Post by ASGetty ((Zovo)) on Oct 13, 2015 14:55:57 GMT -5
Just a little run down of what I'm working on here for those who may not have read the stories submitted for the world-building competition.
What I'm working on is a stone-age low-fantasy setting with heavy Polynesian influences which relies heavily on folklore for its mystical feel.
During the world building competition I submitted a series of three stories which, taken together, tell the story of a shipwrecked castaway who is rescued by a group of fishermen from a nearby archipelago. In his time with these people he discovers that a recent tragedy/disaster has cast him as a sort of savior/hero figure (Mauwale) and that they've big expectations of him. He learns that due to his dark complexion he is believed to be a folk hero reincarnated (sort of) and that in order to bring an end to the calamitous events of the recent past, he must travel to an ancient mystical city, marry a queen and pacify her mischievous children who are thought to have caused the disastrous happenings. Enticed by the idea of becoming made a king he sort of plays along only to discover not all is as idyllic as he believed.
I'll be taking the original stories down before November, so anyone who wants to read/re-read them should do so.
Part I: awritersrecluse.proboards.com/post/378837
Part II: awritersrecluse.proboards.com/post/379063
Part III: awritersrecluse.proboards.com/post/380725
Of course I'll be reformatting, making the narrative more consistent. What I want to do is expand on the framework of Mauwale and tell the larger story. For instance, the tsunami which led to the villages destruction prior to Mauwale's arrival was the product of a volcanic event on another island. So some of these efforts to "please the gods" were already in motion when Mauwale was found adrift in his lifeboat. There are a few characters I want to expand on and tell their stories.
Helei: She is the woman who cares for Mauwale during his recovery. She is one of about half a dozen women who act as council to the village's male leader/chief/king. She also acts as a sort of tutor/caretaker to Ho’opana who is being reared to eventually rule the village. Additionally, she is the chief's (Koro's) favorite among the council serving as a sort of adviser/queen/concubine. But she is not in any way subserviant. Willful and proud, Koro often defers to her judgement and loves her dearly, and she him.
Koro: Is the village chief/king/leader who is absent when Mauwale arrives. He shows up about midway through the stories which are already written. He is gone because following the tsunami he left the village to visit a sacred site and seek answers for the devastation from ancestors/spirits/something. I want to tell that story as well. What happens to Koro while he's away and why he's in such rough shape when he returns. Additionally, what his actions and motivations are when he returns to find his love spending so much time with this mystical stranger (Mauwale). Are his motivation purely in the villages best interest when he send Mauwale away to the ancient city? Or are they more selfish? What are the ramifications of that action?
So, I've got three characters whose actions and relationships are already tightly knitted together. Surrounding them, there's the folklore, the legends, and the actual goings on. My problem is that right now the narrative has a solid beginning middle and end revolving around just Mauwale. What I like about is that it's a clear, concise story. What i don't like is that 2/3s of the way through half the cast is left behind to never be mentioned again when he leaves the island. However, if I continue to tell the story of what happens to those characters after he leaves, something has to happen; and those happenings have to be relevant to Mauwale's story.
So, basically, I want to expand, but I'm not sure how big in which direction or how to tie it together. I want the three stories to sort of braid together so that while they don't always intersect, they're always relevant to one another, resulting in a cohesive narrative. I'm considering an invasion from another island; the result of the desperation caused by either the volcanic event, or the tsunami. But, that feels contrived to me and I'm not sure how to handle it. I'd like for Koro have some moment of clarity/epiphany at the sacred site but not sure what it should be.
I dunno, I'm looking for ideas. Was hoping any one or more of you who might have read the original stories might be able to provide me with some feedback, or things you wanted to know more about, or something that might help point me in the right direction.
What I'm working on is a stone-age low-fantasy setting with heavy Polynesian influences which relies heavily on folklore for its mystical feel.
During the world building competition I submitted a series of three stories which, taken together, tell the story of a shipwrecked castaway who is rescued by a group of fishermen from a nearby archipelago. In his time with these people he discovers that a recent tragedy/disaster has cast him as a sort of savior/hero figure (Mauwale) and that they've big expectations of him. He learns that due to his dark complexion he is believed to be a folk hero reincarnated (sort of) and that in order to bring an end to the calamitous events of the recent past, he must travel to an ancient mystical city, marry a queen and pacify her mischievous children who are thought to have caused the disastrous happenings. Enticed by the idea of becoming made a king he sort of plays along only to discover not all is as idyllic as he believed.
I'll be taking the original stories down before November, so anyone who wants to read/re-read them should do so.
Part I: awritersrecluse.proboards.com/post/378837
Part II: awritersrecluse.proboards.com/post/379063
Part III: awritersrecluse.proboards.com/post/380725
Of course I'll be reformatting, making the narrative more consistent. What I want to do is expand on the framework of Mauwale and tell the larger story. For instance, the tsunami which led to the villages destruction prior to Mauwale's arrival was the product of a volcanic event on another island. So some of these efforts to "please the gods" were already in motion when Mauwale was found adrift in his lifeboat. There are a few characters I want to expand on and tell their stories.
Helei: She is the woman who cares for Mauwale during his recovery. She is one of about half a dozen women who act as council to the village's male leader/chief/king. She also acts as a sort of tutor/caretaker to Ho’opana who is being reared to eventually rule the village. Additionally, she is the chief's (Koro's) favorite among the council serving as a sort of adviser/queen/concubine. But she is not in any way subserviant. Willful and proud, Koro often defers to her judgement and loves her dearly, and she him.
Koro: Is the village chief/king/leader who is absent when Mauwale arrives. He shows up about midway through the stories which are already written. He is gone because following the tsunami he left the village to visit a sacred site and seek answers for the devastation from ancestors/spirits/something. I want to tell that story as well. What happens to Koro while he's away and why he's in such rough shape when he returns. Additionally, what his actions and motivations are when he returns to find his love spending so much time with this mystical stranger (Mauwale). Are his motivation purely in the villages best interest when he send Mauwale away to the ancient city? Or are they more selfish? What are the ramifications of that action?
So, I've got three characters whose actions and relationships are already tightly knitted together. Surrounding them, there's the folklore, the legends, and the actual goings on. My problem is that right now the narrative has a solid beginning middle and end revolving around just Mauwale. What I like about is that it's a clear, concise story. What i don't like is that 2/3s of the way through half the cast is left behind to never be mentioned again when he leaves the island. However, if I continue to tell the story of what happens to those characters after he leaves, something has to happen; and those happenings have to be relevant to Mauwale's story.
So, basically, I want to expand, but I'm not sure how big in which direction or how to tie it together. I want the three stories to sort of braid together so that while they don't always intersect, they're always relevant to one another, resulting in a cohesive narrative. I'm considering an invasion from another island; the result of the desperation caused by either the volcanic event, or the tsunami. But, that feels contrived to me and I'm not sure how to handle it. I'd like for Koro have some moment of clarity/epiphany at the sacred site but not sure what it should be.
I dunno, I'm looking for ideas. Was hoping any one or more of you who might have read the original stories might be able to provide me with some feedback, or things you wanted to know more about, or something that might help point me in the right direction.
