I don't know why, exactly, but I have an inclination to share my characters here in a little more depth. I follow my instincts, not to mention I absolutely love my characters. Not enough to keep them alive for very long, however. I do know they are mortal and one day, they too will die. If you write, you'll understand.
So I thought since I posted a little excerpt last night about Alabassin that perhaps I might as well start with him.
Name: Alabassin Li'endrin (Pronounced Al a bass inn Lee end rin)
Location: Currently in the rival kingdom of Paridzule, native of Relavia, heir to the Relavian throne.
Father: Mandorak Li'endrin (Man door ack)
Mother: Liriel, cousin to Nive Ni'adzul, Queen of Paridzule. (Deceased) (Liriel - Leer e el) (Nive - Nee vay, Ni'adzul - Nee add zool)
Alabassin is an only child. After he was born, his father wanted no contention for the throne and made sure no other children were born.
The Li'endrin bloodline is said to be cursed, as each ruler has gotten worse in their ways of warmongering, deceit and temper. From all of this, Alabassin has emerged unlike his father in every aspect and bears no characteristic resemblance to any of his ancestors. While his father, Mandorak, feels that Alabassin is unsuitable to rule, he has left himself with no other alternative.
Alabassin is currently 23 years old. He has blonde hair and green eyes. He keeps his hair long, neatly tied back from his face and he's clean shaven. People say he resembles his mother the most. The people of Relavia have been looking forward to his ascending the throne, as they feel he would be most likely to end the war between Relavia and Paridzule. While Nobles from all around have tried unsuccessfully to arrange relations with Relavia through marriage, Alabassin has managed to turn them all down. Unlike his father, he has the idea in his head to marry for love, not politics.
Up until Alabassin turned 20, he felt he would be successful in his notion of finding true love. By 21, his hopes were tarnished ever so slightly. By 23, however, one man had managed to persuade him into an arrangement. Beroun Ni'adzul, King of Paridzule, invited Alabassin to visit. Mandorak was told by his naive son that he would be traveling about, visiting several neighboring kingdoms upon request. Mandorak knew full well where his only son and heir was going, but never let on.
The day Alabassin arrived in Ferrigore, the capital city of Paridzule, people were quiet and withdrawn. News of his visit spread quickly as Ferrigore was a small island. While Alabassin's reputation was a good one, he was still a Li'endrin and a possible threat. The people of Paridzule were still unsure of the arrangement their king desired to make. Alabassin let none of this phase him. He remained the personable, pleasant man he always was. When introduced to Senweis Ni'adzul, Beroun's eldest daughter, he was ashamed to feel nothing for the woman. While Senweis was a beautiful woman, he felt cold around her. It unsettled him, yet he remained firm in his promise of talks with Beroun about the arrangement. He kept his promises and people respected him for that.
Needless to say, when Alabassin first met Kayta, Senweis' younger sister, he felt a connection with her. Just as he began to lose hope of feeling something like this, she stepped into his life. What bothered him most was the fact that Kayta was the sister of the woman he may be marrying. He didn't know if his heart was strong enough to marry one and feel for the other what he was supposed to feel for his wife. Where Senweis was closer to him in age, Kayta was younger by five years. Most felt that a difference in age such as this would be unacceptable. If Alabassin were to make a choice, which would he follow? His kingdom or his heart?
.............................................................
*Other pronunciations:
Relavia - Reh la vee uh
Paridzule - Pare id zool
Ferrigore - Fare eh gore
Senweis - Sen ways
Kayta - Kay tah
Beroun - Bare oon
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Excerpt No. 3
Okay, so I am going to be unusually cruel here. Okay, maybe not unusually. I've got this little snippet here and I can't wait to share it.
Are you ready?
The routine Alabassin had fallen into helped him immensely. While he still felt restless at times, he knew that things would happen on a daily basis to help keep him from dwelling on things he had no control over at the moment. A knock at his door usually meant someone would be entering soon and they were trying to give him a moment to make himself presentable. After the first few days of hearing a knock at his door, he stopped opening it.
The knock came and he shifted in his chair, holding open a book he had pilfered from the huge library two stories below him. The light coming in from the window he sat next to bathed him as well as the small print of the old book. When the knock sounded again, he looked away from the page he had been reading and tilted his head. Another knock came and still no one entered, so he closed the book after marking where he left off and opened the door. His annoyance at having to actually open the door dissipated so quickly it left him slightly light headed as he stared at first Hedric, standing before him, then to Kayta.
“Kayta?” he croaked, his voice betraying him as he spoke her name.
Now wasn't that fun?
I love Alabassin. My friend (We'll call him Ninny) that I played Cosrin with was gracious enough to let me use his character. Our characters were married anyway, in the game that is. However, Ninny just wouldn't do as a name for this book. Alabassin is not a Ninny, nor is Ninny a ninny. Hmm.. confusing.
