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Messages - Pseudonym
Pages: 1 ... 3 4 [5] 6 7 ... 107
81
« on: March 09, 2011, 05:12:31 pm »
Happy Birthday to Nehetsrev!!!!!
I love you!!!!
Bugger! That'll teach me not to cut and paste.
82
« on: March 05, 2011, 11:47:44 pm »
83
« on: March 05, 2011, 06:46:39 pm »
Welcome!
84
« on: March 02, 2011, 03:52:56 am »
*The newcomer regarded his latest house guest with an amused look*
"What a strange question to ask. Though, I suppose, in a situation such as yours, any desperate attempt to try to distract and delay me from the task at hand is to be understood. You little rascal."
*waves an admonishing finger*
"You've heard of a Holy symbol haven't you? A token. A ummmm ... how would you put it? A representation of your faith? No, not really of your faith, I suppose. A representation of your God. That's better. Something that represents everything that your God is and means and wants. Yeah. Well, that's part of it. Still doesn't quite encompass it all. It's a thing, an object that you keep that is your reminder, your shackle, your ... desire? Sheesh, it's a hard concept to explain, ain't it?"
"How do I explain? Okay, let's see. You've seen these Sisters of Aeridin around the place haven't you? Now I ain't tryin' to convince you of the merits of what they do or don't believe in but to understand their symbols you gotta have at least a basic understanding of what they're all about. Aeridin is all about the circle of life right?"
*the newcomer makes a vague hand gesture, representing a circle*
"The circle of life ... healing ... preserving ... ummmm, purity, I guess. They believe in the sanctity of life .... the body and the soul, right? You keepin' up? As I was saying, they're all about these ideals. As such, their symbol is something you might look at or hold which brings to mind all these things that Aeridin governs. So, they go about sporting a gold leaf. A leaf that brings to mind growing and nurturing and living and all that stuff, get it? A leaf, what else do you think about? A leaf comes from a tree. What do you get from a tree? Food, shelter. See what I'm sayin'? Their leaf is a symbol of what their God is all about."
*As he patiently attempts his explanation, the newcomer tenderly caresses his own symbol, the very object of his guest's question*
"Same with Vorax. What's the God of the dwarves about? War, fightin' , battle, honor, duty, bravery, so on and so on, right? Sooo-ooo, no big surprise, they wear an axe around their neck. Not perfect I guess, it certainly covers the battle aspect well enough, dunno about the honor and loyalty bit. Regardless, it's what they've gone with. I'm not here to criticise their choice! An axe it is."
"I don't know them all, there's a whole bunch of Gods and Goddesses and, to be honest, I ain't all that interested. But, I hope you get my point. Now, where was I? That's right, you asked me about my own symbol."
*He holds it up a little closer to his guest. Close enough the newcomer's guest can see each individual stitch. Close enough he can make out the spots of dried blood, brown now with age.*
"I got this off a little girl I killed in Haven. It was her dolly. Still got a little bit of her blood on it, see? I keep this as a reminder of what happened in that town after I took her. The chaos. The grief. The corruption. The insanity. The lost hope. The guilt. Not just one wee life destroyed but the lives of all those around her destroyed. Her mama and papa not knowin' ... assuming the worst. Her brothers and sisters, never again havin' another day that wasn't dominated by what happened to their sister. You know what that does to someone? It destroys everything about them. There is nothing else that remains but for the overwhelming loss of the one you love. Understand?"
*The newcomer places his symbol down and takes up his skinning knife*
"Anyways, that's what I use. It seems to fit."
85
« on: March 02, 2011, 01:07:45 am »
Feliz aniversario!
86
« on: February 27, 2011, 06:02:44 pm »
Happy birthday!!! (Would type more but am on my phone (in traffic))
87
« on: February 26, 2011, 06:31:13 pm »
Happy, happy, happiest birthday!
