: : I noticed that in the last days weren't any new topics here, so I decided to start a new one ;-). Has got anybody news about the second part of TLW ? Or something else ?

: : Tomcat

: While perusing the LW official site last night, I got the idea that the prospect of riches or the threat of assassination did not lead Marguerite to fund the expedition. In reality she is driven by something she does not understand. A mysterious driving force compelled her to back Challenger.Now we all know she is the " chosen one " But just what does that imply? To date, in so far as I know, her special status has been recognized only by Celtic beings. Is it possible that Marguerite is a druidic version of H. Rider Haggard's Ayesha? And, why must her destiny only be fulfilled in the New World? Opinions?

: Marguerite's number one strong point is language. We are led to believe, partly by her own admission, that if she hears a language spoken, she can speak it. We have seen her pick up on anything written almost immediately and without prior instruction. A skill acquired via a number of incarnations? Probably. Could this emphasis on language be a clue to her true nature and identity? Interesting possibilities, yes?
: Steve Faust

Quick question for Faust before I get started: I hate to admit ignorance, even partial, but I’m unsure of your reference. Is H. Rider Haggard’s Ayesha also known as She Who Must Be Obeyed? I’m not sure why that comes to mind, as the reference wouldn’t then seem to fit, so I must be off base here. Is the title of the work you’re referring to ‘Ayesha’? If not, please give me the title, so I can look into it and form an opinion.

I don’t think our theorizing about political or economic reasons for Marguerite to have come on the expedition are in any way counter to the official site’s statement that there is something she doesn’t understand driving her. Obviously, she would have to find a logical reason in her own mind for her actions. Admittedly, the financial one is more compatible, but I think if she were fleeing German assassins, she could have found other equally good ways to throw them off the scent – so why was she so determined to go on this expedition? That is where the unknown influence comes in.

We have here, as well as with Kartas’ unusual methods, what I think is a good technique for instilling esoteric elements into the show. They don’t push it; it can even be pretty much ignored. Not completely, of course, but those who truly dislike the idea of “magic” can simply view the “Out of Time” episode as an aberration, and just ignore Kartas and his distance viewing.

But as with Shakespeare and his “more things on heaven and earth”, I believe that certainly the fictional world become more interesting when certain inexplicable elements are melded into the story telling. I don’t advocate using magic as a quick fix – ever. However, there is some truly excellent fantasy fiction out there today that proves that magic can be written to make complete logic and sense. Generally the best of these works focus first on the concept that using magic takes energy, and generally more than doing things in the mundane manner. Also, there have to be strict rules or “laws of magic” just like the laws of physics, or it just doesn’t make any sense and is plain silly.

Going on to Marguerite’s lingual facility. I don’t recall where she actually claimed to be able to pick up a spoken language by hearing it. Maybe that was in the pilot episode, although I thought she already knew a close approximation to the dialect being spoken, and that was why she could understand them. Along with, of course, the fact that knowing, what is it, sixty some-odd? languages must make for being able to pick up on almost anything. The incredible ability to read any written language, now, that is definitely in the realm of the inexplicable. I agree that there must be a clue here to secrets about her which even she doesn’t yet know. Something from classic mythology, perhaps, although the Celtic tie certainly leaves things wide open. With the invader Julius Caesar as the main source of documentation, that is not precisely a well documented mythology. As Challenger said, a classical education can be a useful thing. I wish mine were more thorough and varied.

Sooo… I have to ask – anybody on the board actually working on a full-fledged fiction piece with our intrepid heroes? In addition, of course, to Tamysan? I’ve got a monstrosity underway that I’ve been pulled away from for a while now, with other more immediate calls on my leisure time, but who knows.

Ag