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Scayde · Post by **Scayde** » Fri Nov 22, 2002 4:21 pm

Originally posted by Aegis
To be honest, I've never found the time to read the "Hill of the Skull," but would very much like to. Why not start up a new thread, with said title, and just have it as a story thread? If thats done, I can add it to the Literary Crossroads (which still haven't become a sticky yet )

You should give it a read Aegis. I know you want to be an author....
and "Hill of the Skull" is some of the best writing in SYM..(IMHO)

Chanak · Post by **Chanak** » Fri Nov 22, 2002 4:49 pm

@Scayde:

You leave me speechless as always...searching for words that on most occasions, come so easily. I can't find them now...

I will take your advice, and open a thread to house the story.

One day, perhaps, I will find the words I seek at last.

Scayde · Post by **Scayde** » Fri Nov 22, 2002 4:59 pm

Originally posted by Chanak
@Scayde:

You leave me speechless as always...searching for words that on most occasions, come so easily. I can't find them now...

I will take your advice, and open a thread to house the story.

One day, perhaps, I will find the words I seek at last.

None are necessary Chan..*HUG* you are a very gifted and talented artist..a wordsmith.....let your words fill the pages of your book someday......we will all be blessed along with you in that.........

Chanak · Post by **Chanak** » Fri Nov 22, 2002 9:26 pm

That I can find any at all surprises me, Scayde. *hug*

When shall we commence with the next sequence of the battle? I assume these are Drow warriors, backed up by wizards and priestesses?

Obsidian · Post by **Obsidian** » Fri Nov 22, 2002 9:30 pm

Excellent posts all. I'm looking at the Skull series asap.

As for my char and his return, I think it best to return when you are all finished this saga.

I would ask one thing though. Leave the Sword. Its power would really, really tempt farscape. I can see him becoming quite a good recurring villian. Abondoned by god and friends in the 'rockslide' he comes across this great sword, and his own weapons, ones of justice and righteousness shatter. Taking the DoomBlade, he is overcome by the swords mind, and is seduced by the offered power, and eventually, he returns forth as his Rightful Place as the Prince of Chaos (his father was a powerful, yet to be defined demon, Chanak, I'm looking in your direction here...) Anyways, I think it would be interesting to have a PC type villian as an occasional villian in the series.

Tell me what you think.

Scayde · Post by **Scayde** » Fri Nov 22, 2002 9:30 pm

Originally posted by Chanak
That I can find any at all surprises me, Scayde. *hug*

When shall we commence with the next sequence of the battle? I assume these are Drow warriors, backed up by wizards and priestesses?

Wizards!!! and Priestesses!!!.??????? did I hear that correctly...can it be that Scayde is finnaly going to get to shoot something???

thantor3 · Post by **thantor3** » Fri Nov 22, 2002 11:08 pm

Originally posted by Chanak

When shall we commence with the next sequence of the battle? I assume these are Drow warriors, backed up by wizards and priestesses?

LOL! The next sequence...?! There is still a cavern full of rothe to play with. And a butt-load of streeakh behind them.

You know, Scayde's rifle may have unknown special properties such that ammo is not an issue... *evil grin* Then she could fire away to her heart's content....

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Sat Nov 23, 2002 12:06 pm

lingering thoughts

I have just been reading through the initial posts of this thread.... Much of what people write is very moving... and it is both an honour and a privelage to share with so talented and wonderful a group of people. Last night I was browsing through some of the earlier DF books, and I noticed how my own writing has changed and the ways in which my story character has evolved. I can only say that this is very much the result of interacting with you all over the course of a year and a half, for this I offer my thanks...... If the story continues (and I don't see why it shouldn't),... in the Spring the DF will have been in existence for two years... that is extroardinary...

A number of more recent DF members have spoken of the story being the baby of a core group of writers.....

In all honesty..I am not certain how to respond to this... I know I feel very protective of the story...perhaps not unlike the sort of protective instincts one feels towards a child. As I stated before, I believe the story is not just about role playing, filling up free time, or an alternative to playing games. I openly admit to feeling irritated when the story is treated as such.

It are the magical interconnections..... the threads that have played and intersected between us all.... that lie at the heart of the DF. I believe it is this life force that has sustained the story and allowed it to evolve in the many directions in which it has.

