text:
|Bahram Zarishu
You guys don't like my plan?
If there are no objections Bahram will cast Invisibility on himself and head further into the cave with Zaina and start the hustling.
He'll start off by telling Sefu to tell Ashia he met the 'Knight Protectors of Kelerane who vanquished *insert devils name who's I've forgotten now here* and they were on the way to the House of the Beast' if that piques her interest Bahram will weave the tale of the genie war raged in these parts that Bahram spent the last year researching (i.i.r.c.), citing names, locations and ranks. Taking 10 on knowledge histry, arcana and plains for a 24 with the bonus to genie lore.
Any objections?
Stealth if I get the goa ahead: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (12) + 21 = 33
|Rashid al-Gahiji
Ack! Sorry, for some reason, my dot for this thread disappeared, and I did not see that there were updates :-/
Rashid nods as Bahram outlines his plan.
"It is not without risk, but I acknowledge that it is probably our best option if we are to help Sefu. Good luck; may the Dawnflower's blessing be upon you."
I will give both Bahram and Sefu a Touch of Glory, for a +5 on any one charisma-based check within the next hour.
With the plan (more or less) agreed upon, Zaina flits over to lay a tiny hand upon first Yousef (who wanted to go along) and then Haleen (who will want to go with Yousef... who always seems to have fun ideas when they're invisible...), uttering a few words of the lyrical, airy, auran language as she does so; even as Bahram casts a similar spell of his own. Within moments all three have faded from sight. Zaina repeats the magic on herself as Sefu, taking a deep breath and straightening his shoulders, turns and pads up the sloping corridor at the rear of the entrance cave...
That leaves Rashid and Lavender still visible and in the entrance cave by my count.
The sloping corridor leads up and deeper into the mountainside, maybe a hundred feet or so, until it opens onto a second chamber. The room is much more precisely carved out of the rock than the entrance cave, and appears to be a little over twenty feet square, and maybe fifteen feet from floor to ceiling. The centre of the chamber is dominated by a round dais, also carved from the rock, a couple of feet high and bedecked with a multitude of intricately woven rugs and plush silken cushions. In the centre of each wall is an entrance-way: the one Sefu and his team of 'advisors' has just arrived at, and one in each of the three remaining walls - although each of those three is covered by an artistically patterned hanging woven with what appear to be semi-precious stones and beads. Either side of the dais is a tall bronze stand holding a censer bowl, although neither is currently lit.
Reclining atop the dais is a creature similar to Sefu, with the sleek body of a lioness, the wings of a falcon, and the head and torso of a beautiful Osirian woman - undoubtedly the object of Sefu's desires: the sphinx Ashia. Ashia wears a heavy gold and lapis lazuli pectoral in the ancient Osirian style (barely enough to protect the modesty of her otherwise bared breasts), a golden armlet fashioned in the likeness of a coiled serpent (on her left arm), and a fine golden diadem set with a small black stone upon her haughty brow. Her straight black hair falls to a little above her shoulders, and her eyelids are heavily painted with kohl, which trails off into graceful spiral designs across her temples and upper cheeks. An elaborate-looking hookah rests near her on the dais.
As Sefu pads into the room, Ashia opens one eye with studied lazy air, very deliberately yawns, stretches in a feline manner, blinks, then finally deigns to look in her fellow sphinx's direction. When she speaks, her purred words sound poetic... but somehow manage to carry a rather arrogant tone...
Sefu's ram-like features twitch into a snarl at Ashia's words, and a low growl rumbles at the back of his throat, but he otherwise manages to keep himself in check for the moment. A thin smile touches Ashia's lips (but fails to reach her eyes...). She briefly glances to Sefu's left and right...
... before looking at him once more, and continuing...
'...common?' she concludes in common Kelish.
Sefu seems to be gritting his teeth, but takes another deep breath before answering,
'I thought you may be interested to learn, my lady, that I recently met the Knight Protectors of Kelerane, who vanquished the foul daemon Xulthos, and are now on their way to the House of the Beast...'
Ashia's eyes narrow,
'I may be a lady, animal,' she retorts, 'but I am in no way "yours"...'
'I... ah... yes... I mean no... I...' Sefu stumbles over his own words as what little confidence he seemed to have built up quickly flees under the 'lady's' verbal assault. Ashia sighs and rolls her eyes,
'Well I suppose it would be too much to ask for you to actually have any inkling of what you mean, wouldn't it?' she shakes her head, as if her derision wasn't obvious enough, but then shrugs slightly as she continues, 'Although I do like to hear recent news of import. I suppose I could tolerate your brutish presence for a little while... or, at least, for as long as you manage to amuse me...'
'Oh... yes... of course...' Sefu blurts out, glancing around a little (as if looking for his invisible friends...). Ashia sighs once more and shifts her position on the dais a little,
'Already getting bored...' she coaxes...
... Sefu seems to have frozen...
|Bahram Zarishu
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 0 = 12
Bahram looks on in fascination, admiring both the splendor of the room as well as the creature inhabiting it, a powerful creature, graceful and intelligent and obviously quite rich too.
Seeing the verbal exchange between the two makes Bahram wonder if they misunderstood the whole thing. Asha seemed to him to just want Sefu to grow a backbone. But then, he could be wrong, it wasn't like Bahram was the most experienced male member of his own species.
Pointing an invisible finger at Sefu Bahram whispers to the poor sphinx.
"Not so agitated my friend, be more relaxed and you'll go allot further. I actually think she likes you." he begins.
"Now, tell her of the janni Kardswaan and the Templars of the Five Winds..." Bahram tries to coax Sefu through the tale as much as he can.
Ok, details are slipping my mind here but Bahram will talk about the princess and her human lover, the war and their fall, try to get her interested in the tale and tie it in with the House of the Beast.
|Yousef olan Ahmad
Sense Motive 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Yousef whispers to Haleen,
"The more this c%*! talks, the more I want to go with your idea. I think our new friend here really is barking up the wrong tree.. He would also be visibly relieved, if he were visible, that he is not visible, and therefore can stare straight at Ashia's breasts with abandon.
1d20 ⇒ 19 I don't know if this is stealth or bluff. Stealth it is a 28, bluff a 29.
|Lavender Leaf
Lavender turns to Rashid once the others are gone. "I don't know how different Bahram's spell is from mine, but my invisibility spell only lasts five minutes. I say we give them three or four minutes, then we go in while invisible too. That way if Bahram and the others are revealed we can be there if something bad happens. What do you think? "
'Have you heard the tale of the djinni princess Nefeshti, her human lover the reformed genie-binder Andrathi, and her five wishcrafted elite janni warriors, the Templars of the Five Winds?' Sefu begins, seemingly encouraged by Bahram's assessment of Ashia's feelings towards him, and doing his best to reiterate the information the scholarly elementalist is feeding him, 'It is said that they fought against the efreeti prince Jhavhul in these very mountains in ages past, and that...'
'Yes, yes,' Ashia interupts with a drawn-out yawn she gracefully covers with one leonine forepaw, 'the so-called House of the Beast was Jhavhul's temple to Rovagug... I hardly need a history lesson, animal... although it's certainly an "impressive" effort on your part to be able to offer one... or, at least, I suppose it speaks to some minimal capacity for intelligence that you can parrot back such stories as you've heard... But you seem to lack enough capacity for thought to actually comprehend what qualifies as recent events...'
'Ooh,' Haleen whispers softly, '"minimal intelligence"? Oh yes... I can tell he's really wearing her down...'
'I... um...' Sefu stumbles for a moment, but then manages to recover a little as he presses on, ... Kardswann! Yes! I... ah... I was just filling in the background to more recent news, but since you seem to know...'
'Just get on with it,' Ashia interupts again, with a sigh, 'I could just smoke pesh if I wanted my faculties dulled this much...'
Sefu snarls under his breath, but chokes it back as he continues,
'Right... Well, Kardswann... as I'm sure you know...' he adds through gritted teeth, '... was one of the aforementioned Templars, but more recently was ruling the nearby village of Kelmarane, ostensibly in the name of the Carrion King. A far cry, I hope you'd agree, from his duties of old opposing the minions of the Rough Beast...'
'It would seem a tad out of character,' Ashia agrees, raising one haughty eyebrow, 'although time has a way of changing one's views.'
'Yes, well, quite,' Sefu seems a little flustered by Ashia's less-insulting-than-usual tone, but continues to retell the tale as Bahram passes it to him, 'as it happens it was the daemon Xulthos who was controlling the once-noble Templar. The... ah... travellers I met were the ones who slaughtered the better part of the Kulldis tribe of gnolls - whom Kardswann, under Xulthos's domination, had taken command of - and slew the daemon itself, freeing the jann from its vile influence, and reclaiming the village of Kelmarane in the name of the PactMasters... as represented by one Lady Almah. Those heroes were named Knight Protectors of the village in recognition of their great deeds.'
