Character Profile Update

During my last character profile post, I featured Bran. Well, I'm sad to report, Bran is dead.

A moment of silence please...



I'm disappointed by this, not because he is dead. I've had many characters die. I'm disappointed because of the circumstances of this death. First it was TPK, or Total Party Kill, meaning that we all died. Second, we were rolling badly. I was rolling alright for most part. But even I wasn't rolling great. Third, we were not working well as a team. Bran is really only effect if he has someone to work off of. And when I was trying to work off the Ranger in our group. He'd move or do something to mess it up. I never really had a chance to work off our Paladin. Lastly, I acted out of character too much. Lets face it Bran is only interested in Bran. He gave his only heal potion to one of the other characters to save his life when it could have been used to save his life later. He came back when he could have escaped. Granted it is a game and some level of not playing true to your character is expected. I couldn't just let the other get killed, but Bran could have. That last one was my fault. Our DM (Dungeon Master) thought it was cool monster to get killed by, and it may have been. But to me it was just some blue slime monster, meh, the White dragon we faced in the first adventure would have been a much cooler monster to get killed by.

Ultimately their death came down to rolls. Story be damned. This is the reason why I was disappointed with his death. Bran had a great story potential, a great chance for character growth, and now we will never know how he would have developed. His death was meaningless, empty, boring, unheroic. D&D says it wants you to play heroes, it says so in the Players Handbook,

"The thirty levels of your career are divided into three tiers: the heroic tier (1st level through 10th level),...

In the heroic tier, your character is already a hero, set apart from the common people by your natural talents, learned skills, and some hint of a greater destiny that lies before you."

but has a mechanic that puts the control of the characters death into a series of dice rolls. To me this is the greatest flaw of the system. But that's for another time. Nobody wants to read a story, or see a movie, about the character dies way before his time. The same is true for our characters in our story. There was no growth to our characters. Our characters did not develop or change from the experiences they faced. Because there was no time for them to grow. That is the true tragedy of their deaths. It would be like going to a movie and sitting though the first half hour of the story and then watch as the main characters are killed off and never having it explained why it was relevant to the story or why we should care that the characters were dead or to explain how there deaths effect those around them. The movie just continues on as if nothing had happen. Think about Lord of the Rings books. What if Frodo and the other hobbits died when they first encountered the Ringwraiths in the forest? The book ends at that point, with no explanation as to what happens to middle earth. That's what Bran's death feels like.

Our DM said he was sorry he killed us all. And he probably is. But he is also the one in control of the story. Which means there are things he can do to change the outcome.

Like, the monster suddenly has fewer hit points, (Bran got in at least one good hit before going down. That could have ended the fight. It's not like we were keeping track of the monsters hit points.)

He could have given us more action points. (Action points are little rewards the players get to do cool stuff; like having more attacks, maybe use an addition healing???, or re-roll a bad dice roll. I don't know all the uses but they make you cooler.) I'm not sure how many we were suppose to get, but it just seemed like we weren't getting them as often as we did in the first adventure.

Then there is always Deus Ex Machina. (from the Latin, meaning "god from a/the machine". It's a plot devise were an external source, like a god, intervenes when the situation has turned hopeless.) I'm not a big fan of this technique but it's still an option and would have been a better outcome then a TPK. We had a Paladin and just as Bran goes down, the Paladin's god shows up and heals him a bit. The Paladin saves our asses. But now we (or at least the paladin) owes the god a favor. During the whole first adventure, Bran was giving the Paladin shit about his "New found faith" saying stuff like, "Where's your god now?", or " If he's so great why doesn't he just smite this goblin down." All the stuff a skeptical atheist would say to a christian. That would have been an eye opening experience for Bran, definitely one that would have changes his perspective of the gods.

Fantasy Football: Week 3 Reflections

Had an ok week this week. I lost 40 to 45+ versus the Wolfpack. He has to 2 more players going for tonights game. I am out of players, so chalk up another loss. After 3 weeks I'm 1-2. But on a good note, my San Fran Niners beat the Detroits Lions. They are now 2-1. WOOT. I've also noticed a pattern emerging. Niners lost week 1, I won. Niners win week 2 and 3, I lost week 2 and 3. So if I lose, Niners win. If this is true, then I an more then happy to take one for the team and lose my remaining games, if the Niners win all of there remaining games.

Ben Roethlisberger, my QB, disappointed me again. I only got 2 points out of him. Don't know what to do with him at this point. I picked up Brian Griese for Big Ben's bye week. But now I wonder if I shouldn't start him instead. I think I will have to monitor match-ups. Griese throw 2 TD's and passed for over 400 yards. Ben has yet to throw for over 200 yards.

All of my running backs did good. I decided to go with Frank Gore and bench Maurice Jones-Drew for Julius Jones. Both Jones and Gore had good weeks. Both got over 100 yards and a Touchdown. Jones-Drew also did good again the Colts. He finally got a over 100 yards and scored a TD.

Wide Receivers, since Roethlisberger had a bad game, Hines Ward also had a bad week. Donald Driver got about what I expected. I had to use D.J. Hackett because Justin Gage had a groin injury. But I got a point out of him, which was more then I expected.

Kicker and Defense I got 10 points from the 2 of them. Less then I had hoped.

Going into Monday Night Football, the weekly average is 41 points. So not too bad, staying in the points hunt. But the average will go up after tonight.

Edit:
With Monday Night Football over, I lost my game, 65 to 40. Average for the week was 47.625. Average for the year is 47.042. I dropped to the 7th highest point scorer in the league. Still in the top half. Hope I have a good week next week. Interesting note, the division I'm in is leading in total points scored. We have averaged 49.667 points over the first 3 weeks. That's not good for me. But we are out of Division play. So we be going against those weaker teams. Hopefully I can get those wins I'll need. Also I'm leading in most points scored against. Not the stat you want to lead in.

Next week I'm up against the 905 Lions. They are 2-1, scored a total of 153 points. So we are about even in that regards. I've scored a total of 154 points.

Fantasy Football: Week 2 Reflections

Had another good week despite losing 58 to 66 versus Tigers.

I figured it would be a tough week, but I still felt confident. I was up against Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings of Green Bay. GB was up against the Lousy Detroit Lion so I figured they'd put up good numbers. And they did. Rodgers scored 16 points throwing 3 TD's. Luckily none of them went to Jennings, but he did have 167 yards.
I was also up against Adrian Peterson from Minnesota. He too had a good week running for 180 yards but again I caught a brake because he did not get into the end zone. What I did not expect was Calvin Johnson scoring 2 TD's.

I kept my line up the same. Although I did think about pulling D.J. Hackett for Justin Gage because Hackett was against the tough Bears Defense and Gage was against a weaker Cincinnati defense. If I had followed my instinct, I would have tied my game, but would have lost in the tie breaker. Sometimes you just can't catch a break. This is the most frustrating thing about fantasy Football. The luck of the draw. I was 4th highest point scorer of the week and played the 3rd highest point scorer. There was a team that scored 39 points and won their game. Grrrr, I tell you, grrrr. The average points scored this week was 49.69. Average for the year 46.75.

