tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45220185393110566822024-03-19T01:40:35.217-07:00False Machine"Don't put pictures of yourself online. You look like a murderer. An uncomfortable murderer" - My Auntpjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.comBlogger1316125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-82788280240732687462024-03-06T03:13:00.000-08:002024-03-06T03:13:21.562-08:00Emperor Queen<div style="text-align: left;"> No, I am not crazy </div>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The 1980s and 90’s rock band Queen, fronted by Freddy
Mercury, directly sings the story of the God-Emperor of Mankind from Warhammer
40,000 to a degree you would question is likely or possible unless you examined
it in depth. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And examine it in depth I have!!!!! Using ONLY the lyrics
of 26 songs by Queen, I have been able to reconstruct a SUBSTANTIAL amount<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>personal timeline of the Emperor, sung
largely in first person, with one song for Horus as I couldn’t leave it out. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">As you<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>follow me
through the following sections, from his early life to the age of strife, to
the Birth of the Imperium, the Horus Heresy, the Dark Millenia and possible
rebirth of the Star Child you will be forced to agree that EITHER, the rock
band Queen were in fact prophets of the Dark Millennium, or, more boringly but
more likely a strange kind of Fortean synchronicity has interlaced a deep
causal vibration between the mood, tone, subject and specifics of Queens lyrics
and the evolving story of the God-Emperor of Mankind. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">At the end of the post I will dive into possible causes
and processes of such a Fortean event, but first, I give you, in chronological
order, and broken up by period, the life story of the God-Emperor of Mankind,
sung by Queen!<br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
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<h1 style="text-align: center;">History Viewed by an Immortal</h1>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">We know the Emperor was born, I think about 10,000 years
ago in Anatolia, so right on the edge of recorded history, and the final gasp
of the Pleistocine and birth of the Neolithic. That makes him already 35,000
years old be the time the Age of Strife begins and, unfortunately, there are
relatively few Queen songs describing his experience during that time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE06X3Cga37gUUlRtUbJm8rgHSWD1fQAarxo_CI4DtDTRNzbUOacQ8p9dqZSDqqtaKEU91bP9xZKYQHg__Hq3pWIiwNHnbJ8HI5TSUyxF-hNH3yT5ZalJj6kQzdB42sVzFd2JqaEaC9vh1S5_YMpkhVwsDW9E8SAk4mwc2FGDnc26JZi8BD0nb96VL384j/s2048/Young%20E%20by%20@mossacannibalis.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="969" height="904" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE06X3Cga37gUUlRtUbJm8rgHSWD1fQAarxo_CI4DtDTRNzbUOacQ8p9dqZSDqqtaKEU91bP9xZKYQHg__Hq3pWIiwNHnbJ8HI5TSUyxF-hNH3yT5ZalJj6kQzdB42sVzFd2JqaEaC9vh1S5_YMpkhVwsDW9E8SAk4mwc2FGDnc26JZi8BD0nb96VL384j/w426-h904/Young%20E%20by%20@mossacannibalis.jpeg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Young E by @mossacannibalis</div><br /><p></p>
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Emperor is born as a Perpetual; </h2><div><br /></div>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"><i>There's no time for us<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"><i>There's no place for us<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"><i>What is this thing that builds our dreams<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"><i>Yet slips away from us?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"><i>Who wants to live forever?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"><i>There's no chance for us<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"><i>It's all decided for us<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"><i>This world has only one sweet moment<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"><i>Set aside for us<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"><i>Who dares to love forever<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"><i>Oh, when love must die?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"><i>But touch my tears with your lips<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"><i>Touch my world with your fingertips<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"><i>And we can have forever</i></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"><i>And we can love forever</i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"><i>Forever is our today</i></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"><b>Themes</b>; isolation, eternal life, fate. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Emperor Walks in Many Forms throughout History;</h2><div><br /></div><h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSd6ahkxdGPjLu4wvqDN_amg7kx-eJgtdZnlXeo7GUpjgwDwjqNiY3kcAWl434R18LgySxx_4cKb4q-wXmFyPEQqqQiGd3djddnIWzYLB7z82NJh4rx9j7T-eU_DIXa8JNy6q68ON1jOeIQp-4US8pqRzvHNvWE-w34KQ8MsETyifW20r8TOIkEpQXPRAy/s1200/Office%20Gentleman%20Emperor%20by%20Ginias.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="891" height="575" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSd6ahkxdGPjLu4wvqDN_amg7kx-eJgtdZnlXeo7GUpjgwDwjqNiY3kcAWl434R18LgySxx_4cKb4q-wXmFyPEQqqQiGd3djddnIWzYLB7z82NJh4rx9j7T-eU_DIXa8JNy6q68ON1jOeIQp-4US8pqRzvHNvWE-w34KQ8MsETyifW20r8TOIkEpQXPRAy/w427-h575/Office%20Gentleman%20Emperor%20by%20Ginias.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-weight: normal;">Office Gentleman Emperor by Ginias</span></div></h2><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm the invisible man<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm the invisible man<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Incredible how you can<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>See right through me<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>When you hear a sound<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>That you just can't place<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Feel something move<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>That you just can't trace<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>When something sits<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>On the end of your bed<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Don't turn around<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>When you hear me tread<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm the invisible man, I'm the invisible man<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Incredible how you can<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>See right through me<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm the invisible man, I'm the invisible man<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It's criminal how I can<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>See right through you<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Now I'm in your room, and I'm in your bed<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And I'm in your life, and I'm in your head<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Like the CIA or the FBI<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You'll never get close<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Never take me alive<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Never had a real good friend<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Not a boy or a girl<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>No one knows what I've been through<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Let my flag unfurl<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>So I make my mark<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>From the edge of the world<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Now I'm on your track<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And I'm in your mind<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And I'm on your back<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But don't look behind<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm your meanest thought<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm your darkest fear<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But I'll never get caught<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You can't shake me, shake me, dear<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm the invisible man, I'm the invisible man<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Incredible how you can<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>See right through me (Watch me!)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm the invisible man, I'm the invisible man<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It's criminal how I can<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>See right through you<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> deep isolation, invisibility, psychic
power </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Key Lines;</b> “<i>Now I'm in your room, and I'm in
your bed, And I'm in your life, and I'm in your head”, “Never had a real good
friend, Not a boy or a girl, No one knows what I've been through, Let my flag
unfurl”</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Dark Age of Technology and Revolt of the Machines;<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_rr-Sh6aChI8jCLtlf2v5yyWL3XLHgGZPy2ileetbcDEm9j0_HuSo65FaElUDOi4Dq-vhdSMvT2bAODG715Cp0G17nOX99nBFgiXCw3Bm_Bsn6nxJKpJrqgVrFofBUMKGJd-5JLIiEBTK06pKWZjttWq9HCqbm6DbwDFT_XUl4B9RD4HnJ3LNOkwoZEg/s320/Age%20of%20Strife%20by%20Blanche.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="221" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_rr-Sh6aChI8jCLtlf2v5yyWL3XLHgGZPy2ileetbcDEm9j0_HuSo65FaElUDOi4Dq-vhdSMvT2bAODG715Cp0G17nOX99nBFgiXCw3Bm_Bsn6nxJKpJrqgVrFofBUMKGJd-5JLIiEBTK06pKWZjttWq9HCqbm6DbwDFT_XUl4B9RD4HnJ3LNOkwoZEg/w305-h442/Age%20of%20Strife%20by%20Blanche.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Blanche</span></div><p></p>
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Machines, machines</i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Machines, machines<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Machines machines<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Machines, machines<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It's a machine's world<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Don't tell me I ain't got no soul<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>When the machines take over<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It ain't no place for rock 'n' roll<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>They tell me I don't care<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But deep inside I'm just a man<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>They freeze me, they burn me<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>They squeeze me, they stress me<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>With smoke-blackened pistons<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Of steel they compress me<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But no one, but no one<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But no one can wrest me away<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Back to Humans<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>We have no disease<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>No troubles of mind<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>We are fighting for peace<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>No regard for the time<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>We never cry, we never retreat<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>We have no conception<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Of love or defeat<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>What's that machine noise?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It's bytes and mega chips for tea<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It's that Machine, boys<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>With random access memory<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Never worry, never mind<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Not for money, not for gold, yeah<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It's software, its hardware<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Its heartbeat, is time-share<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It's midwife's, a disk drive<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It's sex-life is quantized<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It's self-perpetuating<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>A parahumanoidarianised<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Back to Humans<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Back to Humans<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Back to Machines<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Machines, machines<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Machines, machines<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Living in a new world<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Thinking in the past (humans)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Living in a new world<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>How you gonna last? (humans)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Machine world<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Yeah<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Yeah<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Change<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It's a Machine's world, woo!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Yeah I'm coming!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Yeah, woo!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Back to Humans<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Hey, yeah<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Ha ha ha<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Back to Humans<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Living in a new world<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>How you gonna last?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Machine world<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It's a Machine's world<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> terror of machine power, human supremacy. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Key Lines;</b> “<i>They tell me I don't care, But deep
inside I'm just a man, …. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But no one,
but no one, But no one can wrest me away, Back to Humans”</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Age of Strife;</h2><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcysmLbl678PLK8Xj5TSW99Q0MKpOdN8cRM35NT_38yOl0rYea2W5qewXz4RBXHzuX53xKFjQERk242jtfXycOsKYzxGASeSnLylk5IY8VGo1eH_eRgZ1BkjEZuNlIe7z8es9ePerY_yT65WEbVwqnIf8F6h1U9S2UlVu6BWVtpgw16CPL_XLutP0YhseH/s736/Age%20of%20Strife%20by%20Andreas%20Rocha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="736" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcysmLbl678PLK8Xj5TSW99Q0MKpOdN8cRM35NT_38yOl0rYea2W5qewXz4RBXHzuX53xKFjQERk242jtfXycOsKYzxGASeSnLylk5IY8VGo1eH_eRgZ1BkjEZuNlIe7z8es9ePerY_yT65WEbVwqnIf8F6h1U9S2UlVu6BWVtpgw16CPL_XLutP0YhseH/w456-h242/Age%20of%20Strife%20by%20Andreas%20Rocha.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">by Andreas Rocha</span></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I was told a million times of all the troubles in my
way<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Mind you grow a little wiser, little better every day<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But if I crossed a million rivers and I rode a million
miles<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Then I'd still be where I started, bread and butter
for a smile<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Well, I sold a million mirrors in a shop in Alley Way<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But I never saw my face in any window any day<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Now they say your folks are telling you, “Be a
superstar”<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But I tell you, just be satisfied and stay right where
you are<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Keep yourself alive (Yeah), keep yourself alive<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Take you all your time and-a money, honey, you'll
survive<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Well, I've loved a million women in a belladonic haze<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And I ate a million dinners brought to me on silver
trays<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Give me everythin' I need to feed my body and my soul<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And I'll grow a little bigger, maybe that can be my
goal<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I was told a million times of all the people in my way<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>How I had to keep on tryin' and get better every day<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But if I crossed a million rivers and I rode a million
miles<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Then I'd still be where I started, same as when I
started<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Take you all your time and money, honey, you will
survive<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Keep you satisfied, keep yourself alive…<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> human survival, eternal life, invisibility,
self actualisation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Key Lines; “</b><i>Give me everythin' I need to feed
my body and my soul, And I'll grow a little bigger, maybe that can be my goal”<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Creation of ‘The Emperor’ Persona</h1>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Emperor Decides to Save Humanity Whatever the Cost; </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>So you feel like you ain't nobody?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Always needed to be somebody?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Put your feet on the ground<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Put your hand on your heart<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Lift your head to the stars<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And the world's for your taking<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>All you gotta do is save the world, yeah<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>So you feel it's the end of the story?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Find it all pretty satisfactory?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Well I tell you, my friend<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>This might seem like the end<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But the continuation<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Is yours for the making<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Yes, you're a hero, ooh yeah</i></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> personal heroism, self-actualisation </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>He Steals Power from the Chaos Gods; </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>(If you can't beat 'em, join 'em)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You'd better do it<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>'Cause it makes you feel good<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>(If you can't beat 'em, join 'em)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You're never gonna help yourself<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Yeah<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Keep your big hands off of my money<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Don't try and pull me down<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You're taking me out to wine<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And dine me, trying to wind<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Me 'round and around and bind me<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>To your legal contract (Ha ha!)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Rumour has it that you can play it dirty<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'll tell you what I'll do<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>About that, that yeah!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'll play you at your own game!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Yes<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> trickery, reversing fate, gaming against
superior power </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Key Lines; “</b><i>Rumour has it that you can play it
dirty …. I'll play you at your own game!”</i> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Emperor is Supercharged after Moloch; </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Magic<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Magic<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>One dream, one soul, one prize, one goal<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>One golden glance of what should be<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>(It's no good)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>One shaft of light that shows the way<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>No mortal man can win this day<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>The waiting seems eternity<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>The day will dawn of sanity<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Is this a kind of magic<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>There can be only one<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>This rage that lasts a thousand years<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Will soon be done<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>This flame that burns inside of me<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm hearing secret harmonies<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>The bell that rings inside your mind<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Is challenging the doors of time<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>The waiting seems eternity<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>The day will dawn (ahhh) of sanity<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>(Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooooh)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>This is (this is) a kind (a kind) of magic<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Therе can be only one<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>This rage that lasts a thousand yеars<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Will soon be, will soon be, will soon be done<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>This is a kind of magic<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>A kind of magic<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> singular vision of (‘golden’) future,
eternities of time, secret personal power. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Key Lines; </b>every single line of this one is ON
POINT </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Emperor and Malcador discuss their dreams for humanity; </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32Ass8hCQ08GnGTrS4KnxEHaf6pZ5lv5K1lRNIwUUF7EaIIhwHh13rPsQ_GBox_KSCEHzSiwLeRzOo6C58y5o1NasdD7vVKNecDiewdlQO4VsHBWkz7C01SQ22jp-MJQBZYw6xp2ZJIOqmwN_avQLnEI2NZq44BIOiVc4t4eARXksKy_Q-z3mCw6L5fIz/s960/by%20%D0%9D%D1%8D%D0%BD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32Ass8hCQ08GnGTrS4KnxEHaf6pZ5lv5K1lRNIwUUF7EaIIhwHh13rPsQ_GBox_KSCEHzSiwLeRzOo6C58y5o1NasdD7vVKNecDiewdlQO4VsHBWkz7C01SQ22jp-MJQBZYw6xp2ZJIOqmwN_avQLnEI2NZq44BIOiVc4t4eARXksKy_Q-z3mCw6L5fIz/w436-h436/by%20%D0%9D%D1%8D%D0%BD.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">by Нэн</div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>This could be heaven<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>This could be heaven for everyone<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>In these days of cool reflection (Reflection)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You come to me<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And everything seems alright<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>In these days of cold affections<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You sit by me and everything's fine<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>This could be heaven for everyone<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>This world could be fed<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>This world could be fun<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>This could be heaven for everyone<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>This world could be free<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>This world could be one<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>In this world of cool deception<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Just your smile can smooth my ride<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>These troubled days<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Of cruel rejection, hmm<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You come to me<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Soothe my troubled mind<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Listen, what people do to other souls<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>They take their lives, destroy their goals<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Their basic pride and dignity<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Is stripped and torn and shown no pity<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>When this should be heaven for everyone<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>This could be heaven<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>This could be heaven for everyone<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> personal friendship, a perfected world </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Emperor Reveals Himself to Save Mankind;</h2><h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEMCtag_2pNmosaVywQHENVEa02VZqdHunrUNPKz_WVY4cYVzzEvegg9-isGYqWonExXJgB9MdUVRJDcQEQwJdHlt-fQV0QYk2OmI6QvbdhwdxRDS2IwzgaMSXEgkLb6AvBBLhu_KDPkrCb174RmC3CrzzmaKGfUW2NxEHyDsKYBOHNri6fd9_eYaw9Fj/s400/Early%20E%20by%20Artemis%2010.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEMCtag_2pNmosaVywQHENVEa02VZqdHunrUNPKz_WVY4cYVzzEvegg9-isGYqWonExXJgB9MdUVRJDcQEQwJdHlt-fQV0QYk2OmI6QvbdhwdxRDS2IwzgaMSXEgkLb6AvBBLhu_KDPkrCb174RmC3CrzzmaKGfUW2NxEHyDsKYBOHNri6fd9_eYaw9Fj/w420-h560/Early%20E%20by%20Artemis%2010.jpeg" width="420" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Early E by Artemis 10</span></span></div></h2><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Flash<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>A-ah, saviour of the universe<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Flash<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>A-ah, you saved everyone of us<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Flash<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>A-ah, he's a miracle<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Flash<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>A-ah, king of the impossible<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>He's for everyone of us<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Stand for everyone of us<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Hе saved with a mighty hand (ahhh, ah)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Every man, evеry woman (ahh, ah)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Every child – he's a mighty flash (ahh, ahh, ah)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Just a man with a man's courage<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You know he's<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Nothing but a man<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>He can never fail<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>No-one but the pure at heart<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>May find the Golden Grail<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Ohh, oh<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Ohh, oh<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Flash!!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> the personal singular power of a saviour
of all mankind, dichotomy between supreme power and essential humanity </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Birth of the Imperium</h1>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvGUHeeMDMgYw335wIooPbut7KuBPbVf2IGilSmeIN8vK1GMnd7a-TRUqxMdds3JjqrN1uadfUg0J2BQcGwWtXCmFXdSPtB8ekXW2leY8f38HU1tfa8N-jOls2eEbxdsq9H4WcpmpzAISPOwi7yCANfKCrCHPZDyfiViz3Kr0jOq4_cUwsxe5jash3Hi8/s755/emwatnott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="755" height="503" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvGUHeeMDMgYw335wIooPbut7KuBPbVf2IGilSmeIN8vK1GMnd7a-TRUqxMdds3JjqrN1uadfUg0J2BQcGwWtXCmFXdSPtB8ekXW2leY8f38HU1tfa8N-jOls2eEbxdsq9H4WcpmpzAISPOwi7yCANfKCrCHPZDyfiViz3Kr0jOq4_cUwsxe5jash3Hi8/w510-h503/emwatnott.jpg" width="510" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">emwatnott</div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p>
<h2>The Founding; </h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><i>Hey! One man, one goal</i></div>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Ha, one mission<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>One heart, one soul<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Just one solution<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>One flash of light<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Yeah, one god, one vision<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>One flesh, one bone, one true religion<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>One voice, one hope, one real decision<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Give me one vision, yeah<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>No wrong, no right<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm gonna tell you<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>There's no black and no white<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>No blood, no stain<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>All we need is one worldwide vision<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I had a dream when I was young<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>A dream of sweet illusion<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>A glimpse of hope and unity<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And visions of one sweet union<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But a cold wind blows<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And a dark rain falls<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And in my heart, it shows<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Look what they've done to my dream<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Yeah!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>One vision<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>So give me your hands<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Give me your hearts<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm ready! There's only one direction<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>One world and one nation<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Yeah, one vision<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>No hate, no fight, just excitation<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>All through the night, it's a celebration<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> singular unified human goal, personal
singular power, a personal dream, a perfected world </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Key Lines; </b>again almost all of this is in the
‘Emperors Voice but<b> “</b><i>I'm gonna tell you, There's no black and no
white” </i>could be read as a reference to Malal/the Dark King<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<h2>The Unification War; </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_6" o:spid="_x0000_i1028" style="height: 286.8pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 451.2pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:/Users/pjame/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image006.jpg">
</v:imagedata></v:shape></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGc2f4wHl3aQ4oKlASydV0WMi1UZ_mB6yAYr5MVkYldlQOqsRz9taPN9X-N_FEOZRtYAY4X4RjlznKJaK29vgLHT46KrBzjzS6zi_JCHq9Z5OvrCyoUVND7PFOR5gzJM0JwtWJfoisRPUG76YcEPMhXV8pk5lrmLqv3xJiuY5KpanhiS582b4JimjB4_I/s900/Unification%20Wars%20earltheartist.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="735" height="577" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGc2f4wHl3aQ4oKlASydV0WMi1UZ_mB6yAYr5MVkYldlQOqsRz9taPN9X-N_FEOZRtYAY4X4RjlznKJaK29vgLHT46KrBzjzS6zi_JCHq9Z5OvrCyoUVND7PFOR5gzJM0JwtWJfoisRPUG76YcEPMhXV8pk5lrmLqv3xJiuY5KpanhiS582b4JimjB4_I/w471-h577/Unification%20Wars%20earltheartist.jpeg" width="471" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Unification Wars earltheartist</span></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Here I am<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm the master of your destiny<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Ha-ha<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Give me your kings<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Let me squeeze them in my hands<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>(He-he-hey)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Your puny princes<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Your so-called leaders of your land<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'll eat them whole before I'm done<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>The battle's fought and the game is won<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I am the one, the only one<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I am the god of kingdom come<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Give me the prize<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Just give me the prize (The prize)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Hahahahahaha<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Hahahahahaha<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Now you die!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Ahahahahahaha!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I have something to say<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It's better to burn out<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Than to fade away<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>There can be only one!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Move over, I said move over<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Hey, hey, hey, clear the way<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>There's no escape from my authority<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Didn't I tell you?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> total autocracy, the breaking of Kings, claims
of godhood, personal singular power </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Emperor Finds Horus and educates him; </h2><div><br /></div>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>A word in your ear, from father to son<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Hear the word that I say<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I fought with you, fought on your side<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Long before you were born<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Joyful the sound<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>The word goes around<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>From father to son, to son<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And the voice is so clear<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Time after time it keeps<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Calling you, calling you on<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Don't destroy what you see<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Your country to be<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Just keep building on the ground<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>That's been won<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Kings will be crowned<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And the word goes around<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>From father to son, to son<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>hear us sing<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Our family song?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>(Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Ooh yeah, now we hand it on<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But I've heard it all before<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Take this letter that I give you<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Take it, sonny, hold it high<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You won't understand a word that's in it<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But you'll write it all again before you die, yeah,
yeah<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>A word in your ear from father to son<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Funny, you don't hear a single word I say<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But my letter to you will stay by your side<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Through the years 'till the loneliness is gone<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>(Sing if you will)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But the air you breathe, I live to give you<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Father to son, father to son<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Joyful the sound<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>The word goes around<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>From father to son, to son<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Kings will be crowned<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>The word goes around<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>From father to son, to son<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> father-son relations, mysterious knowledge
to be revealed in the future, loneliness </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Key Lines; </b>“<i>I fought with you, fought on your
side, Long before you were born”, “Don't destroy what you see, Your country to
be, Just keep building on the ground, That's been won”<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_WsLj1aLvJ-dqGYzcsYKoFcyFbDY4SuMEFzrl1llXffKTIB-qLs19FGznQE_PMJ9dk-5DRYfFI7GsJ9pvYIjYZ7teLXxlm3AbA8W6tGbWEAuI5VziO2tbOzi87V9i5RqNOrBTPlXFCQhTa49W2i47SK6ckt99ll8Au608Ho4jjhJ2sOkR69BKoUYHFv2/s1459/Unity%20by%20Adrian%20Smith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1459" data-original-width="1064" height="565" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_WsLj1aLvJ-dqGYzcsYKoFcyFbDY4SuMEFzrl1llXffKTIB-qLs19FGznQE_PMJ9dk-5DRYfFI7GsJ9pvYIjYZ7teLXxlm3AbA8W6tGbWEAuI5VziO2tbOzi87V9i5RqNOrBTPlXFCQhTa49W2i47SK6ckt99ll8Au608Ho4jjhJ2sOkR69BKoUYHFv2/w412-h565/Unity%20by%20Adrian%20Smith.jpg" width="412" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Unity by Adrian Smith</div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Great Crusade, The Emperor creates the Astartes and unifies with Mars
as the Omnissiah; </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm a shooting star, leaping through the sky like a
tiger<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Defying the laws of gravity<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm a racing car, passing by like Lady Godiva<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm gonna go, go, go, there's no stopping me<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm burning through the sky, yeah<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Two hundred degrees, that's why they call me Mister
Fahrenheit<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm travelling at the speed of light<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I wanna make a supersonic man outta you<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm a rocket ship on my way to Mars on a collision
course<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I am a satellite, I'm out of control<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm a sex machine, ready to reload like an atom bomb<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>About to oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, explode<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm burning through the sky, yeah<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Two hundred degrees, that's why they call me Mister
Fahrenheit<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm travelling at the speed of light<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I wanna make a supersonic woman of you<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Oh, I'm burning through the sky, yeah<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Two hundred degrees, that's why they call me Mister
Fahrenheit (Hey)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Travelling at the speed of light<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I wanna make a supersonic man outta you (Hey, hey)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> intense personal glorification, transhumanism
(supersonic men), Mars, being a ‘Sex Machine’. Honestly this one is very much
not in an ‘Emperor Voice’ but it does have fragments of the elements stated
above. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Mankind revenges itself against the Xenos empires (especially the Aeldari);<o:p></o:p></h2><div><br /></div>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>How do you think I'm going to get along</i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Without you, when you're gone<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You took me for everything that I had<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And kicked me out on my own<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Are you happy, are you satisfied?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>How long can you stand the heat?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Out of the doorway the bullets rip<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>To the sound of the beat<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Look out<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Another one bites the dust<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Another one bites the dust<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And another one gone, and another one gone<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Another one bites the dust<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Hey, I'm gonna get you, too<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Another one bites the dust<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>There are plenty of ways you can hurt a man<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And bring him to the ground<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You can beat him, you can cheat him, you can treat him
