The Funny Things We See on the Internet

It's a Funny World Out There... 

The internet seems to provide us with a never ending supply of funny gifs, pictures, captions, and videos. Like the internet itself, Valucre too has its share of funny folks who either find good material to share with the rest of us, or have some sort of wisecrack of their own. It's good to have a place where we can write to our heart's content, while hanging out with awesome people who are fun to talk to and can make you laugh. Speaking of laughs, did you know that giving up is on the rise? Who would have thunk it?

Well, trends are odd, but hey, so are people. Sometimes, you see headlines like this one that just really make you wonder about people. At least Valucre doesn't have anyone quite like that running around. Then again, a couple of former folks from the days of old would certainly make me reconsider that position, were they still hanging out on Valucre...

Anyway, enough about oddballs and odd things, let's get down to a blog, shall we?

What's Happening Valucre?

The Chosen Goes to Round Two - Well, this is still going in an official capacity. It kinda looks like this though. You can encourage people to post in the lounge.

Gang Warefare in Last Chance- I like the way that the thread puts this- "There's a war going down between some of the biggest and baddest gangs in the most abysmal pit that ever blighted the face of Terrenus. Top heads are making power plays, grabbing for land and fighting for resources, scrambling to lay their hands on the crown and the throne and the scepter and become the King of Thieves. What side are you on?"- I really think it says everything you need to know about this RP interest check. If you like crime based RPs, you can't go wrong by looking into this. There is only one large role left (Prostitution Ring), but plenty of room for small timers or people working with leaders. So... what side are you on?

Prime Candidates and Campaigns- I am leaving this notice up for another week, as it certainly could use some exposure. If you enjoy leadership roles within Terrenus and Genesaris, you have opportunities to take on similar responsibilities for places within Renovaito- jump on it while you still have the chance.

The Demons of Zerah- A set of islands off the coast of Terrenus are home to some obscure practices never seen before in all of Valucre. Due to a large, Demonic barrier, much of the populace has reverted to a primitive mentality. This new area is more than just one Rp, but a couple of RPs utilizing brand new lore in a brand new land, involving odd fauna, potentially unstable governments, and lots of opportunity to acquire power. The lore for this is laid out really well, so if you would like to get in on something new, I encourage you to check it out.

The Essence of Life: Wonders of Nature- This looks really cool. This interest check is looking for individuals interested in getting involved in a series of quests with someone seeking to discover the essence behind all life. The quests will likely all be centered around Genesaris, but an exception might come up at a later time. You can expect puzzles and riddles, difficult obstacles and the discovery of ancient secrets- an awesome quest of epic proportions. If you are looking for something cool that you can commit to in the long haul, you have no need to look any further than this thread.

The Dead are Recruiting- The Dead, a meritocratic crime syndicate and of Valucre's biggest criminal organizations are actively recruiting for the next couple of weeks, looking to add to their numbers. If you enjoy crime based role-plays who advance you through the ranks based on what you earn through hard work and dedication, this is the kind of organization for you. They look for enthusiastic candidates who can follow instructions, are willing to put  characters into dangerous situations, and have some understanding of T-1. Will you be recruited?

Role-play Adaptation of a Classical Play- The Decision has been made- this will be a serious play (dramatic/Tragic). Now that we know what sort of play is going to be done, we need to start figuring out what plays the people like. At this time, I am taking suggestions for dramatic plays, and asking people to give new ideas or state which of the suggested ones they feel most strongly about- I will be cutting it down to three to five so we can vote on one sometime next week. Let me know..

Terrenus Bulletin Board Updated- The central place for all things Terrenus has been updated with some new info. This is a handy resource for those of you looking for some RP, or for things to do in Terrenus. Check it out.

Featured Read of the Week- I like this thread for a number of reasons. The reading is a great one of course, considering the caliber of the two writers involved. What really caught my interest was the amount of cultural pieces that are brought into this thread already, even though the RP is still quite young. The people think, act, and speak differently than we are accustomed to, and it makes them interesting, and deeper, than one might expect for an RP still on its first page. Though many details without extrapolation at this point, there is enough information to make you interested and wanting more. In the most recent pair of posts, action has begun, and it would seem the plot is beginning to take off. Seems like a great time to get into the reading.  Word of God just came down and told me that this is part of an ongoing story arc of massive proportions, and information pertaining to it, as well as a section of related threads, can be found here. Congratulations to The Hummingbird and Lastlight!

