Vlad

Vlad slides into the thread, pounces on Brute, and lands in a chair next to him. "Barkeep? Drinks please, and keep 'em coming!" Turning to face the old stranger, the lich smiles (as much as he can, anyways) and patiently waits to hear the stories.

Are you ready to rock your socks off at the beach? Are you ready for sun, surf, and sand? If the answer to the previous question is no, you can proceed to your regularly scheduled news [Aug 1st]. Otherwise... Well you're in luck! The Summer Carnival has arrived!!! And there is a listing of all the booths! And instructions on how to create your own! Stay tuned right here for this News-Anchor's picks for booths to pay attention to! This thing's gonna be big! July 10th - Have you guys been to the Kid's Club yet? It's a fun carnival event worth fifteen geld! July 13th - Surfs up, dudes and dudettes! Easy five geld; ten if you get gnarly enough! July 28th - Hungry? Roast a sausage over the campfire, and earn yourself ten geld! Aug 1st - Fancy yourself a new magical trinket? Head on over to the Item Auction and write about one! Key: Red = New.

I'll join in on whatever part you want to place me, Katz. Either debating, or judging. And why didn't you just come out and call it LD-debate? I've only been doing that since freshman year...

Oh, is that it? I thought it was for every promotion. Anywhoo... editted.

Q: What's this 'geld' that stuff everyone wants? A: Geld is like virtual Pen gold. It was a byproduct of the carnivals: only during carnival events could you earn geld, and only in the carnival auctions could you use it. Now geld is may now be used in any member-run Role-Playing Event. (If you have an event that you wish to offer geld, please run it through the Elders. Geld is updated manually by an Administrator, so this is a courtesy which allows that entity to properly track earned and spent amounts.) Back to top

Q: What are the carnivals, and what do the guilds have to do with them? A: The carnivals are a collection of events and activities that can earn the Pen's Geld for participation or winning, which currently has little to no value outside a carnival. They start and end at preset dates and their burst-of-energy activity types cater to the needs of a diverse group of people trying to prioritize writing into the rest of their busy lives. They were originally under the administration of "The Guilds" and advertised the presence of the guilds, but the Guilds have been set aside for the nonce. Carnivals may still be run by a group of voluntary motivated members for the amusement of all. Back to top

Nothing much new in this update, but we're building up to something big! Next news will be a tad ahead of schedule. But right now, we're in the now, so enjoy with a coffee or donut! Check it out, yo: Quill-Quests! We've got a lot of fine QB in the hizz-ouse looking for more work. Read about the Quests of Psimon and revery. Carnival! Yep, that's right! We've got another carnival coming! More details coming after the unveiling. Oh, and be sure to tell these guys and girls and animals about any ideas you have! T-Shirts! Strut your stuff! Wear Mighty Pen Apparel! Focus here, homies: 1- Venefyxatu is still looking for a few more people for his Quill Quest. Sign up today! Looks like's he's got a full table, but you can still read about his exploits! Oh, and wish him some luck - with Salinye in the mix, he'll need it! 2- The StoryWeavers' need some fresh recruits to write. Check 'em out, they da bomb! 3- Funk Master Wyv is gathering up a storm! He needs a group to spread the word about ourselves. 4- Like to RolePlay, but don't have the time? Think you can say it all in just fifty words? The second Mini Saga is up and running! And crew, don't forget: -- Get rid of that ol' weenie, ya weenies! -- Dig up something you love and tell the rest of us by adding to the Pen Recommends! -- New around here? Tired of being an honoured guest? Go ahead and Apply to be a member of our fine institution. *Cue men in lavender lab coats and evil cackling* - Vlad Key: Green = Public. Orange = Initiates+. Purple = Quill-Bearer+. Gray = Expired.

Heh, must've slipped my mind. But to answer your questions, Ayshela - yes and yes. Oh, and it served three. Or rather, one once, and one twice. =) Next recipe coming soon.

A knight in slightly rusted armor swoops by, past man and golem. In pauses between gallops of horse hooves and crashes of stones, it becomes clear that the rider is attempting to speak. Halting in front of the cave - and blocking the entrance, he loudly proclaims "Ni!"

I like the rhythm of this piece but something about it just doesn't feel right... Maybe it's the abundance of periodic phrases, but I'm not sure.

Recipe 2: Raviolli salad. This one was really easy to make. I was looking through my freezer and found a package of completely frozen Beef Ravioli. I'm not kidding here. The plastic bag (already conveniently resealed with a twistie-tie) had a block of ice in it, will raviollies "floating" inside. Checking the expiration date (072105), I decided that, yes, I was indeed hungry enough. Defrosting, I tossed the whole bag into a bowl of room temperature water and went on our IRC chat. Great way to pass the time, folks. Anyways, after the ice was gone I thought about my health for a moment. I settled on parboiling the pasta and then finish frying it in a wok. I love the wok; greatest invention ever. After preparing it, I tossed the raviolli into a large bowl. Adding torn lettuce chunks, diced tomato, diced white onion, diced celery, and a smathering of olive oil, I mixed completely. Serves... I'm not sure yet. Just eyeballing it, it looks like 2 or 3.

