|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2010 13:43:49 GMT -5
Yay! Man, I haven't been this excited about NaNoWriMo since the first time I did it...fourish years ago? Not sure how long. I was definitely still in high school, probably my junior year. Yeah, so four years ago. I have a setting, and a conflict that rises out of the setting, and in inciting incident, and a handful of names and rough ideas for characters, and, and, and.... Yeah, I have no outline yet. The world building started in force yesterday, when I sketched my system of magic, and that's nearly finished. Title: The Silencer's Apprentice
Synopsis (more like a sentence blurb, copied from my NaNo profile):
The mirror worlds of Nodd are about to collide after centuries of isolation when a rogue wand maker wills his last work of art, and his dying wish, to a willful girl.
But, the creeds of Eldecia and Aicedle are irreconcilably different. Who's excited? |
|
|
|
Post by Tam on Oct 3, 2010 0:56:14 GMT -5
I'm excited! =D Your synopsis/sentence blurb sounds brilliant. I mean, rogue wand makers, willful girls, and colliding worlds? In two sentences you've made me want to read this.
...I hope you don't mind if I lurk on this thread next month. xD;
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2010 13:38:19 GMT -5
Of course you can lurk  Though, I don't guarantee it will be very intesting List of things I need to create by the end of October: Magical creatures Climate (both sides) LandscapeCity maps Society (castes, interactions) Government (in more detail) Customs Religion (?) Culture: food, clothing, greetings, family, etc. History (in more detail, of both sides) Currency and trade Calendar Plot! (at least the major points) |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2010 16:53:03 GMT -5
I'm rather proud of my system of magic for this years NaNo, so I wanted to share it ^.^ There are a few more things that have to be fleshed out, like the Academy and the effect of magical creatures on Eldecian magic, but, here goes:
It would be fair to say that magic is an inner strength with the power to affect the physical world--a sort of creative visualization. It has physical roots in what the magical community calls recra, or a sort of inner fire. It can be transfered to objects (such as potions and scrolls), and other people (healing and curses). It can also be used simply as a force (levitation, for instance), or for energy (staying up all night, like adrenaline, or the massive explosions of war magic). Each of these four "uses" is a separate kind of magic, and a sorcerer capable of one may not be capable of all. All sorcerers can affect themselves (healing). There are other, rarer branches of magic acknowledged by Eldecia's Academy, such as construct forms. Some difficult spells that can be classified as any of the above are considered separate because not everyone capable of that sphere can perform them, even with practice (such as shape-shifting).
The recra cannot be tapped at will, though a strong will is required to manipulate it. Instead, it responds to outside influences and "works" according to a certain set of laws that can be taught as any craft or vocation can be taught (the flip side of that coin being that it can be taught incorrectly). Some sorcerers know how to work their recra instinctively--what words and objects will draw it out and have the desired effect--and these tend to be the more powerful of their kind). (Rather than memorize the laws, they understand them, and can this apply their understanding to more formidable tasks.) Experimentation is also a source of magical understanding.
The most important of a sorcerer's tools is his want. Without it, the recra overcomes the body, much like an illness, and destroys it. Wands are channels through which the recra can leave the body and influence the world. They must be crafted to each sorcerer and his abilities: the kind of wood, the runes and their placement, handle details, and other carvings all depend on the kind of magic the user can perform. This requirement contributes to the extremely high price of wands.
Other tools include things that are often associated with magic: herbs, stones, time of day, season (love potions can only be brewed the last week of the year's first month), bits of magical creatures and blood. It is worth noting that blood isn't associated with dark magic and, in fact, cannot be because of its vital nature; it's often used to strengthen powerful workings, or as a key.
Spells can require any of these things, or none of them. Most complicated works require regeants to at least some degree (read: potions and curses), while simpler things only require a unique focus* (moving objects or stirring up a breeze to keep cool).
*a word, usually in a different language so it's not accidentally spoken in conversation, that a person's recra reacts to a certain way. In this sense, the recra can be trailed. Standard command words exist and are taught, though nearly every sorcerer creates his own commands eventually.
