Why is it that the druid is using a staff to fight with? A staff is only useful for a sorceress because it gives bonuses to her skills. A staff doesn't do anything for a druid, and it's kind of ludicrous to think he'd be able to kill anything in act 2, other than the odd weak enemy on their own.
The druid is my preferred character, and a staff is the last weapon I'd use. It's a two-handed weapon, which means you can't use a shield to increase your defense. I typically use a two-handed weapon, but only because they do far more damage. A staff is two-handed, but does the least amount of damage in the game. Saul seems to focus primarily on elemental skills, but for some reason he continues using a staff to fight. He needs a real weapon. I typically spend all my time as a werewolf, so I use weapons that have very fast attack speed, but still do decent damage. A scythe is an excellent weapon for a druid, and I usually start finding them during act 2. There are some two-handed axes that do pretty good damage and still have very fast attack speed.
However, if Saul decides to spend more time in werebears form, attack speed doesn't matter as much, because the maul skill gives the druid fast attack speed, regardless of what weapon he's using. The nice thing about werebear is that every hit is a kill on most enemies, but only if you are using a weapon that does heavy damage, like a pike, for example.
But if Saul decides to primarily use elemental skills, he should pick up a one handed weapon, so that he can use a shield as well. I don't use a lot of one handed weapons, but any sword, hatchet, or mace should do.

Don't get me wrong, I really like this story, and I'm really curious to see how it continues, but it bugs me to no end to see him use such a pointless weapon. It's a stick. That's all. Some staffs do even less damage than the club that the druid starts out with when the game begins. I'd actually say that the club is better, because at least it lets you use a shield with it.
I'm really looking forward to seeing this story continued. It's definitely interesting!

I am really impressed with your writing style. It's refreshing when there is some real word-smithing in a story. Seriously good job

I read all of this today and I must say; WOWW! This is an awesome story! The characters are great! I really care about what they are going through, and you added a great layer of depth to the world of Diablo 2. I LOVE Aya. I wasn't sure about Saul at first, but he's pretty awesome now. And I will be pissed if Cordelia doesn't leave Jeryhn soon. A fixed marriage... SO WRONG!

Man I hope this isn't an abandoned project, I always find the cool stuff late.

Years pass, lives change, views undergo multiple alterations - yet always some unchangeable things remain, one of which is my interest to your story, Emmy. To me, reading this update had an effect of time machine, in a fashion. Ah good old days... By the way, I never gave up on you; after all, you've put to much life in your work to ever give up before it's done. Even if it should take years or more...
Only I _am_ slightly worried about your intention of re-editing the previous chapters, commendable though it is. Myself incurable perfectionist, all my life I've reaped only the bitterest fruits from seeking perfection. I don't want to discourage you, Heaven forbid... just pleease, don't end up steeped in re-editing

As to this last chapter, I love its middle part best - love those unhurried conversations held in the semidarkness of the study room between an old wise tutor and his students; love the placid calm of his voice and the cosy atmosphere - cosy in spite of the fact that Cordelia is on tenter-hooks and Star has just had a vision of something dire about to happen. It's not like her vision referred directly to Cordelia or her comrades; more likely it was something about the Soulstones... or a subject grave enough to sideline all grudges against Asha and rebuke her and Cordelia alike. I only wonder: why develop the gift of prevision if you have no right to use it and change things? Sheer torture.
Oh, and Soul with Araeya seem to have finished off Drognan's brother... Everything indicates that, everything except a strange fact that Drognan somehow had overlooked his brother's arrival to Lut Gholein - if it was him indeed. Well, the mage won't learn it any time soon since Araeya and Saul are stuck in the Canyon of the Magi with no portal scroll, no information and one minuscule chance of surviving, if I get this right.

I cannot hurry you; just be aware that we are all here, all waiting. For you, and for Oph. By the way, I saw your teamwork "Raindrop Pendants" - and I hesitate to read it since I haven't played Diablo III yet. Though I suspect I'll never get round to playing, and one day I'll just start reading without having played at all...
Cheers!

This is wonderful work. Aya is wonderfully hilarious at times and so serious and sad at others that it tugs at the heart strings. I love it. And Saul. He is one amazing character. Reminds me a lot of how I portray the Druid class as well. My only small problem is with Cordelia. I love the Sorceress class and I enjoy how you changed it up from the game and lore where she was from the Zann Esu, but she just seems too weak at times. Maybe it is because she goes rushing head first into battles, or something else, I don't really know. Yes the Sorceress is a weaker class, most mage classes are, but usually by now they are starting to come into their own as a fighter. I am not saying that to sound mean, just trying to point out something that seems slightly off to me. I am certain you have a plan in you mind and I cannot wait for the next chapter and all the others that will follow to see this plan unfold.

love it, i really do, but i still hate you cus of how you separated them, im a bleeding heart and im sure it will work out but still. love it though, writing is pretty good

i still hate you right now

i like the story but i hate you right now

Hurray, an update for this fic! When I saw the notification that it updated I thought I had been dreaming!

Lovely as always, I hope that you'll update this a bit more before going on hiatus again :3

And so I reach the end of the road for now. A pleasant journey it has been, and the future will no doubt continue in the same vein...late 2014? ;)
Time to start on your companions tale..and if you will forgive the impertinence, I find myself wondering time and again just how close you two are. Apologies, my mind can be an annoyance at times.

I understand you have not updated in over a year. Is this story done? Or have one of the many death threats been carried out? Apologies for dropping out on my end. I've been in an economic slump this past year, and so have had little thought for past times not located on my desktop.

7-10? depending on how you write time, that could be a while ago or long ago...and while I realize you have plenty of other demands on your time, I would like to see this tale concluded. wouldn't feel right starting the coop'ed one without having read these to the end...

From the previous chapter;
Hmmm...not the jehryn of the game, then? :)
interesting. Do(have) go(ne) on. :P

From this chapter;
A new language? or done some research? in either case, I salute you for doing more work on your fic than I could ever have been bothered to. :D
Also, interesting how deeply you bind Cordelia to the place. I imagine we will see it from rather a new angle through her eyes, neh? :)

And of course the amazon...Definately a character type I could read tons about. :D
Faint ecchoes of Imoen, with a tinge or two of pseudo-malevolence. Excellent. ;)
This is turning out to be quite the intriguing tale indeed...goodie. *rubs hands and moves on to the next chapter*

All right. that was fast. :)
See, it may well be the fact that he dealt with any number of capable women while diablo still ruled the...um, the...ah, hell, that holy place. :P
Also, he's recently spent time in a camp, and a monastery, populated nearly exclusively by warrior women. For him to hold any opinion of there being things women cannot do, would be indicative of an intelligence that would have him starve next to a loaf of bread.

But the main point I intended to make before I stumbled across that remark, is the fact that(and neither man would be likely to not realize this, in the name of speed and efficiency for safety) they got a sorceress with them, for whom the creation of fire is but a thought away(at this point in time, surely). we have repeatedly seen her maintain a ball of it in/above the palm of her hand. poke a stick into that and then into the woodpile, or just lob it in the wholesale, and voila. In the former example, if 'reclaiming' the energy is out of the question, well hell, there's sand all over. just toss it. :P

Really a quite wonderful story, my friend. I can scarce wait to see what marvels you have created in more recent times. :)

I have a nasty habit of reviewing things I find to wonder about before finishing the chapter. by the time I finish, I have generally forgot what I was to review. so...here

I would just like to observe, for the record, that in the circumstance described, -not- standing when called to, is no honor on the deceased, more than it is an insult on the caller, who, in traditional tales would be left standing and looking like a fool.

That is all. :)