Character Castle 2.0
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TULLIAN/VOLTEMAND
It was dark. Too dark to be canny.
“Where are we?” Tullian’s whisper boomed into echoing space.
Voltemand didn’t answer. He walked forward a few cautious steps, listening.
From somewhere in front of them, a noise like scuffling and whispering from a crowd of people was going on.
“Now would be a good time to do some of your energy stuff,” Tullian hissed. “Light, maybe.”
Answering would have been too loud, so Voltemand only grunted.
As they moved forward, the sounds great louder, and one great voice boomed above the others, echoing too much to hear the words.
They could feel the walls if the corridor around them vanish, and the cool, free air of a much larger room open on all sides. There was more light here, though not nearly adequate, and people were moving restlessly.
Suddenly, Tullian gasped and stopped walking. Voltemand turned one ear toward him and one ear to the people ahead of them.
“What is it?” He asked, low.
“Fear.” Tullian was panting like the air was too thick.
there must be a lot of it. “Where?”
“Everywhere.” Tullian lurched forward, and Voltemand had to put out an arm to steady him.
“That one”–he sucked in a breath–“that one’s close to terror.”
Voltemand clenched his free hand and opened it suddenly. It was a gesture he’d used a thousand times, as natural as breathing.
A tiny ray of light appeared, hovering over his palm, illuminating two figures to his left. The man was leaning on the girl’s arm, his face washed of color, his eyes big and glassy.
At sight of the newcomers and Voltemand’s little light, he started back, visibly shaking.
“Stop it!” Tullian wheezed.
The light blinked out. “Didn’t Irrelis say fear was easy?”
“For you to say.”
“Voltemand!” The same thunderous voice bellowed. “Give up you most precious possession, or participate in my fashion show.”
Voltemand’s eyebrows lifted.
“I doubt you’d be able to take it– without killing me.”
He found himself instantly on a brightly kit stage with a specimen of humanity in the throws of ecstasy.
He rolled his eyes. I’m glad Tul isn’t here.
It was over soon enough, and he stalked back to Tullian. He was breathing normally, now, if a little heavily, but as Voltemand came up he winced.
“Can you cool off a bit? I mean, that didn’t seem like anything to be mad about.”
Voltemand fixed him with a stony stare, and Tullian squirmed.
Slowly, Voltemand forced himself to relax, and Tullian relaxed with him.
“You could control it better, if you practiced more.” He said shortly.
Tullian grinned a little ruefully. “I knew you would say that.” Then added, “I’ve been thinking so myself.”
~~~~~~~
I really don’t know who’s doing what, so if anyone wants to interact??
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore!"
https://silverpenstrokes.wordpress.comTul looks a bit of a jerk, this way 🧐
TULLIAN
He shifted away from Voltemand. He was still angry with the Voice, and not especially comfortable to be around just now.
Not like the people he was walking toward were any better. The air felt heavier already, and even with all his self-control he was breathing hard by the time he was close enough to talk.
Do me a favor and don’t say anything stupid.
“Hi,” he grinned his easiest smile. The woman was only paying partial attention, the rest divided by the man on stage with–
colored hair? Maybe he was some kind of magician, one never knew. He seemed to be enjoying the show more than poor old Voltemand.
It was from the man in front of him that the fear was coming. The girl was anxious, but what else? annoyance? No–well, maybe, but there’s something…I know! Affection!
She was looking at the pink haired man.
“Is that your boyf–b-brother?”
Idiot! That will put her at ease.
@caliris and whoever has Calix…@ mammaauthoress ?
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore!"
https://silverpenstrokes.wordpress.com@calidris @emily-waldorf (yep, that’s me!)
CALIX:
“The room’s shrinking!”
The scream scared me so bad my flinch sent me crashing forward and I bumped Val. She stumbled, which yanked me forward as the crowd thickened and squeezed us.
The walls in front rolled back, splitting as everyone left the room. The darkness in the new room as so thick I could practically chew on my breaths.
Val shrank back as people jostled us both. I couldn’t help but press close to her, heartbeat quickening and breath shortening due to all the people.
Then the walls stopped.
All was silent.
All was black.
The murmuring of the crowd echoed off of shadowed walls around us.
“I think we’re in some sort of great hall,” Val whispered to me.
