Blood on the Moon, A Journey of Discovery Options

[SubRosa]

The werewolf looks cool, even for an old game. I love the narrow little eyes. You can tell it is evil because of that alone.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Oct 30 2010, 06:35 PM

[Captain Hammer]

Athlain decides not to have acquire Stahlrim arms and armor? I'm impressed.

I also enjoyed Falco's use of technical truths to keep Carnius from immediately shutting down the mine for Stahlrim, without committing an outright act of insubordination.

Lastly, Athlain's rage at being tested, again, before looking at it from Graring's perspective. Reminds me of the final part of "A Boy Named Sue." Athlain might understand why it happens, but he's still rightfully angry.

[Olen]

Athlain certainly has well defined morals which he won't stray from. Burying the assassin was a good touch, it reinforces his respect for the dead.

I'm enjoying the increasing tension between Falco and Carnius, you're showing it's development well. I'm looking forward top the next part.

[treydog]

Everyone- I realized far too late, that in rushing to post the story, I forgot to acknowledge your kind words. That oversight is corrected here, along with a couple of new pictures to help visualize the story…

@Captain Hammer- Welcome back! The main reason for not having Athlain take a potion is to show his state of mental distress- despite appearances, he is not thinking clearly. I really enjoyed the Oddfrid quest, especially as I stumbled into it by accident this time around. And the “Oops, did I nearly kill you?” was a nod to the fact that NPCs seem to get in the way- or else ignore the player’s life-and-death struggles.

I always try to find believable ways to limit my characters- keeping Athlain out of the numerous graves (with some really good treasures) is one such limit. And Falco is definitely learning to play the game of deception. Finally, one reason Athlain lets go of that rage is because he knows it is self-directed- he is angry with himself for desecrating that burial.

@haute- It was important to get the first werewolf encounter “right.” I actually had to cheat one into the game- good old “PlaceAtPC.” And in RL, it has also been my experience that those little nasty yappers are a lot more prone to biting without warning.

Another S.G.M.! And from someone who deserves a bushel (or two) of them for her own writing. Thank you.

@SubRosa- So many physical endeavors depend on placement of the feet. And the “dancing” bit was another way of sneaking in an Athynae reference. The black bird will make another appearance- and your surmise about its intentions is correct. The hoof-beat line was one I had heard recently, so I decided to “TES-ize” it. Oh, and an SGM even! My blushes!

Sometimes, the game provides those moments of contrast; even more rarely, I have the good fortune to recognize the gift they are to a writer and weave them in. You make an interesting point- Athlain’s greatest desire (he used to think, at least) is to be a knight. He still believes the title confers the traits, rather than the other way around. Yes, he already is a “true knight,” though he does not realize it. Puddled period reforged and replaced.

@D.Foxy- Balance is a literal as well as spiritual necessity for these things. I have been spending entirely too much time on the roof wielding sharp objects recently- so situational awareness and foot placement are rather on my mind.

@mALX- Seemed to me that a werewolf still has grasping hands in wolf form- and the sense to use them… Dancing- hmm, now that you mention it, there might have been some murderous intent on the part of a couple of my former fiancés…. The cliff-racer line was Athlain channeling Maxical- or maybe Owyn.

Athlain definitely has “Skyrim blood” at least. Korst and Oddfrid have said as much. His honor comes from his father (though Athlain may not realize it) and from growing up around Redorans. In “game” terms, giving him a rigid prohibition against grave-robbing provides a handy limitaton- it puts some powerful items out of reach, while giving a reasonable explanation.

@Destri- It is odd that werewolves are so central to the Bloodmoon plot, and yet are hard to find until late in the main quest. And yes, Cure Disease is the way to avoid infection.

@Acadian- I wonder why there are no lycanthropes in TESIV? They were common (werewolves, wereboars, and werebears, at least) in Daggerfall. And one reason for the Bloodmoon expansion was to give the player the chance to be a werewolf. The stalhrim explanation is purely a bit of in-game lore- which I also really liked for its history and mystical nature.

Sorry about the beverage- I guess my story occasionally needs one of those warning tags, as well. Part of Athlain’s growth (I hope) is in his growing ability to feel empathy, even for people whose choices are different from his own. The two burials were a chance to show that Athlain is aware of the ambiguity of his actions. I think you are right- being around Miss ‘Thyna has taught him how to think before speaking- (usually).

@Ginner- Welcome to Chorrol and to the story! Thank you.

