Nothing better to do, time to stir shit

Realised that I'm playing too much Neverwinter. Realised that I cannot play Domination due to lottery factor. Realised I need someone 100% alive to kick me up the arse so that I can somehow re-kick A Ranger's Tale and Rogue Economist back to life (in particular, Kork M.Hancock needs critical care and resuscitation). But firstly, let us enjoy some girls, drinks, money.

Seriously guys, the original McCoy was INDEED entitled Girls, Drinks, Money. True to its nature, MOGEF wasn't amused.

On girls

Lars Alterfate: There are only two types of girls worthy of my fancy. Whores and the domineering type.

Caylon the Swift: That's interesting. Pretty sure I belong to the second type.

Lars Alterfate: Gutted to say you're too much of a lady, too little of a decent lass.

On dreams

Garyth Parkins: Enjoy those minstrels' tales while they last, Guy.

Guy Cody: Why?

Garyth Parkins: Because wherever heroes are, monsters will be there.

Guy Cody: That's the whole point about being a hero, right?

Garyth Parkins: You know nothing, laddie buck. But very soon, you'll know everything.

On money

Tristan Ajax: Women and ale, these are the two things a man can't do without.

Aeranath: You forgot to mention money.

On marrying beneath self

Louthes Eliaden: That boy resembles too much of yourself, Moggray.

Moggray Tonn: I don't like where you're gonna take this, Louthes.

Louthes Eliaden: I do not desire giving my daughter's hand to him. If Alestrial must marry, and she will, it must be someone like Jarvis Dukas.

Moggray Tonn: I don't want to see Guy Cody ruined like my past.

Louthes Eliaden: So it's settled then.

Moggray Tonn: If only that girl of yours stays happy within the next two years. Don't forget how you ruined Emma just because I chose to back out.

Louthes Eliaden: Stay your tongue, Northern Lion. Know your status and rank.

Moggray Tonn: Fuck your status, fuck your rank, fuck you.

On power and lack of rape

Eliador de Lioncourt: Power is not a flickering flame, but that most fickle lover.

Alestrial Eliaden: And I truly hope it will leave you soon enough.

Eliador de Lioncourt: Still a brave girl cursed with little sense, I see.

Alestrial Eliaden: And what will you do about it? Buying other men to rape me again?

Eliador de Lioncourt: This, I will not. You are too powerful an individual to be raped again.

Alestrial Eliaden: You monster.

On Elves and sex

Karen Tenias: Is this what you Elves do?

Conwer de Ladrun: If you mean getting yourself penetrated in three areas instead of just one... well, yeah.

On more Elves and one more Elf

Karen Tenias: You also joined your underlings in their debauchery, am I right?

Kerstein de Bladefort: Woman, watch your tongue. I would have forced you on the bed if you're not so valuable a pawn.

On death and more sex

Tristan Ajax: Just curious to know when was your last kill?

Kerstein de Bladefort: Two days ago when I was having sex with a whore.

Tristan Ajax: You killed the whore?

Kerstein de Bladefort: The assassin happened to be her.

Tristan Ajax: I stand corrected then.

On beauties and the beasts

Karen Tenias: I should never have loved one like him.

Hazel de Halfbeau: Yet there you are, totally infatuated with our Wraith Lord.

Karen Tenias: Alas, this I know.

[=] [=] [=] [=]

Lolyx: How did I get here? You better give me an answer, Goldie.

Lars Alterfate: We got here by becoming a flock of crows.

Lolyx: Don't mess around me. If I have a club...

Lars Alterfate: You wouldn't able to do so anyway. Tell me what you see before realising we're here.

Lolyx: I... I saw... a...

Lars Alterfate: What you've seen is a being of a thousand beasts. Someone worse than Demons because of the souls devoured.

[=] [=] [=] [=]

Lukas Brun: What will you do if your beloved one day becomes an animal?

Alestrial Eliaden: Guy will never become one like you or some others.

Lukas Brun: Some others? Fairest daughter of Eliaden, I know a lion when I see one.

[=] [=] [=] [=]

Erik: You can try leashing a wolf at your own risk, lassie. Don't say I didn't warn you if your hand gets bitten off.

Alestrial Eliaden: You speak of Aeranath like some sort of savage beast.

Erik: A wolf knows best the sinful man. This is a common sellsword saying and Aeranath has lived more than long enough as one.

Alestrial Eliaden: As a wolf or sellsword?

Erik: Both.

[=] [=] [=] [=]

Kagetsu no Hyo'Ah: This savagery doesn't disturb you at all?

Aeranath: Do I look like your dog?

[=] [=] [=] [=]

Moggray Tonn: He resembles too much like me.

Southgate Garatt: I'm afraid the Northern Lion might have been surpassed by the cub. Sorry to break this to you, Moggray.

Moggray Tonn: That's why I say he resembles too much like me.

[=] [=] [=] [=]

Fergie Malom: I've yet to seen a fighter crazier than Garyth Parkins himself.

Joes Mouriz: That is until his laddie buck arrives at Merseyside. You may be blind at first, Fergie. But I'm not.

[=] [=] [=] [=]

Lolyx: That man gives me the shivers when we first met. How could you live with him for so long?

Ceres: Because he saved me when I deserved no mercy from my captors.

Lolyx: But they're all rapists! Or at least that's my guess.

Ceres: You're right, Lolyx. They're out to rape me. Arondight may be a beast, but at least he saved me from evil men.

To be cont'd (?)....

I now too sleepy liao...

Long time nvr talk romance liao...

Just some random ramblings to idle my time away. That plus I now getting my ART engine started. Albeit just started.
In other news...
1. My big boss seemed to imply that whoever my future (confirmed?) gf is, double confirm she support Liverpool FC one.
2. Find it really hard to stomach since I don't even know any relevant individual in the relevant dept.
3. Then I suddenly realised Liverpool have became serious chihuahuas mutated like the X-Men this season.
4. Then I realised some people actually know things I don't know a shit abt.

She-Hulk, I advise you pls dun watch South Park unless you know how to sing that Canada song...
Apart from that, South Park should be rated M18/R21. No joking.

Problem Romance?

Don't we all love it? Realists enjoy seeing shit happening, idealists enjoy seeing happily ever after. Romance is actually the next big thing in fantasy after flashy magic. Okay, that's technically a lie since the best fantasy stories will always be those telling the readers what exactly constitutes as human nature (I miss my MIA The Children of Húrin T_T). So what am I gonna ramble in terms of ART? Well, basically nonsense and stuff I guess. She-Hulk was right in insinuating my sanity being somewhere along this bloke's standard.

She-Hulk, I'm sure you dunno who is H.P Lovecraft...

Okay, above image is a bit too extreme. If She-Hulk ever sees me during work again, she'll start saying the same ol'stuff. Might as well downgrade my jerkassery...

With stupidity out of the way...

(don't worry, She-Hulk. I'm talking abt myself)

To be honest, apart from the whole Guy-Ales deal, the only clear cut romance would be the whole Aera-Hyo-Lars love triangle. The skeleton has already been fixed, only thing left is fleshing out everything. That plus I'm gonna have plenty of fun with Aera gatecrashing the whole Guy-Ales deal. Hopefully.

