Timewaster's Guide Archive

So...more questions, Satan.  The dotted line to the left of the Free Cities is the border of Tyleria, right?  So the large city just inside that border would be what you referred to as Bardenstock in the Tyleria article.  It is mentioned as a conquered free city, and described a little, so I'm not going to mention it (maybe in passing) in the Free Cities article.

Also, the Tyleria article mentions a city called Carpath at the mouth of the Ourismi river (I'm assuming that's the river that flows through Free Cities land.)  Since it doesn't appear on the main map, I'm guessing it's not as large as the others?  But since it has been mentioned, I will talk about it.

So according to the map the Free Cities have two major population centers for sure (one in the far south and one on the east bank of the Ourismi.)  The city at the foot of the Kharnis Highlands...is that Free as well, or does it belong to Tarth?  I could make good use of it in the Free Cities.

Yeah, that one is too depressing for me. But the Red Pony--which is a short story, I think--if it's the story, I'm thinking of, was pretty nice, something about a boy saving his pennies to buy a pony, which I really identified with when I was reading it as an 8th grader or a freshman.

If I remember correctly The Red Pony is a short novel, really geared towards what is now called a YA or even children's audience.  It's a loose novel, in that it is a group of related stories put together as chapters.  In fact, each chapter may have originated as its own separate story, which was later compiled into a novel.

And I love Steinbeck.  Grapes isn't necessarily my favorite, but I like Cannery Row, The Red Pony, The Pearl, what I've read of East of Eden (circumstances did not allow me to finish that one.)

I love Of Mice and Men and Tortilla Flat.  Awesome books.

I apologize all - I just learned that Wed. night is honors night at my school and I have to be there to present some awards.  I wasn't aware of this earlier (that I needed to be there.)  So I can't host the shindig on Wed.  But don't not have it on my account, whatever day you can!

You'll want to include Tyleria in the index of links at the beginning of the article.

There are lots of things I really liked, and a couple of things I had questions on pertyaining to consistency with what's been written.  I'll look at it more closely when I get to writing again.

You know, I was going to ping the TW(i)G Meisters again in a couple of weeks.  Teaching school has put writing to a complete halt for me, but it's done in a week and a half.  I would love to write more.  Free cities sounds fun; I'd try and make it a diverse area yet with a degree of cohesion that binds the region together in some ways and makes it more than a random assortment of variety.  

As far as coordination goes, what I would need would be a T/Parth/ann timeline of events affecting the free cities, and any other info (politics, military, etc.) on T/P that could have bearing on the free cities.  Also, basics on their culture, as I imagine much of the Free Cities population comes from P/T.

If you interpreted "powers" as extraordinary abilities, and not necessarily magical or superhuman abilities, I think it could work alright.  It mightbe a tad awkward, but in a high fantasy situation it might work like this:

In a tense situation, the fighter suddenly masters the move he has been practicing at for the last few months.  Or in a tense situation (again) the wizard finally gets the wording right on that spell they've been trying to learn.

I guess the awkwardness comes from the "in a tense situation," which seems like the vehicle for power manifestation in P:DB--A.  Perhaps if the emphasis were placed less on "in a tense sitatuion" and more on "in a time of need."  That seems less urgent/desperate and more workable.  Or maybe I'm reading the stuff all wrong.  :)

In order that the world may retain a slight bit of coolness, I do my best to ignore that fact.