According to this story on the Register, historian Stephen Lawhead has put forward a theory that Robin Hood was actually a Welshman.
After I read the article, I realized that it could resolve the biggest problem that Bob mentioned in GURPS Robin Hood - the noble/commoner dichotomy. The Welsh Robin is described as being the son of a nobleman, robbed of his birthright by the Normans in the 11th century. The earlier Robin Hood legends make no mention of the noble Robin. So, the commoner Robin might have been in Nottingham, while the noble "Robin" would have been in Wales a couple of centuries later. Oral tradition conflating the two stories may have lead to the mess we have today...

(Edit to fix typo)
-Rob Kelk
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

"If you ever run out of ideas, have someone come through the door with a gun."
- Raymond Chandler
"If you put a gun on the mantlepiece in Act 1, it must be fired no later than the end of Act 3."
- Anton Chekhov
Any more?

We've got some new faces in The Legendary channel that I'm not recognizing... either they are folks I'm familiar with who've changed their nicknames, or they're folks who are friends of channel members on other servers... or they could be inactive, ORIGINAL Legendary from before Bob's tenure as leader....
Like: Pan Pope. I see he/she's on almost all the time, but they never respond to global chat messages...
There are a few others as well... though I'm sure at least one of those is ChibiKonatsu's brother....
''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

It was a simple thing, really: thick, creamy paper, engraved with a bit of good news. It was also trouble, and Mace Mac Hine knew trouble.
To be fair, he did not know that it was going to set off a chain of events when it was discovered by one of his "Teammates" in the Infamous after he dropped it. Especially since he had no intention of doing so. Heavy injuries from a battle with the Marcone Family after it was delivered to him made his intentions moot.
The innocent little paper sat wedged behind the medical pod in the Infamous' Super Base, its message waiting for the next person to pick it up:
THE Mac Hine and Emily Nagurski Heisman

Are pleased to announce the upcoming nuptials

of their respective children

Minuet Mac Hine

and

Orenthal Bronko Heisman

Two thing's I'd like to ask, and one thing to inform:
A while back someone posted a link to an Angelic Layer fic or two. They were rather good, but I never got around to reading the whole thing. I just finished the series, and was wondering if anyone still had the links.
Also, anyone got any good Naruto crossover fics to recommend?
And finally, Bob, your link to 'A tale of two wallets' in the One concerted reading period later... thread of the Archived Fanfic Recommendations section is now a link to a porn site.--
I am the Borg-again Christian. Resistance to my sermon is futile. You will be baptized. Your dogma is irrelevant.
--
If you become a monster to put down a monster you've still got a monster running around at the end of the day and have as such not really solved the whole monster problem at all. 

This song was just released two weeks ago, so I'm not expecting any kind of power out of it. Anyway, the title and lyrics both point to a use in the Utena step when it gets written.
Bob let me know if you want to take a listen to the song.
Roses on My Grave - Papa Roach
It feels like I'm looking at life
Through a telescope because I'm so high
The ground never seemed so far away
Truth shall be told one day
I'll be under ground one day
I've got a One that'll put roses on my grave (2x)
Roses on my grave
Feels like I'm looking at life
Through a telescope because I'm so high
The ground never seemed so far away
Truth shall be told one day
I'll be under ground one day
I've got a One that'll put roses on my grave (4x)
Roses on my grave
Don't forget me
Don't forget me
Please forgive me
Don't forget me
It's my redemption, Time for redemption
Time for redemption, It's my redemption
It's my redemption, Time for redemption
Time for redemption
I'll see you on the other side
I'm waiting on the other side
I'll see you on the other side
I'm waiting on the other side