88
« on: February 25, 2011, 08:25:04 pm »
*puts up hand* I know i'm not yet eligible for Ark's next CDQ but there are pre-quest thingies I want to organise beforehand. PM incoming.
89
« on: February 23, 2011, 04:37:01 pm »
Happy, happy birthday!
90
« on: February 20, 2011, 06:22:50 am »
Alberto Oddone was no rookie. A veteran of innumerable skirmishes, countless battles and a handful of wars for near on twenty years Alberto had seen, if not just about all of the evil mankind was capable of inflicting upon others once or twice before, then certainly the great majority of it once or twice before. He'd fought in campaigns across deserts, jungles and (once only and he swore he'd never do it again) in the snowy north. He'd won more than his share of battles over the years, lost a few as well and had learned to pick which cause was more likely to end up the former. He'd been married four times though was yet to meet the woman he loved more than the warrior's life.
Broad shouldered, thick of neck, thick of waist, thick of wrist and bow legged from years on horseback, his was not the physique that sent women swooning, his was the physique that allowed a warrior to swing a heavy broadsword for an hour ... and then an hour more when the enemy was swarming around you and the blood flowed ankle deep. He was living testament that the greatest asset by far a man could possess on the field of battle was unflagging strength and finesse was a vaguely remembered training ground nicety of little to no worth when the ravens feasted.
The Queen's True don't come much easier than searching the houses of this little town for some skulking cutthroat said Alberto to the rest of the swaggering veterans in the makeshift mess outside the walls of Hlint. Strong as an ox and twice as well hung am I laughed Alberto when some naysayer warned about the plague within the town. A murderer? Well, I dealt with murderers before scoffed Alberto, clenching fists the size of hams.
All this man's experience, all this man's strength, all this man's courage availed him little when, along with the three other men of his search crew, he finally confronted the newcomer.
The spell has been called many names over the centuries since the first priest called it down upon his sworn enemy. Vorax's Vise. Aragen's Anger. Rofirein's Revenge. Prunilla's Pummel. Perhaps fittingly and certainly more generically (though with less alliterative appeal) it was the name Hammer of The Gods that eventually found commonplace usage.
The newcomer's first Hammer felled all three of Alberto's companions and left Alberto himself him a ringing head. Even the second Hammer he managed to shrug off, afterall, as we've already noted, no rookie was he. It was the third Hammer, the one that hit just as Alberto had managed to finally draw his sword that was the one that knocked him into unconsciousness. Three Hammers to overcome our newly met hero. No shame in that really ... if anyone had been judging.
... time passes, our hero eventually awakening in an area he (groggy though he remains) recognises as somewhere underground. The smell of rot and corruption, presumably rising from the severed heads he can see placed about the area, may have caused a man other than he, maybe one less experienced in the odorous aftermath of battle, to choke and gag in disgust. Alberto however was no stranger to the smell of death. He tested his bonds. It felt like (and was) wire twisted around his wrists and ankles ...
"You're awake? Finally sleepy head. I was starting to think you were going to snooze the whole night away."
Alberto could just make out the newcomer by the light of the flickering candles. Didn't recognise him. Looked like a farmer or a carpenter or a cobbler or some such thought Alberto. Didn't look like a killer. Though, how would you suppose a killer looks exactly? Wearing a black cape and sporting a jagged scar down his cheek? The newcomer had neither black cape nor wicked facial scar. He did however, hold a rusty skinning knife with a look of menacing intent that exactly matched the stereotype.
Alberto would not beg for mercy. He wouldn't give this freak the satisfaction.
"You won't get away with this! Your own end awaits soon enough dog!"
The newcomer regarded Alberto with a raised eyebrow.
"Is that so? You actually say that with quite some conviction, like you believe it to be true. Why ever would you think that?"
"They're hunting for you even as we speak. It's only a matter of time before you're caught ... caught then hung!"
