Bad speling, and a revisit to the geography of D'oril

     I apologize, my last post included some oddities.  It seems that my scribefire added some unusual spacing when I tried to edit my work last week, placing much of the word earlier through the sentence that followed.  And, tired as I was, I didn't bother with a spell check.  Now I have to describe what that brain fart spelled like.  Perhaps I'd better not.

     Three weeks to the surgery.  Anxiety is building.  Never mind the rational side that understands that it's a simple procedure...

     On to the fun stuff.  I'd touched upon the geography of D'oril a bit back, thought I'd try and expound further on the confederacy, as well as explain my (still in the formative stage) thoughts on the history of the lands.

     The confederacy is split by an extensive mountain range into two halves, the eastern and western reaches (in some of my writing, I"ve referred to them as marches, I'll sort out the naming conventions later).  The western half is heavily influenced by it's sporadic access to the western ocean, and bears a slight resemblence to Norway (Think fjords and rough coastline) and Washington state.  Trade cartels grew from the few widely scattered towns that have reliable access to the ocean, the further south, the larger the towns and greater wealth.  Prior to the formation of the confederacy, these towns were fairly independent of each other, though a few feudal strongholds did form.  As a result, the mercantile cartels wielded (and still wield) a fair amount of influence within the confederacy, they have no direct representative on the council, but quite a few of the barons chosen to represent the different regions of the western marches are chosen because of their strong ties to the cartels.  This is especially true of the south central region, where several large baronries formed out of some very wealthy mercantile families. 

     Further to the south along the western coast, the land becomes less rugged, and a more agricultural and feudal society grew.  Some of the baronries there have a much longer history, and deem themselves "the true center of the confederacy", for at first, it was the expansion of their lands that provided the core of the early confederacy as they linked up with the largest of the eastern duchies.  The traditionalists, as they see themselves, have much less of a tie to trade, and hold a rather dim view of their mercantile-oriented cousins to the north.  The society is one of rigid class distinction, clear patriarchal lineage, and a severe (and successful) military tradition. 

     The southernmost of the eastern reaches are likewise traditionalists, with a much stronger hierachy, where the feudal lords share power with a church-like organization that influences much of the society.  Originally, the religion (and I use this term loosely, for I don't intend to parallel any historical churches) focused on education, especially scientific, philosophic, and magical researches.  A guild like power structure formed whereby the feudal lords each received an appointed advisor from the religious side of society, who often unofficially shared power with the lord, and occasionally even ruled.  The religious power structure began breaking down with the formation of the confederacy, as well as the formation of splinter groups that sprang up with the opening of the frontier to the north.

     It is the northern part of the eastern reaches that had the first (in "modern" times) contact with the K'tath of D"oril.  Early on, it developed a frontier like atmosphere, with riches obtainable, under the threat of the dangers of the wilds.  Think "wild west", gold rushes, timber, wide open spaces.  Into this dangerous frontier came many unhappy with the rigid structures of the south, as well as mercantile interests looking to gain even more wealth.  Here is where the archtypical adventurers of the IFGS came together.  Now I just have to define...  When...

     At anyrate, there's a lot more to it, and I'll post more as I dig through my notes and cobwebs.  Ask away, I'm sure there are lots of gaps, and answering questions will only help me solidify my thoughts...

Clear skies,
Jim

The eyes have it

     I scheduled the eye surgery.  April 21.  Now to deal with the anxiety of knowing what they do.  Ewwww...  (At least I'll get valium before the surgery)  In the meantime, because of the long term effects that contacts have on the shape of eyes, I have to wear my glasses until then in order to give my eye time to rebound to it's "natural shape".  The good news:  The headaches will go away April 22.

     EarI mentioned lbriefly the ifaa's issues with controlleer staffing atr DIA last week.  Turns out there's an investigation (someone leaked to channel 4) that came out this week.  You can read the report at ninenewsinvestigates.  I think the report is, in itself, a bit more alarmist than the real situation, but hey, that's what tv news does best.  From my point of view, the typical "safety was never compromised, everything is fine, we're looking out for you (pay no attention to the man behind the curtain)" chorus that is repeated by the faa's spokesman is typical.  They repeat that mantra over and over.....  The bottom line, someone from headquarters is always assigned the job of reassuring the public/covering their butts.  Remember that the next time you deal with any federal (or even state) agency at anything other than the operational level.  In the meantime, we (the controllers) will continue to keep em flying...

     A couple of months ago, I wrote about the background of the Empire in Imperfect Hope.  (I"ll link to that article shortly)  I was rereading it, and noted some storylines in it that bear potential.  I'd written about the empires past as if posting an excerpt from a history book published many decades after the events, perhaps even centuries later.  It was written from the empire's point of view, referring to the ktath and their allies as assassins and opponents of the empire as rebels.  Even the disaster (for the empire) at Sha'te Valley was spun, despite it being a crucial event in the toppling (eventually) of the emperor. 

