(no subject)
Aug. 6th, 2003 12:28 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kodiMonday Mashup #3: Narnia
The PCs are a group of children in a large house during a particularly cold winter - either a relative's home or an old house that's been converted into a daycare. The Responsible Adults step outside, "only for a moment," and don't return for hours or even days. The windows of the house are thick and old, and the addition of a thin layer of ice makes it impossible to see out or open the windows. The outer doors are similarly stuck.
First one, then another child discovers a hidden door somewhere in the house. Passing through the door, each emerges outside, but in an adult body. They will eventually discover that their new bodies also feature superhuman abilities. outside, the children discover a terrible ice storm that has sealed off houses and imprisoned people in their cars. One of the children will happen across what they take to be a police officer, who will have pity on them and not deliver them to the Ice Witch per his orders, while the other child will be delivered to her and seduced by her magical charms/desserts.
Eventually, all the children make it out of the house as a group, each in a new adult body with new powers, and now they find themselves looking for allies against the Ice Witch and her mysterious akmost-human armies. Although many humans are entombed or within the Ice Witch's thrall, some still remain free. There are rumors of a great hero, returned from across the ocean; he is said to fight with the strength of a lion, but will he fight for the children? For all the power of their new bodies, our heroes are still immature children inside, and one in particular is constantly scheming to turn his friends over to the Ice Witch herself.
I thought the most interesting challenge would be to overlay Narnia with the regular world of the protagonists. In particular, I look forward to the protagonists as adults rescuing their caretakers, and then realizing that they either have to explain everything, or beat the caretakers back to the house and become children again. I don't think the caretakers will be inclined to believe any explanation, even with all that they've seen happen. Obviously, this could be set in any four-color superhero system. I think it would make the most sense to place the action on an island, something somewhat urban, but nowhere near as big or populous as Manhattan. Even so, it's hard to explain why the Ice Witch isn't being immediately crushed by some responsible nation or other. A giant wall of ice encircling the island is goofy, but might pass. Another problem I had was working Aslan into it. I'm still not sold, but then, I don't recall being too happy with Aslan in the first book, either. I remember being in such awe when Mr. Beaver said, "'Course he isn't safe. But he's good," and I don't recall that awe being justified until halfway through the series. It will be a challenge to make the lion in this story a menacing figure as well as a redeemer.
Your inspiration this week is The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Go.
The PCs are a group of children in a large house during a particularly cold winter - either a relative's home or an old house that's been converted into a daycare. The Responsible Adults step outside, "only for a moment," and don't return for hours or even days. The windows of the house are thick and old, and the addition of a thin layer of ice makes it impossible to see out or open the windows. The outer doors are similarly stuck.
First one, then another child discovers a hidden door somewhere in the house. Passing through the door, each emerges outside, but in an adult body. They will eventually discover that their new bodies also feature superhuman abilities. outside, the children discover a terrible ice storm that has sealed off houses and imprisoned people in their cars. One of the children will happen across what they take to be a police officer, who will have pity on them and not deliver them to the Ice Witch per his orders, while the other child will be delivered to her and seduced by her magical charms/desserts.
Eventually, all the children make it out of the house as a group, each in a new adult body with new powers, and now they find themselves looking for allies against the Ice Witch and her mysterious akmost-human armies. Although many humans are entombed or within the Ice Witch's thrall, some still remain free. There are rumors of a great hero, returned from across the ocean; he is said to fight with the strength of a lion, but will he fight for the children? For all the power of their new bodies, our heroes are still immature children inside, and one in particular is constantly scheming to turn his friends over to the Ice Witch herself.
I thought the most interesting challenge would be to overlay Narnia with the regular world of the protagonists. In particular, I look forward to the protagonists as adults rescuing their caretakers, and then realizing that they either have to explain everything, or beat the caretakers back to the house and become children again. I don't think the caretakers will be inclined to believe any explanation, even with all that they've seen happen. Obviously, this could be set in any four-color superhero system. I think it would make the most sense to place the action on an island, something somewhat urban, but nowhere near as big or populous as Manhattan. Even so, it's hard to explain why the Ice Witch isn't being immediately crushed by some responsible nation or other. A giant wall of ice encircling the island is goofy, but might pass. Another problem I had was working Aslan into it. I'm still not sold, but then, I don't recall being too happy with Aslan in the first book, either. I remember being in such awe when Mr. Beaver said, "'Course he isn't safe. But he's good," and I don't recall that awe being justified until halfway through the series. It will be a challenge to make the lion in this story a menacing figure as well as a redeemer.