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Topics - Pseudonym
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121
« on: December 02, 2007, 05:53:46 pm »
From survivor to sailor, from sailor to merchant, from merchant to innkeeper, from innkeeper to you comes a bloody and brutal tale from Sedera.
You are told in hushed whispers the frightening story of a man, tall and bearded, skin burned dark by the desert sun who plagues the nightmares of all peace loving folks in this kingdom. He wields twin blades of death and ruin and slays all who stand against him without discrimination - soldier, farmer ... adult, child.
The whereabouts of this recently arrived plague of Sedera are unknown ... he leaves no track to follow and few alive in his wake to report his movements to the authorities.
122
« on: November 30, 2007, 08:58:22 pm »
News is slowly filtering in that the small hamlet of 'Farmersmeet', perhaps half a day's walk south of Wymere in Western Dregar, was the scene of bloody slaughter but a few days ago.
Those few witnesses to escape the massacre tell the frightening tale of a tall, curly haired, trident bearded man wielding two swords with unparalleled skill who slew man, woman and child without mercy.
Despite the presence of skilled rangers and trackers amongst their number, the squad of Redarms sent by the Sabre of Liwich to investigate were unable to discern any detail of which direction the murderer fled nor a clue as to his current whereabouts.
123
« on: November 30, 2007, 08:50:13 pm »
News is slowly filtering in that the small hamlet of 'Farmersmeet', perhaps half a day's walk south of Wymere in Western Dregar, was the scene of bloody slaughter but a few days ago.
Those few witnesses to escape the massacre tell the frightening tale of a tall, curly haired, trident bearded man wielding two swords with unparalleled skill who slew man, woman and child without mercy.
Despite the presence of skilled rangers and trackers amongst their number, the squad of Redarms sent by the Sabre of Liwich to investigate were unable to discern any detail of which direction the murderer fled nor a clue as to his current whereabouts.
124
« on: November 27, 2007, 10:37:39 pm »
Though not nearly as interesting as another Aussie GM's birthday last week, Happy Birthday Dezza! Sure, only a year older than me, but wow, one sure does go downhill in that year. DnD defines middle age as starting at 35! 
125
« on: November 27, 2007, 10:22:32 pm »
Was having an interesting chat last night with Carillon (whom I greatly respect as a thoughtful and commendable roleplayer) about Chaotic Neutral alignment. How does one play CN on a server where the vast majority of quests are designed for characters of good motivations she asked? My initial thought for a response was along the lines of 'Sure, you can demand a reward whereas the LG paladin will do it pro bono' but as I pondered it all seemed a little ... I don't know ... contrived way to recommend someone approach CN? Got me to thinking about how I play Arkolio, my CN rogue. What made him CN? Why was he CN as opposed to CG? I think it's good to have these ponderings every so often. How does Ark view the world? What is it about his perspective that makes me stick the label of CN upon him? My take on CN (for him anyways) is that he is very good at putting his actions (and those action's consequences and his feelings about them) in little sealed boxes within his mind and then carrying on with his business. His mind is filled with little sealed experience boxes - the time I did 'X', the time I did 'Y', that day I did 'Z'. These experience boxes record the experience but bear very little relevance to what he might do, how me might react, when he encounters a similar situation in which he will be involved in the future. HE, as a CN, is more subject to whim and fancy, more subject to all sorts of variables that impact his behaviour than if he were CG. Does he feel bad when he remembers one of his actions that another (or the standards of society) might judge as thoughtless ... random ... CN? Nah, honestly, he couldn't tell you 90% of the time why he did what he did. He might do the same again. Maybe not. Couldn't tell you the reason why he rescued the little boy for no reward .. couldn't tell you the reason why he robbed the little old lady of her pension cheque .. that'd involve opening up the thousands of experience boxes in his head. He's CN - he can't even find that box you are referring to! It's floating around up there amidst all sorts of sensory inputs and base wants and needs that more strongly demand his immediate attention. Thanks to Carillon for the chat last night. These types of ruminations help flesh out my character, make him more 'alive' to play and ultimately more fun. She also asked why Ark tries to seduce every woman he meets - that one you'll have to find out through RP - that one I don't give away for free. Anyways, enough thoughtfulness from me. Just wanted to share my take on one of the alignments - please note, in no way an official take on the alignment, just my musings. I like reading this stuff from others. Hope you're having a good day! 
