Sienna March

Sienna March is a Broken Reflections (BR) literal series about six nomads. It began in 2010 as a sequel to the novel Per Diem but over time became the entire frontier for the Per Diem timeline created by Aaron Bishop. The series is estimated to have 20 readers worldwide.

First run episodes are posted exclusively on the official PoR website. Reposts are available a week after initial release elsewhere at various locations throughout the internet. Thus far there is no physical iteration of the series but is believed that a collection of each season will become available shortly after its finale.

The series has received several comments based on the nature of its content and grammar. However despite its faults, it continues to grow a fan base.

Origins
During the production of Per Diem, author Aaron D. Bishop came up with the idea of expanding the PoR universe by creating a series of novels apposed to a stand alone. With the ideas fresh in mind, a prequel (spanning over the entire summary of events leading up to Per Diem) began as well as development of a direct sequel to Per Diem which would suffice as the finale to the story arch of Y'erade and Dhi'eava as well as Leium and Nirael. But as the production of Per Diem continued Bishop developed the spin-off idea which would act as a mini-series including a new cast of characters that would lead up to the events to start off the third Per Diem iteration: the result was Sienna March. It was intended to be a series spanning a dozen or more "episodes" just to give readers a better sense in relating to the characters throughout the third novel. The result however came over so well that Bishop decided to scrap the other two novels and expand Sienna March even more by using two novels worth of storyline to develop the characters as well as expand the main plot.

"The direct story behind Per Diem as well as the spin-off Sienna March was to create a sense of urgency and hope. A group of tightly knit characters living in a near post-apocolyptic world who have close to nothing of value, and everyday face the challenges that you or me only see maybe once in a lifetime." The world in which the story takes place, known as Megu has been through rough times, especially in the continent of Lumerelia. "The heart of the story is warfare. The age old despute of good and evil but this time with a twist... It's interesting because the Resistance which is fighting for the people has really hit a wall when the story picks up and they're so desperate for help that they're actually becoming a bit like their enemies, the Insurgents. So who do you fight for? Who do you hate? It was just really cool to see how a world in such a desperate state manages to scrape by... really, truly fun to write about. Watching such a dark world unfold in so many positive ways is just inspiring. Writing for each of the unique characters gives it a bit of a charm... but at the same time doesn't derive from the severity of the story that's unfolding with it."

After being in development for almost a year, the first episode of Sienna March was released on January 1st, 2010.

Writing
Writing was completed by Broken Reflections, a production company created by Aaron D. Bishop in 2004. "It was really refreshing to take a leap from the seriousness of Per Diem and just delve into such a thick and rich setting... I really loved getting the opportunity to create such a fleshed out world... I love all the guys who helped me with it and I really enjoyed helping them with it as well."

As of June 27th 2010, Sienna March has cracked the 100,000 word barrier, exceeding the limit to many accepted university Ph.D. theses, totalling 102,753 to be exact and showing no signs of stopping any time soon.

Starting immediately after the close of the second season, Aaron D. Bishop began planning and devising an entirely new story for the third iteration of the series, "Ever since the beginning of even just concepting ideas about Sienna March I had only really developed two seasons worth of material for the earlier sections of the storyline, so after the second season ended on a rather broad note it gave me some room to step back and really see where the series should be going." Bishop also stated "[That] because the series needs to go in an entirely new direction to accurately follow the timeline, I found it difficult to sort of pawn the new elements off on the reader without being properly introduced. The only alternative would be to have everything happen suddenly... which is what I did. I'd like to be able to tell long time fans that the series will stay the same as it's always been but unfortunately I can't."

"Much of the writing style will remain the same." says Bishop, but that the series will be entirely different when it picks up in November, "Not that it won't make any sense at all, but it'll certainly be heading in a new direction."

"Like most writers, back in November of '09 I had a large bulk of what the story needed to be about... mainly how it starts and how it ends, everything in between is basically up for grabs," but while still carefully being planned out, Bishop assures us that the series will be, "much bigger, much better and way more confusing."

Format
Sienna March is told in a serialized format, with each episode involving a self-contained story while contributing to a larger storyline, which is broken down into season-long narratives marked by the gradual rise of a powerful being or event. The series blends different genres, including horror, action, drama, romance, melodrama, farce, science fiction, and even comedy.

The series' narrative revolves around Shaei'lyv and the 'group', who struggle to contribute to ending the war and working their way past their personal feelings and tense emotions. The series mixes complex, season-long storylines with a 'catastrophe of the week' format; a typical episode contains one or more events, or catastrophic occurrences, that are thwarted and usually resolved by the end of the episode. Though elements and relationships are explored and ongoing subplots are included, the show focuses primarily on Shaei'lyv and her role as an archetypal heroine, complete with various monologues that express her feelings upon a subject while reflecting upon something as if being interviewed long after the fact.

