| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Alaundo |
Posted - 28 Nov 2005 : 22:52:22
Well met
This is a Book Club thread for Ghostwalker, book 2 of the Fighters series, by Erik Scott de Bie. Please discuss chapter 22 through Postlude, and the "Nightingale's Song" herein: |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 03 Mar 2009 : 12:27:57
Now I'm looking forward to Downshadow  . I can definately see how Ghostwalker works as a message to young children to be careful (I'm sure many of us were told the same types of stories as children, especially anyone who were scouts....actually this reminds me of when I was a boy scout and there was the stories of the ghost residing in the abandoned house that was in those woods we were camping in)...anyways, hope to see that work about realms literature you guys will be penning. |
| Erik Scott de Bie |
Posted - 03 Mar 2009 : 03:10:10
Oh yeah . . .
See a PM from me!
Cheers |
| The Sage |
Posted - 03 Mar 2009 : 01:19:27
Well, I can say that I would definitely be interested in working with you.
Woot!!! [That's for GoCeraf] 
Needless to say, this is one of my favourite aspects of the Realms, so anything I can do to add to that, is neato in my book.
...
Heh. This does remind me though, that we really should get back to that "Negarath stuff" too, Erik.  |
| Erik Scott de Bie |
Posted - 03 Mar 2009 : 01:02:18
Sage and/or Wooly, after you read the bit in Downshadow (one month to go!), if you're interested in maybe doing an article about literature in the Realms, let me know. I hadn't thought about it until today, but I think I could drum up some cool stuff. (And educational!)
Cheers |
| The Sage |
Posted - 02 Mar 2009 : 23:23:43
quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
Sage and I had a long discussion about this, I think in my Chamber of the Sages thread. He would probably be interested in hearing this answer, and you might glean more if he'd be so kind as to point you to the appropriate page (it was fairly recent, I think!).
Indeed. 'Tis here.
...
This is hot stuff, Erik! But I want to process it properly before I bombard you with further questions. Give me some time. 
|
| Erik Scott de Bie |
Posted - 02 Mar 2009 : 22:23:14
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
Excellent end to an excellent book.
Thank you! I appreciate the kind words, and I'm glad you enjoyed.
quote:
Walker has hopefully found peace in Kelemvor's realm now, no longer being caught between life and death.
Maybe, maybe not--maybe we'll find out one day.
quote:
Speaking of the song at the end, which real world artist would you find best to perform it? (weren't expecting that question either huh?) 
That is indeed an unexpected question (you're good at those!), and one to which I'm not sure I have an answer.
Sage and I had a long discussion about this, I think in my Chamber of the Sages thread. He would probably be interested in hearing this answer, and you might glean more if he'd be so kind as to point you to the appropriate page (it was fairly recent, I think!).
About the Nightingale's Song:
One doesn't necessarily need to set the words to music. It's a "song" the way the Song of Roland is a song. It's rather a heroic ballad: an epic poem performed orally in a way that is similar to singing, but isn't quite the same.
The biggest consideration is that the song is supposed to be in ELVISH, and so to write the whole thing, we would need a Faerunian Elvish dictionary (specifically the dialect of the Northlands--think the Elvish spoken in Silverymoon) and a skilled Elven translator.
It's also MUCH longer than the excerpt printed on the page, and I don't have the whole epic ballad version written (will I eventually? who knows!). That's what the novel is for: The full Nightingale's Song is the Realms version of Ghostwalker, albeit in a different genre (novel for us, heroic ballad for them).
(This is where I go all metafictional and say that, when Arya told me the story of Ghostwalker, she performed the whole ballad for me and I copied out my favorite part, translated into modern English. But wouldn't that just be whack?)
It's also worth noting that just because Arya didn't originally intend it to be put to music doesn't mean it *hasn't* been. There have been numerous performances by many singers, poets, and musicians, owing to the popularity of the story (like most stories in the Realms that come to us as novels), and it is a favored piece for a number of bards in the Realms (and at least one who has traveled the planes beyond). None sing it quite like Arya did, but the various interpretations over the intervening years have been remarkable.
And the original "Nightingale's Song" certainly isn't the *only* version of the story. As of the 4e FR, a century has passed since the events of the novel: plenty of time for bits to be forgotten, passed on differently, tweaked, re-imagined, etc. In much the same way that we take classic works of literature from the last century or earlier and re-imagine them, writers in the Realms (which has such a large bardic tradition) might retell stories or just borrow liberally from existing works.
I suspect that with the advent of the Spellplague, the oral histories and ballads would survive better than written works, so unless it has been lost, the Nightingale's Song is still performed in 1479, and certainly not in one consistent form. There is one particular work called The Ghost and the Maiden, which is a transcription/re-imagining of "The Nightingale's Song" into chapbook format, written by none other than our friend Catalan the Mad, the fancyname (pseudonym) of Alin Cateln. (And let me tell you, that Catalan is a loonie.)
Catalan's chapbook is as close as the Realms has to our novel version of the Ghostwalker story, condensed to about 80 pages, and is more a fairy tale than factual/realism. Most Realmsian children--particularly those who live near dark woods, in rural settings, or under the thumb of evil oppressors, know some version of the "dark-avenger" story: "The Nightingale" is the heroine, a red-haired princess who is inexorably drawn to a dark shadow called "the Ghost," and helps him vanquish the foes who had wronged him in life. Depending on where the story is told, you may get a happy or unhappy ending. Catalan's chapbook itself has a happy ending.
But to skip all these issues and answer your original question: Which real world artist would you get to perform it?
The performance would be more lyrical/poetry than actual song, but anyone with a really good voice and a strong delivery would do it justice. I would want to tap a singer-songwriter with a really, really good voice, like Tori Amos or Aimee Mann. I think Tori in parituclar would get a huge kick out of singing a song in Elvish as well.
Cheers
P.S. Also, no promises, but you may see something in Downshadow about Realms literature. We'll see! |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 02 Mar 2009 : 14:50:17
Excellent end to an excellent book. Walker has hopefully found peace in Kelemvor's realm now, no longer being caught between life and death.
Speaking of the song at the end, which real world artist would you find best to perform it? (weren't expecting that question either huh?) |
| Erik Scott de Bie |
Posted - 23 Mar 2007 : 13:42:51
To reply:
quote:
Originally posted by Kyrene
I shall have to re-read that part, as well as the scene where Dharan dies. Was there any significance to the gold ring then? Did only the locket and the silver ring have the inscriptions, or only the locket?
The significance of the gold ring was that it was a replacement of the silver ring. Greyt and Walker both rub it/fiddle with it, which implies their connection.
Only the locket has an inscription -- the rings are both quite plain of words.
Cheers |
| Kyrene |
Posted - 23 Mar 2007 : 05:38:54
quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
You recall correctly, sir! Dharan did have a habit of playing with his gold ring . . . much like Walker's habit of playing with his silver ring. 
The locket itself was not shaped like a wolf's head, I don't believe -- I think (page 104) it was "gold, in the shape of a five-pointed leaf, cunningly cut and delicately formed. Tiny Elvish runes were etched on the back." And Arya slips it into her pocket "without thinking," so it isn't like she purposefully stole it -- Greyt just startles her.
