cryptomancer

Ok... look at it from the point of view of an argument. *presses play on 'the argument sketch' by monty python* For those that take contridiction to an extreme, you can punctuate each statement with a punch, kick , or other violent act. If you are going to argue with another on a subject, the point is not to convince them of you being right, the point it to show the logical progression of experence and learning that has brought you to the conclusion that you hold as your view. The attempt to 'convert' the other to your way of thinking meets resistance. Simply allowing them to understand your view is the improtant thing. Form the viewpoint of Christian evangelization, the evangelist is not the reason the convert changes his world view and joins the church, the evangelist sows the seed of insight, of knowledge of another path. The statement that a lot of protestant churches hold to in conversion, "You are saved by grace alone" shows this. the evangelist does not convert by the power of his argument, or testamony, the evangelist simply stands and point to another path to walk in life. The convert is then given the right of free will, a gift of human nature, the ability to choose. His choice is made from his own world view, being compared to the new. The power of the message for many that convert is accompanied by a insight into the spiritual nature of the new path, the so called faith experience. They convert based on their view, and the influence of a spiritual experence that causes what most self help books call a paradigm shift, the instant and total change of a world view of a person, by an experence, or other influencing factor. In short, without the 'influencing factor' or a complete understanding of the new point of view, any attempt to persuade, convince or change a persons views will be met with a stronger more agressive defense. Conflict becomes stronger and has more capacity for violence in the arena of politics and religion because the views of different groups are so different. Even among the denominations of Christianity for example the views and belief systems differ greatly, causing conflict. Yet if you look at it and accept the views and logic that the beliefs of the other factions are based on, you can grow to understand and accept them. Many Christian groups share the view that the morality and lifestyle held up by Hollywood and the American Media through TV and Advertising are contary to their belief system, yet those same groups find it so hard to believe that Islam sees America as evil because those same views are all that are shown to advertise the alternative to their way of life, offered by America. Just as Islam sees Christians tieing themselvs to a society that they find contary to the beliefs of Islam, and as a result see it [christianity] as evil too.

think very very nasty powerful undead/demon/wraith, if you can go etherial then you can attack it directly, magical weapons etc will hit it, main issue, if it touches you, like reading the book unprepared, you risk possession by it. Is there a Cleric in the house? Anyone? A cleric? please?..... Damn, *draws swords, knives, axes, daggers, (small cheesegrater and a squeesy bottle of lemonjuice.)*

ok.... for the record, the rune used was a very small trick, it was just a protection from evil, all I could really muster in my current state. If I am needed to fight, I will be doing it had to hand, but as there are sheilds around thet would affect this particular part of my nature, I would prefer to avoid further confrontation. If you write me in, it will be as a shadow, as it is the form I will stay in for the duration of my time in this thread, (thanks) one point though, my shadow is in the form of a small wraith, and cannot become larger than my human form at this point in time, weapons are two short swords, and several knives. If you need me to fight hand to hand with this thing, ask. have fun

A small shadow enters the tunnel, the shape vaguely resembling a hooded wraith, the shadow becomes a drifting mist as it enters the room where the others are held, cornering one of their own friends, trapped by the curse of the evil contained in the book. Drifting to the edge of the group the mist begins to spiral in a small twisting vortex, speading to form a parrallel set of rings that surround the group before slowly closing in, the wisps of dark mist chill those they touch as they pass through them, closing to encircle Gwaihir and whatever curses his form. The rings stop and an etherial voice that few have ever heard speaks,"'Release this one, He is of no further use to you." the voice seems to echo in the emptiness of the room. The cursed nature of Gwaihir extends one of his hands, a red mist beginning to flow from the palm, moving to touch the twin rings of black that swirl around its traped form. "You think you can withstand me?" a second etherial voice echoes, its malice evident as it seeks to test the strength of the barrier around it. As it touches five runes begin to form between the circles of dark mist, each one identical, each one glowing silver. The first voice raises to the bait, "I have before, I shall again, but I want vengence for this night too, and the pain you reminded me of, you shall not overrun my mind again." Gwaihir reaches his hand out, the power of the curse enveloping his arm as a spell ripples in the twisted power of the room, building as Gwihir's hand reaches the black circle barring his way, the five runes suddenly turn black as Gwaihir's hand makes contact. The first voice suddenly echoes around the room, "Grab him, pull him through, quickly!" those closest to the place where Gwaihir touched the rings see that his hand has passed through, and a tide of red is rippling against the shield created by the runes. Gnarlitch, Meralas, and Gryphon respond instantly, the triple hold on Gwaihirs arm pulling him through with little resistance, and the three managing to take his weight as he collapses into their arms. The red mist emclosed in the rings of black now spreads forming a halo, probing, trying to get through the sphere of power spun but the magic circle preventing its escape. Its voice screams to the room, "You think tricks will hold me?" as it says this the runes begin to glow red, the mist entwining the rings of black slowly tightening and warping them, finally the first voice echoes, "I cannot hold this thing, attack it, NOW!" as the words are spoken the runes one by one turn red and begin to fade, the black mist dissapaiting as they do, fading as the red takes its place, forming into a hooded figure standing , laughing at those that surround it.