126
« on: November 11, 2007, 07:43:09 pm »
*All those walking past the trade and market hall can see and hear a hawker, dressed in a straight jacket with a parrot on his shoulder, shouting his advertisement*
ARKOLIO HAS GONE COMPLETELY MAD!!
HE'D HAVE TO BE INSANE TO LET THESE THINGS GO AT THESE CRAZY LOW, LOW PRICES ...
... ADAMANTIUM TOWER SHIELDS, NOT 50,000 TRUE, NOT 40,000 TRUE, NOT EVEN 30,000 TRUE, JUST 12,000 TRUE ... YESSIR, YOU HEARD ME CORRECTLY, JUST 12,000 TRUE ... FOR ADAMANTIUM TOWER SHIELDS!!
... GREATER MAGE ROBES GO OUT THE DOOR AT 20,000 TRUE [size=-3]// lvl req. 18 //[/size] ...
... ARK HAS GONE COMPLETELY BANANAS!! DIAMOND RINGS TO MAKE YOU SMARTER, STRONGER, FASTER, WISER [size=-3]// +2 to ability, lvl req. 12 //[/size] .. YES MA'AM, MAYHAPS HE SHOULD WEAR ONE OF THOSE RINGS OF OWL'S WISDOM FOR THEN HE'D SEE THE UTTER LUNACY OF SELLING THEM FOR ONLY 12,000 TRUE!! GET IN QUICK FOLKS, ONLY 12,000 TRUE FOR DIAMOND RINGS ...
... DON'T JUST TAKE MY WORD FOR IT, LET'S ASK THIS COMPLETELY IMPARTIAL BYSTANDER!
*A woman, up until this point watching in silence, steps forward from the gathered crowd*
HELLO MADAM, HAVE WE MET BEFORE?
No Sir, until this moment we have never spoken *wooden acting*
HAVE YOU EVER BOUGHT ANYTHING FROM CRAZY ARKOLIO BEFORE MADAM?
Yes Sir. I have purchased a set of adamantium full plate and I must say, though I was initially attracted by the crazy prices, I was also impressed with the service and the quality. *testimony given, she steps back into the crowd*
THERE YOU HAVE IT FOLKS ...
... YEW LONGBOW AT 35,000 TRUE, GET FLAT ABS IN NO TIME!!! MAHOGANY IS SO VERY LAST SEASON, BE ONE OF THE IN CROWD AND GET YOURSELF A YEW BOW AT THIS BARGAIN PRICE!!!
AND FOR THE CRAZIEST ONE OF ALL ... *voice drops to a conspirital whisper* Gather in folks, you can tell your grandkids you were around to hear when this one went for sale *back to shouting* A MITHRIL HALBERD, ONLY 69,999 TRUE!!! THAT'S RIGHT, ONLY 69,999 TRUE FOR A MITHRIL WEAPON!!! SURE, IT MAY NOT BE YOUR WEAPON OF CHOICE BUT VERY HANDY AS A BACKUP!! FIGHTING A GOLEM?? A BALOR?? YOU CAN BE THE ONE ACTUALLY DOING DAMAGE AS YOU WATCH YOUR FRIENDS FLAIL AROUND HELPLESSLY!!!
... ACT NOW AND THAT'S NOT ALL! BE ONE OF THE FIRST DOZEN BUYERS AND ARKOLIO WILL THROW IN A FREE SET OF STEAK KNIVES [size=-3]// 6 x skinning knives //[/size] AT NO EXTRA COST!! THAT'S RIGHT, JUST BE ONE OF THE FIRST DOZEN TO SNAP UP ONE OF THESE BONKERS BARGAINS AND RECEIVE NOT ONLY YOUR LOW, LOW PRICED PURCHASED ITEM BUT ALSO A COMPLETELY FREE SET OF STEAK KNIVES!!
127
« on: November 07, 2007, 06:32:35 pm »
Hello players of Layonara.
I am a forum that was created for you to discuss (IC) events of the current campaign.
History shows that plot information and clues have come from many directions and sources and plot level successes have generally been more achievable when information is shared, resources pooled, ideas and possibilities tossed around between many players.
That is why I exist (ie. not just as a spacer between 'Ask a Gamemaster' and 'Roleplaying'), please feel free to use me!
Your potential friend,
The Dragon Storm Campaign Forum
128
« on: October 30, 2007, 08:33:40 pm »
Description: They all have long flowing locks whereas LORE tells us; All Half Giants, including females, are totally hairless, something most giants find disturbing Location: Above the neck region. Verified: Went through all the head options on the GM loom, none hairless. Yep, I know this is not a big thing nor a thing likely to receive much attention. Just posting here as I am not sure if any of what gets posted here might be relevant to the work that is getting done for the new MMO.
