The rewrites for the early chapters continue. Pratt did some major cleanup for one of the ugly sections I wrote and it is actually readable now. It even makes sense. Wow. Writing this book is not the type of project I think I would be able to do alone. It would not have the same feel if left in my hands alone. More characters would live, for example.
Every time I introduce a character that I really like, Pratt demands their blood. He's like some vengeful, evil god that demands human sacrifice.
"He made me laugh. We must kill him!"
"She is interesting. Death to her!"
"I can tell I will like this character. I have written how he will die and it will give you nightmares!"
If anything, the above quotes are understated. And so I continue on, writing and hoping that fictional characters will sate Pratt's bloodlust. I don't want to hear the words: "The coauthor was useful. Off with his head!"
Happy New Year!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Utility Treulos, almost like a utility belt
One of the best things that I think we have done in developing our world is the treulos. Originally meant to be halflings, we wanted to make them something separate and unique from the generic, happy hobbits of much fantasy literature. Although other writers have done this, we wanted to give them a cultural identity of our own flare. I don't recall the details of how, but this turned into having practically no cultural identity of their own.
Being small, the treulos are, as a whole, incredibly social. They always seek to be part of a large community and a bigger whole. Although you will find some treulos who staunchly hold to their old ways when moved to a new home, most will adapt to varying degrees to fit in with their new home. This adaptability is mainly found with treulos who see themselves as more permanently removed from their old home and traditions, and is less likely to be found among those who are traveling a lot, but still maintain a home somewhere. A good example of this is the main character Keane's father, Liam, who despite having frequently traveled as a merchant, still remained faithful to the trollish gods of his homeland.
Besides just being social, treulos are also known for their wanderlust. In truth, only a small percentage of treulos are affected by either a pressing desire to pack up and move to a new location or to always be traveling from spot to spot. Still this percentage is significantly higher than any other race and when coupled with how many treulos there are, means that at this point has been a substantial treulos population in most parts of the world for at least several generations. In addition, this means that many of the merchants found throughout the world are treulos.
So, this gets me back to the title of this post. Since there are just so many treulos everywhere, this means that most areas of the world have encountered the treulos language, which is a combination of their original language and the language of the trolls, who were the first race to which they joined. Being also the language of man of the world's merchants, the treulos tongue started as the international business language and has since developed into the common tongue of the people. Although some cultures still maintain speaking among themselves in their original language, most everyone is fairly fluent in the common language.
Another benefit that the treulos bring to the table is a safeguard against too much racial violence. I'm not saying that racism and hate don't exist in our world, but most governments find it hard to sanction these feelings since doing so could possibly turn the very useful and large portion of their population against them, especially since the treulos not only find it important to integrate themselves amongst a community, but to also have that community integrate as many people as possible into itself to strengthen it as a whole. Even the Neuri Empire, which would love nothing more than to announce the Neuri race as superior to all else, are careful to depict its conflict with the other nations as being based on the superiority of the Neuri Empire instead of the the Neuri race. This allows the treulos living within the empire to see themselves as on the Empire's side in the conflict, as opposed to being against the Neuri. This is important since treulos irregulars have become key in the Neuri's wars and were an integral part of defeating the tunnel-fighting dwarves.
-Prattman
Being small, the treulos are, as a whole, incredibly social. They always seek to be part of a large community and a bigger whole. Although you will find some treulos who staunchly hold to their old ways when moved to a new home, most will adapt to varying degrees to fit in with their new home. This adaptability is mainly found with treulos who see themselves as more permanently removed from their old home and traditions, and is less likely to be found among those who are traveling a lot, but still maintain a home somewhere. A good example of this is the main character Keane's father, Liam, who despite having frequently traveled as a merchant, still remained faithful to the trollish gods of his homeland.
Besides just being social, treulos are also known for their wanderlust. In truth, only a small percentage of treulos are affected by either a pressing desire to pack up and move to a new location or to always be traveling from spot to spot. Still this percentage is significantly higher than any other race and when coupled with how many treulos there are, means that at this point has been a substantial treulos population in most parts of the world for at least several generations. In addition, this means that many of the merchants found throughout the world are treulos.
So, this gets me back to the title of this post. Since there are just so many treulos everywhere, this means that most areas of the world have encountered the treulos language, which is a combination of their original language and the language of the trolls, who were the first race to which they joined. Being also the language of man of the world's merchants, the treulos tongue started as the international business language and has since developed into the common tongue of the people. Although some cultures still maintain speaking among themselves in their original language, most everyone is fairly fluent in the common language.
Another benefit that the treulos bring to the table is a safeguard against too much racial violence. I'm not saying that racism and hate don't exist in our world, but most governments find it hard to sanction these feelings since doing so could possibly turn the very useful and large portion of their population against them, especially since the treulos not only find it important to integrate themselves amongst a community, but to also have that community integrate as many people as possible into itself to strengthen it as a whole. Even the Neuri Empire, which would love nothing more than to announce the Neuri race as superior to all else, are careful to depict its conflict with the other nations as being based on the superiority of the Neuri Empire instead of the the Neuri race. This allows the treulos living within the empire to see themselves as on the Empire's side in the conflict, as opposed to being against the Neuri. This is important since treulos irregulars have become key in the Neuri's wars and were an integral part of defeating the tunnel-fighting dwarves.
-Prattman
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