[Note: By gatecrashing, I mean anything romantic in nature should be taken with a pinch of salt unless blatantly portrayed]

So any more romance?

I'm gonna touch a bit on 2 potential pairings. Firstly, some extra trivia.

Joenne Nances: Originally intended to play a meatier role in A Sea of Arms and Craft. However, I decided to have a bit of practice in killing off characters. Not b/c whether she's annoying as hell, but rather I'm out to create a realistic take on the harsh reality synonymous with the plot.

Joyce: I really feel like a jerk in creating a horrible situation for her. Srsly, I still have no exact idea on where to carry her role in the story. Given Southgate's presence though, whatever traumatic scenario I portrayed via some half-assed Hitchcock manner was... well, necessary.

Incidentally, above two lasses actually have hots for Guy Cody. Last thing I ever want as the writer? Guy Cody=stud icon.

Lars Alterfate+Lolyx

When I first introduced Lolyx's character to my brain, the intent was already there. In short, any self-attempt to deny otherwise has been proven futile. Have to say 'tis actually quite enjoyable creating some tsundere girl liking some crouching moron, hidden badass archetype. I'll have to admit there's still someway to go where this romance is concerned. Heck, I can't even give any promises on whether Lars will reciprocate Lolyx's feelings (altho to be fair, Lolyx herself didn't seem to comprehend the actual extent of her romantic feelings towards this bloke).

Most fun part: Blatantly implied, but not yet fleshed out. I'm NOT talking abt whether Lars truly likes Lolyx (since that would be tantamount to GRRM saying Jon and Dany will have kids come the end of ASoIaF. Which ofc is poppycock). Rather, any reader with half a brain would have known Lars being a character living in his own past. Not that every other character are not guilty of this, but Lars really needs some major personal therapy (and by that, I mean only emotionally. Sorry to disappoint you, She-Hulk). I'm still in no-man's land in terms of fleshing out Lolyx's future role. Not so much in terms of nature, but more of extent wise.

Most challenging part: How to develop Lolyx as a character on the whole. So far so good, she's still a certified minor character. To create my ideal romance (?) between these two, I really need to find a stable platform so as to speak. In short, I'm talking abt actual plot mechanism.

Most ideal wild card: Sarel Aphros. I can't divulge too much abt her apart from the fact that I've yet to even complete 1% of the whole idea. Yes, I know Sally Whitemane's clone is hopelessly in love w/our anti-hero. But hey, guess what? We're talking abt a convoluted past beginning with Hyo. Scariest shit? Nothing has been resolved. If only things should be that simple, Sarel wouldn't go apeshit crazy and slash herself on the neck during the ending chapter(s) of The Wolf, the Boy, the Maiden Fair.

Potential wild card: Aeranath. Not that he'll be out to bang Lolyx ofc, but we all know old grudges die hard. Especially if you managed to turn your best friend against yourself due to self-inflicted (?) factors.

Arondight+Ceres

Original draft dictated Ceres to be a rape victim of the worst kind, i.e. nothing is more torturous than imagining an innocent girl raped by her own father. If you think this is sick, let me assure you that this no different from a teacher bailing out of the country just because he happened to knock up his ex-student, after which said girl committed suicide. As for Arondight, it's rather easy for me to create a knight in a shining armour entrance. In the original draft, he's actually much more brutal. Current draft wise, he just ended up being something like this bloke below.

Most fun part: How to draw out whatever romantic feelings present. Given that Ceres is quite obviously a bazillion times saner than her potential bf, this is really saying something in terms of the challenging part.

Most challenging part: How am I gonna connect the dots? Granted Arondight, like 99% of the cast, still remains trapped in his own past. Yet, how am I going to justify whatever status Ceres has within this context? I know many ppl will say "hey, reincarnation lolz!" Unfortunately, I'm in two minds over this. Reincarnation can be really effective once you pull off a blinder. One single cock up though and you're better off blinding yourself otherwise. One of the most iconic success stories in all things reincarnation is Rand al'Thor+Lews Therin Telamon. I know Steve Ang will laugh at me again for being a fan of all things ulu, but there's nothing ulu over The Wheel of Time being a global bestseller. So will I attempt a Robert Jordan? Hard to say b/c I take immense pride in whatever little I'm capable of despite having no hefty bank account as proof of talent (?).

Most ideal wild card: Lolyx. Weird, yes. Due to a moment of personal lulz, I decided to pair the two together as potential soul mates. It really feels weird every now and then, but it really makes for interesting planning. For now, every detail possibly planned is quintessentially zero.

Potential wild card: Lars. This has nothing to do w/the Fate/Zero clip above despite Lars' appearance chiefly inspired by Gil. Rather, I hope whatever memory of previous chapters still stays fresh in the readers' mind. Craziest shit yet? There's no reason warranting their standoff apart from Aeranath's presence. Yes, folks. This is why I chose to include Lolyx as the most ideal wild card.

Greatest wild card or not: Relevant people in his past. Note that I never stated anywhere how distant was Arondight's past, let alone the fact that you can't really trust a person literally (?) barking mad.

Feel like writing some more, but now have to give up the ghost for the night...

The 3 Big Bad(ass) Wolves... II

Der Einzelgänger

["People," Geralt turned his head, "like to invent monsters and monstrosities. Then they seem less monstrous themselves. When they get blind-drunk, cheat, steal, beat their wives, starve an old woman, when they kill a trapped fox with an axe or riddle the last existing unicorn with arrows, they like to think that the Bane entering cottages at daybreak is more monstrous than they are. They feel better then. They find it easier to live." ]

~The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski

Geralt of Rivia and Triss

~by remoraz

How shit happens:

I believe I've heard of the Witcher as a novel series many years ago, but it's only when AnalAlex mentioned this series as a RPG in TFF did I start paying attention. Albeit it's possible that I might have stumbled across The Witcher II during one of my random window shopping spree at Comics Connection during my ITE/NSF era. Interestingly enough, the internet has more of Geralt than Elric.

Houston, we've got a problem here...

One interesting little info gleaned from the internet years ago concerned a certain spat between Moorcock and Sapkowski. In fact I can't even decided whether this was really a spat or some dark humor coming from Moorcock himself. What I do know so far is this-Moorcock doesn't seem to be utterly impressed with the term "White Wolf" being used by a 3rd party individual. Whether this opened the opportunity for Games Workshop, however, remains to be seen. That is unless GW managed to say something about these blokes alrdy...

The cold hard truth about loners

When we talk about loners, many a romantic picture comes to mind. For every Uzumaki Naruto, there will always be a Go Dok-Mi. This is romantic idealism, NOT the reality of all things social exile. I've been through 10+ years of such experience, I have no problem identifying w/idealism. However, realism tend to prevail 9 times out of 10, some might even call this a victory dedicated to cynicism. Because I want to be a cynical dick, I decide to list down the difference in details.

Two lone wolves, plenty(?) of common territory

The Witchers are basically surplus existence by time Geralt made his anti-heroic appearance. You see, the Witchers's greatest problem lies in not being able to adapt. Not towards whatever social norms, but rather the ever changing world. From renowned demon hunters, they have degenerated into sellswords for hire.