I shall have to re-read that part, as well as the scene where Dharan dies. Was there any significance to the gold ring then? Did only the locket and the silver ring have the inscriptions, or only the locket? |
| Erik Scott de Bie |
Posted - 20 Mar 2007 : 14:51:58
quote:
Originally posted by Kyrene
Another weapon that struck me as odd was Derst's chain dagger. It seemed -- and especially so when he made the makeshift one after escaping the dungeon -- such a flimsy and worthless weapon to use. I'm surprised Bars never thought of constantly ribbing him each and every time he pulled out that 'toy' for combat.
Actually (and not that any of it is actually published and out there, etc.), in some of Bars and Derst's early adventures, there is a considerable amount of ribbing that goes on about the chain-dagger . . . that is, until Derst proves the usefulness of the weapon. If ribbing had gone on in Ghostwalker (an opponent mocking Derst for his weapon), it's entirely possible Bars might have stepped up to defend him.
But yes, indeed -- I could have seized upon that. I guess I thought the reparte quite complete already.
quote:
After reading Wayfarer I expected Meris to specialize in handaxes and was rather dissapointed that he used a longsword/rapier (it was never quite clear) as primary weapon and only used a handaxe as secondary/throwing weapon. I would have preferred -- since he was using two-weapon fighting -- had he used two handaxes, perhaps even two-weapon 'throwing' them at times.
Ah yes, that would indeed be cool!
But in "Wayfarer," unless I'm recalling it incorrectly -- he had the axe as a gift, and brought it along with him. Later, he pulled one of his half-brother's swords when fighting him, and used that as a primary sort of weapon, only whipping out the axe to startle his foe off-balance (and thus win). It's ironic that you'd talk about that not working for you, since part of the intention of "Wayfarer" was to establish why he might fight with a sword/axe combination.
But you know what they say about intentions . . . 
quote:
I suppose this was done in order for him to be more familiar with the shatterspike later in the book. By the way -- and I know you have statted it before -- what is the shatterspike again?
The shatterspike, according to the DMG, is a +1 longsword with special qualities when it comes to sundering/breaking weapons (i.e. makes it much easier to break a foe's blade). It was first introduced in "Sword and Fist" (which is also where the ghostwalker prestige class is from). Walker's shatterspike is a +2 (or +3) ghost touch shatterspike (longsword).
quote:
quote:
She did, from earlier in the book, take Greyt's/Lyetha's locket. Which may or may not be significant to a followup novel.
Oh. Why was I under the impression that the locket was a gold version of the ring? Was the locket also shaped like a wolf's head? I distinctly recall Dharan having the habit of nervously playing with his gold ring...
You recall correctly, sir! Dharan did have a habit of playing with his gold ring . . . much like Walker's habit of playing with his silver ring.
The locket itself was not shaped like a wolf's head, I don't believe -- I think (page 104) it was "gold, in the shape of a five-pointed leaf, cunningly cut and delicately formed. Tiny Elvish runes were etched on the back." And Arya slips it into her pocket "without thinking," so it isn't like she purposefully stole it -- Greyt just startles her.
It's the kind of thing where you're looking at a pack of tic-tacs at the store and you get startled by an old friend (or, more appropriately, someone you don't like very much, who just oozes the charm) and put it in your pocket along with your wallet, without recalling that you'd held it in your hand.
quote:
quote:
Amra Clearwater isn't a high level druid. According to the Silver Marches supplement, Amra is around the 7th-9th level range, so she's really no match for a hierophant-level druid (sorry, I still think in 2e terms sometimes).
Ah. Not having any D&D sourcebooks, I didn't know that. Of course, the battle with Meris would have left Amra 'spell depleted' to some extent too, even though I don't recall her actually getting a spell off before Gylther'yel 'entombed' her anyway.
Point. Not that the sourcebook is overly important to the plotting of the novel, but I'm pointing out that Amra is an established character in the setting, with an established power level (as is Unddreth, the watch captain, and Geth Stonar, the town speaker -- who I think I sent away early in the book because his name occasionally gives me the giggles, owing to a campaign joke from some time ago).
Yeah, Gylther'yel had the drop on Amra -- snagged her with a spell that kept her from concentrating or casting any sort of magic herself.
quote:
quote:
In a way, it would be *more* creepy if Dharan manufactured the whole thing: he ended up killing Rhyn, then went through the town and killed a dozen or so children in order to cover it up.
That is the way I interpreted it. Initially, after reading Wayfarer I thought it was Gharask and that Dharan had foolishly surrounded himself with some bad seeds (anything to get the job done afterall), but was 'upstanding' enough to kill his monstrous father. However, as Dharan's character progressed -- and I seem to recall Rhyn seeing Gharask's ghost at one stage -- I more and more got the feeling that Dharan, et al, killed Rhyn, then the other children killing a few birds with one stone. They could have a scapegoat, they could have their sick kicks, they could get rid of Rhyn and Dharan could seem like a (tragic) hero -- something he so desperately always strove to achieve.
I think you're dead-on target.
quote:
Thanks for the great read anyway. Ghostwalker is certainly the best of the four "Fighters" -- not that the others weren't also good
I'm glad you enjoyed!
Cheers
Mod edit: Fixed the quote coding to get rid of the funky blue text. |
| Kyrene |
Posted - 20 Mar 2007 : 07:07:31
quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
quote:
Originally posted by Kyrene
The weapons of choice of some of the characters.
That's a really interesting comment -- can you give me a specific case? Perhaps it's just a taste thing, but if you don't think the weapon matches the character (i.e. "works" for the character), I'd be interested to hear who you mean.
Bars and Bilgren are the only ones I can think of who go beyond the "unconventional" -- most of the others have swords or axes.
quote:
Heh. Ok, here's a little story about the gyrspike and how it came to be:
When I first got the commission from Wizards to write Ghostwalker, I said, "ok, I want to make it a *Fighters* book" and since some of my favorite rules at the time were from Complete Warrior, I went all out to put together an assortment of weapons, styles, and techniques that would have verisimilitude and still be really cool. And one that I thought of was the Gyrspike -- I mean, who uses such a thing? And *how*? It was something of a writing challenge for me -- describing a combat with such a bizarre weapon.
Of course, in a fantasy setting, there are people who specialize in odd (or even mundane) weapons, and are known for such a thing -- "weapon of choice," I believe you called it. I thought that, if you gave him an axe, Bilgren would just be some old barbarian type -- boring and cliche. Then again, if you gave him just that little touch of uniqueness, then you did a mess of character development right there, making him distinctive.
Well, Bilgren being one example and despite your explanation, I am still of the opinion that a barbarian (whether he's actually a runaway/exiled Uthgardt or not) in a small frontier town would not have specialized with -- let alone, I'd hazard, ever seen -- a gyrspike. But then, you know what they say about opinions...
Another weapon that struck me as odd was Derst's chain dagger. It seemed -- and especially so when he made the makeshift one after escaping the dungeon -- such a flimsy and worthless weapon to use. I'm surprised Bars never thought of constantly ribbing him each and every time he pulled out that 'toy' for combat.
