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Story Poll - New story in January
🕑 Added 2023-12-16 18:16:30 +0000 UTCHey all.
Over the Christmas break I’m obviously going to be thinking about my stories and I need to come up with a new one starting in January. I do have one idea that I’m quite excited about, even if I think not everyone will be down for the specifics – mostly due to it being a cultural thing.
Basically, I’m interested in writing a Wuxia RWBY story.
And I need your help for a vote!
For those who don’t know, Wuxia is Chinese martial arts fantasy – not purely Kung-Fu but closer to sword and war fantasy. Think traditional Game of Thrones, but typically focusing on a virtuous character with a strong code (which is what Xia means, and what the tile of the story will be) navigating their way through a war torn or conflicted scenario.
Sometimes it does near-magic levels of martial arts like I’m sure you’ve seen in movies where people are flying through the air, but there’s a lot that is more grounded (and that’s what I’ll be focused on).
However, I’ll be incorporating Qi and the more fantasy elements of internal energies and such because those actually fit ridiculously well in RWBY if we just say Qi and Aura are the same thing. They’re both internal energy, they’re both the soul, and some characters in RWBY have even proven capable of manifesting it for attacks in the show, so it’s canon that it can be done.
A supreme martial artist using a punch to shatter a person’s aura is not “martial arts nonsense” but instead “incredible control of your own aura which you use to destabilise their aura”. And jumping ten feet in the air is not “martial arts nonsense” but “using your aura to strengthen your legs and propel you for a short burst of power”.
Basically, adapt aura to fit the realm of qi, but still avoid too much crazy cultivation stuff like immortality and magic. It’s more focused on martial arts, swordplay, and aura control to simulate effects like meridians, qi, etc, but honestly a lot more focused on the characters and the conflict than it is the idea of describing every move and perfecting a martial art.
The story is only in its infancy, but the basic intro idea is penned out as such:
Jaune’s home village is attacked and destroyed by Grimm and the fate of his family is unknown. Fleeing with Grimm on his tail, Jaune arrives at the temple / training grounds of a wisened old man known as Shu Ren or Master Ren (Lie Ren's great grandfather), who takes pity on Jaune and dispatches the Grimm chasing him. Shu Ren attempts to assist Jaune in finding his family, but it soon becomes clear there is little hope of that and, not wanting to release this young man into an uncertain world, takes him in and trains him in the arts of what was once a great sect of martial artists. Thus, Jaune begins his journey.
Without spoiling what comes later, Jaune is obviously going to be unleashed onto the world of Remnant later, but I kind of didn’t want him to rehash the old idea and go to Beacon, but rather to have his own adventure which does still involve the characters, but with Jaune as a free spirit and wandering martial artist seeking to find his place in the world.
Anyway, onto the vote.
I know it’s dangerous to leave story ideas up to people but I’m really even on both paths and just want to know what you’d find more interesting. It mostly involves the setting and overall state of Remnant.
The world, essentially.
Most Wuxia thrive in stories of strife and war because it gives the character a lot of stuff to get involved in. Remnant is at war, but it’s a very tame war early on, and most people don’t even know that Salem exists. I was wondering if I should take more AU elements to liven things up and create a more unusual world.
The choices are thus:
CANON RWBY: It’s the canon RWBY scenario with the rest of the cast going to Beacon and the main conflict being between Salem and Ozpin. You know this one by heart, but Jaune won’t be going to Beacon. He’ll interact with it, though. This is very much the same as what we normally have, which some people may like because it keeps some parts of the world familiar.
REMNANT AT WAR: Things are bad. After the end of the faunus wars and the expulsion of the faunus to Menagerie, the faunus decided to kick the war off a second time. The White Fang is now an official army of Menagerie fighting for faunus rights, and Blake is still a loyal member with Adam since it’s an army and not a terrorist group. Atlas has closed itself off early and takes a “kill on sight” approach to the White Fang, and Weiss and Winter Schnee are major actors in its military. Huntsmen and huntresses still fight Grimm, but are also used as peace keepers and law enforcement, even soldiers in desperate times, and the academies, while they do still exist, are much more secular and nationalistic, with some like Atlas even being used as military academies and leaving the Grimm as an afterthought. Pyrrha is in Mistral as a champion fighter, and Yang and Ruby serve in Vale under apprenticeship to their father, Taiyang. All the while, an ancient evil stirs in the Grimmlands. The characters are scattered, and this will allow Jaune to travel and meet them in different circumstances and get embroiled in matters behind the scenes.
