Churel: Night of the Hills

Universe: NFU – Nepali Folklore Universe

Setting: 1700s Nepal, western hills near Palpa, dense forests, small hill villages, rivers, and temples.

STORY OVERVIEW

Years after the Lakhey, Khyak, and Pisach incidents, a new terror rises in the western hills: a Churel (चुड़ेल), a female spirit of vengeance in Nepali folklore. She haunts villages, targeting men who have wronged women, but her hunger grows indiscriminate, threatening children and elders too.

The hero is Rabin, a young hunter and herbalist from a Palpa village. He loses his entire family to the Churel’s attacks and must gather courage, learn ancient rituals, and face the spirit in the forested hills.

Themes: vengeance, sorrow, courage, and the price of fear.

SCRIPT (Story, Scenes, and Dialogue)

PROLOGUE

Foggy hills, moonlight barely piercing clouds. A young couple crosses a bamboo bridge over a river. Suddenly, the woman vanishes, leaving only a whisper.

Narrator:

“पर्वतीय गाउँहरू शान्त थिए। तर रातमा, चुड़ेलले आफ्नो न्याय खोज्न आउँछ। र जसको डर र अपराधको बोझ हुन्छ… तिनीहरू उसका शिकार हुन्छन्।”

("The hill villages were peaceful. But at night, the Churel comes to claim justice. And those who carry fear and guilt… they become her prey.")

A shadow moves over the riverbank. The Churel’s hair flows like black smoke, pale hands reaching. A scream pierces the night.

ACT I – THE HERO AND LOSS

Scene 1 – Rabin’s Village

Rabin, early 20s, lean and wiry, dark eyes, messy hair. Known as a skilled hunter and healer. He helps his village with herbs and hunts wild game.

Village scene: Women washing clothes in the river, children playing near the forest edge.

Rabin’s mother warns:

“रबिन, रातको बेला जंगल नजान। गाउँमा कुरा आइरहेको छ—मान्छे हराइरहेका छन्।”

("Rabin, don’t go near the forest at night. People have been disappearing in the village.")

Rabin (smiling, confident):

“आमा, म डराउँदिन। म केवल जंगल बुझ्छु।”

("Mother, I am not afraid. I only understand the forest.")

Scene 2 – First Attack

That night, Rabin hears screams. He rushes to the edge of the forest to find his entire family slain, signs of clawed attacks, deep gouges, and burnt offerings scattered.

Rabin falls to his knees, sobbing:

“आफ्ना जनावर र मान्छे जोगाउन म असफल भएँ… मेरो परिवार…”

("I failed to protect the humans and animals… my family…")

The villagers whisper:

“चुड़ेल… ऊ फर्किसक्छ।”

("The Churel… she has returned.")

Rabin’s sorrow becomes rage, driving the next phase of his journey.

ACT II – PREPARATION AND LEARNING

Scene 3 – Seeking Knowledge

Rabin seeks old hermit, Bhuwan, living atop a cliff. Bhuwan is said to know all spirits of the hills.

Bhuwan:

“चुड़ेल केवल शक्तिशाली होइन। ऊ पुरुषको अपराधको प्रतिफल लिन्छ। यदि तिमी डर र गुनाको बोझ लिएर जाँउ भने, ऊ तिमीलाई कहिले नछोड्छ।”

("The Churel is not just powerful. She takes vengeance on men’s sins. If you carry fear and guilt, she will never leave you.")

He gives Rabin:

A silver dagger blessed with sacred mantra.

A locket of rudrākṣa beads.

Herbs to create smoke that can temporarily disorient spirits.

Scene 4 – Training Montage / Emotional Core

Rabin practices swinging the dagger in forest clearings.

He learns to set traps for the Churel using sacred herbs and mirrors.

Flashbacks: his mother calling him at dawn, his sister laughing, his family meals—juxtaposed with their deaths.

Tears fall as he chants:

“म डरलाई स्वीकार्छु… र न्यायको लागि लड्छु।”

("I accept my fear… and fight for justice.")

ACT III – HUNT AND FIGHT

Scene 5 – First Encounter

Rabin tracks signs into the forest: claw marks, burnt shrines, footprints of human victims.

The Churel appears: skeletal, flowing hair covering a pale face, eyes glowing red in the dark.

Rabin throws herb smoke, causing the Churel to shriek. She lashes out with claws.

Combat Highlights:

Rabin dodges strikes, slashes with silver dagger.

Churel grabs a tree and swings down. Rabin rolls under.

He sets a small trap using herbs; she is temporarily blinded.

She regenerates, shrieking with fury.

Rabin realizes: direct attack alone will not work. He must use cunning and ritual knowledge.

Scene 6 – Sad Moment

Rabin sees a young boy in the village, whose father is dead. The Churel almost grabs him. Rabin fights her off but sees the boy’s mother screaming for her child.

Rabin kneels beside the boy:

“म तिमीलाई सुरक्षित राख्छु। तर मसँग शोक छ… मेरो परिवार…”

("I will protect you. But I carry grief… my family…")

This moment reinforces his emotional drive, showing sorrow and heroism intertwined.

ACT IV – FINAL BATTLE

Scene 7 – Forest Showdown

The battle takes place atop a cliff during a storm. Rain and lightning create a cinematic backdrop.

Combat Highlights:

Churel uses ghostly powers: phasing through trees, hurling objects, screaming to disorient Rabin.

Rabin dodges, setting up herbal traps.

He chants mantra over the dagger and rudrākṣa beads.

A brutal fight ensues: claws vs silver dagger, spirit energy vs human grit.

Dialogues during fight:

Churel:

“मानिस… तिमी न्याय खोज्छौ, तर तिमी डर र पीडाबाट बनेको छौ।”

("Human… you seek justice, but you are forged from fear and pain.")

Rabin (yelling, crying):

“मेरो पीडा मेरो शक्ति हो! तिमी मसँग तुलना गर्न सक्दैनौ!”

("My grief is my strength! You cannot compare!")

Scene 8 – Triumph

Rabin throws the blessed dagger directly at the Churel’s chest. The rudrākṣa beads emit light. She screeches, dissolving into ash that flows down the river.

Rabin collapses, exhausted and crying.

EPILOGUE

Villagers light lamps and mourn those lost. Rabin kneels beside a small shrine, offering herbs and flowers for his family.

Narrator:

“पर्वतीय गाउँहरू फेरि शान्त भए। तर कहिले काहीँ रातको अँध्यारोमा, न्याय खोज्ने चुड़ेलहरू फेरि उठ्छन्। केवल मानवको डर नबिर्सेमा।”

("The hill villages became peaceful again. But sometimes, in the dark of night, Churels rise again to claim justice. Only when humans do not forget fear.")

Final shot: Rain washes ash down the cliff. A faint black shadow flickers atop a distant hill.

New Characters

Rabin (Hero): Young hunter, herbalist, emotionally driven by grief and responsibility. Uses silver dagger, rudrākṣa beads, and cunning traps.

Churel (Villain): Female spirit of vengeance. Pale, skeletal, flowing hair, red glowing eyes. Feeds on men’s guilt but will attack innocents when hunger grows.

Bhuwan (Mentor): Old hermit, master of hill spirits, provides ritual knowledge and tools.

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