bad<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And leave him when he's down, yeah<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But I'm ready, yes I'm ready for you<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm standing on my own two feet<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Out of the doorway the bullets rip<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Repeating the sound of the beat<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Oh yeah<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> warfare, revenge, systemic destruction<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<h2>Humanity defeats the greatest Ork Empire; </h2><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlQiDucn0HrLCXccvBlMMNHyyyZEMu5J_WRM8b8MikPGeqbvW_2ImXseeeV15goISbK_NVwO2dtfOfH2vrjwRQHNBU0XwqZpc6TVzdqsUcajii8k-nma9l_9LCH5JTQsFQR4bqNnp_1ACTm7_u89UwhZ0vs_atZM912x7W30z4Jyzr_w8GaHeBwNmbuey/s540/Ullanor%20by%20Neil%20Roberts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="538" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlQiDucn0HrLCXccvBlMMNHyyyZEMu5J_WRM8b8MikPGeqbvW_2ImXseeeV15goISbK_NVwO2dtfOfH2vrjwRQHNBU0XwqZpc6TVzdqsUcajii8k-nma9l_9LCH5JTQsFQR4bqNnp_1ACTm7_u89UwhZ0vs_atZM912x7W30z4Jyzr_w8GaHeBwNmbuey/w467-h468/Ullanor%20by%20Neil%20Roberts.jpg" width="467" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ullanor by Neil Roberts</div><br /><div><br /></div>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Here we are, born to be kings<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>We're the princes of the universe<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Here we belong<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Fighting to survive<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>In a world with the darkest powers, hey!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And here we are<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>We're the princes of the universe<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Here we belong, fighting for survival<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>We've come to be<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>The rulers of your world<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I am immortal, I have inside me<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Blood of kings (yeah, yeah)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I have no rival, no man can be my equal<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Take me to the future of your world<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Born to be kings<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Princes of the universe<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Fighting and free<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Got your world in my hand<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm here for your love<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And I'll make my stand<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>We were born to be<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Princes of the universe<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>No man could understand<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>My power is in my own hand<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>(Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>People talk about you<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>People say you've had your day)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm a man that will go far<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Find the moon and reach for the stars<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>With my sword and head held high<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Got to pass the test first time, yeah<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I know that people talk about me<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I hear it every day<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But I can prove them wrong<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>'Cause I'm right first time<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> exalted personal destiny, an ascended
warrior class, dark powers, survival, personal immortality, singular power, personal
perfection and glory </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Key Lines; </b>“<i>In a world with the darkest powers,”,
“I have no rival, no man can be my equal”, “I know that people talk about me, I
hear it every day, But I can prove them wrong, 'Cause I'm right first time”</i> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Triumph at Ullanor;<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPp0KlCY8Wo0Tt7cXn4GyaDYRm9gUUuCUS-Gim_eSKCwchnetIjh5SAA6tg206cA6TvP0zV10FF4JhDqQN5vW4LxsyY7L1yRu8r7FAylTfm7ZNglGi5l26UMq_L9_5UyP-Gs6Zb-LMxAY7iZHwpbCMwLEbBrPiNkpQ4YlY9yXT2jE4lDBYZXIGOccFzqf0/s2500/The%20Triumph%20by%20Nicol%C3%A1s%20R.%20Giacondino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1731" data-original-width="2500" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPp0KlCY8Wo0Tt7cXn4GyaDYRm9gUUuCUS-Gim_eSKCwchnetIjh5SAA6tg206cA6TvP0zV10FF4JhDqQN5vW4LxsyY7L1yRu8r7FAylTfm7ZNglGi5l26UMq_L9_5UyP-Gs6Zb-LMxAY7iZHwpbCMwLEbBrPiNkpQ4YlY9yXT2jE4lDBYZXIGOccFzqf0/w476-h331/The%20Triumph%20by%20Nicol%C3%A1s%20R.%20Giacondino.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Triumph by Nicolás R. Giacondino</div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I've paid my dues<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Time after time<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I've done my sentence<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But committed no crime<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And bad mistakes<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I've made a few<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I've had my share of sand kicked in my face<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But I've come through (And I mean to go on and on, and
on, and on)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>We are the champions, my friends<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And we'll keep on fighting till the end<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>We are the champions<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>We are the champions<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>No time for losers<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>'Cause we are the champions<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Of the world<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I've taken my bows<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And my curtain calls<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You brought me fame and fortune and everything that
goes with it<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I thank you all<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But it's been no bed of roses<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>No pleasure cruise<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I consider it a challenge before the whole human race<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And I ain't gonna lose (And I mean to go on and on,
and on, and on)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> regrets, shame, eternal life, human
supremacy, invincibility<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Crusade Goes Too Far;<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And you're rushing headlong<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You've got a new goal<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And you're rushing headlong<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Out of control<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And you think you're so strong<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But there ain't no stopping<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And there's nothing you can do about it<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Nothing you can do, no<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>There's nothing you can do about it<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>No, there's nothing you can, nothing you can<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Nothing you can do about it<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Meets a white-hot lady<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>(Hoop diddy, diddy, hoop diddy do)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Soon the fire starts raging<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Gets you more than half crazy<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>(Hoop diddy, diddy, hoop diddy do)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Ooh, now they start freaking<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Everywhere you turn<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You can't start walking<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>'Cause your feet got burned<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It ain't no time to figure wrong from right<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Because reason's out of the window<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Better hold on tight<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> success leading to uncontrollable
acceleration, the paradox of reason </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Key Lines; </b>“<i>Meets a white-hot lady” </i>may be
a reference to Erda or the Selinar Gene Cults. “<i>Because reason's out of the
window, Better hold on tight”</i> may be a reference to an Empire ostensibly
based on pure reason but in effect based on magic and deception while denying
the same.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">The Horus Heresy<o:p></o:p></h1>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<h2>The Emperors considers the terrible cost of his dream;<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdx_XOuVCRvbK8xbyQiXGQodm2V8HjUCZiexZ3EZDJrakZNfUZ7LtsX648ynP0KFU6KClm_D8Rso3NVVtfkdCQMLUnFvFmBJhU4hahDmPHT6uX7upT-9PEIu1KQK6l1G5tlCo7ycjp9_mGX-5fHdKwolCNfT6qDL7U8YXHoi5SnaQuNYCpEE_5ZTOe5B8D/s800/by%20fc04%20I%20think.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="622" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdx_XOuVCRvbK8xbyQiXGQodm2V8HjUCZiexZ3EZDJrakZNfUZ7LtsX648ynP0KFU6KClm_D8Rso3NVVtfkdCQMLUnFvFmBJhU4hahDmPHT6uX7upT-9PEIu1KQK6l1G5tlCo7ycjp9_mGX-5fHdKwolCNfT6qDL7U8YXHoi5SnaQuNYCpEE_5ZTOe5B8D/w437-h562/by%20fc04%20I%20think.jpg" width="437" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">by fc04 I think</div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Guilt stains on my pillow<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Blood on my terraces<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Torsos in my closet<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Shadows from my past<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Sleeping is my leisure<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Waking up in a minefield<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Dream is just a pleasure dome<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Love is a roulette wheel<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Success is my breathing space<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I brought it on myself<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I will price it<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I will cash it<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I can take it or leave it<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Loneliness is my hiding place<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Breastfeeding myself<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>What more can I say<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I have swallowed the bitter pill<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I can taste it, I can taste it<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Life is real, life is real<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Life is real<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> hidden personal regrets, isolation,
secrecy, shame </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Horus Betrays the Emperor;<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>(Ah!) You suck my blood like a leech<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You break the law and you breach<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Screw my brain till it hurts<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You've taken all my money and you want more<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Misguided old mule<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>With your pigheaded rules<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>With your narrow-minded cronies<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Who are fools of the first division<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Death on two legs<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You're tearing me apart<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Death on two legs<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You never had a heart of your own<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Killjoy, bad guy<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Big talking small fry<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You're just an old barrow boy<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Have you found a new toy to replace me?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Can you face me?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But now you can kiss my ass goodbye<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Feel good? Are you satisfied?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Do you feel like suicide? (I think you should)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Is your conscience all right?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Does it plague you at night?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Do you feel good? (Feel good!)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Like a big business tycoon<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You're just a hot air balloon<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>So no one gives you a damn<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You're just an overgrown schoolboy<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Let me tan your hide<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Dog with disease<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You're the king of the sleaze<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Put your money where your mouth is<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Mr. Know-All, was the fin on your back part of the
deal?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Shark!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Death on two legs<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Tearing me apart<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Death on two legs<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You never had a heart (You never did)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Of your own (Right from the start)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Insane, should be put inside<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You're a sewer rat decaying in a cesspool of pride<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Should be made unemployed<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Make yourself null and void<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Make me feel good (I feel good!)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> This is the only song not from the
Emperors point of view but it was so distinct and expressive I left it in. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Emperor Considers Horus' Betrayal; </h2><div><br /></div>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It started off so well<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>They said we made a perfect pair<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I clothed myself in your glory and your love<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>How I loved you, how I cried<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>The years of care and loyalty<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Were nothing but a sham, it seems<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>The years belie, we lived a lie<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I love you 'til I die<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Save me, save me, save me!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I can't face this life alone<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Save me, save me, save me!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm naked and I'm far from home<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>The slate will soon be clean<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I’ll erase the memories<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>To start again with somebody new<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Was it all wasted, all that love?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I hang my head and I advertise<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>A soul for sale or rent<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I have no heart, I'm cold inside<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I have no real intent<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> friendship and love, betrayal, isolation,
terror of powerlessness, personal emptiness, (the last two very characteristic
of cluster B personality disorders. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Key Lines; </b>“<i>I’ll erase the memories, To start again
with somebody new”</i><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Siege of Terra Begins;<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTzqdS1x_OWPWMJwrCzIqBfQtkV9uqMMvcoNRolgzYVVTj5k9qnBZrgw126WpHhqBeXs3W9HhSLg6NzM4hSLVpimfDPACgx9F9JJyCF6euSbik6FFeEybLam8nw8AfA8FdcV_pdP4SzbysB3A7UfAPh4ZUNuaOD-pYaaJJJA4y6U0Ch8Zw6TdAIRFeFO2y/s834/The%20Siege%20of%20Terra%20%20-%20Misha%20Savier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="564" height="666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTzqdS1x_OWPWMJwrCzIqBfQtkV9uqMMvcoNRolgzYVVTj5k9qnBZrgw126WpHhqBeXs3W9HhSLg6NzM4hSLVpimfDPACgx9F9JJyCF6euSbik6FFeEybLam8nw8AfA8FdcV_pdP4SzbysB3A7UfAPh4ZUNuaOD-pYaaJJJA4y6U0Ch8Zw6TdAIRFeFO2y/w450-h666/The%20Siege%20of%20Terra%20%20-%20Misha%20Savier.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Siege of Terra - Misha Savier</div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Here we stand or here we fall<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>History won't care at all<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Make the bed, light the light, yeah<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Lady Mercy won't be home tonight, yeah<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>(You don't waste no time at all)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Don't hear the bell, but you answer the call<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>(It comes to you, as to us all)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Yeah, we're just waiting<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>For the hammer to fall, yeah<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Oh, every night and every day<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>A little piece of you is falling away<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But lift your face, the Western Way<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Build your muscles<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>As your body decays, yeah<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>(Tow your line and play their game)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Yeah, let the anaesthetic cover it all<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>('Till one day they call your name)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You know it's time for the hammer to fall, yeah<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Rich or poor or famous<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>For your truth is all the same<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Yeah, baby (Oh no, oh no)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Oh, lock your door but rain is pouring<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Through your window pane (Oh no)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Baby, baby, now your struggle is all in vain<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>For he who grew up tall and proud<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>In the shadow of the mushroom cloud<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Convinced our voices can't be heard<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>We just wanna scream it louder<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And louder and louder<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>(What the hell we fighting for?)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Oh, just surrender and it won't hurt at all<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>(Just got time to say your prayers)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Eh, while you're waiting<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>For the hammer to, hammer to fall<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> look, this one is pretty obvious. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Key Lines; “</b><i>For he who grew up tall and proud, In
the shadow of the mushroom cloud”</i>, clearly a reference to the devastation
of Earth and surviving Old Night. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Emperor is placed on the Golden Throne<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="378" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gGBkNxLh5tI" width="454" youtube-src-id="gGBkNxLh5tI"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Empty spaces, what are we living for?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Abandoned places, I guess we know the score, <o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Does anybody know what we are looking for?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Another hero, another mindless crime<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Behind the curtain, in the pantomime<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Hold the line<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Does anybody want to take it anymore?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>The show must go on<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>The show must go on, yeah<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Inside my heart is breaking<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>My makeup may be flaking<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But my smile, still, stays on<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Whatever happens, I'll leave it all to chance<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Another hеartache, another failed romancе, <o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Does anybody know what we are living for?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I guess I'm learning<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I must be warmer now<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'll soon be turning (turning), round the corner now<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Outside the dawn is breaking<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But inside in the dark I'm aching to be free<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Fairy tales of yesterday, grow but never die<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I can fly, my friends<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>The show must go on (oh, yeah)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>The show must go on (yeah, yeah)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'll face it with a grin<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm never giving in<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>On with the show<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>The show must go on (on, on)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>The show must go on (on, on)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'll top the bill<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'll overkill<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I have to find the will to carry on<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> burning, a complete loss of faith and
sense of desolation, shame in his own perceived heroism, the presentation of a
gilded front, (his ‘smile’ does indeed stay), fatalism, the transmutation of
the soul, resolution to continue. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Key Lines; “</b><i>Behind the curtain, in the
pantomime, Hold the line, Does anybody want to take it anymore?”, “I must be
warmer now, I'll soon be turning (turning), round the corner now, Outside the
dawn is breaking, But inside in the dark I'm aching to be free”<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"> </p>
<h1>The Dark Millenia Begin<o:p></o:p></h1>
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz026vpwwJb2DQUiN6UTezfHNjoBduAC-I7ChX6gSrV9v1v2X7YAphFwuKUC9Qxqw67uCLMpctVmMqh9IJYfQGNoxSSdvrrc-RqbA2wcRbIrdOWA-v02A7mi-8u2La0DjCa2L1qyIjijCpGYJyO9C26v48UWSwWDSjKgeb1Jasz4OL1pNxfFtW0XA4MSsu/s1386/Corpse%20Emperor%20by%20Blanche.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1386" data-original-width="1115" height="597" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz026vpwwJb2DQUiN6UTezfHNjoBduAC-I7ChX6gSrV9v1v2X7YAphFwuKUC9Qxqw67uCLMpctVmMqh9IJYfQGNoxSSdvrrc-RqbA2wcRbIrdOWA-v02A7mi-8u2La0DjCa2L1qyIjijCpGYJyO9C26v48UWSwWDSjKgeb1Jasz4OL1pNxfFtW0XA4MSsu/w479-h597/Corpse%20Emperor%20by%20Blanche.jpg" width="479" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Blanche</div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Emperors final sane thoughts<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm just the pieces of the man I used to be<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Too many bitter tears are raining down on me<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm far away from home, and I've been facing this
alone<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>For much too long<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Oh, I feel like no one ever told the truth to me<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>About growing up and what a struggle it would be<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>In my tangled state of mind, I've been looking back to
find<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Where I went wrong<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Too much love will kill you<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>If you can't make up your mind<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Torn between the lover<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And the love you leave behind<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You're headed for disaster<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>'Cause you never read the signs<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Too much love will kill you every time<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm just the shadow of the man I used to be<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And it seems like there's no way out of this for me<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I used to bring you sunshine<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Now all I ever do is bring you down<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Mmm, how would it be if you were standin' in my shoes?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Can't you see that it's impossible to choose?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>No, there's no making sense of it<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Every way I go, I'm bound to lose<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Oh-oh, yeah<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Too much love will kill you<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Just as sure as none at all<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It will drain the power that's in you<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Make you plead and scream and crawl<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And the pain will make you crazy<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You're the victim of your crime<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Too much love will kill you every time<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Yes, too much love will kill you<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It will make your life a lie<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Yes, too much love will kill you<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And you won't understand why<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You'd give your life, you'd sell your soul<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But here it comes again<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Too much love will kill you!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>In the end<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>In the end<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> personal decay, personal isolation,
regret, fatalistic despair, agonising personal pain, shame<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Emperors faces the Age of Darkness;<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Just look at all those hungry mouths we have to feed<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Take a look at all the suffering we breed<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>So many lonely faces scattered all around<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Searching for what they need<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Is this the world we created?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>What did we do it for?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Is this the world we invaded<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Against the law?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>So it seems in the end<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Is this what we're all living for today?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>The world that we created<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You know that everyday a helpless child is born<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Who needs some loving care inside a happy home<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Somewhere a wealthy man is sitting on his throne<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Waiting for life to go by<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Oh, oh-oh<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Is this the world we created?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>We made it on our own<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Is this the world we devastated<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Right to the bone?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>If there's a God in the sky, looking down<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>What can He think of what we've done<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>To the world that He created?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> regret for personal crimes and violence, shame,
an awareness of universal human suffering.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Key Lines;</b> “<i>Somewhere a wealthy man is sitting
on his throne”, “Is this the world we devastated<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Right to the bone?”<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> <br /></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Over the Millenia His Mental State Fragments;</h2><h2><br /><o:p></o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqX0JazoHCPKfD-WcjbXWnwhNThySmAUSnVhoGAD8RU85mUjZxAkbHia1tsd00QNNX8YtgFXsnz6wU2syrNhNTXZxJ8DW5wQJLO5BCjqKNyCRdZlZiKAxDm-5z21oZiE3AOKfKNEk5eaAmKgdG_KhHZmGfbnq9gdgeBCGIXZd9oSgjuAPTvamN0npLmjj/s10535/The%20Emperors%20Tarot%20by%20Ruoyuart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="10535" data-original-width="7000" height="723" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqX0JazoHCPKfD-WcjbXWnwhNThySmAUSnVhoGAD8RU85mUjZxAkbHia1tsd00QNNX8YtgFXsnz6wU2syrNhNTXZxJ8DW5wQJLO5BCjqKNyCRdZlZiKAxDm-5z21oZiE3AOKfKNEk5eaAmKgdG_KhHZmGfbnq9gdgeBCGIXZd9oSgjuAPTvamN0npLmjj/w481-h723/The%20Emperors%20Tarot%20by%20Ruoyuart.jpg" width="481" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">The Emperors Tarot by Ruoyuart</span></div></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>When the outside temperature rises<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And the meaning is oh, so clear<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>One thousand and one yellow daffodils<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Begin to dance in front of you, oh dear<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Are they trying to tell you something?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You're missing that one final screw<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>You're simply not in the pink, my dear<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>To be honest, you haven't got a clue<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm going slightly mad<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm going slightly mad<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It finally happened, happened<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It finally happened, oh-woah<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It finally happened, I'm slightly mad<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Oh dear, hahaha<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm one card short of a full deck<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm not quite the shilling<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>One wave short of a shipwreck<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm not at my usual top billing<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm coming down with a fever<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm really out to sea<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>This kettle is boiling over<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I think I'm a banana tree<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Oh, dear<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm knitting with only one needle<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Unravelling fast, it's true<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm driving only three wheels these days<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But my dear, how about you?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>[Chorus]<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm going slightly mad<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>I'm going slightly mad<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It finally happened<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It finally happened, oh yes<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It finally happened, I'm slightly mad<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Just very slightly mad<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> burning, madness, isolation disassociation
of the self<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Key Lines; “</b><i>When the outside temperature rises”,
“This kettle is boiling over”<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Star Child Awakens;<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DjqN8Q4vTNnAiTdlAAtSuTxxFIHknRgJ4tEl_gqyf_PCx_zZ1xq9j0Z6gagcvINxfesTmHmsvtO27INQ7rcOvpi4Um8Vt8u_HlfI5-OVF_IistySkocM9BAwAZYQdg8WEr1EE1NeWQBwbzHwA_cqiaY59iuhwDiUTQCInGmWTlaJ3rrXT7PAzxXwJQFO/s800/by_littlecutter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="800" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DjqN8Q4vTNnAiTdlAAtSuTxxFIHknRgJ4tEl_gqyf_PCx_zZ1xq9j0Z6gagcvINxfesTmHmsvtO27INQ7rcOvpi4Um8Vt8u_HlfI5-OVF_IistySkocM9BAwAZYQdg8WEr1EE1NeWQBwbzHwA_cqiaY59iuhwDiUTQCInGmWTlaJ3rrXT7PAzxXwJQFO/w479-h302/by_littlecutter.jpg" width="479" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>While the sun hangs in the sky<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And the desert has sand<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>While the waves crash in the sea<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And meet the land<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>While there's a wind and the stars<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And the rainbow<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>'Till the mountains crumble into the plain<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Oh yes, we'll keep on trying<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Tread that fine line<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Oh, we'll keep on trying, yeah<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Just passing our time<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Ooh, ooh!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>While we live according to race<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Color or creed<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>While we rule by blind madness<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And pure greed<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Our lives dictated by tradition<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Superstition, false religion<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Through the eons, and on and on<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Oh yes, we'll keep on trying<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>We'll tread that fine line<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Oh, we'll keep on trying<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>'Till the end of time<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>'Till the end of time!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Through the sorrow<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>All through our splendor<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Don't take offense at my innuendo<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>If there's a God, or any kind<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Of justice under the sky<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>If there's a point, if there's a reason<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>To live or die<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>If there's an answer to the questions<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>We feel bound to ask<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Show yourself, destroy our fears<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Release your mask<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>(We'll just keep on trying)<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>We'll just keep on trying<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>'Till the end of time<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>'Till the end of time<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>'Till the end of time!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Themes;</b> eternal cycles, resolution, a golden path,
human universality, decaying empire, religious faith<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>Key Lines; “</b><i>While
we rule by blind madness, And pure greed, Our lives dictated by tradition, Superstition,
false religion, Through the eons, and on and on” <o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">WHY DOES QUEEN SING THE EMPERORS SONG?<o:p></o:p></h1>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This is the real big question! I have broken down my
response into five sections; Highlander, Zoroastrianism, the 80’s, Queen and
the personality and history of Freddie. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Highlander<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p>This is probably the most simple and singular element,
and the easiest to describe. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A lot of the themes of immortality and conflict, and many
of the extremely on-the-nose songs come from Highlander, a story about Scottish
sword-slinging immortals and their pride and sorrows. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This has elements of the cultural feedback described
below in that </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Highlander was big in the 80s and very possibly
influenced the Emperors general vibe. The people building 40k definitely
watched this movie! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also feeds into
and draws from the general ambient personality of the 1980’s a somewhat
hypermasculine, operatic and narcissistic decade. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">There is also a question of matching or sympathetic vibes
with Queen choosing to do the music for this relatively minor Sci-Fi film. Why
did they say yes? Did the personality and background of Freddy mesh well with
this story of violence, eternity, incredible powers, romance and deep
isolation? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<h2>Zoroastrianism </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I am pretty convinced that the Zoroastrianism Freddie
Mercury was raised in left its distant mark in the mood, lyrics and subjects of
Queen, specifically;</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Themes of Light vs Dark<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Great cycles of time<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Spiritual mega-conflicts<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Immortality, ‘the (Parsi?) blood of kings’<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Human universality<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->An unknowable redeeming god; “<i>Show yourself,
destroy our fears, Release your mask”</i>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Zoraster created maybe the first huge universalising
human philosophy, this lead into the Abrahamic faiths and gave them their own
dualistic light vs dark eternal conflict motif over huge swathes of time. The
Horus Heresy is basically Paradise Lost, part of the Christan Expanded Universe
(semi-canon), so is it a huge surprise that the mood and feel, the deep
essential conflicts of Zoraster, should show up again and again in very
distantly descended media and stories? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The 80s Generally </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Nuclear Armageddon! The threat of immanent doom hangs
over the west! Everyone is worried about the nukes. They go missing in films,
explode in banned documentaries, a disturbing and half-real sense of
apocalyptic immanence hangs over the land </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Testosterone! Maggie and Regan are in the house.
