10369 réponses à ce sujet

[Miri1984]

Ah. I wondered if it was Leske. Dammit, I wanted Brosca to be in my fic. Might just have to be another Duster Dwarf.

[Sarah1281]

You could have it be mildly AU and have Brosca still be in prison and in bad shape but not quite dead when you show up.



Also, do things like making Alistair interested in guys or Morrigan interested in girls despite evidence to the contrary count as making it AU? It's an alternate universe where Alistair and Morrigan's sexual preferences are different but it's only a pairing...

[Miri1984]

I think it's still AU because you CAN'T do it in game (unless you have a mod for it...)

Edited to add: But that would make Anders romance AU too. I won't admit that, so same sexings with Ali and Morri are IN! .

Modifié par Miri1984, 22 août 2010 - 10:35 .

[KSuri]

Thanks for the welcome!!



Okay, doing a newbie Squee. I just noticed Shadow of the Light wrote "The Hunt". I just finished reading that the other night and let me tell you.....WOW! It's actually what inspired me to take a stab at writing my own fanfic. Though I'm doing it mostly just for fun...I'm glad my husband is tolerant of my geekness.

[Sandtigress]

Sarah1281 wrote...

Also, do things like making Alistair interested in guys or Morrigan interested in girls despite evidence to the contrary count as making it AU? It's an alternate universe where Alistair and Morrigan's sexual preferences are different but it's only a pairing...

I think so - in the normal course of things neither Alistair nor Morrigan are going to go for peple of the same sex.   So it would have to be in an alternate universe where such a thing was possible.

I would say Anders is different since the fact that you can't romance him is a game mechanic - he certainly flirts with your Warden and is of an amorous nature.  A full-out romance during Awakening might be AU, but a story that takes place post-storyline with an Anders romance?  I don't think that would necessarily be AU.


Oh, and *waves* to KSuri.  I'm just a lurker who pops out of hiding, really, but welcome anyways!

Modifié par Sandtigress, 22 août 2010 - 11:26 .

[TanithAeyrs]

Welcome KSuri always glad to have more writers join the party.

[Dean_the_Young]

AU really comes from altering the back story, not the characters themselves. If, say, Alistair turns rainbow unicorn rider because he was befriended in the Chantry by a guy who was a bit friendlier than most, and Alistair just took whatever connection he could at a miserable time, that could be a character change justified by an AU.



If, however, Alistair just wants to ride your Cousland/male mage/Teryn Loghain's one eyed snake because he has a craving for it, that isn't AU.





Fanfiction in and of itself is minor AU by nature of supplying dialogue/viewpoints (unless it's of certain types), so smaller things that don't defy the story, even if not supplied by it, usually don't count. There is no romance in Awakening, for example, but we know that Anders has interest in women. A romance wouldn't be canonical, but wouldn't be far enough to justify an AU.



For an example of an AU, I'll give some thoughts on one I'll never write in a likely to be much too long post below.

[Sandtigress]

Dean_the_Young wrote...

If, however, Alistair just wants to ride your Cousland/male mage/Teryn Loghain's one eyed snake because he has a craving for it, that isn't AU.

I dunno....Personally I feel that's so outside of his canon characterization that if it's not AU, then it's a really poor job in writing Alistair.  But that's my opinion, maybe people will disagree.

[Sarah1281]

Sandtigress wrote...

Dean_the_Young wrote...

If, however, Alistair just wants to ride your Cousland/male mage/Teryn Loghain's one eyed snake because he has a craving for it, that isn't AU.

I dunno....Personally I feel that's so outside of his canon characterization that if it's not AU, then it's a really poor job in writing Alistair.  But that's my opinion, maybe people will disagree.

I don't think it would be too difficult to justify. We know from Zevran that homosexuality is far less accepted in Ferelden than in Antiva and it stands to reason that the Chantry might be part of that reason. Alistair was raised by the Chantry since before he hit puberty so if he were, say, bisexual and had it pounded into his head for years that that was a sin I could see him being repressed about it. He may be free of the Chantry but he's not free of it's teachings. He speaks like a Templar whenever unregulated magic comes up and he won't sleep with someone he's not in love with because he was taught by the Chantry that that's the least he should do (he does ignore the marriage part).

