10 Terrific Tropes (That Are In Serious Need Of Revival!)

A while ago, I posted another list of ten tropes, but that one listing tropes that were either commonplace, cliche, unrealistic, or just plain bad writing in general (a phrase which here means 'all of the above,' to paraphrase Lemony Snicket). But, of course, nobody likes a dark cloud. Not in writing advice, and not anywhere else! Especially with how easy it is to despair nowadays with how many things, even culturally, and in writing specifically, are at a low. So I'm going to offer a constructive opinion as well on the matter - I'm going to share some of my favorite tropes that I haven't seen in a while as my afore-promised part the second. Some of them are related to the clichés, and some are quite their own matter, but hopefully you'll see some that you recognize. (There is one thing I must note first, though: with the first post, I had a factual guide as to which of the tropes to put on there - I simply put those that were undeniably, technically bad writing - but with these, there are far too many tropes that are technically good writing out there, so most of these are chosen by my own opinion; just tropes that I personally enjoy that do not have serious writing flaws and are unfortunately uncommon now. Just so no one feels bossed around by my - well-meant, I assure you - writing advice.)

Terrific Trope #10 - The Brothers

My goodness, but this has to be one of my favorite things to see in a book or movie - brothers (or brother-figures) that are just friends, amazing friends, but go through tough times and have to - despite this original friendship - pit against one another, ending back in friendship. Even if they don't start out friends, too, that's also pretty interesting. It makes for a brilliant conflict, I can tell you, and it serves for character development, and a creative twist on a story (as well as solving the age-old 'how to involve siblings of the MC' problem in novels). I put it at the bottom of the list merely because it's slightly less uncommon, though still far too uncommon. I'm not saying that everybody should do it (after all, that's what makes a trope commonplace), but if it's useful to the story, go ahead and use it, because there are plenty of readers who like it! I've talked to plenty of other readers (and writers) who feel quite the same about the trope, and want to see it get bigger. Some good examples are some of the Thor movies, the movie, In Old Chicago, and the book Enemy Brothers (which... I have long wanted to read due to this, but haven't been able to get my hands on for more than an hour).

Terrific Trope #9 - The Hidden Thorn

Everybody loves a character who suffers. But what about one who doesn't rub it in people's faces, doesn't go crazy/evil/outwardly damaged because of, and doesn't even mention it themselves? When all the suffering of a character is kept from you until a time when nobody can do anything about it, readers' hearts bleed all the more for the character. The character who suffers and still stays steady (at least on the outside) is something rarely seen now! A character who suffers silently is not only a good role model, but an instant favorite for readers who like conflict. Good examples of this are Percy Blakeny from The Scarlet Pimpernel, and Rogue from the old X-Men cartoon.

Terrific Trope #8 - Pa and Ma

Parents who not only have character, but have likable character are invaluable in fiction nowadays. Parents and parent-figures so often get jipped nowadays, being only reserved for the sentimental and the sappiest films wherein those character still at least start out in the wrong. How many parents do you know who are actually as stupid, malicious, or just strange as the ones commonly depicted on television? Some good examples of this trope are (as much I personally don't like him for other reasons) Mo Folchart from Inkheart (the books), Ma and Pa Ingalls from the Little House on the Prairie series (for whom this post is named), and King Gris from Medallion.

Terrific Trope #7 - Symbolism

I only didn't put this one as #1 because this is not a particular trope, per se, but rather a general aspect of writing. It seems like symbolism, allegory, and metaphor are so neglected in fiction nowadays, being reserved only to tell the shallow-most political and ideological messages. The last mainstream mention of symbolism in a story I heard of was the homosexual agenda thinly veiled within Frozen and Zootopia. Is that what symbolism's come to? Good symbolic books are The Lord of the Rings (obviously) and just about anything else by Tolkien, mostly, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and John C. Wright's sci-fi short stories.

Terrific Trope #6 - The Villain From Below

Again, this has to do a lot with allegory and metaphor. So few villains nowadays are actually respectable or scary - mostly they're sympathetic or rather pathetic now. If they're scary at all, it's only because of creepy makeup in their screen representation, their creepy hideout, or their gory habits. What about villains that actually scare the heck out of you? Villains that represent (or even are) something deeper than some creep in a costume or a robo-suit... Those are the villains that scare you the most, because those are the ones that are real. Some very good examples are Dracula, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, and, of course, the Silmarillion (actually, I hesitate to say it merely because of some other personal bones I have to pick with the villain, but Davy Jones from the PotC movies has some of these qualities, for sure).

Terrific Trope #5 - The Friends

Unfortunately, I must confess, I too am guilty of neglecting this trope. When a guy and girl are best friends in a story and don't end up together, it's so refreshing from the constant romance bombardment of today's culture (and I am by no means anti-romance!). It's not only refreshing, but realistic. Opposite genders can be friends, after all, without being in an erotic relationship. And writing should, at least to a certain extent, reflect reality. To simply end all male-female character relationships in some sort-of awkward romance is just a tad laughable. It's true, however, that, just because such friendships do realistically go both ways, this trope should be exercised with moderation, and friend-to-romance character relationships shouldn't be discouraged either. Some good examples are Beorn the Proud, Nya and Cole (after the sixth season!) in Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu, and Dracula.

Terrific Trope #4 - Traditional Gender Roles

I'm quite positive that all of you have heard me rant about traditional gender roles at some point or other. They're the foundation of inter-gender relations! Enough said. Some good examples are Pride and Prejudice (and most Jane Austen novels, for that matter), and most old movies before the 1950's.

Terrific Trope #3 - The Artsy One

Imagine some of the most famous and long-beloved characters in fiction. Most of them have some sort-of quirks, right? And the ones who all seem to have the most distinction of character are the ones who have some sort-of art or task that they devote themselves to passionately. Think of Sherlock Holmes with both his logic and his violin. Think of Zorro with his fencing. Or think of Jo March and her writing. Having your characters care about something deeply that isn't necessarily a part of the plot gives them more personality and makes them more of a relatable person than just words on a page or an actor in a movie. Besides the ones I already mentioned, some good examples are Hercule Poirot from his self-titled mysteries, Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit and LotR, and Flambeaux from the Father Brown Mysteries.

