Novel Writing Brainstorming Forum

Wow, Eric's comments are outstanding. I have little add, except to remind you that magic is not the only source of offense and defense (I hope, or the story would be insanely boring, for the only relevant characters would be your two sorcerers.) Make sure your sorcerers don't have so much infinite and unchecked power that the opposing armies become irrelevant. What does magic require, besides this stone? In fact, what does Tate's magic require? If Marek's sorcery requires his stone stay intact, then what defenses has he established to protect it in his absence? Does any of the protection require ongoing energy on his part? Will he detect that the defenses are being destroyed (and is that what would bring him back so instantaneously)? Can Tate exploit the draw on his energy?

I don't wholly understand the order of operations as you state them, but I do understand that Tate needs to go on this trip to facilitate your love interest side plot. So.... what if:

* Ev's army has Garrett's army at a temporary impasse (siege?) or otherwise distracts Marek long enough to permit Tate's absence (Marek doesn't realize he's gone)

* Tate travels with intent to destroy the stone, but realizes on arrival that he can't (because of the protections, because Marek will detect it, and because Marek can get back to the keep so quickly - I'm not sure if Tate knows these facts?)

* When Tate realizes he can't destroy the stone, he comes up with Plan B and rushes back to Ev

* Tate hides while Ev sends a volunteer back to the keep to "destroy" the stone - which is a ruse, because they know the volunteer will be unsuccessful. The point is for the volunteer to draw Marek back to the keep and away from the castle. It might even be a suicide mission. Because Tate is missing, Marek assumes that Tate is behind the attempt on his keep.

* Once Marek is gone, Ev implements his attack strategy (whatever that is)

This outline is a bit too easy on the protagonist, so I would throw a little more conflict in there (maybe they thought the volunteer would make it, but (s)he doesn't; maybe Marek realizes the ruse before Ev's campaign is complete and returns soon enough to foil it somewhat, but the absence bought them just enough time to tip the scales in their favor.)

Other ideas:
* Tate could set up a trap at Marek's keep that keeps him locked up, if at least temporarily
* Tate could sacrifice himself by drawing Marek away from the castle and engaging him just long enough to allow Ev to take the castle
* Something "bigger" happens, for example, the people of the kingdom revolt against the bad guys and join Ev, tipping the scales in his favor, or they destroy the castle with Garrett inside and rally the people to build a new one
* Fate intervenes: a storm, spread of disease in the castle knocks out a portion of the enemy (are sorcerers immune to disease?)
* Ev knows something Garrett doesn't know (after all, Ev was raised in that castle, right? Maybe there are secret passages, secret weapons, secret problems with the architecture that Ev could exploit)

Regards,
Michelle