Writing

“Trader” – Space Tramp – Chapter 19 (Megatraveller Fan Fiction)

/ Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Thor’s Day!

Just a reminder this will be a week of fiction instead of the normal posts. Enjoy your holiday presents readers.

Stories:

The Countess’ instructions this year were pretty specific as she wanted Jeremiah to take the ship and trade along the trade routes previously created between the planets and systems in which her fiefs were established. It was a fancy way of saying that she wanted Jeremiah to be engaged in a Route assignment.  Jeremiah did this and there had been no real instance of him needing to say he had a close call or near-death experience.

What he really found himself doing was pushing his trader skills to try to make as much profit as possible.  he had the Countess’ permission to use some fo the hold space for his own personal trading and he pushed this to the limit as well. The one thing that did grow for certain was his bank account over this last year in regard to gain the significant money he needed for a starship of his own.  In addition, the Countess had put a percentage bonus on the profit of the voyage and he got that as well.

After the return trip to Regina on the last leg of the journey, he smiled as he looked at his bank account. Close now, He could feel it and with only two years to go in his last term, he was now more relaxed as a captain. His crew was very stable as people wanted to be on his crew and he didn’t have to do too much firing and firing.

The one thing he found was he had extra time that he quickly put to good use by taking some courses from Regina University which he would log every port of call.  When he got back the university called and told him he had the equivalent to a second-year student.  he actually felt a surge of pride about this. he had considered university when he was 18 but knew the odds of getting in were slim so he just hitched a ride on the first Free Trader.   Now he was considering the idea of a business degree to give him some more professional clout.

Not that it mattered as far as his social status.  His societal status hadn’t changed much but his time as a Captian of a merchant’s vessel had given. His respect came from his actual abilities not his actual standing in society.  Other than the Countess, the upper crust always looked down on him a little and the middle class just shrugged about it.

Well, being a little lower on the social scale had its perks. Most notably no one gave him even a sideways glance when he would walk into The Naked Gypsy have a little to drink and hire one of the ladies for the evening. There were still certain vices his low social standing allowed him to engage and no one gave a shit.  He wasn’t sure this would ever change and he was glad it would not. Giving up the warm embrace of a lovely willing lady at the end of a long year was something he didn’t want to happen at all.

Megatraveler Notes:

Start:

Free Trader Senior Captain Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O6 – Senior Captain   Terms Served: 4

UPP: A67A84   Age: 35  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 2, Navigation – 2, Engineering – 1, Legal – 1, Liaison- 2, Brawling-1, Carousing – 1, Small Blade-1, Trader-2, Broker-1, Turret Weapons-1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Vacc Suit- 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0

Brownie Points: 9, Bonus Money: 112,500 Cr.

Year Eighteen:

Roll for position availability:  8 + 1 for Intelligence = 9 – position available, serves as Captain.

Roll for assignment: 6 + 1 for Social 5-7=  – Route Trade Assignment

Survival Roll: 7  – Survives.

Skill Roll: 8 – Skill acquired.

Bonus:  10 + 1 for Trader-2 – 11 – Bonus. rolls 4 – 5,000Cr.

Roll for Skills: (1 for skill roll) – Rolls Free Trader Life Table – rolls 4 – Mental Cascade: picks education +1.  At this point character development from a game standpoint, Jeremiah needs to advance in Intelligence or Education to gain additional skill slots. The roll was lucky here although it is the table with the best chance of increasing attributes overall.

Year-End:

Free Trader Senior Captain Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O6 – Senior Captain   Terms Served: 4

UPP: A67A94   Age: 36  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 2, Navigation – 2, Engineering – 1, Legal – 1, Liaison- 2, Brawling-1, Carousing – 1, Small Blade-1, Trader-2, Broker-1, Turret Weapons-1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Vacc Suit- 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0

Brownie Points: 9, Bonus Money: 117,500 Cr.

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

“Senior Captain” – Space Tramp – Chapter 18 (Megatraveller Fan Fiction)

/ Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Tyr’s Day!

Just a reminder this will be a week of fiction instead of the normal posts. Enjoy your holiday presents readers.

Stories:

Jeremiah sat at a table and was longing for the moment that this whole oral examination process was over.  He had been drilled all day long by Senior Captians in the Free Trader Guild and quite frankly he was getting tired and all he wanted at the moment was a stiff drink and a warm willing woman.  The Naked Gypsy was calling to him, no mistake.  As he reveled in these thoughts the door open once again and female Senior Captain who he had never seen before came in and sat down across from him. She smiled.