[Sandtigress]

Sarah1281 wrote...

Sandtigress wrote...

Dean_the_Young wrote...

If, however, Alistair just wants to ride your Cousland/male mage/Teryn Loghain's one eyed snake because he has a craving for it, that isn't AU.

I dunno....Personally I feel that's so outside of his canon characterization that if it's not AU, then it's a really poor job in writing Alistair.  But that's my opinion, maybe people will disagree.

I don't think it would be too difficult to justify. We know from Zevran that homosexuality is far less accepted in Ferelden than in Antiva and it stands to reason that the Chantry might be part of that reason. Alistair was raised by the Chantry since before he hit puberty so if he were, say, bisexual and had it pounded into his head for years that that was a sin I could see him being repressed about it. He may be free of the Chantry but he's not free of it's teachings. He speaks like a Templar whenever unregulated magic comes up and he won't sleep with someone he's not in love with because he was taught by the Chantry that that's the least he should do (he does ignore the marriage part).

Maaaybe I could buy  it, depending on how it was done.  But for me, since Zevran/Leliana are available for same-sex relationships but Alistair and Morrigan are not and both are extremely resistant to Zevran/Leliana advances, it still seems out of character to me.  *shrugs*  My interpretation of the characters though.  I'm just not going to read what I'm not interested in.  :-P

[Shadow of Light Dragon]

KSuri wrote...

Thanks for the welcome!!

Okay, doing a newbie Squee. I just noticed Shadow of the Light wrote "The Hunt". I just finished reading that the other night and let me tell you.....WOW! It's actually what inspired me to take a stab at writing my own fanfic. Though I'm doing it mostly just for fun...I'm glad my husband is tolerant of my geekness.

*is happily squeed* Thankee And good luck with your first fanfic! I do hope you have fun with it.

As to the whole Alternate Universe debate, I take it as something that changes/breaks the game in a way that wasn't intended and has a significant impact on how the story 'was meant to be'. Whether Alistair turning bi or gay is a significant plot point is subjective, I think.

[Dean_the_Young]

I, like everyone else, have an idea for an epic that sounds much better in my head than it ever would be actually written down. Nor would it ever be written down either, so I suppose we can just muse about it here.


In concept: an 'All Origins Live' mixed with 'Awakenings Crossover' all justified by the big AU departure 'Ostagar was won because it was actually just a large darkspawn raid', with the general plot 'Loghain's Civil War against Cailan'.

Wow, that's a doozy. Where to start?

As I said, the first part to note was the idea that all the Origins live. This does not mean, however, all the Origins are recruited to the Wardens: infact, none of them are. Most the rest find eachother and form small groups, with similar or contrasting goals.

Granted, the first weakness of this idea is the large cast of characters in the origins themselves. Infact, I haven't even finalized the real roles of most of them: the dwarves I know part, the mages split and find different groups while searching for eachother, and (biased because of player experience) City Elf fem!Tabris and male!Cousland do their own little thing. Add in that Alistair is a 'sole survivor of Ostagaar' (actually separated, but isolated much like in Dark Spawn Chronicals) and starts off finding his way around like in Dark Spawn Chronicals.

If I were to really be honest, I would say it was really 'dwarves, misanthrope Tabris/noblise oblige Cousland, and Alistair find themselves in the Civil War,' with the other origins and Awakening members thrown in there as party members as well.

But the origins that are there have their escape: Cousland is more or less Sheparded to safety by a mortally wounded Sir Gilmore, and Cousland more or less stumbles into Denerim where's he taken in by a (friendly) Vaughan, who not only promises to help Cousland but 'charitably' decides to make him feel better by getting him company, which is the actual impetus for the City Elf wedding crash. Drunk!Cousland ends up aiding Soris and helping kill Vaughan, and he and a misanthrope Tabris escape Denerim when Howe comes to quell the Alienage.

