The Convention

I never posted about the convention we went to as I promised, so HERE YA GOO!!!

The following photos are courtesy of TheJazzPony's dad. He was going to be the Lusty Renaissance Barmaid but declined.

(it was the only costume we had that would fit him :3 )

The crew of the mighty wind-something-or-other (windwalker maybe?)

Left to Right:

Our Engineer: TheJazzPony, Our Captain: Niitari, Our Medic: AniSkyguy, Our First Mate and Chef: Oniyurii, Our Navigator: CivilWarBuff.

Those are NOT our actual names, haha. I'm just using them so you can't stalk them. TheJazzPony is my BFF that I talk about on here a lot. She's also Flynn Thatcher on rp sites. Me, of course you know me. AniSkyguy rps on my Hunger Games site often. Oniyurii is my brother, as well as the Oniyurii who joined Aisthesis and Evanescent Penumbra. CivilWarBuff is a Civil War Buff and he's pretty awesome.

We all had actual names for our characters, but I don't remember AniSkyguy's or CivilWarBuff's. So yah.

AniSkyguy. There's a pirate in the background.

Anyway, she had the best effin costume ever! I am determined to do a photoshoot with each individual someday so yall can admire our epic costumes in color.

The Engineer, the Navigator, and the Captain. My lame attempt at being smug. CivilWarBuff looks so badass in those glasses.

One of the minifigures during our campaign. Specifically JazzPonyDad's.

The Engineer gets campaign tactical advice from her sparkly space mouse that perches on her shoulder.

CivilWarBuff rolls his dice. Yah!

We have such weird looks. I really don't remember what was said. Probably something stupid.

Those fluffy growths on our shoulders are actually handmade puppets we bought from a vendor at Bristol Renaissance Faire. Her is a white and gray, sparkly space mouse named Moondust. Mine is an ice blue and white griffin named Taikatalvi. They were $60 and $120 respectively (the latter being the price of a decent katana D: )

So this is what all went down in Milwaukee!

We all arrived at the lovely time of 8am and walked around aimlessly. We signed in the registrar, where we were approached by a man in a t-shirt wearing a hat with those steampunk goggles. "Come check out my campaign demo! It's a Savage Worlds game but it's a steampunk world!" he said, and he handed out little card things advertising it. (note: savage worlds is similar to Dungeons and Dragons, only it has a different rule set)
"Yes of course we will, oh strange one," we all replied as he ran off. Not really, but I did think him strange.
So we decided to go to a DnD Pathfinders campaign at 2:00. But since that was 6 hours away, we decided to kill time doing other things. We checked out a LARPing game but voted "neigh". Then we looked at a Firefly board game. It was full. Well, not too far away was that guy in the shirt and the steampunk goggle-hat. We thought, "meh, might as well. We got time to kill."
And so began our TEN HOUR LONG GAME!
We took an hour break for lunch, and since we all wound up at the same restaurant, we all ate together.
We had such a blast that day! The game we played was called Steamscapes North America, now available in stores (I think). However, since we played so long, we would have probably finished the entire campaign.
But we didn't.
We came to a point in the plot where we weren't sure what to do. So we decided to go off tangent and do something totally unexpected. Essentially, we killed his entire plot, skipped the last few chapters of the campaign, and launched right into his unmade second edition called Steamscapes Asia.
We were all sworn to secrecy about what we did since the game has not been released (all those legal issues). But as soon as Steamscapes Asia hits the market, I will happily revisit this topic and tell yall about our grand adventure.


So yah, that is a short blurb about the convention! I finally fulfilled a promise! Aren't yall happeh!

Farewell minions!

Da Big Ol' Update Y'all Have(n't) Ben Waiting 4

So it's been a long time since I last spammed you all with my lame drawings and shiz. So now that I've found some breathing space, I will go through the arduous task of spamming you all with my life. (joy -.-)
(note, I profusely use the word kick-ass in this post. if you are against abusing donkeys because something was so awesome that martial-arting an equine is the only way to express the awesome, then do not read this blog. you have been warned)

ART
Nothing
(cue pressing the easy button)

WRITING
Alright, on Wattpad I have taken down a few novels because of some issues as well as nitpicking through the minor editing process. I have a lot of work to go through with Death Eaters, seeing as I have written about 75k words and still have no plot. It's all very tedious, but I will find that damn bunny eventually >.>
Meantime, I posted up the first chapter of a work in progress called The Room. And when I say work, I mean WORK. It's hard to bring across my point and show character development when I'm not even writing in plain old English. For example:

      "Tis not chaos!” A voice quaint to delight the senses, yet unassuming. Gentle as the ghosts above yet fathomless as Thoth’s own depths, till all had not dreamt such a sounding of speech was concurred, yet there in glory humbled betrayed them. Donned regal and vocare as proudly stepped aside balanced grace, poise so formed with appearance, yet beauty unchallenged by the presence of the corpses. A beacon among them shadows be, still only known by voice despite appearances. “Tis madness,” continued, “we have nothing here but madness, dear. Plead your name here?" 
      Addressed was a young thing all befuddled by the excess of desire to understand and yet not reproached in anyway. Wildered, extended grace at the attentions. "Mallow, milord, though not a milord as yourself. For we are all nothing."
     "Same. True. Why we all are names indeed. Please for your names?" asked the milord again.
      He wanted nothing of this, but answered, "Celtis."
      Drawn to the name, eyes glimmering, teeming natures behind such fortitude. "Celtis it is. A Celtis and Mallow. I am the Yew. You are the milord. Don't please your names. I could not remember all of you."
     "But you are milord, not I." Celtis, displeased and dismayed. "Tell us, what became of you?"
     "Not I, but us. We are all here. In chaos." 