Sefu pauses. Ashia fixes him with a narrowed gaze for a few moments... then shrugs,
'Your tale is of mild interest. I'd heard much the same from the merchants who have once more been travelling the old route to and from Osirian this past year, although I confess you seem to have learned more details than they were able to share. So where, pray tell, would these Knight Protectors be now, hmmm?'
'I... um... that is to say... ah...' Sefu seems a little tripped up by the direct question...
'Yousef: what say we go and see what sort of treasures this... "lady"... has collected over the years,' Haleen whispers, 'whilst good Bahram plays puppetmaster-of-love?'
|Bahram Zarishu
|Yousef olan Ahmad
'Yousef: what say we go and see what sort of treasures this... "lady"... has collected over the years,' Haleen whispers, 'whilst good Bahram plays puppetmaster-of-love?'
"This is just getting good. Lets watch this sphinx humiliate goat-boy here. Later, I bet she leaves at some point to hunt or poop or whatever, we come back and look around. She might not be able to see us, but I bet she could see a floating bit o gold..."
Wis check 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2
...what would it hurt to just look.. Yousef feels around for Haleen's hand and edges away from the group.
'They're on their way to the House of the Beast,' Sefu repeats the words as Bahram gives them to him, 'to investigate the rumours of increased gnoll activity in that area as warned by Zayifid, cleric of Sarenrae...'
'Did you say "Zayifid", my Master?' Zaina's tiny voice pipes up close to Bahram, 'That's an unusual coincidence... Zayifid was the name of one of the Templars...'
Meanwhile, Yousef (after a little fumbling around) manages to locate Haleen's hand, and the two begin to edge away from the group, up into Ashia's 'audience chamber' to circle round her dais...
For a few moments Ashia remains quite, eyes fixed upon Sefu... but then she pounces from the dais, to land off to one side (unbeknown to the others, right in front of Yousef and Haleen, blocking their path) claws out and scratching the rock floor as she growls, feline muscles tensing as if ready to leap again,
'Enough!' she declares, 'This charade was an amusement, a chance to laugh at the animal as he was prompted by one with a little more intellect (although that in itself is hardly a challenge)... but I'll not allow petty thieves the run of my home just to maintain the pretense that I can't see them...'
The female sphinx's voice is loud enough to carry to Lavender and Rashid where they wait in the entrance cave...
Next to him, Yousef hears the distinctive sound of Haleen's sword being unsheathed...
'What?' Sefu appears at once startled and guilty, 'You... ah... you can... um... see something, you say?'
|Rashid al-Gahiji
|Bahram Zarishu
"Hmm..? Yes dear, Zayfid, dear." Bahram replies to Zaina distractedly, intent on the conversation of the sphinxes.
Thinking that this is going swell Bahram is as startled as Sefu at Asha's outburst, taken aback he prepares to defend himself but then stops as her words register in his mind.
"Yousef!" he says loud and clear, "What are you doing!? Get back here! NOW!"
|Lavender Leaf
"I bet Haleen isn't innocent either. Lets go try to straighten this out. Hopefully peacefully..." Lavender says to Rashid as they run into the room.
When she gets into the room, she turns to Sefu The only once she can see beside's Ashia, "What. Happened?!" Seriously, it hasn't even been half a minute and everything has gone haywire!
|Yousef olan Ahmad
"Uu..I..I..uh. Uhm." Yousef assumes a shrug and feels around his body with his hands, patting and digging in pockets. "Ah, there it is." He removes a potion and swigs it back. "Ahem, for the nerves. I have this condition that makes me stutter when I am nervous. It is very common amongst us well endowed boys like Sefu and myself. I just wanted to get a closer look at this pillar of beauty that Sefu keeps going on about. And boy is he right, you sure are a looker!"
He drank a Potion of Innocence
Bluff 1d20 + 10 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 10 = 22
"What. Happened?!"
'I honestly don't have a clue...' replies Sefu to the arriving Lavender and Rashid. The ram-headed sphinx is looking more than a little flustered as he clutches the ziz egg protectively to his chest with one forepaw and edges back against the wall...
"Yousef!" he says loud and clear, "What are you doing!? Get back here! NOW!"
"Uu..I..I..uh. Uhm... Ah, there it is... Ahem, for the nerves. I have this condition that makes me stutter when I am nervous. It is very common amongst us well endowed boys like Sefu and myself. I just wanted to get a closer look at this pillar of beauty that Sefu keeps going on about. And boy is he right, you sure are a looker!"
Sefu nervously glances this way and that as the seemingly disembodied voices fly across the room, but Ashia seems to be focused on something... or rather, someone... directly in front of her...
'It's true about the stuttering...' Haleen's voice pipes up in support of Yousef, '...and the other thing... but it's not like you have to let them talk to get what you want out of them, right?'
Ashia seems coiled, ready to pounce...
... then the GM rolls a '4' for her Sense Motive check... ho hum...
... but then relaxes, sitting back on her haunches, a half smile playing on her lips,
'Well,' she purrs, 'I suppose I can't really punish you for falling for my charms...' she glances over to where Sefu's looking worried by the wall, rolls her eyes, sighs, and pads her way back to her cusion-bedecked dais, '... and one can't imagine the animal being able to wax poetic enough to capture my true beauty... so I can see how meeting me in the flesh may have been a little... overwhelming...'
'Quick!' Sefu whispers to Bahram via the wizard's cantrip, 'Do you know any poetry?'
Settling herself back in her place commanding the chamber, Ashia speaks a word of Ancient Osirian, and the two censer bowls on the bronze stands either side of the dais flare to life, filling the room with both flickering light and sweet smelling incense.
'Perhaps...' Ashia begins, '...assuming you're quite finished with your little mummer's farce... we could all stop hiding and make an attempt at more civilised introductions?'
|Lavender Leaf
Lavender shakes her head over the whole debacle. "Sorry Ms. Ashia, I wish we would have met in a less... Weird way, but Mr. Sefu really wanted to impress you and we wished to help him. We were foolish to not realize that a great sphinx such as yourself would see through our little ruse. I hope it was at least amusing."
"My name is Lavender Leaf, and it is a pleasure to meet you."
Once introductions are are over, Lavender asks, "So Ms. Aisha, how long have you and Mr. Sefu known each other? You seem to knew each other quite well, you even gave him a cute nickname!" Lavender says, trying to spin Aisha's insult.
|Bahram Zarishu
Dismissing the invisibility reveals a blushing and embarrassed Bahram, clearing his throat he bows deeply to Ashia.
"I am Bahram Zarishu, a friend, I hope, and regretfully the orchestrator of this 'mummers' farce', as you so aptly named it. Please do not be offended by this debacle, it is a poor way for first introductions I know but, rather you should be flattered by the lengths Sefu is willing to go to gain your favors m'lady."
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 8 + 5 = 23
"So Ms. Aisha, how long have you and Mr. Sefu known each other? You seem to knew each other quite well, you even gave him a cute nickname!"
'The animal has been pestering me for some time,' Ashia replies with a haughty sniff, 'it seemed to think it could buy breeding rights with me by offering me trinkets like that egg it's always carrying around...'
'Honest tokens of my affection!' Sefu pipes up quickly (the clarification directed at least as much to his new friends as to Ashia), 'I meant no... um... "implications" by my gifts!'
'And trying to disguise yourself as a higher and more noble form of sphinx? What was the "implication" there?' Ashia retorts venomously to Sefu's comments, 'that I lack the intellect to see through such pitiful chicanery?'
'No!' Sefu recoils slightly at the acid in Ashia's tone, 'I... I just thought you'd like me better looking like that...'
Ashia sighs...
'What I'd like is a real male... not a barely cognizant savage like you, but a man of intellect...'
"I am Bahram Zarishu, a friend, I hope, and regretfully the orchestrator of this 'mummers' farce', as you so aptly named it. Please do not be offended by this debacle, it is a poor way for first introductions I know but, rather you should be flattered by the lengths Sefu is willing to go to gain your favors m'lady."
'... why hello Bahram Zarishu,' Ashia purrs, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth as she turns towards the elementalist - an expression in rather sharp contrast to the ones she's been offering poor Sefu... Reaching forth one forepaw the female sphinx gently beckons to Bahram, 'step forwards, so I may better assess the conductor of this orchestra of deception...' for some reason the gesture puts one in mind of a cat playing with a trapped mouse...
|Bahram Zarishu
Bahram nearly squeaks at the gesture, when he said 'friend' he didn't mean he wanted to get 'friendly' with her. Blushing slightly he gives another bow and mutters 'Of course' and steps closer, though not close enough for her to touch him.
"Sefu managed to impress us you see, mastering the Ziz's Egg is no small feat after all, and hearing his worry over your great beauty gave us pause and we only wished to aid him in his endeavors in garnering your affections." Bahram tries, hoping to turn Ashia's attention back to Sefu.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
|Lavender Leaf
...What the heck is wrong with this lady? She has some nerve... Lavender thinks through gritted teeth.
When she beckons Bahram, she facepalms. Great, It's the Harpy all over again...
