We've got time now. Since all this stuff happens in DarkerDark's brain, we can toss out anything and see how it percolates through. So, for example, I can share the mental picture I got of Valo finding that his old blade of grass had become hollow after days of chewing and could therefore serve as an unnoticeable "breathing reed" for someone who felt like swimming stealthily up to the barge, and who knows what would happen?
Ah, yes, Valo the reed chewer. Who Is Awesome. I'm just worried that if he goes off on his own he will Find Things out in the water. Or he could be like a Pitch Black Vin Diesel character, who does his best work alone
I know he seems a little slim for that, but maybe he's brawny for an elf?
But if he went off alone Rambo Style, then who would he make wry insightful comments to? The audience?
It would be awesome for the elven caravan to travel across the continent mending alliances and forging new friendships (for the greater glory of all Amanereli).
Word. (The Word? The Word Made Wood?) What
is the elves' weird shamanic religion? We've had some hints from the "meanwhile back at the tree" interlude). Perhaps they can all connect to the planet a la the crazy plant-based-internet in Avatar?
But did we pass the diplomatic point-of-no-return halfway through the last update?
Maaaybe? Yeah. I'm worried we did.
But at least it could be a tragic tree-hugging "why can't we just all get
along?" thing, while we fill them with arrows. Maybe if instead we could sing disney-esque songs to have the
other woodland swamp creatures ally with us, and
save Amala bite our enemies' faces off? I just have to think of some lyrics.