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Part one of chapter one. Keep in mind this is still in draft stages like all my blogged stuff, so things are subject to change. Hope ppl enjoy my writing! PS. At some point I will do a blog that gives some better description of the overall world setting and races so everyone can picture them more easily. Count Marc Arrius forced aside his impatience as he waited in the line of people slowly exiting the council chambers. Marc needed to move quickly in light of the recent announcement. He had risen to the upper tier of Syphilin society by staying one step ahead of the competition and there was little the other council members knew that he did not. He had suspected this new development was forthcoming although it was happening sooner than expected. For months now he had watched as the council formed two separate camps in a growing argument concerning the future of the city. The announcement of Lady Amon’s endorsement of the Red Temples request wasn’t a surprise, she was a devout priestess herself, the move was an attempt at drawing the lines between the two groups and forcing the rest of the council to choose sides. In truth Marc saw merit in both schools of thought. The council had been convened at the request of the Red Temple. Although the clerics held a lot of power within the city, even the Temple required the support of the secular lords to declare an act of war. The announcement had been made without any expectation of an immediate decision. This told Marc Arrius that the Temple was not entirely entrenched enough with the council to call for a vote just yet. The Grand Cleric Chandalar had initiated the motion with a grand speech. The Red Temple claimed to have received signs from Sythan himself that the time for the Syphilin to assume their rightful place as rulers of the world was approaching. More than a few of the gathered nobles had erupted in cheering and calls for war. Some of the council members, Marc included, were less then enthralled by promises of glory espoused by the faithful. Lord Drake Esmourn was the most openly opposed to the proposition of war and represented the other side of this dispute. The Esmourn family name was both old and respected, many of the other lords were following his lead. Esmourn’s argument against war stemmed from its potential cost in Syphilin lives. Marc finally realized why the line was moving so slowly. Standing to either side of the exit was Lady Hara Amon and the High Cleric. Count Arrius rolled his eyes as the pair stopped each council member in turn, bestowing them with a blessing. Marc found himself looking about for another exit, although he knew there was no such luck. Finally it was his turn. Marc hoping to make a fast exit was stopped before he took another step as the Grand Cleric blocked his path. Chandalar fanatical gaze bore into him as he spoke; “Count Arrius, a face I haven’t seen much of late.” Flashing a smile that showed more than a few gritted teeth Arrius bowed, allowing the Grand Cleric to lay a hand on his head. Arrius waited as the leader of the Red Temple uttered a prayer. Once the priest has finished Arrius thanked the man and prepared to walk away, only to find his path blocked once more. The Lady of Blackstone, Hara Amon, had slid in front of him. In contrast to the clerics dark attire Lady Amon wore a revealing slit dress with a neckline low enough to prove scandalous should she not take great care with her movements. Woven of the finest silk, which Marc recognized from his own imported stock, the garment was brightly colored in shades of yellow with red trim. Her hands glittered with gem studded rings and long, intricately painted nails adorned the tips of her fingers. “I could not help but notice your lack of enthusiasm for the Red Temples proposition, Count.” The deep, sultry tone of Lady Amon’s voice could normally charm the hearts of most men more completely than any spell, but now it carried with it an icy dagger of spite aimed for the kill. Not for the first time Marc found himself somewhat regretting turning down her advances. Somewhat. “I am concerned how this will affect my import business, and need time to make a decision.” “Then you must decide wisely. It would be a sad misfortune if the future of your House should become questionable. I look forwards to your vote.” Marc was surprised by the boldness of the thinly veiled comment in front of so many council members. He locked eyes with Hara and saw the challenge there. He had to fight the urge to flinch, and decided he couldn’t lose face. “You seem confident that the council will vote in your favor, Lady Amon. I have heard reports that several soldiers of Blackstone were headed west, led by the captain of your personal guard.” Lady Amon’s eyes widened and her lips tightened a bit as the remaining council members that had been listening began to whisper to one another. Marc knew the scouting force had been sent in secrecy. Before she could retort he stepped forwards close enough to feel the heat of her breath and gave her a coy smile. “Should I tell them more?” He whispered. The Lady of Blackstone stepped aside and he proceeded through the