Okay... I've been a busy little boy lately and during that time I ran accross a book in the Borders Express in my mall called Flight Vol. 3. Now, while I don't necissarily judge a book by it's cover, this one caught my eye and I started flipping through it.
Turns out that its a series of short comics collected from people who are reputed to be excelent story tellers. One story in particual caught my attention: Polaris by Azad Injejikian.
Despite the way the story ends I like it, but I still feel so terrible for poor little Amelia Zot. And so, in my writing project where we never know who or what we're gonna run into next, I figured, what the hell. It'd be interesting if he had an adopted daughter...
Oh, and BTW, Amelia Zot is used with permission from Azad Injejikian. References for Earthsong, however, I'm still waiting to hear back on - until then they're used without permission.

I feel like posting something teaserish, if only to delude myself that I'm not blocked on DW5 chapter 3. So here's a little passage where Doug almost gives Hermione an aneurysm.

It looks like I might have time for some marathon playing on Saturday and/or Sunday (10/28 and 10/29) afternoons. I'll know more by Friday night, but I'd certainly appreciate any group members who'd like to team...
-- Bob
---------
...The President is on the line
As ninety-nine crab rangoons go by...

that stuck me one day. Only time will tell if I am motivated enough to write the rest.
Revisiting the graveyard scene at the end of the Goblet of Fire.
-----------------------------------
Harry Potter was in a pinch. Well and royally screwed as screw-ups go. The tri-wizards cup had turned out to be a portkey which had brought him to Voldemort. Who had needed Harry's blood to finish the ritual to get himself a new body. Now that the ritual was complete Voldemort was forcing Harry to participate in a mockery of a wizards duel, The odds had been stacked against Harry Potter and most likely he would not survive the night unless some miracle happened. The difference in power was simply too great between them at this point.
Death Eaters stood silently watching with eager eyes behind their masks waiting for Voldemort to kill Harry Potter. The boy-who-lived. There was some light fog rolling around the graveyard, the air was clammy and chilling. The adrenaline of the moment was all that was keeping Harry warm.
Voldemort Gestured with his wand and the statue of the angel of death which was holding Harry in place released its hold on him. Astonishing what a few drops of your blood will do eh Harry? Voldemort asked as a death eater pushed Harry forwards to face the Dark Lord. Voldemort threw Harry's wand at his feet. Pick up your wand Potter. I said pick it up, get up. Get up! You've been taught how to duel I presume yes? First we bow to each other. Come on now Harry the niceties must be observed, Dumbledore would not want you to forget your manners now would he? I said bow! Voldemort stabbed downwards with his wand and Harry doubled over in pain that erupted in his lower torso.
Voldemort bowed gracefully as if Harry was actively participating in a wizards duel Thats better and now Crucio!. Voldemort said as red light burst from the tip of his wand.
Harry dodged to the left and fired off an exploding hex in return using the resulting explosion as a distraction and hid himself behind a large grave marker. Harry listened as Voldemorts hurled curses and hexes at the area where Harry had been a moment ago.
Harry, your parents would be proud. Especially your filthy mongrel mother. I'm going to kill you Harry Potter, I'm going to destroy you. After tonight no one will ever again question my powers. After tonight if they speak of you they'll speak only of how you begged for death, and I being a merciful lord obliged. Voldemort called out to the air, from the sound of it he was facing away form Harry at the moment searching for some clue to where Harry was hiding.
Damn it! thought Harry This will only lead to my death if I drag this out. Isnt there anything I have learnt that I can use now? Harry bent his will inwards and pulled on his magical core summoning up his reserves of power for a fight to the death with Voldemort.
Then something drained the pool of magic he had summoned up and exerted a pull on his core. It was pulling more and more power out of him. Meanwhile Voldemort rounded the tombstone Harry was hiding behind.
Harry tried to scramble back onto his feet but failed at Voldemort casually gestured with his wand and locked Harry into place with a silent body binding jinx. Ahh Harry, you should not have run. Now I will take grea- Voldemort broke off suddenly as something caught his eye. Harry followed Voldemorts eyes and saw what had derailed the Dark Lords train of thought.
On the ground a large glowing circle appeared it was being filled with strange shapes, runes and patterns, one side of the circle had a crescent moon super imposed on a twelve pointed star.
Voldemort took a step backwards as the circle pulsed once with raw power. What is this Potter? What is the old man playing at now? Voldemort hissed. The Circle pulsed once more and then flared brightly enough to make Voldemort and Harry shield their eyes, inside the circle a hazy indistinct figure started to emerge from the circle, first a head and shoulders cleared it then the rest of the body followed.
The figure seemed to solidify as it passed through the circle. The circle pulsed once more when the figure fully emerged and then faded gradually from sight. The fog rolled back to reveal a person in an armor. Gauntleted hands clenched as the person raised her head and opened her eyes. Blue eyes locked on to Harry Potter.
Servant Saber reporting as summoned. Saber paused. Inquiry. Are you my master?
_______________________________
We are the swords in the darkness, the watchers on the walls. The fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn. The horn that wakes the sleepers. The shield that guards the realms of men. -The Brothers Black
_________________________________
Take Your Candle, Go Light Your World.