Home is Where the Heart is- A trio of travelers make their way across the midlands by way of Airship, stopping at some small and obscure village that now lies in ruins. Right away, you are brought into a poignant scene, with one of the characters coming upon the skeletal remains of their former home. Though saddened by the loss, and left wondering of his family's whereabouts, he goes in search of a particular item, something to do with his quill and ink, items whose importance is made clear by the naming of the character's professions- they are called 'Forgers'. While searching the home, another man comes upon them- someone from one of their pasts. While they begin to speak of what happened, a spell circle is discovered (too late), and an explosion rips through the remains of the home. The youngest among them is injured and rendered unconscious, but otherwise okay. The other two realize that they must pursue this individual, lest their presence be revealed to the wrong parties... 

Got some good stuff up there. Though, possibly not as interesting as some of the stuff occuring in 2010. Seriously, what was going on in that year?
  

Lore of the Week!

This Week's Feature: Port Hymir, Isélyr

At a Glance: 

• Leader: Baron Rutgar d'Amelle
• Population: Human, elven, goblin, lizard folk, and other such peoples- no numbers stated. 
• Defenses: 
• Specifics are not given, but it is stated that the city is heavily patrolled and that people who are deemed 'trouble makers' are brought to the town center, where they await the Baron to decide their guilt or innocence. He feels he cannot be bothered to show up to deliver the verdict, and instead has a flag raised from his capital to publically announce the verdict. Most times, he flies the flag representing a death sentence. 
• Regional Fauna: 
• Indigenous animals such as the common frog, toad, salamander, newt, snake, sea turtles, pelicans, hummingbirds, several varieties of fish, crustaceans, badgers, mice, skunks, and other such creatures can be found in or around the coastal waters of Hymir, as well as their giant forms. There are also several uncommon and rare species that are much more dangerous than their counterpart cousins. 
• Regional Flora: 
• Indigenous common plants include algae, mistletoe, mangroves, corals, seaweed, several varieties of grasses, shrubs, and trees. Other, more notable, uncommon and rare species of plants and trees may also be found as well. 

Canonical Occurrences by Members:

• None mentioned.

Available Quests:

• None Available at this time.

Brief Summary of Lore:

Taken from Lore: 

Located just off the eastern coast of Isélyr, Hymir is one of the most prosperous port cities. Shielded by the high, black rock cliffs on either side of the coastal city, Hymir is the main harbor for Xaroc's naval force. Several shops and taverns dot the Central Market Square, each offering a wide variety of goods and services. In a port city like Hymir, if it is wanted it is sold.

The most popular tavern is the Salty Dog run by the half-orc, Zinna Caryn. Adventurers looking to make coin can peruse the bulletin for employment.


Most inhabitants of Hymir offer prayer not only to Xaroc, but to Taninim as well. One of Xaroc's legendary Demon Generals, Taninim is highly feared by Hymirians. In an effort to gain Taninim's favor, a blood sacrifice is offered to him, the ceremony taking place on the Black Cliffs of Hymir.

Those who do not worship Xaroc and his Demon General have been banished from the city, and instead, make their homes in the tiny village of Mammoth Tin. Their Knowledge of the Divinity is the only reason why Xaroc has not ordered their death. 

Yep, I strive to give you lots of valuable information. Maybe it will eventually lead to the trend this guy desires.

New Members and Returns!

Welcome:

Bluefirewolf15:
She's an average teen girl who's into gaming, writing, and fine arts. She likes to use her creativity, whether that be with writing, working on an art project, cooking, or playing video games. She's looking to reach out to other Role-players, so stop by and give her a warm welcome.  

BlazingWolf:
Another Wolf member! They greet those who read their thread (I suppose they are the ones who would recieve any sort of greeting at all, anyway) and mention having come due to the reccomendation of a friend- always appreciate those. They enjoy writing, but their only outlet as of late is fanfiction, so Rp gives them an opportunity to flex those writing muscles. They like Science fiction and Fantasy, and have a love of anime and manga. They're also into chaotic characters, character heavy storylines, and quest based plots- fighting plots don't do much for them. So, say hello to our newest member- and hey, did I mention they are Canadian?

