tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43026350548427438922024-03-12T18:16:29.587-07:00The Dungeon CrawlThe adventures of a man, his table top group and a quest to get publishedSean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-83692147757473788872016-07-27T08:17:00.001-07:002016-07-27T08:21:12.270-07:00Nightmares in an Electric CityThis was a submission for the Sword and Laser short story anthology...I don't remember when it was, but it was quite a while ago. I did not get into the anthology, but I thought I actually did a pretty decent job on this story. Let me know what you think!<br />
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There are times in my life when I know
that I've made a wrong decision. It is a feeling that, no matter
what happens next, the choice I just made will come to nothing but
trouble and regret. Like when I drank that tenth shot of expensive
whiskey at my father's retirement party, then found myself dancing on
a table without a shirt on. Or the time that I told my boss to go
fuck himself for trying to feel my ass and I found myself getting
shit for cases for a month afterward. Going into the warehouse a
year ago...I'd felt it then, as well.</div>
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But today, here and now in my office,
I ignored it, though it may have been the cheap bottle of scotch I
had consumed the previous night. Either way, as she walked in I felt
nothing but a desire to throw up and throw her out, in that order.
Instead, I pulled a cigarette out of the pack on my desk and lit it.
Taking a long drag and feeling the delicious burn of the smoke and
nicotine, I asked, “So, can I help you?”</div>
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<br /></div>
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The woman had a distraught look about
her, yet it didn't feel genuine. I'm not saying that her distress
was feigned, just that it had a cultivated look to it. She looked
like what actresses on the cheap hologram vids look like when they
want to look distressed but still pretty. She made me feel slightly
ashamed that I had slept at my desk and hadn't put any make-up on or
taken a shower yet, then I remembered that I don't buy make-up. I
also disconcertingly found I couldn't remember if I had made enough
to pay my water bill last month. What can you do? Taking pictures
of men with their illicit lovers only pays so much and it's the only
steady work I can get around here.</div>
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She was dressed nicely, I'll admit
that. Clearly I'll be using the rich client pay scale for this case.
Which was nice, cause maybe it would mean something more to live off
of than cigarettes and cheap booze. Maybe it meant the expensive
booze for once. She dabbed at her perfect eyes with a delicate lace
handkerchief then said in a quavering voice, “Are you Maria? Maria
Sandoval, the detective?” I let out a sigh, exhaling a cloud of
smoke as I blithely responded, “It's the name on the door, isn't
it?”</div>
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If my sarcasm offended her, she didn't
let it show. She simply pressed on, “My name is Ariana Mortannin.
It's...it's my sister, Analya. She's gone missing.”</div>
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I took another slow puff on my
cigarette before answering. “Ma'am, I can understand your
distress. How long has she been missing?” As I asked it, I felt
the beginning of a mistake. At the time, I simply read it as
revulsion at the fact that in the world that we live in people can go
slipping through the cracks of society and no one in authority will
give a damn. If you have enough money, then they'll care. But the
poor or the minorities? It's someone else's problem then. I suppose
that's why people like me still exist in a time where most of your
problems can be solved by either computers or tech implants. I take
a certain amount in pride in only having the minimum required tech to
function in our city, my ID code in my hand and a tele-jack behind my
left ear. I'd had some more back when I was on the police force, but
they had required I give them back when I quit.</div>
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“She has been missing for a little
over a week now.” Ariana answered in her mewling tone. It was
really starting to grate on my nerves, and being out of alcohol meant
not being able to tolerate it for long. I said what I say to all my
clients, “I am required at this point to tell you that you should
take such matters to the police. They have official jurisdiction
over such things and I'm simply a freelance investigator.” I say
it as a formality at this point. Most of my clients have either
already been to the police and lack the funds to pay for an
investigation, or are in some trouble of their own and prefer to not
get the cops involved. I don't care, either way I typically get
paid.</div>
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“I already talked to the cops,”
she continued, “They told me that she hadn't been missing long
enough, but that if her body turns up they'll be sure to contact me.”
here she paused and looked at me. I could sense that she was holding
something back. I didn't care. “I charge 100 creds a day, plus
any expenses accrued in the course of the job. I'll need information
if you want me to search for your sister. Any embarrassing family
secrets, any shameful pasts...I don't give a fuck. You pay me, you
give me honest answers, I find her. You decline to tell me
everything, well I get paid either way.”</div>
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Her eyes widened slightly as I spoke:
evidence of my winning personality charming her, no doubt. I had
finished my cigarette and begun to light the second when she
answered, “My sister was a prostitute.” I sat back in my chair
and asked, “Licensed?” As I suspected, she dropped her eyes and
murmured, “No.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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Damn. That was going to make Analya a
shade harder to find. Licensed prostitutes at least were documented
and tracked. It was required to get a GPS chip inserted, though the
kind of creeps willing to take a street-worker were also typically
willing to cut a chip out. But the corporations that run things like
to keep consistent in their bullshit. Ever since the synths being
put out were life-like enough for lonely people to get off on, they
decided why not get their taxable cut of the working girl on the
street?</div>
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“So, that's why the cops wouldn't
touch it. No sensible person would.” I drew some more airy death
into my lungs and enjoyed it. “Lucky for you I was never sensible.
I will require an advance, but I'm willing to take your case. Just
know that what I come back with may not be happy news.” I could be
more tactful here, but fuck it. I'm hung-over and grumpy.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Ariana nodded assent and dropped a
cred card down. “It is tied to an account set aside for this. The
daily limit is 200 creds. If you need more, text me and I'll
authorize a higher limit for the day.”</div>
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I raised an eyebrow at this. 200
creds a day could get me quite a bit of life necessities, maybe a
little extra. I took the card and slid it into my pocket. I asked
her to torrent me the bio file on her sister, and told her I would
contact her with any information I find. I watched her let herself
out as I enjoyed the last bit of my cigarette then got to work.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I pulled out the battered and chipped
tablet, finding myself thinking of others better off than myself.
Most people simply used the retinal monitor and interfaced directly
with the net. I, being old-fashioned, still preferred a solid touch
screen over such foolishness. I'll give Ariana credit, she's fast.
The torrent file is sitting, ready for download. As I waited for it
to finish, I decided that it was time to test the creds of my new
client and also put something more than bile and cigarette smoke into
me. I put my tablet into its travel case and donned a large, out of
fashion overcoat. I grabbed my hat and locked the door behind me as
I left.</div>
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***
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Stepping outside in New Angeles is a
bit like stepping into water. Ever since the pollution level hit
critical mass ten years ago, it hasn't stopped raining. Seems the
corporate solution to the pollution was to simply fill the air with a
cleansing chemical, and that the side effect of that chemical was a
constant downpour of rain. Most didn't care and I was certainly
among that crowd, but it did depress me to think that there were kids
running around who had little concept of the sun except what they saw
on the holos. But who am I to judge? At least we can breathe the
air now instead of using bulky respirators.</div>
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I made my way down the crowded street
and towards my favorite diner. The streets are full of people on
foot and people in cars. Above, I barely registered the constant hum
of those rich enough to afford aerial transportation. Feeling the
ridges on the card in my pocket, I realized that I am one of those
people. For now. I've always found that walking gets me exactly
where I need to be. Taxis were useful, but not cheap. Hadn't been
since they started flying.</div>
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Flickering neon signs lit up the
streets as I made my way to the diner, Titan. It's own sign
proclaimed “Good Food Here!” and “Best Sandwiches in New
Angeles!” Both were lies, but I'm not picky. As I sat myself, a
young man who looked barely old enough to shave walked towards my
table. He had the vacant expression of a person staring through the
net to look at you. Most people have that look now, and it bothers
me. Is it too much to ask for undivided attention?</div>
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“The usual, Maria?” he asked
distractedly before laughing at something only he could see and hear.
I simply nodded and lit up another cigarette. I got some frowns
from the other tables, but I ignore them. None of the regulars
bother me about it, not since I punched in the face of the last
person who did. And Titan was only ever filled with regulars. The
food was shit, but it was cheap shit and it was usually empty enough
that I could sit at my table and relax as I drank tepid coffee.</div>
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As I pulled my tablet back out, I saw
that the download had finished. I began flicking through the
information available to me, my fingers danced and slid in quick
patterns as I read. Age: 18. Lived alone and separate from her
sister. I note her address and sent an email to a taxi scheduling a
pick up in an hour to go there.</div>
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As I continued skimming the
information, the kid brought out my cup of coffee. Distractedly, I
picked it up and quickly took a large drink from it. I let out a
yelp of pain and set the mug down. “Fuck! Jack, what the hell is
this shit? The coffee is actually net-damned hot today?” A large
man wearing a greasy shirt and pants covered by a brown apron that
was supposed to be white at one point comes out of the kitchen
laughing. “I do it just for you, my darling Maria. You always
complain coffee too cold, too cold. Today I make it extra hot just
for you!” I flipped him off in outrage and he simply laughed and
wandered back into the kitchen. Jack is about the closest person I
have to a friend and I think it is mostly due to him barely
understanding English and thinking everything I do is absolutely
hilarious. I can't tell if I love or loathe him for it.</div>
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I finished reading Analya's documents
and the feeling that I won't be finding her grows deeper. I finished
my coffee and hastily ate my usual plate of eggs, bacon and toast.
Once finished, I slid the card through the reader built into the
table. It works, and I have to admit a feeling of relief that it
does. I stubbed my cigarette out on the worn in burn mark on the
table and headed out to the waiting taxi.</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The driver barely noticed me when I
stepped into the vehicle, he simply waited for the door to shut and
he took off into the sky lanes. Looking down at the streets passing
by beneath me, I feel a moment of existential malaise. This happens
to me sometimes, more frequently when I'm not drunk, and I know it
all started after that last case. The case I left the force over.
All those people down there moving about, all those lives. When you
move around a world filled with vehicles and no faces, you don't
think of them as anything but cars. Yet each car has a person
looking out and observing the world and having hopes and dreams. All
meaningless to a world run by corporations.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The mega-corps took over about fifteen
or so years ago. The world had been changing, and unfortunately,
this was part of it. It didn't take long really, especially not here
in the good old U. S. of A. Then again, what else could we do?
Economic recession, the government failing to pull us out. We
thought the solution would be private enterprise - the free market.
So they got rid of the president and his cabinet and replaced it with
a CEO and shareholders. What they forgot was that whoever has the
money has the power. And we don't live in a nice world where the
good guys win.</div>
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Corruption took over and the country
seemed to be on the brink of collapse. That was when Silver Key
Industries showed up. The company specialized in what was considered
science fiction at the time. Which rapidly became non-fiction as
they released a wave of products designed to help us recover from the
recession. They were the first to start tech implants. And the
first to start producing working robots on a mass scale. Few
bothered to question how they were able to do these things; they just
accepted it.</div>
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The jobs created by the new robotics
industry helped swing things back to prosperity. Silver Key seems to
be an alright corp, though I don't trust any of them out of
principle. From what I've heard, almost all mega-corps use Silver
Key tech, so I get the feeling they're holding more cards then they
let on. But such things are the machinations of a world I don't
belong too, nor hold any particular interest in belonging too. Maybe
that is how the corporations took over in the first place, too much
apathy amongst the citizenry.</div>
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<br /></div>
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And now, here we are. A world where
your life means less then a machine if you don't have creds to your
name. Such is the price of success maybe. Maybe there are no good
guys, only shades of villainy. Either way, I cut my musings short as
I realize that the taxi is landing. Again, I slide the cred card
through the scanner and pay my fare. It feels kind of nice to afford
things for once.</div>
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***
</div>
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The apartment building I'm standing
before looks like shit. No, scratch that. It looks like something
shit turned down because it felt it could do better. I had seen
better kept abandoned buildings. But I checked and the address was
the correct one. And I occasionally saw a person or two coming and
going through a door barely holding on to its hinges.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I went up the flight of stairs to
Analya's room. I didn't particularly trust the elevator, nor the
kind of fry-heads I'd find in there. I spotted several in a room I
passed, their front door a distant memory of times ages past. They
all look to be about fifteen or so, and I can see the small pile of
stims they have gathered around. All of them are lying on their
backs, a thin wire going from their heads into a quietly humming net
box. An excellent combination, if you were feeling particularly
suicidal, mixing stims and the net. Me, I like to play the odds. I
just over smoke and over drink.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Analya's room at least has the decency
to still have an attached front door. I have to remove points,
though, when I tried the knob and there proved to be no lock. Things
aren't looking good for Analya. Looking good for my cred account,
though. I sighed and opened the door, readying myself for the chaos
of the living space of an unlicensed call girl.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
However, upon opening the door I
discovered a fairly neat apartment. There is only the one room, and
an attached bathroom, but I have to give her some credit; she makes
it look like a home. I began searching through her things, not a
lengthy process since there isn't much to search. A dresser with
various outfits, most of which I assume are for her job. A bed and a
small closet, nothing of interest in either of those places. I do
find it odd that she doesn't have a net box or tablet of some sort.
Perhaps she just carried it around with her. I made a mental note to
ask her sister about it.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I started going through the
accumulated mail and papers that litter her desk. Most of it is
junk, but I noticed a small memory card sitting under all the refuse.
I looked at it and am surprised that it is a rather sizable amount
of memory on it. I'm about to pull out my tablet, when I heard a
noise from the doorway. In one smooth motion, I let the card drop
into my case and I spin, reaching down to pull the small pistol I
keep under my coat out from the holster. When I saw who was there, I
almost shoot anyway.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Oh, it's you,” I say as I lower
the gun. A man like Patrick Ruthers isn't worth wasting creds on new
bullets. I smile as I remembered that someone else would be paying
for those bullets. He mistakes my smile for a fond greeting and
returned it. “Maria Sandoval...wouldn't expect to see you here.
Aren't there some pills you should be taking? Oh that's right, how
is good old Doctor Jack Daniels these days? I'm guessing you're
ensuring he's got a nice retirement fund by now.”</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Patrick was the aforementioned boss
that I told in no uncertain terms to go fuck himself. I think that
might be why he doesn't like me, but it could be my myriad other
charms. I decided to ignore the jab and return his quip with one of
my own. “I'm not surprised to find you here at the home of an
unregistered hooker. Unfortunately, she's not in right now. If you
give me minute, I'll carry on with my job and have her back here for
you in no time.” Patrick frowned and flipped me off. It doesn't
bother me all that much. I let out a sigh and asked, “Why are you
here, Patrick?”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He moved across the room, his slick
demeanor left a trail of slime in the air. “Missing persons case,
my dear. If you recall, the real cops handle this sort of thing.
But I'm also here for you.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I can't resist, I take the bait.
“Sorry, Pat. I'm not on the market to replace your normal whore.
I'm a classy broad like that.” Patrick shrugs and says, “I don't
think I'm interested in cold fish. No, the chief sent me here. Said
I was to send you back to him if I found you here. And I did, so I'm
telling you that I'm taking over and you are going back to him.”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It's then that I noticed the uniforms
behind him in the hallway. I shrugged and went along with it. The
uniform took me out to the squad car and I sat myself in the front.
He paused and seemed to wait for something before seating himself
without a word. The entire trip to police headquarters, he didn't so
much as make a noise. “Talkative, aren't you?” I muttered as I
exited the vehicle and entered the building I swore I would never to
see the inside of again.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I soon found myself seated before my
old boss, Chief Montana Carrerro. What a fucking name, is all I can
think of every time I see it. He was a friend of my dad's, and he'd
always been nice enough to me. Today, he looked like I'd pissed in
his cereal. “Maria, I heard you took on a case recently.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I nod. There is little point in lying
to a man who so obviously knows exactly what is going on. “Yeah, a
woman came to me to find her sister. I did my due diligence, I told
her to talk to you guys.” Chief Carrerro nodded. “Yeah, I know.
She talked to a rookie who wasn't aware how seriously we take
missing persons. We contacted her and let her know that we would do
everything in our power to find her sister.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Mentally, I began to sweat. He just
lied to me, possibly for the first time in my life. Don't ask me how
I knew he was lying. Maybe it was years of him always being honest.
He continued though, “I appreciate that you were willing to take
the case, and I am sorry to take over like this. But the good news
is that for the inconvenience, I was able to get authorization from
the higher ups to pay you this.” He slid over a cred card. “On
this card is 2000 creds. We apologize for the loss of employment and
so are paying you out for two weeks of work, plus 600 extra for
assumed expenses.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Son of a bitch. Son. Of. A. Bitch.
He's paying me off. My net-damned mentor and idol was paying me to
avoid a case. I could feel my anger rising and did the sensible
thing; I lit a new cigarette. “So you want me to just take this
2000 and go back to my office?” He nodded and replied, “Look,
Maria. I know things have been rough ever since...” I cut him off
with a gesture and said, “Fuck that noise, Monty. I know what this
is, I'm not stupid and I'm not blind. The only real question is
whether or not I care why you're paying me off to avoid this case.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Carrerra gave me a cool look before he
said, “Blinds close and door lock.” I'm slightly impressed that
they finally got around to automation and voice activation here as
the blinds closed and the door locked with an audible click. “Look,
Maria. Here are the facts. You don't work here anymore. I can't
protect you anymore. You shot that kid...”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Him saying it caused my mind to
shatter. I must have visibly reacted since he stopped talking and
ran his fingers through his thinning hair. That one sentence
encapsulates why I quit. It's why my life was in shambles and I've
never had a particular interest in pulling it back together again.
It's why I crawled into a bottle and never bothered to come back out
for air. I inhaled sharply and coughed slightly as the smoke from
the momentarily forgotten cigarette flooded my lungs.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Fuck you, old man,” is all I can
get out. I'm nasty when hurt and don't care much who towards.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He took it in stride and continued
talking. “You quit. You drank away any chance of getting any
other employment at a desk and distanced yourself from anyone who
actually cared about you. This is big, though. This is something
you don't fuck with. I just got an email from on high about this.
From a fucking suit, Maria. I don't know why, and I didn't get this
close to retirement by asking questions when the corporations tell me
to do things. Their offer is very generous and I think it would be
best for everyone if you just walked away.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I looked at him with all the scorn and
contempt I could summon and spat at his desk. “So you've sold out,
like everyone else. Great, I'm sure my dad would be glad to know
that his best friend decided that comfort in his old age was worth
selling his soul to the corporations.” Carrerra looked nonplussed
as he simply shrugged and said, “Maria, you think you are so much
better then us down here. But I'm not here to question how the
system works. I'm just here to make sure the system does work. Now
either take the damn creds or you can just leave here without them.
Just know that this is about the only warning you'll get about this.
Keep poking around and you'll find the suits on you. And I know you
don't want that kind of trouble.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
With that, he barked out the command
for the door to open and said, “Now make your choice.” I grabbed
the cred card and stalked out. My principles are quickly over-ridden
by the need to make some money off this debacle. Plus, I figured
since Ariana wasn't cred-rolling me anymore I would need some source
of income to facilitate my investigation. Because if there was one
universal rule to this world, if you tell me to back off of a case
then I am going to go after it harder than ever.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
***
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sitting in my office, I held the
memory card from Analya's apartment and thought. I had made the
decision to pursue the case, but how? I didn't have many leads and
Carrerra's mentioning of the suits did give me pause. The suits were
a modern day bogeyman that most didn't really believe in. Some of us
knew better. The suits were owned by the corporations, and worked
mostly like a private security force, except they had access to
everything and seemed to be able to find you anywhere.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
There must be something big behind
this case if the suits could get involved. But in for a penny, in
for a pound, as my grandfather always had said. I slid the card into
my tablet and accessed the information. My eyes widened slightly at
the sheer amount of files on the card. It seemed that Analya kept
all the records from her activities on this card - which makes the
absence of any sort of tech in her apartment more unsettling. It all
pointed towards having a card reader implant. Maybe she got it
before her falling out with her sister.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The newest file on the card is an
e-vite to an event, some private party some guys were throwing. A
smart girl would have said no, but the cred offer was fairly
generous. Suspiciously generous, if you asked me. Unfortunately, it
looks like Analya took the bait, as she'd replied with a
confirmation. They gave her an address, and I was fairly shocked
that it was in the very nicest neighborhood of New Angeles, Beverly
Hills. I scheduled a taxi and headed out. I have to figure out what
happened to her before the police do, because I get the feeling that
if they find her first, no one else ever will again.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
***
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
As the taxi pulled up in front of the
address, I felt a momentary sense that I was making a rather large
mistake. I couldn't explain it, other then something telling me to
stay in the taxi and simply go back to my office. Luckily, I've
gotten good at ignoring my common sense and I exited anyway. Looking
at the house, I'm fairly impressed. It's an extremely large mansion,
though definitely old. Most new houses that are made today look very
uniform and functional. This house seemed to have been designed by a
crazy person. Or someone whose architect was crazy.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
There's a large iron gate that blocked
the driveway, and the long lane up to the house was shadowed by large
willows. The lane was also flanked by large hedges, trimmed into
something that loosely looked like a design. It made me think
creepily of long, slithering tentacles reaching out from the house.
The house itself looked to be about two stories tall, with several
large windows and more than one chimney. Most of the angles seemed
sort of off on the sides and roof of the house. They almost seemed
to bend in odd directions, but upon a second glance, they seemed
completely normal. Maybe I had just gone too long without a drink,
or maybe it was just a trick of the light. I shrugged and approached
the gate.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It looked old and rusted upon reaching
it, and the rest of the grounds looked fairly abandoned, as well. An
odd place to set as a meeting for a hooker for the night. I tried
the gate and was surprised that it noisely swung open. Well, no
point not checking it out. Maybe it was abandoned and I wouldn't get
arrested for trespassing. Maybe.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The lane leading to the house had
looked to be straight from the road. But as I walked down it, I
noticed that it was curving slightly. I would have thought I'd have
noticed that before, but I must have missed it. Walking further down
the lane, I began to hear a noise coming from the hedges. It seemed
almost as if something was moving through them...or possibly that the
hedges themselves were moving. I hesitated, thinking of suits
bursting through and ending my life in an impressive shoot-out. When
nothing happened, I shook my head and pressed on.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
As I reached the front of the mansion,
I could feel a sense of power and prestige emanating from the
building. Clearly, whoever had owned this place before its neglect
began had been someone worth knowing. The large front double door
was clearly made of some thick, sturdy wood. Probably very
expensive. I tried the knob and found it locked. Well, time to see
if I still had any skill with hacking. As I connected my tablet to
the electronic lock on the door, I began to run the hacking app I had
gotten off the net for cheap.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It turns out the creds had been well
spent, as I soon heard the satisfactory sound of the lock as it
clicked open. I put my tablet away and looked inside. Most of what
I could see was shrouded in both dust and shadow. I pulled out a
small flashlight and stepped inside. I left the front door open,
more out of a need for light then anything else. Looking around I
could see that it may take me some time to search the entire house.
Luckily for me, I noticed rather swiftly that there is a clear trail
leading through the dust on the floor.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Several sets of shoe prints led off
through a door into a side room, and one pair of shoes clearly were
stiletto heels. This looked promising. I followed the footprints
through a door and into a large, mostly empty, room. There were a
few sofas scattered about, and I saw the tracks led to one of them.
