Character Types: The Emotionless One

If you’re wondering why I haven’t posted the past two Sundays, you can read all about my reasons in my latest newsletter for last Sunday (River of Books; sign up for the Word Storm Newsletter here!). This Sunday, I was having technological problems. I couldn’t connect my computer to the internet at all.  Now, I’m back! *waves*

I hope you are having as much fun reading these character posts as I am writing them! They may be challenging thus far, but I really, really, really like character analysis. This week, I’m here to talk about yet another one of my favorite characters—The Emotionless One. They may not be the easier character to empathize with considering they tend to be absolute jerks, but they’re simultaneously fascinating.

Note: The Emotionless One is not to be confused with The Brooding Boyfriend or The Compulsive Liar, though they may overlap at times.

“‘It must be because you’re so approachable,’ I say flatly.

‘You know. Like a bed of nails.’”

(Tris, Divergent)

A few examples of The Emotionless One include but are not limited to Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes collection by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle), Spock (Star Trek, the original series and the latest movies), and Jahan, son of Elam (Last of the Memory Keepers by yours truly). Here are just a couple of the traits they tend to exhibit.

 They’re often misunderstood.

Okay, before you start telling me that’s just an excuse, here me out. A lot of times, people—even readers—jump to conclusions before they get to know a character. One of the main reasons Sherlock didn’t have a lot of friends (aside from the fact that he was a jerk) is that few people took the time to really listen. Mrs. Hudson needed boarders, and Lestrade needed Sherlock’s help, but it wasn’t until John took the time to listen that Sherlock found a best friend.

John: That… was amazing… It was quite extraordinary.

Sherlock: That’s not what people normally say.

John: What do people normally say?

Sherlock: “**** off”.

(Sherlock, “A Study in Pink”)

 They tend to lack social skills.

Sherlock can deduce a person’s occupation and personal habits but doesn’t always recognize when he’s being cruel. Jahan is perhaps the exception, as he can empathize well with other people.

Bones: You could at least act like it was a hard decision.

Spock: I intend to assist in the effort to reestablish communication with Starfleet. However, if crew morale is better served by my roaming the halls weeping, I will gladly defer to your medical expertise. Excuse me.

Bones: [as Spock leaves] Green-blooded hobgoblin.

(Star Trek)

Things that are obvious to everybody else are not obvious to them.

Sherlock doesn’t know the earth revolved around the sun or that England doesn’t currently have a king. Jahan can be incredibly naïve when it comes to his family and overly secretive when it comes to his friends.

John: But it’s the solar system!

Sherlock: Oh! How? What does that matter? So we go ’round the sun. If we went ’round the moon or round and round the garden like a teddy bear it wouldn’t make any difference. All that matters to me is the work. Without that my brain rots. Put that in your blog. Or better still, stop inflicting your opinions on the world.

(Sherlock, “The Blind Banker”)

They’re incredibly smart in some areas.

Sherlock can deduce a lot in one glance and only takes cases that are intellectually stimulating. Spock was accepted to the Vulcan Science Academy (yet declined admission), designed the Kobayashi Maru test, and even quotes Sherlock Holmes. And while Jahan may not express emotions, he is good at discerning them.

Sherlock: What is it like in your funny little brains? It must be so boring!

(Sherlock, “A Study in Pink”)

They’re not always emotionless. Sometimes they just process emotions differently.

A recent trend within the film industry has been to give The Emotionless One at least one instance when show some form of extreme emotion. Sherlock is often overprotective of John; Spock nearly strangles Kirk; et cetera. While many of these extreme displays of emotion from The Emotionless One are often criticized, that doesn’t mean these characters are completely unfeeling.

However, while Sherlock may have been overtly emotional in the BBC adaptation, there is only one instance that comes to my mind when he showed fear in the books after John got shot. Spock, on the other hand, is half-human, half-Vulcan, giving him some of the characteristics of both. Likewise, most of Jahan’s reactions are internal.

Sarek: Emotions run deep within our race. In many ways, more deeply than in Humans. Logic offers a serenity Humans seldom experience. The control of feelings, so that they do not control you.
Spock: You suggest that I should be completely Vulcan, and yet you married a Human. 

Sarek: As ambassador to Earth, it is my duty to observe and understand Human behavior. Marrying your mother was logical. Spock, you are fully capable of deciding your own destiny. The question you face is: which path will you choose? This is something only you can decide.

(Star Trek)

Anybody else notice what else I might have described in this post? And before you say a psychopath or even a high functioning sociopath, think really hard.

If you picked autism, you would be correct.

However, it’s important to differentiate between the terms and their characteristics. Personally, I would not label autistic characters as emotionless. They may process emotions differently, but they are far from unfeeling. If anything, they feel deeper than others.

