We generally construct stories that place ourselves at the center of our own lives, but most people are sane enough to realize that we're not at the center of every story. Jadis, though, thought she really was the center of every story in Charn, because she was (as she saw it) the rightful queen. That is a very strange headspace. It causes the oddest logical twists as she copes with frustration and setbacks.
I don't think Jadis would have submitted to Cynara whatever the circumstances of their birth. She would have found some reason to consider her sister unfit to rule. And yes, I think this version of Jadis did care for her sister, but emotions are irrelevant to doing what is necessary. So she killed Cynara and never felt a moment's guilt. (Regret, yes, but she'd do it all over again even knowing the consequences.)
Charn fascinates me. Lewis gave us tantalizing hints, just enough to create the feeling of an entire world and the weight of ages, and then left the rest up to his readers to fill in. When I do world-building for that universe, I always remind myself that while the early kings and queens were gracious and happy, they were still descended from Lilith and raised under a weary, blood-red sun, and that must have had an effect on their religion and mythology, and their social organization.
I needed to have an increasing number sequence for the shape-changing spell, and while I thought about doing 'numbers of power' -- probably things like three, four, seven, thirteen, and so on -- I could not resist the Fibonacci sequence. It shows up all over the place in nature! Why shouldn't it show up in spells, too? *grin*
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We generally construct stories that place ourselves at the center of our own lives, but most people are sane enough to realize that we're not at the center of every story. Jadis, though, thought she really was the center of every story in Charn, because she was (as she saw it) the rightful queen. That is a very strange headspace. It causes the oddest logical twists as she copes with frustration and setbacks.
I don't think Jadis would have submitted to Cynara whatever the circumstances of their birth. She would have found some reason to consider her sister unfit to rule. And yes, I think this version of Jadis did care for her sister, but emotions are irrelevant to doing what is necessary. So she killed Cynara and never felt a moment's guilt. (Regret, yes, but she'd do it all over again even knowing the consequences.)
Charn fascinates me. Lewis gave us tantalizing hints, just enough to create the feeling of an entire world and the weight of ages, and then left the rest up to his readers to fill in. When I do world-building for that universe, I always remind myself that while the early kings and queens were gracious and happy, they were still descended from Lilith and raised under a weary, blood-red sun, and that must have had an effect on their religion and mythology, and their social organization.
I needed to have an increasing number sequence for the shape-changing spell, and while I thought about doing 'numbers of power' -- probably things like three, four, seven, thirteen, and so on -- I could not resist the Fibonacci sequence. It shows up all over the place in nature! Why shouldn't it show up in spells, too? *grin*