Story Ideas & Synthesis
From WorkCDN
God bless HanClinto for the Coal Mine idea!
GENERAL SETTING: an ancient Redwood Forest in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.
BACK STORY: Many years ago, in the Pacific Northwest, there was a prosperous mining town. As with every human habitation, it attracted assorted mice, rats, and roaches. Then one day, the mines shut down, and the humans left. But the animals stayed behind. Our tale begins with mice and rats vying for scarce resources, and each choosing their own way to survive in the presence of many predators: the mice by their faith and love, and the rats by their cunning and cruelty.
ADVANTAGES: 1) this can give part of the game (or series) a more "lived in" look, with some "ancient ruins of the giants" 2) this also gives us a longer history for the mice (and rats), and an explanation of why they're there. 3) it also leaves open the possibility of making the rats "steampunk" in contrast to the more Conan/Beowulf-like mice. Sort of like the Morlocks in H.G. Well's "Time Machine." 4) Also, in a "rainforest" area (which definitely exist in the Pacific Northwest), we can have frog ponds, and lots of bugs.
THE MICE LAIR: an Old Oak Tree near a creek. There ought to be a larged heart with initials carved on it... I'd prefer "R+E," as reference to my favorite girl.
THE SNAKE'S DEN: An abandoned coal mine, with a coal-seam fire. ADVANTAGES: 1) This enables us to retain the Redwood Forest, rather than being near a farm 2) Gives the (possibly steam-punk) rats a source of energy and a higher tech than the mice 3) a coal seam-fire explains WHY the town is abandoned, and gives the mines a creepy atmosphere, and satisfies "lava-addicts." 4) A mine is a good place for bats, birds (near the entrance), spiders, and mushrooms for LEVEL to play with. 5) A mine would also be full of underground pools and waterfalls. 6) A mine would also make Irish happy, as it would fit in with his "Spelunker" ideas.
REGARDING THE HAMSTER:
CHARACTER: A Jack Black type geek and "engineer." Rather cowardly, but self-aware of his limitations.
ORIGIN: One day, along the dreaded highway (the Stream of Stone) that runs near the area , a family was traveling up north in their station wagon, on vacation. Their young son, something of a geek himself, took along his hamster. As the hamster was typing away on his laptop computer in the car, they hit a bad patch of road. Instead of choosing to hold on to something, as most people would, the Hamster chose to hit "save" instead, so he wouldn't lose his work. As a result, he was bumped out the window. Nobody noticed until some miles later, by which time it was too late... the dazed hamster had wandered off the road, fell down the forested slope, and was lost... this is the Hamster's version of the story. The truth is, he wasn't working on anything important. What he chose to save, instead of his life, was his game.
USEFULNESS: Being a Jack Black type geek, growing up among humans, he's the only one who knows about human things. He's the only one who can read English in the entire forest, and the only one who knows what a computer is. His knowledge makes him a useful asset in outwitting the Rats, who are more technologically advanced than the mice. Further, he's actually read the "Red Wall" series. At first, he's thrilled to be in an adventure like the ones he's read. Then it occurs to him that he's very likely to get eaten by something than to actually eat anything. He's not so thrilled after that.
