Gavin

[SIZE=1]Heh thanks Corey, I'm working on my comedy for a new story I'm working on, very hush-hush though. [I]Van sat on a bench holding a ice pack against the giant lump on his forehead, "That incompetent moron" he growled looking over at the director. He knew the director hadn't been responsible for what happened but he sure as hell hadn't made Van feel any better about it. The ice pack was actually more of a zip-lock bag filled with ice-cubes but it did the job, getting up out of his seat he walked back over to the pompous fool wondering what he was blabbering about. On reaching the bloated git Van wondered whether or not he wanted to hear exactly what it was he was yammering about. Preparing to turn back the director whirled round with a huge grin plastered on his ugly face.[/I] [b]Director:[/b] [[I]With speed[/I]] Oh Van, how're you feeling, your head alright, would you like another ice pack. [b]Van:[/b] [[I]Bluntly[/I]] I've been better, no and no. Now what exactly were you talking about on that cell-phone ? [b]Director:[/b] Oh that, yeah well you know the way you wanted a screenwriter to come in and help with the project ? [[I]continues before giving Van a chance to respond[/I]] Well anyway I got one and he's just going over the script with me. [b]Van:[/b] [[I]Sighing[/I]] OK well what films has he/she done ? [b]Director:[/b] [[I]Less than forthcoming[/I]] Umm... some more mature stuff... [b]Van:[/b] [[I]More than annoyed[/I]] Meaning ? [b]Director[/b] Umm.. some adult films... [b]Van:[/b] [[I]Takes in a breath[/I]] What ? [b]Director[/b] [[I]Looks at his shoes[/I]] ... [[I]mumbles almost inaudibly[/I]]... umm porn films. [b]Van:[/b] [[I]Absolutely exploding[/I]] YOU HIRED A PORN WRITER ?! [b]Director:[/b] [[I]Waving his hands to get Van to speak more quietly[/I]] Please, they prefer the term Adult Entertainment. [b]Van:[/b] [[I]Gritting his teeth[/I]] So your telling me that in order to fix this beyond atrocious script you've brought in a porn writer ? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME ?!! [b]Director:[/b] Umm more or less... [b]Van:[/b] [[I]Balling his fists, bowing his head and squeezing his eyes together[/I]] AHHHHH !!! [[I]Right hooks the Director in the chin, watching him fall to the floor with a thud[/I]]. If anyone wants me I'll be in my trailer, when that idiot wakes up tell him I quit...[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Well being one of the people involved in [b]The Silmarillion[/b] the first time around I must admit this idea looks pretty damn interesting. I was indeed sorry to see The Silmarillion fail, though my lack of knowledge of that Era of Tolkien's work may have helped though I can say with conviction I did as best I could with what knowledge I had. An RPG set in the Second Age would be more feasible because more people would have read about it, most of it's details can be found in the Index at the back of most LOTR trilogy book sets. I'd be most interested in giving this a shot Bill as it's been a while since I'm been a Dwarf in any RPG, though I also assume that we'd have to abide by the set accounts of history and work through it as it's written (i.e. we couldn't have Sauron win). Still it's a very interesting idea.[/SIZE]

[size=1]Oh come on Dave, now you're just picking certain sentences and making judgements.[/size] [quote name='Boba Fett][color=green']This is not necessarily true. Would you prefer a government that carries out evil acts, or a government that is impartial? Clearly, the only kind of positive government is one that acts only when necessary and stays out of it's citizens affairs the rest of the time.[/color][/quote] [size=1]What I was saying is that regardless of it's morals a government that can at least act is superior to a government that is bogged down in the same red-tape and back-handedness that destroyed it before. In the end all the Rebels did is bring back a failing form of government that is as likely to fall to a dictator as it did last time because there is little interest in the common good.[/size] [quote name='Boba Fett][color=green']So you prefer the "blow up a planet to kill a few dissidents in a population of pacifists" approach?[/color][/quote] [size=1]A few dissidents, that's being a little naive Dave. All our information on the government of Alderaan comes from Princess Leia's desperate plea to Tarkin as well as some information on StarWars.com that is 30 years out of date. What we know is that Princess Leia was a member of the Rebellion, we also know that her father was a member of the Rebellion. Now if the governing family of Alderaan supported the Rebellion it is proper order to assume that there were far more than a few dissidents on the planet. I mean the rebellion was probably using it as a base of operations, all Tarkin did was wipe out an enemy stronghold which is a common move in any war.[/size] [quote name='Boba Fett][color=green']Another thing. The Jedi didn?t solve everyone's problems. They merely did their utmost to help out wherever they could. The Jedi Order was by no means a crutch for the Old Republic.[/color][/quote] [size=1]Yeah and pretty soon Banthas are going to learn how to fly. The Jedi have always been the pedestal holding either Republic in place, and without them we see how quickly each one was ready to fall. The Jedi in the Old Republic were depended on to solve diplomatic problems in every nook of the Old Republic, including the ascension of Bail Organa?s family to rule Alderaan. During war time they were made the officer class of the Old Republic?s Clone Army and they were even religated to body-guard duty for wary Senators who believed that somebody was out to get them. Things in the New Republic have changed little, hell two of it?s most respected members are the children of a certain Jedi turned Sith. In the war with the Yuuzhan Vong it was demanded of the New Republic that they give up the Jedi in return for certain ?concessions?, they did this and the Jedi were slaughtered left right and centre (including a grandchild of said Jedi turned Sith). The New Republic turns a blind eye to the plight of their once protectors only to have the Jedi begin to defeat the Vong and eventually being the ones to solve the mystery of the Vong once and for all. There is no way in hell you can say that the Jedi were not one of the main pillars that held up the Republic.