Terrific Trope #2 - The Wit

Don't you just love it when you read a book and there's one character who always has something to say for every situation? The one who makes you look up from the book and laugh out loud when you realize what they just said? I don't know about you, but I always love those characters whenever they're around. They're not only entertaining, but they're intelligent, and often are as much help to the main characters as they are comic relief. Two birds with one stone - that's good writing. Some good examples are Gambit from the old X-Men cartoon and Pyle's Robin Hood.

Terrific Trope #1 - The Conversion

I just love it when characters reform and redeem themselves, don't you? But isn't it even more satisfying when they convert right to the top? There are so few stories now that center around religious conversion, but it's such a beautiful and touching thing! So many people who are converts have told me how amazing the process was, and how much it took to make the decision. If those doesn't sound like qualities that make up a story, I don't know what does! It really is such a wonderful and real topic, I don't know why it's so neglected. Honestly, it's so rare now, I can't even think of a good example.

Well, that's all for now, folks. What did you think? How do you like these tropes? Can you forgive me for taking so long with this post? Have you any more tropes to add to the list?

The Pain of a Memory - Part XII

I apologize for being gone so long - I was celebrating my birthday this month and totally forgot that this blog was also (yay! Bloggie's two years old now!). Hopefully you can forgive me for my absent-mindedness once again!

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Part V

Part VI

Part VII

Part VIII

Part IX

Part X

Part XI

***

            Echo dismounted from his horse. He turned around a signaled his men. "Time to camp," he said to them, getting his satchel out of the horse's saddle pack.

            At his command, the other men in the party dismounted their own horses and began to get their packs out. Some of them began to set up a camp. Good, Echo thought. Everything is taken care of.

            Echo opened up his satchel. He looked inside. There was some of Lania's bread inside. She had packed it for him, and put some of the fresh-baked loaf in there. Echo smiled. Now this was traveling food. It was certainly far better than what he usually got, which was also traveler's bread. But the real difference was that one kind reminded him of home, and the other only reminded him of the journey. Echo sighed a little, still smiling to himself. Soon enough, he would be home again.

            With these thoughts in mind, Echo turned back to his men. The camp was all set up, and a good fire was blazing in the middle of it. He walked towards the center of the camp. Then he sat down next to the fire. Echo tore a chunk off of the bread from his satchel and ate it. Then he put the rest back. He looked into the fire's resplendence absently.

            Then one of his men sat down next to him. Echo looked over. "Hello, Evern," Echo addressed the knight.

            Evern nodded. "Captain"

            Echo smiled. "It's Echo when we're alone, Evern. And aren't you hungry?"

            Evern shook his head. "I'm a bit unsettled about this journey, Echo. I've heard plenty a thing about this robber band from some Nistrian travelers. There are supposed to be a hundred score of them, so I'm told"

            Echo laughed. "You listen to travelers too much. If there are a hundred score of them, then why has no one before gone after them?"

            Evern shrugged. "You tell me, Echo. You're the one who's been in this area before"

            Echo nodded and sighed a little. "Yes... But it's been a long time since I've had to be here. The last times I was here it was for a mission"

            "And it is so once more"

            "Yes..." Echo looked off into the distance. "But in particular, we're going to a place I haven't ever been to for a mission"

            Evern looked over at Echo. "I thought you'd been there before?"

            Echo nodded. "I have. I was there about fifteen years ago, back when I was a infantry man in the war"

            Evern laughed. "Has it really been that long?" He shook his head. "It doesn't seem like the war was that long ago, does it?"

            Echo shrugged. "Well, in all hopes, it will be very long before any such thing ever happens again"

            "That could be accomplished, so long as Nistria would be compliant"

            "Well, they'll have a new king soon enough, so that may help things, Evern"

            Evern nodded. "And I've heard rumor that Ingrecia is considering an alliance with Nistra, which would also help things"

            Echo looked back at Evern. "Really? What kind of an alliance?"

            Evern shrugged. "I have absolutely no idea"

            Echo smiled. "Well, you're the one who talks to travelers all the time - haven't you heard something from any of them about it?"

            Evern shook his head. "Not a thing"

            Echo laughed. "Well, why'd you go and hear the beginning of the rumor if you weren't going to have the decency to hear the end of it?"

            Evern joined him in laughter. "Well, you know, I cannot choose what I hear or don't hear, Echo"

            "Yes, but you can choose what you begin to tell me and what you keep silent. Why did you even tell me the beginning? You know I hate stories without an ending, Evern"

            Evern smiled. "Well, I'm no storyteller such as yourself, Echo. But at least all of my stories are true, whether they ever are finished or not"

            Echo chuckled. "Was that jest a jab at my truthfulness, Sir Evern?"

            Evern shrugged nonchalantly. "Perhaps. But if you have a story to tell, it often is one, well, of your own fancy"

            Echo shook his head smilingly. "I at least finish my little fairytales, which is better than having an unfinished real event to tell"

            Evern nodded in defeat. "I suppose so" After a moment of silence, Evern just laughed. "We are rather ludicrous knights, now aren't we, Torriven? All we've done since the camp was up is discuss foreign politics and storytelling, when we have a mission five days ahead of us"

            Echo shrugged. "You forget that you were the one who started both of those so-called ludicrous discussions, Evern. And the mission is ahead of us. We have not reached it yet"

            "Yes, I know, but surely we must put some measure of focus on it?"

            Echo laughed. "You are the ludicrous one really, Evern. We went over it when we were in the town" At Evern's comical expression, Echo laughed again. "Don't worry, Evern. I was only jesting. Believe me, I have been thinking about the mission"

            Evern nodded and stood up smilingly. "Good, because I don't want to follow a distracted captain into a mission. I mean, it wouldn't be quite ideal to follow an absent-minded knight, who's only constantly thinking of his little village and little family the entire mission, would it, Echo?" And with this, he promptly left, still smiling, with a hint of sarcasm in his tone and expression.

            Echo merely burst out laughing. Evern knew him perhaps a little too well...

What did you think? Any critiques? Comments? Suggestions? I would love to hear any feedback, especially since this story's now being prepped for longer roads, so speak your mind!

Meet the Books! - My Land, My Heart

Belle is back! *resounding 80's theme song plays throughout area quite voluminously* Yeah! Ahem. Anyways. Now that Camp NaNoWriMo is done, I am back to blog again (what? Camp ended months ago! I know, I know, but I just finished that project that I was working on in Camp, so Camp just ended for me!). Which is a relief, I can tell you (as much as I complain about never having anything to post, I wouldn't trade this thing in for a bag of gold). But. Now that I'm back, I face the same dilemma. What to post. So - I am going to use one of my classic don't-know-what-to-post-yet tricks and do a link-up. So, without further ado, the next Meet the Books! feature. (Btw, for anyone who doesn't know, Meet the Books! is a link-up instigated by me to introduce WIPs on your blog - anyone can join, and the only rules are to answer the questions, and link back here so that I can see... you can also take the picture if you want to.)

