Ozymandias

Actually, many of the things I've done (as listed in here) are *quite* common. I've just been working very hard with every one of these posts to phrase them as strangely/esotericly as possible. The rest, yeah. Just odd. :>)

Sadly, I'm pretty technically nonproficient (outside of some of the stuff in Invision powerboard, and what I can recall from a looong time ago about HTML), BUT if you ask: Yui Gyrfalcon Orlan or Rune I know amongst them you'd be able to find your answer.

drank ham juice? drank pickle brine? drank olive brine? drank tabasco sauce? drank hotdog juice? found that your fiancee does, in fact, taste sweetened? Regel: No, but I have done so for six hours. Not much fun.

English translation: Promoted to Page: Silus Lady Eve Silverthorne Dauna Promoted to Quill-Bearer: Phoenix ...and again, rah all. :>) ~ ~ (Oz)

Let's see here... where did I put that? [rummage] [rummage] [rummage] No. BONK! Oo, is that it? [crinkle] [rustle] [crinkle] Sigh. No. clink ...? clink Hmmm. plink clink clink clink HAH! Gotcha! Ah, the old chemistry set. It's been a long, long while . But, no better thing to answer cries for more action. Heh. 'cept perhaps, for G.I.Joe, but that's beside the point. Actions, reactions, strange smells I shan't have to explain to mum...glorious. Anyway, you demanded it, you got it! More action around here, you say? THEN IT'S TIME FOR A CHEMISTRY LESSON! Inasmuch as a lesson can still exist when the educational content consists entirely of 'don't touch that if you want to keep your fingerprints'. However, today's lesson still has all the important stuff. Like CHEMICALS! And, if you're very, very good (and my reflexes are as fast as they used to be) - the melting of some ingredients of you standard home toolbox. audience: OOOOOOOOOOH. FIRST, [rummage] [rummage] we take some Phoenixium!* [grunch] OW! @#$%&! >< ...after carefully donning rubber gloves! {:>\ ...mix it with...Dauananium!** [grunch] [grunch] [grinch] [gronch] Back away quickly... [poof] (sure, you laugh now, but my dog still has narcoleptic fits when he even sees the stuff.) And VOILA! A violent chemical reaction, producing an opaque turquoise potion which gives the user protection from twisted plans. Sorry, Wyv. ;>) For everyone who has ever doubted the power of "natural gas", observe what happens when we mix two of the most potent floral extracts: daunanium and silusium*** . [slosh] [slosh] [slosh] [CRACK] The resultant froth is a translucent orange potion which gives the user the power of x-ray vision! There's some deeper meaning here, I'm sure, but it escapes me at the moment. Let's see, what else did I have in here... Oooh, one of my favorites! Lady Eve Silverthornetium: a cloudy, frangible**** gold solid obtained from the bones of a shrew. It's gold, and can make you feel like a junior necromancer! You can't miss. Mix that with Daunanium, and [jingle] [jingle] [jingle] [WHOOMF] khaaak. haak. hack. ... wheeeeeze. ...we have an opaque black potion which gives the user protection from thieves! ...sorry, Wyv. :>) Well that concludes our lesson for today. To summarize: our folks mix well, and build great things together. Congratulations, and Keep up the good work! *phoenixium: a cloudy, crumbly mauve solid siphoned form the saliva of a gryphon. **dauananium: a translucent, fine white powder drawn from the root of a morning glory. ***silusium: an opaque, soapy beige liquid drawn from the flower of a honeysuckle. ****Frangible, fran'ji-bl, a. [From L. frango, to break. FRACTION.] Capable of being broken; brittle. -Webster's Home Reference Dictionary of the English Language, Franklin J. Meine, Ed. 1947 all reagents and reactions courtesy of http://mavra.perilith.com/~rfreebern/potion/, and Mr. Freebern's Potion Maker The rest was ALL ME, BABY! I go sleepy now.

*snickers* *three musketeers* ^^

...?!? How? Did you...misplace an arifical limb, perhaps?

Gwai - *snaps fingers appreciatively* Well done. Reading them really felt like reading a poetic opening to a new fantasy novel. :>) "A cliched angry young man who wasn't even male" That in particular caught my eye - and spurs me to want to read more on Myth. Apparently there're some things I do not yet know...or forgot. Pered- Evocative as ever. Yow. O_O

heard a dog belch? taken your bumper to work? seen a raccoon cannibal? wanted to cannibalize someone? peeled an air conditioner? wrestled a dog? had one of your favorite authors apologize to you for besmirching your name?

