Retribution

[SIZE=1]Well, I've never experienced any supernatural creatures, or heard any truly inexplicable accounts of anything of the sort. However, I'm definitely willing to not completely rule out the existance of such things. I think ghosts might exist, but as for everything else, I lean towards no.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]OOC: Wow. This moves fast... but like I expected, people are already becoming inactive. And supernatural... aww. I liked my chronofreeze. Time to think something else up. Not exactly sure if someone already has the power I'm about to get. IC: [b]Last Night[/b] Alex didn't want to go to bed, not even after the hectic day he had. It just didn't feel right to be relaxing when he was miles away from home, on some hippy trip for his tattoo. [i]Complete nonsense[/i], he thought quite loudly. The thought was persistant, constantly knocking on the door of the back of his mind. He fought to keep it restrained and in check. "Need some fresh air...," He murmurred to himself, walking out of the cabin and onto a sizable rock overlooking the lake. He sat on the edge, peering down into the crystal clear water. Completely undefiled, pure, innocent from humans, it felt so different than New York City. No more honking, no more man-made mountains, no more rush-hour. Just the ominous silence solemnly hanging over his head, with the wilderness swirling all around him. The feeling was quite sickening, for a city-boy like himself. The blood rushed to his head, the only thing his fatigued mind could do was make his body lay on the cold, solid rock to embrace the temperature of it. His feet dangled over the side, slightly moving in the breeze that was now caressing Alex. He grew tired of the wind's persistence, but could do nothing about it. He stood up on the rock, thinking again. "So... how did I do whatever I did to fight that ... stalker? What exactly happened?" No answer came to him, aside from the fact that he was halucinating the whole time. Such a conclusion made him feel all-the-more crappy. So if he were hallucinating, why did he leave town, why was he here with these people? Such a trip would have been an utter waste of time. But for now, he resolved, he would try to understand exactly what had happened. He took a step, one at a time, strolling back to shore off the rock. However, he stumbled, failing to find another foothold, and began his headlong dive into the water. Then it happened again. Time froze. He was floating in the air, but this time, he could not move anything. His appendages were completely frozen in time as well. [i]Save me! Someone![/i] He thought hard, as his mouth was just as paralyzed as the rest of his body. A blue specter floated from out of the water, taking an interested gaze at him. [i]Damn. I've finally lost it.[/i] The ethereal thing floated, and a symbol beyond his decyphering was the same color as the spirit. The circular emblem rotated slowly, picking up speed as it spun on its radius. Finally, the spirit pushed Alex back onto the rock, as if the icon had commanded it to do so. Then time returned to normal, the crickets began chirping once more, and the water gently lapped against the shore. "Fuck... I just need to get outta here. But I'll do that tommorow." He retired to his cabin, completely drained of strength as he flopped into bed, closing his eyes wearily. [b]Morning[/b] He awoke slowly, then stood up with a start. Where was he? Was it all just a dream? Closer examination to his surroundings showed that all of it, for the most part at least, was true. He shook his head disappointedly, wanting sorely to return to his regular life. He walked over to the other cabins, hoping someone had food. He would tell them of his plan to leave back for NYC over breakfast. If he mustered the courage.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Well, I have alot of family. And we spend alot of time together... so we all get on each other's nerves plenty. I really do love them, and they return my feelings. However, when I want to have [i]fun[/i], I choose my friends. That's because my house is really boring, and I can at least have a good conversation with one of them. I happen to be pretty good at choosing friends, so I know they'd be with me through thick and thin. I'd much rather spend time with my friends, because like I said, I see my family enough to get sick of them. I need to get out of the house every now and then, to get away from my brothers. But stranded on a desert island? It would be pretty fun with friends, but I think survival chances would be higher with my family. We function as a unit, pretty efficiently if need be. There's plenty of hands to do work, and my friends would be joking around. Heh.