Question Friday 04

Coming to you late because it was a busy day and then I napped for like, three hours. I was tired! It was an early start! Anyway, here they are. Lots of Julian questions today.

-

1. So, What's your favourite flower?
My favorite flowers are lilies and hibiscus. I like big, open looking flowers that don't have a lot of petals. They also come in vibrant colors, so that makes me super excited and happy. 


2. Do the de Arques ladies have favourite flowers? Oh, do the god/goddesses represented so far have any flora/fauna associations that might be relavent to characterization?
This cracks me up for some reason. I haven't actually thought about the use of flowers, though that would be a fun little easter egg to hide in there huh? I'm sure there will be a mention of flowers for the ladies at some point. I already have the queen in peacock colors because Hera is represented by the peacock. So, you can see that I do like to have those things in there. 


3. What is Julian's favourite kind of weather?
Sunny, dry, clear out. He likes being able to go out and play sports or go on a ride (I'm sure there's some motorized vehicle he cruises around on that I've yet to create) or go hunting. He does like being outdoors so any weather that allows him to do that. You can bet there will be plenty of rainy, stormy days on his quest because I am in fact evil.


4. What would an ideal/perfect day for Julian be?
Probably all of the above in question three. He'd wake up late, have no plans, call up his closest friend and they would go out riding or hunting or just causing trouble. I see the two of them would probably often get themselves into trouble around the castle. Julian is a bit of a big kid and he's clinging to his youth as best he can. 


5. Does Julian have a favourite childhood memory?
Yes, and it was the day he hit his first target with his crossbow. He loves that thing like it's his own leg. I mean, the guy would die if he didn't have it. It's a family heir loom, given to him by his grandfather. He got it at a young age, but his mother wouldn't really let him use it until he was a bit older. His father then taught him to use it and the first time he ever hit the center of his target, he was sold. It's a memory that reminds him of being a child, while still growing up. 


6. Do you like cheese?
Yes, yes I do. Cheese is amazing. It goes with so many things. It can even be melted on apple pie if you ask my grandmother... I suggest you don't ask her.


7. Does Julian have a special weapon or skill to help him on his quest, or must he depend on his own wits?
All heirs are taught to fight with and without weapons. He can defend himself thoroughly, otherwise they wouldn't trust the poor guys out in the world alone. It's part of growing up for them. He's also incredible with his crossbow. It's the only real skill he obtained naturally. Because he's only so experienced in the ways of the world, he doesn't really know what he's capable of and this quest will put him in situations where he has to explore that. He will heavily rely on others and that is also a lesson that is being taught to him; diplomacy and trust. 


- 


So that's that. See you next week! LL&P

Growing Up Royal

Way to procrastinate today, Alex. Sheesh. Sorry for the late post, especially on a day for questions when I should be giving you more time. Lesson learned... until next week of course.

I have a feeling today is going to be a rant post about family dynamics. Uh, yes, yes it is.

Growing up royalty is either perceived in books as absolutely wonderful and fabulous, or a complete hell in which you are a prisoner of your own blood. I'm pretty sure that this royal family falls somewhere between the two. There are definitely a world full of perks that come from being a royal. You are never in want of anything, you are surrounded by family all the time. Sure, that could lead to feuds, but they are never bored. They get the best of everything, including an education. They have the opportunity to be an amazing help to the kingdom.

Julian is grateful for what he's grown up under. He knows that even though he's never truly seen poverty before, he knows that he has it pretty good where he is. Unlike some other royal characters I've come across, he isn't lacking in true friendship either. Sure, there's a court of people that show up and put on airs for the family, but he is blessed with a great friend who isn't just there to say he knows the prince. Julian has a lot to be thankful for and he knows that.

