Rhym

[quote name='Gothic InuYasha']Clayman is definitly *** kicking, Whoreacle is good too. Colony... eh.... not so high on my list. It's not bad, just not as good as their other albums. Soundtrack to your escape was horrible (in my opinion). Hopefuly they regain their old charm again. [/quote][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]Wow! This is phenomenal! Someone on OtakuBoards who likes In Flames, an actual metal band, for their [i]good[/i] stuff and not STYE! Normally we only get the sort of people who are like "OH EMM GEE I LUVV N' FLAMEZZ SNOUDTARCK 2 UR EXKAPE IZ LIEK TEH BEST ALBUM EVAR NOT LIEK THERE URLY STUFF W/ TEH FAST PLAYING THAT HURST MY EARS!!1!! N' FLAMEZZ 4-EVARR!!!" Amazing! Someone with intelligence when it comes to music! No offence, Nü-metalers. ... Well, okay, maybe a little bit of offence.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]This is so cool that I'm gonna do another one. But [i]this[/i] time, I'ma do it off of my Epic Mix, so that you get a better idea of the music that I [i]actually[/i] listen to. Could be that I'm missing the point entirely, but I feel that I need to clear my name after crap like Kate Rusby (who?) got on there last time. [b]1. Mors Principium Est - The Unborn {The Unborn}[/b] This band is AMAZING. If you've heard Dark Tranquility, these guys sound a lot like them. Namely, killer Death Metal guitar riffs backed by crazy keyboard lines and a totally awesome growl. There is seriously like the COOLEST breakdown in the chorus of this song! It's so epic! [b]2. Symphony X - A Fool's Paradise {V}[/b] Symphony X is pretty awesome. They're quite a bit proggy, but with a symphony backing them (or at least some awesome keyboard layering). This album, V, is an epic about the future of Earth and mankind, but ties in some mythology and some musical references to classical composers. I would recommend it. [b]3. Nightwish - Over The Hills And Far Away {Over The Hills And Far Away}[/b] I know that this is a cover, but I don't know who did the original. Whoever did it, the original can't even [i]try[/i] to be as epic as Nightwish's version. Unless the original was done by, say, Ensiferum, but I know for a fact that it wasn't. [b]4. Dream Theater - The Mirror {Awake}[/b] Dream Theater is quite possibly Progressive (Prog) Metal at its finest. Amazing keyboard lines, amazing guitar lines, hell, even the bass lines are amazing. After all, that's what Prog Metal is all about. This is a good band to listen to in mix format because the guy's voice can kinda get annoying sometimes. [b]5. Ensiferum - Eternal Wait {Ensiferum}[/b] This band... I can't even begin to describe it. It's like some guys got together and were like "Ummm... Hey, I have an idea! Let's make the best band ever!" and the other guys were like "Okay!" And so they made the best band ever. Viking Metal with Folk influences, usually brutally fast with epic lyrics about battles and slaying, but even when they make slower songs about love and/or despair, like this song, they're still friggin' EPIC. God, I [i]love[/i] this band! [b]6. Kamelot - The Haunting (Somewhere In Time) {The Black Halo}[/b] This band is most exellent. They have one of my favorite vocalists in all of music. The other great thing is, as their albums progress, they [i]don't[/i] get crappier! Huzzah! This is off of their latest album. [b]7. In Flames - Leeches {Come Clarity}[/b] I love In Flames, so it saddened me deeply when Soundtrack To Your Escape came out and displayed a complete and total lack of solos, which is what In Flames is all [i]about.[/i] So, when Come Clarity came out, it was a breath of fresh air. They kept some of the cool things about Soundtrack, like singing, but then they remembered that there was the whole thing they did with their fingers to make notes come out really fast and in solo form, circa Whoracle, Clayman, and Colony. Good stuff. [b]8. Insomnium - Daughter of the Moon {Since The Day It All Came Down}[/b] Insomnium is truly a beautiful band. Poetic lyrics of a love lost, pure and mournful songwriting, and some killer riffs all come together to make this album truly a work of art. Comes highly recommended. [b]9. Hammerfall - Take The Black {Chapter V: Unbent, Unbound, Unbroken}[/b] Hammerfall is some quite epic Power Metal, and they do it without a keyboard, too! Go figure! They're pretty awesome. [b]10. Children of Bodom - Hate Crew Deathroll {Hate Crew Deathroll}[/b] Ahh, Children of Bodom. Pretty much one of the best bands ever. It's like every member of their band is just a Triple Corpse Hammerblow of talent. This was my favorite song of their concert when they came to Utah. They did this awesome thing just after the solos where they dropped out all the instruments but Jaska on the drums and Janne on the keyboards while Alexi sang the chorus, clapping his hands above his head. Everyone in the audience sang along, and when the guitars came in again, I have never, ever headbanged harder in my life. It was epic. Well, I hope that gives you a better idea of the kind of music I listen to.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]Cradle of Filth is... interesting, to put it mildly. I only have Nymphetamine, like you, but my favorites off of that one are... well, I guess I have to say "favorite" because I only really like English Fire off of that album. I respect how poetic they can be, but it's definitely an image thing with CoF. If you like them, I would perhaps suggest some of Dimmu Borgir's later albums, such as Death Cult Armaggedon and Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia. Man, those are two [i]hella[/i] Black-Metal album titles. Of course, if you like Nymphetamine because of the female singer in it, I would recommend some Goth Metal bands like Draconian, Epica, Lacuna Coil, and Rain Fell Within. Well, anyways, that's my two cents' worth.