Reapers Passage SPOILERS [update News] Comments Thread [please post comments here]

Snowship · Post by **Snowship** » Wed, 13. Feb 08, 01:18

didn't think they'd give kerry up so easily. Wonder what fey's going to think of developments when she gets back.

Poor rav seems to be getting a bit freyed

yes sunshine is good, but too much can be bad for you paranoid66

Paranoid66 · Post by **Paranoid66** » Wed, 13. Feb 08, 10:09

Snowship wrote:didn't think they'd give Kerry up so easily. Wonder what fey's going to think of developments when she gets back.

I've been asking myself that question. Teb is pushing stuff through as fast as prudent now because he now knows Fay is out of contact, and seemingly preoccupied. When the cat is away... Danna is happy to encourage as he won't take the blame - besides the whole Faith Bane thing from Ban's point of view is a mere distraction from the real issues and threats facing the Argon, and really is a waste of resources.

Teb will be glad to be rid of Kerry! It was having Kerry on the Fortress that made old Teb throw a wobbly in the first place - if you recall! It was that old - Guardian Angel - relationship especially peoples knowledge about how the Devil looked after his supposed daughter when she was especially young on the Hill! The idea that he is capable of any atrocity and was just about impossible to put down permanently!

Oddly being protective brought out the very worst in the reincarnated Bane against any, and all perceived transgressors!

Snowship · Post by **Snowship** » Thu, 14. Feb 08, 00:45

oh I can understand how Ban would see it as a distraction. And I also can see how in Ban's case the whole Faith/Devil conflict is just a annoyance and distracting from what he'd percieve as more important events.

Esp. since, with The Devil it'd be very easy to wipe him out if Ban wanted to (He'd know where the warehouse was on the Hill [esp when Tur went there and started interacting with the natives and local constabliatory] and could just destroy the place from orbit then take out Tur without worrying about his resurrection) Although I wonder where Few resurrects from?

I suspect the whole Hill is just tolerated by the higher ups in the Argon Politics/Military and can be used in convenient ways when and where they want to.
I mean it's easy to have a lawless place to remove unwanted's to when the people in power want to.

I just think the Hills lawlessness is based on sufference rather than any "we can't do anything about it" notions.

But yes in the scheme of the X-universe and the Terrans appearance, Fey/Tur conflict is nothing for Ban Danna compared to Terran/Xenon/Paranid events

was that a long post about nothing???

Paranoid66 · Post by **Paranoid66** » Thu, 14. Feb 08, 09:35

Snowship wrote: Esp. since, with The Devil it'd be very easy to wipe him out if Ban wanted to (He'd know where the warehouse was on the Hill [esp when Tur went there and started interacting with the natives and local constabliatory] and could just destroy the place from orbit then take out Tur without worrying about his resurrection) Although I wonder where Few resurrects from?

How the Paranoid One sees it-

In defence of inaction
That would be far too overt for Ban, and too direct in my opinion. I don't think he would stay in office too long if he fired on his own planets - even the Hill? Politics are a b****!

In my x universe even a precision strike by the Argons from space would result in prohibitive colateral damage, and oddly even Beachheader's are still Federal Citizens - its the old living shield syndrome! Ban would have to send in special forces - assassins - but then again maybe even such as the Devil have their uses...

I see Ban like a Grand Master Chess Player moving the pieces around on a big universal board. Each piece has by nature its own attributes, and can be allowed to move in its own way once placed just so!

Finally everyone that knows 'The Bane' of old suspects he has built more than one device, and has - several - not just one contingincy plan for his rebirth, survival, and very horrible revenge if crossed! Frankly Fay has gone there in the past, and almost learned her lesson - as they say - better the Devil you know!

I've noticed security agencies often seem to prefer to watch rather than act anyway - for fear of driving villains deeper under! Only intervening when they are absolutely forced.

I have tried to keep my plot very much a sideline to the X universe story - I am even a bit vague on the main plot (confession) - I never ever did finish it I prefer freeform play.

Just browsed up on the final main details on line.

One reason why I made it a hidden conflict, about secret things and even introduced another species of KHAAK as a protagonist. I didn't want to fight too much with what was established! Again this is why I used few known characters, and normally only at a distance. Ban seemed ideal for this approach.

EDIT - Some more on this topic to follow with Beachhead anyway! If I have sinned it is with the Paranid (Para-niched)

but I couldn't resist!

Feel free to ramble away Snowship; since I often find myself - in a glass house holding a brick - with malicious intent!!!