Advertising regulations for kids have been massively relaxed leading to a
booming loop of hypermasculine boys cartoons and plastic injection figures.
Bravestar, MASK, Conan has a kind of mind-child in He-Man, Rambo, the troubled
and violent Vietnam war veteran, had an animated kids show, so did Robocop. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Operatic Quasi-Camp Quasi-Satire. Was Robocop a satire?
Kind of yes but also kind of no. Or both. The sheen of irony has not yet fallen
across the face of culture and its fine to valorise and simultaneously mock
ideas of glorious hyperviolence. This is an age of cocaine, excess and economic
boom. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A very testosterone fuelled decade, - a lot of the
references for 40k are still ones from the 80s </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Little is minor in Queen </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Queen did have jokes and a sheen and thread of irony in
much of what they did but over-focusing on this would be a mistake as it was
always a counterpoint to a gigantic, bombastic all-out style in subject, mood
and content. Nothing is really small in Queen, emotions are epic, times are
eternal, or vast cycles, places are distant or impossible, people are either
consuming intimates or vast human universals. Everything has to be the biggest
thing for Freddie to sing about. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Queen were also a merging of the Nerdy, Bombastic,
Masculine, performed masculinity and camp, they were, in a way, a Warhammer
band, perhaps more than any other, even the ones who intended to be. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Personality of Freddy Mercury </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">An intensely vulnerable narcissist who believes they have
a magical talent and that they are better than everyone else and who actually
turns out to be yes, actually genuinely insanely hyper-competent at what they
do and actually better than everyone else. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Isolation. The narcissist is ever-alone, the megastar
even more so. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">How many Queen songs express the consuming and
conflicting emotions of insane, even deranged self-belief and deep personal
vulnerability? Of splendid and even glorious isolation and a consuming
loneliness? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Add to this a semi-secret life behind the scenes, the
‘invisible man’, then finally the disturbing synchronicity of AIDS and personal
bodily decay while still alive, a horrifying loss of glory and personal
control. Consuming regret for failed chances or former wrongs. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">We might say that Freddie lived out almost the perfected
Narcissists Life. It wasn’t perfect for him, but it was perfect for History and
for the grand ritual it represented. The King must always die in the end. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Synthesis </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This is my synthesis for this strange synchronicity. Early
exposure to the themes, conflicts and emotions of the most primal Manichean
Universal human faith by a young boy who will nurture an incredible talent, who
will eventually escape his culture and literally remake himself as a new man
while hiding a terrible secret. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This man rising through the psychic storm of the 1980s
and proving his personal greatness, absorbing, reflecting and intensifying the
pulsing muscular mood of that doom-troubled decade.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">That very decade and its emotions feeding into a very
different group of nerdy men than those gathered around him in Queen, but
producing fertile soil and a seed, sparked into life by Highlander; the causal
node of the whole thing, a noospheric meta-neuron soaking in and distilling the
drives, tragedies and emotions of the age and the band and linking them with
the Star Child of the foetal Warhammer 40,000 universe. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Then a great flowering of synchronic growth, with the
pride glory, isolation, sadness and greatness of a dead Megastar meeting the
vibrating echo of the only fictional character who could possibly carry such a
staggeringly potent charge of impossible emotions; a literal God Emperor! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The God-Emperor of Mankind is the psychic mind-child of
Freddie Mercury!<o:p></o:p></p>pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-74492770507056654692024-02-29T11:53:00.000-08:002024-02-29T11:53:50.804-08:00A Review of Sinjin<div style="text-align: left;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_dlgBq-LBTk1Ngiszuq7PNHDtFlLeKErbSfBl6EWfUgzZGQbcnk0UQTDak6mlAKFfmZRztb9z_nSCAGAMHItM1jzOsoaAeFPxD_zzgGYgCfoqc9bxEjo_pmej1v0JjInYYUW3qfruUNK6T3kc8smrMVMsfTj2aifta7nZz_zITU8VODCZp9DG0nWfG_D/s2441/Sinjin%20art%203.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2441" data-original-width="1742" height="567" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_dlgBq-LBTk1Ngiszuq7PNHDtFlLeKErbSfBl6EWfUgzZGQbcnk0UQTDak6mlAKFfmZRztb9z_nSCAGAMHItM1jzOsoaAeFPxD_zzgGYgCfoqc9bxEjo_pmej1v0JjInYYUW3qfruUNK6T3kc8smrMVMsfTj2aifta7nZz_zITU8VODCZp9DG0nWfG_D/w404-h567/Sinjin%20art%203.png" width="404" /></a></div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal">Sinjin! A PDF (so far) adventure-game by M Diaz and Jackson
Smith. Art by Scrap Princess, Julie de Graag, Jackson Smith, Katie Vasquez, and
Alfred Stieglitz. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Available here; <a href="https://thehexculture.itch.io/sinjin">https://thehexculture.itch.io/sinjin</a> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some nerds in late-Victorian Fantasy Florida accidentally
killed Death and took their (her?) stuff leaving the netherworld bollocked up
and bleeding through in a Florida swamp.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now YOU must wander about finding stuff and not getting
killed in a magic swamp that’s a bit (but not <i>very</i>) different every time
you go back, with the very general aim of making things better, or at least not
making them worse, and maybe even FIXING DEATH. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(Note, criticisms or analysis are intended to have a neutral
tone. I am not claiming I could do better (I haven’t), OBVIOUSLY this is the
opinion of one man. I should not have to explicitly state something so fucking
obvious and banal but the west has fallen so here we are.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p>
<h1>The Grand Concept </h1>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Sinjin is an Indy game. Looked at from a D&D
perspective, it’s an adventure with some decision processes attached, looked at
from a storygame or AW-like perspective its .. perhaps the best description
would be an object-and-location based game with an internal clock and some
simple arrangements for resolving conflicts. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s in the blurry boundary between a more hard-edged
D&D adventure, a soft Gauntlet-style ‘scene’ based game and an actual story
game. This might be a cognitive space that is actually quite hard to design
for. When I come to things I would probably question about Sinjin, many of them
seem to have roots in its vague and curious origins. It’s a gypsy child in a
noble House!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<h1>The Sinking Swamp </h1>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The adventure space is made up from the combination of
two main concepts; the geographic shape of the Swamp in which you are wandering
around, and ‘Depth’ a kind of transformation of the play area rooted, in the
paracosm itself; in the slowly deepening and decaying power of the supernatural
as the swamp is sucked into the netherverse, and in game design terms; in
dungeon levels and things like Emmy Allens Stygian Library.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Swamp </h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">We have causeways, a river system and swamps in between,
with a small number of specifically-mapped distinct areas called ‘Landmarks’
and a variety of smaller less-specific minor landmarks.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With each new expedition the arrangement of the major Landmarks
changes <i>somewhat</i>, but some aspects of the nature of the linkages between
them remain, and the total number of major Landmarks doesn’t change and the
details of their particular individual geography don’t change.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So for each adventure you have a rough idea of what places
can be found, and of how to get there, but to fulfil your mission and get to,
for instance, the abandoned sugar-mill, you will still need to wander around
investigating etc. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #221e1f; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cormorant Light";">“The Territory is
unfriendly and unpredictable, but the goal is for navigation to be challenging,
rather than impossible. To this end, clearly communicate to players that the
general locations of major landmarks don’t change relative to the primary river
channel and causeways (e.g. the Fish Camp, Great Vine Barren, and Ritual
Wellspring are all linked by the primary channel; the Old Stone Fort, Fish
Camp, and Sugar Mill are connected to each other with a triangle of
causeways).”</span><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>So in effect a shifting linecrawl, using the river as a
guide.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">(One of the notable ways that the particular nature of
the place, the environment, and surrounding and historic culture work their way
into the game is how deeply and richly embedded they are into every aspect,
from the locations themselves, to objects, abilities, characters, monsters
etc.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>“Depth” </h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Swamp is either sinking into the Netherworld, or the
Netherworld is merging with the Swamp and expanding. In game terms, ‘depth’
makes reality more phantasmorgic, surreal, dreamlike and dangerous; </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.05pt; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><i><span style="color: #221e1f; font-family: "Cormorant Unicase",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cormorant Unicase"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">“Depth
0</span></i></b><i><span style="color: #221e1f; font-family: "Cormorant Unicase",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cormorant Unicase"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #221e1f; font-family: "Cormorant Light",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cormorant Light"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Sweltering days and balmy nights. You
sweat, and the air hangs thick and damp around you. The land smells of orange
blossom, wet grass, and, beneath the surface, the sickly sweet scent of decay.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #221e1f; font-family: "Cormorant Light",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cormorant Light"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i><b><i><span style="color: #221e1f; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cormorant Unicase";">“Depth 9-12</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #221e1f; font-family: "Cormorant Light",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cormorant Light";">Quiet as the grave. By day, the Sun is dim and brassy; by night
the Moon is actinic and painfully bright; you can see clouds pass behind both,
and the sky feels claustrophobically low. Vast figures pace the horizon. Hair,
fabric, and flora waft and wave as if buoyed by an invisible tide.</span> “<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Depth can be accessed by diving into the Ritual Wellspring
(one of the main Landmarks). </p>
<p class="Default"><i>“</i><i><span style="color: #221e1f; font-size: 10.0pt;">A
great blue heron lies rotting near the reeds, one glaucous eye toward the sky.
It whispers out to the first person who gets near it. It wants mullet from the
Fish Camp. Each time it gets some, it’s flesh reknits a little more. After
three times it will rise up– its neck still broken and slack, and will offer a
Ghost Contract as a silent stalker.</span>“<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="Default"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="Default">You can also dive out of your depth and back up to your
original. Depth also re-sets if you leave the adventure area and take a rest –
you just come back in at whatever the current minimum depth is.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some buildings and locations only exist at certain depths. To
fulfil some missions or solve some problems you will need to ‘dive’ to
particular depths and once there, find a specific familiar location, now
presumably with much stranger and more dangerous things in it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The land is slowly ‘sinking’ into deeper depths. Humans
dying immediately increases minimum depth and leaving without completing goals
also increases minimum depth. So the more adventures you have in the swamp, the
‘deeper’ everything gets. You can also bring Depth back up by achieving some
goals or defeating some major foes. There is an end-point to all this – if
Depth hits 13 then the curse escapes the area and spreads across the world. The
game is built around this ‘ticking clock’.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While ‘Depth’ in Sinjin it has some relation to Dungeon
Levels, Emmy Allens ‘depth’ in Stygian Library and Stygian Garden, Vandermeers
‘Annihilation’ and the Ballard and Stugatsky stories that prefigures it, and
possibly some forms of madness in Call of Cthulhu, I don’t think I have seen or
conceived of anything quite like this before. If you are into game design you
are probably reading specifically for the combination of ‘depth’ and the
semi-shifting geography. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I found the particularities and details of Sinjin as, or
more, interesting but less scaleable since their deep interrelationship with
this specific environment and situation is part of the appeal. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So. You are investigating a shifting version of the same
place again and again. In effect, going back in to the ‘same dungeon’ again and
again. While the ‘rooms’ shift around there are always the same rooms and
growing contextual knowledge should help you both navigate between places and,
in particular, make classic D&D style tactical use of the geographic
particulars of each location, which never change.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But how would it feel to investigate the same ‘places’ over
and over again, with them becoming ever more hallucinogenic and strange and
populated by ever stranger and less comprehensible forms of the dead and undead? </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #221e1f; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cormorant Light";">“The Territory is
different every time players enter it. There are a handful of key constants,
but players can never quite count on things being the way that they remember
them.”</span></i><i><span style="color: #221e1f; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cormorant Light";"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This puts Sinjin in a complex relationship with the classic
D&D-alike game actions of exploration and investigation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Of course this is not D&D, nor intended to be so. It’s
clearly a more drama-oriented ‘Gauntlety’ game. But many of these games that
present themselves as ghost stories, soap-operas or interpersonal dramas, still
have a lot of exploration, investigation and combat, and the interpersonal
drama happens around those props. AW is built for the Soap Opera element in all
of its parts but few of the ruleslights that draw from it are.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Would it be interesting or frustrating? Would the concept of
‘depth’ <i>add</i> depth or feel repetitious? There are enough supernatural etc
connections and possible intrigues that might create a layered feel as you
explore again, for different reasons, knowing where you will find but not what.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeA_EcpjlHD7GT7D5CnS4a8kKwH_LXaMJuS9dAUKKuHs1l3_duCOSBiOVk8RT9PRGsrVYyObuRACNTMrfZtdvPDTn_Fq-GavaHidiKMMgPVnsoo1qhnDkhCbJM-0QqxAkcfkfK8gA8KpLYhKG0GZ0_Bj8IvG2hxq_0MdLSPFlKmhaiE446h12EekeVIaN/s927/Sinjin%20art%202.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="654" height="517" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeA_EcpjlHD7GT7D5CnS4a8kKwH_LXaMJuS9dAUKKuHs1l3_duCOSBiOVk8RT9PRGsrVYyObuRACNTMrfZtdvPDTn_Fq-GavaHidiKMMgPVnsoo1qhnDkhCbJM-0QqxAkcfkfK8gA8KpLYhKG0GZ0_Bj8IvG2hxq_0MdLSPFlKmhaiE446h12EekeVIaN/w365-h517/Sinjin%20art%202.PNG" width="365" /></a></div><br /><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p>
<h1>Diaz-Objects in Game Design </h1>
<p class="MsoNormal">When I talk about a Diaz-esque ‘elegant’ piece of game/world
design, what I often mean is the use of natural language concepts and clear
comprehensible idea structures in ways that allow complex gameplay without a
lot of arguing or difficulties over how many points or whatever you have.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(I am of course assuming that most of these came from Diaz
based on some familiarity with his previous work, though he is not the only
author.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some Examples; </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<h2>Deaths Whetstone is a good call<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">The main factions of Sinjin are guilds of Necromancers, each
of which is based around some item or tool they took from Death when Death died;
a whetstone, inkwell and loom. Each of these is a creative tool that produces
items with certain limited magical effects; sharpened blades, documents and
cloth.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They are tools which create or alter other objects, and the
originals are presumably eternal or don’t decay or wear but the objects they <i>create</i>
do wear and can easily lose those qualities. To whit – sharp blades being
blunted (it’s that particular sharpness and not the blade itself that has the
magic), paper being burnt, lost or, in a swamp, rotting or the ink washing out,
and clothes tearing and being worn. Presumably the main objects could be stolen
or lost, and their creative capacity is focused into one useful and tangible
modality.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Basing the factions around items, specifically around tools
which create other items, themselves limited in both effect and in the numbers
created, is a nice neat piece of game design. It unifies faction play with a
neat in-game economy of access to magical items with highly specific uses which
will themselves naturally degrade, and links that to the overarching theme or
story of the game in a way that feels natural, functional, intuitive and right.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As a counter example imagine a faction with a portal,
another with a magic book and another with say a non-creative tool like a
spoon. In each case the effects produced are vague, hard to intuit, they don’t
necessarily produce objects unless the game tells you, in which case another
layer of abstraction is required to describe exactly what the <i>guilds</i> can
do, (‘death points’ or something) and probably direct control of the tool is
required to produce those effects, which then cannot be traded, lost, stolen or
carried. (Unless you specifically describe that in the text; “you lose ten
death points” etc.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<h2>Necromancy in Sinjin<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">To put it <i>very</i> crudely, Necromancy in Sinjin is kind
of ghost-Pokémon, or the indenture of specific incorporeal servants with specific
skill and identity-locked abilities.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can grab certain ghosts in certain situations and
command them, but only in ways limited by their core nature or their prime or
central function in life. There is also a material cost if you want to achieve
material ends. So necromancy doesn’t create something for nothing, but instead
is a transformer of one kind of generalised resource (ritual, sacrifice) into
something more specific. It’s a Bank Account, or like having a clade of
invisible servants with specific skills who can be called on to do things
relating to those specific skills. You can re-interpret what those skills might
mean or how they might be used but you don’t need to argue with someone over
whether you have +5 to your Necromancy roll or whatever.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can also grab animal souls or murderers souls, and even
a flock of crows.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Key Diaz-esque aspects of this are that;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It’s all in natural language, no numbers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It uses directly comprehensible real-life
concepts (the soul of a Blacksmith, the soul of a flock of crows) with
inherently obvious and clear limitations and abilities etc.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It directly embodies all of this in the
paracosm; i.e. you have to take an hour to burn herbs at sunset rather than
spending +10 Death points for a death surge.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Its relatively self-limiting and encourages
thinking of new uses for the ‘tools’, (souls) you have and different
interactions between them and the environment.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><br /></p>
<h2>Expeditions, Treasure and Rewards<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">You start each game with a mission (taken from one of three
generated by the DM), for one of the Guilds, for which they will offer a
specific treasure, all of which are magical tools, often with limited uses,
which will help you doing stuff in the swamp.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The possible expeditions are; Establish, Scout, Rescue,
Recover, Collect and Hunt. Only one of the six core mission concepts involves
necessary violence, the others involve investigating and getting, or in some
cases schlepping big heavy things to places.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The rewards or treasure you get for these have a nice American
Arcana feel; </p>
<p class="Default"><i><span style="color: #221e1f; font-size: 10.0pt;">“Bragging
Coat. A coat embroidered with boasts and depictions of great deads. Once per
expedition, you can attempt a single act of superhuman strength or aptitude
(jumping a great distance, kicking down a barn wall, picking a lock with a pine
needle, telling a joke that makes a corpse laugh).”</span></i> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They feel like elements from a ‘Silver John’ story, though I
don’t know if those tales were an influence, probably any independent
investigation of American folklore would produce things ‘a bit like’ Silver
John.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Having specific missions is a good idea because quite
frankly, Players are basic as shit and unless you actively point them at a
thing they a specifically meant to do, they will just wander blather and get
lost in decision fatigue. Being able to pick from three different missions of
different difficulty and lethality from three different factions is neat, as is
starting the game in media-res with the PCs already in-country. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hopefully the combinations of missions will play a part in
adding depth and texture to the repeated missions; if the Guild of Scriveners
paid you to set up a camp in one mission or grab a hostage then the results of
that should still be in play organically in future sessions.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As well as the core reward for completing each mission there
is a ‘Wandering Devil Merchant’ who wants to sell you various trinkets, and
treasure, or ‘salvage’ which can be discovered in places you are likely to find
it according to DM judgement. This is <i>mildly</i> sketchy, and somewhat
gamic, with a touch of ‘Death Points’, but the actual Salvage are all in-world
self-limiting Diaz-Objects; </p>
<p class="Default"><i><span style="color: #221e1f; font-size: 10.0pt;">“Black Heron
Spyglass. Once per expedition, you can look through this spyglass to see
yourself at the location you’re observing. When you remove the spyglass from
your eye, you will find yourself in that location.”</span></i> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So there is that gypsy child again. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTe_7VtE5_1HiV1K528-VQyVidvaGVuV8P8ODIqCPOTr_XGkpXzZebV_CeAWkOlPz7bN2LJCi_I9Co7uZd5wpacfXwpd57spEj46BJO6TaSK5RwrCe86BpfFkyBj3tTbMHHqtxcY1F0uM241Qnc1lOL04uJEI7dzSKihCJUFCcB-WSgv8axD0MAgN9Wi7/s914/Sinjin%20art%201.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="654" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTe_7VtE5_1HiV1K528-VQyVidvaGVuV8P8ODIqCPOTr_XGkpXzZebV_CeAWkOlPz7bN2LJCi_I9Co7uZd5wpacfXwpd57spEj46BJO6TaSK5RwrCe86BpfFkyBj3tTbMHHqtxcY1F0uM241Qnc1lOL04uJEI7dzSKihCJUFCcB-WSgv8axD0MAgN9Wi7/w378-h528/Sinjin%20art%201.PNG" width="378" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<h1>Monsters and Encounters<o:p></o:p></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal">The creatures are universally interesting. Broken up into
‘The Living’ ‘Lesser Dead’, and the ‘Greater Dead, which are mindbending ‘final
horror’ semi-inexplicable nightmares. There are some stand-outs. The Sabal
Sphinx, one of the ‘Lesser Dead’ has some very good ‘D&D-esque’ rules;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Pa5" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;"><i><span style="color: #211d1e; font-size: 10.0pt;">“62 </span></i><b><i><span style="color: #211d1e; font-family: "Cormorant Unicase",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cormorant Unicase";">Sabal
Sphinx</span></i></b><i><span style="color: #211d1e; font-family: "Cormorant Unicase",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cormorant Unicase";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="Pa4" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;"><i><span style="color: #211d1e; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cormorant Light";">A human and panther
corpse twisted and crushed together. One of its human hands holds a palm frond
before its doubled face, and its four unmatched eyes peer out between the
pinnate leaves. Its ruff erupts into palmetto, mimicking the leaves of its
namesake. The killer and the killed, the eater and the eaten, existing in
delightful amity forever and ever and ever.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="Default"><b><i><span style="color: #211d1e; font-family: "Cormorant Unicase",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cormorant Unicase";">Statistics</span></i></b></p>
<p class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 1.4pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: #211d1e; font-size: 10.0pt;">Traits: wise, strong, large, fast,
resistant to mundane weaponry<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="Default" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: #211d1e; font-size: 10.0pt;">Weakness: lazy, gluttonous, harmed by
salt, silver, and holy water<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="Default"><b><i><span style="color: #211d1e; font-family: "Cormorant Unicase",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cormorant Unicase";">Tactics</span></i></b></p>