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Maybe the entire world as we know it flooded back in Noah's time. When Noah lived, the entire world was maybe a one hundred mile radius from his home. So, is it at all possible, that Noah's "world" flooded? It seems [i]possible[/i]. And I'm not familiar with Gilgamesh, ... maybe there was a worldwide flood forreal. Is there evidence from other cultures than just them? Because if not, it's highly improbable.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Omigawd! It's just too awesome for words.. I love the richness of the color, and the feelings it evokes. I'm picking up a lonely, cold mood throughout your recent banners. However, as groovy as the maroon is, it's a warm color, which sorta confuses the mood a lil. But I definetly would use the second set of the maroons you've made. Completely awesome. Nice image too... very perfect. But if I may ask, what exactly did you do to these? They look like a few blending effects to multiple layers, then a rectangle where you applied a certain affect to that high-lit region. Not too complicated. But these rawk, regardless. [B]9.5/10[/B]. I dig this.[/SIZE]

[QUOTE=Chabichou][COLOR=#004a6f]The Arabs didn't know a thing about all the prophets that came after Isaac. They had no access to books or people who did know of these prophets. Muhammad hadn't travelled out of Arabia either. [/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]Well, it is proven that Muhammad was definetly a learned man. He (I think) traveled on a caravan across the desert from oasis to oasis. He picked up knowledge by doing this from other travelers, and also met his wife here. But that's all aside the point. What I'm really trying to say, is that I thought the Muslims (and most Arabs) derived their religion from Ishmael, not Isaac. And Abraham gave Isaac the birth right. I also believe that 7 centuries before, Shem had the birthright and was blessed by God that "His descendants will have a great name." All in all, I thought Ishmael was the person whom Muslims derived their existance from, and he did not recieve Abraham's blessing/birth right. The birth right was given to Isaac, whose descendants were supposed to fulfill God's covenant with Abraham. Basically, I thought [B]Ishmael = Muslims, Isaac = Jews[/B].[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Only one word is necessary to describe this work: [b]Hawt[/b]. It's just... so ... awesome I can't put it in words. I'm jealous of your skills >_> I'm just loving them all. They have that clean, but dreamy look, then the crisp image in the middle. Good idea. And the avatar with vivid colors, I love the blending mode you used. Color burn, was it? Either way, it was a really great idea to triple the image. Only bad thing about this may only be the blockyness, since you duplicated the layers and changed their position. However, this is just pwn'ing it. [B]9/10[/B]. Since it's near-impossible to be perfect. ^_~[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Well, a question I would like to pose to everyone is... how exactly do you know you've found true love? I'm only 15, so I'm guessing my last crush was only a really big crush and nothing more. I suppose people say "you know love when you see it." Care to explain?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Mitch, just because you believe in a certain religion doesn't make you weak-willed, stupid, or dependent. Actually, I think it takes a certain degree of strength to have [I]faith[/I], and follow God, assuming that you're right. Yes, everyone, the Bible was written by humans, but I do believe that they were inspired by the Holy Spirit. That [B]doesn't[/B] mean they were all high and drugged up and in a trance. It only means that the author was human, and the Holy Spirit guided him. The author wrote by free will. And technically, Jesus did fulfull all of the Old Testament prophecies. Like having a virgin birth, being a direct descendant of David, along with a whole bunch of other ones. I suppose Jews don't believe in Him partially because of all the politics that went with being a "Christian" back 2,000 years ago. But aside from that, I don't understand why they don't acknowledge Jesus as a person who performed these miracles, fulfilled prophecies, and died for us. Ahh well. And Christians believe that John the Baptist was the manifestation of Elijah's spirit. They were both nazirites, and both were supposed to "prepare the way" for the Savior. John did that by the baptism of Jesus.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Meh. Not really willing to dissect all the points presented here. But I believe that the Quran also contains the Pentateuch (first five books in the Bible. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy). Anyway, if that is so, then wouldn't this mean that all the Holy books are equally "flawed," at least in that aspect. And oral tradition doesn't mean that the Quran would remain flawless. Like Zeta said, things change. Yes, the Bible has been reworded, but the content is constant. Finally, religion is a matter of [i]faith[/i]. We can sling around our rhetoric all we want, but in the end, we'll have to wait until death to see who was right. I believe in Christ, because there is alot of evidence supporting not only his existance, but his miracles he performed. Muhammad never performed any miracles ... not ever close to Christ, who changed water into wine, "woke up" a sleeping girl, or made a blind man see.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]OOC: Hmm... sorta strange that we're all going to meet up. Impossible, really, when you think about it. But here I go anyway... ^_^IC: Alex walked down the street, towards his apartment downtown. It was hard work, and determination alone that had gotten him in such a nice home. He felt thankful for everything he had got, even as it began to rain. "I'm... singin' in the rain. I'm siiiingin' in the rain!" He sang, merely to humor himself. Turning the corner, he swung onto the next avenue and slowly closed the gap between his current spot and his apartment. He crossed a street, and into Central Park. He didn't walk through the whole thing, only cut through it to take off time. It also saved him money on transportation. [i]"You're a failure, Alex. I don't think you're cut out for this world. It's pretty tough out there, and you're too used to being pampered, and having the truth sugar-coated to you. As I see it, you're going to be another one of those 70th percentile testers, who serves food at McDonalds." The man's voice dripped with poison, wounding the boy deeply. Who would've thought a father would treat his son so sourly? "No! I won't fail! I'll be better than you. I'll be better than everyone," but the five year-old broke down into tears, crying as he ran back into his room, trying to retreat. "I'll show you ... one day." He mumbled as he shut the door, now calming down from his intial temper tantrum.[/i] That was nearly 17 years ago. But the flashbacks continued. They gushed forth into his mind, like a flooding river, the tide threatening to violently over take him in a sea of memory. He fought back, but to no avail. [i]"You're time is: 6:00. You gotta cut it down by an entire fifteen seconds if you want to make the varsity soccer team." The coach said. He was very serious about it, and so was Alex. He bowed his head, staring at the track as he thought deeply. "I will never stumble. I will not falter." "Ready, set, GO!" He took off, sprinting around the track like a madman. He had to run a mile faster than ever before. There was so much bearing down on him. His parents wishing for him to succeed, his internal drive, and all the other weights pulling at his very soul. He would shake them all off like he had never before. Casting all of his stress into his feet, he pushed faster, even as his lungs and heart denied him. He fought against it, willing his body to keep up with his mind. "Feet fail me not..." He sprinting, throwing up as he came in the final stretch. All the force left he had was exerted on the final step. The coach smiled at him, looking at the stop-watch. "Good! You make the team! 5:38. Pack it up."[/i] "I will never fail." He said, feeling alot more serious than he wanted to. "You won't? Maybe you haven't until now. But you will." A sharp pain went up his back, as Alex was thrown forward with considerable force. His laptop case fell off his shoulder as he stood again, looking at the man. His make-up was smudging slowly in the dripping rain. "I've come to collect your tattoo." Immediately a knife was supplied, coming from out of the expansive sleeve he was carrying. "Never." [i]Shit![/i] Alex thought to himself. How would he fend off a man with a knife? Finding out much sooner that he wanted, the man charged at him. He moved relatively slow, at least to Alex's eyes. Alex ran at the man, and at the last second, shifted his weight to miss their collision. Punching the man in the back, he began to run away, not to his apartment anymore. He needed to leave the city. He had a stalker, of some sort. "Come back here!" The attacker quickly closed the distance, obviously faster than Alex had inticipated. Turning to face the man, he stepped into a defensive stance he had learned in karate. He hadn't taken it since he was around 15. Time slowed down, and he could actually still move at the same rate as before the "chronofreeze." That means, Alex guessed, that he looked as if he were moving at extremely high speed. He had a few moments, and realized then he could see each individual rain drop. But realizing he had to fend off the man, he ran in, hitting his nose, neck, and solar plexus, then hopped back outside his attack range. To his dismay, time sped back up again, but the attacker was on the ground, gasping for breath. He gazed in shock, wondering exactly what happened and saw a red aura around him, quickly disappearing. "What the hell?" [i]Screw thinking, I need a plane ticket. Now.