Kassarock

Lost Mine Of Phandelver (D&D 5e) (CLOSED)

No worries, thanks for the heads up chief

Monkeys and Typewriters

The 200 character limit to the status bar is proving a barrier to our nuanced discussion of randomly created Art, such as a monkey at a typewriter producing a great novel, so I created this thread instead since apparently we all had something to say about it.

I'll lay out my position, for me one of the fundamental pleasures of art is the communication of ideas and emotion. The idea that someone thought about and tried to evoke something in a piece that I am then experiencing second hand. It's like glimpsing the soul of another, and its even more remarkable when this exchange happens over the great cultural and temporal distances. I've laughed at jokes and cried at words written by another human being over two thousand years ago and in another language, a dead language, would this exchange be as remarkable if those words had been assembled instead by random chance? Personally, no I think not.

That is not to say that random chance cannot create beautiful things, or things in which I can derive pleasure and greatly enjoy. Art created by chance can also be filled with meaning, but only ever the meaning of the beholder. There is no communication of ideas, there is no connection beyond the self, no dialog. I think this will always leave randomly created art somewhat poorer than its consciously constructed cousin.

Anyway, do you think that art can be created by machines or through random chance? If so, do you believe that the art is of the same value as if it had been created by a human? If not, why not?

Have at it!

S̴T̴O̴R̴M̴C̴L̴O̴A̴K̴ : Rise of Tyranny (Interest Gathering)

I finished editing up a sheet for my Dunmer former Buoyant Armiger, Velyn Virith, expanded on it a bit and formatted it in my own way. I'm quite pleased with the outcome actually, this is the most ambitious BBcoded sheet I've ever attempted I think. Let me know if you want any edits!

Velyn Virith

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Velyn Virith

Original Art by Minttu ____________________________________________________ Character Information Name - Velyn Virith of House Redoran Gender - Male Race - Dunmer Faction - House Redoran (former), Buoyant Armigers (former) Class - Spellsword Birthsign - The Lady ____________________________________________________ Character Skills Martial Velyn is a skilled martial combatant with both the use of the spear and the short blade. His fighting style is fast and agile, using lighter armour to prioritise speed over protection. Though age saps his strength and agility, Velyn more than makes up for that in hundreds of years of martial experience. Magical Though some Buoyant Armigers were once great users magic, Velyn is not among their ranks. He understands the basics of magical practice but is no expert. He has some small skill in the schools of Restoration and Alteration. The Healing of Sick was a core tenant of the Tribunal Temple, and all those who served it learned something of the restorative arts. He also learned some of the tricks of the Buoyant Armigers, such as water breathing and walking, as well as the art of magically shielding the body in combat. Miscellenous In his youth Velyn was a fine acrobat, but such exertions are much beyond him now, he still however retains a soft tread and an excellent balance. Velyn's other great skill has only increased with age, his eloquent speech. Velyn has increasingly dedicated himself to the study and creation of poetry in his later years. ____________________________________________________ Character Equipment Weapons Chitin Glaive, fashioned in the traditional Dumner style. Pair of curved steel Wakizashis worn at the waist. Armour Worn Chitin Armour, much patched and repaired. Enchanted Items Amulet of Fortify Stamina, made from a carved Guar tooth. The Chitin Glaive also bears a minor flame enchantment. Miscellaneous Ragged Red Travelling Cloak. Spare Bundle of Clothing. A Few Days of Rations. Jar of Matze, a rice wine from Morrowind. Ceramic Drinking Cups. Patterned Fabric Bedroll. Paper Lantern. Incense burner with Fragant Incense. Dunmeri Lute, similar to a Shamisen. Books and Scrolls, mostly the teachings and poetry of Vivec. ____________________________________________________