However, there's the other side. It's, in a way, tradition to shelter the king's children. It sounds cruel and I'm sure there's been plenty of princes that have felt that way about it, but it does serve a very interesting purpose. The Quest of Kings is a crash course in growing up. By sheltering their sons away from the world outside the castle walls, they are required to know their kingdom intellectually first, then, when the time is right, they are shoved out on their own to see the world first hand. Their lives are changed instantly. They have to fend for themselves, taking only the knowledge they have and using it as best they can. The Quest also forces them to view the world as someone who has nothing. They will be ruling a kingdom and making decision for all walks of life, rich and poor. If they only know the royal side of life, they won't understand poverty, which is why the prince is given next to nothing when he's sent on his way.

Maybe it's as cruel a tradition as it sounds, but it has made stronger kings than any other kingdom in this world. They have to spend a year living like a poor vagabond with a quest in a world they don't know. It's like how they say a person learns a language faster when they are just thrown into that culture. They have to learn quickly. Sure, the king could spend twenty years preparing his son to take the thrown, teaching him all about what it is like to rule and be poor so that they can rule properly. But think of how often we look at our politicians and think, 'That guy/girl knows nothing about me or what it's like to be me.' This sheltered life forces him to see the world for the lowest common denominator. It's a big world and a big responsibility to be in charge of it, the king should know it as closely as he can.

Alright, onto normal ranting things. QUESTIONS PLEASE! I need them. Tomorrow is question friday (already?) and I will need something to answer. Also, I promised I would tell you when I found some music that would be inspiring for when I write. You need to check out Abney Park. It is a steampunk band! I had no idea they existed until this afternoon. I haven't listened to them much, yet, but I plan on checking them out to see if there's anything helpful in their music. I'm hoping for the best. Have a great evening!

LL&P

King of [Kingdom]

I've decided to introduce you to the de Arques family this week. So far, none of my characters have faces other than Julian, so you will just have to imagine that they all look somewhat similar to each other. First, I'd like you to meet the King of [Kingdom], our heroes father.

Name: Julian Therius de Arques II

Nickname: None

Age: 48

Height: 6’1

Weight: 200-225

Build: Tall, strong, and broad.

Eyes: Narrow, intense hazel.

Skin: Olive, darker than his son

Hair: Shoulder length and mostly grey covered through previous dark brown hair.

Other Facial Features: Strong features, regal look, weathered skin and wrinkles around his eyes and mouth.

Occupation: King

Personality: Level headed, tradition minded, looks to the future of the kingdom and takes his place in society very seriously, often pushing too far. His intimidating characteristics can only be subdued by his wife.

Background: The fouteenth king of the de Arques dynasty. He completed his journey to the Oracle and his quest in seven months, a shorter period of time than any king before him. He has been the strongest ruler yet, keeping his kingdom well in tact, though there are still oposers of his rule.

Greek God Equivalent: Zeus

Pretty typical, I think for a King/father character. I know that, and I knew going into it that he would seem that way, but he serves his purpose in Julian's life this way. It should be interesting to explore the relationship between Julian and the King since they are different kings of personalities, while still being on the same side. They both want what's best for the kingdom, but Julian is just too young to have the experience and I think that is the only thing that really separates them when it comes to a relationship.

Question Friday 03

Wow, I keep making late posts in the day. I think I average about 5PM though, so it's okay. Things have been going on around my house and I've just now gotten a chance to sit down and write this out. Lots of questions, too.

*

1. So, what's your favourite comfort food?

Spaghetti and marinara. It has been my comfort food since I was a kid. It is the only thing I crave when I am sick.

2. What does Julian think of when he daydreams?

Not having to go through with this tradition. He wants to be given the time to go learn about the world on his own without the added pressure of running a kingdom on his heels. 

3. Does Julian have siblings?

Yes. Julian has one sister, named Sophia Helen de Arques. She is seventeen years old and as of Julian's birthday, she is looking for suitors. She remains at the castle while Julian is on his quest, but she will come into play, I believe in the second book. I'm not sure, but I will be utilizing her. More on her later.

4. Does he have a pet?

He does not have a pet that is just his. There are hunting dogs and horses among other things that belong to the royal family, but there isn't anything that he calls his own. 

