"Well, you're still alive and breathing - which has to be a bonus in anyone's books - so, you must have something of value to him after all. By the looks of you though, he wasn't entirely happy so rest up, and let's see if I can help while away the hours until he comes back."
"Where's he gone? Ah, all in its own time I think. Now, let me check those manacles and we'll begin. Let's see - driver's license, insurance, library card - doesn't really match the gothic rebel look you've adopted there does it?"
"Right, we've a lot to get through before dawn, so I'm going to replace the gag, like this... and now we're ready."
"Oh stop moaning, those knives aren't meant for you - what do you take me for? Some mindless slavering Igor with a hard-on for torture and mutilation?"
"Pah, you make me cringe with embarrassment - setting yourself up as a creature of the night; aping things you've never seen for yourself; and then going back to show off your latest act of token rebellion to your addle-brained halfwit friends. But let me tell you something - I've seen and heard them afterwards. They think you're a flake and can't wait for you to go away."
"Well, perhaps tonight we can arrange that for them, one way or another..."
Sunday, 6 April 2008
Saturday, 5 April 2008
Rambling Block Break
And now, what? Do we wait for chaos to arise once more, casting underfoot the measured strictures of happy order; or instead take up the challenge implicit in such enterprises and strike at them in our own time and way? If there is to be dynamism and change, better it be directed than allowed to overcast all that it surrounds.
The danger is in the extremes. Too much order, and too much chaos. Both in the end stifle the creative and shackle the reason. One should not exist without the other - this is a maxim often repeated - but the true discussion and debate comes in the attempt to fight the urge to merely choose the median point. True neutrality is an impossibility to the rational mind and the sensitive heart alike - for while the attempt to choose not to choose can be seen as admirable, it merely acts as a signpost of the chooser's unwillingness to declare for one or the other. That way lies apathy and the death of the soul inherent in that path.
Make the choice. Neither one path or the other is wrong in itself. It is merely a choice of methodology. It is the results of that choice - what you choose to do - that counts...
The danger is in the extremes. Too much order, and too much chaos. Both in the end stifle the creative and shackle the reason. One should not exist without the other - this is a maxim often repeated - but the true discussion and debate comes in the attempt to fight the urge to merely choose the median point. True neutrality is an impossibility to the rational mind and the sensitive heart alike - for while the attempt to choose not to choose can be seen as admirable, it merely acts as a signpost of the chooser's unwillingness to declare for one or the other. That way lies apathy and the death of the soul inherent in that path.
Make the choice. Neither one path or the other is wrong in itself. It is merely a choice of methodology. It is the results of that choice - what you choose to do - that counts...
Thursday, 3 April 2008
warfare fragment
The air seemed to thrum in the aftershock. All around, trees were bent and split, with isolated brush fires burning despite the generally soggy undergrowth. He laughed and coughed a moment later from inhaled smoke, an implanted gland quickly generating fluids to compensate.
Thursday, 27 March 2008
The Thunderers - Descriptive
The Thunderers are a trio of daemonic brothers with seemingly elemental ties. Rarely summoned except to battle, the brothers manifest as broadly muscled behemoths with slick skin that turns unenchanted blades aside. Unlike the traditional image of the daemon, there is little to suggest brimstone, but still their presence reeks of wrongness, barely hidden by the aromatic smoke that typically issues from censers held by their servitors.
Their very presence in this world is marked by sudden stormy weather even from previously sunny and clear skies, while stored food and drink within thirteen miles of their presence is instantly spoiled.
Their great power as shock troops of the otherworld comes from their ground-shaking footsteps, which are prone to knock all enemies within thirty foot of them from their feet. The impact of their sharp-horned fists on armour is accompanied by the crash of thunder and often severely damages it. Within a half-dozen blows, it is not unknown for a fully protected knight to suddenly find his breastplate riven from top to bottom; with another blow heading rapidly for his now vulnerable torso.
Their time in our world on each summoning is fortunately limited to the length of time that the summoner spends in a ritual circle concentrating on the spell. It is typically therefore a primary goal of any commander who has found themselves facing these beasts to locate and disrupt the summoner's concentration.
Their very presence in this world is marked by sudden stormy weather even from previously sunny and clear skies, while stored food and drink within thirteen miles of their presence is instantly spoiled.
Their great power as shock troops of the otherworld comes from their ground-shaking footsteps, which are prone to knock all enemies within thirty foot of them from their feet. The impact of their sharp-horned fists on armour is accompanied by the crash of thunder and often severely damages it. Within a half-dozen blows, it is not unknown for a fully protected knight to suddenly find his breastplate riven from top to bottom; with another blow heading rapidly for his now vulnerable torso.
Their time in our world on each summoning is fortunately limited to the length of time that the summoner spends in a ritual circle concentrating on the spell. It is typically therefore a primary goal of any commander who has found themselves facing these beasts to locate and disrupt the summoner's concentration.
Winter fragment
Krisla-Tenu waved Rhaek over, and he tossed a datastick to her as he sat down. The chair creaked under his weight as he settled and crossed his leg. “How’s our man?” she asked idly. Pulsing icons signalled updates to a number of projects.
“On his way – the couriers reported back not that long ago.”
“Any problems?”
