Let the ranting commence!

Me and Nick have finally got the blog up and fully running, and have already begun littering it with entertaining rants targeted at the mainstream media and politicians in general.

If you’re feeling frustrated with how the media continues to warp the truth, or with how both Republican and Democratic nominees are being demonized by either side, then No Safety Labels is for you.

New Blog!

Yup, I made a new blog. This one isn’t so much a personal blog, as a group project. I gathered up some friends who enjoy writing up long intellectual rants, and started a blog where we can act like elitist jerks. We all occasionally need to blow off some steam, and attacking politics, clearly biased blogs, idiots, world events, and the media in general seems like a good way to do just that.

It just got off its feet, but if you’re interested in reading a snarky blog done for the shits and giggles, this is for you. We won’t have any funny political cartoon diddles, but I hope eventually in the future we can find someone interested in joining our project who could contribute art. Until then, enjoy the un-biased rants.

Silver Fire and Starlight

Maranaë let free a wistful sigh as her slender body languidly stretched within the meadow, luxurant grass and fragrant flowers caressing her pale flesh. Her face, considered one of the fairest amongst her people, was shadowed with worry and sorrow. She was attuned to the land as were all her kindred, and she could feel the earth itself trembling in fear of what was to come.

There was talk of dark things stirring in the depths of the night. Every elf could feel within their very soul that a great tragedy was about to befall the children of Eldanar, and yet all they could do was stand by helplessly as the wheel of time continued to turn without them, uncaring and unmoved by their plight.

The young elven maiden let free a wistful sigh, her eyes hued the shade of midnight sparkling with the reflection of the glittering heavens far above. Her hair was as dark as the purest of onyx, its thick waves fanned out about her head, shining with its own luminescence. Her mother had once lovingly commented that she was the light of the stars, and though it always brought a warm smile to her face to remember back upon those sweet memories, there was naught that could be done about the shadow that had befallen her heart.

She feared for her people, and for the future. The world had become restless, and a terrible dread had slowly welled within her bosom that all that she held dear would soon perish.

* * * * *

He was the silver flame. He was the air upon which he soared, and the stars beneath which he dwelled. His domain stretched as far as the eye could see. He was majestic and terrible at once. He was both generous and greedy, giving and taking at whim. He was one of the most ancient of beings to dwell upon Eldanar. He was a god cast out from paradise, and yet his heart knew no shame nor regret.

What his heart did know, however, was loneliness.

Ilsarúva stretched forth his massive wings, his silver scales glittering beneath the glow of the moonlight. He appeared as though a massive jewel amidst the tapestry of the sky, a flame of silver that rocketed across the heavens effortlessly. He had existed since the beginning of time, and within the depths of his eyes swam the wisdom of ages past.

His was a great power to direct. Though he no longer held claim to full godhood and much of his glory had been stripped, there were yet many wonderous feats of which he was capable of. Yet, for all its worth, he felt an emptiness from within that slowly gnawed away at him. There was no true joy within his life. He simply existed, doomed to dwell in solace with no company. Those who had suffered the same fate as he had been condemned to a deep sleep. They were cursed to never again interact with each other. When at last his time had passed and he felt the great slumber upon him, another would awaken as his own eyes slid closed.

It was perhaps the most cruel part of their punishment. An eternal life was theirs, but what good did that serve him when all he had was himself for company?

It was in the middle of these bitter ridden thoughts that something caught his eye from afar, and as his wings made slight adjusments to veer him in that direction, he realized it was an elven maiden alone within the middle of a meadow. She seemed adrift in a sea of pale lavendar, the flowers about her in full bloom only at night. His eyesight was even more keen than that of the elves, and he could see in agonizing detail the extent of her beauty.

Ilsarúva felt a stirring within the lonely caverns of his heart, a deep and ever hungry greed springing to life. She was more fair than any piece of treasure he had ever accumulated, and immediately he felt an intense pang of jealousy. No other deserved to ever lay eyes upon her. She would be his most prized jewel. A living, breathing creature that would outshine all other possessions. She was beautiful, and she would be his.

