Well, on the one hand my hunch seems to have been confirmed when I reached the end... The metal chair bending under him; the amount of meat; the predatory nature (or at least, Ella's reaction as prey - watching her squirm)...
AE, why did you put that quote at the end? Didn't you want to watch us all go crazy speculating?
So he's a dragon, or part dragon... If dragons can take on a form which allows them to interbreed with humans, I'm guessing he's either a half or full dragon.
With the demonstrations of his strength, he seems a likely candidate for having thrown off Puddy's strength spell in the Arena (there seemed to have been a consensus in the comments that Puddy was spelled to have the strength of the strongest person there, and it wasn't Mack...)
I had wondered, as it seemed evident from previous hints that the Vice-Chancellor was nonhuman, why he wasn't more of an advocate - but here he seems very cold, and predatory.
I couldn't quite get what he meant about Mack - was he saying that he wished he had a legitimate excuse to call her an enemy?
I love watching people speculate, but not everything in the story can be a mystery. Embries has been a bit of an enigma since he was mentioned. I feel there were enough hints over the course of that short story for the reader to piece it out and then they get a nice confirmation at the end.
I meant to say, it is apparent that dragons can take on a form which allows them to interbreed with humans - Puddy has made claim to dragon blood since the beginning.
It would make sense to take on that form when in a human-sized office, certainly - although it seems the weight does not change, judging by the chair. Hard to know about the appetite - that breakfast would probably not be enough by itself to sustain a dragon - just to tide him over.
I think this is one of the more distasteful of AE's stories.
What causes me to react so strongly is the *tone* of the story, its implication that the reader should like/admire or generally be attracted to the repugnant character of the Chancellor. I don't find him a charming villain; frankly, his underhanded, sleazy lasciviousness repulses me.
To say nothing of his murderous intentions towards Ella....
As you can probably tell by this point in the post, this will not be a paean to the merits of this story. Kindly react accordingly.
Initially, the reader is invited to "root" for this manipulative old dragon masquerading as a human. Alright, stranger things have happened in the MU universe. BUT this charming "Embries"-creature has also progressively enthralled/mentally dominated his human assistant Ella until she's ready to die for him. Literally.
Ugh.
And the Embries-creature is contemplating *eating* her. Later, when she's "ready." When she "wants it" badly enough.
Translation: When her will has been completely submerged.
Yes, when this young woman decides she *really* wants to be eaten by the dragon who's progressively mind- and will-raped her, only THEN will the Embries-creature "indulge" her. And THAT is a revolting idea...that Ella has been gradually overwhelmed and mentally/emotionally violated until she believes that everything happening to her is the result of her own urges.
And presumably, that "belief" will carry Ella through to the climax of this cumulative rape -- her willing acceptance of being eaten by a dragon.
With the copious fantasizing and masturbation, this story initially read like the typical MU crush fantasy. But with the revelation of the Chancellor's intentions, the story metamorphoses into a rape fantasy with an impending snuff scene implied.
Do *I* have a problem with that kind of extreme fantasy? Actually no...but what I do have a problem with, as a reader, is being urged to admire/respect the character carrying out the extreme acts. I don't admire the Chancellor. I don't respect him. I think he's loathsome. And I'll read about him and his loathsome acts with avid and morbid curiosity...so long as the writer is not trying to "sell" him to me.
At this point, I have to ask: AE, why are you fascinated by anthropophagy? It's a theme that comes up frequently in your work (examples include Mack, the mermaids, the ogres, Mercy's entire commercial enterprise and now the Chancellor). And when you couple *that* theme with your obvious interest in submission -- and *forced* submission -- you actually do start to enter territory that disturbs me.
Forcing someone to consent to their own consumption, as Ella apparently will...yes, I think that idea does bother me. I think the glaring *unfairness* of such a situation does nettle me -- and seeing the character responsible (the Chancellor) portrayed so sympathetically in the story does make me want to wrinkle my nose and spit. The Chancellor knows Ella is a thinking being, but he doesn't care; he intends to eat her anyway (or perhaps *because* of it).
