Stories have power. This would be fine if it were the perfectly ordinary sort of power which...
Extrication, or: Tricking Fate
- Thread starter Alivaril
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- Original Fantasy
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Statistics (4 threadmarks, 5.9k words)
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Character Creation (Part 1)
- Location
- A single human dimension
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Stories have power. This would be fine if it were the perfectly ordinary sort of power which comes from changing the thoughts and opinions of those who hear them, but unfortunately for you, they can also warp the world itself. They, much like many of those who made and told the stories in the first place, don't care about the suffering of their participants. Some call the process "Fate" or "Destiny," but as that can get a bit confusing when a story references a different kind of either, you prefer to think of the whole process as "Echoing."
Recently, it's become abundantly clear that a story is trying to force you into a role you don't particularly care for. You'd prefer to have a happy ending, thank you very much. It doesn't even have to be a "happily ever after," you'd just prefer to get out of the current problem with your skin intact.
Now, you might be able to subvert the story at the last minute, but you've heard that sort of thing can be really very difficult and failure-prone. As such, your best bet for survival is to simply move your path to a happier tale and do everything you can to prevent the old one from reasserting itself.
Who are you? (Please vote by preference: 1-5 instead of X in the boxes, lower = you'd prefer it)
[] A Tragic Hero
Enchanted princess in a sleeping castle? Check. Maze of sharp, deadly bushes? Check. Third one to take up the call? Apparently. Not a good sign. Pure-hearted hero? Hah, no.
Yeah, you're not touching this one with a ten-foot pole.
(Hard{er} Mode; there are so very many tales which involve dead heroes…)
[] A Soon-to-be-captive Princess
Your mother is dying, your stepfather is a slimebag, and you can't actually remember the last time you saw the sun shining over the castle. Combine the three and you're guessing your life is likely to become really quite unpleasant rather soon. At least, if you simply sit by and let Echoes dictate your life. Not likely.
Strictly speaking, following this tale to its conclusion may leave you with a happy ending, and possibly even a "happily ever after." Unfortunately, while your stepfather might just lock you in a tower or something similar, there are plenty of tales which involve awful things happening to princesses before a hero finally comes along. You'd like to skip that part if at all possible.
Thankfully, for whatever reason, princesses seem to be involved in an awful lot of tales. If you're clever and lucky, you might be able to get out of this relatively unscathed...
Example: Flee the castle, start a rebellion against the evil stepfather who has "usurped your throne."
[] The Sorcerer's Apprentice
All your life, you've been told that magic is both a gift and a curse. Prior to the current situation, you'd doubted the latter claim.
Recently, your mentor came into possession of a midnight-black orb he was supposed to destroy. While you haven't seen it since, you're guessing the growing dark magical aura at the top of the tower indicates a severe lack of following through. If this keeps up, you're likely to be either the first sacrifice or corrupted into his faithful assistant. Or maybe something else worse, or maybe better? Given as you've been a bit more focused on magical studies than the habits of Echoes, you're not entirely sure what you can do about your current situation. Perhaps the tower library could help you find out?
[] The Misunderstood Artifact Guardian
You're a dragon. Collecting things is practically in your job description, or it would be if you actually had a real job. Unfortunately, you recently looted a ridiculously powerful and very much evil artifact from the hoard of one of your family's foes. The murderous whispers at the back of your mind kinda gave it away.
The pesky thing has been highly resistant to disposal and keeps reappearing in your bed no matter what you do. Even dropping it in a volcano didn't work.
You know how this is going to end if you don't do anything about it. Either you'll be corrupted by the blasted thing, or some moronic human is going to slay you, ignoring anything you say regarding the current situation. After that, he'll likely bring down a curse on the land or otherwise make the lives of everyone a bit worse. Oh, he may feel a bit guilty later on, but you just so happen to like life.
EDIT: You do not have the ability to turn into a human.
[] The Evil Sorceress
...Pardon?
Okay, just because you inherited a haunted castle in the middle of dangerous forestland doesn't mean you're evil. The ghosts are free to leave whenever they like and you're on friendly terms with most of them. Some of the types of magic you use are a wee bit questionable, yes, but you always use either yourself, volunteers, or mere animals. Surely, that has to count for something.
Of course you wear dark colors; trying to keep white robes clean is just such an utter waste of time. You've been expanding your territory lately, certainly, but you've also improved the living conditions of those under your sort-of-not-quite rule.
So why do you keep feeling the overwhelming urge to break out into diabolical cackling, and why do you keep getting offers of marriage or alliance from warlords and rulers you've never even heard of? Finally, what is with all the dark artifacts which keep magically appearing in your treasury and workshops when you're positive they weren't there before?
...An Echo has taken an interest in your life, hasn't it? Well, this could get annoying.
Recently, it's become abundantly clear that a story is trying to force you into a role you don't particularly care for. You'd prefer to have a happy ending, thank you very much. It doesn't even have to be a "happily ever after," you'd just prefer to get out of the current problem with your skin intact.