"You know, it is common knowledge that people pick on persons that they like. Does the same hold true for sphinxes?" Lavender asks to Ashia.
|Rashid al-Gahiji
[ooc]Sorry, the website upgrade had my campaign page go haywire :-/ Hopefully, there will be no further interruptions :-)
Rashid groans, internally.
Why does Bahram keep attracting the attention of all sorts of ladies, in such wildly inconvenient settings? Some might consider the boy blessed by the Gods, but it can be darn inconvenient.
Given that formal introductions are being made, he bows.
"I am Father Rashid al-Gahiji, sometime companion of, and spiritual adviser to, this band of explorers. We were traveling through the region, on a quest to deal with some of the pesky Gnolls in the area, when we encountered Sefu.
Being quite moved by his tale of unrequited love, and how he was at his wit's end when it came to trying to impress you, we resolved to see what we could do to aid his suit, hoping to spin a story or two to impress you, or at the very least, to provide a pleasant temporary distraction."
"Sefu managed to impress us you see, mastering the Ziz's Egg is no small feat after all, and hearing his worry over your great beauty gave us pause and we only wished to aid him in his endeavors in garnering your affections."
'Really?' Ashia asks, her brows raised with an expression of incredulity, 'the animal managed to impress one of your obvious intellect?' for a brief moment the lady sphinx's eyes seem to flicker over to Sefu without, perhaps, the usual haughty contempt she seems to hold for her male counterpart...
"You know, it is common knowledge that people pick on persons that they like. Does the same hold true for sphinxes?"
The lady sphinx sniffs dismissively, tossing Lavender one of her patented disdainful glances,
'A true sphinx doesn't trifle with common knowledge, but rather quite the opposite... although "common" seems the level of knowledge most suited to one such as yourself, so I suppose we should bow to your apparent expertise in such matters...'
"... Being quite moved by his tale of unrequited love, and how he was at his wit's end when it came to trying to impress you, we resolved to see what we could do to aid his suit, hoping to spin a story or two to impress you, or at the very least, to provide a pleasant temporary distraction."
Ashia sighs,
'I suppose it's a better approach than the animal has attempted before. However, since we're arrived at the crux of the matter,' she assumes a rather regal posture, sitting back with her head held high, 'I propose the following: if you are all determined to be the animal's advocates, then we should proceed in that vein. You will each be permitted to step forward and make your case in support of Sefu's suit. After you have all spoken on his behalf, I shall hear Sefu speak. I will ponder what you all say, and render an honest and fair judgement. Will you all agree to uphold my judgement, whatever it may be?'
|Yousef olan Ahmad
|Lavender Leaf
Lavender doesn't respond to anything the sphinx says, although it isn't too hard to tell she's pissed.
Lavender places a firm hand on Yousef's shoulder, hopefully holding him back. still, she doesn't say anything.
|Rashid al-Gahiji
Rashid takes a moment to collect his thoughts, but sensing that Yousef and Lavender have more... argumentative... intentions, he clears his throat, and interjects:
"I will agree to abide by your ruling, specifically regarding Sefu, since we have your word that it will be an honest and fair judgement."
He then gestures towards Sefu.
"Sefu here is very much smitten with you. He knows that he is not what you consider to be your ideal form of partner, but he does his best to overcome that, and prove his worthiness for your attention."
Rashid nods to the Zizz egg.
"He attempted to woo you with gifts, procuring that egg for you."
He then gestures to the magical hat.
"Knowing that his form was not your preferred option, he tried to change himself, in whatever small way he could, assuming another guise; this was not a trick - merely an earnest desire to present you with what you would prefer."
Rashid gestures with both arms, taking in all of the others in the room with a sweep.
"He even sought the aid of others, hoping that we would be able to provide him with some insight or amazing story which would pique your interest."
He then smiles, and gestures to Sefu once again.
"Would not one so motivated to please you make a good match? His only desire is to earn your respect and companionship, a powerful motivator that will see him (metaphorically) move the heavens themselves if it should be your desire. One such as that would also be a far more attentive mate than another who felt more... entitled... to his position."
He then bows to Ashia.
"In terms of a story, perhaps this one will be worthy of being classed as a distraction: Near here, is the human village of Kelmarane. Twenty years ago, a great evil came to the region; a camel-sized insectile fiend with huge claws, multiple eyes, slavering mandibles, and a long serpentine tail tipped with chitinous blades, named Xulthos. He corrupted the town, and despite the best efforts of the Pactmasters of Katapesh, he was not destroyed - he was simply sealed away in a crypt beneath the Temple of Sarenrae. There he languished, whilst above him, the town was claimed by a Gnoll tribe, until a Genie named Kardswann came to the region; passing into the crypt, he was dominated by the fiend, who used him to set about turning the region into a more well-run Hell. Those you see here before you were amongst his victims - we were all enslaved by the tribe, but managed to escape, and took the fight back to the tribe, eventually slaying all of them. When the time came, we went below the church, broke the seal, and destroyed the beast..." A look of anguish crosses Rashid's face... "Although we experienced a tragic loss - a companion by the name of Felliped was decapitated by the fiend; we buried him with full honors in the graveyard above, amongst the other Heroes of Kelmarane."
|Lavender Leaf
Lavender calms down a bit listening to Rashid. "Sefu loves you Ms. Aisha. As Rashid said, he is willing to go to great lengths to win your affections. I know that he isn't one of these so called Higher Sphinxes, but I don't see any around for you to covet either. Sefu has a noble spirit, nobler daresay than any other sphinx I have ever met. You two would make a great couple."
|Bahram Zarishu
Bahram blinks a few times before responding. It was all so... formal all of a sudden. Glancing at Zaina he mutters "Well, it's not like we can realy force her into anything..." and shrugs.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Bowing to Ashia he gathers his thoughts and concents to her terms.
"Of course lady, we will bow to the wisdom of your judgment."
"Sefu, as you know, bears great emotions for you. And as you know first hand, emotions can make people do the stupidest things. Believing that you would be impressed with power, thinking that you would not see past glammers, challanging your obviously superior intellect." Bahram counts off his fingers the things he knows Sefu has tried with Ashia with a shake of his head.
"But I ask you Ashia, in your great wisdom, to please, please look beyond the deeds to their intent." Bahram continues, pouring emotion he didn't know he had for this matter into his voice. "Please see them for what they are. Expressions of love Ashia. Precious, precious love." Bahram finds himself looking at Zaina when he continues. "And no matter how stupid his actions may seem, hurtfull even at times, please know he bears you only that one emotion above all; Love. He strives only to impress you. He yearns only for your acceptance, he seeks only your comfort and warmth. His heart goes out to you."
Looking back at Ashia he bows again. "Do not let his love go unrequited, thank you." he says in finsh.
When it comes round to her turn to 'testify', Haleen simply shrugs,
'You keep refering to Sefu as an "animal"... but sometimes a touch of the animal can be a very good thing...' she smiles at Yousef (and squeezes his bottom for good measure), adding, '... trust me on that...'
Ashia's brow furrows a little as she listens to the various defences offered of Sefu's suit, but appears to be reserving her judgement for the moment. Her gaze seeks out Yousef,
'And you?' she asks, 'Do you offer any words in favour of,' she glances towards Haleen for a moment, a slight smile twitching at the corner of her mouth as she finishes, 'your fellow animal?'
|Yousef olan Ahmad
"Welllll" Yousef draws out the word. "I frankly don't see what Sefu sees in you. All I see is a mean spirited narcissistic b+++! who wouldn't know a good thing if it bit her in the ass. If you really want my honest opinion, I think he should go off and find another sphinxette that'll be more appreciative of his affections."
Yousef pauses, as if he isn't sure if he should say the next thing on his mind. Then he opens his mouth.
"Oh and by the way, you look like just as much as an animal as he; so I don't see what your big problem is."
|Lavender Leaf
|Rashid al-Gahiji
Ashia growls, claws sliding smoothly from her forepaws and slicing into soft silk cusions as she tenses, fixing Yousef with a narrow eyed stare, and moves a half pace towards him...
... then smiles,
'Your animal is, at least, forthright with his opinion,' the female sphinx observes, to Haleen (and the group in general), 'there is some merit in that... if little tact...' she arches her back as she stretches, then lazily glances across the rest of the group, adding, '... although I suppose you have others to handle the tact side of things, yes?' she raises an eyebrow to Rashid, and gifts Bahram with a winning smile. Sheathing her claws and settling herself back into a more regal position, she appears deep in thought for a few moments, before once more casting her imperious gaze across the assembled group,
'So, you say Sefu is smitten and eager to please,' she begins as she glances towards Rashid, 'a noble spirit in love,' her glances briefly flickers across Lavender, 'a fool with the best of intentions,' she once more smiles at Bahram (the more observant may notice the gritting of tiny teeth from Zaina's direction...), 'a lover of animal passion,' she rolls her eyes at Haleen, 'and a better male than I deserve,' her smile towards Yousef is accompanied by her claws silently unsheathing and sheathing again... Finally she turns towards Sefu himself, 'And you... noble animal... what have you to say for yourself?'