Snowship · Post by **Snowship** » Fri, 15. Feb 08, 00:34

it's ok Paranoid, I've only finished the plot once then all other starts are non-plot
~ to be honest I haven't even done the Bala Gi missions yet (only had the HQ & Hyperinon in a XTM game) but am endevoring to do them in my current Anon Argon game

I sort of used the bombardment from space angle as a sledgehammer point of view. So I'm in agreement with you on military insertion and dismantlement of any facility....

I've found your idea of the Paranid tech being organic-tech rather than metal-tech interesting angle. (it seems a bit like the Cylons from the latest BSG incarnation) - that's the impression that I get anyway.
And organic-tech as far as I'm aware is soemthing new and different from plot-code. As I've seem the Paranid in-game as more being standard Technology but with racial differences, rather than something completely different.
Such being the case your interperetation of the Paranid tech is indeed different but that's not to say it isn't grossly wrong (thakfully Ego leave a lot to creative thinking

)
^ that's all assuming I've interperated the in-game mechanics correct... I could be wrong...

as for KHAAK, well they're just advance-tech'd mutants and make an interesting story twist.
Althought they'd be way too overpowered as any type of major sub-race....

Snowship

Paranoid66 · Post by **Paranoid66** » Fri, 15. Feb 08, 00:52

Snowship wrote: as for KHAAK, well they're just advance-tech'd mutants and make an interesting story twist.
Althought they'd be way too overpowered as any type of major sub-race

Indeed they would be a total disaster. Weren't supposed to be on the loose!

The Paranid semi bio-tech idea came from the mention in X2 that Paranid and Boron had semi organic hulls. To my mind if you have semi organic hulls that might well require supporting semi organic systems in your ships to faciliate its function, and indicates a major difference in engineering approach in general. In X3 this idea seemed to have been dropped a bit but I just like biotech as a concept even low grade stuff.

My genesis for the Paranid was a bit naughty but I just thought it would be fun to play with the gaps in X canon with that one try and explain some of the oddness.

Paranoid66 · Post by **Paranoid66** » Sat, 16. Feb 08, 14:55

Reapers Passage Chapter 105 posted

Saturday 16th Feb 08

Had trouble getting to grips with this one. Keen to move the Keane plot forward a bit. Feel like I need a rest too especially since the only stimulants I have is coffee! Very happy to move on to the next Chapter.

As ever all comments appreciated

Snowship · Post by **Snowship** » Sun, 17. Feb 08, 00:42

I wonder if the "fey yet to be started" will meet Fey -lost for words-

or will the Old Fey get back to The Legions HQ before the process is complete

Interesting times ahead nonetheless.

I'm wondering if Keane isn't biting of more than he can chew; maybe heading a Cabal and a pirate station could lead to not running both as well as they should be....

You're keeping the Dogs lost in the Citadel a long time there Paranoid, I wonder where you're leading the plotline

Don't feel rushed on delivering new chapters if you feel they're becoming less than they could be.

But don't stop either

Paranoid66 · Post by **Paranoid66** » Sun, 17. Feb 08, 17:19

Added a little extra padding to Chapter 105

Sunday 17th Feb 08

Nothing plot changing in any major way but if anyone is bored they might like to reread 105, or not!

I admit sometimes I get this compulsion to post and be damned. Some Chapters flow - no trouble whatsoever - others its like smashing your way through a steel reinforced concrete wall with the ever so fragile head!

I have this thing about fighting through it because I know I have a tendency to: add, alter, and mess with the material beyond the pale, and it will get a polish later anyway! I was a bit disappointed got a bit peeved because I had a momentum going then it sort of sagged a bit - frustrating!

Kind of funny with the Dogs though - how do you depict a degree of tedium - without making it tedious! I worry I'm wasting some of these interesting environments. However if I detail everything I'll never finish! Might add some extra bits in later as bonus material come PDF time!

Paranoid66 · Post by **Paranoid66** » Tue, 19. Feb 08, 19:24

Reapers Passage Chapter 106 posted

Tues 19th Feb 08

Not as painful as chapter 105 that's all I'm saying.

Anyway all comments appreciated.

Snowship · Post by **Snowship** » Wed, 20. Feb 08, 01:55

nice change of scenery there Paranoid, like the way you handled the new FEY

and you even included a ticker-take parade

Wonder what's going to happen with the KHAAK now....

fiksal · Post by **fiksal** » Wed, 20. Feb 08, 21:44

well, it's obviously a lengthy read, so it'll take me awhile to go through it, but on several occasions I thought, -
wouldn’t it be great if authors of such large stories would write up a 20-word cover or an attention grabber for the story.

