Tuesday, November 29
All That Glitters - Part 6: Confrontation
Ilmarė closed her eyes and shook her head. "I don't believe this," she muttered under her breath. Then she raised her head and smiled a dazzling smile. "Look, I think there's some kind of arrangement we can work out. You're clearly a sensible…" she choked on the word "…man."
Behind her, Bijoux began to purr with arms outstretched in a gesture of supplication. She focused on the two dogs, which titled their heads in confusion at her.
There was a momentary pause while each party sized the other up. Then the half-orc broke out into laughter.
"You want to negotiate, pretty elf? I'll tell you what: you put down your weapons and then I will be happy to work out an…arrangement with you."
"Oh for crying out loud," said Sebastian. "Let's just kill them and be done with it." He stepped forward with palm outstretched. "Fuco aspergo!" [MORE]
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Monday, November 28
Flames Rising Interview Revised
Check out the revised formatting of my interview with Flames Rising.Labels: author news
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Speaking Engagement: AnonyCon 2005
Yep, I'll be a panelist at AnonyCon this weekend as well as gaming:
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| With: Michael Tresca | Sun: 10 - 11:30 am | ||
| Want to learn how to get your material published? Have a day job but also hunger for game design on the side? Learn about how to break into freelancing. | |||
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| With: Michael Tresca | Sun: 12 - 1 pm | ||
| Cheaper than a dead tree, more powerful than a spam email, faster than shipping by truck or car, it's digital distribution! Learn how to use PDFs and the net to your advantage in getting your material out there and in the hands of the players. | |||
[MORE]
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Sunday, November 27
Well of Stars Update: FINI!
I just wrapped up the last chapter and the epilogue. It all comes down to Deren vs. Marty, Klekless vs. Rebma."The reason I'm telling you this is because of Deren's ring. It's how he survived your first attack. He's very hard to kill."
"Oh, I'll be sure to finish him off this time." Marty turned to the undead squirrel that sat on his shoulder. "Summon the killer Stags."
"Killer stags?" Klekless slapped his forehead. "Don't you have any normal minions? Like a giant or something?"
"As a matter of fact I do. But it's taking awhile to wake up."
Four things hopped onto the far end of the branch.
Klekless gaped. "What the…"
"Duneyrr, Durathror, Dvalin, and Dainn," said Marty, addressing each of them in turn. "You know what to do."
They meeped in response. Bowing low, each of them hopped onto an obsidian platform that appeared nearby. Then it lowered into the mists.
"You've never SEEN a stag, have you?"
"Hey, give me a break," said Marty. "Those were the first minions I created before I saw caribou in the Northern Wastes."
If you want the full story, you'll have to read the book whenever I managed to find someone to publish it. :)
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I'd like to thank my beautiful wife Amber, who was the inspiration for Rebma (think about it) and my Tivo, which fed me a neverending supply of Teen Titans, Last Avatar, and Batman cartoons. Taking breaks every few hours to watch somebody blowing something up was very invigorating.
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4:20 PM
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Saturday, November 26
Well of Stars: Home Stretch
We're in the home stretch! The novel picks up speed here with a few different events: Deren and Rebma soldier on alone. And then it's time for a flashback!Rebma was shivering uncontrollably. Her breath came in long, ragged gasps.
"Sinnikpok," said the older woman, pointing at the covers.
"Okay, okay, I get it," said Deren. He slipped under the covers with Rebma.
Rebma’s body was freezing, cold in ways no human body should ever be cold. He put one arm beneath her neck and encircled her with the other. She was a tight ball, but when he touched her she relaxed a bit. He tried to bring her body as close to his as possible.
The old woman watched sternly. The younger one struggled not to giggle. Finally, the older woman was satisfied. She left the tent.
"Somehow," muttered Deren, "this is not how I imagined it."
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Thursday, November 24
Torassia - Adventures in Fantasy Russia [BUNDLE]
Want to play in fantasy Russia (Torassa) but missed out on all the print products? Well, now you can get two adventures set in the frozen lands of Torassia: Tsar Rising and its sequel, The Dancing Hut. You also get Frost & Fur: The Explorer's Guide to the Frozen Lands, the last word on adventuring in the arctic. Total value is normally $28.50, but you can buy it for just $23.00. Check it out at RPGNow!Labels: author news
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11:56 PM
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Talien's d20 Modern Horror [BUNDLE]
Looking for Blood & Brains, Blood & Spooks, and Blood & Blades all in one place? Now you can get them at a discounted bundle! Normally $22.35, you can get all three for $18.00! Check it out at RPGNow!Labels: author news
posted by talien at
11:52 PM
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All That Glitters - Part 5g: The Hidden Cave
"I'm fine," said Beldin in irritation. Despite his wounds, the dwarf's pride has suffered most. "But we're in a sea cave. It may be more than an underwater tunnel we'll have to worry about soon."
