ShadowLord_Lith

Granted; you spike him and get all the consequences of being under the influence, feeling them just as strongly as he does; without any loss of sensation. Your bane is that you fall through a perpendicularity and become stuck on braize. No investiture gained. Congratulations on being the only creature in the Cosmere without innate investiture; though that also means that the time and space of the Cosmere affect you differently... I'll leave how to your imagination. I wish for the ability to break the laws of reality and reason and create usable investiture of any kind inside of anyone I choose; without negative consequences directly related to it. (yes I know: investiture cannot be created or destroyed; I don't care!)

You are. The very fact that you exist makes this world a brighter place, as I know from personal experience. It may have been shortly after I joined, but have helped me more than you know in ways that I didn't even think you could have. Thank you. You our also appear to be an fairly decent writer of haikus.

To add to what @Edgedancer has said, another thing you could do is add subtle hints that, when viewed later, let the reader realize that the antagonist had been manipulating the protagonists into a final confrontation; he appears to go all out each time they meet, he take vital things from them, but he also leaves them just well enough to continue on and eventually reach him. He would then then show a hither-to unseen restraint and wait to kill the protagonists, toying with them and revealing just how long he has been manipulating their actions. Eventually he really does go all out, pushing the protagonists past the breaking point and potentially killing them; but how it ends is up to you. Deus ex machina, physiological weakness of the villain, and even mental ingirmities on either parties parts could explain the victory or (for once) the loss of the protagonists. But its up to you. So good luck!

In my story, or fan-fiction really, I took the main character's brother and, using the the idea that the closer two people are the more strongly linked their souls are, I had him get kidnapped. The antagonists now plague the protagonist with glimpses into the torture his brother is experiencing, at random moments during the day. He'll just hallucinate and begin to feel his brothers pain and emotions. Add that to the antagonists ability to influence his actions and choices slightly through the same link and... you get the idea. I don't know if that'd work in your situation, but the idea that something is happening to someone close to your protagonist and he/she can't stop it unless he/she either defeats his/her enemy or gives into their demands adds a lot of weight to the story, I think; especially when the protagonist is unaware of the fact that his/her enemies are the ones doing it, even if he/she guesses at the truth. What do you think? Did I help?

On the subject of Salem, I finally posted another thing there! I can finally stop thinking I'm the one holding things up! Guilty conscience thou art taken away for ever!!! Hahahahahahahahaha!

IronForge looked at the demons he'd 'befriended'. In reality, they knew each others general background and had a common interest. That wasn't enough for him to consider them his friends. Still, they had given their stories... He let out a sigh and began talking. "I became what I am around two years ago, and I went to try out ruling in a country that wasn't as... wary of my reputation. Me and Sonny left the ruins of what used to be South America and made our way to the ruins of what used to be New Mexico. There, I perfected my english and heard about Salem." He paused a moment, considering just how much of his life he planned on revealing. He decided to finish his story and answer their question if they asked for details. He didn't need to hide anything. Except of course, his exact power portfolio and his aversion to certain... things. "Shortly after that, we wound up here. I met you two, and here we are." He liquefied his metallic coat, keeping it in its shape out of subconscious will. "Do you have any questions for me?" He almost hoped they did; it would be pleasant to have people he trusted again. 'More people I trust,' he thought to himself, 'I'd trust Impersonation with my life. I already have.' He refocused on the people in front of him. He would enjoy this conversation while it lasted.

THIS. IS. BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

He... honked at you? He can't have been honking at you!? No sane man would dare do that! How dare he! I... I'm going to rant at my wall about the stupidity of any man who dares honk at a female for the next hour. Then I think I'll try to post in Salem. It's been a few months... @TwiLyghtSansSparkles, I sincerely apologize for the stupidity of those that share my gender that do such things, whom you suffer almost daily. Please, I beg you, forgive us.

I just got home from the worst school-day I've had in a long time. I went to seminary yesterday and a subject that reminded me of some bad memories came up. I felt like I was broken all day, a hole or something in my chest; moments from vomiting. Then I went through three bearing-checks in a row in AFJROTC, and only won because I focused on those same memories. I feel like crem, I want to cry, my body doesn't allow me to cry, and I still feel nauseous. And now I feel upset because I'm asking for help instead of trying to help someone else. Any advice?

Ezra Taft Benson. (I think I spelled that right.)