Anyway! I think I have caught the essence of Ninny very well. At least I hope I have. I think the relationship that he and Kayta have is one legends are made of. Move over, Lancelot. My Alabassin is going to put you to shame. :D
Are you ready?
The routine Alabassin had fallen into helped him immensely. While he still felt restless at times, he knew that things would happen on a daily basis to help keep him from dwelling on things he had no control over at the moment. A knock at his door usually meant someone would be entering soon and they were trying to give him a moment to make himself presentable. After the first few days of hearing a knock at his door, he stopped opening it.
The knock came and he shifted in his chair, holding open a book he had pilfered from the huge library two stories below him. The light coming in from the window he sat next to bathed him as well as the small print of the old book. When the knock sounded again, he looked away from the page he had been reading and tilted his head. Another knock came and still no one entered, so he closed the book after marking where he left off and opened the door. His annoyance at having to actually open the door dissipated so quickly it left him slightly light headed as he stared at first Hedric, standing before him, then to Kayta.
“Kayta?” he croaked, his voice betraying him as he spoke her name.
Now wasn't that fun?
I love Alabassin. My friend (We'll call him Ninny) that I played Cosrin with was gracious enough to let me use his character. Our characters were married anyway, in the game that is. However, Ninny just wouldn't do as a name for this book. Alabassin is not a Ninny, nor is Ninny a ninny. Hmm.. confusing.
Anyway! I think I have caught the essence of Ninny very well. At least I hope I have. I think the relationship that he and Kayta have is one legends are made of. Move over, Lancelot. My Alabassin is going to put you to shame. :D
Monday, January 25, 2010
Too Descriptive?
So recently, I had a nice chat with some of my daughter's friends. (I love her friends, they're like my own kids.) One of them was telling me of a book she read where the descriptions gave her nightmares and it got me to thinking of yet another conversation with my sister-in-law and fellow author.
Horror is a big descriptive genre as is most of romance. However, I guess I am old fashioned when I say that I'd like them to leave SOMETHING to the imagination. It's like why go for the full frontal nudity? Imagination is what triggers lots of the senses, stop taking all the fun out of it!
Yeah, not that I see a lot of full frontal nudity. But see, you get the picture don't you? You used your imagination. What did we learn?
So take this into serious consideration when you write. How much detail do you want to give away, how much work do you want to do for the reader? Or would you rather the reader actually use those brain functions and work for it themselves? Personally, I love the author who goes to the trouble to give me just enough so that I can paint the picture in my own mind. I've said it before and I will say it again: No one will ever see, feel or imagine the same exact thing as anyone else in the world ever. People are complicated creatures with different varying levels of thought processes and emotions. While you might actually get similar ideas, they'll never be exactly the same down to the smallest detail.
For example, have you and a group of friends or co-workers ever got together on a project where you all had "the same idea"? Once the project was finished, almost everyone had different levels of disappointment. Why? Because they all "Imagined it turning out differently". Don't believe me? Take notes next time.
We would be very arrogant in our thinking if we feel that everyone feels the same way as others in their lives. We can not possibly know or deal with situations exactly the same way, even if said situations were exact. People deal with stress and sadness differently. Love, fear and all those other emotions and factors induce reactions in different ways. The possibilities are infinite in the fact that it is practically impossible for two people to ever be on the same emotional/intelligent plateau at the same time. If that makes sense, you're doing all right.
This is also why some authors are so descriptive and others let you use that thing holding your ears apart. When authors do give descriptive images for you to see in your mind's eye, they tend to get monotonous. They have to be sure that everyone gets the same idea they are trying to project. It is difficult for a writer to even comprehend how people will interpret what they're reading; which makes writing all the more difficult. Then you have to follow a certain standard with your writing, make sure you've got the proper grammar and punctuation. You cannot write like you speak, even though it might help. People just don't speak as clearly as when they write.
So again, take a lot of this into consideration as you write. Try to find the happy medium for yourself of what you think is too little or too much description. If you are trying to make your readers have a bucket next to their bed to hold the vomit while they read your slasher, then job well done. But if you want them to sleep with the lights on, lock their doors and study people to find out who the killer is, well then you have your mission. Write on!
Horror is a big descriptive genre as is most of romance. However, I guess I am old fashioned when I say that I'd like them to leave SOMETHING to the imagination. It's like why go for the full frontal nudity? Imagination is what triggers lots of the senses, stop taking all the fun out of it!
Yeah, not that I see a lot of full frontal nudity. But see, you get the picture don't you? You used your imagination. What did we learn?
So take this into serious consideration when you write. How much detail do you want to give away, how much work do you want to do for the reader? Or would you rather the reader actually use those brain functions and work for it themselves? Personally, I love the author who goes to the trouble to give me just enough so that I can paint the picture in my own mind. I've said it before and I will say it again: No one will ever see, feel or imagine the same exact thing as anyone else in the world ever. People are complicated creatures with different varying levels of thought processes and emotions. While you might actually get similar ideas, they'll never be exactly the same down to the smallest detail.