Bamf! Character development! But I don't think anyone will notice... and I'm too lazy to explain. Haha.
So anyone reading The Room will probably give up after Chapter One (if they even make it that far) unless they (like me) enjoy deconstructing and analyzing things. So I have moderate sized hopes for this book.
Otherwise, I haven't been writing much of anything except papers for school (oh the riveting joy!) My Written Comm teacher lurvs me for the reason that I write all stuff-and-nonsense philosophy when I'm too bored/lazy to actually write a decent paper. Apparently that's a sign of intelligence. Oh well.


ROLEPLAY
Ugh
where to begin..?
For those of you who've read this blog or talk to me in general, and if you haven't noticed from previous posts, I make a lot of sites.
Like a lot.
Like every day.
So it'll be no surprise when I pop up and say I've been making sites. In fact, I don't think I even need these lead ins anymore...

I'll start with the ones I'm making, then the ones I joined. So let's begin!

MINE

Dark Easter Rising is an rp based on the anime series Shugo Chara. It is purely OC though: no using characters from the show. It does feature highschool characters as well so that there can be a bit more sustenance to it as well as a broader appeal. Otherwise, it pretty much follows the show's setting. 

Almost finished. Just need to complete the RP boxes, extras page, join page, and add an OCC box.

Our Playground World is an RP with a theme that mirrors the title exactly: the world has become a 'playground' with powerful beings having the ability to create, destroy, and manipulate the planet at will. There are rivalries among the four main races, but that is not the focus of the rp. It's a very bizarre concept, considering that every member has the ability to manipulate the site to their will, but I have a lot of hope for it. This site was inspired by a very kick-ass dream I had, the first dream that actually followed a specific plot and had a cast of characters that stuck around from the beginning to the completion. Two of those characters are on the site with the other three to be made later.

Getting steadily towards completion. Still trying to figure out how to set up rp. I'm thinking we're gonna go with forums.

A remake of the macabre, psychopath-fest site of mine from about two years ago. It has a lot of changes, featuring a mix of different sources rather than just taking concepts from one place. So far three people are interested and possibly going to join when they get the time. We shall see how it goes. (my fav part is the banners :`D )

I have another site in the making, but it is a surprise! Whoot! I haven't told anyone about it, and I mean NOBODY knows what it's about, what it's called, etc. It's almost finished too!

On to sites I've joined.

JOINED (joining)

KINGDOM OF LEOREN ~ Jewel

Circle Directory helped reconnect me with one of my favorite, long lost sites. Years ago, probably 3 or 4, I joined the 'Leoren in modern times' site with my character Pariah Grim Hawkins. I made one post and then the site died. Rather tragic. Well, on Circle Directory oh-so-many-years-later, I got in contact with Jewel, and after talking, recognized her name and more specifically her main character Peridot. So I have rejoined the site with my old character as well as a bunch of new ones. It's a great site set in a fantasy kingdom. You can be pretty much any race you want (just not an overpowered one, and you do need permission from Jewel) and she's pretty cool about letting you be whatever sort of character you want to be. A great example of giving members free reign without letting the place spiral into chaos. Heck, I have a levitating, talking turtle duck named Bongo. What more could you ask for?

WELCOME TO ASYLUM ~ Jewel

Also owned by Jewel, I remember the webs version better but didn't join it till a few weeks after rping on Leoren. It's pretty sweet site, even though asylum sites have been overdone. The premise is that people started developing powers and were labeled as Sub-Humans. A company called Avernous Co. kidnapped those people and tortured and experimented on them in the Asylum. Converts, or sub-humans that turned to serve Avernous Co., go out and capture other Sub-Humans. There are also Super-Criminals whose powers are used for nefarious purposes. Survivors try to stay out of Avernous' way. The Fighters meanwhile seek to tear the company down. 

The site is slow but getting back on its feet. It's a lot of fun despite, and Jewel is a fantastic rper.

TEMPTING FATE ~ Frosty

Another fantasy world, only this one is more specific on race and location. The three main races are Elfy, Mage, and Shifter, though there are Half-breeds. There are also two tribes (soaring falcon and bounding panther) with rogues, outlaws, and humans filling the other places, along with a sinister group known as the Shades. It's just starting up, but the members are great and the characters are diverse and inventive. I can't wait to see how far this site goes!

MYTHICAL TAMED ~ Liam

Because of the dumb OCC box being a booby, I can't tell anybody I'm joining it really D`: so I'll just say it here: HELL YAH BABY! I'M JOINING THIS SITE!

