date = 01/05/05

nickname = Artemis

comments = Happy new year Rapina!

It was great to see a new chapter online, what a 'christmas present' <g>. Rapina's really coming along as a mage now, I just hope nothing goes awry - she's gaining a lot, but she's got a lot to lose if she gets caught. I love all the detail and complexity in her magic, I've re-read the chapter once already just to get everything. I'll certainly be looking forward to the next chapter - "Mistress Rapina"? That's a title that promises an exciting read!

I'm glad you like the map, it's the least I could do to say thanks for all the fun I've had reading. If I get a moment to spare I'll run up a new version with Red Jack's camps and so on marked on it in some way.

Thanks again,

date = 01/05/2004

nickname = Civilmage

comments = Thankyou for posting Fallen Angel Christmas Day. It was a wonderful Christmas present. As a result I started going back and reading the story from the very begining. It's just as good this time around. One of the things I've noticed is how much the quality of writing has improved over time. The second thing I noticed was how long you've been working on this series. Thankyou for staying with it so long. Some people might get bored with such a task. However, I like how you can move Rapina through a whole series of Mileus and still stay true to the original content.

Thanks :)

In order to make it easier for me to read the story I started to copy the text files down so I could read them on my PDA. I noticed something odd. The larger multiple story files - Chapt 10-17 and 27-31 duplicated their respective chapters. In otherwords when I opened the file in explorer about midway down Chapt 17 ended and Chapter 10 began. The same for the other file. However I was unable to determine if it is an exact duplicate of each chapter or if it was some error that caused the file to be displayed twice in explorer. This led me to wonder if the txt files are an exact duplicate of the content in the HTML files.

The old text file chapters do repeat.  This is a function of trying to get notepad light to wrap them to 55 character wide lines.  It will do the job but it is kind of odd and does not seem to want to do it every time.  Thus you sometimes have to paste several times before it works.  Back in the old days I often did not realize I had duplicated the set of chapters several times in my quest to get them wrapped.  I fixed some of the  the largest duplicated files but several still remain.  I think the text files are exact duplicates of the html files but one cannot rule out human error.

Some plot questions I noticed that by Chap 53 Thane is nearly convinced that Bellany is actually Rapina. I was just wondering if they are coming back. Did Thane ask Mortaebius if Bellany is among the dead? Would he? I know the crow is important but I'm missing it somewhere but I believe it's one of the things that link Bellany to Mortaebius.

Thane did ask Mortaebius if the real Bellany was among the dead in chapter 55 and Mortaebius indicated that she was dead.

Yes the Raven is a symbol of Mortaebius since ravens are carrion birds and associated with death.  Nimbus is also a pet but it is a clue to the outside world that Rapina is of Mortaebius.

I noticed that Baron Norwit had had conversations about Brianna Barter with Baron Daelrath. Since Brunhilda is one of Vargrend's Beauties and Rapina as Valkura had given practical instruction on how to enjoy herself, would she be seeing Charles? Bellany had promised herself that she was going to find a somewhat naughty girl for Charles and it's nearly midwinter. Soon graduation will come and Charles will still be lonely at the end of school. I still want to know more about Starstruck and also Oagmak of the orcs.

Starstruck is back in Norwit at present.  Bellany misses him.  His past may come out at a later time. (He is a fairly young stallion but he did have a colt-hood and was purchased by Darl Norwit at some point in time.)  The Rageblood  Clan of orcs is out there somewhere but of course Rapina has not seen them as they operating quite a distance to the Northeast of her.

Also, Do you ever plan to show that Bellany/Rapina finally comes to know what happened to her at the hands Tzar the Chantral of the Orcs in Jooldig?

She remembered already remembered it while talking to Baladus in chapter 60.  You must have been reading rapidly that day ;)

1/6/5   I'm behind on the Forum, I'll try to find time to respond to some of the posts but today I just wanted to get them  all posted and to ring in the new year by putting the new year's posts on this page and putting the 2004 posts on a separate page. -Rapina

date = 01/07/05
nickname = Elessar

comments = Awesome latest chapter. Keep up the great work as always!

date = 01/06/05
nickname = wendal

comments = the house of mirrrors

bellany/rapina may wish to have a heart to heart with Charles as to what his goals are and how he might wish to achieve them so she understands things before she gets to committed to a course of action and how far she should support him because she is starting to become more influential and she needs to asses whether or not she should attempt to bring him under her wing build political support independent of him, or there is the possibility of her needing to oppose him. Because she is a very intelligent and perceptive person, I find it hard to believe that she would not realize that the situation is even more complicated than the usual scheming done by nobles and that she needs to know which way to jump when things happen. Although most of her actions have been publicly blunt and she also may want to hide her velvet glove in a iron gauntlet which I see as harder than the inverse.