At the sofa, I could see that a struggle of some sort had occurred,
as indicated by the disruption of the dust on the ground.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Peering at the ground, I saw a glint
of light reflected off of some surface beneath the sofa. I knelt
down and reached under, feeling my hand grasp a small metallic
object. Pulling it out, I was surprised to find a small metal
needle, like those used to insert or remove an implant from a
person's body. The only warning I got was a soft dragging sound,
then a sharp stabbing pain as a blow landed on my head. My vision
blurred and I was able to turn partially to get a view of my attacker
before blacking out. Patrick stood over me, leering and holding a
sap. “Should have kept out of corporate business, sweet-heart.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
***
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I awoke in a cold sweat. I was still
clothed, and was grateful for that. Looking around, I found myself
seated on a chair in a stark white room. The light was piercing and
painful to my eyes, magnified and reflected a hundred times off of
the white walls and furniture. There was no discernable door, which
made me feel a growing knot of panic deep in my stomach.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Suddenly, a holo flared to life across
the table from me, revealing a man wearing a black suit seated
calmly. I tried to move, and discovered that I was cuffed to the
chair. I struggled briefly, then stared at the holo. The best way
to describe the man depicted was to say that he was nondescript.
There was nothing about him that stood out as a feature. He was what
people think of when they use the term “normal”. It creeped me
right the fuck out.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Who the hell are you? Why do you
have me tied up like this? What the fuck is going on?” were all
questions that leapt from my mouth as I indignantly struggled in vain
against my restraints. The man opened his mouth and in an odd sort
of tinny voice responded, “I apologize, but we have no choice.”
I rolled my eyes and replied with my usual charm. “Yeah, I'm sure
you have no choice, asshole. Let me go!”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He chuckled, and it gave me pause.
His laugh was the sound of a something that had no concept of what
laughing was, but was attempting to replicate a the sound of a laugh.
It was dry and harsh; the tinny tone became more pronounced. His
face did not reflect any of the chuckle, either. He simply looked at
me and said, “You have become a problem, Miss Sandoval. And we
make it our business to remove problems. You should be a
particularly easy problem to rectify.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
With that, the holo reached over and I
felt the restraints loosen on me. I stood up from the chair and
looked with shock at him. Holos can't interact with physical matter,
they are just projected light. Suddenly, his voice took on a more
ominous tone as he said, “That is correct. We at Silver Key are
much more advanced than we let on. Though, frankly, this is one tech
that the outside world will never see.” With that, the holo
flickered out and disappeared.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I kept myself calm. I reached for my
cigarettes and was annoyed to discover that they had been removed,
along with most of my other possessions. The only thing they left on
me was my tablet. I opened it and turned it on, then slammed a fist
against the table in frustration when I receive no connection to the
net. I hadn't thought it likely, but had hoped it might work.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I then noted that my message center
showed a new message received. Connecting myself to the tablet
through my tele-jack, I opened the message. I was startled to see
the room I was currently in, though now through the eyes of a
different person. A soft, sad voice began talking and I simply sat
in quiet contemplation and listen with a growing sense of horror.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“My name is Analya Mortannin. I
don't know where I am, or what they are going to do to me, so I'm
leaving this message in the local net of this house. Maybe if
another girl comes along after me, she'll get this message and
escape. Get help. These men invited me here. When I got here, they
all looked alike...they grabbed me and did something...I can't
remember. But I woke up here and they told me that I was to be a
sacrifice to the greater good. I...I don't understand what's going
on...” her voice cracked with emotion and she sobbed quietly for a
good amount of time. Suddenly, a slit opened in the room and I hear
Analya screaming as the man from the holo walks in and grabs her arm.
“Come along Miss Mortannin,” he says in his flat, tinny voice.
“It is time for you to meet your god.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Analya let out a strangled noise of
fear, but was dragged from the room with little effort. Outside,
there was a large catwalk suspended over a dark, mist-filled cavern.
There was several egg shaped rooms that I could see through Analya's
eyes, I assumed that my current room must be one the same. Soon, he
brought her to the end of the catwalk and into another larger room.
This one had a massive set of steps that led up to a large platform.
On the platform was a large statue of a creature beyond description.
It appeared to be made of nothing but a roiling mass of tentacles,
eyes and sharp edged teeth. No discernable body structure at all.
Beyond it lay only darkness and mist that was punctuated by tiny
bursts of light out of the darkness, too dim to illuminate anything.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
There were several other robed figures
standing on the platform as the holo led Analya up the steps. I
recognize Patrick, as well as several other prominent business men
from New Angeles. The CEO of Silver Key also stands on the platform
and he seems to be a central figure; his robes looked to be slightly
different than the others. Once Analya was brought to his feet, he
reached out a hand to her and said, “Behold! She who goes to our
god in exchange for the knowledge. The knowledge that keeps Silver
Key in control and will forward our plan for his greater good.
Behold, she who must be sent into the darkness so that we may know
light!”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Analya was babbling at this point,
screaming in terror and fear, incomprehensible requests for mercy or
forgiveness. I watched, feeling the terror and horror of Analya and
beginning to wonder if I would share the same fate. They led her to
the edge of the platform, looking down into the dark swirling mists
and I heard a noise, as if a thousand mouths were whispering all at
once. Analya screamed again and I saw them push her off the platform
into the darkness. The video feed ended abruptly there, and left me
alone in silence.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I unplugged and found myself curling
up in a ball on the ground. No tears fell from my eyes, no sobs
wracked my body. Yet I feel myself falling apart, I felt Analya's
tears and the sobs just as if they had been mine. I know at that
point that I will die down here, and there is nothing short of a
miracle that will save me from the same fate as Analya. The only
point of clarity that I can focus on is that Patrick is getting a
swift kick in the balls before I go.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I disconnected from my tablet and
mechanically brought my hand up to my mouth to take a pull from my
cigarette, then remembered I don't have one and let my hand fall back
to my lap. I regret my life. That is the only idea I can think of
as I sat in this horrid room. I guess I only regret some of my life,
I suppose. This past year was pretty awful, when I get right to it.
And it was mostly my own fault. I let myself become a raging,
functional alcoholic. No one will mourn me, except maybe Jack at the
Titan. Not that he'll know I was fed to some...thing underneath a
mansion in Beverly Hills.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Which makes me chuckle a bit at the
thought. The chuckle slowly grows until I'm laughing hysterically,
tears streaming down my cheeks as the utter pointless absurdity hits
me. Manic laughter slowly becomes less laughter and more sobs, until
I finally force myself to calm down before I completely lose it. It
was then that I heard the door open.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The holo stood before me and I rose up
from my ball on the ground. I waited for him to say something. I
had experienced my one break-down and it wasn't going to happen
again. Now was just the time to think about getting mine before they
got theirs. He raised an eyebrow and smiled, emitting his horrible
sounding chuckle as he said, “After you, Miss Sandoval.” I left
the room and saw the catwalk, just as Analya had seen it. I moved
along to the end of the catwalk and watched the holo open it. I
proceeded up the steps and saw the robed figures standing beneath the
bizarre and horrifying statue.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
As I walked up, I saw Patrick leering
at me from under his hood, and I judged the distance between us.
Smiling, I positioned myself fairly close to him before standing
still at the top of the platform. I could see the CEO, and for the
first time it strikes me as odd that I can't think of his name. I
know I had seen him in news articles, everyone had. But I can't
think of his actual name, other than just “The CEO”. He smiled
at me and I shuddered.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
My voice steady, I raised my head
defiantly and said before he could get a word in, “One quick
thing...” With that, I spun and swiftly slammed my knee into
Patrick's groin. There was no more satisfying sight than seeing him
drop to his knees and hearing him let out a gasp of pain and shock.
I turned back to the CEO and saw him smiling at me. I simply said,
“There, now go ahead and kill me or whatever it is you crazies do.
I got what I wanted.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Patrick rose and spoke, his voice
filled with pain, “Fuck you, you bitch. I should have just shot
you in the mansion above.” The CEO made a gesture and Patrick fell
silent. I quipped, “Nice trick. Wish it worked for me, I've been
trying to get him to shut up like that since I met him.” The CEO
simply continued to smile and said, “Oh, so brave, Miss Sandoval.
So brave and strong, even to the end. Well, we shall see how well
that holds up in the light of the truth.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I rolled my eyes and said, “Look, I
don't care. I can read the odds and I know when the house has it
stacked in their favor. Just hurry up and throw me into the volcano
as sacrifice for your god or whatever. I was a shitty person and
frankly, no one's going to mourn my death.” I hoped my bravado
would hide the utter terror that gripped me. Fuck I didn't want to
die like this. The CEO simply laughed at me and I couldn't help but
shudder at the sound.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“So defiant, Miss Sandoval. But, I
wonder. What if we did not kill you. What if we let you go? In
fact, I think we should let you go,” He paused here and a grin
flickered upon his lips, “Once you have seen the truth, that is.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Puzzled, I looked at him with a blank
expression. “Why would you let me live? I've seen all this, I
can...” I stopped and the horrible truth hit me. He knew it too,
damn him.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Yes, Miss Sandoval? You can what?
Tell everyone that the CEO of Silver Key is kidnapping young girls
and sacrificing them to a monster in the dark? That Silver Key
industries is simply the front for a much darker and more insidious
plot? Yes, I'm sure they'll all be excited to hear the tales of an
alcoholic ex-cop who left the force for mental distress brought on by
the accidental shooting of a young boy.” His smile oozed triumph
and it made me sick to my stomach.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He grabbed me and I tried to resist.
However, his grip is unbelievably strong and I let out a whimper of
pain as I felt his fingers dig hard into my arm. “Come, take a
look, Alice. Then it is out of the rabbit hole and back home for
you.” He pulls me to the edge. I don't want to look, but I had no
choice because he gripped my head and made me stare into the
darkness. The mists swirl and began to part, light began to fill the
room and I could feel my mind beginning to unravel. At first, I
couldn't focus on any one thing; it all stretched the imagination to
the breaking point. The writhing mass of tentacles, slick and
covered in a dark slime, pulsed and squirmed within the pit. Then I
saw the mouths, gnashing and chomping, all whispered dark secrets
that my mind couldn't dare to process. They dripped black ooze and
sprayed steaming streams of spittle about. Then, I saw the eyes...so
many eyes! All staring and blinking and piercing into my soul...the
very core of my being!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I couldn't take it, I screamed. I
screamed from the very bottom of the soul I doubted I had. I
screamed until my voice turned into a ragged, hoarse cry of terror
and insanity. I screamed until I don't even know that I'm the one
screaming anymore, it has taken on a life of its own and refused to
stop. I stared at it with the horrifying knowledge that it stared
back at me. It will never stop staring back at me!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Then I saw the implants, the
mechanical anchors keeping it from moving. I saw the data lines
snaking up from its body and into the ceiling. The CEO laughed again
and said, “Yes, you see now, don't you? You see!”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And I did. I saw it all so clearly
now. The net...this creature was the net. This was the god of our
age, the god of our time. Tears streamed down my face as my mind
began to wander and I remembered the last thought I have before I
completely lost all shred of sanity and coherence was, “There is no
escape...there is no escape.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I don't remember how I got back to my
office. I don't remember anything much after seeing...no. I can't
forget it, but if I think about it now I'll never finish. I can't
think back on it. I've written all that happened up to it. Even now
I feel my sense of self getting displaced and disjointed. I'm
looking at a picture of my father, and I weep. I'm across the room
now, staring at a book I had started as a young girl and had never
bothered to finish, I wonder – I'm at my desk again, I feel –
crossing the room now, staring out the wind – the gun feels cool in
my hand – place it in my mouth, the barrel – my god, the eyes!
Staring at me still – I can't...I can't... – my finger on the
trigger – whispers of dark promises and
delights...whisperswhisperswhisperswhisperswhispers – my father
couldn't see me as I ended up – I pull...</div>
Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-61008920497575330132016-07-27T08:11:00.000-07:002016-07-27T08:11:42.991-07:00I've returned!Hey there, I've returned. I'm probably going to be doing some renovation and cleaning up around here. I want to start actually having a viable blog here to use as a portfolio. I also want to get back into putting up reviews and top 10 lists again. Cause, holy crap while I've been gone...Pathfinder stuff! Dungeons and Dragons came out with a fifth edition! And it doesn't suck. Mostly. Unless you're a spell-caster...then it's...rough.<br />
<br />
Anyway I'll be posting up some work I've done in the meantime, so enjoy!Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-31580529850680413642012-07-24T06:29:00.001-07:002012-07-24T06:29:44.406-07:00It is here!Well, we have come to an interesting point in my adventure. I have finally taken that first step in putting up a collection of short stories for you all to purchase. Right now I only have it available <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Legends-of-Nialtier-ebook/dp/B008O6O7VA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343136275&sr=8-1&keywords=legend+of+Nialtier" target="_blank">here</a> at Amazon for the Kindle.<br />
<br />
In a couple of months, I'll be putting making it available on other formats for people. For now though, it is on Amazon. Please support my dream and purchase a copy. For just $2.99, you can help me get one step closer to my goal of becoming a "real" boy...I mean, writer.<br />
<br />
Yes, for the meager sum of $2.99, you can be transported to a magical realm of wizards and kings, inventors and treasure hunters! So please, check it out, leave a rating and a review (if you feel so inclined, and I thank you ahead of time for purchasing a copy.Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-91667061758418730502012-07-09T11:21:00.001-07:002012-07-09T11:21:33.448-07:00New day, new post!I sit here as my Monday begins and I think of things that I find enjoyable. Like video games...and reading...and dungeons and dragons. I'm not hard to make happy. This morning however...eesh.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
But I also think of things I don't like. Like spiders. Or opening the downstairs bathroom door and seeing something dark moving toward me. By the time I turn on the lights, all I can see is a strand of cobweb dangling in front of my horrified face. Because it's about that time I begin stripping faster then a man in burning clothes because my mind is making the immediate assumption that there is a spider now burrowing through my layers of pajamas and sweatshirt.<br />
<br />
I will admit, I did the entire stripping in a manly sort of calm quiet. I didn't shriek or scream at all...very stoic of me, indeed. But still, in my head I'm freaking out and screaming and wishing that I could die rather then have a spider on me. So I'm standing there shirtless searching in the mirror all over myself for spiders. I slowly turn my back to the mirror, expecting to see this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BPiMZMF4dyC7K4GAuVGClTVcQZAjnw7rxMbyf0RVZFXpv5hoeDSMK660zS7rzIz8_UizC3spQcQ0Y1-WQ-Dy7RJx5zUCNdyYej5YhMzaR1HcoeLyrqeFrnhgx2jKV_TUDOPurvm6SyKk/s1600/spidersraiders1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BPiMZMF4dyC7K4GAuVGClTVcQZAjnw7rxMbyf0RVZFXpv5hoeDSMK660zS7rzIz8_UizC3spQcQ0Y1-WQ-Dy7RJx5zUCNdyYej5YhMzaR1HcoeLyrqeFrnhgx2jKV_TUDOPurvm6SyKk/s640/spidersraiders1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Seriously, I was terrified that it had already laid its eggs under my skin and I was about to unleash some spidery armageddon all over my apartment as the eggs all hatched at once. The little spiderlings would burrow out of my back and then infest the apartment. I would be nothing more then a husk...a meat sac used for depositing eggs and little else. My girlfriend would come home to find this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
Fortunately for me (and the rest of the world), I was not infested. Likely, all that had occurred was the cobweb flew at my face and I panicked. As you do.<br />
<br />
Though it did remind me of another terrifying spider story. One time when we were at my buddies playing Dungeons and Dragons, we saw a spider crawling about the floor. I immediately was all "Kill it!" because I am a firm believer that spiders are pure evil in material form. If you do not kill a spider, it will simply hunt you down in the night, and impregnate you. Thus beginning the spider armageddon. Actually, I'm seeing a lot of parallels between spiders and xenomorphs...hmmmmmmm...<br />
<br />
Anyway, we see this spider and I immediately leap out of harms way (ie as far away as humanely possible). One of my other friends at the table was all, "Whatever, just a spider." takes his mechanical pencil and spears the spider. Okay, all is well, right? Dead spider and game can move on?<br />
<br />
NOPE. No, this was one of those rare times that the universe simply decided to say, "Hey Sean, you don't have enough nightmare fuel in your life."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNlniVUlzCiUM4lQP9inLE2xW0sZ0doHSmsNB4Cbr__vNt0vQSYM8mS9LuNd-kkPW2iz-S1F6HAvqTtMZ5VokHQ1b5LjY7vD0WjvBrh21bbngcDO8Tzb5Z_fDDe2-a-5j8i0aAXxRHZFo/s1600/spoony_face.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNlniVUlzCiUM4lQP9inLE2xW0sZ0doHSmsNB4Cbr__vNt0vQSYM8mS9LuNd-kkPW2iz-S1F6HAvqTtMZ5VokHQ1b5LjY7vD0WjvBrh21bbngcDO8Tzb5Z_fDDe2-a-5j8i0aAXxRHZFo/s1600/spoony_face.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YES! SUFFER DAMN YOU ALL, SUFFER!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So you may be asking, what could possibly happen? What could be more nightmare inducing then the above or, say, clowns? Oh, I'll tell you.<br />
<br />
THOUSANDS OF TINY LITTLE SPIDERS CRAWLING OUT OF THE BACK OF THE DEAD SPIDER. I am not making this up. It was like a babushka doll from my darkest nightmares. It was a cornucopia from hell and it still makes me shudder to remember that it ever happened. Just...just so many tiny little spider babies, all evil and willing to kill all that is good in the world!<br />
<br />
And the moral of the story is, "This is why I always use a spray poison to kill a spider from now on." With those delightful stories and images, I bid you a happy Monday and good rest of the week. Oh, and Friday my girlfriend and I are hosting a Friday the 13th Party. We plan to watch some scary movies and have tacos. Oh yeah, screw Comic-Con this weekend, we got it going on. (For those curious, the movie will be at least Friday the 13th Part 2 and In the Mouth of Madness...cause I love cheesy bad 80's horror and I love Sam Neill).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Mkmk_sRFUqhoiopyoMXxMIs5OVKxvmyWr3NeQKqxnE8xRMsyvW-Y1900C0DQfZ5huOcg4EvWtP6CoOsN-hmrgmy7ZUPOsDDEKeH28ReEzG6uqMMgtvvIsSqYM53O-TYaalilvbFf3Urv/s1600/In+the+Mouth+of+Madness+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Mkmk_sRFUqhoiopyoMXxMIs5OVKxvmyWr3NeQKqxnE8xRMsyvW-Y1900C0DQfZ5huOcg4EvWtP6CoOsN-hmrgmy7ZUPOsDDEKeH28ReEzG6uqMMgtvvIsSqYM53O-TYaalilvbFf3Urv/s640/In+the+Mouth+of+Madness+7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do you read Sutter Kane?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-58513528583965376462012-07-03T08:18:00.000-07:002012-07-03T08:18:24.004-07:00Alternative for Gaming MatsSo recently I came across a company named <a href="http://www.bannersonthecheap.com/" target="_blank">Banners on the Cheap</a>. Basically, they make those giant, vinyl, sale banners that people put out in front of their stores for you to see. I saw <a href="http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?616405-Banners-on-the-Cheap-Potential-quality-Map-Printing-Review-in-progress/page2" target="_blank">here</a> that someone had used them though to print out a battle mat. Being the resourceful sort, especially since their prices are much lower then Chessex, I figured I would give it a try and see if I could acquire a battle mat for cheap.<br />
<a href="http://www.bannersonthecheap.com/" target="_blank" title="opens banners on the cheap home page"><img alt="Vinyl Banners" border="0" height="125" src="http://www.bannersonthecheap.com/cmsimages/cheap-vinyl-banners-logo.png" width="125" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.bannersonthecheap.com/" target="_blank" title="Vinyl Banners">Vinyl Banners</a>
<br />
See the results after the jump!<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
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I purchased two banners from their website. One was a 2x2 foot banner and the other was a 3x6 foot banner. I used the smaller one to make a battle grid map, and the larger one to make a giant map for my homebrew continent.<br />
<br />
The results?<br />
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I am super happy with the finished product. And I have pictures!<br />
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We will start with the smaller battle mat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5dycaxw2NJ2x23bovZABrvbx7a1OlFq0yoncHFzB-rzpHA4lDje__VSgyCxsSYtU3hGmoahYQU01uVZciv5ovGXRO3aielbegnw2GKlm-Jx7jW804nPPRjv6TdeN7ARy6tz6fGLWU0pi/s1600/IMG_0490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5dycaxw2NJ2x23bovZABrvbx7a1OlFq0yoncHFzB-rzpHA4lDje__VSgyCxsSYtU3hGmoahYQU01uVZciv5ovGXRO3aielbegnw2GKlm-Jx7jW804nPPRjv6TdeN7ARy6tz6fGLWU0pi/s640/IMG_0490.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Pretty slick, right? You can see the Chessex brand battle mat under it there and it compares pretty nicely, in my opinion. One issue you can see right away is how the grid kind of cuts off and isn't perfect on the edges, but that is mostly my own fault when I was sizing it. Another issue is the darkness of the grid on my map. Though that is more my fault because I should have lightened the lines before using the image for the poster.<br />
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I was also able to get the grid to match up and be one inch squares, though it took a lot of time and effort. I would like to see if <a href="http://www.bannersonthecheap.com/" target="_blank">Banners on the Cheap</a> want to start producing battle mats, they may want to add a "one-click" option where they place pre-made one inch squares on their banners. And definitely use a grey ink, not black. They do double sided printing as well, though right now it is the same image duplicated on both sides. Possibly though they may add an option that will allow a square grid on one side and a hex grid on the other. Hopefully pre-made, because the square grid was hard enough trying to do it by hand, I can't imagine trying to do the hex grids.<br />
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Now, you can see on the bottom there those little multi-coloured squiggles? Here is a close up:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2_8ZxZ8Ydxb3IsgQ3ulrKojdO4inePOYNUtyjn7jMCAZDXsNCn9Ok2v3J_NbjRUNBhBGI_dgnL4CA2SCenS8NigGpmrWe5ZmPV0TvnQluEZ8Snryis7YGhJajw_K-UsjQnbk-TPY2FXd/s1600/IMG_0491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2_8ZxZ8Ydxb3IsgQ3ulrKojdO4inePOYNUtyjn7jMCAZDXsNCn9Ok2v3J_NbjRUNBhBGI_dgnL4CA2SCenS8NigGpmrWe5ZmPV0TvnQluEZ8Snryis7YGhJajw_K-UsjQnbk-TPY2FXd/s640/IMG_0491.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I drew those on last Friday during the day. With the Chessex mats, one of the biggest problems is color-retention. Especially with any wet-erase markers that have red in the ink (orange, yellow and red) are the worst culprits. Also, even with black you have the issue of color retention if you don't erase it relatively soon after drawing on the map. So I decided to let the ink sit on there for a couple of days and see if there was any color retention.<br />
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Before:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2OE0auDvN_nAife95SgqHrlk3nH3VlSUaKqJNDcPK1WakJAzcibt_OjwljzerQvT16tFV0vmgn2zJSd9K_ThI0cTgyL6J5KTkWfQraQ8AMBLaPG-iYaFN7KTfhUThpf2jlKuqLzdy4zg/s1600/IMG_0492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2OE0auDvN_nAife95SgqHrlk3nH3VlSUaKqJNDcPK1WakJAzcibt_OjwljzerQvT16tFV0vmgn2zJSd9K_ThI0cTgyL6J5KTkWfQraQ8AMBLaPG-iYaFN7KTfhUThpf2jlKuqLzdy4zg/s640/IMG_0492.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And after:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qmkYmJMbgI9SOYE6MlMa5sat3tD8_q1GaiUyvzlYb5qGlqgO7RjcVXNE7tWqDr7LPi3bMV20QmE91TGZiymupsD-D9KbXyz8AqYcIUJl8WshK1m6OdaJibRGg0NCI77j1Ya1u9IfifCk/s1600/IMG_0493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qmkYmJMbgI9SOYE6MlMa5sat3tD8_q1GaiUyvzlYb5qGlqgO7RjcVXNE7tWqDr7LPi3bMV20QmE91TGZiymupsD-D9KbXyz8AqYcIUJl8WshK1m6OdaJibRGg0NCI77j1Ya1u9IfifCk/s640/IMG_0493.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It may be kind of hard to see in that image, but there was some slight residual color left behind by the colors, but it is vastly improved compared to the residue left behind on the Chessex mats. Everything erased really nice and smooth.<br />
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And, of course, who could resist indulging in a little fun with the new map?<br />
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Have I mentioned I paint figures? I paint figures. Other then the griffon, I painted all the PC mini-figures. I will be doing some posts in the future show casting those later on. But as you can see, the grid I made is to scale and fits the various sized figures. Thanks to the ease and non-permanence of different colors, you don't have to be limited to only black when drawing out pictures. And especially since I used black for the grid-lines, I needed to use a blue pen for the room I drew to stand out.<br />
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Now, for the big map. I will beg your indulgence for some of the glare in the pictures, I had to take the pictures at night so there was some glare from the flash or the light in the room.<br />
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Here is two full size pictures of the map:<br />
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I was so super excited to see this when I opened up the box. Seriously, nothing is cooler then seeing a massive map of my continent. <br />
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Here is some close-ups of various areas of the map:<br />
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So there you go! The only real negative I noticed about this map was simply the resolution. It definitely was a little pixelated up close, but I kind of understand that it may have been due to several factors that in no way is a reflection of the quality of <a href="http://www.bannersonthecheap.com/" target="_blank">Banners on the Cheap</a>.<br />
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In the end? I highly recommend using this as a less expensive alternative to Chessex. I would like to see a more streamlined process for making battle grids, as doing it by hand is kind of time consuming. Other then that, for big posters I recommend using as high a resolution picture as possible to maximize the resolution when you receive it. But the colors are bright and clear, the map erases wet-erase marker much easier then on the Chessex boards as well. And the price is really, really nice when compared to Chessex too.Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-3991531942170256432012-06-29T09:26:00.000-07:002012-06-29T09:26:27.802-07:00Class Look: Fighter<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Okay...so I'm lame. Took me a while,
but I finally got the fighter class look finished. It mostly took
this long because I was having a hard time coming up with some good
archtypes to use for the fighter. Mostly it had to do with...well, let's just get into
the review, shall we?</div>
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The fighter. Primarily in pathfinder
and dungeons and dragons the fighter is your defensive and offensive
unit. Which isn't to say that they are always going to be dealing
the highest damage or have the highest hit points in the group, but
typically when you make a fighter you are going for one of two
builds. Either you are going to do damage or you are designed to
take hits. Now, you don't have to go that way, I'm just saying that
is your average fighter build.</div>
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Which is unfortunate, really, but the
fighter offers so much more in terms of role-playing then...well,
this guy:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like swords...and sword-chucks, yo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As far as versatility, there are a lot
of ways to go with the fighter. Time and again I see on various
forums and the like that talk about classes that a fighter with a
focus on ranged combat can get higher damage rolls then a ranger with
a focus on ranged combat. There is also the typical “sword and
board” fighter that you can use, which typically focuses on heavy
armor and defense over damage. But you can also go the route of
using a two handed weapon and just hitting really, really hard.