My Running backs, Frank Gore and Maurice Jones-Drew had ok weeks. Both managed to score, but got under a hundred yards. My receivers Donald Driver and Hines Ward also had ok weeks. They too also grabbed a TD but also failed to get over hundred yards. D.J. Hackett sucked failing to get a TD and only had 22 yards. I think this week I will pull him for Justin Gage. Ben Roethlisberger, my Quarterback got me 6 points. I was hoping for more. 10 more would have been great. Another good week for my defense considering. An excellent week from my kicker David Akers.

Next week we have the Wolfpack.

Character Profile: Bran

Bran
System: D&D 4th Edition
Status: Alive, Currently playing.
Mary Sue Test Score: 18, 19
A notable question that came up during the test that made me laugh. "Does the character use a katana or any other Asian weapon?" I laugh because Bran is a thief, extortionist, member of the Thieves Guild "Organised Crime", generally not a nice guy. One of the weapons available to him per the D&D 4th ed. rules are shurikens, or throwing stars. You know those weapons ninjas like to use in movies. Well a player suggested I pick some up and I laugh and told him I'm not Japanese.

About Bran
Bran is Irish or Welsh for raven. In celtic mythology ravens are considered an omen of death or war. This also fits into the world we are playing in. The Raven Queen, or the goddess of Death is the deity he reveres. She is like the ferryman in Greek mythology, basically responsible for making sure the souls of the dead make it to their final destination in the after life. Bran is not really a religious man, more of a deist. But he does look to the Raven Queen, although not for guidance or help or anything really. He serves her mostly because he feels he owes a debt to her. During his life of crime he met a woman and fell in love with her. Ríona was her name. She always dreamed of leaving the city for country life. She was born in the country and lived there as a child. But rough time came to her family and they had to more to the city to find work. Bran promised her that one day he would leave his life of crime and they would retire to the country. One day he managed to save enough to make that dream come true. He purchased a ring for his love. Sold all of his accounts, arranged to purchase a plot of land outside the city and raced home to tell his love the good news. But when he got home, he found the place a disaster. It had been ransacked, and he heard muffled cries coming from the bedroom. He charged into the bedroom were 3 men had beaten Ríona. One was raping her and the other two had waited for Bran. They surprised him, knocked him to the ground and beat him until they though he was dead. When he woke hours later. He discover the dead and violated body of his love. All of their valuables stolen. The ring for his love, the money he was going to use to purchase a little plot of land in the country, all gone. He managed to scrape together enough money to bury Ríona. Before they placed her into the ground, he placed his last two copper coins in her hands. And then said a pray to the Raven Queen. "Guide her safely to her new home. For I will be reunited with her shortly, but first I have affairs here I must attend to." He then turned and departed. Never to return her grave site. He returned to his life of crime with a new purpose. To revenge the death of his love. The only keepsake of her he carries is the pendant Ríona wore ever since she was a child. It's cheap, made of copper and tin. But it's priceless in his eyes. He took out a loan to have a stiletto specially made. The pommel has an engraved image of raven's head. The stiletto's sole purpose is to kill those that raped and murder his love. And he will not rest until blood is spilt.

Next week we will have Jade.

Character Profile: Introductions

Every now and then I will take a look at either a current character or past character I have or had in one of the many games I've played over the years.

First I will take the *Mary Sue litmus test. Then I will record the score here. Then I will describe the character, his or her actions and any stories I may have about the character. I'll try to limit the game mechanics talk to a minimum when taking about the character so that if you're not familiar with the setting or mechanic of the setting you can maybe enjoy the character as much as I have.

*For those that don't know what a Mary Sue character is, it is a character that is flawed plot-wise. Something about it makes it unbelievable in some way.

From wikipedia

Mary Sue, sometimes shortened simply to Sue, is a pejorative term used to describe a fictional character who plays a major role in the plot and is particularly characterized by overly idealized and clichéd mannerisms, lacking noteworthy flaws, and primarily functioning as wish-fulfillment fantasies for their authors. Perhaps the single underlying feature of all characters described as "Mary Sues" is that they are too ostentatious for the audience's taste, or that the author seems to favor the character too highly. The author may seem to push how exceptional and wonderful the "Mary Sue" character is on his or her audience, sometimes leading the audience to dislike or even resent the character fairly quickly; such a character could be described as an "author's pet".

So for my first character Profile, it will be Bran.

To be continued...

Boston Tea Party

After the betrayal of the Libertarian Party nominating Bob Barr. Probably the most un-liberty of Libertarian, I no longer can support the Libertarian Party. So today I was looking at Presidential nominees, hoping to find someone that I can in good conscious vote for. I think I've found a new political party to get behind. The Boston Tea Party. First of all I love the name. It inspires the images of the Founding Father revolting against the tyranny of King George. Second I love their party platform.

"The Boston Tea Party supports reducing the size, scope and power of government at all levels and on all issues, and opposes increasing the size, scope and power of government at any level, for any purpose."

That's it, plan and simple, an entire platform summed up in one sentence. I love it nearly as much as the Libertarian Party Oath. Too bad the Libertarian Party can even live up to their own oath.

Unfortunately I will not be able to vote for my candidate, Charles Jay. Because the Dems and Republicans have made it hard for 3rd party candidates even get on ballots. As for as I can tell, Jay is not on the ballot in Arizona. Since Ross Perot '92 Presidential bid, the Dems and Republicans have made it even harder. We are told that voting is the most important thing we can do. But then limit our voting options? So what your telling me is Vote, as long as its for a Republican or a Democrat. Sorry, I don't either options. I think you both are two sides to the same coin. Others say to vote for one the one that is the lesser of two evils. I'm sorry I can't vote for evil, because either way it's a vote for evil. So I will excersice my right to vote. Even if it's one that some will say is a wasted vote. Either way my conscious will be clear and will continue to vote, until that right gets taken away as so many of other rights have. When that happens, then what do we do?

Boston Tea Party Wiki page.

“If I can't dance - I don't want to be part of your revolution”
~ Emma Goldman

Fantasy Football: Week 1 Reflections

Last Sunday I drafted my Fantasy Football Team. This week the NFL Football Season officially started this week and so my FFL season started as well.

MY Team consists of 16 Player.
Quarterbacks
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
Matt Leinart, Arizona Cardinals
Troy Smith, Baltimore Ravens

Running Backs
Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers
Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars
Kevin Faulk, New England Patriots
Julius Jones, Seattle Seahawks
Maurice Morris, Seattle Seahawks
Dominic Rhodes, Indianapolis Colts

Wide Receivers
Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers
D.J. Hackett, Carolina Panthers
Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers
Justin Gage, Tennessee Titans

Kickers
David Akers, Philadelphia Eagles
Kris Brown, Houston Texans

Defense
Buffalo Bills

Starters were;
Ben Roethlisberger (QB)
Frank Gore (RB)
Maurice Jones-Drew (RB)
Donald Driver (WR)
D.J. Hackett (WR)
Hines Ward (WR)
David Akers (K)
Buffalo (Def)

I had a good week 1 over all, scoring 56 points. The Average for the week was 43.8 points. Last year average was 48.1. Winning my game over Easy Money, 56 to 50. I also was the highest points scorer for my division, and the 5th highest overall. I'm off to good start but it's week 1, I still have at least 13 more games. Hopefully 17.

