Saturday, May 31, 2008

Varathon Campaign Character Profile

Sorry about the lack of updates recently. I have been rather preoccupied with other things. Hopefully this can somewhat make up for it. Warning, this is a very lengthy post. Hopefully it will be interesting.





Name: Hamas Dal

Birthplace: Lindenwood

Childhood: Traumatic/Difficult

Training: Self-taught
  • Learned to fight while he was traveling with a makeshift arena.
Ambitions:
  • Kill his father and anyone who sides with the orcs.
  • See all there is to see.
Fears:
  • Running out of adventures to go on.
  • The laughter of large crowds.
  • Big spiders.
Quirks:
  • Short temper when it comes to reasoning with others.
  • Strong desire to get into fights.
  • Collecting the limbs or innards of slain opponents.
  • Wary of women.
Favorite Drink: Doesn't have one. He is, however, partial to non-alcoholic drinks.

Battle Cry: RAGE!

Backstory:

Ye Olde Backstory

Hamas Dal was born in the village of Lindenwood to one Gwethana Dal. Nine months prior, Gwethana’s village, near the Coldsand Desert, was attacked and destroyed by a band of orcs led by the ambitious, and lecherous, Chief Proshnak. Those who weren’t lucky enough to escape were either killed on the spot or taken as prizes for the orc warriors. Gwethana, being of considerable beauty, was taken by Proshnak himself. Later that night, after Proshnak had his way with her, the physically and mentally exhausted Gwethana was able to escape from into the woods where she made her way to Lindenwood. There, she was taken in by one of the local innkeepers; a man named Delcor, and nursed back to health.

One month later she had fallen in love with a farmer named Mateus Dal and was married. When the happy couple discovered that Gwethana was pregnant, she revealed the events prior to her arrival in the village and that the child was most likely Proshnak’s. Mateus truly loved Gwethana so he agreed to go along with whatever she decided. Gwethana was a kind and well-learned woman, having been a doctor’s hand in her village, and she decided that the child should not be punished for the misdeeds of others. Thus, Hamas was allowed passage into this world.

Although Hamas was gifted with many human-like characteristics, he was still clearly not fully human. This proved to make his childhood all the more difficult because the other residents of the village feared him and forbid most of the other children from having anything to do with the Dals, though Hamas was able to secretly make friends with a few of them. When Hamas was ten years old, Mateus Dal passed away from a sickness that plagued the village. The passing of Mateus was a severe blow to Gwethana and Hamas, especially to the latter for he was still unaware of his orc heritage, and they virtually withdrew from Lindenwood, though Hamas would still make weekly visits to the market to deliver crops and animals. Gwethana, however, became much more reclusive and could rarely be seen outside of the farm’s main house.

Eight years passed like this, but when Hamas was eighteen a rash of animal slaughtering gripped the village and he was blamed for the crime, the villagers being ignorant and untrusting of other races. Gwethana Dal, after hearing from the old innkeeper who had nursed her to health years before about a plot to kill Hamas, quickly called the boy into the house and gave him a pack full of food and an old hunting knife that had belonged to Mateus. She told Hamas to go into the nearby mountains and catch a deer for the next day’s supper. Hamas, seeing that the innkeeper was visiting, accepted without question and left immediately.

When he returned the next evening he found that the farm had been completely burned. Dropping his gear and catch, Hamas ran to the remains of his home and began sifting through the wreck, all the while calling out desperately for his mother. After a few hours of frantic searching, Hamas finally stumbled upon the charred remains of his mother and was enraged by the sight. He ran as fast as he could to Delcor’s inn to question the old man about the events of the previous night. Hamas arrived at the inn to find Delcor being attended to on one of the inn’s tables by his wife and one of the village’s physicians. When Delcor saw Hamas he sent his wife and the physician away and beckoned Hamas closer. Delcor told Hamas that not soon after he left a group of villagers came to the farm looking for him demanding that he take responsibility for the animal slaughtering. When Delcor came out to reason with them he was stabbed and knocked to the ground. The last thing he remembered before he lost consciousness was the villagers setting fire to everything, and when he awoke he was facedown in the dirt outside of his inn.

After hearing the story, Hamas flew into a rage and began smashing chairs and turning over tables. After destroying most of the bar, he finally fell to his knees and began sobbing and beating the worn wooden floor. Delcor, who had been silent throughout all of this, weakly approached Hamas and dropped sealed letter in front of him. He told Hamas that Gwethana had given it to him just before the villagers came with the instructions to only pass the letter on to Hamas if he saw him again with his own eyes. Hamas, ignoring the letter, jumped to his feet and grabbed Delcor by the shoulders and lifted him into the air. He demanded that Delcor tell him the names of the people who burned down his home and killed his mother. Delcor pushed the boy away and as he left the room he told Hamas that he would not stain Gwethana’s memory with blood.

