My NaNiWriMo footwork.

So I started on some of the details for my novel. I want to build a really believeable realm full of interesting characters (Who doesn`t?). I`m pretty sure this is ok with the NaNiWriMo rules as long as you don`t actually start writing the novel (If it`s not please tell me).  I`m putting a lot of work into making the city feel believable (besides the talking Bears and Ocelots of course). I`ve thrown in some racial (Specieal?) tension and a couple real life crime gangs. If you plan on reading my novel as I write it I don`t reccommend that you read this post. It`s going to be pretty much 100% spoilers.

Keep in mind as well that this is just an inital run at my universe. Things are certainly going to change and become more detailed in the next thirteen days.

If you have any suggestions or criticisms on ANYTHING in this post PLEASE post it in the comments. I want to make this the best novel I possibly can. In any case, enjoy.


-SPOILERS-


Grizzly P.I (working title).

Potential Titles
The Bear Facts
Chronicles of New Nodaga: Hard times in Little Natura

Universe notes
-Humans and sentient animals (humanimals) exist together.
-Regular animals still exist.
-Some tension remains between humans and sentient animals. (Similar feeling to minorities and caucasians in the 40's)

Tone
-Dark Humor
-Noir

Plots
1. Murder.
2. Mass of Stolen goods.
3. Mafia (Maw, Italian Mafia, Triads). Impending war? 
4. Break in at a museum. (Cat Thief?)
5. Crooked Cop. (Leo)
6. Cat nip trade.
7. Fight at the Old Lodge.
8. Protagonist goes on a date.
9. Octopus Cult.
10. Zombie infestation. (What if)

CITY
 City name :  New Nodaga

                       
 City History
 Settled in a time when Humans and Humanimals were at war,  New Nodaga has inherant racial tension. Animals and  Humanimals are seperated into different parts of the town,  Humanimals being situated in a ghetto named New Natura.  This city gets a great amount of it's commerce from it's  large harbour.

City Features

  -City Hall
  -Police Department (Little Natura has it's own     department)
  -Fire Department
  -Jazz bars (One prominant one)Potential Names: The    Harpies Claw
  -Museum
  -Bars devoted to different species of animals. For    example there is a bear bar in Little Natura called    "The Old Lodge" and a Jaguar bar called "Deep Brush"
   and a bar where the prey animals go named "The    Battered Lynx"
  -Different sections
   -Harbour
   -Humanimal ghetto (Little Natura) Similar to     little Italy.
   -Little Italy
   -Chinatown
   -Financial District
   -Downtown
   -Suburbs
   -Red light district


Characters

Protagonist.
Species: Bear. Potential Names: "Old" Jimmy Bristlebear
Hard boiled
Aged
Proficient at hand-to-hand combat (to the point where he prefers it over gunplay)

Weaknesses: Bear spray.

Sidekick.
Species Otter. Potential Names: Carl "The Slick" King
Street smart
Enjoys a good time
Agile
Weaknesses: Physical weakness, Attraction to booze
Police Chief. Species Walrus. Potential names: Pendleton Chandler
-Veteran crime fighter
-Been around the block
-Recognizes the protagonist as an excellent case bear

Maw boss.
Species Jaguar. Potential Names: ?
-Greedy, takes money away from those who need it.
-Intensely proficient at fighting and gunplay.
-Before he was mob boss, he was a a club owner in Little Natura
Weaknesses: Often goes into a rage if one makes light of him.

Rival Detective (White Knight).
Species: Wolf. Potential names: Lobo Wilson, "Silver" Stanley Adams
-Up and coming young Detective
-Sometimes Overzealous, but means well
-Very strict about law, no illegal task is "for the greater good"
-Respects the protagonist, but dosen't approve of his allowing criminals off the hook in morally gray situations.
-Intensely competitive, wants to show others that one can solve a case without getting their hands dirty.
Weaknesses: Honorable, Never breaks the law to break a case. Never fights dirty.
Crooked Detective. Species: Lion. Potential Names: Leonard "Leo" Timmonds
-Protagonist's old partner, also aged.
-Once a good cop, perceived the ineffectivenss of the force and decided it was pointless to try to stem the tide of criminal
-Now abuses his power to make money off of criminals, having them "Cut him in".
Weaknesses: Bad hand to hand fighter, prefers long ranged combat. Easily paid off.

Old friend.
Species Human. Potential Names: Francis Combes
-Protagonist's old friend
-Beat cop
-Often gives sagely advice
-Regular meeting place is a bar downtown.

Snitch.
Species Orange Tamarin. Potential names: Terry Evans
-Pickpocket
-Hangs out at "The Battered Lynx"
-charismatic, quick talker.

Owner of the "Old Lodge".
Species: Grizzly. Potential Names: James "Friendly" Harrington
-Physically Intimidating
-Scar on Right eye (Wears Eye Patch)
-World war 1 vet.
-Called friendly because it's considered a favor that he dosent go around beating the shit out of people (Very strong).

Humanimal member of triads.
Species: Panda. Name: Zhao "Claw" Wong
-One of very few animals in the Triad.
-Originally from China
-Works as a go-between for the triads and The Maw.

Assassin for The Maw.
Species: Ocelot. Name: Unknown
-Originally an orphan brought in by The Maw when it was still a good orginization.
-Only once has he ever failed a mark.
-Lethal with a Kukri

Animal Mafia Details

Named "The Maw"
-Has been in operation for about fifty years.
-Started as a sort of union that was to work towards equality for animals, but limited results eventually meant that it started into crime.
-At one time most of the criminal proceeds went toward helping out disenfranchised humanimals but with the recent change in bosses the proceeds have been slowly funneled away from those in need.
-Previous boss was a Gorilla. Cared about the Community.
-At odds with the Triads and the Italian Mafia.

-END SPOILERS-

So that`s what I have so far. I think it`s going to be a lot of fun to write about this city and It`s inhabitants and I really look forward to it.

Again, if you have any suggestions, don,t keep them to yourself! Let me know!