It's Official

I've joined the CGSociety. Why did I do it?  to improve.  You can only improve so far on the DAZ forums and Renderosity.  Especially when I've been "kicked out" for speaking out against abuse of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.  The men and women in the CGSociety will help me improve my art from the get go.

Besides, I'm tired of doing lacklustre renders and having people go -- "WOW!"  I've been doing that for nearly three years and it's time to grow. 

Unexpected Allies

Unexpected Allies by ~Atlantean6 on deviantART

The Terran-Illithid War rages on in the Galaxy! On an industrial planet under British Control, two people make a stand against invading Mind Flayers. They are a human female and a BKEO2K10. Unlikely allies, as the BKEO2K10 series are living androids and the humans that encountered them didn't accept them; they are thrown together for a common cause. Defeat of the Mind Flayer Empire in the Milky Way Galaxy!

Drow Priestess

Not very safe for work, you know. :)



Drow Priestess by ~Atlantean6 on deviantART

Just a Drow Priestess of Eilistraee. :D

What does a Rolemaster Session look like?

Today, I thought I'd test my players on how well they work together.  Here are the results:

(32340) DM: :fade in
(32340) DM: INT. RAMIEN'S MANOR, SITTING ROOM -- DAY
(32340) DM: INT. RAYNE'S MANOR, SITTING ROOM -- DAY 
(32340) DM: (( Thanks for Ramien to point out my mistake)
(32340) DM: You are in the sitting room of Rayne's manor house. Kale is upstairs, recooperating.
(32340) DM: The room is mostly blue and red, with some expensive purple. The carpet rug looks like it was imported from Tethyr.
** (32354) Kyrgan looks around and wonders how anyone can go without fur and dirt floors. **
** (32352) Maria is a little calmer but sullen. She normally is perky and fun but she was not in the mood. Her mind seems to be elsewhere at the moment. **
** (32331) Ramian kicks his legs up onto a table, leaning back in the chair he's sitting in, looking around at the expensive purple colors. **
(32354) Kyrgan: "Minka safe? Likes claw wood."
** (32340) Rayne's servant girl comes in with some food. "Master Rayne is out at the moment, but he told me to make sure you were fed," she explained. **
(32340) DM: She sets down a tray of beef, apples, bread, and cheese.
(32354) Kyrgan: "Food good. Rabbit?"
(32340) DM: The servant girl looks at Kyrgan with a blank face.
** (32354) Kyrgan looks for the rabbit .... but doesn't see any. Just food for king ones. **
** (32331) Ramian reaches over and snatches an apple. "I think he's asking if you've got any rabbit meat around." **
** (32354) Kyrgan nods  **
(32340) Servant Girl: Oh, rabbit meat! That would be up to the gameskeeper.
** (32352) Maria 's mood has not affected her hunger. She begins eating some of the food in somewhat medium portions though she is willing to share with the others without being asked. **
(32354) Kyrgan: "Rabbit good. Try funny red things."
(32352) Maria: "Thank you for taking Uncle Kale into your home Ramien. I do not know how I am going to pay you back though.
(32352) Maria: "
** (32352) Maria looks gratefully at Ramien. **
(32331) Ramian: ((Rayne's home.))
** (32354) Kyrgan reaches out and gets an apple and sniffs it. **
(32352) Maria: ((Okay strike the last comment.))
(32340) DM: The servant girl courtseys and says, "I better go check to see if the gameskeeper has any rabbits.
(32340) DM: She leaves the room for several minutes.
** (32331) Ramian takes a bite of his apple, looking over at the door. **
** (32354) Kyrgan looks at Ramian to see how to eat an apple. **
** (32352) Maria asks, "Did any of you see who might have attacked Uncle Kale?" **
** (32331) Ramian eats his apple like most other people, starting in one spot and working his way around the core. **
** (32354) Kyrgan sees that it appears you bite into it and takes a huge bite nearly consuming the entire apple ...... **
** (32331) Ramian swallows the bit of apple. "I did see a suspicious looking person dart into an alleyway. Wore a wooden mask." **
(32340) DM: There is a knock at the front door.
(32352) Maria: "What kind of mask?"
** (32331) Ramian shrugs and swings his legs off the table, standing to move to the front door. "I didn't get too good of a look." **
** (32354) Kyrgan is still chewing and sweet apple bits drip down his chin. **
** (32331) Ramian opens the front door. **
** (32352) Maria keeps eating while thinking to herself. **
** (32354) Kyrgan looks at the door after the knock. **
(32340) DM: Standing at the front door is a lovely thing in a cape, holding a dead rabbit.
(32340) DM: I'm Maeg, the gameskeeper. Someone wanted a rabbit?
(32352) Maria: "Was the suspicious looking person wearing red?"
** (32331) Ramian blinks and looks at the rabbit. "The orc over at the table, ma'am." He says, gesturing to Kyrgan. **
(32354) Kyrgan: "Wrathhhh bits ... Yesh me like."
** (32340) Maeg walks in, and sets the rabbit down.  **
(32340) Maeg: You'll have to cook it, orc man.
(32354) Kyrgan: "Much thank"
** (32354) Kyrgan hands the rabbit to Minka. **
** (32331) Ramian closes the door and walks back to his seat, kicking his legs back up. "Not red. Black robes. But the mask was leather, now that I think about it. Black and red. **
(32354) Kyrgan: "My time hunt."
** (32352) Maria takes a moment to think. **
(32340) Maeg: You watch out, though. There's been something killing our livesta;k.
