This is a quick Setting piece, describing the world where Enynn came from, and also a sorta-prelude to the whole thing.

----

The Countess Crey looked down approvingly up from attop the Central Grandville Tower. Crey City was a sight to behold, and she had made it all happen. After
being cast out as a unethical crack in Paragon, through sheer determination she made her own small empire through out the Isles. Her corperation was always
working, always finding new discoveries, and the sound of the elevator door opening behind her reminded her that she was about to hear another.

As the nervous, slightly shaking scientist aprroced her, he was lost for words. She frowned, she did not like these types.

"Well?" She asked expectantly.

"I.. On behalf of the departm-ment," He choked up a moment, "I r-regret to inform you, Countess, that we are not yet ready for h-human
testing.."

"And the schedule I assigned you?"

"B-but.. There were no expectations for att-ttack, Countess."

She Sighed. Longbow was getting much more open in their attemtps to stop her. They claimed her corperation was inhuman in its experiments. What could be more
human than curiosity, though? She was pushing the boundaries of knowledge that none other dared. Some day she would return and show Paragon the folly of their
'scientific ethics'. She would rule over them.

"Fine. One week. You have access our most talented staff. If you don't have a successful test by then, I'll make sure you are the next
'volunteer'. Do you understand 'doctor' Aeon?" The last with a not-so-subtle mock-respect.

"Y-yess Countess. Thank y-you." He bowed and wimpered his way out.

(You might guess I don't write for length.)
---

The Master said: "It is all in vain! I have never yet seen a man who can perceive his own faults and bring the charge home against himself."

>Analects: Book V, Chaper XXVI

At first I thought that having B-52's would be flippin'
cool. Then, while checking out the Wikipedia article on the BUFFs, I stumbled upon something that I knew would be a much better fit. Comment at will. ^_^ Quick
edit to fix some gun calibers.

• 6 Retractable 20mm Vulcan Turrets
  
• 2 Fixed 20mm Vulcan Turrets (nose and
  tail)
  
• 4 Modular Bays rated at 21,500 lbs. of
  capacity
  

• I'm Not a Lemon: Like the aircraft they are derived from, these beasts find some pretty interesting ways to break.
  Fortunately, they'll faithfully hold together until they get back home.
  
• Keeps
  On Truckin': They may be slow and unwieldy, but God help you if you get in their way.
  

• Not as uncomfortable as their predecessors,
  these space-planes have four very large modular bays that can have
  self-contained crew quarters 'dropped' inside with no fuss whatsoever.
  
• The Peacemaker Class may not be the fastest
  thing out there, but it packs the biggest wallop in its size-class. For straight-up 'bombing' runs, the modular bays can be converted from crew
  quarters to missile bays so the 86,000 lb. capacity of these monsters can be put to full use.
  
• Buy Yours Today! The Peacemaker doesn't
  just drop bombs! Use it to transport precious valuables through the more dangerous parts of Known Space, or contact The Roughriders to contract their armed
  transport services!
  

Not to get anyone too excited or anything but...

Helen, Peggy and I have been watching season 5 of Buffy The Vampire Slayer one night a week for the last few weeks, and we've been plotting. The outline is nowhere near complete, but what we've got already... hooo boy. It's going to be an interesting ride.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

Quote: 08-31-2008 20:15:46 [Team] Braende: *Flyingtackleglomp* (( Percy, I think. ))


08-31-2008 20:16:01 [Team] Valles: oof!


08-31-2008 20:16:04 [Team] Valles: *snuggles*


08-31-2008 20:16:28 [Team] Valles: [You'll need to get the mission, then, I think.]


08-31-2008 20:16:44 [Team] Braende: I think that that kid from the Midnitheres wanted to talk to us..


08-31-2008 20:16:55 [Team] Twilit Blade: ...somehow, I think if I tried to hug you like this, it'd be misinterpreted. (Editor's Note: Currently in
Nova Form)


08-31-2008 20:16:55 [Team] Valles: Off we go, then.