What is the genre?

Drama. Easily Drama. However, there will be a fair amount of action going on in the story's main body as well, so it could maybe qualify as an Action/Adventure.

What is the title? The time period?

The title is My Land, My Heart (I'll explain that oddity later). As for the time period, it is mid-1800s, but in the same made-up world as the rest of my stories.

How is it written (point of view, MC, etc.)?

It's quite predictably in my favorite writing mode - third person limited, with a couple alternating POVs. The MC is kind-of Selena Veritore - speaking of whom...

Who are the characters?

Maid Selena Veritore is the youngest daughter (aged 17) of a most prominent lord in the Nistrian court (about a generation or so before the Nistrian court seen in The Pain of a Memory). Rather exceptionally quiet of nature, few really know her well, even in her own family, for she keeps to herself quite thoroughly, though for no particular reason other than preference. She has for a long time been enamored of another younger, foreign nobleman of the court, Anselm (whose last name I have re-made a million times because I can never remember it).

Sir Ronan Something-or-Other is yet another character that I cannot remember the last name of. You guys all can probably tell by now that this is very recently thought-up story (it's been around for just barely a year now), for I know very few of my character's full names by heart (I only remembered Selena's because it always annoyed me). He is Selena's best friend, and probably the only person in the story who really knows her well. He is a gentleman and musician in the court, but has the status more of a nobleman because of his popularity there. He is really the main character, and most of the book is in his POV (don't ask why I put Selena first. Perhaps it is because she is the only character whose last name I can remember).

Lord Anselm (whose last name is absent...) is a half-Tresintan, half-Nistrian courtier in the Nistrian court who has an unusual quiet about him... not unlike Selena. He is a very cold man, and most people do not know him at all - the only people he is seen to often speak with are Selena's father, an older courtier called Hernand, and

Veren... whose last name also has been mysteriously burnt up by my brain pyromaniacs, a much younger courtier, closer to Selena's age. He is perhaps slightly stuck on Selena - it's hard for Ronan to tell due to Veren's rather patronizing manners, and Selena never pays attention. Veren is a slightly unsure person, and so often seems patronizing to many people, though his intentions are generally good. Young, and fair of face, but bashful, he rather annoys Ronan, who quite sincerely dislikes a fop (though Veren really isn't one). He is also supposedly stuck - this with more measure of truth in his actions - on Selena's older sister, Beliña. Many of the other courtiers rather ignore him because he is young and slightly awkward.

Selena's family consists of her three older sisters, Odeza, Delita, and Beliña, her father, a courtier, and her mother, Damara.

Lord Dorion Hernand isn't too well-known to either Ronan or Selena, except as a friend and colleague of both Anselm and Veren. He is a respectable, and likeable, though grim, old man, and is one of the most trusted courtiers despite his unfamiliarity with the Veritores personally.

And that about covers it so far!

What does the plot consist of?

Three main things:

1. Selena's rocky and distant relationship with Anselm
2. The ever-nearing rumor and threat of war with Belestine
3. Ronan's own family breaking apart

And all of these are fused together through Ronan/Selena.
What is the setting?
The setting, as I said above, is my made-up country, Nistria, about twenty years or so before Anwynne comes there in her book.
What gave you the idea?
Well... at least for the title, my misinterpretation of the lyrics to a Josh Groban song, lol. The real words were 'around my heart,' but I thought that it was 'my land, my heart.' And the other lyrics to the song were the inspiration for the plot, so I thought it fitting that the song's final lyrics (or what I thought they were) would be the story's title.
Who are the favorite characters so far?
Well... This is actually my only story that nobody has read so far. So nobody has any favorite characters. Except me. But telling who my favorite character is would possibly give something away, so I shan't. :)
What is the favorite scene so far?
Same case as above - only scene that's been read by anybody is the original prototype scene, which has since been edited.

Any themes of music for this work?
Selena and Anselm (because it's no spoiler that they are married, though the affection is on Selena's side) have a romantic theme - specifically Il Divo's verison of Can't Help Falling In Love. Other than that, not really. Though Ronan's character was originally inspired by the Toreador Song in the opera Carmen, weirdly enough.
Any drawings?
Nah. This story's pretty new - it doesn't merit any pictures yet. :)
Any snippets?
I know I've been really, really bad about snippets in the last few Meet the Books! features, but, unfortunately, I must disappoint again. This time, though, I have a legitimate reason rather than just a stupid lost notebook or procrastination. The story in question only consists of the beginning and three ahead scenes, all of which but the former contain rather large spoilers, and the former of which needs revised greatly. So... I will have to apologize yet again, it seems.

Strong point in story?

Probably the lack of dependence in plot. Sad to say, I'm not that great at original plots - most of my plots just turn out as a vector for characters or allegory, and not really good plots in and of themselves. This one, however, is different, in that the biggest main plot is quite independent of the characters.

Weak point in story?

The lack of writing. As this book is mostly a channeling for when I am irritated or depressed, I don't write in it terribly often - just in weathered moods. So there is very little of it.

What are your plans for them?

Not much. Maybe it'll get published eventually if I polish it up - as for now, I just kinda use it to scribble out frustration with stuff.

Any particular writing habits for it?

Just keeping to the same notebook, really. Other than that, not much.



If it were made into a movie, what would be your ideal cast for it?
Well, were he still about, Leslie Howard would be a good Veren. And Harrison Ford would do well as Hernand at his present age. Joan Fontaine would be a good Selena, and Errol Flynn would've been a good Ronan. Robert Taylor would be good as Anselm, though with lighter hair.
That wraps it up! What did you think? Are you planning on joining the link-up? Would you read My Land, My Heart if it were published someday? (By the by, I apologize for all the wildflower/lavender pictures - for some reason, lavenders are just this story's thing, and my Pinterest board is bespattered with them.)

Me and the Moon and the Music - A Poem

Me, and the moon, and the music

Share our one company tonight -

Just me, and the moon, and the music -

Rememb'ring when things were right...