     What struck me was how easy it was for me to reference the empires point of view in a positive light.  In Imperfect Hope, the empire is intended to come across as "the enemy", but I have to make them believable and realistic.  From their point of view, they have a perfect right to do what they're doing, it's for the good of the empire, and ultimately, good for everyone in the long run.  Only an unbiased history will tell if they're right.  (and from the author's moral view, they are not "right", but to make a believable and compelling story, I'll continue to give them the benefit of the doubt...)  ;-)

     Those who remember the IFGS game Sha'te Valley will remember the "Villains" who survived the battle, Phorix, Grannach, and Beauty.  I never 'officially' wrote about what happened afterwards to them, in part because for a long time I considered working on more D'oril based IFGS games.  I did have a fate in mind, and I'd hinted at it to some of you over the years.  However, the empire "history" I posted some time back addresses that in a vague way, and I've realized that their fates (as well as that of the heroes (assassins in the empire point of view), makes for a great tale.  From the lead up to Sha'te (Heartbow and Seeker), to the battle, to the empire's dramatic retreat from D'oril (think Napoleon/1812/retreat from moscow) and pursuit by the k'tath and the companions of ELorna, to the turmoil in the Empire when their survivors get home and take their sides in the rebellion against the corrupt and capricious emperor.  I know the players at Sha'te always had their own hopes for what their characters would do in the aftermath... Therein lies perhaps my next project. 

Oh, it'd be a prequel to Imperfect Hope.  Perhaps it would even answer the question about what ever happened to Brandis, Cerredwyn, Doc, Evro, Wulluff, Delanore, Merlissa, and the rest of the D'oril gang.  Just remember, it's all fiction, and with author's licence, whatever happens in my stories takes place outside of IFGS life, unless you can make it fit...  ;-)

And I may change the names to protect the not-so-innocent...

Till Next Time  (TNT)
Jim

And now for something completely different...

     A quick eye update...  The latest eye doc appointment put me through a battery of test, all of which created in me a headache you wouldn't believe.  Putting dilating drops and numbing drops in your eyes, then flashing a series of bright lights into your eye is...  Painful.  Result: Cataracts, not bad yet, eye pressure a bit high, no retinal nerve damage or loss of range of vision.  Left eye clarity is down about 20% (it's like looking through a dirty window).  So now, I'm to meet with a specialist next week.  <sigh>

     More FAA stupidity.  We're short handed (25% fewer controllers now than 5 years ago), with fully 10% of the controllers partially trained/recent hirees.  Denver Approach is reaching a critical point with their staffing (too many newbies at the radar), so they went back to procedures that were in place back in the stapleton days to ease the pressure on approach.  (which increases our workload dramatically).  So, when we have a trio of operational errors last week, what does management do?  Take one controller off radar/assistant duties in each area, and put them on the supervisor desk to essentially answer the phone and defer any real decisions to the supervisor, who now must sit in the middle of the control room, "watching".  Good idea, reduce staffing by another 10% in order to allow a supervisor to sit in the control room, doing nothing but...  Who knows.  At least there's no snoring...  Yet.)  Now to take by anti-cynic pill, I should feel better in about 10 minutes...   :-)

     Got brainstormed the other night while I was working on Imperfect Hope.  The story idea, in brief, involves a retired warrior/now scholar, asked to return to his liege lords service to correct the mistakes made by his lords heir/son.  Right now, a short story idea, we'll see if it develops any more...

     Anyway, time to go back to work.  Keep those cards and letters and comments coming.  Or at least post an anonymous note acknowledging that my readership exists...

CLear skies,
Jim

    

friday stuff

     Fitch peeled the rest of the thigh dressing off, and produced a roll of soft cotton and clean dressing from his bag.  He whistled an off key sailors tune as he spread some salve on the wound, covered it with the new dressing, and wrapped the whole upper thigh with the roll of cloth.  "Keep that clean, if you wish to bathe later, let me know and I"ll make sure the water is fresh and replace the dressing again afterwards.  Now, how's that shoulder feel?"

    Cerryn responded with a shrug that sent new twinges of pain through her shoulder. 

    Captain Fitch eyed the puckered scar tissue where Randir had healed her.  "Yeah, I can see that it'll hurt for a while, but...  Your companion is a talented healer, I know of few pure healers who could have tended that one as thoroughly as he seems to have, even without the shadow wound."  His eyes closed as he ran his fingers across the scar.  "I did a little reading last night, found a reference to shadow knives in an old text.  According to that text, You're probably the first person who has survived such a deep wound from one, I'd say that had your friend not done whatever he did, you wouldn't have lasted the night."