While I'm not gonna spoil anything where the True Apostles are concerned, it must also be noted that Aeranath doesn't have much skills in socializing. Or rather none at all. The only thing he's good at is basically summed up by good ol'Geralt himself:

"Power, sex. Sex, Power. They both come down to one thing - ****ing others."

On an interesting side-note, this is also something Jaime Lannister would gladly do.

Morality(?) vs Morality(?)

One thing I admire about Geralt is the fact that he really believes in moral crusaders. Not ideology wise, but rather recognizing their existence. In a world where everybody is living a fantasy world parallel to the Book of Judges, Geralt is nowhere better. The only problem he has? The understanding that every individual is born to be a jerk. Ditto goes for Aeranath also.

Yet, it must also be noted that Geralt does have a sense of humanity left inside. More accurately speaking, he actually knows it and embraces it, no matter how much others view him as a monster of sorts. His moral compass has already gone beyond the black and white divide, however. Instead, his moral standard hinges on an absolute grey territory (interesting enough, the big bad wolf we all know so well is the Canis lupus, i.e. the grey wolf).

[“Only Evil and Greater Evil exist and beyond them, in the shadows, lurks True Evil. True Evil, Geralt, is something you can barely imagine, even if you believe nothing can still surprise you. And sometimes True Evil seizes you by the throat and demands that you choose between it and another, slightly lesser, Evil.”]

~The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski

Aeranath? Well, it's fairly accurate to say that his moral standard is nothing short of chaotic. The only way which I can explain this to you is shown below:

Oops, sallah. Should be this correct anjing-gila

So where will the similarities take Aera?

To be honest, I dunno. Yes, I do have a skeleton stashed somewhere in my creative closet, but srsly everything would still amount to shit unless I manage to do/add things along the way. Can you believe A Sea of Arms and Craft ain't even 10% done?

The 3 Big Bad(ass) Wolves... I

El Lobo Solitario

Elric of Melniboné
~by RosanneHayes

[Elric knew that everything that existed had its opposite. In danger he might find peace. And yet, of course, in peace there was danger. Being an imperfect creature in an imperfect world he would always know paradox. And that was why in paradox there was always a kind of truth. That was why philosophers and soothsayers flourished. In a perfect world there would be no place for them. In an imperfect world the mysteries were always without solution and that was why there was always a great choice of solutions.]

~The Elric Saga Part I by Michael Moorcock

How shit happens:

Let me first state that I know very little about this character apart from the fact that he's badass. Period. This is to say that I only know a few things about Elric.

1. He's the last emperor of Melniboné, an empire of non-humans, i.e. the Melnibonéans.

2. He always has been deeply disturbed by his people's sadistic practices, something which would play a major role in their demise.
3. He actually has a moral compass.
4. Also known (?) as the White Wolf due to his albino looks.

No inspirations then?
Have to say I ended up stumbling upon this character almost by chance. Even though I've sworn off TFF due to RL commitments, I only have many good memories about this site. One of my most notable finds is a few number of classy works/characters. Elric of Melniboné was one of these moments. The biggest problem about the series is this-I don't have time, $$$, and Paypal. This is also why when it comes to random analysis for any given work, I can only fight blind plus my right hand tied behind. Weirdly enough, it seems that info on the Elric saga synopsis is rather scarce.

So it's bullshitting then!
Well, technically so as to speak anyway. However, I ended up discovering Aera's whimsical character being accidentally similar to the Melnibonéans. Yet, his life is never about decadence and this is where the similarities end.
The funny thing about Aeranath is that he's born forever alone, ditto for Elric.
When Michael Moorcock conceived this character, his intent was clear right from the start-to create a main character utterly unlikable, yet capable of invoking sympathy from the audience. No prizes for guessing correctly where this part is going.
Also, the fact that Elric possesses a moral compass=/=he's a good person. It merely means he's perfectly humane and the same goes for Aeranath, i.e excluding the moral compass part. Elric has to live with guilt where his decisions are concerned, Aeranath doesn't have this restraint. In a surreal manner, one can say Aeranath is more of a Joker to Elric's Batman.

Any parallels then?
1. Elric's journey was that of tragedy and loss. This is also the story of Aeranath's past (albeit individual mileage differs).
2. Through a certain somebody, Aeranath managed to find a temporary reprieve from his inner demons. For Elric, we'd be talking about Zarozinia.
3. At the same time, Cymoril can be seen as Sarel Aphros of sorts due to a sense of infatuation. However, it could be argued that Sarel understands Aera more than Cymoril understanding Elric.
4. Not too sure if I'll pull off a Stormbringer where Fragarach is concerned. Still playing w/the idea.
5. Elric has companions. (doh!)
6. Even though the concept of True Apostles was inspired by Nasuverse itself, Aeranath's existence could be seen as 50% Elric, 50% Rule 63.
7. Not too sure if paradox is a pervasive theme for the Elric Saga, but I believe A Ranger's Tale is already an official tale on the beauty behind paradox.

Comparisons: The Real McCoy vs The Pretender
In terms of power level, Elric is quite obviously leaps and bounds ahead. However, Aeranath's lack of guilt would make him 3/4 as dangerous. Or maybe at least 1/2 to 1/3 anyway...
As for any potential Stormbringer vs Fragarach talk, I prefer to comment Elric's accursed sword is ten times more powerful albeit I've got no intention (at least of yet) to create Fragarach as some corruption almighty. Maybe totally not at all, who knows?
When it comes to romance (since every decent fantasy work seems have it, never mind substandard ones like this work of mine), both can be equally obsessed in a good sense. Elric decided to depart from the only life he knew for Zarozinia's sake, Hyo'Ah still remains as the only person capable of taming a wolf. And in case anyone is curious to ask, I'm not gonna entertain any questions on whether Alestrial will continue Hyo'Ah's legacy on a literal basis. Period.
In terms of relentless nature, I admit knowing nothing next to shit on Elric. I can try saying "oh, he's one extremely tough cookie!" where in fact this is 100% true for every main character in fiction, so I'm not about to court intellectual suicide. Perhaps this is why I'm much more comfortable creating Aeranath as a relentless hunter utterly devoid of remorse. If you think failure is a bad thing, you're an idiot. If you think being a loser is a bad thing, you're a moron. Aeranath doesn't become a deadly S.O.B just b/c he happens to own many a goon throughout his years uncounted.

to be cont'd...
Next-Final part on this post, def not this blog.

The 3 Big Bad(ass) Wolves... (more bs on Aeranath-Prelude)

Okay, so apparently I got nothing to do apart from a bit of stomach discomfort. Focus might have gotten compromised, might as well do a post where I'm free to type anything and everything off my head. Oh, and this is just the prelude b/c I need more sleep tonight.

