Terrouge Magazine
TED Interviews
So, I decided to do a few interviews from those writing in the recent TED contest. They were all lovely and obliging, and I thought they’ve written a great story. If you have time anytime in the future, and you haven’t read it, you may want to check it out!
And without further ado:
Nemik Allen/Airan
For the Author:
How did you find out about the contest?
Vlad (I assume) put an ad for the contest on the Redscape website.
What was the inspiration for your character?
The song “Confession (What’s inside my head)” by Red and my mother’s seriousness.
What was your favorite scene to write?
Unfortunately, the scene where he got abused. It was easy to write.
What was the best part of the contestant experience?
Meeting everyone and getting to know them better. Writing with them was even more fun.
Anything you’d change? Besides being dead and all?
There was a scene I would add to the beginning of my second post to show some character development.
Your character is suddenly alive and in the Top 3! Who’s with you and what happens?< br />Sal and Lock. Nemik, after going through some major character development, respects those around him now and because of Wazzock’s death, wants to change his ways. Because he was a fugitive from the south, he offers Sal a lot of money and lets her turn him in. Shortly afterwards though, he escapes and makes an honest life somewhere in the far south… or north… I’m still not used to the VI map system and where everything is yet.
What did you learn being part of the ROC contest experience?
A lot of things. I’m glad that people I don’t know in RL actually said my writing was good (I was scared my friends and family were being biased) but I learned that I needed to improve on how I wrote my apps and character development.
Would you enter one of these contests again?
*sarcastic voice* … No… no I wouldn’t.
What scene would you have liked to have written, but didn’t get the chance?
Nemik’s speech to the crew if Wazzock had died before him.
What was plotting with so many other authors like? Any big obstacles to overcome there?
Meh… it was challenging but because it was a complicated contest (being a war, and in a world I’m not familiar with) and my first contest, I sort of went with the flow and let everyone else plan the big stuff.
Which side do you want to see win? The VI or the South?
The VI, so there’s actually a possibility of an Emperor’s Decree 3.
For the Character:
What does Nemik think about all of this?
“Well— err… wot’s yer name again?— I just wanted te’ live an honest life as a first mate and be able to boss beasts around— yew know, but not being the top beast in charge so I don’ have ’em always breathin’ down my back. Then those pesky beasts had to invade and ruin everything.”
Does he like his job?
“Yep. Been my favorite job ever since I quit bein’ a murderin’ scumbag.”
Does he care what happens?
“As long as Gloria shows Lock who’s boss, I’m happy.”
What is your relationship with your author?< br/>“Perfectly fine.” *Airan struggles beneath a gag and tries to escape as Nemik produces a dagger* “Get me killed off, would’ja?”
If this were a movie, who would you pick to play you?
“Erm… prolly someone like Geoffrey Rush. He plays some nice piratey beasts.”
What would you change about your author?
“His lack o’ character development skills.”
Poof! You got to kill your author! What happens now?
“Well, I assume I’d prolly disappear from existence. But… I dunno… It’s like when I killed Barrett, I didn’t think things through…”
Sorriss/Vitora
For the Author:
How did you find out about the contest?
Actually, it was pure chance. I was feeling a little lonely and nostalgic during Christmas break, since all my friends weren’t around, and thought I’d go see how the good old ROC was doing. Surprise surprise, the day I go to check, Vlad posts the announcement. I just sat down and cranked out three apps in an hour and a half and crossed my fingers.
What was the inspiration for your character?
Let’s see… mostly myself, actually. I’m submissive, tend to build up what I actually feel inside, and love to cook. Of course, I’m no mostly-naked chef, so the rest I think was gathered from just glancing around my messy room. Heh.
What was your favorite scene to write?
Soriss fighting Gloria. It was awesome. And the Dark Forest scene was very wonderful, too— very fulfilling as a writer to give my character an ending that is truly happily ever after.
What was the best part of the contestant experience?
Reconnecting with all my old ROC acquaintances! It was heartwarming to realize that despite being gone for so long, I was still very much welcomed by all.
Anything you’d change? Besides being dead and all?
All of poor Steep’s predicaments. And not actually, because that’s how she’s being written, but it makes me sad to see such a brilliant character taking a pounding.
Your character is suddenly alive and in the Top 3! Who’s with you and what happens?
Oh geez! Ummm… Sal and Pip. Just so us normies can have a party. I guess it’s an extraordinary save-the-day scenario, and everyone gets what they want.