A P P E A R A N C E Velyn Virith is an elderly male Dunmer, well into his third century. Despite his venerable age he is not frail or decrepit, he stands tall and straight still, thin with age and hard living, but possessing wiry strength and cultivated grace to his movements. The way Velyn moves is like a dancer, with light quick steps, but he carried himself with all the confidence and surety of a warrior. When his face is hidden beneath his chitinous helm, he could pass for a mer more than half his age. Velyn's face, however, shows the truth of his age. His sharp angular features are lined and wrinkled, crows feet radiate out from the corners of his narrow blood red eyes. The ceremonial tattoos and scars of his young are pale and faded. The dark hair pulled back into his high topknot is so threaded with grey that they now outnumber the black. In his youth, Velyn would have been considered handsome, and he still retains a element of refined dignity in his appearance to this day. A sign of his former vanity can be seen the golden jewellery than hangs from his pointed ears. When not dressed in the worn and patchwork chitin armour that he wraps in a tattered crimson cloak, Velyn prefers to dress in the many hued and patterned fabrics of his homeland, instead of the local Nord furs. He does however, often wear multiple layers, with long robes over his normal clothing. The cold gets into his bones and aching joints these days. P E R S O N A L I T Y Velyn is a mer who has been through many trials and tribulations in his life, trials that have had him question his faith and own decisions. As Lord Vivec once cautioned the Hortator Saint Nerevar, beware the wrong walking path. Velyn's path has been one of struggle, soaked in blood, beset with Violence. But it is only through Violence that one might reach Heaven. And so Velyn Virith is at peace. But his frequent philosophical ruminations do not mean he is dour or dull, far from it in fact. Velyn is an eloquent conversationalist, a skilled orator, poet and musician. He enjoys performing and entertaining, and like all entertainers he enjoys a stiff drink shared with good company. At times like these his wry sense of humour becomes increasingly apparent, as well as a somewhat rakish and flirtatious side to old Knight Errant. Ultimately, however, he views distractions of the flesh as just that, distractions, despite the allure they sometimes still hold for him. There are only two things Velyn truly cares about, aiding those in need of his assistance, and carving his own path to Heaven. H I S T O R Y Velyn Virith was born on Vvardenfell in the year 3E412. He was a younger son of Theldyn Virith, Kinsman to the Great House Redoran. Growing up, most of his childhood was spent between the Redoran district capital of Auld'ruhn and his family's ancestral estates in the West Gast near the port of Auld Velothi. Like his brothers and cousins, he was expected to join his father's house as another proud Redoran warrior, but fate had other plans for Velyn Virith. Once, while visiting the great city of Vivec as a child, Velyn witnessed a regatta being held on the grand canal. Barges of beaten gold, wreathed with garlands, floated upon the shimmering waters, oars manned by beautiful maidens and comely youths. From the decks, knights clad in iridescent glass laughed and sang as they threw roses to the watching crowd. And hovering above them all, a seated figure, half gold, smiling, and radiating the light of heaven itself. This was the first time Velyn saw a God, and he vowed that day, that it would not be the last. As soon as he was old enough he pledged himself as novice to the Tribunal Temple, and then to be apprenticed by the Armigers once he had proved his worth. In those days the fear of Sharmat hung over Vvardenfell, and the ALMSIVI receded from the outside world, but Velyn did not forget what it meant to see a God in all their glory. He never would. Velyn kept his faith, his love for his Lord Vivec, even after the deaths of the other Triunes. When the gates Oblivion opened and daedra ravaged Morrowind, he kept his faith still. When his Lord disappeared, he kept his faith. When the moons fell from the sky and fires rose up from earth, he kept his faith. When the Argonians invaded and sacked their cities even as the ash and fire rained down still, he kept his faith. He fought though all these terrors as an Armiger, doing his deeds in Love and War in the name of his Lord, Vivec. And when the New Temple emerged triumphant from the rubble of their nation and proclaimed Vivec was a false god, Velyn kept his faith. And won himself exile for it. He fled to Cyrodil, following in the footsteps of countless Dunmer refugees, to find a province also lost to chaos and war as chaos of the the Stormcrown Interregnum unfolded. There he joined a group of rebels fighting against the tyrannical count of Skingrad.

These were darkest days of his existence. Bereft of his Lord, his land, and his love, Velyn turned to a darker path. He indulged in unworthy vices and fought not for Love, but rather to die. He was broken in those days, and it would take many years for him to find his true path again and to fight under the Will of Love once more.

He wandered Tamriel for a long time, never truly settling anyway, never truly putting down roots. Over those long years there were companions, friends, lovers, and enemies. But they were all transient. So do were roles at which he played. Sometimes he was a solider and a mercenary, at others a poet, musician, or acrobat. But always was he one thing, a holy man. For above all else, as he wandered, he searched for answers to the questions that still haunted him, the questions that lingered despite his faith.

Why did Vivec leave his people at the time of their greatest need? Why did Vivec allow such terrors to befall the faithful whom he had loved and cherished? And why, why, did his Lord abandon him, his most loyal and adoring of servants?

It took many years for Velyn to come to a conclusion. He consulted great sages and philosophers from across the lands, read the holy books and poets of his Lord countless times. He found an answer, his answer at least, though sometimes he still doubts it himself. But did Vivec not say: Beware the wrong walking path?

Did he not also say: Beware the crime of benevolence?

