General Rant

I hate finding myself in the disagreeable position of being able to see both sides of a view point.. when I am on one side of it.

A city warning was posted at the door because someone has been complaining the grass in the backyard is a few inches too long.

on the one hand, I understand how people don't want a junkyard located in the middle of their neigborhood but.. doesnt this seem just a little bit overzelous? I mean, what did they do? get out a ruler and sneak over the back fence in the middle of the night to measure the grass blades?

There was one for a downed tree branch as well. not a big one, mind you.
and one for having a vehicle parked alongside the side fence.
I'm still waiting to get one for jaywalking across my front lawn... or.. getting one for actually having a tree.. obstructing binocular views of my porch.

Must be some seriously bored unhappy people around the neigborhood I live in. They are so bored of their own business they have to stick their noses over the fence to complain about mine. and here I always thought living in the countryside ment space.. a private life....

I guess I have to move further out.
Its too bad really. It's a really sweet place and in a nice spot too.

the blehs

here I am.. bored practicly to tears... nothing seems to catch my interrest of late. not even that of a really good book. I'm in something of a quandry as to which way to turn next. which direction I should go... and getting nowhere with all the indesision. Sure hope I can pull myself back out of the middle of the doldrum swamp soon. this situation gets really old with me fast.

stunned sorrow

Wow... I am once again stunned by the cold ferocity potential in people. Even though I have have been through soo mamy lows and highs of life's hardships, I always seem to feel so very sheltered and somehow oblivious upon hearing of such horrible violent news... that could, and has, happened in normaly mundane and peaceful enviroments.

My heart goes out to those who have suffered at the hands of such senceless anger as seen in the news of late, as well as to thier families whose grief cannot be measured in mere words.


I recall a time... when I found myself unwittingly under the iron fist of abuse. It took me many years to get over the hurt, anger and pain of it all.. untill I gradually realized... they might be now beyond the laws of man, but they hurry so, to face the ultimate judge's ruling, for which they shall be made acountable... no escape, no fast-talkin deals.

I'm actually glad of this, because I am certain I would make a terrible judge, already biased, as I am, against them. I'm afraid I'd be tempted to do something to them quite a bit lower, or at least as vile as they did to thier victims. Not something I'm pleased to admit, but at least its truthful eh?

Soo..for some reason, finally groking this, has caused me to release the grudge I harbored inside. I no longer feel the pained-anger quite so much. Rather, I simply feel profound saddness that such things happen. Sad that, in defence for my own future, I have had to stuff a year or so of my growing years into a mentally bound-up 'box' and stash it in the blocked-off 'painfull-moments' section of my mind, so I can get on with living.
Yeah, I forgive them for being such infernal idiots.. and will leave it up to the bigguy to deside what, if anything, should be done with them in life's aftermath.

Besides, holding all the bitterness inside was just eating me up, not any help whatsoever, so it was with some relief that I finally got shed of it.

Oops_there she goes again

Once more, the random ill-timed portal has swept me away from my home in Dereth and I have found myself standing outside the gates, sadly looking in. Who only knows how long it will be before I can once more respond to Asherons Call. Bleh.. I'm feeling lonely already!
I may be something of a fool at times, but this isn't much of an April joke. heh.. Guess Its time to slide back into the saddle on another "gamin" pursuit. I'll get back to you on this, I'm sure.

Sorry for the long time between posts, btw.

Another portal

Welcome to the first of another month.

This evening, Indy and I were enjoying a moments respite at the villa, trying to gather the rest of the household in one place and settle old squabbles. When urgent news came to us that the Prince of Dereth was going to try to open a portal to Bur... a strange land that dear asheron had been taken when he was abducted by the new undead. (I was wondering just where those nasty critters were coming from!) Indy desided to go help out and ran off to the summoning site outside holt.

She was on her way up the hill when a whole group of very nasty creatures hissed into being around and behind her. thankfully, the warrioress knew to beat feet, and she zowwed through the essembly, trailing unliving horror in her wake.

After a quick turn-about, she joined in the fight, helping to mow over several bunches of the undead spell-casters.. then just as she thought she might just make it through to the portal's opening, her world halted and the next thing she knew, she was standing at the lifestone.