Stepping (a little cautiously) into the centre of the room, Sefu looks up at Ashia, glances towards the travellers who have spoken so well on his behalf, then takes a deep breath. As he turns towards his lady love once more the male sphinx seems to almost grow in stature, the light and shadows cast across him adding a certain dignity to his appearance. The nerves he's obviously been wracked with appear to fade away, and it's with a clear, calm, impressive voice that he speaks,
'I am humbled that these good folk, these heroes of Kelmarane, would speak thus on my behalf,' he begins, and for once Ashia fails to interupt him, instead appearing to grant Sefu her full attention, 'and they speak the truth. For all your faults, Ashia, I do love you - fool that I am. All I ask of you is that, despite my own shortcomings, you give me a chance. We both know I'll never be your intellectual equal, but I possess knowledge of my own, of animals and nature, if not of the complex riddles and high philosophies you profess to prefer. It seems to me, in my simple way of seeing things, that exploring new forms of knowledge and learning would be more of a challenge to you than constantly proving your academic superiority over those you meet. Despite your put-downs, I can be a worthwhile companion to you, Ashia... if you're prepared to accept the challenge. You know the things I've tried in my attempts to win your acceptance, the lengths I've gone to. If there's a chance such actions will eventually lead you to me then I'm willing to continue until the end of time... but if not, then tell me now, and you have my word I'll never bother you again.'
Having said his piece, Sefu waits in silence for Ashia's judgement, a resolute expression on his ram-like face...
Quiet falls across the chamber for several long moments, Ashia seeming to contemplate Sefu and all that has been said, and Sefu steadily meeting her gaze...
Finally, Ashia nods, apparantly to herself more than to anyone else, closes her eyes for a moment, then opens them again and adresses the room,
'My judgement is this...' she glances across the group, but her gaze drifts back to Sefu, '... I shall consent to talk with Sefu, to spend some time together as...' she pauses, then sighs a little and smiles, '... as equals. We shall see where things go from there. Agreed?'
Sefu smiles back and nods,
'Agreed, Ashia,' he replies, 'that's all I ever wanted.'
'All?' Ashia raises an imperious brow; Sefu's smile widens,
'Well - that... and the possibility of more...'
Ashia rolls her eyes,
'Yes, well,' she retorts, her regal tone a little more playful than before, 'one thing at a time, my noble animal, one thing at a time...' Her gaze lingering on Sefu for just a moment longer, Ashia then turns to adress the rest of the group, 'If you'd be so kind as to leave Sefu and I alone now... we have much to discuss, it seems...'
|Yousef olan Ahmad
|Bahram Zarishu
Bahram just smiles and bows at the sphinxes and turns to leave with a "..By your leave.." as a reply to Ashia's 'request'.
Walking away with Zaina fluttering around him, absentmindedly playing with her, reaching out a hand to touch her and her ducking out of the way giggling, he can be heard muttering "And love triumphed in the end..." as he walk away.
|Rashid al-Gahiji
Assuming Lavender leaves as well...
A minute or two after the group has made their way from the Ashia's caves and onto the plateau of rock outside the entrance, Sefu hurries out after them. Beaming a wide smile, the ram-faced sphinx keeps glancing back the way he came,
'My friends!' he declares with obvious joy, 'I cannot thank you all enough for what you've done today. I know there's still a way to go with persuading Ashia to return my love, but now I have a chance where before I had none. Here, take this...' he holds forth the Osirian-style headress he was wearing earlier, '... I won't be needing it any more, but perhaps you will find a use for its magic? It disguises you - and itself - when you wear it. Just put it on an utter the Osirian word for "appearance", followed by whichever disguise you wish to assume... in Osirian, of course. I know it's not much, but it's all I have to offer, I'm afraid...'
That be one of them there Hat of Disguise thingies he be holding...
Haleen nudges Yousef,
'How do you think I'd look as a redhead?' she glances towards Lavender, then grins and adds, 'Or perhaps you'd like me with some elfish features thrown in, eh?'
Zaina tries to be reticent at Bahram's playfulness (still pouting as she is at the manner in which Ashia seemed to be favouring her... Master...) but it's not long before she fails to suppress a giggle of her own beneath her gossamer veil and her long-lashed eyes offer the elementalist a glance full of passion and promise...
Sefu quickly offers his farewells as he rushes back inside to continue his... conversation... with Ashia. A few moments later a familiar looking eagle circles the plateau once, before landing and transforming back into Keldar. Shaking himself a little, as if shaking out feathers which he no longer possesses, the dwarven druid points up the mountain and off to one side,
'I've scouted a path to the The Mountain's Maw,' he announces, 'it's located in a deep, wind-swept, fissure on an otherwise bare slope in that direction. There's seems to be a constant stream of ashen smoke issuing from the entrance, so I'm pretty sure it's the right caven. It's a bit of a climb, but we should be able to make it by nightfall.'
|Bahram Zarishu
Bahram bows and accepts the offered headdress with a wish good luck. Giving it to Yousef he mutters some encouragements to Zaina about where his heart lies before turning to look where to go next.
Meeting Keldar with a smile he listenes to his report. "Well. Sounds like we have our destination picked out for us. Are we ready to go?" he asks the group.
|Lavender Leaf
Lavender pretends to not hear Haleen, as she tries to listen in on Yousef's answer.
When Keldar reappears, Lavender gets excited. "Alright, where there's smoke there's fire! Maybe I can get this stick working soon!" She says as she pulls out the wand that Almah had given her. "I'm ready to continue, lead the way Keldar!"
|Rashid al-Gahiji
Rashid nods.
"Very well. Let's be on our way. The sooner we deal with what is within the mountain, the sooner this region will become a safer place."
Despite his apparent steadfastness, however, Rashid nonetheless mutters a brief prayer to the Dawnflower under his breath as the party gets closer to their goal.
My Lady, watch over us, as we undertake this great task...
|Yousef olan Ahmad
'How do you think I'd look as a redhead?' she glances towards Lavender, then grins and adds, 'Or perhaps you'd like me with some elfish features thrown in, eh?'
"I think I'd like that. Like it a lot." he grins, then dons the headdress as he follows Keldar. "Appearance." He then frowns when nothing happens. "What's appearance in Osirion.?
|Bahram Zarishu
|Lavender Leaf
The path Keldar has scouted is narrow and pretty tough going, but managable enough. As the group make their (careful) way across the steep mountainside towards the so-called Mountain's Maw, Haleen manages to move close to Lavender...
The group's maybe a couple of hours out from Ashia's cave (with perhaps an hour or so left, by Keldar's estimate, before they reach the smoking cavern) when the narrow path passes under an overhang of rock sixty or so feet above. The overhang casts deep shadows across a loose jumble of boulders and rocks which are scattered on and around the path, and the odd pebble or small rain of dirt falls down from above. Lying amongst the boulders is the battered and freshly bloody body of a gnoll, with a crudely fashioned arrow still sticking out of his left thigh... as the group edge closer a pained moan escapes the gnoll's gritted teeth, indicating that he is, in fact, still alive... for the moment, at least...
|Yousef olan Ahmad
|Rashid al-Gahiji
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25.
"Be careful; I do not like the look of that overhang - it might collapse at any moment..."
Rashid then moves closer to Lavender.
"Two more Gnolls, armed with bows, are up on top of the overhang; they just ducked out of sight."
He then continues on, watching with apparent interest whilst Yousef 'interrogates' the bleeding Gnoll.
*whistles innocently*
|Lavender Leaf
Perception 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Lavender whispers back to Rashid. "I saw them... Can I kill them?"
|Rashid al-Gahiji
|Bahram Zarishu
Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (13) + 0 = 13
Bahram eyes the wounded gnoll with mixed emotions. First off; There was a sentient creature in pain and Bahram, beeing kind hearted by nature, felt a need to sooth it's pain. Second; There was a wounded gnoll lying at their feet and Bahram, having experienced their cruelty first hand, wanted to but a dagger through it's eye and then toss the body over a cliff, proppelling it with a lightningbolt.
Standing back Bahram steps in front of Zaina protectively and eyes the gnoll suspiciously, barely sparing the overhang a glance.
"Will it live?" Bahram asks Rashid, the healer.
|Rashid al-Gahiji
'What makes you think you could steal him away, even if you wanted to?' she asks in a pleasant whisper, then laughs and adds, 'although if you do I may have to make that thing between you and a gnoll happen...' she grins again, before returning to Yousef's side...
The gnoll's eyes widen a little as Yousef addresses him and Rashid moves closer, but the wounded hyena-man seems too far gone for true shock or panic...
Shifting his position as best he can (which is a pitifully small amount) the fallen gnoll looks towards Yousef and, in a thin and ragged voice, does his best to reply...


text:
Prep hoops roundup: Cadets rally to beat Noles
From staff reports
WOODSFIELD – In a key Pioneer Valley Conference matchup, the Fort Frye Cadets downed Monroe Central 57-48 Friday night.
