I have one last stanza left in the Tale of aMinor Chord and I’m currently stumped. Not on how to finish but whether or not I had inadvertently used a Deus Ex Machina.
In the Tale of a Minor Chord, the protagonist must fight for his life in the Crimson Ring. A trial by combat. During the fight we learn about Maureece. Who he is, how he got there, his crimes, etc. We also know he is way over his horns at the beginning of the tale. I hadn’t decided completely how the story would end. Yes, I am one of those authors that would kill off the character you love, because I’m a cruel creator. I hadn’t decided (still haven’t) if Maureece would die or not.
The problem was the introduction of a character completely unrelated to the minotaur conflict. I knew why I introduced the character. However, introducing the character seemed jarring. All the fighting and blood and yelling and screaming, and suddenly this elf appears.
So the Deus Ex Machina? She provides some aid to the minotaur. Not overtly at least. So I had this character show up out of nowhere, and help a minotaur for giggles.
Nope.
Not gonna happen.
Not in my world.
So I spent the week editing and rewriting the previous stanzas. Now when the elf appears, it isn’t jarring. The help provided not so random. I think it also enhances the story.
Now I have one last stanza to tell the story of Maureece. The brave minotaur who dared to defy his family to find his own destiny. Hope he thinks it was worth it.
A Darkness Rising 