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writinginsunlitcorners · 2 years

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Inklings challenge 2022

*CRAZED LAUGHTER*

Here is a snippet from my inkling challenge. I wanted to post from the beginning of the story, but my rough draft is so rough you can’t make sense of it. You miss out on some of my (very mess) world building because I’m dropping you off in the crisis. So here is a quick overview.

This is is set in the fantasy world of Malia, but my world-building is still in it’s young stages and is terrible. Basically this is a world set in a kind of medieval time frame. It is very pagan but there is a new (ish) religion called the Callow’hal which honors the “Hallowed Hosts and the Soverign,” and has been trying to root up the black practices and pagan ideas from the past. But they’re kind of discriminated against and though of as crackpots, and the King’s Royal Guard takes pleasure in tormenting them. They don’t honor their own pagan faith in any real devout way, but they’ve taken a spite to these “Pious Cultists” who they see as taking over the country. Even the the Callow’hal are basically just small people doing small things and they’re not actively trying to take anyone down or physically take over. (By the way, not all the pagans practiced black rituals. The people who practiced that stuff were like druids. Kind of. That’s the stuff I’m still working out. The rest of the pagans were more like Native Americans meets Rome, very “spiritual” but not “supernatural” if you know what I mean. Juri is a young Callow’hal who is married to a Nalvi, who believe vaguely in the “gods of the stars” which guide your way and the ‘spirits of the water’ which shape your destiny.

Juri used to be a member of the Royal Guard but he left it because they had become to cruel and greedy. One day he is home with his wife and seven year old son, and a small group of soldiers come to collect “Protection Money” from the town. The Guard are suppose to protect civilians from the Monsters in the woods and mountains, but really they’re just a bunch of goons that steal money and leave the people to suffer with whatever creature attacks them. Juri is the one who protects his town from the monsters, not the Guard.

When the Soldiers come to Juri’s home and demand money, one soldier tries to touch his wife. Juri defends her and is killed protecting her. Her son, Eilin, also steps up to defend his mother. He is struck down by a soldier, but as he is bleeding the sign of the Hallowed Soverign appears above his head; the three-pointed star. It grows to bright and fearful to stand and the soldiers scatter. Once they’re gone, Nilah prays for help in saving her son.

ANYWAY This thing is really messy and unorganized. I actually VERBALLY RECORDED this entire segment and wrote it down from the recording because I couldn’t make my thoughts flow any other way. This isn’t everything I have, but it’s the only semi-coherent thing. Also, since it was verbal I repeat a lot of names and I’m too tired to edit right now.

@inklings-challenge I know I am INCREDIBLY late to the party. I almost didn’t post at all because this is some of the the most scattered wriiting I’ve ever done. I wish I could have participate more.

I’m probably going to regret this later but here we go. From where Nilah prays for help. 🙈 🙈 🙈

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A voice echoed from the mark above Eilin’s head. “take your son outside and pierce the ground with your husband’s sword.” Nilah did as she was told. She went out and struck the earth with her husbands sword. Instantly, a fountain bubbled up from the earth a, spilling over into a warm fountaining pool.

“Draw your son into the water and bless his head with my sign,” said the Voice. “Life shall return to him, from whence it came.” Nilah did as she was bidden and Eilen’s eyes were opened, and mother and son reunited.

Juri was buried in the town graveyard. There were many mourners. Juri was one of the last great Knights, a man not consumed by greed or arrongance, but driven by duty and respect.

Now, it came to pass that the fountain which had sprung up didn’t not dissipate but remained forevermore. Sick and ailing children could come to it and have their infirmities healed answered. Men and women would come and leave their prayers buried in the earth around the pool, in hope their prayer would be better answered. A shrine of sorts was made there, and even some of Nilah’s own people came, at last bucking their superstitious and praying to the Host who dared to bear the mark of the tree, and the Being who dared take the three-pointed star as his own sigil.

And Nilah herself, who herself had long criticized her husband’s faith as mad, found that she also believed in the Hallowed Host and their Kingdom.

Now, Eilin grew into a great man of tall bearing and merry laughter. As a boy he was always gentle but firm. The younger boys loved him for he could not stand a bully, and the young girls admired his strength and his smile. Then, with maturity of age, came maturity of attitude. His neighbors often called the Eilin the great, Eilin the gentle giant, the oak warrior - for he was larger than most men in bearing, spirit, and courage - and strong as an oak tree. Much like his father in laughter and personality, their was a devotion and kindness in his voice and mannerisms that endeared people to him. He was fearless and would often go into the forest to free children who had been ensnared there. He fought the monsters who lurked in the trees, the belching reptiles that climbed up from the depths, vomited out from those places desserted since the Callow’hal people had come.

As Eilin grew the demand on his time grew as well. More often trolls and wraiths from the black altars would sneak their way into the forest and the mountains, ensnaring men and women alike. Eilin, bearing his father’s sword, went out to meet them. Some people whispered that such demands were too much for a young man – he was certain to fall into vanity or pride – or worse, he would fall prey to the monsters he boldy faced.

