So, I'm in the middle of auditions at my school right now and everyone was instructed to write a fairy tale to present in lieu of a monologue. I got to work looking up the elements of what makes a fairy tale part of the genre in contrast to other types of stories (especially fables). I then proceeded to write the thing and began to notice several influences bouncing around in the ideas I had. First of all, I found the ideas behind Going Rogue pulling at me- on whether or not there should be a clear cut good guy or bad guy; whether or not it was good to spark debate on the morality of the assumed hero of the story. Next, I found myself relating my two main characters to certain archtypes in City of Heroes- even if it's not so well represented that way within the story. After that, a lot of my imagery felt influenced by different powers and sets. As much as I tried to keep thoughts of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk and Sleeping Beauty in my mind, the game kept creeping its way through. While I managed to keep the story at least set somewhere other than Paragon City, I'm curious if you can see any influence of this game in the story and what you think of it. It's to be recited by rough memory, so I apologize for it being a rough draft of the piece. I also tried to write in the phrasing of fairy tales (making some sentances a little longer than I feel comfortable and such) though I don't know how well that held up. Anyway, without futher tl;dr, here's:
The Story of Twin Brothers
Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there sat a beautiful kingdom. And within this beautiful kingdom, was a noble family; a Father and his twin sons. Though both boys were handsome, good sons, the Father had always been more attached to the first born, for their mother had died birthing the latter. Because of this, the Father showered gifts and praise of promises of land and wealth upon the older boy. He was given the best training and became a mighty, bold and skillful Warrior. The second brother, younger by an hour, was given none of these things. His Father resented him, and thus the boy was left alone. Feeling like an outcast among the nobles, he spent much time among the common people, learning from them the art of wit, agility and guile. He saw the hardships they suffered through, and would often devise cunning plans to ease their suffering with his family's own wealth. Because of these things, he gained a nickname among the people: The Fox.
One day, the King announced a glorious content. He would challenge all the young men of the land to solve three tasks he had arranged on the outskirts of the kingdom. Each task would relinquish unto those who successfully completed them a key. Whoever had all three keys in their possession would then be able to ascend the tallest tower of the great keep and unlock the door behind which they would find the beautiful princess and ask her hand in marriage. The Warrior signed up immediately and received praise from his father. But when the Fox tried to do the same, he received only chastisement and ridicule and was locked away in his room. With only the sounds of his brother's taunting from the door to keep him company, The Fox determined to seek a better life. The Fox escaped into the street and signed his name upon the list of contestants.
And so they set out, each man given a direction and a riddle as to how the first challenge could be accomplished. After three days travel, The Fox came upon a wide, strong river whose only method of crossing was a set of stepping stones. Upon each stone was one of three pictures in a set of three-- that of a knight, a king or a princess. The Fox thought upon the riddle and its instruction to place faith in that which holds power over that which is before. Ever crafty, the Fox took a large stick and pressed upon the first three stones. The stone that held the picture of a knight and princess each sank into the deadly waters. As the Fox admired his cleverness, his brother the Warrior came upon him. "Good brother!" he said. "How fortunate that we have met so well and may solve this riddle together." Not wishing his brother any harm and with little other choice, the Fox agreed to be of help. He stepped lightly upon the stone of the king, taking his stick to prod lightly upon the next set of stones. When only the princess remained, he stepped upon that, and then the knight, and finally the shore with his brother following behind. Once safely across, a spirit of the river rose from the rushing waters to bestow upon each of them the first key, a riddle and the instruction to continue eastward. "We have done well together, my brother." said the Warrior who clapped a hand on the Fox's shoulder before hurrying off into the distance toward the next challenge.
