Here we have the Spore engine's closest approximations of what the people of Grushka look like, if you were curious.

redscale female

yellowscale male

--G.
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Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

I liked Fenn. Then again, I'm a sucker for Mandalorians. Dunno why.

--
-Pasha
What was that feeling again?
Oh yes.
-Rage-

LAST EDITED ON Dec-21-11 AT 02:26 PM (EST)
 
Agreed, Fenn is cool. Is it just me, or does his accent seem to come and go?

I dunno. Her accent seems pretty stable to me.

--
-Pasha
What was that feeling again?
Oh yes.
-Rage-

I'm still giggling at the "Don't make eye contact" prank. Grushka was a rather interesting planet overall, with a simple, yet interesting backstory (Czerka never changes it seems). Fenn was fun, as was the guide.

The scene with Vader waking up was nice, with a nicely written reaction to being intact again. What I really liked though was his 'recruitment speech' to Rei. Really demonstrated the nature of this version of Vader, along with the way of the Sith.

Maybe it's the fact that I pulled Mass Effect out last night and finally finished it, but while Rei and co were driving around in the Mako, I couldn't help but think she has the suspension on hers better adjusted :P

Overall, fun story, enjoyed it.

Matrix Dragon, J. Random Nutter

>Maybe it's the fact that I pulled Mass Effect out last night and
>finally finished it, but while Rei and co were driving around in the
>Mako, I couldn't help but think she has the suspension on hers better
>adjusted :P

They had a road to use; that helped. Also, that part of Palaven is lacking a bit in the Really Outstanding Crags department.

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

You know, I was trying to place exactly where I had seen the whole 'trip into the Jungle' bit somewhere else before. Not to diminish it or anything, I couldn't help but figure that this was on some level a tribute...

And then bit at his end.

'da verschrikking...'

That broke me terribly. Marvelously played.

Greatly enjoyed the piece!

>You know, I was trying to place exactly where I had seen the whole
>'trip into the Jungle' bit somewhere else before. Not to diminish it
>or anything, I couldn't help but figure that this was on some level a
>tribute...

I've seen 'treks into the jungle to visit ancient Sith temples' in a couple different games, Jedi Academy and KotOR 2 both. I'm pretty sure both were inspired by one or more of the EU books. Not sure what, if any, influenced the fic though. =)

"They say one should not speak unkindly of the dead, so I say, 'nice try'." --Lezard

>Greatly enjoyed the piece!
>
>>You know, I was trying to place exactly where I had seen the whole
>>'trip into the Jungle' bit somewhere else before. Not to diminish it
>>or anything, I couldn't help but figure that this was on some level a
>>tribute...
>
>I've seen 'treks into the jungle to visit ancient Sith temples' in a
>couple different games, Jedi Academy and KotOR 2 both. I'm pretty sure
>both were inspired by one or more of the EU books. Not sure what, if
>any, influenced the fic though. =)

I think Berk meant that on some level the whole jungle scene with Master Corto
was a tribute to Apocalypse Now :D

I'd like to say, I always had the sneaking suspicion that Vader's role in the whole story was to find Rei, convince her to join the dark side, then disappear
to train her until Blades. Its really reaaally nice to find out I was wrong. I'm really enjoying reading about Vader and Rei's development into master and apprentice :)

Also, even though Dooku is currently one of the good guy's... does anyone else get the feeling that he's going to get warped (or is already warped) by the temple on Naboo?
_____________________________________________
"Walls are meant to be broken." - makes sense both figuratively and literally.

Aaaaaah. A Heart of Darkness kinda riff. That makes sense.

And, just in general, I want to say that I really enjoyed the Grushkans in this story. I like their attitude, especially that first yellowscale Len and Emmy meet at the spaceport.

>I think Berk meant that on some level the whole jungle scene with
>Master Corto was a tribute to Apocalypse Now :D

Well, if we're being technical, the concept traces back to Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, of which Apocalypse Now is basically a movie version shifted from the context of late-Victorian-era Africa to the Vietnam War. But yes, the whole thing is largely a Heart of Darkness riff.

Technically, since "Corto" is Italian for "Kurtz", Master Corto's last words should've been "L'orrore... l'orrore," but I liked the Dutch version better and the translation isn't quite as obvious.

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

As soon as I read "Mister Corto, he dead", it clicked.

Ah. I'd completely missed the reference, and assumed it was something deliberately obscure that would be revealed later.

Care to enlighten this fan?

LAST EDITED ON Dec-21-11 AT 02:26 PM (EST)
 
Count Dooku wants to bum a ride from Len. I'm sure no excitement and-or danger will come from this. Nah. Not from Count Dooku.

Heh.

Very nice piece. Seeing what we are of the temples and the drives-Jedi-crazy glyphs, I'm beginning to wonder (if I hadn't mised it being spelled out plainly else where) that perhaps the Fulcrum of Fate is some kind of ancient, psychic weapon. If that's the case, that's one hella cool name for a weapon.

You want my take on this?

Consider why those Temples were largely abandoned. My suspicion is that it's related to the Yoma Sorcerers waaaay back during the Purge--I would not be suprised if the new Sorcerers simply learned how to re-activate the long-dormant "anti-Jedi" mechanism like they did back then.

It's the Purge all over again, but there's one thing against it: Vader is on the other side this time. That's quite likely part of the reasoning behind the "fulcrum," IMO--Len and Emmy will play their share, I know.

Other than that, I don't care if it's light on the fighting--a good mystery is also very enjoyable. Can't wait to see the last installment!

(Note: I orignally envisioned the Grushkans as Minya-shaped, but with backward legs. Comes from moderating an active Godzilla forum, I guess.)

Nice ground work piece. Was quite amused at Rei's sun shield outfit. Why did Emi and Len go by foot looking for Master Corto? Was there not any low atmospheric aircraft they could use to search?

>Why did Emi and Len go by foot looking for Master Corto? Was there
>not any low atmospheric aircraft they could use to search?

Sure, if their game plan involved getting shot down by the rebels...

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.