The Portrait of Zool

LOL! BTW, might want to keep this with you... :pen:

I showed this to my wife to legitimize my time here in her eyes. Thanks.

That was excellent!! Now THAT's what the Pen is all about! Fun to do, fun to read - I'll bet you learned a thing or two in the process, as well. So, in fact, did I. I never realized how difficult I made it for others that want me in there adventures, just getting me around. I'll have to do something about that. I LOVE seeing my name in print, too! Seriously, thanks for including me in your great adventure! BRAVO!! BRAVO!!

Stale! Dude! So good to see you after all this time! Whaddya think of our spiffy new site? Pretty cool, ey? I certainly hope you will spend some time here and share a few meanderings of your chemical excesses with the masses! Yeah - black coffee - Now THAT's a waker upper! Anywho - my influences. Hm. Confession time, because in reality, I must confess to being one of the shallow as well. I really have slacked off on writing for a long time, doing a variety of other things, mostly growing, out of obvious need, but certainly you're not here to hear about that! Way back when, in the late 70's and early 80's was when I did most of my reading. A huge science fiction buff at the time, most of the authors are probably forgotten now. Heinlein was definitely the biggest, definitely still worth reading today. I think he was very transitional in terms of his generation, because his age spanned the 'old' values of pre-WW2 America with the cultural revolution of the 60's. That, I think, is what made his writing so invaluable, and still does today. He could invoke the hard-nosed sense and decency of real values with the freedom, hope, and vision of a higher way of being. My secret ambition is to write the screenplay adaptation for 'Stranger in a Strange Land'. Harry Harrison's 'Stainless Steel Rat' series was big. Keith Laumer's 'Bolo' series was big. Piers Anthony's 'Xanth' series was big. The Hitch Hiker's Guide series is BIG! So I was a young kid with stars in my eyes but my head in the clouds - just couldn't work of course. My ambitions turned to naught as I tumbled headlong into life with a mixture of adventure and strife. Ah, what a long strange trip it has been. Music has always been a big influence with me. As contemporary art, music is unmatchable in it's ability to completely absorb and redirect one's mood, the lyrics being an added boon. Too numerous to mention, anytime you need a quick upper or focus or... whatever, reach for the artist's music of your choice. It's very powerful, easy, accessible, and legal! Once you do that you'll also notice how ephemeral moods are anyways, which is expanding in itself. Must have a decent sound system though - the cheap boom boxes nowadays and even MP3 music I don't think is very easy on the ears at all. So who am I reading now? Heh, well, I have managed to re-read Heinlein through the years, and will continue for years to come. Also Ray Bradbury is a TRUE poet and genius - I will be re-reading his works (Martian Chronicles, Farenheit 451) as well as looking for the new stuff he has written in the mean-time. An author a bit on the 'adult' side is Tom Robbins - absolutely essential for the adult! If in doubt, check out his newest book 'Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates'. I feel a real kinship with Tom because he mentions my hometown in all his books! His writing is so rich and deep, I have to forget all about him when I sit down to write anything myself. Anyway, see you in the funny papers.

That really is a good story, by the way. You have a great feel for emotion, characterization, and irony. You should write more. You could write a sequel, in which they share their strengths with each other, rather than their weaknesses.

LOL!

That's crazy.

Way back when in 19... 9... 8? one of my engineers turned me on to Archmage - it was a great game to play at work - and I decided to try. Had to come up with a unser name and I thought 'Zuul' from Ghostbusters was cool, so I misspelled it to my own intention, and it has stuck.

I'll second that.

Adds a reply just to see where he's at.... Welcome Back Cerulean/Harpy!!

Hmm... Yesss. ~Zool~ He who goes around, comes around.

Sorry about that Wyv - I intend to edit my entry into the space of my comment, err, when I write it. Shalom ~Zool~ He who goes around, comes around.

