21||0|3929|5| 0|0|0|||1||SOON%3A S5DSE02 Avatar Storytime|Gryphon||21:40:33|06/28/2014|We%27re closing in on finishing up the other side story from %5Bi%5DGoodbye %26 Hello%5B%2Fi%5D%2C which started life as an unfinished scene we cut for length and then couldn%27t bear to discard. Hopefully that%27ll be up tomorrow or Monday.%0D%0A%0D%0AIn the meantime%2C here is a tiny%2C tiny teaser.%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Bpre%5D %22Eh%2C%22 said Garnet%2C unpersuaded. %22That%27s all very well%2C but I%0D%0Acan set stuff on fire -myself%2C- I don%27t need the -help- to be able to do%0D%0Athat%2C%22 she said pragmatically. Then%2C with a wry little dragon grin%2C she%0D%0Aadded%2C %22I%27d keep that one around to oil my scales%2C mind%2C but the short%0D%0Aone%27s clearly the more useful minion%2C%22 and the room broke up in a laugh.%5B%2Fpre%5D%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 1|1|0|||||RE%3A SOON%3A S5DSE02 Avatar Storytime|Willard||01:53:49|06/29/2014|I am quite glad that Garnet isn%27t taking after her Mom. %3B-%29%0D%0A%0D%0ABut I admit that I may be doing Dread Matalde an injustice. She%27s cranky but we haven%27t seen her be%2C well%2C Nax%27s role model or something. 2|2|1|||1||RE%3A SOON%3A S5DSE02 Avatar Storytime|Gryphon||02:05:01|06/29/2014|%3EI am quite glad that Garnet isn%27t taking after her Mom. %3B-%29 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EBut I admit that I may be doing Dread Matalde an injustice. She%27s %0D%0A%3Ecranky but we haven%27t seen her be%2C well%2C Nax%27s role model or %0D%0A%3Esomething. %0D%0A%0D%0AMatalde is a very ancient dragon - much older than Nax - and the ancients tend to get a bit strange%2C particularly if they spend most of their time in isolation. She dislikes company intensely %28how she ever managed to mate even once is a question virtually everyone in Draconia has considered%2C but none of them has ever dared ask%29 and can be very territorial%2C but she isn%27t especially evil. She%27s even been known to protect the Jotun villages in the vicinity of Ortr%26ucirc%3Blc%26aacute%3Bnd - not because she has any particular love for the Jotun%2C but because she sees it as a duty to be performed. It%27s her territory and she has a responsibility to look after it.%0D%0A%0D%0ABeyond that%2C she has no interest in raiding or mayhem or any of the other petty amusements often indulged in by younger dragons. She knows she%27s powerful. She doesn%27t need to demonstrate it to herself by making lesser being suffer. In her eyes%2C that%27s more than a little bit pathetic.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28She%27s also almost completely uninterested in treasure%2C which is considered deeply weird among Westerns.%29%0D%0A%0D%0AIn other words%2C they don%27t call Matalde the Terror of the Tindalos for nothing%2C but there is one distinct difference between her and the way Nax operated%3A Matalde is terrible when roused. Nax was just terrible.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 4|3|2|||||RE%3A SOON%3A S5DSE02 Avatar Storytime|Willard||20:59:32|06/29/2014|Ok%2C I understand a little more about Matalde now. %3A-%29%0D%0A%0D%0AI seem to be a little racist against red dragons. Probably too much time playing D%26D. %3A-%29 5|4|4|||||RE%3A SOON%3A S5DSE02 Avatar Storytime|Droken||01:04:24|06/30/2014|Perhaps a bit. But to be fair%2C I don%27t know that I%27ve ever encountered a Red who wasn%27t all too happy to plot outlandish evil schemes and bite the heads off of anyone on little to no provocation.%0D%0A%0D%0AOn the other hand%2C I don%27t know that I%27ve ever tangled with a Red quite so august and ancient as Matalde either... 6|5|5|||1||RE%3A SOON%3A S5DSE02 Avatar Storytime|Gryphon||01:09:59|06/30/2014|%3EPerhaps a bit. But to be fair%2C I don%27t know that I%27ve ever encountered %0D%0A%3Ea Red who wasn%27t all too happy to plot outlandish evil schemes and %0D%0A%3Ebite the heads off of anyone on little to no provocation. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EOn the other hand%2C I don%27t know that I%27ve ever tangled with a Red %0D%0A%3Equite so august and ancient as Matalde either... %0D%0A%0D%0A%5Bb%5DN.B.%5B%2Fb%5D UF%27s dragons are not constrained to alignments by color like in %5Bi%5DAD%26D%5B%2Fi%5D. There %5Bi%5Dare%5B%2Fi%5D stereotypes around them %28coppers are brisk and efficient%2C greens are slovenly and conniving%2C reds are vengeful and greedy%2C blues are %5Bi%5Dsuch%5B%2Fi%5D friggin%27 slackers%2C oh my %5Bi%5Dgods%5B%2Fi%5D - but they are%2C well%2C as true as any other national or racial stereotype. The old %5Bi%5DAD%26D%5B%2Fi%5D %22all reds are chaotic evil%2C etc.