Fred Thread 1

Chatterbox: Crowd Sorcery

Fred Thread 1

Fred Thread 1

One way I develop a plot for a story is by asking myself intriguing questions that help me fully imagine my characters and their world. Your creative thinking about the questions I’ll post from time to time will spur our thoughts in new and surprising directions as we adventure together down the road toward a finished story.

Some of my Fred Threads might focus on characters you’ve created on the other threads, to encourage you to expand on a good idea. And, in time, I will be posting parts of my draft of the Cricket story for your comments.

But for my first Fred Thread, here’s a question to get us started:

There's an abandoned road, overgrown by weeds, leading straight out of town to the north. Why is it there? Where did it once lead? Why is it abandoned? What's at the end of it now?

 

submitted by Fred Durbin
(April 23, 2014 - 10:13 am)

A long time ago, the town was prosperous and thriving. It wasn't any normal town, however. Strange things occured from time to time, but many tried to ignore the signs. A flash of white light, crowds of birds forming shapes, and unnatural clouds were only some of the signs. One man was sick of pretending and decided to find the cause to the peculiar events. He studied the flocks of birds, the clouds, and even the lights, but simply could not find anything. "Your search is fruitless, Rodney, just give up. Some things were never meant to be figured out." Rodney shook these little comments off and continued. The townspeople took their distance from him in fear. What was he thinking, trying to solve it? It wasn't going to happen, they said. And that was when on a particular day, the flocks of birds and wavy clouds and lights all seemed to lead to the end of the road going north. Rodney had to practically run to keep up with the birds, never stopping. He finally did, at the end of the road, after nearly two miles. The birds perched on the ground in a circle, looking questioningly at him. They all moved at the same time, the same rhythm. The man gulped. Even he had not thought he would get this far and so soon. But the result was disappointing. The wavy clouds stayed put, and so did the black birds. The lights had halted as well. Sighing, Rodnye turned to leave. The sound of a crack of a twig made him swivel his head right back around. Standing in front of him was a shape formed by the birds. He squinted his eyes to tell what it was. Then he realized--it was a tree. The lights had morphed into the bird-tree, making a glowing appearance, almost like fireflies. And the clouds were now steps leading up to the bird-tree. Rodney had no idea on what to do. All his life he had dreamed something like this would happen, but now that it was actually here, Rodney had to admit he was a bit scared. It was either climb the bird-tree and let his curiosity win, or leave it and live his regular life. He looked back at his old life, the road leading up north. Nobody would miss him if he didn't return, would they? He shook his head. He knew he had nothing to lose in his old life for ever since he began his search, the people had backed away in fear. He raised one foot up to the cloud, not thinking of anything but the moment, and climbed. Each time he took a step, the cloud behind him disappeared, leading him farther and farther away from the ground, until finally he reached the bird-tree. It no longer seemed to be made of birds and instead glowing black feathers. Time did not matter anymore as Rodney saw the top in view. However, what he did not realize was that each time he took a step, he left something behind dearly. For he had forgotten, that the real reason people had backed away was for him to see that he would leave nothing behind, when in fact, he had left a good deal behind. Yes, they had been afraid, but they had not let curiosity take over their lives like he had. Moral: As much as curiosity is appealing, do not let it take control. You must balance it.

~I might change the ending because I didn't know what to do... I'll add more later, and maybe edit it!

submitted by Moss, age 13
(May 17, 2014 - 1:19 pm)

