Musical Inspiration Challenge 2. Part 5: The Aim Of The Conflict.

Freaks of Nature by Kansas

Now we start getting to brass tacks. Our bad guy, our hook, these are helpful to a point, but the real point of a story or an adventure, is the concept of conflict. What is that conflict? Last time we had the Hellknights trying to regain what they lost because of a sci-fi sounding song.

This time, we’ve got Freaks of Nature. Freaks of Nature is from one of the last albums Kansas produced, which is also, unsurprisingly, titled Freaks of Nature.

Let’s check out our lyrics.

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Freak of nature fact or fright
Puts up with pain puts up with spite

Scarred up shoes have lost their sheen
It looks like better days they've seen

Chameleon man naive tycoon
Will eat the poor with silver spoon

He'll jest and jeer through looking glass
But nest right near the upper class

Who'll be the first one pointing at the simple man
Now I know I'm only lucky every freak of nature should know
How to run the whole freakin' show

Freak of nature'd rather be no less a man than you or me
He'd rather look the other way choose to fight another day

I take things for granted turn the tables 'round
What if I was down, every freak of nature should know
How to run the whole freakin' show

To much goin' on runnin' out of time
And I don't understand it

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Interesting.

Again that strange sort of disconnection pops up. The human mind’s capability to recognize patterns in random things is pretty inspiring, although I’d argue that it may be my muse singing through me. I wonder which one covers adventure design. Epic poetry? Or music?

Anyway. This song again has that sense of disconnection and determination to it. Also, again is the concept of being put into a situation where you are operating with different capabilities then normal folk are.

This, coupled with the earlier songs makes me consider a few concepts.

We could take the obvious inspiration and base our operation around a circus or freakshow.

Alternatively, we could make it a place for the cast out or thrown to the side. A leper colony. Or old folks home. Or alienage. Some place where ‘freaks’ or the unwanted are sent to moulder.

Also, recurring again and again is the idea of someone using their shortcomings to overcome.

“Every freak should know, how to run the whole freaking show.” From this song.

And

“I can see so clearly now I’m blind” from our Hook song.

Perhaps our conflict arises from the desire of the cast out, the abandoned, or the unwanted having to rise up and attempt to force the world to dance to their tune by using their weaknesses to become strengths?

Or perhaps that is the conflict in and of itself, having to contend between two sides, one dedicated to wallowing in self pity and destruction, and one side in battling to over come?