#raistlin being a good brother for once

[skull-bearer]

Chapters: 3/? Fandom: Dragonlance - Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Dalamar the Dark/Raistlin Majere, Caramon Majere/Tika Waylan Majere, Lemuel/Raistlin Majere, (past), Nuitari/Dalamar, Nuitari/Lunitari/Solinari, Dalamar the Dark/Raistlin Majere/Nuitari, The Gods of Magic are sluts Characters: Raistlin Majere, Dalamar the Dark, Caramon Majere, Tika Waylan Majere, Tasslehoff Burrfoot, Nuitari (Dragonlance), Lunitari (Dragonlance), Solinari (Dragonlance), Ladonna (Dragonlance), Iolanthe (Dragonlance), Par-Salian (Dragonlance), Justarius (Dragonlance), Kitiara uth Matar, Takhisis (Dragonlance), Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s), Original Dragon Character(s), Lemuel (Dragonlance) Additional Tags: Misunderstandings, Kidnapping, Accidental kidnapping, First Meetings, Plot, Very unwelcome plot, Fuck Takhisis, Raistlin can't escape the plot of Legends, Killing Gods for Fun and Profit, Raistlin and Caramon being best bros, Tika isn't happy at being roped in, Tas is just happy to be along for the ride, Conclave being bastards, Somewhat less sex than the previous installment, because plot getting in the way, Dalamar is a very sweet idiot Series: Part 2 of Sexcapades Summary:

Raistlin takes the Tower of Palanthas, and is ready to settle in and enjoy a good life and perhaps find a little romance.

He should have known it could never be so easy.

Chapter 3: Dreaming

Dalamar dreams of things that might have been.

Raistlin dreams of things that never will be again.

Caramon is just glad to have his brother back.

[deaddoveadventures]

@lcftyambiticns

When the first letter had failed to evoke a reply from the infamous wizard of Ramazith’s Tower, Raistlin had merely been peeved. However, when his second letter remained unanswered as well, the young mage’s annoyance quickly turned into seething frustration with the other’s apparent incompetency. His third—and final—letter had therefore borne the marks of a concise but biting writing style that echoed the author's caustic, yet cunning nature. At last, this seemed to have done the trick, as Raistlin found himself overcome with feverish excitement when he finally held the invitation to the wizard’s tower in his weak and shaky hands. Receiving an answer, however, proved to be only one of a multitude of challenges that opened up to him when he read the other’s brusque response.

The first one presented itself in the time limit that Lorroakan had set for him. Making it from Waterdeep to Baldur’s Gate in a tenday was nigh to impossible for a healthy and experienced adventurer on horseback. For a sickly, chronically ill, and inexperienced mage, this equaled a criterion of exclusion. Once again, Raistlin cursed the gods, then the wizard, for the cruel joke they had made out of him. But he’d show them, Lorroakan and, should this endeavor prove fruitful, the gods alike. One day, they would follow the limitations he set for them, instead.

Then, there was the second challenge the young wizard was faced with: his brother, Caramon. Unhealthily attached to his twin, the bigger and stronger fighter never left his sibling’s side for long, let alone long enough for Raistlin to travel such a far distance on his own. Setting his pride aside, Raistlin knew he had to be clever about this one. As much as he hated to admit it, Caramon’s strength and good health were the only cards played in his favor here, and the young mage couldn’t afford to miss out on this opportunity. In the end, it had taken very little persuasion from the wizard to convince his twin to accompany him to Baldur’s Gate, the temptations that such a big and busy city offered being too strong for an adventurous and naive soul such as Caramon’s to ignore. Taking only the bare minimum with them to avoid unnecessary ballast, they had left early on the very next day.

During their trip, many times Raistlin thought he was going to die if not by exhaustion, then by the trail of unlucky events that seemed to follow them, wherever they went; one of them involving a galley they had booked to hasten their journey. Yet by sheer force of will, and, as Raistlin was reluctant to acknowledge, the loving care of his brother Caramon, the pair had finally made it to their destination; on time and in one piece.

