I have a story concept that I've fleshed out somewhat. I'd appreciate feedback about it. Possibly a NaNoWriMoNo for this year. Cookies for anyone who figures out where I'm drawing the characters names from.
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Cities and villages and forests connected by rail and water. Most pass through them in moments, without ever setting foot inside, but for a very few people, they are as real as everything else. They didn't used to be so few, but the people of England turned their backs and forgot how to access these spaces. Now it lies desolate, uninhabited, it's tracks and locomotives rusting and the roofs caving in.
But not forever.
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Child finds city in woods, explores Comes across Cathedral (?) and meets hermit (?) Asked to bring others Tries to bring friend, friend cannot see, freaks out when child disappears Finds others, given mission and weapons (“I would not place this burden upon you if there we another way...”) and instructions Evil stalks land, must find way to defeat Embark on mission to find the source Churches are sanctuaries, guarded by grims Wraiths and hags and witches oh my? Do not give into despair! Defeat evil and awaken the sleepers The king is the one who can put a sword into the (key)stone and thus gain power over the land The land chooses who and what it allows in – low level telepathy Alice wanders off, attacked by wraiths. Peter strikes with sword and finds that it repairs itself as it deals damage. Start off walking, find boat at some point so they use the canal. In the central garden, there is calm and peace. It is the eye of the storm. Grim joins them on their quest. After placing the sword in the keystone, it is time for Peter's coronation. Wander around the castle and find their rooms, with their coronation clothes laid out ready for them after 70+ years. Found after two weeks, away from where they went missing and dressed fancy like. Linked by paths, cannot access from normal world, only zones Paths are straight and flat, despite difference between zones Keep to the paths! People do not build over zones, it is a most unnatural feeling
Adam. 12 years old. First to find the city. Alice. 10 years old. Follows a raven into the city. Peter. 15 years old. Finds his way in when looking for his sister Alice. Violet. 13 years old. Playing with a drone, which crashes.
C1, or standalone? Adam (?), a child (12 years?), exploring one day in the woods. Sees something he's never seen before - a city, right in the midst of the trees. Enters it, looks around. It's deserted, and starting to fall apart. Enters the church at the centre of the city, encounters hermit Hermit (Merlin?) explains some of the history Was once populated, till Despair entered the hearts of the people People forgot how to access it, forgot it existed, pass right through instead. Go, quick, and bring others and teach them to see?
C2 Adam tries to bring others, but they cannot see He disappears, but his friend still cannot believe, freaks out Reappears, friend is still blind Must find others Others find him. Alice follows a raven, her brother finds it whilst looking for her Violet flies her drone in. It falls from the sky, since the land has rejected it.
C3 Meeting with the hermit One given sword (Peter?), sword is rusty and blunt (unknown to him, it will be restored as he slays wraiths) The only way in – or out - is through Churches are sanctuaries Follow the tracks – here is map Once committed, it's a closed circle Alice cheerfully commits, forcing her brother to Adam accepts the quest Violet refuses to give up the opportunity to see the place, so she accepts
C4
Set off down the path, canal to the right, railway to the left Peter is most displeased with his sister, Violet is inspecting the railway … Alice decides to investigate path off path, attacked by Wraiths Screams, Peter rushes in with sword Wraiths dissolve on contact, sword becomes shinier … Violet gets boat working again … Enter forest zone, former village Attacked by wolves, rescued by Grims Hide in Church until daybreak …
End_c Make their way into the city Thick with despair and wraiths Fight their way through Reliant upon all skills? Guided by some animal? Find the garden – peace in the centre of the storm Peter inserts sword into the keystone Day breaks over the capital “Step forward, King Peter” Go to their rooms – it is coronation time Merlin crowns Peter
Epilogue Parents find their way into the woods now that they can see? Merlin explains they are not there They leave the city and are found walking around in their fancy clothes In a village in the middle of England
Post-epilogue “It was evening and it was morning, a new day.” People awaken throughout England, find places that weren't there before
_________________ Formerly DragonRider. Almost teenage me could have been more imaginative with names.
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