I sort of want to stab my ogre in the back, but I don't want him to die.
Context: our heroes fleeing the enemy. They will get to a point of safety and be able to slam the door (figuratively) on the enemy, so it's only a few moments, a couple of minutes at most, that the ogre needs to stay wounded. The enemy has spears. My ogres are 7-8' tall.
What I picture: A spear is thrown and hits the ogre. Since he's fleeing, it's somewhere on the back side. Since he''s fleeing (supra), he isn't hit in the legs, which leaves butt or back. I was picturing upper back, but arteries and suchlike vulnerabilities show up in the darnedest places. I was picturing my other hero seeing the spear--something javelin-size, three or four feet long, maybe. It would probably waggle about as the ogre runs.
Once through, and safe, we are a long way from a doctor. Leave it in or take it out?
From such practical considerations are dramatic narratives constructed.
Context: our heroes fleeing the enemy. They will get to a point of safety and be able to slam the door (figuratively) on the enemy, so it's only a few moments, a couple of minutes at most, that the ogre needs to stay wounded. The enemy has spears. My ogres are 7-8' tall.
What I picture: A spear is thrown and hits the ogre. Since he's fleeing, it's somewhere on the back side. Since he''s fleeing (supra), he isn't hit in the legs, which leaves butt or back. I was picturing upper back, but arteries and suchlike vulnerabilities show up in the darnedest places. I was picturing my other hero seeing the spear--something javelin-size, three or four feet long, maybe. It would probably waggle about as the ogre runs.
Once through, and safe, we are a long way from a doctor. Leave it in or take it out?
From such practical considerations are dramatic narratives constructed.