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Divided (Updated 26/11/23)
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I plan to catch up with others' stories on Friday/Saturday < 3
First of all I need to gush about your screenshots in this chapter!
This chapter is an interesting (potential?) turning point for Julian. Up until now, he has seemed kind of wavering back and forth before between the faith he was taught and his personal beliefs. Seems he finally really took a stand. It will be very interesting to see how things develop between him and Reynold. As well as what the ramifications of his choices are.
Him being attacked and almost killed was quite shocking as well, and even more so it was seeing Reynold both healing him and showing his magic to him. At first I thought that Reynold could have run away after healing most of Julian's wounds and before he woke up, but this was also quite an important chance to show that magic isn't only a threat to people. Also, if Julian had woken up almost completely healed after being attacked, he would have had all the right to suspect even more about Clem or Alice being witches (which would have been a problem anyway).
Julian being familiar with Lunvinchenaîné magic to the point to be able to associate it with lycanthropy sounds like a very possible source of trouble in the next chapters.
What I like a lot about this story is that most characters (at some point) show not to have a purely black-or-white morality, but to stand somewhere in between. It makes them much more relatable, and this is not something easy to achieve when writing a story.
I came up with the idea of Shepherd Julian getting attacked because I thought it'd be a good way for Reynold to reveal his secret that way and then attempt something of an allyship with Shepherd Julian. Of course, how said allyship will go down between both Jacobans and Peterans is yet to be seen... Yeah you're spot-on, that's why Reynold stays- to show Shepherd Julian that a) not all magic is bad and b) that he is the witch and not Clem. Shepherd Julian had mild suspicions that it was Reynold, but not as much as he initially suspected Clem.
Ah yes! I didn't think of this until near the end of the chapter, remembering Julian is from Champs les Sims, and the mooncaster languag being based on French, he would have had at least some knowledge of them...and now I think Julian is almost terrified of Reynold even if his werewolf thing is mostly under control now.
I'm glad you like it < 3 Almost everyone in this story is in the grey area, and the good/bad divide is less clear than it is in my older stuff. A lot of it lends to it being historical, and differing attitudes and such. Some of it is because I was consciously trying to make most characters morally ambiguous in some way. Shepherd Julian probably being one of the most ambiguous.
For those that don't remember, the character narrating is (slight spoiler for start of Act Two):
I always like getting some more backstory on characters. I had wondered what had happened to him between the time of the story where he is turned and the point where he enters the story in Divided. It's sort of alluded to in a few places, but I like getting to see a glimpse of it.
It's interesting to me that he now struggles with fantasies (of completely draining people) that appear to really upset him. A past in which that was something he actually did and enjoyed doing suggests that something else happened to make him start to regret that. A lot to ponder...
Your screenshots are pretty.
I do want to do more backstory stuff for both Oskar and Violeta since so much has been touched on but not really in-depth, and so much has happened with their lifetimes that it seems a bit weird to never cover any of it, so I will probably do more side chapters for the both of them soon enough.
I'm glad you like the screenshots < 3
Also, beautiful pictures! All those poses and reshade for the night scenes don't seem easy to achieve at all!
He also makes a good point about Peterism and pacifism. Pacifism is good in some respects, but sometimes you have to defend yourself. And not everyone in a particular sect is going to believe the exact same thing.
Also, where do you prefer comments? Here or on your blog? I know that Clem isn’t a Peteran, but I feel like this way of thinking would resonate with her too. It’s a shame her father didn’t value her. I see both of his children in him. That aside, I appreciate the insight into Alistair’s character, especially his opinions on how to handle his wolf.
We’re seeing glimpses into darker sides of Oskar’s personality too. I’m glad? that past-him only had a fascination with schadenfreude instead of just taking delight in others’ pain.
I’m not sure how I feel about Oskar’s confidence. Even monkeys fall from trees. I hope he remains vigilant.
These screenshots are cool (as well as unsettling and terrifying).
EDIT: I've made a start on the next proper chapter, so no delay as I thought. Good news everyone, Kat will be back next chapter!