[/size] [QUOTE=Boba Fett][color=green]That sounds great! Let's now prefer having two forces of evil, each without regard for life on even the most basic level, fight to the death in a galaxy filled with innocent civilians. I'd prefer having at least one of the warring factions work to protect life whenever possible?[/color][/quote] [size=1]Oh and that's just dandy in the middle of a war in which one faction wants to completely annihilate the other as a sacrifice to their Gods. Without the Jedi to protect the New Republic (yet again we see that they [b]are[/b] indeed it's crutch), in the end it would have boiled down into a fight where the only victor would have been the one to completely destroy the other one. Innocents, do those innocents include the Yuuzhan Vong who believe they are fighting a war for their Gods, or does that ideal only count for those who already inhabited the Galaxy far, far away.[/size] [QUOTE=Boba Fett][color=green]That's not a bad thing, at least the New Republic doesn?t shoot first and ask questions later. There comes a point where too much deliberation and not enough action is detrimental, but I'd prefer too much deliberation and careful consideration on a topic to instinctive action that will only be examined in retrospect.[/color][/quote] [size=1]I assume you mean that whatever tiny segment of the New Republic that would be left if it were not for the Jedi to somehow pull a rabbit out of their hat to save it. The Republic?s inability to act was not because of "too much deliberation", it was because it was so slow to act because of internal strife and conflict. And then when the Vong had already a strangle hold the Republic decided that these guys mind indeed be an enemy worth taking action against.[/size] [quote name='Boba Fett][color=green']Peace through superior firepower should be a joke, not a golden rule.[/color][/quote] [size=1]I totally agree but unfortunately Dave it is not a joke even in the world we live in.[/size]

[SIZE=1]Damn with Annie gone we're down another player. Raiha dear I'd ask you to spare her until we get to Deimos so we can have a little fun...;-). I must be the only person on OB to be able to post while in a coma. [CENTER]------------------[/CENTER] [i]Van could feel himself being levered into the GR-Gel it was a viscous material but without it they'd be liquefied at the speeds the ship was travelling at. "Deimos" he thought, "The rock where I'm to face my doppelganger", his last encounter had not been productive, but then again none of their encounters been. His mind travelled back almost a month when he'd first begun to hear that wretched voice echo in his skull but until now it had been but a formless voice. He remembered sitting on one of the surgical beds of the Bladerunner, it had only been a matter of hours since Allen had rescued him...but for Van his pain was just beginning. He felt something akin to ice run down his spine the first time... a warning, if so he hadn't realised it... at the time all he could think about was what happened to him. At first it was only a whisper, malevolent in nature, in the beginning Van had dismissed it as his imagination but the voice grew in strength and wrath and thus began his headaches. Van had to dismiss the voice in it's infancy, he'd had worse to deal with, a fight for their lives against an enemy who they couldn't see. Once they got back to Earth Van knew that he hadn't been imagining the voice, it became louder and louder, from a vile whisper to a snide and malicious laugh. Then began the headaches, at first Van found them tolerable, a mere inconvenience but obviously he wasn?t getting the message and their severity was increased. Without two days of getting back to Earth he begun taking small doses of the most powerful neural suppressant on the planet... [B]Neurozine[/B], something he had pioneered in research was now his only weapon against this phantom who haunted his mind. He knew that Neurozine was still an experimental drug but he'd managed to acquire a supply from old colleagues. The voice was gagged, angered but unable to inflict it's vengeance on the good Doctor. But now it had learned to overcome even Neurozine, he had underestimated it and now he was in a coma with only it for company, a vile wretched ghost that had imprisoned him in his own body, taunting him. Van felt a hard tug on his body and new that it meant the jets on the ship had fired... "Now on to death" it whispered...[/i] [CENTER]------------------[/CENTER] Corey what is the name of this Ship ?[/size]