What did you learn being part of the ROC contest experience?
Two things. First, that you have to really, really love your character to succeed. Second, that plotting behind the scenes is the best part, because you can say all that stuff the audience never sees…
Would you enter one of these contests again?
Paws down, yes. Although I’m hoping to have one up and running really soon that I’m hosting…
What scene would you have liked to have written, but didn’t get the chance?
Soriss and Lady Akilina getting to know each other, but not in a gross, cliche way. I didn’t even necessarily plan them to get together, just to become civil lizards and respect something in each other.
What was plotting with so many other authors like? Any big obstacles to overcome there?
Definitely there were obstacles. It was tough at first when no one knew each other’s patterns of being online, and we even had to wait for Nemik to get a Skype account. Plus, it was tough to get your own ideas in there at first, because some people are just naturally more leaderly.
Which side do you want to see win? The VI or the South?
Personally, I like the South, but that’s because I think the VI could use some competent leadership for a while. XD
For the Character:
What does Soriss think about all of this?
"Pleasse. Thisss interview. Thisss isss embarassssing. Can I get back to the kitchensss now?"
Does he like his job?
"I live for my job, ssilliesss. Without cooking, my life would be meaninglesss."
Does he care what happens?
"Nope. I would have been quite content hiding out in a bassement with ssome tubersss and a frying pan until the war wasss over, and then jusst worked for whomever won."
What is your relationship with your author?
"Sshe undersstandsss me, at leasst. Not like ssome charactersss I’ve sseen in my day. We’d enjoy cooking together, if could ssnag a chancce."
If this were a movie, who would you pick to play you?
"Jack Black! Only he would have to tone hisss funny down. I’m not a funny lizard."
What would you change about your author?
"Sshe ssharesss all the ssame negative traitsss asss I do. How annoying isss that?"
Poof! You got to kill your author! What happens now?
"I run off, get a job I’d like, and am free of that whiny voicce in my earholesss."
Steep/Lord Zheep
For the Author:
How did you find out about the contest?
Vladdy asked me permission to run it!
What was the inspiration for your character?
The Vienna Teng song, “Stray Italian Greyhound”: God, I just want to lay down / These colors make my eyes hurt / This feeling calls for everything that I am not; A character who was depressed, but found herself gaining hope in some way, and trying to resist it. (That… is kind of the opposite of what eventually happened.) From there, I chose a weasel with skrjabingylus nasicola— worms in her skull. And then she ended up kind of like Vimes, so that was fun to play with, although not really foremost in my mind during any particular scene. There was a character from a movie that her anger and shouty fits were inspired by, too.
What was your favorite scene to write?
The very first one, with Steep running down the docks trying to get her soldiers onto shore safely. I’m usually a pansy at writing action sequences, but I’d just finished watching Schwarzenegger’s “Commando” and the Terminator… Quad…ogy?, and I’m insanely proud of the final product.
What was the best part of the contestant experience?
The private spa. By which I mean the amusing Skype chat. Followed by the fanarts.
Anything you’d change? Besides being dead and all?
I plum forgot to have a sappy weasel soldier follow Steep around in total puppy-love and have her constantly ignore him… And Kriley being dead. That was a total bummer. He could have been the best foil ever. And that Sycamore got in so I could write with him, he’s cool. And for Nemik to have at least another week to write in. Preferably more!!
I’d also go back and try to re-write all the emotional/inhead scenes. I was never particularly happy with them, content-wise. And I’d either move Steep finding out about Pylaris’s death more early on, or move the Big Plot Reveal another week into the future, to give her more time to set her priorities straight before everything went gull on her. And I’d have her pain affect her more when she’s out of sight of other characters; have her body start shaking, have her headbutt things more often, to show how difficult it was to keep a straight face most of the time. Hmm. And I should have referenced her suicidal tendencies a bit more often, because that was a big part of her originally, and they never had time to show up ’til the end there…
Your character is suddenly alive and in the Top 3! Who’s with you and what happens?
Gloria and, ummmmmm… Pip or Seth. The South is beaten, but Steep clings onto the fight with weaseljaws; months, maybe years pass, in which she and the other Southie lead an underground rebellion against the rebuilding Imperium. Eventually Steep allows Pip or Seth to go home to their family, but through some evil device, is not allowed to return herself. She stays and fights, at the cost of her own personal health, until she is alone and becomes a crazy hobo. She eventually gets a chance to kill Gloria, but screws it up, and takes her own life before Gloria can retaliate. Possibly while being wrapped up in a Southern flag. On fire.
