now he's going back? And tomorrow he'll be in a completely different part of the kingdom?
I shake my head, trying to make the pieces fit. How in the nine hells is he moving around so fast?
บท 51: Cat's already out of the bag
(Arthur POV)
The Eastern Province is a breath of fresh air compared to the other places I've been in the Morningstar Kingdom. Here in the Green Forest, it's like someone plucked Hobbiton straight out of my imagination and planted it right here in our realm. The rolling hills, the lush greenery - it's perfect for bringing the Shire to life.
I've sunk a small fortune into this place already. Fifty thousand dollars to a company in Grass City to build our Hobbit houses. Most are just facades - all exterior, no interior - but Bilbo's place is the real deal, inside and out. It's got to be perfect; after all, it's where our story begins.
Getting the permits was a whole adventure in itself. Had to schmooze the lord of Grass City, convince him that letting a bunch of demons play make-believe in his forest was a good idea. But money talks, and a hundred thousand dollars later, we're the proud owners of 100,000 square meters of prime Hobbiton real estate.
A thousand dollars per square meter. It's enough to make even a demon's wallet weep. But I couldn't care less about the cost. This isn't just an expense; it's an investment.
Sure, I could've just rented the land, but where's the vision in that? If "Lord of the Rings" takes off like I think it will, this place could become a goldmine. Just look at what happened with "The Demonfather" locations - tourists flocking in, eager to walk in Michael Corleone's footsteps.
Imagine what they'll do for a chance to step into the Shire.
***
It's been five days since we started building Hobbiton in the Green Forest. I've been busy overseeing filming locations across the kingdom.
I've decided on the Shadow Plains in the dark province bordering Ashen Plains for Mordor. It fits the bill perfectly.
Gloomstone Forest is pulling double duty. The shallow parts match Fangorn, while the deeper sections work well for Mirkwood.
I've struck a deal with the trolls to help with some scenes later. Their tree manipulation skills will be useful.
As for the primal orcs in the deep forest, that's been trickier. They seem to hate us demons especially. I've heard their chiefs and elders can speak common tongue, but I haven't made contact yet. I'll need to get stronger before I try reasoning with them.
From what I've gathered, these orcs aren't as unreasonable as I first thought. They don't attack people randomly, instead hunting forest wildlife like goblins, boars, and monkeys for food.
It's interesting - even the animals here can use magic. That makes hunting challenging for the orcs.
There's still a lot to figure out, but we're making progress. One step at a time.
An hour later, the construction crew chief calls me over. "Mr. Morningstar, Bilbo's house is ready."
Curiosity gets the better of me, and I head straight there. Stepping inside, I can't help but grin. It's like my drawings have come to life. Sure, it's missing some accessories, but the bones are there. We're really doing this.
Outside, I gather the team. "Alright," I say, trying to keep the excitement out of my voice. "Tomorrow morning, we start filming. Get some rest tonight - it's going to be a busy day."
A chorus of "Understood, boss" rings out. Their faces are all business. Good. We'll need that focus.
I glance over at our cast. Jeremy, our Bilbo, is chatting with some of the other half-human, half-dwarf actors we've roped in as extras. In the corner, Kurt Vault - our Frodo - stands quietly, taking it all in. Kid looks nervous, but he's got the right look. He'll do fine.
Then there's Gerald Matthew, our Gandalf, watching everything with those piercing eyes of his. I've got to hand it to him - for a human from Empirica, he's been surprisingly cool about working with a bunch of demons. No condescension, just professionalism. I can respect that.
I check my watch. Time to head back to the capital and grab some last-minute supplies.
I make my way to the small hobbit house we won't be using for filming. From the outside, it looks just like the others - quaint, unassuming. Perfect for hiding a secret.
Inside, it's bare. No frills, no accessories. Just an empty space and a well-concealed trap door. Only a handful of people know about this place, and they're not allowed in without me. Can't be too careful.
I crouch down, running my hand along the floor until I feel the slight indentation. Pressing down and sliding it to the left, I hear a soft click. The trap door pops open, revealing a ladder descending into darkness.
As I climb down, my weight on the ladder triggers the mechanism, and the door above me slides shut. Wouldn't want any curious actors - or nosy crew members - stumbling upon this.
The hidden room is cool and quiet. In the center sits the inactive portal, waiting. I pull out the stone, whisper the activation phrase, and watch as the air shimmers and warps.
One step, a moment of disorientation, and I'm in the studio's hidden room. Just like that - from the Shire to the city in the blink of an eye.
"Welcome back, boss."
I turn to see George hunched over our "computer project" table, tinkering away as usual. "Is our new colored camera ready?" I ask, cutting straight to the chase.
George's face lights up like a kid on Hellmas morning. "Ready? It's more than ready. Those babies are several times better than our first camera. With the budget you gave me, I've improved everything - color, handling, lenses, stands, the works."
"Where are they? We start filming tomorrow," I remind him.
"Wait here," George says, practically bouncing with excitement as he disappears into the other room.
He returns, a camera balanced precariously between his shoulders. I wince. "Careful with that," I warn.
"I know, I know," he grumbles, gently setting it down.
But he's not done. George keeps shuttling back and forth, bringing out camera after camera, along with stands and what looks like enough equipment to film three movies simultaneously.
I can't help but chuckle. "You really outdid yourself, huh?"
George beams with pride. "I even have backup lenses in case anything breaks," he says, patting a nearby case. "And get this - using your blueprint for increasing the aspect ratio, I've managed to push these cameras to a 2.40:1 ratio. The lenses are crafted with a precise curvature that allows for a wider field of view without distortion."
George holds up a roll of film, his eyes gleaming with pride. "I've also successfully applied that idea from your blueprint. Like in the computer, I've put a memory in the camera, though it couldn't compare to our computer."
"You were able to do it?" I ask, genuinely surprised. I knew George was good, but this is beyond my expectations.
He nods enthusiastically. "Yes. This 'memory' can help correct color and other issues as we're filming. It's not perfect - we'll still need to edit afterwards - but it gives us a much better starting point."
I can't help but smile, patting him on the shoulder. "Good work, George."
With the tech update out of the way, I shift gears. "What's the news around here while I've been gone?" I ask, leaning against the workbench. Staying informed is crucial - you never know when a bit of news might come in handy.
George snaps out of his tech-talk trance, blinking as if remembering where he is. "Oh right, news. Actually..." He rummages through the clutter on his desk, fishing out a newspaper. "You might want to see this."
I take the paper, and there I am, staring back at myself as Michael Corleone. The headline screams: "Exiled Prince Arthur's Hellfire Studios Embarks on Biggest Film Project in World History. Millions Already Spent. Can Lightning Strike Twice After 'The Demonfather'?"
I can't help but smirk. "Well, they're not wrong about the 'biggest' part. But they're a bit late to the party, aren't they?"
George nods, then hands me another paper. "There's more."
This one's from closer to home: "Lord Antree of Grass City Reveals: Exiled Prince Purchases 100,000 sqm in Green Forest for Mystery Film Project."
"Huh," I mutter, shaking my head. "Looks like Lord Antree couldn't keep our little deal to himself. Can't say I'm surprised."
I skim through the articles, my mind already racing with potential implications. The cat's out of the bag now, for better or worse.
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