exit. Once out of sight Marc blew a sigh of relief that she hadn’t caught on to his bluff. While indeed he had known about Captain Rodagins’ departure he hadn’t any specific details of their mission. He did however, take pleasure in throwing a wrench into whatever plans Lady Amon had. Surely his comment would pique the interest of the other council members and make them much harder for her to manipulate. The count paused as he exited the front of the palace. The volcano a mere twelve miles from the city was throwing a red glow upon the murky ash-filled sky. Mount Krastis had been unusually active of late, likely the work of the strange, twisted, and evil allies of the Syphilin. Neither the ash nor the smell of sulfur entered the city. A magical weave of air protected the skies, one of many layers of impregnable defenses against the elements and attackers alike that protected the city. Marc Arrius looked out over the sprawling city at once admiring the beauty of the core buildings inhabited by the Syphilin, and detesting the slums that marred the outer ring. A shadow fell over him from behind. Marc slid a hand to the hilt of his rapier, but did not turn around. “The Red Temple is growing in more ways than one.” The bass, rumbling voice was powerful. Marc turned to see a creature that was the stuff of nightmares. The scaly beast stood nearly 15 feet tall, and was as wide as the stone columns that adorned the front of the palace. A thick, battered iron breastplate was the only armor it wore, and it was hardly needed. Bolgrast were all scales and muscle with bristly black hair that formed a mane running down their backs to a long barb-tipped tail. This was no ordinary Bolgrast however. Warlord Kuld was a somewhat legendary figure, and perhaps one of the most dangerous people in the city. Marc was aware of just how dangerous, and certainly if the council had suspected that beneath the monstrous exterior lied an extremely intelligent and calculating mind he would have long ago been disposed of. Warlord Kulld’s eyes were fixated towards the south and the source of his comment. The Red Temple, covered in scaffolding, appeared almost as tall as the palace, despite being a hundred feet lower on the terrain. “The Lord Commander was not pleased with the permission the council granted them to renovate.” Marc commented. “They grow bold. Soon they will control the council and we will go to war.” “That displeased the mighty King Kuld?” “I have no such title.” “But it’s whispered in the lower portions of the city, uttered quietly by many Bolgrast.” A threatening growl that sounded like thunder caused Marc to take a cautious step backwards, he still hadn’t removed his hand from the hilt of his sword either. “I have no such title, Count.” Arrius was not intimidated, and decided to press further. He knew Kuld was too smart to attack him on the palace steps. “Not yet perhaps, but what is the next step for Kuld? Advancing from the ranks of the mongrels to Warlord, and being granted a seat on the ruling council itself is a mighty achievement! What lies in his future?” “War. Battle. The corpses of my enemies to feed upon.” “And after that? After smashing every opponent and leading our armies to victory? Who will you fight next?” Kulds lips tugged back from his tusked mouth in a vicious grin, although he offered no words. “So you will cast your vote on the side of the Red Temple then.” “Of course, to do otherwise would be foolish of me. What of yourself, will you back Amon and the Temple or that fool Esmourn?” “The winning side of course, I am always the last to cast my vote.” The great beast only offered a snort in reply. Marc looked back out over the city, lost in thought. “You will come and watch tonight?” The comment jogged Marcs memory of something one of his many contacts within the city had mentioned to him. “You have a new challenger to the position of Warlord. A mighty Bolgrast larger than you and leader of battallion Rage. Rumors state that he fought and killed six of his lieutenants at once.” A low rumbling laugh grew into a thunderous avalanche as it erupted from deep inside the mighty Warlords chest. “I fought and killed Argasi Sanso, I fear not some upstart that kills weakling mongrels then boasts of it! Should you choose to come to witness this farce of a challenge tonight, you would be wise to bet upon my vi-“ Kuld clamped shut his jaw. His bellowing had attracted the attention of the palace guard, several of whom had some running to investigate the bolgrasts roars. “Me kill him. You watch.” With that the mighty warlord stomped away down the palace steps. Marc did not find his change of grammar in his speech unusual. For years Kuld had played the role of the dimwitted brute most Syphilin saw him as. This gave him the advantage. The Count had no intention of watching the challenge, however he did hope Kuld would prove victorious. Marc’s agents had briefed him fully on the leader of battalion Rage and by all accounts he was a brutal warrior of massive size and strength. Marc would still bet every coin on the cunning Warlord. Kulds rapid climb through the ranks of the battalions to the top position was an achievement still talked about today and