The Wasting: symptoms are similar to those of the flu. Aching, weakness, inability to process food, loss of appetite. Since sorcerers rarely get sick, these symptoms are great cause for concern. In young people and weak sorcerers, it could take months or years for The Wasting to result in death. The more powerful the sorcerer, the more quickly death (or lasting damage) comes. Built up recra can destroy the body in as little as two hours.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rikku on Oct 9, 2010 0:03:46 GMT -5
... *doesn't really have time to read long magic-system list* D:
Er, but I'm sure I will soon? =D And this looks interesting! And the fact that you'll have a complex world planned out in advance is kind of impressive. And that your conflict arises from the setting, too. That's. Pretty much what good worldbuilding is for. So I'm sort of in awe of that.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2010 22:46:03 GMT -5
... *doesn't really have time to read long magic-system list* D: Er, but I'm sure I will soon? =D And this looks interesting! And the fact that you'll have a complex world planned out in advance is kind of impressive. And that your conflict arises from the setting, too. That's. Pretty much what good worldbuilding is for. So I'm sort of in awe of that. Awww...thanks I have a lot of fun world building. Maybe even more than actually writing. Edited to add:
Shaeven regarded the door at the end of the alley with an encroaching sense of dread; his step faltered when ribbons of moonlight caught the glass eye over the door. It blinked twice, swiveled over the cobblestones, and finally settled on him.
He shivered.
"It's over," he said as he knocked on the door. He raised his fist to rap again, avoiding the eye, when the door opened just a crack and a whisper drifted out.
"Is it?"
"Yes," he answered.
"And the Chancellor?" the small voice inquired.
"As tight-lipped as all the rest. Perhaps moreso."
"Interesting. You should come in," the door swung open and Shaeven stepped over the threshold.
The apartment beyond was far cleaner than the alley in which it was situated. Rows of bookshelves, nearly half of them empty, lined the walls and a fire pit, itself ringed with a small desk and a dozen odd chairs, dominated the center of the room. Slips of paper with subjects and letters were stuck to the backs of the chairs, the old man's only filing system. A cot, complete with thin blanket and ragged pillow, took up one of the back corners.
"Do you know what happened?"
"That depends." Broole took a seat behind the desk and picked a length of wood out of a box there. He set to work examining it, and finally took a knife to one end and began carving.
"On what?"
"Grab me that book, will you?" he pointed to a volume on the shelf behind him. "Thanks."
"On what?" Shaeven repeated.
"Whether you ask out of your own curiosity or...another purpose."
Shaeven didn't answer. Silence hung between them, broken only by the scratching of Broole's knife.
"You know," the old man started, "there are easier ways to win her favor. Gifts. Service."
"Anyone can give her those," Shaeven protested. "No one else can offer her this."
"How many are dead?"
"Half a dozen. [insert some names here]. I don't know the rest."
"All of the Academy?"
"Every one. Possibly more we don't know about yet."
"And the Chancellor is silent," he mused, flipping back and forth between a few pages, comparing images by the unsteady firelight.
"On the cause," Shaeven took a seat across from the desk.
"They'll be interred in a few hours. As soon as the sun comes up."
"Her Grace is also silent?" Broole paused for a moment, and met his companion's gaze for the first time since he entered the apartment.
"What can she say that hasn't already been said? Of course it's a tragedy. All the world knows about it by now."
"All the world knew about it when it started. Did you ever consider," Broole bent his head again to the task at hand, "that she and her brother emerged unharmed?"
"What are you insinuating, old man?"
"Merely that...it's odd." He smiled.
"Tell me already. We both know you're going to."
"Perhaps you should consider that she is silent because she knows the cause and cannot speak of it? That she is unharmed...because she was the source?"
"You are too bold old man!" Shaeven stood quickly, knocking a stack of books into the fire. Broole didn't move to save them, and Shaeven watched them burn with a grin. "You make unfounded accusations against the most powerful family in the world and you expect me to stand here and accept them?"
"Have I ever told you wrong before?" Broole whispered.
Shaeven shook his head. "It doesn't matter."
"Have I ever lied to you before?" Broole whispered.
"It doesn't matter!"
"If you think so."
Shaeven reached for the book Broole was pouring over and held it over the fire. He turned the cover up, so he could read the title, then set it back on the desk. "You're not worth the trouble."