%22 rules don%27t apply.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A%5Bfont size%3D%221%22%5DWhite dragons are aggressive and arrogant. Well%2C %5Bi%5Dall%5B%2Fi%5D dragons are stereotypically arrogant%2C but %5Bi%5Dthose%5B%2Fi%5D guys%2C good grief.%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 3|1|0|||1||RE%3A SOON%3A S5DSE02 Avatar Storytime|SpottedKitty||10:40:51|06/29/2014|You%27ve done it again%2C I%27m making that %3Csquee%3E noise...%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m really beginning to like Garnet as a character%2C too%3B looking forward to seeing how she fits in with the rest of the gang when they get back from D%C3%ACqi%C3%BA.%0D%0A%0D%0A-- %0D%0AUnable to save the day%3A File is read-only. 7|1|0|||||RE%3A SOON%3A S5DSE02 Avatar Storytime|Willard||22:30:58|06/30/2014|Story%27s up%21%0D%0A%0D%0ASorry no deep deconstructions from me but I liked it. Helps give a deeper understanding of D%C3%ACq%C3%ADu to those %28like me%29 who haven%27t seen the source material%2C and also shows how it has changed from that source.%0D%0A%0D%0AAlso I think Ryo should spend some time in New Avalon or something%2C get away from his sister and %0D%0Aaccomplish something on his own. %0D%0A%0D%0A 8|2|7|||1||RE%3A SOON%3A S5DSE02 Avatar Storytime|Gryphon||22:43:23|06/30/2014|%3EAlso I think Ryo should spend some time in New Avalon or something%2C %0D%0A%3Eget away from his sister and accomplish something on his own. %0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m not sure Ryo could %5Bi%5Dfunction%5B%2Fi%5D that far from his command signal transmitter. He might just shut down and await new instructions.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 9|1|0|||1||RE%3A SOON%3A S5DSE02 Avatar Storytime|Gryphon||20:32:22|07/01/2014|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jul-01-14 AT 08:33 PM (EDT)]Well%2C shit%2C I guess you guys weren%27t exaggerating about how sick you are of Diqiu.%0D%0A%0D%0AGonna be a quiet goddam summer in here%2C then...%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 10|2|9|||1||RE%3A SOON%3A S5DSE02 Avatar Storytime|McFortner||21:36:53|07/01/2014|I%27m not tired of it%2C it%27s just that I have never watched Korra. I dropped my dish service just after AtLA ended and missed about half of that as it was. I haven%27t had the big desire to reacquire the TV habit. I watch a few old shows I like either on DVD or my computer%2C but a lot of what%27s new just doesn%27t interest me. %0D%0A%0D%0AAnd while I could post%2C I%27d probably go all fanboi on you and I%27m trying hard not to do that. I limit my posts to what I%27m sure isn%27t over the top and enjoy the ride. So don%27t take it personally%2C I%27m just trying to annoy people.%0D%0A%0D%0AMichael%0D%0A%0D%0Ap.s.%3A Toph rules. %27nuff said.%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Bfont color%3D%22black%22%5DMichael C. Fortner%2C B.Sc.%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5Bfont color%3D%22green%22 size%3D-1%5D%22Maxim 37%3A There is no such thing as %22overkill%22.%0D%0AThere is only %22open fire%22 and %22I need to reload%22.%5B%2Ffont%5D 11|2|9|||||RE%3A SOON%3A S5DSE02 Avatar Storytime|Zemyla||21:59:57|07/01/2014|It could just be that this was a SOON%3A thread%2C and people didn%27t immediately realize that it was also for posting impressions.%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m kind of wanting to see more of Korra%27s trip to Yue. That sounds potentially amazing%2C though it leads me to wonder what happens if a spaceship flies too far from Diqiu. 12|3|11|||1||RE%3A SOON%3A S5DSE02 Avatar Storytime|Gryphon||22:17:51|07/01/2014|%3EIt could just be that this was a SOON%3A thread%2C and people didn%27t %0D%0A%3Eimmediately realize that it was also for posting impressions. %0D%0A%0D%0AIt wasn%27t really%2C but that often happens nowadays%2C with teaser posts that happen very close to release. %28And even if it wasn%27t%2C nobody%27s made one of those either%2C so... shrug.%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 13|2|9|||||RE%3A SOON%3A S5DSE02 Avatar Storytime|Bodhi||22:57:21|07/01/2014|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jul-01-14 AT 11:06 PM (EDT)]%3EWell%2C shit%2C I guess you guys weren%27t exaggerating about how sick you %0D%0A%3Eare of Diqiu. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EGonna be a quiet goddam summer in here%2C then... %0D%0A%0D%0AWell%2C to be honest%2C there just isn%27t a lot to comment on. The story is well-written%2C but I think a lot of the RCW%27s were hoping for you to keep the momentum of %5Bi%5DAn Avatar in New Avalon%5B%2Fi%5D or something leading up to %5Bi%5DTaken by Storm%5B%2Fi%5D. This one just didn%27t seem to move the plot%2C provide any depth to the story%2C or keep the aforementioned momentum.%0D%0A%0D%0AI mean %5Bi%5DAAiNA%5B%2Fi%5D was one long action sequence. Not one fight scene stacked on another%2C nicely written though the fight scene is%2C but action%2C movement%2C and the heretofore-only-alluded-to details of Corwin and Len being unleashed on an unsuspecting universe. And it was damn nice to see Kei %22on-screen%22 again. And Kaitlyn%2C pre-badass samurai%2Frockstar%2C is just really awesome and cute. And Ragnar%2C I really like Ragnar and Garnet.%0D%0A%0D%0ACompared against all that%2C parts of %5Bi%5DAvatar Storytime%5B%2Fi%5D feel like filler. For the record%2C I cringe as I write that%2C and filler isn%27t always a bad thing. The sequence with Naga just didn%27t capture my interest%2C it reads well but it gives little to care about. It could have been half as long%2C say just start the flashback here%3A %0D%0A%0D%0A%22%5Bi%5D...%22You did that on purpose%21%22 she accused the dog.%5B%2Fi%5D%22%0D%0A%0D%0ARun with it just as you did%2C that conveys the upshot of the picture without drawing out the scene. The references are made%2C the joke carries well%2C and doesn%27t seem like an overly-drawn out scene.%0D%0A%0D%0AConversely%2C the reaction to the last picture %28Corwin and Len two days old%2C Kate on Korra%27s lap%2C Nall being Nall%29 is just perfect. Korra mussing Corwin%27s hair as his ladies %28and Minami%2C who%27d like to be one%2C or vamps %5Bu%5Dreally%5B%2Fu%5D well%29 tease him is great%2C as is his reaction.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22%5Bi%5D...Korra nodded. %22Two days%21 We met the day Corwin was born%2C%22 she%0D%0Aadded%2C reaching over to muss the young god%27s hair. %22... Man%2C that%27s%0D%0Ajust addictive%2C%22 she mused after a moment%2C then did it again.%0D%0A %22I know%21%22 Utena said. %22It%27s my favorite thing about him.%22%0D%0A Corwin arched an eyebrow at her. %22I dispute that assertion.%22%0D%0A %22Ha%21%22 said Minami.%0D%0A %22ANYway%2C%22 said Korra%2C %22it%27s true%2C I met Gryph in New Avalon that%0D%0Aday - wanted to talk to him about the really loud noise we%27d heard in%0D%0Athe Spirit World nine months before.%22%0D%0A %22Wonder what -that- could have been%2C%22 said Minami mischievously.%0D%0ACorwin coughed.%5B%2Fi%5D%22 %0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AIt%27s ultimately your story and we are fans. Hell%2C most of us think of you as a friend. As a fan%2C I won%27t bitch and moan that the part of the story you%27ve chosen to share isn%27t the part I was waiting for. As a friend%2C I%27m just happy you%27ve kept writing the UF stories. It was just akin to being psyched-up for a bowl of mint ice cream and getting vanilla. In no way bad%2C but not what was expected.%0D%0A%0D%0A-Bodhi%0D%0A 14|3|13|||1||RE%3A SOON%3A S5DSE02 Avatar Storytime|Gryphon||23:30:04|07/01/2014|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jul-01-14 AT 11:31 PM (EDT)]%3EThis one just didn%27t seem to move %0D%0A%3Ethe plot%2C provide any depth to the story%2C or keep the aforementioned %0D%0A%3Emomentum. %0D%0A%0D%0AHmmmm. I%27ll grant you the first and possibly the third%2C but that second one%3F If that%27s what you think%2C that%27s troubling%2C because I %5Bi%5Dthought%5B%2Fi%5D this whole thing was largely an exercise in what we used to call %22deep background%22 in the journo biz. There are lots of little details in there about Korra and the great span of time that has led her to this gathering%2C and about the people and places that have shaped her life and are no longer around for her present-day %22big universe%22 friends to have experienced directly. %28And more than one allusion to the fact that in some cases%2C Corwin has anyway%2C which is leading somewhere over in the main DS story arc.%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3ECompared against all that%2C parts of %5Bi%5DAvatar Storytime%5B%2Fi%5D feel like %0D%0A%3Efiller.