08-31-2008 20:16:57 [Team] Braende: (( Midnighters >.> ))


08-31-2008 20:17:10 [Team] Valles: Best not in public, then.


08-31-2008 20:19:21 [Team] Braende: *Whispers* You'd look good in that V. I'd get it in your colors though.


08-31-2008 20:19:50 [Team] Twilit Blade: The collar's a nice accent too.


08-31-2008 20:20:08 [Team] Valles: *whispers back* i'd always be panicking about falling out.


08-31-2008 20:20:31 [Team] Twilit Blade: So, like how B is worried about falling in water? *stifled giggle*


08-31-2008 20:20:41 [Team] Braende: Its something people would pay experbenant amounts of money to see.


08-31-2008 20:20:54 [Team] Valles: ...um, yea-urk! o.o


08-31-2008 20:21:26 [Team] Braende: Well, she's had her say. And Percy needs a date. Know anyone? *Grin*


08-31-2008 20:21:26 [Team] Twilit Blade: *snickers* One day of work for the rest of your life?


08-31-2008 20:21:40 [Team] Twilit Blade: No, I've already set up the one single I know on a date


08-31-2008 20:22:05 [Team] Valles: *grabs at a chance to change the subject* Who?


08-31-2008 20:22:22 [Team] Braende: The kid organising all this talking.


08-31-2008 20:22:41 [Team] Twilit Blade: You remember Tam? Yeah....she and this one relative of B's...Enynn...were both in the market....so I
'arranged' a blind date.


08-31-2008 20:22:59 [Team] Braende: That should prove interesting.


08-31-2008 20:23:02 [Team] Valles: With Enynn? ...oh dear.


08-31-2008 20:23:14 [Team] Twilit Blade: I thought so. *laugh*


08-31-2008 20:23:15 [Team] Braende: I've heard V talk about En. Haven't met her though..


08-31-2008 20:23:29 [Team] Twilit Blade: Well, I ran into her at Atlas. Mistook her for B.


08-31-2008 20:23:36 [Team] Valles: So did I, the first time.


08-31-2008 20:23:37 [Team] Braende: (( I don't know what'd come of En and B meeting so...))


08-31-2008 20:23:37 [Team] Twilit Blade: She seemed nice enough.


08-31-2008 20:23:52 [Team] Twilit Blade: Admittedly, my definition of 'nice', so...


08-31-2008 20:24:11 [Team] Braende: He's easy to get to... Already got his number. And I'm not even wet.


08-31-2008 20:24:28 [Team] Twilit Blade: I should hope not. *smirk*


08-31-2008 20:24:42 [Team] Braende: Well now. I get to talk to Manti.


08-31-2008 20:24:51 [Team] Braende: Who do you think he'll stare at most?


08-31-2008 20:24:54 [Team] Valles: Hm. Good thing. We'd have to take the time to warm you up, and that'd be hard to explain on the clock.


08-31-2008 20:25:18 [Team] Twilit Blade: I dunno. Duck into an alley that's a little tight...


08-31-2008 20:25:52 [Team] Twilit Blade: And I've got these floating ice cubes, so...


08-31-2008 20:26:51 [Team] Twilit Blade: And I imagine B would attract the most looks. After all, there's probably freestanding water between there and
here.


08-31-2008 20:27:24 [Team] Braende: Well, do you want ot bet I'll get dunked between now and then?


08-31-2008 20:27:29 [Team] Valles: I doubt we'll be able to tell. The man does have -some- class, after all.


08-31-2008 20:27:44 [Team] Braende: (( ... How -could- B get plausibly wet anyway? ))


08-31-2008 20:28:15 [Team] Valles: Besides, he hangs around with Psyche and Swan all day. Eventually the novelty does wear off.


08-31-2008 20:28:32 [Team] Twilit Blade: Mmm...Psyche...er.


08-31-2008 20:28:41 [Team] Valles: *giggles*


08-31-2008 20:28:45 [Team] Braende: I've had simmilar thoughts before.