A wolf knows best the sinful man

This is the underlying theme of A Ranger's Tale, 'tis my intent to create my own humanistic take on high fantasy (note that I never used epic b/c the plot is anything but Tolkien-esque). It goes without saying that Aeranath is the titular character. However, as I've said to a churchmate 2-3 weeks earlier (wow, I must be really boliao to have such a photographic memory), the intent is to make Aeranath NOT as the default protagonist, but rather the plot focus. It's a bit like The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings where titular characters count for naught in terms of whether they are main characters or side-cast (to be fair, Sauron was the villain while Bilbo is considered the catalyst character to Thorin's status as the main [anti-] hero). Hence, I'm prepared to create various POV characters compared to just 2-3 (to be frank, I think I've already done much more than just Aeranath, Guy, and Alestrial).

It's a one man journey story where hard questions will be asked from the related cast, whether they like it or not. At the centre of everything lies Aor, a mysterious antagonist who at the same time is the sole reason behind our titular bloke's current life.

As I've said so clearly to my curious churchmate back then, Aeranath could just easily let the world burn if it means an end to his obsession. In fact, I won't be surprised if Aeranath still remains this way if we're talking about current plot progress.

Big Bad Wolf

A token symbol of evil and avarice, wolves have been feared, shunned, and hunted ever since we human beings understood the 26 alphabets. Okay, that's a hyperbole, but I'll have to be frank here: I used to hate wolves also.

You see, man can never be God. Hence, you do NOT assume whatever said by man to be the Word of God unless said speaker can present undisputed proof on an objective basis. Sadly, our irrational fear towards this splendid creation of God is anything but correct (well, Genesis did say all things God have created are good). From superstitions (and I'm not talking about my own local S'poreans) to slanderous tales without scientific basis (unless genetic science can prove to me the possibility of human beings growing fur instead of hair), from Europeans to Native Americans (note that different Native American tribes will have different interpretations on whether wolves are good or evil), it seems that people enjoy talking about four legged beings and not whether a fellow two legged being had just died last night.

For Aeranath, he's truly a wolf in the sense that people shunned him. Those who witnessed his anger and whims will only fear him. He doesn't give a damn to what other people think, this lone-wolf parallel was actually the chief inspiration behind The Known World's version of this creature. Yet, the fear factor and being shunned by others were left clearly untouched.

Going back to the erroneous perception of this magnificent beast, I find it rather fun to use ourselves as the mirror role. Quite obviously, we won't end up being werewolves just by looking at the mirror. However, whatever negative traits homo sapiens superior tend to associate wolves with, we ourselves actually have bundles of it. Let's see what we have here, hmm?

Greedy as a wolf-This is something people are used to saying and seeing, yet not so understanding. Obesity is a global malaise, but you don't see any fat wolves prancing about. Wolves devour a lot of meat in order to last themselves for prolonged period. Wildlife scientists have proven to every ignorant Dick and Jane that their chance of a successful hunt is quite below the median percentage, i.e. 50%. Due to the most obvious, people living a few centuries ago were unable to comprehend this.

How this played out for Aeranath:

He's a sellsword. In short, his loyalty lies in survival and purse strings. Money isn't everything, but without money you're nothing.

Savage as a wolf-Wolves are believed to be malicious. In particular, the ancient Chinese tend to associate them with the northern nomadic tribes on every sinful charge possible. In fact, many a believer would have no qualms in arguing home that wolves enjoy feeding on human flesh.

How this plays out for Aeranath:

He can be extremely bloodthirsty and callous whenever he wants to. Once he drew Fragarach, there's no turning back.

Perverted and lecherous-This is something we the Chinese (note that Chinese in this context is NOT China-exclusive) would associate wolves with. As someone familiar with the local media and beyond, I can assure you that the term 色狼 has been spammed in virtually every news and TV media possible.

How this plays out for Aeranath:

Ever ready for bitches, whores, and noble girls. Need I say anything more?

Above symbolic stereotyping will always result wolves getting judged harshly, be it media or actual stupidity. However, I must also add in that:

1. To be greedy is to be humane.

2. Human beings are perfectly capable of murder unless they believe themselves to be in error.

3. I always enjoy making fun of the stereotypical guy due to a legitimate reason.

Compare above factors with Aeranath and we'll get:

1. Aeranath only earns enough to survive and enjoy basic pleasures.

2. Aeranath doesn't need a court trial if he wants you dead.

3. At least Aeranath isn't guilty of rape (yes, 'tis officially legit).

I'm NOT saying Aeranath is a better individual than the worst criminals humanity has ever seen. In fact, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't mind being associated with people like Adolf Hitler and Nero, historical individuals cursed with infamy. Rather, he'd prefer being an actual scoundrel than being a hypocrite. At least an honest man will never judge and you can be damned sure as hell that an actual scoundrel is an honest one.

Proof that I'm no liar in this context...

To be cont'd...

A/N: Suddenly realised one thing I failed to notice till recently-This

Onto 2014... (Part 3)

Let's see if I can continue writing this mini series lol! Either that or I might finish my Trinity Blood post(s) next. Before I start, however, I suddenly realised that certain East Asian nation below managed to stoke my inner fiery muse.

Note-That was like 2-4 days ago lol!

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V

Lara von Dirkwind

Word of Creator:
I'll have to admit I'm guilty of creating many a whim character. Since I enjoy doing pointless inspiration, might as well make the most out of nothing, ne? Apparently, I seem to enjoy creating seductresses. After Sarel Aphros, we have Lara von Dirkwind. tbh I actually enjoy creating such characters compared to the spoilt bratty ones (sorry, Joenne) since it's really fun to create strong female characters defying the standard heroine cliche.

Value Factor:

A vital side character come A Sea of Arms and Craft? I believe I did promise an unbelievable promise that I will pull off something like this one below:

Trolling(?) aside, one interesting add-on I did on Lara is her ability to blink/warp/teleport/whatever you call that. This is something unique to Rangers, so does it mean Aeranath have a hand in this? Well, given his heck-care attitude, I doubt so. Yet, it must also be added that Moggray knew her. Not in a romantic sense ofc, but from how a fellow warrior knows another. Case in point: I doubt Moggray actually knew Lara that well.

Hence Cupid's arrow beckons-Joenne Nances
I find it quite interesting to create and try fleshing out a bisexual. Not many fantasy works actually touched on that despite my perception that bisexuality is perfectly fine when it comes to romantic novels. In particular, Joenne's small bust actually *compliments* Lara's *assets* finely. Not in an erotic sense (although the erotic factor is indeed there), but rather a symbol of her sexuality. Yes, I know guys enjoy drooling over two lesbians blessed with hourglass figure, but forgive me when I say reality is my BFF.

Hence Cupid's arrow beckons-Guy Cody
In spite of confidence and maturity newly found, it seems that our resident lion will forever be a cub before the fairer sex. Not that Lara should be considered "fairer sex" though since this is a character not above in using sex to further whatever agenda or aim. Then again, I blame not anyone invoking the word "nymphomaniac".

Appearance:
A redhead blessed with an hourglass figure, it's quite clear on where I intend to take this. Her general look is based on how I'd envision a female Half-Elven pirate on generic basis. The fact that I used an eye cloth/bandage instead an eye patch was pretty much because I really like a particular artwork of Xiahou Dun for Sega's Sangokushi Taisen series (the artist in question was Mashima Hiro whose claim to fame is Rave and Fairy Tail). In fact, I realised that if Kiera Knightly was a real pirate, this should be how she looked like.