Now, standing in front of Sorcerous Sundries, however, with the impressive Tower of Ramazith only one portal away, the fighter had outstayed his welcome. No plea, no words of concern or love that the other offered could have gotten through to the haggard wizard, whose golden hourglass eyes were fixed on his destination ahead, an uncanny fire burning within them. “Begone!” he hissed as he raised his staff in a defensive manner. “I will be fine. And so will you if you use whatever brain there’s left inside that thick skull of yours to concern yourself with the many opportunities given to your lot by this city.” Leaning heavily on his staff, he began walking towards the magical marketplace’s entrance. “I, for one, will concern myself with mine.” Emphasizing the last word of his sentence, he left his twin behind and never cared to look back. Upon stepping through the gate and inside the hallway, Raistlin was overcome with the sheer presence of the magic that surrounded him. Knowing all those scrolls, books, magical artifacts, all of this power could be at his fingertips made his body quiver, sending him first into a feverish haze and then a violent cough that shook him to the very core. People were staring, but the wizard, being used to scorn and rejection, paid them no heed. His attention was reserved for the receptionist, a Tiefling, who sat uncomfortably on the other side of the desk the sickly mage approached. “I demand to speak with Master Lorroakan.” His voice was hoarse and weak, ravaged by his earlier coughing fit, but the determination that coated his words left for little rebuttal. “You will find my name noted down, certainly. It is Raistlin Majere.” With satisfaction, the wizard watched as the Tiefling’s expression went from defensive to apologetic. “Of course,” the Tiefling answered, slightly nervous, “Head upstairs. You can find the way into Master Lorroakan’s tower up there.” Raistlin turned away without a word of thanks, however, the bruises on the receptionist’s face hadn’t gone unnoticed by his cunning gaze. So that was the kind of wizard he was making dealings with. It matters not, the young mage thought, as he stood in front of the portal. If I succeed, he will be the one trembling before me.

Golden was the sunlight that shone through the tall windows of Ramazith’s tower; as golden as the hourglass eyes that pierced the red-haired mage, who sat in his chair at the other end of the hallway. They couldn’t be more different, one man healthy and considered good-looking by some, the other sickly, and marred by horrors one dared not imagine. And yet, their ambition and lust for power unified them, tied them to a shared fate inside the walls of this very tower. “I will not concern you with useless banter.” Raistlin’s hissing voice echoed through the silence like chalk being scratched across a bone-dry blackboard. “As I told you in my letter six tendays ago,” he paused, allowing for the remainder of Lorroakan’s shortcomings to linger between them before he continued: “I have good reason to believe that you are in possession of The Veil of Shadow's Refuge. A cloak that will indeed hide you from Shar’s very gaze.” Raistlin wheezed, clinging to his staff for support, as he suppressed the urge to break into another humiliating cough. “Even when harnessing the powers of the Shadow Weave.” His gaze cloudy from the fit of weakness, the glint that flared up within his eyes for a moment stuck out like a sore thumb. Eerie, uncanny. “I trust you have done preparations and looked through your inventory in advance. As it stands, you’ll probably have failed to find it.” A mockery of a smile crossed his thin, cracked lips. “That’s because it isn’t here. Not in the traditional sense. It’s—” Failing to hold it in any longer, Raistlin’s body shook violently as it was wrecked by the unhealthy-sounding cough he had tried to stifle earlier. Blood stained his lips when he was finally done. „—in its own demiplain.“ Producing a piece of cloth from his wizard robes he wiped away the crimson spots on his face, unfazed.

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑: @deaddoveadventures

⸻ ℒorroakan had deliberately ignored Raistlin's first two letters. If he were to respond to every request from mages seeking guidance or access to his artifacts, he'd be occupied all day. Thus, he had Miklaur dispose of most of them without giving them a second thought ; he didn't consider them worth his time.

