Happy Valentine's Day!

Hey everyone - I thought I should probably post today, with it being Valentine's Day and all! The Spiral is clearly in a festive mood, and I must say, I don't feel so bad myself, at least for being alone with Emma for such a long time. Maybe I can do something to fix that soon...but anyway, how are your days all going? Have you eaten any chocolate? I haven't...

But I can fix that problem! :D *extends bright red box of chocolates*

Emma...what's this all about? Are those supposed to be for me?

All for you! *opens box* See? There are a dozen of them, and they each have different fillings...only I ate this one here because it was hazelnut and I just love hazelnut and chocolate. But you can have all the others! :)

No. No no no no no. I'm not going to touch these chocolates - there's probably something wrong with them if you'd just give them to me like that. They might even be poisoned!

But it's Valentine's Day, and you just said you haven't had any chocolate yet! You can't have Valentine's Day without chocolate - it's an abomination, and completely not splendiferous!

I don't care whether it's splendiferous to you or not, but I'm not going to touch those chocolates! You can eat them all, for all I care! *stomps off*

*sigh* I only wanted her on my side...

- Emma I

My Sword is Pointy.

Pointy things are splendiferous, you know. 

They're just dangerous. I can't believe some of the interests you've developed over the past year. Some of them can only be called barbaric.

Poetry isn't barbaric. See? That's one of my interests.

Snow is good
Snow storms mean
'Sno more school
And coffee bean! :D

...remember? That reminds me - it just happens to be another SNOW DDDAAAAAAYYYY!!

I had hoped to forget that phonetic torture. Your poetry is barbaric, even though poetry in general isn't. Can you please just stop pressing the point and leave me alone?

Ha! The POINT! You brought up pointy things yourself! (Actually, "pressing a point" sounds really painful.) Back to my own POINT; pointy things, especially my epic new sword from finishing Avalon, are awesomely splendiferous! With them, I can kill lots of things!

(I'd better go. She's starting to sound dangerous. Maybe she's a serial killer in disguise?) Okay...I have other things to work on right now. Goodbye, blog!

- Grace S

Emma's Big Secret

Hey - I just have to post, because I was digging through Emma's bank a few minutes ago for something she stole from me, and I found several bags of fresh Aztecan coffee. That actually explains a lot of things.

Wha-wha?! I never stole anything from you, and anyway, I wasn't drinking the coffee. It was just a drop, I promise you! I was going to sell them at my next trip to the Bazaar!

Ha, nice try. You're still in Avalon. I think I should put you on a restricted diet. No more coffee for you! *triumphantly leaves to confiscate coffee*

Hmph. Grace StormRider is the meanest person in the Spiral. I've been practically living on that coffee since I was born, and now she'd take it away just like that? I think she's going to be the next big villain once we defeat Morganthe, and - OW! *clutches head* I need my coffee!

- Emma I

Snow Daaaayy!

Snow is fun
Snow is great
Snow reminds me
Of what I just ate!

Snow I love
Snow snow snow
Snow is deep
And cold I know!

Snow is good
Snow storms mean
'Sno more school
And coffee bean! :D

SNOW DDDAAAAAAYYYY!!

What IN THE SPIRAL is all this?!

SNOW DDDAAAAAAYYYY!!

No, Emma, this is absolutely ridiculous and you are not going to post this on the blog because I know that's what you were thinking of when you wrote it!

SNOW DDDAAAAAAYYYY!! *clicks "publish" button and runs away*

Grrrr. Well, since I'm the only person left and this post exists whether I like it or not, I guess I'll sign it off. See you later. And remember, Sophia could still use your help against the Mordromancers, so please try to enter the contest if you haven't yet!

- Grace S

Grace's List

Hi.  This is Grace, now that Sophia's been - *cough cough* - oh, sorry, I've had this nasty cough and fever bug that's been preventing me from posting in the last week or so. It's been crazy, but I think I'll be able to post consistently from now on.

Anyway, I've sort of taken charge of the blog without Sophia here, because I know I'd be a lot better site leader than Emma -

I have been summoned! *looks over Grace's shoulder* Ohmyjustwowisthattheblogbeingpostedon?! I can be famous again! You have absolutely no idea how long I have been waiting to get some special spotlight time, and I'll bet the lovely community out there has been pining for just a mere glimpse of my own icy splendiferousness!