 

One summer's dance, one fine evening,

Beneath silver light of moon pale,

A melody floating around me,

Like winds 'round a ship's ready sail,

 

Just me and my love stepping softly

Around a half-deserted floor -

Just us, and the moon, and the music -

How could I have ever wished for more?

 

Me, and the moon, and the music

Remember that time long ago,

When we, and the moon, and the music

Had times lit with Love's golden glow.

 

One sits at this table for two now,

While the moon and the music do thrive.

Me waiting alone here for someone -

Someone who will never arrive...

 

But still, all the same, I wait lone here,

Gazing up at the stars in the sky,

This night, and its moon, and its music

Recalling the stars in her eyes.

 

Me, and the moon, and the music

Know in vain that here waiting we stay.

Still I wait with the moon and the music,

Before both do fly far out away...

 

The stars in the sky now are fading,

The moon is on the hilltop's rim,

The last harmony of the music

Is slowing and growing now dim.

 

The silver light reflects before me,

Right before it lowers its head,

The melody's last few small notes

Now into night's silence have bled...

 

Me, and the moon, and the music

All but flee at the sunlight's first tear.

Now I see not the moon or the music -

They both have abandoned me here.

 

Only echoes are playing inside me,

Like the fragrance of flowers now gone.

The light remains just in my memr'y,

For, it too vanished with come of dawn.

 

Still one at this table for two,

This one fool who waited in vain.

I know that the second won't come,

But somehow to this spot I am chained...

 

For me, and the moon, and the music,

All but the mem'ry has flown.

I, abandoned by moon and by music,

Linger on, forever alone.

Fear and Fiction

A couple weeks ago, a friend asked a philosophical question for fun, so another friend and I could try to answer it. The question was "What is fear?" I attempted to answer the question, but my answer was rather pathetic and I was pretty clueless and dissatisfied with it. My other friend took a crack at it, but was also stumped. The event stuck in my mind. For one thing, it was a humbling question because, being philosophically-minded, one of my greatest flaws is a sort-of intellectual pride in being able to answer many such questions. But it was more than that. It was an interesting question - one that I've gotten close to in thought many times, but never actually broached anywhere. It took forever thinking about it to finally find an answer, but my thoughts were of a sort that I wished to share here, as eventually - like in so many topics - they came to writing.

Fear is perhaps an honesty with oneself - a morally neutral sort-of humility. By itself, it means nothing, but, as with many human emotions, the action taken for it gives it meaning.


Fear branches into two paths - cowardice and courage. Courage? Yes, courage; to quote that repetitive old favorite line from Newsies, "courage does not erase our fears; courage is when we face our fears," and it is not courage to have to fear in the first place. You are probably not afraid of PB&Js, but this does not mean that eating one is having courage. You are probably not afraid of swimming, either, which is certainly more dangerous than PB&Js, but this does not mean you are being courageous every time you swim. Courage is only present where fear is.


On the other hand, cowardice is taking one's fears and refusing to have courage; it is allowing one's fear to overpower one's higher motive or goal. This is the contortion of fear, while courage is the completion of it. To be fearful is no wrong; to let those fears go above one's reason is. Courage is keeping one's mind even whilst one's knees quake.


At this point, I have to stop. If these are true, and fear can be completed or contorted - because I am no authority, not marvelously intelligent, and may be completely wrong, no matter what my own mind wishes to think, this is debatable - then fear exists. What does this mean? Well, it means fear must be good. Nothing that exists is evil; evil is always merely a contortion of lack of good things. And if fear is good, this leads me to the writing part after a terribly lengthy introduction...

Why Do We Make Fear Our Enemy?

Think about them - all the stories, particularly recent ones, where fear is the enemy of the tale. Frozen; Rise of the Guardians; the Hotel Transylvania movies, and Harry Potter to a certain extent - all of them make fear the enemy of humankind (or... modified humankind in a few of those characters). Why should fear be the enemy? Why is it so unequivocally condemned in society nowadays?

Well, think about what's boosted in its place. Confidence, acceptance of everything (usually masquerading as 'love,' despite the unloving treatment of characters who are not accepting), and belief in oneself. Overall, the opposites of humility. Why? Because that's what fear is a part of in its truest sense: humility. And society has long hated humility; we all know this.

People hate humility now because it shows them to be what they are: weak, stubborn, sinful, worthless beings. And it makes them admit that, to have worth, they have to rely on something or Someone else. Fear does the same thing. It tells us that we cannot do everything ourselves, we cannot face anything, we cannot be invincible or omnipotent, etc. And because the only alternatives are fearlessness and cowardice, the latter a universally despised flaw even in these days, they promote fearlessness.

But fearlessness is not only unnatural, it is impossible. If you are a human being, then you will have fears (perhaps this is why so many people in these anti-fear movies are not plainly human...?).

It is also arrogant. If one takes away fear of any kind, then one becomes sure that one is the all-powerful center of the universe, capable of anything with enough effort and motivation and belief in oneself, and dependent upon no one, not even God, which is exactly what fear admits; "Without God, we're helpless," fear admits to us.

Modern society dislikes fear because they dislike God. Fear forces them to admit their reliance on God, so they shun it. Not only this, but fear can be an element of conscience, making one reluctant to do what one knows is wrong, and that's strike two for fear in their book. It also disrupts those lovely little 'happy vibes' that they worship as an idol in social media. It can also be a virtue, in fear of the Lord, which is the chief factor in our admittance that Someone is more powerful than us.

So... What Do We Do?

Well, stop making fear the universal enemy in stories, for one thing. For another, write characters who are afraid. Sure, make them face their fears, but don't make it seem like they have none, or that they reject it. Yes, every human being would like to reject fear, no doubt, but truly mature characters will realize that it is not about what they like or don't like in saving themselves, their loved ones, the world, or whatever they're doing. What might even be a good idea is to start making fear's opposite the enemy - arrogance. Just to shoot an idea out there, you know. I know that many of you probably already have neatly-planned little novels and everything, and adding something like this just doesn't fit. Okay, fine. But don't write against it. Please. Fear is not your enemy; it's not anyone's enemy. So stop making it the enemy.

What do you think? Have you seen any movies or read any books like this? Have you ever thought about fear's representation in fiction? Do you have anything to add? Any comments? Arguments? Perhaps better definitions? I want to hear all your thoughts!

I Did It!!!!!

Tutti! Fine - finalmente! To all my lovely readers who are ever-patient with me, and are humoring me in my rants - I finally finished a book!!!

