ReaderPaul

As my milk allergy worsens, I have major trouble having sausage gravy with significant milk content. When I was a kid, Mother fixed liver gravy once in a while. Don't go there. It's AWFUL. Not fond of any fish gravy I have tried. Turkey gravy depends on what ingredients are added. In the types of gravy I make, I use ZERO milk. @astone2292, I hope many authors message you and volunteer.

Needs to be beef gravy, pork gravy, or chicken gravy -- other types can trigger my allergies.

Okay-- good place for a temporary pause!

And Geert! I also hope we get to visit with Wanda and Seeri and some of the other characters in a future story. Great ending, @Geron Kees.

I loved "In the Shadow of the Dragon" by @JamesSavik on GA. I have read the whole story five or six times. I loved "The Case of the 'Short, Short Prince" by @Geron Kees. For great short stories, "Get Into James Shorts" has a huge variety of good short stories by James Savik. "Hood's Revenge" is especially good in a story which is quite short. But there are many others there. "Retail Ninja" is a fun read by @astone2292. Aaron has a lot of good stories. For good reads with short chapters, usually featuring teen characters, @Backwoods Boy has a lot of good stories -- either one chapter stories, or fairly short stories. "He Ain't Heavy" and "The Retreat" and "The Jock and the Bookworm" and "Clothing Optional" are very good. Actually, I have found all stories or poems by Backwoods Boy on GA worth reading. @Valkyrie has "A Plethora of Prompts" and other interesting reading. @Dabeagle has many good stories, such as "The Right One" and "Things We Lost" and "You Don't Know Me" and "Devyn's Song" and "Gaymer" among others. I must stop listing or this post will be ridiculously long

Lots of good points in the discussion above. Here are my ideas. Point 1 -- Most of the time I will vote with my presence or absence. If I like a story or poem or non-fiction, I will write a mostly positive review. If I don't like something, I will probably not seek out that author's work again for some time because of time constraints In Real Life (IRL). At times I have read something I was not impressed with, but later a friend has said, you should read "x" because of (reasons a, b, and c). The second or third read I was more "caught" by the author's content in that story or poem or non-fiction item, and started making time to look for that author. Point 2 -- I have seen stories -- here and on other sites -- which I liked, but evidently the author changed their mind about and pulled the story. When this happens with an unfinished story, it can be disconcerting. But I am not the author. It is THEIR story. I can hope for it to appear again in revised form. Not likely, I know -- but possible. Point 3 -- The writing standards on GA are higher than the majority of sites. By that I mean the technical aspects of writing -- mostly correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation. This makes a story easier to read for me. Point 4 -- Some authors are -- possibly -- overly protective of their works. By that I mean they "bristle" with almost any criticism or comment not presented in glowing positive cheering terms. Some years back, an author told a different GA member than me (that member had complained to the author that he had too many straight persons in a particular story) -- that in everyday life there are more people who consider themselves straight than those who consider them selves gay, lesbian, or in my case, bi. This author politely said that he writes with the expectation that those of us in the LGBTQI+ community will be interacting with straight persons much of the time Point 5 -- There are many types of stories, poems, and non-fictions here on GA. If we something find we do not have an attraction to -- try something else. Try a different category, a different author, or even take a couple of days break from reading.

I discovered this by accident. I hope you will soon post more. I agree with the majority of what you have posted here. What you said about sometimes making for other is partially true. In my case I wanted a family, and I made the choices which allowed for that. As a result I sacrificed a lot of time and effort for two other persons in my life. It has mostly been worth it. But now, many years later, I am making a few more choices for myself directly, as a result of a series of events. You make many good points, @Bryson. Please write more at some time in the future.

Fascinating chapter. Looking forward to another chapter eventually. Hopefully, a chapter of Ark II soon?

@Geron Kees -- Loose threads [in stories] also mirror life. As life goes on, almost every person has "loose threads" in some lesser relationships (sometimes more significant relationships), unfinished things which we regret or remember fondly, and sometimes life changes where there were not clear and clean endings or beginnings. Regarding the gray mages -- not all of them were under the compulsions of Porvus. I would expect those to disperse quickly as they realized what was going on, and the defeat of Lodda and Porvus and Urvan. The ones under compulsions might try to go back to their former lives, and would need to be tracked down and -- to make up a word -- 'decompulsionized'. The negative attitudes toward 'commoners' and 'vermin' would need to be removed from the remaining gray mages under compulsions. If they stay in the Forest of Night, Irik and Bastyin and Gorge should be able to deal with them, having learned how to remove the compulsions from Jamie. It will be interesting to see if the children of Gorge have a knack. The knack Jamie gave him could easily make minor changes in his DNA and RNA which would allow him to pass it on. I think Jamie and Garvin and Bastyin should investigate the idea of translocating to a person, instead of a place. It should be possible in many cases. It would probably require at least a mid-level mage or higher. All of Jamie's group, and masters such as Thorvil, Crillis, and Kundrun, should be able to do it once Jamie or Bastyin figures it out. Lodda's nether MUST have some magick in it -- or once Lodda jumped he would have aged and died. Perhaps it has a very low level of magick, enough to keep this from happening. I think it will be fun to hear about Jamie and Garvin asking Raimey and Sedwick about Raimey being their apprentice. I think it will also be fun to hear about the reactions of customers entering into Thorvil's establishment and the shop of Crillis and Geert have having boys of age 16 to 18 saying, "Hi, I am Master Garvin" or "Hi, I'm Master Geert." And having a wooden gargoyle say, "Hello. I am Master Snave. How may I help you?"

