Isn't it amazing?

Isn't it amazing how one can claim to be your friend yet stab you in the back?
Alicia's boss and "friend" Anna lied to Alli, telling her that Alli would get her unused personal time in a paycheck as one does when they quit. Yeah, that's right, the $200 she was due she was screwed out of. They put it as she was terminated... BEFORE she quit. We're talking a day or so beforehand.

Isn't it amazing how life seems to enjoy kicking you when you are down?
So we're up to our armpits in crap... why is this happening? What does God want us to learn? We're trying to rely on him... but we're in trouble. We have NO money... NO income... NO real hope for better. I spent a few hours getting job applications but at this point even if I get two part-time jobs it'll be like a band-aid on a broken leg.

We're screwed.

Isn't it amazing how something can become a part of you and when it is removed... you feel naked without it?
I had to shave off my goatee for apping... something small yeah but I have had the face-fuzz for several years now. My face honestly feels WRONG. I know it sounds weird but I can't explain it. It doesn't feel right. Something small yes.... but now I look like a fugging 12 year old. I don't look like "me".

Annnnnnd the rewrite...

The Origin of Khongol Hackinemupp

The present in the story actually happened when Khongol was new. I hope you enjoy:
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"Why not be a Shaman?"

"Simple, Mom, I gotta be in the thick of battle. Not standin' around and slowin' the enemy. 'Sides, remember me in school? I hated ta study."

"How about a Beastlord?"

"Great… then I’d be the joke of the group, even worse than Rangers and Bards. And I ain't that good with animals."

"Rogue then. You can still fight but be safe."

"No, then I wouldn’t be trusted. I NEED ta fight, not poke it with little knives."

The Barbarian woman, Tehmpest, sighed and shook her head, sending her then blonde, shoulder-length hair dancing. "Fine then, you can be a Warrior." This admission was ironically difficult coming from the Warrioress.

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Snapped from the memories, the Barbarian man swung his axe rending his foe in twain. The chuckle which had been in his throat was promptly cut short at the terror-filled scream, "TRAIN!!"

************************************************

"Urthak, Tehmpest... yer son's got issues with rage." Dargon McPherson told them with a sigh. He did not like letting down one of his Guild's finest Warriors. "A berserker such as him ain't safe. not jest fer the Warrior Guild, but fer himself as well."

The Guild Master lowered to his knee and touched the young Khongol on the shoulder. "I'm truely sorry, my boy, ya'll never be a Warrior." The Guild Master lowered his head a moment and then rose. "May the Tribunal and other jut gods of Norrath bless ya, Khongol, as ya seek yer place."

************************************************

With a quick sweep of his golden eyes, Khongol promptly found the source of the shout. It was a Teir'Dal Shadow Knight and a Human Druid. Under his breath, the gravelly voiced Barbarian muttered, "Dun they know that BlackBurrow ain't safe? 'Specially fer Druids."

With a push of his powerful legs, Khongol leaped from the platform he had been resting on and landed between the battered pair and their canine attackers. The couple had just passed where Khongol now stood and paused their escape to gawk at the kilt wearing man. Khongol bellowed at the two the command, "Run fer Qeynos Hills; I'll handle these mutts." With a sharp glance he saw they were still there, he repeated himself once. "RUN!"

"What about you?" The Shadow Knight asked, worry hinting in his harsh voice. Clearly he had not spent much time in Neriak.

"I'll be fine. Go now!" With that, Khongol raised his greataxe, whose head was made of solid glowing Velium. After seeing the pair run up the hill and make for the exit, Khongol then turned his attention to the small army which began to pass the man.

As he focused on the slobbering, dog-like Gnolls, he could see an aura-like color about each one. Once he saw a red aura, he had his target. A quick strike with one of his blunt throwing axes was all it took to knock out the knee of the Gnoll Guardsman. The Halasian was rewarded as the beast howled in pain and turned to face the one that inflicted the injury upon it.

This also had the side effect that the entire ocean of fur, teeth, and steel no longer cared for the fleeing prey... but rather the being that was sacrificing itself. The Barbarian who wore golden chainmail.

************************************************

"Dad, I decided. I'm gonna be a Berserker. Like ya are." The young Khongol told his father one afternoon.

With a gleam of pride in his unblinded eye, Urthak responded. "In that case, inside my bank is my old Glowing Velium Axe as well as some old gear. Take it; it's now yours."

