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Writers Interview: Exuro

Tags: #Karver  #Interview  #Exuro 
  • December 7, 2016

    So the time has come for another interview, and this time I chose Exuro, with his Dance with Daedra, quite interesting story with badass Dragonborn, weird voodoo magic and of course Daedra.

     

    Hey, Exuro. It´s great to have another writer here, especially Daedric master like you. But let´s not get ahead of ourselves, let´s start with the basics. Could you tell us something about yourself?

     

    Haha, saying master might be getting ahead of ourselves, but I do love how twisted the Daedra are. Thanks for inviting me for this interview Karver. I must say it is nice doing one without the pressure of trying to get a job for once.

    Let’s see: I’m 26 and starting my career as a Structural Engineer in Los Angeles, CA. I moved here about two-ish years ago from Seattle, WA. Architects design pretty thing, we make sure they don’t fall down. We also do the calculations and designs for remodels, seismic retrofits, damage assessments, and wind tower inspections. Sometimes I have to crawl under houses with the spiders to check supports; I’m trying to work my way out of those jobs.  

    Outside of work, I spend a lot of time on this site. I actually don’t play Skyrim that often anymore. I get more excited about reading and writing about the universe now. Writing provides a great counterpoint to how my mind is focused during the day. I think it’s important to maintain balance (not that I always manage to), so writing and drawing help me switch from rational to creative, while I rotate through different types of movement disciplines to keep my body active.

    I started with Karate, then got into Parkour and bouldering. I did Crossfit for a quarter followed by a summer doing MMA training (Jujitsu, boxing, kickboxing), then when I moved done to LA (2 years ago) I did Ninjitsu. Right now I’m learning Latin dances (Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba) and practicing a bit of Parkour here and there.

    I also love nature, so when pressure from being in the city gets too much, I go hiking or snorkeling. I just got into backpack camping and have a new tent on its way that I’m excited to test out.

     

    Structural Engineer, eh? Well, that explains why is A Dance with Daedra so structured. So let´s focus on that one right now. There might be some people who haven´t read it, so what´s it about? What are your main “selling points” in your opinion?

     

    A Dance with Daedra (ADWD) was birthed from one of the first short stories I posted on this site: Paths Divergent, which is essentially an argument between a Vigilant of Stendarr and conjurer (Amari). It is basically the classic good versus evil scenario, but as you read it becomes clear that neither side is black and white, but a muddy gray. The seperation becomes even more clouded with hints of a complicated past between them.  

    The story was simmering, forgotten on the backburner, until a certain scaly wolf prodded me back into writing. ADWD goes back to the beginning of how Amari becomes that woman. Quick disclaimer, my outline has already diverged a fair amount from the original short and I keep tweaking it.

    ADWD is about Amari coming into her own and the harsh lessons she learns that reveal the grittiness of her world. The sins of her parents’ shadowed past follow her long after they pass and seek to manipulate her, but to what purpose she does not know. She is surrounded by forces far beyond her power and this is a story of the lengths she’ll go to survive, to break free, to cope.

    Sorry, but my engineer is about to show; I like lists:

    Selling points:

    Character development: Strong focus on the thoughts of characters and how events shape them. Even bandits and guards get some of the spotlight.

    Daedra, Aedra, and Dragons: Need more be said?

    Magic: I mix spells from previous titles and Requiem together, as well as some of my own ideas. I go into detail on the mechanics for the world and Amari has a peculiar familiar that seems to be a fan favorite.

    Spectacular fights: Not frequent, but very visual and gritty.

    And the story explores a world after Alduin’s fall.

     

    So Amari is your main character, right? I am actually kinda fascinated by that girl. Yes, girl, how old is she precisely? I know that writing a story from the point of view of a child is hard, it´s difficult to describe the thoughts and opinions without them reflecting your own adult stance. Do you have some problems with that or it just goes naturally?

     

    Yep, she’s the MC. Fascinated, huh? Do I need to get my shotgun and older brother glare out?

    She’s 16 at the moment (about 12 in the flashback in Chapter 2), and no, it definitely does not come naturally writing about a 16 year old girl as a 26 year old man; I don’t even have any sisters! I remember one person on this site recommended wearing dress to get into character, lol. I often wonder why I chose her to be the MC myself, but she is a lot of fun to write about.