@drpaladin has brought up a valuable point, and a possible hook for the next story in this series. The control Porvus (and possibly Lodda) exercised on the gray mages probably still remains. At this point, only Irik, Bastyin, and Gorge, of the mages who are almost always in the Forest of Night, would have the means of dealing with them. They should also know the magick to remove the influence put upon the gray mages. Also, what Flitch said to Jamie near the end of the chapter, about seeing Jamie and Garvin and the Lens again -- a portent possibility? And Garvin and Jamie suggesting Raimey as a possible apprentice? Another story hook! And perhaps Geert falls for another great-great-granddaughter of Wanda Pegfoot? Or a great-great-grandson? And no mention yet of the book of maps being returned to Master Crillis -- Geron, the possibilities are almost endless here! and you did this story in only 372,906 words! Masterful! Must we start calling you "Master Geron?" So the next question, for your (hint, hint) Crossovers series -- Is the type of magic used by Max, Keerby, Nicholaas, Robin Hood, and the others in your Charlie Boone series -- Is it a differing type of magic than the magickons of the Jamie universe? If so, it might work on Jamie's planet, as well.... Oh, just in case you had not guessed, Geron, I liked, loved, enjoyed, relished, appreciated, savored, prized, esteemed, treasured, and delighted in having this story to read. Thank you, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

This is one of Geron's best stories yet. A new version of magic, called magick; new ways to use it that I have not previously seen combined; a new (or at least new to me) way of beginning a quest for something; new characters; a new and different world and universe, and fascinating stories in individual chapters or continuing through various chapters. I have been a fan of Geron's for years, but this might be the best yet. It is excellent, excelling, exciting, energetic, invigorating, interesting, innovative, and fantastic -- all at the same time. I heartily recommend this story.

What we do not know if the gateway is somehow blocked at the other end. If it is not, Jamie and company needs to immediately figure out a way to bring magickons with them!

This reminds me of certain types of alternate universe theory, not necessarily string theory. I am not sure if, in this story, we will learn the full scoop on what is going on. It would make a great Crossovers story featuring Keerby, Pacha'ka and company, and Derry, Cally, and Mike from the Odd, Onward Door/Doorways series. Who knows how many extra effects the time-dilation device of Difris and Nyf could have in the universe of Jamie & Company?

From the story, chapter 34: "Is this him?" Jamie asked Snave quietly. The gargoyle's voice was equally soft. "Yes. Lodda." "What's he doing?" Garvin asked, just as softly. A voice spoke in the room then, but it did not come from the seated man. The language used was not the one Jamie knew, but there was something familiar about it, nonetheless. "I understood that!" Irik declared, sounding surprised. "An ancient tongue," Bastyin said then. "One I have heard before, as well!" "What did it say?" Jamie asked urgently. Irik's voice now sounded intense. "It asked, 'What do you sense?'" Lodda turned his head then, his dark eyes landing almost directly upon them. "Something new. Something utterly, completely, new." Jamie was surprised. The tongue was the same one, but this time...he had understood the words. "A magickal force?" the voice from out of thin air asked. "Yes. But like none I have encountered before. It is here, in this room, with us." "What can you tell me about it?" Lodda took his time to answer. "Nothing. Only that it is something I have never encountered before." A -- I think the machine detected them at the same time or even before Lodda did. B -- I think Lodda is trying to not tell the machine as much as he senses. C -- I think Jamie is partially receiving/translating the language from the minds of Irik and Bastyin. Lodda and the machine are possibly allies, or possibly a bit at cross purposes with each other. We will learn more tomorrow and Thursday.

And, no, I don't mean THAT hose! In the unexpurgated original version of Gulliver's Travels to Lilliput, the house of one Lilliputian family catches on fire, and the bucket brigade formed by the townspeople is seen by Lemuel Gulliver as going to be inadequate to save the house, and may be inadequate to save houses next to the one burning. So he pulls THAT hose out, and urinates on the fire, putting it out. The occupants of the house and those unfortunately in the "line of flow" are suddenly very upset with Gulliver. Never mind that he has saved one of more homes from burning -- they did not like how it was done. In the original, unexpurgated version of the four Voyages of Lemuel Gulliver (Gulliver's Travels) there are many interesting things. In the third voyage, to Laputa (the flying island) the two moons of Mars are described in their orbits fairly closely. In the fourth voyage, to the land of the intelligent horses, humans are the Yahoos, the beasts.