Yet for all his grandeur he would not join the royal guard however they asked. In his youth he was sent many a letter in the King’s hand. He was offered gold and silver to work for the state. He was begged and entreated. However, Eilin would not answer the messages. When at last, the Steward sent his own guards to claim Eilin, Eilin sent them back with a message of his own. “I will not serve a sovereign who treats his subjects like slaves. My allegiance lies with Hatha, and the Hallowed that dwell there.”

With this great rejection, Eilin’s reputation grew. A new name was added to him. “The People’s Knight.”

The Royal Guard’s grew jealous of Eilin and his fame. In their jealousy they became more cruel and vicious than before. They burned homes and attacked people who had done them no wrong – attacked especially those who believed in the Hallowed Hosts. They plundered, killing the men, enslaving the children, and treating the women with shameful disdain. Wherever they went chaos ensued.

Always, Eilin followed in their wake, making right their wrongs, mending what was broken. He became an everlasting thorn in their side, and their jealousy and hatred of him grew.

At last one of the soldier spoke. “Listen to me, my friends. Eilin is a terrible man. Great and tall. Who can bear him? Always he seems only two steps behind us, and when he is not two steps behind he is two steps ahead. He protects those who used to fear us, and with him to defend them we cannot obtain the money we once demanded to give them protection form the monsters in the woods. He gives back anything we manage to still – never can we get our share of plunder. Never do we have enough women to satisfy our needs. Once we had all these lands in our hands, caught in terror of our greatness. Our king was away, his charge on us, and the country was ours for the taking. But now a pompous, self-pious man has crept from the water like some deformed evolution of earth.”

The men with him said, “aiye,” and “it is indeed true,” and there was much grumbling. The Soldier continued. “Let us call upon some fell beast of darkness and send him upon “The People’s Knight” who thinks himself invincible. Suppose we call upon a monster who will destroy him for us and bring down his foundations. Suppose we destroy his reputation and all he is, humiliate him before the people. Suppose we get rid of this false warrior – this infected ‘oak tree’.”

And his friends gathered together and agreed to this hideous plot. Now the mastermind of this plot is a fiend and a horror and his name must not be forgotten for it shall be cursed in the lands of Malia, and perhaps at the end of all things all people’s of all kingdom’s shall know and despise it. It has been recorded as Falgo the Deciever, and henceforth we shall call him by this name, that he shall bear the shame of his crime even in his grave.

Now, Falgo the Deciever and his conspirators banded together to call upon a monster who had long ago been struck down and imprisoned by the Man in White for whom no one had a name – but the Callow’hal honored as a holy ancestor and hero. The Man in white and his band were pure of heart and mind, warriors and poets, who studied the heavens and thus rejected the numerous ‘gods’ of the cosmos. They believed in the Hallowed and looked for the coming of the new world. Some said they had been blessed by the Hallowed to rid the land of this monster; the great snake whom Falgo the Deciever now set to release.

In many dark rituals he and his knights kept vigual. The Dark Rituals tainted their minds and souls. Their hatred grew furious, their jealousy shrinking their characters like poison. Now it came to pass that during the night, admist the rituals, several wraiths came to them, drawn by the arts they were performing. Falgo demanded of them the Master, who had long ago ensnared them long ago, and whom they now followed and worshipped. The Wraith’s in their high voices, laughed them to scorn. “The Master only answers to those who will serve him.”

In their blind jealousy, the soldiers were all to eager to destroy their enemy. They said as one; “We will serve. Ye, even to become Wraith’s like you, if only to gain an audience with him. For it is said of old he brought up a terrible beast of great power who could utterly decimate lands and destroy peoples. We wish to call upon this beast, and have control of it, and use it to take down a dreadful man . He is our terrible enemy, and he is an enemy of your Master as well, for he serves the Hallowed Hosts.”

So, the Wraith led the soldiers into the Center of the woods, and down a stairway into the depths of the earth. Here, they were presented to the Master. The Master was pleased with their bargain. In his black mind he thought, what fools, what fools, to bargain so much for so little!

He gave to Falgo the Deciever and his company ten months; Ten to destroy their enemy. He said to them, “Yes I shall call upon a monster and you shall have control over it. It cannot be the same beast which was slain long ago, but it is of the same fabric and long have I worked on it.” And the Master laughed to himself because such beasts were created by malice and hatred and jealousy, and he had all he needed for his monster in the hearts of these men. “In these ten months you will have every chance to destroy the Eilin who has been a sore to you. However, I must tell you that if in ten months Eilin is not destroyed, I will take the Monster back. And you shall serve me evermore.”

The Soldier’s agreed to this. Then the Master bid them to kneel before them, and he lay his dark hands upon their heads, and cursed them. Then he gave to each of them a ring from his fingers, and taught them words in a dreadful language, with which to control the beast, weaken Eilin, and sew iniquity among the good people of Malia.

