Friday, September 15, 2006
The Plot Thickens
Okay, so I'm going along merrily in Kleopatra's POV, adding all sorts of new layers and ideas and such. I'm just about finished with her sections, but I've still got a lot of play in word count yet. Plenty of room to expand the worldbuilding of New Olympia.
In particular, Wanda asked "Why don't they drive cars?"
Now Hades did mention in a discussion to Isabella on the road to Delphi that he's working with inventors to convert our cars into something that runs on his power like Erebus. I thought I'd expand that idea, especially since I've been thinking more like a Macedonian lately (as Kleopatra). Why not go ahead and have a tweaked car? Why not let them drive to Delphi instead of walk?
I don't lose any action scene there. It's all conversation. Oh, there is an emotional power play between Hades and Isabella, so maybe he shouldn't be driving this super car himself. He's Lord of the Underworld anyway, so someone should drive him.
Hmmmm. Who could drive him? It can't be Charon -- he's busy betraying. How about Cerberus? He was in the original draft as a triwolf but I lost him in the major rewrite. That would be cool. Not a normal everyday werewolf, but one with three heads. *g* So who should I base him on? What's his story? Even though he only plays a minor part right now, who knows what the future holds?
So I thought some more. I had a feeling, suddenly, that Cerberus was *big.* He's a main player, hiding out, biding his time. Why? How did he come to House Aegae on Macedon? Why would he follow Philip to Earth? He's not exactly a betrayer, at least I don't think so. Not like Charon. But he needed to be something big, special, unique to justify just "throwing" him in.
I also realized that the ending of BD eliminates my main antagonist. Actually, both of them. Xerxes is still going to be a threat, but historically, Alexander conquered Persia, so who cares. Expanding Cerberus could give me the big piece I needed to suddenly have a very major player, a major antagonist who could drive the following books in the series (assuming I have reason to write them).
So take all this together. Big bad enemy. Someone who has a reason to hide out, loosely based on mythology/history/legend. Wolves. Contemporary or at least close to Philip II of Macedonia and Alexander the Great.
The name Cerberus was known as before he ever came to Earth? REMUS.
In particular, Wanda asked "Why don't they drive cars?"
Now Hades did mention in a discussion to Isabella on the road to Delphi that he's working with inventors to convert our cars into something that runs on his power like Erebus. I thought I'd expand that idea, especially since I've been thinking more like a Macedonian lately (as Kleopatra). Why not go ahead and have a tweaked car? Why not let them drive to Delphi instead of walk?
I don't lose any action scene there. It's all conversation. Oh, there is an emotional power play between Hades and Isabella, so maybe he shouldn't be driving this super car himself. He's Lord of the Underworld anyway, so someone should drive him.
Hmmmm. Who could drive him? It can't be Charon -- he's busy betraying. How about Cerberus? He was in the original draft as a triwolf but I lost him in the major rewrite. That would be cool. Not a normal everyday werewolf, but one with three heads. *g* So who should I base him on? What's his story? Even though he only plays a minor part right now, who knows what the future holds?
So I thought some more. I had a feeling, suddenly, that Cerberus was *big.* He's a main player, hiding out, biding his time. Why? How did he come to House Aegae on Macedon? Why would he follow Philip to Earth? He's not exactly a betrayer, at least I don't think so. Not like Charon. But he needed to be something big, special, unique to justify just "throwing" him in.
I also realized that the ending of BD eliminates my main antagonist. Actually, both of them. Xerxes is still going to be a threat, but historically, Alexander conquered Persia, so who cares. Expanding Cerberus could give me the big piece I needed to suddenly have a very major player, a major antagonist who could drive the following books in the series (assuming I have reason to write them).
So take all this together. Big bad enemy. Someone who has a reason to hide out, loosely based on mythology/history/legend. Wolves. Contemporary or at least close to Philip II of Macedonia and Alexander the Great.
The name Cerberus was known as before he ever came to Earth? REMUS.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Macedon Houses
As I indicated the other day, the Vergina Sun gave me the idea to define 16 Houses to play out the political war on Macedon. Note--many of these names won't be used at all, if ever. Some of the names are odd, hard to pronounce, etc. It would get horribly confusing to infodump all this garbage in the story, but in my geekdom, I felt I needed to know everything, and it never ceases to amaze me how certain little things can dictate remarkably wonderful worldbuilding. IMO.
The capital of Macedon is obviously Vergina, then, the center of the sun, ruled by the Megaskyr. The Megaskyr sits on the Sun Throne, and a 16-point star is embossed on the throne, as well as inlaid in the marble floors. Oh, did I mention that although there are certain elements of a "normal" palace, Vergina is actually built inside a massive choka tree and maintained with the current Megaskyr's power? Sometimes the walls are stone, sometimes they're the living, breathing walls of the choka, which must be coaxed into supporting the palace. If the Megaskyr's power were to fail..... Hmmm. *g*
Now the historical Kleopatra was from Macedonia, but she had a brother named Attalus who mouthed off in front of Prince Alexander (insulting him and his mother, the Queen) and almost caused a war. So appropriately, Kleopatra's original House is Attalus.
The more ancient name for the capital of Macedonia was Aegae. That's the name of Philip's House, ruled by his father, Amyntas.
