Nice to see an update from you. It’s been a while. :D

I’m really liking your characterisations at the moment, Lilliana in particular. The small description you put in your Author’s Notes made me smile. We all know people like that, and the likeness Lilliana shares with some of the people I know really brings her to life. I do wonder, though, if court politics and behaviour would really be so deeply ingrained into her, being raised in Candlekeep as she was. There can’t have been *that* many courteous monks about: clearly not enough to affect Imoen (though that was likely a lost cause from the start!). Maybe she read all about it in a book and loved the romance of it all, I don’t know!

Romance isn’t my favourite subject, and to be honest, I felt the parts focused on Anomen and Lilliana were a bit on the heavy side, this chapter. However, I like that when they next meet in Amn, they will have a dynamic angle to a romance that has started to become stale. In the meantime, I think the pair of them need to broaden their horizons, so to speak, else their only loves will have been each other, and that can’t be healthy, however sweet it may seem.

I liked the snippets with young Gorion and baby Lilliana. You’re doing a wonderful job of painting a back-story that goes beyond the timeframe of the game, and it really adds to the story.

With the size of your chapters, it’s understandable that the gaps between updates are long. I eagerly await the next chapter, though. Best of luck.

- Dangerously Incompetent, formerly known as CrazeeFfan
(I finally learnt how to change the blasted name! Joy!)

Another nice long chapter and well worth the wait. I thought splicing the current story between flashbacks of Lilliana’s beginnings was a nice touch.

The first scene with Gorion and the baby was tender, but the amount of reactions from the infant gave me pause. I don’t know much about babies, but at only two days old, I know their eyesight isn’t brilliant (20/400, I think) and don’t know if they would have the motor skills etc. for grabbing hold of things and would be taking an interest in their surroundings. But like I said, I don’t know the most about babies, and certainly not newborns. :-)

I know you were having a bit of trouble with breakfast scene and I thought it flowed well here. I do find some of the language a bit distracting though. Words like ‘boyfriend’ or ‘smart’ seem okay for Imoen, but I wonder if they are a bit modern for Anomen’s more formal style of speech –or perhaps he was just mimicking Imoen as he answered her questions.

The romantic sections flowed nicely as well, if a little flowery for me, and the talk between the girls afterwards was lovely, too. I was glad to see Lilliana follow Imoen’s advice at the end.

“Behind them in the vacant room, the inn’s pillows sat at the head of both beds, all sewn up. When she was bored, Imoen was quite industrious.”

I really liked this line for some reason.

It is interesting all the background you’ve given with Gorion and the Harpers’ early concerns with Lilliana, and I’m curious to see what will happen when she confronts Galvarey at the Harper Hold much later in the story, but I suppose I shall have to be patient.

Looking forward to your next chapter. :-)

no...Need...more XD

Excellent fic so far, i liked it quite a bit!

Poor Lilliana.

And this was hard, too.

Great work, i really liked the interaction, and the undercurrent of hope is still there!

Another good chapter, but silly Lilliana :/

Very fine work, though :-)

/me bonks Lilliana.

Stupid Girl who cannot discern fantasies and truth, especially when it should be easy liek with Anomen/Ajantis.

/me growls.

Very nicely done in most cases, as the beginning shows a new on the usual Gorion in Candlekeep, but i disliked the Anomen bit (i find him too bland).

Yay! Update! Interesting them Anomen and Lilliana have met and I can'y wait to read what happens next.

Another good chapter. The plot was kept moving at a nice pace and I especially liked the way the reader was kept guessing right until the end as to whether Anomen and Lilliana would enjoy a reunion, though I do wonder whether one so observant of propriety as Lilliana would be wandering about the inn in just her night clothes (oh, the scandal!)

Looking forward to the next chapter. :D

I only just discovered this wonderful fic a few days ago and I've been trying to lap it up as fast as I can. It is certainly one of the best I've read in a long time. It seems such a shame that it is now dead, but if at any point you decide to continue writing Lilliana's journey I shall be shall be very, very happy.

Absolutely brilliant writing.

Your tale appears to be very tightly plotted, with enough twists and turns to keep me extremely interested in this tale you're weaving from the strands of a game we've both played.

You're excellent with bringing characters to life, which really makes this a joy to read. I find that I'm enjoying all your subplots and the new characters as well as the fan favourites.

Once again, brava. I'll be looking forward to reading the next part.

I agree with Blackcross-Taylor that the torture scenes really were excellent. I almost covered my eyes while I was reading, except that I was so gripped I couldn't look away from the screen. Lilliana's despair and terror were shown really clearly, and the tortures were described superbly - well worth the wait. I can’t even imagine how good your Irenicus tortures will be!

I also agree about the exorcism. It was a really strong part of the chapter, and that you’ve put research into it really adds to the story as a whole. The way the scenes flickered between Lil and Keldath was particularly effective.

And the group uniting in their distress was heartening. Well, except Xan. I’ll never like him, though.

As always, class stuff here. Well worth the wait, although the sooner the next chapter, the better. Keep it up. :D

A good chapter and I can see why you would think it is one of your best.

I liked the glimpse into Nimbul’s past and the scenes of torture and Lilliana’s reactions in the tomb. Her fear and sense of helplessness come across very well and you did an excellent job of slowly building the tension by cutting back and forth between Lilliana and co. and the rest of the group.

As for the rest of the group, I thought the scenes of them slowly piecing together what had happened were good, but I found them all a bit too will to argue amongst themselves, even once they’d decided two of their company had been abducted. I understand that tempers can be frayed in such stressful situations, but I still would have thought they’d have better things to worry about than scoring points off each other.

The exorcism was very well described though; very visual and the taint knowing things about Ormlyr’s past was a nice touch. And it was also nice to see Imoen mature a bit near the end of the chapter and accept Dynaheir’s comradeship, especially since she hasn’t really done anything (Ajantis is the one who’s been eschewing the girls’ company, after all).

Again, a great chapter and I’m looking forward to the next one.

Good chapter, Empress. The birth scene was well researched; grim and slightly nauseating, and the atmosphere of impending doom for both mother and child came across well. The faire and the dance were nicely written as well, and though I found everyone’s outfits a little extravagant, I appreciate your restraint in not making Lilliana the “belle of the ball”, as it were. It's little details like that which make good stories great. I’m eagerly awaiting your next chapter.

I have to give major props to my girl, Lil, for getting Kivan out of his funk. No doubt he was upset over his actions and whatnot, but when you've got the chance to cut a rug with some honies then you gotta do that. It's also good to see Imoen didn't forget her roots when she got out of the hood during her dance with Xan. She brought it like a true red-head will. Sarevok...dude never had a chance...that's all good though, every story needs a bastard...literally in this case.

Anyways...Empress, I eagerly await your next update because of the numerous other BG stories I've read on this site yours has really drawn me in. Whoever you bounce ideas off of is one lucky person, to know these ideas before any of the rest of us.