As Zeniel pointed out, he's got ties to Chris Avellone, the writer who created the Night Hag Ravel Puzzlewell from Planescape: Torment.
In this thread, I'd like to gather questions we can ask him. Feel free to post any question here that comes to your mind! (Should be project-oriented, of course 
)
Actually, I think that's a great starting question 
I have another few..
- Have you created Ravel while working on Torment, or did you have the idea for her before?
- Has Ravel appeared anywhere else but in Torment?
Actually, there's a pretty strong implication that an old woman near the beginning of Icewind Dale II is another aspect of Ravel, like Mebbeth and the Dustman Tiefer. Never actually says it outright, but if you've played Torment then it's almost unavoidable.
- As for questions, I'd go with why did he choose to go with Ravel almost exclusively using the shadow based magic?
Very good question, indeed, though I think the obvious answer is that its just plain cool and awesome (and suits her perfectly, giving her a unique feeling).
What I'd be interested in: Has he anything else in mind that she could have left besides a "daughter", a scarred man and (now probably malfunctioning) sensory-stone?
All good questions so far. I'd add a question about Ravel's daughter (and the father!) and if he created her with any other strong relationships in mind.
That reminded me. Ravel's daughter is described as being vaguely haggish is a young, still beautiful way. Is that just because she's a half fiend, or is she what a hag is before it realizes its potential?
Ookay the questions have been shipped. There'll be an answer annny day now.
It may be some time. I believe hes off to the penny arcade expo in Seattle, so he'll be Shadowrunnin for awhile! Ha Ha Ha, rpg crossover!
1. Kay: How did you create the greatest female video game character of all time?
We had a number of physically powerful enemies in Torment, and I thought a night hag would be a good adversary, especially if she was a cryptic, deadly puzzle maker. As the game went on, the idea that Ravel was a branching creature whose life resembled a great tree (or bramble) stretching across the planes, was in love with the player and she genuinely tried to help people at times (only to have it turn against her and the recipient) seemed to be some good hooks to make an adversary.
Writing Ravel was perhaps one of the experiences I’m most proud of in my career. I felt like she came together nicely, and she had a really distinctive tone.
2. Joyblood: Have you created Ravel while working on Torment, or did you have the idea for her before?
No, she was an original creation for the game. Her creation did influence Kreia in Knights of the Old Republic II, since there were stories with Ravel I never had time to tell that I thought Kreia could.
3: Joyblood: Has Ravel appeared anywhere else but in Torment?
Yes – Ravel’s existence is like the branching of a great tree across the Planes, although her incarnations don’t always realize what they are tied to. In Torment, she’s a few characters you encounter, and she also shows up in Icewind Dale 2 (she’s the elderly lady with cats in Targos) and she’s also the seer in Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter. In general, the clues to Ravel’s incarnations are that the incarnations have bad eyesight (or are blind), are female, and are usually elderly (though not always). They usually also have dreams or visions about the planes, since they are subconsciously tied into the other incarnations across the planes.
4: Hymneth: why did you choose to go with Ravel almost exclusively using the shadow based magic?
I’d describe her magic as more “tree”-based, although that might be stretching it. Generally, she can use almost any kind of magic, she’s not tied to a particular domain as long as the visual aspects of her spells involve thorns, brambles, and trees (hard to do in D+D without being a druid). The only drawback is that she can’t really “gift” others with buffs or helpful spells without them having some drawback.
5: Kay: Have you anything else in mind that she could have left besides a "daughter", a scarred man and (now probably malfunctioning) sensory-stone?
No, but I always saw Ravel as an incredibly powerful legendary figure, so she could have left all sorts of relics, offspring, and perhaps other unfortunate events and historic tales across the planes. She’s made a real mess of a lot of things.
6: Armory99: Any more info on ravels daughter (and her father) and if he created her with any other strong relationships in mind?
No word on Ravel’s mate(s) at all, completely an open book for who she spawns with (she’s probably had many, many suitors). As for daughters, her one daughter is detailed pretty thoroughly in the game, and she’s bound to have other offspring throughout the planes, male and female.
7: Hymneth: Ravel's daughter is described as being vaguely haggish is a young, still beautiful way. Is that just because she's a half fiend, or is she what a hag is before it realizes its potential?
I’ve actually violated the tenants of D&D by not restricting the appearance of hags, both in Torment and Gann in the NWN2 expansion, Mask of the Betrayer. They can be as extremely hideous or beautiful as they wish (at least in my world).
And last but not least in reference to your final question Joyblood.
"Sure, putting a character that hints at Ravel would be great. I don't have time to write one, unfortunately, I was already terribly tardy with the last interview entry and have three more on my desk from angrier and sadder folks.
Thanks, though!
Chris."
Also he wanted to post the questions on his obsidian blog. I said go ahead, anyone who objects for whatever reason, can go pike off!
Mmmmmm.
Why does it make me grin like an idiot every time we have any official contact with people who had a hand in the original PS stuff?
I like the fact that Ravel's daughter is apparantly a full Night Hag, just one that looks pretty attractive. I guess the father must have been one heck of a looker. . .
I bet we could get away with putting her in the book. Nice contrast having a beautiful Hag who's probably in the nicer 2/3 of the Alignment scale. Never go out and state who her mother was, just a bit of hinting. Eh?
Sounds good to me
Because they are creative like hell, and brought us some of the coolest ideas in the entire gaming industry. Getting in touch with those people HAS to make you grin like an idiot
@Zeniel: I'm with you there. I had the idea of putting the interview at the last page of our first book, as a "special bonus". I think that'd be way cool
Also, thank you again for your commitment and for getting us in touch with Chris! *grins like an idiot*
;-D
I bet we could get away with putting her in the book. Nice contrast having a beautiful Hag who's probably in the nicer 2/3 of the Alignment scale. Never go out and state who her mother was, just a bit of hinting. Eh?
Do you think this will call for another illustration? 
-Tiefling
Whenever you ask whether it'd be cool to have new art - I'll say yes.
I love art
I"m just posting here because the idea seems to be here, if there's a btter thread (probably) please tell me. I think it would be interesting if a night hag's appearance was directly related to her alignment, so a good night hag would not actually look like a hag.
Hmm you may be on to something their I suggest a vote!
Hmm, as fascinating as I find the idea of something extreme turning to some other extreme (fallen angel, risen devil, ...), I think this theme was a bit over-used *especially* in fan-made material. It's just the obvious thing to do, and I'd prefer this project to stay on more subtle paths.
For example, Ravel was so fascinating because she *incorporated* something associated with goodness - i.e. love - while staying as evil as a fiend.
If you don't mind, I'd prefer we say that all our Night Hags keep their "original alignment", unless we have a really, really cool idea which just doesn't work any other way. Actually, saying that really all Night Hags are evil, without exception, makes them just so much more special - and nightmarish.
My two cents, at least...
I don't think if there is a change it should be very extreme, like from dignified hideous old lady to unspeakably foul-looking old lady. I was thinking more about showing degrees of evil and thier ethical bias like this rather than a complete change.
Besides who says fiends are incapable of love. I feel that love is a neutral force that affects all beings. I believe there is an artical on mimir.net refering to "Powers" as being not actually gods but something even the gods must adhere to. Anyone who can control or influences a power must indeed be a powerful individual. Plus love cannot easily change the nature of a man. To quote Ravel Puzzlewell "People are too in love with themselves to be changed by love." Not to mention she was in love and yet she remained a cold calculating fiend.
How did he create the greatest female video game character of all time?
