Lost to the Fog – Rough Draft Beginning

From a small fishing village, nightmares had infested the land leaving many to find the peace that could be gathered and in it choking the trade of the lands while the people on it had each had to find their own way to survive. On a village over the water of the coastline Orestes had been thrown into the life of difficulty after going after his father, and in it find the orb that would lead to the Galar bangle, some odd piece of jewelry that would not come off no matter the attempt. When the merchant ships had come to trade with the village on the water the bangle had him marked for trouble. Soon, it was sent via from the far away land of the Barbosa empire that the young man would have to come to the land far to the east and had to do so in the lands of the poisonous mist.

The compound had not been as welcoming as they had hoped when they reached the large the sprawling double thick wooden walls. Where many people had been shocked at the cleansing of the area in Poptera Castle. Blight could not removed from the shrine, but it did provide an area that it was pulled from the land making those locked in the castle for the generations to be let free to a whole new world. Coming down, there was another on his quest with the creature known as Vayu. Fornax had made itself more apparent while still leaving room for suspicion to grow. After the castle had been cleared there was only a couple of days where they could stay before being ferried off finding that where the curse had been not killed but pulled from one area and doubled in another making it that much more problematic until they could navigate to the issue dodging the venomous bigger brothers of the creatures Orestes had dealt with alone.

Instead of being welcomed for their work their had been some bad words leading to the pair being the target of suspicion, but it was a rare chance that anything could be done against the choke. Realizing the depth of their troubles it was clear that the two people tossed in the mist had been in for much longer then what they originally expected coming only after several days when the travel was two at most last when the party looked. Leaving many to suffer was not an option and despite them coming through the loss of many landmarks and the attacks of vile creatures the welcome had been colder then expected where the people within tried to keep the pair out for the safety of the group above the pair trying to help and now it was simple.

Due to the pair of shrines they would need two teams and would need to be split up so they could make it back through the forests chock full of the beasts they had tried to avoid, and while each team looked to be a full quartet, that did not provide anyone any comfort. For the Compound defenders had questions of the pair, the young Men Turga and Zoran were trying to make sure the compound would be put above all else and that meant even at the cost of the pair that had come to help.

Which lead to where they currently sat, the night before they attempted this plan, and Orestes could sense the eyes of many. He had hated feeling like a prisoner and while the castle had been very open to them, the fact that their had to be a second guard found to head to the restroom. No time would be allowed without at minimum one and more likely two people making sure they could not talk with others except for the other and they would have to do so after letting both guards at the helm of their rooms know.

Reina did not feel comfortable either, where the guards at the castle had been stuffy but understanding the people here were mean. When the pair tried to figure out what was going on and compare notes of what they had found a guard had been placed on the inside of the door no matter how much they pushed and so out of spite, pulled a couple sheets of paper and an ink pot scratching notes and when their security tried to read it there was a couple of brandished weapons were pointed at the man that was wearing some lacquered wood cuirass.

There had been some negative feelings from both of them resting in the stomachs of both and it almost felt as they scratched back and forth leaving the guard to try and see only for the six blades pointed at them. While the room had been done in dark woods and with the separation of the pair in their own rooms it felt more like the pair had been jailed. No matter the attempts trying to figure out what they were communicating to each other the guard was going to be worried figuring what could be said, and despite what had to be between them the look on his face.

Orestes and Reina had not been happy with their treatment and it was clear to the both of them at the first sign of trouble that they needed to watch their own backs as it had been something clear that being alone with three other people would mean they would have to possibly fight the creatures and the team. Each of them hated to spill blood, but both had known when they had been treated in such a fashion that their health was the lowest priorities.

Fornax and Vayu had been the beings that tried to look the other way for the sake of a group of people that were just afraid. Both of them had to also realize that the fear of their holders was not displaced as the people of the compound had not endeared themselves to the pair that had to help through the mist. Where the pair of forces could be understanding, their knights had to be careful for one life was all that they had and that meant one death was enough to stop their quest.

Forces and people both knew that a mob in fear could be dangerous as the legends of the land dictated them to be scarier then any beast and while the pair did not know hoe a mob of people bound by fear lead to their predicament that was not the same for the pair of forces trying to at least plant the seed of understanding.

It was going to be rough for they had to trust these people to watch over them and as of right now the only thing that had been given is suspicion. Bangle or not they resonated well and cared for the people trying to find the path in a world so cold and as it stood them needing to write their thoughts for the sake of secrecy, and in the room that seemed to only get stuffier. In the room had been a simple hearth and after both explained their fears and were assuaged by the other to save what secrecy they balled up the pair of papers before taking a flint and lighting the thing in front of the guard as his face betrayed his hope to read it later.

The pair could make small talk while the messages burned to as making sure that nothing had been left but char and embers before smiling sweetly in defiance and allowing themselves to be taken back to their rooms.

Some of the work had to be done though, and Orestes soon was back in his room where a small tray of gruel had been left on a desk stone cold almost to mock him. It did not matter as they needed to still wonder what weapons would be carried on his person and what in his bag.