************************************************

After introducing the Gnoll train to the gods of Norrath personally, Khongol knelt down nearby to bandage his wounds. It would be far better to loot the corpses after he had attended to his wounds rather than having another of the beasts jump him in surprise. He was aware of his company before the voice came from behind. "What in the gods' names are you?"

He could not help but smirk as he rose and turned to face the speaker. It was the couple he had just saved singlehandedly. While the Druidess began to magically heal his wounds, Khongol answered, feeling pride swell in his breast. "I'm a Berserker."

The Shadow Knight looked at the piles of carcasses and shook his head as he chuckled. "I have heard tales of your kind before... but I have never seen any... or what they can do."

Khongol rested his axe on his healed shoulder to allow the woman to continue her work as he spoke her her guardian. "Dun ya know bringin' a Druid here's suicide? The Darkpaws hate anyone from or with anyone from Surefall. Ya both coulda been killed."

With a meek voice, the Human woman spoke. "We didn't think this would have happened. We thought we could handle them... but then three came at once. So we had to run." A moment later she stood and stepped back to slump against a large rock to rest. "Well, that is the best I can do. I'm out of mana.... would you mind if we looked you up again? To group with us."

Something different... something I wrote years ago

The Origin of Khongol Hackinemupp

The present in the story actually happened when Khongol was new. I hope you enjoy:

"Why not be a Shaman?"

"Simple, Mom, I want to be in the thick of battle. Not standing and slowing the enemy down. And remember me in school? I hated to study."

"How about a Beastlord?"

"Great… then I’d be the joke of the group. Even worse than Rangers and Bards. And I’m not that good with animals."

"Rogue then. You can still fight but be safe."

"No, then I wouldn’t be trusted. I NEED to fight, not poke it with little knives."

The Barbarian woman, Tehmpest, sighed. "Fine then, you can be a Warrior."

************************

Khongol chucked to himself as he rent his foe in twain. At that moment, he heard a terror-filled scream, "TRAIN!!"

************************

"Mr. and Mrs. Hackinemupp, your son has issues with anger." Dargon McPherson told them. "A berserker such as him is not safe. Not just for the Warrior Guild… but also for him."The Guild Master looks at the young Khongol, "I’m truly sorry, my boy, you’ll never be a Warrior."

************************

Khongol sees the source of the shout: a young couple, a Shadowknight and Druid. Under his breath he wonders, "Don’t they know that BlackBurrow isn’t safe? Especially for Druids."

Leaping from his perch on a ledge, he lands before the battered pair, who were heading that way. "Run for Qeynos Hills; I will handle these mutts." Noticing the two were still lingering, "RUN!"

"What about you?" the Shadowknight worried.

"I’ll be fine. Go now!" With that Khongol raises his glowing axe.

Watching the two run up the hill and over the bridge for the exit, Khongol turns his attention to the small army starting to pass. Focusing on the dogmen, he sees an aura-like color about them. Seeing a red aura, he swings a Blunt Axe at the Gnoll Guardsman’s legs. The beast howls out in pain as its knee is knocked out of socket.

The ocean of fur, teeth, and weapons no longer cared about the invaders fleeing… but rather the Barbarian clad in golden chainmail.

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"Dad, I’ve decided. I’m going to be a Berserker like you." The young Khongol told his father, Urthak, one afternoon.

With a gleam of pride in his good eye, Urthak responded, "In that case, inside the bank is my old Glowing Velium Axe along with some old gear. Take it; it’s now yours."

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After personally introducing the gnoll train to the gods of Norrath, Khongol kneels down to bandage his wounds. From behind him comes a voice, "What in the gods’ names are you?"

Upon turning around he sees the Shadowknight and Druid. While the Druid begins to heal his wounds magically, Khongol answers, "I’m a Berserker."

"I have heard tales of your kind before… but I have never seen any… or what they can do." The Dark Elven man says while looking around at the piles of carcasses.

With a sigh Khongol asks the Teir ‘Dal, "Don’t you know bringing a Druid here is suicide? The Darkpaws hate anyone from or with someone from Surefall. You both could have been killed."

With a quiet voice the Human woman spoke, "We didn’t think this would have happened. We thought we could handle them… but then three came at once. So we had to run."

Stepping back and slumping onto a rock she then adds, "Well that is the best I can do. I’m out of mana… would you mind if we looked you up again? To group with us."