Funny enough, you mention Bars, but I was quite okay with the fact that a paladin would choose two (light) maces in stead of the steriotypical longsword and shield combination.
After reading Wayfarer I expected Meris to specialize in handaxes and was rather dissapointed that he used a longsword/rapier (it was never quite clear) as primary weapon and only used a handaxe as secondary/throwing weapon. I would have preferred -- since he was using two-weapon fighting -- had he used two handaxes, perhaps even two-weapon 'throwing' them at times. I suppose this was done in order for him to be more familiar with the shatterspike later in the book. By the way -- and I know you have statted it before -- what is the shatterspike again?
quote:
She did, from earlier in the book, take Greyt's/Lyetha's locket. Which may or may not be significant to a followup novel.
Oh. Why was I under the impression that the locket was a gold version of the ring? Was the locket also shaped like a wolf's head? I distinctly recall Dharan having the habit of nervously playing with his gold ring...
quote:
Amra Clearwater isn't a high level druid. According to the Silver Marches supplement, Amra is around the 7th-9th level range, so she's really no match for a hierophant-level druid (sorry, I still think in 2e terms sometimes). Gylther'yel is an old, nay ancient presence -- one of the heavy hitters of the world, almost -- and Amra is just a frontier-town druid.
And even if Gylther'yel *had* been about the same level as Amra, it's entirely possible that the right trap, laid at the right time, and right after a battle that consumed most of Amra's energies, could easily have ensnared the half-elf druid.
Ah. Not having any D&D sourcebooks, I didn't know that. Of course, the battle with Meris would have left Amra 'spell depleted' to some extent too, even though I don't recall her actually getting a spell off before Gylther'yel 'entombed' her anyway.
quote:
In a way, it would be *more* creepy if Dharan manufactured the whole thing: he ended up killing Rhyn, then went through the town and killed a dozen or so children in order to cover it up.
That is the way I interpreted it. Initially, after reading Wayfarer I thought it was Gharask and that Dharan had foolishly surrounded himself with some bad seeds (anything to get the job done afterall), but was 'upstanding' enough to kill his monstrous father. However, as Dharan's character progressed -- and I seem to recall Rhyn seeing Gharask's ghost at one stage -- I more and more got the feeling that Dharan, et al, killed Rhyn, then the other children killing a few birds with one stone. They could have a scapegoat, they could have their sick kicks, they could get rid of Rhyn and Dharan could seem like a (tragic) hero -- something he so desperately always strove to achieve.
quote:
I don't believe I ever had him meditate in the ethereal -- remember that even while physical he could see the ethereal world just as easily as you or I see the physical world. He does do the majority of his traveling through Shadow, but the PrC gives a lot more flexibility with that.
Ah. So he was merely seeing (as he always did) the ethereal while meditating. I thought he actually meditated in the ethereal (makes no sense) or in the shadow world (in order to make use of the shadow heal of the PrC) every day.
Thanks for the great read anyway. Ghostwalker is certainly the best of the four "Fighters" -- not that the others weren't also good, they just each had some glaring problems which yours was thanfully free of. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 19 Mar 2007 : 22:54:16
Heh, for some reason I always thought Glyther'yel was a ghost, and didn't even think twice that she might not be. |
| Erik Scott de Bie |
Posted - 19 Mar 2007 : 20:21:10
And on that note, check out this poll I put together:
http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9085
Literature in the making, folks.
Cheers |
| Erik Scott de Bie |
Posted - 19 Mar 2007 : 20:01:47
quote:
Originally posted by Gruen
Absolutely loved the novel. GREAT job!!! I was very much reminded of how I felt after reading the Black Bouquet (where I thought, "Hmm... this Byers guy may just be the next big thing"). Of course, now he is.
Thank you for such kind words.
I am immensely flattered by the comparison to RLB. Though don't let him catch you saying that or he'll have to come kick my ass with rapiers.
(Him being a nation-class fencer and me being such a novice.)
quote:
I saw a post some time back where someone thought Derst was a half-elf? That's funny because I thought of them as dwarves, on several occasions. Not 100% certain why, but I kept having to remind myself they were human. Shrug.
Hmm. Yeah, I can't seem to find reference to the race of Bars or Derst at all.
I suppose the race of Arya's companions will remain a mystery. Perhaps Derst is a mutt, eh? (Or perhaps a halfling -- that seems plausible, no?)
Cheers |
| Gruen |
Posted - 19 Mar 2007 : 19:33:41
Absolutely loved the novel. GREAT job!!! I was very much reminded of how I felt after reading the Black Bouquet (where I thought, "Hmm... this Byers guy may just be the next big thing"). Of course, now he is.
I saw a post some time back where someone thought Derst was a half-elf? That's funny because I thought of them as dwarves, on several occasions. Not 100% certain why, but I kept having to remind myself they were human. Shrug.
Gruen |
| Erik Scott de Bie |
Posted - 19 Mar 2007 : 14:58:42
Thank you for your valuable feedback, sir! And may I compliment you on such a thoughtful and well-constructed post.
quote:
Originally posted by Kyrene
Preamble
I read Wayfarer before Ghostwalker so was familiar with 'the bad guys' before the start of the prologue. I also enjoyed Wayfarer a lot, but let me say at the onset, this actually caused me to be a little bit dissapointed in Ghostwalker.
Interesting. I'm glad you liked the story!
quote:
Arya's journey from selfish, rebellious daughter/cousin to that of tempered and adult womanhood.
I'm glad that was a plus for you -- in the original draft of the book, I had about 5,000 more words to develop that. They just got cut upon conversion to the final form.
quote:
The unconventional, but true to rules, use of class abilities. Prime axamples of this being Dharan's use of Bard abilities and Rhyn's use of Ghostwalker abilities.
I very much enjoyed doing that -- the ghostwalker PrC was one I had to think long and hard about. The etherealness and shadow walking don't seem to make sense (as they are separate planes), so I went for as organic an explanation as I could manage.
quote:
The constant banter between Derst and Barrs in every single scene they were in.
Hmm. That's their schtick, though -- they're the comedy relief. But I can appreciate that they didn't work for you. Some readers don't need comedy relief.
I should note that there is one notable exception to their "constant banter" -- the scene when they are both fighting Meris, it gets real serious, real fast. Particularly subsequent to Derst's significant injuries.
quote:
Too many characters, not allowing for much development or backstory of most.
I have heard that comment, and I sympathize. As I said about Arya, above, I originally had a lot more space to develop the various characters. My first draft was 115k -- I had to cut 15k of it. 15,000 words is a lot to cut, and not without its costs, believe you me.
In the end, I had to put my focus on the characters I thought mattered the most to the actual plot: Walker, Gylther'yel, Greyt, and a little of Meris and Arya.
If I get the chance to follow up Ghostwalker, you better believe I'll take advantage of the opportunity to develop those characters who survived.
quote:
The weapons of choice of some of the characters.
That's a really interesting comment -- can you give me a specific case? Perhaps it's just a taste thing, but if you don't think the weapon matches the character (i.e. "works" for the character), I'd be interested to hear who you mean.
Bars and Bilgren are the only ones I can think of who go beyond the "unconventional" -- most of the others have swords or axes.
quote:
The ghostfire/ghostwhatever elemental.
