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Thursday, July 29, 2010

RPG Maker VX Storage and Bank System v1.2 by Deriru

Here's the Script for Storage & Bank System for
RPG Maker VX. Credit Deriru if you use this system.
Visit the forum rpgmakervx.net for more updates and bug fixes.

Retrieved from:
http://www.rpgmakerid.com/rmvx-f22/askbank-event-t2154.htm#37186
Just copy-paste the script below in the game.

#===============================================================================
# Deriru's Simple Storage System v1.2
# by Deriru
#
# What does this do?:
# -It creates an storage system where you can store your items and gold, like
# in a warehouse.
#
# How to use:
# -Customize the script according to the options below.
# -Call the storage system with:
# $scene = Scene_StorageSystem.new
# -To unlock more spaces for your storage, use the following script:
# $game_system.unlock_storages(amount)
# Where amount is the max amount of slots that will be unlocked.
# -To make an item non-storable, insert the NonStorageTag(see SETUP OPTIONS
# BELOW), enclosed in [].
# Example: [NoStore]
# -To get the curreny name (for text display), add #{gVocab} inside.
# Example:
# Withdraw #{gVocab}
# If the currency name is Yen then the result would be: Withdraw Yen
# Version History:
# v1.0:
# -Initial Release
#
# Credits for this script:
# cmpsr2000 for his Shopoholic Script and the Storage_Slot class
#
# Please credit me if used. Enjoy!
#===============================================================================
# SETUP OPTIONS
#===============================================================================
# SlotsAmount: Maximum amounts of storage slots.
# InitialFree: Initial amount of unlocked storage slots.
# NonStorageTag: Tag used for items that cannot be stored to the warehouse.
# DepositText: Menu text for depositing items.
# WithdrawText: Menu text for withdrawing items.
# EmptyText: Text for empty slots.
# LockedText: Text for locked slots.
# AmountText: Text when inputting amount of items.
# The others are self explanatory when you read them by name. If you don't get
# it, please look at the demo.
#===============================================================================
# SETUP BEGIN
#===============================================================================
$data_system = load_data("Data/System.rvdata")# DON'T TOUCH THIS!!!
gVocab = Vocab::gold # DON'T TOUCH THIS TOO!
SlotsAmount = 30
InitialFree = 10
NonStorageTag = "NoStore"
DepositText = "Deposit Item"
WithdrawText = "Withdraw Item"
GoldDepositText = "Deposit #{gVocab}"
GoldWithdrawText = "Withdraw #{gVocab}"
GoldInParty = "Gold in party: "
GoldInWarehouse = "Gold in storage: "
EmptyText = "Empty"
LockedText = "Locked"
AmountText = "Amount:"
MenuDepositHelp = "Deposit items."
MenuWithdrawHelp = "Withdraw deposited items."
StorageSelectHelp = "Select storage slot."
InventorySelectHelp = "Choose the item to be deposited."
AmountSelectHelp = "Left(-1), Right(+1), Up(+10), Down(-10)"
GoldDepositHelp = "Deposit #{gVocab}."
GoldWithdrawHelp = "Withdraw #{gVocab}."
GoldAmountHelp = "Insert amount of #{gVocab}."
ExitHelp = "Exit warehouse."
#===============================================================================
# SETUP END [DO NOT TOUCH THE PARTS BELOW IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING!]
#===============================================================================

#===============================================================================
# ItemStorageSlot: Basic Item Slot for Storage System (thanks to cmpsr2000!)
#===============================================================================
class ItemStorageSlot

attr_reader :locked
attr_reader :amount
attr_reader :item

def initialize
@item = nil
@amount = 0
@locked = true
end

def storeItem(item, amount)
$game_party.lose_item(item, amount)
@item = item
@amount = amount
end

def takeItem(amt)
$game_party.gain_item(@item, amt)
@amount -= amt
if @amount <= 0
@item = nil
end
end

def lock
@locked = true
end

def unlock
@locked = false
end

end

#===============================================================================
# Game_System Modification: Adds the storage variables.
#===============================================================================
class Game_System

attr_accessor :storage
attr_accessor :stored_gold

alias :initialize_deriru initialize

def initialize
initialize_deriru
@stored_gold = Integer(0)
@storage = []
for i in 0..SlotsAmount - 1
@storage.push(ItemStorageSlot.new)
end
for i in 0..InitialFree - 1
@storage[i].unlock
end
end

def unlock_storages(max_amt)
for i in 0..max_amt - 1
$game_system.storage[i].unlock
end
end

def withdraw_money(amt)
$game_party.gain_gold(amt)
@stored_gold -= amt
@stored_gold = 9999999 if @stored_gold > 9999999
end

def store_money(amt)
$game_party.lose_gold(amt)
@stored_gold += amt
@stored_gold = 0 if @stored_gold < 0
end

end

#===============================================================================
# Window_Storage: For the Storage Window in the Storage Scene.
#===============================================================================
class Window_Storage < Window_Selectable

def initialize
super(0,56,544,360)
@column_max = 2
self.index = 0
update
refresh
end

def refresh
@data = []
@data = $game_system.storage
@item_max = @data.size
create_contents
for i in 0..@item_max - 1
draw_storage(i)
end
end

def draw_storage(index)
slot = @data[index]
disabled = @data[index].locked
rect = item_rect(index)
self.contents.clear_rect(rect)
unless disabled
unless slot.item == nil
draw_item(index)
else
self.contents.font.color.alpha = 255
self.contents.draw_text(rect.x,rect.y,rect.width,WLH,EmptyText)
end
else
self.contents.font.color.alpha = 128
self.contents.draw_text(rect.x,rect.y,rect.width,WLH,LockedText)
end
end

def draw_item(index)
rect = item_rect(index)
slot = @data[index]
if slot != nil
number = $game_system.storage[index].amount
rect.width -= 4
draw_item_name(slot.item, rect.x, rect.y, true)
self.contents.font.size = 12
self.contents.draw_text(rect.x + 12,rect.y + 12, 15, 15, number, 1)
self.contents.font.size = 20
rect.width += 4
end
end