The Master then drew out from the hearts of Falgo the Deciever, and all with him, the darkness which rested in their souls, and fabricated a monster. It was only a puppet, a shadow with no soul but akin to a machine the black arts could manipulate. It rose into the air, burning and scorching, ready to destroy all in it’s path. It had a great body of writhing mass which could slither like a snake or fly like an eagle.

Falgo the Deciever was given chief charge of the beast, with the others following his charge, able to control the beast to a lesser extent, and able to twist their words so people would grow confused, and brave men frightened. Armed with darkness the men set out with their prize to destroy their enemy.

Falgo commanded the creature attack the smallest villages first, and the creature did as it was bid. Then, Falgo sent one of his men to feign innocence and ask Eilin for help, and so they would ensnare him.

The man played his part well. He ran into Eilin’s home and fell upon his knees. “Friend,” said Eilin. “Whatever is the matter?”

“Eilin, Eilin, If you were ever a friend of the people, help us now! Our village is under attack by a terrible monster. He will destroy us. You must come, you must come immediately. Help us, Eilin.”

“Show me the way.” Eilin followed the soldier to the door. Quickly he turned to his mother. “Mother, I go to war.”

“Son, I am with you.” His mother kissed him, drawing on his head with her finger, the three-pointed star. “Son, remember your mother. Return to me. Remember the healing that comes here, from the Hallowed.” She offered to him a waterskin. He tied it to his belt, He always took some Fountain Water with him, for himself and other who were harmed. Even a few drops would heal those who were injured. “The Host’s be with you!”

Eilin sheathed his father’s sword and went out. He was not afraid. He had fought many monsters and survived, for the blessing of the Hallowed was with him and had been ever since he was first bathed in the sacred water, drawn out by the sword of his father’s sacrifice. He wore with him his Holy Colors and the medallion, set with a three-pointed star. It was his custom to visit the shrine before an attack and to get a prayer from the Selgate, but the soldiers begged and entreated him, and he left without his visit, and without the Selgate prayer.

He followed the malicious soldier to the first village. He found it burned and destroyed. Many people lay dying. More were seen fleeing for their lives. Some were hiding from the flames which pelted from the sky. Then, he saw the monster.

A warning sounded in Eilin’s heart. He knew this was a beast from the Black Kingdom. But it was not like the wraiths, trolls, or mutilated animals which lurked in the woods. This one was shadow and bone, neither living nor dead. This was a cursed beast, a damned impression of reality which the Black Kingdom controlled like a doll. He wondered from whence it had come and how it could have entered this land again when, long ago, the Holy Wit’atal (the man in white) with his band had brought down the same beast and freed Malia from it’s clutches.

Falgo saw Eilin coming. He raised up his hand with the ring and commanded the beast. It surged down upon the innocent people, mouth open, Eilin, brave as he was, drew his sword. He challenged the Shadow in the tongue of the Callow’hal.

The Beast fell to the earth like a massive serpent, and reared in fury. The holy tongue was to him, like fire on his body. He charged Eilin with terrible speed. He caught him in the coils of his shadowy form, and he enveloped the cold black breathless void into his eyes, and he pierced Eilin’s neck with the spikes which were set on his tale – spikes of icey malice. He threw his prey to the ground and roared in pleasure. Few men could survive hatred’s shadow.

Eilin pushed himself to his knees. There was blood on his tunic and blood on his knees, but he kissed the medallion he wore and stood again. His horse, loyal beast, stood near. Eilin knew better than to mount him. He said “Stand back, my friend. Wait for my call.” He raised his father’s sword. “Aba!” He cried. “Wit’atal!” And he struck. The blade struck the Beast who lurched back in surprise and fury. Moral weapons were not suppose to trouble him, yet this one had caused pain. The Beast caught Eilin by the neck in his fluid tale and flew high into the sky. He struck Eilin with his teeth once, twice, thrice, and dropped him from a great distance. Eilin fell.

Before he struck the ground, Falgo had a terrible idea. Suppose the Beast caugh Eilin once more, and with his claws, drove him into the ground and thus ended him in dust, humiliated and broken? Falgo thought with his mind and the Beast respond. He caught Eilin’s body in his shadowy claw and bore him down, intending to make and end of him by teeth and fire, and devour him when dead.

Caught in darkness, Eilin saw his Father’s face. Wake up, Eilin, Juri whispered urgently. Wake up. And he touched his son’s eyes. Eilin awoke. He saw they were near the earth, moving at a mighty rate. He cried, “Be with me!” and as bravely as he could, he turned in the Beast’s grip, and drove his sword into the claw which bore him down. The Beast screamed in pain and dropped Eilin with only a moment to spare. The warrior fell to the ground and was still. He would have ended then and there, but young women from the village got between him and the beast, and shielded his body with her own, and she was born to the Halls of Light, and the Beast was weakened by her love and fled away to recover his strength.

to be continued....

