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Chatterbox: Crowd Sorcery
Villain
Villain
Note: You have until Monday, July 7, to create a villain in time for voting. Go here to see the schedule.
One of the most effective ways to be sure a story will have conflict that keeps readers breathlessly turning pages is to introduce a villain—someone whose goals collide head-on with the main character’s goals. We fantasy readers can all think of unforgettable villains from our favorite stories, those scary or relentless opponents that make life so difficult for the hero or heroine.
Villains need more than special magical powers to become so memorable that they haunt our imaginations; they also need as much personality and feeling as the hero. In actual life, almost no one ever sets out to become a villain. Perhaps your villain is desperate to protect her homeland, or family, or dragon. Perhaps the villain’s very life is at stake. There must always be a why, a solid reason behind the evil the villain does so that it makes sense—at least to him or her.
Usually the plot will unfold if you can figure out the relationship of the villain to the main character and what the villain wants. For instance, in thinking about Quill, my heroine who comes out only in moonlight, I might wonder who cast the original spell on her grandmother and why. I’ll imagine it was a monstrous spirit-witch, Gershardt, who lives in a cavern beneath a pool in the forest. Gershardt’s spells can steal someone’s daytime essence, enabling her to take on a human form, leave the pool, and walk about in the world of mortals. But her spell fades over time so she is trying to steal Quill’s nighttime essence, too—although that would make Quill vanish forever.
In my example the stakes are high: the villain wants to continue living in the physical world, and so does the main character—whichever of them loses will disappear!
I might write for my Crowd Sorcery Sentences: “Gnarled hands rose from the water and gripped a tree root, followed by bony arms and a streaming tangle of white hair. Old Gershardt crept from the pool and stood dripping and frosty in the moonlight, blinking into the shadows with her pale blue eyes, chuckling through her toothless mouth.”
When I write, I try to keep in mind that, from the villain’s point of view, he or she is the true main character of the story, and it is the hero or heroine that is in the way.
- 1. Name
- 2. Physical appearance
- 3. Background
- 4. Lair (Hut? Castle? Cave? Ship?)
- 5. What is the villain’s goal?
- 6. Attitude toward hero
- 7. How is the villain stronger than the hero?
- 8. How is the villain weak or vulnerable?
- 9. Why are the main character and the villain in conflict with each other?
- 10. Your Crowd Sorcery Sentence(s)
submitted by Fred Durbin
(April 23, 2014 - 11:54 am)
(April 23, 2014 - 11:54 am)
His name is Shardelmun. When he was burned in a fire, he was melted and took to life on the seas. The only way he could accomplish his life-long goal to destroy the hero of the land, was to attack the harbor.
(July 3, 2014 - 3:09 pm)
Envy. That's what it felt like. Like you want it, but you can't do it. So much envy for this Fable. I walked back to my cave, my game bag burning of my shoulder. I toss it on the ground. I burn a B in the ground. I shed a tear. It's more like a little piece of lava. I put it on my spinning wheel. It turns into the obsidian thred I use to make clothes with. I write a plan for clothes on paper. It burns away, the pencil and paper. I groan and then pull out a wood piece. It turns into charcoal. I write the plans on a rock in it. I intentionally make a picture of Fable burning. I sneer with glee. I notice I'm in the outfit I drew up in the picture. It's made of fire. I thank my parents in my head and draw more pictures of burning Fable.
Done hope u like Burn :D
(July 3, 2014 - 3:37 pm)
Name:
Diana Lin (around the age of 16)
Physical appearance:
Pale with long, black hair. Hair usually up in two buns with two trailing, sleek ponytails. Of Chinese heritage.
Background:
She was raised by elves after her parents betrayed them and didn't follow their rules. The parents, two royals, wanted to protect Diana from ever joining the elves' cause of assassinating, as they were through with working with them. They decided to kill the parents soon after for this, but told the girl that they had been murdered by someone else to let her anger towards anyone grow. After all, it could be anyone, right? The elves, however, would not tell her who the "murderer" was until they thought she was ready. They were, in fact, training her to an assassin for them to carry out their duties. ...And the elves do not look like everyday elves from fairy tales. They can change their appearances at will and use this to their advantage, as assassins. They can easily shapeshift as well. The most evil are in the League of Selene, a private council.
