The Crafty Wook Industries

Have you met the Uglydolls? If not, go say hi to them now!  http://www.uglydolls.com/

First of all, you need to know the real definition of the word “ugly”.  Ugly means special, unique, and not afraid to show it!   Just like a “nerd” is someone who is really enthusiastic about something and not afraid to show it!  I wish someone had told me this when I was a kid; it would have avoided so many hurt feelings.

The Uglydolls themselves are a group of huggable, fun loving, snack loving, playful characters.  Uglydolls have foibles just like we do.   Some watch too much TV.  Exercise is not always popular.  Most Uglies really, really, really love to snack.  Some Uglies have anxiety issues.   Cinko‘s fear of water makes him particularly lovable, and Chuckanucka worries because what if they stop making CD players?  He has over 9 CDs!   I can relate.  Somehow though, it all works out.  The embellishment of these problems in the Uglyverse makes them more manageable in real life.

For instance, I have a thing with milk.  It horrifies me.  I don’t want to look at it, touch it, let alone drink it.  The stove terrifies me.  Turning it on feels like the equivalent of pouring vodka on the carpet then throwing a match on it.  What if I am at a restaurant where I can’t get a Coke with dinner?  What if they stop making Pocky?  I seriously worry about this stuff and that’s just the beginning.  Pretty weird, right?  I agree completely, but knowing that it’s ridiculous and these are simple things for most people to deal with doesn’t make the problem go away, it simply makes me feel awkward and uncomfortable.  But, hey, Cinko is afraid of water!  All these weird little things that make life extra challenging are turned into things to laugh about in the Uglyverse.  And, that’s the first step to making them not so overwhelming.

Not only that, but all that kind of stuff is totally cool in the Uglyverse.  No one is going to tease Cinko about his fear of water or make fun of Chuckanucka if he is feeling particularly worried about the fate of CD players.  Whatever the issue is, it’s no big deal, you simply use your imagination to find a way to deal with the situation.   Of course, this is not to say that escaping into fantasy is always the answer.  Cinko has the misfortune to run into difficult water situations on a regular basis. Does he freak out?  Of course, can you blame him?  But he is still out there every day, doing his best and having fun, in spite of that.

The really great thing about that is when people can see that in the Uglydolls, hopefully they will be able to apply that tolerance and appreciation for uniqueness to real life.  Having grown up hearing things like “If I look as bad as you do I’d want someone to tell me” or “You are an embarrassment”, or the old classic “You are not fit to be seen in public with me.”  The thing is, at the time this sort of thing was terribly hurtful.  But, in retrospect, I can see why they felt that way.  They simply were not ugly and therefore could not appreciate it in others, let alone a kid they could not at all relate to.  No one had ever pointed out to them that being unique and off-beat could be an asset rather then a liability.  Since the Uglydolls are appreciated by both adults and kids, it gives me hope that there is a new generation getting the message of what it means to be ugly.  It could be the first step to not having another generation of television-watching, fast food-eating, chain-store shopping drones.

There are plenty of great Ugly items out there.  Plush characters, a card game, drawing kit, books, and soon action figures.  There was a ton of publicity when one of the Obama girls took Babo’s Bird on her backpack for her first day of school.  But, even with their growing popularity, the Uglydoll creators, David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim, refuse to sell out.   You will not be seeing Ice-Bat, Babo, Wage, and company in a McDonald’s Happy Meal, or for sale at Toys ‘R’ Us.  In fact, in the books, things like fast food and chain stores are satirized.

In many ways, Portland feels like the real-life Uglytown.  Here, people shop at Powell’s instead of Borders, Finnegan’s instead of Toys ‘R’ Us, and want to eat at a local, family-run Thai restaurant rather then the Applebee’s.  We have the tech community who have events almost every night of the week because people are so excited about whatever their project(s) and interests happen to be.  We have places and events that are based on nothing more than someone’s imagination.