What did you learn being part of the ROC contest experience?
That I really, really should take a break from them and write my own novel…
Would you enter one of these contests again?
Probably, although I tell myself I shouldn’t and that this is the last one.
What scene would you have liked to have written, but didn’t get the chance?
Steep enjoying herself in the evening, after work but before bed; a glimpse into the rituals that keep her sane and happy after every hectic day. And some more situations with Kriley. And her and Scott’s wedding, definitely.
What was plotting with so many other authors like? Any big obstacles to overcome there?
Getting ten people to not only agree on specifics, but to stop talking about food and making jokes long enough to concentrate, is very difficult. But kind of a fun difficult. *grin* It’s also very hard to be as ruthless as you need to be to survive when you’re trying your best to stay everyone’s friend. It’s very much worth it, but heaps crazy to accomplish without screwing up a few times.
Which side do you want to see win? The VI or the South?
I want to see the VI win the fight, but the South to win their real war.
For the Character:
What does Steep think about all of this?
“Oh, gull it all to ’Gates.”
Does she like his job?
“If I may quote my most-hated enemy… ‘Oh, I do like lantern oil. And I love my country!’ Only replace ‘lantern oil’ with ‘my job’.”
Does she care what happens?
“About what? About who? … probably not anymore, so long as we win.”
What is your relationship with your author?
“Tolerable. I can’t tell whether it’s worse to have one who’s fine with re-using your core concept and name again and again, putting you into different universes willy-nilly, forcing you to suffer countless agonies time and time again… Maybe someday I’ll get a lucky break in one of my future incarnations.”
If this were a movie, who would you pick to play you?
“Marisa Tomei is about the only actress to get the snarky anger just right, as seen in My Cousin Vinny. And just for the record, Pip is, and always will be, played by Andy Serkis.”
What would you change about your author?
“…bahahahahaha!”
Poof! You got to kill your author! What happens now?
“Hold me, Pip’s author!”
Kriley/Balmafula
How did you find out about the contest?
Um, I believe near the end of RV5, I was talking with Vlad and he mentioned something about a TeD II. Since TeD was my favorite (non-contestant) contest, and the first contest I ever applied for, I had to at least try again.
What was the inspiration for your character?
Playing through the games Tales of the Abyss (which is a great game, btw) I was really interested by the character of Guy, who also has a past-related female phobia. But I wanted to take it in a slightly different direction and see what I could do with it. Kriley ended up being less wholesome and kind than Guy, but honestly, they both had their dark/light sides so, eh.
What was your favorite scene to write?
It sounds odd, but the scene where Kriley runs up to the top of the plateau. I had a real sense of freedom there that I hadn’t felt for the rest of the contest.
What was the best part of the contestant experience?
Watching your character grow.
Anything you’d change? Besides being dead and all?
I was going to say not make Kriley a noble because that’s what seemed to seal my fate. But in the end, I wouldn’t change that. I would have tried to get in a scene with Steep before the death post so that I didn’t have to cram it all in at the end. I also really wanted a scene with Kriley and Seth, too.
Your character is suddenly alive and in the Top 3! Who’s with you and what happens?
Oh jeez. I’m gonna say Pip and Wazzock. Honestly, they (and arguably Steep) are two of the beasts who I think deserve to live the most. As for what they’d do I cannot think of anything. But, antics! And tea.
What did you learn being part of the ROC contest experience?
That audiences are fickle. That your characters will very rarely ever do and/or behave as you wanted at the beginning because of other characters and circumstances. And, most importantly, that if you don’t want to die, that you have to assert yourself and force yourself into the story… or perish in obscurity.
Would you enter one of these contests again?
I’ve said I wouldn’t, but I know that I’ll be excited and raring to try again the next time a contest pops up. I love making up characters.
What scene would you have liked to have written, but didn’t get the chance?
Like I said, I wanted a scene where Kriley, Seth, and Steep are all injured and they have shenanigans.
What was plotting with so many other authors like? Any big obstacles to overcome there?
This was my biggest problem. I don’t like big groups of people, online or otherwise, especially when most of the time a big chat was going on, I had to do something else and couldn’t be bothered by the blinking Skype icon every two seconds. I feel like I alienated myself from a lot of the other writers this way, and I’m sure because I wasn’t there for a lot of the plotting, why I also got voted off in the end.
