theTruthshaper

Happy birthday!

Happy Diwali!

I almost don't want to go from Dragon to Splinter, because dragons are just...dragons. But considering we know Shards can be dragons, and that's upcoming, I think I'll survive.  

Spren are Splinters, so in a way I'm about to go back to the beginning.  There are other types of Splinters, too, though... 

I usually try to say something at least mildly funny in these lately, but I'm blanking. Thanks for the rep  

Life update: the dogs are cute  

Happy Diwali!

I think I’m officially a Lurker now

And out of nowhere...

I'm a Sentient Awakened Object. On your level now, Clearcut!

Thanks, everyone who gave me upvotes. I'm saving a giant mushy you-all-rock-and-the-Shard-has-changed-my-life for my one year anniversary (I haven't even been here a year yet? Wow, feels like so long and yet so little at the same time...), but again, thanks.

CELEBRATION TIME COME ON!

You're awesome. Don't forget that

My manager found a dead body at work today

Huh. Well that was interesting.

 

Guys...

How in the heck do I DM a decent campaign?

(I'm talking about D&D, btw, in case you weren't aware)

All of my sessions are just super boring combat montages and nothing ever happens. If I present the players with anything other than a monster and a roll for initiative, then they just deal with it as fast as possible and get to killing another demon. It's just dice rolling after dice rolling after dice rolling. I absolutely loathe every minute of it and nothing I can find offers any solution.

So I'm not looking for one of those vague responses like "adapt to your players" or "give them something else to do." If any of you has some sort of miracle cure for this then I'd love to hear it.

And out of nowhere...

I'm a Sentient Awakened Object. On your level now, Clearcut!

Thanks, everyone who gave me upvotes. I'm saving a giant mushy you-all-rock-and-the-Shard-has-changed-my-life for my one year anniversary (I haven't even been here a year yet? Wow, feels like so long and yet so little at the same time...), but again, thanks.

CELEBRATION TIME COME ON!

So, my Shardiversery is tomorrow, but tomorrow I'm probably going to be too busy freaking out about my AP world history test that's on Monday to write this, so I'm doing it now.

Over the last year, a lot has happened. I have made some really good friends on here through Discord, and a few other things. I discovered there was a really good chance I was on the autism spectrum (I still don't have a diagnosis, but we'll see what the future holds), and I realized the stress of life goes down tenfold if you don't have to worry about friendships you were single-handedly holding up. I started taking AP world history, as well as two other history classes, with the best teacher ever, and my view of the world has completely shifted. It's awesome, and I'd happily discuss anything from the Abbasid Caliphate to tsarist Russia to human rights with anyone who wants to join in that conversation. I also am now a proud Nerdfighter!

As I mentioned earlier, I got on Discord a while back, and through that, I got to know a lot of people. To all of you Discord people, you're all incredible. You're some of the most amazing human beings I know. Thank you all for putting up with all my weirdness.

And here are some notes to individual people. I apologize to everyone I forgot. There are too many awesome people on here to remember everyone off the top of my head. 

@The Awakened Salad You are such an awesome person, and such a good friend. I am so grateful for your willingness to talk about anything, and for being there for me. Long live The Awakened Salad Co! Also STAELSAHD! (We need to figure out the overlap between those two things...) 

@Channelknight Fadran It's been so great getting to know you over the last few months. In all honesty, when I first started seeing you around on Discord and stuff, you really didn't seem like the type of person I would really get along with, but now you get frequent Kaladin pictures and we're writing buddies, and I am so glad that I can call you a friend. 

@Hentient Hennnnnnnn! Thank you for sending me bird pictures! Toto is such a pretty little bird and she brightens my day like almost nothing else.

@FriarFritz Fritz, you are one of the kindest people I know. The world is so much the better for having you in it.

@Shard of Thought You are a fantastic human with incredible talent, and your drawing of Kaladin is still one of my favorite things ever.

@Knight of Iron Koi, keep on pulling teeth and being awesome. You're fantastic.  

@Chasmgoat I thoroughly appreciate your weirdness and just... You. Every conversation with you is fun.

@Flying Flying, you're also amazing. I'm so glad I've been able to get to know you better over the last few months.

@AonEne I remember back when you were a young child just getting involved in TUBA... Hehe. Ene, you're awesome. I don't know how you do it all. I mean... Being a mod and maintaining your sheer levels of awesomeness alone... 