Pesky, pesky pink relevants. ;>) One of the things I admire/enjoy most about Shaman's Crossing is that it is a seamless marriage of American Pioneer west and epic fantasy stories. I know *I've* never seen that before. Ooo, and the Liveship Traders is actually the best one to read next, because its stories happen before The Farseers (and feature one certain some-onne...that you've already met...), and the Tawny Man ends the larger story told in the Traders and Farseers.

You *do* have distinctive fur. :>)

found everlasting truth in a muppet?

cut yourself with a rubber object? eaten a toy? begun can-can dancing with people you don't know? slept in an attic? slept in a gymnasium? eaten in a homeless shelter? pretended to be the opposite sex? pretended to be shorter than you really are? driven backwards down the highway? inhaled flowers? had a feud with a duck?

Oot! AND I found out that Jim Butcher wrote a Spider-Man novel (which I'm buying tomorrow)! ^^ ...okay, I'm really going to bed now...

September 1, 2006 It's 3:48 AM, and do you know what that means? IT'S MICRO UPDATE TIME! OH BOY!!! , etc. I've been reading a lot of comic books lately (STILL the easiest reading to fit into my schedule. Sigh.) and Shaman's Crossing, by Robin Hobb. Holy freaking crap, that was a spectacular book. Elaboration to follow September-ish, at the rate I'm going. Sigh. Goodnight, everybody!

Ozymandias looked at the date, looked at the package in his hand, looked back at the date, and frowned. Flicking an already inked quill into his hand from nowhere with all the ease of a lifelong illusionist, he scratched furiously at the cheerily lettered tag affixed to the package. Barely a minute later the old pharaoh removed pen from paper, leaning his head back as though to get a fuller view of the small sheet of paper. It read, in intricately illuminated script: Happy Birthday, Yui-chan! A Very Merry Unbirthday, Yui-chan! Tucking the box under his arm, Ozymandias strolled off down the corridor, smiling contentedly. He was sure the Huntress would like her shadow mittens - they were, after all, not only unique in their very being, but doubly unique in that they were the only mittens that would keep one's hands cool. He was happy, though knitting them had had the odd effect of removing the hereditary tan from his hands. It looked, he felt, a bit weird on an Egyptian.

I'll only be able to ninja post (read as: able to post, then immediately vanish again, until my next unexpected strike) until Monday. Today's shuriken: Tzimfemme: Translating from Me to English is going to be harder than I first thought. Zool has the right summation, but now I'm worried that all of the particulars in my last post are being lost, so I'm going to see what I can do about that inbetween now and Monday (preferebaly results will come sooner, buuut we'll see). Everybody: It's beginning to seem like the guilds are our biggest concern as a site. Is this true? Belizean: Not a part of the community? Stuff and Nonsense! Nonsense and stuff! Anyone who ever even gave the remotest idle pondering to the distinct possiblity of one day thinking about defining an expiration date to membership in The Pen is Mightier than the Sword, I shall poke in the eye!!!!!* Seriously, you're family, BZ. Come in anytime, stay as long as you like. Trash any ridiculous notions otherwise. Repeat as necessary. Alaeha: Two things I neglected to say earlier - 1)Well put description of the guilds. Thank you. and 2)Breathe. It's extremely hard to get exploded Spellsinger bits out of carpet, you know. *all apologies to Douglas Adams

