Shifti - User contributions [en]

User talk:Alveric

2011-06-01T02:22:16Z

JoharaGuardian: spam bot editing

I'm well on my way to finishing my third story here, so I'd best say something about myself. I stumbled upon this whole TF thing entirely by accident. On a slow day at work, I found some mermaid TF sories while idly surfing through websites about mermaids. I have a soft place in my heart for these mythical beings (not that anyone would notice). These stories led me to TSA, where I've read most of the stories and found myself hooked. I began feeling the urge to write again (it had been ten years since my last fiction). That is when I found Shifti and TSAT. Since I'm more comfortable with the wiki format, this is where I've been posting my works. I hope you all like them.

Alveric

===Comments===
Okay, it'll take me a couple days to actually decide if I want to give in and do editorial critiques for you, but I'm willing to say that I've enjoyed what you have written, even if I feel that its all a bit too short. However, with that said let me congratulate you a little on the scene-setting and the way you followed the first-person restrictions. There is quite a bit you could do by playing around with the "unreliable narrator" bit, but I think you've managed to capture a lot of the feeling of the chaos of the event. -- [[User:ShadowWolf|ShadowWolf]] 23:00, 14 February 2011 (UTC)

Thank you for your comments. I'm very glad to hear that you enjoyed my work. I agree, I do tend to cut things too short. It's almost as though I can't wait to get to the next scene. I'll work on that. I think I know what you mean by "unreliable narrator", but could you elaborate on that or direct me to where there is more about that? --[[User:Alveric|Alveric]]

:"Unreliable Narrator" refers to an effect that is particularly easy to achieve in a first-person story. Unless you are actively pushing to be as non-judgemental and impartial as possible (something Heinlein posited was a learnable trait - hence the "Fair Witness" peoples in some of his novels) then any narration is going to be colored by the beliefs, morals and experiences of the narrator. I put this to fair use in [[User:ShadowWolf/Ripples in Time|"Ripples In Time"]] and also in [http://anthrozine.com/stry/kill.me.if.you.can.html "Kill Me If You Can"]. In both stories the narrator makes an effort to not confuse the reader with their non-human POV's, but in both cases the whole story is only fully understandable if you can get past the narrators POV and see the whole story.

:[[User:ShadowWolf/Ripples in Time|"Ripples In Time"]] is a good example to follow for some cases, if just because it is a Xanadu story. I don't recommend going as far as I did with the narrator - since I've had a lot of complaints about that one being confusing - but... Anyway... If I can find the time and motivation sometime this week, I might actually put on the "editor" hat again and give at least one of your stories a critical going over. -- [[User:ShadowWolf|ShadowWolf]] 19:10, 15 February 2011 (UTC)

User talk:MargaretteEubanks

2011-06-01T02:21:57Z

JoharaGuardian: spam bot editing

Welcome to Shifti! Always glad to see new contributors. This is a bit of a standard boilerplate introduction that will hopefully help get you started on some of the basics you might not have noticed. Firstly, there's a main index of help pages at [[Help:Contents]] - a link is provided in the default sidebar titled "Help." It's a good idea to browse through the table of contents there so you'll know what information is available should you need it.

If you're here to post stories, there's a guide specifically for the basics of that over at [[Help:Posting stories]]. General editing assistance is at [[Help:Editing]], and information about how to use talk pages (like this one) is at [[Help:Talk pages]]. If any of the formatting seems esoteric at first, don't worry - wikis are collaborative and other editors and administrators will come around to help tidy up anything that's left in a messy state, if you want. The more complex details can be learned later as you go.

You can set up a personal homepage for yourself at your root user page, which you can find by clicking on your user name at the top of the page. Use your user page however you see fit; most authors generally list their stories there, along with a bit of biographical information about themselves and perhaps some links to other websites. See [[Help:User pages]].

If you have any questions, you can either click the edit link for this page and write it here or you can follow the link in my signature to my own home page and leave it in the talk page over there. You can find a list of Shifti's administrators at [[Shifti:Administrators]]. Once you've got your bearings, feel free to delete this welcome message from your user talk page. [[User:ShadowWolf|ShadowWolf]] 18:08, 30 May 2011 (UTC)
:Welcome to Shifti! We have specially marked bins for any sanity you might be carrying near the entrances and remember to stay away from the prop closets until you've been issued protective gear. -- [[User:ShadowWolf|ShadowWolf]] 18:08, 30 May 2011 (UTC)

User talk:Elnxida

2011-06-01T02:21:37Z

JoharaGuardian: spam bot editing

the joy of a wiki is I can delete spam

User talk:JoharaGuardian

2011-06-01T02:20:30Z

JoharaGuardian: spam bot editing

[[Shifti:Administrators]]. Once you've got your bearings, feel free to delete this welcome message from your user talk page. [[User:ShadowWolf|ShadowWolf]] 04:31, 15 May 2011 (UTC)
:Wow, lots of new users showing up! Welcome to Shifti, JoharaGuardian and I hope you enjoy your stay in this madhouse. -- [[User:ShadowWolf|ShadowWolf]] 04:31, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

The format will take a little getting use to Yay for my HTMl and XHTMl classes. lol I will be posting stories. I am editing the first one's page as we speak.

Testing the tildes. [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 04:51, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

(:)I think I get this now. :) [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 04:52, 15 May 2011 (UTC)
:redo. [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 04:52, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

Welcome aboard! --[[User:JonBuck|Buck]] 07:21, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

:Happy to be here. :) [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 07:38, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

----

With the story removal for editing, did you want us to delete the pages or leave them blank? --[[User:JonBuck|Buck]] 18:22, 29 May 2011 (UTC)

:Delete them. I couldn't figure out how. [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 22:40, 29 May 2011 (UTC)

Talk:Johara Chronicles

2011-05-30T04:05:53Z

JoharaGuardian: /*The new and improved Three Minds now the Johara Chronicles*/

Hopefully this works better. I suck at writing First Person so stuck with Third Person. I think I may have screwed up the tense some still, but it should flow better. It should also be less of an infodump. [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 04:05, 30 May 2011 (UTC)

Johara Chronicles

2011-05-30T03:59:59Z

JoharaGuardian:

{{byline|author=Johara Guardian
|user=JoharaGuardian}}
{{universe|Xanadu}}
{{WIP}}
[[category:story]]
[[category:Xanadu]]
[[category:JoharaGuardian]]

==Chapter I==

“It’s just about perfect don’t you think Linda?” Sebastian asked.

“As perfect as we could make it at least,” Linda replied.

“I don’t know, I am still not satisfied with animatronics,” David said.

“If you had your way this would be a robot and not a costume,” Sebastian quipped.

“Well, it would be better as a robot,” David replied. Sebastian and David had this conversation at least once or twice a week since Sebastian hired him as part of his design team.

“I can’t wear a robot,” Sebastian replied.

“True,” David conceded.

The three stood looking over the costume Sebastian commissioned in their hotel suite’s lobby. Sebastian had booked the suite at the Orlando Convention Center for this year’s Kubla Con. He was very excited to be here this year. It was supposed to be bigger than in year’s past and he finally had the money to live it up.

“How are the diagnostics coming along?” Sebastian asked David.

“So far so good, everything is checking out fine. Move out of the way so I can check the articulation on the wings. I am afraid that they might have gotten mangled in transit from Kentucky,” David replied.

Sebastian stepped out of the way. David typed commands into his laptop and the costume’s wings spread out as far as they could in the suite lobby, which wasn’t quite the full 7 meter wing span of the costume.

“Great no problems with the extension,” David said as he typed more commands. The wings folded themselves neatly to the costumes back and sides.

“My heart always races when I watch that part you know,” Sebastian said to Linda. The costume they were ogling was the result of long lived fantasy of Sebastian’s.

“Looks like the tail is working as well,” David said after making the costume’s tail wiggle, curl, and uncurl.

“Stick the head on so we can test the sensorium,” David instructed Sebastian.

Sebastian went over to the costume and pressed a spot on the side of the costume’s head. The face opened up to reveal the internal electronics. He lifted the head from the mannequin while being careful of the wires that still connected it to the rest of the suit. Stepping close to the mannequin he placed his back to it and lifted the suit’s head above his. Carefully he placed it over his own and shut the face. He wiggled his facial muscles in an exaggerated fashion to make sure the head would show his expressions. However, he couldn’t see and couldn’t hear well since the electronics in the head weren’t on yet.

“Ok, looks like the face is working. I am going to turn the video feed on,” David said.

The two screens over Sebastian’s eyes flashed blue before clearing to show images from the camera’s embedded in the suit’s electric blue eyes.

“Looks good from here, but it is still grainier than I would like,” Sebastian said with exaggerated care so that the head’s mouth would move properly.

“Yeah, but it is the best we can do with the size and power constraints. Testing the zoom setting now,” David said.

Sebastian watched as the spot he was looking at expanded on the tiny screens.

“Zoom is good to. Turn the ear’s on,” Sebastian instructed. David did as he was asked.

Sebastian winced as the ears were activated. Sounds were crisper and clearer now.

“They are working,” Sebastian told David.

“Ok, great. Last thing to check, here goes the voice synthesizer,” David said.

“Ttteesssttt, ooonnneee, tttwwwooo, ttthhhrrree,” Sebastian said in an eerie multi-tonal voice that was much higher than his own.

“Excellent, it all checks out. You can take it off for now,” David said as he turned off the feeds.

Reverently Sebastian opened the face and removed the head. He set it carefully back on the mannequin. Mean white David was checking out the suit’s cooling system and battery power.

“Looks like we are good to go on my end,” David said after several minutes.

While the two boys played with the electronics Linda was busy checking over the outfits for the costume. Her area of expertise lay in the design and manufacture of the exterior of the costume. She had stitched together the stretchy fur covering and the clothes that went over it. The rest of the design team wasn’t here of course, but she and David were the leaders of the group. Sebastian had hired ten costume makers, artists, and special effects people to make his fantasy a reality.

“Looks like the rest survived traveling as well,” Linda told the other two.

Sebastian looked at his watch. “Well guys it is about time to get this show on the road. Linda call the rest of the team in.”

“I dread this part, it takes forever,” David said as he stood.

Sebastian began stripping off his clothing until he wore nothing, but a part of speedos. Linda called the others who arrived shortly from their rooms. The team went into action while Sebastian sat on a stool. The costume was designed to be put on in pieces and each team member had a well-rehearsed role in taking the costume off the mannequin and putting it on Sebastian.

They detached the suit’s head, wings, tail, arms, and legs. The torso was then removed followed by the crotch piece.

The crotch piece was handed to Sebastian who slid it on like fur covered underwear. The torso with its battery pack, fans, and fake flight muscles was then maneuvered over. With his arms straight in the air they lifted the torso over his head. He had to wiggle to get it on, but his arms finally popped through the holes in the side. The room felt suddenly much hotter to Sebastian with the torso on.

The head followed the torso and then then arms. The arms were more like gloves with claws and had an extra thumb opposite Sebastian’s real thumb. The legs were trickier since they were actually digitigrade stilts. With his team’s help Sebastian stood on his new six toed sandaled feet.

“Hurry up with the wings and tail. This suit is damn hot and I want the cooling system on,” Sebastian said with his voice somewhat muffled by the suit’s head.

The team quickly finished assembling the rest of the suit. David went over to his laptop and typed in the commands to activate the suit’s full suite of electronics while one of the team hooked the carefully hidden plug that was part of the tail into an outlet.

“Ok, let’s run through the diagnostics again,” David said. He repeated the various checks that he had done earlier. One of the head’s connections had to be adjusted before the camera’s would work properly though. “Everything is green,” David said after several minutes.

“Here try using the remote controls in the staff,” David said while handing Sebastian the ornate crystal tipped white staff to him.