The real message the Uglydolls are sending is “be yourself”. But, unlike the trite way in which television programs and popular media tell you to “be yourself” , where this means expressing yourself by dressing in the current fashions, seeing a current film, or listening to a certain band, the Uglydolls and their creators really mean it! They send out this message not by coming out and repeating it ad nauseum, but rather more effectively in the way they conduct their business and in the characters they create.

If you know anything about me, you know how much I love Star Wars Galaxies. So far, all my posts on this blog have been story adaptations that I did for my Wookiee characters to share at the storytelling portion of in-game player events.

The big news right now in SWG is the free character transfers. Players on lower population servers have the opportunity to move their characters to a higher population server. January 13th is the start date, so, as of Monday, many of us have less than a week to go on our current servers.

SWG is a game that is emotional for people. There has been enough debate over the CU and the NGE debacle that I won’t go into it here (If you are not knowledgeable about the NGE, don’t look it up. You will regret it almost immediately.). Suffice to say things in SWG were not always handled as well as they are now. In any case, people either love and are fiercely dedicated to the game, or are downright hostile towards it.

The issue of low population servers and the transfers have in many ways heightened emotions. Rivalries between servers have come up, with people and guilds being attacked. From the beginning, there have been outcries about why fill-in-the-blank server is a destination server, that-other-server should not be a go from server, etc. Players are having to deal with the fact that people they have played with for the past five years may not be choosing the same destination server they are. Player cities and guilds that have years of history and countless hours of work dedicated to them will be lost. The majority of players on destination servers have been very welcoming, but they have to be nervous about an influx of strangers coming to their server. I know I would be. You may have a whole new group of friends to adventure with, but a RP heavy server could suddenly become full of griefers. Of course, things probably will not be so black and white. No doubt there will be some of each, there will be new friends and allies, but a few people that annoy you to no end will be in the mix too. There is no question; it is going to be an adjustment for everyone. However, I think most people are excited about the transfers. Personally, I am counting the hours.

Since the first time I logged into SWG, Intrepid has been my home server. I have leveled over 40 characters there (a mix of combat characters, crafters, and entertainers), started two successful player cities, made good friends (that have become good real life friends), developed my characters, set up a very successful crafting business, designed museums and public buildings, hosted and attended some truly joyous events (not to mention some not-so-joyous ones), sent my Wookiees out to triumph in battle, looted some amazing items, and spent countless happy hours, all on Intrepid. However, anyone could see the population on Intrepid was dwindling. There were several points where entire guilds server transferred. Groups were hard to find, and sales went down. I even began spending time on Starsider, having a great time RPing with HGS (@holowood). I was rooting for Intrepid to be transfer from server because I enjoy the Starsider community so much. But, as prepared as I thought I was, it was like being punched to see the post listing Intrepid as a transfer from server. After a good amount of weepiness, I logged in to Starsider and was able to drop a city hall to re-start my city on Intrepid, Wook’s Rest.

This was nothing short of miraculous. For months, I had been trying to start an outpost, but was always defeated by city caps. It felt like a sign. Since then, the city has grown to rank 4, my guildmates have decided to join me on Starsider, and I am beyond excited to have my Intrepid and Starsider friends together on the same server. The amount of support RP and player events get from the SS community is amazing. When I think of what my guildmates and I were able to do on a server where people were not exactly fond of our “carebear” play style, I can’t wait to see what the response from a community where player creativity is encouraged, not stomped on and mocked. More and more, I see how good it will be for us to make a new start. After the initial angst has past, the transfers have had a revitalizing affect on my friends, and the game in general.

So, farewell Intrepid. It really has been great. There have been ups and downs, but I wouldn’t trade the friends and experiences. Playing SWG and being on Intrepid has lead me to find creativity I never knew I had, overcome (some) of my shyness, even got me to deal with the sheer terror of flying to get to Fan Faire, led me to do try and even be successful at a things I never would have attempted otherwise, and overall helped me in a great many ways.

Starsider, what can I say? I honestly cannot wait! Thanks for making the server transfer an easy decision for me. I am so excited to be a part of your community. Hurry up, January 13th!