Bright still was the coral short sword of his father had the length and could cut down what was needed if they had the room, but upon asking the rest of the people would have gauntlets and that was sounding like something that could be used in short ranges. He had to figure that something long could be caught on a lot of things in a forest if the growth was thick and so the barbed knife and the princely dagger would be the pair walking in the dark forests, if they planned to betray them in the forest or not they had come to do a job, and the faster it was done the faster they all could go home.

Turga and Zoran were walking from the workout hall down to the blacksmith to be fitted for their pieces, as both would be heading one team. From the past experience they could tell it would be something they needed as much time as possible with to get just right. Walking in the light of the many torches still in the halls they made their way down the lengths of labyrinthine hallways in the way the had wished to once walk after their test, but here was something different. No matter what now, as long as both had gotten back they would be fully fledged members, and there would be some chance in doing so.

Having a gauntlet of the compound had been a sign of honor for the few that traversed the lands and now both of them could do it. What had been the problem was that they had not inspired trust in the the pair they had to gain the support of and the elders had been more suspicious then welcoming. Opening the doors to the blacksmithing hall there was the smell of metal and varnish as part of the hall had been used for the construction of all that the compound needed.

Being fit for such had been something where the personalities of the people would be seen on the weapon. They could pick the metal, the barbs and how it attached to their arm and the weapon it worked with the most. Zoran had been wanting a short extendable blade that could be retracted and protracted with the handle while Turga had let his hand remain free allowing himself to use the techniques that had been taught over the years over such times.

It would only be ready in the earliest part of the morning and what could be done for small changes would only be done after a little practice but they had the faith in their countrymen, and that their forge master was the brightest they had ever seen, however small that list may be, his skill was well known even among the elders who had regularly traveled abroad. That faith was hard to place at times but to know that some in the compound could be some of the best in the world.

Each of them had to sit for a good portion of the remaining part of the day as their arms had been measured and checked while the hot metal glowed and bent according to the stout man’s will before the piece had the skeleton built to their wishes with what was on hand. Metal ore had been rare to get their hands on for the many years but what could be found was often snapped up from the traders.

Many had already knew the risk of their mission. Working the forges he had not been a fool as to their plight and finding that it could be done once before they had hoped they could be that way once again. It was clear in his own mind that as his beard went from the lacquered wood brown to a cursed gray he knew the sun was setting on his life and he would have no other way if one of his last major projects would be helping two of the most physical young men to be in the compound to help them all be free. He could feel the metal pulling to his whim just as it had always, but this time the pair of pieces would be his magnum opus. Detail would be important and every detail had to be something that he wished for no small thing could be overlooked this had to be, as he pulled one billet of metal, something he had to make sure could be what a legacy could be defined by.

Wood and metal was something of a comfort to him to work with as the pair would chat and wonder what the plans would be he was sole focused on the metals and turning them this way and that. He had thought the time had been only a couple hours but seeing Zoran get him the dinner of fruit and roast, and even filling up the water jug made him notice the sheet of sweat coming down his forehead. Stinging his eyes and smelling of salt that almost masked the aroma of the metal in the coal forge he had to grab a rag from his back pocket letting it dry his face before being tossed away soaked from the efforts of the large man. Turga had been someone who watched from the chair as he pulled each billet and got the skeleton to both gauntlets that would go over their arm up to the shoulder.

Seeing how there weapons would be made gave both of them a bit of security, and he made sure as the hammer pounded that each strike would not crack the bars or that as they were pulled that each of them would be as strong as ever, sometimes even stronger then what could be found in the mines and much stronger then the basic metals could be on their own. He knew how to mix the various ingots to create something greater then the sum of the parts making the gauntlets something almost spiritual as well. Markings and writing would be inscribed in the case when more time could be given, but that was a detail that had to wait when they returned. When, for if he thought of if and what it could mean then there would be doubt.

There was little need to be paralyzed by fear as one had needed to be cognizant of the threats around them and with the pair from the distant lands that had been able to help them there was always the doubt that if they turned on them, could the rest of them defend their home. Pulling the pieces that would make the cage for the padding together, he hoped they had no need to find out. Knowing nothing, they had to be trusted and while there had been some evidence they could do what was needed and they were not endearing themselves to the visitors, he preyed those visitors would have the understanding to know they mean no ill will. For this building had been the lives of so many that to see the sun again warm on the faces of the youngest would be something that the oldest could live with if they had gotten through the worst of what had happened.

Zoran and Turga were both dealing with signs of their own mortality, for this was something they could not escape form they had to drive forward enough, with their teams that they could reactivate the shrines and then escape without falling to the creatures that would inhabit it Mist or not, it was a dangerous place and they had to be careful going in and out would be dangerous and nothing was set until everyone had crossed the doorway back. Where there could be so much as a party big enough the rest of the world would hear and he would not mind a bit.

After doing what could be done it was all left except to sleep and get ready for what was coming. Turga saw a note delivered to his brother that was soon put in the pocket, most likely something from one of the elders about his team and they began to walk the way back letting their steps define their movements to the bed’s they had hoped for not the final time. Letting their eyes close only their futures and that of all the people they cared about were on the table for tomorrow, and nothing would stop either of them from hitting their goals.