[SIZE=1]In the final line I?ve used the underline format to distinguish where telepathy between characters occurs. [I]Ventarris had been sitting silently in his seat, waiting to either have a question directed at him or to be excused from the briefing. Baroner's comment slightly irked him, but then again if he'd made that kind of a comment on an Intelligence mission he'd more than likely have a disrupter blast marking his skull by now. The Commander had his fingers arched together, his eyes flickering from one member of the crew to the next, there were only five of them all together still a few of the Command Staff missing. It would be a few hours before they departed and they still had that Advanced Weapons Pod to integrate into the ship though it wouldn?t take all that long. He knew that the Captain knew more than he?d let on, Ventarris was his both XO and a fellow Betazoid so there were few secrets between them. He decided that as XO it was his duty to be the bridge between the Captain and his crew, in this case Ventarris would somehow have to convince them that they were not flying into certain death against hoards of Vaad?waur ships. He rose from his seat and coughed respectfully interrupted the silence that had perpetrated this stoic atmosphere, he couldn?t help but notice the difference between being a First Officer and being a Chief Intelligence Officer. Everyone?s eyes had fallen on the Betazoid XO, he could read their minds but living on Earth for so long he had learned not to do it automatically as most humanoids found it uncomfortable. The main emotion emanating from everyone was anxiety, he couldn?t exactly blame them but it was his job to get them into a working, productive mood.[/I] [b]Ventarris:[/b] [[I]With resolve[/I]] As the Captain has already stated it may be sometime before we get home. For some of us Home is Earth, for myself and the Captain it is Betazed, an old saying I heard from my father is that ?Home is Where the heart is?. This ship will be our home, it will be our guardian on this voyage and it will be our instrument in solving this mystery that threatens the Federation. We have all grown up seeing and hearing about the adventures of the U.S.S. Enterprise, the mighty Flagship of Starfleet herself, now I ask you what is the difference between the Enterprise and the Brightstar ? [I]Ventarris waiting for a response, there were some differences between the legendary Enterprise and the newly built Brightstar but there was one detail he listened for beyond all others. Waiting a number of moments he heard no response, his Second Officer sat thinking some witty response no doubt, but Ventarris would give his the opportunity.[/I] [b]Ventarris:[/b] [[I]Defiantly[/I]] We are. We are the difference, the Enterprise is a ship like the Brightstar, sure the Enterprise has had a few more incarnations than the Brightstar but give her time. It is her crew that makes the Enterprise different, [[I]Looking to the Captain[/I]] Kirk. [[I]Pointing to himself[/I]] Riker. [[I]Looking to Baroner[/I]] Spock. [[I]Looking to Azalee[/I]] Data. [[I]And finally Jack[/I]] Scotty. Yes the are legends, but they are men too just like us, except for Miss Azalee of course, what made them legends is their actions, Let us do the same !! [I]Ventarris could feel a great well of pride swell up in the crew, the Captain as a fellow telepath gave a more personal thanks to his First Officer.[/I] [b]Captain Andrus:[/b] [u]Nice job...[/u][/SIZE]

[QUOTE=Sephiroth][COLOR=DarkRed][FONT=Times New Roman]Heihachi Mishima and Kazuya Mishima are in the Honmaru Dojo, with feathers still drifting down from the ceiling (Jin Kazama's Tekken 4 Ending). An army of Jack robots invades the property, Kazuya seems to escape during the ensuing battle but Heihachi is not so lucky. The Jack robots capture Heihachi and initiate a self destruct sequence, after the massive explosion we see Raven reporting back to his superiors... "Heihachi Mishima.... is dead!".[/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE] [size=1]Terrific, first off I find out Paul is made completely crap in Tekken 5, and now I find out that the only other character I had any liking to bites the dust at the hands of a Jack. There is no justice in this, I mean sure Heihachi was an evil bastard who would have killed his son and grandson in order to achieve his own goals but there was still something likeable about it. Though perhaps he may be one of unlockable characters or be brought back for a future edition like he son was[/size] [QUOTE=Sephiroth][COLOR=DarkRed][FONT=Times New Roman]These were the playable characters (and will become the standard characters when released) Jin Kazama Lee Chaolan Julia Chang Yoshimitsu Bryan Fury Lei Wulong Nina Williams Steve Fox Kazuya Mishima Ling Xiaoyu Asuka Kazama Feng Wei Christie Montiero Paul Phoenix Jack-5 Craig Marduk Marshall Law Hwoarang King the 2nd Raven So far the confirmed time released characters are Bruce Irvin Anna Williams Kuma/Panda Namco has hinted that a "sumo" style character will be in the lineup as well, Ganryu to return perhaps? In any case, at least 10 time released characters will be in T5[/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]It seems as if they've taken pretty much everyone from Tekken 4 and put them in this version, though for the life of me I can't understand why they kept Panda/Kuma in it because they were just plain useless. Asuka Kazama now that's an interesting little new addition, obviously she's some relation of Jin and his now dead mother but it will be interesting to see her story in this. Bringing back Ganryu eh, that sounds a little more than interesting than some of the other names on the character list. I remember causing my brother great annoyance with Ganryu so it may make up for the demise of Heihachi and the crapification of Paul.[/SIZE] [QUOTE=Sephiroth][COLOR=DarkRed][FONT=Times New Roman]Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention, on T5 arcades there will be PS2 Pad Ports, so you will be able to bring your PS2 joypads or joysticks and just plug them into the T5 cabinet! This way even if you can't play on stick on or machines sticks are bad, you simply use your own tools to play under any circumstance [/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]Sounds like an interesting litte feature although since I live nowhere near a video game arcade with any decent games I'm just going to have to stick with the PS2 version. I don't know if this has been asked already but when's the release date on this due ?