However, Raistlin was persistent, so at last, he bothered to open his third letter. In it, Raistlin described — as vaguely as possible — his research into an artifact that could facilitate delving into the Shadow Weave without the associated risks. That indeed caught Lorroakan's attention and even warranted a response:

✑ » 𝓓ear Raistlin,

While your research has certainly captured my interest, I must caution against discussing it further through written correspondence. Given the delicate nature of the subject, it is best to exercise caution.

Therefore, I extend to you the privilege of visiting my tower in person where we can discuss your findings in more detail. If what you claim about this artifact is true, and it indeed resides within my tower, I may consider allowing you to assist me in its retrieval.

Be warned, however, that a collaboration with me comes with strict conditions. Should you fail to meet my expectations or prove to be a hindrance in any way, our arrangement will be terminated without hesitation.

I trust you can make it to Baldur's Gate in a Tenday.

Regards, Lorroakan «

[meldelen]

The Raistlin Chronicles - A (kinda) brief review

"El joven mago hizo su ronda, administrando jarabe de adormideras a aquellos que tenían dolores, humedeciendo las frentes de los que tenían fiebre, poniendo más mantas a los que tiritaban. Su tacto era delicado y su voz tenía un timbre compasivo que llegaba a los enfermos, que les resultaba creíble. No como la voz de las personas sanas, las robustas, por muy buena intención que tuviesen. "Sé lo que es sufrir - parecía decir Raistlin -. Sé lo que es sentir dolor."

Hard to believe this character will become a heartless arcane monster willing to crush everything and everyone to become a god, but that’s how it went.

After finishing The Raistlin Chronicles, a full volume which actually includes two books (The Soulforge and Brothers In Arms), I would read, without exaggeration, two, three, ten, twenty more volumes about the Majere brothers, and when I’d be finished I’d get down on my knees and say thank you (and then ask for more). I had hardly any memories of this story and I enjoyed it like it was the first time.

The Raistlin Chronicles is the prequel that Margaret Weis - with the collaboration of her husband, Don Perrin - has dedicated to who is her best character in the Dragonlance universe, the mage Raistlin Majere, going back to the origins of his life and the main events of his childhood and youth, which until now had been merely hinted in both the Chronicles and the Legends. Although, as I said, it is a prequel and could be read as a standalone book, it really works best if you have read the end - or near end - of the character’s arc first, i.e. the Chronicles and Legends, at least (and yes I'm talking about six books). It’s much more enjoyable once you know what the character will become, going back to the origins of evil, to invite you to reflect on how someone with so many gifts could be lost in such a way, and what caused it.

You might also think that if you don't like Raistlin - clearly I don't include myself there - then this book is of no interest to you. But the wonderful thing is that even so we are facing a fascinating, moving and engaging story despite everything. There comes a time, sooner or later, when you forget that you are in a world like Dungeons & Dragons reconstructing the story of a mage and his warrior brother and it could really be the story of any orphan, rejected by society, who among poverty and loneliness tries to make his way to survive. Very daily topics are treated with the utmost love and respect, where the quality of the author is seen. Poverty, loneliness, disease, love, jealousy, hate, are elaborated in a way that would serve us for any other scenario in real life.

The Soulforge - cover art by Larry Elmore.

The first part (The Soulforge) tells us about Raistlin's life from the age of six until the moment he passed the Test of the mages in the Tower of Wayreth, when he was practically left ill and disabled for life. The author is careful to remind us that the main character has been tormented - and will always be tormented - by three inner demons: pride, jealousy, ambition; each one worse than the previous and that will be the key to his personal ruin. Therefore, far from justifying him and revealing that darkness and evil were unleashed when he nearly lost his life in the Test, Weis reminds us that the darkness was always there, and that it was fueled by a series of personal misfortunes - Test included - of which many can be blamed, but also himself. And so where darkness is there’s also light: we are reminded that he also has inner virtues; intelligence, courage, perseverance, compassion. Little lights that will play a relevant role in his final redemption.