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]If you like The Mars Volta's lyrics (Namely album-spanning psychological epics) I would highly recommend a band called Ayreon. They're metal, it's true, but they are AMAZING. I would recommend the album called The Human Equation (it's a two-disc set). It's basically a prog-metal* opera following the mental exploits of a man in a coma for twenty days, with a different singer for each emotion in his head. My favorite is Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth fame playing the emotion Fear. It's an amazing album with all kinds of keyboard wankery going on. Also, if you're looking for unorthodox instruments, look no further. The track on the album(s) closest to a single, "Day Sixteen: Loser", features an electric violin and a didjeridoo! A didjeridoo! You can't tell me that's NOT awesome! Ayreon has another album called Into the Electric Castle, but I haven't heard it yet. But come on, with a name like that, it can't [i]not[/i] be good. Anyways, that's my suggestion for ya. Give it a chew. *Think Dream Theater.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray][b]Emppu (thinking):[/b] Man, I am so glad we kicked her out, now she won't spew on me while on stage anymore.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]Sounds like a fun little experiment. The only problem is, I share my music library with my parents. If it was just me, it would all be metal and electronica, but as it is, some other stuff may slip in. Oh well, I'll be honest. [b]1. Sickness Unto Foolish Death - Silent Hill 3 Soundtrack[/b] Comments: I'm not sure who the artist who did the soundtrack is, but it's a really good soundtrack to a really crazy game. [b]2. All Apologies - Nirvana[/b] Comments: I think my brother must've put this one on. Nirvana's alright, but they're just so damn overplayed and I'm kinda sick of all but one or two of their songs. [b]3. Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby - The Rolling Stones[/b] Comments: Music my parents put on here. Still, I can dig the Stones, I'm open-minded like that. [b]4. Night Visiting Song - Kate Rusby[/b] Comments: Who the hell is this? I don't even know. Man, if it weren't for my "Epic Mix" I'd have to skip so many songs playing things on random. More parents music. [b]5. Bodom After Midnight - Children of Bodom[/b] Comments: God, FINALLY, some metal! Took the damn thing long enough. It's only about, what, 3/4ths of the library? Man, I love CoB. Alexi Laiho can shred like there's no tomorrow. [b]6. You Need To Rock - Sebastian Ingrosso[/b] Comments: This was on a DJ Dan mix CD. To be frank, DJ Dan bores the snot out of me. It's the same beat with the same little loop in the background for 5-6 minutes at a time, then it changes to ANOTHER monotonous beat backed by annoying loops. [b]7. Peephole - System of a Down[/b] Comments: SOAD's pretty awesome. They may not be metal, but they rock nonetheless. I really like this one, it sounds like some crazy polka thing. [b]8. Find Your Own Voice - Stratovarius[/b] Comments: Huzzah! More metal! Stratovarius is pretty good. They're one of the founders of Power Metal as a genre. But the guy's voice can get on your nerves after a while. [b]9. Cats On Mars (DMX Krew Remix) - Yoko Kanno[/b] Comments: Yoko Kanno makes awesome music. This is a remix of Ed's theme from Cowboy Bebop off of the "Music for Freelancers" remix album. It's alright, but I like the original music better. [b]10. Down Diggy Down - Tony Faline[/b] Comments: I dunno really who this is. I just recently came into possesion of a vast amount of electronica, so I haven't been able to listen to them all. From how it sounds so far, it sounds alright. Still, I prefer metal. Well, that was the ten I found. I'm a little disappointed in the lack of metal on that list. I mean, two out of ten? That's not a very good percentage. Now, if it had been a list of the first ten songs on my Epic Mix, then it would've been a DIFFERENT story entirely.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]This sounds pretty awesome, Kairi! Count me in! [b]Name:[/b] Sorgens (Sorg for short) Hämnd (Means The Wolf's Revenge in Norse) [b]Sex:[/b] Male [b]Allegiance:[/b] Exile [b]Location:[/b] He once lived in Iceliena, before his exile. Now, he wanders the Northlands, seeking justice... and revenge. [b]Appearance:[/b] Sorg is quite muscular, with long, blonde hair and a beard to match. His features are jagged, scarred, and Scandinavian, but still quite handsome. His bracers and boots are of durable leather. His thick pants and tunic are covered by glimmering chainmail made of mithril. A dwarven-forged Norsk-style helmet crowns his head, and on his back is draped a thick, long wolfskin cloak. Whenever he looks out over an icy cliff, a totally badass guitar solo plays in the background. He doesn't really know why this happens, but he's just accepted it as something that happens. [b]Personality:[/b] Sorg is brash and outspoken. If he sees an injustice, he will expend his utmost resources to rectify it. He is serious when matters are serious, but he won't turn down a good haunch of venison, flagon of mead, and night on the town if matters permit. [b]Weapons/Skills:[/b] Sorg has two weapons, one for each hand. His right-hand weapon is a razor-sharp single-bladed battleaxe he calls Pestens Fiende (The Plague's Enemy). His left-handed weapon is a crushing warhammer he calls Sorghammar (Wolfhammer). He has no magical powers, but he knows how to survive, even in the barren and windswept Northlands. [b]Power:[/b] His dragon, Tyrsfang, is a mighty ice dragon from the grim and frostbitten Northlands. Her breath is as ice, and her scything claws are as cold as the glaciers that cover the North. Sorg, as a result, can endure such cold as would send stronger men to their frozen graves, and has incredible endurance and strength. In WoW terms, he's the Tank. [b]Dragon's Name:[/b] Tyrsfang (Tyr being the Norse god of war) [b]Appearance:[/b] [URL=http://www.pcdoct.com/images/dragon_blue.gif][u]Here[/u][/URL] is Tyrsfang. Sorg would come up to her chest. [b]Personality:[/b] Tyrsfang is impatient and poor at suffering fools. She's prone to pacing in times of inactivity. But as soon as the time comes to fight, a fiercer combatant you'd be hard pressed to find. [b]Writing Snippet:[/b] I guess my writing snippet wasn't what Kairi was looking for, so I'll just leave this blank until I have a better idea of what to put that would still fit what I had in mind for my character.