No -real- story behind this mission, its more just for challange or farming honestly. Its Atta's Cave map with maximum allowed mobs Its a custom group of
nothing but Prefectius Roman bosses, I did add a brief warning that its difficult with all bosses inbound. If you can handle the Monotonous mobs for a few
hours..You do get a fair amount of tickets and influence *grin* I'd figure Exp wouldn't be too bad either.

On my Main tanker it took me upwards of 4 hours to complete solo on Unyeilding

8+Million Influence

and bout 7700 Tickets total

I honestly have no idea how this mission would run with a group..but fair warning..Bring Someone who can saturate hits..or get your defence well over softcap
then you should be ok

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Britain's Got Talent - Susan Boyle

Wow. I can't imagine anyone not smiling while watching this. Just awesome. Love the expressions on the judges' faces, esp. Simon's!

So here I am, back again after months away, and already I'm asking for computer help.

So here's the situation:

I have a Gateway GM5664 with and ECS MCP61PM-GM motherboard and two Hard Drives.

Before it was running Vista but I have install XP. In fact, I have installed XP on both hard drives.

This leads to my quandry:

Firstly, the computer when booting up asks me to choose which instance of XP I want to boot up to.

Secondly, using the reports I have from a program called System Information for Windows, I BELIEVE (note emphasis) that I do not have access to both hard
drives at the same time. This is a problem as I wish to use both hard drives at the same time.

Further I am trying to install drivers to this thing, particularly so that I can connect to the internet.

I have installed RealTek High Definition Audio Codec 2.16 that I downloaded from the internet. This does not appear to be acknowledged by my Device Manager,
which has "Audio Device on High Definition Audio Bus" yellow question marked. However I do have sound after installing the audio codec.

Indeed, my device manager has many problems.

Under a Yellow Question Marked Other Devices section, here are the other Yellow Question Marked Devices:

Audio Device on High Definition Audio Bus

Beanbag Emulation Device

Multimedia Controller

OTher PCI Bridge Device

PCI Simple Communications Controller

SM Bus Controller

Video Controller (VGA Compatible)

Further I see no icon for Network Adapters.

And when I try to get to ipconfig by typing cmd, I have to first change the directory it's on as it seems to think that Documents and SettingsUser is
were it's supposed to start. And when I do type in ipconfig or ipconfigall, I get "Windows IP Configuration" and that's it.

So, what do I do? I have absolutely no problem just doing a clean install of XP again, but I am a bit worried about all the rebooting I've been doing. Is
there a fix to this? Am I just screwed?

Sorry for the long rant.

Thanks.

-Murmur

... by the virus writers. According to http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009 ... rojan.html]CBC News, there's enough virus-infected Macs running OSX out there to make a botnet.

Anybody who's running OS X, you now have to be sure to update your anti-virus software regularly. And if you don't have anti-virus software, you need to get some.
--
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

Well CRAP!

I knew the contract for Intuit wouldn't be going long past April 15th, but I figured my performance scores
(which were OUTSTANDING, I must say. I was practically -carrying- my team.) would ensure that I'd get work on the next contract our company got.

But I didn't expect the COMPANY to not be here!

Apparently Stream no longer requires the use of the Dallas call center, so... everything is shutting down and tomorrow is everyone's last day.

So... once more into the unemployment lines. *SIGH*

At least I have some really good references this time out. I shouldn't be out of work -too- long this time.

Arc Name: The Great Brain Robbery
Arc ID: 74191
Morality: Villainous
Creator: @Acyl
Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate

Synopsis:
Contrary to what his enemies claim, Nemesis is actually just a nice old man.
Don't believe the lies and slander! He's perfectly capable of dealing with people in a civilized fashion.

Nemesis needs your help. It's a very simple matter, really. All he wants to do is steal someone's brain. No backstabbing or double-crossing at all, oh no! He'd never dream of doing such a thing!

This is definitely not a Nemesis Plot. Really. Perish the thought!

Estimated Time to Play: 40-50 minutes (4 missions)

Arc Notes:

This is my magnum opus. With the publication of this thing, I'm done, at least for the time being. This brings together all the MA stuff I've tinked with on Live and Test, and all the lessons I think I've learnt.

For everyone who's played my 'Over Nine Thousand' mission...well, you've seen my preferred style: lots of silly NPC dialogue and weird optional side encounters.