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What? Overcompensating?
Pssshhhh...</td></tr>
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I'll talk about the various
routes you can take with a fighter that can help you change things up
in your game so that you aren't always playing the same guy all the
time later. Fighter is one of the easiest classes to play, though since
there are a lot paths to branch off with for a fighter, I recommend
having a solid idea of what kind of fighter you want to play before
you start. Cause nothing sucks more then getting five levels in and
wanting to take your dexterous spear focused fighter and try to turn
it into a shield focused fighter.
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Race</u></b></span></div>
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Races that are good for fighter? Well,
the typical big ones that don't take negatives to strength or con
come to mind. That isn't to say that you should immediately ignore
the smaller or weaker races like the halflings, elves and gnomes.
For me, it comes down to what kind of fighter are you trying to play?
Some are much more focused on dex, so the smaller races can come in
handy. Others that focus on strength may be happier with a half orc
or dwarf. There isn't a wrong race to choose, more like a wrong race
to choose for the type of fighter you want to be.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Multi-classing</b></u></span></div>
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</div>
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The fighter is a pretty solid stand
alone class. The other classes that compliment it typically depend
on what kind of fighter you want to play. A fighter-rogue is
ridiculously powerful at later levels, as well as a
fighter-barbarian. Typically, unless you are shooting for the
prestige class, I don't recommend going with a fighter-wizard or
fighter-sorcerer. I've done it a couple of times and they tend to be
really awesome at lower levels, but at higher levels they start to
get a little harder to play. A fighter-paladin is a good
combination, as well as a fighter-bard. Again, you just need to look
at what you are wanting to play and see what best helps you achieve
that goal in the end.</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Arch-types</span></u></b></div>
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Ah, the arch-types. This is what held
me up the longest, dear readers. Because with a fighter, how can you
really expand on it more then just “I'm a fighter...I hit things
and wear armor.”? So I sat down and started writing this and
eventually I started coming up with more and more fun ways to play a
fighter that isn't your typically “sword and board”.</div>
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The first is the Weapon Master. I
always compare this to Dell “Chase” Brandstone from the Sword of
Truth series.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image owned by http://theblackbutterfly.deviantart.com/</td></tr>
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In the book, Chase is typically
described as having many different weapons on his person at all
times. And that is what this character is. You pull out your
longsword and attack. Didn't do enough damage? Drop it and pull out
your mace. That didn't work? Drop it and pull out your spear. That
didn't work? Drop it, fall back and pull out your bow. That didn't
work? Start shooting cold iron arrows. That didn't work? Shoot
your silver arrows. I think you see what I'm getting at. You have a
weapon for any occasion. You know that there are monsters out there
resistant to all manner of things, so you have a weapon for those
things. A cold iron holy longsword. A silvered anarchic battle-axe.
You should always have at least one of each kind of weapon on your
person at all times. You love weapons and you don't really
specialize in only one kind.</div>
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Now, if that isn't your style, there
are more focused types. I call these the Weapon Specialists.
Instead of the Master, you chose the weapon you want to use. You may
have weaker back-up weapons to help out when needed, but you put your
heart, soul and training into using only one weapon. This could be a
sword, an axe, a spear, a bow...any weapon you choose, really (whips
have a pretty awesome feat tree you can take to make them deal lethal
rather then subdual damage). Because of this specialization, you
tend to be a more dedicated and focused person. The Specialist is
much more focused on their specific weapon type, so they tend to have
one really powerful weapon that fits that type rather then multiple
ones. A good example of this (and I hestitate to use this example)
is Drizzt Do'urden.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOggsml-8iD62dVwFEAXQLu_uBs9OaJAyVGVJ7d4GyZboaYqjdl6CRx_KR2ddFnRvoC23DTcP6NFKQ7NiQK3jrWF_L1rQHoZ5RFJfLNugMLmb62JL-Na2mFg9HwUvevAUlXSGtsJPjH28/s1600/Drizzt_Pic_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOggsml-8iD62dVwFEAXQLu_uBs9OaJAyVGVJ7d4GyZboaYqjdl6CRx_KR2ddFnRvoC23DTcP6NFKQ7NiQK3jrWF_L1rQHoZ5RFJfLNugMLmb62JL-Na2mFg9HwUvevAUlXSGtsJPjH28/s1600/Drizzt_Pic_1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am not advocating making
Drizzt clones. Stop making Drizzt clones!</td></tr>
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Drizzt uses scimitars. Only scimitars.
It is part of what makes his character distinctive and recognizable.
That works the same with your fighter. If they only use a specific
kind of weapon, they will soon start to be identified with that
weapon, especially if you make that weapon recognizable as your own.</div>
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The last one that I'm going to talk
about is the Pacifist. Yes, I know, some of you are now looking at
the screen and blinking in confusion. I get that. Isn't a
pacifistic fighter kind of an oxymoron, you may be asking. I simply
chuckle and say one word: Ashitaka.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRA75NoHEsR1Qe-zey27UbwBq0-mgDsW241OWNa1xGCvwBZBQq4Jv0nmsC6i-EBFpX181iiSTt0-08RWNVfcYSg4s5s2tL527MJUaoDOM4G0HXmIbxVeLzKoqW_YoAO_BeObZ966K1I1Z/s1600/Ashitaka+and+Yakkul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRA75NoHEsR1Qe-zey27UbwBq0-mgDsW241OWNa1xGCvwBZBQq4Jv0nmsC6i-EBFpX181iiSTt0-08RWNVfcYSg4s5s2tL527MJUaoDOM4G0HXmIbxVeLzKoqW_YoAO_BeObZ966K1I1Z/s640/Ashitaka+and+Yakkul.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't want to...but I can
and will fuck you up if I have to.</td></tr>
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Now, for those of you that haven't seen
Princess Mononoke...go watch it right now. I'll wait.</div>
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…</div>
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…</div>
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Back? Good. Awesome movie, right?</div>
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Now, Ashitaka is a perfect example of
the pacifistic fighter. The key to the character is that you don't
want to fight, but you will if you have to. Typically you will have
your own goal or reason for joining with a party and you know that
while you regret having to kill, you have to do it to obtain your
goal. However, you can still work around that. Get weapons that
deal subdual damage only. Talk to your DM to see if you can make
your weapons dull so that they only deal subdual rather then lethal
damage. The goal is to incapacitate your foes, not kill them. And
you can extend this pacifism as much or as little as you like. You
don't have to want to save everyone. You can be perfectly okay with
murdering monsters and the like, but you just can't bring yourself to
kill another human being. It's just one way to bring an extra
dimension to your fighter that will (hopefully) generate some
discussion and make his decisions memorable when it occurs at the
table.</div>
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So as we can see, there are a lot of
ways to customize your fighter. You don't have to only use swords,
there are a lot of unique and interesting weapons in the books that
you can center a fighter around that will help make him memorable.
Up next will be the Monks...ugh.</div>
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<br />
</div>Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-80651623839020478432012-05-29T11:46:00.000-07:002012-05-29T11:46:06.578-07:00I'm back!<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Alright, so finals are over and I
passed all my classes! That means we will be getting back on track
here and getting you more updates and articles on a regular schedule
again.</div>
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</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I did want to talk quickly about the
Dungeons and Dragons Next Playtest. I signed up for it a while ago,
thinking it might be fun and enjoyable to see how much worse Wizards
of the Coast is being forced to make the game I love. I mean, I
really didn't enjoy 4th edition at all. I don't really blame Wizards
of the Coast for that though, I personally think it has more to do
with Hasbro then anything else.</div>
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So, I went through all the issues
Thursday morning with down servers and error pages to try to get the
playtest information. Once I finally got it, I took a look through
it and found that most of the changes that they had done
were...well...kind of not that bad. I think they are going back to
the thematic feel of 2nd edition, but keeping the play system of 3.5.
There are some things left over from 4th edition, but they have
given them more flavor text that explains it in a “real world”
scenario. The best example of that is the changes to Healing Surge
(This was one of the biggest reasons my group didn't convert over to
4th edition).</div>
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So it looks good, and it fills me with
this dread. I just got started converting over to Pathfinder. I've
spent a lot of money on the Pathfinder books so far, and I really am
looking forward to buying more of them as they continue to come out.
Yet now in the background, I'm starting to think...maybe I should set
some aside so that I can get this new edition of Dungeons and
Dragons. It's like there is a tax on being a nerd sometimes...heh.</div>
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Well, that aside though, my group had a
fun time playtesting the new edition and we are looking forward to
new things coming out from Wizards again. I can't really go into too
much detail here about things, but it was fun. I would recommend
going over to Wizards website and signing up for the playtest <a href="http://www.dndnext.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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</div>
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I'm really looking forward to some of
the new Pathfinder books coming out here soon, I'm planning on
reviewing them as they come out. I also have a script written for
the first video blog that I'm planning on doing here. Yeah, I bet
you thought I'd forgotten about that, didn't you? Well, I didn't.
I'm just trying to figure out how much I'm willing to sacrifice in
terms of quality for you so that I can at least just get them
started. I'll likely be putting up the videos on Youtube as well as
on the video system here. I'm thinking about using maybe other video
host sites like dailymotion or bling...I'm still doing research.</div>
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Either way, a lot of things are coming
up, so be excited folks! Next article is going to be resuming my
Class series, moving onto the Fighter. See you then, and good
gaming!</div>Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-58750243118479202022012-05-10T14:10:00.001-07:002012-05-10T14:10:48.054-07:00Update Slow DownSorry for the no post this week guys, I'm finishing up school for the semester and trying to make sure I get everything done in time. Next week I'll be sure to give you guys my thoughts on the fighter class!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5y6gk-PZACuSIAx0WAbfYfTPomaRvFf9kkt2819oxXRtpNM9v_yV3gbmw7Rhfopgy9xWe0knH80G09OKAuYdvzjdDUmfCUhOCtZG32dFhaYjV-cj-xS2j6N-O_cQbUjC4fL9OkREwTjMs/s1600/43295.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5y6gk-PZACuSIAx0WAbfYfTPomaRvFf9kkt2819oxXRtpNM9v_yV3gbmw7Rhfopgy9xWe0knH80G09OKAuYdvzjdDUmfCUhOCtZG32dFhaYjV-cj-xS2j6N-O_cQbUjC4fL9OkREwTjMs/s1600/43295.gif" /></a></div>
<br />Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-63786050234279439732012-04-30T10:14:00.000-07:002012-04-30T10:14:16.877-07:00Class Look: Druid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2CuTJwe9_FI-7h3OfO0NPJ1eYLbQUnqBBkIy3jlpRktYTkhxR7nBxeykU-hVA33JSIdWtHTDoUS9G40ni4hBJCslqaceXE3o2-ML1qbR69mo4-7VYteG8KQBEt_cpjWtVU0hDAmn_d9g/s1600/richard+basehart+moreau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Welcome back, good gamers! This time
we will look at another class from the game that I love to play,
Dungeons and Dragons. Continuing our look at the base classes, we
will be moving on to the Druid. I've played the druid a total of
once before, and she died really fast (stupid Tojanida). However,
the time that I spent playing her was a lot of fun and I wouldn't
mind another chance to do so again.</div>
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Without further preamble, the Druid!</div>
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The druid, in a nutshell, is the mortal
agent of the spirit of nature. You can be the protecting force for
natures beauty, or an avenging fury bent on showing the power of
nature. There are many different ways to look at a druid, ranging
from personality to ability focus. The two main abilities is the
shape-changing ability or the spell-casting ability. Both are
equally powerful and both have a lot of fun role-playing
opportunities for the player to play with. As far as difficulty to
play, the druid is on the more advanced side, mostly because you have
to keep track of the various spells as well as the changes to your
stats while under the wild shape ability.</div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Race</span></b></u></div>
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</div>
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Most races work well with the druid,
though I think the ones that work the best is races closely tied to
nature. Elves, halflings, gnomes, or half-orcs are the races that I
feel work best with the class. That's not to say that dwarves,
humans and half-elves can't be druids, I just feel that their
attitudes in general aren't really interested in nature untamed but
to cultivate it to their advantage.</div>
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<br />
</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Multi-classing</b></u></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
There are a lot of classes that work
with druids, but there isn't really any that I recommend. I mean,
you can always take a few levels in another class to complement your
abilities, though I personally feel that it's better to just keep
going with druid levels for the extra spells or special abilities.
Especially if you are focusing on being a shape-change druid, since
there really isn't any benefits from any of the other classes that
beats out gaining more shape-changing forms or more usages per day of
the ability.</div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Arch-types</b></u></span></div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This is where the druid can have a lot
of fun. The type that I played was basically a “lost boy”
personality. She had been orphaned and rather then staying at the
monastery where she was being educated she left and lived out in the
wilderness. These are druids who are almost completely out of touch
with modern society and don't understand “man's law”.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2CuTJwe9_FI-7h3OfO0NPJ1eYLbQUnqBBkIy3jlpRktYTkhxR7nBxeykU-hVA33JSIdWtHTDoUS9G40ni4hBJCslqaceXE3o2-ML1qbR69mo4-7VYteG8KQBEt_cpjWtVU0hDAmn_d9g/s1600/richard+basehart+moreau.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2CuTJwe9_FI-7h3OfO0NPJ1eYLbQUnqBBkIy3jlpRktYTkhxR7nBxeykU-hVA33JSIdWtHTDoUS9G40ni4hBJCslqaceXE3o2-ML1qbR69mo4-7VYteG8KQBEt_cpjWtVU0hDAmn_d9g/s400/richard+basehart+moreau.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What is the law? No spill blood!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This personality type can really go
either way, with either focusing on the spells or on shape-changing.
I personally would normally go with an animal companion with this
character, rather then the domain version, mostly because it would
make sense that they would need the assistance of another creature to
survive in the wilderness all their lives.
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<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Another personality trait to go with is
the old hermit. You may be living on the outskirts of a village or
city, but you aren't completely out of touch with society. You may
be considered by the villagers as a wise-man or healer. This type I
typically would focus on spell casting, since you typically are more
interested in not scaring away the villagers, and aren't as much in
need of the various survival benefits from the shape-changing forms.
Also, you would also more likely take the domain option from Nature
Bond, rather then the animal companion. This is because you still
live close to civilization, so you don't need the extra survival help
that an animal companion brings.</div>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tAZaM4bAt-sem4CHfGR1B-xYzDn-pw-H268l1e6_YJ4oSiLuj8dZ-hQv6rLC_nuxxIZdCsRXo-B7EsUlqsOeUN1frUMjP1_2bS-LtTOSiul41ldS7tIYNk7cf3eyOoCnmBtJ5Ag8s6qT/s1600/Obi-Wan_Kenobi_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tAZaM4bAt-sem4CHfGR1B-xYzDn-pw-H268l1e6_YJ4oSiLuj8dZ-hQv6rLC_nuxxIZdCsRXo-B7EsUlqsOeUN1frUMjP1_2bS-LtTOSiul41ldS7tIYNk7cf3eyOoCnmBtJ5Ag8s6qT/s1600/Obi-Wan_Kenobi_002.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crazy old hermit, but not as crazy as the next guy...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You can also go over to full blown
isolated hermit as well. You would typically live in a cave
somewhere, or a cabin. Your exile may be self-imposed due to a
hatred of the outside world or because an outside force drove you to
avoid civilization. Joining the party may be for any number of
reasons, any of which can help give the DM some juicy extra material
that will personalize things for you. The main change from the other
hermit would be to focus on shape-changing and having an animal
companion.
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXLMiKu46p5zzptnGINTrrY0b-Be8DxEbgwvQyO7QXHK6gg9LHzH3TnYukRi59Bnx5jPbOzji56dJOBrs1Qr0WfSBk6rdDgxdo_wpSxTHAMArRhnXHEDWiDVNxumBKiPELCUAKAVlT4w1/s1600/main.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXLMiKu46p5zzptnGINTrrY0b-Be8DxEbgwvQyO7QXHK6gg9LHzH3TnYukRi59Bnx5jPbOzji56dJOBrs1Qr0WfSBk6rdDgxdo_wpSxTHAMArRhnXHEDWiDVNxumBKiPELCUAKAVlT4w1/s640/main.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just laugh a lot and talk crazy...the party will love it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Most DM's don't allow evil characters,
but there are druids who focus on the vengeful and violent side of
nature. They don't have to be evil, in fact, they just feel that
people come second to nature. They would kill a child without qualm,
but possibly weep over the death of a tree or plant. They would
probably have a blend of shape-changing abilities and spell focus,
mostly because they want to maximize their lethality.</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So there you have the druid and a few
ideas of where to go with it. Next time, we will be talking about
one of the classes that is always fun to play, the fighter!</div>Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-45893912423570059702012-04-25T09:18:00.000-07:002012-04-25T09:18:45.458-07:00Class Look: Cleric<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The cleric is one of those classes that
seems to have a love/hate relationship with players. Everyone wants
to have one in the party, but no one typically ever wants to play
one. I personally enjoy clerics, though I do dislike how many people
think of them as mere heal bots and nothing else. Clerics have a
wide range of spells and abilities that can be utilized, well beyond
mere healing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhH6wAfNYA8sLNT2MsJG6M3sHn1F-4oFMH8t9V7qeZ0hFPzyc0GGXCkeaNdy_hQB-ZxgYHXEhDReOheCnmfuTKMYQUJisrKqIRJMPGHmBRjhju_O4E_LJbTe3X5fq6bWqs_pd4V_6cJesc/s1600/Kyra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhH6wAfNYA8sLNT2MsJG6M3sHn1F-4oFMH8t9V7qeZ0hFPzyc0GGXCkeaNdy_hQB-ZxgYHXEhDReOheCnmfuTKMYQUJisrKqIRJMPGHmBRjhju_O4E_LJbTe3X5fq6bWqs_pd4V_6cJesc/s640/Kyra.jpg" width="402" /></a></div>
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The current table top game that I'm
running played with that idea. They all started as level one clerics
of various dieties. However, as they leveled, they slowly branched
out, one being a combat cleric, one a spell-casting cleric and
another as a rogue cleric. Even though they all started as clerics,
they actually were able to fill various party roles quite well.
Maybe not as powerful as the normal classes, they still managed to do
a very good job of it. So with that in mind, we delve into the world
of the Cleric!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Race</b></u></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Most races do well as clerics, since
there are so many various deities. Again, it is fun to play with
perceptions and go against the norm. A lot of people think of
dwarves or humans when it comes to clerics, but a gnome or a half-orc
can make a surprising choice for some. As with the other classes,
you really can't go wrong. It is fun to play around and come up with
an interesting combination.</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Multi-classing</span></u></b></div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Multi-classing with a cleric is more
limited then with some of the other classes. Depending on your
alignment, there are some classes like the Barbarian or Monk that you
wouldn't be able to multi-class into. And depending on what type of
cleric you are playing, it will determine what kind of class you
would want to cross with. If you want to be more combat oriented,
you can go with some fighter or paladin levels to help boost your
skills. The special abilities of the paladin certainly work well
with the clerics abilities as well.</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
If you want to go more of a
spell-casting route, I would recommend going with levels of wizard.
Clerics have the mental discipline to complement the wizard lifestyle
of study and learning. Again, depending on your alignment and the
type of cleric you are trying to play.</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Arch-types</span></b></u></div>
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<br />
</div>
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There are a lot of ways to role-play
the cleric and stay interesting. The most obvious is of course the
believer. You tow the company line, so to speak, and follow your god
to the best of your ablities. This is pretty much the most generic
of all ways to play a cleric, and that's not what we are here to talk
about.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
One that is very fun is the Fanatic. I
really don't think I need to say more about that...it's a fanatic.
You scream and froth at the mouth if any one dares to blaspheme or
doubt your gods powers. You are over-confident because you know that
the god you follow is not just the strongest, but also you are his
divine agent in this world so you are protected. Anyone who doesn't
believe in your god you think is a fool and doomed in the after-life.