On a night where Fort Frye's top two scoring threats, Shon Smith and Seth Lagraen, were relatively held in check, it was junior Chandler Lang who came up big for the Cadets with 20 points.
Joining Lang in double figures was Jordan Anderson with 12 points and Smith with 11.
The Seminoles were led by Cameron Jorris' 13 markers. Josh Guiler added 11 and Lexi Brown contributed nine.
With Fort Frye up by one at the half, Monroe Central used a 15-9 run in the third quarter to take a five-point lead going into the final eight minutes.
From there, the Cadets took over, scoring 22 points in the final quarter and holding Monroe Central to just eight.
The victory upped Fort Frye's record to 11-5, while the 'Noles fell to 11-6.
Waterford 55,
Federal Hocking 53
STEWART – The Waterford Wildcats snapped an eight-game losing streak by squeaking past TVC-Hocking-leader Federal Hocking 55-53 Friday night.
Waterford's last victory came almost a month-and-a-half ago on Dec. 18 against Wood County Christian. That night, Austin Shriver scored a game-high 18 points en route to leading the Wildcats to a 53-47 victory.
Against the Lancers Friday, it was Brian Moore who topped everyone with 18 markers and a trio of 3-point goals.
Cody Paxton added 14 points while Shriver contributed 12.
Shriver also posted a game-high six rebounds, while Wyatt Porter came away with five boards.
Federal Hocking was led by Terrance Mayle's 16 points. Shawn Parsons was the only other Lancer to hit double-digits with 12.
Waterford trailed 17-11 after one quarter but used a 16-8 run in the second quarter to go up by two at halftime. The Wildcats maintained a close lead throughout and were able to hold on for the victory.
Waterford improved to 5-9 with the win and will look to make it two in a row Saturday night against Fort Frye.
Fed Hock fell to 13-5 with the loss.
Dover 55, Marietta 29
DOVER – Dover wasted little time in putting this one away, rolling to a 55-29 win over visiting Marietta in an East Central Ohio League game Friday night.
The Tornadoes, who improve to 7-4 in league play and 13-4 overall, led 18-9 after one quarter and outscored the Tigers 18-7 in the second quarter to build a 36-16 halftime lead.
Mason Mamarella hit four 3-point baskets and scored 23 points to lead the Tornadoes.
Michael Donizetti added 10 points.
Dover made 20 of 42 shots from the floor and 8 of 13 free throws. The winners had 21 rebounds and just eight turnovers.
Marietta hit 10 of 32 field goals, 4 of 5 free throws.
The Tigers turned the ball over 16 times. Corey Hill was the only Tiger in double figures with 10 points.
Marietta, now 2-8 in the ECOL and 7-11 overall, plays again next Friday when it hosts River View.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
My Bride is a Mermaid
Cops vs. Thugs
Episode 17 | TV-14
Akeno isn't just causing problems with mermaids; the entire school is in chaos thanks to her growing reputation as a troublemaker. Mawari might be the only one who can bring peace back to the halls.
Sub Expires: 09-20-2013
Official Site: www.funimation.com/shows/my-bride-is-a-mermaidHide Details


text:
Lake Geneva native named pastor
Fleischmann was recently profiled in the Austin Daily Herald newspaper HERE.
He had been an assistant grocery store manager, when he decided he wanted more from his life. A pastor he knew encouraged him to join the seminary, which set Fleischmann on a new course.
The congregations are part of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
Post continued HERE


text:
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/231775
- Title
- Surface/interface analysis of a nitrogen implanted austenitic stainless steel
- Author(s)
- Shedden, B. A.; Samandi, M.; Collins, G. A.
- Abstract
- Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation (PI3) is a recently developed Australian process that was originally perceived as an alternative non-line-of-sight ion implantation technique. In this work, several surface analytical systems were utilised to investigate the resultant microstructure of AISI 316 austenitic stainless steel treated by PI3 at a range of temperatures, and from this to gain insight into the underlying surface modification mechanism of PI3. Glancing angle X-ray diffraction (GAXD) provided surface sensitive microstructural information, while glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (GDOES) was used to determine elemental depth distributions. It has been established that PI3 is capable of producing surface structures unattainable in any other nitriding system, be it plasma nitriding or conventional nitrogen implantation.
- Publication type
- Conference paper
- Source
- Materials Science Forum: incorporating the proceedings of 'Interfaces II', the 2nd International Conference on the Role of Interfaces in Advanced Materials Design, Processing and Performance, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, 01-05 November 1993 / B. C. Muddle (ed.), Vol. 189-190, pp. 435-440
- Publication year
- 1995
- Keyword(s)
- Elemental depth distribution; Emission spectroscopy; Glancing angle x ray diffraction; Glow discharge optical emission spectrometry; Ion implantation; Materials interfaces; Microstructure; Nitriding; Nitrogen implanted austenitic stainless steel; Plasma applications; Plasma immersion ion implantation; Stainless steel; Surface structure; Surface treatment; Surface interface analysis; Surfaces; X-ray diffraction
- Publisher
- Trans Tech Publications
- 0255-5476 (series ISSN)
- Publisher URL
- Copyright
- Copyright © 1995 Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland.
- Peer reviewed


text:
With the Olympic torch set to arrive at the opening ceremony on Friday night to officially begin the Rio Games, take a look at some of the famous names who have carried the torch over the years.
Boxing legend Muhammad Ali, a gold medal winner at the 1960 Summer Olympics when his name was Cassius Clay, holds up the Olympic torch prior to lighting a device that would carry the flame up the cauldron during the opening ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta on July 19, 1996.
Alex Ovechkin, captain of the NHL's Washington Capitals and a member of the Russian ice hockey team, carries the Olympic torch as it begins its journey from Greece to Sochi, Russia, on Sept. 29, 2013. The torch was lit in ancient Olympia and then headed off on the longest torch relay for any Winter Games, including a trip to space.
"Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "X-Men" star Patrick Stewart carries the Olympic torch in Croydon, South London, in July 2012 ahead of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
"Harry Potter" star Rupert Grint carries the Olympic torch for a leg through northwest London on July 25, 2012.
Former world heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis lights the cauldron at the end of Day 65 of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay on July 22, 2012 in London, England.
Bear Grylls carries the torch across the River Tyne on a zip line in June 2012.
Scottish actor James McAvoy runs down Buchanan Street carrying the Olympic Torch during the leg between Stranrear and Glasgow on June 8, 2012, in Glasgow, Scotland.
Zara Phillips, the second-eldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II, holds the Olympic torch while riding through Cheltenham Racecourse in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, on May 23, 2012.
Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas keeps his Twitter followers up to date as he runs the torch through a portion of London on May 21, 2012.
"Doctor Who" star Matt Smith runs the torch around Cardiff Bay in Wales as part of the relay in May 2012.
Canadian wheelchair athlete Rick Hansen, Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, former Canadian speed skater Catriona LeMay Doan, NBA basketball player Steve Nash and former Canadian Alpine skier Nancy Greene hold up their torches during the opening ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics on Feb. 12, 2010.
Then California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger lights the Olympic flame from a runner as he prepares to run with the torch during the Olympic torch relay ahead of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics on Feb. 12, 2010, in Vancouver, Canada.
Torchbearer and NBA star Yao Ming holds the torch as he runs through the Tiananmen Gate during the 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay in Beijing on Aug. 6, 2008.
New York Yankees manager Joe Torre carries the Olympic Flame during the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Torch Relay in Brooklyn, New York, on Dec. 23, 2001.
Hong Kong movie star Jackie Chan carries the Olympic Torch during the Olympic Torch Relay on May 4, 2008, in Sanya of Hainan province, China.
Torchbearer Donald Trump carries the Olympic flame during day 15 of the Athens 2004 Olympic torch relay on June 19, 2004, in New York City.
Sean "P. Diddy" Combs runs with the Olympic torch through the New York borough of Brooklyn on June 19, 2004.
Former world heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield carries the Olympic torch on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Atlanta, Ga., on June 18, 2004.
Tom Cruise takes part in the global Olympic Torch Relay as he runs in through Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on June 16, 2004.
Actor Sylvester Stallone carries the Olympic torch on Venice Beach in Los Angeles on June 16, 2004.
Brazilian soccer legend Pele holds the the Olympic torch inside the world's largest soccer stadium, Rio de Janeiro's Maracana, on June 13, 2004.
Actor Chris O'Donnell carries the Olympic torch during the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Torch Relay in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 16, 2002.
NBA great Earvin "Magic" Johnson carries the Olympic torch during the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Torch Relay in Los Angeles on Jan. 15, 2002.
Actor Martin Sheen carries the Olympic torch during the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Torch Relay in Los Angeles on Jan. 15, 2002.
Legendary singer Aretha Franklin carries the Olympic torch during the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Torch Relay in Detroit, Mich., on Jan. 6, 2002.
Lance Armstrong carries the Olympic torch on a bicycle during the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Torch Relay in Austin, Texas, on Dec. 11, 2001.