On the Dwarf side, our dear casteless, rather than going to the proving, is actually one of the thugs hired to take down Lady Aeducan. Being the 'good' casteless, he in fact helps her escape into the deep roads, and despite her ingratitude they find their way to the surface. (Their main part, however, is in the Dwarven sucession crisis.)

The other origins are in there as well, but not in such major roles. The Dalish Elf, for example, is there for insight to the Dalish, who are gathering to discuss the matters of both the Darkspawn incursion, human problems, and more. Suspect to see Velena as an acquaintance as well. For the mages, both of them help Jowan, and both find themselves escaping with him. While they differ politically, they are quite close and when separated (and finding themselves in the Dwarf and other origin group), they're main desire is to find eachother.


But while our favorite origins are meeting, mingling, and occasionally killing eachother, Ostagaar is taking place. And as I said, it is a victory: truly just an exceptionally large raid, and not the sort of size and mass to disrupt the signal at Ishal. The King fights beside the Grey Wardens and wins some glory, the Grey Wardens earn approval and respect in their role in the costly fighting, and Teyrn Loghain's strategy and charge smashed the hoarde apart, despite the presence of strange and unusual darkspawn that not even Duncan recognizes. Cailan, despite the quiet warnings of the Grey Wardens, declares the Blight strangled in its cradle.

It should be glorious and happy for all. But it would be a poor story if it were.

For Loghain has long been preparing to force Cailan's hand, to change his policy of reproachment (and more, argues Loghain) with Orlais. Already Loghain has secured the poisons with which to debilitate Arl Eamon during this confrontation, made strong allies in the Tower, and made political marriage with Howe. (It would be an unfruitful one when put to the test, as Howe's ambition knew little loyalty.). While the fall of the Couslands was truly beyond his sight, it is too late now... except for one last chance.

The Landsmeet after Cailan's Blight, as it will be remembered, was supposed to be a joyous celebration. It would be remembered as the start of the Civil War. The King, in his freshly clearned armor, offered Teyrn Loghain, Hero of Ferelden and General who defeated a Blight, a boon. It was supposed to be a formality: Loghain had titles, riches, fame.

He asked for what Cailan was not prepared to give. Infront of all the nobles, banns and arls alike, for the King to reverse his policy towards Orlais. He took what had so long been a private dispute, and made it public.

Cailan, still tired from the conflict, was furious, and lost his composure. Ignorring his wife's signs of caution He rose, cursed Loghain and his obstinant refusal to accept the change in the world, and ordered him stripped of his rank and honors and to leave his sight and never return or else be executed on the spot.

It is possible that, had Cailan had time to recover, he would have apologized and sought Loghain's forgiveness. But Loghain did not seek apologies, or give any. Rising from his knees, the Teyrn loudly and clearly stated that while Cailan might be king, not even he could stop Loghain and those loyal to Ferelden from protecting the land from it's own kind. Loghain turned and left the Landsmeet, and before the night was over his army had already begun a hard march to the Western Teyrn where Loghain quickly had the men fortify the border against the Orlesians, who had ominously not moved their Chevelair legions away. (And nor would they: from that point on, the Empress of Orlais claimed that those Legions were needed to protect Orlais from Loghain.)

When Royal men at arms came to enforce Royal authority, they were ejected by a hail of arrows. And when the King called upon allies, he found far fewer than he expected: the Couslands were dead or missing, the Tower was sealed by the Templars, and his Uncle had taken ill. Many lords had even taken up with Teryn Loghain, enough so that Cailan refused requests to allow another Landsmeet to meet, so afraid he might be overthrown by a last minute betrayal.

War started, and while Loghain had the advantage in skill, eventually capturing Denerim, Cailan had the larger part of the royal army, the quiet and increasingly helpful sympathies of the Empress of Orlais, and the inside advice of one traitorous Arl Howe. And as the battles began, the Darkspawn returned, and the Wardens too caught between the two factions to effectively react.