She is balancing many things.  Charles is a good ally but she realizes that it is quite likely that he could not handle the truth about her, so her relationship with him can only go so far at this time.

date = 02/11/05
nickname = Kagen

comments = Found a link to this story on Wednesday, devoured the 61 chapters in two days. Some of the best writing that I've had the pleasure of experiencing ever. Can't wait for the next chapter!

date = 02/20/05
nickname = G.R.D.

Until next time, with encouragements,

G.R.D.

date = 02/23/05
nickname = Tat

comments = Dear Rapina,

I hope that your writing is going well. Thank you for this wonderful story and your fantastic prose. I (a along with all of your other fans) am craving another chapter ) Do you think that you will be posting soon? I try to check periodically to see if there is a new chapter and the last one was a great holiday gift! I hope that Real Life is giving you time to write.

A devoted fan,

Tat

:)

date = 03/04/05
nickname = wendal

comments = hello are you there it has been a while and I'm worried about you. You have not even updated the forrum and it is worry'ing. I hope you are alright?

You are very perceptive.  I have been having a bad time with recycling colds at work.  Usually I get sick maybe once a winter, or maybe not, but this year I seem to have little resistance to a cold bug that keeps getting passed from person to person at work and then coming back to roost in my nose and throat.  Every time I get run down the cold stabs me in the back.  I do not write coherently if I am too sick/tired so I have been getting little done this month, unfortunately.  I am also as busy as ever but having no brain is a  pain.  I am looking forward to winter ending.

Today I took care of putting the accumulated forum posts up.  I still have corrected chapters to post since so many were kind enough to submit corrections.  I have to wrap the chapters for the text section,  and paste the new text into the web pages, however, and I do not think I will get to that today.  I must go back to bed.

-Rapina

date = 03/11/05

nickname = Al

comments = Glad to see you updating the forum. Like others, I check often for updates. This is an amazing saga and I hope you and the other Rapina are doing well. Recycling colds sounds like a real bummer. Don't let yourself get too worn down or you'll wind up like my daughter, recycling mono. Very bad!

I really enjoy the tuterge sessions that Rapina is getting in the crypt. It's marvelous; feeling welcome, nurtured, and encourage in a place of the dead. Necro has never really been my forte, but you've make it both accessible and acceptable. Quite an accomplishment. Add to her learning about normal magic also is frosting on the cake. Truly a gift and wonderful story! Thanks for sharing

I am very glad you enjoy the magic parts.  I enjoy magic and may go into too much detail about it but I'm trying to make her apprenticeship at least somewhat believable.

-Rapina

date = 03/13/05

nickname = Lharlequin

comments = Get well soon dear scribe

:)

date = 03/22/05

nickname = Civilmage

comments = I hope by now you're feeling better. The month of March seems to have been trying for many people. For Southern California it seems to be due to the weather. Perhaps the same for other areas. Normally I do not long for the warmer weather but I seem to be looking for that now simply to help dry things out.

I hope soon you'll be able to stand the watch and keep a sharp eye out so you'll be tellin' more a Rapina's tales of derring do. BTW check out www.squidi.net for a comic involving undead. You may find the humor worth a chuckle.

I am in the middle of a chapter that I realize has been very slow in coming.  Too many real life things to deal with :)

-Rapina

date = 03/22/05

nickname = J-Man5

comments = Hi Rapina! Hope your feeling better and over the sick you had. I am missing the continuing saga of the Chronicles of Rapina. If you would like to contact me my e-mail is <snip>

You came highly recommended by a friend of mine. Your story has sucked me right into this heroine of yours. I don't normally read stories with a female lead character since it's hard to relate to them. But Rapina is likable and easy to read. I am finishing my second time through with the posted chapters. Have you ever though of posting to other sites like www.ewp.org or storiesonline.net ?

Sincerely,

JMan5

I may post on other sites someday but would like to finish The Chronicles first (At least the equivalent of the first '"oook."

-Rapina

date = 24/03/2005

nickname = eduardo

comments = I've spent some time without coming to this page and it was very nice to find new chapters when I came back. Even better because your stile improved, you are describing less non essential stuff and are describing better the essential. The plot is more interesting also. Amid other things, we keep wondering how and where and how Rapina will get the energies that she needs and it is possible to see how much of a struggle it is for her to get it.

I hope that you "feed" us with more soon.

date = 03/27/04

nickname = EAW

comments = Rapina,

Just re-read all chapters with in the last couple weeks... So when is the next one coming out!! -) Eagerly awaiting it...

