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| Summarised plot: A book absorbed girl from Outside Earth faces a bitter witch as they both strive to gain control of the lines in this fantasy. Plot Theory: The world is run on lines. Veins of energy that cross over continents and supply the land with the life to grow, to be fertile. Without the lines, nothing is possible. But on the lines – anything is possible. And where the lines cross, can be found some of the most curious places on earth. It has been centuries since the witch-burnings of Britain caused the few surviving families to seek refuge in the world’s strongest junction – the Bermuda Triangle. They live in secret, an island protected by the Four Keepers who ensure no outsiders come in. They also ensure no insiders come out. Until now. After many years rivalry with her sister, the Empress Ruella, the Keeper of the North has vanished – taking with her a child that came to the island upon a shipwreck. The child sees and feels the lines. Like most children his age, he believes in magic. Seeing her way to revenge, she rescues him from the wreckage. On the inside, she is the enemy. But outside – she can gather these children who can wield the powers of magic as she does, and take control of the island – nay, the world with her army of children. She will restore to the outside the former glory of their kind. She will be bigger, and better than Ruella. Meanwhile, in a country house in the middle of nowhere – Lauren Burdett is reading a book on her garden swing. It is late summer, and the world seems to be getting stranger and stranger. School will start in less than a week’s time, requiring a move to the city away from her grandmother. She dislikes school, preferring the quiet company of her favourite book characters, who are so much braver than she. She is picked on by the others for her bookish habits, and dislikes school. The last week passes, with a few odd happenings, and then back to the hum-drum of schoolwork. But there is something odd about her new English teacher. She gets the feeling that English is not his first language – or at least not any version of English spoken today. He has a soft accent, and curious blue eyes. And isn’t it just a bit odd that his name is Edwyn Tablechair? The Keeper of the South has come to Wangren Close - and he too seeks the children who see the lines. Can Lauren, as his ally, help in the fight against the Keeper of the North? Or is she just a silly girl who likes to read too much? Sub-Plots: - Elscia’s (Keeper of the North) plot for vengeance. - Sibling rivalry – Ruella (Centre Keeper) & Edri (Keeper of the South) vs Elscia (Keeper of the North) - Lauren’s struggle to be something, to be accepted. - Acceptance of outsiders (Edri, Ruella) Cast List: Eryndaelscia/Elscia/Keeper of the North Bitter elder sister of Empress Ruella and Edri, and the Keeper of the North. Light auburn hair that falls in curls, emerald green eyes. It has not been long since the three of them stood in the Hall of Stars to decide who among them would be crowned ruler of Lendir Arindelle. Naturally slighted at the notion of not being chosen, she has started to take her duties as a Keeper more seriously – though she has been known to keep Outsider victims alive long enough to find out about their lands and to glean information about the faraway places. One such was a child by the name of Andrew, a child who believes enough to see the lines. She sees her opportunity in him. Until now she had not realised the possibility that others outside of Lendir Arindelle could use the power of the lines – but thousands of children, schooled to obey her wishes would be more than enough to overthrow even the strongest of armies that Ruella could put together. Ameadruella/Ruella/Empress Ruella/Centre Keeper Empress of Lendir Arindelle, sister of Elscia and Edri. Chosen for her balance between goodness, and firmness. She is apprehensive of the outside people, and reluctant to send brother Edri to find Elscia. The last memories that the L’Arine people have of the outside contain nothing but cruelty and harm to any who are different. Although they are essentially a peaceful people, their wrath is not spared on any who may violate the peace of the island. Though it is unlikely Ruella will ever come into direct contact with the outsiders (as compared to the keepers of the North, East, West and South) she remains in her title as Centre Keeper, the very last line of defence. She is a quiet and serious girl, the youngest of the three siblings. Her hair is dark and long, her eyes blue. Edwynedri/Edri/Keeper of the South/Edwyn Tablechair Soft spoken, and somewhat gentler than his two sisters. Edri has a fierce sense of propriety, and will protect his sister Ruella until the end. It pains him to be siding against Elscia, but he also understands that he cannot stand by and allow her plans to continue. He is somewhat more sympathetic to the outsider’s cause. Although he has dutifully sunk ships and grounded airplanes for a great many years, he begins to realise that there are real people among the outsiders – and loses the blind fear that allowed him to do such awful things. He volunteers to travel into the outside world, knowing there are few Ruella would trust with the task. He is a mix of his two sisters – with Elscia’s fiery red hair, and Ruella’s blue eyes. At first the only aim is to find Elscia, and bring her home. Until he meets Lauren, and hears her tale of a strange woman with red hair – who tried to kidnap her. As he realises Elscia’s plan, things get serious – and Edri and Lauren must come