Chatterbox: Crowd Sorcery

Sidekick Vote!

 

Thanks to everybody for submitting so many fantastic sidekicks, and to Fred and Emily for looking through them all and choosing 12 for the voting. 

According to Fred, "These sidekicks were the hardest yet to select among. There were so, so many that I had to pass over simply because I thought they weren't a good fit for this story, but they were fantastic in their own right!"

Some of the sidekicks you've created—not necessarily the ones selected by Fred and Emily for voting—will appear in the October issue of Cricket, with sketches by Emily. Your villains will be featured in the September issue.

You have until Monday, July 28, to vote for a sidekick for Fable Thatcher.

The results of the vote for villain will be announced on Monday, July 21.

We're hoping that we can make Crowd Sorcery a regular area of the Chatterbox where you can write your own fantasy stories using some of your ideas for characters and fantasy words. Stay tuned! 

 

*** 

 

1. Name: Dalytwinx Flystrayt

2. Appearance: Short black hair, dark brown eyes that see suprisingly well at night

3. Background: Dalytwinx is a Fledermouse, a human-bat shape shifter. He was shunned by everyone he met until she found Fable. Dalytwinx has had a strange history like all Fledermice and is happy to find someone he can finally trust. He has known there still are Believers, people who take Fledermice in, and he wants to find the Believer that is hiding his parents in his/her attic as bats.

4. Occupation or trade: Jack-of-all trades, fisher, pickpocket (only if he's desperate)

5. Attitude toward main character: Dalytwinx likes Fable and is happy to find someone he can tell his secret to.

6. Strengths or special abilities: Awesome eyesight + hearing, can turn into a bat at will

7. Fears, weaknesses, or secrets: That everyone will find out he's a Fledermouse and kill him -- People (Unbelievers) hate Fledermice, think they are evil and diseas- infested but they're not, they just can turn into bats. That Fable will betray him, that Fable will write that he dies at the hands of the Unbelievers.

8. How is the sidekick helpful? He helps Fable to find the prophecy and her parents, he is also her "spy" -- ears and eyes work awesome in the dark.

9. What does the sidekick want most? To find his parents and to have safety.

10. Your Crowd Sorcery Sentence(s): Dalytwinx stopped. He thought he had lost the Unbeliever hunting party by now. Wait... stop.. about a half mile to the north. There they were. He was safe, for now. He also heard pen hittng paper, very close by. Dalytwinx wanted to investigate. As long as whoever was writing didn't recogniz him, he was okay. He walked, didn't fly. Too risky. After about 6 minuted of walking, he found an old shack. He opend the door, soundlessly. A girl, sitting at an old, crumbling desk, was writing. And crying. Dalytwinx thought her eyes were beautiful. So starry and mysterious. She looked up. <"Who are you and what are you Doing Here?"> she asked.

 

submitted by Lillian W, age 11, Minnesota

 

***

 

1. Name: Scrant (Lawrence Scranton Greyson) 

2. Appearance: He has cropped wavy brown hair, deep brown eyes, light skin, and freckles. He has a slightly messy appearance. He wears an oversized tattered coat, long pants and muddy work boots (he is poor, and cannot afford much better). 

3. Background: Scrant grew up in a poor family. His family became ill and died when he was young, so Scrant was left to fend for himself, and live on the streets . He does not know of any other family he may have. 

4. Occupation or trade: He does odd jobs, errands, and just about anything to earn enough money to survive.

5. Attitude towards protagonist: Although witty and charming, Scrant doesn't quite know what to make of Fable. Still, he finds himself close to Fable, and that he cares about her.

6. Strengths or special abilities: Scrant himself thinks he has no special abilities, but he is wrong. He has ability to think on his feet. And although he doesn't know it he has magic, which will one day help him to break Fable's curse.

7. Fears, weaknesses, or secrets: Scrant doesn't know it at first, but Fable first story that she ever wrote was about him, so actually Scrant was created by Fable. She was the one who made his life miserable by making him poor and without a family. 

8. How is the sidekick helpful? Using his charm and wit, Scrant helps Fable to be happy again, and to overcome her depression. But also Scrant will soon rescue Fable by breaking her curse. Even the heroine needs a hero sometimes.