Under previous agreement, I shed bunches of things weighing me down for a dash to the site to see what help I could give. I got there just as the portal went up and watched as several of Dereth's finest and fittest warriors carefully stepped through, leaving me enveloped in the silence of aftermath.

I found Indy's body, lying near the portal steps along with several others who had died protecting the prince.

There are those, who growl and complain about such massive events like this one, even while it is yet going on. It was a needed thing though. We had the one chance..
Was it better to have remained ignorant of this opportunity of rescue? the nay-sayers seem to think so.

Asheron is needed... safe, and away from the decaying claws and screeing enemies of all of Dereth.
To the warriors who answer the call, as well as those who scorn the action.. this means life and freedom for all of us. I'm not really sure why you doomsayers cry so loudly at times.

Strange how it all seems something of a reflection of another battle... ongoing even now. Sure makes one wonder, doesn't it?

Welcome to the New Year

I have managed to spend a bit of time out at frost haven on VT. Fortunatly, most of the folks I have met, are friendly and willing to share excess coals in the aftermath of Scold's destruction. The other evening, Indy and I got to meet up with some UK friends

There was a quest invite too! I bowed out as it sounded far too dangeous for me, but Indy gladly accepted a 'wolf' guide for the flagging. She then got this marvelous tour of the Viam islands and loved the company so much (they have much in common) she laughed off the death (due to buffs falling in the middle of a Ruk settlement)and was thankful never-the-less, that her guide thought to take her back for her things. The rest and hardest part of the quest takes place later today. I do hope its as much fun for her as the tour was. :)

I also got a letter from a friend in the realm of NWN. Drum, who is a goblin, has been enjoying life on an Italian server of late. Which is funny to me, as he seems more adept at gobbledee-speak then he is at any other known language.

He tells me that he ran into a few difficulties this last evening. He had joined a group with a friend of his, who was watching, with some small trepidation, as the rest of the party went about the task of beating on some very nasty mobs. Just one of which could likely kill either one of the two of them if not both together. At one point, the group leader had died and asked for resurection. Drum's friend didn't have a res rod, so asked Drum to help. Goblin's are, by thier very nature, something of a cowardly lot... but Drum carefully made his way to the fallen leader, brought him back... then quickly ran for the nook they had been standing in, once more.
Since Drum was now out of rods as well, he elected to return to town and get another.. asking his friend to let him know when the leader was close enough for him to safely return. She asked if he would fetch a rod for her as well... so he did and gave it to her on his return.
After a moment, the leader had returned to the now regathered group... and attacked Drum's friend... who killed him in total surprise! After he was again brought back, he booted the friend from the party. Drum was rather upset and confused as to why the group leader would do this. He writes that he got two messages from the ensuing conversation.
The leader thought Drum's friend was dragging exp from the group for standing there and not helping. And that it didn't help that she didn't speak Italian.. on an Italian server. (Drum tells me, this was not so, exp-wise, as the lowest member of the party actually boosts exp for all members of the group.)
Sometime after this, he writes, another member of the now desolved group, joined with the two of them to go after the big bears. But they popped into the middle of those horrible mobs from before and were killed while the 'joiner' left them to thier fate completely. Drum has since been added to a dislike list himself for being a party to all of this.

I realize it all likely arose from a misunderstanding. The group was not privy to the convo about the res rods between Drum and his friend. Both wanted to be of help, however they could... but it aparently wasn't good enough.
On the upside, if one can be said to be had, He thinks there are still a few friendlys on the server.
Perhaps he might yet come out of this with only a few scars to show.. or perhaps he has been soured to the server as a whole now and will no longer adventure there... I'm not sure.
It's a shame when people are like this.. simply because of a language difference. Personally, I greatly enjoy getting to meet and making friends with people from many different walks of life... From many different places around the world. There is so much of interrest to learn from one-another.

Ciao :)

Christmas fun!