end

#===============================================================================
# Window_ItemForStage: For the Item Window in the Storage Scene.
#===============================================================================
class Window_ItemForStorage < Window_Selectable

def initialize(x, y, width, height)
super(x, y, width, height)
@column_max = 2
self.index = 0
refresh
end

def item
return @data[self.index]
end

def include?(item)
return false if item == nil
return true
end

def enable?(item)
return false if item.note.include?("[#{NonStorageTag}]")
return true
end

def refresh
@data = []
for item in $game_party.items
next unless include?(item)
@data.push(item)
if item.is_a?(RPG::Item) and item.id == $game_party.last_item_id
self.index = @data.size - 1
end
end
@data.push(nil) if include?(nil)
@item_max = @data.size
create_contents
for i in 0...@item_max
draw_item(i)
end
end

def draw_item(index)
rect = item_rect(index)
self.contents.clear_rect(rect)
item = @data[index]
if item != nil
number = $game_party.item_number(item)
enabled = enable?(item)
rect.width -= 4
draw_item_name(item, rect.x, rect.y, enabled)
self.contents.font.size = 12
self.contents.draw_text(rect.x + 12,rect.y + 12, 15, 15, number, 1)
self.contents.font.size = 20
end
end

def update_help
@help_window.set_text(item == nil ? "" : item.description)
end
end

#===============================================================================
# Window_ItemNumInput: Item Number Input Window
#===============================================================================
class Window_ItemNumInput < Window_Base

attr_reader :qn

def initialize
@maxQn = 99
@qn = 1
super(200,60,100,100)
refresh
self.x = (Graphics.width - 100) / 2
self.y = (Graphics.height - 100) / 2
end

def refresh
self.contents.clear
self.contents.draw_text(0,0,self.width - 32,WLH,AmountText, 1)
self.contents.draw_text(0,WLH, self.width - 32, WLH, @qn.to_s, 1)
end

def set_max(number)
@maxQn = number
@maxQn = 99 if @maxQn > 99
@maxQn = 1 if @maxQn < 1
@qn = 1
end

def update
refresh
if Input.repeat?(Input::UP)
Sound.play_cursor
@qn += 10
@qn = @maxQn if @qn > @maxQn
elsif Input.repeat?(Input::DOWN)
Sound.play_cursor
@qn -= 10
@qn = 0 if @qn < 0
elsif Input.repeat?(Input::LEFT)
Sound.play_cursor
@qn -= 1
@qn = 0 if @qn < 0
elsif Input.repeat?(Input::RIGHT)
Sound.play_cursor
@qn += 1
@qn = @maxQn if @qn > @maxQn
end
end

end
#===============================================================================
# Window_HelpStorage: A modified version of Window_Help
#===============================================================================
class Window_HelpStorage < Window_Base

def initialize
super(0, 0, Graphics.width - 140, WLH + 32)
end

def set_text(text, align = 0)
if text != @text or align != @align
self.contents.clear
self.contents.font.color = normal_color
self.contents.draw_text(4, 0, self.width - 40, WLH, text, align)
@text = text
@align = align
end
end
end

#===============================================================================
# Window_GoldAmt: Inputs the amount of gold
#===============================================================================
class Window_GoldAmt < Window_Command

attr_reader :value
attr_reader :commands

def initialize
super(176, ["0", "0", "0", "0", "0", "0", "0"], 7, 0, 0)
self.x = (Graphics.width / 2) - 88
self.y = (Graphics.height / 2) - 60
self.height = 60
@index = 6
end

def reset
for i in 0...@commands.size
@commands[i] = "0"
end
refresh
end

def update
super
value = @commands[@index].to_i
if Input.repeat?(Input::UP)
Sound.play_cursor
@commands[@index] = (value < 9 ? value+1 : 9).to_s
refresh
elsif Input.repeat?(Input::DOWN)
Sound.play_cursor
@commands[@index] = (value > 0 ? value-1 : 0).to_s
refresh
end
end

end

class Window_GoldOpposite < Window_Base

def initialize
super((Graphics.width / 2) - 100,(Graphics.height / 2), 200,60)
end

def refresh(i)
self.contents.clear
self.contents.draw_text(0,0,self.width - 32, self.height - 32, i == 2 ? GoldInParty + $game_party.gold.to_s : GoldInWarehouse + $game_system.stored_gold.to_s, 1)
end

end
#===============================================================================
# Scene_StorageSystem: The Storage System Scene itself! xD
#===============================================================================
class Scene_StorageSystem < Scene_Base

def initialize
@storage_slots = Window_Storage.new
@storage_slots.active = false
@current_inv = Window_ItemForStorage.new(0,56,544,360)
@current_inv.update
@current_inv.refresh
@current_inv.visible = false
@current_inv.active = false
@num_input = Window_ItemNumInput.new
@num_input.visible = false
@storage_help = Window_HelpStorage.new
@storage_menu = Window_Command.new(140,[DepositText,WithdrawText,GoldDepositText,GoldWithdrawText,"Exit"])
@storage_menu.height = 56
@storage_menu.x = @storage_help.width
@gold_amt = Window_GoldAmt.new
@gold_amt.visible = false
@gold_opp = Window_GoldOpposite.new
@gold_opp.visible = false
end

def start
create_menu_background
end

def terminate
@storage_slots.dispose
@storage_menu.dispose
@current_inv.dispose
@num_input.dispose
@storage_help.dispose
@gold_amt.dispose
@gold_opp.dispose
dispose_menu_background
end

def update
if @num_input.visible
num_input_input
elsif @gold_amt.visible
gold_amt_update
elsif @current_inv.active
current_inv_input
elsif @storage_slots.active
storage_slots_input
elsif @storage_menu.active
storage_menu_input
end
help_update
update_menu_background
end

