Across the Waters: A Story of the Migration

[Aemilius Paulus]

How many posts do you need to vote then?

[Lysimachos]

How many posts do you need to vote then?

50 posts and registered at least a week.

[Theodotos I]

Wow great update. So on to Ireland huh? This should be interesting indeed.

Well, if you remember, I already control Ireland. However, I am roleplaying that the disloyalty of Malac's eldest and his brother-in-law has created an atmosphere hostile to Aneirin and Cadwalador. Therefore they are quite friendless--or are they?
@Lysimachos and Aemilius Paullus: I appreciate all your help in trying to vote for my story. I hope you will be able to accomplish it.

EDIT: All good things must come to an end, Lysimachos. And this AAR is no exception. But not quite yet. . .

[fenix3279]

... hopefully not too soon.

[Aemilius Paulus]

50 posts and registered at least a week.

When does the AAR competition end? I mean, 50 posts is no joke, it would take some time. Then, again, I could just spam the
EB Bug Reports & Technical Help forum in TWC with questions about the bugs that plague EB!

Just kidding! That would be a bad thing, since someone has or will try (hopefully) to answer all those questions. Maybe I should just choose another place or for spamming in TWC (such as instead of having many sentences in one post, divide the single post into numerous one-sentence posts)! What's the current record for spamming in the EB forums anyway?

[Theodotos I]

When does the AAR competition end? I mean, 50 posts is no joke, it would take some time. Then, again, I could just spam the
EB Bug Reports & Technical Help forum in TWC with questions about the bugs that plague EB!

Just kidding! That would be a bad thing, since someone has or will try (hopefully) to answer all those questions. Maybe I should just choose another place or for spamming in TWC (such as instead of having many sentences in one post, divide the single post into numerous one-sentence posts)! What's the current record for spamming in the EB forums anyway?

Ends Monday, so there's no chance for you, even if you did spam, which I would strongly discourage. However, you can go to the voting thread and state who you would vote for, if you were permitted to vote. I don't think that's off-limits. So, that's what I would suggest if you want to support me. Thanks for all your effort.

[Theodotos I]

Removed for publication.

[Reverend Joe]

I would guess who it is, but it seems like you just mess with us every time we try to guess.

[Theodotos I]

Good luck!

[Theodotos I]

Removed for publication.

[Theodotos I]

Thought I had a picture of Erbin around here. If I find it, I'll add it.

[fenix3279]

Awesome chapter. Glad to see Cavarillos got what he deserved. However, a small part of me wishes the fight had been a little more epic. Somewhere along the lines of Anakin VS. Obi Wan or something... Either way, it's a good read.

[Theodotos I]

Awesome chapter. Glad to see Cavarillos got what he deserved. However, a small part of me wishes the fight had been a little more epic. Somewhere along the lines of Anakin VS. Obi Wan or something... Either way, it's a good read.

Well, perhaps it could have been better. Still, how many AARs even give you a one-on-one swordfight? Thanks for reading.

[Hax]

One-on-one swordfights are usually decided pretty quickly though. Slashing a longsword around for 10 minutes is very, very tiring.

[Theodotos I]

Removed for publication.

[Theodotos I]

One-on-one swordfights are usually decided pretty quickly though. Slashing a longsword around for 10 minutes is very, very tiring.

That's why Anakin and Obi-Wan used lightsabers. Right?

[Hax]

Now with 25% less calories!

[Theodotos I]

Removed for publication.

[penguinking]

Absolutely amazing AAR. Wonderful writing.

Keep up the great work!

[Lysimachos]

Is this something like the last voyage? I have little hope they will succeed

[Theodotos I]

@PenguinKing: Good to hear from you. It's always nice to have a comment from a new reader.
@Lysimachos: All questions shall be answered. Posting up. . .

[Theodotos I]

Removed for publication.

[Theodotos I]

Well, this is the end—almost. I’ll be posting up a “historical” prologue detailing the subsequent events of the kingdom on Monday or Tuesday. In the meantime, I would like all of you to do something for me. If you’ve lurked your way through this entire story, never commenting, or if you just haven’t commented recently, PLEASE do so now.
It’s important, and I’ll be explaining why. Feel free to say anything you care to, express (or vent) your opinion of the ending of the story, and suggest things I could have done better. However, I need to hear from all of you, lurkers especially.
Here’s why. Anyone who comments at this point will automatically receive a short excerpt from the novel I’m currently working on, giving you a glimpse of what I’m planning for the future. As well, you will be notified when and if I get that novel published. If you are interested in either, or have just enjoyed my writing over the past six months, please comment. As I’ve stated, criticism is just as welcome as praise. You all are what have made this AAR a success, but I’ll never know your part in it unless you comment.
According to MS Word, I’ve spent over a hundred and fifty hours just writing this story, not to mention the time spent actually playing the game and editing screenshots. So, if you would, take a moment of your time to comment upon it. Thanks to all.