Indy related this fun tale of the time she came against the horrible snowmonster out in the north diamond golem country. This last Evening, she was out escorting a clanmate to the snowman village when the monster showed up and stomped all over this one snowfellow's carrot patch. As there were already several battling the moneter, she didn't think much of it at first, finally bringing out her wand for a couple of vuln-type spells. Then she heard one of the fighters complain that this monster had some amazing endurence. so when the monster came her way after a particularly well-cast spell, she brought out sword and shield to join the battle. It took quite some time to fell the beast, and quite a bit of assistance... then, before the troop could catch a moments breath, along comes Scorn the magma golem. Exclaiming to the clannie surprise at having to meet up with the golem again so very soon, she again launched into battle. afterwich, having oportunity to look on some of the corpses, they found coals and frozen gifts.

So it was a beaming Indy that met me at the villa, and in her arms, she held this sweet doll house! ahh.. now if we could just locate the holiday lights before the season is too quickly over!

Perhaps I should take a jaunt over the mountains to the snowman village this evening.

The portal Opens once more

Finally, the portal snapped back into some clarity and I was once more able to reach Dereth. Just in time for the Christmas season too! Snow lies thick all around the villa. It's so beautiful!

Someone has taken it upon themselves to install an icebox in the middle of the place.. head of the stairs, just off from my room, and I'm freeeezing!! After the first couple of minutes standing there shivering, I put on all the clothing and armor I possessed.. and I'm Still cold! Gotta get that icebox thingie OUT of the villa! It's frosting over the stairs! Whose big bright idea was it to put this thing in here anyway?!! *growl* when I get hold of whoever it was...

ANYway!
It IS good to be back.. although it somehow seems quieter then ever now.

Indy has picked up a penguin pet from somewhere. its perfectly adorible! I'm starting to think she's becoming obsessed though. If she starts trying to build a giant-sized "ship-o-critters" in the nearby lake, I'll consider shoving her through the next portal to Neopia. She'd prolly love it... likely she'd try to bring Pyxie back with her too.

Holiday blues and intros

The portal mess-ups continue, barring me from Dereth for quite a bit longer then I imagined. This is really sad for me, because I always seem to feel so... cut-off...bereft... when this happens. A bit, I think, like suddenly losing the use of one's thumbs might feel like.

I did get this rather nice letter from a friend of mine over in one of the many NWN server worlds. His name is Westlin...

Dear Sinshae,

Greetings to you from the sandy lands of NWN! It's been a bit since I have last written you, this is true. I have been searching for sometime now for another home where I would not forever feel like My poor lil gargoyley self is being hunted. Perhaps at last, I have found such a peaceful roost... and a couple of rather nice friends as well.
One of which is a vampire. her peculiar tastes in beverage notwithstanding, she has quite a busy personality, always up to something or off to somewhere exciting! but certainly quite pleasent company.
The other is called Kiku, a rather lovely gargie such as myself, I must say. Kiku is perhaps the only other such that I have ever seen in this land.
I have also made the aquaintence of a rather strange fellow called Meouh, who not only delights in trailing after me wherever I roam, but also to help guard my rather glosy-black self and carry whatever packs I give into keeping without a single complaint.
The wonders never seem to end!

Perhaps you might someday come to visit me here. I would be pleased to introduce you to some of the people and places in the area.

Wups, Meouh is gotten himself into a bit of a fix with several disagreable Stingers and needs my attention. More at a later time.

Care and Caring,
"West"

Thanksgiving..

Don't you just wish life were a bit like a game at times? so you could save your spot and if things don't work out right, you can simply return to that spot and start again? I sure do.

Portals to Dereth are not working again. Probibly due to the chaotic weather that is going on in my area. It certainly does make for some interresting times. Kind of keebashes my plans to meet up with an old friend in Sho town within the 14 day limit. I was so hoping to help get him aquainted with the lay of things too. Sure hope these portals get back to stability before the new month. It would be horrible to miss the best season ever. I love the fun to be had at the villa after first snowfall. Everyone breaks out the parkas and mits and has a snowman-making party in the yard.

I have been spending idle moments with a small furry friend called Pyxie, over at Neopets. He certainly leads an interresting life, full of games and exploring. Its like a much cuter version of Dereth! :)

Hope you all are having a fun yet cozy holiday season this year.

A Very Magical Mistake

I'm afraid to say, I recieved a Derethan title for which I am rather ashamed. you see, there was this rather decayed fellow in town, begging for certain items.. I was warned by my Patron, that this creature would turn on us... and yet, I desided to help it out a little... giving it one of my precious oils.