E.

date = 04/14/05

nickname = Sky

comments = I read all of the chapters in a few days and it's so sad that the story doesn't end!! Please post the next chapter soon! I'm dieing to know what happens next!

<3 Sky

date = 04/12/05

nickname = Civilmage

comments = I'm hoping you're feeling better. Spring weather often is harder on people because they don't dress either warm enough or too warm.

Spring is better and that nasty cold has finally gone away.  I've been busy but I have been adding bits and pieces to 62MistB file when I can.

-Rapina

date = 04/26/05

nickname = wendal

comments = earlier you said that feed back encouraged you, well I'm just writing to say that I am here, and I do enjoy your story so consider your self encouraged

Thanks :)

date = 27/04/05

nickname = Juliet

comments = Hey, Love the story. I was just wondering if you were alright? You've been inactive for so long and it'd be a shame to see such a great tale falter and end.

Jul

I'm still kicking :) I have to say though that it I'd have faded away were it not for all of you who write in.  *Hugs*

-Rapina

[ Starting at this point I took a long hiatus from maintaining the forum.  I did to some writing and even posted chapter 62 during this period but the forum languished.  Now here it is 7/11/5 and I have finally got around to posting all the posts on the page.  In some cases I have left things up in the air as far as answers due to wanting to get this done quickly so that I can go back to writing chapter 63]

comments = Rapina,

Are we anywhere near to seeing the next chapters? Looking forward to it with baited breath, all-a-quiver with exitement =P

E.

date = 05/01/05

nickname = Elessar

comments = Hi

It's been a while since your last post and I was getting worried. I just hope that everything is ok and the best of wishes for whatever might be troubling you.

date = 05/05/05

nickname = itypeslow

comments = I loved it. I just found it, and I red the hole thing twice. It could use a professional edit, but it is one of the best unpublished works I have ever red.

-Jim

[ Thank you Jim.]

date = 05/05/05

nickname = Civilmage@hotmail.com

comments = I haven't heard from you for a while. I hope you are feeling better and all is well. I'm interested in knowing what's happening with Bellany/Rapina

date = 05/09/05

nickname = Tat

comments = Dear Rapina,

I noticed that you haven't posted to the forum in 2 months. I sincerely hope that you kicked your illness and that Real Life is giving you time to write. Rapina is my favorite story and I am going into withdrawl..(Grin)... I hope that you find the time and inspiration to write another chapter soon.

Thank you for sharing your vision with us,

Your fan, Tat

[ Thank you TAt.  As you saw from chapter 62 I was writing but I was naughty and let the forum languish for no good reason.]

nickname = Lharlequin

comments = Are you okay? and is there anything I can do to help?

[I'm good but thank you for asking.  I'm working on chapter 63. ]

comments = I have just finished reading all of rapina. I think this is one of the best storys i have read on asstr. One of the few on asstr that has plot and sex well balanced.

Hope to see more soon!

*now a loyal fan*

yammo

[Glad you are enjoying the story, Yammo. ]

comments = Thanks for another nice chapter. When I opened the page and the scrollbar thingy just got smaller and smaller I was shocked, then I felt the grin on my face and knew I had to read it right away.

Oooh well mistakes, didn't check for them all to much this time. One I noticed was ""You are so considerate to keep me warm and wet, Mary," Bellany whispered as she nuzzled he roommate's earlobe.". he should probably be her.

You also posted the contents of the chapter twice over on the page, might be fixed when I post this, in that case I appologice. If it is a browser issue and works correctly for you I am using Mozilla Firefox v 1.0.3.

Thanks for giving me a nice time reading and I hope you enjoy writing these as much as I enjoy reading them. )

[I think I corrected all these errors .  Thank you for pointing them out. -Rap ]

comments = Rapina,

Another wonderful chapter! Looking forward to many more yet to come. I love this story and think you should give it a shot at getting published! As always an enjoyable read! Hope to see another chapter soon!

N.

[I am not sure I am publishable yet but I am enjoying the practice.  Thankfully there are a  lot of people pointing out errors now and that makes the chapters easier to read.]

comments = Woo hoo! I hope the appearance of chapter 62 means that you're feeling better. I'm certainly glad that Rapina is doing better. (If only she could seduce Trinadar...)

I realy should do a complete proofread, but one niggling thing I could point out the gestures to cast a spell are the SOMATIC components, not SEMANTIC.

SOMATIC Of or relating to the portion of the vertebrate nervous system that regulates voluntary movement.

SEMANTIC Of or relating to meaning, especially meaning in language.

The "semantic component" of a spell would be its meaning.