* * * * *

Maranaë had been lost within her own musings, and so when at last a shadow fell across her features and she tilted her head to glance over, she was embarassed to see a tall, elven noble all but standing over her. A heated blush immediately crept into her cheeks as he extended forth his hand, and as she delicately accepted his help to stand to her feet, she could not help but somehow feel inexplicably drawn towards his gaze.

His eyes were the most startlingly shade of silver she had ever seen. They seemed as though quicksilver, their glimmering depths seeming to shift as she fell further and further within those twin glaciers. She forgot time and her surroundings as she stood there, slowly lulled beneath his enchantment. Maranaë could see the wisdom of years beyond his countenance in those eyes, and beneath it all, she saw something else lurking.

She saw sorrow, and immediately her heart was moved to compassion.

Ilsarúva had no need of words to lure Maranaë beneath his spell. He was tall and muscular, shoulder length hair the same hue as his eyes and armor framing his stoic features. It was a guise, but it was necessary. His true form was massive, and while he knew himself to be the very embodiment of perfection and glory, the mere sight of his true form had the tendency to strike terror into the hearts of the lesser races.

So, with his gaze alone did he weave a spell of charming over the lovely maiden, and with the gentlest of caresses upon her cheek did he seal her love for him.

Well-adjusted Heroes?

A well-adjusted hero is someone with a relatively normal and happy life who goes on to do heroic deeds. They possibly set out on their quest simply because they feel it is the right thing to do, and know that while their own life is perfect that other people out there are suffering. Unlike many other heroes found in fictional works, the well-adjusted hero’s parents were not slaughtered in some horrible way, the love of his life did not die the day they were to be married, his children were not seduced by the dark side and become conniving, evil brats, and most importantly of all, the hero is not the last of his kind and is the world’s only hope for salvation. He’s just an Average Joe who does remarkable things.

In the end, isn’t that what makes what he does so remarkable? We can relate to him. He’s a normal human-being, with mortal frailties just like us. He can feel fear, and he can feel hesitation. He doesn’t have any super powers to help him, and he may not even have any magical weapons to help smite his foes either. He’s just like us, and yet he goes on to become a hero. We can picture ourselves possibly doing what he does in real life circumstances, and it endears the character even more to us.

However, a person could argue that well-adjusted heroes are incapable of existing. People become heroes because of tragic circumstances in their life. Their wife was slain by a group of bandits, and the hero embarks on a quest of retribution. Those with happy, well-adjusted lives do not become anything grand. They’re happy with the state of things, and do nothing to change the world around them. It takes something of significant important to spur a person to go above and beyond what is normally expected of him.

I tend to disagree. I think there is always an exception to any rule. It still begs the question: Do well-adjusted heroes exist? Can they even exist?

Star Trek

I ask the age old question that has plagued the minds of Trekkies since the dawn of time!

Kirk or Picard?

While Kirk perhaps represents the suave side of Star Trek, what with having bedded many alien women, I still throw my lot in with Picard. He was a brilliant tactician, and constantly strove to uphold the standards of Starfleet. All in all, I think he was a far superior captain than what Kirk ever could be.

Any rebuttals?

Lethargic

Well, I deserve a slap on the hands. I haven’t wrote an ounce this past week or so. It’s not that I haven’t been able to find the time (I’m always able to make time for something I’m interested in), but more a complete lack of inspiration and motivation. I sit down to write, and my mind draws a blank. I’m not too stressed over it, though. I’ve had writer’s block before, and I know it’ll eventually go away. I don’t have any real deadlines to meet, so it’s not like I have to stress over losing money and/or a job.

On a side note, my efforts for Villain Month have been pitiful at best. I actually pride myself on writing good villains, and I have as of yet to actually provide any evidence of that on here. I’ll have to do something about that. I’m not sure if I’ll stick with Keledreth, as I’m getting nothing for him at the moment, or perhaps simply flesh out a female villain I’ve had for a very long time and am very familiar with.

Villain Month: Keledreth Character Sheet

I joined Villain Month, which is being hosted over on Eliza Wyatt’s blog, and after a few days of tinkering about I finally finished the character sheet below. Keledreth is one of the antagonists in the story I’m working on, and is also a main character. Once I manage to get a better outline of my story worked out, I’ll post up a short excerpt from the story featuring Keledreth.

[i.] — Schematics:

Full Name: Keledreth Dynaesscer Mi’kardal
Gender: Male
Approximate Age: 1,896
Apparent Age: 25

Race: T’adra (Otherwise known as an Elf by Man)
Lineage: House Mi’kardal; House of the Falcon
Nobility: High Lord
Marital Status: Widowed

Class: Duelist; Inventor
Occupation: Master Engineer; Captain of The Argent Falcon
Origin: Cárthuael

[ii.] — Attributes:

Height: 6’0”
Weight: 157 lbs.
Hair: Black; Straight; Shoulder Length
Eyes: Steel Grey; Somber; Slitted Pupils
Build: Athletic; Toned; Masculine
Skin: Alabaster; Smooth Complexion
Voice: Grave; Authoritative; Musical

A T’adra of tall stature, Keledreth’s broad shoulders and proud tilt of the head are complimented well by his toned physique. His raven black hair is thick and long, and is generally worn free so that the ends just barely brush past his shoulders. With a somber expression and grim set to his thin lips, Keledreth’s steel grey gaze often feels cold. As is typical of his race, his melodious voice holds a hypnotic quality to it and his skin is of such a pale complexion that it could best be described as being nearly translucent. The only flaw upon his person is a thin scar which starts just above his right eyebrow and ends just below his eye.

▪ Attire: Keledreth dresses to both show his status in society, as well as which House he belongs to. He favors well-cut silk that displays the colors of his family, and is most typically seen garbed in a black long-sleeved shirt, a black vest, and a black frock coat with silver lining. This attire is accompanied with knee-high black cavalier boots into which his matching breeches are tucked.

[iii.] — Innate Ethos:

Personality: Arrogance and pride define Keledreth. He is confident in everything he does, and is contemptuous of those he views as being beneath him in either status or intelligence. Upon meeting his first human Zhenysian his belief that the T’adra are a superior race in every aspect were reaffirmed, and his ambition to conquer and enslave the denizens of Zhenys have been twice-fold emboldened. Keledreth is a nobleman with an extremely caustic wit and sharp tongue, and his temper is something that even fellow T’adrans tread lightly around. His views towards women are not exactly enlightened, believing them to be little more than playthings to be discarded at his discretion.

Skills & Knowledge: As a well-educated nobleman, Keledreth has accumulated a wide variety of skills. He is talented in all matters of diplomacy, and also possesses the know-how of implementing military tactics. He is talented in wielding both his rapier and flintlock pistol, but is also seen as a visionary as he was the first to invent and then perfect the steam-powered airship.

[iv.] — Strengths & Weaknesses:

- Social:

▪ Strengths: A smooth-talker with a charismatic personality, Keledreth is almost always able to manipulate people towards further completing his own selfish goals and pursuits.
▪ Weaknesses: Those who have suffered at the hands of Keledreth’s wrath or know well his lust for power mistrust and despise the Mi’kardalian. He has many enemies, both known and unknown to him.

- Career:

▪ Strengths: Being High Lord of the Mi’kardal family leaves Keledreth with little need to pursue a career as his wealth is already assured. Nevertheless, he possesses a brilliant mind, and his schematics for the airship are highly sought after.
▪ Weaknesses: Keledreth possesses no weaknesses in this area.

- Racial:

▪ Strengths: He possesses all the benefits as typified of the T’adran race: longevity, physical prowess, keen hearing and eyesight, and ethereal beauty.
▪ Weaknesses: The T’adran are, as a whole, arrogant. Keledreth is no exception. He is prideful and cruel, often taking pleasure in demeaning and inflicting harm upon others. He is certain in his superiority, which can lead to him underestimating others.

- Combat:

▪ Strengths: The Mi’kardalian comes from a society where insults to one’s honor often leads to a duel to the death, and as such he has intermittently spent the past eight centuries honing his skills with a blade, and perfecting his aim with the flintlock pistol. He is cunning and agile, and a fitting opponent for even a tested man.
▪ Weaknesses: Certain in his own skills and battle prowess, Keledreth is often apt to toy with his prey rather than immediately go in for the kill.

- Intelligence:

▪ Strengths: He possesses a brilliant mind, and is well-learned and well-spoken.
▪ Weaknesses: Keledreth would rather use his sharp intellect for his own selfish pursuits. He can sometimes get caught up in his own elaborate schemes that he momentarily loses sight of his other goals, and it is a rare thing when he works towards the greater good for his people.

Unread Genre – To Read or Not to Read?

Alright, so here’s the deal. I just had an absolutely awesome idea for a short story (though the full scope could easily turn into several novels later on). The way I’m describing this story is Steampunk fisticuffing with High Fantasy, that is to say it’s a mish-mash of both genres.

I’ve read a ton of fantasy set in medieval eras, and it’s more or less an area I consider myself to be well-versed in and able to write about the best. Now, I know what steampunk is, however I’ve never actually read a book that could be classified as steampunk. What I’m wondering is if this would give me a slight edge on putting a completely unique spin on the genre.

The question is this: Should I read a steampunk book or two to get a better feel for the genre, or do you think already knowing the basic gist of what defines this genre is enough?

A Mile-Long Eyesore – A Rant About the Composition of a Paragraph

What is so hard about properly writing a paragraph? I don’t care if you’re a reborn Saint spouting the gospel of God, if your writing consists of paragraphs that rival the span of my page scroll I refuse to read what you have to say. I do not want to see giant blocks of text that make me want to go screaming off into the horizon while clawing out my eyes in a vain attempt to remove the horrors I have been witness to.

There are hundreds of tutorials and how-to guides out there for your viewing pleasure. If you’re interested in writing, I should think learning how to properly construct paragraphs would be somewhere at the top of your to-do list. Apparently for a vast majority of people it isn’t, however. Here’s a brief summarization to clue you in: a paragraph should generally open with a topic sentence, followed by supporting sentences, and then closed by a concluding sentence. Paragraphs are usually comprised of about five to seven sentences, not fifty.

It’s not that hard. I know it’s sometimes a fine line between too little detail and going overboard with your verbosity, but there really is no excuse for having a paragraph that could easily be broken down into twenty smaller paragraphs. I attribute a growth of laziness and ignorance in the general populace for this trend.

In an age where people find Eragon to be an inspiring piece of work done by a boy genius (when in reality the pages of that book aren’t even worthy of being used as toilet paper), maybe properly structuring a paragraph is the least of our worries.

Story Submitted

Well, after much stress and bloodshed I have managed to beat the June 1st deadline, and submit “Hush, Little Baby”. The story turned out slightly shorter than I expected (4,117 words), but that’s alright. I’m not particularly pleased with the story, but I have nothing to lose by sending it in for possible publishment. I have a tough hide, so a rejection letter isn’t exactly going to make or break my world.

However, I do think that’s the last horror story I’ll be trying to write for a while. I’m sure it would’ve been easier if I had stumbled across the magazine sooner. As is, I had one week and two days to come up with an idea for a story, create an outline, flesh it all out, and then review it for grammatical and punctuation errors. The “idea” part is what took so damned long in case you’re wondering.

I’m happy that’s over and done with, that’s for sure. Now I can actually focus all of my attention on writing fantasy short stories, which I’ve been itching to do for some time now. I think I’ll have better success with this genre overall, especially since I have several characters already clinking around in my head.