Nuile the Paracosmic Tulpa
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Blog Comments posted by Nuile the Paracosmic Tulpa
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There were a few points of my own that I obviously didn't make clear, and I know I have a tendency to think faster than I can talk and explain things sometimes. XD So I'm sorry about that.
I see your spoiler tags and raise you . . .
a spoiler tag.
But anyway, I like most of your ideas. Only, I'm not so sure about the place Tahu would have in the story. As a literary device to give backstory, I admit he'd be useful; but what other purpose would he serve?
And anyway, I don't think the Council of Four would feature very prominently. They're there as leaders of the city, but they're under the Atero Eight's control. That's why I wanted them to be known characters, so we wouldn't have four unknown and little elaborated ghosts hanging in the story. And with two of the Mata, the most iconic Toa, dead, it really shows the Toa as a dying breed. But I’m all for killing Onua instead and bringing Lewa back.
Anyway, I agree that this shouldn't be a warring time. I'll try to put into my detail the vision I had of the setting (though by all means, details can change). I'd like to call it Atero, maybe New Atero, but I'm open to ideas. Basically I see sprawling futuristic city on Spherus Magna, but not ruling the world, merely ensconced in its own little world that keeps itself to itself. Nothing goes in or out except imports or exports. In it dwell Agori, Matoran, Glatorian, Vortixx, Skakdi, et cetera and so on and what have you. It's the chief, if not the only, city on the planet. On the surface, like I said, it's a place of peace, with the Atero Eight to protect it and the Council of Four to lead it; but behind the scenes the Atero Eight rule it absolutely. To use another Avatar analogy, Ba Sing Se.
I also like your sport suggestion. It also relates in a way to an idea I had, that every decade or century the Atero Eight face one another in a tournament to decide the team leader. It would be a vivid way to show who these characters are. They're Toa, but they're not at all the kind of Toa we're used to; in essence, they're like the Makuta or the Dark Mirror Toa, but yet they're not. They rule through the Council of Four, neither lurking in the shadows nor enthroning themselves. They're sadistic, avaricious, and conceited.
To the protagonist, then. We're all male, so so I'd lean toward male. Personality-wise, let's analyze his situation, or as much as we know of it at the moment. He’s a Matoran in an oppressed but peaceful city, he finds his life suddenly changed by the finding of the Ignika. Sounds like an opportunity for the classic meek, self-effacing loser with greatness thrust upon him. Cliché! What if he’s the opposite? An egotist? But why would destiny choose a guy like that? So maybe something in between. Maybe he's something of a pint-sized big shot, still a nice guy but a little full of himself. Then he gets power thrust upon him. This is new to him, and he has to grapple with doubts for the first time. Can he live up to it, he wonders, can he bear the responsibility? Can he do what he has to?
Allow me to delve a little further into this idea. Say he dreams of life outside the city. Inside the walls, he’s a prisoner not only of the tyrannical Atero Eight, but of his humdrum life. But he’s prone to sneaking to the tops of guard towers at night and admiring the view of the world beyond, where unknown dangers, unknown adventures, unknown dreams await. Someday, he’ll escape. Someday, he’ll have an adventure. But these are only dreams. When suddenly an adventure is thrust upon him, he’s frightened. Maybe he’s not as big a shot as he always thought he was.
I also think we should give him a female friend. She would have to fit in beside his big shot personality. An admirer? Oh, please not a fangirl. A damsel in distress is cliché, but a headstrong, independent, yatta yatta girl is becoming as much now. Here again, compromise, perhaps? Crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside. I’m running out of time here, but I’ll think further on her.
And did I mention that, when the protagonist finds the mask, Mata Nui's inside it and sort of--merges with him? Does that make sense?
Oh, and here's another question: first person or third? My preference is the former. It’s more flavorful, and makes getting into the world more easily because we’re seeing it through the eyes of someone in it. Hovering over a world like a bird is bland and detached, in my opinion. Though I will admit first person has its limits. I’m open to either.
Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
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. . . Yeah, so can we please stop discussing what it is we need to discuss and start discussing it? XP I confess my limited knowledge of blog workings and ask in all seriousness: am I the only one who can see the spoiler tags in the entry?