9. What does the sidekick want most? Scrant wants freedom from his poor life.

10. Your Crowd Sorcery Sentence(s): Scrant was angry, but mostly he was afraid. Five days ago he'd met Fable. Two hours ago he'd come to visit her because she'd spoken of her loneliness. One hour ago, his curiousity had gotten the better of him. He longed to know why. Why the mysterious girl always had her pen and paper. He'd asked her why, and she'd burst into fresh tears. Her blue eyes, if possible were even more beautiful when she cried as they stared into Scrant's brown ones. Then she explained what she called her curse. Now he understood. He hadn't then. He hadn't read her story yet. The story about him.

In the moments after he'd read that story he was confused. Fable had written the story about Scrant years before she'd even met him. How did she even know his name? Now he knew. She knew his name because she'd chosen his name. His family became ill because she wrote it, and it became true. She'd scibbled down that he hated his name, and he did. She made everyone call him Scrant. She made his hair and eyes brown. Fable had splashed mud on his boots, and had his coat ripped to shreds. Scrant knew he should be angry, but he wasn't somehow. He knew why. Fable had written that he would meet her and that he would learn of her curse. This wasn't why he wasn't angry.

Now, he knew that soon he would break her curse, and Scrant knew he would die trying. Scrant knew he should be angry, but he wasn't. He was scared. Afraid. This was why.

 

submitted by Laura K. , age 13, Wisconsin 

 

***

 

1. Name: Astoria Neuraline (pronounced /æˈstoʊriə ˈnʊəʳəlaɪn/, or "ah-STOR-ee-uh NUHR-uh-line" if you don't know IPA or the symbols don't show up yon your computer). Her nickname is Aster--her mom's favorite flower, and the reason she was named Astoria--but Fable calls her Story.

2. Appearance: Medium-length brown hair, often braided with flowers in the braid. She only doesn't braid her hair when it is very ratty and tangled, so if you were to see her on a rare occasion without the braid (and/or the flowers; she sometimes puts flowers in her hair without the braid and often braids her hair without the flowers), her hair would look like a mess. Light brown eyes, but if you look closely at them you see flecks of greens and blues. She has pale skin and freckles. A bright dark red birthmark is on her right cheek, the bridge of her nose, and part of her chin, like a paint splatter.

3. Background: She was bullied as a child, and is very shy. Though she was well-off (I wouldn't say rich, but closer to rich than poor), her birthmark set her apart. But when she was at a low point in her life, she discovered a piece of Fable's writing that was accidentally dropped, and it inspired her and helped her through because she could relate to it so much. What she doesn't know is that she could relate to it because it created her problems by describing them.

4. Occupation or trade: Her mother was a healer, and she is supposed to follow in her footsteps; but she wants to be a poet or an artist.

5. Attitude toward main character: Admiring, yet somewhat disappointed; she had built up a sort of perfect girl who would completely understand her in her mind as being the author, and she is discovering that Fable has flaws. Yet she likes the real Fable too, and is maybe even developing a crush? 

6. Strengths or special abilities: Strengths: She is loyal, kind, gentle, and empathetic. She thinks before she speaks, and tries to never cause harm, because she knows the power words can have, for good and for ill, unless she is very upset. Special abilities: She is a very good artist, and while her poetry is not as good, it has a certain quality of voice to it, of meaning, that is uniquely hers and makes you think, even if the poetry itself is awkward, with bad rhyme or rhythym. And it improves, of course, as she writes more of it. Also, she knows three languages fluently (including her and Fable's native language), which will probably come in handy at some point.

7. Fears, weaknesses, or secrets: Fears: Heights, failure, being judged (especially on her birthmark). Weaknesses: Mentally, she is naive, timid, and overemotional; physically, she is weak. Secrets: She knows something about Fable's backstory that not even Fable does, but keeps it hidden because she thinks that Fable would hate her for how she discovered it and/or think of her [astoria] as beneath herself [fable] due to the content of the secret.

8. How is the sidekick helpful? She shows Fable that her writing can do good things, she can speak two other languages, and is Fable's friend.

9. What does the sidekick want most? To feel happy and secure with herself despite her birthmark, and with others despite her fear that they are judging her.

10. Your Crowd Sorcery Sentence(s): Your Crowd Sorcery Sentence(s): Quietly, Astoria slipped out of her house and walked to her home. Her real home, surrounded by wildflowers and birdsong, where nobody was there to care that she was different. When she got there, a half-painted canvas and some scraps of poetry greeted her, but she ignored them in favor of a piece of paper hidden underneath them. Sitting down under a tree, she read it again, over and over. After a while, she put the paper down (she had the story memorized anyway) and began imagining the girl. Somehow, she felt like she knew that the girl would never judge her, that they could be best friends and it wouldn't matter that other people judged her because this girl with magic in her words wouldn't. Logically, she knew that she will probably never meet the girl again. But when has logic ever stopped a daydream?