"Yes, yes. I understood what you meant when you said my end was awaiting soon enough. What I asked was why do you think it is only a matter of time?"
"They're hunting you, you cannot hide!"
"C'mon pal. You disappoint me. They're gonna find me? How exactly? You think right now you're being kept under where I am living? You think this knife is to be stashed under my mattress, waiting to be discovered? You think I'll go out tomorrow and some keen eyed observer will notice the single drop of your blood I failed to wash out of my clothing? You think I'll slip up and kill some hapless townie in full view of the Queen's mages who search for the monster in their midst with their enhanced sight? You think i'll try to take down someone they send out awanderin' as bait? You think I haven't prepared this room and the sound of your screaming might just carry to someone who cares? You think this is a game? You think that it's only a matter of time before good will triumph? Only a matter of time before the big baddie slips up and makes his mistake which is discovered by the shining hero? You think this story has a happy ending? I tell you something pal. I'm only getting started. The nightmare is only beginning."
91
« on: February 19, 2011, 06:22:40 am »
Happy Birthday Lord Dark!!
92
« on: February 19, 2011, 06:19:05 am »
Happy Birthday Davidhoff!!
93
« on: February 19, 2011, 06:17:54 am »
Happy Birthday Willhoff!!
94
« on: February 19, 2011, 12:48:09 am »
A snake and a rabbit were racing along a pair of intersecting forest pathways one day, when they collided at the intersection. They immediately began to argue with one another as to who was at fault for the mishap.
When the snake remarked that he had been blind since birth, and thus should be given right-of-way, the rabbit said that he, too, had been blind since birth. The two animals then forgot about the collision and began commiserating concerning the problems of being blind.
The snake said that his greatest regret was the loss of his identity. He had never been able to see his reflection in the water and, for that reason, did not know exactly what he looked like, or even what he was. The rabbit declared that he had the same problem. Seeing a way that they could help each other, the rabbit proposed that one feel the other from head to toe, and then try to describe what the other animal was.
The snake agreed, and started by winding himself around the rabbit. After a few moments, he announced, "You've got very soft, fuzzy fur, long ears, big rear feet, and a little fuzzy ball for a tail. I think that you must be a bunny rabbit!"
The rabbit was much relieved to find his identity, and proceeded to return the favour to the snake. After feeling about the snake's body for a few minutes, he asserted, "Well, you're scaly, you're slimy, you've got beady little eyes, you squirm and slither all the time, and you've got a forked tongue. I think you're Razeriem!"
95
« on: February 19, 2011, 12:42:56 am »
Ni'haer's apprentice asked him for a pet spider for his birthday, so Ni' went to the local pet shop and, lo and behold, they were 100 true each!!
Bollocks to this Ni' thought, I can get one cheaper off the web.
96
« on: February 15, 2011, 05:52:02 am »
"I know, I know - I was meant to be home hours ago. You know how it goes. One drink led to two, two to three and then it was my shout and the next thing ya know three had turned into half a dozen ..."*the newcomer spreads his hands a little helplessly*"I'm sorry, truly I am."*silence*"What? I'm getting the silent treatment am I? I said I was sorry already. C'mon, half the town was there, it would have been odd if I'd left early. I ended up telling that joke, you know, the one about the fisherman and his son*. Remember it? No? Well, it got a good laugh."*the flicker of candlelight reveals the recipient of his apology, her face set in grim and distinctly unamused lines*"Would you still be mad if I said I'd got you a little present?"*no answer, her expression remained unchanged*"I'm optimistically going to take that as a 'maybe not'. I think you'll like it, I get the impression you've been wanting some more company down here."*the newcomer reached into the lionskin bag at his waist, gently removing the freshly severed head. He placed it beside the other head on the floor.* "There ya go, a friend to keep you company when I'm not here."*The newcomer stands and stretches, arms reaching for the cellar ceiling.*"Well, I'm gonna say my prayers and then hit the hay. You two keep the noise down if you please, I know how you gals can be, gigglin' and gossiping the whole night and a man needs his sleep."*His soft smile robs his admonishing words of any sting.**
A father and son went fishing one day. As they sat in the boat for a couple of hours, they did not have much to do. The son started thinking about the world around him. He began to get curious. So, he asked his father some questions.