even that was eclipsed by his legendary battle with the traitor Argasi Sanso who had been considered the greatest Syphilin swordsmen to have ever lived. That epic duel had occurred at the same spot he stood now on the top of the palace steps. Had he not been dealing with traitors in his own home, Arrius would have been present for that confrontation. He wondered, not for the first time, if he would have proven once and for all that Sanso was only the second greatest swordsman. Arrius traced a finger along the delicate guard of his rapier. Unlike so many other weapons in the world this particular blade had been Named by a master smith. Weapons that had been Named were legendary, most rumored to have been forged long ago before the world was nearly destroyed by conflict. There were only three such weapons in the city. Fear, a massive bolgrast warbar, was in Kulds possession and unlike the other two was a recently forged piece, one of many gifts given to the city by the Kora’klin dwarves. Elaziel was held by the Lord Commander Ren Etherholt. Although Arrius had yet to see the Lord Commander wield Elaziel the longswords history was quite well known. An ancient and heavily enchanted blade, the swords past was one of blood. In fact it was rumored that even the steel had a rose-colored tinge to it. That left the sword belted to Arrius’s own hip. Weapons that had been Named had a habit of coming into the hands of those whom befitted it most. Artence was no exception. Arrius had acquired the blade several years ago from a human antiquities dealer who had no idea what he possessed. Although the weapons quality and exquisite detail were apparent, its history and abilities were not. Even Arrius did not realize the enchantments that had been laden onto Artence until he had first utilized the weapon in combat. Arrius shook himself out of his contemplation. He had several people to meet with over the next few days. There was much he needed to discover concerning the Red Temples confidence of their plan. There was no doubt that the next council meeting would be the final confrontation between the two sides and Arrius wanted to be sure he cast his vote for the winning side.
Tags: Feron Burning Robotic Ninja Monkey Clones From Outer Space Devour One Thous
The beginning of a fantasy story that I work on when I don't feel in a sci-fi mood. I need a different title other then "High Priest" but just can't come up with something cool that fits the world so its a placeholder title now. Enjoy. Prologue The footfalls of the scribe echoed throughout the halls of the great cathedral as he ran as quickly as his frail body would allow. Heads turned and voices called after him from the priests as he passed, but the young man did not stop. Clutched to his chest was an ancient, leather bound tome embossed with the emblem of Relnor. Jodric Whitehorn, son of the mighty Lord Rodric Whitehorn, possessed none of his father’s intimidating physical stature. Almost entirely the opposite of his father Jodric had ever been a disappointment, and thus the quiet, sickly young lad had been sent to the Church. There Jodric had quickly become a devout servant of Relnor. And now he had a purpose, perhaps even a mission from the god himself. Jodric was determined that nothing would deter him from his course. His determination drove his footsteps as fast as his body would allow, even when he doubled over from the stabbing pain as his lungs tried pitifully to draw in enough air he pushed on stubbornly. His pace didn’t slow until he threw open one set of doors and entered an office. Jodric froze in his tracks as he met the frosty glare of Pilus Dean. The Hand of the High Preist was not loved by those who knew him, and even feared by many. Rumors abounded concerning his promotion to the position of Hand. His voice was silky smooth and unnervingly calm as he spoke. Although still seated behind a gigantic oaken desk he had an overpowering presence. “Brother Jodric. What is so important that you would come crashing into my office?” “I-I need…to see….the High..Priest.” Jodric gasped the words out. He leaned heavily on a nearby chair, his shaking legs threatening to give way. “I’m afraid you’ll need an appoi-“ Pilus’ words stopped mid-sentence. The room appeared to darken as a terrible expression of anger began to form on his face. His physical limits near to breaking, Jodric nearly toppled over. The moment Pilus began to rise from his seat, his mouth opening to utter words of anger, or perhaps a curse, a wide ornately carved door at the back of the office swung open. Robes of pure white and a tall cone-shaped hat with intricate golden filigree adorned the figure that entered the room. “What’s this Ruckus about, Pilus?” In contrast to the voice of Pilus Dean, the newcomers voice was warm and slightly amused. “Brother Jodric seems to think that the High Priest, the Voice of Relnor and the Light of the Sun, is at his beck and call.” The cold and threatening tone was lost on Jodric however, who moved quickly despite his unsteady footing to kneel before the High Priest. Gentle hands grasped his shoulders and helped him to his feet. “I-I’m sorry, your Light. I would not have intruded if it