Big Ben gave me 8 points. Not bad, but was hoping for a little more. I was expecting 10-15 points. He did throw 2 TD's, which both went to Hines Ward which helped. Hopefully he can do better next week.

At Running back Gore had good week for me. Running for over 150 yards and a TD despite losing to Arizona. I fear it will be a long season for my Niners. :(
M. Jones-Drew on the other hand had an off week running for only 50 yards. But his O-line was banged up a bit and they were up against a pretty good defense.

At wide receiver, Hines Ward had a really good week with 2 TD's. I don't expect this every week, but it's a good start. D.J. Hackett only got 48 yards. 2 yards short of another point. He was just back from an injury and against the San Diego Defense. I expect his numbers to improve next week. Donald Drive only got me me 1 point with 38 yards off 4 reception. Granted a 68 yard TD that got called back because of penalty.

I pretty much got what I expected out of my kicker. My Defense did better then I expected with 2 turnovers and 5 sacks. I hope that becomes a trend.

Next Week I'm up against the Tigers. They lost their game to the Wolfpack, 38 to 44.

Triathlon

So I've put it into my head that I want to run a Triathlon again. I do a few in the early 2000's. I know Tempe has one in May sometime so I'm going to start training for it. I've been swimming at the gym quite regularly. I'm up to swimming 500-600 meters before I stat getting tired. Now if I can just motivate myself to run.

Critter Irony

Saturday as I was doing some cleaning, cleaning my room, feeding my tarantula and cleaning their tanks, feeding my butterflies, etc. When I got stung by a scorpion. So I have pet tarantula's but I don't have pet scorpions, but our neighborhood has always had a scorpion problem, so it's no surprise I got stung. But I find it ironic that during the time I was cleaning the tarantula tanks - one particular tarantula is really feisty - I didn't get bit or even struck at. But a walk to the kitchen for paper towels, a scorpion gets me, and it got me good. I've was stung by scorpion once before, so I thought I knew what to expect. This was ten times worse. It was hiding under the toe jam of our kitchen counters. When I stepped on it got me right on the balls of my foot just behind the middle toe. I though I had stepped on a tack or a needle. But then the burning started, and I knew that I wasn't a tack. When I looked under the counter, I saw the light brown critter. Within seconds I could feel the pins and needles feeling like when your foot or arm falls asleep. I finished what I was doing, washed my foot and flushed the little bugger down the toilet. I then took some benadryl, got a bag of ice and placed it on my foot and rested for about an hour. For the first few hours I felt a little jittery. My foot felt warm witht he pins and needles and there was a tiny little red dot where it stung me. Other then that no redness or swelling. That was different from last time. The numbness increased. My entire foot up to the ankle felt like it was a sleep. It didn't hurt unless I tried to walk. After a few hours of resting, got caught up on GH btw, the warm feeling was gon but not the numbness. I could rest any longer, I needed to do something, so I decided to run some errands. Driving was interesting. Have you ever driven when you can't feel the pedals?

The pain was gone after the first 12 hours or so. The numbness lasted a couple of days. My middle toe still feels swollen and numb. It doesn't look swollen, just feels swollen. Other then that I'm complete back to normal.

HotB: The Little Party (Session Recap)

Finishing up at the Opera
Before the smoke could clear from the burnt Opera House. Rumors of a Fox, dressed in disguise, had reviewed the opera. The reviewer said that the opera was a bold critique of operas in general. The themes cliché as well as the characters involved. “Over used and played out.” The first part of the review goes into great details of all the flaws of the opera, including how long it was. But then the review goes and praises the writer of the opera with his daring surprise ending of burning down the opera house in a symbolic jester that calls for new themes and new character as the high art of opera is reborn. Hence the reason the opera but on during spring. There are many that agree and others that disagree. Those that disagree simply state that the opera was horrible and it was a tragedy the opera house burned down, for it was very fine opera house. Many stand around a debate the points the reviewer brought up.

Lady No and Lord Throsh are off in a quite corner talking. Lady No gives Lord Throsh his first task. A Baron had insulted her. She wants him to apologies for that insult. Throsh asks who this person is. She relies with “Baron Tane Yvarai”. Lord Throsh then goes off to find the offending Baron. Lady No smiles an unsettling smile as she watches Lord Throsh walk away.

Baron Tane Yvarai: Three Things true

• There was no insult to Lady No
• His lands are in trouble
• One of the finest Craftsmen in all of Shanri
  

Meanwhile, a servant approached Lord Chayan Mwrr. The servant informs him that Lilyth Thorne, Aunt and seneschal to the Count, requested that he “humbly” meets with her at the grotto. The servant departs and Lord Chayan goes to meet with the Aunt.

At the grotto, the Aunt is there with her personal guard. She greets Chayan and informs him that someone not invited to the opera was present. She believes that person was responsible for starting the fire. Lord Chayan informs her that someone not invited was indeed present for the opera and then informs her of his bear friend from the academy. Lord Chayan also tells her that he doesn’t believe he had anything to do with the fire. She says she will take that in to consideration and immediately calls over her personal guards to apprehend the man.

Lilyth Thorne: Three things true

• Count's Seneschal
• Hushed rumors that she is actual older then Autumn
• Been offered a Barony but turned it down

While all of this was going on, Baron Vaydalon Yvarai, was trading with Baron Zhern Steele.

Baron Vaydalon Yvarai: Three Things true

• Has a Serpent Wife
• Has the aspect “I know you, Don’t I?”
• Name means Pampered Prince

Baron Zhern Steele: Three Things true

• Vassal to Count Zajkara Mwrr
• Has many Farms
• Creepy in Tall, Thin, Pale kind of way

Count Zajkara Mwrr: Three Things true

• Count Maurevel pissed him off at the last senate meeting
  
• Blooded of the Serpent
  
• Lady Trisnoira was his Swordsman

Once his trading was done, he goes around to invite select members to little gathering he will be throwing later.

In the middle of a Lord Tane’s story Lord Throsh storms in and accuses Lord Tane of insulting Lady No. Lord Tane says he has no idea what this ball-less, Savage, brute is talking and that whatever trollop he was hanging out with, surely deserved it. Lord Throsh then attacks the man. The fight is over quickly, Lord Throsh breaks Lord Tane’s leg, breaks his nose, before he apologies for the insult to Lady No. Lord Throsh, having satisfied the lover’s task, turns and walks back to receive his alta from Lady No. But before he can claim it, the guards show up and ask Lord Throsh why he was striking one of Count’s guests. Lord Throsh and Lord Tane are brought before the Count. The Count asks Lord Tane if the matter was settled. Which he begrudgingly affirms. The Count and his guard leave. Lady No shows up and give Lord Throsh a kiss on the back of the hand. Lord Throsh then goes to give her a big passionate kiss. But she pulls back and ask Throsh if that is task for her? He says it is and she submits to Throsh desires.

