Unused Idea: The 36th Chamber (novel)
Quan's treatment for an epic high fantasy story based on the Wu-Tang Clan
Many, many years ago, me and a few buddies of mine were heavily into the musical phenomenon known as the Wu-Tang Clan. We dug everything about these guys, from their battle & crime raps, to their rugged New York personas, to their mutilated Motown samples and kung-fu flick inspired quotes and music, and even their Islamic 5% philosophies and lingo that we didn't really understand (and to this day still don't). But we were all-in on the Wu and ate up anything these guys dropped for most of the mid to late 1990s.
In my college days I was looking for a way to break into the comic book industry as either an artist or as a writer. I got a taste for creating comics writing & drawing my own mildly successful superhero comic in high school, and I even got a few small indie comics published in my sophomore year (shout out to Steve Houchard and Keith Young for making that happen). But I wanted to hit the big time with a big idea.
I was hanging out with a couple of my buddies and fellow classmates at the U. Of Michigan school of art & design (Go Blue), listening to the classic liquid swords album by the GZA. The comic book art on the CD cover gave us an idea: what if there was a Wu-Tang Clan comic book? Which led to a better idea: what if we were the ones making it? As anyone who knows me knows I normally do, we ran with the idea, my friends Dwight "DWZA" Williamson, Garrian "G" Jones and Esteban "uh...Esteban" Corbin handling the brunt of the concept art and me whipping up an epic 12-issue storyline treatment. I even wrote a sample script for a #1/2 issue (back when that was the trend) that summarized the main conflict and previewed the narrative. We had everything we needed to make a pitch, we just needed to get it to the right people to make it happen.
We thought me met the right person when i helped aspiring TV host (and now major Seattle news personality) Shomari Stone with an interview he did with Wu-affiliate Cappadonna for a student-run TV show he produced with his friend Sean O'Neil. After production was over I got the chance to tell Cappa we had a wu-comic to pitch to him and he told me to come up with a formal presentation and gave me the contact info for his manager. We were STOKED. But then We spent the next 2 months calling and emailing the guy to connect with no response, and we got tired of getting the runaround. Then, about 6 months later, we see on the random, a brand new comic book based on the Wu-tang clan called 9 rings of wu-tang.
That.
Book.
SUCKED.
The art was generic, the story was nonsensical and non-cohesive, and the connection to the actual rap group and Wu-mythos was tertiary at best. The book was a complete flop and mercifully only lasted 5 issues. We knew our boom would have been astronomically better, but we figured now there was zero chance our book would get made because that one flopped. so we shelved everything and moved on to other interests.
Flash forward to 2015. I'm digging through my archives for unused ideas to mine for my next writing project, and i come across our old wu-material. But i'm writing novels instead of comic books, so i get the idea: could i make this a high fantasy novel? You don't see a lot of high fantasy novels set in Feudal China (crouching tiger hidden dragon was a hit, tho) and the kung-fu action would really set the story apart from others. So i take my initial treatment and develop it even further, adding more plot twists and replacing the names of the Wu members with actual Chinese names (or chinese words that are close to the guys' names) so I wouldn't need any permission or endorsements from the Wu-Tang rappers. I went for a "Chinese Braveheart" feel with a ragtag group of rebels fighting to overthrow an oppressive regime. I had visions of my story being adapted into movies like lord of the rings was, and would make for an awesome action-RPG videogame like the final fantasy 7 remake.
But then I quickly realized two things. 1) I didn't really want to do the extensive research necessary to accurately portray life in feudal china, and 2) I had no idea how to write kung-fu fight scenes that would work in prose - not to mention making the fights accurately represent the plethora of real martial arts styles I wanted the characters using. The juice wasn't worth the squeeze.
So this is a book that will probably never be written...at least, not by me.
I am officially releasing this entire treatment into creative commons domain. If any of my subscribers like these ideas and are inspired to use them or develop them into an actual novel, videogame, movie, comic book or TV show, do what thou wilt with my blessing and permission: just give me a shout-out somewhere when you do.
Here is the treatment. Hope you like it.