The above section was part of what I worked on (and reworked some of) earlier this week.  I actually managed to put together a couple of thousand words during breaks at work this week.  Some of it feels pretty good, some is easily recognized as low-grade dreck from work.  I believe I've commented before on how I can tell what's written at work, and what's written when I'm at home and actually "in the writing mode".  It may be getting harder to tell th difference.  (or I'm getting less perceptive).  We'll see...

     Speaking of we'll see, my opthamalogist has recognized that my left eye is developing a cataract.  I hadn't noticed any problems until she pointed it out, now I realize that for the last couple of months, at times I felt like I was looking through a dirty window with my left eye.  I'd put it aside as side effects of allergies.  I've spoken with the regional flight surgeon, and have come to the nervous decision to deal with it as soon as practical.  The surgery, considered routine, gives me the willies...

    It gives me the willies because of something I faced 23ish years ago.  I'd been working at Denver Instruments, where I worked on soldering parts to electronic instrument circuit boards all day.  One Friday after work, I took my paycheck to the bank, where they were laying new carpet.  My eyes started burning shortly after getting home from work.  Apparently (as explained by the ER doctor later that day), the fumes that my contact lenses absorbed every day from work interacted with the carpet cement fumes to create an acid of some sort, that etched my eyes under my contacts.  I spent the next 4 or 5 days with patches on my eyes, completely dependant on my girlfriend for everything, waiting to find out about any permament damage.  Not having any vision for that time (and the corresponding worry) has made me very sensitive about my eyes.   (I still remember listening to the superbowl on tv that weekend as Craig Morton and the broncos got slaughtered.  Needless to say, I'm a bit nervous about having the cataract surgery (as described by the opthamalogist, they make a hole in the side of your lens, stick an instrument in, and scramble/liquify your lens with ultrasonic waves.  They then replace it with a permament contact lens-like implant that will give me perfect vision in that eye.)  I was okay until he mentioned "they make a hole in the side of your lens.  <<<Shudder>>>

     Anyway, I've another doc visit next week, to further examine the problem and discuss options.  In the meantime, as Red Green would say,

"Keep your stick on the ice"...

Jim

Another week, time to reorganize

I apologize for not writing this last week, I plead all the usual reasons.  However, we have managed to finish our taxes, pending a review, and I've gotten a few dozen minutes in writing on Imperfect Hope.  I found some good inspiration recently, and I'm building on it...

     I'm still suppressing my inner critic, most of the time, but each time I write at work, I have to spend a few minutes reading something of what I've already done to get air traffic control out of my brain, and creativity back in.  Sometimes I can't resist amending something I reread.  They're small changes, often just a different word or rephrase a sentence.  I'm still holding off on the major rewrite, the one that comes after first draft is done.  In the back of my mind, I've come up with some major structural changes I want to fiddle with.  I keep toying with a flashback, even though it's considered a  poor choice in first novels, simply because it's done too frequently.  If I don't "flashback", I'll write the segment I've in mind, and it will either become part of Imperfect Hope's opening chapters, or it will be the core of the "prequel".  More to come.

     In the area of character development, Randir and Cerryn have some minor changes due, for one, I'm considering making Randir slightly more "human".  I want to do this to portray the evolution of the K'tath following the contact that Brandis brought in the "era" before Imperfect Hope.  It will make the relationship between he and Cerryn more understandable, though I still intend to keep the tension between them high due to the cultural differences.  I'm still not sure where it goes, even within Imperfect Hope.  Dilemna's... 

     Anyway...  This week promises to be another busy one, but I've intentions to finish the scene I'm working on.  Perhaps I'll toss a blurb your way later this week...

Clear skies,
Jim

Setting a goal or two...

     Yeesh...  February already.  I'm working an overtime shift on a saturday, and as is usual, my thoughts are elsewhere when I'm on a break.  After whacking the side of my head to get off the imaginings of poipu beach sand and a umbrella decorated mai-tai, I settled in on considering the spring projects.  Ouch.  Change the channel, quick...

     Plan B, muse about goals.  I'm not ready to choose a deadline for finishing Imperfect Hope yet, other than reminding myself daily that "I will finish it...  I will finish it..."  Instead, I'm putting some thought into fitness, both physical and mental. 

     Since we've started working with Charity (personal trainer and part time whip cracker), I've noticed a considerable increase in energy and strength.  Balance is coming back, and the weight is slowly starting to come back down after an ugly summer and fall.  Time to set some targets.

     I'd like to climb Longs Peak (again, but finish this time) .  I know I'm not physically ready for that challenge right now, so we need to set some interim goals.  My idea is to target a 12'000 foot peak for June, and a 13'000 footer for July.  That gives us until May to build our stamina on other trails, as they open up in the spring.  Let's see how the spring goes, though...