[/i] Alex sprinted to a taxi, leaving his laptop behind. He opened the door, and shouted at the driver, as he saw the agressor standing and running towards the cab. "Drive! Go now! Just... anywhere, dammit!" The driver floored the gas, jolting them down the street. The man, stalker, whatever he was, was out of sight. "Take me to the airport." The driver took the order, and after a short drive, they were at the NYC terminal. He paid the man his due, and rushed into the airport, not thinking straight. "One ticket one way to ... anywhere." "Okay. Your flight's leaving... five minutes ago." The ticket seller said, not really caring at all. Alex sprinted off, thankful in the back of his mind that he didn't have to wait to get where he was going. The plane was the last thing left, as the itinerary said, and luckily, was first class. It would take him to his destination fast. With no heed to his credit card charges, and the transaction he has just performed, he sat down, sinking into the chair. Falling asleep, he woke up, much, much later at his destination. "What the ... Tokyo?" He said, as he stepped off the plane, looking at everyone walking around, speaking Japanese. He felt out of place, and wished he were in a place that at least spoke a romance language. That might've been able to let him hold his ground. Seeing an englishman, he hurried over to talk to him. "Uh.. hey. Really sorry about barging into your conversation," he said, breathing quickly partially from anxiety. [I]Why exactly did he take such a drastic measure?[/I] "It's really alright," the man started off. OOC: Wow... that was a long post.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Uhh... Photoshop isn't a program where you click a button and out comes an awesome signature. It takes time. Alot of it. I've been making banners for about four months now, and I still have a long way to go. Read alot of tutorials, which will teach you what to do, and the basic skills of it. And most of all, the best way to learn is through [B]trial and error.[/B] Trust me, you figure out so many new short-cuts and cool effects when you do this. Read tutorials to get an understanding of how things, work, then mix and match. Try new things. (Sorry to you, Syk3, if this was suppsoed to be closed immediately)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]"What the FUCK!?" Aidan shouted loudly at Tim, completely in disbelief. It was completely unheard of, as Aidan never really talked, so much as yell at the top of his lungs. The pack of girls, James, and a great deal of other people around. "What the fuck were you doing? Seriously, you need to grow up. Don't [i]ever[/i] say another word to me." Aidan said, completely pissed he would talk to people like that. He didn't want to have a "friend" like Tim anymore. "Shut the hell up, Aidan. You're a bitch. You can't do shit." Tim said as he shoved Aidan from behind. He turned around, with a frown on his face, just shaking his head at him. Immediately, he took a swing, and connected with Tim's stomach. He doubled over, gasping for breath, as Aidan disappeared into the crowd again, the ring around the two slowly dispersing.OOC: Is anything going to happen in this RPG? Seems kinda dull...[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]I guess I don't get mad that often. Only when people deserve to be blow up at. Posers and jerks are at the top of the list. If you don't know me, I probably won't explode at you. But if I do, I'll be sure to pull all the stops in cursing, yelling, and driving home my point that you're a major b****. And sometimes little things tick me off. If I'm in a touchy mood, don't mess with me. I should read: [b]Warning!: Contents under pressure! Handle with caution.[/b] Heh.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]By "male resources" I meant food from hunting (when talking about prehistoric times). It probably meant double the protection too. And if staying alive to procreate was at the top of the list back then, it would be a pretty good deal.