336 réponses à ce sujet

[LadyDamodred]

Hell no.

[Gilgamesh1138]

ROFL! Good!

[LadyAly]

gaaaaaaaaaah -- and I go away for 4 weeks 
I'm sure I will be using every free terminal in Hotel to read the next chapters -
But Alistair KINGLY - priceless 

Modifié par LadyAly, 18 mai 2010 - 09:45 .

[flanad]

I wanted to catch up before writing any comments because I didn't want to lose my place. What a great story! I thoroughly enjoy the plot lines as well as the pace. Please keep writing. I am eagerly awaiting more. You most definitely "have my attention".

[LadyDamodred]

He hasn't really spent much time raging. Irritated, yes, but one does not end up head of an organization like the Grey Wardens if one is given to temper tantrums.

[Gilgamesh1138]

ROFL! Then my PC needs to have more hissy fits then!

[LadyDamodred]

Capt. Obvious wrote...

LadyDamodred wrote...

He hasn't really spent much time raging. Irritated, yes, but one does not end up head of an organization like the Grey Wardens if one is given to temper tantrums.

But he has his motives, right?

Yes, he does.

[LadyDamodred]

Capt. Obvious wrote...

LadyDamodred wrote...

Capt. Obvious wrote...

LadyDamodred wrote...

He hasn't really spent much time raging. Irritated, yes, but one does not end up head of an organization like the Grey Wardens if one is given to temper tantrums.

But he has his motives, right?

Yes, he does.

Is he a good guy at heart?

This is a difficult question.  I would say no, not "good guy" as we know the term.  But he's not evil.  He is very ulitarian.  He will use people and situations to further his goals, and he is not cruel or sadistic.  People might interpret what he does as cruel, but he's not doing it becuase he enjoys causing pain.

I see him as an antagonist, not a villian.  Does that make sense?

[Gilgamesh1138]

Makes sense to me. He isn't a sociopath, he does what he has to do with the tools at hand, and those tools include people, yes?

[KnightofPhoenix]

Capt. Obvious wrote...

LadyDamodred wrote...

Capt. Obvious wrote...

LadyDamodred wrote...

He hasn't really spent much time raging. Irritated, yes, but one does not end up head of an organization like the Grey Wardens if one is given to temper tantrums.

But he has his motives, right?

Yes, he does.

Is he a good guy at heart?

He has a goal and a vision in mind that he believes will be for the greater good of everyone, Warden and non-Warden alike. And since I helped LD establish his motives, I personally sympathise with his goals, while I reject them based solely on pragmatism's sake. Won't spoil it.

And sorry LD if I am speaking out of turn. Please tell me if I am.

[LadyDamodred]

It's schfine. It's not like he's the only one who thinks the way he does. From his perspective, his goals are rather admirable. Just probably not from the perspective of most readers.

[Miri1984]

A bit like KOP's favourite man? *ducks*.

[KnightofPhoenix]

Miri1984 wrote...

A bit like KOP's favourite man? *ducks*.

No, they are different. Loghain's plan was a reaction. He was reacting to a percieved threat, but he didn't have a vision that was motivating him.
Osric on the otherhand is actively engaged in establishing a new order, based on his vision of how things should work.

Osric is visionary. Loghain is reactionary (as in he is reacting).

Modifié par KnightofPhoenix, 21 mai 2010 - 07:15 .

[Lintanis]

A new order without our heroes in it , Cant wait for MOAR!!!!!!!!

[CalumDRobb]

Ive just finished reading this, joined a bit late, but so far am loving it, wish i hadn't read so fast now that i have to wait for more lol but please keep up the excellent work...hope the other NPC's from origins turn up at some point too

[LadyDamodred]

I apologize for the delay. Work and stuff has been kicking my ass. Enjoy!

________________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 33

They left Zevran's rooms almost in a battle formation. The similarities between how they often traveled during the Blight and how they walked down the hallway now did not escape any of them. Zevran led, followed closely by Alistair. Shaye and Liadan followed with the children, flanked by Daevanya and Eamon, who had borrowed a sword from Zevran. Wynne followed close behind them and Kade brought up the rear.

As the approached the royal apartments, the two guards shifted uncomfortably. Zevran lengthened his stride to get to them before the rest of the party. "Your weapons," he demanded, holding out his hands. They looked past the elf to Alistair who was drawing up behind Zevran.

"Do it," he ordered.

"But, your Majesty…"

"Do it. Now."

"Uh, yes, your Majesty." The two guards haltingly unbuckled their sword belts and handed the sheathed weapons to Zevran. They stood awkwardly, unsure of how to react to the situation. Zevran motioned for them to move off to the side, finally prompting them with a nudge from one of their swords. Moving forward, Alistair opened the door and ushered the others inside. Kade hung back at the door.

"I will watch them until more people arrive."

Alistair just nodded and gestured for Zevran to follow him into the rooms. Kade took up a stance before the door, hands resting lightly on the pommels of his swords. Once everyone was inside, Alistair turned to find every face in the room trained on him, waiting expectantly. He took a deep breath to collect himself.