Now, you might be able to subvert the story at the last minute, but you've heard that sort of thing can be really very difficult and failure-prone. As such, your best bet for survival is to simply move your path to a happier tale and do everything you can to prevent the old one from reasserting itself.
Who are you? (Please vote by preference: 1-5 instead of X in the boxes, lower = you'd prefer it)
[] A Tragic Hero
Enchanted princess in a sleeping castle? Check. Maze of sharp, deadly bushes? Check. Third one to take up the call? Apparently. Not a good sign. Pure-hearted hero? Hah, no.
Yeah, you're not touching this one with a ten-foot pole.
(Hard{er} Mode; there are so very many tales which involve dead heroes…)
[] A Soon-to-be-captive Princess
Your mother is dying, your stepfather is a slimebag, and you can't actually remember the last time you saw the sun shining over the castle. Combine the three and you're guessing your life is likely to become really quite unpleasant rather soon. At least, if you simply sit by and let Echoes dictate your life. Not likely.
Strictly speaking, following this tale to its conclusion may leave you with a happy ending, and possibly even a "happily ever after." Unfortunately, while your stepfather might just lock you in a tower or something similar, there are plenty of tales which involve awful things happening to princesses before a hero finally comes along. You'd like to skip that part if at all possible.
Thankfully, for whatever reason, princesses seem to be involved in an awful lot of tales. If you're clever and lucky, you might be able to get out of this relatively unscathed...
Example: Flee the castle, start a rebellion against the evil stepfather who has "usurped your throne."
[] The Sorcerer's Apprentice
All your life, you've been told that magic is both a gift and a curse. Prior to the current situation, you'd doubted the latter claim.
Recently, your mentor came into possession of a midnight-black orb he was supposed to destroy. While you haven't seen it since, you're guessing the growing dark magical aura at the top of the tower indicates a severe lack of following through. If this keeps up, you're likely to be either the first sacrifice or corrupted into his faithful assistant. Or maybe something else worse, or maybe better? Given as you've been a bit more focused on magical studies than the habits of Echoes, you're not entirely sure what you can do about your current situation. Perhaps the tower library could help you find out?
[] The Misunderstood Artifact Guardian
You're a dragon. Collecting things is practically in your job description, or it would be if you actually had a real job. Unfortunately, you recently looted a ridiculously powerful and very much evil artifact from the hoard of one of your family's foes. The murderous whispers at the back of your mind kinda gave it away.
The pesky thing has been highly resistant to disposal and keeps reappearing in your bed no matter what you do. Even dropping it in a volcano didn't work.
You know how this is going to end if you don't do anything about it. Either you'll be corrupted by the blasted thing, or some moronic human is going to slay you, ignoring anything you say regarding the current situation. After that, he'll likely bring down a curse on the land or otherwise make the lives of everyone a bit worse. Oh, he may feel a bit guilty later on, but you just so happen to like life.
EDIT: You do not have the ability to turn into a human.
[] The Evil Sorceress
...Pardon?
Okay, just because you inherited a haunted castle in the middle of dangerous forestland doesn't mean you're evil. The ghosts are free to leave whenever they like and you're on friendly terms with most of them. Some of the types of magic you use are a wee bit questionable, yes, but you always use either yourself, volunteers, or mere animals. Surely, that has to count for something.
Of course you wear dark colors; trying to keep white robes clean is just such an utter waste of time. You've been expanding your territory lately, certainly, but you've also improved the living conditions of those under your sort-of-not-quite rule.
So why do you keep feeling the overwhelming urge to break out into diabolical cackling, and why do you keep getting offers of marriage or alliance from warlords and rulers you've never even heard of? Finally, what is with all the dark artifacts which keep magically appearing in your treasury and workshops when you're positive they weren't there before?
...An Echo has taken an interest in your life, hasn't it? Well, this could get annoying.
Most of my quests are almost indefinite in length and would take a long time; this one, probably not so much. I'll do more with the setting later if people like it.
Some inspiration was taken from Mercedes Lackey's The 500 Kingdoms, but as I haven't read any of those stories in several years, not much. Susan's (Hogfather) version of Jack and the Beanstalk prompted this idea.
In order to make it easier to comply with SV rules, please assume that any stories which reference a 16th birthday do so with an 18th birthday instead.
Some inspiration was taken from Mercedes Lackey's The 500 Kingdoms, but as I haven't read any of those stories in several years, not much. Susan's (Hogfather) version of Jack and the Beanstalk prompted this idea.
In order to make it easier to comply with SV rules, please assume that any stories which reference a 16th birthday do so with an 18th birthday instead.
Last edited:
- Location
- A single human dimension
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Reserved.
Feel free to ask me questions about the different options and/or the setting as a whole.
Feel free to ask me questions about the different options and/or the setting as a whole.
Last edited:
- Location
- A single human dimension
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Reserved.
- Location
- A single human dimension
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Reserved.
- Location
- A single human dimension
- Pronouns
- She/Her
You may now post.