For example, have you and a group of friends or co-workers ever got together on a project where you all had "the same idea"? Once the project was finished, almost everyone had different levels of disappointment. Why? Because they all "Imagined it turning out differently". Don't believe me? Take notes next time.
We would be very arrogant in our thinking if we feel that everyone feels the same way as others in their lives. We can not possibly know or deal with situations exactly the same way, even if said situations were exact. People deal with stress and sadness differently. Love, fear and all those other emotions and factors induce reactions in different ways. The possibilities are infinite in the fact that it is practically impossible for two people to ever be on the same emotional/intelligent plateau at the same time. If that makes sense, you're doing all right.
This is also why some authors are so descriptive and others let you use that thing holding your ears apart. When authors do give descriptive images for you to see in your mind's eye, they tend to get monotonous. They have to be sure that everyone gets the same idea they are trying to project. It is difficult for a writer to even comprehend how people will interpret what they're reading; which makes writing all the more difficult. Then you have to follow a certain standard with your writing, make sure you've got the proper grammar and punctuation. You cannot write like you speak, even though it might help. People just don't speak as clearly as when they write.
So again, take a lot of this into consideration as you write. Try to find the happy medium for yourself of what you think is too little or too much description. If you are trying to make your readers have a bucket next to their bed to hold the vomit while they read your slasher, then job well done. But if you want them to sleep with the lights on, lock their doors and study people to find out who the killer is, well then you have your mission. Write on!
Friday, January 22, 2010
More Musings...
You know, I have never been one for poetry. I mean, I don't know how to write prose as well as some people do. I know what I like to read, I know what makes me enjoy it. Then there are those that I just don't understand for whatever reason. So, I simply stay away from poetry writing personally. I love how some of it flows and is beautiful. It caresses the imagination like silk, pouring music into your head as you read it. Those are the poems that I love.
Personally, I have tried to write it. Some of it comes off all right, but gets worse the more I fuss with it or think about it. I am not that kind of writer, I can't plan ahead. I am a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of writer and sometimes, you just can't do that with poetry. It has been done, though, I am not saying it is impossible.
So when I start with a story idea, I tend to just let the characters I create come up with what they want to "tell" me. I don't ever try to force the story unless their voice goes quiet in my mind, as if telling me, "Look, I'm exhausted, I'm hungry. I'm going to get something to eat and go to sleep. You be a good lass and figure it out from here, okay?"
However, I start writing things out and suddenly they're awake saying, "Whoa! Are you kidding me? Back the thought truck up..."
If you are on FaceBook, I have an account there. I have my special little Jolly Roger flag as my picture. Don't ask me when I am going to get out of this "Pirate Phase", it just isn't going to happen any time soon. I also have a little blurby (is that a word?) poem that I wrote off the top of my head:
"The sea owns me, I do not own the sea.
Her bidding is my breath; her call is in my blood.
She has taken my heart, the better part of me.
There is nothing better I have to offer; even if I could."
That pretty much sums up how I feel about the ocean. It has captivated and mystified me. I use that in my pyrate character, Sorcha Lilanthroe, who incidentally shares her name with my SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) character. Sorcha MacGregor. Sorcha is that part of me that I wish could sail the seas and live life in a much different way.
Kayta is that part of me that is noble and honorable and will fight for her friends and her family. She truly is not afraid to stick up for what is right.
Nightshadow is the part of me that wishes she could just kill annoying people and be done with it. (But I wouldn't even if I had the opportunity, it goes against my nature.)
Take all that with a grain of salt. People are complex beings, there are just as many facets of themselves as there are in every character you can dream up. While Sorcha loves the sea, she still follows a personal code of conduct. Kayta has her moments of quiet shyness or fear, but doesn't let it show and Nightshadow really does loathe killing people for the sake of killing people. They are sarcastic, witty and charming. I'm all but charming...hehe. Intelligent, strong women.
So when you write, try not to force it so much. Listen to the voices in your head, they really do exist and they have something important to tell you. You can always change and tweak things later on. Happy Writing!
Personally, I have tried to write it. Some of it comes off all right, but gets worse the more I fuss with it or think about it. I am not that kind of writer, I can't plan ahead. I am a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of writer and sometimes, you just can't do that with poetry. It has been done, though, I am not saying it is impossible.
So when I start with a story idea, I tend to just let the characters I create come up with what they want to "tell" me. I don't ever try to force the story unless their voice goes quiet in my mind, as if telling me, "Look, I'm exhausted, I'm hungry. I'm going to get something to eat and go to sleep. You be a good lass and figure it out from here, okay?"
However, I start writing things out and suddenly they're awake saying, "Whoa! Are you kidding me? Back the thought truck up..."