5. Any thoughts on the climate of [Kingdom]?

I am in the process of drawing a map, actually. The coastal regions range from mild to cool and rainy. Inland there are forests and deserts, but most of the occupied land is around water, whether it be lakes or rivers or even manmade bodies of water. The one thing that there isn't is any tropical climates or rainforest-like climates. Also, I am so referring to it as [Kingdom] from now until I get a name for it.

6. What is your writing process like?

My process changes depending on how serious I am about what I am writing. Sometimes, I just fly by the seat of my pants and go. In this case, I do a lot more planning. I like to write up character profiles for each character that includes precise information on how they look, their personality, their history, their likes and dislikes and any other technical information I need to remember when it comes to writing them into the story. Once I have everyone as detailed as possible, I will write an outline that is a chapter by chapter synopsis. It details the main point of the chapter, what I am trying to convey. I sometimes have more detailed information than others, it just depends on the kind of chapter it is. Often, a chapter is dreamt up from one line of dialogue or a sentence that I want to include and I will build around that. 

I find that I tend to work a little bit backwards. I find one detail that I like and I create the story around that. If I have two details, I will run through every possibility that they have to be connect and go from there. My writing process is very scattered because my ideas come out of left field sometimes. Some of my best ideas I've ever had happened in a grocery store or while shopping. I keep a small notebook with me all the time, just in case. Then, I go home compare all the notes and find the plot inside it. For this story though, the process will be a lot more structured than usual.

7. Did you get character ideas from people you know, other fandom characters or what?

My character ideas come from all over. I find that a lot of times I know that my plot needs one characteristic to round it out. For example, with Julian's sister, Sophia; I knew that somewhere in the family I needed a place that Julian could feel he wasn't being pressured and I wanted a sort of logic and realistic feel to this place. So, I took those characteristics--logic, realistic, familiar, intelligence--and wound them all up into one character. That is what Sophia is. She's a very smart, level-headed, intelligent young woman who is a counter balance at home for Julian. They aren't great friends, but they care for each other. I knew that it would give him a firm foundation. It just worked out that she corresponds well with the goddess Athena. 

Other times, my characters just come to me. Or maybe I have one look or purpose they need to serve in the book. I'm finding that a lot of the characters in this trilogy are created on and around Julian based on my needs to advance the plot. Luckily, I find that my favorite characteristics are easily implemented in this fantasy world and I can use all my loved personality traits and quirks. I will say this, there's at least two characters that did receive parial inspiration from Captain Jack Sparrow. 

8. Do you have faces for any of the characters?

What's funny about this is that I have so many characters to put faces to, but only Julian's came to me and made sense. The rest of them are still up in the air. There's one character in particular, that I could tell you their personality, the way they dress, their scars, their quirks, their fears, their vices, personal details about their childhood and I cannot for the life of me settle on their physical attributes. I can't decide on hair color, hair length, eye color, body type or height. I mean, I know next to nothing about how they look, but I know everything about who they are. Looks are alluding me a little bit for characters, but I think once I get moving on it, they will make a little more sense. For now, we will just have to live with my poor descriptions of their physical appearance.

9. Does Julian have a sidekick/bestie that will accompany him on his travels of epic proportions?

The Quest of Kings does not allow the heir to embark on the journey with a companion. So, starting out on the journey? No. Julian is completely alone, but--and I think I can tell you this without giving away too much, because I want to talk about him--Julian will very quickly gain a traveling companion. I know I've mention Milo Lycus before. He is a very interesting character that nearly gets Julian into trouble... over and over again. I will get to him next week, I believe. He may not be Julian's best friend and definitely not at the beginning, but he definitely occupies the 'sidekick' role.

10. What inspiring/badass music have you been listening to to prepare/write this epic?

Oh man, I dont' even have a good answer for this. I listen to a lot of movie soundtracks when it comes to this kind of thing because I want it to play very clearly in the reader's head when they discover this fantasy land. I've taken to string quartets and also a lot of the metal sounds that are in Hellboy II have been pretty inspiring. Also, the song "Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles)" by Arcade Fire has been and interesting mix. They actually use the sound of whistling kettles in the song and I like the image it gives me. If I find anything else I love, I'll be sure to share it with you!

