Balladeer

Jewels: Goodness Nikki, I don't think I've been pseudo inebriated since... well... since Diki's stories. Gimme the strongest stuff you got. Nikki pours Jewels a glass of rainbowish tonic that she's never seen before. She raises a questioning eyebrow at him. Jewels: Uh, that looks like motor oil... Nikki: You said you wanted the strongest stuff. If you can't handle it... Jewels: Give it here. I didn't say nothing about not being able to handle anything. Just curious to know what it is I'm not saying I won't drink. Nikki sniffs it and gives it a good look while he swirls it in the glass. Nikki: I think it's motor oil. Jewels punches him in the arm and he spills some on himself. She snatches the glass before he can spill any more and downs it. After a bout of coughing that doubles her over Jewels manages to stand up and holds out her glass with a stern look in her eye. Jewels: That was the most disgusting thing I've ever tasted! ... Give me 'nother. Don't look at me like that, just give me another drink! And no sissy portion either. Fill 'er all the way to the top. Nikki obliges with his own questioning glance. Nikki: If you're really sure... Jewels just does her best to down the second drink as quickly as she can without gagging on it. The burning fire in her throat keeps her from saying anything else as she hands Nikki back the glass and gives him a weak smile and a thumbs up in lieu of thanks. She coughs her way over to a bus seat and waits for either the pain to subside or the sense deadening drink to kick in.

Jewels hollers out the door after them. Jewels: Good luck! Be careful! And for goodness sake, whatever you do, if you value your opinion of Star Wars at all, stay away from Chewbacca!

That explains it then. So the recycled character types aren't stolen at least. Buttercup = Rainbow Dash Bubbles = Fluttershy Blossom = Apple Jack

[ooc]Wow Sy, it only took you two years. My txt file edit date is 3/21/2010. I'm posting since I've already had it written but... two RP's at the same time? That never ends well for me. [/ooc] --- The sun was setting at the Freeborn Ranch. A total of 200 acres in size, it lay just a few miles north of the port town of Wentsle. Most of the ranch was just open prairie, but a few buildings laid clustered together in the southeastern corner. The mixed smells of fresh cut hay, dust, and manure hung in the air the same as it did every other day. Miss Elizabeth Numay looked up and down the full stables smiling. This spring had been a good one. Five new foals had been born, all very healthy and rather spirited. Business was good. Being a horse breeder was really hard work as all the animals needed care and attention daily, but it was worth it; so rewarding. She loved her horses and enjoyed riding in the open air with them. "Rich, I've finished the brushing and watering. I'm gonna turn in now. How long until you'll be coming up to the house?" Her lone stable hand, Richard Watts, peeked his head out of the stable he was putting fresh hay in. His wavy, grey hair was mussed and had a few stray strands of hay sticking out of it. She had known him since a child and loved him like a father. She didn't know what she'd ever do without him. "I've got three left, Lizzy," he called. "Should take me 15 to 20 minutes." "All right, I'll put the coffee on then." She patted the head of her own Latvian, Denna, one more time before heading away from the stables. A quick shower, a cup of coffee, a short conversation with Rich, and a read in front of the fire; her end-of-the-day routine beconed her to it's comfort. Lizzy looked forward to it. --- [ooc] Wait a minute, you just wanted to get me writing about horses didn't you, Mz. Brony? [/ooc]

Originally Posted By: q. compson Just kidding, because I am jealous I don't understand the appeal of My Little Ponies. I don't understand it either, Nikki. I put it on about the same level as Power Puff Girls, not terrible but not something to watch during prime time. Though I haven't heard of this Dr. Whooves character yet... ps. 'Prime time' = any time I have control of the TV, 'cuz I don't get it all that often in this house.

