Here’s an interesting article about the Special Olympics’ new campaign against the word “retard”. The poster is pretty pointed, I do believe. You can find out even more at http://www.r-word.org/.
It reminds me of my Rant from two years ago on the same topic. Since that rant, I’ve heard a revised word enter our language that is really worse, “f%cktard”.
Game summary for March 19, 2009; present characters included Adran Thorn (half-elf ranger), Balasar Scaleskin (dragonborn fighter), Galinndan (eladrin wizard), and Gloombrood Sorrow (tiefling rogue).
After nursing their wounds, the Unspeakables set off to find the kobold lair they were told was hidden behind a waterfall. Following a bit of travel, the group found a clearing guarded by kobolds around the waterfall. A brutal fight ensued, with slashing blades and blazing magical fire. After a short time, the monsters were all put down. The team wasted no time storming the kobold lair and finding over a dozen more battle-hardened kobolds led by Irontooth the goblin!
The Unspeakables suffered serious injuries in their struggles but continued to press the kobolds and slay them left and right. Soon, the fighting had condensed into two groups, one inside the caves and one in the woods. Galinndan pitted his spellcasting against the swordsmanship of an armored kobold dragonshield. Meanwhile, Balasar, Adran, and Gloombrood circled about Irontooth, taking advantage of openings and slicing him up. Although the goblin fought in a bloodied frenzy, he was unable to keep the Unspeakables off of him. Soon, he too lay dead in the cave.
The Unspeakables wasted no time looting the corpses and gathering the treasures within. They also found a disturbing letter to Irontooth from a mysterious Kalarel regarding a rift. What have they stumbled onto outside the idyllic town of Winterhaven?
Game summary for March 12, 2009; present characters included Balasar Scaleskin (dragonborn fighter), Galinndan (eladrin wizard), and Gloombrood Sorrow (tiefling rogue).
As morning dawned, the Unspeakables set out to find the old dragon burial site on their map. Along the way, they encountered another band of kobold brigands. Fierce fighting ensued, leaving Gloombrood dead and Galinndan unconscious. Balasar defeated the last kobold and dragged his friends back to town. Once there, the lord of Winterhaven traded a raise dead ritual in exchange for the party eradicating the kobolds in their lair once and for all.
Game summary for March 2, 2009; present characters included Adran Thorn (half-elf ranger), Balasar Scaleskin (dragonborn fighter), Galinndan (eladrin wizard), and Gloombrood Sorrow (tiefling rogue).
Four adventurers, dubbing themselves the Unspeakables, set out along the King’s Road toward the small trading town of Winterhaven. Douven Staul, an old companion of Balasar, had gone to Winterhaven to see if a map he possessed would lead to a dragon’s treasure. After thee weeks, he went missing. Balasar and the Unspeakables seek his whereabouts and well being.
Along the road, the four were ambushed by kobold brigands. The reptilian thieves surrounded the group and attacked, hurling javelins and glue pots at the party. The Unspeakables wasted no time bringing the fight to the kobolds, with Balasar’s mighty halberd chopping down the first. Gloombrood engaged in some impressive bladework with some others but took some serious wounds in turn. Galinndan unleashed his arcane fury, striking foes dead with magic missiles and firing off some impressive (although ineffective) scorching bursts and acid arrows.
In the meantime, Adran pressed in on the kobold slinger and soon found himself on the receiving end of a firepot. In moments, Adran was engulfed in flame; however, this did not stop him. Trailing fire, the enraged ranger moved into the midst of the kobolds and slaughtered all around him. Only then did he allow time to put himself out.
Following a few more moments of battle, the Unspeakables proved victorious, slaying all of their attackers. A search of the bodies revealed a number of silver coins and an assortment of subpar weaponry. The team took a short rest to catch their breath and take stock of their situation. Before long, they pressed on to the walled town of Winterhaven.