[Sorry they're not very good, I'm not too great at introductions, especially short ones. Hopefully they helped give you an idea of the character though!] 

 

submitted by Casey P., age 13, Florida

 

***

 

1. Name: Rax

2. Appearance: Rax usually wears a small black cloak trimmed in red. He always has his trusty sword, redheart, strapped to his back. Redheart is long and thin, has several rubies incrusted in it, and has a piece of a dragon bone inside that allows Rax to talk freely to dragons.

3. Background: Rax grew up in the same town as Fable. Sometimes when they were young, they would sneak out to play together. As Rax got older, he started training as a swordsman, and then he was given his blade, Redheart, as a reward from one of the dragons he'd helped.

4. Occupation or trade: Rax is only thirteen, but he travels out into the woods to find hurt dragons, unhealthy eggs, etc, to nurse them back to health. Sometimes, he will secretly ask Fable for help.

5. Attitude toward main character: Rax considers Fable one of his best friends and will do anything for her.

6. Strengths or special abilities: Rax is a good swordsman and his longsword, Redheart, allows him to communicate with dragons.

7. Fears, weaknesses, or secrets: Rax somewhat fears fire, witch is a problem because he takes care of dragons. Also, Fable has shown him her power before, so he has kept that a secret for a long time.

8. How is the sidekick helpful? Rax is a good swordfighter and will not back down. He is also on good terms with a lot of dragons, so it doesn't hurt to have one of those gigantic fire breathers on your side.

9. What does the sidekick want most? To help Fable.

10. Your Crowd Sorcery Sentence(s): "Oh, crud, crud, crud!" Rax growled to himself as he climbed up the side of Fable's house. Luckily, Rax had been walking by her house on his way back home that night when he'd looked up and had seen two burglars climbing up her roof towards her bedroom. He had panicked and was scrambling up the side of the chimney before he had time to stop and think . He was just in time, the moment he stepped on the roof, they were in the process of trying to open the window.

"Hey losers!" he called. "You, hoo!" The men whipped around.

"Get him!" one of them shouted.

"Double crud!" Rax yelped as they both pulled swords out of their belts and charged him. He quickly yanked Redheart out of it's sheath and deflected the first strike, then another. One of the hooded men tried to stab Rax but he blocked it, and then disarmed his assailant. The men backed up.

"Ha!" Yelled Rax. He grabbed the rope that the thieves had used to climb up the house, threw it around the men, and tied it. Then before they could react, Rax gave them a kick and sent them spiraling off the roof. Just before the thieves hit the ground, Rax threw the rope around the stovepipe and secured it so the men wouldn't make contact with the hard ground. Just then he heard a rattling sound and Fable's window slid open. A very sleepy-looking Fable leaned out.

"Rax? What are you doing out here? What was all that racket?" Rax glanced sheepishly down out of Fable's vision at the two unconscious burglars.

"Uuumm, nothing. Just wanted to say hi, soooo... hi." Fable rolled her eyes. Couldn't you have just waited tommorow, or at least try the FRONT DOOR." Rax smiled.

"Sorry. Well, I'm gone." He jumped up and clambered down the chimney's outcropping stones. He looked up just in time to see Fable shaking her head in annoyance as she shut the window. Rax smiled, cut the burglars free with his sword, and drug them back to his house.

 

submitted by Will, age 14, Geogia

 

***

 

1. Name: Sir Cecil

2. Appearance: tall and lanky. He wears rusty armor that is much too small for him with an even rustier sword which he has never used and rarely shows his face, but his emerald-colored eyes can usually be seen peeking out from out of his visor.

3. Background: He was the seventh child of the king and queen of a distant, little-known kingdom. The royal family soon realized Cecil was a complete failure. Not only did he show no talent in chivalry, but he was always breaking the rules and sneaking off places. Soon, the king and queen regarded Cecil as the least useful knight of all time, and his siblings claimed he would never go on a single quest.

Until one night, when Cecil found a magic notebook with an infinite number of pages. Without receiving an ounce of training, Cecil declared that he would explore the entire world and record everything down in the notebook to prove he was worthy. He then rode off into the night with the notebook and a quill pen, and spent the next few years exploring distant lands, sneaking into the lairs of fantastic creatures, and observing magical occurrences. Through the entire quest he raised his quill many times, but didn't raise his sword once.