def switch_store_inv(store_slots,inv_slots)
@storage_slots.active = store_slots
@storage_slots.visible = store_slots
@current_inv.active = inv_slots
@current_inv.visible = inv_slots
end

def storage_menu_input
@storage_menu.update
if Input.trigger?(Input::C)
if @storage_menu.index == 0 or @storage_menu.index == 1
Sound.play_decision
@storage_menu.active = false
@storage_slots.active = true
elsif @storage_menu.index == 2 or @storage_menu.index == 3
Sound.play_decision
@gold_opp.refresh(@storage_menu.index)
@gold_opp.visible = true
@gold_amt.visible = true
elsif @storage_menu.index == 4
Sound.play_cancel
$scene = Scene_Map.new
else
Sound.play_buzzer
end
elsif Input.trigger?(Input::B)
Sound.play_cancel
$scene = Scene_Map.new
end
end

def storage_slots_input
@storage_slots.update
if Input.trigger?(Input::C)
if $game_system.storage[@storage_slots.index].locked
Sound.play_buzzer
elsif @storage_menu.index == 1
unless $game_system.storage[@storage_slots.index].item == nil
# CRAPPY CALCULATION STARTZ! AAAAGH!
in_stock = $game_party.item_number($game_system.storage[@storage_slots.index].item)
item_possible = (in_stock + $game_system.storage[@storage_slots.index].amount)
if item_possible > 99
item_possible -= 99
elsif item_possible = 99
item_possible = $game_system.storage[@storage_slots.index].amount
else
item_possible = 99 - item_possible
end
# CRAPPY CALCULATION ENDZ! HURRAH!
if in_stock < 99
@num_input.set_max(item_possible)
@num_input.visible = true
@storage_slots.active = false
else
Sound.play_buzzer
end
else
Sound.play_buzzer
end
elsif @storage_menu.index == 0
if $game_system.storage[@storage_slots.index].item == nil
Sound.play_decision
switch_store_inv(false,true)
else
Sound.play_buzzer
end
end
elsif Input.trigger?(Input::B)
Sound.play_cancel
@storage_slots.active = false
@storage_menu.active = true
end
end

def current_inv_input
@current_inv.update
if Input.trigger?(Input::C)
if $game_system.storage[@storage_slots.index].item == nil && @current_inv.item != nil && !@current_inv.item.note.include?("[#{NonStorageTag}]")
@current_inv.active = false
@num_input.visible = true
@num_input.set_max($game_party.item_number(@current_inv.item))
else
Sound.play_buzzer
end
elsif Input.trigger?(Input::B)
Sound.play_cancel
switch_store_inv(true,false)
end
end

def num_input_input
@num_input.update
if Input.trigger?(Input::C)
if @storage_menu.index == 0
$game_system.storage[@storage_slots.index].storeItem(@current_inv.item,@num_input.qn)
elsif @storage_menu.index == 1
$game_system.storage[@storage_slots.index].takeItem(@num_input.qn)
end
switch_store_inv(true,false)
@storage_slots.index = 0
@storage_slots.refresh
@current_inv.refresh
@num_input.visible = false
elsif Input.trigger?(Input::B)
if @storage_menu.index == 0
@current_inv.active = true
elsif @storage_menu.index == 1
@storage_slots.active = true
end
@num_input.visible = false
end
end

def help_update
if @gold_amt.visible
@storage_help.set_text(GoldAmountHelp)
elsif @num_input.visible
@storage_help.set_text(AmountSelectHelp)
elsif @current_inv.active
@storage_help.set_text(InventorySelectHelp)
elsif @storage_slots.active
@storage_help.set_text(StorageSelectHelp)
elsif @storage_menu.active
case @storage_menu.index
when 0
@storage_help.set_text(MenuDepositHelp)
when 1
@storage_help.set_text(MenuWithdrawHelp)
when 2
@storage_help.set_text(GoldDepositHelp)
when 3
@storage_help.set_text(GoldWithdrawHelp)
when 4
@storage_help.set_text(ExitHelp)
end
end
end

def gold_amt_update
@gold_amt.update
@gold_opp.update
if Input.trigger?(Input::C)
money_inp = @gold_amt.commands.to_s.to_i
if @storage_menu.index == 2
unless money_inp + $game_system.stored_gold.to_i > 9999999 and money_inp < $game_party.gold
if money_inp <= $game_party.gold
Sound.play_decision
$game_system.store_money(money_inp)
@gold_amt.reset
@gold_amt.visible = false
@gold_opp.refresh(@storage_menu.index)
@gold_opp.visible = false
@storage_menu.active = true
else
Sound.play_buzzer
end
else
Sound.play_buzzer
end
elsif @storage_menu.index == 3
unless money_inp + $game_party.gold > 9999999
if money_inp <= $game_system.stored_gold
Sound.play_decision
$game_system.withdraw_money(money_inp)
@gold_amt.reset
@gold_amt.visible = false
@gold_opp.refresh(@storage_menu.index)
@gold_opp.visible = false
@storage_menu.active = true
else
Sound.play_buzzer
end
else
Sound.play_buzzer
end
end
elsif Input.trigger?(Input::B)
Sound.play_decision
@gold_amt.reset
@gold_amt.visible = false
@gold_opp.refresh(@storage_menu.index)
@gold_opp.visible = false
@storage_menu.active = true
end
end

end

/textarea

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Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Cuchulainn

Cúchulainn
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Cuchulainn

"Cuchulain Slays the Hound of Culain", illustration by Stephen Reid from Eleanor Hull's The Boys' Cuchulain, 1904Enlarge picture
"Cuchulain Slays the Hound of Culain", illustration by Stephen Reid from Eleanor Hull's The Boys' Cuchulain, 1904

