A Practical Guide to Evil

[tyckspoon]

Spoiler: Other predictions

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Black -> Dread Emperor
Hanno -> Black Knight

Spoiler

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Black has explicitly declared his intent to make an attempt on the Tower, so yeah, that's going to be one of the major subplots for the next book. I don't see Hanno switching sides like that, tho. He'd have to at least lean hard into being an anti-hero, let alone going all the way into being villainous, and that just doesn't really seem to be in his personality. Even with Catherine's example of a villain-using-hero-stories to lead the way. His method of operation may change and possibly his Name and/or some of his Aspects may change how they work because of it, but I don't see a route that leads to him taking on an outright villainous Name. Justice being disabled means he doesn't have them answering his coin-flips, it doesn't mean he's completely lost his ability to wield Light and be a Hero.

[lord_khaine]

Justice being disabled means he doesn't have them answering his coin-flips, it doesn't mean he's completely lost his ability to wield Light and be a Hero.

Yeah he straight up said as much :)

[Lord Raziere]

Yeah he straight up said as much :)

Yeah, he just needs to keep being Hanno no matter what and the universe will narratively reward him for sticking to his guns, its Catherine that should be concerned with the storm thats coming, though her finally beginning to fit into a box that creation so desires her to be might be concerning, because she has been in this ambiguous state of evading this and that narrative box that a name could put her in and limiting what she could do, or she might've simply needed to keep rejecting lesser boxes until the universe had no choice but to make a new one for whatever she is, since she has done enough actions to avoid falling into previous paths and mistakes.

[Tvtyrant]

I'm shipping Hanno and Catherine a bit. He is one of the few individuals who doesn't treat morality as being a pair of sides, and is almost blissfully uninvolved in politics. His role as essentially a divine policeman doesn't involve the Accords, and his relationship with his Mom makes him more flexible then a lot of people.

[Leewei]

I'm shipping Hanno and Catherine a bit. He is one of the few individuals who doesn't treat morality as being a pair of sides, and is almost blissfully uninvolved in politics. His role as essentially a divine policeman doesn't involve the Accords, and his relationship with his Mom makes him more flexible then a lot of people.

Black Queen takes White Knight?

[Leewei]

I'm going to have to disagree with this. Cat's driving purpose isn't to defeat the Dead King - it's to prevent conflict between Named from affecting ordinary people. Killing the Dead King is just part of her plan for doing that.

Who knows, I've been wrong before - and recently.

Catherine's driving purpose is as you said. Her story, on the other hand, is one of a tarnished queen who rises up and destroys an ancient evil. Stories matter to the Named, their roles, and their abilities quite a bit.

[Tvtyrant]

Black Queen takes White Knight?

It would cement her as not being archfiendish, legitimize her in Good's eyes, also Hanno is basically O-Chul and hence ruggedly dreamy.

[Leewei]

It would cement her as not being archfiendish, legitimize her in Good's eyes, also Hanno is basically O-Chul and hence ruggedly dreamy.

Heh. This could spin in any direction.

Catherine the wanton seductress, luring an ardent knight into perdition.

Hanno the wise, melting the icy heart of the Black Queen and bringing her into the light.

Mind you, I'm all about General Abigail hooking up with Anaraxes - and them both of them finding matters too awkward to publicly admit to anything in meeting after meeting with the fate of the world at stake.

[tyckspoon]

Mind you, I'm all about General Abigail hooking up with Anaraxes - and them both of them finding matters too awkward to publicly admit to anything in meeting after meeting with the fate of the world at stake.

"Evil Foreign Oligarch" is probably a peculiarly Bellerophon kind of kink.. of course anybody who finds themselves thinking such thoughts too loudly will get themselves kanena'd.

[Tvtyrant]

Heh. This could spin in any direction.

Catherine the wanton seductress, luring an ardent knight into perdition.

Hanno the wise, melting the icy heart of the Black Queen and bringing her into the light.

Mind you, I'm all about General Abigail hooking up with Anaraxes - and them both of them finding matters too awkward to publicly admit to anything in meeting after meeting with the fate of the world at stake.

Wait, what? That feels pretty crack shippy to me. Did they actually meet?

[lord_khaine]

Black Queen takes White Knight?

I kinda ship this scenario as well :)
They would work well as co-founders of the named Academy.

[Excession]

I kinda ship this scenario as well :)
They would work well as co-founders of the named Academy.

