Story Synopsis v2

From WorkCDN

Second Run-Through (either an expansion or a correction of the first, depending...)

• Action Segment One: The Princess is Kidnapped
  • Zone: the Old Oak Tree by the Creek (where the Mice live)
  • Complication: Imminent Conquest
    • Complicator: Beetles or Rats (whoever the Horde is)
    • Scope of Complication: the Entire Oak Tree
    • Outcome: Failure (the Horde is forced to retreat)
  • Plot: X captures Y, opposed by Z
  • Outcome: X succeeds
  • Protagonist: the Mouse Warrior
  • Antagonist: the Old Crow? (the Black Snake’s stooge)
  • Protagonist’s role: Z opposing X (X being the Old Crow)
  • Package (Y): the Princess
  • Means: a cage for the Princess, to be flown away by the Crow
  • Synopsis: The beetle or rat horde raid the Old Oak Tree by the Creek in an effort to capture the princess in order to affect control over the mice. Though the mice are able to hold them back, they succeed in capturing the princess.

• Narrative Segment One: the Mouse warrior seeks help
  • Zone: the Great Forest
  • Complication: Impending Encounter
    • Complicator: the Hamster
    • Scope: Personal
    • Outcome: Success (the Hamster becomes the Mouse Warrior’s bot)
  • Plot: X reveals Y to Z
    • Outcome: X succeeds, sort of; Z receives info, but the info isn’t very good
  • Protagonist: the Mouse Warrior
    • The Other: the Frog Council
    • Protagonist’s Role: Z, who receives Y from X
    • Package (Y): where to find the Princess, and the nature of the danger
    • Means: Possibly a map, but more likely the Hamster himself as a companion
    • Synopsis: The mouse warrior seeks the help of the Frog Council to get information on where the princess is and the nature of the danger. He receives a map and a companion, the hamster.

• Action Segment Two: the Mouse Warrior enters the Serpent’s Den
  • Zone: the Serpent’s Den
  • Complication: Imminent Destruction
    • Scope of Complication: the Princess
    • The Complicator: the beetles/rats, whoever the horde is
    • Outcome: Failure (the Princess has been saved)
  • Plot: X rescues Y, opposed by Z
    • Outcome: X succeeds!
  • Protagonist: the Mouse Warrior
    • The Antagonist: the Black Snake
    • The Protagonist’s Role: X, while the opposition is Z
    • Package (Y): the Princess!!!
    • Means: the Old Crow (which the Hamster-bot has “tamed”)
    • Synopsis: The mouse warrior enters the Serpent's Den battling the horde of beetles/rats and finally slays the Black Snake, rescuing the princess.

• Narrative Segment Two: the Celebration at the Oak Tree
  • Complication: the Impending Revelation of Love
    • Scope of Complication: personal
    • Complicator: the Mouse Warrior
  • Outcome: Success?
  • Plot: X reveals Y to Z
    • Outcome: Success!
  • Protagonist: the Princess
    • The Other: the Mouse Colony
    • The Protagonist’s Role: X, while the receiver is the Colony
    • Package: the Honoring of the Mouse Warrior and Hamster
    • Means: A proclamation/celebration
    • Synopsis: The mouse and hamster return to the colony with the princess and receive honor and celebration for their heroic endeavor.

One part of the ending is the Mouse Warrior offering his sword to the princess, and saying “My Princess,” as he bows and kneels before her, with a look of love. She then lays the sword at his feet, and says “My Chieftain.” Then SITS DOWN at his feet. He smiles (the first time in the whole story—he’s been scowling the entire time).

I’m not sure if this should be included, and if so, whether it should be part of the ceremony, or afterwards, as part of the general celebration. If the latter, she approaches him as he is sitting with his friends. They would all stand up and bow or kneel.

The My Princess/My Chieftain lines & concept (but not the transaction) are lifted from Edgar Rice Burrough’s “Princess of Mars,” the first of the John Carter series. A good yarn, and the great-great-granddaddy of the Final Fantasy games. Seriously. Fantasy, sci-fi, creatures that might as well be Chocobos, and Airships galore. And epic battles. And companions. A must read, and free online. Fans will get the reference. And the sitting at his feet is a reference to the book of Ruth in the Bible.