Bijoux pointed at a crustacean attached to a nearby cavern wall. "This is a creature of the sea," she said. "It does not normally live out of water."
"Fine," said Ilmarė. "We'll need the lizard anyway to haul the treasure out of here."
"That's very noble of you," said Bijoux, narrowing her eyes.
Before Ilmarė could respond, Sebastian asked, "whatever happened to Oriku?" [MORE]
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Wednesday, November 23
Well of Stars: Redli, Bertram, and Petey's Exit
Too much happens here, but suffice it to say it involves a dragon, a zombie, a dwarf, and a whole lot of snow.Every sort of wildlife that Redli had killed crawled, slithered, climbed and bounced to life. Caribou, bears, wolves, and rodents of all kinds came skittering out of the trees and slopes, surging in a wave towards the two humans.
A beautiful, strong male voice sang out:
"The women are unsettled
As feathers in the wind,
Each moment changes their minds."
"Whit th' heel is 'at?" asked Redli.
"In tears, or even smiles,
Yes, women's lovely face,
Forever beguiles us!" sang Bertram.
Redli spun around, trying to pinpoint the sound.
"The men that is so mad
To trust a women's heart
Forever must be sad," sang Bertram.
"Noo i've seen it aw," said Redli. "A singin' zombie."
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9:38 PM
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Tuesday, November 22
Well of Stars Update: Enter the Plague
Given that the plague has largely been raging around in the background, it's high time it showed up the old fashioned way...by affecting somebody we care about.Farrim lifted one sleeve so that the bare arm beneath it was visible. Black spots dotted the length of his forearm.
"Sweet Sikkar," said Rebma. "You've contracted the plague."
"Shhh," said Farrim. She noticed the sweat on his forehead. "I don't want to panic the others."
They spun around the square. Rebma felt Farrim's hand go limp on her back. Then he collapsed to the ground.
"Farrim!" shouted Rebma.
The musicians stopped playing. Petey looked up.
Farrim fell backwards, arms splayed. The black sores were clearly marked along the length of his arms. Blood trickled from his nose.
Someone shouted "the plague!" Then chaos ensued as revelers scrambled away in horror, stumbling over each other to avoid Farrim.
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9:49 PM
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Monday, November 21
Well of Stars Update: Deren and Rebma Have a "Moment"
Deren and Rebma finally get a chance to be alone."I'm not sure why you let the traitors go," said Rebma, staring at the trickle of horses exiting the city. "They'll only turn against you later."
"Maybe," said Deren. "I gave them a means of saving face. They can say they're spreading the word of my return."
"As opposed to running with their tails between their legs," said Rebma. Her expression softened with genuine concern. "You're too kindhearted."
"If that's the image I project, then I'm glad," said Deren with a smirk. "It is important I be seen as a benevolent ruler after my checkered past. And the best way to do that is to embrace my enemies."
"So you plan on giving the Darklord a hug?"
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9:35 PM
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Well of Stars: Drakungheist Regroups
Deren lays down the law. He's finally a king now, so he has some matters to attend to. But before he leaves on another quest, he has to tell the assorted nobles how it's going to be."How will you get there?" asked a third noble. "The Frozen Wastes are miles…"
He trailed off. The sound of beating wings reached their ears. Something big was coming.
Petey stuck his head through the double doors. "SQUEAK?" bellowed the dragon.
The startled nobles nearly jumped out of their seats.
"That's how," said Deren.
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8:26 AM
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Sunday, November 20
Well of Stars: OMG My Eyes Are Bleeding
I'm too exhausted to explain the details, but in a frenzy of writing, I caught up on my novel. I reached, in a frenzy of writing, the word count I should be at on November 20 of National Novel Writing Month. According to the NaNoWriMo site:And now a request for the weekend: Mid-thirties, all around. Hit the 35,000-word mark in your book by Monday and you're absolutely golden. If you're way behind, fear not. Every year, thousands of writers go from being out of contention to caught up over the course of this weekend.My eyes are bleeding and my fingers are claws, but God help me, I did it. I'd like to thank my loving wife, my collection of bad 80's rock, and my Tivo for keeping me sane throughout. Check out that word count baby!
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posted by talien at
9:58 PM
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All That Glitters - Part 5f: The Hidden Cave
"Faer ned I amar, im canam!"