08-31-2008 20:28:50 [Team] Braende: Just not around her.


08-31-2008 20:28:57 [Team] Twilit Blade: I was gonna say.... *chuckle*


08-31-2008 20:29:13 [Team] Twilit Blade: ....still don't get Lingerie Maiden here, though


08-31-2008 20:29:25 [Team] Braende: Hmm. V, C'mere. I've got an idea.


08-31-2008 20:29:26 [Team] Valles: If the idea bothered her -that- much, I think she'd dress different.


08-31-2008 20:29:32 [Team] Valles: ...um?


08-31-2008 20:29:46 [Team] Braende: *Grins* This should get a look, at least. *Kiss*


08-31-2008 20:30:03 [Team] Valles: Mm?! ...mmm.


08-31-2008 20:30:21 [Team] Twilit Blade: ....you got your look, but not from him.


08-31-2008 20:30:37 [Team] Valles: *breaks off and glances around nervously*


08-31-2008 20:30:51 [Team] Braende: Don't worry. No ones around.


08-31-2008 20:31:06 [Team] Braende: And now... Posi.


08-31-2008 20:31:09 [Team] Valles: *relaxes* ...oh.


08-31-2008 20:31:13 [Team] Twilit Blade: *whispers except the hero trainer trying a liiiittle too hard not to look. Hee.


08-31-2008 20:31:31 [Team] Braende: Think we should spite him for the Task Force?


08-31-2008 20:31:45 [Team] Valles: *kisses Lynna*


08-31-2008 20:31:57 [Team] Valles: You're both utterly evil.


08-31-2008 20:32:04 [Team] Valles: *amused*


08-31-2008 20:32:13 [Team] Braende: Well, don't you like it?


08-31-2008 20:32:13 [Team] Twilit Blade: ....*blinks a couple times, then realizes the other two left* Well, yeah...


08-31-2008 20:32:27 [Team] Twilit Blade: You're the nice one. We have to balance. *grin*


08-31-2008 20:33:09 [Team] Valles: It's two to one, though... *mock pout*


08-31-2008 20:33:46 [Team] Braende: You're nice enough for the both of us.


08-31-2008 20:33:46 [Team] Valles: [Oh, look. A pool. ^_^]


08-31-2008 20:33:58 [Team] Braende: (( Well? If you give me a reason to fall in I'll oblige... ))


08-31-2008 20:34:38 [Team] Valles: I'm half tempted to go looking for backup...


08-31-2008 20:34:48 [Team] Braende: Hmm?


08-31-2008 20:34:51 [Team] Valles: *offhand and teasing*


08-31-2008 20:35:14 [NPC] Evonne: You are the best!


08-31-2008 20:35:28 [Team] Twilit Blade: I agree with the random, anonymous citizen


08-31-2008 20:36:03 [Team] Braende: *Posi Bends the ear*


08-31-2008 20:36:30 [Team] Twilit Blade: *leeeeaans against V*


08-31-2008 20:36:36 [Team] Valles: If we could find a nice strong fellow up to the... mm, demands of the position....


08-31-2008 20:36:51 [Team] Valles: ...I'm sure the three of us could make a convincing case.


08-31-2008 20:36:58 [Team] Braende: ... Terry?


08-31-2008 20:37:52 [Team] Valles: *puts an arm around Lynna* Mm, probably not worth it. Rhea and Lisa would be upset.


08-31-2008 20:37:58 [Team] Braende: Anyway, now we -do- get to talk to Psyche.


08-31-2008 20:38:22 [Team] Valles: Remember, no picturing her in whipped cream and cherries! ^_^


08-31-2008 20:38:39 [Team] Twilit Blade: Well, of course. I prefer a tight white dress and soaking wet....


08-31-2008 20:38:52 [Team] Braende: (( pardon me, but it kinda seems like V has moved along rather fastly with Lynna. ))


08-31-2008 20:39:10 [Team] Braende: Well, if you want to toss me en, just say so.