#inklingschallenge #inklings challenge #writing #christian fiction #inklingschallenge2022 #writing challenge #catholic fantasy #christian fantasy #catholic writers #christian writers #This makes me so awkward #This is so uncomfortable

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writinginsunlitcorners · 2 years

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Inkling Challenge, Oct. 2022!

I’m late to the party because I’ve been very sick. I’m TEAM TOLKIEN. I am so excited! Thanks for the assignment @inklings-challenge :-)

From the Inklings Challenge Page: “Members of Team Tolkien are challenged to write a science fiction or fantasy story within the Christian worldview that fits in at least one of the following two categories:

Secondary World Fantasy: Stories that takes place in an imaginary realm that’s completely separate from our world

Time Travel: Stories exploring travel through time

Secondary world fantasy is my JAM, so I am opting for that category. I’m ready to brainstorm! Wish me luck :-D

#inklingschallenge #team tolkien #genre: secondary world #christian writers #catholic writers #catholic fantasy #christian fantasy #christian fiction #catholic fiction #christian books #writers #fantasy books

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writinginsunlitcorners · 2 years

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Nobody asked me, but Thor and Bruce were done dirty by the MCU, and no you can’t change my mind.

If I could only fix two characters and their respective arcs in the entire Infinity Saga, it would be those two.

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writinginsunlitcorners · 2 years

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A sneak peak at the story I’m working on.

I’m working on a story which takes place in a fantasy land, but draws inspiration from a victorianish/edwardianish time-frame. I don’t have a name for the world as a whole yet but I do have a map of the two countries this story will take place in.

Keep in mind this plot is in revision, but it has the general idea of the story.

Basically this story is about sisters, Marianne and Lucy, who are talented in magic and have been secretly taking magic lessons from a professor of Magic and Illusion in the city of Nolvik. When Aunt Claudia threatens to jeopardize their future by splitting them up and removing magic from their lives, the girls run away from home. They run to Soviac, a country where magic is practiced commonly and dragons, trolls, dark sorcerers and the like keep magicians in high demand.

Soon the sisters are fighting toe to toe with all kinds of strange creatures and people. They are on top of the world and their destiny seems uncharted.

But who is the dark sorcerer wandering the dessert outside Mannson? Why are the trees creeping down the mountains into the cities, trying to choke out the residents there? And why are goblins coming out from underground to pillage, burn, and drag children away?

Join Marianne and Lucy as they adventure through wind-swept prairies, jagged mountains, and deep canyons of a wild and foreign country.

I’ve actually worked on this story pretty consistently since I started in in the summer. I just haven’t posted much cause it’s in a notebook.

**I’m actually writing this morning too :D :D :D**

#catholic writers #catholic writing #christian writers #christian fiction #christian fantasy #catholic fantasy #writers #writing #books #christian books #my work

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writinginsunlitcorners · 2 years

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So, I’m working on an Edwardian-inspired fantasy novel. I posted a snippet of it Here. So far I’m having a really good time with it. It is set in another world but I’ve based my world building on an Edwardian/Jane Austen aesthetic. I’ve been writing all my newest chapters in sprawling notebooks, but I’m gonna try to share some stuff over the weekend. At least a general plot.

Pray for me. I really want this book to go well.

#Victorian fantasy #edwardian fantasy #catholic fantasy #christian fantasy #christian fiction #fantasy writing #christian writers #catholic writers #magical books #christian books

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writinginsunlitcorners · 2 years

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I’ve been tagged by @lady-merian! Tag Nine People You Want To Get To Know Better

Fave Color: I love the colors green and blue <3 Depending on my mood they fight for first place.

Currently Reading: Sorcery and Cecilia (The Grand Tour), Mixed Blessings, and The Sherwood Ring.

Last song: Like, the most recent song I listened to? Well, I’m listening to “Confrontation” from Les Miserables - The cast with Nathaniel Hackmann cause he is golden. (This isn’t an official recorded cast, just a live slime performance 😉)

Last series watched or finished: White Collar

Last movie: Tangled

Sweet/Spicy/Savory: Savory

Fave food: I really love Italian food. Pasta is my comfort meal. I especially love rigatoni but all kinds of pasta are warm and festive. I also really enjoy making it from scratch but that’s pretty time consuming.

Song stuck in my head: None right now, but I’ve had “I Aint Worried ‘Bout it” from Top Gun Maverick stuck in my head on and off for like, a month.

Last thing I googled: wink-face emoji. Hehe. XD

Time: to sit outside and write.

Dream vacation: I WANT TO GO TO ITALY AND VISIT ROME. I W ANT IT SO BADLY. I’VE BEEN SAVING FOR TWO YEARS.

