Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Govi's Turn

 

I'm halfway through the first draft of Clan and Covenant! Lots of twists and turns...the story has thrown a few surprises at me, but it continues to march on satisfactorily thus far.

We're up to our gorgeous Imdiko's background info. His parent clan owns a transport manufacturing company, so like his clanmates-to-be, he comes from an affluent background. Only his Nobek father Twes works outside the clan business, as a wilderness survival teacher.

An interesting tidbit (I think) that hasn't made it into the story...and there's a good chance it won't, as it has no bearing on Clan and Covenant...is that Govi once saved Twes' life. When Govi was seven, Twes took him on a week-long hiking excursion in an isolated area. Three or four days into the hike, an accident nearly killed Twes as they were enjoying the great outdoors. Fortunately, he had trained his young son well. Govi spent two days getting back to where he could call for help, surviving his own trials to bring rescue to Twes.

A story that will show up in the upcoming book has to do with the first Dramok Govi was promised to by his parents. Yes, there was someone else besides Korkla and Raxstad, once upon a time. I won't give it away right now, but that first arrangement has everything to do with why Govi went into psychology.

At the start of Clan and Covenant, Govi is less than thrilled to get the news he's been promised to a couple of men he's never met. He's twenty-seven, having managed to delay a second arrangement for a while, but his parents are impressed with Korkla and Raxstad and have decided it's time. 

That first meeting between clanmates-to-be is a doozy. But you'll have to wait until mid-to-late January to see how it happens.

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Clan and Covenant: Nobek Raxstad

 

I'm happy to report as far as writing Clan Beginnings: Clan and Covenant, the status is "so far, so good." I'm about a quarter through the first draft, and my goal is to have it done by mid-January.

So let's have a look at the mighty Raxstad's background:

His Dramok father is Amnegu, a diplomat. His mother Janpes is Amnegu's assistant. His Nobek father, who has thus far not had much of an impact on the story and is at this point nameless, is a police officer. His Imdiko father Barun is a Nobek psychologist. Barun and Korkla's mother, also a psychologist, are good friends. They'll show up in this story to lean on Govi about how wonderful it will be for him to clan with their sons. Don't you love well-intentioned, meddling parents?

 As mentioned last week when I touched on Korkla's background, Raxstad's parents have taken the lead on finding their son clanmates. They've capitalized on their prestigious rank to snag him Korkla and Govi. Raxstad, while appreciative, does wish they'd back off a little when it comes to making important life (and love) decisions. However, he'll be the first to admit the parent clan knows best when it comes to choosing clanmates for him. He has nothing to complain about, Govi's reluctance notwithstanding.

It should be noted Raxstad wasn't initially overwhelmed by Korkla. After all, his Dramok-to-be was only thirteen when they first met. Raxstad was seventeen and felt himself very much the adult, as many seventeen-year-olds do. Seeing "that little kid" as a future lifelong companion was impossible at that stage. He was impressed by Korkla's intelligence, however. As the years went by and they were better acquainted, especially as Korkla entered adulthood, Raxstad discovered his intended was as perfect a future clanmate as he could hope for.

Raxstad likes to play up the role of a rough, tough Nobek, often claiming he's not interested in intellectual or emotional concerns. The fact is, he's highly intelligent and insightful when it comes to others' feelings. 

Raxstad's impressive skills and record in Kalquor's ground forces, along with his parents' social and professional standing, guaranteed him a spot in Global Security. He's returning from his military service at the story's open and eager to jump right into his training at Global Security as soon as he can.

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Clan and Covenant: Talking Korkla

 

With Clan and Covenant still a few months in the future, let's re-acquaint ourselves with it's featured clan. First up, Dramok Korkla, the man who would eventually become the indispensable aide to Crown Prince (later Emperor) Clajak.

Facts about Dramok Korkla:

- He's younger than his promised clanmates, Raxstad and Govi, but has a tendency to be paternalistic.

- As the son of a Royal Councilman, Korkla had the opportunity to meet the Imperial Family, which led to his first job as a Royal Home page.

- One of his teachers as a youth was his own Imdiko father, a prominent educator. That gentle influence leaned Korkla to being less of a "do it my way" Dramok, and more of a diplomatic personality with the great ability to compromise with strong-willed people like Raxstad and Clajak.

- His mother is a youth psychologist, and his Nobek father is the head coach of a champion kurble team.

- Raxstad's parent clan approached Korkla's parent clan about arranging an eventual clanship for the boys when Korkla was ten and Raxstad was fourteen. Raxstad's high-ranking parent clan, aware of how many more Nobeks there were than Dramoks and Imdikos, were eager to guarantee their son a match. The match was agreed on after three years worth of meetings, to be finalized when Korkla turned twenty-five. During supervised scheduled meetings over the years, Korkla and Raxstad got to know each other and became friends. After Korkla turned eighteen, they realized like had turned into love.

- Korkla first met Clajak at the age of fifteen (Clajak was nine). Korkla's first inclination was to feel sorry for the young prince, who was already being rigorously trained for his eventual reign. Korkla has always been understanding of the pressures Clajak faces.

- Korkla and Raxstad were separated for two years, during which Raxstad served a stint in Kalquor's ground forces. Clan and Covenant opens with his return and reunion with Korkla, who is now twenty-two.