And now? I AM GOING TO TELL EVERYONE!!!!! What book? When? Why'd it take so long? Answers, answers. First of all, I would like to thank everybody for being patient with my horrendously long hiatus. Secondly, I would like to thank everybody for being patient with all my sporadic ranting. And finally, I'd like to thank you all for reading. Without  readers, there's no way this story would have ever gotten this far, especially this soon. Because the story is one that you've all helped on, with your amazing commentary, critique, and just general encouragement - I finished The Pain of a Memory. Granted, from about the climax up until the end, I only wrote the barest bones of the events in, and I will have to edit and rewrite for ages to ever get it polished. But that's the next step. For now, all I can say is thanks to everyone who read any part of this story, or even this blog - your support wrote this book! And now - I am going to go and faint from writing/ranting exhaustion! ;P

If You Haven't Already Guessed...

I'm on hiatus. I really should have put up a notice saying so, but it kept slipping my mind. The reason for the break? It's threefold. Firstly, due to school and miscellaneous busyness that I always have. Secondly, because I'm trying to devote a little more time to fulfilling promises, such as beta reading for people, praying more, and spending time with my siblings in the all-too-easily consuming school year. Thirdly, - drumroll, please - it's because I'm finishing a novel. Finally. I know it's taken me long enough - after all, Alomina, my first-written current WIP, just celebrated its fourth birthday last month. Unfortunately... Alomina will have to go on waiting. I won't reveal which project it is I'm finishing until it's actually finished (whereupon I will start announcing it to the world), but that will be the gauge of my hiatus. As soon as it's finished, I will blog more regularly, and you will hear bells ringing as far as I can reach to annoy you with the news. As for now, what can you expect? Probably little or no posting for the next couple weeks to a month. That's not a super big change from what's going on. And then still probably varied amount of posting after that, depending on the status of the work in question. Trust me. You'll know when it's done. But, for now, mio amici, arriva derci!

10 Terribly Tiresome Tropes

I hate modern culture. I make no pretense of enjoying modern music, modern movies, or modern books. For the most part, I cannot stand any of those three. And so usually I don't give a dime to those things, and let them be, so long as they're away from me. But sometimes, there're a few screwy things that I have to notice. Because - and I'll try to be fair about this despite my distaste for modernity - there are a few elements in a story that have gotten old and nobody has said anything. At this point, they are commonplace, and bad writing, but few people say anything about them because they've become custom. So I will say a few things about  them.

Tiresome Trope #10 - The Copycat

This trope certainly isn't the worst out there, but it's still too common. It consists of a character whose background and setting is taken from another character's, and then said first character's history being conveniently taken as well, subtly, of course, under a different being. This is fan fiction for you. Not all fan fiction is like this, mind you, but most fan fiction I have read takes the setting and background of a popular published character and then takes all their conflict and history and transposes it onto a just conveniently different, new character. For instance, there may be a character who was trained to be an assassin in HYDRA, succeeded for a time in Russian undercover groups, and is eventually reformed, but this character is now a man rather than a woman, or African rather than Russian, or an extrovert rather than an introvert or whatever. But it's basically like taking the backdrop of a portrait and just painting a different face over the original. It's an oft overlooked form of plagiarism, unfortunately. And worse, oftentimes, if the names are changed, this stuff can get published. Ugh.

Tiresome Trope #9 - Fight, Fight, Fight!

This is the trope that we see in most action and sci-fi movies. This is the loooooooong battle scene where most of the characters die, and meanwhile, many character show off their splendid fighting abilities. There is nothing wrong with battles in stories, nor climax battles, so don't get me wrong. It just that when you invent this cataclysmic, do-or-die battle scene and most of what the characters do during it is just fight and kick butt and maybe one or two die just at a moment when all the characters can see and have a dramatic moment shouting "Noooooooooo!," then something's wrong. (This is like every Avengers climax, btw.)

Tiresome Trope #8 - Civil War

Perhaps a very similar trope to #9, but it is different in that all the fighting goes on within the circle of main characters. When the characters just start pettily bickering for no reason, that's about when I put the book down for a while. Why? Firstly, because it's done too much without good cause other than lack of good conflict ideas, and it's bad writing, and secondly, because it drives me nuts when otherwise likable characters behave like spoiled brats. And usually it's just to provide silly conflict in the story or even just among the readers! To quote the immortal HISHE's (How It Should Have Ended) perfect summary of it, "You could have some kind of a civil war for conflict - you know, like a 'pick a side' type thing?"

Tiresome Trope #7 - The Silver Tongue

I get it. Nobody's perfect, even in real life, and so character shouldn't be either. But you know one sure way to make me - and a lot of other more valuable readers - despise a supposedly good main character? Make them lie. Constantly. To everyone. Whenever they're in a scrape. And even when they're not, if you really wanna throw down the gauntlet. Just make them lie, lie, lie. That'll make your readers love them. And it will totally reinforce your depiction of them as a good guy. There are characters who get away with it, maybe, but generally those characters are neither main, nor supposed to be good. Plus, they're usually such well put-together characters that a common trope like that barely dents their lovely, well-polished writing. So... unless you have the next Loki, Dustfinger, or Yank in the R.A.F., then it's a trope better left alone.

Tiresome Trope #6 - Tough and Tiny

These are the characters, usually small, and usually animals, that are all bark and bite and no brawn. Of course, these characters somehow magically conquer everyone they face, despite their usual size disadvantage and the skill disadvantage that realistically they would have. Good examples of this are, I'm sad to say, in many a movie and book I love. It wasn't always cleche writing. Narnia did it, and that's one thing. Chronicles of Prydain did it, and that's one thing. It wasn't old the first few times, maybe. But then, when everybody started doing it, and every kid's movie had one of those characters necessarily, it got old.

Tiresome Trope #5 - That Brat Upstairs

I'm sure all you have seen some movie or read some book with that older sibling - usually a sister - who just stays upstairs, never coming out to the light of day, constantly on her phone/headphones/computer/pad/whatever technology, who hates her younger siblings and is always rude to her parents. She is a teenager who has no respect for most people, bullies and bosses her siblings behind her parents' back, is always put in charge as the tyrant of the house, is usually stupid and easily outsmarted by her rival little siblings, and generally cares nothing for things that are not dating, driving, napping, or partying-related.