The Great Brain Robbery is like that, but it's a full four-mission story arc. And it HAS a real story, let me be clear. There's a proper tale here. Yet, at the same time, it's a lot lighter than my Midnight Squad arc. This thing's my baby, at least for now. =)

Technical Notes:

I need your help in testing this. I'm not that concerned with custom critters being too powerful. I use mostly standard factions in this arc anyway. This arc does contain EB/AVs, but they're not customs, so I expect they'll be fine. Psi damage EB/AV in the first mission, Energy and Smashing/Lethal EB/AV in the last one. Both boss fights have optional NPCs for backup.

No...it's the spawning that I'm worried about. The final mission in particular has really funky spawning going on, some technical tricks. I've even attempted to provide a choice of two different endings (the final mish can be failed). I don't know how well this works.

It functions, mind you, nothing's gonna break. But I've only tested this solo. I do not know how it'd seem on a team, particularly a large one...the final mission will be very different on a large team, I suspect. I am concerned my spawn tricks will make the mission very difficult to succeed, thus forcing people into the 'failure' ending.
-- Acyl

Rob noted with some relief that her security pass hadn't been revoked yet, regardless of her current 'medical condition'. As such, she was able to
get into the Hollows without incident, and from there, it was easy enough to get out of Cherry Hills and into the quieter, abandoned parts of the zone.

She knew that her sisters would freak out, and likely use the Legendary computers to track her down, but dammit, she wasn't going to lose it and try to
kill herself, or something equally stupid. Mir was too worried to realize that, and while Ifrit knew Rob as well as she knew herself, there were times when the
fey succumbed to her mothering instincts, and that was the last thing the transformed hero-turned-heroine needed right now.

Ever since she'd gotten the chance at payback against the Family a week ago, she'd been quiet, obedient, listened to Ifrits gentle advice and done what
she was told. She'd let the fey take her shopping, teach her how to look after her new body (The discovery of how many soaps and shampoos that a catgirl
needed was... unnerving), and even relented and let the doctors poke and prod at her.

But since her change, she hadn't gotten a moment alone to herself, just to unwind and relax, to try not to focus on her problems. So, she'd snuck out
and made her way across town, feeling like a little kid sneaking out after curfew, and now, she was going to find a nice empty rooftop and relax.

Smiling at the feel of the sun, high in the sky on a clear spring day, Robert broke into a light jog, managing to ignore the sensations of bounces in strange
places, hips swiveling oddly, her tail waving. Grin widening, she moved from a jog to a run, slightly amazed by her speed. Maybe it was just the way she used
to be always running around in bulky armor, or maybe it was just her leaner build, but she felt faster then ever... and she liked it.

Sprinting down an empty road, she never even noticed as she dropped to all fours. She did notice when she jumped, bounced off an abandoned cars roof, and
landed on top of a nearby building. Blinking, she padded back to the edge and looked.

"I jumped... that?" she said softly, more then a hint of amazement in her voice. "Wow." She looked down for a moment longer, then studied
the rooftop. "Perfect," she said with satisfaction. The catgirl stretched, arching her back as far as she could, then stood up and tapped her watch.
The subspace storage cell inside promptly released its contents: a small fridge and a deck chair.

Setting those out on the rooftop, she tabbed the controls on her glove to unseal her body armor, removing it to reveal a modest bikini. Wearing it felt weird
as hell, but she could hardly kick back and relax in body armor now, could she? With a final stretch, she settled down on the deck chair, took a can of beer
out of the portable fridge, slipped on a pair of sunglasses and just let the world wait.

It was quieter here, she noticed. Ever since she'd woken up with fur and breasts, she'd been shocked at how loud the world had suddenly become. Cars,
trucks, planes... she honestly had to wonder how Alice and Sammy had tolerated it for so long. And the smell... she'd always thought that was normal...
although in this case, the Hollows wasn't better, thanks to the smell of the Hydra on the wind.

Still, even with the stench, this was the most relaxation she'd had all week. Drink in hand, eyes closed, the warmth of the sun playing over her body...
she smiled faintly, feeling an odd, but welcome, rumbling begin in her chest. Stretching again, the catgirl let her troubles just fade away.

It didn't matter. The confusion about who she was, who she was meant to be. The reactions of people that mattered to her. Disgust, sympathy, hatred, pity.
The humiliation of being different, of not being a man when everyone thought she should be. The question that Ifrits existence meant about her masculinity. The
future of Knight of the Peace, and what stepping into that title in her current form would mean, possibly forever.

