Bound by Honor was supposed to be a part of a greater story. Because of this, I've left many things to be explained later. But these days, I've completely given up creating the rest of that story, so those questions will never get real answers. Suffer from nights without sleep…

This story is perhaps the oldest you can find from this library. I wrote it quite a long time ago, and it can certainly be seen: the style is quite different from what I use today. The reason why I included this story into this page was because my friend urged me to do so. And I, the old fool, listened to him and began translating it into English... Oh well, here are the results.

Now that I look at this tale, after a long time of oblivion, I often find myself chuckling and shaking my head. There really are a lot of cliches, a bit artificial twists of plot and all. But then again, it's kind of refreshing to work with a carefree, boyish (and tomboyish) adventures where you really don't have to care about all the details...

There are fourteen Clans of the Awai in the White Heights. In the story there are mentioned only six of them: Thirai-Thoot, Tariz-Dav, Braka-Rats, Riik-Kit, Tarh-Toon and Ayt-Havt. (Notice that all the names of the noble families have two parts. From this we can assume that Tier McGer is not a noble, but still he holds a very great status in the Awai society.)

The story easily gives the impression that Clan Riik-Kit would be evil, which, quite frankly, it is not. Though every Clan is constantly having their own schemes and plots to increase their power, none of them are really "evil". Every Queen holds honor in a very high regard, and so every one of them can be considered a "good" Awai. The tale is told from the viewpoint of Clan Thirai-Thoot, who are in good relations with Clan Tariz-Dav, the enemy of the Riik-Kit. This is why Clan Riik-Kit is not held in a very high regard. Somewhere in the past Clan Tariz-Dav probably insulted the pride of Clan Riik-Kit, which now has led into a war. I'm pretty sure that from the viewpoint of the Riik-Kit, it is Clan Tariz-Dav who are evil and honorless.

Lovely complicated, neh? Such are the Clans of the Awai.

Not very surprisingly, the Awai are a product of some heavy idea stealing. Their culture has many traces of Scotish Clans and Japanese Samurai families. I got the basic idea of them by playing Star Control II. The Yehat of the Starship Clans resemble the Awai in every way. According to the Yehat, a Queen with no Honor is not a Queen at all, and Awai follow a very similar type of thinking.

Their outer appearance the Awai got from the Kenku, which can be found from the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. As a matter of fact, the title picture of Bound by Honor does not illustrate an Awai but a Kenku known as Vonar, who can be found from the game Menzoberranzan.

By the way, it was really fun to invent the Awai names. Since their language is completely different from that of the humans, I was completely free to make up the oddest of words and call them names. I wonder how many readers are laughing at them…

I have always liked wizards. Though Zook is relatively young and laughably inexperienced to be a Court Wizard, he still holds a surprisingly high rank in the Awai society. This fact, however, is usually hidden by the presence of Queen Zaat Thirai-Thoot.

Zook was not really inspired by anybody. I based his character and actions on the fact that he is quite tolerant (for an Awai, of course) and possesses a broad way of thinking. This often leads him into a bit difficult situations.

Hook-Mook is literally an odd bird among the Awai. It is needless to say that few of the hawk folk actually understand his way of thinking. Serving as a bond between the humans and the Awai, I don't think that anybody could ever actually get to know Hook-Mook. I tried to make him, just like all the bards, carefree yet a bit mysterious, always seeming to know more than what he tells. He is just that kind character who is there when you need a sudden and unexpected rescue. A joker card of the deck.

The Scot Bird, as I love calling him. I can almost imagine him all dressed up in a skirt and playing a bagpipe... He is an old swordshawk who has truly worked to earn his status above all others. The way of the warrior is not an easy one, and I imagine Tier already finds the life a bit tiresome thing.

McGer was based on that classic cast of a veteran warrior who cannot be beaten. He is there to remind that even if people are old, it does not mean that you should ignore them. In fantasy stories we all too often encounter 18-something-years old swordsmasters who possess skills WAY beyond their years. Not that there's anything bad about "blade-prodigies", but hasn't anybody happened to think that developing such a skill usually takes a lot of time? I think Tier was inspired a little by Zaknafein Do'Urden, the arms master of the House Do'Urden in R.A Salvatore's Dark Elf Trilogy.

How good Tier actually is with his swords? Well… he could take on Drizzt Do'Urden. That good.

Hoo-boy hoo-boy hoooooo-boy. If Hook-Mook is the Odd Bird and Tier McGer the Scot Bird, then Queen Zaat Thirai-Thoot is the Chicken Ruling Her Nest With The Wing of Steel. The Iron Lady is there to show that the female Awai are not a tiniest drop less brave or strong as the male, but quite the opposite. The Mighty Madam was inspired at LOT by Matron Malice of the House Do'Urden (Ref. Above.) Both of them hold an iron grip of their followers and tolerate NO "but"-words.

Ironically enough, I always imagine the Magnificent Matron to be a lot shorter than the Awai around her. But when she raises her voice… run for your poor lives. Needless to say, I personally put Queen Zaat into the "fun to write" category.

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