And Akua as the Dean of students, spending all day every day dealing with angsty teens and getting no respect. Could there be a worse punishment?

[Leewei]

Wait, what? That feels pretty crack shippy to me. Did they actually meet?

I don't think so, and I doubt they ever will. The mutual, internal cringing they'd generate would be a thing of art. A guy can dream.

[Mith]

And Akua as the Dean of students, spending all day every day dealing with angsty teens and getting no respect. Could there be a worse punishment?

I was thinking that the punishment would be the Redemption of the Doom of Liesse. That will be a story that will echo through the ages.

[PoeticallyPsyco]

I love everything about the story... except for the editing, which is slowly but surely driving me crazy. ... Crazier.

[Aotrs Commander]

I love everything about the story... except for the editing, which is slowly but surely driving me crazy. ... Crazier.

It does get a little better as it goes along (some of the early chapters, like the one where half the quotations marks were missing drove me up the wall).

Some of the problem is, I think, that as EE is being paid on Patreon, that, unfortunately, means there is more impetus for editing passes being time that's not spent writing the things that make the pennies.

I seem to recall EE muttering at one point about trying to get the books published one day. While I'm not in a position, sadly, to be able to fund anyone on Pateron, I'd snap their hands of at that, not least because it would entail an editing pass.

I half-expect them to do a pass maybe once the story is fully written. (At least there is always a help typo list for them to do it provided by someone every chapter.)

[Johel]

Say, does anyone know when the 6th Book might start being written ?

It's been a little more than 1 month now since the Epilogue of the 5th book.
Is ErraticErrata on holiday ? Is he/she sick ? Other known reasons ?

Not complaining : other series have been running for longer with far less chapters.
But I kinda had made reading this story my morning ritual in the train.
So... wondering when it will resume.

[Iruka]

Say, does anyone know when the 6th Book might start being written ?

It's been a little more than 1 month now since the Epilogue of the 5th book.
Is ErraticErrata on holiday ? Is he/she sick ? Other known reasons ?

Not complaining : other series have been running for longer with far less chapters.
But I kinda had made reading this story my morning ritual in the train.
So... wondering when it will resume.

Info like that is usually found in the comment section, he will take a break of two months this time.

And so we end Book V. As mentioned last update, instead of the usual month-long break between books I’ll be taking two months this time instead, as much due to the length of the last book as due to the need to begin work on my next project after the Guide. I’ll be making a formal announcement later on, but Book VI should begin on January 6th!

Thanks to all of you who’ve been reading the Guide, especially those of you who’ve been there since the rather humble beginnings of this project. It’s been a pleasure writing this series, and I hope it’s been a pleasure to read. I’ll see you all in January.

E.E.

[Johel]

Info like that is usually found in the comment section, he will take a break of two months this time.

Thank you.
Well, only à few weeks, then

[Mith]

So doing a re read of the series and confirmed a memory that Robber has heard "The Girl who Climbed the Tower". Back when it first came into Cat's mind, Robber also recognised the song.

[lord_khaine]

So doing a re read of the series and confirmed a memory that Robber has heard "The Girl who Climbed the Tower". Back when it first came into Cat's mind, Robber also recognised the song.

The relevant difference is between hearing it in your head. And hearing it because someone is singing it.

[AmberVael]

Dread Emperor Footrest, first of his name.

[Mith]

The relevant difference is between hearing it in your head. And hearing it because someone is singing it.

I'm having a difficult time finding it, but my impression was that Robber was recalling the song in a similar way as Cat, not saying that he had heard someone singing it.

I'll track down the scene later, but I know it's in the first book.

[Rynjin]

Dread Emperor Footrest, first of his name.

The biggest plot twist: Benevolent is actually Robber, not Amadeus.

[lord_khaine]

I'm having a difficult time finding it, but my impression was that Robber was recalling the song in a similar way as Cat, not saying that he had heard someone singing it.

I'll track down the scene later, but I know it's in the first book.

And thats the interpretation im claiming are wrong.

[McNum]

And we're back.

Note that updates for the final book are on Tuesdays and Fridays instead of Monday, Wednesday, and Friday like before.

Spoiler: Winter IV, Prologue

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And this is looking interesting. Seems like everyone spent that truce preparing, and you really, really do not want to give Cat time to prepare. Unless she on your side and you're about to see what the Black Queen can do when it's not aimed at you.

[Calemyr]

And we're back.

