Hey guys!  I’ve been meaning to post a life update in addition to my regular posts, but I’ve been busier than I expected this month.  I will try to post one before the end of the month, as well as an anime review, since I’ve just finished a couple of really good series.

But that’s not for this post,  This post is for Hell/Dolls, so let’s get into it.

By the way… I have a little “surprise”…

Current Chapter (Unity’s Edge): 19 (Cat and Mouse)

Pages: 358 (via MS Word)

Total Word Count: 124,557 (via AutoCrit)

Current Chapter (New World): 3

Pages: 28 (via MS Word)

Total Word Count: 10,664 (via AutoCrit)

I’VE STARTED WORKING ON A SIDE STORY!!

Because I’m nearing the end of the first main book, there are things I need to clarify, both for myself and for anyone who tries to read my story.  As dedicated as I am to this story, it’s still a ten-or-more-year-old idea that was never fully fleshed out.  I’m still hard at work completing the main story (more than 10,000 words added since the last update and over 10,000 words in the Side Story, nice!), but for my own peace of mind, I’ve started on this SS, which I will probably start releasing after Unity’s Edge Book 1 is completely released (chapter-wise, not necessarily published).

I may end up splitting up the update posts so that stuff doesn’t get cluttered together, but we’ll see.  I’ll talk about the SS a little in the next update post (maybe even in the next life update), but I think it’s better left as this right now.

For now, let me discuss the first of the two recently-released chapters.  Chapter Six, entitled “The Baael and In’tites” is the first major revelation chapter, and the first time we explicitly reference the Baael.

Now, the Baael weren’t originally about numbers when I originally created H/D; they were supposed to be scarce, terrifying enemies that took literal armies to defeat.  As I was writing this version of the story, I realized that version of the Baael was unsustainable for the way I wanted them presented in this version.  It’s a little cliche, but the original story had Demon Lord-style Baael based on the seven deadly sins, and named after Goetic devils.  I haven’t completely decided if I’m leaving that idea completely off the table, but as it stands, there’s no room for demon lords right now.

Instead, I’ve redesigned the Baael as “terrifying” because of their sheer numbers; because they’re essentially the reconvergence of dead things’ life forces, they can populate areas indefinitely, eventually overtaking whole villages in minutes.  The presence of a “Prime Baael” was the remnants of the Baael having some sort of intelligent leader type, though the one present in this chapter still can’t talk (that’ll come later).

Small-talk, we get introduced to a few characters that I personally enjoy; we get to meet Captain Tenmus and Lieutenant Darda, both of which may get some more “line time” later on.  I can’t say why I like these two, they just speak to be better than Captain Barolo… though, I intentionally made Barolo someone I dislike.

…Then we have the revelation talk.  A specific discussion that holds some specific consequences for the rest of this book.

I’m talking about Warbelle’s discussion with Vincent about his Baaelite nature.

The original script of this story had Vincent as a half-Baael as well, but because that version started so much later in the timeline, I had made Vincent aware of the fact and hiding it until a critical battle.  In Unity’s Edge, Vincent is completely unaware of his heritage, and doesn’t remember his parents at all, so his understanding of his own nature comes as a surprise to him as well.

The concept of a Baaelite never really came up until this chapter, but I tried to sprinkle in little hints here and there that he wasn’t quite the same as other Hjina.  I don’t know if that came across properly, but I tried.

As for why Warbelle knows he’s a Baaelite… well, that will come at a later chapter.  Don’t expect much, though.  Please.  I’m begging you.

Finally, the following scene where Vincent has a panic attack – I tried to make this scene as realistic as possible, based on my own experience with panic attacks and stress, and what I’d learned about PTSD from people I know.  I still feel like it came off a little weak…

Anyway, I included this brief scene to show that Vincent can show weakness when he needs to, even if he’d prefer to keep it bottled up inside.  It also shows that Simon and Rinkyu are willing to step up to help their team no matter what, despite Vincent’s own reservations accepting help.  This whole last scene was meant to be a humanizing experience for these three (though, as I write this, I remember and still wish I included Hazkura in this moment somehow).

This chapter as a whole is one of my favorites, even if I did have to rewrite each scene several times.  It’s got a lot of ups and downs, it’s got combat, it’s got tenderness, secrecy, and the first real view of the threat the Baael and the *other* threat pose to Saruja and the Crush Squad.

Well, I’m going to go back to writing.  I hope you all have a wonderful month, and hope you reach your goals!  See you soon!

-Marcosias Isif