Legolover-361

The Best Thing to Say Kate Huong was awakened in the morning by the ringing of a phone. She opened her eyes and blinked them sleepily. Her momentary disorientation faded fast; she was not at home but in the tidy if small guest bedroom of her grandparents’ house, lying on one bed while her younger brother, Zachary, lay on the one to her left. Yes. In her grandparents’ house. But only Grandmom was home. Her stomach grew suddenly upset. In response, she curled up and shifted underneath her blankets, too cold to forsake their comfort. The digital clock on the bedside drawer read 6:38 AM. Too early. Kate shut her eyes again, hoping sleep would follow soon after. The ringing stopped. Her grandmother’s voice filled the silence in its place. “...Yes... Right, I understand... Thank you...” Click. Kate tried opening her eyes again. She could hear more voices now: her parents engaging Grandmom in conversation. The murmurs proceeded for perhaps a minute; then footsteps approached the guest bedroom, the door opened, and Grandmom delivered the news. * * * The Saturday morning was cold in the manner of most autumn morns, but it was not unpleasant. The Huongs, however, had no time to enjoy it. They, plus Grandmom, were packed in their well-worn black Chevy Equinox and off to the hospital within minutes. Zach, as most twelve-year-old boys would, complained about the lack of breakfast but was stymied by his mother’s terse censures. This, said Mom, was more important. They entered the hospital, where the parents and grandmother whisked the children through hallways that looked the same, into a set of elevators with mirrored interiors, and down another hallway into one of the patient wings. Grandpop’s room number was engraved in Kate’s memory as it was in the gold plate that was mounted beside the door. He was wheezing weakly when his family entered. Transparent pipes ran up his nostrils and, Kate had been told, down into his throat. Kate had asked her grandfather on a visit some weeks ago if the pipes bothered him, and her parents had made very clear on their way back home that such questions should not (the word “not” was emphatically iterated and reiterated) be asked of a patient, and Kate had learned in her sixteen years of life that vocal disagreement with her parents would accomplish nothing. The question about the pipes seemed moot then and there, in Grandpop’s ascetic white hospital room, as he took what the doctors said would be his last breaths and Kate’s stomach levitated. When Grandmom got nervous, she also got fussy, hence why she was asking for the second time if the doctor to whom she was speaking had given Grandpop painkillers. “Yes,” said the doctor, a dark-skinned woman with braided hair and a nameplate on her medical coat that read Von Dyke, and she proceeded to list a series of names that sounded more dangerous than helpful. Grandmom seemed appeased. The doctor left soon afterward. Alone now, the Huongs crowded round the bed. Grandpop’s eyes seemed closed, but his eyelids were twitching. “Can you hear me, John?” asked Grandmom; Grandpop seemed to nod slightly, but the movement could have been involuntary. “Shh,” said Mom unnecessarily. “Come on, now, tell Grandpop how much you love him. Zach, you first.” Zach took his place by Grandpop’s head, leaned over, and said, “I love you, Grandpop.” He paused, trying to think of more words, but then sucked in a breath and held it as he moved aside for Kate. Grandpop’s breaths sounded more painful up close. Kate bent her knees to move her mouth nearer to Grandpop’s ear but couldn’t speak. She breathed through her nose to calm her jittery nerves and thought. “I love you” seemed inadequate, but “we’ll miss you” was too depressing; “get better soon” was out of the question, as was a simple goodbye; and Kate, at this moment, felt nowhere near eloquent enough to vocalize, without being depressing, how hollow she felt and how sorry she was that her Grandpop wouldn’t live to see her and Zach grow to adulthood. She felt acutely the barriers of spoken language and, on a whim, wished Grandpop could read her mind. But he couldn’t. Kate knew that. She also knew that her whispered, “I love you too, Grandpop; we all do,” was not the right thing to be saying. If it wasn’t the best thing to say, though, what was? She sat soberly on the chair nearest the window as her parents and Grandmom said their goodbyes. The sky outside was streaked with clouds that glowed with incandescent colors, red and orange and gold: a beautiful sunrise, but when she was called to leave the room with Zach and her parents led them to the hospital cafeteria, she could only think of sunsets.

Hmmm... I did have a good idea for an RPG premise, but I'll have to either tweak it or write something new.I do have a question that should influence my decision: Does the antagonist have to be a person, if you get what I mean?

You're right that the core issue of inactivity would not be solved by the runners-up system: It would only draw the curtains over inactivity. However, having runners-up replace inactive winners would, even in a period of high roleplaying activity, potentially allow more RPGs a chance at the limelight and prevent "dud" RPGs from hogging a spot for the entire duration of that RPG season. I believe the system would be a good feature for the RPG forum whether it is active or not.Solving the core issue of inactivity is a problem whose load is shared not just by the RPG contest format but by RPG creators. If there is enough incentive to play good RPGs, they will be played. We just need determine what that incentive, or those incentives, should be.

I personally would prefer the idea of letting a runner-up RPG run if one of the victors becomes inactive.