Ferelden's Civil War was not the entirety of its problem, after all. The Werewolves haunted the Brescellan Forrest, ravaging the Dalish therin. The Dwarves faced their own looming Civil War. And the Circle of Magi heeded neither side. And lost in the chaos, a pair of dwarves, two mages, a city elf and a noble are lost in the chaos.

And, unknown to even the Wardens, the Awakened stirred. The Mother's first attempt, a novice's attempt at a Blight, had been thwarted at Ostagaar, but her surviving Disciples had learned much from the experience. The Architect moved with his own plans, focusing on a supply of Grey Warden blood to awaken more of his bretheren. He, too, would move, all the while protecting the most valauble, and dangerous, prize of all from the Mother's reach.

This is Year 9:30 of the Dragon Age. This is the year of Cailan's Blight.

This is how Urthemial awoke.

[Sarah1281]

That does sound, well, epic. While a King would technically have the power to strip such a high-ranking noble of their title, the reality might be a bit more of a civil war.
 
Tragically, I lack the attention span to write anything really epic.

[Dean_the_Young]

Sarah, your writing pace is already epic.It needn't even be as a full narrative: it could well be done as a mixture of shorts, codex's, and other aspects.



You're right, of course. A part of the civil war is that Loghain is really more supported by the commoners and rank and file than Cailan: as a commoner-borne himself, and as the victor of the Battle of Ostagar, Loghain has more military wisdom cred than Cailan does. That Cailan gets his nose bloodied in the first few conflicts really underlines the fact.



There's actually a good number of ideas that fit in there. One I was proud of was of Howe as a double-crossing bastard extraordinaire. Secretly playing Loghain and Cailan to his own advantage, there comes a point in which Loghain cuts his losses... by selling out Howe to acting-(rebel) Teyrn Cousland, who sides with Loghain against the Royalists in exchange. Howe is on the run, and only finds survival in a silver chalice of Dark Spawn blood and advising a young royal bastard on the run we do all love. At the end of the epic, he even has the audacity to redeem his name in the worst way possible.



While Alistair plays a small role early on, he's actually a much bigger player later on in his own wright. I always felt Darkspawn Chronicles was a good take of him without the Warden (struggling but grown into a stronger man), and ever since then I've wondered if Leliana's vision was really in regards to him. After Howe is forced to seek refuge with him, Alistair, without being corrupted by the Arl's influence, does become hardened, and assumes the position of Royalist leader in order to face the re-rising Dark Spawn threat.



He and male!Cousland actually become something of bitter rivals, over a dispute of who will become King and the sad death of Queen Anora.







Ah, there were lots of things, and I feel sad they will likely never be written down. Any thoughts, questions, though? Talking about ideas can be more fun than writing them.

[DreGregoire]

Sandtigress wrote...

Sarah1281 wrote...

Sandtigress wrote...

Dean_the_Young wrote...

If, however, Alistair just wants to ride your Cousland/male mage/Teryn Loghain's one eyed snake because he has a craving for it, that isn't AU.

I dunno....Personally I feel that's so outside of his canon characterization that if it's not AU, then it's a really poor job in writing Alistair.  But that's my opinion, maybe people will disagree.

I don't think it would be too difficult to justify. We know from Zevran that homosexuality is far less accepted in Ferelden than in Antiva and it stands to reason that the Chantry might be part of that reason. Alistair was raised by the Chantry since before he hit puberty so if he were, say, bisexual and had it pounded into his head for years that that was a sin I could see him being repressed about it. He may be free of the Chantry but he's not free of it's teachings. He speaks like a Templar whenever unregulated magic comes up and he won't sleep with someone he's not in love with because he was taught by the Chantry that that's the least he should do (he does ignore the marriage part).