Interpretations differ, I guess, but I didn't get the impression we were supposed to sympathize with him, any more than I reckon we're supposed to sympathize with a number of other characters I could name.
The above message got posted as one solid block of text. My apologies; there was formatting, but I seem to have managed to disable it for the post. Please just *imagine* paragraphs, if you would.
I think this is one of the more distasteful of AE's stories.
What causes me to react so strongly is the *tone* of the story, its implication that the reader should like/admire or generally be attracted to the repugnant character of the Chancellor. I don't find him a charming villain; frankly, his underhanded, sleazy lasciviousness repulses me.
To say nothing of his murderous intentions towards Ella....
As you can probably tell by this point in the post, this will not be a paean to the merits of this story. Kindly react accordingly.
Initially, the reader is invited to "root" for this manipulative old dragon masquerading as a human. Alright, stranger things have happened in the MU universe. BUT this charming "Embries"-creature has also progressively enthralled/mentally dominated his human assistant Ella until she's ready to die for him. Literally.
Ugh.
And the Embries-creature is contemplating *eating* her. Later, when she's "ready." When she "wants it" badly enough.
Translation: When her will has been completely submerged.
Yes, when this young woman decides she *really* wants to be eaten by the dragon who's progressively mind- and will-raped her, only THEN will the Embries-creature "indulge" her. And THAT is a revolting idea...that Ella has been gradually overwhelmed and mentally/emotionally violated until she believes that everything happening to her is the result of her own urges.
And presumably, that "belief" will carry Ella through to the climax of this cumulative rape -- her willing acceptance of being eaten by a dragon.
With the copious fantasizing and masturbation, this story initially read like the typical MU crush fantasy. But with the revelation of the Chancellor's intentions, the story metamorphoses into a rape fantasy with an impending snuff scene implied.
Do *I* have a problem with that kind of extreme fantasy? Actually no...but what I do have a problem with, as a reader, is being urged to admire/respect the character carrying out the extreme acts. I don't admire the Chancellor. I don't respect him. I think he's loathsome. And I'll read about him and his loathsome acts with avid and morbid curiosity...so long as the writer is not trying to "sell" him to me.
At this point, I have to ask: AE, why are you fascinated by anthropophagy? It's a theme that comes up frequently in your work (examples include Mack, the mermaids, the ogres, Mercy's entire commercial enterprise and now the Chancellor). And when you couple *that* theme with your obvious interest in submission -- and *forced* submission -- you actually do start to enter territory that disturbs me.
Forcing someone to consent to their own consumption, as Ella apparently will...yes, I think that idea does bother me. I think the glaring *unfairness* of such a situation does nettle me -- and seeing the character responsible (the Chancellor) portrayed so sympathetically in the story does make me want to wrinkle my nose and spit. The Chancellor knows Ella is a thinking being, but he doesn't care; he intends to eat her anyway (or perhaps *because* of it).
When are we urged to root for the dragon? I love AE's works because the viewpoints are subjective to the people within the story. Though we were not brought into Ella's mind, all of the feelings for the Vice-Chancellor came from her. Her respect and her desire are brought to bear giving Mr. Edmund a benevolent skew. His monstrous actions remind me of Iona and Feejee. Inconceivable to most humans, but honed by his very nature. He is a dragon after all.
I didn't feel that we were meant to like Embries at all, I know I didn't. rather we get the contrast of him being actually not very nice at all against Ellas besottedness and the general lack of people who hate him. as though he has a Charm based variant of dragonfear.
I think we're supposed to understand that he is, in fact, quite scary. There's hints of that throughout- even Ellas makes note she's scared of him. I think he's simply a Magnificent Bastard. Possibly just a Manipulative Bastard but I think that's not quite right.
Well, we can see why Professor Einhorn wanted to speak to Chancellor Davies rather than Vice-Chancellor Embries in the earlier story Old Pain. Embries could well be as old as she is, and would be much harder to persuade or bully.
