Moments of Elation
From Carpe Chaos
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Contents |
Comic
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- Read this comic on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch
- Read this comic in print as a 7.5-foot-long poster
- Read this comic in print as part of the Carpe Chaos Ignition collection
Titles
Moments of Elation (Official Title)
Kaean Camping (Working Title)
Face of God (Tentative Title)
Untamed Wild of the Unknown (Tentative Title)
At The Edge of the World (Tentative Title)
Stellar Horizons (Tentative Title)
Astropoetry (Tentative Title)
Radiant Horizon (Tentative Title)
Contemplations, Reflections, and Excogitations (Tentative Title)
Number Five (Tentative Title)
Beyond the Horizon (Tentative Title)
The Serene Edge (Tentative Title)
Summary
Setting
DATE: Embarnik 31
This story takes place on a distant section of the Kaean ring. These guys are in the "wilderness" of the ring where Kaeans can't breathe; they have to wear their strength suits to keep themselves alive out here. They are here for recreational purposes (camping). Long long ago, Kaean explorers came here searching for the Glowing Figure. The scene is bleak and stony. There is little wildlife out this far.
Atmosphere
Contemplative, focusing on the infinity of space. The stars should be crisp white dots scattered innumerably across the heavens. They are the central visual of the story.
Characters
K1 and K2, two Kaean campers.
Background
Script
The scene opens with two male Kaeans standing on a rock on the edge of their ring, Bairyth's Belt. Whenever Kaeans stand on rocks they cling to them, since the amount of gravity is negligible, so their feet should be gripping the rock tightly. Because they are well outside their native part of the ring - the center that has the thin, oxygen atmosphere the Kaeans need to breathe - they are wearing strength suits. These particular suits have clear visors, so their faces are visible. They are clinging to the last large rock; beyond them, above them, and below them, there are only stones and pebbles. The rock to which they cling is roughly the size of the boulder that chased Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark, though not nearly as round.
As they stand there, they stare out into space, looking at all of the stars. They're on a sort of a backpacking trip, trekking out to the edge of the ring. Secured to the rock next to them are two satchels carrying their camping supplies. They stand and stare silently for a few frames before one of them speaks. The reader should have the impression they've been standing there, staring outward, for at least several minutes. The artist should convey the sense of infinity and awe that comes with contemplating the vastness of the universe. The pacing is very slow and a lot of the frames are dialog-free. It is up to the artist to fill them with amazing and beautiful starscapes, ring landscapes, and everything else. Consider a view of a starscape reflected in their visor, with their face also visible."
They talk to one another through radios in their strength suits - on the edge of the ring there is no atmosphere, and thus no engulfing gases to carry sound. It's up to the artist to decide whether the speech bubbles or anything else should look different because they're communicating via radio. They should use radio speech bubbles. Sorry I couldn't find a real radio bubble. It's sharper, like a lightning bolt. This guy just speaks weird so he has a fold in his bubble.
- Kaean 1 (in awe, as though this were his first trip to the edge of the ring)
- It's so... vast...
- Kaean 2 (perhaps this is not his first trip)
- I've heard you can see halfway across the galaxy out here.
- Kaean 1
- Yeah... There's nothing in the way.
They stand in silence for a few additional frames, stargazing some more. Then, Kaean 1 speaks.
- Kaean 1 (quoting scripture, italicized because he's quoting)
- You will see the beauty like on my face at the edge of the ring.
Next frame.
- Kaean 1
- I wish I could remember the rest of it. It feels so appropriate.
Below, make sure to get the newest translation from Kaean Scripture before publishing.
The frame containing the first half of the sonnet should show the ring and planet in the background to match the content of the poem.
- Kaean 2 (solemnly, italicized because he's quoting)
- To you I give these things,
- The wonders and marvels of my creation.
- The filled heavens are painted by my dreams,
- Blessing you with restful nights.
- In each stone, you find my uplifting strength,
- You are held away from death by my stones.
- The sparkling ice bears my mark.