@Emi Emi, you are such a talented artist, and everything you draw is amazing. Keep being awesome.

@Vapor You are an amazing person, and I'm so glad I've had the opportunity to get to know you. 

@Mist Mist, you are so kind, and it's always a pleasure to talk with you.

@Doomstick Thanks for talking about books and Nerdfighter stuff! I'm so glad I've had the opportunity to get to know you. DFTBA!

@DramaQueen Thank you for screaming Hunchback lyrics with me! It's always a ton of fun.

@Onimur It's so great that you joined the Shard! Thanks for joining this cult of weirdness.  

@S4S You are such a talented writer, and it's been such a joy to have the opportunity to rp with you for so long.

@theTruthshaper Truth, you're awesome. Thank you for always being willing to talk and just be awesome.

@JesterLavorre You are such a kind human, and I've thurougly enjoyed every conversation I've been able to have with you. Thanks you. 

Everyone in Knights of the Cosmere- You guys were my first friends on here, and, for the three-ish years that was going, it was a blast to rp with you all. Thanks for making the Shard awesome.

Everyone in Let's Go Find a Dragon- Thanks for making my really random rp a huge complex thingy with stuff I still can't remember! Thanks for keeping it going and keeping it fun. (If anyone wants to join, there's a link in my sig.)

And also I want to give a huge thank you to everyone I forgot, as well as everyone else. There are too many people to name, but you all are what makes the Shard the place that it is and I will forever be grateful to all of you for that. Thanks for being so willing to put up with me and my weirdness.

Also thanks to the mods for keeping this place going and keeping it great. None of this would have been possible without you guys.

Thanks again to everyone for being awesome!

 

One year ago, I made a decision that would change my life: Hitting the 'join' button on the 17th Shard. And boy, I had no idea what I was getting into.

I honestly don't know how I found the Shard. I see a lot of people with really cool stories, but for me it was probably just a link through the coppermind. I had absolutely no clue how forum websites worked, either. But I caught on quick enough, I think Another thing I see some people talk about is how they lurked for years before posting anything... that wasn't me, either. I jumped right in, to... something. I don't remember what I did the first month I was on the Shard. I bet it was great, though.

So much has changed for me this past year, more than I can say. Covid, obviously, is the big one. I joined last year when it had just shut down the schools and I didn't really understand the scope of what had just happened. During the past year, I've also switched over to homeschooling, learned some time management, and now I'm about to start driving... life is crazy, guys.

But the Shard. The Shard was the constant for me this year. When I was feeling down (which happened more than a little, it turned out) the Shard was there to lift me back up. Most of the time I didn't say anything; my mental health is really good for the most part and the feeling wasn't over-the-top and always left quickly, and for that I am grateful. But that doesn't change what the Shard did for me at all- it probably saved my mental health by avoiding a social catastrophe (though that might be an exaggeration). I'm one of the rare people on the Shard with an Extrovert personality type- ESFJ- and so when covid suddenly cut off all social contact with my friends... yeah. That wasn't fun. But the Shard saved me, I feel, by giving me new friends. New friends that have grown to be real, actual people who are my real, actual friends. Which is something that a year ago I would have never thought possible, if I'm being honest. And wasn't my intent in joining.

So thank you. Thanks all of you for being there even when you didn't know you were. For being megafans, for being awesome It's been an amazing year, covid or not. Cheers to many more.

And now, the fun part. You thought I was done, didn't you

(If I miss anyone, I'M SORRY! I had a list that I double-checked, but it's still very possible that I didn't get someone. Call me out on it, please. I can't edit the status update but I will reply in it right then and there.)

@Channelknight Fadran, man, I gotta start with you. It seems that everything that I've done on the Shard has something to do with your display name, and it's great. Your writing gift is extraordinary, your sense of humor is :chefkiss: and you know how to phrase things really well through text. Keep being awesome. The Shard is better off for it.

@Condensation - The amount of roleplays you're in is insane Who knows how you manage to keep up with those, SE, and whatever else you're doing in real life. That's some dedication right there. But along with that, I've noticed this year how perceptive you are. I mentioned before how I didn't really mention when I was feeling somewhat down, well, I think some of the time you could tell. I can think of multiple occasions when you gave me a random compliment that kind of was exactly what I needed to hear. So thank you

@Vapor VAAAPPPOOOORRRR! You're one of the few people on the Shard that get a name said like that, and it's well deserved. I have enjoyed so much roleplaying, SEing, and just talking with you both on the Shard and discord (dang, I'm gonna need to talk about discord...) this year. Enjoyed that so. Much. You're awesome, Vapor, and that is a fact.

