Pages of the Soul - An Interactive Story
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 11:13 pm
Preface:
So, this is another attempt at me doing an interactive story type thing. The basic premise is, I make story posts, and you can guide the story soley through the protagonist. You cannot suggest plot twists or things for other characters to do. You are in the head of the protagonist, and the way the story is told will reflect that. Unlike my previous attempts at this sort of thing, I won't necessarily be beholden to votes. If I don't get a lot of votes in an aloted time, or if there's no firm and solid consensus, I'll go with whatever suggestions I liked the most, or will try to combine suggestions. You can also ask the protagonist questions, and he will answer them, if he can.
Basically, that's the idea. I'm giving it another shot, just to see how it will turn out. I guess you can call it a writing experiment or something. Let's see if it gets any attention.
------
"In the beginning," The priest chanted, as he had done so many times before, "There were the Gods. They were more numerous than all the stars in the sky, and power echoed in their steps."
I stood behind the dais, hidden in shadow and leaning back against the wall, cloaked and cowled, arms crossed over my chest. I had heard this story so many times before. Who hadn't, in this place? But I know that you dwell within me now, and perhaps this tale is new to you, so I shall share it again. There were only a scant dozen people sitting in the pews of the Temple, but each of them, like myself, was home to a million voices, and so we listened to the words of the Priest, so that those within us could hear the tale.
"And for many, many aeons these gods whisked about, using their power to create worlds and stars and things with which to amuse themselves. But the Gods grew wicked, crafting life and toying with it, battling against each other, destroying whole worlds in their desire to satisfy their own egos," The priest continued, "And from their wickedness, and their willful pride, spawned demons, dark creatures who feed on those dark urges and pushed them onwards. And while that wickedness remained, the demons could never be pushed back."
"Nayaki was the alone among all the Gods in witnessing the evil they had spawned. He alone had been innocent, for his power was that of erasure and destruction, and he was want to ever use it. For despite that, Nayaki loved life, and he loved the fellow Gods. But he did not love the demons, and with every day, and year, and aeon that passed, they grew in number. Finally, the demons overwhelmed the Gods in number, so great was their wickedness, and Nayaki's hand was forced."
The priest paused for a moment, bowing his head slightly in reverence, "And so it was that Nayaki ascended to the highest place in all Creation, and spoke the words of destruction, watching with sadness as Creation burned. All the gods were broken asunder, all their creations, all life, everything that was, wiped out, including Nayaki himself, and the demons were pushed back into darkness."
"From the ashes, and the scattered remnants of those destroyed gods, formed the sun, the stars, the moons, and everything in this world and beyond. Each of you has the spark, the shard of a dead god within you, every man and woman in the world does. But you, my children, are special, as you know. Each of you carries a piece of Nayaki himself within your soul. Each of you has been awakened. Your souls transformed into weapons to hold back the darkness."
Finally, his story finished, the priest turns towards me, and smiles, his young face creased with many lines, putting the lie to his apparent age. In his eyes I beheld a wisdom that was the exclusive domain of one who has lived through much and seen even more.
"Step forward, Oren," He said to me, and I obeyed, stepping out of the shadows, "This is Oren, who is now your brother. His soul was awoken last night, and he, like yourself, will be a light to ward back the darkness. Who among you will claim him as your student?"
Two people both rose from the pews, to my surprise. It was rare for two Masters to both desire the same student. Often this matter was settled before hand. The priest himself seem surprised too, looking down at the two standing figures and chuckling to himself, raising a hand to rub his shaven scalp.
"Brother Jeremil and Sister Loza both seem to have taken an interest in you, Oren." He observed, "As is the tradition, the choice is then yours. Perhaps they should present their cases for why they'd make the better Master."
Brother Jeremil was quick to speak first. He was a large man, broad in shoulder and a foot taller than the tallest of most men. Despite his size and his craggy, worn face, he always appeared to have an expression of kindness and good humor about him, and eschewed the flowing and billowing midnight blue cloaks of our order in favour of bright, cheerfully coloured robes, "Oren! You know me! I was like an uncle to you, a father even! I need a student like you. I'm headed to Elmergard this tenday, and the forests there are thick with demons. It would be a good place to learn, yes?"
Sister Loza smiled indulgently at Jeremil's loud and enthusiastic speech, waiting for him to finish before letting her own voice be heard, "Oren, you have potential. Great potential. You're the first new initiate that the Brotherhood of Keepers has had in half a century. You also know that I am the only one here capable of helping you realise that potential fully. Jeremil is a wonderous man, with a big heart, but it is well known that he doesn't have half my talent, nor half your potential. And the task I have planned could prove both more challenging, and more rewarding. So, make your choice."
Well, that was a difficult choice. Loza was right in that she would be the better Master. Even Jeremil would not deny that, for her talents were legendary among our small group. But she was stricter as well, and pushed for excellence. She could be difficult to please. Jeremil wouldn't be able to teach me as well, but he'd be a better mentor, and a better friend.