I sense it is perhaps this feeling that defines the story as something that is the baby of a core group of authors... However, I do not see this group as being exclusive in any way, and IMO it is not necessary to have written in the story for a set period of time in order to tap into the magical force that creates and animates the DF.

Thantor speaks of the vision that some of us hold... I think this is my vision....

thantor3 · Post by **thantor3** » Sat Nov 23, 2002 1:46 pm

Like DW, I too have been amazed at the way the DF story has evolved. The initial genesis of DF was more like organized spam than an actual story. And even when it became more story-like, the posts were short -- just brief burst of interaction that could be written in 15 minutes. As the story has become more complex, it can now take upwards of 2 hours to complete a single post. I think that speaks to the richness and depth that the story now engenders.

The other side of this coin, however, is that I am not able to participate in creating the story as much as I have in the past. Out of respect for others who do have more time, I have tried to position my characters so that the do not create a bottleneck in the unfolding narrative. If this should ever happen, though, please PM me rather than waiting for something to happen and then being frustrated. I can usually address the problem fairly rapidly. The other thing that I am doing in this regard is participating in more collaborations and functioning as a one of the de facto editors for those who would like feedback. I have been doing this for some time, have very much enjoyed it, and really hope to see more of this happen within the community. PM me if you would like more information about this.

As DW, Ysh, and some of the other authors have expressed, I do hold the DF story as a type of living tapestry. Gwally once said something to the effect that the DF story represents not only hours of creative output but also time taken away from family, friends, and other pursuits. When both of these things are taken together, I freely admit that the story does provoke a certain protective feeling in me – more protecting from disrespect and ignorance than anything else. But then, isn’t that always the way it is with something you value? And isn’t it also one of the foundational energies that leads to a sense of community – finding and appreciating others that share your viewpoint, your sense of what is valuable? I think so….

Scayde · Post by **Scayde** » Sat Nov 23, 2002 2:43 pm

Please do not think me too bold for speaking to this......I feel rather precarious saying anything here at all, but I also want to lend my voice in support of what you two are saying.I feel very strongly about this........

In many respects I feel like a guest here....but at the same time, very much at home...

You guys are very much a family to me. One I have been adopted into, and made to feel a part of. The experiences, the love and chemistry that flows here, which I have shared with many of you during my short stay is nothing short of sacred to me. I feel the magic here, adn would never want to write anything that would defile that experience. As I recently told DW.....It is very much the way you feel about your home, and family. There are a set of common core values taht a family shares. When a member of the family does not share those core beliefes, it brings disharmony. It is not desirable to cast this family member out....but to help them be realigned with the core values of the clan...somtimes this cannot be accoplished. That is always very heart breaking.because it means that either the disharmony continues within the group, affecting everyone there, or the person in disunion leaves. In which case there is the pain of mourning the loss of that family member...

It is my sencere hope that through this venue, we can all find the path to those core values, and enjoy the harmony that the family of the DFs promises each of her children...

*Group HUG*

Chanak · Post by **Chanak** » Sat Nov 23, 2002 5:21 pm

I'd like to echo Scayde's sentiments. Well said. *hug*

Who doesn't feel the magic that breathes life into the story of the Dark Flames? It was this magic I sensed when originally presented with the idea of becoming a part of the DF...and this same magic that gave me reason to pause when I considered joining. Why? Certainly, this is much more than a venue to showcase the writing talents of a group of gifted authors with a penchant for fantasy...or sheep, as it were.

I sensed, very strongly (and as DW noted in her first post in this thread), the organic connection between the various characters in the DF tapestry. The magic itself is a living, breathing thing, and to be invited to join the DF means that one is to be grafted to the organism. From the outset I took this to heart, and saw very clearly the implications of becoming a part...

Such an invitation is an honor, one that I did not take very lightly. DW, it is not surprising to me that you feel a measure of protectiveness...you should, for you are part of an organism that has taken the path that all successful organisms take - that of evolution, and growth. A number of DF authors were there during the DF's genesis...the primordial hot tub was stirred, so to speak, and out came proto-Gwally, LOL!

Truthfully, those who were closest to the tapestry's inception are those which are naturally the most connected, for it was by your investment of energy whereby the DF was able to take flight in the first place. You have forever left your mark upon the story...and you now find yourselves standing at the very heart of the magic. Gwally, DW, Yshania, Than, T'lainya...I know many have come and gone, and some of that number included those who were there from the beginning...I feel very honored.