Often times, the main issue with The Emotionless One is that they’re just labeled emotionless without the author really delving into why. When Doyle wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories, autism was relatively undiscovered, so we may never know if his famous detective was autistic or sociopathic. It doesn’t help that Doyle really didn’t care about accuracy either. While the modern BBC adaptation tries to explore the traits of a high functioning sociopath, it’s not entirely accurate. There’s even one point where John suggests Sherlock has autism. I’m sorry, but pick ONE. They are not the same.

When writing or examining The Emotionless One, there are generally different reasons for their lack of emotion:

1) Their mental processing is different.

·       E.g. Sociopaths.

·       E.g. Vulcans. As a nonhuman race, the Vulcans think in a very different manner from the humans. As a result, they often come across as being arrogant and emotionless. Their traits are also cultural (see below).

2) It’s cultural.

·       E.g. Germany. Believe it or not, the Germans often come across as very stoic. They’re seen as lacking in a sense of humor and being incredibly critical because they state things the way they are.

·       Lightning Wielders. In their culture, showing emotions to people outside of their immediate family and/or close friends is considered very rude. Hence, Jahan comes off having no emotions, until he befriends Rhona.

Rhona: “I am not emotional.” 

Jahan: “No. You’re passionate. There’s nothing shameful in it.”

(Last of the Memory Keepers)

3) It’s personal.

·       There are many different reasons for hiding emotions, the primary one in fiction being a survival technique. In some cases, showing emotion can be seen as a sign of weakness, so as a defense mechanism, the characters learn to adapt. Developing a poker face can also be a helpful trick for con artists and thieves.

Other examples of The Emotionless One not discussed in this post include Tempi (The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss) and Wong (Doctor Strange). Such characters are perhaps some of the most difficult to understand, which only makes them more fascinating.

***

Film references: Star Trek, 2009

Literary references: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes collection, Patrick Rothfuss’ The Wise Man’s Fear, Azelyn Klein’s Last of the Memory Keepers, and Veronica Roth’s Divergent.

Related posts: The Pessimistic Mentor and The Character Everybody Detests

Let’s chat! Who is your favorite emotionless character? Which do you think could have been written better? Which of the three reasons for a “lack of emotion” would you like to see more in fiction? 

8 Obscure Books I Thoroughly Enjoyed

I’ve got a thing for obscure books. There are plenty of occasions when I tell a friend about the book I’m reading only to hear, “I’ve never heard of that one.” In some ways, it’s nice. Without the influence of my friends or of the masses, I can form my own opinions on the books. But in other ways, it’s annoying. If I really enjoy the book, I may feel like it’s not getting the attention it deserves. And how am I supposed to talk to anybody about it if nobody has read it?

The following books are organized by the authors’ last names.

Reading Flatland with a three-dimensional bookmark.

Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin A. Abbott

I heard about this book as a kid, and the concepts fascinated me. But it took years before I discovered it again and was finally able to add it to my To Be Read (TBR) List. During a creative writing class in college, a local author came to discuss her own book (see below), and she talked about how she found this book to be an inspiration. Part discussion on mathematics and the dimensions, part social critique, Flatland is narrative that explores the life of a square, from the second dimension (i.e. Flatland), and what becomes of him when he discovers the presence of the other dimensions.

The Shifter by Chris T. Acadian

When Acadian came to talk to my creative writing class about her book, I became really excited. Not just about Flatland but also out The Shifter, a story about people who can slip into the fourth dimension. The writing style and the plot is quite unique, unlike any story I’ve read yet, and the concepts are fascinating! I’m still eagerly awaiting the release of the next book…

Season of Wonder (Remnants, book 1) by Lisa T. Bergren

I first discovered Bergren’s works when I first picked up Waterfall, and it didn’t take long for me to get sucked into the story. Unlike the River of Time series, however, Season of Wonder and the accompanying Remnants books focus less on an epic, whirlwind romance and more on what the spiritual realm might look like in a fantasy/dystopian society. This trilogy has to be my favorite of Bergren’s works.

The Naming (Books of Pellinor, book 1) by Alison Croggon

While I do have a couple friends who have read this book, I feel like the series as a whole is not talked about nearly enough. Croggon develops a unique world and magic system with a Tolkien-esque complexity, and I definitely wouldn’t mind doing more research to find out where her influence comes from. Once a fantasy quadrilogy, now a series of five with the release of the latest prequel, The Bone Queen, the Books of Pellinor contain beautiful scenery and epic adventures. I would recommend starting with The Naming (UK, The Gift).   

Methuselah’s Gift by Mary Elizabeth Edgren

When asked which book has influenced me most as a writer, I cannot give an accurate response. After all, every book has made me who I am as a reader and a writer, and that’s constantly changing considering how much I read. But if I were to pick one book from my childhood that first showed me the joys of reading and writing, it would be Methuselah’s Gift. A charming tale about talking racoons and their adjustment to life on the other side of the creek after a forest fire, this book was among the first that drew me to writing.

