POOHEAD189

Dogs of War: Old World Mercenaries

Cyrdic smirked as the two haughty high-borns fled, and suddenly he was whisked away onto the dance floor. Truly, this was the test of whether or not he could blend in. Of course, herr Reiner had never claimed to be noble born or a dancer, so he had some room to not be perfect. But it wouldn't do to step on his partners feet. To his credit, he didn't, though he moved a bit stiff and slightly clumsy, he thought.

Still, holding Camilla, it was almost as if no one was in the room for a bit. It was odd, but not undesired. He rather liked the idea of no one looking their way. Of course, every time he would glance to the side, that illusion was shattered by all of the eyes upon them. He simply did his best to ignore, and when Camilla staggered, he looked genuinely concerned for her until she whispered in his ear.

His grey eyes widened, and he nodded. "You're right," he said. After a few more moves, he suggested they step off for a moment, professing to the others his love was a bit under the weather. They made it to the side of the chamber, next to one of the large pillars. The Great battle of Praag was depicted carved along the pillar's base, and Cyrdic led Camilla over behind it.

"Good thinking," he said to her. "I believe it would be best to find her next. Surely she must be close-"

"Who must be close?" A voice asked from the side, and Cyrdic nearly drew his sword he was so startled. He visibly relaxed when he saw Osfurth the Chamberlain. Though there was something in his manner and eyes that had Cyrdic on edge. The elder approached them, gazing at them oddly. "Are you two alright?"

"Yes," Cyrdic said. "Too bad the Graf couldn't make it. Is he healthy?"

"Of course!" Osfurth declared, smiling wide. He had his hands behind his back, head held high. "You see, Graf Todbringer has had much misfortune in his life. His first wife fell ill, and his two sons were murdered after 20 odd years of healthy upbringing. His last wife was sadly, infertile. She too, passed on. He's never been much for socializing after that. He finds most of his joy in slaying Beastman and battling the dreaded Khazrak One-Eye in the forests, keeping the trade roads as clean as he can."

"That must leave a burden on you, Herr Osfurth." Cyrdic replied, and for a reason he did not know, he tugged Camilla until she stood behind him, protected.

"Oh no," the Chamberlain chuckled. "I feel I have quite the grasp for politics and leading..."

Behind the Chamberlain, Cyrdic noticed the Swords of Ulric and a few Knights of the White Wolf were behind them. Cyrdic squinted, and pulled Camilla away. "If you'll excuse us, herr Chamberlain."

"Ah, certainly. Must meet the young Jiselle!" he said, oddly healthy. Energetic in fact. Cyrdic led Camilla away, only for him to literally walk straight into the lovely sorceress he had seen from when they had first met the Graf. She seemed perturbed, though as to what he couldn't tell. She smoothed her hair behind her ear, and blushed. "I apologize to you both," she said tiredly. "I've been-"

"The Chamberlain is looking quite healthy," Cyrdic said, almost accusingly. "How is his apoplexy?"

She looked at Cyrdic hard. "His what?"
@Penny

Dogs of War: Old World Mercenaries

Cyrdic gave Camilla a smile that lip up his face, taking the grim soldier and turning it into the youthful man he was underneath the scars and experience. He was quite glad she thought he looked good, and felt more natural walking with her as they moved out of the rooms and into the halls. He blinked in surprise when Camilla dragged him to the side, and he nodded like a student at a University at her dancing explanation. He assured her, he'd do his best.

The next few minutes, Cyrdic became the brawn to Camilla's brains in a fashion. When he wasn't speaking, he stood tall and strong, an imposing martial figure beside her to hammer her point in. "Get to it," he ordered to the men as they went off to announce them. Later, he would worry that it was his last words that had them announcing the way they did, but he was probably being paranoid. That being said, he felt very similar when they walked through the grand archway and into the large and extravagant, albeit utilitarian chamber. Shallya's tits," he uttered, simultaneous with Camilla's curse.

Cyrdic faked a grin, waving his hand in a dismissive flair. "Please," he said, and spoke again over the roar of applause. "Please! We're honored enough to be invited to the Graf's ball. Let us feast and drink, for Ulric and the Empire!" There was a surety to his voice that the surrounding guests and nobles approved of, and he realized there was a reason he didn't feel entirely out of place in Middenheim. They were short on words (for the most part), as Ostland was. He noticed the Graf was not here at the moment, though the Chamberlain had said he often didn't attend such things.

Cyrdic guided Camilla to the left as the crowd began to mingle. Jiselle's eyes were on them, but for the moment Cyrdic and Camilla had been swallowed up by the floor. Suddenly, they bumped into an exceptionally tall and blonde, dashing popinjay with a Wissenland accent. He had a raven haired women who had the haughtiness of a vampiress attached to his arm. "Ah, so you're the two heroes?" he asked rhetorically. "I say, however did you fight off that band of Ogre pirates? Or was it Orcs?"