Comments
Lord Matthew
Always hoped for a war story. There are a bunch of crude WW1/RWBY stories but none written by an experienced and consistent writer. It may be wuxia focused but I hope we'll see the same sectrum of conflict and emotions from children put into such a cruel, multifaceted situation. Anyway, merry christmas and thank you for providing us with quality entertainment as always!
MasterKronus
I like both. Wuxia regardless sounds interesting to me.
Dante
Here's two options : the boring one, and the fun one, vote wisely
Wyatt Spain
I like the idea of the characters being spread out, but I want that to matter at some point if that makes sense. If its call backs or visits, or even bringing everyone together in the end to help overcome the final battle. It has that progression and sense of things adding up. To me, that is what makes a lot of your work special. You can see how things change and matter as the story develops. If that is what at war will have, it has my vote without hesitation.
Alfyre
If you’re looking for inspiration for this I’d recommend Beware of Chicken by CasualFarmer, it’s a hilarious story that showcases and then brilliantly stomps on just about ever Wuxia trope you can think of
GilligansGhost
cannon has been done to death i think
PM July
Well this sounds friggin amazing! I’m hoping the Remnant at War option wins, it just sounds so much more interesting. I feel like Yang and Ruby would absolutely join Jaune in wandering. Especially Yang, as her original reason for being a huntress was adventuring (and finding Raven). Looking forward to reading it next year!
Can't Catch This
Yes please! I got into cultivation FF within the last couple years, so excited to see this! It will be interesting to see how this has changed all the other characters. This war, if it had reignited soon after the first, has been ongoing for awhile. I wonder that this has changed the cast, supporting and main, culturally and what Jaune can do to change things further. I'm getting 'Forged Destiny' vibes!!
Ahry Siss
Amazing Idea, looking forward to it. Thank you again for your long lasting passion for the fandom and all the hard work. Much love.
W C Purdy
What overall tone do you think the story would be if you go with Remnant at War? I mean, this is just personal preference, but I much prefer your lighter toned stories (Professor Arc, Blonde Bard, Knight of Salem, etc) to your darker ones. Obviously I can't dictate what you do or don't write, but I don't think I'd read a dark story atm. I'm just not in the right headspace for much darkness. That said, while the whole "Remnant at War" concept seems to immediately scream that it would be a less than happy story, the idea of this random goober with impossible-level martial arts coming in and just completely upending and undermining all the "soopr srs conflict" going on by basically being OG Dragonball-era Goku sounds hilarious.
NinjaYacdan DLB8R
Remnant at war looks like the one you're more creatively invested in, but I wouldn't refuse the occasional omake of Jaune having "fish out of water" moments in the canon world.
Dharshan Manivannan
I went with the Remnant at War option. You are a very talented writer and it shows most when you are interested in the story. I feel like your more recent stories that had a background similar to that of canon were more tame and boring compared to the ones where the background was really different.
GrimmLu
Love this idea. Wuxia was one of my favorite genres as a kid and like you said it fits very well into world of remnant. Voted for the remnant at war because I feel it gives Jaune much more to do than than just a plot focusing around Beacon. Not to say that’s a bad thing, but I like the new idea.
Jesse Robertson
(Me looking at Coeur) where are we going? (Coeur looking at me with a serious expression) To war son (Places hand on my shoulder) Were going to war. This will be an interesting story and has my vote.
Isaac Glickfield
The only issue I have with Remnant at War is that it sets up the Black pairing... again... Because generally the Faunus will be the morally correct faction to side with in such a war, and thats the way Jaune would reasonably react in story
Alexander Holsinger
I picked remnant at war, I've always enjoyed your stories that deviate hard from canon, but really the answer is just whatever feels right to you. It feels like you're leaning more towards Remnant at war as well so if so go for it.
Nicole Revlis
I would like to see Jaune in a reluctant hero situation or more powerful than cast, but has no idea. I've read a lot of Wuxia novels and agree RWBY really fits the style.
Kits
Based on your comments as the last few stories ended, where u mentioned wishing you had taken a further step from canon I voted for at war, but very excited abt the concept either way!
Zennyth
If you feel real passionate about writing a story, I'll be happy to read it.
Blaiseingfire
This idea sounds exciting.
Kalem Lyle Keck
Tough choice. So I just picket the first one. Very interested in this story either way.
Coeur al'Aran
I blame a pair of Wuxia games I've been playing for driving this by the way. "Wandering Sword" and "Hero's Adventure" on steam have been far too much fun.