@Olen- So glad to have you back, my friend! Yes, Athlain has finally begun to grow wiser and more careful. There will still be trouble ahead, though. Thank you for the compliment on the characters- I want them to be as “real” as possible.

Having the chance to honor the dead assassin and then turn right around and “dishonor” the burial of a “hero” was too good to pass by. One of the more interesting Company quests is next- if I can figure how to write it.

-------------------------

And now for a "Rogue's Gallery":

Carnius Magius


Falco Galenus


Raven Rock (Aerial View)


Graring

[mALX]

I'm really glad you posted Raven Rock...every time I read the name "Raven Rock" - this is what I picture:


http://media.photobucket.com/image/fallout...ot143.jpg?o=175


(Fallout 3, Raven Rock after the implosion)

[SubRosa]

Like mALX, I keep expecting a vertibird to rise over Raven Rock and fly off in the distance, while thugs in powered armor patrol the streets.

[treydog]

“A moment if you please, sir.”

Julian reached into the dispatch case at her feet and removed a stack of papers. She looked through them until she found the one she wanted. She paused, as if to read, but I somehow had the feeling that she had already memorized the relevant passages. After several minutes, she put the papers aside and folded her hands in front of her.

“According to Legion estimates, a single piece of raw stalhrim is worth 300 septims. A complete set of ice armor would have a value of 40,000 septims and provide approximately 3 times greater protection than Legion issue. A stalhrim mace would also be worth 40,000 septims. A stalhrim longsword- 65,000 septims.”

Her eyebrow seemed to rise of its own volition; as if she had it so well trained it did not even need permission. I understood that there was an unspoken question- I just was not sure what it was. At last I said,

“That all may be true Pilus Prior, but that report gives the monetary value; it says nothing about the cost.”

Julian’s response was a cryptic, “I see.”

She put the papers back in the dispatch case and said, with the air of someone moving on to a new subject:

“Speaking of reports, please tell me about delivering the colony status report to Factor Carnius Magius.”

* * * * *

Following my second meeting with Graring, I went back to Raven Rock to let Falco know what had transpired. He was pleased with the information and told me:

“That’s good, Athlain. You have forged an important bond with Graring and his folk. I am still not completely sure of the nature of Carnius’ interest- but I am sure that there is money at the root of it. But there’s no time now to figure it out- you have to get this colony status report to Carnius in no more than five hours time.”

He handed me a sheaf of papers bound with ribbon.

“There’s no time for a detailed explanation right now, but you need to know this- if that report is not in Carnius’ hands by the deadline, he can use that failure to fire you- and me. He has enough influence with the board to make a technicality such as that work. I’m counting on you to get this done, Athlain. Don’t stop for anything- get to Carnius’ office and make sure he takes the report from you.”

Normally, I would have believed Falco was overreacting, especially because I could cast an Intervention spell to carry me to the fort instantly. But the colony manager was not prone to exaggeration- and I knew something about Carnius’ methods myself- so I wasted no time casting the spell.

Once I had reached the Imperial Cult shrine, I hastened up the stairs to the hall that contained Carnius’ office. A dark-haired Imperial man I had not seen before stood outside the door with an unreadable expression on his face. And it was a face worth looking at more than once. Despite his expensive clothing, his demeanor- and certain telltale scars- told a different story. He looked like someone who was more at home in dark alleys and seedy bars rather than conference rooms or palaces. But since I did not know him, I ignored him. Falco wanted the report delivered without delay, and I knew the stakes involved. However, when I opened the door, the office was empty. Carnius Magius was nowhere to be seen.

When I turned back into the hallway, the stranger smirked at me and asked mockingly,

“Oh, are you looking for Carnius, then? I’m afraid he isn’t in just now. And I imagine he will be terribly disappointed that you weren’t able to deliver that report on time.”

He shook his head with a feigned look of sadness on his face. “Tsk. It is just so hard to find reliable help these days. By the way, I am Constans Atrius- Carnius’ assistant.”

That explained a great deal, but still left me with the problem of delivering the report. I knew only a few minutes had passed since I left Raven Rock, so I protested:

“The report isn’t late yet- I still have the better part of five hours. Where is he?”

Constans gave me a bored look and shrugged, “Maybe he left a note or something. Why don’t you look on his desk?”

I felt a prickle of danger along my spine- the oily assistant seemed just a little too eager for me to go through Carnius’ desk. Instead of letting my unease show, I stepped back inside the office and closed the door behind me.

