Just the Q&A chapter. I was going to hold off on this, but...now is as good a time as any. I think I got all of them from PM and in the reviews for all the stories. Apologies if I missed yours.
Q. Why the short chapters?
A. A few reasons...first, sometimes a point simply feels 'natural' to stop at before transitioning to the next stage. Second, it allows for more frequent updating. Third, it allows me time to 'tweak' a few things here and there, it takes less time for me to edit along the way. Fourth, the story structure actually benefits from this, the flow of the story is the chief dictator of the length of the chapter. A segment that is slow paced can take a period of days to go through, where one portion feeds into the next, by contrast, when a chapter is fast paced, it makes more sense to get it all out in one go. My longest chapter was...I think...11,000+ words, that was the fall of Prart. Originally it was set to take place over several days, with Detective Neia Holmes uncovering corruption and conducting covert operations to bring down the whole rotten ediface, but I threw that entire story away, it just didn't come out right no matter how I worked it, Neia is still young, she's passionate, she doesn't have the innocence she had before the war, but her fanaticism, power, and passion, made immediate action more natural, so that story came out in one go. Others...just work better with frequent breaks.
Q. Why the branches?
A. I like a world to have depth, to not take place in a vacuum, these branch stories let me show the world through different eyes and show how the world at large is reacting to events, and shaping them through their own, giving...if I'm doing it right, a more dynamic and natural feel rather than just the protagonist having stumbled into something or enemy action simply seeming contrived as mere plot devices. Plus...world building is fucking fun. :)
Q. Did X story influence the ideology here.
A. I think it is reasonable to say that 'Masks They Wear' had an influence on this, though how much is hard to say, a lot of influences are at work, but the way that story 'matured' Ainz ten years into his time in the New World, was especially impressive. All in all I suppose its the way I see Ainz himself, as a traditional king, ruthless yes, but not evil for its own sake, and the direction he'd grow in, while trying to be responsible. If I did a story set ten years after the conclusion of this one, I think that would end up a lot like the version of him represented in 'Masks' so I probably won't write that story, that author has already done to good a job.
Q. Has Neia's talent grown stronger?
A. Yes, this was illustrated in a chapter after this question, but to answer it again, yes. She can now influence people beyond simply those who have undergone trauma. Now...she doesn't control their minds, she can't just turn someone against everything they believe in. But she has the charisma to take charge and get people to listen to her who are emotionally lost and in need of direction. She inspires people to do what she wants because they want to, especially after she does something significant to change the world they know. This is why she was able to drive the disillusioned priests and paladins of Prart who survived the riot, to follow her guidance. Had they not been disillusioned, shocked, and disgusted with their orders and themselves, to the point where they didn't know what to do, they might not have listened, and had her power not grown, she could not have convinced them. But constant practice has let her take her ability a step farther than in the past.
Q. How strong is Neia
A. Depends on what you mean, she's uniquely powerful with her archery, her ability to direct an arrow and to put magic power into her shots makes her one of the most dangerous humans in the world...with that particular weapon. But she's not that great with a sword, averaging her out, between her training in Nazarick, items, experience, and innate abilities, she's roughly on par with a mythril ranked adventurer. But...if all she had was a sword, no items, and was facing a mythril ranked adventurer decked out in appropriate level equipment, who was good with a sword, she'd definitely lose.
In ideal conditions with her weapon of choice and innate ability, at a distance she could pose a threat to some Adamantite adventurers, after all at a bow shot away with an arrow you can't dodge that is imbued with power from the Ultimate Shooting Star...that'd present a problem to most figures. In the LN her bow killed...what was it? Fifty in one hit or something? And she managed to hold out against a large number of them for a considerable period of time.
Sooo...not really a black and white question. Lets just say don't expect her to take on Remedios with a sword and win, but don't expect Remedios to be eager to take on her bow at a distance.
Q. Do you even have time for sleep with how many chapters you are writing?
A. I sleep about 4-5 hours per night. That is plenty for me. Six if I'm sleeping in.
Q. What did the guardian's think of a human stealing from Ainz, and how's Ainz going to play it off as his master plan?
A. They're not what you'd call fans. 'lol' The rest would be spoilers, so lets just say you wouldn't want to be Count Handor any more than you'd want to be the Baron.