A spider the size of a man landed on top of the second bear with all eight legs. It had bright red legs and mandibles and a reddish-yellow thorax. The spider sank its fangs, dripping with poison, into the beast.
Bijoux recoiled in horror. "What have you summoned? That thing…it has the taint of the infernal about it!"
"It's saving our lives," snarled Ilmarė. "Quiet, or you'll hurt its feelings." [MORE]
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Saturday, November 19
Well of Stars Update: The Story so Far
The men all gather round to bring each other up to date. And they leave Rebma out of it."You'll have fresh mounts and supplies," said Farrim. "I can get the men ready in an hour."
"Do you have any dead horses?" Rebma asked Parsippus. He was trying to ignore her, but it wasn't working.
"An hour? That's quick for a castle under siege…" Deren trailed off when Farrim pursed his lips. He understood what was happening.
"And a dead pony, for my servant?"
"What are you going to do with it?" asked Parsippus indignantly.
"Look," said Rebma. "I'm sure you're all upset about the undead armies and the plague and all that. And I sympathize, I really do. But I've almost been eaten, shot, stabbed, sacrificed, burned, and drowned. So it's going to go like this…you either get me a mount I can use, or you ARE THE MOUNT."
Parsippus blanched. "We'll have them ready."
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posted by talien at
11:50 PM
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Well of Stars Update: Mano a Elfo
Deren, Petey, Bertram, and Rebma to the rescue! Sort of.Deren barreled towards the elf and launched into the air, catching him at the waist with a flying tackle. Telgis went down, hard.
"You dare to touch me?" The elf’s beautiful features were twisted in rage. Deren lifted a fist to punch him right in his pretty face.
But then he blurred and was gone.
Deren blinked. "What the—"
There was a CRACK! and Deren felt the world spin. Someone had kicked him in the stomach.
Deren rolled over, trying to catch his breath. "Fast," was all he could get out.
"That’s right, human. Faster than you’ll ever be. I’m no lumbering zombie." More lights exploded in Deren’s head as Telgis kicked him twice more.
Deren stumbled backwards, rising to his feet. "Kill you," he said.
"Really?" said Telgis, pretending to be deep in thought. "Not today."
He blurred again. Deren tried to focus, but the edges of his vision were beginning to darken. There were two sharp pains to his side, more blows from the elf. Something snapped, probably ribs.
Deren fell backwards. The ground was soft from being so close to the Long River. He felt grateful. Telgis shadow loomed over him.
"You’ve been quite enough of a nuisance," said Telgis. "I’m going to reanimate you as my court jester." He lifted a fist.
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posted by talien at
10:45 PM
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Friday, November 18
Well of Stars: Closing the Trap
Barish makes it into the Sturmgeld. But it's too easy."A bluff," said Barish. He downed his own drink, hard. "So he was in a rush. He wanted to end the siege quickly. And you didn't fall for it. But why let us into the city? With rationing, we can hold him off for months with these supplies."
Farrim took another swig and put his drink down. He peered into the depths of the mug, deep in thought.
Barish slammed his drink onto the table. "That's it!"
"What?"
"Telgis' troops need no supplies. They don't eat; they don't get tired. They don't need relief. There's only one thing Telgis needs more of."
Farrim slowly turned to meet Barish's gaze.
"People."
A small shockwave sloshed the contents of Farrim's mug. Then another. And another.
Something huge was coming their way.
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Labels: author news
posted by talien at
10:13 PM
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Well of Stars Update: Telgis Gets Cocky
He's an elf. What did you expect?Telgis watched the bombardment atop a horse that had stopped breathing a long time ago. It made for a smoother ride. The cannonfire was wreaking havoc on the convoy. The captain didn’t dare bring his men-at-arms out of the protective circle of the wagons, but his bowman couldn’t strike back. Human bows were no match for Dwarven ingenuity.
Of course, if it had been elves he were facing, that’d be a different story entirely. Telgis sighed. The good old days.
Telgis raised one arm and the firing stopped.
“Time to mop up.”
Telgis pointed to his left and right and then brought his hands together to point forward. His men dismounted and advanced against the wagon enclave.
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posted by talien at
8:22 AM
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Thursday, November 17
Well of Stars Update: Burning Bridges
Farrim realizes that he can't let Telgis take the bridge that spans the Long River. So he decides to destroy it himself. But firing a catapult at a target is not as easy as he thought.There was the familiar whip-crack of the catapult firing. The piece of masonry, broken off from Telgis’ bombardment, was easily the size of a house. Farrim watched as it sailed towards him.
