I started writing a grimdark fantasy based in DnD (Dungeons and Dragons) in Forgotten Realms, where some outcomes are left to a dice roll. I have never written a poem or a book, but I got lost in the topic and building this character.
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I see grimdark being about moral ambiguity, a gruesome world where there are no good choices or endings. This started as a freeform poem from the protagonist's perspective, which led to a tragic ballad-like structure.
-Quatrain
-AABB rhyme pattern
-8 or 9 syllables per line
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The protagonist, "Aaneu", is a rogue/warlock who lost his past life. In the desperation, he made a pact with a trickster patron without realizing the extent of the contract. The ones Aaneu knew in the past, but they don't know him anymore. But they live.
If Aaneu were to defy the pact, he and his past would perish. Aaneu is tasked with cruel deeds, while his past is kept as a hostage. His sheer will and loyalty drive him forward regardless. Selfish acts for a selfless cause.
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In this new life,
Aaneu is part of a collective "The Veiled Accord" that he is a loyal member and enforcer by choice. The few groups and individuals he's close with, he trusts by life. It's a story about betrayal, longing, and isolation, with contrasting themes about loyalty, nostalgia, and conflicting romance of "green scales".
In mental breakdown, either due to the deeds he did or surfacing memories, he falls into an apathetic state, reciting parts of the poem in tears. Trying to process, what is it that he is after?
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This is just the surface of the character. You can call it edgy or cliche, but I'm really enjoying the theme.
Very nice, and I’m glad it’s a character and not personal because I was feeling a little worried about you lol
But this makes perfect sense for the character you’ve written though. Good work!
Thank you! It's a very deeply flawed character, which is a nice contrast to many fantasy stories, that are about heroes and happy endings.
Do you anticipate writing more poetry with this character?
I haven't planned any, but if an opportunity arises, I might try some proper poem structures and learn meters! As Finnish, I find differentiating syllable weights and half of the poetry terms look like gibberish to me.
Wow you’re for real writing a poem in your non-native language?! I hope one day to be that good at another language to capable of that. It’ll probably be Spanish - when I was first learning it, I remember thinking, “When you can write poetry in a language, you’ve really mastered it.”
English I have used nearly daily basis past 8-10 years (I'm mid 20s now), but I still struggle with few things like vocabulary or pronunciation. In the more recent years, talking in voice chat and reading or listening English has helped a ton.
That’s great advice, thanks!