I have recently moved house and the disconnection from the internet that resulted has put the progress of my research back a few weeks. In addition, I have switched my focus to traditional painting in the hopes of being able to sell them locally, to make up for my current unemployed state. My tools of trade in this so far has been watercolour and acrylics. Hopefully this might also help get me exposure for more work doing what I do best.
During this time away, I plotted some ideas down and though I have little idea how I might end this plot, I've found at least one way to start it. I will of course brainstorm more up, as I've been taught that the first idea is not always the best. I'm putting them up on this blog as a record of my ideas anyway, in the hope that someone might add their own ideas to the mix too.
This idea is inspired by the Roman gladiator matches in arenas like the Colosseum, of course this aspect of their culture was not a widespread thing until centuries after the time setting of my story, but I'm doubting the arena/gladiator fights at the Colosseum were the first of its kind, it may be possible similar events were held on smaller scales in other lesser known areas prior to this.
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| Seraphinus and Ninurta are illustrated here being held in captivity underground |
My previous blog entry has the character profiles of Seraphinus and Ninurta.
I copy and paste this straight from my word document, it's full of grammar and spelling errors but it serves its purpose of roughing out a narrative idea.
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Ninurta mauls a man of noble status for molesting a girl/young woman whom is the daughter of his stable hand (the person who is responsible for Ninurta’s physical needs, his handler trains and directs him but leaves the dirty work to the peasants). Ninurta has formed a bond with the stable hand and his family from the kindness they have given him. Family often appears during the final hours of his(stablehand) work- young sons and daughters to talk and play/help/see the dragon.
Their gentleness and thoughtfulness towards Ninurta after his sessions with his cruel/abusive handler help soothe the physical and psychological abrasions.
Ninurta is viewed more like a beast of burden, and thus when his attack on the noble is reported, the dragon handler is ordered to put Ninurta down/execute him like they would a dog. Someone else suggests Ninurta is taken to a gladiator arena to fight against the convicts sent there for the audience entertainment and the revenue it makes. The person has an eye for profits/business and believes the presence of a dragon in the arena would attract more spectators, he knows the arena already holds a captive bloodthirsty dragon, the murderous and greatly feared Evening Destroyer, named so because the dragon would only rend entire towns and villages to rubble and ashes in the evening hours. The arena is capable of keeping such a fierce dragon captive and would not have much difficulty keeping Ninurta, whom is the size of a pony. Ninurta was already more dangerous than the usual exotic predatory beasts brought into the arenas, such as big cats, bears and wolves and thus more valuable.
Ninurta is kept in an enclosure designed specifically for holding dragons at the arena,(specially reinforced to prevent escape and deter attempts) the arena animals are usually kept captive together with others of their own kind in small enclosures underneath the arena. The Evening Devil(Seraphinus) is already well settled into the arena/gladiator life by the time Ninurta is brought in, the dragons(and all the carnivorous animals) are fed the remains of the gladiators slain in battle. The dragons are kept chained at opposite sides of the enclosure so they would not kill each other as the humans would expect.
Ninurta is terrified of the Evening Destroyer dragon he overheard about in the fearful rumour talk of the towns people. The Evening Destroyer is aggressively hostile to anyone that nears him, and is especially aggressive towards people. This day he is even more intimidating to the people than usual, and in consequence Ninurta too as a first impression- the sight of another dragon caught captive in chains, and only a youngling, sends the Evening Destroyer into a deep rage.
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People call him the Evening Destroyer because they think dragons are like most other animals, simply far more dangerous, and don't learn of the dragon's true name, which is also due to dragons being unable to speak, except through telepathy. The more advanced the mind of the creature a dragon attempts a connection with, the more concentration and skill it requires. As such dragons can rarely speak telepathically with one another.
Seraphinus attacks human settlements in evening hours because that was when his family - mate and hatchlings- was murdered by Dragon Hunters.
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Dragon Delusion Sketchbook
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| Ninurta expressions experiment |
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| Top: size chart, bottom: experiment with dragon ears + style |
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| Dragon anatomy practice |
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| Wyvern species concept |
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| Adult Ninurta concept |