Lair:
Diana does not exactly have a lair as she moves from place to place. But at the elves' place, she does go to a temple dedicated to the moon goddess whom she was named after and it helps her think.
What is the villain's goal?
To track down and kill the "murderer" who killed her parents. Which is, in fact, someone else entirely... far from being a supposed murderer, the main character herself.
Attitude toward hero:
Wants everything in her control. Threatening with weapons. Manipulative, just like the elves are to her.
How is the villain stronger than the hero?
Diana has trained all her life with many weapons to wipe the world of her parents supposed murderer. (Along with anyone else that will oppose her.) These mostly include bows and arrows, shurikens, daggers, etc.
How is the villain weak or vulnerable?
It is hard to tell, but she does have a weak spot. She fears death greatly, and underestimates her victims by thinking they are much weaker than her. She hates accepting failure, too.
Why are the main character and villain in conflict with each other?
When Diana finds out that the "murderer" is the main character, she tries to track her down with all her might as the elves sit back and come up with a strategy for killing off all the kind like the main character. The main character, however, is scared that she is being hunted down and surprised to find out there are more like her. She attempts to seek out others like her when she finds out, avoiding Diana as much as possible, much to her annoyance.
Your Crowd Sorcery Sentence(s):
"Hey Di!" A voice shouted in her ear, just as she was about to shoot an arrow at the target. She let it go in shock at the sudden noise. It landed about four inches away from the bull's eyes she had for so precisely.
Diana turned around sharply. "What is it?"
A boy a few years older than her stood in front of her. His short, dark hair bounced in front of his forehead as he spoke.
"It looks like the Sleek League wants you," the boy said, a slight smirk played upon his face. Diana rolled her eyes.
"The 'Sleek League's' proper name is the League of Selene." She walked up to the target and pulled out the arrow. "You know, I almost a bull's eye there until you so kindly yelled into my ear."
"Sorry about that." He nervously scratched his bushy hair. "And before you even ask, I'll stop calling you Di to please you, your Highness."
"Thank you," She examined the arrow, trying to be as nice as possible towards the infuriating boy. "I'll be on my way to the Selene Temple. Good day, Lee."
Diana passed Lee quickly, grabbing one of her daggers from her sleeve. She threw it behind her, narrowly missing Lee who was standing next to the target. This time, it was a bull's eye. He almost had the courage to say something in response, but thought better of it. Diana Lin was a hurricane if you got too close.
Within a few minutes of walking by the flowering gardens, she reached the Selene Temple. It stood gracely on white carved columns, designed to look like a Roman temple with a touch of Chinese on the curved rooftop. Diana delicately climbed the tall steps of the temple, pushing open the strong doors. Inside was a magnificent display of a shrine to a painted moon and stone torches lit the walls. Gingerly, as not to make too loud of a sound, she went down the paved aisle. When she reached the shrine, Diana saw that the League were standing above the alter.
"What do you seek of me, my masters?" she asked, keeping her tone calm.
"The time has come for you to learn the name of the murderer who killed your parents. You are ready to hunt them down, as we can see from your skills." One of the leaders said. He was darkened by the shadows of the torchlight so it was hard to make out his features.
"It's about time. I've been training for this for years." A glint of viciousness glazed through her eyes. "So, who is it?"
"It is the a young girl, who, rumor has it, can change written words to reality. She has too great a power and must be dealt with. Understand?"
"Of course," Diana replied, a malicious smile played upon her pale face.
"She is the one to avenge your parent's deaths, the only way to restore order and for you to gain the power you parents meant for you." The same leader got up and walked down from the shrine, his face still hidden. "This girl is Fable Thatcher."
"Fable? Hm, I'll make a fable about her when I'm done with this." Diana snatched her twin daggers from their sheathes hanging on the back of her fitted armor. "I'm ready."
"Go out and reclaim your place, then. The time is now." Another leader rose up, her voice exhausted but smooth.
"No better time than the present." Diana smirked. She slid each of her knifes into her sleeves and went down the aisle, running off into the starless night.
(July 3, 2014 - 4:22 pm)
Typo: "You know, I almost got a bull's eye there until you so kindly yelled into my ear."