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]I suppose another one of the more tragic deaths in video games would be [spoiler]Farah from Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time[/spoiler]. I mean you go through practically the whole game with her, [spoiler]the Prince[/spoiler] goes from having nothing but mistrust for her to wanting to marry her. I remember looking at that Sand Vision and think that [spoiler]Farah was going to turn against you and steal the dagger[/spoiler]. I remember getting to the cutscene [spoiler]where she's holding onto the dagger at one end and the Prince his holding the blade, then she looks down at the ground and lets go[spoiler]. I remember thinking that it was just so unfair the way she had to die, I mean it was entirely unexpected and then when [spoiler]the Vizier rubs it in when the Prince is holding her body[/spoiler] I was truly pissed off. It was one of the more sad deaths I've had in video games.[/SIZE]

[quote name='poo62.2']yeah, I have never been good at my spelling, it's always been one of my weak points. But if it hepls i will now always double check my spelling, and grammar, just too make it look better.[/quote] [SIZE=1]Well what most people do Poo is simply copy and paste what they've written onto a Microsoft Document and run Spell Check, this takes care all spelling and grammar mistakes as well as some punctuation mistakes. If you're happy with the name Poo62.2 then stick with it, I does take a bit of getting used to but I think it's pretty cool now. I agree with Wingnut Ninja here it's clever and funny, which goes a long way to help you getting noticed here. [/SIZE]

[QUOTE=Jokopoko][COLOR=TEAL][SIZE=1]From what I've read on websites the full will have an extra 50 minutes if not more and several important scenes have been put back in: [SPOILER][list] [*]Gandalf and Saruman talking at the beginning. [*]Aragorn talking to Sauron when he is holding the Palantir. [*]Gandalf Vs The Witch-King. [*]Pippin searching for Merry on Pelennor now takes a whole day. [*]Additions are made to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. [*]The Mouth of Sauron confronts Aragorn and Co and the Black Gate and shows them Frodos shirt. [*]Frodo and Sam being forced to march with the Orcs while disguised. [*]Faramir and Pippin talking after he becomes a Guard of Minas Tirith. [*]Faramir and Eowyn in the house of healing. [*]Extended scene for the Dead Army, from the point Aragorn says "What say you?". [*]And many more besides. [/list][/SPOILER] And the model you get with the gift-set is Minas Tirith that can open up and store things, included with the gift-set is a token for a Minas Morgul model. All in all that is something to look forward to and I've already got mine pre-ordered :D 16 weeks and counting :-p[/SIZE][/COLOR][/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]That sounds nothing short of excellent, when I saw RotR the first time around I was a little sad that they'd left out some of the more important scenes but this seems to repair that mistake. Though all those extra scenes will be for nothing if they don't include the more important scene of all "[b]The Scouring of the Shire[/b]", I was really looking forward to it in the film and was seriously disappointed they left it out. There's something about Hobbits going to war that seems both so cool and yet so funny, or perhaps I'm just a little strange...[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]In simple English it would seem as if you are to kill the remaining Skull Knight and we are to make a dashing exit before a hoard of dragons come along and turn our backsides to cinders. I'm not sure where the Alliance's base is but that's our destination.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]That was without a shadow of a doubt sheer brilliance, I have only a small knowledge of American Football but that was written with such meaning that it didn't require knowledge. I mean I've read stuff that was well written before but there was real heart put into this Craig and I mean that, you can put yourself in Michael's position and see it from his perspective. It seems you've honed your skills quite a bit since you left us and I look forward to reading more about Mr Burke. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]I'm afraid they're not the answers to my questions Reflux but since you're the first person to post here in a few days I might as well continue. [i]My Questions:[/i] [b]Answer:[/b] It was a brown bear. [b]Bonus Answer:[/b] $24.99 for which you got a second carton free. [i]Your Questions:[/i] [b]Answer:[/b] Hollowed out coconut shells. [b]Bonus Answer:[/b] A rabbit... but ?tis no ordinary rabbit. [i]New Questions[/i] [b]Question:[/b] In the film [b]Almost Heroes[/b] how many times does Hunt come across Eagle Eggs ? (It's not as obvious as you'd think) [b]Bonus Question:[/b] When Edward is delirious from his illness he claims that a group of animals will take over Congress if they do not give them rights, what were those animals ?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Good I thought this needed an old metaphorical kick in the trousers to get it going, though I must admit that I'm a little lonely without a room-mate, perhaps being the evil rich-guy wasn't a great idea. Still we've got a party coming up on Friday, which should be a good laugh for all concerned, and a good way to get people posting more often. If you had any ideas on where you want this to go Hugo I think it might help give the RPG an overall premise.