Synopsis
A ratty band of heroes do their best to survive, enduring an eighteen year-long war that's reduced the Lumerelian Commonwealth to dust and bones. While the former governing power tries it's best to retaliate against an ancient force the group venture across the land in search of sanction, but is confronted when the war they run from keeps finding them.

Shaei'lyv, the leader of the group holds a secret from her friends, but as their relationships are put to the test, she is forced to tell them the truth. Shortly thereafter, not everyone agrees to her leadership as the group splits up to not only be alone, but to resume the lives they put on hold when they first became friends. Quickly though, they realize once again that they cannot hide from war.

Together the group face many hardships and challenges, from broken relationships, to a thirty-foot tall monster, to plagues that wilt the population. While the war rages on, Shaei'lyv begins to understand the purpose of her secret as well as a prophecy that claims she must end the world to end the war.

Slowly she begins to accept the responsibility she's been given by an ancient dweller of Aeon, and learns what she must do in order to save humanity from itself.

Season One
Most of the first season reflects upon Shaei'lyv's past and upon the serious tension of the war. The group often attempts to try and find out what's going on, by tapping radio chatter, going to great lengths to locate facilities, to locate the origin of a new species of animal as well as get past each other in the way of relationship development among the characters. But towards the end of the season things start to go wrong for Shaei'lyv that ultimately causes her downfall as the leader of the group. This of course forces the group to disband entirely and go their separate ways being forced to try and live life alone in a desperate time of brutal war, but as things in their lives start to go wrong as well, they all start to realize that not trusting Shaei'lyv may've been the biggest mistake they've ever made.

Shaei'lyv advances the plot as if the story is playing through her eyes, while Rogue acts as the comic relief with quite a deep history and Velica plays her role as an insecure yet brave nurse. Au'briek is a self conscience mechanic who puts his skills to good use many times throughout the season. Nelamie (Au'briek's girlfriend) is highly skilled with various types of weapons while being exposed to death far too many times at a young age and Kel'vear is a Resistance soldier gone rogue after a brief encounter with the group early on in the season, however later on in the season Kel'vear leaves the group and rejoins the Resistance for feeling betrayed by Shaei'lyv after she walked out on the group. The first season ends with quite a literal cliffhanger as most of the main characters are faced with certain death. Notably, early on in the last episode Shaei'lyv says "...even though I didn't know it at the time, only a few days from now everything would be different." Leading fans to believe the series will utmost definitely be forever changed at the start of season two.

Season Two
The second season begins to expand the story that was established in the first season in various directions. One noticible element is that the story isn't so much about Shaei'lyv's adventures anymore. A lot now consists of her parents and their misadventures as well as a cast of new characters who go through similar challenges to settle the war. While the focus of the series this season is still very much upon the group, many side-stories along with new cast additions expand the experience; encompassing a much larger perspective of the actual war, and the war's effect on people of the commonwealth. Several elements tie together throughout the season and overall will come together as a taught story by the final episode. While many of the characters may have different ideas and opinions, they all fight for a common goal. To end the war.

While the first season was seen mainly through the eyes of Shaei'lyv, the second season sees much of the story through the eyes of the common man. Each character has grown a little since Episode 12, however Rogue still plays the comic relief most of the time, along with Caliber; a Resistance sniper with a heart made of stone but slowly begins to grasp reality, who accompanies Sable; a Resistance commander who wears a crown of thorns. Au'briek is still quite self conscience, however Nelamie has begun to trade places with her opposite as things start to become difficult for her throughout the season. Velica has started to become a little soft through the intense heartbreak from the end of the first season, however slowly she's been working herself back up to speed. Rico has become a regular who offers the group a camp early in the season to stay at while they find a new place. But through a turn of events, Rico is dismounted from his casual appearances for a number of episodes as he's forced to reflect upon several important decisions he has and will have to make.

Later in the season Shaei'lyv starts to go insane upon her capture by feared Marla'dex which she is led to believe is a dream, because in her reality she is still with Rico and her friends as a Resistance raid on their camp forces them out and away from his fortress. Through her mental anguish, Roh'dael and Marla'dex decide to drown Shaei'lyv where she's rescused by her friends realizing the reality she believed was the dream. From there the group start their search for Roh'dael and Marla'dex, with an ambition of getting even for all the wrongs comitted.

At the final part of Episode 24, Shaei'lyv finally opens her fathers wooden chest and reveals it's contents, as well as all of the loose ends from season one and two are tied together, leaving many questions about the third seasons direction.

Season Three
The third season of the series sets to return to many unexplained events that occured throughout the first season while expanding upon many that occured throughout the second; acting more like a direct sequel for both preceding seasons. While at the start of the season things remained unexplained, a massive mystery surrounding Shaei'lyv and her father's gift begins to unfold explaining many things while returning to the setting of the first season while Shaei'lyv encounters a new, startling fault that she must overcome throughout the entire seasonal arc. All of the original cast return including Rogue, Velica, Nelamie, Au'briek, Gauge, Caliber, Rico, as well as Talg'aniir and Einar from the latter encampment which is the groups hub early in the season and Kel'vear who made his departure at the end of the second season; it's currently unknown how this will tie into the main story over the third season. Many other characters will make their debut as well as several other characters from previous seasons which at this point remains disclosed.

