Logline

Protagonists: Sheria and Kerrik

Hook: Someone is killing their gods and stealing dragon eggs.

Central Conflict: A bounty hunter guild was hired, and they can't figure out who hired them. 

Two heirs must infiltrate a notorious bounty-hunting guild to discover who hired them to kill the empire’s gods. Their mission is to stop the deadly dragon hunters, recover the stolen eggs, and figure out why someone would wish the empire’s dragons dead.

 

Roadmap Draft- 514 words

 

Sheria El-Zacharius may hold the title of heir to the Dragon Isles of El-Sadishé, but if it were up to her, she would spend her entire life among the winged gods she swore oaths to, rather than getting involved in diplomatic affairs and being forced to learn court propriety.  [stasis] Despite her desire for quiet, hatching season starts with nesting dragons being slaughtered and eggs stolen. Her superiors force Sheria to ally with Kerrik Dimetresco, the heir of Kalisthéma, to solve the mystery of who is behind it all. When the Isles are attacked again, [catalyst] their partnership turns into a dangerous mission to infiltrate the Viridian Guild to uncover who hired them to attack the Dragon Isles and why they want the empire’s dragons dead.   [break into 2] 

[illusive/general version of below points] As the two reluctant allies work together to unravel this mystery, they uncover a conspiracy that will unmake their world—and a passion neither expected nor wanted.

Sheria and Kerrik go undercover, fly to the central city on another continent, and are kidnapped by the Viridian Guild after tailing them for weeks. Their price? Work and fight for the Guild until their debts are paid. As they assume new identities to work with the Guild, their tolerance grows into friendship, hinting at something more between them. However, the Guild reveals that they have known who they were the entire time and plan to use them to complete the dragon egg contract for them, threatening more dragon lives if they refuse to comply. They threaten, "If you won't help us finish this contract, someone else will, and we can't guarantee no dragons will die that way. Do this, and you're off the hook—contract complete, and everyone can return to normal."  [midpoint]

Forced to help steal eggs from their empire, Sheria and Kerrik clash during the mission, breaking their vows of alliance and swearing off each other. As they go their separate ways, they realize they need each other more than they thought. [low point]

While on the open ocean with a vessel carrying the eggs they helped steal, a dragonback sea battle occurs, where Sheria learns that Kerrik's father hired the Viridian Guild. Kerrik rescues her, but she threatens his life, suspecting he's part of his father’s plans. She calms only when he admits his ignorance and vows to help overthrow his father. [break into 3]

As Kerrik's fears and insecurities rise, he struggles to balance his homeland's politics and his father's abuse. Sheria, fearful of betrayal or failure with Kerrik's slow political method, reacts impulsively. During a crowded celebration, Sheria starts a fight to kill Kerrik's father, believing that taking him out will solve their problems. Amid the fire and blood, Kerrik sacrifices himself so Sheria and her dragons can survive, return to her home, and warn the empire of his father’s doing.  [climax]

Sheria flees Kalisthema and returns home, sharing news of her impulsiveness that sparked war with Kalisthéma —its leaders having survived and declaring it against her homeland. She seeks a new normal, dealing with politics, serving on a war council, and handling Kerrik’s loss, alongside the feelings she only uncovered when it was too late. [denouement] Just as Sheria learns to breathe again, Kalisthéma dragonriders cross their borders with allies, a hidden army, and Kerrik, who lost his dragon in the fight but survived, leading a hidden army carrying his banners, not his father’s.  Now, the two come together united with complete trust between one another as they are pushed forward as leaders in the war that they began. [conclusion]