Building "Lux, Veritas, Virtus": The Tri-Fold Path

I, in my infinite insanity, am attempting to write a novel.

Not just any novel, mind you, but a modern fantasy, or an "urban fantasy," if you will. Which requires not only intricate backstory to show why the world has magic and modern technology, but a whole lot of exposition as to how magic and technology coexist, not to mention the exact nature of the magic. So I decided that there must be some rules. And that I would detail it in a series of blog posts as I went along in the story.

First part of exposition- commence!

People in this world are divided up into three parts- Mind, Body, and Soul. A person can follow what I like to call Paths- that is, they further themselves in a specific area.

Those who follow the Path of the Soul are called Mages. Their specialty is the ability to use magic. People who follow this Path are more likely to become teachers, psychologists, scholars, or anything that further their understanding of magic.

Those who follow the Path of the Mind are called Techs. Their specialty is creating and building technology. People who follow this Path are more likely to become scientists, architects, or anything that requires thinking.

Those who follow the Path of the Body are called Fighters. Their specialty is that they are stronger and hardier than the other Paths. People who follow this Path are more likely to become athletes, builders, farmers, or anything that has to do with physical labor.

There is a fourth class. People who strive to further themselves in all the Paths are called Jack-of-all-Trades, or Jacks for short. They have all the attributes of the other Paths- increased intellect, strength, and magic- but limited, as they do not specialize in any of the Paths. Jacks are fairly uncommon, as most people find it easier to follow one Path.

There is a rock-paper-scissors relationship among the Paths. Soul beats Mind (who needs to get up close and personal with a tank when you can fry it with magic?), Mind beats Body (Tank vs. Infantry. You can fill in the rest), and Body beats Soul (Mages are... squishy from spending so much time reading). Due to this, there are grudges held between the Paths, each thinking they are better than the others. Jacks are just generally left alone, though some people dislike them for not specializing in one thing.

That's it for now. Hope you enjoyed this.

How Many Ways Can One Enter Mordor? Part 1

- run

- skip merrily

- cartwheel

-bicycle

- ride a dragon

- ride an Ent

- Drive a car

- dance

- ride on a horse

- shuffle

- do a conga line

But one cannot simply walk into Mordor.

My Little Addiction: NaPoWriMo

If you have been anywhere near the internet within the last year, you may have encountered the sensation known as My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. And I, myself, have become a addict. Just now, I have completed a challenge based off of the National Novel Writer's Month- only with ponies. Some of you out there may scoff at people like me who love the latest incarnation of My Little Pony. But I believe that this particular subculture is legitimate and can produce such good things such as National Pony Writer's Month.

If this post makes no sense, then blame the fact that it is 12:15am where I am. I tell you more about My Little Addiction later.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow...

Each and every day I dread the tomorrow.

Tomorrow is one more step into the unknown, one more step towards the abyss. I grasp at the rope I have tied around my waist. It's still there. I sigh in relief and continue on towards my doom.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow is one step closer to an old friend of mine. He was there at my birth, whispering into my ear, soon. He has been at my side ever since, though I do not see him. It is only when he does his job that he makes himself known to me.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow is one step closer to losing my rope. My friend is behind me, hacking away at it. I wish he would stop, but both he and I know it is his job. And when I have been freed from the rope, that will be the time to join him.

Tomorrow.

I will continue on into the tomorrow, until there are none left.

Compilations and Constants

Whenever there is an extended family get together, it is inevitable that family stories poke their noses out of the woodwork and rear their ugly heads. Some are funny. Some are sad. And some are downright embarrassing. So I have decided to do the impossible. I have decided to collect as many stories from both sides of the family and bind them all into one book. The collection will be entitled, "BANSAI!" The problem is, I have the memory of a goldfish and cannot remember half of the stories I've been told. So to any family members who read this, e-mail me a story! I want both sides of a story, so everyone send me one!

Mind Games: Prologue

"Are you okay? Speak to me!"

Shattered glass lies around me. There's blood on it. My blood. I almost throw up at the sight.

Pain.

"I called 911. They'll be here any minute."

I frown. I didn't want to go to the hospital. It reminded me too much of her, and what had happened that day.

Pain.

"Please, stay with me..."

But I don't want to stay. I want to go away. Away from the pain, and the agony I feel everyday when she crosses my mind.

Pain.

"I don't want you to die..."

He's crying. Please don't cry. You're making this worse. He holds my hand, holds on to me, to stop me from slipping. But it's too late. I already fell.

"Please..."

My vision is going blurry around the edges. Please don't feel bad. I want you to feel happy. Please stop crying. What I did was for the best. I struggle to speak, to comfort.

"...I'm sorry. For everything."

Everything fades.

Story: Mind Games

This is Girl speaking. The author of this blog has allowed me to come forward out of her subconscious and tell you about the story she is writing that stars me. It's called Mind Games, and it's about my journey through the land of Trace; a place where the inner mind blooms and becomes reality. It's also about my discovery of who trapped me there and why I'm trapped. So would you kindly pay attention to this blog? Rebecca will update it with the actual story and various ideas that didn't work. Thank you, and I hope I didn't waste your time.