ARGH!
So, I started NaNo prep early this year. Figured it couldn't hurt, and I could do some of the weirder research (magic, myths, household management, names, etc.) at Pennsic and at the family reunion, where I can ask my sister-in-law, who is a Russian nut. Today, while trying to hash-out the logic behind this little Fisher Kingdom, I hit a major roadblock.
Here are my notes, copy pasted from the document. I'm not afraid of people stealing them. The most essential pieces of the plot aren't involved.
"The Heir will exist even without the Monarchy, but the Monarchy helps make it all official. (?)
"The Heir is Matushka's (Voice? Representative?).
"How does the magic work? The Tsar is connected to Nicodonia, but the people are linked to Matushka. When the Tsar is acting in the country's best interests, Matushka is at peace and holds back the Wolves of Winter. When the Tsar is destructive or harming the people, Matushka acts crazy. Winters become harsh and longer. Crops struggle. (Makes no sense, if Matushka is the spirit of the land and acting in the people's best interests, why would she act so harshly towards the people for the Tsar's screw-ups?)"
That last bit is me banging my head against the wall and screaming. While not a major plot point, Matushka (the spirit of the land) is sort of a character in the novel. In fact, the muses swear rather loudly that she IS a character, or has a sort of angel or avatar who is, and will play a decent-sized role in the story. I think I know who, but that's not important. What is important is that my plot NEEDS to have this cleared up.
See, I had this in mind: At the beginning of the novel, the Tsar in power is bug-fuck looney and a roaring hypocrite. He's horribly paranoid and has people executed right and left. His advisors are exiled for trying to point out that his country is going bankrupt and he really, honestly doesn't need to build that ski chalet in the mountains for his doxy and, by the by, Your Majesty, the wizard living up there doesn't WANT neighbors. He dallies with mistresses all day, then accuses his lady wife and the mother of his heir of being an adulteress and has her left to die in the snow.
(A brief note: Adultery is defined differently in this world. It's not sleeping with other people. It's sleeping with other people against the wishes of your legal spouse or without their knowledge. In fact, for the nobility, it's practically expected that you have a few lovers and it's not at all shameful, unless you get knocked up.)
Now, Matushka was already getting testy, but that straw not only broke the camel's back, but the camel said "to hell with this noise" and called his lawyer to sue. Why? The Tsar murdered the people's favorite, ensured the death of his unborn male heir, tried to have his daughter killed, and lashed out at the people. The country almost starves, because with the winters getting harder, people have to buy food from outside or have it shipped from the distant borders where the climate change isn't as drastic or abrupt. If you're too poor to buy the food, sucks to be you. Soup kitchens are turning people away, it gets so bad.
But, why would the patron of the people do this if the people were already in trouble?
ARGH.
Here are my notes, copy pasted from the document. I'm not afraid of people stealing them. The most essential pieces of the plot aren't involved.
"The Heir will exist even without the Monarchy, but the Monarchy helps make it all official. (?)
"The Heir is Matushka's (Voice? Representative?).
"How does the magic work? The Tsar is connected to Nicodonia, but the people are linked to Matushka. When the Tsar is acting in the country's best interests, Matushka is at peace and holds back the Wolves of Winter. When the Tsar is destructive or harming the people, Matushka acts crazy. Winters become harsh and longer. Crops struggle. (Makes no sense, if Matushka is the spirit of the land and acting in the people's best interests, why would she act so harshly towards the people for the Tsar's screw-ups?)"
That last bit is me banging my head against the wall and screaming. While not a major plot point, Matushka (the spirit of the land) is sort of a character in the novel. In fact, the muses swear rather loudly that she IS a character, or has a sort of angel or avatar who is, and will play a decent-sized role in the story. I think I know who, but that's not important. What is important is that my plot NEEDS to have this cleared up.
See, I had this in mind: At the beginning of the novel, the Tsar in power is bug-fuck looney and a roaring hypocrite. He's horribly paranoid and has people executed right and left. His advisors are exiled for trying to point out that his country is going bankrupt and he really, honestly doesn't need to build that ski chalet in the mountains for his doxy and, by the by, Your Majesty, the wizard living up there doesn't WANT neighbors. He dallies with mistresses all day, then accuses his lady wife and the mother of his heir of being an adulteress and has her left to die in the snow.
(A brief note: Adultery is defined differently in this world. It's not sleeping with other people. It's sleeping with other people against the wishes of your legal spouse or without their knowledge. In fact, for the nobility, it's practically expected that you have a few lovers and it's not at all shameful, unless you get knocked up.)
Now, Matushka was already getting testy, but that straw not only broke the camel's back, but the camel said "to hell with this noise" and called his lawyer to sue. Why? The Tsar murdered the people's favorite, ensured the death of his unborn male heir, tried to have his daughter killed, and lashed out at the people. The country almost starves, because with the winters getting harder, people have to buy food from outside or have it shipped from the distant borders where the climate change isn't as drastic or abrupt. If you're too poor to buy the food, sucks to be you. Soup kitchens are turning people away, it gets so bad.
But, why would the patron of the people do this if the people were already in trouble?
ARGH.