Heh. Yeah, I can see that. Of all the elements of the book, that's the biggest risk vis a vis the D&D rules, I think.
quote:
I must admit, I'm not a very astute reader most of the time, and often miss out on crucial plot elements as they are presented, but I found Ghostwalker a little too easy to predict.
Different readers pick up on different clues at different rates. I don't think any two people have had the same experience with the book.
quote:
I realised quite early on that Meris was the one removing the ring in the prologue and that Gylther'yel was somehow also involved in that scene. Good reveals were the family ties between her, Leytha and Rhyn, and the Rhyn Greyt surprise.
There were some clues I tried to hide and some I didn't, really. Knowing that Meris and Gylther'yel were involved in the prologue doesn't spoil the end, I don't think -- in a sense, you're supposed to figure that out at some point, at least.
As you say, the family ties revelations were more important to the book, and I'm glad you liked how those worked out.
(And I tell you, how tempted I was to write a "Rhyn -- I am your father" scene -- but no, such was not to be.)
And now onto questions:
quote:
1. Apart from the recurring plot motive, why did Arya take her uncle's gold ring and did it have any powers like the silver one?
I don't believe Arya took her uncle's ring -- she ended up with Walker's, which he put on her finger before the battle with Gylther'yel.
She did, from earlier in the book, take Greyt's/Lyetha's locket. Which may or may not be significant to a followup novel.
quote:
2. Did Gylther'yel have Ghostwalker levels, or was she something else entirely?
She does *not* have Ghostwalker levels. I don't think there is a game mechanic presently out there that describes exactly *what* she was, but basically she was a high level druid (about 15th) who could summon ghost animals/elementals and her wildshape was ethereal itself. She may or may not have been a ghost in the first place -- I leave that up to the reader.
quote:
3. If the head of the druidic order (I forget her name now) is presumably a high level druid, how did Gylther'yel manage to beat her so easily?
Amra Clearwater isn't a high level druid. According to the Silver Marches supplement, Amra is around the 7th-9th level range, so she's really no match for a hierophant-level druid (sorry, I still think in 2e terms sometimes). Gylther'yel is an old, nay ancient presence -- one of the heavy hitters of the world, almost -- and Amra is just a frontier-town druid.
And even if Gylther'yel *had* been about the same level as Amra, it's entirely possible that the right trap, laid at the right time, and right after a battle that consumed most of Amra's energies, could easily have ensnared the half-elf druid.
quote:
4. Did Gylther'yel already make contact with Meris in Wayfarer? Was she the whispering spirit of the woods or was it the onset of his madness?
Meris, no matter how sociopathic he is, isn't mad in the sense that he hears voices. He may have *thought* he heard voices, but Gylther'yel is, indeed, talking to him in "Wayfarer."
Or, alternately, perhaps he really *is* mad.
That's really up to you.
However, the friendly interaction (and in my first draft, it was very friendly indeed) between Meris and Gylther'yel in Ghostwalker seems to indicate that they had a past relationship, and it would make sense for those relations to have started in the "Wayfarer" story.
quote:
5. Was Greyt Sr. (Dharan's father) really mad? If so, is madness a hereditary illness the Greyts suffer from? There seemed to be clear indications of it progressing in both Dharan and Meris.
I leave that open to interpretation. Gharask Greyt never actually appears in either story -- was he truly a homicidal maniac, or just an innocent scapegoat? Was he framed, or did Dharan just take advantage of a true situation (i.e. Gharask was murdering children anyway, so Dharan thought he could get away with just one more)? In a way, it would be *more* creepy if Dharan manufactured the whole thing: he ended up killing Rhyn, then went through the town and killed a dozen or so children in order to cover it up.
quote:
6. Did Rhyn meditate in the ethereal (thereby reducing number of uses per day) or shadow realm, and why?
I don't believe I ever had him meditate in the ethereal -- remember that even while physical he could see the ethereal world just as easily as you or I see the physical world. He does do the majority of his traveling through Shadow, but the PrC gives a lot more flexibility with that.
quote:
I found the unique description of when and how Rhyn's Ghostwalker abilities came into play - for instance only being able to use Painful Reckoning once he remembered who his specific foes were and it almost kicking in too late in the later battles - very entertaining.
Excellent! Glad you enjoyed.
quote:
I didn't like the use of so many characters, but I suppose further writing with some of them will help (this novel just didn't have enough screen-time for all of them).
Well put. I worked with what I had. I think character development is a little bit of a taste thing, as well -- if an author goes in very deeply, some readers love it, others toss the book away in disgust because the characters bore them. I strove for just enough connection, and just enough development for the format (a 320 page novel). That said, I really try to focus on characters, so the feedback is very valuable.
If there is a followup book, I reckon it will be Arya, and you'll get to see her developed in more detail (and Bars and Derst as well).
quote:
I didn't like the un-typical use of some weaponry - for instance what's a barbarian doing with a gyrspike and why would he ever have taken up such a weapon - but the in-fight mechanics and physics* were at least well conceived and/or researched.
Heh. Ok, here's a little story about the gyrspike and how it came to be:
When I first got the commission from Wizards to write Ghostwalker, I said, "ok, I want to make it a *Fighters* book" and since some of my favorite rules at the time were from Complete Warrior, I went all out to put together an assortment of weapons, styles, and techniques that would have verisimilitude and still be really cool. And one that I thought of was the Gyrspike -- I mean, who uses such a thing? And *how*? It was something of a writing challenge for me -- describing a combat with such a bizarre weapon.
Of course, in a fantasy setting, there are people who specialize in odd (or even mundane) weapons, and are known for such a thing -- "weapon of choice," I believe you called it. I thought that, if you gave him an axe, Bilgren would just be some old barbarian type -- boring and cliche. Then again, if you gave him just that little touch of uniqueness, then you did a mess of character development right there, making him distinctive.
Anyway, that was my plan. I appreciate your feedback on the subject.
quote:
The ending didn't backtrack on what preceded it - Rhyn's quest was over and 'final' death could take him.
Indeed. Initially, I wrote a "happy ending," or at least one that's more hopeful . . . then I recanted and wrote the ending the novel needed.
quote:
I'm looking forward to Depths of Madness and the promotional short - a la Wayfarer.
Well, "That Time of the Tenday" is indeed up and available on the wizards site. Check it out in the book club thread: http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8984
quote:
* A good example being most of the bad physics in the terrible movie Torque I had the misfortune of seeing part of recently.
Ha! You know, I think I've seen that movie too. And that my opinion largely matches yours.
Cheers |
| Kyrene |
Posted - 19 Mar 2007 : 09:04:49
I took three books with me on holiday this last week. One was The Realms of Shadow anthology, since I had about three or so stories left to read when we departed. The other two were Master of Chains and of course Ghostwalker. I'm going to try to keep it short by purposely using this thread for my whole and overall impression of the book.
Preamble
I read Wayfarer before Ghostwalker so was familiar with 'the bad guys' before the start of the prologue. I also enjoyed Wayfarer a lot, but let me say at the onset, this actually caused me to be a little bit dissapointed in Ghostwalker. I'll list my thoughts in a good to bad order.