*continues writing*
Emma's Issues:
1. Ego
2. Hyperactivity
3. Vocabulary
4. Nosiness
5. Irrationality
6. Obsessiveness
7. Distressingly All-Consuming Lust for Power

*looks over Grace's shoulder again* Hmm...not bad, but I'd phrase it more like this...
Emma's Personality:
1. Self-confidence
2. Energy
3. Vocabulary
4. Caring
5. Speculation
6. Interested
7. Absolutely Deserved Desire to Take Leadership of What Is Rightfully Hers

*sigh* You know what? *coughing fit* I'm done with this right now. I've received word recently that a brave adventurer has found the incantation behind Corwin DarkHammer's search at the Wizard City library, and I will disclose the details tomorrow, followed by more information about the enemy's movements. Further scheduling will proceed as originally planned.

- Grace S 

Tales of Grace and Emma - The Riddle Game!

(Sophia speaking here. While I'm away writing at Camp NaNoWriMo, these "Tales of Grace and Emma" are scheduled to post here for your enjoyment.)

Hello again. I just dug up this story about our adventures in the mansion, and apparently Nicholas was authorized to tell these riddles that she wrote. I especially like this one:

On the wings of the wind it soars, the fear of all rodents outdoors.

With piercing eye and sharpest claw, this bird is master of them all.

I wonder if I could write a riddle like that?

Forget it. You couldn't write a riddle even if the frost giant's icy hammer of inspiration smacked you square in the face!

Fine, then. I'd like to see you try!

Sure. Just watch me create my masterpiece. Uh...*thinks for a few minutes* Here it is!

It's the warm and fuzzy thing that people like to put on there feet in the mornings.

*bursts out laughing* You call that a riddle? It doesn't even rhyme, and forget meter or hidden meanings! You didn't even get the spelling and grammar right! Here, let me try:

It snows, it blows, it chills people's toes

Sky high it goes, up, up, it blows.

Ha! You call that a masterful riddle? I'll admit, it rhymes, it has meter, and I think you got the technicalities right, but it's ridiculously obvious and doesn't make much sense!

Emma, yours is obvious, too...

Fine! Here's another!

They come in new colors and old

Protecting people's feet from the cold

They're oh so very fuzzy

As much as anything ever was-y

Not to wear them, you'd have to be bold.

*snorts* Slippers again? While you were reciting your oh-so-profound "masterpiece of writing," I got another riddle! It's really amazing! Just get a load of THIS:

Voiceless it cries,

Wingless flutters,

Toothless bites,

Mouthless mutters.

I'll admit, that's okay. All right, pretty good. But it seems familiar somehow...oh, I remember now! You stole it from The Hobbit! You cheater, you!

Uh-oh. You probably don't want to see what's coming...

- Grace S

Tales of Grace and Emma - Crafter Extraordinaire!

(Sophia speaking here. While I'm away writing at Camp NaNoWriMo, these "Tales of Grace and Emma" are scheduled to post here for your enjoyment.)

Hey, all! I'm still totally pumped about defeating Emma. Even though she's still a nuisance, she knows not to mess with me.
Hmph. Your win wasn't splendiferous! If I'd packed heals, I would've won!
Whatever you say, I suppose. *hums tune* Well, while you're sitting here, I'll tell you ice wizard jokes! You see, there was this super arrogant thaumaturge -
HEY! (What do I do? I don't want her sharing that joke!) Hey, Grace! Look what I just made! *hauls out mannequin*
- and she thought she was the best in the whole spiral, so she decided to challenge a diviner - wow, that thing looks awesome! I've heard about those! Can you really display any gear you want on them?
Definitely! And I'll sell it to you for the bargain price of only 350,000 gold! Of course, if that's a little much, I can help you learn to craft one for yourself. 
I'm game. What do I need to do?
Well, you should visit Eudora Tangletree in Olde Town, and she'll get you set up with an itty bitty crafting station to practice on. 
All right. Practice is good, right? *bounds off*
...
...
...
*returns half an hour later* She went on vacation to Krokotopia. At least, that's what Elmer Meadowgrass said.
Well, that's unfortunate. I suppose I'll have to teach you myself. You need to demonstrate to me that you're capable of hunting down high-quality reagents, so I need you to go find some mistwood for me. Once you bring it back to me, my eager young apprentice, we'll get you started on a very basic dagger.
Mistwood. How hard can it be? *runs off*
*returns later* Is this good enough?
No. It's too mossy. How are you supposed to make anything with mossy mistwood?
*half an hour later* This?
No. It's too knotted.
*an hour later* This?
It has a brown spot on it. No.
*two hours later* This?
It's too well-polished. Where'd you get it, the bazaar? That's cheating! You're hopeless! *stalks off*
*sigh* Well, about that arrogant thaumaturge...

