Saturday, April 28, 2007

On Ashok

I should thank Ashok for pushing the Dynast close to reality from a dream. It was on his advice, we started writing the book. Its more like Ashok writing it from the data I have provided him. Its a delight to be associated with Ashok. He has so far done a splendid job. Like Ashok, I too hope that the Book1 is finished by the end of June.

Friday, April 27, 2007

Yes, Gods willing, in the stands next year!

For Sonnarus sake! :)

- Asvin

Thanks Ashok

Dear Ashok, Thanks for posting a note about me.
It was not many decades back :)
Yes, it was many years back, may be a decade.

best,
Asvin

"When I first met Asvin" - Ashok Raj


He was an young adult or an early teen or something. I was an illustrator of children's books with a vague dream of being a writer one day. Asvin wanted to do his own comic book one day and showed me drawings he had done about a character he had created: Bherek White, Dynast. He had also drawn some of Bherek's family members. Most amazing, he had drawn a detailed map of the world they inhabited, with numerous cities, towns and regions marked! That was most impressive. I remember thinking that this is one hard worker...

Now, many decades later, we see the possibility of his creations becoming real in the world of books, television and movies. I never dreamt that I would be writing his stories! I'm delighted to be associated with this, and I enjoy writing dynast.

The book should be completed by June by us, and the gods willing, in the stands next year!

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Icons for the future

We would like our characters as successful as the ones of the DC Comics, Marvel or even Virgin Comics

Anyone you interested in publishing the Dynast?

Dynast: The Rise of Bherek White

Creator: Asvin Srivatsangam
Writter: Ashok Rajagopalan
Prologue

The lion cub strode back to take a better look at the statue. The marble eyes of the great lion returned his gaze. Some illusion of the falling snow on the cold marble caused the statue’s eyes to crinkle in kind amusement and the mouth to smile in benevolence. Just by gazing at this stone representation of their great leader could the citizens of Arthika fill their hearts with peace and contentment, and the cub felt no less joyful. He tried to copy the statue’s expression, crinkling his own eyes and stretching his mouth in an exaggerated smile. His fur stood on end from the strain.

He turned to his playmates sporting on the snow; they had built a snow fort and were involved in pelting one another with hastily rolled snowballs from both sides of its low walls. Still smiling, the cub turned its attention to the old fox on the granite steps of the pedestal. That wrinkled citizen was knitting a woolen cloak for himself, humming a century-old song. Behind and above him were praises carved in honor of the greatest lion of all time.

“Sir?”

“I have forgiven you, my son, if there’s anything to forgive.” It was the old fox’s turn to present a smile, and he did that, a toothless copy of the cub’s.

“I, too, have thrown snowballs at the old when I was a cub like you, and not by mistake, unlike you,” the fox cackled merrily.

“How old are you, Sir?”

“Old? I am ancient, hee, hee, hee! I was a young fox when the great Bherek was a cub like you.”

“Bherek?” The cub glanced at the statue, “Tell me what you know of him, Sir, please.”

By this time, the cub’s companions had begun to arrive at the foot of the statue, drawn by the promise of a story.

“It was in the second millennium AM, according to the calendar we had in those days,” began the fox, throwing his knitting aside.

“AM? What AM?” whispered a bear cub to his friend.

“Something like our RBW, ‘in the Reign of Bherek White,’I guess.”

“AM is After Man,” said one big bear, who had just come up, “There was a race called humans thousands of years ago. At least, that’s what they say. And nobody knows what they looked like.”

Many adults had joined the gathering by now, and the storyteller, delighted with his large audience, stood up, the better to tell his dramatic story.

“Arthika didn’t know Bherek White then. He was just an orphan boy come to stay with his uncle at the city. The city was not as it is now; it was a time of hatred and unrest, a time of jealousy and greed, a time of all bad things. But the gods decided to send one of their own to us, as an old saying goes, “When beasts descend to the level of men, the gods descend to the level of beasts.”

The old fox continued, completely capturing the minds of his audience.

A figure slipped away from the gathering, an old lion wrapped up in a dark red cloak, and walked off the gardens into the woods beyond. Being with his happy people always made the old lion happy, but today the old fox had brought back memories. Memories of those years when he had not known his destiny, or done anything to change the destiny of the world. When he had been just a simple village boy…

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

The Protagonists

Bherek White
The man behind the creation of an empire. His fulgurous and charismatic nature goes well with his name 'Bherek' (which means bright) Audacious, perspicacious, hardworking, never-say-die, lionhearted, munificent, benevolent and in short the very hero of the story. He is a martinet. He brought discipline to his newly found empire, which is a revelation, and a kind never the people of this land have seen before. His ostensible purpose was discipline; his real purpose was to do good for his people. He is considered as a supreme martial artist, skilled in virtually all forms of physical combat.