As I've cautioned before, don't use this as an excuse to be a jerk
at the gaming table. This is, after all, just a game with friends
you should be playing here. Use just enough of it so that the other
players get a good idea of your characters opinions and feelings and
break it out every once in a while when appropriate.</div>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGbqAKU-UCJWaaNh4OrY2CwbzKu7ESJV7FaF_tv86aBN0Sp741MW4W5NqgGENSDguxZGOSRvGVPZTz9Ao97QqLm9AJrRwAOD3OIchwQ8R6WDUUgFSSrRoa1WK86EhkLQmuA4UEyeQjkvM/s1600/133342598720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGbqAKU-UCJWaaNh4OrY2CwbzKu7ESJV7FaF_tv86aBN0Sp741MW4W5NqgGENSDguxZGOSRvGVPZTz9Ao97QqLm9AJrRwAOD3OIchwQ8R6WDUUgFSSrRoa1WK86EhkLQmuA4UEyeQjkvM/s640/133342598720.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My god of glam rock hair is the only god, heretic!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Another option is the evangelist. You
know your god is awesome and you want everyone else to know about it.
You praise his name with every breath, end most sentences with
“Praise his name!”. Always draw parallels between your god and
something that is happening. Really, the goal with this is that you
are always talking about or wanting to tell people about your god.
You aren't as bad as the fanatic in the sense that you will tolerate
believers or other faiths, however it just boggles your mind because
your god is so awesome why would anyone want to believe anything
else?
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_lRGa8FPOg52-_yYLCbwoyDWgpyrUlfs2xN4vlEDqoK4Db4WqJLqGqb461QkeQfhQSLhTaf_R-KaS0uskXd2KDm2v0iG1c366nCNy4ECGLN-ycnBCfClJ9qVE4AGHX9Xsd_mUfaryyZ3/s1600/6a0120a85dcdae970b0120a86d72f7970b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_lRGa8FPOg52-_yYLCbwoyDWgpyrUlfs2xN4vlEDqoK4Db4WqJLqGqb461QkeQfhQSLhTaf_R-KaS0uskXd2KDm2v0iG1c366nCNy4ECGLN-ycnBCfClJ9qVE4AGHX9Xsd_mUfaryyZ3/s1600/6a0120a85dcdae970b0120a86d72f7970b.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And it's that my god is awesome!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Of course, there are less
confrontational options as well. Remember that Dungeons and Dragons
is a world of not only multiple religions, but also proof that other
gods do exist and are powerful. So the concept of one god being
inherently “better” then any other god probably wouldn't be too
prevalent other then in areas where one religion is the dominant one.
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
With that in mind, you go into more
role related ideas. You can have the undead hater. You loathe the
fact that undead exist and wish to destroy them completely. You
concentrate on undead and missions that will ultimately involve
destroying them. You cannot bear the sight of them and do everything
in your ability to destroy them as quickly as possible. If anyone
else in the party uses undead as minions, you will be very vocal
about not wanting them around and possibly would take it upon
yourself to destroy it. To you, undead are abominations that cannot
be tolerated. Conversely, you can also (assuming your religion
allows it) go the route of undead domination and control various
undead as minions.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwuuS8srJ5ZS9VoTdDVQgbA80togUzWrPBwlhM8rNjYjHQ_IEv3YypVhkkKVrqPDX10pte6iDRiSqDfZ27WhawotLCBIdKy3P_nep9QqhGzcNBkKE8HmtVJmncZjLv7mzCMsN_tlEmv3x/s1600/1240839995_2795.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwuuS8srJ5ZS9VoTdDVQgbA80togUzWrPBwlhM8rNjYjHQ_IEv3YypVhkkKVrqPDX10pte6iDRiSqDfZ27WhawotLCBIdKy3P_nep9QqhGzcNBkKE8HmtVJmncZjLv7mzCMsN_tlEmv3x/s400/1240839995_2795.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes he deserved to die, and I hope he burns in hell!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
So there you have it, some cleric fun
for your game. Remember if people are reticent to play a cleric, be
sure to remind them that they don't need to be only healers. There
are a lot of different roles that clerics can fill, but they always
have that handy ability to pull down healing spells regardless. Good
gaming and see you next time for the druid!
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-91335987670925994542012-04-17T10:08:00.000-07:002012-04-17T10:08:53.043-07:00Class Look: Bard<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Bards...ah Bards. The second Dungeons and Dragons class that I ever played (my first was a paladin). I've always enjoyed them because I just always thought they were the most bad ass of adventurers. Think about it. Look at what the rest of the party is entering the dungeon with: fighters with sword, armor and shield, clerics with the power of their gods, rogues with skill and cunning, wizards with a wealth of magical knowledge and spells to protect them from danger. What does a bard go in with? A song and a lute.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Hey, the bard wants his money pouch back. It's the one with BMF on it.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">For the bard, you have to keep in mind that bard is really any sort of performance art. You can tell stories, play any sort of portable instrument, sing songs, recite poetry, dance...it's a long list of things really. And when you have that much diversity in what you can do...it leads to amazing role-playing opportunity for you as the player. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">It's what I love about the bard...you could have an entire party of bards and have each one focus on a different aspect and still have a fairly well-rounded party. Except for real strong melee and heavy armor. But then again, you could use a dodge based character for that role too. I'm not saying it's super viable, I'm just saying it is possible. As far as difficulty, I'd say that the bard is about as easy as the barbarian or fighter. The only thing particularly difficult to keep track of is spells later on, though it is a spontaneous casting class, which is an easy way to try out a mage class so you can get a feel for spells and how they work.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Race</span></u></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Anything goes for the bard. I'll go into the specifics in the arch-type section, but pretty much any race can function as a bard. In fact, I'm going to say that you would be hard pressed to find any race that doesn't fit with a bard. I'd say the closest is a dwarf, but even then I would argue that you could make a Dwarven Bard whose perform involves telling tales of his clans exploits. Really, it's one of the main classes that really goes well with any race, so enjoy making whatever you want!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Multi-classing</u></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">As far as multi-classing, you can go a lot of ways. Fitting in with the theme of versatility, you can pretty much cross-class with any other class as a bard. Fighter classes help boost up the attack power of the bard, while mage classes help boost the spell-casting abilities of the bard. I'd say the only real class that doesn't work with the bard would be the monk class. The stringent rules and training doesn't really work with the free-spirit of the bard.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Arch-types</b></u></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The arch-type section for this article could be massive. I'll try to concentrate on a few of them, but there is a lot you can do with a bard as far as character ideas.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">One that I enjoy is the country bard. He travels from tavern to tavern around the countryside, telling stories or singing songs to the farmers and townsfolk. A lot of times, especially in towns that are situated far away from larger cities, he can be a source of information or news from the big cities for the small towns. Also, it makes a good hook to join an adventuring party because you can be wandering around find the party in any random sort of place. I tend to play him as a older person, who may have spent their youth in courts or large cities but is content now to wander the countryside living the quiet life. This could be due to controversy from the court, or maybe they are trying to escape from some debt or accusation they don't deserve. These can all be used to help flesh out your backstory and give your DM ideas for story hooks concerning your character.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Another arch-type is the Diva. You are a well-known and maybe even slightly famous performer. However, you have recently fallen on dire straits, possibly running away from an overzealous fan or a jealous rival. Regardless, they are needing to get out of the public eye for a time. However, they might still be acting the diva while in the adventuring group. This can be fun, such as complaining about having to go into dungeons, caves or sewers because they are dirty or dank. Think like the original Dr. Smith from Lost in Space:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh the indignity of it all!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>You can also always make a point of anytime that loot division comes up, always ask for the best stuff, or the most expensive items as what the party owes you for the pleasure of your company. Just remember to not go overboard to the point where you are annoying or halting the game with your complaints or requests, though. Don't argue to the bitter end to get your way, just make your point then pout a little bit when you don't get your way (this is all in character, of course). Don't let it affect your out of character enjoyment<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">If you are interested in doing some melee combat, you can go with the Fighter Bard. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpEfLL2Q-PLZ8J2egNqKDHFDatU_e0o4p1O-C4fbmHz6IZgAYyZhbaxQfxprTjuKorTaHW62XTn6MI41ABLjlhLFIT_nfoCOVIgajsgUskuk_pUgjG0iEaAen3oztWij-V2OYZ-39MDb0/s1600/fighter_bard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpEfLL2Q-PLZ8J2egNqKDHFDatU_e0o4p1O-C4fbmHz6IZgAYyZhbaxQfxprTjuKorTaHW62XTn6MI41ABLjlhLFIT_nfoCOVIgajsgUskuk_pUgjG0iEaAen3oztWij-V2OYZ-39MDb0/s640/fighter_bard.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">You don't focus on your performance as an art form so much as using it as a tool in combat to inspire your companions. You don't perform for money, you simply have learned to inspire your companions. You focus on combat skills and the spells you get you mostly utilize for fighting as well. With this type, I recommend going with a dexterous fighting style, using long spears or other reach weapons to help keep enemies away from you. You won't be the most powerful fighter, but it's about enjoying what you play not being the most powerful.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The one that I would I have to say that I've used the most though is the fan-boy. Essentially, he is a chronicler of heroics and wants to be involved in them in any way possible. Low-level parties attract them with the promise of helping to spread the name of the party and promoting a sense of fulfilling a destiny of greatness. Higher-level parties can attract them simply by virtue of being a high-level party that has made a name for itself already. Always praise someone in the party when they do something particularly well. Be supportive and always happy to help and be a member of the party. I like this one the most because it is just fun to be supportive and positive to your friends at the table.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">There are others, but you get the idea. Really, you can do whatever you want with the bard, which is why I enjoy it so much. So go forth and fill your game with song and tales of heroics and valor. Next time, we will look at the class that every party needs and no one ever wants to actually play, the Cleric. Till then, great gaming!</div>Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-39719436992657627592012-04-11T15:59:00.000-07:002012-04-11T15:59:36.325-07:00Class Look: Barbarian<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Greetings! Today I am starting a new series I've been working on for a while now. Part of loving Dungeons and Dragons is being able to play the various classes. Being a part of a team and delving into the depths of a dungeon is absolutely the best part of the game for me.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Some of you may be new to the game and may be asking, “What class should I start with?”. Or you may be a veteran who is feeling tired of playing the core classes and wanting something different. You don't need to reach for that supplemental book quite yet, good sir! The core classes in my opinion will always be the best and most enjoyable to play and I rarely ever stray from them when picking a class for a campaign.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Today, we are going to look at the Barbarian. Over the next several entries, I'll go over the other core classes. I plan to lay out not just why the class is fun to play, but will also list the difficulty of playing a certain class, good race combinations, and various arch-types that you can use while playing the class. One other note, I will be using the Pathfinder versions of the various classes, since that is the rule set that that my group is currently using.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Ah, the barbarian. I do enjoy playing a class that is essentially a well-oiled killing machine. For those of you who aren't familiar with the class, the basic essence is that this is a high damage class. The goal is to wield big weapons and do high damage in a short amount of time. Obviously, most can see the comparison to Conan the Barbarian as the source for the class. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Crom!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Typically, barbarians come from tribal or other primitive cultures in the world you are playing in; though they can also be a gladiator who has earned his freedom, or simply a mercenary who uses a wild and dangerous combat style. There is a wide range of arch-types that you can use with this class, which is part of what makes it enjoyable to me. I feel that barbarians are almost one of the simplest classes you can play, and therefore perfect for first time players who are trying to get a feel for it. All they really need to keep track of is their number of rages per day and what rage powers they are using.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Race</span></b></u></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Most races with physical boosts to stats complement the barbarian class. However, it also depends on the type of barbarian you wish to play. The typical choices are going to be either Human or Half-Orc, with the occasional half-elf and dwarf thrown in. Personally, I say if you want to make a barbarian that your group will remember, go with a halfling or a gnome. You will take a slight drop in damage due to your size and the initial negative to strength, but I made a halfling barbarian one time and it was still an enjoyable character to play. It also was extremely unexpected when he would fly into a rage and start chopping away at enemies.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Multi-classing</b></span></u></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">As far as Multi-classing with a barbarian, I typically recommend the solid combination of either fighter or rogue. Adding rogue levels gives you sneak attack damage to add to your normal attacks. This boosts your damage output greatly, especially if you can manuever into a flanking position or get first initiative a lot. Also, the various abilities of a rogue complement the abilities of a barbarian, so you aren't having to drastically switch from one set of skills to another. Fighter is another good combo, mainly because they are two ways of going about the same job. The various armor and weapon benefits you get a fighter blend well with your barbarian abilities to help round out the characters effectiveness.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">If you are looking to add some magic-use to your character, I mostly would go with druid as a spell casting cross-class. Spell casters like wizards or clerics typically requires a lot of patience and study, which most barbarians don't have. Druids work the best, in my opinion, mostly because (like the barbarian) they are wilderness based characters. They are religious, but not in an organized manner. In primitive tribes, they would be considered shamans or holy men and hold a lot of sway or power in the tribe. Also, the wild shape ability means you can change into an large creature, then subsequently rage.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I would like to point out that I am not saying that multi-classing is necessary, going straight up to twenty with a barbarian is a pretty lethal path. But this ties in with the various arch-types I'll be talking about later. I am also not saying that you can't cross-class as a barbarian/wizard...buuuuut that will be a pretty hard class to pull off, just due to both classes needing drastically different stats as highest and very different skill sets.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Arch-types</span></b></u></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">This is my favorite part of making any character, coming up with a personality and deciding what arch-type they will utilize with their class. For the barbarian, there are several and I really love them all.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">My favorite is the Tribal Barbarian. Savage and cunning, they aren't what anyone would consider book smart. They know how to kill in hundreds of ways and enjoy doing it. They have a strong sense of honor and courage, never backing down from a fight but also refusing to fight or kill anyone obviously weaker then themselves. I also usually incorporate some fear or mistrust of magic-users and magic items (ala Conan the Barbarian), but this is usually hard to pull off since both Pathfinder and Dungeons and Dragons require a certain amount of magic use to be effective at higher levels. I recommend using magic items begrudgingly, never fulling trusting or relying on them to work. Role-play that out in a manner that won't cripple you mechanically, but still show a character that doesn't enjoy having to use these “bedeviled items”.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Another way to play a Barbarian is what I call the Jekyll/Hyde Barbarian. While in a non-rage state, they tend to be calm and quiet. You could potentially play him as a borderline sophisticate even. However, once the battle begins and blood spills, it is like a switch flips in their heads and they burst into a rage and go berserk. This is a fun one if you want to still play a smarter character, but also want to burst into killing mode during combat. I like this one because it is a great way to play off of player and NPC expectations. Everyone expects the barbarian to look like this:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crush your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentation of their women!</td></tr>
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Not like this:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I say, it seems you have cut me...oh dear...BLEARGHKHKHSH, KIIIIIIIILLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</td></tr>
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Playing off of NPC and player expectations is a great way to make a character memorable and fun.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">There are plenty of other arch-types to go with, but I'm going to end with another one that I enjoy, the Gladiator. As I mentioned above, the gladiator might be someone who has earned his freedom through killing his way to the top of an arena where the prize was freedom. Or he was a favored combatant that was set free by his patron. There are various reasons, but either way it is a fun way to play the class. You don't have to play dumb or be surprised by society like the Tribal Barbarian, but you also don't have to play up as a sophisticate like the Jekyll/Hyde Barbarian.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">You kill people very well and you make no apologies. This is typically the type I default to, but it's not too hard to make it stand out when you do play it. Typically, since he was a gladiator, I look up various dirty fighting techniques and try to use them in combat. I'll use weapons with lots of other effects, such as trip or disarm. Always ruthlessly exploit any weaknesses that your enemies give you, and always go for a killing blow even when the enemy is down or surrendered. Amoral and lethal is the two key adjectives you would want attached to your name is the goal here.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So there you have it, the Barbarian. It is a solid class and very enjoyable. It is not considered one of the “core five” classes, but if you don't have a fighter, a barbarian can fill in nicely enough. Next, we will be taking a look at one of my absolute favorite classes ever, the bard! Seriously, I love playing a bard because they are quite possibly one of the classes you can end up having the most fun with. So good gaming and see you next entry!</div>Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-43905725810894030512012-04-02T11:24:00.000-07:002012-04-02T11:24:51.248-07:00Today is a good dayHey, so just a quick message for now that <a href="http://www.geekandsundry.com/" target="_blank">Geek and Sundry</a> went up today and looks to be a fantastic new website. I am a big fan of <a href="http://theguild.geekandsundry.com/" target="_blank">The Guild</a> personally, so I'm pretty excited to see it continuing there.<br />
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Also, there looks to be a new show from Wil Wheaton called <a href="http://tabletop.geekandsundry.com/" target="_blank">Tabletop</a> that pits celebrities against each other with board games. I love board games and Wil Wheaton, so what could be bad about it?<br />
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It all starts today, so I'm looking forward to seeing some quality content from the site in the days to come. If you haven't already, go check it out!Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-50073473922372985762012-03-27T09:04:00.000-07:002012-03-27T09:04:59.260-07:00Seeing the Hunger Games, Panem StyleSo, there is this movie that came out recently called 'The Hunger Games'. I read the books right around the time the movie was announced. A friend of mine told me that they worth a read and let me borrow her copy. And like a zombie plague, once I finished reading it I swiftly started infecting all my friends, telling them to read it as well as it was a good book.<br />
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As you've seen before on my blog, I am sort of interested in strong, independent female characters who aren't defined by their gender or relationships. And this series certainly fit that with Katniss. She is absolutely a great role model for young women everywhere (unlike a certain vampire/were-wolf obsessed cultural phenomenon that is quite possibly the <i>worst</i> role-model for the women of the world). So I was excited about seeing the book made into a movie, with of course the usual reservation that us book reading types have for movie adaptations.<br />
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But went my girlfriend and I did. But not to just the local theater. Oh no. My girlfriend had purchased a Groupon recently for a ticket and dinner at the Muvico Theater down in Thousand Oaks. I had never heard of the place, but once I saw what it was, I geeked out. In my opinion, we were basically seeing the Hunger Games in true Panem fashion. After the jump, I'll describe our experience and my thoughts on why almost every theater in the world needs to refurbish and reopen with the same features as Muvico.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>So we arrived at the theater and immediately we were impressed and excited. Not only is there the usual giant sign showing the name of the theater, but something I had never really seen before. Instead of the normal marquee that shows the names and times of the movies that were showing, it had a large screen showing trailers for various movies that are coming soon. The one that showed a lot was for Avengers (another movie I'm starting to get more excited about as it is getting closer).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLeI3Qj0zdS_6Tn6Ik6FPIyBooqlyN1tYwqCIIe7XoUr0MU9DGnfaFYFrregZ0HhYv0QWZGDwKkV_Un6JvNOQr0epX9rSCPcyiTA41vtG6jmTE5iYsD_kpCFMy5uuY0ImVDqiEaM6dw7mE/s1600/DSC04403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLeI3Qj0zdS_6Tn6Ik6FPIyBooqlyN1tYwqCIIe7XoUr0MU9DGnfaFYFrregZ0HhYv0QWZGDwKkV_Un6JvNOQr0epX9rSCPcyiTA41vtG6jmTE5iYsD_kpCFMy5uuY0ImVDqiEaM6dw7mE/s400/DSC04403.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
So, ticket in hand, we had some time to kill. One of the things I immediately noticed was that there was some large display cases showing figures done by Sideshow Collectibles. I am a huge fan of their products, and own a couple of their Star Wars figures. These things were gorgeous and amazing. There was a 2:1 scale Iron Man, and a full sized T-1000. Unfortunately, since they were in glass cases and I am apparently horrible at taking pictures with my girlfriends camera, most of the pics I took were unusable or blurry. Here are the best ones that I took though:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUAQ4mw0hOu8tM4V_OM_t0sAl8H3BnEz2JmtVbRJszAEyajgPLzQmfh3Zp8WFcyno9yMrITkcKVdzLM1vWmQapNO-Ywi-QqgH2JlfTxvVjNZ1lV5MfBqBpq4l8cXHKYUYWT-68cZI7zk9/s1600/DSC04396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUAQ4mw0hOu8tM4V_OM_t0sAl8H3BnEz2JmtVbRJszAEyajgPLzQmfh3Zp8WFcyno9yMrITkcKVdzLM1vWmQapNO-Ywi-QqgH2JlfTxvVjNZ1lV5MfBqBpq4l8cXHKYUYWT-68cZI7zk9/s640/DSC04396.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YOU SHALL NOT PASS!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPDPJfpL2PG0CzpDgKyPENe7XFpdCPhbBATY9tGPxRJj8AuKYwsGuk5P5h9fU-XouMd4XI0aVx-SunluAIhEqwIjSu1Sd5tXOxpVGdzmc9tGzPsWBQltrzsjmdcPRyBpRAZ3bcbDiZJHV/s1600/DSC04397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPDPJfpL2PG0CzpDgKyPENe7XFpdCPhbBATY9tGPxRJj8AuKYwsGuk5P5h9fU-XouMd4XI0aVx-SunluAIhEqwIjSu1Sd5tXOxpVGdzmc9tGzPsWBQltrzsjmdcPRyBpRAZ3bcbDiZJHV/s640/DSC04397.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You betrayed Shiva!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_gWWpAh7eWu9OZGE9CIMhCvRQcEgQckX6C3e1F3-RsU8Ie5wTHgMTxaj8uC0hdX4QuMzBWxq-YW7H4lmto8Q2f_eHI5pI9c-QNIZz4gypNXzJsgHffPDkYss1vfuM4SDYdcYl6ry5z9R/s1600/DSC04405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_gWWpAh7eWu9OZGE9CIMhCvRQcEgQckX6C3e1F3-RsU8Ie5wTHgMTxaj8uC0hdX4QuMzBWxq-YW7H4lmto8Q2f_eHI5pI9c-QNIZz4gypNXzJsgHffPDkYss1vfuM4SDYdcYl6ry5z9R/s640/DSC04405.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, Iron Man...I want to take you home and put you in my living room.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYY_JtjDoEDSK7Uu6zfQLMZwQ_WtBoDcUUxJqOw5kFpUiz7lAc2Xu4Esoj8vtdqVZGSo2CNLxjS0E7bHr7Su_yIpuf3t_EQhheanwVn6YetwAC5eBJCIjxn8abXdE1Rxx3rl_SGFy_IvN6/s1600/DSC04408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYY_JtjDoEDSK7Uu6zfQLMZwQ_WtBoDcUUxJqOw5kFpUiz7lAc2Xu4Esoj8vtdqVZGSo2CNLxjS0E7bHr7Su_yIpuf3t_EQhheanwVn6YetwAC5eBJCIjxn8abXdE1Rxx3rl_SGFy_IvN6/s640/DSC04408.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just your friendly neighborhood Spiderman!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Hmmqjjy6b5wPDwPZlL3p2EZaASJtoqKs1obnyjVHno3Zjn29LRgT_Mvj6bFYW3nU9eziFwHVgn3ruH_OiF3p38e9BV43A193acMgZ3NJjcAiC44R8RvEj77yQIAVlwttc-g9SCZ7BahB/s1600/DSC04416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Hmmqjjy6b5wPDwPZlL3p2EZaASJtoqKs1obnyjVHno3Zjn29LRgT_Mvj6bFYW3nU9eziFwHVgn3ruH_OiF3p38e9BV43A193acMgZ3NJjcAiC44R8RvEj77yQIAVlwttc-g9SCZ7BahB/s640/DSC04416.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Come with me if you want to see your movie...and live.</td></tr>
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Seriously, the pictures don't do any of those statuettes justice. They were mindblowingly detailed. Alright, so moving on, we went upstairs to the restaurant. Now, you do have the option to eat while you view your movie which is itself an awesome option. However, we chose to eat first before going in, which was a pretty good choice. I can say that while having pizza, nachos or maybe burgers would work fine, anything like what we had for dinner would have been more complicated since there isn't an actual table, just kind of a wide chair arm you can put stuff on.<br />