I could survey the desk from the doorway- it contained nothing beyond the usual clutter I had seen any number of times. But there had to be something…. I glanced at the floor and noticed that the carpet in front of the desk had been moved just a bit. One corner was still slightly crumpled, and the flagstones showed a variation in color. I dropped to my hands and knees and looked along the floor toward the carpet. I did not see any tripwires or springs, but there was still something…. And then I remembered a section of the letter Athynae had written regarding Carnius and his background.

There were no physical traps near the desk, but when I adopted the unfocused gaze that allowed me to sense magic, the carpet practically glowed. I slowly moved closer, careful to avoid any contact with the magical field that was embedded in the fabric. I passed a hand over the floor as closely as I could without actually touching it, and then I was certain.

The spell was one used by wealthy merchants or mages and was known as Trespasser’s Bane. If I had stepped onto that rug, I would have found myself afflicted with clumsiness and greatly reduced speed. In addition, my weight would have been effectively doubled. In a magical sense, my feet would have been nailed to the floor. Laboring under such handicaps, it would be nigh on impossible to get the report to Carnius in time. And that, of course, was the point. Then there was the fact that Serjo Constans Atrius clearly knew about the trap and had tried to set me up.

I rose to my feet and stalked to the door. When I threw it open, the Imperial toady nearly fell inside the room. I hauled him up by his collar and rammed him into the wall. Pressing a forearm into his throat, I grasped his hair with the other hand and grated,

“I found Carnius’ little trap. Now. Where. Is. He?”

With each word, I bounced his head against the wall. Then I lessened the pressure on his neck just enough so that he could choke out an answer. Atrius wheezed:

“He… he headed out to the site of the shipwreck. Said to keep you here as long as I could.”

A bit of his previous arrogance returned as he added, “You won’t get there in time; it’s miles away and there’s no boat ‘til in the morning.”

My smile caused all the color to drain out of his face as I wiped my hand on his tunic and said,

“Well then, I guess I’ll just have to improvise.”

Leaving Atrius to straighten his clothing and feel the lumps on his skull, I went back to the stairwell, but stopped only halfway down. What Carnius and his new “assistant” did not know was that I had placed a teleport locus near the shipwreck- and I had never reset it. I drew my Recall amulet, a gift from my absent father, out of my cuirass and activated the magic.

When I arrived beside the ill-fated supply ship, I could hear Carnius’ shrill voice not far away. That warning gave me time to prepare for perhaps the greatest entrance of my life. I stepped around the grounded bow of the ship and saw Carnius and a Legion guard standing with their backs to me. I called out in a cheery voice,

“Oh, Factor Magius! There you are! I have that report you needed.”

His shoulders rose in surprise and then dropped as he turned to face me. For just a moment his mask cracked and I saw a look of murderous rage flash across his features. Pretending I had not seen the expression, I glanced at the sun as if surprised and added,

“And look at that! I made it with four hours to spare. Here you go.”

He took the report from me with a snarl and I could tell he wanted to throw it on the ground- or at my head. Instead he glanced sidelong at the guard and muttered,

“I must admit I’m surprised to see this. Fine. You can run along now and tell Falco that his position is secure. For now.”

Despite his words, the glitter in his eyes promised retribution, and I almost feared that I had pushed him too far.

This post has been edited by treydog: Nov 1 2010, 10:06 PM

[SubRosa]

Ahhh, so now we see why Carnius wants that ice so badly, and what Athlain passed up! Here I thought it was just another kind of armor.

The rug was a neat trap. I guess Athlain almost had the rug pulled out from under him on that one! But our boy is much to quick for that these days. I was half-surprised that Athlain did not throw Constans onto the trapped rug though.

nits:
40000 septims, etc... would read easier with commas per thousand.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Nov 1 2010, 10:22 PM

[Olen]

That was enjoyable, it seems Athlain is getting smarter as well as stronger. He'll be playing the great game soon enough. And I second tht being a great enterance and worked well with Athlain's character (though who could avoid a little gloating...).

That was horrible quest though and I'd wondered how you'd do it, the trap is most inconveniant. You avoided both the dash accross Solstheim and the trap well though, they fitted into the story convincingly and didn't seem forced.

I also noticed a little referance to his father, I wonder if he is begining to change his mind about old Trey...

[mALX]

WOO HOO !!!!! Athlain...showing temper...taking charge of a situation.... WOOOOOOOOOOOOOT !!!!!!!!!!

This chapter goes down as one of my all time favorites instantly by his cunning in avoiding the traps, his handling of Falco, and this :

Oh, Factor Magius! There you are! I have that report you needed.” ... "And look at that! I made it with four hours to spare. Here you go.”

