Quoth the Raven

SJ 25-2-05

I finally completed the Tradewind clan hall today. I am quite proud of it. Check for additional details: http://www.blogsofroleplay.com/ToD/archives/2005_02.html#003110

I am entering a two week period of sheer torture for school. Two tests by March 4 over Probate and Litigation. A discovery writing project. A will writing project. 500 pages of reading to cover for just those two. I also have 6 composition journals to complete. Finals are March 11, and I have two comprehensive finals, a 10 page research paper due, and a final paper exam due.

In short, so much to do, so little Navarre to go about.

I've fallen asleep in the recliner with a textbook in my hands quite a few times already this week. And to top it all off, I have had to put in more hours at work also to get enough money to cover tuition/books overage for next quarter.

Anyone sharing in my headache yet? Say a prayer for the raven.

SJ 20-2-05

I got everything on the Tradewind hall completed today, save the 20 room maze to confound and mistify raiders, and the entrance guard. So, I am still pretty much on schedule to have it done prior to the end of the month.

I was told today that there were those that were in the hall confounded by the rooms, got lost, and couldn't find their way out. This is both amusing and annoying at the same time. Considering the fact the clan is getting so much more than it used to have: portal rooms, lockers, 2 shops, corral, two training dummies, quest giver, healer, altar, jail, donation room, etc... more can only be better. As raiders will get just as confused and lost if they don't know their way about, again, more can only be better. If it takes members a bit more time to get about, find portals, get equipment, etc., I consider it the price of progress. Take some time and learn your hall. Immerse yourself in the dynamics of the clan.

I found it profoundly funny to listen to the mortals, today, discuss the attributes of objects on the mud and make attempts to delve secrets out of the immortals. The things they come up with concerning what some of these objects have on them is just outlandish sometimes, one cannot help but feed their paranoia and watch them run with it to see where it ends, sometimes. That Ventriloquate enhancing face mask is priceless!

SJ 17-2-05

Had a thoroughly miserable night last night, dealing with this cold. Was forced to sleep the recliner just to be able to breath. Coughing, aching, stuffy-head, draining liquid like a seive... bleck, I hate colds. Was supposed to go to work today, but I called in because I'm far too congested and disgusting right now, plus who can think with their head full of nasty stuff. And to top it all off, being the last one in the house to get this thing, there are no more tissues left! Someone is going to pay.

One good thing I got out of being awake multiple times during the night, I was able to conceive of the means by which to customize each category archive page for this weblog. Now, if you click on the custom graphic for each category in any entry, or in the side category links, you will be taken to a category archive page for just those entries of the category, with its subsequent photo, and category description. Woohoo me.

I like this weblog stuff more and more. Can you believe I didn't blow up the thing once either. (and if you saw this place when I first got it following two blowups, you would see just how scary that can be).

I need to schedule for next quarter's classes prior to the end of tomorrow. I'm fairly irritated by the prospect because I can only take three classes so far, which total only 10 hours. (plus they are only offered this quarter so I can't skip one in favor of a higher credit hour class) I have to find a two or three credit hour class to remain full time and keep my grant... but have to keep it under 14 or 15 because the grant I get will not cover the difference of extra hours and I have to pay out of pocket. What a pain. Plus four classes worth of books. *mutter* Que sera.

SJ 16-2-05

I decided to experiment with the wonders of the blog today and ran across a way to make the program automatically place an appropriate picture into an entry based on category type (or author). So now all my entries are differentiated further from one another by their own graphic representation. I like it much better this way, more eye candy to go with content. I hope it isn't too busy in appearance.

Took a test yesterday and I'm not so certain I did real well. Currently under the strains of a cold which makes my head get all flustered for lack of details. Anyway, its done at least and I can breath for a bit now. (at least til next week)

Need to come up with some decent blog entries. I'm tired of writing research papers (bleh). Fantasy must have fantasy!

Unslaked Appetite

His serpentine eyes glow with the sparkling effervescence of ruby spiritflame, radiating hatred beyond the fathoming of mortal ken. A dread promise lingers in a glance to sear any offending the burning orb to charred ash. A forked tongue plays across crocodilian teeth, drool spilling from the draconic maw in acidic pools, hissing in acrid smoke. Scales, lustreless and nebulous black, scrape in serpentine rustling across the length of a sinewy body to the tip of a viperous tail. Demonic wings surmount the dastardly creature's back, effortlessly lifting the vile creature from the shackles of the covetous earth. Devoid of rear legs, the beast's forearms are immense, surmounted in sabre shaped claws, tinted red with the stain of past kills.

Varraen sniffs the chilled air of the pregnant night, seeking his prey. The forest hushes in anticipation of the threat he poses, the stars themselves seem to dim, clouding over to refrain from witnessing the travesty he intends.