Then he started running. The men had fired too short.
Catapults weren’t precise weapons by any means. Normally, they would have measured out the range of the weapon with markers. But there was no time for markers and the men needed a target to aim at.
He hurled himself forward just at the moment of impact. Chunks of rock and stone bounced toward him. One piece whistled towards his head.
Another soldier skidded in front of him with a tower shield. The impact knocked him back a good foot, but it held.
"Thanks," said Farrim, out of breath.
The soldier saluted. "Welcome to Sturmgeld, Captain."
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posted by talien at
10:17 PM
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Well of Stars Update: Run Away!
Wistrow and Farrim have a difference of opinion. And then Telgis fires an arrow.The tower rocked again from the force of explosions beneath it. Farrim was escorted out onto the bridge by the two guards, who relaxed their grip once he was out of Wistrow’s sight.
"I feel sorry for you two," said Farrim. "I’m going back to a more fortified location."
The guards were mute. What could they say?
Just then, Wistrow’s corpse sailed past them, an arrow sticking out of his head.
The two guards looked at each other, then at Farrim.
"Well, that makes me commanding officer. Retreat!" shouted Farrim. And this time, the soldiers listened.
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posted by talien at
8:35 AM
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Wednesday, November 16
Well of Stars Update: Meanwhile, Back at the Castle
Farrim and Parsippus are facing down the undead hordes of Telgis. Unfortunately, the worst problem of all turns out to be closer to home...The rapidly thinning supplies didn’t bother Farrim. The grim state of the siege didn’t bother him. Even massive undead army they faced didn’t bother him so much as the man who led the garrison at Castle Sturmgeld and, as a result, was Farrim’s superior.
Captain Wistrow.
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posted by talien at
10:00 PM
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Well of Stars Update: Break a Leg
Bjorn has been defeated. Now if they could just find his ring..."Damn!" said Rebma, one arm extended as she searched for the Hyrtstone chip. "It's got to be around here somewhere."
The explosion from the cannon had blown Bjorn apart, flinging pieces in all directions. Petey flew off to track down the remaining troops of the Darklord's army. When they saw their god rise into the air, victorious, the Lithonians rallied and resumed a vigorous offensive.
A charred hand pulled lifted out of the water…holding another hand with a ring on its finger.
"Ah ha!" said Rebma. "Now we're making progress!" She snatched the dismembered hand out of Bertram's grasp and removed the ring.
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posted by talien at
8:25 AM
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Tuesday, November 15
All That Glitters - Part 5e: The Hidden Cave
Beldin brought his glowing axe closer to examine the corpse. Shadows danced along the vast cavern's walls and stretched away into darkness. "It's not possible," he said. "I've fought far worse in the tunnels near Solanos Mor. These were no ordinary bears."
"Indeed," said Sebastian. "I used Ilmarė's wand on one and its fur wasn't even singed."
Bijoux stroked the fur of the black bear. "Magic," said Bijoux. "They had help."
"What's that?" said Ilmarė.
"What?" asked Calactyte.
"I think that's…" she trailed off as a shadow loomed across Cal. "…the help." [MORE]
Labels: arcanis
posted by talien at
11:26 PM
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Dance Pictures Are Up!
The moment you've all been waiting for...pictures from the competition!Or maybe not. But anyhoo, the pictures are visible at Appearances under the Fred Astaire Dance Competition.
Labels: personal news
posted by talien at
11:02 PM
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Well of Stars: All Hell Breaks Loose
Deren, Rebma, Klekless, Bjorn, Petey, and Bertram all meet at the same time. The results are...explosive.Deren and Klekless whirled on each other at the same time.
"You tried to sacrifice me!"
"You ruined my Unmaking Ceremony!"
Klekless opened his palms at Deren.
"Oh no you don't!" he shouted. "I've seen this trick before!" Then Deren socked him in the nose.
Klekless fell backwards, clutching his face. "You sob ob a bitch! You brode my node!"
"I'm going to do a lot worse to you than that," said Deren. He looked around for his walking stick and spotted the obsidian knife on the altar where Teudile had lost his grip on it. Klekless saw the blade too.
They both dove for it at the same time. Klekless got to it first, but the blood on his hands made it slippery. It popped up into the air like a salmon.
Deren hopped up onto the altar, one hand shoving Klekless back to grab it. The stone altar beneath them, dislodged from its moorings by the explosion, rocked as their weight shifted.
Deren and Klekless froze. The stone slid a little more. "Dobe…moobe…" said Klekless.