Cúchulainn /kuːˈxʊlɪnʲ/ ( ) (Irish "Hound of Culann"; also spelled Cú Chulainn, Cú Chulaind, Cúchulain, or Cuchullain) is an Irish mythological hero who appears in the stories of the Ulster Cycle, as well as in Scottish and Manx folklore. The son of the god Lugh and Deichtine, sister of the king of Ulster, he was originally named Sétanta /'ʃeːd̪ˠɔn̪ˠd̪ˠə/ , but gained his better-known name as a child after he killed Culann's fierce guard-dog in self-defence, and offered to take its place until a replacement could be reared. At the age of seventeen he defended Ulster single-handedly against the armies of queen Medb of Connacht in the epic Táin Bó Cúailnge ("The Cattle Raid of Cooley"). It was prophesied that his great deeds would give him everlasting fame, but that his life would be short – one reason he is compared to the Greek hero Achilles. He is known for his terrifying battle frenzy or ríastrad,[1] in which he becomes an unrecognisable monster who knows neither friend nor foe. He fights from his chariot, driven by his loyal charioteer Láeg, and drawn by his horses, Liath Macha and Dub Sainglend.

Legends

Birth

There are a number of versions of the story of Cúchulainn's birth. In an early version, his mother Deichtine is the daughter and charioteer of Conchobar mac Nessa, king of Ulster, and accompanies him as he and the nobles of Ulster hunt a flock of magical birds. Snow falls, and the Ulstermen seek shelter, finding a house where they are made welcome. Their host's wife goes into labour, and Deichtine assists at the birth of a baby boy. A mare gives birth to two colts at the same time. The next morning, the Ulstermen find themselves at the Brug na Bóinde (the neolithic mound at Newgrange) – the house and its occupants have disappeared, but the child and the colts remain. Deichtine takes the boy home and raises him to early childhood, but he falls sick and dies. The god Lugh appears to her and tells her he was their host that night, and that he has put his child in her womb, who is to be called Sétanta. Her pregnancy is a scandal as she is betrothed to Sualtam mac Róich, and the Ulstermen suspect Conchobar of being the father, so she aborts the child and goes to her husband's bed "virgin-whole". She then conceives a son whom she names Sétanta.[2] This has been interpreted as a triple conception, marking the child out as someone special.[3]

In a later, and better-known, version, Deichtine is Conchobar's sister, and disappears from Emain Macha, the Ulster capital. As in the previous version, the Ulstermen go hunting a flock of magical birds, are overtaken by a snowstorm and seek shelter in a nearby house. Their host is Lugh, but this time his wife, who gives birth to a son that night, is Deichtine herself. The child is named Sétanta.[4] The nobles of Ulster argue over which of them is to be his foster-father, until the wise Morann decides he should be fostered by several of them: Conchobar himself; Sencha mac Ailella, who will teach him judgement and eloquent speech; the wealthy Blaí Briugu, who will protect and provide for him; the noble warrior Fergus mac Róich, who will care for him and teach him to protect the weak; the poet Amergin, who will educate him, and his wife Findchóem, who will nurse him. He is brought up in the house of Amergin and Findchóem on Muirthemne Plain in modern County Louth, alongside their son Conall Cernach.[5]

Childhood

The stories of Cúchulainn's childhood are told in a flashback sequence in Táin Bó Cúailnge. As a small child, living in his parent's house on Muirthemne Plain, he begs to be allowed to join the boy-troop at Emain Macha, but his mother thinks he is too young and should wait for a company of warriors to take him there. However, he sets off on his own, and when he arrives at Emain he runs onto the playing field without first asking for the boys' protection, being unaware of the custom. The boys take this as a challenge and attack him, but he has a ríastrad and beats them single-handed. Conchobar puts a stop to the fight and clears up the misunderstanding, but no sooner has Sétanta put himself under the boys' protection than he chases after them, demanding they put themselves under his protection.[6]

Culann the smith invites Conchobar to a feast at his house. Before going, Conchobar goes to the playing field to watch the boys play hurling. He is so impressed by Sétanta's performance that he asks him to join him at the feast. Sétanta has a game to finish, but promises to follow the king later. But Conchobar forgets, and Culann lets loose his ferocious guard dog to protect his house. When Sétanta arrives, the enormous dog attacks him, but he kills it in self-defence, in one version by smashing it against a standing stone, in another by driving a sliotar (hurling ball) down its throat with his hurley. Culann is devastated by the loss of his dog, so Sétanta promises he will rear him a replacement, and until it is old enough to do the job, he himself will guard Culann's house. The druid Cathbad announces that his name henceforth will be Cú Chulainn – "Culann's Hound".[7]

One day at Emain Macha, Cúchulainn overhears Cathbad teaching his pupils. One asks him what that day is auspicious for, and Cathbad replies that any warrior who takes arms that day will have everlasting fame. Cúchulainn, though only seven years old, goes to Conchobar and asks for arms. None of the weapons given to him withstand his strength, until Conchobar gives him his own weapons. But when Cathbad sees this he grieves, because he had not finished his prophesy – the warrior who took arms that day would be famous, but his life would be short. Soon afterwards, in response to a similar prophesy by Cathbad, Cúchulainn demands a chariot from Conchobar, and only the king's own chariot withstands him. He sets off on a foray and kills the three sons of Nechtan Scéne, who had boasted they had killed more Ulstermen than there were Ulstermen still living. He returns to Emain Macha in his battle frenzy, and the Ulstermen are afraid he will slaughter them all. Conchobar's wife Mugain leads out the women of Emain, and they bare their breasts to him. He averts his eyes, and the Ulstermen wrestle him into a barrel of cold water, which explodes from the heat of his body. They put him in a second barrel, which boils, and a third, which warms to a pleasant temperature.[8]

Emer and Cúchulainn's training


In Cúchulainn's youth he is so beautiful the Ulstermen worry that, without a wife of his own, he will steal their wives and ruin their daughters. They search all over Ireland for a suitable wife for him, but he will have none but Emer, daughter of Forgall Monach. However, Forgall is opposed to the match. He suggests that Cúchulainn should train in arms with the renowned warrior-woman Scáthach in the land of Alba (Scotland), hoping the ordeal will be too much for him and he will be killed. Cúchulainn takes up the challenge. In the meantime, Forgall offers Emer to Lugaid mac Nóis, a king of Munster, but when he hears that Emer loves Cúchulainn, Lugaid refuses her hand.

