Skeleton:

(Likeable Hero)

Protagonist finds it.

Antagonist takes it.

Protagonist gets it back.

Pitch(es) for extra credit:

[One sentence]

"Bengamin Reacher draws upon an ancient scroll and the ravings of a mad man to unearth a mystical treasure."

[Hook]

"Prompted by the cryptic words of an ancient scroll and spurred by the ravings of a mad man, Bengamin Reacher unearths a mystical treasure. Will its power heal his dying lands? Or will it become "The World Breaker"?

The World Breaker

Copyright © 1999 Patric Michael

Chapter 1:

Bengamin Reacher kicked at the arid soil in frustration. The too-hot sun drew beads of sweat, despite the new shader his mother had made for him.

  "The entire valley is dying, Andreu. We have to find it!"

  "It doesn't exist, Bengamin. The crystal is only a legend, and Jolden is nothing more than a diseased fool. Better we spend our time hauling water than chasing after the spore dreams of a ranter." Andreu Bolder drew from one of the communal wells as he spoke, pouring water into Bengamin's buckets before filling his own.

  "Is it?" Bengamin countered as he shouldered the yoke. " All of my brothers and sisters old enough to tote pail or cup haul water for the crops, the same as your own. Yet the plants wither because there are not enough of us to compete with Asden."

  "Ah, one of the fabled Crystals?" A sneering voice spoke up behind them. Benganim whirled, spilling precious water. He squinted against the sun at Asden Darc perched atop a huge horse.

  "Perhaps not so fabled, Asden. Not if your own crops survive while ours fail."

Asden smiled indulgently and nudged his horse to drink. He ignored the grumbles of protest. "My own valley is fed by a spring, as I am sure you know."

  "Yes, we all know. You take great pains to remind us of it daily." Bengamin turned away. Andreu followed, throwing a backward glance at the still grinning figure. "My grandfather once told me that Asdens valley had no spring..."

  "And now it does." Bengamin interrupted. "How else would you explain such a thing if the crystals don't exist?"

  "A shift in the earth, or so Asden says." Andreu replied evenly. "I have no reason not to believe him."

  "But I do, Andreu. I have one very good reason." Bengamin set his yoke down, careful not to spill the water in its pails. He drew a ragged strip of leather from inside his shoulder pad and held it out.

  "I found this in the north field two days ago. The cutwork is worn thin, but you can still read it." Bengamin wet his fingers in the pail and wiped them across the face of the strip. The darkened leather began to dry almost immediately as the moisture evaporated, but the script incised in its face remained dark, making the words legible. He handed it to Andreu.

  "Part of it is missing, but there is enough to make me think the crystals are more than mere legend."

Andreu read the words aloud. "Neath the whole of the Mountain Throne, near the Hole of Night. `Side the drop of Waters Might, and through to Clouds's Delight. There is more, but I can't make it out."

  "I know. I searched for more of the scroll, but it was getting dark, and Father had me repairing pails all day yesterday."

  "But what makes you think this has anything to do with the crystals?"

  "Because of something Jolden said when he was ranting. It was mostly garble, but I believe he was dreaming of the crystals."

  "Spore dreams, as I said before." Andreu dismissed. " They mean nothing."

  "So I thought, until I found this." Bengamin plucked the leather from his friends grasp and tucked it back into his pad.

  "Well? What did he say?"

 "'The bretheren breathes the Cloud's Delight.' I think he was dreaming of the Sky Crystal."

Andreu paused, a hesitant hope hung plain across his long face. "But if that's true, Bengamin..."

  "Yes. If that's true, and I believe it is, then the Sky Crystal exists, and I will find it!"

  Asden Darc watched the boys shoulder their water yokes and trudge away. His horse fidgeted beneath him and he slapped it quiet.

  "Those two would bear watching." He thought to himself. He didn't like the look of the one called Bengamin. It was a look of knowing that did not belong on one of these peasants.

  "I think we will pay a vist to the boys' family." He muttered, fingering the lump hidden beneath his shirt.

Outline:

Opening:

Protagonist finds evidence to convince him of the truth of a local legend and sets out to find the Sky Crystal, which is reputed to bestow power over the realm of air.

1/4:

Protagonist finds the crystal, only to discover that the Antagonist is already aware it exists.

1/ 2:

Antagonist takes the crystal and uses it against Protagonists family and friends.

3/4:

Protagonist rallies and fights to regain crystal.

End:

Protagonist retrieves the crystal and destroys Antagonists hold on his family and friends.