Iovre White
an honest-brave warrior of his brother Bherek white. He is a die-hard follower of Bherek White; he thinks there is no one in compeer with his brother. His expedience in following Bherek's instructions is adrift. His knowledge and skill in judicial law and administration makes the undisputed choice of Prime Minister for Bherek’s huge kingdom. He is the fulcrum of Bherek’s brilliant administration.

Staur White
The youngest sibling of Bherek. He is an invincible bowman, aided by four hands. He is one among the 12 Legionant ( Legionant - The topmost position in UKA’s army)

Labhi Twilit later Labhi White
The supporting and caring wife of Bherek, and the empress to be of this epic. She was a daughter of a businessman. When Bherek was a young soldier (much before he became the Dynast), Labhi found Bherek wounded and unconscious, she treated him and rejuvenated him back to life.

Titan Rok
An uncle of Bherek, Iovire`and Staur, plays a great role in their formative years and even greater role towards the formation of the empire.

Zanny Vastt
A childhood friend of Bherek. He is a Snow lion by race, very strong, big and physically very powerful. He is a loyalist to Bherek. He also becomes Bherek's official body-gaurd.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Synopsis

Dynast I: The Rise of Bherek White

The Current Synopsis of the Work:

The story is set in the future when felines rule the planet. The Arctic is a lush land, populated by intelligent lions, polar bears and other species. The continent of Arkthika stands at what was centuries ago the North Pole. Auris, a capital of a kingdom, which has seen better years, is now is ruled by a weak king and inhabited by a demoralized people. Their only hope is the great lion who, the soothsayers predict, would be sent by the gods to unite the world and bring in an age of peace and prosperity. But no one knew exactly when …

Bherek White is a newcomer to the capital. The twelve-year-old snow lion, with his two brothers, had come to stay with his uncle, Titon Rok, after the death of his parents. Ridiculing him for his ‘villager’ behaviour and attitude at first, other city boys become his friends after it’s proven that he is a brave and trusty lion. There’s some racism at work in the capital, as there’s a mix of many species of felines, bears and other races in Auris, the capital city of Arkthika.
Bherek makes friends with all, and acquires companions of various races, much to the initial dismay of his best friend Zanny Vastt, who is a snow lion like Bherek himself. Then Vastt tries for Bherek’s sake and overcomes his discriminatory attitude towards the new friends, important among them being Vivus Fastus and Brav Apogee. Fastus is from the Spotard race and Apogee is a polar bear.

Titon Rok works at the palace as the chief of the palace guards. When Bherek and his new friends visit him at the palace, Rok takes them around. During this visit, the palace is attacked by a gang of rebels. Bherek effectively defends himself and his friends when they are trapped in the royal kitchen. Much impressed by his nephew’s valour, Titon Rok tells everyone about it. The king asks Titon to find out if Bherek is interested in joining the army. Bherek agrees, and asks if his friends may join too. The four friends then join the army as trainees. Rok notices that they work very well as a team and Bherek as their leader.

Their strength lies in mutual trust, while all around treachery is the order of the moment. When citizens trust each other only a sword’s blade away…

It is therefore a time of political unrest, peace being the name given to the thick of winter when it is too cold to fight, and war is a way of life in Arkthika.

Auris had been the capital of the vast kingdom of Arkthika twenty years or so ago; now the entire kingdom is just the city and a few villages around it. And retaining even this domain is a difficult task for the demoralized soldiers. The king is issueless, and infirm, and relies heavily on his advisors to keep the city in a kind of order. One of the ministers, Gadhya Kraft, treated by the king as a daughter, expects to be crowned heir. As the king is not doing anything in this direction, she decides to take matters into her own wily hands and hasten her heirdom.
Bherek, who seems to have a natural aptitude for the martial arts, becomes very popular with the rest of the soldiers. He handles his sword with perfect ease and deadly control, just after a week’s practice. Those who first laughed at his inexperience, are now impressed. Bherek rises in rank, at unprecedented speed. He shows valour, speed, integrity — promise.

During the many battles he has taken part in, Bherek sees a lack of planning and strategy on the part of the demoralized officials. He contributes as much as he can, within the limits of his rank and capacity. Those who see sense in what he says, take heed of his counsel and sometimes promote him; lesser men. who are jealous, use his ideas and claim that they had those ideas without help. Bherek does not want acknowledgement; he’s just doing what comes naturally to him. But talent will show, be the owner however humble. Bherek’s rise in the ranks and his sterling qualities, comes to the attention of the king, who makes Bherek the commander in chief of the army. Bherek is now only 19.

