OK not sure this is really a challenge to artists... This is definitely a challenge to myself but work involved for an artist...
My challenge is - post an original picture you have drawn/painted/etc that hasn't ever been published anywhere... I think I'd prefer any characters in the picture to be original too... but not essential.
My challenge to me - I will write a short story based on the picture. I am thinking a story of at least 500 words but if artists want to challenge me to a shorter story I'll see if I can meet the challenge.
By taking the challenge the artist and myself can pop the finished work on our respective FB, Blog, Tumblr, etc. for the entertainment of those that look at such things.
If I accept a challenge I will try to write the story within 7 days.
Nice idea, it was tried in the early 2000AD, Tornado's etc, but maybe in reverse, i.e. story first. Interesting to see if anything comes of it.
We ought to do 2 threads then, one for artists and one for writers. So writers can test themselves with Bat Kings thread, and artists can test themselves with posted scripts / Character descriptions etc.
Just a thought, but sounds like something I would like to have some fun with!! (I hope that makes sense)
A bit late but how's this.
(http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b536/neilmcclements/totc06_zps92926e2e.jpg) (http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/neilmcclements/media/totc06_zps92926e2e.jpg.html)
That's perfect...
I'm on it.
I'll look forward to it. Still reckon on the 7 days?
By midnight Friday 11th...
Terrific picture Archie, I'm looking forward to see what you do with this Bat King.
Stew.
I'll have a bash, too. I'm off work this week. :D
Do you mean you're gonna write something Darren or do BK a picture?
Sorry, yeh. I'll do a pic! ;)
500 Words. I think it should be darker but not enough time to re-work it by Friday so here it is.
Quote from: Archie on 04 April, 2014, 07:20:15 PM
(http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b536/neilmcclements/totc06_zps92926e2e.jpg) (http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/neilmcclements/media/totc06_zps92926e2e.jpg.html)
Sébastien paced the chapel silently, as he breathed out slowly his breath misted in the early evening air. The Templar was late, what could have delayed him?
It was getting dark and though Sébastien was used to his own company the sounds of the nearby forest were unusual to his ears. Raised in Paris, trained in Rome he now resided in Nottingham. He was used to the noises and smells of a city and its streets, not the wilderness of Britain on a cold autumn evening.
The monks that had been living here up to a month ago had reported odd sounds in the night. One, then another, had claimed to see bright lights at the window to their cell. No torch would shine through such a window, it being ten foot off the ground.
Gregor, one of the lay brothers, was found gibbering about 'The Green Man' one morning a few months ago. Soon after the deaths started. One death each night that the moon was new and another on the full moon. Each monk, dead by strangulation, found in a locked cell.
Monsignor Tomas had charged him personally with this task. This was his calling, though some questioned his practices. To consort with demons was not something most God fearing people would do. They needed him and his like; those that could see what others could not.
He had examined the cells and he was certain something had reached down from the high window and throttled the sleeping monks. Something that did not want the holy order here.
Sébastien stepped out into the open air, the full moon bathed the road in a blue hue and it was lighter out here than within. The Templar was bringing the sword that was required. Sébastien had the tallow and bell prepared. Whatever foul entity was here he would exorcise it in the name of the Lord.
The road however was still empty.
Unlike Gregor, Sébastien knew what manner of foul beasts there were out there in the forest. The sight of the entity he was here to slay would not leave him a mindless wreck. Out there were older things, older than his masters in Rome. Older than Rome itself.
Out in the wild woods there were beings that defied all logic. Sébastien had slain a number in a number of lands. He could see some now, small ones with little or no power. They were more scared of him than he needed to fear them.
In the distance he heard wolves howl. Wolves of many types were in this forest, man and beast.
He realised that the Templar was not coming. He sensed it, the Templar had been slain by something out there, death was fresh on the air. There was another scent too, unnatural. It was close.
He concentrated on the near treeline and fingered the dagger he always carried.
