10369 réponses à ce sujet

[tartmuse]

Sarah1281 wrote...

Woo-hoo! I just finished writing my story! 

Of course, it won't be fully uploaded for a few weeks but at least it's done.

*jealous* Congratulations!  

[inquartata02]

Sarah1281 wrote...

Woo-hoo! I just finished writing my story! 

Of course, it won't be fully uploaded for a few weeks but at least it's done.

Huzzah! Always a good feeling. 

[Maria13]

nefand wrote...

[

I don't really see any of this as a problem plot-wise... allow me to explain.

First, it's been, what?  400 years since the last Blight?  They Grey Warden numbers are significantly thinned by the time Origins starts, at least that's the impression I got.  And not just their presence in Ferelden, but sort of dwindling overall.

So in Ferelden for the majority of ~20 years it's been pretty much just Duncan, though somewhere along the way - before Alistair's Joining - he picked up about 3 GW's, right?  There are no details on whether these guys were imported from other areas (ie reassigned or wandered into Ferelden) or actual recruits of Duncan's, just that he had a few with him and they all died at Ostagar.  I think you actually get to see them in the Dwarven noble origin, in fact.

Second, and forgive me but I cannot seem to recall exactly WHO said it but I think it was Riordin, there is an attitude that one is ALWAYS a Grey Warden, and even though you may "leave" the Order you really don't because it's in your blood, and all Grey Wardens will meet their end in the same place - the Deep Roads.  So the Order may simply look at someone who says they're walking away and be like "yeah, whatever, see you in 30 years my brother" because you can't ever really leave the order, no matter what you say or think.

It's a part of you, period.

So in that sense, why should they care if someone wanders off or chooses to live elsewhere or whatever?  In the Calling the two guys talked about how they had planned to live out their days in some remote area together, but since one of them died to the dragon, the other chose to stay in the Fade with the fantasy version of that dream.  But clearly, they had planned on leaving the Order for seclusion until their respective callings.

I really don't think that it matters to the Order if a GW chooses to leave the fold, as it were, even with all the so-called secrets they like to keep.

Another thing of note is that as GW's age, there is this impression in the lore that they tend to isolate themselves from normal people, and maybe even seek out other GW's.  This may have to do with some Taint-impulse, or simply depression, but if GW's tend to get hermity as they approach that age then there's another reason why the Order wouldn't worry about telling secrets... who would you tell them to?

Third, who cares if the "you might die at the Joining" is revealed?  A GW who is asked the question would likely shrug, or play it off as just one of a hundred rumors about GW's.  You KNOW there are plenty of rumors about the Order already, surely not all of them can be flattering "oh they're great warrior"-type rumors, can they?  Some have to be negative and scary.

But then again, after 400 years and low recruitment in Ferelden, maybe the Joining IS a restored secret by sheer attrition of shorts.  Who knows.  But you also do NOT know for certain that the secrets Ferelden kept are also secrets throughout the rest of Thedas.

As for Anora knowing, well... what sort of ruler would she be if she didn't have the 411 on all the players in her political game, including the Grey Wardens?  Does it matter how she knew about the Joining?  I bet Empress Celene knows.  I also bet that the First Enchanter knows, as does the Grand Cleric.

Do you think anybody reaches a position of power without learning how to uncover other people's and institution's secrets?  I don't.

So, really, no big surprise there, either.

I agree with most of what is said here.  Yes, being a GW is in your blood, in your body and no matter how far or how fast you run, you are never going to get away from that. It will also make you quite easy to track down should it ultimately be decided you are a threat to the order.

I think further, there is an issue or credibility, darkspawn blood and magic? Really? And he says he's the bastard heir to Ferelden throne/an ex pickpocket...  Ummm

As for Anora knowing... via Loghain is the obvious source, I'm sure he investigated the wardens most thoroughly when Maric ran away with them if not before.  A less obvious one, Howe interrogates Riordan... Tells Anora who was only feigning being kidnapped... Whatever, it's not hard to explain.

Modifié par Maria13, 02 novembre 2010 - 10:21 .

[Maria13]

Sarah1281 wrote...

Woo-hoo! I just finished writing my story! 

Of course, it won't be fully uploaded for a few weeks but at least it's done.

And well done you!