AWESOME WRITE !!!!!!

[Acadian]

What fun!

Her eyebrow seemed to rise of its own volition; as if she had it so well trained it did not even need permission.

Julian comes so alive in our dear Rider's capable hands. Since Rider writes form Julian's perspective however, it is wonderful to see such a creative observation of her from Athlain!

I felt a prickle of danger along my spine- the oily assistant seemed just a little too eager for me to go through Carnius’ desk.

Oooh. You made me feel just what Athlain felt here.

I rose to my feet and stalked to the door. When I threw it open, the Imperial toady nearly fell inside the room. I hauled him up by his collar and rammed him into the wall. Pressing a forearm into his throat, I grasped his hair with the other hand and grated,

Been hangin' around a red head? Just kiddin'. I woulda been pissed as well!

“I must admit I’m surprised to see this. Fine. You can run along now and tell Falco that his position is secure. For now.”

Did Carnius just drop the dreaded 'F' word on Athlain? That word shoud be reserved for angry young ladies.

[Captain Hammer]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Cost and Price are rarely, if ever, the same thing, and I appreciate seeing characters that understand this. I'm a pretty strong free-market supporter, and even I have a few things worth more to me than all the Daedric Artifacts in Nirn.

As for Athlain's dramatic approach to seeing Carnius and his tone: brilliant, if deliberately antagonistic. Reminds me of The Wire when Omar is on the stand to help convict Bird. Cheeky, witty, and pointedly popular.

Though I must admit that I would have preferred to see a little more subtlety on Athlain's part when talking to Carnius, that's from a logical perspective. When playing through Bloodmoon, I too got so f#$&ing mad at Carnius that crushing his skull every time I saw him was an exercise of self-control, even without the forced skooma addiction.

I applaud Athlain, son of a reputably deadly alchemist and sneaky Breton assassin, for not finding a creative means of disappearing Carnius. I'm sure he could do it.

[Destri Melarg]

As much as I enjoyed the screenies, I have to admit that they pulled me from the story a little. Having never played Bloodmoon, I was content to follow the story using Athlain’s eyes. It is a testament to your skill as a storyteller that all too often I forget that what you are describing occurs in the game and is not simply part of a world that you have created.

[canis216]

While my posting may be scant, rest assured that I am reading and relishing every update of this story. As always, your efforts are much appreciated. I love how rich a character Athlain has become.

[Doommeister]

Dear friend Athlain, I suspect your interrogater might be sympathetic to your plight about a certain addictive drug.

Keep up the good work treydog

[treydog]

@SubRosa- Carnius’ true aim is one that eluded me the first time I played through Bloodmoon; I tend to miss rather obvious clues. But it does give me a useful way to show Athlain’s determination regarding “grave-robbing.” The time-trap is one of the more creative things Bethsoft did in this expansion- I debated whether or not to trigger it. Nit agreed and fixed.

@Olen- Thank you so much. The most important thing to me with this is to depict Athlain’s growth as realistically as possible. I was fortunate with the other part of the time-trap situation- Carnius can be in 1 of 3 locations one the island- it just randomized that he was at the ship, where I had purposely left Athlain’s Mark spell. Otherwise, I would have had to decide whether to replay saved games or just go with whatever I got. Good eye one the Trey reference, as well- he is definitely beginning to understand some things.

@mALX- Although he has not shown it, all these Empire Co. quests are really putting a strain on our boy. He wants to save or find Captain Carius- for several conflicting reasons- but keeps getting sidetracked. Kind of like in TESIV- “What do you mean I have to close ANOTHER bloody gate?” But I also wanted to show that he is human enough to grind Carnius’ face in the failure of this particular scheme.

@Acadian- The inclusion of Julian in my story has gone from a spur-of-the-moment whim to an essential component. If none of the other strong women in Athlain’s life can be present to guide him, she is an excellent alternate- at least until a certain redhead returns. As I noted to mALX, he is feeling the stress and sometimes it comes out. Constans had the look of a bully, so Athlain handled him accordingly. You are right, Carnius has no idea how close the “Fine” word brought him to destruction!

@Captain Hammer- In Athlain’s case, he is concerned about the spiritual cost of obtaining stalhrim… but your larger point stands. Omar was absolutely one of my favorite characters on The Wire. Better living (or killing) through alchemy is not an option Athlain will embrace… he very badly wants to be a knight.

@Destri- My thanks for your kind words regarding the descriptions. I struggle to make the world of Solstheim as real as possible.