Within, the group rented two rooms at Wrafton’s Inn and began socializing with the townies. They talked to proprietor Salvana Wrafton for a bit and discovered that Lord Padraig wishes to rid the area of kobolds, but the militia has been unable to do so. They also talked to Eilian the Old, a local historian, who remembered giving a map to Douven. He was able to sketch another map for the Unspeakables. During this time, Gloombrood cased the joint and filched the coinpurse from a sleeping drunkard. He also climbed stealthily up atop the inn and surveyed the area. Off to the north, he could see the faintest glow of lights.
Down in the inn, Galinndan and Adran continued to work the crowd. They attempted to make nice with an attractive elven woman, but she dismissed them curtly. Adran made good friends with Lashley, a waitress at Wrafton’s willing to make extra coin in the evenings. Adran compensated her well, but only for information, which she was more than willing to provide. By the close of the evening, the team was aware of a kobold problem in the area, the last known location of Douven, and had made a number of potentially useful contacts.
What adventures will the dawn bring upon the Unspeakables?
Sometimes my mind wanders about and comes across ideas. My latest is successful music. I was listening to a CD by a group, and it was a dismal disappointment after their previous release. It got me thinking about what makes an album (not a song) successful. Is it great lyrics? Usually not. How about very talented musicians? Sometimes, but not necessary. A strong message? Rarely. Then it hit me. I believe many albums become successful because they contain a passion that the audience can connect with. This is not to say that it only takes passion; there are plenty of passionate musical failures. A connecting passion that finds a home in the listener is the key.
Sometimes this is a band’s initial release (although not always). As an example, consider Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite for Destruction. This album is raw, gritty, and passionate. It evokes an image of rough streets, violence, drugs, and rock life. It makes the listener feel. Later albums, although commercially successful, were nothing but pale reflections of their debut. Somewhere between struggling to make it and becoming super rock stars, Guns N’ Roses lost their passion. They couldn’t connect it with the listener anymore. Another prime example of this same situation would be Disturbed. When The Sickness was released, I was floored. I played the album over and over, enthralled by the music. Much like Guns N’ Roses did 15 years before, Disturbed captured a new era of a rough, grungy, rock life. Every album since has been laughable. Don’t get me wrong, Disturbed is extremely talented, and the music is good, it just has no passion. It is forgettable. Will they recapture that passion? Not likely, so few ever do.
Sometimes a band needs to get an album or two under their belts before they find their passion. My first thought in this category is Nine Inch Nails’ Broken. This album followed Pretty Hate Machine, which only proved to Trent Reznor that he could make music. It wasn’t until Broken that he did it with passion. And sadly, he hasn’t done it again since. Have you ever noticed that when musicians find a “purpose” for their music, it is no longer worth listening to? That, I feel, is the unfortunate fate of NIN. I do understand though. It is hard to keep that angst, energy, and frustration that fuels your music going when you are a multi-million selling artist. Is it fitting that NIN’s protégé, Marilyn Manson fits the same bill? Their second full-length album, Antichrist Superstar, allowed Marilyn Manson to find their niche and dig into it with irreverent ferocity. Passion. Everything since, while entertaining, has fallen flat and… passionless. It’s gone. Oh, I don’t doubt that Mr. Manson is a passionate individual, but the connection is gone. The best they’ll ever be was in 1996.
Some bands find their passion in their comeback efforts. I immediately think of Aerosmith’s Pump. Although not the first of their comeback attempt, this album screamed, “we’re here, and we aren’t leaving!” They have been amazingly successful ever since, but no later album has had the nonstop passion from beginning to end like this. Consider also AC/DC’s Back In Black. After death of singer Bon Scott, AC/DC released this album with new singer Brian Johnson. Worldwide, it has been outsold by only one other record… Michael Jackson’s Thriller. I contend it is the raw passion that makes this album the second most successful album of all time, all around the world. It isn’t the great lyrics—face it, almost every song is sexual innuendo or just plain sex. It isn’t the great musical skill—it is good rock, but these aren’t the most talented musicians to ever live. It is the passionate delivery that connects each and every time you listen. AC/DC has never repeated this feat, and likely never will.
