I was a bit baffled as to what to do at first, since I didn't think anyone wanted a rant about Smoking Is Bad For You, Don't Do It. :D But I've been wanting an excuse to dust off my sonnet skills, and when I found that four-part definition (okay, I eliminated the fifth one, which pertained to, y'know, smoking) it seemed like the perfect setup for a sonnet, with its four sections!
I think this is my first Petrarchan sonnet, which tied my brain in knots -- but that means it was a worthy challenge!
Too bad about it being a fandom you don't know, though. Hey, wanna read an awesome series of books?
A basic rundown: Vlad Taltos is a human in the Dragaeran Empire, which is peopled by tall, near-immortal 'elves' who belong to one of seventeen Houses; humans are Houseless second-class citizens. Each House has particular personality characterics, heraldic colours, and membership is something you're born into, with two exceptions: one of which is the Jhereg, who will cheerfully sell a title to anyone with money, even a human. Vlad's father bought a Jhereg title, which Vlad inherits upon his father's death.
The House of the Jhereg is notable for being in charge of the Empire's organised crime; illegal gambling, unlicensed brothels, hired muscle/enforcer, loan sharking, and no-questions-asked sorcery are their province. Vlad starts off as an assassin and builds himself into a middling-level boss, but eventually crosses the wrong person and has to flee the city; he's currently a fugitive whom a lot of highly-placed people want to see dead.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2013-12-31 03:51 am (UTC)I think this is my first Petrarchan sonnet, which tied my brain in knots -- but that means it was a worthy challenge!
Too bad about it being a fandom you don't know, though.
Hey, wanna read an awesome series of books?A basic rundown: Vlad Taltos is a human in the Dragaeran Empire, which is peopled by tall, near-immortal 'elves' who belong to one of seventeen Houses; humans are Houseless second-class citizens. Each House has particular personality characterics, heraldic colours, and membership is something you're born into, with two exceptions: one of which is the Jhereg, who will cheerfully sell a title to anyone with money, even a human. Vlad's father bought a Jhereg title, which Vlad inherits upon his father's death.
The House of the Jhereg is notable for being in charge of the Empire's organised crime; illegal gambling, unlicensed brothels, hired muscle/enforcer, loan sharking, and no-questions-asked sorcery are their province. Vlad starts off as an assassin and builds himself into a middling-level boss, but eventually crosses the wrong person and has to flee the city; he's currently a fugitive whom a lot of highly-placed people want to see dead.