So I am working on a new two-part novel idea on the off season......and I hit a snag. I have been reading too much fantasy lately which is bad for me right now because every idea I have seems to be exactly what is happening in one of the books I just read.....anyway...
I have this one country that is going to split in two for the first story and then reunited in the second story. The cause of the break is magic.
You see only some people possess this magic (I am still working on the details of what it is going to be in the first story. Something telepathic/psychic because in the second story it has evolved into the ability to control another person’s body slightly, ie cause physical pain, cause movement although not fluid or graceful, so not someone one can use completely secretly).
What I need to figure out is:
- Why have the “magic-users” not decided to overthrow the throne? (The throne as it stands is based off of birthright, ie English throne.) If the magic-users have the ability, why do they not take over? What consequences are stopping them?
- Why does this change with Pyotr (second son in line for throne) aside from his greed and ambition?
- How does Aatos (heir) overcome the magic onslaught?
This idea is still very much in it’s infancy, which is why such key details are not decided yet, but I wanted to see if anyone had any good ideas and to bounce ideas off you guys.
Right now I know that Pyotr is going to take over the throne from his brother for a short time, but is going to rule harshly enough that the people are going start to develop a fear and hatred for magic. Then Aatos rides in to save the day somehow running Pyotr and his men to the other side of the land. They then build walls on the north and south ends of the mountain range that goes vertically across the island to contain the magic users.
I was thinking that maybe the source of the magic is earth based or something that they would not be able to reach in the high mountain ranges, so that the magic-users would seldom attempt to cross the mountains. Meaning the walls would be in the main weak point in which Aatos’ country must protect. Perhaps their magic feeds off the life in the earth (plants, etc.) which would lead to the devastation of Pyotr’s exiled land which becomes instrumental in the second story.
Am I making any sense? Anyone have any ideas to help me make sense of things?
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Kay
ML for Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
ottawa_on AT scriptfrenzy DOT org
http://ottawanano.110mb.com/
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Mei 7, 2008 - 12 53
What I need to figure out is:
- Why have the “magic-users” not decided to overthrow the throne? (The throne as it stands is based off of birthright, ie English throne.) If the magic-users have the ability, why do they not take over? What consequences are stopping them?
There could be several reasons:
-- There may be a deeply entrenched belief within your culture that royalty is a "gift from the God(s)" and they don't want to tick off the Almighty(s) in question.
-- Magic has its limits (good story magic anyway) and the handful of people who are both magical AND filled with the greed and ambition to actually want the throne aren't organized enough, don't have enough followers or whatever to get what they want (a few failed coups could be fun in this direction).
-- The penalty for organizing a failed coup is a harsh one-- usually somewhere along the lines of "death and torture" or something equally deterring which would turn all but the most determined magic-user off from the idea.
--Loyalty to the country. Until Pyotr takes over, it doesn't sound too bad, so why try to fix what isn't broken?
Pyotr already has an inside track to the throne, he doesn't have to get past guards, and usually the harshest penalties (even way back when...think Queen Elizabeth I and her older half-sister Mary II) are reserved for the peasantry. Those of regal blood usually just end up locked in some plush ivory tower (not that it's "pleasant" to be jailed, but it a heck of a lot better than dungeon based torture).
Because he's not stupid so he doesn't stand alone. Buddies, loyal servants, magical and non-magical pals. Well, that and Pyotr is a putz, so just about ever wanna be hero Joe and Jane on the street will help Aatos out if he asks.
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Mei 10, 2008 - 17 30
The magic users are divided - good and bad. This is what fuels most fantasy stories anyhow. The 'good' magic users are loyal to the current leader simply from goodness or because they have a pact of some kind with him. When the new leader takes over they don't like him or he doesn't honor the pact or he has an alliance with the 'evil' magic users, something like that. Do one or more if the 'royal' family have magic ability. Maybe Aaotos does. or more than Pyotor or something.
Magic could be based on a mineral deposit or a magic deposit in the earth, or on some sort of tree or something. With a mineral deposite or tree you could then have special magical items created from that source.
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Mei 11, 2008 - 01 51
Many a time when trying to get "the world" within the story to work a certain way it's good to have a strong grounding in how the real world works. I've used and recommend this site: http://www.historyexplained.com/ a brief summary of the history of the entire world. It's very good, but very dense so don't try and get through it all in one sitting.
The short version boils down to "where is the food coming from" and "what do people do". In order for a world to work, you need to spend a few minutes working out what it's like to live in that world. So if the vast majority of the people fall into the "impoverished peasants ruled by the upper class" then you have to wonder why they don't revolt and overthrow the rulers.
So long as the majority are comfortable, the rulers can do what they want.
So how does this work in to the magic angle? The most common way of limiting magic is that the magician develops their mental abilities rather than their physical. So that means that even if they are really powerful they can only hold off an onslaught for a given amount of time.
For the magicians in the employ of the rulers, they have the army and the castles to provide protection. Plus there are more of them so they can pool their resources and present a much stronger defense.
An attacking rogue magician (even with a large band of followers) would have difficulty overthrowing the entrenched rulers.
An internal corruption by Pyotr (whispers in the night, spreading rumours) would allow him to take over (or be able to) from within. It'd only be the wiser or shrewder (probably the older) magicians / assistants / adjutants that would be in a position to realize what was going or but might not have the power / authority to block Pytor.
A nice sub-plot or red herring would be for one of the other high-ranked rulers / assistants attempt to stop Pyotr from taking over but have their efforts confused with the actual coup so that the army / generals stop him instead and leave an opening for Pyotr.