Shawn Earl

It just jumped out of a corner and started gnawing on my head, but - well, it has some thematic similarity with the dream segment that kicked off what turned into Tatsu no Kanshin, except that this time, one of the lead characters is already falling, out of some kind of aircraft, the other lead (gender really doesn't matter for the idea, just that they have as yet unresolved romantic tension) having just barely missed grabbing him/her and saving them... and then going off balancxe and falling out him/her self. As neither of them have a parachute or previously known paranormal abilities (at least, none that would help) they have just a minute or two to resolve their relationship, not counting flashbacks. There are a few specific images floating in my mind - I'm going to name them A-chan and B-chan to make things simpler, but again, it could as easily be a guy and girl or girl and guy or even two guys if it was produced by CLAMP, I'm just a naughty naughty hentai.
A-chan has just fallen out of the (damaged?) aircraft, and B-chan leaned out too far trying to catch her hand, overbalanced, and fell out as well. B-chan does the arrow-formation thing to speed up and swoop over to her, but A-chan smacks her away, cursing her for being a great big idiot. B-chan replies something along the lines of whether they're friends, enemies. or rivals, they've never let risks stop them before when the other really needed help, and a flashback ensues of some previous pinch they got into as a result of competing over something, and had to rescue each other. B-chan swoops in again, this time A-chan takes her hands, so they d0n't have to yell quite so hard to talk over the rush of wind, comments promt another flashback of an even bigger pinch where they worked together, and acting kind of freind-like afterward, or at least with hints of attraction that they don't want to think about being more than freind like. Back to falling, and they simultaneously decide to look down. It appears the immediate terror is gone, becasue looking up at each other again, they share an unspoken admiration of the view, all the while inching closer... then whichever one wears the skirt in the relationship puckers up and closes her eyes, leading into a kiss, and... another flashback! This time, it's the moments that the repressed attraction was almost brought to the fore, only to be interrupted or have the nerve to do it suddenly give out. Kiss ending, they smile wistfully at each other and move around so whoever's wearing the pants is snuggling skirt against her chest, while they fall backwards, looking up at the evening sky with stars just beginning to show. Cut to black, roll credits.
If the OVA did well, it could always turn out that one of them suddenly developed telekinesis or ki-powered flight, or whatever, to allow for a TV series, or a sidekick provides a plot device to save the day.

There was a second scenebunny that jumped out at the same time and attacked my toe - that's where a main character is bargaining with some supernatural force - ala FFX Aeon, or DBZ's Old Kaioshin - and after reaching an agreement, the avatar or whatever says "Very well; prepare yourself. This will hurt." The protag then does the classic screaming power-up thing... but they have a REASON to scream this time. Whther it's just channeling that amount of energy or permanent physical changes or both, it's a moment like when the dentist says "you might feel some discomfort," and means "you're going to think a horse kicked your jaw."
- CDSERVO: Loook *deeeeply* into my eyes... Tell me, what do you see?
CROW: (hypnotized) A twisted man who wants to inflict his pain upon others.
For the next 72 hours, Itachi intoned, I will slap you with this trout. - Spying no Jutsu, chapter 3
"In the futuristic taco bell of the year 20XX, justice wears an aluminum sombrero!"hemlock-martini
--
"Anko, what you do in your free time is your own choice. Use it wisely. And if you do not use it wisely, make sure you thoroughly enjoy whatever unwise thing you are doing." - HymnOfRagnorok as Orochimaru at SpaceBattles
woot Med. Eng., verb, 1st & 3rd pers. prsnt. sg. know, knows

I mentioned a Lain video that sucked over in General, but this video, gotten at the same time, most assuredly does not suck.
It's not Lain either, though.
www.acrossanime.org/AMVs/ is a directory listing, the Chrno Crusade vid is the one I'm talking about, set to Melancholy (Holy Martyr) by Iced Earth.
- CD
The RoD video also kicks unlawful amounts of ass, the Akira one might if I liked Akira enough to watch it.
While I'm tlaking about AMVs, and Lain, Mr. Roboto by Styx seems like a good choice for a Lain vid, though most of the pure Lain vids I've seen have been kind of lackluster. Maybe combined with Battle Programmer Shirase, and maybe a mecha show? Or maid-robot-assassins. Oh, I know! Radical Edward scenes from Cowboy bebop! With a twist of computer-Yggdrasil from the AMS movie. Hmm. Perhaps thigs belongs more in Fanfiction that Should Not Be?SERVO: Loook *deeeeply* into my eyes... Tell me, what do you see?
CROW: (hypnotized) A twisted man who wants to inflict his pain upon others.
For the next 72 hours, Itachi intoned, I will slap you with this trout. - Spying no Jutsu, chapter 3
"In the futuristic taco bell of the year 20XX, justice wears an aluminum sombrero!"hemlock-martini
--
"Anko, what you do in your free time is your own choice. Use it wisely. And if you do not use it wisely, make sure you thoroughly enjoy whatever unwise thing you are doing." - HymnOfRagnorok as Orochimaru at SpaceBattles
woot Med. Eng., verb, 1st & 3rd pers. prsnt. sg. know, knows

