Project: Fall from Heaven - The Novel

[DioBrando]

So, I won't have any schoolwork nor any job to spend my time on until this fall. Since i'm planning on taking som courses in literature and english next year, I figured that I might as well practice on writing a novel. Partly to get some experience, but mostly to expand my english vocabulary. Since I love Erebus and have a role-playing campaign set up with some of my friends, I figured that I might as well write about Fall from Heaven. I think that my first story will be about a Grigori adventurer who will probably end up killing Acheron, and if i'm truly satisfied with the result I might just write some more, probably a bit about Falamar and a story that involves the Overlords, featuring Balseraph.

This thread isn't really meant as feedback thread at all, I created it as a pre-emptive measure. If, hypothetically, I feel that the book is good enough to be published, then I am willing to donate as much as 80% of the income to whichever organisation Kael wants me to. I owe a great lot to the team, and I feel the need to immortalize the world of Erebus for everyone to enjoy. While I am not sure if i can create a work which lives up to the quality of the mod, I certainly feel like trying.

I might use the thread to throw up drafts of what i've written. Or maybe not. I felt the need to write a thread about my project before i started it, and now I have done it.

If I get a heads up from Kael, I'll start writing it as if I was trying to write a book for commercial distribution. If not, I'll just write it as something for fans to enjoy, similiar to the story fragments thread.

So uuh. That's pretty much it. Let's see what the future yields.

Oh, and yeah, I freaking love this game even if I don't play it that much nowadays. It's just so damn good, I can spend hours thinking of possible plots and events in the world of Erebus. My favorite one being Falamar seducing Os-Gabella

 

[LDiCesare]

Start writing no matter what. I quit trying to get published because it's just too long and boring (particularly in a silly country like France where literary agents are inexistent or hardly trustworthy).
Write as if you would be published. Fans will like it too. If you write "for fans" you're going to end up with lots of references and little story (like some books I read about whatever game I didn't know - pitiful if you weren't very well-versed in the lore).

 

[DioBrando]

Start writing no matter what. I quit trying to get published because it's just too long and boring (particularly in a silly country like France where literary agents are inexistent or hardly trustworthy).
Write as if you would be published. Fans will like it too. If you write "for fans" you're going to end up with lots of references and little story (like some books I read about whatever game I didn't know - pitiful if you weren't very well-versed in the lore).

Yeah, one of the main characters will become an extension of the reader, one who is rather oblivious to the world until he steps into grigori lands. He will start out as a follower of some religion, probably overlords or order, but lose his faith when something BAD happens. Since the main character is about as (un)knowledgable as the readers, they will have no trouble at all identifying with him. This will also make Erebus seem very generic at first, but then segue into mystery and depth. Just like the game did. The hard part will be to not turn the events leading to his spiritual crisis into a cliché.

I really don't want my story to become a generic high fantasy story, i.e. "oh noes i am the main character suffering from amnesia and here's my trusty female acolyte companion which had her whole town killed by the bad guy and who later turns out to be half-angel which she really didn't know anything about and then the bad guy turns out to be my father"

Erebus is pretty much the most perfect fantasy world I can imagine. If I tried to create my own world, it would probably just be a rip-off.

 

[Kael]

Its fine with me if you want to use Erebus as the setting for your novel. I dont mind if you make it commercial and sell it. My only requirements are:

1. Credit the team writers for their work.
2. You can't use the "Fall from Heaven" name. Thats how we distinguish between the team products and community products. Fall from Heaven is the only restriction, you can use the world name, heroes, civs, leaders, backstory, everything else.
3. If they make your book into a movie you have to invite me to the premiere.

 

[DioBrando]

I figured as much, and strangely enough, the name Erebus isn't taken. The only downside with using Erebus would be that it sounds a bit like Eberron, but it's probably the best name availabe.

It doesn't seem appropriate to introduce the leaders in the first story, at least not as in the main character actually meeting them, but i figure that i'll use some of the great persons as important characters, with modifications of course. Has anyone made a rough timeline of the events in Erebus, as in when scenarios take place and such? If not, that will probably be on the top of my to-do list, even if i'm not going to cover any major events in the warm-up novel.

Hey, i'll give the whole team seats to a pre-view of the movie if it ever gets made.

 

[seZereth]

good luck,
please don´t stop down the road and continue what you planned to do.
(FfH in its current form took about 3 years and we are still here )

 

[Diamondeye]

That sounds thrilling.

