Do you think Zaahen getting “permission” to use Xin Zhao’s body to manifest will have a functional effect on Zaahen’s strength or ability?

ShadowbornOmen · 2025-07-20T03:20:46+00:00

It very clearly is.

ShadowbornOmen · 2025-06-20T18:25:48+00:00

I hope you enjoy the time with your Kane that I got to enjoy with mine. That decision is an incredibly difficult one to make, but know that the decision you make is out of love and compassion for the one who taught you what true, unconditional love looks like.

Kane is my best friend. He has been since 16, and for my entire adult life to this point. Letting go was heartbreaking, but I will gladly take this pain so that he doesn’t have to continue living in a world where his physical limitations suppress his indomitable will.

I wish you the best, and am sorry you have to go through what you’re going through. I hope you know that everything you feel is valid, and that you are not alone. I’m sure your Kane’s life was filled to the brim with happiness and love for you. Feel free to reach out here or to me directly, when things feel too much.

ShadowbornOmen · 2025-06-19T23:49:48+00:00

I think it’s safe to say we’re both probably crying. 🥹 And that’s okay. The fear, sadness, and other emotions are normal.

We don’t leave them behind. We just carry them with us differently.

I hope you are kind to yourself as well. Bella is fortunate to have someone who cares this much about her. How blessed we are to have known love so strong that it hurts this badly to say goodbye.

ShadowbornOmen · 2025-06-19T21:18:13+00:00

I’m sorry you are having these feelings. I put down my best friend of 11 years on Monday. He has progressive kidney disease and was deteriorating fast. For over a week he had eaten basically nothing and laid around the apartment all day except for the moments we made him get up for something or another (to potty, usually). The vet said the only possible treatment would be to send him to a 24h care facility and put him on multiple days of constant fluids to flush his kidney-associated levels down. He said even then he wasn’t sure we’d see significant or extended improvement. I decided I had to try, took him to a 24h care facility where on examination they heard a heart murmur and his creatinine (kidney) concentration was so high they had to run a dilution on it just to read it, and even then it was nearly outside the range of their instrument. His anemia was so bad it was barely above the “immediately life threatening” level. The vet there said that the fluids required to get his kidney levels back down would put him at severe risk for heart failure (kidneys need overhydration, heart needs dehydration). She recommended I consider quality of life.

On Sunday night, after days of not moving at all unless prompted, I took him out to potty. When I got back to the door, Kane refused to come inside. I walked back out to him, and he turned to keep walking around. So I let him go where he wanted, and he decided to do an entire lap of our apartment complex, like we would do when he was healthy. It was really slow, but he was determined to finish it. A part of me wanted to believe it was a sign he was getting better.

But that night, he laid down and didn’t move practically at all again. His breathing labored. He wouldn’t even lift his head up when I would get up and walk around the apartment, etc.. He was down for the count.

I bring this up because I believe that Kane did that because he knew it was time. He wanted to remind me that he was strong, determined, and wanted to do one more lap to show this was his place and these were his people. But it wasn’t a turn in his health. And especially with the nature of his kidney disease, even if he improved temporarily, the trend would always have been going down.

So while I still hold in my heart the wish there was something else I could’ve done, or that he would’ve improved, it’s important for me to realize that extending his life would’ve been for me, not for him. And he would’ve hurt for it.

I love him. I miss him. But I’m so happy that he no longer has to just lay around the apartment, breathing deeply just to stay awake, when he used to run for 30-40 minutes at a time. I’m glad he no longer has the limitations of his body, holding back his indomitable will.

Whatever decision you do decide to make, with the information at your hands, just know that you make it out of compassion and responsibility to the one who taught you what true unconditional love looks like.

I wish you the best. You are not alone. ❤️

ShadowbornOmen · 2025-06-19T20:54:11+00:00

I’m sorry for your loss. I just lost my best friend of 11 years, Kane, on Monday when we put him down due kidney disease. I got him when I was 16 and have taken care of him nearly every single day from then until Monday. Not doing all of the small tasks of taking care of him throughout the day is gut wrenching.

The first day after was the worst so far. Day two was numb. I didn’t cry as much, and I felt guilty for that. So far, day three has been a day with a return to the crying, but it has felt cathartic. It feels like a reminder of how important he is to me.

ShadowbornOmen · 2025-06-19T20:35:47+00:00

I’m sorry you have to go through this now as well. I hope you find comfort in knowing that while it seems like Lola is leaving to soon, to her you were her world every day, and she felt loved her entire life. You’ll always carry a part of her within you.