Then, just as predicted, it turned with a grin and attacked us. I fled, trying to figure out just what was going on, I had naught but the most basic of protective spells on me and was not ready for an invasion of undead. I was pursued by several of the summoned undead, so I quickly jumped up onto something so I would be out of reach. looking over to the roadside, I saw this nasty creature which had asked for help moments before, casting some horrible spells at the quickly essembled warriors of Dereth, and couldn't keep myself for doing what I could to help. my spells landed with resounding thumps likely surprising me more then anyone.. or thing, else. This lasted several long moments, my delight in the successful spells obvious.. untill it turned to me with a snarl. I knew I was in trouble then... I saw the oncoming fireball fill my vision with red.. and then the swirl of the lifestone portal. There I stood.. still sizzling from the event, beside the gently turning blue stone.

So I called Indy in from where she had been hunting in the valley of death. Along with several of the brave warriors, including our own handsome guild member, Baldar, and two trips to the lifestone later, Indy helped to rid the town of the undead at last.

When I returned to regather my items a bit later, it was as if nothing had ever happened. birds twittered, butterflies floated on the slight breeze.. a silence broken only by the occational crackle of the statue fireworks, which were going off in a birthday celebration.

Afterwards, Indy finally managed to locate a "sezz gem" which she has been hunting for now, for weeks. She claims it will help her gain access to a newly descovered island.

I am happy for her, .. truely.. its just... I still feel a bit of shame of my blindly trusting nature... The loss of my oil.. and vitae to make up for all my eforts.. is all it brought me.

In rememberence.. for the future

There once was this fellow... I never really got to meet him, although I often heard his voice in my life's walk. He has now left us, yet his messages still stand ever as true today as they ever were.

Here is the evening's inspiration for you. Listen to what he has to say. Can you feel it also?
Link
--'-,@

Portal Patched and Welcome Homecoming

I finally got back to Dereth a day or so ago. People are still working on the better portal connection thing.. but at least I was able to make it back in one whole piece.

The first thing I noticed was all the scratched up walls and such in the villa. It rather looked like a clawed tornado had gone about attempting to scour the walls.

Then Indy walked in, followed by the sweetest little bear-cat I think I have ever seen. It rompt about the room while she caught me up on many of the happenings gone on since my leave-taking, including the very nasty presence of shadow forms near the town of Arwic. I am told that the portal to tou-tou is just about blocked off by something red and black with 4 arms... something that nearly killed her when she got near the portal. Nearly killed Indy? Just for getting close to a portal that for a long time now, has been an easy route to tou-tou? I think, at one point or another all of us have used that portal. including several loaded down members of the household! And hear I thought that many-armed flying ugly Grael had finally been taken down...and apart! If so, what are those critters still doing at the tou-tou portal in Arwic?

Making a mental note to avoid that whole area, I went off to figure out where Indy got the pet. After running about for about a half-hour on errands of message dilivery, I finally got my own little pet. a mushroom like critter who, if nothing else, is quite good at keeping up with me. (somehow I think Indy and I should have traded, since she is soooo much faster a runner then I am.)

I then ran into a sweet somewhat smaller version of a friend of mine thought to have left for parts unknown some time ago. Seeing my cute swiftly moving pet, it was decided lil H. might also like one sooo, Off we went on the errend once more. (I'm starting to think I need to open a delivery service.) and a new bear-kitty was soon to be had.

Just the same. It's good to be back in Dereth again.

Sudden Memory Clips 2

I remember... my dad.

He had his 'very cool' moments, my dad did. I remember him tackling the waving grass in the field across from our home... a task that took him days to complete,... simply so that the neighborhood children had a place to play ball.

The 'family project' every year, where we would go across the way to an older lady's house to stomp out the high thick grass/weeds there with mighty golf swings of our hand threshers... and the bitter grumbling from my brother, who had things he would much rather be doing.

Camping out at the lake... ah the beauty and fresh smell of an evergreen canopy coupled with the timelessness of the lake.. wavelets gently lapping the muddy shoreline and me, watching from where I sat on the shore, near the warmest bit of shallow water I could find, my toes curling into the soft mud under it all.