‘Congratulations Captian Kilwood, you can now claim the rank of Senior Captain.  Welcome aboard.”

She handed him his new insignia which was basically a circle of five pips with another pip in the center.  It was the highest rank in the Free Traders. He had done it the fastest anyone can and a feeling of pride filled his heart.  Not bad for a poor orphan boy from Strouden.

This was a great way to end a fairly interesting year.  Not a dangerous one but technically challenging.  The Countess had him basically shuttling her across the Spinward Marches conducting various points of business and even though they did keep the ship operating at times; there were other times she simply didn’t want the hassle so they just traveled with no cargo or passengers.

The real issue was the fact they spent a lot of time in a spaceport and in low orbit so repairs and such were done in vacc suits and for the first time, Jeremiah could say he learned how to handle one a little better.

During this time he worked on learning how to be his own broker for transactions so he could save on commissions for transactions as a Trader.  He still turned a tidy profit despite the Countess’s not always running for-profit stance for the voyage. He had still personally put money aside for his starship by at times acting as a Broker for others in their transactions.

Promoted he stood and shook his fellow Senior Captian’s hand and then exited the Free Trader headquarters on Regina.  He started the short walk to The Naked Gypsy.  When he arrived he was greeted by old friends, Several Captians he had served including Captian Juros who simply beamed with pride. Even the Countess was there looking awkward in a place that was a little less high society than she was used to.  The party was pretty grand for the Gypsy and the free drinks, at the expense of the Senior Captains, flowed.

After several hours the crowd started to die down until he found himself with a few close friends and then once they left, he headed upstairs to the brothel part of The Gypsy. He discovered with not too much surprise that his fee had been paid for the evening and Anabelle the Madam herself was his for the evening.  She smiled at him and took him by the hand leading him to her room.  During their evening’s activities, she told him she was now available to him whenever he wished. A service provided for Senior Captains along with a discounted fee for the other girls. he was already enjoying the perks of his new rank and it made him smile.

He now faced the task of finishing up his fifth and probably the last term of service.  Three years to go and he would muster out, claim a ship and go into business for himself. It was his last goal and he could now see it coming to pass.

Megatraveler Notes:

Start:

Free Trader Captain Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O5 – Captain   Terms Served: 4

UPP: A67A84   Age: 34  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 2, Navigation – 2, Engineering – 1, Sensor Ops – 1, Legal – 1, Liaison- 2, Brawling-1, Carousing – 1, Small Blade-1, Trader-2, Turret Weapons-1, Streetwise – 1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0, Vacc Suit – 0

Brownie Points: 8, Bonus Money: 112,500 Cr.

Year Seventeen:

Roll for position availability: 8  + 1 for Intelligence = 9 – position available, serves as Captain.

Roll for assignment: 8 + 1 for Social 5- = 9 – Charter Trade Assignment

Survival Roll: 6  – Survives easily.

Skill Roll: 7 – Skill acquired.

Bonus:  5 + 1 for Trader-2 – 6 – No Bonus.

Promotion: Rolls 8 – Promoted to Senior Captain

Roll for Skills: (2 total – 1 for skill roll, 1 for promotion) – Rolls on Free Trader Service  Table: 3 – Broker -1.  Removes Streetwise -1 as it is already a default under Liason.  Rolls Free Trader Business Table: 5 – Exploratory Csasacade: Picks Vacc Suit-1, Removes Sensor Ops to maintain skill level limit as Sensor Ops is also a Default under Navigation.  This has to be done to stay under Jeremiah’s current 18 skill levels limit.

Gaines 1 Brownie point of the Promotion

Year-End:

Free Trader Captain Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O6 – Senior Captain   Terms Served: 4

UPP: A67A84   Age: 35  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 2, Navigation – 2, Engineering – 1, Legal – 1, Liaison- 2, Brawling-1, Carousing – 1, Small Blade-1, Trader-2, Broker-1, Turret Weapons-1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Vacc Suit- 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0

Brownie Points: 9, Bonus Money: 112,500 Cr.