Did I mention rare and endangered too? A small rare and endangered flightless fruit? Has a certain ring to it really. I may look like a bird, but I am green and squishy inside. *grins*

Hi, I am the Raven, and I am a Kiwi, well now I am, by nationality of cause, I am still a Raven, *flaps wings to prove point* But before I was a Kiwi, I was a Springbok, although not native to there either, you see as by birth I am a Zimbabwe bird, Interesting Creature, renamed from Rhodesia Bird in 1979 (I was 5 at the time) but nevermind, I am a Raven, always will be, but have been called Crow by some, and I am now a Kiwi, so, Hi, welcome, and I hope to see you around. Oh, Just for the record, a Kiwi is a small flightless bird, not a fruit, (although me being a fruit has been debated before.)

Happy Birthday Ayshela!!!

[line: sleep walks my weary mind]

Crystal water, pure in form, Wash the lover's pain, From the wounds that love has drawn, Rinse them clean again. The liquid light of lonely hearts, Glimmers in the sadness That sings of love as she departs, Draining away the gladness. Crystal water, pure in form, Rinse my soul again. Crystal water, pure in form. Make us one again.

[OOC: *hugs mynx tightly* All the best, see you soon.]

A small shadow drifts through the window closest to Mynx, and slowly creaps to her side, stopping and forming itself into a small ruffled Raven. "Hi. Sorry about the party, sorta got cursed and distracted by that damned book again." (The Raven cringes at the very bad pun) Looking at his friend, he smiles weakly, "Not much of a protector tonight hey?" The Raven's form shifts slightly, fading to shadow before appearing again holding a smalll vial. "Drink this, it helps a bit, the drunkenness will wear off almost immediatly, but the headache will linger," A second vial in produced in the same manner, this will ease the pain for a while, go sleep if you can, you will feel better for it." Hopping a short distance before his form again fades the Raven's voice echoes briefly to the young feline, "See you soon, Sorry for messing the evening up." The shadow fades away, just the faint departing flap of wings tells of the Raven's passage. Mynx looks at the two vials in her paws, shrugs and opens the first ignoring the bitter aroma, she drinks its contents, her eyes refocus almost instantly, before the focus fades as the hangover takes effect, "Ok, thet bird is treacle bait, .... ow...... as soon as I feel better." Drinking the second vial Mynx stands, her mind focusing enough to wave away the costume as her robe and sythe appear, returning her appearance to her own shadowed form, a hint of deeper darkness cloaking her as she drifts to the door, nodding a farewell to those that still remain in the manor. Into the dark of night, returning to her room, the darkness of her robe concealing her passage through the night.