*

I hope that feeds your craving this week and that you will survive until next week when I post again. I hope to get some plotting worked on this weekend, God willing. A lot is going on around my house right now, but I am consistently excited about this trilogy and I really cannot wait to share it. Thanks for reading!

Journey of a Hero

Today I'm going to talk just briefly about the hero of not just my novel, but also the role that heroes have played in the past. It seems only appropriate that word hero comes from the Ancient Greek ἥρως or hḗrōs. Originally, hero was actually a demigod and not just a given term for the protagonist of a story, legend or parable. It later turned into the term we use for our self-sacrificing, moral upholding and courageous characters we see today. 


Classic heroes usually were measured by their martial courage. The heros of Greek mythology, like Heracles and Achilles are seen in this same kind of heroism. Modern heroism is modified and more morally based. There doesn't have to be a massive battle that takes place, but rather just a grand gesture of heroics. 


I would definitely have to say that Julian is a classical hero. He may not be our fighting a war or protecting the innocent, but there's a lot to him that is the hero. Julian was not the first character I came up with in this universe. In fact, he was probably the third character or so. I started with a lot of bad guys. I had ideas of all the trouble that would be going on and then once I had figured out what kind of world they were in, I discovered what kind of hero they would need. Of course, there's always the temptation to create the strong, manly, fearless in the face of danger type of hero, but I decided that I wanted someone who was going to have to do a lot of learning before he even realized what he was. 


Julian is very much the reluctant hero. He is unsure of himself, unsure of his place in the world, unsure of his next step in life. All he knows is that he has his entire path laid out before him and he has to follow it, whether he wants to or not. This path, the one that takes him to the throne, is by no means clear cut, so somewhere along the line he is going to be challenged to do more than just follow the path. He doesn't know it yet, but it will require a lot of growth on his part. 


I think what I am most excited about with him is the amount of learning we get to do with Julian. We are going to discover the world outside his castle walls while he does. He knows very little about the world and as he finds out all of these different creatures, people and villages, we will get to do the same. Hopefully you find it as exciting as I do.


Tomorrow will either be talk about the decisions that heroes have to make or the definition of the anti-hero, which does come into play in this plot. Comment below! Let me know what you think of... well, anything!

The Opportune Moment

As promised, today I'm letting you in on the god that goes with The Oracle. There were some very good guesses, that really did make perfect sense. However, I failed to mention–and maybe this was just me being malicious–that the god did not have to be on the list from a couple days ago and I also didn't mention that all the gods correspond in gender, as well. My bad.

The Oracle's Greek god equivalent is one of my favorite gods, merely for the philosophical debates that it tends to invoke. Kairos is also the god of time, but not the chronological time like Chronos, but rather the opportune moment. Kairos refers to the time between the sequential time. It is more the response to opportunity, or the use of time in regards to momentous, defining moments in our life. 

There are a few reasons I chose Kairos for The Oracle's counterpart. The first is that I knew I wanted Kairos to be a part of the inspiration. I find that this trilogy has a lot to do with time. Firstly, our quest has a set amount of time that it must occur in. It also is a transitional time in our hero's life. There are so many elements that involve time, whether it be the measure of time or the timing of these events in his life. The Oracle is the catalyst to this change in him. The character arc for Julian is closely tied to The Oracle and the role he plays. In the first book, the plot focuses on locating this legendary wise man. The Oracle is the life changing moment. 

There are aspects of The Oracle that are very similar to that of Hermes. He is the go-between character and a bit of the messenger, however, he is more the instigator of the experience. He isn't just translating a message for the heir of the throne, he is actually choosing the quest that will shape the young man's life. I find that this is much closer to the personification of the opportune moment than anything else.