"Liadan, please take the children into the bedroom. They're staying here. If you need anything from their room, have one of Zevran's people get it once they arrive."
"Yes, your Majesty." She hurried into the bedroom with Duncan, Shaye following so she could set Elwyn down.

The door opened behind them and two more of Zevran's people entered. Zevran pulled them off to the side, speaking quickly and quietly. They listened intently, asked a few questions and gave Zevran a brief salute before turning to leave. Pausing before the door, they also gave Alistair a brief salute, which surprised him. Zevran had always made it clear that his people were his, a condition required to ensure he always had full control and to keep Lya and Alistair above suspicion. To know they apparently cared in more than a professional manner, even if only slightly, was heartening. He nodded in reply and they sprinted out the door.

"They will begin searching the palace, your Majesty. If she is still here, we should know within half an hour. I've also given orders to seal the palace as best we can until reinforcements arrive. No one is suspicious of anything yet, and we should keep it that way."

"Right. I need to draw up an order for my generals."

"If I may, your Majesty?"

Pausing on his way to the desk, Alistair looked over at Eamon.

"I would suggest not mobilizing the entire army. Request only the units you need to guard the palace. If you must, put more on standby. As it is, we won't be able to keep this quiet long and a full mobilization will cause people to panic."

Running a hand through his hair, Alistair had to admit privately that Eamon was right. Calling up the whole army immediately would make it more difficult to find answers.

"Very well. I'll draw up the order just for several units for now, and place the same number again on standby. When Kylon gets here, he will have to direct where people should be stationed." He paused. "I trust him, I really do. But I can't… I can't relieve the Guard and keep him in charge. He will have to advise whichever captain or general is in command."

He moved to the desk and wrote the order hastily, signed it and then tugged off the signet ring that doubled as a royal seal, and pressed it into the wax. He folded it again and sealed the outside. Glancing up at his friends, he wondered who he could send the order with.

Eamon stepped forward and extended a hand. "I will take it, your Majesty. Would you agree that the barracks closest to the palace are the best place to get troops right now?"

"Yes. Thank you."

Eamon tucked the document inside his vest, bowed and left. Once he was gone, Alistair looked around again. Daevanya hadn't yet arrived with Kylon, nor had any others arrived yet. It was just Zevran and Wynne with him.

He removed the swords from his back, laid them across the desk and moved towards a large chest along the wall. Flipping the latches, he started removing cloth wrapped bundles.

"Alistair, what…?" Wynne started to ask.

"Lya's idea," he said, needing to talk. "She never liked being without armor or weapons close by. Said that if she hadn't had armor in her room at Highever, she never would have made it out alive. So after we moved in, she had these brought in."

The first bundles held the silverite scale Lya favored when not in plate. He set them down carefully and reached back into the chest, withdrawing his own splintmail set. He continued talking as he worked to untie the bundles and remove the armor.

"She said if anything ever went wrong, it would be good to have some protection close at hand. For all the good it's done."

Wynne's hand closed on his shoulder in a reassuring grip. "We don't know for certain that something is wrong, Alistair."

"Don't we?" He looked up at her. "She wouldn't just leave like this, Wynne, not without telling anyone. I want to believe she's all right, I really do. But…I can't."

Finally getting all of the armor out, he pulled his boots off and began strapping the armor on. He needed it; needed to feel the reassuring weight of arms and armor. It was familiar, comfortable and was another buffer against the panic that wasn't going away.

He was re-arming himself with his sword when Shaye came out of the bedroom. "The twins are settled. Liadan is going to stay with them in there, and they'll probably be calmer without a whole lot of people fussing around them."

"Thank you."

Shaye went to pull the door shut, but was blocked as Golanth followed her out. The mabari looked around the room and then looked again at its agitated occupants. He gave an odd whine and looked up at Alistair.

Where is she?

Alistair wasn't on the receiving end of Golanth's "talks" very often and still found it incredibly weird to see how good mabari were at understanding and relaying information.

"She's…" He struggled for a minute trying to figure out how to explain what was happening. "She's missing."

Then find her.

Alistair ran a hand through his hair. "We're trying, but we don't know…" Tilting his head to the side, he looked at Lya's dog with a dawning recognition. "You can track her," he said slowly. "You could follow her trail and find where she went."

Yes.

"Let's go."

"Alistair!" Wynne's call halted him, and he swung around to face her. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to find my wife."

She looked at the others, at a loss for what to say. Shaye spoke up. "You would leave your children unprotected?"

That stopped him. "They're…they're not unprotected. You and Wynne are here, as is Zevran. Kade is just outside. I doubt anyone could get to them."

"And what about you? Are you just going to wander about with no protection and risk your life so foolishly?"

His teeth ground together in frustration. He had to do something. "I can take care of myself."

"Like Lya did?" Zevran asked quietly. He met Alistair's shocked gaze openly. "We know nothing, Alistair. And until we do, none of us, but most especially Lya, can risk losing you simply because you are frustrated. You no longer have that luxury."

Alistair wanted to throw Zevran's words back at him, to tell him he did have that luxury, that he could do something more than just sit around waiting for others do their jobs. But he couldn't. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't deny the truth of their words and it filled him with a kind of helpless rage.