Right not, here on this warm rooftop on a spring afternoon, it didn't matter. She was comfortable, she was content, and the rest could wait.

After a while though, a sound caught her attention. Ear twitching, she opened her eyes again and listened. Fighting, the sound of rocks and ice crashing
against pavement and flesh, and the angry yowl of a catgirl. Curious, she put the can down and got off the deckchair, padding over to the edge of the roof to
take a look. About a hundred meters down the street, a young looking dark-furred catgirl was fighting a group of Outcasts, a grin on her face.

Rob watched for a minute, her attention on the girl. For reasons she couldn't explain, something about the catgirl struck her as incredibly familar. Which
might not be entirely surprising. Riot had a lot of catgirls these days, the supergroups largest demographic behind the Sabres. Knight of the Peace could
easily have met her somewhere and simply mixed her in with the sea of people she knew only well enough to say 'hi' when they pass each other in the
street.

Still, Rob couldn't shake the feeling she should help. Chalking it up to a sense of responsibility, she went and packed up her gear and put her armor back
on, before jumping off the rooftop (Landing on all fours, naturally) and going to meet the girl. "Hey there," she smiled, getting there as the last
Outcast fell.

The girl looked up and smiled. "Oh hi!" she said, her obvious delighted mood making Rob feel better then and there. "Just finding out where
Frosty's hiding today."

"Not telling," groaned an Outcast. The girl kicked him again.

"I know a place we could hit," Rob nodded. "He hides out there on occasion."

"Great!" the girl smiled, hugging her. Rob returned the hug automatically, not finding it odd, but being struck by that sense of familiarity again.
"I'm Purrfect Shadow," she smiled.

"Knight of the Peace. Call me Robin," she said, never even noticing how her previous doubts with resuming her previous identity were forgotten the
moment she spoke to this girl.

A little preview of things to come.

[Camera heads through the entryway of a familiar lingerie shop.]
Sylia: Someone is targeting us. Someone different.
[The camera heads into one of the changing rooms, then shuts the door, the sound of an elevator cranking into operation becoming audible as the booth shakes.]
Sylia: Not Crey. Crey have always wanted us, but this new person is different. It's as if they know us as well as we know ourselves.
[The camera exits the booth, heading into a hangar, flanked on either side by numerous hardsuits in storage racks, prepped for immediate transport to their owners.]
Sylia: How we think. How we fight. How we organize. If I didn't know better, I'd say they hired someone from GENOM back home.
[The camera heads into a room marked "Private Office, seeing the four original Sabres around a meeting table, Sylia leaning forward intently.]
Sylia: We need to find out who this new player is, and we need to find out soon. Or we may be running into unacceptable casualties, very soon.
[Flash cut: a boardroom with the Crey insignia stamped into its polished black surface. Above the insignia, a hologram of a satellite is being projected as one man remains standing, gesturing to it.]
Brian J. Mason: Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Project: Olympus. This microwave transfer technology will allow Crey Industries to beam electrical power from solar energy to any location anywhere on the planet, instantaneously, but only if they have a liscensed Crey energy receiver.
[The sattelite rotates, shifting from hologram to real time image in orbit, hovering in geosynchronus orbit over Paragon.]
Mason: The first satellite is already in place, and once all of them are online, we will have total global coverage.
[The image zooms out, showing a network of satellites surrounding the globe.]
Mason: We will have solved the energy crisis and be the only company on Earth with access to it thanks to a variety of stealthy patent applications. We'll be able to name our price for this new, renewable source of energy. So tell me, ladies and gentlemen, how many of you are ready to become the gods of the new solar age, delivering fire to the masses so long as they worship at your feet?
[Cut to the interior of a retrofitted command bunker. A pair of Protector Bots stand working at a console with a sharply dressed man behind them.]
Hyperbuma Alpha: The virus is in place, sir. All that remains is to gain access to the satellite system to activate it.