Xerxes, historically, was a king of Persia, also called the Achaemenid Empire. Hence, his House's name is Achaemenid, ruled by his father, Mnemom. Why be difficult and stupid? While I like the name, I can't pronounce it. So Persia is Xerxes's house.
The other minor Houses:
The capital of Macedon is obviously Vergina, then, the center of the sun, ruled by the Megaskyr. The Megaskyr sits on the Sun Throne, and a 16-point star is embossed on the throne, as well as inlaid in the marble floors. Oh, did I mention that although there are certain elements of a "normal" palace, Vergina is actually built inside a massive choka tree and maintained with the current Megaskyr's power? Sometimes the walls are stone, sometimes they're the living, breathing walls of the choka, which must be coaxed into supporting the palace. If the Megaskyr's power were to fail..... Hmmm. *g*
Now the historical Kleopatra was from Macedonia, but she had a brother named Attalus who mouthed off in front of Prince Alexander (insulting him and his mother, the Queen) and almost caused a war. So appropriately, Kleopatra's original House is Attalus.
The more ancient name for the capital of Macedonia was Aegae. That's the name of Philip's House, ruled by his father, Amyntas.
Xerxes, historically, was a king of Persia, also called the Achaemenid Empire. Hence, his House's name is Achaemenid, ruled by his father, Mnemom. Why be difficult and stupid? While I like the name, I can't pronounce it. So Persia is Xerxes's house.
The other minor Houses:
- Rhodes
- Pydna
- Caria
- Molossis
- Illyria
- Larissa
- Chios
- Phocis
- Strymon (actually a river, but I really liked the name)
- Thessaly
- Olynthus
- Methone
- Pherae
News and Work
The Butterfly is still soaring. It's weird, this certainty I had about BD and this contest. I told Sis that it was like taking a college exam and having people ask me later how I thought I did. I either ACED it or FAILED it utterly. Either I absolutely nailed BD or I have no stinking clue about anything. Which is absolutely possible. I once took an exam on Algebraic Theory and thought I did okay. I got a 26/100. I was dumbfounded.
So I was afraid when it looked like BD didn't final. I was afraid it was like Alegbra all over again. What a relief and great joy to find that BD did final as I hoped. As I dreamed.
I swear, before I heard the news, I'd already committed to a new butt crack of dawn schedule to get the second draft finished as quickly as possible. Watch the Dreaming in Rhyme blog for the nitty gritty details if you're interested. The biggest developments are as follows:
1). I think I'm going to change Cleopatra's name to Kleopatra. I saw it spelled this way while researching the ancient capital of Macedonia, and I like it. I also think it might help with the Egyptian Cleopatra confusion. Philip II of Macedonia DID marry a Cleopatra (not Alexander's mother though) and she was assassinated shortly after him.
2). Writing in Kleopatra's POV means I need more worldbuilding on Macedon. I never needed much beyond snippets in Hades' POV. Placing scenes IN Macedon requires a whole nother level of detail, though. While looking for the historical capitals and cities of Macedonia, I found an interesting tidbit about the Vergina Sun. What a cool coincidence. That gave me so much it's not even funny. Now I have 16 Houses on Macedon, all in constant conflict to vie for the throne.
3). Xerxes is coming to life too, a necessity as he is the primary conflict that Kleopatra is facing. I need urgency on her part. After 5 years, why would she dare try to take Philip again? Ah. I know now.
I'm hoping to add about 10K words in this draft. I don't know that this is even possible by the end of the month, or with my list of revision ideas. Adding Kleopatra's POV will help, obviously, as well as enrich the story with new worldbuilding details. Cool stuff.
Rip off the wings of the Butterfly.
So I was afraid when it looked like BD didn't final. I was afraid it was like Alegbra all over again. What a relief and great joy to find that BD did final as I hoped. As I dreamed.
I swear, before I heard the news, I'd already committed to a new butt crack of dawn schedule to get the second draft finished as quickly as possible. Watch the Dreaming in Rhyme blog for the nitty gritty details if you're interested. The biggest developments are as follows:
1). I think I'm going to change Cleopatra's name to Kleopatra. I saw it spelled this way while researching the ancient capital of Macedonia, and I like it. I also think it might help with the Egyptian Cleopatra confusion. Philip II of Macedonia DID marry a Cleopatra (not Alexander's mother though) and she was assassinated shortly after him.
2). Writing in Kleopatra's POV means I need more worldbuilding on Macedon. I never needed much beyond snippets in Hades' POV. Placing scenes IN Macedon requires a whole nother level of detail, though. While looking for the historical capitals and cities of Macedonia, I found an interesting tidbit about the Vergina Sun. What a cool coincidence. That gave me so much it's not even funny. Now I have 16 Houses on Macedon, all in constant conflict to vie for the throne.
3). Xerxes is coming to life too, a necessity as he is the primary conflict that Kleopatra is facing. I need urgency on her part. After 5 years, why would she dare try to take Philip again? Ah. I know now.
I'm hoping to add about 10K words in this draft. I don't know that this is even possible by the end of the month, or with my list of revision ideas. Adding Kleopatra's POV will help, obviously, as well as enrich the story with new worldbuilding details. Cool stuff.
Rip off the wings of the Butterfly.
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