Hello out there,
Welcome to the fourth episode of Talking Offerings! This series offers a deeper look into the weekly story Dark Offerings. I provide my insights as the writer and analyze the story so far.
Dark Offerings is like the Dark Souls of Augmented Reality MMOs. Even the lowest of creatures can still kill you especially if you’re being ganged up on.
If you don’t currently read Dark Offerings feel free to use this link and read it. It’s free!
Chapter 4.
This Chapter revolves around the sword that Inethiel found in the first Chapter. When I wrote the description for the sword it was a simple sword with a green glow. I knew I wanted to do something with it so I expanded on it. When I wrote Chapter three the sword was still simplistic. It was only when I wrote the dream sequence that I decided to change it’s appearance.
The web on the guard with a bunch of trapped figures I thought was a moment of brilliance. Each person cursed by the sword leaves behind another negative effect which I hadn’t seen a story do before.
I haven’t read many undead novels but I loved the fact that Inethiel was buffed instead of negatively impacted by the curses. The undead are already cursed and I like the idea, just like in math, two negatives equal a positive.
The poison, however, is a separate thing. It’s not something super secretive or anything like that. It’s simply a self-defense mechanism that indicates that the sword’s charge is low. It’s charged by the drain skill being used. It’s a simplistic mechanic which I probably put too much mysticism behind.
Kumo still hasn’t been fully explored and I’m writing chapter 22.
Victor came seemingly out of nowhere. I knew that I wanted Molly’s friend to be interesting and that’s it. His accent and everything came out of my head as it is. I didn’t have to alter it at all.
I had to rewrite the dream sequence a few times. I’m still not perfectly satisfied with the papers and how Kumo emerged from them.
As for the two knocked-unconscious scenes. I didn’t plan to have two of them but I needed to drive home how deadly the sword could be even when Inethiel had protections in place.
What I really enjoyed exploring was the whole ‘out of body’ experience that came with Azerail being kicked out of Inethiel’s body.
Mixing Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality can make pretty much anything happen in the real world and I found that extremely fascinating.
The chapter itself took a while to complete. When the story has heavy descriptions or heavy dialog (Especially dialog like Victors.) it can take a while for my brain to form the words I need to write.
That’s it for this episode! I have a ton of fun writing these and I hope you enjoy them as well. Feel free to use the chat below if you have any other questions about this Chapter. I’m happy to have an open dialog with anyone who wishes it.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Katherine
Author Katherine Phillips 