(32340) Maeg: livestalk.
** (32331) Ramian stands up again. "Forgot something... Everyone here like dogs?" **
** (32354) Kyrgan frowns. **
** (32331) Ramian raises an eyebrow. "Dogs that won't attack cats?" **
** (32352) Maria shrugs. **
(32354) Kyrgan: "Minka not like puppy. I like, but Minka get mad .... try tell not hurt."
** (32331) Ramian chuckles to himself. "This should be interesting..." **
** (32354) Kyrgan starts growling at Minka **
(32354) Kyrgan: Then shakes his finger at Minka .... 
(32340) Maeg: Well, I better go hunt the beast. Its my priority.
(32354) Kyrgan: "Kyrgan help?"
** (32331) Ramian walks over to the front door, opens it, and lets out a sharp whistle. He leans up against the door frame and looks outside for a few moments, after which a large, grey wolf bounds out of the bushes and stands in the doorway. **
(32340) Maeg: It's a pretty mean beast. Someone said it's a black panther.
** (32352) Maria continues eating and looks at Maeg with interest but only a mild interest. **
(32354) Kyrgan: "Grahhhhf Kyrgan not fraid."
(32340) Maeg: Very well.
** (32354) Kyrgan keeps his hand on Minka's shoulder and petting her when the wolf arrives. **
(32331) Ramian: "A black panther, huh?"
** (32331) Ramian reaches down and scratches the wolf behind the ears. **
(32340) Maeg: That's what they say, although I've seen some of our cattle being eaten.
(32354) Kyrgan: "Fur soft?"
(32340) Maeg: Bitten and eaten.
(32354) Kyrgan: "Cat not hunt way that."
** (32331) Ramian eyes his wolf for a moment, then looks back up at Maeg. "I'm good at that sort of thing. I can help you find it, if you'd like." **
(32340) Maeg: All the help I can get, the better.
** (32331) Ramian escorts the wolf into the manor and shuts the door, walking back to his seat. He takes a bit of beef off the platter and tosses it to the wolf, who nimbly catches it with a snap of it's jaw. It begins chewing on it beside Ramian's chair. **
(32354) Kyrgan: "Kyrgan help. Not like bad eat animal ones."
** (32331) Ramian rubs the side of his face in thought. "Well, if you wanted to go now, I suppose Eonna and I can eat on the way." **
(32340) Maeg: It's kind of important that I start.
(32354) Kyrgan: "Go now then ....?
(32331) Ramian: "Well, the orc wants to come. How about you?" He nods his head to Maria.
** (32354) Kyrgan starts grabbing food for the road. **
(32354) Kyrgan: "Name Kyrgan"
** (32352) Maria looks at Ramian in surprise, "Me?" **
(32340) Maeg: Maeg, pronounced "meg" as in "nutmeg."
(32354) Kyrgan: "Come too? See outside place."
** (32331) Ramian shrugs. "Unless you'd rather stay here. I think you're smart enough to keep out of trouble." **
(32354) Kyrgan: "Gud Meat Meg."
(32340) Maeg: uh, thank you.
** (32354) Kyrgan tries another toothy smile. **
** (32331) Ramian stands up from his seat again. "Nice to meet you, Maeg. I'm Ramian." He says, looking over at his wolf and jerking his head to the side. The wolf stands with the beef in it's mouth and falls in line. **
(32340) Maeg: Nice to meet you both. As for you . . . * to Maria.*
(32352) Maria: "Well I am Maria.
(32352) Maria: "
(32340) Maeg: Are you with the two men?
** (32354) Kyrgan watches Minka as she tears all the fur off the rabbit and starts eating .... **
** (32352) Maria looks up to where Uncle Kale is and says, "Will he be okay?": **
(32340) Maeg: He will be okay.
(32340) Maeg: The beast doesn't approach the manor.
** (32354) Kyrgan growls something and Minka responds with a growl but takes the rabbit off the rug to eat. **
** (32352) Maria shrugs and says, "Okay if you do not mind bringing a 9 year old along. I guess I can help." **
** (32331) Eonna watches Minka intently. **
(32352) Maria: "And by the way, Although I may not be entirely sure, that suspicious character you saw near the alley, he might be one of Manshoon's Blackcloaks."
(32354) Kyrgan: "You help find ."
(32352) Maria: "Although I might be wrong and even though I know a little about Manshoon and the kind of man he is...."
** (32352) Maria shrugs. **
(32331) Ramian: "Can't say I've heard of them."
(32354) Kyrgan: "Kyrgan not meat."
(32352) Maria: "Have you heard about Manshoon?"
(32331) Ramian: "Not that I recall."
(32340) Maeg: Well, Maria, you can come along if you want to, but it might be very dangerous.
** (32352) Maria shrugs, "The leader of the Zhentarim? Well anyways I have nothing else to do so I guess I can come along. I have a few skills that might help." **
(32354) Kyrgan: "Where go black cat be find some?"
(32340) Maeg: I think into the forest or even into the moors.
** (32340) Maeg gets a torch, and lights it on fire. **
(32331) Ramian: "Where are the cattle it's been eating? Might be able to start from there."
(32340) Maeg: Out in the pasture, this way.
** (32352) Maria cleans herself up and slings her backpack on her back. **
** (32340) Maeg walks out of the manor. **
** (32352) Maria then will follow the others. **
** (32331) Ramian follows Maeg, eating his apple. **
** (32354) Kyrgan thinks to see if he has heard of Zhentarim. **
whispering to Kyrgan, make a lore check at -50.
** (32354) Kyrgan grabs a sack of food and follows. **
** (32340) Maeg closes the door. **
(32340) Maeg: (transition to . . . 
(32340) DM: EXT. PASTURE -- DUSK
(32331) Ramian: ((brb))
(32340) DM: You see the dead cattle, lying in the ground. Just one, a bull. It's throat has been bitten out and it looks like it has no muscle.
(32331) Ramian: ((Back))
