There is an isle at the edge of the world. It's so small that only a sparse few seafarers even know if its existence. It’s a harsh, rocky land where nothing grows and only seagulls visit regularly. The waves crash against the rocks and have welcomed more than one ship to its doom and the crews of a dozen vessels have found their final resting places on the rocks of the dead isle. The storms that rage here are constant and violent often ripping topsoil from the land and flinging it into the swirling sea.
    Though the rocky shoreline and lack of vegetation are unwelcoming the island is not uninhabited. In the heart of the island stands a tower that resembles a skeletal finger jutting out from its grave. Its grey stone and crooked, crumbling façade seem as inhospitable and foreboding as the island it stands on.
    The tower holds but one, lone resident. His robes are coarse burlap that have been bleached white to resemble sea spray over rocks. He is a gaunt, tall, bald man with a long, grey beard the stops at his waist and arcane tattoos that are etched into his head in place of hair.
    His name is Dalmood though no one has called him by that name, or any other, in eons. He has been alone is his vigil and duty. At times he himself has forgotten what his exact task is but not now. Now he peers out the only window of his prison home and smiles an all knowing smile and says in a powerful yet tired voice:” It is only a matter of time, now.”




    “Get up, boy. GET UP! You’ve got a lot to do before you go see the old man. Get up I say!” With that a rather portly man turns over the cot where his nephew was supposed to have been sleeping. To his surprise, though, his nephew was nowhere to be found. Confused he turned to leave and find his wayward ward only to come nose to nose with the very lad he was seeking.
    “Hey, uncle Javanth, I was looking for you.” He said this with a wry smile and mischievous look. “What’s wrong, uncle? You look a little upset. I’ve taken care of all my chores plus some of yours.” He winked and gave his uncle's belly a nudge with his elbow.” You know, you’re getting slow in your old age.”
    “Sho’ hon, this is no time to joke.” His uncle snapped.
    Sho’ hon shrank away a little at the retort of this large man. He hadn’t expected to get yelled at by his usually jovial uncle.
    Javanth’s face softened when he realized that he may have hurt Sho’ hon’s feelings.
    “Look, son, I’ve raised as my own since your mother, my dear little sister, and her no good husband died. You were three summers old then and it’s been a rough fifteen summers since then. It’s been rough for me because I never intended to have kids. I had no idea what to do or how to be a father. It’s been hard on me but I have loved every minute of it. Sho, I want you to know that there has never been a point where I regretted my choice. The has never been a time where I didn’t love you or think of you as my own son.”
    Sho ‘hon was getting choked up and he could tell his uncle was also on the verge of letting a tear drop so he thought he’d try to lighten the mood.
    “You always loved me?” he asked, “Even when I burned the southern half of the village down?”
    That did it. His uncle left out a soft chuckle” Well, it was hard,” he smiled” but I still loved you. No one else in the village did but what do they know?”
    Sho ‘hon stepped back and smiled. He’d never known his uncle to show too much affection and emotion. His demeanor always seemed to match his appearance. It was something that resembled a cross between a walrus and a grizzly bear. Still, though, it was nice to see.
   “Thanks, uncle Javanth, I needed that, especially today.”
    Javanth regained his composure and gruffly said:” Let’s not get all mushy soft, now. I will tell you, and this stays between you and me. The journey to see the old man is different for everyone but it’s nothing to fear. You’ve just got to stroll up the path then he’s going to say some stuff. Maybe it’ll be the history of the island like he usually does and then he’ll give you your name…your true name and you’ll come down. When you get back, you’ll get your first tattoo and, poof, you’re a man.”
    “Well, “ Sho ‘hon asked, “ what happens after that?”
    “Well, my boy, the entire village gets together to eat and drink ourselves silly and pass out in the streets and all for you! But, remember, what I told you about the old man is just between you and me, ok? Now, clean this hut up before I get you for that prank. You heard me, lad, go!” Javanth’s voice was harsh but laced with sentimentality and humor. Today the boy he’d taken in to raise would become a man. Today, his sister’s wish would be fulfilled.
    “Yes, uncle.” Sho ‘hon drooped his shoulders slightly and tried to look crestfallen. In truth, though, he had never been more excited in his life.
     
    
 

    
    

   

OK. Here's the deal.
I have 6 invites to get a Gmail account. for those who dont know what that is, its googles new email system but its by invite only and its in beta(not public yet).
The biggest plus to this one? 1 gig of FREE space plus loads fo extra stuff from the great guys at google.

BUT not just anyone gets an invite.=p
let me know whether you want one or not and how badly you want one. WE'll see who the true geeks are

Jeez this place is empty.
*echo*
I guess I should try to fill it up again.