Collection

A common theme, primarily in video games but in movies and books as well, is that of collection. Traveling the world to collect treasures, maps, relics, weapons, or some other such piece of a puzzle that ultimately leads to either the destruction or saving grace of an entire world. It's interesting, of course, that so many of these collectables are as yet untouched by man, and that the main character of the story is, likely, the only one in the world who could possibly have the ability to go and find them for one reason or another. Of course, they wouldn't be the main character if they weren't.

But the villain is always right there as well, trying to get their grubby little paws on some of that almighty goodness. And if the hero can find the way, and if the villain can find the way, and all of their partners and goons respectively... why can't anyone else, exactly?

I don't know why, that's just something that always fascinated me. In some cases I can understand, the collection is held in pieces by royal families, and it's a matter of getting those families to agree on something or getting them to each individually trust you before it's too late. But other times they are simply hidden away, in caves or behind elaborate traps and hidden doors or drawers. Surely somewhere along the way someone else would have found those on accident? Children, perhaps, running their hands along walls and hitting things with sticks because they think it's funny. Klutzes in the right place at the wrong time, or vice versa, who just happen to stumble into something they shouldn't have.

And if that were the case, could they really be a hero or villain? Is their destiny somehow decided by whether or not they can find a shiny stone and pick it up when they aren't supposed to? In some stories I've seen, yes, it is. Being in the right place at the right time shapes that person for the rest of their life, and they simply have to deal with the consequences.

Yet other stories simply ignore this possibility entirely. It is the main character's duty to interact with such objects of mystery and power, and letting anyone else have a go at them would ruin the story. Therefor, some excuse is made for why only the one person can have access, and things continue on.

I'd like to see a story where the main character is too late. The thing they've been searching for is gone, has been gone for several hundred years, because it didn't take long for some idiot to stumble across it and take it, not leaving behind a single clue as to where it could have gone. What happens then? Is the story over, or does the character have to find a new way to continue? Can they even continue?

I feel like exploring those questions would be more interesting than just another story where things are laid out just as they should be.