Maaaybe I could buy  it, depending on how it was done.  But for me, since Zevran/Leliana are available for same-sex relationships but Alistair and Morrigan are not and both are extremely resistant to Zevran/Leliana advances, it still seems out of character to me.  *shrugs*  My interpretation of the characters though.  I'm just not going to read what I'm not interested in.  :-P

I'll tell you why I think Alistair being a bisexual isn't a long stretch. When you are talking about the lamppost deal *winks* as a male he becomes very flustered at the end and says something to the effect of 'uh no need to rush things...' There are actually a few lines that have him flirting but flirting in itself isn't an indication of sexual interest because some men flirt with other men without any intentions; however, the way the lamppost conversation ends leaves a bit of a 'well maybe later vibe. My opinion and take on it of course. I don't expect everybody to agree

edit: What Alistair says is "I've.. no urge to rush into anything. We may not even survive what is to come, after all. Enough I don't want to talk about this anymore. Let's go."

Modifié par DreGregoire, 23 août 2010 - 02:19 .

[DreGregoire]

So like I just wrote a fight scene and played over and over again to finish it "let the bodies hit the floor" LOL So silly.

of course it probably sucks because I'm not familiar with writing action hehe

edit: Bigger Problem I can't come down off the adrenaline rush lol oops

Modifié par DreGregoire, 23 août 2010 - 01:44 .

[KSuri]

DreGregoire wrote...

So like I just wrote a fight scene and played over and over again to finish it "let the bodies hit the floor" LOL So silly.

of course it probably sucks because I'm not familiar with writing action hehe

edit: Bigger Problem I can't come down off the adrenaline rush lol oops

I just did this too, but to Three Days Grace's "Animal I've become".  Got to love mood music.

Modifié par KSuri, 23 août 2010 - 02:00 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

@KSuri welcome to the thread!!!



@ Death you should write it!



@Tanith *HUGS tight* I have missed you sweetie!

[Raonar]

Dean_the_Young wrote...

Sarah, your writing pace is already epic.It needn't even be as a full narrative: it could well be done as a mixture of shorts, codex's, and other aspects.

You're right, of course. A part of the civil war is that Loghain is really more supported by the commoners and rank and file than Cailan: as a commoner-borne himself, and as the victor of the Battle of Ostagar, Loghain has more military wisdom cred than Cailan does. That Cailan gets his nose bloodied in the first few conflicts really underlines the fact.

There's actually a good number of ideas that fit in there. One I was proud of was of Howe as a double-crossing bastard extraordinaire. Secretly playing Loghain and Cailan to his own advantage, there comes a point in which Loghain cuts his losses... by selling out Howe to acting-(rebel) Teyrn Cousland, who sides with Loghain against the Royalists in exchange. Howe is on the run, and only finds survival in a silver chalice of Dark Spawn blood and advising a young royal bastard on the run we do all love. At the end of the epic, he even has the audacity to redeem his name in the worst way possible.

While Alistair plays a small role early on, he's actually a much bigger player later on in his own wright. I always felt Darkspawn Chronicles was a good take of him without the Warden (struggling but grown into a stronger man), and ever since then I've wondered if Leliana's vision was really in regards to him. After Howe is forced to seek refuge with him, Alistair, without being corrupted by the Arl's influence, does become hardened, and assumes the position of Royalist leader in order to face the re-rising Dark Spawn threat.

He and male!Cousland actually become something of bitter rivals, over a dispute of who will become King and the sad death of Queen Anora.



Ah, there were lots of things, and I feel sad they will likely never be written down. Any thoughts, questions, though? Talking about ideas can be more fun than writing them.

Since you so obviously thought this out already, you should start on it;) If you do, you'll find that ideas will keep streaming out of your mind and some things may turn out differently because of how your characters develop. Trust me, it will happen. You'll want to write something, but then your haracters might say "nope, that's not what I want".

Though I am a bit biased and don't really like the idea of Howe being 'redeemed' in the worst possible way. Is he going to kill the Archdemon?

[JHByrne]

I'm curious why there's never been a computer game that allows more than the typical explore/exploit/exterminate routine, or an ungraded dungeon crawler.