Once upon a time there was a Wroshyr Tree Village called Whoovyyyl. The villagers of Whoovyyyl were good, happy Wookiees who looked after each other, cared for their Wroshyr, and looked forward to Life Day all year long. When the Life Day season finally arrived, the Wookiees happily baked Wookiee Cookies and decorated the Wroshyr. They donned their robes, polished their orbs, planned feasts, and wrapped Life Day presents with much merriment and excitement.

But way, way, way down beneath the Whoovyyyl Village, deep in the Shadowed Lands, there was an angry, snarling katarn. Of course, there were many katarns wandering the Shadowed Lands, but this katarn was especially mean and vicious. His heart was smaller then even the average tiny katarn heart by at least three sizes. He was known as the Grryyynch.

When the Grryyynch heard the Wookiees singing their Life Day carols from where they were cozily nestled in the Wroshyr canopy, it was almost more than he could stand. After gagging for a good five minutes, he turned to his companion. “I’ll show them!” he told Mmmax the Jyykle vulture (who was only living thing that could stand to be near the Grryyynch). “I will sneak up the Tree and take their presents, their robes, their orbs, their feasts, and their decorations!”

Chortling gleefully, he rubbed his paws together and waited until all the Wookiees were tucked into their beds, dreaming of Father Wroshyr. He swiftly ascended the Tree, and crept into each villager’s home. He tossed everything from Life Day Orbs to Wookiee Cookie crumbs into his sack. He was collecting the last mouf roast from the last house, when suddenly he was startled by a small, sleepy roar.

“Father Wroshyr?” asked a little Wookiee, who’s fur was mussed from sleep. “Is that you?” The Grryyynch froze…then patted the tiny Wook on the head. “Why, yes, I am Father Wroshyr.”, he said. “But if you don’t go back to bed, I can’t leave you any gifts!” The little Wook hurried back to bed with a happy smile.

Giggling to himself, the Grryyynch began to descend the Tree. He returned to his lair and began to unpack his sack.

Up above, the sun began to rise over Whoovyyyl. The Grryyynch looked up, thinking that there would be no singing coming from the village this Life Day. But, much to his surprise, the sounds of Wookiee Life Day carols began to drift down into the Shadowed Lands.

The Grryyynch covered his ears and howled. How could they celebrate? He had stolen their Life Day. He looked around. He nibbled on a Wookiee cookie. Still, the singing continued. He thought of how good the Wookiee Cookie tasted and his heart grew just a tiny bit. He thought of how lovingly each home had been decorated and it grew a bit more. He looked around at the stolen presents. He didn’t want to open them anymore and began to wonder why he had taken them to begin with. Life Day had come, whether the food, gifts, and decorations where there or not. He thought about the little Wookiee he had lied to and his heart grew once again. He began to notice that the Wookiees’ song was rather nice and was making him feel warm… and… yes… happy? His heart grew and grew, the more he listened to the song. In fact, his heart grew a full three sizes that day!

With Mmmax’s help, he gathered up all the Wookiees’ Life Day things. In the end, his heart bigger and fuller than any katarn’s had ever been, he almost leapt up the Whoovyyyl tree. Eagerly, he began thrusting gifts, robes, and orbs into furry hands. He hugged and spun around with the little Wookiee he had met the night before. He tossed decorations on the Wroshyr and laid out the Life Day feast in front of the village of amazed Wookiees.

Smiling, the village Tree Carer patted Mmmax, and then took the katarn’s paw into his warm fuzzy hand. “Happy Life Day, Grryyynch! We welcome you to our celebration! Life Day is for everyone. Enjoy our feast and share in our gift giving. But first, will you join our song?” The Grryyynch nodded. He and Mmmax joined the merry circle of Wookiees, and began to sing along. That year, and every year after, the Grryyynch was the happiest Life Day celebrant of all.

Once upon a time, there was a village nestled snugly in a huge Wroshyr. This village, like most Tree villages, kept a stable full of every Wookiee’s favorite creature companion, Kashyyyk banthas. But in this particular stable, there was one bantha who was quite different from every other bantha on Kashyyyk.