[ Doh, I should have seen the semantic-somatic thing but for some reason it just went right over my head.  Thank you for pointing it out.  At least in the new material it is fixed. ]

comments = How is it that two days go by before I found this chapter? Maybe it was camouflaged because I was looking for the chapter titled Mistress Bellany to be completed?

[Yes, sorry about that.  I was unable to fit the events that gave the chapter its title before it got too big so I had to shoehorn in a chapter before the one that will be entitled Mistress Bellany. ]

I just love more of Rapina's adventures. Her improvement in magic is impressive as well as her relationship with the ghosts. I liked how she slid out of Bristol's trap. I'm sorry that Daelrath is helping Bristol. It is also good to see that Bellany has the opportunity to get 'leave' from her prison. Brad's comment about wives being second best to Rapina may be a foretelling of the future unless of course Bellany is able to provide training and instruction to her friends. A man marries a woman not just for sex as Bellany has pointed out. A woman that has multiple means of pleasuring her husband probably has a much happier time in her marriage.

Surely Charles will get suspicious though if Bellany gets to go on the outings and he does not unless Jaimie has thought of that as well.

[Charles was not told that the horseback ride Bellany was on ever took place :)  ]

I am interested in Jaimie's planning though. He knows a lot about Bellany and is in a position to use and abuse her more than any other. He knows those that bed her become besotted with ultimate loyalty to her. 

[ He does know that those who bed her fail to loose interest in her but he does not really know that they become besotted with ultimate loyalty.  Actually unless she uses the mind-bending powers of her orgasms to instill loyalty she does not have this effect save sometimes when she pulls a whole lot of energy out of a man and that is more of an addiction to the extreme pleasure. (Usually she only does that to the rough ones in order to get the energy to heal hurts they have dealt her.) 

  Currently she has been working more on keeping the young emerald men from getting jealous of each other than she has on actual loyalty.   She has been using the concubine of Virtusar model to give the men a handle on how they should see her.  It is true that her lovers do tend to be somewhat blown away by how good she is in bed, partly because she really is good in bed due to lots of practice plus her powerful internal musculature and partly because she enhances their orgasms so she has a material advantage over other women and other means of bringing a man to climax.  This does tend to besot men, but the mechanism seems mostly natural.  Men like her because she is so fine in bed .]

He knows she can sense the lust of others. He knows that she can tell how aroused an observer is. Jaimie only sees Bellany as a tool. Not one necessarily to be trusted either. It is the reason he hasn't gone to bed with her. Bellany on the other hand may have her secrets but she is open about what someone can expect from her.

[You are quite right about Jamie being in a position to know more about her than many other people.  He does realize that men really think she is great in bed and fail to loose their interest after bedding her the first time.  He also does indeed use her as a tool and he definitely does not trust women because most of the single women he has dealt with are after his hand in marriage because he is to be an extremely wealthy lord.  Bellany realizes that most women are just trying to nab him and that he should have a healthy fear of them.  She is grateful for what he has been doing for her and is glad she has been able to enhance his social life.  Rapina's familiar sense of honor colors her dealings with Jamie and indeed she tries to be open with him about their dealings. She also has no wish to offend the Jordells since Red Jack essentially saved her life and provided her with some good training and a degree of safety within his pirate camp.]

I look forward to the next chapter. I hope that you are feeling better and enjoying the warmer weather.

[ Thanks, I'm busily working on it.  ]

comments = yeah,

thanks rapina for that dose, it really hint the spot. Please keep more comming.

thank you

:)  

comments = Happy to see that you're still around! Hopefully you'll get around to updating the forum soon.

Cheers and have a great summer!

[ Thanks, you too.  It's taken me a while but I am finally getting around to updating the forum. ]

date = 06/03/05

nickname = vrak

comments = Yay! A new chapter! Thank you!

date = 06/03/05

nickname = Graylore

comments = G’day! Rapina’s Back! Hallelujah!!! I hope you’ve fully recovered from your illness, and from any misguided section of the real world that might distract you from the important business of your literary legacy!

I’ve just reread all the Bellany chapters before treating myself with the new one, and may I compliment you in particular on your treatment of Rapina’s long and arduous recovery from death. Even in fantasy resurrection isn’t common, but where you do find it, it’s usually not much more than "The character died. The character was resurrected. There was much rejoicing." Rapina may have gained some insights from death, but even with Mortaebius’s help and her innate abilities to draw on other people’s life forces to aid her recovery it’s taken her a long time, considerable effort, and basically the forging of a whole new identity. You can also see that without her advantages or considerable magical help, someone resurrected would be years recovering, if they ever did. Even if you didn’t intend it that way, the Bellany section is an uncommonly thoughtful exploration of the subject of death and resurrection.