In the Palace of Rygia (The Alliance, book 1) by L. Nicodemus Lyons

I received the first book in this series in exchange for an honest review and knew I was hooked. So my mom bought me the rest of the series, and I read all seven in two weeks, part of which was during midterms. Not only are the books captivating, but they are full of good themes, a smidge of humor, and lots of research. I also had the privilege to meet the author, who has become one of my good writing friends.

Where the Woods Grow Wild by Nathan Philbrick

Another indie book with wonderful writing style, Philbrick creates a world with a familiar setting but with a unique twist. Full of well-developed characters, witty remarks, and seemingly impossible struggles, Where the Woods Grow Wild is a must read for fans of fantasy. It’s also a great story in that it addresses what it’s like to live with a physical disability and to know somebody with one.

By Darkness Hid (Blood of Kings, book 1) by Jill Williamson

If there is any series that I most associate with bookworm cramps from being immobile all day, it’s this one. Even though each book is nearly 500 pages long, I read the entire trilogy in four days. Part of it was because I had nothing else to do, and part of it was because the characters and their quest was so captivating, I couldn’t put the books down. This is perhaps one of the first books I’ve read on my e-reader, and considering I still prefer physical books, it speaks to the trilogy’s quality.

***

Similar posts: Treasured Books and Book Reviews: The Shifter, In the Palace of Rygia, and Season of Wonder 

Let’s chat! Have you read any of the above books? Have any been added to your TBR List yet? What are some obscure books you enjoyed? 

Poem: Cathedral

Over the past couple of years, since I’ve visited many cathedrals and written various poems, I wanted to write a poem that captured my emotions. But poetry doesn’t come for the asking. Sometimes it comes in spurts. If I force it, it sounds terrible.

So I waited, biding my time, until this poem came to me. I can’t say it embodies one particular building or experience, but a combination of them all. The two it most reminds me of are Notre Dame de Paris and Ulm Münster, two very different, gothic pieces of architecture. 

Cathedral

The people, like grains of sand

blow through the halls of stone,

like scattered dust amid solid,

gray rock. Sunlight streams

through the chinks of colored

windows, warming some grains

while others go untouched

in shadow, and others yet hide

amid the cracks of rock

ne’er to move despite where

the wind blows and seeps

through the halls, causing the sand

to dance across this ancient earth.

***

Similar posts: Bury Me and The Muse

Let’s chat! What did you think of the poem? If you’ve ever set foot in a cathedral, what was your first experience like? What is one of your favorite cathedrals to visit? 

Character Types: The Character Everybody Detests

Bookworms and book dragons alike tend to be a very diversely talented group. From carrying twenty-five books at once and ordering five more books online that we don’t need to travelling halfway across the world to visit the inspiration for a fictional setting, it seems like we know no bounds!

And we all have differing opinions on our favorite characters and stories. I like Star Trek; my sister likes Star Wars. I like Han Solo; she likes Kylo Ren. You get the picture. Sometimes it seems like disagree on everything.

Until we inevitably come across that one character…

If you’re looking for a blog post that’s full of benevolent characters and their happy endings, I 

suggest you close this tab. Today I will be focusing on three examples of The Character Everybody Detests, though it is certainly not limited to these: Q (Star Trek: Next Generation), Umbridge (Harry Potter), and Lord Denothor (Lord of the Rings). Here are just a couple of the traits that they seem to share:

1) The Character Everybody Detests can turn even the kindest bookworm into a book dragon and make them want to drop said character off a cliff or at the very least stab said character with a fork.

Please tell me I’m not the only one.

And the very thought that I might actually want to stab somebody with a fork is disturbing. After all, I’d never want to purposefully hurt somebody. What are these characters doing to me?

Because let’s face it…

2) They delight in the suffering of others.

And when they do, I’m not very sympathetic.

Every time Q shows up, he ends up putting the crew of the Enterprise through some bizarre challenge.

Umbridge makes Harry write using his own blood and torments the entire school.

Denothor might be the exception to this one. He may make people suffer, but he certainly doesn’t seem to take delight in anything.

3) They have at least one incredibly annoying trait.

For Q, it’s his arrogance and hypocrisy. Not only does he have immortality and god-like powers, but he also flaunts it. Constantly. Then gives everybody a hard time for being mortal and being poor decision makers. It’s no wonder nobody wants him around.

For Umbridge, it’s her like for the color pink. Just kidding. Pink is okay in and of itself, I just don’t care for it. Rather, it’s the way she tears everybody down and enjoys it.  

For Denothor, it’s his favoritism towards Boromir and hatred of Faramir. And poor leadership. And misery. And the time he told Faramir he wished he were dead. Not. Okay.

