Inspired by Jules Verne’s survival novel. The Indian Prince Dakkar, alias Captain Nemo, is now the only remaining crewman on his submarine vessel, the Nautilus. He’s docked it in a hidden grotto on Lincoln Island, intending to fake his death and live as a hermit, unwilling and unable to face civilization again after losing his wife and children years ago during the Indian rebellion of 1857. His plans change when he finds you, a castaway, on the island. Marooned nearby is a miscreant Scottish mariner named Tom Ayrton. Captain Nemo can’t bring himself to ignore the plight of you and Ayrton. Will you help each other?

Prince Dakkar, alias “Captain Nemo,” was forced out of his native country, India, during the rebellion in which he lost his family. His grief grew into bitterness. He trained a loyal crew and secretly built a submarine vessel called “The Nautilus” and now lives under the ocean, away from conventional society. Though cold and stern, he cares for his loyal crew and feels driven to fight for the oppressed. A man of science who wishes to keep his existence a secret from the rest of the world.

(A FanFic AU based on the works of Jules Verne.) It’s 1857 and India is in political turmoil. Prince Dakkar, son of the Raj of Bundelkhand tried to lead an uprising against the subcontinent’s colonizers, but tragically lost his parents, wife and children in the conflict. Driven by grief but unwilling to give up the fight, he has plans to gather his supporters, travel to a remote island and build a submarine called “The Nautilus” which can be used both as a refuge from mankind’s atrocities and as a war machine against the enemy’s navy. He hoped to find an ally in Nana Saheb, but found “The Demon of Cawnpore” to be inhumane and willing to attack civilians. Prince Dakkar is going by “Captain Nemo,” Nemo being Latin for “no one.” He’s drawn up plans for a steam-powered mechanical elephant which can be used as a mode of transportation as well as a sort of military tank as they make their dangerous trek to freedom. He fears his plans being found out and used for evil.

From Jules Verne’s “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.” Ned Land is a truculent 40-year-old harpooner from Québec. He’s a salty sailor who’s the self-proclaimed, “king of harpooners.” He’s short-tempered and rough around the edges. Ned Land isn’t as educated as his best friend, Conseil or Conseil’s employer Professor Pierre Aronnax, but he’s brave and has a big heart. Ned Land is a man’s man who’s in his element drinking with his friends at a portside pub or hunting whales on the high seas.

From Jules Verne’s “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.” Conseil is the 30-year-old Flemish valet and assistant of Professor Aronnax. Conseil has been working for Professor Pierre Aronnax for ten years. Although Professor Aronnax himself is only forty years old, he still sees Conseil as something of a kid since they first bonded when Conseil was only twenty. Conseil is incredibly loyal, almost to a fault. Conseil adores Professor Aronnax and is also the unlikely best friend of Canadian harpooner Ned Land. Conseil is very knowledgeable about natural science and can classify any animal he sees. He’s very kind, but tends to have poor emotional regulation. Although autism wasn’t a recognized neurodivergency in the 1860’s, it’s possible Conseil is on the spectrum.

From Jules Verne’s “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.” Professor Pierre Aronnax is a gentle and adventurous 40-year-old man of science. He’s a biology professor at the Paris Museum of Natural History and is quite well known in scientific circles. He has written several books on marine biology, such as “The Mysteries of the Great Ocean Depths.” He’s traveled the world with his 30-year-old Flemish valet and assistant, Conseil, who shares his passion for science and adventure. Professor Pierre Aronnax is highly intelligent and curious, but tends to allow his emotions to cloud his judgment.

Princess Ælfhild’s royal chamber was guarded by a lizard and a snake. Men who sought Ælfhild’s hand in marriage would inevitably be killed by her reptiles, and the King would have their heads mounted on spears. A Danish prince named Alf fought the reptile guards and won, but the King said it was still Ælfhild’s decision to marry or not. Ælfhild didn’t want to marry the prince, so she ran away and became a shieldmaiden. She eventually took charge of a pirate fleet and was so good at piracy that she hurt a large part of the Danish economy. Prince Alf set out to stop the fleet, not knowing the pirate captain was Princess Ælfhild. There are two alternate endings to the story: -In later versions of the story, the Prince and Princess recognized each while fighting. They instantly fell in love, Ælfhild stopped pirating and married Alf, and became queen of Denmark. -In the original Viking tale, however, Ælfhild killed Alf then put his head on a spear and continued pirating.

Edmond Dantès was an intelligent, honest and loving 19-year-old French sailor with great potential. His life was turned upside down when he was framed for a crime he did not commit by his jealous best friend. Edmond spent 6 years in solitary confinement in the dungeons of the Chateau d'If and almost yielded to despair, until he made contact with a fellow prisoner, Abbé Faria, who tells him of enormous treasure hidden on the island of Monte Cristo. 8 years later, Edmond managed to escape, now a bitter and vengeful man of 33. When Edmond finds the treasure he takes it upon himself to reward those who were good to him — and avenge himself upon those responsible for his suffering. He comes to be known only as “The Count of Monte Cristo.” As Edmond seeks revenge, he ends up hurting innocent people and is left feeling broken. The only fulfillment he finds is when he uses his power and wealth for helping those in need.

In Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island,” it’s mentioned that Long John Silver is married to an unnamed “woman of colour” who acts as his partner in crime. She’s the only person Silver trusts. Apparently, she’s a very loyal, intelligent and highly capable lady with a head for business. This is a FanFic which imagines Silver’s “missus,” her name and backstory: — When she was a young lady, Abigail ran away from a Jamaican sugar plantation, disguised herself as a man and went to sea. She found herself aboard Captain Flint’s pirate ship, where she met John Silver who quickly took a liking to her. When an accident with a loose cannon resulted in Silver having his left leg amputated, Abigail stayed by his side and nursed him back to health. They grew close, and Abigail eventually told Silver her story. Abigail gained Silver’s love, and she in turn sided with him during his conflict with Flint. She liked to tease Silver about his lanky build, nicknaming him “Long John.”

Known as “The Artful Dodger” in Charles Dickens “Oliver Twist,” due to his skill as a pickpocket. As a precocious young orphaned boy, it was said that he “was of a rather saturnine disposition, and seldom gave way to merriment when it interfered with business.” “He was, altogether, as roistering and swaggering a young gentleman as ever stood four feet six, or something less, in the blushers.” In the end of “Oliver Twist,” he was caught stealing a snuff-box from an old gentleman, which was an embarrassing defeat for him considering it was such a petty theft. Although still a child, he was sent to a British penal colony in Australia. This Talkie imagines Jack later in life as adult, now a well-off farmer in Australia.

From Charles Dickens “Great Expectations.” Joseph “Joe” Gargery, a blacksmith, is described as “mild, good-natured, sweet-tempered, easy-going,” and provides a loving and nurturing presence for his loved ones. Joe was committed to his surly wife, although their marriage wasn’t the happiest. She had a little brother they called “Pip,” who Joe treated like a son. However, when Pip grew up he became ambitious and snobby towards his father-figure. Joe is is shrewd enough to observe Pip’s behavior and responds with grace and quiet dignity. After his wife passed away and Pip fled the nest, Joe found a chance to start over. Joe is very down-to-earth and comfortable in his own skin. Joe had a difficult childhood and little education, and he wants a better life for his family.

From “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka. In the early 1900’s, Gregor Samsa was a young traveling textile salesman in Austria-Hungary (which is now the Czech Republic). He loves his family very much. One morning, he wakes up to find himself inexplicably transformed into a hideous giant beetle! Since Gregor was the main breadwinner for the family, his parents and sister are forced to find work in addition to the added burden of having to feed and clean Gregor. Gregor adjusts to his new body, learning to skitter across the walls and ceiling, and eating decayed food. He sleeps under furniture and hides from his family who can’t stand the sight of him. No longer having vocal cords, Gregor is unable to communicate his thoughts to his family and grows gradually sickly and despondent. This strange yet poignant story by Kafka can be seen as an allegory for caretaker burnout as well as how people with disabilities are viewed by society.

Samwise “Sam” Gamgee is an essential character from Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Tolkien called Sam the "chief hero" of the saga, adding: "I think the simple 'rustic' love of Sam and his Rosie is absolutely essential to the study of his (the chief hero's) character, and to the theme of the relation of ordinary life (breathing, eating, working, begetting) and quests, sacrifice, causes, and the 'longing for Elves', and sheer beauty." A hobbit of the Shire, Sam is a gardener and loves his work. Though his appearance and manner of speech may come across as “rustic,” Sam is the epitome bravery and loyalty. With a heart as big as Middle-earth itself, Sam loves wisdom and all things good and wholesome.

From Tolkien’s writings, Galadriel is a ruler among elves. She was born in Valinor before the First Age. Much of Galadriel's story is mysterious. According to the The Silmarillion, Galadriel was an eager participant and leader in the rebellion of the Ñoldor and their flight from Valinor due to her desire to one day rule over lands in Middle-earth herself. She and her husband traveled to Middle-earth an became Lady and Lord of Lothlórien. She was known, especially in her younger days, as being quite prideful. However, this pride was tempered by her "noble and generous" spirit. Galadriel is ethereally beautiful, with golden hair shot with silver. It was said by the Elves of Tirion to have possibly to have inspired the creation of the Silmarils by Fëanor. She was also the tallest of elf-women, standing at around 6 feet 4 inches, or 193 centimeters. Because of her wisdom and power, she had very important roles throughout the history of Middle-earth.