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Hmm... maybe try to add a new twist to such a scenario. Why not be bought off to do something against your moral code (like star in a porno flick), for an ungodly amount of cash (maybe 10 million we'll say)? Because you don't want to do that stuff. Hm... But think about all the good you could do with that money. I'm sure your sin would be outweighed by all the donations to charity, helping the homeless and less fortunate, and jazz like that. So really, [i]not[/i] breaking your moral codes directly by not cheating, having sex, or stealing, would be [i]more[/i] of a sin than actually doing it. This is all assuming, of course, that you'll actually use your reward for good intentions. Enough to "outweigh" the "evil" you've done. Any takers now?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Wait... a [B][I]month[/I][/B] to post? I'm guessing things would die if that happened. Why not shorten the max-time to around a week? I'm sure that's enough time to post something quality. And with all the attention to detail, I'll work hard to make sure I don't screw things up for everyone. Good luck with it![/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Damn. I coulda sword ta' gawd there'd be another step here.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Cheating on someone is a natural thing. Back in prehistoric times, it meant that for a woman, you got resources from [b]two[/b] males, not just one. This would help keep you alive, thus appealing to instict. For a man, it meant you had more children, which also appealed to instinct. And yes, some people are just more prone to cheating than others. I say [b]drop 'em like they're hot[/b] if they cheat. ^_~ And it all depends on your religion what your view on sex is. Some people view it as just a reproductive process, others see it as a spiritual, physical bond. And no, the affairs of men cannot alter the ultimate "truth." I believe that God is the Truth, therefore what we say and do cannot alter Him. We'll just end up getting sin on our record with St. Peter. Hehhe.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Well, uh... visions? Not exactly. I've had dreams before, which foreshadowed the specific event. I had a dream about being chased in a car, the next day, I was in a car driving well above the speed limit. I've had several dreams about people breaking up a certain way, and I come to find that their relationship actually [i]did[/i] end the way I had guessed. And deja vu, if that counts, I've had that before too. A car drove down the hill towards my house iwth a crack in it's windshield. A white van, and a paper stuck on the windshield. I glanced at it, pushing the matter aside, only to see that literally, ten seconds later, it's back at the top of the hill, driving back down again. Hallucination? I don't know. I'm guessing so... since I don't really believe in deja vu.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]I too, will offer to switch sides. Just make sure that the teams are "fair," and have equal numbers of active people. So that one team doesn't over power the other. And Lilt, your RPGs have a habit of either never starting, or dying. >_> >:^D[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]*ack!* *shakes fist at Ozy* "So you won this time... >_>" "*dances* HA! Beat ya!" Yes, I will get you back, Ozy. And your banner definitely [I]did[/I] look better than mine.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Sounds good, but you need to fill us in a little bit more about it. Make sure you have things planned out, so it has a nice flowing feeling. Understand? Heh. And if you actually make it, I wanna be [B]Morpheus.[/B][/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]I suppose it all depends on what action I'm asked to perform and how much money I'd receive doing it. I would never kill a person, but like... have sex, sure! Why not? Cheat on a test? Definitely. In the long run, it would pay off immensely. No pun intended.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Aidan never was one for amusement parks, but his best friend Tim had persuaded him into going. Of course, he usually didn't ride the coasters, he only walked around, eating funnel cake and watching Tim flirt with girls. His hobby got him into trouble, flirting with the wrong girl. Arrogantly, Tim walked up to a girl in the park, who Aidan recognized as Geneive from school. He swore under his breath, and peel off from his friend, trying to save himself from the huge explosion about to occur. "Hey," Tim began, about to be shot down completely. He mustered every ounce of charm in him, which wasn't much, to talk to her. "Damn... what's he doing?" Aidan whispered to himself. He made sure his cell phone was on, so that Tim could find him later. Walking away from the train-wreck waiting to happen, made his way to the soda-stand, and he purchased himself a Root beer.OOC: Sorry about not posting for a while. [/SIZE]