One more point of clarification. On matters of the guilds: Anything you feel could be taken out, should be taken out, could be added in, should be added in, any changes needed at all, continue to voice that in here just as you have been for any other part of the site. Alaeha, it took me a minute, but I realize you have an excellent point and full-on discussion of each individual portion of the Pen (the example in this case being in depth discussion over the guilds) should be in a separate thread. But, I would say don't do it yet because while we are still having a fantastically bigger response to this fundamental question of "What do you want from the Pen" I still want more, and I think a separate discussion at this point would distract people too easily. Everything I have seen for the past few years (perhaps longer) about lack of feedback, about lack of activity, about how we treat Guild Leaders, about how the guilds are to be run, about a lack of patient and trusting attitudes toward ANY change (note I did not say you have to ACCEPT changes), a lack of trust and patience in many other dealings around the entire site from the Cabaret all the way through to the Tower and including the IRC channel, how to lay out the board more coherently, what the blankety-blank we should do with this rank system, and openness from Elders has told me as well as others emphatically that there are things we need to change around here. I too really really want "the old school flava" and would be heartbroken if we lost it. What I'm trying to say is I love what we do, but while there are some people who do still perform admirably every time, in every way, as we did back in "the old days" we as a community have reached a point where we do not need to and should not change WHAT we do, but how we do it. Does this mean that we need to toss the old site out and start all over again? I don't think so. But as listed out by those of you who have so capably and forthrightly stood up and said within this thread, as I have just related to you in my own experience, some things need to be changed. However, I repeat my earlier point that this is really all I, or any other "powers that be" know for certain. We have no plan yet on how to change things. The one other point we do know for certain is that while this won't be everything, it's big enough that it would be a mistake to not just sit down with everybody so that all of us can form this plan of action together. So KEEP TALKING. Any questions?

I compiled lists of all desirable and undesirable qualities of the Pen listed so far. First, the wish list: resurrect the news page give feedback (critical AND noncritical) trust more (including, but not limited to in how feedback is received) post more (-goes for *everywhere*) more accessibility updates from Elders & GLs more action (sitewide activities like the carnival: i.e., theme days) more action in IRC straightforward file structure wikipedia entry reliable access to knowledgeable grammarians (not listed in this thread, but a wish expressed in my hearing) 'save a copy when sent' PM option having a default setting all-access greenroom all-access critic's corner (re)move guilds move Piazza move Walls of the Pen revision of vieiwing permissions a 'save copy when sent' PM option default *off* setting elders/GLs more vocal across the Pen feedback level you *give* listed separate Werewolf forum more roleplaying fill out feedback box with honesty & clarity Second, the satisfaction: the friends werewolf care & consideration security our IRC channel patience versatility in communication channels versatility in writing opportunity My two ents: A separate Werewolf forum Why? Wikipedia entry /me slaps his forehead It's free, it's WIDELY consulted...I wish I'd thought of that. :>) Did I catch everything, folks? LURKERS! POST! *Everyone*: It has become quite clear (not just in here) that the Pen has been only giving the minimum our members need/want for a very long time now. The vibrant days are missed by everyone who remembers them, and frankly, for the newer folks as well, I know we can do better. It's also become apparent that working only with attitude will not fix this. The site as a physical entity (digital entity? ^^; ...you know what I mean...) needs a lot of work too, and there's no time like the present to do it. This is where you, Initiates, Pages, Honored Guests, Vigil, Poets, Quill Bearers, Bards, EVERYONE come in. We have no plan atm. We need a plan of action before we can set about making some changes around here. To develop that, we need to ask ourselves what's good, and what's missing. So I say this to myself, and to you lurkers as well: SPEAK! and be heard. I say this to everyone who has already: KEEP SPEAKING! Screw brainstorm. I want this upgraded to a hurricane. This is your place just as much as mine. Feel like it isn't anymore? Like it never was? Just have one or two nagging thoughts? Love everything? SPEAK! and it will make a difference.

*smiles broadly* Good, good! Exactly what I was hoping for. Come on, I know there're more of you out there with comments, questions, etc. on yourt mind! Don't be shy! Sadly, I'm running a bit late for work, but if anyone needs it, here're two quick points of "thought-jogging": * What does the Pen give that you desire? * What doesn't the Pen give that you desire? Remember, there are no wrong answers. In the end, it is very much desired to know what everyone thinks when they see the opening question, in as much detail as they want to give. That is the purpose here. Thanks to all of you who have thrown in so far. Everybody, keep it coming!

A question for all, what would you like to see from the pen? Absolutely all answers welcomed.

Excelsior!

In (very) brief: you have made yourself that much more of a respected member of the community, and have grown that much as a member too. The technical: you have access to more of the board now. More details available upon request.

