Scorpiox

And she also happens to be the only one who has ever won gold. But wll done to her all the same.

Haldor smiled and briefly spoke to Jess as she passed. "Of course, you go and enjoy yourself, I'll be waiting for your return." The Nord looked on at his love as she passed him, gazing quickly at her attractive figure as she left to return to her friends. When she had left, he turned toward his friend again. "So, what will it be, Althior. Stay, with your life, and with us, or leave us as you escape to a new life, to hell with the people you used to know. Your choice, but make sure that you will be happy with it for the rest of your life. One fight doesn't have to spell the end for your love, and there is always the chance of reconciliation. But if you want to leave us all then, that is your choice, but I will be very dissappointed in you after all this. But go on, decide."

The Nord felt quite shocked, and also very hurt, like he had been partly betrayed."Don't assume, Althior, don't assume that you are the only one who knows fear. You know not what I've been through. I have experianced more fear than my fair share, but you forget, this isn't about me, it's about you. This infection that you spoke of, I never knew, you never thought to tell me. If you do not share your problems with friends, then they can't help, and it offends me that you thought my help not worth bothering with. All the same, I assure you it will take a very long time to just forget all that you've been while you were here. Yes, there will be more heroes, but there will be no more Althior. Alexis may move on, but it will haunt her. She may seem like she won't miss you, but she will. Oh, Gods she will. You may have fought, but we've all fought, do you remember how this happened to me recently? But we got through, and so can you. Well, unless you want to leave like this, but hey ho, every man for himself. Alexis will miss you, I know she will, whatever happened last night, you had a great bond between you, it would be a shame for you to just let it go. You've been a great friend to me, through thick and thin, Emorith the Sage, but when you are old and weak, make sure that you can live with yourself after you left us all." Haldor sighed and sunk down. "But of course, there is still time for you to stay."

I need to take a break from speeches.

Haldor stood quietly, thinking to himself of what Althior had said. But when he spoke next, it came from within. "Those people we speak of, yes they had a right to live. But when they walked in front of us with their weapons drawn, they have to die. Yes, they have families and friends, but they forfeit that by joining the Wolfgang, or fighting with the rebels. When you sit here with your self-pity, you don't think for a moment how many people they have hurt, that they have killed. They are not hardworking, good citizens that we hurt, these are bad men, if they weren't, they wouldn't be fighting with us. In Haddon there was a man, a thing, called Vonnetate. He was leading the armies of the rebels to take the town from the loyal and fair rulers, and set up a state of fear and greed. We stopped him, and I, nor any of my friends, lost any sleep over that. Why would I feel guilty for that, or for slaying a murderous fiend like Bluehood? Never in my life, nor I ever will, stride cheerfully down through the streets cutting down all innocents in my sight. So don't feel guilt for killing those men that do. When we went down to Haddon, we had a job to do, but it took us much time to discover that we were on the wrong side. I felt bad for that, yes I felt guilty for that, but in the end we knew the truth, and we did the right thing. The rebels that we killed in the end, they were the ones charging in with bloodthirsty cries, we only ended their misery. What would you have me do, Althior, stand there to be cut to pieces, so my death weighs on his mind, not his on mine? What world does that create? So yes, some people have to die, it is the only way to maintain peace." Haldor looked away briefly, but he knew what he was saying was true, there were times and places where killing a man was the right thing to do, and these places occured more than regularly. "If I look to myself, at how many men I have slain, I look to how many people I haved saved by slaying those people. We are better than those we kill, because we kill not because we want to or because we enjoy it. But because we have to, because sometimes, lots of times, it is the right thing to do. So, Althior, you go, if that is what you want. Go and live your live, forget me and all we have been through, or you can stay here. You can make a difference, you can die knowing that yes, you may have put to death more than you can count, but that the world is a far greater place for the weak and poor because of it. Or of course you can leave, leave it all behind, all your friends, allies, Alexis. And die alone, tormented by the things that you could have done, and how many more good men, perished because you were too scared of yourself. Your choice, Althior, make sure it is the right one. I'm not going to stop you..." And as the Nord finished his monologue, his friend passed out from weakness and his wounds. Althior lay on the cobblestones, by himself, as though abandoned. Haldor tore himself a loaf of bread from his pack, and leant on a nearby cart. Soon, ALthior would wake up, and Haldor would ask him what choice he had made. "If this is the last time we ever meet, so long my friend, but I confess, I thought you were more than this."