Back to Lord Chayan and the Aunt.
The guards rush the Bear before the Count. He pleads that he was not responsible. The Aunt shows and testifies that he seen back stage. She then brings forth the entire backstage crew.

“I saw him.” a lady says.

“I saw him too.” a man says.

“I saw him, he tipped over a candle.” another lady says.

“Yes, it was him” a third lady says.

One by one all of the crew give statement that he was the one responsible for starting the fire.

Lord Vaydalon speaks up and suggests he wear the black and carry the spear for someone.

The Count asks if anyone has knowledge of Baron Barde Steiner, the bear friend to Chayan, whereabouts during the opera. It was discovered that he was sitting next to Lord Vaydalon’s wife and was beside her during entire performance. She is enamored with him. There was someone impersonating Lord Barde and it was the hidden fox.

Lord Vaydalon steps forth and says he vouches for Lord Barde. “He was with my wife the entire time.”

The Count asks Lord Vaydalon if he was with Lord Barde the entire time. Which he says no but he was in sight of his wife the entire time. The Count asks Lord Vaydalon’s wife if she vouches for Lord Barde. She looks to Lord Vaydalon before answering yes.

Lord Chayan steps forth and announces that there is sorcery that can make someone look like some else.

At this Lady No speaks as if she is intrigued with this type of sorcery “You mean there is sorcery that makes someone look like someone else?”


The Count then says that he has heard that the greater Suaven Ashalim Avendi has blessed some of his followers with the ability to make one look and speak as someone else.

Lord Chayan then says we have three examples of someone looking like someone else, perhaps this man is innocent of these charges.

During this the Aunt is keeping her composer but it is evident that she could strangle her liege. It is as if she eye scream “I gave you the perfect out and you screwed it up.” She suggest that maybe this matter should be brought before the senate. The Count agrees and the Aunt asks Lord Vaydalon, his wife, and Lord Chayan if they are willing to testify before the senate. The Count lets Lord Barde go with the caveat that he also testify before the senate, with the knowledge that he can be tried in absentia and it may be looked as an omission of guilt if he does not show up. Lord Barde again professes his innocence and says he will be there.

A gathering, or a little party.
When Lord Vaydolan returns to his castle. He is greeted outside by one of his servants. The man rushes up and begs his pardon, “Please don’t kill me sir.” After a round of questions the servant say the Lady Agatha is visiting, and she has her maid and that is all. After giving the servant a few orders, Lord Vaydalon goes to see the Countess.

She is sitting in one of the rooms with her maid. She is drinking a tea that produces an acrid smell. She is dressed all in white, sitting in a special chair just made for her. She looks up to meet Lord Vaydalon eyes. Her eyes are golden in color. She states she wants to speak with the others. Lord Vaydalon informs her that he will be having a little party and they will be there. Although she seems to already know that.

Lord Vaydalon then departs and prepares for gathering.

The night before the gathering Lady No comes to Lord Throsh she begins to kiss him passionately. As the passions builds to a point were he could stand it no longer. She bits him on the lips and pulls back. A small amount of blood could be tasted in his mouth. She asks him if he is ready for his next tasks. He says he is. She smiles, and pulls out a red collar and leash. “Wear this.” she says.

Begrudgingly Lord Throsh accepts, and puts the collar on.

Lord Vaydalon greets everyone as they arrive. He then informs them that Lady Agatha wishes to speak to them.

As they enter the room where Lady Agatha is in, they see she in a white dress. Thin whites hairs start to cover her skin. The speaks softly as she says “At the end of the year, I believe I will enter the eternal dream and my husband will inherit my lands. I fear... no, I know that he will be unable to hold onto them. He lacks the cunning to see that his own Aunt is working to take them from him. If he loses his lands, you will lose yours.”

“Why would she be so ambitious, she already turned down a Barony.” Lord Vaydalon asks.

Lady Agatha relies, “She doesn’t want a barony, she wants a County. If was not for me he would not have been able to keep his lands.”

Lord Vaydalon and the others agree to work together to make sure that the Count keeps his lands, if Lady Agatha helps them before she enters solace.

The maid then says that the Countess needs her rest and then leads the counts out of the room.

Lady Agatha: Additional things true

• Blooded of the Elk

The Maid: two things true

• Blooded of the Fox
• Spring Character

After the meeting, there is dinner and Lord Vaydalon announces he has an unveiling. Dinner is served, a fine meal. Lord Throsh reaches for some of the food, and Lady No slaps his hand and scolds him for not asking first.

After dinner, Lord Vaydalon announces that he has started on an Opera House in dedication to the Opera House destroyed by the fire.

Lady Trisnoira enters, with Sabina’s husband and offers him back to her.
And promptly departs, but not until after Lord Vaydalon talk to her about possible recruitment.

Sometime passes when one of Lord Vaydalon’s flower arrangers shows up. He informs him that someone’s personal guard has shown up on Lord Vaydalon’s lands.

They all explore out to meet this incoming guard, with the exception of Lady No and Lord Throsh. Who stay out of range of the personal guard. Vaydalon noticed they were half staffed and Lady Namatha noticed they haven’t seen them yet.

The personal guard were near Lord Vaydalon’s plains. His roadmen were quelling trouble there.

Lord Vaydalon attempts to get the assistance of Lord Throsh from Lady No, but she refuses to let any him do anything that might cause harm to himself. Although Throsh is itching to get involved

As the personal guard advances, they noticed that their hands are covered in blood.

The battle was quick, and not as deadly as one would expect. One of the guards were nearly killed, Lord Vaydalon received a light wound. The personal guard says that if they lay down their weapons they will yield the field of battle to them. If not, the next injury will be fatal. Lord Vaydalon ask them who sent them, but they would not say. Lord Vaydalon and the others did cautiously laid down their weapons. The personal guard bows and takes a guarded retreat from the plains.

Lord Throsh anger grows as watches the battle, knowing that if was down there he could have made a difference.

Lady No turns to him and says “You did good.”

Lord Throsh asks, “At what, watching?”

“Being Obedient.” Lady No replied.

After the battle they returned to Sambol Castle. Lord Chayan remembers hearing of a ritual called Blooding the Soldiers. The ritual is very old and very few people know if it. The ritual is designed to train guards and armies. They are sent out on a conquest, not to conquer but to gain combat experience.

Once back Lord Vaydalon’s wife returns, she is covered in blood. She has a near fatal wound. But insists she is fine and demands to be left alone. Lord Vaydalon learns that the personal guard that they just fought were his, and believes that his serpent wife may have something to do with the bloodied hands.

You will never know your own Strength until you test it.