The second part (Brothers In Arms) that she wrote together with Don Perrin is focused on the first moments of the Majere twins as mercenaries; Raistlin as a battle mage and Caramon as a soldier; after the fateful Test which was an inflection in the history of the two brothers. I have heard many readers complain: this second part is boring, why is there so much military tactics, why are they now also telling us about Kitiara and her personal military career; and finally, why so many secondary characters not fully developed. Well, because it is necessary to give consistency to the story!

Raistlin and magic, cover art by Larry Elmore

It is appreciated that as we watch the brothers enlist as mercenaries in Baron Ivor’s army, we also follow their stepsister, Kitiara, on her ascent to dragon highlord. The second part is not boring for a moment and gives us interesting perspectives on military life and war that, again, would be worth for any other story, real or imagined. Although clearly inferior compared with the first part, this second I also enjoyed.

Flaws? Well, like everything good, it ends - and a little prematurely, since I’d have liked to continue to the starting point of the Chronicles, which would follow it chronologically. Second, that being a prequel, the author cannot escape the temptation to anticipate traits or leave hints of what will end up happening to her character, following her mantra of "the darkness was always there", only, in reality, it wasn't that much. Third, there’s also the temptation to make each event have a transcendental relevance in what will happen next, something that really rarely happens in a credible story. And fourth, there are recurring cliches, such as the need to create a character that works as a substitute for Tasslehoff (the half-kender Scrounger) in the second part, because such a character seems desperately needed to contrast with the bitter mage and his witless brother. Not that it bothers me. I've learned to appreciate this kind of characters, when I hated them before. Perhaps because I’ve not been able to write them well, even if I tried.

Brothers In Arms - cover art by Daniel R. Horne

Anyway, a wonderful, rich, moving book, much better written than - surprise! - the Chronicles and sometimes the Legends, Weis's personal touch is noticeable here, more powerful than when she writes together with Hickman. After all, Raistlin has always been her creature. No one knows him like her.

Highly recommended for Dragonlance fans and especially for Raistlin fans; but also for all those who can identify with the socially marginalized, abandoned of the world, who fought to make their way and, in the fight, progressively lost their humanity.

[primeacumen]

* A fandom Doppleganger is a character whose fairly similar in nature to my OC. In this case, I draw inspiration from Raistlin’s backstory and some of the events in his life, as well as morality, for how I write Viv. He was my favorite character from middle school onward when I first read the Dragonlance Chronicles. As such, the sarcastic mage holds a place in my heart and probably why I insist on writing Viv everywhere.

Doppleganger: Raistlin Majere (Dragonlance)

[ link ] - a full biography for those curious.

Raistlin Majere was the younger and weaker twin and left to die when he was born. It was only due to his older sister doing her best that he actuallly survived. Needless to say, the man had a chip on his shoulder from a young age, and a rough relationship with his twin brother who ended up being the stronger and more charismatic of the two. Raistlin ends up a mage and eventually becomes the most powerful mortal in the world. His arrogance and ambition ultimately lead to him challenging the Queen of Darkness and fighting her in an attempt to become a god. He would have succeeded, had his brother not been tossed into the future where Raistlin would ultimately devour the other gods and wipe all life from the planet due to being a god of destruction. Not wanting that future to unfold, Raistlin gave his life to keep the Queen of Darkness from entering the mortal realm.

                                   S I M I L A R I T I E S

+ Vivian almost always has a sibling whom she has this sort of relationship with.  They’re smarter, more charismatic, and stronger. She, like Raistlin, is the black sheep and deeply resents this. + Is deeply self interested and ambitious. + Usually a magic user in magical verses with some exceptions. (E.g. Dragon age, where she originally comes from Tevinter where magic is the norm and generally powerful.) + Ultimately an anti-hero character who ends up begrudgingly doing the right thing. Always pays her debts and keeps her promises. Unless the goal is to get what she wants. + Soft towards those less fortunate than herself and genunely kind. (e.g. androids, elves, etc depending on the verse.) + Very much a neutral evil character but is often guided towards being a halfway decent person because it’s expected of her by the people she cares about.