    I did make her a bit of tomboy and observer type to make things easier on me. She quietly watches others and learns from their failings, but there are still some spots I really worry about. For instance, in Chapter 17 I needed to portray her reaction to getting turned down by her crush, who acts a complete dolt in the scene. A few of the ladies on here were kind enough to give me feedback for that. Now being a complete dolt male on the otherhand, that comes naturally. This is hard enough; you’re brave for tackling even younger minds in your story, and Orcs at that!

     

    Not even a shotgun can stop an Orc, so bring it on! But seriously now, writing from the perspective of child or youngster is always hard, but I think you´ve compensated it rather well with your other main character. No, I´m not talking about Trebonde - who is a true rogue - but about an...undead squirrel, Scuttles. That´s so god damn interesting! I wish I could have undead squirrel as my familiar. But how in the Oblivion did you come up with that?

     

    Haha, F’in Orcs. Her familiar was original supposed to be Meeko, but when I started outlining, I kept running into all sorts of issues with the plot and traveling. I needed something from before she even entered Skyrim and I need something that could be easily hidden. I remembered one of my friends loves squirrels, so Scuttles is a nod to him.

    As for the name, well kids always name pets ridiculous things; I got a beagle when I was 8 and named her Bagel for example. It wasn’t until sometime later I realized that Scuttles is also the name of one of the birds in Little Mermaid, so that wasn’t intentional, but I’ll roll with it. Such a bright and cheery connotation for such a demonic looking creature makes me laugh. Yes, squirrel skeletons look very demonic; go Google it. Drawing the little critter was a lot of fun, although I know far more than I ever wanted to about squirrel anatomy now.  

    He is the product of a necromancy of sorts, but I didn’t want it to seem like he was some disposable summon. I don’t want to go into too many details about the binding process, but Amari was only able to do it the way she did because of how I’ve chosen to expand her Birthsign, the Tower. I’m going back to the older games where you can’t change your sign (the month you’re born, lol) on a whim.

     

    Tower? Isn’t that for thieves not mages?

     

    Well, the Tower allows you to unlock things and in Morrowind, detect life. The Tower is also symbolic of how the TES universe is structured, so I extrapolated that the Tower brings those born under it closer to the truth of their universe; they naturally sense how the energy flows and fits into the life around them. Once you understand how something works, it’s easy to disassemble, or unlock, whether it’s a door, magic, or the planes themselves.  

    So back to Scuttles, Amari was able to see how the squirrel’s soul fought to stay alive and she knew what needed to be done… then ends up almost killing herself in the process. The binding permanently altered both their souls, now their fates are interlocked and both ride the boundary between planes. This is also one of the reasons why the Daedra are so interested in her; she’s a rare amusement and her condition offers possibilities locked to most mortals.

     

     

    Speaking of undead squirrels, that´s actually only the small part of the magic you´ve seriously expanded in your story. In my opinion, one of the best magic portrayal here on the Vault - but I haven´t read that many stories, so not very objective. So tell me: Why did you expanded it so much? What prompted you to do it and what are the differences or similarities with TES games magic?

     

    Because magic is awesome, next!

    Ok, seriously. I like to know the why and how of things; I don’t like it when people say, “Well magic.” Even though we are talking about magic in this case…  For the most part, magic in ADWD follows the laws of physics and conservation of energy. In addition to magika reserves, spell casting is also dependent on fatigue, health, and emotion. The best casters are those who can bring on strong emotions at will; my reasoning why the powerful ones always seem to be crazy.  The caster needs to alter their state of mind to match the spell or school. For instance, fire is fueled by passionate emotions like anger, while Ice requires an uncompassionate stillness. Meditation plays a large role. So far, Amari uses it to keep centered, but later she’ll learn it can be used to invoke trance states that force certain emotions as well.

    So how the spells work is different, but the results are still about the same as in-game spells (from all titles); except for Amari’s soul binding. She can extend and shape her aura or life essence, and use it to manipulate other souls. She turned it into weave to bind Scuttles and other times she has used it as a weapon to burn or flay spirits. It does have major drawbacks though, the mortal body acts as a shield and anchor, so by extending past its protection, her soul is defenseless to attacks.

    Shouting, I made some changes to how Thu’ums work. Dragons speak truth. It’s not so much that they can’t lie, but that whatever they say becomes true. To speak a word of power, they need to understand it and all concepts it contains in their entirety. Similar to ‘Grok’ in Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land. Using Fus to push some air is the simplest and easiest, but with the will and power, speaking the words: “Mundus never was” in Dovahzul would create a Dragonbreak, returning things to be before Lorkhan’s trickery (I’m not going to do that.) When Dovah argue, opposing forces are trying to create a new reality. The results are often devastating storms that can even change weather patterns. ADWD starts in the middle of a drought caused by the backlash of such a dispute.  