It's as shorter post today because I'm not feeling well and can't focus much longer. I might give you more info on Kairos tomorrow. He is definitely my favorite god. He instigates a lot of great debate. So, for the comments tonight, let me know what you think of Kairos as the corresponding god for The Oracle. Do you agree? Is there more to it that you think you can find or do you think I'm crazy? Let's talk it out!

The Legend of the Oracle

As promised, I am going to tell you the Legend of the Oracle. You will have to bear with me, since I am not fully certain on all of the legend that goes with this mystical being. I am still working out parts of his characterization as well as history.

The Oracle is a legendary man, often associated with mystery and magic. This man is difficult to locate and never stays in one location for too long. Not too much is known about who he is. There are rumors of his origins as well as lineage. Some legends say that he is an eternal being, transporting magically from place to place, reveal destinies and the like to unsuspecting people, while other legends say that he is a crook, making money off of the lies he tells. Somewhere in the middle of all that, lies the truth of who he really is.

The most accurate legend says that he is not one man, but rather a bloodline of men who have passed the title of Oracle from father to son since the beginning of time (as far as they know). The purpose of this title is said to be one of hope and opportunity. Known for being an infinitely wise man, the Oracle provides insight to seeking humans (and the occasional creature).

In relation to the Quest of Kings, the Oracle provides the final pilgrimage. His place is to wait for the heir to find him and then give the prince a riddle, of sorts. This riddle is the location, or at least the first step, to finding an item. The items that have been sought in the past range from legendary weapons, headstones, jewels and even people. The quest that is given is chosen by the Oracle and often relates to the weakness of the heir. The theory is that the Oracle's place in the tradition is to strengthen the prince in his final year before he takes the throne so that he is fully prepared for the hardships that lie ahead.

The Oracle is undescribable. Most people could not put a face to the name. They associate him with a hooded robe and sash tied around his waist. Other than that, there are various versions. Some say he carries weapons, others say he carries nothing but water. Some insist that he is an ancient looking man and others claim he is youthful, appearing to be outside of time itself.

Hopefully that gives you a view into this curious character. Tomorrow I plan on describing the Greek god that he is associated with, since it is my favorite god. Anyone care to make any guesses of who it might be? If not, if you had to choose one, what's your favorite Greek god?

.

Question Friday 01

This is coming to you late because it has been a long day and I haven't had time to sit down and properly answer the questions. But here is the first of many successful *crosses fingers* Question Fridays.

*

1. How long do you expect the books to be?

This is tough to answer. After doing some research, it really comes down to the genre of the book for a ballpark word count to be answered. Since this does fall under fantasy and it is geared towards young adults and adults, my estimate is that each one in the trilogy will be around 100,000 words. That's quite a lot, but I'm a bit long winded when it comes to certain aspects. From what I've read, publishers are unlikely to put the money into a 'long' first time writer. My goal is to go all out, do what I have to do to make a compelling story and see how it goes.

2. Also, do you like chocolate mousse? (from the same commenter as the first)

Yes.

3. What sources/ideas inspired you to come up with your story idea?

I think the plot was a long time coming. The idea of this Greek epic of sorts has always been something I wanted to tackle, but was too afraid to jump in. I am so inspired by Greek Mythology. I have a love for the insanity that goes on in those stories, from the gods to the creatures. It is a huge resource for me when it comes to finding names, characters, themes and so much more. In everything I write, I always seem to compare it to any given myth to find where the themes come from.

The steampunk genre was scary at first. I hadn't exactly chosen it immediately. I knew I wanted to write a fantasy, because I wanted that big, unknown world feeling to it and I like the idea of creating your own world and not having to make sure you fact check every two minutes to make sure you are getting it all down right. I have so many ideas, that I knew I could combine them all into a fantasy. But, then again, I didn't just want your J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy, or C.S. Lewis. I needed something less whimsical and more rooted. I started researching and looking around the internet and when I finally saw the movie Treasure Planet, I knew I came across something good. Then, when Stardust came out, I found that it too had some steampunk tendencies. The idea of having gadgets, technology and all that metal around gave me a really interesting addition to the plot I already had.