After Revery finished his announcement, Vlad sat for a moment contemplating. Rising from the judge's table, he walked over to the each of the poets and offered his congratulation. Taking longer than necessary with his small talk, the lich slides away from the commotion around the poets. Finding his companion from earlier in the evening, Vlad takes a seat once more, and prepares to wait for the Special Guest.

Recipe 1 This is a budgetary creation I made this morning. And it didn't taste half-bad either. Note: A traditional recipe would list the ingredients first, then list the steps in the best order to do them. This is anything but traditional. That is why the text will be listed in the order *I* did things, feel free to change it any way you wish in attempting to recreate my meal. Also, I'd like to state, for the record, that cooking is a very in-exact science. At least, it is when you don't have to bake anything. [ingredients in bold.] 1/2 can (~6 oz.) of Sweet Corn, whole kernel. 1/2 can (~6 oz.) of Sweet Peas, whole... pea? Combine in bowl, and mix slightly. Save remainder for tomorrow's meal. I got these at the local grocery store for fifty-five cents each. 1 package (2.5 oz.) of thin sliced Turkey meat. This was thirty-eight cents, same grocery store. I cut the turkey into small squares, and prepared a large saucepan with Grapeseed Oil. I think that was the most expensive item I used, but I'm sure corn oil works just as well. 1 carrot, grated. Saute the carrot gratings for one minute, stirring occasionally. This helps extract the beta-carotine, which is good for your eyes, and stuff. Add the turkey, and continue stirring for another minute or two. Diced onion Add the onion, corn and peas. Let sit over low heat for one minute. Add enough water to allow for uniform heat distribution, but not so much that it begins to look like a soup. Yes, this is vague. No, I didn't measure. I just kept pouring until I thought "That looks like enough." Add salt and pepper, to taste. I didn't use salt because prepackaged meats already have enough IMHO. Reduce the liquid, and let simmer for five to ten minutes. Or until you're really hungry from the aroma. Eat warm. Serves 1 ...twice. Edit: Total cost - $1.10 Doesn't beat ramen, but it also tastes much, much better.

Preface: I am one of those that is blessed with almost every kind of cooking utensil, tool, device, and thingamajig imaginable. I am also blessed with an entire bookshelf of cooking books, and several more boxes sorted by category. That is, in addition to being able to turn on the television at any time and tune in to the Food Network for gastronomical intentions. For that, I thank my parents - who have their priorities in the right place, but only on occasion. However, I am on a budget. So that makes eating rather interesting at times. This thread will be used to detail my adventures in the kitchen. Sometimes, I will detail astounding successes from the most paltry of ingredients. Sometimes I will explain my failures, so that no one will ever make the same mistakes as I. Sometimes I'll just post thoughts I have about food. And with that I bid you An enjoyable time. Good reading, good eating, And good health as your wealth.

If it's not new, then it can't be news... Does that make it "olds?" Here be belated updates to your olds, folks! Announcements: Promotions! We've got the Scheduled kind, and the Extra-Special kind going on as of late! In case you missed them, you can still stop by and offer some congratulatory remarks. Quill-Quests! We've also got lots and lots of fine Quill-Bearers looking to do a fine job. Read about the Quests of Psimon and revery today. Attention Needed: [or maybe just wanted...] 1. What's your Personality Defect? Take the quiz and share with the rest of us! 2. Want to help with the next Carnival? Make your voice heard! 3. The StoryWeavers' Guild is still looking for a few good men to write for them. Check them out, it'll be worth your time! Reminders -- Still a weenie? Don't get roasted, write today! -- Still owe a piece for the Second Writing Exchange? -- Cast your votes for The Pen Recommends! [it's too late to vote for these works, but you can still suggest more works you love for this list!] ~*scribble*Y*erase*u*smudge*i - Vlad! Key: Green = Public. Orange = Initiates+. Purple = Guild stuff. Gray = Expired.

Update: Scrapping the HTML plan. I think I've got everything how I want it. The way I did it does create problems for updating the FAQ, and remaining cohesive/pretty, but I'll cross those bridges when they approach. Or, I'll pass this off to someone, and that poor soul can deal with it. But I've got it under control now, I think. Oh, and Katz - my apologies if I came off too harshly in my previous post. I just reread that, and it felt slightly... mean. *Prances off to tackle other projects*