     

    Dragonbreak caused by one sentence? Madness! But speaking of shouts, I would like to speak about Dragonborn here for a second. Your story is set few years after the Last Dragonborn killed Alduin and Miraak, right? But the Skyrim is left mostly...intact and by that I mean that your Dragonborn did only that, no other events were set in motion, like ending the Civil War and No One Escapes Cidhna Mine, which leaves you quite a lot of room. Are there any changes after Alduin was slain or is it really the same Skyrim we know?

     

    Madness? This is MUNDAS! Keep in mind that to power that sentence with the Thu’um, it would need to be channeling enough power to make that happen. So unless a dragon found Lorkan’s heart or something, we should be safe. Not to mention it would have to be able to comprehend a universe without time and from before it ever existed to bring about the example. Sometimes I get carried away with ideas and I have to reign myself back in. Luckily for me the metaphysical side of lore is already so crazy.  

    So ADWD starts in the summer of 4E 208, maybe I should add journal dates. Mirmulnir attacks Whiterun in 4E 203.  Miraak is speared through by Hermeaus Mora in 4E 204 and Alduin is slain in 4E 205, which is by happenstance the same year Amari binds Scuttles. That was just how the timeline worked out as I was back filling dates.  

    Most the quests haven’t been done. Winterhold and Windhelm are the only remaining Stormcloak cities, it’s just taking longer since the Dragonborn swore not to meddle in mortal affairs. He doesn’t want to become the next Talos/Tiber Septim. It’s a small spoiler, but he has completed the Companions, Dragonborn DLC, and the main quest. He spent years training with the Companions, the Greybeards, the Skaal, and a three-way backstabbing frenzy with Hermaeus Mora, Miraak, and himself before he was ready to face Alduin.

    Much of Skyrim has changed in the aftermath of Alduin. The dragons have split into their own civil war raging above the humans’. One camp follows Parrthurnax in his way to coexist with mortals and serve Akatosh, another Martyrs Alduin and feels betrayed by the Divines, and the last have gone rogue, seeking to found their own kingdoms in distant reaches all across Nirn. Back on the ground, bandits and Forsworn have used the years of civil war to establish roots and swell their ranks. While the Thalmor are still snobs trying to keep the war bleeding both sides as long as possible. If anything, the land is more chaotic, and we all know which TES deities love chaos.

     

    So far, you´ve shown your readers the bandits, little bit of Forsworn and of course, really badass Dragonborn. All what you wrote so far is happening around the Reach, with a goal to finish one specific quest. Will we see more of Skyrim eventually? And how closely do you plan to introduce the Reach?

     

    We’ll definitely be seeing more of the world. It just takes a bit longer when you have to walk everywhere. The story will actually be moving out of the Reach in a few chapters and in a future arc, Amari will be returning to Highrock to trace her family roots. I’m excited to get to that part, but she still has a lot of development to go through before she is ready to face that.

    This is a story about the trials Amari faces and how each experience shapes who she is. But while the story focuses on her, she isn’t the center of the universe. Amari has her issues, but the Reach, bandits, dragons, Dragonborn, Vigilants, etc all have their own as well. I can’t cover them all in detail, so what the reader learns about them will be what effects Amari’s storyline and second-hand news. That said, you will get a closer look at the Forsworn before they leave and bits of news will still reach them as they travel.  

     

    High Rock? Well, that should be interesting. How many people here wrote something about High Rock? Not many I think. But what I understand of High Rock, it´s literally place for Daedric cults, with its witch covens and such. Will we meet some? And what about Daedric Princes? You´ve shown us two so far, making them a real presence in the Tamriel - at least to some people. And how hard would you say is to write about Daedric Princes?

     

    Highrock is filled with cults, aristocrats, knights, and after 4E188 pirates. Cicero’s journal mentions corsairs capturing Wayrest. I made this family tree a while ago showing what Amari knows about her past:


    http://api.ning.com/files/CUJ8j3AVHZ6546h92W01mqILTSRHAt8irwbD0BX1JrlXivHnWHlYgWr9Xm*o-ckN72xj2dqD8CElcrDyUQNBfyei*wsd*5Cg/ADWDFamilyTree.jpg

    Will you meet covens and cults? Why do you think Amari’s Mother’s side has been completely wiped out? Also the thought of making Amari sit at a proper dinner party makes me chuckle, she’s not that type of girl at all.