If you are on FaceBook, I have an account there. I have my special little Jolly Roger flag as my picture. Don't ask me when I am going to get out of this "Pirate Phase", it just isn't going to happen any time soon. I also have a little blurby (is that a word?) poem that I wrote off the top of my head:
"The sea owns me, I do not own the sea.
Her bidding is my breath; her call is in my blood.
She has taken my heart, the better part of me.
There is nothing better I have to offer; even if I could."
That pretty much sums up how I feel about the ocean. It has captivated and mystified me. I use that in my pyrate character, Sorcha Lilanthroe, who incidentally shares her name with my SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) character. Sorcha MacGregor. Sorcha is that part of me that I wish could sail the seas and live life in a much different way.
Kayta is that part of me that is noble and honorable and will fight for her friends and her family. She truly is not afraid to stick up for what is right.
Nightshadow is the part of me that wishes she could just kill annoying people and be done with it. (But I wouldn't even if I had the opportunity, it goes against my nature.)
Take all that with a grain of salt. People are complex beings, there are just as many facets of themselves as there are in every character you can dream up. While Sorcha loves the sea, she still follows a personal code of conduct. Kayta has her moments of quiet shyness or fear, but doesn't let it show and Nightshadow really does loathe killing people for the sake of killing people. They are sarcastic, witty and charming. I'm all but charming...hehe. Intelligent, strong women.
So when you write, try not to force it so much. Listen to the voices in your head, they really do exist and they have something important to tell you. You can always change and tweak things later on. Happy Writing!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Well, that wasn't fun....
So I had spent the better part of two weeks or more completely cut off from everything. Mind you, I don't subscribe to cable or satellite television simply because I don't watch that much TV. I get my news from the internet, papers, that sort of thing. However, when I didn't have my phone or internet for those weeks, add to it no television, I felt completely isolated and stretched my imagination to keep from going insane!
I read books, colored on my posters, played other video games I have neglected and watched movies. You would think with a collection of DVD's that totals somewhere in the 100's that I would have something to watch.
Writing worked only for a little while. I didn't have people to call to bounce ideas off of and I was unable to email others for my writing support. I know I will never be cut off like that again, but while I was, it was not fun!
Just goes to show how much people rely on these simple basics of communication. I even went so far as to buy the local paper rather than read it online like I normally do. I suppose I could have sat down and wrote some letters, but how Dark Ages did I want to get? Yes, I am spoiled. I like my instant gratification, thank you very much.
Oh well, I'm back and that Dark Age of my month is over! Hooray!
I read books, colored on my posters, played other video games I have neglected and watched movies. You would think with a collection of DVD's that totals somewhere in the 100's that I would have something to watch.
Writing worked only for a little while. I didn't have people to call to bounce ideas off of and I was unable to email others for my writing support. I know I will never be cut off like that again, but while I was, it was not fun!
Just goes to show how much people rely on these simple basics of communication. I even went so far as to buy the local paper rather than read it online like I normally do. I suppose I could have sat down and wrote some letters, but how Dark Ages did I want to get? Yes, I am spoiled. I like my instant gratification, thank you very much.
Oh well, I'm back and that Dark Age of my month is over! Hooray!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Routine, Routine, Routine...
I think the hardest thing for me is to get back into the routine of writing more than anything. I mean, I made the decision a couple of months ago to stop drinking so much soda and have not gone back to that old habit. In two months I may have had a total of 6 sodas. During National Novel Writing Month, I got into the routine of writing something every day, but that honestly burns me out. If I have to work under a deadline, I know I can do it. However, I need to take some time to work things through with my story, listen to the voices in my head (my characters) and let them tell me what to do next or how to solve a particular problem.
It works. I did take some time off and now am getting back into the routine of writing once more. I started out the other night telling myself, "Just write like 500 words and go to bed." So I did. I told myself the next night, "Just 500 words, easy-peasy." I ended up writing over 1,500 words instead.
My husband is such a great listener! He has helped me to create this world as well as some of the characters in it. So I will read to him the latest developments and ask him if what I have written is staying in tune with the character's personality. So far, so good.
I am reaching the end and will be looking for Beta Readers soon. Beta Readers are people who give me feedback, to tell me I am staying on course, the story either does or doesn't flow well in certain areas and help to find mistakes in spelling or grammar that I haven't caught. I have a couple of Beta Readers for my Black Rose story, which I will have to finish editing first before I move back to this one. In the meantime, I am working on getting this story finished before I continue my editing processes.
Gotta love having a routine!
It works. I did take some time off and now am getting back into the routine of writing once more. I started out the other night telling myself, "Just write like 500 words and go to bed." So I did. I told myself the next night, "Just 500 words, easy-peasy." I ended up writing over 1,500 words instead.
My husband is such a great listener! He has helped me to create this world as well as some of the characters in it. So I will read to him the latest developments and ask him if what I have written is staying in tune with the character's personality. So far, so good.
