GloryRhodes

What it says on the tin. Example: "So I said to this lady, 'Hey, you've still got his head. There has to be something you can do."

((3C sounds fun!))

No worries, we'll get you when you can make it!

No worries! We did super cool. Ape Escape Episode Two: The Murder of Madaru will be next Tuesday at the same time, 8pm CST. Sign up below. 1. Leanne Delphium 2. Evageline Primrose 3. Artemis Newton 4. 5.

Going on RIGHT NOW in Little Ala Mihgo.

That could not have been timed better if you'd tried. Case in point. This post is not libel because I have directly quoted him to provide evidence. Since this post is fact, it can not be construed as libel or slander, and he has no legal recourse.

Ok, so let's talk about what libel actually is vs everyone's preconceived notions here. This will be important to remember for future discussions. Libel is the act of damaging the reputation of another person in text through public speech, and it is illegal. Severe civil penalties can be accrued by libelous speech, and it is generally considered a big bad nono in professional journalism circles. But what exactly qualifies as libelous speech? For one thing, it has to be untrue. If the person committing libel is backing up what they're saying with screenshots, then it's not libel, or slander. It's simply speech. This does not mean that their interpretation has to be correct. If their base facts are correct, and they can prove that "X said Y" then it's not libel, and there is no legal recourse or right for complaint according to US law. If you are a private person instead of a public figure (more on that later), then you need to prove negligence on the part of the libeler. This means that you have to prove that they did not do the amount of research that a reasonable person would do in order to prove their statement. If xx420blazinxx heard that Buff van Darkblade was harassing female players from EkwilRites69, then posts that statement on his tumblr immediately, then our friend 420 is guilty of negligence because he didn't ask which players were being harassed nor did he ask the supposed victims. Had xx420blazinxx asked the all the victims, and they corroborated each others' stories, but had no screenshots,victims, it becomes a bit confusing, but 420 can probably get away with it because he did the amount of research a reasonable person would do. Now if you're a public figure things are much harder for you. This covers politicians, celebrities and business leaders, which in an MMO setting could include FC Leaders or other people who make it a point of being seen and well known about the community. If you're a public figure then you have to prove actual malice. It's no longer just about action, it's about intent. Let's say Buff van Darkblade is now the head of his own super popular FC, The Orange Wings, with over 50 active members, and ol' xx420blazinxx puts up on his tumblr that Buff consistently tries to sexually harass his female members and send them dick pics. Now, 420 has no proof of this, but EkwilRites69 told him it was true, and 420 is just trying to warn girls and keep them safe. In this situation 420 has the same amount of info he had last time, but he's completely in the right, legally speaking. Buff needs to prove that 420 is blatantly disregarding the facts, not just misinterpreting them, not just parroting things he heard from a reasonable source, and he has to prove that this blatant disregard for the facts is specifically meant to damage his reputation, not to protect people. As you can see, being famous has its drawbacks, which is why the National Enquirer can get away with its headlines. Generally speaking though, there is a reason to say bad things about people and call them out. When the truth about events is obfuscated by allusion and vague references then misinterpretation is extremely easy. It can, in fact, lead to libel. If you're going to call someone out for something, take screenshots, post proof and use evidence to back up your claims. Without call outs bad people continue to do bad things, but rumor mongering is bad, everyone can agree. Instead gather evidence, post screenshots and leave no room for doubt as to the veracity of your claims. Don't post rants on the RPC that name no names, but which "people in the know" will get. It's irresponsible, rude and inappropriate.

Remember, technically speaking it's not slander if it's true.

((Selfish, but 1))

