I had an idea for a story, but wanted to see what the rest of you thought of it... Basically, it's a high fantasy setting, where there's a giant academy for adventurers in a valley atop an extinct volcano. The academy has a reputation for permissive attitudes and promiscuity by the students, teachers, and staff: one that is well deserved. I picture it a little bit like a high fantasy setting, collegiate age, version of Hogwarts: tons of magic, weird happenings, multiple houses, and so forth: but the students are adults with adult concerns and relationships, and you have Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, and the like alongside the Human students... What do people think of this idea?
I read this book once while I felt it was rushed an distasteful it was pretty much an adult version of HP. In fact there is now a tv show on the series of books. Author is Lev Grossman and the first book is Magicians. There are some sexual scenes, but since it is mainstream that isn't the dominate force of the book. While I must say there are quite a few stories of similar taste on CHYOA. If it can grow large enough with major interest and diversify into the different creatures and houses it has the opportunity to become a really good story. At the end of the day I need more development to be seen. Are each house one creature or are the creatures intermixed (way cooler). Give us a chapter or two to think about it.
Sample characters, a mini scene or three, contributors' guidelines, what sorts of writing you like or don't, inspirations and themes. Enough to get a good feel for the story.
Never actually read that one, and don't plan to. Probably is somewhat similar though. Ok, here goes... Introduction: First Group
Sounds promising. The focus on groups forming and going to the academy to be trained may be an interesting twist. Perhaps there's an audition or an interview, or perhaps the city will have some active matchmaking services to create likely parties for the academy. And necessity makes strange, um, bedfellows.
All those are decent ideas, and I hope to see what you make of them if you add to the story... I never answered these questions before, but I will now. Sample characters: (I will add three items...) Student: Aito Tom: 3rd Form Blade Exarch of House Cappadocious: From the distant east 'Tom' (Not his real name,) is a wanderer. Cursed by an angry dragon to wander The World until he had seen all of it, and embraced the wonder it has to offer, Tom is possibly the oldest student to ever attend the academy. He is seriously pushing it by staying at the academy as long as he has, three years now, but there is so much to see and do right here that he has thus far managed to hold his wanderlust at bay. Tom is a Samurai by training, in specific a Yojimbo. He protects his party mates and acts with honor, traveling on a warrior pilgrimage to reach the uttermost edge of the world... Aito Tom is an Asiatic man of uncertain age, but he appears to be in his early 30s. He dresses in the traditional woven cane armor of the distant east when adventuring and colorful Kimono when in peaceful surroundings. Though he appears human he is immune to special abilities that target humans. Faculty: Alvoria McGonagle: The Arch-Dean. The 50th Arch-Dean of the Academy Alvoria was Academician of house Cappadocious until the 'abdication' of the 49th dean Janpath Christos 15 years ago. Alvoria is the half -demon/half-archon daughter of the 13th Arch-Dean, the notorious "'Arch-Dean'mon" Haguathis. She has been living in the academy ever since she was born 195 years ago, and as she has grown has become steadily more powerful and involved in the politics of the school. By the age of 70, she was already one of the top paid tutors in divine magic in the informal 'squirearchy' of the 'not-quite-staff' hangers-on. By 140 she was a full member of the faculty teaching "White-Necromancy-For-Beginners." by the age of 166, she had risen to be the Academician House Capadocious, the house of Ambition, but no one would even consider her to rise higher than that, fearing a fresh reign of terror like that unleashed by her father. Then, at 180 years old, on her very birthday, "The-Five-Months-Dean" Japeth Christos, abdicated the post naming her as his successor, shocking everyone... Alvoria is a being torn between 4 worlds, the Mortal Realm, The Abyss, Heaven, and The Great City of Judgment at the Spoke of the Cosmic Wheel. Thus far the mortal realm has been holding her attention since she was born, but increasingly the other three realms call to her, and her abdication letter is expected any day now by much of the faculty. Physically speaking Alvoria is a buxom blond with both a halo and horns, wings black as the night and a tail like a dragon which ends in a feathered fan. She dresses in green which plays to her neutrality and dedication to Gaia, Goddess of the Earth. Staff: Gregory McGuffin: 3rd Shift Janitorial First Mate for House Capadocious: A Distant descendant