Banphrionsa parallel: Rán

Visual anime: Revy (Black Lagoon)

Yes, I know the persona doesn't tally up, but somehow that's what I can find.


Sarel Aphros

Word of Creator:
Inspired by Sally Whitemane, the intent was to create a strong female character who is capable of anything and everything to get her way. Interestingly though, Sally Whitemane's status as my visual muse only stepped in during the second draft (which to be fair, the first version nvr got this far anyway). A bisexual like Lara, Sarel was the one character convincing me to go full throttle in this area.

Value Factor:
'Tis a no-brainer to say that she's the second most vital female character after Ales. Quite obviously one of, if not the most broken female characters thus far. Like Lara, she won't hesitate to use sex as a tool (case in point: Guy Cody). However, one could also say she's much more of a certified nymphomaniac compared to Lara due to blatant in-plot evidence.

Hence Cupid's arrow beckons-Guy Cody
In the first arc, we all knew what happened (although to be fair, I realised I can't do graphic scenes even just to save my own life). It's apparent that she wanted to make use of Guy and what's the best way to do it? Even though her plan was considered a failure in terms of letting him got away, we must also understand that her initial plan all the while was arranging a fatal duel between him and Aera. This is one hell of an interesting area to flesh out especially since this involves Guy Cody's future as a vital player. 

Hence Cupid's arrow beckons-Aeranath
Only exposed towards the end of The Wolf, the Boy, the Maiden Fair arc, we can see from a bloody mile away that she really has case of hopeless infatuation. Interestingly, it seems that said affection might have been tampered by her own joyful past. With Hyo'Ah, Lars, and of course Aera himself. In fact, I might be trying some stunt(s) on her original name, Nanaya no Geun'Jin, in the future due to whatever superstitious implication(?) behind this name.  

Appearance:
White hair reaching till her shoulders, an hourglass figure, a seductive pose 24/7... all these point to the femme fatale trope. Also, her crimson red eyes was also something taken (pardon my pun pls) from Sally Whitemane as well. iirc what truly sealed th deal was Sally Whitemane being every Warcraft fanboy's greatest (wet)dream. 

Source: WoW Wiki

Banphrionsa parallel: Clíodhna

Visual anime: Canaan (CANAAN)

Again a mismatch on many factors, yes I know that.

Kagetsu no Hyo'Ah

Word of Creator:
Inspired by some real life celeb named BoA, I believe any and every K-pop fan knows who she is (even though I've now grown cold over 90% of whatever mainstream stuff). However, it seems that visual inspiration ain't enough, that's where Ned Stark's deceased sister came into the picture.

Value Factor:
It felt surreal to create a female character along Lyanna's archetype, I find it a coincidental irony to note that the Starks' symbol being a dire wolf (note-Aeranath's symbolic animal is a wolf). Freak things happening aside, one could call Hyo'Ah a she-wolf. We all know the mama grizzly trope, why not create a wolf version? Fiercely protective over people around her, I'll have to say she's blessed with a maternal tendency despite single and available. Oh, and did I actually mention this creator here ended up offing her character off-screen?

Hence Cupid's arrow beckons-Aeranath
'Tis my worst kept secret thus far, that without spilling the beans I've already outed this romance. Yet, I'm still hell bent on creating a vital plot point where this tragic romance is concerned. Ambitious, yes. In fact, seeing G.R.R Martin doing a literal Rhaegar-Lyanna made me wonder whether I can create my own version albeit a figurative variation.

Hence Cupid's arrow beckons-Lars Alterfate
Same as above, only 'tis no secret to guess Lars was truly a sad lovelorn bastard lol! We all know A Ranger's tale is brimming with potential character rivalry 日本 スタイル, this one ain't no different. Have to admit many an important detail is still lacking, the most notable being what actually caused Lars' self-guilt and Aeranath's hatred towards him. Sounds like Rhaegar-Lyanna-Robert subverted? Sorry hor, I where got so smart one!

Appearance:

Long black hair reaching her upper waist and quite a beautiful girl, the fact that she's a Cinha might have upped the ante (note from limpeh-Cinha=East Asians). She's a good singer (or at least implied to be so), a fine dancer (or at least implied to be so), and a kind hearted lass who somehow would never fit into that cynical world better known as The Known World (wow, is that a multiple pun-job I'm doing here?)

Banphrionsa parallel: Brigid

Visual anime: Rem Saverem (Trigun)

Lyrics

Alestrial Eliaden

Word of Creator:
Is there anything I need to add? I think not.

Value Factor:
Every drama must have a female lead alongside the male protagonist, Ales is definitely it. Now before people start second guessing what kind of drama, let me kill off any speculation by saying any and all. Jokes aside, I do find it a blast to create yet another character who doesn't really fit in, The Known World wise. Refer back to Hyo'Ah's part and you'll know why I'm saying that. I find it fun to create Alestrial first, then Hyo'Ah. To be honest, Alestrial actually popped up much earlier than her timeline predecessor and it really sounds ironic from a story teller's point of view (read-could I have created Hyo'Ah first in my brain?). The Wolf, the Boy, the Maiden Fair was all about a semi-naive Ales where she knew what's wrong with her surrounding world. Whether such logic extends to anywhere beyond the Kalaran Empire remains to be seen, but I believe deep in her heart, saving people remains a dream still attainable. Of course I don't have to elaborate on what a certain evil gay Elf did to her, the most interesting question right now is whether she's still able to perceive the world by her original standard. Or rather perceiving herself perhaps?

Hence Cupid's arrow beckons-Guy Cody
First arc was all about her relationship with this dumb sandy blond. Yet, this romance was also intended as a conflict between living in a luxurious prison or running free without actual assurance. The former signifies stability and inner slavery, the latter representing unknown risks and outright liberation. I find this "versus logic" to be quite enjoyable as in this is something every human being has to face 24/7. Note that this portion of my talk should be seen as something abstract, so please don't get me into any trouble if you feel like worshiping the unnamed gods of anarchy.

Hence Cupid's arrow beckons-Aeranath
This is the black bloke symbolising Ales' only dream. While it's too early to deduce any potential romance (or maybe the lack thereof depending on your guessing), 'tis without a doubt that Aeranath's current predicament is that of an inner hell. We all know the term "living hell", Aeranath is indeed living in hell. It's like a little girl seeing an injured puppy abandoned in the wilds. Despite whatever danger and objections faced, there's no way this little girl would back down. Why? Because she's born this way. Why all the talk on danger and objections? Because said pup was a wolf cub and no one would ever love a wolf (read: Man vs Nature).

Appearance:
Initially a Cinha girl dressed like a lady she was, I decided to create a massive change of sorts come A Sea of Arms and Craft. This is due to plot necessity and character development amounting to outright BSOD. In The Wolf, the Boy, the Maiden Fair, her hair was long and curly/wavy. Come A Sea of Arms and Craft, her hair was cut short. In Eliador de Lioncourt's own words, "a harlot's look". I find it ironically true given what happened on that Dwarven ship. Nearly became a given whore, currently no different from one. Well, I never said I'm guilty of playing nice, 죄송합니다.