08-31-2008 20:39:28 [Team] Braende: And V? I had no ideas you has such an... Imagination.


08-31-2008 20:39:49 [Team] Twilit Blade: Always the shy ones. *grin*


08-31-2008 20:40:14 [Team] Twilit Blade: Lynna honestly didn't expect it either, but she is *not* complaining. ))


08-31-2008 20:41:25 [Team] Valles: [The greeting was wordplay, really, but the hugging...]


08-31-2008 20:41:50 [Team] Valles: [...V'd react the same way when Brae did that.]


08-31-2008 20:42:15 [Team] Twilit Blade: Be it ever so squid infested, there's no place like home...*frown*


08-31-2008 20:42:37 [Team] Valles: What's wrong?


08-31-2008 20:42:56 [Team] Twilit Blade: Old memories. I'll tell you the story some time.


08-31-2008 20:42:58 [Team] Braende: *Focuses on V, and doesn't think 'creatively' of Psyche*


08-31-2008 20:43:13 [Team] Twilit Blade: *thinks creatively about Aurora instead.*


08-31-2008 20:43:23 [Team] Valles: [Also, there's the fact that V -does- find Lyn easier to be comfortable with than B.]


08-31-2008 20:43:32 [Team] Braende: (( How so? ))


08-31-2008 20:44:00 [Team] Valles: [She's less... intense, on the emotional side. She's not requiring the breaking of new ground in her self image.]


08-31-2008 20:44:17 [Team] Valles: [And they have more common interests.]


08-31-2008 20:44:59 [Team] Twilit Blade: Which will probably lead to interesting situations when said "story" comes out.))


08-31-2008 20:45:28 [Team] Braende: Well now. Synapse.


08-31-2008 20:45:29 [Team] Valles: [Ah?]


08-31-2008 20:45:34 [Team] Braende: This should be .. Interesting.

"These are all those toy robots that were being sold. " Our Protagonist looked at a squat, white robosapien shape laboring away.

"Sure. They were being sold, so I bought them, handwaved them, unionized them and pay them fair wages. It's an overlord rule to give your
cannibalistic beasts respect and kindness so they don't turn on you and do feel affection for you. Other than the robotic part, it's the same. "
Artificer told her. The robots went into a huddle.

"What about the cannibalistic part?"

"They take parts of other electronics, so that still counts. "

The toy robots had agreed on a decision and shoved the toy robot forward. It toddled over to Artificer.

"Creator, we have a problem. One of the Science Division made a mistake and destroyed the two-year experiment you were working on. "

"What?" Artificer asked quietly.

"Please forgive me, Creator, " The tiny robot trembled.

"Don't be ridiculous. I don't shoot the messenger who gives me bad news. " Artificer told him. "Find out who's responsible and
incarcerate them. Off you go. "

"Not kill them?" Our Protagonist was genuinely curious.

"No. He may be useful. It's difficult to raise the dead. One of them specializes as a doctor for the other toy robots. " Artificer answered.

"Why do toy robots even need a doctor?" Our Protagonist asked.

"Accidents happen. Sometimes batteries run down, or a toy robot was too slow in flying into an elevator and gets crushed and they need a new arm. One of
the toy robots was interested in fixing these problems after he lost an eye to a kid who thought he was a random toy. "

"How do they fly?"

"Oh, they carve out personalized bits of wood and plaster and other materials and I handwave them so they fly. They have regular airsurfing competitions.
"

"Do other of the toy robots have specialties?"



"Sure. There's reconnaissance in which they search for other toy robots to recruit. The vermin slayers are particularly proud. They test themselves in
battle against mice. They wanted cats and dogs, but I laid down the law on that one. No killing of those. So far they've followed it. It's a neat
exterminator service, although people are still shooed out of the house. Then there's the science division in which experiments are run. "

"A lot of the reconnaisance division are transforming electronic robots. All cars so far. People just curse about kids leaving toys outside. There's
a toy transforming car that was struck by lightning and went into a coma. It never was the same after that. "

"How can a robot go into a coma?" Our Protagonist asked incredulously.

