This idea came to me somewhere between Man in the Blade and The Colony of Avlain. It's still quite old.
Working Title: Four Elements
Genre: Not entirely sure. Possibly seinen or something like it.
Protagonist: Lord Sand (real name Qin*), a thirty-year-old man with no eyebrows and who always wears a hood but is otherwise of average appearance. He's generally serious, although easily incensed, and he's a bit too used to the luxurious life of the leader of the Country of Earth.
Other Main Characters: Lady Wind, the ruler of the Country of Air, though she inherited it at the age of fourteen. She's rather immature still and carries on a rivalry with Lord Sand. She's proud to be a leader of the nation of thieves (not robbers). She's rather dainty, with swirls of light blue hair.
Master Fire, the twenty-something ruler of the Country of Fire. His hair is medium-length yellow, with occasional waves of red. He's the mischievous type and rather arrogant.
Mistress Water, the thirty-something leader of the Country of Water. She has a very soft voice and is compassionate to an excess.
Antagonist: One of the leaders, as well as a few odd stragglers in the land to which they're transported.
Setting: The four nations border each other and have been at war off and on for a while. While a lot of the central land is the same, the outskirts of each country corresponds somehow to the element. The Country of Water is known for its wizards. The main story takes place somewhere outside the borders, in a harsh desert setting with some nomads.
Plot: The four leaders meet to discuss possibilities of peace. Coming to no good conclusion, they leave the room find themselves in a new land, and no one knows just where (sound familiar?). Now they have to work together to survive and find their way back. It's by no means an easy quest, especially when they find out who sent them here—and who has a prophecy that spells doom for his or her country.
It seems like it could be interesting if I ever pick it up again.
*Qin of Man in the Blade was named after him.
I have absolutely no idea what this plot went on to inspire. ;)
ReplyDeleteI think (and it sort of sounds like you're hinting this) that it'd be really cool if the person who sent them there was one of the leaders themselves, but it's a secret throughout most of the story. I'm betting on Lord Sand. Idk why, he just seems like he could be plotting something. That, or Mistress Water is doing this out of some "compassionate" plot to rid the world of violence or something.
There I go again, trying to write your stories for you... XD
I'm not sure how solid the link is, but it's definitely there.
DeleteYes, it's one of the leaders! Everyone's first to accuse Mistress Water, since her land is the land of magic and all, but she insists otherwise. Lord Sand is incredibly unhappy with the entire ordeal; he never willingly admits his real name until they run into his secret. (They do all official business under their ruling names, and they don't get along well enough to hang out otherwise.)
And if you don't mind a spoiler, yes, it was Mistress Water, for pretty much that reason. Hard for you to write my stories for me when I got there first. ;)