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Well I guess we'll have another dose of zany Black Horizon based comedy, though it would have been hard to imagine this while we were doing the first one... [i]Van was sick and tired of working with these amateurs, he was almost a legend in Theatre at this stage and he'd given up almost six months in order to going into movies because it was the [u]trendy[/u] things to do. The director was an incompetent idiot proves by the constant mishaps and accidents happening during filming, "I wouldn't have to put up with this if it was a Spielberg film" he thought. "But no I decide to take up this idiots offer and do a sci-fi horror, that is if we ever finish filming". A loud knock on the door of his trailer door interrupted his train of thoughts...[/i] [b]Coffee Boy:[/b] [[i]Excitedly[/i]] Umm excuse me Mister Ambrose they need you on set to film the next scene. [b]Van:[/b] [[i]Angrily[/i]] Begone !! And tell that idiot I'll be there in a moment. [[i]Sighs[/i]] [i]Walking back onto the set Van found the director hunched over reading what appeared to be the script and muttering loudly to himself, though he was loud enough for everyone to hear him. Van groaned as he heard the idiot using a pencil to cross out dialogue and replace it with his own horribly scribbled handwriting, more than likely he was implementing one of his many "brilliant changes". Van strode up to him and coughed to get his attention, still absorbed by the script Van had to use one foot to wedge him roughly out of his seat, soughing and spluttering he finally noticed the aristocratic actor.[/i] [b]Director:[/b] Oh Van, good to see you, I'm working on some great changes to the script and I wanted you to have a look through it and tell me what you think. [[i]Hands Van the script with haste[/i]] [b]Van:[/b] [[i]Mumbling as he reads[/i]] Alien babes... Intergalactic super-war... Corey getting the girl... THIS IS PLAIN GARBAGE !!! I warned you, I will not put up with conditions, now either you hire a proper script-writer or I walk. [I]Van walked away leaving the director balling like a small child crying for his mother, in fact he was calling for his mother so Van was pleased with his work. Preparing for his next scene he walked onto the set only to be hit by a large lighting unit knocking him unconscious, before he went completely he could here the director jumping delightedly while uttering.[/i] [b]Director:[/b] That's great Van we'll have your character go into a coma for some of the film so you have less work to do... Van... VAN... Oh dear...[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Well since I was the last one to post it's up to someone else to continue to RPG. I'm going to have to wait for Solo to finish off his fight with Skull Knight before I can continue but exactly where would you like us to go after that Ben ?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Well to start off Wingnut you have to remember that The Soprano's is a TV Show not a movie like [B]The Godfather Trilogy[/B] or [B]Goodfellas[/B], it has to fill a few seasons and as such can't just be all "whackin" as we see in most Mafia films. Though in saying that I do agree with you, I've only seen the rare episode of the Sopranos, mainly because I'd only watch it if there wasn't anything better on TV at the time. I admit that when I first heard about the Sopranos I thought along the lines of Goodfellas, since that seemed to be what it was about, the whole life of the Mafia Boss and people getting "whacked". The first few episode's I saw seemed to corroborate that I'd thought it'd be like, "whakin's" and the like but later as it went on it started to focus too much on his family. I mean in this last series The Sopranos has been more akin to the [B]Analyse This/That[/B] movies than Goodfellas, I mean Tony just doesn't seem to fit the profile of a "Mafia Boss" we've seen in other films, he spends too much time bickering an arguing with his wife over trivial ****. I might watch the new series just to see if things improved since the "Whackin" we witnessed in the season finale. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]An interesting little topic if I do say so myself, which I do. Well I don't often listen to other music while playing a game as it tends to distract me as I air-guitar through a solo, but the right music really can make the difference for the mood in a game. When I play [B]Vice City[/B] on my brother's PS2 I never listen to the music that's on the radio, the main reason is that [i]V-Rock[/i] which should have some excellent stuff to play is a load of shite, I mean the late 87's saw some great music. If I'm going on a drive-by or general massacre I usually play a lot of [B]Metallica[/B], stuff like [B]2 X 4[/B] to help me get in the mood and I have to admit that it works a treat. Other times when I'm just driving along I listen to some lighter stuff like [B]Thin Lizzy[/B] to just chill while I'm driving. One of the only other games I'd listen to alternative music during would be [B]Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike[/B] on the Gamecube, though this would only be limited to a few levels that I have difficulty in finishing. When I do listen to stuff on Rebel Strike though it's the heaviest stuff I have as it helps me focus on just annihilating Imperial Forces. Other than that would be RTSs unless they've got good background music to them already though most of the ones I own already do.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]I agree with Gavynn here, even though they fulfil some very important roles in the books ( such as Eowyn killing the Witch-King), they still do comparatively less than their male counter-parts. Sure a lot of them were great characters but they didn?t really do all that much in retrospect, Galadriel?s phial was one of the more important items in the journey of Sam and Frodo. This is down to Tolkien himself since he was the one who wrote the book and it's characters.[/SIZE] [quote name='Dragon Warrior']What the heck did she do in the movie? Give them Christmas presents? :P).[/quote] [SIZE=1]I don't think Elves even celebrate Christmas Gavynn...[/SIZE]