Which side do you want to see win? The VI or the South?
I’ll go with the VI because I’m selfish and want to see my side win.
For the Character:
What does Kriley think about all of this?
“Ugh.
Does he like his job?
”It’s not as bad as all that, but I really would rather have been at home.
Does he care what happens?
“Hmph. Let them all kill each other. Except Captain Wazzock. He’s a kind soul; I’d hate to see him die for no reason.”
What is your relationship with your author?
“Ah, touch and go, really. I was a little worried when I realized my writer had a thing for blinding her characters, so I guess it’s a good thing I died when I did. We had our own idea about this whole situation before it started, and when it never happened she got sulky about it and I’m very bad about consoling females… especially when they’re capable of doing terrible things to me. Which she did anyway, so… yeah.”
If this were a movie, who would you pick to play you?
“I’m afraid neither I nor my author know very much about human actors.”
What would you change about your author?
“She musn’t procrastinate so much, especially when it comes to posts concerning matters of (my) life and death.”
Poof! You got to kill your author! What happens now?
“Crushed by a cake. Not sure how I’d do it. But wouldn’t that be something?”
For the Author:
How did you find out about the contest?
RV5 forum. I especially liked the teaser posters, incidentally. I may rip that off if there ever is an MM2
What was the inspiration for your character?
The basic inspiration was a mixture of General Wolfe (British General at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham) and General Wellington (British General at Waterloo). From Wolfe, I borrowed the idea of the sickly, shrimpy, unrespected General who was good at his job, and from Wellington, his hard, cutting, aristocratic personality.
Another major point of inspiration was a scene from the film Waterloo, starring Rod Stieger as Napoleon. There’s a point where he is getting frustrated and yells, “Why do I have to do everything myself?” and then faints, as he is sickly, and has to be carted off the field of battle.
Major Darcy, incidentally, is one half Radar, one half Mr. Smee.
What was your favorite scene to write?
Fight scene in my death post. I’ve been dying to write a good fight scene the whole contest. And I got to go through a table. I am the Game!
What was the best part of the contestant experience?
Getting fan art. Honestly, I love that.
Anything you’d change? Besides being dead and all?
I’d make Lock a little more mobile. I think his limited movement restricted him from becoming as involved as he might have been.
Your character is suddenly alive and in the Top 3! Who’s with you and what happens?
Lock, Gloria, and Steep, in which we re-enact the end of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Which would require guns, a graveyard, and Clint East Wood as me.
What did you learn being part of the ROC contest experience?
That you should never enter when you’re simultaneously trying to write university papers on the Habsburg Empire, World War II, and Canadian art film.
Would you enter one of these contests again?
Sure, why not?
What scene would you have liked to have written, but didn’t get the chance?
I had a plan for week 5 where Lock had to meet with his Captains, where they essentially give him a vote of no-confidence in his ability to continue, due to his sickness and having been put in a wheel chair.
What was plotting with so many other authors like? Any big obstacles to overcome there?
I had the advantage of being the General, which gave me a lot of leeway when it came to plotting and making things happen. There’s a lot of time spent on Skype, and reading through backlogs and such. I should also mention that I vehemently disagreed with many plot points which I eventually wound up liking, so there you go.
Which side do you want to see win? The VI or the South?
VI. Because I’m old fashioned that way.
For the Character:
What does Lock think about all of this?
“What do you say ‘this,’ are you referring to the fact I was killed by a rat living with the unfortunate conception that he has a brain? That Gloria Ruston refuses to accept the multitude of diseases she has doubtlessly acquired and keel over? That the plan which I created has gone awry because every one but me is a complete mop-headed twit? If so, I feel fan-bloody-tastic."
Does he like his job?
“I don’t stay up until two o’clock in the morning filling out forms on troop units because I don’t like it.”
Does he care what happens?
“This was the master plan, designed to succeed, with a whole lot of nights spent perfecting it before it was put into action. You’re darn right, I care what happens.”
What is your relationship with your author?
“He cut off my leg. I’m not a fan.”
If this were a movie, who would you pick to play you?
“Sean Bean. He has the voice, looks, and acting ability.”
What would you change about your author?
“I’d have him give me that superkick move I mysteriously developed in the final chapter sooner. It would have come in handy.”
Poof! You got to kill your author! What happens now?
“We change the name of the story to ‘Fishing With Lock,’ I get a holiday, and everyone else can narrate the fight scenes.”