My first CoV character, who had idled around level 14 for a while, has joined the Infamous this week. Introducing Baron Bedlam....
-----------------------------------------------
Shattering Agony
A Story of the Rogue Isles
Most people knew that the heroine known as Numina could be found in Liberty Square in Founders Falls, but few knew that her personal home was just off the Square itself. Numina kept a peaceful sanctum, isolated from the bustle of Paragon City, and immune to trespass. Its dimly lit rooms were only accessible to others if the mystic wished it, although she rarely found reason to refuse a hero entrance. Those that needed her, came; those that didnt, stayed away. It was the way of things.
Still, there were those who trusted her judgment more than others. Manticore was a loner, independent and prickly of Statesmans way of leading, but he trusted Numinas counsel. Many times, the dark, cynical archer had found himself coming to Founders Falls to speak with the pale seer, to be healed or have someone healed. She had the empathy to understand his frustrations with the other heroes of the Freedom Phalanx, with Statemans overwhelming presence, Synapse's hedonism, or Citadel's literal mindedness. Also, her presence was a calming force, allowing him a moment to rest in his seemingly endless fight against the criminal forces that infested Paragon.
Manticore, Numina turned as he entered her sunroom. While much of the house was dimly lit, the sunroom opened out onto the square, letting in gentle sunlight. He could see the residents of the Falls making their way about their business. Close to the fountain, the massive shape of Infernal was helping a small group of heroes train and register their promotion in Security Level. What can I do for you?
I need some information, Numina, the archer said. About a villain.
Wouldnt Miss Liberty be better to ask? Longbows database is extensive. She turned, and he could see that she was in the process of watering the plants that drank in the sunlight that streamed through the bay window. Or perhaps Zigursky Prison would have the information that you need.
I checked with the Zigs warden, he replied, shaking his head. They have no record of the perp, despite eyewitness accounts of his presence during one of Recluses breakouts. Longbow has a little information, mostly on a failed bank robbery in the Row that resulted in a lot of property damage, but not much else. Wyvern got steamrollered by this guy a few weeks ago, and they said he came off as a major magic user. I figured you might have something.
What is his name?
Bedlam. Arachnos supposedly has him registered as Baron Bedlam.
There was a clatter as the small watering pot that Numina held fell from her nerveless fingers, splashing water across the floor. She turned to Manticore with an expression of shock. It cannot be! How could he come here?
* * *
Bedlam stood over the fallen man, examining the weapon that had been used against him. He had been journeying across the island, called Cap au Diable by the humans, when the man had taken his presence as a threat and attacked. The mans attacks stung, but were ineffective compared to Bedlams own, and now he stood over the wounded man, idly examining his cracked and shattered armor and rifle the man had wielded.
Both armor and weapon were colored a bright shade of yellow, almost gold. Bedlam had heard these men, who flitted around the island like large yellow flies on their jetpacks, as Goldbrickers. He assumed they were thieves, but hadnt had much cause to examine them. When he was first attacked, he thought the humans had found someway of tapping into the Agony, channeling it into destruction as he did. Enraged, he had lashed out, flinging the man against the side of the building and throwing him down to the sidewalk. Now, he saw that the weapon was nothing more than a clever toy, like many of the things created by the humans. He tossed the gun aside and crouched over the man.
The human looked like any other member of the verminous species that crawled across the world. Many of those that lived in these islands, under the rule of the godling Recluse, were like him, petty and small. Bedlam could smell the sin on him, appetizing and savory. As he picked at the cracked and shattered armor, pulling small pieces of gold paint away, the man coughed and opened his eyes.