[size=1]And now I play Devil's Advocate.[/size] [quote name='Boba Fett][color=green']I?d rather live under a government that?s ineffective than one in which government/military officials commit atrocities and even genocide on a regular basis without having to answer for their actions. All but one of the galaxy?s species are oppressed and reduced to second class citizens.[/color][/quote] [SIZE=1]Well think about it, a government that can do something is at least better than a government that can do nothing, aside from their resounding differences in terms of rights and ideals you'd have to admit that the Empire is at least capable of guarding itself without relying on the Jedi to solve everyone of it's problems. You say that the Empire commits atrocities and genocide on a regular basis, apart from the destruction of Alderaan and their racist policy towards all other races bar humans I see little other actions that could be regarded as Atrocities and Genocide.[/SIZE] [quote name='Boba Fett][color=green']You said it yourself, the Empire would have used a pathogen to commit xenocide. The New Republic, a government with some sense of right and wrong, decided not to exterminate an entire race even in the face of overwhelming pressure to do so.[/color][/quote] [SIZE=1]Yes you are correct in the fact the the New Republic realised that it was wrong to commit something like Xenocide, we look and see that the Yuuzhan Vong have little regard for similar values as can be seen with the destruction of Ansion (the planet Corran Horn fought to protect) . Now if the Vong had faced the full strength of the Empire they would have been fighting a war against an enemy who had the same regard for life as they did, in the end the Yuuzhan Vong were as eager to commit xenocide at the Empire was. [/SIZE] [quote name='Boba Fett][color=green']The New Republic has compassion, honor, decency and ethics. The Empire stands for revisionist history, racism, oppression and brutal military rule.[/color][/quote] [SIZE=1]You are indeed correct and The New Republic's ideals although admirable prove to be the main reason it is such a slow body to act, this is because not everyone in the New Republic shares those ideals that Leia and her band of do-gooders fought for. If I remember correctly Dave you once openly said that what the Empire stood for was order not evil, though their policy would seem to reflect that. The New Republic although noble is unable to get anywhere without massive compromise from all sides, the Empire would simply enforce it's will regardless as it a was for the sake of Order.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]An excellent story I truly enjoyed it, well written and imaginative and you've drawn well from the different mythological sources. There's a lot of Greek influence to it as you've said with the whole Kalos - Excelcyon battle mimicking the Greek version of the Zeus - Cronos battle of the Olympians against the Titans. Gargincus too is a clear reference to Mount Olympus in Greek myths. Though in syaing that I do sense there is some Norse influence to this story with Niggisus sounds almost akin to the Norse underworld of Nifflehiem, the dragon Myrdynos could be Nidhogg or one of the other hated dragons from Norse legends. The Taproot may be an indirect reference to Ymir the first Rime Giant of Norse mythology, who Odin and his brothers slew to great the world from his body. Many of the God and Demi-Gods names resemble that or their Greek counterparts though I'll need to have a think before I come back here and say who may be who. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Well I've got not gruesome stories like those that have been give but I might as well give the ones that I experienced. As part of my previous High School's curriculum for Fourth Year we had to do two one-week placements for Work-Experience thanks to a friend of the family I got to do my second placement in my local hospital. It was arranged that I'd observe and in cases work in each of the main sections of the hospital, Physiotherapy, Cardiology, Hospital Laboratory, X-Ray and Ultrasound. Anyway I started off the Monday of the week in Physiotherapy and was introduced to everyone before getting a Lab-coat and told to go watch one of the physiotherapists working. We got to Med-Ward 3 which is the newest ward in the hospital and go to work, in the space of I'd say 45 minutes I helped perform physiotherapy on maybe 6 people with bed-sores, not pleasant stuff but it felt good to help people. I remember just before we were about to finish up for lunch an old man in a bed across from where I wasd sitting called out Doctor looking at me, I felt embarrassed at first but the guy I was working with gave me a pat on the back and told me I was made for the job. I don't have any stories from the Lab as I was forced to sit and do nothing most of the time except read Medical Journals which although fascinating didn?t make up for the lack of "work experience". My work in Cardiology or perhaps they could be described as escapades due to their comic nature was one of the most fun parts of my work. I remember we were working with an E.K.G. machine taking head readings for the guys back in Cardiology to examine and diagnose off of, anyway there was this one particular patient and the small patches that we attach the leads for the machine to wouldn't read his heart. Now this guy had a lot of hair cover which made it difficult for the patches to stick so we ended up having to rip them off, I was standing at the E.K.G console with the guy's son and we were in fits of laughter as he yelped at the patches