Falcon2001

Even if the Ring doesn't scare you - and it scared the crud out of me - the acting and film quality are superb. It is, if nothing else, an EXTREMELY well made movie. I highly reccomend watching it.

Yui hesitated for a second, then knocked on the heavy iron-bound door three times. The resulting sound seemed small in the stone hallway, and as the sound died, she thought she heard muttering in the corridor beyond. There was a muffled click and the door swung ponderously open, revealing the torchlit entry corridor. Yui threw a sidelong glance behind the door as she walked in, confirming her guess - there was nothing there but a guttering torch. The door into the living quarters lay ajar, and she could hear the sounds of someone moving around inside. Pushing the door open, she stood momentarily in the doorway, looking for Cioden. He stood with his back to an ornate table, facing her. He was wearing a night-blue robe with tiny flickering stars sewn into it's surface - he seemed as the night sky. He chuckled. "Come into my parlor." Said the spider to the fly Yui finished mentally. Plastering a polite smile on her face, she walked into the room, supressing the chill that swept over her. Magical wards - enough to be noted physically. She sat down in the chair Cioden indicated with a grand gesture. "So, have you considered my offer, Cioden?" she asked, pleasantries discarded in favor of business. Cioden smiled - this was, of course, his way of doing things. He walked back over to the table. "I've given it some thought - the idea holds it's merits. Would you like some cider or mulled wine?" he asked. As he spoke two pitchers rose mystically from the table to hover near his head - quickly joined by two goblets. "I'll take the cider." Yui replied. Cioden nodded, making a strange gesture. One of the pitchers poured a bit of steaming liquid into a goblet, which hovered obediently. The goblet soared over to Yui's delicate hands, and she sipped it gratefully. Cioden quirked an eyebrow. "No tests for poison - you trust me so much?" he asked, almost sardonically. Yui smiled warmly. "I am not as foolish as I seem. I took an anti-poison serum before visiting you, Cioden." He looked quizzically at her for a second, then burst into laughter. "What a delightful answer, Yui!" he exclaimed, taking the other goblet and sitting down in the chair across from her. He sipped elegantly from the goblet, then dropped it. The goblet hovered where he released it, then retreated to hover soundlessly next to him. "It seems as though I must acquiesce to your request - I admit that I am quite impressed by your...blunt approach to finding information about the creature." He said, gesturing slightly with his hands. "I will try my best to teach you how to use your gift in exchange for all the information you hold on the creature from the shadowplane." His eyes burned hungrily as he leaned forward slightly. "So...what do you know about this beast anyway?" Yui nodded gratefully and took another sip of the cider. "It is, to the best of my knowledge, not of this plane of being - and not native to the shadowplane either." ---MORE POSTING ON THIS ONE WILL FOLLOW---

Thanks, James - and no, I didn't find it too blunt. I realize I can change and I am trying - it was more of just a post to get everything out where I could see it. *shrugs* thanks everyone

Cioden's mouth twisted in a jagged snarl - tonight was not a good night. Footsteps echoed with a sepulchral tock on the floor as he paced the living quarters restlessly - catlike. His burning gaze leapt from beaker to beaker, from tome to tome as he anxiously searched for an answer. On one table, tiny glass beakers rung different tones as liquid inside bubbled and boiled. "This is ridiculous!" With a sweep of a pale arm the music of the beakers erupted into a tinny cacophany of noise and destruction as they shattered upon the cold stone floor. Cioden paid them no heed, turning around and walking away from the mess - his wraithlike servants would clean it up. "I am not getting anywhere with this, and that...that monster dogs my steps and haunts my very dreams!" The fury in his voice was evident in the small room, causing his servants to scurry away to the corners of the room. "She holds this over me as a threat - she has me at her disadvantage! That cannot be allowed." he continued, his voice beginning to regain it's normal calm disposition. He stopped suddenly, a moderately puzzled expression on his face. "It is the magic, of course, that I am truly interested in. That is the key to that creature's power. Somehow I must once again...No - that will wait for later. I do not have the resources to attempt another expedition into that fell place again. Nevermind that matter anyhow - it seems I must co-operate with Yui at least for now, 'ere I have my revenge upon that beast." Calm again, he waved his hand idly towards the broken glass. Suddenly the chiming beakers were back in their stands, once again boiling and giving off delightful tones. He chuckled to himself and walked back to his bedroom. "After all, I always win in the end."