"Merely men, I heard," the woman said, her accent Reiklandish, if Cyrdic could guess. "Barely a skirmish. What could these two do that the Swords of Ulric could not?"
@Penny

Frokane's Mildly Politcal Hangout Thread

Sometimes people can creatively use changing race and gender to good effect.

@Penny

Now that is true! One movie that did that well was Law Abiding Citizen. It's one of my favorite movies, and initially they were going to have Jamie Foxx as the bad guy, and Gerard Butler as the hero. But Jamie Foxx thought it would be cool to have Gerard Butler, known as the guy from 300 (this was a 2009 movie) to be the hammy villain, and they did it.

I cannot imagine it any other way, now.

<Snipped quote by Dynamo Frokane>

Question: if notorious white male, M. Night Shayamalan, casts an Indian actor for an originally Japanese character, is that........ I'm trying to think of a parallel for "white washing" that don't sound pejorative, but I can't do it. But.... yeah.

MY LARGER POINT BEING THOUGH, WHO EFFING CARES?

A movie adaptation is not meant to be a line-for-line reproduction of the source material, or what was the goddamn point of a movie adaptation? You, yes, you, go be a director and cast whoever you want for whatever you want. If you make a good movie I'll pay you money. Deal?

@mdk

Honestly that's the reason I'm against it somewhat, now. People went too extreme with it, and I realized that they should just be fair with it, rather than going "white=bad."

Dogs of War: Old World Mercenaries

Cyrdic felt much better having reported in, and gave the Chamberlain a stiff, respectful bow to make the Reikland Greatswords proud. With that, he and Camilla were escorted to the guest rooms by a shuffling chamber maid who couldn't seem to keep herself from complaining. He thought her lucky that they were here and not some uptight noble from Nuln or Brettonia proper.

Once they made it to the rooms, Cyrdic smelled the food and it made his mouth water. But the young soldier decided he needed to change first, and he headed into one changing room, dressing himself with the stoic determindeness of a grim Dwarf settling a grudge. Once he was finished, he turned and gazed at his lean, muscled frame in the mirror. Tilting his head, he decided to make his hair a tad more unkempt, but that was it. Camilla had done well with the Middenland fashion. Cyrdic looked much like a northern lord from the tales. Rugged, young, noble, yet with a hint of barbaric ferocity. All he needed was a wolf cloak and he'd fit the part. The large and ornate wolf hilted sword at his hip certainly helped.

Satisfied with the outfit, he strode out into the center room. Cyrdic looked around, and saw no servants, and no Camilla as of yet. Shrugging, he began to dig into the food. The hard muscles of his abdomen felt a bit weak at not having eaten for awhile, and he greedily ate some of the cheese, and even found a bit of ham to chew on. He did his best not to get any of it on his clothes, and succeeded to his satisfaction. He'd hate his companion's good taste to be ruined by his eating habits.

He had just decided to eat some grapes when Camilla strode out and asked him what he thought. He nearly chocked on the grape that was sliding down his throat, and indeed he coughed, bumping a fist against his chest. She looked like a mix between Tilean royalty and a Corsair Queen, and truth be told, the normally blunt soldier had no words.

He cleared his throat. "...Wow..." he breathed. Realizing he was slack jawed, he swiftly changed the subject. "You look good, I think. We can uh...-have you eaten yet? The grapes are good."

Sigmar, I'm speaking nonsense. "You ready to go?" he asked, and stiffly held his arm out.
@Penny

Underrated and Overrated Video Games

Well I've been playing games since 1995 at the ripe ol' age of 4 on my super nintendo, so it'd be hard for me to really choose one of each. But I'll give it a shot.

Underrated


Kingdom Under Fire: Crusaders was an incredibly good game set in a very dark fantasy world. It was strategic warfare coupled with epic hack n' slash. It was pretty much total war, only slightly more emphasis on the heroes. As long as you didn't mind the dark elves and most ladies in general being half naked for some odd reason, it was AWESOME. I have always wanted them to remaster it. I miss it so much.

Overrated:

Not so much anymore, but Overwatch. It's a fun game, and I quite enjoy it. But people made it out to be a God tier creation. I'd give it a solid 8/10.

Frokane's Mildly Politcal Hangout Thread

<Snipped quote by POOHEAD189>

Maybe YOU don't but I'd love Tom Hanks as played by Idris Elba.

@Fabricant451

...You know what, you're right. I'd pay to see that.

Dungeons and (Krayt) Dragons, Star Wars: The Price of Freedom

@Spoopy Scary Should send you my merc tonight!

