Remove ads

Ring-Maker [Worm/Lord of the Rings Alt-Power] [Complete]

Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
Reader mode
Welp...
On one hand, Heartbreaker is gonna get what's coming to him.
On the other, Sophia's leaving taught Taylor nothing.
 
I appreciate how this story is showing the more subtle and mystic power of the Rings and the Maiar, instead of more flashy powers.
 
I think it is quite telling that Dragon's personal weakness was affirmation of her goodness, that all her... detractors, whether they be her father(indirectly) or saint, or any others, are wrong. It highlights the burden she has labored under for most of her life
 
Timerider said:
Welp...
On one hand, Heartbreaker is gonna get what's coming to him.
On the other, Sophia's leaving taught Taylor nothing.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

I think it's safe to say that the ship hasn't sunk so much as dived straight into the Mariana Trench.

dhasenan said:
I appreciate how this story is showing the more subtle and mystic power of the Rings and the Maiar, instead of more flashy powers.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Of course! She's not some conjourer of cheap tricks.
 
Last edited:
JENTHULHU said:
I think it is quite telling that Dragon's personal weakness was affirmation of her goodness, that all her... detractors, whether they be her father(indirectly) or saint, or any others, are wrong. It highlights the burden she has labored under for most of her life
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Yes -- and it's yet one more instance of great characterization on the fic's part, in that it's straight from canon. Remember the Dragon/Defiant epilogue, in which she outright admits that the cincher of her falling in love with Colin was how he always trusted her judgment? Dragon has as many issues with being distrusted as Taylor does with lack of control or Colin with feeling helpless. She wants trust like a drowning man wants air.
 
Lithos Maitreya said:
There's a balancing act in this story. I'm Tolkienizing things as much as I think I can get away with, but—and this is important—no more than that. Ordinary people in Brockton Bay don't go giving people epithets, as a rule. It's simply not done. So that's not something that's easy to make happen. It'd be cool, but it might also break things.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

That doesn't mean that you can't find SOME sort of justifiable reasoning for it! Heck, maybe some here could provide suggestions(?).

Vani said:
I'd be all over fairytale-izing it, but aside from the fact that we're kind of lacking in three-beats so far, we just plain don't have enough of the plot yet. Fairytales lead to their conclusion about as heavily as parables, and you can't very well write one (or only a very incomplete one) without knowing whether the conclusion of Mairon's arc will be remaining fallen, redeeming himself through death, redeeming himself period, returning to Ilùvatar, or pulling an Arwen and choosing to live and die as Taylor.

(Or, for that matter, without knowing whether we're setting up Ungoliant 2: Worm Harder, or Dagor Dagorath complete with Melkor waiting at the end.)
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

I was sorta meaning AFTER we've seen the story through.
 
Lithos Maitreya said:
"I think Sophia was mastered," I lied.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
This line felt like a punch in the gut.

I have to admit, I'm seriously considering whether I can keep reading this. I've read villain-protagonist stories before, and enjoyed them, but this is different. Every victory, every success for this new Taylor feels like a defeat, because it is a defeat for the characters and values the entire story up to this point has encouraged me to feel sympathy for. It would have been so much easier to take if the story had switched to follow Sophia, who alone is still on the side you got us all rooting for - even if she's failing, if she has no hope and no chance, it would be more palatable to watch her lose than to watch this Taylor win.

But LithosMaitreya? Don't you dare change a thing. Nothing I said above is a flaw in this work. It may be that the story you are telling isn't one I can enjoy reading, but that doesn't mean I can't recognize a work of art when I see one.
 
I'm loving this story, but the last few chapters have felt a bit odd. I can't help but think that Taylor is falling down the slippery slope too quickly. It feels like her personality has changed completely since her 'second trigger', and it doesn't really feel natural to me.
 
JackTheBaxter said:
I'm loving this story, but the last few chapters have felt a bit odd. I can't help but think that Taylor is falling down the slippery slope too quickly. It feels like her personality has changed completely since her 'second trigger', and it doesn't really feel natural to me.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Keep in mind that her second trigger resulted in her basically casting off her humanity and going full on Maia. Her shift is pretty understandable. Almost to be expected.
 
Timerider said:
Keep in mind that her second trigger resulted in her basically casting off her humanity and going full on Maia. Her shift is pretty understandable. Almost to be expected.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
I know, it's just pretty jarring to read. It's no longer the same character we've been invested in since the beginning of the story. Instead, she's been replaced by someone completely different that just happens to look the same (when she can be bothered looking the same, that is).
 
Lithos Maitreya said:
"I think Sophia was mastered," I lied.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Straight up lying to the Protectorate is a big deal, and makes me doubt that she's going to be part of the organization for all that much longer if/when they find out. We're into "fuck the long term consequences, I have an immediate goal I need to fulfill" territory.

Lithos Maitreya said:
My smile widened. I win. "Then let's get moving. I'll get the Wards. Dragon, you get Armsmaster. Alexandria, you find Assault, and Director, if you could set up transportation through the PRT?"
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
So, uh... here we have Director Piggot, Dragon, and Alexandria all taking orders from a Ward. When they realize this they'll probably end up reviewing her Master rating.

Lithos Maitreya said:
"Master him. Don't kill him if you can avoid it."

I smiled. "Of course. The punishment should suit the crime."
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Internally, she is cuddling her mace and pouting.
 
Annatar: "And know I'm going to break the legs of the rapist Heartbreaker, before I master him into being my slave!"
*Sophia starts getting excited*
Sophia: "...you know, maybe I was a little hasty in leaving."
 
A couple days ago, on SpaceBattles, I said things started turning around again after this arc. That's... changed to an extent.

@BeaconHill and I have been talking a lot, anf she pointed out quite a few things that need to happen which I hadn't allotted time for. As such, Arc 9 is being stretched into Arcs 9 and 10.

...BUT. Rejoice! For Arc 10 isn't going to be an ongoing wade through Annata's twisted headapace. Instead, Arc 10 will have only four Annatar chapters, and FIVE interludes. And these interludes will, I think, make Arc 10 much... if not lighter, then at least less painful.

These plans are, of course, still subject to change. I just wanted to keep y'all posted.
 
Lithos Maitreya said:
A couple days ago, on SpaceBattles, I said things started turning around again after this arc. That's... changed to an extent.

@BeaconHill and I have been talking a lot, anf she pointed out quite a few things that need to happen which I hadn't allotted time for. As such, Arc 9 is being stretched into Arcs 9 and 10.

...BUT. Rejoice! For Arc 10 isn't going to be an ongoing wade through Annata's twisted headapace. Instead, Arc 10 will have only four Annatar chapters, and FIVE interludes. And these interludes will, I think, make Arc 10 much... if not lighter, then at least less painful.

These plans are, of course, still subject to change. I just wanted to keep y'all posted.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Oh well the implications of that are just terrifying :V
 
I love 9.3. Taylor is finally beginning to make the necessary moves to restore peace and stability to Earth Bet. Taylor may not be the overlord Earth Bet wants, but she is the one it needs. All that is missing now is applause as liberty dies.
 
zup said:
I love 9.3. Taylor is finally beginning to make the necessary moves to restore peace and stability to Earth Bet. Taylor may not be the overlord Earth Bet wants, but she is the one it needs. All that is missing now is applause as liberty dies.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
It's a good point, could Taylor taking over possibly make things worse?
 
Reader mode
You must login or register to reply here.
Remove ads
Back
Top