4) Sometimes, they may seem right.

In one of the opening episodes, Q puts humankind on trial for its crimes against the universe, and the crew of the Enterprise has to acknowledge that the humans on board are not perfect.

Even in all his misery, Denothor was trying to lead Gondor against the armies of Mordor, even if he was going about it all the wrong ways.

5) Yet they still avoid the truth.

Q’s refuses to acknowledge his arrogance and often blames other races for the problems in the universe.

And Denothor refuses to acknowledge that he actually cares about Faramir until it’s too late.

6) They can still teach you.

Q’s arrogance and games led to belief that mortals and immortals alike can learn to be more open-minded.

Umbridge’s oppression led Harry to teach his peers about Defense Against the Dark Arts. Despite her tyranny, the students came together in a way they hadn’t before.

Denothor’s bitterness almost killed Faramir, but it helped Pippin find the true meaning of courage.

In the end, the Character Everybody Detests can teach us a lot of things, like what it means to be cruel and what it also means to stand up against such cruelty.

***

Related posts: That Guy Who Just Won’t Die and The Pessimistic Mentor

Film references: Star Trek: Next Generation

Literary references: J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and J. K. Rowlings’ Harry Potter series.

Let’s chat! Who are some of the characters you detest? What have they taught you?  

3 Methods for Outlining Your Novel

I was twelve when I wrote my first novel, and let me tell you, it stunk. (See I Can’t Believe I Wrote THAT.) And not because I was twelve. I believe twelve-year-olds can write decent novels or even great ones. Age is not a determiner of quality fiction. Yes, practice helps, but that’s an argument for another day.

Perhaps the biggest quality I was lacking when I wrote my first novel was an outline. When I went to write my second one, I ended up writing and re-writing the beginning seven times because I had no idea where I was going. I probably drove my writing friends crazy when I announced, “Yeah, I re-started my novel. Again.” That’s when I realized I needed to change something. I needed to get serious about my craft. So, I created an outline.

I’m not going to pretend that these are the only three methods for outlining your novel. You also have the synopsis, where you summarize every important plot, and the Hero’s Journey, which follows the twelve stages of a story as explained by Joseph Campbell. (See A Boggus Life for an analysis of the latter.) The following are three methods that I’ve found work best for me:

1) The Plot Arch

One of the most basic forms of outlining, I first encountered the plot arch in my creative writing class in college. It’s simple, to the point, and leaves so much up to the imagination when it comes to writing the rough draft.  

Pros: This quick method is a great place to start. This method can help keep you on track even if you’re a panster (somebody who doesn’t like outlining).

Cons: If you’re very detail-oriented, this method might be too vague. It doesn’t tend to include important details like setting or minor characters.

2) The Chapter-by-Chapter Outline

If you have a general idea of how long your chapters tend to be (or how long you want them to be), this can be a great method for outlining. On average, my chapters tend to be anywhere between 1800-2700 words (or 6-9 pages). So, if I want to write a 60,000-word novel, I’ll plan to have 33 chapters, or 35 to allow for leeway.

Here’s a general chart with word count goals to help you plan for a certain number of chapters. When it comes to calculating, I prefer to go with the minimum words I tend to write. It’s better to overwrite than underwrite, as editing tends to cut large chunks anyway.

Pros: You can regulate how many chapters you want in your novel. Personally, I like 45. It’s a large enough number to sound decent for a novel, and short enough so that I can edit two or three chapters in later drafts. The chapter-by-chapter method is also one of the best to help you reach your word count goal.

Cons: This method can be difficult if you’re not regular with your chapter length. You might want to start a new chapter in a different place during the writing process. Chapter endings and lengths can change in later drafts.

3) The Scene-by-Scene Outline

I like to play out my favorite scenes in my head, and the scene-by-scene method allows me to write them out as they come to me instead of getting bogged down with coming up with fill-in-the blank pieces when I’m feeling particularly inspired.

The easiest way I’ve found to use this method is to write each scene out on a notecard. That way I can include a synopsis of the scene, the setting, the time of day, and the characters present. Then, I organize them by labeling where they go in the story (e.g. Inciting Incident, Turning Point, Climax, etc…).

The original outline for Breaking a Thief. The final product had many, many more scenes.

The outline for Breaking a Thief as organized by plot points (opening, inciting incident, etc...).
Complete with one little card for backstory. 

Pros: It’s flexible! If you don’t know where a certain scene goes in your story, you can still write it out, and fill in the blanks later. You can even rearrange scenes with ease at the outset. And if you’re like me, you don’t have to think in a linear fashion. It’s also great for organizing details.