                                         Q U O T E S

"Yes I am smarter than you - all of you. And Someday I will prove it! Someday you - with all your strength and charm and good looks - you - all of you, will call me master!" - Raistlin, DoAT

"Weep Palin," Raistlin said softly. "Weep as I wept once, long, long ago. Then you will realize, as I did, that it does no good. No one hears you, sobbing in the night alone." - Raistlin, Legends 

Gently he stroked the gully dwarf's rough hair. "No, Raistlin would never laugh at you, little one. He knew, he remembered. There were too many who had laughed at him."  - DoAT

[drink-n-watch]

Genre: Romance, adventure, supernatural

Length: Short (2 – 10 hours)

Developer: Date Nighto

  Maybe Raistlin will know what I’m talking about, but when I was a kid, I read a book in which a character said: 

“I’m small because I was meant to do small things. If you look at all the big things in the world closely, you’ll see that they’re really made up of small things all joined together.’ That big dragon down there comes to nothing but tiny drops of blood, maybe. It’s the small things that make the difference.”

I’m quite little myself so I’ve held that quote close to my heart, like a motto and a shield. The little things do matter, they make all the difference in the world. Hustle Cat is a game that gets all the little things right! 

it’s the quiet moments you end up rememering

I bought Hustle Cat almost as soon as it came out 2 years ago. I had been following Date Nighto’s crowdfunding efforts and was delighted when the project was finally completed.

The premise is fairly simple. You play as Avery Grey, a recent graduate trying to figure out how to get this life thingie started. To that end, you decided to go crash at your aunt’s house in the big city while she’s out of town and even manage to get yourself off the sofa long enough to look for a job. Go You! You are getting things Done! Well kinda. You pretty much gave up when you stumbled across a seriously adorable cat café that happens to be hiring! 

yup – me…

  Ok so it’s minimum wage and the owner is a little odd, but he’s really nice and you get to spend the day surrounded by cute cats and even cuter coworkers. What more could you want? If the answer is mystery, magic and adventure – you’re in luck!

As far as dating sims go, this is a fine little outline. Nothing that out of the ordinary but sweet enough. It’s recognizable to us otome fans and blends eastern and western sensibilities quite well. But the big picture isn’t where it’s at. The real magic of Hustle Cat is in the details.

for the longest time I thought those were huge earrings

First off, let’s talk main character. Avery is fantastic. A supremely relatable character, a little lazy, a little scattered, with a good heart, and, very rare for an otome, a great head. You will relate to Avery, I’m sure of it but you will also be proud to be Avery. Not once in the whole game was I screaming at the screen or wondering why Avery was acting that way. Not once was I faced with choice options that forced me to pick the lesser bad. Avery is a good person who I would honestly like as a friend. Simple taking the time to develop a bit the MC and make the act rational, was brilliant and heighten the play experience considerably. It may not seem that important…

I managed to write an entire paragraph on Avery without giving too much away but let’s delve a bit deeper. You actually get the chance to personalize a bit Avery’s appearance. This is still very rare in Visual Novels so the feature is a huge plus already, but the personalization is done in the smartest possible way. Although the cosmetic choices you have are very limited they cover all your bases. Essentially you can choose short cropped hair or a longer shaggier do, and you have the option between 3 skin tones. That’s it. However, limited those options may seem they actually allow for more diversity and representation than I have ever seen in such a game. What’s more, your chosen appearance is carried over to every single CG. Such a simple touch was incremental in allowing me to form a strong bond with Avery as associate with them on a deeper level. CGs didn’t take me out of the fiction since they were all in line with the world I had created in my mind. 