Taking me with him to work for a drowsey yet exilerating evening of working the plow and sander on the icy roads. The snow falling from the night heavens always seemed to facinate me, so much so that I invaribly got a crick in my neck from trying to watch as it settled on my cheeks and eyelashes. Once, he stood and watched it fall with me.. for a time. The silence of the moment seemed.. comfortable, I think.

What a bear he would become if he was desturbed while at work and how, if truely angered, you -seriously- didn't wish to be the one for whom his wrath was dirrected... often in the form of Roaring! and a doubled belt or stinging willow switch from the tree around back.

The night, one of the brood of our evil nasty neighbors, the 'paw-can's', threw a mushy apple through his window screen, thinking it was one of us kids... and dad's quick march through the living room, trying his robe belt with a jerk and snatching up a switch before heading out the door into the dark... and hearing just when the kid was caught, about 2 blocks away, by his agonizing howl of dismay and sudden pain.

His 'spring-chicken' exuberance, the bounce in his step and laughter in his eyes, his 'fainting fists' as if he were going punch you in the side, which we always took for a 'tickle' gesture... since it was, coming from him. and we would flinch away and laugh... everytime.

The many times he recited the cow-jumping-over-the-moon poem, which, for some reason, always got me to laughing myself silly. Maybe it was more his delight in having gotten me to laugh then the poem itself, that had the tears of laughter spilling down my cheeks. Delight was most certainly his best look.

New Years evening, when we would all gather snowsuits, boots, hats and blankets, and bundle into the sleigh for a dash across the midnight landscape to awaken our neighbors with whoops and squeals of joy in which to bring in the new year. then a final gathering at my Uncle Phil's house to help anounce the arrival with clapping, yelling, and great snow-dancing blasts followed by a sombering starwatch before heading back home... which I never seemed to stay awake for... and my dad would carry me, blanket, hat, boots and all, to bed.

The desperate saddness/stillness/stiffness that would overcome him at odd times after mom died. Missing her and knowing he still had to carry on for us... because we needed him, even though there were times, one or the other of us would deny it. He would sometimes say, he hoped to 'go home' someday to be with her again.
....He finally did too. I think, perhaps, with some of that childlike exuberence that brought him and mom together in the first place. I believe in the end result, he was truely delighted to finally be on his way. I am happy he finally got to see mom again after all this time... but there are times.. I really do miss him... its a melencoly thing, really. I'm glad I had the chance to know the man a little. He had this way about him... and some 'very cool' moments, which always seemed to pale the bad times into practical non-existance for me. He was a gruff back-woods stubbren old man whose good times, I think, were well worth whatever bad times we had.


----
And as a footnote to the evening.. a personal note to the big bearded fellow who, one time in history, tossed me out through a door and locked it, growling that I had no idea... like something out of an old Nancy Drew novel.
I know this, mystery brute, the past as we know it, is still ours. My grandpapa knew it too, thats why I wanted to look. You.. what you did... more supported his words, in my mind, then not. What was it, I wonder that you sought so hard to cover up? Was it more then the words in a dusty old book? More then my family's tight-lipped silence, perhaps? Is the skeleton truely dead and buried yet? I think not. I think my Grandpapa knew the truth of it.. and my dad did too. Even you seemed to know more then you were willing to share. Mystery, I'm afraid, fuels curiousity in me. Are you still somehow watching, I wonder. lol! Well, I certainly hope you didn't think I just... forgot about the incident. That would have been very clueless of you.
Perhaps I will share more of this at a later time. Watch this space, friend. One never knows... does one. :) Besides, it might be nice to hear from you again, when next I manage to ping a nerve, eh? Otherwise I might truely have 'no idea....'

God Bless America... America Bless God

The big event in Icewind Dale was something of a bust as we couldn't seem to get past the magical ice door no matter our eforts of killing nearly everything that moved within the temple, (and even a few things that didn't) and searching every nook and cranny over the length of several floors. So I was allowed to return to town and see if my transport back to Dereth had shown. It had not. It seems somewhere.. somehow, someone forgot to import the code needed to cause the needed pole to go active, so now there's another wait for someone to finally take the initive to activate the pole so I can return back to Dereth's shores.