Currently working on: My regency/edwardian-ish fantasy novel set in another world. I’m also working on some video projects, like editing Ragnarok and Engame to make them more Thor-friendly, and making a Merlin edit.

thank you for tagging me @lady-merian This was fun!

tagging: @scarvenartist @incomingalbatross @curious-scribblings

@dragonheartlair @allisonreader @incomingalbatross @fictionadventurer @bookshelf-in-progress @ettawritesnstudies

Tag Nine People You Want To Get To Know Better

Tagged by @eddis-not-eeddis, thanks!

Fave Color: it’s been edging more towards the green side of blue/green lately

Currently Reading: Prince Caspian (reread) Chesterton’s Gateway (TSE read along) Between Homes (City Between, book 5, yes I’m rereading already, but this time I’m reading not listening. It’s a different experience!)

Last song: Volcanic Jig by Natalie MacMaster

Last series watched or finished: Umm…

Last movie: ummmmmm……

Sweet/Spicy/Savory: Sweet! Then savory. Spicy is a distant third.

Fave food: about anything with chicken, pasta, and or Pecorino Romano, preferably all three (thank God for sheep’s milk cheeses). Unless we’re including desserts, (see previous question about my preferences) and then I’m all for brownies with (non dairy) caramel.

Song stuck in my head: Dulaman

Last thing I googled: slouching pose reference. (Couldn’t find the specific slouch I wanted for a Kiro sketch but there were some good ones!)

Time: for coffee

Dream vacation: “I want to see mountains again, Gandalf, mountains, and then find somewhere where I can rest.”

Currently working on: edits for Chapter Seven (still,) knitting a summer top, hand sewing a button down shirt, and beginning a tunic which I will probably machine sew. Also the aforementioned Kiro sketch.

tagging: @lady-stormbraver, @queer-as-used-by-tolkien @holbytlanna @hollerswrites @hollers-and-holmes, @writinginsunlitcorners, @tiny-dragons-tea-room @bookdragon1811 and @fairytale-lights

#tag game #tag you're it #questions and answers #it was so hard finding nine people to tag #lol #christian writers

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writinginsunlitcorners · 2 years

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King Eomer of the Mark <3 I saw this in the LOTR tag and I couldn’t not reblog it. I have so many emotions about the House of Eorl.

I’m loving all of the Pelennor Fields content on my dash today, but I haven’t seen anything yet about Éomer’s last stand, so happy anniversary to this absolutely metal passage:

Stern now was Éomer’s mood, and his mind clear again. He let blow the horns to rally all men to his banner that could come thither; for he thought to make a great shield-wall at the last, and stand, and fight there on foot till all fell, and do deeds of song on the fields of Pelennor, though no man should be left in the West to remember the last King of the Mark. So he rode to a green hillock and there set his banner, and the White Horse ran rippling in the wind.

Out of dark, out of dark to the day’s rising

I came singing in the sun, sword unsheathing.

To hope’s end I rode and to heart’s breaking:

Now for wrath, now for ruin, and a red nightfall!

These staves he spoke, yet he laughed as he said them. For once more lust of battle was on him; and he was still unscathed and he was young, and he was king: the lord of a fell people. And lo! even as he laughed at despair he looked out again on the black ships, and he lifted up his sword to defy them.

#King eomer #eomer #eomer of rohan #house of theoden #lotr #the lord of the rings #lotr quotes #jrr tolkien #rotk #the return of the king #tolkien quotes #house of eorl

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writinginsunlitcorners · 2 years

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Are there any Catholic/Christian theatre lovers out there?

Calling any playwrights, lyricists, and librettists! I am getting in to script writing and composition, and I’d like to follow a few people who share these interests!!! I am brand new to composition, but I’m learning to play piano and want to get back to Music theory - something I abandoned in highschool. (stupid of me.) My personal passion is musical theatre, but I enjoy plays too. If this group takes off I can also start some kind of online space, separate from Tumblr :-)

I want a safe place for catholics/christians who love theatre to talk about their passions with like-minded people. We deserve a place to foster our creativity and love without being suffocating by the liberal/modern mindset.

hit the reply button if interested!

#christian writers #catholic writers #christian fiction #christian music #christian art #catholic art #catholic music #catholic entertainment #christian entertainment #christian theatre #catholic theatre #christian theatre group #lyricists #it's a long shot but I'm gonna try #lol

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writinginsunlitcorners · 2 years

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@fictionadventurer some awesome ideas, I’m very excited! I love symbolism in my stories. <3

Musing over some Inklings Challenge thoughts. Want to run it by you guys rather than the main blog, because this is very nebulous.