(July 4, 2014 - 10:41 am)
I don't have a lot of time so I will only do a few.
Name-Arachinia (Sort of like the spider)
Physical appearance- Stringy black hair and piercing green eyes that have magical powers. Thin and tall.
Background- She was born to the king and queen of a distant realm but her father was unpleased because she was a girl. Therefore she was banished from the realm forever and now seeks revenge on not only her father and mother but all who defy her.
Lair- She lives on a black Mountain full of darkness.
(July 3, 2014 - 5:00 pm)
I saw who the hero was so my villian is based on Fable. (meaning I might mention her.)
1. Harris
2. Rugged, he has a bright smile, red hair.
3. Was born poor, and lived when the rulers had to much power, and started to boss people around. he grew up bullied.
4. a traveling wagon.
5. To gain power, and treat those who bossed him around in the same way they treated him.
6. He sees Fable as his staircase to power. But stuggles to keep clam and collected.
7. Has Fables's trust, can relate to Fable's past, and is a good liar.
8. Dosen't always believe in himself. Since he relates to Fables past, he dosen't want to hurt her.
9. Harris wants to use Fable as his source of power, but Fable wants to be free of the curse.
10. "Please just write it!" Harris begged. "Why?!" asked Fable unsure. Harris banged his fist. How could he be so close, and ink on paper be the only thing in his way?
(July 3, 2014 - 5:45 pm)
I think the villain's name should be Thunderclumpen!
.PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
Thunderclumpen has black hair that's in two thick black braids. He has red eyes and a curly thin black mustache. His shirt has a scull and cross bones. The shirt its self is a puckish green color. And his pants are a light gray with rips at the knees. And as for his shoes they are blue sandals with red straps.
.BACKGROUND
Thunderclumpen is from mashto. He lived up in the mountains of doom. His parents were heros to the city that lay beneath them. And he had one older brother and two younger sisters who were twins.His brother went on to being a professor in magic and his sisters became witches. But Thunderclumpen knew he wanted to be different from his family so that is why he chose villainy.
.LAIR
Thunderclumpen's lair is in a castle made of diamonds. It has 62 rooms in total. And in his lair he keeps all his terrible inventions.
.VILLAINS GOAL
To destroy the country by letting loose his thirty foot tall robot inventions.
.ATITUDE TOWARDS HERO
He considers the hero a man/woman of great ideas and hopes that when he destroys the country the hero will come over and beg to be a villain with him.
. HOW IS VILLAIN STRONGER THAN HERO
Villain know that the hero can't stand the color white and that if he sees the color white he will puke. So villain knows that if in a battle he shows the hero white the hero wont be able to survive.
.HOW IS THE VILLAIN WEAK
Thunderclumpen is very!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ticklish
.HOW THE VILLAIN AND THE HERO ARE IN CONFLICT
Thunder clumpen and the hero have been enemies for a really long time and when they meet again they decide to go back into battle against each other.
.MY SENTENCE(S)
Thunderclumpen climbed over the top of the skyscraper breathing his horrible breath down on the people below. He looked down at the people one last time before drawing his white sword from his pocket. Suddenly someone comes up from behind and starts tickling him. Thunderclmpen bursts into laughter before falling into the crowds below him.
(July 3, 2014 - 7:31 pm)
(July 3, 2014 - 8:01 pm)
1. Name: Jirath Gardanger
2. Physical Apperance: Sleek black hair, with green elven eyes and a slim strong body. He wears flowing royal purple robes.
3. Backround: Jirath came from an old family of mages, but one day when a girl of execptional talents ruined his life. That day he vowed to never rest until hes anger with this girl was quelled.
4. Lair: Jirath has an underground cavern that serves as his lair.
5. What is the villans goal: To rid the world of this girl and her talents who by writing could mess up everything.
6. Attitude twords hero: He wants nothing to do with her, she is to only thing that stands in his way.
7. How is the villan stronger than the hero: He is not shy, or afraid of his power and will not worry about using it. He also has a very strong will and thereis nothing he will stop at.
8. How is the villan weak or vulnerable: The only thing he has is his magic, otherwise he's not very strong.
9. Why are the main characther and the villian in conflict with each other: When Jiarth was a child something she wrote runined his life forever.
