This is indeed an emotional pummelling of a chapter, and I mean that in the most appreciative way. I have to say that I'm rather glad that you wrote and posted Reforged before this ;)

The tiny moments here are so powerful - as far as they know, it's the end of nearly everything they know to be stable and true, and yet Kivan is *still there*, steadfast, Rain still reaching out to him as well. Their time together here is beautiful and anguished at the same time, both of them leaning into each other for some kind of healing.

Again the physicality of the moment is written so strongly - how *would* Charname look and feel after the Slayer episode, except for torn apart?

And Xan - the painful part here is that I understand him. I don't *like* him here, but I understand him, and he's so raw in his denouncement of Rain. In a way he's representative of what is usually understood about Bhaalspawn, the crueller, negative opinions that don't usually find their way into the main party.

A wonderful piece, delving into a particularly difficult part of Rain's story :)

This is such a powerful look at the reality of the Slayer, and the sheer loss the Bhaalspawn has to go through - loss of soul, self, dignity, even identity. In a way the Slayer transformation is a kind of body-horror trope, and you've really caught the horrible physicality of it.

The intensity you've captured here is almost exhausting, and Kivan's determination is heartbreaking. And Irenicus, *shudder*. The cold calculation of his madness is the terrifying part, and I can distinctly hear him in the way you've depicted his voice. In some ways, the quieter he is, the more unsettling he is. There's no shrieking or shouting, just absolute sincerity in what he's doing.

Very very good indeed, and I'm looking forward - if those are the right words, heh - to seeing how you wrap this snapshot up in the next chapter :)

Oh, and I also wanted to say that this is the most perfect summary of Charname/Kivan romance ever:
She wanted to whisper what was in her heart.
I love you.
She wanted to hear his long, regretful sigh, and his soft, broken reply. I know.

Such a powerful piece... The internal struggle, the reactions... It's difficult to find words for a review when I still feel the shivers, so I'm just going to say that you produced something even more amazing and deep and moving than before. It's one of those fanfictions that stay with you for a while after reading and change the way you see the original material.

Just wanted to stop by and say I love your Rain/Kivan series. You're my favorite BG fanfiction author :)

You are awesome. This one of the best novellisation of the first change into the slayer I have ever read. Keep it up. I have put you on my list of authors to check for updates.

I love the chapter. Brilliant!

Great chapter! I really felt for Rain in this one, especially when Xan went off on her! I hope to see more soon!

Welcome back! :D

As always, I am in awe of your writing. You make the Slayer far more horrifying. than it was in the game. The game never quite conveyed the terror and sheer wrongness of the situation to me. The bit between Rain and Kivan just breaks my heart.

Complete side note, Rain pretending to hear to Kivan say, "I know" just rings all sorts of lovely Star Wars bells foe me. Our favorite archer is a bit of a scruffy nerf-herder, ain't he?