Into the minds of the Abysmali

So the first key here is...what do they think like?

Let's start with what we know about them. We know that they're the second oldest race....they kicked the pants out of the Simsaur in the first war. The third race didn't care about them, neither did the fourth. The Bleyoki kicked the pants out of them, but so did everyone. The Sopensen kind of did, but in a benevolent condescending way.

So its really only been humans that ever really beat them down. And they haven't really done this just once, but every single time a new empire arises and wants to throw its weight around.

So the thought occurs that the Abysmali are going to have a slow, simmering anger building (which culminates at the time of Fulcrum but this is before that.) But they're mindful that another empire is coming along, so they're not going to want to kick humans around TOO much.

Most cultures that have been victimized have one of two choices or tactics they most use; the first is to adopt and absorb the conquering culture as one's own. I just don't see the Abysmali doing that, and the second is to invent their own history that paints them in as positive a light as possible. I see the Abysmali doing that.

The thing I think that makes this interesting is that I see the Abysmali starting to take the really long view of things, both because they ARE old, and separate (being in the water), and they live a long time. But also because it contrasts them with humans. As such, I think that they hold humanity to the first deal made with the first empire....a hundred thousand years ago.

So what seem like magic tokens of protection and tribute to the humans of Glashause, are in fact navigation and tarriff agreements to the Abysmali. Of course, it isn't their fault that humanity hasn't bothered to collect on their end of the deal for 40,000 years. They're holding THEIR end of the deal up.

Water

I've decided to tell the better story. That means I have to figure out what the ship is out there for....I'm thinking raiders since it makes the horrific things that might or might not happen to them seem just...

In fact, since the Abysmali pretty much own the oceans it makes sense that to fish in them or travel on them one would have to pay them tribute, but since they're a dying race or at least scares, then they might not appear all that much. They're powerful and present enough that some kind of ritual would be needed but from time to time someone would try to ignore it...and they might get away with it for a while and not get caught.

The trick is that we'll need a new sailor joining the boat, to notice the lack of the Talisman or sign and be worried about it. The others will mock him for it, and of course, that is the voyage when the Abysmali take issue with their lack of respect.

Fire of Prophesy is at 3500.

Status

I have updated 4 of 21 chapters in "Micronation" for the third revision of the manuscript.

I have revised and cowritten 11 chapters out of 41 of "Precyber" with Ken....it's "the fourth novel" and is basically in a future dystopia set in Atlanta, GA.

"Fire of Prophesy" is at 3250 words, but it looks to need another 500.

Unfortunately, my schedule demands that I start working up a new story now, so I might have to piggy back a bit.

So what kind of story do I want to write? Next in the common theme is "Water" which almost automatically seems to be about the Abysmali, but that's a rather wide range of things to cover.

I'm torn between one of two different ideas...the first is a raiding party in Glashause that gets mixed up with the Abysmali from a distance...kind of a horror story set in the age before Fulcrum. The second is to be about their 'client' race in the age after Fulcrum in which they've modified humans....all of the major races have modified humans outside of Glashause in the third age...but I haven't given much thought about how.

That's why I lean a little bit toward the second idea, but its just an idea of somewhere to write about, not a story. As a story, the first definitely has more potential.

1250 words

This story feels better than the last starting paragraph, but it already feels like its wandering a bit. I'll try to redirect it, but sometimes moving forward is better.

750 Words on Fire

At 750 words.

Initial Fail

Only 550 words written on the Fire Story, though I have finally finished the first draft of the Vance story that proceeded it, and I'm working on Novel #4 with Ken again. I should begin writing in that as of next week again.

Experiment: Fail

This is the start of the story from the 'helper's perspective'....didn't work.

"Vlurf loved his master. He felt honored to work for a man who made fate itself his tool. He knew that he would be able to help some in the near future. Still, the world was going to make him want to give up his position for something more normal, like a Crafter or Skald position.

Vlurf would have none of it. He belonged at his master’s side."

I'm clearly going to try something else. I think I'll try again with a foot soldier tomorrow.