** (32352) Maria pulls out her dagger and closely examines the wound. She does not touch the dead beast, using her dagger to pick at the wound as she tries to determine what kind of animal did this. **
** (32331) Ramian inspects the corpse to see if it was, indeed, a black panther. **
** (32354) Kyrgan studies the dead animal  **
(32340) Maeg: This is how they are found.
** (32331) Ramian frowns and looks around the area for any tracks. **
(32331) Ramian: [1d100+7] => [75,7] = (82)
** (32331) Ramian moves over to some faint tracks he finds, crouching down and looking at them to see where they lead. **
(32352) Maria: "Well I cannot tell if this was a panther or a wolf."
** (32354) Kyrgan has been observing everything about the dead animal and not saying anything yet **
(32354) Kyrgan: Observation [1d100+15] => [76,15] = (91)
(32352) Maria: "Do you know what did this Kyrgan?"
(32354) Kyrgan: "Me think still sum."
(32331) Ramian: [1d100+45] => [79,45] = (124)
(32367) Beau (enter): 19:29
(32340) DM: Ramien finds that the tracks do lead into the woods.
** (32354) Kyrgan glances sharply to left and points .... "Thing there ... dark." **
(32340) DM: Hello, Beau.
** (32331) Ramian looks to the direction Kyrgan is pointing. **
** (32354) Kyrgan gets his bow out and readies it. **
** (32331) Ramian also gets out his bow, standing and readying an arrow. **
(32354) Kyrgan: "There by rock shape dark sum think there ..."
** (32352) Maria moves closer but not as close as Ramian. She has her dagger ready just in case. **
** (32331) Ramian looks toward the direction Kyrgan is pointing, trying to make out the shape he sees. **
(32340) Maeg: That was quick.
** (32354) Kyrgan thinks and reaches in his sack and tosses some of the meat he brought to eat in the direction of the shape. **
(32340) DM: You here some growling.
(32354) Kyrgan: "See .... hear sum there now."
** (32354) Kyrgan moves slightly right trying to get a better view. **
(32331) Ramian: "Guess we managed to interrupt it's hunting time."
** (32331) Ramian moves in the direction opposite of Kyrgan, keeping his bow readied and pointed toward the shape. **
** (32352) Maria backs away, keeping behind Ramian, "Be careful." **
(32340) DM: A coyote comes out of the brush, picks up the beef and looks at you.
(32340) DM: * you thought that would be too easy? *
(32331) Ramian: "That's not a panther..."
** (32354) Kyrgan tries to shoot the coyote who is stealing his dinner. **
(32340) DM: Roll an attack roll, and add your offensive bonus.
** (32352) Maria watches but stands at the ready. **
(32372) Calchexas (enter): 19:41
(32372) Calchexas (exit): 19:41
(32373) Ambrose (enter): 19:42
(32340) DM: Hello, Ambrose.
(32373) Ambrose: hi
(32354) Kyrgan: [1d100+81] => [75,81] = (156) 
(32340) DM: You struck him, Critical Strike E.
(32340) DM: Roll another 1d100
(32354) Kyrgan: (( sorry for the delay, but still very green about how stuff works ))
(32354) Kyrgan: [1d100] => [24] = (24)
(32340) DM: You struck the poor coyote in the side of his body, missing any vital organs but causing him to bleed.
** (32340) Maeg looks at Kyrgan with eyes of surprise. **
** (32354) Kyrgan charges the coyote **
(32367) Beau: Disconnecting from server...
(32367) Beau (exit): 19:49
** (32340) The coyote is down on the ground with a yelp, and whimpering. **
(32352) Maria: "Kyrgan stop!"
** (32331) Ramian curses under his breath and lowers his bow, walking over to the Coyote. **
** (32340) Maeg starts smiling at Kyrgan. **
(32354) Kyrgan: "Unkraska syngrethka ..." 
** (32352) Maria approaches as well. **
** (32354) Kyrgan brings his blade down on the coyote to take his life and release its spirit. **
(32340) DM: Kyrgan, that will require a moving manuever.
(32340) DM: +30
(32352) Maria: "Kyrgan!"
(32354) Kyrgan: [1d100+30] => [55,30] = (85) ??
(32340) DM: You kill it.
(32340) DM: There's blood everywhere on your blade.
** (32352) Maria throws her hands up in exasperation, "Was that really necessary?" **
** (32331) Ramian frowns and sighs a bit, but walks back to the tracks he found earlier, crouching back down and trying to see what made them. **
(32331) Ramian: [1d100+45] => [33,45] = (78)
** (32354) Kyrgan lifts his blade toward the sky "Ingrakaske" then lowers it and kneels beside the dead coyote looking sad. **
** (32352) Maria 's face softens a little and says, "Well I hope that was the real killer." **
(32354) Kyrgan: "Much sorry proud hunter .... spirit strong you."
** (32354) Kyrgan looks at Maria ... "Not be this one hunt ." **
(32387) Robert (enter): 19:56
** (32354) Kyrgan retrieves his meal  **
(32340) DM: Welcome Robert.
(32387) Rob: hi there
** (32354) Kyrgan goes back to looking around the area **
(32331) Ramian: "No, I don't think the coyote was responsible. These are large tracks, feline. They lead into the woods."
(32331) Ramian: "I'd say leopard."
** (32340) Maeg is looking at Kyrgan with bright, googoo eyes. **
(32340) Maeg: Huh, did you say something, Ramien?
(32352) Maria: "Then we killed that coyote for nothing."
** (32331) Ramian peers up at Maeg and just shakes his head. "Tracks. Leopard. Woods." **
** (32354) Kyrgan turns to look at Ramian .... "Cat big?" **
(32340) Maeg: Oh, right. . . 
(32331) Ramian: "Around two hundred pounds."
(32354) Kyrgan: "Go find yes.?"
** (32331) Ramian looks down at the tracks and follows the trail. **
** (32354) Kyrgan seems clueless about Maeg's looks **
** (32352) Maria follows Ramian. **
** (32354) Kyrgan goes back and gets his bow first and then follows after Ramian **
(32340) Maeg: Maeg bounds after Kyrgan.