One day, he stumbled upon Fable Thatcher's village. Surprised to find Fable shared his interest of writing, andastounded to find she had such and amazing talent, Cecil offered Fable a new life of adventure.

4. Occupation or trade: Wanderer, poet, and many other quirky jobs that include anything but knight.

5. Attitude toward main character: When Cecil looks at Fable, he feels a sense of recognition. Since they are so similar, both being outcasts and both enjoying writing, he feels he has known her his whole life. He loves her taelnt and is not quite sure why she doesn't love it herself.

6. Strengths or special abilities: No specific strength but his courage and quick wit.

7. Fears, weaknesses, or secrets: Cecil is afraid of losing his notebook, as it is a miracle he has not lost it yet (he is not the most organized person).

8. How is the sidekick helpful? When it comes to fighting, Cecil can't help you. But his wealth of knowledge from years of study mixed with his wit can help him and Fable out of most situations.

9. What does the sidekick want most? To show the king and queen he is worthy of being in the royal family.

10. Your Crowd Sorcery Sentence(s): "So, Cecil," Fable said, the wind rushing into her eyes and making them water as the horse increased his speed, "Are you a... knight?"

Cecil looked back at her, his expression slightly pained. "Well, you might say that," he replied awkwardly. Fable wasn't fazed by this strange behavior. Who was she to know how a knight was supposed to act? After all, she had grown up in a small village, and it was the last likely place you'd expect a knight with emerald eyes to come riding into. Cecil was the first knight Fable had even seen. She had never attempted to create one in her writing, for fear that it would be hostile.

After several minutes of riding in silence, Fable tried to make conversation again. "Cecil," she said, "Where are we going?"

"Wherever the road takes us," replied Cecil in a much cheerier voice then bfore. Apparently knights were a touchy subject for him but roads were not.

Suddenly, the road came to an utterly complete stop in front of a clearing. "Whoa!" Cecil shouted, stopping the horse in his tracks. Cecil hopped off the tawny animal and observed the clearing. "Huh. That's weird," Cecil muttered. I don't remember any roads around here having dead ends. I must record this!" Cecil whipped out his notebook and started writing. Over the sound of the knight scribbling, Fable thought she heard another sound. Something familiar. Something- that she had created. And it was coming from the clearing.

At once, Fable remembered what it was. "CECIL, RUN!" she shrieked. 

 

submitted by J.B.E, age 12, United States

 

***

 

1. Name: Jonah

2. Appearance: Jonah's hair is too long for a boy and too short for a girl. It makes the children in the village laugh as he walks by. But still he keeps a steady pace, never even daining to glance at them. Jonah is always garbed in a thick woolen tunic and leather trousers, with sturdy shoes for keeping his balance as he sails through storms. His face is weathered, but he is still young. His eyes are green, deep green, with the color of the forest somewhere in them. Some call them emerald, but the old wives of the Szurke snort in laughter at the notion. To them, his eyes are the color of green glass: cheap, common, and entirely unremarkable. " To think that brat of a boy could ever become something!" It was the joke of some of the more heedless of the old gossips. 

3. Background: Jonah was a simple mechanic who worked the docks of Szurke, repairing the broken vessels. He lives alone, and has no close friend. His father and only confidant was killed in a shipwreck when he was eleven.

4. Occupation or trade: Ship's mechanic

5. Attitude toward main character: We'll have to see!

6. Strengths or special abilities: Common sense and practicality. As well, Jonah can sail a ship through any storm, weather any hardship. He is undyingly loyal, though at first a bit suspicious. Jonah has no magic, but with the strength of his mind he can discover the answer to any problem, if given long enough to think.

7. Fears, weaknesses, or secrets: Jonah has never spoken of his father's death. And as far as the people of the village can tell, he never plans to. But he continues to rebuild the Whale, fighting to regain his fathers honor as he wages an eternal battle with the sea that stole him. 

8. How is the sidekick helpful? Jonah is clever with a sword, better with a trident, but his element is the sea. With a little luck and a storm, Jonah has discovered how to harness lightning when it strikes the water and save it for later... emergencies. He always carries a sheath of lightning around with him. Not to mention he is incredibly intelligent, and eternally loyal if he trusts someone. 