Morning came and everyone had to be ready. Orestes and Reina picked their sides, Reina would go with Turga on the western half while the eastern half would be manned by Zorna and Orestes and with the weapons fresh on their arms, it was with the pride of their beliefs they set their weapons and began to head out. Four warriors had volunteered and could handle the normal curse on the land but it had been only a few steps before they had to get back within the confines of the property, barely able to find their way despite the large double doors still being in sight even in the small distance taken.

Something had been worse, much worse that they could not go on. Zorna and Turga could not get them to continue and it had meant the large teams were already cut in half before setting a foot in the dark forests. Reina and Orestes were still confident in their abilities and that meant the other half of the pairs felt it as well, they could still make it and getting back and loading supplies from the other two, the four had begun their quest.

Hope you enjoyed. Stay Strong.

Rough Draft Excerpt

A few pages from a rough draft of min. Enjoy.

Eyes opened to a bed filled with his wife her hand in his as he glowed at her radiance. Life was good and it was finally the dream he had been chasing brought to life. When it got tough he had been able to finally get up time after time and when he could gather his funds and step out without fear of being found he had taken his funds and began to start by getting a few pieces of property including this small thing out near the plains where the house had been built just needed some small upgrades to make it a home. He had found his way of living happily enough and it had been some solace that he was no longer known for the technology that hid his identity. For all that all the others in the area knew of him he was just a father for his kids who already had enough money to make his property and way of life to be written in stone with enough to spare. Sleeping in that bed with her had been enough to give him solace from the worst moments and he had a few, but holding her hand had made all the rough times,the issues with others in his line of work and those that would stop him, people who would slander his title for one reason for another, those even that would take his work and use it trying to stoke their own fires of hate.

No one knew of his race or family, no one knew his sexuality or his life experiences, because, from inside the armor he was not a man he was a monster. A tool of destruction based only on his enemy and his mission. Despite everything he had been the one to be called on by some in times of great need, a safety valve formed form ones honorable ways when it came to how one did business. When one did work in such quality there was little people could do except try to besmirch the name, and try to make people hate him, well, more then they already did. It was not exactly hard to be hated when people think you are living a life you have not earned. He did not care as it was something if they could stop they had tried their best and he had come up ahead. From what he was tapped to do something truly good from the various heroes using his technology and in truly severe issues. Being a technological maestro whether he was on the heroes or on the villains that particular week he had been one of those where he was consulted and he had been able to help with proper clauses and on the odd case someone tried to take what he had they could never remake it.

Some people would try to trick him and hijack or hack his tech but they were playing checkers when he was playing liar’s dice, they did not play the same game to even make any progress to what he had. Other technical savants would always chuckle when someone would try to copy what one of them built only for it to burn up, explode, or fail right in their face in the first test. Down in the basement of the house his little lab had been able to handle all of his testing and if it had been with a few more dangerous materials he had something installed underground away from the house just in case anything would go badly. It was just one of those things that made the home truly perfect, he could go and do what he would want to and work with some of the more difficult fuels or circumstances without an issue of a child or wife getting hit in some blast as well. He doubted that he would ever get so brazen that it would happen but seeing her in that bed and smiling happily there had to be certain things taken care of for the sake of security.

Being there in their house, in their bed, while their child slept in her room made everything just be able to take a breath and enjoy the moments slowly slipping by. When she opened her green eyes and looked at him with a small smirk it seemed to make his heart flutter just a little bit, her eyes seemed to sparkle like a gem and it was something that their relationship felt like added a charge to their life. Everything had just been done so well and all he could do right now as he lay in bed is to look across at his beautiful wife and wonder what adventures he could get into today with his daughters familiar pitter-patter coming down the hall. Before, tossing her body into the sheets of her parents sleeping forms she had taken the time to try and stop and jump in only for a small bump to be felt from the foot of the bed where she had been trying to pull the bottom half of her body up wiggling her legs in the air trying to not drop to the floor until he pulled the sheets up until they were tight against them carrying his daughter further up the bed.

All of it meant the child was soon trying to climb over the bodies of her father and mother trying to get them up so she could start her own and day consequentially she did not know how to do so without turning the pair of sleeping bodies into giggles at her attempts to shake them at the shoulders. When they could no longer keep their stifled giggles hidden from her she soon dropped into the bed and pushed her shoulder in her stomach and began to start pushing as hard as she could before her mother decided to begin moving out of bed.

He did not have to do a single thing, the money was already coming in from his work and if he did anything extra it would only add to the kingdom he had built from that bench in the old warehouse. From there to here he could just let the air fill his lungs and have the moment exhaling slowly trying to tickle his daughter before getting up himself. Letting the feet land on the warm wood had been enough for him to see where the day would go but first as he looked back on to the bed and saw his child he realized she could not be left alone in the room considering what else could be in there. Her mother had a few minutes head start on them but pulling the child up to his shoulders where she could sit without issue he began his way down the stairs to the sounds of breakfast being made.

