If this note has been published, it means that PDA has been on hiatus for about a month, but do not fear—for it shall persist in that state for the unforeseeable future! This note was not to be published, or indeed, in case it were, not until the allotted period of six months had elapsed, as what was escribed in the Chaya Nuss chapter was quite true, and as sincere were its intentions, even if undertaken without any further reflection, for, in the future, another note shall be posted as well.
Circumstances, however, altered, and given the extent of those alterations, so it must be. Elsewhen was originally to be, ideally in any case, completed by the end of July, so that, by August, The Matter of Brittain—or Bruttania, if that strikes your fancy and preference for addressing it thus—might be treated around these dates, and later on, accordingly, Lys.
The chapter itself was originally not to be quite so long, no indeed; it well possessed all the qualities of the average chapter, and thus the average word-count, in all likelihood nought to reach or surpass three thousand words. Within the chapter was a segment, a brief introduction to the Nordic and Germanic peoples, who were not to present themselves within the novel until later on. And a few poignant ideas were reserved them, to be explored and assigned, should that point ever be reached, later on. Distraction, however, prevailed; idea after idea surged forth, and naturally they had to be penned down, turning the chapter itself into something grander, more ambitious, and altering thereby the overall narrative structure.
Indeed, a play of Fate, if so it is to be addressed as. For PDA was not to be engaged with during the Summer, if at all, and the manuscripts of the works meant to be returned to were already packed, in readiness to be taken away and the work upon them continued in earnestness. But, be it due to the usual hurriedness of travelling or the overall distractions which so often prevailed, the wrong ones were taken, and so were the books to be read and studied.
If you are still reading this mess, this derailed trainwreck, this written disaster—be it out of curiosity, intrigue, or simple amusement—and are curious about the conclusion of this catastrophe, then you shall not be disappointed. Indeed.
To continue addressing matters: is PDA being dropped ere its conclusion? Affirmative and negative. PDA shall never be completed, and that is an objective, unshakeable fact.
There are good news. There are bad news. There are, as well, quite dreadful news.
The next chapter of PDA is lengthy—very, very lengthy. If an educated estimate were to be called for, it should, once it reaches completion, stand somewhere about forty to sixty thousand words, though at this stage in time it is difficult to assign any staid numeration. So it may well be incorrect. Be wary!
The chapter itself shall introduce, in readiness, from ten, though more likely twenty, times the amount of characters introduced in Wettle Wettleback, concluding somewhere around the thousands or early thousands, in all likelihood much more. An excessive number indeed, or so it may appear to those unfamiliar with the epics, but to those who have spent their lives in their study—be it for their own amusement, academic formation, or simple love and admiration of them—it shall likely come as average, or even their lower end.
Of those one thousand, about a hundred shall possess their own independent tales, not necessarily origins, but more in the likeness of deeds. That is the facile part. Their penning.
Regarding the style, it shall be addressed in depth later on, and in whatever degree of profundity is needed. Right now, however, it is of no interest, nor a priority; otherwise this note would not have been penned down and published.
Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
The chapter itself shall include and introduce three new languages—and indeed, they are the main point of interest: Old Norse, German, and Middle Scots.
Some parts of them shall be translated; others shall remain without their equivalent English counterpart. And with them, it is proper time to proceed and introduce the style.
The style is heavy, and the cognitive load heavier—heavier than anything published so far, and heavier still to write. Not on account of the use of archaisms, for the language itself, as you shall soon witness, is quite straight and direct, but due to the repetition, names, and other variables and alterations.
It shall count with about three styles, excluding German, Old Norse, and Middle Scots, their writing, and their later production and publication.
From the first draft:
Behind Ældir was O, muse! Ilmaldir, a god among men and of tigrish might. Behind Ældir was O, muse! Ilmaldir, a god among men and with an eagle’s ken. Behind Ældir was O, muse! Ilmaldir, a god among men and with a cougar’s speed. Behind Ældir was O, muse! Ilmaldir, a god among men well-liked as water is to the earth. Behind Ældir was O, muse! Ilmaldir, a god among men and deep intellect, and one who had performed many austerities.
The second style which shall be present is this one. Provided from a draft wherein the quick edits have already been carried out:
Winster Orm Twainfeet was otherkin shield-maiden yclept Sildür, and likingly, likingly to yeme as Ældir she and yet uniliche.
The third is already known well—to those who have been reading so far—but nonetheless, hither shall it be presented alongside the other two: British/American colonial writing.
Wettle Wettleback was a man bestowed with all the graces, virtues, and sensibilities, well-breeding, good acquaintanceships, and personal connexions could afford to offer, not being himself a gentleman by birth but risen to this station and society after marriage to his impressionable young wife; a well-mannered and agreeable fair lady, of a pleasant, mild, and agreeable disposition, favoured by a satisfactory education covering a wide range of artistic and linguistic subjects, a ready-mind, and a proper, intelligent, reflective, and understandable character, burdened by the tragedies of polite society and its dismissal of any association with her in its most admirable and commendable circles after their unfavourable match and its conclusion; short-sighted and administered by fancy, affection, and the unreflective heart, with the dismissal of any practical concerns regarding this union and the consequences which then would ensue—addressed by family, friends, and close acquaintances, as too scandalous and improper to properly fit the headlines—and on his part, pushed by equal sentiments, affections, fancy, and the opportunity to restore his wife to her previous condition and acquaintance.
Regarding the Nordic usage, some words shall be translated, while others shall remain as presented. For instance, and to present a popular example of commercial writing, instead of:
The Lady Galadriel.
The Norse equivalent is utilised instead, the English word being replaced and put between brackets:
The dis [Lady] Galadriel.
A stylistic choice.
Norse, German, and Middle Scots, once published, shall be shown. And some light reading was also recommended to provide close acquaintance with the language itself: Also sprach Zarathustra.
Nonetheless, take everything hither presented with a grain of salt, as things are well wont to shift, as circumstances usually do.
Given the sheer length—or, like length, the chapter is to reach, for so it appears that way—with only five tales effectively concluded thus far, and the sixth being worked on, with six paper faces completed thus far (around four to six thousand words, though it is difficult to accurately and properly estimate at this point in production), so, again, take everything mentioned here with a grain of salt.
This taken into account and addressed, PDA shall continue on hiatus for a year, if no more, and the quick edits, in turn, shall take around a year, with about three months required for their passing from paper to computer. If everything proceeds well indeed!
Below, for it is unlikely any of you shall care to read a forty-to-sixty-thousand-word chapter directly, some options have been provided at your disposal to vote from—if the ultimate piece surpasses indeed the number of forty thousand. If none is chosen, it shall be published according to fancy; and if not, the one with the most votes shall be utilised.
Be sure to vote soon, for much labour need be done.
Best regards,
Taris Masook.