Wow - I feel almost daunted by the idea of writing with you on Via Umbrae I guess I'll have to keep up my end of the story.

I forget which forum IS correct, but as usual, Gwai is right.

I went to see Lord of the Rings this morning at 12:01 AM - that's 1 minute after midnight for those of you who (like me) are easily confused by AM and PM around that time. I ran into Rachel at the theatre. Ran into isn't the operable word but I sat down and started looking around and our eyes locked. I held her gaze for a full thirty seconds at least before someone passed between us and then I looked away. I looked into her eyes and saw anger, sadness, betrayal, and deep pain - but who was I truly looking at? If I look deep inside myself that's all I have left - were we so different, me and her? Can't we get along - why do I have to hate her? I went home afterwards and decided that sleep was not an option tonight. After finishing my math homework I decided to start looking up old poems of mine. I don't know if anyone else noticed this, but my poetry's just...the same thing over and over again. It's good I suppose...but dry, lacking interest or variety. I don't know. This may link you to a list of my works - but it may not. It is, incidentally, arranged by number of replies so my more popular or controversial ones are first. Apparently it works for me, but I can't assume that it'll work for others. If not, just search the banquet hall for posts by me if you're interested in reading any of my work. I reccomend Run, what appears to be my first poem here. *sighs* I'm still looking through my old works. The art is elusive, I suppose. I keep realizing that the more I pour into Cioden the more I realize about myself and the less and less I want to write about him - discovering things about yourself is often a sad and lonely experience. "I don't need anyone! I must do this on my own!" How often have I said those words, and written them for Cioden, not realizing the sick paralells in my own life. How often has Cioden wept inside and scorned without - just as I do in my own life? I don't hate Rachel anymore - I feel sorrow that we don't talk and that we had our disagreements...but I act like I hate her because somehow that feels 'right'. She got me a pen once...when I got it from her I wasn't impressed, but I was still happy because it was a gift and that meant she at least remembered me. During the troubled times between us I used to take out my anger on that pen. She got it on a trip and I assumed it was some cheap pen somewhere just 'cause she couldn't think of anything else and wanted to look good. It was wooden and aluminum, with New Orleans etched into the side - it still sits on my windowsill. One of my friends who really doesn't like rachel was talking to me the other day. "She got you that pen at the airport, Will. It cost her about eleven bucks, which is more than she spent on anyone else. She got you it because you were a writer." What can you say to that? She honestly got me what is one of the most thoughtful gifts I've ever recieved, and I thought badly of her because of it! I wonder now whether that was the way things always are. "You overexaggerate things, Will - you always jump to conclusions." I've been told that many times over as of late - it's true. I know I do it, but I continue to because when I'm right I look like I know what I'm doing and it feels good. I do this to my friends, I did it to my family and I do it to myself. Even this could be a giant jump to conclusions. I don't admit that I care about things - and sometimes I wonder why. It doesn't benefit me in most of my life to pretend I don't care about things...but I do it anyway. I've been saying for months that I don't care about Rachel - but I do, and I can't let go of the relationship. I used to not be able to let go because I honestly cared about her as a person - now because I want to apologize one last time so I can get it off of my chest. I might go write her a letter now, not like she'll get it until way later anyway. I pretend like I don't care what's going to happen tomorrow or the next day, but I do. Every day I wonder how I'm going to afford college or at the very least manage to get out on my own. Things go wrong all the time - especially when you're me - but I suppose all you can do is get back up and keep going. I don't even know what the point of this post is - maybe just to plug my poems and try and get some people to read them...maybe to explain things. Maybe to give myself a chance to get it all out in writing so I could cry again. Crying is so odd when you haven't done in a long while. It feels wonderful, but part of me still feels revulsion at crying. I don't know what to believe anymore. Anyway, thank you for reading this, and I wish you all a merry christmas and a happy holidays. -W. J. (Falcon2k1)

Heya Annael - hope everything's alright!

