2021 Resolution

[Anableps]

I resolved to write twelve episodes in 2021.

Story #1: 117855. Three Coins.

[JH]

Excellent!

I made a resolution many years ago not to make any more New Year resolutions, and showing great discipline have managed to keep it ever since.

[Hi! My name is Ib!]

Okay. I'll write 12, too!

[Hi! My name is Ib!]

I'll read it, Anableps!

No promises on continuation

[Hi! My name is Ib!]

I mean it, Anableps
I'll write 12!

[Hi! My name is Ib!]

One out of 12!!!
I told you!
I'm a man of my word!

A man of honour!!!

Gimme a longsword or broadswoard!!!!


I'll slay that dragon!

[JH]

Yay!

[Hi! My name is Ib!]

I wanna know what the deal is with those COINS!

[JH]

I wanna know what the deal is with those COINS!

I haven't a clue. Perhaps Anableps knows?

[Hi! My name is Ib!]

SOMEONE has to resolve this mystery.

I vote Anableps as well.

Well, Anableps. You've got your mandate!

And remember, you promised us twelve! Well...eleven now.

[Anableps]

I see that there are some new episodes. Good ideas. I should be able to work with these.

I will note that one of the parent episodes, 884, has two links. I started from episode 2 and worked my way through episode 539, Aquaduct. In this branch, Fred descends the ladder, visits the wine cellar, and follows the underground stream to episode 118855 (Three Coins), where I summarized the action to this point. The other branch 767, Cavern and Stream, has different predecessor episodes, and it is on this episode that Fred finds the flamebane mail in the red chest. No worries. I should be able to fudge this so that either branch will work as a predecessor.

[Hi! My name is Ib!]

I was wondering about that.

I saw you reference the gold chest - and figured it must be one of those "situations" but then completely forgot to address it.

I'm sure there will be an interesting resolution. For old pros like us, this thread is actually pretty tidy. Nice and clean still.

I remember some threads used to give me a headache at just the THOUGHT of writing an episode.

[JH]

The threads that were crosslinked were the worst. So you would have two different routes to a point so, for instance, Fred could be meeting Astra for both the first and the second time.

An excellent new episode by Anableps. And it provides an answer to the mystery of the three coins.

BTW, Anableps, in this context "horde" should be "hoard". I was a bit confused the first time you used "horde", but the second time made things clear.

[Anableps]

Thanks, JH. I should know better, but when I read about the "Khanate of the Golden Horde" in the history books, I have a vision of Tartars guarding a large pile of gold in a tent somewhere out on the steppes. I will do another pass to correct spelling and punctuation.

I try to add enough detail where the characters or plot are interesting, but I hope not to a level that handcuffs ideas that the other authors might have.

Here are some of thoughts behind some of the details that I added in this episode.

"Magpie" would be an unusual first name. It might be a nickname. Magpies are known for stealing small objects and for being noisy or chatty. (When I was a child, some adults would scold us for chatting like a flock of magpies when we talked loudly. I don't hear that expression much anymore.) Because of those negative connotations, Maggie would have been better off letting Fred think that "Maggie" was just a form of Margaret. She had just recovered from the spider crawling on her and was not thinking. I also added pauses and "ums" when she is thinking about how much of the truth to tell Fred or when she finds the conversation awkward.

I thought that is was important that Maggie's motivation to visit the caves would not be theft for personal profit. That is why I created the italicized section where I reveal some of her thoughts. Changing point of view is risky as it makes an episode harder to read. I have tried to avoid it over the last few years, but there are times where a character will need to conceal her motivation in the story, but I need to let the other writers know what those might be to open up some possible story paths.

I chose to have Maggie describe Belboz as a "doctor" instead of a necromancer. This might be might be confusing, as he is usually described as a magician and necromancer. Here are my thoughts. Belboz probably does not want the world to see him as a necromancer. This is creepy and if everyone knew it would make his life more difficult. His life goal was probably not always "I want to reanimate dead things." He might have started out as a normal doctor. Early in his practice, he would study new methods to heal and extend life, which would be praiseworthy. From there he might slip into a reckless pursuit of immortality and reanimation of dead matter, which would not be. So Maggie might have heard about him from some other source describing him as a "doctor," as he has kept his other interests mostly hidden.

[Hi! My name is Ib!]

Not to be a nitpicking magpie here, but I noticed right off the bat you have Fred, torch in hand, when by this point he's torchless.

The torches are now evenly spaced on the cavewalls, and quite stubbornly so. Fred attempted to remove one and failed.

A bit embarrassing for a knight of Fred's stature. Especially on the heels of him quaffing a stranger's potion. They always taught him in knight school, "don't quaff potions from strange mages."

Well - I'll get back to reading. Yes - I came straight to the message board upon reading that first paragraph. Sue me!

Oh - and thanks for the info on magpies. It seems you always had a reservoir of knowledge concerning birds.

My boss is TERRIFIED of them. It's actually humorous, watching this otherwise tough woman run in terror from a flock of pigeons