Share
MidReal Story
Floura V Dayanghirang： The Babaylan Warrior
Scenario:Genre and Subgenre
Historical Fiction
Setting
Pre-colonial Visayas (Cebu, Philippines)
Plot Structure
Act I: The Plague Descends
Chapter 1: Introduction of Floura and her unique abilities; rising fear and distrust from the village elders; initial outbreak of the plague.
Chapter 2: The plague worsens; growing pressure on Floura to act despite the elders' restrictions; Floura's decision to defy the elders and investigate the source of the illness.
Act II: The Journey and the Conspiracy Unveiled
Chapter 3: Floura's perilous journey begins. Encounters with mythical creatures and initial clues pointing towards a conspiracy. Introduction of Silangan as an initial antagonist.
Chapter 4: Deciphering ancient texts; learning about the Shadowbinder and the power-hungry factions exploiting the chaos. Floura seeks guidance from Apo Anlaw; intensified training and development of her powers.
Act III: Confrontation and Resolution
Chapter 5: Uniting fractured villages against the common enemy; alliance with Silangan. Confrontation with the Shadowbinder and the conspirators. The final battle.
Chapter 6: Healing the plague; restoring peace and prosperity. Floura embraces her destiny as a protector. Acceptance from her village, proving true strength lies in wielding power responsibly.
Themes
Responsibility, Balance of Nature, Prejudice and Acceptance, Courage, Corrupting Influence of Power
Tone and Style
Adventurous, Suspenseful, Heartfelt
Conflict
External: The plague and the conspiracy. Internal: Floura's struggle with her powers and acceptance.
Resolution
The plague is cured; the conspiracy is exposed and defeated; Floura is accepted and embraces her role as a leader.
Point of View
Third-person limited
Pacing
Balanced pacing with moments of high tension and quiet character development.
Character Archetypes
Floura: The reluctant hero. Apo Anlaw: The wise mentor. Datu Makisig: The conflicted leader. Silangan: The reformed antagonist. The Shadowbinder: The manipulator.
Worldbuilding Elements
Detailed descriptions of Visayan culture, beliefs, social structures, and natural environment.
Narrative Hooks
The mysterious plague; Floura's unique powers and the prophecies surrounding her.
Emotional Journey
Floura's journey from fear and isolation to courage and acceptance.
Cultural or Historical Context
Accurate representation of pre-colonial Visayan life, beliefs, and traditions.
Moral or Philosophical Questions
The balance between power and responsibility; the importance of respecting nature; overcoming prejudice.
Writing Style
Maintain a balance between engaging the young adult audience and respecting the historical setting.
Use vibrant language to portray the landscape and culture.
Image themes
Images for this narration should embrace the beauty and the mysticism of the Philippines' pre-colonial era. Using vibrant colors will help bring life to ancient Visayan culture. The illustration style should have semi-realistic elements.
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Protagonist: Floura V. Dayanghirang
Characteristic: Cute, Gorgeous skilled Babaylan warrior and natural healer,
She posessed the power of the goddess, Inang Kalikasan that gave her the ability to understand the power of nature and interconnectedness of all living things. She is the last decendant of a bloodline of babaylan.
Antagonist: Mysterious Creature that spreads plague that causes illness to the village
Her background:
Floura is a strong-willed and independent woman, fiercely protective of her people and determined to uphold the traditions of her ancestors. She struggles with her own internal conflict between her desire to be accepted and the power she possesses.
Main priority/ Plot
To protect her village from the mysterious illness that starts a plague everything by conquering her fear and uncovering a hidden conspiracy that threatens to plunge the village into chaos. She has been trained in the arts of healing, divination, and combat, but her abilities are feared by the elders of her village because of a prophecy that suggests she could become a dangerous force if she used her own divination to start chaos.
Variables:
Dayanghirang- Young Woman
Babaylan- Female priestesses.
Inang Kalikasan- Mother Nature, Goddess of Nature
Plague- A infectious illness caused by an unknown creature
Chaos- Gulo
Divinity- The practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means.