9. What does the sidekick want most? Jonah wants to honor his father, and to understand why he was taken. Jonah is only 15 but wants to discover why he always seems to be part of the sea but at war with the sea. 

10. Your Crowd Sorcery Sentence(s): On the shores of a failing port town shabbied by age and wear until it was the color of graying sea foam, Jonah crawled out of the belly of the Whale. Nor was this the famed Jonah, or the oft referred to whale-- he was a simple mechanic who worked the docks of Szurke, repairing the broken and battered vessels, torn by the spray of the salt water and the rage of the sea, that daily returned with their meager loads of fish. To these men, as battered by the sea as their vessels, creased like old paper with a webbing of scars and sun-battered skin, Jonah was a magician. In his hands, a hammer and a few stout pegs became instruments of wonder, bringing the sagging boards of even the oldest crafts back to life, at least for a time. But always, they would return, reinjured and broken, like everything else on the island, awaiting the temporary cure that rest can provide. 

Not the Whale. Jonah held this craft of solid bronze to be his greatest treasure, a last gift from the sea, after it turned sour and robbed him of his father. His father had lived and died aboard this ship that became both his crowning glory and his burial shroud. But as, even months after his death, remnants of the Whale began to wash up on the shores,  Jonah could not abandon his father’s last friend, so he collected the pieces and began to rebuild the Whale from the ground up, awaiting the day he could again challenge God’s wrath and die in honor like his father. . .  The bronze Whale shone like a beacon of fire in the dying light of the day, rivets and body gleaming like the noonday sun and threatening to blind Jonah as he gazed at it with pride. Only God would dare to challenge this ship.

 

submitted by Bianca R., age 14, Texas

 

***

 

1. Name: Araceli (meaning sky alter) Luminè ( mostly known as luminè)

2. Appearance: Soft white skin that seems to glow like that of a star, blinding to look at for too long. Her hair is long, spilling over her back in a waterfall of dark and darker. It seems to garb her like a shadow, clinging to her as she watches you from the darkness. Luminè's eyes are gray, the color of the ocean after a storm, and never seem to be looking at you, but instead, looking through you. She is slender and short, poised like a bird ready to take flight at the slightest sign of danger. She smells of parchment and ink, the hearts of old books worn dog-earred and ragged. Luminè is the one face that you would miss at first in a crowd, and upon returning home, remember forever. She is never seen without her cloak, which is long, inky black, and made from the feathers of crows. As well, she carries about a leather satchel that she never opens, but is rumored to be her father's last gift. 

3. Background: Araceli Luminè was the only child of the mysterious Booksmith, a man who travelled every town and village of the northern parts, copying ancient manuscripts and bringing them back to the Library. No one knows what became of her mother, not even Luminè herself. Indeed, the villagers say that if she had a mother, she must have been one of the stars, fallen to earth. One day Lumine's father is sent to an obscure part of the realm to find " a shadow faced, blue eyed man", who supposedly has an extremely valuable book, the Book of Shadows. It is not only incredibly rare, but incredibly magical, though no one knows quite what it does. Luminè is left with the Sisters of the Library for what is expected to be his short trip. But her father never returns, and Araceli is left an orphan,  alone in the Library, raised by the silent Sisters who guard  and care for the books. Months after her father's death, a package arrives at the library, addressed in his handwriting. None  but the silent sisters know of its existence, none but Luminè. To the visitors in the library, she is little more than a hazy memory: a girl in the shadows, pale faced and garbed in a feather cloak like a wild raven, fed on books and them memories of dreams that cannot be written.

4. Occupation or trade: Araceli works with the Silent Sisters in the library. While sorting books, she has fed herself on the memories of the years of book gathering she did with her father. 

5. Attitude toward main character: Luminè is at first frightened of Fable, the girl who daily wanders the Library alone hungry for new words, but at the same time, afraid of all that she learns. Luminè watches her from the shadows, trying to understand this mysterious girl and all that she could represent. Eventually, Luminè begins to trust Fable enough to approach her.

6. Strengths or special abilities: Luminè can hide anywhere, in anything. Under her raven-feather cloak, she is invisible to any eye. But her gray eyes can peer into any secret. She can also climb quite well.

7. Fears, weaknesses, or secrets: Luminè's weakness is darkness. She is safe in the shadows, but when it becomes ink black in the deepest crevices of the library, Luminè does not dare to venture onwards, even with the temptation of new stories. Luminè cannot stand being underground. Other than this she is quite brave, though she is quite reserved and inclined to be suspicious of people. 