Cioden's dark eyes stared at her over his goblet, making her slightly uneasy. She sat in a dusty armchair that smelled of aged leather. The glass of wine sat untouched next to her, though she yearned to take a drink. "So you have information about the...creature we encountered on the shadowplane?" His distaste was audible as he spoke, and a flicker of anger showed up in his gaze. "Pray tell, of what nature is this information?" Yui forced herself to keep from shifting uncomfortably as she looked idly around the room, trying to think of a way to continue the conversation. His living room was intensely clean - other than the current experiments going on throughout the place, the room looked as if nobody lived there at all. "I went 'Walking again, Cioden." She said, almost offhandedly. "I noticed that you haven't done as much of lately." The jibe wasn't very subtle - she saw the anger flicker up again. "I managed to communicate with the creature." "Do tell." Cioden took another sip of the wine, but his hand shook slightly. Yui smiled inwardly - she had him hooked. "However, there is something I want in return. This world isn't about something for nothing, you know that best of all." Cioden's eyes narrowed slightly, but he smiled slightly. "But my dear Yui, what could I possibly teach such an arbiter of beauty and power?" Yui smiled wryly. "I want to learn how to better use my shadow walking ability." Cioden looked at her curiously for a few seconds. Somehow Yui got the feeling that he wasn't looking at her anymore, but at something else. He abruptly stood and walked to his bedroom, pausing in the doorway. "I'll think about it. Come back tomorrow and I'll have your answer." With that, he closed the door, leaving Yui suddenly and violently alone in the dark living room. A small smile crept it's way onto her face, and she triumphantly walked out the normal door.

Wow O_O I almost feel bad about bugging you to write on Via Umbrae now ;;

Yes. Shame on you all. My favorite colors are black and white.

Every day I'm a little bit colder You're a bigger part of me Every day I'm a little bit older Finding it hard to breathe You say you're the best part of me Somehow I think you lie Just go away, never return Get out of my damned life The biggest part of me The pride and all the anger Please get away from me! Leave! Leave! Every day I'm a little bit sadder Another step to the grave Every day I'm a little bit madder The rage is here to stay My friends are getting worried And truth is, so am I When the story takes over the author Something is quite awry The loudest part of me The rage and oh the anger Go away from me! Leave! Leave! Every day I'm a little bit darker Solitude's embracing me Every day I'm a little bit starker My soul's slipping away I feel life's not worth living Is there a reason to go on? Is the depression just a syndrome Or punishment for a wrong? Every day I'm a little bit lower The night is calling me Every day I'm a little bit slower Entropy, the great disease You say you're the best part of me Cioden, I think you lie My anger, pain and sorrow You're buried deep inside.

Yui drifted between dreams and waking, murmuring something in her sleep as Cioden resolutely continued his experiments, ignoring her completely. Eventually her eyes fluttered open, then narrowed as she froze, trying to remember where she was. She sat up and looked around, trying to ascertain her surroundings. The decor did nothing to help her - general black and silver were the favorite colors of many Pennites, and many villains besides. A scent hovered in the air, temporarily escaping her, and the room was very tidy and utilitarian. She rose from the bed, noting that she was unharmed and all her belongings were still on her person. She stepped uncertainly around the room, lightly touching the different objects lying about until she came to a large portrait of a man on one wall. Yui narrowed her eyes - something was very familiar about this man. He was pictured in a study of some kind, in a deep armchair. His hair was of normal length and jet black, combed back. He looked like an aristocrat of some kind, and one could tell from the various books and scattered objects on the desk next to him that he was a mage. His cheekbones were well-defined, and his hands were fine and thin. His eyes were black, with silver flecks deep in them. Yui drew in a sharp breath as she realized where she was, and she turned to see Cioden standing in the doorway, gazing dispassionately at the picture. "Valden Darkeye, my late father." Cioden said from behind her. His eyes, so much like his father's, lacked the deep warmth that suffused the older man's portrait. Yui noted the similarities between the two. "I hardly knew him, but I was able to find this portrait from a merchant that had visited our manor." Yui was surprised to hear such things from one such as Cioden. "He must have been a good man." Cioden shifted his gaze to her, boring into her eyes. The cold had intensified to frost. "He was a weak man. He died when I was very young." He walked a few steps closer, and his gaze lost a bit of it's cold fury, but it was replaced with questioning. "What are you doing in my private residences, Yui Temae?" His tone was warm, but the fury was not completely gone. Yui was willing to bet that it never left. "I have information that you may be interested in, Cioden." Yui said, taking a few steps farther. "I wish to trade." Cioden lost his composure and grabbed her cloak, pulling her close. The anger was fresh and burning fiercely behind his eyes. "Trade? You presume much, Huntress. You have no information I want - and if you did I would take it from you!" he flung her away and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Yui caught herself, but she was momentarily thrown offguard by his sudden furor. She steeled herself though, and flung the door open, walking resolutely after him. By the gods this man was stubborn! She found him in his research area, mixing some concoction together. He ignored her completely, burning eyes fixed on his work. "I have information that nobody else has, Cioden." Still he didn't move. "I know about the beast in the shadowrealm - the beast that bested you - the beast I saved you from. I know, and nobody else does." He stopped. "I'm the only one who knows this." She continued, making her tone hard and steely. Cioden turned around, the anger gone - replaced by something else. "Sit. I'll have my guardian bring us some wine." --I'll post once more before it's Yui's turn again--

