NaNoWriMo began today! Before I get too far in my novel, I wanted to list out my major characters for my own sake, and also for you to read about! (I hope it interests you all. ;) I promise my next post will have nothing to do with writing – I’ll shake it up a bit.)

Quick summary: The countries of the North have been in darkness for centuries. The people turned from their God and their prophets long ago, and they live in constant fear of their enemies, the bands from the South that are slowly taking over the land. Hadar, king of Ramatha, and the other rulers of the surrounding countries unite in one final effort to defeat the enemy. But when the soldiers of the North are utterly destroyed and Ramath-Gilead, the royal city, is ransacked, to where will the nations turn?

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Aviyah is my main character. She is twenty-three years old, and has already experienced the loss of her mother, queen of Ramatha, her brother, and the one man she loved, Iyov, who was banished to distant lands for listening to the words of the prophet Nadir. She has watched as Ramatha, along with all the other nations of the North, has crumbled and fallen to the dark despair that pervades the land. Her heart has grown cold – she cannot love another person, for every person she has loved has fallen.

I have seen the death of my brother and my mother. I have seen my father king grow still and cold as those around him have died and vanished. I have seen the City of Light crumble until she can crumble no more. My heart can lose no more hope – for there is none left to lose.
The white stone walls of the once-grand palace are dead. There is no more life left in the icy walkways or grand rooms. Bright colors and intricate tapestries have given way to dark clothing and colorlessness. The servants go about hushed. There is no sound to be heard in the palace, save the lonely wind as it whispers through the pale chambers and empty rooms. For the city of Ramath-Gilead and the nations of the North have fallen into despair. There can be no hope. Death is coming with a sure sword, and shall not mistake its stroke. This land is ready to fall.

Hadar is king of Ramatha (Sam Worthington isn’t quite old enough – just imagine an older version of him as the king. ;) ) Like his daughter Aviyah, he has grown silent and cold to the world. His heart has been broken and cannot be mended. He still cares for his people, yet there is no joy in his reign. He, like his daughter, is living life out of necessity.

All that was left of the glory of the ancient kings has fallen. The land is dead, shattered and broken by time and enemies. What was left of my reign of the City of Light faded to whispers of the past when my wife, the Queen, died. There is naught to live for, and we remain a broken and scattered nation. Let our enemies come, let us be utterly destroyed. We have no hope.

Iyov is the man that Aviyah loves – the man that was sent away to the mountainous and secluded land of Kenanyah for listening to the prophet Nadir. He was formerly one of the King’s own guards, of noble blood himself, but can now never return to Ramath-Gilead. He has now lived in the mountains for seven years, and has not been heard from since then.

I am a soldier. I would die to defend the honor of the City of Light. I would die to protect her people. Yet it is the King of Ramath-Gilead that has now banished me from my home and those I love. For I have heard the prophet Nadir, as many have, but I wished to hear more of his words. For that I have been forsaken of men and sent out from my high place as a Captain of Ramath-Gilead to the barren mountains of Kenanyah, where I have toiled as a common soldier, ever bearing the mark of one who listened to the prophet. Yet it is for the people of the North that I pray – for our land shall fall, just as the prophet has spoken.

Those are my main three – the ones I’ve worked the most with. I’m only using Hebrew names in my book, which is really cool, since I’m picking them based on their meaning. So Aviyah means “Yahweh is my father,” Hadar means “honor,” and Iyov means “hated, oppressed.” It goes for the lands, too.

Kenanyah – whom Jehovah defends (Kenanyah is a refuge, since it’s surrounded by a vast mountain range)
Maakah – oppression (Maakah is the land of the enemy)
Mount Azar’el – whom God helps
Fort Benanyah – God has built
Fort Even-Ezer – foundation stone
Mount Gil-ad – hard region

I’m writing this in the third person omniscient – because I believe that the writing style of Dickens, Tolkien, Bronte, and so many more classic writers is so much better than the present, abstract style. What seems to be popular now is either first person, or third person while inside the main character’s head, so you know their thoughts. I’ve struggled with the latter so much, because it just sounds so informal, so I decided to write more in the style of the classic writers for this book.

So. Day one – done!! =D I wrote 2,280 words, which is such a relief. I really didn’t think I’d be able to do so much the first day.