This Yule/Christmas, I wanted to promote some good writing here on the message boards. However, due to capitilism, I also know that a contest would be a good bonus.

So as a result, I will be holding a contest for the best written poetry and/or prose submissions posted here between now and Yule/Christmas. Those who win will get a fully customized banner for their signature, made by me. If you would like to see what I can do, as far as banners are concerned, take a look at Quidgypoo's banner, Suhnaye's banner, as well as go HERE or HERE.

However, this won't just be me who says who win. This also will be the forum participants as well. The more praise you get for one of your pieces, the better chances you have of winning.

You can post both a prose and poetry, if you'd like, but only the better of the two will be considered. So get those brains rolling, look into Lusternia's enormous and infinite possibilities for your character, and post in this thread. And who knows? Maybe you could even use the finished piece of literature and submit them to the Artisianals, giving you credits galore. So get ready, get set....GO! (I've always wanted to say that)



The first prize winner will get:
4 Banners made for them, as well as their name posted on my professional website. (first initial and last name for privacy purposes on behalf of the winner)

The second prize winner will get:
3 Banners made for them, as well as their name posted on my professional website. (same as above)

The third prize winner will get:
2 Banners made for them, along with a friendly hug.

The last prize winner will get:
1 Banner made for them, and I'll throw in a hug.

Good luck.

Lament of the Aquamancer.

Escape to a dream
fantastic to see.
Many rivers I find
and one that found me

No river of words
could paint her eyes.
With tears like a river
that never lies.

My reflections in water
a lonely pool.
For a lonely time
when you watch a river cry.

Rivers white
and water falls.
Eroded paths
damn these walls.

Rivers blue
swift and slow.
Cry forever
as if they know.

Share the water
tears of the world.
Its a lonely time
when you watch a river cry.

My reflections in her eyes
by the river I could never see.
Found her in a dream
that was looking back at me.

Sad this water
sad but true.
When you cry by a river
that watches you.

Short and sweet Christmas carol (Lusternia stylee!)

(To the tune of Good King Wenceslas)

Good Prince Raikogen looked out,
On the feast of Stephen,
A snowball gave his ear a clout,
He cried, "I will get even!"

Merry Christmas!

An excerpt from "Boys and Girls Love the Lady's Forest: A Child's Primer on the Teachings of Viravain"

"B" is for black widow.
A small creature is she,
Yet, still, is very dangerous
All people will agree.

With legs all thin and spindly,
And body oh so small,
The world might pass around her
Without regard at all.

But this would be a grave mistake
As, quietly, she lay
And waits for opportunties
To seize upon her prey.

For, although on the outside,
She may not seem so strong,
Her bites are the most poisonous
That to a beast belong.

And though she may seem tiny,
Perhaps not very brave,
She has brought down the mighty
And the large folk to the grave.

Boys and girls of Glomdoring
Should ponder this reflection -
Strength comes not from might or size
But cunning and deception.

One last thing I would relate:
Yon widow in the tree
Will bite the head off of her mate,
Devouring him with glee.

This is a useful thing on which
All Glom boys ought reflect:
The ladies are more dangerous,
So treat them with respect.

Dashing through the planes
In a one room aethership
On a raid they go
Laughing all the way

Landing on the dock
Setting up demesne
And as soon as they hit someone
They call and help arrived.

Hey! We raid you, you raid us
We raid all the way.
Oh what fun
It is to grief
And see them noobs complain, HEY!

Can anyone tell I am bored and have nothing to do at work today? Merry Christmas

On the first day of Christmas
Kethuru sent to me:
And an eyeball in a tainted tree.

On the second day of Christmas
Kethuru sent to me:
Two runt pyrinnes
And an eyeball in a tainted tree.

On the third day of Christmas
Kethuru sent to me:
Three Shadowy Serpents
Two runt pyrinnes
And an eyeball in a tainted tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas
Kethuru sent to me:
Four spectral garwights
Three Shadowy Serpents
Two runt pyrinnes
And an eyeball in a tainted tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas
Kethuru sent to me:
Five Steel Goats
Four spectral garwights
Three Shadowy Serpents
Two runt pyrinnes
And an eyeball in a tainted tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas
Kethuru sent to me:
Six sharks a biting
Five Steel Goats
Four spectral garwights
Three Shadowy Serpents
Two runt pyrinnes
And an eyeball in a tainted tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas
Kethuru sent to me:
Seven cows a bumping
Six sharks a biting
Five Steel Goats
Four spectral garwights
Three Shadowy Serpents
Two runt pyrinnes
And an eyeball in a tainted tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas
Kethuru sent to me:
Eight rocs a clawing
Seven cows a bumping
Six sharks a biting
Five Steel Goats
Four spectral garwights
Three Shadowy Serpents
Two runt pyrinnes
And an eyeball in a tainted tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas
Kethuru sent to me:
Nine trout a jumping
Eight rocs a clawing
Seven cows a bumping
Six sharks a biting
Five Steel Goats
Four spectral garwights
Three Shadowy Serpents
Two runt pyrinnes
And an eyeball in a tainted tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas
Kethuru sent to me:
Ten orcs a dying
Nine trout a jumping
Eight rocs a clawing
Seven cows a bumping
Six sharks a biting
Five Steel Goats
Four spectral garwights
Three Shadowy Serpents
Two runt pyrinnes
And an eyeball in a tainted tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas
Kethuru sent to me:
Eleven spectres spooking
Ten orcs a dying
Nine trout a jumping
Eight rocs a clawing
Seven cows a bumping
Six sharks a biting
Five Steel Goats
Four spectral garwights
Three shadowy serpents
Two runt pyrinnes
And an eyeball in a tainted tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas
Estarra sent to me:
Twelve Soulless Weeping
Eleven spectres spooking
Ten orcs a dying
Nine trout a jumping
Eight rocs a clawing
Seven cows a bumping
Six sharks a biting
Five Steel Goats
Four spectral garwights
Three shadowy serpents
Two runt pyrinnes
And an eyeball in a tainted tree.

Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiivvvvvee
Steeeeeeeeeeeeeeeel
Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaats!

Dum da da da dum, dum da da da dum...

Is this Lusternia poetry only?

Oi! I was going to do one. Thought it was too long.

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On the first day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
A Wiccan in a Nexus tree.

On the second day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
2 dark steel swords, and a wiccan in a nexus tree!.

On the third day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
3 tainted mages, 2 dark steel swords, and a wiccan in a nexus tree!.

On the fourth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me,
4 holy celestines, three tainted mages, two dark steel swords, and a wiccan in a nexus tree!.

On the 5th day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me,
12 astral creatures, 11 thorn beasts a-growling, 10 revolting villages, 9 fae a-dancing, 8 aetherships a-flying, 7 reincarnation daggers, 6 planar planes, 5 credits free, four holy celestines, three tainted mages, two dark steel swords, and a wiccan in a nexus tree!.

On the 6th day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
6 planar planes, 5 credits free, four holy celestines, three tainted mages, two dark steel swords, and a wiccan in a nexus tree!.

On the 7th day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
7 reincarnation daggers, 6 planar planes, 5 credits free, four holy celestines, three tainted mages, two dark steel swords, and a wiccan in a nexus tree!.

On the 8th say of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
8 aetherships a-flying, 7 reincarnation daggers, 6 planar planes, 5 credits free, four holy celestines, three tainted mages, two dark steel swords, and a wiccan in a nexus tree!.

On the 9th day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
9 fae a-dancing, 8 aetherships a-flying, 7 reincarnation daggers, 6 planar planes, 5 credits free, four holy celestines, three tainted mages, two dark steel swords, and a wiccan in a nexus tree!.

On the 10th day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
10 revolting villages, 9 fae a-dancing, 8 aetherships a-flying, 7 reincarnation daggers, 6 planar planes, 5 credits free, four holy celestines, three tainted mages, two dark steel swords, and a wiccan in a nexus tree!.

On the 11th day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
11 thorn beasts a-growling, 10 revolting villages, 9 fae a-dancing, 8 aetherships a-flying, 7 reincarnation daggers, 6 planar planes, 5 credits freeeeeee, four holy celestines, three tainted mages, two dark steel swords, and a wiccan in a nexus tree!.

On the 12th day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
12 astral nodes, 11 thorn beasts a-growling, 10 revolting villages, 9 fae a-dancing, 8 aetherships a-flying, 7 reincarnation daggers, 6 planar planes, 5 credits free, four holy celestines, three tainted mages, two dark steel swords, and a wiccan in a nexus tree!.

Probably offtune a few times but its Christmas

Nope. It can be a story as well. It just has to do with Lusternia.

Speaking of which, everyone only has 3 more days. When the clock strikes 12 AM EST (Midnight) on Christmas Eve, the contest will end. So get those brains running and win!

I was trying to think of what I could add to spark more interest in the contest, and as I was sitting down to work on the fourth chapter for Street Shadows, it hit me. Actually, I spilled steaming hot green tea on myself, but the Buddhas work in odd ways. So here it is:

1st Place winner:
4 Banners for their signatures AND their work will be on display on my professional website, along with a short biography of their writing careers (in other words, how long you've been writting and why you write). They will also have their First initial and last name on my Updates page, so all my readers will know who won.

2nd Place winner:
3 Banners for their signatures AND their work will be on display on my professional website. They will also have their first initial and last name on my updates page.

3rd Place winner:
2 Banners for their signatures AND their First intiial and Last name will be on display on my Updates page.

4th Place winner:
1 Banner for their signature AND their first initial and last name will be on display on my Updates page.

First and second prize winners will have their literary work hosted on my website for 1 month. Making it the month of January. Also, all winners will receive the chapters 5, 6, and 7 of Street Shadows before they are posted on my website. Meaning, before I make the chapters public, YOU will be able to read them.

I hope this strikes some initiative deep in the spirits of some of Lusternia's greatest writers. Now get your thinking caps on and WIN!

LEGAL NOTE!: Just to make sure I'm following all copyright laws, as well as corporate affiliation laws, your original works that you post here will be linked to. In other words, my readers will be redirected to the forums here, where your work was originally posted. I will make sure IRE and Lusternia.com (owned by Matt Mihaly) are duefully accredited with the works of its clients if they are sent in as Artisanal submissions, and hopefully, it will also spark some traffic for Lusternia.com. I was just about to sign off before I thought of the law aspect.

All right, everyone. The contest is now closed. For those who won, you will be nofited via a message on the message boards. You will receive the notification by Midnight tonight (EST Time). My thanks to all who participated.