Artist, Seeking Writer!

[Blackmoon]

I need something to draw! Something short, preferably. Hopefully with swordfighting action.

Included is a sample of what I do when I'm allowed to draw swordfighting action.

Attachments:

[desertopa]

No parameters for the plot?

I have a story idea which I think your art style is well suited for. It's not exactly short, but the introductory chapter can work fairly well as a one-shot, after which we could see if we wanted to continue it together.

The main character doesn't fight with a sword, but a staff, but he fights many opponents with swords, if that helps you.

Care for a summary?

[cales]

I'll also offer my services. My idea would be a single page where an utterly badass woman in a non-Fanservicey trenchcoat commits amazing murder on a snake-person assassin.

If you take Desertopa's idea, I can also offer my services as a review guy, to look over the final piece. That actually wouldn't be a bad idea in general- send a completed piece to the rest of the Kunin, so we can give art reviews.

[Blackmoon]

By god, I'll do both. Summarize me, Desertopa.

[cales]

That's kind of awesome, Blackmoon.

And summarize away, Desertopa! I find your story ideas fascinating, so I'd love to watch.

[desertopa]

The setting is a sort of alternate history analogue of Japan at the beginning of the Edo period. You can think of it as "Almost Japan."

The main character a wandering calligrapher and martial artist who has taken a vow of silence. He communicates only rarely, in short, cryptic messages through his calligraphy, and Walks The Earth earning a living through art and begging.

The story begins when he visits a farming town which comes under attack by bandits. They kill a single man to make an example, and the villagers are forced to choose between the chance of complete obliteration if they resist, or probable death by starvation if they allow their harvest to be pillaged.

The visiting calligrapher interrupts their decision with a simple message written in the ground, "Don't despair" and personally confronts the bandits, single handedly defeating the entire group.

Having become a local hero, he is showered with hospitality, but he departs the next morning without, as always, a word. However, a boy of twelve and a young woman of eighteen, confront him as he attempts to take the road out. They were the children of the man the bandits killed, and now have no home. The boy wants to train under the protagonist, so he won't have to experience such helplessness in the face of violence again. He urges his sister to marry into another family and live a peaceful life, but she refuses to stay in the village and abandon her brother to an unknown fate. Both of them beg to be allowed to accompany him. After a moment of contemplation, he nods, and continues his journey with his new companions.

The rest of the story is highly episodic, following the main characters as they visit various adventure towns and right wrongs. The main character is an ambiguous case of Chance The Gardener, being either very wise or very naive, and upon contemplation of each new dilemma, always has a short, simple message intended to resolve it. Over the course of the story, his backstory is gradually revealed through encounters with people from his past, and occasionally through flashback, and the audience becomes aware of the traumatic events that led to his living such a strange existence. In the final resolution, he is able to make peace with his past, and settle down to a less ascetic lifestyle.

The story is named after the main character. When he is asked his name, he draws a circle in the ground, so he is called Enso by his companions.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enso

[cales]

Cool. I like that. The calligraphy is a nice touch.

Should I describe the scene I see in my head, or do you want to focus on Desertopa first?

[Blackmoon]

desertopa: I love it. I will definitely be a part of it.

@mr. Cales: Go ahead and describe yours for me- make a thread in Work Discussion for it.

In fact, Desertopa, make a thread in Work Discussion for yours, too, so I can start brainstorming stuff.

[desertopa]

I'll start one after I get back from class.

Note for the fight scenes: I don't know how good you are at portraying different fighting styles, but Enso is a practitioner of Chinese martial arts, rather than Japanese. His weapon is not a bo, but a gun

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_(staff)

which has one end narrower than the other, and is wielded somewhat like a spear.

I have to get to class now, so I'll save the rest for the work thread.