This could work, but it would mean that some good RPGs will get less of a chance to be played. If RPGs tend to become stale after two months, holding contests more frequently should help. The RPGs that don't become stale could just be entered in the next contest, and if they're considered good, they have a healthy chance at winning.If you don't have enough time on your schedule, you could have someone assist with running the contest. Themes can make contests interesting but can also somewhat limit the types of RPGs that can be entered. I think introducing, perhaps once every other contest, a theme either vague or with multiple interpretations would spice things up. I would prefer this idea:

Have any idealist groups been formed with the goal of reestablishing peace between the Koros? I'm trying to think of a good way for Nova to become involved in the RPG.Regarding Kynaera, right now I could place her anywhere. She'll pursue justice in her own special way (cough underhanded tactics cough). If any criminals are loose, she could go after them; otherwise, I'd rather not get her inolved in anything big.EDIT: Okaaaaaay, I just found out I had a Kanohi Matatu listed in Kynaera's BZPRPG profile instead of a Kanohi Kualsi. I'm not sure how that happened, and I forget if Kynaera ever used a Matatu instead of a Kualsi (if it did happen, my apologies) -- I'm guessing I changed my mind about what mask she would have but forgot to edit her profile before posting it. Either way, Kynaera's profile has been corrected, and I am assuming for continuity purposes that she has worn a Kualsi all along.

Technically, the BZPower members I know best are Darthbrandon and Celu because I'm good friends with them in real life.Regarding people I only know through BZPower... Honestly? I don't think I can call any of them a best friend. It wouldn't fit because a lot of people here I don't socialize with enough for us to be considered close friends. That said, recently, I've been conversing with Dovydas the most, so I suppose he's my current closest BZP comrade. (A bunch of people in the Ambage could vie for my top spot if I talked with them more. D;)

I may be able to contribute a couple tunes here and there, but I don't think I can become a full-fledged composer because there's a non-BZP music project I'm assisting that would take priority, and there are only so many melodies I can compose. I have some example compositions on SoundCloud if you're interested in hearing some of my work, though the compositions are somewhat old now.

Thanks for the review, Zaxvo, though my story actually isn't from the perspective of a strand of spaghetti; rather, it's from the perspective of a fork. Was the story too unclear in regards to its narrator's identity?Regarding the second-person perspective: It's a subjective issue, I think, because I don't mind the perspective (probably in part due to Choose Your Own Adventure books), but I can understand your point of view.

Name: Nova Gender: Male Species: Toa Alignment: Lawful Good Appearance: Nova's build is similar to the Toa Metru's. His armor is light blue with silver undertones. Behind his light blue Kanohi Kakama are golden-yellow eyes. Mask: Kanohi Kakama, the Mask of Speed Weapon: Sword with long hilt Powers: Fire Biography: Nova has always wanted to be unique; his light blue armor, highly unusual for a Ta-Matoran, is just a fraction of that goal. Through little more than luck, he found a Toa stone that transformed him into a Toa of Fire. In a fit of wistfulness, he began pushing himself to his limits with a strenuous training schedule that left him with legs like jelly every night. One day, he pushed himself to charge a nova blast, just to know what it felt like; but the immense power required proved too much for Nova, and, afraid he would burn the island of Mata Nui to the ground if he released the fire, he reabsorbed it into his body. The action left him weakened and trapped a large amount of power within his body that he cannot release at once, no matter how hard he tries; his body is stressed from storing such power, irking Nova to no end. Nova now tries to remain neutral in conflicts between Koros but finds his values challenged by what can be best termed as peer pressure. He can't believe Mata Nui could turn on itself, is scared by the corruption gripping the island, and often spends nights thinking he is alone in the world. Personality: Unlike most Toa of Fire, Nova is generally subdued. He often fears he is on the brink of insanity: Because of the power locked up inside his body, he is often under mental stress, suffering from numerous headaches and odd bouts of annoyance. Apart from his condition, however, Nova is sociable in a quiet way. He doesn't like being in the spotlight and thus can normally be found in the corner of a room. He's determined to correct his mistakes and continues to train hard. His dream is to become a legendary Toa warrior; thus, his devotion to his friends and the Toa Code is indefatigable. Weakness: Sometimes Nova can't help but try to release all his power in one go; in doing this he drains his actually available power and can be greatly weakened because of this. His swordsmanship is only decent, so he generally makes up for it in usage of his Kakama and hand-to-hand fighting. ~ Name: Kynaera Gender: Female Species: Toa Alignment: Lawful Neutral Appearance: Somewhat on the short side for a Toa: only six feet, ten and a half inches, eleven if her back is straight as a ruler. Healthy weight-to-height ratio: not skinny, not thick, just average. Sleek purple armor over flexible black and silver under-armor. Wears a wispy black cloak and a belt, upon which are mounted three throwing knife holsters and a carry-pouch. Keen green eyes behind a purple, feminine variant of a Great Kanohi Kualsi. Mask: Kanohi Kualsi, Mask of Teleportation Weapon: Three throwing knives on her belt; a staff with a blade on each end (the blades are retractable via a mechanical switch). Power: Gravity Biography: Soon after the Makuta took control of the island Mata Nui, Kynaera decided she would be of no use fighting him and so sought audience with him, devoting herself to servitude under his rule. When Makuta's rule collapsed, so did Kynaera's purpose. Without a victorious side to support, and with so much sin in her past, she feels lost and sullied, and so serves as a neutral sort of mercenary. Personality: Cynical, thoughtful, logical. Kynaera has always been more interested in mental discipline than physical conditioning; she thus became skilled in eye-hand coordination, elemental and Kanohi techniques, meditation, and playing the eye of the storm in battle. Her focus tends to be on subtle things--facial expressions, small irregularities in scenes, emotions, the warning bell in the back of her mind. She often trusts her gut feeling despite receiving mixed results. She has no trouble making eye contact with people. She has learned to limit her expression of emotion. Despite her general patience, misunderstandings, unneeded hesitations, and illogical thinking all easily catalyze her frustration. She has a fear of being vulnerable and compensates by exuding confidence. She prefers to work alone, but if she must work with others, she wants control so she can keep others from screwing up. She refuses to kill anyone except those most despicable. Weakness: Kynaera's strength is only passable; she tends to compensate for her lack of grappling capacity with speed and acrobatics, though this can't help her if she's trapped at close quarters. When she's helpless, trapped, or both, her moderate claustrophobia surfaces.