Remember, Sazed is balancing two imperfectly harmonized shards. Preservation is eternal stagnation, a lack of change. Ruin is destruction without allowing anything to exist at all. Personally I think that Ruin would be more opposite Cultivation than anyone else. If Sazed were to obtain Cultivation, he might actually have a perfect harmony of his shards. He's doing the best that he can while still being unable to truly be balanced. I think he's done a good job so far. He's kept the world from being destroyed at least. Sorry if this is more suited for a different thread.

Piano guys.

(A) and (F) Bronze, along with (A) Zinc. Allomantic Bronze would allow me to sense whether or not anyone else in earth ever has or gains allomantic and/or other forms of power. feruchemical Bronze could be compounded to allow me to pull the occasional all nighter with my writing and/or homework. Allomantic Zinc would allow me to better help my friends get through the day without collapsing emotionally. If there is no compounding, (A) zinc, (A) tin, (F) copper. Allomantic Zinc, see above. Allomantic tin, enhances my senses so I can better hear my parents, better see at night, be more accurate when it comes to smell based things (like gardening and cooking?), and so I can better feel the wind or rain when I stand outside in the weather. Feruchemical copper because I'm still in school; so the reasons are obvious in that area.

Shae remained where he was, barely moving a muscle, though he allowed his arms to drop to his sides. He hadn't been told to move and the command to freeze was still in place. He watched them as he answered the mans question, attempting to raise his voice so they could all hear him. "I, sir, am Shae, Shae Isha'Bekkar. As for my weapons, I could give you my knives if you'd like; I promise not to dismember you." He grinned slightly, trying to put the group at ease. The grin faltered as he noticed a strange feeling in his gut; a sense of fear and danger, with a hint of respect and reverence. Someone in the group had the same cursed blood that flowed through his own veins. Someone in the group was a channeler. He let his grin return to his face, attempting to keep his composure. Regardless of who was channeling, he couldn't kill or escape them unless he knew who it was. And that meant both gaining their trust and, likely, befriending them.

If you'd like, I'll offer to post in the RP. Maybe that'd start things up again?

Well, I've noticed that when I write, I actually have dreams. That's one reason I love this place, it pushes me to write more consistently, and that is something that makes me oh-so happy.

Who's up next post-wise?

Lemon-honey.

Don't worry. If need be I shall keep this place alive through sheer force of dedicated posting. Spam threat aside, all sites have their ups and downs. This site only had a few hundred-thousand active followers, give or take a few hundred-million. With that in mind, the fact that we have as much activity as we do, considering silly things like "Real Life", is really rather nice. Things will pick up, most likely in the summer when people have more time to obsess over this place again.

MatPat-GTlive

@Darkness Ascendant, just read your story, and it is impressive! Why haven't you written any more?

I can attest to the bullying. I have a friend who had been very thoroughly convinced she was worthless and that she deserved the small things that the bullies were doing to her. I actually saw them throwing things at her when they thought the teachers weren't looking. They got more of a chewing out than I thought I was capable of. The people you mentioned sound a lot like the bullies I met, though yours were more subtle, and by extension, more dangerous. Regardless, you are far from dumb. As has been stated by @Oversleep, you are an intelligent person: There is a difference between you and them though. You are intelligent in a variety of ways, and you're kind with your intelligence, often helping people and making us smile with delighted pleasure because of your writing. They, on the other hand, turned their intelligence and ingenuity towards manipulating people and convincing them that they want or need something that they don't; and they have had years to perfect those skills. You're not at fault. As for hope for humanity, I have four points in our favor: 1. We are here comforting you. 2. You recognized the scam. 3. We can all learn from our mistakes and the mistakes of others. 4. Our families prove that no matter how things may seem, love, hope, compassion, and forgiveness are always possible, Finally, if you're okay with religiony type stuff, I believe that god created the earth; and that he knows everything that has, is, or will happen. With that in mind, the fact that he took the time and energy to create this world for you, knowing you would live here someday, and he provided a way for you to return to heaven, proves that you and me and everyone are worth more than this entire planet to him. Add that to the fact that he had enough faith in humanity to make the world despite everything he knew would happen... Well... It gives me hope. /hugs/

Sorry for being late, but my brain finally let me finish this. Happy birthday @bleeder! @bleeder

All hail.

Morse ping. (I'm assuming "Norse thing" was your response. Right?)