%0D%0A%0D%0AWell%2C in that sense it is - it%27s an expanded version of a scene that wasn%27t%2C in itself%2C critical enough to leave in the main story. I therefore realize that it%27s not exactly one of the poles holding up the tent... but we%27ve done stories like that before%2C collections of character moments and little background details%2C and I%27ve never once seen nearly two whole days go by with %5Bi%5Dno reaction at all%5B%2Fi%5D. It was startling%2C and disheartening. And speaking of disheartening%2C%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EThe sequence with Naga just didn%27t capture my %0D%0A%3Einterest%2C it reads well but it gives little to care about.%0D%0A%0D%0AThis breaks my heart%2C because to me there%27s %5Bi%5Dso%5B%2Fi%5D much in there. It%27s a glimpse into a part of Korra%27s life that even the canon has all but completely ignored. It%27s the first moment at which she and Naga go from %22girl with awesome pet%22 to %22adventurer and faithful steed%22%2C which is an important moment in any paladin%27s career. Heck%2C it%27s the first time Korra ever managed to break out of South Pole State Penitentiary%2C even if she didn%27t really mean to and only made it about a hundred yards. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0AThere%27s a lot going on there%2C is what I%27m once again getting at%2C and it makes me sad that I conveyed that so poorly that it was easily overlooked. If I had started with Korra already on the ground%2C the entire background of it having been her first test ride%2C and the transcendent moments when she a%29 got into sync with Naga and b%29 experienced her first taste of proper liberation would%27ve been omitted altogether%2C and%2C wow%2C that I didn%27t bring across how important those are%3F That%27s a serious fail for me. They%27re the whole point of the scene%2C not the %5Bi%5DHow to Train Your Dragon 2%5B%2Fi%5D reference-slash-cuddly moment at the end %28fond of that thought I am%29.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EConversely%2C the reaction to the last picture %28Corwin and Len two days %0D%0A%3Eold%2C Kate on Korra%27s lap%2C Nall being Nall%29 is just perfect. Korra %0D%0A%3Emussing Corwin%27s hair as his ladies %28and Minami%2C who%27d like to be one%2C %0D%0A%3Eor vamps %5Bu%5Dreally%5B%2Fu%5D well%29 tease him is great%2C as is his reaction. %0D%0A%0D%0AWell%2C thank you. That%2C too%2C is one of my favorite moments%2C albeit even I acknowledge that it%27s not too hugely significant. %28Well%2C Minami might disagree. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EIt was just %0D%0A%3Eakin to being psyched-up for a bowl of mint ice cream and getting %0D%0A%3Evanilla. %0D%0A%0D%0AIdeally%2C it would have come out closer to %5Bi%5DGoodbye and Hello%5B%2Fi%5D - it%27s set before %5Bi%5DFire Hazards%5B%2Fi%5D%2C even%2C within that movement - but the way things ended up shaking down%2C maintaining that sequence would have meant delaying %5Bi%5DFamiliar Spirits%5B%2Fi%5D until%2C well%2C %5Bi%5Dnow%5B%2Fi%5D-ish%2C and that didn%27t seem ideal.%0D%0A%0D%0AFor the record%2C we %5Bi%5Dare%5B%2Fi%5D also working on Chapter 2 of Book 6 %28%5Bi%5DThe Great Ziggurat Zeppelin Raid of 2391%5B%2Fi%5D%29 and the foundational materials for %5Bi%5DTaken by Storm%5B%2Fi%5D - as well as another project that I%27m not quite ready to tell you about yet%2C but which a number of people have been expressing an interest in. It%27s just that this is the order the bits happened to get finished in. It%27s a bit of a tying up of loose ends%2C and yes%2C in a sense it%27s extraneous%2C but at the same time%2C it%27s not %5Bi%5Dcomplete%5B%2Fi%5D fluff and even if it were%2C past precedent suggested that %5Bi%5Dsomeone%5B%2Fi%5D should have said something by now.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe Forum pop in general seems to be trending toward lurking lately%2C and that%27s every user%27s prerogative%2C but at the risk of coming off as a bit needy%2C I have to say%2C from the standpoint of the person handling the content%2C lurkers just aren%27t much fun. One tends to start feeling as if one has either displeased everyone%2C or there%27s nobody there in the first place. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 15|4|14|||1||RE%3A SOON%3A S5DSE02 Avatar Storytime|Astynax||00:02:12|07/02/2014|%3E%0D%0A%3EThe Forum pop in general seems to be trending toward lurking lately%2C %0D%0A%3Eand that%27s every user%27s prerogative%2C but at the risk of coming off as %0D%0A%3Ea bit needy%2C I have to say%2C from the standpoint of the person handling %0D%0A%3Ethe content%2C lurkers just aren%27t much fun. One tends to start feeling %0D%0A%3Eas if one has either displeased everyone%2C or there%27s nobody there in %0D%0A%3Ethe first place. %3A%29 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E--G. %0D%0A%3E-%3E%3C- %0D%0A%3EBenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod %0D%0A%3EEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F %0D%0A%3Ezgryphon at that email service Google has %0D%0A%3E%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D %0D%0A%0D%0ABeen here for about as long as this place has had a forum%2C and likely to be here until the lights go out. So I can assure you personally%2C we%27re out here. For my part%2C I%27ve always been deeply annoyed with literary deconstructionists %28far too many classes involving %22and what do the blue drapes symbolize in the scene where they are mentioned in passing only once%3F%22 I suspect.%29 So my posts would fall into either me-too-ism%2C or ex-rectum plot speculation %28which I have given a trial run or three to in my own head%2C and been wrong sufficiently large number of times to learn that I have no talent in that regard.%29 So I mostly lurk until something really rouses me to put fingers to keyboard%2C but I read it all%2C and appreciate it as a good counterbalance to the %22put our protagonists through all 9 layers of Hell twice%22 school of writing that seems so popular in entertainment these days %28and I say this as a fan of %5Bi%5DSong of Ice and Fire%5B%2Fi%5D%2C %5Bi%5DThe Dresden Files%5B%2Fi%5D%2C and even %5Bi%5DTorchwood%5B%2Fi%5D%2C which are all fine entertainment%2C but ye gods something upbeat is necessary after that sort of thing to avoid opting for a shotgun mouthwash.%29 %0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Btable border%3D%220%22 cellspacing%3D%220%22 cellpadding%3D%220%22%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D%222%22 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd%5Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv375%2Ferulogos%2Fv2%2FXSIG.jpg%5B%2Ftd%5D%5Btd%5D%5BFONT SIZE%3D%222%22 COLOR%3D%22%23000000%22%5D%5Bb%5D-%3D%7B%28Astynax%29%7D%3D-%5B%2Fb%5D%0D%0A%5Bi%5D%22Authors these days seem to believe %27we always hurt the ones we love%27 is an immutable commandment.%22%5B%2Fi%5D%5B%2Ffont%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D%222%22 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D%5B%2Fp%5D 16|4|14|||||RE%3A SOON%3A S5DSE02 Avatar Storytime|Bodhi||01:04:11|07/02/2014|%3EHmmmm. I%27ll grant you the first and possibly the third%2C but that %0D%0A%3Esecond one%3F If that%27s what you think%2C that%27s troubling%2C because I %0D%0A%3E%5Bi%5Dthought%5B%2Fi%5D this whole thing was largely an exercise in what we %0D%0A%3Eused to call %22deep background%22 in the journo biz. There are lots of %0D%0A%3Elittle details in there about Korra and the great span of time that %0D%0A%3Ehas led her to this gathering%2C and about the people and places that %0D%0A%3Ehave shaped her life and are no longer around for her present-day %22big %0D%0A%3Euniverse%22 friends to have experienced directly. %28And more than one %0D%0A%3Eallusion to the fact that in some cases%2C Corwin has anyway%2C which is %0D%0A%3Eleading somewhere over in the main DS story arc.%29 %0D%0A%0D%0AWell%2C you have some idea of where you%27re going with it. I don%27t. And you%27re right%2C the %22deep background%22 is important. I%27m just not privy to the unpublished parts that provide more of the context to make it important. %0D%0A%0D%0A%3EWell%2C in that sense it is - it%27s an expanded version of a scene that %0D%0A%3Ewasn%27t%2C in itself%2C critical enough to leave in the main story. I %0D%0A%3Etherefore realize that it%27s not exactly one of the poles holding up %0D%0A%3Ethe tent... but we%27ve done stories like that before%2C collections of %0D%0A%3Echaracter moments and little background details%2C and I%27ve never once %0D%0A%3Eseen nearly two whole days go by with %5Bi%5Dno reaction at all%5B%2Fi%5D. It %0D%0A%3Ewas startling%2C and disheartening. And speaking of disheartening%2C %0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3EThe sequence with Naga just didn%27t capture my %0D%0A%3E%3Einterest%2C it reads well but it gives little to care about.