Banphrionsa parallel: Áine

Visual anime: Arturia/Sabre (Fate/Zero)

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Onto 2014... (Part 2)

So now I made a promise with myself: that from tonight onward my only resolution for X'mas and New Year is to stay disciplined and focused. Apparently, one less distraction can do many wonders. :)

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Joenne Nances

Word of Creator:

Most definitely the most annoying female character I've created thus far. To be honest, I won't blame any haters for wishing some horrendous end where she's concerned, but that's because I've been through the whole fanboy hate (trust me when I say I really hate that Ana(l)kin Skywalker in the SW prelude series). In fact come to think of it, she's actually twice as annoying in my initial draft.

Value factor:

Initially deemed an extra, now still remains as one. However, her friendship with Ales shouldn't be discounted. While I've yet to 100% map out her actual role in A Sea of Arms and Craft, I'll have to say that whatever planning is already like 40% done. Remaining 60% are mostly important details yet to be thought out.

Hence Cupid's arrow beckons-Guy Cody

In the first draft, she also had a thing for Jase Steele. However, I decided to scrap this part due to the risk of pointless bullshit (read: filler scenes doing nothing next to shit on exploration/development value). Guy Cody is another issue altogether though due to his romantic ties with Ales. Let's get this straight, folks: together with Karen Tenias and Ales, they're pretty much the Three Beauties of the North (or so I remembered thus far where whatever relevant chapter[s] is concerned).

Appearance:

A willowy frame with short wavy hair reaching her shoulders, quite obviously this brunette has certain, erm, shall we say, lady issues. 'Tis a no-brainer when it comes to her flat chest, this was something inspired (?) by Tohno Akiha of Tsukihime. Funnily enough, I wasn't thinking clearly when I created her short haired image. Why? Because much earlier on, a certain evil gay Elf actually commented that having short hair means being a prostitute. Therefore, either I'd have to do a minor retcon or I could choose to be a stubborn jackass while devising ways to wriggle my ass out of this retarded oxymoron. No prizes for guessing the correct answer.

KPI Féminin: C+

Flower parallel

Geranium: "folly"

Yeras Wynda

Word of Creator:

Initially another Joenne, I decided to create a darker twist to her character. This is not because I'm a jerk, but rather because I see myself as a story teller. Therefore, no one should ever tell me to run for political office.

Value factor:

'Tis a no brainer to know by now that she's nothing more than  broken toy. While retaining her own sense of self-awareness, I'd have to say poor girl is already scarred beyond hope. However, this only heightens her character stock. Where she will go in A Sea of Arms and Craft remains a big question mark. Yet, it must be stated that no matter what, Ales' decisions will define what we term as make-or-break.

Hence Cupid's arrow beckons-Lukas Brun

Nothing much is revealed about this surreal relationship so far. In fact, I can't even be sure whether I should do a convoluted romance between the two due to Lukas' sexuality. Not that I'm homophobic anyway.

Note-it must be said Yeras is the only named female character so far 100% comfortable around a homosexual.

Hence Cupid's arrow beckons-Guy Cody

This is where the fun starts. Apparently. there's something about Guy which captivated her eyes. Unlike Joenne who only noticed how sexy he is, her attraction stems more likely from emotions. Can't reveal anything more though unless people want to speculate how this will affect Ales' character and the relationship between the two.

Hence Cupid's arrow beckons-Moggray Tonn

Implied to be 200% plot-centric, I can only say this much. And it seems that Moggray grieves a lot over his past eighteen years ago.

Appearance:

Freckles and with fiery hair, Yeras' look is intended to give us an innocent lass image. At the same time, I also feel the need to hammer home her boisterous nature.

KPI Féminin: B-

Flower parallel

Anemone: "forsaken"

Ceres

Word of Creator:

This is a character arguably created out of the blue. Initially, there's no such character on the roster. That was before I really got myself started into the story. Then again, same standard applies for many other named characters also.

Value factor:

At first, I created her as an object of sexual tragedy. Then I decided to play around with this trope. In short, the current Ceres is much better off compared to before. However, my plans for whatever "past" relevant still stay unchanged. Oh, and current version is capable of speech unlike whatever you've seen in the first draft.

Hence Cupid's arrow beckons-Arondight

There's something in her which invokes in this Berserker painful memories from the past. Suffice to say, Arondight's Ceres didn't exactly end up happily ever after with whichever deserving gentleman. Failed to make another appearance so far bar a minor scene with the Fianna in the beginning chapters. Can't say the same for future chapters/arcs though.

Appearance:

Like Yeras, Ceres is also a redhead albeit I do see her hair colour as a duller shade of auburn. Quite beautiful, but too many unknown factors otherwise.

KPI Féminin: B+

Flower parallel

Acacia blossom: "concealed love"

Lolyx

Word of Creator:
Arguably the first character created out of the blue (hey, I never said Ceres was the first!), I find it surprisingly easy to define her character. While I already had my own image of her down pat, trying to devise a clear-cut personality was another story altogether. Joenne's situation is more of me messing around at first, but Lolyx is different scenario. Hey, the fact that I created a character out of nowhere doesn't mean anything, okay?!

Value factor:
On the first glance, Karen might seem to be the most vital supporting girl. However, it's also easy to have neutrals and fans alike saying Dany is the Prince that was Promised where in fact, Jon's claim to being Azor Ahai reborn is arguably stronger via proof thrice as subtle. I find it to be a freak coincidence that Jon's dream in A Dance with Dragons actually held a similar impact to Lolyx's otherworldly vision. As I said, 'tis a freak coincidence. In the words of my secondary school science teacher during the batshit crazy era of Class 2H, sometimes freak things happen (that was pertaining to understanding why twins can be conceived rather than just one child at a time).

Hence Cupid's arrow beckons-Lars Alterfate
The tsundere trope is something widely used in Japanese creativity, I'd be a liar to say everything A Ranger's Tale starts from A Song of Ice and Fire, Elric of Melniboné, Discworld, Arda/Middle Earth, etc. I prefer to blame VNs with eroge elements despite having 0% in actual experience. More specifically this and that. At the same time, it must be mentioned that whatever potential romance on the cards would only mean one simple term: major plot point. I'm pretty sure many (or more likely verily few) people keeping tabs on this story will recall what she saw two times in a row.

Appearance:
I think she's the only Cinha in this post. Due to my insistence on creating an East Asian people for The Known World (note-I use this term instead of the story title due to that most obvious pride every creative bastard is renowned for), I ended up creating a tanned girl instead of a fair one. Nothing can be more absurd than stupid arguments on whether Asians are descended from Ham or Japheth. 喂, てめ達! 이 참조! Verbal abuse aside, I suddenly realised that if you're tanned and dusky, it merely means society shouldn't be working as a tanner. I may be a half-cynic, but even the beast or a frog can turn out to be a prince, no?

KPI Féminin: B+

Flower parallel

Dandelion: "happiness"

Karen Tenias

Word of Creator:
Despite me having nothing near to shit on actual experience, I still do enjoy dissecting G.R.R Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, better known as HBO's Game of Thrones. Yes, I'm guilty of uploading many a YouTube clip, but believe me when I say I've yet to expose myself to Westeros. Half figuratively and half literally (to Kiel: Renly is officially dead, Loras is still alive. Don't make me repeat this again). So what does Lady Karen have to do with ASoIaF? Watch the space below, peeps.