Sebastian pressed the concealed buttons in the staff, which controlled the suit’s animatronics. He caused his wings to extend and then fold. His tail wiggled slightly, which caused it to unplug itself. The cat like ears on the side of his head wiggled back and forth like they were supposed to. The eyes blinked and could even be made to wink at people.

“Ok, everything is working on my end. The rest of this show is yours Linda,” David said.

“Right let’s get this boy dressed for the ball people,” Linda ordered. While Sebastian stood there in his costume a group of his team went to another mannequin and began removing clothing from it. Under Linda’s watchful eye they carried the various pieces over to Sebastian.

They unplugged Sebastian’s tail from the outlet and threaded it through the back of the torso piece. The long piece of white cloth was then maneuvered between Sebastian’s legs before the front and back were folded and snapped together at his shoulders. A poncho like piece of cloth with gold embroidery was then placed over Sebastian’s head. It attached to the first piece by means of a gold sash which tied the two pieces together in the front and back. With the wing membrane stretching from the top of the wings down the suit’s sides and ending at the knees it made wearing pants or a belt impossible. The torso piece, poncho, and sash were the best that the team could come up with. The outfit resembled a side less white tunic.

Linda primly adjusted the clothes here and there before nodding. “Looks good, let’s get the jewels on,” she said.

A tiara like headband with an electric blue jewel in front was placed on Sebastian’s head. Snake like gold wrist, thigh, and bicep bands followed. A gold necklace ending in a blue pendant completed the accessories. A full length mirror was brought over so Sebastian could see himself.

Sebastian smiled in an exaggerated fashion and watched as the suit’s small delicate muzzle smiled back. He turned his head and ran his fingers through his mane were it had gotten messed up when he was dressed. He carefully adjusted his jewelry and then turned to his team.

“Guys thank you so much for all the hard work you put into this. I really never thought I would be able to get this close to looking like Johara outside of my dreams. You guys have made that dream as close to reality as is physically possible,” Sebastian told them. A brief cheer and smiles spread through the group.

“So we get a bonus right?” David asked with a laugh.

“Of course!” Sebastian said to the group’s surprise. Money wasn’t a problem for him anymore after he got lucky playing the lottery last year. “It is actually already deposited into your bank accounts, but it is time for me to get going. Enjoy the convention and I will see you all tonight,” Sebastian told them.

“Don’t forget the pouch!” Linda said. She brought the white pouch over and attached it to the sash of Sebastian’s outfit. “You will need you id and such. Your cell phone is in there as well,” She told him.

“Thanks,” Sebastian said with a smile. He looked around the room to make sure he wasn’t forgetting anything else. He decided not to carry the fake book around or the model spaceship. With a chuckle he decided to pretend they were in his extra dimensional chamber that Johara was supposed to have made inside his pendent.

With a nod of thanks to his team Sebastian headed out the door of the hotel suite towards the convention.
{{Separator|k}}

Johara Chronicles

2011-05-30T03:59:26Z

JoharaGuardian: Created page with '{{byline|author=Johara Guardian |user=JoharaGuardian}} {{universe|Xanadu}} {{WIP}} category:story category:Xanadu category:JoharaGuardian {{Separator|k}} ==Chapter I…'

{{byline|author=Johara Guardian
|user=JoharaGuardian}}
{{universe|Xanadu}}
{{WIP}}
[[category:story]]
[[category:Xanadu]]
[[category:JoharaGuardian]]
{{Separator|k}}

==Chapter I==

“It’s just about perfect don’t you think Linda?” Sebastian asked.

“As perfect as we could make it at least,” Linda replied.

“I don’t know, I am still not satisfied with animatronics,” David said.

“If you had your way this would be a robot and not a costume,” Sebastian quipped.

“Well, it would be better as a robot,” David replied. Sebastian and David had this conversation at least once or twice a week since Sebastian hired him as part of his design team.

“I can’t wear a robot,” Sebastian replied.

“True,” David conceded.

The three stood looking over the costume Sebastian commissioned in their hotel suite’s lobby. Sebastian had booked the suite at the Orlando Convention Center for this year’s Kubla Con. He was very excited to be here this year. It was supposed to be bigger than in year’s past and he finally had the money to live it up.

“How are the diagnostics coming along?” Sebastian asked David.

“So far so good, everything is checking out fine. Move out of the way so I can check the articulation on the wings. I am afraid that they might have gotten mangled in transit from Kentucky,” David replied.

Sebastian stepped out of the way. David typed commands into his laptop and the costume’s wings spread out as far as they could in the suite lobby, which wasn’t quite the full 7 meter wing span of the costume.

“Great no problems with the extension,” David said as he typed more commands. The wings folded themselves neatly to the costumes back and sides.

“My heart always races when I watch that part you know,” Sebastian said to Linda. The costume they were ogling was the result of long lived fantasy of Sebastian’s.

“Looks like the tail is working as well,” David said after making the costume’s tail wiggle, curl, and uncurl.

“Stick the head on so we can test the sensorium,” David instructed Sebastian.

Sebastian went over to the costume and pressed a spot on the side of the costume’s head. The face opened up to reveal the internal electronics. He lifted the head from the mannequin while being careful of the wires that still connected it to the rest of the suit. Stepping close to the mannequin he placed his back to it and lifted the suit’s head above his. Carefully he placed it over his own and shut the face. He wiggled his facial muscles in an exaggerated fashion to make sure the head would show his expressions. However, he couldn’t see and couldn’t hear well since the electronics in the head weren’t on yet.

“Ok, looks like the face is working. I am going to turn the video feed on,” David said.

The two screens over Sebastian’s eyes flashed blue before clearing to show images from the camera’s embedded in the suit’s electric blue eyes.

“Looks good from here, but it is still grainier than I would like,” Sebastian said with exaggerated care so that the head’s mouth would move properly.

“Yeah, but it is the best we can do with the size and power constraints. Testing the zoom setting now,” David said.

Sebastian watched as the spot he was looking at expanded on the tiny screens.

“Zoom is good to. Turn the ear’s on,” Sebastian instructed. David did as he was asked.

Sebastian winced as the ears were activated. Sounds were crisper and clearer now.

“They are working,” Sebastian told David.

“Ok, great. Last thing to check, here goes the voice synthesizer,” David said.

“Ttteesssttt, ooonnneee, tttwwwooo, ttthhhrrree,” Sebastian said in an eerie multi-tonal voice that was much higher than his own.

“Excellent, it all checks out. You can take it off for now,” David said as he turned off the feeds.

Reverently Sebastian opened the face and removed the head. He set it carefully back on the mannequin. Mean white David was checking out the suit’s cooling system and battery power.

“Looks like we are good to go on my end,” David said after several minutes.

While the two boys played with the electronics Linda was busy checking over the outfits for the costume. Her area of expertise lay in the design and manufacture of the exterior of the costume. She had stitched together the stretchy fur covering and the clothes that went over it. The rest of the design team wasn’t here of course, but she and David were the leaders of the group. Sebastian had hired ten costume makers, artists, and special effects people to make his fantasy a reality.

“Looks like the rest survived traveling as well,” Linda told the other two.

Sebastian looked at his watch. “Well guys it is about time to get this show on the road. Linda call the rest of the team in.”

“I dread this part, it takes forever,” David said as he stood.

Sebastian began stripping off his clothing until he wore nothing, but a part of speedos. Linda called the others who arrived shortly from their rooms. The team went into action while Sebastian sat on a stool. The costume was designed to be put on in pieces and each team member had a well-rehearsed role in taking the costume off the mannequin and putting it on Sebastian.

They detached the suit’s head, wings, tail, arms, and legs. The torso was then removed followed by the crotch piece.

The crotch piece was handed to Sebastian who slid it on like fur covered underwear. The torso with its battery pack, fans, and fake flight muscles was then maneuvered over. With his arms straight in the air they lifted the torso over his head. He had to wiggle to get it on, but his arms finally popped through the holes in the side. The room felt suddenly much hotter to Sebastian with the torso on.

The head followed the torso and then then arms. The arms were more like gloves with claws and had an extra thumb opposite Sebastian’s real thumb. The legs were trickier since they were actually digitigrade stilts. With his team’s help Sebastian stood on his new six toed sandaled feet.

“Hurry up with the wings and tail. This suit is damn hot and I want the cooling system on,” Sebastian said with his voice somewhat muffled by the suit’s head.

The team quickly finished assembling the rest of the suit. David went over to his laptop and typed in the commands to activate the suit’s full suite of electronics while one of the team hooked the carefully hidden plug that was part of the tail into an outlet.

“Ok, let’s run through the diagnostics again,” David said. He repeated the various checks that he had done earlier. One of the head’s connections had to be adjusted before the camera’s would work properly though. “Everything is green,” David said after several minutes.

“Here try using the remote controls in the staff,” David said while handing Sebastian the ornate crystal tipped white staff to him.

Sebastian pressed the concealed buttons in the staff, which controlled the suit’s animatronics. He caused his wings to extend and then fold. His tail wiggled slightly, which caused it to unplug itself. The cat like ears on the side of his head wiggled back and forth like they were supposed to. The eyes blinked and could even be made to wink at people.

“Ok, everything is working on my end. The rest of this show is yours Linda,” David said.

“Right let’s get this boy dressed for the ball people,” Linda ordered. While Sebastian stood there in his costume a group of his team went to another mannequin and began removing clothing from it. Under Linda’s watchful eye they carried the various pieces over to Sebastian.

They unplugged Sebastian’s tail from the outlet and threaded it through the back of the torso piece. The long piece of white cloth was then maneuvered between Sebastian’s legs before the front and back were folded and snapped together at his shoulders. A poncho like piece of cloth with gold embroidery was then placed over Sebastian’s head. It attached to the first piece by means of a gold sash which tied the two pieces together in the front and back. With the wing membrane stretching from the top of the wings down the suit’s sides and ending at the knees it made wearing pants or a belt impossible. The torso piece, poncho, and sash were the best that the team could come up with. The outfit resembled a side less white tunic.

Linda primly adjusted the clothes here and there before nodding. “Looks good, let’s get the jewels on,” she said.

A tiara like headband with an electric blue jewel in front was placed on Sebastian’s head. Snake like gold wrist, thigh, and bicep bands followed. A gold necklace ending in a blue pendant completed the accessories. A full length mirror was brought over so Sebastian could see himself.

Sebastian smiled in an exaggerated fashion and watched as the suit’s small delicate muzzle smiled back. He turned his head and ran his fingers through his mane were it had gotten messed up when he was dressed. He carefully adjusted his jewelry and then turned to his team.

“Guys thank you so much for all the hard work you put into this. I really never thought I would be able to get this close to looking like Johara outside of my dreams. You guys have made that dream as close to reality as is physically possible,” Sebastian told them. A brief cheer and smiles spread through the group.

“So we get a bonus right?” David asked with a laugh.

“Of course!” Sebastian said to the group’s surprise. Money wasn’t a problem for him anymore after he got lucky playing the lottery last year. “It is actually already deposited into your bank accounts, but it is time for me to get going. Enjoy the convention and I will see you all tonight,” Sebastian told them.

“Don’t forget the pouch!” Linda said. She brought the white pouch over and attached it to the sash of Sebastian’s outfit. “You will need you id and such. Your cell phone is in there as well,” She told him.

“Thanks,” Sebastian said with a smile. He looked around the room to make sure he wasn’t forgetting anything else. He decided not to carry the fake book around or the model spaceship. With a chuckle he decided to pretend they were in his extra dimensional chamber that Johara was supposed to have made inside his pendent.

With a nod of thanks to his team Sebastian headed out the door of the hotel suite towards the convention.
{{Separator|k}}

User:JoharaGuardian

2011-05-30T03:57:58Z

JoharaGuardian: repost of the first chapter

Hi, my name is Jamie. I have been reading several of the Transformation Archives for years, but finally decided to contribute something after falling in love with the Xanadu setting.

Due to my total dissatisfaction with my previous submissions I have removed them until I can improve the story.