of the first the first Arch-Dean Gregory was destined to work at the Academy from the moment of his birth. Standing 5'4" and not especially robust Gregory was always meant for Wizardry and The Gillian McGuffin Academy Of Adventure would be the best place to provide training in it: so it was there he came after his apprenticeship to Master Harlock of the Order of the Crimson Rose. However, an adventurer's life was not what he found. Four parties died around him and no one would take him on, left with no way to stay at the academy he packed up and made to leave: until Alvoria McGonagle offered to let him continue his studies in the "Staff/Scholarship" program. He has applied himself to the program and is now approaching his ninth year at the school: and "The Trials of Surpass" which will see him either an "Adventurer at Large", or dead. However, he has another plan: he will transfer out of the program into a teaching position, and slowly rise through the ranks like his patron the Arch-Dean... Gregory is a slight and willowy young half-elf of 30 years, he is clean shaven and dresses in the traditional brown hemp monastic style robes of the school's staff. His skin and hair are the nut brown and green of the forest elves, but his eyes are the piercing ice blue of the northern barbarians. Now for the three Mini Scenes: 1: "An Unexpected Party." Aito Tom looked at the opposition and smiled. Goblins, when would they learn that infiltrating the Undercity would just get them killed? "Goblin, do you know whom you face?" Tom asked. "Of course Exarch, and may I say that I am honored to meet such an august personage as yourself." The goblin replied. "How do you know my rank?" Tom asked, tense. "Like you, I am a student of the school above, also of House Capadocious, first form." The goblin replied. The other seven assorted goblins, hobgoblins, and a bugbear with him nodded agreement, listing off various houses. Tom sheathed his sword. "It would appear my party has been sent on a fool's errand, but let us make the best of it: what is your quest goblinkin? We will assist as best we can," Tom replied with a wry chuckle. 2: Indiscrete Students "So, Mistress Accost, 3rd Form Arcana Exarch of House Capadocious, what exactly were you thinking when you decided to get pregnant by Marcus Aldebaran?" The Arch-Dean asked, pinching the bridge of her nose. "That he's a good lay, I don't like plesuries, diaphragms, or condoms, we're both independently wealthy, and the school has the best child care services in the world," Mistress Accost replied, patting her small-but-already-noticeable 'baby bump'. "Honestly, the pregnancy thing was not 'decided' on, it's just a kind of happy accident," she explained. "So the fact that he's Duke Aldebaran's heir never entered into it?" The Arch-Dean Probed. "Wait, he's a Duke's Heir? He never mentioned that!" Mistress Accost exclaimed in alarm. "Yes, and betrothed to someone else," The Arch-Dean commented. "That boy gonna have some splainin' to do!" Mistress Accost snarled... 3: "There And Back Again..." Curses can be a huge pain in the butt. Take the very minor one that Gregory McGuffin was laboring under tonight. Apparently, he'd been targeted by a prank by some rival house or other, and every time his crew finished moping the common room of the House Capadocious Residenz, someone would walk right across the wet floor with dirty boots or feet. He pushed his mop along with the rest of the crew, up and down the cleaning pattern, getting ready for the next person to come through, but he knew that five times was too much for coincidence. The curse breakers were on their way of course, but they always had their hands full around here. "There done." He stated and started counting down in his head. "Stop that frog!" Someone cried from inside the sleeping area, and Gregory groaned inwardly. Contributors' Guidelines: Ok, first things first: this is a Dramady* story, so no non-con, dub-con, or rape. 'Reluctance', (as long as consent is secured _before_ the sex/the would-be seduction is called off if not,) is OK though. *(Half-Drama/Half-Comedy) Second, this is a late-medieval/early-renaissance generic fantasy world, so, though there are Black-Powder and pistols we are talking match-locks and blunder-bus, not six-guns. Third: P.o.V.: Third person, any gender, past tense. Fourth: chapters may be edited for grammar, punctuation, spelling, Etc. Don't whine about it. Fifth: And remember to Have Fun! If you're not having fun writing a chapter save as draft and come back later. Again, this is an erotic Adventure/Comedy, if you're not feeling the story the readers will be able to tell! Inspirations: As has been mentioned the inspirations include the early Harry Potter Books and as you may have guessed: D&D. The world is basically a D&D setting which happens to have a school for adventurers somewhat similar to Hogwarts. The other inspirations, (and these aren't so obvious,) are GURPS: IOU, Dwarf Fortress, and "Diggy Diggy Hole"...