Paranoid66 · Post by **Paranoid66** » Wed, 20. Feb 08, 23:22

fiksal wrote:well, it's obviously a lengthy read, so it'll take me awhile to go through it, but on several occasions I thought, -
wouldn’t it be great if authors of such large stories would write up a 20-word cover or an attention grabber for the story.

Fiksal, I’m always happy to see another person taking an interest in reading my story. You'll probably notice lots of discrepancies starting from scratch. I still need to go through it all (checking everything is fully consistent) such as the way some words are formatted like Inter Link or inter-link The Lost For Words rather than the Lost for Words and so on - been so busy trying to complete the creative side of the story that this stuff has taken a back seat.

Wow a twenty-word blurb (interesting challenge). Being concise for a change.

Runs away to think about it!

Arrives back.

How would anybody else describe - The Reapers Passage - apart from ah... rather long?

Actually it would be interesting if readers that have been following along - posted a few descriptive words each - then we could stitch something together made up of others perceptions as much as my own! That might be more honest! By the way can't be too many more chapters left to go.

I could maybe start with something like

A character focused ramble...

fiksal · Post by **fiksal** » Wed, 20. Feb 08, 23:42

Paranoid66 wrote: Wow a twenty-word blurb (interesting challenge). Being concise for a change.

I was told it's a good thing to have for any story/concept one writes

Paranoid66 wrote:Actually it would be interesting if readers that have been following along - posted a few descriptive words each - then we could stitch something together made up of others perceptions as much as my own! That might be more honest! By the way can't be too many more chapters left to go.

sure, they could do it, a long as you arent trying to get away from writting it yourself!

Paranoid66 · Post by **Paranoid66** » Thu, 21. Feb 08, 00:04

Very sensible Fiksal I agree with the concept

However this story became rather organic being posted in a serial manner it grew out of a series of character ideas, and a few plot ideas rather than a rigid this is a story about blah.

Although I had ideas for a beginning and an end because of other events that took place in the middle I allowed it to stretch to include any inspiration that took me.

I also tried at the start to rationalise the game elements however the overall theme is probably - GREY - that life isn't black, and white I don't really have any good or bad guys (at least I don't really see them that way).

I admit next time (?) I don't think I would post as I go along in this serial manner. It is a challenge but also a trap.

Snowship · Post by **Snowship** » Thu, 21. Feb 08, 00:23

How about:....

Unsuspecting individuals caught up in the struggle between authoritarian and Piraticle factions and vengence between two mighty personalities. With an allpowerful alien entity puppeteering events.
???

That's sort of close to 20 words (I don't count three or less letter'd words like "the" & "and" as part of the 20)

or

Act I - The Fight for Freedom.......<-with regards to Garrin & Elean's stories
Act II - The Quest for Life............<-about the Queen & Lost For Words + Tur's redemption?

^ damn, even less words
and I still don't think it incorporates the story well

Paranoid66 · Post by **Paranoid66** » Thu, 21. Feb 08, 00:55

Unsuspecting individuals caught up in the struggle between authoritarian and Piraticle factions and vengence between two mighty personalities. With an allpowerful alien entity puppeteering events.

Some interesting stuff there Snowship.

I like your approach.

The last line 'With an allpowerful alien entity puppeteering events' might be a bit strong though - as it indicates to me too much perfection, and no ambiguity if that makes sense to you.

Paranoid66 · Post by **Paranoid66** » Thu, 21. Feb 08, 21:59

Working away on Chapter 107 at the moment so haven't been thinking too much more about those Twenty Words also Tiscali was playing up and I got a bit miffed.

Getting a little excited however, and a little

because I really can see the final end in sight.

no mirage this time honest.

I have been trying to guess how many more chapters - I'm thinking including the one I'm working on now could be as few as three or four

or maybe as many as about five or six depending on how the details stretch out.

As you can gather every thread may not be tied but that is how it should be - otherwise others would keep getting tied on and it would just expand forever!

Better to go out with a bang than a whimper!

Snowship · Post by **Snowship** » Fri, 22. Feb 08, 00:02

Don't guess chapters remaining, you'll only constrain yourself and the plot.

Let them flow naturally to the end

Paranoid66 · Post by **Paranoid66** » Fri, 22. Feb 08, 16:39

You're right Snowship that might be a bit of a jinx.

Reapers Passage Chapter 107 posted

Friday 22nd Feb 08

I find I am kind of happy with how it is going at the moment - I hope it stays like that to the end! A few interesting bits here The President angle could be guessed from earlier comments in the story but might have been missed or confused for something else. I thought it was time to come clean.

Hope you all enjoy, as ever every comment appreciated.

Are you still reading fiksal what chapter have you got to?

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