having to be ripped off. If memory serves we went through about 30 of those patches before we got a proper reading, I was fit to drop after laughing so much. When we were in the X-Ray department I was responsible for feeding files into the computer for each person who was to use the X-Ray machine. While I was there just after lunch I remember a young kid no more than ten was brought in for an X-Ray on his hand, he'd been playing Hurling and taken a shot with the sliotar to hand (the equivalent of a shot from a base-ball after being hit by the bat). His fingers were bent back completely and I remember having to calm doing the kind while we took the X-Rays on his hand, he was lucky in the fact there was no permanent damage but I remember it freaked me out a little. Ultrasound was just weird, it was like X-Ray except I didn't have a clue what I was looking at on the monitor, the girl I was working with was saying things like "There's the heart and there's the lungs" and I was like "Oh right I see..." though quietly I was like "what the hell am I looking at ?". I remember that just as I signed off for my last day in X-Ray and Ultrasound there was a guy on a gurney in the hall waiting to go into Ultrasound, I was told I could head off since I wasn't need so I went off. The following day we had to get the same guy's E.K.G. and I walked in and found out he'd died during the night, it was one of the worst feelings I'd ever had. I knew I couldn't have done anything but I still felt like **** for ages. Well that's the extent of my stories...[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1][i]Van knew he wasn't awake anymore, he'd lapsed into a coma shortly after being found by Ana, he hoped she wasn't in too much pain after what happened, the last thing he wanted to do is cause people pain. He knew that comas were unpredictable things and that more than likely they'd put him in stasis for the duration of the mission or until he woke up... if he even woke up. He found that his pain had subsided to a degree that he could no longer feel it, opening his eyes he scanned the vicinity half expecting to see himself lying dead on a levi-bed... that wasn't what he saw.[/i] [b]Voice:[/b] Hello brother, it's good to finally meet you. [b]Van:[/b] [[i]Breathing more quickly[/i]] It's not possible, you're not real... [b]Voice:[/b] [[i]Sneering[/i]] Oh but I am, you know it deep down, I'm just confirming it fo you. [i]Van found himself standing in the middle of a great white place of some kind, white endless in all directions, nothing except for Van and the owner of the voice that had caused him so much pain. Van shut his eyes hard hoping the apparition would disappear and he'd be back on the Ship but there was no change in their environment, the figure had an amused look on his face and began to walk towards Van arms wide as if he wanted to hug him.[/i] [b]Van:[/b] [[i]Almost shouting in fear[/i]] Stay back !!! [b]Figure:[/b] Why ? There can be no secret among us brother, you of all people should know that. [b]Van:[/b] [[i]Gripping his head[/i]] GET THE FUCK OUTTA MY HEAD, YOU ARE NOT REAL !!! [b]Figure:[/b] [[i]Equally loudly[/i]] SILENCE YOU FOOL, I AM REAL, AS REAL AS YOU ARE. I have brought you here for one simple reason: Information, give it to me and I'll let you wake up, you'll be back with all your friends and you can die in peace on Deimos. [b]Van:[/b] [[i]More bravely[/i]] If there are no secrets between us they why do you want my knowledge surely you can get it yourself. [b]Figure:[/b] [[i]Malevolently[/i]] All right we'll do this the hard way... [i]Van's eyes snapped open in the real world, but it was not Van who did it, Allen looked down in surprise to see Van grab his arm with his hand, looking down into Van's eyes Allen realised that it was not Van who had grabbed his arm. The same voice which tortured Van escaped through Van's lips, a message for Allen, one the voice advised him to heed.[/i] [b]Van/Voice:[/b] [[i]In the same malevolent voice[/i]] Turn back, or prepare to face the tortures of Hell... [i]Van's body returned to it's comatose state and left those who had been with him bewildered and frightened...[/i][/SIZE]

[quote name='James][color=#707875']And yes, I still feel like a newbie at times. I can remember being new very well (and we're all new at some point). So the whole newbie versus oldie thing is very silly in my opinion.[/color][/quote] [SIZE=1]Yes even the Great and Powerful James was a newbie at sometime, though not even I've been around long enough to remember that. I look back on my own newbie days rather sheepishly, and if someone brings it up they don't do it a second time [[i]Cries of "If I'm going down I'm taking you with me..."[/i]]. The whole Newbie versus Oldie has gone on for years and I'm finally here long enough to see it from both perspectives, it's more fun on the Oldie side...[/SIZE] [quote name='Shinmaru']You never stop being a newbie, because everyone is a newbie at heart.[/quote] [SIZE=1]Unless of course we're dealing with people like you Mike in which case you're still a newbie... just kidding ;). If you're still a newbie at heart it helps keep OB not only fun for you but the people you're around.[/SIZE] [quote name='`hEvN][COLOR=RoyalBlue][SIZE=1][B]And I don't think posts should be lengthy to say that it has quality. It just have to be sensible ^_~[/B][/SIZE'][/COLOR][/quote] [SIZE=1]Exactly, it's quality not quantity of content that matters here, some of the best posters here have learned to condense their stuff so that's it's easy to read. In the end all that really matters is that some day you'll mature, look back and say you had fun while you were a newbie because that's what it's about.