I may have to do a fairly big timeskip soon of a few years or so, and it might not make story sense entirely but I really have little choice with this story
I'm not sure how worried I should be about her becoming overcharged? or ill from spellcasting. I feel like it's something to worry about--bleeding from your eyes can't be good and what if she needs to cast a powerful spell in the future. It's not something that should just be brushed off.
How does Oskar's wealth compare to Annorin's? They're both wealthy enough, but is Annorin much more so?
This made me laugh because I think of Ellie and Kat as a pair (or a trio with Nia) that comes as a package deal. Rooms? I imagine they'll stay together in one room, but I get that their relationship isn't obvious to strangers even strangers who recognize Katlego.
As for Annorin, Annorin could probably solve every social issue in Henford and still have plenty left, and the reason he charges so much for his cures (as well as good old fashioned capitalism) is because he gets a lot of custom from as far away as San Myshuno, because his cures are cheaper than any they can get in their home city. It's mostly only the elites that can afford any of his cures. So in his mind, if it's no loss to his custom to charge such a hefty amount why should he, even if plenty of poorer people die as a result. He's a pretty good and knowledgeable healer, but that knowledge is wasted when he only cares about being rich more than anything else.
In one of the somewhat recent chapters, even back when Oskar's parents were alive, their most expensive piece they ever sold wasn't as much as what Annorin charges for his various cures. Oh yeah, you know how bad overcharge can get. Passing out and a little blood is thankfully the lighter end of the spectrum of overcharge symptoms, but she'd best be careful in the future.
Yeah that's something I didn't think about actually. Maybe something will come up about the room situation, I'm not sure yet. Yeah you're definitely right on the money with the event in a past story that you're referring to. Given how willing the other characters are to take a life if needed, that's likely to cause some sort of conflict. And I agree, it's fun to see all the mains coming together. That was the main reason I wrote that scene to be honest, to show Kat's comparative pacifism and get her back to Henford. I think she enjoyed her time at the little coven type place, but also it's not really a place for someone like Kat who's not entirely willing to kill a man.
Another interesting thing (to me) about Katlego's pacifism is how it compares to Clem's killing of a witch hunter. It seems like Katlego has more options because she can use magic to do various things, whereas Clem could probably come up with something creative if she had time, but often the only option she may have is to fight to the death in self-defense without any neat way of cleaning up the situation afterwards (she can't erase memories).
Exactly that- Clem doesn't have any magic to fall back on, so her only way to defend herself and Alice was to just kill the guy. In a way, I think she's thankful that she doesn't have magic though, especially seeing what Reynold's constantly dealing with.
As a side note, the fight's pictures were so pretty, with all the spells glows in the night, the shield, and even the motion blur, it looks like a lot of work!
And then of course Oskar was the only person they could meet during a full moon night with an ongoing "werewolf alert on"... Considering how much both he and Kat hate Annorin, an alliance between them could be very interesting to read!
Okay, I'm just straight up happy to see Kat getting back into the mix. I enjoyed her most when she was in town mingling with the other main characters and sassing the annoying rich guy.
This was an interesting chapter to come so soon after Clem's confrontation with a witchfinder. The encounters both start out similar, but go very differently because of abilities and values. A cleverly done contrast. I like it.
I expect there will probably be consequences for that decision. From one direction or another.
Oskar knowing who Kat was kind of surprised me (I don't recall them meeting before) but I suppose in that small town word gets around...
Your note at the end about why Kat couldn't just go talk to Reynald right now made me laugh. Hard to keep track of everything sometimes. This happens to me too.
I figured that either a) word has spread about Kat because more people hate Annorin now, b) Reynold had told him about it, or possibly c) that Eli had told him about it because I'm sure Oskar probably asked him more in-detail about why everyone hates his dad and I know Eli would be glad to complain about his dad all day long XD Also I feel like a double team of Oskar and Kat would be the simultaneous best and worst. : P
I hope the "joys" of Henford don't send Ellie running for the hills!
Love this story. Keep it up!
Oskar - ENTP-A (Debater)
Reynold - ENFJ-A (Protagonist)
Kat - ESTP-A (Entrepeneur)
Aine - ESFP-T (Entertainer)
Clem - INTJ-T (Architect)