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

“Relentless Time” – Space Tramp – Chapter 17 (Megatraveller Fan Fiction)

/ Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Mani’s Day! Just a reminder this will be a week of fiction instead of the normal posts. Enjoy your holiday presents readers.

Story:

As he laid in Sarah’s arms he began to realize that for the first time he felt the creep of age.  She couldn’t be more than 20 years old but she was one of the most popular girls according to her profile on The Naked Gypsy’s roster.  Curious, Jeremiah had paid the extra fee for the ‘last call’ with her and found the experience more than enjoyable.  For someone so young, she definitely had some serious horizontal skills. It was just the fact she was so much younger than her that bothered him a little.

His age had really bothered him this year in retrospect,  He had noticed a small decline in reaction speed and dexterity and so he took to training on it using the pilot simulator, handgun practice as well as a little brawling and small blade work. That said in the end, it took a lot of work to maintain his reflexes and gain nothing at all.  He felt the same, but the fact is he should have been more for all the training he did, but nope- just the same.

This year he would have described as a wonderfully profitable and boring speculative trade route.  The Countess asked him to find more markets for her good being produced by her fiefs and he went and obliged her to the point she was very pleased.  Full bonus and it was the only part of the trip that wasn’t dull.  He couldn’t;t complain though as it gave him time to keep his body maintained and do some extra reading.  He was starting to gain the reputation of being a reliable Captain.

He credited a lot of that to the fact he would look at a person’s record before hiring them and looked for patterns of good solid work and knowledge.  He rarely took on a rookie as part of his crew but he would remember that Captain Juros would on occasion take on tramps like himself had been and he would take a chance on a youngster from time to time.

Sarah’s arms were wrapped around his neck and her body felt good against his. it wasn’t so long ago that he was that age, becoming a spacer for the first time.  As he looked at the future he knew this next term would probably be his last for the Free Trader service. He just wanted the base retirement and the opportunity to be his own shipowner.  He still needed a little more money.  But his own investments in many of the trades he had done was providing a lot of Megacredits toward that end.

He smiled.  It wouldn’t be long now.  For the moment though he turned his attention back to Sarah.  There was still one activity that made him feel young as when he had first joined and he had paid the extra fee for a lot of Sarah’s time. Time to get his money’s worth.

Megatraveler Notes:

Start:

Free Trader Captain Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O5 – Captain   Terms Served: 3

UPP: A67A84   Age: 33  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 2, Navigation – 2, Engineering – 1, Sensor Ops – 1, Legal – 1, Liaison- 2, Brawling-1, Carousing – 1, Small Blade-1, Trader-2, Turret Weapons-1, Streetwise – 1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0, Vacc Suit – 0

Brownie Points: 7, Bonus Money: 87,500 Cr.

Year Sixteen:

Roll for position availability: 8  + 1 for Intelligence = 9 – position available, serves as Captain.

Roll for assignment: 9 + 1 for Social 5- = 10 – Speculative Trade Assignment

Survival Roll: 11  – Survives easily.

Skill Roll: 7 – Skill acquired.

Bonus:  6 + 1 for Trader-2 – Bonus. Rolls – 6 – 25,000Cr

Roll for Skills: (1 for skill roll) – Rolls on Free Trader Life Table: 1 Physical Cascade – Picks Dexterity + 1

Aging Crisis:

Strength: rolls 9 – no loss; Dexterity rolls: 5 loses one point of Dexterity; Endurance: rolls 9 no loss.  Basically, the dexterity gained was lost due to aging.

End of Fourth Term: 

1 Brownie point for Term served, Reenlistment roll: 7 + 1 (1st Officer rank or better) – reenlists.

Year-End:

Free Trader Captain Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O5 – Captain   Terms Served: 4

UPP: A67A84   Age: 34  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 2, Navigation – 2, Engineering – 1, Sensor Ops – 1, Legal – 1, Liaison- 2, Brawling-1, Carousing – 1, Small Blade-1, Trader-2, Turret Weapons-1, Streetwise – 1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0, Vacc Suit – 0

Brownie Points: 8, Bonus Money: 112,500 Cr.

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

“Some Special Announcements” – The Rabyd Skald

/ Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Sol’s Day!