<p class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 1.4pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: #211d1e; font-size: 10.0pt;">Disappear into and emerge from any two
palm fronds in the Territory.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 1.4pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: #211d1e; font-size: 10.0pt;">A Sphinx sequentially reveals its eyes
to anyone who can see in the order that is most advantageous to it. Once it’s
full face is revealed it may use any of its abilities at will.Reveal right
human eye: Charms a person it can see into fighting for it<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 1.4pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: #211d1e; font-size: 10.0pt;">Reveal left human eye: makes a person
bleed from their eyes, ears, nose, and mouth<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 1.4pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: #211d1e; font-size: 10.0pt;">Reveal the right panther eye: Terrifies
a person it can see into fleeing<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 1.4pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: #211d1e; font-size: 10.0pt;">Reveal the left panther eye: Paralyzes a
person it can see<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="Default" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: #221e1f; font-size: 10.0pt;">Full face revealed: Anyone who sees it
is gouged with invisible force as if with panther claws.!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="Default" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="color: #221e1f; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #211d1e; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0cm;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Living are less modernist monsters: alligators,
cutthroats, packs of wild dogs and rival exorcists, honestly you could go a
long way with just these, especially the cutthroats and rivals, and if a party
is small or wounded, the wild dogs.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The modernism and abstraction of some of the monsters and
Greater Dead makes them excellent art pieces and good elements for a fancy
horror movie, or for a written narrative, but perhaps a bit challenging to
actually run.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Is this going to be another game/adventure where the flavour
text promises encounters with impossible entities but the most fun you have is
trying to escape a pack of angry dogs? Nothing wrong with that if it’s the case
but…<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<h1>Dissonance<o:p></o:p></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal">There is a curious dissonance between the items, fictional
structures, the imagined idea-space of the game, which is solid in conception
and simple to relate, clear and interesting, and the decision-forming process
of the rules of the game itself, which are very ‘Gauntlet-ey’ with lots of
‘just discuss it with your players’ and ‘the DM will inform you if you are in
immediate danger of death’ which isn’t quite the same as a player choosing to
do anything at all if they have only one HP left<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Auto find soft salvage just for burning time looking in
appropriate areas; not sure about this one.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Is this just another adaptation of the basic decision
concept of Apocalypse World? Basically a quite soft conversational system. Same
with Harm & death, very McDowallian, big on simple roles and clear
communication of risk.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A foldable coracle in opening equipment, but we don’t know
how hard or difficult travel will be (yet), but the ‘Car Problem’ from Urban
RPGs might be a thing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">No list of names or likely surnames and no PC-relation chart
instead you just talk about it. Honestly random PC connection stuff is
something I like from Bakerish or McDowallian games.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is probably because Sinjin itself is a synthesis of
rules and concepts from the two main creators with a chunk of the ‘engine’
taken from here; </p>
<p class="Default"><i>“</i><i><span style="color: #221e1f; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
rules on pg 4-5, the For GM note on pg 10, and the Advancement rules on pg 14
are adapted from from 24XX CC BY Jason Tocci.”</span><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I have no idea who or what that is. Man I am out of the
loop.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<h1>Art!<o:p></o:p></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal">Its competent. Not my preferred style. Moody black and white
photography. Pen and ink drawings. The individual art is good taken on its own
terms! Just not my preference. (Obviously I like Scraps stuff).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Sinjin in colour’ would be a good call, especially
considering the hallucinatory nature of reality as ‘depth’ increases .. and of
course, Florida should be bright! More Florida Man energy! More Jorodowski less
Ansel Adams!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The maps are competent and useful.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<h1>My Judgement<o:p></o:p></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal">I like all of the parts of this and I find its elegance of
conception and arrangement very pleasing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I like the environment, which, in its details and processes
seems drawn from life.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I like the worldbuilding through factions, items, foes and
greater organisations which are honed to the point of interaction.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are mild elements I would not disapprove of but
perhaps question;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #221e1f; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cormorant Light";">“There are many details
we have elided or only gestured at, most significantly the precise nature of
the disaster that created the Territory and the way to mend the damage it has
caused. This can be an unresolvable mystery or the primary goal of the
players.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hhnnn the disembodied spirit of Jason Cordova rises in the
shadows cackling mysteriously. “Why <i>the players decide</i>!” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">No! Get they behind me thou serpent!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If there is a chance the game could be an investigative one
about a big central mystery then the policy of feeding off the players improv
& feeding it back to them is one I don’t really like. Its ok in a soap
opera like AW but fake investigations only really work if people can all intuit
they are fake investigating to tell the story of the investigation and this is
not fun for me. If a big mystery is part of the game there should be an Actual
Truth and clues and layers of shit to finding out what it is.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Gypsy child feels slightly awkward to me. Wil they
fulfil their destiny & save the manor with their honest heart or end up
baked and syphilitic in an opium den? YOU decide of course! By purchasing and
playing Sinjin! Available <a href="https://thehexculture.itch.io/sinjin">HERE</a>!!!!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #221e1f; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cormorant Light";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-74164825159739716262024-02-20T03:22:00.000-08:002024-02-20T03:23:11.962-08:00A Review of 'Negara, the Theatre State' by CLIFF CUKIN GEERTZ<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFdXUHv6LVtlCvh3_qRz92vQyazrMzSKsnwxn3iKjgT4HFBNLtEW0ctSBWEPRppEEHUHRH7JuRHhKm3ciVmTIXyxn8Dgs3TZkH62cVBZX5CnZo6tbb6e56FWTYaKTENRYeNe-p6W3aBdWUJuQ9pEe15TCaVsOJOr9Q6umT0Iwc90ujOal4DbC68WK35qH/s1491/image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1491" data-original-width="1369" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFdXUHv6LVtlCvh3_qRz92vQyazrMzSKsnwxn3iKjgT4HFBNLtEW0ctSBWEPRppEEHUHRH7JuRHhKm3ciVmTIXyxn8Dgs3TZkH62cVBZX5CnZo6tbb6e56FWTYaKTENRYeNe-p6W3aBdWUJuQ9pEe15TCaVsOJOr9Q6umT0Iwc90ujOal4DbC68WK35qH/w409-h444/image.png" width="409" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #404040;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Made by a friend who was
reading the same book at the same time)</span></span><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 7.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040;"><span style="font-size: 19.3333px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040; font-size: medium;">A book I read without much knowledge of the deeper context from which it sprang, and which I did not enjoy at all. It may have been worthwhile, but I did not enjoy it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040; font-size: medium;">I got though this book partly on resentment, partly due to interest in the subject and partly on inertia. By the end I was reasonably sure that that Geertz was awful, that Bali was wonderful, that Geertzs' argument was correct and that he had totally failed to prove that. I will never read anything by Clifford Geertz again.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040; font-size: medium;">In 'the Theatre State' Geertz argues that in Bali ritual itself was the primary point, purpose and axis of the culture, that power, economic and spiritual, largely served ritual and not the other way aroud. In a sense its something of an anti-materialistic argument. While other writers peel back the skin of culture to show the 'real' power dynamics that drive it, Geertz tries to pull back the skin of power to show it driven itself by ritual.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040; font-size: medium;">He is probably right but he doesn't prove it here. Perhaps no-one could have but he definitely doesn't.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040;"><span style="font-size: 19.3333px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #404040;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimk8UdrhldaJ9en4K95gx3fjpLS8bMci-GOt_eWLKM5tIhpVumAqySnGaVGIn9qQk3qp2tfq3PbTXn69N-dRGWKPMn6f_bOW7LQlnEyAI96M5VFpVLmdx6BQXxQE9uuPz-3hzZKK6hFH4vcugmg4xnIBXo7wZEUQ9Z1Z2hDBOkTgz_erMwJ88o4MU4OPx-/s1024/6952436049_1c1f1e63c6_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="698" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimk8UdrhldaJ9en4K95gx3fjpLS8bMci-GOt_eWLKM5tIhpVumAqySnGaVGIn9qQk3qp2tfq3PbTXn69N-dRGWKPMn6f_bOW7LQlnEyAI96M5VFpVLmdx6BQXxQE9uuPz-3hzZKK6hFH4vcugmg4xnIBXo7wZEUQ9Z1Z2hDBOkTgz_erMwJ88o4MU4OPx-/w400-h586/6952436049_1c1f1e63c6_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #404040;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Walter Spies excellent Bali paintings, which I only found out about because of this book)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #404040;"><br /></span></div><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #404040;">MY HATRED OF CLIFFORD GEERTZ</span></h1><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #404040;">It’s rare that I have hated a writer so much based merely on the *tenor of their thought*. I agree with the general drift of Geertzs' argument, I find Bali itself fascinating and am genuinely thankful for this introduction to an incredible subject, I just *really hate this fucking guy*.</span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #404040;">He is a pompous sneak.</span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #404040;">Reading Geertz gives one the impression of encountering a confidence trickster who tries to overwhelm you with volume of obscure detail, tendentious shifts in abstract analysis, vaguely made points in overcomplex form, regular dispellment of poor and shifting failings, before engaging in exactly those failings, (Geertz would lecture you intensely on the non-existence of feet before gaily dancing away), the avoidance and happenstance mention of actually-massively-important points, airy arguments from authority, (check the notes), and carefully not mentioning that his wife did a lot of the work.</span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #404040;">My seething rage and frustration at this behaviour is not helped when, on assuming I am being Barnumed, I carefully read and re-read Geertzs' goat-footed prose and find, most times, that I cannot actually prove him wrong. Or at least I cannot prove him inconsistent.</span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #404040;">Feeling like you are being scammed, not being able to find the scam, then having to reluctantly spit out that actually you agree, is a mentally distressing process.</span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #404040;">A few things Geertz does, to give you a flavour;</span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #404040;">- Goes on a long blather in the intro about this not being a book about kings and drama, then opens the actual book with a direct quote description of the extremely dramatic ritual suicide of the last Balinese king.</span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #404040;">- Gets most of the way through the book before offhandedly mentioning that the chief Balinese import was opium. In the *notes* he confirms that most of Balis' economic surplus went on getting everyone high as shit, that everyone was baked throughout much of the book, that in the Royal palace the Opium smoke was so thick that the lizards were falling off the walls.</span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #404040;">- "This too is probably the appropriate place to acknowledge that a good deal of the material upon which this study is based was gathered by my wife and coworker, Hildred Geertz, and some by an Indonesian assistant, E. Rukasah." (this hidden in the notes at the back of the book, though he does thank his wife in the intro.</span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #404040;">- Doesn't really mention war or violence much as an axis of power in this book about power and ritual, until the notes where he allows that there was quite a lot of irregular violence and large ritualistic battles.</span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #404040;">- Oh yeah there was slavery at some point, quite a lot of it. Oh and there were illegal wife burnings up to the 1920s. (again, hidden in the notes).</span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #404040;">- "By means of a series of inferences, assumptions and outright guesses, which I will not relate for the simple reason that they cannot bear too much inspection, my own estimate of...." So basically "I made it up"</span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #404040;">- <i>"The second approach, however, presents historical change as a relatively continuous social and cultural process, a process which shows few if any sharp breaks, but rather displays a slow but patterned alteration in which, though developmental phases may be discerned when the entire course of the process is viewed as a whole, it is nearly always very difficult, if not impossible, to put ones finger exactly on the point at which things stopped being what they were and became instead something else. This view of change or process, stresses not so much the annalistic chronicle of what people did, but rather the formal, or structural, patterns of cumulative activity. The period approach distributes clusters of concrete events along a time continuum in which the major distinction is earlier or later; the developmental approach distributes forms of organisation and patterns of culture along a time continuum in which the major distinction is perquisite and outcome. Time is a crucial element in both. In the first it is the thread along which specific happenings are strung; in the second it is a medium through which certain abstract processes move."</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #404040;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="336" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tPZPrT3P6nE" width="404" youtube-src-id="tPZPrT3P6nE"></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #404040;">(Clifford Geertz explaining literally anything)</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040;"><span style="color: #404040;"><br /></span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040;">Now, once decoded, I don't necessarily disagree with this, but I'm not sure how useful it is and I find the manner in which it is said mindbreakingly discursive and suspicious.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040;">This is a Geertzian argument. If you think you can handle it or, god fucking help you, that you might actually enjoy it, then dive in bro.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: start;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: start;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">BALI</h2><div><br /></div><div>Bali is an island you have probably already heard of as a holiday destination. On the Westward edge of Indonesia it has a balmy climate, fruitful wet rice cultivation and a large population for its size.</div><div><br /></div><div>Bali has a lot of culture. Its large, dense population is very highly organised and it is on the boundary of several big culture zones; the Indonesian Archipelago, the great sweep eastward of Indian-continent, Hindu or 'Indic' culture in the historical past, influences from Oceana, western colonisation at the hands of the Dutch in quite recent history.</div><div><br /></div><div>The West crashing into Bali relatively recently means that Western ethnography has 'access' via many travellers and scholars who just had to spend some in the wonderful climate and surrounded by the beautiful people of Balie for research and colonisation purposes, we must know more about this tropical island of hot babes and cheap opium. That is was recent means Bali is still weird as shit and there is a lot lot lot to go on about.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is more. In fact with Balinese culture there is "always more". It is a gumbo of multitudinous cultural, ritual, organisation, religious and governmental forms. Added to this its neatly If ethnologists and anthropologists had a PornHub it would be Bali 24/7. It might be the most interesting place ever.</div><div><br /></div><div>(There may be a pleasingly sinister Aryan connection. Bali was 'Indicised' by cultural outflow from India, absorbing a lot of Hindu/Indian culture. I did wonder if the ritual wife-burnings described were a distant echo of an origin culture that also lead to the slave burning witnessed by Ibn Fadlan when he encountered the Rus in the European dark age. I don't know if there is any confirmation of the Indo-Europeans spreading wife/servant/dependant ritual burnings at funerals, but it does seem like the kind of thing they would be into. It would be nuts if the Vikings and Balinese were culturally related.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Is Bali really that much more complex than an equivalent Western/European polity? Its hard for me to tell. Some of the overwhelming nature of the discussion of political groups, ritual groups, rice growing hydraulic groups, family/houseyard groups, temples, rituals, conflicts, layer upon layer of organisation, obligation, lords here, priests there, pass the Opium, is simply because the terms and concepts are unfamiliar. Bali has a lot of things that are a bit like the western version but none of them are actually like that, so a discussion of *anything* Balinese starts with; "this is a bit like a lord/peasant relationship, so we use those words, except not really, and actually totally different, but we don't really have words for exactly what it was....."</div><div><br /></div><div>But this isn't actually more-dense complexity but only perceived complexity.</div><div><br /></div><div>Bali has a large and *dense* population by western norms, due to having a really nice climate and wet rice cultivation. (Like java the volcanoes probably mean very continuously fertile fields). So there are a lot of people in very close communication, dealing and interacting with each other in a huge variety of ways. (But no cities as we would understand them).</div><div><br /></div><div>But this may not be any more complex proportionate to population than the western version, with the same total of people more widely spread.</div><div><br /></div><div>(Of course many close dense interconnections and relationships can increase complexity purely due to that density.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Bali is also a hyper-studied place for all the reasons given above, so the simple weight of scholarship, reportage and analysis almost feeds upon itself, producing more analysis and thus more perceived complexity.</div><div><br /></div><div>Bali is represented here as a very deeply contextual society where the folkways/religion/government/rituals/society are all very deeply interrelated almost all of the time. As Geertz would put it, the culture is woven into every fabric, object, design element, artwork, ritual, temple, house, clothing item, Kriss, rice paddy.. it’s everywhere and everything. Because everything feels so deeply integrated into the directly experienced human lifeworld, it might be actually impossible to understand Bali. To understand it you would need to actually live in it, to breath it, be absorbed by it, in order to drink in the deep context. If you are absorbed in it you cannot truly observe it from outside. So the only person who could really understand Bali is someone born there, growing up and living in the centre of its culture as a natural intuitive insider, AND, who was also born far away and had an entirely different set of values and came to Bali from the outside, learning everything about it from there and carefully observing.</div><div><br /></div><div>This person cannot exist so perhaps Bali cannot be studied.</div><div><br /></div><div>One idea that kept coming to mind as I read was the concept of Bali as a living antifossil. (Of course we are not meant to treat Bali as a living fossil of an 'Indic' culture as it would have been before the modern age all over Indonesia, as Geertz argues quite a bit, before typically tacitly doing exactly that).</div><div><br /></div><div>But Bali as an example of what a post-singularity or post-scarcity human future might look like after mass genetic engineering and the creation of 'human optimal' biomes and plant and animal forms; dense, warm, full of insanely complex groupings and stratification, deeply absorbed in rituals, with some passing trade, not that much interest in things outside the culture, no deep sense of mission but one of continuity, some semi-regular violence. Is this what the 'human optimum' might look like? A dense, warm, relatively static culture where most human basic needs are met?</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course Bali has scarcity. My observation comes from seeing it from European eyes where, to us, it has everything Europe doesn't, and everything we might wish for in terms of climate, manageable size, a ridiculously productive agricultural system, relative peace and human flourishing in the way that most psychologically average humans would probably conceive it.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you went back in time, put a European peasant in coma, took them to Bali & woke them up, they might actually think they were in heaven. It has everything a peasant wants from heaven.</div><div><br /></div><div>I do not really believe in a 'final', optimum, or zero-scarcity human culture as humans create scarcity through their desires regardless of what is or isn’t materially available. But its interesting to try to imagine 'plateau' cultures or 'optimal' cultures we might inhabit on our journey.</div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040;"><span style="font-size: 19.3333px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #404040;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZx_hZSlecQLmlXAQnFYTsvLnggmgsGKHUo13PLxZOsaZj4IpPvENdA3gnXshosQgnXJGtd_YGYXdBPjD08MLUUjqE1KHerqWoHlxg_5ub4L6PwvL1QwWOgs79tss0K3h3QREfjaDU0SUKgjvTk_74fiyJrHJHSp6_Jdmg0eo7qbYH3UtMh0isLI9Ow7tw/s600/7f9d7d93d6905cae9483a98af1ebe043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="488" height="509" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZx_hZSlecQLmlXAQnFYTsvLnggmgsGKHUo13PLxZOsaZj4IpPvENdA3gnXshosQgnXJGtd_YGYXdBPjD08MLUUjqE1KHerqWoHlxg_5ub4L6PwvL1QwWOgs79tss0K3h3QREfjaDU0SUKgjvTk_74fiyJrHJHSp6_Jdmg0eo7qbYH3UtMh0isLI9Ow7tw/w414-h509/7f9d7d93d6905cae9483a98af1ebe043.jpg" width="414" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #404040;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Spies)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #404040;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040;"><br /></span></p><h2 style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #404040;">GEERTZS ARGUMENT - WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO PROVE IT?</span></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040;">Ritual and power interweave at every juncture, so like any complex argument from the human lifeworld where behaviours interweave and support each other and where each is to some extent an expression of the other, the question is less 'which of these things is this behaviour *really* about? But more; in this web of feedback, which of these elements is *more* dominant, and *which* times and under what conditions?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040;">Can we find times in Bali where power and ritual were in conflict and Ritual clearly won? (this would be hard because by definition, whichever aspect of society was behind the Ritual answer, turned out to be more "powerful" because they "won". You can’t disprove the rule of power since whatever does rule, is power.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: start;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #404040;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #404040;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxCTrvecJ20fph-ZbFsa5pDDKWwh2pZu8338mVIP14Ac0I1GAojnQkD6rS8k17Xlgauq6F254Gq5DkeTWI7JqRdnaauuSPW_83-Z85RD4s4LWjV8nig1-HiLrkwWFvilvSvB36-aKOFX8EsFrsm9dPsJUe-RjhNX8QIANVtcxb3SgjlugYWA_NWFxmY0s/s512/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="381" height="553" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxCTrvecJ20fph-ZbFsa5pDDKWwh2pZu8338mVIP14Ac0I1GAojnQkD6rS8k17Xlgauq6F254Gq5DkeTWI7JqRdnaauuSPW_83-Z85RD4s4LWjV8nig1-HiLrkwWFvilvSvB36-aKOFX8EsFrsm9dPsJUe-RjhNX8QIANVtcxb3SgjlugYWA_NWFxmY0s/w411-h553/unnamed.jpg" width="411" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #404040;"><br /><span style="font-size: 19.3333px;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><br /></p><h2 style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: left;">THE DANCE METAPHOR</h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;">Something familiar to most of us from Television; experienced Judges witnessing a dance and offering opinions on which of the dancers is really leading at which times.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;">The dancers in this case are Power and Ritual in Bali.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;">How useful is this metaphor? The more into the weeds of actual dancing the less useful</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;">but some concepts to consider might be;</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;">- The *complexity* of the *whole* situation with the judges watching the dance and the dancers responding to each other. Multiple observers observing elements that are mutually-observing.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;">- How genuinely hard it is to judge matters of dominance in complex feedback behaviours. The dynamics existed in-the-moment, between two maximally-engaged and highly responsive sophonts in a flow state. What happened between them might not be 'knowable' by an observer.