Scáthach teaches Cúchulainn all the arts of war, including the use of the Gáe Bulg, a terrible barbed spear, thrown with the foot, that has to be cut out of its victim. His fellow trainees include Ferdiad, who becomes Cúchulainn's best friend and foster-brother. During his time there, Scáthach faces a battle against Aífe, her rival and in some versions her twin sister. Scáthach, knowing Aífe's prowess, fears for Cúchulainn's life and gives him a powerful sleeping potion to keep him from the battle. However, because of Cúchulainn's great strength, it only puts him to sleep for an hour, and he soon joins the fray. He fights Aífe in single combat, and the two are evenly matched, but Cúchulainn distracts her by calling out that Aífe's horses and chariot, the things she values most in the world, have fallen off a cliff, and seizes her. He spares her life on the condition that she call off her enmity with Scáthach, and bear him a son.

Leaving Aífe pregnant, Cúchulainn returns from Scotland fully trained, but Forgall still refuses to let him marry Emer. Cúchulainn storms Forgall's fortress, killing twenty-four of Forgall's men, abducts Emer and steals Forgall's treasure. Forgall himself falls from the ramparts to his death. Conchobar has the "right of the first night" over all marriages of his subjects. He is afraid of Cúchulainn's reaction if he exercises it in this case, but is equally afraid of losing his authority if he does not. Cathbad suggests a solution: Conchobar sleeps with Emer on the night of the wedding, but Cathbad sleeps between them.[9]

Cúchulainn kills his son

Seven years later, Connla, Cúchulainn's son by Aífe, comes to Ireland in search of his father, but Cúchulainn takes him as an intruder and kills him when he refuses to identify himself.[10] The story of Cúchulainn and Connla shows a striking similarity to the legend of Persian hero Rostam who also kills his son Sohrab. Rostam and Cúchulainn share several other characteristics, including killing a ferocious beast at a very young age, their near invincibility in battle, and the manner of their deaths.

Lugaid and Derbforgaill

During his time abroad, Cúchulainn had rescued Derbforgaill, a Scandinavian princess, from being sacrificed to the Fomorians. She falls in love with him, and she and her handmaid come to Ireland in search of him in the form of a pair of swans. Cúchulainn, not realising who she is, shoots her down with his sling, and then saves her life by sucking the stone from her side. Having tasted her blood, he cannot marry her, and gives her to his foster-son Lugaid Riab nDerg. Lugaid goes on to become High King of Ireland, but the Lia Fáil (stone of destiny), fails to cry out when he stands on it, so Cúchulainn splits it in two with his sword.[11] When Derbforgaill is mutilated by the women of Ulster out of jealousy for her sexual desirability and dies of her wounds, Lugaid dies of grief, and Cúchulainn avenges them by demolishing the house the women are inside, killing 150 of them.[12]

The Cattle Raid of Cooley


At the age of seventeen, Cúchulainn single-handedly defends Ulster from the army of Connacht in the Táin Bó Cúailnge. Medb, queen of Connacht, has mounted the invasion to steal the stud bull Donn Cúailnge, and Cúchulainn allows her to take Ulster by surprise because he is with a woman when he should be watching the border. The men of Ulster are disabled by a curse, so Cúchulainn prevents Medb's army from advancing further by invoking the right of single combat at fords. He defeats champion after champion in a stand-off lasting months.

Before one combat a beautiful young woman comes to him, claiming to be the daughter of a king, and offers him her love, but he refuses her. The woman reveals herself as the Morrígan, and in revenge for this slight she attacks him in various animal forms while he is engaged in combat against Lóch mac Mofemis. As an eel, she trips him in the ford, but he breaks her ribs. As a wolf, she stampedes cattle across the ford, but he puts out her eye with a sling-stone. Finally she appears as a heifer at the head of the stampede, but he breaks her leg with another slingstone. After Cúchulainn finally defeats Lóch, the Morrígan appears to him as an old woman milking a cow, with the same injuries he had given her in her animal forms. She gives him three drinks of milk, and with each drink he blesses her, healing her wounds.

After one particularly arduous combat Cúchulainn lies severely wounded, but is visited by Lugh, who tells him he is his father and heals his wounds. When Cúchulainn wakes up and sees that the boy-troop of Emain Macha have attacked the Connacht army and been slaughtered, he has his most spectacular ríastrad yet:

The first warp-spasm seized Cúchulainn, and made him into a monstrous thing, hideous and shapeless, unheard of. His shanks and his joints, every knuckle and angle and organ from head to foot, shook like a tree in the flood or a reed in the stream. His body made a furious twist inside his skin, so that his feet and shins switched to the rear and his heels and calves switched to the front... On his head the temple-sinews stretched to the nape of his neck, each mighty, immense, measureless knob as big as the head of a month-old child... he sucked one eye so deep into his head that a wild crane couldn't probe it onto his cheek out of the depths of his skull; the other eye fell out along his cheek. His mouth weirdly distorted: his cheek peeled back from his jaws until the gullet appeared, his lungs and his liver flapped in his mouth and throat, his lower jaw struck the upper a lion-killing blow, and fiery flakes large as a ram's fleece reached his mouth from his throat... The hair of his head twisted like the tange of a red thornbush stuck in a gap; if a royal apple tree with all its kingly fruit were shaken above him, scarce an apple would reach the ground but each would be spiked on a bristle of his hair as it stood up on his scalp with rage.

Thomas Kinsella (translator), The Táin, Oxford University Press, 1969, pp. 150-153

He attacks the army and kills hundreds, building walls of corpses.