I'm not keen on the vore either: it gets in the way of the sex. If Embries wasn't thinking with his stomach, he could have Ella naked in his cavern/house/whatever, polishing his scales, piling up his hoard neatly, and generally keeping house/cavern/whatever for him. Along with all the other ex-secretaries he has housed there. Yes, I'm heading into YAFGC territory there. Keeping it a bit more goaty, I wonder whether the old blood magic thing would work: she ingests his blood and has her life extended, eventually growing some nice dragonlike features (IMHO most people could be improved by a decent pair of horns). Also, as everyone reading this should know, Embries could eat her without having to bite or consume her, and his fullform dragon tongue would be very well equipped for this. >;=P>
Actually, aren't silver dragons supposed to be lawful good? >:=)>
We haven't actual confirmation that Embries has eaten anyone recently. It's hinted at, but this could just be baseless innuendo. The fact that he could arrange do so legally doesn't constitute proof either. And secretaries do just leave, sometimes.
While he has the potential to be a threat to Mack, that potential is unlikely to be realised. He seems to prefer to stay out of the way, and exercise influence through existing channels. If he was the "hands-on" sort, he probably would have stepped in and "persuaded" Viktor to make good on his obligations to the skirmish team.
Yes, in D&D silver dragons are lawful good. However, ToMU does not adhere to, or even acknowledge, the Gygax alignments. As to behavioral implications, remember in D&D all paladins are lg; now consider the paladins (and wannabes) in ToMU.
Surprised that this hasn't been more of a topic of discussion-- Martha Blaise is in town! It seems like Mackenzie won't be able to avoid her for much longer. Who wants to bet that she'll show up at the worst possible time, too? Maybe when Mackenzie and Amaranth are on the their way home from their Veil performance...
Teehee. I'm looking forward to the confrontation.
Oh, and Embries is intriguing. It's pretty cool to finally read about a draconian intelligence: cold and reptilian and brilliant.
I find Embries very much on target, and while most may villify him, he is what he is, which in this case is a Dragon. We all know the saying, Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketsup. Or in this case with a side of bacon and perhaps a dollop of creame.
Embries is disturbing; he ought to be. As has been pointed; He IS a DRAGON. Consider the Dragon Creation Story if one needs any more clarity on this point. I rather enjoyed his characterization. And the allusion to THE SECRETARY is not lost... I look forward to seeing more, if only in vignettes, of this person.
Are we so sure he's a dragon? He's been compared to a dragon, and he has a picture of a dragon behind him, but is he one? Maybe he just admires dragons.
Because he's exactly how I'd expect Mack's dad to be, if he had gotten a position as vice-chancellor. Do dragons have the ability to incite human lust? Why would they? That'd be like a bear unconsciously using pheremones to incite lust in a newt. Pointless. A dragon has claws and terrible breath, and it's evolved to hunt that way. But Mr. Embers' talents are exactly what we'd expect in a sexually predatory demon with a fondness for human flesh.
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February 19 2009, 03:55:38 UTC 3 years ago
February 19 2009, 03:57:31 UTC 3 years ago
Missing Link
The fabled creature seems to have raised its head again.February 19 2009, 04:12:24 UTC 3 years ago
February 19 2009, 04:15:19 UTC 3 years ago
We find "Sorry, no posts matched
Your criteria."
February 19 2009, 04:33:30 UTC 3 years ago
February 19 2009, 04:43:20 UTC 3 years ago
The quote at the end
how very apropo
February 19 2009, 04:54:11 UTC 3 years ago
February 19 2009, 04:54:18 UTC 3 years ago
February 19 2009, 06:39:21 UTC 3 years ago
3 years ago
February 19 2009, 05:09:38 UTC 3 years ago
February 19 2009, 05:17:16 UTC 3 years ago
Vice-Chancellor Embries gets
A Pen-Paladin
Urges are strange and
Powerful things—you never
Know when they might strike
The Dragon isn't
Just the MU school emblem—
There's one on the staff
February 19 2009, 09:57:25 UTC 3 years ago
February 19 2009, 05:22:32 UTC 3 years ago
February 19 2009, 05:59:04 UTC 3 years ago
February 19 2009, 05:34:20 UTC 3 years ago
AE, why did you put that quote at the end? Didn't you want to watch us all go crazy speculating?
