posted
Every year at the Holidays I post a story I wrote that is kind of like Tolkien meets Dickens for a Christmas special.
I want to add to that tradition with a new story, but as the Holiday's are starting earlier each year, this story may best be seen as a Halloween story.
Its working title is "Santa's Orc".
However, I am a bit pinched for time. I have a few decisions to make before its ready and I thought you folks might help me.
First, I need a word beginning with the letter "N" that can mean something more evil or dangerous than Naughty.
Second, the Orc in question is asked at one point, "Why haven't I ever heard of you? All the songs mention elves and such, but no one sings about an Orc."
I have three options.
A) "Good question. What could cause people that I have brought gifts to never to mention it to others?" I then leave it unanswered assuming the audience will figure it out later.
B) "Dead children don't sing carols." While this answers the question, it kind of spoils the rest of the story.
C) "D.C.D.S.C" he said. "What is that?" she asked. "It abreviation. Like W.W.J.D. means What Would Jesus Do." Mary dropped the subject. She was fully aware of many uses she could make of religion, its saving graces always alluded her.
Later on, at the end of the story, I'll post what DCDSC means.
As I get more questions to think about with the story, I'll post them here.
Posts: 1941 | Registered: Feb 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanks. I was getting a blank when it came to Nefarious.
Of course, the biggest help is that now I have to finish this story or be ridiculed by all at Hatrack.
Posts: 1941 | Registered: Feb 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Next question, but I've already picked my answer unless someone changes my mind.
I was having trouble with the protagonists, or is he the antagonist, dialogue. Seems when I used SOA (Standard Orcan Dialect--being the 10,6,0 rule--10 words or less / paragraph, 6 letters or less per word, 0 articles, pronouns, or intelligence) I couldn't get some of the ideas I wanted into the story.
The line, "Do you honestly believe that a mythological omniscient judge of juvenile morality would have his punishments limited to the dispersal of fossil fuels? You know little of mythology or judges child." just didn't sound Orcish.
So I could do one of three things.
A) Make it Orcish. Dumb it all down. B) Break convention and give with the literate orc. However that breaks the whole Orcish archetype. It might as well be some other monster or villain, such as... C) Change the title and the villain? to Santa's Dark Elf. I admit I was thinking Orc after rereading the Silmarillion. They are appropriate opposites to be in Santa's employ-Tolkien speaking. But others have used Dark Elves as the anti-Elf villain. Drow may be a D&D Copywritten term, but Santa's Dark Elf has a nice ring to it.
And he can say "Nefarious" without an Orcish slur.
Posts: 1941 | Registered: Feb 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Close Dante. I thought of Eulbaen,(Pronounced Yule Bane) unless anyone else has a better name or better spelling.
Posts: 1941 | Registered: Feb 2003
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Darth_Mauve: First, I need a word beginning with the letter "N" that can mean something more evil or dangerous than Naughty.