Behind him were the sanctified halls that the foul beast intended to encroach. Behind him... behind him... behind...
Well done Bat King! That was a very excellent story, really connected with the superb artwork by Archie! Big pat on the back for you, sirs! :)
Nice one Bat King!
Very good, and very atmospheric...I liked that a lot! Good job Archie, I look forward to the next.
I also still stand by my original suggestion of this being a 2 way street, with artists also able to create an image from a brief written synopsis or passage from a writer?? This then gives everyone a chance to flex their creative muscles!
Cheers guys. The picture was a great one for me. I had the basic plot as soon as I saw it.
Nice one Bat King. I enjoyed reading that, nice to see how others interpret the image. It is of course begging for part 2 now and I have an idea already.
I'm up for a sequel if you want to draw one Archie.
Please do. Great team effort there; loved both the picture and the story.
Oy, Archie. [spoiler]Do a futuristic sci fi scene and see what kind of a sequel it spawns.[/spoiler]
Any setting welcome from any artist. Just something new is all I really want, something no one has seen before.
500 is a fairly easy word count to get a full story in. I'll consider shorter word counts if the artist so chooses. The artist mind you, not just anyone. Shorter stories aren't always easy...
I'm not saying I'll take longer word counts as obviously that takes more time and I am fitting this round my other writing.
By gad and the giantpusscat that was fab Archie & Bat King.
Ess, Mads, Amines, Jayzus, Zarjazzer thanks for the kind words. When I've the time I'll get part 2 done and i can guarantee it'll take a turn for the horrific.
Part 2.
(http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b536/neilmcclements/church5_zps1006f61a.jpg) (http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/neilmcclements/media/church5_zps1006f61a.jpg.html)
Crikey, I didn't see that coming!!!
Lovely picture.
500 words by Monday 28th...
Lummy and eck I gots thinking to do.
After a quick chat with Archie I decided, with his blessing, to share 'part 1' on my blog. Gave him first billing as my words came from his picture.
I am working on 'part 2'. That will be here first then go on my blog so you can all follow the developments without having to see the blog.
If you want to see the blog here's a link (http://judgetutorsemple.wordpress.com/2014/04/21/there-are-others-out-there-part-one-by-archie-mcc-and-steve-hargett/)
Hopefully there will be a 'part 3' but I am trying to write this in a way that a new reader gets a full story in one pic & 500 words.
Great 'short' Bat King, I enjoyed that. And another superb image for part two Archie, I can't wait to see what comes next.
Stew.
Thanks Stew, there will be a part 3.
I'm still working on a hook for the third pic... But then I might put one hook n Archie might see one I didn't arrange. That's the beauty of this... Neither of us have a clue what the other will do.
Proof reading the words for Part 2.
500 words - I think I've made this ok to read independant of Part 1... But better if you've read part 1.
Quote from: Archie on 21 April, 2014, 03:21:13 PM
(http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b536/neilmcclements/church5_zps1006f61a.jpg) (http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/neilmcclements/media/church5_zps1006f61a.jpg.html)
Sébastien felt it behind him as it closed in for the kill.
He leapt upwards, higher than a human should be able to. The Ancients of this land called it a Salmon Leap, Sébastien received his powers from elsewhere and had no need to name the move.
The creature's swipe cut the air beneath his feet. Sébastien came down hard on what passed as a wrist for the foul beast. There was a cracking sound but the limb didn't give way.
The beast struck with its other arm as its head and shoulders passed through the archway. Sébastien had already leapt aside and was now on foot, running towards the Abbot's Hall.
It was an ancient power that pursued him – yet new, confliction in the readings Sébastien was getting from the creature had perhaps hidden it from him. The halls were still sanctified so the beast wasn't evil.
Evil or good wasn't a concern to Sébastien, had it been evil he wouldn't have required the sword that the Templar had been bringing to him. He was powerless to destroy the creature all he could do was avoid being killed in turn.
