I finally get to start posting about something fantasy!

So, my world does not yet have a name (and I'd like it to, for various reasons) but the main interesting thing about it is the Controllers, so that's what I'm calling this thread.

This world is for a treatment that I'm writing for the SAICFF treatment competition. (for those who don't know, a treatment is a three-page synopsis of a screenplay) So I don't need all the details just yet, not as many as I will need when I go to write the actual screenplay. But I need it to be original and interesting, so you awesome peoples can tell me if it is either of those things.

I'm not going to talk about the story here. Just the world.

So, it's a very small world -- probably only a few hundred people inhabit it. There is little or no formal government, instead the Controllers keep an eye on things (or are supposed to).

The Controllers are a group of seven people who have been given the power to control the different elements of the world. They are responsible for keeping things in the world running smoothly. When a Controller dies, his/her power is passed on to someone else (I've yet to figure out the logic of how the control is passed).

A woman can only become a controller if her father or husband is one. If two controllers have children, their children are more prone than usual people to receive the power.

Legend says that someday the seven controllers will come together in a particular sanctuary, and there their powers will converge and be released. Some Controllers want this, others do not. No one knows if the legend is true or not.

The seven controllers, at the time of this story, are:

Creature. Creature is the oldest of the controllers, over seventy years old. He controls all animals on the planet. Since he's very old and it's hard for him to travel, he'll be traveling separately from the others for most of the story, on some gentle animal I imagine.

Light. Light is a forty-something, gentle, wise man. He's the mentor type, and will be protecting the protagonist and will be her voice of reason. He's understanding and kind. He controls all light.

Water. Water is Light's daughter. She is early twenties, a gloomy and morose personality-type, which is compounded by bitterness over the death of her mother years before. She controls all aspects of water, and tends to keep things cloudy when she can, making the world often rather dark. The darker her mood, the thicker the clouds. She travels with her father.

Wind. Wind is Light's son, Water's brother, around nineteen. He controls the wind, and is intelligent, strong, and clever. After his mother died, he grew frustrated and started seeking ways to gain the power of the other Controllers. He uses his power to make it hard on those who oppose him.

Mineral. Mineral is Wind's friend, a serious, pragmatic, calm twenty-something. He follows Wind in his crusade, and also uses his power to make things difficult for the group who's trying to set things right. He has the power to do anything with rock and earth.

Plant. The previous Plant was Light's wife, the mother of Water and Wind. After she died, the power passed to a young farmers' wife. The new Plant is shy and has no interest in using the control. She can control plants any way she likes, but because of her timidity and lack of interest, the plants in the world are dying. Neither Light and his party nor Wind and his know who the Plant Controller is.

Heat. Heat is a sturdy, sensible, stern farmer who has no interest in using his power. He is Plant's husband, and the world is cold because of his disinterest and apathy.

That's mostly what I have so far. I've done brainstorming about the story some... and I'm trying to figure out what kind of animals and plants the world will have. I'm leaning towards having things similar to our world (same classes and all) but have the species be different. But I haven't settle on it yet.

Any and all thoughts and suggestions are very welcome.

This is sounding extremely interesting, Ani! I like it! So, with the two apathetic Controllers, the world is semi-dying? I imagine the Wind, Water, and Mineral Controllers aren't helping matters much either.

Thanks, Milly!

Yes, it is a dark and dying world. If the legend is true, they need to get together in the sanctuary so their powers can be equalized and released (though some people don't want this, like Wind and Mineral). Otherwise, they need to learn to work together.

The story that frames the world has little to do with the world itself however. It's hard to explain... but I shall have to explain it sometime around here...

I am very excited to hear more about this fantasy script-in-progress of yours, Gracie! Let us know when you post more.

This is very unique. I like the elemental approach. I'm also rather fond of small worlds. (Erde is comparatively very small and limited.)

Do the Controllers have a "real" name other than their element? Do they ever go by it? Do they have normal human lives? Is there anything special about their appearance, or is the only difference their power?

Do the other Controllers know who Heat is? Wouldn't they then know about his wife?

Wouldn't a farmer's wife want crops to grow? Farmers live by the land. No crops - no life. It seems like someone soft and timid might have a kind heart and would quietly be trying to make life better out of compassion for people.

I like the apathy angle.

Yay! Phil came by!

Very good questions... most of them have answers that I had just not included in my synopsis.


Yes, they have real names. Their names are not all decided yet. When they are willing to publicize their ability, they usually drop their real name for the most part.



The normalcy of their lives depends on how much they want to use their powers. But for the most part, yes, they have fairly normal lives, under normal circumstances. Their control is like any leadership responsibility.

Their appearance is just like anyone else. There may be some way a controller can sense another controller, but probably not.



Nope. They don't know who Heat is. They find out about Plant first.



She wants his crops to grow, and maybe the people in the village. But she isn't really interested in extending her help further. At least that's what I'm thinking just now, but that could change.

Thanks for the great questions!

What about areas where two domains overlap? For example, a storm would seem to involve both Wind and Water, and possibly Light or Heat.

This sounds vaguely like the Wardens of the World in Caroline Stevermer's College of Magics and Scholar of Magics, but each of the four Wardens in that series was responsible for a single hemisphere, not an element or a category of things.

Okay, so a controller could masquerade as a totally normal human being and blend in with society if they wanted to, right? Are some of them public about their powers, acting like a government official - they have a public appearance, but they also have home lives?