He stormed out of the apartment.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2010 14:52:34 GMT -5
Plot nearly done! I picked up an extra main character somewhere along the line, and have to sketch a parallel plot into the beginning-middle with him.
I have a bunch of work to catch up on, and the Scrivener beta is just around the corner. I was hoping everything would be all ready to set up by Monday with it comes out, but my sweetie is visiting from college this weekend, so the chances that any significant amount of work gets done after tomorrow morning is non-existent.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2010 9:30:10 GMT -5
Yay! November 1st! I stayed up late last night so I could start at midnight and only ended up writing about 500 words. I want to finish the novel this month, not just get to 50k, so I'm looking at close to 100-120k words. I have a bet with a friend that if I manage to write 17,000 by the end of Wednesday he'll pay for a month of WoW (yeah, I play that too; I admit it), so it looks like I'm writing about 6,000 words a day for these first three. So far I'm up to about 2600, and it's only 10:30 ^.^ Even more important...it's not all terrible Edit: Made it, with 15 minutes to spare in the day. I gotta say, the last 1600 or so was rough, but this puts me well ahead of pace for 100k by the end of the month, which makes it all worth it. Now, just to find the motivation to do the same thing again tomorrow! |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2010 21:46:52 GMT -5
If I keep this up, I'm going to burn out by the end of the week for sure. I just have to stop taking bets about my word count....
Anyway, I powered through a bunch of fairly unexciting scenes and, unlike yesterday's writing, I'm not at all happy with it. There are so many things I need to go back and patch. I had to create a status in Scrivener for "Done, but so badly it's going to need to be redone on December 1st for sure." I called it "Doesn't match outline" for short. I get so caught up in the flow of the story that I forget to pause and, you know, describe things. Oh well. December is for that!
(Total count so far: 17,017. I think.)
|
|
|
|
Post by Shadaras on Nov 2, 2010 22:13:04 GMT -5
...awesome going, that wordcount is. :3
|
|
|
|
Post by Amneiger on Nov 2, 2010 22:18:32 GMT -5
Shade told me about your wordcount. So I went and looked.
...Cribbits. D:
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2010 14:11:20 GMT -5
Thanks guys ^.^
Slow start today. Aiming for considerably fewer words than yesterday, but I've written all of about 300, because I napped all afternoon. It was a good nap.
I might push for 25k today before midnight, but plans with friends may prevent this from happening. If so, I'll be satisfied with 22k and write a ton tomorrow at work so I don't feel bad about it. Thankfully, my boss understands the compulsion to write infinite words in November.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2010 13:14:26 GMT -5
Wrote a grand total of 700ish words yesterday. Yeah, I'm ashamed of myself too. Making it all up today though. I was pretty stupid and took an extremely awful bet with an extremely awesome prize, if I manage to do it (which I probably won't; I have to get to 65k by Saturday which works out to 16k words today, tomorrow, and Saturday; that's A LOT OF WORDS). There are other mini prizes for failing less horribly at it. My friends. They enjoy watching me squirm, because they know I'm going to try to do it to see if I can. Thank goodness for no classes on Fridays, right?
Current word count: 28,170.
|
|
|
|
Post by Shadaras on Nov 4, 2010 14:55:17 GMT -5
You, my dear, are brilliantly insane. xD I shall enjoy watching you try to win that bet. ^_^
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2010 17:37:05 GMT -5
13k so far for the day. 2k more than the last time I posted. At work currently, so I had to slow down and deal with customers. They keyboard on my laptop is also slower than the keyboards in the computer lab at school. As the night wears on and I'm just chilling out after hours, I'll be able to pick the pace back up again. I find it hard to work at home because there are distractions like my bed with a heated blanket, so I'll end up going to school for most of the day tomorrow to remove said distractions.
I don't plan on spending much time in bed with said heated blanket between now and midnight on Saturday.
Count: 30,756.
Here's to seeing 50k tomorrow!
Edit: 16k Day #1 down. It took me most of the day, and lots of angst, to get there. Just to think, I get to do it all over again tomorrow! AND THE NEXT DAY!!
Current count: 33,756
|
|
Though, I don't guarantee it will be very intesting