- Grace S

Tales of Grace and Emma - The Duel!

(Sophia speaking here. While I'm away writing at Camp NaNoWriMo, these "Tales of Grace and Emma" are scheduled to post here for your enjoyment.)

Hi. Emma had to visit the Bazaar to pick up more bronze gears for her Watchtower Hall in progress, so I have the place to myself, but only for a few minutes. Let's hope she goes off chasing diamonds while there. Anyway, I suppose I'll upload a picture to amuse you -
Grace! Look at all these shiny diamonds I picked up! 
Oh, no. Just no. 
Hey! Stop locking yourself into Sophia's bedroom and come out to look at these splendiferous finds! Ohhhh...I see. You thought you could post on the blog while I was gone. Is that right?
I suppose. (There's no point resisting. She's about four times my level, has about three times my health, and has about twice my attack power. I couldn't survive a duel.)
I've had enough of your sneaking trickery! I need to end it here and now! *raises staff and casts wand spell*
Oh, no. Well, here goes. *casts stormblade*
Now don't go blading yourself! *casts iceblade*
Ha! You're doing the exact same thing as I am! *casts elemental blade*
What? I'm not copying your moves! *casts elemental blade*
Says the wizard who just cast the exact same spell I did. (Stupid cards!) *passes*
Muahahaha! Now you can't get rid of this without wasting all your blades! *casts volcanic shield*
Sounds like someone needs to catch up on trap theory! *casts storm prism*
No! You - you cheater! *casts feint*
I learned it from Professor Balestrom! It's completely fair game! *passes*
It doesn't matter. Storm sharks can't defeat me! I'll kill you first! I'm ready! *casts balefrost*
Oh, are you, now? *casts thermic shield*
Noooooooooo! *casts colossus, hits into shield, does 700 damage* Darn it!
Well, you're probably right about one thing - storm sharks can't kill you. But I don't have to use a storm shark! Sparky, attack! *casts 10 pip tempest, does 2,000 damage*
Oh, no! I only have 700 health left! Grace could kill me easily. *discards frantically* I need to draw a heal next round! I need to! *passes*
Who's in trouble now, hmm? *wands off the shield*
I'm out of cards. Good thing I packed reshuffle with me. Uh-oh...I didn't add any pixies! I'm doomed! *flees*
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

- Grace S

"Tales of Grace and Emma" begins!

(Sophia speaking here. While I'm away writing at Camp NaNoWriMo, these "Tales of Grace and Emma" are scheduled to post here for your enjoyment.)

Hello! Grace here. Sophia is away at her treehouse place writing like a maniac, so she decided to pass off the blog to me for a month. What could possibly go wrong?
*off to the side a bit* Hmm...Sophia the archmage gone...Grace the initiate in her place...This is a golden opportunity!

So anyway, I'm here just to tell you that Sophia isn't dead for the time being, and just busy. In the meantime, I'm going to attempt to entertain you. How, I'm not quite sure. Maybe I could tell cheesy jokes or upload random wizardly pictures from her camera with funny captions.

Pfft! Who needs cheesy jokes when they could have me?! I can totally run this show. Go ahead. Hand the blog over. It'll only be for a month. Like you said: what could go wrong?

*backs away* Um, I'm sorry, but no. Sophia said I was supposed to handle this, and I will. I don't think I should be letting the crazy crafter run this blog.

But I'm the queen of cheesy jokes! Just listen to this: What do you call cheese that is sad? Blue cheese! :D

*groan* It's not funny, Emma. (What do I do to get her to go away so I can sign off this post? Oh, I've got it!) Look over there! Your ectoplasm is boiling over!

*gasp* AAAaaahhh!!! My ectoplasm!! *runs off*

Whew. It's a good thing that worked. Now, I'm sorry that this is so short, but it had to be done. Hopefully I'll be able to throw Emma off my trail soon so I can post in a week or so. See you later!...hopefully.

- Grace S     - Emma I

I'll get you for that, Grace, you devilish daughter of a triton! I'll have my revenge next time, just you wait and see!