The knife, still pirouetting in the air, clinked in the middle of the altar.
And then the one-eyed noble, the sorcerer, and the altar beneath them went sailing down the side of the Lithonian temple.
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posted by talien at
10:12 PM
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Well of Stars Update: Enter Wetzylcoatl
Something roared overhead.
"Oh sweet Sikkar," said Deren. In a moment of panic, he looked around for his rapier. But what good would a rapier do against a god? Or a dragon?
He rose to his feet…then ducked as a large, scaled, winged beast roared past. It was a dragon.
"Wetzylcoatl has really returned!" said Klekless, standing next to Deren. "I don't believe it."
Deren and Klekless spun to point at each other. "You're alive?!" they said in unison.
"But if that's not you…" asked Deren.
"Then who the hell is that?" finished Klekless.
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posted by talien at
8:18 AM
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Monday, November 14
Well of Stars Update: Lost Potential
Bjorn finally fires the cannon as Klekless decides to make the ultimate sacrifice. Somehow, we get a dragon out of all this."I've never seen a dragon, Bertram," she said as her zombie servant lowered her to the ground. "But that thing is surely much, much worse."
"Nnngh," said Bertram. He gestured behind her.
Rebma's hands were clasping her ears. "The Darklord's trying to blow that city to bits, Bertram. Let's try to even the odds."
"Nnngh!" said Bertram. He waved his arms in the vague direction over Rebma's shoulder.
Rebma rolled up her sleeves. "This calls for a little necromancy. Bertram, get my things."
"NNNGH!" said Bertram. His jaw hung open.
"What is it?"
Rebma whirled to look behind her. Then she saw the dragon.
"Oh."
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posted by talien at
10:25 PM
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Sunday, November 13
Well of Stars Update: Dragon Feet
Klekless and Deren have been allies up to this point. But when faced with the prospect of a Lithonian ceremony that transforms him into a dragon, Klekless will stop at nothing.Klekless froze. "What kingdom is that?"
"Drakengheist."
Klekless' features became a mask of control. "Really. Do you know what your name means in Old Empire?"
Deren shook his head.
"The Spirit of the Dragon. I think perhaps the Lithonians have made a mistake. The servant is the master and the master the servant."
"Wait a minute," said Deren. "You can't seriously believe that I'm supposed to save the Lithonian people? I'm not going to go through with that ceremony."
"No," said Klekless slowly. "You're not." He turned back to Teudile. "I've changed my mind. Just one sacrifice will do." He pointed at Deren.
Petey pooped on Deren's shoulder.
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Labels: author news
posted by talien at
10:31 AM
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Happy Anniversary to Us!
Today, November 13, marks our six-year anniversary! All my love to my gorgeous wife Amber. Check out our wedding web site for more info!Labels: personal news
posted by talien at
12:19 AM
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The Fred Astaire Dance Studios' 22nd Tri-Star Championships
We came back on Saturday from The Fred Astaire Dance Studios' 22nd Tri-Star Championships in Groton, CT. Approximately 200 students competed in both Ballroom (waltz, Viennese waltz, foxtrot and tango) and Rhythm (swing, rumba, cha cha, mambo, salsa, bolero and samba) dances. The dancers were judged from the beginner to the advanced levels. The participants came from all over New England representing the Fred Astaire Dance Studios from Belmont, Boston, Springfield and Worcester, Massachusetts and Canton, Glastonbury, Hamden, Norwalk, South Windsor, Trumbull and West Hartford, Connecticut.My wife and I competed in 12 different events, four each of Foxtrot, Tango, and Waltz. Foxtrot's not my strong suit (we're best at Tango, we "have the attitude"), but it didn't matter too much because there's very few amateur couples who compete. In the two cases where we were competing against amateur couples, we beat 'em!
This means we placed first place in EVERY competition. While it's nice to receive an award just for showing up, the two heats where we had actual competition (and thus would have potentially been in second place) counted more. The judges were very kind in any case.
This is basically my excuse for why I've fallen behind on my writing. Although I plan to catch up over the next few weeks, it's going to be a struggle. We were training for that competition for a month: two-hour sessions with out instructor as well as an hour a day at home. I'll post pictures from the event once they go live on my Appearances page.
Labels: personal news
posted by talien at
12:02 AM
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Saturday, November 12
Well of Stars Update: Godhead
Deren and Klekless stumble into the Aztec-like Lithonian empire. When violence erupts, things take a turn for the strange.The other warriors jumped backwards with sibilant cries. Then as one they dropped to the ground and began bowing to Klekless with arms extended.