Here is the hopefully much improved first chapter of the [[Johara Chronicles]]

[[category:JoharaGuardian]]

User talk:JoharaGuardian

2011-05-29T22:40:41Z

JoharaGuardian:

[[Shifti:Administrators]]. Once you've got your bearings, feel free to delete this welcome message from your user talk page. [[User:ShadowWolf|ShadowWolf]] 04:31, 15 May 2011 (UTC)
:Wow, lots of new users showing up! Welcome to Shifti, JoharaGuardian and I hope you enjoy your stay in this madhouse. -- [[User:ShadowWolf|ShadowWolf]] 04:31, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

The format will take a little getting use to Yay for my HTMl and XHTMl classes. lol I will be posting stories. I am editing the first one's page as we speak.

Testing the tildes. [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 04:51, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

(:)I think I get this now. :) [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 04:52, 15 May 2011 (UTC)
:redo. [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 04:52, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

Welcome aboard! --[[User:JonBuck|Buck]] 07:21, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

:Happy to be here. :) [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 07:38, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

----

Delete them. I couldn't figure out how. [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 22:40, 29 May 2011 (UTC)

With the story removal for editing, did you want us to delete the pages or leave them blank? --[[User:JonBuck|Buck]] 18:22, 29 May 2011 (UTC)

User:JoharaGuardian

2011-05-29T04:21:12Z

JoharaGuardian: Removal of Stories for Editing

Hi, my name is Jamie. I have been reading several of the Transformation Archives for years, but finally decided to contribute something after falling in love with the Xanadu setting.

Due to my total dissatisfaction with my previous submissions I have removed them until I can improve the story.

[[category:JoharaGuardian]]

Talk:Three Minds 2.0

2011-05-28T05:17:44Z

JoharaGuardian:

What was he using to pretend was his ship before the change hit?

--[[User:Alex Warlorn|Alex Warlorn]] 10:29, 19 May 2011 (UTC)

Good question. It was going to be the pendant, but that was superseded by the other use. I was going for the whole 'essential part of the character excuse for the ship.'[[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 10:32, 19 May 2011 (UTC)

I have been going through other stories regularly for plot tie ins and so forth. You mentioned somewhere about running into GNE. I found a section of that story that kind of covers Johara I think;
''She also suspected there of being at least one person changed so that they could alter reality at quite a fundamental level (almost the power of a god or goddess?), and people equipped with magical and technological artefacts of immense power. But, so far she couldn't pin-down exactly who or what they all might be.'' Which fits how Johara's magic system works. :)[[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 10:46, 19 May 2011 (UTC)

Remember the poor poor angel fish character from The End? Water would be a vital part of their character but they didn't get any and died.
--[[User:Alex Warlorn|Alex Warlorn]] 04:22, 20 May 2011 (UTC)

I edited the first chapter to include ship models and a book model. That should fix that problem. The Dancer is just too important for were I want to take the story. This is a pretty flexible setting though and it wont break so I am satisfied. [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 07:07, 20 May 2011 (UTC)

There are currently three 'homes' for Xanadu victims as it stands now. Project X for those the government either rounded up or employed. Real Stark Enterprises or rather Eric Winters own personal retreat he's set up for victims of the event for victims who have no desire for their talents to be used or abused by those with authority. And finally Sly Fox's hotel which is meant as a safe zone for Xanadu victims who are simply too weird or strange to function within normal society. --[[User:Alex Warlorn|Alex Warlorn]] 16:48, 20 May 2011 (UTC)

:Who is to say that there can only be 3 'homes' for victims or that any particular home has a monopoly on a particular kind of victim? There were 15,000 victims. Just 2-3% of that total would barely be noticeable and still be in the triple digits. [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 03:05, 21 May 2011 (UTC)

Could you remove mermaids, dragons, from the list please? Unless it's a major part of your story. Dragons seem to have form a nitch for themselves in the rocky mountains. And mermaids are being covered by another author.

:I can edited it to be less specific such as just mythical creatures, but again I am not say all Dragons and all Mermaids. There is plenty of wiggle room here I think.[[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 03:05, 21 May 2011 (UTC)

"The talking garbage can agreed to come as did a giant feather duster" Sound like Sly's alley. The power of the The Script seems to guide such weirdo victims to Sly's place.

:I will be honest. I hated Sly so only read one of those stories. So I know nothing of the Script or his apartment except what you have posted. It almost sounds like you are saying that all weirdo victims Have to seek sanctuary with Sly.[[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 03:05, 21 May 2011 (UTC)

“Of course, but who said they could possibly stop me?”

A Silver-Age Superman. Green Lantern (who didn't read about the yellow weakness or need to recharge the ring before his change). Dr. Strange Sorcerer supreme. Gods of Egypt (oh yeah, haven't written that yet, never mind).

A good indication if a character is overpowered in a Urban Fantasy setting IMHO is if they couldn't be stopped if they wanted to conquer the world. Characters with this kind of power who strut their stuff come across as annoying to readers IMHO. For instance, Sly can't do ANYTHING that bends the rules of reality unless it's for the sake of humor from what I can tell.

:There are already characters in the Xanadu setting that can destroy the world. Vegeta is a prime example. GNE is another example.

Seriously, saying a line like that is ASKING for the fates to have someone stop or mess with you just to squash your ego. REMEMBER! For a story this long, it needs: conflict, struggle, or thrill. IMHO.

:Yes it is an arrogant line, but it is followed by( “I will not reveal all I can do, but let me say that even the superpowered victims of this Event would be hard pressed to stop me if I were determined to leave,” Johara replied.) Hard pressed doesn't imply impossible just really difficult. I would welcome any suggestions that could give conflict and such.[[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 03:05, 21 May 2011 (UTC)

For the record though, this IS much better than the original version in many areas.

I'll admit maybe I'm being hypocritical since MewTwo is a character I plan to write eventually, but given how much the rules changed with the introduction of steel and dark types and giving bug-types more advanced moves . . .

At any rate, just be careful. A good conflict could be simply that his magic and technology due to being from conflicting origins and interpretations of the same character CAN'T be used in tandem or in combination.

This sort of thing can work in a short story. But this is a novella. It needs something to keep the reader curiosity over what happens next and UNCERTAIN over what happens next for the reader. I don't mean random plot twists that come out of nowhere with no foreshadowing. I just mean that predictable doesn't work for longer stories. IMHO. I REALLY REALLY wish someone else could step in here so I'd know if I was filling your head with nonsense! --[[User:Alex Warlorn|Alex Warlorn]] 17:15, 20 May 2011 (UTC)

:Are you saying you got bored reading it? If nothing else it has gotten the attention of your inner critic lol Right now I don't know were this story will go, but it feels like I am just setting the stage it is just a slow process before things are ready for problems to crop up. Consider this: I intend to create a very secure sanctuary. As you said it practically asks for someone to mess with you. Would that not in itself created conflict? How many 'evil' types or even hero types do you think would feel it necessary just to try the defenses of the place? The lure of the magic and technology that the island would have would be very strong. Heck some nut job country could even try to nuke it. There are lots of possibilities.[[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 03:05, 21 May 2011 (UTC)

Let me read it over the weekend and I'll help if I can.--[[User:Alveric|Alveric]] 19:21, 20 May 2011 (UTC)

:I did some relatively minor editing. I made the beings that were going with me less specific in terms of species and tried to bulk up the reasons why Those particular beings were going to my sanctuary and not one of the others. [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 13:32, 21 May 2011 (UTC)

I promised to read and make comments, here they are. First feel free to disregard anything I say. I'm an amateur like you.
Your presentation and command of the language is very good. You present a lot of complex concepts in an understandable fashion. You have a future in this.
Since you've read at least some of my stories, you know that they are more character than plot driven (if you find a plot in any of my stories let me know). So I'm going to concentrate on characterization. Johara comes across as a bit cold and humorless. That's not a bad thing, look at Spock. There is risk involved in a character like that, however. We all want people to read and enjoy what we write, it's what drives us (certainly not money). One thing that makes people want to read fiction is empathy for the characters, people must care about them. The reader must care about Johara and want her to succeed. If they do that, all else is forgiven. You should let some 'humanity' peek through Johara's reserve. It was Nimoy's skill as an actor that allowed him to do this without destroying the character's integrity. Consider it a challenge, not a flaw.
Add secondary characters. The 300 survivors who accompany Johara, provide a great opportunity. Go ahead and go into detail about what they are, if you want. Not every dragon wants to go to the Rocky Mountains, I don't have dibs on every Mer. Turn them into a community of individuals, not a single mass. There is no way all 300 will agree on becoming Kyhyce, they are, or were, human. It's hard enough getting five humans to agree on what's for dinner, let alone 300 for something as important as becoming the mothers of a lost race.
Don't worry about Johara being a Mary Sue. If the readers like her, all is forgiven. Hannah is a bit of a Mary Sue herself.
Don't worry either about me referring to Johara in the feminine. It's just a quirk of mine rather than criticism. I can't help but think of any being with a womb as feminine, even if she has man parts as well :-).
I think I'm starting to like Johara. Good luck. --[[User:Alveric|Alveric]] 16:16, 23 May 2011 (UTC)

I got tired of think of what to do with the 300 is why I just turned them all into Kyhyce lol Btw I use 'he' simply for writing convenience traditionally when a gender wasn't specified 'he' was used as a rule of thumb. That doesn't exactly apply here. Trying use the e-he, em-him, es-his, er-her, e-she, etc gets clunky and looks messy. (E rode es bike to visit es gramdma to get er some cake. E got cake for emself as well as er.) I am actually glad you noticed the Spock like effect, not that I had him in mind, unemotionally expressive was what I was going for. Calm to the point of madness lol [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 16:42, 23 May 2011 (UTC)

Oh, thank goodness you aren't doing the e, es, er stuff. It's hard to pull off. If you're going to listen to anyone, listen to ShadowWolf. --[[User:Alveric|Alveric]] 17:58, 23 May 2011 (UTC)

== Villains and Conflict ==

Since this story is taking on a life of its own and there are something in it that are pointless without conflict as some helpful people have pointed out I am working on a villain for the setting. Mephisto seems like a good fit or something similar. Villains aren't my thing. Ideas would be appreciated.

== Editing/Critique ==

I'm just getting started on this, and I hope you have thick skin, because I don't play with words when I start digging in and providing advice on how to better a story. Anyway... Watch this space for the next day or so as I work through what you've got posted to provide you with some advice on how to better the story. -- [[User:ShadowWolf|ShadowWolf]] 16:07, 23 May 2011 (UTC)

:Feels nervous[[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 16:24, 23 May 2011 (UTC)

===First Report===

Okay, since I'm starting to get hand-cramps while writing notes about the critique long-hand I've decided to stop about halfway through the opening because it's become somewhat obvious to me that, like most new writers, you haven't fully grasped how to get a story rolling without data-dumps and similar mistakes.

So...

#) You've got a problem with repetition of sentence structure in at least the first paragraph and a problem with always referring to Sebastian by name instead of shortening it out to provide flavor and variation.
#) Instead of showing the actions and providing something that can grab and hold the attention of the reader you open with a (sorry!) poorly done data dump that lacks a proper flowing feel to it.
#) You've got the viewpoint skewed a bit - in the opening it reads closer to a third-person omniscient viewpoint but it transitions rapidly to a first-person viewpoint. This isn't always a mistake, but I'm positive it isn't what you were going for.

Now... On a whim I decided to rewrite the whole "flashback" opening you did as an example of pacing, flow and how to make a data-dump work as part of a story.

Example:

:Looking over the wonderfully crafted costume and its related clothing I smiled. Just a year ago it was nothing but a dream and circumstances seemed set to keep it that way. Economically I'd been lower-middle class (and struggling a little to maintain that level) because mental-health non-profits don't pay well - not even the Therapists like me.