Tennis superstar Serena Williams (right) passes the Olympic Flame to her sister Venus Williams during their turn as torchbearers in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., on Dec. 8, 2001.
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text:
China has been shutting down internet and social media sties that have been fuelling rumors of a military coup, ITV's Angus Walker reports from Beijing.
China's government shut down some social media websites this week after photos of tanks on the streets were posted online. The images sparked false rumors of a coup.
ITV News' Angus Walker reports from Beijing.
Check out more China coverage on msnbc.com's Behind The Wall blog.
More from msnbc.com and NBC News:
- 'Martyr for Greece': Retiree's suicide sparks violent protests
- With $10 million bounty on his head, militant openly taunts US
- Reports: 23-year-old with $315K bar bill held in trading probe
- Better luck next year? Scotland's pandas fail to mate
- 'I've got snakes on a plane': Pilot makes emergency landing
- PhotoBlog: Wife held at knifepoint for 6 hours
Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world


text:
Nice and clean dark theme for application developers or mobile sites. The Site template includes jQuery behaviors for example in Navigation, Slideshow, Show/Hide Posts and Portfolio. Give it a try and test the template from your iPhone!
This has been made thinking in Wordpress, so the markup it's very easy to implement into a wordpress theme.
The code of the markup has been made well nested and clean, easy to understand. I invite
The .psd files are layered, well organized in Group Folders, so it's easy to change, add or delete sections in the layout.


text:
Deeplinks Blog posts about Copyright Trolls
The below originally appeared in the Daily Journal.
For several weeks EFF and co-counsel Fenwick & West have been trying to persuade a federal district court to unseal a critical document Stephens Media produced in Righthaven v. Democratic Underground. The document, the Strategic Alliance Agreement between Righthaven and Stephens Media (publisher of the Las Vegas Review-Journal), and our accompanying supplemental brief were unsealed on Friday.
Judicial decisions are starting to come fast and furious in the movie copyright troll cases – and the trend is mixed but promising for those of us who care about protecting due process.
The good news is that judges continue to recognize the fundamental flaws in these cases. In the Northern District of Illinois, for example, Judge Blanche Manning recently severed Millennium v. Does 1-800, effectively dismissing the case against almost every Doe defendant. The court also suggested that the suit had been brought in the wrong place:
UPDATE: The Court in OpenMind Solutions v. Does 1 – 2925 heard oral argument on April 11, 2011. At the end of the hearing — during which the judge expressed some initial concerns with OpenMind's attempt to lump the defendants into a class action — the judge requested that OpenMind and EFF submit briefs on the merits of the class action lawsuit. Those briefs will be due in two weeks; we will then wait for a ruling from the Court. In the meantime (as reported below), discovery remains stayed.
Last Friday, a judge in the Nevada federal district court patiently explained why fair use disposes of Righthaven's copyright claim arising from the republication of an entire news article by a nonprofit organization. The hearing was in one of the now-250 Righthaven copyright cases. A written order, which will help set a persuasive precedent for other copyright troll cases, will be issued later.
The hearing was in Righthaven v. Center for Intercultural Organizing. Righthaven sued CIO, an Oregon non-profit organization promoting immigrant rights, alleging copyright infringement of a Las Vegas Review-Journal article. Righthaven did not create the news article, but claims the right to sue based on an assignment from the LVRJ.
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text:
Hello ladies,
I am a new mom to Baby Sophia 7 months old. We are exclusively bf and I am considering weaning somewhere around 9 months. Just Monday I noticed a slight clear mucus dripping from her nose and random sneezing. I am so upset and disappointed! I currently make all her solids ex: freshly juiced apples and orange also puree carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach for solids... I would like to continue bf Thur the flu season, any suggestions on the drippy nose? Also her Doc suggested Soy milk after the nine months does anyone suggest a brand and can children go with out milk?? I would hate to do all this hard work and then jump into "cows milk"!!
Natasha &
Baby Sophia


text:
CARDINGTON, Ohio — As the first notes of organ music settled over the congregation, its members rose to sing as they have on countless other Sunday mornings.
Instead of wooden pews, now they rise from thinly padded aluminum folding chairs. Instead of cushioned wooden kneelers, now only the cold, tile-covered concrete floor supports them when they kneel to pray.
Undeterred, about 100 members of Sacred Hearts Parish, the only Roman Catholic church in Morrow County, gathered yesterday for early Mass — to pray for their families and friends and celebrate the spirit of Christmas.
Fellowship, community, family: Those are what make a church, they say, not a building.
And they would know.
Sacred Hearts' nearly 40-year-old church burned to the ground on Thanksgiving Day.
Now, the congregation meets in the cafeteria of the Cardington-Lincoln Intermediate School, about 40 miles north of Columbus. A lack of students closed the school building two years ago, and the district superintendent offered to lease it to the church as its temporary home.
Already there is talk of choosing architects, hiring contractors and rebuilding their church. But just days before Christmas there's also the counting of blessings and reflecting on faith.
"There's a lot of things we're blessed with," said Jim Bush, 71, who has attended the church since he was 10 years old. "We could hold Mass in a pasture if we had to."
Bush and his son, Andrew, both agree that the fire was somehow part of God's greater plan for the congregation. One too big for them to see, but still something they want to take part in.
It's an attitude that many congregants share, and one shared with members of another nearby church that was recently displaced by fire.
Gethsemane Baptist Church, near Marengo, about 10 miles from where Sacred Hearts once stood, burned on Dec. 10.
The cause has not been determined for either fire, though investigators from the state fire marshal's office have said no sign of criminal activity was discovered in either blaze.
Bryan Miller, an elder at Gethsemane, said the outpouring from the community after their fire has been humbling.
Church members gathered for their first Sunday service yesterday in their new temporary home at a nearby church camp and retreat center.
Miller said his congregation also has faith that they are being led where they need to go next.
"We hold on to the promise that God will use this for his good will and his plan," he said.
Instead of a Christmas service, Miller said the church's pastor, Donnie Hale, has encouraged members to visit other churches during their holiday ceremonies to share the spirit of fellowship they were shown in the aftermath of the fire.
Even as firefighters were battling the blaze, three local pastors arrived at the church to offer their help, Hale said.
The church still is navigating the insurance process, he said, and is at "whatever comes before the beginning" of building a new church. But he is looking forward to making a new home, however temporary, at the church camp.
The Rev. John Bakle, who leads Sacred Hearts Parish, said the congregation was lucky to find a home like the school so quickly. They will host three Christmas Masses there this week: two on Christmas Eve and one on Christmas Day.
He officiated a baptism there yesterday, which in a way signifies the church's resilience by adding its newest member, he said.
While avoiding cliches, Bakle agreed with his parishioners that the fire was just another chapter in the church's long history.
"You never say a negative thing, or a disaster, is God's will," Bakle said. "He permits these things to happen to guide us in a new direction … because he wants us to do something better."


text:
Their purpose was to demonstrate their new, half-million dollar pavement milling machine to city and county street maintenance crews.
The city's director of public works, Albert Bridge, said he had been contacted by the company and asked if he could arrange a demonstration. So Bridge suggested that the company use Cook Road for the event. The pavement on the stretch of Cook Road from the entrance of the Beeville Animal Shelter to South Tyler Street needed to be resurfaced.
First thing that Tuesday morning, the company's owner, Jim Anderson, and a crew unloaded the brand new machine and got it ready to use for the first-ever test drive.
Anderson's territory manager, Richard Stacener, said the company realizes that most cities and counties in South Texas cannot afford or justify the purchase of a $500,000 machine. But with the wear and tear on city streets and county roads these days caused by heavy trucks working in the Eagle Ford Shale oil fields, local governments need milling machines to make repairs.
"We offer this machine to lease," he said. "It's made in Germany," Stacener added, saying it is smaller and easier to operate than some of the monster milling machines used by the big street contracting companies.
Because cities and counties cannot afford to hire the big contractors to do the work, Anderson's leasing program will give the local street maintenance crews a chance to do that kind of work themselves.
"The guy running that machine has never operated one before," Anderson said as one of his employees took the controls.
Anderson employee John Hood was the first one to crank up the BOMAG and start eating pavement. Bridge asked him to grind about an inch and a half from the pavement.
At first, the machine was biting into the caliche base, so Hood raised the grinding bits some.
Stracener said the benefit of leasing the machine is that a street can be milled and resurfaced, sometimes all in the same day. He predicted that the machine could have the stretch of Cook Road ripped up in three to four hours.
Bridge already had the replacement paving material stacked up near the street. He said the milled pavement could be used again later.
Bridge said that, because there was some caliche in the ground-up pavement, it would be perfect to use on driveways and smaller areas that do not get a lot of heavy traffic.
The superintendent said he would offer most of the material to the county's road and bridge department, because those crews are often doing work on areas where rural driveways connect to county roads.
"We really could've used that machine on Adams Street," Bridge said. Increased traffic on North Adams created by the opening of the Walmart Supercenter complex prompted the city to spend substantial funds upgrading the pavement on North Adams.