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]OOC: Hey, sorry about not posting, I was on vacation. So, forgive me if I'm a tad bit erroneous in my posts, I haven't been here for a while. IC: Eskari, Dred, Ashcraft and Sazurothz walked through the dark, whispering forest. [i]I don't trust this Sazurothz character,[/i] thought Eskari. [i]And this Dred guy, what's his motivation for joining us? And what can I make of Ashcraft? It's so bizarre how I got here. Can I truly trust any of the people around me?[/i] He tightened his grip on his cesti. [i]At least I can trust these.[/i] "Keep your wits about you," said Sazurothz. "The gods alone know what horrors lurk in these woods." "You can say that again," muttered Dred. "The gods alone know-" "But don't," interrupted Dred, cutting the Slake off. Suddenly, his ears perked up and swiveled, searching. "Something's coming," he spoke in an urgent whisper. "What is it, Mahrim?" asked Eskari, tensing for potential action. "I can't say for sure... Sounds like 7, maybe 8 of them, coming in fast from..." he closed his eyes and turned slightly, his ears swiveling rapidly. "There!" He pointed into the woods, off to the left of the path. Eskari could hear them now, whipping through the trees, feet pounding on the forest floor. "Are you sure there's only 8?" he growled. "Erm..." Dred looked nervous. "Maybe?" Eskari jumped as Ashcraft grabbed his arm. [i]What is she [/i]doing? She sounded very worried when she spoke. "Eskari, what'll we do?" He shook her off and tightened his grip on his cesti. "Please," he said. "Call me Scary."[/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]OOC: Time to sow the seeds of me and Random's plan! IC: Eskari sat in an alley outside the Black Cauldron, nursing his wounds. [i]That damn Viking hits hard. Dammit, I should go back in there and show him a thing or two... but I probably shouldn't. The atmosphere is... less than receptive, considering all the damage caused when I fought that Krill guy. Plus, that damn Viking's probably gotten some mead by now. I think the only thing that hits harder than a Viking without mead is a Viking [/i]with[i] mead. Dammit.[/i] He stood up and stormed to the mouth of the alley, shaking with inner fury. [i]Where am I gonna go now? I would [/i]really[i] like to beat the shit out of something.[/i] Just then, he saw Tarma, approaching out of the gloom of dusk with another Mahrim in tow. He tried to look upbeat, tried to erase the scowl his features seemed to be locked in. "Tarma! How's it going? Who's this?" he called. She noticed him and quickened her pace. "Scary! I was looking for you! This is Jarrius, he was my friend back when we were young. Jar, meet Scary." The Mahrim eyed him a bit suspiciously. "Nice to meet you." He shook his hand. "Likewise. But please, Tarma, Jar, call me Eskari. It's my name, after all." She looked a bit confused, but shook it off and smiled brightly. "Well, anyways, I was looking for you for so long! We have a lot to talk about." She hugged him warmly. This surprised Eskari considerably, but he tried to look cool, something easy for a Slake to do. [i]Woah! Why's she doing this? Is she really happy about something? Maybe that she met Jar? She did say that he was her childhood friend...[/i] He couldn't help but notice the young Mahrim scowl at him.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]OOC: If you want the best music for this fight, listen to Vindfärd/Människopesten by Finntroll. No really, do it. IC: Meanwhile, in a bar in another part of town... Eskari nimbly dodged a tremendous downward swipe from Krill's beam axe. He swooped in and hit the soldier with a flurry of powerful blows. "Ha ha ha! Funny little worm, your punches are as insubstantial as a light breeze!" Eskari dodged another strike. "Breezes turn into typhoons in the blink of an eye, Krill!" He kicked the legs out from under him with a sweeping low kick. The huge warrior went down hard. Eskari retreated to the far end of the dim pub. Krill was angry now. Bloodlust clouded his vision. He forgot the beam axe entirely and just charged Eskari outright. At the last second, Eskari leapt aside and smashed a chair on the huge Slake's head. He shook it off with a prodigous roar and scooped Eskari up into his crushing grip. The breath rushed out of him as Krill slammed him into a wall. With great effort, he wrenched a hand free and activated the beam blade on his cestus. The soldier bellowed in pain as the beam sliced into his back, letting go of Eskari to reach for the gash. Eskari kicked off a wall and dealt a staggering flying side kick to Krill's chest. The saurian Slake stumbled backwards, gasping for air. Eskari delivered the coup de gras by swiftly decapitating him. Krill's lifeless corpse smashed a table on its way down. The barkeep looked at Eskari incredulously. "Goddammit, Scary, this is the [i]last[/i] time you trash my bar!" "Put it on my tab!" He fled out the door. One thought resonated in his mind as he pounded through Balthasar's narrow side-streets. [i]I have to find Tarma.[/i][/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]Eskari and his Mahrim contact, Tarma, entered The Black Craven, one of his favorite pubs and old haunts back from the days when he lived on the streets. He found a quiet booth in the corner just inside the entrance and took the seat facing the rest of the pub. "So, do you have news from the bigwigs?" asked Eskari. "Yes," replied Tarma. "It seems that we'll be able to commence full-on operations in Balthasar soon." Eskari whistled in appreciation. "Already?" "Yes. There's a lot of unrest in this city, what with the massive police presence. Our recruiters have hardly had to work at all and we've still almost doubled our ranks from last month." "Wow. So, do we have a specific date for commensure?" She shook her head. "They don't trust us grunts with dangerous details like that. As far as I've heard, it could be anywhere from a week to two months." "I see. So, is there?" he cut himself off when he saw the Slake enter the bar. He was one of the biggest Slakes he had ever seen, wearing gleaming armor that bore the insignia of the Slake government. He carried a long pole that Eskari could see would become a beam axe. Eskari growled