Reminded of you, In the empty air beside me, Reminded of you, When your eyes I cannot see, Reminded of you, When my heart slows its beat, Reminded of you, When my mind feels defeat, Reminded of you, As my world around me falls, Reminded of you, As I hide behind my walls, Reminded of you, As in my life I cry, Reminded of you, As alone, without you, I die. [line: Daylight screamed its dawning rays]

The Cryptomancer lay where he had been placed after the events in the haunted House, his body pale and cold, breathing shallow. Although the attempts at healing seemed to bring his colour back each one seemed to last only a short while before his colour drained once more. His unconcious form was placed in a quiet corner, and those to who's care he had been given watched and discussed the possible causes of his condition. The main cause for concern was the time that the Runemage had spent reading the book. The Cryptomancer lay still, his concious self drifting in the blackness of his dreams. Deep in the void of his mind a gem of red light stired, and as it grew, his attemtion was drawn to it, feeding off its intensity compared to the blackness that surrounded him. Looking into the core of the gem his mind percieved an image, his body, pale and still, the faded lines of his tattoo dimly visible, and pulsing gently, calling for his return. In the darkness he touched the stone, his thoughts flaired, memories flooding into the void, filling the blackness with images of his past. Twisting to the new shape of those paths of his future, and the deep mist of uncertainty that shifted and concealed their destinations. Suddenly the body of the Runemage jerked upright, the gasp of inhaled breath filling his lungs and drawing the attention of those that watched. Cryptomancer felt the burn of the tattoo flair in his skin, and looked at his torso with widening eyes as the rings of the Fifth circle started to form, the Knowledge that he had read in the book beginning to fill the first parts of that which he sought. As the tattoo grew, the scars again flaired, glowing with a brilliant intensity, before along their path the Cryptomancer's body began to break, collapsing in on itself, disolving to a small black shadow. Shadow became mist as it swept through the room, as it reached the window the telltale flutter of raven wings marked the Cryptomancers path into the night and the dark sanctuary of the forrest. [OOC: thanks to all for the game]

In meditation I shut out the information fro my eyes, I use my other sences to find identify the things around me. Both paths would take a lot of strength to walk, a lot of control and learning to master the intricacies of life without the use of eyes or ears. My preferred choice, I could still work either way, Beauty will still show herself to me regardless of how I percieve her. But all of me life I have sought to see, I am a very visual person, I can meditate with loud music playing, I cannot meditate with my eyes open. I would choose deafness.

*the Raven walks in in a kiwi suit.* *looks in dictionary of kiwi slang*, it says here that a kiwi is an animal that...... nevermind. I be keen, is they like my scribbles.

Stagger into another dawn, Shift upon the silken sheets, Lose the paths of dreamlessness, Walk the road of wake instead. Lay upon the idle sun, Shifting slowly to its noon. Kiss the dawn's drawn breath Long for the cool night moon. Starlight wet upon the grass, Caress of midnight dew, Reflect in shards of liquidity My mortal soul renewed. Hold my heart within your hand For in your life I give, all that In the world I have, and upon My lost soul I survive. Within the Beating of the treasure I give To your soft palm, and grasp, My love looks upon you, seeing As I ever will, the love, that is All I ever dreamed to find. Who Saw my soul, yet loved me still. [line: Mortality faded to grey.]

Picture perfect painted sky Drawing to my heart all That I truely desire. Silently setting sun adored As in its light I see her Standing at my side. Warmth whispering wind's caress Softness in her lip's soft kiss My soul scorching in our love. Walking wakeful and weary Into the breaking dawn Cool grey blue. Picture perfect painted sky Colour that I see ever In my lover's eyes. [line: Dawn within her soft embrace]

talk to her, let her read your thoughts, because I believe that friendship is the foundation of anything more, even if it does not happen right away.

It was suggested that I gonna get lynched first in any game I play now. At least I got to read some of the book.

I will play a wolf!!! On the grounds that I have no hair, and get comments about resembling a certain hollywood mummy, My character name can be 'Imhotep' unless there is any objection, and I shall play a cleric.

Posted my attempt for WrenWind here in the banquet room. WOW, *Stares at the many many posts yet to be read* *bows to WrenWind* Many beautiful words Lady Windsong, thank you for sharing them.