Abandoned Sewer Trial
This is a different thing, since many folks don't even know it's available. Wide is of an appropriate level to start it, and Min, if still at 42, is at about the max. the other Trials are Cavern of Transcendance and the Eden Spires....
IIRC, the Sewer Trial gives a dual-effect Enhancement as a reward.
''We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat
them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary.''

-- James Nicoll

Veteran Rewards
27 Months
* Dedicated badge
* Costume Piece: Anime-style tech armor
* Costume Change Token given to all characters on account
A full costume set of anime-inspired technological armor pieces is
available at this level. Heroes and villains can get a whole new unique
look to their characters with this costume set, and we are even including
a Costume Change token so that they can take advantage of the new set
without impacting their Influence or Infamy. Like other costume rewards,
this set is available for all characters on the account, present and
future, so if the costume inspires players, they can make a level 1
character with the new costume pieces right out of the gate.

30 months

* Committed badge
* Costume Piece: Signature Group Chest Emblem (Freedom Phalanx,
Vindicators, Vanguard, Arachnos, PPD, Cage Consortium, CoT, Council)
* Costume Change Token given to all characters on account
* Base Items: Hero: Scirocco's Sword, Ghost Widow's Cape, Black Scorpion's Armor, Captain Mako's Tooth, Lord Recluse's Helm, Hamidon Goo. Villain: Positron's Helmet, Synapse's Goggles, Numina's Cape, Sister Psyche's Belt, Citadel's Brain, Manticore's Bow, Statesman's Faceplate.
This reward level incorporates some back story elements from the City of
Heroes and City of Villains games and ties them in to character costumes and supergroup bases. First included are new chest emblems from a selection of the in-game groups for characters to wear proudly. These include the Freedom Phalanx, the Vindicators, Vanguard, Arachnos, the Paragon Police Department, the Cage Consortium, Circle of Thorns, and the Council. Of course a Costume Change token comes with this reward as well.

33 Months:
*Unswerving badge
*Power: CHOICE: Permanent Nemesis Staff or Permanent Blackwand
*Respec given to all characters on account
Here players get a choice. Player characters can select one of the staves
that Nemesis gives his troops, or the awesome Blackwand, as a prestige
power. These began as temporary powers players could earn for completing
certain missions. Now they can become permanent parts of player
characters, like the Ghost Slaying Axe and the Sands of Mu from the 12
month reward.
The Nemesis staff is a steam-powered staff that shoots bolts of energy
that deal damage, knock back foes, and may stun them. Damage: Moderate.
Recharge: Long. The Blackwand is a black metal wand that feels cold in the
hand, and glows with dark arcane energies. When used by those skilled in
magic (i.e. of Magic origin), it increases the potency of its attacks.
Damage: Moderate. Recharge: Long.