:But then, one day, I'd had a couple extra dollars in my pocket and the jackpot on the lottery caught my eye. Deciding it couldn't hurt, I plunked down the cash and asked for a quick-pick. Later that night I thought I was going to have a heart-attack when the drawing happened and the numbers lined up with the ones on the ticket I'd bought. Yes - I was the sole winner (though I didn't know nobody else had won, yet) of a huge, multi-million dollar jackpot.

:No, I didn't go and immediately commission the costume on the mannikins in front of me. My first move was to donate almost a quarter of my winnings to various childrens and mental-health charities. Then I went and found the right people - Hollywood practical effects specialists and other specialists in high-grade costumes with animated features - to make my dream a reality. It had taken them months to make it and get the bugs out of the mechanical aspects of it, but it had been finished in time for me to wear it to Xanadu.

-----------

That should give you an idea of what I'm talking about as far as flavor, flow and pacing goes. And yes, it doesn't use the characters name at all - it's a first-person viewpoint - ie: from inside a characters head - and nobody uses their name in their own thoughts. (Except in specific circumstances).

Hope this helps a bit - I'll be back later with more. -- [[User:ShadowWolf|ShadowWolf]] 16:48, 23 May 2011 (UTC)

It was meant to be third person, though I admit that probably doesn't work too well for the intro. [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 16:59, 23 May 2011 (UTC)

Considering it starts out with Three Minds, and then has to be fuse into one person. Switching from a third POV to a first POV works IMHO.
--[[User:Alex Warlorn|Alex Warlorn]] 17:22, 24 May 2011 (UTC)

I agree, a POV shift at the merger is a good dramatic touch. --[[User:Alveric|Alveric]] 17:29, 24 May 2011 (UTC)

*IF* a POV Shift is going to be used, be clear about the tense both before trying it. If I can become confused by the text, then the tense isn't clear and there is work that needs to be done. Otherwise the tense-shift will confuse people and that is never a good thing. -- [[User:ShadowWolf|ShadowWolf]] 00:18, 25 May 2011 (UTC)

I just feel the shift in narrative POV really hammers home the change in identity. It's been done in Xanadu before and to good effect! --[[User:Alex Warlorn|Alex Warlorn]] 06:55, 27 May 2011 (UTC)

:It works well when done well. The problem is that I couldn't tell the difference at all - it caused confusion on my part and had me thinking that the entire work was meant to be in First Person and the start was actually meant to be Third Omniscient. What I said above is to make sure its clear that you are changing the viewpoint for stylistic reasons and to have some clarity of difference between the viewpoints such that the reader doesn't become confused. :--[[User:ShadowWolf|ShadowWolf]] 22:20, 27 May 2011 (UTC)

::Real life has gotten hectic so I haven't had any editing time the past several days. I will work on improving the intro. I did a quick and dirty pov edit, which doesn't seem to meet standards. [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 05:17, 28 May 2011 (UTC)

Talk:Three Minds 2.0

2011-05-23T16:59:57Z

JoharaGuardian: /* First Report */

What was he using to pretend was his ship before the change hit?

--[[User:Alex Warlorn|Alex Warlorn]] 10:29, 19 May 2011 (UTC)

Good question. It was going to be the pendant, but that was superseded by the other use. I was going for the whole 'essential part of the character excuse for the ship.'[[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 10:32, 19 May 2011 (UTC)

I have been going through other stories regularly for plot tie ins and so forth. You mentioned somewhere about running into GNE. I found a section of that story that kind of covers Johara I think;
''She also suspected there of being at least one person changed so that they could alter reality at quite a fundamental level (almost the power of a god or goddess?), and people equipped with magical and technological artefacts of immense power. But, so far she couldn't pin-down exactly who or what they all might be.'' Which fits how Johara's magic system works. :)[[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 10:46, 19 May 2011 (UTC)

Remember the poor poor angel fish character from The End? Water would be a vital part of their character but they didn't get any and died.
--[[User:Alex Warlorn|Alex Warlorn]] 04:22, 20 May 2011 (UTC)

I edited the first chapter to include ship models and a book model. That should fix that problem. The Dancer is just too important for were I want to take the story. This is a pretty flexible setting though and it wont break so I am satisfied. [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 07:07, 20 May 2011 (UTC)

There are currently three 'homes' for Xanadu victims as it stands now. Project X for those the government either rounded up or employed. Real Stark Enterprises or rather Eric Winters own personal retreat he's set up for victims of the event for victims who have no desire for their talents to be used or abused by those with authority. And finally Sly Fox's hotel which is meant as a safe zone for Xanadu victims who are simply too weird or strange to function within normal society. --[[User:Alex Warlorn|Alex Warlorn]] 16:48, 20 May 2011 (UTC)

:Who is to say that there can only be 3 'homes' for victims or that any particular home has a monopoly on a particular kind of victim? There were 15,000 victims. Just 2-3% of that total would barely be noticeable and still be in the triple digits. [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 03:05, 21 May 2011 (UTC)

Could you remove mermaids, dragons, from the list please? Unless it's a major part of your story. Dragons seem to have form a nitch for themselves in the rocky mountains. And mermaids are being covered by another author.

:I can edited it to be less specific such as just mythical creatures, but again I am not say all Dragons and all Mermaids. There is plenty of wiggle room here I think.[[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 03:05, 21 May 2011 (UTC)

"The talking garbage can agreed to come as did a giant feather duster" Sound like Sly's alley. The power of the The Script seems to guide such weirdo victims to Sly's place.

:I will be honest. I hated Sly so only read one of those stories. So I know nothing of the Script or his apartment except what you have posted. It almost sounds like you are saying that all weirdo victims Have to seek sanctuary with Sly.[[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 03:05, 21 May 2011 (UTC)

“Of course, but who said they could possibly stop me?”

A Silver-Age Superman. Green Lantern (who didn't read about the yellow weakness or need to recharge the ring before his change). Dr. Strange Sorcerer supreme. Gods of Egypt (oh yeah, haven't written that yet, never mind).

A good indication if a character is overpowered in a Urban Fantasy setting IMHO is if they couldn't be stopped if they wanted to conquer the world. Characters with this kind of power who strut their stuff come across as annoying to readers IMHO. For instance, Sly can't do ANYTHING that bends the rules of reality unless it's for the sake of humor from what I can tell.

:There are already characters in the Xanadu setting that can destroy the world. Vegeta is a prime example. GNE is another example.

Seriously, saying a line like that is ASKING for the fates to have someone stop or mess with you just to squash your ego. REMEMBER! For a story this long, it needs: conflict, struggle, or thrill. IMHO.

:Yes it is an arrogant line, but it is followed by( “I will not reveal all I can do, but let me say that even the superpowered victims of this Event would be hard pressed to stop me if I were determined to leave,” Johara replied.) Hard pressed doesn't imply impossible just really difficult. I would welcome any suggestions that could give conflict and such.[[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 03:05, 21 May 2011 (UTC)

For the record though, this IS much better than the original version in many areas.

I'll admit maybe I'm being hypocritical since MewTwo is a character I plan to write eventually, but given how much the rules changed with the introduction of steel and dark types and giving bug-types more advanced moves . . .

At any rate, just be careful. A good conflict could be simply that his magic and technology due to being from conflicting origins and interpretations of the same character CAN'T be used in tandem or in combination.

This sort of thing can work in a short story. But this is a novella. It needs something to keep the reader curiosity over what happens next and UNCERTAIN over what happens next for the reader. I don't mean random plot twists that come out of nowhere with no foreshadowing. I just mean that predictable doesn't work for longer stories. IMHO. I REALLY REALLY wish someone else could step in here so I'd know if I was filling your head with nonsense! --[[User:Alex Warlorn|Alex Warlorn]] 17:15, 20 May 2011 (UTC)

:Are you saying you got bored reading it? If nothing else it has gotten the attention of your inner critic lol Right now I don't know were this story will go, but it feels like I am just setting the stage it is just a slow process before things are ready for problems to crop up. Consider this: I intend to create a very secure sanctuary. As you said it practically asks for someone to mess with you. Would that not in itself created conflict? How many 'evil' types or even hero types do you think would feel it necessary just to try the defenses of the place? The lure of the magic and technology that the island would have would be very strong. Heck some nut job country could even try to nuke it. There are lots of possibilities.[[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 03:05, 21 May 2011 (UTC)

Let me read it over the weekend and I'll help if I can.--[[User:Alveric|Alveric]] 19:21, 20 May 2011 (UTC)

:I did some relatively minor editing. I made the beings that were going with me less specific in terms of species and tried to bulk up the reasons why Those particular beings were going to my sanctuary and not one of the others. [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 13:32, 21 May 2011 (UTC)

I promised to read and make comments, here they are. First feel free to disregard anything I say. I'm an amateur like you.
Your presentation and command of the language is very good. You present a lot of complex concepts in an understandable fashion. You have a future in this.
Since you've read at least some of my stories, you know that they are more character than plot driven (if you find a plot in any of my stories let me know). So I'm going to concentrate on characterization. Johara comes across as a bit cold and humorless. That's not a bad thing, look at Spock. There is risk involved in a character like that, however. We all want people to read and enjoy what we write, it's what drives us (certainly not money). One thing that makes people want to read fiction is empathy for the characters, people must care about them. The reader must care about Johara and want her to succeed. If they do that, all else is forgiven. You should let some 'humanity' peek through Johara's reserve. It was Nimoy's skill as an actor that allowed him to do this without destroying the character's integrity. Consider it a challenge, not a flaw.
Add secondary characters. The 300 survivors who accompany Johara, provide a great opportunity. Go ahead and go into detail about what they are, if you want. Not every dragon wants to go to the Rocky Mountains, I don't have dibs on every Mer. Turn them into a community of individuals, not a single mass. There is no way all 300 will agree on becoming Kyhyce, they are, or were, human. It's hard enough getting five humans to agree on what's for dinner, let alone 300 for something as important as becoming the mothers of a lost race.
Don't worry about Johara being a Mary Sue. If the readers like her, all is forgiven. Hannah is a bit of a Mary Sue herself.
Don't worry either about me referring to Johara in the feminine. It's just a quirk of mine rather than criticism. I can't help but think of any being with a womb as feminine, even if she has man parts as well :-).
I think I'm starting to like Johara. Good luck. --[[User:Alveric|Alveric]] 16:16, 23 May 2011 (UTC)

I got tired of think of what to do with the 300 is why I just turned them all into Kyhyce lol Btw I use 'he' simply for writing convenience traditionally when a gender wasn't specified 'he' was used as a rule of thumb. That doesn't exactly apply here. Trying use the e-he, em-him, es-his, er-her, e-she, etc gets clunky and looks messy. (E rode es bike to visit es gramdma to get er some cake. E got cake for emself as well as er.) I am actually glad you noticed the Spock like effect, not that I had him in mind, unemotionally expressive was what I was going for. Calm to the point of madness lol [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 16:42, 23 May 2011 (UTC)

== Villains and Conflict ==

Since this story is taking on a life of its own and there are something in it that are pointless without conflict as some helpful people have pointed out I am working on a villain for the setting. Mephisto seems like a good fit or something similar. Villains aren't my thing. Ideas would be appreciated.

== Editing/Critique ==

I'm just getting started on this, and I hope you have thick skin, because I don't play with words when I start digging in and providing advice on how to better a story. Anyway... Watch this space for the next day or so as I work through what you've got posted to provide you with some advice on how to better the story. -- [[User:ShadowWolf|ShadowWolf]] 16:07, 23 May 2011 (UTC)

:Feels nervous[[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 16:24, 23 May 2011 (UTC)

===First Report===

Okay, since I'm starting to get hand-cramps while writing notes about the critique long-hand I've decided to stop about halfway through the opening because it's become somewhat obvious to me that, like most new writers, you haven't fully grasped how to get a story rolling without data-dumps and similar mistakes.

So...

