Being a Tale of Supernatural Oddity and Postmodern Magic

[The Fungus from Yuggoth]

Friends, I want you to imagine, if not for a brief moment, that there is a world of infinite wonder and magic hidden within the shadows of the modern world. A world where all of mankind's most treasured beliefs, faiths, myths and legends...are either laughable inaccurate or baseless lies, belief is powerless, ignorance is deadly, magic is just as much a scientific discipline as it is an art, Gaia is a ravening amoral psychopath, the afterlife is one big rip-off, the past was utterly devoid of any magic and wonder, and where supernatural beings aren't the least bit bothered by the rise of technology and modernization; in fact, many of them are rather fond of it. In short, a world where all the usual tropes and story devices of the Urban Fantasy genre get heartlessly subverted

Alright, here's what's going on: since I was old enough to read, I've been utterly obsessed Urban Fantasy. The whole concept of there being much more to reality than what we perceive and themes of hidden worlds and magic in the modern world struck a very powerful chord in me. Ever since I got interested in the genre, I've wanted to create my own tale of urban fantasy and modern magic but I never did have the time or my own unique world to set the story in to go through with it. However, after several years of hard study, gaming, psychedelic dreams, and personal growth, I have managed to cobble together a...unique magical world of my own and intend to share my twisted vision with you all! =^_^=

My story is still in the early stages (as I have a LOT of fine details to iron out), but here's the bare bones basics: during the Tunguska Event in 1908, a portal opened up between our reality and the Outer Black, a surreal dimension filled with magic and otherworldly beings, thus allowing the supernatural access to our world for the first time in recorded history. Hidden by a natural phenomenon known as the Veil (or more accurately, what's left of it), these supernatural elements have led to the creation of a bizarre occult underground secreted away in the shadows of civilization populated by all sorts of freaks, lunatics, outcasts, and weirdos. This isn't your stereotypical occult underground with black robed figures, pentagrams, and voodoo dolls either; real magic is much weirder than that. The typical inhabitants of the occult underground include secret societies of magic-using video store clerks who keep humanity safe from supernatural evils by renting out magical video games and enchanted pornography, bloodthirsty necromantic cults dedicated to pop culture icons such Don Knotts and Marilyn Monroe, and knightly orders of spellslinging crime-fighting janitors to name a few. The Outer Black isn't much better either. The entire realm is little more than several billion interconnected dimensional pockets that have some seriously wonky physics. It doesn't really help matters that the Outer Black was created when a entity known as the Wyrd (the same entity from which all magic comes from; sorry for the interruption, just thought I'd go ahead and get that out there...I'll shut up now ) accidently obliterated countless realities and fused the remains into one haphazard mass, forming what would become the present-day Outer Black.

I’m outlining several characters and possible plots, but I’m giving serious thought to basing the whole story around the exploits of an oddball band of Slingers, freelance wizards willing to take on almost any job. Here are the character’s I’ve thought of so far:

“Molly:” A highly skilled, if not somewhat nerdy and insecure, lady thief who doesn’t like stealing. She was forced into her current profession thanks to an incident involving gender-bending, the dread Cult of James Dean, Wal Mart, and brief breakdown in the metaphysical structure of reality.

“Tim:” A fiercely anti-fascist, anti-racist, ultra-liberal British skinhead and investigative genius who discovered the occult underground after a weekend of hard partying, binge drinking, a few freaky acid trips, and a brief romantic fling with a drug dealing hermaphrodite.

That’s all I got for now. I’ll be posting up more info as story development progresses. So what do you guys think?

[Ookalf]

Seems interesting so far. Weird, but interesting. The character profiles are pretty neat too. Noodle Implements are always fun.

[The Fungus from Yuggoth]

Seems interesting so far. Weird, but interesting. The character profiles are pretty neat too. Noodle Implements are always fun.

Thanks. Always nice to meet a fellow Troper ^^ The weird elements are very much intentional; high weirdness is one of the story's prevading themes. After all, most of my inspiration came from such tales as Unknown Armies, Discworld, the Illuminatus! Trilogy, and the post-modern movement.

[Mitera Nikkou]

I know what the Tunguska Event was all about. It has everything to do with the Tesla effect. It's like the butterfly effect, only it involves Tesla, not butterflies. ;p See, he farted, and on the other side of the world a much greater explosion took place. Of course, I'm in favor of any explanation that involves gaseous outbursts. ^_^

Now, onto serious matters... There's really only one complaint that I have with his setup.

