Nightlit

It can be, but it can also be a distraction. People grieve in different ways, and some people don't grieve at all. I don't really think the pack council was really doing that for the pack, or for unification. They were doing it because it's tradition and because it's what they needed, but that doesn't mean that's what the pack needed. I'm not saying that it ISN'T what the pack needed, just that I don't think the needs of the pack really were what was motivating them at the time, which is a problem. Well, it's likely no one could have STOPPED what happened, but, that doesn't change what I said. Sure, a criminal can always find a gap. But you could use the exact same logic to say a defender can find a hole in a criminals plan. The important thing here is accountability. Dorian wasn't being accountable to the part he played in what happened. Was it his fault? Of course not. But he wasn't just an innocent bystander either. It would not be a leap of logic for someone in the pack to see this as a failure on Dorian's part. And whether or not one personally agrees, it is a justifiable position.

Don't count Meg out yet! Even if Meg IS ruined, that doesn't mean she can't take everyone else down with her. If anything, Meg is at her most dangerous. She is full of spite, and little to lose, and has proven to be a long game player when it comes to vengeance, or this wouldn't have even needed to happen (since she wouldn't have spent all that time going after Jake) and that's IGNORING anything the rest of her family, or Brian, might do. I don't think this is over. But we'll see.

As I thought? When it came down to it, Lyra wasn't really anything. Though I doubt this'll be the last time we see her. If not in Fairfyfly 2, in some later sequel.

That's part of WHY I DIDN'T make it an imperative that they do content. Because I DIDN'T want it to be clear cut that DOING content, especially hard content, is the right thing to do. Instead, the story is focusing on the decisions the characters make and their consequences, without moral judgment from up high as to whether they are right or not. The view you are stating? That doing content is too dangerous? Is absolutely a justifiable position, that many characters in the story no doubt have (I don't refer to them as "players" because they are actively avoiding PLAYING the game, making them really more just, people who happen to exist on the server). I chose to focus on the characters who DID choose to play the game, because the other characters wouldn't really generate a narrative of any kind. Unless you like reading about a bunch of people sitting around their rooms doing nothing.

That it might work as a TV show is probably partially because it was inspired in part by Sword Art Online. That's an interesting theory!

Yeah. Wake is one of my favorite characters. He's this guy who is large and scary looking, but it's just skin deep. In truth, he's one of the sweetest guys you could ever meet. He just... has cartoonishly evil features.

Well, I don't know how to clarify this in the story? But it's not that they stopped being friends. It's more that their friendship was so codependent that they needed to take a break from each other. And they are worried they might not be friends when this break ends? But, that's just a worry at this point. They never stopped being friends.

Yeah. For the most part, you don't really need to know how the mechanics work. The important mechanics are explained in context when they matter. But I did want to include the characters talking ABOUT the mechanics as gamers would, for authenticity mostly. Though the mechanics ARE consistent, as much as I've defined them. Isn't it though?

The server started with 1000 people, and at this point around 800 of them are left. Normally, there could be people who started the game in another part of the world, but as this started from a special event with a small set of people, they all started in the same place. At least, as far as they know anyway.

Like I said? Lyra has NO IDEA what she's done. She's been content to be the queen of her little realm, but she's too arrogant. She's reached beyond her little sanctum, and is about to have the rude awakening that she isn't as all powerful as she previously thought. As I suspected? The potion is a necessary part of her spell, meaning that if she were to get into an ACTUAL fight? Especially with a mage like Esthor, she'd be pretty helpless.

LOL yeah. The lodge is VERY gamey. But here's hopefully an overview that helps you. The layout of the "top floor" of the lodge is the same for everyone. It's a U shape with 2 doors at the top of the stairs in the middle (unless you are logged into your own room, in which case there's only one) and then 20 more doors laid out around the rest of the hallway. When you log into a room, it creates an instance which is shared by everyone else logged into that room, with the door at the top of the stairs leading to the room everyone is logged into. As previously mentioned, there is a second door for each person logged in (except for the person whose room everyone is logged into, where the second door can't be used). Here's where it gets gamey. The second door leads to the room of the logged in player. So if Asa, Luke and Ardine were to log into Asa's room for example. Any of them would be able to use the door at the top of the stairs to get into Asa's room. The second door would be locked for Asa. If Luke went into the second door, he'd end up in his room. Similarly, if Ardine were to use the second door, she'd end up in her room. Neither of them would be able to access each other's rooms however. Similarly to how the 2nd door at the top of the stairs always leads to the room of the logged in player. Each door in the hallway leads to a different place based on the player who opens it. Each player has a "top friends" list, that list determines where those doors lead as you can access the room of your top friends from that hallway. That means that, though the hallways looks identical (and is a shared space for everyone logged into any room), where the doors lead, except the door that leads to the main room everyone is logged into, varies. Also, if you are logged into a room that is on your top friends list. The main door still leads to that room, but so does the door that normally does. And if you exit the room, you'll end up next to YOUR door to that room, not the main doorway, even if you are logged into that room. The hallways is not shared by EVERY player though. Logging into a different room creates a different instance of the hallway. So everyone logged into different rooms are effectively in different hallways, while everyone logged into the same room is in the same hallway, but the doors all lead to different places except the "main room." It's actually really simple, like... if i could just drop you into the hallway and let you fool around? You'd be able to understand it almost immediately. But it's kind of weird and existential to explain. Also, you're right. The layout of the hallway isn't all that relevant to the story. It's mostly flavor. Yeah. No way it's not deliberate. Beyond that though, is anyone's guess (obviously I know, but... benefits of being the author). Indeed. Though people very quickly both stop caring.

