Final Week

[Sycamore]

I've been bad with reviews. *slaps wrist* But I want to give the three survivors (should they choose to allow their characters to survive, that is) congratulations, words of encouragement and advice as they enter their final week. Take them for what they are. I'm just a guy, and my opinion is just that. An opinion, that is, not a guy. Still, I hope that what I say can help each of you garner votes in this final week.


Brooga- Continue with the character development. Your most recent posts have been some of your best, especially your last. You're moving Brooga out of the shadows and putting her into the limelight, which is exactly where she will need to be. Tassle's death actually benefits you the most, because with the shrew out of the picture, Brooga no longer has someone to fall back on. This raises the question, though. Does she have the leadership skills to take control? She always deferred to others before, as was within her character, but now that she's finally standing up for herself, I hope to see her step it up even more knotches than what's she's been stepping up. You have introduced a phenomenal new direction for her, and your writing has been magnificent as of late. Keep developing her, and you'll win my vote.

Cricket- You've been in my top three for the longest time because not only do you spend time developing your own character, but you develop everybeast around her. And I'm not talking about the stars of the show. I'm talking about the minor ones. You gave Kelsey enough depth and characterization to put her in my list of favorite characters in the story, and you have taken a neglected, poorly fleshed out Jonas and made him a fantastic beast filled with cunning and sensibility. I have remarked about your prose before, and I reiterate it here. You have some of the most enjoyable posts in the story. All I can really say is keep doing what you're doing, and you'll come out on top.

Ulrick- You have written an extensive history for your character, and while I give you huge props for having a developed character from the get go instead of throwing things together as you saw fit along the way, I have to admit that Ulrick never quite captured my attention as much as the others. This was mostly due to the interjections of history that in most cases, seemed rather forced and broke the flow of the story. Now that you have tied up the loose ends, you can focus on character development and story advancement. I emphasize character development because Ulrick doesn't seem to have done a lot of it since the beginning of the story. He's still the bitter, selfish badger that wants nothing to do with heroics as he was during the first week. Now, however, he seems rather thrust into one of these this heroic situations he seems to hate so much, and I'm curious as to how you will play it off. If you're going to get my vote to win it, you're going to have to pull a Brooga and put a lot of development, characterwise and storywise, into your next few posts.

Of course I say next few posts, because none of you can change my predetermined vote (or probably anyone else's) with one post each this week. I expect a number greater than two from each of you before voting starts, and even then I'm holding until the very last minute in just such an event that one of you writes a heart attack.

That being said, good luck to all of you!

[Brooga Delfan]

Aww. Thankee, Sycamore. Oi'll do moi best to win 'ee vote this week.

Broog's author: And thanks so much for the review. It's more helpful than you could possibly imagine. n_n

[Cricket Argyll]

Right-o! I'll keep doing what I'm doing if it's what you guys like. To be honest, I'm amazed my little rat made it this far in the contest. I was sure that I'd be gone by week three with such wonderful characters and authors around. I attribute my survival to the invaluable advice of our reviewers. Thanks so much, Sycamore. I think you shall find the conclusion of our little tale worth reading.

[Opal]

It's alive still, really! Just waiting on one more post (which should hopefully be up within the next few days), and after that final voting will take place!

[Ulrick Hammerpaw]

Wait, what's this? A post! Surely not!

Unfortunately a combination of work, a play, jury service, a family holiday and Bill Gates turning my firewall into the Soup Nazi (No internet for you!) have all conspired to make this a stupidly long wait. I just hope my post in some way makes up for that.

I can only apologise that it's taken this long. Sorry all.

[Opal]

'S all right, we understand you're just getting slow in your old age, Mr. Badger. ;D

Anyway, voting is open if you hadn't noticed, and it's open for twice the amount of time it usually is to ensure that everyone gets their vote in!

[Opal]

P.S. Reviews are still cool. No really. ;)

[Sycamore]

*sigh*

I think I missed it.

I should have signed up for some newsletter...

[Ulrick Hammerpaw]

Voting is still open! You've got until midnight tonight!

[Opal]

Yep, I left it open for twice as long just to make sure this kind of thing didn't happen. ^^

[Stonewall]

Round of applause for Ulrick! Congratulations, sir!

[Ulrick Hammerpaw]

Thanks Stonewall! And thank you for sticking with us!

By the way, breaking with ROC survivor contest tradition, we hope to actually finish the story relatively quickly... :P

[Cairn Destop]

Thanks Stonewall! And thank you for sticking with us!

By the way, breaking with ROC survivor contest tradition, we hope to actually finish the story relatively quickly... :P

Relatively quickly being just under fifteen months.  At least you can now mark this story as done.

[Sparrowhawk]

bravo, Sir Hammerpaw!

[Opal]

I wore him down eventually. ;)