Klekless kept his arms extended, but no other warriors came forward. They continued to chant "Wetzylcoatl" and bow over and over.
"What just happened?" asked Deren, lowering his sword cane uncertainly.
"I think," said Klekless, "I've just ascended into their pantheon."
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posted by talien at
11:08 PM
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Thursday, November 10
All That Glitters - Part 5d: The Hidden Cave
Cal roared a challenged, his earflaps raised in defiance. Something very large roared back.
"Cal, wait!" said Bijoux, but he was beyond reason. The ss'ressen charged off into the fog.
"He's going to get himself killed," said Ilmarė.
"Not if he gets us killed first," said Sebastian. "Stay alert, we don't know how many of these things are out there."
Bijoux clutched her staff, her head bobbing up and down as she struggled to see through the mists.
The fihali disappeared with a yelp as a black flash of fur and claws batted Bijoux into the fog.
"Enough of this," said Sebastian, rising up out of the water. He pointed both palms in the direction of where Bijoux disappeared. "Fuco aspergo!"
A vivid cone of clashing colors sprang forth from Sebastian's hands, illuminating the mists with a rainbow of dazzling hues. Something in the fog wailed, followed by a heavy thud.
"Let's hope that wasn't Bijoux," said Ilmarė. The elorii cursed as she fiddled with a small black rod. [MORE]
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8:26 AM
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Tuesday, November 8
Well of Stars Update:
Rebma survives the train wreck but the other passengers are not so fortunate."You're lucky I had a spare eye in my trunk. You lost one of yours," said Rebma. "Come to think of it, maybe I can help that Deren fellow. But back to business, pick up the trunk."
"Graaaaah!" said Bertram.
"I know it's a swamp! But those tools just put your sorry sack of flesh back in working order, so maybe you should show a little appreciation for your mistress' generosity and do what she says, hmm?"
Bertram hung his head low and rolled his eyes. "Nnnnnnnn," he moaned. Then he shambled over to the trunk.
"The necromantic energies get stronger every day," said Rebma. "Unfortunately, it took a lot of energy to pull us out of that fracas, or I would have created a mount too. So you'll have to do." She stepped daintily over the trunk and, lifting her skirts, sat sideways upon it. The trunk sank a foot into the muck.
Bertram's jaw fell open to elicit another protest.
"Make a wisecrack about my weight and I'm putting you back in the ground," said Rebma. "Now lift."
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posted by talien at
10:28 PM
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All That Glitters - Part 5c: The Hidden Cave
The dwarf stumped out of the submerged tunnel, drizzling seawater. He gripped his axe tightly, straining to listen in the fog but unwilling to venture further into the swirling haze.
Then he heard it. Something growled to his right, deep and low. Something large.
Where was Cal? He began to wonder if the big lizard had drowned. But he was so powerful; surely a few tentacles wouldn’t slow him down.
Would they? [MORE]
Labels: arcanis
posted by talien at
8:08 AM
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Monday, November 7
New Blood & Spooks Review
Rafael Velez just reviewed Blood and Spooks: The Ghost Hunter's Guide at RPGTimes.net.All d20 Modern gamers and publishers owe it to themselves to give BLOOD AND SPOOKS a go. Practically sublime in presentation (and dependant on the player's familiarity with ghost busting), BLOOD AND SPOOKS' content is stimulating enough to deserve character creation promptly after a reading. Everything after that is up to the gaming group: a feat only the finest RPG supplements can accomplish. In short, BLOOD AND SPOOKS has everything a d20 Modern campaign needs for some madcap ghost busting. If I were you, I'd know who to call. [MORE]
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posted by talien at
7:15 PM
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Sunday, November 6
Well of Stars Update: Give Us a Brake!
Rebma, Deren, and Klekless are ambushed on the train. The sorcery Rebma unleashes ultimately causes the tracks to give out over a bridge. It's up to Bertram to save them!Then the full weight of the Iron Dragon hit Bertram in the head. The mists from the river below made everything slippery. Bertram lost his grip.
Bertram needn't have worried. Before he could fall, he bounced between the tracks and the wheels. The zombie's body flopped around as it ricocheted from track to wheel and then his body snapped and bent in directions human physiology was never meant to go.
The wheels locked up with zombie flesh and bone. A horrible screeching of metal on metal tore through the valley. Sparks lit up beneath the car. Then Bertram's hair—what was left of it—caught on fire.
The Iron Dragon screeched to a stop. Bertram, from his vantage point, with his head nearly disconnected, was able to look down to see they had only feet before the cars would have plunged into the valley. The fuel car tumbled off end over end, spewing coal in a black cloud as it crashed into the roaring river below.
