Shadows in the Smoke - Chapter 47 - Interesting Schemas
Added 2026-02-05 20:02:58 +0000 UTC
Comments
To be fair, it's something that's been teased quite a lot, but that's really meant to reflect Ester's own obsession with it which isn't entirely rational. To her it symbolises everything wrong with what she's allowed to learn, while the reality is she's happily becoming more dangerous by the day without really realising it.
TF Warden
2026-02-10 21:00:28 +0000 UTCFeels like people are being weird about Ester not learning body enhancement yet. It’s not something you can just pick up in an afternoon. So there really isn’t a reason for Lindholm to teach Ester how to do it, there’s no benefit for her, even if she had a guarantee Ester would never fight the Republic in the future.
Brendan
2026-02-10 18:50:18 +0000 UTCProbably, but there's a question of time and also of embarrassment. The socially awkward not desperately wanting to show your slightly shoddy work to someone scary that you look up to.
TF Warden
2026-02-09 15:20:44 +0000 UTCWell, kind of, but not really. They're just night vision goggles effectively rather than directly affecting the eyes themselves.
TF Warden
2026-02-09 15:19:56 +0000 UTCEster now learned make goggles that enhance your visual capabilities. Basically eyes. Eyes are part of the body. So she basically started learning body enhancment.
Lecture Filler
2026-02-09 14:53:19 +0000 UTCShouldn't Ester also be asking for advice on improving her personal shield schema's???
Fahnir
2026-02-07 21:31:12 +0000 UTCI haven't decided. I'm (internally) committed to three books and have a satisfying conclusion to book 3 that would allow things to wrap up - I put a lot of value on finishing projects well. Equally, I have ideas for more and could continue. It depends on how they're doing with audiences and more importantly how I feel about them. If I'm still enjoying myself I'll likely keep going, if I'm getting a bit bored or fed up then I'll end it there.
TF Warden
2026-02-06 08:25:21 +0000 UTCI've been pretty deliberate in not giving that in story. The Empire doesn't measure that sort of thing precisely so it's more just vibes for Ester. The Republic tries and so has a better idea, but even they will admit their tests are approximations and mostly used for military purposes. I do, of course, have a table in my notes with actual power levels, but no one's getting that unless they hack me. Everyone has a cap to their Talent when they're born, but will only hit their cap with training and continued use of magic. If I remember correctly, Jakob mentions plateauing and that he hasn't yet when he's explaining how the Republicans measure it. It's possible to test vaguely for potential, but very imprecisely e.g. "you've got the potential to be a Mage, but we couldn't say whether that'll be scraping it or the most powerful of your generation". Different people have different levels of raw power. Skill and willpower are also factors. Duke Marcni had more raw strength than Ester, but she was more skilled and had more willpower. Ester has more raw power than at the beginning of the series. I'd thought it was fairly clear by now that Lindholm outmatches Ester in both power and skill. Ester estimates her as considerably better than she is, but comfortable below Master Tabasi, based on what she's seen. But as I've said, has no precise way to measure.
TF Warden
2026-02-06 08:22:52 +0000 UTCIt's been speculated in the discord (along with various other theories), can't remember if it's been speculated elsewhere. Nothing has been confirmed.
TF Warden
2026-02-06 08:12:20 +0000 UTCI wish there was an explanation of what exactly determines a persons strength level in this story. I know of the different levels and a vague sense of the requirements but it has never really been explained how people get to that point. Is someone’s level with the talent fixed from when it manifests? Does Ester have the same level of magic power but is just better at using it and more knowledgeable compared to the beginning of the series? I feel like I have no frame of reference for how much stronger Lindholm is than Ester , other than that Lindholm can strengthen her body and make more complicated schemas. It just seems like we’ve got a more complete sense of how Liches grow in power than how arcanists grow in power which seems backwards
Cameron Griffin
2026-02-06 03:52:36 +0000 UTCWill there be a 4th book, or does the series end at book 3?
Fahnir
2026-02-06 02:59:16 +0000 UTCSo I'm pretty new to the this and have not read the comments thus far, but has it been confirmed or at least proposed that Lindholm is the unnamed woman from the prologue? Makes me wonder how long her grudge has been stewing ... from maybe the war 30 years ago? Or maybe from back in the time of the Sorcerer Kings (since her perception of time was off)
Thomas Heaton
2026-02-06 00:33:16 +0000 UTCLindholm just says things as she sees them :)
TF Warden
2026-02-05 23:51:00 +0000 UTCPoor Ester, her life revolves around making Schemas and now Sigrid has to go and bash her IMPRECISE improvised shield schema
Judson Parker
2026-02-05 23:24:32 +0000 UTCHey Siri, how do you rate me against the undead? :D
TF Warden
2026-02-05 22:52:52 +0000 UTCOh absolutely they mostly do, but that doesn't mean Ester thinks of it that way. Tabasi spends a good chunk of his time pretending he doesn't like her even though he does. Sir Vitaly teases her too much and is scary. Velxe's grandmother doesn't actually have any authority over Ester. As for Commander Savate, even he isn't sure whether he likes Ester or not.
TF Warden
2026-02-05 22:52:33 +0000 UTC“She wasn’t quite sure how to react to the idea of someone in authority actually liking her.” Tabasi, the Secret Inquisitor, her friend’s Grandmother, the Watch Captain…
Noah
2026-02-05 22:45:06 +0000 UTCI bet when she gets back, she is going to ask Master Tabasi to go over both schemes with her in more detail. Loving the impromptu lesson. Siri’s does not seem to favor their chances. Oops, autocorrect, was supposed to be Sigrid…
Marcus Martin
2026-02-05 21:56:40 +0000 UTC