Hamas, shocked by the old man’s sudden violence, slunk back slowly and collapsed on the floor. While laying there he spotted the letter lying not far from him. He quickly snatched it up and tore it open. The letter was a goodbye note from his mother saying that she sensed that her end was near and that Hamas shouldn’t worry. The letter continued by revealing to Hamas the truth about his conception and that Mateus was not his real father and Proshnak was. After reading all of this, Hamas realized that it all made sense and that this was the reason why the town hated him. He then quickly moved to the door of the inn and after grabbing a cloak off of the nearby wall, disappeared into the night.

Hamas spent the next few weeks drifting through the villages in the area and eventually found his way into a makeshift arena where he spent his days fighting other men for sport and currency. Hamas spent the next five years traveling with the arena and eventually became its champion. When the arena’s manager was killed in a massive brawl and the arena shut down, Hamas found himself to be a twenty-three year old man with no real knowledge of the world. Sure, he had spent many pleasant nights at numerous brothels with the other fighters, but he knew that there had to be more to life than that, and he remembered that dreadful day at Lindenwood and his mother’s letter. It was then that he vowed to see all of Varathon and kill Proshnak and as many orcs as he could.

A few weeks after this resolution, Hamas was approached at a tavern not too far from Lindenwood by a grizzled, and hefty, man. The man said that he was on a quest to rid the area of a pack of dire wolves that had been terrorizing the countryside for years and that Hamas looked the type that may be in the business of assisting him. Hamas, realizing where he was, came to the sudden conclusion that the dire wolves must have been responsible for the animal slaughterings all those years ago. This realization brought him a moment of bitter amusement and he agreed to help the man, who introduced himself simply as Grenthon. They set out from the tavern the next day, with solemn determination, in search of the wolves. While they traveled, Grenthon told Hamas stories of his many adventures throughout the world. Hamas was so intrigued by the tales that after the two men had slain the wolves and gone their separate ways he decided that he too would become an adventurer and see the world. It would also give him a chance to seek revenge against the orcs and track down his biological father.

Ten years have passed since Hamas decided to become an adventurer, and over that time he has experienced many battles, slain many orcs, traveled with many parties, and seen many interesting things. But, there will always be more to see.


Sunday, May 25, 2008

The Dragon Ball Movie Post



















There you have it folks, the beginning of the end. I have been dreading this post, and the post where I state my impressions, for a while now and the time has finally come. I have already taken the liberty of forming a few questions based on these images. Feel free to add your own to the list.
  • First of all, if this is based off of the original series, then why are Goku and Chi Chi like twenty years old? They are supposed to be little kids.
  • Why are Goku and Bulma white while everyone else is Asian?
  • Where is Piccolo?
  • Why is Chow Yun-Fat in this movie? He's supposed to be distinguished right?
  • Why is Master Roshi not bald? Why?!
  • Why did they not even try to replicate hairstyles?
    • I won't even start on Goku's hair.
    • Bulma's hair is supposed to be teal.
    • Yamcha should have a ponytail, not blond highlights.
    • Why is Master Roshi not bald? Why!?
And that's all I've got. The movie is supposed to release in 2009 so we will just have to sit back for a while and wait for what is sure to wreck our childhood to arrive.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Hatsukoi Limited Impressions [Minor Spoilers]
















Before I get into anything, I'll level with you: I am a sucker for High School Romance mangas! If the plot is the slightest bit interesting, I'm hooked. Such was the case with Mizuki Kawashita's latest manga series entitled Hatsukoi Limited, or First Love Limited for all you English freaks. You know who you are.

Anyways this manga, if you can't tell from the picture, is about a group of high school girls, and boys if you care enough to wonder about them, and their little unrequited loves and complicated feelings and all that jazz. The thing that really got me interested in this was the fact that there was no real "main character." No, it wasn't a bunch of unrelated stories that were too short to even care about, it was interrelated amongst all the characters and most of the characters appeared in every chapter even if it didn't focus on them. This was a big change for me because most mangas of this nature focus on one person, usually a guy, and his interactions with various women that are falling all over simply because of the fact the he is indeed the main character. If you've read Love Hina or I"s then you know exactly what I am talking about... lucky bastards.