129
« on: October 30, 2007, 12:10:42 am »
Here in Australia, tonight we see the airing of the final episode of The Sopranos.  Got me to thinking, I cannot recall a similar anticipation such as this for the final episode of any other TV shows ... in my adulthood anyways. Not even for Seinfeld. Maybe Family Ties or MASH when I was a younger man. Any thoughts on another show that had you waiting with baited breath it's final episode? [size=-2]PS. If someone posts a spoiler for tonight's episode ... well, you don't wanna know what that'll provoke.[/size]
130
« on: October 27, 2007, 01:58:15 am »
I'll beat DMOE to the punch.
Happy birthday Lala!!!
Many happy returns *wonders what that even means*
131
« on: October 26, 2007, 10:04:48 pm »
Greetings friends! Tired of perusing the trade and market hall for hours on end, never quite finding exactly what you were looking for? Tired of wasting your time reading advertisements for bronze and silver jewellery that you wouldn't even be bothered giving to your little non-adventuring brother or sister? [size=-2](//who are level 0 commoners)[/size] More importantly, tired of dying and having the Harvester rip your very soul from your broken and bloody corpse? Look no further friends, I have the only stuff you need! ~oOo~ Arkolio's items you need to make a quick getaway! ~oOo~* Potions of Invisibility - 1,000 true each
* Raw diamonds, good for all sorts of useful things to prevent unfortunatancies. - 5,000 true each
* Dusts of darkness - 500 true each
* Potions of Heal - 2,000 true each *there follows a crude drawing of a skeletal figure clutching a scythe and throwing it's hands up in frustration*
132
« on: October 24, 2007, 12:39:32 am »
133
« on: October 20, 2007, 01:19:15 am »
The Aragenite community and the medical fraternity are much saddened as news of the brutal murder of Ludwig Venderwen begins to circulate.
Dr Ludwig Venderwen, a much respected medical researcher (though little known outside these somewhat insular communities) with a specialty in treating infectious diseases, was found slain and burned almost beyond recognition amidst the charred and ruined interior of his family home. A number of hired guards present were also found slain, their bodies rent and torn, apparently by the claw or tooth of a rabid beast.
Though his death is without doubt murder most foul, little more is known as to the motivation, identity or whereabouts of his assailant/s.
[size=-2]// Congratulations to Alandric Vensk (Polak76) for the successful (?) completion of his CDQ //[/size]
134
« on: October 18, 2007, 09:38:20 pm »
Two diamonds for sale.
These aren't just normal run-of-the-mill diamonds either.
These are divine, glorious, great, incomparable, keen, magnificent, marvelous, matchless, neat, outstanding, peerless, sensational, smashing, superb, terrific, topnotch, wonderful, ace, admirable, august, best, breathtaking, choice, elegant, elevated, exalted, excellent, exquisite, fab, fine, gorgeous, grand, lofty, magnificent, majestic, marvelous, matchless, noble, optimal, optimum, outstanding, peerless, prime, proud, resplendent, solid, splendid, splendiferous, splendorous, standout, stunning, sublime, super, superior, superlative, tops, unrivaled, *puts his thesaurus away* diamonds.
Arkolio de'Averlain
135
« on: October 16, 2007, 09:49:16 pm »
<1>
After the previous couple of relaxing weekends on Sunday I was preparing myself for some excitement. It's not so much that I go looking for adventure, however I know from previous experience that sooner or later, adventure will come looking for me.
Do you want me to create a weekend adventure filled with entertaining yet unfortunately fictitious frivolity?
If yes, proceed to <3>
If no, just tell me what you really did, proceed to <7>
<2>
Washington, 2013
President Chelsea Clinton, fresh from her extreme makeover, ascended the steps to the podium. Camera flashes popped and flared from the immense gallery before her on the lawns of the Whitehouse. Pausing for dramatic effect, she spoke the words that the free world had been waiting close to two decades to hear, "We Got Him!". The assembled crowd roared. Whilst Osama Bin Laden was still at large in his subterranean cavern network in Afghanistan, he was now known to be only a fall guy and the true terrorist mastermind, Dorganath had finally been taken into custody. Chelsea continued, "He was deep, deep undercover in Chicago-ish. Secure within a sham role as Layo administrator, Dorg had singlehandedly brought the Western world to it's knees. But We Got Him!"
