232 replies to this topic

[Choo Choo]

... the last way I'd figure Alexandria would kill Sarevok with, was to shoot him with a gun.

[Tempest]

The shot didn't kill him. How Sarevok actually died will be covered in the epilogue. I just thought the chapter was long enough, and the shot was a good moment to close it. I've got a few surprises left in store, rest assured.

[Amaurea]

I have thoroughly enjoyed this story, Tempest, and that says a lot. I normally cringe at characters with unique races, appearances, and abilities. In less talented hands, those things become what defines the character, and that certainly was not the case with Alexandria. Thanks for the great read! I can't wait for the sequel.

[Tempest]

Oh, they certainly defined her in the beginning. ASE really was an evolution in writing for me-learning firsthand what really worked and what didn't.

In hindsight, if I could go back and re-do ASE from the beginning, I think I'd probably make Alexandria a standard human, rather than a tiefling. I am completely guilty in that I made her a tiefling simply because I thought it would be cool when all this started, ditto the psionic aspect, though were I to redo ASE, I'd keep her as a soulknife.

Also as a more recent example of something I think I may ditch is the pistol Nalia gave Alexandria-I'd been planning on introducing a higher level of technology in some parts of the story than most people assume is present in Faerun. Lantan and parts of Kara-Tur are actually quite technologically sophisticated, and given that I established for ASE that the De'Arnise wealth is based on a trading network with Lantan, I had intended them to have bits of technology you don't typically think of in DnD-a mechanical grandfather clock in the De'Arnise keep, for example. In general, my take on Faerun is a late medieval/early Renaissance feel.

Malleus Animorum (translation: 'Hammer of Souls') may be a while in coming out: I've got some big plans for the opening chapter, and it may take a while to try all my ideas out, see what works and what doesn't, etc. You probably know my love of cryptic foreshadowing, and the opening chapter will likely have that in spades.

Oh, and free cookie to anyone who can figure out what Alexandria's newly-granted last name means.

[Amaurea]

12 years of Catholic school here, and yeah, that included Latin in high school. So ... destroyer.

Edited by Amaurea, 06 June 2008 - 10:59 AM.

[Solstice]

Ironic choice for Alexandria's last name, especially considering those talks Alexandria had way back when with Donos about the value of a last name-she thought they were useless, but now she has one. And way to keep gettting me a-pondering what you're up to, right up until the end. Looking forward to the sequel!

In hindsight, if I could go back and re-do ASE from the beginning, I think I'd probably make Alexandria a standard human, rather than a tiefling. I am completely guilty in that I made her a tiefling simply because I thought it would be cool when all this started, ditto the psionic aspect, though were I to redo ASE, I'd keep her as a soulknife.

I like Alexandria being a tiefling-you keep it present without overdoing it, which was one of my biggest initial concerns.

Also as a more recent example of something I think I may ditch is the pistol Nalia gave Alexandria-I'd been planning on introducing a higher level of technology in some parts of the story than most people assume is present in Faerun. Lantan and parts of Kara-Tur are actually quite technologically sophisticated, and given that I established for ASE that the De'Arnise wealth is based on a trading network with Lantan, I had intended them to have bits of technology you don't typically think of in DnD-a mechanical grandfather clock in the De'Arnise keep, for example. In general, my take on Faerun is a late medieval/early Renaissance feel.

I like the higher level of technology, and I liked the thing with the pistol. Gives a tinge of steampunk to the story, which I love, and I really liked Alexandria's initial reaction to the pistol, comparing it with a wand and considering the pistol the weaker weapon.

Malleus Animorum (translation: 'Hammer of Souls') may be a while in coming out: I've got some big plans for the opening chapter, and it may take a while to try all my ideas out, see what works and what doesn't, etc. You probably know my love of cryptic foreshadowing, and the opening chapter will likely have that in spades.

I'm sure you won't disappoint.

Edited by Solstice, 07 June 2008 - 07:39 AM.

[Shadowhawke]

Wow. A stirring ending to a great story where we really did get to see you grow as a writer. Awesome stuff, Tempest... I'm certainly looking forwards to the next one. (Sorry for shortness, I might post again quickly later, but I'm in the middle of exams at the moment )

[Tempest]

Sorry for taking so long to respond.

12 years of Catholic school here, and yeah, that included Latin in high school. So ... destroyer.

A belated cookie for you. Ironically, despite four years of Latin, I never learned the word eversor in class-picked it up from WH40k. Don't think her surname will go unnoticed, either. There *will* be consequences...

Ironic choice for Alexandria's last name, especially considering those talks Alexandria had way back when with Donos about the value of a last name-she thought they were useless, but now she has one.

I plead guilty to foreshadowing with intent of irony, your honor. That conversation with Donos was there precisely for the foreshadowing of Alexandria having a surname granted (or forced upon her, depending on how you look at it).