involuntarily and clutched his cesti. "Eskari, wait. What are you doing?" Tarma sounded very worried. There was an urgency in her tone, but he ignored it. "Don't get involved, we can't risk blowing our cover. Eskari, please?" "Tarma," he cut her off. "Please. Call me Scary." Several things happened at once. The gargantuan Slake slammed his beam axe down onto a table used by a Huma and a sleeping Mahrim, shattering the sturdy wood into matchsticks. The Mahrim woke up and the Huma shouted "Ash, run! The Highroad!" And Eskari launched himself out of his seat, barreling towards the Slakii soldier. Time seemed to slow down for Eskari as he watched his fist close in on the Slake's head. It snapped back to regular speed as the impact came with a sickening crunch, sending the soldier staggering backwards. Eskari shouted to Tarma over his shoulder. "Follow that Mahrim! She's [i]important![/i]" The Slake soldier stood slowly to his feet, spitting out broken fangs. "Foolish worm! Now you shall know the wrath of Krill, faithful soldier of Sathurothz!" Eskari crouched into a ready stance and tightened his grip on his cesti. "I [i]hate[/i] it when people refer to themselves in third person!"[/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]OOC: Hey, I signed up a bit late, but 0ber's cool with it. So don't worry. IC: Eskari leaned against the marketplace wall, trying to maximize the shade recieved from the awning above him. The heavy summer sun beat mercilessly down onto the cobblestones of the torpid Balthasar marketplace, making the air shimmer. [i]What I'd give to be cold-blooded like my ancestors,[/i] he thought, scratching idly at his scaled arm. [i]Then I wouldn't mind this damned heat.[/i] He looked down at his clothes. A black leather trenchcoat with red trim. Stylish, certainly, but suited better to a colder climate. [i]At least my hat keeps the heat off my head. Damn, if only I didn't have to wear these clothes, but how else is my contact gonna find me?[/i] His silent gripe was interrupted by a cry of "Stop, thief!" A young Mahrim, fish in mouth, darted through the sparse crowd. He didn't get very far at all before a plainclothes officer caught him. The youth struggled in the stern grip of the law. "Lemme go, you sonofabitch! I'm gonna KILL you!" he shouted. The fish fell to the ground, sadly forgotten. Suddenly, a strange sword was at the neck of the guard, held by an even stranger man. He spoke softly to the guard. His reply was lost to Eskari over the hubbub of the crowd. The strange sword-wielder said something else. This time, the guard's response reached Eskari. "I'll kill him! I'll kill him if I have?" In a flash of steel and heat, the guard's head was no longer on his shoulders. The beheader and the youth exchanged words. The youth retreated to an alley, but the man stayed put. [i]Strange,[/i] thought Eskari. [i]Strange and a little stupid. Killing a guard is hardly meritable behavior. If I was him, I'd get the hell out of there.[/i] Instead of leaving, the man was approached by someone. A stunningly gorgeous Mahrim female sauntered casually up to him. [i]Yow, she's quite a catch. A shame that I'm not a Mahrim myself.[/i] Eskari looked closer. [i]Wait a minute! Is that my contact?[/i][/FONT][/COLOR]

[quote name='Box Hoy']I've listened to Wintersun some. Just some that my friend Derek has. He's into the folk metal stuff. I'm not sure but I think that Sonata Artica is somewhat folk also.[/quote] [FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]It's great that you're listening to awesome music like Wintersun and Sonata Arctica, but comparing the two just made me groan. Sonata's a great band, but they're Symphonic Power Metal. Although, come to think of it, you may be a little justified in your comparison. I seem to recall Wintersun having some Sonata-esque moments. But, for the most part, you can tell Folk and Symphonic Power Metal apart by a simple rule: Symphonic Power Metal uses keyboards; on rare occasions they'll bust out choirs and orchestras (à la Rhapsody or Nightwish). Folk Metal, on the other hand, uses traditional folk instruments, such as the accordion, the penny whistle, the didjeridoo (I'm not even kidding), other stuff like that. Folk Metal [i]can[/i] be symphonic, however; just take Ensiferum for example, they have [i]hella[/i] keyboards in their sound. But they're still folk, despite the keyboardage. Another factor between the two is... drumbeat, for lack of a better descriptor. Power Metal is something to headbang to. Folk Metal is something to jig to. It's hard to describe, but if you listen to enough of both, you'll be able to tell one from another. Well, anyways, both Wintersun and Sonata Arctica, while being from two different subgenres, are still intensely cool and you should keep listening to both of them.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]Sorry 'bout the late sign-up, 0ber! [b]Name:[/b] Eskari "Scary" Ireton [b]Age:[/b] 24 [b]Sex:[/b] Male [b]Race:[/b] Skale [b]Alignment:[/b] Revolutionary [b]Class:[/b] Brawler. He fights with his fists, he fights with his feet, he fights with a chair, he fights with a chandelier, he fights with an unconcious person, he fights with anything he can get his hands on. [b]Weapon of Choice:[/b] Twin cesti, made of light but very strong metal. Should fighting get serious and taking a life is required, deadly, crackling energy blades sprout from them. [b]Weapon Style:[/b] Scary fights with Mahrim-like speed and the fluidity of a kung-fu master. He mostly uses his fists, but his kicks are also effective due to the clawed feet of his race. [b]Personality:[/b] He's a loose cannon, spiteful of all authority, hence his revolutionary standing. You'll rarely see him without a grin on his face and a gleam in his eye, both of which could mean very bad things for you. He has poor impulse control. He's been thinking about getting that tatooed on his forehead. [b]Appearance:[/b] He's a pretty good-looking Skale, if he says so himself, which he does. He's about 6 foot, his scales are deep green flecked with black, and his eyes are a brilliant gold. As for clothes, check out [URL=http://us.games-workshop.com/games/40k/witchhunters/catalog/retinue.htm][u]the dude in the center,[/u][/URL] just with a shorter hat (but just as wide), fist weapons, and the whole Skale thing. [b]Bio:[/b] Growing up orphaned in the harsh streets of Balthasar, Scary quickly learned how to survive. He was taken in by an old, masterful Mahrim who owned a dojo. The old Mahrim taught him the Ways of the Fist until he was mercilessly and unjustly gunned down by government lapdogs. From that day forward, Eskari honed his skills, swearing to avenge the kindly old man. Okay, so the bio's a bit B-Rated Kung-Fu cookie cutter, but hey, it'll do.