(32340) DM: (transition too . . . 
(32340) DM: EXT. WOODS, DEEP -- EVENING, DARK
** (32352) Maria picls up a large branch. she then touches the top of it and suddenly it catches fire. **
(32352) Maria: "I think we are dealing with a jaguar, a large one.
(32352) Maria: "
(32340) DM: The woods are thick, and full of trees. The night is turning to a deep blue, and the evening star is out.
** (32354) Kyrgan squints as the light appears but nods approval. **
(32331) Ramian: "I'd sa a leopard. But we'll see."
(32331) Ramian: Say*
(32340) DM: Maeg is still looking at Kyrgan.
(32354) Kyrgan: "Kyrgan not see cat big like "
(32340) Maeg: Oh, what aim!
** (32340) Maeg says that sexily. **
** (32354) Kyrgan looks at Maeg .... What think?" **
** (32354) Kyrgan shrugs .... "Always take aim first hunt." **
(32340) Maeg: Are you married?
(32354) Kyrgan: "Marred? Kyrgan not have scar much yet."
** (32331) Ramian continues following the tracks, trying to listen intently for any sounds, and for some reason finding it difficult. **
** (32340) Maeg blinks in frustration and cluelessness. **
(32354) Kyrgan: "Much help Ramian cat find yes?"
(32387) Rob (exit): 20:10
** (32340) Maeg continues to swoon. * what muscles!* she murmurs. **
** (32352) Maria rolls her eyes at Maeg's crush. **
** (32354) Kyrgan scratches his head **
(32354) Kyrgan: "Look funny .... like other female Kyrgan talk."
(32340) Maeg: Then you hear a growl.
(32340) DM: Then you hear a growl. ggggrrrrrrdddll.
** (32354) Kyrgan turns toward the growl **
** (32352) Maria stops and tries to ascertain the direction the growl came from. **
** (32331) Ramian stops and readies his bow, notching an arrow and turning toward the sound. **
** (32340) Maeg quickly gains her composure. **
(32340) Maeg: Sounds as if its close.
(32354) Kyrgan: "Yessss."
** (32354) Kyrgan gets his bow ready **
** (32331) Ramian looks around, trying to listen for movement. **
(32340) DM: Then some brushing in the trees, as if something is passing in the brush.
** (32352) Maria backs away from the brushing. **
** (32354) Kyrgan tries to ask Maria if she can toss light there. **
(32354) Kyrgan: "light throw?"
(32331) Ramian: [1d100+7] => [4,7] = (11)
(32331) Ramian: ((*Kicks the dice across the room*))
(32340) DM: (( Settle down, Ramien. ))
** (32331) Ramian readies his bow and aims it toward the brush. **
(32331) Ramian: ((Hmm? Oh, I was kidding. :P))
(32340) DM: you hear the growling again!
** (32352) Maria points to the brush and then stops herself. She says, "Not without causing a forest fire." **
(32340) DM: ROLL INITIATIVE!
(32331) Ramian: [1d100+5] => [13,5] = (18)
(32354) Kyrgan: "Ok ..."
(32352) Maria: [1d100-3] => [76,-3] = (73)
(32354) Kyrgan: (( no idea where my init is ))
(32331) Ramian: ((1d100 + quickness modifier.))
(32340) DM: (( 1d100 + quickness bonus ))
(32354) Kyrgan: [1d100+3] => [63,3] = (66)
(32340) DM: Rolls -- 1d100+10
(32340) DM: [1d100+10] => [58,10] = (68)
(32340) DM: Okay, Maria, Thing, Kyrgan, Bladecutter, Maeg
(32340) DM: Maria, you are first.
** (32352) Maria concentrates hard and points in the direction of the growling. Suddenly an opaque wall of fire appears in front of the bushes where the growling came from. The little girl is sweating a little. **
(32340) DM: You hear a major growl and the thing runs down to the other end of the wall to the front of Ramien.
** (32354) Kyrgan winces as the light gets brighter but at least now he can see the thing better. **
(32340) DM: The thing appears and it's . . . .
(32340) DM: A Dire Lion -- Panthera Leo Atrox.
(32352) Maria: ((No one is curious as to how a 9 year old is able to create fire like this?))
(32354) Kyrgan: (( I am ... but now is not the time to ask ))
(32331) Ramian: ((More concerned with the dire lion at the moment. Those things are supposedly quite nasty.))
(32354) Kyrgan: BRB
(32340) DM: (( Right when it's Kyrgan's turn . . . ))
(32340) DM: 1. . .
(32340) DM: 2 . . . 
(32340) DM: 3 . . . .
(32340) DM: 4 . . . 
(32340) DM: 5 . . . 
(32340) DM: 6 . . . 
(32340) DM: 7 . . . 
(32340) DM: 8 . . . 
(32340) DM: 9 . . . 
(32340) DM: 10 . . . 
(32340) DM: Ramien, it's your turn.
(32340) DM: the leo atrox looks like it's about to leap at you.
(32340) DM: http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/diary/panthera_leo_atrox.jpg
** (32331) Ramian pulls back on his bowstring, firing off an arrow at the lion. **
(32331) Ramian: [1d100+65] => [21,65] = (86)
(32340) DM: You miss.
(32340) DM: Maeg moves in front of Maria, holding her sword out. "Ramien, watch out!"
(32354) Kyrgan: (( back ))
(32340) DM: Maria, it's your turn.
(32340) DM: Kyrgan, you were too stunned by the fire to do anything.
** (32331) Ramian drops his bow and draws his longsword from it's leather scabbard at his belt. **
** (32352) Maria points her palm at the beast and suddenly a bolt of fire shoots out towards the creature. **
** (32354) Kyrgan is aiming for a head shot if he gets a chance **
(32354) Kyrgan: "How you do? Shaman be?"
(32352) Maria: [1d100+20] => [66,20] = (86)
(32340) DM: Total of 66 . . . and Maria hits the lion with a flash of firey light!
(32340) DM: Maria scores a CRITICAL STRIKE "C"
(32352) Maria: [1d100] => [62] = (62)
(32340) DM: The lion, knowing its in trouble, turns and hits blasted in the side. It gets knocked down and yeowls! It loses it's turn this round. Which means, Kyrgan, you can do something.
