# Synopsis ![[story_banner.webp]] `May. 22, 2025` · [[Horseapple]] · #Fragment #Project #Writing > [!custom-callout]+ [r/writing](https://www.reddit.com/r/writing/comments/12ztgan/synopsis_or_summary/) > “There MUST be a practical difference between Synopsis and Summary...it just FEELS like there is... especially in making one for a book and it's chapters. Condensing my work is a struggle...if the piece wasn't so packed...OMG. So I feel the need for clarity on the process.” <p align="right">— a_distant_voice</p> ## Info This page is for those interested in a clear break down of each act. These synopses, which go over the general conflict of each act via: character, plot, and worldbuilding, are filled out after each successive rough draft—to better understand each scene and what each character is acting on or responding to. These synopses are then used as a guide when writing the final draft of the scene. I try to keep the most interesting bits from previous drafts and naturally incorporate them into the finale. Specifically focusing on the emotional aspect of each conflict, trying to encompass at least one or all three of the layers of story (ie. character, plot, worldbuilding). Why these synopses matter is in helping layout what each act could be about. In terms of direction and stakes, and offers up multiple pathways to developing a conflict charged scene. To squeeze out the conflict, I use the South Park’s format of writing story: Event, But, Therefore. [^1] Lastly, how these synopses are created is through trial runs. Rough drafts. Where I first brainstorm what a scene could be about, and let the scene naturally grow from there. I write the scene however long it needs to be. Until the scene finishes. After that I comb through it and keep what works. Any emotional beats or points characters make that I feel is interesting. I then add it to the synopsis. I’ll do three runs of each scene. Calm, moderate, and dramatic. This way, I’ll be able to map out a scenario and jot down the best parts of each run. After that, I’ll compose the synopsis and use it as a guide for the final draft of a scene. Where the best bits of a character’s potential responses / reactions has been noted, and could also be brought into the final draft. Which itself might be a frankstein-patchwork of previous runs. --- ## Breakdowns --- ### ACT I > [!custom-callout]- Scene One > <center><b>PROFILES</b></center> > > *Emperor, Arenicos Pethros* — > > - Earnest, Merciful, Close-fisted, Valorous, Calculating > > *General, Garios Comnos* — > > - Ironic, Cruel, Valorous, Generous, Dishonorable, Calculating, Egalitarian > - YES - WOMEN CAN JOIN THE SENATE > - YES - SOLDIERS SHOULD BE PROVIDED PENSION BY THE STATE > - NO - FOREIGNERS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BECOME CITIZENS > - YES - SLAVES SHOULD BE ABLE TO BUY THEIR FREEDOM > - NO - SENATE SHOULD NOMINATE THE EMPEROR > > <center><b>CHARACTER</b></center> > > 1. *Event:* Arenicos and Garios used to be friends. As children, they studied at the same academy. As teens they got in trouble together. And as adults, they’ve led armies together. > 2. *But:* then came the Battle of Pendraic and Arenicos became the new emperor. Overtime they grew distant. Arenicos had to manage many different fronts and in-turn made compromises. One was dropping the Empire’s standing armies, and most hurtful of all, was issuing an end to the Legions. This last one felt like a direct stab at Garios’ values, so the two haven’t spoken in some time. However, Garios has had a change-of-heart. Apys Varros, a friend of Garios, was ejected from the senate for accepting bribes. Hypocrisy, Garios thinks. Garios starts theorizing that since following in his uncle Pateor’s footsteps; demanding that land be given to veterans, the senate has out to get him, and anyone associated. Arenicos included. Additionally, Garios has noticed Arenicos dealing with the senate more and more. > 3. *Therefore:* they must be manipulating Arenicos. Responsible for Arenicos’ bad policies and Arenicos’ new stance on peace with barbarians. Garios is afraid he may have abandoned his best friend for too long—and so, to Arenicos’ surprise, one day after years without a word, Garios requests to join Arenicos on his trip to Rhemtoil village on the Battanian-border. There, Garios hopes to save his old friend from the snakes who’ve been abusing him in