"How does this boat float?"
The father thought for a moment, then replied, "Don't rightly know, son."
The boy returned to his contemplation, but soon came up with another one, "How do fish breathe underwater?"
Once again, the father replied, "Don't rightly know, son."
A little later, the boy asked his father, "Why is the sky blue?"
Again, the father replied, "Don't rightly know, son."
Worried he was going to annoy his father, he said, "Dad, do you mind my asking you all of these questions?"
His father immediately assured him, "Of course not, son. If you don't ask questions, you'll never learn anything!"
[/SIZE]
97
« on: February 14, 2011, 03:41:41 pm »
The cottage was not a big 'un, just a big room where we did spend most of our time and another room where Ma' and Da' did sleep. Calling that room a room ain't no lie but sure, maybe it was stretchin' the truth just a wee bit. More of a cupboard some fancy folks might've called it. Didn't matter none what no fancy Missus or Mister said about nothin', the house was big enough to hold all five of us and it was small enough that Da' didn't owe no man and no bank no money on it. That was something Da' was mighty proud of it was. Da' always said to us that to be free o' debt to all men was something that shouldn't be scoffed at, no way. It was something a man could be proud of Da' said.
More than all that put together was something else that matter'd even more, that place was home.
I know'd every square inch of it, I did. I know'd its feel. Its smell. That smell you get from hunnerds of pies and hunnerds and hunnerds of fresh loaves that Ma' did cook. Ma' could cook all sorts o' things but them smells kinda just seeped in after a while. Sometimes I'd get home after playin' outside for a while and I'd ask Ma' what kinda pie she'd cooked cos' o' the smell and she just laughed at me and told me I was being hopeful and it was stew or somethin' like that for supper.
There was a big ol' fireplace that Granda' did build when he was the Da' and Da' was just a boy. All made out of river rocks it was, special chosen like cos' Da' said you couldn't choose just any ol' rocks cos' sometimes when they got hot then they could just go pop and everyone knew that was how Farmer Kale lost his eye even though he told everyone it was from fightin' gobbies we all knew that it was from a rock he musta used that had no business bein' used in any fireplace.
Just near the fireplace that my Granda' did build all out o' rocks that did rightly belong where they did find their home was my cot. That was where me and my big brother and the baby been sharin' ever since she was old enough to join us and not be squished if we rolled over wrong and forgot she was there too! I never did mine sharin' that cot with Erek and Libby, even if Erek got some shameful pleasure out of stinkin' it up with his bum burps after Ma' and Da' went to bed and he thought he could get away with it without Da' takin' the strap to his stinky behind. That's boys for ya, laughin' fit to split at things girls stopped findin' funny when they hit about five or six.
Over on the other side o' the room was the little stove where Ma' did all the cookin' an' washin' and next to that there was a table where we took our meals at. Real nice table it was too. Another thing it was that Da' was mighty proud of. No nails he'd point out to folks that visit, pointing out to some fancy way the legs did fit into the top. Never knew why havin' no nails in a table was a thing to point out to visitors, like they'd much care.
Anyways, that was the cottage. Home. That was where Ma, Da', Erek, Libby and me was on the night I died.
For my birthday, not last year, but the year before it was, Da' did buy me just the sweetest and bravest dog there ever was. I reckon there was never born a dog with a sweeter nature than that fella. Garent was what Da' called him, after some old fella that must've impressed Da' from some reason or another. Doesn't matter, was a good name for the best ever of dogs.