Jewels finally pulls herself away from her own nostalgic thoughts to get off the bus. Misc... She had never seen it before. A bittersweet smile crosses her face at the ambiance. The tapestry that hangs is a ghostly image. Like a hologram with the light set a bit too bright; the imprint of the image is there but little of substance remains. Only a few threads still shine and even those are often cut short. But what does remain paints an homage to a vibrant, chaotic weaving of colorful thoughts and ideas. Jewels takes care to pick up and follow each thread that still lingers. She lets them gently run through her fingers one by one, commenting to no one in particular. Jewels: One of Al's scarce posts? Wow... Alec, Drakey, TM... all before I knew them. ...So glad I missed the Shotts stuff... Did people really think Pokey was funny? Shouting from an argument startles her and she looks up. Jewels freezes in place. A group of early SW members stand around in a rough circle discussing something they obviously strongly disagree on. Jewels: *thinking to self* They're here... they're really here... Of course they're here, YOU came back in time, half-wit. ... I know, I know... I just didn't expect to see them. I didn't expect to see... him... Oh, cut that out. Keep it together. Don't need you blubbering. Don't you dare. I.. I just miss... I miss... Despite herself, Jewels manages to hold back any emotional showing. She backs away from the group of early SWers. For some reason the thought of talking to them feels like it would be taboo. As she turns around to head back towards the bus the conversation becomes loud enough to over hear. Djur: There's NO possible way the Nephs could win! They just don't have the stamina! Alec: You're counting them out just because they remind you of household cats. But they're NOTHING like regular cats! NEPHILIM DON'T TAKE CATNAPS!! BSR: And just because Sliths are inherently stronger, it doesn't mean that they will last longer. Nephs are faster and can get in more hits to bring them down quicker! TM: Doesn't matter since their hits are so WEAK! BSR: We need a tie breaker... Hey, Saunders... Saunders! A hand grabs Jewels on the shoulder and she turns around with a deer-in-the-headlights look. She's face-to-face with an equally wide-eyed Brave Sir Robin. The rest of the group is walking slowly towards them. BSR: Oh.. Sorry. I thought you were someone else. Haven't seen you around here before, you must be a Newbie. Alec: Doesn't have to be Saunders to be a tie breaker. TM: So Noob... What do you think? Who would win in a fight? The Nephilim or Slithzerikai? Jewels stammers a bit before finding her voice. Jewels: You... you want MY opinion? *The group nods at her.* Well... honestly... it depends on what kind of fight it is. *The group groans but she presses on.* If it's a short battle with equal numbers, chances are the stronger and more hardy Sliths will win out. Not only will they start out with more life points, but they will be harder to do damage to. Djur: HA! See? Even your Noob thinks its the Sliths! Jewels: But... if it's a drawn out war lasting generation after generation over all the land... There are other things that need to be taken into account. Nephils are better suited for the cold climate of the caves because they have their natural fur coat. During colder seasons they are going to be able to move even faster in comparison. Then there's the question of agility. Nephs can move fast and climb better and get themselves into smaller spaces. In a long war they would be better suited to engage in Guerrilla warfare and just pick off the Sliths. And finally if you take a look at our own history... the dinosaurs died out to give way to an ever increasing mammal population. I just don't think the Sliths have it in them to last long term. TM: ... I'm astounded... That's the STUPIDEST thing I've ever heard! Jewels smiles warmly. Jewels: Why, thank you. Much more where that came from, I'm sure. Hope to be astounding you for years to come. Djur and BSR burst out laughing while TM just frowns. Jewels turns and walks back towards the bus with a sigh of contentment. Jewels: I miss that.

Jewels: Aahhhh! My eyes... it BURNS!!! *deep breath* Also... It's the crack in Amy's wall, run for your lives before you become retroactively non-birthed! *deep breath* Also... I hope you're happy with yourself Slarty. On this trip down memory lane I found myself feeling nostalgia for the original Exiles which don't work on this computer, boo. So instead I started playing another game out of my past. Can't... Stop... Fighting... Cows!!

Seeing no other activity at the Arena Jewels starts to walk back to the bus. She is stopped by a wailing voice. Tobuscus: WAIT!! That's MY sword! Jewels looks down at the sword she picked up for the fight. Jewels: Oops... sorry. Didn't mean to take it with me. Here you go... Tobuscus practically rips the sword out of Jewels' hand as she holds it out. His eyes get all big and round as he embraces the sword and strokes the flat of the blade. He mumbles as if talking to the sword. Jewels: Ooo-kay... I'll let you two be alone now. Jewels starts to leave but Tobuscus grabs her arm and starts rambling on so fast she can hardly get a word in edgewise. Tobuscus: Did you see the way it shimmered in the fight? Bet you never saw that before. Made it myself with my own two hands out of diamonds; very expensive. You couldn't afford it, not that its for sale. Doesn't matter anyway 'cuz its the only one there is and no one else can make another one just like it 'cuz I have a patent! See? He shoves a piece of paper in her face too close for her to read it. She politely pushes his arm away. Jewels: That's okay, I don't want one. I couldn't take one with me if I did. Tobuscus: Liar! You're just jealous! Everyone wants this sword! It's freakishly awesome and MADE of DIAMONDS!!!1! Jewels extracts herself as Tobuscus goes back to being a bit too friendly to his . She turns and hurries towards the bus only to reach the place where it was parked with a frown. It looks... different. Jewels: Hey Slarty, what's wrong with the bus? It looks less like a spider and more like a dead horse. Jewels kicks the tires a few times before climbing aboard.