(32340) DM: Whats gross is the smell of burning animal flesh.
** (32354) Kyrgan tries to end this fast with a well placed head shot. **
(32340) DM: Kyrgan, the lion's 15 feet away from you.
** (32354) Kyrgan switches to his sword and rushes forward in his attempt to end this quickly. **
(32340) DM: Ramien, you can do something as he rushes forward.
(32340) DM: Everything is as it is in slow motion . . .
** (32331) Ramian picks up his bow and notches an arrow, firing it off at the lion. **
(32340) DM: make that strike.
(32331) Ramian: [1d100+65] => [78,65] = (143)
(32340) DM: Ramien scores a Critical strike! "E"!
(32331) Ramian: [1d100] => [18] = (18)
** (32354) Kyrgan swings his sword hard  **
(32340) DM: You rattle the lion's teeth as you puncture it'sjaw.
(32354) Kyrgan: [1d100+61] => [47,61] = (108)
(32340) DM: And Kyrgan scores a critical strike! "B"
(32340) DM: Roll another 1d100
(32354) Kyrgan: [1d100] => [35] = (35)
(32340) DM: Both ramien and Kyrgan dispatch the dire lion, killing it.
(32340) DM: The beast has been killed, although that's just one dire lion. Who knows if there are others?
** (32352) Maria looks a little tired and sweaty. She is not too bad. But she seems fine. More or less like she did a little jog for a while that she was not used to. **
(32354) Kyrgan: "Ongaraske!"
** (32331) Ramian picks up his sword and sheathes it, walking over to the dire lion to retrieve arrows. **
(32352) Maria: She waves her hand and the wall of fire disappears.
(32340) DM: And there this something else . . . the wall of fire, before it disappeared, set the needles of the trees on fire.
** (32354) Kyrgan wipes the blood from his blade on the lion **
(32354) Kyrgan: "Water .... trees light."
(32352) Maria: ((Still no one is curious as to how a 9 year old is able to create fire as easily as she can?))
(32354) Kyrgan: "Shaman water bring?"
(32331) Ramian: ((He's curious, but he'll ask later.))
** (32331) Ramian moves to the base of the tree, taking off his cloak and slapping at the flames with it to try and put them out. **
(32340) DM: The fire is quickly spreading.
** (32354) Kyrgan tries to help put out the fire **
(32354) Kyrgan: "Fire out liddle one?"
(32340) DM: Ramien, you can put out the fire with a moving manuever. Currently it's light. +10.
(32331) Ramian: [1d100+10] => [87,10] = (97)
(32340) DM: Ramien manages to put out the wild fire in time before it grew totally out of control.
(32352) Maria: "Sorry guys. I was trying to protect us from the beast."
** (32331) Ramian puts his damaged cloak into his pack, moving back toward the rest of the group. "I'm curious, how are you able to control magic so young?" **
(32354) Kyrgan: "How you hot much?"
(32340) Maeg: Well, it looks like the beast has been defeated.
(32354) Kyrgan: "One beast. Hope more not."
(32331) Ramian: "It's possible there are more."
(32352) Maria: "I am a magician. And I love books and knowledge. I just learned to control it better than even some adults older than me."
(32340) Maeg: Well . . . I'm impressed.
(32354) Kyrgan: "You hot throw gud. Not think you do."
(32340) DM: You all notice at the scorch mark that the wall of fire left.
** (32331) Ramian nods to Maria. "Must be why you're not really like other little girls I've seen around that village." **
(32340) Maeg: We should be heading back to the manor home. It looks like the crisis is abated.
** (32352) Maria looks down sadly and just shrugs, "I do have limitations though. And I used up a lot of my spellpower." **
** (32352) Maria nods and follows the others whereever they choose to go. **
** (32331) Ramian offers Maria a smile. "You'll get better. Takes practice." **
** (32331) Ramian heads off back to the manor house. **
(32373) Ambrose: Disconnecting from server...
(32373) Ambrose (exit): 21:09
** (32354) Kyrgan just asks .... "Power spell? Fine back go now see how man do." **
** (32352) Maria smiles back. **
(32340) Maeg: [transition to . . .
(32340) Maeg: INT. RAYNE'S MANOR HOME, WELL LIT.
(32354) Kyrgan: "Need drink .... food too. Think all yes?"
(32340) Maeg: You are all exhausted .
(32340) Maeg: And your clothes and hair smell of smoke.
** (32352) Maria goes up to Kale's room and checks up on him. **
(32331) Ramian: "Water would be wonderful, actually."
** (32331) Ramian walks back to his seat and leans his bow up against the wall, picking up another apple. **
** (32354) Kyrgan thinks the smell is fairly normal .... but doesn't like the smoke smell as much. **
(32340) Maeg: I'll see to it that you all get baths. Private or communal?
(32354) Kyrgan: "How smoke out?"
** (32352) Maria returns to the others and plops down on one of the chairs tired. **
(32354) Kyrgan: "Bath!"
(32331) Ramian: "I don't see why Kyrgan and I can't take a communal, but Maria will need a private one, more than likely."
(32354) Kyrgan: "Smoke out bath?"
(32340) Maeg: Okay. The bathroom is down the hall.
(32331) Ramian: "Yes Kyrgan, the smoke will go away with a bath."
(32340) Maeg: Yes, of course, Kyrgan.
(32352) Maria: "I would like a private one thank you."
** (32354) Kyrgan thinks a moment and then nods. **
** (32331) Ramian sets the apple back down without biting into it, walking off towards the bath. **
(32354) Kyrgan: "Kyrgan bath now .... " ~ takes shiort off as he heads down the hall.
(32340) Maeg: : fade out
(32340) Elton: Great place to put an end to this one.