#) You've got a problem with repetition of sentence structure in at least the first paragraph and a problem with always referring to Sebastian by name instead of shortening it out to provide flavor and variation.
#) Instead of showing the actions and providing something that can grab and hold the attention of the reader you open with a (sorry!) poorly done data dump that lacks a proper flowing feel to it.
#) You've got the viewpoint skewed a bit - in the opening it reads closer to a third-person omniscient viewpoint but it transitions rapidly to a first-person viewpoint. This isn't always a mistake, but I'm positive it isn't what you were going for.

Now... On a whim I decided to rewrite the whole "flashback" opening you did as an example of pacing, flow and how to make a data-dump work as part of a story.

Example:

:Looking over the wonderfully crafted costume and its related clothing I smiled. Just a year ago it was nothing but a dream and circumstances seemed set to keep it that way. Economically I'd been lower-middle class (and struggling a little to maintain that level) because mental-health non-profits don't pay well - not even the Therapists like me.

:But then, one day, I'd had a couple extra dollars in my pocket and the jackpot on the lottery caught my eye. Deciding it couldn't hurt, I plunked down the cash and asked for a quick-pick. Later that night I thought I was going to have a heart-attack when the drawing happened and the numbers lined up with the ones on the ticket I'd bought. Yes - I was the sole winner (though I didn't know nobody else had won, yet) of a huge, multi-million dollar jackpot.

:No, I didn't go and immediately commission the costume on the mannikins in front of me. My first move was to donate almost a quarter of my winnings to various childrens and mental-health charities. Then I went and found the right people - Hollywood practical effects specialists and other specialists in high-grade costumes with animated features - to make my dream a reality. It had taken them months to make it and get the bugs out of the mechanical aspects of it, but it had been finished in time for me to wear it to Xanadu.

-----------

That should give you an idea of what I'm talking about as far as flavor, flow and pacing goes. And yes, it doesn't use the characters name at all - it's a first-person viewpoint - ie: from inside a characters head - and nobody uses their name in their own thoughts. (Except in specific circumstances).

Hope this helps a bit - I'll be back later with more. -- [[User:ShadowWolf|ShadowWolf]] 16:48, 23 May 2011 (UTC)

It was meant to be third person, though I admit that probably doesn't work too well for the intro. [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 16:59, 23 May 2011 (UTC)

Talk:Three Minds 2.0

2011-05-23T16:42:18Z

JoharaGuardian:

Talk:Three Minds 2.0

2011-05-23T16:24:04Z

JoharaGuardian: /* Editing/Critique */

Talk:Mermaids of Xanadu

2011-05-23T12:06:57Z

JoharaGuardian:

If the woman really wants to become a mermaid that bad. Once the dust settles there have been two canon stories that could help her. One was a story about a hippie who did 'totem' face painting that turned people into anthro with spiritual guides that varied greatly due to his nebulous explanation of them. The other is a furry designer who due to the phrasing of his business cards can create costumes that turn people into anthros when worn. The story ended with one of his friends holding up a costume reminding him of his promise to join her as a transformed if it was possible. She could easily be turned into a anthro-dolphin with a mermaid like tail. Not to mention Sly could easily turn her into a cartoon mermaid if he could make a joke out of it with the transformation as the punchline.

Also, I was thinking of writing a drabble collection called 'New Beginnings' or 'Live' as the day to 'The End's' night. But I don't know if anyone would read an optimistic counter weight to that tale or not.

-- Alex Warlorn 2011 May 11 6 27 PST PM (can never figure out the date command)

I've read those, but I didn't think of them til you reminded me. There are other stories, 'Against Type' for example where people were transformed, or their transformations modified, after the Big Change. Winters inadvertantly opened a big, leaking hole in reality, so I'm sure if Edna Linzky wants to be a mermaid badly enough to seriously look for a way, she'll find one. I'm kinda surprised by the amount of positive reaction I've gotten for this character, I might do more with her.

I would difinitely read such a collection, I'm a pushover for optimism. I liked 'The End's' dark humor too, however.

Alveric 05/11/2011 09:59am EDT

:I had came up with several options for my character to perform various transformations. From temporary transformations using es own shapeshifting abilities to modifying the magic of the already transformed to 'building' new bodies using nanites and transferring their souls/personalities into the new bodies. So if Linzky really wants to be a mermaid I can oblige in a side story lol :) [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 21:36, 16 May 2011 (UTC)

One thing I have noticed about Hannah is that while the Merfolk aspects of her nature are well expressed and thought out the Vulcan side has gotten little or no attention. Doesn't seem MerVulcans differ any from regular Merfolk. Has the Vulcan aspect to the story been overshadowed by the Mer? [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 16:12, 17 May 2011 (UTC)

After a fashion, yes. The Vulcan part of her transformation has not (yet) altered her life as much as the Mer part (squeeky wheel). The Star Trek character she was most attached to as a fan was Bones McCoy, not Spock. She also, like Bones, has a distaste for the Vulcan philosophy of Kolinahr, rejection of emotion. She hasn't yet had to face up to the reason why Vulcans chose to suppress their emotions, their intensity. As time goes on, she will find it increasingly difficult to control her Vulcan emotions. --[[User:Alveric|Alveric]] 17:33, 17 May 2011 (UTC)

:Ah that makes sense. [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 17:41, 17 May 2011 (UTC)

She underwent so little mental change because her Vulcan makeup was to her just that, makeup. Her situation is very much like what would have happened if a Vulcan infant had survived a crash before 'First Contact' and was raised by a couple from North Carolina. She can't however, escape the fact that, physiologically, that part of her which is not Mer is Vulcan, not human. --[[User:Alveric|Alveric]] 17:52, 17 May 2011 (UTC)

I am glad you decided to give Wynd back her voice. I feel sorry for characters that are human, but get turned into non-speaking animals.

Talk:Three Minds 2.0

2011-05-23T08:10:21Z

JoharaGuardian: /* Villains and Conflict */ new section

Talk:Three Minds 2.0

2011-05-21T13:32:21Z

JoharaGuardian:

Talk:Three Minds 2.0

2011-05-21T03:05:40Z

JoharaGuardian:

Talk:Three Minds 2.0

2011-05-20T07:07:43Z

JoharaGuardian:

Talk:Three Minds 2.0

2011-05-19T10:46:06Z

JoharaGuardian:

Talk:Three Minds 2.0

2011-05-19T10:32:32Z

JoharaGuardian:

User talk:Alex Warlorn

2011-05-19T08:32:04Z

JoharaGuardian:

Welcome aboard. You may have noticed we're fixing a few things. We'll make sure your story posts are neat and tidy as you learn how the wiki works. --[[User:JonBuck|Buck]] 17:01, 20 May 2008 (EDT)

Normally I don't edit user pages without explicit permission, but since yours didn't exist yet I hope you didn't mind me moving the text from your category to [[User:Alex Warlorn]]. That page is your "home" page on Shifti where you can put descriptive stuff like that. [[User:Bryan|Bryan]] 17:46, 20 May 2008 (EDT)

I actually only joined because those two stories of mine got rejected for reasons I felt were both absurd, and other reasons that weren't explained to me until -after- the door was closed. And the profile owner the story is on has a grudge with me over me getting him to remove a line from a chapter of his that completely destroyed the character development of a character he hates, I wrote a chapter where said character evolved as a person, and his one line reverted her back to a delusional obsessive compulsive. So I had to basically use harsh methods to get him to remove the line, and he's never forgiven me it seems. So I felt I had to post them somewhere. 21 May 2008 [[User:Alex Warlorn]]

== Copyright Concerns ==

The people who run Shifti do not have the money to face a copyright suit and your recent uploads of numerous Xanadu stories that you could not find the authors of is worrying. I do know that 'Liquid Courage' was written by Ed Beccerra (I hope I got his name spelled correctly) but beyond that I am in the dark as much as anyone. When it comes to copyrights we are very particular and if any complaints arrive the stories will be pulled without any hesitation. In the future please be even more careful about things like copyright. -- [[User:ShadowWolf|ShadowWolf]] 16:14, 22 August 2009 (UTC)

" 'Liquid Courage' was written by Ed Beccerra" just going by the by-line that included in the story. -Warlorn, August 22 09

:Would it be possible for you to contact the original authors for permission to post these here? If they're up on the net elsewhere, perhaps consider using external links instead of posting the content here if you can't get permission. [[User:Bryan|Bryan]] 06:03, 3 September 2009 (UTC)

I posted these stories here BECAUSE the websites they were on no longer exist! They were deleted by a hacker who left a comic book character showing the finger. And I contacted what authors I could and indeed got their permission. -- Warlorn Sept 3 2009

:Well, that's a good start. Which ones were you able to contact? Also, where's the hacked site? Perhaps we can contact the site admin and get it fixed. [[User:Bryan|Bryan]] 14:11, 3 September 2009 (UTC)
:: It sounds like what you're describing is the literary equivalent of "abandonware" software -- a work that is covered by copyright, but where the copyright owner can no longer be found, and where the work is no longer in publication (and thus cannot easily be obtained in a strictly legal way). If you look around the net, you'll find a number of abandonware sites. And if you look at them, you'll find that they tend to share a number of common characteristics: they tend to be kept separate from sites that carry more conventional types of copyrighted works; they tend to be very careful to explain what they do, and to describe how they determine that the software is really "abandoned"; they have a very clear mechanism through which someone who claims to be a copyright holder can object; and it is not uncommon that they run into legal problems anyway. Personally, I think that preserving abandoned works like this is a great thing to do. If you were to set up a site to preserve abandoned fiction of this sort, and take the risk involved in doing so, I would cheer you on. But it really needs to be separate from a more conventional site like Shifti -- think about how bad it would be if a legal problem forced all of Shifti to be taken down. [[User:Phaedrus|Phaedrus]] 16:56, 3 September 2009 (UTC)

:::In this case it is rather easy to prove "abandonment" because the content in question was never offered anywhere except the net. If the canonical location is no longer available - for any reason other than the creator removing the site - then it is believable that the work has been "abandoned". Alex says that he has contacted most of the authors and has not provided any reason to not believe said claim. So in lieu of such proof that the authors did not grant permission for their works to be posted on Shifti, they can remain. However... As I've said before, the moment a copyright claim comes in, we shall respond. (In light of a recent court case I'm tempted to remove these works immediately without proof of a grant of rights... Because just knowing that the works are copyright and there might be a problem is, apparently, enough to vacate the 'Safe Harbor' provisions.) -- [[User:ShadowWolf|ShadowWolf]] 17:26, 3 September 2009 (UTC)

:::Yeah, I'm not in a tearing great rush to take these down either. However, it's probably best to try to address these issues as promptly and thoroughly as possible anyway - hence my request for a list of the ones that are already "confirmed authorized", so we can stop worrying about those ones already and just focus on the remainder. As ShadowWolf points out, the current state of copyright law technically puts us in a bit of a precarious situation with the rest, but in practical terms I really don't expect any serious trouble while we sort this out.
:::As an alternative, should the need arise - how about checking the [http://www.archive.org/index.php Internet Archive] to see if they've got a copy of the stories in question? Even with the original site down, we could still provide an external link to the archived copy there. Archive.org seems like a good substitute for a full-blown "abandonware fiction" site if one doesn't currently exist. [[User:Bryan|Bryan]] 00:07, 4 September 2009 (UTC)

== Advice ==

I took your advice and began the editing process on Three Minds. The original version is still on my user page, but the new version is the one linked to the Xanadu category. Only chapter one is done so far. [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 07:20, 19 May 2011 (UTC)

Remember above everything that this is YOUR STORY. What I give you is just that -ADVICE!- If you try to please everyone you will please no one. Don't take what I say on blind faith, but be sure to THINK about it. --[[User:Alex Warlorn|Alex Warlorn]] 08:20, 19 May 2011 (UTC)

I did trust me. I recognized the problem, but hadn't put it into words. There were also inconsistencies and such that needed fixing. I think my changes will make for a better story.[[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 08:24, 19 May 2011 (UTC)

Btw the changes only really begin after the merge if you want to reread the story as it is being rewritten. I should probably point out the reason that I am so agreeable to making changes is that the story wasn't even edited. I wrote it all in a huge burst and posted it without even rereading, which is horrible writer behavior I know lol [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 08:28, 19 May 2011 (UTC)

I pretty much do that constantly. --[[User:Alex Warlorn|Alex Warlorn]] 08:30, 19 May 2011 (UTC)

This place needs a chat room. Posting messages like this is just odd. :)[[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 08:32, 19 May 2011 (UTC)

User talk:Alex Warlorn

2011-05-19T08:28:49Z

JoharaGuardian:

User talk:Alex Warlorn

2011-05-19T08:24:37Z

JoharaGuardian:

User talk:Alex Warlorn

2011-05-19T07:20:52Z

JoharaGuardian: /* Advice */

User talk:Alex Warlorn

2011-05-19T07:20:34Z

JoharaGuardian: /* Advice */ new section

User:JoharaGuardian

2011-05-19T07:05:39Z

JoharaGuardian:

Hi, my name is Jamie. I have been reading several of the Transformation Archives for years, but finally decided to contribute something after falling in love with the Xanadu setting. My first submission can be found here: [[Three Minds]]

Background Information Facts and So Forth on my character Johara and his race the Kyhyce can be found here: [[Johara and the Kyhyce]]

Revised and edited version of Three Minds can be found here:[[Three Minds 2.0]] New version attempts to reduce the Mary Sue effect.