Hyperbuma Beta: We expect total coverage of location designate: Paragon City. Total penetration and access success analysis holding at 97.65%.
Shadowed Figure: Excellent. Make it 99.
Hyperbuma Alpha: By your command.
[Cut to the office of the Crey Industries Nerva Branch, where Madigan is handed a case by a Crey courier.]
Courier: Enclosed are the global access codes to the Olympus network. Your unit is under orders to guard them with your life.
[Madigan looks at the briefcase and nods once, a calculating look in her eye.]
Madigan: Aye, I understand.
[Cut to a montage of Sabres patrolling the city.]
Nene: I don't know exactly where it's coming from, but this code's new to the city network, and it's spreading, fast. We've already located several caches of Council, Sky Raider, Nemesis, and Malta weapons by following its trail. Even some small time crooks storing backup weapons and gear in the city limits.
Sylia: What do all those groups have in common though?
Nene: I don't know yet, but I will soon.
[Cut to the docks on Sharkhead. A Family goon is talking with a man in concealing armor.]
Capo Uno: So we'se gots a deal?
Armored Figure: We do indeed, so long as this tanker is in Independence Port by this Friday.
Capo Uno: It will be. You scratch our back, we scratch yours, capische? No questions asked as to the cargo, just like you said.
[Cut to inside of the tanker, where ranks upon ranks of shiny metal skull-like heads are visible in the dim light.]
Armored Figure: Good. I'd hate to spoil the surprise.
[Cut to a Crey Office, with Madigan staring down a visitor with death in her eyes.]
Madigan: It's you. I ought've known ye'd be after this.
Largo: Let's be reasonable about this, shall we?
Madigan: That's a laugh comin' from you, ye monster.
[Madigan looks over at an all points alarm button. Largo follows her gaze.]
Largo: Madigan, do we really need to escalate this to pointless violence?
Madigan: Aye, we do.
[Madigan's gloved hand bursts into flames as she chucks a ball of fire at Largo and dives for the button.]
[Cut to Nene typing at rapid pace on her computer. Sylia comes in behind her.]
Sylia: Nene, status.
Nene: Sylia, it's like all that code just came active at once. And it's tracing every backdoor I have! I don't know who made it, but if I can't shake it loose in the next five minutes, they'll be able to trace our location immediately!
[The screen shows a map of Paragon, with a variety of shiny dots following an impossibly complex gridwork of lines that all lead to a center dot in Steel Canyon. The screen transitions back to the earlier command bunker.]
Hyperbuma Alpha: Tracer programs loaded.
Hyperbuma Beta: Trace expected in 4.09 minutes.
Hyperbuma Alpha: Beginning secondary viral load.
Hyperbuma Beta: Phase one lockdown initiated.
[Steel Canyon's war walls abruptly turn red as the raid sirens blare. At several entrances, the massive doors sealing off Steel from other zones begin grinding closed.]
Hyperbuma Alpha: Medicom systems claimed. New teleportation coordinates established.
Hyperbuma Beta: Viral control uplink established. Bringing secondary combatants online.
[Across Steel, multiple machines begin to stir, before stepping forward, breaking through their enclosures and taking to the streets.]
Hyperbuma Alpha/Beta: Trace finalized in 2.08 minutes.
[Cut to Nene, following the exact same map as earlier, but with much less breathing room between the tracers and the center dot representing their location.]
Nene: One minute! Sylia, you have to get everyone out of here!
Sylia: We're evacuating as fast as we can, but we need more time.
Nene: I don't think I can give you more time! We have thirty seconds before they crack the last barricade of double blinds!
Sylia: Nene, you have to hold out. I know you can.
Nene: Fifteen seconds!
[On the Hyperbumas' screen, the counter reaches 00:00.]
Hyperbuma Alpha: Trace finalized. Location confirmed.
Hyperbuma Beta: Uploading location to firing computer.
[Cut to orbit, where the Olympus Satellite's transmission antenna reorients itself, blue-white light glowing in a single tube extending itself from the center of the satellite's mass.]
Largo: And now, let the humans tremble, and let justice rain from the heavens against those that would strike a god.
[Cut to a distant view of the Paragon City skyline as a column of electric blue-white light pierces the cloud cover and enters the city with a distinctive discharge noise.]
[Cut text: Sabres of Paragon: Soul and Steel]
---
"Oh, silver blade, forged in the depths of the beyond. Heed my summons and purge those who stand in my way. Lay
waste."

juggle

jugglefire

jugglemagic

This thread is for coordination, storage, and other matters pertaining to an instant-message Rokugan game running Fridays at 10pm EST.

At this time, the current roster is...

Stormgear: GM

Arachnos X: Kakita Ise (page 2)

Valles: Kakita Mikasa (page 1)

Ebony: Kakita Hayase (page 2)

Hexane: Mirumoto Kanawa (page 2)

OpMegs: Soshi Sachiko (page 4)
===========

===============================================
"V, did you do something foolish?"
"Yes, and it was glorious."