The ailing king sees new hope for the kingdom in his commander. At this time, Auris is under threat of being attacked by the combined forces of rebels, and neighbouring kingdoms. The old king expresses a wish to give the crown to Bherek if he wins the current war as he himself is issueless. Bherek just interested in doing his duty and restoring the kingdom to its past glory, doesn’t desire the throne personally.

Another quality of Bherek comes to light in this war. He is not only brave, but a master strategist, too. Discovering the identity of spies in the court, Bherek decides to take advantage of this resource for misinformation.. He manages to send false information to his enemies, sowing discord and confusion in their ranks. Thus he defeats them in the first battle.

He also manages to convert one of the neighbouring kings to his cause. This king’s domain being one of the passages into Auris, which, if blocked, could repel invaders effectively, doesn’t escape Bherek’s notice. That advantage helps him win the second battle.

Now, all the defeated armies have no choice but to surrender their kingdoms and army to Bherek’s cause. The third battle is the most difficult one of all. Bherek’s army has to directly confront one that is three times in size. The unswerving loyalty of his men, even the ones absorbed from recently defeated opponents, plus his bravery, help. Bherek and the kingdom gain what had been thought of as a near-impossible victory. Bherek’s victory effectively returns to Auris the lands that were hers two decades ago.

The victorious hero is given a royal welcome back home. The citizens had had no cause for celebration for decades and this victory brings them out into the streets cheering and singing. The king, who appeared to have been holding on to his life just for this news, dies content. Just before his death, he had also asked his minister, Gadhya Kraft, to do what’s needed to crown Bherek king. Gadhya, who wanted the throne for herself dares not go ahead with her plans but goes into hiding, biding her time.

Bherek is crowned, and the citizens, having seen some of their hopes fulfilled, begin to dream of a glorious future.

About Dynast

The story begins long long after the present becomes the past, and future very different from this present and never seen before in the past. This story takes place many million years from now. This story happens after many eon years of the extinct the homo sapiens. Here the animals have evolved and they stand up right like the present homo sapiens, and even the sizes of their brain has evolved over the years, So as to make them as intelligent as the homo sapiens.

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Interesting revelations

Ashok called me this evening and spoke to me about 'hero cycle' and 'mono myth'


http://www3.cerritos.edu/fquaas/resources/English102/hero.htm

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

The Dynast - Hotsheet

Title: Dynast 1: The Rise of The Bherek White

Creator: Asvin Srivatsangam

Grade or Focus: 9-12

Number. Of Words: 70,000

Keywords & Market Focus: Fantasy,adventure,future,swords,lions,king,epic,trilogy,dynasty,
unity,bravery,action,myth,races,arctic.

Market Focus:
snow,wars,battles,gods,fighting,older,children,young,adults.

Synopsis: In the distant future, the Arctic is a lush land, populated by intelligent lions, polar bears and other species. Dynast traces the story of Bherek White, the greatest lion of them all, sent by the gods to bring peace and unity to the world.
A newly orphaned twelve-year-old snow lion, Bherek White, comes to stay with his uncle Rok, the chief of the palace guards.
During Bherek’s visit, the palace is attacked by a pack of rebels but he not only saves his friends, but traps the rebels too! Much impressed, the king asks Titon to ask Bherek to join the army. Bherek rises in rank, at unprecedented speed. At 19, he is made the general!
Auris had been the capital of the vast kingdom of Arkthika decades ago; now the entire kingdom is just the city. The king is issueless, and infirm. He relies heavily on his advisors to govern the city. Gadhya Kraft, one of them, expects to be crowned heir. She sees Bherek as a threat and tries to have him killed. Many times!
When Auris is attacked by neighbouring kingdoms, the king expresses a wish to crown Bherek if he saves Auris. Bherek wins three battles, and restores the kingdom to its former glory. After the last, near-impossible victory, he returns home and is crowned king. The citizens, having seen some of their hopes fulfilled, begin to dream of a prosperous future.

Author Biography: Asvin Srivatsangam is the creator of the Dynast series of books. His early childhood was much enriched by cartoons, then by Indian mythological stories, and as he became older, he developed a liking for animals especially the big cats, still later geography and history. All those influences resulted in Dynast, this labor of love and delight. Currently, Asvin works as a graphic designer for his living, but his dream is to see Dynast make it big, and delight millions worldwide.

Sunday, April 1, 2007

Jambav

Jambav is powered by a team of dedicated professionals, each of whom brings our passion for children as we work together to create a unique array of instructional, educational and entertainment software for children of all abilities. We are backed by the Chennai-based software powerhouse AdventNet Inc., a highly successful and profitable organization.
http://www.jambav.com/

I have a friend of mine working at Jambhav, Rajendran Dhandapani