Ozymandias hugs Gyrfalcon, wishing him a happy birthday. He claps Solivaqus on the shoulder and gives him warm wishes as well. Turning, Ozy spies HappyBuddha. HappyBuddha in turn, spies Ozy. They glare at one another. ... Hours pass. Their eyes narrow. ... A week later, they take up fighting stances. Ozymandias' boots' flames flicker quietly. HappyBuddha's boots in turn, clink almost imperceptibly as he changes his footing. ... November arrives. The leaves have changed on the trees, and the people of the Mighty Pen prepare for winter. Ozymandias shouts a battlecry, and erupts into flames. A split second after Ozymandias begins his cry, HappyBuddha defiantly answers with his own, and an aura of burning chi engulfs him. It smells vaguely like cherry Kool-Aid. ... It is 3001, The beginning of a new century. Robots... Air cars.. Bah. The combatants leap into the air screaming in unison, "KA-ME-HA-ME- HA!!!!!" as they click the toes of their boots together, sending towering infernos of chi at each other. ... The end of time. The two blasts hit, and the world blows up anyway. (Happy Birthday. {:>) )

Presented for the first time in the puissant pen performance, we bring you six tales of wisdom, mystery and imagination: In PROCELEUSMATIC PAGES OF PURANA After meeting an apparition of Charles Brasch, a young woman sits down later that night to record this in her journal - only to find she now has the power in her pen to put people in her shoes in a brand new way. Thus was born the enigmatic heroine The Scrivener. Mazrimhatter, whatwas thematter? Whydid youquit ourtea thatday? Sucha lovelybrunch. Wasit toomuch, mynattering onabout thesun, thesky, ourwords, thatplace? Ifyou've anopinion, dearsir, observethe gladmanners; defrayany attitudeyou mayhave alreadyheld andsay sointo therafters. This was the bizarre letter that Matt Heard threw away after it mysteriously appeared under his apartment door. He was at first unsettled, but ultimately dismissive. It changed the aspiring poet laureate's career forever. 'Hi' Perez knew she had been born different. It was not until she reached the age of adulthood that she realized how different. Even though she had always been able to see in the night as clearly as day, to sense things using neither eyes nor ears, but just as acutely, and to stretch and squash and disappear, just as a shadow does, it was all too easy to take for granted that which she had always lived with, for these abilities being ever present had steered her thoughts away from questions as "Can anyone else do what I do?" ...until her life took a turn that demanded she be a warrior or a casualty... and in QUILL-DRIVERS, QUIDDITY, AND QUESTION Gina Feth, the great-great-granddaughter of the Puck himself wandered the Earth for decades in isolation after the waning of the faerie. Those who did not die in the great wars, or from being hunted by fearful humans had long since gone into hiding, and Gina had become separated from her family in World War II. She had survived by masquerdaing as a war orphan, and had been united with a loving family who doted on her. All had been well enough since then, until her life changed forever once more: she found out that there had been elves and other sprites secreted in families and businesses everywhere in her community, and she had been living alongside them the whole time. She was the first to pluck up the courage to introduce herself, and soon the rest followed her example. They now meet to discuss the rebuilding of faerie society... On an expedition searching for lost British diamond mines, before her companions could react, Gail Evenen was attacked and dragged off by a lion. The massive beast's assault left her miraculosly unharmed, and she wrote it off as odd experience, nothing more, until a mugger threatened her daughter back home. She found out that day that she had become something new- Gail had gained the ability to increase her speed, agility, strength and senses a hundredfold as well as nails that were razor-sharp claws whenever her friends or loved ones were threatened. She became Lioness, protector and champion of the Evenen clan. For years Greg Van Dasao looked at the world around him, and saw the lies, the theft, the murder, the corruption, and became more and more disheartened. He finally sat down and contemplated suicide rather than face the drear and dessication that seemed to overwhelm humanity's very soul. Even as his eyes strayed from the kitchen's knife rack, they chanced upon an issue of Superman - its' ragged cover peeking out at him from inbetween long unread tomes. It may have been chance, it may not have been, but that was when Greg made his decision. He donned a red cape and cowl, and took to the streets as the avenging hero known only as The Cape. A renewed hope has permeated the city in the prescence of this simple yet magnetic masked crusader, and threatens to spread still further...* *Translation from Comic Book Geek to English: (In order of appearance) Promoted from Initiate to Page: Phoenix madhatter zepheri Promoted from Page to Quill Bearer: Nightfae Evangeline Savage Dragon CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!! Sorry so late. {:>( Oh, and all of you now know at least *one* way to anagram your names. {:>)