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]Death metal's cool, but it's not my thing. I respect the obvious talent of bands like Nile and Cannibal Corpse, but... It's just too br00tal for me, I guess. I'll take Symphonic Power Metal any day of the week over Death Metal.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[QUOTE=Jakehammaren]Upon the blackened night they ride, brandishing shining steel Eyes filled with visions of victory, they race through the moonlit fields The taste of blood on their lips... Loud cries challenge their enemies as they race, reddened song flowing through the rythmic beats Their hooded leader towers high, black as the churning sea, with steel, malice, and powerful magic he enforces his dark decree Kill them, kill them all Feast on their flesh and bone After the battle he will return to his iron throne[/QUOTE] [FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]But for now there is only the battlelust, the cries for victory "We will show them no mercy," he screams, "Now all who wish kill, to me!"[/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]Sweet idea, Jake! Here goes:[/COLOR][/FONT] [quote name='Jakehammaren']Upon the blackened night they ride, brandishing shining steel[/quote] [FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]Eyes filled with visions of victory, they race through the moonlit fields[/FONT][/COLOR]

[quote name='Sage']But the band will continue onwards, and I don't really think that having a new female vocalist will change the style of their music, as the songwriter is still in the band.[/quote] [FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]Well, that's a relief. Still, it seemed to me like Tarja was the voice of the band (well, aside from Mr. Look-At-How-Much-Of-A-Sex-Symbol-I-Am Tuomas) and with her now gone, Nightwish will never be the same, like it or not. That's just depressing though. And appaling! Blowing off a full concert for [i]Christmas[/i] shopping? That's something I would expect out of Christina Aguilera or Britney Spears, but [i]Tarja?[/i] :animesigh [/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]OOC: All right! Let's kick this thing off! IC: [i]Krass'th[/i] Hiss'th Thanoths Isthenss strode through the inhabitable region of the asteroid JHV-1098, reffered to locally as "The Jive". Almost all of it was devoted to part dealerships, garages, bazaars, and the like. Normally Hiss'th wouldn't concern himself with such a backwater trading spot, but his ship, the [i]Claw of H'raa'thss,[/i] had been ambushed by space pirates, and he needed repairs. [i]Damnable pirates,[/i] he thought. [i]Their attacks grow bolder with each passing cycle. Still, the attack happened in this system. We damaged them heavily. They will have nowhere to run but here. If I am to find them, it will be on this desolate rock.[/i] He continued on, past the sights and smells of The Jive's bazaar, until he found the sign he was looking for. Writing on the side of the remnants of an old ship wing read, in Galactic Common, "Bargle's Spare Parts". Hiss'th entered the shop. An old Ileti, portable water tank feeding its gills, turned to face him. "Hiss'th, my old friend, welcome! What can I do for you?" it asked. "It is good to see you again, too, Bargle. My ship was ambushed by pirates and needs repairs," said Hiss'th. "Your ship? Oh, right, you're a [i]Krass'th[/i] now! I always forget, my friend! Anyway, to business now. What was damaged on the [i]Claw of H'raa'thss[/i]?" Bargle's tone grew more serious as the conversation turned to monetary matters. "The upper-left thruster is out of commision, some hull plates are critically damaged, and we lost one of our Hellspitters. Truly we were blessed to not have to enter an atmosphere. I am not sure we would have held together." "Hellspitters. Those the meter-longs?" asked Bargle. "Yes," replied Hiss'th. "Well, if I said it'd be cheap, I'd be lying to you. But I'll see what I can do for you, old friend. I'll swing by the stardock later and check it out." "Thank you, Bargle. Your assistance is, as always, greatly appreciated," said Hiss'th, as he left the small shop. OOC: Unfortunately, I'll be gone over UEA weekend. Expect me back on Sunday, probably.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]Whoops! Didn't know the Arena Underground threads needed ratings too! Sorry! So, again, if anyone has any questions on logistics or language or technology or society or whatever, ask it here, and I'll see what I can do to answer it. Here's that race and technology info again: Kuros - They primarily use beam weapon technology, you know, like lasers and such. If anyone out there has played Escape Velocity: Nova, their ships look sort of like the [URL=http://www.ambrosiasw.com/games/evn/desktoppics/R_Dragon(800x600).jpg][u]Polaris ships.