Four Years Ago The sun pummeled the bodies, and the bodies pummeled the sand. "Again!" Water swept up the beach, discoloring the golden ground into a damp wet brown a dozen yalms behind them. Where the water touched it, the sand cooled, but where they stood the heat of it baked the soles of their feet into blister red calluses. Unlike the other women, bronzed by the unflinching gaze of Azeyma above, the girl's skin was as black as burned flesh. She fell, gasping, sweat pouring across her uncovered body. The clothes she was given offered no protection from the elements. They were there for modesty's sake only, and not much of that. As he knees hit the sand she cried out in pain, searing grains of the burning beach covering her legs. "Spahro, get up!" She was blind in the glare of the midday sun reflected up from the sand into her eyes, and she could only see a hazy silhouette shimmering in the heat in front of her. She didn't see the woman move towards her, but she felt the fingers like claws grab her arm and hoist her back to her feet. Nails dug into a months old sunburn that never healed, and her eyes filled with tears. "Are you crying?" She didn't even bother acknowledging the question. As soon as her legs were underneath her again she began to move once more, repeating the patterns that had been forced into her aching muscle memory for years. The figure let go of her and backed away. "For a second I thought you'd injured yourself. If you're not hurt then keep going. We have a lot of ground to cover today." The other women ignored her as they always did. They began to move again, twisting and turning, veils whipping out to lash at the skin of the women around them. A gauzy flyaway of silk brushed Spahro's face, and she winced as raw, burned nerves howled into her brain. "Wait wait, stop." The procession halted, and Spahro managed to remain standing with no momentum to keep her going. Her legs wobbled, and her shoulders shook with every exhausted, heaving breath, but she could still stand. The salt from the sea filled her nostrils, blotting out the overpowering scent of sweat from the women around her. The figure approached again, and Spahro blinked tears out of her eyes to try and clear her vision. The figure resolved into a miqote woman with similar dark skin and hair to Spahro's, but she was protected from the sun by a large straw hat that shaded her. Instead of the tight fitting leather bandeauxs and briefs of Spahro and the others, she wore loose fitting linen garments. She placed her hands on Spahro's shoulders and straightened her back. "Honestly Spahro, I know you're still growing, but you need to understand the proper movements to accentuate your breasts. Not having any now isn't an excuse to neglect your training." The woman shook Spahro's shoulders, and her sunburn screamed. "Like this when you move. Men don't care for girls who can't be sexy, dear." "Sorry, mom." The woman took a step back, nodding, "Enough gawking about. I want this routine perfect for tonight's dinner." The dancers stood straight once more, arms out, and Swahlo Llorn clapped her hands. "Again!" Two Years Ago "Pick up the pace!" In The Twelveswood the trees were the sky, the ground and the air itself. Moss clinging to the trunk of the tree made her bare foot slip out form under her and she tumbled forward. She struck her head on a branch and the eternal twilight of the forest erupted into a flashing display of colors and pain. One of the hunters pushed past her, hissing disapproval. She landed, as agile as any dancer, on the tree branch that Spahro had run into and raised her bow. The arrow left it with a near inaudible whistle, then she was gone. Spahro pulled herself back up to her feet, but fell again immediately. The whole world spun around her and a dull, dizzy ache throbbed behind her eyes. Blood began to leak into her vision, but she wiped it away and forced herself to stand. The tree trunk provided a place for her to rest while she regained her senses, and she leaned on it heavily. By the time the forest had returned to its drab greens and browns, she was alone. The chase continued off in the distance, she knew, but for now she was alone in the dark, surrounded by a hundred thousand living things that did not know her, or care. She slid down the tree trunk into the grass and tried to get her breathing under control. A cry of animal pain signaled the end of the hunt, but it was so faint that there was no hope of Spahro catching up to the party in time. There was no bow in her hand, or quiver on her back. The hardened leather wraps around her knuckles were wrapped around sharp, twisted thorns from a vicious bush that grew in thick patches around the camp. They were unstained and unbroken; unused. "I hadn't thought to catch up to your party, Coeurlclaw." Spahro didn't have the energy to be surprised, and moving her head made her want to vomit, so she turned her eyes to the left, towards the voice. A Moon Keeper in an antelope skin harness stood under the hanging bows of the tree. He had several small animals hanging from his belt, and a bow across his back. When he got closer his eyes widened. "That's a nasty cut on your forehead. Are you alright?" "Fine," Spahro said, and she tried to stand, but the ground beneath her revolted, and she dropped back down. The man got closer, moving slowly, one hand out towards her, cautious. "You don't seem fine." He crouched down next to her and pulled her hair back out of her face. She realized then that her hair was stuck to her forehead with blood, and as he pulled it back the throbbing pain became sharp and poignant. He whistled and shook his head, "That doesn't look good. You should see a healer. Do you need help getting back to your camp?" "Yes." She held an arm out to him, and he lifted her up, giving her his shoulder for support. "I'm Narah'to Kotosra. I hunt around here. What's your name?" She didn't answer him, but pitched forward into a darkness deeper than The Shroud. One Year Ago Ul'Dah's lamps burned so bright even the stars couldn't compete, and the endless tapestry of lights that Spahro had known in Costa del Sol's nights had given way to an empty pitch blackness above her head. Only the brightest of starts shone through the orange haze. Her boot heels clacked loudly on the cobblestones of The Steps of Nald, and even at this hour dozens of citizens rushed by her or stood around busy in their own business, paying no heed to the young miqote in the second hand clothes. The whole city smelled of filth and spices, like nothing Spahro had ever experiences before. A few hawkers still shouted, trying to get one more sale before turning in for the night. To her right she saw a group of lalafell armed with knives holding up a roegadyn against a wall, demanding money. "Excuse me, miss? I don't mean to bother you." The beggar seemed to come out of nowhere. He was a tall, foul smelling highlander with months worth of beard growth and a thick coating of dirt and louses. "Yes, you do," she said, and squared her shoulders to face him. Her facepaint was still wet, a darker black than even her hair. "You wouldn't have come up to me otherwise. If it's money you want, then I don't have any. If it's anything else, then I don't want any. Get yourself lost now before you give me lice." The beggar scowled at her, but backed back into the shadows from whence he'd come. She didn't think about him again, and made her way towards Pearl Lane, a piece of paper clenched tightly in one fist. The Tonberry's Lantern had an interesting way of advertising openings for writing staff. All along the walls were posted flyers written in an elegant script that simply listed an address with the description, "If you can read this, you're hired." In her mind, she could still see Narah'to's smile and feel his hands in hers. She put him out of her mind as quickly as she had the beggar. The dead should stay buried.