Cons: This is perhaps the most time consuming of all the methods, as several scenes can fit into one chapter, and you might end up having far more scenes than chapters. It can also be difficult to fill in the blanks should you deviate from the outline while writing, which is almost inevitable. Another downside is keeping track of all the scenes, especially if you write them all out on notecards.

Recently, I’ve gone for a hybrid of some of these methods, using the plot arch to start and writing down a couple of my favorite scenes. The more novels I write, the more I realize that no method is perfect, and some methods work better for some people and even some novels. So give it a try! Stick to them or combine them. But most importantly of all, have fun with it!

***

Similar posts: I Can’t Believe I Wrote THAT, Three Methods for Foreshadowing, Writing Book Reviews: Some Tips

Let’s chat! Which of the above method sounds most appealing? If you’ve written a novel before, what’s your favorite method for outlining? Have you tried any of these? 

6 Literary Terms I Wish Existed in English

The English language is beautifully complex. But there are times when language falls short of feelings and concepts. Some things can’t be explained with words, no matter how hard we try. And some things can be explained but are too wordy.  Word precision—it’s a wonderful when it’s available!

Here are just a few, excellent literary terms that do exist:

A person who thoroughly enjoys and collects books is a bibliophile (me!), just like a person who thoroughly enjoys movies is a cinephile (my family members).

Feels—the emotions you can’t put into words after you finished a particularly good book/movie. Yes, that’s an actual definition.

Mary Sue—an underdeveloped fictional character, not gender specific. Usually happens to be an orphan with a tragic backstory and morally upright.

Palimpsest—a manuscript written over an older text on the same parchment. 

Palindrome—a word or a phrase spelled backwards is still the same phrase.

Petrichor—the smell of rain on dry ground. I know it’s not technically book-related, but I like rain and I like this word!

Trinity Syndrome—a strong female character who becomes inexplicably weaker than the male protagonist.

But what do we do when a concept doesn’t have a word? Invent it, probably. Shakespeare and Chaucer did. Even dystopia is a fairly recent term from the late 1800s. Here are just a few of the concepts that I have found that should have a singular term—or at least a compound word—but don’t. 

1) Living multiple lives in one/multiple bodies (not reincarnation).

This is becoming a popular sci-fi/fantasy trope, and honestly, it’s one of my favorites. It’s when a character lives a completely different, but self-aware life (not a dream) when they go to sleep. I’ve read a couple books with it, and I like it so much, I included it in my latest novel.

Think Avatar. When Sully goes to sleep in the chamber, he wakes up in his Avatar body. And when he sleeps in Pandora, he wakes up as his human self. It’s such an interesting concept with lots of possibilities and plot complications. But it’s not like we can tall it “Avatar” without violating copyright laws and whatnot. Besides, it’s present in other stories, like Your Name.

2) Wanting to throw your book against the wall but liking books too much to actually do so.

I’m not sure when I became that person whose so careful with books that I will try not to bend the spine of my paperbacks. I don’t like having those little lines crease the title.

But I still get angry at books. Sometimes so frustrated that I want to throw it across the room, but I can’t bring myself to do so. It could damage the pages! Never mind that it already damaged my heart.

3) Wanting to violently react to your book but being in a public place.

Ever wanted to hit a flight attendant or your train partner upside the head with the book you just finished? I didn’t think so. Even if you did, who wants to get kicked off a train? Or an airplane for that matter? 

Sure, you can silently cry in public, but what about scream or rant? Instead, you are left with all your feeling bottled up inside. It’s almost like…

4) Being in a fandom of one.

There are advantages and disadvantages to reading a book none of your friends have. Advantage—you can form your own opinion without influences. Disadvantage—you can’t talk to anybody about it.

 RJ: Please, Vincent! I’m just a desperate guy trying to feed his family!
Vincent: You don’t have a family.
RJ: I meant a family of one.
(Over the Hedge)

5) The irresistible impulse to walk into every library/bookstore you see.

The John Rylands Library, Manchester, UK

Every time I visit a new city or town, I’m on the lookout for a bookstore. Even if the native language isn’t English, I like walking into new bookstores and libraries and admiring the shelves upon shelves of books, or boats next to boats if you happen to be in Venice. If I’m with a family member, they have to drag me out. One time, a school group left me in a bookstore, which I quite enjoyed, truth be told.

Libreria Acqua Alta, Venice, Italy

6) Exhaustion from staying up far too late reading.

This is me right now. I haven’t done this in so long, but nearly every bookworm has experienced it at least once. Or twice. Or thrice. Because heaven forbid we actually follow through with reading just one more chapter…

***

Film references: Avatar, Your Name, and Over the Hedge.

Let’s chat! Can you relate to any of these feelings? Have any suggestions for concise words? What are some of your favorite literary terms? Are there any other feelings/concepts you wish had a term of their own? 