I cannot even stress how harmful a trope this is, especially in kid's fiction. Ramona and Beezus; Spiderwick Chronicles; Zathura - there are too many. But the common nature of the trope is not what makes it bad writing, per se, in this case. It hurts.

Do you know how many impressionable young whippersnappers watch or read stuff like this and then forever imagine their older sibling as stupider, meaner, bossier, and overall less pleasant than a decent person? It works the same way with this figure as a parent. Little kids will read stuff with unintelligent parents, guardians, older siblings, or babysitters, and they will think that this means adults must just not be worth much. Trust me - as an oldest sibling, I can speak from experience on the impression it makes on younger siblings, and as a once-impressionable child, I can speak from experience on how much of and impression it makes on daughters and sons. It really is not cool to trash older siblings, writers. It's not cool to trash parents. And it's definitely not cool to write something everybody else is writing without even thinking about what it will impress upon your readers.




Tiresome Trope #4 - I Know What I'm Doing!

Imagine this scenario. A main character who is usually rather strong-willed develops this bizarre, radical idea that nobody else believes. Most people doubt said character and eventually, even their friends think they're just being silly, lying, hallucinating, etc.

And then... poof! This main character, though their idea was unusual, and founded on mostly nothing but prejudice, instinct, or jumping to quick conclusions, turns out to be right. Perhaps even more right than they originally thought. And of course, everybody else pays for not acting on the main character's original gut feeling, because now it's too late (everybody believes them now, of course). And then the main character saves everyone, and they grovel on their knees for not yielding to the main character's every all-knowing whim. Yep. Sound like good writing to you? No? I think I've said enough.

Tiresome Trope #3 - Macho... But Not So Macho

How many male characters are there in fiction at this point who seem masculine and tough and then end up being sentimental or insecure? Really, writers. There's a reason men are called 'men,' for goodness's sake. It's because they are men, and not sops or women with guns or effeminate wimps.

Please. Just recognize that not all men out there are pathetic! This is a particularly harmful trope, too, because it has established the now all too common humor of stupid men and intelligent women, which, really, is incredibly sexist, guys. And don't think I'm just criticizing the muscle men with secrets - male characters who never even start out masculine (for no particular reason, too) are even worse, and also unrealistic writing.

Tiresome Trope #2 - Lil Sassy Feminist

I had a very hard time choosing between this and #1 as to which one was worse. Eventually, I chose this to be second place because it went more with #3 in its content. But, while #1 won out, this one is still one of the most ridiculous cleche tropes out there. There are so many women in fiction who fight (and do as well or better than the poor, pathetic men), are cleverer than all their surrounding people (usually comically egotistic or stupid men), and are generally more skilled and insightful than the other characters (need I even say it again?).

Every single girl. In every single book. Everywhere.They also coincidentally wear tight or showy clothing, dislike dresses, are uncomfortable in feminine society, scorn womanly practices, and are generally rebellious, sassy, and unintentionally egotistic. They think the best of themselves because they are the best. They fight because they are better at it than the men. They read, invent, and design not, despite appearances and claims, because it is a hobby they enjoy, or because they with to educate themselves, but merely because the brutish, Neanderthal males would deny them the privilege of it. I would supply examples, but I am quite confident that you shall be able to easily think of many without my help. And if I hadn't already complained enough, I would elaborate further upon my disgust with this quite thoroughly tiresome trope.



Tiresome Trope #1 - Father Fallacious, Sister Sinister, and Brother Boorish

This is perhaps the most tiresome trope of all.  Because it's another harmful trope. A very harmful trope. Because the Catholic Church, and Christianity in general, is so oft maligned, most people have a mental image of religious life, religious people, or even religion in general as stupid, outdated, or simply sinister. And, as opposed to the other harmful tropes mentioned above, this targets something that is not quite so easily off-key.

When you malign older siblings and parents in fiction, you are merely maligning an imperfect, human group. There are mean parents and bad siblings out there. When you malign masculinity, you are still maligning a mostly human thing. There are pathetic men out there. But when you malign Christ, Christianity, and His Church, you're maligning the very wellspring of Truth.

Yes, there are surely bad priests, bad nuns, bad monks, etc., etc. out there - there's no doubt of that. But the thing is, when you have only a single, or a couple representations of the Church or its members, and you choose to make them negative for no particular reason, then you choose to imagine that Church, that religion, and that Divine Savior as in general false, fearful, greedy, evil, outdated, and overall unintelligent. Fiction may be meant to imitate real life, but it is not real life. We write novels because we have ideas of what the world could be, not by necessity exactly, molecule for molecule, what it is. Because who would want to read an exact account of their daily life, word for word, nothing spared?

The thing is, we want novels to be like our life, but not just like our life. We would like a little bit of fancy. We would like a little bit of hope. We would like a little bit of Truth, and Beauty, and Goodness. So to pointlessly malign something, even in fiction, is not only oftentimes libel, but also incredibly bad writing.

All of these are pretty bad writing. But they're not the only options. To clear up the gray cloud, I hope to follow up soon with 10 more tropes, but these will instead be good ones that are in need of revival. Because I know that no one wants to just hear a post that is completely negative and critical without any practical suggestions - I certainly don't - I'll try and get that follow-up post ready as soon as possible. Thanks for reading! Tell what you think in the comments, whether it be (civil) debate, additions, critique, or suggestions for part two - chat with me! (As a last word, I must needs apologize - methinks I went a little crazy with the gifs.) 





The Pain of a Memory - Part XI

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Part V

Part VI

Part VII

Part VIII

Part IX

Part X

***

            Anwynne looked around. Not much had happened yet. It had been almost exactly a day since Errius and Elystra had escaped. Anwynne and the guards had been left only to hope that Errius and Elystra were still safe and on their way, with not a sign to know it.

            Suddenly there was the noise of soft, agile footsteps from the tunnel. Anwynne looked up. Rogan had just come out, looking oddly cat-like and smug in his demeanor. Errius' soldiers all watched him walk in with a look of suspicion.

            Strangely enough, Rogan walked straight up to Anwynne, and looked down right at her. He smiled almost slyly. Anwynne glared up at him, confused and semi-disgusted by his sudden centering on her. Again? What on earth could he want with her? And why on earth did he keep doing this?

            Anwynne was about to say something about it, when suddenly he stopped looking at her and turned around.