@Canis216- You are always welcome and I hope we may see more Al one day soon.

@Doommeister- Julian’s reaction to that reveal promises to be quite interesting… I will say no more. And thank you so much for reading and commenting.

-----------------------------------------

With the report delivered, there was nothing else to keep me at the shipwreck, so I turned south to Raven Rock. As for Carnius, I rather hoped he might be eaten by a bear. Almost as soon as the thought occurred to me, I felt a pang of guilt. After all, none of Solstheim’s bears had done anything to me to make me wish such a severe case of indigestion upon them. When I reached the colony, Falco immediately asked about the report. When I told him that I had put it directly into Carnius’ hands- in front of a witness- the colony manager mopped his brow.

“That’s good work, Athlain. I knew I could count on you. I’m sure he just made up that deadline out of spite, hoping for an excuse to get rid of us. Of course, now that he’s been thwarted, he’ll be even more determined- and dangerous.”

Falco shrugged briefly and looked toward the east side of the growing settlement. When he turned back, he smiled apologetically and continued:

“You’ve bought us some time, though, and we need it. There’s been a real problem lately with spriggans, especially among those trees to the east. Unfortunately, we need to cut down the trees in order to expand- and no one wants to work over there as long as those wood spirits are around. Talk to Unel Lloran at the bar- he’s supposed to know something about the creatures.”

I had only encountered spriggans once since coming to Solstheim, and had managed to mostly avoid fighting with them. Perhaps Falco’s crew chief could tell me enough to keep me safe from them.

When I asked for Unel Lloran, the bartender directed me to a mature Dunmer wearing his black hair shaped into a tall row down the center of his scalp. When I approached, he set down his sujamma and waved me to a chair. Eying my uniform, he said, “We don’t see many of you Legion types over this way. But I’m glad of the company, especially if you can talk about something other than mining.”

I accepted the seat but waved away the jug he offered, so he placed it back on the table with a shrug and said, “Suit yourself. So what can I do for you?”

“I understand you’re the mer to see about the spriggan problem they’ve been having lately.”

He sipped his drink and nodded a few times and then gave me a shrewd glance.

“You’ve been around, so I won’t try to sell you any guar-wash. People will tell you all kinds of tales about spriggans, and some of them are even true. But the things that aren’t true- or the things that are, but that you don’t know- can get you killed.”

He leaned forward and explained, “What they are is wood spirits. They’re usually connected to a particular grove or even a single tree. Matter of fact, they’re a lot like trees themselves… except that trees don’t usually try to kill you. The ones we’re dealing with are guarding some trees we need to remove on the east side of the colony. They seem to come in waves- three or four at a time. If you can take care of the current bunch, I can get a work crew into those trees. Once the trees are gone, the spriggans will stop showing up.”

He gulped some more of his drank and slammed the cork into the jug, before adding,

“But look here. Those things are deadly. You take one down, and think you’ve beaten it, and it pops back up.” He waved a hand vaguely, and said, “Some kind of magical jim-jam or other. Anyway, what it comes to is you have to finish ‘em three times before they stay down.”

He concluded with a grin: “So I hope they taught you to count to three in the Legion.”

I returned the grin and said, “Even higher than that, but I have to take my boots off. And then get someone to remind me which is left and which is right when I put ‘em back on.”

Unel sprayed his most recent mouthful of drink onto the table, narrowly missing me as I stood up. After he recovered from the coughing fit, he choked,

“Come back when you’ve taken care of them- if you survive. I’ll need to round up the work crew and get them cutting the trees, or else they’ll wander off.”

I decided not to ask if he meant the work crew- or the trees.

Trying to find a spriggan in the forest is rather akin to looking for a black cat in a coal mine at midnight. After considering it for a time, I decided that the best approach was to make the creatures come to me, rather than wandering aimlessly around the colony. Since Falco and Unel both seemed to believe the spriggans were protecting the grove, I went to the nearest tree, drew a dagger, and slashed the bark. Rather, I tried to- the razor-sharp blade made barely a mark. But my futile effort was rewarded by a peculiar cry from deeper inside the grove. I dropped the dagger and lifted my mace, watching for movement.

All too soon, a creature emerged from the shadows. It looked like a cross between a woman and a tree, with pale green skin and arms shaped like branches. Instead of clothing, it wore a covering of grey bark. I soon discovered why woodcutters favor axes instead of maces to do their work. Against flesh and bone, a mace is a terrible weapon. Against something made more or less of wood, it is only slightly more effective than scowling and speaking harsh words. The fight against the spriggans was one of the worst of my life- worse in many ways than the struggle with the grahl.