So he's a dragon, or part dragon... If dragons can take on a form which allows them to interbreed with humans, I'm guessing he's either a half or full dragon.
With the demonstrations of his strength, he seems a likely candidate for having thrown off Puddy's strength spell in the Arena (there seemed to have been a consensus in the comments that Puddy was spelled to have the strength of the strongest person there, and it wasn't Mack...)
I had wondered, as it seemed evident from previous hints that the Vice-Chancellor was nonhuman, why he wasn't more of an advocate - but here he seems very cold, and predatory.
I couldn't quite get what he meant about Mack - was he saying that he wished he had a legitimate excuse to call her an enemy?
February 19 2009, 06:01:19 UTC 3 years ago
3 years ago
3 years ago
3 years ago
3 years ago
February 19 2009, 05:37:10 UTC 3 years ago
*edit*
I meant to say, it is apparent that dragons can take on a form which allows them to interbreed with humans - Puddy has made claim to dragon blood since the beginning.It would make sense to take on that form when in a human-sized office, certainly - although it seems the weight does not change, judging by the chair. Hard to know about the appetite - that breakfast would probably not be enough by itself to sustain a dragon - just to tide him over.
February 19 2009, 06:15:23 UTC 3 years ago
typo
“If I told you that I had to let you go, what would do?” he asked her.Think that is missing a you near the end.
February 19 2009, 08:09:14 UTC 3 years ago
The Chancellor is one loathsome character
I think this is one of the more distasteful of AE's stories. What causes me to react so strongly is the *tone* of the story, its implication that the reader should like/admire or generally be attracted to the repugnant character of the Chancellor. I don't find him a charming villain; frankly, his underhanded, sleazy lasciviousness repulses me. To say nothing of his murderous intentions towards Ella.... As you can probably tell by this point in the post, this will not be a paean to the merits of this story. Kindly react accordingly. Initially, the reader is invited to "root" for this manipulative old dragon masquerading as a human. Alright, stranger things have happened in the MU universe. BUT this charming "Embries"-creature has also progressively enthralled/mentally dominated his human assistant Ella until she's ready to die for him. Literally. Ugh. And the Embries-creature is contemplating *eating* her. Later, when she's "ready." When she "wants it" badly enough. Translation: When her will has been completely submerged. Yes, when this young woman decides she *really* wants to be eaten by the dragon who's progressively mind- and will-raped her, only THEN will the Embries-creature "indulge" her. And THAT is a revolting idea...that Ella has been gradually overwhelmed and mentally/emotionally violated until she believes that everything happening to her is the result of her own urges. And presumably, that "belief" will carry Ella through to the climax of this cumulative rape -- her willing acceptance of being eaten by a dragon. With the copious fantasizing and masturbation, this story initially read like the typical MU crush fantasy. But with the revelation of the Chancellor's intentions, the story metamorphoses into a rape fantasy with an impending snuff scene implied. Do *I* have a problem with that kind of extreme fantasy? Actually no...but what I do have a problem with, as a reader, is being urged to admire/respect the character carrying out the extreme acts. I don't admire the Chancellor. I don't respect him. I think he's loathsome. And I'll read about him and his loathsome acts with avid and morbid curiosity...so long as the writer is not trying to "sell" him to me. At this point, I have to ask: AE, why are you fascinated by anthropophagy? It's a theme that comes up frequently in your work (examples include Mack, the mermaids, the ogres, Mercy's entire commercial enterprise and now the Chancellor). And when you couple *that* theme with your obvious interest in submission -- and *forced* submission -- you actually do start to enter territory that disturbs me. Forcing someone to consent to their own consumption, as Ella apparently will...yes, I think that idea does bother me. I think the glaring *unfairness* of such a situation does nettle me -- and seeing the character responsible (the Chancellor) portrayed so sympathetically in the story does make me want to wrinkle my nose and spit. The Chancellor knows Ella is a thinking being, but he doesn't care; he intends to eat her anyway (or perhaps *because* of it).February 19 2009, 10:48:26 UTC 3 years ago
Re: The Chancellor is one loathsome character
*raises an eyebrow*Interpretations differ, I guess, but I didn't get the impression we were supposed to sympathize with him, any more than I reckon we're supposed to sympathize with a number of other characters I could name.