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We were seated at the theater and, in my opinion, we had some really nice seats. They were basically in the corner and at the edge of the balcony, so we got to look down into the lobby and also out over the parking lot.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGyAxxPPc1DUcpSGkTKIDueydQgrBq_n2MDj65TTBTTFJcXaSIf1_FVTnqXIO-S4QhnzV1dPQ1LbAQv5tVeEjBQ0RYbxlZRS846aOjfrv2J-ylAhIcam72FXVe6OEXfcR2KaVuIRVkc0c/s1600/DSC04368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGyAxxPPc1DUcpSGkTKIDueydQgrBq_n2MDj65TTBTTFJcXaSIf1_FVTnqXIO-S4QhnzV1dPQ1LbAQv5tVeEjBQ0RYbxlZRS846aOjfrv2J-ylAhIcam72FXVe6OEXfcR2KaVuIRVkc0c/s640/DSC04368.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
So, with the Groupon we had about $78 we could put towards food. Delicious, delicious food. We started with two appetizers, their Spinach Artichoke Dip (I'm seriously a fiend for Spinach Artichoke Dip) and Steak Skewers. And they were a delicious prelude to the rest of our meal. The steak was super tender and flavorful and the dip actually had artichokes in it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbi0jnLmvV5caAN6WBey4tszLcA9NLEMboko25hZX_43Pw_pOykeUnSgAujl6a5y5OhMDJaYP9hgLHKS3hZ8hyynwDs7AcmhN-1rBupxMt552BT8kGS5tR-qfxDUydOucMhlTX4oCS8YD/s1600/DSC04369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbi0jnLmvV5caAN6WBey4tszLcA9NLEMboko25hZX_43Pw_pOykeUnSgAujl6a5y5OhMDJaYP9hgLHKS3hZ8hyynwDs7AcmhN-1rBupxMt552BT8kGS5tR-qfxDUydOucMhlTX4oCS8YD/s640/DSC04369.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1sNG0I6aGhZMwmO2lYyGA-_Ybxv7uCcueMbyCyblh2il0sVoLUBguTHbJ296gbb_tVojZdVvFx1yXtEXMMclEFLB6hCEVun0zlVzE2BRswTAez0o8xxn7a6dlpmPl1yv-8InBoKinOYq/s1600/DSC04370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1sNG0I6aGhZMwmO2lYyGA-_Ybxv7uCcueMbyCyblh2il0sVoLUBguTHbJ296gbb_tVojZdVvFx1yXtEXMMclEFLB6hCEVun0zlVzE2BRswTAez0o8xxn7a6dlpmPl1yv-8InBoKinOYq/s640/DSC04370.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOfA6e6QI9uOE85lqbjqseekvzuTFMwmi9Oz9nYPZFlXX4QlMya_plSYTWzJB-aP_zvnjAc40FpAJwmcja0u8LjJRbB5RoJRf79yAC7Z78VlqaoDQ5jetFicbBUWQW3eNwe8C37pXsQWZ/s1600/DSC04371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOfA6e6QI9uOE85lqbjqseekvzuTFMwmi9Oz9nYPZFlXX4QlMya_plSYTWzJB-aP_zvnjAc40FpAJwmcja0u8LjJRbB5RoJRf79yAC7Z78VlqaoDQ5jetFicbBUWQW3eNwe8C37pXsQWZ/s640/DSC04371.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Okay, I know the comment about being excited that artichokes are in a spinach artichoke dip, but I feel that a lot of restaurants seem to forget the artichoke part and make it mostly cheese and spinach. So dipping into it and finding gigantic chunks of artichokes was really fantastic.<br />
<br />
We then moved onto our main dish. Again, since we had a free money to spend, we actually both got the most expensive entrees on the menu. Oh, by the way, in case you are on a budget you can still go and enjoy this. The most expensive items were about $20 each, and most everything else on the menu was around $10. And the food you get for that price is definitely well worth it. So I got the steak dinner and my girlfriend got the salmon. I'll let the pictures speak for their deliciousness:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9rZNVLFAm6fhf0jI9PdsoBQgjdIqp8uIAOX1YebtC1V3hz4RQ1NoMWg8_EbGEQLgP0UMoSxgcJtUCpCpgH4uAlTZ3NnxxEoKTIRGuQeYHKEr4857IwmNrKkoBOIKZuBEcEeJjRuUjqsD/s1600/DSC04372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9rZNVLFAm6fhf0jI9PdsoBQgjdIqp8uIAOX1YebtC1V3hz4RQ1NoMWg8_EbGEQLgP0UMoSxgcJtUCpCpgH4uAlTZ3NnxxEoKTIRGuQeYHKEr4857IwmNrKkoBOIKZuBEcEeJjRuUjqsD/s640/DSC04372.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglq7ej-D52pgHOU7ufBQtFCShLRwUwyTTJPr7uYxpz8GfCLv6XqgHo1wyoWU0QZLWRtSvdVB0pWsAQogB4H5T9iFu1gWyREGO5Jhk3j6fSRxgPnPU12GfutKFu48W1nHqS_pawmxjw-2Zv/s1600/DSC04376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglq7ej-D52pgHOU7ufBQtFCShLRwUwyTTJPr7uYxpz8GfCLv6XqgHo1wyoWU0QZLWRtSvdVB0pWsAQogB4H5T9iFu1gWyREGO5Jhk3j6fSRxgPnPU12GfutKFu48W1nHqS_pawmxjw-2Zv/s640/DSC04376.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh yeah...just thinking about it again is making me salivate. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrC8SiX75MPi8bQrKGv5VUzM-YQjkwDJg5rUPOVZJZb-LvKYZGpScyws4nO31-W3PGTxJWAo_yyTPWQYO62W1edJDOjZAQzoxPw2quKdycikRSz4n-k-nlo-OVeuV0rii6VKDhPbVDbGUu/s1600/DSC04379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrC8SiX75MPi8bQrKGv5VUzM-YQjkwDJg5rUPOVZJZb-LvKYZGpScyws4nO31-W3PGTxJWAo_yyTPWQYO62W1edJDOjZAQzoxPw2quKdycikRSz4n-k-nlo-OVeuV0rii6VKDhPbVDbGUu/s640/DSC04379.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>We still had some money leftover, so it came time for dessert. The menu had some interesting articles on it, but the one that caught my eye was the Creme Brulee. I have had it before at a couple of local restaurants and always said it was one of my favorite desserts (next to chocolate mousse or apple pie). I thought that I liked Creme Brulee. Then they brought it out and I realized I had never actually had it before. Not like this...<br />
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</a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhII-BFvuA9RS90EdTbtIgYGDtpXl4ng2sEmRSI4c9ZHLPGpjn5y9izAHCDRDUgKHbhaNzpvTNBEVGm-h9F36PvOaeRCLa-s6mjaOXyCYfRvUqvXsnZ5IFl2ztTAN2HzG3x28lumd1hvjFR/s1600/DSC04393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhII-BFvuA9RS90EdTbtIgYGDtpXl4ng2sEmRSI4c9ZHLPGpjn5y9izAHCDRDUgKHbhaNzpvTNBEVGm-h9F36PvOaeRCLa-s6mjaOXyCYfRvUqvXsnZ5IFl2ztTAN2HzG3x28lumd1hvjFR/s640/DSC04393.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJeFTlNc7t1X2p5LolliZdDbD1yMyM5fH27MCGOvPwIVMqG6UJFO_HazLtu0FxBoWJCMmg9UHhwiytfcYplVyLxMaIfWAkxJH31j3Hs9Bf9_-AT-ZBAuUZKH5aF8J8g58ZAjqXL5XyI2pR/s1600/DSC04394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJeFTlNc7t1X2p5LolliZdDbD1yMyM5fH27MCGOvPwIVMqG6UJFO_HazLtu0FxBoWJCMmg9UHhwiytfcYplVyLxMaIfWAkxJH31j3Hs9Bf9_-AT-ZBAuUZKH5aF8J8g58ZAjqXL5XyI2pR/s640/DSC04394.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqx0Vbv7xK9jYpVXU-d5sDGZwrCP0nVMyPO-YM5EM9xBXK9aocY5n4KEt_C3aC7BJLMbvdxvHcUls1uCrG6_xCiPd0L4JmT21q-YdnGnKs7nN9G2J018Es8gnEy4tWX59AyadEsytRktR/s1600/DSC04391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqx0Vbv7xK9jYpVXU-d5sDGZwrCP0nVMyPO-YM5EM9xBXK9aocY5n4KEt_C3aC7BJLMbvdxvHcUls1uCrG6_xCiPd0L4JmT21q-YdnGnKs7nN9G2J018Es8gnEy4tWX59AyadEsytRktR/s640/DSC04391.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigV35K7foBcsluYmsc3X9iGFXHueTVk9E-Hfk4W0E4bpYNpo2owCdIf0MN5C_xkxbBMHB24-jiaZPxy0QWmcnWxay8BIXtKvuTXlfYQ1sJFi_bKj19VPlLF_AmN0la1hp25cwRzh3AbDO4/s1600/DSC04395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigV35K7foBcsluYmsc3X9iGFXHueTVk9E-Hfk4W0E4bpYNpo2owCdIf0MN5C_xkxbBMHB24-jiaZPxy0QWmcnWxay8BIXtKvuTXlfYQ1sJFi_bKj19VPlLF_AmN0la1hp25cwRzh3AbDO4/s640/DSC04395.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Amazing. Blissful. I am a writer who crafts and hones words to express myself and I ran out of adjectives to describe how good that damn thing was. <br />
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So the time came to go into the theater and see the Hunger Games. We got our free popcorn and candy (oh yeah, with the VIP tickets we got, you got free popcorn and candy) and headed over to the VIP section. And, since they serve alcohol, no one under 21 is allowed. Let me repeat that. <i>No one under 21 is allowed.</i> As a couple who are not burdened with children, I can safely say that the biggest annoyance that my girlfriend and I have when we go out is children. I get that you love them, and it's awesome that you have them. However, we did not have kids because...well, we don't want to be around them. And it would be nice to go out to places (especially as an adult outing) and not have to deal with kids. So it was fantastic knowing that in viewing this movie we would not have to deal with children or teenagers in our general vicinity.<br />
<br />
So we entered and saw the chairs...they are huge. Seriously, our seats were like a love-seat more then anything else.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZDUy92mZgQGliQ9TfO0_HbrlODsdfw0O5Lx-PZHeywCR8eevmedczVmRwO0ba5yM_eyRRA-RB60oGG8SzP5oxrAndB7daHYd-H_hGp7sg7f-I4V81v3Msv0e8lFoztQACq_LcZjxinZD/s1600/DSC04423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZDUy92mZgQGliQ9TfO0_HbrlODsdfw0O5Lx-PZHeywCR8eevmedczVmRwO0ba5yM_eyRRA-RB60oGG8SzP5oxrAndB7daHYd-H_hGp7sg7f-I4V81v3Msv0e8lFoztQACq_LcZjxinZD/s640/DSC04423.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw77-15QwbyIa_2_H65C2nhLKjTG_YBqU0LyH2ycyM74v7vLveSO-V6OUGjC9bv4Ta2qoZcYNVqqyGfU4anFOCul95xgAC5BovPaJDj2LdW2wdkslH8K8CyvpS3awkLnaGJ2BdxfKw7gOl/s1600/DSC04425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw77-15QwbyIa_2_H65C2nhLKjTG_YBqU0LyH2ycyM74v7vLveSO-V6OUGjC9bv4Ta2qoZcYNVqqyGfU4anFOCul95xgAC5BovPaJDj2LdW2wdkslH8K8CyvpS3awkLnaGJ2BdxfKw7gOl/s640/DSC04425.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was our view over the regular seats.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So we sat in our little balcony and got to view our movie in relative piece. We got to snuggle up just like it we were at home and enjoy a cinematic adventure in comfort. Now, the point I made at the beginning comes up here. If all theaters had this option, I would gladly pay the extra amount for this treatment. If I had the option to pay extra so that I could avoid children and have giant comfy chairs to lounge in and watch the movie, I would gladly do it.<br />
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This whole theater reminded me of the movie palaces of the 20's and 30's. It showed a celebration and made you feel like going out to the theater is an event. A special occasion that helps me stomach the high price you are charging me to attend. If more theaters used this model, I would bet that a lot of them would see a large increase in patronage. Or at least give us the option to go to showings where only people 21+ can attend...I can dream.<br />
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As for the movie itself? It was amazing. I would venture to say that it was probably one of the most faithful adaptations I have ever seen. Extraordinary care and attention to detail went into this movie and it showed. I'll agree with most reviews I've seen that my biggest complaint was all the shaky cam stuff. I've never been a big fan of it and it just gets distracting and annoying in my opinion. But even that wasn't too bad with the well-done writing and acting.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYWG0cwxkRa4M9g7r_QnQ5lICO9exDnFSsqJbhHsILFKmucZUGeVNiPj-jP2fYgkrDzTMJ9Va-a9eIeLPthMOO7Dcb4h8f17FWSOB8trsl2vSR1Ns1j_C14MLnKLyejexaiSWvJcEPN_N/s1600/hunger-games-movie-photo-jennifer-lawrence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYWG0cwxkRa4M9g7r_QnQ5lICO9exDnFSsqJbhHsILFKmucZUGeVNiPj-jP2fYgkrDzTMJ9Va-a9eIeLPthMOO7Dcb4h8f17FWSOB8trsl2vSR1Ns1j_C14MLnKLyejexaiSWvJcEPN_N/s640/hunger-games-movie-photo-jennifer-lawrence.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
So go see Hunger Games! Show Hollywood that characters like Katniss Everdeen are the kinds that we want to have as role-models and see in movies more, not like Bella. If Stephanie Meyer had written the Hunger Games, Katniss would have sat back and waited for Peeta or Gale to come rescue her. Until next time, may the odds be ever in your favor!<br />
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<!--more-->Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-16842227777644640622012-03-21T10:58:00.000-07:002012-03-21T10:58:01.176-07:00Emperor Mage<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> Today I thought I'd give you guys a little glimpse at the backstory of the first major villain of my world, Emperor Castor Broodan. I hope you all enjoy it and feel free to leave a comment if you'd like.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">As the trident stabbed out of his chest, gleaming with his own blood, Emperor Castor Broodan stared in shock and amazement. The last thought he had before the blackness of oblivion took him was a simple one. Words poured out of his mouth with a bubbling gush of blood, but in his mind the only thought was, 'I never thought it would come to this.' And in a bright flash, the eldritch and arcane energies that Broodan had so desperately tried to control imploded on himself, leaving only his clothing and naught else.</div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">---------------------------------------</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> “Broodan! Up early again, I see.” the old wizard cackled as he crossed the room to the small table where his breakfast sat. The young man sitting opposite him nodded, his face buried in the tome that lay before him. The old man, a powerful wizard of some renown named Balthorus Vermick, setaed himself and ate his breakfast of porridge. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> “You get to be my age, and you'll be less interested in those books and more in simple things...like a hot meal.” With a gesture from the wizard, the book flew off of the table and the boys breakfast took its place. “You need to eat, if you are going to continue as my apprentice, boy. You don't eat and you lose concentration when your stomach is grumbling at you to feed it.” Broodan glared up at Balthorus, and begrudgingly began eating his meal. After finishing the meal, Balthorus rose and said, “Today, we are going to take a walk, my lad. Come along.” With another arcane gesture, he summoned out of the aether a cloak, walking stick and hat. Broodan was forced to run to the closet and fetch his walking gear on foot. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> Broodan, a young boy of only twelve years of age, had shown great aptitude for magical learning even as a child. As time went on, his parents had finally agreed to let him leave the farm they lived on and seek an apprenticeship with Balthorus. After months of seeking, he had finally found the old mage living alone in the wilderness in a small hut. At first, Balthorus was reluctant to take on a new apprentice. He cited that his age wouldn't permit him to keep up with the youth and that the last apprentice he had taken on was such a great disappointment that he had vowed to never do it again.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> But Castor Broodan was not to be turned away lightly. He started by simply doing the chores around the house that Balthorus had been neglecting. He then started doing more complex chores that Balthorus simply didn't care to do. Finally, after a full year of this, Balthorus one day handed him a book filled with arcane runes and pictures detailing hand gestures. Thus began the apprenticeship of Broodan.</div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">---------------------------------------</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> However, the young man found himself at an impasse. Today, for instance, was wasted out taking a walk. The old man would prattle on about nature and the balance of things when he really should have been inside teaching him about things in the book! Four years of studying under the old man and he was getting tired of listening to his cautionary warnings and constant habit of slowing him down. Broodan, at heart, had a fondness for Balthorus. Despite that, however, he did resent the wizard for not teaching him more powerful spells and incantations.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> “Are you listening, Castor? This is important, you know.” Balthorus' voice broke in on Broodan's internal musings. “Of course, master. I was simply thinking about a theorem I read about...” The wizard cut the young man off with a sharp gesture and said, “Theorems and studies...bah! Nature can teach you everything you need to know about magic if you will simply pay attention.” </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> Balthorus gestured to the forest around them and said, “The trees can teach you everything there is you'll need to know about magic, boy. Just look at them. They are tall and mighty. More powerful then you or I are right now. They live for ages and ages unless someone destroys them.” He rested an old, gnarled hand upon the bark of the nearest oak and sighed. “They are immortal and yet do nothing with that power. They are content in simply being. That is the lesson for today.”</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> Balthorus pointed to a small stump next to the large oak and said, “You will seat yourself here on that stump. You will not move or even speak for the rest of the week.” As usual, the mages lessons were rarely explained. To some, they even seemed to be the whims of an elderly mind losing what little grip it had on reality. Castor was not one of those fools. Everything had a purpose, a hidden lesson if you had the intelligence to learn it. This, however, was not an ideal situation. “Master, I do not wish to go against your teaching. If I am to seat myself there for a full week, what will I eat or drink? What if a dangerous animal attacks me?”</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> Balthorus grinned. “Do trees worry about such things? For food and drink, rain falls and the sun shines. As for dangerous animals...well, what does a tree have to fear from them?” Broodan nodded. He knew that arguing with his master would simply cause the old man to leave and not continue his apprenticeship. So he seated himself down on the stump and Balthorus grinned. “Good lad. I shall return in a week. Remember...think as the trees!” And with that last comment, the wizard disappeared in a small flash of light.</div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">--------------------------------------</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> Two days later, cold and wet from the rain, Broodan sat on his stump. It had taken two days, but he was finally starting to reach the end of his patience. 'This is stupid. I should be researching and studying. I'm a wizard, not a druid, damn it!' he thought as he grumbled under his breath. All he had done was sit and think to himself for the past two days. Nothing had happened, and certainly no enlightenment from the “trees” had arrived. No, it simply had started raining.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> A rustling from the underbrush across the clearing from where he sat caught Broodan's interest. Bracing himself for some squirrel or other inoffensive woodland creature to appear, he was rather shocked to see a large wolf come stalking out towards him. Broodan felt a swift pang of panic and terror as the wolf locked eyes with him. All he could think was, 'Think like a tree...think like a tree...dear Mithrious, I'm going to die because my master went insane.'</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> However, the wolf simply walked over to him and sat down before him. The wolf stared at the boy for what seemed like an eternity before it let out a sound that almost sounded like a chuckle. Broodan raised an eyebrow and was about to question that when the wolf said, “So...the tree exercise. I remember that one. Pretty pointless, if you ask me. People rarely do.”. The wolf dipped his head down and in a swirl he transformed into a lean man dressed in muted greens and brown clothing. “So, Balthorus took on a new apprentice, I see. I seem to remember he told me he wouldn't bother after me.”</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> Broodan's shock finally wore off and he managed to stutter out, “You...you are the old apprentice?” The man nodded and said, “You know, you can get off the stump. It's not like he's going to know. I simply went over to the next town for a week and made sure to be back before he returned. You just need to be able to say something profound about sitting still and observing nature and the natural world, and he thinks you have learned your lesson. My name is Mentir Calshim, by the way.”</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> Broodan frowned and said, “He said that he saw through you and threw you out. You were too ambitious and greedy.” Mentir chuckled and said, “He likes to cloak his words in various feel-good and positive terms that paint him in a proper light. Suffice it to say that I simply had a hunger for knowledge that he was too old to keep up with. And I get the feeling, from the expression I saw on your face before I showed up, that you feel the same way.”</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> Mentir gestured and summoned up a horse. “If you ever get tired of his ponderous methods, why not come find me? I'd be more happy to show you a much faster and reliable path to power.” With that, he mounted the horse and rode away. Broodan's frown increased at the departure of the failed apprentice. His mastery of magic though could not be denied and he could not lie to himself that he did indeed chafe under the teaching methods of Balthorus. However, the honor and prestige of being trained by a well-known master of the arcane arts had great benefits that outweighed the annoyance.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> But as he sat on the stump, he felt the resurgence of annoyance rising up after a few hours. The thought of staying here for another five days was enough to drive him mad. Looking about, he stood up slowly and took a step away from the stump. Nothing happened. He took another step, almost expecting Balthorus to burst out and catch him. But nothing happened...nothing at all. As he left the clearing and made his way towards town, he didn't notice Mentir standing behind a nearby tree quietly laughing to himself before disappearing.</div>Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-36369260747492625012012-03-19T09:10:00.000-07:002012-03-19T09:10:42.016-07:00The Kobold ExpeditionAlright folks. I have a Monday morning treat for you! I have taken the first part of my campaign arc "Rise of the Dragon Kings" and turned it into a PDF for your downloading enjoyment.<br />
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Now, this is only the first part of the first adventure. It just serves as a jumping point for the rest of the campaign and I hope you will all find it enjoyable. Again, not that I get much, any and all constructive criticism is welcome and appreciated.<br />
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Now, as with most things pertaining to my world and game, please keep in mind that everything is in Alpha right now. This adventure was play tested by my table-top group and it seemed to go over well. The adventure is intended for a level 2 party and uses the Pathfinder rule-set, so keep that in mind as well.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?i76s77rzcod598e" target="_blank">The Kobold Expedition - Level 2</a>Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-27507135074486819332012-03-16T12:15:00.000-07:002012-03-16T12:15:39.841-07:00Baldur's Gate, Getting Hit by a Car and My Childhood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5NHSWbkFLr9eyUa6rUFQS_Wf_HpYaRDSzznKJWTHhYW51ZgCCMctnPIEqKzUtKAZszEMM7M3UQ-5dABQv5qbdYsuZNgIAY6zlWj3fjlKUF2oaYRDrIyD9yzzc446I6y4JCLyMxKNbZIO/s1600/header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5NHSWbkFLr9eyUa6rUFQS_Wf_HpYaRDSzznKJWTHhYW51ZgCCMctnPIEqKzUtKAZszEMM7M3UQ-5dABQv5qbdYsuZNgIAY6zlWj3fjlKUF2oaYRDrIyD9yzzc446I6y4JCLyMxKNbZIO/s640/header.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Yesterday, some interesting things happened. The main one being the announcement of a Enhanced edition of Baldur's Gate I and II by a company called Overhaul Games. I'm not going to go too much into what my thoughts are about the enhanced version today because today I just want to wax nostalgic about Baldur's Gate and how important it was to me in my formative years. Oh yeah, and I got hit by a car while I was taking a walk.<br />
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Don't worry, it'll all tie together after the jump.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
So up until yesterday, the website at the <a href="http://www.baldursgate.com/" target="_blank">Baldur's Gate</a> website showed the iconic skull and a collage of various PC and NPC portraits as the background. Then about the beginning of the week, I believe, a timer appeared on the bottom of the screen. It was counting down...to what, we knew not. We simply hoped and prayed for awesome.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cv5dFB4vUdKggWFKNRZoWfcNWw3kQEIiXEyEBdkL4kKYRue2R66HtlHi9HGt9j4jV0L4594lYni9iA-uwEjBmUJPM-IUv0wp1420s6XDNiwVgVTvn8JGAhP9wqN6SRu84fb9y9FllStL/s1600/awesome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cv5dFB4vUdKggWFKNRZoWfcNWw3kQEIiXEyEBdkL4kKYRue2R66HtlHi9HGt9j4jV0L4594lYni9iA-uwEjBmUJPM-IUv0wp1420s6XDNiwVgVTvn8JGAhP9wqN6SRu84fb9y9FllStL/s1600/awesome.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how I pictured the awesome looking.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>And so I sat and waited. For two days, I left my web browser open to that website watching the timer tick its way down. I awoke Thursday morning like it was Christmas...I ran down and saw the timer ticked away at 5 hours to go. Five hours! As I sat, playing Kings Quest II (Yeah, that's right. I rock the old Sierra Point-and-Clicks.) I remembered that I needed to go on a quest. An epic quest of getting a money order!<br />
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Now, I had taken my car in that morning to get worked on, so I was going to have to walk. I don't like walking. In fact, it is pretty high up on my list of things that I would rather not do for extended periods of time (I have a weird hiking clause in that though...huh). So, since I'm going to have to go on a walk, it's time to play my Ipod and go forth to the Albertson's that is like four or so blocks from my apartment. All I can think as I'm walking is that I need to get there and back as quickly as possible because by this time it was around 10:45 or so and I didn't want to miss sitting at my computer at noon for the grand unveiling!<br />
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So I get to a four-way intersection, my goal in sight a block or two away. I patiently wait for the lights to change, the little box across the way flashes green and shows me the little symbol for "Walk, dummy." I take a step off of the curb and...well, a little old lady decides to take a right turn. RIGHT INTO ME.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPPbb0IFesylXFVI2d-aNm6FSsqNZ5wLi7Qtdi2_4NjisaL1QP3PdyJdUDCbjtMAuYbLi5vfuJyCSFOiZtDAoBDxcSDC3uUio7DZT2lCwrS1ahUs2aldI_dB4reulJ5WRrLmMsK5Nyrbg/s1600/Old-Lady.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPPbb0IFesylXFVI2d-aNm6FSsqNZ5wLi7Qtdi2_4NjisaL1QP3PdyJdUDCbjtMAuYbLi5vfuJyCSFOiZtDAoBDxcSDC3uUio7DZT2lCwrS1ahUs2aldI_dB4reulJ5WRrLmMsK5Nyrbg/s1600/Old-Lady.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, she's going to stop...right? Right? Oh shiiiiiiiii...*thump*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>All of a sudden, I find myself at a key decision making instant. I could either do nothing and let her car go over me (GAME OVER) or I could do something. What that something was turned out to be jumping up onto the hood of her car and hanging on for dear life. And she still didn't stop. Seriously, I had to look up and make eye contact before she finally slowed down enough that I could roll off of her hood and manage to somehow stay on my feet.<br />
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To be fair, she was very nice about it. She did stop and apologize and ask if I was okay. Personally, I just couldn't stop laughing at the time because I thought it was hilarious for two reasons.<br />
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1). I just was hit by a car and walked away from it. I AM UNTO A GOD!<br />
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2). Thank Shiva that I wasn't seriously injured so I can still make it home in time to watch the end of the countdown on the Baldur's Gate website.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4syMBfKhjnVob4poXvaMliQuRRryr5-1f-UKk_1XPS5iVdA1knXiNV1gjHJ4DcVqxiG46MSyxJOGctMC9I17fm1_vkyIuB1WxvK6QnlGfg7iSKPRRGtbgOrWt68QI01BPbaVowC971i1/s1600/priorities.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4syMBfKhjnVob4poXvaMliQuRRryr5-1f-UKk_1XPS5iVdA1knXiNV1gjHJ4DcVqxiG46MSyxJOGctMC9I17fm1_vkyIuB1WxvK6QnlGfg7iSKPRRGtbgOrWt68QI01BPbaVowC971i1/s1600/priorities.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I has them.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So I did manage to make it back home in time to see the timer finally tick down to 0. Here it comes! The reckoning! The quickening! Whatever glorious revelation that the website is wishing to impart to me is finally nigh!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXp6iraURnzavi7p-Xh3Wzcv_YTBMQctb735U29ejFTShHLFunjkMtIkcW4ksbF-ysmAIJkCqO9aAWboYIEIcGPJHkJWSNf-sZ2_0rQYLgDiCgyCbe1iQ46ZuW7nu7wm80wtHHzKgzs4_/s1600/unable-to-connect-500x225.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXp6iraURnzavi7p-Xh3Wzcv_YTBMQctb735U29ejFTShHLFunjkMtIkcW4ksbF-ysmAIJkCqO9aAWboYIEIcGPJHkJWSNf-sZ2_0rQYLgDiCgyCbe1iQ46ZuW7nu7wm80wtHHzKgzs4_/s1600/unable-to-connect-500x225.png" /></a></div>...<br />
...<br />
...<br />
...<br />
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Okay, I know I should have been expecting that the countless other nerds like myself who were waiting with baited breath would crash the website. But...but...<br />