A Raven sits in the shadows of the Pen’s rafters, seldom seem in this form now that his presence is know and welcomed, but now he seeks the knowledge of one that it has been decided by the fates that he meet. Slowly the Raven’s form shifts and blurring slightly, it forms a small shadowed figure who stands upon the roof’s frame, his state trancelike as he begins to read the works of history in the many rooms that his unseen spirit walks through. A soft chant begins, seeming to be but a breath of wind carrying words from a far off conversation. Lady of the Windsong, Free as heaven’s love, Breeze of words that flow, Whispered from above. Shadow hides your form So upon your words I write, But silver as my words can be They pale in your light. I read words of applicant, Describe the patterned stars, I saw the words of vision, That told of distant hope, That under different stars, Love still can grow, Gifted words to a child, Seen young, and fully grown, Words of love’s knowledge, From the heart they make their home, Visions of spirit summoned Wash of life’s pain Telling of sorrow’s pain Until you love again A picture in a poem That starts a story’s trail Lady watching the growing storm Arms open like a sail Upon the words of ‘storm’ The lady tells true Of lives lived in form That in the tempest’s fury Is where we do belong. Like pieces of a puzzle Tenderness is found Moment by moment Grown in life, all around. Slowly the chant fades away as the Raven retakes control over his body. The trance ends as a tear falls from the eye of the bird. True are the words of a poet, and they flow deep with emotions. The raven sits alone, contemplating the beginning of a story, one told almost in a dreamlike form, a darkness in its telling. A flutter of feathers and the bird sits alert again, his mind once more drifts to walk the halls of this place. But his thoughts drawn to the depth he discovers at each turn, like the twisting of meditation, visions are seldom what they seem, but can tell you more that any dream. The chant begins once more, drifting as the form of the Raven once more slips into a trance. Lady of the Windsong Words again ring true For pain is but a part of life Ending it will never do. Describing anger Shortness Pure Emotive Gift of words once more brings joy. A sudden flutter of wings and the Raven is gone, his trance ending even as he took flight, perhaps he has found a chance to describe the Lady of the Windsong, Words can tell much of the workings of the heart and mind, they will show flickers of the soul to those that look close enough, but this may offer a clue to the appearance of the one he seeks, a story, one with a character that appears under the same name. Entering the conservatory, the Raven seeks a position in the rafters of the room, and then as he watches the antics of those already there, enjoying the distraction momentarily, his spirit once again begins its search. Grace and agile for her shape That from the rafters fell And in brief she did show Mauve eyes and deep black curls. Magic in the words, Magic in the blood, Magic forms the skills, Magic is what she does. The eyes of the Raven open again, the avian thoughts shift up a gear. “Ok”, he says to the wood of his perch, “So, the Lady Windsong is a mage.” A note drifts into the mental view of the bird in the rafters, just a short specification list almost, Age: undeterminable but she looks 25 Height: 5'2" Weight: 100lbs Eyes: mauve Hair: Black, long and very curly The Raven grins to himself, “Full credit to the Lady Windsong, she is elusive.” Settling down into the perch in the roof, the Raven once more begins to explore the written works in the many collections of stories that this room seems to offer. In the deep recesses of the caffeine influenced mental carnage that is the mind of the Raven a small portion of sensible thought begins to occur, forming in its centre a small glowing script of coherent verse. Lady Windsong of the words, Breeze that the heart moves, I read and read, still I find No hint save description of your eyes. Curls of black and eyes of mauve, Magic cast in poem and prose, Visions of emotion’s gift To all who read your crafted lyric. Search of lettered verse to find An image of you for the mind To hold as I read, to see you, But elusive as the breeze you flew. The Raven drops to the air below his perch and in a few wing beats glides out of the room.

The book in Cryptomancers hands begins to glow, the glow speading as an aura of red light around his body.

"Welcome to the madhouse" A dismembered echo imparted, To the wandering stranger That into the room had started. "It seems I am a triffle lost, And from my world departed." "If I can hear the ghostly voice that my perceptions altered." Mirror me my reflective gaze, And in my haunted darkness, Capture me my eternal toil, or Heavens joyous fortress. [line: When I lost my self to you]

I love you, I hate you, I wrote upon the ground, In petals of a daisy, That fell without a sound. I love you, I hate you, I whispered to the night, Upon the light of stars, That shielded you with light. I love you, I hate you, I wrote upon the page, Memories of weariness, My emotions disengage. I love you, I hate you, I scream at the sea, Fleeng from sanctuary, To what can never be. I love you, I hate you, Spoken in my days, As muttering maddness, Argued mental phrase. I love you, I hate you, The former it is true, The hate is at myself, For being apart from you. [Line: Whisper to my soul an everlasting dream.]