Bedlam could see the man react, flinching away from the red eyes that glared out from the shadows of his hood. The thief squirmed, and painfully babbled in the useless tongue of the humans, pleading for mercy. Bedlam ignored him, picking at the armor like a bored child pulls up grass. Toys, he thought, nothing but toys. The humans do not know the Agony.
The thief was promising him things now, offering worldly treasures for his life. Bedlam snarled; the fool did not realize who he was. He straightened up, his leather harnesses creaking. None of the thiefs compatriots were nearby, and the rabble that trudged the streets of the island like ants avoided his gaze. He glanced down at the man, and focused the Agony into coherent sound.
The Goldbricker heard a voice like nails on a chalkboard, overlaid with the screams of the dying. It said only one word, and then he felt his heart explode in his chest, and knew no more.
Die.
* * *
Bedlam, said Numina, breathing in the vapors rising from the china cup she held, is also known as the Baron of the Agony or the Lord of Screams. He is a major functionary of the Underworld, and should not be here.
Manticore watched her carefully. She had clearly been upset at the mention of this Baron Bedlam, and now he understood why. Be that as it may, he said, laying a stack of photos on the coffee table, he appears to have made the trip.
Each photo is very clearly captured from a surveillance camera. Wyvern operatives lie across the dull carpeted floor of some commonplace office in various positions that speak only of pain. Scattered about them are their trademark bows and arrows, shattered like kindling. Standing over them is a figure, hooded and dressed in buckled leathers. Bedlam, she says.
Thats what the surviving agents identified him as. Intelligence states that he showed up about six months ago, during an Arachnos jailbreak. The Zig has no record of a Baron Bedlam in its records, though.
Numina paged through the photos. A series of three showed the Baron, arms outstretched to encompass a trio of Talon agents and the rest of the hallway in an open embrace. The three vigilantes are tumbling away from him like rag dolls caught in a windstorm, and Numina can see glass shattering in the light fixtures. Sonics, says Manticore, and she nods. Bedlam controls the agony of the dying and channels it through his own voice. It is said, in Cagliostros Principia Demonica, that the sound of his voice shatters glass, curdles milk, makes women barren, and drives strong men mad.
Curdles milk? Manticore looked dubious.
Numina shrugged. Cagliostro liked his cheeses. In any case, according to more modern scholars, demons of the Barons power scale could not manifest directly on this plane of existence. Their power scale was too great for a ritual to balance.
Im not sure I understand.
I know Ive explained this before.
Im bad with magic; so sue me.
Numina sighed and smiled, shaking her head. Summoning a demon throws the world out of balance, even such a minor demon as a Hordling. The proper rituals for a summons involve some sort of trade, sometimes symbolic, sometimes more concrete.
More concrete? Manticore asked. Why do I get the feeling Im not going to like this?
In the case of such groups as the Circle of Thorns, lives are sacrificed.
Yeah, thats what I thought. What about other groups?
Well, most white magicians dont summon demons, for obvious reasons. But contact with the Underworld can be made with the blood of the sorcerer or through the consumption of plant life, usually as incense or a bonfire. If you really want to know, I have some books you could read.
Maybe later, replied Manticore. What sort of balance would be needed for the Baron?
In the case of a demon along the scale of Bedlam or his rivals, the amount of sacrifice needed becomes impractical for most sorcerers. Only the most committed, or insane, would go to the lengths needed.
What sort of scale are we talking about?
According to Gideon Trimagisterus, demons on par with Bedlam would need the energy of hundreds of lives, perhaps thousands. Not quite genocidal levels of slaughter, but certainly noticeable.
And there have been no massive deathtolls reported in or around Paragon that would lend themselves to such a ritual?
None that I know of, said Numina. It would require a great deal of time to enact such a summons. Each victim would have to be killed singularly, and his or her soul committed to the rite. Simply blowing up a building wouldnt give the sorcerer the time to tally each life.
So the question is, if this Bedlam couldnt be summoned , began Manticore.
then who is this that calls himself Bedlam?
* * *