Psh - of course I can fly. My nickname's Falcon - Falcons have wings. It's simple I just don't fly for very long, and it's more a dive than a flight.

I love high winds, other than the lack of electricity. And now that I live in the city, there's a better chance of my power being back on within a couple hours instead of days like out in the boonies. I like to climb out on top of the house when it starts gusting.

There's a windstorm? o_O The heck? I suppose I'm farther north than you, but I'm fine...maybe it'll hit tonight. That would suck. I suppose we'd just play AD&D though.

So...anybody like it? Dislike it? HATE IT WITH A BURNING PASSION? ...Tell us!

Corridors unknown and unremembered run underneath the keep. The passages were, once you ran deep enough, nothing more than rough-hewn passages cut into the dark stone. Cioden treaded these dank, unlit passages angrily today, his footsteps echoing harshly off the dry walls. As he stormed down the corridor, he privately mulled over the monster's identify for the nth time that day - though really he had never stopped thinking about it. Cioden was tenacious beyond belief - he never let go of something until he had gotten it out of his way. This matter, however, had firmly planted itself in his way and wasn't moving. Cioden irately swung open the iron-bound door to his chambers, unconsciously feeling the wards testing him to prove his identity. As he stormed through his entry hall, the door slammed shut behind him, and a presence drifted towards him. Greetings, master. There have been no intrusions while you were gone. Cioden growled and dismissed the guardian spirit with a curt wave. Of course there was no intrusion. There's never any intrusion. Ever. Cioden walked over to his research area and checked the various vials and tubes. What he found obviously displeased him, as he grimaced savagely and swept a rack of them off the table, cursing. His anger temporarily sated, he turned down the hallway leading to his room. Distracted as he was, he almost missed the sleeping figure on the cold marble floor. Had he been in any state other than his current one, his reflexes would have kicked in, and the poor girl would have met her end at the wrong end of a fireball. As it stood however, he was sufficiently distracted to ascertain the identity of the intruder before starting his spellweaving. Yui? What in the nine hells is she doing here? Yui laid in a small heap on the floor, dreaming peacefully. Her blonde hair must have fallen free of her usual tie, as it surrounded her head like a halo. She looked pale and slightly haggard, as if she had just been through a great trial. Cioden paced back and forth thoughtfully, his ire temporarily subdued and the monster replaced by a problem he could deal with. The general rule was that intruding into his personal quarters was punished by death - but the elders were exempt from this rule. Yui technically was an elder, but Cioden was having a hard time brushing off her intrustion due to her previous slights against him. How can she just lie there sleeping? he wondered, staring at her. Something in his memory tugged at him, triggered by the sight of the sleeping form, but he brushed it aside, continuing his train of thought. "I should kill her now and get it over with," he said out loud, musing to himself. "I can dispose of the body - or use it in an experiment." He idly scratched at the beard he had been growing. He looked at her again, and suddenly the memory flashed back into his mind. Flames were everywhere, burning, consuming. Fear flooded through his body, and the flames grew evercloser. Suddenly he was picked up and a calm voice told him to be calm. The heat grew unbearable, then suddenly he felt the icy bite of the winter night again. Looking around, he found himself outside of a house he found vaguely familiar. A tall elven woman with shining blonde hair stood over him, looking down worriedly. Stay here, Cioden - I'll be right back, she said, then rushed back into the flames. When Cioden looked around more, he realized the whole town was burning. Suddenly the house gave a dull rumble - then, with a sickening crack, the house collapsed in on itself. The young boy felt something pull at his heart, then something died deep inside him. The memories retreated. Once more Cioden was in the hallway standing over Yui's body. He stooped and stared at her sleeping face. Silently, he picked her up and carried her dozing form over to his bed and laid her down gently upon it. Turning, he went back to his living quarters, his thoughts in turmoil.