As a precaution, I'll quote the spoiler tags' contents here. So come on, now, it's time to think--think--think! ;D
To start things off, I have three main points to canvass: title; characters; and plot.
Title. Haven't given it much thought. Destiny Corrupted is the best idea I've had so far, although I'd like something a little more descriptive, something punchier. Any suggestions?
Characters. We'll need one or two of those. Or twenty. Or 39.4. Anyway, for starters, of course, we'll need a protagonist. I think I said he was a Matoran, name and element not yet defined. Light, maybe? And any protagonist needs a supporting cast. Some friends, maybe a love interest. The Council of Four could be the remnants of the Toa Mata; say, Lewa and Tahu are dead? And then the Atero Eight, the tyrants who call themselves "Mata Nui's chosen," all need elements and names. I'd like to have a theme that they are all named after myths that pertain to their element; Neptuna for a Toa of Water, for example, although we can be a little bit more creative than that.
And though the Atero Eight are the only known Toa living (because they killed off the others, as rumor has it), I thought there should be one more (Jaller? Garan?) at the head of an underground resistance. But I also like the idea of a traditionally evil character--a Dark Hunter, for example--being made into a hero as their leader. Too bad all the Makuta are dead.Plot, then. I'm personally the type of writer who doesn't like to go in blind with no idea where he's going. Seems you guys are, too, so that's all good. I don't want to plan everything to a T, but I like to have something stringing me along, some sort of end toward which to work.
To pick up where the teaser left off, our protagonist will discover the Ignika and become connected to it. I don't think it should transform him into a Toa, though certainly it gives him special powers. As the previously mentioned "greatest challenge," I considered Teridax, but . . . well, suffice to say I almost immediately dropped that consideration. But Zaktan, I think; saying that that green cloud from whichever serial was him, and that he was mutated by the EP, would give us a lot of elbow room to play with him here. Shapeshifting, and the ability to have his protodites swarm and eat people whole, for example. He's always been a great villain, though he's never quite earned the credit he deserves. So in the end, our protagonist/Mata Nui conglomeration battle Zaktan, Zaktan's defeated, maybe Mata Nui dies, maybe he makes the protagonist a Toa first, maybe the whole city's destroyed and thus our hero becomes leader to rebuild and purify.
So there's a rough sketch of what I've been thinking so far. What are your own ideas, and your thoughts on mine?
Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
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It was a joke, really, connecting with a joke I made to Tekulo: "Looks like it's me and you, and my pal AZBlue." XP
Anyway, read through the spoiler tags in the entry itself and you'll see I've already started a few points of discussion.
But you raise a new one: method. What my teammates and I did in the previous Epics relay was for the writer of any given chapter to send the draft to the next writer in the order; they would proofread it, then send it to the third writer while they began working on the next chapter. The third writer would then proofread the chapter before sending it back to the author for them to post. I'd like to be first in order, if you guys don't object. And by a meticulous process of evaluation (dropping your names in a Dr. Seuss hat) I designated Tekulo as second, AZ as third. Is that okay with everyone?
Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
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I reckon it's me, Tekulo and AZ. Let the fun begin!
Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
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Well . . . it's you. I admire your style, which is colorful, if monochromatic. In other words, gray; always gray. Even your avatar, man! You're great with emotion, but would it kill you to write about a different emotion once in a while?
You're like--Anne of Green Gables, wasn't it? You prefer to end your stories with funerals rather than weddings. And apparently you can't figure out what to do with your characters, so you just kill them all off. You're good at it, I concede; you're a skilled murderer. But is that so desirable a title? XD
(And by the way, I really don't think it's a terrible sin to have the occasional he said or she said after a quotation, especially if you use a descriptive verb in place of said.)
But taste, I suppose, is taste! Cook and eat what you want, and so will I.
So, is this for challenge #2 or #3? If the latter, I guess you've answered Vorex. Anyway, as far as I can tell it applies to either, but to neither prompt nor lexis, so that's--well, I'm not sure that we ever specified, but that's four points.
Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
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Here's a little hint, guys:
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TRANSFORMERS.
There's more to the riddle than meets the eye. (Oh, dear, a bad pun.)
Honestly, though, you guys are overthinking it. Especially you, Tekulo. Wow.
