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Ashes of the Tyrant
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Ashes of the Tyrant - Chapters 4-6
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Erin just had to tease us about Havi being pregnant didn't she?
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"Why?" he said. "You already wrote it."
"because I don't remember what I wrote in these particular parts, and I want to be able to share things with the people reading it."
"I know!" He said. "Let's read it together, you and me!"
"Sweetie, it's kind of a grownup book."
"How do you know? You don't even remember what you wrote!"
***
So let's see...what did I write...
Phrenike, you might recall, is the ancestor of Lorcan's super lazy warlock from Calimshan who he scries in Brimstone Angels.
Sessaca is...a little based on my own grandmother who is very outspoken, a little based on the surprise we all had when I was about 14 and my mother could suddenly say she's been in military intelligence when she ran off to Korea and not been a "truck driver," and a lot based off Dahl.
The food was fun--not just figuring out what they might eat, but also what might not appeal to Brin and what the twins might have childhood soft spots for and what even they might not have the palate for. Also given what dragonborn biologically are (reptiles? Monotremes?), I've always assumed their metabolism's a little slower. They don't eat as much as humans--so those on kitchen duty keep sending up huge platters of food because they've heard humans are utter garbage disposals.
Mod
"Why?" he said. "You already wrote it."
"because I don't remember what I wrote in these particular parts, and I want to be able to share things with the people reading it."
"I know!" He said. "Let's read it together, you and me!"
"Sweetie, it's kind of a grownup book."
"How do you know? You don't even remember what you wrote!"
***
So let's see...what did I write...
Phrenike, you might recall, is the ancestor of Lorcan's super lazy warlock from Calimshan who he scries in Brimstone Angels.
Sessaca is...a little based on my own grandmother who is very outspoken, a little based on the surprise we all had when I was about 14 and my mother could suddenly say she's been in military intelligence when she ran off to Korea and not been a "truck driver," and a lot based off Dahl.
The food was fun--not just figuring out what they might eat, but also what might not appeal to Brin and what the twins might have childhood soft spots for and what even they might not have the palate for. Also given what dragonborn biologically are (reptiles? Monotremes?), I've always assumed their metabolism's a little slower. They don't eat as much as humans--so those on kitchen duty keep sending up huge platters of food because they've heard humans are utter garbage disposals.
Havilar's ongoing efforts to domesticate Zoonie continue to be really amusing. "I won't let her on the bed." Haha.I really enjoyed Sessaca. She's the grumpy old grandma who can actually back up her attitude with experiences. I love that she's a little bit inspired by a real person. :)
Mod
So like if Lorcan told her to kill someone, she might. If Lorcan told her to kill Brin, she wouldn't. But if Havi told her to kill Brin she would without hesitating.
Dragonborn eating -less- than humans? Given their greater physical strength (starting with +2 to that stat) and breath weapons, wouldn't they need to expend -more- energy? Implying a greater need for more caleries, thus more need for food? I'm just not sure how this slower metabolism would work given the exceedingly active lifestyle most dragonborn seem to have.
Just to continue with the Zoonie/Havi love fest a little:I thought the subplot was adorable when it first appeared in "Fire in the Blood", just insomuch as having been a dog owner and connecting on that level.
This time around, I get to look at the relationship further unfold while watching my sister try desperately to raise her new puppy who is as much a kind, loving sweetheart as he is an ill-behaved, obstinate hurricane of fur and mischief, so much more so than either of the dogs I had growing up. It creates this whole new layer of empathy that is really great.
Micha wrote: "Dragonborn eating -less- than humans? Given their greater physical strength (starting with +2 to that stat) and breath weapons, wouldn't they need to expend -more- energy? Implying a greater need f..."I imagine it's not so much a case of eating less as it is less frequently. The dragonborn seem to be (the way I'm reading it) giving Fari, Havi, and Brin what are probably dragonborn-sized meals at more frequent intervals than what they are accustomed to.
Mod
And you know there's always "a wizard did it."
Mod
I was going to add:"Wasn't someone in the group a zoologist?"
And: There's always "a wizard did it." They didn't naturally arise, after all, and so you could make a case for the dragon tyrants finding a way to make them super efficient so as not to waste food on slaves. :p
I'm a biologist. :)I'm not sure about the specific eating habits of crocodiles, but it's certainly the case that reptiles have lower metabolic rates and a fraction of the caloric need of mammals or birds. When you look at metabolic rate vs. body size across animals, endotherms like mammals and birds have to be plotted separately from everything else because they scale so differently.
I like the idea that dragonborn are different. Fun stuff.
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I was deeply disappointed I wasn't getting schooled by an alligator wrestler.
I'm not an animal lover like others, so I actually found the imps to be more interest. I thought it was kind of amusing when Mot asked about the hellhound. I can appreciate the bitterness of having someone lie right in your face without even making a passing attempt to sound truthful. I imagined every time Mot popped back to the hells it was followed by minutes of expletives in regard to Havilar and an additional string directed at Olla's subsequent inane contribution.
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I am really enjoying the Pacing of this book...and well maybe the contrast of the pacing between the slow investigation and the rush to the library...that contrast creates a very nice space for the store to kind of unfold more naturally then I am used to in WotC books which are generally off to the races after the first chapter.
Also, once again, I really love the intrigue of the Hells--everything about the description, the intrigue, the hierarchy is just fantastic.
Cannot wait to see what is going to happen next!
... I got eaten by work for a week so now I am dashing to catch up.I too like the pacing in the book so far, the contrast between the rather frenetic pace of the Library Hunt (Yay Mira!) and the societally constrained murder investigation, that even Mehen is chafing against, plays out very nicely. I suspect that the pace may well pick up once the 10-day mourning period is over (if Mehen and the girls actually wait that long), but for now we actually get to enjoy this unfolding view of Djerad Thymar.
Brin's comments about being the outsider this time, as opposed to the girls in Suzail, hit home for me, especially as a Brit living in Japan (which is one of the least racially and culturally diverse places that I have ever encountered).
Lorcan's interactions with Zoonie interested me. I really like how Erin does *not* take the "Lorcan snapped out a command in Abyssal" route. Erin actually gives us the words, I can't speak for other people but that adds, significantly, to the degree of verisimilitude that the Realms projects.
Sesseca is just a barrel of awesome and, to be honest, she may well have already supplanted Dahl in my affections. That said, I am still hoping that Fari does, at least, learn why Dahl can't talk to her. Lorcan's sulky jealousy is beginning to grate.
On to Chapter 7!
Happy reading everyone.