Enga mellom fjella

Silkpunk task #4 characters part 2

I'm still not sure which characters will be the main ones. What I'm concerned about is that this is not a Hollywood good guys versus bad guys grade B movie. I've been watching too many Chinese/Taiwanese/HongKong and now Thai TV series to reduce it all to American Judeo-Christian black/white. Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism make it more a tapestry.

It's set in Taiwan. Think bamboo, tea, rice. I want painted silk and tropical heat and downpours, not cold dark sooty drizzly industrial London. Could I make it film noir? Probably but again... edgy in silk. In other words, the silk may have a dark lining.

Poh-Chok: Teenage 'boys' (maybe 15). URCHINS Younger 'useless' brothers of Chen and Li. They want to have fun flying their mini-dirigibles. They run afoal of their family, Hoan, most everyone. They're a bit mischievous, curious, unafraid and may be falling in love (if that happens it complicates everything). Perhaps Poh is more silk and Chok more steam? They are best friends so that adds some tension (individuality isn't a cultural trait).

Hoan: Her name means 'mortal'; however... she's a daughter of a goddess of healing and can read minds without the mind-reader device. SPIRITUALIST? She wants to know what Poh-Chok know about whale-boats and flying-fish-and-dragons (dirgibles) and feather-kites (like hang gliders). She's a bit devious. The foreigners intrigue her as well. She knows Li-Chen through "common interests". She's a bit protective. She's on the outlook for pirates.

Li-Chen: 2 young women (maybe 30) business partners. MERCHANTS. Li is Hakka and running the misty-mountain tea trade. Chen is Hokkien and has ties to the sea. Her family has rice fields. Trade with Japan or Hong Kong could prove lucrative. Trade with (Amoy/Xiamen)is essential. Chen speaks their language.

Mrs. W.W.Walker: A Bloody Brit and all that suggests. An EXPLORER. A bored busy-body putting her nose into the tea trade and wherever else can amuse her. She's fascinated by the mini-dirigibles. Is she a villain? She's more like a pain-in-the-ass, and not a humorous one (although...). Does she write? A 'false narrative' by a clueless narrator would be appropo. As Chen notes: "The British. They come. They go." Hoan: "Hopefully, they don't stay."

Kago-san: Japanese. A very low level DIPLOMAT collecting information. Interested in the tea and rice trade and how sake is being used as fuel. Interested in Li-Chen.

Kwong: Hong Kong. An Asian-Brit. Not sure what role he'll play yet. May be interested in pirates and any opportunity that presents itself. An INVENTOR might be a nice addition. Since Kwong is available... it would make him more involved with Poh-Chok and lead to possible run-ins with Hoan.

Mazu: goddess of sailors and the sea, and Beidi: god of the north and wind. SHENMO. The gods intervene in Chinese mythology and are praised/blamed regardless. Mo-sin-a are cryptids ("mischievous" mythological creatures). They have fled to the mountains of mist (where the tea is grown). Mazu is important to the entire region and therefore everyone. Beidi is fascinated by what Poh-Chok are up to, especially since one of the dirigibles is a tortoise (his symbol). Both are considered protective and positive (in a heroic way).

Since there will be no hero versus villain the characters must provide tension with their common interests and clashing motivations. Curiosity creates problems. Li-Chen are merchants and although they want and can use information they are more "traditional". Same with Kago-san, Mazu, Beidi. Poh-Chok and Hoan are curious, perhaps too curious. Kwong may be curious as well. Mrs. W.W.Walker is nosy ('nuff said).

It's a time of change. Intrigue between foreign interests (Japanese, Mainland (Qing), British, even American) and a shift in agricultural practices (apparently long-grain to short grain rice and oolong tea) and ongoing conflict with indigenous peoples (this may not be covered much) found mostly on the east coast and in the mountains.

There's a romantic subplot. Could there be an adventure or mystery as well? Poh-Chok's spying on the whale-boats, junks, ferries, road vehicles from above shows great promise if they learn something they aren't supposed to know.

With these characters, would a series of novellas be more appropo? It works for Nancy Drew! If not novellas ... linked chapters ... a series of subplots coming to the fore and then receding? If so, I'll have to flesh out the characters, knowing their personalities, preferences, quirks. The use of a favorite food works in various Thai TV series. Tian likes pig-brains; Med, chocolate; Thun, steamed egg; Knock is hyper-allergic to shrimp. And these details are used to tell the story.