She had beautiful eyes and her hair no matter what always seemed ready for a snapshot. Already in her dress for the day the red hugged her hips that looked flirty yet professional. Part of her was also fiery enough that if he had ever set foot in the kitchen and did not make something to her standards it would be an ass chewing meaning he would simply stay out of the cooking portion of all parenting as it was something she enjoyed and if it was something that made her happy, then he could not understand why not. All of it was something he could enjoy, and he could enjoy his wife no matter what she dressed up or down in and with his kid ready to go to school there was going to be a whole day that he could enjoy with his love and even get some work done.

Breakfast being made his girl wriggled off her seat and slid down his back to go get ready for school. She had been such a fan of the lessons and the playing with the other kid it had been more of a problem to get her to sleep on the days before school then it would be on the weekend. It was not a surprise as she was bright, both of her parents were he was in tech and engineering and she had been great in the realms of numbers and words where from basic accounting to articles in papers she could handle herself as if she had done it her entire life. Others could state how their color would hold them back but both of them had been able to make themselves so skilled in their fields that it was less about color and more about if they wanted the best for the job then not taking them was a poor decision and it was shown time and time again that while some people did not learn, some never would.

It was a point in his life where everything seemed to click in place, there was still some problems in the day, how the coffeemaker burbled a little too vigorously or the toaster always wanting to go one shade darker then he preferred when he set it despite all the attempts he made to work it out. It was so small though when he tried to get aggravated about it all he could do was smirk and chuckle to himself before continuing to enjoy it. All that it took was just a shirk and suddenly he was back in the moment for as along as he had it and no matter how much he chewed he could sit and value such things no matter how soon they flit away in the work of the coming days. He wished he knew what to do but in the time he did not he would figure something to make and his wife had been asking about a new flower bed to grow a smaller garden.

Musing on what he would need there had to be some planks at the local home improvement store. He had the tools to do it he just needed to get the materials he was missing.

“I think I am going to get the small garden bed you were asking for done today, if you can make sure our little sprout doesn’t try playing with the tools” he explained.

“Mmmhm, I think I can finds something for us to do while you get that finished and my big handyman can come back and get some food while we fill it up, she can have her own plant to take care of.”

“What have you decided to grow in it”

“Oh? Green onions and some flowers that were on sale, the green onions are pretty hard to kill so she could learn easily and the flowers I heard from another mom that it was pretty easy and the cost worked for it.”

“Just try it, works for me enough times. She have school today?”

“Papa, papa I don’t got school on Saturday silly!” she chirped from behind her plate of half eaten eggs and bacon.

“Ah Saturday, well I guess I need to get ready and get what I need so you can work on planting what you want before dinner”

Finishing the plate he knew the old truck had enough gas for the trip and was pecking his wife on the cheek before walking out to the garage where the smell of oil and lubricant were light in the air and the old red truck he had bought and brought back to life with a polish that made it shine under any light except for the small smudges where his little girl had been running around trying to pat down some invisible enemy. If she was running away then it could have meant either he was chasing her playing the part and not caring as her hands would buffer out with a quick wipe or that her mother had taken the get her run in.

After the door button was pressed a bright light had begun shining from the crack until the whole garage was filled with white and before he could run back to check on his family the light had flooded the room and he was lost to it.

He opened his eyes slowly trying to blink the memories out of his mind and them isery out of his surroundings. There was no loving wife warming his bed nor a daughter claiming he was silly. There was no house and no fence, no red truck and no happy life. It had been the happiest he had ever been and it was all a dream, a fantasy his mind had put together. Looking up from his bed the scene had been of his apartment with the bedroom illuminated with hard lights against worn polished floors and redbrick walls that kept as much heat out as spirit lending itself to feeling more like a dour tomb at times then his actual home.

At the foot of his bed there was a single large foot locker paired off with a couple of them setting in the bottom shelf of his wide book case. No one else was in the apartment and no one would be as far as he knew as he saw it there was just nothing to even trying as the eyes flit from the shadows cast from the ceiling to the alarm clock to show that it was close enough to the usual alarm time that going back to sleep would only be an exercise in futility. His life had been long gone since anything exciting and he knew he had a shift coming up and that meant it was better to get breakfast.

Walking out of the bed slowly he closed the door to the living room and kitchen behind him and begun setting to what would be his breakfast. Opening the fridge while shielding his eyes from the light coming from it he had pulled a couple of tomatoes tossing them to the cutting board on the left of the sink before the sound of cheese and green onions had landed next to the tomatoes. Pulling the eggs out he had begun the start of cutting the top and taking a small spoon to scoop out the insides of the tomatoes. Oiling and salting them lightly he had tossed them to begin their bake at 400. There was no real recipe to it as he began taking the knife from where it had been rested on the right side of the cutting board and took to slivering the green onions. One burner had been turned to medium high with the pan over it waiting for the eggs and cheese.