The DF is indeed a family, for real bonds exist between those members who willingly become grafted to the heart. Despite the sweeping vistas of imagination depicted on the DF tapestry, which can indeed carry away even the most casual of observers, it takes energy on the part of the one to be grafted to truly be a part. For me, it is a desire to be a part of something greater than my own ideas, and character. I want this for everyone that posts on the story thread...

Chanak · Post by **Chanak** » Sat Nov 23, 2002 6:13 pm

@Obsidian: Sorry for my delayed response...

Truthfully, the Doomblade lies at the heart of evil of those artifacts. I have no idea what Flanders has planned in regards to that...for all three items - the armor, helm, and sword - are linked together. I have no idea what would happen if they were separated...

Demogorgon might get his scales ruffled a bit...the *real* Demogorgon is a whole lot nastier than the version that was in Watcher's Keep.

Obsidian · Post by **Obsidian** » Sun Nov 24, 2002 8:32 am

haha, I am well aware Chanak.
But seperating the items would cause some interesting effects, like say, the sword subtlely driving the wielder of DoomBlade to seek out the armour and helm, or more interestingly, whoever holds said items....

Chanak · Post by **Chanak** » Sun Nov 24, 2002 4:40 pm

@McBane:

I have no idea of what you have planned for your character by way of weapons or armor - and unless McB's gear is stashed somewhere conveniently at hand (which I doubt), he will be in need of dwarven-sized armor. Unfortunately, the slight dark elves are nowhere near as broad or compact as the stout dwarven race, which would pose a problem for McB...he couldn't fit in their armor.

However, the gray dwarves amongst the rothe attacking the group offer a wonderful opportunity for McB to attire himself in the latest of battle fashions.

I am sure the perfect suit of adamant chain mail armor awaits McB, draped upon the corpse of a fallen duergar berserker. How convenient it is that the manner of his death, a swift beheading, preserved that armor in pristine condition for McB.

The nice thing about items of gray dwarf manufacture is, unlike the handiwork of the Drow, they can survive independent of the Underdark, and can withstand the light of the sun. Cool.

McBane · Post by **McBane** » Mon Nov 25, 2002 9:24 am

@ Chanak,

I have been struggling with the armor problem. Weapons are easy, but felt without any armor, I would readily become a pincushion. As a bonus, there may be some duergar left once I am released, for I would love to be taking a bashin to some of em.

thantor3 · Post by **thantor3** » Wed Nov 27, 2002 1:48 am

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

I was curious about how people feel we should handle the upcoming holidays. For example, T'L and Ysh will be on vacation... excuse me... "holiday" for the next few days and some of us will be away for the Thanksgiving weekend (i.e. this Thurs till Sun). Likewise, people will no doubt be away for large part of the Christmas/New Year holidays. Should we just keep posting away during the holidays or have a posting holiday for the holidays? (Ok, you know what I mean.

)

Mysteria · Post by **Mysteria** » Wed Nov 27, 2002 3:11 am

I'll be gone for one week only anyway.

I think no posting at all would be sad ... especially as I'll probably have some spare time on my hands.

btw, there seems to be an awful lot of talking going on in the middle of battle.

I like it.

Gwalchmai · Post by **Gwalchmai** » Wed Nov 27, 2002 10:24 am

Re: Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

Originally posted by thantor3
I was curious about how people feel we should handle the upcoming holidays. For example, T'L and Ysh will be on vacation... excuse me... "holiday" for the next few days and some of us will be away for the Thanksgiving weekend (i.e. this Thurs till Sun). Likewise, people will no doubt be away for large part of the Christmas/New Year holidays. Should we just keep posting away during the holidays or have a posting holiday for the holidays? (Ok, you know what I mean. )

I hope to have time over the holiday to catch up with the story and make a post. However, my post will focus on Gwally, and will not advance the plot at all. Than's point is a good one, though. We should try not to over-do the posting during the time when many members will be unable to post.

Scayde · Post by **Scayde** » Wed Nov 27, 2002 10:31 am

I am working on a post right now that reflects what is already going on..but it will not advance the action of the story...

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Wed Nov 27, 2002 10:43 am

My feeling is that holidays posts focusing on our characters or those that do not significantly advance the plot are great. However, in the interest of fairness, I think it better if we refrain from serious plot advancement during vacation time etc.