Originally Posted By: Triumph Triumph: So is that how the famous Arena worked, back in the day? Slarty: Nah, things were more methodical back then. Might be fun to make up your own monster. Originally Posted By: Dikiyoba Dikiyoba really should do something about this constant grumpiness. Do we have a medic or healer on board? Abraham Lincoln: Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. Robert Anthony: Indeed. Most people would rather be certain they're miserable, than risk being happy. Mark Twain: Course if you're looking for a remedy the best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up. Androcles: Oh, and here, let me get that thorn out of your foot. That should probably help a bit.

Originally Posted By: Student of Trinity How does one learn to write well? What makes good writing good? Two things occur to me. The first is that it's a fantastic exercise to write a précis, of almost anything. You start with a long text and compress it without losing the key points. It's good just as a brain-trainer, but also the practice helps you both in cutting the fat and stating yourself more clearly while you write. With good writing, the main theme should always be clear. Like a red thread woven into the entire length of a rope; its immediately recognizable at any point. Good practice, yes, if a bit less colorful and informative. My own college writing, though, has been more of the opposite. We are given a few key points and told to expound on them till we reach 750 - 1000 words. Writing fluff, that's what I call it.

He'd be cuter if he didn't look so dead. Who says porcupines aren't cuddly?

The search engine said it was a mouse but I'm pretty sure its not. Rings around its eyes, strip down its back... Chipmunk maybe? Don't know what it is but I know its cute. It would fall in the rodent category at least... pretty sure anyway. In other news: I have run into a resource limit... If this is a volume restriction, SW wouldn't be able to handle one of my normal RP posts.

Jewels punches Xelgion in the arm. Jewels: Hey, bro, what you say we show these guys what a real battle looks like? Xelgion: Wha? You mean flame up out here? In front of all these SWers? Jewels: Why not? We can call it a practice run for the final battle at CalRef. Xelgion: Pfft.. As if I needed practice defeating you. HA! Jewels: You didn't defeat me last time. Come on, what'cha say? Xelgion: *shrugs* It's your funeral. Jewels and Xelgion make their way to the center of the arena smiling smugly at each other. Both of their faces shine with an 'I'm gonna win' confidence. Xelgion: Just practice huh? Jewels: Don't hold anything back. Xelgion: If you say so. Xelgion spins, his whole body erupting into blue flame while a crazed gleam streaks through his eye. The zing of metal against metal rings through the air as he produces a long shining katana. He slashes towards Jewels but it slices only the air in the space where she had just done a backflip away from. Jewels: ... I don't think I want to know where you were hiding that... Xelgion laughs and advances but is forced to take evasive action as two well aimed throwing knives fly out of the air at his head. He quickly lifts his sword to a defensive position in time for the knives to make a metal clang against it rather than a sickening thud into his skull. Xelgion looks a little bit startled. Xelgion: Haven't seen those before... Jewels: *smirks* Picked them up at an AIMHack game while playing Casper Willis. Xelgion: But that's not fair! If we're practicing for the Character Battle, you can only use stuff from your FT character. Jewels: Bah... Never really did like rules. Good men don't need rules. Xelgion: Is that why you have so many? Jewels ignores his barb and erupts into red flame mirroring the look of Xelgion if a bit curvier. She rushes to the sidelines where a rack of weapons sits waiting for the other arena contestants and pulls out her own sword. Xelgion doesn't look happy at this evening of the playing field but he makes no further complaint. The pair starts circling each other scorching the earth beneath their feet. Their red and blue fires flicker in a hypnotic invitation for everyone to watch more intently. Like an intricate dance they start to lunge and parry, jump and counter. At the same time their swordless hands form small baseball sized fireballs to be launched at each other intermittently. Both take care to avoid the end of the other's sword, but a good amount of the fireballs find their target. Other than being a seeming annoyance, though, the fireballs do little more than provide an added light show for the audience. In short order both begin to float, first a few inches above the ground then a few feet. They zip across the arena floor striking and blocking, spinning and throwing, until both start to look weary from the effort. Eventually they make it back to the center of the arena with little more energy left than to continue to circle each other. Unseen by the onlookers they exchange mischievous fiery looks and nod at each other. Just for show Jewels starts to grow one more fireball in her hand and Xelgion starts to do the same. The magical flames grow to be the size of basketballs. At an invisible cue, they both send their crackling projectiles towards each other at an incredible velocity. They collide in the center becoming a bright flash of purple for a second before a sonic wave rips outward in a circular ripple knocking everything that isn't nailed down backwards a few feet. The thunderous crack that accompanies the wave is almost deafening. Both Jewels and Xelgion are thrown to their backs along with quite a few spectators. Those on the sidelines groan while the pair in the arena just laugh. The force of the blast put out their flames so they get to their feet in human form. Xelgion: Heh. That didn't really feel like a battle practice to me. Jewels: Nope, but is sure was fun, eh?