Keep reading

#inklingschallenge #christian fiction #christian fantasy #christian art #catholic writers #christian writers #catholic fantasy #faith based fiction

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writinginsunlitcorners · 2 years

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WIP

I’m gonna count this as my second paragraph for the calvinball game @hollers-and-holmes started. I started a new rule where the reblogged had to post a paragraph, but I’m not gonna reblog AGAIN cause I think that will just start a vicious cycle. I’m also gonna post more than one paragrah ~~~~ The trained chugged along, unaware of the two passengers it had left behind. Lucy ran up alongside Marianne. “Give me your luggage,” she panted. “You’ll need to jump first. You’re taller.” Marianne didn’t argue, she passed her suitcase to Lucy who bore it with cumbersome dignity. Marianne dropped back slightly, let the train gain some speed. The luggage car was coming fast. Marianne waited for just the right moment, rushed sideways and jumped on the car’s metal edging, and fell forward against the door, holding on to the inside of the frame with all her might. “Now for this stupid lock,” muttered Marianne to herself. Lucy was still ahead, running hard and looking dreadfully overwhelmed with luggage. She probably wouldn’t last much longer. Marianne’s own sides burned from her exercise. She breathed deeply and brushed the lock. It was a metal latch, rather like the latch on a vault, an iron lever. She would have to heave it and turn it back down without losing her balance.

She attempted it once, twice, but the mechanism was strong and unfortunately she was not. At least not right now, with her hands shaking. Maybe she could do it in better times but she wasn’t in a position to lament. Instead, she breathed on her hands warming them like fire. Then she grabbed hold of the lock. It melted off in her hand, falling to the rails with a dreadful spark. “Drat,” swore Marianne. But it wasn’t “Drat.” She was in no position to fix her mistake even if she could, and the heat from the lock spread across the railway for about twelve feet before fizzling out. It sparked beautifully, and a small fire started on the grass near the edge of the train tracks. All this happened in seconds. Lucy noticed Marianne had the cargo door opened and slowed her pace. “Here,” she hollered. “Take it.” She gave no further warning, but hurled the first suitcase at Marianne. It hit Marianne square in the chest and both fell back into the luggage compartment. The door to the cargo hung open and through the gap Lucy’s suitcase came, spilling all it’s contents out. Marianne struggled to her feet, clambering back to the door. “Lucy, catch my hand!”

Lucy gave a terrific leap, her left foot coming down on the train’s iron step-up. Marianne caught her hand and pulled her in. They fell down together admist the rest of the luggage. Neither said anything for a moment, and presently they began laughing.

“Of all the crazy things,” gasped Lucy between laughs, “this is the craziest. Melting the lock? Marianne, what have I told you about that spell? You can’t control it!”

“Tsh,” Marianne said. She sat up on her hands breathing deeply to stop the next fit of laughter. “It worked out for the best you know.” The door rocked back and forth on it’s slide, the area where the lock had been still smoking from Marianne’s botched spell. Marianne crawled over to close it, but first she looked over the wheat fields that had fallen behind them. “The fire’s gone out. Thank goodness it’s been a wet summer. Then again, Mamma says it’s hard for anything to stay lit out here in the hills.”

Lucy shook her head in amazement but her tone was gruntled and merry. “Maybe Aunt Claudia has a point about us.”

#writing #writers #christian writers #work in progress #fantasy #victorian fantasy #wip #snippets #my writing #my work #this doesn't have a name yet #I'm jsut having fun #it might even be #edwardian fantasy #for all I know #it's in a magical world with like #dragons and stuff #so I'm not too worried about logistics

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writinginsunlitcorners · 2 years

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New Rule, New Rule! For the next hour it’s RICHOCHET HOUR, so both the reblogger and the reblogged need to post a paragraph!

The trained chugged along, unaware of the two passengers it had left behind. Lucy ran up alongside Marianne. “Give me your luggage,” she panted. “You’ll need to jump first. You’re taller.” Marianne didn’t argue, she passed her suitcase to Lucy who bore it with cumbersome dignity. Marianne dropped back slightly, let the train gain some speed. The luggage car was coming fast. Marianne waited for just the right moment, rushed sideways and jumped on the car’s metal edging, and fell forward against the door, holding on to the inside of the frame with all her might. “Now for this stupid lock,” muttered Marianne to herself. Lucy was still ahead, running hard and looking dreadfully overwhelmed with luggage. She probably wouldn’t last much longer. Marianne’s own sides burned from her exercise. She breathed deeply and brushed the lock. It was a metal latch, rather like the latch on a vault. She would have to heave it and turn it back down without losing her balance.

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Reblog to hit the person you reblogged from with the Calvinball

#am I doing this right #Y'all can change the rules if I'm not #lol #it's calvin ball #writers #victorian fantasy #edwardian fantasy #my work #my writing #wip #catherine writes #fantasy #christian writers #catholic writers #I don't know my exact timeframe yet #but this world is kinda a fantasy one with magic and stuff #so I'm not too worried aboutthat #I'm jjust having fun #calvinball

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writinginsunlitcorners · 2 years

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Random LOTR thought of the day.

I love the LOTR movie trilogy with all my heart. But man there are two things, two, that genuinely tick me off. (1) That stupid scene in The Return of the King when Frod sends Sam away. In case you are just a movie fan who doesn’t know better; Frodo never sent Sam away in the book. Its very out of character. Its also OOC for Sam to leave. In the book they both enter the caves and both get attacked by Shelob. At some point Gollum corners Sam while Shelob is attacking and Sam is forced to fight for his life while Frodo is pursued by Shelob. They get separated here and by the time Sam finds Frodo it is too late.