[ Thanks, I did not want it to seem too easy, especially since it was resurrection through the agency of necromancy which I think should be hard on a person even if they were only dead for a very short time. ]

Similarly I like the difficulty involved in learning magic in Rapina’s universe ­ the scarcity of Casters adds to their impact, and lends gravitas to aged mages like Thane who’ve spent a lifetime gathering their art. For all her advantages, even Rapina experiences difficulties learning magic, and overcoming them really adds to her character.

[I've seen too many stories where magic is way too easy and it makes you feel like anyone could just pick it up in few weeks and be as powerful as a god with just a wave of their hand.  I never really liked that take on magic. ]

Before I get to my other comments let me give you some corrections for Chapter 62

Friday October 25, 724

Friday October 22, 725

<The date given in the letter Rapina sent in Fallen Angel was Monday, October 11, 725. Presuming that they’re supposed to have been sent in the same month of the same year, the year should be 725, and the 25th, a fortnight after the 11th, should also be Monday, the day the letter is supposed to have arrived, in which case it should have been written on Friday the 22nd.>

++ various corrections that I think I applied to the draft (I hope)

[ Originally I was going to have the year be 725 but then decided it would make more sense to make it 724 and that way I could use the calendar from 2004 for 724 and the one for 2005 for 725 and so on.  If you see any 725's that I missed, please let me know.  I am pretty sure I did not mention any year designators in the story until after Rapina came to Vargrend's. ]

comments = your story's great, it really hooked me. can't wait till next chapter.

side note I find the new font of the table of contests is hard to read. perhaps a different, or larger font would be better.

[ Hmm, the odd thing is that I did not change the size of the font in the table of contents.  I changed the style sheet but that should affect all the chapters with the way it is set up now thanks to one of my more html knowledgeable readers.]

comments = G’day.

Don’t know if it’ll help, but I tried to post a version of chapter 62 (with the corrections listed in my last post and a couple more) at a gmail account... <snip>

[ I am sure it will help, although I will have to go through and look at everything which will probably take me a while.  Please leave it all posted where it is and I will hopefully start looking it over.  I briefly looked at the Penance corrections and they looked good but it is going to take me a while to work my way through them and then change things and repost them.  It had to have been a lot of work to go through them.  Thanks.]

date = 06/06/05

nickname = G.R.D.

comments = Hi there!

I came on this page about once every two weeks since the last chapter came out, and I must say, I'm totally delighted! It is such a long and interessant chapter, I'm happy to have waited so long!

But now is the "what's next?" question coming back up, and I'm still eagerly waiting for the next, as always...

With grateful encouragements, G.R.D.

:) 

date = 06/06/05

nickname = Ahz

comments = Thank you for Posting Chapter 62, I enjoyed the continuing story very much.

Couple notes, I usually download the ftp copy of the files so I can read them later at my leisure.

Some of your FTP files have multiple copies of the chapter posted to them.

10-17nbe (I think this one actually has 3 or 4 copies)

27-31tch

39-43sor

49-52lan

Keep up the good work Ahz

[ Thanks, I am not sure but I think I might have fixed this, or not.  I'll have to check it sometime.  If not it will get fixed when I implement Graylore's corrections.]

date = 06/12/05

nickname = Armaggedon Rex

comments = Once again I'm overwhelmed by the newest chapter. I despaired for a while, convinced you'd forgotten Rapina's loyal following. I'm eagerly awaiting Rapina's deeper entanglement in politics and the upcoming, more open war between Avengene and the Church of Mortabius. Meanwhile I'm fascinated by the seemingly inevitable approach of greater conflict between Rapina and her classmates. You've once again set yourself a daunting task of bring several interesting and complex sub plots together. A task worthy of any professional writer! Good luck and keep going as the spirit moves you. Please remember to keep your writing fun. If you're not being paid to do it, you should enjoy it!

Rex

[Thank you Rex :) ]

date = 06/15/05

nickname = Artemis

comments = That was an unexpected surprise, a new chapter just popped out of nowhere. I'm curious, were these events originally to be part of 'Mistress Bellany', and turned out to take up a whole chapter on their own, or did they occur to you new? Either way, a welcome surprise.

[ They were originally to be the first part of the Mistress Bellany chapter but they took up too much space and had to get their own chapter.]

Rapina, or Bellany I should say - it's odd, even at this point when she calls herself Bellany, I still think of her as Rapina constantly - is making great strides at improving her position in all sorts of ways. I wonder what she's got in mind as her eventual goal, though. Does she eventually mean to rejoin the Shroud, or has she not thought that far ahead? I suppose this will be answered in future chapters.

