Feb 2022 chooseyourownadventure orchestral score story fantasy
Just in case you don't know, I'm creating a "Choose Your Own Adventure" FAWM.
For this FAWM, I've decided to make a score to a film/story that hasn't been written. This is because YOU will decide where the story will go and how it will eventually end. After each song, I will give you options for your "Choose Your Own Adventure" story. Write your option in the comment section. I will wait about 8 hours or so, calculate the numbers, then create the next song that fits this option. After each song is posted, I start the process all over again until FAWM and the story is over.
The majority of those who voted picked A) Old man.
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Old Man:
In the water, a tired, dirty face stares back at you. It is the face of an old man. Your life is etched deeply into your face, lines intersecting in places, carving paths of regret and self-hate. You splash the mirror image away, and wash your face and hands. Your mouth is dry and you drink as much as you can. You struggle to put together the pieces of your life. Your memory is not what it used to be. Sometimes you get confused and disoriented. Sometimes you can't remember people who seem to know you. The medicine man tells you it's a disease of the mind and there is no cure. Finally, you remember how you ended up here in this dark place and how you got that cut on your hand. You are in hiding.
They came to the village on the evening of the first day of the Spring Festival. They came upon you like a bronze downpour, the Janga-oni soldiers. Set fire to timbered homes, killing, thieving, and raping their way through your village. You were in your house in the outskirts of the village near the caves. You didn't like to be disturbed after a long day in the mines. You saw the blaze in the distance and heard the horses racing to your area. You know those sounds by heart. Most of the villagers froze in horror or fought back in vain. You ran and saved yourself. You didn't want to be caught. You remembered what happens when a Defector is caught. And you barely lived through that experience, you idiot.
You went into the tin mines you know so well. You've been working in them since you came to the village 20 years ago. No one asked questions and there was always a need for miners. It was easy to stay under the radar. You talked to no one, made no friends, and didn't speak of the past. You got up, you worked, and you came home. The tunnels became your life. You know every nook and cranny, every secret space, which tunnels lead to where. There are caves underneath caves and paths no one knows about.
You decide to leave the cave. You walk for almost an entire day, slowly winding your way through the network. You clamber up the side of a steep area and see some blood. Don't you remember? This is where you cut your hand, Kaleb. Watch out for the sharp stone on the left, you idiot.
You've made it out of the cave. Your muscles ache and your stomach is rumbling. It's late in the afternoon and everything is bathed in orange. You anxiously make your way into the village. There might still be soldiers around, you're worried about being caught, but you won't last very long without food and water.
The main road is carpeted with charred remains and bodies of the unfortunate souls who tried to fight or didn't run fast enough. The women died in their festival dresses, the men in their best shirts. Flower crowns crushed underfoot. You see the fat baker's apprentice, cleaved in twain. You're not hungry anymore.
Do you:
A) Look for survivors and risk getting caught?
or
B) Immediately turn back and go to your house?
@dragondreams Feb 2022
Now I'm just following the story (binge reading and binge listening) to catch up and join the journey. Your score is mesmerising. :-)
@tamsnumber4 Feb 2022
well, late for voting again, but can't imagine why someone who didn't want to be involved with people would go looking for them and I also liked balancelost's option LOL!!! This is such a fun thing....the music was perfect as I read, but where is the Disney princess voice???
@headfirstonly Feb 2022
Is "grim orchestral" a genre now? I think it is. Crikey, this is proper DARK. Those subsonic strings at the half-way point are the business.
This is an adventure, so one can only choose A.
@pooka Feb 2022
Hmmm, I didn't see it going this way.
Were I in that situation, I'd go back to my house first, in order to stock up on useful stuff, so I'm choosing B.
@seemanski Feb 2022
I love you "Choose you adventure" concept. I'm already engaged, I loved reading through the story as you music played in the background guiding me through (that was a real joy). If you haven't already taken the vote I would probably vote B, mainly because I like the idea of the character stating "Screw you guys, I'm going home"
@adforperu Feb 2022
Those intro strings remind of Kate Bush's Ninth Wave, glorious. A beautiful piece, and I swear it lasted the length of me reading the story (after I'd wrote that first sentence), well played! I'm going to vote A this time, if I vote B you might just end the story there and only give us three songs.. ;)
@balancelost Feb 2022
C) Eat the fat baker's apprentice. There may still be the undigested remains of a croissant in his stomach.
Not an option?
Okay, B) Get the f out of dodge
@leepat Feb 2022
frickin A!
@dzdandcunfsd Feb 2022
Of the two options I choose A, but not out of some sense of moral obligation. You're probably safest where everyone has already been slaughtered, so really A with a caveat... smear yourself with someones blood and play dead until you're sure they're gone.
I'll have to go back though, does the old man live alone? Even if he's got a good doggo, my answer would be B.
Really awesome fawm idea! and this is a beautiful piece!
@tawny249 Feb 2022
Beautiful, sad, and poignant. It really goes well with the theme of the story here. I actually vote B, I think seeing something like that would make most people want to go hide at first, at least.
@wrenarcher Feb 2022
This is just amazing.
I tend to read somewhat slower than most.
But apparently my reading pace was RIGHT in time with the music.
What an amazing experience to hear the mood of this epic cinematic orchestration as I was reading.
BRAVO!
I vote for A
@doggolito Feb 2022
1:40 till the end is just magnificent
A
@w1n Feb 2022
Epic soundtrack and the chose your own adventure approach is a really cool concept. I say A
@nobodyofficial Feb 2022
This is majestic. Let’s go with A, take some risks!