lol! A good author can terrify readers with a tiny bit of ink.

I've finally introduced the walven in chapter 10 http://valleyofdragons.blogspot.com/ Oh yeah.... things are gonna get crazy now!

well they're mentioned earlier, but they actually make an appearance this time

6stirngs, I apologize, but I still haven't gotten around to reading your story yet. I plan on doing so, eventually, but I have very little 'free time' what with NaNo and all...Any time I do get is normally spent reading LotR.

Well I know I can't compete with Tolkien lol

If you've put them in now, do you want me to archive this thread, or are you not done? I can leave it anyway, if you want.

Well, I guess it would be ok pretty soon, I do still have a couple ideas I'd like to run by others here. Which are as follows.

1. The walven will be used as mounts by some in Belkarus' Army. As such, as far as saddles and bridles and such are concerned, should they have a bridle, or should their reins be attached to their horns... therefore leaving them free to use their teeth or breath weapon more freely? Personally I like the idea of the latter.

2. I'm torn about this next one actually. Those familiar with To The Valley Of Dragons so far will know that some of the creatures can send and receive thoughts. The Roa'an can communicate with their chosen, but pretty much only with their chosen (those they choose as a rider among the elves of the Forever Lands) and perhaps other roa'an. The dragons have been established as having the ability to do the same, but with other dragons and apparently anyone they desire to speak with. There are other creatures not yet mentioned that will have similar abilities as well. But with the Walven.... does it seem they would be better off without a similar ability? Would it give them a more sinister feel if they were unable to do the same? I thought about making their communication ability a bit more simple with one liners and such, making their conversations or thoughts simply along the lines of things like "Kill," or "blood" or "fire" or "hunt" or "smell" and such.... but then I'm afraid that would make them seem lacking in intelligence. And I've thought about making them afraid of water (since they breath fire and seem to have an endless supply of it) but I don't want things to appear as a LOTR rip off in the event of a chase scene.

Ok... there we go... Some ideas and opinions please?

I'm almost inclined to go with the bridle on the first one. It would be pretty hard to steer with reins attached to the horns.

On the second issue, How intelligent are they? I was thinking of them as not very smart, but if they are intelligent, it might be better to have them even have a language instead, so as not to seem repetitive with the telepathy.

For the first one I'd have them just hold on to the horns and the rider would steer them with telepathy. For the second one, I have no idea.

Well the rider sits too far back to grasp the horns and they'd be too thick to have a good handle on anyway. Being wolf like the rider sits just a bit behind their shoulders. My main issue with the bridle is the fact that they would be hampered in their ability to breath fire or bite, and as they're almost constantly letting loose smoke and flame (it's almost as though there is a bellows in their lungs and a fire in their throat... to give an idea) I'm not sure the bridal would hold up for very long. That kind of leaves the horns, and being massive creatures (think of the biggest horse you've seen and add a bit of height at the shoulders and double the width) I can definitely see how reining them at the horns might be difficult. However.... their primary riders are going to be the skraeg, which are pretty massive themselves. So with the strength they possess it may be possible? I think?

They're pretty intelligent. But I'm not wanting to give them a language as in speech. Even my dragons don't do that. I see what you mean though (Griffin) about the telepathy thing being too repetitive. Do you think it would be best to leave them without an ability to communicate with any creature other than themselves or other canine like creatures... and explain their intelligence in a different manner such as in how they react or hunt? If I do that well it could add to the dangerous feel of them, I guess.

Yeah, that would work. Maybe they could steer just with their legs? Experienced riders do this with horses.

That's a good idea Griffin, I honestly can't think of any others.

Yeah I think I'm gonna go with it as is and keep the walven silent... as far as speaking goes. they still make noise.