THE 36TH CHAMBER
PROTAGONISTS:
Zhu Shashou, the master killer, Hsing-I Kung Fu (Chinese boxing)
Fangfa de ren, the method man, Ninjitsu
Guimian shashou, the ghost face killer, Kenpo
Ni Shen (U-God), Jeet Kune Do
Chushi, the chef, shotowando
Ducha Jiaban, the inspector, Praying Mantis Kung fu
Jiu Zang, the old dirty bastard, Drunken Fist Kung fu
Tiancai, the genius, Kajukenbo
Tidao, the razor, muay thai kickboxing
Qiqu de haizi, the rugged child
Jia Gai Bu (cappadonna)
Setting: The Land of Shao-lin, a version of feudal China.
Overview:
Synopsis:
ACT I: ENTER THE WU-TANG
CHAPTER ONE: BRING THE RUCKUS
Introduce Tidao and Tiancai, two childhood friends with dreams of achieving greatness as members of the Shaolin Lords. Tidao was once a prince, but he lost his status when his kingdom was annexed by the Lords. Their dreams of greatness are shattered when they actually join and are told of the 35 chambers they need to learn. From that point on, they are humiliated, demeaned and exploited in the name of earning those chambers. (look up extremists recruiting in Minneapolis). They get the idea to snoop around the fortress, and learn of a hidden 36th chamber that the Lords’ inner circle was keeping a secret from the masses. Then they are discovered and caught.
CHAPTER TWO: SHAME
Tidao and Tiancai are stripped of their chambers and sent to work in the slave mines. There Tidao discovers an ancient tome buries in the rubble, which foretells of a band of warriors that will rise up against oppression in the land of Shaolin. this is a cycle of oppression and liberation that has been going on for many generations. A similar coup happened hundreds of years ago, at the hands of a rebel group called the Wu-tang clan. It also details this clan, and the techniques they used to counteract the power of the oppressors. Tiancai has a dream where he envisions seven elite warriors emerging to fight with them as the Wu-Tang clan. Armed with this, the two plan their escape.
CHAPTER THREE: CLAN IN THE FRONT
The two friends try to garner support with the slaves, but most of them had already lost all hope. Tiancai finds a Wu-Tang amulet split in half. He takes one half while Tidao takes the other. When the halves are joined, the amulet sends out a beacon which can only be noticed by the chosen members of the clan. This beacon draws the first two recruits, Zhu Shashou and Ni Shen, who were placed there after failing an unjust trial. They contribute to the escape plan.
CHAPTER FOUR: 7TH CHAMBER
The four stage a daring escape from the slave mines, and wind up being chased throughout the Shaolin Lord’s main fortress. Ni Shen asks if the beacon can show them the way out, and they try it, only to be led to a room where the 7th chamber is being taught to Ducha Jiaban. He always suspected that something about the Lords wasn’t right, so he throws his lot in with the others and plays a crucial role in helping them escape. Once out of the fortress, they bear witness to a ravaged countryside, ruled by the Lords with an iron fist. Tiancai vows to end the tyranny. Meanwhile, the Lords decide the renegades aren’t worth pursuing, believing they will die out in that world in a short time anyway.
ACT II: THE IRON FLAG
CHAPTER FIVE: CAN IT BE ALL SO SIMPLE
The five go through the countryside, getting to know each other and searching for a place to set up camp. They find their way to Killer Hill, a slum land firmly under the Lords’ Rule. This is where Tiancai grew up, and saw service in the Lords’ army as a means of escaping the poverty and high crime. Tiancai runs into a childhood friend he had a crush on, who asks him about his amulet. He shows it off with Tidao, and the beacon leads them to a prison where Guimian shashou and Chushi are being held unjustly along with Jia Gai Bu in a rigged trial. The three had exposed corruption in Killer Hill’s police force, so they were brought up on trumped up charges. Jia takes responsibility for the crimes, and is sent off, but then they attempt to kill Guimian and chushi, also. Tiancai and the other Wu-tangers intervene and rescue the two. They join and incict the people of Killer Hill to rise up and oust the corrupt police. They welcome the Wu and allow them to set up a stronghold there. They begin building resources and plotting the downfall of the Shaolin Lords.
