Gratz

Maryalee 28th Dec 2015, 7:14 PM edit delete reply

She is eerily happy with that.

So she has no past and no identity, but lots more self-awareness than the average minion. And a sense of principle. She feels empty, and wants an identity, a sense of person, a cause to fight for.

Sound like anyone we know?

Maryalee 2nd Jan 2016, 10:51 AM edit delete reply

Time for rampant speculation time.

Xura is obviously taken from an essence of Arua. I know we're playing with a fantasy universe here where anything goes, so go with me here. Xura says she has no past & no identity, so theoretically blank slate, ne? Average person would also infer that to mean "no sense of right or wrong." However, Xura was created as a sorcerous minion, which normally are semi-intelligent servants bound to the will of the summoner. #1 is again obviously correct, as Xura is more than semi-intelligent to the point of self-awareness. As to #2, well summoner is very dead, so didn't bind her to his will very well. She *is* offering her services to Grand Moff Tarkin, but is she doing so in full awareness of his evil intent, or just because she feels some compulsion to serve. Either from the summoning mechanics, or from Arua's own sense of service?

Yes, I'm complicating things. Yes, I'm introducing metaphysics into the story that won't change anything in terms of the outcome, or the actions taken to get there. But I think about these things: motivations, underlying principles, the actual nature of evil. Right now there is a question in my mind of whether Xura is "evil" in the traditional comic book sense of the term; or, whether she is that truly blank slate willing to be led in one direction or the other. What say thee, author? Have you put that much thought into the character, and if not how do you feel about the question?

I like long replies if you hadn't noticed.

Lackinganame 3rd Jan 2016, 7:48 AM edit delete reply

I think you've put a lot of thought into your question.

And I think in time some of you're theory will be validated.

You are also touching on the topic of another book, one of three I've been juggling around.

Not a real long response but as the nature of the subject I did have planed to touch on some of these issues with Xura later so kind of in to spoiler water there.

However I will say that the summoning for Xura was really complicated for a reason and it wasn't just because she is a really strong minion. There was more to her summoning then we get at first glance.

Maryalee 3rd Jan 2016, 9:02 AM edit delete reply

Not a long response, but I am satisfied with what you did say. I had a suspicion the water was deep, so we won't go there right now.

However, I'm now reeeeally, really interested in that other book you are juggling. Feel free to interpret this as a nudge in that direction.

Lackinganame 3rd Jan 2016, 5:17 PM edit delete reply

We just started Exaltation so sorry but I'll wait a bit longer.

(However your comments have made me spend more time thinking about the other stories and I made brake through on two of them today.)

Comic 710 - Xura

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