The Lair of Gregorio Roman

Posted on April 27, 2018 by Charles Yallowitz

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While Nyte had some detailed description and the Scrumptious Siren had a lot, there wasn’t much for Gregorio’s lair.  Home to the ancient gnomish vampire, I made it very vague beyond there being tables and experiments everywhere.  I added a bedroom for one scene, but most of my attention went to the entrance.  This would be a long slide and some dips and slime, all of which will change from time to time.  I have it in my head that Gregorio gets bored quite often and designing new entrances keeps him entertained.  Not that he gets a lot of company, which is a gripe he makes clear at times.

I’ve thought a lot about why I didn’t make a lot of details for Gregorio’s lair and I think it’s the same reason I went all out with the Scrumptious Siren.  I created him as a recluse that stays out of politics and gets food by having it delivered by his friends.  He’s been around for so long that I can understand why he wouldn’t wander far away from home.  Gregorio probably had seen it all until the Great Cataclysm changed everything and then he just wanted to stay safe.  My description was rather basic and that felt right since he hadn’t done much with the place.

One thing I did create is a reputation, which hints that his home was nearly a legend since very few have gone beyond the doorway.  This could be an in-story reason for Gregorio doing very little with a large lair.  He is a gnome, which means he is always working on an experiment and that requires space.  Not to mention the inevitable explosions probably destroyed a lot of the decorations in the main chamber.  Still, I didn’t even describe scraps of such things, so the place comes off as very barren.  There are many chambers that I haven’t added either because the action didn’t require them.  All I know is that this place is supposed to be huge and there might have been a time when Gregorio had a lot of children who stayed there.  Not biological kids, but those he turned like Nadia Sylvan and Clyde.

As I think about the lair, I get the sense that this is a place that is going to evolve as the series progresses.  It started as almost dead and quiet because that was where Gregorio was at this point in his long life.  With the changes that Clyde has brought to the world, I can see him reviving his lair and being more open to seeing the rest of Windemere.  Will he sire more children?  I don’t think he’s going to do that, but I can see him creating a home for Dawn Fangs who are looking for a place to live.  Not all of them will want to be out in the open and Gregorio’s lair is built to contain a lot of power.  Much of this is still in the works because it was never a focus during the planning stages.  Yet, I really do think there is more to this place than I realize.

So, has anybody else designed a location in their story that didn’t come to life at the beginning?  Was it better that way or did you consider it a problem?

About Charles Yallowitz

Charles E. Yallowitz was born, raised, and educated in New York. Then he spent a few years in Florida, realized his fear of alligators, and moved back to the Empire State. When he isn't working hard on his epic fantasy stories, Charles can be found cooking or going on whatever adventure his son has planned for the day. 'Legends of Windemere' is his first series, but it certainly won't be his last.
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21 Responses to The Lair of Gregorio Roman

  1. coldhandboyack says:
    April 27, 2018 at 10:19 am

    I’ve not experienced a location like you asked. I’m more intrigued by the idea that he’s been around so long he’s dead in application. Reminds me of the guy who was part of Davy Jones’ ship. Having them spark up because of something like the Great Caticlysm would make an interesting story.

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    • Charles Yallowitz says:
      April 27, 2018 at 10:52 am

      Gregorio and his lair are going to have an interesting evolution. The Great Cataclysm definitely made him pull even further away from the world because it made things more dangerous for vampires. The appearance of the Dawn Fangs is the opposite since now there’s a new mystery to be investigated. It’s almost like he’s been revived after centuries of stagnation. Part of this was wondering how a really ancient vampire would handle these changes if he was fueled by curiosity instead of fear.

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  2. L. Marie says:
    April 27, 2018 at 11:47 am

    I think the amount of detail you have is fine, especially since the lair is a work in progress.

    I can’t help thinking of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld, which has some stationary items. But others evolved over time.

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  3. John W. Howell says:
    April 27, 2018 at 4:27 pm

    I have not had an experience as you describe. I guess none of my books needed anything permanent as far a location goes. I think the more scenes that are in the lair the more you will add to the description.

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  4. Don Massenzio says:
    April 28, 2018 at 7:06 am

    Reblogged this on Custom Services for Indie Authors by an Indie Author and commented:
    Get some insight into designing a setting from this post from author Charles Yallowitz from his Legends of Windemere blog.

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  5. debyfredericks says:
    April 28, 2018 at 5:56 pm

    Settings should be unique and interesting, but there’s a balance between showing so much detail in a setting that it stops the action of the story, and having so little detail that readers can’t picture it. If that makes sense.

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    • Charles Yallowitz says:
      April 28, 2018 at 6:39 pm

      It makes sense. I like the do detailed introductions to a place at the beginning of a scene with a character passing into it and then add on as the characters interact. Have them lean against a table or adjust a painting to give a little more to the atmosphere while they talk or think.

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  6. Nicholas C. Rossis says:
    May 1, 2018 at 1:15 pm

    I was reading today about a 104-year-old scientist who will celebrate his birthday by going to Switzerland to euthanize himself. Sounds like there’s a bit of that in Roman.

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