I have to apologize for no The Pagan Pulpit this week,  but I have been wrestling with a question all day and it involves identity. The specifically is: What have I always been?  Today has been a day of thinking on this question and watching the Marvel Superhero Movies. Sometimes with my wife and sometimes alone. I was still wrestling with this question when my Facebook feed had this memory from a year ago today.  I don’t believe in fate or destiny or anything but this a remarkable coincidence and I think I have found my central answer to the question of what I have always been and always will continue to be. It is summed up in the threefold point of this quote above.

  1. To be a person who pays homage to the facts no matter where they lead him.
  2. To be a person of free and clear thinking – no gods, no masters – just reason and free thought.
  3. To be intellectually decent at all times which to me is being comfortable with “I don’t know” while at the same time saying “I am going to try to find out though”.

I have been all these things regardless of form, belief or persuasion all my life.  I strived to be these things and a believer in Christ and now as an atheist. In large part is was these things that lead me to atheism when answers could not be found in my faith.  Or when I painfully concluded that my faith was a glorious fiction or worse completely false.

These three principles have been my core since I first picked up a comic book and saw representations of heroes who despite all the powers they were granted tried above all to be true to the ethics and morals that made them into heroes. Get past the special effects and you get a very human core.

Today I have decided to continue to follow them and remind myself of them more often.  The Virtues remain because they are reflections fo these central tenents of life. But I also have always been a preacher and teacher and this is something I wish to be again.  The pulpit, lectern, and message may change; but to proclaim what I feel is factual, true and right remains a passion.

With this reminder of this continuing commitment I have a few announcements:

  1. The Grey Wayfarer will continue much as it is except I am pretty much breaking it down to be a journal of my progress.  The Pagan Pulpit, Of Wolves and Ravens, Odin’s Eye, Freya’s Chambers, and my three Journal Posts will remain with the occasional The Rabyd Skald thrown in. But this is going to be it here because I want to turn my attention to my writing for publication and another project I will announce shortly.
  2. The rest of this week will however not have journal posts or the normal slate of posts, rather I want to finish out all my ficitonal series on this blog. I am doing this to clear my slate and give myself a little philosophical downtime.
  3. I want my family to know that up till now I have been very passive with my anti-theism and my conviction that belief in God or gods or whatever as a means to base your life is nonsense.  That changes today where my anti-theism, while it will remain compassionate, is going to turn active. Very active. All of you are free to believe as you see fit but understand I will be working hard to show that Christianity is false, that the Bible is just a book and a bad one at that, and that we would be better off without religion in our lives.  I am sure some of you will not like what I am about to do as you are believers, but I feel compelled by reason and intellectual honesty to do this.
  4. By active I mean I will be writing books to this effect, I will be blogging here with the desire at times to show how any person can live without god very well; thank you, and I will be joining organizations that oppose religion in politics and government.  I also am about to start at least one new project devoted to this task.
  5. That project will be to start a YouTube channel as a new more vocal pulpit for my viewpoint.  I don’t any specifics yet, or if it will even work, but I feel compelled to convince anyone who will listen to give up the make-believe and start living in the real world.   I am particularly focused on young people who are considering the ministry as a career and being apologists for the Christian faith.  All religion is poison to me and I want to tell people why using this platform.

If I can convince one young person to not follow my mistake, give up the ministry and embrace doing something truly useful for humanity, then I will consider my mission a success.  Of course, the more I can convince the better.  I also hope to make some money with this to at least justify my time doing it.

My main goal is to get back to being a preacher and proclaimer of what I feel is reasonable, factual, truly free in thought in a spirit of intellectual decency.  That “I don’t know” is a good thing to say when it is true and yet maintain that insatiable curiosity I had since I was old enough to read and look at the word with inquiring eyes. I am simply a pilgrim on this journey we call life, and I don’t think I can enjoy it as much if I don’t take the opportunities presented to warn people of my mistakes and false understandings of the world.  To tell people what are dangerous paths to take and the dead ends seem like a decent thing to do from this traveler of life to others.

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

“Holiday Struggles” – The Rabyd Skald – The Grey and The Wayfarer – Part 25

/ Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Frigg and Freya’s Day!

Happy First Day of Yuletide – Mother’s Night – A night sacred to Frigg and Freya so it is fitting that it starts on their day.  Tonight was the celebration of the ancestral mothers.  it is also in some Asatru communities the celebration of the virtue of Industriousness which is a virtue associated with mothers.  To the hard-working mothers out there – Skaal.