Rrrudoolf was a very small bantha who, instead of having a shiny brown coat that matched the mushrooms that grew on the giant Wroshyr trees, had a bright green coat that was the color of the trees’ leaves. The other banthas didn’t know what to make of this strange leaf-colored bantha. But there was one other thing that made Rrrudoolf stand out.

He could fly.

Being green is one thing. Some of the more flamboyant Wookiees would occasionally dye their fur green (or even stranger colors). But flying? That was another matter entirely. Have you ever seen a little green bantha fluttering in the sky with a flock of can-cells? Neither had the villagers. Some said the Forest had blessed him. Others thought he had mutated in the incubator.

Whatever the cause, the little green flying bantha soon became quite the tourist attraction. Wookiees came from all over Kashyyyk to watch Rrrudoolf’s aerial acrobatics. The Wookiees were very kind to him, and he never ran short of yummy fodder, bantha treats, Wookiee hugs, and furry hands eager to groom him.

This situation continued for quite some time. However, it was not perfect. You see, most banthas have one special Wookiee friend. They accompany their Wookiee on hunts, carry him on treks, and share life in the Forest together.

Rrrudoolf got plenty of attention, but the visitors came and left. When little Wookiees came to the stables to choose their own bantha companion, Rrrudoolf was never picked. And the other banthas did not want to include Rrrudoolf in their bantha games… he was just too different.
The Wookiees loved him, but needed banthas that worked well with other banthas on the hunt. Traders wanted big banthas that could carry heavy loads. Seasons came and went, and still Rrrudoolf had no truly close friends.

Then one Life Day, while Rrrudoolf contented himself with munching on the special holiday treats the Wookiees had brought him and playing with his squeaky mouf toy, the door to the stable suddenly burst open. Rrrudoolf looked up with interest. Maybe someone else was as lonely as he was and needed a bantha friend!

Rrrudoolf gasped when he saw who had entered. It was not a bantha, and not a Wookiee. It was someone entirely unexpected. Someone who looked like… a walking tree?

“Father Wroshyr?” gasped Rrrudoolf in amazement. “Is it really you?” he asked, looking closely at the newcomer.

The giant tree roared in delight. “Of course it is!” he said. “And you are just the bantha I’ve been hoping to find!”

No words could have made Rrrudoolf happier. But why would Father Wroshyr want to find a bantha like him? Father Wroshyr went on to explain his predicament. He had included several young and inexperienced can-cells in his team this year. When flying over the Well of the Dead, they had been spooked by the howls of katarn below, and Life Day gifts had gone tumbling into the Shadowed Lands.

Father Wroshyr shook his great leafy head, thinking about all the toys, gifts, and Wookiee cookies that would end up being gnawed on by katarn. The can-cells had tried to swoop down and collect the lost packs, but the buzzing of their wings only attracted more of the vicious creatures.

Now, Rrrudoolf had an idea where this was going, and he was nervous. Venturing into the Well of the Dead is no small task. It is the most dangerous area on all of Kashyyyk, and just about all of Kashyyyk is pretty dangerous. But when Father Wroshyr asked for help, how could he say no? Besides, Rrrudoolf was a very kind bantha, and the thought of all those Wookiee hoods going unfilled while katarn destroyed the Life Day gifts was terrible.

So, when Father Wroshyr asked Rrrudoolf to fly down to the Well of the Dead, pick up the packs, and fly them back to the can-cells, he said yes before the great tree had even finished the question.

The little green bantha was the perfect choice for such a dangerous task. He was small enough to escape the notice of the predators, and his green coat provided the perfect camouflage. If he did attract any unwanted attention, he would be able to quickly fly out of harm’s way.

So he flew down through the canopy and began to collect the packs full of gifts. It was much worse then he had imagined. Strange smells assaulted him. Plants he had never seen before moved ominously, and some even spoke to him. Vines coiled, ready to grasp an unsuspecting tail or hoof. Sharp teeth glinted in the shadows, and strange noises surrounded him.

