Logan Shadowhand: a retrospective (part one)

Filed under Fiction, Writing Journal on August 26, 2008
Keywords: fantasy fiction, Logan Shadowhand, Shattered Amulet

I first attempted to transform Logan Shadowhand from a roleplaying game character into a literary hero about 15 years ago. He’s evolved quite a bit since then. I still have copies of those early manuscripts, some in hard copy and some in electronic. At Ravyn’s request, I’m going to share pieces of them with you in hopes of illustrating the stages of growth both my writing and the character have gone through.

Logan began as one part of an adventuring duo. The Dungeons & Dragons influence is obvious, especially in my description of Logan as a “hobbit.” Here is the first part of the opening scene of what was then entitled The Return of the Druids:

“Your friend tells a good story.”

The hobbit glanced up at the fat, bald man, then back down at his shot glass. He tossed it down and then looked over his shoulder to the “friend” in question and finally brought his eyes back to the barkeep. “Yeah. And I drink,” he said, his upper lip curling in a sneer. He shoved his empty glass forward.

“Just trying to be hospitable, stranger. Besides, I think you’ve had enough.”

“Hey, I’m the one drinking, so I’ll be the one to say when I’ve had enough.”

“You’re wrong, halfling,” the man said, slightly raising his voice with indignation. Several patrons nearby stopped their own conversations and glanced in the direction of the bar. “This is my establishment and you’ve run up quite a tab. Since I’ve never seen you before and I don’t trust or even like you, I’d suggest that you show me some money before I . . .”

The man was unable to finish. Loghan Shadowhand threw his four-foot frame onto the bar, whipped back his forest cloak, and drew the twin blades sheathed at his thighs. These he crossed right at the barkeep’s adam’s apple. “I would kindly ask you to take back that slanderous remark, sir. I am not half-any . . .”

But Loghan was unable to finish either, for he was grabbed from behind like an errant cat and pulled off the bar. There he hung in mid-air, twisting and turning, trying to escape.

Well, that was painful to remember. It was a beginning, however, and you’ll never reach the end if you don’t start somewhere.

Related Posts

• Logan Shadowhand: a retrospective (part two)
• Logan Shadowhand: a retrospective (part three)
• The evolution of Logan Shadowhand
• Back in the spotlight
• The ties that bind