The Plot Thickens

The basis of a plot: our hero of the tale starts out as a normal person but with an impending destiny. He takes a journey to fulfil a mission of some sort that has an impact on the entire world. This often involves the gathering of some sort of items imbued with power - artifacts from an ancient time, perhaps - that will contribute toward a favourable outcome: vanquishing the land of an evil existence. This all happens as the imminent threat of evil looms ever closer and events begin to unfold, pointing towards a climactic clash of will: good vs. evil.

Throughout this journey, our developing hero is put to the test, learning new skills to benefit him in the upcoming confrontation. Such skills involve learning about himself to the extent that he is able to control nature itself in one form or another. But the hero is not alone. He gathers about him necessary allies to assist in his progression towards the explosive end. It is also in this journey that he realises his foe is far to powerful to face alone as a mere human. It is up to a higher, unearthly power to descend and turn the tide so that the evil charge can be banished for all eternity and the land can rest from war for a time, revelling in its newfound peace - under the rule of its new High King: our hero himself, who grew from being a fumbling adolescent to an insightful and benevolent legend.

At least, it has the makings of your average fantasy tale. Perhaps the hero is an orphan and was raised by humble folk, dreaming of a future where he realises his parents were not really dead but were the rulers of a noble state in a far off land... Or perhaps he grew up in a palace, shielded from the horrors of the outside world, only to one day discover that the world outside was nothing to be feared but a place to be explored, dangers inclusive - and in exploring, gets caught up in a mission to expel the devastating plague of apathy and despair that creeps across the land, slowly sucking life itself from his own society.

Whatever the scenario that sets the scene for our story, the all-important essence of note is that there is a threat, there is a hero, and the hero expels the threat so that it is no more. Whatever happens inbetween is just preparation for the final battle - the point where we see the hero emerge triumphant, putting into practise all that he has learned in his journey. What leads to the climax is highly important in molding and shaping all characters, as paths cross and the patterns are intricately woven to display the resplendent tapestry in its perfect, completed form.

If you know how it ends, then go: build your world; sculpt your characters; engineer your events; scribe your conspiracies. Make sure to mention dragons, elves and the ancient prophecy involving the final clash between the champion of Good and the representation of Evil. From there it's all substance and filling scenes with sight, sound and smell, as each character takes on a life of its own and the story unfolds of its own accord. Because when you know the end, the beginning must already exist.

-Timotheos