I am reaching the end and will be looking for Beta Readers soon. Beta Readers are people who give me feedback, to tell me I am staying on course, the story either does or doesn't flow well in certain areas and help to find mistakes in spelling or grammar that I haven't caught. I have a couple of Beta Readers for my Black Rose story, which I will have to finish editing first before I move back to this one. In the meantime, I am working on getting this story finished before I continue my editing processes.
Gotta love having a routine!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
The Close of Another Year
So we're winding down, here in 2009. I have to admit I am looking forward to 2010 simply because I never thought I would get this far. *Chuckles* I've had my two cute new kitties for a whole year; I've done National Novel Writing Month yet again and have re-written what I feel is my best story. So far. That is until people read about Black Rose. Then we'll see what they say about him. *Grins* He's very cool.
So I have been slacking in the blogging world. It happens. I tend to get so busy with other things (World of Warcraft) that I have to stop for a moment, catch up with myself and get back into a routine. (Writing, Evony, Age of Pirates) Hehe! Seriously. I had to take a really good break from my re-write to figure out exactly where I wanted to go. Near the end there, I got very repetitive and probably a little long winded just to hit that 50,000 word mark. I mean really, I didn't even use the word "Chapter" once.
Now, back to the writing I go. I have to finish this, then move forward once more to the editing aspect of the Black Rose story. I'm finding I've got quite a few people waiting in the wings to do some beta reading for me, to let me know where I can tweak this or that, fix this here and there. I got the best phone call on Christmas Eve from a friend who read my book. He and his brother loved it and he called to see if I had written any more. It made my day. :D
Hopefully soon I will post some more tidbits as I go. I'll just keep writing, you all will just keep reading. It's all good. ;)
Have a good holiday everyone.
So I have been slacking in the blogging world. It happens. I tend to get so busy with other things (World of Warcraft) that I have to stop for a moment, catch up with myself and get back into a routine. (Writing, Evony, Age of Pirates) Hehe! Seriously. I had to take a really good break from my re-write to figure out exactly where I wanted to go. Near the end there, I got very repetitive and probably a little long winded just to hit that 50,000 word mark. I mean really, I didn't even use the word "Chapter" once.
Now, back to the writing I go. I have to finish this, then move forward once more to the editing aspect of the Black Rose story. I'm finding I've got quite a few people waiting in the wings to do some beta reading for me, to let me know where I can tweak this or that, fix this here and there. I got the best phone call on Christmas Eve from a friend who read my book. He and his brother loved it and he called to see if I had written any more. It made my day. :D
Hopefully soon I will post some more tidbits as I go. I'll just keep writing, you all will just keep reading. It's all good. ;)
Have a good holiday everyone.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Behind the Characters
Recently, I took a step back to my "roots" so to speak. Several years ago, I had started to play an online RPG called "Legends of Cosrin". Yep, www.legendsofcosrin.com.
It is a text based MUD and one that I feel played a pretty significant part in my writing. Character development is my absolute favorite part of writing. Getting inside the head of someone totally opposite of myself and the challenge of writing about them in a way that sticks to their personality....oh! It is so fun.
Anyway, Cosrin is pretty fun. I took a hiatus for a time and as I said, I just went back this last week. One of my old friends happened to be sitting there and we got to talking. When I logged in, it sparked something. In a good way. I had started writing again after getting involved the role-playing aspect of Cosrin. I wrote short stories for my characters on the forums. I had a blast but there is always a downside, so I stopped for awhile.
I started off writing with the idea of writing books set around the city in Cosrin and the characters. Thought it would be fun, then it just grew from there. My little map of the city ended up being a map of a kingdom, which then progressed to a continent. I got permission from my friends to use their characters, many of whom I had to change their names for obvious reasons.
So while talking to my friend, I thought, you know...I should post somewhere the characters I have used from Cosrin and the names I use for them in my writing. So, with that being said, here goes!
Kayta: From Cosrin, my character, name not changed, just race and storyline.
Nightshadow: From Cosrin, my character, name not changed, storyline unchanged.
Laria: From Cosrin, a friend of mine, name not changed, storyline slightly changed to suit some purposes.
Farrehn: From Cosrin, a friend of mine, name changed from Ariosh, story and background are similar.
Vendras: From Cosrin, a friend of mine, name changed from Dahak, story slightly altered, will someday continue with storyline from Cosrin.
Alabassin: From Cosrin, a friend of mine, name changed from Ninny, story altered.
Talaver: From Cosrin, a friend of mine, name changed from Firesong, story altered.
Tyren: From Cosrin, a friend of mine, name changed from Tyrus, story slightly altered, closer to the original.
Nikkolani: From Cosrin, a friend of mine, name changed from Protean, story altered.
Geralmin: From Cosrin, a friend of mine, name changed from Goldenaxe, story altered.