10. Crowd Socery sentences: He rose back up and yelled "What are you doing here," and then promptly threw a fireball at her. "What do you want with me," wimpered his minion, and he replied, "Find out what she's doing here right now,". To that the minion said, "Yes, Master," and was off.
(July 4, 2014 - 8:18 am)
(July 4, 2014 - 9:32 am)
1. Lycan
2. He is a werewolf. In human form he has deep black hair and
explosively green eyes. He is shockingly handsome. In wolf form he is a
huge black timberwolf.
3. Born a werewolf, he must murder and consume people to keep himself
immortal. He has no conscience because of this and lusts for the blood
of the hero, due to the fact that the hero's father put out his eye.
4. He's a wanderer. He leaves after killing a few people and satisfying his hunger.
5. To feast upon the blood of the hero, witch has magical properties that will restore his eye.
6. See numbers 5 and 3
7. He's a cunning, charming man who could easily tear you limb from limb if he wanted.
8. He is madly obsessed with killing the hero.
9. See numbers 8, 5 and 3.
10.
The milkmaid clutched the bucket of milk as she walked along the path
home. It was the night of the full moon, and it was making her nervous.
She shuddered and quickened her pace. What was that? She sloshed some
milk in terror, not caring about her soaked boots.
"Hello?"
What was that? WHAT WAS THAT? She started to breathe rapidly. Calm down. Don't scream. Don't--
A hand grabbed her shoulder.
"AAAAAH!"
She whirled around to see the smiling face of a young man.
"Lycan!" she yelp-laughed, "what are you doing out here? I'm glad you're here. I thought it was a bear! I picked the right night to be outside--"
"No. You didn't."
"What do--"
Far away in the farmhouse that she had been traveling to, no one heard
the milk bucket hit the ground. No one heard the tiny, terrified scream
that stopped in exactly three seconds. And no one, absolutely no one,
heard Lycan's high, cruel laugh.
(July 4, 2014 - 1:58 pm)
BTW, the person who put out his eye was Fable's father, a Celestial being and the possesor of the purest silver knife ever. The silver was spun by the spiders of Argentum.
(July 4, 2014 - 5:59 pm)
Name: Abred Fent
Physical Appearance: short brown hair, black eyes, pure white skin, yellow teeth
Background: Abred is from an island that was deserted by humans, and he was the last one standing. He grew up with trolls and eventually sailed away, becoming a piriate until he assasinated the king and became the king.
Castle: Tall, black, and in terrible condition
Goal: To rule the world and kill all who stand in his way.
Attitude Towards Hero: Hates her, and is always trying to kill or enslave her, or poison her.
How The Villian is Stronger: Abred has a whole evil army, and the hero only has a few people.
How the Villian is Weak: He wants money, so he is easy to bribe, and has terrible eyesight, and is broken from all his battles, and will not accept help.
Why The Vilian+Main Charachter Hate Each other: Fable wants peace, while Abred wants war. Abred treats everyone poorly, so Fable tries to make sure he is not hurting anyone by sneaking around and helping them.
Sentence: Abred smiled as he brewed the potion. "Now the girl wil be my acheviement," he said. The girl was Fable, and Abred was trying to make a potion to make her write about him winning the great war. CRASH!!!!! Abred looked over to where the noise was. POOF! The potion was gone. "W-wh-what was that for?" he stuttered in disbelief. And then he disappeared, reappearing in a small cottage. The occupant screamed, and ran out. Abred loked. It was Fable's mother. He shot a spell and she fell to the floor, stunned and put to sleep. Abred smiled. "How fun," he said.
(July 4, 2014 - 3:36 pm)
1. Name
Ebony Montoya (Once she became evil, she dropped the last name and just went with Ebony..)
2. Physical Appearance
She once had lovely blonde locks and bright green eyes, but ever since she has begun to become evil, her hair has been streaked with black and bronze. Her once green eyes have flecks of rusty gold color and they have a piercing look to them that suggests something evil is taking over. She is tall and stands proud, but always wears heels, as if she is self-conscious. She has sharp features and an even sharper voice that cuts through the silence like a knife.