secret. And to help him make the right choices for the Empire’s future, which are: One, re-instating the Legions. Two, forgoing the senate’s approval and declaring war on Battania. And three, forgetting this preposterous future of peace with the barbarians. Garios believes that these three choices could avert disaster and get them off the path of destruction. Arenicos, though, genuinely believes in peace and decides to stay the path, to which Garios thinks is a doomed one. > > <center><b>PLOT</b></center> > > 4. *Event:* before this scene begins, the new High King, Caladog, has allowed very small raids to occur on imperial lands. Hoping that Emperor Arenicos may respond in force, thus giving credence to Caladog’s propaganda about Imperial-wrongdoing. Justifying Caladog’s war with the Empire. Arenicos knows this is wishes to avoid war. Instead choosing to make a show-of-force by arriving in number to the closest Battanian settlement, Rhemtoil village, but not harming anyone. Arenicos hopes this’ll, on one hand, make Battanians see the Empire’s strength, and on the other hand, their mercy. Arenicos is hopeful to establish a peace agreement with Caladog, like the Empire had with High King Aeril, prior to the Battle of Pendraic. While most imperials believe Battanians to be unruly and animalistic, Arenicos is open-minded. His half-foreign wife, Rhagaea, has made him believe that through learning about the Outer-Kingdoms he could maybe solidify an authentic long-lasting peace with them. Putting an end to the constant wars. > 5. *But:* Garios fits the stereotypical imperial archetype, believing anyone who is not imperial, as lesser. Having to earn his respect. Garios believes peace with the Outer-Kingdoms to be impossible and a pointless pursuit. And so Garios wants to go to war with Caladog to get ahead of his perceived upcoming barbarian invasions. > 6. *Therefore:* Garios believes war to be the future of the Empire. One full of never-ending waves of migrations which they’ll need to thwart off to keep the Calradian Empire alive. > > <center><b>WORLDBUILDING</b></center> > > 7. *Event:* In Calradia, ‘Imperial superiority’ is a given—not at all a rarity among the masses. A typical imperial may consider themselves innately more civilized, knowledgeable, better than other peoples. Due to their ethnicity alone. > 8. *But:* this concept, of course, ignores the fact that their blood is actually a wild hodge-podge of ethnicities from all across continent. That even their fictional myth about Calradios ‘the Great’, who gave Calradia its namesake was, according to legend, a foreigner from the Western Ocean. Balion. Who came, who saw, and conquered the true original inhabitants of the land. Even if we look to the true origins of the Empire, around one thousand years ago, the Calradian Empire was yet another nomadic tribe in the hills, called the ‘Calradoi’. Whose skills and traits came from a assorted collection of other tribe’s traditions, languages, technologies, and laws. > 9. *Therefore:* the foundation of the Empire has been built on the culmination of non-imperial works. And said works have gave way for the Empire to rise, without them, the Calradian Empire would have been supplanted long ago by other societies. --- --- **Lucon** - Curt - Valorous - Honorable - Close-fisted - Oligarchic - NO - WOMEN CAN JOIN THE SENATE - NO - SOLDIERS SHOULD BE PROVIDED PENSION BY THE STATE - NO - FOREIGNERS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BECOME CITIZENS - NO - SLAVES SHOULD BE ABLE TO BUY THEIR FREEDOM - YES - SENATE SHOULD NOMINATE THE EMPEROR --- **Rhagaea** - Soft-spoken - Generous - Calculating - Authoritarian - YES - WOMEN CAN JOIN THE SENATE - NO - SOLDIERS SHOULD BE PROVIDED PENSION BY THE STATE - YES - FOREIGNERS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BECOME CITIZENS - NO - SLAVES SHOULD BE ABLE TO BUY THEIR FREEDOM - NO - SENATE SHOULD NOMINATE THE EMPEROR > &emsp;&emsp;<br> ![[encyclopedia_calradica.gif|center|300]]<br> >*“A massive `Mount & Blade` wikipedia.”*<br>About [Encyclopædia Calradica](About-the-Encyclopædia.md)<br>About the [Project](Project-(Pillar).md)<br>About the [Author](Horseapple.md) <br>&emsp;&emsp; ## Resources [^1]: https://nathanbweller.com/creators-of-south-park-storytelling-advice-but-therefore-rule/#:~:text=However%2C%20if%20in%2Dbetween%20each,arbitrary%20whims%20of%20the%20writer.