[nos_astra]

Maria13 wrote...
I agree with most of what is said here.  Yes, being a GW is in your blood, in your body and no matter how far or how fast you run, you are never going to get away from that.

I think further, there is an issue or credibility, darkspawn blood and magic? Really? And he says he's the bastard heir to Ferelden throne/an ex pickpocket...  Ummm

As for Anora knowing... via Loghain is the obvious source, I'm sure he investigated the wardens most thoroughly when Maric ran away with them if not before.  A less obvious one, Howe interrogates Riordan... Tells Anora who was only feigning being kidnapped... Whatever, it's not hard to explain.

In a world without mass media rumours are the only source of information for the common folk. So either the Wardens keep a tight reign on their comrades or in the course of several centuries rumours will inevitably come up. A Warden can obviously leave at any time, it happens in the game, it happens in the books. No one bats an eyelash. Obviously they are not terribly secretive.

People will spill the secrets, let it be drunken ravings or pillow talk with a tavern wench, and someone will listen and spread it because it's exciting, because it's news. Over time some things will become common knowledge. (The rumour about the drunk in the Starkhaven tavern obviously does reach Ferelden.)

That doesn't mean people know the truth about how they drink magically enhanced darkspawn blood prepared in a shady ritual (or whatever you want to believe) but they have an inkling as to what the Wardens are. I'm sure someone in centuries will notice something.

Loghain does not seem to have inside knowledge on the Wardens, whatever the rumours about the Joining are, about their abilities to sense Darkspawn (the glowing eyes they were supposed to have). If he had, he would probably figure out that there's more to the Wardens than fairy tales. He's paranoid and arrogant, but he's not stupid.

Howe can't be a source of information to Anora. She is a possible threat to Howe. He's the one who imprisoned her after she accused her father of getting Cailan out of the way. He would never give her information she might pass on to Loghain that could possibly make the regent relent and consider other allies than Howe.

Also, Anora is just a queen-consort before Cailan's death, she's a queen-dowager after Cailan's death and the interregnum and only after the Landsmeet declares her queen-regnant she's a ruler in her own right.

Back to Jory. Assuming that Duncan's biggest concern is that Jory could be spreading secrets, it's utter nonsense to let the recruits know what they are about to drink beforehand. He could avoid killing the man by simply not telling them what is inside the cup. He could tell him to bugger off and that he is a disgrace for Highever and the tournament he won. (Hm, that' works even better for me. Jory can live, return to his wife and tell scary things about the Wardens.)



Doesn't matter really. Just pondering ideas. I love to make the background a bit more detailed and change things.

Modifié par klarabella, 02 novembre 2010 - 10:58 .

[nefand]

*sigh*

I can't write.

I just... can't... write.

Cannot. Do. It.

I stare at the screen, I see the pretty words, my fingers assume the position, and... nothing.

#$%^$%&^$@#****%^$%^&%$%##@!&**

Weeks like this.  WEEKS.  And I want to scratch that negative-PM-Harpy's eyes out because if I walk away now then she wins and it will FRICKIN' KILL ME.

I need help.  Mental help.  Emotional help.  Blackmail-to-force-the-words-out help.

*facedesk*

[inquartata02]

I'm sure I've got a baseball bat around here somewhere...



Other than bludgeoning, you could try writing an aside or one-shot or something that has a lot of yelling and violence to get the negative crap out of your system. You know, where there's a knock-down, drag-out brawl and someone ends up getting stabbed in the face or murder-knifed. But it's hard to get negativity out of your mind as a writer, that's for sure. It's amazing what one negative review or PM can do do a writer's self-confidence even in the face of several glowing reviews and PMs and such.

[jackkel dragon]

@nefand: Write a one-shot of your favorite character almost being killed, then suddenly they kill your least favorite character. Bonus points if your least favorite character resembles the negative review's tone. You don't even need to post it for it to have an effect. (Or so I'm told. I just sort of pieced this together from random bits of advice...)

[LupusYondergirl]

@nefand : Have you tried skipping ahead? When I get stuck I'll just jump on to the next scene or even the next plotline, and then once I'm no longer frozen, go back and fill in the gap. Sometimes it isn't writing in general... just writing from one specific spot.