Dogs of War: Old World Mercenaries

Silk! He had no idea why any man would ever don a silk shirt. It cost more than his broadsword and shield, and probably his soldiers apparel as well, save the armor. The wool trousers were not well traveled and loose, and the black boots were for a bloody general rather than a humble Sergeant. It felt wrong.

But he didn't grumble at all, instead standing tall with his head raised as the men measured him, and Camilla watched with a professional eye. Not for the first time did he realize he must truly care for this woman, because otherwise he would have told whomever suggested him wearing such things to shove them straight back up their shitter.

Still, the piece of armor, while small and a bit foppish, made him feel a bit more comfortable in the whole attire. His uncomfortable look caused Camilla to concede on no hat, and at the end of the day he realized she had compromised a fair bit for him and he was appreciative of that. Of course, she looked stunning. Honestly, he felt just as attracted to her in her travel clothes as her resplendent in her sapphire attire, but it was nice seeing her in her element.

After placing some of the finery away, he and his partner in crime met with the Chamberlain, who seemed to be under the weather in more ways than one. It was concerning to Cyrdic, but he didn't pry too far into his Apoplexy. "I'm sorry Chamberlain. Most of the news is of the dire sort," he replied, hands behind his back and speaking as if to a military superior. "We believe we know where the majority of the warpstone is being held, in the Old district by Rodinger street."

The images of Camilla collapsing was still fresh in his mind, as was the realization of his sword's power and name. He forced the thoughts away as he continued. "What's more, we believe it's the ratmen who are providing the heretics with warpstone and resources. Herr Koneinswald, a Witcher Hunter of our acquaintence, is investigating further as well speak. But we have reason to believe you and all who attend the ball are in danger. Something is to happen tonight, during...We know not what it is yet, herr Osthfurth."
@Penny

Frokane's Mildly Politcal Hangout Thread

<Snipped quote by POOHEAD189>

Have you considered that maybe they went with Idris Elba because he was the best actor?

@mdk

No, because he would have needed to be far and away better than all of the others for them to even consider Roland Deschain to be played by this guy.


Now, if all of the other actors who auditioned were shit, I'd be like "well, the story must go on, and Idras Elba is a fan of the books so if anyone of a different race is to play Roland, I'm glad its him."

But I'm sorry, I just do not believe that. Hell, if I was the director, I'd find someone who looks the part and send them to 6 more months of acting school instead of casting a black person for a white role.

If people are up in arms about the cast of Mulan being asian, and the cast of Aladdin being middle eastern, I want them to consistent about white roles being played by white actors. There are exceptions like I said above. You can't always cast your original actor, but still.

NOW, if this was a movie set in an original universe, then go with the best actor as I said before. If you're toying with the idea of say, a movie set 30 years in the future about a man fighting against aliens for humanity's freedom. And you have in your mind a white actor, but Idras Elba walks up and performs better than the other white actors, AWESOME! I'm glad he went up there and autditioned, because we are getting the best actor for the role and I like Idras Elba.

But the movie is a movie based on Tom Hanks' life story, no. I don't want Idras Elba being cast as Tom Hanks. Idgaf how good he is.

Dogs of War: Old World Mercenaries

Cyrdic joined Camilla, or as to say, he went to the other bath and placed the curtain between them in the bathhouse. His body stung and the water was full of dirt and blood when he left it, but he felt much rejuvenated, at least physically. He went to their chambers, and placed a new blanket and pillow on the floor for himself as he did every night at the Boar's Head.

They had received word the Chamberlain was incapacitated at the moment, and that he would see them tomorrow before the ball. Cyrdic hoped the old man well, and had a small worry that perhaps the chaos worshipers had gotten to him, but he shook his head. He would make daemons of everything if he did not keep his wits about himself.

He set down a plate of cheese and ham for he and Camilla to eat, and some water as well. He wasn't particularly hungry now, but he knew he would need it, and so would she. Once they were done, Cyrdic started a fire in the fireplace, and knelt down atop his small bedding on the floor, just next to it. He'd stripped his shirt off (or what was left of it) and simply had on his breeches.

"We'll meet with the Chamberlain tomorrow, and set on our new clothes when he's done meeting with us, and be ready at the ball." Cyrdic said, more to himself than Camilla. He sometimes whispered things to himself in order to steel it within his head. His next words were for her, though. "Do you remember when we were in the tunnels beneath the Middle Mountains?" he asked.

He stared into the fire. "I woke up to boiling jerky. Somehow you'd...well." He shook his head, glancing over his shoulder. He didn't know what he was saying. "You'd been caught by beasts I didn't think were real. But you got me out of there as efficiently as you'd gotten us into it." Cyrdic smiled, remembering her acrobatics and swift thinking. He was going to say more, but he couldn't, lest he'd speak too much of his thoughts. "

"You're a hell of a girl, Camilla." he said. "We'll get through tomorrow."
@Penny