[[category:JoharaGuardian]]

Talk:Three Minds

2011-05-19T06:12:21Z

JoharaGuardian:

This is what I hope is the beginning of a new story arc. I have been thinking about this story since I have read every story in the setting. I hope it fits and people like it. I will continue if people find it interesting.

:This story is being written in one giant inspirational burst over the past few days. Please look over grammatical, spelling, and other errors. I am posting it unedited. Also to those authors whose characters are included in the story please forgive me for not asking permission to use them. Please post any comments, questions, or concerns. Thanks and enjoy! [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 11:31, 17 May 2011 (UTC)

Interesting story. Well presented. Your protagonist is so powerful, it will be difficult to find a suitable anagonist. --[[User:Alveric|Alveric]] 15:57, 17 May 2011 (UTC)

:Sadly I haven't even gotten to a good antagonist yet. I am mainly getting a bunch of ideas out that have been floating in my head for years and Xanadu gives me a good spring board for them. I will likely to try and come up with situations that require subtly not brute force. [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 16:00, 17 May 2011 (UTC)

I'm pretty sure the rules say pretty clearly that while finding a reverse is perfectly possible, it SHOULD NOT be readily available and/or publicly accessible, but something the victim has to WORK FOR to achieve. Also, I hate to say this dude. But your character comes across like a Mary Sue. And we've seen some of those in the Xanadu verse already. Even his mental changes feels like how a Mary Sue would do so, without losing ANYTHING from any three identities, only gain gain gain. It's overwhelmingly clear how excited and charged up you are about your character, given how you dedicated an entire entry page just to the details of the costume character's story verse self. But you've got to realize that a story is based on struggle, or conflict, or charged emotions or thrills. While I enjoyed the details of leading up to the transformation, I can't help but feel that once that was done the story felt like 'I am awesome' post over and over. I can appreciate that, it's what every writer wants in any story setting they march into: set right what is wrong and stake out their claim, I should know, I'll confess I've done MUCH the same with some of my stuff. But remember what killed 'No More Fakes' verse was the stories becoming too interconnected. When this series was made, this was taken into account when the story was set up. In short, your prolificness is to be admired and aspired to, your love of detail mirrors my own like a twin, but your character adapts to being three persona merged into one identity way too easily, and doesn't seem to know -meaningful- failure or have any -meaningful short comings. I guess given his origin that's bound to happen, being the spawn of an ideal persona, but it doesn't make for a fun story. And given their similar attitudes and natures, I'm surprised he hasn't run into godlike techno super-genie GNE at any point here. Please take what I say with maturity and with decency. This is not intended as a personal attack nor an attack on your value as a writer. This is intended to HELP you mature and evolve as a writer NOT discourage you from writing.

--Alex Warlorn
--[[User:Alex Warlorn|Alex Warlorn]] 00:47, 19 May 2011 (UTC)

:Very good advice. I have been thinking myself that I have been borrowing from other stories too much. Particularly the Dr.Quest appearances. I am not sure how many Xanadu stories he appears in now. GNE and Quest Moments for sure. It is almost a shame though as I planned on having Mr. Drabney from Quest Moments turned into a female bulldog lol Writing is not really my thing. This is really just an expression of a personal fantasy. I had never even heard of the Mary Sue concept. LOL I did look it up and find a 'test' Johara scored twice the 'Kill it Dead' now rate of 50+ at 111 lol I agree that it needs work to make it more palatable. Back to the drawing board or in my case Paint lol [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 06:12, 19 May 2011 (UTC)

Talk:Three Minds

2011-05-19T06:10:22Z

JoharaGuardian:

File:Dancer.png

2011-05-18T12:29:56Z

JoharaGuardian: Dancer on the Ebony Sea

Dancer on the Ebony Sea

File:Star city2.png

2011-05-18T11:59:56Z

JoharaGuardian: Map of Sitnalta

Map of Sitnalta

Category:JoharaGuardian

2011-05-18T07:07:23Z

JoharaGuardian: Created page with 'Here in lies my creative genius beware!'

Here in lies my creative genius beware!

User:JoharaGuardian

2011-05-18T07:06:32Z

JoharaGuardian:

Hi, my name is Jamie. I have been reading several of the Transformation Archives for years, but finally decided to contribute something after falling in love with the Xanadu setting. My first submission can be found here: [[Three Minds]]

Background Information Facts and So Forth on my character Johara and his race the Kyhyce can be found here: [[Johara and the Kyhyce]]

[[category:JoharaGuardian]]

User:JoharaGuardian

2011-05-18T06:58:16Z

JoharaGuardian:

Talk:Three Minds

2011-05-18T03:27:41Z

JoharaGuardian:

Talk:Mermaids of Xanadu

2011-05-17T17:41:23Z

JoharaGuardian:

List of Xanadu characters.

2011-05-17T16:44:45Z

JoharaGuardian:

[[Category:Xanadu]]
{{universe|Xanadu}}

Stranger Status refers to how much a costumer has become their new self and the loss of their old self. However, due to the nebulous nature of minds, anything besides 0% and 100% are often open sliding in either direction.

Major and Minor Characters That Appear in Alex Warlorn's Xanadu Stories

* Aexorn- A Quarut type Inevitable. A type of extra dimensional clock work being with an hour glass for a face. A creature from the Dungeons and Dragons expanded universe. They exist for the sole purpose of insuring the time space continuum remains whole and is not altered or revised and trap those who attempt to violate time/space in spheres of nearly utterly slowed time. They gain emotions and personality as time passes, making it necessary to reset their memories at the forge they were created from time to time. Aexorn ultimately deduces it's origin but does not prevent himself from entering the con with his brother at Xanadu since this would disrupt the timeline. He observed the entire day of the Curse from a distance to insure no one attempted to use the curse and time travel to create more victims or attempted to prevent the incident entirely.
* Mi'chelwarorn. A silver dragon, who was the brother of Aexorn's Previous. Like many dragons he ultimately settles in the Rocky Mountains. After deducing his old identity he pretended to remember his Previous as to spare his parents grief. And has promised to visit them every Christmas.
* Mr. Mixelplix, a person went to Xanadu as the 5th Dimensional Imp from the Superman comics. He is fully himself but went mad from the god like power at his finger tips and was thrown into an far off alternate universe by the combined effort of Aexorn and others. He was originally going to go to the convention as Tails The Fox from the Sonic Hedgehog franchise and apparently had an emotional relationship with a Xanadu victim who had gone as Blaze The Cat who felt a confusing moment of sorrow at his dismissal.
* Molly Hale, a character from the third Pokemon movie. She had no control over her reality warping powers that was turning everything around her in a broom closet to crystal. She was either was separated from or was deluded in thinking that she was separated from her 'Mama' and Papa.' Aexon trapped her in a bubble of slowed time without hesitation or question to prevent her from damaging reality with her power.
*An unknown person who went as a diapered infant anthro raccoon. Kept intelligence but Stranger status is unknown. Was one of Mixelplix's victims before being returned to 'normal.' (IE original cursed form).
*An unknown person who went as a dyrad. Harassed by Mr. Mixelplix. Stranger status unknown.
* NOT Captain Jack Sparrow. Nuff said.
*Vulcan, Terpaline, female. Stranger. Possibly the same one who helped 'Bagman' but this is unknown. Encountered and for a short time wandered Xanadu with Aexorn.
* Blaze The Cat from Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. Stranger. Was harassed by Mr. Mixelplix and knew his Previous before the change and was confused by her own sadness at his dismissal.
* Dr. Who. Incarnation unknown. Has a fully working TARDIS. Observed day of the curse with Aexorn but did not prevent to stop his Previous from Attending.
* Jack/Jackie. Complete Stranger. A slobbish man with a love for costumes. Went as a perky Cat Girl Maid and acted flawlessly in character (possibly a candidate for the secret 'best in character' reward) on a bet for an XBox360. Can clean just anything and everything perfectly though she has no actual super natural ability. Is taken care of by her family. She got the X-Box from her friends but only touches it to dust it.
* Zefie, central character to Dot Hack//Xanadu and character from the franchise '.hack//Dusk.' Original name Lisa. A Stranger but has pieced together his previous existence. She Neutralized two Men in the Black in self defense who were attempting to do the same to her. Nearly anyone she interacts with becomes their favorite hero and/or a central character to her Quest to return home.
* Aura, central character from .hack// franchise. Original name Marica. Not a Xanadu attendee, but the mother of Lisa who went as Zefie. When Zefie explained the full course of her adventure to her mother Marcia, Lisa's mother transformed into Zefie's mother Aura. She considers herself the goddess of The World (the original on-line game world from the franchise), not the world. She transformed her home town into a twin of the city Mac Anu from the franchise and had the town's name legally changed.
* The Care Bears. A group of kidnappers who went as the Care Bears Tender Hearts, Grumpy, Wish Bear, and Cheer Bear. They remember nothing, and know nothing of their Previous' and are ignorant of their Xanadu status. Becoming Complete Strangers after their change, they provided behind the scenes support to several victims before leaving to avoid the immediate public eye. Unable to find Care-a-lot after converting their truck into a cloud-mobile, they decided to recreate it from scratch and have since begun a missionary mercy service with an open recruitment drive.

Other Major Characters from Various Stories

*Eric Winters-Rich philanthropist who funded and backed the Xanadu convention. May have been under the influence of the Raven mask before the Even, which is a representation of Raven the Trickster from Native American mythology. Widely blamed for causing the Event. Current form is a non-anthropomorphic Raven. Started the transformation magic of the Even when he walked on stage in the ancient Native American mask.
*Felix-assistant to Eric Winters. Attended the convention in a cat costume from the theatric Broadway show 'Cats'. Victim of the clothing curse. Unable to wear any clothing without it falling apart.

List of Xanadu characters.

2011-05-17T16:42:59Z

JoharaGuardian:

[[Category:Xanadu]]
{{universe|Xanadu}}

Stranger Status refers to how much a costumer has become their new self and the loss of their old self. However, due to the nebulous nature of minds, anything besides 0% and 100% are often open sliding in either direction.

