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Outline


Martikhoras is a half breed, the only child of a Sphinx (his mother) and a Manticore (his father.) The world is completely hung up on tradition, rules binding both valiant knights, proper princesses, loyal peasants and every monster in the land. But tradition dictates very different behavior for Spinxes and Manticores.

Martikhoras's mother, Nakhtiet, believes a proper sphinx should choose a heavily used trading route, the only pass through a mountain range, or the gates of a castle and make their home there, refusing to let anyone pass without answering a riddle. Those who fail at the task will be devoured – But there will be no devouring of anything until a riddle is answered. A sphinx's word is everything, and should never be broken. The old rules applying to the riddle challenge, she teaches, will bring great woe and misfortune upon any who do not follow them exactly.

Martikhoras's father, Hattusilis, believes that riddles are fine for toying with ones prey, giving them false hope with easy riddles and devouring them anyway. A self respecting Manticore haunts forests, jungles, deserts, any wide expanse of land, and devours any who dare to pass through. One man going to market or entire armies. It doesn't matter.

Both, however, agree that a self-respecting monster will become so good at their craft, whatever it may be, that they will gain the attention of the world, and they should strive to have their name pass into legend as a word synonymous to “fear.”

This is about the extent of what they agree on, and as such, they are now separated. For the first part of his life, Martikhoras switches between their care every month, and each attempts to instill their values into him. He finds it highly confusing and stressful, and it is demonstrated numerous times that he can not make both of them happy. Both of them are completely insensitive to this, being a) monsters, and b) convinced that their way is the right way and only a fool would consider another.

One night, while flying into the city in order to terrorize with his father, Martikhoras overhears music from an opera house. The voice of a Manticore has frequently been described as akin to the music of “many pipes and trumpets,” rich and smooth, and he has inherited this trait from his father. He goes closer to listen, fascinated at the idea that one could use their voice for something other than roaring or laying down the terms of a riddle challenge, but ends up destroying the opera house and devouring people as they come out to cover for his “moment of weakness,” impressing his father.

After a particularly bad fight between his mother and father, Martikhoras sets off into the world to fend for himself. He picks a cave in the hills (although he had originally been aiming for something in an impressive mountain,) and begins to settle in, only to find that it is already occupied by a young, hibernating dragon (still needs a name). The dragon wishes to fight for ownership of the cave, as monster rules dictate. Martikhoras realizes that they would both be seriously injured in such a fight, and so newly on his own is afraid what would happen in the strange world if he weren't able to defend himself He suggests a riddle challenge instead – They'll ask each other riddles until one of them fails, and that one must vacate the cave.

The dragon is very clever. More clever than Martikhoras. But Martikhoras has been “classically” trained in riddling. Neither one can best the other. Eventually they call it a tie, the dragon eager to get back to sleep and Martikhoras weary from traveling, and agree that they will share the cave until they have had time to rest and think of new riddles. They soon become best friends.

In the months that follow, they go on trips to terrorize nearby villages as a team, are paid frequent visits by the kingdom's young yet ambitious knights, who often bring bards in tow to document the ensuing battles. They become local celebrities. Thinking that this will please both his parents, he returns to visit his parents. They do not approve, for a number of reasons which they explain to him in great detail.




Martikhoras


Angry, Martikhoras returns to his dragon friend, who advises him to take up a hobby to take his mind off things. For instance, hording treasure. He begins secretly visiting another opera house at night, learning the songs and practicing when his dragon friend is out of the cave. Soon after this, his dragon friend leaves the picture when events take another unhappy turn. An argument between them, I think. A week later, Martikhoras goes to the opera house in the day time, and forces his way in to see the manager/director. He wants to perform. Though everyone is properly terrified, the manager firmly explains that he can not go on stage, as no one in their right mind would go anywhere near a manticore.

That night, when the curtains raise and the first song has been sung, Martikhoras breaks into the opera house and takes the entire place hostage. The show is continued with him as the leading man. He performs admirably, though everyone is too terrified to notice. He is forced to behave violently to keep the crowd from stampeding out during intermission. Believing that his performance was not good enough, Martikhoras throws a tantrum and causes considerable damage, swearing to himself that he will behave like a proper monster from now on. A sea monster suggests at a beach party that Martikhoras should take up the hobby of collecting shells instead, which he does.

We follow Martikhoras in more bumbling attempts at figuring out the proper formula for himself. He is clearly bored and unhappy.

His dragon friend returns, and suggests to Martikhoras a new plan. He tells Martikhoras to move to a place where he isn't known, and send a letter to a director stating that he is in possession of the greatest Manticore costume ever created, and a fantastic singing voice to boot. He will use his talents for that director if he is given a part, but under one condition: He doesn't ever wish to appear outside of his costume. Any reason, he tells Martikhoras, could be given to explain this, like having been disfigured in a fire or cursed by a roaming magician.

He takes this advice, and it works, though the director clearly suspects. Shows in which Martikhoras plays the monster become huge hits, and the small opera house becomes very wealthy. However, Martikhoras soon becomes dissatisfied. He wants to play the leading man, and is tired of performing dishonorable death scenes. In his eyes, the Manticore should be the hero of these performances.

An appearance by Hattusilis ruins Martikhoras's arrangement. In addition to causing a lot of damage and blowing Martikhoras's cover, he voices Martikhoras's own concerns to his son. But not in a nice way.

Ashamed at not living up to his father's ideals or his own (although he doesn't understand this part yet,) Martikhoras abandons his new life and returns to his dragon friend. He is clearly depressed, but will tell his friend only that he “finished” being an opera star. They continue terrorizing the countryside together. Although Martikhoras mopes at home, his depression translates to particular violence on the hunt. He exhibits some of the sadistic tendencies of his father, though not yet to the same extent as Hattusilis expressed them. This section has yet to flesh itself out.

A war develops between two kingdoms in the friend's territory, which they watch. They may interfere in it, swooping in to set back any side which starts to get ahead, prolonging the war. A king from one of the nations thinks outside of the box, much to the chagrine of his court, and sends an emissary to Martikhoras.

The end is here, for those of you who want to wait a few months and see the completed version spoiler free.




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