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;">- the complexity of the judges *response* to the dance and how they might argue with each other afterwards, each basing their points on what they saw (all slightly different), what they themselves know of dancing (all slightly different) and any contextual knowledge they might have of these dancers in particular.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;">If you imagine the depth of this imagined situation, the differences of opinion, limits of evidence and some things that maybe even maximal evidence and knowledge can't reveal, then that is perhaps a rough guide to the level of difficulty, complexity of witnessing, evidence and judgement we engage in when we try to untangle these relationships like for instance Geertz's argument that in Bali Ritual was (more) dominant over Power (most of the time).</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;">In Geertzs' defence the thing he is trying to prove is immeasurably complex ad subtle and about an immeasurably complex society, so proving, or even arguing it properly would be a staggering synthesis of rigour, subtlety and vast arcologies of detail. It would be an absolutely peak academic argument, if it could be done.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;">Few could do it and Geertz is not among them. He writes the wrap-up synthesis at the end but that belongs at the end of a much longer, much better, and paradoxically, much easier to read book.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;">Geertz is probably right in that in Bali, ritual was a power of its own, its own centre of 'not-power' to which what we commonly think of as 'real power'; guns, money, sex and taxes, was subservient.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;">But he doesn't prove it. He puts a lot of arguments in the air, considers a lot of things, gestures towards his final summation and then runs for it, like a magician fleeing the stage while the plates are spinning.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijB5QY5s4g6dhFqpX6vYcIaUb9eKbCeqm_8Ov75tCtTuPflDkWYMOYFMjSK6n1OsY6QcWR6suoeBxn2sB5VAERVso6NlplPtdiMdBTz1YhDTEa5dBqz_26esPO2S2JkhnIz_5ogY52rcNlG4cR1eGkAz0gJWQWeuMKjioKVg3uC6CHLcWUTuKjsqsWbReM/s1112/doorofperception.com-Walter_Spies-Bali-Paintings-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="1112" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijB5QY5s4g6dhFqpX6vYcIaUb9eKbCeqm_8Ov75tCtTuPflDkWYMOYFMjSK6n1OsY6QcWR6suoeBxn2sB5VAERVso6NlplPtdiMdBTz1YhDTEa5dBqz_26esPO2S2JkhnIz_5ogY52rcNlG4cR1eGkAz0gJWQWeuMKjioKVg3uC6CHLcWUTuKjsqsWbReM/w436-h436/doorofperception.com-Walter_Spies-Bali-Paintings-1.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-23346715929988088402023-12-23T07:10:00.000-08:002023-12-23T07:10:04.460-08:00<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px;">I fully intended to do at least one full, proper post before the Gackling Moon Kickstarter ends on Christmas Eve..</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">And I have failed! I am sorry!</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">At least we have hit some stretch goals;</p><div class="captioned-image-container" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; margin: var(--size-32) auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><picture style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; 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--tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; display: flex; position: relative;"><div style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"></div></div></a></figure></div><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">All backers will get a free interlinked PDF! (the rest of you will have to pay £5)</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><div class="captioned-image-container" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; margin: var(--size-32) auto;"><figure style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: 0px auto; width: 728px;"><picture style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; 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--tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;" type="image/webp"></source><img alt="" class="sizing-normal" data-attrs="{"src":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/3ee5d3c1-3797-4c3c-b9ac-fc00deabaca9_719x192.png","srcNoWatermark":null,"fullscreen":null,"imageSize":null,"height":192,"width":719,"resizeWidth":null,"bytes":44278,"alt":null,"title":null,"type":"image/png","href":null,"belowTheFold":false,"topImage":false,"internalRedirect":null}" height="129" sizes="100vw" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3ee5d3c1-3797-4c3c-b9ac-fc00deabaca9_719x192.png" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3ee5d3c1-3797-4c3c-b9ac-fc00deabaca9_719x192.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3ee5d3c1-3797-4c3c-b9ac-fc00deabaca9_719x192.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3ee5d3c1-3797-4c3c-b9ac-fc00deabaca9_719x192.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3ee5d3c1-3797-4c3c-b9ac-fc00deabaca9_719x192.png 1456w" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%;" width="484" /></picture><a class="image-link image2" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3ee5d3c1-3797-4c3c-b9ac-fc00deabaca9_719x192.png" rel="" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; border: 0px; display: flex; flex-direction: column; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; width: auto;" target="_blank"><div class="image2-inset" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; display: flex; position: relative;"><div style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"></div></div></a></figure></div><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">The Book will now be Hardback for all!</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><div class="captioned-image-container" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; margin: var(--size-32) auto;"><figure style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; 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--tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; border: 0px; cursor: zoom-in; display: flex; flex-direction: column; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; width: auto;" target="_blank"><div class="image2-inset" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; display: flex; position: relative;"><div class="image-link-expand" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; background: var(--color-bg-modal); border-radius: 6px; cursor: pointer; display: flex; height: var(--size-32); justify-content: center; opacity: 0; position: absolute; right: var(--size-12); top: var(--size-12); transition: all var(--animation-timing-fast) var(--animation-smoothing); width: var(--size-32);"><svg class="lucide lucide-maximize2 " fill="none" height="16" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" stroke="#FFFFFF" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="16" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></div></div></a></figure></div><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">We are taking £1 off the cost (either of the book price or postage, whichever is easier), for all backers!</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">We have about 24 hours left, so…</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><div class="captioned-image-container" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; 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--tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; border: 0px; cursor: zoom-in; display: flex; flex-direction: column; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; width: auto;" target="_blank"><div class="image2-inset" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; display: flex; position: relative;"><div class="image-link-expand" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; background: var(--color-bg-modal); border-radius: 6px; cursor: pointer; display: flex; height: var(--size-32); justify-content: center; opacity: 0; position: absolute; right: var(--size-12); top: var(--size-12); transition: all var(--animation-timing-fast) var(--animation-smoothing); width: var(--size-32);"><svg class="lucide lucide-maximize2 " fill="none" height="16" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" stroke="#FFFFFF" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="16" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></div></div></a></figure></div><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Its possible we might hit this one; £2 off for all backers.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">And if we get that one..</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><div class="captioned-image-container" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; margin: var(--size-32) auto;"><figure style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; 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--tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; background: var(--color-bg-modal); border-radius: 6px; cursor: pointer; display: flex; height: var(--size-32); justify-content: center; opacity: 0; position: absolute; right: var(--size-12); top: var(--size-12); transition: all var(--animation-timing-fast) var(--animation-smoothing); width: var(--size-32);"><svg class="lucide lucide-maximize2 " fill="none" height="16" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" stroke="#FFFFFF" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="16" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></div></div></a></figure></div><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Gasp!</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><div class="captioned-image-container" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; 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--tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; border: 0px; cursor: zoom-in; display: flex; flex-direction: column; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; width: auto;" target="_blank"><div class="image2-inset" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; display: flex; position: relative;"><div class="image-link-expand" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; background: var(--color-bg-modal); border-radius: 6px; cursor: pointer; display: flex; height: var(--size-32); justify-content: center; opacity: 0; position: absolute; right: var(--size-12); top: var(--size-12); transition: all var(--animation-timing-fast) var(--animation-smoothing); width: var(--size-32);"><svg class="lucide lucide-maximize2 " fill="none" height="16" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" stroke="#FFFFFF" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="16" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></div></div></a></figure></div><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">At backers request, you can now back for two books!</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqGHsjqatlEFq48B7DJxoYsa171mFf1NF7Wh8pQMYRmy7M0nKhZ0euP-bq1to9jz-P3OwfFxO1ZV20YNtApgLA0OkiKj_edaGQrKD13yXh1T756LKKxtqBl93gtzUCYTPawDQ80bcqTfhIOECe3-FOt5nrGiNmO5x2wm_CIdYn4ttAKwwZ5cU6HvSox7q/s498/worried-scared%20(1).gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="498" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqGHsjqatlEFq48B7DJxoYsa171mFf1NF7Wh8pQMYRmy7M0nKhZ0euP-bq1to9jz-P3OwfFxO1ZV20YNtApgLA0OkiKj_edaGQrKD13yXh1T756LKKxtqBl93gtzUCYTPawDQ80bcqTfhIOECe3-FOt5nrGiNmO5x2wm_CIdYn4ttAKwwZ5cU6HvSox7q/w418-h219/worried-scared%20(1).gif" width="418" /></a></div><br /><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><h1 class="header-with-anchor-widget" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: var(--font_family_headings, var(--font_family_headings_preset, 'SF Compact Display', -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol')); font-weight: var(--font_weight_headings_preset, bold); line-height: 1.16em; margin: 1em 0px 0.625em; position: relative; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gawain/gackling-moon" rel="" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Gackling Moon!</a><div class="header-anchor-widget offset-top" id="§gackling-moon" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; height: 44.075px; left: -56px; position: absolute; top: -72px; width: 56px;"><div class="header-anchor-widget-button-container" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; 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font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gawain/gackling-moon" rel="" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Take a </a><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gawain/gackling-moon" rel="" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">look if you want to! Merry Christmas Everyone!</a></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbG2PYgZZvvJMNafaNdYYzdq7oHI93rFG1flUV55CWgDxZEsMfN_eY1tVu8eIzeU9y9MvaSU_kxkTm7WtbCt4BvDD8Hid5m3kdbgMTm2NhRq75xpF8GustCI8kefI98tm0-6j4lzrqwThvQTNF6fIIpco-aaHUr84j55fCgGfxD-mo0y_uWflGrwRKepTD/s293/jezu-jak-latwo-nie-wierze-w-boro.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="220" height="441" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbG2PYgZZvvJMNafaNdYYzdq7oHI93rFG1flUV55CWgDxZEsMfN_eY1tVu8eIzeU9y9MvaSU_kxkTm7WtbCt4BvDD8Hid5m3kdbgMTm2NhRq75xpF8GustCI8kefI98tm0-6j4lzrqwThvQTNF6fIIpco-aaHUr84j55fCgGfxD-mo0y_uWflGrwRKepTD/w331-h441/jezu-jak-latwo-nie-wierze-w-boro.gif" width="331" /></a></div><br /><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;"><br /></p>pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-13040893535014487992023-12-06T03:08:00.000-08:002023-12-06T10:52:15.987-08:00The Autumn of Summers<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Nothing dies like a Summer and the great beasts of
forgotten summers, each different. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Seasons here come from the southwest and fade towards the
north east, vanishing over those black hills, but there is something there
among the pale lakes which curdles seasons, traps them so, in each season, a
great beast comes forth. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So tit is that this is the land of great beasts. Each
beast is always different, as each season is different. And so this is a land
of hunters and scholars of the hunt. Ao-one knows precisely what will come
forth - the where’s and the hows of it. All can be dangerous, but the parts and
danger of each beast can possess increasable properties, and the hunt is always
different for each season. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The beasts of summer are usually the most violent and aggressive,
if not the most deadly. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">But now comes a great terror, for up int the black hills,
a strange moon rose and the world shook, and this autumn has come forth not one
beast of summer but all. A torrent of forgotten summers - one each day or night
- slinking sliding or blazing forth so that the cool night shimmers and simmers
with beasts. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It is very terrible, nothing is safe or regular. As bad
as the beasts are the hunters that flood up the river. Yet we need them; all
the old hunters of past summers. They gather round in creaking hustles, talking
here with a farmer, there with a thane, the old men and housewives pulling on
pipes and speaking what they know of this beast or that; </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cw54hR8jHZrT1eO3ZsGgPZvj4QH-Uo57IJzNvV3U1dzegSEwJ-oUqJ54YwP5QHeQDDHlo7LiOHHXuGXG8wQtDmfNoRXfFub35-d7qytcy-K9UfI4cxlRNt7x9HC4VJWiGo5-FPYPfQnHkKiABvtPBUqd1bFB6GCvunObHn2eYJj2qqwKN8V36Wa0YQqF/s2462/The%20hunters%20at%20rest%20Vasily%20Grigorievich%20Perov.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="2462" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cw54hR8jHZrT1eO3ZsGgPZvj4QH-Uo57IJzNvV3U1dzegSEwJ-oUqJ54YwP5QHeQDDHlo7LiOHHXuGXG8wQtDmfNoRXfFub35-d7qytcy-K9UfI4cxlRNt7x9HC4VJWiGo5-FPYPfQnHkKiABvtPBUqd1bFB6GCvunObHn2eYJj2qqwKN8V36Wa0YQqF/w480-h312/The%20hunters%20at%20rest%20Vasily%20Grigorievich%20Perov.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hunters at rest Vasily Grigorievich Perov</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>1 - Its form; (d20)<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">1. <b>Sinious and lizardine</b>, it curleth and windeth
that its end might be hither and yon, now near, now far.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2. a <b>lion in aspect</b> and aye ye might say that none
here have <i>seen</i> a lion in this life or the next but the old books speak
much of them and tales as well and at all or most points I do say it be
lionlike.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3. the beast be <b>horned and prancing,</b> like an old
forest god, a great deer or a circus man<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4. the beast be <b>a flock or swarm of some flying thing</b>,
it be a shimmer in the air, or perhaps like many birds<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5. the beast be <b>a river creature swimming in the air</b>
as if t’were water above and not below<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6. the beast is <b>chimeric, brutal and winged</b>, a
beast of many parts and not well arranged<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7. the beast is <b>insectile but vast in scael,</b> like
a small thing made larger than it might be, or a familiar thing made unfamiliar<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">8. the beast is a <b>lizard beast of </b>a lost age, or
the bones of one, or perhaps it be an alligator or a huge chicken yet it have
some part of all of those<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">9. the beast be a <b>platypus</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10. the beast be like a <b>crawling baby</b> or toddling
boy with a huge beasts head, or visa versa some say<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">11. the beast is a great <b>stilted quadruped</b> moving
dreamlike yet its feet are cruel<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">12. the beast is a <b>screeching feathered earthbound
mess<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">13. this is a rapidly <b>tunnelying beast</b> with a
strong dorsal fin or spike that preturdeth forth and it do churn its way
through the earth very busyliy<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">14. the beast is a <b>rolling pangolin</b>, or armadillo,
or a long beast yet that it form itself into an hoop and roll<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">15. the beast is <b>akin to a rabbit</b> or hare, small
or large<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">16. the beast is <b>small bird but very big</b>, not a
large bird, but a small one made big<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">17. the beast is most like an <b>elephant</b> or mammoth<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">18. I would say it is a wild cackling <b>monkey</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">19. Of this beast a man might say; “this be alike unto a <b>great
beetle</b>” but another say “It be not so and you are a foole to say so, look
thee upon a beetle for they be common enough and say again that the beast be so
alike, go on with ye ye great foole ye”.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">20. Some would call it like a <b>Dragonfly</b>, yet one
not seen hither, others may call it a bird of heaven. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFU3pW4xaq1IUHjR0d7M-U5-mGCrskVvtJOld5of_DCWqcz2oxmBEdpYm8BAR9PPGiqRj02XnS007EIAvKzjBtOatqAST-b9eCLt8UUSrKW2ZCGLFWg96ws4MsgDef6UCEQyVpNK7kOrvBeO2U25nXOcT03Epm8sZgtkoTwjcfmicT6inASUgRxIlXeDaj/s555/Drunk%20Hunters%20Rest%20with%20Dog%20-%20Unknown.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="555" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFU3pW4xaq1IUHjR0d7M-U5-mGCrskVvtJOld5of_DCWqcz2oxmBEdpYm8BAR9PPGiqRj02XnS007EIAvKzjBtOatqAST-b9eCLt8UUSrKW2ZCGLFWg96ws4MsgDef6UCEQyVpNK7kOrvBeO2U25nXOcT03Epm8sZgtkoTwjcfmicT6inASUgRxIlXeDaj/w477-h352/Drunk%20Hunters%20Rest%20with%20Dog%20-%20Unknown.jpg" width="477" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drunk Hunters Rest with Dog - Unknown</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>2 - Its coat similar to; (d12) </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">1-3; <b>Skin</b>; naked is the beast <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4; It be a <b>hairy beast</b>, which is that its hairs be
looser and longer than fur<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5-6; The beast have <b>scales</b> like a snake<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7-8; It hath <b>fur</b>, mayhap short but not too long<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">9-10; It is a <b>feathered</b> beast<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">11-12; It be <b>two of the above</b> each in separate
parts. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>3 - Its colour; (d20) </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">1. Like <b>fire embers</b> mixed with <b>falling cherry
blossom</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2. <b>gold</b> tarnished with nitre but in places waxing
seemingly molten yet without heat<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3. heat-haze <b>sunset red</b> fading into <b>blue</b>
counter-shading<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4. like a shiny <b>copper</b> penny<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5. a shifting <b>blue-green</b> iridescence shining as if
always under summer light even when not<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6. from powder <b>blue</b> to ink-<b>black</b> mixing
with its own long ever-present shadow<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7. crocus-<b>yellow</b> veined with <b>pink</b> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">8. the <b>red</b> of sunbeaten bricks with parts like
fine <b>pink</b>-traced marble<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">9. like deep <b>red</b> polished wood<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10. <b>tobacco</b>-stained dove feathers<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">11. bee or tiger-striped, aggressive <b>yellow</b> and
depthless <b>black</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">13. shimmering cut-grass <b>green</b>, along with the
smell<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">14. bright burning yellow-white of a noon sun (it be hard
to gaze upon)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">15. <b>Eclipse-Coloured</b> (that is pseudo twilight,
black ringed with white and many-shadowed)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">16. A smooth milky white with dream-coloured markings (a
colour not of this sphere), either that or the colour of wounded ice.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">17. <b>Rose</b> counterpointing the <b>blood-green</b> of
thorn<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">18. The soft <b>tan</b> of well cared-for teeth, ringed
with glistening <b>red</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">19. Perfect <b>lavender</b> with the smell also and bees
always near whether day or night<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">20. beaten heated iron speckled with the colour of its <b>sparks</b>
and with something of its heat </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>4 - Its size and bygness; (2d6) </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2. Very little <b>like a kitten</b> yet faster than the
eye and fierce as fire<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3. <b>Badger size</b>, deft and ferocious withal<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4. A <b>wildcats size</b> and suppleness, and as silent
and careful<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5. The size of a <b>big dog</b> yea also robust, fearless
and deep-chested that it tire not<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6. As wide as a <b>pygg, or boar</b> very thick set and
small legged and oncoming<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7. Big as a <b>foal or mule</b> with long slender parts
yet some thikke<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">8-9. It hath the mass of <b>tiger or great catt</b>, very
large and at all points well-proportioned<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10. More large and mighty than an <b>Aurochs</b> - it
could break down simple walls<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">11. Alike the tales of the <b>Olyphant</b> claim; that it
may batter houses<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">12. Like a <b>Wyrm</b> of tales, or mayhap a <b>Whale</b>
of the See. A mighty thing that may push down the tallest trees and fear none </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjz_9WBz22odt3PAUZkdXxNLyMJTmXRi8twk4-QEyphcGAHdoOvq9AfAF6H7yfQWNNjMeggF_wVHqkGm8Oq-hol2zvgd9MWusNQHq2QacG60oSjvtiPwIbKTQnkfT_vbeN-MeOojg-lYo3_xjUITu9gRKooXinGp0_N_iStHieqHT_v3I_plqQqHdjh2g/s1106/The%20Hunting%20Meeting%20Adolphe%20Monticelli.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1106" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjz_9WBz22odt3PAUZkdXxNLyMJTmXRi8twk4-QEyphcGAHdoOvq9AfAF6H7yfQWNNjMeggF_wVHqkGm8Oq-hol2zvgd9MWusNQHq2QacG60oSjvtiPwIbKTQnkfT_vbeN-MeOojg-lYo3_xjUITu9gRKooXinGp0_N_iStHieqHT_v3I_plqQqHdjh2g/w492-h355/The%20Hunting%20Meeting%20Adolphe%20Monticelli.jpg" width="492" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hunting Meeting Adolphe Monticelli</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>5 - A Wonderous Aspect the beast hath; (d20)<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">1. <b>Heat</b>, that it gives out a great warmth that parches
the green and bakes the earth and makes a shimmer in the air so that the birds
drop dead and an egg may be cooked in its track, it may also breathe the fire
of the sun some say.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2. <b>Winds</b>. It be cradled and woven with winds that
may blast hunters hither and yon and may even carry it forth in the air.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3. <b>Gold.</b> All those wounded by it corrupt not into
foulness but transmute slowly into purest gold, spreading like infection from
its wound till they die thereof. It may be that its blood be hot gold, or its
bones, or that it breathe gold or its fewmets be so.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4. <b>Sweetness</b>. The beast hath about it an Amorous
sweetness which do cause those nearby to look kindly and sweetly upon one
another and the beast too so that a man may be being eaten by the beast and cry
out; hurt it not, the poore thing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5. <b>Fecundity</b>. A great growth of green things
wherever the beast passes, as much as if the land were left untilled and
unmanaged for five or ten years or more.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6. <b>Fertilisation</b>. It be that where the beast is or
has been, if ye be tupped ye shall seed and if ye tupp another they shall be
with child, this being so for all animals even man, and the children be many.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7. <b>Priapism and Satyrification</b>. All males around
the beast find themselves in a great heat for what they desire and ever-ready
to make their amore with whatever they may see be it alike unto their love or
not. This being so for all animals and they becoming most dangerous as a
result.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">8. <b>Mnemophagy</b>. This beast do devour all memory of
it, though how it do this, by bite or sight, or be scent or touch, or by
infection or whatever, none can recall. Likewise whatever be said of this beast
be hearsay only, aye even this.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">9. <b>Loss, Listlessness and Dwelling upon Old Things</b>.