[ Indeed it will.  At first she was not sure who she was, but she figured it out for sure towards the beginning of school.  Now she cannot seem to pass up the opportunity of going to one of the best schools in the country while learning magic from Baladus.  She also cannot shake the idea that maybe there is a reason why Mortaebius put her into this situation.]

By the way, I finally finished that completed map I promised to do, with Red Jack's camps marked

http//<snip>rapinamap2.jpg

[ I saved a copy and will try to replace the old  cool map you made with it on the webpage sometime.  Thanks :)]

Hope you like it. Best wishes with the next chapter, the Chronicles are great fun to read, so I hope you're having just as much fun writing them.

[ I am and I am happy I have finally got off the dime as far as updating the forum :)]

date = 06/16/05

nickname = nightwolf

comments = I've read the entire series in three days. You can imagine how much I have enjoyed to take off so much time off my life to do nothing but read your story. It is wonderfully engaging and such a great story. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I can't wait to read more.

[ I am glad you liked it that much.  Thank you :)]

comments = Hi,

I just read the new chapter; it's very nice!

Thanks for writing Rapina.

Daniel

date = 06/24/05

nickname = gnipper

comments = Just finished the last chapter and I am enjoying the story. The details are fantastic. Read your last post and hope you are better. Looking forward to the continuing story.

[ Yes inded :)]

comments = I found this site about a week ago and I have been reading every day for hours...I finally finished it today and I'm looking forward to the next chapter (Ch.63). I was so disappointed when I clicked on it & found out it was being drafted! I'm completely addicted & this is by far one of the best chronicles I have read online in a long time.

Thank you so much for putting the effort & time into this. It is well appreciated by many loyal readers, such as myself.

Please continue on! I NEED to read the next chapter!

[ I have been working on it and will soon get to the sequence that gives the chapter its title.]

date = 06/29/05

nickname = zinnmeister

comments = I have thoroughly enjoyed the tale so far, or as Charles would say "that's a tail to be enjoyed" in trying to sail one over Rapina/Bellany's head.

:)

date = 06/29/05

nickname = Lharlequin

comments = I hope today finds you well

[ Yes I'm alive and have been working on chapter 63 :)  Since this is the last message in my mailbox I guess I can go back to working on the chapter.  My thanks to everyone who has written in.  Without you I would lack the motivation to continue.  Yet with you we have 62 chapters and more to come.  -Rapina]

comments = I have read the whole tale several times now (though the readings were several years apart), and can I congratulate you on writing one of the finest stories I have ever read on ASSTR - or in fiction in general for that matter! Some of the earlier chapters look like they have undergone some editing, or it may just be that I have forgotten how good they were to begin with.

Yes, I have done some editing and there are some readers also editing now and that really helps.  I have to post the edited chapters though.  I would really rather write than re-write, although that may change once the entire story is done.

I think one of the cleverest things you have pulled off with this story is, for me, how almost every natural skill or ability has the possibility to be turned into a vice should the proper control not be used. This is probably particularly true for Rapina (Bellany) who seems to have more natural tallent than most, and it is fascinating to see how you make her fight to retain control of some of her more errant tallents.

The development of magic is also handled in a very sensible fashion - none of this 'she woke up one morning and cast a spell to do x' - people who learn even the most basic magic have to study for years, and even then it appears there is no guarantee they will ever be capable of much more than a few basic charms or cantrips. I feel making the characters work for magical results really emphasizes just how special and difficult it really is.

Thanks, I'm trying not to pull the old wizard in a day routine.  It has been done far too often.

We saw Rapina have to go before the order of The Shroud... I wonder if she will be appearing before them again. Also, we do not seem to have heard from Guardian Thane for some time now.

Surely, her continuing use of magic at school and her frequent visits to the crypts will gain unwanted interest from either the headmaster or mistress. The fear spell she cast on Natalie Rose will also, no doubt, have some interesting consequences.

It did give her pause since it was more dangerous than she had intended.  She puts it to use again in the Mistress Bellany chapter but under different circumstances.  I am trying to keep the story primarily focused on Rapina, Thus we may have to wait to find out what Thane is up to.

I don't know if Bellany (Rapina) will have time to stay at school for much longer, but it would certainly be interesting to see how her role developed at school. I have the feeling if she could get the headmaster and mistress under her wily control she could start to have a lot more fun. I wonder if she has any tricks up her sleeve for the notorious Rvd Leland?