Some bands defy logic and succeed through their passion, despite not releasing the best songs. Can there be a more obvious example than KISS? I’ll use their Double Platinum album as the example. It is full of mediocre songs that you cannot help but love. If you stop and think for a minute, “Rock and Roll All Nite” is one of the stupidest songs ever written; it’s a hit. You want to get a room full of people singing, laughing, and having a good time? Put this song on. Everyone knows it, everyone sings along. It is full of passion. KISS is the walking example of what I’m talking about. They connect. Granted, their new material hasn’t done so in a long time, but their early years were filled with this energy.
I don’t feel any of these are the best bands ever. However, unlike so many musicians out there, these are some groups that have found that way to reach out and grab you, forcing you to take notice. They found that passion, bottled it, and pressed it into an album. They have that “something” that lets them connect when the one-hit wonders fall away. A catchy beat, good lyrics, and talent will only get you so far. If you want to be a legendary musician, find your passion and figure out how to make others see it.
Game summary for our Werewolf: The Apocalypse Revised Edition mini-chronicle, Rite of Passage, on December 18, 2008. Pack members present included: Aragon Phillips (homid theurge Uktena), Caedmon Sullivan (homid galliard Fianna), Lt. Daniel Jones (homid ragabash Silver Fang), Jeff Smith (homid ahroun Silver Fang), and Tony Diaz (homid ahroun Glass Walker).
After another break in the blizzard, the pack continued down the road and began seeing glimpses of spirits in the trees. Before long, the pack discovered Aaron’s cell phone had been stolen by the spirit entities.
Pressing on, the pack came to a downhill bend in the road where they were ambushed by five crinos werewolves! The murderous pack tore into the Wild Weres, dropping Dan in a few moments. Tony did his best to aid his friend, while the others waged war with the pack. Soon, Jeff succumbed to frenzy and viciously fought the assailants. In short order, several were fleeing back into the trees and some lay dead on the ground. Tony was terribly injured as well. As the final attacker laid waste to the pack, a large, gruff man clothed like a lumberjack and swinging an axe arrived. He decapitated the downed foes while the pack finished off the remaining attacker. He then performed some strange rite and stabilized the injured Wild Weres. He introduced himself as Bill and offered them shelter.
The pack followed Bill into the woodlands, where they came upon a log cabin. Within, Bill performed more rites, healing the injuries of the Wild Weres. He told the group about strange circumstances at the Grind Mine and asked the group to investigate. The pack agreed and requested Bill notify the family of the man they found slain in the cave. To this, Bill agreed. He then provided the pack with clothing from another era.
The pack continued talking to Bill and whispered among themselves about what exactly Bill is.
Game summary for our Werewolf: The Apocalypse Revised Edition mini-chronicle, Rite of Passage, on December 11, 2008. Pack members present included: Aragon Phillips (homid theurge Uktena), Caedmon Sullivan (homid galliard Fianna), Lt. Daniel Jones (homid ragabash Silver Fang), Jeff Smith (homid ahroun Silver Fang), Ohcumgache (lupus ahroun Get of Fenris), and Tony Diaz (homid ahroun Glass Walker).
As Aaron and Caedmon fashioned a covering for the cave door, Jeff, Ohcu, and Tony went to explore the cave. It went down for a while, and the pack detected the scent of death and humankind. While sniffing about, Tony sneezed, awakening a great bear. The trio fled back up the tunnel, with the bear hot on their heels! Caedmon realized quickly that he had forgotten the ammunition to his SMG, so he cast it aside. The werewolves moved in and fought viciously with the bear as it chomped on Tony’s flank. Soon, the pack brought it down. Aaron suspected the strange bear was controlled by something, perhaps a spirit. He attempted to Peek and fell through the Membrane into the Umbra. He soon returned safely and confirmed that the animal was bane-ridden.
The pack returned to the bear’s lair and found the remnants of a mine worker named Johnathan Willis. The group gathered everything of use or interest from his corpse. They realized he must have come from some civilization nearby. When a break in the weather occurred, the pack fashioned a sled and set out into the wild once again. During the trip, the intense supernatural cold of the Wendigo-summoned blizzard took its toll on the pack. Aaron began to suffer frostbite and delirium. Eventually, the group encountered a narrow road and found, buried in the snow, the wreck of Johnathan’s jeep. Tony climbed inside and discovered a map to a mine, a shovel, and a toolbox.