Nobody in Chelmsdale quite knew what to make of the road. It had been built and consecrated by the Lord of the Dales only a few short weeks ago! Why, then, was it so overgrown? Naturally, the people turned to Madame Zeyada, but she sent them off with a few sharp words about a Waterwitch knowing nothing about such things. And it was true: no matter what one might say about her uncanny skill with herbs and healing, Madame Zeyada was a Waterwitch, not a Plantwitch of any caliber. Everyone had their own ideas, of course. Aggu, the blacksmith, thought someone had scattered magic seeds. Kidley, who owned the Sign of Six Geese tavern, thought that it had just been an unusually good year for plants. Anasiri, the librarian's daughter who never stopped talking, thought that the road had been mistakenly built right over a Plant energy line through the earth, and proceeded to prattle on about the likelihood of such an occurrence until her father, the much more taciturn librarian, dragged her inside to do some laundry. That year the gypsy traders entered by the west road as usual, grumbling about how the townspeople had promised them a good road from Hiverdale to the north. One of the younger gypsies was an apprentice Earthwitch, but when asked, he said he had no idea and maybe they should talk to the Archmage himself, he didn't care. The people of Chelmsdale argued, and held meetings, and sent for a Plantwitch from Ayendale (no Plantwitch came), and argued some more. And all the while the road stood, unused due to thorns and angry birds who nested in the foliage, while yet more plants pushed their way up between the cobblestones.

submitted by A Crowd Sorcerer, age 13, New Hampshire
(May 19, 2014 - 4:05 pm)

The ordinary, unsuspecting townsfolk mostly ignore the road. Of course, there are some ghost stories and whatnot, but nobody really knows what is at the end.

The road itself is unimportant; it is a cart road for travelling merchants. However, a few miles down the road, there is a fork. One way, West, leads to some boring old town that I shall not go into detail about, but the othe way, East, leads to an old castle, surrounded on three sides by a steep cliff, the bottom of which cannot be seen from the castle walls. The castle was once inhabited by a great warrior, whose name is long forgotten. But there is an old man in the town that remembers one teensy thing about a castle somewhere North. If you pay him one small coin, he will tell you of the warrior, whose name is long forgotten, and that this warrior found... IMMORTALITY!!! BWAHAHAHAHA!!! HAHAHAhaha... *ahem* Of course, the old man also believes in two dimensional flute-playing tricksters and hot-pink bunnies, so his story may be invalid.

The road is abandoned because all trade and commerce to the North has dried up (on account of orc-raids) and so there is merely no reason to travel on a road built for trade.

By now, the castle is very old. It is in a state of disrepair and it is covered in weeds. The outer wall is mostly destroyed and the rest of the building is falling apart. At least, that is what it looks like from the outside... 

submitted by Malum, age 14trillion, Arúz
(May 22, 2014 - 5:35 pm)

Orc-raids, huh? Do you play Dungeons and Dragons too?

submitted by A Crowd Sorcerer, age 13, New Hampshire
(June 7, 2014 - 9:36 am)

I plat D&D.

submitted by Brooke E., age 11, Arkansas
(June 26, 2014 - 2:12 pm)

Awesome! I'm generally the DM, although I technically don't have a regular session yet. Maybe a few ideas from D&D could get worked in? (e.g. the pantheon of gods, or approach to magic)

submitted by A Crowd Sorcerer, age 13, New Hampshire
(June 30, 2014 - 11:18 am)

I'm a half elven druid. :D

submitted by Brooke E., age 11, Celestial Plane
(July 24, 2014 - 7:42 pm)

The road was once traveled by followers of a death god's cult. It became disused after the followers of Maelkith (the death god mentioned above) fought in a war. Led into battle by an evil sorcerer named Khaos, every single one was killed. That includes Khaos. At the end of the path is an abandoned cave temple where Khaos' spirit abides when he is not trying to kill the child of the person who killed him. (See the villain thread.)

submitted by James E., age 13, Wyoming
(June 26, 2014 - 2:11 pm)

Hey that's my villain!