Lunar Maiden:
She's a long time lurker who has spent a considerable amount of time learning our lore. It took her a great deal of time to get up the nerve to join us in our RPs, but now she has signed on with a renewed sense of determination and a desire to write more, as she never sets aside enough time for it. Go say hello! :)

Babyblue:
She goes by Babyblue or just plain Blue, but she says you'd better not call her Baby, ha ha. She's brought to us by another new member- one by the name of Icaro, who was featured in the blog last week. Gotta love it when a new member is already recruiting new members for us. :D

Zhou:
His name is Mike, but his friends call him Teddy- he acknowledges that this might be a little confusing. He hails from down-under, from New Zealand, land of a lot of sheep. He heard that we're a bastion of Role-play and creativity, and so he came to check it out- sounds like word is getting out, finally!

Alpha Faustus:
His name is Richard and after a year long search that turned up nothing, he thinks he has finally found the Holy Grail of RP- I certainly would agree to that. He's been into RP for eight years, and has already pledged his willingness to help out around the site. He plans to play a wide array of characters, and looks forward to getting into the RP scene. 

Draugr:
Another one brought to us by Icaro, and that's really all I can say- this one did not say much else!

Allonon23:
He's in search of a place with 'Advanced Role-Players' and by that, he means people who actually write out some decent posts, and not just one liners that do nothing to push the plot forward. If you've read previous installments of my blog, you know how I feel about applying lables to your ability as a Role-player, so I won't advocate for the use of the term, but rather will say that we have a plethora of seriously dedicated, hardworking role-players who strive to improve. That said, welcome to Valucre!

Julie Alister:
She's knew, but plans on doing her best. She loves to use detail and prefers Para-Rp styling. She admits to disliking rude people, especially those who act as such simply because this is the internet- unfortunately, we do have a few of those, but in comparison to elsehwere, I'd like to think our numbers are low. She already started up a Walking Dead Rp and is looking for folks to join her Daryl Dixon- you gotta figure, that he would be the RP character of choice :P

Xenith Ahrimal:

This one is window shopping for RP sites, and has come to give Valucre a shot. They mention an extensive history in the RP chat world, where many people started, years (actually, more than a decade now) ago. They have played some major characters and plan to bring lots to the table. Welcome!

Kokoro:
They're excited to Rp here, and say they've done it some in the past. Hey, now that they're here, they are looking to get into some RP. Help them out. :)

Curiousgeographer:
They are brand new to RP and looking to give it a go. They are doing a dissertation on the shared imagine spaces of RP experiences, and looking to get involved in it themselves. They originally planned on online writing sites, but then discovered play-by-post rpgs- and here they are. Give them a welcome, and see if you can find them an RP or three :)

MissBella:
She asks what makes Valucre so great, thinking our simpler look means we have less to offer- whoa whoa whoa. My more egotistical side is flaring up with a puffed out chest, but I will put this forth logically- judge not by the simple cover, but by the quality of the content within. ;)

AllorVisitor:
They have been on a journey to find a great RP site, and their travels have brought them to Valucre. Previous excursions found one-liner Rps and others who made pretensious word-walls. I think their journey has brought them to the right place, and I expect they will enjoy their stay.

Returns:

Phoenix afire:
She's back from another hiatus and looking to get back into the swing of the RP thing. Welcome back!

Holy cow, 14 new members and a return, totally a net gain of 15. This is fantastic numbers, especially for this only being a one week update. Love having the new members, keep them coming. :)

Other Highlights?

Doing these highlights really get's me stewing. Always this demand for more and more content. Apparently, while this might be my biggest trigger, some out in the world claim that there is a certain aspect of video games responsible for teen violence- you decide.

Donate- If you like what you see here, and you have a couple extra bucks lying around, you can help by donating to the site. Hosting costs a pretty penny, and the use of the VB software costs its share as well- any and all donations are greatly appreciated, as the site has no means of funding itself otherwise. You can donate by clicking on the Donate! button under community.

Did You Know- About Tags and the Tag Cloud? If you want to increase the likelihood that someone stumbles onto your RP when running a search through the search functions, add tags to your thread. The Tag cloud is at the bottom of the page on the thread in question, and it allows you to add search terms to gather the attention of thers. For more on this one, go here. To see all the Did You knows, go here.

Closing Thoughts?

As I stated last week, I am doing a series of subjects pertaining to writing, using the grading guidelines used in our state testing. The areas scored are good things to look at when deciding how your story, or even RP post, is going. Last week, I covered Word Choice, a section in which they look for a variation of terms, healthy amounts of description and correct word usage. I managed to write a rather lengthy piece on that, but I doubt I will have as much to say on today’s subject as I did with word choice- word choice encompasses many different areas, while this one is more or less straightforward. Today, let’s talk about Organization.

Organization looks at the framework of your story. Is this thing working itself out in such a way that it makes sense and in a way that we can easily follow it? I know, sometimes writing is meant to be ambiguous, with details fed to the writer in little bites, done purposely to leave certain plot points ambiguous- this isn’t poor organization, this is a purposeful intent that when done properly, utilizes good organization! Organization looks at the way we are structuring our story, trying to keep elements together that need to stick together, and to avoid jumping around in ways that just leaves readers utterly confused.

Stories do not have to be sequential- look at Quentin Tarantino movies. His stories almost never move in sequential order (often beginning at the end), and despite that, you can easily follow along. The way in which his movies unfold their stories still make sense, and are easy to understand. There is no requirement in good organization to be sequential, rather, you must keep related ideas together and presented in a way that allows them to stand on their own within context, and not leave us wondering what just happened.

An example of bad organization: In this story, we have started a little later in the story. The character fills you in on their crime history, so it becomes no surprise when the mob comes after him and he ends up in a shootout. Then, out of nowhere, you cut to a flashback where he is picking up his laundry at the dry cleaner. Absolutely nothing relevant to what is going on is all that is presented in the scene, and then we cut to the after math of the shooting. All is well, and the story starts to progress. Only, five minutes later, we cut back to what happened during the shooting (this split came from left field), go back to what happened an hour before picking up the dry cleaning (he bought a pack of gum) and then shoot forward to the next day.

Confused yet?

I think it is pretty clear that the sequence of the above events are not coordinated in any form of an intelligent fashion. They fly all over the place and fail to remain on a central idea, or bring in elements that add to the story as it is in this moment. Flashbacks can be handy- but make sure you have some sort of system to it that makes sense, and that helps the plot advance in some way. Perhaps the flashback gives you a better understanding of something that just transpired or will happen soon. It really shouldn’t be used to reveal a plot element that isn’t even relevant anymore, or will not be relevant for another 80 pages.

The same goes for RP. Make sure your posts aren’t going all over, bringing in random elements that have little to do with the current situation, and try to address the previous posts in some sort of a fixed, intelligent manner. I look at things based on what I think would have happened at about the same time, and then work from there. If I am in an exchange that involves three other people, my character might be reacting to all three participants in the current interaction. If I jump all over the place, I might leave everyone confused.

Example of Good Organization:

Character A: Character A looks up from his book and states, “Character D, will you bring me a soda”? He goes back to his reading, until Character D brings him his soda. After, he hands character D a slip of paper and tells him, “This is something you should look at.”

Character B: Character B whistles a happy tune while sweeping the floor. He leaves a big pile of dust in the center of the room, departing so he can get a dustpan. He returns with a dustpan and finishes his chore.

Character C: Character C enters the room and announces, “I just got mugged!” He stomps into the room and plops down into an empty chair, grumbling the whole way.

So, now I come in to post with Character D.

Character D gets up from his seat in response to Character D’s request. His exit from the room is interrupted as Character C walks into the room and announces his misfortune. Character D gasps, “You were mugged? That’s terrible, are you alright?”

Character D waits for a response from Character C before leaving to get Character A’s soda. When he goes to walk out of the room, he makes sure he steers clear of the large pile of dust and garbage, walking to the right of the pile. He grabs to two sodas, one for Character A and one for character C. When he walks back into the room, he nearly bumps into Character B, who is returning with a dustpan. “Oh, I’m sorry.” After getting past Character B, Character D gives Character C a soda, and then walks over to Character A, handing him his can. He takes the slip of paper from Character A with a raised eyebrow, before lifting it up to get a look at its contents.

With my Character D post, I assumed the actions of each of these characters occurred in two different periods of time, more or less at the same time. Rather than addressing them in any sort of a mish-mashed order that could have made no sense whatsoever, I addressed it based on when each part was relevant according to the timing of my actions. If I had mentioned the mugging after getting the sodas, and then brought up how I walked around the dust to get out of the room, it wouldn’t have made much sense.

Organization of ideas and events is an important aspect of both writing and Role-playing.

Well, that’s the closing thoughts for this week. Hope you could glean something from this.

I’ll see you in two weeks (skip week). ;)

- Acies

"In writing a series of stories about the same characters, plan the whole series in advance in some detail, to avoid contradictions and inconsistencies."   ~L. Sprague de Camp