If you need some small sidestory or perhaps a poem written into it, and can't think anything up, I am willing to lend a hand. I wouldn't want to hijack the project, but I'd enjoy knowing I helped spread the Wor(l)d of erebus.

 

[DioBrando]

That sounds thrilling.

If you need some small sidestory or perhaps a poem written into it, and can't think anything up, I am willing to lend a hand. I wouldn't want to hijack the project, but I'd enjoy knowing I helped spread the Wor(l)d of erebus.

In the best of worlds, Erebus will become a series of books written by several different authors, and excerpts from the "Random stories and fragments" thread will become it's silmarillion. I'll publish my draft of the first chapter once i'm satisfied with it and will gladly accept improvements and possible ideas.

Going through the lore forum right now to find some statements about some obscure religions because i realised that i have pretty much no idea about what's up with the cult of the dragon. I'll probably compile a pretty big word document where i write down basics and ideas. I want my story to coexist, rather than clash, with the official canon.

 

[Seon]

I hope KC is listning on this forum. Post sth here when you publish it

 

[orangelex44]

Try out this link, if you haven't already. It has a lot of lore consolidated into one pretty package, although it's a bit dated in parts.

As for official canon, you're going to run into just a *bit* of trouble there. Some of it exists only in Kael's (and MC's) mind; some of it is self-contradictory; some of it is hopelessly confusing. If I were you, I wouldn't be 100% concerned with trying to obey all of it, and focus more on a neat story. Erebus has always been a little flexible to interpretation.

 

[Nikis-Knight]

Has anyone made a rough timeline of the events in Erebus, as in when scenarios take place and such? If not, that will probably be on the top of my to-do list, even if i'm not going to cover any major events in the warm-up novel.

Only in my head a few times. It would probably be a useful thread.

 

[KillerClowns]

...As for official canon, you're going to run into just a *bit* of trouble there. Some of it exists only in Kael's (and MC's) mind; some of it is self-contradictory; some of it is hopelessly confusing. If I were you, I wouldn't be 100% concerned with trying to obey all of it, and focus more on a neat story. Erebus has always been a little flexible to interpretation.

Yeah. When it comes to how to treat canon while writing, my #1 rule is: "if ever in doubt, go with the cooler option." My #2 rule is "if you are particularly uncertain about a statement about Erebus being true, put it in the mouth of a character, then claim you intended for him to be incorrect if you turn out to be wrong." (Mix in red herring false statements on occasion to preserve plausible deniability, preferably ones consisting of coming to incorrect conclusions through perfectly rational means.)

 

[Jabie]

So, I won't have any schoolwork nor any job to spend my time on until this fall. Since i'm planning on taking som courses in literature and english next year, I figured that I might as well practice on writing a novel. Partly to get some experience, but mostly to expand my english vocabulary. Since I love Erebus and have a role-playing campaign set up with some of my friends, I figured that I might as well write about Fall from Heaven. I think that my first story will be about a Grigori adventurer who will probably end up killing Acheron, and if i'm truly satisfied with the result I might just write some more, probably a bit about Falamar and a story that involves the Overlords, featuring Balseraph.

Many elements and names from Erebus are drawn from older myths and literature. For instance, Elohim and Mammon are Biblical, Archeron and Dis are from the Divine Comedy. Sheol is the Jewish underwold. Orthus/Orthrus is a two headed Greek dog. Danalin and Octopus Overlords owes a debt to Lovecraft. It might be worth checking some of the source texts for ideas and themes.

 

[DioBrando]

After skimming through page 5 in the lore forum, I now have three word documents with different stories, quotes and lists of angels, gods and people. Fun times, i'll probably do page 4 today.

As for the story, i've progressed quite a bit. For those who want to know the basic outlining, here's a short summary. No real big spoilers yet, but it's for them really interested in the project and who wants to give some input. I will probably write some chapters in the near future, so feel free not to check it out if you don't want to get spoiled.

Spoiler :

Erebus
Cult of the Dragon

The Amurites border Grigori and is pretty close to Sheaim. Ashen Veil is pretty big in Amurite lands. The story begins in a small Amurite town founded by the bones of a dragon, and is marked as a holy spot for everyone in The Cult of the Dragon.

Character 1: An Amurite boy, follower of both the Veil and CotD
Character 2: A Grigori girl who is very knowledgable and true to the teachings of Cassiel
Character 3: A Hippus horse archer who rides with Tasunkes raiding party.

Tasunke is the only planned leader or hero that i will feature in person this time, but both Orthus and Cassiel will be spoken about.