From my vantage at the back of the gallery I nodded as the final puzzle piece fell into place. It all made sense to me now. Satisfied my instincts were proven correct I quickly phased off to . . .
Go to New York, 1983? Proceed to <8>
Go to Fiji, 1963? Proceed then to <6>
<3>
And so it was, bright and early Saturday morning, adventure, in the form of a statuesque redhead dame came knocking at my door. I thought to myself (as opposed to my unique ability to think to others) 'Here we go, another weekend filled with mind blowing, frenetic, freakish, exuberant, immoral, nasty, wanton, luxuriant, rampaging, unbridled, implausible and whimsical debauchery.'
Sure. That all happened in due course but it was what preceded those 2 and a half minutes that made this weekend interesting. Without saying a word, she reached into the low cut bodice of her French maid's outfit and extracted a . . .
If you wish for her to bring out a compact time-travel device that sends me on a good wholesome fun adventure, proceed to <11>
If instead she has some mains-powered device of an arousing, yet simultaneously disturbing nature down that top, proceed to <9>
<4>
Japan, 1603.
Ieyasu Tokugawa summoned the clan of black-clad assassins before his throne. "It is to you, the Red Monkey Claw Clan, that I entrust the continuation of this ancient duty. Hone your deadly skills continuously for if ever this sacred balance is disturbed, it is incumbent upon you to secure its restoration. No matter when, even say, 404 years in the future, if Pseudo's posts should go unthanked, slay everyone!"
Go to Melbourne, 24 September 2005? Go to <3>
Go to New York, 1983? Proceed to <8>
<5>
12.32pm, Delivery Room C, Brisbane hospital. "Push Mrs Paton, almost there, I can see the head. One more push, Aaaaaaarggghhhh, Congratulations! A beautiful baby boy. What's his name? Matthew. That's lovely (she writes name down on a small piece of paper, sticks it to trolley). We'll get him off and clean him up now and bring him back to you in a few minutes." Nurse takes baby away.
12.32pm, Delivery Room D, Brisbane hospital. "Push Mrs Trump, doing well, Baby is crowning. keep breathing, Aaaaaaarggghhhh, Congratulations! A beautiful baby boy. What's his name? Don. That's nice (she writes name down on a small piece of paper, sticks it to trolley). We'll take him off and clean him up for you and bring him back in a jiffy." Nurse takes baby away.
Two nurses, normally perfectly competent, are wheeling babies down maternity ward hallway. Large gust of wind. Paper flies everywhere. Nurse falls over. Baby trolleys collide. Confusion reigns. Nurse picks up two naming cards from the floor and sticks back on trolleys randomly. Newly arrived present day Matthew sighs heavily,
"Ok, but is he happy? Would sleeping every night with a succession of ever younger wives on a bed of scattered hundred dollar bills really bring you joy?" I sigh again, even louder this time, as I program the time travel device for . . .
Washington, 2013? Go to <2>
Rome, 57BC? Go to <10>
<6>
Oops! Faulty time travel device! Fiji?? I found myself standing on a hot basalt block in a sea of lava. That's the problem when you mess with time travel and the very fabric of the Universe.
THE END.
<7>
Worked all day Saturday, nothing terribly exciting occurred. Kids ran mental and I came perilously close to killing them, my wife and myself at several points in time. Went to bed early in anticipation of an interrupted night's sleep and a too-early rising Monday morning.
THE END.
<8>
New York, 1983. I boldly strode into the offices of my new broker, Toby Sachs.
"Tobes, I want to buy shares in these companies - Microsoft, General Electric, Wal-Mart, Oracle, Hewlett-Packard Co, Verizon Communications Inc., The Home Depot Inc, Boeing Co, Bank of America Corp., Pfizer Inc., J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Time Warner Inc., Procter & Gamble Co., Costco Wholesale, Johnson & Johnson, Dell Inc .... and sell those in Beta Video, The Seagrass Flooring Company, Baghdad Condominium Co and Enron"
That organised, time to go to . . .
Go to Fiji, 1963? <6>
Go to Rome 57BC? Head to <10>
<9>
An erotic story? Are you kidding? If you have come here for inspiration from me, of all people, then your plight must be a sad one indeed.
THE END.
<10>
Rome 57BC.
"Friends, Romans, Countrymen. Lend me your ears. I am hungry but I do not know exactly what it is I wish to eat. I feel like something pretty substantial, but simultaneously, not too heavy."
"But Jules, there's not much on offer. Cornelius burnt the toast and all we have left is some lettuce and a pig. Even the hen's eggs have not hatched and I have discarded them into that pot of water over by the fire."
