Having set up my bad guys a bit better (the one behind the bad guy, that is) I took a glance at my notes and now panic sets in.
I have never done more than think about the story before this, and that only whilst smoking my pipe. No notes, not a sketch of a map... nada.
Yeah, this means I start, not with linking this tale to the last, but building TWO tales for the price of one. The good news, I can explore what Scorpio means about leaving the mess for others to clean up after the job. The bad news, I have not a clue where he made this mess at, why (well, a little clue, but not much to work with), or what the mess was.
Scorpio/Tagrun can be a bit of a pain, just like Billenius, to write, as you see.
So, first I need to decide what happened in "The Seeking Blade", and follow that thread to where it ended. Then craft the opening so I don't spoil that tale for readers.
*sigh*
The joys of being a story teller/writer that they never tell you about. Wandering characters who fail to check in with their owners. Kind of like that cat you keep in the yard, the neighborhood stray that you wonder where he goes and what he does between visits.
So, I know "Seeking Blade" is about Scorpio's worst nightmare, a wild goose chase job, that drags him all around the Great Water's coasts, seeking a foe that seems to exist, yet not exist.
Of all the ports to end that tale in, two stand out, begging for a tale to be set there. Tirosht, the capital of the Council for the Reclamation of the North Empire (or really the last remnant of that empire's power) and Drif Geldean, the home of the Knights Justicar, an order of paladins of justice. A third place, one that makes a bit more sense, is Dhibt, on the coast of Domorushtuu, where perhaps the goose chase could have ended with the spoiling of another of the Necromancer's plots. Which would explain why Zisura now feels a need for more enchanted blades and power bases to work from.
Three tales down the road is "Dagger and Gavel", Scorpio's first contact with the lands of the Knights Justicar homeland, so that eliminates Geldean. His name making journey, that spreads his fame to the lands of the Council as a byword among the Law enforcers is the second tale after Predator, so.....
Dhibt, the city of the worst of Domorushtuu, pirates, vampires, gnolls, and demons from Athalan. That succubus in the opening now gets woven into the tale, in reflection, as the victim he left the mess with. One that Zisura and her allies took advantage of for making the Leech Blade.
Dhibt, a city sunk into debauchery, reeking of filth and smoke, a place so vile even drow tremble at the mere mention of it.
Dhibt, where the Vampires rule....
A place where Codi Dunh and Scorpio would need to have a reason to remain. Amid such reprobates and miscreants, only love or revenge, maybe a hint of greed, would keep one after a job is finished.
And now, I have a slim thread to run with. A touch of all three motives, with the flair of Guild business. Perhaps a visit as the representatives of Jinotazu, the Master of the Allegiance of the Blades, to that local chapter.
Time to let the fingers dance later today. But first, some work to earn coffee and tobacco money.
No comments:
Post a Comment