You have a bunch of good questions here.  As you have seen she has been trying first to develop a broad number of cantrips and then to perfect a number of essential spells.  She has to limit her exposure as to who knows about the real Rapina for fear that the wrong people will find out and her cover will be blown yet she does need a partner to practice her magic on.

All I can say is, I really hope you can find the time and inclination to keep writing the story as it really is brilliant.

I am glad you are enjoying the story.  Chapter 63, Mistress Bellany is about 2/3 of the way finished and I got through the part that gives the chapter its title so I am sure the title will stick this time :)

date = 08/12/2005

nickname = Civilmage

comments = I was wondering how progress is? I just posted a 16 chapter story on Fictionmania.com. It took me almost two years to write it and I had a clear begining and end point in mind. I know you do too but, it still takes time and we only have a few minutes to devote to our hobbies. I just wanted to encourage you in your efforts.

Thank you Civilmage.  I am ping-ponging between chapter 63 & 64.  63 is pretty much done except for things that keep having to be added to set up for 64.

date = 09/10/05

nickname = wendal

comments = I've been wait for the next installment and I'm wondering when that is going to happen, is a hint possible

Well definitely I will have chapters 63 & 64 for you by winter solstice/ Christmas/  Hanukkah etc.

date = (10/05/2005)

nickname = belphanior

comments = Hi!

I hope you're still alive and well (I wonder sometimes, when I see how long the forum has gone without updates...) -)

I just re-read the story and am eagerly awaiting the next chapter...

Sometimes I'm not very alive but as of 11/16/5 I decided I really should get all the accumulated forum posts pasted up.  I have also been working on chapters 63 & 64.

date = 10/06/05

nickname = redbarron77

comments = I have just stumbled across this story(recommended by an author at ewpub.org) and have fallen in love with it.

I really enjoy the character development, and the pacing of the story. Plenty of ebb and flow, with just the right combination of adventure/sex/magic.

Please keep up the good work!

Thanks :)

date = 10/24/05
nickname = Seldar

comments = Hi Rapina,

A week ago I ran into your story, and I have to admit, I didn't expect to much from it at first sight. Most of the 'multi-episode' stories have a lot of little problems.

This is not so with your story however, I was completely and utterly blown away by the quality and ingenuity of your wondrous tale. I read it through in two days, and was sorry I arrived at chapter number 62 as quickly as I did.

One of the more interesting things is the way you take your time to build the story and the characters involved. Which, quite frankly, is actually better then a lot of stories by commercial writers.

I sincerely hope you continue to tell us your tale,

Seldar

I am glad you are enjoying the tale.  Don't worry, I keep writing, and the fact that people write in does help me keep writing too, so I am glad you wrote in.

date = 11/1/05
nickname = Red

comments = I have just found your story (via a link from another web authors site i dont know if you want to or can post this site but here it is just in case http//sennadar.plebian.net/)

i must say that this story cought ahold of me and i absolutly love it. the fact that the main character in this story is a female and that she isnt some dumby lady who needs tuns of people to protect her is awsome.

not many authors in the sf/f have there main character as a women and it is truly a treat to find one.

i am waiting with baited breath for the next chapter and lookforward to the continuation of a great novel

date = 11/02/05
nickname = Nobody

comments = I don't have much to say, except that I've really enjoyed reading the Rapina series more than anything else I've seen in asstr .

I can't wait for the next chapter.

Keep up the good work!!

date = 11/05/05
nickname = G.R.D.

comments = Hello there!

Still looking around every two weeks or so, your readers are still waiting for the rest of your splendid story...

For X-Mas perhaps? ;)

G.R.D.

You got it.  I should have two chapters for you right around Christmas or even sooner but I'm thinking Christmas because I want to try to edit and get them edited better before sending them out, but even if they are not edited any better than usual they will be up for xmas.

date = 11/06/05
nickname = wendal

comments = Rapina how are you. I was expecting something from you by now whats happening.

I'm chugging along but I'm doing a lot of ping-pong between 63 and 64 so I dare not post 63 until 64 is done.

date = 11/16/05
nickname = Jummen

comments = I just love this story and I have more or less been holding my breath since last episode. Please finish chapter 63 soon. I don't think I can stand it much longer....

Sorry I have been so long.  I will be putting 63 & 64 up just before xmas if not a little sooner.

date = 11/17/2005
nickname = Tat

comments = Rapina,

It is good to "hear" from you via the forum. I was starting to get worried about you in RL. I am delighted to hear that you have been writing! Thank you for your efforts! I admit that I am chomping at the bit to read some new chapters... )

I hope that this holiday season finds you and yours happy and well! Thank you in advance for the gift of new adventures.

best wishes,

Tat

date = 12/11/05
nickname = G.R.D.

comments = Hello again!