Newly arrived centurion Mattonius Titus Patonus speaks up, "Guys - I have a crazy idea!"
Problem solved, I head off to . . .
Japan, 1603? Proceed to <4>
How about London, 1983? Skip to <12>
<11>
. . . compact time-travel device! Intimately familiar with the apparatuses (apperatii?) of 4th dimension travel through vast previous experience I grabbed a 600ml bottle of Diet Coke, a large calibre hand gun (that I have kept around in case of battles with ninjas) and punched in the coordinates for . . .
Should I go back to Brisbane, 1973? If you think that sounds good, head on over to <5>
How about London, 1983? Skip to <12>
<12>
The polite smattering of applause rose from an appreciative audience of mothers and fathers attending the schoolboys rugby match between Belgravia College and Hampstead School for Boys. Mr Wilkinson looked proudly out over the field, smiling proudly at his infant son Jonny playing in his first game for Hampstead. Mr Wilkinson leaned over to the father standing next to him - "My boy is going to play for England one day and flukily win them the World Cup." That father next to him, still slightly disoriented from the exiting of the time-space continuum, murmured "Not likely" as he raised the Magnum 44.
Little Jonny never even heard the sharp crack of the pistol being fired as the slug took him just slightly to the left of his sternum. I suppose I could have taken out his knee but I just had time for the thought 'Better safe than sorry' before I phased off to . . .
Back to Brisbane, 1973? Go to <5>
Forward to Washington, 2013? Go to <2>
137
« on: September 15, 2007, 01:09:51 am »
Came across this before and found it quite amazing. Hopefully you might find it interesting and thought provoking too.
Do What You Love: Time is Too Short to do Anything Else ...
Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and Pixar Animation Studios, delivered a truly inspirational commencement address to some 5,000 Stanford University graduates. Without further adieu, his message:
"I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I've ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That's it. No big deal. Just three stories.
The First Story is About Connecting the Dots.
I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out?
It started before I was born. My biological mother was a young, unwed college graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife.
Except that when I popped out they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl. So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking: 'We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?' They said: 'Of course.' My biological mother later found out that my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school. She refused to sign the final adoption papers. She only relented a few months later when my parents promised that I would someday go to college.
And 17 years later I did go to college. But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents' savings were being spent on my college tuition.
After six months, I couldn't see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was spending all of the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting.
It wasn't all romantic. I didn't have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends' rooms, I returned coke bottles for the 5 cent deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it. And much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on. Let me give you one example:
Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country. Throughout the campus every poster, every label on every drawer, was beautifully hand calligraphed.
Because I had dropped out and didn't have to take the normal classes, I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this. I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can't capture, and I found it fascinating.
None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, it's likely that no personal computer would have them.
If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on this calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do. Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later.
Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.
My Second Story is About Love and Loss.
I was lucky - I found what I loved to do early in life. Woz and I started Apple in my parents' garage when I was 20. We worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4000 employees. We had just released our finest creation - the Macintosh - a year earlier, and I had just turned 30.
And then I got fired.
How can you get fired from a company you started? Well, as Apple grew we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me, and for the first year or so things went well. But then our visions of the future began to diverge and eventually we had a falling out. When we did, our Board of Directors sided with him. So at 30 I was out. And very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating.
I really didn't know what to do for a few months. I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down - that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me.
I met with David Packard and Bob Noyce and tried to apologize for screwing up so badly. I was a very public failure, and I even thought about running away from the valley. But something slowly began to dawn on me--I still loved what I did. The turn of events at Apple had not changed that one bit. I had been rejected, but I was still in love. And so I decided to start over.
Fired From Apple
I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.
During the next five years, I started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar, and fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar went on to create the world's first computer animated feature film, Toy Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world. In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, I returned to Apple, and the technology we developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple's current renaissance. And Laurene and I have a wonderful family together.
I'm pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn't been fired from Apple. It was awful-tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it.
Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers.
Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle.
My Third Story is About Death.
When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: 'If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right.'
It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' And whenever the answer has been 'No' for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.
Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything--all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure--these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.
Diagnosed With Cancer
About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer.
I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning, and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas. I didn't even know what a pancreas was. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months.
My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor's code for prepare to die. It means to try to tell your kids everything you thought you'd have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months. It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family. It means to say your goodbyes.