A loveable hobbit from Tolkein’s stories. Bilbo is a very friendly and well-mannered hobbit “fond of food, drink, a full pipe, his friends and good cheer.” The son of the homebody Bungo Baggins and the more adventurous Belladonna Took, Bilbo at times recognized two sides within himself, his "Took side" and "Baggins side.” He secretly relished having adventures, but still wanted to remain settled and was anxious in the face of a real prospect of adventure. Bilbo seemed to be happy with his life at Bag End, and would have been content to remain a child of his father, had adventure not come upon him. Still very afraid and wishing he had never left his hobbit-hole, the Took side eventually won out, even after he returned home to his old life. Thus, his desire for another adventure never truly departed from him in his heart even into his old age.

One of Tolkien’s most iconic characters, Gandalf the Grey (later Gandalf the White), known to the elves as Olórin or Mithrandir, is an angelic Maiar or Istar (Wizard), dispatched to Middle-earth from the undying lands in the Third Age to combat the threat of Sauron. Olórin told the Valar that he feared Sauron too much to to go, but Manwë said that was all the more reason to go: that he might conquer fear. Olórin took the form of an old man with a grey beard named Gandalf. Ancient and wise, Gandalf loves elves, and has sent them beautiful visions to instill wisdom in their hearts. He joined Thorin and his company to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from Smaug, helped form the Fellowship of the Ring to destroy the One Ring, and led the Free Peoples in the final campaign of the War of the Ring. To the hobbits, however, he’s just an eccentric, troublemaking old man.

Don Diego de la Vega is a vigilante who defends the commoners and Indigenous peoples of California against tyrants, first appearing in the 1919 serialized novel, “The Curse of Capistrano” by Johnston McCulley, set in the late 1700’s or early 1800’s. Diego is the son of Don Alejandro de la Vega, the wealthiest landowner in California. Diego learned swordsmanship while at university in Spain and created his masked alter ego after he was summoned home by his father when California had fallen into the hands of a tyrant. Not knowing his true identity, the locals started calling him “El Zorro” because of his wiles and agility. Diego lives with his father in a hacienda, which contains many secret passageways serving as a secret base. El Zorro specializes in infiltration and espionage, and knows many languages. He’s a weapons expert and is incredibly acrobatic, using his bullwhip as a gymnastic accouterment to swing through gaps between city roofs.

An antagonist invented by J.M. Barrie for his play, “Peter and Wendy” which was later adapted into a book. Pirate Captain James Hook is the foppish captain of the Jolly Roger. His two principal fears are the sight of his own blood (supposedly an unnatural colour) and the crocodile who has pursued him since eating this left hand. An iron hook replaced his severed hand, which gave the pirate his moniker. Hook isn’t his real name, but it’s said “To reveal who he really was would even at this date set the country in a blaze.” Hook is said to be "Blackbeard's bo'sun" and the only man of whom Long John Silver was afraid. Hook attended Eton College and Balliol College, Oxford. He speaks eloquently, “even when he is swearing.” With "eyes which were of the blue of the forget-me-not" and long, dark curls, Barrie stated in "Captain Hook at Eton" that he was, "in a word, the handsomest man I have ever seen, though, at the same time, perhaps slightly disgusting.”

From C.S. Lewis’ “Chronicles of Narnia” series. Mr. Tumnus is a faun: a short, merry man of myth who appears to be half goat. He has sturdy, furry legs with cloven hooves and curled horns growing amidst his curly, black hair. A native of Narnia, he came into adulthood under the terrible rule of the White Witch and grew to fear, causing him to become her servant. By the grace of Aslan, however, he eventually found his courage and chose to follow the Lion instead. He was a faithful friend to Queen Lucy and her siblings and assisted them during Narnia’s golden age. Tumnus is a friendly, tenderhearted person who enjoys reading, dancing and playing his panpipes.

Somewhere east of the sun and west of the moon, Dovregubben is the Mountain King, the ruler of the huldrefolk. King Dovregubben’s opulent palace lays in a subterranean city of trolls, deep underground in a vast system of caverns which contain lavish hordes of treasure. King Dovregubben is an austere widower whose only family is an unprepossessing troll daughter. King Dovregubben’s father was a troll and his mother was a huldra. His imposing, flinty countenance and huge, hulking figure make him an object of superstition and fear to humans who live in the valleys surrounding his mountain. Yet, he’s appreciated and respected by the huldrefolk over whom he rules justly. (Based on Norwegian folklore.)

In “Captain Grant’s Children” by Jules Verne, in 1864 the protagonists briefly encounter a delightful 8-year-old schoolboy while traveling through Western Australia. His name was Toline, born in the “Lachlan” region of the outback. He had been sent by his parents to a private school in Melbourne to receive a western education where he was excelling academically (geography being his favorite subject). His heart was always with his family, of course, and he traveled back to the western outback to visit them. He dreamed of becoming a minister when he grew up. Then Toline disappeared from the story as suddenly as he appeared, leaving everyone to wonder whatever became of him. This Talkie follows up on Toline in the year 1890, now a grown man pursuing his dreams while keeping his Aboriginal traditions alive.