When a controller uses their powers, what does that look like? Is it all mental? Hand motions? Magic spells? Does it take conscious thought or energy?

That makes sense about Plant. She sounds near-sighted; she doesn't think about the world outside, not realizing that she's killing the earth beyond her village.

I like this. And since you wrote it, I will insist on asking picky questions.

Good question! I'd wondered that... and have not quite worked it out yet. I was kinda thinking that each would just control their section of the storm. Water would do the rain, but unless Wind cooperated, there would be no wind. Which could make things interesting. How does this sound to you guys?

Basically, yes.


I'm thinking just all mental. Some may subconsciously turn their eyes in that direction.


That's what I was thinking.


Pick away! And none of this is be best part... But the best part has nothing to do with worldbuilding...

That would be interesting. If a controller isn't doing anything with their powers, is there a level of "normalcy"? For example, is there some natural wind that blows when Wind isn't changing it?

I tend to think not. What do you think?

It depends on what you want for the world. If most of your Controllers are thinking enough to keep the place habitable, it's probably fine. But if your Controllers have to consciously think about every single breeze, they probably aren't even capable of keeping a world alive, however small. What do you think?

In line with Philadelphia's thoughts, what if the Controllers didn't have to do much most of the time? What they control would naturally be in balance, and all they do is maintain that balance, letting things continue through natural processes. However, occasionally things become imbalanced, and then they have to work hard to bring balance back.

Thus, while things are in balance, they can sleep, and things go on without them, but if something became imbalanced, this imbalance would wake the Controller of that element and they would deal with it. During the day, they would immediately sense any imbalance and deal with it.

These are good thoughts. I'll have to ponder this -- that would certainly make it a lot easier on the poor people!

And perhaps the imbalance is rather cumulative -- the more people let it go, the worse things get, gradually?

Also -- if someone, like Wind, were to purposefully make an imbalance, it would be a lot more stressful for the others.

I'll think more on this. I also wondered if anyone saw any theological difficulties in the way?

I just sent some details on the story that frames all this to a friend (it's Shaunie, Leah), so I may post some of that in story development...

There was once a Jasmine (Disney Princess) short film about a prince that intrinsically controlled the weather. If he was happy, crops were good; if he was unhappy, the crops died. So it was related to his mood, but he didn't have to "think" about it.

Maybe it's more subconscious. If the controllers are in a "normal" mood, the world is at a balance. However, if the controllers are in a bad mood, or spiritually apathetic/malicious, their element worsens. If they're in a good mood, or feeling compassionate or godly, their element improves. If you did that, a controller could, in theory, be completely unaware of their power.

Alternately, the world could have a "normal" mode whenever the controller isn't consciously changing it. So a controller could completely ignore their powers if they wanted to.

Since it's a fantasy world, the theology is different. I don't see any immediate objectionable implications in your arrangement, but I haven't pondered it in great detail.

I can't wait for Shaunie's thoughts!

I saw that one. *nods * That would be an interesting way to portray it.

Maybe there's some subconscious and also some conscious?


Because the apathy element is important to the film's tone, I probably won't do this, but it's a good thought.


You'll probably be quite shocked to hear that I haven't either. I thought about it a little -- and the larger story changes the theology a bit, so it's complicated.

It's worth mulling over the theology, but it seems acceptable from what you posted.

That's why I think a certain level of subconscious activity would be helpful. There's a "bare minimum" of activity that happens unless the controller says otherwise. Not enough for the planet to thrive, but enough that everyone isn't going to die promptly. What do you think?

*nods* That might be a good idea. I'll see how that would affect the story. That's part of the reason that things going down gradually is a good idea -- and Jonathan's balance idea is a good one too. *thinks*

Yes, that's what I was thinking.

Very interesting, I look forward to seeing where this goes...

Thanks! And thanks for stopping by and reading, Sui!

I can't wait to see where these ideas go, Ani!

Here's the story that goes with this world!

viewtopic.php?f=29&t=4479

*Looks at that face and adds another one* *then one more for good measure*

There, that about sums up my reaction.

Here is an other story idea that I lament isn't a full fledged book!

~ZA

Thanks, Za! That's awesome to hear.

A novel... well, I actually way prefer novels myself, so -- convince me?

PWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZE ANI? It would make such a novel novel! I would read it! Of course. . .it would also make a neat screen play. . .Just so I get to read something!

I'll think about it. You'll get to read the treatment quite soon, and hopefully some more full version of it someday soon.

*is glad that she isn't the only one who gets haggled to make her screenplays into novels and vice versa*

I thought you'd like that.

*Didn't think I haggled* . . . . ; )

Thanks, Ines!


This is a very good question. This doesn't make much logical sense, but I wonder if, since the world cannot progress without the Author, they would be kept somehow from finding them? I don't know. Hmmm... I'll have to think this over... Thanks!

Ooh! I'd love it if you made it into a full-fledged novel! I'd read it!

Thanks, Milly, dearest! I'm thinking about the novel thing. It wouldn't be in the near future though... I have several novels already scheduled to write.

Hehe, don't we all? That's the sign of a true writer!

So...I like the idea of them trying to find the last controllers and being inhibited somehow. It'd be a frustrating, difficult situation to actually be in, but it's good for a story.

A lot of book situations are like that, methinketh.

Quite true, I warrant, yet I had best take care I deraileth not thy thread, that more may discusseth this splendid story thou hast unveiled to us.

Carry on!