The Campaign Builder's Guild

I have a rough concept for a short story or novella, and I wanted to see what, if any, feedback people have to give me for it, before I invest myself too heavily in it.

There is an ancient and haunted edifice known as the Temple of Geometric Precision. For an unspecified Very Long Time it has been occupied by an incredibly isolationist order of nuns. Aside from the religious duties of their order, these nuns placate the ghosts of the Temple, and maintain the HUGE library of ancient philosophical and theological texts housed in the Temple - many of which are no longer known to the outside world.

The main character is the son or daughter (I have yet to decide which) of an eminent scholar who, along with a handful of colleagues, has been granted a period of access to this library. Having journeyed to the remote Temple, they live among - yet separate from - the nuns, studying the texts and attempting to glean as much lore as possible in the time the nuns have allotted them.

However, the Temple is a sinister place, dark and ghost-stalked. Not long after the party arrives (scholars, the Professor's son/daughter, and a couple of servants) Bad Things start to happen... mysterious deaths occur, and visions thought strange even by the standards of the Temple are experienced by various characters - outsider and nun alike. The nuns suspect the party of upsetting the equilibrium in the sacred, haunted place, and it is up to Our Hero to get to the bottom of things... before either the nuns or what/whoever is truly responsible does something unspeakable to them.

That's a good story. It would make for an interesting adventure.

Sounds good, but if the nuns are incredibly isolationist why are they allowing outsiders into their Temple?

Still sounds interesting, wonder what kind of trouble the main character could get into in an ancient Temple, how big is it? Normal monastery sized? Or quite huge?

Finally, what is a novella? I've seen the term thrown around a lot but don't really know what it is, I'm guessing something between a novel and a short story?

Sounds like an interesting idea Kindling.

A novella is a short novel, usually 20k to 40k.

Quote from: LlumStill sounds interesting, wonder what kind of trouble the main character could get into in an ancient Temple, how big is it? Normal monastery sized? Or quite huge?

The Temple of Geometric Precision is VAST. Probably only a few small sections of it would actually be used in the story. In fact, I half imagined that the nuns only occupy one sector of the entire edifice, and the rest is... uninhabited... or is it?

Quote from: KindlingThe Temple of Geometric Precision is VAST. Probably only a few small sections of it would actually be used in the story. In fact, I half imagined that the nuns only occupy one sector of the entire edifice, and the rest is... uninhabited... or is it?

Sounds great, so is the Temple a huge building like castle Gormenghast or is it carved into the natural landscape, like from a mountain, iceberg or tree?

make the library a "pocket dimension" or just one of those rooms that is WAY larger on the inside that on the outside maybe? that way you wouldn't have this massive complex if you dont want it to be that large. But i am curious just how "magical" are you planning for this, Christian/Buddist Monetary, or Hogworths? (no doubt in between). What fields of knowledge do these house/specialize in. I have images of "sacred geometry" and magic prisms in my head after reading your post. I like it.

Gormenghast does spring to mind, but the more naturalistic approach is interesting. I'll have to think.

As for the TARDIS-effect, I think it would suit the feel I imagine for the Temple very nicely.
"Magical" may not be the right word. Fantastical, definitely. Surreal, yes. Paranormal, certainly. "Magic" however has too many wizardly connotations in my mind. There are no spells being cast, no rituals performed - at least none which will result in any kind of thaumaturgical effect.
The information held in the library is largely unknown to the outside world, this is why the scholars are so keen to peruse some of it. It is widely believed to be mainly philosophical and theological treaties, but no one knows for sure except the nuns.

Sounds very interesting. What would the rest of the temple be like that isn't the library? Just thousands of shrines?