“Well done!” a voice terrifying and awe-filling boomed from the ceiling. “For this next challenge, I’ll be requiring each of you to part with your most prized belonging – and no, money doesn’t count. Refusal to comply will result in mandatory participation in my upcoming fashion show.”
Prized belonging??
Blinding lights flicked on, illuminating a long runway in the middle of the hall. I squinted and cowered, holding my only available hand over my eyes in the sudden brightness.
Val and I were standing in the middle, with rows and rows of seats lining the hall on either side of us, curving around the runway and disappearing into the shadows beyond. I felt a squeeze on my hand, and I glanced at Val. She was shaking and looking like she was going to be sick.
I didn’t think she felt it, but I tightened my grip on her hand.
What would I have to give up … I thought nervously. Would the Castle … harm us if we didn’t have any belongings with us?
I mean, I only had a pouch of a bone meal mixture to help with wounds, but that’s about it …
“Christopher Goldenseal, come forth and make your decision.”
“I choose the catwalk!” The pink-haired man’s voice echoed loud and excited in my ears, and I shivered at the volume. “Please?”
“Very well. Come up here and stand to the left of the aisle.”
Christopher swaggered up to the front, grinning back at everyone. He gave a smile in my direction, and, glancing at the girl next to me, saw that it was for Val.
I glanced between the interaction, gauging her reaction of uncomfortable smiling.
Huh.
“Is that your boyf–b-brother?”
I flinched at the new voice, turning to find a squat man staring up at me.
I didn’t say anything, but I gave him a slightly glowering look at assuming such a private thing.
Even though I was wondering the same thing.
Anxious gremlin coming through
@everyone btw, would you like to have the characters go down one at a time, or get separated into groups? Because I figured there could be some…rather entertaining backstage interactions (kind of like the ballet, for those who remember) XD
I was originally thinking that all of the characters who chose the fashion show would be separated in a group, while the characters who cooperated with the castle would be seated in the audience…but is anyone really going to choose to give up a possession though?
We could even have the castle provide a fake audience if none of the characters want to cooperate XD
*laughs as one fey*
I want my WIP to be absolutely perfect, and I’m scared that if I write it, it won’t be…I know, not the brightest philosophy, but there it is.
UGGHHH EXACTLY!!!
I think it’s especially hard when you have this story you absolutely love, and you’re just scared you won’t do it justice! Idk about you, but it’s hard thinking about how the story I love so much right now won’t be my best work 20 years in the future…but I mean, you have to start somewhere XD
I love plotting stories! Let me know if you ever think another brain would help– though I’m sure you can figure it out yourself.
I would really appreciate that! What’s a better way to contact you? Or, we could always start a new topic on SE if that works better XD
Yes, heavy themes mustn’t be treated lightly. Prayer is the best answer! And…Kit and Basil in one story. Yeesh! You can do this, though, with the Lord’s strength. 🙂
Thank you for the encouragement! I think it does help that Basil’s arc is set in Kit’s future, so it’s not like Kit and Val’s first arc is dealing with all that as well (although, it’s certainly not a light read.) It’s nice because both Kit and Val have had a lot of time to mature and heal by the time the Spire arc rolls around, and they play a pretty proactive role in Basil’s story. Although, one of the absolute worst villains in the Spire arc is also the (aged up) main antagonist of Kit’s story specifically…so there is also a huge amount of overlap between the two.
And I’ll definitely let you know when my blog is finished! Or at least usable XD
*laughs as one fey*
@calidris we could have them all together. Voltemand will refuse, and Tul doesn’t have any possessions, per se.
Here! My email address is emily waldorf 2021 at outlook dot com ( I coded it so robots don’t steal it.) Go ahead and shoot me an email. Or, if you’d rather, we could do it in SE. 🙂
I TO KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN AND AGREE WITH IT ALL!!!
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore!"
https://silverpenstrokes.wordpress.com@calidris I didn’t explain myself well (a usual problem lol). To uncode the email address, remove the spaces and change the obvious words–dot and at– to appropriate symbols.
If you like staying on the SE site, there is this brainstorming thread already https://storyembers.org/forums/topic/brainstoming-anyone/
Or you could start your own. Whichever is most convenient for you. I probably prefer email, but if you prefer SE, that is 100% okay.