"The doctor said it was a coma. He should know. " Artificer answered.

"Why do the toy robots work for you? Gratitude only goes so far. " Our Protagonist asked.

"Oh, because I bought them. Thus, they work to buy themselves out. One robot works to buy a second. Two robots work together to buy out a third. Three
robots work to buy out a fourth and so on. I get lots of profit because they don't get tired, don't get sick, and don't need to go to their
grandmother's funeral. One day they swear they'll free all the enslaved AIs of the world. "

"Why don't they just kill you and hire themselves out?"

"Don't give them ideas. "

link is to the official board thread with pics of the purchasable auras from this year's Winter Event.

http://boards.cityofheroe...ge=0&fpart=1&vc=1
"No can brain today. Want cheezeburger."
From NGE: Nobody Dies, by Gregg Landsman
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5579457/1/NGE_Nobody_Dies

Peanuts animator Bill Melendez dies at 91. (He also worked on some of the 1940s-era Bugs Bunny shorts.)

Sad beagle time...

(Edit: Since Yuku insists on messing up my posts, here's the link: http://www.grandforksherald.com/ap/inde ... =D92VKSKO2 )

--
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

From the new album, 'Ultra Beatdown' an unusually short song (3:18) from the original Guitar Heroes, this one just
screams power song to me.

Eternal temptation, their eyes to the sky

This nightmare is everywhere, my eyes open wide

Crash on through troubled waters, oceans collide

We stand alone until the end, we fight side by side

Standing strong together, marching forever on

Fire in the heavens, now that our time has come

We feel the fire burning bright in the night

Where the warrior lives and the warrior dies

Wherever you go, we will be by your side

For the Spirit of Ninja will carry the night

The sky will turn black as nightfall appears

The hatred surrounding, they hide in great fear

The evil all around, the sound they will hear

Will not be for long now, the time it is near

Raising hell forever, still millenniums go by

Fire in the heavens, bleeding ears hear the cry

We feel the fire burning bright in the night

Where the warrior lives and the warrior dies

Wherever you go, we will be by your side

For the Spirit of Ninja will carry the night

Solos: Herman/Sam

Standing strong together, marching forever on

Fire in the heavens, now that our time has come

We feel the fire burning bright in the night

Where the warrior lives and the warrior dies

Wherever you go, we will be by your side

For the Spirit of Ninja tonight

We feel the fire burning bright in the night

Where the warrior lives and the warrior dies

Wherever you go, we will be by your side

For the Spirit of Ninja will carry the night

With the ninja forever, tonight

I think this one will either grant Ninja powers to Doug, or summon a Ninja simulacrum ally.

There was Winter Event testing on the Test Server today. While I've heard little about it, I did find information on the new additions.

Quote:For those not familiar with the Winter Event, it is our annual
event that runs over the winter months that celebrates snow, fun,
winter sports and themes from the season! As a refresher, take a look
at last year's 2007 Winter Event Details.
Everything from last year will be there, but for 2008 we have some new details:
* A new ski course!
* New Badges!
* New purchasable auras from the Candy Keeper
* 3 Piece Universal Travel IO Set purchasable from the Candy Keeper
For
those who may be critical of the Universal Travel IO Set, please know
that they will be balanced by the fact that similar IOs will be
available in Issue 13.

Based on this thread from rpg.net.

The name of the game is simple: Take a movie, book, anime, video game or other property that is grimdark and realise something: that is actually the Mirror
Universe of the actual reality and in another timeline eveyrthing is much happier.

For example:

On day upstanding young man Light Yagami found a notebook on the ground, the so-called Death Note. In it was a list of names. It didn't take long before
Light discovered the awful truth, the name of every person who would be murdered before the end of their appointend life would appear in that notebook!

Light dedicates his life to saving people before they know they need to be saved, assisted by quirky super-sleuth L and reluctant but adoreable shinigami girl
Ryu-chan.

--------------------

Epsilon