@Mist, I dunno if you remember this, but I do. You said once that being an adult was just doing things that you don't want to do but need to be done, (or something like that), and that you knew you could do that. The responsibility you show is something I admire, and that phrase has stuck with me. I'm not an adult for a few more years, but sometimes if I don't want to do something I remember that phrase and say... I can do that.

@Emi EMI! You are so good at drawing and doodling and all art, it's incredible. It has been amazing to meet someone who lives on the other side of the world, and even more amazing that they could become my friend. Keep being you, Emi. You is amazing.

@Ookla the Hemalurgic Pinto... Wind, I wish I had picked an Ookla name as good as yours I also wish you'd come back, but hey, real life trumps Shard life. I hope you're doing great, wherever you are.

@revelryintheart- rev, I can't forget about your art either. How could anyone? Who knows how you do it, cause I sure don't. You were one of the first people I interacted with on the Shard I think, so thanks for not scaring me away

@Bearer of all agonies, the same as Wind goes to you. It was an honor getting to know you and I hope you are doing better than fantastic, wherever you are. I hope I see the day of your return.

@Hentient, there's something about you that makes you so fun to talk to. You have a specific tone through text- well, everyone does, but you especially- that's so distinctive. Thank you for introducing me to the rabbit hole of Nightvale That's been real fun. Keep on spelling

@Shard of Thought, Star, for a time you were one of those 'intimidating' people. The kind with lots of rep and posts and followers, that you don't talk to. And then suddenly we were both made mods on the MotCoJCoLDS server, and BAM! you're a real person to me now! And I'm thankful for that. Your art is amazing, and you are too.

*Breathes*

I'm trying not to be repetitive. If you think I am, just know that when I say something I mean it in the most specific way to you as possible. When I slap an adjective to your name, it comes with specific examples that I know in my head but cannot put into words.

@Doomstick you were another one of those intimidatings. Yay for discord to sort that out One thing you showed me is that I'm not the biggest nerd I know. Which was cool

@DramaQueen, I don't really know you that well, but Fadran does, and if Fadran says you're amazing than it must be true I hope that I can get to know you better in some way, but with my absence from discord that might not happen.

@FriarFritz, you got this! Adulting, whatever it is. It's been cool to know both a fellow Washingtonian but also someone older than me. I wish you the best wherever your life takes you.

@Spren of Kindness, it's been a pleasure FotTing with you these past months. Thanks for the drawing and cheers to many more!

@Scarletfox, I grew so much from the discussions and questions you had on discord. You have a unique perspective that made me think about things I hadn't before, and I'm grateful for that even now when I don't visit discord that much. If I ever am near your Chick-fil-a I'll be sure to swing by

@Dannex, I didn't really know you until recently, and even then it isn't a whole lot. But it's been so fun SEing alongside you and reading all your status updates. I'm glad you stopped lurking!

@Experience, I also wish you the best in adult life. Good luck! I enjoyed getting to know someone who does the same things as me- Piano, running, SE, and more- there are a few people that check those boxes but you were the first.

@Chasmgoat, I had a lot of fun talking with you on discord when I did, and roleplaying and SEing. You're another person that just made my year that much better.

@Truthless of Shinovar, can't forget you! Your personality is fantastic and I'm so glad to know you.

@Spock, I hope someday I can play the piano like you! Composing has always been hard for me and you nail it every time.

@theTruthshaper, if someone had told me a year ago that I would become friends with someone older than me who lives in India, I would probably have thought they were crazy  But here we are. Thanks for being a friend.

@Ghanderflaffle, @LukeWasTaken, @Negative_Null, @Tesh, @xinoehp512- I don't know any of you super well, but I hope this year I can change that. Ghander, thanks for running the Roasts for so long. Taken, thanks for making me laugh when I realized what your display name meant Null, thanks for making Siren's Call! Tesh, thanks for all the things you do on the Shard. Including Kaladin, he's great xino, you're writing and RP is incredible.

@Darkfinder, @Chinkoln, @Lecky Twig, @Butt Ad Venture- the same goes for you. With any luck I'll know you better next year than I do now. But from what I can tell, you are all three of you as amazing and unique as anyone I've mentioned today.