Sorcha: My character from Society for Creative Anachronism, name changed from MacGregor to Lilanthroe.
Other characters I have based on Cosrin characters include Elendil, Bast, Kain and a few others that sort of escape me at the moment. I enjoy writing about others, especially ones that I have played with in games like Cosrin. However well I know them, I know my own creations just as well. I enjoy listening to them whisper their story in my ear, telling me how they would respond to something, how they would react. Lots of people seem to struggle with character development, I absolutely revel in it. Happy writing!
It is a text based MUD and one that I feel played a pretty significant part in my writing. Character development is my absolute favorite part of writing. Getting inside the head of someone totally opposite of myself and the challenge of writing about them in a way that sticks to their personality....oh! It is so fun.
Anyway, Cosrin is pretty fun. I took a hiatus for a time and as I said, I just went back this last week. One of my old friends happened to be sitting there and we got to talking. When I logged in, it sparked something. In a good way. I had started writing again after getting involved the role-playing aspect of Cosrin. I wrote short stories for my characters on the forums. I had a blast but there is always a downside, so I stopped for awhile.
I started off writing with the idea of writing books set around the city in Cosrin and the characters. Thought it would be fun, then it just grew from there. My little map of the city ended up being a map of a kingdom, which then progressed to a continent. I got permission from my friends to use their characters, many of whom I had to change their names for obvious reasons.
So while talking to my friend, I thought, you know...I should post somewhere the characters I have used from Cosrin and the names I use for them in my writing. So, with that being said, here goes!
Kayta: From Cosrin, my character, name not changed, just race and storyline.
Nightshadow: From Cosrin, my character, name not changed, storyline unchanged.
Laria: From Cosrin, a friend of mine, name not changed, storyline slightly changed to suit some purposes.
Farrehn: From Cosrin, a friend of mine, name changed from Ariosh, story and background are similar.
Vendras: From Cosrin, a friend of mine, name changed from Dahak, story slightly altered, will someday continue with storyline from Cosrin.
Alabassin: From Cosrin, a friend of mine, name changed from Ninny, story altered.
Talaver: From Cosrin, a friend of mine, name changed from Firesong, story altered.
Tyren: From Cosrin, a friend of mine, name changed from Tyrus, story slightly altered, closer to the original.
Nikkolani: From Cosrin, a friend of mine, name changed from Protean, story altered.
Geralmin: From Cosrin, a friend of mine, name changed from Goldenaxe, story altered.
Sorcha: My character from Society for Creative Anachronism, name changed from MacGregor to Lilanthroe.
Other characters I have based on Cosrin characters include Elendil, Bast, Kain and a few others that sort of escape me at the moment. I enjoy writing about others, especially ones that I have played with in games like Cosrin. However well I know them, I know my own creations just as well. I enjoy listening to them whisper their story in my ear, telling me how they would respond to something, how they would react. Lots of people seem to struggle with character development, I absolutely revel in it. Happy writing!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Excerpt No. 2
So I am not completely heartless. I have decided to bestow upon you yet another excerpt. *Chuckles* I know, I am so full of myself. Well, full of something at least. I hope you enjoy it. I am not going to give you specifics or tell you anything leading up to it, I just want to share. So here you go! Oh, and just so you know, none of this is edited. This is merely a rough draft. We are talking about National Novel Writing Month here, I can't edit. So be nice!
Sorcha walked down the little path that led around the side of the building where, she knew from past experience, a little garden with benches had been placed for visitors.
As she rounded the corner, she heard someone crying and halted where she stood, not wishing to intrude.
“Please let him be all right,” a female voice drifted out of the night, broken with little hiccups as she cried. “Aeviar, Kaigowen, if you are listening to the pleas of a pitiful wretch like me, please let him be all right. Ioweth be praised,” the woman finished her prayer to the gods of healing and miracles. As she invoked the name of the creator, Ioweth, Sorcha narrowed her eyes.
“Nightshadow?” Sorcha whispered.
“Who's there?” the woman growled, her voice hard. Sorcha saw the woman stand up and turn towards her, a dagger glinting in the moonlight.
“Calm yourself, woman. It's me, Sorcha.” Sorcha stepped over to where Nightshadow stood, still holding her dagger.
“What in all hells are you doing here,” Nightshadow snapped.
“I could ask you the same question. I never figured you to be the praying type. Who did you almost kill?”
“That is none of your bloody business.” Nightshadow concealed her dagger and sat back down on the bench.
“Yes, the business is bloody. I'm here dropping someone off.” Sorcha turned in a circle, taking in the sequestered area. Seeing they were very much alone, she plopped down on the stone bench next to the infamous assassin. “I'm taking running in to you as a very good sign.” Sorcha smiled warmly, her mind working quickly as usual.
“I'm taking it as a very bad omen,” Nightshadow muttered.
“Now don't be silly. This could be a very prosperous coincidence. Are you game?”
