https://www.graffes.com/forums/blog.php?293-Miscellaneous-RP-stuff en Fri, 25 Sep 2026 10:00:50 GMT vBulletin 60 https://www.graffes.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg https://www.graffes.com/forums/blog.php?293-Miscellaneous-RP-stuff https://www.graffes.com/forums/entry.php?248-Running-blog Wed, 13 Oct 2010 04:54:41 GMT Using this blog to catalog my running miles in October. Aiming for somewhere between 30 and 50 total miles for the month. October 1 - 2 miles October 2 - 1.5 miles October 3 - 1.5 miles October 5 - 1 mile October 8 - 2 miles October 10 - 1 mile October 11 - 1 mile Using this blog to catalog my running miles in October. Aiming for somewhere between 30 and 50 total miles for the month.

October 1 - 2 miles
October 2 - 1.5 miles
October 3 - 1.5 miles
October 5 - 1 mile
October 8 - 2 miles
October 10 - 1 mile
October 11 - 1 mile ]]> Lunal https://www.graffes.com/forums/entry.php?248-Running-blog https://www.graffes.com/forums/entry.php?172-Mary-Jane-Watson Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:47:18 GMT Why the heck not, I love this cover of Amazing Spider-Man: Image: http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/407/4amazingspiderman601.jpg Why the heck not, I love this cover of Amazing Spider-Man:

]]> Lunal https://www.graffes.com/forums/entry.php?172-Mary-Jane-Watson https://www.graffes.com/forums/entry.php?134-Abandor Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:18:33 GMT It was not a case of something not feeling right this time. No. This time nothing felt right! Abandor struggled to focus his mind on the hear and now, and not dwell on the problems with this mission. He succeeded only in managing a more clinical dissection instead of his previous, more whiny mental... It was not a case of something not feeling right this time. No. This time nothing felt right! Abandor struggled to focus his mind on the hear and now, and not dwell on the problems with this mission. He succeeded only in managing a more clinical dissection instead of his previous, more whiny mental tone.

First was the matter of the Angel. Abandor'd worked with Celestial beings many times-- preferred it to mortals, truth to tell--but he knew from experience the nature of the missions each type was generally tasked with.

He mentally reviewed his knowledge,

Saraphim-The largest and most powerful of the Angels, the Saraphim are the priests and ministers of Heaven.
Laraphim-Laraphim the mages of Heaven. Extremely powerful and knowledgeable in matters of mysticism, though not terribly imaginative in practice. More repositories of magical knowledge than originators.
Garaphim-mid-sized Angels. They are the craftsmen of Heaven.
Alaraphim-scouts and special forces of Heaven. They make many excursions into Hell and the Mortal realm.
Caraphim-are the smallest Angels (they merely tower over Humans) and the lowest rank. They are by far the most numerous. They are foot soldiers of God and messengers.

Abandor had worked with Alaraphim, usually, and to merely bring him word from God, a Caraphim would have sufficed, and many times had. So. Why had it been, Miroliel, a powerful specimen of the Laraphim, who had approached him and told him that he was to be transported out into the wretched, fallen wild lands to 'scout for divinely inspired mortals in trouble'.?

Sure, he could understand that all the Angels were too busy to look for some lost mortals, but why would a member of the Laraphim be involved with the mission, or even more improbable, with him! He knew all the angels avoided him because of the subtle taint of his mixed heritage; to the divine, he smelled of infernal taint, though he did not actually qualify as being one of the tainted, and even possessed a modest spark of the divine due to his tireless service to God from his youth.

A Caraphim should have been sent, would have been unless magical instruction were needed, or at least the mission were crucial, and complex.

And if a Laraphim were to be sent, why not more detailed words than merely, "Go into the darkness, where I will take you, and search for lost mortals in peril. On your life, you must do your utmost to preserve any mortal life which you encounter!" Not much to go on. "All heat and no light", as the saying goes.

So here he was, in a deep, dark forest far, far away from the formal battle lines, moving as quietly as he can, and trying to listen keenly for 'mortals in danger' while trying not to think of all the corrupted, tainted monsters that lurk in such places. And why him, a human! In one of the few dark places in heaven, in deep woods or deep underground, where elves or dwarves should be tasked!

It was all wrong. Abandor kept the small enclosed lantern further hidden under his cloak, so that he could see, but hopefully not be seen.