I think Porvus is not telling all the truth. I also think Lodda is not telling Porvus all he knows. My guess is that Lodda wants revenge on those he says warred on the planet of magick, and then take over THEIR worlds. Further, I think that the two oracles may be in communication with each other, and possibly have already alerted the other worlds. In a few chapters, we will know if I am right.

Which version of Swiss Family Robinson? The better known Disney 1960 movie version, or the original 1812 book version, written in German, by Johann David Wyss? (Or one of the many in-between versions.) In the original book, the last name of the family was not given; just the first names of the man, wife, and four sons. They spent more than ten years on the island, and many of the chapters were very thinly disguised Christian moralizing Wyss used to teach morals to his own children. The family in the book title were called "Robinsons" to cash in on the success of the "Robinson Crusoe" inspired novels which were being written around the same time period. The Disney 1960 film was actually much more interesting than the book, to me. Jenny, the young woman in the book rescued by son Fritz, was replaced in the movie by Roberta (Bertie), younger than Jenny. Wikipedia has an interesting article on Swiss Family Robinson, giving details on the original novel.

Something no one has mentioned yet, but @Al Norris and @drpaladin and @akascrubber seem to be close to this -- it was mentioned that Lodda was the only one who could translocate to what is at the end of the skylifts, and he could take no one with him. (I think that was in chapter 29, but might have been chapter 28). If the source of magick is the planet, as someone got further and further from the planet the magical forces would weaken. Therefore it would be difficult to translocate from ground level up there and back as magick diminished with the distance. Only someone made of magic/magick, such as Auggie in the Charlie Boone series, or who had much residual magic in them, would be easily able to translocate to and from the up in the sky location. @Geron Kees, I am glad you finally finished this story (even if we have to wait a few days to finish reading it). You have been mentioning it for several years!

Some of this I am going to have to read two or three more times. Lots of interesting concepts. Glad to see Irik more involved with the discussion. The plans to tackle Lodda and Porvus should be interesting. Glad Sedwick is restored in his royal rooster, which seems to have a rapid response.. One question has not been answered in a definite way. How old is King Myron and how old is Prince Sedwick? That might be a better question answered in a potential sequel. Looking forward to more chapters, Geron.

Actually seven chapters. 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 -- seven chapters, unless you are axing chapter 36 of the 36 chapters you said were in the story.

I was almost certain Bastyin was the one who destroyed the machine. He has been the most original of mages so far. And one of the most powerful. I was not surprised to indeed see that it was he. I was also not surprised Irik figured out Jamie's and Bastyin's reasoning of the import of what Jamie was sensing. It was not clear, however, if Rier and Seeri were with the guys when they fought Urvan/Leemus. Also not answered was the question -- when will Garvin use the Eyes of the Night again? With the new knowledge the group has learned, will Garvin still have the vision of the Eyes of the Night after returning the ring to Master Crillis? Further questions for your potential Crossovers series -- Does the magic of Jamie's world tie in to the allmagic of the Charlie Boone universe, and the basic energy of the Doors/Doorways universe? Will Jamie and company be invited to the wedding of Rier and Seeri? And Raimey seems to be drawn to Jamie and Garvin -- will he become a mage in a future potential sequel? Great chapters, Geron.

But what if Deeping is doing the peeping?

For some reason, I feel that Jamie should also go back to Lyrix, the castle, or wherever Master Crillis is now, and take him to the nether and have him given the enhanced sight and the protection against the Breath of the Dragon. Porvus or one of the other gray mages might try it again on him as revenge for surviving the first time. Also, unless Master Thorvil has already the protection against it, Jamie should take him as well. I am wondering -- and only Geron can for certain answer this -- if it is possible to translocate/teleport from Jamie's world to the world of the ancients? Or, is there no magick there to allow the translocation?

At this point, I think Seeri is being truthful. And as far as Jamie using translocation -- The first time he translocated he also had the wagon and tyrbeast with him, which almost certainly would have been way more weight than Seeri. And the contraption he partially translocated that followed the shuttle car to them -- no telling how much that weighed. I do think it would be good for a translocation glove to be applied to Garvin and Geert and Dorf soon, and later for Irik and Bastyin and Gorge. I will predict that Seeri will be able to tell Jamie and company more about the charm he took from Skoda. I also predict that Jamie will take Seeri to the nether to upgrade her powers to some of the mage abilities the rest of the party now have. But, we will see.

Wanda's great-great granddaughter? Interesting. And it would appear that if Seeri loses her boyfriend in the upcoming battles, Dorf might step in --- from the interest he seems to be showing. Fascinating chapter. Glad to see Irik doing more, and Gorge growing in confidence and magick. I think the discussion relates to bathrooms and possibly showers, as well.