"...so good. They're all so good..." Vlad murmured to himself. "How am I supposed to decide? I'd better head back to the judging table." Upon arrival, he saw Ayshela with quite possibly the largest cup of coffee he had ever seen. And she seemed quite content with it. Probably shouldn't disturb her, the lich thought. I wonder where Sweetcherrie is... Hmm... Looks like I'm on my own for this. After a few more moments of though, he produced several napkins and sat down, scribbling furiously. Loki - I can't truthfully lay claim to understanding your poem, but I like how it sounded. Some of those terms, I'll have to look up later. It felt like there's a beacon of stability in a world that's gone wrong. Good rythm, but something about it just feels lacking... I think that would be the meaning, as that went over my head. A good work, overall. Vlad thought for a moment before signing his name and folding the napkin up. Pushing the completed work to one side, he reached for a second napkin and began to write more. Crypt - I like where you wanted to take the poem, but most of it sounded rather forced. The notion of having to take what you love in ever-smaller doses is powerful, but you could have made the poem sharper. There's a lot of it that feel irrelevant to the image you need to convey - I think it almost became a ballad. The parts of the poem read to your love are quite emotional and evocative, but are overshadowed by the rest of your reading. The main fault is that you seem to pull the text into too many different directions and meanings and I hesitate to call this a complete product, but it is still an interesting poem to hear. The judge in him was satisfied with the napkin, but the rest of Vlad felt it might be too harsh. After signing his name, he decided to add a smile in the corner, but still was torn. Folding it up, he knew he had to move on to the final napkin. Mira - Although your content isn't the most unique, you do manage to make it completely your own. The line about Man as nothing more than a cold machine was awkward in contrast to the rest of your poem having images of fire and flames and hotness their ilk. There is a soft sense of repetition in the work which highlights your words more than anything else. Appealing to alternative senses was clever, as were the metaphor comparing your Muse to Nature. Some of it feels to straight, but didn't hinder my enjoyment of the poem anyways. Putting down his Cosmic Energy drink, Vlad sat back in his seat and looked around for revery. Finding him in the far corner talking to a person Vlad couldn't recognize at that distance, he slowly walked over. Handing the folded napkins to the MC, he only said "Give these to the poets," before turning around and leaving... Arriving back at the table, Vlad clutched his head in his hands thinking what to do about scoring. So hard to decide...

To shift focus instead of reloading the page, I need to use anchor tags. Currently, I *do* link to each post, but it has to reload everything. With HTML, I can make it just scroll down. Saves processor cycles, bandwidth and culminates in a bunch of Intellectual Masturbation. [Am I allowed to say that in here? If not, would someone please edit it out?]

Yui - I've done a minor edit. Feel better? Gyr - Umm... What'd I do wrong? http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=13648 [First post]

After Mira finished his second poem, Vlad turned to his companion and wished her a good night. Heading back to the judge's table, his mind was racing, all three poems were impressive, to say the least. After reaching his assigned position and conversing with Sweetcherrie and Ayshela for a few minutes, the lich felt ready. But first, the crowd deserved a break from the action. "Waitress! Can I get some ice water, please?" Mynx looked over from the other side of the room, and decided to let Thomas fill this order. She knew that Vlad didn't drink water, and was already wary of the situation. As Thomas walked with an oversized pitcher and a shotglass he nearly tripped several times. He's getting better at this, mused Zariah from spot next to the stage. I'd expect him to fall- Her thought was cut short as she saw Thomas spectacularly trip over Bravery the Elder Dwarf's body, spilling nearly half of the pitcher onto the floor. Vlad, deciding to salvage as much of his plan as possible, walked over and placed a "wet floor" sign next to Thomas' head. "Go get yourself cleaned up, I'll take care of everything here." After Thomas left, Vlad picked the pitcher and decided there's still enough water left for his purpose. Walking over to Wyvern's bed - and leaving the water for someone else to clean up - Vlad dumped the remaining contents of the pitcher onto the scaly form and immediately began yelling. "Wyvern! WYVERN! You missed the second round! You have to judge the poets! You didn't hear them perform! How do you plan on judging? Wyvern!" Vlad continued screaming the lizard's name but it quickly bled into something closer to weaver repeated several times a second. In a paniced state, Wyvern jumped up and started to run back to his bribery bin, but managed to slip on the water still in his path, falling with a loud thud.

Congratulations! You're long overdue for the position!

Gyr - I'm not quite sure if HTML is allowed in that forum, so I just stuck with BBcode. If someone can confirm or deny the use of HTML, I'd appreciate it. *thinks...* Yea, real HTML would make everything a lot easier.

Naw, you're right. There was a typo and I fixed it. Apparently I'm not so good at this "humor" thing people are always talking about. But back to business, adding stuff to the FAQ is pretty easy. I'd write up entries myself, but I don't know nearly enough about the guilds and how they function. So Guild Leaders, this is a mission for you: Write up some FAQ stuff for the guilds and PM it to me. You have thirty-five minutes starting... ... ... NOW! OOC: Yea, just send me [or Gwai] more questions and one of us'll add them in.

What typo? And thanks for the positive reviews, gals.

Vlad walks in to the Cabaret Room, and immediately plops himself on a stool. Ordering a drink, he strikes up a conversation with the bartender. "This dust? All over me? Oh, I've been doing some remodeling." *Takes a swig* "Tore down the old one just this morning, got a good crew working on it." *Takes another swig* "Say, can you fill this up again?" *Hands his mug to the bartender* "Yep, the FAQ's gotten an overhaul." *Takes back his mug* "Tell me what you think after your shift gets done." *Falls over, and drifts off to sleep* OOC: So the FAQs are redone. Some of you may have seen it during construction when it wasn't much of anything, but now I think I'm relatively done. What I want to know is if you folks like this is better, worse or about the same as it was before. Also let me know if I missed any questions that you think should be added.