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Abu-Bakr

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Fireheart449

Fireheart449

Posts: 1,028 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
In the Desert Ghost’s Service
First post:
“Many a knight who pledged fanatical service will devout his life to that cause, he will give his blood to it and will only leave when he dies or is unfit.” A comma just isn’t strong in the middle of the sentence. If you can split a sentence in two, and the two pieces can each stand
as their own sentence, use a semi-colon to connect them :D
That is kind of fanatical…but it’s also typical of feudal loyalty.
2nd post:
“He had no idea of what happened to DeLoren, or where he was or what they did to them.” Who does this ‘them’ refer to? If you mean DeLoren, you might want to take out that last ‘or what they did to them’ altogether.
Also, I think it should be ‘no idea what HAD happened to DeLoren or where he was.”
“Abu frequented him in an attempt to charm him into entering his trap.” Sounds like Abu is trying to seduce him... I don’t know if you can frequent a person…I mean, you could but it’d be…uh…something you wouldn’t want to discuss on public forums. How about ‘Abu visited frequently in an attempt to charm him into entering his trap”?
3rd post:
Same semi-colon problem. In --> “It was a different man… pair of loyal bodyguards.”
“On his head was a lightly built helmet. Like the guard a plume of horse hair struck up from this.” I got the gist of the description, but you can clean it up a little. Like so (not that you have to do it EXACTLY like this):
“On his head was a lightly-built helmet, which, like the guard’s, was adorned by a plume of horse hair.” (hopefully, the reader is smart enough to assume the plume is on top XD)
AAAH! Commas! Use them! “Gesturing with his hand as he spoke he issued an order to Millard’s guard.”
Easy rule for some commas:
After introductory phrases, use commas! For example, “Gesturing with his hand as he spoke, he issued an order to Millard’s guard.”
"Obedient lackey" Oh, lackeys are generally obedient. The obedient strikes me as redundant.

20-Feb-2011 04:42:58 - Last edited on 20-Feb-2011 05:00:02 by Fireheart449

Fireheart449

Fireheart449

Posts: 1,028 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
4th post:
You’re missing part of the first paragraph I believe. Oh noes!
Semi-colon necessary here --> “They passed a few armed guard; there they turned [more concise than made a turn] and walked into a wide sunlit square.”
“In the middle of this plaza [or any other synonyms for square], stood many types of men. Some were armor clad and carried the arms of war.” You probably want a period in between these. The poor comma just isn’t strong enough for this one.
“Others in casual civilian dress that watched in half interest at the events unfolding.” No 'that’ necessary.
Semi-colon issue in the next sentence. You can find the rest by yourself since you’ve probably learned the rule by now.
Yay, and Millard and DeLoren are reunited. Not sure if that’s a good thing for DeLoren though. Poor guy.
“And in its front was a large ash door, an expensive piece in such a climate.” Oddly enough, the semi-colon is too strong here. Semi-colons generally connect two or more sentences. Colons often provide additional information, or even a comma works here.
Punctuation = road signs for your story. So here’s a list from weakest punctuation marks to strongest: comma, colon, semi-colon, period, question mark/exclamation mark.
Post 6:
“His eyes twinkled with juvenile and cruel plans he had [for?] them,” --> period, not comma
“DeLoren said in gasps, despite the ventilation the windows provided they were not adjusted to such work in the desert.” After gasps should be a period. Also since ‘despite the ventilation the windows provided’ is an introductory phrase, there should be a comma after provided.
And geez, talk about slave labor. Oh wait…
Anyway, housecleaning in a desert environment must be highly unpleasant…I can barely stand housecleaning as it is. :D