Why I'm NOT voting for McCain

From JohnMcCain.com blog

"It may be typical of the pro-Obama Dungeons & Dragons crowd to disparage a fellow countryman's memory of war from the comfort of mom's basement, but most Americans have the humility and gratitude to respect and learn from the memories of men who suffered on behalf of others."

Now the article was in response to an attack by the Daily Kos. I think McCAin and those in his camp have every right to do so. But come on, what does D&D or those who play the game have to do with McCain or Obama? Nothing, it's just another example of an ad hominem attack that politicians like to use. The writer of the article, not McCain mind you, but Michael Goldfarb, wanted to paint a picture that all supporters of Obama are like that of the stereotypical geek. The comic book reading, 30 year old that never kissed a girl, lives at home with their mother, play D&D and dresses up like characters from Star Trek. And if you support Obama then you too are like that. He could have attacked the facts in question, but he didn't. He attacked the people who play D&D and tried to paint them all as Obama supporters. First of all I'm in no way an Obama supporter. I do not live in my mother's basement, but I've played and currently play D&D. And by lumping me in with the Obama supporter is an insult to me and all other D&D players that aren't mindless partisan hacks that toe the party line.

Now I'm probably not going to vote for Obama either. Although if Obama came out and said he plays D&D, I'd consider voting for him.
:)

HotB: In game Terms for Ranks

So I was thinking, in most game they have terms that don't translate well with the real world. If I ask you "How strong are you?" You might say not very or average, or some other adjective. Well in game talks it easy to fall into using stats. The how strong are question might be answered with, "I have a strength of 16." In some game systems a 16 Strength would be good where another game system it would be bad. And unless you know the differences, the defining of a 16 strength is meaningless. During a game it's necessary to use these terms. Like when a character gets hit with a weapon. You take 25 Flesh wounds, or you lose 25 Hit points. Now the Storyteller, Dungeon Master, Game Master or whatever name you use to describe the person running the game. Could keep track of these numbers and let the player guess how serious the wounds are, but that's a lot of work. I tried it once. Usually the problem most notably comes into play with magic items. How do you say you have a +3 Sword of Slaying without saying +3. Well a group I played with awhile ago had a way.

"A quick-and-dirty numerological nomenclature for the arcane, using badly remembered Latin, probably improperly conjugated:

• +1 Defixus Elementum (Elementary, or first, enchantment)
• +2 Defixus Itarum (Second enchantment)
• +3 Defixus Tertium (Third enchantment)
• +4 Defixus Quartum (Fourth enchantment)
• +5 Defixus Dominor (Supreme, or royal, enchantment)

Thus, "The sword has all the signs of an Itarum enchantment" would indicate a +2 sword."

Houses of the Blooded is no different. Everything has a Rank. My Spouse has a Rank. My nifty sword has a rank. My lands have ranks. The higher the rank the better the thing is. I was thinking about using those terms from that group for the Houses game I'm running. So a Rank 2 Bloodsword would be Itarum Bloodsword or Defixus Itarum Bloodsword. I am also think of using other terms for injuries, works of art, vassals. Anything that has a rank, will have a description to it. So I don't refer to my Rank 2 Spy Network, but my Adept Spy Network. Novice Staff, (Rank 1).

Injuries

• Rank 1: Light Injury or Flesh wound
• Rank 2: Moderate Injury or Minor wound
• Rank 3: Serious Injury or Major wound
• Rank 4: Critical Injury or Crippling wound
• Rank 5: Potentially Fatal Injury or Near Mortal wound

Vassal Ranks

• Rank 1: Novice
  
• Rank 2: Adept
• Rank 3: Expert
  
• NPC's: Master
  

Lands

• Rank 1:
• Rank 2:
• Rank 3:

Items of Quality or Works of Art

• Rank 1:
• Rank 2:
• Rank 3:
• Rank 4:
• Rank 5:

Parties

• Rank 1:
• Rank 2:
• Rank 3:
• Rank 4:
• Rank 5:

I'm still working on these last ones.

HotB: The Spring Opera (Session Recap)

What could be more Ven then an Opera, Insults, Duels and Romance? I guess if revenge was thrown into the mix but we would want to overdo it on the first session, now would we.

Since the players Count plays an important rule in this adventure, we should start there.

Here are the things we established as true about the Count.

The Count Maurevel Thorne

• He is Blooded of the Falcon
• He is very young (Spring)
• His wife is much older (Winter)
• Namatha’s (Renee) Husband are Cousins
• Had a Regent that just died
• There is Political upheaval in the Counts Realm
• Cunning is his weakness
• Has the aspect Womanizer
• Was illegitimately Blooded
• He is quick to solve problems with a duel.
• Has a Puzzle House
• Is very idealistic
• Is infatuated with Sabina (Quin’s character)

The Spring Opera
Spring is dawning. The last chills of winter die away as new life is brought forth to the land of Shanri. Final farewells have been said to those that enter solace. To the survivors of the hardships of winter, spring offers the chance of rebirth, renewal and it’s a time for love. And what better way to celebrate this then this new life then with an Opera. Our young barons were invited to an Opera. That was all they knew, they had to figure out the rest. He is what they discovered.

• The Aunt of the Count invited them
• Someone is spying on Sabina (Quin)
• The Opera is toted as “A Stirring Love Tragedy”
• “The Wife” is one of the main characters
• The Opera Really Sucks (Of course the Players don’t know this yet, but it’s true.
  I saw a rehearsal of it and it really does suck.)
• The Opera House is near the Senate
• The Count wrote the Opera
• It is a rank 3 Opera

So the stage is set, the players all arrive in their finest attire. Some have brought their Spouses and/or vassals. Some brought gifts for the Count. (I was running it like a party, meeting, that resources could be exchanged for free. And bringing gifts to a party is good form. Style.) As they enter the Opera House the Count’s Herald who had traveled the land promoting the Opera greets them all. They are escorted to their private opera boxes, and shown to the banquet area. As vassals to the Count the players were given nicer boxes then others. The boxes have screens that can drawn shut so that the Opera way still be viewed, but offers privacy from scanning eyes that may wish to see what is going on in the private boxes.

In the banquet area people have gathered to discuss news, and rumors of what the Opera will be about.

Chayan Mwrr (Matt) scans the room looking for someone he may know. He runs into an old friend from the academy. His friend is Blooded of the bear, and he was not invited.

Baron Chayan Mwrr: Three things true

• Fascinated with Sorcery
• Lands are mostly Swamps and Mountains
• Weakness is Cunning (IIRC)

Namatha Steele roams around the room trying to gather information. She noticed that the Counts wife was not in attendance, because she was not invited.

Baroness Namatha Steele: Three things true

• Weakness is Courage
• Name means the unexpected
• Has the aspect: “I Pull the Strings”

Lady Sabina wanders around the room listening for gossip. She hears that the reason the Counts wife was not invited was because the Aunt doesn’t like Agatha (The wife) because she has been taken too much control in the handling of the Counts lands. The Aunt wants to play regent and is looking for a new wife for the Count.