“That all depends,” Nightshadow said. “How much will I be gaining from this venture?”
“Let us speak of coin later. First let me tell you what I have in mind. However, if your mind works like mine, I'm sure you will see the future gain.”
“I'm listening.” Nightshadow pulled out a small silver case and tapped the lid twice, then tapped the bottom once. The lid sprang open and she pulled out a slim cigarette. Placing it to her lips, she worked her flint and tinder, lit the stick and inhaled the smoke deeply, tucking the little silver contraption away.
“Cute,” Sorcha commented. She waved a hand in front of her face, the smell of the cloves and other herbs in the cigarette were too sweet for her taste. Nightshadow just blew the smoke in her face and remained silent. “I told you I came to drop someone off. Tell me, what news has reached Moordigan in the last few days?”
Nightshadow frowned slightly as she took another deep pull on her cigarette. “Let's see,” she mused and smoke blew out with her words. “The king and queen of Paridzule are dead. Apparently an accident on their way to a negotiation meeting in Relavia. Li'endrin has to be behind it.” Sorcha leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees as she waited patiently for Nightshadow to finish. “The ship carrying their son Hedric and daughter Kayta was attacked by your good friend Toreg, no survivors.”
“That slimy dung heap is not my friend.” Sorcha huffed and shook her head. “What else?”
“And Senweis has renounced the Paridzule throne.”
“She what?” Sorcha asked, astounded. She sat up and turned to look at Nightshadow.
“I figured you were seeking specific news and all three of those are so closely related. The world is not going to be the same if Li'endrin waltzes in and takes over Paridzule. The only other news is petty compared to all of this. Some Noble dies, others declare war then kiss and make up. You know, the usual.”
Sorcha stood and paced back and forth in the little circular garden. One hand rested on her hip as she walked, the other tapped her lips.
“Oh, and Alabassin has gotten himself in to an arranged marriage. Apparently to Senweis.”
“That might prove to be a good solution.” Sorcha said.
“Do you think Li'endrin will allow it? He already has the majority of the family out of the way. Kienna and Aldhem are all that remain and he just has to wait for them to die of old age. He'll have Senweis snuffed in a heartbeat.”
“By your hand?” Sorcha paused to look at the woman sitting on the bench in her tight, black leather skirt and corset. Her red-gold hair hung loosely to her waist and shone in the moonlight.
“Not by my hand. I refuse to help that bastard with anything.”
“Seems the world of Eir du'Brusai at least has one thing in common.” Sorcha continued to walk slowly around the circle. As she passed by the bench, she paused and sat next to Nightshadow, her body turned to face her. “What if I told you Kayta is not dead?”
“I'd call you a liar. Oh, you are a liar.”
“Very funny. I have proof.” Sorcha pulled the insignia ring indicating Kayta's station as Guardian of the Realm from her pocket. She held it out for Nightshadow to see.
“Where in all hells did you get this?” Nightshadow hissed, grabbing the ring and quickly looking around to see if they were alone. She dropped the last of her cigarette to the ground and smashed the embers with the toe of her boot. She held the ring up to view it in the moonlight. The ring was a large, flat onyx shaped like a crescent moon. Silver flames cradled the moon before blending in to the rest of the band.
“I told you, Kayta is alive. I happened upon the aftermath of Toreg's attack. She looks to be the only survivor. I want you to take this ring to Nikkolani. She's got to get back to Paridzule, she will straighten things out and if not, she'll just hang her sister and take the throne.”
“We could only hope. I cannot believe that selfish little whelp renounced the throne.” Nightshadow turned the ring in the light before tucking it away.
“Will you do it? Will you bring her back?” Sorcha asked.
“I'll do it on one condition.”
“I don't have that much coin on me, Night. So whatever your price, go easy on my purse.”
“No, don't worry. This will only cost you Toreg's head. You kill him and we'll be square.”
“Done!” Sorcha clapped her hand into Nightshadow's and they shook on it. “What a strange world we live in when an assassin asks a Pyrate to kill someone for them.”
“Strange indeed when Pyrates pick up floating stragglers in the ocean.”
Sorcha walked down the little path that led around the side of the building where, she knew from past experience, a little garden with benches had been placed for visitors.
As she rounded the corner, she heard someone crying and halted where she stood, not wishing to intrude.
“Please let him be all right,” a female voice drifted out of the night, broken with little hiccups as she cried. “Aeviar, Kaigowen, if you are listening to the pleas of a pitiful wretch like me, please let him be all right. Ioweth be praised,” the woman finished her prayer to the gods of healing and miracles. As she invoked the name of the creator, Ioweth, Sorcha narrowed her eyes.
“Nightshadow?” Sorcha whispered.
“Who's there?” the woman growled, her voice hard. Sorcha saw the woman stand up and turn towards her, a dagger glinting in the moonlight.
