Here’s the first installment in one of the side projects I’ve been working on. I’ve had some fun ideas for alternate universes where my characters play different roles and have different relationships from the ones in my main universe. (What *is* my main universe these days, anyway?) I especially liked this idea, an alternate universe where Turja is a literal rock star!
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TURJA
Age: 22
Height: 6’4”
Race: Zidnorian
Role: Lead vocals and rhythm guitar

Turja Mandensis was being groomed to be the next queen of the planet Zidnor. As a princess growing up in the Zidnorian royal family, Turja was trained by Zidnor’s greatest masters in all the things the royal family believed a princess should know. Zidnor was a warlike planet, so she was schooled in melee combat and military strategy. But the nobility still appreciated the finer things, so she was also instructed in the social graces and the arts. And while Turja showed proficiency in both unarmed martial arts and swordplay, she displayed a particular talent for music. But to the royal family’s chagrin, she had little interest in classical Zidnorian music. Her passion was heavy metal, a style of music that the nobility considered vulgar and unworthy. They weren’t even sure how she was exposed to it. Nor did they know how she managed to get her hands on another electric guitar every time they confiscated one from her.

The tension between Turja and the rest of the royal family was about much more than just music. Zidnor had a centuries-long history of brutally conquering weaker planets, plundering their treasures, and subjugating their populations. Turja knew that once she ascended to the throne, she would be expected to continue this bloody tradition. But attitudes were shifting among the generation of Zidnorians now coming of age, and Turja was no exception. More and more young Zidnorians no longer wanted to be conquerors. They wanted to live in peace with the numerous other races of the universe. Turja didn’t expect the royal family to change its ways in the foreseeable future, and she saw no way she could push such a change all by herself. Turja concluded that she had to escape Zidnor, and find a new home where she could focus on her music.

In recent years, Zidnor had increasingly relied on Ogmari mercenaries to supplement their forces, which had been spread so thin by the expansion and maintenance of such a huge empire. Turja had clandestine discussions with some of these soldiers of fortune, and found a captain who, for the right price, was willing to smuggle her off-world. When the day of departure arrived, Turja grabbed her guitar, a small amp, and whatever other possessions she could carry, and snuck onto the Ogmari ship. The captain flew her to the agreed-upon drop-off point: the planet Avolysia. Avolysia was known for the powerful magic many of its people commanded. Turja hired one of the locals to cast an illusion spell upon her which would prevent her from being recognized as the fugitive princess of Zidnor. She would have liked to stay and see what else the Avolysians were capable of, but she didn’t have time. She was booked for a flight to her true destination: Terrafirma, a prosperous planet which had a low risk of being attacked by Zidnor because several of its nations had powerful armies. The illusion would last just long enough for her to get there.

Terrafirma was a planet populated mostly by anthropomorphic animals, though in recent years a fair number of aliens had settled there. Turja was confident that she would be able to blend in. It had been very expensive to pay her way across the galaxies, and she had just enough money left to rent an apartment. But she needed a job—preferably one that could get her close to the local metal scene. Turja’s impressive physique and combat skills sufficed to get her a position on the security team at a rock club. By night, she kept the peace at concerts, and by day, she practiced her guitar and wrote music. Over the course of the next few months, she developed a friendship with Sabra Kuresta, the bassist in a metal band that played at the club frequently and a fellow Zidnorian ex-patriate. Turja regularly sent her demos of songs she was working on. Sabra was impressed with Turja’s vocals and songwriting ability, and she provided her with ideas and advice to help her improve even more.

One night, Sabra showed up at the club alone and looking depressed. Turja asked her what was wrong; Sabra informed her that her band had broken up. Turja told her not to worry—the two of them could form a band! Sabra immediately perked up at the idea. She already thought highly of Turja’s talent and was excited at the prospect of writing songs and performing with her.

Over the next week, Turja came to Sabra’s apartment several times. The two lizards had long discussions about the composition of their new band, and its musical direction. It was decided that the band would be all-female. Turja would be the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, while Sabra would handle backup vocals along with her bass duties. To round out the band, they would seek out a drummer and a lead guitarist. Auditions for these roles went very well, and Turja and Sabra were greatly excited about the quartet they had put together.

And so Turja’s metal band* was born. It has quickly become one of the most promising up-and-coming acts on the metal scene. Their growing fanbase has really embraced their aggressive, yet cerebral riffage, as well as Turja’s passionate vocals. Critics are starting to take notice, too. But will the band’s fortunes continue to climb, or will they come crashing back down to earth? Even success could have dire consequences for Turja and those she cares about. If Turja becomes a famous musician, it is inevitable that her royal lineage, currently unknown to her bandmates, will come to light. And when it does, the royal family will learn of her whereabouts. They’re not happy that she ran away from her obligations as their future queen, and they don’t seem like the forgiving type.

*I couldn’t think of a name. I’ll fill this in later.