When his foster-father Fergus mac Róich, now in exile in Medb's court, is sent to face him Cúchulainn agrees to yield, so long as Fergus agrees to return the favour the next time they meet. Finally, he fights a gruelling three-day duel with his best friend and foster-brother, Ferdiad, at a ford that was named Áth Fhir Diadh (Ardee, County Louth) after him.

The Ulstermen eventually rouse, one by one at first, and finally en masse. The final battle begins. Cúchulainn stays on the sidelines, recuperating from his wounds, until he sees Fergus advancing. He enters the fray and confronts Fergus, who keeps his side of the bargain and yields to him, pulling his forces off the field. Connacht's other allies panic and Medb is forced to retreat. At this inopportune moment she gets her period, and although Fergus forms a guard around her, Cúchulainn breaks through as she is dealing with it and has her at his mercy. However he spares her because he does not think it right to kill women, and guards her retreat back to Connacht as far as Athlone.[13]

Bricriu's Feast


The troublemaker Bricriu once incites three heroes, Cúchulainn, Conall Cernach and Lóegaire Búadach, to compete for the champion's portion at his feast. In every test that is set Cúchulainn comes out top, but neither Conall nor Lóegaire will accept the result. Cú Roí mac Dáire of Munster settles it by visiting each in the guise of a hideous churl and challenging them to behead him, then allow him to return and behead them in return. Conall and Lóegaire both behead Cú Roí, who picks up his head and leaves, but when the time comes for him to return they flee. Only Cúchulainn is brave and honourable enough to submit himself to Cú Roí's axe; Cú Roí spares him and he is declared champion.[14] This beheading challenge appears in later literature, most notably in the Middle English poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Other examples include the 13th century French Life of Caradoc and the English romances The Turke and Gowin, and The Carle off Carlile.

The Death of Cú Roí

Cú Roí, again in disguise, joins the Ulstermen on a raid on Inis Fer Falga (probably the Isle of Man), in return for his choice of the spoils. They steal treasure, and abduct Blathnát, daughter of the island's king, who loves Cúchulainn. But when Cú Roí is asked to choose his share, he chooses Blathnát. Cúchulainn tries to stop him taking her, but Cú Roí cuts his hair and drives him into the ground up to his armpits before escaping, taking Blathnát with him. Like other heroes such as the Biblical Samson, Duryodhana in the Mahabharata and the Welsh Llew Llaw Gyffes, Cú Roí can only be killed in certain contrived circumstances, which vary in different versions of the story. Blathnat discovers how to kill him and betrayes him to Cúchulainn, who does the deed. However Ferchertne, Cú Roí's poet, enraged at the betrayal of his lord, grabs Blathnát and leaps off a cliff, killing her and himself.[15]

Emer's only jealousy

Cúchulainn rebuked by Emer (1905 illustration by H. R. Millar)Enlarge picture
Cúchulainn rebuked by Emer (1905 illustration by H. R. Millar)

Cúchulainn has many lovers, but Emer's only jealousy comes when he falls in love with Fand, wife of Manannán mac Lir. Manannán has left her and she has been attacked by three Fomorians who want to control the Irish Sea. Cúchulainn agrees to help defend her as long as she marries him. She agrees reluctantly, but they fall in love when they met. Manannán knows their relationship is doomed because Cúchulainn is mortal and Fand is a fairy; Cúchulainn's presence would destroy the fairies. Emer, meanwhile, tries to kill her rival, but when she sees the strength of Fand's love for Cúchulainn she decides to give him up to her. Fand, touched by Emer's magnanimity, decides to return to her own husband. Manannan shakes his cloak between Cúchulainn and Fand, ensuring the two will never meet again, and Cúchulainn and Emer drink a potion to wipe the whole affair from their memories.[16]

Cúchulainn's death

The figure of Cúchulainn was used to commommorate the Easter Rising on the ten shilling coinEnlarge picture
The figure of Cúchulainn was used to commommorate the Easter Rising on the ten shilling coin

Medb conspires with Lugaid, son of Cú Roí, Erc, son of Cairbre Nia Fer, and the sons of others Cúchulainn had killed, to draw him out to his death. His fate is sealed by his breaking of the geasa (taboos) upon him. Cúchulainn's geasa included a ban against eating dog meat, but in early Ireland there was a powerful general taboo against refusing hospitality, so when an old crone offers him a meal of dog meat, he has no choice to break his geis. In this way he is spiritually weakened for the fight ahead of him.

Lugaid has three magical spears made, and it is prophesied that a king will fall by each of them. With the first he kills Cúchulainn's charioteer Láeg, king of chariot drivers. With the second he kills Cúchulainn's horse, Liath Macha, king of horses. With the third he hits Cúchulainn, mortally wounding him. Cúchulainn ties himself to a standing stone in order to remain standing. This stone is traditionally identified as one still standing at Knockbridge, County Louth.[17] Only when a raven lands on his shoulder do his enemies believe he is dead. Lugaid cuts off his head, but as he does so Cúchulainn's sword falls from his hand and cuts Lugaid's hand off.