Settings:
The visayas region of the Philippines, island of Cebu, during the pre-colonial period (around the 14th-15th centuries). place where busy towns full of people and ships meet lush green forests and tall, majestic mountains. These places are filled with old, special ways of life and beliefs that have been passed down for generations.
Create my version of this story
Floura V. Dayanghirang
determined, and selfconscious. She struggles to accept her role as a babaylan due to a prophecy of chaos. Despite the plague and mistrust, she seeks to uncover the truth and save her village. Her journey involves confronting internal fears and gaining acceptance from others, ultimately leading to healing and unity.
Apo Anlaw
supportive, and understanding. He trains Floura in divination and healing traditions. His wisdom helps Floura navigate her challenges, providing her with insights and strength when needed. Apo Anlaw plays a crucial role in helping Floura understand her power and purpose in saving her village.
Datu Makisig
cautious, and decisive. Initially skeptical of Floura's abilities, he reluctantly relies on her guidance to save his people. Datu Makisig represents the authority that Floura must convince of her worth in times of need, showcasing his struggle between skepticism and necessity.
I was once called cute, gorgeous, and beautiful by many people.
But I was not like other girls who were beautiful and weak.
I was a skilled babaylan warrior and a natural healer.
I possessed the power of the goddess Inang Kalikasan, which gave me the ability to understand the power of nature and the interconnectedness of all living things.
I was the last descendant of a bloodline of babaylan, and I had been trained in the arts of healing, divination, and combat since I was a child.
However, my abilities were feared by the elders of my village because of a prophecy that stated I would use my own divination to start chaos and bring about a time of great darkness and suffering.
Because of this, I was not allowed to practice my divinity and was shunned by the rest of the villagers.
They did not want me to use my powers for evil.
But I was not evil.
I only wanted to help my people and protect them from harm.
And I knew that I could do this if I was allowed to practice my babaylan ways.
But the elders would not listen to me.
They only wanted me to be a normal girl and find a man to marry and settle down.
But I was not like other girls.
I was meant for greater things.
I pace back and forth outside the council hut, rehearsing my arguments in my head.
I have been waiting for hours to speak with the elders, and I am growing anxious.
I can hear their voices through the bamboo walls, discussing the latest plague victims and how to stop the spread of the disease.
I reach into my satchel and pull out a handful of medicinal herbs, arranging them neatly on a piece of cloth.
My hands shake slightly as I work, but I take a deep breath and steady myself.
These herbs are proof of my knowledge and skill as a healer, and I must present them confidently.
After a few moments, the door to the hut opens and Datu Makisig steps out.
He is one of the oldest and wisest of the elders, and he looks at me with kind eyes.
"Ah, young one," he says.
"I see you are still here. What is it that you wish to speak with us about?"
I take a deep breath and step forward, holding out my collection of herbs.
"I have come to offer my services as a healer," I say.
"I have studied the properties of these plants for many years, and I know how to use them to cure even the most stubborn illnesses."
Datu Makisig looks at me thoughtfully for a moment, then nods his head.
"Very well," he says.
"Come inside and show us what you can do." I follow him into the hut, where the other elders are seated around a large table.
They look up at me curiously as I enter, and I can feel their skepticism in the air.
But I am not deterred.
I explain each of the herbs that I have brought with me, telling them about their properties and how they can be used to heal different ailments.
As I speak, I notice that some of the elders are nodding their heads in agreement, while others look more doubtful.
But I press on, determined to convince them that I am capable of helping our people.
When I finish speaking, Datu Makisig nods his head thoughtfully.
"Thank you for coming to speak with us," he says.
"We will consider your offer carefully."
I bow my head respectfully and turn to leave, but then I hear a commotion coming from outside the hut.
I turn back to see one of the children from our village running towards us, crying out in pain. "Help!" he shouts.
"My sister is hurt! She fell down and cut her knee!"
I kneel down beside the crying girl and examine her knee.
It is scraped and bleeding, but it does not look too serious.
The boy hovers anxiously nearby, watching as I clean the wound with some herbs from my pouch.
As I work, I notice that there is movement in the dense forest surrounding us.
The shadows between the trees seem to be shifting and twisting in ways that are not natural, and I can smell a faint acrid scent drifting through the air.