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Luckily, someone over at <a href="http://www.dndonlinegames.com/" target="_blank">DnD Online Games</a> was able to see it and posted up the short comic that beamdog had up on their website <a href="http://www.beamdog.com/files/newsletters/BGEE/bgannounce.jpg" target="_blank">here.</a><br />
<br />
Phew...okay. Now, you may be wondering why I care so much about Baldur's Gate? It's an older game that came out back in 1998 for Windows 95. But, back then I didn't have much access to Dungeons and Dragons material. I had a vague concept that there were games like that you could play, and had dabbled in board games that kind of replicated the feel of DnD, but had yet to taste the sweet fruit of role-playing.<br />
<br />
I loved fantasy stuff though. Recently, as I was watching "The Sword and the Sorcerer", my girlfriend asked me where I found this stuff. By "this stuff" she meant fantasy movies. I replied that I remember watching them when I was a kid. I remember being fascinated by the cover of the VHS case (Oh yeah...remember those?) and wanting to see the movies play out. It was one of those things that also developed from my love of reading. Any book with dragons on the cover was kick-ass by my standards. I adored fantasy literature and read it like crazy.<br />
<br />
And one day, I can't even remember how or why, but my brother and I acquired a copy of Baldur's Gate. AND IT WAS GLORIOUS! Seriously, we had so much fun with that game. We would create characters and parties and wander around the Sword Coast looking for adventure. We had no idea what we were doing and made horrible stupid class choices. But we didn't care because it was awesome.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cv5dFB4vUdKggWFKNRZoWfcNWw3kQEIiXEyEBdkL4kKYRue2R66HtlHi9HGt9j4jV0L4594lYni9iA-uwEjBmUJPM-IUv0wp1420s6XDNiwVgVTvn8JGAhP9wqN6SRu84fb9y9FllStL/s1600/awesome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cv5dFB4vUdKggWFKNRZoWfcNWw3kQEIiXEyEBdkL4kKYRue2R66HtlHi9HGt9j4jV0L4594lYni9iA-uwEjBmUJPM-IUv0wp1420s6XDNiwVgVTvn8JGAhP9wqN6SRu84fb9y9FllStL/s1600/awesome.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BOOM.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Yeah, the graphics haven't exactly aged well...but at the time, they impressed us. We just enjoyed playing it too much to care that the camera angle was kind of annoying at times. And my brother and I played the hell out of that game and somehow still never managed to actually progress in the main storyline past getting to Candlekeep and meeting up with Khalid and Jaheira. I can't actually tell you why we never progressed in the main story...possibly because we just got too wrapped up in exploring all the various areas and talking with various NPC's.<br />
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So there you have it. Baldur's Gate is returning and honestly, I'm not too upset about that. It looks like they will be keeping as true to the original as possible and hopefully it will be just as awesome as the original. See you next week folks!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-20800043724532111732012-03-14T10:59:00.000-07:002012-03-14T10:59:09.748-07:00And now for something completely different<div style="font-family: inherit;"> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today I'm going to give you guys a glimpse into a story I started. This was written years ago, and it was mostly to serve as a background for Mantarok as a character in my table-top DnD game. Then I kind of shelved it and created other characters I wanted to expand on. The problem now is that almost all of those people are NPC's in my home-brew world and all current stories that I write take place in that world. The next couple of entries you should consider as stand alone little tales. I may incorporate them into actual canonical stories eventually, but for now just enjoy the story as-is.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="CENTER" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Chapter One</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">The leaves in the bush shuddered.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mantarok's eyes narrowed as he continued to wait, a drop of sweat slowly etching a trail across the dust on his forehead. The leaves continued to shift, branches rubbing against each other and against the hide of whatever creature lay waiting. Mantarok stared at the ground in front of him, his grip tightening on the handle of his hoe as he tried to not let the panic welling in his heart consume him.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Suddenly, in an explosion of leaves and furs, a small creature leaped forward from the bushes. Its body was short and squat, with dark brownish skin. Its head looked almost human, but the skull was obviously thicker with an elongated forehead. Its eyes came close together and were completely black. Mouth curled in a snarl and with a small dagger in its hands, it charged at Mantarok with a shrill war-cry. Mantarok, not unprepared, is quick to draw his sword, moving forward and swinging at the fast moving creature. It ducked under his attack and responded in like manner, swiftly trying to slide it's small dagger up into the larger man's stomach. Mantarok turned and tried to avoid getting stabbed by the creature. Unfortunately, he is unable to move fast enough and can feel the knife point stab into his belly. A sickening feeling ripped through his body as the creature removed its knife and Mantarok fell to his knees from the pain.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Holding his hands against his wound, he could feel his blood seeping out and dripping to the ground. The creature, a gloating look to its face, raised its dagger and let out a triumphant laugh. Mantarok was surprised to suddenly see an arrow appear almost as if by magic in the creatures throat. The laugh ended abruptly with a burbling gurgle as the creature fell dead to the ground. The last thing Mantarok remembered before the darkness enshrouded him was a man looking down at him and yelling for him to hold on.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">-----------------------------------------------</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Mantarok awoke with a start. He tries to sit up, and feels a sharp pain in his side. Looking down, he was startled to see a large bandage wrapped around his midsection. The surprise subsided quickly, however, when he remembered what brought him here. It was at this point that he noticed that he didn't know where he was. Looking around, he quickly came to the conclusion that it was the home of a woodsman. The whole thing had a quickly put together feel to it, from the dirt floor to the uneven wood that made up the walls. Various animal furs were stretched out on the walls, and assorted herbs and plants hung from the ceiling. The furniture was made out of wood and hides, including the bed he was lying on. Feeling the pain in his stomach growing, he fell back gently onto the bed and stared at the ceiling above him.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">With a creak, the door to the house opened. Blinded by the the light outside compared to the relative dimness of the windowless room, he raised a hand to shield his eyes. The shadowy form entered the room and closed the door. Mantaroks eyes adjusted and he saw a slender man with long blonde hair and a large bow strapped to his back. The man approached him and said, "Glad to see you up and about! I almost thought you wouldn't make it.". Mantarok nodded weakly and attempted to get up again, only to collapse back under the pain. The man shook his head and put a hand on Mantaroks shoulder, "You should continue to rest, good sir. You aren't out of danger yet. My name is Omaren, and you are safe. Sleep for now, I'll wake you when your medicine is ready." Mantaroks mind slowly drifted back into sleep, only momentarily registering that Omaren was an elven name before he fell back into sleep.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> He awoke again to Omaren gently shaking his shoulder. Groggily, Mantarok opened his eyes and Omaren smiled. He offered a small, steaming bowl to the man, saying "I'm sorry to bother you, but you need to drink this. It will help with the pain and give you some strength back." Mantarok nodded weakly again and took the bowl from him. He delicately held it to his lips and sipped at the hot broth. The taste was awful, but Mantarok wasn't in any position to complain. As he sat up to sip at the medicine, Omaren took that time to pull the redress the wound. Pulling the bandages off, Mantarok was annoyed to find a number of small herbs stuffed against the wound. 'Not much of a woodsman if he can't even clean a simple wound off before bandaging...' Mantarok thought as he glared at the bottom of the bowl, trying to keep his anger in check.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Whether or not he noticed Mantaroks reaction, Omaren didn't show. He simply removed the leaves and placed some fresh ones, talking as he placed fresh bandages over it, "These herbs will help stop the bleeding, and they will also provide some slight dulling to the pain.". Mantarok regretted his earlier assumption, and simply finished off the medicine. As he finished off the last bit, he had to admit that he certainly did feel much more awake then earlier and he also felt less of a pain in his middle. He finally found his voice and managed to get out, "Thank you very much for saving me. My name is Mantarok, and I'm just a simple farmer out here with my family. I'm sure they are very worried for me...how long have I been asleep?"</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Omaren smiled and said, "Don't worry, my friend. I informed your family after I brought you here and stabilized you. You have been out for several days now though." Mantarok nodded at the answer and sat quietly for a moment before finally asking in a timid voice, "So...your name is an elf name. Are you an elf?" Omaren laughed and said, "Yes, I am, my friend. I am far from my home, but I prefer a solitary life over one lived in cities...even if those cities are in the trees." Mantarok nodded, again sitting in silence before asking the next question that burned in his mind, "What was that...that creature that attacked me?"</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Omaren's face clouded and his eyes sank into darkness. "That was a goblin. You were very lucky as they normally attack in packs. This one however was alone." Mantarok smiled and said, "Guess there isn't much to worry about if there is only one." Omaren shook his head, "No...one all alone this far from the heart of the forest is not a good sign, Mantarok. If one is wandering alone, that must mean that they are either looking to expand their boundaries again, or it was a scout that will have friends not far behind." Mantarok's eyes went wide in surprise and quickly asked, "You mean there is more than one of those things? I've never seen anything like it! I've never even heard of anything like it." Omaren raised an eyebrow, "Time passes much faster for your people, but many lifetimes indeed have gone by if goblins and orcs are no longer remembered by mankind."</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mantarok felt a knot tightening in his stomach, which did not feel pleasant when mixed with his already pained midsection. "Orcs? Goblins? Those are creatures from fairy tales that my mother would tell me to keep me in line. I thought they were all killed off in the last great war, when mankind united with the elves and dwarves." Omaren shrugged, "That was centuries ago. The dark wizards who created such beastmen have not been asleep all this time doing nothing. Yes, you speak true of our achievements in the great war, but we were unable to kill all of the people involved with the creation of such beasts. And even if we had killed them all, the art had been discovered once and would be discovered again in a matter of time. There will always be people who want to destroy and control the lives of others."</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mantaroks head was swimming with all this information. Trying to wrap his mind around it was very difficult, but he felt comfortable enough to venture a question. "So this goblin means that some dark wizard is creating goblins again?" Omaren laughed and shook his head, "Dear me no. We were able to accomplish a great many things in that war, but wiping out an entire species was well beyond our abilities. While they are naturally violent and chaotic, they still were victims and not guilty of anything other than being used by very evil men. We let them go free and they built communities in either the deep places of the earth or the dark places of the forests. A few had even built great cities and built up civilizations...though they eventually crumbled under their own violence. Though the orc empire to the south still stands." Mantarok stammered out, "Orc empire! That's impossible, how can I have never heard of such a thing?"</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Omaren shook his head, "You are but a poor farmer, you can't possibly think yourself to know everything about your world. How far south have you been in your life?" Mantarok's face flushed red and he angrily replied, "I've been as far south as Barton Keep!" Mantarok pauses then added, "That's as far south as you can get. The only thing further south than that is the sea." Omaren nodded in agreement then added, "Correct. But what is past the sea?" Mantarok raised an eyebrow in confusion and said, "What do you mean? The sea is the sea...there is nothing past it." Omaren grinned and said, "No, that's not true. Past the south sea is another continent. The continent of the Dragul. The Empire of Dragul is the orc empire. In that place, elves are but a whispered legend and humans and dwarves toil endlessly to create elaborate palaces for their dark masters." Mantarok's head was beginning to swim and he cried out with a chuckle, "Stop, stop! This is too much for a simple farmer, Omaren." Omaren nodded and said, "I agree, my friend. I have kept you up much longer than I anticipated. You will be safe here for now, so rest. I must go search for some answers to the questions that your attacker has presented to us." With that, Mantarok lay back down on the bed and fell into a restless sleep, plagued by goblins, orcs and ogres.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">-----------------------------------------------</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> "Wake up, Mantarok! Hurry!" Mantarok's eyes snapped open to an unexpected sight. Omaren was gathering supplies into a pack, his hair streaked with mud and leaves. "Quickly, get dressed and drink this vial of medicine." Omaren said over his shoulder, indicating a small vial filled with crystal blue liquid on the table. "I don't know if the orcs followed me here, but there is much worse in my woods right now. You were half right, my friend...there is a new dark wizard." he continued to talk as Mantarok quickly pulled his pants on and struggled with his shirt. He finally got it on and moved to the table. Omaren cautioned him as he pulled a few quivers of arrows off the wall, "Hurry up, we don't have much time." Mantarok looked in the vial at the crystal blue liquid. "What is this stuff?" he asked as he quickly drank it down. Omaren answered, "A friend of mine in the church made it for me, and I never had a need before now. Don't worry I have several. Go ahead and remove the bandage, you won't need it anymore."</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <br />
Mantarok raised an eyebrow and said, "I feel a lot better, but I think..." Omaren quickly interrupted him, "I don't have time to argue! Do as I say or the undead will be upon us!" Mantarok's eyes swam at the word 'undead', but he was quick to comply to his friends orders. He stripped off the bandages, amazed to find that the wound that had been so grievous an hour ago was completely healed over. "H-h-how could that heal so fast?" he stammered out as Omaren shoved a light mace into his hands. "I don't have time to explain everything to you, Mantarok! Can you use this?" he asked, exasperation telling on his voice. Mantarok numbly nodded a yes and Omaren said, "Good. Hopefully you won't need to, but if we get separated it would be best if you can defend yourself. But don't try to fight these things. Just run, okay?" Mantarok again nodded dumbly.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Omaren nodded back and said, "Good. Now, be careful...we'll go slow at first and try to sneak our way out. But if they find us, we are due east of your home. Run there, get your family and run to the nearest town." He firmly grasped Mantarok's shoulders and said in a serious tone, "If I don't make it, you must. Someone must warn King Barnet of this danger. I will try to draw the creatures away, so that you'll have a chance. Remember, due east." and with that he disappeared into the underbrush with Mantarok following close behind. The next few hours were tense and quiet. Their progress through the woods was slow and laborious, but they made good distance between the house and themselves. Several times Omaren would stop Mantarok with a gesture and Mantarok would crouch in terror as several creatures born of nightmare walked past them. Shuffling corpses brought to unholy life and clattering skeletons were wandering the woods in some macabre horror show.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">As they got closer to areas that Mantarok knew, a smell of smoke began to filter through the air and a crackling noise began to become audible. As they came into the clearing where Mantarok's house was, the cause of the fire became evident. The house was a burning pyre, with several mutilated bodies scattered outside of it. Mantarok felt his stomach drop as he ran forward, ignoring Omarens cries of caution. He knelt beside the dead body of his mother and looking out he recognized the bodies of his father and sister. Sorrow swelled in his breast, and hot tears streamed down his face as he numbly held his mothers dead body to himself. Unable to think, unable to even feel; he didn't notice the dead corpse that was shuffling towards him until Omaren shot it and it let out a groan of pain.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Scrambling away from it on his hands and knees, Mantarok realized with horror that it was the dead body of his grandfather that had been buried in a small grave nearby. With growing dread, he saw another corpse come shambling from around the house as his grandmother as well. A new noise began, and the dead bodies of his family slowly began to come to life. Mantarok stood on the brink of insanity, his mind refusing to accept what he was witnessing. His mind raced for an explanation...anything to bring some semblance of reason to the situation, but he was unable to. Omaren, seeing the young mans plight, quickly grabbed him and said, "They aren't your family anymore, we have to escape!" as he took Mantarok's hand and dragged him away towards the small road that led out of the woods. Mantarok sobbed and tried to keep up, but his mind was slowly shutting down as it tried to deny what it had just witnessed. Omaren tried to speed up, but Mantarok was slowly falling behind. Finally, Omaren stopped and slapped him hard across the face. "Snap out of it! We need to hurry to the King or this fate will befall every man in this world! Come on Mantarok, you are made of sterner stuff than this."</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mantarok blinked, the shock slowly bringing him back to his right mind. "O-o-okay. I...I just can't believe it. It's too horrible, I can't accept this!" he sobbed to himself as Omaren slapped him again. "Pull yourself together, Mantarok. We'll be okay, just calm down." Mantarok took a deep breath and slowly started to calm himself down. Omaren nodded gravely and said, "There will be a time for mourning your loss, but now is not that time. You must be brave and you must carry on, so that we can reach that time. We must warn people, and we must do it now." Mantarok nodded numbly. Omaren began running again, but this time Mantarok stopped him. "Wait! We have to go back." Omaren stared in shock at the man and said, "You must have lost your mind, the undead is back there!"</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mantarok shook his head. "Yes, but the barn wasn't on fire. We have horses in the barn and we can use them to get away. Those..." his voice choked for a moment then he continued, "Those things can't move very fast, we'll easily out distance them on horseback." Omaren stared for a moment and finally nodded. "You are right. But there is no need for you to relive that horror. I'll go alone and get the horses and bring them back here. You just stay hidden and safe next to the road here." Mantarok nodded again and climbed a nearby tree. Mantarok called down to Omaren, "Be careful." The elf grinned and disappeared into the woods.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">-----------------------------------------------</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Time passed, and Mantarok began to feel uncomfortable in the tree's branches. Worry welled in his chest and he felt madness still grasping at the edges of his mind. But he bravely shoved those feelings aside and waited. A few undead creatures wandered underneath his hiding place, but none noticed him. Just as he was about to jump down to search for Omaren, he heard the sound of approaching hooves. Down the road, he saw a saddled horse slowly approaching. His heart dropped when he saw that it was alone and riderless. 'Omaren...' he thought as the horse slowly came to a stop underneath the tree. It pawed at the ground and whinnied up at Mantarok. Mantarok swiftly dropped down and into the horses saddle. Tears ran down his face as he grabbed the horses bridle and gave it the signal to run. As the horse galloped down the road towards town, he closed his eyes and held tightly to the horses neck. Whispering to the rapidly diminishing woods, "Thank you Omaren. I won't forget your sacrifice. I will warn the king and be brave."</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The horse thundered down the road.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"> </div><div align="CENTER" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chapter Two</span></div><div align="CENTER" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div align="CENTER" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">The night was ominous.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Though in fairness, all nights had become filled with terrifying images to Mantarok. The man had ridden for several days before he arrived at the closest small town. Unfortunately, already the undead menace had begun to spread there, and the town as embroiled in turmoil. Mantarok felt it better to avoid it altogether and had ridden his horse around the outskirts of the town. The next town hadn't been affected yet, but they had scoffed at Mantaroks warning. 'Who could blame them?' Mantarok bitterly thought as he sat staring at small fire he had made.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> He had ridden into town in a daze, babbling about skeletons walking and corpses alive again and killing people. He was sure that the monsters had likely caught up with that town by now. He seemed to be riding at the edge of a storm, proceeding it by scant few days. At first he hadn't bothered to stop at night, but after the last time he had fallen asleep on his horses back and almost fell off he had decided it would be prudent to stop at night.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> He poked at the fire, wishing he was back home. His heart ached with pain at the thought of his family lying dead. Then it sank quickly into his stomach as he realized they most likely weren't lying dead anywhere, but were shambling about killing any they came across. He sighed and threw his stick into the fire. "Damn whoever caused this plague. And damned if I couldn't have been taken by it." he bitterly whispered to the fire. It hissed and popped in response, the light flickering softly against the trees.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Mantarok's eyes began to slide shut, the day catching up and exhaustion setting in. Almost before sleep took him, he suddenly felt a sharp point in his back and a gravelly voice saying, "Move and I'll kill you." Snapping back into alertness, he follows the mans directions and stays perfectly still. The voice, keeping the knife point sharp in Mantaroks lower back asked, "Who are you and what brings you to my woods?".</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Mantarok stammered out, "My name is Mantarok. I'm a simple farmer attempting to escape from the horrors of the northern plague. I'm trying to reach the king and warn him of what happened." There was an uncomfortable silence and Mantarok could feel the knife point dig a little deeper into his back before falling away. Mantarok crawled quickly away from his attacker, moving to put the fire between himself and the unknown.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Out of the shadows, stepped the most heavily armed man Mantarok had ever seen. His clothing was a blend of browns and greens, with a heavy hooded cloak covering his head. His eyes were a piercing blue, but his lower face was masked by a green wrap pulled up over his nose. His hair was a dark brown, and his skin was fairly pale. But what caught Mantaroks attention was the veritable arsenal of weapons at the mans waist. Several daggers adorned his belt, along with a morningstar and a bastard sword. Across his back was a large composite longbow with several quivers of arrows with differently coloured fletching.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> He looked at Mantarok with an glance that indicated that he could kill the man at any point, so Mantarok decided to stay where he was and asked, "And who are you to attack innocent travellers this close to the king's city?" The man chuckled, a dry, raspy noise, and said "I am Allen, and I live in these woods. Whether the king attempts to lay claim to them or not doesn't matter to me." He sat down next to the fire, "You would do well to remember that the laws of the king doesn't apply to everyone. Especially those that wish to not be found."</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Mantarok nodded quietly and waited for Allen to say something else. After a moment of time of silence, Allen asked, "So you flee from the undead from the north? I'm surprised a simple farmer such as you claim to be could survive for very long." Mantarok grimaced, "I had help from a very good friend. An elven ranger named Omaren..." Allen raised an eyebrow at the name and interrupted him. "Omaren? I've heard of him. One of the better rangers to the north. I'm surprised you took up with him. Most of your kind don't like us rangers." Mantarok shrugged, "Yes, I admit most of the people in the village nearby did not like the rangers. My family owned a small farm on the edge of the forest, so we knew the dangers that you rangers keep us safe from."</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Allen again raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "Interesting, Mantarok. You continue to surprise me. Well, so old Omaren helped you out of the undead. Where is he then? I imagine if he was still with you I wouldn't have gotten anywhere near you before running into him." Mantarok sighed, "Yes, I'm afraid I don't know what happened. He went back to get horses for us to escape on, but never returned." Allen shrugged and pulled a pipe out of his pack. Stamping the tobacco into the bowl, he lit it and slid the mouthpiece under the scarf. Puffing lightly on it, he sat looking thoughtfully at the fire. Muttering around the pipe, his voice had an edge to it, "Very unfortunate for us to have lost Omaren when we need him most. But we'll have to make do, I suppose."</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Allen settled in to smoke his pipe and Mantarok watched him with curiosity. Allen was certainly a puzzle and finally he decided to ask the biggest question that had been bothering him. "Excuse me, I don't mean to be rude..." Allen looked up at Mantarok and waited. Mantarok paused slightly, "Well, why are you wearing that scarf over your lower face? It's not really that cold of a night, so it is rather unusual." Briefly, a rage flitted across Allens face and Mantarok felt a chill of fear. But the shadow of anger passed quickly and Allens eyes smiled as he said, "It serves many functions, the least of which is keeping my face warm and my mouth protected from dust. Mostly it helps keep me hidden in the shadows." Mantarok nodded, content with the answer and certainly not willing to bring back the anger that Allen had first exhibited at the question.