Hello Theodur, thanks for your warm welcome! I'm sorry to hear that the community is less active than before, but I'm glad to be part of it, after looking from afar for so long. I've read the first 4 chapters of your story "Defenders of the Empty Throne" and while I'm not familiar with its world, it really caught me! I like how Bethany managed to become a confident charmer and still retain a bit of her natural shyness. I know firsthand that one can never get rid of one's shyness completely, no matter how hard one tries. Riona is my favourite character so far: to go so far as to accept such a punishment to protect her loved one is admirable. The part about the red lyrium growing in the body of the hosts really gave me the goosebumps *shudders* A bad way to leave the world...And the Queen Maythre erasing poor Spot's mind was an act of true villany, as Minsc would say. Hamsters and rangers everywhere disapprove the evil queen's act. Goo for the eyes, Boo! Gonna read more soon, it's truly captivating! Bye!