I frown as I realize that this is not just a simple injury.
There is something else at play here, something that could be dangerous if it is not handled properly.
I quickly wrap the girl's knee with some medicinal leaves and stand up, looking around cautiously.
The boy looks up at me with wide eyes, clearly frightened by what he has seen.
"What happened?" he asks me. "I'm not sure," I reply honestly.
"But we need to get your sister away from here as quickly as possible."
I gather both children in my arms and begin to make my way back towards the village.
As I walk, I can feel a strange tingling sensation in the air, like electricity building up before a storm.
I know that this is not a natural phenomenon, and I wonder what could be causing it.
Suddenly, I hear a loud rumbling sound coming from behind me.
I turn around to see a dark cloud forming over the forest, its edges churning and twisting ominously.
The air grows colder and the wind begins to pick up, whipping my hair into my face.
I know that we need to get out of here as fast as we can before whatever is happening gets any worse. As I run towards the village, I can feel the darkness closing in around us.
It is like a living thing, reaching out with tendrils of shadow to snatch us back into its depths.
I push myself harder, determined to save these children from whatever evil force is pursuing us.
Finally, we reach the safety of our homes and collapse onto the ground, panting heavily.
The children look up at me with gratitude in their eyes, and I smile back at them reassuringly.
But even as I do so, I know that this is far from over.
Whatever was out there in the forest will not stop until it has claimed us all, and we must be prepared to defend ourselves against its attacks. As I catch my breath and try to process what just happened, I notice something strange on the girl's leg where she was injured earlier.
A faint, glowing symbol is etched into her skin, pulsing softly with a light that seems to resonate with the dark cloud still looming over the forest.
"What does it mean?" the boy asks, his voice trembling with fear.
I shake my head, my heart pounding. "It's a mark of the prophecy... and it means the darkness has already begun."
Back in the council hut, I examine the pulsing symbol on the girl's leg while the elders crowd around us.
The mark glows an unsettling purple, matching the ominous clouds still visible through the doorway.
I trace the ancient pattern with my finger, recognizing it from Apo Anlaw's teachings - the mark of the Shadowbinder.
The girl whimpers as the symbol flares brighter at my touch.
Datu Makisig leans closer, his previous skepticism giving way to concern.
Drawing from my training, I begin explaining the symbol's connection to old prophecies, but suddenly the mark starts burning hot.
The girl cries out, and I pull my hand back quickly.
Datu Makisig looks at me with urgency. "Can you stop it?"
"I can try," I reply, my voice steady despite the fear gnawing at me.
I rush to my hut and retrieve my medicine pouch, selecting specific herbs for their healing properties.
Crushed malunggay leaves for their cooling effect, dried sambong for its ability to draw out impurities, and a few rare purple lagundi flowers that Apo Anlaw taught me could counteract dark magic.
Returning to the council hut, I arrange the herbs in a circular pattern around the girl's marked leg.
The elders watch intently as I begin the sacred chant taught by Apo Anlaw, my voice steady despite my trembling hands.
The ancient words flow from my memory - "Inang Kalikasan, dungawi kami."
The mark pulses violently, causing the girl to grip her mother's arm tightly.
I press the herbs against her skin, continuing the chant as sweat beads on my forehead.
The mark's glow dims slightly, and I sense a shift in the air.
Datu Makisig leans in closer, his voice a whisper. "Is it working?"
I nod, though uncertainty lingers. "For now, but we need to find the source of this darkness before it spreads further."
I continue pressing the herbs against the girl's leg, feeling the warmth of Datu Makisig's hand over mine.
His touch steadies my trembling fingers as I maintain the healing chant.
The mark's purple glow dims further, and the girl's whimpers soften to quiet breaths.
Around us, the elders lean forward, their earlier skepticism giving way to cautious hope.
When the last traces of the symbol fade, leaving only a faint scar, Datu Makisig squeezes my hand once before releasing it.
He turns to the elders, his voice firm. "We must send scouts to the forest's edge and uncover what stirs within."
One of the elders, a woman with silver hair, nods gravely. "And we must prepare the village for what may come; this is only the beginning."