The Moon was settling over the mountains as the first rays of the sun stretched and yawned their first hint of the morning to come. Cool breezes stirred from the dark hollows and meadows at the edge of the forest, and out of those uncertain winds crept the mist of the newborne day. Slowly rising with the moments of the rising sun, they obscured, and then revealed the teal valley leading to the fortress of The Pen is Mightier than the Sword, and something else. Walking from the direction of the primeval forest came a heavily burdened figure. He steadily made his way to the Assembly Room, and entered, and unloaded his burlap wrapped burden from his back, and sat down, sighing with great relief. The bartender at the end of the hall stopped his polishing of the small bar and eyed the odd stranger with some concern, for his ragged appearence and mysterious package, which dwarfed the stranger, was curious indeed. "Hello stranger," said the bartender. "What can I do for you?" The stranger almost looked up as he was addressed, but didn't quite, which disappointed the bartender, as the stranger's face remained hidden beneath a threadbare hood. Then the stranger let out a nerve rattling cackle, and spoke. "Aye, tis what I can do for you that you can do for me, for I come bearing a gift, and you would do me a service to simply accept." With that he threw the sack cloth off of the large package to reveal... a painting. It was a full sized standing portrait of Zool, Ancient and former Elder of The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. Zool stood regally in his black leather suit trimmed in red, one hand resting on the silver handle of a walking stick, his other arm cradling a rubber chicken. His jet-black pompadour soared up from his head nearly a meter, topped with a flamboyant curl. The background appeared to be the overgrown ruins of a Terran fortress. The frame was sturdy and ornately carved, covered in gold leaf. "Where did you get that?" asked the barkeep, who was somewhat taken aback. Again the mysterious stranger let out his dusty cackle, and said, "There are as many forms of hell as there are mages, and it is a mages sins that make each hell as it is." The stranger looked at the painting leaning against the table and stared Zool in the eyes. Shaking a fist at the painting he declared, "I dare say this mage will one day learn to show respect where respect is due." The barkeep noticed some fear painted in the eyes of Zool he hadn't seen at first glance. Odd, the face had seemed so serene at first. The stranger's voice was one moment as dry as paper, as old as the mountains, and then softened, and indeed the arm and fist revealed from under the robe looked quite young and even feminine. The barkeep felt his apprehensions build as well as his curiousity. The stranger straightened up and turned to go, leaving the painting. "Uh, who are you? Why have you brought this here?" asked the bartender of the stranger, anxious that he shouldn't leave the hulking painting there. The stranger stopped in the door, and spoke without turning around. "I am known by many names. Polybymnia, Erato, Euterpe, Terpsichore, and others." He half turned back to the painting as he spat out the words, "But I have been forsaken and forgotten by he who should know better, and for that his soul shall not rest. The 'emphasis was completely misplaced, completely misleading', he said in his final Farewell. Aye, that was but spit in my eye, and the feather he was trying to place in his own cap. Hehe, now it is his curse to be trapped in his own likeness until he grants me my due. MuaHhahahahaha!" The stranger walked out of the door, and the barkeep took off after him, but when he looked outside not a trace of the stranger was to be seen. The barkeep was still puzzling over the strangers final words as he turned towards the painting, and was astonished to hear a voice emenate from it, and the brush strokes of the lips forming the very words he was hearing. "If you would be so kind," said Zool, "Perhaps you could hang me up over the fireplace?"

Hmm... Yesss. ~Zool~ He who goes around, comes around.

That's what I'm talkin' about. From a fool's fool, welcome, phoole ~Zool~ He who goes around, comes around.

We sure know who the rebels are, don't we? ;p ~Zool~ He who goes around, comes around.

Welcome MrInsecure, It's so nice to see SOMEBODY after all this time. Can't wait to see how the story works out. ~Zool~ He who goes around, comes around.

You would never catch me with weenie in my title... Eek! ~Zool~ He who goes around, comes around.

"...like arguing about shades of red and brown with someone who's colorblind." I believe in purple, myself. ~Zool~ He who goes around, comes around.

I remember this, from the AM board, I believe - or did you email it to me? Just as good the second time around. ~Zool~ -Feel the Love-

Welcome Lord GeldrinHor, I remember you from days of old. It is wonderful to see you! ~Zool~ -Feel the Love-

Well, I have good news and I have bad news, and I also have neutral news. The good news is that I see a striped graphic. The neutral news is that the graphic appears to move at first, but then stops - Prolly 'cause I have Java switched off in this browser. The bad news is that you are crazy and laughing in a room by yourself. ~Zool~ Hell NO I don't want competition - I want something I can win! Edited by: Zool47 at: 10/28/02 8:09:26 pm

El Teddy! Ssssssup Dude? ~Zool~ Hell NO I don't want competition - I want something I can win!

At least you are being realistic. ~Zool~ Hell NO I don't want competition - I want something I can win!

Aye... Your poem and explanation bring one thing to my mind, here... www.geocities.com/SoHo/90...yatid.html ~Zool~ Hell NO I don't want competition - I want something I can win!