“Father Wroshyr is counting on me!” he told himself. He couldn’t let the tree-spirit down. He couldn’t let the Wookiees down either. They looked forward to this day all year, and no one was going to have an empty hood if he had anything to say about it!

Eventually, every pack had been gathered and secured to the (rather sheepish-looking) can-cells. Father Wroshyr’s branch-arms affectionately scratched Rrrudoolf’s green coat while he thanked him and the can-cells joyfully buzzed around them.

“Now, Rrrudoolf. I have one more request for you. Will you lead the can-cells and I into the villages?” Rrrudoolf thought his heart would burst with joy. Leading Father Wroshyr and his can-cells was the greatest honor he could imagine!

So, that year and every year since, Rrrudoolf leads the team, flying high over the treetops, and every little Wookiee looks toward the stars hoping to catch a glimpse of the magical green flying bantha.

When it’s not Life Day, Rrrudoolf and Father Wroshyr are the best of friends, working together to make toys and gifts for all the Wookiees. And, of course, he has plenty of time to soar through the canopy with his can-cell friends.

But Rrrudoolf’s favorite night is always Life Day Eve, when he leads the way through the great forests of Kashyyyk. Remember to look overhead for a spot of green in the sky, and wave to Rrrudoolf the Bright-Green Bantha!

Based on “Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry

Once upon a time, not so long ago, there was a young Wookiee couple. These Wookiees were refugees, having left Kashyyyk with little more then their fur, a few credits, and Wrrlchiir’s treasured ancestral bowcaster.

Like most refugees, the young couple did not have much. They lived in a small Corellian house, which was on the ground, not safely tucked into a Wroshyr like they were used to. But, they were happy to be free and together.

The Life Day season arrived. Each Wookiee was saddened, knowing Life Day away from home and family would be sparse at best. Neither had credits to purchase even a small gift for the other.

Jiorral was out shopping one day, when the idea struck her. Like most female Wookiees, she had a long, beautiful mane of head fur. Many hairless species were willing to pay good credits for fur or hair that could be made into wigs! Certainly she could trim her long head fur to bright Life Day for her beloved mate.

So, she gladly snipped a few inches of her head fur and sold them to an overjoyed balding human. The credit chip would be more than enough to buy a present for Wrrlchiir and she would even have enough left over to buy a mouf rump to roast.

Jiorral spent all day browsing the bazaar, trying to find just the right gift. Finally she found it. A beautiful Wroshyr wood display case. Wrrlchiir could display the treasured bowcaster and every time he saw it, he would be reminded both of Kashyyyk and the love of his mate.

Somehow, she managed to tuck the display case into her backpack and headed home to the small Corellian house. Nervously, she groomed her remaining head fur, hoping and praying to the Forest that Wrrlchiir would still find her as lovely as always.

Finally, he arrived home and she rushed to greet him. He gasped at the sight of her, looking stunned. Worriedly, she fussed with her head fur. “Don’t worry, it will grow back quickly!”, she assured him. “I sold it. I couldn’t stand to have Life Day go by without finding a way to do something special for you.”

Wrrlchiir gave her a huge, reassuring Wookiee hug. “You are the most beautiful Wookiee I have ever seen. I have a gift for you.” With that, he gave her the combs. A beautiful set of imported Kashyyykian combs that would be perfect with her head fur…once it grew back. She covered his furry face with kisses, already looking forward to the day her fur was its normal length again.

Then realizing Wrrlchiir had not yet seen his gift, Jiorral happily presented him with the display case. “For your bowcaster! Get it out and let’s see how it looks. And then I will roast a mouf rump for our Life Day feast.”

Wrrlchiir gave Jiorral another big Wookiee hug. “Let’s just enjoy our mouf. You see, I sold the bowcaster to buy the combs. Let’s put the the combs in the display case until your fur grows back and I craft a new bowcaster. They are both so nice and they will remind us of how wonderful this Life Day is.

So, the young Wookiee couple sat down to the mouf dinner, happy to be together, happy to be free, and happy Life Day had arrived.

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