Arthur's Quest, Book 1 - concept fixed

[wiseheart]

Thanks to pico, I've finally got to the point with "Arthur's Quest" where I know how Book 1 will end and how I'm going to get there. I've planned out the remaining six chapters: what will happen in them, in which order things are going to happen, and how this arc of the tale will end. I hope I'll be able to execute that cunning plan, as I'm very content with it.

Book 2 will show the adventures of the actual Quest and how they'll find the Grail... I really don't have much of a concept of that, aside from the adventures I want to include.

Book 3 will probably present the big, final showdown between Arthur/Merlin and Morgana/Meleagant/Mordred. Of that, I have even less of a clue. I want to end it vaguely according to the legends, and I want to include the idea of Mordred magically aging ten years in an instant, so that Arthur and he could become real adversaries, but I'm not sure.

Still, it's good to know how at least Book 1 is supposed to go.

Comments

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

Yay plans!
I can see Mordred ageing up would work, as it is clearly possible in canon (although the way they use ageing is silly,...) - it would just need him or his allies to have a good reason why it was needed (eg coming into his powers more or something) - or some way to live the years and learn but them emerge at the same point in time as he started...

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Which canon deals with ageing up? I have some vague reminiscences of the Nigel Terry film "Excalibur" in this context, but I might be wrong.

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

The tv show has Merlin going around ageing himself temporarily (iirc it was an ageing potion), which is what I was refering to, but it would not surprise me if other versions have as well...

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Oh, I see what you mean. I was talking about permanent ageing, though. That's what I'm planning for Mordred.

Currently, I'm pondering if I should keep Gilli or kill him off heroically. On the one hand, I like him, and Merlin will need strong allies against the Morgana/Mordred/meleagant trio, who also have Cundrie. OTOH, two sorcerers are never so dramatic as a single one. *sigh* Decisions, decisions, decisions...

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

I would imagine (and I can't remember the details from the show and don't have the dvds to check) that if there are ways to age someone temporarily there would be a way to do it permanently...

I think having two sorcerers could be good - someone for Merlin to talk to about magic and plan with... but I see about it being more dramatic with one - I'm sure it will work whichever way you decide in the end :)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Plus there is the guilt issue - it was Gilli's grandpa who's forged the evil dwelling under the graveyard chaper (althoguh he was forced to do so), therefore it would be wonderful closure if Gilli, a much less powerful and totally untrained sorcerer, would make the heroic sacrifice to defeat that evil. It's just so that I like him a lot and it's hard to kill him off. But Merlin should remain the sorcerer, in a manner...

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

*nods* Poor Gilli, in that case - it sounds like it would really work for the story, but be very sad.

[artemis10002000]

Woot, it's great that you have Book 1 all figured out!

But... it's going to be SUCH a huge project, you have my deepest respect for tackling that story! We always knew it would be huge and complex just from meshing the legends and the show, but still! It just keeps growing, doesn't it?

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

You have no idea! I seem to be cursed to write mammooth projects, most of the time.

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! Sounds like a major milestone in the writing process!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

It is a great relief, to be perfectly honest. Even if still have to write another 6 chapter - and the chapters of this story aren't exactly short. ;)