     Imperfect Hope remains my primary goal, writing wise.  I will see what kind of writing schedule I can keep to this spring.  Ideally, I'll finish the first draft by early summer, and take a bit of a break before starting the rewrite.  Right now I'm building steam as I get Randir out of a coma caused by too intensive healing and drop the hints about getting him back to a krath healer to undo the shadow knife damage.  Cerryn, in typical fashion, is focused on finding the culprit who attempted to assassinate her, and failed only because of Randir's overextension.  Meanwhile, the agent of the empire tries to get his plan back on track after being foiled at Mud Bay...

     Finally, I may be starting up a collaberative blog later this spring.  I won't name names yet, since I'm still working on the details of what/who/how/when, but I'll let you know more as it comes along.  As always, more to come.....

Clear skies,
Jim

Workings of D'oril, Geography

     If you're a regular reader, you probably already know that the D'oril that I am using for my writing world came to be during IFGS game writing years.  From the D'oril mini-series through Sha'te Valley, and to a lesser extent, Piper on the Hill, I wrote about "The Far North".  Originally, D'oril was loosely attached to the Land of the Seven Tribes, mostly for storyline convenience.  I imagined the divider between the two lands to be represented by the E'tel river, a "Columbia Gorge" type river that in each game, would provide a tangible crossover between 7 Tribes and D'oril.

     Later, I began blurring the boundary.  The Inn of the Stumbling Friar, firmly entrenched on the south side of the river, became a part of D'oril, at least as far as my writing was concerned.  In IFGS/7 Tribes lore, the Inn of the Stumbling Friar was a crossroads near the northern frontier, conveniently located between several other duchies.  I roughed out the area as an important crossroads, settled by Merrick, the founder of the Inn, recently attracting a small community of settlers including blacksmith and such. 

     As I write for myself now, though, I've had to divorce D'oril from L.O.S.T., for many reasons.  One, I need to have total control of all storyline aspects, two, I really can't take the time to figure out whose toes I might be stepping on, and hence who I need to ask permission of when I write outside of D'oril proper.  So, the birth of the confederation, and formation of a new land.

     I do have maps drawn up, and perhaps soon enough I'll digitize them such that I can share here, but for now, a verbal description will have to suffice.  D'oril still resides in the far north, in a region much like northwestern canada, rugged coastal mountains with a dense, almost rainforest like (except for the cold) region inland that compromises the bulk of "D'oril".  Still north of the E'tel river, the rolling hills continue eastward, with the forest becoming less dense as the climate dries out.  North of the forest, plains begin to intrude, the harsh steppes.

     The Confederacy (as tentatively named) is a loose confederation of duchies, city states, and mercantile holdings south of the E'tel.  The couple hundred miles south of the E'tel are very sparsely populated, considered the frontier, The Inn of the Stumbling Friar being one of the few outposts along the "northern Trade Road".  That road links the eastern and western halves of the confederacy that is divided by a mountain range running north/south to almost the E'tel, the Inn of the Stumbling Friar sits at the northernmost edge of both those mountains and the trade road.

     The western coastline of the confederacy is rugged, much like the norwegian coast with fjords and such.  Like the eastern reaches of the confederacy on the other side of the spinal mountains, the civilization level grows as you head south.  There are only a few useable ports/harbors in the northern half of the continent, climate becomes more temperate as you head south, but the coastal waters are considered barely navigable due to the weather and large number of uncharted rocks and islands.  The port cities are the core of the merchant guilds that make up a third of the confederacy's "government", they hold a dear monopoly on trade out of the western harbors.

     The eastern half of the confederacy is the breadbasket of the region, with rolling, partially forested hills and rich bottomlands.  Independant duchies make up the majority of the civilization, with the northernmost town being rather small, though aggressively expansionistic.  The bulk of the confederacy's "civilization" lays further to the south, with towns giving way to cities, trails becoming paved roads, and the frontier like atmosphere in the north getting swallowed up by regional laws and regulation. I've left description of the lands south and east of the confederacy vague.

     Across the western ocean from D'oril and the Confederacy is the Empire of Tallux, and entire new continent.  Though I've defined some basic characteristics, for now, I don't need to know much about it, so it remains pretty vaguely sketched out.  The focus of my first tales will remain on the east...

     Imperfect hope begins on the frontier between Mud Bay, the northern-most town and harbor along the western coast, and the deep forests of D'oril.  Most of the story will remain within the western portions of the confederacy.

     Needless to say, there's a lot more to the geography, and that geography plays a large part in defining the cultures and storylines.  There'll be more to come.....

Clear skies,
Jim