[/u][/URL] So, very streamlined, sleek, almost organic-looking. Yisssth - Their technology is the Railgun. I described how it works in my first post on the Adventure Inn thread, but here's a recap: two parallel, magnetically charged rails launch a projectile at hyperaccelerated speeds towards the enemy. The longer the rails, the faster it goes, and thus, the more damage it does. Again pulling from EV: Nova, their ships are reminiscent of the [URL=http://www.ambrosiasw.com/games/evn/desktoppics/Thunderforge(800x600).jpg][u]Auroran ships,[/u][/URL] more blocky, blunt, and brutal than the Kuros' ships. Humans - (But it goes for the Iletine, as well) They pretty much use whatever technology they can get their hands on, so, blasters, projectile weapons, anything they can scrounge up the funds for. Or steal. Their ships look like the [URL=http://www.ambrosiasw.com/games/evn/desktoppics/Star_Liner(800x600).jpg][u]human ships[/u][/URL] of EV: Nova. Not as advanced technologically, but still cool-looking. Forsaken - A nasty group of creatures. I didn't really describe them physically too well in the Adventure Inn thread, but they are big. Like, 8 feet tall at the shoulder. Pretty bad posture, sort of like the [URL=http://gw.stratics.com/content/multimedia/wallpapers/downloads/9979_20041118_01_1024.jpg][u]Charr[/u][/URL] from Guild Wars, only covered in rusty, jagged scrap metal. They use nasty-looking ships, very akin to the Reavers of Serenity and Firefly. If you couldn't tell by now, that's where I got the idea for the Forsaken. And, for that matter, for this whole RP. It's a way cool movie, and you should all go out and see it. Hope that helps for now! What else is on your mind?[/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]This RP now has an Arena Underground thread! If you have any questions, just ask them there, and I'll see what I can do to answer 'em. I'm just about ready to kick this thing off, I just gotta see about a few more things, maybe get like one or two more sign-ups. I'll post in here when the Adventure Square thread goes up. [b]Edit:[/b] It's up.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]Great sign-ups, everyone! Ilium, I know how it goes with time restrictions. Looks good so far, just finish it up as soon as you can. Oh, and there [i]are[/i] other races aside from human, everyone. If you couldn't tell by now, this thread is largely influenced by the show Firefly and the movie Serenity. The movie's great, I recommend it to anyone who likes sci-fi, humor, and things that are epic. I might start an Underground thread, where you can ask about race technologies and such. If there's a demand, I'll do it. For now, just keep those sign-ups coming![/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]I'd love to identify that song, Tyler, but, umm, I can't. The site tells me I'm not a member and asks me to login. You might want to find that song somewhere else or maybe choose a different song. Plus, the URL gives it away. It's a cello suite by Bach. Great idea, by the way! I'm stoked for an un-broken link![/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray][ALIGN=Center][SIZE=3][u]PROPHETS OF THE LAST ECLIPSE[/u][/SIZE][/ALIGN] [i]It has been two long centuries since mankind lost their most precious jewel: the Earth. A Galaxy-wide Exodus of 15 billion people preceded the disaster. Now, humanity's only home is the stars. But the stars were not empty. Creatures the likes of which could never have been dreamed had long ago claimed their place in the galaxy. Some viewed the humans as poor refugees, to be pitied and helped. Others regarded them as callous, inferior squatters, to be spurned and oppressed. Others saw them as prey, to be hunted and eaten. Mankind's future is uncertain, but their coming brought much chaos to the already unstable galaxy.[/i] It has been two long centuries since Earth's destruction, and mankind has fought doggedly for their place in the galaxy. There are many settlements on countless planets, satellites, and asteroids that offer a safe haven to humanity. But now, on the bicentennial of Earth's destruction, a change is felt. Something comes on the solar winds, but what does it promise? Shall it provide mankind's salvation, or mankind's destruction? Will it shed light on the mysteries surrounding Earth's cataclysmic annihilation? What will be the cost? And where will [i]you[/i] stand when the whirlwinds of change come? [U]RACES[/U] The galaxy is host to many life-forms, all of which have their own view of humanity. [b]Humans -[/b] These are the descendants of those who escaped Earth's destruction. They are spread amongst the stars and have settlements throughout the galaxy. Some are merchants, some are star pirates, some serve in rag-tag planetary militia, but all are united in their will to see mankind's continued existence. [u]View Towards Humans:[/u] They [i]are[/i] humans. [u]Distribution:[/u] They take up much of the lower quandrant of the Galactic Map. [u]Most Populous Planet:[/u] Yentarin 5, which they share with the... [b]Kuros -[/b] An enigmatic and serene race. Mammalian in nature, they exhibit an alien grace that often puts off other races. Covered in a silky, sable fur and standing an average of 6 feet tall, the humans have nick-named them "Kitties" in quiet homage to the common terrestrial pet, now quite endangered. They can show great compassion, and it was them that were the most open and warm to the bedraggled refugees when they came limping in a century ago. They are the most technologically advanced race, and they make the best diplomats. [u]View Towards Humans:[/u] Compassionate but slightly patronizing. They regard them almost as poor strays, to be taken in and given warmth, food, and care. [u]Distribution:[/u] Theirs is the lower-to-eastern quadrant of the Galactic Map [u]Most Populous Planet:[/u] Kuron. To the Kuros, Yentarin 5 is a backwater outpost, partly why they let the humans get so populous there. [b]Iletine -[/b] Perhaps the most bizarre to the humans. Their descendants were cephalopods, and so they appear to be evolved, sentient squid. Humans derisively call them "Squiddies", but behind their backs, otherwise they wouldn't get a good deal on the part they're bartering for. Your average Ileti is a fearsome haggler, and many a puzzled human has been talked down to almost giving away what they're trading. A common phrase in bartering outposts is: "Never trust a Squiddy if you can't see all his tentacles." [u]View Towards Humans:[/u] Their money is as good as any other, but the phrase "There's a sucker born every minute" sums it up nicely. [u]Distribution:[/u] Very widespread. They can be found on just about every populated planet, satellite, and asteroid in the galaxy. However, their homeworld is found north of Kuros space but south of the Unknown Quadrant. [u]Most Populous Planet:[/u] Ilet, a planet almost entirely covered in water. However, most Iletine are spread throughout the stars in major trading planets. [b]Yisssth -[/b] A reptilian race rigidly separated into castes. At the