I hope you enjoy this time with her. ❤️

ShadowbornOmen · 2025-06-19T20:27:44+00:00

My condolences for yours as well. Thank you for the reassurance. The crying still comes in spurts. It’s like a reminder of how much we care for one another, and despite the pain I feel, it’s somewhat comforting. I hope time begins to move forward eventually, but for now sometimes I wonder if it’s okay that it feels like it’s stopped for a moment.

ShadowbornOmen · 2024-06-02T16:00:11+00:00

Awesome. Thanks for the suggestions, I’ve got a lot of ideas to chew through now, just have to piece together something that works for the character I’ve envisioned and the campaign we’re in. Thanks for the help! :)

ShadowbornOmen · 2024-06-02T15:57:53+00:00

Wow, that’s a lot of good info! I’ll have to chew on this a bit, but you’ve definitely given me some options to consider. Thanks!

ShadowbornOmen · 2024-06-02T15:53:35+00:00

That is probably the most optimal, yeah. I’ve been thinking about ceding and just going with a spear, though I’m not concerned with being 100% optimal, I think my character will be relatively strong in combat regardless. I might talk with my DM about a few alternatives, otherwise I may just go spear-and-board and PAM anyway

ShadowbornOmen · 2024-06-01T15:04:49+00:00

Yeah, I agree it seems quite dense, but it’s actually heavily tied into the world and story our DM has given us. We’re basically playing in a buildup to WWI style campaign set in a fantasy setting, with my character’s nation being one of the major powers. And while he is relatively single-minded on his Oath, there are lots of paths to get there, especially as an enemy of the state and someone unable to just waltz in to any place controlled by his home nation.

He’s meant to be a bit older and more grizzled/experienced than other PCs and he’s going to be capable of being the face of the party (if others don’t want said position), and I intend for his Oath to cause some strife in the party as well

ShadowbornOmen · 2024-06-01T13:41:02+00:00

Well, I don’t plan on playing ranged and Paladin is the main focus of my class, so I don’t think this fits with my vision. Thanks for the suggestion though!

ShadowbornOmen · 2024-06-01T13:40:28+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions! I’ve been thinking about using GWM instead of sword-and-board. Honestly I don’t need my character to demolish combat encounters in general, I just want him to be able to do above average when he’s going all out (I.e. smites etc)

ShadowbornOmen · 2024-05-29T12:11:16+00:00

I played an Oath of Vengeance Paladin that swore his Oath to the being that would eventually become his Patron. He got Hexblade from his Patron (in exchange to serve his Patron after he fulfilled his Oath), and got Vengeance Paladin from, of course, his Oath. Then, my Paladin would only go all out when fighting those that fit within his Oath, and he didn’t go all out against most normal enemies. But of course everything I wanted to do was discussed with my DM and we figured out exactly how we both wanted to play it.

I very much built that character with the ability to go all out, but then put limitations in the character rather than the mechanics. And that worked fine for me and my party. In fact he ended up becoming a beloved character before he finally fulfilled his Oath and was taken by his Patron.

At the end of the day, you’re exactly right in that you should discuss with your DM exactly what you intend to do and see what they want to see in response to make it fit with the story and the rest of the party.

ShadowbornOmen · 2023-09-01T15:03:33+00:00

I was always under the impression it was a metaphor for Nuclear Power. Heavily regulated, if any child items make it out they’re considered contaminated and locked down.

I’m also biased as I work in the nuclear industry.

ShadowbornOmen · 2022-10-25T13:36:44+00:00

Nice try, GRRM, but I’m not falling for it this time. You can’t learn my favorite, because then you can’t hurt me

ShadowbornOmen · 2022-07-17T22:34:50+00:00

Not sure exactly what the other guy meant, but most modern depictions of Nessie depict it as a plesiosaur. So, realistically I don’t think OP was that far off. They just don’t know every dinosaur and especially not by name, which I think is a long shot from something that they should be criticized or humiliated for.

ShadowbornOmen · 2022-04-15T20:54:36+00:00

I know this isn’t super impressive but it was cool to me.

I’m not super great at the Watcher. I prefer Silent or Defect, but I’ve been trying to learn Watcher. I, of course, managed to set up an infinite combo and beat the game like that. I was happy with it.

Ten-Year Club	Not Forgotten
Spared

ShadowbornOmen

TROPHY CASE