WARNING: This post contains spoilers, so please play the game first before reading!
Now that we’re in Act 2, it’s time to introduce some new characters and get in the fun and games of the story.
The B Story beat is a secondary story from the main plot that often involves side kicks or a love interest. It usually means a new character or cast of characters are introduced. You see this in movies with a love interest in a romantic comedy, or a mentor figure in an action flick, or a long, lost family member in a family saga. This B Story character is supposed to help the protagonist learn the lesson they need to learn to change/transform (which is the whole point of your story, after all).
But here’s the thing – I treat all characters that aren’t the main protagonist as B Story characters. So, in a way the B Story could be part of Act 1. Here’s the other thing: each character is either trying to help the protagonist learn the lesson or trying to hinder the protagonist from learning the lesson (and not always intentionally). Think of it like this: have you ever wanted to change something about yourself and you had friends who were very supportive while other friends would tell you that you don’t need to change and you’re perfect just the way you are? Those are B Story characters in your life. Some of those friends are encouraging you to change while some are encouraging the status quo (stay in the Act 1 world).
For Elohim Eternal: The Babel Code, Joshwa, as the main character, will learn to question his gods, the Kosmokraters. You can pretty much say any Idinite Joshwa meets is going to reinforce his faith in the Kosmokraters, except for Beyoz. Both Beyoz and Ruthia are B Story characters that represent change in Joshwa. Add onto this all the people Joshwa meets along the way to Ur: Og and Sihon, Anne, the Cainites of Ur, even Goliath.
The main part of Act 2 (which is technically split up into Act 2A and Act 2B with the Midpoint beat dividing the two parts) is the Fun and Games beat. The best way to describe this beat is that it is the promise of the premise. In movies, this is what you see in the trailer or on the poster. In Bruce Almighty the Fun and Games is getting to play God. In Harry Potter it’s going to a school of magic. In Hunger Games it’s participating in the game of survival. In the Matrix it’s finding out about the matrix and starting to manipulate it (“I know kung fu!”). Another way to look at it is that it’s the journey, and while the beat is called Fun and Games, it doesn’t have to be fun for the protagonist (but should be for your player, viewer, reader).
For Elohim Eternal: The Babel Code, the journey to Ur is the Fun and Games. Joshwa and his companions, Beyoz and Ruthia, are heading into enemy territory. If you look at the promotional materials for the game, you’ll note that I always mention a journey to find the Babel Code. Heck, it’s even in the name of the game! The premise is to find this code and the promise of that premise is the journey to get that code. It’s through the Fun and Games that we head through the Jordan Crossing, the Fortress of Dan, Ugarit, the Abzu, and up to Mount Tsaphon. And it’s at Mount Tsaphon that we’ll talk about my favorite beat, the Midpoint.
p.s. Elohim Eternal: The Babel Code actually has two Catalyst beats. Some stories get these, and I find they usually occur in video games or in epic novels. The second Catalyst beat is after Joshwa and Beyoz return from the Sidon Sewers, when we learn about the Babel code to open Mount Sinai.