Or yeah, I do a one shot as others have suggested. I tend to go more towards goofy/silly, smutty, or angsty over violent, though. Mostly since I hate writing fight scenes.

or I go back and reread my old chapters I particularly liked, trying to see what it was I did there that worked so well, or old reviews that made me particularly happy.  Don't let one critic get you down, though.  Grumps are more likely to speak out than happy people, so odds are there are tons of happy readers who just don't like reviewing for that one person.  Haters gonna hate and so forth.

(Sadly I have the polar opposite of writers block now... too many ideas. Which would be good, but I've been in midterms all week and really ought to be working on my thesis. Ideas always come when I have no time for them, and when I have time it's like trying to get water from a stone.)

Modifié par LupusYondergirl, 03 novembre 2010 - 05:01 .

[Sarah1281]

I always write little ideas down so I won't forget them but that gives me the problem where I know that I will never, ever be able to write everything on my 'to write' list. Ever. I just checked and right now there are 380 things on it. Even if all of them are one-shot ideas (which they aren't), it's just not going to happen (and people ask me why I never expand on perfectly good chapter-story ideas).

[Merilsell]

nefand wrote...

*sigh*

I can't write.

I just... can't... write.

Cannot. Do. It.

I stare at the screen, I see the pretty words, my fingers assume the position, and... nothing.

#$%^$%&^$@#****%^$%^&%$%##@!&**

Weeks like this.  WEEKS.  And I want to scratch that negative-PM-Harpy's eyes out because if I walk away now then she wins and it will FRICKIN' KILL ME.

I need help.  Mental help.  Emotional help.  Blackmail-to-force-the-words-out help.

*facedesk*

*hugs*

Sorry to hear that, hun.

I hope that little motivation I have prepared is helping you to see the good points in your story again. And tbh, there are plenty of them PLENTY. I truly enjoy to read it once more under a closer scrutinizing for the strong points.

If this is not helping...well... *looks left and right then whispers* ....I still have a baseball bat somewhere

[Maria13]

nefand wrote...

*sigh*

I can't write.

I just... can't... write.

Cannot. Do. It.

I stare at the screen, I see the pretty words, my fingers assume the position, and... nothing.

#$%^$%&^$@#****%^$%^&%$%##@!&**

Weeks like this.  WEEKS.  And I want to scratch that negative-PM-Harpy's eyes out because if I walk away now then she wins and it will FRICKIN' KILL ME.

I need help.  Mental help.  Emotional help.  Blackmail-to-force-the-words-out help.

*facedesk*

Music.

Put on some of your favourite songs and imagine what scenes you would write for them.  I did this yesterday evening when I was a bit blocked and it worked....

[Raonar]

nefand wrote...

*sigh*

I can't write.

I just... can't... write.

Cannot. Do. It.

I stare at the screen, I see the pretty words, my fingers assume the position, and... nothing.

#$%^$%&^$@#****%^$%^&%$%##@!&**

Weeks like this.  WEEKS.  And I want to scratch that negative-PM-Harpy's eyes out because if I walk away now then she wins and it will FRICKIN' KILL ME.

I need help.  Mental help.  Emotional help.  Blackmail-to-force-the-words-out help.

*facedesk*

Listen to this and just let the playlist go on.

[Maria13]

Raonar wrote...


Listen to this and just let the playlist go on.

Some cool stuff there Raonar, thanks!

Edit: OK so epic I downloaded "Legend" from Amazon UK and am listening to it as I write this.  That first tune, "Freedom Fighters" was used in Star Trek the movie, wasn't it? Loved that movie...

Modifié par Maria13, 03 novembre 2010 - 01:11 .

[Raonar]

You're welcome!

Actually, most of their songs are made for trailers and films. I'ts become a habit to listen to these songs while I write at my tale

On a related note, their "Heart of Courage" was used in the Mass Effect 2 trailer.

Modifié par Raonar, 03 novembre 2010 - 01:33 .

[Corker]

Random fiddly question: Do we know where the Commander of the Grey of Orlais is stationed?



The closest I've been able to get is a reference on the wiki that a young Duncan encountered Commander Genevieve in Val Royeaux, but there's also a man staying at an inn mixed up in that. Not sure if the man and Genevieve were traveling together (which would seem to say that they were not from Val Royeaux) or if he was coming to meet her.



