User blog comment:SaynaSLuke/The Ocean's Echoes/@comment-2142396-20160312200202

I really should have commented earlier, but I’m slow to read this, as I just finished chapter 16… Well, I’m so proud of Xzaris, getting a ship of his own all by himself! Of course, it wasn’t easy for Romsca and Rasconza too to keep and maintain their ships – by the way, I like how you thought out your world as deep as its economics and showed this side of Sampetra life, - but the fact that Xzaris slaved for seasons to be able to buy that ship and then slaved even more to repair her and make her sea-worthy, that just calls for extra respect. Another related question: you mentioned that any ship needs to carry a flag with the crest of her Captain’s house – does that mean that a beast who is not noble by birth cannot become a Captain? Of will they just invent a house for themselves in this case?

Ublaz’s plan is so devilish that I actually love him – so far, he really holds the title of ‘Best Sayna’s villain’. :D Whatever he does, his actions are always so practical, like him killing two birds with one stone by that little game of his, getting the pearls and breaking Romsca and her friends apart in a ‘divide and rule’ fashion – and yet he can’t refuse himself the hint of sadism of playing with his victims and gloating over them. It’s really so balanced that I enjoy Ublaz whenever he appears on the scene.

I can relate with Romsca much better now than with her younger self – partly because she really matured, partly because she went through one heck of things, and it’s easy to feel for her. Even though she is a pirate, she is so confused and she keeps struggling with what happened to her ever since that quest… That’s why I enjoy her relationship with Xzaris so much, I guess. And that’s why seeing Xzaris so downcast and depressed after he sets off on the quest, knowing that even if he wins, Romsca would die, is so sad. He provided such a support for Romsca, and now poor guy needs all the support he can get himself…

I’m not quite liking the idea that she has to prove herself because she is the only female Captain at Sampetra – there were female Captains in ‘Pearls of Lutra’, like Bloodsnout, and even not counting them, there is Sagitar herself whom no one would call weak. It seems to me that most of Romsca’s challenges rather come from her being so young and unexperienced, especially since Xzaris also has to face a lot of trouble due to the same reasons. Still, the notion of some of her crewbeasts trying to woo Romsca is so hilarious that I can’t help but like it! :D Like, even though Cheng is a jerk, he is just so funny as he tries to sweet-talk Romsca around! Seriously, I think that subplot provided some good character development for Romsca and hardened her up… if it’s even possible to harden her even further…

Val, Val, what do you really do at the tavern? First you run about with blood stains on your clothes, then come in all wet and dirty even though you are supposed to work indoors… If it will turn out that Kia has been using our sweet innocent Val for some of her shady dealing, I don’t know what I’ll do with that ferret! The way Val is so desperate to get away from Kia and her tavern only proves that something rotten is going on here! By the way, are Val and Rasconza officially in a relationship now? Because in ‘Stolen Tears’ I got an impression that Rasconza had a crush on Val, but she were too clueless to actually notice it. And it seems that Val/Conza relationship isn’t as well as it seems since she asked Xzaris to take her on and not Rasconza… Knowing Rasconza’s attitude – which I can totally understand, - she probably already knew he won’t let her join his crew.

Watch out, ratguards, Lutran is on the hunt – and he is coming for you, like a dutiful son of Lutra should! I may sound weird, but I have an impression that in your story, Grath’s canon personality got split in two: Lutran is her wild and vengeful side who shall not rest till all the pirates are dead, while Grath herself is her more quiet, thoughtful and philosophical side. I like Martin II there and how he is more mild and quiet, more of a musician than a warrior – I mean, I always loved canon Martin II, but I love this one as well. It’s really easier to think of them as of two separate characters… :D So Arven and Cracklyn are siblings in your story? Considering how you just love making family connections between characters, I probably shouldn’t be surprised, but I am, anyway. Oh Clecky, what are you doing, telling tales to Dibbuns like that? This is going to backfire… this is going to backfire, you’ll see, Clecky!

Selina and Wind’s situation makes me so sad… It seems that Selina reached that very stage when she had lost all hope of ever being free again, and is just content for what little things she can get. As for Wind, she seems so tired of everything what is happening, and the way she always speaks in a flat monotone and never rises her voice just highlights it. Ah, your mention of Terramort makes me really curious about how Redwall history unfolded in your world! If Selina was born there, does that mean that Terramort is populated by mice now after Gabul’s fall, or was she born a slave?

Romsca’s visit to the abandoned Holt Lutra was sadder than I expected. I thought it would be more meaningful for Grath, but I forgot that this place holds a lot of memories for Romsca as well. And waaait… that revelation was unexpected! Knowing that Sampetra was once allied with woodlanders makes me both glad and sad. Glad because it means that Scound and Aisha really held to their promise not to be like Swartt and Scound, that they started it all anew and gave all vermin a chance to clear their name and to truly rise as a nation of their own… And it’s sad because somewhen along the way, Sampetra still messed it up. Sampetra still became a nation of pirates and murderers, and that happened way before Ublaz and Meili and the old Emperor that were Conva’s half-uncle… Thinking of what they have lost and how the things could’ve been different – and how probably, just probably, there is still a chance for Sampetra to return to its true heritage, though I guess not easily, since you can’t just forget the way your country lived for generations… Yes, that was certainly a strong move there!