Then he heard the roars of ferocious beasts--big cats if he heard right--and then, what he most prayed not to hear, the cries of shock and dismay from mortal throats! It sounded like he'd have to run to get there in time to do any good at all... ]]> Lunal https://www.graffes.com/forums/entry.php?134-Abandor https://www.graffes.com/forums/entry.php?103-Memory Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:34:25 GMT Loving life and wildflowers hidden in forgotten, familiar landscape paintings I see I dawdle under the canvas and think how I would love to be a part Little faces drawing dainty pictures faint with colors awash with muted hues I paint I lift the veil to find the splendour Loving life and wildflowers
hidden in forgotten, familiar landscape paintings

I see I dawdle under the canvas and
think how I would love to be a part

Little faces drawing dainty pictures faint with
colors awash with muted hues

I paint I lift the veil to find the splendour
beneath is all my eye can fathom

Pine trees under starry skies and drenched
with snow glistening like dewdrops

Bring me back, back into the part of me
that sadness and happiness remember

Real skies blue with dazzling sunlight swished
to and fro with sweetly scented breezes

And giving me a wondrous burst of memory
tuned to the strings of my heart ]]> Lunal https://www.graffes.com/forums/entry.php?103-Memory https://www.graffes.com/forums/entry.php?37-Lunal-Part-1 Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:19:40 GMT Lunal was raised along the Forest River, near the town of Esgaroth by the Long Lake in the Dale Lands. His father was a trader, exchanging goods with both the elves of Mirkwood and dwarves of the Lonely Mountain. From a young age, Lunal accompanied his father on trade trips. Eventually he grew old... Lunal was raised along the Forest River, near the town of Esgaroth by the Long Lake in the Dale Lands. His father was a trader, exchanging goods with both the elves of Mirkwood and dwarves of the Lonely Mountain. From a young age, Lunal accompanied his father on trade trips. Eventually he grew old enough in his father’s eyes to take over the trade route into Mirkwood while his father preferred to deal with the dwarves. His father was a skilled trader, able to strike a bargain with even the most obstinate merchant. His mother had died long ago, of a fever, before he was even old enough to accompany his father. During his early years, he was raised by the people of Dale while his father was out on his business ventures.

Once Lunal was allowed to accompany his father, things changed a bit. Their relationship was always distant, but the business prospered. Lunal eventually took over the trade route to Mirkwood and was very successful. Through this mutually beneficial relationship, over time he made friends with some of the more open-minded of the Mirkwood elves and even learned some of their woodcraft and secret lore.

But Lunal still had a strong desire to see the wide world, ever since the days when he would stay at home and his father would go on his trading trips alone. Knowing this, the elves sometimes let him accompany scouts into the forest to cull the ever-growing spider populations. During one such trip, Lunal’s eyes were opened to the true unknown power of the ancient lore.

The scout group had just killed a few spiderlings, and had stopped at a quiet brook to drink when a sound of odd voices from far away broke the silence. The elves, always wary of strangers, grabbed Lunal by the arm and hid him with them in some nearby undergrowth. Silent, they waited as the voices drew nearer. Lunal saw several shapes approach the very stream where the company had just sat. They were very odd man-like creatures, with teeth that were yellow and cracked, backs all hunched over and a smell of rotten flesh. Their weapons were ill made but looked deadly nonetheless. They had several large, equally ill-formed wolves accompanying them, each having jagged silver collars covered in intricate runes.

The next few moments might have existed in slow motion for how many things happened. One of the wolf-things raised its head and growled. Lunal turned to see what his fellows were doing but found they were nowhere in sight. Suddenly a bear burst through the undergrowth and leaped onto one of the man-like creatures! Swords were drawn and arrows were loosed. Staves swung and swords glinted in the filtered sunlight. The earth cracked and trembled, making the creatures stumble. Arrows flew from the shadows of trees. Finally a bright light burst forth on the clearing. It seemed almost to be tangible, as if the air itself were being concentrated into a funnel of wind. The two remaining orcs screamed, covered their eyes and fell. The elves emerged from the undergrowth and stood around the bodies to inspect them. Lunal would never forget that pure, tangible light.

On the way back to the camp he learned that these had been orcs from Mordor, a land full of ancient evil. In the days, weeks and months ahead the elves told him that they were preparing for dire times that were ahead. Lunal always relayed his adventures to his father, who kept them in his heart. Later that summer one day he arrived at the elf camp to find it was gone with little trace anyone had ever been there. When Lunal returned to Esgaroth, he found other troubles in store. Orc raiding parties had been attacking farms east of the town! Many recalled the not too distant past and were whispering of grave peril. A council was held with the dwarves of the Lonely Mountain and it was decided that preparations should be made to bolster Laketown’s and Dale’s defenses and to send a contingent to the west to warn of the approaching threat and, if possible, enlist help. Young Lunal wanted to stay to defend his town but his father insisted that he go west with the others for his own safety. Finally, his father decided to accompany Lunal on the trip west.

Brigands ambushed the party outside of Archet. Using his knowledge of staff and lore, Lunal was able to fight but the foes proved too strong. During the fight, his father was killed and he was captured. Later he escaped with the help of a ranger named Amdir. After burying his father, with his original mission failed, he faced with the daunting prospect of journeying back to Laketown alone. Lunal instead decided to stay in Eriador to practice justice on the brigands and bandits and other evils that roam the lands and warn those who will listen of the growing threat in the east. ]]> Lunal https://www.graffes.com/forums/entry.php?37-Lunal-Part-1