@Aspiring Writer, I also don't know you that well, but I do think it's really cool how you change your pfp with your rep level sometimes.

@Nathrangking, I enjoy very much your poems. They are fantastic.

@AonEne, I don't think you're intimidating anymore  Congratulations on being a mod!

And lastly... @forget me not, thank you for humoring me by joining the Shard. You're the greatest sister anyone could ask for. I dunno if you'll read this, probably not, but hey. Thanks anyway.

Whew! Not done yet. Yep, it's stats time.  

I have 3,491 posts right now, meaning I post on average 9.56 times a day. That's about what it feels like, and it doesn't even factor in the Forum Games  

I have 1,490 rep, meaning I get about 4.08 rep a day. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!

50 followers, that blows my mind. You're all more incredible than words can describe.

Just a few more things, I promise I know this is long but honestly what did you expect xD

Sanderson Elimination:

SE found me pretty quick, and wow has it changed my life. To be a part of that community is amazing. The games have brought something fun into my year, and are a huge part of how I made it through quarantine. So, while I didn't mention any of the hardcore SEers out there that follow me and maybe are reading this, or maybe aren't, know that I do appreciate you. And... it hasn't been finalized yet, but the honor I feel for even being considered to represent this incredible community in the mafia freaking championship not even a year into my SEing career can't really be described.

Discord:

Who knew that when I made a little Among us server that it would grow to the Sharder Lair it is today. I certainly didn't. The conversations and interactions I had there are in some ways far better than those on the Shard itself. I got to know each one of the people there better. I got moderating experience (I think we've reached the point where we can look back at you-know-what and laugh, Mist/rev/Star ) and so much more. And even though I'm not there anymore- really don't have the time, and I'm sorry for that- the server is in good hands. Very good hands, even better hands. And I do still lurk there, sometimes, on invisible mode, reading the backlog and saying nothing. I'm the ghost you don't see 

And after all that... here we are. May 6th, 2020 ended up being a big day in my life and I didn't even know it. And it really was all thanks to all of you.

So again, thank you.

Cheers to many more years!!!

Lol okay so, I get on, one of the first things I do is check for spambots, and I find one. In the about me she says "to meet and storm her" and I went ?????? for a good 10-20 seconds trying to figure out if this was an innuendo I was missing before remembering our swear filter  

Quote

There are tons of different bitcoin robots out there that claim to be the best bang for your buck. However, a good amount of them are scams and will not make you any money on your investments. Bitcoin Storm appears to be a legitimate bot claims to bring in money on what you provide to the platform. 

You're not even sure about your own product, I think you MIGHT JUST be a scam too 

I'm dying, this is legit just a shutter ad. I thought it was a weird nickname but they're genuinely selling something they call the Ultimate Shutter. Why is this so hilarious https://www.17thshard.com/forum/profile/41834-ultimate-shutter/

Quote

You truly can’t deeply inhale natural air anyplace. You simply stay there and take in and out, hurting yourself. 

*deadpan voice* oh no 

Man, we had a lot of spammers today... 

Lol okay so, I get on, one of the first things I do is check for spambots, and I find one. In the about me she says "to meet and storm her" and I went ?????? for a good 10-20 seconds trying to figure out if this was an innuendo I was missing before remembering our swear filter  

Quote

There are tons of different bitcoin robots out there that claim to be the best bang for your buck. However, a good amount of them are scams and will not make you any money on your investments. Bitcoin Storm appears to be a legitimate bot claims to bring in money on what you provide to the platform. 

You're not even sure about your own product, I think you MIGHT JUST be a scam too 

I'm dying, this is legit just a shutter ad. I thought it was a weird nickname but they're genuinely selling something they call the Ultimate Shutter. Why is this so hilarious https://www.17thshard.com/forum/profile/41834-ultimate-shutter/

Quote

You truly can’t deeply inhale natural air anyplace. You simply stay there and take in and out, hurting yourself. 

*deadpan voice* oh no 

Man, we had a lot of spammers today... 

Eleven million thanks to @Dannex, @Aspiring Writer, @Spren of Kindness, @Experience, @revelryintheart, @Emi, @Doomstick, @The Storming Stormfather!!!

Last year, when I turned 16, I posted a status update for my birthday and didn't get a single response. I didn't exactly expect any, but it was still kinda depressing.

