Cover Art by Jason Pedersen

On October 16th, I made a post asking for questions that Sari can answer.  This is to help kick off the hype and final march towards Legends of Windemere: Warlord of the Forgotten Age.  Let’s start.

L. Marie asked: How do you keep your positive outlook when you face so many dangers?

Because being negative will get you killed.  I might be more open about it than most adventurers, but you really can’t go into these situations thinking you’re going to die.  Even when you’re relaxing, it’s healthier to enjoy life and not let the stress consume you.  By being more out there with my feelings, I help the others relax too.  Somebody needs to do it, especially when things get more serious and dangerous.  Won’t say that I don’t have my moments of pessimism though.  Very few people are devoid of negativity, so you have to simply drown the bad with more good.

Victoria Zigler asked: Of all the customs and traditions of your clan, which was your favourite and the one you miss the most since losing them?

I never really had a favorite because I loved all of the singing, dancing, rites of passage, and everything else that was part of my life.  To be fair, I never got to experience any of the customs and traditions that deal with parenthood, which would be the top of the list for things I miss.  Not sure if they count though.  Out of the ones I was involved in, I would say the weekly feasts where we played games, told stories, and forgot all of our cares until morning.  This would be when people renewed vows, differences were settled, and we talked about being a family.  The champions relax like this at times, but it isn’t the same and I feel like I’m the one running the show.  Since we’re all from different cultures and backgrounds, the meaning behind our celebrations tends to be varied.

Colin Noel-Johnson asked: Of all your companions over your journey, which one would you most like to share a drink with in twenty years? Do you ever regret not robbing someone? If you could have swapped a skill with one of your companions, which one would you have chosen?

1. Whoever is still talking me.  Seriously, I don’t plan on losing contact with anyone, so I’d much rather a big party where everyone is there.  We’ll be different people by then, but not enough that we’d be strangers.  I’m kind of like Nyxie in that I see all of us as a big clan.  Although, I guess if I had to pick one person it would be whoever dies fighting the Baron.  There is that whole ‘someone will perish’ warning that Gabriel gave us that we’ve all been thinking about.
2. Tend to hear the opposite question, but I can’t think of anyone.  I really only do it when I need money . . . or I’m bored . . . or the person makes me mad . . . or I want to show off for someone.  My point is that I always have a reason for stealing and there are plenty of people that I haven’t taken money from.  If it happens then it happens as far as I’m concerned.
3. I’m a tough one to ask that of because I have so many abilities.  Think the others would love to swap with me, which sounds dirtier out loud than it did in my head.  Honestly, I can’t think of any other powers that would suit my methods.  Maybe Fizzle’s invisibility spell since that’s a lot stronger than my own.  He can turn it on and off without any effort while I have to do all the hand gestures.  It might take the fun out of heists, but I’d only use it when in emergencies.

Chris the Story Reading Ape asked: Who do you consider your greatest rival and why?

Aside from any guards who might try to arrest me? That probably doesn’t count since being a champion has taken the fun out of stealing.  I never really had a sinister rival like some of the others.  Guess it would have to be Kira Grasdon since we were both going after Luke, but that’s kind of awkward.  The whole open relationship thing caused a whole mess that we have to get over.  She had him first and I pushed too far and he went along with it without complaint and then we all had to accept that we were acting like children.  I will say that Kira helped me realize more about myself when we were competing with each other.  I still like to take a few digs at her too.