I love that t-shirt

And representation was also included in the narrative. You cannot change Avery’s name and personally I’m just fine with that. Not only am I horrible at naming things, I really love the name Avery Grey. You can however choose your preferred pronouns, as in: He/Him; She/Her and They/Them. As such, your chosen gender is reflected in all the dialogue and narrative. It really doesn’t limit your romance options or affect the routes in any substantial way but this small detail made Avery feel like a true representation of me. A little sloppy, a little confused but trying their best.

What I just spent way too many words trying to say is that Hustle Cat has a great MC. An MC I was proud and just happy to embody. But what’s a dating sim without some juicy dating options? Boy does Hustle Cat have you covered.

Once again, You get a pretty diverse range to choose from in both appearance and personality. They ae in fact all great characters. I’ll give you a taste but a summary doesn’t do them justice, just like your profile doesn’t do you justice I’m sure!

I want to make fun of your outfit…but I can’t!

Graves Serling

The mysterious and slightly chuuni owner of the Cat’s Paw. He seems a bit loopy but is very kind. His somewhat dorky affectations have the very pleasant side effect of making him very old school gentlemanly and polite with everyone. He remains fairly absent and mysterious in most routes, leaving you aching to know more.

people that can draw are seriously cool

Reese

He comes off as overconfident and slightly arrogant but soon reveals himself to be friendly and surprisingly dependable. Quick with a snarky retort and adorable when at a loss for words he somehow manages to be the most responsible and most immature character at the same time.

always best girl

Mason

Let’s face it, I can’t give you an objective idea of Mason because I think Mason is just ridicahawt. One of my all time favorite otome waifus. She’s the strong silent archetype. Rarely have I ever been so moved by seeing an imaginary character let down her guard. There might have been some tears…Some might have been mine…

wish I was there

Hayes

Shy, quiet, timid little cutey pie. Hayes is the little birdie you coax out of his shell. You know those birds with shells… Possibly the most divisive character, he seems to be meant as the cute one, but everyone’s pretty cute, so it’s hard to tell. If you have no patience for shy, scaredy cat (ha!), characters, he may be a bit difficult to take but I found him precious.

fantastic fashion sense

  Finley

Aww, my bestie Finley. Finley is the tongue in cheek, reference dropping, hashtag spouting, popular girl. She’s also hardworking and patient. In all honesty, if I met someone exactly like Finely in real life, I would immediately want to be their friend. I love it when the story actually makes me understand why a character is popular rather than just telling me they are. Her route was also absolutely ridiculous, making me laugh out loud regularly.

he cleans up decently

Landry

I guess you could say Landry is the most generic of the bunch (unless you do his route). The nice big brother type, always ready with a smile and a diplomatic solution. He’s the first person you meet and a bit of a mentor character. His route revealed a much more balanced and complex person, with a satisfying conflict to resolve.

The game is careful to be gentle with the characterizations. Even supremely eccentric Graves gets a fairly rational treatment. No big overblown personalities here that turn people into caricatures. Everyone is very real feeling. They have concerns and problems which may be mundane compared to the usual otome fair but are recognizable and real. They have strengths, not super powers. Flaws that are manageable but can add up. They are made up of dozens of little quirks, foibles, idiosyncrasies and characteristics that add up to actual fully formed personalities. It may not be extravagant but it’s certainly gratifying.

This said, as much as I appreciate all the characters, and there are some equally well-developed side characters and antagonists, what I was the most impressed by is the impressive balance in the routes.

oh it’s gonna scratch up my face isn’t it

No matter who you chose to pursue, you will end up with a relationship built on mutual respect and understanding. You are there to help each other not save or be saved. Every single one of these guys are better than you at something and worse at other things. There isn’t a hint of abuse or non-consent to be seen and the obvious age gap in the Graves route is addressed seriously and with careful consideration, rather than brushed under the rug.

I don’t want to go too much into the story as there are a few surprises and twists which are fun to discover for yourself. Suffice it to say the narrative is light and peppered with humor. As a fairly short Visual Novel (VNDB says 2 to 10 hours but I really don’t see how you can finish this in 2 – I think 5-15 is much more reasonable even if you’re skipping over most of it) you can easily complete all routes without feeling like you’ve been rereading the same thing for weeks on end.

every morning they have breakfas together – office goals!