But a project like that would have to be timed to take place while school is out for the summer. To try repaving that street now that school has started would create too much disruption, Bridge said.
He did not know when and if the city would request the funds to lease the milling machine. He planned to present a report to the City Council on the machine later.
The superintendent said it would be a good idea for the city and county to come up with a list of projects for a machine like that and pay the lease cost together.
Gary Kent is a reporter at the Bee-Picayune and can be reached at 358-2550, ext. 120, or at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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How do you pay a $137 traffic ticket in style? One man did it with 137 dollar bills folded into origami pigs.
The man, who goes by the YouTube moniker "Bacon Moose, posted a video to YouTube on Tuesday showing him bringing the intricately-folded swine into municipal court in two Dunkin Donuts boxes.
"I got this ticket in a town where the cops (and absurd redlight cameras) are pretty much a money trap and that's it," he explained in the video description. "I decided to pay in an appropriate manner."
The cashier is not impressed and refuses to take the folded money unless Bacon Moose unfolds it himself, The Huffington Post reported.
After some awkward back-and-forth, a police officer makes him unfold all the bills.
"That's pretty cool and that took a lot of time. Little piggies in a donut box. I got it, I got it," the officer later says as he snaps a picture of the boxes with his phone.
Bacon Moose said it took six hours to create the 137 origami pigs.


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Miami's Johnson needs to step it upAP PHOTO
Miamis Duke Johnson (8) is tackled by Wake Forests Kevin Johnson in the second half of Miamis 24-21 victory last Saturday in Miami Gardens, Fla.
CORAL GABLES, FLA. Duke Johnsons favorite item of personal adornment: he wears a gold pendant around his neck with a Miami Hurricanes U logo and an 8-ball, representing his favorite number.
In pool, he explained, the 8-ball is the last man standing.
If the Hurricanes are to be the only unbeaten team left standing in Tallahassee on Saturday, Johnson will have to do what he has yet to do in his short, often-spectacular time at Miami.
While Johnson is one of the nations brightest young talents, he has not shined against the toughest teams on Miamis schedule.
In four games against ranked opponents Notre Dame, Kansas State and Florida State last year and Florida this year Johnson has gained 144 yards and one touchdown, averaging 2.9 yards per carry. In 15 games against unranked teams, he has 1,643 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 7.8 yards per carry.
Saturday at No.3 Florida State (7-0, 5-0 ACC), Miami will face what coach Al Golden said may be the best team he has faced in his three seasons here. The No. 7 Hurricanes (7-0, 3-0) are a 22-point underdog, according to Las Vegas oddsmakers.
If Miami has a chance in this game, it will be because it controls the ball and forces turnovers, but success in either venture is no guarantee.
FSU has given away the ball six times, the second-lowest total in the nation. And Miami (214.7 rushing yards per game) has put up more than rushing 200 yards against Florida State just twice in the last 25 years.
Last season, the Seminoles held Johnson (27 yards) and Mike James (25) to nearly nothing. UMs longest carry went for 9 yards.
And the Noles defense is even better this year.
FSU is first in the nation in passing yards allowed (153.7) and fifth in pass efficiency allowed (97.3), and isnt shabby against the run, allowing 135.7 yards per game, which is 29th in the nation.
Though three opponents have had a 100-yard rusher against FSU, those yards have largely come against FSUs second-string units. In its last three games, the Seminoles first-team defense has allowed a single touchdown, to Clemson.
Theyre like, elite athletes, Miami offensive line coach Art Kehoe said. Theyre just a really, really driven team as far as conditioning and speed and getting to the football.
Theyre all good. And were going to have to play our best game.
The onus is on Johnson, running mate Dallas Crawford and Miamis solid offensive line to do the same.
Despite missing approximately seven quarters of football in seven games, Johnson ranks 12th in the nation in yards per game (117.6) and is averaging 6.8 yards per carry on 17.4 carries per game. He was named ACC offensive back of the week after last weeks 168-yard, two-touchdown performance against Wake Forest. That came on a career-high 30 carries, a load Johnson said hes ready to bear again.
This time last year, I was banged up a lot, he said. (I had) ankle injuries and toe injuries, to where I couldnt provide my best for the team. Now Im bigger and stronger than I was last year, so I can take the pounding.
Stopping Johnson, Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said, is predicated on stopping him behind the line of scrimmage. He has the pieces to play that style, like thick tackles Timmy Jernigan and Jacobbi McDaniel and a stable of rangy linebackers.
Youve got to be physical, Fisher said. Well have to man up, theres no doubt.
Miamis run game has come alive when it counts. In the fourth quarter of each of the last two games, the Hurricanes have gone to the ground almost exclusively, producing a pair of touchdown-scoring drives in each game. That has helped Miami stay undefeated despite a quarterback, Stephen Morris, who is struggling with inconsistency and an long-term ankle injury.
Against North Carolina, Crawford had 137 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries. Against Wake Forest, Golden said his experienced offensive line asked to pound the ball. Johnson said that helped boost him.
When my O-line is ready to run, Johnson said, that gets me excited. Knowing thats what they want, so theyre going to put their all in and make (things) happen.
If they dont do that Saturday night, Miami could be behind the 8-ball.
Matt Porter writes for The Palm Beach Post. E-mail: matt(underscore)porter(at)pbpost.com.
Story Filed By Cox Newspapers
For Use By Clients of the New York Times News Service
By The Associated Press
No. 7 Miami (7-0, 3-0 ACC) at No. 3 Florida State (7-0, 5-0), 8 p.m. EDT (ABC)
Line: Florida State by 22.
Series record: Miami 31-26.
Championship aspirations. The Seminoles have been dominant in 2013 and are No. 3 in the BCS rankings. The Cardiac Canes needed some late-game heroics to get past North Carolina and Wake Forest, but they remain one of eight undefeated teams in major college football. Oh, and theres a little pride on the line between the intra-state rivals with friends on both sides and recruits watching closely.
The Hurricanes have to establish the run to have a chance against the No. 4 scoring defense in the FBS. Boston College ran for 200 yards on 45 carries against Florida State. The Eagles have been the only team to establish the run against the Seminoles and the only team to stay within 14 points. RB Duke Johnson is the focal point of the Miami offense with 117.6 yards rushing per game and six touchdowns. The Florida State run defense ranks No. 29 in nation, allowing 135.7 yards per game. Miami would love to control the clock and keep the Florida State offense on the sideline.
Miami: QB Stephen Morris cannot turn over the ball against the No. 1 pass defense in the country (153.7 yards per game). The Hurricanes want to establish Johnson, but Morris has to hold his own. He has the fourth-most career passing yards (6,329) in school history, but a 10-to-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio in 2013.
Florida State: NG Timmy Jerningan wont fill the box score with numbers, but hes the key to controlling the line of scrimmage. The 6-foot-2, 296-pounder plugs gaps and demands a double-team that allows linebackers Terrance Smith and Telvin Smith to chase ball carriers.
Miamis No. 7 ranking is its highest since 2005. ... The Hurricanes needed a touchdown inside the final minute of the last two games to secure victories. ... Miami leads the nation with a 29.6 kickoff return average. ... The Seminoles have scored touchdowns on 54.2 percent of their drives, second-best in the country. ... Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston has thrown 23 touchdowns and four interceptions.MORE IN Sports WireOXON HILL, Md. Wade Davis already had closed out a World Series. Full StoryBOSTON New Boston Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale said he isnt worried that he might not be the ace... Full StoryNORMAN, Okla. Full Story
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When Kayla Beattie stepped to the start line at the Pac-12 Championships cross country meet in Colorado last week, she had a confident thought.
"I knew it was going to be a good day for the Wildcats," said Beattie, a Woodstock graduate.
Beattie, a sophomore for the University of Arizona's Wildcats, already knew that her sister Elise's team, the University of New Hampshire Wildcats, had won the America East Conference title earlier in the day.
Kayla Beattie followed through by finishing fifth in the 6-kilometer race in 21:20 to lead Arizona – ranked No. 1 in the nation – to its first conference title in school history.
"It was definitely an exciting weekend for us," Kayla Beattie said.
At the America East race at Binghamton (N.Y.) University, Elise Beattie, a senior who also graduated from Woodstock, placed 11th in 18:09.65 for UNH, which won the 5K conference title race after finishing second for the past three years.
"We knew we had a decent chance of winning, but all the pieces had to go together," Elise Beattie said.
UNH had its top five runners finish between sixth and 12th place.
"I was glad to be able to push my teammates and have my teammates push me," Elise Beattie said.
In her first season at Arizona after transferring from Iowa, Kayla Beattie finished in the top seven in every meet and won two individual titles this fall.
"I'm happy," said Beattie, who battled illness during her three semesters at Iowa. "When you're happy, you perform your best. I feel really good, for the first time in two years."
Kayla Beattie said she has been diagnosed with "a couple of [gastrointestinal] conditions," including Celiac disease, an immune reaction to eating gluten.