On the other hand, I did manage to get a short message from Kita. she said something about a 'pet kitty' ravaging her room while she was away to town. Sounds like I'm going to need to purchase a sturdy lock for my own door! Maybe a few thick pieces of wood for a brace as well, if it's the 'kitty' type I'm thinking of... They grow rather large in Dereth.

In other news, I hear a fellow, rather famous for tangling with toothy crocs, had died of recient. Truely I am sorry to hear this. He was something of a marvel with how he delt with some of the more ferocious critters out there.. not with power-over-another attitude many seem to have in great abundance, but rather, with great respect for not only what the critters could do, but seemlingly, for what and who they were. Although, certainly, he didn't leave this realm within the jaws of the repiles he was famous for, at least he died doing what he loved and lived for.

And since I'm on the subject... This is also the aniversery of a horrible event I would hope would not be forgot anytime soon as it might serve as a reminder that our lives within the realm of the real world and especially here in America, is precious indeed. This country was brought together by admirable men and women with a solid belief in a Godly nation with freedom for its people. We can vote for changes, We have the rights and freedom to speak, publish, and assemble. ++
We, as well, have a basic right to exist.. Thousands of lives were lost in the span of a single crushing day, not in an accident or in a known 'war' where we knew the risks, but by the vile and low tactics of a hidden terrorist group across the sea. After the dust settled, and the silence rang on for a time, stun turned to outrage.. and outrage turned to reaction. No longer could we stand by and watch as our own people, our very lives, as well as everything we, as a country, stand for, be rolled over and crushed like that. Several song quotes says it well for me....

"From the sound up in Long Island out to San Francisco Bay And ev'ry thing that's in between them is our home. And we may have done a little bit of fighting amongst ourselves, But you outside people best leave us alone, Cause we'll all stick together and you can take that to the bank That's the cowboys and the hippies and the rebels and the yanks. You just go and lay your hand on a Pittsburgh Steeler fan, And I think you're gonna finally understand" -Charlie Daniels

"I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free, And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me, And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God Bless the U.S.A." -Lee Greenwood

"My country, 'tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrims' pride, From every mountain side Let Freedom ring." -Traditional

"O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain. America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea." -Traditional

"God Bless America. Land that I love Stand beside her, and guide her Thru the night with a light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies , To the oceans, white with foam. God bless America My home sweet home." -Irving Berlin


++ quick reference: 1st amendment
www.usconstitution.net/constquick.html

Its the ol Back n Forth

Today we spent meandering about and heading back to the store, then back out.. and back to the store again, in what felt for sure was an unceasing cycle. It got so I couldn't figure which one is was they I couldn't stand to see next, the snow or the store. ugh! yeesh those frozen templites sure carried a lot of junk on them!
I'm kinda missing the folks back in Dereth. I have heard they are having issues with a giant black spider thing.. I certainly don't miss that! but I have heard there are a few more people stepping through the portals now, .. something about points of interrest, and.. oh! a new island has been descovered as well! I mean another new island of course. a bit less dangerous perhaps then the first two 'new' islands to have been descovered within the last year. ahh well, perhaps I might just be headed home toward the end of the month or somesuch. keeping fingers crossed, as the saying goes. :)

Sudden Memory-Clips 1

Every once in a while I seem to suddenly recall a snapshot of memory.. from when I lived beyond the shores of Dereth. Since I feel that these moments might be important to me or to someone as yet in my future, I'll recount them here.

I remember...

leaning over the side of a blue wagon and drooling icecream over it's side as I tried to somehow to keep it all together under the hot summer sun. ohh what a mess!

sitting in a 'covered' wagon, playing card games with my eldest sister, (was that hearts or steal-the-pack?) and wondering what was yet to come.

sitting on the bedroom floor playing stuffed animals with my big sister (not the same as my eldest sister) and whiling away hours and hours without the slightest notice.

skipping home in the early thaw. ahh springtime! ...pausing near a puddle of slushy ice-water and looking up the still somewhat snowy street at the houses nestled there along the side of the road. ..of delighting to see the now dead and smushed fall leaves being unveilled once more from under a snowbank. .. the wet sidewalks.. ..smelling the fresh and yet somehow earthy scent I always seemed to assosiate with the season. ..hearing the constant dripdripdrip of the snow melting off the trees and the cool sound of dribbling water. .. of smelling the rich scent of evergreen that I only ever seemed to notice so much at this time of the year. ...of taking my first leaps outside the door in my summer shorts and skidding out of control across the snow in my sandals. WeEeE!!!!