CHAPTER SIX: THE MYSTERY OF CHESSBOXING
The seven core warriors call themselves the Wu, and appoint themselves the champions of Killer Hill. The wage a guerilla war on The Shaolin lords, who are finally beginning to see the Wu as a threat and now actively plot to bring them down. Meanwhile, Tiancai and his ladyfriend discover feelings for each other, and he spends a great deal fo timw with her when he is not fighting. Tidao is suspicious.
CHAPTER SEVEN: NOTHING TO FIGHT WITH
The Wu’s reputation builds throughout all of Shaolin as the fighting intensifies. The Wu use the resources and spoils of won battles to fund their campaign. The opinion is split between viewing them as terrorists and as liberators. Many of Killer Hill’s youth join up with the Wu as Wu-disciples, trained to be the next generation of warriors. Jiu Zang wanders into the camp looking to join, and the Wu-beacon identifies him as one of the chosen. Along with him is Qiqu De Haizi, an orphan he picked up along his travels. Qiqu wants to avenge his murdered parents. Tidao decides to train Qiqu personally. Tiancai’s relationship with his ladyfriend intensifies, and suspicion increases.
CHAPTER EIGHT: CASH RULES
There is a traitor in the midst of the Wu-disciples, and that person (Tiancai’s old girlfriend) has been feeding intel on the Wu to the Shaolin Lords, including the general location of the Wu stronghold. Before she can deliver the exact location, though, she is found out, and is in turn killed by Qiqu De Haizi, who does not remember killing her. Armed with the new intel, The Shaolin Lords impose harsh sanctions, embargoes and high tarrifs to send Killah Hill even deeper into poverty. There is panic, and the people of the Hill feel they will starve if something isn’t done.
ACT III: WU-TANG FOREVER
CHAPTER NINE: METHOD MAN
The Wu now have to pillage other Lord-Controlled and allied lands to get food and supplies for Killah Hill, and are portrayed to the public as thugs, thieves and robbers. The Wu is branded as a public enemy, and while on astrategic mission in The Black lands, they are surrounded by frightetned Shaolin lords minions and angry townsfolk. The Wu is rescued by Fangfa de ren, a shadowy Robin Hood-like figure who operated in the black lands. He sees the greater good of the Wu and joins their cause, as well as a plan to clear the Wu’s name.
CHAPTER TEN: PROTECT YOUR NECK
The Wu sends a message to the Lords promising to stop the pillaging if Ambassadors of neighboring nations visit Killah Hill. These ambassadors do not see the hidden Wu stronghold, but they do see the blight snd poverty, and out of sympathy vow to send food and supplies to the ailing village. This infuriates the Shaolin Lords, who wanted to portray the Wu as the villains and not them. They also wanted to prove to the world that the Wu were headquartered there, but the stronghold was well hidden. They hire mercenaries to ransack and almost destroy Killah Hill, but cannot find the stronghold. They do find Quiqu de Haizi and kidnap him in front of Tiancai and Tidao, who cannot reach him in time.
CHAPTER ELEVEN: TEARS
The Wu begin a full frontal assault on the Shaolin Lords’ Fortress, with the 8 core warriors battling against hordes of The Lords’ minions. Tidao stays behind to continue training others in case the assault fails. Jiu Zang is killed, along with Ducha Jiaban and Ni Shen. The remaining warriors make it to the inner sanctum, where they find the Supreme Lord holding Qiqu de Haizi captive. They hesitate briefly, but it is long enough for the Lords to gain the upper hand and capture the Wu. They then reveal the truth about Qiqu – that he was an artificially created sleeper agent that unknowingly set up the Shaolin lords’ invasion of Killah Hill – before murdering the boy.
CHAPTER TWELVE: WU-REVOLUTION
The Shaolin Lords take the surviving Wu-Tangers and publicly execute them. Tiancai’s last words are a call of action to the people to rise up against the tyranny of the Lords. The Shaolin lords spend the next few months gloating over their victory and increasing their cruelty to the rest of the Land. But then their fortress is attacked by a massive army of Wu-disciples, led by Tidao.
If you are inspired to do anything with this, go right ahead. All I want is a shout-out for helping inspire you. and thank you for subscribing! Feel free to share this post to anyone else interested and encourage them to subscribe, too.