I lean closer as the girl's eyes open, revealing an unnatural purple sheen.
Her mother gasps, but I hold up my hand to keep everyone still.
The girl speaks in a voice unlike her own, describing a cave near the eastern waterfall where dark shapes gather at twilight.
Her words come out in an ancient dialect I barely understand.
I grab a piece of charcoal and quickly sketch the landmarks she describes on a banana leaf, while Datu Makisig orders the other elders to be quiet.
When the purple fades from her eyes, the girl slumps forward, exhausted but unharmed.
As dusk approaches, I gather my healing supplies and follow Datu Makisig to his hut near the village center.
He positions two guards outside while I arrange protective herbs - dried sampaguita and burning sage - around the room's perimeter.
Through the window, I watch as shadows lengthen across the ground in unnatural ways, as if darkness itself is alive.
Makisig paces, fingering the knife at his belt.
When he finally sits beside me on the bamboo floor, I notice his hands trembling slightly.
The same acrid smell from the forest seeps under the door.
I grab my healing pouch and sprint past the guards, who shout in surprise.
Datu Makisig calls out my name, but I keep running.
The acrid smell burns my nose as I dash toward the writhing shadows at the village's edge.
My heart pounds in my chest, and my breath catches in my throat.
Ahead, the dark shapes begin to coalesce into humanoid forms, their edges rippling like smoke.
I draw a circle of crushed sampaguita petals around myself and begin chanting the protection ritual Apo Anlaw taught me.
The shadows pause their advance, wavering at the edge of my circle.
One reaches a tendril toward me, testing the barrier.
I maintain the circle as the shadows merge into a single dark mass.
A raspy voice speaks, saying, "Many years ago, on the night of the full moon in May, Datu Makisig ventured into the forbidden eastern caves. He sought power beyond his station."
The voice continues, describing how Makisig discovered ancient tablets hidden within the cave's depths and made a bargain with dark spirits to secure his position as leader.
My hands tremble as I sprinkle more sampaguita petals around me.
I force myself to listen to the shadow entity's words.
It speaks of specific dates and locations, of witnesses who have since died under mysterious circumstances.
Through my circle's barrier, I notice Datu Makisig has followed me.
While he stands frozen behind me, my eyes catch a glint of silver thread along the hem of his cloak.
Looking closer, I recognize the intricate pattern - the same curved lines and angular points I've seen etched in the ancient stone tablets Apo Anlaw showed me.
The shadow entity's words echo in my mind as I study the embroidery.
My fingers still clutch the crushed sampaguita petals.
The symbol pulses faintly, like the mark on the girl's leg.
When I turn to face Makisig, his hand moves to cover the embroidery, but it's too late.
"Datu Makisig," I say, my voice steady despite the turmoil within, "you carry the mark of the dark spirits."
He lowers his gaze, a shadow of regret crossing his features.
"I had no choice," he murmurs, desperation lacing his words, "the village was dying, and they promised salvation."
I stand my ground, the protective circle around me pulsing softly.
Makisig's face contorts with inner turmoil.
The shadow mass behind me writhes, its whispers growing louder.
"Tell me everything," I command, gripping my healing pouch tighter.
Makisig sinks to his knees, shoulders hunched.
"It was five years ago," he begins, his voice heavy with remorse.
"The drought had lasted for months, and our crops were withering. The people were on the brink of starvation."
He pauses, collecting his thoughts.
"One night, under the full moon, I ventured into the eastern caves. I sought answers, a way to save our village."
His eyes meet mine, filled with a mix of shame and determination.
"I found ancient tablets hidden within the cave's depths. They spoke of dark spirits who could grant power beyond my wildest dreams."
Makisig's voice cracks as he continues.
"I made a bargain with them. They promised to bring rain to our parched lands in exchange for a small price."
He swallows hard, his gaze dropping to the ground.
"They wanted to feed on the life force of our villagers. But they assured me it would only be the elderly and weak who would suffer." As Makisig speaks, I pull out more sampaguita petals from my pouch and reinforce the circle around me.
The shadows pulse with each revealed secret, their whispers growing louder in my ears.