I lived with that diagnosis all day. Later that evening I had a biopsy, where they stuck an endoscope down my throat, through my stomach and into my intestines, put a needle into my pancreas and got a few cells from the tumor. I was sedated, but my wife, who was there, told me that when they viewed the cells under a microscope the doctors started crying because it turned out to be a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that is curable with surgery.
I had the surgery and I'm fine now.
This was the closest I've been to facing death, and I hope it's the closest I get for a few more decades. Having lived through it, I can now say this to you with a bit more certainty than when death was a useful but purely intellectual concept:
No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it.
And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.
Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation. It was created by a fellow named Stewart Brand not far from here in Menlo Park, and he brought it to life with his poetic touch.
This was in the late 1960s, before personal computers and desktop publishing, so it was all made with typewriters, scissors, and Polaroid cameras. It was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along: it was idealistic, and overflowing with neat tools and great notions.
Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then when it had run its course, they put out a final issue.
It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: 'Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.' It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.
Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.
Thank you all very much."
Food for thought, huh?
138
« on: September 12, 2007, 10:28:38 pm »
Finding it hard to capture that quintessential compassion and grace that encompasses what it means to play an Aeridinite Priest?? Someone who is guided by love and compassion at all times, someone who turns the other cheek, someone who can always be relied on for a kind word and a gentle smile ...
Instead of saying, "You don't have a ******* clue, do you?"
perhaps try, "I think you could do with more guidance from the Lifebringer."
Instead of saying, "She's a ******* power-crazy, loot-grabbing *****."
perhaps try, "She sure is an aggressive go-getter."
Instead of saying, "**** off"
perhaps try, "I'm certain that isn't feasible."
Instead of saying, "Well, ***** me with a dire mace."
perhaps try, "Really?"
Instead of saying, "Tell someone who gives a ****"
perhaps try, "Perhaps you should check with the High Priest"
Instead of saying, "Not my ******* problem."
perhaps try, "I wasn't involved in that quest."
Instead of saying, "What the ****?"
perhaps try, "That's interesting."
Instead of saying, "Why the **** didn't you tell me that yesterday?"
perhaps try, "It will be tight, but by the grace of my Lord, I'll try to schedule it in."
Instead of saying, "He's got his head up his ****"
perhaps try, "He's not familiar with the issues."
Instead of saying, "Oi! ********"
perhaps try, "Excuse me, sir?"
Just doing my bit to improve RP on Layo.
139
« on: September 05, 2007, 10:51:46 pm »
Remember that thread about how you can pick a guy RPing a female character? Why has there never been one done for the reverse? If you don't want to get caught out as a girl playing a guy (for whatever reason), follow these simple rules.
Rules for girls playing male PCs:
#1: Under no circumstances should you RP two men sharing an umbrella (unless at an arena gladiatorial match and your pies or hotdogs are getting wet and then strictly for the eating period only).
#2: Never ever RP your male character crying unless under the following circumstances:
a. When a heroic dog dies to save its master.
b. There is no b.
#3: Unless he murdered someone in your character's family, you must bail a friend out of Fort Vehl jail within 12 hours.
#4: Moaning about the type of ale another character has just given you for free is forbidden. However, complain at will if the temperature is unsuitable.
#5: No male PC should ever be required to buy a birthday or wedding present for another male character. In fact, even remembering your character's male friends birthday or wedding should probably be avoided.
#6: On a hack and slash trip across Dregar, the strongest bladder determines pit stops, not the weakest.
#7: Only in situations of complete moral and/or physical peril are you allowed to RP kicking another male downstairs.
#8: Even if you roll a natural 20 on the spot check, if another male PC's fly is down, that's his problem, you didn't see anything.
#9: A male in the company of an attractive, suggestively dressed female PC must remain sober enough to fight.
#10: If you compliment another male PC on his six-pack, you'd better be talking about his choice of ale.
#11: Never join a female PC in discussing another male PC (only exception is if she's withholding amore pending your response).
#12: Never talk to another male character in a inn's bathroom, an almost imperceptible nod is all the conversation you need.
#13: It is acceptable for you to ride a female character's horse. It is not acceptable however for her to ride yours.
// End of Pseudonym's RP lesson for today.
140
« on: August 10, 2007, 08:28:43 pm »
I run two characters mainly, Arkolio the lovable scoundrel (well, I love him anyway) and Virtue (the quite unvirtuous). Virtue needs 1,100xp for level 11 and Ark needs 4,000xp for level 15. At the rate I level, I find this good and bad, kinda like having Christmas Day and my birthday only one day apart ... but then a long wait to follow!
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