8. How is the sidekick helpful? Araceli Luminè is intelligent, mysterious, and holds in her possession the Book of Shadows, a book created from living words. If used properly, this book has the power to control all knowledge ever written, or to wipe it from humanitiy's memory. It contains the secrets of all things forgotten, and most especially the things that were meant to be forgotten. All prophecy, all that has happened and is yet to happen is contained in the ancient pages. Luminè can also tell if people are telling the truth or not. She is said to be a child of the stars, and can upon rare occasions, fly. 

9. What does the sidekick want most? Luminè wants the shadow faced man to be punished for her father's death. As well, she wants to discover the truth about her mother and see the flame of eternal knowledge in the library lighted at last. 

10. Crowd Sorcery Sentences: Deeply immersed in the book she was reading, Luminè barely noticed the Silent Sisters as they glided around the library, their feet seemingly never touching the ground. They were always busy, as the Library seemed to go on forever, but their soundless footsteps and the whisper of the turning of old pages always seemed to shake the very building. They wanted to be felt, not heard. Not that they could find Luminè, even of they wanted to. From her peephole in the ceiling of the domed marble arch, Luminè could see all that was going on below. Not to mention that this was a nest of books; mostly those forgotten by the sisters, but some Luminè had stolen from the library herself for her enjoyment. But the prize gem of her books was the Book of Shadows. She had never opened this mysterious book, as her father had commanded in his last letter, but the cover spoke of tales too old to be of this earth, and too black to be remembered. It was an ancient thing, silent and cold as the sisters themselves. It demanded to be felt. It's very presence in Araceli's covey left a hole in its wake, a hole that meant having no father. 

On the floor below, suddenly the sound of high, echoing footsteps boomed across the library, amplified by the emptiness and the former silence. Luminè was jerked from story-land, her she imstantly looked down to see who it was.Didn't they know that this library was cursed? Ever since the flame went out, a year ago, people began avoiding the library. Some even began blaming the sisters for other misfortunes, but in all cases, they left it abandoned, only cared for by the sisters and herself. This time it was the girl again. The only one who dared to enter the library.Fable? Why does she always come here? What is she looking for? And why is she afraid of what she might find? Luminè flew from her comfortable perch, down the ladder, and out of the trapdoor on the second floor. Dashing silently across the marble steps, she followed Fable to an ill lit corner of the library, where she was just in time to see the other whirl on her. Luminè grasped for her cloak, but it was too late. Fable had seen her. 

" I knew it! I thought I saw you last time, but I came back to make sure.Why are you following me?"

Luminè couldn't honestly answer this. She was foolish to believe Fable could help her find the shadow faced man. So she replied with a question.

" What are you looking for?"

" Answers. A cure. Anything that might help."

Luminè was taken aback by the bright blueness of Fable's eyes. There was something in them that made her trust the girl. Suddenly, she recognized the symbol hanging about Fable's neck, and she shuddered with amazement.

"What is it?" Fable asked.

" Come with me" Luminè answered. " I think I have the answer to your problem." 

 

submitted by Katniss Everdeen, age 14, the Forest

 

***

 

1. Name: Thragen Mist

2. Appearance: Thragen's appearance varies, since he can take the shape of anyone's shadow. When in normal form, however, he has silvery skin and eyes that reflect the light of the moon.

3. Background: When the earth was new, two elves were put in place to be the guardians of the moon and sun, and they were known as Fyreina and Lumina. Thragen is the son of the moon guardian, Lumina, and he is known as the moon prince. Thragen was supposed to watch over the moon, but he got bored, and decided to go down to earth to see what earth people were like. He possesses the power to become one's shadow, and while he is that shadow, he can read the thoughts of the person he belongs to. Reading the thoughts of many people, he discovered the world was full of evil and angry people. One day, when Fable Thatcher was just a little girl, Thragen entered her village and became her shadow. He was fascinated by her magical powers and has been watching over her for years. It was not until the time was right that he revealed himself to Fable.

4. Occupation or trade: Guardian of the moon. This is a job he does not consistently do, since he is often watching over Fable.

5. Attitude toward main character: Rather protective. He regards Fable as the most special person on earth.

6. Strengths or special abilities: He possesses the ability to become the shadow of anything, living, or non-living. When he is the shadow of a person or animal, he can read their mind.