That night, we was inside, not far off bed time it was. Ma' had already put Libby to bed, she was all tuckered out like only real little kids get. I could hear Garent give a little whine he did. He gives this little yelp he does when he gets himself all tied up in his rope. He never liked that rope but Da' said it was for his own good. One day, early on, before the rope, Garent went a wanderin' and somehow got all the way outside the town gate. He was missin' for two whole days! We thought for sure some gobbie did get him, we did. Anyways, since then, Garent gets tied up outside the door to stop him from wanderin' off and gettin' himself eaten by some gobbie.
Dopey dog, how many times does a dog need to get himself all tangled before he stops turnin' and turnin' before he goes to bed himself and instead just plops down? Normally me or Erek goes out and sorts him out, untangles him and gives him a pat before bed. Kinda makes you wonder if Garent be smarter than all of us and gets himself all a'tangled just to get another cuddle in before bedtime.
That night, Garent gives his little yelp and I looked over at Erek to see which one of us was gonna go give Garent his cuddle and unwrap the rope from wherever that dopey dog did manage to wrap it around himself. Erek was whittlin' somethin' with his little knife and I reckon it must've been a fiddly bit cos he didn't even look up. My turn I figured and wasn't no hardship anyways, I reckon I liked them cuddles as much as Garent did.
Goin' outside, I pulled the door shut behind me, just like always. Da' says I can only let the heat out when I am big enough to go outside and wrestle it back in. Typical Da' humour I reckon. Me and Ma' just roll our eyes at him and give him that look that girls been givin' boys since forever.
Outside I never even seen the fella that killed me. I dunno if he was real well hidden or if he was one of them wizards that can be there right in front of you but you don't even know. Whichever it was, I didn't see him none. All I heard was this fella's voice sayin' to me,
"Don't you listen to the bard's stories little girl? You never go outside to see why the dog was making a noise."
Next thing you know ... well, that was it.
98
« on: February 11, 2011, 10:21:43 pm »
99
« on: February 05, 2011, 04:59:36 pm »
Happy Birthday EH!
100
« on: February 05, 2011, 03:05:36 am »
*Early morning in Hlint, still an hour or more before sun-up. Two men, both dressed in the coarse spun clothes of farmers, walk through the dark streets.*
"Hope. She says it's our beacon. She said it's our ... How'd she say it?"
*his voice rose in pitch to mimic the priestess's tone*
"It is our torch illuminating the darkness of despair."
*a snort of derision, followed by a long swallow of whiskey*
"The only torches I can see are those in the hands of the guards up on the bloody wall, heh. You wanna know something? I had hope. I did. I had hope right up until she died. I prayed. I got down on my two knees in the mud and I begged Aeridin to spare her. I had hope. I had faith. I had belief, you know?"
*another long swallow from the rapidly emptying bottle*
"Hope didn't get me nowhere. My praying and my hope and my belief in all that Sister's preachin' and ... and ... she ... it didn't make no difference at all ..."
*His voice trails off and the two men walk in silence for a stretch.*
"I tell you something pal. If there weren't my two kids who now just got their Daddy to look after 'em, I reckon i'd just accept that hope got no place in Hlint and i'd just ..."
*gives a helpless little shrug.*
"... I dunno what i'd do. I never imagined life without her and I still can't, you know? I don't want to imagine life without her. I shouldn't have to imagine life without her."
*The other man, a newcomer to Hlint, speaks for the first time.*
"Friend, I know exactly what you're sayin'. I lost my own wife years ago. Still carry the ... how do I say? ... The emptiness of it inside me to this day. I know hope got no place in life no more. But ... I endure."
"You endure?"
"I endure."
"How?"
"I eventually found something new to fill the emptiness."
"You did? What was that?"
"My friend, I found this."
"This? You mean, us talkin'?"
"Well, not so much this, I mean more this."
*The dagger flashed an arc in the dim light. The spray of blood, black in the night, covered the wall of the nearby barn.*
*The emptiness within was filled ... for a little while.*
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