[Saxony Tarn]

Woof -- good catches there, LMP; i'll answer those in one fell swoop if i can:

Control over characters -- uh huh. They all have a life of their own! In one saga it became forbidden to give "background" characters names, for once i did, they began taking on more of a role than they were intended to play. The current cast, well, they're an unruly bunch to put it politely, but that's part of the dynamics of the project!

Poetry -- hoom hoom, maybe i should just put the link here and elect you all honorary beta readers? (or perhaps Lila and Nar, who've read a few chunks of it, would care to give a review?) Since i'm borrowing Tolkien's world and standing it on its ear, it's only fitting that there should be poetry in it, but i want it to fit in with the plot and the story, not just be there to fill pages (as no doubt many thought of Tolkien's poetry when they were hacking their ways through the books)

i'd tried to keep said poetry restricted to Tolkien's and mine, until i found another poem here on the Downs that just fit too well. So i asked the author if i could borrow it, in exchange for proper credit, of course. (graciously she agreed, and it proceeded to become the main theme of one of the chapters, even bringing in its own bit character to present it. i'm still thinking of a way that i can get that character back on stage again before the story's end.)

okay, enough of my rambling, i'll get back to serving drinks. It's expected to reach 100 Fahrenheit out here on the Western Shore, so i'll be serving all COLD drinks, if nobody minds...

|_|) <-- skoal!

s.t.