Story arc

Last month I suggested looking into legend, myth and history when creating scenarios in wargaming, roleplaying and writing. Here's an example, a great story arc that almost comes full circle. It looks fantasy but is just as easily sci-fi, or horror. Do you recognise it?

In a war-wracked land an illiterate shepherdess is brought up in a deeply religious home. She has visions at the age of 12; saints tell her she will lead the armies of the occupied nation, drive the invader from the realm and bring the rightful king to coronation. She is shown how to achieve this and takes a vow of chastity.

At the age of 16 the time has come. A relative drives her to a friendly garrison where she asks to be taken before the heir. She is turned away. Almost a year later she returns, to prophesy an imminent military defeat. News comes that the battle is lost; the shepherdess is escorted on the long journey to the royal candidate.

She arrives at last and is brought before the court of the would-be king. She tells her story. In fear at being taken for a fool or tricked by magics, he has a commission of the wise look into the matter. They err on the side of the girl. But a test is set - raise the siege of a vital city.

Our teenaged heroine takes the equipment of war, and she leads a force of men into battle. The city is freed from the noose. In the campaign that follows she fires the spirits of the commanders, by persuasion and example, and with elan. Objective after objective is achieved.

In the final battle she is wounded by a bolt, but returns to the fray to take the crucial field. The war is won, the tide of history turned. The girl now escorts the king to his coronation in the city of the rite. The road is difficult, and blood, health and life are lost to many. In the chaos of one encounter the girl is struck by a mighty round, felled.

She survives, as if by a miracle. And then strongpoints along the way surrender with her arrival. The survivors do reach their destination. The candidate for the throne is crowned king, just as the visions presaged.

For the final triumphant push to the capital, the new king resumes command, but hesitation creeps in. The attack is delayed and the girl sees her fate. She is captured, no ransom given, and sold to the occupier.

Declared a heretic now, she stands trial. She is given no legal support and agreed standards are not observed where she is held. The king abandons her. Perhaps he sees her as a rival, another pole of power? Perhaps more powerful advisors persuade? But she has no power that she would use, and no power here and now.

She is killed. At age 19 she is burnt alive.

And 25 years later she is cleared of wrongdoing, with her mother present to hear. The young girl who saw visions, led an army and won a realm becomes a matyr. Later still she is made a saint.

What a story that is. It actually happened of course - more or less - in our own world, and not so long ago. Time has added to it all of course, and so has the endless rewriting. If this is just our history, think how history might run in more fantastical or alien locations, and how the story would be told later.