And now here you guys are posting the statuses for me! Thanks a ton, guys!

Eleven million thanks to @Dannex, @Aspiring Writer, @Spren of Kindness, @Experience, @revelryintheart, @Emi, @Doomstick, @The Storming Stormfather!!!

Last year, when I turned 16, I posted a status update for my birthday and didn't get a single response. I didn't exactly expect any, but it was still kinda depressing.

And now here you guys are posting the statuses for me! Thanks a ton, guys!

Eleven million thanks to @Dannex, @Aspiring Writer, @Spren of Kindness, @Experience, @revelryintheart, @Emi, @Doomstick, @The Storming Stormfather!!!

Last year, when I turned 16, I posted a status update for my birthday and didn't get a single response. I didn't exactly expect any, but it was still kinda depressing.

And now here you guys are posting the statuses for me! Thanks a ton, guys!

This morning I was going through a conversation in my head while walking through my school, and winked to myself like I would have had I been talking to someone. I was just passing some kid in the hallway when I did, so now a random kid probably is wondering why the heck I winked at them

This morning I was going through a conversation in my head while walking through my school, and winked to myself like I would have had I been talking to someone. I was just passing some kid in the hallway when I did, so now a random kid probably is wondering why the heck I winked at them

This morning I was going through a conversation in my head while walking through my school, and winked to myself like I would have had I been talking to someone. I was just passing some kid in the hallway when I did, so now a random kid probably is wondering why the heck I winked at them

okay, so it was a year. Huh. I have to say that this definitely wasn't an easy year for me. You guys helped me a lot tho, I love y'all. Sharder Liar community is awesome and I am so so so glad I joined.
 All of you are great friends. Shard also improved my English and made me a lot less anxious in Person, which is amazing.
so.... people:

VAPOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR you simply have to be the first one. I'm sorry for difficulties. I am so sad that you can't be around more. You are an amazing person and I love you. You are worth of happiness and one of the most beautiful people both inside and out. I'm just so sad we can't really talk like ever  

FADRAN I'm very happy to say that you're my best friend! You are sooooooooooo cool, fun, helpful and nice!

@AonEne (I will mention you, so you can see it) if not your friendliness I wouldn't be here. Both you and Salad are supper funny and I really enjoy your presence.

Fritz and Truthie, both of you have no idea how much you helped me. Fritz you are NOT useless. Not at all. 

Dark, I love how you greet me everyday. I hope you'll feel generally better soon. 

HEEEEEEEEEEN I love talking to you and sometimes doing akhschdbidc in DMs  (aslo I loev yuor typoes  )

Vennie, (uhh, I don't know your name on the shard so I'll just summon you through SL) thanks for all the hugs you gave me!

Jester, I am so excited for the DnD! Thank you for taking your time to explain all the rules to me, since I don't understand that much

Goaty and Stick, both of you are great and I really enjoy chatting with you 

Lessie, I also enjoy long conversationss with you because those, however rarely, happen

Mist, your responsibility is just- wow. I don't think there is a more adultish person who isn't yet an adult. You're great!

rev, you're the best artist here, I love your work! You're also a nice person in general (well and maybe demonic sometimes too)

Star and Xino, I am not very close with neither of you, but you two seem really cool! I'm glad you have each other!

Queen, idk what to say really but I also love chatting with you! And you are beautiful in both female and male form  

Salad, I also really liked our RP, it was super fun to text with you then!

okay, so that's the end I guess. I know there is much more of you and if I didn't mention you I'm sorry! I am writing this while being at school, so I don't really have time. I'm just glad that all of you are here. As I said you all made my life better. Love yall 

I am currently sitting by myself at a tiny desk-sized table in an airplane-hangar-sized cafeteria. There are roughly a hundred tables total in this place, each placed six feet apart from all adjacent tables. People here are confined one to a table; during lunch, you're allowed to eat your food and chat with the other inmates at a distance. During free period, you're allowed to work on your homework and have hushed conversations with other people.

Where am I? Prison? No.

School.

*Sighs*

Coronavirus has made my school an internment camp. This is just great.

I know I wasn’t very active lately (J got addicted to Discord) but I’ll try to do more. 

also I have some drawings 

 

Singing enthusiastically:

Kandosii sa ka'rota vode an!

Coruscanta a'den mhi vode an!

*camera pans to me on the floor*

I am so bored, y'all.