36 Months:
*Addicted badge
*Base Item: Arachnos Flyer (Villains), Longbow Chaser (Heroes)
*Power (Choice): Demon Pet, Clockwork Pet, Red Cap Pet, Rikti Monkey Pet, Robot Pet
Supergroup bases will never look the same once players park one of these
babies in them! A choice of an Arachnos Flyer or a Longbow Chaser means
that a player base will have a unique look to it that only comes with the
three year Veteran Reward.
In addition, players get another choice for their characters. This time,
they get to choose between five cuddly non-combat pets for each of their
characters! That's right, these little critters are useless in combat, but
they look oh-so-cute, and can be the perfect accessory for each of their
character concepts. The five pets to select from are a small Demon, a
renegade Clockwork, a docile Red Cap, a domesticated Rikti Monkey, and a
refurbished Robot.
(The 'refurbished robot' is a 5th Column Mekman)

Global: @Jimmy Amp
"Broad-minded is just another way of saying a fellow's too lazy to form an opinion." -- Will Rogers

If the player of Lady Valiance is here, please be aware that she's been unplayed for 125 days as of today, and we may need a slot for the return of Aegis Sanctuary. This is official notice of a pending kick.
-- Bob
---------
...The President is on the line
As ninety-nine crab rangoons go by...

...has returned to Paragon. Evangelia had email from her when I went in last night -- email that had been written a spare couple hours earlier. It's almost as though kicking her out of the group made her reappear.
Anyway long story short, Aegis wants back in. I'm cool with that, and intend on inviting her next time we're both on together. However, if someone with invite privileged sees her before I do and brings her back in, I won't be offended.
She's not getting her old leader slot, though -- I'll promote her back up to Commander, but no higher.
-- Bob
---------
...The President is on the line
As ninety-nine crab rangoons go by...

I have multiple heroes/villains to create costumes for, and I'm completely stuck on themes. Here's the costumes I have for each one so far of the ones I'm stuck on:
Unseeing Eye (Ill/Kin Controller)
1) Orange/Grey, lots of circles. Emphasis on the 'eye' aspect.
2) Green/Black. Green Lantern/Parallax homage.
3) Purple, martial arts robe/pants. I was thinking oriental mage when I made it.
4) ????????????
Dustball (dark/dark scrapper):
1) Think a drow in a wife-beater and jeans. I dunno, it made me giggle.
2) Homage costume to 'The Shadow'
3) I need a 'darkness' hero to homage - who?
Australis (PB):
1) Steve Irwin/Quigley Down Under homage.
2) Australian 'patriotic' outfit (red/white/blue)
3) ???????????????????????

Ones I *have* decided, but haven't made yet. If you have any suggestions, let me know:
VLSI (Warshade):
I've been making his costumes progressively more 'human-like' and less robotic. His first was all circuitry, the second is a sort of robot body. I'm thinking one of the next two should be the 'metallic' body.
Inheritance (Soldier/Traps MM):
His first was based off of the Padded outfit. His second is sort of an homage to some of the Arachnos LTs/Bosses. His third is going to look like the Spec Ops soldier.
--
Christopher Angel, aka JPublic
The Works of Christopher Angel
"Camaraderie, adventure, and steel on steel. The stuff of legend! Right, Boo?"

Is anyone having problems reaching my website on eclipse.net, or anything else on eclipse.net for that matter? Such as the banner that should be at the top of the forum pages? Please let me know. I'm trying to track down a problem with both Eclipse/NetCarrier and Patriot Media, my cable modem provider, and I seem to recall that at least one person has mentioned having had difficulty reaching the site in the last week.
-- Bob
---------
...The President is on the line
As ninety-nine crab rangoons go by...