232 replies to this topic

[Tempest]

I've been under a great deal of real life stress the last month or so, and to be honest, I've noticed that the quality of my writing has suffed from it (the last chapter of ASE is a good example). The next chapter is going to be an extremely important one, and I want to make sure I'm at my best when I write it.

[quinlan]

I've been under a great deal of real life stress the last month or so, and to be honest, I've noticed that the quality of my writing has suffed from it (the last chapter of ASE is a good example). The next chapter is going to be an extremely important one, and I want to make sure I'm at my best when I write it.

I think you were at you better at least when you wrote the last chapter. The discussion with Bhaal is simply superb. Congratulations!

[Dark-Mage]

Truth be told Tempest I was growing slightly impatient waiting for your next chapter, but man the wait was worth it!!!!

As quinlan said, the discussion between Alex and Bhaal was superb, capturing the Lord of Murder's 'Lawful' essence as opposed to depiciting him as some kind of mindless murderer (which often happens in other stories). The Alex/Ajantis scene was also heart breakinly lovely as well. So emotional.

Loved the use of the modified 'Amazing Grace' as well. Very moving.

[Tempest]

That was one chapter I wanted to make sure I was well rested and in top writing condition for.

The conversation with Bhaal definitely stands out as one of my favorite things in all of ASE to write. You don't become a deity by being stupid or mindless (exceptions like Garagos aside), and I really wanted to bring out that Bhaal was highly intelligent and a very canny thinker, rather than a mindless bloodthirsty maniac. He was truly interesting to write-and fun, to boot.

Alexandria/Ajantis I wasn't real happy with, in terms of writing quality. Character interaction, especially romance, has always been one of my weakest areas as a writer, and I thought it became painfully obvious there. I'm glad you enjoyed it, though.

The use of Amazing Grace was actually the result of good fortune-I started laying out Pandora Unchained about three weeks ago, then titled Sins of the Father, and in church on Sunday, the song during the offeratory was Amazing Grace, which struck me as absolutely perfect for ASE in general, and Alexandria in particular. A few modifications to make it a song of praise to Selune, and it was done.


Beware. At Soul's Edge is down to about four more chapters. Possibly five or six depending if I break up one or two chapters into two separate ones. But this storm is nearly finished. And then, that's when things are going to get interesting, with ASE, Book Two: Malleus Animorum.

[Solar's Harper]

Tsk, Bhaal being ever so evil, yet if you ask me it looked like he was dressing up his former portfolio as well.

Can't really say anything different to what Dark Mage has, so I'll just pro-offer cookies - I won't say how I accquired them, lest I be moosed.

Also:

?I told you there always comes a time when one must choose between what one knows is right, and what one [/I]feels[/I] is right. Alexandria, I love you.?

Just a tiny problem with the italics.

Nice work again Tempest.

[Solstice]

Simply wonderful, Tempest, and well worth the wait.

[Tempest]

Just a tiny problem with the italics.

Fixed, thank you.

And thanks again, y'all. I'm already laying out chapter 37: You Take the High Road. The end is nigh.

[Shadowhawke]

Wow. That was definitely worth the wait. And I'll just reinforce what everyone's already mentioned here by saying that not only was the Bhaal talk superb (you really have a wonderful knack for the philosophical!), I actually thought the Alex/Ajantis scene worked really well. It also made me vow to never have him in my party...

Can't wait to see how you'll wrap this one up, Tempest. It's been a great road so far.

[Tempest]

Heh. My Ajantis isn't quite like the one in the BG NPC Project. Also, the next chapter will clear this up, but I'll make it known now: Ajantis has left the party. Whether this will be permanent, of course, remains to be seen.

And I'll also confess that I'm having a hard time writing this next chapter, simply because I'm in a hurry to get to the one after it. So in advance, forgive me if it feels a little rushed.

[Dark-Mage]

Man, what a time to leave the party though

[Tempest]

Just an fyi: I'm hoping to have the next chapter out today or tomorrow. Got bogged down by other stuff that's been eating up my free time, but I'm back on track. Sorry for being so unreliable.

[Shadowhawke]

Good new chapter, Tempest... even though there wasn't much in terms of high-speed thrills, it was a great breath of quiet before the big battle and after the emotional turmoil last chapter. I like how you've twisted the happenings so well, and especially the group's entrance into Baldur's Gate! That last part of your chapter really sets up the tension... I hope you don't leave us hanging as long as last time!

[Tempest]

Not a chance. Already got two pages of Chapter 38: Domino Theory written up. Expect lots of familiar faces, from Nalia and Anomen to a few cameos and the continuation of a major subplot.

Domino Theory will be the second or third to last chapter barring the epilogue, depending on whether I split the one afterwards into two chapters or not.

[quinlan]

Good new chapter, Tempest... even though there wasn't much in terms of high-speed thrills, it was a great breath of quiet before the big battle and after the emotional turmoil last chapter. I like how you've twisted the happenings so well, and especially the group's entrance into Baldur's Gate! That last part of your chapter really sets up the tension... I hope you don't leave us hanging as long as last time!

Yes, my thought, too. The sewer sequence was described very well. I could form pictures in my mind while reading it.

[Solstice]

As always, loved your careful descriptions of everything, and the exchanges with Imoen and Khalid. The underwater approach was a nice touch, and I'm eagerly looking forward to the finale.

[Shadowhawke]

Wow, and so it starts again... the addition of a few familiar faces was interesting to see, although I was surprised Alexandria would deactivate it so quickly. The last part was sad, but understandable, and I liked the way you wove in so many characters we were already acquainted with. I can't wait to see the showdown!

[Tempest]

Lucky you, I realized it's been almost a year to the day since I posted my first chapter of ASE, so I'm going to do my damndest to finish the showdown and post it by the first of June. There will be an epilogue chapter afterwards, but the next chapter is the showdown.

And you can safely bet this isn't the last the party's seen of Moira.

[Tempest]

My apologies for not getting chapter 39 out yesterday-and possibly not in the next couple of days. Yesterday morning, a virus slipped past my computer's firewalls, and either it was the trojan from hell or it accidentally set off a lot of problems. Short version is that my computer is out of commission-logged in on a friend's computer.

[Shadowhawke]

Damn, that sounds awful. *pat, pat*. Hopefully the virus thing can get cleared up soon - I'm sure we all understand how annoying they can be. Until then, don't worry about the guilt; I'm sure that we'll get our share of ASE once your computer's okay again.

[Tempest]

Where there's a will, there's a way. Rewrote Chapter 39 from scratch on another computer.

For the future of ASE, there's going to be one more chapter/epilogue, then I'm going to start ASE, Book Two: Malleus Animorum, in another thread to keep things from getting too cluttered.