Walking The Grey 

I am definitely struggling with the holiday season more than last year and it is because I have so much on my mind about the end of this year and what I am going to try to accomplish next year. It is not so much about missing the meaning behind holidays this year as last year, but more about the year coming to an end and the one pagan tradition that I want to observe at the end of it.  – Oath Night (Dec 31).

There is also a massive amount of uncertainty to my life right now as far as the future and I am getting help with that but it seems for every question I answer in my mind there are many more.   This has caused some sleepless nights and no shortage of anxious thoughts.  I also feel like I am alone a lot and the loneliness is pretty heavy at times.  My wife, family, and freinds are great, but there are always those lone times for me and for some reason they seem infested with walking the Grey.

Blog News:

A little news from the blog front.  I order to have some more time in the coming year to write and engage in a couple other projects I am going to reduce the schedule to one post a day.  There might be a The Rabyd Skald or s special post from time to time, but for the most part, I want the regular pattern of The Pagan Pulpit, Three A Skalds’ Life posts covering the Virtues, Of Wolves and Ravens, Odin’s Eye and Freya’s Chambers.  In short, this blog is going to take on more of the characteristics of a journal and less a platform for my art.  I really need to get going on my writing for publication, reading and another project that I am thinking of launching soon.  This just simplifies things for me so I will have the time to do the rest.

Freya’s Chambers will return next week. This week there is simply too much Grey in my life even for a lighthearted look at sex and sexuality. I will also be finishing the Rogue Wizard and Space Tramp series, but not replacing them. Peace.

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

“Work Day Routine” – A Skald’s Life – Business Virtues

/ Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Thor’s Day! 

Journal Entry:

Probably the simplest way to look at this routine is to take it step by step and review what changes I am making. But first, the point I need to make is that routine if properly done leads to having more time to live the life you want to live. If it does not then it is not doing what it is supposed to do.  Routine needs to strive for efficiency to the point of being a time-saver, not a time-waster.  With that in mind, let’s review:

  1. Morning Routine – No changes as this is simply a parker that the morning routine gets done.
  2. Wife: Communication / Cuddle Time – This happens at some point in the day but it is a priority which is why it falls second on the list.
  3. Blogging – Organize, revise, write a new post for the next day, templates – sound, just need to do it more.
  4. Weightlifting: Gym time – 1 hour after work. – I need to actually use the full hour at some point.  Probably new years I need to start walking with the goal of getting ready for better weather to hike more.
  5. Writing: 1000 words/day. – Need better discipline here.
  6. Reading – 1/7 of a book a day.  Ditto.
  7. Personal Business: record financial transactions, savings plan actions, budgeting, appointments, job search, other actions, etc. – Discipline
  8. Check Communications and Email after 2 pm but before 4 pm – Discipline

I eliminated the daily carb count as starting in January, the struggle will be to be fully paleo with probably three cheat meals a week.  This really the only change other than filling my hour of time working out.

Self-Reliance:

“Self-Reliance is the spirit of independence, which is achieved when each person is their own master and no one else’s’ .”

Principle: To walk in the spirit of independence by being my own master and no one else’s

Goal:  Find a new, better paying job by March 2020.

Bucket List: To be a published author of at least five books by March 2029

My workday routine has a lot of writing and reading that is focused on my getting books published but also a business side of life is present for me personally which is also needed.

Industriousness:

“Industriousness is the willingness to work hard, always striving for efficiency, as a joyous activity in itself”

Principle: Work with the enjoyment of work itself.

Goal: Finalize last requirements for my degree – Internship by May 2019 – May 2019 (achieved)

Bucket List: Write A Novel and Get it Published by March 2022.

Ditto to above in Self Reliance only focused on a novel.

Hospitality:

“Hospitality is the willingness to share what one has with one’s fellows, especially when they are far from home.”

Principle: To share out of my abundance to help people where I can with their life’s journey.

Goal: By March 31st of 2020, to be the leader/participant in a group of some kind.  (Goal Achieved

Bucket List: To own my own home by March 2024.

The routine on a  workday is about creating prosperity and preparing myself to be better.

Higher Virtue – Justice:

I need to look at both my routines for the day as being fair with myself.  Being hard on myself through discipline os life is easier when it is just me living it. This is the goal of the Work Day Routine so that the Rest Day Routine is truly about Rest for the most part.  Justice is about keeping the scales balanced and the routine of life when properly done keeps that balance.