"Don't think like, that it doesn't help. The moment we start counting the bodies is the moment we fall, there is no place for guilt. Do you think that I enjoy killing these people? No, but they have to be killed nonetheless. Up in Haddon we got ourselves on the wrong side, and people died, but in the end we realised the truth and did what was right. Those people had to die, to protect Haddon from a future it didn't want. Some people have to die, for the greater good. We don't want to kill them, but we have no choice. If they stand between us and our goal, Althior, then it is them who are killing themselves. What makes us different from the vigilantes is not that we have the best equipment or the best men, but that we care. The fact that we have those deaths weighing on our consience is what sets us apart. Think of that Althior, and you will grow old knowing that you did the right thing by walking through those doors." Haldor helped his friend to continue aimlessly down the road, not thinking of where it was that they were going. As they passed to doors of the hall once again, Haldor was greeted by the merry shout of his comrade, Dyric. "Yes, friend. I am in need of gold, for some more gear that will help me. If you were to lend me that gold now, I would pay you back when I next get some more. Thank you Dyric." Haldor accepted the gold from Dyric, with uttered thanks, and rushed back to walk with Althior, who was wheezing his way down the street. Once he had caught up (which didn't take long at all), the Nord approached him with more quieries. "Althior, you never told me, who did all this to you? You are in a bad way, let me help."

Great idea to have the stats topic, really useful and cleans up my signature.

Haldor Skovgaard (Played by Scorpiox) 34 year old male human Nord. Level 32.5 Shaman. *Immune to Stunned, Weakening and Blinded* Power: 51 (Level 32, + WP: 13, +4 from Scarlet Hood, +2 from Pugilist's Gloves) Defence: 2 (SP: 2 from Ethereal Cloak) Health: 52/52 Base 9, +32 Level Increase, +9 from Advanced Class Increase, +2 from Shamanic Plate, +1 from Zoot's Cookie) Ether: 43/43 (Base 5, +32 Level Increase, +1 from Advanced Class Increase, +4 from Ethereal Cloak, +2 from Shamanic Plate) Gold: 291 Equipment: Dualis Sceptres (WP: 13, Dual-Striking, Darkness Elemental), Shamanic Plate (+2 Health, +2 Ether; Blood Ritual inflicts double damage to the target), Ethereal Cloak (SP: 2, +4 Ether, Protects from Blindness), Scarlet Hood (+4 Power, Protects from Stunning), Pugilist's Gloves (+2 Power, Protects from Weakening) Weapons: Heavy Metal Rod (WP: 12, Water Elemental), Bear Claw Gloves (WP: 8, SP: 2), Sickle Claw Knife (WP: 12), Zoot er Isen (WP: 15, Ice and Light[/font] Elemental) Artefacts: Ognar's Beard (+8 Power, Gives wearer Enraged effect), Gladiator's Helmet (SP: 3), Heavy Armour (SP: 5, Protects from Fragility) (x2) Consumables: Health Core (x2), Potion (x4), Remedy (x7), Venom, Grand Tonic (x4), Ether Core, Grating Stone, Elixir, Crimson Venom (Inflicts Poisoned by 7 and Cursed effects when applied to weapon) Inventory: Scutum Shield, Emerald (Wood Elemental), Shovel, Pickaxe, Bedroll, Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Sleep

The lottery was great, and I'm overjoyed to have won a prize.

Haldor kept a helping hand on Althior's shoulder as he hobbled out through the heavy oak doorway, and into the cool air of the alleyways outside. Once they had walked a little bit away from the hall, Haldor aided his friend in sitting down on a low wall, the Nord then leant against a decrepit fence and spoke. "Why so eager to be away from home? Have you been fighting with anyone in the organisation, is that why you're like this? Don't you have a worry in you, Althior, I'll always be happy to back you up, just so long as there are plenty of drinks to go round. Ha, I guess I'd better fix you up, where would you be without me eh?" Haldor walked over to Althior, and worked his blood magic. As he touched his friend, The Norseman felt a surging sensation through him his veins, as though infused with great energy. He used his mind to focus the flow of energy through himself and into his friend, healing his wounds and restoring what little strength he had actually possessed in the first place. After it was all done, Haldor spoke again. "Feeling better now? So, after all that, who was it that did this to you anyway? I want to give them a medal. You look like you were out on the streets all night, this city can be nasty when it gets dark. Maybe we should go and tell Alexis that you were hurt, she might be worried about you, I don't know if you noticed her coming into the hall a while ago."