The Excellent
Rhyn/Walker's journey from pure (and often self-destructive) vengeful motives to that of protector/nurturer.
Dharan Greyt’s journey from – well let’s face it – selfish bastard to selfish bastard realising he’ll never be what he wants to be.
Meris’ circling the drain of self-destruction being ultimately realised, even as he seemingly grew in power.
The Good
Arya's journey from selfish, rebellious daughter/cousin to that of tempered and adult womanhood.
The unfolding of the layers of the plot.
The unconventional, but true to rules, use of class abilities. Prime axamples of this being Dharan's use of Bard abilities and Rhyn's use of Ghostwalker abilities.
The Bad
The constant banter between Derst and Barrs in every single scene they were in.
The Ugly
Too many characters, not allowing for much development or backstory of most.
The weapons of choice of some of the characters.
The ghostfire/ghostwhatever elemental.
In General
I must admit, I'm not a very astute reader most of the time, and often miss out on crucial plot elements as they are presented, but I found Ghostwalker a little too easy to predict. I realised quite early on that Meris was the one removing the ring in the prologue and that Gylther'yel was somehow also involved in that scene. Good reveals were the family ties between her, Leytha and Rhyn, and the Rhyn Greyt surprise. A lot of the stuff I didn't quite understand, like Rhyn's meditation, or ability to read the immediate past and Gylther'yel's non-druidic powers, but overall it wasn't jarring to the story.
Some of My Questions
1. Apart from the recurring plot motive, why did Arya take her uncle's gold ring and did it have any powers like the silver one?
2. Did Gylther'yel have Ghostwalker levels, or was she something else entirely?
3. If the head of the druidic order (I forget her name now) is presumably a high level druid, how did Gylther'yel manage to beat her so easily?
4. Did Gylther'yel already make contact with Meris in Wayfarer? Was she the whispering spirit of the woods or was it the onset of his madness?
5. Was Greyt Sr. (Dharan's father) really mad? If so, is madness a hereditary illness the Greyts suffer from? There seemed to be clear indications of it progressing in both Dharan and Meris.
6. Did Rhyn meditate in the ethereal (thereby reducing number of uses per day) or shadow realm, and why?
Conclusion
Overall, I really enjoyed Ghostwalker, even if it was at the same time a very difficult and very easy story to keep track of. I found the unique description of when and how Rhyn's Ghostwalker abilities came into play - for instance only being able to use Painful Reckoning once he remembered who his specific foes were and it almost kicking in too late in the later battles - very entertaining. I didn't like the use of so many characters, but I suppose further writing with some of them will help (this novel just didn't have enough screen-time for all of them). I didn't like the un-typical use of some weaponry - for instance what's a barbarian doing with a gyrspike and why would he ever have taken up such a weapon - but the in-fight mechanics and physics* were at least well conceived and/or researched. The characters were all very interesting, even some of the very minor ones. You could truly relate to at least one of the many characters, since they were that diverse. The ending didn't backtrack on what preceded it - Rhyn's quest was over and 'final' death could take him. I'm looking forward to Depths of Madness and the promotional short - a la Wayfarer.
* A good example being most of the bad physics in the terrible movie Torque I had the misfortune of seeing part of recently. For instance, in the climactic good-girl-must-defeat-bad-girl scene, both women would have had to remove their hands from the throttle for numerous of the stuff they got up to on the backs of their 'super' bikes. If you do that your bike will immediately decelerate no matter what gear you are in and you would not remain next to your opponent to land that punch/bitch-slap/knife-stab/whatever. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 14 Feb 2007 : 22:18:16
I like half-elven characters...but it can be difficult to imagine a character as a half-elf when you thought of him throughout a novel as a human.
And by the way, the "roguish knight" phrase never bothered me either, because I understood it in the general sense to mean "mischievious fellow", and I don't always assume a "knight" is a paladin or is paladin-like. |
| Erik Scott de Bie |
Posted - 14 Feb 2007 : 21:19:21
quote:
Rut-roh reorge. Did somebody get their characters mixed up? No worries however now we are all going to picture Derst differently now. Least anyone that reads this part of the book reveiw.
Meh. No, not really. You guys are right. Not a half-elf.
. . .
OR IS HE?
Dun dun DUN!!!
Cheers |
| turox |
Posted - 14 Feb 2007 : 20:35:31
quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
quote:
Originally posted by turox
Thanks for the answers and I wasn't really trying to make you feel bad with the P.P.S. I was just having a little bit of fun.
Oh no -- I didn't feel bad. No worries.
YAY!
quote:
Originally posted by turox
"When we die we enter nothing but eternal darkness." Point de Bie
Ha! Wasn't trying to "get you," or anything. that was really just me rambling on philosophical (philosophy minor, you know).
Didn't know about the minor, guess I will have to put deeper thought into anything I say to you now?
quote:
But to me FR overrides that with their statement of all spirits going to the fugue plain.
Indeed so, however there are noted exceptions, not the least of which being that if "all spirits go to the Fugue plane," then it's impossible for a ghost to materialize on Faerun, because it would go to the Fugue plane. Obviously, there *are* ghosts and the like in FR, so clearly it must be possible for spirits *not* to go the Fugue plane.
quote:
Now I could see an evil deity sending some spirits back down to FR as spectre's to help with their agenda. And Tyr might have sent Tarm back down because Tarm requested it.
Indeed. Or perhaps Tarm never left in the first place -- perhaps Tarm is a ghost in the proper sense of the word, only not an evil one. Who knows?
quote:
Rhyn could have been born with the ability to have a connection with the Astral plane, which is why Gylther'yel was able to bring him back from the edge and train him to be a ghost walker. That is how I interpreted the story Rhyn didn't really die he was always alive, but with his power, she was able to manipulate him to thinking he was and to get him to do her dirty work.
You might well be right. Whatever happened to Rhyn, he certainly didn't go "beyond the veil," and didn't have a chance to go to the Fugue plane.
quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
Well I guess then I will never get the image of my nephew in that scene. He is 11 now. No worries I can accept it just wanted to see so I can try to imagine someone else getting tortured.
That's still a very disturbing scene for me to think about. I wonder if it isn't too gruesome. I've had a number of people write to me about that scene. I also tell parents buying the book for their kids to read it first, before giving it.
If anything, that's the biggest push against PG-13 that I did.
Well if I didn't have a nephew then it wouldn't have been so disturbing to me. He is getting to that age where he could be in that scene so I shall just blame him for growing up. 
quote:
And like Rinonalyrna I too didn't even see that he was a half-elf. Did you mention that in the book at all?
That was my original conception, but it might not have ended up in the final draft. Probably would've been a better label than "roguish knight."
Indeed, you guys are right. I did a quick check, and I'm not finding any "Derst = half-elf" reference. Hmm.
Why was I thinking that?
Maybe I was thinking of Torlic. Hmm.
Rut-roh reorge. Did somebody get their characters mixed up? No worries however now we are all going to picture Derst differently now. Least anyone that reads this part of the book reveiw.
quote:
Never a good question to ask me. It is just another day in the river of life that I float down waiting (and hoping) for the great waterfall at the end.