bottom of the order there are the [i]Ithss[/i], the peons. They include laborers, slaves, beggars; they are the dregs of Yisssth society. The next level up are the [i]Ath'Ithss[/i], or "above-peons". These are the everyday citizens, the merchants, the bankers, the managers. The next level up is shared by two castes, the [i]H'raathss[/i] and the [i]Nessth[/i]. Those in the [i]H'raathss[/i] caste are the warriors, and are noticeably stockier, stronger, and taller that other Yisssth. The [i]Nessth[/i] caste harbors the mystics, shamans and priests of Yisssth society. They are generally smaller, paler, and weaker than the majority of the populace. The highest level are the [i]Ath'Yisssth[/i], the "above-Yisssth". They are an elite council, revered almost as gods by the populace, and they are chosen from the [i]H'raathss[/i] and [i]Nessth[/i] castes, which are favored differently in direct correlation to who sits in the [i]Ath'Yisssth[/i] council. Humans often call them "Scalies". [u]View Towards Humans:[/u] They regard them as inferior interlopers, intruding on space that should rightfully belong to the Yisssth. They call the humans "Uss'Ithss", or "Below-peons", a word that could be better translated as "scum". [u]Distribution:[/u] The Yisssth have laid claim to the western quadrant on the Galactic Map. [u]Most Populous Planet:[/u] Hathss, which translates literally as "home". [b]The Forsaken -[/b] No one knows much about this mysterious and barbaric race. They travel the subspace rifts and strike randomly and without warning. Those they take in their lightning raids are tortured and eaten. It is unknown if they have any sort of agriculture, or even any permanent settlements at all, for that matter. It is speculated even that they live off of the "Black Harvest", as the raids are called. There is nary a sight so terrifying as their barbarous and jagged fleet descending into a planet's atmosphere, spewing a foul, black smoke from their engines. This race is so mysterious that no one is even sure what they [i]look[/i] like, as they cover themselves in jagged metal plates of scrap, riveting them to their very flesh. [u]View Towards Humans:[/u] Food. Of course, they consider [i]all[/i] races food. [u]Distribution:[/u] No one knows for sure. However, it is widely accepted as fact that should you venture into the northern quadrant, also called the Unknown Quadrant, it won't be long before you're on someone's plate. [u]Most Populous Planet:[/u] Unknown. [u]SIGN UP[/u] Here's what I'm looking for in a sign up: [b]Name:[/b] Fairly obvious. Consider what your race's mouth-parts look like, and what noises would be easy for them to make. [b]Race:[/b] Choose any of the above, with the exception of The Forsaken. [b]Gender:[/b] If you have questions on this one, the internet has a wealth of information on it, but be warned, a lot of it is NSFW. [b]Age:[/b] Since races age differently and planets rotate differently, specify instead what developmental cycle your character is in (i.e. Young, Middle-Aged, Old, or any in-between age.) [b]Position:[/b] What does your character do for a living? Could be that they're a merchant, maybe a pirate, maybe a diplomat, whatever. [b]Armaments:[/b] It's a sci-fi setting, so be creative, just don't god-mod. Blasters, gauss weapons, slugthrowers, railguns, whatever suits your fancy, but keep in mind that most races will use whatever technology their race most commonly uses. [b]Vehicle:[/b] Does your character own their own ship? If so, what does it look like? [b]Appearance:[/b] What does your character look like? What does he or she wear? The average heights for the alien races are as follows: Kuros - 6 feet, Ileti - 4 feet 8 inches, but much wider considering how they're essentially walking squid, Yisssth - the average [i]Ath'Ithss[/i] is about 6 feet tall; [i]H'raathss[/i] would be taller and [i]Nessth[/i] would be smaller. [b]Personality:[/b] Consider what your race is like for this one. A Kuros could be languid, graceful, and diplomatic. An Ileti could be quick of wit, quick of toungue, and a shrewd bargainer. A Yisssth could be aloof, xenophobic, and fast to anger. [b]History:[/b] What's your character's background? What's their lineage, how did they get to their current position? [u]MY CHARACTER[/u] [b]Name:[/b] Hiss'th Thanoths Isthenss [b]Race:[/b] Yisssth [b]Gender:[/b] Male [b]Age:[/b] In-between young and middle-aged, more bordering on young. [b]Position:[/b] Hiss'th is a warrior of rank [i]Krass'th[/i] in the [i]H'raathss[/i] caste. The ranks are: [i]Ghaath,[/i] similar to Private, [i]Hith'enss,[/i] similar to Corporal, [i]Giss'then,[/i] akin to Sergeant, [i]Krass'th,[/i] corresponding to Lieutenant, [i]Ikhss,[/i] similar to Captain, [i]Makh'th,[/i] akin to Major, [i]Hokh'anss,[/i] corresponding to Colonel, and, finally, [i]Ath'H'raathss,[/i] "above-warrior", corresponding to General. [b]Armaments:[/b] The Yisssths' weapon technology of choice is the railgun. The concept behind it is simple, really. Two parallel magnetic rails launch a hyperaccelerated projectile at the enemy, scything through armor and hulls like a katana through rice paper. Hiss'th carries a rail-rifle with 55cm long rails with a relatively fast rate of fire. It doesn't jam, but it has a potential to overheat. Aside from his rifle, he carries a ceremonial (but very functional) spear which displays his rank as [i]Krass'th[/i]. If all else fails, he can fight the enemy with tooth and claw. [b]Vehicle:[/b] Due to his rank, Hiss'th is in command of a [i]Yuth'ssinthiss[/i] "Starscreamer" Warship; its name in the Yisssth Galactic Navy is the [i]Graash os H'raa'thss,[/i] "The Claw of H'raa'thss", H'raa'thss being the war god of the Yisssth. The "Starscreamer" type is the smallest of the capital warships, but still sports a formidable arsenal. It has a crew of 12, with room for another 20 soldiers. In terms of firepower, it sports 2 1.5-meter "Deathbringer" railguns and 6 1-meter "Hellspitter" railguns. It has medium armor and medium speed. [b]Appearance:[/b] Hiss'th is large for his race, 7 feet tall at the shoulder, and is quite strong. His scales shine a deep, luxurious green, and his spinal crest is a striking cyan. His eyes are a sparkling