Work Day Routine:

  1. Morning Routine
  2. Wife: Communication / Cuddle Time
  3. Blogging – Organize, revise, write a new post for the next day, templates
  4. Weightlifting: Gym time – 1 hour after work.
  5. Writing: 1000 words/day.
  6. Reading – 1/7 of a book a day
  7. Personal Business: record financial transactions, savings plan actions, budgeting, appointments, job search, other actions, etc.
  8. Check Communications and Email after 2 pm but before 4 pm.

One change and a call for more discipline.  I don’t think the routine is the problem.  It’s me.

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

“Yuletide – The Original 12 Days of ‘Christmas'” – Odin’s Eye

/ Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Woden’s (Odin’s) Day.    

Discussion:

I think it is no secret that what is celebrated as Christmas these days was originally a pagan holiday known as Yule. Yule differs from Christmas in that it has twelve days of celebration whereas Christmas centers on Dec. 25th.  In contrast, the twelve days of Yule were all about celebrating the end of the year and the welcoming of spring although it will take some time to fully materialize.  The Winter solstice is the focus of Yuletide along with a lot of drinking.

Considering that in Viking lands, this time of year is basically hunkering down and waiting out the winter.  One did have to keep oneself both alive with stored food and firewood but also entertained and safe from the Wild Hunt.  Yuletide is a twelve-day long party and the Vikings loved to party.

The 12 Days of Yuletide are:

  1. Mothers Night – Dec 20
  2. Night of the Wild Hunt – Dec 21
  3. Manni – Dec 22
  4. Freyr and Nord – Dec 23
  5. Feast of Community – Dec 24
  6. Eir – Dec 25
  7. Thor = Dec 26
  8. Skaldi and Ullr – Dec 27
  9. Odin – Dec 28
  10. Sunna – Dec 29
  11. Valkeries – Dec 30
  12. Oath Night – Dec 31

 

All of these days either have a feast associated with an event or gods/goddesses.  A lot of the traditions we see at Christmas are still associated with Yule – the yule log, mistletoe, decorating trees, etc.

Time to Look Through the Eye:

“To see the truth, change one eye for another”

Meditation:

Year’s End seems to have significance for all of us in a more meditative level.  For me, 2019 has been a ‘meh’ year for the most part.  It has had its high moments but there have also been some downtimes. Mostly though it was just the dull drudgery of existence that I don’t like thinking about as it depresses me, Mostly through meditation I am thinking about what my oath should be for 2020 which I will give on Dec 31st.  It is not wise to make oaths and not complete them.  Even ones given to yourself.

Mystery:

There is a mystery to my future that hits me at this time of year.  I have less and less connected to my past career and life and that is both wonderfully freeing and at the same time frightening as I don’t really know what I am going to be other than being a writer. The mystery of the future seems more prominent at a year’s end.

Spirituality:

If there is anything that hits me as far as spirituality, it is a sense of community. Introvert though I am, I fully conscious that people affect my life for good or ill and that means working hard to be true to those who have been true to me.  I guess in that sense as well, communion with my fellow man is important as well.

Conclusion:

Yuletide will probably grow more important to me as time goes by.  It does provide a platform to celebrate various holidays with people and that is a good thing.  For me, the reflective moments of the past and future are far more significant.  For me, this year is about Oath Night.  last year I did a very minor and safe oath, I need to take it up a notch this year.

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

“My Morning Routine” – A Skald’s Life – Foundational Virtues

/ Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Tyr’s Day

Journal Entry:

My daily routine is shit these days.  I hate the holidays and I need more things to be habits rather than struggles. This is why I added a week to specifically discuss routine because it is the key to a better future.  Life has a way of passing and how we control what happens to our time and what we spend our time on is important.  For me, this is particularly true.

My morning routine is pretty messed up at times.  It is simply the fact that I need to spend more time doing other things at this time of year. I really wish I had a job that had a more stable schedule as this would help all my routines but the morning routine is simply a matter of me getting up and doing what needs to be done. Not just that but what needs to be done in terms of keeping myself balanced emotionally and that starts with meditation.  Something this last month I have struggled with.