Twas the night before christmas and all through the hall Not a creature was stirring, be they large or they small Some crosses were hung by the mantle with care In hopes that Cioden wouldn't stop there. Falcon was nestled all snug in his bed Whilst visions of Ibanez danced in his head And with me in my white cloak On the couch in the back Just settlin' down for a long winter's nap When from the roof there arose such a splatter I leapt from my couch to see what was the matter Away to my sheathed sword I tore like a flash Took it out of the sheath and then cut the gold sash The moon on the top of the new-summoned snow Gave the shinyness of noonday to the objects below (Falcon wanted some sugar, so he cast quite the spell But he misread khazak, though it ended up well) When what to my icy blue eyes should appear But a huge freaking sleigh and eight giant demon steer With a creepy-looking driver, like a black-feathered wren I knew in a moment it had to be Cioden A bit slower than canaries his coursers came And he whistled, and cursed, and called them a lot of names. "Now Smasher! Now Crasher! Now Flatfoot and Nixon! On Meteo, on Stupid! On Fondle and Kitchen!" As dry leaves before Aero 3 fly When he met with an obstacle, blow it into the sky! So up to the tower-top the coursers they flew With the sleigh full of nasties, and Cioden too. And then, in an hour, I heard on the roof The growling and pawing of each cloven hoof As I drew back my bow I turned quickly 'round Down the chimney St. Cioden came with a sound He was dressed all in leather from his head to his foot And his clothing was covered in blood and in soot A bundle of spells he has slung on his back And something was oozing right out of the sack His hair was all slicked back with the blood of a demon And he looked like a used-car salesman peddling a lemon His eyes - how they glinted! His dimples - nonexistant! His cheeks were like caverns, his nose a frostbitten tint! His grim little mouth was tied down like a bow And the beard on his chin was the color of crow A silvered dagger he held tight in his teeth And the odor of madness surrounded him in a wreath He had a thin face and absolutely no belly Covered by a shirt that was just a tad smelly He was gruesome and cruel, a right nutty old elf And I fired when I saw him, in spite of myself A wink of his eye and a twist of his head He avoided the arrow, sent to make him dead He spoke not a word, but went right to work And emptied all the stockings, he was such a jerk And laying his middle finger aside of his nose He cast fire3 and on the updraft he rose He fell in his sleigh and gave his team quite a whistle And away they all flew as he flayed them with thistles But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he flew out of sight "I'll get you Azunost, some other night!" Quicker than lightning I threw the stockings out the window And ducked as they exploded in a moonlit twinkle I fixed some hot cocoa and woke up Falcon Who downed the whole mug before I was done Telling him 'bout the big scare we had had His eyes widened "Wow, Cioden's sure bad." I grinned rather slyly and gave him a wink "He's not the only one who can raise a stink" I sat back in my seat with a satisfied grin And scratched idly at the stubble grown on my chin. From far away there came a muffled thud Like Flare being cast in a puddle of mud I smiled benignly and looked at the switch in my hand And thought of the scheme I had carefully planned Involving a Holy Bomb, three ducks and a tin can A roll of duct-tape and a good dental plan Now Cioden was routed and Falcon asleep I could settle down once more to the peaceful deep. But I thought to myself 'ere I turned out the light "Merry christmas to all, and to all a good night."

Ugh. Real life is annoying. It depresses me.