            He faced one of the bandit watchmen, and gestured to him. Then he gestured towards Anwynne. "Why don't you bring the princess? I have need to speak with her Highness"

            At this, most of Anwynne's guard turned their sights to Rogan, all with suspicion and most with dislike in their eyes. Perhaps they were right to be suspicious of him. Anwynne herself was rather unsettled by the order. Why on earth did he want her? It certainly couldn't be anything pleasant... at least for her.

            Anwynne looked to see the watchman's reaction. Apparently the bandit watchman was also somewhat surprised by the order. "And where would you have me transport the princess, Captain?"

            Rogan's lips curled up at the ends in what seemed almost a mockery of a smile. "Just aid her into the back quarters"

            The bandit watchman seemed also to think this command equally odd, but did not hesitate in obeying it. "Yes, Captain"

            With this, the bandit watchman walked over to Anwynne. Anwynne drew back a little in an involuntary response. She didn't like the prospect of whatever was going on.  But, disregarding Anwynne's distaste for the arrangement, the bandit watchman picked her up and walked back into the cave, past Anwynne's guard. She watched their faces as she passed. Some had fear, and on all of them was still etched suspicion and anger. They feared for her. She was beginning to fear for herself, come to think of it.

            Soon enough, the watchman had carried her back into the tunnel at the back of the cavern, as though going straight towards... Oh no. It looked as though they were going to room at the end of the tunnel... Anwynne knew the room. And she had no wish to visit it. Please, Anwynne pleaded inside her head, Please let us be going somewhere else than there...

            But her hopes were in vain, it seemed, for soon enough they stopped in front of the dreaded door. The watchman opened the door, and entered with Anwynne. Anwynne looked around slowly. There was no one there. But, how...? What had they done with their prisoner...? Anwynne dreaded to even think of what they'd done with him... As if she had not already been convinced enough of Rogan's cruelty and inhumanity. But whatever they had done with the previous prisoner, it was now she that was prisoner here... Prisoner to whatever Rogan wished to do with her... Helpless...

            Anwynne had to stop herself from yelling for help - having to remind herself that it was useless - as the bandit watchman set her down in that room, and then departed from it. The black door shut behind him, leaving Anwynne alone to await whatever was her fate.

            Anwynne looked around the room. There was absolutely nothing in it except a simple chair, which was what she had been set upon. Otherwise, the room was almost exactly akin to the rest of the cave - stony, black, and cold. Where was Rogan? Anwynne wasn't exactly keen on finding out anytime soon.

            But then, as though in spite of her dread and wonderings, the dark door opened up once more, giving way to Rogan, the bandit captain. The bandit captain who Anwynne was completely in the power of...  

            Rogan was just as felinely swaggering when he walked in as he had been back in the main part of the cave. Seeing him walk in, and knowing that she was alone with him, Anwynne's mind couldn't help but keep flying back to the looks of fear and suspicion that had been upon her guards' faces for her. She had to stop her own face from mimicking those sentiments.

            So Anwynne merely gazed up at Rogan boldly, determined not to look either afraid or compliant. She was very tempted to flinch and look away, but instead stubbornly kept on looking up at him.

            Rogan returned the glance, but in not nearly so much of a glaring fashion. He smiled brazenly. "Hello, Highness."

            Anwynne refused to acknowledge his greeting, not even breaking her stiff gaze.

            Rogan raised a brow as though intrigued by her response, or rather, lack thereof. "What's the matter, Highness? I thought you were a queen - and I've never heard of a queen who wouldn't pay civilities..." He laughed a bit. "Even if I'm not any courtier."
            Anwynne frowned. "It is exactly that. I do not owe any civilities to an outlaw."

            Rogan shrugged. "Perhaps not." He started to pace around a bit, and then turned back to Anwynne. "But you do owe me your ear, Highness. Because I have a proposition for you."

            "And how, may I ask, do I owe anything at all to you, least of all my precious time and attention?," Anwynne asked stonily.

            "Well," Rogan smiled again. "A better question would be how else exactly would you spend that treasured time and attention were I to leave you out there, Highness."

            Anwynne only frowned in answer.

            "That was quite the reply I anticipated," Rogan said nonchalantly. "But, Princess, getting on to more important matters, I had said I have a proposition."

            "Well, as I have no choice but to listen to you, I would wager, then speak and get it said, Rogue."

            "That's Rogan, Your Highness," Rogan corrected smilingly. "And I will, since you so graciously permit it."

            Rogan started to pace around again in his very leisurely, feline manner. "Well, whether you know it or not, Princess, your guard captain and your handmaid have both escaped together. And, while usually I wouldn't bother, Highness, I don't think it's an elopement." At this, he smiled a bit.

            Anwynne grimaced at the jest. "Just speak, Vagabond."

            Rogan shrugged. "Alright. But, they have not escaped unnoticed by me. Now, my watchmen tell me that they weren't the only ones to escape." Rogan turned to Anwynne and knelt down a little in front of her. "You had escaped too, Princess. And you were caught running back towards the cave. Somehow, Highness, I find it hard to believe that you were just running back to the cave because you didn't want to leave." He smiled yet again in his roguish manner.

            Anwynne remained silent. She had a feeling she knew what he might be getting at.

            "I know you were with them," Rogan continued. "And you saw where they went. I've already sent men down the forest road to find them, and even into the mountain road. But it is possible they didn't take a road, isn't it, Princess? And you're the only one who would know, of course. So, I suppose I'll just right out ask you - where did they go?"

            Anwynne only glared. "And you think I would know? And even if I did, why on earth would I tell you?"

            Rogan shrugged again. "Well, maybe because I can offer you something. I'm sure you've figured out by now, Princess, that I've sent a ransom note for you to the Nistrian capital. Well, Princess, when the Nistrians ransom you, did it occur to you that they might not ransom your companions as well?"

            Anwynne bit her lip. Of course it had occurred to her... It had been her greatest worry for the past three days... But she had to act as though he hadn't said anything. She tried to keep her expression hard.

            "Now, I'm sure a queen like you probably doesn't care much about her lower-class guard, but it is a worry I felt obliged to mention," he went on. "And I'm sure you wouldn't want to step into queenship with such a burden upon you. And you don't know how long we would keep our prisoners here... or even if we'd keep them here..."

            Anwynne felt as though all the blood suddenly had drained out of her. He means... He meant killing them. Surely even Rogan wouldn't do that...? But then, he might... Anwynne's mind wandered back to the stranger in the room. After all, for all she knew, that could very well have been what they'd done to him... But that wouldn't happen. As queen, she wouldn't let it happen. And besides, Errius and Elystra were on their way... It wouldn't be too much longer until they reached Nistria.