Those who hunt the beast are become a melancholic sort, as if the very thought
of it do lead the mind down old and winding paths such that men take to drink
and poetry and hunt it not.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10. <b>Phoenixaliac Rekindling After Death</b>. If the
beast be killed it shall live again another way. How this be done and how
stopped none have yet devised/<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">11. <b>The Engendering of Mazes</b>. Some by growth,
others by a changing of the world.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">12. <b>It Doth Blind Those Who Look Upon It</b>. As it be
its form be but a rumour from seeing it in mirrors.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">13. <b>Shamed-to-Mar</b>. All those who pierce, slice,
put blows upon or otherwise marr the beast are consumed inwardly by great shame
as if they had done a holy wrong and must be kept from blade, rope and poison
for a good while.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">14. <b>That It May Dwell in Reflections</b>. It do seem
very small in a mirror, glass or still water, yet may leap from one to another
and come again in its true size and largeness.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">15. <b>That It May Change Its Size</b>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">16. <b>That Its Blood Become Clever Snakes</b>. Red and
poisonous and at times capable of speech, these issue forth and run up trousers
and into joints where they bite venomously and lethally. If a snake may be
taken and kept it may give secrets. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">17. <b>That Its Roar Makes Panic, Causes Walls to Shatter
and Streams to Surge and Doth Awaken Dark Spirits</b>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">18. <b>That It May Not Be Harmed By Weapon Made Of Mortal
Hand.</b> Yet how this be accounted, that it be a thing forged, or simply
assembled by hand, if a sword will strike, an arrow pierce or even a thrown
rock hit home I cannot say.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">19. <b>That It Maketh a Music or Cry Which Do Exchange
The Selves Of Those Thereabout As If T’were The Shuffling of Cards</b>. If the
beast do make its sound aye one shall become another as if the spright were
hoisted from one wight and placed in another as a card may change hands and
this hath done great confusion for many are not them-selves.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">20. <b>That It Be A Phylactery</b>. It be said the beast
have within it the souls of any whom it has slain or who have fallen by its
hand and should it die they shall be free’d. Yet whether they will attain their
old wights or where they shall go, who can say?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFZP3p9UMb1eOJlioHVZKLP3lL1z59k_I2nT5JGdTNCjmUqaxj7f9DAQHWn68aCPQaZhwLP1MLGQ5IwFJ5ncJ8T7xlkOW1743w_kR1gKYE5yejgVAt4osldFNoPNorIqiuzx4cRQgMkENGWP3U8TcELmPEIc3_mSE0Vl475ubfoLwXNbpJ31j1EaWanqA/s3121/The%20meeting%20of%20Khusrau%20and%20Shir%C4%ABn%20on%20the%20hunting%20field.%20Gouache%20painting%20by%20a%20Persian%20artist,%20Qajar%20period.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2612" data-original-width="3121" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFZP3p9UMb1eOJlioHVZKLP3lL1z59k_I2nT5JGdTNCjmUqaxj7f9DAQHWn68aCPQaZhwLP1MLGQ5IwFJ5ncJ8T7xlkOW1743w_kR1gKYE5yejgVAt4osldFNoPNorIqiuzx4cRQgMkENGWP3U8TcELmPEIc3_mSE0Vl475ubfoLwXNbpJ31j1EaWanqA/w502-h420/The%20meeting%20of%20Khusrau%20and%20Shir%C4%ABn%20on%20the%20hunting%20field.%20Gouache%20painting%20by%20a%20Persian%20artist,%20Qajar%20period.jpg" width="502" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The meeting of Khusrau and Shirīn on the hunting field. <br />Gouache painting by a Persian artist, Qajar period</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>6 - the prey of the beast; (d20)<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">1. <b>Man</b>. The beast taketh any man or woman wherever
and however it may and makes little division or distinction between them be
they man, woman, young, old, sic or hale or of this land or that.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2. <b>The Beasts of the Field</b>. It doth eat the cows,
sheep, hoggs and Goats and any other beast that the hand of man places in some
pasture or closed acre so that the country go bare and the fields overgrown,
but of wild beasts it eats not.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3. <b>Bridges</b>. Not only these but perhaps doors,
gates, crossing place poles that carry signs it doth gulp and swallow all as if
t’were good cheese so that no river may be crossed, door barred and no man know
which way go which.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4. <b>Those Sleeping</b>. Both beast and man so that all
living fair and foul in the land fear greatly to sleep, or if they can sleep in
shifts and all are tired most times and muchly. Sleep not lest the beast take
thee!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5. <b>Princes</b>. Tis well these are few and
well-guarded and rich withal that they may pay hunters to protect them. Yet a
crown to travel faster than a ray of light and should one prince fall the crown
do go rightways to another and the beast smells them out rightwise.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6. <b>Children</b>. Oh woe!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7. <b>It Doth Eat of the Greene</b>. As to a locust or
plague of voals, the crops are devoured and even the leaves of the trees!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">8. <b>It Snuffleth in the Earth</b>. What it seekes there
who doth know, yet it tear up the land in great trenches and pitts and leaves a
soily ruine wherever it will.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">9. <b>Treasures of Silver and Gold.</b> Such riches be
like sweetmeats to the beast and it may smell them out readily enough. It hathe
eaten half the gold hearabouts and we must go now on credit. No coin or ring is
safe but it will not eat flesh.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10. <b>Yron</b>. And mayhap steel, so that horses go unshoed and
nothing of great devise may be made or sustained in this land but that the
beast will smell it out and devour it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">11. <b>Chickens.</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">12. <b>Clothes and Eyes</b>. Tis very sad to see the
blind and naked people hearabouts. Some say it better that the beast do sukk
they yghen outte, others prefer that the orb be pierced and drawn like an
olive.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">13. <b>Fingers</b>. And it will not discern between but
take all and in great bites and then be gone and ye left with bloody mitts as
ye may see from some here.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">14. <b>Virgins</b>. I be in no danger but in gods name
get ye tupped or get ye gonne.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">15. <b>Prey of the Hunt</b>. The great of the land be
offended for not fox nor deer nor bear or even badger can be quested for but
that the beast interrupt and take the prey, even a small man may not take a
pigeon by arrow lest the beast be upon them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">16. <b>Honey</b>. Aye and good luck to it and it may keep
the hives. But there shall be no honey this year and none left in jars either
and I take it sore.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">17. <b>Those Who Looke Not Behind Them</b>. For this you
see all hereabouts are everglancing and head turning and leaping and twisting
hither and yon for if the beast sees you looking towards your own hind to see
it then it shall fear to be seen but if not it shall come at thee.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">18. It <b>Drinketh the Streme</b>. And gulpeth all down
day upon day, now in one place, now another, as if it were the very see, and
the land by made parched therewith and there be nothing to drink at all.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">19. It Taketh <b>Voices</b> and <b>Wind</b>. ……… tis
still ………<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">20. <b>Wives</b>. And not all are pleased by it (though
some are), and do dress their wives in great suits of yron and spikes that the
beast may not get upon them and this do please some men who say t’should’ve
been done afore times yet others divorce & live free & the men be woe.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ME-Yi8mu04ITgbt6-tGu0_pQuNcO4H2G6s2eKPTiM1mMvbBz14kv33r4iRpfmXS9Lej9tCxgYPf4GCYDLB9e6sW4_CbRuJoG7bF1NsyiJT0uQHVJhimELkuvmylWBfPBveGKc1SF6QgG6X0bOZxaftt6SukQOg_mcAotoD7ZdzzjICOOQT9HmwvbSjDJ/s2560/The%20Old%20Hunter%20by%20Ferdinand%20de%20Braekeleer.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2194" data-original-width="2560" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ME-Yi8mu04ITgbt6-tGu0_pQuNcO4H2G6s2eKPTiM1mMvbBz14kv33r4iRpfmXS9Lej9tCxgYPf4GCYDLB9e6sW4_CbRuJoG7bF1NsyiJT0uQHVJhimELkuvmylWBfPBveGKc1SF6QgG6X0bOZxaftt6SukQOg_mcAotoD7ZdzzjICOOQT9HmwvbSjDJ/w508-h435/The%20Old%20Hunter%20by%20Ferdinand%20de%20Braekeleer.jpg" width="508" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Old Hunter <br />by Ferdinand de Braekeleer</td></tr></tbody></table><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>7 - manner and habit of the beast; (d20) </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">1. <b>Fuming and Bellicose</b>, it doth roar and go with
great bobbaunce and make much of itself as if it’were to be a king of beasts
aye and men too.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2. <b>Like a Hott Ember</b> that sits yet sparks fiercely
if poked. If ye see it show care for it may only growl and then leap forth in
ways unseen and with great pain.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3. It R<b>uns like Water </b>always to the Easiest &
subtlest Path.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4. It <b>stalks like a Tiger</b>, leaps and carries away
what it desires to where it would and only then devours them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5. <b>Preening and Ladylike</b>. It pleases to be admired
and preens and cleans often and is much horrored by being fouled. Likes to be
looked upon but does revenge itself like a batty matron if assailed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6. <b>Afearing and Astounding</b>. It pleasures in the
terror it inflicts and enjoys to afear and horrible its prey, to hear them
querulous, then to scream and run and be pursued as if the fear itself were
meat to it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7. <b>Like Stagnant Water in a Well</b>. It lies hidden
in some place where what is needed is kept, as with; water, firewood or
similar, then takes what comes and lets none pass. A bridge may be its dwelling
place.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">8. <b>Its Manner be Circumspect and Little Known</b>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">9. <b>Subtle and Sidling</b>, striking and assailing from
where it be not suspected to come. It doth take much pleasure in this
invention.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10. <b>Hawklike and Striking</b>, it do seek to observe
what it desires from and great distance, giving little sense or sign of what it
would, and in a trice it advance and descend in great speed and silence, aiming
at one and only one particular desire of its flesh and either it carry away
that one or it retreat and sitt and seem to again give little auger that it
ever desired any such thing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">11. <b>Wheeling and False-Craven</b>. The creature makes
a squirrel like hopping and friendliness and a craven wheedling like a beaten
dogg and a sopping of eyes like a sad child as if to say ay sir let me but be
by thy side, but attend it not for it shall eat well.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">12. <b>Regular and Castellean</b>. The beast doth patrol
its own walls and ways like a well-fed cellarmaster, one may set ones clock by
its goings.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">13. <b>Playful and Boisterous</b>. Frustrating as a
sugared child the beast demands attention and runs circling round and round and
round and upon tiring itself breaks down and wails, it assails in manic wise as
troubled children will.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">14. <b>Slovenly and Villainous</b>. A poor and nasty
creature that slinks and covertly writhes in great suspicion and clear
malignancy yet it seems not to think it is seen, also the thing by dirty,
wrenched and ill-kept.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">15. <b>Like a Snail that Knoweth Much</b>. It make is way
slowly but beware for the beast is a player of games and wise withal and shall
be neither outwitted or surprised, instead ye shall have thy hand turned as if
by a sharper of cards for all its slowness.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">16. <b>It Goeth about as a Merchant upon highway and road</b>.
The jaunty creature travels as if expecting good welcome.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">17. <b>Like a Great Shippe, or Drifting Thyng</b>. Or
mayhap like a cloud which goeth against the wind, or an old drunk who finds his
way home though bleary, the beast doe drift and hang about and do little and
then drift away.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">18. <b>Curious and nose-arching</b>. Like a pompous
drinker of fine wines the beast do sniff here and there and investigate much
and poke about where it will yet if seen it shall seem to give over that it
seek not and that whatever it hath found be not what it sought or it do be so
but not of right quality.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">19. It <b>Quest Like a Dogge</b>. Very much do it scent
and follow seeking and biting at what it wants.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">20. <b>It Cometh and Goeth at Strange Hours Alike Unto a
Man Confused.</b> No sooner be it in one place but that it look about it and
seem to go on as if it came wrongly, at other times it butts in where nothing
it desires may be but yet it shall be present and full of wonders till the
sense strike and it wander off or seem woeful and leave. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-9KiNHqHwgyqaWFqdFK0g9Zj-WWOBdgmKTOn7JD46pIYyED0iGiMgiQNbARgxIzFikjHevff__0F3WzcC5OkUpgr_zqxB3GFONBy8tPG4vcESZEJqq8jIDThjB1-VWzFx_Ec-WT4BF5ofJvOr2qRGPCm1JjfNtvzfXKd9NbQr_tjaq6JGsvlObdcU2oq/s642/Paulus%20Potter.%20The%20Bull,%201647.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="642" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-9KiNHqHwgyqaWFqdFK0g9Zj-WWOBdgmKTOn7JD46pIYyED0iGiMgiQNbARgxIzFikjHevff__0F3WzcC5OkUpgr_zqxB3GFONBy8tPG4vcESZEJqq8jIDThjB1-VWzFx_Ec-WT4BF5ofJvOr2qRGPCm1JjfNtvzfXKd9NbQr_tjaq6JGsvlObdcU2oq/w493-h343/Paulus%20Potter.%20The%20Bull,%201647.jpg" width="493" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paulus Potter. The Bull, 1647</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>8 - the lair of the beast if it have such; (d20) </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">1. <b>It Lay Down Where it Will</b>. Who can say where
the beast be, not I.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2. It Hide in a <b>Nest</b> in a Tall Tree<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3. It Seek out <b>Tombs</b>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4. In the <b>Roof</b> of an House<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5. <b>Beneath Something</b> Larger than Itself, often a
bridge, perhaps a hill<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6. In a great <b>Nutt</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7. <b>Behind a Clokk</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">8. It <b>hideth in a myst</b> which emits from a toad
that lives in a tree that grows upon a skul, tho<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the nature of the skul be of no consequence
in this telling and only a matter of chance and I say to thee any skul will do
and busy thyself not with this petty aspect but be about your work.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">9. It <b>liveth within a Goat</b> and which Goat or where
be not known except that it hunger for lime for the Beast within do afflict its
humours.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10. It <b>liveth in a place</b> that cannot be found
except that of those that pursue it each shall dream of the beast and dream one
thing true so that if several do seek and do remember and compare their dreams
the parts of which that are true will be combined to indicate the place yet for
that day or night only.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">11. It rest where <b>waters fall</b>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">12. It rest not and cease not but be <b>ever-amove</b>
such that if it cease it may die.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">13. It seeks old <b>castles</b> or <b>ruins</b> of like
kind.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">14. It be a shape-changing beast and <b>sleeps as a man</b>
in a bed, and the man knoweth not that he be the beast.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">15. It <b>rest as a sweet Air</b> that drift from a
silver harp that be seen only in the reflection of a starlit pool and when day do
break the harp fade and with it each note do pass away and as each sound doth
fall to earth for each one the Beast be painted in the daylight air as with the
stroke of a brush till it be real and fierce once more yet if a man do learn
its tune and if it be moonlight and have they a silver harp they may cause the
beast to sleep invisible for as long as they do play and play well.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">16. It sleep quiet in a <b>cavern of soil</b> beneath the
house of an Old Maid and she will have none of thee or thy ways and shall allow
thee not but turn the country against they for devilling with her floorboards
yet how else shall the Beast be attained I ask thee woman?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">17. It rest beneath a great <b>pyre of hott embers</b>
and ye may find these by their scent and smoke.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">18. In the <b>Cowshed</b>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">19. In <b>three separate parts</b>, one beneath earth,
one above and one in neither of those and they may be hunted separate or
combined but if ye strike one ye must strike all at the same moment or ye be
lost.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">20. It build for itself a <b>False House</b> of twigs and
the woods leavings, and why it do this none know for the house be hollow within
and like a nest yet without it do look very like an house.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX3Cgkz9uUIZZsu97q9heCx8TLFb_gBI7nzR69ODqIQwXn2RrREQD5aGqfRyXjwIQuwU7JKcKQdoF4hKUCP3EEGDVY0WaItP0fZ4vYqPnTsRiGBZNaz1ELbzS0yvBeBx8mizAV2NyGI2wk8kyC-fev81qgh5KJemy3HKOnHhYLf7IOurKAmIzA6k0byYP/s6362/The%20Jabberwock,%20as%20illustrated%20by%20John%20Tenniel,%201871.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6362" data-original-width="4238" height="671" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX3Cgkz9uUIZZsu97q9heCx8TLFb_gBI7nzR69ODqIQwXn2RrREQD5aGqfRyXjwIQuwU7JKcKQdoF4hKUCP3EEGDVY0WaItP0fZ4vYqPnTsRiGBZNaz1ELbzS0yvBeBx8mizAV2NyGI2wk8kyC-fev81qgh5KJemy3HKOnHhYLf7IOurKAmIzA6k0byYP/w447-h671/The%20Jabberwock,%20as%20illustrated%20by%20John%20Tenniel,%201871.jpg" width="447" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Jabberwock, by John Tenniel, 1871</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><h1 style="text-align: center;"><o:p>MOON <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gawain/gackling-moon" target="_blank">MOON </a>MOON</o:p></h1><div style="text-align: center;"><o:p>THE <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gawain/gackling-moon" target="_blank">KICKSTARTER </a>FOR GACKLING MOON IS STILL RUNNING!</o:p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gawain/gackling-moon" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="1100" height="102" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12ZzMPzH2WYWPTRszRmZrSEof-N0FXZr0KtO0x42NPC1qRX7Y2r_N-0pclYk3wJ8WXx9s3hg-j4bgEuYXZmSrIV0YJjlRyxrUQrHNQ92Lj6x-AJtV2MLaWjhwGz6k3Fzhx8KH37MQ0aeUMPXzl61j52zhA7qIh_p-EWhcB9UkWFopqL9qjKgdGSiE1ZQg/w508-h102/Free%20PDF.png" width="508" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">EVERY BACKER GETS A FREE INTERLINKED PDF</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(ITS GONNA BE £5 FOR NON-BACKERS)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">NEXT GOAL IS....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gawain/gackling-moon" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="1100" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TPQ3urGKojBw2ZPlcCFeBmN4blo5xBPWyT6Vl7hs3L75QO37vSzWiPYrohXuOpqBwoHMU-1QfXfPdGNPl7MJp66fP8i9pnWHK0EaJSzjSylnxR1xV0CqKZNHnK64bOw5R9appR6BEABZSVRceuFWsT6HSG2P6O_WCbpdd4IVB6ruqaCJHyuj1N8-PAFU/w512-h103/Hardback%20Goal%20.png" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">FREE FOR <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gawain/gackling-moon">BACKERS</a>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(WILL COST MORE FOR OTHERS)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(i was going to title this 'help Patrick get hard', </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">count yourselves lucky that i did not)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><o:p><br /></o:p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-36044074138444360472023-11-24T12:03:00.000-08:002023-11-24T12:03:45.180-08:00MOON MOON MOON<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gawain/gackling-moon" target="_blank">GACKLING MOON</a> is live!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSt3854Rk7HgkzVuaeOSgo7dMeqk7RG1XXyP8JEkBTIRU9BZpz1ty0fzm0M_rVu8y5VTU-sp9P86QglmHaZk8cOoXarKNdwptMW5LOQRUie1wI3Z6SiZtCWOcGYTHzNY0WdRSQBex3gSVFez2ZsmpUzPpKposn1NV1V31guUXvMmBi4nNVn-bE2Mv_I-9M/s800/850f02a35af7776ad419d1da4cf8ad97_original%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="680" height="509" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSt3854Rk7HgkzVuaeOSgo7dMeqk7RG1XXyP8JEkBTIRU9BZpz1ty0fzm0M_rVu8y5VTU-sp9P86QglmHaZk8cOoXarKNdwptMW5LOQRUie1wI3Z6SiZtCWOcGYTHzNY0WdRSQBex3gSVFez2ZsmpUzPpKposn1NV1V31guUXvMmBi4nNVn-bE2Mv_I-9M/w433-h509/850f02a35af7776ad419d1da4cf8ad97_original%20(1).jpg" width="433" /></a></div><br /><p>Go <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gawain/gackling-moon" target="_blank">here if you want to learn more;</a> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkeAsJ99H511y0Wnv280CXqy0uUr7PsWZDtYO8Ki1dT3Db5zhrnmMnxYO28dViFCWQozgtorVJhAs_QOusuqpqgkXY_H44UxkFkAOl5vE-YwsAEu0kYFMEDe_vS4hexUaT03K5RD6yp5Z-b6UP94hm5RXpnTOaI-1KBtw8ihkhbFctccnyvo3ywbQGzys/s680/25c20e67c63b1992203c02273f4103f6_original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="680" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkeAsJ99H511y0Wnv280CXqy0uUr7PsWZDtYO8Ki1dT3Db5zhrnmMnxYO28dViFCWQozgtorVJhAs_QOusuqpqgkXY_H44UxkFkAOl5vE-YwsAEu0kYFMEDe_vS4hexUaT03K5RD6yp5Z-b6UP94hm5RXpnTOaI-1KBtw8ihkhbFctccnyvo3ywbQGzys/w427-h300/25c20e67c63b1992203c02273f4103f6_original.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br /><p>(On the one hand I am the least successful of the OSR diaspora, on the other I am not doing too badly for a guy with a double-digit IQ.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoHNO7IFYcM0TjCd6-1lD54fF7IhcSq1y5AemcD8qxWZviQGk54FLHZ3r_dYXqsR8vU7ZVVAWRzS0lhayMFie7fql5WcE_3pIBODl4yq1Y5i0CCRDuDkHz3KrNTo9O0zVoaJD7hKpkyBJzyrpXDcoC_R5F54HjdLxU_KpJB6OIraZ8cB9sFuUMVqJcqI4/s907/f0ac74b80a244a95ffcfb52d05cbcf17_original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="907" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoHNO7IFYcM0TjCd6-1lD54fF7IhcSq1y5AemcD8qxWZviQGk54FLHZ3r_dYXqsR8vU7ZVVAWRzS0lhayMFie7fql5WcE_3pIBODl4yq1Y5i0CCRDuDkHz3KrNTo9O0zVoaJD7hKpkyBJzyrpXDcoC_R5F54HjdLxU_KpJB6OIraZ8cB9sFuUMVqJcqI4/w435-h319/f0ac74b80a244a95ffcfb52d05cbcf17_original.jpg" width="435" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-58496484474974471782023-11-06T05:29:00.002-08:002023-11-06T05:29:50.360-08:00The City of Drift<p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> (Some Discord bros gave me a hand with some of the scent markers. All images by John Atkinson Grimshaw.) </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Once stolen by Ghosts, (allegedly), and still on the run,
Drift moves with the mist like a ship drifting at sea, coalescing and emerging,
overlapping and interlacing with other places, its streets curving around
theirs, its buildings interspacing theirs. So Drift is always changing a little
within itself, as it translocates, seamlessly, from place to place. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It is a town without clear boundaries, signified by mists
and gloom, smoke and smog, the ripe interweaving patterning of bells, the clopping
of its slow, thin horses, the whispers that skitter through its alleyways and
the layers and waves of subtle scent that mark its palaces and shops.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zruzR80z6XmCt3meszhcs13fyTxoxfsveHaQftP4pe4G7lfFf6kyouTp34yKdsW_eY__ZWnsRY2Nc4sdauOX4KKl4SMhTOehNBpFXTDTS7vAumzgcjaDNhiSe28JybpQAzezqn-fMgDj6xKBO_QtGXsr-i7Y8YG2QyYgEf9Y3EJDaLIM_rfb-pUiQBRV/s1024/John_Atkinson_Grimshaw_-_Blackman_Street_London_1885_-_(MeisterDrucke-711862)%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="819" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zruzR80z6XmCt3meszhcs13fyTxoxfsveHaQftP4pe4G7lfFf6kyouTp34yKdsW_eY__ZWnsRY2Nc4sdauOX4KKl4SMhTOehNBpFXTDTS7vAumzgcjaDNhiSe28JybpQAzezqn-fMgDj6xKBO_QtGXsr-i7Y8YG2QyYgEf9Y3EJDaLIM_rfb-pUiQBRV/w417-h522/John_Atkinson_Grimshaw_-_Blackman_Street_London_1885_-_(MeisterDrucke-711862)%20(1).jpg" width="417" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<h1>The Coming of Drift </h1>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The town no longer has a place reserved for it in clear
reality,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>instead being confined to the
ocean and the mists, to the gloaming of dawn or the embers of the day, to
overcast nights or fog-shrouded days. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Drift comes upon normal places silently, infiltrating its
alleyways between buildings in the fog or smoke, at night or in the afternoon,
in silent or ill-travelled streets. The exact moment of its arrival cannot be
perceived, (in fact that <i>exact moment</i> does not even exist, lost in the
records of time the same way the location of Drift is lost on the maps). </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The first signs of Drift are the pungent scents of its
shops, narrow alleyways between buildings that previously had no gap, the
off-kilter clopping of its pale horses, the smell and distant sound of the sea,
no matter how far from the sea you may be, the melodious overlapping of bells
telling one time or another, or signalling one direction or another, and the
low distant vibration, a sound unlike a horn, deep as a beast, but more regular,
coming from the statue of Mutability which stands on an island in the cities
harbour. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">All the alleys into Drift lead downhill, no matter where
they emerge or what the rest of the geography is doing. The alleys are narrow
and shrouded in mist, perhaps with the gas lamps hanging from the rear of one
of its thin carriages retreating. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Once an entry is there, it has always been there, with
every sign and evidence of its permanent existence in place; with the same dirt
and texture of its current location, the same or similar materials, the same
road surface and a sign, if that is usual, in the style of whatever place it
is, pointing inwards, spelling ‘Drift’. The sign and walls and floor will be
dirty or worn or clean and sharp, just like the place of its arrival. Graffiti
will lead in seamlessly from walls which were always there, turning on to walls
which have only ‘always been there’ since a moment ago. Vague half-memories of
Drift emerge in the minds of anyone approaching an entry; it doesn’t much of a
stir. When its there, people soft of remember that it has always been there. When
it is gone it is nearly forgotten. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Magicians, adventurers, occultists, mediums,
fortune-tellers,sea-captains, rope merchants, perfumiers, opera singers and
hooded figures sometimes suspect when drift will arrive and where and quietly
pack the local pubs and cafes, sitting creepily and ruining the ambience for
the locals, waiting for a moment that cannot be sensed, after which, the vague
memory of the existence of Drift will be revealed especially to Publicans, the
Homeless and Cab Drivers past middle age. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Asking them <i>before</i> this moment will only get you a
funny look, but waiting for that senseless un-time and asking <i>then</i>; “Do
you know the turn into Drift? Its somewhere around here I think?” And the
answer will be a clear “Course I do mate, down the road on tha left innit.