- Every reflection is my light.
Next frame. The frame containing the second half of the sonnet should show the space beyond the ring to match the content of the poem. Or you could use Eric's idea here of "a view of a starscape reflected in the speaker's visor, with their face also visible."
- Kaean 2 (continuing, italicized because he's quoting)
- The barren heavens are the canvas of my plans for you,
- All your potential expands above your heads, for all to see.
- Out in the breathless reaches, the wisps of air you gasp,
- Are the moments of elation that you will find with me.
- You will see the beauty like on my face at the edge of the ring,
- In all the distant places I have prepared homes for you.
- In these wonders and marvels, I want you to find joy,
- For in joy is your strength, and in your strength is their protection.
Next frame.
- Kaean 2 (naming the scripture he quoted, see Kaean Scripture)
- The Speakings of Barurch, Number Five.
More silence as they stargaze. The scripture recital has prompted self-reflection.
- Kaean 2 (who has now established himself as more versed in Lhytanism, the Kaean religion)
- Our ancestors believed that passage meant we would find the First out here.
A single frame of silence.
- Kaean 2 (continuing)
- But I don't think it meant that... (new, connected chat bubble) If a god could be this beautiful, it would take all of infinity to hold him.
Silence. One frame with no dialog. And then the next three lines of dialog should be in the same frame:
- Kaean 1
- Do you think we'll find him?
- Kaean 2
- The Glowing Figure?
- Kaean 1
- Yeah.
Next frame.
- Kaean 2
- I do, one day... but I wonder what will happen. So much will change.
- Kaean 1
- Yeah... Our lives... Our entire society has grown around the search. How will we live once we find him?
- Kaean 2
- Maybe he'll tell us.
- Kaean 1
- Heh, yeah.
More silence, at least one more frame with no dialog and beautiful space scenery.
- Kaean 2 (looking out toward the stars. The Kaeans know other aliens exist, but this question is meant to be ambiguous, not really making clear whether the Kaean know about the other aliens at the time this story takes place)
- Do you think there are aliens on those stars looking back at Bairyth right now?
The final shot should be a very wide shot, showing the two Kaean at a distance on the edge of their ring, with the rest of their ring and at least part of planet Bairyth somewhere behind them. The frame itself should be large as well, at least a third of a page (maybe bigger). The final two lines of dialog should be in this last frame.
- Kaean 1
- Heh heh... aliens crawling on the face of god.
- Kaean 2
- Hahaha!
End comic.
Rough Draft
Two Kaean, standing at the edge of the ring with their helmets on (no atmosphere here). They are far out, staring into the starfield. They're on something of a Kaean camping trip.
K1: It's so... vast...
K2: They say you can see half way across the galaxy out here.
They sit in silence, stargazing.
K1, quoting scripture: You will see the beauty like on my face at the edge of the ring. (Maybe "Barucrh, Chapter 5, verse 12" too)
More silence
K2: Our ancestors used to believe that that verse meant we would find the First out here.
Silence.
K2: But I don't think that was what it meant... if a god could be this beautiful... it would take the whole expanse of vastness to hold him.
Silence.
K1: Do you think we'll find him?
K2: The glowing figure?
K1: Yeah.
K2: One day... yes... but I wonder what will happen to us when we do.
K1: yeah... our lives... our entire culture has grown around the search. How will we have to change once we find him?
More Silence
K2: Do you think there are any aliens on those stars looking back at Bairyth right now? (The point of this sentence is to express the possibility that they might be looking at each other, not questioning whether aliens exist or not)
K1: Heh heh... aliens crawling on the face of god.
K2: Hahaha!
Trivia
- Moments of Elation is the first Carpe Chaos comic published on CarpeChaos.com, on Graphic.ly, and in the iTunes App Store.
- It is also the first Carpe Chaos comic to feature Kaeans.
- Moments of Elation can be read continuously as a 7.5-foot-long poster.
- It is the first Carpe Chaos comic to feature the Kaean home system of The Oursal.