...

Why a "Tim" and "Molly!?" Why, God, why!? Whyyyyyyyyyyy!?!!/2/1/1/!? X_X

No, seriously. A "Jack" and "Diane" I might be able to understand, but... You were born in Mr. Roger's neighborhood, weren't you? U_U *I then weep into the pit of my elbow*

This basically means that my only suggestion is to, perhaps, think of more... inspired names? And by that I don't mean a "Fred" and "Wilma." :O

Yes, I'm being serious here. Don't be fooled! Names are important. You don't want one that's too silly or too dull, or somesuch. I just don't think a Tim and Molly "match" the setting or their personae. Now, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, on the other hand... ;p

[The Fungus from Yuggoth]

I know what the Tunguska Event was all about. It has everything to do with the Tesla effect. It's like the butterfly effect, only it involves Tesla, not butterflies. ;p See, he farted, and on the other side of the world a much greater explosion took place. Of course, I'm in favor of any explanation that involves gaseous outbursts. ^_^

No my Tallest, Telsa wasn't responsible for magic coming into our world, though following his faked death in 1943 he did go on to become a prominent (and still living) figure in the occult underground. Speaking of which, I'm thinking of naming my odd little occult underground the "Legion," which is shorthand for the much more pretensious Legio Mysteriorum. Does that have a nice ring to it?

Now, onto serious matters... There's really only one complaint that I have with his setup.

...

Why a "Tim" and "Molly!?" Why, God, why!? Whyyyyyyyyyyy!?!!/2/1/1/!? X_X

No, seriously. A "Jack" and "Diane" I might be able to understand, but... You were born in Mr. Roger's neighborhood, weren't you? U_U *I then weep into the pit of my elbow*

This basically means that my only suggestion is to, perhaps, think of more... inspired names? And by that I don't mean a "Fred" and "Wilma." :O

Yes, I'm being serious here. Don't be fooled! Names are important. You don't want one that's too silly or too dull, or somesuch. I just don't think a Tim and Molly "match" the setting or their personae. Now, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, on the other hand... ;p

Alright Nik, chill. Seriously. Tim is a Monty Python refrence and I just liked the way Molly sounded. I haven't even started the story yet so nothing's set in stone as of now. Besides, Tim and Molly aren't their real names: they're mystically warded psuedonyms to keep magic using malcontents from using their real names against them. I'll explain why giving out your real name in the Legion and Outer Black is a bad idea later.

[Mitera Nikkou]

Does a coffin bell have a nice ring to it?

...

Maaaaaaybe~ ^_^

And you expected me to know about the name thing? You cad! To reveal such details at your own whim, to make people look ignorant! You fiend! U_U

But you don't have to tell me why, as I know several different things about keeping one's own real name to one's self, whether if it involves magic, prestige, power, et cetera. Why else do you think I use a nom de plume?

(Also, whenever I hear "Molly", I think of a certain actress. And when I think of said certain actress, I call her "Molly Ringworm." Just thought I'd randomly say that. <_<)

[The Fungus from Yuggoth]

Does a coffin bell have a nice ring to it?

...

Maaaaaaybe~ ^_^

And you expected me to know about the name thing? You cad! To reveal such details at your own whim, to make people look ignorant! You fiend! U_U

Yes! Phase one of my ridiculously circuitous plot to take over New Zealand and turn it into a Beaver themed family theme park is complete!!!

But you don't have to tell me why, as I know several different things about keeping one's own real name to one's self, whether if it involves magic, prestige, power, et cetera. Why else do you think I use a nom de plume?

(Also, whenever I hear "Molly", I think of a certain actress. And when I think of said certain actress, I call her "Molly Ringworm." Just thought I'd randomly say that. <_<)

Well then, how does "Evelyn" sound then, my Tallest?

[Mitera Nikkou]

Someone cares about New Zealand? What zeal you must have for it!

And you can use Molly, you dope. I was only being half-serious. It's like being serious, but not really. The important thing is...

<_<

>_>

Where's the story? I can't believe you.

Punk.

(This is my way to motivate people. )

[Lanzerus]

personally i am not much into post-modern stories, but this story seems like it could be worth the reading, i want to see it, WHERE IS IT!?!?!??!!??!?!