Well I've decided that my ToC isn't chaotic or big enough so now I've added a new section to it for stories. 

Welcome one and all to             Blessing of the Beast

A selection of stories about Aela growing up in the harsh world of Skyrim where life ins cheap and the mead runs free. So far there's one story in it but I'll be adding to it. This month I was hoping to finish my Exodus story for Bloodmoon Rising but alas with work being so hectic theres little I can do untill I can get on Morrowind. 

So, I'm completely stuck on where to take AotQ after Part 20. I know I want to do another part unrelated to the in-game story before tackling the Dawnbreak quest, but that's as far as I've gotten. Any thoughts?

Link to Part 20 for reference.

Well it sounds to me that you want a breather chapter. Something small and insignificant where the chars can take five and chill. Now I say insignificant but this does allow opportunities. Maybe they will find a hobble or half ruin to settle down and talk about their pasts. Go hunting for food maybe? Weather turns nasty as is often the case. Plenty of caves to explore while the rain/snow settles.

Hunting trip would give fresh supplies/furs and a chance to allow the chars to interact and show off their different characteristics. 

Maybe tell of their past a bit and add some background.

Spoilers for Roaring Thunder, Hissing Lightning incoming.

Um. Ahem.

The, uh, main character. I'm seriously considering having him get raped.

*awkward chirping*

*ducks for cover as boos and hisses fill the silence of the campfire*

Oooooh bother, this is going to take some explaining.

In my latest chapter, I began building up a villain who is essentially the most disgusting, loathsome puddle of muck you can imagine. I eventually thought of highlighting the depths of his depravity (and perhaps mine as well) by having him violate a fourteen-year-old boy. This, I felt, would immediately make him the object of every reader's hatred.

The problem is, I would be making the main character a victim. Again. Themes of powerlessness and helplessness have already been explored in the previous few chapters, and even before that he was getting depressed and moping over his first assassination. Returning to the topic of 'Harrow feeling down' again so soon just makes him seem like a weak crybaby.

Then of course there's the question of how the reader will actually look at the scene. Will this simply have the effect of pushing them away because of how repulsive or offensive the concept is? Will it be able to evoke sympathy in the reader, or simply draw a frown at how out-of-place the whole situation is? And if it does evoke sympathy, that's all well and good, but I don't want to feel as if I'm painting a sign all over the chapter that reads 'FEEL SORRY FOR HIM! ARE YOU FEELING SORRY YET?'. Goodness knows I'm beginning to do that a lot.

Agh, now that I've typed all of that out and looked at it, I might as well scrap the idea. It wasn't in the original plot anyway. I'd like to know what my seniors here think, though.

Frankly, considering how powerful and smart Harrow is, I find it very difficult to see him even being in that situation to begin with. I can possibly see him getting attacked, but then shoving a star up the dude's eye or something like that. It would never get to the point of violation the way you've set this character up. 

Any rape scene would be difficult to do so in a way not to be offensive and cause dilemma for the writer. I do go this route but only in a dream sequence with Aela's spirit wolf and Greymane. It would also be under heavy scrutiny by its peers.

To do so with a child would be writer suicide if the blog allowed it (Which it wouldn't). Even the suggestion would turn away readers to the point where the story would be finished, if it was allowed in the blogs

If you want to develop empathy towards the char then there are far better ways to go about it than rape.

In my latest chapter, I began building up a villain who is essentially the most disgusting, loathsome puddle of muck you can imagine. I eventually thought of highlighting the depths of his depravity 

This is so easy to portray without the need for any violence. 

Guard one. "Ramior the Jackal has escaped. Last seen heading across the plains".

Guard two. "That the guy wanted for rape and murder? That family in Rorikstead?"

Guard one. "Murders you mean. Bastard killed them all".

No need to highlight the level of depravity at all. Everyone who reads this will know Ramior is as you put it; essentially the most disgusting, loathsome puddle of muck you can imagine.

Duly noted, thank you for the input from both of you, Sotek-jo, Lissette-ko. I'll certainly tone down that idea, but I might be keeping the villain's attraction to the MC. I find that particular dynamic a little hard to ignore, now that I've brought it up. Seduction instead? Hmm. Shinobi do pride themselves in taking advantage of an opponent's weaknesses...

Guess I'm late for the party. Shame, I had a bucket of rotten cabbages ready. :P Jokes aside, I think it's not too late for me to put my input on this matter.

Rape is a touchy subject to write about. Not many would go that far as to make it the main subject of a chapter. Even GRRM makes off screen remarks about rape in his books. Personally I think the idea you have here is just a bit overwhelming to take for readers, especially if the rape victim is a child. As Lissette said, Harrow's too smart and powerful to be a rape victim. So there's no possibility of that happening to him. I think you should find other ways to address your big bad, maybe make him talk about his wartime 'experiences'. That should rattle Harrow and the kits' bones.

As for suggestions, *cough* Altmer *cough* Illusion *cough*

[blockquote][b][url=/profile/AxiusRevan]KaiserSoSage[/url] said:[/b]

As for suggestions, *cough* Altmer *cough* Illusion *cough*

[/blockquote]

Have you seen Dredd from 2012? Mind Rape Warning: Mature content. 

Have you seen Dredd from 2012? Mind Rape Warning: Mature content. 

I watched Dredd. Sadly they cut off most of the gory and violent bits. Typical censorship.

EDIT after watching link: *shudders* And this is why we should fear psychics and illusionists.