Since I'm pretty new here, I've had a difficult time figuring out the different stories everyone has been working on. So, I thought of a solution that is great practice in my opinion.
I challenge everyone to write a short summary/overview of what the story (or stories) they are working on is about.
I'll go first:

My stories takes place in a fantasy world where magic is an ever present (and not always so pleasant) reality. When this world was created, the care of all life was placed in the hands of the created. If they wished to survive, they would all have to cooperate enough to protect and maintain the source from which all life was sustained, The Cavern of Lifes.
A temple was erected above it and a great city was built around to protect it. That city was called Valliyenta.
Valliyenta was situated far from any of the many kingdoms in the world. These kingdoms consisted of many and diverse “races”. The majority, however, were men. And it is from men that trouble first arose. The draw of power was too much for one named Mordusk. Control of the Cavern became his all consuming desire.
The Black Mage, as he became known, either had to be able to overcome Valliyenta itself, or he would have to obtain the seven legendary King Swords in order to locate and unlock a secret passage leading to the Cavern from outside the city.
However, there were forces at work determined to stop him. From one family arose the line of Seventh Sons. The seventh one was destined to defeat the Black Mage – if that family line could survive until his birth.
There are seven separate stories that start from the beginning of Mordusk’s quest for ultimate power to his demise.
Each story takes place during the life of one Seventh Son, but that Seventh Son is not always (or even often) the main character. There are others from different races, backgrounds, and stations that fight for what is right against the evils that stalk the land in their days.


Now it's your turn!

I'm going to start with Alaidia ("Peter's Angel"), since that is the work I most frequently discuss here. Let's see...

***
The coronation of Alaidia's crown prince is not a happy time for Peter, the heir of Reval, a large Alaidian fief. When the childless Alaidian king names his nephew Mark as his heir and gives him charge of Reval, Peter bitterly hopes that the new prince won't meddle in Revalian affairs. Mere weeks after the coronation, however, precious oil is discovered in Reval - and Mark tries to bargain for the land. When Reval tactfully refuses, Mark is incited to seize the land by force, waging war on the coasts. Peter urges retaliation, but before he can make it to the front lines, he is ambushed and kidnapped.

Unbeknownst to both governments, the war forces Nathan, the orphaned son of Alaidia's rightful king and queen, onto the streets. Stumbling through the woods in search of shelter, Nathan witnesses Peter's kidnapping and trails the prince until he has a chance to free him. But before Peter can even offer a word of thanks, Nathan vanishes, leaving Peter with only a memory of Nathan's scarred wrist.

Going on that memory, Peter scrounges the countryside until he finds "his angel." Indebted to repay his rescuer, Peter makes a name out of Nathan, bringing him to the attention of Mark. When Mark makes the connection and reveals Nathan's true identity, Peter throws himself into a war, sworn to not only save his angel's life but restore him to his rightful throne.

***

That could use some work... I will try writing summaries for some of my other works, and I'll probably rewrite this one later.

Looking forward to seeing some others!

Take two!

PETER’S ANGEL (this one is better ‘cause it’s shorter )
As the heir of a large fief, Peter retaliates when the motherland seizes his newfound diamond mines. He rushes to the battle, only to be ambushed and held for ransom by ruffians of his own country. Certain death faces him until a scarred teenager breaks into the house and frees him, only to vanish without leaving his name. Indebted, Peter overturns the countryside until he finds his “angel,” propelling the reclusive boy to national spotlight. In the resulting festivities, Peter discovers that the motherland has an interest in his angel too – as the presumed-dead heir of her throne. Inspired, Peter purposes to restore his angel and release both of their countries from tyranny – if he can save them from the hardened regent that seeks their lives.



FADED (my NaNo, which I am hoping to rewrite soon…)
Cancer was not in the equation. Neither was a journey to a fantastic world where everything – including people – fades as it ages.

19-year-old Carter was posed to enter his first year of college and begin his career. But when advanced aggressive lymphoma wrecks his health and his plans, he faces a year of waiting with continued chemo treatments as the only certainty. His plans are thrown even farther out of whack when he gets off the hospital elevator on the wrong floor – and steps into a hostile fantasy world. Immediately arrested for trespassing, Carter finds himself running errands to earn his passage home. Accompanied by a sarcastic teen and a clumsy dragon, Carter is dragged deep into a white-washed earth where everything fades as it ages – except himself. As one quest leads to another, Carter wonders if he will ever earn his way back – or is staying in this world the only way to save his health?

Okey dokey. Let's see. I guess I'll start with the only story I'm actively working on.

The Two Fathers
Zaciré never wanted to go on this quest. It killed his father and soon it would kill him. In the world of Enderion, the mysterious Dagger has gone missing. The Creator vowed to destroy the earth when it was taken from its rightful place at the Enclave. Zaciré's father Rehuan, guardian of the Dagger, was tasked with recovering it; but he was killed before he could return to the Enclave. Logically, his son had the job passed on to him. Finishing the quest will avenge his father!