Lady Agatha: Three things true

• Is a winter Character
• Always seen wearing white
• Reveres the greater Suaven Manna Renay

Baroness Sabina Mwrr: Three things true

• Has the Aspect: Just a pretty face
• Has some of the most plentiful plains in all of Shanri
• Weakness is Prowess

Throsh Burghe (Ramses) goes to the banquet table and starts to eat. While he was there a Lady approaches him and asks if he plans on eating the entire spread. Throsh invites the Lady to join him. She asks what is good to eat. He replies that everything is good and then hands her a greasy turkey leg. She hands it to one of her servants to pick the meat of the bone for her. Throsh turns his attention back to the food and when he does, the Lady calls him a “Savage Brute” and starts to walk away. Throsh over hears the insult, and calls her out and directs an insult back to her. She turns to Throsh and asks him, “Did you mean what it?” Throsh replies, “Did you?” She says, “I did!” Throsh calls her a “Filthy Whore”. She calls him a “Smelly, Savage Brute.” Throsh replies with “Snobby, Filthy Whore”. The lady smiles as she calls him a “Ball-less, Smelly, Savage Brute.”
Throsh yells, “Enough!” Everyone gasps, and look to the competitors, and start to snicker and laugh at Throsh. (Throsh was tagged with a rank 3 insult).

Baron Throsh Burghe: Three things true

• All brawn, no beauty
• Is a Summer character
• Killed his wife

Lady No: Three things true

• She is a poison teddy bear
• She has three dead husbands, currently looking for a fourth
• She has some kind of relationship with Zsanosz, Count Kether

Namatha and Sabina notice a twinkle in Lady No’s eye that she is infatuated with Lord Throsh. Lady No wants Throsh as her next Husband.

Lord Chayan walks up to his friend, The Bear greets him, and Chayan asks how he got in. The bear replies “through the door”. The bear tells Chayan that if hasn’t gotten any food he might want to before it’s all gone. Chayan asks he was going to eat it all. The bear say, “No, but a cousin of his was there.” The bear then asks where Chayan’s seats are located and says he may join him later.

Just then bells start ringing, signaling that the Opera will be start soon. Namatha and her husband make it to their box first. As the people begin heading to their seats, the musicians start to warm up their instruments. Namatha looks to see who else has made it to their boxes. She notices a lady in the Count’s box, it’s not his Aunt, it’s Lady No.

Throsh and Chayan hang out at the food table a little longer. Sabina gives Chayan some suggestions as to what to eat. As the last remaining people from the banquet hall deport, Sabina starts box hopping to see what invites she can get. She bumps into Lady No, and she invites Sabina to her box. Unbeknownst to Sabina, Lady No is spying on her.

When Sabina has finished her rounds of she finds Lady No in the Counts box and sits down with them. She instantly starts to question the Count about the Opera.

Then another series of bells ring to signal the Opera is start soon. Servants run around dosing candles. The last of the people have taken their seats. The Count is beaming with pride as his work finally gets to be revealed. From the very first opening music, everyone can tell that the Opera will be bad. Sabina winces, and then addresses the box in general if the Opera is any good, stating she is still learning to appreciate this high Art. Oh course they all agree that it is quite good, but she can read there faces and learns that they are all lying.

Namatha leans over and starts kissing her husband as she draws the screen shut.

Throsh falls asleep and starts snoring.

Chayan leans over and whispers something into his wife ear. They draw the screen shut to their private box and they sneak backstage.

Lady Steele (Chayan’s Wife): Three things true

• Blooded of the Elk
• Very Cunning
• Very Loyal to Chayan

Lady Sabina and Lady No talk about Throsh during the Opera. As they notice the privacy screen to Lady Sabina opens. They see the Aunt and Sabina’s Husband holding each other in warm embrace. The Aunt is trying to bump off Sabina’s husband.

The Opera continues for what could have been 3 operas. While backstage, Chayan and his wife go and try on some of the costumes. On their way back to the costumes, Chayan accidentally knocks over a candle and starts a fire.

Back in Count’s box, Sabina asks if there is a fire scene in the Opera. The count says, “No, but perhaps I should add one.” He calls over his Valet and tells him to take down some notes. The Valet questions the Count at the suggestion of adding a scene to the Opera. He exclaims, “The Opera is on fire!” Sabina replies, “It is!” and runs out of the box. Smoke starts to billow out from backstage, everyone notices the Opera House is on fire and starts to run out. The Count protests everyone not to leave. That once the fire is put out the Opera can resume.

During the mass Exodus, Throsh charges out of the Opera House, pushing past everyone in his way. He makes it out of the Opera House safely, injuring several people on his way out, Lady No being one of them (rank 1 Injury).

Chayan’s Wife leads Chayan out of the Opera House and no one saw them backstage. He makes out without injury, but she takes an injury.

After running out the Counts box, Sabina goes to find her husband. She finds him in their box with the Aunt and another woman are fighting over him. Sabina hides in the corner and watches what happens.

Sabina’s Husband: Three things true

• He buys the act
• Blooded of the Fox
• Sucker for a Pretty Face

Lady Trisnoira Adrente (The Other Woman): Three things true +1

• Wolf all the way
• One of the best swordswoman in the entire senator
• Brother has taken her lands, is here looking for Allies so she can take them back
• And is an alley to Throsh.

Lady Trisnoira sees the fire as she argues with the Aunt. Lady Trisnoira picks up Sabina’s husband and throws him over her shoulder as she tells that Aunt that we can continue this outside.

The Count continues to insist that once this (the Fire) minor inconvenience is dealt with, the Opera can continue and is insisting that everyone stay. Even as the Opera House burns, Lady No turns to the Count and says “Excuse me you Grace, I was injured.”
The Count looks at her and gasps, “You were? By who?”
Lady No says, “By one of your Vassals.”
“Which one?” the Count asks.
“Throsh, he nearly ran me over.” She says with passion in her voice. “I demand satisfaction.”

Lady Namatha overhears the conversation between Lady No and the Count. She sends her husband over to Throsh to be his second.

Namatha’s husband walks up to Throsh and says, “Your excellence, it has been brought to my attention that you will be needing a second.”
“Really? For what?” Throsh asks.
“Lady No demands satisfaction, you apparently injured her on the way out.”
“That filthy slut.”

The Count orders Throsh over.
“Yes, my Liege.”
“It has been brought to my attention that you injured one of my guests here.”
“She was in my way...” Throsh starts to explain.
“An injury to one of my guests is an injury to me.” The count explains. “Do you apologies?”
“Apologies for the injury, but not to her.”
The Count turns to Lady No and asks her if she accepts this apology.
“How could I? He has not apologized, he apologized for the action but not to me.”
Throsh starts to argue with Lady No when the Count stops him.

The Count gathers an impromptu senate. The senate agrees that both sides have valid claims of injury and a duel is announced.

Seconds are chosen. Letters of Apologies are written and handed to the opposing your side. They both refuses to sign the letters and the duel is allowed to proceed. The duel was declared to the blood.