Conall Cernach had sworn that if Cúchulainn died before him he would avenge him before sunset, and when he hears Cúchulainn is dead he pursues Lugaid. As Lugaid has lost a hand, Conall fights him with one hand tucked into his belt, but he only beats him after his horse takes a bite out of Lugaid's side. He also kills Erc, and takes his head back to Tara, where his sister Achall dies of grief for her brother.[18]

Later stories

The story is told that when Saint Patrick was trying to convert king Lóegaire to Christianity, the ghost of Cúchulainn appeared in his chariot, warning him of the torments of hell.[19]

Appearance

Cúchulainn's appearance is occasionally remarked on in the texts. He is usually described as small, youthful and beardless. He is often described as dark: in The Wooing of Emer and Bricriu's Feast he is "a dark, sad man, comeliest of the men of Erin",[20] in The Intoxication of the Ulstermen he is a "little, black-browed man",[21] and in The Phantom Chariot of Cú Chulainn "[h]is hair was thick and black, and smooth as though a cow had licked it... in his head his eyes gleamed swift and grey";[22] yet the prophetess Fedelm in the Táin Bó Cúailnge describes him as blond.[23] The most elaborate description of his appearance comes later in the Táin:

And certainly the youth Cúchulainn mac Sualdaim was handsome as he came to show his form to the armies. You would think he had three distinct heads of hair – brown at the base, blood-red in the middle, and a crown of golden yellow. This hair was settled strikingly into three coils on the cleft at the back of his head. Each long loose-flowing strand hung down in shining splendour over his shoulders, deep-gold and beautiful and fine as a thread of gold. A hundred neat red-gold curls shone darkly on his neck, and his head was covered with a hundred crimson threads matted with gems. He had four dimples in each cheek – yellow, green, crimson and blue – and seven bright pupils, eye-jewels, in each kingly eye. Each foot had seven toes and each hand seven fingers, the nails with the grip of a hawk's claw or a gryphon's clench.

—Thomas Kinsella (translator), The Táin, Oxford University Press, 1969, pp. 156-158

Friday, July 23, 2010

3.3.15.2. The Fire Passes On - Part Two



Cristophe is not too excited at all on hearing this appointment. He knows it: the very position he wanted to avoid all this time has become his responsibility now. He doesn’t want it, but it was bestowed to him. It’s unavoidable now and he knows it. In the post-battle situation and in the eve of a war, Cristophe’s coronation ceremony is not much of a jubilee.

The Archbishop puts the crown wore by the Kings and Emperors of Arcadia since the unity of the Duchies, Principalities and Kingdoms of Western Aurelia into the United Kingdom of Arcadia as response to the unity of Escudia and Corazon, the two kingdoms bound by marriage.

The Emperor’s scarlet-and-silver robe bearing the silver eagle insignia is draped upon Cristophe’s Armor of Righteousness, and the Scepter of Supremacy with a blue-white orb and a golden eagle on the top is handed to him.

And Chris rises. He looks around to the audience in the Great Hall. Father Bernides the morbit, Father Andreas Marvellini, the Chief Advisor Talbot du Bois with a sour face, his cousin Carolyn who looks proud with him, his ex-girlfriend Lavennia Iris the elf enchantress with a smile, and Dejan Pavlovic the Halfling animorpher bowing to him.

Viscount Adler and Eidos Crydias are also present. Don Hernan y Parvaez is nowhere to be seen, and Kyflynn’s team is not here too. Ah, how he wishes that his father and brother are here, though it might be for his brother’s coronation.

Chris turns to the platform and comes next to his wife, Eloise there. The Archbishop hands him a tiara made of sparkling diamonds. Eloise bows before him and Chris puts the tiara on her head, saying,

‘Eloise Deveraux-Galford, by the power bestowed upon me by Vadis the Right Way and the people of Arcadia, I hereby appoint thee the Empress of Arcadia, to rule the land with me together. Love thy people like a mother to her children, and be just as thou are wise. Only with that will our nation last and prosper.’

And then, the new Emperor and Empress walk out from the throne room to the royal balcony. A huge crowd gathers in the courtyard, filling up the space even on the outside of the main gate and all the way downhill to the city. Cheers of ‘Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress’ and sort reverberate, as though telling the whole world that Arcadia is still up and running, and a warning to all who seek to disrupt peace in here again.

Here he is now, the new leader of Arcadia, Emperor Sage the Fifth.

==oOo==

No parade, no royal banquet is held tonight, just small parties at homes and ceremonies and worships in churches and public places. This is the time of war, and the war-torn city of Myrcalia needs all the resources, time and energy to rebuild.

The night goes quite quick and early the next day the new Emperor Sage the Fifth is ready on the throne for the morning conference. For a good reason, the Empress is not doing her duties today.

After receiving reports, Chris receives congratulations from ambassadors and envoys from the kingdoms in Aurelia Continent and Eternia, bearing gifts of unique and immense value. The colorful gems-embedded scimitar from Meshallah, bales of purple silk cloth from Wushu, uthul frog gall elixir from Bresconnor, 10,000 years old ginseng from Taehon*), and a beverage from Borgia that brings back fond memories for Chris: Barabus.**)

(* Taehon: An empire like Korea in our world
(** Barabus: See Book One, Chapter Six

Then comes the Lorean envoy, Sir Keenan presenting a grand red cape embroidered with golden thread, once a favorite of Michael VI, the King of Lore in the time of Fireheart. Chris accepts the gift and asks Keenan about something.

‘Sir Keenan, do you hear anything about the one Robert Chandler? Is he in your kingdom now?’

‘Oh, that traitor, Robert,’ Keenan answers. ‘He is not officially in the open, mind you, but rumors have it that he’s been spotted in several places, mostly and recently in Alceste.’

‘So, what did your King do about it?’

‘He, as usual, doesn’t believe in rumors, but he entrusted Rael’charon to investigate.’

‘Rael’charon?’ says Chris in a cynical tone. ‘Good, very good indeed. I’m sure he can handle it well. And, I have a way to hasten him up. Scribe Nouganot!’

The royal scribe moves forward with a clipboard, a parchment and a quill, then Chris dictates a letter to him.

‘To the esteemed King of Lore, from Sage the Fifth, Emperor of Arcadia.
We thank you for such a magnificent gift, for honoring me with a treasured legacy from a great hero of old. In spite of that, we also heard that the traitor and fugitive, Robert Chandler is rumored to be in Lore. He has killed the Crown Prince of Arcadia, more probably killed Pope Xylen and most probably is the Heir of Vordac.

In the eve of war against the Dark Forces, we can break them from the start if we eliminate their leader. So, hand over Robert, dead or alive or we will attack Lore with full force. We give you one week to comply.