            "So, I'm prepared to offer you a deal, Highness," Rogan's voice snapped Anwynne back into reality. "If you tell me where the two runaways have gone, then once the ransom for you is collected, I shall let the whole party free - every single person."

            Anwynne looked down. It was a silly idea. Errius and Elystra were already on the move, and would be back soon enough. So Anwynne looked back up at Rogan again. "I'm afraid in your deal you have overlooked one thing, Vagabond: if those two 'runaways', as you call them, are already on their journey then they may discourage the ransom from ever coming, and bring aid back to help us escape before the Nistrians even read your note."

            Rogan smiled, this time a little more deviously. "Well, Princess, there's just one problem with that. You see, the ransom message was sent out almost exactly two days ago. With two riders rather than one, a two-day lead in my own messenger's journey, and neither one of those two even owning a horse, I highly doubt that they shall arrive before the ransom note is there. In fact, by time they arrive, I shouldn't be surprised if a ransom is already on its way here. You see, the timing is rather unusual, Princess, but I've worked it out."

            Anwynne clenched her fists. The despicable creature really has thought of everything...

            "So, what do you say, Princess? I know a few things that concern you, and so I'll ask you for something I don't know." Rogan leaned back against the wall of the cave casually.

            Anwynne looked up. He wasn't the only one who could play such games... She gazed at Rogan defiantly. "I can tell you plenty of things you don't know, Captain - if you really are a captain."

            Rogan smiled. "I assure you  I  am indeed. But what, may I ask, could you possibly tell me, aside from your little friends' destination?"

            Anwynne took a deep breath. She decided to try and play her cards well. "That you're looking for someone, and haven't found them. It distresses you, doesn't it? Well, they're already gone, I'm afraid. I heard who you were speaking of, and I can tell you that my captain is in every way matched to your description. But, if you were looking for Captain Errius, then you're already too late. He's gone." She tried to make her expression look stony.

            Rogan kept his leisurely post, but paled ever-so-slightly. "Your captain, his name is Errius, then?"

            Anwynne nodded coldly. "Captain Errius Du Regina. If you wanted to find him, for whatever reason, you already lost him."

            Rogan started to pace around a bit again, and reassumed his rather cat-like careless grin. "Du Regina, hmmm? I wonder, was this name given to him from birth?"

            "No." Anwynne glanced down at her hand coldly. "He was named this for being the captain of my guard."

            "Yes, so I guessed," Rogan said softly. "Errius 'Of The Queen'... What, pray tell, if you do know, Princess, is his birth name?"

            Anwynne looked back up at Rogan, raising her brow in question. "And why would you want to know, Captain?"

            Rogan shrugged lightly. "If you think he is the person I am looking for, then I can prove you wrong. But I suppose it doesn't really matter, now does it? You've exposed your little game, and now you've told me that you know I'm looking for someone. Perhaps now you'll give me another kind of information, ah, Princess? Like where the lovebirds have escaped to?"

            Anwynne frowned. "They are not - !" She bit her lip in frustration. "They are of the same family; brother and sister for your information. Twins, in fact..."

            Rogan suddenly got an unusual sort-of glint in his eyes. "Twins...?"

            "What of it?"

            Rogan cleared his face of the odd expression. "Nothing. It's just that it is an uncommon thing..." He started up again pacing.

            Anwynne stood up defiantly. "You are interested in him, yes? You care indeed, and you think there's something to Errius? Well, I know more of him, and plenty more."

            Rogan raised both brows lazily. "Why, was he your lord master? No, I don't care who he is, Highness, but I will admit that you've caught my interest out of curiosity."

            Anwynne glared. "No, Captain he was not ever any such thing. He was my friend, though. And if you want to know anything more about him, then you'll have to bargain for that information."

            Rogan chuckled a little, in what seemed to Anwynne a very artificial way. "So you want me to sell the same terms as my previous deal, but for useless information on some Ingrecian boy-soldier?" He shook his head with a more obviously forced smile. "I'm sorry, Highness, but your only choice has been laid before you." 

            "My only choice? The choice of revealing my own companions to you and your vagabond horde, so that you can revel in a queen's ransom all the rest of your wretched life? And I suppose these are your rights?," Anwynne protested coldly, sitting down once more.

            Rogan shrugged. "These are my demands."

            "I do wonder what you would even do with that ransom once you had it... " She glared up at him. "I would forever be pained to know that I ever agreed to such a thing as this betrayal. I decline your offer on plea of avoiding such pain."

            Rogan laughed coldly, this time without even a trace of a smile this time. "Avoiding pain? Pain cannot always be avoided, Highness. It always comes..." He turned away a bit. "And a spoiled mistress like you can barely know the meaning of the word."

            Rogan began as though to walk away again in his pacing, but Anwynne spoke up, and he turned back to her. "And you know the meaning of pain?"

            Rogan's look was now stony. "Whether or not I know its meaning, I know the thing itself better than anyone else I have seen on this earth."

            "You certainly boast of it freely enough."

            "I don't boast of it. I would give anything if..." Rogan trailed off for a moment. "You speak of pain, Princess, but you do not know it in any form."

            "I suspect well enough that you've given it to many a prisoner, so I have no doubt you are familiar with it yourself."

            Rogan shook his head. "I do not speak of physical pain, Highness. For all I am aware of, you may have known it. I speak of real pain - the type you have never known. You will never know that horrible grinding upon your very being, all just coming from things that should be long forgotten - that weight of a thousand anvils on your chest, the feeling that you may never be free of that weight again, and the knowledge that you won't..." He stiffened coldly. "This, Princess, is real pain, and I know its grip well."

            Anwynne looked up at him with an equal lack of warmth. "And do you expect my sympathy for this, Captain?"

            "I don't expect sympathy from a Nistrian, whether already received or only awaited. It is because of Nistrians that I know this pain, and so many times I have come close to death for it."

            Anwynne did not flinch at his hard expression, but only glared up at him more determinedly. "And why did you not just die, Rogue? I suppose it takes too much courage for a coward like yourself..."

            Rogan's face was now harder than she had ever seen it. His eyes flashed for a moment. "You are right, Princess. It does take courage to die" He turned and began to walk away. "But sometimes it takes far more to live."

With this, Rogan opened the door to the room, and disappeared into the darkness of the cavern beyond, leaving Anwynne once more alone.