The Other Side blog: This Old Dragon: Issue #20

The Other Side blog: This Old Dragon: Issue #20: This issue has been on my want list for a very long time, well this weekend I finally got a copy and I could not be happier.  My copy is a l...

Dragon Age Inquisition - Robert & Cassandra Kiss

January 24 was Mr. Borgnine's birthday. He would have been 102 years old. He passed at the age of 95 on July 8, 2012 after living one heck of a life. I don't believe I shall ever forget our brief encounter. With him in mind, I thought I would share something I wrote about him on Facebook a few days after his passing.

I was unable to post this again when Mr. Borgnine left this world and in retrospect, that was probably for the best. I am far too honest with my thoughts as is. To have my emotions clouding my reason... Well, I would have shared way too much about myself and that's something that just won't do. I am far too private a person for that sort of thing. What I will say is this. Mr. Borgnine was a grand actor. He played a part in some truly wonderful and important films and more importantly to me, several of my all time favorites. Movies that were there for me when no one else was. He was charming and witty and I loved hearing him tell stories of his life both in and out of the movies. He had a courage and honesty that comes from age, having lived life well. He owed his mistakes and talked about what he learned from them.

When we talk privately, seeing me in this costume, he asked "Are you an actor?" I answered as honestly as I could that while I was of a sort, but not like him. Not even close to it. He just smiled at me and said, "You have a look for it kid". There are few time in my life that I have ever been at a loss for words but this was certainly one of them. We talked for a few moments more. Mostly about some of him movies. Those that meant the most to me and were not mentioned at his panels. He seemed pleasantly surprised at that and beaming, told me little tidbits about a couple of them. Very quietly in fact, as if we were two schoolboy plotting in the back of the classroom. He asked me a couple questions about my costume and seemed most impressed to find out that I made it myself and complimented me for my work. Sadly, my time with him had past but that fact that I had that time at all, I treasure now most greatly and will do so till I too am forced to leave this world. Thanking him then or now just doesn't seem nearly enough to express that gratitude I have in my heart for that moment. You are and ever will be missed good sir.

“I’m not going to swear an oath I can’t uphold. When enough people make false promises, words stop meaning anything. Then there are no more answers, only better and better lies.” - Jon Snow

Warden in the Rain

Warden in the Rain

The morning clouds are gathering around
As I stand on a bridge near Highever.
Years have gone since I was here
And I'm wondering how I differ.
Farmer’s carts keep rolling by
And a blind man asks for change.
And here I stand a Warden in the rain.

Coming home was all I thought of…
Seeing my family and friends.
They say love knows no distance
But the longing never ends.
And all along these dreams I possessed
My heart never were too plain
And here I stand a Warden in the rain.

I remember years ago
I had so many plans.
And now I watch the river flow.
Time has brought me here
With empty hands.

[Instrumental break]

I remember years ago
I had so many plans.
And now I watch the river flow.
Time has brought me here
With empty hands.

The morning clouds are gathering around
And the streets are full of reflections
A torch light and the moon still bright
People going in different directions.
I've thought about why I'm here
It’s just too hard to explain.
So here I stand a Warden in the rain.
In the rain…

From a song by Ferelden Dan & John Ford Coley

Original Music & Lyrics by John Ford Coley & Sunny Dalton and respectfully repurposed by Robert Cousland. 

Ostagar

A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship. But it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the age of Men comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand! Men of the Ferelden! 

Wardens of The Vigil

Here are just a few of the Grey Wardens that guard The Vigil's Keep. The nation of Ferelden can sleep secure in this knowledge.