I know I'm really tardy to the party (my laptop died, and I had to wait for a replacement), but I'm excited for this year's RPG. It will provide a lot of opportunity for character growth; I think my characters will flourish should I find the time to roleplay as them.

Gossamer by Passion Pit, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix by Phoenix, and Morning View by Incubus. I feel so proud of myself for obtaining the aforementioned albums.

The entry period is over as of about two and a half hours ago. Barring unusual circumstances (such as unexpectedly losing power, internet connectivity, or a computer), no more entries will be allowed. Thank you to all who have entered, and I would like to add that I'm still looking for judges.

IC: KynaeraMiddayGa-KoroKynaera's spear struck Greed's side. The winds ceased as if in shock. Greed's eyes were wide, glowing almost as brightly as the sunlit wave that now bore down on the lily pad the three Daedra occupied.It struck with a roar like a Muaka's. Greed was washed away. Sloth vanished behind a wave; Kynaera couldn't see what happened to him before she, too, was struck by the water and spun into the murky depths of the waves. She flailed, turned right-side up, was turned upside down again by the current, and finally surfaced a few meters from the lily pad with a gasp and her cloak's hood stuck to her head, covering one eye.Greed was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Kynaera's spear.She tread water for several seconds, cursing her misfortune, before kicking out and swimming back to the lily pad.She didn't notice the Rahkshi on the shore till she had lifted herself onto the edge of the lily pad.

Just looking at the sheet music is making my head explode.

4.5/5. The song is actually pretty catchy. I love its eerie mood, and the beat complements the music well. It sounds a bit like a song Radiohead would make, except with a female singer and what sounds like a turntable.Speaking of Radiohead..."15 Step" by Radiohead.

how do I be as awesome as you and also what is the extra cost for honesty, I have a few pennies and some lint here but don't know if that'll cover it

IC: KynaeraMiddayGa-KoroSloth's tsunami and Greed's hurricane met with a raucous roar. Flecks of water and eddies of air frayed the edges of the lily pad. Kynaera was buffeted by the shockwave but turned her lithe figure to the right to cut through the wind. A great mist was kicked up, but through it, Kynaera could glimpse the two combating figures still staring each other down in a battle as much intimidation as it was brute force.The eyes of the one on the right burned holes through the veils of moisture. Greed.Kynaera let the swirling winds draw her into the barrier between air and water. Her cloak wrapped about her in fright. She hefted her staff, its blades gleaming with excitement, prayed, and charged.Her arm went back and forth like a catapult. The staff pierced a hole in Greed's pet hurricane, a hole that led to the Toa's side.

IC: KynaeraMiddayGa-KoroKynaera inclined her head and turned round again. She exhaled.Teleporting never felt like moving; rather, Kynaera's concentration seemed to draw her target toward her. Perhaps her movement was so subtle and quick, it escaped her notice. Perhaps her body failed to recognize motion through extra dimensions. Or perhaps she just had never really thought about teleportation.Whatever the reason, she found herself on the edge of the lily pad that had been adjoined to the one whose debris were now scattered across the waves. Greed stood just a few meters ahead of her, and Sloth knelt beyond him.Maybe Sloth saw her approach, but he looked about to black out.Kynaera grabbed a shard of wood and hefted it, testing its weight. Satisfied, she reared back and let it fly. It spun upward in a narrow arc whose apex was a little farther than midway between Greed and Kynaera.When it passed that apex, Kynaera increased its weight.It fell toward Greed's head with nearly the force of a small meteorite.