May Vadis show the Right Way to us all.’

The scribe then hands the letter to the Emperor. Chris examines it, then he nods and puts his stamp on the seal.

‘Send this letter through Melchior Express Deliveries, so it will arrive today. And you, Sir Keenan is to repeat my message to your King. The meeting is over now, and I wish to retire for the day.’

Saying so, the Emperor rises from his throne and walks out from the Great Hall.


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3.3.15.2. The Fire Passes On - Part One


Cristophe Deveraux

3.3.15.2. The Fire Passes On

Being a constitutional Empire, the Senate forms the legislative body of Arcadia. Ever since a century before the Deveraux Dynasty regime, when Arcadia was still a kingdom, the Senate has been performing these four objectives:

1. Determining the succession of power on the Emperor’s absence
2. Making laws for the Empire and evaluate Emperor’s edicts
3. Making changes to the Constitution, on the people’s approval
4. Representing the people in front of the government.

The recent battle in Myrcalia City and the devastation that followed the victory has brought about drastic changes, forcing the Senate to perform the objective they rarely faced.

Numgrant Judecium, the Senate Building is under renovation today, but the Senate Council is in session inside. The war damages are not so great, only sacrificing some comfort. The members have been aware that the little damage was because of the sacrifices from the soldiers and people defending this place, and the bloodstains here and there in the room serve as a reminder for all.

The Senate Chairwoman, Nicolette du Meir is an elderly woman in her sixties with a few words. She only likes to talk straight to the point like she is doing now.

‘As we are aware of, the Emperor of Arcadia, Sage the Fourth is no longer in condition to rule. His depression of the loss of the Crown Prince has escalated into symptoms of insanity. Therefore, the Senate recommends that Sage the Fourth, Marcus Deveraux is relieved from his duties as Emperor until we confirm that he is no longer insane. All in favor?’

Two hundred and twenty-two members of the Senate raise their hands. It’s a majority from the total two hundred and fifty plus the five superiors sitting in the middle of the Pentagon Hall of Virtuous Rule. Unanimous as is, the Chairwoman says,

‘All in opposition?’
Fifteen raise hands. The rest abstain.

‘So, it’s decided. Sage the Fourth is relieved from his duties and is no longer the Emperor of Arcadia. The next step is to appoint his successor. As the Crown Prince is no longer alive and the Emperor became absent and failed to appoint the next successor in line, by the power bestowed upon us by the Constitution and the people, we hereby appoint a new Emperor of Arcadia. If you have a suitable and legitimate candidate, do inform us, and we’ll consider it.’

A Senator gets up and shouts, ‘The Second Prince, Cristophe Jean de Galantine Deveraux! No one else by right is more legitimate than him!’

The Chairwoman replies, ‘Yes, Prince Cristophe is indeed legitimate. His family bloodline that goes all the way directly to Sage the Fireheart, our First Emperor and his virtues: strength, wisdom and courage as the Heir of Vadis are exactly what we need as the leader of our vast Empire. Is there any other candidate you want to suggest?’

The other Senators come up with a few names: An Archduke, another Deveraux from Sage the Third’s sister’s line and someone even suggests Carolyn Deveraux. The election is cast, and the result is unanimous.

‘The people have spoken. Therefore, as the representative of the people and keeper of Constitution, the Senate appoints Prince Cristophe Jean de Galantine Deveraux as the new Emperor of Arcadia. Long live the Emperor!’ concludes Chairwoman du Meir. All other members of the Senate also cheer. ‘Long live the Emperor!’
The hammer throws, marking another major change for the future of Arcadia Empire.


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Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Comic-Con 2010 - Meet Christopher Paolini, Michael Scott, Lauren Kate, and others!

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Comic-Con 2010

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In-Booth Signings

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Saturday, July 24, 11:00 am

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Meet Christopher Paolini

Once Upon a Time, Room 24ABC
Thursday, July 22
PANEL: 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
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Fantasy authors discuss whether Epic Fantasy requires bigger-than-life heroes and heroines. Christopher Paolini (the Inheritance cycle) will be joined by Lynn Flewelling, Patrick Rothfuss, Brandon Sanderson, Megan Whalen Turner, and Brent Weeks.

 

Michael Scott

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Meet Michael Scott
& Esther Friesner

The Power of Myth, Room 24ABC
Thursday, July 22
PANEL: 10:30 am - 11:30 am
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Fantasy authors discuss claiming world mythology to shape one's own stories.
Michael Scott (the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series) and Esther Friesner (Sphinx's Princess) will be joined by Amber Benson, Thomas Greanias, Lev Grossman, Leslie Klinger, Seanan McGuire, and Tom Sniegoski.

 

Lauren Kate

Meet Lauren Kate

Bite Me: Evolving Urban Fantasy Beyond the Vampire Phenomenon, Room 8
Friday, July 23
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Some of the top names in urban fantasy gather to discuss how to evolve the urban fantasy genre beyond the vampire phenom, spurred by the mass commercial appeal of The Twilight Saga and True Blood. Lauren Kate (Fallen Novels) will be joined by Mario Acevedo, Merrie Destefano, Jocelynn Drake, Tanya Huff, Richard Kadrey, and Marjorie M. Liu.

 

Michael Scott

Michael Scott Moderates

Rick Riordan Spotlight, Room 6A
Sunday, July 25
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Join Michael Scott as he moderates a spotlight presentation on Rick Riordan.

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Meet Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm

Entertaining One's Inner Child, Room 24ABC
Sunday, July 25
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SIGNING: 12:00 pm ? 1:00 pm

Ever since Harry Potter burst onto the scene, children's books have been taking over the bestseller lists. Creators discuss the thrills and challenges of creating memorable characters for the younger set. Jennifer and Matthew Holm (Babymouse) will be joined by Jimmy Gownley, Sina Grace, Adam Rex, David Steinberg, and Greg Van Eekhout.

 

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