That is the game today.  Everyone had fun, although Kyrgan feels like he was slowing the game down.  However, three hours isn't bad for an episode on T.V. translated to an RP session.  Even if I used 4e. I posted a summary on Candlekeep it you want to see how it turned out without reading all this text. 

To those who have players who won't play RM, and Greywulf; show your players this session log.  They may get excited to play Rolemaster. 

Serpent Kingdoms, Take 2

What happens when your girlfriend sends you a second copy of Serpent Kingdoms?  You use it in your Rolemaster campaign, of course!  Although this one, I may put into a bank storage box. Or not.

As you know, my girlfriend sent me Serpent Kingdoms for my birthday.  I already have a copy of the book, but since she sent it to me, I thought to myself -- why not use it?  The adventures in it can be used.  I think all of them can be used anywhere in the realms.  I just need to convert the Monsters in the book to RM stats and I can get started.  The first I think I'll do is the Yaun-ti Holy Guardian.

Yaun-ti Holy Guardian

Level: 12C
Base Move: 50
Max Pace: Run
Moving Maneuver Bonus: +10
Speed (MS/AQ): MD/FA
Size/Crit: M/--
Hits: 52C
AT(DB): 3(+5)
Attack: +40SBi30/+35MGr70/+25cb/+30scim/poison
# Enc.: 1-12
Treasure: k
Bonus XP: E
Outlook(IQ): Protect(VH)

Habitat: wCJE#-5

Description: the Yaun-ti Holy Guardian is found in Serpent Kingdoms and use combat as written.  The poison is like rattlesnake poison, a hemotoxin.  It's a 3rd level muscle poison.

The Copyright TAX

To keep something in Copyright beyond a reasonable amount of time, individuals and corporations must pay a tax in order to keep something in copyright.  The U.S. Constitution grants authors, artists, and inventors the right to profit from their creations for a limited amount of time.

I say, a Copyright Tax is the best solution to those who use the Internet and who want Copyright to continue beyond a reasonable amount of time.  Copyright is nothing more than a Government-sponsored monopoly over something that is created. The Government might find it a good thing to tax corporations on as far as Copyright goes (its another source of revenue). Copyright should be granted for free to up to five years, then to continue Copyright protection by the Government, the corporation or individual should be taxed an amount of money each year.  The tax would rise Arithmetically (if it's $50 dollars one year and the law says it should rise by $5 dollars for every year after that, it's $55 dollars the next and so on) in order to keep the upkeep on the Copyright.

Also, the government will charge individuals, estates, and corporations retroactively once the law is passed.  This forces much of our culture into the public domain.  It won't break our rampant consumerism, but it will slow it down by a lot.

What do you think, loyal readers?

Creativity, Copyright, and Education

You know, sometimes people force creativity.  It's something you can't do, really.  You try to squeeze an image out of your head and sometimes it just won't come together.  For the past few days, I was trying to think of an image that would say "thank you" for a thousand page views of one of my recent images.

Frankly the reason why I think it's so popular is because it showed a man's penis.  I think the thousand views it got was because I dared to show a penis in art.  Anyway, I don't think you can force creativity. Especially when you are in a rut and you are forcibly trying to think of something that says, "thank you for the one thousand page views in 3 days!"

Forcing an image out when creativity isn't flowing is almost like giving birth.  In other words, it's hard to squeeze a watermelon through a hole the size of a lemon that is in a dam.  Nina Paley talked about how creativity is being stifled.  In fact, it is being stifled by our current copyright law.  A nation that prides itself on Free Speech gives corporations the power to limit our free speech by sponsoring government monopolies for an impossible amount of time.

This makes Copyright bad.  Since for extending copyright for an impossible limited length of time just so that a Corporation can continue to make money by locking away culture is evil.  It limits a man's creativity unless he is rich beyond the dreams of avarice.  And therefore, it limits Free Speech.  When you limit a man's creativity, you are limiting his ability to express himself.

A man who is cowed by ten years in jail or five years in jail cannot properly express himself so his creativity is stifled.  He becomes silent and works in the factory or the office at a job he can't do well. He makes a meager wage while Corporations who own all the culture collect all the profits.  Tell me for a second, what is wrong with this picture?

Current copyright law is one of the things responsible for our current, out of control consumerism.  Our economy is run by Corporations who own our culture and produce and say we must consume and consume!  Frankly, we are all victims of a system that is designed to kill our creativity.  I mean we are taught literacy in Math, Language, and Science while Music, Art, Drama, and Dance suffers.  I  mean, its true, the education system is designed to output college professors and droids who work in factories.

What we need to do is to specialize in creativity in school.  We have to teach creativity in school so that we can prepare for a future where man is allowed to do anything.  Secondly, we need to limit the time something is in cultural lockdown.  I say five years maximum for free, and then you tax the stupid corporation a tax that rises arithematically so that in time, it's more expensive to keep culture locked down than it is to release it into the public domain.

Thirdly, robots can do everything a human being can do in a factory.  Especially when it comes to making cars and aircraft.  Humans should be free to think and have free time to persue creative pursuits.   An adult can join a dance class, an acting company, or even produce art.  Or he even has time to play.

in the future, when we kill all the Moneychangers and destroy the Rothschildes and manage our resources more efficiently, man will have more free time to do anything he likes.  Frankly, I think we should prepare our children for that future than turn them all into college professors and lock down their speech.

Thank you for reading my blog.

The Terran Illithid War!

This is technically the third render during the Terran Illithid War, but this image isn't ready yet.  I know you are curious about how I'm documenting the war.  It's not easy. :)  This is a Work in progress. I still have to add more figures to this.

This is a launch bay on the Starcarrier Enterprise.  Humanity has been fighting the dreaded Illithid Empire for forty years, and recent victories have allowed Earth to extend it's influence out 50 light years.  Here, the Enterprise is patrolling the American Controlled Liberty Region.  The year is 1982 A.D.

I'm planning on creating some uniforms using the body suits for M4 and V4.

I know you are dying to comment. :)

Nina Paley speaks at Hackers on Planet Earth

HOPE, or Hackers on Planet Earth, had a conference recently that Nina Paley spoke at.  Being adventurous, I watched the entire thing on Vimeo.  Nina Paley spoke on Free Speech, and that is what the whole conference was about was free speech.

The main topic, however, was her adaptation of the Ramayana and why she released it for free distribution.  Incidentally, she listed all the money she was getting.  However, that wasn't the focus of her topic.  In her own words: "I discuss why I insisted on authentic songs, what is and is not property, how software is culture, the difference between Share Alike (copyleft) and other Creative Commons licenses, why I paid to legally license the old songs, how noncommercial copyright infringement is still illegal, legal costs, benefits of audience sharing & decentralized distribution, the Sita Sings the Blues Merchandise Empire (sitasingstheblues.com/store), open-licensed merch, audience goodwill, how fans support artists, rivalrous vs. non-rivalrous goods, the Creator Endorsed Mark, migrating Flash files to open formats, gift income, commerce without monopolies, why I encourage legal sharing, and more."