I think this stems from my atheism.  Meditation seems too ‘spiritual’ even though I know it has psychological benefits that have nothing to do with divine anything.  It can feel like my old religious past and that is something I find distasteful anymore. But virtue is true regardless of religion and I know when I am meditating regularly, I am more stable emotionally.  This is the part of my morning routine I need to make more consistent and I think that it will require a meditation altar and a consistent form.

Honor:

“Honor is the feeling of inner value and worth from which one knows that one is noble of being, and the desire to show respect for this quality when it is found in the world”

Principle – To possess a feeling of inner value about myself and my future with a desire to find the same in others.

Goal: Maintain a daily blog streak of one post per day for an entire year (365 days).  (achieved)

Bucket List: Hike the Northern Lakeshore Trail along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan by March 2024.

My morning routine is probably the thing that develops honor in myself more than any other time.  It is about me finding balance and strength and being prepared for the day.

Courage:

“Courage is the bravery to do what is right always.”

Principle – Act with Courage at the right time.

Goal: Cross one thing off bucket list every year. Deadline March 31st.

Bucket List: Go Back to Budapest, Hungary for a vacation by March 2029.

I know of no routine that prepares one for the necessity of courage other than to meditate on courage.  That is definitely why meditation is important.

Truth:

“Truth is the willingness, to be honest, and to say what one knows to be true and right. It is often better to not say anything at all if one cannot be honest.”

Principle – To Honestly Pursue, Accept and Speak Truth to All who will Listen.

Goal: To Write a Non-Fiction Book by March 31st, 2020

Bucket List: Read 52 books (one per week) in the year 2020.

The reading and writing as part of my daily routine need to be more solid.  Too many things hinge on them.

Higher Virtue: Love:

I recently heard a speaker via YouTube make a simple statement that learning to love oneself is key to everything and that one should take the chance and love yourself first and then the rest will flow out of that.  I couldn’t agree more but my personal struggle has always been to put myself on the back burner for others.  Finding balance here is the key and routine is the process of turning that key.  Of spending time on what is important to me.

Morning Routine:

  1. Stretching / Yoga
  2. Shower, Personal Hygiene, Breakfast, Morning Meds.
  3. Review Nine Noble Virtues (NNV), Principles, Goals and Bucket List
  4. Meditation – 5 min.
  5. Check Communications and Email.
  6. Paper Journal: Create a Daily Log and To-Do List.
  7. Get Dressed for the Day

There is no need to change this.  There is a need to be more consistent in doing it. But that is probably true for all my routines.

I remain.

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

“Epilogue I” – Rogue Wizard – The Fire of Fury – Part 23

/ Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Sol’s Day!

Rogue Wizard’s Journal – November 6th, 2019

Currently, we are in the basement of an old burned-out farmhouse.  The place is actually quite nice and hidden by magic.  An old safehouse according to Lunette. it is pretty much a well-hidden magical apartment with three bedrooms, a couple baths, and a living and dining room area next to the kitchen.  We are quite comfortable and using only one bedroom at present.

When I came to, Amber was there to greet me and my tears about Elpis’ death.  Lunette was on a scouting run trying to get some information from her sources.  When she got back and heard my tale she started to weep herself.  I don’t think I ever saw Lunette and Elpis get along and Lunette had a lot of reasons to dislike and even hate her, but in the end, it was the last link Lunette had to her past much like me and she knew it.  Needless to say, I held a sobbing pixie while I cried with her for about ten minutes.

Amber for her part tried to comfort us both and the whole thing kind of delayed Lunette’s report.  When she finally calmed down she took a deep breath and reported the following:

  1. The fight we had with the Death Angels had been observed by other agents of the Council and it was truly believed that I was dead. No one survives as death bolt. My case file was closed.
  2. While the Council was interested still in finding Lunette, they had bigger fish to fry after my death and so she was to be left free for a time.
  3. Despite Amber’s defense of me, it was ruled she was acting according to the Lioness’ directive so she was under orders to protect me which she could not shirk.  The council simply ruled that House Venus would decide her fate, but no word had come what the Lioness would do.
  4. The war was going badly for both sides as the casualties were mounting.

‘You’re dead Edward.”

I did a quick divination connection check on the letter I had dropped and it was still hidden.  My magic hadn’t kicked in for death so I was dead to the magical world, but the real one still hadn’t been informed. I wasn’t dead according to magic.

“Yeah, but I will still just be a missing person’s case to my family.”

