Call to Adventure

By some curious chance one morning long ago in the quiet of the world... ...Gandalf came by.

Rosencrantz: [Dramatically] It was urgent — a matter of extreme urgency, a royal summons, his very words: official business and no questions asked — lights in the stable-yard; saddle up and off headlong and hotfoot across the land, our guides outstripped in breakneck pursuit of our duty! Fearful lest we come too late.
[Beat]
Guildenstern: Too late for what?
Rosencrantz: How do I know? We haven't got there yet.

— Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

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The first step on The Hero's Journey: the hero learns that he or she must leave the known world behind and venture to unknown regions. How the hero reacts to the call to adventure varies, but heroes who initially reject the call are usually significantly worse off than if they had accepted.

The Call to Adventure may be carried to the hero by one or more Heralds.

Not to be confused with The Call, a 2013 film, nor with Regina Spektor's song from the movie Prince Caspian.

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Sub-Tropes:

• Adventure Rebuff
• The Call Has Bad Reception
• The Call Knows Where You Live
• The Call Left a Message
• The Call Put Me on Hold
• Call Reception Area
• Can't Refuse the Call Anymore
• The Chooser of The One
• Consequence Combo
• Desperately Looking for a Purpose in Life
• Forgot the Call
• Got the Call on Speed Dial
• Hero's First Rescue
• I'm Dying, Please Take My MacGuffin
• Ignorant of the Call
  • I'm Not a Hero, I'm...
• It Began with a Twist of Fate
• Jumped at the Call
• Kidnapped by the Call
• Missed the Call
• Red Pill, Blue Pill
• Refusal of the Call
  • Got Volunteered
  • We Are Not Going Through That Again
• Refusal of the Second Call
• Refused by the Call
• Regular Caller
• Resigned to the Call
• Right Man in the Wrong Place
• Screening the Call
• Stumbled Into the Plot
• Take Up My Sword
  • Taking Up the Mantle
• They Were Holding You Back
• Two Roads Before You

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