 

It's fine I don't care. 

submitted by Brooke E., age 11, Arkansas
(June 27, 2014 - 7:16 pm)

BTW the death god's name is Mael-Koth not Maelkith. 

submitted by Brooke E., age 11, Arkansas
(June 27, 2014 - 7:20 pm)

The road was once a bustling street, leading to a glorious castle where King Asa and Queen Reina lived and ruled. They were wise rulers, and their empire florished under their rule. People from all over the country, sometimes even from faraway lands, walked on that road to pay their respects to the king and queen. They were never disappointed. For King Asa and Queen Reina would personally speak to everyone who wanted an audience, from peasants to merchants to nobles. The people of Farica was happy and content.

Years passed, and darkness arose. There was a rebellion. The Demon Rebellion. Those who survived to tell the tale still shudder at the mere mention of it. The people of Farica always knew of magical beings living among them, and respected them. In return, the fairies, elves, sprites, were kind and blessed mankind. Yet some beings were filled with darkness and hatred.  

The rebellion consisted of goblins, trolls, witches, demons;some mean-hearted dwarves, elves, sprites; and of course, those who were banished from the realm of the faries. The good faries sided with mankind, and under the leadership of King Asa and Queen Reina, fought back. There were many valiant heroes who shed blood on the battlefield, dying for their cause, their kingdom. After two long years, it seemed that mankind would win. But there was a traitor. He murdered King Asa and the heir to the throne, Prince Owen, betrayed the people of Farica, and turned to the enemy! 

Queen Reina and all of Farica mourned King Asa and Prince Owen, while fighting back against the demons as hard as they could. But the traitor led the demons to victory. They killed Queen Reina and all the possible heirs to the throne. Innocent people were murdered. Many lives were lost on that fateful day. The tyrant seized the throne and ruled harshly. The land, once a paradise, became a land of misery of fear. 

All that remained of the glorious castle is a pile of rubble and ashes, for it was burnt to the ground by the tyrant. Karan. 

However, legend has it that the princess escaped and was hidden far far away. One day, people say, one day,  she or those after her, will return and take revenge. 

 

 

Sorry for how long it is. I kind of got carried away. 

submitted by Alice W., California
(June 27, 2014 - 3:08 pm)

The road leads to a spooky forest. Inside this forest was a cute little house. It was the home of someone who has changed. Someone who used to be sweet, but is now bitter, foul, and rotten.  The house is now painted black. It is protected by monsters and ghosts, black cats, ravens, and crows. Oh yeah. The house is invisible. Only someone with the power can get inside.

submitted by Ellie, age 11, PA
(July 4, 2014 - 5:26 pm)

Wow. This post might be my first ever. How times have changed...

submitted by Ellie, age 12, Place of wow
(November 5, 2014 - 8:38 pm)

Long ago, before the War, wizards were commonplace. The road used to lead to Soroog, the most northern city and wizard capitol of the kingdom of Ibelle. Beyond it lay a forest and mountains. But then an evil king ascnded the throne. He thought the wizards were too powerful, so he stormed Soroog. Many wizards were killed, but many more escaped. The king forbade everyone to approach the abandoned city. The road that was traversed so much that there had been hazardous traffic was now an abandoned and weedy dirt road.The wizards had fled farther north.

Now, 25 years later, there are rumors going around that the wizards left a trail behind them. This brings some hope to the people, for the king has grown more tyrannical over the years.

Iris, a 13-year-old girl, wonders if the wizards could help them. She decides to go to Soroog and look for the rumored road.

submitted by Claire, age 14
(July 6, 2014 - 9:40 am)

The road eventually leads to the Garvavi Forest, the woods surrounding the town. The woods border the town and are so thick, the path eventually dissapears. It's there because the early settlers attempted to make a road through the forest, but soon realized the task was too difficult. some came back, some stayed too long as the forest grew around and trapped them. The path once lead to the camp the settlers used, but that is long gone now. It is abandoned because the settlers gave up on it, and the ones that stayed, nobody knows. But now, if you go forward in a straight line from where the path ends, you'll end up in the tower of spirits, a magical realm that is yet to be explored.

submitted by Peter E., age 11, Saratoga, NY
(July 6, 2014 - 8:18 pm)