Well if all the time we've been waiting is for a great double Christmas present, I think I'll accept any kind of editing...

The fact that you're jumping from one to the other means that the story is complicating, very interesting!

Take your time, we CAN wait until NewYear if you haven't finished by Christmas... ;)

"See" you soon,

G.R.D.

date = 13/12/2005
nickname = starcrossed

comments = I'm so excited at the thought of the next episode, roll on Christmas, it'll be such a great present...I'm all giddy now

P.S. Just in case you didn't realise this story is the best I've ever read )

date = 12/14/05
nickname = procrasti

comments = Ever the generous one, you'll surprise us again like last year with a new chapter! Except this year it's two new chapters! I am so glad I stumbled across this epic story late 2003. Question, is Bellany going to change back into Rapina? Not that I don't like the school and situations she's in, but it would be nice to see her back in the field with her Necromancy and rapier skills!

date = 12/24/05
nickname = Elessar

comments = Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Take all the time you need for the next chapters; us fans will still be waiting here for you.

 date = 12/24/05
nickname = Elessar

comments = Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Take all the time you need for the next chapters; us fans will still be waiting here for you.

date = 12/24/05

comments = Wishing Oh Wishing that Santa had delivered a few hours early<G>

Santa's on time but Rapina's a little late this year.  Chapter 63 Mistress Bellany was posted around 1PM on Christmas day.  Chapter 64 is still being edited.  Both chapters are long and I usually do a lousy job editing long chapters so there are probably plenty of errors.  I only put the .HTML version of  chapter 63 up.  If you need text just save the HTML page as text and open it in a text editor or use cut and paste.  As soon as error reporting people send errors in and we get the chapters edited better I will wrap the text and put up the text versions.  It will take me a few days to get chapter 64 up.  It is written but it is long and needs to at least be read through so that I can take out the most glaring errors.  Chances are there will still be plenty of errors to find for those wonderful nit pickers out there who help polish chapters once they hit the web.

Happy Holidays Everyone :)

-Rapina

date = 12/25/2005
nickname = RocsFlight
comments = Thank you for the christmas update.

date = 12/26/2005
nickname = Sosseres
comments = A wonderfull chapter.

Thank you for taking the time to write as well as you do and not rush things. The only downside I really saw to this chapter was that a few paragraphs that should have contained "" sections didn't. I think all those sections also contained parts that shouldn't be within "", so that might be a style you choose to use.

Well anyhow I guess her score will be a little over the top compared to what people around her thought they would be. :)

Thanks you for giving me something to do when I woke up in the middle of the night and found a new chapter to read.

Those missing quotes are almost never stylistic.  They are just bald-faced errors.  When I'm writing rapidly leaving one or even both quotation marks out happens every so often.  If what a person says is longer than a paragraph there will often be no end quote but will be a beginning quote on the next paragraph as the person continues to speak.  This is normal / correct though.  Most of the missing quotes are just goofs.  A have a few readers who send me a list of errors that they have seen while reading and then I go in and fix the things that they found.  I fix some of the errors on my final read-through but I always miss some things and it is much easier to find errors in things I did not write since I know what I meant to say ;)

date = 12/26/05
nickname = Atac
comments = The new font is nice...but difficult to read online. I find that I have to save the pages locally and read them in a standard font. Thankyou for the wonderful Xmas present (Mistress Bellany)

Yes, I figured some folks would have to do that who either did not have or could not read Montype Corsiva.  It is one of the easier to read script-like (it's not true script) fonts but not everyone can read it.  Save as text or cut and paste works well for those folks.  Once we get the lions share of the errors out of the chapter I will make a text version and stick it up but trying to edit two version is just more work than it is worth.

date = 12/30/2005
nickname = Daniel
comments = Hi!

Thanks for writing another great chapter!
I see you've marked 64 as "editing", does that mean you'll post that soon, too? I'm almost salivating for more! :D

Yes, chapter 64 is actually written, although I may add a scene or two.  

date = 12/30/05
nickname = Tat
comments = Hey Rapina!
Happy New Year! I just found that new chapter (63) that you posted and I greatly enjoyed your development of "Mistress Bellany". I particularly enjoyed the way that she is subverting the authority figures... (trying not to post a spoiler). I hope that editing goes well and quickly for ch64. Thank you for your vision and all of the effort it takes to put out this fantastic story.
-Tat

Good to hear from you Tat, glad you are enjoying the story.  

This ends the forum posts for the year 2005.  Goodbye 2005.  I will make a new page for the 2006 forum posts.  Happy Newyear, everyone!

-Rapina