“Not for us to worry about – insertion should take place in a couple of days.” Rhaek steepled his fingers. “So – what’s our next step? Preparation for extraction or do we have time for some work on the side?” Her terminal chirped, and she held up a hand to quiet him a moment. He got up quietly and left the room.
Jerrek’s thin voice whispered in her ear. “Sorry to break in – can you talk right now?”
“If you’re quick, I’m just about to go into a meeting.”
“Okay – quickly then; I’ve been going through the logs and I think there’s a set-up in progress.”
“In what way?”
“Looks like someone’s trying to get past the Challenge protocols – I’ve found reference to the hiring of a cybrid from the Hunters’ Guild – not sure by who though.”
“The Guild isn’t co-operating?” She rose from her chair, skirting around her desk and leaning out the door. “Rhaek! Get back here now.”
“No – not even in an unofficial way – they’re claiming client confidentiality.” Jerrek continued. Rhaek came back, trotting down the hall. “The original encrypted notices are pretty fragmented, but I’ll see how well Corran and her crew can do with them.”
“On his way – the couriers reported back not that long ago.”
“Any problems?”
“Not for us to worry about – insertion should take place in a couple of days.” Rhaek steepled his fingers. “So – what’s our next step? Preparation for extraction or do we have time for some work on the side?” Her terminal chirped, and she held up a hand to quiet him a moment. He got up quietly and left the room.
Jerrek’s thin voice whispered in her ear. “Sorry to break in – can you talk right now?”
“If you’re quick, I’m just about to go into a meeting.”
“Okay – quickly then; I’ve been going through the logs and I think there’s a set-up in progress.”
“In what way?”
“Looks like someone’s trying to get past the Challenge protocols – I’ve found reference to the hiring of a cybrid from the Hunters’ Guild – not sure by who though.”
“The Guild isn’t co-operating?” She rose from her chair, skirting around her desk and leaning out the door. “Rhaek! Get back here now.”
“No – not even in an unofficial way – they’re claiming client confidentiality.” Jerrek continued. Rhaek came back, trotting down the hall. “The original encrypted notices are pretty fragmented, but I’ll see how well Corran and her crew can do with them.”
Dungeons and Dragons campaign briefing
The Known World sprawls from icy wastes to lush jungles, and has embraced the challenges of both magic and burgeoning technology for both weal and woe. The Known World is that of the light – largely above the ground and comprised of large enough numbers to form nations or sizeable proportions of states in their numbers. By no means does this mean that there are not divisions or wars between them however.
There are a number of major players in the arena of the Known World – the elven nation of Shammarhys is perhaps the oldest and deepest rooted civilisation, though this is disputed by the keen craftsmen of the dwarven nation Ghurramahk.
The humans – once a slave race of the departed Daelkyr – have spread and founded their own nations: Solangis, Freehold, Bellayne and Loyir being the greatest among them.
The halflings have their Hearthholds, and the gnomes maintain the nomadic lifestyle that allowed them to survive the destruction of their cavern realms.
Living among them all are reminders of the scars of war – half elves, half orcs and half ogres all experience varying degrees of acceptance or rejection, while the warforged struggle both to construct a society for themselves, and to decide what stance to take on the less advanced mechs and constructs from which they were formed.
As if there wasn’t enough to contend with, the goblinoid hordes have, for now, retreated to the wastes, but still they strike out, emboldened by new leaders. The forces of the Unknown World, the darkness below, are always looking for avenues of influence. Tales occasionally reach the ears of the civilised world of horrific aberrations as old as time lurking in the depths and deserted places of the world, waiting for their time to come again, while other creatures dream of blotting out the sun, and striding forth under dying skies to claim the world…
And then there are the dragons – ancient foes of the giants – and equally gifted in guile and power. These two foes play a long game across a fractured board, and who knows what may tip the balance…
There are a number of major players in the arena of the Known World – the elven nation of Shammarhys is perhaps the oldest and deepest rooted civilisation, though this is disputed by the keen craftsmen of the dwarven nation Ghurramahk.
The humans – once a slave race of the departed Daelkyr – have spread and founded their own nations: Solangis, Freehold, Bellayne and Loyir being the greatest among them.
The halflings have their Hearthholds, and the gnomes maintain the nomadic lifestyle that allowed them to survive the destruction of their cavern realms.
Living among them all are reminders of the scars of war – half elves, half orcs and half ogres all experience varying degrees of acceptance or rejection, while the warforged struggle both to construct a society for themselves, and to decide what stance to take on the less advanced mechs and constructs from which they were formed.
As if there wasn’t enough to contend with, the goblinoid hordes have, for now, retreated to the wastes, but still they strike out, emboldened by new leaders. The forces of the Unknown World, the darkness below, are always looking for avenues of influence. Tales occasionally reach the ears of the civilised world of horrific aberrations as old as time lurking in the depths and deserted places of the world, waiting for their time to come again, while other creatures dream of blotting out the sun, and striding forth under dying skies to claim the world…
And then there are the dragons – ancient foes of the giants – and equally gifted in guile and power. These two foes play a long game across a fractured board, and who knows what may tip the balance…
Benevici fragment
From the eyes of a squirrel, Benevici watched the bustle of activity. A pigeon fluttered in on the bridge's parapet, and he watched through those eyes too.
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