I've intentionally not posted here in a few days, just followed other people's posts. But, it seems to me that there is/would be a considerable interest in a game that allowed the players to develop their own holding, form alliances, found towns, become involved with intrigues and romances.



Consider, for instance, if instead of the DA:O plotline/Oblivion plotline, you, the player, could participate in a game which allowed you to play the role of your character, in conjunction with other player-characters. Not 'The Sims' so much, but a combination of that, Dragon Age/Oblivion dialogue choices, and the ability to direct large groups (such as the Total War series allows), with the deep research of one of the Europa Univsalis series.



So, instead of playing DA:O and then coming up with various side-stories for the character encountered, as everyone on this forum do, you would instead be the character... Gilgamesh, KSuri, Raonar, etc, would be the Banns, Arls, Teyrns, etc.



I suppose the hard part would then be not falling into the typical out-of-character spam sessions that other online MMORGs do.

[JHByrne]

Dean_the_Young wrote...


The Landsmeet after Cailan's Blight, as it will be remembered, was supposed to be a joyous celebration. It would be remembered as the start of the Civil War. The King, in his freshly clearned armor, offered Teyrn Loghain, Hero of Ferelden and General who defeated a Blight, a boon. It was supposed to be a formality: Loghain had titles, riches, fame.

He asked for what Cailan was not prepared to give. Infront of all the nobles, banns and arls alike, for the King to reverse his policy towards Orlais. He took what had so long been a private dispute, and made it public.

Cailan, still tired from the conflict, was furious, and lost his composure. Ignorring his wife's signs of caution He rose, cursed Loghain and his obstinant refusal to accept the change in the world, and ordered him stripped of his rank and honors and to leave his sight and never return or else be executed on the spot.

It is possible that, had Cailan had time to recover, he would have apologized and sought Loghain's forgiveness. But Loghain did not seek apologies, or give any. Rising from his knees, the Teyrn loudly and clearly stated that while Cailan might be king, not even he could stop Loghain and those loyal to Ferelden from protecting the land from it's own kind. Loghain turned and left the Landsmeet, and before the night was over his army had already begun a hard march to the Western Teyrn where Loghain quickly had the men fortify the border against the Orlesians, who had ominously not moved their Chevelair legions away. (And nor would they: from that point on, the Empress of Orlais claimed that those Legions were needed to protect Orlais from Loghain.)

When Royal men at arms came to enforce Royal authority, they were ejected by a hail of arrows. And when the King called upon allies, he found far fewer than he expected: the Couslands were dead or missing, the Tower was sealed by the Templars, and his Uncle had taken ill. Many lords had even taken up with Teryn Loghain, enough so that Cailan refused requests to allow another Landsmeet to meet, so afraid he might be overthrown by a last minute betrayal.

War started, and while Loghain had the advantage in skill, eventually capturing Denerim, Cailan had the larger part of the royal army, the quiet and increasingly helpful sympathies of the Empress of Orlais, and the inside advice of one traitorous Arl Howe. And as the battles began, the Darkspawn returned, and the Wardens too caught between the two factions to effectively react.

Ferelden's Civil War was not the entirety of its problem, after all. The Werewolves haunted the Brescellan Forrest, ravaging the Dalish therin. The Dwarves faced their own looming Civil War. And the Circle of Magi heeded neither side. And lost in the chaos, a pair of dwarves, two mages, a city elf and a noble are lost in the chaos.

And, unknown to even the Wardens, the Awakened stirred. The Mother's first attempt, a novice's attempt at a Blight, had been thwarted at Ostagaar, but her surviving Disciples had learned much from the experience. The Architect moved with his own plans, focusing on a supply of Grey Warden blood to awaken more of his bretheren. He, too, would move, all the while protecting the most valauble, and dangerous, prize of all from the Mother's reach.

This is Year 9:30 of the Dragon Age. This is the year of Cailan's Blight.

This is how Urthemial awoke.