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> They continued to talk for a while and Mantarok learned quickly to avoid asking any personal questions of Allen. The man either didn't answer them, or simply ignored them and changed the topic of conversation to something else. At first, Mantarok had been frustrated by the mans reticence, but eventually he reasoned that Allen was entitled to his secrets just as any other man is. It just seemed that Allen had an unusual amount of secrets he wished to keep. Finally though, Mantarok drifted to sleep with Allen assuring him that he would keep an eye on him through the night.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Mantarok awoke in the morning surprised to find that Allen was nowhere to be seen. With a dejected sigh, Mantarok went about setting up his breakfast. He had privately wished that the resourceful ranger had stuck around long enough for Mantarok to ask him to go along to the capital. 'Oh well.' he thought as he finished packing up his camp and saddling up his horse. Swinging lightly up into the saddle, he called out, "Thank you Allen. I wish you the best, but I think you should get the away from here before the undead arrive."</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Mantarok rode quickly down the road, and soon broke from the forest and found himself looking over miles of farmland. In the faint distance, built into the craggy side of the mountain stood Barton Keep. The castle had been the residency of the royalty of Trimera for generations. At its feet, the town sprawled out over the foothills. Close to the castle resided the elite and nobility. Further out lay the places of business and various merchants homes. And in the outskirts was the slums, home to the poor and destitute of the city. </span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Mantarok had been to Barton Keep once as a child with his father. The King had placed a tax on the northern farms and the other outlying farmers had made his father their representative to the King. Mantarok and his father had arrived and gone straight to the castle and back home, so he was slightly subdued at the thought of trying to navigate the city by himself. But he figured that as long as he stuck to the main road he should be okay.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Slowly the city grew closer, the castle consuming more of the horizon as he approached. The castle had been built into the mountain by the dwarves, as a symbol of the eternal peace between the humans and the dwarven kingdom. The majority of the castle was outside of the mountain, with a few halls and rooms being hollowed out of the mountain itself. The building of the castle had been a massive achievement, taking many generations of humans to come to fruition, but only one of the long-lived dwarves. On the castle ramparts, thousands of gardens bloomed, bringing bright flowers to the otherwise stark and foreboding walls.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> As Mantarok got closer he began to see cattle and various small farm houses spotting the fields. Occasionally the rounded hills that indicated halfling homes would stand in stark contrast to the wooden houses built by the human farmers. It took a lot of food and resources to keep a city the size of Bartons Keep running, and the farmlands here provided a major share of it. Mantarok felt a chill at the thought of the undead destroying what these simple folks had worked so hard to build.</span></div><div align="CENTER" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">-----------------------------------------------</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Above him, he heard an noise which caused him to turn and look up. His eyes widened in shock at the sight that met his eyes. A small boat with a bizarre rod in the middle was crashing rapidly towards the ground. At the tip of the rod there was four wide pieces of wood, spinning around rapidly while smoke belched out from a small engine that was strapped to the bottom of the boat. At the helm, desperately trying to steer the vehicle a gnome wearing a helmet and goggles was trying to steer while screaming "Get out of the way! Out of the way! You are on my runway!"</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Mantarok quickly pulled his horse to the side of the road and the boat crashed into the dirt road, leaving a deep furrow as it plowed ahead for a few feet. Stumbling out of the wreckage, the gnome giggled and said, "Perfect landing! Perfect! Now if I could just figure out a way to land without needing to make a new one every time." Mantarok stared in unabashed curiousity at the bizarre contraption of wood and metal before him. The gnome brushed some of the dirt off of his pants and shirt, then walked up to Mantarok and said, "The names Gimble! Gimble Gemhoarder, at your service. Glad to see you liked my heliobob. It's a work in progress. I'm an inventor, and this is one of my better inventions. My wife would have a fit if she'd seen me though!"</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Mantarok had never interacted with a gnome before and was amazed at how fast the creature talked. He was also amazed at the way Gimble completely brushed off almost dying. Gimble however simply kicked the engine, causing it to sputter and spew out some oil before finally dying. "Good engine! Runs even after the rest has died out. Perfect!" He then looks at Mantarok and says, "You're big, help me out with this. I want to keep the engine and the propellers. The boat can rot for all I care, I need to still work on that." Mantarok thought for a moment to just brush off the obviously insane gnome and continue on to town, but he then thought that Gimble most likely knew at least some people in town, and probably knew the place better than he would.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> After Gimble and Mantarok had loaded the engine and the propellers onto a cart that Gimble had left nearby, they headed into town. Gimble happily agreed to showing Mantarok around town, saying "Always a pleasure to introduce someone to town. I find I almost always find something I hadn't seen before, or am reintroduced to a place I haven't been to in a while." The gnome looked to be in his late thirties, and seemed to know everyone they came across. Though some of the greetings were short and less than courteous, others were long drawn out affairs that had Mantarok beginning to wonder if they would ever move on.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> It was late afternoon by the time they reached the small house. Next to the house however was a giant warehouse, that looked like it had seen better days. Various coloured trails of smoke drifted up from the ramshackle building. Gimble nodded and waved at the building, “My workshop and my home. Lily will be glad to...” he was quickly cut off however by a voice screaming, “Gimble Bartemous Wilhelm Carter Mendilson Cavan Metoran Gemhoarder!” Gimble shuddered and groaned, “Oh gods, my full name.”</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> A young-looking gnome stepped out of the house and ran up to Gimble, screaming and railing at him about being dangerous with his flying contraptions. Gimble attempted to plead his case, but she refused to let him get a word in. After several minutes of ranting, she threw her arms around him and kissed him hard. “But I’m glad you came home safe, darling. Now, who’s your cute friend?” she asked as she let go of Gimble and extended her hand. “Lillian Gemhoarder, pleasure to meet you sir. But you can call me Lily, handsome.” Gimble glared at Lillian and Mantarok, blushing lightly, took her hand and said, “My name is Mantarok Kandrik. It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, ma’am.” Lillian laughed and shook her head. “Ma’am? I’m far too young to be a ma’am.” She grinned and headed back to the house, saying over her shoulder, “Come in, come in! I’ve just made your favorite Gimble, and an apple pie is cooling on the counter. Don’t touch it, Gimble or I’ll have your fingers.”</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Gimble grinned and mimed eating the pie to Mantarok. “You distract her, and the pie will be ours!” Mantarok laughed and followed him into the house. He was glad to have met some new friends, especially in such a foriegn place.</span></div><div align="CENTER" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">----------------------------------------------- </span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “And that is what brings me here to Barton Keep. The undead seem to be systematically wiping out farmlands to the north, and Omaren said that someone had to warn the king. I only wish he was still here with me, because I really don’t know what to do now that I’m here.” Mantarok finished off his slice of apple pie as he finished his story. Gimble nodded gravely and Lily shuddered. </span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Gimble thoughtfully stroked his goatee and finally said, “Well, you are right in trying to warn the king. This is definately a very bad spot the kingdom is in if a necromancer has risen again to try to take over. I’m not sure what we’ll be able to do to stop this, but I suppose we’ll have to try. I have some connections, Lily’s uncle is a high-level ambassador for the gnomes here in town.” Lily nodded and added, “I think he could get us an audience with the king. Or at the least, we’ll be able to warn the gnome king.”</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Mantarok nods. “Yes, we should warn as many people as possible. My only hope is that we can save our kingdom from falling into the darkness brought upon by this evil.” Gimble stood and said, “Well, it’s getting late now and there won’t be much we can do until tomorrow when the royal court gathers into session.” Mantarok agreed and again thanked them both for their hospitality. Lily giggled and said, “Nothing is too much for you, cutie.” </span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Mantarok grinned nervously and blushed again as Gimble grumbled something and Lily giggled again. Gimble led Mantarok to the guest bedroom and said, “I’m glad we paid the money to get a human sized bed in here.” Mantarok thanked Gimble and Gimble shut the door. Mantarok lay down on the bed, exhausted from a long day and from recounting the horrors he had seen. As he lay in a comfortable bed for the first time in a month, he allowed himself a small smile and mumbled to himself, “I think everything will be okay...” as he drifted off to sleep.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> In the morning, Gimble and Mantarok headed deeper into the heart of town. Gimble spent most of the morning rambling about various aspects of inventing, telling Mantarok of his various spectacular successes and even more spectacular failures. Mantarok listened for the most part, occassionally laughing at some of the funnier parts of the stories but for the most part lost in thought. His reticence to join the conversation didn’t seem to phase the gnome, however. As they approached the gates that led into the castle proper, he quieted down.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Serious looking guards looked at the two men as they made their way deeper into the heart of the keep to the section that housed the foreign ambassadors. Gimble’s family connections made it fairly easy to make their way through the halls however. A few of the guards recognized the inventor and simply let him lead Mantarok through the keep unquestioned.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Finally, he stopped Mantarok in front of a small door. On the door in bright gold letters was the name “Humphrey Quentillion, III” Gimble knocked on the door shouted out, “Quen, I have to speak with you!” There was a commotion inside followed by a blusterous roar. Soon the door open and a very fat, very old gnome blinked out. “Gimble? Is that you my boy?” the the fat gnome asked, staring at Gimble than at Mantarok. “What brings you here? And who’s your friend?”</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Gimble introduced Mantarok and the gnome nodded. “Well, come in, come in. I’m in the middle of tea, you see. Nasty way you get attention at the door, my boy. You should be much more polite, much better to be polite about it.” Gimble rolled his eyes and walked into the room. Mantarok joined him and was surprised to see that the room was very lavishly furnished. Every item glittered with jewels and gold. Humphrey sat down at a small table, and offered two chairs for them to sit in. He poured some tea into a small gilded cup and offered some to Gimble and Mantarok. Gimble immediately poured himself a cup, but Mantarok politely declined.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Gimble cleared his throat and began, "Quen, we've got a story to tell you. This may mean trouble." Humphrey raised an eyebrow and said, "Dear me, dear me. You always were excitable Gimble." He looked at Mantarok and chuckled, "I doubt it's as dire as he makes it out to be." Mantarok shook his head and said, "No, it's much worse. I come from the North..."</span></div>Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-73355651345152819142012-03-12T08:53:00.002-07:002012-03-12T08:56:06.086-07:00Shiny New Toys!<div style="font-family: inherit;">So I created a couple of items for my game. Some are generic magic items with just a lot of various abilities, but a couple are world specific artifacts or just powerful items that I figured I would share with you all today.</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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</div><a name='more'></a><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. The Sword of Baltor</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">This item is a +2 Evil Outsider Bane Bastard Sword. It was used by the famous warrior, Baltor Ephanstie. He was known for his proficiency in killing demons and devils. He was also known for founding the Duchy of Ephanstie after saving the life of Korin Marrentrask. It has been passed down through the family line for generations. It is currently in the keeping of the current Duke of Ephanstie, </span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Prandil Kel-Amon</span></span><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">2. The Angel's Blade</span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">This item is a +3 Holy Cold Iron Longsword. It was crafted during the Reign of the Magi and was considered for many years to be a holy relic of the church of Mithrious. It is said to be the blade that Mortannin himself wielded to stop the evil Lich Demothrax during the War of the Walking Dead. It is currently being kept in the city of Maltier, in the heavily guarded treasure room of the Hierophant's Palace.</span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">So those were the two items that I am having my players go after to help them fight the rising threat of Ragnos, the Demon King. However, there were a few other items I wanted them to have that didn't quite fit in the rules. So I basically created them to fit what I wanted. If you feel so inclined, feel free to include them in your own games and post a comment if you do!</span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. War-Axe of Vengeance</span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">This War-Axe is a +3 Battle-Axe. However, 3 times per day the wielder can choose to take an immediate Attack of Opportunity on an opponent that successfully hits him. This weapon is one of the fabled magic items that were crafted by dwarven smiths and imbued with magic from the titans themselves. It is ancient and well taken care of by the dwarves that see to it's care. It is currently in the dwarven capitol of Duisberg in the treasuries of the king.</span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">2. Chainmail of Choice</span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">This armor is considered +3 chainmail. It is also considered as light armor. It essentially functions similar to Celestial Chainmail, except that the wearer must wear the item for one level. Once they have, the armor changes from simply being +3 chainmail depending on their alignment. If they are a good alignment, it turns into Celestial Armor. If they are an evil alignment, it turns into Infernal Armor. If they are neutral in alignment, it simply stays the +3 chainmail, and is still considered light armor. The special ability of fly is the same on both the Celestial and Infernal, the armor simply visually looks different depending on the version. Also, the Celestial version gives the user an appearance of feathered, angel wings while the Infernal version gives the user leathery, bat-like wings when using the fly ability. It also is currently in the treasure room of the Hierophant's Palace.</span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. Trident of Pain</span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">This weapon is a +3 Trident of Bleed. I changed the Bleed though so that know on a successful hit the creature takes 2 bleed damage per round until they make a DC 15 Fortitude. On a critical hit, the bleed damage rises to 5 per round until the wounded makes a DC 25 Fortitude save. It is rumoured to be lost in the caverns underneath the capitol city of Broodan, Abraxis.</span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">4. Mixyl's Choice</span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is my favorite. It is an awesome weapon for any follower of Mixyl to obtain and I also made a little dungeon for it that anyone searching for it must go through to obtain the weapon. It is a +3 short sword, but it has an unusual ability. On a successful hit against a creature, the DM rolls on the Melee Weapon Special Ability table. Whatever he rolls, that special ability is used that attack. This means that if you make three attacks in one round, the DM will need to make a roll on each attack.</span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Also, followers of Mixyl are able three times per day to have the special ability be considered Anarchic. This ability lasts for ten minutes and once started is not dismissible. This ability must be activated before you roll the attack. It is currently being held by the church of Mixyl, which is located in Cosenza in the Eans Coast.</span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">There you have it folks. I hope you enjoy the weapons and feel free to use them and let me know what you think. Happy gaming!</span></div>Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-10732494624009136792012-03-09T17:31:00.000-08:002012-03-09T17:31:43.859-08:00Soooooo...this happened.So, I tend to try to keep this blog fairly focused on Dungeons and Dragons, or at least loosely related to DnD. I also try to keep my personal life a bit separated from it, mostly because I know you guys don't want to read about my problems. And also because I also don't want to focus on negative things on here, mostly positive stuff.<br />
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However, an event took place today that is personal in nature, but also will effect the direction and focus of the blog. Essentially, I am going to have a lot more free time to work on the blog and my writing because I got fired from my job today. I've never been fired before, so it is kind of a weird feeling. I'm not particularly happy about it...but I'm also not particularly sad about it. I hadn't been enjoying the job lately, and honestly I was more excited about coming home and working on writing or blog entries. So it is kind of a blessing in disguise, I suppose.<br />
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I'm hoping to get a new job soon, but in the meantime, expect a lot more updates during the week for a little bit because I'm going to be trying to dedicate any and all free time to working on various stories or scripts for the blog. Hopefully, I'll be able to get my web-cam soon and still be able to start recording some video blog entries for you guys.<br />
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So keep reading and enjoy my extra free time!Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-78666964460828763292012-03-07T13:16:00.000-08:002012-03-07T13:16:18.064-08:00Poll ->Just a quick little post here. I've decided to see what you guys want to see more of. Please just vote in the poll on the right side to let me know what to start focusing on.<br />
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Thanks!Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-49299750491278648682012-03-06T11:46:00.001-08:002012-03-06T11:47:22.218-08:00Blog NewsSo big news today, readers. I am going to be advancing forward into modern blogging and get a webcam. I plan on changing the format for the blog so that I'll be doing video entries for my lists and reviews while I still plan on using text entries for my short stories and my entries about my campaign setting. I'm hoping you all will enjoy listening to me rant rather then just reading my rants.<br />
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However, due to this I may be a little sporadic in updates because I'm going to be writing up some scripts for the first video entries and also I have to wait for my webcam to arrive. But rest assured I plan on doing a lot more video entries. I also plan on expanding a little to include more video games and movies as well. The focus will always be on Dungeons and Dragons, so there will usually be some connection. Just to give you a hint of what I'll be doing, I plan on reviewing some more 3.5 stuff, like the Expedition series of adventure paths and the Complete series, my thoughts on 4th edition and, of course, moving into Pathfinder as well. <br />
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Anyway, I thank you all for continuing to read and I hope you will enjoy the changes I'll be making coming up. I'm going to leave you with this:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-leYc4oC83E" width="420"></iframe></div>Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-28669504999260768402012-03-05T10:53:00.000-08:002012-06-07T16:51:51.863-07:00Timeline for the world of TherotanSo I've been working on a home-brew world for Dungeons and Dragons. I'm hoping to eventually try to get it published, but for now I'm just running it for my tabletop game. But I have put together a rough time-line for the history of the world.<br />
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Please keep in mind that this is a rough draft of the time-line, I may be changing or filling in more information as time goes on. For now though, this is a pretty good idea of what I'm going for in my world. All the stories that I've put up here about individual characters are set in this world, usually taking place in the timeline during the most recent era, Broodan.<br />
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Also included is a map of my world, with the current set up of countries and nations. I know I don't get a lot of comments on here, but I am going to say that any comments (critical or otherwise) would be immensely helpful as I'm working on this project currently and would like to see it come through to fruition. So please, leave a comment and enjoy!<br />
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Time Line for Therotan</div>
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Before time-0 – Creation of Gods, Time and the World of Therotan. Before the gods were created there was only Mendel, The Goddess of Law and Order, and Mammon, the God of Chaos. From their coupling sprang forth a universe. It was empty at first, but slowly over time began to fill itself with worlds. Therotan is one of those. </div>
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0-1000 – As life began to spring forth, so to did the gods. The initial pantheon consists of Mithrious, Centellia, Quorien, Balthus, Bahamut, Karkaren and Malorn. Bahamut and Karkaren loved the planet Therotan and delved deep underground immediately. Balthus was content to wander the surface of the world and bring forth life through his power over nature. Malorn created a shadowy realm that mirrored the world of Therotan, and their created shadowy creatures. Over time, this became known as the Plane of Shadows. Quorien, the Ever-Enigmatic, withdrew to his own plane and there studied the mysteries of the realm of magic he had been given dominion over. Mithrious and Centellia lived together in a golden palace and loved each other deeply. Through that love, many other lesser gods and goddess began to spring forth on the planet. The pantheon grew to include Mixyl, Kianvel, Cargus, Kiran and Borscha. All but Mixyl rebelled against their mothers desire to love and care for the planet. They tricked Malorn into teaching them dark and hidden powers and began to try to destroy their uncle Balthus' creations. To combat this, Quorien asked permission to release a race he had been crafting onto the planet. Centellia, Mithrious and Balthus agreed. The Titans are first sentient life-forms created on the planet. They are powerful magic users and create a balance to the horrific creatures that the evil lesser gods had created. After they had learned to control or defeated the other monsters, they disappeared from the world in their massive cities that float in the skies above the clouds.</div>
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200 – Quorien's realm transforms into the Realm of the Fey. Grendel is the only lesser god that owes allegiance to Quorien. The Fey create a massive kingdom and live in harmony until Cargus snuck in and created the evil fey races.</div>
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1000 – With the power of their evil children checked by Quorien's Titans, Centellia and Mithrious decide to create the Elven (Sindala) and Human (Akari) races. The two goddesses intend for them to live together in harmony, but they find the lesser races refuse and go their separate ways. They initially have no magical abilities and mostly build small family communities. The humans settle mostly near the warm southern coasts and the elves stay in the massive forests that span the continent.</div>
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1500 – First Dragons hatched by Bahamut and Karkaren. They create large cities in the Northern mountain ranges and watch the human and elves as they create their communities and slowly evolve over time.</div>
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2000 – Dwarves and Halflings created by the dragons, but both are considered a failure. Despite this, they thrive and become established cultures. The Dwarves stay in the mountains, but the halflings migrate down to the south where they live with the elves in the forests. Kobolds are also created around this time and considered a success. They are given high status within the dragon cities as servants and caretakers of eggs.</div>
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2050 – Birth of Tiarog (God of Dwarves) and Halvestar (Goddess of Halflings) by the worship of their respective people. They are welcomed into the pantheon with little issue.</div>
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3000 – The Titans return to the surface of Nialtier from the sky. They enslave most of the races, teaching magic to the elves and a few select tribes of humans. This creates the Melifsheer (Magi) race amongst the humans. Beginning of the Titanic Age. The non-magic human slaves continue to be known as the Akari.</div>
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3000-5998 – Reign of the Titans (1 RT - 2998 RT)</div>
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4000 – Dragons ally themselves with the Titans and learn much arcane and eldritch lore from them.</div>
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5600 – Melifsheer ally with the Sindala, Dwarves and Akari to wage a war for freedom from the Titans.</div>
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5900 – Dragons withdraw their support from the Titans.</div>
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5998 – War ends, the Titans are defeated and lose much of their arcane secrets. Over the centuries, they end up forming the modern day races of Giant, and never again reach the same level of power.</div>
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6000 – Melifsheer and the Sindala establish the Reign of the Magi. There is a rigid caste system, with the Akari acting pretty much as slaves again. They attempt to enslave the Dwarven races, but the Dwarves foresaw this possibility, so they withdrew deep into their underground fortresses and the surface ignored them. During this time, they built massive underground cities under the northern mountain ranges. The Melifsheer and the Sindala take over the floating sky cities of the Titans as their own, letting the Akari live on the surface in small slave settlements.</div>
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6000-8000 – Reign of the Magi (1-2000 RM)</div>