The tenuous control he had snapped and he slammed his fist into the door with a snarled curse. Ignoring the pain that exploded in his hand, he stalked across the floor in angry strides.

"Alistair…"

"Don't! Wynne, just…don't." After several moments, Shaye stepped forward hesitantly and laid a hand on Alistair's arm as he walked by. Her healing magic flowed into him, alleviating the growing agony in his hand.

"You might need to use it later," she said quietly, and he stood still to allow her to finish. He grunted his thanks and flexed his hand. It still ached a bit, which means he had probably broken bones. Stupid.

"You're right about the dog, though," Zevran said. "He might be very useful. I am embarrassed I did not think of it myself. As soon as other arrive, I will go with him. We will move faster alone."

"Fine."

"I know you want to come, Alistair, but-"

"I said fine!"

Some part of Alistair was aware that they were doing what they needed to. That in order to best help Lya, they had to keep everything, including him, under control. And he was thankful for it. But the bigger part of him seethed, angry that he was being kept from doing anything, even if there was nothing he could do. He resented them, resented their calm and collected control, resented how easily they made it seem.

Dropping into the chair before the desk, he propped his elbows on the desk and rested his forehead in his hands. How long had it been since he woke up to this nightmare, one that he was certain was going to get a lot worse? Twenty minutes? Thirty? The slim control the quick mental exercises had given him was long gone and there would be so much more he had to do.

Alistair took a deep breath, closed his eyes and began the deeper meditative exercises that he needed. One by one, he recognized and acknowledged all of the emotions in him. And, one by one, he pushed them away to a quiet part of his mind, locked them behind mental barricades that would hold them until he had the time to deal with them.

The welcome stillness and clarity came, if more slowly than he would have liked. But they were there and he could focus. And when the door opened to allow Daevanya and Kylon entrance, he was ready.

Modifié par LadyDamodred, 25 mai 2010 - 11:32 .

[Miri1984]

Yay! You had me on tenderhooks for a while there Lady D. Still there, but at least there's some progress . Go Golanth!

[Gilgamesh1138]

Poor Ali, templar training for the win. Oh, I am on pins and needles!

[Costin_Razvan]

KnightofPhoenix wrote...

Miri1984 wrote...

A bit like KOP's favourite man? *ducks*.

No, they are different. Loghain's plan was a reaction. He was reacting to a percieved threat, but he didn't have a vision that was motivating him.
Osric on the otherhand is actively engaged in establishing a new order, based on his vision of how things should work.

Osric is visionary. Loghain is reactionary (as in he is reacting).

Interesting, very interesting.

Truthfully though...I am slightly annoyed by this fiction. Oh not that it isn't well written or anything like that, but in the end Alistair and Lya will win, and Osric will die. It is how it ALWAYS ends up. In reality the "Good Guys" usually end up dead, and the "Bad Guys" win. It's how it works.

Now while it can be entertaining to see the struggles of two people. It get's rather dull when you know they will win regardless what. I think part of that problem lies in the fact you spent most of the story so far focused on Alistair/Lya,  and very little on Osric.

By contrast I will give one of my favorite FanFictions: www.fanfiction.net/s/395232/1/Warcraft_2_Tides_of_Darkness 

What makes it great, is that while a side will clearly win from the beginning, the author goes to great lengths to ensure he really fleshes out the villain. So that the readers know exactly what their motives and goals are before the confrontation takes place...So far regarding Osric we don't know much why he is trying to get rid of Lya and Alistair, except that he is trying to place a new order....

It keeps the reader animated, in the sense that while they do know the good guys will win, they want to know exactly how, given the strength of their enemy. So far in your story you made Osric seem pathetic while making Alistair and Lya seem very capable compared to him, or that is the feeling I got from reading.

Modifié par Costin_Razvan, 26 mai 2010 - 08:27 .

[Lintanis]

Excellent , yeah work gets in the way alot lol.

[Miri1984]

Costin_Razvan wrote...

KnightofPhoenix wrote...

Miri1984 wrote...

A bit like KOP's favourite man? *ducks*.

No, they are different. Loghain's plan was a reaction. He was reacting to a percieved threat, but he didn't have a vision that was motivating him.
Osric on the otherhand is actively engaged in establishing a new order, based on his vision of how things should work.

Osric is visionary. Loghain is reactionary (as in he is reacting).

Interesting, very interesting.

Truthfully though...I am slightly annoyed by this fiction. Oh not that it isn't well written or anything like that, but in the end Alistair and Lya will win, and Osric will die. It is how it ALWAYS ends up. In reality the "Good Guys" usually end up dead, and the "Bad Guys" win. It's how it works.

At least I will take comfort in the fact the First Warden is really well written.

Hey, I'm not entirely certain that's going to be the case. Lady D is pretty sneaky. I'm certain even if they do win there's going to be some pretty high costs involved, much as I might hope otherwise.

[Costin_Razvan]

Yeah well.. I edited my earlier post a bit to reflect on what I wanted to say.