The answer isn't a punchline; the cars were literally disco dancing, and I'm asking you how this can be.
Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
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I use archaicisms chiefly for comical effect and therefore was not trying to implement proper grammar. Moreover, uplift has a physical as well as a spiritual sense, though I admit it's a moderately unconventional way to use the word. Besides that, this is my web log. ;D Only I and other similarly annoying green people are allowed to sass me.
Seriously though, I appreciate the offer. However, I think that with five writers to watch out for mistakes, we'll get along fine.
Thanks anyway.Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
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I PARRY THINE GRAPHITE WITHEST MY GIRAFFE!
. . . That can't be right.
Okay, you're in. But I'll have to carefully analyze your style and skill level and insure that you're of a worthy level. Glad to have you! Don't make me regret it. Welcome to the team! >:K
Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
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When I want a haircut, I just plug the toilet drain, switch on a waterproof razor, drop it in the toilet, flush, and stick my head in. I then wash (very) thoroughly in the shower, and done.
Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
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In answer to Aderia: Two, three, four, five as a limit, I think.
In response to both Legolover and Velox: I can entirely understand that. Thanks for the good fortune!
In response to AZ: Great.
Glad to have you aboard.Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
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I'm up against you, Cederak and Legolover; and Smoke Monster's not to be trifled with, either. I asked for a competition and I've got it now. This should be an exciting contest even if it gets no bigger.
You better watch your back and your front; look up, look down, look side to side. ;D En garde.
Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
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In response to the swimmer formerly known as Kraggh: Yes we do, and thank goodness for that, for otherwise the whole literary world would be the same and all the people would be; hence there could be no unique characters and no unique events, and the world would all be one book that was written eons ago. A horrific thought.
And I'll add that, really, this was none of the old fellow's business. He was a nosy busybody who could have made matters far worse by trying to help. But as fate (or the fingers on my keyboard) would have it, his efforts succeeded and we have a happy ending.
In response to Portalfig: First off, I know it, I like it that way. ;P
Second, yes, he did. "The right words. Two doorsteps." He gave a letter to each as if from the other. That would have been made clear by the half-sentence I left unfinished near the end. Probably I was distracted by something shiny and forgot about it.
In response to Aderia: Nope, sorry. D: If that were to happen, you'd know it. I'd paste it in a new entry on its lonesome with big, bold letters. ;D
And now to fix that errant half-sentence.
Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
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I admit, now I'm having my first misgivings regarding whether I'll actually win the competition or not.
. . . But I'm still going to beat you all.
Good luck anyway, though. Maybe you can get second, RM!
Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
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I don't plan on entering . . . because I already did, in both branches.
I'm glad to see you're back and writing again, RM. Although clearly you've been back far longer than I'd noticed.Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
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Conquering even just one opponent constitutes a victory, if but a small one.
I entered the BIONICLE portion, but I've just now finished my CoT submission. So have at thee, Legolover-361, have at thee!Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
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"What happened? Is there some terrible war in the future?"
Ponyville: The Aponycalypse.
Looking forward to seeing what's going on here.
From the desk of Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
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I'm a writer, Tekulo. Inciting emotion is part of what I do.
Yeah, that sounds a bit off, GSR, but I reckon it holds true. And thanks.
Thanks to you also, Aderia. Writing's the long and the short of my identity, so I thought it was more fitting than anything else.
And lastly, bibliotheca is English, derived from the Latin word . . . wait for it . . . bibliotheca. Sometimes the creativity of the English language is stunning.
Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
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Congrats to the winners, and further commendations to you, GSR, for your generosity.
From the desk of Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
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Sir, I commend your magnanimity. This is truly very generous, and I thank you for the opportunity to count my name in the drawing for a free membership for the next year. Win or lose, I enjoy the chance; and three fortunate people will be greatly gratified.
Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
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A competition, hm? As if the one that just ended and the one that just began weren't enough?
Or will it be a reviewing contest, rather than a writing contest? That would make more sense, anyway. Well, you can count me in. My eyes will be peeled come Friday.Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
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. . . Velox, could you and the other powers that be in our beloved BZP library get any more awesome?
That's like asking if Avatar (the one from which my avatar comes) could be any more awesome.
Answer?
You don't think so, and then it proves you wrong.
BZP Library Summer Olympics. This . . . will . . . be . . . great.