One quick note, the universe here isn’t expansive. You are essentially confined to your aunt’s small apartment, a few alleyways and the Cat’s Paw café. You live in a small bubble with most of your traveling being done virtually through the internet (like most of us). However, the actual design of the Cat’s Paw is fantastic! If ever the graphic artists at Date Nighto get tired of their gig, they should go into interior design. Along with the breathtaking Time of Eve, this is one of my favorite virtual coffee shops ever!

  Hustle Cat isn’t grand. It’s a small adventure full of people just like you and me. It doesn’t take itself too seriously but it’s earnest and well-intentioned. It’s gentle and careful and pays attention to the little things. Because the little things matter.

If you’ve played it, let me know what you think. If you haven’t you can get it on Steam. I’m not getting paid for these guys, I just really liked it and I want these guys to make another game.

Hustle Cat – It’s the Little Things Genre: Romance, adventure, supernatural Length: Short (2 - 10 hours) Developer: Date Nighto Maybe Raistlin will know what I’m talking about, but when I was a kid, I read a book in which a character said: 

[therealkrynnsub]

The Last Trial Retrospective

Song: Lullaby

#1 The repetition of "quickly/скоро" was a recurring detail we made sure to keep. A fleeting childhood happiness ... What does it mean when is gone? Is it lost? Should it be grieved? Scorned? Cherished?

In "Wizard's Dream," which patterns its beginning after "Lullaby," Raistlin's mother says:

"Тебе не забыть так скоро

Сиянье поры чудесной."

(Raw translation):

"You will not forget so swiftly

The glow of that wonderful time."

In "Lullaby," Caramon sings:

"Все это минуло так скоро…/

Так скоро, и безвозвратно."

(Raw translation):

"It all went by so quickly…/

So quickly, with no turning back."

And "скоро" pops up again as Caramon fights to stay in this tender moment:

"Пусть эта ночь минует не скоро!"

"Let this night be a long one!"

(Final draft):

Mother's ghost:

"The glow doesn't fade so quickly/

From moments of cherished memory."

...

Caramon"

"Those moments were over so quickly/

Too quickly... there's no returning"

"...Let not this night be over so quickly"

#2 There were a few places in this song where instead of adding another syllable in English, we found a way to extend a single vowel across two notes (to be true to the original sound):

"My brother is soundly slee-ee-ping"

(Пусть брату в моих объя-а-тьях)

"Still insep(e)rable bro-o-thers"

(Неразлучные бра-a-тья…)

"And when the old wound are clo-o-sing"

(Когда затянутся ра-а-ны)

#3

"И вновь ты болезненный мальчик,/

А я — твой брат бестолковый."

(Raw translation:

Once again you are a frail boy,/

And I am your dull brother.)

This was a hard line to translate. It needed to be wistful but self-depricating. What name had Caramon internalized? The range of proposals was wide:

"And I'm your dim-witted brother"

"And I'm your troublesome brother"

"And I'm the infamous slacker"

"And I'm your idiot brother"

It seemed that "useless" was a closer translation and less harsh.

(Final Draft):

"Once more, you're an invalid child,/

And I'm your useless twin brother."

#4

This line proved difficult to adapt because of the belted note in the middle:

"Сбежав из муторной шко-O-лы."

(Raw translation): ..."Having escaped from the dreary school."

The difficulty was compounded by the fact that this was yet another example of a vowel being spread across two notes.

We set the second issue aside and just tried to find a way to sing it in English that sounded good:

(Rough drafts):

"We've just escaped from a dull LEcture!"

"We've just escaped from our boRING class!"

The belted note sounded like it needed to be in the middle of a three syllable word. "Drudgery" fit the bill and made for a nice rhyme with "brother."(Final Draft):

"The school has faded behind us/

We've just escaped from its drudgery"

#5

"Мы вспомним, что мы больше не дети,/

И это будет так странно…"

We had originally rewritten this as:

"We'll suddenly see how much we've both changed/

And brother, won't that be so strange?"