Lady No and Throsh take the field. They stare each other down for a moment. Then Lady No attacks. She cut him across the face. (Throsh takes a Rank 1 Injury) She then moves inside his sword and kiss him on the mouth. Throsh stands there stunned but kisses her back. They embrace each other for a moment, until she whisper in his ear, “Duels are such silly matters, let goes someplace quiet.”

Throsh agrees, and Lady No turns to the Count, “Thank you, I am quite satisfied.” she says with a smile. She takes Throsh by the hand and leads him off.

Fade to black.

Love poisons the heart. Makes us weak. Makes us sick.
And the only cure for our malady is that which caused it in the first place.
~The Great and Terrible Life of Shara Yvarai

Houses of the Blooded: First Impressions

I'm still floating on my gaming high. But I wanted to jot down some initial thoughts. A full recap will come later.

I ran my first Houses of the Blooded game, and it went REALLY REALLY WELL. I wish I could take all the credit, but I can't. I can't even take most of the credit. My players deserve the credit, they were the ones that ran the story. They did a fantastic job.

We first took care of Season actions. Then I showed them the contract they all would have to sign, IN BLOOD (not real blood mind you). Then I told them they are all Barons under a Count. Then I ask them to tell me who their Count is?

When that was finished we started the story. All I had prepared for the story was, "You all have been invited to an Opera" and let them take it from there. I was a little concerned at first because everything they were saying was great, but I wasn't sure where to take it. I need to shake things up. So I did. I explored some of the rules we never got to during the playtest. My players keep contributing, making things worse on themselves and the story progressed until they had written it into a nice neat little ending.

Three times I tried to introduce the Character I created, and three times, my players wanted her to be someone else. Which is fine, it worked out better that way. I did get to introduce her in the end. But it was Lady No that stole the spot light. It's hard to out shine Lady No.
(Lady No is a character we encountered in the Playtesting with John.) I had told myself that, "I would not introduce any character that John used from our playtest sessions." That was the only rule I placed on myself. Note: I did not say "I would not use any character from our playtest sessions with John." That was deliberate. If my players want to introduce them, I don't have a problem using them. The reason I didn't want to introduce them is the same reason I don't read fan-fic. No one can write the character like the originator of that character. Same rule applies. But sometimes a world just isn't the same without a particular character in it. Like Drizzt from Forgotten Realms or Tasslehoff from Dragonlance. My players wanted Lady No so they got her. I only hope I lived up to their expectations. I think I did.

This is where it ends.
With blood and pain and revenge.
But it began with love.
This is how everything begins and this is how everything ends.

~The Great and Terrible Life of Shara Yvarai

Yet another tragic, unnecessary casualty in the War on Drugs.

:(
Police Raid Berwyn Heights Mayor's Home, Kill His 2 Dogs.

Luckily this time to one was hurt, unfortunately the same can't be said for the dogs.

Mayor Cheye Calvo was not arrested in the raid, which was carried out about 7 p.m. by the Sheriff's Office SWAT team and county police narcotics officers.

So Mayor was not arrested, but I wonder, if he wasn't the Mayor, would he be so lucky?

As the police came in, Calvo said, they shot his 7-year-old black Labrador retriever, Payton, near the front door and then his 4-year-old dog, Chase, also a black Lab, as the dog ran into a back room. Walking through his house yesterday, Calvo pointed out a bullet hole in the drywall where the younger dog had been shot.

"...as the dog ran into a back room."
This clearly points out the use of DEADLY FORCE. *Note the sarcasm.*

Spokesmen for the Sheriff's Office and Prince George's police expressed regret yesterday that the mayor's dogs were killed. But they defended the way the raid was carried out, saying it was proper for a case involving such a large amount of drugs.

Of course he defends the raid, if he didn't he and his men could be held accountable. But if you or I brake down one of our neighbors door, shoot their dogs, and then say OOPS, sorry we got the wrong house. We would be locked up for braking and entering, destruction of property, discharging a firearm within city limits and probably a hand full of other charges. But because they have badges they get a pass.

And you think that it CAN'T happen to you because you don't use drugs. Well I'm sure the Mayor of Berwyn Heights thought the same thing.

Return of the Blooded

Firday, July 25th
I started a New Houses of the Blooded game. I've also decide to do ALL posts for my Houses games in BLOOD RED. MUHWAAAA. We started off by making Characters. More on the Characters to come. This Friday we will be meeting for the Blood Contract, Season Action and an Opera.

I created a character that will be a NPC unless someone else wishes to be the Narrator.

Lady Trisnoira Adrente
(Daughter of the Blade)

Three Things True about her.

• One of the finest Swordswomen of the Senate
• Carries her Mother's (Blood) Sword
• She is looking for Allies so she can take back the Lands her brother took from her after their Father entered Solace.

You will have to wait if you want learn more about her.

Carry a sword.
A quick apology stings less than a quick duel,
and leaves fewer scars.

Birthday Gift Spoiler

NBC announced that for my birthday next year they will be giving me, drum roll please, Jay Leno's retirement.

May 29th, a day early but I'm not complaining, will be Jay's last show. As a fan of the late night television, Jay as a sub for Johnny, he was alright at best. But as the full time replacement has always been an disappointment to me. His jokes, well jokes are suppose to be funny. Although I am a big fan of the self-deprecating humor, but his chin jokes have been played out. His other bits have either been done before or are like his jokes not funny. As an interviewer, he is bland and asks inane questions and when he has nowhere to go, directs conversation back to his enormously large chin. YES I GET IT JAY, YOUR CHIN IS BIG! Move on.

Although to be fair I haven't watched Jay in years, so it may have changed, but somehow I doubt it. Either way, I may start watching the Tonight show again.

I haven't decided if I'm going to watch the last episode. If I do, it will only be so I can always remember how sucky it was.

Thanks NBC, it was long time coming.

Project Targe: Step 1, Preparation

I found this set of instruction over at Tandy Leather Factory. Its FREE so get it and make one too! I will be making some modifications to it the instructions. I will notate the changes I make.

Currently I am in the process of getting the tools and materials I will need together. Here is the list of materials needed, as per the PDF.






Materials Needed: (Red indicates stuff I will need to get.)
• 1 ea. 6-7 oz. tooling leather, appr. 25" dia.
• 1 ea. 4-5 oz. tooling leather, appr. 25" dia. (Will go with Hair On Cowhide or Rabbit fur)
• 2 ea. 6-7 oz. leather strips, 2" x 15"
• 1 ea. 3/4" plywood, 24" in dia. (May go with 1/2 plywood)
• 4 ea. 1-1/2", 1/4 x 20 carriage bolts
• 4 ea. 1/4 x 20 nuts
• Upholstery Tacks #1403-10
• Swivel Knife and Blade
• Adjustable V-Gouge #8082
• 5/16" Round Punch #3777-12
• Craftool Stamps: B198, B936, A114,
A104, A104-2, S724 & F910
• Tanner’s Bond¨ Contact Cement #2530-01
• Tandy’s Antique Leather Stain #22071
• Tandy Satin Shene #22009

Since I'm kind of short on cash at the moment. I will be buying the stuff I need, when I need it. For the most part I can get started with the tooling of the design. That will be the next post.

