Critique My Idea [Shadow Sins]
Worldbuilding context in bold print:
In this world, there are the ureguines and shadow sins. Shadow sins have their own language and allow their shadow masters to have more power; the stronger the bond they have with each other. However, shadow sins often get treated as a power source rather than a companion. And therefore they get routinely exploited, and since Shadow Sins can understand English but not write or speak it, they're seen as lesser by the broader public even though Shadow Sins are usually well-versed in their own language. The main character has grown up believing Shadow Sins are being treated 'as they should' but learns over time that what they're going through is wrong. A classic tale of racism against those who do not understand the language you speak. This series takes heavy inspiration from Pokémon, Hazbin Hotel, and Dante's Inferno, if that gives you a clue to the kind of story this will be.
Different Shadow Sins are found in different places. Wrath sins are found in Burden. Pride sins are located in Pride Tower. You can find Gluttony Sins hanging out on the beaches and shallow waters of the Bottomless Swamp. Sloth Sins love to hide in the canopy of the Sleepy Jungle. You can find the Lust sins all across the questionable stores in Lustrous. Deep in the Copy Caverns, Envy Sins lurk in the overgrowth. Beware of the Richman's Blood, for it's rumored that the place runs on the blood and sweat of other exploited sins and people alike, run by wild, untamed greed sins.
As you explore, you'll come across the Portal to Limbo, which has been sealed away for centuries on our side. No one really knows what's on the other side, only that it must be dangerous with how it's locked up for so long. Lastly, the beast lands. Wild, dangerous land. Rumored to be filled with hell beasts and monsters, not a city or building for hundreds of miles, except Calamity's Castle. Said to be the home of the greatest Shadow sin tamer and tracker to ever live. Many have gone seeking their guidance, most never made it home, and those that did claimed Calamity turned them away.
I am a fairly experienced writer with hard magic systems, but actually coming up with individual spells/unique powers is sometimes very difficult. I've thought about this a lot. I researched Dante's Inferno specifically. Dante's Inferno is a major inspiration for this series. Alongside the likes of Hazbin Hotel and Pokémon. I've worked on this prompt for about a week now. In Dante's Inferno, there are nine layers of hell. So I took the seven deadly sins and matched them up best with the layer that fit each sin. Which was hard because pride and envy didn't exist as layers in Dante's Inferno.
Without going into TOO MUCH detail, mostly because idk for sure if I'll even make this series in the future. I'm in the pre-writing/brainstorming phase of writing a series that takes place in a different world. With ureguines (a placeholder race I made up) that tame little gremalin creatures called Shadow Sins, and solve conflicts Pokémon-style by battling. Only, instead of the creatures fighting, the owners (also called Shadow Masters) connect with their shadow sin and use the powers granted to fight in combat. Here are a few rules for the magic system because I like hard magic systems with a lot of rules:
- People who own a Shadow Sin are called Shadow Masters.
- Shadow sins represent the seven deadly sins: lust, pride, wrath, envy, greed, gluttony, and sloth
- Shadow Sins must be near their Shadow Masters, or their Shadow Masters cannot cast spells
- Each Shadow sin individual would have its own look, but each one would look similar to the basic character bases
- Shadow Sins are cute gremlin creatures that become more powerful the stronger the bond with their owner, but one problem.
- Each shadow sin has a magical ability based on what sin they are.
- Each individual Shadow Sin can have between 1 and 3 abilities, while each Shadow Sin type has seven potential powers they can have: Lust is offensive, Pride is close-up/Melee Attacks, Wrath is brutal & violent attacks, Envy are attacks that mimic or copy others' capabilities or powers, Greed are attacks that only benefit the shadow master uses them (while not benefiting or even harming the shadow master's team or allies), Gluttony is most defensive attacks, and sloth is rest and healing spells.
- The reason shadow sins are so easily enslaved is simply the fact that their powers aren't really usable on their own; they need an external conduit, and the shadow sins are tiny and physically much weaker than the ureguines.
Here are some of the powers I already came up with:
Lust:
- Temptation's Whisper: Allows the Shadow Master to make themselves so attractive in the eyes of their opponent that their opponent can’t think straight or view anything else.
- Desire's Wrath: Allows the user to convert their lustful energy into powerful blasts of energy that manifest as fiery projectiles that explode upon impact, causing emotional and physical harm by forcing the target to confront their deepest desires and fears in a sudden, chaotic attack
- Ensnaring Embrace: The Shadow master can summon dark pink, almost blood red colored, whip-like tentacles that snag and stab opponents, depending on the Shadow Master’s skill/control over the Shadow Sin and intended position
- Seductive Mirage: allows the Shadow master to create clones of themselves. The clones are temporary and will disappear if touched, but they put out an aura that drives people’s attention away from the real Shadow Master. This applies to everyone in range of the spell, and can become a liability when working in a team.
- Lustful Whispers: Allows the user to whisper in the target’s ear seductively from anywhere in range, and it can be heard clearly. This can be used to speak with faraway teammates or to catch enemies off guard
- Frenzied Obsession: The Shadow master can release a massive burst of energy that causes everyone in the area to obsess over a specific target. Again, this applies to everyone in range, so best not to use this as a team
- Carnal Command: By locking eyes with the target, the Shadow Master can command their target to do whatever they please. This ability is a 1:1 ratio. Basically, after locking eyes, the Shadow Master gets to give only ONE command before having to make eye contact again. However, after eye contact is made, if a command is not said at all, the Shadow master can keep control of the target for as long as their stamina and training allow.
Gluttony:
- Devouring Shield: The shadow master can summon a force field around themselves that can absorb incoming attacks, but the shield has a limit. Too many attacks and the shield bursts. The Shadow master must balance using the shield because the blast from the overloaded shield can cause harm to the Shadow master through the blast.
- Adaptive plating: Allows the Shadow master to change the physical state of their body by turning their body fat into other materials. They cannot make themselves into liquid or air, but they can change into other solids. Rubber for bouncing, metal for protection, or glass for a frag grenade-style attack, etc. Note: this plating only surrounds the body and can be removed and manipulated as the shadow master sees fit.
- Kinetic Chipped: Allows the shadow master to save up hits from an opponent over a set amount of time and, in one punch, hit with all that power at once
As for feedback, I've been considering having the series take place in hell, with the main cast being original/old religion-inspired demon-like species that live in said hellscape. But the problem is- while I would enjoy writing that kind of setting, it is very overused at this point. And while- yes- overused plots can still work... (Trapped in a video game - TADC, Isekai into a world where you get superpowers and save the day - Owl House/Amphiba, etc.) You really need to put your own spin on it for it to work. Which I do believe I can do.
I've been writing canon divergent fanfiction for almost 8 years now, so taking an existing plot and putting my own spin on it is kinda my entire writing style, but I'm worried others may hear- 'Demons in hell being morally questionable' and think 'Knock-off Hellaverse.' Which fair, this series takes inspiration mainly from Pokémon, Hazbin Hotel, and Dante's Inferno. I've heard Viv got inspiration for Hazbin Hotel from Dante's Inferno, too.
Then, there's the language I have made, which is more of a rough translation to English, where Shadow Tongue does not have any lowercase English letters directly translated to their writing system.
Lastly, the map is a rough concept art for the map of the hellscape/land that the main cast explores.