I look to the internet for inspiration a lot. I'll just type in steampunk into a search engine or search for forums, character designs, costume designs and all that kind of art that comes with it. It just continued to expand in my head and I decided that more than anything, there was a good chance I could combine the old world of ancient Greece with the metal of steampunk to get something possibly very weird and hopefully very intriguing.

4. I'm very interested in the history of The Passing of the Crown ritual. Is it different from when the tradition first began, or has it remained completely unchanged since the beginning?

The Passing of the Crown in regards to the Quest of Kings has not ever changed. The same ritual has always applied. As far as anyone in modern times knows, there was never a time when it didn't work that way. As for the passing to a daughter, that is a more recent accepted tradition. Far back, just like in the real world, women were not allowed to take places of power. Their was no exception. The crown could only pass to a male heir, never a male married into the family. Eventually, their came a king and queen with only daughters and the eldest daughter fought like hell to take her place in the royal family. She threatened to go on the Quest of Kings, without permission or warning, just to prove her point. Laws were changed, tradition was altered and she was allowed to take the crown under the stipulation that she married first.

5.Do you have any particular music that gets the gears churning on the STC universe yet?

Not exactly. I haven't had the opportunity to actually do any writing for the books just yet. It has all been notes and planning. So, all the music I listen to is just whatever I feel like using at the moment. A lot of times I will put on instrumentals or a string quartet so I'm not distracted by lyrics. But, I will let you know when I find what band or music takes hold of me as I write.

6. So, technically a daughter could, say, have her brothers offed and then take the crown without ever having to do the quest, assuming she's the evil back stabbing type?

Assuming the worst, yes that is entirely plausible. That is, if she can have her brother(s) killed without anyone finding out it was her who set it up. Women can be sentenced to death. If they can inherit the crown, they certainly can die for it.

*

Thanks for reading! I hope this week's posts were worth your time and that you lovingly pass it on to more people so we can get a bigger fan base going. I can't wait for next weeks posts. I hope to have the Legend of the Oracle written as well as a family history of the de Arques dynasty.

See you Monday!

.

A Woman's Role

Post is coming at you early today. I babysit and it makes it hard to post and watch a three-year-old at the same time. It can be done if needed, but I may as well get it out of the way if I can. Not out the way, because I'm enjoying this, even with so few followers at the moment. I'm trying to decide how to continue on with next week's posts. Today, I think I'm going to do a little backtracking, since there was a few questions about passing the crown yesterday and I want to clear that up.

Also, I am dubbing Fridays as 'Question Fridays,' which means on Thursday you can comment on the post and ask me a question. It can be about me personally, characters, the whole steampunk world, my version of it and I'll even let you ask completely random questions about whatever comes to mind. Hopefully you keep them appropriate. We'll see how well that goes over.

On to business,

There was a few questions regarding passing the crown and what that entails for any daughters of the royal family. I wanted to clarify, firstly, that just because the crown cannot pass to a female heir first, and must pass to a male, does not mean that women in this world are less than men. It is due to part tradition and part logic that the heir is preferably a male. The reason I call it logic is that, though I believe that women can do anything men can do, it doesn't mean they were meant to do anything men can do. I agree that a woman can rule a country. Look at Queen Elizabeth for example. She was the best thing to happen to England in God know's how long. However, I do also believe that men have a very strong nature for ruling, leading, and making intense decisions that blanket over a large majority.

Do not mistake me, I am a very strong willed woman and I like to be in charge. I also believe that in this case, where the world is based in a very traditional world with old world social structures, it makes sense for the men to take the crown before the women.

I was also asked to clarify the laws that govern the crown being passed to a daughter. In the case that either the son(s) fail to finish the quest, or there aren't any sons, the crown is passed to a daughter. I'm still working out details of what this ritual is. I know it involves her being courted by various surrounding princes. At any rate, she must take a suitor, at which point she marries and then can take the crown.