Well, given that was Esthor's plan and he is explicitly going to Lyra's house at the very moment to prevent/control it? I don't think it'll be that hard for Esthor to figure out what's going on with Norius. As for Quinn? Quinn is digging a ehole for himself. Don't forget that Quinn NEVER had control over Norius. Norius was ALWAYS going along with it until he'd gotten what he wanted, at which point he was definitely going to backstab him. This isn't even suspicion, Norius has THOUGHT as much openly to the audience. As for Lyra? I don't think Lyra REALIZES how much she's fucked herself. Consider what she's done? Within a DAY? She's managed to make an enemy of a foreign nation, two powerful mages, including Esthor, who is generally considered to be the most powerful mage in the kingdom, if not the world, and the mage who taught him. But it's more than that. She's almost certainly made an enemy of Norius. Assuming the spell wears off? He'd hate her for making him feel that awful. Not to mention, he'd be terrified of what she could do. And he has no qualms with betrayal, it's like, his bread and butter. To make matters worse, she is very arrogant and short sighted. Despite the fact that she KNEW that Quinn had lied to her? In fact, she knew Norius hadn't lied to her and was pretty sure (and will be sure after mind screwing him) that Rulf hadn't. Despite knowing that Quinn is the dishonest one, he's also the one she let go without reading him. She may be a mind mage, but she's clearly not too bright. Particularly since she can't JUST possess someone on a whim. She clearly needs a potion to do it consistently, which means she can't realistically do it as part of a fight. And sure, she has her guards, but fighting Esthor and Kalgos is a totally different thing. We know that Esthor can cause all things to explode and various other things merely with the wave of his wand. Including things like... her potion. Her guard's weapons. Her house potentially (not that Esthor would do that, but I digress). My point is? Unless Lyra has something massive up her sleeve? (And she probably does, but still). Fighting Esthor is not something she should endeavor to do. And she doesn't even seem to be aware that she's slighted an entire foreign nation. Also, just by helping Norius at all she's made an enemy of her own nation. There's NO WAY she's powerful enough to counter all of that. After all, she's apparently hanging around pimping out non magic folk. We have no reason to believe that she'd be effective against mages. Hell, the only reason she was able to do what she did to Rulf was because he was dugged and tied up. I'm pretty sure if he was healthy and free? He'd have been able to fight his way out of there. Especially at night. But we'll see how much of this ends up being relevant. In any case, I'm pretty sure she just, doesn't have enough plot importance to be more than a nuisance. Esthor and Rulf aren't going to be broken up by a bit "monster of the week" side character! Though, given that her only real care is entertainment? She'd probably be pretty easy for Esthor to recruit. And sure, she might not be the most trustworthy individual? But if she was told the whole story? I could totally see her going along with Esthor and co. JUST TO SEE HOW THINGS TURN OUT.

We Let's not jump to conclusions. All we know at the moment is that Quinn kidnapped Rulf. Quinn's been both thoughtful and resourceful so far, so we can't just assume he'll use him as a hostage. He could interrogate Rulf for information. He might even try and get Rulf on his side. After all, no one knows Quinn is the one who rescued Norius. And he wouldn't have to let Rulf know that he has any connection to Norius at all. Also, given that Quinn DOES know that Esthor is a powerful mage? I can't imagine he'd consider holding Rulf hostage ALONE to be a good strategy. Thus far, he's been a lot craftier than that. Also, there is just the fact that, in the end, Quinn is in it for himself. I doubt he has any true loyalty to Norius beyond using him to get what he wants, so I could totally see him trying to play Esthor and Norius against each other as a potential back up plan. His ultimate goal is, after all, not Norius being in power, but the princess. In fact, given that he'd like to be in power himself, it stands to reason that he already has considered betraying Norius (or, for that matter, what he'll do if Norius betrays him). We just haven't seen it yet.

One thing that I do wonder, is whether Quinn is headed to redemption or big bad territory. Because, thus far, though he's selfish? He's not evil, and I do think that, ultimately, he could go either direction. He's a simple man with limited experiences. It's hard to know how he might change once he sees the actual results of his plan take shape. He could realize the error of his ways, or he could go on a downward spiral and end up worse than Norius ever was. Especially if Amelia ultimately rejects him.

I have to agree. There are SO MANY things wrong with Quinn's plan. The first of which is Norius. But then there's Rulf and Esthor and the Queen and whoever else is loyal to her. Also, I'm pretty sure that Quinn's parents? Would not be remotely happy with him for this. They may lead a meager existence, but they do seem fairly content within that existence, if his father is any indication. So, I'd guess Quinn would come back all proud of what he's done, to horrified parents. I also think Quinn is a bit overconfident in his abilities. He's far from the most dangerous shifter we've seen so far. Not that a fire breathing lizard isn't dangerous, but some of the stuff that was in Book of Venoms was truly terrifying. The stuff out of nightmares. And, I'd like to point out that NEITHER Norius NOR Quinn seem aware of Rulf. At least, neither of them has mentioned Rulf when talking about Esthor. Disregarding Rulf would be a huge mistake.