up with a counter plan to save the island of Lendir Arindelle, and the world, from Elscia’s bitter reign. Lauren Burdett Quiet, shy Lauren Burdett lives with her grandmother in the middle of nowhere, Australia. She reads books, and believes in magic – what else is there to believe in when all that surrounds you is dust and trees? She reads anything she can get her hands on, to escape the dull life with her grandmother. But as summer ends, she knows she must eventually go back to school in the city – where she is taunted by her upper-class schoolmates. They each have families, houses nearby, and friends. They can see each other over summer, and don’t have to stay with dusty old relatives in the middle of nowhere. And so she continues to escape into novels. It is an encounter with Elscia that prompts her ‘What I Did On My Holidays’ paper to turn into a full investigation from her curious new English teacher – the odd Mr Tablechair. Odd things happen around this particular teacher – is he even from around here? But the stories Lauren dreams up are nowhere near as interesting as the reality. Andrew Montrose Whilst on a cruise with his family, the ship that Andrew is travelling on slides into the Bermuda Triangle, and is met by the North Keeper. Elscia destroys the ship, and watches as the inhabitants try to make their way to shore as she throws them back time and time again to drown. But one, a boy, fights harder than most. In the struggle for his life, he accidentally accesses the power of the junction and stays alive despite whatever Elscia throws at him. Curious to see what is different between him, and the countless others that have drowned before her – she allows him to live long enough to discover that the belief in magic is often all that is needed to see and use the lines. Salvaging parts of the wreckage, Elscia forms a ship of their own and they sail to the nearest land and begin their quest to find others who believe. Andrew is a quiet boy, grateful to be saved – but not strong enough to stand up to a woman he knows he should not be associating with. He is small, weedy, with dark hair and brown eyes. Grandma Lucy An elderly woman of about eighty-five, frail and thin. She spends most of her time in bed, allowing her granddaughter to run about the property freely – though she knows that Lauren will do little more than read. Although she never says directly, there is the suggestion that Grandma Lucy believes. It is also suggested that Grandma Lucy may be terminally ill. The property is run by a man by the name of Mackey, a grump who dislikes Lauren. Lauren’s parents (Lucy’s son and daughter-in-law) have passed on long ago – in a road accident. The Great Questions: Why is Elscia so bitter at Ruella? Elscia, Edri and Ruella are the three children of the previous Empress Ethanielle. In L’Arine tradition, it is not the oldest child who automatically assumes rulership, but the one the previous ruler believes will do the best job. At the age of around-about twenty-four, Elscia believed she had it all wrapped up over her 22yo brother (who showed no visible interest in running the country) and her sombre 14yo sister Ruella. She believed herself old enough, and mature enough to run the country – and her long-standing place as North Keeper would surely give her place over her younger sister. But Ethanielle denounced Elscia’s cruel tendencies, claiming her unfit to rule. Edri was deemed strong and loyal, but not suited to lead. Ruella was the choice, assuming rulership on her fifteenth birthday. Ten years older and angry that a child would be chosen over her, Elscia sought her vengeance. Why do only children see the lines? Adults are way too stuck in the world as it is. They forget after a time to dream and believe in magic, a key part of being able to see the lines. It is all too well known that humans are very good at not seeing what is there, accept that the universe runs itself, and do not look for ways to tap into that energy. Children, however, choose to believe in magic and fairytales – the concept of lines of magic is possible in their world, and therefore they are able to more easily see the lines. There are some adults who are able to (see Grandma Lucy), and some children who could not if they tried. In the end, it is not age – but the will to believe that changes what a person can see. Why does Edri choose to become a school teacher? Edri is looking for somewhere he will have access to children, to protect them from his sister’s grasp. Reports of kidnappings have been springing up across the world – he follows them to where they appear to stop, the city of Wangren, Australia. Concerned that Elscia may still be trying to corner one of the children there, he applies for a position and is accepted as an English teacher. The first task he sets the children is the traditional ‘What I Did On My Holidays’... having nothing else interesting to write, Lauren writes of a curious lady with flame-coloured hair who tried to take her away from the park, thus triggering Edri’s interest in Lauren. [u\How do they all end up in Australia?[/u] In her search for children who see the lines, Elscia follows the lines from junction to junction, encountering children as she goes. This eventually leads her to Lauren, who refuses to follow her. Annoyed, she vows to get Lauren any way she can, thus the stopping of the trail and enabling Edri to catch up to her. Where do all the children that Elscia kidnaps go? Elscia has found herself an old abandoned schoolhouse that she has proofed against intruders and escapees. Andrew however, remains as her travelling companion. |