“Calm yourself, woman. It's me, Sorcha.” Sorcha stepped over to where Nightshadow stood, still holding her dagger.
“What in all hells are you doing here,” Nightshadow snapped.
“I could ask you the same question. I never figured you to be the praying type. Who did you almost kill?”
“That is none of your bloody business.” Nightshadow concealed her dagger and sat back down on the bench.
“Yes, the business is bloody. I'm here dropping someone off.” Sorcha turned in a circle, taking in the sequestered area. Seeing they were very much alone, she plopped down on the stone bench next to the infamous assassin. “I'm taking running in to you as a very good sign.” Sorcha smiled warmly, her mind working quickly as usual.
“I'm taking it as a very bad omen,” Nightshadow muttered.
“Now don't be silly. This could be a very prosperous coincidence. Are you game?”
“That all depends,” Nightshadow said. “How much will I be gaining from this venture?”
“Let us speak of coin later. First let me tell you what I have in mind. However, if your mind works like mine, I'm sure you will see the future gain.”
“I'm listening.” Nightshadow pulled out a small silver case and tapped the lid twice, then tapped the bottom once. The lid sprang open and she pulled out a slim cigarette. Placing it to her lips, she worked her flint and tinder, lit the stick and inhaled the smoke deeply, tucking the little silver contraption away.
“Cute,” Sorcha commented. She waved a hand in front of her face, the smell of the cloves and other herbs in the cigarette were too sweet for her taste. Nightshadow just blew the smoke in her face and remained silent. “I told you I came to drop someone off. Tell me, what news has reached Moordigan in the last few days?”
Nightshadow frowned slightly as she took another deep pull on her cigarette. “Let's see,” she mused and smoke blew out with her words. “The king and queen of Paridzule are dead. Apparently an accident on their way to a negotiation meeting in Relavia. Li'endrin has to be behind it.” Sorcha leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees as she waited patiently for Nightshadow to finish. “The ship carrying their son Hedric and daughter Kayta was attacked by your good friend Toreg, no survivors.”
“That slimy dung heap is not my friend.” Sorcha huffed and shook her head. “What else?”
“And Senweis has renounced the Paridzule throne.”
“She what?” Sorcha asked, astounded. She sat up and turned to look at Nightshadow.
“I figured you were seeking specific news and all three of those are so closely related. The world is not going to be the same if Li'endrin waltzes in and takes over Paridzule. The only other news is petty compared to all of this. Some Noble dies, others declare war then kiss and make up. You know, the usual.”
Sorcha stood and paced back and forth in the little circular garden. One hand rested on her hip as she walked, the other tapped her lips.
“Oh, and Alabassin has gotten himself in to an arranged marriage. Apparently to Senweis.”
“That might prove to be a good solution.” Sorcha said.
“Do you think Li'endrin will allow it? He already has the majority of the family out of the way. Kienna and Aldhem are all that remain and he just has to wait for them to die of old age. He'll have Senweis snuffed in a heartbeat.”
“By your hand?” Sorcha paused to look at the woman sitting on the bench in her tight, black leather skirt and corset. Her red-gold hair hung loosely to her waist and shone in the moonlight.
“Not by my hand. I refuse to help that bastard with anything.”
“Seems the world of Eir du'Brusai at least has one thing in common.” Sorcha continued to walk slowly around the circle. As she passed by the bench, she paused and sat next to Nightshadow, her body turned to face her. “What if I told you Kayta is not dead?”
“I'd call you a liar. Oh, you are a liar.”
“Very funny. I have proof.” Sorcha pulled the insignia ring indicating Kayta's station as Guardian of the Realm from her pocket. She held it out for Nightshadow to see.
“Where in all hells did you get this?” Nightshadow hissed, grabbing the ring and quickly looking around to see if they were alone. She dropped the last of her cigarette to the ground and smashed the embers with the toe of her boot. She held the ring up to view it in the moonlight. The ring was a large, flat onyx shaped like a crescent moon. Silver flames cradled the moon before blending in to the rest of the band.
“I told you, Kayta is alive. I happened upon the aftermath of Toreg's attack. She looks to be the only survivor. I want you to take this ring to Nikkolani. She's got to get back to Paridzule, she will straighten things out and if not, she'll just hang her sister and take the throne.”
“We could only hope. I cannot believe that selfish little whelp renounced the throne.” Nightshadow turned the ring in the light before tucking it away.
“Will you do it? Will you bring her back?” Sorcha asked.
“I'll do it on one condition.”
“I don't have that much coin on me, Night. So whatever your price, go easy on my purse.”
“No, don't worry. This will only cost you Toreg's head. You kill him and we'll be square.”
“Done!” Sorcha clapped her hand into Nightshadow's and they shook on it. “What a strange world we live in when an assassin asks a Pyrate to kill someone for them.”
“Strange indeed when Pyrates pick up floating stragglers in the ocean.”
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