Assistance requested

[Illithrim]

I need help with a book I'm planning on writing. Heres a basic of what i have so far.

It's an elven combat magic academy with five groups. Ruby, Diamond, Sapphire, Amethyst and Opal. They each represent different characteristics that the person has. The Rubies are athletic, self-confident people. The Diamonds are clever, cool, know-it-all people. The Sapphires are the people pleaser's, try to make everyone happy people. The Amethyst are the neat freak, OCD people who must have everything in it's proper place. The Opal (last but not least) are the insecure, over compensating and attention seeking people. ( I'm open to suggestions on changes to the gemstones) They are each represented by 2 mythical creatures. (This is the part i need help on) This is what I have so far, Athletic: European Dragon and pheonix, Know-it-all: Gryphon and unicorn, People Pleaser's: Pegasus and Were bear(which I'm not even sure is a real mythical creature so if there's a bearlike mythical creature let me know) Neat Freak: Oriental Dragon and ?IDK?, Insecure: Jinn and Salamander.
Thanks for the help

[Overread]

Originally Posted by Illithrim

Were bear(which I'm not even sure is a real mythical creature so if there's a bearlike mythical creature let me know)

?? there are real dragons! You have seen them?
As to whethere they are an established creature, I think they are a newer kind (i.e. not in the older core mythologies) but that should not prevent or discourage you from using them. Off the top of my head they are present in Diablo II (PC game).
However, if they are like thier lyconthrope cousins then people will understand what they are with minimal explination on your part.

[fire_elf20]

lyconthropy can include any animal you want in my opinion I myself am used to all animals being used in that sense (thank D&D) and related games.

[Illithrim]

It's not really lyconthropy, its more like a sentient pet. If you've read the Golden Compass its similar to a daemon. Also if you've read The Obsidian Trilogy its like having a steed that can talk back to you and give you ideas on how to go about doing something.

[Overread]

hmm in that case I would not use the term "were"
Try using "dire" since wizards of the coast got hold of that name it can be taken to mean a larger than average specimine - though in fantasy the name can be extended to the meaning that you a using.
Less original would be the name "spirit" which would apply to a creature similar to a deamon - but then many "spirit" guides and hte like are not coporial.

[Miladysa]

Most gemstones have characteristics and properties already associated with them:

"
Amethyst


Amethyst is a vibrant red-violet gemstone.

It is a stone of love, spirituality and contentment. It has absolutely no negative side effects and it is very useful for focusing in meditation. A piece of amethyst placed before a white candle with pine incense burning is very conductive to meditative practices.

Amethyst possesses strong spiritual energy and is said to increase activity of the right side of the brain (the intellect). Amethyst is used for psychic awareness as well as promoting sleep and intuitive dreams. Cleopatra wore this gemstone in her royal ring.


It is the zodiacal stone for Aquarius"

The above info is from a website named nourish your spirit - I have no connection with it - I just googled 'gemstone properties'.


I would suggest that you match the existing folklore of the stones to the Elven groups.

Hope this makes sense!

[Illithrim]

Thank you for the idea of the search i actually found a website that has similar meaning to what I've come up with for the gemstones. Also, thanks for the help on the mythical creatures. I thought of using "dire" but I thought it might sound to evil for a guardian. Just wondering...
I like the idea of matching the folklore of the stones to kinds of elves but i don't know that many kinds of elves if you could help me with that I would appreciate it.

[Overread]

differnt kinds of elves - well comming up with your own - along with a short understanding of their history is the best way - most of the time they are just plain elves

as for Dire - its not really a name linked to evil anymore - more jsut a way of saying that this animal is bigger, smarter and stronger than the normal ones in the real world

[pyan]

Re were-bears...there's a very strong hint that Beorn from The Hobbit is a were-bear...

[Illithrim]

Well I'll try to go into more detail about my story for you guys so you can give me more help.

The school is an academy of magic. With military aspects as well the magic is channeled through weapons. Each student belongs to one of the five "towers" of magic. i.e. the gemstones. I'm torn between using the first human student as a main character or making it some sort of special elf as a main character. Anyway each of the students gets one of the two guardians of the tower.( thats why I need help with the mythical creature thing) This guardian has its own magical properties that match up with the gemstone of the tower(by the way does anyone know of a neat freak mythical creature?) The other idea I'm toying with is weather or not to make the villain a student who is trying to take over the school or an outside force trying to control the world. Again thanks for your help and I enjoy reading your opinions.

[Illithrim]

This is a list of the weapons I have so far for the use of channeling magic. Axes, lances, swords:katana, rapier, flamberge, claymore; knives: throwing, hunting; bows: long, short, cross; maces, staves, spears, glaive(if thats not a kind of spear) and sling(but I don't know if I should use that one or not)

[fire_elf20]

go for it obscure or lesser used weapons are great i myself am using both advanced tech and improvised weapons for different sections of my current work

[Illithrim]

The only problem I see with using a sling as a channel for magic is how? I would also like suggestions on what weapons go with what group of people

[Culhwch]

Well, perhaps the slinger could charge the ammunition with a magical spell of some kind - sort of like Gambit with his playing cards.

Is it essential that you have two creatures for each tower? Seems unnecessarily complicated to me. I think if I were writing this story I'd stay away from magical/mythical creatures as well, and just use animal symbols - fox for cunning, owl for wise, some kind of cat for athletic... Just an idea.

[Illithrim]

I would use the normal animal for guardian thing but I don't want to copy harry potter.
Also I thought the characters could use their guardians for combat and to draw power from if they needed to.