I'm thankful for The Mighty Pen, for helping me stay balanced. I'm thankful for my parents, much as I hate to admit it, for teaching me to be independent and make something of myself. I'm thankful that I can keep my temper under control and not lash out at my friends. I'm thankful that I haven't killed myself. I'm thankful for good friends and better enemies. I'm thankful for food and air and sleep. I'm thankful for Icewind Dale II, but definately not thankful for Icewind Dale II's Heart of Fury mode (Roughly translates into j00 got 0wn3d' mode.) I'm thankful for my computer. I'm thankful for the fact that I have managed to be accepted into a good college where I know some friends are going. I'm thankful for mashed potatoes. I'm thankful for my really high fortitude save and my +3 morningstar. I'm thankful for Rune, for keeping these forums up I'm thankful for Yui, for being SO good about posting regularly on Via Umbrae *WOO! SARCASM DETECTOR!*

*shrugs* Much as I hate to sound like a jerk here, I really didn't like you, but we both know that, and I hope there's no real enmity involved. However, I really don't believe you should leave The Mighty Pen - because I'm pretty sure I may be the only one you've really gotten ticked at you, and I'm a brash, upstart youth. 'Tis your decision.

I spent my first thanksgiving without my family this year, over at my friend Ryan's house. His mom offered to have me, my roommate and my roommate's younger brother over. Of course, my roommate's been best friends with Ryan since 2nd grade, so it worked out rather well. It was fun - reaffirmed my position as Smash Bros. God, ate way too much mashed potatoes (which my friend found a shard of glass in! High-intensity eating!) and then passed out on the couch (Dang you triptophan!) All in all, much fun.

The setting sun shone through the giant windows of the second floor of the Mighty Pen Library. This floor, devoted to research in all it's myriad forms, was filled to the brim with tomes of dusty knowledge and forgetten thoughts. Ornate chandeliers filled with waxy candles filled the hall with more than enough light, and various Pen Members strolled leisurely from one place to another, sometimes making time just to stop in and feel the atmosphere. A pile of dusty scrolls marked Cioden's location like a beacon, but anyone who veered near to inquire as to his course of study was fairly quickly shooed off by the palpable aura of frustration and annoyance. Eventually he gave a growl of frustration and swept the scroll he had been reading to one side. "What in the nine hells was that thing?" He swore, glaring at the pile of scrolls. He had been searching through the Pen's bestiary archive for nigh on two days now, stopping only to sleep - for the last day he had a headache pounding through his head like a frost giant. The librarian brought him meat and potatoes and Cioden would eat absently, poring over the various scrolls on monsters and magicks. "I've been over every scroll even vaguely related to extraplanar beings, and nothing has even come close to a description of that...that - thing!" Cioden swore again and collapsed back into his head, staring at the ceiling intently. The anger was flaring up again, and Cioden fought to keep it in control. He suddenly realized how weak he was feeling, and reached for the nearest plate with food on it, digging in with a fervor he didn't know he still had in him. While he ate, he continued to mull the problem over in his head. Hmm...the creature is an unknown variety or species, and it certainly resembles nothing I've ever seen before. The magicks it used were certainly mundane enough - nothing out of the ordinary. But how it managed to disrupt my magic is quite unique, I've never seen anything of that style before. He finished chewing and swallowed, feeling a bit of warmth spread throughout him. He sighed and stood, leaving the scrolls where they were. A problem that I'm sure will wait for tomorrow. Cioden turned on a heel and strode out of the library, jerking his cloak back over his head abruptly. He passed a cloaked figure that idly looked him over as he walked out. A faint smile cut through the shadows of the cloak. Yui drew the cowl back and walked over to the table, idly sifting through the scrolls. "So even he was vexed...interesting." Setting the scrolls up neatly, she also left, through a different entrance. The dying light of the sun finally gave up the fight against the darkness, and the sky slowly burned to black.

I'm old school all the way. I remember seeing the strategy guide for Final Fantasy I as a special issue of Nintendo Power. I was enraptured, and soon I managed to acquire the beloved cart. Oh the joys I went through as we destroyed monster after monster. Oh the tears I cried when Chaos decided he was going to cast Cure 4 on himself. These were the days of REAL gaming, when the final boss was at the bottom floor of an eight-level dungeon with all the previous bosses barring the way, when you didn't complain, you took it like a man. None of this "Final Fantasy X is too hard" whiny stuff. Back when gamers WERE gamers, jocks didn't own playstations, and nintendo was king. *sighs* I want that time back so bad, which is why I'm into emulation a lot. Viva La Rom!