*reading the Belgariad*
I want to write a fantasy epic that's the complete opposite of all the cliches out there:
- A rich boy grows up downtown, wanting nothing. His parents are alive and healthy
- Legend tells of a boy with a mark who will one day defeat the good God
- An old man shows up from time to time to impart wisdom and stories. Secretly, he knows the boy has a mark
- Everyone sees a dark rider and they all talk about it
- The old man, along with some of the boy's friends, tries to kill the boy, but the dark rider saves him
- The boy gets taken to a farm, hates it, doesn't want anything to do with anyone, and runs away
- The world is saved when the Final Battle happens and the boy--now a man--is nowhere to be found
- A special sword rusts in a chest somewhere, unused
He'd also have conversations like these:
DARK ONE: Come to me, boy! I promise you immortality and a place by my side! Together, we shall rule the world!
BOY: Hm, you know, immortality sounds nice pretty nice, but you're evil. How do I know I can trust you and you won't just kill me instead?
DARK ONE: As you can see, my trusted lieutenants are always well-rewarded.
BOY: Yet they had their hearts corrupted and came to you, which means you didn't have to recruit them, which means that since you're trying to recruit me I don't have a heart of evil. Hence, I'm automatically a liability once the End of Days is over. So I highly doubt you'll follow through. Why don't you just give me immortality now and I'll think about it?
DARK ONE: I assure you, it will be yours the second you join me. Your mistrust pleases me. It will serve you well.
BOY: Oh please. It's called logical inference. Basically, you're offering me a slim probability versus the certainty of my current existence, and honestly? I was quite happy with my life until I heard about you. I'd rather just go back to that instead. Sorry. I'm going to have to pass.
DARK ONE: But--
BOY (walking away): Pass!
Also, I picture the orcs having a Jurassic Park moment: due to environmental pressures, a certain percentage of orcs become gendered, thus facilitating breeding. Eventually, the entire system of control breaks down and the orcs slay their masters. Cue lecture by an Ian Malcolm character.
Because, you know, life always finds a way.
- A rich boy grows up downtown, wanting nothing. His parents are alive and healthy
- Legend tells of a boy with a mark who will one day defeat the good God
- An old man shows up from time to time to impart wisdom and stories. Secretly, he knows the boy has a mark
- Everyone sees a dark rider and they all talk about it
- The old man, along with some of the boy's friends, tries to kill the boy, but the dark rider saves him
- The boy gets taken to a farm, hates it, doesn't want anything to do with anyone, and runs away
- The world is saved when the Final Battle happens and the boy--now a man--is nowhere to be found
- A special sword rusts in a chest somewhere, unused
He'd also have conversations like these:
DARK ONE: Come to me, boy! I promise you immortality and a place by my side! Together, we shall rule the world!
BOY: Hm, you know, immortality sounds nice pretty nice, but you're evil. How do I know I can trust you and you won't just kill me instead?
DARK ONE: As you can see, my trusted lieutenants are always well-rewarded.
BOY: Yet they had their hearts corrupted and came to you, which means you didn't have to recruit them, which means that since you're trying to recruit me I don't have a heart of evil. Hence, I'm automatically a liability once the End of Days is over. So I highly doubt you'll follow through. Why don't you just give me immortality now and I'll think about it?
DARK ONE: I assure you, it will be yours the second you join me. Your mistrust pleases me. It will serve you well.
BOY: Oh please. It's called logical inference. Basically, you're offering me a slim probability versus the certainty of my current existence, and honestly? I was quite happy with my life until I heard about you. I'd rather just go back to that instead. Sorry. I'm going to have to pass.
DARK ONE: But--
BOY (walking away): Pass!
Also, I picture the orcs having a Jurassic Park moment: due to environmental pressures, a certain percentage of orcs become gendered, thus facilitating breeding. Eventually, the entire system of control breaks down and the orcs slay their masters. Cue lecture by an Ian Malcolm character.
Because, you know, life always finds a way.