That's a bit depressing. Something in particular the matter, or is life generally this way?
I will leave this as simple as I can make it. Life is generally that way. Take anything else about this to PM or email as I am not one to air this kind of stuff for anyone to read. My interfere with my chances to become President. 
quote:
Next time I am at a bookstore I will look into Vampire of the Mists, by Christie Golden.
It was reprinted recently (or will be), and it should be pretty easy to find. I hope you enjoy!
quote:
quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
Which is to say, it isn’t a trilogy at all.
That is good to know! I didn't realize that it was like the Fighters or Wizards. I will get it as soon as I can. As well as RotE.
Hope you like it!
And that is not to say you shouldn't read the other Dungeons books too. For seconds, Jaleigh's got some serious talent, and you should definitely pick up the Howling Delve when it comes out.
I more than likely will I have all the fighter books. One of these days I do want to own all the FR Novels that were printed. So any author that writes in the setting will pretty much take the royalty check to the bank. Although with just me buying they will be very, very small.
Cheers
Have a good one.
|
| Erik Scott de Bie |
Posted - 14 Feb 2007 : 17:54:01
quote:
Originally posted by turox
Thanks for the answers and I wasn't really trying to make you feel bad with the P.P.S. I was just having a little bit of fun.
Oh no -- I didn't feel bad. No worries.
quote:
Originally posted by turox
"When we die we enter nothing but eternal darkness." Point de Bie
Ha! Wasn't trying to "get you," or anything. that was really just me rambling on philosophical (philosophy minor, you know).
quote:
But to me FR overrides that with their statement of all spirits going to the fugue plain.
Indeed so, however there are noted exceptions, not the least of which being that if "all spirits go to the Fugue plane," then it's impossible for a ghost to materialize on Faerun, because it would go to the Fugue plane. Obviously, there *are* ghosts and the like in FR, so clearly it must be possible for spirits *not* to go the Fugue plane.
quote:
Now I could see an evil deity sending some spirits back down to FR as spectre's to help with their agenda. And Tyr might have sent Tarm back down because Tarm requested it.
Indeed. Or perhaps Tarm never left in the first place -- perhaps Tarm is a ghost in the proper sense of the word, only not an evil one. Who knows?
quote:
Rhyn could have been born with the ability to have a connection with the Astral plane, which is why Gylther'yel was able to bring him back from the edge and train him to be a ghost walker. That is how I interpreted the story Rhyn didn't really die he was always alive, but with his power, she was able to manipulate him to thinking he was and to get him to do her dirty work.
You might well be right. Whatever happened to Rhyn, he certainly didn't go "beyond the veil," and didn't have a chance to go to the Fugue plane.
quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
Well I guess then I will never get the image of my nephew in that scene. He is 11 now. No worries I can accept it just wanted to see so I can try to imagine someone else getting tortured.
That's still a very disturbing scene for me to think about. I wonder if it isn't too gruesome. I've had a number of people write to me about that scene. I also tell parents buying the book for their kids to read it first, before giving it.
If anything, that's the biggest push against PG-13 that I did.
quote:
And like Rinonalyrna I too didn't even see that he was a half-elf. Did you mention that in the book at all?
That was my original conception, but it might not have ended up in the final draft. Probably would've been a better label than "roguish knight."
Indeed, you guys are right. I did a quick check, and I'm not finding any "Derst = half-elf" reference. Hmm.
Why was I thinking that?
Maybe I was thinking of Torlic. Hmm.
quote:
Never a good question to ask me. It is just another day in the river of life that I float down waiting (and hoping) for the great waterfall at the end.
That's a bit depressing. Something in particular the matter, or is life generally this way?
quote:
Next time I am at a bookstore I will look into Vampire of the Mists, by Christie Golden.
It was reprinted recently (or will be), and it should be pretty easy to find. I hope you enjoy!
quote:
quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
Which is to say, it isn’t a trilogy at all.
That is good to know! I didn't realize that it was like the Fighters or Wizards. I will get it as soon as I can. As well as RotE.
Hope you like it!
And that is not to say you shouldn't read the other Dungeons books too. For seconds, Jaleigh's got some serious talent, and you should definitely pick up the Howling Delve when it comes out.
Cheers |
| turox |
Posted - 14 Feb 2007 : 03:16:19
quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
That is indeed possible. Does it even make sense to “see” anything, as you no longer have any connection to your eyes? Or maybe there’s an afterlife. I don’t know, and I’m not interested in doing what’s necessary to find out (i.e. dying).
I myself am entertaining a theory about the echoes of people or feelings, much like a shout bouncing off two mountains. If the conditions are right, this sort of echo could be trapped and never truly go away. Even if we can’t hear it, because it’s so tiny as to exist only as a shuddering of molecules. Is this not a ghost of whatever caused it in the first place? A kind of barely-perceptible ripple?
But that’s all very interesting theoretical physics/philosophy. We were talking about fantasy.
Ok you got me, I was at work and typing "see" was alot quicker than "When we die we enter nothing but eternal darkness." Point de Bie
quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
My own knowledge of D&D/FR metaphysics is far from perfect, so bear with me.
Yours is probably better than mine at this.
As for this being set in fantasy I couldn't tell you what a ghost really is. I'm not there, can only interpret what is written and according to the MMI it says "Ghosts are the spectral remnants of intelligent beings who, for one reason or another, cannot rest easily in their graves." Then it goes on to say some don't have anything to do with the living and others are mean who loathe all. But to me FR overrides that with their statement of all spirits going to the fugue plain. Now I could see an evil deity sending some spirits back down to FR as spectre's to help with their agenda. And Tyr might have sent Tarm back down because Tarm requested it. Rhyn could have been born with the ability to have a connection with the Astral plane, which is why Gylther'yel was able to bring him back from the edge and train him to be a ghost walker. That is how I interpreted the story Rhyn didn't really die he was always alive, but with his power, she was able to manipulate him to thinking he was and to get him to do her dirty work.
quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
Twelve years of age. Making him 27 when he appears in chapter 1.
Well I guess then I will never get the image of my nephew in that scene. He is 11 now. No worries I can accept it just wanted to see so I can try to imagine someone else getting tortured.
quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
A friend from the WotC boards, I see!
I hang out there from time to time, but I am no regular. Just right place, right time on that one. And like Rinonalyrna I too didn't even see that he was a half-elf. Did you mention that in the book at all?
quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
How are you today?
No seriously – I find thinking about ghosts an interesting exercise. What do you think of my “echo” theory?
Have you ever read any Ravenloft yourself? I can recommend some good ones. (I’d start with Vampire of the Mists, by Christie Golden.)
Never a good question to ask me. It is just another day in the river of life that I float down waiting (and hoping) for the great waterfall at the end.
Echo is a good term to put it as. Too me it is really our subconscious. We do only use 10% of our brains so one of the 90% could be the subconscious detecting things from the past, (either from within or from the surronding.)