I don't know what it is, but I've found a wierd obsession/fascination with mafia/royalty/ruling/whatever families and Liam's got a bunch of those. They are very incredible though, with not just a name or location that sets them apart (looks dejectedly at Aisthesis) but also skin color, laws, and all those other little things. 

Second kicker was the bonding bit. I lurv bonds! Bonds of brotherhood, slave-master bonds, Black Butler-esque stuff with demons, and anything else that traps someone into the service of another. Hmm, I might have an actual issue... demoralizing people is just my thing.

So we got mythical animal bonds going which is uber cool. Ever since I saw that one Harry Potter movie with the Patronus, I loved the idea of having animals fighting for you and stuff (even though Harry Potter wasn't necessarily about that, still, it's what led me to pokemon). 

So with all this kick-ass shiz going on, plus the fact that Liam is hella efficient at putting sites together, I'm definitley going to sign up for this puppy. I have eight characters currently planned out. (still hoping you maybe pwease bring back vigilante too :3 )

ANIME

I wanna talk about anime, so let's talk!

BACCANO

If you haven't seen Baccano then close this tab right now, go to animefreak.tv and type in B A C C A N O! Do it! Do it! Do it! Filigree knows too that this is one kick ass show. There are so many characters to fall in love with! (Jaccuzzi and Claire FTW!) And the plot is very well developed, intricate, and beautifully told, albiet confusing in episode one. It's definitely an anime to watch multiple times as there are a lot of details to stomach. Oh yes, blood and gore! Rated R for violence :3

ZETSUEN NO TEMPEST (Blast of Tempest)

Astounding character development! A heartbreaking love triangle! Amazing powers! Cool concepts! And one of the most killer episode endings ever! (I say episode ending cause HOLY SHIT WHO WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THAT FREAKING TREE TO DO THAT!) And it's all based around the concept of Shakeseare's the tempest where a lone mage is marooned on an island. From there, it goes into the weird to the insane to the awesome! I could NOT stop watching this anime from the minute episode one came on screen. It was so beautiful!

DARKER THAN BLACK

I've mentioned it before, and if you've ever been to my site Let Them Bleed (the first version) then you've probably guessed I'm a big fan of the setting. Heartless killers are one of my favorite things to write about as they have absolutely nothing holding them back from doing the worst crime imaginable. The characters are rather compelling and the fact that there are no info dumps used to explain the complex world is rather appealing (there was only one mini info dump at the very first episode, but that's ok) . I hate info dumps. Big animes like Naruto and Bleach love to make you bleed out your ears with their incessant info dumps and flashbacks. Darker Than Black drops info here and there and just focuses on developing the characters and taking you on a riveting, bumpy ride. 

Never watch season two though. Even I will not go near that abomination that crawled out of satan's behind. 

CODE GEASS

Though there is that creepy girl with the glasses that everyone prayed would die but never did, this anime is one of those that falls into the same bubble in my heart as Evangelion (mostly cause I watched this one right after Evangelion). What I love is the strategy and the tactical brilliance portrayed by the main character Lelouch Lamperouge (fucking kick ass name right there) aka Zero. It's a story of futuristic Britannia (britaina and America combined) oppressing its recently acquired country of Japan. The main character, Lelouch, unintentionally saves a powerful girl who grants him the power to control anyone who looks into his left eye which is now marked by that power. From the beginning, the level of epic just oozes out in assaulting waves of awesome. In episode one, we are hit with a powerful scene where Lelouch, not fully aware that he even has this power, orders an entire unit of soldiers to simultaneously blow out their brains. From there on out, it gets awesome... and very, very depressing.

(and I couldn't find pics online, so I took some for yall)

One of the interesting things about this show is that there are times the hero fails. And not just "oh, I didn't make it to such-n-such place at that time" no. He gets people he loves killed. He puts his own team in harms way. He is constantly restraining himself from killing his worst nemesis: who happens to be his greatest friend. He suffers enormous consequences, but he keeps going anyway. And then season one ends with the most stomach churning ending I've ever seen a season go with. It was just mind blowing.

Unfortunately, like Darker Than Black season two, Code Geass season two decided that they were going to screw intelligence and good character development and go with dumbing everything down for the toddlers not watching this show and make everything one dimensional. I haven't seen it for myself, but I've watched enough reviews and had enough proof roughly thrown in my face to convince me that season one ended where it ended, and that's actually rather fine with me.

NOT.

At least Darker Than Black wrapped that shit up in a good way. But Code Geass leaves you curled up in a fetal position from withdrawal symptoms. It's rather cruel.

Ahh, I could go on and on listing my favorite animes, but I think I will stop there. If you were curious, my all time favorite is Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom. Someday I will talk a great deal about it.

Enjoy that picture of Aragorn's funny face and I will make another blog post soon that will not be as long winded as this one and probably much more worthwhile.

Sayonara minions!

PS:

What are your favorite animes? I love hearing opinions! It was thanks to talking to Mania that I got into Zetsuen no Tempest. So let's talk anime sometime! :3