He did not remember where he even got the recipe to put it together but it was something of a comfort when he was feeling bad without all the fat of worse options. Finishing the pile of slivered green and white he had noticed the seasonings light before taking the green onions back where they rested in the refrigerator. There was no light in his life here, there was no daughter to pick up and hold and there especially was no honor that left the husk of a man alone with his breakfast meal before beginning the routine to become another of the normal people he once hated so much. When everything began to fall apart and the memories cast themselves to his eyes between bites there was no anger, there was no rage. Just the emptiness of a man forgotten by the world and left out in the cold when the idea of a hero was needed most. He knew better though between bites of those eggs that true heroes were rare. Everyone was a villain he was just the honest one about it. Outside the wind shifted just so and a whistle could be heard almost cutting through the silence breaking from his mental prison watching the errors of the past and making him wonder what was left for him other then more disappointment. Disappointment or no as he looked down at his half eaten plate, with the hunger that reminded him to eat silenced enough that he could continue he got dressed easily and made his way out the front door.

Hoped you enjoyed. Stay strong.

A Little Slamball

Some of the games have been played and it is time to go over what has been going on to this point, and because this is my blog we are going to the Slashers and the Ozone first. Both have had different luck but it is good to see that shakes and the slashers are at least doing well in third place. There has been a nuisance in the league that both of my teams have had to deal with and it is the only team still perfect. Ozone is closer to the bottom then to the top but there is more to be seen here.

Seeing the Mob do this to the rest of the league does not really shock me, it was going to be them or the Rumble by my guess. Both had been forces since day one currently as it stands the Mob Are causing Martial law by Slamball. It is Mob Rule and not many teams can handle them. On the other side of the standings we have the Lava and while only playing four games one would think they are getting blown out in all of them except look at the plus minus for them.

For those who do not know plus minus is the total of points they have scored in all of their games against the points scored against them in all their games. If it is positive then that means they are scoring more points then the league on average, and if it is minus then they are scoring less. Lava have played four games and have a plus minus of -12 one of the closest ones to zero. Mind you only two of eight have a positive plus minus. If my money has to go down, the lava may be waiting to erupt later down the line.

Something to back up the lava thought is that in all four games the biggest difference in scores between them and the opponent? Four points against the slashers in their first game. Which means they have lost by a total of eight points in the other three games, hopefully there are things to be tweaked and we can see some lava flow to some victories.

The Mob have caused damage to opponent after opponent and seemingly had the answer whenever a team has tried to change the questions bringing in new talent with sons of Slamball athletes ( Byrd has two sons, One a stopper for the Mob and the other a gunner for the Ozone.

George Byrd was on both the Hombres, Maulers, and the Riders of the past and was someone who could often surprise with the skill sometimes passing, sometimes shooting and sometimes trucking over those who stood in his way. He had the size to be a problem and when he was on the court one had to be careful for the big byrd was always ready to clear a path to the hoop. Here are a couple of clips of the father in action just so you understand during his years he was a defensive powerhouse but had some offensive flash.

Also, something I need to add there is also a 4 pt shot, and that is a shot made outside of the 28.5 foot arc. This was a new one to me, apologies for it, but it also brings some values to the long range game and there are players trying it. Just to put the Mob in perspective though here is the recap on the most recent match up between the Mob and the Rumble.

Mob is being disrespectful in dunk form, just outright mean. This is something that has not changed. Back in the first rounds of Slamball on TV there was one known as Sean ‘inches’ Jackson A man who looked at physics and went.

I am sure he is watching these games with a smile because that legacy is being protected. Dunkers go to the mob and the rest of the league gets some therapy. Hope this brought you a little more info on the Slamball. Watch them if you can on espn2 or at least on Youtube channel so they can see you like it.

Stay competitive.

Back Against the Wall.

There are moments that when things get really high stress there is a part of me that likes to smile. Like right now, I am trying to get my third victory in game of tomes, there are people chasing me that can beat me, they have the ability to do it, and just need to run a little bit longer. Push a little harder, find another gear despite things not looking my way sometimes, all of it has just to be a little longer, and I can make it.

When my time started in Game of Tomes there was just someone who came and picked me up for their team, an offer that no one else made. Despite professional editors and writers all that was on my resume was some small stories and fan fiction no one liked to read. People seemed to be so proud of what they could do, and part of that insulted me. There never was that sort of pride with me then, and because of it there was a rage that came and gave me a charge that many found hard to fight against. Attempt after attempt was made to be a better writer, and some of the efforts are shown here, some are given away here.

Now, I have been top writer twice, been second twice, beat leaders and writers and editors and are sitting on more books then ever, now so more because the time it takes to release means there is not writing being done, and the focus is the writing and the editing. Ever since my youth there were moments were people would fight until my back was too the wall, where my wrists would be sprained or broken, where my ribs were cracked by shots with baseball bats or pieces of wood. There is something that my friends back then noticed about me.

When it came to the last card, when it came to the point where it was no escape, then I turned into a devil to survive. Some were even scared it despite them being bigger then me. The fact was not that they had been trained and my size was the factor, it was the factor that when there was one way out, there would be no expense spare to make it through. In fact in different circles it is why I am nicknamed Red, or the smiling devil. Those unused to it and had to see me fight would watch as the person who was happy and trying to help them out was painted in his own blood in a brawl and was smiling.