Here is the video on youtube that shows nine minutes of excerpts from that talk.  Of course, if you are adventurous or have the attention span of someone who didn't watch television, here's the whole talk on Vimeo. :)

Encounter with Saturn

Encounter with Saturn by ~Atlantean6 on deviantART

Sometimes, Exploration can be as dangerous as encountering a space monster or an evil race in space.  But the rewards can be great after the trials.  This was rendered using a doctored picture of Saturn blissfully taken from the NASA website and the Cassini expedition.  The pair are flying in a Vanguard, a large class of shuttle.  Up ahead is Saturn.

I had to resize the Saturn picture to fit a certain range, and then use it as a backdrop.  The light from Saturn blocks the stars, unfortunately, so no Solar Nebula.  I would have used Saturn with a starry backdrop, but the photo editing would have been murder. :)

Sometimes, you need science fiction too.  That's why I'm doing more science fiction renders from now on. :D

American Wolfman

American Wolfman by ~Atlantean6 on deviantART

There is a beast in Wisconsin that is stalking the Bray Road and places like Canada, Michigan, Ohio, and Northeastern Utah.  The beast can only be described as a Wolfman. 

Mary Shelley's Frankstein

In 1816, Mary W. Shelley wrote Frankenstein: or the Modern Prometheus in response to Lord Byron's little contest to see who could write the best ghost story.  Of the ghost stories told in Lord Byron's little party, only Mary Shelley's Frakenstein would live on.

The story, to be summarized, is about a scientist named Victor von Frankenstein that studied and found the secret to life.  He used his knowledge to bring to life a creature made from human body parts.  Essentially, a flesh golem in D&D but with the ability to reason and to speak.  Horrified at reanimating dead tissue, Victor runs from his laboratory and the creature also leaves.

Through their adventures the creature is shunned by humanity and it starts to murder.  After each murder, Frankenstein grows ill because he is responsible by default since he brought the creature to life.  At some point, the creature demands that Victor creates a mate for him.  Victor starts to do so, but he stops before completing the second creature.  Victor gains a conscious, realizing that the creatures may be mortal and may be able to reproduce.  He tears the thing to pieces and the first creature angrily curses him for destroying his font of happiness.  In retaliation, he murders Victor's wife.  The two have a final confrontation at the North Pole and in the end Victor dies and the creature wanders the Earth, never to be seen again.


The Modern Prometheus

The reason why Mary called the story the Modern Prometheus is because its an allusion to the myth of Prometheus and Epimetheus.  Both Prometheus and Epimetheus were tasked to create life on Earth by the gods.  Epimetheus, which his name means Afterthought, created all the animals first.  He handed them all the powers that each of the animals all have.  So, when he set to create man, there was nothing to give.  So Epimetheus turned to his brother, Prometheus.  Prometheus, whose name means Forethought, designed man with all the powers of the gods and gave them life.

However, Prometheus' story doesn't stop there.  Prometheus cared for his children so he wanted to give them fire.  Zeus forbade him to give Men fire.  However, Prometheus disobeyed Zeus and took a fennel stock and started it on fire using the sun.  He returned to Earth and showed men fire and taught him how to make fire.  The result made Zeus angry, so Zeus chained the Titan to Mount Caucasus where an eagle or a vulture would come to eat out his liver every day.

By comparing the novel with the myth, Prometheus creates life and Victor von Frankenstein reanimates life, Victor von Frankenstein becomes Prometheus.  At the outset, Mary Shelley wrote the book as a cautionary tale of how science can be used without limits or conscience.  This book had a sequel, written by H.G. Wells known as The Island of Dr. Moreau that did deal with the consequences of science turned loose without ethics or morals to restrain it.  Only in this case, The Island of Doctor Moreau had dealt with the consequences of genetic research without ethics and how it can be used to create monsters.


Frankenstein as a critique on Government

Frankenstein can be viewed as a critique on the Industrial Revolution and the politics of Commerce at the time.  Although the writer Charles Dickens revealed how terrible the Industrial Revolution has had  as an impact on 19th Century England; Mary Shelley goes at the heart of the problem and how Industrialized commerce could collude with government.  Mary Shelley wasn't critiquing the Industrial Revolution she was critiquing government behind the Industrial Revolution.  The government was personified by Victor von Frankenstein.  The creature personified the society of the Industrial Revolution at the time.  In a way, you could say that the story argues the consequences of social engineering -- something that the President of the United States wants to put into high gear on the United States of America.

It's also a story about the arrogance of government, and the monsters it can create out of society.  In a terrible way, one can interpret Frankenstein as a story of what happens when government interferes with nature.  It is the natural order of things for life to beget life and to die.  In human society, it's natural for commerce, science, and religion to go about unregulated by the government.  However, when government starts interfering, it can create an unnatural society.  As capitalism can be seen as natural to Man, or even better yet, a society working under the Law of Consecration; socialism is a wicked construct that forces everyone to be equal in the eyes of human beings, removing the hope of individuality.  The result is an unnatural society as powerful and mighty as the Creature Victor created.


Frankenstein's inspirations.

Mary Shelley took inspiration for Victor von Frankenstein from the work and lives of four men.  Luigi Galvani, who experimented with electricity on dead animals to see what happened; his nephew Giovanni Aldini [pictured], who worked with electricity on dead human cadavers; Andrew Ure, a Scottish scientist who built on Luigi Galvani's experiments and also worked with cadavers.  And finally, the infamous Konrad Dippel.  The man who is strongly linked to the Frankenstein story even though his macabre experiments was done with alchemy rather than electricity.

Luigi Galvani was probably one of the scientists that studied electricity and its effects on dead animals.  He stumbled across the notion that electricity was apart of our bodies when a thunderstorm caused the frog legs to twitch.  So, Galvani tested electricity by applying it to a dead frog's sciatic nerve.  The result was that the frog's legs jumped.  He then released his findings and it revolutionized biology.