Three days passed before the Fox came upon the next challenge. The riddle led him into a large cave, so far in that the sun's light had all but disappeared. He was to seek out the one source of light within the cave to receive the second key. As he pondered this, he heard his brother's voice coming from the entrance. "Good brother!" he called. "It is most fortunate we find each other in this darkest of places. Walk with me so that we might solve this riddle together. I have been here many hours and far too many men have since entered this cave and have yet to venture out." Knowing he would do well to aid his brother, The Fox walked to meet the Warrior. As he did, the sun's rays filled his eyes until he came upon his brother, nearly blinded. Inspiration struck then, and he continued his walk past his brother out of the cave, the bewildered Warrior behind him. Outside the cave, they were met by a spirit of the woods who bestowed upon each of them a key for their wisdom, another riddle and the instruction to continue east. "It is good we came upon one another here, brother," said the Warrior. "Else that cave surely would have taken you." He clapped his hand upon his brother's shoulder and was off.
Another three days passed before the Fox came upon the keep and the site of the final challenge. The ground split upon before him, threatening to swallow him whole. A spirit of the earth rose up before him with a challenge: die in honorable battle or sacrifice himself with a leap into the earth. The Fox knew he had not the ability to harm the mighty spirit, nor did he relish the idea of such a horrible death and thus was struck by an idea. "Oh great Spirit," said he, "I am not fresh enough for battle nor for your liking. Perhaps when you see me a second time, I will be better suited for your taste." Finding this agreeable, the spirit bestowed upon the Fox the third key with promises that there would be no place he could safely dodge this agreement-- as all men must eventually be swallowed by the earth. Some hours later, his brother came upon the keep as well and was taken in an instant.
The Fox passed through the keep's great gate, ascended its many stairs and reached the top of the tallest tower. He placed each of the three keys within their locks and opened the door in which the beautiful princess waited, asleep. Struck by her beauty, he stood a long while until she stirred. He presented himself on bended knee as she awoke.
And they lived happily ever after.
The End.
Arc ID: 475246, "Bringing a Lord to Power"
"I'm only a simple man trying to cling to my tomorrow. Every day. By any means necessary."
-Caldwell B. Cladwell
A little background:
So, I'm in the middle of auditions at my school right now and everyone was instructed to write a fairy tale to present in lieu of a monologue. I got to work looking up the elements of what makes a fairy tale part of the genre in contrast to other types of stories (especially fables). I then proceeded to write the thing and began to notice several influences bouncing around in the ideas I had. First of all, I found the ideas behind Going Rogue pulling at me- on whether or not there should be a clear cut good guy or bad guy; whether or not it was good to spark debate on the morality of the assumed hero of the story. Next, I found myself relating my two main characters to certain archtypes in City of Heroes- even if it's not so well represented that way within the story. After that, a lot of my imagery felt influenced by different powers and sets. As much as I tried to keep thoughts of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk and Sleeping Beauty in my mind, the game kept creeping its way through. While I managed to keep the story at least set somewhere other than Paragon City, I'm curious if you can see any influence of this game in the story and what you think of it. It's to be recited by rough memory, so I apologize for it being a rough draft of the piece. I also tried to write in the phrasing of fairy tales (making some sentances a little longer than I feel comfortable and such) though I don't know how well that held up. Anyway, without futher tl;dr, here's:
The Story of Twin Brothers
Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there sat a beautiful kingdom. And within this beautiful kingdom, was a noble family; a Father and his twin sons. Though both boys were handsome, good sons, the Father had always been more attached to the first born, for their mother had died birthing the latter. Because of this, the Father showered gifts and praise of promises of land and wealth upon the older boy. He was given the best training and became a mighty, bold and skillful Warrior. The second brother, younger by an hour, was given none of these things. His Father resented him, and thus the boy was left alone. Feeling like an outcast among the nobles, he spent much time among the common people, learning from them the art of wit, agility and guile. He saw the hardships they suffered through, and would often devise cunning plans to ease their suffering with his family's own wealth. Because of these things, he gained a nickname among the people: The Fox.