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EThis breaks my heart%2C because to me there%27s %5Bi%5Dso%5B%2Fi%5D much in there. %0D%0A%3EIt%27s a glimpse into a part of Korra%27s life that even the canon has all %0D%0A%3Ebut completely ignored. It%27s the first moment at which she and Naga %0D%0A%3Ego from %22girl with awesome pet%22 to %22adventurer and faithful steed%22%2C %0D%0A%3Ewhich is an important moment in any paladin%27s career. Heck%2C it%27s the %0D%0A%3Efirst time Korra ever managed to break out of South Pole State %0D%0A%3EPenitentiary%2C even if she didn%27t really mean to and only made it about %0D%0A%3Ea hundred yards. %3A%29 %0D%0A%0D%0ASee%2C that%27s what I didn%27t get. I didn%27t feel like she was in a constrained to stay put in any manner%2C a guest in a minimum security Avatar-retention-and-training facility or that this was the first time Korra and Naga became %22adventurer and faithful steed%22. I mean%2C yes%2C it did indicate this was a new%2C untested idea%2C but it didn%27t feel like a step on the Hero%27s Journey.%0D%0A%0D%0ASo I read it as a cute scene between a girl and her companion%2Fpet%2Fsidekick. My failing for not glarking the nuances.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EThere%27s a lot going on there%2C is what I%27m once again getting at%2C and %0D%0A%3Eit makes me sad that I conveyed that so poorly that it was easily %0D%0A%3Eoverlooked. If I had started with Korra already on the ground%2C the %0D%0A%3Eentire background of it having been her first test ride%2C and the %0D%0A%3Etranscendent moments when she a%29 got into sync with Naga and b%29 %0D%0A%3Eexperienced her first taste of proper liberation would%27ve been omitted %0D%0A%3Ealtogether%2C and%2C wow%2C that I didn%27t bring across how important those %0D%0A%3Eare%3F That%27s a serious fail for me. They%27re the whole point of the %0D%0A%3Escene%2C not the %5Bi%5DHow to Train Your Dragon 2%5B%2Fi%5D %0D%0A%3Ereference-slash-cuddly moment at the end %28fond of that thought I am%29. %0D%0A%0D%0AMaybe if that scene had been it%27s own Mini-story it would have tracked better for me. As a standalone%2C you could%27ve given it more fleshing out. Perhaps entitled something like %5Bi%5DAvatar Jailbreak%5B%2Fi%5D or %5Bi%5DKorra%27s Test Ride%5B%2Fi%5D. As it is%2C it just read as slightly awkwardly placed%2C to me. But%2C a writer I am not%2C so what the hell do I know%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3EConversely%2C the reaction to the last picture %28Corwin and Len two days %0D%0A%3E%3Eold%2C Kate on Korra%27s lap%2C Nall being Nall%29 is just perfect. Korra %0D%0A%3E%3Emussing Corwin%27s hair as his ladies %28and Minami%2C who%27d like to be one%2C %0D%0A%3E%3Eor vamps %5Bu%5Dreally%5B%2Fu%5D well%29 tease him is great%2C as is his reaction. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EWell%2C thank you. That%2C too%2C is one of my favorite moments%2C albeit %0D%0A%3Eeven I acknowledge that it%27s not too hugely significant. %28Well%2C %0D%0A%3EMinami might disagree. %3A%29 %0D%0A%0D%0AYou%27re welcome. No%2C it isn%27t hugely significant%2C but it does give a scope to the length of the association that has been referenced before. It was directly referenced by Corwin earlier that part of her likely still thinks of him as the Great Sky Bison Hijacker%2C but that picture of a scene with him and his new-born brothers %28Len and Nall%29 also reinforces that she has known him his entire life. Which isn%27t news. The picture and the groups reaction to it clarifies that she is more to Corwin %28Kate%2C Nall...%29 than a friend%2C that she is shared genetics or not%2C family. That distinction wasn%27t entirely clear to me prior to the ice-dodging trial and Kate giving her a Duelist%27s ring.%0D%0A%0D%0AAdditionally%2C I just found the sense of easy friendship the scene evoked to be well considered.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EFor the record%2C we %5Bi%5Dare%5B%2Fi%5D also working on Chapter 2 of Book 6 %0D%0A%3E%28%5Bi%5DThe Great Ziggurat Zeppelin Raid of 2391%5B%2Fi%5D%29 and the foundational %0D%0A%3Ematerials for %5Bi%5DTaken by Storm%5B%2Fi%5D - as well as another project that %0D%0A%3EI%27m not quite ready to tell you about yet%2C but which a number of %0D%0A%3Epeople have been expressing an interest in. It%27s just that this is %0D%0A%3Ethe order the bits happened to get finished in. It%27s a bit of a tying %0D%0A%3Eup of loose ends%2C and yes%2C in a sense it%27s extraneous%2C but at the same %0D%0A%3Etime%2C it%27s not %5Bi%5Dcomplete%5B%2Fi%5D fluff and even if it were%2C past %0D%0A%3Eprecedent suggested that %5Bi%5Dsomeone%5B%2Fi%5D should have said something by %0D%0A%3Enow. %0D%0A%0D%0AYou%27re right again%2C effort was spent and reaction was lacking. I can only speak for myself%2C but I just wasn%27t sure where this was going%2C what loose ends needed seeing to. As stated before%2C it seemed to stop the momentum built in the last several pieces. Later pieces will no doubt give this more context and meaning.%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m not a writer%2C and critique of your efforts feels cheap when I cannot do half as well myself. The %22those that cannot do%2C bitch at those that can%22 syndrome.%0D%0A%0D%0AYour fans are definitely still out there%2C trust me on that.%0D%0A%0D%0A-Bodhi%0D%0A 19|4|14|||||RE%3A SOON%3A S5DSE02 Avatar Storytime|mdg1||07:40:44|07/02/2014|There%27s a simple reason you may not have considered%2C Ben%3A%0D%0A%0D%0AIt%27s hot%2C and people aren%27t inclined to be online as much. %3B%29%0D%0A 20|4|14|||1||RE%3A SOON%3A S5DSE02 Avatar Storytime|BobSchroeck||09:13:42|07/02/2014|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jul-02-14 AT 09:14 AM (EDT)]%3EThe Forum pop in general seems to be trending toward lurking lately%2C %0D%0A%3Eand that%27s every user%27s prerogative%2C but at the risk of coming off as %0D%0A%3Ea bit needy%2C I have to say%2C from the standpoint of the person handling %0D%0A%3Ethe content%2C lurkers just aren%27t much fun. One tends to start feeling %0D%0A%3Eas if one has either displeased everyone%2C or there%27s nobody there in %0D%0A%3Ethe first place. %3A%29 %0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m sorry to have contributed to that impression%2C but I only got the chance to read %5Bi%5DAvatar Storytime%5B%2Fi%5D yesterday afternoon%2C in between tasks at work%2C and after work I had entirely too much on my plate to even check the forums. I%2C too%2C suffer from insufficient canonical Korra exposure %28though Peg and I shotgunned all three seasons of %5Bi%5DAtLA%5B%2Fi%5D after seeing the live-action movie some years back%2C we never got our act together on watching %5Bi%5DTLOK%5B%2Fi%5D%29%2C and this has no doubt contributed to my lack of things to say. I frankly did not have the context to %5Bi%5Dunderstand%5B%2Fi%5D what you were doing with the Naga scene%2C for instance. Overall%2C I found the story to be a pleasant respite in the midst of everything else happening at this time and%2C as you intended%2C a background-builder%2C but I would rather have a bit more to say than %22I liked it%22.%0D%0A%0D%0A-- Bob%0D%0A-------------------%0D%0AMy race is pacifist and does not believe in war. We kill only out of personal spite. 21|4|14|||||RE%3A SOON%3A S5DSE02 Avatar Storytime|StClair||23:14:49|07/02/2014|Still here%2C still reading and enjoying pretty much everything%2C the %22slow%22 character development stuff as much as the %22fast%22 action scenes. Even though%2C as has been the case several times before%2C I have only a by-fandom-osmosis knowledge of about half the source material. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A... it%27s been just about 25 years%2C hasn%27t it%3F And yes%2C you%27ve improved considerably with practice - though the old stuff is still fun to read sometimes%2C too. Not unlike classic Trek or Who%2C even though the sets are cardboard and the FX are cheap. %3B%29 17|2|9|||1||RE%3A SOON%3A S5DSE02 Avatar Storytime|VoidRandom||02:47:31|07/02/2014|%3EWell%2C shit%2C I guess you guys weren%27t exaggerating about how sick you %0D%0A%3Eare of Diqiu. %0D%0A%0D%0AI am not sick of Diqiu. I am a touch confused and am gradually working my way out of the confusion.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe confusion is mostly because I have not watched TLoK %28and only 1%2F2 an episode of AtLA%29 and to appreciate much of the admirable salvage work you are doing really needs one to have watched the show%28s%29. All of the background I have is what is in these here forums and various wiki sites as I google for stuff I need to know. To use an example from a different part of the thread of how background can affect the interpretation%2C try reading the %22escape from the avatar prison%22 while suppressing the knowledge that that is what it actually was...or read it assuming that that description was a teenage exaggeration.%0D%0A%0D%0AThis was much less of a problem with the RGU material in SotS%2C the NGE material in NXE%2C or even the Azula storyline in SotS. I wish I could tell you why%2C I%27m thinking on it some more.%0D%0A%5Bfont size%3D2%5D%28Dammit Jim%2C I%27m a hacker not a literary critic%21%29%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m pretty certain I don%27t want to actually watch TLoK. Your attitudes towards the show are well established. Merc is more positive if provincial%2C but even when he%27s supporting the show he doesn%27t make it sound like something I want to watch. Even Phil%2C who is the closest thing to a serious fanboy of the show that we seem to have here%2C doesn%27t make it sound that appealing.%0D%0A %0D%0A-VR%0D%0A%5Bfont size%3D2%5DThree Cheers%21 For the St. Spyridon Sanctuary for Battered and Neglected Characters%21 Hip Hip Hooray%21 Hip Hip Hooray%21 Hip Hip Hooray%21 %5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%22They copied all they could follow%2C but they couldn%27t copy my mind%2C%0D%0AAnd I left %27em sweating and stealing a year and a half behind.%22 18|3|17|||1||RE%3A SOON%3A S5DSE02 Avatar Storytime|pjmoyer||07:26:20|07/02/2014|%3EI%27m pretty certain I don%27t want to actually watch TLoK. Your attitudes %0D%0A%3Etowards the show are well established. Merc is more positive if %0D%0A%3Eprovincial%2C but even when he%27s supporting the show he doesn%27t make it %0D%0A%3Esound like something I want to watch. Even Phil%2C who is the closest %0D%0A%3Ething to a serious fanboy of the show that we seem to have here%2C %0D%0A%3Edoesn%27t make it sound that appealing. %0D%0A%0D%0AI am%2C indeed the serious fanboy here%2C and a lot of my positivity for the show comes from the fact that I read a lot of blogs that go deep into the whys and wherefores about what happens in Korra%2C which causes me to rethink my position on a lot of things and see them in new lights. http%3A%2F%2Fikkinthekitsune.tumblr.com%2F is probably one of the best for that. %28in fact http%3A%2F%2Fikkinthekitsune.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F90542802769%2Fim-trying-to-establish-an-overview-of-korras is a three-step summary of just what Korra%27s learned%2Flearning over the three Books%21%29%0D%0A%0D%0AI am not here to force anybody to watch the show%2C but I do get a LOT of enjoyment from it %28as do a lot of other people%29%2C so maybe it%27s just not other%27s cup of jasmine tea.%0D%0A%0D%0A--- Philip%0D%0A%5Bsmall%5D%5Bi%5D%22If you look for the light%2C you will often find it%2C but if you look for the dark%2C that is all you%27ll %5Bu%5Dever%5B%2Fu%5D see.%22%5B%2Fi%5D -- wise words for %5Bi%5Dany%5B%2Fi%5D situation%2C courtesy of Uncle Iroh.%5B%2Fsmall%5D%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Btable%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%223%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D2 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%0D%0A%5Btr%5D%5Btd width%3D%2265%22%5Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie.org%2F%7Eaerianne%2Ffoth.img%2Fgaia_ser_philip_saber.jpg%5B%2Ftd%5D%0D%0A%5Btd%5D%5Bfont color%3D%22%230000dd%22%5DPhilip J. Moyer%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5Bfont color%3D%22%230000aa%22 size%3D-2%5DContributing Writer%2C Editor and Artist %28and Moderator%29 -- Eyrie Productions%2C Unlimited%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5Bfont color%3D%22%230000aa%22 size%3D-2%5DCEO of MTS%2C High Poobah Of Artwork%2C and High Priest Of the Church Of Aerianne -- Magnetic Terrapin Studios%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5Bfont color%3D%22%230044aa%22 size%3D-1%5D%5Bi%5D%22Insert Pithy Comment Here%22%5B%2Fi%5D%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5Bfont color%3D%22%230044aa%22 size%3D-1%5D%5Bi%5D%5Blink%3Amagnetic-terp-input.tumblr.com%7CFandoms%5D%5B%2Fi%5D -- %5Bi%5D%5Blink%3Amagnetic-terp-output.tumblr.com%7CFanart%5D%5B%2Fi%5D -- %5Bi%5D%5Blink%3Amagnetic-terp-converse.tumblr.com%7CFan Meta Discussions%5D%5B%2Fi%5D%5B%2Ffont%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%0D%0A%5Btd width%3D%2265%22%5Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie.org%2F%7Eaerianne%2Ffoth.img%2Fgaia_aeri_coat_sword.jpg%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%0D%0A%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%223%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D1 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D