Major and Minor Characters That Appear in Alex Warlorn's Xanadu Stories

* Aexorn- A Quarut type Inevitable. A type of extra dimensional clock work being with an hour glass for a face. A creature from the Dungeons and Dragons expanded universe. They exist for the sole purpose of insuring the time space continuum remains whole and is not altered or revised and trap those who attempt to violate time/space in spheres of nearly utterly slowed time. They gain emotions and personality as time passes, making it necessary to reset their memories at the forge they were created from time to time. Aexorn ultimately deduces it's origin but does not prevent himself from entering the con with his brother at Xanadu since this would disrupt the timeline. He observed the entire day of the Curse from a distance to insure no one attempted to use the curse and time travel to create more victims or attempted to prevent the incident entirely.
* Mi'chelwarorn. A silver dragon, who was the brother of Aexorn's Previous. Like many dragons he ultimately settles in the Rocky Mountains. After deducing his old identity he pretended to remember his Previous as to spare his parents grief. And has promised to visit them every Christmas.
* Mr. Mixelplix, a person went to Xanadu as the 5th Dimensional Imp from the Superman comics. He is fully himself but went mad from the god like power at his finger tips and was thrown into an far off alternate universe by the combined effort of Aexorn and others. He was originally going to go to the convention as Tails The Fox from the Sonic Hedgehog franchise and apparently had an emotional relationship with a Xanadu victim who had gone as Blaze The Cat who felt a confusing moment of sorrow at his dismissal.
* Molly Hale, a character from the third Pokemon movie. She had no control over her reality warping powers that was turning everything around her in a broom closet to crystal. She was either was separated from or was deluded in thinking that she was separated from her 'Mama' and Papa.' Aexon trapped her in a bubble of slowed time without hesitation or question to prevent her from damaging reality with her power.
*An unknown person who went as a diapered infant anthro raccoon. Kept intelligence but Stranger status is unknown. Was one of Mixelplix's victims before being returned to 'normal.' (IE original cursed form).
*An unknown person who went as a dyrad. Harassed by Mr. Mixelplix. Stranger status unknown.
* NOT Captain Jack Sparrow. Nuff said.
*Vulcan, Terpaline, female. Stranger. Possibly the same one who helped 'Bagman' but this is unknown. Encountered and for a short time wandered Xanadu with Aexorn.
* Blaze The Cat from Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. Stranger. Was harassed by Mr. Mixelplix and knew his Previous before the change and was confused by her own sadness at his dismissal.
* Dr. Who. Incarnation unknown. Has a fully working TARDIS. Observed day of the curse with Aexorn but did not prevent to stop his Previous from Attending.
* Jack/Jackie. Complete Stranger. A slobbish man with a love for costumes. Went as a perky Cat Girl Maid and acted flawlessly in character (possibly a candidate for the secret 'best in character' reward) on a bet for an XBox360. Can clean just anything and everything perfectly though she has no actual super natural ability. Is taken care of by her family. She got the X-Box from her friends but only touches it to dust it.
* Zefie, central character to Dot Hack//Xanadu and character from the franchise '.hack//Dusk.' Original name Lisa. A Stranger but has pieced together his previous existence. She Neutralized two Men in the Black in self defense who were attempting to do the same to her. Nearly anyone she interacts with becomes their favorite hero and/or a central character to her Quest to return home.
* Aura, central character from .hack// franchise. Original name Marica. Not a Xanadu attendee, but the mother of Lisa who went as Zefie. When Zefie explained the full course of her adventure to her mother Marcia, Lisa's mother transformed into Zefie's mother Aura. She considers herself the goddess of The World (the original on-line game world from the franchise), not the world. She transformed her home town into a twin of the city Mac Anu from the franchise and had the town's name legally changed.
* The Care Bears. A group of kidnappers who went as the Care Bears Tender Hearts, Grumpy, Wish Bear, and Cheer Bear. They remember nothing, and know nothing of their Previous' and are ignorant of their Xanadu status. Becoming Complete Strangers after their change, they provided behind the scenes support to several victims before leaving to avoid the immediate public eye. Unable to find Care-a-lot after converting their truck into a cloud-mobile, they decided to recreate it from scratch and have since begun a missionary mercy service with an open recruitment drive.
*Eric Winters-Rich philanthropist who funded and backed the Xanadu convention. May have been under the influence of the Raven mask before the Even, which is a representation of Raven the Trickster from Native American mythology. Widely blamed for causing the Event. Current form is a non-anthropomorphic Raven. Started the transformation magic of the Even when he walked on stage in the ancient Native American mask.
*Felix-assistant to Eric Winters. Attended the convention in a cat costume from the theatric Broadway show 'Cats'. Victim of the clothing curse. Unable to wear any clothing without it falling apart.

Talk:Mermaids of Xanadu

2011-05-17T16:12:34Z

JoharaGuardian:

Talk:Three Minds

2011-05-17T16:00:50Z

JoharaGuardian:

This is what I hope is the beginning of a new story arc. I have been thinking about this story since I have read every story in the [[category:Xanadu]] setting. I hope it fits and people like it. I will continue if people find it interesting.

:This story is being written in one giant inspirational burst over the past few days. Please look over grammatical, spelling, and other errors. I am posting it unedited. Also to those authors whose characters are included in the story please forgive me for not asking permission to use them. Please post any comments, questions, or concerns. Thanks and enjoy! [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 11:31, 17 May 2011 (UTC)

Interesting story. Well presented. Your protagonist is so powerful, it will be difficult to find a suitable anagonist. --[[User:Alveric|Alveric]] 15:57, 17 May 2011 (UTC)

:Sadly I haven't even gotten to a good antagonist yet. I am mainly getting a bunch of ideas out that have been floating in my head for years and Xanadu gives me a good spring board for them. I will likely to try and come up with situations that require subtly not brute force. [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 16:00, 17 May 2011 (UTC)

Talk:Three Minds

2011-05-17T11:31:51Z

JoharaGuardian:

Category talk:Xanadu

2011-05-17T04:53:04Z

JoharaGuardian:

Hmm, any idea why my three new stories I've personally written haven't appeared in the category section? -- Alex Warlorn August 25 2009

:You need to create a category: Xanadu tag. The universe template simply displays the puzzle piece picture in the upper corner. --[[User:Lloyd Brunnel|Lloyd Brunnel]] 23:27, 25 August 2009 (UTC)

THEY DO! -- Alex Warlorn 25 August 2009

{{Green|No need to shout.}} --[[User:Concerned Reader|Concerned Reader]] 03:20, 26 August 2009 (UTC)

As shown by recent edits I've done, they did not contain the Xanadu category. I'll add the tag to the others that carry your byline, Alex, but I'll leave the exercise of adding it to the others up to you. -- [[User:ShadowWolf|ShadowWolf]] 12:09, 26 August 2009 (UTC)

I've noticed Empathy and Errand of Mercy were removed from the Xanadu archive. Can I ask why they were? Alex Warlorn 2011 January 20th

:I am really fond of the Xanadu setting. I recently posted a story in it. I am working on a continuation of the story, but it involves some big events. Not setting breaking in my opinion, but enough that I wanted to ask for permission/advice. I want my story character to welll uhmmm Purchase the Death Valley National Park and turn it into a sanctuary for Xanadu victims among other things. Is this too big of an event for the setting?[[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 02:18, 16 May 2011 (UTC)

Eric Winters and Project X respectively handle that IMHO (for those who do and don't want their talents at the government's service). I'm not the originator of the series so I can't say with absolute. Though it does feel kinda over the top. And Sly Fox himself rents out his apartments for free for Xanadu victim simply too weird to function in society. -- 2011 May 15

:There are approximately 15,000 victims not counting secondary transformations. Plenty of room to accommodated more victims that don't want government help or who blame Eric Winters for their plight. Of course offering sanctuary to victims is really a secondary purpose. I want to recreate a alien environment within the park based on my characters home world and such. Es ship is kind of a doomsday vault of information for the recreation of Kuhyce society. I chose the most remote inhospitable location in the US. Of course the Sahara desert would work, but I wanted it to be in the US.[[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 05:53, 16 May 2011 (UTC)

I'm not the originator either, though I really like the setting. I can't see the U.S. Govt. agreeing to this for any amount of money. However, purchasing a large tract of desert land somewhere in the U.S. might be plausible. But, think how suspicious the Govt. would be of any Xanadu survivors it doesn't have control over. If I were one of those survivors, it would certainly sound better than a FEMA trailer park. Not a good location at all for Merfolk, though ;-). Alveric 11:07am EDT, 05/16/2011

Yeah, I'm sure that buying a large area of public national park land in the US for development would be, at the least, complicated. For the most part, it would be a non-starter. That doesn't mean that you couldn't do something like that in the US. There are huge areas of private, or at least available, land all over the US. I can think of one that wasn't even all that long ago a vacation spot but is now a ghost town: The Salton Sea in Southern California. If someone wanted to turn that into a refuge, I imagine that you could do it with enough money, there is already a basic infrastructure there, and even a large body of (salt) water. It would make more sense than Death Valley. --[[User:Eirik|Eirik]] 17:38, 16 May 2011 (UTC)

:Death Valley was chosen due to its remoteness, it's limited native vegetation, and well just seemed like a place to start. The idea wasn't to build a refuge as much as xenoform the area to be more like parts of the Kyhyce home world. Including turning much of the Valley into a lake and creating a barrier to thicken the atmosphere and introducing plants and animals from the Kyhyce homeworld. Basically turning the desert into a lake a forest land. Admittedly grandiose, but hey with all these powerful people in Xanadu it seemed a good idea to have something big happen. lol [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 04:53, 17 May 2011 (UTC)

Yeh, if you're talking about literally thermoforming a section of land of almost any size, you're going to have to go somewhere where the government isn't going to tie you up in environmental impact statements for the next three decades... --[[User:Eirik|Eirik]] 21:30, 16 May 2011 (UTC)

:The Sahara is looking better. Or maybe off planet, but neither feels right. Of course I could side step the issue and just say "I am taking this land. Here is generous compensation in the form of gold, minerals, and jewels with the promise of technological innovations to come. If you have a serious problem with this then I should warn you any attempt to retake the land or otherwise interfere will not and cannot be successful."[[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 04:53, 17 May 2011 (UTC)

::Hmmm, after giving it more thought and discovering that almost all big chunks of wilderness in the US are owned by the government I decided on a possible solution. A large artificial island in the Bermuda Triangle could be a possible solution without the drawback of taking up us land. [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 04:53, 17 May 2011 (UTC)

:::Make sure you sign your comments by hitting the signature button, second to the left of the line on the top toolbar. Four tildes also do the trick. Thanks. --[[User:JonBuck|Buck]] 04:50, 17 May 2011 (UTC)
::::I keep forgetting to do that sorry lol There fixed my comments. [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 04:53, 17 May 2011 (UTC)

Category talk:Xanadu

2011-05-17T03:22:55Z

JoharaGuardian:

Hmm, any idea why my three new stories I've personally written haven't appeared in the category section? -- Alex Warlorn August 25 2009

:You need to create a category: Xanadu tag. The universe template simply displays the puzzle piece picture in the upper corner. --[[User:Lloyd Brunnel|Lloyd Brunnel]] 23:27, 25 August 2009 (UTC)

THEY DO! -- Alex Warlorn 25 August 2009

{{Green|No need to shout.}} --[[User:Concerned Reader|Concerned Reader]] 03:20, 26 August 2009 (UTC)

As shown by recent edits I've done, they did not contain the Xanadu category. I'll add the tag to the others that carry your byline, Alex, but I'll leave the exercise of adding it to the others up to you. -- [[User:ShadowWolf|ShadowWolf]] 12:09, 26 August 2009 (UTC)

I've noticed Empathy and Errand of Mercy were removed from the Xanadu archive. Can I ask why they were? Alex Warlorn 2011 January 20th