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6000-8000 – Numerous monstrous races are created by the Melifsheer and the Cyclops during their time of power.</div>
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6500 – Melifsheer accidentally rupture the veil between the Material Plane and the Plane of the Fey. This releases many fey creatures into the world, both good and evil, as well as introducing the Gnome races.</div>
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6550 – Creation of Grendel (God of the Fey and Gnomes) on the Material Plane.</div>
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6600 – Dragons decide to ally with the Melifsheer and the Sindala and begin a golden age for magic. Astounding artifacts of great power are created in this time.</div>
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6650 – Out of the Deathroot Swamps, the Cyclopean kingdom rises to power. They worship ancient gods of chaos and magic. Melifsheer and Sindala decide to ally themselves with this new race of power. The Dragons caution against this, but are ignored.</div>
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6700 – Demothrax, the Lich Baron, rises in power and attempts to destroy the Melifsheer with an undead army. </div>
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6800 – The War of the Walking Dead ends. Demothrax is stopped by the leadership and heroic efforts of Mortannin, a human male Paladin of Mithrious and Arian, a female Melifsheer Wizard.</div>
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6823 – The Betrayal of the Demon King. A council leader named Kander becomes a puppet for Ragnor the Demon King. Kander comes deep into their council and uses it to cause chaos and destruction as he attempts to wrest power from the rightful king.</div>
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6823-7000 – Demon King War rages. Many dark and evil creatures released from dark planes by Kander and Ragnor as soldiers in their army. War ends once Kander is slain in battle and Ragnor banished back to Hell.</div>
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7050 – Unable to keep Akari slaves alive in their swamp kingdom, the Cyclops turn to dark arcane rituals to create a new race. Corrupting ancient techniques that the Dragons used to create the dwarves and halflings, they end up creating Orc and goblinoid races.</div>
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7185 – Orcs and goblinoids revolt and become a free people by a brief war and run away to hide in the swamps. Here, some orc tribes decided to continue moving north to completely escape the influence of their evil creators. Others decide to stay and make dark pacts with demons and devils to keep their freedom. The goblinoid tribes all agreed to serve the dark powers. These pacts however cause them to devolve into a violent race of savages. One particularly powerful Orc named Aulshta and a goblin named Ubelport ascend into the pantheon as deities. They are treated as untrustworthy by most of the higher gods due to the infernal taint on their souls, but Cargus, Kiran and Borscha welcome them and teach them their dark secrets and evil ways.</div>
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7190 – Orcs that remained in the swamp begin to move out onto the rest of the continent, attacking Akari settlements and attempting to gain control. This is the first, but not the last, Orc War. Many follow, though none are successful for long.</div>
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7200 – Arresti, the Akari Thief King, rises to power in the south lands and establishes his own free kingdom there.</div>
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7500 – Decline of the Melifsheer. Many centuries of inbreeding has begun to leave the magical talent weak.</div>
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7584 – One of the council members marries an Akari and produces a son, Allobern Marres. He is the first sorcerer born in the world and has massive magical talent. He rules on the council briefly after his fathers death, but is quickly betrayed and banished from the land by the rest of the Council of Magi. He disappears from time and history at this point and isn't heard from again.</div>
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7600 – Beginning of the War of Magic. It lasts for 400 years and causes a cataclysmic change to the world.</div>
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7954 - Creation of Dragon Orbs to attempt to destroy the Dragon Kings. They are successful and begins the turning point of the war in favor of the Melifsheer and their allies.</div>
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8000 – End of the war, but at a great cost. The floating cities of the Magi crash into the surface of the planet and cause a massive cataclysm. This shifts the continents and creates some new ones. This also causes a change in the ecosystem of the main continent. The Cyclops kingdom is completely eradicated, as Ragnor takes advantage of the chaos and influences his faithful orc tribes to wage war against them. Upheaval of the continent causes many cities and cultures to be buried beneath the earth. Death and destruction on a massive scale.</div>
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8158 – First human settlements begin to form after the Cataclysm. This begins the combining of the Melifsheer and the Akari races into the modern human race, and the split of the Sindala elves into the southern Lacula and northern High Elves. Also, a few Melifsheer and Sindala split off to the island of Salin-Ro. This begins the modern dating system of After the Fall (AF).</div>
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8158-9995 – Modern Era. (1 AF – 1837 AF)</div>
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8160 – High elves establish their forest kingdom of Lefambas.</div>
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8170 – Orcs rise out of the swamps to attempt to take over the human settlements. Elves ally with the humans and drive them back. This is the beginning of a struggle for land and resources between the Orcs and the other races of the world that continues to this day in some areas.</div>
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8200 – Humans begin to create several small kingdoms. The largest is in the center of the continent, led by a human warrior named Korin Marrentrask. By this time, magic has become a natural part of humanity, and anyone can become a wizard if they display aptitude. Also sorcerers are more prevalent, though none are as powerful as Allobern. However, no magic users left are anywhere close to as powerful as the Melifsheer were.</div>
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8220 – Lacula elves solidify and create their capital in the woods that become known as the Lacula Wilds.</div>
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8300 – First war between Elves and Humans as the humans attempt to expand into the northern forests. The war ends after diplomacy takes effect and the humans agree to settle the largely uninhabited Akari Coastline.</div>
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8329 – Halflings settle the northern border of the human lands and create a buffer between the humans and elves. This land is excellent farmlands and they begin to create large farms and ranches.</div>
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8400 – Humans and Elves are contacted by the Dwarves for the first time time since they went underground. The Dwarves are quick to establish a trading empire through the mountains and become an economic powerhouse. Through the Dwarves, contact with the Frozen Wastes is established.</div>
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8427 – Contact re-established with the Southern Kingdom of Duchov beyond the southern mountain ranges.</div>
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8500 – Modern Kingdoms and lines of power are established.</div>
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8729 – On the Akari Coast, almost all monstrous races have died out. Nothing but myth and legend soon follow.</div>
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9000 – High Elves begin to become more reclusive and stop venturing out beyond their forest borders.</div>
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9254 – Undead begin plaguing the lands near the Deathroot Swamps. Demothrax returns as a Demi-Lich and attempts to wipe out all races with a new undead army. He manages to take over a sizable portion of the continent before his progress is halted. While he holds power, he contacts Ragnor and begins to built a gate to bring him back into this material plane.</div>
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9528 – The Church of Mithrious sends out an expedition led by its most powerful paladin, Grigby Arrensmith. He manages to finally cast down Demothrax, but at the cost of his own life. The swamp's corruption recedes back and a shrine to Mithrious, as well as a statue to Grigby is erected at the site. The gate of Ragnor is not discovered, but its construction is halted for now.</div>
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9600 – The Mad King Oliver Brannigan inherits the throne and almost destroys the central kingdoms with his insane edicts. </div>
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9649 – The Mad King dies with no heir and the central kingdoms are thrown into chaos.</div>
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9657 – Central Kingdom reborn under the iron fist of General Kanton Drisbern. He creates a military state and rules until his death.</div>
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9700 – Kanton's son Darren takes over after his fathers death. He re-establishes the monarchy and proclaims himself King Darren Drisbern the First.</div>
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9721 – Mithral and Adamantium is discovered in the mines of the Tomtah Valley. This creates the first competition against the Dwarven stranglehold on the minerals.</div>
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9766 – First official wizard academy formed in the central kingdoms, The Phoenix Academy. Allows any applicants of any race as long as they show arcane aptitude. Considered second only to the Academy on the Island of Salin-Ro.</div>
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9800 – The Cataclysm of the Magi barely remembered as myths and legends. Only lore-masters and scholars remember the history of the races. Most regard tales of dragons and certain monsters as legends or stories told to scare children.</div>
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9972 – Collapse of central kingdoms, again because of no direct heir.</div>
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9995 – Rise of a young wizard named Castor Broodan. He quickly rises in power and takes control of the central kingdoms forming what he refers to as the Broodan Empire. He even destroys the old calendar and forms a new one based off of his Empire (1 Broodan Empire BE).</div>
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9996 – Nights of Lightning, rise of the cult of Maltier, the nation of Terralt renamed the Holy Cities of Maltier, the destruction of the Church of Mithrious.</div>
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9997 – Broodan establishes the official church of the humans as the church of Maltier. Mithrious is declared illegal to worship under imperial rule.</div>
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9998 – Broodan declares war against all non-humans, takes over Lacula Wilds and begins siege against the southern kingdom of Duchov.</div>
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9999 – Uneasy truce declared between the south and the High Elves.</div>
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10000 – Rise of the Dragon Kings campaign begins.</div>
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List of Eras</div>
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1-3000 – Prehistoric Times</div>
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3000-5998 – Reign of the Titans (1 RT – 2998 RT)</div>
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6000-8000 – Reign of the Magi (1RM – 2000 RM) (Also known as the Age of Heroes)</div>
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8158-9995 – After the Fall (1 AF – 1837 AF)</div>
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For humans, the new dating system goes off of Broodan's rise to power:</div>
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9995-current – Broodan Empire (1 BE – 5 BE)</div>
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The elves still use the AF dating system, as they do not regard Broodan as anything but a tyrant.</div>
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The Dwarves have their own dating system.</div>
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2000-6000 – The Ancient Times (1 AT – 4000 AT)</div>
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6000-8400 – The Independent Ages (1 IA – 2400 IA)</div>
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8400-current – Time of Trade (1 TT – 1600 TT)</div>
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<br /></div>Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-39987928543205611942012-02-29T09:42:00.002-08:002012-02-29T09:43:17.960-08:00The Tale of Korso<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> So I've been kind of slow in writing this, but I have a backstory for the character I play in my Thursday night game. I finally got it finished and have decided to share it with you all today. Please enjoy it and as always leave comments.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhBbvaM7XzvM6ZMsuwdynPDfRxPxAQv_JkXqnX7kWgkYVAquUSF_Ds_4RCS5_OU0cJxayDhm9NX26jKaAmvao3eObDxCMJDDQp6avso0PUaXAy3Qdjx1jvBtMI8dMtuE0HWhyqyPItLHF/s1600/TSR2168_Wizard's_Spell_Compendium_Vol_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhBbvaM7XzvM6ZMsuwdynPDfRxPxAQv_JkXqnX7kWgkYVAquUSF_Ds_4RCS5_OU0cJxayDhm9NX26jKaAmvao3eObDxCMJDDQp6avso0PUaXAy3Qdjx1jvBtMI8dMtuE0HWhyqyPItLHF/s1600/TSR2168_Wizard's_Spell_Compendium_Vol_2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The creature was massive and hungry. That was the biggest problem that Korso was facing right now. Well, that and he was supposed to be controlling it. He could almost feel the disapproving stares of his teachers glaring down at him from the observation decks. He could feel the sweat beading on his forehead as he concentrated on maintaining control over the summoned monster.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
It was not an easy task, but he knew that he could do it. It was a culmination of almost everything he had learned at the academy. He had spent hours practicing the night before creating the summoning circle and containment spells. He had barely spent any time sleeping, just pouring over his tomes and notes.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Which left him here, tired and barely able to keep his hands steady. But his studying had paid off and the spells held the creature at bay. The time limit to hold the spell passed and Korso sent the creature back to the aether it had been pulled from. He almost fell to a knee after, but he maintained his composure and kept on his feet. The applause from the watching faculty and students was satisfactory to hear.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Hours later, as he sat in his room looking at his packed up books and possessions. Scant though they may be they were precious to him. He rose from his desk chair and was about to put his last few books away when he heard a soft knock and a voice asking, “Korso? Are you in there?” Smiling, Korso put his books down and said, “Yes, Tremier. Come in!” The door opened and a young man entered the room. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">He was a sharp contrast to Korso in appearance. Korso was extremely tall and well built. In fact, when he was younger most had thought he was going to go into the military or mercenary work. But his love of books and study had led him into going into the wizarding academy. His hair was black and coarse and he had always been a very withdrawn person. Tremier, however, was almost the stereotypical wizard in appearance. Short and slender, he barely came up to Korso's chest. He had blonde hair and a short, well-trimmed beard.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Tremier moved over to Korso and hugged him tightly. “Congratulations, my friend! I knew you would be able to pass your test.” he said as they kissed briefly. Korso smiled awkwardly and stepped away. “Well, I wouldn't have been able to do it without your help in studying.” Tremier laughed and sat down on Korso's bed. He began to fiddle with the clasp on one of Korso's bag and said, “I barely helped. And I couldn't even keep up with you, I passed out long before you. That's probably why you're graduating now and I'm stuck here for another few years.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Korso turned his back to Tremier and frowned. “Yeah...that is unfortunate. About that...” he paused and faced the younger man. “I'm going to have to leave now that I've graduated.” Tremier nodded and said, “Yes, it is unfair. You get to have all kinds of fun and adventures while I'm stuck here training.”</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> Korso shook his head. “Yes...all, without you there. It will not be a fun time without you with me, dear.”<br />
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He sat down next to Tremier and held his hand tenderly as he tried hard to hold back tears. “I'd rather not be away from you. You are one of the few people who understands me and accepts me.” Tremier smiled and squeezed Korso's hand. “Oh you...so silly. It'll only be a few years and I'll be able to join you in your marvelous adventures and we'll have a great time.” Korso smiled and kissed Tremier again as they lay back on the bed holding each other. As they kissed again, Korso smiled and said, “Alright, just a few years apart.”</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">----------------------------------------- </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Korso could barely hold the letter steady. He had read it several times and just couldn't bring himself to focus on the words scrawled on it. He had been staying for a year now in Brevoy at Skywatch studying the tower's secrets. However, today when he had returned from work that day he had found a letter from the Academy waiting for him at the small room he rented. He now sat staring at the wall, the letter clutched in his hands.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">One more time, he raised his shaking hands and re-read the letter in disbelief. It still wasn't sinking in completely. His mind simply stuck at the last part. “There was an explosion in one of the classrooms. Unfortunately, several students were caught in the blast and killed. I know that you and Tremier were close, so I am sad to tell you that he was one of the people killed. It is with regret we must inform you of this and...” the letter continued after that, but Korso simply didn't care.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">He rose and folded the letter up and stuck it in one of the pockets in his robes. He left his room and quickly made his way to the tavern. Sitting down at the bar, he gestured to the bartender and said, “Please send me a bottle of wine. No, several bottles.” Shakily depositing some coins on the counter, he takes his bottles back to his room and proceeded to drink them, one after another.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">-----------------------------------------</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Standing in the crossroads, Korso leaned on his staff and looked down the road. He had heard of a call for men to go out into the Stolen Lands and he had been wandering without focus for too long. After Tremier's death, he had lost himself into drinking and depression. He hadn't bothered to go back to work and had eventually found himself wandering from town to town performing small tricks to earn enough coin to keep himself drunk for another day.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Finally, he had managed to pull himself out of his depression and started working again. However, he couldn't seem to stay focused on anything, he simply wandered from job to job. He finally had heard rumours that the government was wanting to try to settle the wild lands to the south. Maybe this job would finally give him a chance to fully move on. As he made his way down the road, he managed a smile as he tightened the straps on his pack.</div>Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302635054842743892.post-49484145706012474512012-02-28T14:01:00.000-08:002012-02-28T14:01:38.691-08:00My Top Favorite MonstersOkay, so I've taken you through the first Monster Manual showing you all my favorite monsters. However, there are four that I left out because they are just so damn cool and fun to run that I had to give them their own entry. Seriously, if you ask my players they will tell you that I will almost always throw these monsters up against them. They also will be ranked in order of awesomeness in my opinion.<br />
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Here are my top favorite monsters:<br />
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<a name='more'></a><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. The Beholder</span></u><br />
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I would say the biggest disappointment of moving over to the Pathfinder rule set is the fact that certain licensed monsters are unable to be used. Mindflayers and Beholders are the two that immediately leap to mind. And damn what a disappointment it is to not have access to these guys.<br />
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I love beholders mostly because they are floating eye death machines. And it really has to be some damn impressive powers to make the players scared of what is basically a giant floating eye with even more eye stalks poking out of it. I mean, at least the artwork got a lot better as time went on...first edition beholders looked like this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZUf1p34s3_R8PMBUmwFS3IJXWnIsLh27kIO5LwA8zuCzv1g2ZdT_nrHE2i2qpAhMQi2_uw7oVVH86E3cY5XV50ESZBTION7xWOUeX6VRDKoP8gODYTTRAxNXiWuImhq9j3RzJIoBoQK5/s1600/mr294_Beholder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZUf1p34s3_R8PMBUmwFS3IJXWnIsLh27kIO5LwA8zuCzv1g2ZdT_nrHE2i2qpAhMQi2_uw7oVVH86E3cY5XV50ESZBTION7xWOUeX6VRDKoP8gODYTTRAxNXiWuImhq9j3RzJIoBoQK5/s1600/mr294_Beholder.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ummmm...wow.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>And yeah, I know that a lot of the artwork in the original books weren't the best ever, but that's not anywhere near as scary as the 3.5 design. And there are a lot of different beholders. The first monster manual has the basic one, plus the minor smaller one called a gauth. But in lots of various supplements and articles they introduce many different variations of the beholder, some more deadly then others. Some are admittedly lame, like the Eyeball or Gouger, but still the Beholder is still a fun and deadly monster to throw at your party to watch them die screaming horribly.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>3. Giants</u></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ah, the giants.<br />
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By Zues' beard, I enjoy giants. Just going off of the original giants in the monster manual, there is some good variation and also various levels of power. From the brutish and stupid Hill Giant to the intelligent and noble Storm Giants, you have a great range to pull from. And again, this is only just pulling from the original book. Giants are almost always included in every new monster manual that Wizards ever puts out.<br />
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And I'm glad for every single one that I can read about. Seriously, the list for giant variants is pretty damn long. Some I'll admit I'd rather not bother with, but hey they can't all be gems. My favorites are the frost giants though. In the long running campaign setting my DM refuses to run all the way from the beginning for our new group (I'll never let that die, sir.) there is one section that involves frost giants. Deadly, deadly frost giants. Like, frost giants that killed my wizard in one hit. Yeah, it was pretty bad...but hey, what can you do? Oh yeah, include them in the game that I'm running and have them hurt and destroy my players.<br />
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Giants are big, bad and always a lot of fun to play. As I mentioned, it is a lot of fun to play the different intelligence levels of the different giants. And their different power levels are always good to throw in for variation.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>2. Golems</u></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfd3nuKFLD_EjFjTnh2jflyo5OSwqRHmRIdgGz1Atoc3336D7RF81x_39q0gWEbLvHOIUYmap3OUXbI82hzjysPOtIHZHJiRTkEE3F4jGVcknEOrjyXh5tQWvYojKFnbee_6emfr7U1dhb/s1600/Iron_Golem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfd3nuKFLD_EjFjTnh2jflyo5OSwqRHmRIdgGz1Atoc3336D7RF81x_39q0gWEbLvHOIUYmap3OUXbI82hzjysPOtIHZHJiRTkEE3F4jGVcknEOrjyXh5tQWvYojKFnbee_6emfr7U1dhb/s1600/Iron_Golem.jpg" /></a></div>I get excited about golems, I'll admit it. They are just too much damn fun to use! Seriously, if you are ever lacking on something to guard a treasure or a random dungeon room, use a golem! They don't need food or water, they never need sleep and will last forever.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's the magical power that keeps your golems going.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Clay golems are some of my favorites, mostly because they hold to the original myth of the golem. They are made by clerics and have one of the coolest abilities, cursed wounds. Basically, any damage down by the clay golems require a caster level check to heal. It's fantastic as a DM when your cleric tries to heal the party and fails their caster level checks.<br />
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Golems are kind of like giants too that they also have a ton of variations that pop up in various monster manuals and supplements. And I really love every one. I don't care how dumb or silly the concept (I'm looking at you stained glass golem) they are cool and fun. Powerful and dangerous, they are also fun cause the party can potentially get their own golems to control.<br />
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But even the awesomeness of the golem pales in comparison to the number one monster on my list. Seriously, when I started reading fantasy books if this monster was on the cover I would read it. Didn't matter how lame or stupid the book was, I loved it for no other reason then:<br />
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1. DRAGONS!<br />
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I love dragons. There is absolutely no way I will ever run a campaign without dragons showing up at some point. If it is a published campaign that has no dragons, by Odin's Hammer I will insert it into the game. It will be a random encounter if it has to be there will be dragons!<br />
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Okay, so again, this is another monster that gets a lot of variation throughout the various books and supplements. I'm a big fan of the original two types, chromatic and metallic, personally and rarely use the different types. They do have their uses though so they aren't too bad.<br />
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But my favorite thing about dragons is their versatility. As I mentioned in other lists, you can always add different templates if you want to make them even more dangerous then before. The other fun thing is that you can either play them as big brutish beasts that swoop in and destroy through physical means, or you can play up the intelligent/magical side of the monster. A powerful red dragon makes a great scheming villain for the party to be pitted against throughout an entire campaign. Especially since you can use their change shape ability to have them appear to get defeated and then come back to harass the party as a different villain.<br />
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So there you go, my absolute top favorite monsters. This is wrapping up my last look at 3.5. I will miss you, but my group pretty much plays Pathfinder now. But fear not, readers. That just means we can go through the three Bestiary books for silly and stupid monsters. I will leave you with this:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/28snhq40C8o" width="420"></iframe></div>Sean Samonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15769623003300401312noreply@blogger.com1