Hi guys
Wondered if I could get some brainstorming help, I've got a scene where a group of characters who are training in martial arts-type fighting skills (with some magic involved) in a Temple go to their ceremony after a year's training to get awards... think like the grading system in Martial Arts, where you have your grading to prove your proficiency and skills and then get awarded your belt and new grade after if you make it through. The thing is, I don't want to give them belts or anything too similar to Eastern martial arts as I'm trying to keep the culture distinct in it's own right, but... my minds gone blank!
So aside from belts or medals, what can I give them to show their new grade/rank?! All ideas welcome! I was thinking of developing a named ranking system too (a name for the first grade/rank, another name for the second etc) but never got quite that far when I was planning this nano!
Thanks in advance!
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54,665 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2009 - 09 27
a tattoo?
----------Sarah
"She said she cried at least once each day not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful and life was so short" - Brian Andreas
52,239 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2009 - 10 30
Here are a few ideas.
1> Scarring
2> Branding
3> Given a weapon or piece of armour
4> Given a mask or uniform to wear
5> Circumcision or a full clip to become eunichs
6> Clipping of hair in a distinctive style that marks their level (Gladiators, Samurai, Buddhists, Mandarins all had these type of hair styles)
7> Piercings
8> Magical bonding to an animal or plant
9> Magical marking like a tattoo or branding but has a magical component
10> Magical aura like fire, smoke, wind rolls off the person.
11> Semi animal features are magical bestowed // awakened in the individual
12> Body flesh is removed like a finger, eye, or toe. Flesh removed could be worked into an item by the temple to ensure loyalty and connection to the individual.
13> Tottem or amulet is provided. Could be in the form of jewlery like a ring, armband, necklace, or headband. Could be a seperate token to hold on to.
14> A magially imbued tottem or amulet could be implanted in the person's body. Implantation ensures the person would die if they tried to remove it and gives a lasting connection of the temple to the warrior.
Okay, that should give you a few ideas to look at.
Good luck with your NaNo!
----------2007 The Lieutenant of Fairies (won!)
2008 The Captain of the Dammed (won!)
2009 Black Dog (won!)
50,674 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2009 - 11 48
How about the fighting outfit. Perhaps the color (or just the brightness of the color) changes as they progress, while the "logo" represents the teacher (/teaching facility). It's not entirely original, but it can easily be made to feel quite different by changing a few details. And even if it does feel somewhat similar, that does not need to be a bad thing, does it?
Lastly, remember not to try to be original too much, it just doesn't work when you do that.
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1,272 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2009 - 22 32
If you don't have time to figure it out, skip the details of the award and make a note to add it in later. Unless their present or change in rank is significant to the plot, you don't have to mess with it right now if you don't want to.
You could give them rings, bracelets, or some other sort of symbolic jewelry. For example, different gemstones correspond to different ranks.
Or you could give them ceremonial weapons as a graduation present.
----------http://rainydayracer.blogspot.com/ - 30 weeks, 26.2 miles, 3:59:35 or bust.
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50,136 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2009 - 22 57
If this is their award at the end of their first year, perhaps they get their weapons. If they've been using training weapons all this time, that could be a big deal, essentially saying, "We trust your skill and your judgment enough to allow you to represent us with a deadly weapon."
0 / 50,000
Nov 9, 2009 - 06 26
Thanks guys!
All these were really helpful.
I was leaning away from the tattoo/branding as I have another society that uses tattoos as a right of passage when initiating shamans... the markings have some spiritual significance allowing their spirit guides to recongise them and protect them... but you've given me a great idea about the magic involved in the martial-arts system discussed here, as after their first 'grading' type ceremony the youngest boys get taken down to some vaults below the temple where they are initiated and connected to the mystical Anshai energy which they use to enhance their fighting skills... and I've started toying with the idea of giving them some markings that just appear on their bodies after this initiation takes place.
This works well for me because the magic systems are actually interlinked, but their societies interpret the reality of it in different ways, so linking the two with tattoos that appear as if by some magic could work really well!
I like the idea of awarding weapons or armour, but might keep this reserved for the higher grades.
For some kind of object, I think I'm going to go with a coloured sash ,worn around the waist a bit like a belt. I've seen examples of Samurai armour sets with red sash-like 'belts' around the waist area and it looked pretty cool so I think this could work.
Any more suggestions or ideas welcome!