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1][center][b]September 7th - 07:42 hrs[/b][/center] [I]Vegi yawned loudly as his alarm clock blared in the distance, Sabre had been in his usual mood when they had met the previous night in the sports field, it had been the first time in three months he'd seen him and they spent the better part of an hour talking. Sabre was one of the few people Vegi regarded grudgingly as a friend, mainly because they shared a few things in common including a stupid requirement of world domination... and the fact that Vegi was one of the few people who didn't want to kill Sabre. He looked across the room at the remnants of his 5th smashed alarm clock this month, he really had to control himself when he woke, that or he had to get a stronger alarm clock. Vegi scratched himself a few times and yawned once more before blinked in disbelief at the cracked L.E.D. display on the alarm clock, [b]07:45, Mon, Sept 7th[/b]. "This has to be a mistake" he thought, there was no way an entire day had just disappeared, it didn't really matter anyway just as long as he was on time for his first class... Villain Ethics, as much as he enjoyed school this was one of his less preferred classes, mainly due to the fact that Principal Okari was a bit of a weirdo. As if one cue Jeeves snuck into the room, breaking his master's chain of thoughts and scaring the crap out of him, if there was one thing Jeeves was good at, it was being sneaky. He rose out of the bed at last, he was fortunate that his first class wasn't for another hour or so, Jeeves had already taken the liberty of getting out his clean clothes and stood awaiting his dirty linen before leaving. Walking towards the bathroom Vegi scratched his back once more before entering to take a shower, in the hope of being better able to understand what had happened this morning...[/I] [center][b]Fifteen Minutes Later...[/b][/center] [I]On exiting he handed over his dirty clothing to Jeeves, Jeeves hadn't been caught aware by this change of the space-time continuum as he stood to perfect attention in his "Monday" clothes, not that these were very different to the suits he wore every other day of the week, except for the fact that the inner waistcoat was a navy, indicating it was Monday. Vegi stood puzzled at Jeeves wondering exactly how he maintained such a precise knowledge of the inner-workings of space-time to be so accurate. Quickly changing into his clean clothes at a speed most humans would regard as "really-really-fast" Vegi strode over to his mirror to examine himself. "Blast" he thought "I've done it again", everything about his appearance was in order save for the fact that his boxers were on the outside of his trousers. Quickly correcting this set back he walked into the kitchen expecting his breakfast waiting for him, though he might as well starve if it was porridge again...[/I] [b]Jeeves:[/b] I saw how despondent young master Vegi was when he saw porridge for breakfast two days ago, so I decided instead to make you up something a little more to your liking. [[I]Hands him over a bowl of cereal[/I]]. [b]Vegi:[/b] Ah [b]Super-Choclately-Double-Sugarred-100%-Nutrient-Free-Brand-Cereal[/b], [[I]Munches loudly before burping in a comic fashion, indicating he was finished[/I]]. [center][b]September 7th 08:45[/b][/center] [I]Vegi grabbed his school bag from the chair next to the door before going out onto the balcony to survey what lay below him in [b]Osaka House[/b], he could see several students groaning only now realising that their predicament at having lost their day of rest before their first Monday in Tokyo Academy. He did this every first day of term, and as much as he found it fun he would probably get a severe warning from that's stupid janitor or some passing teacher on endangering himself in dangerous stunts. Walking up to banister that surrounded the balcony he grabbed a hold of it before launching himself into the air and free-falling towards the ground some 200 feet below. He heard several screams from new students, who like their teachers were unaware that Vegi could fly as he wasn?t actually human. Landing softly and making a gigantic crater in the parking lot, he brushed off some dust before continuing on towards the school, ignoring the cries of "IDIOT !!" and "DUDE !!" from behind him[/I] [center][b]30 minutes later in Villain Ethics[/b][/center] [I]Vegi sat non-pulsed as Principal Okari gave another of his boring lectures, 2 years ago this class had been fascinating, now it was just plain dull. Taking the initiative he rolled up a small piece of paper into a ball and fired it across the room into the face of another student, said student being caught both unaware and their sheer velocity of the paper was thrown clear out of their desk. Sabre grinned beside him seeing what happened although Gondo was less impressed, tutting annoyedly and sent three of the front student flying back he narrowed his eyes on Vegi and went for the kill...[/I] [b]Principal Okari:[/b] Mr Vegitible, since you've obviously been paying close attention to the lecture from the beginning, I wonder if you tell me what I just said. [b]Vegi:[/b] [[I]Quietly[/I]] Damn it... Ummm [[I]Attempting to remember[/I]] ...How Heroes are silly because they wear tights ? [b]Principal Okari:[/b] [[I]Gritting teeth in anger[/I]] Very good, Mr Vegitible...[/size]

[SIZE=1]Well first off let me say welcome to Otakuboards on behalf of myself and everyone else here. I'd advise you first off to have a look at the [B]Rules[/B] and [B]FAQ[/B] pages on the left-hand side of the page as they'll give you a basic run-through of most of Otakuboards. In answer to your question the most simple way to post a picture is to use the following HTML code [IMG]Paste the URL of the picture you want to post here[/IMG]. This will allow you to post pictures here on Otakuboards, I hope you enjoy your stay here.[/SIZE]