So if you're the kind of person who loves nothing else but the before mentioned type of HS romance manga, and wishes they were a main character too, then Hatsukoi Limited might not be the best read you've ever had. But if you're open to anything and love a good HS romance, with the added bonus of a bevy of characters and twists, then you will absolutely love reading this series. But be warned, the ending is rather abrupt. Hatsukoi Limited ends with only 4 volumes, 32 chapters, and leaves off with a kind of "I'll keep trying" kind of ending for a few of the characters. Coming from the woman who wrote the 19 volume romance epic Ichigo 100%, Strawberry 100%, this really surprised and disappointed me. It could have easily been a lot longer, but you have to realize that most of the profit garnered is in Japan and if they don't like it, then it doesn't last long.

I am awarding Hatsukoi Limited a 4 out of 5 because even though it was a great read, the ending kind of sucked... but only because you'll definitely want to see more.

You can read the manga, as well as many others, online for free here: http://www.onemanga.com/Hatsukoi_Limited/

Friday, May 23, 2008

Hotel Dusk: Room 215 Impressions [Possible Spoilers]
















So I finally got around to finishing Hotel Dusk this past week and I must say it was a very enjoyable ride. It plays almost like a mix between one of those old-school mystery novels which sucked up more than one childhood in their golden age and a classic film noir. The game is filled to the brim with amazing dialogue, characters, puzzles, and plot. You just won't be able to put it down until after the credits role. Below I will write a short summary of the game's story that isn't far from what is on the back of the box or in the first ten minutes of the game so don't be worried about spoilers.

The game takes place in 1979 and players play as Kyle Hyde, an ex-NYPD officer who now works as an item tracker, who is searching for his ex-partner, Bradley, who betrayed both him and the department while working undercover in a shadowy crime syndicate called Nile. Kyle's job brings him to a rundown hotel, Hotel Dusk, near Los Angeles with a troubled past and a host of mysterious and comical guests. Kyle checks into the hotel and is given room 215, which has been named "Wish" by the owner because it is said that the person who stays in it will have their deepest desire granted by the end of their stay. During Kyle's stay at the hotel he will unravel various mysteries and undoubtedly draw ever closer to Hotel Dusk's biggest secret and the truth behind his partner's betrayal and disappearance. But the catch is, will he be able to survive the night?

I am awarding Hotel Dusk: Room 215 a 4.5 out of 5 because although it is one of the best DS games I have ever played, the ending seemed a bit lacking in my eyes.

I have just started Square-Enix's, Squenix from now on, new DS title called "The World Ends With You" and hopefully I will have its review up in a week or two. Later all!

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull [Minor Spoilers]






















So as most of you already know, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull opened today in the U.S. The film had already garnered considerable hype due to the popularity of the series already and critics had already given it above average reviews. I went to the midnight premiere of the film with my usual group of friends and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was really cool seeing Harrison Ford reprise his old role and I loved Cate Blanchett as the villain. Shia LaBeouf has really hit it big and has scored a very significant role in the series. Expect lots of hair combing and motorcycle riding from him.

I really wish the story hadn't taken such an extreme turn though. It was really just too far fetched for the series in my opinion. I mean really, aliens and other dimensions? I really think that Lucas finally got what he wanted and was able to introduce sci-fi to the blockbuster series. In spite of this, the film was still thrilling to watch and I have decided to award it 3 1/2 stars out of 5.

Also for all you Scrubs fans out there, keep your eyes peeled for a very humorous cameo of one of the show's stars. I won't tell who.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Reality














Reality

Yet when the dream is done, you see,
There is nothing but reality.
Cold and harsh neutrality.
Finality.

When looking up at the sunlit sky,
In a world where only birds can fly,
You realize your hopes were much too high.
Deny.

And when you see you are on your own,
You will carve a heart right out of stone.
The hardest heart you have ever known.
Bemoan.

I sincerely wish that you were here
To brush away all this fear
And substitute it with something clear.
Frontier.

I remember when you were by my side,
And in you every thought I could confide.
Why did you choose for your thoughts to hide?
Divide.

Before I realized it, my love was gone.
For I could no longer be your unfeeling pawn,
And we finally reached the dusk of our eternal dawn.
Foregone.

But not soon after I began to fret.
Had you been captured because of my foolish bet?
Devoured by some unknown threat?
Regret.

Yes, I wish you were here with me
For one more go at fantasy.
An escape from this mortality.
Reality.



Copyright © 2008 Jarred Lee

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Square Photo Contest!






















This is my entry for the Square Photo Contest that is being held on deviantArt right now. It is entitled "Endless Fields" and I really hope it does well!

Contest Link: Here

My Gallery: Here

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Prince Caspian? Why Bother?


