Fun fact, my hair is still long not because it is normal in Portland, because of the scars on my scalp, it looks really scary so the hair keeps it covered up really well. The reason that these moments are brought up is that there is something almost beneficial pushing yourself to those limits in something, even if it is for survival. When something you are so invested in is your goal where anything will be the cost to be paid. You realize how far you can go, and it is always farther then you originally thought. For this round of Game of Tomes, this is where I am. Due to being behind these posts did not get typed until the last day of July.

These are the moments that make me smile. One more fight, one more try, one more goal, one more path, just me and my surroundings against others and their capabilities. No health issues, no problems no handicap, just who can do more and part of me wants it to be me. The other part just smiles knowing if we lose that it was a good fight, and that allows me to sleep. It stands that for individuals no one, not a professional writer, or editor has done more then me and the work that is in my pile is proof of that. This time there was no practice on edits save for the light ones, this was just getting it done.

Backs to the wall facing your enemy seeing the goal behind them. One more fight, one more round, time to see who writes the end of the story on the competition. Let us see if the punk from Forest Grove who got in fights can win one more. Either way I will let you know of the results.

Stay Strong and keep fighting.

Oracle of Portland

I am not an accountant. I am not a tax man. There are no degrees based on economics to my name yet. When my work and predictions are seen to be correct and those who are supposed to be good at it are wrong. Well, we should be shocked that someone without the degrees of what was needed was right when many of the supposed experts of the city are wrong. All of that would be the polite of saying the following, because some did not believe, and thought that someone learning like me was going to be wrong.

Yup, its Razorfist again.

Portland has lost a lot of money and despite me banging the drum, on twitter or x or whatever it is called. During the past few years between 2020 and 2021, it has come out that Multnomah county has lost a billion dollars.

https://www.oregonlive.com/data/2023/07/multnomah-county-lost-record-1-billion-in-income-in-2021-as-residents-moved-away.html

For those who think my actions and beliefs are too cruel on the homeless community let me make a few things clear. I have lived it, been in it because of a situation where my family decided to betray me and the supposed social nets for being a disabled man trying to do my best showed that it did not exist. This is not the blog of someone thinking on it because it annoyed them camping everywhere, I camped in some of the places too.

We need a limit, a point where if people cross they go to jail. Between the cops not having the manpower and the measure 110 fiasco there is problems after problems and what angers me what makes me want to spit venom, is that I can take being called mean, if it means some people get it through their head and are able to move their way up. For all the programs and all the money and all the feel good about helping the house less, how many people are success stories? For all the time and all the feel good policy it is rare at all to hear about a single person who had been helped and thy made something of themselves. Goodness knows that if there was, then it would be put on every paper as evidence that the path they are taking is the correct one.

When people are willing to seem mean then they can take actions that people may not like but there are actions that often have to be done especially when leading a group of people, or city, or state. For example if you give candy to a class of young kids, you will be liked but you have not done anything to help. If you are seen as a hard teacher, you may not be liked as much the trade off though is that they will be learning. Give 100 dollars to an addict and you will be more liked, but if they cannot handle their addiction then it isn’t going to do any good. Unfortunate that people in Portland are tricked by the first kind of action because the second will be what actually gets stuff done whether it makes them feel good or not. For all the resources we have, we do not get time back and wasting it like this is just foolishness squared upon itself.

It is something that will keep happening no matter what.

Stay focused and stay strong.

Also because of midterms and homework there are a lot of posts today. Sorry in advance.

What Makes You Happy?

Over the years there have been a lot of things going on on this page, and I have learned a fair amount myself. All of this has turned to answer a question about myself that my previous ideas were, that it would never be answered. Something that people think is what many people go through their entire lives, it has been something that has been mused here.

What makes you happy?

Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

What is something that feels right for you to do? Like putting a suit on that fits right, or makes you wonder why you haven’t been a part of it yet. We here in America at least get it through our heads that you have to be great at one thing. You cannot be good at many things and you cannot be someone who changes so much because they only do that when they do not know. A little bit, when there is so much pain in my body, that movement cannot be done well, there is a spot on my ceiling I will look at and it is my time to look within. Might as well while everything feels like it’s spasming physically to do so mentally.

Two things make me happy. Just two. I like telling stories, no matter the form. Games, manga, comics, stories, books, there are reasons I write so much and despite the new forms that are found month after month there is something in me that wants to see what can be done in different mediums. Stories are fun to tell, and that makes me happy, although sometimes skill in doing it, may need polish here, there, and everywhere but that is okay.

Most of the politics and issues in the state, roll into the second thing and that is completing challenges. Difficulty or how many people can be affected may add something to it for me. Top sudoku person on Twitch for a time, guardian rank in Destiny 2, Game of Tomes victories, learning how to work with people with games again, figuring out how to make music, learning how to do different things, speedrunning, backyard wrestling, cooking in cities, cooking on mountains, cooking for festivals, fashion design, and illustration, and those are a few. I like pushing my skill set and capabilities and while some may not bring money it also brings information and knowing how to do things. Unfortunately to me when someone is in a challenge and decided to act like they had a brain transplant with a pumpkin, it makes me a little cross. Well, more than a little, My first initial is T after all and that is in essence, a big cross.