No the majority of my reading when I was growing up were Tom Clancy or Clive Cussler novels and comic books with the ocasional gaming book. Now I only read fantasy books from Goodkind or that say Forgotten Realms on them. I have never been a person to pick up a book and read it without knowing a little bit about it before hand. Or someone who knows my reading habits recommends one to me. I own the Ravenloft boxed set but don't think I have even opened it to look at it. Next time I am at a bookstore I will look into Vampire of the Mists, by Christie Golden.
quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
Which is to say, it isn’t a trilogy at all.
That is good to know! I didn't realize that it was like the Fighters or Wizards. I will get it as soon as I can. As well as RotE.
Originally posted by turox
Thanks for the answers and I wasn't really trying to make you feel bad with the P.P.S. I was just having a little bit of fun. When I get home I will re-read this again and give you my reply from there where I have more time to contemplate life, love, and the universe. I will also have my books at home to research info that may be needed. |
| turox |
Posted - 14 Feb 2007 : 00:00:25
Thanks for the answers and I wasn't really trying to make you feel bad with the P.P.S. I was just having a little bit of fun. When I get home I will re-read this again and give you my reply from there where I have more time to contemplate life, love, and the universe. I will also have my books at home to research info that may be needed. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 13 Feb 2007 : 23:56:40
quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
An excellent explanation. Knighthood chafes at Derst, who was born on the streets, poor as all get out, without knowing who his father was (or even his mother for that matter). He made a life for himself in service to an old rogue of Everlund, who eventually came to think of him as a son. He paid for Derst’s sword-training, which the halfelf only really did because it allowed him to meet and impress girls.
Heh--silly as it may sound, up until now I didn't know Derst was a half-elf.
quote:
No seriously – I find thinking about ghosts an interesting exercise. What do you think of my “echo” theory?
You didn't ask me but...
Personally, when I think of a "ghost" I think of someone's consciousness as being somehow detached from the body. So, even if someone leaves behind an echo of themselves (which is possible, but I can't say if that's true), is it really a ghost in the most commonly understood sense of the term? Also, like many people here I make no claims of knowing what actually happens to someone's consciousness after death (and yes, if we aren't sentient, we can't see anything whether it's blackness or not), but I'm inclined to exhaust any natural explanations for things before considering supernatural explanations.
Just my opinion--I like these discussions. |
| Erik Scott de Bie |
Posted - 13 Feb 2007 : 23:05:02
quote:
Originally posted by turox
Hi Erik,
Last night I finished Ghostwalker. First let me say BRAVO, BRAVO! The way the fight scenes were described to me was one of the best ways as I could visually see it happening in my mind.
Thank you much! I'm glad you enjoyed.
quote:
I did have a major issue with the book but that could be my inexperience with the Realms.
I shall do my best to answer your questions!
quote:
This may also be the fact that in life I don’t believe in ghosts. My belief is when we die we see nothing but an eternal blackness.
That is indeed possible. Does it even make sense to “see” anything, as you no longer have any connection to your eyes? Or maybe there’s an afterlife. I don’t know, and I’m not interested in doing what’s necessary to find out (i.e. dying).
I myself am entertaining a theory about the echoes of people or feelings, much like a shout bouncing off two mountains. If the conditions are right, this sort of echo could be trapped and never truly go away. Even if we can’t hear it, because it’s so tiny as to exist only as a shuddering of molecules. Is this not a ghost of whatever caused it in the first place? A kind of barely-perceptible ripple?
But that’s all very interesting theoretical physics/philosophy. We were talking about fantasy.
quote:
What was with all the spirits? I was under the impression that when someone died they went to the fugue plain to await either the god they worshipped to come and get them, or for their trail from Myrkul or now Kelemvor. And why was Tarm down there? Did he resist the pull of the fugue plain to wait for his love to die, or did Tyr send him back down there to wait?
My own knowledge of D&D/FR metaphysics is far from perfect, so bear with me.
To put it in basic terms, yes, that’s what happens. According to Complete Divine, the spirit of a character who dies in the game lingers around his body for a little while (a few seconds, i.e. a couple rounds), then departs to go onward, wherever that onward will be (perhaps nowhere). In the Realms, that’s the Fugue Plane, where they wait around for a deity (or a deity’s servants) to come collect them. From there, they do whatever the deity says – become petitioners, cease to exist, become part of the deity’s plane of existence, get “reborn” into new bodies, etc. If they’re faithless or false, they go to Kelemvor’s judgment and get put in the wall. It’s possible (and no one really knows *why* it might happen) for a spirit to stick around and become a ghost or some other undead creature. These generally attach themselves to the place they were killed, or some other place that’s of especial importance to them. It’s also possible for certain spells (trap the soul, for instance, or magic jar) to manipulate the disposition of the soul of a “dead” creature.
In the case of Ghostwalker, I left it purposefully unexplained why the spirits (not powerful enough to be real ghosts) are there. There are hints, of course, as to why they might remain – the spirits are drawn to Walker (as a creature that exists between their worlds). Perhaps they are captured by his aura. This is certainly the case with those he kills (you noted Greyt, Drex, et al, around him in the last scene?).
As I said, these creatures aren’t ghosts or some other powerful undead forms – they are mere “echoes” of the lives that spawned them.
Tarm is an interesting case – did he get trapped in his the aura of his “son”? Doesn’t seem possible, as the old priest died long before Rhyn (so the boy didn’t have any sort of connection to the spirits – or did he?). Did Tyr send Tarm back, to act as a sort of silent guide for Walker? Did Tarm become a ghost/spirit on his own, waiting for Lyetha, or perhaps for Greyt to get his just desserts? What do *you* think?
It’s worth noting that I am a *big* Ravenloft fan. My original conception of Walker even had some feats from the 3e Ravenloft book (specifically those dealing with ethereal resonance). His object reading, for instance, is much like something that some modern psychics claim to do (and in Walker’s case is a manifestation of wild psionic talent, released by his connection to the ethereal). Ravenloft also has the concept of “Ethereal Resonance,” which dictates the strength of ghosts (amongst other things) – Walker exudes his own resonance.
quote:
Also how old was Rhyn in the prelude? When I first read that statement all I could imagine was my nephew in that situation. This helped but now for some reason I really want to know how old he was. I read it twice and it didn’t say his age just that he was a youth. To me that is anywhere from 2 to 13.
Twelve years of age. Making him 27 when he appears in chapter 1.
quote:
I don’t care what others say. I liked the term roguish knight. Derst seemed to me one of those types that are a knight because that is what his father wanted.
A friend from the WotC boards, I see!
An excellent explanation. Knighthood chafes at Derst, who was born on the streets, poor as all get out, without knowing who his father was (or even his mother for that matter). He made a life for himself in service to an old rogue of Everlund, who eventually came to think of him as a son. He paid for Derst’s sword-training, which the halfelf only really did because it allowed him to meet and impress girls. He met Arya (whom he adores) and Bars (with whom he competes for her, and has been doing it so long it has nothing to do with Arya anymore), and became a knight himself.
quote:
Do you have any questions for me?
How are you today?
No seriously – I find thinking about ghosts an interesting exercise. What do you think of my “echo” theory?
