After weeks of late nights and endless work... · 4:10pm May 1st, 2023
The end is in sight, both on this software release for my day job and the new chapter of C&C I've been promising for a month. With regards to the latter, I finally settled on showing three new perspectives—Giraldi, Tribune Cipio, and his aide, Optio Virgo—and limiting the chapter to those, as any more than that would overwhelm the reader and already had overwhelmed the author.
The three chosen each provide a distinct perspective of different events. Through the Tribune, you'll see what happened in Aricia and his desperate but ultimately successful struggles to save the city. Through Giraldi, you get to see events hidden from Gilda, like the final attack on Bale while she and Fortrakt were off trying to save them with summoning gems. Through Optio Virgo, you'll see the opening attacks on Aricia from an (initially) civilian point of view and how she ended up where she did, as the Tribune's new adjutant.
And Gilda? The chapter will end with her replay about to occur, as Queen Lepidoptes deliberately saves it for last to make sure the Tribune sees the power of human firearms first. So the next chapter after this opens with her memories replayed, but since there's no real point in regurgitating what everyone's already seen, I'm going to handwave it away by simply saying that the she's not aware of anything while it happens—that the nature of the spell is such that whoever's having their memories replayed can't perceive the reactions of others to what they see. So *her* perspective will resume only after the playback is complete, and I'll take it from there.
This has been a very long and difficult chapter to write, folks, with a lot of discarded perspectives, including Obsidian Ire and a nearly finished one from Fortrakt. Though I could have included him, I decided it was just (mostly) the same stuff over again, and the remainder—for now—doesn't offer enough extra to justify it. Parts of it will be good to know in the future, however, so I'll probably find an excuse to incorporate it at a later point.
I expect that the chapter will—at long last—be draft complete tonight and off to prereaders, probably weighing in at a very hefty 19,000 words. Be looking for a weekend release, and I'll try to include a teaser later this week.
Do we get a reference to Giraldy minigun action?
If there is Gilda's point of view (even if it is not specifically written) does it means that Tribune would learn about her and Starshina?
Anyway, I did not commented to last chapter, as I usually do, because I got to it very late (just few days ago in fact) and there were bunch of things that I simply could not put into words.
Now, again, I want to say that it is not my story, so It is not my intention to pointlesly criticize. I just want to say, that even tough it does make kind of sense that Changelings would be telepathical, it feels kind of convenient that queen would be able to temporarily bestow this ability to bunch other species.
Still, I will wait for the chapter itself before make my judgement.
Personally I would probably recount the tale by mouth, maybe after both Cipio and Gilda relax from the drink, and use Queen's Lepidoptes diplomatical experience to make them come to some kind of agreement.
In any case, look forward for next chapter
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As you know by now, you do indeed!
Coming back to this a little late, sorry.
But all my mental energy was put towards finishing a software release at my day job and writing the new chapter.
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That’s exactly what it means. Which means it turn it would be in her interest to not take part on it. The question then becomes, how is she trapped into doing it...?
Quite all right. You shouldn’t feel forced to comment every time. Appreciate you checking in here, at least.
Convenient? Perhaps. But if it’s magic-based, why wouldn’t they have that ability to share such spellwork? And why shouldn’t I avail myself of it?
The chapter is out, so read and (hopefully) enjoy at leisure.
Her diplomatic experience is exactly what she’s drawing on here, and will continue to do so. Just keep in mind that means something different for the Changelings (and in particular the Queen!) than it does for griffons or most other races.
Cool. Look forward to hearing what you think of it.