![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wiseheartI must admit, it has been a long time since I last enjoyed writing a story so much. Even if sometimes there's the one or other minor hindrance to conquer. And even if there are going to be only few reviews, due to the nature of the story, I'm very, very happy with it.
The most fun I have with is, of course, the world-building part: the intricate process of somehow reconciling the BBC show with the general events of the legendarium. In some places, I simply have to make up my own legends, as the show is simply too different. This is especially true when it comes to religion.
First of all, there is very little of it. The Old Religion, so often mentioned and condemned by the series' main baddie, Uther Pendragon, is not a belief system that would be either organized or particularly understandable. It seems that it is simpy identical with using magic, good or bad. Also, compared with the Old Religion, there doesn't seem to be a new one, either, one that Uther would support in exchange. Which is, especially in a semi-medieval society, simply impossible. Such a vacuum simply cannot exist.
Behind the tag are a few vague ideas of the development of Albion's belief system, as portrayed in the series. That's pure speculation on my part, of course, but this is how I'll deal with it in the entire story. Read it only if you don't mind being spoiled.
First Phase
- The Old Religion in its pure form, as the Druids follow it. It's roughly based on old Celtic beliefs, without the intention to be exactly the same.
- Magic users are born with their abilities; they are taken to Druid communities and are raised in sacred places, where they live in harmony with nature and its rhythm and cycles.
- Magic is not used as a weapon, unless they need to protect themselves from some dangerous beast or natural catastrophe.
- The use of magic harvests the powers of all four elements.
Second Phase
- The rise of the Ancient Kings; petty kingdoms are united under the rule of one of teh two great Houses, - Llyr and Don - that slowly become adversaries.
- Sorcerers and sorceresses without in-born magical abilities learn to use magic by the way of spells and rituals and with the help of magical items.
- Magic users build their power on the basis oc one or two related elements, for example air/fire or earth/water.
- This time marks the first appearance of the Dragonlords, whose powers are mainly based on air and fire, since those are the elements of the dragons, too.
- The Nine Priestesses on the Isle of the Blessed, while, in theory, capable of manipulating all four elements, tend to build more and more on water and earth. (This theory is based on how Nimueh frequently used water to reach her goals, although not exclusively, see fireballs.)
Final Phase
- Ware breaks out between the Houses of Llyr and Don. After a period of neutrality, the Nine Priestesses choose the side of Llyr, while the Dragonlords side with the House Don.
- King Rhydderch of Don and King Leodegrance of Llyr fight their final battle. The ancient Castle of Tintagel (where in the series the Round Table stood) is destroyed, Rhydderch takes refuge in the Valley of the Fallen Kings, where the Immortal Guardians can keep him and his followers safe.
- Albion splitters into petty kingdoms again. Camelot becomes the centre of the remaining power of House Don, Caerleon that of the House Llyr.
The Aftermath
- After centuries of constant fighting between petty kingdoms, Uther Pendragon finally manages to unite those of Don Kings under his rule as the overlord.
- Uther also declares war on magic and all its users, for personal reasons.
- The Old Religion is forbidden in Camelot, but there is nothing to take its place, which makes people return to the most ancient practices, even though that, too, can get them executed.
Of course, this is still just a rough outline. I expect it to change and expand continously as I write the Epic Merlin Tale(TM).
Tell me what you think!
The most fun I have with is, of course, the world-building part: the intricate process of somehow reconciling the BBC show with the general events of the legendarium. In some places, I simply have to make up my own legends, as the show is simply too different. This is especially true when it comes to religion.
First of all, there is very little of it. The Old Religion, so often mentioned and condemned by the series' main baddie, Uther Pendragon, is not a belief system that would be either organized or particularly understandable. It seems that it is simpy identical with using magic, good or bad. Also, compared with the Old Religion, there doesn't seem to be a new one, either, one that Uther would support in exchange. Which is, especially in a semi-medieval society, simply impossible. Such a vacuum simply cannot exist.
Behind the tag are a few vague ideas of the development of Albion's belief system, as portrayed in the series. That's pure speculation on my part, of course, but this is how I'll deal with it in the entire story. Read it only if you don't mind being spoiled.
First Phase
- The Old Religion in its pure form, as the Druids follow it. It's roughly based on old Celtic beliefs, without the intention to be exactly the same.
- Magic users are born with their abilities; they are taken to Druid communities and are raised in sacred places, where they live in harmony with nature and its rhythm and cycles.
- Magic is not used as a weapon, unless they need to protect themselves from some dangerous beast or natural catastrophe.
- The use of magic harvests the powers of all four elements.
Second Phase
- The rise of the Ancient Kings; petty kingdoms are united under the rule of one of teh two great Houses, - Llyr and Don - that slowly become adversaries.
- Sorcerers and sorceresses without in-born magical abilities learn to use magic by the way of spells and rituals and with the help of magical items.
- Magic users build their power on the basis oc one or two related elements, for example air/fire or earth/water.
- This time marks the first appearance of the Dragonlords, whose powers are mainly based on air and fire, since those are the elements of the dragons, too.
- The Nine Priestesses on the Isle of the Blessed, while, in theory, capable of manipulating all four elements, tend to build more and more on water and earth. (This theory is based on how Nimueh frequently used water to reach her goals, although not exclusively, see fireballs.)
Final Phase
- Ware breaks out between the Houses of Llyr and Don. After a period of neutrality, the Nine Priestesses choose the side of Llyr, while the Dragonlords side with the House Don.
- King Rhydderch of Don and King Leodegrance of Llyr fight their final battle. The ancient Castle of Tintagel (where in the series the Round Table stood) is destroyed, Rhydderch takes refuge in the Valley of the Fallen Kings, where the Immortal Guardians can keep him and his followers safe.
- Albion splitters into petty kingdoms again. Camelot becomes the centre of the remaining power of House Don, Caerleon that of the House Llyr.
The Aftermath
- After centuries of constant fighting between petty kingdoms, Uther Pendragon finally manages to unite those of Don Kings under his rule as the overlord.
- Uther also declares war on magic and all its users, for personal reasons.
- The Old Religion is forbidden in Camelot, but there is nothing to take its place, which makes people return to the most ancient practices, even though that, too, can get them executed.
Of course, this is still just a rough outline. I expect it to change and expand continously as I write the Epic Merlin Tale(TM).
Tell me what you think!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-20 11:59 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-20 08:08 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-21 02:31 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-21 04:22 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-29 09:13 pm (UTC)(And what's this? You are having FUN with world-buidling. No! Really? Quelle surprise! Actually, I'm delighted to see you having fun in fanfic again, even if I haven't much of a clue about your show. (No dragons in the King Arthur TV series I saw... mud, lots of mud)
(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-29 09:29 pm (UTC)Really, no dragon! *shakes head in disgust*