Lunette spoke very directly, ” You need to keep it that way, at least until the rebels win against the two sides.  You need to go into deep hiding for a while.”

“But the rebellion will need us.”

“No, don’t you see. Elpis gave you a gift of more than your life.  She gave you the possibility of a new one.”

Amber spoke, “Yes.  But in truth, she gave us all a chance at that.  A pixie and her female lover are not going to be much on the radar of either side if they are both outcasts. Especially if both sides think we are too far distraught from losing you.”

“But, Elpis told me to love you both and let you love me.  You are not just proposing I hide but that we separate.  I don’t know if I could take that right now.”

“You have to for a little while.  Until you find a place that is safe from discovery and then we can join you.  If the Council is defeated, then we will all be safe to come back together. We will know you are safe and how to find you with the tattoos.”

We argued well into the night, but I had to eventually agree with both of them. They insisted that I recover, but I am fine.  I just need to prepare for a long time away from my girls and to find a place where I will be safe.

I don’t know about this.

Writer’s Notes:

I am going to wrap this series up by the end fo the month latest. I will probably replace it after I finish Space Tramp as well.  My main issue is to wrap up some loose ends in this series and then finish Space Tramp as well and then move on to something else.

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

“Profitable” – Space Tramp – Chapter 16 (Megatraveller Fan Ficiton)

/ Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Sif’s Day!

Story:

Jeremiah looked at his personal device and the balance his investment account now had was much more to his liking.  25000 Credits was a big haul for an extra bonus but the trade route into exploratory territory had opened up some new markets for both his ship and the Countess. She had kept him on as promised as her captain and he had been working hard to open up new trade routes involving her holdings.  The results had been spectacular so he and his crew all pocketed some serious extra change.

This was good as Jeremiah was still investing a lot of his extra money and everything else he could save into getting his own vessel.  This meant a pretty spartan existence but he managed quite well.  If he kept it up and played his connections right, he might just achieve his dream. At least it seemed far more tangible than before.

He had had to learn how to ‘box ears’ this voyage though.  On a couple of occasions, the monthly time spent in some port often resulted in a brawl and he would have to break it up.  He had a tough as nails crew and the places they were going were frontier in feeling.  It was important that he and the crew did not look weak and they pulled it off with the local dockworkers and a few other crews.

The Countess herself was very pleased and the profitability of several of her fiefs just increased by quite a dramatic margin. She was certain that she would keep Jeremiah on as captain of her ship another year as she credited his trader skills. Jeremiah was beginning to see how his relationship would lead to his own starship sp he smiled and said thanks. He kept his gear in the captain’s cabin and headed to The Naked Gypsy. He, after all, and an annual tradition to keep with a glass of rum and a pretty girl of his choosing.

Megatraveler Notes:

Start:

Free Trader Captain Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O5 – Captain   Terms Served: 3

UPP: A67A84   Age: 32  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 2, Navigation – 2, Engineering – 1, Sensor Ops – 1, Legal – 1, Liaison- 2, Carousing – 1, Small Blade-1, Trader-2, Turret Weapons-1, Streetwise – 1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0, Vacc Suit – 0

Brownie Points: 7, Bonus Money: 62,500 Cr.

Year Fourteen:

Roll for position availability: 8  + 1 for Intelligence = 9 – position available, serves as Captain.

Roll for assignment: 3 + 1 for Social 5- = 4 – Exploratory Trade Assignment

Survival Roll: 8  – Survives.

Skill Roll: 8 – Skill acquired.

Bonus:  7 + 1 for Trader-2 –  Bonus. Rolls – 6 – 25,000Cr

Roll for Skills: (1 for skill roll) – Rolls on Merchant Life Table: 1 – Brawling-1

Year-End:

Free Trader Captain Jeremiah Kilwood

Rank: O5 – Captain   Terms Served: 3

UPP: A67A84   Age: 33  Homeworld: Strouden UWP: A-745988-D N Hi In

Skills: Pilot – 2, Navigation – 2, Engineering – 1, Sensor Ops – 1, Legal – 1, Liaison- 2, Brawling-1, Carousing – 1, Small Blade-1, Trader-2, Turret Weapons-1, Streetwise – 1, Zero-G Combat-1, Handgun – 1, Grav Vehicle – 0, Computer – 0, Vacc Suit – 0

Brownie Points: 7, Bonus Money: 87,500 Cr.

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!