forum Just need some help brainstorming some scenes

Started March 20, 2018 by @LJ

tune

So my two main characters are going to traveling all over this one particular Kingdom, and during that time they need to bond and grow as people. But I also need the plot the to progress too.

In this story, one of my characters is a prince. He's been sent out on a quest by his father so that he gain experience and figure out what to do when he inherits the throne (Which will happen when he returns successful). His father didn't give him a mission either. Just told him to go out and accomplish something.

One of the castle guards goes with him. He was supposed to assassinate the prince before they left but chickened out. He spends the first part of the journey trying to build up the courage to kill the prince. He does his best not to become friends but before he knows it, he and the prince trust each other.

The scene I'm having the most trouble with is the one right after they leave the castle. They head out to the town directly outside the castle. But what should happen? Where should they go? They need to find some sort of a mission or quest to complete so that the prince can return and take the crown. But he also has to travel all across his land so that he can learn about his people grow as a character. I'm just not sure what to have happen.

Should they just move on from the town? Assuming that they won't find something worthy of a quest in one of the only well-off parts of the kingdom?

Some extra information about this world

-The Royal family is greatly disliked.
-The prince's favorite place is the royal garden, he has a few special flowers that he takes care of.
-Everyone has (what we would call) ridiculous names, which is why I omitted them here.
-There is magic but its not a very plot heavy subject.
-The story has a casual and humorous tone, but is still just as likely to get deep.
-Strange creatures lurk in the uninhabited and rarely visited places of the Kingdom.
-There is a lot of crime, poverty, and disease. But the villagers and townsfolk still make a life for themselves.

I have a pretty good idea of what the ending is and a few locations where important stuff happens (like 2). All suggestions are welcome.

Thanks in advance!

My gosh, I am in love with this story already. You had me at "The story has a casual and humorous tone, but is still just as likely to get deep." Since you said that, you could probably have the prince start blabbering about how he needs to seek out a quest, maybe save a damsel in distress. So maybe he tries to butt in on regular people in a town who need general help, like just carrying heavy stuff or buying them something expensive or whatever. But it goes horribly wrong because 1) everyone hates him and 2) he's kind of awkward when it comes to interacting with peasants. And the whole time the soldier is embarrassed to be there and wonders if the prince will die along the road on his own. :P

You don't have to like that idea, just came up with it.

That sounds really cute! Thanks for replying (: