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All News
Ralin: Dwarf Wars
Ralin: Dwarf Wars Interview
We had the chance interview Christian Biever of Ogardonix Ltd about his latest kickstarter Roguelike game Ralin: Dwarf Wars that launched this month.
» Continue reading the article...
Jagged Alliance: Flashback
Jagged Alliance: Flashback Review
Forgottenlor braves Jagged Alliance: Flashback. Then he tells us about it.
» Read the article
Recent articles
Poll Watch
Digital Games
Boxed Games
Depends I Buy Both
Recently ReleasedMar: Pillars of Eternity
Mar: Enemy
Mar: Worlds of Magic
Feb: Caribbean
Feb: Hand of Fate
Expected ReleasesMar: Age of Decadence
Apr: Telepath Tactics
Apr: Celestian Tales
Apr: Proven Lands
Apr: Dragon Fin Soup
News Watch
Crowfall - Funded on Kickstarter by Voqar
Pillars of Eternity - Thoughts & Impressions by Capt. Huggy Face
Dark Souls II - Scholar Of The First Sin Q&A by Ryder
Wasteland 2 - Interview @ Eurogamer by Archangel
Pillars of Eternity - Massive Review Roundup by greywolf00
Forum WatchThoughts/discussion/first impressions of Pillars of Eternity! by yllaettaevaet
What games are you playing now? by Menigal
Pillars of Eternity Videos to get you started by Kordanor
PoE Nexus Modding subsite by yllaettaevaet
The ever-popular "Currently Listening" thread by dteowner
Thursday - March 19, 2015
Seven Dragon Saga - New Tiers & Class Info
TSI posted another update for Seven Dragon Saga with some new backers tiers to help fund the game, and David Shelley shares more details about Classes.
New Tiers, info on Classes
We are seven days into the campaign, and we've had a great deal of support come in from fans as well as industry veterans that believe in our work, and thought we'd share another great example, this one from someone you'll likely recognize if you enjoyed the recent Civilization games:
"I have great memories of playing the Gold Box games on my Amiga while growing up. I loved the mixture of tactical combat, D&D party building, and a strong narrative. I'm looking forward to TSI's work continuing in that spirit." Soren Johnson, Co-founder, CEO, Creative Director - Mohawk Games (Offworld Trading Company)
New Tiers!
Backers who pledge at the Immortal Bard level ($500) or higher can contact us after the campaign and substitute physical versions of the digital rewards (game box, etc.). We're sorry this was not made clear before now.
We've added a couple new tiers
- Hall of Fallen Heroes. $250, hidden in ancient ruins, this great hall, full of heroic statues, includes a roll call of ancient greats, including your name.
- Immortal Visage. $350, Send us a picture of yourself and we will adapt the portrait of an NPC in the game to resemble you.
Seven Dragon SagaSP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development
Full Control - Done Developing Games
I have another update about developer Full Control thanks to Gorath sending me a link to a new interview on a site called NordicGame. It seems the developer will not be making any more games, and says Space Hulk: Ascension will be thier last game.
After developing video games for over 11 years, Danish game developer Full Control has decided to halt production of new video game properties.
"After releasing ten games with considerable critical and commercial success, we've made the difficult decision that the release of Space Hulk: Ascension will be our last one," says Full Control founder and CEO Thomas Hentschel Lund. "We simply wanted to stop when we were at the top of our game."
The loss of an investor, lack of funding for new games and increased competition are a few reasons why the state of the industry anno 2015 is an incredibly hard climate in which to maintain an independent studio. Instead of running the company against a wall, Lund made the decision to have Full Control cease game production, reduce staff and focus on sales and community support for its existing games instead.
Full Control
Grim Dawn - PAX East 2015 Recap Update
This weeks Grim Misadventure update for Grim Dawn is a recap of Pax East.
Grim Misadventures returns! You may not have heard but, for the first time ever, we left the safety of our caves and showed off Grim Dawn at a public event. Almost the entire team was able to make it out to PAX East 2015, where we mingled with fans and with an unthinkable number of people that have never even heard of Grim Dawn (I know, the nerve).
Grim DawnSP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Hack & Slash
Platform: PC
Release: In development
Tahira - New Add-Ons & 28 Hours to Go
The Tahira: Echoes of the Astral Empire has twenty eight hours left to get funded, and the developer Whale Hammer Games is offering more add-ons to help fund the game.
Add-Ons and 44 Hours to Go!
Hey everyone! Guess what, we've raised $56,000! That's amazing, thank you! We're closing in on the goal. We've got 44 hours left to raise the last $12,000. With your help we can definitely do it.
Tweet about the campaign, share it on Facebook, post about Tahira on Tumblr or Pinterest. Everything helps! Together we'll get Tahira across the finish line!
We've decided to offer some digital add-ons. We wanted to add physical add-ons as well, but it just isn't possible without ripping you off, which is something we don't want to do. If you were hoping to get more than one of any of the physical items, let us know and we'll consider adding a new reward tier.
And yes I changed the news title to reflect the new amount if time.
TahiraSP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Tactical RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development
Legend of Grimrock 2 - OS X Version Released
Almost Human announced that Legend of Grimrock 2 is now available for Mac OS X,and included a new video in the press release I received today. Here is the information.
Legend of Grimrock 2 OS X Version Released
ESPOO, FINLAND - MARCH 18, 2015. Indie game developer Almost Human Ltd. is proud to announce that their critically acclaimed dungeon crawling role playing game Legend of Grimrock 2 is now available for Mac OS X. "Our fans have been eagerly waiting to play Legend of Grimrock 2 on their Macs, and to meet the fans' expectations and our high standard of quality, we have been hard at work to craft a native OS X version of the game" says Antti Tiihonen, a co-founder of Almost Human. In addition to bringing the game to a new platform, the Windows version is updated to expand and improve the powerful modding capabilities and enhance the performance of the game. To celebrate these important milestones, the Legend of Grimrock games are now available for a special 40% discount for the remainder of the week on the developer's website at www.grimrock.net as well as on Steam, GOG.com and Humble Store.
Legend of Grimrock 2SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Dungeon Crawler
Platform: PC
Release: Released
Ultima IV - Retrospective @ TOR
A site called TOR published a new retrospective for Ultima IV this week. The article talks about how the lack of a main villain chnged, and made the game better that it was.
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (QOTA) is an open world RPG in which the main goal is to be a good person. There's no archvillain to defeat (Mondain, Minax, and Exodus have already been vanquished), no world that needs saving, not even a prince or princess to rescue. This was unlike any of the RPGs of the time, a narrative device that even now seems revolutionary. I can't imagine a book, film, or TV series without a principal foe—what would the story arc even be like? In QOTA, you help people, meditate, explore Britannia, and focus on self-enlightenment.
Ultima IVSP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released
Dungeons Of Aledorn - Media Coverage Update
Team 21 has posted the next update for Dungeons Of Aledorn with links to more interviews they did this week, and share a link to another game project to help back.
So far during the campaign we have already done a considerable number of interviews. Today we bring you a selection of some of the most common and the most interesting questions and answers.
Dungeons Of AledornSP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Interview @ IBTimes
A web news site called IBTimes had the chance to interview CD Projekt RED's CEO Marcin Iwiński about sexism, free DLC and Game of Thrones in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
IBT: It's safe to say anticipation for Wild Hunt is far greater than for previous games. What are the team's feelings about that hype and how has it affected development?
Marcin Iwiński: It's very flattering and humbling at the same time. The team feels that pressure, but I think it's very uplifting and it's not a bad kind of pressure - we know we're making something really big, we have a plan and we're sticking to it. Hopefully, there will come a time for popping champagne, but it's all sweat and tears now.
You announced that all DLC for Wild Hunt would be free, which was obviously news welcomed with open arms by the community. Do you have a particular stance on paid DLC, or was this a move made simply to garner good press?
We wanted to send a clear message that what is currently happening with DLC is, in a lot of cases, a stretch... and that's me being polite here. We are gamers and whenever we buy a full price new release, we really expect that we will not be treated like milking cows and be charged a few bucks for every tiny thing, be it a sword, horse armour or hairstyle.
The release of Wild Hunt was the best opportunity to put the money where our mouth is and show that we really mean it. We do believe that when gamers buy our game we form a long-term relation and we owe them our care and support, hence the 16 free DLCs. It is our way of saying 'thank you' for buying our game and we would love to see other companies follow this trend.
Shadow Realms - More Game Details
In-case you were interested in what BioWare's cancelled RPG game Shadow Realms was all about then head over to a site called UnSeen64 who unreleased information.
Shadow Realms was a cancelled online action RPG in development at BioWare Austin. It was originally scheduled for release in fall 2015 exclusively on PC with no immediate plans for a console port. The title's cancellation was announced on February 9, 2015. However, thanks to multiple anonymous contributors related to the project, we have been able to preserve a plethora of insider information about it that was never disclosed by BioWare officially.
It was a game conceived by BioWare Austin in late 2013 as a 4 v 1 online multiplayer experience; with full production commencing by early 2014. According to one former employee of the company, its realization long preceded the announcement of other 4 v 1 titles, such as Evolve. Despite countless comparisons between the two by the press and consumers alike, our source emphasised that two were thought of completely independently of one another.
Shadow RealmsSP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Modern
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development
Edge Of Eternity - Branching Stories Update
The Edge Of Eternity kickstarter has three days left, and the developer Midgar Studio posted a new update about how the game will have branching stories.
Edge of Eternity is all about the choices you will made in the course of the game. During your journey, you will have multiple possible path to follow, and not only Manichean good or bad actions, and it will up to you to build you very own story. According to the dangers you choose to face or avoid, some of your friends may die, town could be rampaged and people crushed. You could acquire more goods or continue your adventure empty handed.
According to the decisions you make, your travel can be deeply affected. Cities could close their doors to you and hunt you down if you mess things up.
One of the greatest challenges we are facing with Edge of Eternity is to build all this branching story system up. We do not want it to be "just" about being good or evil. We want you to play the way you want just having in mind that any single choice you make may have consequences soon or later in your adventure. For us as for you there is obvious and easy things. If you kill that woman as proposed by your quest, she will be missing later. Will it matter, when, in what conditions? Well, these consequences could be a lot more complex to handle for us.
Edge Of EternitySP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Sci-Fi
Genre: J-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development
Satellite Reign - Backer Kit Survey News
Developer 5 Lives new update for Satellite Reign talks about a backer survey.
Greetings Agents,
Thanks for being so patient! We've finally got our backer survey together to start organizing rewards. By now you should have received an email from Backerkit with a link to the survey. This will allow you to give us necessary shipping information, and you will also be able to select any previously paid-for add-ons, and even getting some extras!
Each backer will receive an email with their own unique invite link. It is important that when you receive the survey, you get it back to us as quickly as you can. Our ability to make an order depends on receiving this information. You do not need to make a login and password to fill out your survey, just fill it out and you're all good to go! If you use your Facebook login for your Kickstarter account, the BackerKit invite will be sent to the email you used for your Facebook account.
If you have another email you prefer it to be sent to, please email firstname.lastname@example.com. Thanks again for making Satellite Reign a reality!
Satellite ReignSP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Sci-Fi
Genre: Strategy-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development
Malevolence - Major Update Released
Visual Outbreak released a major updated for Malevolence on Steam this week.
And it comes with my customary release video! Sorry about the out-of-sync audio. Not sure what went on there... To get the full update notes, please check out this article. Thanks for your patience on this one, guys and girls!
It was a really tricky one to get working!
MalevolenceSP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development
Ralin: Dwarf Wars - Nintendo WiiU Update
The first update for Ralin: Dwarf Wars has information on the console version.
Here we go with our first update. I am talking about what we are planning at what we are researching for the Nintendo Wii U. If you have some questions or suggestions please send us a message or write a comment.
Ralin: Dwarf WarsSP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Roguelike
Platform: PC
Release: In development
Elder Scrolls Online - Crown Store Impressions
MMORPG posted a video preview of the new Crown Store of Elder Scrolls Online.
Elder Scrolls Online just became "Tamriel Unlimited" and that means no more necessary subscriptions. Buy the game once, play it forever. But of course, that also means the "Crown Store" is added, to monetize the game and keep it funded. What can you get for your dollars there? Bill Murphy takes a quick look.
Elder Scrolls OnlineSP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: MMORPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released
Wednesday - March 18, 2015
Dungeons Of Aledorn - Interview @ IGC
Invision Game Community published a new interview for Dungeons Of Aledorn.
If, and I hope it this doesn't happen, but the Kick Starter target isn't met, what would this mean for Dungeons of Aledorn and Team21?
It wouldn´t be the end of us for sure. There´s a plan B and, even a plan C for such situation.
Plan B is finding a third group, an investor, to support us financially. We´ve received several offers during the pre-launch phase of KS, but we had to turn them down, because, even it might make the things more complicated, we value the community over the financial backing for our project.
Plan C is to carry on the same way as we did up till now. We´ll finance the development from our own sources and slowly build-up the community via the internet. We´ll still finish the game, but probably at a much later stage and with several compromises to the visual quality and general size of the game.
Don't forget to read our interview, and back the game on kickstarter.
Dungeons Of AledornSP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development
Ralin: Dwarf Wars - A New Roguelike RPG
Ralin: Dwarf Wars is a new Roguelike RPG from a developer called Ogardonix Ltd. They have just launched the game on Kickstarter this week asking for £45,000.
King Duur is the current king of the dwarves and was a peaceful ruler at the beginning, but he has since become a more sinister and brutal sovereign when the surfacers came into his realm and started to rebel. Once a fierce but wise warrior and ruler, he has become old, bitter and vevengeful and he has no love for the outsiders, damning them to live in closed off villages with limited contact to the dwarves.
When pressured, King Duur chooses to rule through strength instead of thought and compassion. While the leaders of the dwarven clans do appreciate the way he rules, to a certain degree, they often find his choices to be overly rash. Outsiders fear King Duur and will comply with every order given, without thought.
They also offer a free alpha build for anyone to try out, and I will be asking the developer a few questions for a new interview next week on our site.
Ralin: Dwarf WarsSP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Roguelike
Platform: PC
Release: In development
Sword Coast Legends - New Twitch Stream
N-Space announced on Twitter they will be hosting a new Twitch Stream later this week for Sword Coast Legends, and it's your chance to see more gameplay footage.
Here are the details.
Join us on Thursday 3/19 at 3:00pm EST on Twitch for a look at some player campaign footage ! http://bit.ly/SCLTWITCH
Sword Coast LegendsSP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development
Pillars of Eternity - Ready for Release & Expansion
Obsidian Entertainment & Paradox Interactive today announced that Pillars of Eternity is ready for release next week on March 26th, and I cant wait to play the finished game.
Final Chance to Pre-Order Obsidian's before March 26 Release
IRVINE, CA — March 17, 2015 — Obsidian Entertainment and Paradox Interactive today announced that Pillars of Eternity, the fan-funded modern take on a classic role-playing game (RPG) set in an original world created by some of the best minds in RPG development, has reached "Gold Master" (GM) status, and is now ready for its release on March 26, 2015. Pillars of Eternity, originally called "Project Eternity" the 10th most funded Kickstarter ever and second most funded video game , has been in development for two and a half years, and is now ready to complete its journey, arriving on Windows, Mac, and Linux PC next week. The game will release globally, with backers receiving their digital copies as well.
"Seeing Pillars of Eternity through has been an incredible journey for all of us at a deeply personal level," said Feargus Urquhart, CEO of Obsidian Entertainment. "When we took our idea to Kickstarter, our fans got behind us more than we ever thought. It's been a blast to match their enthusiasm, see them cheer us on, and have them help to keep us on course every step of the way. It's crazy to think that more than two years have come and gone, but time flies that way when you are creating something as important as Pillars of Eternity has become to us."
"We knew, when we joined forces with Obsidian, that both the studio and the game were a perfect match for us," said Fredrik Wester, CEO of Paradox Interactive. "A core tenet at Paradox is staying closely connected to one's players and community, and we've watched Obsidian do exactly that. From the handling of their crowd-funding to their open dialogue with fans on their forums, Obsidian has been dedicated to fulfilling their promises to players, and we've been glad for the chance to help them do it. We're looking forward to working together with Obsidian for a long time to come."
They also did a new Reddit AMA last night and talked about the expansion.
"I won't reveal much about it since it's early in development, but we've already have a small team working on areas and environments while the rest of the team focus on shipping the game. We will announcing more things about it over the next few months."
Pillars of EternitySP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released
The CRPG Book Project - 20,000 Downloads
Felipe Pepe posted the fifth update for his CRPG Book Project that has information the early preview has been downloaded over 20.000 times, and gives a status update.
Last book update I posted was back in January 23, when I celebrated reaching 12.000 downloads of the book's 100-page preview. A month and a half have passed since, and I'm very happy to share that we reached 20.000 downloads yesterday:
I guess we must be doing something right!
Work on the book is progressing nicely, with a steady flow of new reviews arriving. It's becoming quite bulky as well, I recently made a 200-page sample that is very gratifying to flip through. It's so amazing to see things taking form like this. There's still a way to go, with various essential games lacking reviews, but we're getting there!
I've added a few more reviews to the Review Index page, including classics such as Dungeon Master, Ultima, Gothic, Diablo, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines and Darklands. These are web versions, I've also been posting new layouted book pages regularly on my twitter account: @felipepepe
The CRPG Book Project
After Reset - Far Too Early Access Impression
IncGamers has a new preview of Richard Nixon's After Reset, and like the preview from yesterday calls it a tech demo instead of an Alpha. So nothing new really.
The game might, eventually, turn out to be … something you can actually play. I don't know, I can't predict the future. But there's also a significant chance that an RPG project as broad in scope as this one will not be completed. The Kickstarter (by its own admission) only raised funds for a prologue chapter, so who knows where the rest of the money will come from. Hopefully the studio aren't banking on Early Access to pay their way through the rest. That way lies madness, probable failure and direct contravention of another Early Access guideline: "Don't launch in Early Access if you can't afford to develop with very few or no sales."
After ResetSP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Post-Apoc
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development
The Mandate - Post-Funding Update #47
Perihelion Interactive posted the next post-funding update for The Mandate last week.
In this update we are going to cover the game flow, show how we are building star bases, discuss ship deck plans (both frigate and destroyer) and last but not least talk about the backer pledge templates.
IMPORTANT: On the 31st of March 2015 we will lock down the ability to pledge for or upgrade to backer design tiers. This will be your final chance to upgrade existing pledges or purchase new ones. See the end of this update for further details.
The MandateSP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Sci-Fi
Genre: Strategy-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development
Seven Dragon Saga - Lore & Design
Well another day and we have another kickstarter update from TSI. This time Paul Murray talks about combat, and David Shelley adds a bit of information as well.
Paul Murray, Systems Designer, On Tactical Combat
Ever since my earliest days at SSI with games like Wizards Crown, I've sought to make party composition matter. With SDS I'm working to achieve that in a couple of different ways. First, the ability systems allows players to create a wide variety of characters, providing the option of creating specialists, such as front line warriors, or creating generalists who can deal with more situation. Allowing players to choose and experiment with character types, party composition and tactical strategies is a key goal. In addition, we're working on bringing tactical options to the environment, and enemy AI.
David Shelley, Lead Designer, Follow up to Paul
Just some quick additional notes. Some of the features Paul talks about in reference to tactical combat, also apply to exploration of the zones. While we will see that no specific movement or other ability is required to complete key quests, we will look to using the terrain and mobility options to provide benefits for those who have characters with the special movements, have useful skills, or simply like to poke into unusual places.
Also, we are looking at ways to alter a given zone in a strategic manner. For instance, the party might anger an earth spirit, who then causes an entire underground region to erupt to the surface, collapsing some areas and making it into a jumbled maze. The more options we can provide the players to make a real impact, the happier we will be.
Seven Dragon SagaSP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development
Witcher 3 - Pax East Preview @ Twinfinite
Well here is another Pax East preview for Witcher 3 from a site called Twinfinite.
I got about an hour with it at PAX East 2015, and was able to get a decent feel for the storytelling. As I mentioned above, the voice acting is great, making following along a lot simpler than what I remembered in the first game. However, there seems to be a lot going on from previous games that I don't know about. The Witcher has primarily been a PC series; this time though, The Witcher 3 will be launching on consoles alongside the PC version, meaning there may be a lot of players giving it their first go with the series with this one. If that's you, I'd highly suggest finding a nice wiki to read up on so you have a better understanding of what exactly is going on.
All I can aadd is to say the game better not get delayed again this year.
IM PLAYIN - 5 RPGs To Look Out For In 2015
An English site called IM PLAYIN posted a new article about five RPGs in 2015.
I'm a massive RPG buff – give me a game with hundreds of hours worth of play-time, a massive world to explore and opportunities for character development and/or creation, and I'm pretty much in my element. There are some fantastic RPGs set for release this year, and quite a few of them are indie titles, that being said, there are also a couple of 'big' games coming out this year too. Here are five of those titles, all of which are worth keeping an eye on!
For the members who wont read the article here are the five RPG games.
- Hyper Light Drifter
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance
- Pillars of Eternity
- Tom Clancy's: The Division
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
General NewsSP/MP: Unknown
Setting: Unknown
Genre: RPG
Platform: Unknown
Release: In development
Guild Wars 2 - EGX Rezzed Presentation
ArenaNet's game designers gave a forty minute presentation at EGX Rezzed about the expansion for Guild Wars 2 called Heart Of Thorns , and no I don't have a transcript.
Guild Wars 2SP/MP: Massive
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: MMORPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released
Legends of Eisenwald - New Pax East Preview
Entertainment Buddha published a new preview of Legends of Eisenwald based on a short demo they played at Pax East 2015 last week. Here is their impression of the game.
Legends of Eisenwald aims to be the next big strategy game and is well on its way to becoming a genre classic. Those longing for a challenge should look no further. The game is currently aiming for release sometime this year on PC.
Legends of EisenwaldSP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Strategy-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development
Fallout NV: The Frontier - A New Worldspace Mod
I found news of a new Fallout New Vegas mod called The Frontier. It seems to be in the early stages, but the developers have a Facebook page. Here is the new teaser video.
Fallout: The Frontier will bring a new worldspace, with next gen effects, new gameplay with unrivaled scripting.
Lets hope it doesn't become another unfinished ambitious mod.
Fallout: NVSP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Post-Apoc
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC, Xbox 360, PS3
Release: Released
Piranha Bytes - Working on New Game
Game Pressure has news about Piranha Bytes working on a new game, and the developer says that, "Every Gothic fan should have a look at it".
Here is the information.
Our associated website, gry-online.pl, has published an article remembering the first installment of the Gothic series. On the occasion of this piece, they had a chance to ask a few questions to Björn Pankratz, the only current employee of Piranha Bytes who used to be a member of the old team. One of the topics discussed was of course a potential return of the classic action RPG franchise. They learned that the studio is currently working on a title that may satisfy fans of Gothic. When asked about the possibility of a remake of the first part of the series, Björn said:
"You should never say never, but at the moment we're working hard on another project and we're very interested to see if you will like it as much as we do. We think every Gothic Fan should have a look at it".
Piranha Bytes
Darkest Dungeon - Preview @ Geeks Under Grace
I had many problems with Darkest Dungeon–difficulty, balance, direction, being overwhelmed, pacing, UI, and just an overall sense of not having fun. Heroes speak randomly, depending on their stats, which I found annoying because they only have a limited number of responses. The game seems to have a rather unpleasant life of its own, with all the triggering and simulation mechanics behind the user gameplay.In short, I will have to see a lot of refining before I'm willing to step foot in this dungeon again.
Darkest DungeonSP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development
Tuesday - March 17, 2015
StarCrawlers - Early Access Release
Juggernaut Games announced today that StarCrawlers will be launching later today on Steam Early Access. So here is the new trailer and information from the developer.
Watch the New Trailer and play StarCrawlers for the first time on Steam!
San Diego, California, March 17, 2014 – indie studio Juggernaut Games announces the arrival today of the Beta build of its original title, StarCrawlers, now available on http://store.steampowered.com/app/318970/. StarCrawlers is a modern take on a classic cRPG dungeon crawler set in a gritty spacepunk universe. Build a crew of renegade adventurers on the fringes of space, taking jobs from megacorps to hunt bounties, sabotage rivals and conduct corporate espionage.
"We've been working intensely to bring our vision for StarCrawlers to life." said George Cochrane, creative director, Juggernaut Games. "We're excited to share what we've accomplished so far and to continue working with the Beta community to take it to the next level!"
StarCrawlers is an RPG adventure in a classic dungeon-crawling style. In a dystopian, spacepunk world, players will navigate the tricky politics of a universe overrun with powerful megacorps, all the while trying to survive and earn a living on the jagged edges of the fringe worlds. The game also features an incredible, atmospheric soundtrack created by award-winning composer Ben Prunty (FTL, Gravity Ghost).
Key Features:
- Wage strategic battles against futuristic enemies with an innovative time unit turn-based combat system.
- Procedurally-generated dungeons and events create endless replayability.
- Choose your allies and your foes wisely. Your choices will change how the story unfolds.
- Eight player classes each with unique abilities, both in combat and when exploring.
- Randomly generated weapons, armor and gear with upgradeable enhancements.
- Easy to Hardcore difficulty modes and optional permadeath.
StarCrawlers is available now in its Beta stage of development on Steam's Early Access program, with an introductory launch discount (this week only!) of 25%. The full game is due out later this year on Windows PC, Mac and Linux.
StarCrawlersSP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Sci-Fi
Genre: Adventure-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development
RPGWatch - Dungeons of Aledorn Interview
Welome back everyone for another interview on RPGWatch. This time we talk with Ladislav Štojdl of Team 21, about his new RPG kickstarter game Dungeons of Aledorn.
Couchpotato: What makes your game stand out from all the other RPG games nowadays?
Ladislav: I think predominantly, it's the focus on Hard-Core players. Great opportunities equipping, great complexity of character development and possible action in the game makes the game very difficult for the inexperienced players. A system that an AAA game title cannot afford, its risk is too great. We also have several elements that are to our game unique, e.g. the transition between exploring mode into the combat environments use accurately model an environment where a conflict has occurred, rather than pre-defined battlegrounds, such as what's used in the game King's Bounty, and Heroes of Might and Magic.
Dungeons Of AledornSP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development
Pillars of Eternity - The Engwithan Empire
The Engwithan Empire.
Part one can be read here, and the second part here.
Hey all, with now 13 days left until Pillars of Eternity launches, we have two new screenshots for you! Enjoy the awesomeness of the Engwithan empire!
Little is known about the long-lost Engwithan empire or its culture. Called the "Builders" by the tribes of Eir Glanfath, the Engwithans are believed to have created strange, elaborate structures over decades using shaped pillars of living adra to support the stone. Their language is barely understood by even the most well-read scholars, leaving many details of their society lost to the ages and hopelessly mired in rumor, folklore, and blatant lies.
Pillars of EternitySP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released
Seven Dragon Saga - Magic & More
TSI released the seventh kickstarter update today for Seven Dragon Saga with more information on the games magic system with Lead Designer David Shelley.
Magic and More
Backers continue to arrive and our totals are climbing. Keep putting out the word! Our Lead Designer has a piece discussing some of the details of the Magic System for SDS.
David Shelley, The Elements of Magic
Characters start with magic by selecting the Wizard Class, or one of the elemental Specialties. Spells each belong to one of the elements, and have a level from one to four. Each character starts with some spells of the levels they can cast, and can find additional spells while adventuring.
There are several types of magic in the world, but only the Touched (the player characters) can draw from the energies of Chaos, with its power and instability. We can talk about the sorts of magic which enemies and allies may use at a later time.
As for funding the game has made $75,023 of $450,000 goal.
Seven Dragon SagaSP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development
Avernum 2 - Coming to iPad April 15th
Spiderweb Software announced today that Avernum 2: Crystal Souls will release on the iPad on April 15th. Here are the details from the press release.
Avernum 2 HD Coming to iPad April 15th
A beloved classic's mobile makeover!
March 16th, 2015 – Spiderweb Software, makers of the Avernum, Geneforge, and Avadon series, are bringing the second chapter of the hit Avernum saga to mobile devices. Avernum 2: Crystal Souls is an epic fantasy tale in an enormous, war-torn underworld. It is an acclaimed indie retro role-playing adventure, with 93% positive reviews on Steam and an 81% Metacritic score. Find out more at their website at http://www.avernum.com/avernum2/ .
The end has come. Years ago, your people were imprisoned in the underworld, doomed to end their lives in the darkness. Then that was not enough. Your captors have invaded your caves, determined to kill you all. They are winning the war.
The surface world is commanded by the tyrannical Empire, the eternal power that controls all known lands. Everyone who spoke out, misbehaved, or didn't fit in was cast into the dark, volcanic pits of Avernum, far below the surface. They were meant to die. Instead, these exiles survived, gained power, and struck back. They assassinated the lord of the Empire.
Now the Empire will have revenge. They have invaded Avernum, seizing cave after cave and destroying your people. Your land needs a hero, and it needs it now. If you can't find a way to stop them, and soon, you are all doomed.
Screenshots and more information are available at http://www.avernum.com/avernum2/
Avernum 2: Crystal Souls is an epic fantasy role-playing adventure in a unique, massive world, full of strange caves, cunning dungeons, and the alien inhabitants of the underworld. Fight to complete up to three game-winning quests. Explore a massive nation of tunnels and caverns, seeking over 100 towns and dungeons. Master over 60 spells and battle disciplines and hunt for hundreds of magical artifacts. Avernum 2: Crystal Souls is a total, ground-up rewrite of the award-winning indie hit Avernum 2.
Avernum 2 is a Pay Once & Play game. Enjoy the whole thing with no in-app purchases. It will be available on iPad devices Apr 15, with the Mac and PC versions already available at on their website at http://www.avernum.com/avernum2/ or on Steam at http://store.steampowered.com/app/337850/.
Avernum 2: Crystal SoulsSP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released
Dungeons Of Aledorn - Game Mechanics Update
Team 21 posted the next update for Dungeons of Aledorn where the games main designer talks about game mechanics. The game has made $18,043 of $60,000 goal.
During our Kickstarter campaign, we´ll present to you some of the core game mechanics that will accompany you during the gameplay of DoA. Some of the following details may seem a bit too technical, but we´ll also try to disclose some practical use of these features that will hopefully get you excited about them.
Dungeons Of AledornSP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development


text:
Learn how easy it is to sync an existing GitHub or Google Code repo to a SourceForge project! See Demo
Hi Virtualmin users,
Virtualmin GPL version 3.69 is now available for download from
http://www.webmin.com/virtualmin.html , or our YUM and APT
repositories. This version includes the following new features
and bug fixes :
* Added buttons to the Manage SSL Certificate page to copy a
domain's cert and key to Webmin or Usermin.
* SpamAssassin's server filter spamd can now be activated from
within Virtualmin, using a new button on the Spam and Virus
Scanning page. You can also turn it on with the --enable-spamd
flag to the set-spam API script.
* After Virtualmin is installed and the master administrator logs
in for the first time, a wizard allowing basic configuration of
memory and speed tradeoffs will be displayed. This allows the
system to be tuned for web, mail or database hosting, depending
on how the admin intends it to be used.
* ClamAV's server scanner clamd can now be enabled on FreeBSD from
within Virtualmin.
* Netmasks can now be optionally specified for IP allocation ranges,
rather than being always inherited from the primary interface's
* All backups made manually, on schedule or from the command line
are now logged, and can be viewed using the new Backup Logs page.
* Moved the option for a secondary group for domain owners to the
template level.
* Greylisting using Postgrey can now be setup using Virtualmin, via
the new Email Greylisting page. In addition, whitelists for SMTP
servers and email recipents can be managed. This feature was ported
from the Pro version.
Also available is an update to the Virtualmin Framed Theme to
version 7.1, and fixes for the SVN and AWstats plugins.
As always, let me know of any bugs you find or suggestions you have..
- Jamie

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Emergency response exercise March 31
Police, fire, medical and emergency management personnel will conduct a full-scale emergency response exercise from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, at the decommissioned South Campus residence hall complex.
Teacher leadership presentation April 2
Two state teachers of the year from the U.S. Department of Education will present Teacher Leadership, Learning Forward at 6 p.m.Thursday, April 2, in the Brown Ballroom of the Bone Student Center.
Diplomats to address European Studies Symposium
Illinois State University will welcome diplomats from Greece and Poland at its first-ever European Studies Symposium, which will run April 2 to 3, and April 16 to 17.
RED NOTE Music Festval runs until April 3
Music by contemporary composers will be featured during Illinois State University's 2014 RED NOTE New Music Festival, March 29 to April 3.
Authors of Picking Cotton to headline Science and Technology Week
Jennifer Thompson and Ronald Cotton, co-authors of the New York Times best-selling book Picking Cotton, will be the keynote speakers for Illinois State University's Science and Technology Week, April 6 to 10.


text:
Apply for a CCCS Small Grant
The CCCS offers Small Grants to encourage the initiation, continuation, and completion of scholarly projects related to the mission of the Center. Faculty are invited to apply for grants of up to $5000. The deadline for submission of the Small Grants proposals is April 15; funds will be available beginning July 1. Faculty intending to apply for a grant should speak with the director of CCCS before submitting an application and no later than April 5.
Application Deadline: April 15, 2015
More information and details on how to apply for a Small Grant
Energy and the Economy [video]
Calvin College's professor of Engineering, Matthew Heun shares his research on the connection between energy and the economy. Watch the video.
Apply for a Writer's Retreat
Pastors, scholars, and doctoral candidates writing within Issachar Fund's areas of inquiry are welcome to apply for a Writer's Retreat in Grand Rapids.


text:
Get your free email accountLog in
A man who slashed two passengers in a box-cutter rampage aboard a casino-bound tour bus was shot to death on Interstate 95 by a Connecticut state ...
Paul Vance news and stories
Copyright 2015 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Copyright © 2015 1&1 Mail & Media Inc. All rights reserved.


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10,000 Hummingbirds Culture
Sundays 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Conversations with people who aspire to peace, love and gratitude in our world, Produced and hosted by Katy Shannon. Heard on KPFB only.
All the Rest of Us Culture
Sundays 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Various types of Art created by people in underrepresented communities, locally and nationally. With Interviews, spoken word, music, and multi-media. Host/Producers: Aqueila M. Lewis, Lateef McLeod, Sherica Murriel (Seed The Poet), and guest hosts. Heard on KPFB only.
Bernard's Bookshelf Culture
Sundyas 12:30 PM
Bernard's Bookshelf is a show about the world of black publishing and everyone in it: writers, editors, authors, book clubs and publishing houses. Host & Producer Bernard Henderson
Film Schooled Culture
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Goddess On The Radio Culture
Saturday 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Vylma V host and producer This would be a show dedicated to women and women's arts. It would be a cross between Carolyn Casey's show and women's magazine. There would be (a lot of stuff that typically makes an average man's eyes roll) stuff about Tarot cards, knitting circles, women's intuition and tons of stuff about feminine power and theory. The show would be dedicated to Mother Earth.
NeoPangea Radio Music
4:00 PM Pacific Time: Sundays
Co-Hosts Joseph Estrada & Orca Raptalon This show features music from around the world of all genres, with revolutionary culture and environmental awareness content sprinkled in to create riveting, informative, entertaining radio theater. There will be live DJing, performances, interviews with artists and icons from all walks of life. Dynamic conversations regarding music, culture, society, and the environment and how they all intersect and are forever intertwined.
Oh My Gospel! Music
11:00 AM Pacific Time: Sundays
Producer Bernard Henderson Since KPFA already has a gospel show on Saturdays, why not have another on Sundays?
Sports and Politics News & Politics
Saturdays 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Producer Jae Michael A Weekly update on the news and politics of sports around the Bay Area.
Talk to Teacher Culture
Talk-It-Out Radio Culture
Sundays 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Host: Marina Smerling The show would most likely offer both a teaching component, about how NVC is relevant to our everyday lives and relationships, and then take calls from callers experiencing challenges in any aspect of their relationships, and offer empathy and tools for resolving their conflicts on the air.
The Source of Music Music
1:00 PM Pacific Time: Saturdays
Together We Are Mighty News & Politics
W.H.A.P. (Where Hits Are Played) Music
Saturdays 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Host & Producer DJ Chill Statis This show features a mix of locally produced Hip-Hop and R&B.


text:
Giving Thanks SIlent Auction
Start Date: November 18, 2013 10:00 AM
End Date: November 23, 2013 5:00 PM
Location: Main- Library Lobby
Donated baskets containing themed collections may be viewed by the public in the Main library lobby and sold to the highest bidder. Winners will be notified on Saturday, November 23.
|Friday, March 27th
|4:30 PM Family Movie Night: Big Hero 6
|Friday, March 27th
|4:30 PM Teen Game Night
|Friday, March 27th
|6:00 PM Beauty Green: Home Spa Treatments
|Friday, April 3rd
|10:00 AM Library Closed: Spring Break
|Monday, April 6th
|5:00 PM Neon Readers Teen Book Club: Poetry Month
|Saturday, April 11th
|12:00 PM International TableTop Day
|Tuesday, April 14th
|6:00 PM Board of Trustees Meeting - April
|Monday, April 20th
|5:00 PM Neon Readers Teen Book Club: Poetry Month
|Monday, April 27th
|4:30 PM Not-So-Secret-Garden Planting
|Monday, May 11th
|6:00 PM Board of Trustees Meeting - May


text:
Quick Trade Fixes for Each of the Boston Red Sox's Biggest Weaknesses
The Boston Red Sox need to shore up several areas of their club if they wish to compete in the AL East in 2015...
Ben Cherington Talks OFs, Jon Lester and Interest in Pablo Sandoval
With the general managers meetings slated to kick off in Phoenix Monday, Red Sox Ben Cherington is preparing to hatch his team's offseason plan...
Victorino Ready to Reclaim Right Field with Red Sox
BOSTON -- You've heard all about the logjam the Red Sox face in the outfield heading into 2015. With Yoenis Cespedes, Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr...
Red Sox Could Be One of Pablo Sandovals Best Options
It's sort of like David Ortiz leaving Boston for the Dodgers , or a reasonable equivalent. Pablo Sandoval should probably never leave San Francisco ...
John Farrell: Future Bright for Rusney Castillo Despite Recent Injury (Video)
John Farrell on Start of Free Agency: 'We've Identified Our Needs'
John Farrell and the Boston Red Sox front office are hard at work as free agency gets ready to kick off.....
Red Sox Should Consider These Buy-Low Relievers
The 5 Most Important Prospects for the Boston Red Sox to Hold on to This Winter
The Boston Red Sox figure to be among the most active teams in both the free-agent and trade markets this offseason. They need to fill at least two spots in their starting rotation...
3 Free Agents the Boston Red Sox Need to Avoid at All Costs
Coming off an unexpected last-place finish in 2014, the Boston Red Sox look to be a major player in free agency this offseason. Big names like Jon Lester, James Shields and Pablo Sandoval are being widely discussed as players Boston may go after...
Sox Spring Training Begins Feb. 21
The Red Sox announced Wednesday that pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to spring training in Fort Myers, Florida , on Feb. 20, and start workouts the following day.....
Making the Case for a Yoenis Cespedes-Johnny Cueto Trade
The Boston Red Sox goal this offseason is pretty simple: upgrade the rotation. After trading away every member of their Opening Day rotation besides Clay Buchholz, Boston is in need of several quality starting pitchers...
Ask BA: How Should the Red Sox Handle Their Catcher Logjam?
Red Sox Bill James Handbook Projections 2015: Mookie Betts to Shine
Pedroia on MFB: 'A Lot of IOU's to Hand Out'
Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who on Tuesday was named winner of his fourth Gold Glove, checked in with Middays with MFB on Wednesday morning and said he's feeling substantially better since having surgery on his wrist...
Dustin Pedroia Wins His Fourth Gold Glove
Dustin Pedroia does not lack for individual awards. But winning the 2014 American League Gold Glove at second base should bring him some added satisfaction...
Report: Red Sox Reach out to Free Agent Pablo Sandoval
The Red Sox and Pablo Sandoval, on paper, seem like a good fit. The team needs a third baseman and Sandoval, a free agent, could be looking to cash in and find a new home...
Unexpected Trades the Boston Red Sox Could Pull off This Offseason
The Boston Red Sox are poised to make major additions to their team through free agency this winter. They head into the hot-stove period with a ton of money to spend and a ton ...
Pedroia Wins 4th Career Gold Glove at 2B
Mike Napoli Undergoes Sleep Apnea Surgery
The Red Sox announced that first baseman Mike Napoli underwent successfully surgery to address his sleep apnea on Tuesday morning...
Pedroia, Bradley Jr. Worthy of Gold Gloves
The Boston Red Sox have three finalists -- Dustin Pedroia, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Yoenis Cespedes -- for the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, which will be announced on ESPN2 Tuesday at 7 p...
Red Sox Must Determine How They'll Spend
BOSTON -- Two winters have passed since the Red Sox in one bold stroke shed more than $260 million in salary, unloading what they had come to view as the untenable contracts of Carl ...
John Farrell: This Is 'Going to Be a Busy Offseason' for Red Sox (Video)
The Boston Red Sox finished last in the American League East in 2014, but they're doing everything they can to make sure that doesn't happen again.....
5 Dream Free-Agent Pickups for the Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox figure to be active players in the free-agent market, and they'll need to be if they hope to compete once more in 2015. The Red Sox need to add significant pieces to their starting rotation...
Red Sox Outright Herrera; Rivero Claimed by Mariners
The Red Sox announced today that infielder Jonathan Herrera has been outrighted off the 40-man roster and will elect free agency. Additionally, infielder Carlos Rivero has been claimed off waivers by the Mariners , according to the Red Sox...
It's a Relief to Have Koji Uehara Back, but Red Sox Have to Give Him Help
I can't stop flip-flopping on this Koji Uehara deal. I mean, glad he's with the Red Sox -- the only Red Sox closer I've ever appreciated and trusted more is Keith Foulke, circa October 2004...


text:
On a Mission To Shine A Spotlight On Genocide; Samantha Power's Mind Leaps From Bosnia to Iraq
By CELESTINE BOHLEN
Published: February 5, 2003
By her own definition Samantha Power is a child of Bosnia. Not literally: born in Ireland in 1970, she came to the United States when she was 9. With her billowy red hair and long-legged stride, she exudes a purposeful all-American energy that is far from the bleakness of the Balkans.
But Bosnia is where she came of age, she says, just as a generation before hers was marked by Vietnam, and another was defined by World War II.
''Our view of American power was born'' in Bosnia, said Ms. Power, author of ''A Problem From Hell,'' about American responses to genocide in the last century that has prompted new debates about the moral responsibilities that go with American power.
She came to Bosnia in 1993, joining the swarms of freelance reporters drawn to the unfolding war.
The story there was shocking -- a widening arc of atrocities against victims targeted not for what they had done, but for who they were -- all taking place on a continent where genocide was never supposed to happen again. But more shocking for this 23-year-old, one year out of Yale University, was that the American government seemed unwilling to stop it.
The final blow came in Srebrenica, a doomed town that had been designated a ''safe haven'' by the United Nations and its international peacekeepers, where in July 1995 an estimated 7,000 Muslim men and boys were massacred by Bosnian Serbs.
Ms. Power then realized that newspaper articles -- however grisly, however accurate -- do not change policy. She left the region in anger and frustration. ''It wasn't about me, Samantha,'' she said. ''It was about impotence.'' Ms. Power's response was to embark on what was to become a 610-page book, with a title borrowed from the phrase once uttered by Warren Christopher, the former secretary of state. She began as a reporter, and ended up with a mission.
There is an intensity in just about everything Ms. Power does, including the way she speaks. She weaves ideas together so fast that sometimes she has to jot down what she has just said, to remind herself how she made the leap from one subject to another.
She grew up with sports -- her mother was an Irish squash champion -- and her first ambition was to be a sports broadcaster.
Returning to the United States in the mid-1990's Ms. Power was struck by this country's rediscovery of the horrors of the Holocaust, through books, films and newly opened museums. The words ''never again'' had become a political commonplace. But to her ears, they seemed a mockery of the policy failures she had witnessed in Bosnia.
When she went looking for books to explain this discrepancy, she could not find any, so she decided to write one herself.
''It was a totally innocent book,'' she said. ''This was not a graduate-school thesis. I just wanted to find out the answer to the question: What was the American response and why?''
Her friends in this period described her obsession as ''all genocide, all the time.'' A die-hard Red Sox fan (is there any other kind?) who attended 45 games last season, she found herself at a party talking to her idol, the pitcher Pedro Martínez. Only later did she realize that she hadn't let him get a word in, as she bombarded him with accounts of Rwanda and Bosnia.
The book has been praised for its mix of scholarship and journalism. It starts with an account of a futile effort by Henry Morgenthau, then the United States ambassador to Turkey, to persuade Washington to stop the killing of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks in 1915 and moves on to the compelling and little-known story of Raphael Lemkin, a Jewish linguist from Poland whose family was killed in the Holocaust and who waged an obsessive battle to put genocide -- a word he coined -- on the international agenda.
But the crux of ''A Problem From Hell'' is an account of how American foreign policy -- despite the Holocaust -- stayed largely silent in the face of the atrocities in Cambodia, Iraq, Bosnia and most recently and dramatically in Rwanda. The United States pushed for the withdrawal of United Nations troops from Rwanda as the slaughter of 800,000 Tutsis got under way.
In the case of Bosnia, the United States did take action -- albeit belatedly, and through NATO -- and later in Kosovo led NATO in a bombing campaign to force the Serbs to stop their atrocities against the rebellious ethnic Albanians there.
Ms. Power, now 32, wrote the book in five years, traveling to the Balkans and other site of genocide and managing to graduate from Harvard Law School in 1999. In 2001 her first publisher, Random House, dropped the book when, by her account, she refused to make it ''more personal, more polemical.'' New Republic/Basic Books published the work last spring.
By the time ''A Problem From Hell'' came out, its analysis of Washington's paralysis in the face of genocide seemed like an echo from the past. The terrorist attacks of September 2001 had reshaped the world and made national security the overriding foreign policy priority.
''Someone said the other day that genocide is so 1990's,'' Ms. Power said in a borrowed office in New York, where the United Nations Security Council was wrangling over the United States' apparent intention to wage war against Iraq. ''There is a way in which nonintervention now seems to be a moot point.''


text:
Tablet. Hotels for Global Nomads
Travel Better.
Tablet Plus
Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel
26-1, Sakuragaoka-cho shibuyaku, Tokyo, Japan
Neighborhood: Shibuya
Check availability as rates may vary for dates. Best rate guaranteed.
Foreigners traveling to Tokyo face a set of obstacles they are unlikely to encounter elsewhere — just getting around can be a struggle, given the sheer size and complexity of the city, and the fact that many streets seem to be unnamed. Selecting a hotel, one soon finds, is also not without its challenges.
Excluding such niche markets as capsule hotels (which can actually be quite fun) and the "love hotels" (likewise, under the proper circumstances), there are two types of traditional hotels in Tokyo. The first, the auberge hotels, are intended for the Japanese, and no other languages are spoken there, rendering them essentially off-limits to foreign travelers. The more familiar Western-style hotels comprise the second type, and Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel is one of these.
The hotel takes up the top half of the Cerulean Tower building, from the 19th floor on up to the 40th. In many cities, the view from a 37th floor hotel room might be less than picturesque, looking perhaps directly into an office building across the street. Tokyo, though, is a city of medium height, with its twenty million people densely packed into, largely, the first dozen or so stories. Thus the view from Cerulean Tower is unobstructed, and spectacular — on a good day you can see Mount Fuji.
The location is as central as possible, given Tokyo's sprawling non-plan. It would be impossible to be truly central, close to every possible destination. But Shibuya, home to Cerulean Tower, is the bustling and vibrant commercial and retail center of Tokyo (think Lost in Translation, shot mostly at the nearby and rather less affordable Park Hyatt).
The style here is contemporary, modern enough, but not blindingly hip — there are not many W- or Schrager-style hotels in Japan (yet). Most of the international hotels, in fact, are boring and predictable, recalling America's most anonymous airport hotels. Cerulean Tower, by contrast, is well on the stylish end of the spectrum, perhaps less opulent than the higher-end competition, but worlds more attractive than the faceless alternative.
Cerulean Tower's restaurant and lounge are located on the 40th floor, with a sweeping, panoramic view from majestic Fuji to Tokyo Bay. The first two floors of the tower are home to perhaps another half-dozen fine restaurants, and once outside on the street, the variety may be overwhelming. Suffice to say that Shibuya faces no shortage of dining or entertainment options.
Tablet Tip:
If you are reserving a standard twin room, ask for a corner room. While we cannot guarantee that you will get it, if you do, you will find that the view from the bathtub is extraordinary. In true Japanese style, you can enjoy a post-shower soak in the tub, contemplating the city from above. Well worth the price of admission.
Please note: Guests under the age of 18 are not permitted to use the gym. Also, this hotel offers both smoking and non-smoking rooms. If you have a preference, please indicate it in the special requests section during the booking process, or contact email@example.com for assistance.
- Complimentary upgrade upon hotel check-in, based upon availability
- Complementary 2 bottles of mineral water
- Complimentary gym access for two for the length of your stay (a value of JPY 2,160 per day)
- Welcome box of sweets in room on arrival
- 231 Rooms
- Style: Modern Design
- Atmosphere: Lively
- 163 Guest Reviews
- Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel
- 26-1, Sakuragaoka-cho shibuyaku
- Tokyo, Japan
- Neighborhood: Shibuya
Hotel amenities and services
- 24 hour concierge
- 24 hour front desk
- Babysitting (on request)
- Bar
- Central air conditioning
- Luggage storage
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Self service parking (charges apply)
- Wi-fi (charges apply)
Other Tokyo hotels
163 Guest Reviews
All reviews are from Tablet guests with verified stays.
- Coreenna
- Stayed December 2006
- Rating: Excellent
Everything was great. The location of the hotel is superb as it is near the Shibuya train station and surrounded by restaurants, and shops. The rooms were spacious and comfortable.
- Bhupinder
- Stayed October 2006
- Rating: Good
Great service, fantastic location. The bathroom was fantastic - cool combination of western and Japanese style. Really nice views as you're so high up. Tried out the bar and it was quite nice, probably better to sit at a table than the bar though as views are much better. I would stay there again for business or pleasure.
- jennie
- Stayed October 2006
- Rating: Excellent
Part of the reason everything was so excellent is because the japanese are such a lovely people and we found the culture to be very friendly and helpful, always wanting to assist.


text:
£1,550 pcm
3 bed terraced house to rent
£1,295 pcm
2 bed apartment to rent
£1,200 pcm
2 bedroom property to rent Lynfield Court, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB4Were moving to London for 6 months to a year and looking to rent out out lovely 2 bedroom flat. We love living here and ... More details ›
Reduced yesterday by My Online Estate Agent, National. Call: 01254 915588 Local call rate
£600 pcm
1 bedroom house share to rent St. Kilda Avenue, CambridgeSPACIOUS ROOM TO RENT INCLUSIVE OF BILLS More details ›
£2,950 pcm
4 bedroom terraced house to rent Boathouse Court, Trafalgar Road, Cambridge, CB4A 4/5 bedroom family home in highly regarded riverside location. The property has a newly refurbished kitchen and bathroom and has uninterrupted views across the river. More details ›
£525 pcm
1 bedroom house share to rent Sedgwick Street, CambridgeROOM IN SHARED HOUSE - Very large double room to rent available for Professionals, located just off of Mill Road the property offers good access into the town centre and brilliant public transport to surrounding areas. The property is available from mid More details ›
£525 pcm
1 bedroom house share to rent LARGE DOUBLE ROOM AVAILABLE TO RENT IN SEDGWICK STREET, OFF MILL ROADA spacious first floor bedroom is available to rent in Sedgwick Street, off Mill Road. The property is a stone's throw from all local amenities as well as within easy reach of the train station, town centre and Anglia Ruskin University. The room is furnished with double bed, storage as well as a... More details ›
Added on 28/03/2015 by Alpha Property Management, Cambridge. Call: 01223 787041 Local call rate
£475 pcm
1 bedroom house share to rent Hampden Gardens,Cambridge,CB1A single room to rent in this six bedroom property, located in the popular Hampden Gardens development, offering easy access to the City Centre & Train Station.The room is fully furnished and available 2nd May. All utility bills are included. More details ›
£1,550 pcm
3 bedroom semi-detached house to rent Swallow Gardens, Chesterton, CambridgeSuperbly presented 3 Bedroom semi-detached property situated in this highly sought after area with excellent access to Science Parks and within walking distance of the City Centre. The property features good size living room, fitted kitchen to include washing machine, dishwasher, fridge-freezer, ... More details ›
Reduced on 28/03/2015 by Carter Jonas | Bradshaws, Cambridge South. Call: 01223 787112 Local call rate
£1,500 pcm
3 bedroom town house to rent St. Michael Street, Trumpington, Cambridge, CambridgeshireA brand new stylish and contemporary 3 bedroom terraced house located in this unique development south of the city, situated close to Addenbrooke's Hospital. More details ›
£1,050 pcm
1 bedroom flat to rent Austin Drive, Trumpington, CambridgeSet within Abode's prestigious development, this one bedroom apartment features a flexible open plan living/dining area and a spacious balcony. More details ›
£3,000 pcm
5 bedroom detached house to rent Proctor Drive, Trumpington, Cambridge, CambridgeshireA spacious 5 bedroom family house set over three floors, with detached double garage, studio over garage, and enclosed rear garden, located in the heart of Trumpington Meadows south of the City. More details ›
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The Artist – Chapter 9
Yo. Back with Chapter 9. Thanks for all you guys' immense support! Also, I just started a new fic: The Higher You Aim. So check it out if you wanna. All right, without further delay, I bring you Chapter 9!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything in here that you recognize, but hey, you can let me dream.
Sakura sat at the end of the table with Tomoyo and Zinan again. It was sort of a silent agreement between the three that they could sit together without discussion of times before.
"So," said Tomoyo, "did you think about my offer?"
"About the kimonos? Yeah, I'll try it," replied Sakura.
"Awesome!" squealed Tomoyo. "Can you come over to my house today? Zinan's gonna be there too. We're gonna work on the project."
"Uh, sure. I'll bet Eriol can give me a ride," said Sakura slyly, pretending to let Tomoyo's blush go unseen.
Syaoran shot longing glances over at Tomoyo, Zinan, and Sakura, wishing he were sitting there instead of listening to the talk he now found so shallow. The topics: sports, the mall, Kinomoto, clothes, makeup, hot girls, hot guys. Syaoran had been mentally categorizing them, which in itself told him that it was time to leave.
"I'm gonna go and sit with them," said Syaoran, pointing to the others.
"Syaoran?" asked Takai incredulously. "You too? Jeez." He shook his head as Syaoran vaulted over the back of the seat, taking his lunch, and sat down next to Zinan.
"Hey, guys," muttered Syaoran.
"Decided to join us?" said Tomoyo, smiling.
"It's like a union," joked Zinan. "Against the shallowness of … of… of them."
The four of them chuckled.
"Sakura's gonna model my kimonos," said Tomoyo to Syaoran.
"Well, good for Sakura," said Syaoran. Then he made his mistake: pressing further. "What do they look like?"
Zinan slapped his forehead at the question. Tomoyo instantly started gushing about hem sizes and fabric types. Syaoran, mildly alarmed, opened his bento box and started to eat, keeping one eye on Tomoyo as if to convince her that he really was listening.
"Okay, so why did Syaoran just leave?" said Aiko.
"Must be to sit with 'moyo," suggested Meri. "They are, like, best friends."
"Best friends enough to stand Kinomoto?" said Takai.
Sakura had gone through another bout of Eriol's tutoring. He was so engaging that she hadn't wanted to fall asleep even once, which was more than Suzuki-sensei had ever achieved. She felt alert during math, raising her hand so often that a few students stared at her in surprise.
In Language Arts class, they handed in essays, and the teacher announced a new class project: a play. The whole class groaned in unison.
"A play?!" someone said, sounding outraged. The teacher rounded on him, and he shrank back in his seat, grinning sheepishly. "I mean, er, a play…"
"What play?" called Takai. The rest of the class murmured. For Sakura, Language Arts was easy. It always seemed to rush by, even with the whole of the Group there. Eriol was also in the class, and a couple of the skaters. Sakura knew almost everyone in the class.
"A love story," the teacher sighed happily. The class twitched.
"Wonderful," Sakura whispered to Eriol. "Can't we do something interesting?"
"I'm sure you heard from last year's seniors that the play would be one of Grimm's fairy tales, like Cinderella or something. Nope. We're doing a play called As You Like It, by William Shakespeare."
Sakura swore she could hear the crickets chirping in the silence.
"Shakespeare?" yelped Syaoran, to much mirth from the class.
"Yes, Mr. Li. It's a comedy, but unfortunately, the prose is rather complex. But I believe you can memorize it." She gave a thin-lipped smile, devoid of happiness, filled with something more like vengeance. "To find the parts, I have written the names of everyone in the class down and put them in two hats: One for the boys, and one for the girls. Here are the parts: Rosalind is the female lead, Orlando is the male lead." Without saying anything else, she chalked up the rest of the parts on the board, among which were Celia, Rosalind's best friend, Touchstone, a jester, and Oliver, Orlando's brother. There seemed to be, to the class's dismay, the perfect number of characters.
"Oh, and, by the way, I expect this play to be as professional as possible. And yes," she said, rolling her eyes, "that does mean real kissing." Someone wolf-whistled and she glared in the general direction of the noise.
"All right. Let's start with the female characters. As Audrey, the simple-minded goatherd… Aiko Watanabe." The class chuckled. Aiko shot them glowers. "As Phoebe, a young shepherdess, Meriwether Sanders." Meri winced at her full name and scowled at the teacher. The two engaged in a ten-second staring contest that Meri won easily. "And, oh dear. Well. We seem to have more males by far in roles, so some girls will have to play men's parts. Ah well. Celia will be played by, ah, Tomoyo Daidouji, and Rosalind played by-" everyone held their breath- "Sakura Kinomoto." A sudden outburst of chatting broke out.
Chiharu and Naoko, as well as two other girls Sakura didn't know, had to play minor male characters. Sakura felt quite sorry for them. Yamazaki was cast as a professional wrestler, and Chiharu shot him a sympathetic glance. Oliver, Celia's love, was cast as… Eriol! Sakura sighed. It was a match made in heaven, she decided, just as Syaoran was cast as the jester, Touchstone.
"NANI!? I'M PLAYING THE WHAT?!" he screeched, livid.
"The jester, Mr. Li. Please, exert some self-control. Honestly. Let's see… As the antagonistic Duke Frederick, Zinan Kudo. And as Orlando…" She drew the last name out of the hat. "Takai Kudo."
Oh shit, Sakura thought. No. NOT HIM. Oh shit oh shit oh shit oh SHIT! She looked fearfully over to where Takai was sitting, dumbstruck. His expression bore utter shock. She closed her eyes. She looked instead at Syaoran, who caught her eye. They exchanged a tiny, secret smile that made her get a warm fuzzy feeling inside. But this was no fairy tale. And she'd have to play Rosalind, Orlando's true love.
"I mean, seriously! He hates me!" she raged, erasing a foot soldier furiously.
"Chill. I know. You can just quit."
"Didn't you hear her?! This thing counts three test grades! Kaboom goes my average!" she exploded.
"Erm. Okay… Let's just keep working, right?" said Syaoran. "How far are you, anyway?"
"I'm done with the first half on sword fighting. The, uh, second bit, about hand fighting, I've done most of the sketches, but nothing really, you know. Big," she said, calming down slightly.
"Well, I've done 25 pages of the report. Then I have to do the, ah, bibliography, EW, and the captions for all the pictures. And then we're done, I think."
"Well, that's cool. When's it due again?"
"Saturday," he said. (A/N: It's not uncommon for kids in Japan to go to school on Saturday, poor things.)
"Okay, cool. So should we work on it after school today? We need to, like, choreograph the sword stuff, too," Sakura said, finishing another small figure in the horse stance. "Wait, hang on. Tomorrow? I have something today."
"Yeah, that's cool," he said. "Your house or mine?"
"How about mine? I've already been to your house."
"Awesome," Syaoran said, and completed another paragraph.
The pair worked in contented silence until the bell rang gratingly, and Eriol hurried over.
"You said you needed a ride somewhere?" he asked.
"Uh, yeah. I'm going to Daidouji's house," she said, shooting him a grin. "But I don't know where it is, crap!" Her smile faded. "Um, I'll go and, uh, find her; I guess… bee are bee." (…brb…)
"Oh. Well. Actually, she gave me her address," said Eriol, blushing.
"Oh really?" smirked Sakura. "Well then. Let's go," she said, and they walked outside to the student parking lot and got in Eriol's beat-up old Subaru.
They drove down the street, looking for the house, but they couldn't see it. There was just a long wall all the way down the sidewalk.
"Hm, that's weird. It specifically says this street," mused Eriol.
"Ah, I think I just figured something out," said Sakura, yanking the address from his hands. She pointed to a large golden number on the huge wall. Eriol's eyes widened.
"That's her house?" he yelped shrilly.
"Yuh-huh," said Sakura lazily, and threw the address back at him. "Dude, your girlfriend's got some house. It's like Syaoran's."
"She's not my-" stuttered Eriol.
"Whatever," said Sakura, and opened the car door. She grinned at the blushing Eriol and rang the bell by the huge gates.
"Yes?" said a voice through a speaker.
"Sakura and Eriol Kinomoto for Daidouji Tomoyo, please," said Sakura.
"Mmhmmm…" said the voice, and the gates creaked open. Sakura walked onto the crunchy gravel, and they slowly made their way up the long, curved driveway to the large house – no, not house, villa – and knocked the lion's head knocker. Tomoyo answered.
"Oh, hey, Kinomoto. And Eriol. Can I call you Sakura, by the way?" she asked.
"Uh, sure," said Sakura.
"Well, come in, come in," enthused Tomoyo, ushering the pair in. "Okay, I've totally got this all set up. Me and Eriol are gonna sit in my room as you try on the kimonos."
"Hm? That's it?" asked Sakura. "No measurements or things?"
"Ah, well, hehehe, I kinda made them before measuring anyone, but they're supposed to be really loose and fit anyone anyway. Except one, which I'm custom making like for geishas, so yeah, we will have to take some measurements! Yay!" she squealed alarmingly.
"Uh, you're happy about taking measurements?" inquired Sakura, their heels clicking on the hardwood polished floors. Tomoyo guided them up a marble staircase with red carpet on it.
"Yeah, it's always fun taking measurements," said Tomoyo, as if this was totally obvious. "Okay, in here." She opened a door and Sakura gasped. It was obviously Tomoyo's bedroom, but it was amazing. It was about twice the size of Sakura's kitchen, with a ceiling about fifteen feet high. The bed had a huge, soft, snowy-colored comforter piled on top of it, with more throw pillows than Sakura could count without moving around to consider a different angle. There was a huge yin-yang rug, redundantly placed on the dense white carpet. The whole room was either white or black.
"You like the colors?" said Tomoyo. "Black and white looks so clean, even when it's all messed up."
"Uh, of course!" said Sakura. In truth, it did look clean, but she had never seen such luxury in black and white. There was a sofa along the wall with huge Victorian windows behind it, letting in huge columns of light that illuminated the white stereo system, the white laptop sitting on the black-tinted glass table, and the white iPod plugged into the wall, charging. The TV in the corner was at least five feet across, and in a white cabinet. Along the far wall was a row of shutter-doors.
"What's in those doors?" asked Sakura.
"Oh. Clothes, mostly. Also some other stuff, but mostly clothes. Mostly clothes." She walked over to one of the doors and pulled it open. The rest automatically opened. There were rows upon rows of clothes of every type. Sakura's jaw dropped.
"Why do you need so many… clothes?" she said incredulously.
"Oh. Well, I want to be a designer, so I take a cute design from here, a style from there. I don't actually wear all that. Anyway, let's move into the room off my room. It's better for stuff like this."
They walked into the next room, which wasn't all white and black. It was full of beige and cream tones instead. Sakura got a start when Tomoyo snapped her fingers and a sofa swiveled across the ground on grooves scored into the wood. She turned on the rest of the lights.
"Okay, remind me what your mom does again?" Eriol said, as a large runway on the other side of the room was illuminated.
"She's a designer too. Modeling industry, clothing designs, you name it, she does it," said Tomoyo happily. "Anyway. Let's get you into these, Sakura."
She pressed a button on the wall and a panel slid back, revealing a line of kimonos, with all sorts of vibrant, intricate designs and varied cuts.
"Wow, you made those?" asked Eriol.
"Yep," she said proudly. "I like the dark ones best, but the pink's nice too. You can just change in that little room over there, Sakura." She indicated yet another door next to the runway. Sakura nodded, took one of the kimonos, and disappeared into the room.
"So, do you want to go to college?" asked Eriol.
"I don't know. I mean, it looks good on applications, but with this kinda job, ah, you don't really need to go to college, just a good eye. It's like music. Speaking of which, Sakura told me you played electric guitar," she said.
"Oh, yeah. I want to go professional, but I don't have anyone else to play with. No back-up singers or anything. I mean, Sakura sometimes plays drums or keyboard for me, but a two-person band isn't really. Well."
"Yeah," Tomoyo laughed. "Hey, my dad used to be a pro musician. We have a recording studio downstairs, actually. He and my mom bought this house. Maybe you wanna go down there after we finish with Sakura's stuff?"
"Yeah," Eriol said, his blue eyes twinkling. "I'd like that." He pretended not to notice her move closer to him as Sakura walked in.
"Oh, my, GOSH! That looks so ADORABLE!" squealed Tomoyo. "Tie it tighter." She got up and adjusted the tie on the pink kimono until it was practically skintight. "There. That is so cute. I actually made all of them on this exact pattern, so they'll all fit! That is so awesome. Here, try on the dark blue next."
Sakura nodded meekly and exited once more.
"Your sister is so pretty," Tomoyo sighed. "I mean, seriously. She should model or something."
"Yeah, she just doesn't like clothes that show her as feminine in any way, I dunno. She just, ah. Well." He coughed and pushed his glasses further up his brow.
Sakura walked back in. "I don't know if it's my color," she mused, looking down.
"Yeah, you're right. You're more an earth tone. Let's try this black one with the stars."
"So Eriol, how long have you played guitar?"
"Uh, guitar? Ten years, maybe a little longer."
"Really? That's so cool! I don't play instruments. I sing, though. Do you play anything else?"
"Let's see. I play, hm, saxophone, keyboard, guitar, flute, clarinet some, and drums. Oh. And I sing. But I only really practice guitar and keyboard, the rest are just like hobbies."
"That's amazing!" Tomoyo gushed. "You must be really musical! Do you write music?"
"Yeah, I've written a few songs," said Eriol modestly. He had, in fact, written two binders full of music, but preferred to play others' music. Sakura walked onto the runway.
The black made Sakura look beautiful and exotic, and the bright stars looked like diamonds, matching her smile.
"Totally. You are so wearing that. Okay, so let's see. Definitely this one and the pink. Hm… Try on the green; I think that three's enough."
"Only three?" asked Eriol. "But you made like ten!"
"Yeah, but it was mainly for the fun of it. Oh, there's the bell! It's probably Zinan. Hold up a second." She hurried out, muttering something to herself.
Moments later, Zinan walked into the room. "Oh, hey," he said. "Where's Tomoyo?"
"Uh, didn't she just answer the door?"
"But I never ring the doorbell, she knows that. I just kinda come in. Hm."
A minute later, Tomoyo reentered the room, accompanied by Syaoran.
"Oh, Zinan. There you are. Syaoran decided to come over and hang out. Syao, Sakura should be coming out soon." Just as she said it, Sakura walked out onto the brightly lit runway.
The other two kimonos had been nice, but this one outdid both of them. The kimono's soft green made Sakura's eyes stand out fiercely, and the light brown accented her tanned skin perfectly. She looked like a vision of perfection.
"Oh, hey, Syaoran!" she called, and hopped down from the runway. "I didn't know you were coming."
"Yeah, I…" he said, looking her up and down. "You look really nice. Who made that?"
"I did!" piped Tomoyo. "Oh, that looks fabulous! What do you think, Zinan?"
"Yeah, it looks good," said Zinan. "Like the one I researched in 300 B.C. about-"
"Okay, okay, okay," said Tomoyo hurriedly. "He's almost as bad with history as I am with clothes. Now, shoes!"
"Er, all right," said Sakura. How many can there be to try? she thought.
Ah. That many. Sakura was stunned. There was a whole cupboard full of shoes, some with four-inch heels that Sakura gawped at.
"Let's see. With the black, wear these," said Tomoyo, fishing out a pair of rhinestone-studded black sandals with, Sakura was glad to see, low heels. "And the green, these." Sakura marveled at the ease with which Tomoyo sorted through the shoes, passing pair upon pair upon pair speedily and immediately identifying those that would look good. These were heels with small straps, light brown in color. She chose a pair of silver high-heels for the pink. Sakura winced as she slipped her feet into the three-inchers, almost feeling her feet's arches screaming in protest.
"All right! We are so done! I'll do your makeup on the day, don't worry," Tomoyo reassured.
They walked back over to the guys, who were talking comfortably.
"Dude, Sakura! You didn't tell me Syaoran plays the keyboard!"
"Piano, actually," Syaoran corrected.
"Yeah, that. Would you play with me, downstairs?"
"Sure, that'd be fun. Do you have stuff for me to read?"
Eriol fished through his backpack and came up with one of his music binders. He handed it to Syaoran, who opened it. He frowned, sat down, put the binder on his lap, and started fingering in mid-air, humming softly. He looked up.
"You wrote this? It's got a really nice melody!" he exclaimed. Eriol blushed and stammered some.
"All right, shall we voyage downstairs, then?" suggested Tomoyo. Everyone nodded. Sakura and Eriol slung their bags onto their backs, and they walked back downstairs. They went down a short hall and opened a door. Sakura gasped. It was a high-tech recording studio. A microphone hung from the ceiling. Eriol touched it slightly, as if afraid to. Tomoyo opened a closet and took out music stands.
The ceiling was angled. Sakura assumed it was for acoustic reasons.
"You wanna record something?" asked Tomoyo. "I'm not really sure how it works, but I can set the microphone to hear the whole room. There's a ton of other instruments in the next room."
"Seriously?" said Eriol. She nodded. She opened the door, and they filed out. When they returned, Eriol had in his hands a six-string Fender electric guitar he'd found. Syaoran was wheeling a sleek keyboard, Sakura was grunting to shove a drum set in the door, and Zinan, bizarrely, was holding an antique-looking ukulele.
"Er, do you actually play the ukulele?!" asked Syaoran.
"Yeah," said Zinan. "I started when I was eight. Why?"
"Isn't that kinda like a guitar?" said Eriol
"Sorta…" said Zinan. "Why?"
"Could you maybe play the bass guitar?"
"Uh, maybe… Why?"
"Because we need a bass line, stupid," said Sakura, and shoved a bass guitar into his hands. "Look, it's not that hard, the bass line never really has a hard part."
Eriol shifted through his songs, and let out a small 'ah' as he turned to a specific page. He took out the folder containing all the different parts and placed the handwritten sheets in front of each of them.
"You said you sing, right?" he asked Tomoyo. "Are you good at sight reading?"
"I'm fair," she said. "Lemme see that."
Sakura quietly tapped on the different drums, Syaoran traced the song on the keyboard, and Zinan squinted at the music. "Uh, what's this?" he asked Eriol. "Is that a G?" he said, putting his hands on the large guitar.
"Yeah," said Eriol. "That's that fingering." He moved Zinan's hands to the right position. "See, that's basically what you do the whole time." Zinan nodded.
Tomoyo softly sang her part, with Eriol tapping on his knees and fingering on his guitar furiously.
"Okay, guys, are we about ready?" said Eriol after about ten minutes.
They all nodded and looked around. Eriol took a shaky breath. "You wanna record this, Tomoyo?"
"Let's just try it out first, see if we need a new song or something."
"Okay, cool," Eriol said, and nodded at Sakura to start drumming. Slowly she beat out the steady rhythm. Syaoran's right hand started the harmony as Zinan's G set in. Eriol played the melody with his guitar, and as he hit the last high note, Sakura smashed the cymbals. Then Eriol started singing.
I smiled when I saw her
What do you think? I said.
You just smiled back at me, and
Slowly nodded your head.
I don't know how I missed it,
That glimmer in your eye
As I turned to walk towards her
And slowly waved goodbye.
I thought she was the one
Who would always make me smile
I thought she was the only one
Who would be worth my while.
And I never saw you.
I never saw you standing there,
With that slightly sad expression
And with teardrops in your hair.
I never saw you,
I never saw you next to me.
And I never saw how much more
You and I could be.
You know, she's gone now,
And I never saw your tears,
And I find myself wanting to see you,
Even after all these years.
I wish that I could see you,
But I really don't know why,
I wish that I could see your face
And that twinkle in your eye.
And I realize that it's unfair
To be asking for rebound
When you're the one who I left
And not the other way around.
Cause I never saw you.
I never saw you standing there,
At our picnic on the hilltop
With the sunshine in your hair.
I never saw you,
I never saw you next to me.
And I never saw how much more
You and I could be.
And if by chance, I see you,
See your face when I'm walking down the way,
I'll tell you that I missed you
And bless every single day.
I remember when you stood outside for hours in the rain
And I never came
If I'd known then what I know now
I'd never let you leave
And we'd dance for hours in the rain
And we'd finally believe.
Cause now I see you
I finally see you standing there
With your eyes closed and your smile shining
And the breeze drifting in your hair.
And now I see you,
I can see you next to me.
But when my eyes are shut and I'm alone
Is the only time I can see.
Tomoyo's high, complex vocalization trailed off and Eriol started attacking his guitar with a solo. Sakura raised an eyebrow surreptitiously at him, but his eyes were closed. He hit the last high note, and then cut off the guitar's noise. Syaoran peered closely at his music and played a speedy, intricate passage of 32nd notes. Then he slowed back down to the simple harmony, Sakura broke off the drums, and they stopped.
"Wow, I can't believe you wrote that. Dude," said Zinan. Eriol blushed.
"I recorded it. Wanna listen?" asked Tomoyo. They all eagerly nodded. It was a short song, not longer than two and a half minutes, but the recording didn't sound bad.
"That wasn't bad!" said Sakura. "I'm impressed, brother dear." Eriol scowled.
"I don't know. It lacks a certain… je ne sais pas…" he said.
"You got synthesizers?" asked Syaoran.
"That's right! I did make a special effects part!" he said, shuffling through the binder and pulling out a sheet. "And a xylophone part and a strings part, but you know, that's kinda optional."
"Anyway, that sounded really good, guys," said Zinan. "And you lied. It wasn't just Gs. There was also an A."
"Oops, sorry," said Eriol sarcastically, and they laughed. "Oh, gosh! It's six o'clock! We've gotta go, guys."
"All right. Well, thanks SO much, Sakura! And Eriol, maybe you wanna come over and do it again sometime?"
"Yeah, sure! Thanks, this was awesome."
"All right. Guess I'll go too. See you tomorrow," said Zinan.
"Yeah, bye," said Syaoran, waving. Tomoyo, Eriol, and Sakura wheeled the instruments back out and put them away as the other two left.
"Oh, er, Daidouji,"
"It's Tomoyo, Sakura."
"Ah, Tomoyo… is there, like, a bathroom anywhere?" she asked.
"Oh, sure. Straight down that hallway, right at the end."
Sakura started to walk down the hallway as the other two went back inside the studio.
"So, Tomoyo, I was wondering, if maybe… you wanted to, uh, get dinner tomorrow?" blurted Eriol, turning to face Tomoyo.
"I would love to," said Tomoyo. She looked up into his cobalt eyes and brushed away a bit of his hair from between his eyes. Slowly he put an arm around her waist. She moved closer to him and tilted her head up.
"I'm back!"
The two broke apart swiftly.
"Oh, sorry, did I interrupt anything?" said Sakura apologetically.
"No, we were just, uh, getting his music binder," stuttered Tomoyo.
Sakura had not gone to the bathroom. She'd gone to say goodbye to Syaoran, but Eriol didn't need to know that, seeing as he didn't know that she'd kissed him, either.
Syaoran stopped in his tracks outside Tomoyo's door. "Sakura?" He turned around, and Sakura stood on her tiptoes and placed a kiss on his lips.
"Goodnight," she said. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.
"Sweet dreams," he responded, smiling. She waved and dashed back inside. She entered the music room and Eriol and Tomoyo abruptly stepped apart. Oops…
Eriol seemed to be bouncing on the balls of his feet as they stepped into the car.
"What're you so happy about?" Sakura said.
"I have a date with Tomoyo tomorrow," he said cheerily, slinging his bag into the back seat.
"Really?! Where are you gonna take her?"
"Uh, I don't know…" he said. "Wacdonald's?"
"You can't take Daidouji – I mean, Tomoyo, to Wacdonald's!"
"Oh. I knew that," he said, pulling into the driveway.
Sakura ran inside. Eriol dumped the keys on the table and Sakura slammed the telephone directory down in front of him, making him jump.
"Look for somewhere, idiot!" she said. "How about here?" She pointed at a restaurant.
"House of Stars? How is that a restaurant?" he said.
"It's under the restaurants section, dolt. It sounds nice. Take her there."
"Uh, okay," said Eriol, and wrote down the address on his hand.
Sakura looked up at the ceiling, and as she did so, mused that life, too, was looking up.
Hope you liked it. :3 Haha, sorry about the slightly cheesy song, but I actually made up a tune that goes with it, haha. Too bad you can't hear it... (:(
WOW! I'm almost at 50 alerts; you guys are awesome! And a solid 35 favorites – that is so cool. I wanna let you know that you ROCK.
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March 27, 2015
Five-time Academy Award nominee Kenneth Branagh will direct and star in an immersive version of William Shakespeare's Macbeth, to be staged in New York City's Park Avenue Armory. The 55,000 square foot venue will place audience members "on the frontlines of battle," according to press notes. Here, Branagh discusses how the large-scale production (co-directed by Tony winner Rob Ashford) came to be. Previews begin May 31. Read the Playbill story.
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Best of Chapelboro Part 4January 3, 2014 at 5:00 am
From all the local graduations, to Hillsborough's Hogg Day, Election Night winners and the annual Dog Swim, we love to look back and see all the fun we had at Chapelboro in 2013!
Best of Chapelboro Part 3January 2, 2014 at 5:00 am
From our very own Community Forum and a fabulous Moonlight Gala, to a visit to Paws4Ever and Goathouse Refuge, we offer a small glimpse of what makes our town so special!
Night LightsJanuary 1, 2014 at 5:00 am
Night Lights: A Family New Year's Eve event, was held at the Morehead Planetarium and included lots of kid-friendly activities, decorative wish stars, and a kids countdown under the stars in the fulldome theatre; everything a kid might wish for to welcome in the new year!
Best of Chapelboro Part 2December 31, 2013 at 5:00 am
From a very special Community Dinner and a Ronald McDonald House birthday bash, to the "Launching" of a new business and a derby-inspired fundraiser, we continue our look back at a sampling of what made 2013 at Chapelboro so much fun!
Best of Chapelboro Part 1December 30, 2013 at 5:00 am
From the MLK Jr. service and rally to WCHL's 60th birthday celebration, the Cirque de Sciences Gala and the Marathon Jam for The Fisher House, early 2013 was a busy time at Chapelboro!
Gingerbread House Fun at KidzuDecember 27, 2013 at 5:00 am
What could be more fun than making gingerbread houses with the wonderful folks at Kidzu?
Sugar Plum Fairy TeaDecember 26, 2013 at 5:00 am
Magic was in the air as members of the Triangle Youth Ballet performed scenes from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Ballet at the Carolina Inn!
Happy Birthday Jesus CelebrationDecember 25, 2013 at 5:00 am
The wonderful folks at Mt Moriah Church decided to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas by having a birthday celebration for Jesus complete with a play, arts and crafts and, of course, a birthday cake!
Teddy Bear workshop at the Carolina InnDecember 24, 2013 at 5:00 am
Who could resist spending the afternoon at the Carolina Inn at a Teddy Bear workshop with Santa himself?
Kidzu Shopping Event at Southern SeasonDecember 20, 2013 at 5:00 am
'Tis the season to go shopping and the fabulous folks at Southern Season held a private shopping event with a wine tasting and silent auction, all to support the wonderful work of Kidzu Children's Museum!