Wha? You mean this one? Click to reveal.. (Not for Aran's eyes) Nah. I was saving that for later.

It may affect my opinion of the other games that I haven't actually played Nethergate or Geneforge. If I played them, my favorite may indeed change. I bought both of them but at the time when my free time was dwindling. I was hoping my kids would want to play eventually but even that is not panning out. They are more fickle than I...

Blaspheme!! Nothing holds a candle to The Doctor's Wife. "Biting's excellent. It's like kissing. Only there's a winner."

Exile 2 was my first game. Blades of Exile is still my favorite.

Jewels eyes Lt. Sullest as he sullenly gets back on the bus. How anyone could have missed the musical call that it was time to go is beyond her. Jewels: 1998... Ashley was born. I was just starting to get use to being a stay at home mom with way too much time on my hands. Computer gaming, here I come! @Nikki: U no like Doodlebops? Wha about teh Wiggles??

Nikki, Nikki, Nikki, Nikki, Nikki! Come back and play with us some more Nikki! It's your fault I went there in the first place. Unfortunately the original post that references was eaten in the 08/08/08 disaster. Boo... (or at least my quick search couldn't find it.)

Me thinks we need some theme music. In the spirit of keeping the party going Jewels plugs in a and starts singing along. The other Refugee members get into it dancing together and providing harmonies. Bus driver Slarty starts rapping with the beat. Jewels & the Refugees: ~ Do do do do. Let's get on the bus. Do do do do do. Do do do do. Let's get on the bus. Do do do do do. Let's get on the bus.~ Slarty: It's time to go. Jewels & the Refugees: ~Let's get on the bus.~ Slarty: Hey don't you know. Jewels & the Refugees: ~Let's get on the bus.~ Slarty: Go here to there. Jewels & the Refugees: ~Let's get on the bus.~ Slarty: Go everywhere! Jewels & the Refugees: ~Come with me and we'll see all there is to see. You can be who you want to be. We can go anywhere today. Yeah, yeah. Its okay. We know Slarty always knows the way. All aboard there's no time to delay. Come along we can sing and play. Yeah, yeah. Do do do do. Let's get on the bus. Do do do do do.~ Slarty: It's time to go. Jewels & the Refugees: ~Do do do do. Let's get on the bus. Do do do do do.~ Slarty: It's time for the show. Jewels & the Refugees: ~Do do do do. Let's get on the bus. Do do do do do.~ Slarty: Go here to there. Jewels & the Refugees: ~Do do do do. Let's get on the bus. Do do do do do.~ Slarty: Go everywhere. Hey come on, we're gonna take a bus ride. Yeah, come on, we're gonna take a bus ride. Yeah come on inside, we're gonna take a bus ride. Everybody on board, strike a cord. We're gonna take a bus ride. Jewels & the Refugees: ~Do do do do do.~ All of the straggling members still outside the bus manage to find their ways on board during the song. When it finishes the bus erupts in cheers and calls for encores that are waved off by all participants. Instead more party music is pumped out of the speaker system.