:I am really fond of the Xanadu setting. I recently posted a story in it. I am working on a continuation of the story, but it involves some big events. Not setting breaking in my opinion, but enough that I wanted to ask for permission/advice. I want my story character to welll uhmmm Purchase the Death Valley National Park and turn it into a sanctuary for Xanadu victims among other things. Is this too big of an event for the setting?[[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 02:18, 16 May 2011 (UTC)

Eric Winters and Project X respectively handle that IMHO (for those who do and don't want their talents at the government's service). I'm not the originator of the series so I can't say with absolute. Though it does feel kinda over the top. And Sly Fox himself rents out his apartments for free for Xanadu victim simply too weird to function in society. -- 2011 May 15

:There are approximately 15,000 victims not counting secondary transformations. Plenty of room to accommodated more victims that don't want government help or who blame Eric Winters for their plight. Of course offering sanctuary to victims is really a secondary purpose. I want to recreate a alien environment within the park based on my characters home world and such. Es ship is kind of a doomsday vault of information for the recreation of Kuhyce society. I chose the most remote inhospitable location in the US. Of course the Sahara desert would work, but I wanted it to be in the US.[[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 05:53, 16 May 2011 (UTC)

I'm not the originator either, though I really like the setting. I can't see the U.S. Govt. agreeing to this for any amount of money. However, purchasing a large tract of desert land somewhere in the U.S. might be plausible. But, think how suspicious the Govt. would be of any Xanadu survivors it doesn't have control over. If I were one of those survivors, it would certainly sound better than a FEMA trailer park. Not a good location at all for Merfolk, though ;-). Alveric 11:07am EDT, 05/16/2011

Yeah, I'm sure that buying a large area of public national park land in the US for development would be, at the least, complicated. For the most part, it would be a non-starter. That doesn't mean that you couldn't do something like that in the US. There are huge areas of private, or at least available, land all over the US. I can think of one that wasn't even all that long ago a vacation spot but is now a ghost town: The Salton Sea in Southern California. If someone wanted to turn that into a refuge, I imagine that you could do it with enough money, there is already a basic infrastructure there, and even a large body of (salt) water. It would make more sense than Death Valley. --[[User:Eirik|Eirik]] 17:38, 16 May 2011 (UTC)

:Death Valley was chosen due to its remoteness, it's limited native vegetation, and well just seemed like a place to start. The idea wasn't to build a refuge as much as xenoform the area to be more like parts of the Kyhyce home world. Including turning much of the Valley into a lake and creating a barrier to thicken the atmosphere and introducing plants and animals from the Kyhyce homeworld. Basically turning the desert into a lake a forest land. Admittedly grandiose, but hey with all these powerful people in Xanadu it seemed a good idea to have something big happen. lol

Yeh, if you're talking about literally thermoforming a section of land of almost any size, you're going to have to go somewhere where the government isn't going to tie you up in environmental impact statements for the next three decades... --[[User:Eirik|Eirik]] 21:30, 16 May 2011 (UTC)

:The Sahara is looking better. Or maybe off planet, but neither feels right. Of course I could side step the issue and just say "I am taking this land. Here is generous compensation in the form of gold, minerals, and jewels with the promise of technological innovations to come. If you have a serious problem with this then I should warn you any attempt to retake the land or otherwise interfere will not and cannot be successful."

::Hmmm, after giving it more thought and discovering that almost all big chunks of wilderness in the US are owned by the government I decided on a possible solution. A large artificial island in the Bermuda Triangle could be a possible solution without the drawback of taking up us land.

Category talk:Xanadu

2011-05-16T21:40:53Z

JoharaGuardian:

Hmm, any idea why my three new stories I've personally written haven't appeared in the category section? -- Alex Warlorn August 25 2009

:You need to create a category: Xanadu tag. The universe template simply displays the puzzle piece picture in the upper corner. --[[User:Lloyd Brunnel|Lloyd Brunnel]] 23:27, 25 August 2009 (UTC)

THEY DO! -- Alex Warlorn 25 August 2009

{{Green|No need to shout.}} --[[User:Concerned Reader|Concerned Reader]] 03:20, 26 August 2009 (UTC)

As shown by recent edits I've done, they did not contain the Xanadu category. I'll add the tag to the others that carry your byline, Alex, but I'll leave the exercise of adding it to the others up to you. -- [[User:ShadowWolf|ShadowWolf]] 12:09, 26 August 2009 (UTC)

I've noticed Empathy and Errand of Mercy were removed from the Xanadu archive. Can I ask why they were? Alex Warlorn 2011 January 20th

:I am really fond of the Xanadu setting. I recently posted a story in it. I am working on a continuation of the story, but it involves some big events. Not setting breaking in my opinion, but enough that I wanted to ask for permission/advice. I want my story character to welll uhmmm Purchase the Death Valley National Park and turn it into a sanctuary for Xanadu victims among other things. Is this too big of an event for the setting?[[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 02:18, 16 May 2011 (UTC)

Eric Winters and Project X respectively handle that IMHO (for those who do and don't want their talents at the government's service). I'm not the originator of the series so I can't say with absolute. Though it does feel kinda over the top. And Sly Fox himself rents out his apartments for free for Xanadu victim simply too weird to function in society. -- 2011 May 15

:There are approximately 15,000 victims not counting secondary transformations. Plenty of room to accommodated more victims that don't want government help or who blame Eric Winters for their plight. Of course offering sanctuary to victims is really a secondary purpose. I want to recreate a alien environment within the park based on my characters home world and such. Es ship is kind of a doomsday vault of information for the recreation of Kuhyce society. I chose the most remote inhospitable location in the US. Of course the Sahara desert would work, but I wanted it to be in the US.[[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 05:53, 16 May 2011 (UTC)

I'm not the originator either, though I really like the setting. I can't see the U.S. Govt. agreeing to this for any amount of money. However, purchasing a large tract of desert land somewhere in the U.S. might be plausible. But, think how suspicious the Govt. would be of any Xanadu survivors it doesn't have control over. If I were one of those survivors, it would certainly sound better than a FEMA trailer park. Not a good location at all for Merfolk, though ;-). Alveric 11:07am EDT, 05/16/2011

Yeah, I'm sure that buying a large area of public national park land in the US for development would be, at the least, complicated. For the most part, it would be a non-starter. That doesn't mean that you couldn't do something like that in the US. There are huge areas of private, or at least available, land all over the US. I can think of one that wasn't even all that long ago a vacation spot but is now a ghost town: The Salton Sea in Southern California. If someone wanted to turn that into a refuge, I imagine that you could do it with enough money, there is already a basic infrastructure there, and even a large body of (salt) water. It would make more sense than Death Valley. --[[User:Eirik|Eirik]] 17:38, 16 May 2011 (UTC)

:Death Valley was chosen due to its remoteness, it's limited native vegetation, and well just seemed like a place to start. The idea wasn't to build a refuge as much as xenoform the area to be more like parts of the Kyhyce home world. Including turning much of the Valley into a lake and creating a barrier to thicken the atmosphere and introducing plants and animals from the Kyhyce homeworld. Basically turning the desert into a lake a forest land. Admittedly grandiose, but hey with all these powerful people in Xanadu it seemed a good idea to have something big happen. lol

Yeh, if you're talking about literally thermoforming a section of land of almost any size, you're going to have to go somewhere where the government isn't going to tie you up in environmental impact statements for the next three decades... --[[User:Eirik|Eirik]] 21:30, 16 May 2011 (UTC)

:The Sahara is looking better. Or maybe off planet, but neither feels right. Of course I could side step the issue and just say "I am taking this land. Here is generous compensation in the form of gold, minerals, and jewels with the promise of technological innovations to come. If you have a serious problem with this then I should warn you any attempt to retake the land or otherwise interfere will not and cannot be successful."

Talk:Mermaids of Xanadu

2011-05-16T21:36:39Z

JoharaGuardian:

Category talk:Xanadu

2011-05-16T21:26:14Z

JoharaGuardian:

Category talk:Xanadu

2011-05-16T05:53:33Z

JoharaGuardian:

Category talk:Xanadu

2011-05-16T02:18:23Z

JoharaGuardian:

Category talk:Xanadu

2011-05-16T02:18:06Z

JoharaGuardian:

Talk:Main Page

2011-05-15T08:30:32Z

JoharaGuardian:

{{Talk header}}

Hello friends, I wish I had come here earlier as the forums are well organized and I look forward
to gaining further knowledge and sharing my experiences. Ive been reading the posts and learning
quite a bit from the members.

:Forums? You might have the wrong site :P
:Shifti is a wiki, and we do strive to have it structured in a very coherent and easy to understand manner.
:Anyway… Shifti exists for authors and fans alike. If you really enjoy the site, you could help [[Shifti:Site support|support it]]. And you can also register and contribute your own works. [[User:ShadowWolf|ShadowWolf]] 01:30, 7 April 2008 (EDT)

::Yes, this is more than a little odd. The poster might have at least left a name. I'm inclined to think of ''unsigned'' comments outside of user and story pages as spam and thus deletable. --[[User:JonBuck|Buck]] 02:59, 7 April 2008 (EDT)

:::Nah, unsigned usually either means the user forgot to add the tildes or isn't bothering because he isn't logged in anyway. I see nothing inherently wrong with unsigned comments in general (though I do add signatures for them simply to make it easier to keep track of conversations). In this particular case, though, the commenter does seem to be a little confused about the nature of Shifti. :) [[User:Bryan|Bryan]] 03:22, 7 April 2008 (EDT)

==Inverse mermaids and idea banks==

Not sure where this belongs; it seems as though this René Magritte painting, [http://www.abcgallery.com/M/magritte/magritte57.html ''Collective Invention'' (1934)], is crying out for a story to go with it. --[[User:Trismegistus Shandy|Trismegistus Shandy]] 22:12, 4 May 2008 (EDT)

:Heh! If there's no good place to put something like this, how about we create one? I'm thinking an [[ideas and inspirations]] page (or some similar page title) where random tidbits like this could be listed. With the understanding that ideas posted there could be used freely by other authors, and that the contents of the page may be pruned or archived over time if it gets cluttered, it'd serve as a general forum-like sort of place. Joysweeper's recently been working on a personal "idea bank", as an example - see [[Joysweepers Incoherent Idea Bank]]. Though that's explicitly intended as for-Joysweeper-only. [[User:Bryan|Bryan]] 23:45, 4 May 2008 (EDT)

:: *grins* Hooray recognition! At any rate, a public idea bank doesn't sound like a bad idea. I'd still want to keep my own, if only because I've planted so much Capslove and weird excited ranting that it would kind of start taking over. My Idea Bank is just a garden of story-seeds and things that get me motivated when I'm stuck; a public one could consist of more pictures like above. Oh, and story prompts. That reminds me, I really should stick those in. --[[User:Joysweeper|Joysweeper]] 23:57, 4 May 2008 (EDT)

I don't know where else to put this, but the Toolbox?

"The upload directory (/home/shifti/public_html/images) is not writable by the webserver."

Can we fix that? --[[User:Joysweeper|Joysweeper]] 15:02, 12 December 2008 (EST)

:Gah! More fallout from moving the web side of the system to the new server. Should be fixed now... -- [[User:ShadowWolf|ShadowWolf]] 18:31, 12 December 2008 (EST)

:: Hmm. "Could not rename file "/home/shifti/public_html/images/7/75/Gawk.JPG" to "/home/shifti/public_html/images/archive/7/75/20081213020952!Gawk.JPG"." --[[User:Joysweeper|Joysweeper]] 21:11, 12 December 2008 (EST)

I have added a new story to the site set in the Xanadu Setting call Three Minds. The first two chapters are now up. Comments are welcome! [[User:JoharaGuardian|JoharaGuardian]] 08:30, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

::: Okay, lets see if changing that entire directory trees permissions has an effect... -- [[User:ShadowWolf|ShadowWolf]] 07:33, 13 December 2008 (EST)

:::: All right, thanks. --[[User:Joysweeper|Joysweeper]] 11:07, 13 December 2008 (EST)