Note that updates for the final book are on Tuesdays and Fridays instead of Monday, Wednesday, and Friday like before.

Spoiler: Winter IV, Prologue

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And this is looking interesting. Seems like everyone spent that truce preparing, and you really, really do not want to give Cat time to prepare. Unless she on your side and you're about to see what the Black Queen can do when it's not aimed at you.

On one hand, I will miss the 3x/week updating schedule, but on the other I've not had a lot of reason to look forward to Tuesdays before - none of the things I try to keep up with update on Tuesdays, so that will be a welcome little change.

Spoiler: Winter IV

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It's really quite interesting to see the White Knight actually learning so much from Black, but the part that really got me from this chapter was something that's just natural Hanno: he didn't move to save the Repentant Magister. He was ready to do so, if he needed to, but he held back and allowed Nephele to protect herself, her way, and have a moment of personal victory in the process. Most Named wouldn't do that. They'd rush to be part of the Story, because action is the heart of their existence. Hanno did not, not because he didn't care about the Magister, but because he trusted her and that faith was rewarded by seeing her not only solve her own problems but stay true to her redemption in the process - with nobody to impress, nothing to prove except to herself. Yeah, I liked that.

Spoiler: Prologue

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It's a rare chapter that manages to make everyone - the victim, the rescuer, and the assailant - look badass. This prologue pulls it off multiple times. Keter really comes off as a genuine threat even in the middle of this Big Damn Heroes moment, so absolutely devastating that the best anyone has been able to hope for is a pyrrhic draw or a fighting retreat, and even those bloody achievements seem heroic in the face of the threat. And then, even as they're about to break from the strain, in comes support from two of the least likely places: Levant and Callow, two long-time enemies riding into help shoulder the burden. And, on each front, Callow is stepping forward to take an active hand in that support. It is clear Cat is throwing her all into this, even though this will only be the tip of the iceberg when things hit the fan.

Besides all that, it's nice to see Kilian again. I presume she's gone through the ritual that broke her relationship with Cat by now. I'm looking forward to seeing the results.

So, yeah... All told, that was a fitting prelude to what promises to be an epic finale.

[Mith]

On one hand, I will miss the 3x/week updating schedule, but on the other I've not had a lot of reason to look forward to Tuesdays before - none of the things I try to keep up with update on Tuesdays, so that will be a welcome little change.

Spoiler: Winter IV

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It's really quite interesting to see the White Knight actually learning so much from Black, but the part that really got me from this chapter was something that's just natural Hanno: he didn't move to save the Repentant Magister. He was ready to do so, if he needed to, but he held back and allowed Nephele to protect herself, her way, and have a moment of personal victory in the process. Most Named wouldn't do that. They'd rush to be part of the Story, because action is the heart of their existence. Hanno did not, not because he didn't care about the Magister, but because he trusted her and that faith was rewarded by seeing her not only solve her own problems but stay true to her redemption in the process - with nobody to impress, nothing to prove except to herself. Yeah, I liked that.

Spoiler: Prologue

Show

It's a rare chapter that manages to make everyone - the victim, the rescuer, and the assailant - look badass. This prologue pulls it off multiple times. Keter really comes off as a genuine threat even in the middle of this Big Damn Heroes moment, so absolutely devastating that the best anyone has been able to hope for is a pyrrhic draw or a fighting retreat, and even those bloody achievements seem heroic in the face of the threat. And then, even as they're about to break from the strain, in comes support from two of the least likely places: Levant and Callow, two long-time enemies riding into help shoulder the burden. And, on each front, Callow is stepping forward to take an active hand in that support. It is clear Cat is throwing her all into this, even though this will only be the tip of the iceberg when things hit the fan.

Besides all that, it's nice to see Kilian again. I presume she's gone through the ritual that broke her relationship with Cat by now. I'm looking forward to seeing the results.

So, yeah... All told, that was a fitting prelude to what promises to be an epic finale.

Winter IV: Hanno is PGtE version of Michael Carpenter, and is thus spectacular in all his scenes.

Prologue: Cue Sabaton's Winged Hussars.

[druid91]

Winter IV: Hanno is PGtE version of Michael Carpenter, and is thus spectacular in all his scenes.

Prologue: Cue Sabaton's Winged Hussars.

Once again, Rumena is an amazing character.

[Calemyr]

Once again, Rumena is an amazing character.

Truth. Not many people can intimidate someone just by speaking with a flawless accent.