Spahro Llorn = Sparrow Lowrn Alienne Sandraix = Alien Sahndray

She just said "timely" to make you feel better.

Warren's just pissed that Chachan benches more than he does.

Melodia only emotes because she has no friends.

Franz only crafts for people because he has no friends.

Updating for time change.

Never underestimate a disability making for a more compelling character rather than a less compelling one, even if they seem barely hampered by it. You can't generalize this particular topic. Each character and player is going to produce something of a different quality with the same ingredients.

We all have them, these character concepts that are just too perfect, and that we want to share with the world, but which we will never play. Whether it's a lack of time, or space, or just that we don't feel like levelling up an alt, these characters are lost to the world, trapped forever within our own minds. This is a place to share those character concepts with the world. I'll provide an example and sharing format below. Name: Kevin Carpenter Concept: Brolander Blade Race: Midlander Quote: "Are you like, trying to bribe me? Not cool, bro." Character Traits: He's super into pugilism right now. He's only a Blade until his gladiator career takes off. Wears "Demolish" shirts. Isn't really into politics because, "Monetarist or Royalist? It's all the same, bro." Has named his chocobo "Firebird." He has a tattoo of the Doman letter that means "Cabbage Dog". His only pickup line is, "Hey, I'm a Blade." He hopes he never has to use his sword, but he's like, totally ready to do so if necessary, bro. He refers to himself as "The thin red line." He totally banged that hot catchick that hangs around Hildebrand. Seriously bro, it was like, last summer when he was in Costa. Never learned to read because "When are you gonna use that in real life?"

For months adventurer Alienne Sandraix has been on one leve, and has been failing at it spectacularly. She's been searching for an ape that's escaped from an Ul'Dahn merchant, but it has eluded her at every turn. Help Alienne with her quest to find the missing ape and gain the substantial reward she's been missing out on! OOC: Ape Escape is a Fate-14 campaign similar to Scales in the Sand in methodology. it will be a bit less serious than Scales, but promises ample adventure, murder, mystery and, of course, an escaped ape. The first event will be Tuesday May 19 at 8:00pm CST. Signups are below. 1. Evangeline Primrose 2. Leanne Delphium 3. Jana Ridah 4. Coatleque Crofte 5. Artemis Newton

"What's going on? Why am I here? Your horsebirds are just horses! What is a necktie? Who is congress? Why is America? Can I go home, please?"

Orrin recently ignored Spahro after their date.