I don’t understand why Peter Jackson didn’t just tweak this situtation to fit his narrative. Why do you have to fabricate a weird fight scene to split up the hobbits when they LITERALLY get split up in the caves later on? I know it’s a movie and you can’t do a scene exactly the same because some stuff doesn’t translate well - but it can be similar can’t it??? Just work with the timeline so it flows better with how the events play out in the movie! Like, if they wanted Frodo to face Shelob alone just make Gollum attack Sam sooner, somewhere in the maze of dark caves where Frodo wouldn't be able to see what happened. For example, Frodo could be moving forward doggedly with Sam behind him protectively, sword drawn. Sam hears a noise under his feet and stoops down to investigate. He discovers some bones in webs. Sam sits up to warn Frodo (who didn’t realize Sam stopped and is now a few paces forward) and Gollum silently jumps on Sam’s back and attacks him, slamming his head on a rock and dropping him into a mess of dark webs. Frodo, unaware of what has happened, tries to call out for Sam and begins to frantically search. Maybe he stumbles on a bit of gunk and falls down a slimy slope in Shelob’s lair. He lays, listening. He hears Smeagol laughing. “Not coming back, precious, noooo. The fat-one can’t come back can he?” So now, Frodo is alone and can only conclude Gollum has betrayed them and taken Sam out. This still allows for Frodo to be alone in the caves full of guilt because he would feel responsible for trusting Gollum and getting Sam killed. It would also help Sam's emotional devastation when he realizes he's been overpowered and is too late to save his friend. (of course you could rearrange some of the movie beats. You could change the beginning; Make Frodo to pass out from the sheer weight of the ring, and have Sam rush to comfort him. This gives Smeagol a chance to wack Sam and toss him down one of Shelob’s many tunnels. Then Frodo could wake up alone. Again this is a vague idea so the actual rubriks may need work)

ANYWAY. In this format you can still get Frodo wandering alone, Frodo seeing Galadriel in the caves, Frodo being attacked by Shelob from behind, and Sam’s epic entrance at a pivotal moment. PJ, I don’t understand why you thought a nonsensical falling-out was a more emotional or dramatic scene than Sam and Frodo getting separated by forces out of their control; failing not because they were disloyal, but because they were betrayed.

(2) Faramir’s characterization in the Two Towers. What the heck??? I do not understand why PJ thought we need to assassinate this poor man’s personality so we could put yet another power-hungry man in Frodo’s path.

So, the Hobbits need to go to Osgiliath. OK? How about instead of Faramir being like “Ah yis, let’s take the super evil ring to my jerk-of-a-dad,” we give him another motivation. I have two ideas off the top of my head.

a) In the book Faramir does not know exactly what “Isildur’s bane” is, no one in Gondor does. I am going to keep that plotline in tact. When Faramir finds out Sam and Frodo set out from Rivendell, he wonders if they have Isildur’s Bane, if other members of the fellowship have it, or if these two have abandoned the company for their own goals. Frodo and Sam are secretive once Frodo finds out Faramir is Boromir’s brother, and Frodo warns Sam not to say anything about the Ring or the quest. Because of their silence, Faramir doesn’t know what to think of Frodo and Sam, especially after he meets Gollum. When he questions Gollum he learns Gollum came from Morder and is leading Sam and Frodo there. Now, Faramir doesn’t know Mordor is the one place on earth the ring can be destroyed, and he knows very little of the Ring in general. What he does know is Frodo, Sam and Gollum are suspicious characters on their way to enemy territory, perhaps with a dangerous weapon. They have refused to give him any details about the fate of the Fellowship. For all he knows, these people are spies of Sauron. When he hears Osgiliath is under attacks he brings the hobbits not because he wants power or glory, but because his life is forfeit if he releases to foreigners without proper examination by the Steward of Gondor.

It is in Osgiliath when Frodo breaks down and tells Faramir what’s going on. Maybe a Black Rider attacks (kinda like in the actual movie) and Faramir saves Frodo and Sam, or maybe it’s just some orc or wild man. The point is, Faramir sees the Ring and is tempted but doesn’t make a move to claim it for his own. The hobbits now feel that can trust Faramir and tell him everything. Faramir lets the hobbits go without an examination. He knows he could technically be killed but he does it anyway because he trusts that Sam and Frodo are honest, and things play out pretty much the Sam as they do in the actual movie. But maybe with less Faramir choking out Gollum.

b) Faramir finds out Frodo and Sam have the Ring when he questions Gollum. However, instead of Faramir being like “MWAHAHAAHA I’ve got you nooooow!” He offers the Hobbits protection. He tells them there are secret underground tunnels beneath Osgiliath that lead out of the city and away from Gondor. (maybe they were made by men of Numenor as a way of sneaking in an out of the country in the early days when Morgoth still roamed or something like that.) He explains that Sauron’s forces are crawling all over the countryside right now, and the Wild men are not to be trifled with. If Frodo and Sam travel with the Rangers they will have protection from Sauron’s men all the way to Osgiliath, and from there they can go underground for miles before resurfacing in somewhat safer lands.