20-Feb-2011 04:46:20

Fireheart449

Fireheart449

Posts: 1,028 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Post 7:
One semi-colon issue. *Their spines… stand upright.”
Spelling (which you would have caught eventually): “He strolled about the room, eying the floor carefully, hand scratching his chin and the other behind his back.”
Also, part of Imal’s (what an angry fellow but probably righteously so) dialogue: “And there is sand still, even without the bad I poured out!”
Post 8:
“Dieing” = dying? I don’t know if the first is an alternate English spelling or not.
"'I can accept this.’ he said flatly, a bit of disappointment hung on his flattened tone,” = bit repetitive because of the ‘flat’s
Post 9:
“The light furnishings did nothing but aid the introverted-ness of the room.” Introversion, I think is the word you’re looking for.
Post 10:
“Two soap worn soap stone handles jutted from the un-ornate doors.” Too much soap? Not sure what you were trying to describe here. Un-oranate = unornamented?
“He said has he unfastened the plate and kicked aside the chairs.” Simple typing error, I’m sure. Should be:
“(Dialogue dialogue dialogue),” he said as he unfastened the plate and kicked aside the chairs.
Underneath the armor plating was a simple white linen shirt, “my men will keep watch over you, when you are finished hang my suit on the rack by the knives. --> “Underneath the armor plating was simple white linen shirt (period). “My men will keep watch over you when you are finished hang(ing) my suit on the rack by the knives”
Post 11:
“Holding it in his hand DeLoren marveled at how well it balanced and the very craftsmen ship of the handle.”
Craftsmanship is one word. Otherwise, the description of the sword was well done.
“He cautiously grabbed the scabbard, expecting the deathly instrument to burst into flames or some un-hold magic to spring forth from it and strike him down.” Unhold = Untold (meaning hidden, unrevealed)?

20-Feb-2011 04:49:02

Fireheart449

Fireheart449

Posts: 1,028 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Post 12:
Beautiful description of the blade…Wow.
Wrong “their” : “They’re eyes ran about DeLoren’s face and the sword, calculating his actions.” ‘Their eyes’
Woah, really long sentence. “Millard, was up to this point was in his own world snapped his attention from his own business and let loose and silent gasp of astonishment (and fear, but that is unknown to anyone but himself) when he saw the sword.”
You should use those commas; put them in when there’s a natural pause. “Millard, who, up to this point, had been in his own world, snapped his attention from his own business and let loose a silent gasp of astonishment (and fear, though none else knew it), when he saw the sword.
Haha, I’ll leave the rest of the editing up to you.
“We are not cheap kebabs and cactus water, all riding on camels and wearing swathes of cloth on our heads.” I really do enjoy Abu’s personality. :D
Poor Millard and DeLoren…but DeLoren seems to have the right idea: to try and fit in as best he can without aggravating their captors. Millard is going to get himself killed…
Ah, so you expanded a little on the source of the conflict in this chapter. But it could be a little more explicit. But that’s just my opinion. Still, it’s a great story with super descriptions and intriguing cultural conflict.
I think I’ll have to leave the next chapter for tomorrow. XD

20-Feb-2011 04:51:33

Fireheart449

Fireheart449

Posts: 1,028 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Sand’s Embrace
8th post on pg. 15, Millard is steering, not DeLoren.
Last post on pg. 16, Where it says Millard, it should say DeLoren, since DeLoren is the poor guy who was left behind to face Imal's wrath. Thank goodness for Abu.
Great chapter! It's definitely getting more interesting because I read the chapter pretty quick even though it's quite long. ^_^

20-Feb-2011 15:55:31

Fireheart449

Fireheart449

Posts: 1,028 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Honor
Gah, religion. *facepalm* That (sadly) explains a lot. It's interesting how you've applied real world church hierarchy (bishops, cardinals, etc) to RS.
I like how you have so many cultural details in your descriptions. Did you have to do a lot of research to write this story? And did you learn Arabic too (because I'm pretty sure Kharidian is Arabic)?
Eh, no more chapters? :@
Keep writing!
Also, would you mind if I added this story to my recommended reading list on my thread (Freak the Dragon Slayer)?

20-Feb-2011 16:18:03 - Last edited on 20-Feb-2011 16:18:34 by Fireheart449

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