Dunno why you’d want to go <i>there</i>.” </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h1>The History of Drift </h1><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLj2mly058DinFHVRkswCQ-cNq6pUkGNCxU0E9jBHW8rMw_DPZeoxiFY9QxwPVJ1NBT_WIR7_-FRUhCiiHRno6k4cr2RMfPSx0W1iBt9AvptNAVdai7HiIk2KZucmDHKI8eHhEyfMqf2SqHPi2L8UU8OvFgUvqcwez9nY37TIJODFKFixBCwHtHcS1UEiw/s1800/John-Atkinson-Grimshaw-Briggate-Leeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="1800" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLj2mly058DinFHVRkswCQ-cNq6pUkGNCxU0E9jBHW8rMw_DPZeoxiFY9QxwPVJ1NBT_WIR7_-FRUhCiiHRno6k4cr2RMfPSx0W1iBt9AvptNAVdai7HiIk2KZucmDHKI8eHhEyfMqf2SqHPi2L8UU8OvFgUvqcwez9nY37TIJODFKFixBCwHtHcS1UEiw/w439-h284/John-Atkinson-Grimshaw-Briggate-Leeds.jpg" width="439" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<h2>Founded By Ghosts </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Ghosts walk the streets of Drift City - antechamber to
the shadow world, (allegedly). The founders of Drift City were all dead by the
time they arrived, (they came on a Ghost Ship), that is why it took them so
long but also why they <i>could</i> find it. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">In other stories the Ghosts <i>stole</i> Drift, either to
keep it or to keep it safe. Maybe it was a High Fantasy thing? Saving it from
the Dark Lord? Or a Steampunk thing? Some experiment which killed the
experimenters but left them as ghosts in an empty city? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Whatever. At some point early in the history of Drift, it
was an empty city, but for Ghosts. At that same point it was also a placeless
city, drifting, as it still does. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Maybe whatever created the ghosts made the city Drift,
maybe not, but the Ghosts were the first residents, the Founders, and they are
still here and are still the Founders. The Municipal Government of Drift has
never changed, though it has faded in and out of intelligibility over time.
Bylaws and judgements are communicated (though not decided) by Mediums. The
ghosts are conservative but reliable, difficult to influence via bribery or
pork. Because Drift was founded by ghosts its government buildings are cemeteries
and visa versa. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Of course there are new ghosts, now and then. If they
have a knack for it they stay in place and work their way up the ranks. Change
is slow. But Drift is a relatively safe place for ghosts. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Populated by Exiles and Slaves </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Shipwreck victims, outlaws, explorers, outsiders. Exiles.
Escaped slaves, forgotten Kings. Like many harbour towns, Drift is a mosaic of
eternal expatriates. Unlike most there is no ‘back country’, and no main
ethnicity, apart from the Ghosts. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It is rare for anyone to settle in Drift City who is not
an eccentric, outcast, or hunted, or anyone who is not comfortable with ghosts,
gloom and strange sounds. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Since all the major governmental roles are occupied by
the dead the living elite of Drift are made up of traders, skilled craftsmen,
artists, mediums, magicians, Sea Captains, ship owners and the lords of
insurance. The lack of (tangible) nobility makes it a relatively flattish, but
quite high-toned upper crust. Birth gives a little rank but reputation more. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h1>Turning Into Drift </h1>
<h2>A Maritime Town </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Drift is usually a shore city and usually has a harbour
of sorts. Sometimes it even has a harbour when it appears far inland. Almost
all of its economic activity comes via ship and the sailors of Drift City can
always find their way home; they will get there through the mist. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Usually, one turns into Drift through the alleyways at
its periphery and heads downhill towards the moaning of Mutability. On the rare
events one can see a view through fog, smoke or gloom, (that is not a careful
Trompe l’oeil), one sees the tangled towers and alleyways and mixed-up ziplines
of Drift cascading down in a bricolage of driftwood architecture, down to the
harbour, the Opera House and the statue of Mutability, the goddess bearing an
intermittent torch of fire as pale and translucent as the mist itself, most
visible to those near death, with the city spread out around it like a
shattered crater of houses with about two fifths cut out of it to let in the
black sea. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>A City Of Alleyways </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The alleyways are crooked, long and thin. There are not
really any streets in drift, or anything you could easily call the Main Way,
just alleys leading off alleys. The widest roads are about the width of those
in a Medieval European town; ghostwives can chatter between windows in the
overhanging eaves, people can easily leap across, bridges, improvised or
carefully designed, are thrown between buildings over streets. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It’s hard to tell the difference between a gap leading to
an alley or just a deep porch. Turns are hidden in nooks. Alleys are gated off
but the gates are left unlocked. The boundary between public and private is
nebulous. Its common to feel that you are trespassing. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">When its busy on a lane, people just turn off, loop
around. There is always a possible detour in Drift, people percolate through
the city like chemicals in blood. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Buildings Long, Tall And Deep </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Long thin buildings lead off long thin alleyways.. Buildings
tall and slender, tenements housing the descendants of pirates, shipwrecks,
those lost at sea, traitors, slaves. Drift has famous glassworks, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>many buildings are tall, slender and glass
fronted with iron frames. The curtains are always closed of course, but you can
see lights moving behind them at night. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Others have narrow frontage but go deep to the rear, ending
in gardens. Others are long laterally,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>old manufactories, or built like them, asme buildings occupy different
positions on the same street, or on another street, either crossing the road on
a bridge before dropping down, forming part of the same building but on the
opposite side of the road, or even overleaping or burrowing under a whole row
of building by bridge or tunnel before occupying an entirely different street.
Sometimes the doors and exits are quite different to the buildings position; enter
through a narrow door, turn a corner, climb steps to an attic space, cross over
the entire block of buildings through a shared attic, take steps down and find
the bulk of the building facing a different road.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This aids intrigues in Drift - many secret or forgotten
doors, dumb waiters, shared rooms, attics or cellars, and many houses or
offices directly adjacent to others across a thin wall while the actual entrances
and addresses are in quite different parts of town </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Trompe l’oeil </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Trompe-d'oil is prized in Drift, though many of the
paintings are decayed. Most high-status buildings or frontages will be painted
trompe l’oeil, so that the a description of that painting forms the part of a
buildings (or a doorways at least) address. ‘The House of Many Leopards’, the
‘fourth door in the Garden of Setebos’, ‘down there on Flamingo Row’. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">While the rich can have their buildings painted and
regularly upkept, the middling classes must subsist on pasted Trompe. Many of
the famous painters have tall, thin buildings with tall, thin doors. When their
huge paintings are complete they are rolled out through the multistorey doors
and shifted into place to block street entrances,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to occupy blank walls at the end of long
avenues, or have holes cut in them for windows and doors before being pasted up
as the front of residences. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Over time all the paintings blotch and stain, and those
posted up can peel away, or part away, leaving ghost signs or layered
palimpsests of variegated images from different eras. Though of course at one
point this very decayed palimpsest style, painted as such, was itself a
deliberate artifice and quite in vogue for a time. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Texture </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">In Drift, everything is textured and patinaed. Nothing
shines like new and nothing is entirely clean. It would be nearly pointless
anyway, what with the fog, smoke, rain, gloom, the salt from the sea and the
lichen and hot breath of its closely packed, though quite quiet, population.
The ghosts wouldn’t like it either. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Ald and worn things are treasured, new made things are
not. Wood smoothed by many hands, or by the sea, cups with long-use stains at
the bottom, even the slight abrasive chipping of glass or crystal. Smoke
stains, soot stains, sun paling, grooves and bends to things. This is the
texture of Drift. It is a somewhat comfortable City, the chairs tend to be
well-used and easy to sit in. It’s a place where one can slouch easily against
a wall. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4fgh5bDOd4BnCOyHalRLwir9Ae9aJeajmXlFFk6bURqCPI6j5NYPSsqik6ltGxDnEuOLmszV5cF310FSrRzTXtGNuThpTJo24VttKUQvfSIPVsFljkmXbUXjXe6F4wbIW_2nbT6JRIOmQ_PkNIluecs6mnfuOPeF-YdWBD2zyTNha6noW1VGPe03MYGY/s1800/John-Atkinson-Grimshaw-Liverpool-Docks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="1800" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4fgh5bDOd4BnCOyHalRLwir9Ae9aJeajmXlFFk6bURqCPI6j5NYPSsqik6ltGxDnEuOLmszV5cF310FSrRzTXtGNuThpTJo24VttKUQvfSIPVsFljkmXbUXjXe6F4wbIW_2nbT6JRIOmQ_PkNIluecs6mnfuOPeF-YdWBD2zyTNha6noW1VGPe03MYGY/w456-h299/John-Atkinson-Grimshaw-Liverpool-Docks.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<h2>Smells and Bells </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Because Drift is so gloomy, foggy, smoky, private, narrow
and labyrinthine, the city has developed a parallel sensory language to
communicate place and location. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Businesses communicate themselves via scent. Places of business
that don't have their own smell will license one from the council. any place
that cooks is allowed to fan its scent about and all do,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">though there are bylaws and arguments between places
about the use of too much smell or spice. Other shops are allowed to
communicate their presence through a registered system of scent markers. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Coffee beans are popular in Drift, though not for
drinking. Instead people carry small bags of them in deep narrow pockets.
(Drift pockets can be so narrow and so deep that a special form of tongs for
reaching into them is in common use). If they need their scent palate cleaning,
they pull out the bag of beans and take a deep sniff. In the lee of this strong
scent, which fades quickly, their sinuses regain some sensitivity and
discretion which may have been lost throughout the day. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3>Occupations by Scent </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Chandlers smell of beeswax. Blacksmiths of coal smoke and
hot metal. Armourers of lapping powder. Jewellers of Ambergris and Furriers of
Myrrh. Gambling houses smell of vinegar, Undertakers of Freesia. Tanners of
urine, Fullers of urine and lanoline, Brewers of Hops but Pubs of Beer. Cobblers
smell of leather and beeswax, Butchers of blood. Bookshops smell of their paper
and each shop only sells books printed on paper from the same forest so each
shop has a smell quite distinctive to keen readers but a seemingly random
selection of books. Clerks smell like wig dust and aniseed, Lawyers of wormwood
and brothels of Mint, the slighter and sweeter the mint smell the more
expensive the brothel. Heralds have purple coats , and they are associated with
the slight fish sauce smell from the marine snails used for that dye while
Whisperers smell of Roses. Mediums smell of incense (the only profession
allowed to burn it) and Fortune Tellers of fruitful hemp. Knackers smell of
death. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3>Locations by Bell </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Drift has a latticework of bells. Every quarter has a
large Belltower which peals in an agreed sequence with each other quarter, with
a slightly different tone and a different pattern to each. So Bells in Drift
tell not so much time, (though an experienced habitant can tell time from the
bells, due to micro differences in rhythm and pattern), but place. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The large low-frequency bells are raised up about each
quarter and below them in each Rue and Tangle, major notable buildings like
Taverns, Temples or Cemeteries, have their own bells, set to higher pitches
which get lost and trapped in the weave of alleyways and so don’t disrupt other
quarters much, and rung in their own evolved patterns of rhythm. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Some residences, usually at least one on each street,
hang wind chimes outside their door; silver for the wealthy, wooden for the
poor. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So the city is covered and woven with a pattern of smells
and bells such that those who know the place can easily find their way about,
finding general locations by the Great Bells, smaller areas by lesser bells,
and single businesses and houses by bell and by scent. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This rolling wave of soft continual sound, underlaid by
the sound of the sea and the moaning of the lamp of Mutability, can be somewhat
hypnotic and disturbing for new visitors, but after a time one becomes
accustomed to it, and ultimately, becomes an initiate, with the sensory net of
the city making its structure and places as clear as day, regardless of the
closeness and gloom. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguP2dAH6OUvu0c7mUQfJw-DZBkpltyZuvklMNX6CIaW5lwdWjttQBVmJKMZYFkytsYmzrpYrqi6hxxPRvvLDahgSyS56vECRbnymV4fC7Du-T3wMnvV3Y0wOdX0B559qYcMc9PxrYa8OPhSeEDhivJLsfu4cMIwylT0gkbw71SMWa-MkXSlt6n0kxdOQ_o/s600/LF6578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="600" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguP2dAH6OUvu0c7mUQfJw-DZBkpltyZuvklMNX6CIaW5lwdWjttQBVmJKMZYFkytsYmzrpYrqi6hxxPRvvLDahgSyS56vECRbnymV4fC7Du-T3wMnvV3Y0wOdX0B559qYcMc9PxrYa8OPhSeEDhivJLsfu4cMIwylT0gkbw71SMWa-MkXSlt6n0kxdOQ_o/w489-h311/LF6578.jpg" width="489" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<h2>Whisperers </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Public conversation in Drift is muffled or whispered.
Crowds are never loud, (except possibly if there is a riot at the opera), but
this seems to suit the mood and conventions of the city. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Whispers do infiltrate through the alleyways like
invisible snakes though, wyrms of muttered sound that fleet past, or curl and
spiral, hunting questing, before disappearing into a turnaway or over a roof. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">These are not just whispers but Whispers; the substance
of much communication in Drift and the main power of its Law. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Professional Whisperers ply their trade in Drift City,
seek the smell of Roses, then give them a lock of hair, or enough personal
details, (always in riddle form and without mentioning names), and they can set
a whisper to chase after someone, susurussing past others like a snake and
resounding only in the ears of that one particular person. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">In most cases this is used only for urgent messages for
those difficult to find, like a kind of aggressive Telegram service. Harassing
or irrelevant Whispers are punished, (though small numbers of Criminal
Whisperers exist). </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Whispers are also the primary method of policing in Drift
and all the strongest ‘Blue’ Whisperers are licensed and well-paid members of
the Constabulary who whisper under licence. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">If a whisper warrant is given for a suspect, name known
or not, only enough details, or some fragments of hair or blood are needed, the
Blue Whisperers send packs and flocks of dense whispers after that person,
finding them wherever they are, slowly driving them mad with the continual
imprecations of guilt and crime until they give themselves up or deafen
themselves. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Sadly the deaf are mistrusted in Drift for exactly this
reason and often drawn into the world of Crime. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Thin Aesthetic </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Long thin things are favoured in Drift. Shoes are usually
pointed or square-toed, hats tall and, as we said, pockets very thin and very
deep. One carries pocket tongs to reach things in there and these have their
own inner pockets. Pocket tongs are not carried openly as this is a sign of
criminality and there are polite genuflections to make if one must employ them
in the street. Round people wear tall thin things and are called fools for
doing so; ‘roundlings’ and ‘spheres’. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Thin foods are preferred; slices are slender, baguettes
long. Round foods are disapproved of; the soup bowls are square and
sharp-cornered, or shaped like boats as are the spoons, which are like concave
oars. Thin tall glasses and mugs are used. High-status banquets are cascades of
spikes and verticality as the cities cooks, both living and dead, compete to
out-do one another in how spired and slender a meal can be made. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The poor subsist on noodles, long fries, eels in batter
and long onions, all of which are actually pretty good. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Cabs and carriages can by hired but they are all very
slender, the axles about three feet across, so a carriage sits one, or two
facing each other, or a sumptuous carriage can have two half-decks with two
more seated above and behind those on the lower deck. These are quite unstable
and special gyroscopes are made to keep them somewhat steady. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The thin carriages are pulled by horses specially bred to
be similarly thin; the "Driftwood Stretch" breed, a grey to white,
somewhat inbred, slow but steady, good at finding their way and so thin they
are uncomfortable for most to sit on. Yellow eyed, they are used almost
entirely by the coachmen of Drift. They can walk as easily backwards as
forwards, as easily uphill backwards as forwards, and can strafe or sidestep
slowly. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Strange Transports </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The city has numerous curious boutique travel forms
designed to deal with its slopes and its dense and winding layout.
Single-person micro cable-cars exist to take commuters upslope at high speed.
Zipwires can get you downhill fast. Tower-contained hot-air balloon baskets can
save you steps if you need to gain height. Micro-zeppelins are employed by
Youths and the Police who pursue them. Registered roof-walks are marked by
yellow rope but being seen on the roofs beyond the rope or after dark is an
offence punishable by Whispering. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Wv01nKR3C-K60X8v5aIy4JW-SK7iC3GSC8X_F3_tqWJy1qveOmEaT7QN_F894NuiDXH6GSgl-tBERnqbZOFgLame8Y5MHqzwC2JTZkBqGbkXROiR0buc0tQvR63BsGV1A3BGnLVbhqVP_tA6Fswh5EjScxW5Zp2TVyX03Gjfc6eNxHcNCsxHIjrih1td/s800/WYL_LMG_100959-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Wv01nKR3C-K60X8v5aIy4JW-SK7iC3GSC8X_F3_tqWJy1qveOmEaT7QN_F894NuiDXH6GSgl-tBERnqbZOFgLame8Y5MHqzwC2JTZkBqGbkXROiR0buc0tQvR63BsGV1A3BGnLVbhqVP_tA6Fswh5EjScxW5Zp2TVyX03Gjfc6eNxHcNCsxHIjrih1td/w436-h291/WYL_LMG_100959-001.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>
<h2>A City Of Hucksters And Seers </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Seers, mediums, clairvoyants, hucksters, magicians and
the like are legally protected and live TAX FREE in Drift, on a 'one drop'
basis of possible accuracy or validity. A seer or prophet is judged so if there
is even one drop of possibility that they might be right, or have accurate
predictions or communications.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order
to deprive a Huckster of this protected status one must prove not only that
they are wrong, but they are reliably and knowingly wrong, a near-impossible
feat in court. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Despite this legal protection and tax-free status, Drift
is not <i>completely</i> overflowing with hucksters as there is quite a lot of
competition for accurate soothsaying, too many futures for any single one to be
worth worrying over. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Yet the poor, the homeless, the criminal, drunk, deranged
or absurd are all, in their own telling, ‘Mediums’, or diviners or soothsayers
or something of the like, as groups or ‘organisations’ of such are always valid
and cannot be easily harassed, no matter how very obviously drunk, criminal or
homeless they are. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Drift City Opera </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The major social event, and major social location, of the
city, the opera itself; a massively vertical slender pie-slice with far too
many fragile upper stories and its foundations excavated below floor level so
seats beneath the performers can look up at them, with mirrors above the stage
so those below can see what is happening at the rear of the stage. Excavations
so deep that the floor of the opera house has fallen away and the basement is a
pool of black water people sit there in little coracles to watch and hear the
performance.<o:p></o:p></p>pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-67518366708412350962023-10-31T13:30:00.005-07:002023-10-31T13:31:01.223-07:00the humanization of warfare Remarks from CALLINICUS by JBS Haldane<div style="text-align: left;">Because I just couldn't stay away from J.B.S. Haldane,
because many of his shorter books are available for free here; <a href="https://jbshaldane.org/%20">https://jbshaldane.org/</a> as PDF's and
because I have never read a defence of Chemical warfare, at all, and
specifically not by someone who was themselves the victim of chemical warfare. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpMibcy9RoPaT_vkjUCHSk1KOgch6iW353ohdisBUJE7N9Q5i7vKaUnAwGJtDcA11AudpFC06u3M4tEpEG-hV2_zBK6kX94Z-D0z5vLHXdZHgr0QMCTig1gNFmMNu2dvd8exmqDuNT9eb-IZY0IjKfbhMCNUObe9rj0EMaBfGOx5u9GX41XJc6Rb901TP/s1024/DALL%C2%B7E%202023-10-18%2013.47.15%20-%20J.B.S.%20Haldane%20gleefully%20directing%20a%20scene%20of%20chemical%20warfare%20where%20pressure-suited%20troops%20and%20sealed%20tanks%20advance%20through%20a%20battlefield%20poisoned%20by.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpMibcy9RoPaT_vkjUCHSk1KOgch6iW353ohdisBUJE7N9Q5i7vKaUnAwGJtDcA11AudpFC06u3M4tEpEG-hV2_zBK6kX94Z-D0z5vLHXdZHgr0QMCTig1gNFmMNu2dvd8exmqDuNT9eb-IZY0IjKfbhMCNUObe9rj0EMaBfGOx5u9GX41XJc6Rb901TP/w362-h362/DALL%C2%B7E%202023-10-18%2013.47.15%20-%20J.B.S.%20Haldane%20gleefully%20directing%20a%20scene%20of%20chemical%20warfare%20where%20pressure-suited%20troops%20and%20sealed%20tanks%20advance%20through%20a%20battlefield%20poisoned%20by.png" width="362" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This is also a fascinating dive into Haldanes inter-war world-view
which includes some "problematic" content as usual (in addition to the
central argument). </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Atomic Power;</b> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">"We know very little about the structure of the atom
and almost nothing about how to modify it. And the prospect of constructing
such an apparatus seems to me to be so remote that, when some successor of mine
is lecturing to a party spending a holiday on the moon, it will still be an
unsolved (though not, I think, an ultimately insoluble) problem." </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">In fact we would break the atom within a few decades of
this statement, go to the moon within 40 years, after the atom was cracked. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Blinding Gas;</b> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">"Lachrymatory gas was only once used under ideal
conditions—by the Germans in the Argonne in 1915. They captured a fairly
extensive French trench system and about 2,400 prisoners, almost all unwounded,
but temporarily blind." </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The Germans opened chemical warfare with blinding gas in
1915. I did not know this. New weapons seem staggeringly effective <i>at first
use</i>. The enemy hasn't even imagined any defence. After that, as we shall
see, the prizes tend to go to whomever can adapt fastest, not necessarily to
the first user. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Gassing the uneducated;</b> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">"Gases of the first group were used in clouds
discharged from cylinders, some- times on a front of several miles. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">They probably caused at least 20,000 casualties among
unprotected or inadequately protected British troops. At least a quarter of
these died, and that very painfully, in many cases after a struggle for breath
lasting several days. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">On the other hand, of those who did not die almost all
recovered completely, and the symptoms of the few who became permanent invalids
were mainly nervous. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Apart, however, from the extreme terror and agitation
produced by the gassing of uneducated people, I regard the type of wound
produced by the average shells as, on the whole, more distressing than the
pneumonia caused by chlorine or phosgene." </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Just don't gas the 'uneducated' bro. This brings us into
Haldane being something of a 'special' kind of person. He was raised
experimenting on both animals and himself and had a detached, and definitely
non-sacralised view of the human body. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>German antisemitism;</b> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">"On the other hand, the German respirators were bad
to begin with; and later on were not so good as the British. This was,
apparently, because the most competent physiologist in Germany with any
knowledge of breathing was a Jew. This fact was quite well known in German
physiological circles, but apparently his race prevented the military
authorities from employing him. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The result was that they were unable to follow up their
gas-attacks at all closely, but had to wait till the cloud had passed off, by
which time resistance was again possible. That was how the Germans paid for
anti-Semitism. It is very probable that it lost them the war, as never again,
not even in March, 1918, had they as complete a gap in the Franco-British
Western front as during the first gas-attack in April, 1915." </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I doubt it 'lost them the war' and I believe Haber was a
Jew so clearly they weren't <i>that</i> anti-semitic yet but I have not heard
of this particular story before. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>On Mustard Gas;</b> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">"Someone placed a drop of the liquid on the chair of
the director of the British chemical warfare department. He ate his meals off
the mantelpiece for a month." </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">...... </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">"Thus in April, 1918, Armentieres, the original
Northern limit of the German attack in Flanders, was so heavily shelled with
“mustard” that the gutters in the streets were reported to be running with
it." </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>On fools holding back progress;</b> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">the Bayardists have nobbled a curious assortment of
allies in their so far successful attempt to prevent the humanization of
warfare. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">"Mustard gas kills one man for every forty it puts
out of action; shells kill one for every three; but their god who compromised
with high explosives has not yet found time to adapt himself to chemical
warfare." </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>On the possibilities of 'Immune Infantry';</b> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">"On the other hand, some people are naturally
immune. The American Army authorities made a systematic examination of the
susceptibility of large numbers of recruits. They found that there was a very
resistant class, comprising 20% of the white men tried, but no less than 80% of
the negroes. This is intelligible, as the symptoms of mustard gas, blistering,
and sun-burn are very similar, and negroes are pretty well immune to
sunburn." </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Future War by Haldane;</b> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">"One sees, then, the possibility of warfare on
somewhat the following lines:— </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Heavy concentrations of artillery would keep an area say
thirty miles in length and ten in depth continuously sprayed with mustard gas.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">...</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Suddenly, behind the usual barrage of high explosive