1)  Why a Landsmeet if there is nothing to decide?  If it is just a public celebration/parade fest after the Victory at Ostagar, is that truly a Landsmeet?
2)  Cailan doesn't have the power to strip Loghain, despite provocation.  The point of Ferelden politics is careful balance, in this case, Loghain is the power (almost a shogun), Maric/Cailan is the legitimacy; together, they are able to dominate the collection of petty states that is Ferelden.  But, for the sake of a story, presume that such a thing does happen...
3)  If Loghain takes the Army of Gwaren to the Orlesian border to safe-guard it, who guards Gwaren?  Who guards the supply wagons necessary to feed all those soldiers, up in the Frostbacks?  Such a plan would have to involve securing the supply route beforehand (such as by reoccupying the old Soldier's Peak forest, long since abandoned by the Wardens, 150 years previously).  If you look on the map, Soldier's Peak is just west of Howe's lands of Amaranthine, and just NE of Cousland's lands of Highever.  Before Log could even conceive of such a plan, he would have to secure both Highever and Amaranthine, with Soldier's Peak for reinforcement.  However, this would also serve to guarantee the northern coast of Ferelden (and supplies from Antiva) as well as secure the road from Denerim to the Mage's Tower. 
4)  Why would Orlais fear Loghain?  Ferelden is held in contempt by most Orlesians.  Winning a war against an occupier is a different thing than winning a war of invasion, after all. 
5)  War between Cailan/Loghain:  skill only takes you so far.  Much of war is about logistics... who can feed & supply more people, more quickly.  Still, if Denerim falls, how does the army of Cailan eat?  You can't feed a giant Royal army if Cailan has no popular support.  If Orlais supplies help to Cailan, then that just proves that Loghain was right (it's hard to keep such support 'quiet' for long... supply wagons, after all, have to be driven by gossipy ox drovers, LOTS of them!).  Even if such a thing is possible, Orlais has to get supplies to Cailan in Ferelden across the Frostbacks, which means that the Dwarves now hold the key to the way, due to Orzammar's strategic location, and because a lot can be moved through the Deep Roads, IF they are secured.
6)  Why would Howe betray Loghain?  He has nothing to gain, and much to lose.  It's not likely that Cailan would allow Howe to continue.  So, Howe could only profit if BOTH Loghain and Cailan die, which is not easy to do.
7)  If you're thinking of involving the Mother/Architect, these two thinking/talking DS would be smart enough to take advantage of the chaos or ally themselves with one side or another.  At the very least, the Mother/Architect would be wise enough to wait for the Human armies to actually engage in battle before making a move. 

8)  All these little threads are very mixed together... you've got the beginnings of a 3 way or 5-way civil war.  What a mess. 

[Shadow of Light Dragon]

For people who have written tear-jerker scenes...this might sound weird, but have you ever written something that made *you* get all misty while producing it?

[DreGregoire]

Shadow of Light Dragon wrote...

For people who have written tear-jerker scenes...this might sound weird, but have you ever written something that made *you* get all misty while producing it?

Happens to me all the time. I think it's all part of getting into your characters. I tend to feel what they are feeling. It's Creepy. LOL

Modifié par DreGregoire, 23 août 2010 - 08:40 .

[Shadow of Light Dragon]

DreGregoire wrote...

Happens to me all the time. I think it's all part of getting into your characters. I tend to feel what they are feeling. It's Creepy. LOL

Thank the Maker I'm not the only one XD It's only happened to me once, and while I'm a self-confessed sap when it comes to crying in movies and books, I don't think I've ever done it while writing until recently...

[Maria13]

Shadow of Light Dragon wrote...

For people who have written tear-jerker scenes...this might sound weird, but have you ever written something that made *you* get all misty while producing it?

Not as such, but a few months ago a terrible idea hit me that made me quite depressed every time I thought about it and I used that feeling in turn to write another two scenes that I'm still pretty proud of and which were slightly darker than some of my other scenes up to that point.  Perhaps I'll write out the original idea one day, when I have the courage... 

I know I've said this before but I hate being in my time zone so many of the interesting convos seem to take place when I am asleep...