One thing that is unique about this aspect of the passing the crown is that it is a very political move. It is extremely strategic the way that they choose a prince to marry the princess. They take into account the size, population, resources, location and various other factors before choosing. She does have a say, a very big say, in who is chosen, but ultimately, it is a chance for the kingdom (still unnamed, darn it) to expand in a positive direction. The queen and princess(es) can be vary important parts of the kingdom's dynamics. Women all over work and take care of families and function just fine without the help of men. Often times, women are more successful because men are weak... okay, I'm kidding, but there are women in positions of power in this world. It isn't uncommon and you can expect to see some very strong female characters in this trilogy.

One more thing, I was asked if this has ever happened before. At first I said only once has the crown been passed to a female, but I've revised it. It has happened at least three times. Twice in the case of the king and queen only having daughters and once in the wake of failures to complete quests. I think I'm going to write up a history for each of these. I'll probably post them too.

I might have someone to do some concept art for me! Hopefully in the future we can get some fun stuff posted for visuals. Keep an eye out for that. Okay, all done for today. This is longer than expected. TODAY IS QUESTION DAY! Ask me what you want to know and I'll answer them tomorrow!

((I am having major spelling issues today. Geesh.))

Passing the Crown

Sorry this post is coming a bit late to you all. I have been out of the house and then Heroes caught my attention and, well, you know. At any rate. Here's more info on traditions!

The crown is passed to the first born son of the standing king. Of course, as I explained in yesterday's blog, the Quest of Kings must first be completed by the prince by his twenty-first birthday. In the case that the first son does not complete his quest, the second son will attempt the Quest of Kings. You can imagine the kind of hostility that would create between sons. If the current king does not have any sons, a daughter may take the thrown, but only after she is wed to a prince from another kingdom. This is definitely not what any of the families want, since it would mean creating an alliance with another kingdom that may or may not be stable. It could be a good thing and it could be horrible.

There is of course, the theoretical notion that if the king has any illegitimate sons, they may be up for the crown if they step forward with proof that they are royalty. They too would have to complete the quest. A hostile take over has never occurred, but it isn't completely insane to think that it might. That is only the most extreme cases.

This is a quick post today! Hopefully it was worth reading and tomorrow you will get some information on the legend of the Oracle and it's origins. No comment discussion today, but hopefully you comment anyway!

The Quest of Kings

I've decided to start of with a few legends and traditions that come along with this story. It will provide you with a little backstory into this world (which I still haven't named yet, my bad). Since I won't be giving away a lot of information on the official plot, I figured it would be nice for you all to have something fun to think about.

So, the first history lesson about this unnamed world? The Quest of Kings. This is the quest that our hero, Julian, is embarking on. The Quest of Kings is an ancient tradition passed down from dynasty to dynasty. The only way that the crown can be passed to the prince is when he completes his quest.

For as long as the kingdom has existed, this tradition has been in practice. The oldest son celebrates his twentieth birthday by a grand ball that is thrown for him by the king and queen. He is then given the family sword, as well as a family crest that is passed on from king to prince. It is the only proof that the prince is allowed to carry on him that he is in fact part of the royal family. From the day of his twentieth birthday, he has one year exactly to complete his quest.

This quest begins with his search of the Oracle, a legendary wise man who holds the secrets of the kingdom... or so he says. I'll give you more on the Oracle later. Once he's found the him, the Oracle gives the prince his mission. It usually involves him finding an ancient artifact. They are never easy to find and the Oracle does not give hints, clues or maps to the location where it is hidden.

You can see that I'm clearly trying to torture poor Julian. First he has to go on a quest with limited information and limited resources and he can't just go find some artifact, he has to find a specific one, but only after he finds this Oracle person! Oh, how evil am I? Its good.

More on the laws regarding passing the crown tomorrow!

And the question for discussion today, if you could name a mythical, fantasy kingdom with a steampunk flair, what would you choose?

.