Have you ever read any Ravenloft yourself? I can recommend some good ones. (I’d start with Vampire of the Mists, by Christie Golden.)
quote:
P.S. Can’t wait for Depths but as it’s a trilogy will wait for them to all come out. (Blame that on Robert Jordan and Terry Goodkind. )
Ah, it’s only a trilogy in that it’s the first novel of the Dungeons novels, which are related to each other much like the Fighters novels.
Which is to say, it isn’t a trilogy at all.
Each of the Dungeons novels is a standalone adventure, none of which have anything to do with one another other than all being in the Realms. (And Jaleigh and Rosemary and I were all Young Dragons, from the RotD2 anthology.)
No, I’m sorry, no Fox-at-Twilight trilogy . . . at least not yet. Maybe WotC will publish one in the future. I suppose that depends, for a large part, on the success of Depths. It is a story I’d very, very much like to continue.
You can, however, read about her (Fox, that is) in her first appearance: “The Greater Treasure,” a short in the Realms of the Elves anthology.
quote:
P.P.S. Pick me in your contest for the honor of you being the first author to sign one of my books.
Oh, you’re going to make me feel bad that it’s a random pool!
Cheers
|
| turox |
Posted - 13 Feb 2007 : 18:32:36
Hi Erik,
Last night I finished Ghostwalker. First let me say BRAVO, BRAVO! The way the fight scenes were described to me was one of the best ways as I could visually see it happening in my mind.
I did have a major issue with the book but that could be my inexperience with the Realms. What was with all the spirits? I was under the impression that when someone died they went to the fugue plain to await either the god they worshipped to come and get them, or for their trail from Myrkul or now Kelemvor. And why was Tarm down there? Did he resist the pull of the fugue plain to wait for his love to die, or did Tyr send him back down there to wait? This may also be the fact that in life I don’t believe in ghosts. My belief is when we die we see nothing but an eternal blackness. But with what I do know about the fugue plain then the whole part with the spirits was confusing.
Also how old was Rhyn in the prelude? When I first read that statement all I could imagine was my nephew in that situation. This helped but now for some reason I really want to know how old he was. I read it twice and it didn’t say his age just that he was a youth. To me that is anywhere from 2 to 13.
I don’t care what others say. I liked the term roguish knight. Derst seemed to me one of those types that are a knight because that is what his father wanted.
Do you have any questions for me?
P.S. Can’t wait for Depths but as it’s a trilogy will wait for them to all come out. (Blame that on Robert Jordan and Terry Goodkind. )
P.P.S. Pick me in your contest for the honor of you being the first author to sign one of my books. |
| Erik Scott de Bie |
Posted - 07 Sep 2006 : 15:50:52
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
1) In Walker and Gylther'yel's "Showdown at the OK Corral" she says that he cannot choose between his loyalties between her and to "she who would carry your child, she whom you love". When I read that It stood out, then slipped away whilst I read the climax. I wanted to ask you then If that was what you were talking about to Rinonalyrna when you told her
"P.S. And mayhap we'll see some of the extent of Walker's impact on Arya. Only time, as the cliche runs, will tell."
Does his impact on her include Rhyn Jr. ?? DUN DUN DUN!!!*tried to do an evil laugh but just doesnt feel so evil right now*
You want to make a good, deep laugh from the diaphram -- really project. As though you're meaning to send a chill down the spine of every living creature within earshot.
As for an actual answer. . . Maybe, maybe not. Gylther'yel IS a druid, so she might know -- and a "ghost druid" at that, very keen to the auras of life and death. Walker and Arya did, indeed, do their part, at least. Who can say what the future may hold?
Other than me, that is.
I guess we can see if/when Arya reappears, whether she's bouncing a child on her knee.
The better question, really, would be whether a child would be a blessing for Arya (a reminder) or a curse (a reminder). 
What if she were to become pregnant from the events in Ghostwalker, then miscarry or produce a stillborn child? What do you imagine THAT would do to her? 
Feel free to speculate -- as if you needed my permission.
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2) Good job making that damnable locket appear so Important that a Knight in Silver would pilfer it, then totally downplay it here at the Keep whilst pretending it still may be important. Thus making us think it was not important after all. Only lastly to hide one of the books most important themes on its back, in plain sight the whole time.
The locket is, basically, just another reminder of the theme, that creation is a tougher and more rigorous process than destruction (does this have to do with your former question? Who knows? That is, who other than. . . ahem ). " 'Tis easier to destroy than to create" is simply Lyetha's saying, and Ghostwalker -- to some extent -- shows exactly what she means.
(As for where I got the line, it hearkens back to Desperado, actually, where El Mariachi says to the boy, in the hospital, "I guess it is easier to destroy than to create.")
I should also point out that there WAS a scene, which I cut for length reasons and because it was part of the original postlude (before I fixed the ending), where Arya discovered the locket in her pocket and it reminded her of Walker and the last few days. It was kinda one of those "everything clicks" scenes. As it is, I used the ring instead, which I thought more fitting anyway.
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P.S. I feel for your wife if you are this sly very often!!
Always.
Cheers |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 07 Sep 2006 : 01:28:34
Two more things before I put Ghostwalker on the bookshelf and move to the next book in the stack.
1) In Walker and Gylther'yel's "Showdown at the OK Corral" she says that he cannot choose between his loyalties between her and to "she who would carry your child, she whom you love". When I read that It stood out, then slipped away whilst I read the climax. I wanted to ask you then If that was what you were talking about to Rinonalyrna when you told her
"P.S. And mayhap we'll see some of the extent of Walker's impact on Arya. Only time, as the cliche runs, will tell."
Does his impact on her include Rhyn Jr. ?? DUN DUN DUN!!!*tried to do an evil laugh but just doesnt feel so evil right now*
2) Good job making that damnable locket appear so Important that a Knight in Silver would pilfer it, then totally downplay it here at the Keep whilst pretending it still may be important. Thus making us think it was not important after all. Only lastly to hide one of the books most important themes on its back, in plain sight the whole time.
P.S. I feel for your wife if you are this sly very often!!
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| Erik Scott de Bie |
Posted - 01 Sep 2006 : 18:11:53
Basically, Walker can exist in any of the three planes.
The first plane of existence he discovered beyond his own (and the first one that a character gets access to with the Ghostwalker PrC) is the ethereal plane. He uses that as a gateway into the shadow world. Everytime he shifts into shadow, he goes through the ethereal. Mechanically speaking, on the shadow world he is not ethereal (unless he chooses to use both powers at the same time, in which case he can turn briefly ethereal in shadow), but he has the traces of etherealness about him, such that they attract ghosts in the shadow world.
That's my interpretation of how the class features of the gw work.
Cheers |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 01 Sep 2006 : 17:56:32
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Thank you! I think Ghostwalker would be neat as a movie.
One of my favorite anecdotes is the battle between Torlic and Walker, at the climax, when things shift and you see Walker "step out" of the sword. My editor said she could just SEE the camera angles on that one.
Cheers
Hmmm...well I know this bloke who is working on a screen adaptation!
Since my game mechanics are lacking, I humbly ask the following:
Walker obviously exists in the "real" world. He can see and cross into the ethereal, and he can also shift into and travel through shadow? Is that something that would be typical of his classification or is this "triple threat" unique to him? Or did you waggle your fingers and "Magick" that up? |
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