From the desk of Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
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Velox and I talked it over and determined that he who laughs first does, indeed, laugh last. Logically it follows that the first object into a tube is the last out because it's at the bottom and therefore cannot be reached without removing the other objects first.
On another note, we also determined that it's unfair to ask you guys to write daily for two weeks on such short notice. We sympathize with the probability of schedules that preclude one's ability to do that. Therefore we define the parameters of the challenge as this: because the challenge will be open from the day it began to four weeks thence (June 16th), your challenge is to write a minimum ten days out of twenty-eight. As an extra incentive to those who can write two weeks straight as in the spirit of the challenge, there will be two further points awarded for any and all who accomplish two straight weeks of writing. If you can write diurnally for all four weeks, you will earn yourself one further point in addition, for a total of thirteen points (including the prompt and vocabulary words) that will be quite singular with regard to future challenges. If you can write diurnally for two straight weeks out of these four, you earn twelve points, and ten if you write ten days spaced as you wished across the twenty-eight. There are twenty-five days remaining; plenty of time to manage fourteen days straight, or ten out of all those days. So what are you waiting for? Write!
A few further details I thought I would specify. First, this challenge closes at 11:59 PM EST, Saturday, the 16th of June; that means that the 19th of May did not qualify as one of the days of this challenge. Instead, the Saturday it ends will qualify. Easier for it to start a day late than end a day earlier.
Second, you can meet this challenge with more than one literary piece. For example, you can use two vocabulary words in an epic chapter, one more in a short story inspired by the prompt, and the last in a short story that qualifies for the challenge (which does not apply do this challenge, but will to future challenges). You cannot qualify twice, but you can spread your qualifications across multiple works.
Lastly, your writings do not need to be posted on BZPower to qualify. This probably isn't a problem many of us will come across, but I know I personally will beworking, for the most part, on a novel this summer--and therefore will not post my writings here. If you too, in one way or another, can't post your stories here--no worries!
Entries for the Flash Fiction Marathon do qualify, in case you wondered.
From the desk of Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
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He hired me to scare away anyone who can't take it. I'm like a ghost admin of this group, working behind the scenes in a terribly obvious manner.
Here's a carp.
Now loach here, you roughy, and make sure you're herring me. That's not a nace way to treat potential members! I'm not going to put up with any mora this hake you've been giving me. The moment you swam in here and I got a good whiff of you I smelt a sprat, and what a tench it was! You need to be put in your plaice--knocked off your perch! Eel not be standing for any impudence, from sir or madtom. And in all my born dace, I've never seen such impudence! If you step out of line one zingel more time--well, you betta watch your back.
But I've seen this albacore. I trout if you really mean any harm. You cod garpike to where you came from should you prefer to do so, but that's not what I want. Walu stay and keep whiting?
. . . Yeah, I guess I overdid that. But I had to do it for the halibut.
From the desk of Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
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Velox, your odd friend which seems to be called Kakaru is trying to scare away potential members. D: Of course, oddness is something I admire--normality is vastly overrated. But this is frightening even me. XD
Seriously though, I'm glad to see so many people coming on board! And it's great to see so many old faces.
Anyways, any way I could help out?I appreciate the offer. Right now we're keeping things simple--just the review pass and challenges every fortnight. However, when in future we decide to expand, I'll remember you. The time will come when help will be gratefully accepted.
From the desk of Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith
Wordsmiths, Assemble!
in blogs_blog_1834
A blog by Nuile the Paracosmic Tulpa in General
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Wait, am I missing something? What Toa has hundreds of powers?
And yeah, that's all reasonable. "Po-Atero" (oh please let's use something better than that, even if we want to call them Metru) would also be the central hub of industry in general, I think. And Le-Atero would probably be in charge of growing crops and raising livestock. I think we could probably split the city into four sections with two districts each: Ga-Atero, with the Learning District and the Business District; Le-Atero, with the Transit and Agriculture Districts; Ko-Atero, Technology and maybe Power; Po-Atero, with the Construction and Industry Districts.
Thanks for the reminder, I forgot to mention that. Yeah, there's no way the Turaga Mata would go willingly along with the Atero Eight, under threat of death or torture or anything. But the Atero Eight would be the types to find the right way to control them. Pressure points.