Numaryá never really fit in at the Enclave. She jumped at the chance to go on a quest to recover the Dagger. Once she found out that Samsvar was going, she hesitated; no one must find out about their child. But it was not until she found out who had taken the Dagger that the quest became of utmost importance to her. Finishing the quest will redeem her father!

As the third member of the quest, Samsvar completes the team. Solid, reliable, and Zaciré's best friend, he always seemed to be there for the group. Until one time he is mysteriously killed. Then, his friends encounter him again--but he is no longer a friend. Samsvar has been leading a double life for many years. His main task is to destroy the children of the two fathers who ruined his life.

---

OK, that's long, and it sort of gives away the plot. But I wanted to experiment with a paragraph from each main character's point of view. You should get at least an idea of what it's about from that. =)

Anyways, this is a story I've been thinking of that's not exactly fantasy. More like toying with a strange story idea. Anyways, here's a (hopefully) shorter summary.

Untitled
It is the middle of the Third Snowball War. Ulrich and Arun staff a remote Blue border outpost. The rest of their patrol has been killed or has deserted. During a surprise hit-and-run Red attack, Ulrich and Arun wound a young Red fighter, who is unable to run away. They should have killed her--but Arun brings her back to health.

Ulrich cannot take it anymore. After a huge fight, he runs away. Arun and Chaye must work together to stop the fight that has killed their fathers and grandfathers. But their biggest problem won't be Blue and Red.

---

Okay. Maybe I should explain a little bit of the inspiration for this story. I got a really strong image from two teams attacking each other with snowballs. Normally, that would be harmless fun, but these are tightly-packed, launched from a bazooka style snowballs. Using snow in warfare really intrigued me.

Secondly, I thought about taking the plot of the Two Fathers and dropping it in a totally different setting. See the similarities? Misfit girl; Girl and boy against former friend. Anyways. So yeah--if I ever finish that I'd be surprised. =)

eruheran

Faded sounds really cool, by the way! =)

eruheran

These all sound really good!

Here's mine:

Shapeshifters (placeholder title)

When the seven shapeshifter children were hidden away, Ismaire and the Old One thought they would be safe to grow up as normal people, and return to Arenia as adults. However, their plans are turned upside down when the Vandels kidnap the children with plans of using them to destroy their own country - a country some of them have only just heard of.

Untitled (This is the one about the girl with the dark past that a few of you have asked about.)

Gra is preparing to invade Failón once again, and Ciarra, an abused slave girl, has finally gathered up the courage to escape her Gralian captors. Carrying vital information, she runs to a small village, and takes her plight to the village leader. In a race against time, Ciarra, along with an unlikely cast of characters, must rush the information to the capitol, or all will be lost for Failón. But if Gra falls, so will Ciarra’s twin sister, who just happens to be a leading force behind the Gralian army.

On the last one, I'm not exactly sure what's going to happen, but that was the best I could come up with for now.

Thank you, Eruheran!

Both of those sound intriguing, Princess, though there's no decided MC in the first one. I remember your story hook for Ciarra, that you entered in the contest... it was GRIPPING! Loved the style.

Thanks, Philli! I thought Faded sounded good, too; are you planning on posting any of it here?

The first one has three MCs (because there are three different things going on at once), and I wasn't sure how to fit them into a short summary. But I need to work on that one anyway.

And I'm glad you liked my style!

Yes, I posted some of it here: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=1498

A summary doesn't necessarily have to include reference to an MC, but it's usually a good idea if the reader gets a feel of a strong character they want to follow. More emotional attachment, higher interest. Is there a character in your book that is the true MC above the others?

Here I go, this will be a long list.
Hunter Romero and the Atlantean Curse: A store owner, professor, and a thirteen year old pickpocket race to unearth a cursed idol from Atlantis before the Nazis do.

The Price of Freedom: The Untold Tale of America's Finest in World War Three: An alcoholic commando with a fear of death deals with his inner demons as he leads America's finest into the most dangerous conflicts of the third world war.

Jack Wilder and the Threat of Anubis An honorable mercenary must battle an ancient Egyptian cult after an old war buddy's niece goes missing.

Sea Hunter: A fifteen year old boy infiltrates his enemy's crew to avenge the murder of his town.

Last of the Romeros: 15 year old Aidan Romero is plunged into the shadow world of espionage and black ops when he is attacked by mysterious assailants who later murder his family. He vows to bring the killers to justice.

I've got more, but I don't remember them all.

I'll have to go check Faded out.

Aha... Luke and Alyse are pretty even when it comes to being MC, and I didn't mention Luke in my summary. *thinks she needs to work on it*

You all did a much better job of writing a short summary than I did!
All the stories sound great! I'll have to get to work reading what has been posted.

eruheran - using snow as a weapon is a very original idea and sounds pretty effective! I like it.

Varon- wow you are working on a lot! Last of the Romeros, sounds intriguing. Does it take place in a fantasy world or more of a real life setting?