And way to keep gettting me a-pondering what you're up to, right up until the end.

All your ponderings will be answered in time... or most of them will, at any rate.

I like Alexandria being a tiefling-you keep it present without overdoing it, which was one of my biggest initial concerns.

No use fretting about it now, I suppose. But thanks for the vote of confidence.

I like the higher level of technology, and I liked the thing with the pistol. smile.gif Gives a tinge of steampunk to the story, which I love, and I really liked Alexandria's initial reaction to the pistol, comparing it with a wand and considering the pistol the weaker weapon.

I guess I'll have to see how it goes with technology in the world of ASE. My nominal plan is for a certain party member in book two to use a pistol as their standard weapon, though they'll have other weapons at their disposal, if nothing else.

Wow. A stirring ending to a great story where we really did get to see you grow as a writer. smile.gif Awesome stuff, Tempest... I'm certainly looking forwards to the next one. happy.gif

The first chapter of the next book is in fact driving me nuts and is turning into a small novel in its own right. Malleus Animorum stands a decent chance of being darker than ASE, and may almost certainly have a strong tinge of the surreal.

(Sorry for shortness, I might post again quickly later, but I'm in the middle of exams at the moment sleep.gif)

/empathize

[Sir_Carnifex]

I just spent the past week reading through At Soul's Edge. Allow me to compliment you on a job well done. I enjoyed it immensely and look forward to the BG2 section.

Keep up the fine work!

P. S. Thanks to you, my mod has suffered from lack of attention!

Edited by Sir_Carnifex, 15 June 2008 - 10:29 PM.

[Tempest]

Well, I think I've cracked my writer's block and am settling on doing the start of Book Two a little differently than I initially planned (in particular, an event I had planned to happen to a certain important character has been scrapped), but there are still some conceptual issues to work out. The BG1/BG2 transition is hard to do effectively, I must admit-once again, expect me to diverge a little from the canon script.

And for the record, I won't be pulling punches. Parts of Book Two are going to deal with some dark things, and while I won't go into graphic detail or dwell extensively on them, I will not be avoiding some of the less pleasant things.

[Choo Choo]

I guess that's only natural - storywise, BG2 in itself is much darker than BG1. BG1 to me is more like "oooh we're innocent and ignorant and trying to save the world", BG2 is more like "we know far too much more than we'd want to and our illusion about invincibility and superiority has been shattered because we were tortured and my friends are dying around me while the taint from my dead father is slowly but surely taking hold of my stolen soul".

Yes.

[quinlan]

Congratulations for an excellent finishing chapter!

These are my highlights:

Comely women who could bear my seed were hardly limited to the Sword Coast-or limited to Abeir-Toril or even the Prime Material Plane, for that matter. (A VERY interesting twist...)

you sound like a case of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Also known as spell shock-or shell shock, in Lantan. It's a common reaction to extreme stress, or so I'm told."


Alexandria's strained nerves had finally had enough. Belt's words did what Sarevok's onslaught and Bhaal's whispers did not.
She fainted.

A subjective opinion, not meant as criticism: I dislike technological advancments as the pistol in a fantasy setting. This is a personal matter. However, i think you handled it well for those who like this kind of things.

Edited by quinlan, 20 June 2008 - 07:34 AM.

[Tempest]

Unfortunately for you, I have decided there will be more technology in Book Two, though it will be limited and localized. I've looked over a great deal of DnD material, and there's nothing saying certain types of technology, such as mechanical clocks and primitive firearms, are unheard of-DnD even has statistics for pistols and arquebi-the latter being a primitive musket. The nation of Lantan in particular is quite technologically advanced, and I see no reason that a nation that trades with Lantan shouldn't have at least some evidence of technology slowly rippling outwards, RA Salvatore and his treatment of gunpowder and technology in his books be damned. Besides, as Nalia said, her pistol, and the one she gave Alexandria, had to be augmented with magic to make them safe and reliable.

The very interesting twist you pointed out probably won't come into play, I should add. None of the Five are extraplanar in the canon storyline (though I might very well change that), and even Alexandria is only planetouched. Some things I write that could be interpreted as foreshadowing are just red herrings or of academic interest.

I guess that's only natural - storywise, BG2 in itself is much darker than BG1. BG1 to me is more like "oooh we're innocent and ignorant and trying to save the world", BG2 is more like "we know far too much more than we'd want to and our illusion about invincibility and superiority has been shattered because we were tortured and my friends are dying around me while the taint from my dead father is slowly but surely taking hold of my stolen soul".

That's not really what I was getting at. Just what I *was* getting at, you'll see for yourself.

And fair warning: while I'm going to seemingly leave out a lot in the first chapter of Book Two, there will be mind[CENSORED]ing. It's really about the only way I can think of to get things rolling. I'm choosing to blame Bioware for making the BG1/BG2 transition so drastic and hard to write without sticking in several more chapters to cover the interim.