Spahro gets hit on my Nuhns a lot.

by Spahro Llorn [align=center][/align] [align=center]Coatleque Crofte, Sultansworn & Dragon Slayer[/align] [align=center](OOC: Sketch art done by Gharen Wolfsong)[/align] For several months the citizens of Thanalan have been in danger from an insidious threat that has been cultivated under their very noses by insurgent forces from the Dravanian Horde. This group of heretics, using powerful artifacts, have been attempting to sew chaos amongst the proud people of the desert in an effort to start a war between Ul'Dah and Ishgard, weakening both armies in preparation for a Dravanian offensive. Luckily for us, and all of Eorzea, this foul plot was thwarted by the combined efforts of Thanalanian and Ishgardian forces. The cult itself might be recognizable to many citizens as it was led by someone who came to be known as The No Eyed Man. The Dravanian heretic, posing as a local, sought to stir up anti-Ishgardian sentiment throughout Thanalan. In order to facilitate this he smuggled in powerful Dravanian artifacts that poisoned anyone who who unwarilly came in contact with them. These artifacts were disseminated throughout the markets of Thanalan to be purchased as trinkets by unsuspecting innocents. A group of adventurers, unnamed by their own choice, discovered this plot and reported it to the authorities after an encounter with the cultists. The Immortal Flames became involved, as did Sultansworn Coatleque Crofte, who took it upon herself to end this deadly threat to The Jewel of The Desert. At this point, following the trail of these heretics, two Ishgardian Dragoons were dispatched to Ul'Dah by none other than Ser Aymeric, head of the Ishgardian Knights Templar. These Dragoons, Orrin of House Halgren and V'aleera Lhuil, joined forces without preamble and assisted Thanalan in her plight. Seeking no fame or thanks, this trio of brave heroes sought out the corruption in the heart of the Jewel and cut it out. It was a long and arduous campaign, fought in secret, to protect Thanalanian lives and avoid a war we could not afford. "They were there to create destruction to the south, no doubts with plans for Ishgard in the process. They made the mistake of coming into the open, none of their cell live to tell a word." said Sir Halgren of the cult. "There was definitely a Heretic cell in Ul'dah, they had plans to strike. They had plans to summon an old dragon found in the sands of the sagolii. I stumbled upon it along with V'aleera and a few others. They were routed." Beyond just the cell were two actual dragons who took to the skies over Thanalan to wreak havoc. Joining the trio were veteran adventurers who assisted them in their fight. The first of these dragons attacked the Drybone-Highbridge road. "There was a dragon ready to attack the city, and we had to go fight it, but we needed a distraction. So who other to turn to than Uldah's greatest, Coatleque Crofte? While she distracted the dragon, we were able to slay the beast. And the city was saved," said Evangeline Primrose, one of the adventurers present. Sir Crofte herself was more humble about the experience. "I was only along as a representative of the Order to assess the rumors spreading through the city. It ambushed us along the road. Alas I was mostly incapacitated when the dragon killed my chocobo, and I was pinned underneath it." Despite being pinned under her mount, Crofte continued to fend off the dragon while the Dragoons used their specialized skills to bring the beast down from the air. The second dragon was a far more deadly threat. When the band of heroes sought to destroy the last of the relics, in an attempt to thwart them the Dravanians sent the largest and most deadly scalekin ever seen south of Coerthas. Crofte described it as "A more wyrmlike beast." This time, however, the heroes were prepared. While Miss Primrose kept the beast pinned with a well timed shot from a harpoon canon, Ser Crofte once more faced the beast head on, keeping its terrible fury directed at her shield. The Dragoons wrested it down from the skies with spear and cunning, and eventually the beast was slain on hardpacked Thanalanian soil. With that act done, the Dravanian menace to our lands came to an end. The poisonous artifacts have been destroyed, and the dragons and their kin slain. The No Eyed Man, however, remains at large, and any citizens who see him are advised to alert the nearest authorities immediately. Sgt. Malin of the Brass Blades at Highbridge is leading the investigation into the No Eyed Man's capture as well as making sure that any remaining artifacts are safely disposed of. Should any citizen of Thanalan come into contact with anything that they believe might be of Dravanian origin they are requested to turn it over to Sgt. Malin immediately.

Spahro did finish working out the details, mainly through yelling and horrible curse words. She would be getting a new desk, and it would have actual drawers this time. She stepped out of the offices of Tonberry's Lantern feeling rather proud of herself. "Eva! You have the best timing, you know that? I was about to have to whip out the blackmail, and I really wanted to save that for when he was looking to sell the paper." She sidled up alongside the Elezen, smiling. "So, what's this all about? Did something great happen? I heard something about Ishgardians and a museum, but..." Spahro leaned in close, "Were you bluffing? If you were bluffing then I'm going to have to do actual work, and I really wanted something easy for my first job back."