Who do I choose?
So, this is another attempt at me doing an interactive story type thing. The basic premise is, I make story posts, and you can guide the story soley through the protagonist. You cannot suggest plot twists or things for other characters to do. You are in the head of the protagonist, and the way the story is told will reflect that. Unlike my previous attempts at this sort of thing, I won't necessarily be beholden to votes. If I don't get a lot of votes in an aloted time, or if there's no firm and solid consensus, I'll go with whatever suggestions I liked the most, or will try to combine suggestions. You can also ask the protagonist questions, and he will answer them, if he can.
Basically, that's the idea. I'm giving it another shot, just to see how it will turn out. I guess you can call it a writing experiment or something. Let's see if it gets any attention.
------
"In the beginning," The priest chanted, as he had done so many times before, "There were the Gods. They were more numerous than all the stars in the sky, and power echoed in their steps."
I stood behind the dais, hidden in shadow and leaning back against the wall, cloaked and cowled, arms crossed over my chest. I had heard this story so many times before. Who hadn't, in this place? But I know that you dwell within me now, and perhaps this tale is new to you, so I shall share it again. There were only a scant dozen people sitting in the pews of the Temple, but each of them, like myself, was home to a million voices, and so we listened to the words of the Priest, so that those within us could hear the tale.
"And for many, many aeons these gods whisked about, using their power to create worlds and stars and things with which to amuse themselves. But the Gods grew wicked, crafting life and toying with it, battling against each other, destroying whole worlds in their desire to satisfy their own egos," The priest continued, "And from their wickedness, and their willful pride, spawned demons, dark creatures who feed on those dark urges and pushed them onwards. And while that wickedness remained, the demons could never be pushed back."
"Nayaki was the alone among all the Gods in witnessing the evil they had spawned. He alone had been innocent, for his power was that of erasure and destruction, and he was want to ever use it. For despite that, Nayaki loved life, and he loved the fellow Gods. But he did not love the demons, and with every day, and year, and aeon that passed, they grew in number. Finally, the demons overwhelmed the Gods in number, so great was their wickedness, and Nayaki's hand was forced."
The priest paused for a moment, bowing his head slightly in reverence, "And so it was that Nayaki ascended to the highest place in all Creation, and spoke the words of destruction, watching with sadness as Creation burned. All the gods were broken asunder, all their creations, all life, everything that was, wiped out, including Nayaki himself, and the demons were pushed back into darkness."
"From the ashes, and the scattered remnants of those destroyed gods, formed the sun, the stars, the moons, and everything in this world and beyond. Each of you has the spark, the shard of a dead god within you, every man and woman in the world does. But you, my children, are special, as you know. Each of you carries a piece of Nayaki himself within your soul. Each of you has been awakened. Your souls transformed into weapons to hold back the darkness."
Finally, his story finished, the priest turns towards me, and smiles, his young face creased with many lines, putting the lie to his apparent age. In his eyes I beheld a wisdom that was the exclusive domain of one who has lived through much and seen even more.
"Step forward, Oren," He said to me, and I obeyed, stepping out of the shadows, "This is Oren, who is now your brother. His soul was awoken last night, and he, like yourself, will be a light to ward back the darkness. Who among you will claim him as your student?"
Two people both rose from the pews, to my surprise. It was rare for two Masters to both desire the same student. Often this matter was settled before hand. The priest himself seem surprised too, looking down at the two standing figures and chuckling to himself, raising a hand to rub his shaven scalp.
"Brother Jeremil and Sister Loza both seem to have taken an interest in you, Oren." He observed, "As is the tradition, the choice is then yours. Perhaps they should present their cases for why they'd make the better Master."
Brother Jeremil was quick to speak first. He was a large man, broad in shoulder and a foot taller than the tallest of most men. Despite his size and his craggy, worn face, he always appeared to have an expression of kindness and good humor about him, and eschewed the flowing and billowing midnight blue cloaks of our order in favour of bright, cheerfully coloured robes, "Oren! You know me! I was like an uncle to you, a father even! I need a student like you. I'm headed to Elmergard this tenday, and the forests there are thick with demons. It would be a good place to learn, yes?"
Sister Loza smiled indulgently at Jeremil's loud and enthusiastic speech, waiting for him to finish before letting her own voice be heard, "Oren, you have potential. Great potential. You're the first new initiate that the Brotherhood of Keepers has had in half a century. You also know that I am the only one here capable of helping you realise that potential fully. Jeremil is a wonderous man, with a big heart, but it is well known that he doesn't have half my talent, nor half your potential. And the task I have planned could prove both more challenging, and more rewarding. So, make your choice."
Well, that was a difficult choice. Loza was right in that she would be the better Master. Even Jeremil would not deny that, for her talents were legendary among our small group. But she was stricter as well, and pushed for excellence. She could be difficult to please. Jeremil wouldn't be able to teach me as well, but he'd be a better mentor, and a better friend.
Who do I choose?