This is the September 2016 Open Thread

[merlinscribe]

Greetings, and happy Labor Day to American readers.

There is as yet no news from Tor, so at this point we can be fairly certain that Book Two will not be coming out this year, since it takes several months for a book to work its way through the production process, and I have not yet been asked for revisions.

The only bright spot in all of this is that Book Three should follow fairly closely on its heels, since it is half written.

Sorry not to have better news.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

1. In the last open thread, you mentioned that Harrier is a descendant of Kellen. I'd like more of an idea (if you already have one) of when Kellen's progeny joined the Gillain family. (Is it possible, e.g., that Tavadon is Divigana Gillain's maiden name? I concluded from reading Unchained that that surname is not popularly associated with Kellen by that time.)
2. Speaking of Harrier's family, was his Uncle Alfrin a Wildmage and/or was he directly prompted by the Wild Magic to give his nephew that Compendium of Ancient Myth and Legend?
3. If Harrier is descended from Kellen, does that mean Tiercel and Cilarnen are related in some way? (I've long had my suspicions on this subject, mostly fueled by the pair of unicorn statues outside the Rolfort townhouse.)
4. Were Tiercel and Ciniran falling in love before she was killed?
5. Did you, at any point, consider making Saravasse the dragon with whom Harrier would have to Bond? (I noted, reading Unchained, that they both shared a thirst for travel, if nothing else.)
6. I noticed multiple references in Crown of Vengeance to Macenor Telchi's Sword-Giver and Lady of Battles. Does this mean that the Selken civilization was influenced to some degree by ancient Elven culture?
7. If Crown of Vengeance included any references to House Malkirinath, I must have missed them. Does Jermayan's House not exist yet, or will his ancestors play any role in the forthcoming 2 books?
(On a side-note, looking above, it seems you conflated the spelling of the Golden City's name with that of one of the ancient Elven Houses.)

[(Anonymous)]

To add on to 7. I got a reference that Jermayan is actually descended from Vielissar. Is this true? Is that part of the reason why Jermayan is considered wealthy among Elves?

I've also noticed other Elven house names referenced in the Obsidian Trilogy, like Cirandeiron. Nice to see that some names have survived the thousands of years of history between the 1st Endarkened War and the 2nd.

[(Anonymous)]

Hey,
This is the user who submitted the above list of questions. The spelling error I referred to the other day was actually in the previous open thread, where he referred to Armethalieh as "Aramenthalieh." Were you perhaps thinking of the Elven House Aramenthiali, Mr. Mallory? (Incidentally, if I may be permitted one more question, I'd be interested to know if there's any connection between the two names.)

[(Anonymous)]

What changes occurred to the Elven lifebond when they lost their greater magics? In Velissar's time, if one would die the other would be dead in under twenty-four hours. Yet when Jermayan was dying, it was said that Idalia had years of life left. Was the bond tied to the magic the Elves use to have?

Is Rune ever going to return?

Will Rune and Velissar ever get together?

[(Anonymous)]

My guess about Rune and Viel is that it is going to happen. Not in the least because the ruling house of the Elves in the present day is known as Caerthalien.

Book two

[(Anonymous)]

Who do i write to at Tor to get this book published?!?? I am DYING to know what happens to Rune once he leaves his army!

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you thank you thank you for this information

[merlinscribe]

You are quite welcome!

Re: Book two

[merlinscribe]

I think you'll be nearly as amazed by what happens as Rune himself is. And you'll be able to read about it next Fall.

Mail addressed to "Dragon Prophecy Editor" will reach the right person at Tor.

[merlinscribe]

That is highly perspicacious of you indeed!

[merlinscribe]

I suspect that it is due to Idalia's rather unique nature that she would survive Jermayan's death. I am assuming that we're talking about Jermayan's death in Tiercel and Harrier's time specifically, as I can't offhand remember a time in the Obsidian Books after Jermayan and Idalia had made the True Bond that Jermayan was in danger of dying.

As with everything else, the time one Bondmate survives the other can vary, though it's never very long: in the (cut) opening section of CROWN OF VENGEANCE, Nataranweiya survives Serenthon's death by several days, though she suffers debilitating effects.

Rune will certainly return.

Clearly, Rune and Vielle will have to reach some accommodation eventually, but in BLADE, the matter isn't going to arise...

[merlinscribe]

I was indeed conflating Armethalieh, the Mage City, with the Elven High House Aramenthiali--thank you for catching the error!

There certainly is a connection between the two names, relating to certain Elven cities to be built on the Western Shore some several thousand years after Vieliessar's reign.

[merlinscribe]

Jermayan is indeed descended from the noble house of the second High King (or Great Queen, depending on where in history you're viewing the situation from). I am not entirely certain whether his wealth is connected with his lineage in any direct fashion (Elves being what they are), but he certainly comes of an important and well-connected family.

When I started DRAGON PROPHECY, I had no idea how thoroughly Elven society was about to be upended. I'm pretty glad some of the House names survived, too.

[merlinscribe]

1. Kellen's family joined the Gillain family line centuries ago, and the Gillains are certainly not aware of any connection to "The Poor Orphan Boy" in their family tree.

2. Uncle Alfrin was not a Wildmage, though he may have encountered one. Certainly the Wild Magic was involved in his present of "The Compendium of Ancient Myth and Legend".

3. I don't know if Tiercel is related to Cilarnen, but it's quite possible.

4. It's possible, but I doubt it: Tiercel was very much involved with his curse/destiny as a High Mage, and was just a bit oblivious to other things.

5. I spent most of Book Three trying to figure out how to keep Saravasse alive; I wasn't even thinking about Bonding her to Harrier. (I *do*, in fact, have some ideas about who Saravasse's new Bondmate is to be, and there might be at least a novella in it...)

6. Every human civilization everywhere has been influenced by the Elves. You'll understand how and why at the end of Vieliessar's story.

7. House Malkirinath either does not yet exist, or so few of its members are present in DRAGON PROPHECY that their House name is not mentioned. But by definition, Jermayan's ancestors play a big part in the next two books, since they are the story of how Elvenkind manages to survive. (It's looking pretty bad for the Elves right now, but they *have* to survive....right?)