Starcraft: The Dark Templar Saga: TWILIGHT Interview

Recently our fellow friend Medievaldragon had the privilege of having a interview with the author of TWILIGHT, Christie Golden. While the recorded interview video with the actually response are not yet ready we can discuss till then. Below I have provided all what Medievaldragon has posted regarding to Twilight. StarCraft: The Dark Templar, Twilight Interview Update
Discuss.


Medievaldragon @ Starcraftwire.net: StarCraft: The Dark Templar, Twilight Interview Update

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Last week, I traveled to Huntington, New York to meet Christie Golden at the Book Revue. I have to thank Blizzard Entertainment and Simon & Schuster, Inc for approving this interview in such a short notice. I finished editing the video interview with Christie Golden and sent it to both companies to make sure all that is asked and said there is ok by them. There’s some thrilling and teasing stuff revealed by Christie. The video interview lasts roughly 10 minutes.

StarCraft: The Dark Templar, Twilight is the last book in the trilogy, which sets the backstory leading to the single-player mode from StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty RTS game. It lays bare the naked past of Dark Archon Ulrezaj and we get to see flashbacks of Tassadar through the Protoss Preserver’s memories. TWILIGHT will be on bookstores this upcoming June 30th. I was given a copy of the book in advance at the Book Revue, and plan to write a review—which of course won’t be shown until then. Expect the video interview pretty soon on our front page.

Concerning the Tokyopop live chat with five writers and the editor, it is still in process to be approved by Blizzard. Be patient. This upcoming live chat will be about StarCraft: Frontline. In advance I wish to let fans know that you should ask about the stories within the manga, and to avoid asking these writers about the RTS game. They do not represent Blizzard Entertainment and the StarCraft II Team. That said, you can explore with the writers each of the stories present in Volume 1 and 2. And ask about the upcoming Volume 3 on sale July 1.

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Twilight Questions:

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CHRISTIE GOLDEN INTERVIEW – STARCRAFT: THE DARK TEMPLAR TWILIGHT

How do you feel about having World of Warcraft: Arthas making it twice into the New York Bestselling List?


Will StarCraft: The Dark Templar, Twilight reveal in-depth the new Protoss culture, and government structure set in Shakuras; and the current communion between the Dark Templar and the Templars?

Do Hierarch Artanis and Executor Selendis have prominent roles in the story?

What exactly were these creatures from the vats found in the cavern of Aiur?

Are we going to find out in TWILIGHT, some of the backstory leading to the Tidings of Doom and warnings that Zeratul brings Jim Raynor? Or will we even see that scene in the book?

Since Rosemary is now in Shakuras, do we get to find out what was the fate of the Xel’Naga ship the Dark Templar flew with during their exile off planet Aiur and its secrets?

Are you going to explore via flashbacks more details about the seven Dark Templar criminals that comprise Dark Archon Ulrezaj? I imagine the Dark Templars in Shakuras are well-versed on his past history.

In SHADOW HUNTERS, Jake and Rosemary escaped Aiur through the same Warp Gate that Raynor and Fenix defended years earlier to allow the Templars to escape the Zerg Invasion. However, did anyone stay behind to ensure the Warp Gate would be deactivated, or will it be used by some of those factions chasing Jake / Zamara?

The StarCraft manual, back in 1998, said there was no record of Adun’s death. Is TWILIGHT shining some clues about his whereabouts? I kinda have my own suspicions.

I’ve been reading the StarCraft: Frontline manga. And there is an interesting concept with the introduction of Brother Nubas, whose consciousness trascended the state beyond the physical and death. In our previous interview, concerning book one: FIRSTBORN, I asked you about Tassadar. Will Tassadar appear in spirit (like Obi-Wan Kenobi) or through Zamara’s imbedded memories? If so, what did Chris Metzen refer to with the term: “Twilight Messiah”?

Why should fans not miss the StarCraft: The Dark Templar trilogy? For those that haven’t yet purchased the book, because maybe they don’t think that it’s related to the lore.

We do know that Khas was the main leader that taught the Protoss how to be Templars, but we don’t know who taught the Dark Templar to absorb the void energies.

Do we get to know more about what Zeratul has been doing these past years?

Is Jake / Zamara going to visit the world where Zeratul found the specimens of Hybrids?

Anything that we didn’t asked that you want to tell the fans that they could find in TWILIGHT? (and that is permitted by Blizzard)

LORE SPOILERS:

Hidden Content:

That in the cover is Dark Archon Ulrezaj. Started reading after I took that photo an hour and a half ago. So far I’m around page 60.

Rosemary and some protoss escaped through the warp gate that Raynor and Fenix defended years ago so the Protoss could escape to Shakuras after the invasion of Aiur.

There Executor Selendis listens to Rosemary’s tale. However, Jake Ramsey / Zamara were locked out of Shakuras en-transit fearing any more Zerg could enter Shakuras through the warp gate.

Instead, Jake / Zamara were diverted to another warp gate in an unknown world. It’s said these warp gates are of Xel’Naga origin, not protoss’s and connect to countless worlds.

Jake / Zamara were freezing to death in this ice-world, and she changed the warp gate configuration to jump to another world. Since she can not enter Shakuras until they unlock transit there she instead is attempting to search for Zeratul for help. Jake is dying and with him all the secrets and memories of Zamara the preserver could be lost.