Value factor:
Granad Tenias isn't a statement of hate towards any family. I need to make this clear because in my veins run the fiery blood of North East football. In short, I know which family owns Granada CF, I can only express respect and heaviness towards Gianfranco Zola resigning the Watford job. At least no one forced this foreign talent away, I call this reserving the harshest standard for the self. With that being said, Granad was inspired by Walder Frey. What it means for Karen at this point is very simple: Edmure Tully, you're surely one hell of an enviable bastard. It's quite exciting to know that I might be thinking out of the box when it comes to using potential romance to further anything but romance, hopefully I will one day say "totes worth it". :)

Hence Cupid's arrow beckons-Jase Steele
Fiercely protective towards his beloved Lady Karen, 'tis my intent right from the beginning to portray him as some overprotective secret admirer. Or is he? Regardless of random questions bandied around thus far(?), I find it amazing that House Steele being part of the elite nobility was actually an idea coined AFTER his introduction. Let's not forget how much Granad hates Louthes, shall we? After all, making war is something mutual nine chances out of ten.

Hence Cupid's arrow beckons-Aeranath
Pretty sure nothing will happen out of this albeit a wild card can either be a red herring or a big fish waiting to be fried. In particular, the eerily similar manner where Aera saved Karen was something deliberately planned by yours truly. ;)

Hence Cupid's arrow beckons-Guy Cody
I really enjoy doing the part where our beloved lion in red saved the day once again. He's done it before (where Mayweather Lucs was concerned), so why not do this the second time? It must be said that Karen has always been her own lady, she's not someone believing in fairy tales and malicious rumours. In this sense, she's another Ales. Therefore, whatever torch she's been carrying for some insignificant smallborne shouldn't be dismissed as something we're used to seeing in every given K-drama (or the entire Twilight series as well to be brutally fair).

Hence Cupid's arrow beckons-Kerstein de Bladefort
Yet to make his official debut, let us all play the guessing game over a pint or two. Oh, and he's already been mentioned in the same chapter where Tristan Ajax finally made his debut.

Looks:
An absolute stunner apart from having a petite build instead of statuesque, I find it enjoyable to create a character whose looks actually contradicts her real self. Apart from having small breasts (wait, that sounds so perverted for no apparent reason... -_-), everything about her just screams "smoking hot!" especially her, erm... derrière. Is it any wonder to see her facing the constant danger of rape? Ironically, said danger seems to hail its source from her father more than her looks (cue whatever unintentional consequences resultant-House Frey and the Red Wedding).

KPI Féminin: A-

Flower parallel

Daffodil: "unrequited love"

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A/N: Whatever flower info bandied here is NOT me doing this. Period.

Onto 2014...

Since I'll most likely have no hope for 2013. At least (hopefully) next year will be a better year. If there's anything my Christian faith has taught me, it ain't over till the fat lady sings, be it for better or worse. Oh,and one more thing: This post is inspired by TNP's cover story on swords. At the same time, I realised it's not good to attach yourself too much on any character(s) you created. Case in point: Flower Boys Next Door actually played a blinder in terms of being the catalyst.

Aeranath

Word of Creator:

Arguably the one of, if not the most dangerous character thus far. Considered titular, but not necessarily the default main character since my vision for A Ranger's Tale is more inclined towards G.R.R Martin's style, i.e. A Song of Ice and Fire.

Danger factor:

Ever wondered how dangerous a person can get once he/she believes there's nothing to lose in life? Human beings are born to be motivated, without motivation we all would just be living machines or human AI. This is not someone driven crazy by despair, but rather someone indifferent to it. Is there a motivation behind his character? Yes. Does said motivation equates to having something to lose? Apparently no. You can't call him insane, but he's not anything but normal. Once he goes full aggro, you're seriously ****ed. After all, I'm pretty sure Aeranath doesn't mind taking others down with him.

Truth-Wolf

Not gonna spoil the Truth aspect for you guys b/c it's actually integral to the backdrop and relevant plot points (90% most likely this). However, the wolves in The Known World are solitary hunters unless having a mate and cubs. Aeranath's life is basically a like-for-like version where the only reason why he's forever alone is due to a stubborn refusal to socialise. Not to mention his resultant ineptitude in communication. All in all your silent anti-hero archetype whose only problem lies in nobody capable of predicting what he'll do next.

Grail-Fragarach

Alias: The Answerer

In Irish mythology, Fragarach was a sword capable of penetrating armour and killing the attacker. The only catch? Said attacker refers to the one attacking the wielder. In short, it's the ultimate Weapon of Single Annihilation once we start talking about counterattacking. Like his Grail, the only thing fairly accurate about Aeranath is the fact that he's brutally vindictive. How we define vindictive in this context though is beyond our call and judgment. If Aeranath says **** you, it means you're seriously ****ed.

Danger KPI: A+

Guy Cody

Word of Creator:

Utterly stupid and dumb, this is the type of character many readers would like to call the Cinderella Man. Either this kind of character rises to prominence or he will die like some gutter trash no reader gives a two hoots about. Thankfully, Guy belongs to the former. In spite of being likened to a lion, he's actually much more of a Robb Stark than any Lannister (which doesn't really say much unless we're talking about Northern honour pissed upon by Walder Frey and Roose Bolton).

Danger factor:

Do nothing and he will do nothing. Do anything to his friends and you're seriously ****ed. Say even a disparaging remark against Alestrial Eliaden and he'll find ways to use that nearest iron pole.

Truth-Lion

Not only was he the dumbest of all Red Lions, he's also the Red Lion with highest potential. Since we're talking about soldiers and militias, you can be verily sure that classroom education is not part of the criteria. Upright and loyalty, these are two major traits one would associate with the proverbial king of beasts.

Grail-Gae Buidhe and Gae Dearg

Alias: Golden Barb of Mortality and Crimson Thorn of Fatality

In Irish mythology (more specifically the Fenian Cycle), Gae Buidhe and Gae Dearg were the two spears wielded by Diarmuid Ua Duibhne. Despite the bonfire of martial romanticism possibly sparked by Japanese popular media, it's actually 100% impossible to dual wield spears due to weapon length and the absurd balance needed. Gae Buidhe would be used during adventures of lesser danger while Gae Dearg was used for situations potentially fatal. Likewise, Gae Buidhe and Gae Dearg here are actually two different entities meant for two different circumstances. Diarmuid was also known as a lady killer partially due to a magical love spot (possibly a geis). Compare it with Guy Cody's current situation and you'll get the drift. Also, the ancient Irish/Celts were known to be proponents of honour in duels.

Danger KPI: C-

To be cont'd...

b/c I now have to knuckle down and discipline myself

Here's to a sad 2013 and (hopefully) a better 2014...

Reason one why 2013 sucks for me:
Apparently, S'pore football got no $$$ in the bank and will most likely be defeated in a duel of football. I'll have no issues tho should Harimau Muda really win 3rd place. The only bummer tho would be Vincent "not Peter Ridsdale" Tan being a M'sian and I'd hate to be a Cardiff fan.