3 years ago
3 years ago
3 years ago
3 years ago
February 19 2009, 08:15:09 UTC 3 years ago
No formatting
The above message got posted as one solid block of text. My apologies; there was formatting, but I seem to have managed to disable it for the post. Please just *imagine* paragraphs, if you would.February 19 2009, 08:17:57 UTC 3 years ago
The Chancellor is one loathsome character
I think this is one of the more distasteful of AE's stories.What causes me to react so strongly is the *tone* of the story, its implication that the reader should like/admire or generally be attracted to the repugnant character of the Chancellor. I don't find him a charming villain; frankly, his underhanded, sleazy lasciviousness repulses me.
To say nothing of his murderous intentions towards Ella....
As you can probably tell by this point in the post, this will not be a paean to the merits of this story. Kindly react accordingly.
Initially, the reader is invited to "root" for this manipulative old dragon masquerading as a human. Alright, stranger things have happened in the MU universe. BUT this charming "Embries"-creature has also progressively enthralled/mentally dominated his human assistant Ella until she's ready to die for him. Literally.
Ugh.
And the Embries-creature is contemplating *eating* her. Later, when she's "ready." When she "wants it" badly enough.
Translation: When her will has been completely submerged.
Yes, when this young woman decides she *really* wants to be eaten by the dragon who's progressively mind- and will-raped her, only THEN will the Embries-creature "indulge" her. And THAT is a revolting idea...that Ella has been gradually overwhelmed and mentally/emotionally violated until she believes that everything happening to her is the result of her own urges.
And presumably, that "belief" will carry Ella through to the climax of this cumulative rape -- her willing acceptance of being eaten by a dragon.
With the copious fantasizing and masturbation, this story initially read like the typical MU crush fantasy. But with the revelation of the Chancellor's intentions, the story metamorphoses into a rape fantasy with an impending snuff scene implied.
Do *I* have a problem with that kind of extreme fantasy? Actually no...but what I do have a problem with, as a reader, is being urged to admire/respect the character carrying out the extreme acts. I don't admire the Chancellor. I don't respect him. I think he's loathsome. And I'll read about him and his loathsome acts with avid and morbid curiosity...so long as the writer is not trying to "sell" him to me.
At this point, I have to ask: AE, why are you fascinated by anthropophagy? It's a theme that comes up frequently in your work (examples include Mack, the mermaids, the ogres, Mercy's entire commercial enterprise and now the Chancellor). And when you couple *that* theme with your obvious interest in submission -- and *forced* submission -- you actually do start to enter territory that disturbs me.
Forcing someone to consent to their own consumption, as Ella apparently will...yes, I think that idea does bother me. I think the glaring *unfairness* of such a situation does nettle me -- and seeing the character responsible (the Chancellor) portrayed so sympathetically in the story does make me want to wrinkle my nose and spit. The Chancellor knows Ella is a thinking being, but he doesn't care; he intends to eat her anyway (or perhaps *because* of it).