    Many more Daedra will enter the fray, and a few Aedra too! They fight and bicker among each other more than the Greek pantheon! Once multiple Princes start trying to use her as a pawn, you will start to see why it’s called ‘A Dance with Daedra.’ They do love their games and have enormous egos, and knowing that, even a mortal can gain an edge on them.

    Well writing about the Daedric Princes is easier than writing a girl’s perspective; much simpler [ducks the flying knives]. I listen to the in game dialogue to get a sense of the rhythm and tone they speak in, then for their actions, I ask myself, “Does this align with their plane’s core principles?” Most are fairly predictable, so that is usually enough. I think that is one of the reasons they are so interested in mortals. We are not bound by a single set of principles, so even though the Daedric Princes are deities of chaos, they are still locked in a stasis of sorts, because who they are never changes. Unless someone eats them and craps them out as a filthy Orc :-D. For inspiration I look to TES lore stories featuring their deeds and really any of the mythological pantheons, with Greek and Roman being obvious ones.

     

    Well, not every Prince is literally a piece of shit like Malacath, haha. Any particular places we´re going to visit in High Rock? Wayrest? Daggerfall? And I can´t help myself but I have to ask: Will there be Orcs and Malacath?

     

    Haha, you took that jab well. High Rock is still a ways off in the story, so I don’t want to say too much. I do use outlines, but they are constantly changing as I write. Amari was raised in Wayrest and her father was from Daggerfall, so I can safely say those will be featured. There’s an Orc in Karthewasten, lol.

    I have a lot of ideas for Malacath, I’m just toying with where in the story he should go and how much. I don’t want it to feel like I’m trying to shoehorn all the Princes in just to say they’re there. The Spurned One would not want to play the games the other Princes are so fond of, but he would support the victim. Aha! I just thought of a great place for him AND more Orcs to make an entrance as I was writing this. Unfortunately, it’s also a ways in the future. I need to start writing faster…  

     

    One thing I wanted to ask is this: How thoroughly do you follow the events of Skyrim? I mean, is this a re-telling, or can the quests end differently than in game?

     

    The quests can definitely end differently and I would say there is not much retelling. The first actual in-game quest doesn’t even start until the very end of Chapter 14, and how that one is initiated and ended are both different. I’m mostly just telling my story and using the amazing universe Bethesda has created as the framework. I use the in-game quests like an outline, then fill and adapt them to fit that story. I do try to adhere to the lore, but there is so much of it that I’m bound to mistakes. If you find one, call it out and hopefully I can fix it.    

     

    Well, I think we´re slowly nearing the end, so I would like to ask my typical question. What do you do when you don´t feel like writing? Every writer gets into that dark place at some point, where he/she feels like not being able to continue. What do you do to force yourself back to writing? Or do you just wait for your “muse”?

     

    I do a lot of ‘waiting for my muse.’ I write for my own entertainment, so if writing isn’t giving me any satisfaction I will usually take a break from it. Other times I want to write, but everything that comes out sounds like garbage or seems off tangent. Either way the solution is usually the same. Start looking at the story in a general view and searching for sources of inspiration. I’ll usually use this time to catch up on reading other stories or discussions on the blog, work on the outline, and go back through previous chapters.

    Writing about the same character can become tiring after a while and sometimes the story can take particularly dark turns, which can become depressing to write about at length. When that happens, it helps to switch to writing something lighthearted. For me, that is Vitus and Friends, a loosely connected series of shorts (only two at the moment) about the escapades of a band of retired Imperial veterans, starring Vitus (an old playthough), Lydia, and Kharjo. There is no over-arching plot, only what I feel like writing about at the time.   

    Sometimes I just need to go outside. It’s far too easy for me to go into super sloth mode and once that starts, it becomes an increasingly difficult spiral to break out of. The super sloth actually caught me this week, so it’s time to start running again. Need to keep the blood moving to keep the mind working.

     

    I think this was enlightening and surely quite interesting. I thank you for taking the time to go through this with me and hopefully, we´ll see more from you and more people will read your story.

     

    Thanks Karver, it was a pleasure and honor. I do want to give my thanks to my readers. The feedback and support I’ve received has been key in my development as a writer. You all give that extra motivation to keep me posting and to strive for better quality with each release. I’ll stop there before this turns into too much of a milk-drinking Oscar’s speech.   

    P.S. I actually do like Orcs

     

    You should. Or else... And you people, get out there and read it!