His head continued to sizzle and crackle, but Bertram didn't mind.
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posted by talien at
7:13 PM
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Saturday, November 5
Well of Stars Update: Burning Questions
Rebma, Farrim, Klekless, and Deren all end up on the steam locomotive known as the Iron Dragon. Since it's a coal burning engine, it doesn't go very fast. Until Klekless arrives, that is:"Right. Well, I guess I should be going." Klekless turned towards the door. "Actually," he paused, "I think I have a solution to your fuel consumption problem."
"Really?" asked the engineer hopefully. "You military types have all the answers, huh. What gives?"
Klekless put one hand on the man’s shoulder. "Take a look inside the stove." He leaned down and the engineer crouched over next to him. "See inside there?"
"Yeah?" said the engineer. "I don’t see anything."
"Oh, you will," said Klekless. He took a step back. "What you’re missing is…fat."
The engineer, who was overweight, continued peering into the engine. His ample rump was facing Klekless. "Fat you say?"
"Yes. Human fat. Let me demonstrate."
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posted by talien at
4:47 PM
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Grow RPG!
Check out the very cool (although somewhat predictable) Flash game, Grow RPG: http://www.eyezmaze.com/grow/RPGLabels: gaming news
posted by talien at
2:18 PM
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Well of Stars Update: A History Lesson
Rebma educates Farrim on the history of Welstar."These are no ordinary horses," said the Darklord, ignoring Claven, "and this is no ordinary well! These are the last five unicorns. And THIS," he stabbed a bony finger at the chasm, "is the Well of Stars!"
"Great," said Ashman. "So we can we get on with this?" His great scimitar flared to life with bright red and yellow flames.
"Do you where all my power comes from?" said the Darklord.
"Let’s kill him now," said Ymerek. "Just so he stops with the speechifying."
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posted by talien at
10:38 AM
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All That Glitters - Part 5b: The Hidden Cave
"Why am I having flashbacks?" asked Bijoux, poking at the surface of the water with her staff.
"Because this happened last time," said Cal. "Only I had a human strapped to my back." His snout swung over to sniff Osric.
"That won't be necessary," said Osric. "I'll stay here." [MORE]
Labels: arcanis
posted by talien at
9:05 AM
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Thursday, November 3
Well of Stars Update: A Demonstration
Rebma the necromanceress shows Farrim just how hopeless melee combat is against the undead."Here, let me show you. Bertram, come here."
The zombie moaned.
"You heard me, Bertram. Come HERE."
Bertram shuffled over to his mistress with the huge coffin-like trunk on his back. His face was somewhere near her waist.
"So imagine Bertram's attacking you. You pull a weapon on him." She reached into a skull-shaped belt buckle. With a tug, she pulled the upper part of the skull out, revealing a small knife. "You strike…" before Farrim could react, Rebma speared Bertram in the forehead with the knife.
"Sikkar's teeth!" shouted Farrim.
"Nggggggh!" groaned Bertram.
Rebma left the blade in Bertram, the upper part of the skull sticking out of his forehead. "No effect whatsoever. Do you see my point?"
Bertram's eyes crossed to look at the knife.
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Labels: author news
posted by talien at
10:46 PM
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Well of Stars Update: The Price of Gas
Deren finally gets to the Iron Dragon. It's not what he was hoping for."Then I give you," he turned with a majestic sweep of his arms to encompass the other side of the tracks. "THE IRON DRAGON!"
Deren looked up. Petey tilted his head and looked up too.
"Uh, sir. Over here."
Deren looked over.
"What?"
"Here, sir." The man pointed at a long series of metal boxes with wheels on the bottom. It was on a pair of rails.
"The dragon’s in there?"
"No, no, no. That IS the Iron Dragon!"
"Doesn’t look like a dragon to me."
Petey chirped in agreement.
"Well it is, sir. It’s an Iron Dragon. Forged by the finest dwarven craftsmen, it was used to ferry weapons to the Jreastern front from Keystone, back when the two were allies. Now it provides transportation in the blink of an eye to anywhere in the world!"
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posted by talien at
8:32 AM
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Wednesday, November 2
Well of Stars Update: Great Escapes
Deren comes face to face with Arturius Drakungheist, who died only days before. Through the power of the Crown of Rule, everybody's corpse is fair game."Do you see what kind of deal you made?" Deren pointed at Arturius. "Do you see what you have done, Marith? He doesn’t care about what or whom he uses, so long as they bend to his will. And you’ve fallen right into his trap."