Soon, the pack set out again but the blizzard picked back up. The group dug snow shelters in the drifts along the side of the road to take refuge from the storm. Within, things didn’t seem so intense!
Game summary for our Werewolf: The Apocalypse Revised Edition mini-chronicle, Rite of Passage, on November 20, 2008. Pack members present included: Aragon Phillips (homid theurge Uktena), Caedmon Sullivan (homid galliard Fianna), Marcel DeLuca (homid theurge Silent Strider), and Ohcumgache (lupus ahroun Get of Fenris).
The newly formed pack, the Wild Weres, awaited their group Rite of Passage, to be delivered by the Sept of the Green, in New York City. In the meantime, the group petitioned and was accepted by Fenris as their pack totem. Before long, Timmy arrived to take the group to the caern in Central Park. Once there, they were greeted by Larissa, who informed them they would be traveling via Moon Bridge to the Winter Wolf Sept of Wendigos. The Wendigo tribe would perform their Rite of Passage, and the Sept of the Green would perform the Rite of Passage for a pack of pups from the Wendigo.
Stepping through the Moon Bridge, the Wild Weres found themselves confronted by the Warden of the Sept, who provided them food and lodging and informed them the Rite would begin in the morning. During the night, the pack was awakened by a Howl of Mourning, followed by a Howl of Calling the Pack. They quickly scrambled from their tent and found the entire Sept assembled and listening to their elders. As the pack arrived, the Wendigos snarled and surrounded them. The Warden stepped forward and told them the Wendigo pups had been killed by the Sept of the Green! He snarled at the pack and cast them out of the caern, warning them that to return would mean their deaths. As they left, Caedmon realized the Wendigo theurges were summoning a blizzard!
The pack fled into the pre-dawn light and scrambled to put distance between themselves and the Winter Wolf Sept. Aragon was able to get their latitude and longitude from his iPhone and determined they were in Northern Canada. He knew there should be civilization to the south, so that is the direction they set off. Traveling through the woodlands, Ohcumgache took the lead, felling a deer for the pack and leading them to a fresh water seep.
Within a few hours, the weather began to turn as the summoned blizzard rolled in. The pack carefully searched the area until they found a small cave they could all hole up in. The pack began gathering firewood and preparing to ride out the blizzard.
Game summary for November 6, 2008; present characters included Eolas Windmaster (moon elf duskblade), Lyrin Sinbal (simian incantatrix/ring sage/warmage), Mael Gabrian (human cleric), Ranulph Wathbater (human berserker/fighter/hellreaver/paladin of freedom/rogue), Saedd West (human fighter/pious templar/wormhunter), Syvarius Strongbow (moon elf archer-ranger/peerless archer), and Taravin Truesilver (human divine crusader/gray guard/paladin of honor/pious templar).
With the sound of Kyuss’ prison cracking and the maniacal laughter of the triumphant Wormgod echoing about the chamber, the Mercenaries enhanced their might with spell and potion and rushed to meet the rising lord of the Age. The team found Kyuss forming from a pile of worms spilling forth from the monolith. Tentatively at first, the team launched some spells and arrows at the rising mass. In moments, the Wormgod stood before them, towering twenty feet in the air, a mass of worms held into a man-like form. His black cowl glowed from the red pits of his eyes, and a massive black executioner’s mace stood out at his side.
Wasting no time, Kyuss enacted his first miraculous event as a god by reinstating the Unlife Vortex! Unholy energy surged into the Wormgod giving him power beyond belief. The team took several more shots, some more telling than others, and Lyrin unleashed the secret weapon: the sphere of annihilation. Kyuss remained far from the group and used harm to recover from the blows that did get through to him. Knowing the threat posed by the sphere, Kyuss locked onto its controller. In a booming voice, dripping with evil, Kyuss commanded Lyrin, “Don’t exist!” Lyrin obeyed and disappeared in a puff of scattered particles, his equipment landing in a clatter.