One day, the King announced a glorious content. He would challenge all the young men of the land to solve three tasks he had arranged on the outskirts of the kingdom. Each task would relinquish unto those who successfully completed them a key. Whoever had all three keys in their possession would then be able to ascend the tallest tower of the great keep and unlock the door behind which they would find the beautiful princess and ask her hand in marriage. The Warrior signed up immediately and received praise from his father. But when the Fox tried to do the same, he received only chastisement and ridicule and was locked away in his room. With only the sounds of his brother's taunting from the door to keep him company, The Fox determined to seek a better life. The Fox escaped into the street and signed his name upon the list of contestants.
And so they set out, each man given a direction and a riddle as to how the first challenge could be accomplished. After three days travel, The Fox came upon a wide, strong river whose only method of crossing was a set of stepping stones. Upon each stone was one of three pictures in a set of three-- that of a knight, a king or a princess. The Fox thought upon the riddle and its instruction to place faith in that which holds power over that which is before. Ever crafty, the Fox took a large stick and pressed upon the first three stones. The stone that held the picture of a knight and princess each sank into the deadly waters. As the Fox admired his cleverness, his brother the Warrior came upon him. "Good brother!" he said. "How fortunate that we have met so well and may solve this riddle together." Not wishing his brother any harm and with little other choice, the Fox agreed to be of help. He stepped lightly upon the stone of the king, taking his stick to prod lightly upon the next set of stones. When only the princess remained, he stepped upon that, and then the knight, and finally the shore with his brother following behind. Once safely across, a spirit of the river rose from the rushing waters to bestow upon each of them the first key, a riddle and the instruction to continue eastward. "We have done well together, my brother." said the Warrior who clapped a hand on the Fox's shoulder before hurrying off into the distance toward the next challenge.
Three days passed before the Fox came upon the next challenge. The riddle led him into a large cave, so far in that the sun's light had all but disappeared. He was to seek out the one source of light within the cave to receive the second key. As he pondered this, he heard his brother's voice coming from the entrance. "Good brother!" he called. "It is most fortunate we find each other in this darkest of places. Walk with me so that we might solve this riddle together. I have been here many hours and far too many men have since entered this cave and have yet to venture out." Knowing he would do well to aid his brother, The Fox walked to meet the Warrior. As he did, the sun's rays filled his eyes until he came upon his brother, nearly blinded. Inspiration struck then, and he continued his walk past his brother out of the cave, the bewildered Warrior behind him. Outside the cave, they were met by a spirit of the woods who bestowed upon each of them a key for their wisdom, another riddle and the instruction to continue east. "It is good we came upon one another here, brother," said the Warrior. "Else that cave surely would have taken you." He clapped his hand upon his brother's shoulder and was off.
Another three days passed before the Fox came upon the keep and the site of the final challenge. The ground split upon before him, threatening to swallow him whole. A spirit of the earth rose up before him with a challenge: die in honorable battle or sacrifice himself with a leap into the earth. The Fox knew he had not the ability to harm the mighty spirit, nor did he relish the idea of such a horrible death and thus was struck by an idea. "Oh great Spirit," said he, "I am not fresh enough for battle nor for your liking. Perhaps when you see me a second time, I will be better suited for your taste." Finding this agreeable, the spirit bestowed upon the Fox the third key with promises that there would be no place he could safely dodge this agreement-- as all men must eventually be swallowed by the earth. Some hours later, his brother came upon the keep as well and was taken in an instant.
The Fox passed through the keep's great gate, ascended its many stairs and reached the top of the tallest tower. He placed each of the three keys within their locks and opened the door in which the beautiful princess waited, asleep. Struck by her beauty, he stood a long while until she stirred. He presented himself on bended knee as she awoke.
And they lived happily ever after.
The End.
Arc ID: 475246, "Bringing a Lord to Power"
"I'm only a simple man trying to cling to my tomorrow. Every day. By any means necessary."
-Caldwell B. Cladwell