Haldor moved himself in from the rain, and, just for a change, headed for the bar. As usual these days, Jess had departed early in the morning to some unknown place, but Haldor thought not of what she could be doing. Since her sudden urge to leave their room, Skovgaard had decided to make some enquiries into the mysterious disappearance, braving the rain in his lack of appropriate clothing to check out sites around where Ellaria had been working that day. But he was a Nord, and the rain was the closest thing to home that he could reach, but in all his searches he failed to discover any hints to what may have happened. He'd try again tommorow, he promised himself, but soon he'd have to tell Ellaria the bad news. Leaning up on the bar was the familiar robed figure of Althior, drinking alone. His gear looked curiously dirty and torn, and the Sage was hobbling around on a cane as though crippled. He looked rather worse for wear. Haldor approached and stepped in beside him, waving for a flagon of mead as he did so. As Althior turned to greet the arrival of his friend, the Norseman was shocked at the sight of bruising and blood encrusted to his face, and the red slit of a new scar in prominant display by the side of his eye. "What the bloody hell happened to you, Althior? You've seen a lot better days, judging from this. Been getting yourself into fights, have you?" Haldor collected another strong drink from a grumbling Sceheherazade and placed it in front of his friend, who seemed to have gathered a large collection of empty glasses littering the area around him. "Drink this, it'll help, but I can see that you've already been sampling the benefits of this particular elixir. What happened, Althior? Tell me and I can help, Gods know you need it right now. You know you can confide in me."

You made my day.

The description of Lycan's transformation is excellent, but what he says is a tad cheesy. The certain wording of a few things could improved as well, for example: The first sentence is 'NOW YOU SHALL TALK YOU INSOLENT SCUM!' could be changed around a bit, like this: 'Now, you insolent scum, we shall talk!" Imeadiately it sounds a bit better, and slightly more of the sinister thing that I can tell you are aiming for. In generall, Lycan's monologue could use a fair few commas, just to even the pace. It might be worth losing the ALL-CAPS as well, they are good to show change in volume, but the whole paragraph this way loses it's effect. Another instance of change could be this: 'TALK OR YOU WILL LOSE ONE LIMB AT A TIME. YOUR DEATH WILL BE WORSE THAN EVEN TORTURE IN THE REALM OF ZOOT." I get what you are trying to say, but you could have said it a little bit better. How about this? 'Talk, TELL ME WHAT YOU KNOW! Or so help me I shall take you apart, limb by limb, piece by little piece. You will know no pain far worse than you can imagine, YOUR TORTURE WILL PALE EVEN THE DARKEST NIGHTMARES IN THE REALM OF ZOOT!' How does that sound? See, just by fiddling around and being selective in your use of caps can vastly improve your overall roleplay. Sorry if that sounded a bit harsh, but I hope you take it onboard and lead Lycan in the direction that I know you can.

Hell yeah! I got bored, so I decided to play some Women's Beach Volleyball (Don't look at me that way) about half an hour ago. It was a dire mistake. A while later I quit, having lost to Jamaica in what was Officially the World's Longest and Most Tiresome match. Don't ever pursue a career in the sport guys, half-way through I lost the will to live. Didn't even get bronze after all that...

Reminds me of one of Stephen Fry's lines in Blackadder Goes Forth. The days when comedy was actually funny!

Okay, okay. Maybe a WP:8 Throwing Dagger with Light elemental instead?

Wow, I admire your foresight, already planning for your second character. All I have so far is a name, Leif, obviously. I agree, some of the nicer gadgets and weapons, like Lifestealer and Mercutio's Dagger of Mugging, are begging to be re-released for the newer playersto grab their own special weapons. Just so long as no-one else gets a Heavy Metal Rod...

Went out and bought the entire series, and I must say that I'm impressed with all the designs and moulds, especially the new rider cap and medal piece. Being extremely patriotic, I'm overjoyed to have the team in my collection. Great costumes all-round.

Great efforts from Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton in the Velodrome, nice to see Great Britain dominating in the cycling once again. In other news, I just purchased the Official London 2012 game on Playstation, and finished 7th in Men's 100m! Wooo!

Awesome music from an awesome film, I hope everybody can share the awesomeness of this. And also something vastly different. I listen to this while the world burns. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0kbC0hQHRg From another brilliant film. 'The horror! The horror...'

Haldor permitted himself a smile. "Oh no, I'm no clown, much more an unintelligent beast, like a bear. You should see the evenings, Jess keeps me on a leash. A lack of mead will do that to a man, much so to a Nord. We were all drinking it by the flagon long before we could walk."

Those tags look awesome Sandy, really nice. I have one question though, will people whose contributions are still WIP get those tags when their work is complete? *smiles sweetly*

Hospital Wi-Fi has never been up to much in my experiance. I'll be just as interested in this game when it reappears later in the year, and the waiting will only increase my anticipation for this brilliant concept that Pandora and Rick have created.