Galvani's work led to an explosion of using electricity to treat many kinds of ailments, as the new technology was believed to be a panacea and used as an entertainment piece.  Much like computers are being used today, no doubt.  Also, during Galvani's day, the new knowledge of how electricity was linked to the Body was demonstrated in Europe with all kinds of shows showing twitching limbs.  It surprised and horrified people as the scientist explained how electrical energy was used by animals and humans to help their bodies move.  However, Galvani put forward an idea that man can achieve immortality by being infused with electricity artificially.  However, it took his nephew to demonstrate this in a much more startling and macbre way.

Giovanni Aldini had more common with Victor von Frankenstein than Galvani or Konrad Dippel.  The man would demonstrate the effects of electricity on a human body.  Aldini did this with a dead murderer's body.  He'd connect electricity to the head and the anus and other parts of the body and the cadaver seemed to have come to life.  Which was an unnerving experience.

The other man was Andrew Ure. Andrew Ure used a cadaver which he had made incisions into the body.  He then applied electricity in the incisions.  The bizarre experiment caused the man to make several faces, extend his leg and jump the leg enough to cause one of the assistants to fall back, and finally he used the electricity on the finger, which caused it to extend and point at the audience.  Many believed that the man had come back to life.

The final man was Konrad Dippel.  Dippel was born in, ironically enough, Castle Frankenstein.  Konrad Dippel was educated in Alchemy and all matters of science.  Konrad fought with his professors and felt his thoughts were right.  He left the university and followed his own theories on finding the secret to life.  Konrad Dippel was responsible for Prussian Blue, Dippel's oil, and other things.  No one, however, was sure tha he used cadavers  but the authorities found strange human bones in the courtyard of where he lived.  Konrad Dippel died mysteriously either by poison or a stroke.


Frankenstein Filmography
Frankenstein is the story that is the most adapted to film, beating out Dracula the strange love story between an undead count and a young woman.

Frankenstein (1910)--one-reel Edison Studios film, recently recovered.  
Life Without Soul (1915)--five-reel version.
Frankenstein (1931)--Universal film with Boris Karloff.
Bride of Frankenstein (1935)--with Elsa Lanchester.  
Son of Frankenstein (1939)--with Basil Rathbone.  
The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942)--Lon Chaney, Jr.
Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943)--Bela Lugosi.
House of Frankenstein (1944)--Glenn Strange.  
House of Dracula (1945)--last of Universal's horror series.
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)--Glenn Strange.
The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)--Hammer Films with Christopher Lee.
I Was a Teenage Frankenstein (1957)--pieces of teen corpses.
The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958)--Hammer with Michael Gwynn.
Frankenstein 1970 (1958)--Boris Karloff.
How To Make a Monster (1958)--make-up man's revenge.
Frankenstein's Daughter (1959)--son of creates woman.
The Evil of Frankenstein (1964)--Hammer with Kiwi Kingston.
Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965)--Japanese Toho Studios.
Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster (1965)--British, with android.
Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter (1966)--p.u.
Frankenstein Created Woman (1967)--Hammer, revenge.
Mad Monster Party (1968)--Rankin/Bass, stop-motion.
Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969)--yes, we know this.
Horror of Frankenstein (1970)--Hammer.
Dracula vs. Frankenstein (1971)--Lon Chaney, Jr.
Lady Frankenstein (1971)--woman builds man.
Frankenstein's Bloody Terror (1972)--Spanish.
Frankenstein (1972)--Dan Curtis Productions, made-for-tv.
Frankenstein: The True Story (1973)--Michael Sarrazin; and see Jane Seymour get her head ripped off.  
Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks (1973)--brain transplants.
Andy Warhol's Frankenstein (1974)--French-Italian.
Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell (1974)--Hammer.
Young Frankenstein (1974)--Mel Brooks parody.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)--the cult musical.
Terror of Frankenstein (1977)--fairly literal adaptation of the Shelley novel.
Frankenstein Island (1981)--John Carradine plus spiders, snakes, and Amazons.
Frankenstein (1982)--stars Robert Powell.
Frankenstein 90 (1984)--Frankenstein descendent and cultured creature.
Frankenweenie (1984)--resurrected pet dog.
Transylvania 6-5000 (1985)--tabloid scoop on return of monster.
Weird Science (1985)--nerds create woman.
Frankenstein's Great-Aunt Tillie (1985)--inheritance comedy.
Gothic (1987)--account of the 1816 stay of the Shelleys with Byron.
Dr. Hackenstein (1988)--comedy resurrection of late wife.
Frankenstein General Hospital (1988)--med. student "hi-jinks."
Frankenstein Unbound (1990)--Roger Corman's return to directing.
Frankenhooker (1990)--New Jersey mad doctor.
Edison's Frankenstein (1990)--Researched remake of the 1910 one.
Frankenstein: The College Years (1991)--Augh.
Frankenstein (1993)--Randy Quaid.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994)--Kenneth Branaugh, Robert De Niro.
Frankenstein and Me (1995)--carnival sideshow exhibit.
Mr. Stitch (1996)--A humanoid military weapon made from 88 corpses.
Lust for Frankenstein (1998)--Dr.'s ghost tells daughter to resurrect project: lesbian monster.  
Frankenstein Reborn! (1998)--13-year-old Anna Frankenstein is curious about her uncle's experiments.  
Rock & Roll Frankenstein (1999)--Music agent has nephew piece together rock star from pieces of greats.  
Mistress Frankenstein (2000)--Lesbian nympho's brain in the dead Mrs. Helena Frankenstein. Frankenthumb (2002)--Spoof of the Frankenstein films done "digitally."

Hallmark's Mary Shelly's Frankenstein (2004) --Hallmark's version which centered on the love story.  Frankenstein Reborn (2005)

Frankenstein (2007) -- Asylum's modern retelling.

Frankenstein (2010) -- College adaptation. 

Any of these would be perfect to start.  The best movie to start with is either the 1931 Universal Film with Boris Karloff, or this Peter Cushing classic, The Curse of Frankenstein.