Does "The Calling" ever mention anything about this?

[nos_astra]

Corker wrote...
Random fiddly question: Do we know where the Commander of the Grey of Orlais is stationed?

I really don't know, but I guess it could be Montsimmard.

[tartmuse]

I don't recall anything specific coming out of the Calling regarding where the Commander of the Grey of Orlais is stationed, so you can probably write to your tastes.

Personally, I have the Commander of the Grey of Orlais stationed in Val Royeaux, since it is the Orlesian capital and the seat of the Orlesian Empire. Logically (and politically...), the CotG should be stationed at the hub of traffic and information in Orlais.  They are the Commander of the Grey for that nation.  Plus, Val Royeaux is an old city and hosts the Divine, so I imagine it wouldn't be too far fetched for them to harbor other important figures of other organizations.

Though just because they're headquartered there doesn't mean they stay there. I imagine the CotG might travel quite frequently, depending on the circumstances.  The CotG may need to go to a border outpost to check on the frequency of Darkspawn attacks.  Or maybe they miss their BFF Warden Commander in Jader. 

Modifié par icey_cold, 03 novembre 2010 - 08:43 .

[maxernst]

Corker wrote...

Random fiddly question: Do we know where the Commander of the Grey of Orlais is stationed?

The closest I've been able to get is a reference on the wiki that a young Duncan encountered Commander Genevieve in Val Royeaux, but there's also a man staying at an inn mixed up in that. Not sure if the man and Genevieve were traveling together (which would seem to say that they were not from Val Royeaux) or if he was coming to meet her.

Does "The Calling" ever mention anything about this?

I don't know if there's a canon answer.  In my fanfic, I placed the Commander at a fortress called Coteaux du Roche which was in between Val Royeaux and Val Foret.  It seems logical to me that it would be somewhere reasonably close to Val Royeaux.

[Sagacious Rage]

I thought the Orlesian Wardens had a fortress or something in Montsimmard. Isn't that where Loghain gets sent to?

[LupusYondergirl]

And Jader as well- when you meet Riordan he introduces himself as "Senior Warden of Jader."

I took that to mean they have multiple garrisons, and he ran that specific one.

[Sarah1281]

Off-topic but...

Oh my God do I hate it when I get an anonymous review that I really want to reply to! Someone read the first chapter of one of my stories, took 'You know, it was horribly irresponsible and a completely dickish thing to do to try to feed one of your classmates to a werewolf because you didn't like him even if it was nosy' and turned it into 'your conviction that X is a tragically misunderstood victim and not a complete bastard has made your personal logic totally unlike our Earth logic' and 'Just try to get past this X obsession that seems dangerously close to resembling the whole "my love can change a bad person into a good one" philosophy.'

WTF? I don't have an obsession with the character. I was not in any way trying to portray him as tragically misunderstood but I think he was a victim in the one instance of someone trying to feed him to a werewolf as a teenager before he did anything really horrible because he was nosy. I didn't even mention his great love for another character! The whole point was 'I found it stupid that in the source material the people finding out about the attempted murder didn't seem to care and so had them react to the fact that it was attempted murder which, regardless of who the person later became, was still a horrible thing to do.'

Fortunately, anonymous reviews like this can and will be deleted.

I mean honestly, if I'm going to be accused of being obsessed with a character and have it implied I'm being a mindless fangirl about them, can it at least be about a character that I'm more fond of? I'm really pretty neutral about this one.

[Merilsell]

Heh, this happened for me with that odd "why don't they slap the sh*t out of teh inferior elves?" anon review, which Nefand epically smacked-down afterwards. So just answer this review in a review of your own, perhaps? You'll feel better afterwards.

[Shadow of Light Dragon]

LupusYondergirl wrote...

And Jader as well- when you meet Riordan he introduces himself as "Senior Warden of Jader."
I took that to mean they have multiple garrisons, and he ran that specific one.

Multiple garrisons makes sense, if only because it's easier/faster to respond to a darkspawn threat when it springs up near an outpost (or, at least, closer to the outpost than a lone HQ).

As for the HQ in Orlais, I don't know. It may not be on the map. Soldier's Peak was a Warden-granted fortress, wasn't it?

[LupusYondergirl]

Oh goody. Update for the first time in about a week... and stats are down. Grr.