Bedlam eyed the being sitting at the table. He had been contacted, through the toy that the godling Recluses minions had given him, by a representative of the wraith known as Nogitsune. She had sent him an invitation, carried by this person, Bizarre Mouse, to work with her armies.
Bizarre Mouse was a strange sort, warping the flat tones of the sounds that humans used to communicate into a strangely melodic distortion. It spoke for some length, with a number of asides and digressions, occasionally being interrupted by the chirping tone of its own communication bauble, before concluding with, Da Lady said she wanted you in da Outfit. So, you interested?
Bedlam examined Bizarre Mouse, taking in its yellow and red costume and cape, its pugnacious expression, and the burning stick of plant life that it held clenched in its teeth. Its bulging muscles spoke of physical power. Bedlam was not impressed by physical power; he was the Baron of the Agony, his armies had power to spare. Besides, larger humans than this one had fallen, shattered at the sound of his voice. But he pondered the offer it brought to him.
Bedlam was far from his demesnes, and his trip to this place had been difficult. It would take time to gather the strength to open a gate and summon his minions. The resources that this Nogitsune offered him, beyond those made available by Recluse, would allow him to devote his efforts to developing that strength. Without such resources, he would be vulnerable to rivals and enemies, of which these islands teemed. Moreso, the human anthill called Paragon seemed to be Recluses main focus, and the arcane powers there were powerful enough that he could smell their light and purity from even here. Should any of them become aware of his presence, allies would be useful for drawing their attention away from his plans.
Reaching into the Agony, Bedlam pulled the sound of a young farmers wife having her fingernails pulled out by an terrorist and shaped into speech. Yes, he answered, his voice cracking the glass in a nearby window.
Bizarre Mouse blinked and grimaced, before nodding. Great, he said, pulling out one of the toys Recluse distributed like candy among his servants. Whats yer registered name?
I am Bedlam. A cat yowled down an alleyway, as Bedlam spoke through the cries of a man dying of a belly wound.
Yeah, dats what it sez here, commented Bizarre Mouse. Are you named after a state o chaos and disorder, or the old mental hospital?
Bedlam snarled, the tortured sound of an electric guitar being abused by an angry and incompetent musician. Could this insect truly not know of the Baron of the Agony, the Lord of Screams? Was he that ignorant? I am Bedlam, he repeated, the words a horrific blend of cattle cars bound for Auschwitz and the static of stars dying. The cracked window spiderwebbed and dogs began howling nearby.
Bizarre Mouse seemed to realize what was happening around him. Er, yeah. Okay. Ill let da Lady know. We gots a meeting soon; well let ya know when. In the meantime, Ill set the base security t recognize ya.
Bedlam nodded acquiescence. The little man was ignored as he made his farewells, and took off into the sky. Bedlam had other concerns; there was a group of amateurish sorcerers that called themselves the Legacy Chain that swarmed among the common mortals of these isles, seeking knowledge of the Underworld and other dimensions in order to prevent the subjugation of this world. Bedlam was not one for humor, but he could not help but be darkly amused by the hubris of these insects. As if their puny magics could prevent his eventual conquest. But, one of the Recluses more intelligent minions, called Brass, had told him of their interest in the toys that kept the inhabitants sheltered with light and heat. Something having to do with the volcano that he could sense beneath the surface of the horned mountain that peaked this particular island. There was something about the pipes that ran across the island, and the strange beings of energy that could be found near them. Investigations were in order. Perhaps there was power to be acquired. And if not, dealing with heroes always ensured destruction.

Ebony the Black Dragon
Senior Editor, Living Room Games
http://www.lrgames.com
Ebony the Black Dragon
http://ebony14.livejournal.com

"Good night, and may the Good Lord take a Viking to you."

If you're interested, a clip of the song from Sister Act II that Doug uses on Christmas Eve is available on YouTube here.
-- Bob
---------
...The President is on the line
As ninety-nine crab rangoons go by...