When I was asked about my nick, I told people I got it from my AD&D character. This often resulted in my discussing the role playing game with people. I also noticed that it caused the name to take on a certain "mystique" to it. People began to call me "The Shadowborne" and spoke of it as some omen or something. At one point, I was asked to write something that showed what the name "Shadowborne" meant to me. The poem below was the result of that request. It was with this poem that I began to feel a real affinity to the nickname. As I was writing it, I found that many things that describe me or my life experiences flowed onto the paper. WIthin 15 minutes I had created the poem. Everyone who has read it, says it speaks volumes about who I am, what I think and feel, and what I stand for. I am not so sure it shows that much, but it does certainly give an idea of what is inside me. 

The character of Raven Shadowborne is a rogue. Another name for that is a thief. She developed alot of other skills besides the standard thieving skills that AD&D allows. Interestingly, when asked to fill in the description section of my character sheet, I filled in a basic description of myself. I did add a few things, such as no visible scars, and more body strength than I actually have. But the basic features are the same. The character has black hair and dark brown eyes. I have dark brown eyes and dark brown, almost black, hair. (Unless of course I dye it, which I do to cover the gray) I lacked imagination when creating this character so I modeled it after myself. 

Many like to think that the name has some mysterious spiritual connection for me. When they hear that I chose it simply because of my favorite game character, they are dissapointed. To some people, having an emotional attachment to a nickname means there is some kind of spiritual connection to it. If that is true, then yes I suppose I do have a spiritual connection to the name because it does mean alot to me. Some like to tell me that I chose the name because the raven represents certain qualities that instinctively I know apply to me. This also, I am not sure about. I just know that I like the name, and I enjoyed playing the character. So that's the uncovering of the mystery behind my online nick. 
 

The night
Dark and mysterious
Wrought with dangers untold
Yet lit with a brilliance
From ages of old

The twinkling of stars
The glow of the moon
Add light where there is none
Softening the gloom

The night's shadows
Deep and dark
Where riddles are hidden
Surprises await
survival dependant on the hand of fate

Legend has it 
those of the night
are creatures of darkness
fantasy and flight

Full of mysteries their very own
Each one is different
yet still the same
As they all play similar games

Born of the shadows
these creatures of night
Once thought to be evil
Till one took flight

One untamable free soul
Giving to others, so they may grow
With a strength most envy
for life takes its toll

Yet still this untamable soul
Takes flight and soars
Her wings gently prodding the air with her flight
As once more she flies within the night

This untamable soul
Born of the shadows with a heart of pure gold
Not easily forgotten
yet easily discarded
Touching the souls of those she holds dear

This one has shown to one and all
Not all born of shadows have black lifeless souls