Due to writing pressures in development of the third season, writer Aaron D. Bishop has released a statement regarding the remainder of the seasonal story-arch as follows:

"Putting a whole season of Sienna March together requires a lot of work. First there's the development and conceptual stage which can take months to generate workable storylines, and then even more time to put them together in such a way that they flow just right.

Because season 3 is taking up more time than I initially expected, I'm post-poning the remainder of the season until after the new year, beginning with Episode 30. I apologize to the fans of the series, but I wish to make my work something that everyone will enjoy. This is not a cancellation, Sienna March will live on, I just request your patience as I take some much needed rest over the holidays, and continue editing and revising the rest of the season. Thank you."

It is currently unknown whether or not this will be the final season in the series, but if this recent mid-season break is any indication, than anything is possible.

Main (1637 E7)

 * Shaei'lyv (31 Episodes)
 * Rogue (31 Episodes)
 * Velica (31 Episodes)
 * Au'briek (31 Episodes)
 * Nelamie (31 Episodes)
 * Kel'vear (30 Episodes)
 * Ricochet (19 Episodes)
 * Caliber (16 Episodes)
 * Scarlett (14 Episodes)
 * Gauge (11 Episodes)
 * Roh'dael (10 Episodes)
 * Talg'aniir (10 Episodes)
 * Clarence (9 Episodes)
 * Beau (8 Episodes)
 * Einar (7 Episodes)
 * Marla'dex (6 Episodes)
 * Barrow (5 Episodes)

Main (1458 E7)

 * Y'erade (6 Episodes)
 * Dhi'eava (5 Episodes)
 * Desdemonan (4 Episodes)

Appearances

 * Jekyl - The ignornant old man whose best friend is a shotgun
 * Aer'tuo - Shaei'lyv's ex-husband
 * Burn'aizae - Y'erade's father who plays a brief role in the second season
 * Rei'quil - Y'erade's mother who dwindles on the brink of insanity
 * Vae'drul - Dhi'eava's father
 * Paegytha - Dhi'eava's mother
 * Moza - The bounty hunter given the contract to kill Burn'aizae
 * Haina - Moza's wife
 * Fuze - Scarlett's team-mate back in the DUCS who was KIA
 * Dud - Another one of Scarlett's old team-mates
 * Elliana - Caliber's sister
 * Lucio - Caliber's father
 * Salina - Caliber's mother
 * Jensin - The old captain of the secretive ship
 * Fellamourne - The final target on Y'erade's contract before retiring, or so he thought
 * Col. James - The man in-charge at the Resistance outpost

Featured Species

 * Human
 * Qael'tegrin
 * Vocifera
 * Mutated Vocifera

Location (contains spoilers)
While taking place throughout various areas of Lumerelia, the bulk of Season 1 has taken place in the north eastern region of Cekonahai.
 * Raevin - An outport city near the groups first campsite. Used as a directional marker in Episode 3.
 * Nezzaro - Location of the secret Resistance labratory in Episode 4.
 * Eltre'ez - An outskirt town believed to have the highest density of Vocifera activity. Mentioned in Episode 4.

Trivia (contains spoilers)

 * When Shaei'lyv asked to purchase Au'briek's truck her first offer was only 8,000 Oro. In the end she bought it for 11,000. Featured in 'Heart of War Pt. I.'
 * As the group was leaving the prison camp in an attempt to locate Nelamie, Rogue was shot between his ribs on his right side, narrowly missing his liver in 'Heart of War Pt. II.'
 * Nelamie and Au'briek never actually make it to their location during their supply run as the gas tank in the truck falls out in 'Abandoned.'
 * 'G018-2, Argo-Felca-One' was the callsign used by Resistance to locate PND mining activity in 'In Their Footsteps.'
 * Shaei'lyv was named after the dying light from a Vestaset; a vivid orange, or sienna which translates to 'shaei'lyv' in Aramithian, also known as 'destiny' and 'fate' according to followers of Cielo, the god of the sky. Mentioned in 'Secrets' and 'Pillars of Panacea.'
 * Episode 21 previously had two other names. Firstly known as 'Swan Songs' then as 'Songs of Cygnus' until finally being renamed upon the day of release as 'Hearts and Minds'.
 * The Ghost Orchid is actually a real-life flower, and is extremely rare, however it earned it's name for a very different reason; it's obvious ghostly shape. Starred in 'The Ghost Orchid.'
 * Although it's not explained in episode 23, Caliber earned her name because of the .45 caliber shell she wore around her neck through the military. Starred in 'Ataraxia.'
 * The combat knife used by Y'erade's father in the first episode of season 2 and then again in episode 22 by Y'erade himself, is found within the wooden chest that Shaei'lyv has been carrying with her for years. Featured in 'Pillars of Panacea.'

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