7. Fears, weaknesses, or secrets: Thragen fears that one day, he will be unable to return to the moon.

8. How is the sidekick helpful? He can discover secrets people are keeping by becoming their shadow and reading their mind.

9. What does the sidekick want most? Freedom from his duty of protecting the moon.

10. Your Crowd Sorcery Sentence(s):  Thragen stumbled into the clearing lit by the silvery light of the moon. He gazed up into it until he could see the familiar shape of Lumina, his mother.

It is time to return home, my son, she said in a voice that was both mellow and stern.

"No, not yet," he said in a shaky voice. "I need to watch after Fable."

Lumina's pale face acquired a skeptical look. My son, the last time we met you said th world was filled with evil and lazy people.

"Not her," replied Thragen. "Fable's different."

 

submitted by BookWizard, age 12, middle earth

 

***

 

1. Name: Denali Woods 

2. Appearance: Tall, sturdy build. Slightly messy wavy brown-blonde hair. Mischievous  light green eyes with gold speckles. Freckles. Usually has a cocky grin. Slightly smudged clothes, frequently light slacks and shirt; occaisonally wears an apron for his work

3. Background: His mother died from unknown causes when he was younger, leaving him in the care of his brutal father. Accidentally met Fable while visiting a shop. Kept running into her, and eventually befriended her.

4. Occupation or trade: Blacksmith apprentice

5. Attitude toward main character: Best friend! [Secret crush is possible] 

6. Strengths or special abilities: Can... See things. Things other people can't. Usually short and confusing, these brief clips(He calls them flashes) are frequent, and change often. They go by so quickly that other people don't even think any time has gone by at all. They can show brief bits of the past, present or future, and all are important to him, whether he knows it or not.

7. Fears, weaknesses, or secrets: During an especially traumatic and violent flash, Denali found out that his mother didn't die of natural reasons. How? He's not sure, and it haunts his every step...

8. How is the sidekick helpful? Naturally intellegent, funny and friendly, he can make light of the darkest situations. He's also very resourceful, and knows a lot about many different things.

9. What does the sidekick want most? To find out what really happened to his mother, and to help Fable with her writing 'curse'

10. Your Crowd Sorcery Sentence(s): This flash was even more confusing than most.  A dimly lit room, a sudden rustling, a woman's scream, and a loud thud.  Denali shook his head and quickly resumed his work, lest his father look over. His hands shook slightly, because for some strange reason, he knew the woman was his mother. 

 

submitted by Rosie D, age 14, Wisconsin

 

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1. Name: Milo Lepharo

2. Appearance: Milo has tan skin and caramel hair. His eyes are the green of spring grass.

3. Background: Milo is the son of some rich aristocrats who held plenty of influence over the rulers of the kingdomm. When he was five years old, his parents were assassinated by an unknown group. He tried to survive on his own in his parent's decaying mansion, but he, unable to take care of himself, as (a)he was five years old and(b)he was used to being pampered and taken care of by others. Worried that the people who assassinated his parents would come back to the mansion to finish him off, Milo fled his parent's castle.

Milo survived alone on the streets for about two hours. He was found sobbing in a dark alley by Gershom, a pickpocket who originally intended to rob Milo, but pityed him and offered to take Milo under his wing and teach him the ways of the street.

Milo survived on the streets for five more years. But when Gershom made the mistake of robbing someone real rich, the police decided to take matters into their own hands. The police raided the dark alleys and regular hang outs of all the kids who lived in the streets. Milo was caught and put in jail. A little while later, he was bailed out by the Great Magic Mateo, the ringmaster of a circus. Mateo saw Milo's potential as an acrobat, as he was wirey, flexible, and unafraid. Milo became an acrobat at the circus. Now he travels the country with the circus. When he comes to the main character's town, he makes friends with him/her.

4. Occupation or trade: Acrobat in Magic Mateo's Circus.

5. Attitude toward main character: Friends, though he can be really annoying.

6. Strengths or special abilities: Milo is very acrobatic and strong.

7. Fears, weaknesses, or secrets: He is really scared of losing the people he loves since he lost his parents when he was young.

8. How is the sidekick helpful? He is helpful because he is acrobatic and strong. He is fiercely loyal.

9. What does the sidekick want most? Milo wants a family, or people who love him and he can love them back.

10. Your Crowd Sorcery Sentence(s): When not performing as an acrobat, you could usually find Milo lying in whatever wide expanse of grass is available at the time, thinking. Milo was a very good thinker. He would just lie there, staring at the bright blue sky, watching the clouds drift by. If you are lying next to him, occasionally he'll point out a peculiar shaped cloud. "See, that one looks like a camelopard!"