"It's a disease, but it can be fixed," she said. "I eat a lot of natural, organic foods. I pack a lot of my own snacks and we call ahead to restaurants (on the road). The coaches have been great about it."
Elise Beattie has dealt with her own challenge the past two semesters. As a nursing major, she has had clinical rotations at a hospital off campus as part of her coursework since last winter.
"You're off campus and you're on your feet a lot," she said. "But this semester hasn't been too bad for me."
The sisters have at least one more race remaining. Arizona will compete in the NCAA West Regional Nov. 15 in Sacramento, Calif., and New Hampshire races the same day at the Northeast Regional in New York City.
D-III website honors PR grad: Dubuque University senior quarterback Bryan Bradshaw was named to D3Football.com's Team of the Week on Tuesday after passing for a school- and Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference-record 500 yards and four touchdowns in a 50-46 loss Nov. 2 to Simpson.
Bradshaw, a Prairie Ridge grad, was 27 for 39 passing and finished with 513 yards of total offense. He threw TDs of 3, 13, 13 and 31 yards with no interceptions for the Spartans (4-4).
For the season, Bradshaw leads the conference in passing yards a game (301.2) and passing TDs (24).
Horizon hotshot: Wisconsin-Milwaukee freshman women's soccer goalkeeper Paige Lincicum (Cary-Grove) was named Monday as the Horizon League's Defensive Player of the Week.
Lincicum made five saves Nov. 1 in a 1-0 victory against Oakland that clinched the regular-season conference title for the Panthers (8-8-1), who have won 14 league titles in a row. The victory against Oakland was Lincicum's third shutout of the season.
Iowa soccer standout: Cary-Grove grad Tommy Breen, a sophomore goalkeeper at Luther College, was named Monday as the Iowa Conference men's soccer Defensive Player of the Week while helping the team to a share of the league title.
In 1-0 victories last week against Wartburg and Central, Breen made a combined 10 saves. Against Central, he stopped two penalty shots.
He has compiled five shutouts this season for the Norse (14-6) and a 0.81 goals-against average.
Top Colonel: Marian Central grad Dena Ott, a junior libero for D-I Eastern Kentucky's volleyball team, won the Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week award on Monday.
Ott had 50 combined digs in wins last week against Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech. Ott led all players with 26 digs against JSU and 24 against TTU.
Ott ranks third in the OVC this season with 4.77 digs per set for EKU (15-13).
Petty paces Stars: Kelly Petty, a senior forward for D-III Dominican University's women's soccer team, was chosen for the All-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference second team this month.
A Marian Central grad, Petty led the Stars (3-12-1) with 11 goals, four assists and 26 points this season. Her 38 career goals is the third-highest total in school history.
• Barry Bottino writes a weekly column and a blog about local college athletes for the Northwest Herald. Write to him at email@example.com, check out his On Campus blog at McHenryCountySports.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryOnCampus.


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The three IPL programs: Internships, Prior Learning Assessment, and Service-Learning demonstrate the commitment of UIS to the principle that learning is active and can be acquired in a variety of settings.
Internships and Prior Learning Services
IPL consists of 3 programs: Internships, Prior Learning Assessment, and Service-Learning. All 3 of these programs allow you to earn ECCE Engagement credits and/or fulfill degree program requirements.
- Internship Services enables students to obtain real-world experience in their area of study. Students earn credit by completing the Internship Course concurrently with a field experience: either an internship or a project.
- Prior Learning Assessment gives students an opportunity to earn credit for past college-level learning. Students earn credit by completing an online course and developing a portfolio about their experiences.
- Service-Learning courses allow students to engage with the community and develop an understanding of civic responsibility by providing community service to non-profit agencies as part of their coursework. This program also currently sponsors the Social Responsibility and Leadership Development Minor, which complements any UIS major.


text: Power, best quality and safety - this is why craftsmen all over the world trust in Metabo. Get more information about us and our company philosophy. Come with us and have a look at the biggest and hardest construction sites of the world and fling a look behind the sceneries of product design at Metabo.


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Aloha Cottage 20RP
Port Aransas, TX 78373, USA – Show map
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Free! Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).
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#46426 - 11/01/01 09:28 AM Gesundheit: Or the Joy of Football
Registered: 03/22/00
Posts: 1981
A discussion retreived from another place:
>doesn't it figure that Paterno would tie the record by beating my Northwestern, and then beak it by beating your OSU? I do love and admire JoeP, but did he have to do it *that way?
I don't even know what sport we're talking about here, but what does beaking it mean?
Bingley, the sport is football. Joe Paterno is the 70-something head coach of the Penn State team, and with a victory over Ohio State last Saturday, he broke the all-time record for wins. "Beak" is a typo for "break."
Oh dear, and beak it sounded so evocative of something or other, too. I thought it might be when one of the players hurls himself face down on the ball in American football to score a try? a goal? whatever they do score in American football anyway.
I think that you are thinking of a "touchdown," Bingley.
When a team carries the ball (or catches it and retains possession in) the opponent's endzone, the team scores a touchdown, which is worth 6 points.
Other ways to score in football:
Point after touchdown: Upon scoring a touchdown, a team has an opportunity to kick the ball through the upright goalposts. If it does so, it gets another point.
Two-point conversion: Upon scoring a touchdown, a team may, instead of kicking the point after, attempt in a single play to again penetrate the endzone with the ball. If it does so, it gets two more points.
Field goal: a team may, when it has possession of the ball during regular play, attempt to kick the ball through the goalposts. If it does so, it gets three points.
Safety: if a team traps the other team in its own endzone with the ball, the trapping team scores two points.
For more football terms, and more precise definitions, see
quiz, Sparteye (to which I'm not certain my answer is correct): is it possible for a football game to end with a score of 1-0, and if so, how?
>a score of 1-0
And would you read that as "one nil"?
Apparently the Canadian Football League (CFL) has slightly different rules about numbers of downs and scoring which some say make the game more exciting than the American version. I'm not much into football so I'm not sure, but my national pride urged me to post this bit of info anyway. The very little football I have watched was CFL football, during the Grey Cup (our finals, equivalent to the US Superbowl but played a good two months earlier, and often in the snow). Any Canadian football fans on the board want to expand on that? (Rouspeteur/BelM/plutarch?)
Funny you should mention that, Kieva, since I amost remarked in my prior post that a score of "one" is the only mathematically impossible score in football.
And we would pronounce that score "one-zero" or "one-oh" or "one-nothing," Bingley, but never "one-nil."
The major differences between American and Canadian (ha! go ahead, everybody, fight about that terminology!) are: (1) the dimensions of the playing field, the Canadian field being larger; (2) the number of players, 11 in American, 12 in Canadian; (3) three downs to advance 10 yards in Canadian, but four downs in American; (4) in Canadian, a team can score one point for a rouge, awarded to a kicking or punting team if an opposing player is trapped in the end zone on a return play.
For more details, see http://www.cuug.ab.ca/~leblancj/stampeders/compare.html
Sorry, didn't get time to add in all the poster's names but you are sure to know who you are.
#46427 - 11/01/01 01:04 PM Re: Gesundheit: Or the Joy of Football
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 04/03/00
Posts: 10538
Loc: this too shall pass
may one inquire as to what prompted this summary and from whence it came?
#46428 - 11/01/01 03:54 PM Re: Gesundheit: Or the Joy of Football
Registered: 01/05/01
Posts: 1773
I think that it is Jo's attempt to move the sorta-a-sports-subthread out of Info & Announcements and into the unofficially designated repository for delinquent threads.
#46429 - 11/01/01 06:24 PM Re: Gesundheit: Or the Joy of Football
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 06/11/01
Posts: 2636
Loc: Caribbean
I would say that that is a fairly accurate summation.
#46430 - 11/02/01 01:55 AM Re: Gesundheit: Or the Joy of Football
Registered: 03/22/00
Posts: 1981
tee hee
#46431 - 11/02/01 01:13 PM Re: Gesundheit:
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 01/18/01
Posts: 13858
Or why is a virgin like a sneeze?
#46432 - 11/02/01 01:41 PM Re: Gesundheit: Or the Joy of Football
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 04/03/00
Posts: 10538
Loc: this too shall pass
>I would say that that is a fairly accurate summation.
have we talked about that "that that" construction then? I would say the first that is an unnecessary that, that.
#46433 - 11/02/01 02:10 PM Re: Gesundheit:
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 12/01/00
Posts: 13803
why is a virgin like a sneeze?
Because he...No I won't go there.
Say, ?Gute Nacht?, Dr. Bill
#46434 - 11/02/01 02:30 PM Re: Gesundheit:
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 01/18/01
Posts: 13858
Hey, Faldage, who gave you the idea that a virgin is male?
And, you err. The answer is not "Gute Nacht" but "Gesundheit!" And why would you not want to go "there"? What's a little dyspareunia between friends?
#46435 - 11/02/01 02:43 PM Re: Gesundheit:
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 12/01/00
Posts: 13803
So what, you think a virgin can't be male?
I think it's funnier my way.
An don' be givin' me no dyspareunia.
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