Q. Why not do all the side stories you asked for preferences on?
A. I plan to actually, some as one shots, some as multichapter stories, that was just to see what people liked best so I could decide what to do first. Yes I can write what I want, but I like all of them, so...why not let the readers cast the deciding vote? What is a writer without a reader? :)
Q. Why did no one question Neia's authority to pass judgement in Prart?
A. Part of it was because of the growth of her evangelism ability, I alluded to this in a much earlier chapter, but another part of this was a result of the public exposure of the corruption of the temples and the city government...and since Neia was the one who overthrew it...well...people rarely question the winner's decisions. These particular men were emotionally 'lost' after what happened, and with her ability as an evangelist she could speak to their need for redemption. If that wasn't clear enough, I may have to go back and edit that chapter of the fall of Prart to detail more about their emotional state after it's fall.
Q. What does the 'BD' in your charity's name stand for?
A. It stands for 'Better Direction'.
Q. How often will new chapters come out.
A. Between daily and semidaily. Expect to never wait more than a week before one or more of these stories is updated, and if it is that long, expect several updates in quick succession.
Q. Are all the citizens of the Theocracy constantly indoctrinated, or is this brainwashing performed only upon the scriptures and special agents?
A. Its a deeply entrenched cultural norm. Based on the LN representation, militancy and faith is imbued in the whole society.
Q. What happens there to produce this fanaticism?
A. This was chiefly answered in "The Waiting Never Stopped" but if you want to skip that story, short version is childhood education. As someone once said, "Give me the child till seven, and I will give you the man."
Q. How preplanned are your stories?
A. VERY. I detail a story arc outline, then under each arc I create sub events, which may have other small sub events. Then I study a subject on at least a surface level if it is relevant, then I write the story and release it. For example, here is a partial outline for a one chapter of "Unholy Rose"
C1 - The Abellion Hills
-Finding cross species habitation
-What species
-What architecture (minor detail)
-Demihuman and heteromorph culture
-Hints of collaboration
-Mutual cooperation
-law
-Dispute resolution
-Crime and punishment and Ainz
-Change in perspective
-Blue Rose reactions
-Blue rose reflections
And to detail the road construction scene, I looked up how ancient Romans built roads without modern surveying equipment and read about that for twenty or thirty minutes before writing that scene. I already know how every story is going to end well before I write a single chapter. I do make changes along the way, but I find structure works best for me.
Q. When is the South going to tip into war?
A. Bit of a spoiler to answer that, but since everybody knows this is coming...well...story wise not that long. In real time? I probably won't be up to that point for a few weeks since I plan on wrapping up the side stories that draw characters where I want them to be first.
Q. Why did you make Neia gay?
A. Well, I don't think she's necessarily 'gay', I mean its not like people don't drift on that subject. Honestly...I almost skipped this question since it seemed more like a complain than a real question...but...I did say I'd do a Q&A chapter and given the ties between Neia & Skana, I'd be doing a disservice to skip this question so...here is my answer. Yes Neia in the LN is a teenage girl who is fairly innocent. However...war steals innocence. She's had to grow up, and she wasn largely grown up already even at the most innocent that we saw her, she was a scout living and working with the Paladin Order, she's 'grown up' sotospeak. Nobody stays innocent forever, and as a human being, she'd seek connection, feel affection, love, longing, and so on, and perhaps more so because her work necessarily keeps her isolated and her physical features diminish her appeal, and always have, which is why her violent mother beat her when she dared express frustration and resentment over her eyes. I honestly wasn't sure just how she'd develop relationship wise, but the character Skana felt right. If Robel or Gilcrest had gone with her, that might have worked too, but Skana was things Neia wasn't, which includes traits Neia felt drawn to. I glossed over it early on, though a few readers picked up on it early...but no, I hadn't planned on any LGBTQ propaganda, I don't plan on doing this as an erotic novel, and I'm not out to bash anyone over the head with a lesbian stick. Neia is, like any other human, more than just a collection of mission oriented goals, and I wanted to show not only an unexplored depth to her character that happened to work best with another woman. If someone is anti-gay or something, I am not writing this story to change their mind, but if they're OK with a story that opens with a skeleton grabbing a succubus tits and have no problem with talking hamsters and lolicon vampire monsters...doesn't seem like two women liking each other should be beyond anyone's ability to suspend their disbelief. :) So...there is that answer.