As most of you know, the second movie in the Chronicles of Narnia series entitled: "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" had its North American theatrical release yesterday. I went yesterday with a group of friends and all of us came to the unanimous conclusion that we hated the movie. I especially was very disappointed with this film. While it was visually pleasing, the acting was fairly terrible and the story was presented in a completely uninteresting way that really took away from the depth of the book. The changes made to the book also made the movie a great deal more confusing than it needed to be. My favorite part of the movie was the small time Tilda Swinton spent on screen and the few lines she delivered. I really liked her as the White Witch. Anyhow, I give this movie 2 stars out of 5 and I will definitely not be going to see the third film: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, in 2010.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Georgia: Entertainment Mecca?














I just read on Kotaku this morning that the governor of Georgia, Sonny Purdue, just signed the " Entertainment Industry Investment Act" this year. This law will allow entertainment companies, movies, gaming, etc, significant tax credits if they develop their work in Georgia.

"Qualifying productions spending at least $500,000 in the state will qualify for a 20% tax credit, with an additional 10% granted if said productions included an animated Georgia logo in the finished product." -Mike Fahey of Kotaku

This is really great to hear, especially since I am a lifetime Georgia resident who has always loved the entertainment industry, specifically, video games and movies. This really gives me a better chance at getting into the industry and I won't even have to leave the state to do so! I'm really excited! I hope the big companies take the bait and work their way over here.

Article Link

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Lost: "There's No Place Like Home: Part 1" Impressions [SPOILERS]










While tonight's Lost was fairly slow paced in comparison to the past few episodes of this season, it was by no means filler. This episode was extremely information-laden and most of the questions surrounding the return of the "Oceanic Six" were cleared up and we get a good glimpse at how the "survivors" attempt to adapt to what remains of their lives before the island. I will now list as many of the episode's revelations as I can remember.
  • Another Darma facility, The Orchid, was introduced and Ben reveals that the only way to move the island is somewhere inside.
  • We are shown how the "Oceanic Six" arrive in Hawaii and their first press conference, where they recite the fake story they rehearsed about their time on the island. Jack states that only 8 people made it to the shore of the island, Kate states that Aaron is her child, Hurley states that he doesn't want his money back, Sun states that her husband, Jin, died when the plane crashed, and Sayid states that there is no possibility of there being any more survivors.
  • Sayid is surprised to meet Nadia, his old lover, outside of the hangar that the conference was held in.
  • After the conference, Sun returns to Korea where she reveals to her father that she has purchased the controlling share of his company and that she blames him, and someone else, for Jin's death.
  • Hurley is thrown a surprise party by his parents but he is apprehensive and when he sees that the mileage on the Camaro that his father fixed up for him reads as the numbers, he gets upset and runs from the house.
  • Jack finally holds the wake for his father, and afterwards is approached by Claire's mother who reveals that Jack and Claire were siblings.
  • Jack and Kate go into the jungle to search for the helicopter and Jack's stitches have apparently begun to bleed. They meet up with Miles, Sawyer, and Aaron and Sawyer gives Aaron to Kate and follows Jack as he heads for the helicopter.
  • Jack and Sawyer find Frank handcuffed to the helicopter where Frank commands them to help him loose so that they can escape before Keamy and his men return. Sawyer reveals that Hurley is still with Locke and Ben.
  • Sayid makes it to shore and leaves Daniel with the boat so he can begin ferrying people to the freighter. Sayid and Kate follow after Jack and Sawyer.
  • Daniel brings the first load to the freighter, the only major characters I noticed were Sun, Jin, and Aaron, where they meet with Michael. Michael explains how he got back to civilization with Walt and how he became a member of the freighter's crew. When Sun and Jin state that he is working for Ben, Michael becomes defensive and denies that he is working for Ben and that he is only there to help everyone escape the island.
  • Locke, Hurley, and Ben, reach the Orchid to find that Keamy is already lying in wait there. Ben instructs Locke to enter the facility through a hidden entryway while he creates a distraction for the mercenaries. The episode ends with Ben revealing himself to Keamy and being knocked out by Keamy's gun.
Well that's it for tonight's episode. Feel free to tell me if I missed anything. Be sure to tune in on May 29th @ 9:00pm Eastern for the two-hour season finale!!

First Post!














Hey everyone! Well, no one! I'm just getting the hang of the whole blog thing but hopefully I will have a real post later today. :] I don't really have a central theme for the blog so expect lots of rants, photography, poetry, anime/manga/game impressions, DnD journals, and whatever other scraps of info I can find on the internet!