The Mercenaries continued a steady barrage of spell and blade against the ever-strengthening deity, but it was Taravin who struck the first truly telling shot. Using a wish, Taravin deactivated the Unlife Vortex, greatly weakening Kyuss once again. He then followed it with another wish to bring Lyrin back into existance! Enraged, Kyuss stopped time and enhanced his magical protections and then moved into the midst of the party. The Wormgod unleashed a powerful wail of the banshee, which stopped Eolas’ heart cold. Mael attempted to utter a prayer, and Kyuss casually flicked his blade at the cleric, separating his head from his shoulders.
The newly risen Lyrin slammed the sphere of annihilation into Kyuss, greatly harming him, while the team fell in around him to hedge him in. The resourceful deity discorporated into a mound of writhing worms and rolled right over Ranulph to escape the sphere. The whole time, the party continued with their unrelenting barrage of spell, blade, and arrow, with each nick and cut wearing him down a little more.
Taravin used another wish to restore Mael, and a cloak of the phoenix revitalized Eolas. Frustrated, Kyuss continued to harm himself to recover from the attacks and created a wall of stone to hold the team off. Lyrin carved a large enough hole in it using the sphere. Taravin spent yet another wish to try and imprison Kyuss in a barred forcecage, but the Wormgod flowed through it in worm form. Saedd stayed on Kyuss the whole time, whacking away at the writhing deity, much to Kyuss’ consternation. Arrow and spell continued to batter away, and Ranulph, winged boots flapping, flew up to the god and delivered a mighty blow, striking Kyuss dead. The deity melted away into a puddle of ooze, and the party emerged from the Spire victorious.
As the undead Kyuss-spawn began dying in the streets, people emerged to see the valorous heroes. Soon, an army of survivors trailed the group chanting their names and praising them, hailing them as the new leaders of Mintarn! With the Age of Worms averted and an island city under their control, the Mercenaries have fulfilled their destiny. They will take their place among the legendary names of the Realms. Where their paths may lead is unknown, except for one Ranulph Godslayer; he returned to the Wormcrawl Fissure and married Zulshyn the lillend, making an honest snake… er, woman out of her!
Game summary for October 30, 2008; present characters included Eolas Windmaster (moon elf duskblade), Lyrin Sinbal (simian incantatrix/ring sage/warmage), Morak Beardfist (shield dwarf fighter/rage cleric), Ranulph Wathbater (human berserker/fighter/hellreaver/paladin of freedom/rogue), Saedd West (human fighter/pious templar/wormhunter), and Syvarius Strongbow (moon elf archer-ranger/peerless archer).
Ascending another level, the Mercenaries discovered a room filled with Kyuss high-knights. One, a female, provoked a severe response from Balakarde’s spirit. The apparition manifested and howled in rage as he recognized her as Maralee, his sister!
The team quickly engaged the undead knights in pitched melee. Saedd and Ranulph took the front line while the knights closed in. Saedd laid into Maralee with several vicious swipes, but she quickly retaliated and slaughtered him in his stride. Ranulph faired somewhat better, able to slip into the back of the room to nurse the horrendous wounds the knights dealt him. Meanwhile, a hail of arrows filled the air, and bursts of arcane and divine fire rained down on the knights. The undead pressed their advantage and rocked the Mercenaries back on their heels, but through fearsome swordplay and an unending ranged assault of fire and bow, the undead began to fall.
Lyrin staggered the creatures with a blast on arcane sunlight, rendering a couple blind and enraging the others. Eolas channeled arcane fire through his blade and turned knight after knight into a ash-filled tin can. Syvarius slew one of the creatures on the stairs, and Morak firmly planted his dwarven self in front of Lyrin to protect the caster. After a pitched battle, the undead were all defeated and Saedd returned from the grave.
Ahead lies a massive pair of silver doors writhing with metallic worms. From this height, only the roof could lie beyond. Are the Mercenaries ready to engage the Wormgod in a fight to save the very Realms?
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