Stickmaker (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
stickmaker) wrote2011-09-23 12:00 pm
stickmaker) wrote2011-09-23 12:00 pm
Music as Inspiration
"The Boxer" - especially the original Simon and Garfunkel version - is one of my favorite pieces of music. In fact, it inspired a scene in a novel I'm trying to sell.
This is set in a fantasy world where several types of magic are available. In general, a specific inherited knack is required to use a particular type. One of those types is key use. (A play on the martial arts ki.)
During a fair, an aging sideshow strongman reminisces on his wasted life. Decades before, he was a champion fist fighter... until he was caught using key to aid his wins. In his autumn years he is a fit, muscular man, though his face bears the scars of his former profession. However, he is ashamed that he must use key more and more to impress the yokels he performs for.
As he makes ready for his next performance he reflects bitterly on his wasted life. He - like everyone else in the area - is unaware that a demon has been released within the shielded fairgrounds. A type of immaterial creature which finds people with dark dreams and desires and removes whatever moral restraints are keeping those from being expressed, then empowers the person to enable the realization of their secret wishes. A demon which has found the perfect pawn.
This is set in a fantasy world where several types of magic are available. In general, a specific inherited knack is required to use a particular type. One of those types is key use. (A play on the martial arts ki.)
During a fair, an aging sideshow strongman reminisces on his wasted life. Decades before, he was a champion fist fighter... until he was caught using key to aid his wins. In his autumn years he is a fit, muscular man, though his face bears the scars of his former profession. However, he is ashamed that he must use key more and more to impress the yokels he performs for.
As he makes ready for his next performance he reflects bitterly on his wasted life. He - like everyone else in the area - is unaware that a demon has been released within the shielded fairgrounds. A type of immaterial creature which finds people with dark dreams and desires and removes whatever moral restraints are keeping those from being expressed, then empowers the person to enable the realization of their secret wishes. A demon which has found the perfect pawn.