Q. Could potions or others outside of the temples heal the guilty in Yanana?
A. Yes, the following chapter actually mentioned this as an illustration of the bias of the city's judicial system.
Q. When will all hell break loose?
A. Guestimate? Probably around Chapter 50. Depends on how long some chapters are.
Q. In Chapter 21 why would Ainz do something so reckless?
A. I didn't see that as being excessively reckless. I thought it would be more reckless to do nothing and give the appearance that he can be challenged without consequence.
Q. Why don't you use amnesia spells or mind control magic?
A. Its a bit to overpowered. There might be instances of manipulation, but taken to far it just ruins the story telling element.
Q. If Ainz tells Neia about his true personality and all of his secrets, would she still follow and worship him?
A. Kind of depends on how far that goes. If he tells her how he really is, dropping his kingly act, she'd probably continue to follow him, though it might diminish the worship act. But I can't see her forgiving him for ruining her country with Jaldabaoth. Her parents died, she saw her people tortured, I don't think she'd let that go. Maybe if she thought he'd only held off assisting as a test...but not if she found out he was behind it.
Q. How long does it take you to write a chapter?
A. Between 30 minutes to 1 hour on average if you discount prep time from research and outline construction. A few have taken 2-3 hours broken up over the course of a day before an evening release, but most don't take that long.
Q. Will Wenmark burn in holy flame.
A. Bit of a spoiler it'd be to reveal that. Just don't buy property there. ;)
Q. Will Blue Rose visit Wenmark.
A. I almost didn't answer this...but...fuck it...its not really a spoiler so much as something to look forward to, yes, yes they will.
Q. Will Wenmark be the last city Neia will impose her justice upon?
A. Honestly...probably, I have two more city visits in mind...but I may cut those from the outline as events are drawing more to a head, it would make less sense for her to be away from the center of the storm at a critical time, so those might get trimmed.
Q. If you have more chapters written, why not release them?
A. In part because they overlap events in other stories that aren't at the same point yet. As this comes to a head, the stories will come more in sync together and the branch stories will close, with the main story having the sole focus from thereon out.
Q. In 'The Queen in the Sword' will Gustav's admission to the skeleton earn him a pardon.
A. I guess this isn't much of a spoiler, bottom line is...yes. I think Ainz would forgive loyalty, probably not greed, but loyalty? He might be moved enough by the memory of his friends to forgive that.
Q. Would Gustav betray the kingdom and side with Remedios?
A. Not really no. To save his commander once out of loyalty? Sure. To sit by while she goes on a killing spree targeting innocent people at large? No. The bonds of war are not lightly broken, but everything has a limit, and Remedios as you're probably seeing now, has crossed it.
Q. How the hell do you write so much?
A. Already have it in my head, and have an outline beforehand, outlines are my favorite tool, I think most stories that go completely off the rails, do so because the authors write organically and lose focus. An outline that gets more detailed as I go makes things much, much easier. Know what you want to write before you really write it, and its very simple.
Q. How will other demihumans see Ainz?
A. Depends on how he takes them over. To Neia he is justice because that was how he presented his focus, and it is what she adopted. Demihumans that value strength will probably see him as a wargod, I may do more future stories about taking over various demihuman groups, and each one would probably lead to some variations in how he's understood through the lens of their cultures.
Q. What do you do for a living?
A. I'm currently on active duty military as a result of being 'reactivated' for the reserves. They have me working as an instructor at Fort Bliss where I train soldiers and civilian contractors in various subjects such as combat casualty care, weapon handling (via a simulator called an EST), and a few other subjects. But in my 'real' civilian life I'm a project manager overseeing software development and modification for the Department of Defense. I'm also a writer (I have a few books under my belt for unrelated and mostly nonfiction subjects, such as a short text on Evolutionary Theory) and run a nonprofit charity in my spare time. I like to stay busy.
AN: OK well I hope I got everybody's questions from all the current stories and PMs that I've gotten along the way, if I missed yours, I sincerely apologize, send it to me again and I'll update this accordingly. But I 'think' I've gotten every question from every story, and I hope I've answered them clearly.