A Russian Krynnsubber said the surprise needed to make an even greater impact. They are waking up, half believing they are still children, and honestly shocked to be pulled back into the present. "With a start" captures that feeling of suddenly being pulled out of the dream:

"We'll see with a start how time changed us/

And brother, won't that be so strange?"

[therealkrynnsub]

The Last Trial Retrospective

Song: Battle of the Twins

1. (Final Draft) "Brother, stop!"

We could have said something like, "Stop right there" but we wanted to keep the mentioning of "Brother." It makes Caramon sound so cool when he kicks off this climactic battle of brothers.

2. "Behold your death in my eyes!"

"The meaning of the line should be interpreted as a threat... All the way from 'The Sword' there is no talk of dissuading Raistlin from finishing his quest-- Caramon hardly believes it's possible, that is why he sees confronting his brother as the only way out."-- Olga Leon

3. (Rough Draft) "Who are you, mere insect, to issue threats?"

In this line we see that even though Caramon would face Raistlin on equal footing, the almost-god Raistlin just sees him as a mere annoyance.

We had a hard time working in the word "insect" or "fly" in a way that all flowed well. With this rough draft, "are" was heavily emphazed."

(Final draft): "Am I to be threatened by such as you?"

What is he implying? Owch. The line flowed much more naturally with that phrasing.

4. (Rough draft)

"The same womb brought us both into life/

To a common tomb we shall go hence!"

We really liked the rhyme between womb/tomb but felt it could be phrased differently.

(Final Draft) "Our life began with sharing a womb/ And we'll end it here sharing a tomb!"

5. Raistlin (Rough Draft):

"I can't believe you're him/

My ever-docile twin/

But if it's true/

What's gotten into you?/

My brother trusted me/

He'd follow me through fire"

There were a couple things we wanted to improve in that rough draft. For one thing, technically it would be sung as "My E_ver docile twin." That odd space between syllables wasn't good. For another, "But if it's really true" rhymed well with "Whar's gotten into you," but it made it sound like he really was doubting Caramon's identity, rather than criticizing his behavior.

We fixed both in the final draft:

Raistlin: "I can't believe you're him/

My once so loyal twin/

The brother that I knew/

Would never act like you/

He'd put his trust in me.

He'd follow me through fire"

5. Takhisis: "Делай выбор, делай выбор,/

Делай выбор, маг!"

This line was connected to the one in "Beneath the Veil of Isis," so whatever we wrote here would be duplicated there (and vice-versa).

In a rough draft we said "Make your cho-oice, make your choi-oice/ Make your choi-oice, mage" because adding "now" just sounded like syllable filler. Throughout the show we were tempted many times to add the word "now" to any given line that needed an extra syllable. We were able to avoid adding "now" enough, though, that it does not stand out badly here. In fact, it adds to the urgency of it.

Takhisis (Final Draft): "Make your choice now, make your choice now/ Make your choice now, mage."

6. (Rough Draft) Caramon: "Do it before thoughts of the past are no more."

The first draft was written to warn Raistlin of an eternity of destruction where he would eventually forget what the world had once looked like. But Olga framed it differently:

"Here Caramon is urging Raistlin to make his final choice before all the good memories of their childhood are living, not yet tarnished by his last evil deed."

In the Final Draft, we rewrote the line as:

Caramon: "Do it before memories of old are no more."

In "Pray" Crysania sings (Final Draft): "I'm the one who was meant to cross the dark path he walks" and in "Seduction" she sings "I'm the only one able to help you...I'm the only one..."

But her ambition disqualifies her from being able to fulfil that role. Raistlin has no equal in power, it is true. No one can stop his destructive plan but himself. That said, Caramon doesn't need to be stronger than him to win this battle. He just needs the courage to face him and the wisdom to come armed with the truth.