I focus on maintaining the barrier, ensuring that the truth is not lost amidst the darkness that surrounds us.
The air thickens with tension as Makisig's words hang in the air.
I can feel the weight of his confession settling upon us all - the burden of a choice made in desperation, fueled by ambition and fear.
I hold my palm out toward Makisig, careful not to break the protective circle with my other hand.
The shadow mass behind me writhes more violently, its whispers turning to shrieks.
Makisig stares at my offered hand, his face twisted in a battle between shame and hope.
"We can break their hold," I explain, my voice steady amidst the chaos.
"But it requires your cooperation. Together, we can perform a purification ritual."
He hesitates, his eyes darting between the dark tendrils snaking around his ankles and my outstretched hand.
The silver threads on his cloak pulse brighter, and he grimaces in pain.
I tighten my grip on the sampaguita petals, and their glow intensifies.
The shadows howl around us, as if sensing our resolve.
With a surge of determination, I reach out with my free hand and pull Makisig into my protective circle.
He trembles as I steady him, his breath ragged with fear.
The darkness seethes around us, its tendrils straining against the barrier.
I reach into my healing pouch and pull out dried lagundi leaves.
Crushing them between my palms, I whisper the words Apo Anlaw taught me - a chant passed down through generations of our tribe's healers.
The air seems to shimmer as the words leave my lips, carrying the ancient power of our people.
Makisig's silver threads begin to burn with an otherworldly fire, making him cry out in pain.
But he remains steadfast, knowing that this is the only path forward. The shadow mass surges forward, its tendrils probing for weaknesses in our barrier.
I feel the weight of its malevolent presence bearing down on us, threatening to consume everything in its path.
But I hold firm, channeling the energy of the sampaguita petals and lagundi leaves into our protective circle.
The air crackles with tension as the forces of light and darkness clash.
Sweat beads on my forehead as I strain against the pressure, determined to break free from the entity's hold.
Makisig's voice is strained, but there's a flicker of hope in his eyes.
"I can feel it," he gasps, "the darkness is weakening."
I nod, focusing my energy into the chant, "Stay with me, Makisig. Together, we will banish this curse."
I press my palm against his chest where the silver threads burn brightest, channeling the power of Inang Kalikasan through the crushed lagundi leaves.
The shadows screech and slam against our protective circle, making the petals flicker.
Makisig's voice grows stronger as he joins my chanting, his eyes fixed on mine despite the pain.
The silver threads begin to unravel from his cloak, dissolving into ash.
With each thread that breaks, the shadow mass recoils slightly.
Sweat soaks my back as I maintain the connection, feeling the dark spirits' grip on him weakening.
I keep the pressure on his chest as the last silver thread crumbles to ash.
The sampaguita petals around us pulse with increasing brightness, pushing outward in expanding rings of light.
The shadow mass recoils further, its form breaking apart into wisps of dark mist that slither away through the grass.
Makisig's breathing steadies under my palm, and the acrid smell begins to fade.
The protective circle continues growing, its petals multiplying and spreading across the ground like ripples in water.
I press my forehead against his as we kneel in the center of the circle, both of us exhausted.
The petals around us pulse with a soft light that spreads through the grass.
I can feel the energy of Inang Kalikasan resonating through the land, cleansing it of the dark entity's influence.
My hands shake as I gather fresh herbs from my pouch to treat the burns on Makisig's chest where the silver threads had been.
He winces but stays still while I apply the healing paste.
The acrid smell has faded completely, replaced by the sweet scent of the protective flowers.
The darkness is gone, leaving only the promise of dawn.
I help Datu Makisig stand as morning light filters through the trees.
His legs shake from exhaustion, and burn marks still show on his chest where the silver threads had seared his skin.
I support his weight while gathering the remaining sampaguita petals, carefully placing them in my healing pouch to use for protection another time.
The shadow entity may be gone, but I can still feel a residue of its darkness in the soil beneath our feet.
We begin the slow walk back toward the village.
Makisig's steps are heavy with fatigue.
As we approach the spot where the shadow mass had touched the ground, Makisig suddenly stumbles and grabs my arm, pointing to something growing from the earth.