[Hax]

Whoa...stunning.

Really...stunning.

[Lysimachos]

A worthy end - for a great warrior and a great story and in both ways kind of sad.
As I said before, I first hadn't been interested in an Aedui-AAR, but once i started i read almost the whole thing in one go (up to the point where i first commented).
In my opinion you managed to create an absolutely captivating story, along with Aaldaemon's sadly unfinished Flight of the Dragons my favorite AAR ever and I'm really looking forward to what else you have in the drawer, so to speak.
I can't think of anything to criticize right now, perhaps with time I will find something

[Ower]

Im just stuned, you my dear are a great writer, your story had me on my toes the whole time, always expecting a twist, but newer knowing what it would be, and you have always suprised me. I would love to read that book of yours, once you finish it, ewen if it would be in a doc, unpublished.

[Reverend Joe]

Dude, you really messed with my expectations. Cadwalador was the last person I would expect to die an epic, heroic death. It really worked, though.

Also, before you try to get published, edit out the "one God" stuff. Publishers will worry it will offend a lot of non-Christians; I can tell you it made me a little uncomfortable, but I ran with it because I had some familiarity with you as a person. Other people will not be as kind.

[Praxis]

Wow. Theodotos I, you are a master. I've followed your story since you first started writing, as a lurker. You certainly know how to pluck at heart-strings with all those plot twists. I wish you all the best with your novel!

[Theodotos I]

@Hax: I thought it would surprise a few people.

@Lysimachos: Many thanks for your kind words. The end of Cadwalador and the end of the AAR is a bittersweet experience for me as well. For a time, I had actually plotted out beyond the death of Aneirin moc Cunobelin, planning to have Cadwalador survive the disaster and bring Margeria and her two sons back into the plot. But, as you will see in the epilogue, the Casse themselves forced my hand and I could see no sense in having Cadwalador die fighting beside Erbin or Praesutagos!

@Ower: I appreciate you reading along all this time. I tried to keep the plot moving forward at an equal pace to the events of the game. Reading about countless successful battles is really rather boring, so I thought I would toss in a few defeats just to spice things up. Well, that’s where the EB AI stepped in and handed me my rear on a golden platter.
As for my book, I need to get back to it. This AAR more than anything has been the product of a enforced six-month sabbatical.

@Reverend Joe: I’m glad you felt the ending worked. I wasn’t exactly sure. Personally I’ve thought of Cadwalador as a hero all along. If you’ve ever been in some of these situations in real-life, you know staying loyal to a currently unpopular person or cause is one of the most truly heroic things you can ever do. But I wanted to end it with a dramatic last stand.
As for the second part of your comment, if you are suggesting that I should edit the “monotheism” out before I should try to get this story published, I would agree with you. With the benefit of hindsight, I can see that it just didn’t work in this story. Despite the truth of what I believe, the idea that the Aedui of 272 BC would have known of it was pushing the envelope, particularly with what Sarcasm said of their lack of written records. And, perhaps more importantly, it didn’t add much of anything to the plot. Cadwalador’s healthy skepticism of his native gods was already well established and I probably should have left it at that.
However, if you are saying that I should expunge the notion from all of my writing, then I will have to respectfully disagree. That would be to cut out a part of my character, and no writer can do that and survive with themselves, much less anyone else. Indeed, my regular writing, which is far more modern in nature, will be pitched toward the Christian publishing market. The difficulty I perceive there is that the said market has largely been taken over by pacifists and those who somehow believe a Christian is not permitted to kill in defense of his country. The Christian protagonist of the novel I’m currently working on is a paramilitary who happens to believe you can.
All the same, I appreciate your concern. As for people not being kind, well, I’ve already found that out. . .

@Praxis: Welcome to the forums, and many thanks for commenting. Your excerpt will be arriving shortly, once I get it properly edited. I hope I can make a success of my writing out in the "real" world. Here's a balloon for being the first lurker to show himself.

[Theodotos I]

Removed for publication.