3. Background
She was once a normal girl, popular in her town and with many friends. Even the adults loved her. She was always an imaginative, creative child, and one day she wandered into the woods, only to find a blood-red stone, forged into a necklace, just sitting there. She knew there was something strange going on, as the necklace was somehow calling to her, drawing her nearer, begging her to put it on. So, being an innocent 10-year-old, she did. The stone gradually dug itself into her skin to pump magic into her blood. Most villains become villains because of hate or a problem they have. But she has evil coursing through her veins, and the longer she is with the stone, the more powerful, evil, and dangerous she becomes... Ever since that fateful day, she has slowly become evil and slowly become an outcast, and slowly, the stone has begun to take over...
4.Lair
Her lair was just a lavishly decorated apartment for a while, but a small palace made of obsidian with veins of magma running through the walls was constructed in the middle of a thick, dead forest. It's towering and evil, though a couple of the rooms actually have a very cozy interior.
5. Villain's Goal
It began as a simple wish to have more in life. Yes, she had a fine life before, but she was bored and tired. She wanted more than just her everyday schedule. The stone enhanced her feelings for this and made her want it so much more. The stone planted ideas in her mind... Evil ideas to get what she wanted. It changed her innocent hope for adventure into a thirst for power and glory. She achieved much of that, but the stone was not satisfied. Now, after everything wicked she has done, the stone has convinced her to want more. Now she wants immortality, the greatest power there is. If she lives forever, she can use her power for anything. Soon, she will be the power everyone fears and she will take control. The only thing standing in Ebony's way is Fable, Fable's powers, and the prophecy.
6. Attitude towards Hero
She is truly and very calmly evil, since the stone is controlling most of her evil. She hates the Hero, but this is mostly because the evil of the stone is feeding the hate towards Fable to her. She speaks to most people with her sharp, zinging voice, but when talking to Fable Thatcher, her voice lowers down to a hiss and her eyes narrow because she knows that the only one keeping her from her goal is Fable.
7. How is the villain stronger than the Hero?
The fact that the stone supplies her magic makes her very powerful and dims her emotions with the almost uncontrollable evil it contains. She doesn't have any magic herself, but the magic from the stone makes her able to do almost anything.
8. How is the villain weak or vulnerable?
If you separate Ebony's necklace from her person, her power will gradually drain and she will become less and less evil and powerful, until she is as fragile, innocent, and powerless as she was as a child. Yet, it is buried in her skin... Almost impossible to take off. Also, you must beware. The stone has a mind of its own and it can very easily turn against Ebony or completely take over and possess her. You never know who the real master is. It is very probable the stone is actually the master of Ebony, not the other way around. Another weakness is the fact that even though the stone is somewhat controlling her and most definitely making her evil, Ebony still has some of herself inside her, something that hasn't been changed or altered to hate and to accept malicious personalities. Could this be the only way to defeat her? Break into her old self and crack the will to be evil? Separate her from the stone and sever their connection?
9. Why are the main character and the villain in conflict with each other?
Not only is Fable the only thing preventing Ebony from achieving her goal, but she also wants Fable's prophecy because it will assist her. It has a secret within, as well as a way to defeat Fable. What Fable is doing contradicts Ebony's quest for control, power, and immortality.
10.Your Crowd Sorcery Sentence(s)
She paced. Heels clicking on the hard obsidian floor, eyes flashing, and stone flickering in the light of the fire, she paced. The girl, yes, that horrid, annoying girl, Fable, stood in her way to success. Her and that thing she always hung around with. Ebony sighed. They were against her, and that was a problem. A long pause followed this thought. And then, Ebony smiled, a wicked, devious smile. Yes, they were a problem... A small problem. They could be taken care of, make no mistake. In fact, in her mind, they were already gone. Laughing inwardly, Ebony scooped a flame out of the crackling hearth. Forming it with her hands, she closed her eyes and blew on it gently. A winged monster of flame was birthed from the fire.
"You know what to do," she whispered, and then she released it and yelled, "Go!" It dove into the floor and was gone.
She stepped out to her balcony, and with a flick of her finger and a flash of the stone, a bolt of lightning shot out of the sky and crashed into the ground, destroying everything around it, for no particular reason. Just for fun.
(July 4, 2014 - 3:38 pm)
If you've seen the princess bride:
My name is Ebony Montoya. I found an evil necklace. Prepare to die.
(July 9, 2014 - 8:58 am)