Events:
*C1 lives in an Amurite town near the dragon bones and is 16 when we meet him.
*Amurite and Sheaim followers of CotD tries to resurrect the dragon
*The ritual fails, Acheron is now alive but feral
*The town is invaded by barbarian orcs who are followers of Bhall
*C1, having to flee his village, ends up in a Grigori town bordering Amurite lands
*C1 gets astonished by Grigori culture, and gets taken in by C2's family to live in their house
*C2 and C1 argue about beliefs. C2 is very firm in her Cassiel Agnosticism, and wins the discussion
*TIME SKIP*
*C1 is now 21 and C2 is 20. There is a big hype about dragonslaying these days, and barbarian attacks are getting worse in the area
*In the tavern, C1 and C2 meets a luchuirp trader who needs adventurers to protect him and his goods. In exchange, he offers the main characters an enchanted mail which will protect you from fire.
*C1 and C2 is now guarding the caravan and are on their way to luchuirp lands, when they get attacked by orcs. The luchuirp is slained, golem left lifeless behind, goods and main characters taken to the orcs temporary camp.
*Tasunke and his raiding party happens to be nearby. They rescue the main characters, and sends C3 with them to insure that the goods arrives at it's destination (the goods are pretty much trinkets and scrolls, Hippus prefers money)

And that's it so far.

Open question: Can angels reproduce with humans? If not, how about Cassiel?

Many elements and names from Erebus are drawn from older myths and literature. For instance, Elohim and Mammon are Biblical, Archeron and Dis are from the Divine Comedy. Sheol is the Jewish underwold. Orthus/Orthrus is a two headed Greek dog. Danalin and Octopus Overlords owes a debt to Lovecraft. It might be worth checking some of the source texts for ideas and themes.

No problem, I am well versed in mythology and i've probably read every story by Lovecraft. This forum has also made me wiki stuff like Grigori, Ecclestiacs and Erebus, so i'm very used to reading backstories by now.

 

[Seon]

Open question: Can angels reproduce with humans? If not, how about Cassiel?

I have never heard of angels reproducing with humans. I wondered once whether some gods were in love with each other (Tali seems to be a loving tupe), but failed to find any direct reference to it. I doubt that the angels would bother to breed with humans, Mercurians would rather bash your head in to make you an Angel. Since they are made of dead souls, I don't think they have private parts at all, they won't need it, won't they? Preparing for MCs fierce counterattack.

 

[Kael]

Open question: Can angels reproduce with humans? If not, how about Cassiel?

Yes. Thessa's husband was half-angel, and Mardero is half-demon and half-human.

 

[DioBrando]

Yes. Thessa's husband was half-angel, and Mardero is half-demon and half-human.

And this happened through consensual sex in the missionary position? Do you really mean that Hyborem has an actual PENIS?!

 

[Seon]

Yes. Thessa's husband was half-angel, and Mardero is half-demon and half-human.

dang I completely forgot about mardero and satyrs

 

[KillerClowns]

And this happened through consensual sex in the missionary position?...

In the case of Thessa's husband, might be. In Mardero's case... [massive understatement]not precisely[/massive understatement].

...Do you really mean that Hyborem has an actual PENIS?!

I'm not sure of the exact translation, but from what I gather, the Latin that Hyborem says to Keelyn in her Lord of the Balors intro ("Pedicabo ego vos et irrumabo") even goes so far as to describe exactly what he intends to do with it... my attempts to get it translated, so far, have met with hilarity.

 

[MagisterCultuum]

Hyborem I can't find those exact words in my Latin dictionary either (I think the last word is misspelled), but I think Hyborem says "I shall ensnare you (plural) and rush in" or "I shall ensnare and break you in"

Edit: I guess such words are actually just omitted from more polite Latin dictionaries.


I would guess that angels can take on human (or vaguely near-human) form in order to be able to procreate, but in their true spiritual form would not have the ability. I know of no angel/demon who reproduced without a mortal mate, but several have sired children with human or elvish women. The archangel and future god Cernunnos had 3 elven wives with whom he had several sons. That was surely consensual. Devon was likely born in a similar consensual relationship with one of his lesser angels (although I've had my suspicions that his father might have actually been in the service of Mammon), but Lita the Witch was repeatedly and brutally raped (possibly by the archangel Hastur himself) so that she would bear Mardero and his brothers. Succubi and Incubi in the service of Duke Sallos have likely borne many Cambion children, including Averax.