More later.


Hi LordArreat15. There were some questions I didn't add to the interview, but she answered most of those I presented. I was somewhat nervous during the interview. My english pronunciation isn't well polished. That aside, it was a blast. She's very sweet and expressive. We were kinda rushed. The interview was supposed to be after the book reading and signing. The event organizer set us to do it before, at the end of the interview, I cut the interview after I looked at the clock behind her -- it was 7:15pm, and she was supposed to start reading pages of WoW: Arthas at 7pm. As for when the video interview will be available, I have to say the utter dreadful "soon". I sent the video to Blizzard on Friday afternoon. I added sub-titles so that some fans, like me, that have problem understanding spoken english can at least read it instead. Once I get the go-ahead from Blizzard, I will post it. I am looking forward for June 30th when the book officially goes on sale at bookstores. If I can post it earlier, then so be it. Talematros is where Rosemary and The Forged (protoss) were taken to into custody until Executor Selendis could interrogate them. So I would say Talematros was rebuilt. There are no notes at the back of the book. I really liked the notes in the back of WoW: Arthas which shows you the source of all references. It only has a prologue and a short message from Christie: This book is dedicated to all those who fall down and keep getting up.

But the Warpgate defended by Raynor and Fenix was destroyed. =[

Gasp, not posted by Kimera? I'm shocked.

Kimera's & VoK's experience are almost equal on all things lore :)

I am definitely looking forward to this book. It seems that it is gonna be a really really interesting read!

Who seen Medieval's new post on Blizzplanet on Twilight? Oh I can't stand waiting any longer. 8 more days.

What ever is the long awaited secret of the Xel'naga is, the Hero & Fan Fiction contests are likely going to stories related to the coming conflict with 26 days left after Twilight's release. :D


More SCW Spoilers/Info @ SCW: Zeratul, Protoss Leaders/Tribes, Ulrezaj & Void Seeker (Or you can just read it at SCW)

Hidden Content:

Thought providing the questions would intrigue fans enough to wait for the answers. Although there were some strikes, and foul balls, there were some homeruns worth. There's a lot of half-implied answers and teasers, than full answers, but hey, I was thrilled. And now that I have read through page 150 -- I can definitely tell you this book is worth reading prior to StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. Zamara / Jake play a very pivotal role in getting Zeratul off his lame guilt-trip to get back into action. Think about it. He blames himself for the invasion of Aiur. When he killed the cerebrate, the Overmind reached to Zeratul through that link to extract the location of Aiur. He blames himself for the deaths and loss of Aiur. He blames himself for killing Matriarch Razsagal. He's been all this time in meditation self-pitying. I am sure many will love to read all that has been said about Tassadar and another one in the book. I think we got a homerun on one of those questions, specially the Twilight Messiah question and Adun's. =)


SPOILERS

Ok so far I’m by page 180. We get to see the new hierarchy of Shakuras which is composed of six members. The conclave members are officially mentioned as dead when Tassadar and his forces attacked them.

So now leading is Hierarch Artanis along with each leader of the Dark Templar and Aiur Protoss tribes. The hierarchy is now composed of tribe leaders, no longer of castes.

Artanis of the Akilae tribe
Zekrath of the Shelak tribe
Mohandar of the Nerazim (Dark Templar)
Tabrenus of the Furinax tribe
Urun of the Auriga tribe
Nahaan of the Ara tribe

As for Ulrezaj, Arthanis says he was composed of four dark templar when he unleashed the orbital station wavelenghts to disrupt communications and drained Shakuras’s shields. So I guess further along in the book we get to know where Ulrezaj got the other three dark templars he merged with.


He indeed uses the Void Seeker vessel to travel. However, Zeratul is also using Warp Gates to move around. The Warp Gates are of Xel’Naga creation and are all spread throughout the galaxy in various worlds.
* Nerazim seem to be the new word for Dark templar. If I’m not mistaken, my interpretation to that is the Khala is to the Aiur Protoss as Nerazim is to Exiled Protoss (Dark Templar). Either there is only one tribe of Dark Templar, or they all merged together. Mohandar is older than even Razsagal.



Quick Update:
Finished reading Twilight (book 3) -- guys you are for a payoff. The secret is a passive retcon that fits perfectly and answers many mysteries of the Xel'Naga concerning their experiments on the Protoss and the Zerg.

All that has been speculated the past 12 years will crash land hard -- it wasn't as everyone expected things to be. And I have a strong feeling someone from the past is returning in one of the three episodes of StarCraft II. nuff said.

Cool!

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Nerazim seem to be the new word for Dark templar. If I’m not mistaken, my interpretation to that is the Khala is to the Aiur Protoss as Nerazim is to Exiled Protoss (Dark Templar). Either there is only one tribe of Dark Templar, or they all merged together. Mohandar is older than even Razsagal.

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Nerazim is the tribe to which all Dark Templar belong to.

I think this has been posted somewhere, But a huge chunk of the book can be read on the Simon and Schuster website. All the way to page 264. It's awesome! definitely buying the book.

Can you post a link to this read, Avix? I looked at S&A and found only an excerpt from chapter one.

Go back to Simon & Schuster and click on "browse".

I already reported this to Medievaldragon about the 266 pages.