After I get a good roll going, I'll post more and then post to the writing forum.

Basically, the idea I have is of a feudalistic society ruled by the priestly class, with a twist - their god is an active part of the world, constantly changing and manipulating the world. Basically, all the needs of the people are tended to and there is little need for progress, and therefore for thousands of years ( since the god began serving them ) there has been very little if any technological breakthroughs.

Enter Philippe Moreau, 12 year old soon to be servant of the lord, thrust into the world of piety and servitude by his poor, but strong parents. Noticing his intelligence, they save money for years to send him to a small, but prestigious school where he will learn to be a priest. This is a high honor, and if he is successful, he would bring his family much honor and wealth.

Stuck in between his family and his new career, he gets on board the small carriage that would take him away from everything he has known and loved. However, about halfway through his journey, his carriage is ambushed by a group of bourgeois technologists who kidnap Phillipe and train him in a secret underground society resembling early Victorian England. Gradually, he learns and grows amongst the strong willed and intelligent members of this society, making friends with a few of the children and settling into this new lifestyle.

Everything seems to be great until Phillipe is approached by the leader of this new society, a Doctor Arnold Ehrlichmann. It is then that Phillipe is given a task, something so far fetched that for a while Phillipe is taken aback.

Phillipe is going to kill God.

Ehrlichmann explains that in order for society to make any progress, the forces of nature that are keeping humanity in a trance must be destroyed once and for all. Before the rest of the world can grow to his society's standard, they must face hard times and go through extreme hardships. "It is pain that drives progress," Ehrlichman explains. Phillipe is given a week to think about his situation before he is to be exiled from the underground society, whereupon the spies amongst the overworld's priesthood will stage a silent coup and place Phillipe in the highest position of the clergy - the member who meets with God in order to recieve his bounties and give them to the people of the world.

Is Phillipe up to the task? Will he remain loyal to his new compatriots or will he back out of the situation? Is his will strong enough to complete the quest laid before him?

In this harrowing tale of perseverance, a young boy must learn that sometimes struggle is necessary for the greater good. And more importantly, he learns that not everything is as glorious as it appears.

: end of back of the book sumarry

Make a comment on what you think of the general outline. I figured this isn't a road that many authors go down so the story should be fresh to most people.