I am currently writing a story in which some of the characters are werewolves. There are two clans that aren't warring against each other but they don't exactly get along either. I want to add another supernatural being but I don't want to do the werewolf/vampire thing. So I've been toying with the idea of Ancient Spirits that can take human form. They are basically mediators between the two clans, making sure they do not interrupt the balance of humans to non-humans. Does this idea sound weird?
Posted by babooher (Member # 8617) on :
It makes sense, but why not stick strictly with lycanthropes? Maybe a different breed or non-mammalian?
Posted by extrinsic (Member # 8019) on :
Seems to me ancient spirits mixes supernatural beings with paranormal beings--the werewolves, and humanity is involved too. I see nothing per se confused by that.
One area that may be challenging is the degree of the ancient spirits' efficacy could overtop the werewolves', both might overtop human beings'. That too is not an issue per se, though it might put the ancient spirits in first position, which to me would mean a central or main character, if not the main character would have to be an ancient spirit.
Posted by LDWriter2 (Member # 9148) on :
That type of thing has been done even though not often...as far as I can tell not reading a whole lot of paranormal stories.
But mixing beings like that does work most of the time.
Do they just mediate? Or are they strong enough to physically stop a confrontation if need be?
Posted by ForlornShadow (Member # 9758) on :
@ extrinsic: Good point. I'll have to think about that. At this point in time my main character is a werewolf.
@LDWriter2: They can do both, I guess though 98% of the time it's stopping an all out confrontation so humans don't become involved or when something is about to get out of hand.
Posted by rcmann (Member # 9757) on :
Why not let the humans get involved? At least some of the humans? Instead of a new type of being, why can't some designated humans do the job?
Posted by ForlornShadow (Member # 9758) on :
rcmann that's an interesting idea. I haven't considered that before. It might work considering the main character has humans as friends.
Posted by LDWriter2 (Member # 9148) on :
Personally I think that could work but it would seem like the humans would need something going for them. A very strong teaching-tradition among the 'wolves that these particular humans are to be listened to and not harmed? Or some ring or some such that would allow them to take on a 'wolf?
Of course that could be at least part of the plot that someone killed one of these humans. Probably a 'wolf but which one?
Posted by Pyre Dynasty (Member # 1947) on :
Pity Rommel isn't here, I'm sure he would have something interesting to say here.
Lets take a step back and think about wolves. What they value most is the pack. The leader of the pack is the one who howls the loudest or bites the hardest. Whoever the mediator is they have to be a pretty big dog. (Metaphorically anyway.)
Posted by extrinsic (Member # 8019) on :
Alternatives for human intermediates might include they are watchers, cleanup and cover-up techs, enforcers, referees, policy makers, decision makers, judges, litigators, executioners, and so on in the same vein.
The balance of power, I think, between the three groups is most important. One group must be more powerful, the one who's strongest by a small degree, for drama's sake, so the outcome of the dramatic complication remains in doubt at least until the transformation or final crisis bridging the falling action act and the denouement act. That way, the other two groups must strive to fulfill their wants while the dominant group pushes its own want and opposes the others'.