Luan and the Star's Daughter: A Last of the Memory Keepers Companion

I always knew that “The Sun Child” would be different from the rest of the stories, but it took a while for me to discover the poem within. Luan is perhaps the most elusive figure in the series. She may be a tempter, but she isn’t exactly a Satan-figure either. She’s more like the Fae, powerful and proud but too aloof to realize the consequences of her actions on the human race.

This poem is not a Genesis story. It may be an origin story, explaining the Memory Keepers’ beliefs in how the Gifting came to be, but it is not an allegory. The Matriarchs and Patriarchs are not meant to be Adam and Eve, especially considering there are ten of them instead of two. Likewise, there is no clear explanation of where the first humans came from, though it is implied that they were born of the stars.

Nonetheless, I have drawn from previous traditions and stories. Like the story of Cain and Abel, the acts of the Matriarchs and Patriarchs is quite bloody. And the style of the poem follows that of Milton’s Paradise Lost, with iambic pentameter, variating stanzas, and no rhyme. Unlike classical poetry, however, I have included quotations marks for each set of dialogue for clarification.

While the Memory Keepers bare some animistic traits, they are primarily monotheist. During the time that “Luan and the Star’s Daughter” was composed (2701, 1436 years before the events of Last of the Memory Keepers), it would have been viewed as heretical. After all, not only does the poem not acknowledge a single Creator, but it also references minor deities. Although the poem was well-liked by the general population, it took approximately 150 years after Fraser’s death before the Council of Elders accepted it as a piece of mythology. 

Summary

Recorded by Ewan Fraser, the following poem is the origin story of the Memory Keepers. The event is also referred to as the Gifting, in which the five races received their abilities. Twelve humans, six couples, lived in harmony at the dawn of time. Then the Moon came down to the mother of the Shape-Shifters and offered to grant her a Gift so long as all humankind accepted. Two refused, so the other ten turned on them and killed them. That way, all ten could accept. The Moon, displeased with their treachery, still granted the Gifting but proclaimed it as a curse instead of a blessing.

Characters (in order of appearance)

Luan (The Sun Child)—the Moon

Vera—Matriarch of the Shape-Shifters

Patriarch of the Shape-Shifters

Glenn—Matriarch of the Memory Keepers

Angus—Patriarch of the Memory Keepers

Matriarch and Patriarch of the Meridians

Naoki—Matriarch of the Diataro

Man and Woman

Matriarch and Patriarch of the Lightning Wielders

Rin—Patriarch of the Diataro

Ancient Memory, Winter Equinox, Estimated 2701

Keepers Present: Ewan Fraser

The daughter of the Sun^[1] stooped down to behold

the earth and swept aback the cobwebbed clouds

marveling at green birth. Up shoots of gold-

tinged grass, silver droopèd bells, mazy ivy,

and cold, em’rald waters lay past yonder                                                  5

hills; there’n the downs an idle girl gazed on mid-

morn light. Upon her back she lay, her white-

and-gold hair like tresses fit for stars. The Sun’s

Child, Luan thus namèd, beheld the youth from ‘far

before she tucked the clouds beneath her skirts                                        10

and spoke, “Daughter of yonder star,^[2] why should

thou idle thus when thou lookest fit for bliss

beyond all care?” Up sat the girl,^[3] a wist-

ful look within her eyes. “Sisters of mine

say that I dream too oft,” said she. “I came                                              15

away to behold the dawn alone.” Smiled

thus the Sun Child. “I have in mind to grant

a gift to thou, on one condition—that

to imagine forever, thine heart’s sole

joy, first thou shouldst find it in thyself to                                                20

search out thine brothers’ and sisters’ longings

and ask them too if they would take mine Gift,^[4]

for it will only work when all conscious 

beings do welcome it. Dear dreamer, can thou

imagine how much thou might do e’ermore?                                            25

Thou canst be like me, pow’rful and benign.”^[5] 

There shone an awe in her blue eyes, for her

mind could think up wonders to create that

she ran off to greet her peers, eleven

in all, husband and friends. The first she found

beneath an oaken shade, planning some new                                            30

shelter to build with his own hands. She told

of her request, her dream, and gathered they

their friends to whom she told her tale, to wait

on their response. They stood around a pool

aquamarine, silver-shored, listening                                                         35

to Vera utter her tale and her plea.

Most took interest in their dreams, for many

they had to behold, none too great or far,

yet spake thus her raven-headed friend,^[6] “We

shouldst forget not the ordination set

down by the Sun to live as we are now,                                                   40

touch’d not by craft of altering shape or

magic strange. Remember thine true form and

do count thineself grateful forevermore.”

“Oh, Glenn,” thus spake the Star’s Daugther, “How canst

thou think this gift to change thine self? ‘Tis but                                    45

a mere means meant to enhance that which thou

posseseth already. Thou shalt never

forget another ordinance, nor word,

nor thought. Thou shalt keep and treasure them for

all eternity.” Think on the good that                                                       50

could come of her proposal the raven-

headed girl and her husband did o’er time.