Marith’s features contorted with conflicting emotions. Tears filled her eyes and she looked sideways, almost afraid to stare upon the corpse of her father.
"Silence, human," said Telgis. In the torchlight, the elf looked even more alien. Strange, spider veins were etched across the tips of his ears and nose, as if he had too much blood in some places and not enough in others. "If I remember correctly, it was you who stole the crown from the Drakungheists. That," he gestured with the back of his hand towards Arturius, "thing is not her father any longer. He has no memory or feelings."
Petey flapped down to land on Deren’s shoulder again. "Are you so sure, elf? You underestimate the power of the human soul. But then, I suppose you wouldn’t know about that."
Telgis rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, I’m an elf and I don’t know what it’s like to be human. Oh you’ve really wounded me to the quick. After I kill you and bring you back, you can prove that this human soul is that powerful by completely ignoring my commands. Lets test my theory, shall we?" He reached for his bow.
Deren lifted one finger. His voice rose to dramatic heights. "You can defeat us, but you will never conquer the human—"
And then Perin found the hidden lever on the wall. An entire section of stone swiveled around, unceremoniously dumping them on the other side.
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posted by talien at
10:16 PM
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Well of Stars Update: Ain't No Bone About It
Deren struggles to escape the bad guys, but how do you kill something that's already dead? The answer: don't try!Petey landed back on Deren’s shoulder.
"Where do you keep going?" he asked.
Perin and Deren looked up. The corridors were arched, with a crossbeam at every five foot interval.
"That’s it! Petey, you're a genius!"
Petey bobbed his head.
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Labels: author news
posted by talien at
8:26 AM
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Tuesday, November 1
Well of Stars Update: Betrayed!
The story so far...The Five Heroes sent to throw the Crown of Rule into the Well of Stars, destroying it forever, have failed in a big way. The half-pint known as Marty Cardluck wore the crown instead of destroying it and then turned his three remaining companions to the forces of evil. Each of them is assigned a territory to conquer. For Bjorn, the human ranger who's supposedly royalty (but nobody believes him), falls the task of conquering the lizard-like Lithonians in the Swamplands. And Telgis, the elf who is a terrible shot with a bow, gets to conquer Castle Drakungheist and the rest of the Keystone Empire. Redli, the dwarf with the accent nobody can understand, is assigned to take over the Northern Wastes that nobody else wants.
And that brings us to Castle Drakungheist and its newly appointed King, Deren Usher. With no memory, a gem for a left eye, and skilled in the art of cane fighting, Deren struggles to gain the trust of his people. He is secretly opposed by the Steward, Marith Drakungheist. Drakungheist is under siege by a legion of undead and Deren has just been told the news. Then things go from bad to worse...
Perin met him in the hall. He looked over Deren's shoulder.
"Where are the others?"
"Dead," said Deren.
"What of the dragon?"
Deren blinked. It had never occurred to him that the dragon was really that important. "Who cares about the damn—"
Petey flapped down to land on Deren's shoulder.
"There's still hope," said Perin, satisfied. "Follow me, there's a way out of here that even Marith doesn't know about."
"Great," said Deren. "But first I'm going back in there to kill that bastard with my own two hands."
Perin shook his head. "Please, Your Majesty. Don't let their sacrifice be in vain." He was looked over his shoulder. "Besides," he said, "it looks like you'll have a chance to slake your bloodthirst."
That's when the shambling dead came into the light. There were dozens of them, such that they crowded the hallway, stumbling and crawling over each other.
Petey pooped on Deren's shoulder.
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posted by talien at
9:50 PM
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All That Glitters - Part 5a: The Hidden Cave
Cal's large snout turned to face them as he rolled over. "I know where the whale is."
"If you sing that song again," said Ilmarė, "I will kick you off this cliff." [MORE]
Labels: arcanis
posted by talien at
9:07 PM
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And We're Off!
Today is the official start of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). It's also my birthday. What better way to start off the mad dash to complete my novel?Now I just have to, you know, complete it. I have some things I have to do this evening, so I'm already falling behind. Hopefully, I can cram a couple thousand words in today. Wish me luck!
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posted by talien at
8:27 AM
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New Blood & Spooks Review
Joseph Bardales just reviewed Blood and Spooks: The Ghost Hunter's Guide at RPGNow. The verdict...FIVE STARS!Of all of Michael Tresca’s horror-themed Blood and… creations, this is truly my favorite to date. It’s jam packed with usable crunch, and a great value for the money. [MORE]
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posted by talien at
8:19 AM
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