P.S: Thankfully, there's nothing between us (the Boro) and Peter "I not from SCDF" Lim. While I prefer to give my fellow countryman that benefit of doubt, a national history of disastrous foreign invasion managed to kill off every shred of optimism.

Reason two why 2013 sucks for me:
Under Aitor "Amigo del Nordeste" Karanka, we managed to steady the morale, but not the ship. We got undone by a stupid Jason Senpuukyaku vs ****ing dirty Leeds while against Derby, we lost b/c some 3rd party Alliance gamer managed to type "unite the clans" within a 34 min spell. Versus Brighton, we managed to retain the ball off their park w/o scoring that early goal which could have easily scored us 3 pts and a major boost. All in all, not even this bloke can save us till 2014.

P.S: iirc we can still qualify for playoff spot. But only if Spider-Man can team up w/Wolverine (something I'm eager to try once I managed to earn 200K silver for Logan).

Reason three why 2013 sucks for me:
No life, no $$$, no gf, no proper discipline on time management. Srsly, surely it can't get any worse, right?

P.S: Okay, maybe it will...

So might as well do something while waiting for "that special someone"

Since I got nothing better to write (okay, I'm technically lying since there are many outstanding stuff), might as well do my own rambling on A Ranger's Tale. Or rather mostly The Known World.

The Kalaran Empire

Inspired by the Roman Empire, my intention is all about creating a civilisation priding itself in intellectual achievements. While many critics(?) may have spotted certain elements of the present day America, they were mostly coincidental. Unless I happen to recall things which sullies a nation's reputation that is.

Military:

I'll have to say that the chief elements pertaining to military is clearly Roman inspired. In fact, it's more of a case of me ripping off the names. It's like 99% of everything was derived 100% from actual history. Maybe even 100%, who knows?

Moral police vs moron police:

On the society, it's inspired from everywhere possible. In particular, I enjoy delving into the whole "morals or morons" argument. I know a lot has been said on religion being the root of all evil. I call this out to be an almighty load of bollocks unless someone can prove to me that every atheist is incapable of rape, murder, arson, etc. A lot of unspeakable stuff you've seen here is all about human nature. This is why I never wrote anything on whichever characters relevant when it comes to personal faith (of course exceptions DO exist, but the key is "exceptions", not "exist").

Something about America:

There are quite a few minor episodes influenced by recent incidents 5-10 years back. However, I'll have to label them as fillers. Why? Because there's such a thing called character exploration.

Flashpoint-Aeranath

A lot of stuff pertaining to my titular character's (lack of) moral compass has to do with the concept of human hypocrisy. In a very real sense, he's no idol worshiper and neither is he a self-righteous narcissist. Whatever revealed via the Kalaran end is my own way of showing all that is wrong thus far, know that everything is only the beginning though. In fact, his status as an atheist doesn't mean anything when it comes to how he sees the world rather than religion.

Education:

Out of all the three Northern factions, the Kalarans have arguably the highest educational standard on average. This is in line with the advancement of the Romans. In fact, I think I've included a minor mention in the first arc where a centralised system of elite education was concerned.

One of the most notable aspects is how I planned the nobility's education. I did a bit of thought processing and much more modding when it comes to this. The key focus I needed to create all the while is a separation between the haves and have-nots. I don't have to preach any heroic ideology here because segregation based on status had always been true when it comes to the Middle Ages. After all, The Known World is a high fantasy world.

Racism:

The multiracial/xenophobia factor might seemed familiar to many of my fellow Singaporeans, but seriously this is actually an omnipresent challenge faced by first world nations. Whether you like it or not, conflict is something unavoidable. The Little India Riot may seemed like a national disaster, but I've seen stuff 10 x worse. One interesting conclusion I've derived from the whole immigration complication is this: globalisation without proper integration. Let's not point fingers at each other over this, people have been doing it for donkey years. The late horror-fantasy maestro H.P Lovecraft was a certified racist on social grounds, NOT lineage or colour.

After one whole paragraph of digression, what I want to say is this: everything multiracial and xenophobia is inspired by this global trend more than any given country. Say what you like, I only write what I want.

The Red Lions:

This is where English footballing culture reared its head. The unity factor was indeed inspired by whatever I know on NSF. Even though I ended up as a PES E clerk, that doesn't mean I should deprive myself of constructive knowledge. At the same time, their rough demeanour also symbolises an everyday social conflict between the underprivileged and elite. Pretty much 90+% of whatever inspiration involved is 90% modded pertaining to the real football teams in England. Apparently, we have Manchester United and Liverpool/Everton, Arsenal and Tottenham, Blackburn and Blackpool, Chelsea and Cardiff, Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough. You don't have to look hard enough to know the actual real life football rivalries going on here.

Teesside:

Quite similar to real deal, I'm ashamed to say everything was inspired by the general situation over there in Middlesbrough itself. Granted I'm doing an over-generalisation here, but mainly the idea came from how folks perceive the area to be. I actually went Google once or twice due to curiosity and believe me when I say it's not a nice feeling reading whatever said in blogs, websites, and polls.

Flashpoint-Guy Cody

This is the one fellow who epitomises all things Boro. At least he's pretty much my own personification on what Middlesbrough is all about as a football club. Firstly, his average looks is a parallel to the unfashionable nature of my beloved team. Secondly, his brash and oft dumb nature would (hopefully) draw comparisons with the stereotypical lad from the North East(not that I'm good in understanding 90% of national/racial stereotypes anyway). Thirdly, those whom he knew were pretty much inspired by real footballing personalities:

Moggray Tonn is Tony Mowbray (definitely still a club legend)

Southgate Garatt is Gareth Southgate (still have to give credit to him as an exceptional player just like Alan Shearer)

Pallister Scholes is Gary Pallister+Paul Scholes (one is our finest homegrown defensive talent, the other earned my respect through merit and character)

Garyth Parkins is Gary Parkinson (stay strong, Parky. Sorry I offed your character so soon)

Catterm Leen is Lee Cattermole (decent footballer abandoned by some old-school system which finally earned Greg Dyke's politically incorrect gesture 200% justified)

Lukas Brun (inspired by Lukas Jutkiewicz and a certain gay Austrian from British Jewtown)

A/N: Above list is non-exhaustive. However, the paranoid S.O.B in me truly fear for whatever homosexual fan shipping between Guy and Lukas. Just don't tell me that straight in the face.

Most importantly of all, however, is the fact that his rapid growth as a character symbolises every SSB's fanciful dream. We all will still speak out with pride when it comes to our UEFA Cup exploits, it was this very footballing romanticism conceiving the core of his character. We all enjoy the whole zero-turned-hero Cinderella man. Who doesn't? Sadly, reality will only allow this to happen one out of a million tries. Yet, it must also be said that Guy Cody also represents the kind of future where 1986 shall be repeated once more again.

Add A/N: I will not shy away from the fact that it has always been my dream to see Boro lauded for footballing excellence. I will also not shy away from expressing an outside (albeit naive) hope that I can get my arse over there in the good ol' North East contributing whatever little I can offer to Middlesbrough F.C.

To be (hopefully) cont'd...