Both of these options are better than that cold, distant Fakeamir and both would flow better into The Return of the King’s version of Faramir which is much more faithful to the book than Two Towers is.

Don’t get me wrong, I still love the LOTR films and I love a lot of the Faramir content we have. The scene where he sees Boromir’s boat? So Sad! The scene with him and Pippin? Adorable! the fanservice moment where he meets Eowyn and they hold hands? Beautiful!! The script does a lot of stuff right! Unfortunately it also did a few things wrong. Faramir’s OOC moments in TTT don’t ruin the movie or trilogy for me, but they never fail to rile me up. (However, at least with Faramir I kind of understand why, from a film perspective, they would make some changes - even though I really disagree with their decision. With Shelob absent from the middle movie we need an emotional low for Frodo and Sam - voila , the Osgiliath scene. We need them in Osgiliath - voila! Faramir takes them there. Now we get to see more of a journey for Faramir before he rejects the ring. Perfect! Again I disagree with the change and think there are better ways to add an emotional low but I see why the powers that be thought it would be a good idea. BUT FRODO SENDING SAM AWAY?? SAM LEAVING FRODO?? HUH?????)

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writinginsunlitcorners · 2 years

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Go watch the new Top Gun!

If you haven’t watched Top Gun Maverick, go watch it. If you have, consider watching it a second time. It’s just as good revisited.

Full disclosure my thoughts are a little scattered right now, so I’m sorry if this post rambles a bit.

I just watched Top Gun Maverick in theatres for the 3rd time in four weeks. You know a movie is good when you can see this often and still enjoy it every time. I will definitely own it when it comes out on DVD! I’m honestly surprised that Maverick slid into theatres and dared to tell a story about strong, masculine men doing awesome masculine stuff, and allowed an aged, male hero the dignity of his years. Never once did the movie disrespect Maverick or his legacy. They gave Maverick his time in the sun, but also acknowledged he is older now and has certain limitations. It made for an interesting character journey, and an interesting story.

I actually watched Top Gun Maverick before I ever saw Top Gun 1986. The first time I saw it I sensed that everyone who worked on the movie had great respect for their predecessor, even though I hadn’t seen the first one. It just felt authentic. This time around, I watched Top Gun ‘86 and Top Gun Maverick back to back, and that feeling was confirmed. You can tell the that the cast and crew are paying homage to the original, you can tell this movie was made with love, that the people who worked on this cared about Top Gun, it’s characters, and it’s legacy. But they didn’t let nostalgia hold them hostage either. They let other characters take their place in Top Gun. They told a new story. They let Maverick grow, heck they gave him another character arc - though it wasn’t as big as his ‘86 character arc was.

I just loved how they handled this seasoned Naval Aviator. He is a strong, confident man who knows his stuff and has a lot left to give. Yes, his age has taken a tole on him, old griefs haunt him, his trials and mistakes have matured him. He’s older. He has changed. But there are many, many moments where you are shown that this man is the same kid from thirty years ago who flew upside and gave his enemy the birdie.

This is what people want from a sequel. They don’t want their heroes to be old, sad and washed up. They don’t want their heroes turned into disappointments or failures. They definitely don’t want their heroes being schooled by the “Younger-Cuter-Model-Who-is-Better-in-Every-Way-and-Probably-Diverse.” They just want their heroes to come back and share another adventure with characters who can learn and grow with them. Imagine if Star Wars, Star Trek, or Terminator - or any sequel in the last ten years - had given their original characters the respect that Top Gun Maverick gave Pete Mitchell. Just imagine how much better those movies would have been.

I just love this movie, 10/10 would recommend.

(it’s also cleaner than the first one. There is one part that looks like a scene, but there actually isn’t a scene. The two characters just lay in bed -with clothes on- and talk. Nothing happens. Also, there’s less blasphemy which is nice.)

#I am seriously inspired #what a good movie #people still want good stories #the theatre was PACKED #this thing has been out what #five weeks now??#and the theatre was still full #at one on a thursday #it just gives me hope that something this wholesome is doing so well #and it is wholesome #it's got a nice family element #a nice father/son element #a nice STRONG MEN element #I know this isnt actually the BEST MOVIE EVER #I know it's just a good movie with good characters #but I think it made an impression because those movies are rare now #i can hardley believe they let men in Maverick be men and not #whatever thor is in love and thunder #anyway #it reminded me of #ford v ferrari #which is also a good movie #10/10 #Top gun maverick #top gun 2 #top gun 1986 #they also used a lot of #practical effects #which made the movie even better #real effects are SO COOL

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