One of the smaller beasts moved to intercept him as he ran along the footpath to the large building that the Abbot used for his accommodation. The small creature resembled a squirrel with the face of a human. A quick flick of the wrist and his dagger sliced through the eyes of the beast and it squealed in pain falling to the side of the path.
The tree-like beast was close on his heals as Sébastien closed on the fortified building. If he could bar the creature's entrance he could perhaps wait out the two days left from which the beast drew its power.
Then he felt a dark surge of evil coming close. Looking to the tree-line he saw the dark figure of a knight break through, the unnatural beasts of the forest fled from the spectre.
"To me!" Sébastien ordered and the dark spectre moved at inhuman speed to his side. One of the braver squirrel-men of the forest attempted to block its way but the spectre passed straight through it and the creature fled in fear.
A sword appeared in the hands of the spectre, Sébastien snatched the sword away from the spectre and the blade glowed red as his power filled it.
He spun round on the steps to the Abbott's Hall and he landed a flurry of blows upon the large nature spirit as it finally closed on him.
The spectre screamed with delight as the nature spirit's life-force was sucked in to the blade. Sébastien's eyes flashed red in the night as he sacrificed the ancient life-force to the demon that granted him his powers.
He turned to the spectre, something that until today had been a Knight of the Templar order.
"You are late!" he said as he looked down at the husk left behind by the nature spirit.
There are others out there, Pt 3
(http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b536/neilmcclements/e0906fe7-527a-438e-952b-7f23cdb7642a_zps1d25ba3f.jpg) (http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/neilmcclements/media/e0906fe7-527a-438e-952b-7f23cdb7642a_zps1d25ba3f.jpg.html)
That might be more than 500 words...
Cripes.
As Lawgiver is Monday I think I better say 'By Midnight Friday 9th May' on this one. And as near to 500 as I can. I wonder what expression the Spectre of the Templar has as he looks on.
500 words - just over an hour late as editing the story down to the 500 word count took a while.
Quote from: Archie on 01 May, 2014, 12:14:17 PM
(http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b536/neilmcclements/e0906fe7-527a-438e-952b-7f23cdb7642a_zps1d25ba3f.jpg) (http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/neilmcclements/media/e0906fe7-527a-438e-952b-7f23cdb7642a_zps1d25ba3f.jpg.html)
Sébastien stood on the steps of the Abbott's keep, beside him was the spectre of a Templar. The man it had once been had died earlier this night and had been re-animated by the sword carrying so that his task could be completed.
Now that task was complete.
The nature spirit lay dead on the stairs at Sébastien's feet. The creature's form was already starting to decompose. The soft tissues inside were dissolving and a green-brown ichor seeped down the steps, through the stones and permeating the earth below.
The spectre held out a hand and Sébastien handed the sword to him.
Kneeling by the corpse he glanced over to where the squirrel-man he had blinded earlier had fallen. That creature too seemed to have deflated.
"They are returning to the earth," Sébastien said more to himself than to the spectre.
He stood and walked to where the squirrel-man's corpse lay. A similar green-brown ichor had spilled from it and the earth around it was dark.
Sébastien touched the ground. He yelped in surprise, pulling his hand back. There had been no sign of steam rising, no outward sign of heat. Yet the creature's physical remains had seared his flesh.
Standing he returned to the larger creature's corpse and pushed it with his foot. The leather of his boot was unharmed, no heat passed through to his flesh inside. Kneeling he touched the corpse with the back of his hand, the same searing pain flashed through him.
Even in death the nature spirit was an anathema. Sébastien allowed himself a smile, to be more accurate he was the anathema himself; both to the nature spirits that dwelled here and to the good brothers sent here in the name of the Bishop of Rome.
The spectre would be enough to damn him if a true believer of the faith saw him in its company.
Men like the spectre had been, men like Sébastien, used the church for their own purpose. Men like Monsignor Tomas averted their gaze, choosing to ignore what Sébastien was and take advantage of what he could achieve.