In the first place, blows that would have stunned or crippled another opponent simply bounced off. Beyond that, the first creature was soon joined by one of its… sisters, I suppose is the proper word. They were able to curl their clawed hands into fists and punch with great force. But what was worse was the way they used their open fingers. They grasped my arms and legs and tried to force their claws into the openings of my armor, much as tree roots shatter stone. And then, there was the final truth- Unel had been correct when he warned me that each spriggan had to be defeated three times before it stayed dead. If all four had come at me at once, I very well might have died there at the edge of the colony. What saved me was my mother.

I have remarked elsewhere that Mother had insisted that I join the Mages Guild. Her hope was that scholarly pursuits would distract me from seeking a more active career. That plan failed of its purpose, but it nevertheless bore fruit in my battle with the spriggans. Seeing that my mace was nearly useless, I dropped it back into its loop and placed my empty right hand upon the nearest spriggan. Concentrating my mind on a sensation of heat, I spoke the command word- tine. Flame blossomed from my fingers and jumped to the creature, which fell away from me with a startled cry. It began beating its torso with its arms, trying vainly to extinguish the magical fire.

Between using elemental fire and restorative potions quickly gulped in the intervals before the eldritch creatures rose from their intermediate “deaths,” I was barely able to survive. Finally, the last of them crashed to the ground and did not move again. I hastened to get clear of the trees that loomed over me, fearing that one might suddenly spring into motion and finish the job its guardians had begun.

As I recovered my strength, I wondered if Korst had fully understood what “completing my unfinished business” would entail. When I had finished the Ritual of the Stones, I had felt more attuned to the island and its living things. Now, I seemed to be doing my best to hasten its destruction. As I surveyed the growing colony, I noticed for the first time how out of place it looked. Spoil piles from the mine steamed in the cold air and stained the snow an ugly gray. Stumps of trees dotted the landscape, putting me in mind of severed fingers reaching up from the wounded ground. A wave of nausea wracked my frame, the first I had experienced since…. Well, the first I had felt in some time. But it was a sickness of spirit rather than of body.

[mALX]

The last paragraph was so powerfully written that it leaves the reader shaken and feeling what Athlain must have at that moment - AWESOME WRITE !!!! From the descriptions of the Spriggans, the Dunmer's mannerisms - HUGE Write !!!!

[haute ecole rider]

Ah, the quandary!

On the one hand Athlain wants to help his friends at Raven Rock.

On the other hand he's become more attuned to the land of Solstheim and understands the harm being done.

Ouch!

He concluded with a grin: “So I hope they taught you to count to three in the Legion.”

I returned the grin and said, “Even higher than that, but I have to take my boots off. And then get someone to remind me which is left and which is right when I put ‘em back on.”

Good thing that unlike Unel I didn't have a mouthful of fluid!

[Acadian]

It was welcome to see that I am not the only one who failed to read the 'set beverage down before reading sign'.

Unel sprayed his most recent mouthful of drink onto the table, narrowly missing me as I stood up. After he recovered from the coughing fit, he choked,

Acadian sprayed his most recent mouthful of coffee onto the monitor, narrowly missing Buffy as she deftly jumped into an open desk drawer and angrily slammed it behind her.


The spriggan fight was superb - Athlain was at his imperfect and creative best best here. As ever, you caused me to feel everything Athlain felt - both during and after the fight. I quite adored how you portrayed the spriggans and their relationship to the forest. This depiction prompted a nagging concern that, in typical treydog fashion, you anticipated as Athlain also addressed his concerns regarding the marring of the land in the name of progress.

I so admire Athlain, and everything he hopes and struggles to become.

[SubRosa]

“Even higher than that, but I have to take my boots off. And then get someone to remind me which is left and which is right when I put ‘em back on.”
Loved this!

They grasped my arms and legs and tried to force their claws into the openings of my armor, much as tree roots shatter stone
This was a very neat touch!

I have to admit though, I was rooting for the spriggans the entire time. They were fighting to protect themselves and the forest from an invader purely bent upon destruction. In the end it was nice to see Athlain's reaction to realizing what he and the others were doing to Solstheim, without making any effort to replace the resources they were taking. Where the Skaal obviously cut down trees to make their homes and use for firewood, my impression is that they also plant new ones or otherwise are careful not to destroy more than the forest itself can naturally replace.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Nov 12 2010, 05:46 PM