Back to the point, it does not make me happy when people give up, they stop learning, some people are in the city of Portland proud they never had to read a book or read at all, those who would rather have a drink or smoke some weed and never do anything difficult again. It drives me up a wall to know those people exist, and at one point there was a thought that you would want people who want to push themselves to do so as easily as possible because then they will hit their maximum more effectively. The world does not think that way, and hunting for difficult challenges made my life more difficult because and this is to quote my family while I was homeless because of them.

“He will survive, he always survives.”

Granted then they thought it would be groveling to them and putting everything on hold, betting on how long my hold out would be. My brother-in-law knew enough that when the rest of my family was placing bets on how long it would be, he knew it would not happen. My college, something they wanted me to give up so I could be a live-in unpaid babysitter, was too important. Unfortunately, they challenged me, and I answered. Now knowing how my head works a little better it will be something that can be worked upon, it allows me to better focus my strengths and shy away from weaknesses, and it is something that you can all find for yourselves.

What makes you happy?

Let me know, and stay strong.

Ever Do Something and Ask Why Am I Here?

So I was invited to some training by the college and I took them up on it. The problem was now its full employment training. For those of you going

“Wait I thought you were just a student?”

You would be correct. They invited me once a while ago and removed me but then put me back. So ya, I am fully trained as an employee of the college. Why am I going through this? No idea. What does this provide me? Not a clue. Why would I do this? I don’t really do reasons much anymore, I sometimes just do and was able to fit it in my schedule. Every so often it seems that something just happens where we are all confused as to why or how I made this far. Mind you this is not just the first meeting. I did the rest of the online bits, pretty easily too. For some reason it is not the first time this has occurred. Some days, I get bored, and those days usually turn into new rule moments somewhere or someone.

Went to insurance sales training, wasn’t even hired by them, was offered a job because I knew they were training and after seeing me working through their training was shocked that someone got in so easily. Mind you, I am six feet tall and walk with a cane, there is not a lot of hiding that can be done for someone like me. If someone can not see me walking in somewhere that should not have me, well that is on the security. One could have the best cyber security, but if one can walk to their servers and just get the info by hand on an open computer then IT security doesn’t add to a stack of beans.

Just do things, sometimes it leads you to odd things. Chess matches with sex workers, invites to vampire balls, learn something new. Don’t know? Who really does jump right in there? You can get the basics down and from there bounce into more advanced. Life is chaos and day by day it seems to certify we are more in a clown show then ever, so enjoy it.

After all does it look like anyone truly know 100% what they are doing?

Ya, no.

I know I generally am more vinegar and salt, but there are times that you need to just enjoy the time.

Stay Strong and Have Fun

Plasmus and Defender

You know comics have had the lion’s share of heroes and villains and I think that is not right. After all, sometimes there is a depth lost in comic books that is often replaced by a number of pages or the number of books to help make that up. It has been a focus of some of my writings and yes I am still writing and yes I need to eventually just put it out there but I am nervous.

Not an excuse just a reason for stupidity, but here is a couple I am writing about right now.

Julius, a past villain once known as Plasmus the Iron Tower. A man who had been wanted by the city and managed to get out by his wit and creations. When the side of good fights dirty though he is suddenly stripped of everything he had made to that point. Left not being caught but embarrassed to the point where his family had left him he had to start over alone working in a comic and manga shop. When people decided to rob the store he laid low, he pulled the last thing he kept on him from these villainous times, and saving those in the store using the old tech had gotten him found out by one of the pair of heroes of the city. Saving the people he could in another attack the hero that talked to him was enough to crack the cold case and look at how the good and the bad both handle their business. In the process bringing down others who would have secrets tied to his own injustice brings more strife.

Defender is a genetic experiment that escaped and became a new man after hiding his powers after the experiments failed. When his powers manifested he had been someone who had been able to leave. In a new life, he became Defender, the city’s best hero and one of the best the world would see, keeping his nose clean and out of trouble the only hobbies he had was too his job and the odd stuffed animal. Outside of work, he stays to his studies, trying to be a better hero including the heroes of the past. Gregory outlived his parents and is alone, but is trying to make the most of the opportunity. Despite how well he tries there are those in the heroes and the police of the city that have tried to twist his work for their own nefarious gains.

The problem is not in the present but in the past, as Defender has tried to bury some problems only for them to be brought to light, and with Defender pulling in the chain he finds a lot more is buried than he thinks and maybe there was something to the mistakes he had made not believing the claims of the villain.

Stay Strong and Enjoy The Story

Mike Schmidt – Failure with A Smile

If someone failed badly we would want to shy away from it. When people fails like our District Attorney then we have to realize this is a failure we need to really study and in so this will be a really deep dive because we are starting at the very beginning of the pile of excrement. Below is a picture from the website taken yesterday from the election website so we can all walk through this together. I would say this will be fun, but I would be wrong.