Chimer were taught to struggle by the Anticipations and Saint Veloth, and they became greater for it, they were changed by it. The Dunmer had prospered under the benevolent rule of the Tribunal, the benevolent rule of his Lord... but now, it seemed they must struggle again. Greater things awaited them still, and only through struggle would they be changed once more.

So Velyn would struggle on his own path, and he would help to teach his kin how to struggle too. Anywhere Dunmer struggled on the path, he would be there to try to teach them how to struggle, how to grow stronger, how to change, how to Reach Heaven by Violence.

This was why Velyn Virith came to Skyrim in the third century of Fourth Era, for it was here, he believed, that the struggle of his people was greatest. If he could teach the Dunmer to walk the path in Skyrim, and struggle their way to greatness, then he might change his whole people, he might change the whole world.

For the ending of the words is ALMSIVI.

And the worlding of the words is AMARANTH.

This isn't working out

@Kassarock And yet you did not mention a novel...curious

@POOHEAD189

Okay I'll lay some cards on the table. Some books mentioned here already get a nope from me, Atlas Shrugged for example. I'd also probably nope on a relationship if someone told me their favourite book series was Harry Potter. It's a kids book, and a poorly written one at that, grow the fuck up.

I'll throw in a bonus one, Seventy-Two Virgins, the poorly written self insert racist trash about a British MP saving the President of the United States from a terrorist attack, written by current sitting UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. A book that genuinely uses the line 'a mega-titted six-footer' to describe a woman.

This isn't working out

"Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss.

No offense to the people that love that book, but it's about the Gary-est Stu that ever Stu-d, and his (not literally) manic pixie dream girl who states that she doesn't deserve him. So instead, he has sex with everything else and bemoans that he's a too smart orphan, and no one gets him. The end. Except that it's not, because the third book hasn't been written. And it's been 10 years. So, none of the above can be tied up into a believable package. I will die mad about it. Thank you for asking.

@psych0pomp

In defence of Rothfuss and Name of the Wind, I think a lot of people potentially misread Kvothe as a positive heroic archetype, when if anything I think he's meant to something of a negative one. Kvothe is brilliant and amazing etc. But it doesn't get him anywhere, he continually self sabotages and fucks things up through his arrogance and pride, he's literally his own worst enemy in a lot of the shit that happens to him. And we know he's gonna do something truly terrible by story's end. Kvothe is not a good person a lot of time, and I don't think Rothfuss holds him up as a paragon of virtue or even someone you should aspire to be. I certainly didn't read it that way.

But discussing Name of the Wind is not the point of this thread, so here's my contribution:

This whole thing reminded me for section I read in the comedian Frankie Boyle's autobiography, My Shit Life So Far, about a one night stand he had with an older woman, and how he never came back because of the contents of her bookcase.

It sort of ended badly because she had this shelf of books under the TV. It contained every commercial book that you'd seen people reading on a train for the previous few years: Captain Corelli's Mandolin and so on. I thought it was an ironic statement, a sort of joke, and complimented her on what I took to be some kind of artistic critique about the mundanity of modern culture. It transpired that this was her actual library and our utter incompatibility was suddenly obvious. Still, it was fun. Two days may actually be the perfect length for a relationship.

Frankie Boyle

The Elder Scrolls: Stormcrown Interregnum

Sure, that's fine my me. My Dunmer concepts aren't directly involved with the temple, though, mind you - I asked about Vivec because I always found the speed with which the Dunmer abandoned their faith of the Tribunal to be a bit much, even despite, well... The apparent death of two and the revelation that they aren't gods in the literal sense, and whatnot.

@Jeddaven

Ah in that case I think we should be safe, I too am going for a Buoyant Armiger you see.

The Elder Scrolls: Stormcrown Interregnum

I'm very interested! Dunmer fanatic, as you can guess by the profile pic - are we taking the Trial of Vivec as canon?

@Jeddaven

How would that affect your character, if I were to say yes?

@Hank

So I don't want to lay all my cards on the table right now, but I was also planning on playing a Dunmer with some association with the Tribunal Temple. I would have preferred it if the trial was not considered canon for the sake of my character's backstory, but I can work around it either way.

@Jeddaven Would it be alright if we compared a few notes privately? I am worried our two character concepts might have significantly overlapping backstories.

The Elder Scrolls: Stormcrown Interregnum

Formally declaring my interest too.

The Arrangement [Suki & Kassarock]

Well, at least we're both busy at the same time I guess!

Is there anyone you'd like to interact with at the camp btw?

S̴T̴O̴R̴M̴C̴L̴O̴A̴K̴ : Rise of Tyranny (Interest Gathering)

Well... I guess I could be interested.