“Would that we should live so long,” spake their tall

companion with skin as dark as coal,^[7]

“but length of days is beyond all reason                                                55

of true life. No body could thus sustain

one thought once it is dead, for we are mere

mortals destined to die before the Sun. “

“Yet length of days,” young Vera said, “that thou

might have if thou did but ask.” Then up spake                                   60

yon stout yet e’er-perceiving Naoki,^[8]

“Come now, can such a thing be wise? Permit

us to hear out the Sun Child herself. Then

we can decide our fate.” Her proposal

appeared most good to them all save the two                                     65

auburn-headed souls^[9] who reserved their thoughts

even after the choleric couple^[10] urged long,

swift strides should Luan withdraw her offer.

Thus they passed by the lake towards yon’ downs

to seek their fate, but halfway up the hill,                                           70

golden sheaves bending in the wind, one girl

held her husband’s hand, stopped, and made their plea,

“We came into this world wanting nothing

but life and creation thereof. Vera

encourages us to excel beyond one                                                    75

mere thought, but the power of gods is far

beyond mortals for higher reasons not

known. Let us still our passions and content

ours hearts with simple marvels of this earth.” 

“Simple are thou, Sis’,” said Angus, “deny                                       80

us all our Gift thou wouldst, for did Luan

thus say it would only work shouldst we all

accept?” Argued they, on and on and on, 

until the Sun did set and rise and set

again until the ten men and women                                                   85

did take leave of the two they deemed dogged

and spake amongst themselves how they might obtain

the Gift yet. At last they concluded as

one mind to rid themselves of the couple,

for without conscious minds, they could not,                                    90

therefore, stand between the ten and the Gift.

A sup thus served the ten beneath an Ash

spreading its boughs overhead in gray dusk.

Thirteen fine torches placed with care by yon

fire-makers lit the night, casting shadows                                         95

upon the twelve as they dined merrily

on roasted apples, fresh-picked blackberries,

and savory herbs, all the while under

pretense of resignation to their self-

born state. After they finished, the long-lived                                  100

parents brought forth twelve drinks of sweet wine, blood-

red, prepared from within their own vineyards

upon yon’ hill. Thus Vera and her other

half uplifted their cups, proposed a toast

in feigned content, and drank they all to peace                                 105

and unity of the twelve. Little the auburn-

headed couple did know about the fruit

slipped in their drinks by Angus and Glenn ‘fore

they supped until their stomachs cramped with pain.

Thus they doubled over while Rin took up                                       110

a pointed rock and thrust it between both

their ribs, one at a time, while proud Noaki

stood by in approval. Thus did the two,

man and woman, give up their final breath,

and mark the first death. But before the blood                                  115

could yet dry, the choleric couple brought

forth two torches and burnt up the bodies,                                                    

and then buried them beneath the Ash Tree.^[11]

Back came they, from the light-haired to the dark,

until they came down unto the lake, to await                                     120

the return of the daughter of the Sun.

In silence they stood ‘round ‘bout ‘till dawn when

Angus looked up and spake to his own dear

wife, “Remember thou saidst, and remember

we shalt, for all history to come and                                                   125

all thoughts therein, embedded in my mind

shalt be now and fore’er more. For I shant

ever erase this deed, hastily done

and ill conceived, from mine grief-stricken mind.”

“I doubt not our loss, dearest brother,” saidst                                     130

the choleric mother, “that harsh loss of friends

and fellowship, laughter and tales, but yet

turn thine thoughts upon how much more we shalt

gain through the promised power we’ll receive.”

Forth at last came the Sun Child, dew trailing                                    135

in her wake and said unto the final

men and women, “Here thou hast gathered thine

kindred, oh Child, but where, I might inquire,

hath thine other siblings vanishéd to?”

A silence held the ten, for they, consumed                                         140

with fear of death, did not dare to utter

their deeds before the daughter of the Sun.

Until up spake Rin, short yet proud in his

stature,^[12] “Ten are we now, for those two are

no more. Here have we come to stake our claim                                145

upon the Gift thou swore to grant shouldst we

all accept. As thou can see, we all do.”

Surveyed him, Luan did, then spake, “Shrewd art

thou. From thine birth, thy beheld the swiftest

of paths to take and the most-pointed words                                      150

to speak to attain thine desires. For thine

words and ways, thou and thine life-partner shalt

receive strength beyond thine fellow man^[13] to

apply thine mind to raise up palaces and

kingdoms, yet the tearing down of empires                                       155

thine offspring shalt be drawn to fore’ermore.”