was not something important.” “It’s no bother. What’s this you bring me?” “Its apparent what he holds. We should take him to the courtyard and have him flogged for even touching it. Only the High Priests are allowed access to that tome and it is heresy anyone else should sully it with their unworthy hands.” Jodric’s legs quivered once more at Pilus’ words. He had no doubt the vicious priest meant every word of that threat. “That won’t be necessary. Perhaps you would like to return it to the section of the library where it belongs?”, the High Priests voice sounded almost mocking. Jodric gasped a bit at the look of revulsion that Pilus shot at the tome he still clutched to his chest. He found himself gripping it a bit tighter, as if to shield it from the glare. “No thank you. Alast Bremmon, High Priest of the Church, is the only one allowed the right to lay hands upon the Prophecies.” The High Priest guided Jodric towards the doorway to his private office with fatherly hands. “Come this way, Jodric. We should speak about what has you so excited.” Pilus made a move too follow, but stopped as Alast wasved him back. “But the punish-“ The High Priest cut him off, “I will deal with it.” Even after closing the thick doors behind him, Alast could feel the gaze of Pilus as if he were attempting to burn a hole into him. “Place the book on my desk, and take a seat, Jodric.” Still shaking, Jodric reverently placed the book upon the High Priests desk before sitting in a large, overstuffed chair. Walking over to his desk Alast reached out for a small, finely engraved kettle. “Tell me your story while I pour you some tea. It will help calm your nerves.” Alast took his time preparing the drink. Partially because Jodric was so nervous he could barely speak and Alast needed to gather his own thoughts as well. He didn’t look forwards to what he had to do. “I-uh It was my turn t-to clean the library. I was dusting when I noticed the door to your private library was opened s-slightly.” Jodric paused as he continued to catch his breath. “Go on.” “I looked inside to see if anyone was in there. I was going to close the door since its supposed to be kept locked when I saw the book sitting on a table.” “And you knew what book this was?” “Yes, of course. I’ve seen when you perform the Turning ceremony at the beginning of every year.” Alast handed Jodric a cup of tea. “And you had to know, didn’t you?” “I’m so s-sorry… I couldn’t help myself. I had to look.” Jodrics trembled so badly he had to steady the cup with both hands. “You may rest easy, Jodric. The most holy of us still succumb to our base instincts, and the search for knowledge is hardly the worst of them.” A flicker of painful emotions passed across the High Priests face but went unnoticed by Jodric, who was drinking the tea and trying to calm his nerves. “How far ahead did you read?” Licking his lips nervously Jodric met the gaze of Alast. “Only next year’s predictions.” “And no farther?” “No, High Priest, I didn’t dare. Not even after what I had already read.” “And what you saw inside frightened you?”, Alast reached out a hand and caressed the surface of the book. “Yes. I knew I had to come to you right away. I shouldn’t have looked..I wish I hadn’t.” Jodric had begun to shake again. Alast moved to the front of the desk, holding the Book of Prophecy. “Fear not, young Jodric. You are not the only one to succumb to temptation. For years at every Turning it has been the High Priests responsibility to announce the coming future of Feron. For 500 years this ceremony has been performed.” Alast opened the book flipping through the yellowed pages. “I too, have a thirst for knowledge. I needed to know, and that instinct, that primal urge was too much for even me to resist.” Jodric gasped. Sweat beaded on his brow and his vision began to swim. What was the High Priest saying? Had he done the unthinkable? Jodric couldn’t move, couldn’t say anything, as Alast turned the book around, revealing the pages upon which the next years prophecy was spelled out in archaic prose. Jodric couldn’t take his eyes away from the page nor draw breath. His vision began to swim. “You should know what lies beyond.” Jodric was too paralyzed to look away. It seemed to take an eternity as Alast slowly turned the pages of the book forwards. His last breath shivered forth from his lungs as his body trembled. Jodric died in the chair, his eyes wide yet unseeing. Alast closed the book with a loud thump and sighed. “I’m sorry Jodric, but at least now you understand why I had to do what I have done and what I need to do yet still.” Walking over to the office door and opening it, Alast saw Pilus still standing in the same spot with a look that hadn’t changed. “Pilus, call for Sister Clevans from the infirmary. I fear young Jodric’s frail health has gotten the better of him.” The stony expression on Pilus’ face gave way to a wicked grin, although it still remained as cold as ice. “Right away, Light of the Sun.” Alast turned away quickly. It still twisted his gut to deal with such a cruel man as Pilus, but the High Priest had come to terms with that long ago. He had to do what he must in order to ensure the safety of the Church of Relnor.
Tags: Feron Burning Robotic Ninja Monkeys
Cont'd. Now you know some history, etc. Keep in mind a lot of stuff like names/etc are made up on the spot and can always change later. While Mar was busy thinking himself clever the two Volurian representatives paused on the other side of the hidden door. The one named Colain tapped a finger on a small device attached to his wrist. “It looks like we needn’t have bothered with that.” Rega commented. “He was nervous enough. Disabling the Chancellors security droids was a precautionary measure.” “Chancellor Mar is true to his race. With the temptation of wealth at hand there was no way he could refuse the offer.” “Our plan proceeds well. The resources coming in from the fringe Unity worlds won’t go unnoticed by our new Imperial leadership.” “High Admiral S’Cot is proving to be far more amicable to our ideas than the predecessor” Colain agreed. “We still have much to do.” Rega said as the two continued down the concrete walled passage at the end of which their transport off-planet waited. Colain merely nodded. The plan was set in motion and there was no turning back at this point. The Unity had been ignoring its fringe worlds for some time now and the pair of Imperial operatives had plotted to take advantage of that fact. Colain and Rega has spend nearly five years studying the species of this galaxy and their interactions. Before the Imperial Fleet arrived they had developed a full plan involving subterfuge to create chaos within the Unity. But the then commander of the Imperial invasion force didn’t listen. High Admiral Kenth had preferred a military solution. The Unity had little in the way of military technology that could match that of the Imperial Dominion and practically no ability to field a defensive fleet. And the two of them had difficulty arguing against their superior. In fact the early results had begun to prove that the more aggressive campaign would be successful. The Unity resistance had been laughable at its finest. But Kenth hadn’t understood the species of this new, foreign galaxy. Colain and Rega had tried to warn him that the worlds of the Unity were not accustomed to an iron-fisted rule. The conquered worlds proved stubborn and resistant to occupation, and thus the main battle fleet began to find itself to respond to hotspots of rebellion while continuing a rapid rate of expansion. It was inevitable that the Imperial Fleet would suffer a defeat. When the High Admiral became aware of a Unity effort to build a defensive fleet at a distant world, he immediately dispatched the War Herald with a sizable complement of support vessels to destroy the Unity shipyards and fledgling armada. The Volurians themselves were not a numerous species. They had brought only two Volurian designed and operated command ships with the Imperial Fleet. The rest of the ships were Meklar drone carriers backed by a vast host of medium sized assault craft. The only ship from the strike force that returned came bearing the news of High Admiral Kenth’s defeat. Try as they might Colain and Rega had not been able to uncover the truth of how exactly the War Herald was overpowered. The surviving crew was executed under the charge of cowardice and with them died the precise details of their failure. The only apparent tidbit of information was a command from the new High Admiral that all members of a species known as ‘human’ were considered a significant threat to the empire and should be eliminated. Although certainly not the first time the Imperial Dominion had inflicted genocide upon a race this was the first time either of them had detected a hint of fear. And when Chancellor Mar had mentioned to them in a communication that a human was present here inside Getsons Corridor the pair of infiltrators had decided to pay the Chancellor a visit. “We should learn more about this human. This could be an opportunity to study one.” Colain remarked to his companion.
“I was thinking the same thing.”
This is a short beginning passage of a sci-fi story that is currently going through a major stage of revision. Enjoy. Chancellor Mar Esta couldn’t hide his discomfort with his two guests. He had to remind himself that he was the most powerful individual in the area of Getsons Corridor. Despite this fact he found right hand inching closer and closer to concealed button on the upholstered arm of his chair that would send a dozen security robots bursting into the office. He felt vulnerable, and didn’t like the sensation. “This development will not interfere with the shipments.” The words were more a statement than a question and Mar blinked as he attempted to determine which of the two in front of him had spoken. The Volurian representatives looked identical with their expressionless faces. Choosing to fiddle with some paperwork on his desk rather than make eye contact he replied. “I have made arrangements to be sure the Unity task force is kept too busy to notice the discrepancies.” A moments pause occurred before one of them spoke. At least this time Mar could see which Volurian was speaking. “The task force is led by a Human.” Now Mar understood the purpose of the visit. His mind worked to find a way to capitalize on this development. He knew the Volurians were wary of the humans. Although he was aware that a small number of human had migrated into his territory he had yet to meet one. By all accounts they could be as cunning as they were brutal, it had been the warlike species that had been responsible for the only major victory the Unity could claim against the Imperial Dominion. That same victory had brought the war to a stalemate. This stalemate had put Mar into a tough situation. Getsons Corridor was initially a major trade route into territory now under Dominion rule. The Unity, of course, had put an embargo on trading with the Imperial Dominion and the economies of the Corridor had suffered greatly as a result. Luckily Getsons Corridor was not of a particular military value and had remained largely untouched by the ravages of galactic conflict. There was practically no Unity military presence in the area so when the pair of Volurian representatives contacted him offering a lucrative deal he could hardly say no. Mar was an Orn, a species known for their greed and lust for wealth. To the Chancellor this deal was not only a chance to protect the interests of the people he presided over but also an opportunity to increase his own financial portfolio. The Unity had largely ignored the worlds of the Corridor giving him another justification. “I can keep them busy enough, of course its going to cost me a not insubstantial amount of credits.” Mar rubbed together his stubby fingers, he could almost feel the texture of money between them. “It would be better to eliminate them.” Although the Volurians face did not change in the slightest from its frozen state, Mar detected more then a little suggestion in the tone of voice. This didn’t sit well with the little Orn at all. He was many things, but a murderer was not among them. Thinking quickly he cleared his throat before offering a reply. “That, uhm, may not be the best course of action. It could draw more attention then we want right now.” “They might send more humans.” Mar added after a moment, thinking to take advantage of the perceived Volurian fear of the species. “That would be a very unfortunate occurrence for the people of this area.” “I guarantee it won’t be a problem.” Despite the confidence he spoke with Mar fought the urge to squirm in his seat. His finger was a hairsbreadth from the security button, and he slowly forced his hand away from it. “Good. I am glad we understand each other.” The two visitors stood up in unison. Silently they made their way towards the secret door that connected to a series of hidden emergency exits. They had entered by the same method as it wouldn’t do to have the public aware of his Imperial connections. As soon as the doorway sealed shut behind the departing duo Mar breathed a sigh of relief. A moment later he smirked briefly as he took another look at the paperwork before him. The human representing the Unity would be very busy indeed. Certainly he couldn’t get into to much mischief with his ship stuck in dry-dock waiting for parts. And Mar intended to keep him waiting for the repairs to be completed for a long time indeed.
Yeah, so I got out of work 2 hours early. It kind of sucks because I missed some days due to weather on the last paycheck, and its not like I make all that much. So instead of going straight to school, which is about an hours drive from work/home I decided to go home. Ate some leftover turkey (no, not from thanksgiving! Dad just decided to cook a turkey). Struggled to get my cellular internet to connect for about 45 minutes so I could upload some homework to the schools website. Wondering if I get to see dad before he goes back to work. He was having orientation today, wonder how well he is doing for not working for 3 months because of layoff/surgery combo. If he goes out on the road tomorrow will prolly be at least a week till he gets back. O well. Time to leave for school. Need to get gas and some bottled water. The vending machines at the school all either eat your money or dont have any water....ever. So today so far has really been just like yesterday with a meaningless couple of hours to break this one up lol.
Pretty much like every other day. Get up at exactly 6:50 AM. Shut off alarm. Stand up. Turn off fan (I cant sleep wihtout white noise). Shower, etc. Work til 4:30, go to fast food joint, go to school, then home by 10:30pm Play on comp for an hour, then bed. Bet you a hundred that tomorrow is almost exactly the same...
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Today
Posted On 03/17/2008 13:35:24
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Blah, just messing around with my account before heading off to work. Then after that comes more homework because I procrastinate as much as possible, but I need to get it done since gnomish_spambot will be in town and I haven't seen him in ages. I still have class tomorrow night. Oh yeah, I need to study for a test too, damnit....
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