A teacher came to Oregon from Louisiana and decided to try his hand in law, and when he found out he was bad at it he continued doing it showing all of his past student that not only was he someone who did not give up but someone who believed someone could do poor work and still skate by. He is a true D.A for the city and the area. He has two kids and a wife and lives in Portland and has been so lost in space he could not see that letting criminals have endangered more then any other D.A up to this point.

I feel bad, he taught children, who looked at him and thought he had some idea about life; only to find out this man is such an abhorrent failure at his job he should be run out of town at first opportunity. Week after week we hear how he is trying to be more socially equitable and focus on lowering recidivism. Well, he did do that, but unfortunately it wasn’t an intelligent way, because hey, if people do not report the crime they cant be charged for it. He tries to show he is so much better while it comes out that he is a sexist.

“Buh you don’t like him because he tried something different and has different politics from you, you are a republican.” – Some internet idiot

I get trying something different, but he has not had one metric that goes his way, not one. As for politics, I was born in Portland and was a Democrat for most of my life before I saw what was going on and had some hard slaps of reality. Lastly, if you are so scared of differences of thought why don’t you take it way back in the history of the democrats and get some pointed hats to wear around. I am sure if the the democrats or the republicans want to do it I will stand here and call it, but unfortunately Portland has had a democratic everything for the past two terms. The County D.A and the governor are also Dems. There are good democrats, there are bad democrats, but Oregon has shit democrats. Oh and he is a sexist as well, so go choke on a salami.

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/07/21/oregon-labor-investigation-finds-evidence-discrimination-multnomah-county-district-attorney-office/

I would be shocked, but first I would have to be surprised and I am more surprised that bean burritos cause gas then holier then thou politicians show they are worthless. Defense attorneys do not want to work with him in fact, so few are there that, according to him cases have to be let go. So people who have been arrested, found dead to rights, just need someone to be charged and they cannot get enough people to do so letting at least a dozen to three dozen cases a month. This is where things like failing to register for a sex offender, for false information to the police, and mind you this does not take into account the blatant political championing for his own side.

https://www.mcda.us/index.php/news/da-mike-schmidt-releases-weekly-cases-impacted-by-public-defense-crisis-3

One of the biggest angering points is that if you are say part of antifa and you stab someone you get probation because he looks at those sorts of politics, but if you oppose his politics then you get max sentence, it has shown up time and again and while it is not illegal, per se, it shows that they are not above skirting lines and morals. Which would be exactly in line and now the questions is that after all of this, sending the police away, having somewhere the defense does not want to be. Letting racial and political leanings dictate punishments, it just shows that we have a problem and the sad fact about it is, that people will still support him, until they are negatively impacted by his policies. With how criminals are being let out and committing more crimes, everyone in Portland should have an axe to grind against him soon at this rate.

Stay strong.

Called It #Why

90 day plan, called it.

Ted Wheeler and the city failed in their ninety day plan again, all of us are not shocked. I am not shocked, you are not shocked, the violence is still not going down, businesses are still leaving and those remaining cant stay open. Let me dust off something. If you believed it as well please enjoy the following.

You were right, I was right , we were all right. This is not a 90 day fix thing its a fix in decades now because the people in charge of Portland have been unable to do their jobs. Generally, I like to be some what calm. I mean I just did some writing about Slamball. The management of Portland simply put has not been able to make changes where it needs to. Someone can not tell me with everything going on that the city has not been able to do everything they needed to with the resources they have. More buildings are going in collections, News for Reasonable People on Youtube is actually a really good source if you need someone in the Portland area.

When people have to deal with such failures there is only the people in charge to blame and while other time there has been some hope of dealing things in a respectful manner there is something to be said that when such failures are so well known that people outside of the country know of the problems in the city. My home is such a failure that people across oceans know we are badly run. Stuff like this

22/powell pic.twitter.com/D1Ul43Zv4B

— PortlandLooksLikeSchmidt (@HeiditheHoFjord) July 23, 2023

It should not be normal and this person does it every day seeing different parts of the city that has been overrun in squalor. People who should be punished are walking the streets much like the Japanese consulate who had been attacked by one of the idiots in Portland. People who want to exchange information and knowledge get attacked, if that was not a perfect snapshot of the city, then I wouldn’t know what it was. The problem is now bleeding out into the areas around the city where it seems like there is more coming around form more sexual assault in Beaverton.

https://katu.com/news/local/beaverton-area-man-convicted-on-sexual-abuse-charges-oregon-young-victims-cares-northwest-washington-county-district-attorneys-office

I have a question. When people do not feel the police can help them, when will people start trying to handle business themselves. Remember all the crimes being reported, they are not reported if someone just pulls a gun out and tried to handle business on their own. The 90 day plan is not going to work, because things are so bad that you need to be ready to fight at times. I carry a knife on me whenever I have to go out, and if its in a bad spot there is a way where my longest blade can sit in my bag and still be in reach. 90 day plans are not going to work, the state cannot save the city from five people who fail so hard and are trying to make it so there are twelve city commissioners. You could have a hundred and if they are of the same level the only thing that would differ is how many being paid.

Mike Schmidt is so bad he should be arrested and that is a post for tomorrow because I had a good vibe today and this had to go and ruin it.