Originally posted by: Aquiline
Greetings, friend. Or in the Arhasian way of greeting: Rabbe ve, friend!Do you think you've lost your way?
No one who comes to Arhasia, comes by accident. It is the doing of one we know only to refer to as the Lady in the Dark Hood.
Those of you who know about this place, wander not but proceed to cluster comfortably before the fireplace.
But if you are new here, well...You are standing at the doorstep of the secret Cave, the existence of which the InnKeeper of a certain Inn in Arhasia was kind enough to make us aware. If you have no intentions to stay, you may leave of course. No one is ever forced to remain here or forced to leave.
However, if you wish to acquaint yourself with Arhasia through what is learnt of the land's Legend, then come...Sit here, by the fireplace, with a favorite beverage of yours, cold or hot as suiting to the mood of your mind presently...
If you ask the one seated next to you, you will be provided the answer to the query in your mind, but if permitted, I will answer it for you myself: Why are we here?
They are here because of me. And I am here because of the aforementioned Lady in the Dark Hood. *shivers* Aye, it is either the thought of her or the coincidental gust of cold winds outside the window that makes me shiver every time I word her name.
Leastways, permit me to introduce myself. I am the Storyteller. They call me so because I come here to this Inn to narrate the tale that belongs to the Lady in the Dark Hood. I can't go into the entire details right now but you can skim through the old parchments and familiarize yourself with the situation here.
First Reader Surprise: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/60037045�
Now, coming to the most important part: the tale. Aye, I am talking about "The Beasts the Bleeding Roses." True, the "name" kind of makes everyone reluctant and turns many potential readers to look for greener pasture. But like one of our comrades, Farwa says, this tale proves the validity of the saying that one cannot judge a book by its cover.
The tale is more of a fantasy, situated in a presumably factual land called Arhasia. The map I have crafted is a good help for those who are new to the land.
The Beasts and the Bleeding Roses. "What a lame name!" said my little sister who is eight years younger than me but supposedly eighteen times wiser than me. Lame Name? I thought so too, but that lame name was the only perfect title for the tale I could come up with. I've attempted my thoughts on changing it but there is, yet, not been found any name (in this wonderful head of mine) that would tell the tale in its title...expect for the familiarized phrase "The Tale of Arhasia."
In my frequent lookout for plagiarism, Google often shows me places where my work is "mentioned" and sometimes, human as I am, I cannot keep myself from being inquisitive. If it is not mentioned by a reader or Comrade of mine, it is often discussed by those who cannot bring themselves to read the tale for JUSTIFIABLE reasons. Starting with the title, of course.
Frankly, I myself, if given a choice, WOULD NEVER read a story that is titled "Beasts and Bleeding Roses." Impressions won from the title: Gore, dark, and lame.
Other things that keep them away from the tale: obvious to be the length of the story. What they say: It is a tiring process to sit and read all those chapters. Besides, what if the writer drops the story in between?
Wise worries, I concur. And I think most of my own readers had that worry nagging at the back of their minds when I had prolonged absences from the Inn lately.
The third aversion is to the genre. Thankfully, Farwa's suggestion had me dropping the word "Gothic" from the title but the banner of the FF still sports that double-meaninged word. Today's entertainment world of movies and games have so defamed the word "Gothic" with goriness that no one any longer remembers the "mysterious beauty" that "Gothic" once stood for. As a literature student, when I wrote "Gothic", I meant it in terms of what it really was and not what the present world has made the word become. I suppose that is why I've seen people laugh at the idea that "Arnav is a Goth" in the tale. He is, my dear. He is a beautiful Goth, indeed, and far more beautiful than him is my darling General.
Roland Barthes, a critic of the previous century, titled his famous arguments of literary theory as "Death of the Author," indicating that once a writer had finished writing a work, the work stood by itself and the writer had no more hand in its interpretations. Meaning: the author is dead. Then it is the Reader who becomes the new creator.
I have always had mixed feelings for Barthes because it is always impossible to tear away the author from the work. Each reaction to an event, every dialogue voiced, and every character a writer creates is an impression of himself/herself. Like I told Aura, two characters who reflect my personality best are Garima Gupta and General Shyam (though Aura is still certain I am mirrored more in Payal and Lady Lavanya).
Anyway, returning to my point. Barthes' Theory is relevant where the importance of Readers come into place. A writer cannot be writer if what she has written is not read. Readers are essential for a writer to truly be a writer.
While there are many who keep away from the story, I know there are many who read my story and who even copy it onto their Desktop (with/ without asking me). I know there are many who read my story, and though they don't press the "likes" under any chapter, they silently love the tale from the depths of their hearts. And then there are those silent admirers who "like" alone and don't comment. And those who comment and forget to "like" (*chuckle*) because they are just too eager to bring word to their love. All these readers are important to me because they love what I write in their own ways and when they love what I write, they love the one who wrote it. And if anyone can give a perfect answer to how this "lame-named, long-lengthed, gothic-gored" tale has prospered in hearts, it is only my readers. To you, my beloved friends, I raise this toast of affection and gratitude, starting with Sia who no longer comments but is very much cherished for being the first one to comment on my FF after I posted the prologue, giving me assurance that I can begin narrating the tale of my heart... and look how far we've come. Nimble leaps to 200.
This congratulations goes out to all my readers and Comrades and those who have stood by me in the darkest and brightest of times...
Scrolls in Thread Eight: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3740833/arhi-ff-8-the-beasts-and-the-bleeding-roses
Thanking the Almighty, the One who moulds my Mind and my Words; my Beloved Parents who are innocent of my love for IPK and of my membership in IF and of my flare in writing (I'm going to pay for all this!); dear friend Aura, the dedicated maniac behind my appearance in the Forum; the show IPKKND, its creators, Cast and Crew without whom this story would not have found its birth; and to this Forum (both IPKKND and FanFiction) that led me to love the show as a masterpiece and offered me a platform to let my words sail freely into hearts that cherish this tale...
This Thread begins with joy and celebration and there is only one group I need to dedicate it to: to those who love and value Arhasia...
To all my Comrades and Readers...
Now, let's dally not and carry on with the unraveling the mysteries of the tale herewith.
A landmark...a moment to pause, celebrate and remember...our beloved Tale is finally reached its 200th chapter!
Chapter 200: What the Word 'Hate' Really Means https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/96894802
Chapters 201: The Homecoming https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/97114674
Chapter 207: Vying Demands https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/98104395 (Not PMed to readers)
Chapter 208: The First Lady at the Industry https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/98165863 (Not PMed to readers)
Chapter 211: Heat https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/99524374
Next update due hopefully on 15th Feb 2014
LATEST NOTE: https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3830638&TPN=146&#p101207851
Chapter 217: The First Lord at the Gupta House https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/101372503 (Not PMed)
NEW THREAD (# TEN):https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3928285/arhi-ff-10-the-beasts-and-the-bleeding-roses
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
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