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore!"
https://silverpenstrokes.wordpress.com@everyone btw, would you like to have the characters go down one at a time, or get separated into groups? Because I figured there could be some…rather entertaining backstage interactions (kind of like the ballet, for those who remember) XD
I think groups would be best because there’s quite a lot of characters.
I was originally thinking that all of the characters who chose the fashion show would be separated in a group, while the characters who cooperated with the castle would be seated in the audience…but is anyone really going to choose to give up a possession though?
Haha, I like that idea XD
We could even have the castle provide a fake audience if none of the characters want to cooperate XD
Or just a laugh track from the 50s. 😂
Anxious gremlin coming through
Or just a laugh track from the 50s. 😂
OR BOTH XD
@everyone What would be kind of cool is if the entire audience was like a hologram or simulation…
WAIT
GUYS
START FIGURING OUT WHAT YOU WANT YOUR CHARACTERS TO WEAR!!!
So, I think Kit and the other people who choose the fashion show (or fail the challenge) are going to be separated from the rest in a group off to the left, then they’ll all be whisked away to model whatever outfits
youthe castle wants XDSo
If you want to choose something ridiculous…go ahead XD
Is that ok?
*laughs as one fey*
I want my WIP to be absolutely perfect, and I’m scared that if I write it, it won’t be…I know, not the brightest philosophy, but there it is. I love plotting stories! Let me know if you ever think another brain would help– though I’m sure you can figure it out yourself.
Same here… I have this lovely WIP I’m crazy excited over, but I’m terrified to write it for fear of ruining it 🤦♀️ My solution was to write stories that are less important to me first as practice. And I stand in awe at your love of plotting. It is the HARDEST thing for me. Every time I sit down to write it’s a prayer and a “what happens next?” Which is fine for first drafts. It’s the figuring out plot points and structure in the later drafts that’s a mess.
Or just a laugh track from the 50s. 😂
OR BOTH XD @everyone What would be kind of cool is if the entire audience was like a hologram or simulation… WAIT GUYS START FIGURING OUT WHAT YOU WANT YOUR CHARACTERS TO WEAR!!! So, I think Kit and the other people who choose the fashion show (or fail the challenge) are going to be separated from the rest in a group off to the left, then they’ll all be whisked away to model whatever outfits
youthe castle wants XD So If you want to choose something ridiculous…go ahead XD Is that ok?Yes to this whole thing! 🤣
We are called to be lights in the cosmos.
May your inkwells never run dry!@everyone btw, would you like to have the characters go down one at a time, or get separated into groups? Because I figured there could be some…rather entertaining backstage interactions (kind of like the ballet, for those who remember) XD I was originally thinking that all of the characters who chose the fashion show would be separated in a group, while the characters who cooperated with the castle would be seated in the audience…but is anyone really going to choose to give up a possession though? We could even have the castle provide a fake audience if none of the characters want to cooperate XD
This would be so funny XD
We are called to be lights in the cosmos.
May your inkwells never run dry!@calidris I didn’t explain myself well (a usual problem lol). To uncode the email address, remove the spaces and change the obvious words–dot and at– to appropriate symbols. If you like staying on the SE site, there is this brainstorming thread already https://storyembers.org/forums/topic/brainstoming-anyone/ Or you could start your own. Whichever is most convenient for you. I probably prefer email, but if you prefer SE, that is 100% okay.
@emily-waldorf thank you so much! I might actually end up using a combination of the two, depending on what need help with XD*laughs as one fey*
Which is fine for first drafts. It’s the figuring out plot points and structure in the later drafts that’s a mess.
@e-n-leonard my email address is above, if you ever want to reach out! Or, if there’s enough of us, we could nip over to the plotting forum and start a new thread.
I figure out the structure before I draft, so it doesn’t have to big me down later; maybe that’s something you could try.
Apparently 75% of women are better with characters, so you’re in a good crowd!
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore!"
https://silverpenstrokes.wordpress.com@e-n-leonard I have determined to write my WIP and risk failing. I can always rewrite it when I’m a better author.
@calidris sounds good! Also, can’t wait to see your blog!Quoth the raven, "Nevermore!"
https://silverpenstrokes.wordpress.comOr, if there’s enough of us, we could nip over to the plotting forum and start a new thread.
@e-n-leonard @emily-waldorf that would actually be really fun! I think three is actually a really great number for something like that tbh – not too big, but not too small either*laughs as one fey*
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