Half-Wits, Half-Dead and Total Distractions.

Morning dawned beautifully in this mountains today, the only peace I have had all day.. and it was too soon over as we sally'd forth (without any sally) to tackle the keep entry. This of course was after sweet snake managed to charm the local druid-types.. not without fatalities though. We then got some even sweeter revenge on the stinky half-draco ijit who killed the druid's sister.. and got in our way.

It would have been nice though, if we had managed to actually put together a working plan before walking into the room, out of the room, into the room, and out again. I hate milling about when something is shooting at me! I expended -all- of my heal spells.. yes, even the little cure lights, on the group, running to and fro while they wandered about sliding on the ramp and getting themselves debuffed or somesuch silliness.

After that, we settled down for the evening next to the fellow who got himself swallowed by a big bug (mm bug burgers... uch) and Snake told us this odd story about this paladin, who had gotten captured by a deamon and soul-forged with a dark knight who then had to work at escaping together. From the odd look of revulsion of Kish's face, I'd guess she might have actually known the paladin in the story. It makes me wonder a bit about the whole good-bad thing.

Well enough is enough, and I'm beat. Time to sack out and hope tomarrow sees us inside this overnight glacier and quickly out the other side.
(Hhehe better here then in the South's raging heat wave, thats for sure. I think My poor PBTC (person behind the character) is likely melted completely away by now. See if you can picture it.... Snow, Ice, Cool breeze! Don't you all feel just a bit better now? :)

Bear with me now...

You Are A: Bear Cub!

Bears are strong and independent creatures who roam in the forest in search of food. Bears are usually gentle, but anger one and be prepared for their full fury! Intelligent and resourceful, though lazy at times, you are a fascinating creature of the wild.

What Cute Animal Are You?

My pals and me got all the way up to the mountain where the dwarf dumped us in the snow. Now that we are here, we are wandering about looking for wherever the town's rescue party got themselves to that they should need rescuing from us.

I tell ya, those huge white bears are not the friendliest of chaps. About as how-do-you-do as the giants have been. humph... its not like we threw the first boulder or anything.

Glad, I am, to have brought along a pair of fuzzy snow boots, or I'd be shivering to beat the band like Pip has been... nothing like a healthy teeth chatter to ruin the plans of the sneakiest of rogues. Lol!

SunnyElf on Vacation

I should have known Kish had something up her sleeves when she invited me out to thier place for the summer. I mean, alright, I knew Icewind would be chilly... and packed for it.. but I should have realized Snake, Flick, Kish, Zack and Pip had some adventure planned. Sure enough, I wasn't there a day when off we went.. trying to save some township from a goblin invasion. Kish was in usual paladin form, doing the 'noble' thing and refusing rewards right, left, and sideways. It makes it a bit of a cramp when trying to aford better armor, let me tell ya. Then off goes pip trying to show up some of the town militia with his OooO amazing xbow abilities! ...Took him several tries to do any -real- damage to that barrel in the first place, but, I suppose his much more amazing fast-talk abilities were what really won him that bow. and well.. it was rather nice of him to give the bow to me afterward. It's been of better use then that ol sling Zack seems to get such a kick out of.
I have to admit also, the snow is a bit of a relief from Dereth's opressive heat spell. Whew!
It's also rather nice to have such a close group to share time with, I can always be sure someone will pick up my bod and drag it back to safety (and a healer), rather then having to run across hostile landscape from the lifestone, looking for I last left myself at and hoping the critter that killed me isn't still there waiting to do it again. Lol!

Btw, did you see the skysparkles this year? I nearly missed them this time around. Wow! those twisty dracos up there sure looked like they were having fun.. diving, as they were, in and out of the clouds and spouting all those different colored sparks at eachother.