Faerûnian Times
Exclusive interviews with the cast of Kail's Story.
-by Alara Nimbletoes
Halfling reporter
Interview 4 - Elanee
I don't have to wait long for Elanee to show up. She looks simply radiant as she glides into the Flagon and shakes my hand. The story doesn't really do justice to her elven beauty. Today she's wearing a pretty green dress, and it's hard to believe that when we first encountered her in chapter 6 of Kail's Story, she was wearing shapeless brown druid robes. She gives me a serene smile when she notices me eyeing her dress, and it feels almost as if she's read my mind.
Alara Nimbletoes: Thanks for agreeing to this interview, Elanee. I know you've been loathe to give them in the past. You really like your privacy, don't you?
Elanee: When I first started out I didn't mind all the attention, but after a couple of hundred years it starts to get a bit tiring.
AN: I can only imagine. Let's talk about your character for a moment. Elanee seems to be one of those people with a lot of layers to her. At first we think she's only helping Kail because she cares about the land, but then we find out she's been watching Kail all along.
E: Yes, she's had a good role so far. She can be deep, but also a bit fickle, which is odd for an elf. Usually they change really slowly, because of their long life-spans, but in the shape of a few short months, we see quite a few changes wrought in her.
AN: Quite drastic changes, too. She goes from being a wise advisor/authority figure, to a naïve maiden.
E: I think it's quite understandable. A lot has happened to her... she's lost her Circle, who have been like a family to her since she was a child. She's lost her connection to the land, and with it her clarity and her direction. She's also been living in a lot of denial about her true feelings for Casavir.
AN: Do you think there's an important message in that for all of us? That it's better to let your feelings out than keep them bottled inside?
E: Definitely. Constant indecision is never a good thing. Even if you end up being rejected, at least it's a resolution, and you can start getting on with your life afterwards. Open wounds never heal, after all.
AN: It seems to be a message that the character of Kail isn't taking to heart.
E: Yes, she's always been a bit of a loner, and it doesn't help that she's had a lot thrown at her.
AN: Do you think she'll survive the King of Shadows?
E: Probably. It would be a real shame to kill her off after all the effort that's gone in to writing her, and giving her an in-depth history.
AN: Do you think Elanee will survive the final battle?
E: [she gives me an aloof smile] That would be telling.
AN: Okay... if she did survive, what do you think she'd do after? Would she get married to Casavir, or return to the Mere, or seek out Elder Naevan..?
E: I like to think she'll stay with Casavir, at least for a while. He's been there for her when she's needed him, so she wouldn't just leave him and run off. But I also think she'll try to re-establish her link with the land. For a druid, losing that connection is like losing a limb, and she'll want to start helping the land to heal as soon as possible.
AN: You handled the romance with Casavir quite well, but how did you find working with a human so closely?
E: It was a little awkward at first, but Casavir's a really nice person, and he made it all really easy. After we'd finished an awkward scene, he'd end up cracking a joke and making me laugh and forget about my nervousness.
AN: It took a long time for the two characters to get together, didn't it?
E: Yes, but it needed to be realistic. Elanee's not the type of character to throw herself at someone, and Casavir's a paladin of Tyr, so he's naturally going to put his faith before personal desires. Plus, we had to move pas the whole 'Casavir being attracted to Kail' situation, to make room for me.
AN: Do you think they would have made a good couple?
E: No, I don't think so. They're just too different. Casavir's a really solid, dependable sort of guy, but I don't think that would have excited Kail. She's the type of person who likes a bit of danger, and wants somebody who won't hold back or think about doing the right thing all the time. She likes unpredictable people.
AN: Like Valear?
E: [smiling] Yes. Even though he barely gets any screen-time, you get the impression that Kail's former lover is one of those really chaotic people who doesn't think fully about the consequences of their actions.
AN: Was it hard, to portray someone who was slowly losing their connection to the land?
E: At times it was difficult, yes. I spent a lot of time in make-up, having dark circles put under my eyes to make me look tired, having my hair made messy and my skin made a bit paler.
AN: At least you didn't have to get a bad haircut, though!
E: Thank the Seldarine for small mercies.
AN: Any thoughts on how Kail's Story is going to end?
E: Well, I suppose it will end with the destruction of the King of Shadows, but the way things are going, it's hard to guess at anything else. I know there's purposely been some questions left unanswered, so that they can be addressed in the sequel. I know we're not going to Rasheman, so I guess we'll be dealing with the fall-out of the collapsing Illefarn ruins.
AN: Kail mentioned the sequel isn't being set in the Sword Coast.
E: Really? Well, that's news to me. It might work out for the best, at least for my character, anyway. Her home's been corrupted and I think if she went back there, it would take a long time for her to restore her connection to the land.
AN: Who's your favourite cast member to work with?
E: I like working with everybody. I tend to have more scenes with Kail, Neeshka, Khelgar and Casavir, but that's just the way it's worked out.
AN: Do you have a favourite chapter?
E: Yes, chapter 67 (Snowed in and under). It was a lot of fun being out in the snow with Neeshka and Shandra, building a giant snow-Grobnar. I had to pretend that I was really cold and miserable about it, but it made a nice change, and it was good to see Elanee having a bit of a girly moment with the others. She's not really one to gossip, normally.
AN: Speaking of gossip, do you think kids could be on the cards for Elanee and Casavir?
E: I doubt it. I think the story's a bit too violent to get kids involved. What with all the death and torture.
AN: But there are kids in it already, aren't there?
E: They don't really count. They can be written out of the story at any point, because they're not integral to the plot. It's a bit harder to write out the children of a major character.
AN: Is there any particular chapter that you thought was sad?
E: Chapter 73 (The Demon Within) was really sad because we had to say goodbye to Shandra. Even though we all knew it was coming, it was still a really emotional scene. We had a big good-bye party after we'd finished it, but it's always sad to lose a friend like that.
AN: Do you think she'll come back in the future, maybe as part of the sequel or in any dream sequences?
E: Never say never. I suspect she won't be back, but nothing's impossible. Garius was killed off once, after all, and he managed to come back. Shandra was quite important to Kail, too, so maybe the writer will put her in a dream or something when it's important to do so.
AN: Thanks very much for all your time, and for your speculation. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that Elanee survives the final battle!
E: [smiles] Thank you very much.