To the choleric, she thus saidst, “With fire

thou buried and with fire, thou shalt fall, but

lightning shall answer to thine call^[14] and the

stones shall mimic thine name now and hereon.                               160

“Thou idle child, thou dreamers,” Luan spake up

once more, “O, that I hadst thine imagin-

ation to steal thus from the gods.^[15] Thou and

thine partner shalt be able to change thy shape

according to whate’er thou desirest,^[16]                                          165

except thou shalt then forget thine true self.”

Then, to the raven-headed ones, she spake,

“To remember thou wished, and remember

thou shalt the thoughts thou stole. Entrust thou with

the keeping of memory all throughout the ages^[17]                       170

now and forevermore. As for thou two,

both desirers of longevity and growth,^[18]

fated to live; fated to die, seekers

of life, thou shan’t taste death ‘till thou watch‘st thine

own brothers rest thrice more. Thus is                                            175

mine Gift to thee according to thine heart’s

desire. Live it well, thou Children of Dust.”

As she thus spake, she faded like a mist,

and once the Sun arose, was vanished, to walk

the earth ne’ermore for spent was her pow’r on                             180

mortals herein. Her place she took within

the heav’ns where she doth dance until the Sun

in days to come shall then bestow upon

her leave^[19] to regain her power once again.

***

Similar posts: LMK: Cover Reveal and Sneak Peak, LMK: The Five Races, and LMK series Homepage

Let's chat! Have you read "The Sun Child" yet? What did you think of this companion poem? 

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[1] daughter of the Sun: the Moon, unnamed until line 9.

[2] yonder star: star of unknown origin or constellation. Not to be confused with the Sun. According to Luan, humans were born of said star, but their origin is much debated between the races.

[3] girl: Vera, unnamed until line 36. Her husband is the unnamed Patriarch of the Shape-Shifters. They are known for their preference towards fantasy. The Shape-Shifters value identity, but unlike the Memory Keepers, they refuse to name their patriarch, believing that the choice concerning the Gifting could have been made by any of them, past or present.

[4] Gift: the above event is referred to as the Gifting by the Memory Keepers. See “The Diplomat’s Daughter.”

[5] Smiled… benign: lines 16-26 are quoted in “The Sun Child” and serve as the primary theme for Ellard Coburn’s account of sneaking back into the Haven during the Diataro occupation.

[6] raven-headed friend: Glenn, the Matriarch of the Memory Keepers and wife to Angus; unnamed until line 44. They are known for their preference towards memory.

[7] tall companion with skin as dark as coal: unnamed Patriarch of the Meridians. He and his wife are known for their preference towards reason.

[8] Naoki: Matriarch of the Diataro. One of the few women named among their history. She and her husband are known for their preference towards knowledge.

[9] two auburn-headed souls: the unnamed man and woman who never received the Gifting. They are considered by all races to be the quintessential human beings and are associated with the lost, sixth wit.

[10] choleric couple: the Matriarch and Patriarch of the Lightning Wielders, known for their use of imagination.

[11] Ash Tree: thus, it received its name.

[12] the short yet proud in stature: Rin, the husband to Naoki and patriarch of the Diataro. His sons, Taro, Jiro, and Saburo founded the three clans.

[13] strength beyond thine fellow man: the Diatoaro received the Gift of strength, three times that of the other races. Although they are among the most advanced in technology because of their strength, they are also the most prone to war.

[14] lightning shall answer thine call: the Lightning Wielders received the Gift of harnessing and unleashing energy through the use of Lightning Stones. As Luan prophesied, their golden age ended with the destruction of the City of Light in 3066. Few wielders survived.

[15] gods: much debate exists concerning what Fraser is actually referencing. The Memory Keepers are primarily monotheistic, so most did not believe in other deities. It could be a reference to the beliefs of the other races, but the commonly-held argument is that it refers to minor spirits, like Luan, and not deities.

[16] change thy shape according to whate’er thou desirest: the Shape-Shifters received the gift of changing form, from basic racial alterations to complex animals. They are only limited to transform into something they have seen or imagined.

[17] Entrust thou with the keeping of memory throughout the ages: the Memory Keepers received the Gift to access memories, which take on life as though they are reoccurring. As the keepers increased in number, they divided into four studies: 1) Deep Memory, accessing ancient memories and studying history; 2) Short-Term Memory, accessing recent memories and processing details; 3) Communication, presenting all types of memories in a clear manner; and 4) Restoration, retrieving buried memories and restoring broken ones.

[18] desirers of longevity and growth: the Meridians received the Gift of long lifespans, three times that of the other races. They are the most practical and unified of all races.

[19] bestow upon her leave: Memory Keeper and Shape-Shifter legend claims that during a solar eclipse, the Sun Child will return and reverse the effects of the Gifting. Diataro legend, on the other hand, claims that this event refers to the end of the world itself.