Picture is taken from the Tandy Leather Factory's website. It only used to illustrate what the finished project should look like.

Project: Targe

If the Arizona Renaissance Festival just around the corner. While it's still 6 months away, but with the way this year has flown by it feels like its just around the corner. Anyway, it looks like the pirates will not be out there this year. This was do to the Jack Sparrow phenomena. Basically everyone and their grandmother are pirates. Mind you I like pirates just as much as the next person, assuming the next person isn't a ninja. But when your shtick is a pirate, errr, Honest Merchant Sailor, it makes you a bit superfluous. So instead a new troup will be out there in place of the Honest Merchant Sailors. The working title is "Plague of Scots". Over the past few years, there have been fewer and fewer Scotsmen. Except for Croft and the ocassional Scot here and there, (I'm not including Clan MacFrat, they don't count) there are no Scots. The troup was to be a Dance/Street Improv troup, but we don't have enough committied dancers/musicians to pull off the Dance part of the Troup. So we will be a Street Improv Troup with the occasional dance. Until we can get our numbers up.

So now that you know the backstory onto Project: Targe. For those may not know what a Targe is, it is a round shield, about 24" in diameter, made of wood, usually covered with leather. Also known as a Buckler or Hand Shield. I will be making one, hopefully in time for the 2009 year Arizona Renaissance Festival when the Plague of Scots make their debut. I will be documenting the process here.

Enjoy.

The Highwayman (Poem)

It was my senior year of high school, and there I sat in my World Literature Class. We were reading many different poems from many different author. Most were boring, bland or I just didn't get. Unless it was Edgar Allen Poe, I really didn't care. Except, this one. I don't know why, but for some reason, it spoke to me. It tugged at my heartstrings. Every now and then I like to, or sometimes need to reread it. To conjure that emotion I felt my senior year when I first read it. In class we talked about rhythm, phrases, and literature speak, all the the stuff that I still don't get. I'm sure there is some of that that lends itself to the work. But for me its on a subconscious level. For me the words painted a haunting yet beautiful picture. Images that tell a story.

In Loreen McKennitt album, The Book of Secrets she puts this poem to music and completely captures the mood of the poem.

So for those that haven't read it here it is.

The Highwayman
By Alfred Noyes

The wind was a torrent of darkness upon the gusty trees,
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
The road was a ribbon of moonlight looping the purple moor,
And the highwayman came riding--
Riding--riding--
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn door.

He'd a French cocked hat on his forehead, and a bunch of lace at his chin;
He'd a coat of the claret velvet, and breeches of fine doe-skin.
They fitted with never a wrinkle; his boots were up to his thigh!
And he rode with a jeweled twinkle--
His rapier hilt a-twinkle--
His pistol butts a-twinkle, under the jeweled sky.

Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard,
He tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred,
He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
But the landlord's black-eyed daughter--
Bess, the landlord's daughter--
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.

Dark in the dark old inn-yard a stable-wicket creaked
Where Tim, the ostler listened--his face was white and peaked--
His eyes were hollows of madness, his hair like mouldy hay,
But he loved the landlord's daughter--
The landlord's black-eyed daughter;
Dumb as a dog he listened, and he heard the robber say:

"One kiss, my bonny sweetheart; I'm after a prize tonight,
But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light.
Yet if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day,
Then look for me by moonlight,
Watch for me by moonlight,
I'll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way."

He stood upright in the stirrups; he scarce could reach her hand,
But she loosened her hair in the casement! His face burnt like a brand
As the sweet black waves of perfume came tumbling o'er his breast,
Then he kissed its waves in the moonlight
(O sweet black waves in the moonlight!),
And he tugged at his reins in the moonlight, and galloped away to the west.

He did not come in the dawning; he did not come at noon.
And out of the tawny sunset, before the rise of the moon,
When the road was a gypsy's ribbon over the purple moor,
The redcoat troops came marching--
Marching--marching--
King George's men came marching, up to the old inn-door.

They said no word to the landlord; they drank his ale instead,
But they gagged his daughter and bound her to the foot of her narrow bed.
Two of them knelt at her casement, with muskets by their side;
There was Death at every window,
And Hell at one dark window,
For Bess could see, through her casement, the road that he would ride.

They had bound her up at attention, with many a sniggering jest!
They had tied a rifle beside her, with the barrel beneath her breast!
"Now keep good watch!" and they kissed her. She heard the dead man say,
"Look for me by moonlight,
Watch for me by moonlight,
I'll come to thee by moonlight, though Hell should bar the way."

She twisted her hands behind her, but all the knots held good!
She writhed her hands till her fingers were wet with sweat or blood!
They stretched and strained in the darkness, and the hours crawled by like years,
Till, on the stroke of midnight,
Cold on the stroke of midnight,
The tip of one finger touched it! The trigger at least was hers!

The tip of one finger touched it, she strove no more for the rest;
Up, she stood up at attention, with the barrel beneath her breast.
She would not risk their hearing, she would not strive again,
For the road lay bare in the moonlight,
Blank and bare in the moonlight,
And the blood in her veins, in the moonlight, throbbed to her love's refrain.

Tlot tlot, tlot tlot! Had they heard it? The horse-hooves, ringing clear;
Tlot tlot, tlot tlot, in the distance! Were they deaf that they did not hear?
Down the ribbon of moonlight, over the brow of the hill,
The highwayman came riding--
Riding--riding--
The redcoats looked to their priming! She stood up straight and still.

Tlot tlot, in the frosty silence! Tlot tlot, in the echoing night!
Nearer he came and nearer! Her face was like a light!
Her eyes grew wide for a moment, she drew one last deep breath,
Then her finger moved in the moonlight--
Her musket shattered the moonlight--
Shattered her breast in the moonlight and warned him--with her death.

He turned, he spurred to the West; he did not know who stood
Bowed, with her head o'er the casement, drenched in her own red blood!
Not till the dawn did he hear it, and his face grew grey to hear
How Bess, the landlord's daughter,
The landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Had watched for her love in the moonlight, and died in the darkness there.

Back, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky,
With the white road smoking behind him and his rapier brandished high!
Blood-red were his spurs in the golden noon, wine-red was his velvet coat
When they shot him down in the highway,
Down like a dog in the highway,
And he lay in his blood in the highway, with the bunch of lace at his throat.

And still on a winter's night, they say, when the wind is in the trees,
When the moon is a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
When the road is a gypsy's ribbon looping the purple moor,
The highwayman comes riding--
Riding--riding--
The highwayman comes riding, up to the old inn-door.

Over the cobbles he clatters and clangs in the dark inn-yard,
He taps with his whip on the shutters, but all is locked and barred,
He whistles a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
But the landlord's black-eyed daughter--
Bess, the landlord's daughter--
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.