February 19 2009, 09:23:03 UTC 3 years ago
Re: The Chancellor is one loathsome character
When are we urged to root for the dragon? I love AE's works because the viewpoints are subjective to the people within the story. Though we were not brought into Ella's mind, all of the feelings for the Vice-Chancellor came from her. Her respect and her desire are brought to bear giving Mr. Edmund a benevolent skew. His monstrous actions remind me of Iona and Feejee. Inconceivable to most humans, but honed by his very nature. He is a dragon after all.3 years ago
February 19 2009, 08:21:42 UTC 3 years ago
Double-post
Double-post. Apologies again. But on the bright side, now you won't *have* to imagine paragraphs.February 19 2009, 08:34:39 UTC 3 years ago
-Raist
February 19 2009, 13:39:05 UTC 3 years ago
3 years ago
February 19 2009, 09:59:43 UTC 3 years ago
rather we get the contrast of him being actually not very nice at all against Ellas besottedness and the general lack of people who hate him.
as though he has a Charm based variant of dragonfear.
He seemed to me almost an anti-mack.
February 19 2009, 13:27:54 UTC 3 years ago
February 19 2009, 12:55:08 UTC 3 years ago
A dragon of wealth and taste...
Well, we can see why Professor Einhorn wanted to speak to Chancellor Davies rather than Vice-Chancellor Embries in the earlier story Old Pain. Embries could well be as old as she is, and would be much harder to persuade or bully.I'm not keen on the vore either: it gets in the way of the sex. If Embries wasn't thinking with his stomach, he could have Ella naked in his cavern/house/whatever, polishing his scales, piling up his hoard neatly, and generally keeping house/cavern/whatever for him. Along with all the other ex-secretaries he has housed there. Yes, I'm heading into YAFGC territory there. Keeping it a bit more goaty, I wonder whether the old blood magic thing would work: she ingests his blood and has her life extended, eventually growing some nice dragonlike features (IMHO most people could be improved by a decent pair of horns). Also, as everyone reading this should know, Embries could eat her without having to bite or consume her, and his fullform dragon tongue would be very well equipped for this. >;=P>
Actually, aren't silver dragons supposed to be lawful good? >:=)>
We haven't actual confirmation that Embries has eaten anyone recently. It's hinted at, but this could just be baseless innuendo. The fact that he could arrange do so legally doesn't constitute proof either. And secretaries do just leave, sometimes.
While he has the potential to be a threat to Mack, that potential is unlikely to be realised. He seems to prefer to stay out of the way, and exercise influence through existing channels. If he was the "hands-on" sort, he probably would have stepped in and "persuaded" Viktor to make good on his obligations to the skirmish team.
February 19 2009, 18:20:04 UTC 3 years ago
Re: A dragon of wealth and taste...
Yes, in D&D silver dragons are lawful good. However, ToMU does not adhere to, or even acknowledge, the Gygax alignments. As to behavioral implications, remember in D&D all paladins are lg; now consider the paladins (and wannabes) in ToMU.3 years ago
February 19 2009, 13:02:08 UTC 3 years ago
Teehee. I'm looking forward to the confrontation.
Oh, and Embries is intriguing. It's pretty cool to finally read about a draconian intelligence: cold and reptilian and brilliant.
February 19 2009, 13:48:05 UTC 3 years ago
February 19 2009, 14:35:20 UTC 3 years ago
As has been pointed; He IS a DRAGON.
Consider the Dragon Creation Story if one needs any more clarity on this point.
I rather enjoyed his characterization.
And the allusion to THE SECRETARY is not lost...
I look forward to seeing more, if only in vignettes, of this person.
February 19 2009, 17:16:19 UTC 3 years ago
Mr. Embries
Are we so sure he's a dragon? He's been compared to a dragon, and he has a picture of a dragon behind him, but is he one? Maybe he just admires dragons.Because he's exactly how I'd expect Mack's dad to be, if he had gotten a position as vice-chancellor. Do dragons have the ability to incite human lust? Why would they? That'd be like a bear unconsciously using pheremones to incite lust in a newt. Pointless. A dragon has claws and terrible breath, and it's evolved to hunt that way. But Mr. Embers' talents are exactly what we'd expect in a sexually predatory demon with a fondness for human flesh.
3 years ago
3 years ago
February 19 2009, 16:51:38 UTC 3 years ago
February 20 2009, 08:32:03 UTC 3 years ago
You?
Didn't know you read MU, nice to see you here, I love AE's work.3 years ago
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