[1] The Evil Sorceress
[2] The Misunderstood Artifact Guardian
[3] A Soon-to-be-captive Princess
[4] The Sorcerer's Apprentice
[5] A Tragic Hero
[2] The Misunderstood Artifact Guardian
[3] A Soon-to-be-captive Princess
[4] The Sorcerer's Apprentice
[5] A Tragic Hero
[1] A Soon-to-be-captive Princess
[2] The Misunderstood Artifact Guardian
[3] The Evil Sorceress
[4] The Sorcerer's Apprentice
[5] A Tragic Hero
[2] The Misunderstood Artifact Guardian
[3] The Evil Sorceress
[4] The Sorcerer's Apprentice
[5] A Tragic Hero
- Location
- Rockford, USA
- Pronouns
- They/Them
[1] The Misunderstood Artifact Guardian
[2] The Evil Sorceress
[3] A Soon-to-be-captive Princess
[4] A Tragic Hero
[5] The Sorcerer's Apprentice
My reasoning:
1) Dragons are cool.
2) Misunderstood sorceresses who are actually world-optimizers are only marginally less cool.
3) Subversions ho!
4) Snark is always good.
5) This is the only one I don't actually care for much, given that the apprentice doesn't really know much about the echoes and will approach this from a more conventional perspective.
[2] The Evil Sorceress
[3] A Soon-to-be-captive Princess
[4] A Tragic Hero
[5] The Sorcerer's Apprentice
My reasoning:
1) Dragons are cool.
2) Misunderstood sorceresses who are actually world-optimizers are only marginally less cool.
3) Subversions ho!
4) Snark is always good.
5) This is the only one I don't actually care for much, given that the apprentice doesn't really know much about the echoes and will approach this from a more conventional perspective.
Last edited:
The Fourth Monado
S U B A R A S H I I
- Location
- Away
[1] The Misunderstood Artifact Guardian
[2] The Sorcerer's Apprentice
[3] The Evil Sorceress
[4] A Tragic Hero
[5] A Soon-to-be-captive Princess
[2] The Sorcerer's Apprentice
[3] The Evil Sorceress
[4] A Tragic Hero
[5] A Soon-to-be-captive Princess
- Location
- Somewhere!
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[1] A Soon-to-be-captive Princess
[2] The Evil Sorceress
[3] A Tragic Hero
[4] The Sorcerer's Apprentice
[5] The Misunderstood Artifact Guardian
Come on lets be a villain!
[2] The Evil Sorceress
[3] A Tragic Hero
[4] The Sorcerer's Apprentice
[5] The Misunderstood Artifact Guardian
Come on lets be a villain!
Last edited:
pantherasapiens
you were always my best friend
- Location
- somewhere over your shoulder
[1] The Sorcerer's Apprentice
[2] The Misunderstood Artifact Guardian
[3] The Evil Sorceress
[4] A Soon-to-be-captive Princess
[5] A Tragic Hero
[2] The Misunderstood Artifact Guardian
[3] The Evil Sorceress
[4] A Soon-to-be-captive Princess
[5] A Tragic Hero
[1] The Evil Sorceress
[2] The Misunderstood Artifact Guardian
[3] A Soon-to-be-captive Princess
[4] The Sorcerer's Apprentice
[5] A Tragic Hero
[2] The Misunderstood Artifact Guardian
[3] A Soon-to-be-captive Princess
[4] The Sorcerer's Apprentice
[5] A Tragic Hero
- Location
- Canada
[1] The Sorcerer's Apprentice
[2] The Misunderstood Artifact Guardian
[3] The Evil Sorceress
[4] A Tragic Hero
[5] A Soon-to-be-captive Princess
[2] The Misunderstood Artifact Guardian
[3] The Evil Sorceress
[4] A Tragic Hero
[5] A Soon-to-be-captive Princess
fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
[1] The Evil Sorceress
[2] The Misunderstood Artifact Guardian
[3] A Soon-to-be-captive Princess
[4] The Sorcerer's Apprentice
[5] A Tragic Hero
[2] The Misunderstood Artifact Guardian
[3] A Soon-to-be-captive Princess
[4] The Sorcerer's Apprentice
[5] A Tragic Hero
- Location
- A single human dimension
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Forgot to add this earlier: feel free to ask questions about the different options and the setting as a whole.
- Location
- Academy City
- Pronouns
- They
[3] The Evil Sorceress
[2] The Misunderstood Artifact Guardian
[1] The Sorcerer's Apprentice
[2] The Misunderstood Artifact Guardian
[1] The Sorcerer's Apprentice
King Arthur
The Once and Future King
[3] A Tragic Hero
[1] A Soon-to-be-captive Princess
[2] The Sorcerer's Apprentice
[5] The Misunderstood Artifact Guardian
[4] The Evil Sorceress
[1] A Soon-to-be-captive Princess
[2] The Sorcerer's Apprentice
[5] The Misunderstood Artifact Guardian
[4] The Evil Sorceress