 

submitted by Violet C., age 11, Washington

 

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1. Name: Timor 

2. Appearance: He has short black hair with wolf ears sticking out of his head. He also has grey fangs and claws. He wears a black cape and boots, and a dark violet tunic. 

3. Background: Timor is a homolupus, part human part wolf, that can turn into a shadow. He is usually happy and looks on the bright side of things, but has a dark humor…

4. Occupation or trade: He was once a warrior to the Master, a strange nightmare in Hero’s dream. Timor used to attack the residents of a town, until he found more pleasure in heroics.

5. Attitude toward main character: Timor thinks the hero is an awesome person who is better than Master, personality and scent wise. 

6. Strengths or special abilities: He uses his claws in battle, and thinks they are better than swords.


7. Fears, weaknesses, or secrets: Timor is absolutely terrified of light or shiny objects, and once got a scar from the sun’s rays. 

8. How is the sidekick helpful? He also can howl, and use shadow powers (such as summoning, riding, and even transforming into one). 

9. What does the sidekick want most? Timor’s lifelong wish is freedom. No matter how far he runs, the Master can always teleport him back. He can’t speak of his master and his mouth zips shut when he speaks, or writes of his dwellings.                          

10. Your Crowd Sorcery Sentence(s): “You see, I can’t even speak about Master’s dwell- ingths hrouusthh! Errr Exactly.’’ Timor paused. I hear a noise. A noise of people screaming. Ha ha! How fun! Oh… Nar. I just find the things that you find terrifying hilarious.

 

submitted by Lydia G., age 12, Altoona, Pennsylvania

 

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1. Name: Griffin Kindler

2. Appearance: Piercing green eyes, neat dirty blonde hair, average build. He has a tree-shaped scar embedded in his back.

3. Background: Griffin grew up in Fable's village. He was a hardworking boy, and his specialty was woodworking. In fact, many people considered him the finest whittler in the land. However, there was something different about him. Something... evil. He only cared for himself, and never for others. One day, when a caravan of gypsies wandered into the village, Griffin noticed an old cloaked man with an intricate cane leaning against a tree. Approaching the man with a pitcher, Griffin offered the man some water. The man nodded, but instead of giving him the pitcher, Griffin snatched the cane and threw it into the woodpile. Suddenly, the man cast off his cloak and revealed himself as a powerful druid. "MAYBE NOW YOU'LL BE A LITTLE LESS SELFISH!" the druid boomed. With that he took a branch from the tree he was leaning against, and a green beam of energy shot out of it, striking Griffin in the back. ever since that day, Griffin has had a tree-shaped scar on his back. Every time he commits an act of evil, a branch is added to the scar, and every time he commits a act of good, a branch is removed. If every branch leaves the tree, he will be rid of the curse forever. However, if too many branches appear on the tree, he will become a tree. There are so many branches on the tree, Griffin fears he may never get rid of all of them, but he has been steadily removing branches by doing good deeds to everyone in the village. 

4. Occupation or trade: No specific job.

5. Attitude toward main character: Griffin met Fable while gathering wood. A first, he just saw her as another way to remove branches from his cursed scar, and only pretended to by friendly to her. But as he got to know her, he became a true friend to her. He is the only one who understands her, and she is the only one who understands him.

6. Strengths or special abilities: Whittling, of course.

7. Fears, weaknesses, or secrets: Griffin cannot fight, at least not with his own fists, because this is considered an act of evil and will add branches to his cursed scar.

8. How is the sidekick helpful? He can whittle almost anything!

9. What does the sidekick want most? He wants most to be rid of the curse. He truly believes he is a changed person, and will continue to be helpful even after the scar is gone.

10. Your Crowd Sorcery Sentence(s): He remembered it all too well- the blinding green flash, the painful tingling sensation on his back, the angry yell of his father running out of the house, but he never thought it would come to this. Griffin gasped for air as the scar prickled more than ever and the rough bark closed over his mouth-

Griffin awoke in a cold sweat. He had been nightmares like this ever since the day he had been cursed. As he stared out the window at the pale moon, he wondered if Fable was having nightmares as well...     

 

submitted by necromancer, age 12, the milky way galaxy

 

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