yellow, but swiftly descend into the bloodiest of reds when the berserk battlelust comes over him. His scales are thick and provide a natural armor, but there are weapons in the galaxy that need more protection than that. Because of this, he wears the traditional ceremonial [i]Kraas'th[/i] armor. It's made of a durable ceramic, painted in traditional war patterns, that protects his soft underbelly from bullets, weak blasters, and most melee weapons. [b]Personality:[/b] Hiss'th is rather more tolerant of the "Uss'Ithss" than his more xenophobic comrades, having been raised by a less judgemental brood-mother. He still regards the humans as inferior, but does not actually support their galactic purging. Other races he eyes with mistrust, viewing them as greedy or aloof, but the uneasy truce between them holds. He is quick to react to changes on the battlefield, part of why he was promoted so fast. He is a formidable opponent in combat, and his kills are many. He has yet to find a life-mate, and yearns for someone to share the cold and lonely nights in the swamp-home with. [b]History:[/b] Hiss'th was born in on the planet of Thanoths to brood-mother Isthenss, who was renowned for producing good warriors. Hiss'th was no exception, and enrolled in the Thanoths Military Academy at the tender age of 6 springs. He learned well, and was a [i]Giss'then[/i] in no time. Several battles fighting off Forsaken raids later, he was a [i]Krass'th[/i] in charge of his very own, shiny new Starscreamer. He has never let down his superiors and reveres the [i]Ath'Yisssth[/i] council. However, he bears some resentment towards them, due to the fact that the [i]H'raathss[/i] caste has recently fallen out of favor with the mostly [i]Nessth[/i] council. I look forward to seeing your sign-ups![/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]I sincerely hope that time truly does heal all wounds, because I've got one that's tearing me apart. It started in Sophomore year with a relationship between my friend Sean and a girl at our high school named Shannon. I had met her in Freshman year because I had my P.E. class with her. I could sorta tell she wanted to be my girlfriend, but I didn't want to share that feeling because, as Dane Cook says, she is "A Bucket of Yuck", and I pride myself for holding certain standards. Nothing happened in Freshman year, but we stayed friends. So, come Sophomore year, she's suddenly all over Sean. And I do mean, "all over". It was hideous. Right at the lunch table, too. If she learned how to make out from movies, it was evidently from "Alien". Eesh. So Shannon had a friend, named Stefanie, or Stef, as she liked people to call her. Stef turned out to like me, and, while not the BEST catch a guy could hope for, she certainly was no "Lagoon Creature". I spent about two or three weeks in that state of mental delusion charactarized by the phrase, "Finally! A girlfriend!" Then, reality set in. This girl... is perhaps the DUMBEST person I have EVER known. Want an example? Someone told her the "A man walks into a bar and says 'Ow.' " joke and she didn't get it for 15 minutes. That's a long period of time to not get such a simple (bad) joke. Also, her political views were the complete polar OPPOSITE of mine. She blindly supported Bush because he "made her feel safe." *Shudder* But this is the hell of it all. I sold out perhaps my FAVORITE band of all time, Sonata Arctica, to that life-sucking SHE-DEVIL. She didn't like heavy metal, so... I called them POP. Just to get her to like them. I doubt I can ever forgive myself for that. The kind of music she listened to? Pop-punk, which I can't stand, and some band which I can only call the worst thing to ever be put to digital technology. If you've heard of the "band" Moose Butter, then you have my deepest of sympathies. It's music for people who are mentally handicapped, in my opinion. Long story short, I wanted out. I kept meaning to tell her that it was over, but I could not for the life of me find her. I composed a letter that I was going to give her. It was hard going, writing that thing. I wanted, at that point in time, to end it with minimal hard feelings, so I was trying to make it sound like it WASN'T her fault while avoiding calling her an IDIOT. I never even printed it out. If you want to know the mindset I was in, I was listening to Sonata Arctica's [URL=http://www.darklyrics.com/lyrics/sonataarctica/ecliptica.html#8][u]"Unopened"[/u][/URL] while writing it. Now I wish I had been listening to [URL=http://www.darklyrics.com/lyrics/sonataarctica/reckoningnight.html#5][u]"Don't Say a Word"[/u][/URL]. I caught her at lunch one day and expressed my feelings briefly and the fact that I considered it "over." Turned out she was avoiding me because SHE wanted to end it too. When my friends heard this, high fives were exchanged. I wish I could say that the Stef Fiasco meant nothing to me, but there's this gnawing feeling in my gut that tells me it didn't. We never even kissed, truth be told! But damned if it didn't make me the bitter and disillusioned person I am now. I mean, I'm a relatively easy-going guy. Nothing really gets me stressed out, depressed, or hateful. Until Stef crawled into my life, that is. Now I can truly say that I [i]hate[/i] Stef, Shannon, and all of their harpie ilk, and it truly worries me, because this hate won't go away. The merest thought of them just makes my hackles rise. It makes me want to growl and snarl and rip something's throat out. And it hurts me. It's like there's an aching, bitter, cancerous knot twisted deep in my gut and it [i]hurts.[/i] I've tried to dissipate this hate. I've vented on my friends countless times on the subject, but it still comes back, as strong as before. I don't know what else to do. It's partly because of that that I've forsworn relationships until college, or at least until I get my driver's license. My friend seems to think that I'm sick in the head because of this attitude, but were he in my shoes, he'd probably feel the same. I wish I had listened to my older brother's sage advice, and if you're wise, you'll heed his warning before it's too late for you, too. "Stay away from the b*tches, they is crazy."[/FONT][/COLOR]