It was the cloying permenance of their goodness that drew him hence, like the pungent aroma of decay draws maggots in a gluttonous scourge. Through the fog shrouded mysticism of the sacred glade he sees them.

Milling, tense and wary, the herd has gathered together for comfort. The lead stallion stamps his hoof to the hard-packed earth repeatedly, insinuating his control and breaking the unnerved mares of their paniced milling.

Exhileration fills the beast, catching the herd within the heat of his unearthly stare. Tonight he shall wet his appetite.

Bursting from cover, he strikes like an asp. The venom from his bite, paralyzing his victim to instant immobility. Seizing the stallion in the coils of oblivion, he brings the beast low. The remaining unicorns scatter in a flurry of dust and fear-laden cries. The stallion falls to the ground under the weight of Varraen's attack, the whites of his eyes glowing in the night, the terror tangible, delicious.

Grasping the horn of the unicorn, as his serpentine coils encapsulate the unicorn's body into inescapable submission, Varraen positions himself to peer into the depths of the creature's eyes. An incantation breaks the dark interlude, the buzzing of locusts. Within an instant, the window of souls opens, drawing in the essence of the denizen... and he is gone.

Sheltered within the depths of the glade, the stallion recovers from the strains of the paralytic, slowly regaining its mighty feet like a newborn fawn. The sacred pallor of the unicorn's essence is forever defiled, however, its very essence corrupted. Its silver mane is glossless, fading to black. The golden purity of its eyes glaze, replaced by a ruby hue that grows and burns like an ember. The stallion rises, rears, thrusting its golden horn to the heavens and pawing at the air, before running off into the depths of the forests to return to the herd.

SJ 14-2-05

I didn't wake up til 10:30 am today, sore and sick. Definitely should not have slept so long, but obviously it was in the cards today. Still have to study for a test tomorrow, plus work beckons with a newsletter to be finished.

I was able to add a few more rooms to the Tradewind hall today. They now have their brawl room system in place, accessible thru the palantir (find it, slackers!). I also put in a few more wagon ascii rooms (for the altar), a linker room for the corral, and the leader room is now done.

The jail wagon is now guarded by a frisky hound which has an mprog that reacts to people based upon their clan affiliation. I shall let those that get near him to find out exactly what his reactions are. He also bears the key to the jail wagon for those that get imprisoned for their raiding actions. I'm pretty sure he's less than willing to part with it easily.

Aside from that, I think its time to lie down for a bit ere I return to the books.

SJ 13-2-05

Been extremely busy the last two weeks with college issues and work. A bunch of tests. A bunch of reading. A bunch of research papers to write. At work, I have been working to complete a newsletter for First Responders which I have to get out some time this week. On the personal front, a friend of mine is having heart valve surgery (open heart) and likely will be coming to live with us to recover afterward, so have been preparing the house for that. Been pretty hectic, but the fires of the forge temper the steel.

On the mud I have been working on setting up the new Tradewind hall. It is being patterned as a gypsy convoy style of place with huge wagon houses that carry merchandise wherever the Traders wish to take them. This is only the second outdoor only hall type I have done, the first being the Keepers (which is basically a big forest), and I am pretty happy with it so far. Plenty of ascii wagons and a nice feel so far. Definitely not a shotty atmosphere, they are still going to be rich, extravagant merchants, but now they are free to roam the land and take all their belongings with them.

Currently their status is as follows:

rooms: 15
shops: 2
mobs: 6
objects: 47
mprogs: 3

Altar, clan stones, and clan spell has been tested and works on trigger.

I still need to complete:
- 20 room maze
- leader room
- brawl rooms
- connector rooms between wagons
- more ascii wagons for outside of indoor rooms
- devise an access means for invaders
- clan guard, clan key. prison guard, prison key.

In non-hall issues:

* AREA: Neutiquam Erro STATUS: CLOSED
I have the Neutiquam Erro university area populated with mobiles similar to the range in serial killer forest and red light district, but different aligns. Additionally the battleball stadium rooms are complete, just have to complete the mprogs dealing with scoring and tracking and add the necessary mobiles, etc. Tomes for all clans are done. Tomes for all immortals are done (save Ahri). Still need to put in more school rooms, at some point. Additionally I am considering some tomes to help with role play issues (ie on subjects of alignments/ethos/race/class) possibly. New maps have been added in the area.

* Aquest for Pyramid of OgDoad has been progressed another stage but still needs finalized. My ideas on that are cementing, just not had time to bring them to fruition. Mprogs take me so long to formulate and get working properly.

* I got off my worn out hide today and revamped the Rime and Slasher Retreat area quests, with the help of Meathe. Was approaching the problem from a direction that didn't pan out and his ideas and rewrites easily fixed the problem in a way i totally didn't see before (doy me).

I am excited by the premise of new immortals and projects on the horizon.