I think a test of their leadership skills is perfect. The Atero Eight are bound to have some sort of police force in the city from which to farm players, although they could also pick from the champions of the sport. Doubtless there are many who are both, anyway.
The Atero Eight. Yeah, I want them to be the kind of Toa with elemental powers and Kanohi masks. XP Besides that, have at ye. Let's do what we want with them. Just to make it fair, what if you fundamentalize three of them, Blue takes another three, and I take the last two, including the leader?
Perfect, that's just the kind of big shot and Matoran about town I was looking for. Rather than a thief, I'm struck by a sudden desire to make him a private eye.
Although I wonder how well that could be worked into the story.
Okay, yeah, that fits. Confident big shot, clever and cunning, decent sort, big dreams, bored and depressed. Sounds like the classic hard-boiled detective type if ever I saw one.
Oh, and he needs a name. Randomly scrambling the first two letters of each of our names together I got: Nuteaz, Teaznu, Aznute or Aznetu, Netuaz or Tenuaz. I actually like most of those. Using my preferred method I came up with Eroj, Tinves, Ifittex, Zarbun, and my favorite, Karattru.
Well, that's just it; I'm not sure what I mean by merging with Mata Nui, either. It's an idea we can play with. But the Ignika should still contain Mata Nui's spirit, I think. Or did he leave it? I forget. We might have to explain that. If he did, then maybe we can forget this idea, though I still think we should have Mata Nui in some way. But anyway, giving it a bit of thought I'm seeing Mata Nui in the back of the protagonist's mind, able to speak, able to control him but not if the protagonist resists.
By the way, earlier you asked what powers he'd get. Basically, I think anything Toa Ignika or Toa Mata Nui could do, he can.
Jungle's fine with me. Okay, with the protagonist's P.I. vibe as a springboard I have an idea for the friend. I think while he's aloof and probably a bit callous, she's the emotional one, whether the anger is emotion or compassion. She's at the same time good cop and bad cop. She can sympathize with witnesses or rough them up if necessary; she can cajole them or interrogate them. She's kind, tough, prudent.
I still haven't given much thought to a tangible plot, but I have a few more fragmental ideas. An army of Skrall and Rahkshi zombies; and Vezon and an army of alternate universe copies.
Edit: Okay, I've given it a little thought and I'm seeing a prologue with Zaktan scouring the globe for something--or someone? Then he finds his quarry. Maybe he's in a prison, in stasis. Zaktan awakens him. By one literary device or another we aren't given his description. It's the GB-in-disguise we never got to meet. Zaktan's got a scheme, and he needs this guy's help. That gives our reader Zaktan and also this mystery guy to intrique them and pull them forward.
Now, what's Zaktan's scheme? What happens? I'm still working on that. It needs to be something far bigger than "terrorizing the place."
Also, just a thought here on a romantic sub-plot. I think the protagonist and his female friend should have early on some kind of falling out; maybe he wants to pursue something deeper of a relationship but she doesn't. Then for all their closeness and attempts to act as normal they have this difficulty hanging over their heads.
Just some ideas. What do you guys think?
And I just remembered: the lack of certain beings with elemental powers on SM makes perfect sense when you remember that Angonce unleashed a Toa Slayer a while back.
Edit 2 or 3 or I've lost count: I've put some more thought to her and I've come up with a few more character suggestions. For one, I like the name Larche. It can be changed, but for the moment I'll refer to her by it. Okay, as I said, Larche is rough and tough but compassionate. She has a masterful control of her emotions and only presents the one she wants for the situation. She's bold, not at all timid. But it's all on the surface. Underneath, she's a little insecure, doubtful, uncertain of herself, self-critical, even a little timorous. You can see it in her slight hesitations, her momentary pause before she comes back in full vigor.
It could have something to do with the planet's EP core, or maybe the power source Mata Nui retrieved from the maze, if it still exists. Controlling the former, maybe the planet could almost be used like a Death Star. Maybe the latter, combined with the former, would turn the planet into a bomb. It would explode, and destory everything on it . . . including Zaktan and the Great Being. I'll think on it more.
(Hey, have you seen my dog Blue? So far he hasn't had a chance to give any input on all this.)
Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith