Go on, it's right here!

Many thanks to the crew for pulling together at a time of very low collective spoon count to get this out the door on the day. And thanks to all of you for your continued support; it's been a hell of a weird ride so far. :)

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Mod
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
zgryphon at that email service Google has
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

LAST EDITED ON Nov-14-16 AT 04:20 PM (EST)
 

>Many thanks to the crew for pulling together at a time of very low
>collective spoon count to get this out the door on the day. And
>thanks to all of you for your continued support; it's been a hell of a
>weird ride so far. :)

Well, that was certainly a welcome thing. Happy birthday EPU indeed.

--
-Pasha
"Don't change the subject"
"Too slow, already did."

Happy Anniversary! Now I just need to find the time to read it...

Offsides

[...] in order to be a realist you must believe in miracles.
-- David Ben Gurion
EPU RCW #π
#include <stdsig.h>

Oh, yesssssss...

dbrandon

LAST EDITED ON Nov-14-16 AT 06:27 PM (EST)
 
"To the ancient Sith Lords, these were the Eight Virtues."

I like the structure you've built for these virtues, demonstrating that virtue taken to an extreme is yet another flaw. It fits well with my personal philosophy, even if my virtues aren't the same.

"Bemused acquiescence: I will be extremely gracious, Master. I have no idea why you would expect otherwise."

HK-47, never give up your sense of humor.

"You have a habit of discovering long-thought-dead menaces to Galactic Civilization, Master?"

"I wouldn't exactly call it a habit..."

I suppose this is just what happens with the Force. Some people always have exact change, some people find menaces to civilization every so often.

"That was really unpleasant, but it's a fascinating trick. Do you mind if I ask where you learned it?"

Ten points to the Jedi for repartee.

"Lieska, do you hear that?"

"Y... Yes, Master Vert. But... I don't understand..."

Oh, good. They've found her a new master. It might be interesting to find out why Vert in particular - but that's something for later, if ever.

...a third, entirely new construct...

Ooo. I wonder what this thing can do?

And now we know a few more of the steps to the New Frontier.

Great work, as expected.

Peter Eng
--
"I can't leave you guys alone for a minute."

>"To the ancient Sith Lords, these were the Eight Virtues."
>
>I like the structure you've built for these virtues, demonstrating
>that virtue taken to an extreme is yet another flaw. It fits well
>with my personal philosophy, even if my virtues aren't the same.

We had some fairly long discussions about this backstage; it was quite a lot of fun to work these up. Amusingly, the order went like this:

Alaia's chant -> "Does that thing have a meaning? Hmm, I dunno, I just wrote it, I'll ask the characters..." -> Sorceric glyphs -> Jedi glyphs -> Sith virtues -> Jedi virtues

Which goes to show you who's actually driving around here.

LAST EDITED ON Nov-14-16 AT 07:49 PM (EST)
 
Oooo, what's this?

<readreadreadread>

<squee>

<read the bit after the credits>

Whups, you've done it again — blown my socks off so hard they're now in opposite corners of the room.

Edit after rereading a few bits: I can't escape the feeling that this is UF canon for what Dooku would have been like if Palpatine hadn't corrupted him.

--
Unable to save the day: File is read-only.

Yay! New content! And it's the exciting next chapter of Fulcrum of Fate to boot! I may go Orz, my happiness so outstrips my vocabulary! :)

Still working through it, but I will say that based on my last read of FoF4 I totally expected Dooku to do the villain swerve... and that you evil bastards have confounded me once again!

--
Mr. Fnord would angryfist but enh, I'll leave that to Doom.

>Still working through it, but I will say that based on my last
>read of FoF4 I totally expected Dooku to do the villain
>swerve... and that you evil bastards have confounded me once again!

When I came on board and was given the rough design specs for FoF to read through, "No, really, Christopher Lee gets to be a good guy this time" was in fact one of the build notes. :)

>>Still working through it, but I will say that based on my last
>>read of FoF4 I totally expected Dooku to do the villain
>>swerve... and that you evil bastards have confounded me once again!
>
>When I came on board and was given the rough design specs for FoF to
>read through, "No, really, Christopher Lee gets to be a good guy this
>time" was in fact one of the build notes. :)

But we were rather hoping that when we sent Len and Emmy to Serenno with him last episode, people would think it was A Trap. And I guess technically it was! Just not his trap. :)

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Mod
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
zgryphon at that email service Google has
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

>
>But we were rather hoping that when we sent Len and Emmy to
>Serenno with him last episode, people would think it was A Trap. And
>I guess technically it was! Just not his trap. :)
>

From my perspective, I'm not sure it was anybody's trap. They head off to do architectural research and end up stumbling upon a plot to alter the balance of the universe? Probably the Force at work.

Peter Eng
--
Insert humorous comment here.

This is true, and also true!

I spent the entire first half of the installment repeating to myself, "please let Dooku still be good, please let Dooku still be good...".

Then I actually thought about the issue of the -timing- of things, and that Dooku missing from the Temple (when he wasn't on Naboo) would likely be remarked upon. That was about the time in the story where everything was starting to converge, and it was all gravy from there :)

>But we were rather hoping that when we sent Len and Emmy to
>Serenno with him last episode, people would think it was A Trap.

*sigh* It's a fair cop.

Michael C. Fortner
"Maxim 37: There is no such thing as "overkill".
There is only "open fire" and "I need to reload".

LAST EDITED ON Aug-15-18 AT 03:26 PM (EDT)
 
>>Still working through it, but I will say that based on my last
>>read of FoF4 I totally expected Dooku to do the villain
>>swerve... and that you evil bastards have confounded me once again!
>
>When I came on board and was given the rough design specs for FoF to
>read through, "No, really, Christopher Lee gets to be a good guy this
>time" was in fact one of the build notes. :)

I was Reflecting on The Hobbit movies lately. I'm not getting into any discussion about their general merit. But the scene in The Battle of Five Armies where the White Council shows up in Dol Guldur, Saruman inquires, "My lady, do need assistance?", and the Council proceeds to Lay The Smack Down (TM) made me want to stand up and cheer.

Yes Saruman falls. But Christopher Lee got one last Big Damn Heroes moment.

LAST EDITED ON Nov-15-16 AT 01:08 AM (EST)
 
........! I was not anticipating this! Awesome!

< Edit, after finishing reading >

..........!!!

Well. That's someone I hadn't expected to see.

Welcome back!

>[ Edit, after finishing reading ]
>
>..........!!!

Yes, one rather hoped that stinger would elicit an OH SHIT SON or two. :)

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Mod
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
zgryphon at that email service Google has
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

>>[ Edit, after finishing reading ]
>>
>>..........!!!
>
>Yes, one rather hoped that stinger would elicit an OH SHIT SON or two.
>:)

Actually, with me, that elicited a YEAH, COVIE BASTARD, YOU GON' GET CLAPPED UP.

-- Slider Da Feral (NYAR!)
"Just indulging in my fondness for the vernacular."

Just a -little- bit, yeah. ;-)

>Yes, one rather hoped that stinger would elicit an OH SHIT SON or two.

My personal reaction at that moment was "Fffffuuuuuuuck meeeee...."

Amazing work. 12/10 would take that ride again.
--------------
Lime2K
The One True Evil Overlord

LAST EDITED ON Nov-14-16 AT 10:25 PM (EST)
 
"No time. It's dangerous to go alone. Take this."

This line shattered me at the time, even if I had no idea who he was talking to. Once I found out, I laughed again. Well played.

I'd talk about the mental image I got from the ending, but it may spoil it for some so I'll give it a pass at the moment. Maybe I'll email Gryph my thoughts on that one.

Michael C. Fortner
"Maxim 37: There is no such thing as "overkill".
There is only "open fire" and "I need to reload".

>"No time. It's dangerous to go alone. Take this."
>
>This line shattered me at the time, even if I had no idea who he was
>talking to. Once I found out, I laughed again. Well played.
>
>I'd talk about the mental image I got from the ending, but it may
>spoil it for some so I'll give it a pass at the moment. Maybe I'll
>email Gryph my thoughts on that one.

Start a new thread with "SPOILERS!" in the title or something - the rest of us would like to know too. :)

Having gotten a chance to read it, I now need to go back and reread all of Fulcrum (and possibly Road Movie to Naboo, before it) to make sure I haven't missed or misremembered anything. But I have to say, this was pretty darn awesome. And I was expecting Dooku to be one of the bad guys almost all the way to the end, until I saw him smiling from the high-speed drive. Then I knew he was one of the good guys - you just can't fake that level of enthusiasm for a good top-speed run and maintain a facade of being someone you arent :)

And the 8 virtues of the Sith were fantastic - that's true world building there, to rival pretty much anything I've read anywhere else. Bravo!

Offsides

[...] in order to be a realist you must believe in miracles.
-- David Ben Gurion
EPU RCW #π
#include <stdsig.h>

Characters and concepts taken from half a dozen different sources, all mixed together, with original content blended in to create a rather unique world. Chapters like this one are a rather appropriate summary of the past twenty five years.

And I have to say, the approach you've taken with the Sith here is another occasion of my preferring UF over canon. The eight virtues were fantastic, even if I was instinctively looking around for a Lord British cameo :)

Matrix Dragon, J. Random Nutter

LAST EDITED ON Nov-15-16 AT 03:18 PM (EST)
 
Yay, UPDATE.

The post-final is great: Kei is back and woe to everyone who stands in her way.
The final is great: Superweapon fires, does a no-op dance. Len uses bleedoff to do some Force Magic.
Count Dooku, being badass, everyone else being badass, the Force Users in next generation coming together and taking their place in the Stand against Incoming Dark (Darth Vader, best and brightest of this galaxy, oh irony).

Want to learn the meaning behind Runes of Light. I may have missed or forgotten them? But the look into True Sith way was insightful.

Going back some more: Anne as shown in early parts of Fulcrum isn't as... grown as one from OOTR. She's... grown from little psychic runaway, but she's not the girl who can cut a dragon open and dead, with a stick.

Thank you for your threat. Awaiting new step in FI or beyond with great anticipation. Or what's will happen to Guy beyond ACROSS? And Junior Troubleshooters' Adventures, also interesting theme. Alternatively, OWAW would be great.

... Also, UF are only two years younger than me. And writing quality progresses spectacularly from the Core, through Golden, then Dark Ages to now.

LAST EDITED ON Nov-15-16 AT 05:04 PM (EST)
 
>
>Want to learn the meaning behind Runes of Light. I may have missed or
>forgotten them? But the look into True Sith way was insightful.
>

I'm pretty sure they haven't been covered yet. Oh, it's all there in the passage where they're all named. I just didn't notice the italics the first time through.

>
>Going back some more: Anne as shown in early parts of Fulcrum isn't
>as... grown as one from OOTR. She's... grown from little psychic
>runaway, but she's not the girl who can cut a dragon open and dead,
>with a stick.
>

I suspect that part of that is the fact that she's still settling into the business of being truly on her own. When she was fighting the spawn of Nidhoggr, she was drawing from Utena's example of what to do when trouble comes knocking. In Blades, she's still not in a place where she can be like that most of the time.

Then again, I'm not sure if Utena is like that most of the time.

Peter Eng
--
Insert humorous comment here.

>>Want to learn the meaning behind Runes of Light. I may have missed or
>>forgotten them? But the look into True Sith way was insightful.
>>
>
>I'm pretty sure they haven't been covered yet. Oh,
>it's all there in the passage where they're all named. I just didn't
>notice the italics the first time through.

(nod) The obvious thing to do there, I suppose, would have been to have Alaia explain them, mirroring Vader's explanation of the Sith Virtues, when she told them to Obi-Wan at the end of that sequence; but that would perhaps have been a little too obvious, and besides, her understanding (as her internal monologue in that scene shows) is more instinctive than articulate.

>Then again, I'm not sure if Utena is like that most of the time.

A lot of people probably think she is, but she's of the opinion (one of the many she tends to share with, e.g., Korra, of whom it is also often expected by strangers) that a person can't live with that kind of intensity all the time. It would be exhausting and alienate other people.

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Mod
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
zgryphon at that email service Google has
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

LAST EDITED ON Nov-16-16 AT 12:31 PM (EST)
 
>>>Want to learn the meaning behind Runes of Light. I may have missed or
>>>forgotten them? But the look into True Sith way was insightful.
>>>
>>
>>I'm pretty sure they haven't been covered yet. Oh,
>>it's all there in the passage where they're all named. I just didn't
>>notice the italics the first time through.
>
>(nod) The obvious thing to do there, I suppose, would have been to
>have Alaia explain them, mirroring Vader's explanation of the Sith
>Virtues, when she told them to Obi-Wan at the end of that sequence;
>but that would perhaps have been a little too obvious...
>

Also, it would have bogged the scene down. Looking at it again, I can guess at how these virtues turn to flaws on my own, although I can't articulate what I see as the flaw of Truth. I could be wrong about what I see, though.

I find it interesting that my guess about Flexibility suggests that while the Jedi and Sith share a virtue, the application of it is different.

> and
>besides, her understanding (as her internal monologue in that scene
>shows) is more instinctive than articulate.
>

True enough. It makes sense, though. She's only been at this for eight years. A minute to learn, a lifetime to master, right?

Peter Eng
--
Insert humorous comment here.

> Looking at it again, I can
>guess at how these virtues turn to flaws on my own, although I can't
>articulate what I see as the flaw of Truth.

"... from a certain point of view."

--G.
"I took the liberty of bullshitting you."
"You lied to me."
"It wasn't lies; it was bullshit."
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Mod
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
zgryphon at that email service Google has
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

>> Looking at it again, I can
>>guess at how these virtues turn to flaws on my own, although I can't
>>articulate what I see as the flaw of Truth.
>
>"... from a certain point of view."

Truth as an absolute is a flaw. If you assume there is an absolute Truth, then you lose the shades of grey that make up reality, and also lose a LOT in the way of flexibility. And what if your understanding of the Truth is flawed?

LAST EDITED ON Nov-17-16 AT 01:35 PM (EST) by juniper (moderator)
 
>Truth as an absolute is a flaw. If you assume there is an absolute
>Truth, then you lose the shades of grey that make up reality, and also
>lose a LOT in the way of flexibility. And what if your understanding
>of the Truth is flawed?

You get Miko Miyazaki (among other unfortunate examples).

>>Truth as an absolute is a flaw. If you assume there is an absolute
>>Truth, then you lose the shades of grey that make up reality, and also
>>lose a LOT in the way of flexibility. And what if your understanding
>>of the Truth is flawed?
>
>You get Miko Miyazaki
>(among other unfortunate examples).

We call that "Lawful Stupid" where I come from.

Ebony the Black Dragon

"Life is like an anole. Sometimes it's green. Sometimes it's brown. But it's always a small Caribbean lizard."

(Edited to fix the broken link.)

(thanks; thought I'd fixed it, but now I see, not.)

>>>Want to learn the meaning behind Runes of Light. I may have missed or
>>>forgotten them? But the look into True Sith way was insightful.
>>>
>>
>>I'm pretty sure they haven't been covered yet. Oh,
>>it's all there in the passage where they're all named. I just didn't
>>notice the italics the first time through.
>
>(nod) The obvious thing to do there, I suppose, would have been to
>have Alaia explain them, mirroring Vader's explanation of the Sith
>Virtues, when she told them to Obi-Wan at the end of that sequence;
>but that would perhaps have been a little too obvious, and
>besides, her understanding (as her internal monologue in that scene
>shows) is more instinctive than articulate.

"I suggest you try it again, Luke. Only this time, let go your conscious self, and act on instinct." -- Obi-Wan Kenobi.

>Thank you for your threat.

... Pardon me?

>Alternatively, OWAW would be great.

Well, I don't want to get people's hopes too up, because it's an unpromising time for a bunch of reasons, but I will say that the next two episodes of OWaW are both under construction in adjacent drydocks at the moment, and I have vague hopes of finally managing to continue The Federation Lives Forever before getting too much older, as well. As always, though, prediction is a dangerous game around here.

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Mod
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
zgryphon at that email service Google has
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

LAST EDITED ON Nov-16-16 AT 04:08 AM (EST)
 
>>Thank you for your threat.
>
>... Pardon me?
>
Sometimes, I am very good with my English. Sometimes, not so.
Thank you for you treat.

TFLF would be great (even if I never saw K-on and the school band I remember most is ENOZ, also known as "Haruhi wanted to be a lead singer in a rock band for a day, succeeded, grew bored, songs were nice"). Story of normal-ish girls, suddenly experiencing side view of the maelstrom that is Trinity, because Trinity remembers that everything began with a band and want to spread good. Will there be a submarine Mental Model on the other side of the lake window, freaking girls out with her freaky anaerobic ways?

<demented cackling>

Re-reading just now, and I just realised why "the Knights of the White Hand" rang a tiny little bell way at the back of my mind.

--
Unable to save the day: File is read-only.

><demented cackling>
>
>Re-reading just now, and I just realised why "the Knights of the White
>Hand" rang a tiny little bell way at the back of my mind.

Yep! I caught that bit right away.

Only wish I'd realized who was saying 'it's dangerous to go alone'...feel kinda dumb missing that one, even after reading the last lines.

------
Fearless creatures, we all learn to fight the Reaper
Can't defeat Her, so instead I'll have to be Her

>
>Re-reading just now, and I just realised why "the Knights of the White
>Hand" rang a tiny little bell way at the back of my mind.
>

Could you expand on this, for those of us who didn't get the memo?

Peter Eng
--
Insert humorous comment here.

>>
>>Re-reading just now, and I just realised why "the Knights of the White
>>Hand" rang a tiny little bell way at the back of my mind.
>>
>
>Could you expand on this, for those of us who didn't get the memo?
>
>Peter Eng

They are totally not related to the Cyclone Riders squad "The Fighting Uruk-Hai" that serve on WDF Voronda Elendil as part of Mars Division.

:)

--- Philip

	Philip J. Moyer Contributing Writer, Editor and Artist (and Moderator) -- Eyrie Productions, Unlimited CEO of MTS, High Poobah Of Artwork, and High Priest Of the Church Of Aerianne -- Magnetic Terrapin Studios "Insert Pithy Comment Here" Fandoms -- Fanart -- Fan Meta Discussions

>>>
>>>Re-reading just now, and I just realised why "the Knights of the White
>>>Hand" rang a tiny little bell way at the back of my mind.
>>>
>>
>>Could you expand on this, for those of us who didn't get the memo?
>>
>>Peter Eng
>
>They are totally not related to the Cyclone Riders squad "The Fighting
>Uruk-Hai" that serve on WDF Voronda Elendil as part of Mars
>Division.

Hehe. =)

Nevertheless, I'll explain for reals. Christopher Lee, the actor who played Count Dooku, also played Saruman the White in the LotR movies. The White Hand was his symbol, worn by his minions the Uruk-hai. The White Hand is a fourth wall meta-nod to the late actor, and it relates to the mention that 'Christopher Lee plays a good guy this time' in the production notes.

------
Fearless creatures, we all learn to fight the Reaper
Can't defeat Her, so instead I'll have to be Her

Aha. My knowledge of Tolkein isn't very deep, so it's no surprise that I missed this one.

Peter Eng
--
Insert humorous comment here.

Ohhh, I have been waiting for this one for a long, long time.

And it delivered. I wasn't expecting Alaia's abilities to help out quite the way they did, nor the runes or virtues (God, it really DOES feel like Ultima, as someone else mentioned!) but everything came together into a nice, satisfying conclusion. The guys who wrote the end to ME3 should have hired you instead.

I'd been waffling about Dooku this whole time, of course, and the is-he-good-or-evil debate was raging in my mind right up until the end. =)

I'll save the last comments for the spoiler thread.

------
Fearless creatures, we all learn to fight the Reaper
Can't defeat Her, so instead I'll have to be Her

Holy fuck that was a ride. Bravo to you guys, that was easily the most intense and satisfying read I've had in... well, hell, ever. And I read a lot.

I can't even point to one part and say 'This. This was the part that sold it for me.' Because the entire thing was that part.

SOLID.

Dense with win from beginning to end - and the post-credits scene actually teared me up a little! It's time, it's time to bring Kei back and it's time and it's finally time and THE REUNION and and and and...

I feel like smoke is rolling out of my ears. But in a good way.

VERY excited for the future, very pleased with the present. It's dangerous to go alone, indeed!!