The heat in his hand had not subsided, Sébastien realised that his flesh was blistering. The nature spirits' corpses were all but gone, the outer casing of the larger creature now nothing more than rotting vegetation.
Looking down at his feet Sébastien realised his mistake. The ground was moving, the ichor had given it power and slowly it was moving towards him.
Ignoring the spectre he ran into the keep. Rivers of earth flowed up the stairs seemingly alive. Tendrils of green-brown earth snatched at his legs.
He ran in to the keep drawing all of his power about himself and propelled himself upwards, away from the ground that wished to destroy him.
He burst through the roof of the Abbott's keep, surrounded by a ball of dark magic. Below him the spectre was bathed in an unnatural light and stared upwards, unthreatened by the power of the earth.
Part 4
(http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b536/neilmcclements/taoot4_zpsc9158bf1.jpg) (http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/neilmcclements/media/taoot4_zpsc9158bf1.jpg.html)
500 words. I must confess this is not a complete story unlike the first... Its more a complete episode. I did try to get it to be free standing but failed on that count.
Here it is in any case.
Quote from: Archie on 10 May, 2014, 11:07:18 PM
(http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b536/neilmcclements/taoot4_zpsc9158bf1.jpg) (http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/neilmcclements/media/taoot4_zpsc9158bf1.jpg.html)
Davith walked alone in the long night, darkness lifted by the full moon which spread silver light all around. Ahead of him lay the Tower of Knowledge and Wisdom, still standing despite the recent raids of Darkling warriors.
Ahead, hanging from a branch of a Cycle Tree was a growing cocoon. Another Elder had fallen in the realm of humanity. Davith weeped for the Land of The Young. Ties to the world of man were being severed more and more and the strength of the bond was growing weaker.
As he walked towards the Cycle Tree he could feel echoes from the land of man. A great evil was in the Old Forest, an evil that followed no ruler but hid in plain sight among the followers of the Nazarene.
While the new religion converted the followers from following the earlier Gods this evil destroys the creatures of old. The evil is more insalubrious. Followings of one God or another ebbed and flowed with time. The bonds between the worlds grew slowly and were being severed at a far greater rate.
The evil that was in the Old Forest was growing in power with each bond it severed. He couldn't name it from the shadow cast through the slaying of the Elder. He looked at the cocoon on the branch, the kill was fresh and the doorway still open.
Darklings were more common in this age and the deaths of elder creatures was increasing. The two were linked. The Land of The Young was under threat, the evil not only had plans to severe the ties between the realms but to inhabit, to conquer both.
Davith pushed on towards the Towers. He needed to know more if he were to pass through into the world of men.
The path under the bridge was lit by the moon, this was the route he must take. Many paths led to the Towers of Knowledge and Wisdom; the journey to them was as much part of the imparting of their powers as arriving at the destination itself.
For some the hard climb on the East or West cliff faces would take the supplicant to the answer he required. Davith's path here was the longest, the opposite of what one might expect when wishing to pass through a door that was already closing. To rush towards the closing door was to come through unprepared. He must first seek out the name of the great evil and only then could he pass through to the other realm to seek it out.
For what seemed to be hours Davith walked, passing under the bridge and round behind the towers. His path curved long around the mountain and up towards the Tower of Knowledge. He didn't rush, to rush might be to stumble. He kept steady pace as he made his way upwards until he was above the bridge itself; below him further was the Cycle Tree as he reached the door to the Tower of Knowledge.
Other things are out there Part 5
(http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b536/neilmcclements/oaot5_zpse694d945.jpg) (http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/neilmcclements/media/oaot5_zpse694d945.jpg.html)
Part 5 will be posted by midnight Saturday 1st June.
Are we only ones on this thread now..?
Yeah, i guess unless it's 2000ad/JD related there's really no interest but thats no surprise considering where it is!