shells appears a line of tanks supported by negroes in gas-masks. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">.....<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">In this way the side possessing a big superiority of
mustard gas should be in a position to advance two or three miles a day.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">...<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It seems, then, that mustard gas would enable an army to
gain ground with far less killed on either side than the methods used in the
late war, and would tend to establish a war of movement leading to a fairly
rapid' decision, as in the campaigns of the past. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It would not much upset the present balance of power,
Germany's chemical industry being counterpoised by French negro troops. Indians
may be expected to be nearly as immune as negroes." </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>The Morality of Chemical Warfare;</b> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">"I claim, then, that the use of mustard gas in war
on the largest possible scale would render it less expensive of life and
property, shorter, and more dependent on brains rather than numbers. We are
often told the exact opposite, </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">In one or two air-raids on other towns it seems probable
that the Germans were not far from out-stripping the capacities of the fire-
brigades and producing very large conflagrations." </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">His aside into the ability of aerial bombing to produce
'fire-storms', where the fire becomes so hot and vast it sucks in air like a
tornado and becomes highly self-sustaining, is a disturbing prefigurement of
the next war. </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKSxysF-jNsjNiRyshwKyOpqMdgBwCCYD1ATBZRqA88PeJ5iUzPTtH8QRYNbzfeyt4HmZzF3QTK9N8A6ninUhhptrP5_37sUTnM2G0Kg_KnuG4MHOJiQ1C5qna6V900Nv2AJDSjfV-aHP2qRahfXYsG5NzwB7rS3NLKN3zMpCrGUrmyUo1E4BY1AuUJ1f/s1024/DALL%C2%B7E%202023-10-18%2013.49.27.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKSxysF-jNsjNiRyshwKyOpqMdgBwCCYD1ATBZRqA88PeJ5iUzPTtH8QRYNbzfeyt4HmZzF3QTK9N8A6ninUhhptrP5_37sUTnM2G0Kg_KnuG4MHOJiQ1C5qna6V900Nv2AJDSjfV-aHP2qRahfXYsG5NzwB7rS3NLKN3zMpCrGUrmyUo1E4BY1AuUJ1f/w397-h397/DALL%C2%B7E%202023-10-18%2013.49.27.png" width="397" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNoSpacing"> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Animal-Loving Soldiers;</b> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">"We have got to get over our distaste for scientific
thought and scientific method. To take an example from the war, the
physiologists at the experimental ground at Porton, in Hampshire, had
considerable difficulty in working with a good many soldiers because the latter
objected so strongly to experiments on animals, and did not conceal their
contempt for people who performed them. And yet these soldiers would have had
no hesitation in shelling the horses of hostile gun-teams, and the vast
majority of them were in the habit of shooting animals for sport. " </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The British being a race of animal-lovers who often have
no problem shooting animals is a neverending source of incoherent rage for
Haldane. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Objections to Reason;</b> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">"One of the grounds given for objection to science
is that science is responsible for such horrors as those of the late war. “You
scientific men (we are told) never think of the possible application of your
discoveries. You do not mind whether they are used to kill or to cure. Your
method of thinking, doubtless satisfactory when dealing with molecules and
atoms, renders you insensible to the difference between right and wrong. And so
you devise the means of universal destruction,"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">"..and I note that the people who make these remarks
do not refuse to travel by railway or motor-car, to use electric light, or to
read mechanically printed newspapers. Nor do they install a well in their
back-gardens to enjoy drinking the richer water of a pre-scientific age, with
its interesting and variegated fauna." </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>The Deadliness of scale vs the deadliness of weapons;</b> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">"Moreover, the Great War was the first since the
Second Punic War of the 3rd century B. C. between two great civilized nations,
each fighting with all its might. This fact accounts for its ferocity. Modern
transport and hygiene made its scale possible; the weapons used merely served
to prolong it." </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Fear of the Unknown;</b> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">"Now, terror of the unknown is thoroughly right and
rational so long as we believe that the prince of this world is a malignant
being. But it is not justifiable if we believe that the world is the expression
of a power friendly to our aspirations, or if we are atheists and hold that it
is neutral and indifferent to human ideals." </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>I AM NOT A CRANK</b> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">"The views which I have expressed do not coexist in
the mind of any party leader or newspaper proprietor, and must therefore be
those of a crank. But until some stronger argument can be waged against them
than that they are unusual and unpleasant, there remains the possibility that
they are true." </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Haldanes vision of Future War, what would have actually happened? </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Can we imagine a world where J.B.S. Haldane is given
enough power and support to make his vision of warfare a reality? What would
happen? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">We begin with the mass development of Mustard Gas, sealed
tanks and uniforms, the training of vast numbers of 'Immune Troops',
(presumably black Africans with white officers), and we would assume,
development of a wide range of other chemical weapons and delivery systems. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So, day one of combat; mass firing of chemical shells
begins, ideally blocking off large areas of the battlefield. Then the 'Immune
Troops' advance with sealed armour support, easily taking lines and targets,
presumably making use of lesser or alternative chem weapons as and when they
would be useful.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p>Thats your first battle, if it goes well. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Of course even if it goes well, we know Mustard Gas
remains horrible for a long time, so the battle zone will be very difficult for
anyone other than Immune Troops to occupy. And if you advance non-immune troops
through it on trucks then how will you keep them supplied through the zone, and
what if they need to retreat? They will have a chemical barrier to their rear. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And of course, following Haldanes plan, you are using largely
colonial troops to defend yourself, who may not agree completely with you on
all points and who may be a bit ambivalent about entering chemical hell for
you. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And presuming this is a WW1/WW2 situation, you are
probably doing this in France, and the French may not be chuffed about you
melting and poisoning their lovely countryside. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Thats battle One. How do the enemy respond? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Presumably the enemy is Germany, and they are quite good
at chemistry, even without their Jews. (Though the loss of them will hurt
them). </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">They are also quite well-organised. Presumably they will
be shocked and terrified to begin with, but will adapt fast. This is assuming
they didn't have intelligence on your chemical weapons programme already and
have their own programme. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">They will start work on, and improve, their own chem
weapons and protective wear as quickly as possible. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This is the 'brains over brawn' warfare that Haldane
envisions in which victory goes to whomever has the best tech and adapts most
quickly. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">But, speaking from the West, where we certainly _think_
we have the brains and our assumed enemies largely have the brawn, do even we
want to disconnect war so totally from the flesh it affects as to turn it into
a matter of competing technologies? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">If Haldane is right, less people will die. Less of our
own people will die. (_If_ he is right.) But is this most-efficient form of
hyper-tech chemical warfare what we want to create? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">(Of course your chem-war is also highly dependant on
weather; wind direction, rain, perhaps temperature. And these conditions will
be known, so what happens if the enemy attacks with the wind. When the wind is
blowing one direction they advance with chem-suit Immune Troops', when the wind
turns, you advance.) </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Chem weapons would probably be most useful against
civilians who have not already experienced them, and most useful when combined
with surprise and some other method of attack. This provides a neat combination
with incendiary bombing and the creation of a 'Firestorm'. Combining gas with
bombs cripples the ability of a city to respond to spreading fires, making a
mass conflagration much easier to attain. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Is the natural tendency of technology in warfare to separate
the flesh of the people from the conduct of the war, up until some certain
point when the burning and poisoning of all the people becomes the main
material of the war? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Haldane thinks 'stupid' Chivalric wars are made deadlier
primarily by their <i>scale</i> and not by technology. That if WW1 had been
fought by spears and shields it would have been just as deadly, because of the
number of men involved.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Trying to deal with Haldanes argument </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Is not Conservatism at its most rational and reasonable
when considering the development of new weapons and methods of war? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Are we not all the beneficiaries of the deep and innate
conservatism and ritualisation of warfare by the stodgy midwits who make up
much of the officer class?" </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Could we say that short lethal but evaporating violence
could be more honourable than the soft, suffocating violence of Chemical
Warfare. Would you rather be gassed or shot? Would you rather gas others or
shoot them? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">War is not an experiment and is not predictable </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">There are few 'controlled elements' </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Everyone is in a heightened state and is, essentially,
not quite the person they are outside of war </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">War evolved, grows, changes and mutates in deepy
unpredictable ways. Neither the people, the aims, the methods or the morals of
those engaged in war are the same as they were at the beginning </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">this being the case, a highly conservative ritualised
view of war, while probably deeply inefficient, and essentially getting people
killed in the short to medium term, is actually pretty good for humanity as a
whole in the long term and the larger scale </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">when we are <i>in a war</i> we want to adapt, kill and destroy
as quickly and efficiently as possible, for our enemies death is our life </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">but looking at any particular arrangement of wars from
far outside the time and place of their happening; we really want wars in
general to be stodgy, ritualised, uninventive, unimaginative, foolish and <i>slow</i>. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The slow stupidity of any particular war is agony and
horror for those fighting it, for their enemy is .. well the enemy, but for
those looking upon all war, and upon the future of the species and of life
itself, the enemy is not the enemy but the enemy is the cunning, inventiveness,
hunger and unpredictability of <i>war itself</i>, for it is a kaleidoscope-tiger,
always shifting and trying to escape its cage.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-81658441689305763102023-10-07T07:42:00.003-07:002023-10-07T07:42:38.372-07:00A Review of 'Possible Worlds' by J.B.S. Haldane<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">This book is a lucid scrying pool amidst in
the dark and murky inter-war years. It is like stumbling through a grey and
misty land and discovering a cave within which crouches a wizard who gazes into
clear and glittering pool crystal visions of a future time.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We are in that future time right now and it
has turned out to be just as dark and murky as the bog around the wizards cave,
but we can look upwards, at the point of view of his scrying pool, where
presumably he looks down on us from the past, and wave 'Hello' to the Wizard.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We are looking at Haldane looking at us and
that is where much of the interest arises.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">THE
TRENCHES<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I read this based on its near-unanimous
recommendation by anyone involved in the life sciences and I was surprised,
(though perhaps I should not have been), to find another WW1 connection. As
well as occupying seemingly every role possible related to genetics and biology
in the inter-war years, Haldane was a WW1 veteran, a grenades expert with the
Black Watch (for non-military and U.S. readers the Black Watch is generally
considered a very high-competence if not elite regiment).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I would love to shove Haldane, the atheist
communist, Studdert-Kennedy, the fallen Anglican and Sebastian Junger, the
medieval knight and not-quite Fascist, all in a room together and have them
talk it out. It would be a hell of a debate.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">A VERY
BEAUTIFUL MIND<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">'Possible Worlds' was originally a series of
newspaper articles written for 'the ordinary man' 'in intervals between
research work and teaching and largely on railway trains'.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">These are about science, biology, the
scientific life, the future of humanity and Haldane. Many are short, all are
clear. A very blessed clarity considering the dithering and extemperous
blathering and 'chummy' simplifications of much science writing both now and
then. Haldane writes like a man who does not have much time and earnestly wants
to get to the point.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Some are so simple and so clear and highlight
or describe a concept so exactly that nearly 100 years later they are still
being quoted mentioned and recommended today<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">'On Scales' regards thinking about reaches or
scales of time and distance far beyond our immediate ken. If you have watched
the Sagan video, or its modern repetitions then you have seen a visual version
of this essay.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">'On Being the Right Size' is quoted or
mentioned in many discussions of biodynamics I know of;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">"You can drop a mouse down a
thousand-yard mine shaft; and, on arriving at the bottom, it gets a slight
shock and walks away, so long as the ground is fairly soft. A rat is killed, a
man is broken, a horse splashes."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">HALDANE
AND TERRIBLE AND QUESTIONABLE IDEAS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Haldane had a lot of sketchy ideas, the most
provably-awful are probably being a freestyle vivisectionist, a Communist and a
Chemical Warfare enthusiast.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Haldane grew up experimenting on animals with
his dad, he was quite willing to experiment on himself, to the extent of
drinking dilute hydrochloric acid, sealing himself inside sealed atmosphere
chambers and slowly removing the oxygen and attempting experimental diving
suits at the age of 13, (not all at the same time). If you added some sadism
and race-hatred he would probably have done well in various German or Japanese
labs during the oncoming war, but Haldane had little hatred in him, and no sadism,
he seems to have regarded the animals around him, and his own body, the way a
farmer regards a horse or dog; useful, interesting, necessary, valuable, but
not <i>sacred</i>. He reported that, (like Junger), he enjoyed killing people
quite a bit. He was an explosives expert, wrote a book on the benefits of
chemical warfare and thought it was stupid not to use more mustard gas than we
did.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">He belongs in that very slightly discomforting
margin of humanity who will quite happily take living beings, including themselves,
apart in laboratories and their fellow man apart in wars, but won't do it
freestyle, for pleasure, for no reason or to anyone who asks them not to
(except in war).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In 'Some Enemies of Science' Haldane
recommends the complete deregulation of vivisection in the interests of science
and of popular science.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">"... I killed two rats in the course of
experimental work intended to advance medical science. One of them, if we can
judge from human experience (and we have no more direct means of evaluating the
consciousness of animals), died after a period of rather pleasant delirium like
that of alcoholic intoxication. The other had convulsions, and may have been in
pain for three or four minutes. I should be very thankful if I knew that I
should suffer no more than it did before my death. It therefore seems
ridiculous that, wheras my wife" [she had poisoned rats] "is
encouraged by the Government and the Press, I should be compelled to apply to
the President of the Royal Society and other eminent man of science for
signature to an application to the already overworked Home Secretary, before I
can even kill a mouse in a slightly novel manner."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Haldanes arguments for the deregulation of
Vivisection are strong, coherent, logical and possibly a little mad. His unrelenting
hatred for the 'Anti-Vivisectionists' whose hypocrisy, delusion and hatred of
science is stopping him from killing mice in novel ways, is genuine, deeply
felt and extremely expressed. He is really outraged about the mouse-chopping.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">If Haldanes Lassaiz-Fiare Vivisection policy
had been made real, the results would have been interesting, but probably more
bad than good. Mouse-chopping should be licensed.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKkIEztmPGVATDxmR0IsdfRBV7itftMG7SwuS_MZ05zAD0cleRyi7rdwSigOdU6k1TLWQIZnn6SGWd81ACO7aqT0zg2ZhaZRDEayhFFLXm2LjWOIh-EzVKrRmNyUzqVL1lBVhhKKax_Kn2M_-rdrHZesQ1R7LhkMs45sfynig4cKhmXIdCYzzbR9GXwRV/s946/Haldane%20Vivisection%20Meme.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="946" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKkIEztmPGVATDxmR0IsdfRBV7itftMG7SwuS_MZ05zAD0cleRyi7rdwSigOdU6k1TLWQIZnn6SGWd81ACO7aqT0zg2ZhaZRDEayhFFLXm2LjWOIh-EzVKrRmNyUzqVL1lBVhhKKax_Kn2M_-rdrHZesQ1R7LhkMs45sfynig4cKhmXIdCYzzbR9GXwRV/w515-h290/Haldane%20Vivisection%20Meme.png" width="515" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3422cc71-4794-4ec3-b4c3-934ce1d4e5c9_946x532.png" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Like most high-I.Q. lefties in the inter-war
years, Haldane was a Marxist and a Communist. He was wrong and held on to the
idea too long. You can tell how sane an inter-war western intellectual was by
the date they stopped believing in Communism. Cordwainer Smith, Rebecca West
and Bertrand Russel; quite soon, the French; never.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Haldane went full-Commie in the mid 30's, when
the saner types were already leaving. He objected to Lysenkos imaginary
genetics in 1949 but didn't leave and finally resigned from the Communist Party
in 1956. In 1957 he resigned from being British over the Suez incident and went
off to spend his final years in India. His stupid murder-god had failed in
front of him, Britian was still masturbating to dreams of Imperialism so he
took the third way. I think he was also attracted to India because it was
here that the direct connection with nature, vast range of life and ability to
deal with large populations was closest to the experimental world of his early
youth. (He grew up as the son of an aristocrat-scientist the late 19th
century.) By the mid 20th century the U.K. was even more intensely urbanised
and Haldanes dream of widespread 'Citizen Science' based on animal collections,
(and vivisection), and interacting with nature was looking less and less
possible. But in India, more space, more nature, and a great diversity of
people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In 1925 he also wrote 'Callinicus: A Defence
of Chemical Warfare', which I have not read but his defence of Mustard Gas in
'Possible Worlds' is based on the relative bodily destructive power of machine
guns and Mustard Gas. His logic is very like that of the pro-Vivisection
argument which is "If we are eating animals and hunting animals why can't
I chop them up when I like since I have very good reasons for doing so?"
"Likewise, if we are machine gunning each other and bombing each other
(ask me how), why not gas each other since it will have the same effect &
less human bodies will be destroyed in the process?"<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Against Haldanes iron logic I can only offer
the midwits response of 'I think that might not turn out the way you think it
will'.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">He was also an atheist, which I don't consider
amongst his terrible and questionable ideas but it is slightly boring from a
modern-day perspective, listening to him go on about it is a bit dull. Its
interesting to hear from his perspective about how cowardly and useless most
Christian Padres were in the war, even more interesting that he signals out for
rare praise; the Quakers, for their Pacifistic ambulance-driving and more war service.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">DON'T
TRUST THE SCIENCE BRO<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Haldane has largely (and inadvertently)
convinced me that scientists shouldn't get involved in politics. They have no
intuitive grasp on what politics <i>is</i> on any level, assuming it to be some
kind of social machine to produce 'optimum results'.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">They should be consulted closely on their
special subjects, should not set policy and generally should be kept in special
boxes far from the levers of power.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">This applies especially to biologists and
other life-science types, especially the more intelligent sort. Their deep
understanding of the processes of nature and the human body has been bought at
the price of any intuitive grasp of the meaning of nature or the human body and
a scientist, if allowed near policy, if asked not to investigate but to <i>decide</i>,
will proceed on the basis of optimisation towards a concrete goal, as if they
were dealing with a malfunctioning machine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">This is not what society, a nation or humanity
is.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Furthermore, there are politicians whom it is
necessary to have make decisions and who must be fired afterwards. During Covid
most possible choices carried serious moral hazard. Decisions had to be made.
Those decisions would by necessity have terrible effects on someone. After the
emergency had passed those decisions must be rejected by the very populations
that required them and the decision-makers disposed of. This is unpleasant but
it is the nature of things. If we had hyper-expert scientists actually making
those decisions instead of advising on them, firstly they would proceed on the
basis of blind optimisation as stated above, secondly when we inevitably had to
turn against them after the emergency was over, we would lose, not a
fundamentally-replaceable politician, but a useful expert, and finally because
the necessary moral hazard of those choices would ultimately reflect not on one
individual or administration but on the scientist and on science itself. Fauci,
before he dies, may well drag virology in the U.S. back into the stone age,
purely as part of the counter-reaction to his mistakes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">EUGENICS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We live in a new age of Eugenics, though we
don't quite realise it yet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Really, any form of Eugenics that becomes
common enough stops being thought of as 'Eugenics'. It’s not a completely
sliding scale but it’s pretty slippery. Condoms, I.U.D.s the Pill, sonic scans
of developing foetus' and risk-free Abortions are all fruit of the Eugenic
tree.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Hasidic Jewish populations are already using
genome sequencing to avoid dangerous genetic combinations in their (arguably
quite inbred) community.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Genome sequencing is becoming cheaper and
cheaper, more and more accurate, and the power of algorithms to predict and
control for certain desired qualities in the genome is becoming more and more
effective.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">(Reading between the lines of various
Geneticists, its probably possible to run an algo on a range of IVF foetuses
and select for high I.Q. Even though I.Q. is insanely polygenic and we have no
idea how it works, the algo doesn't need to understand that and can just find
relationships regardless. The reason this hasn't been done publicly isn't
because it can't be done but because Geneticists are nuclear-avoidant of
talking about it or doing it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Theoretical - likely someone has already tried
selecting IVF foetuses for I.Q. and these children have been born.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Haldane only writes directly about this once
in 'Possible Worlds', though as a Genetor-Prime of the British Empire, he knew
as much about it as anyone of his generation, and as the ever-lucid and
prescient Haldane, he could predict more than most of his generation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In 'Eugenics and Social Reform', Haldane is..
mixed. Ultimately he thinks it’s necessary and probably inevitable but we
shouldn't do it now as we don't know what we are doing and it’s probably more
complex than we think.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">On 'feeble-mindedness', the majority of which
I take to be Downs Syndrome, Haldane might be surprised that it is not a
hereditary problem, that we can't find it in the parents genes but can find it
through embryo testing and more commonly, through scans, and that we are
largely utterly ruthless in aborting the vast majority of such children.
Perhaps he <i>wouldn't</i> be surprised. Perhaps our relationship with Downs
Syndrome is more like how our relationship with Eugenics will proceed, not but
grand unified programmes but by quiet invisible decisions made by parents in
doctors offices, made with ever-increasing data and in invisibly-shifting
social consensus, and made silently and not spoken of.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What Haldane <i>seems</i> to be saying is that
the rich, intelligent and successful, inevitably put themselves out of genetic
buisness by not breeding at a replacement level. They are always outweighed by
the poor or common who breed a lot more. This seems to have been true in
Haldanes time, looks to have been true for much of European history, and is
true now. (Despite going on about this at length and being married twice, and
being pretty well-off, Haldane had no children.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Yet we still have rich, successful and
intelligent people. Whether we have as much as we did in Haldanes time it’s
hard to tell but it doesn't seem <i>that</i> different. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Probably we do not really understand how this
works at all, especially on a larger scale and across deep reaches of time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">'On Eugenics and Social Reform' is a must-read
because of the ideas it deals with, its weaving sometimes-ironic arguments and
the pretty explosive mind-bombs, both when considered as cold intellectual
arguments which <i>might</i> apply the same from his time to ours, and for the
wild and whacky cultural Messines-level mines woven into every part of it as
you listen to an aristocratic, Marxist, inter-war atheist high-Anglo scientist
drop... comments;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">"It was only the emancipation of the
negroes which saved the United States from twice its present black population.
This event gave them access to alcohol, venereal diseases, and
consumption."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I <i>think</i> (if I understand his total
argument), that I might agree with Haldane? Eugenics is probably inevitable,
but we don't understand it and probably shouldn't do it, especially on a large
scale or in a top-down way. Hopefully, like Pratchetts Dwaven Bread, it will
remain 'probably inevitable', inevitably.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">POSSIBLE
WORLDS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Probably Haldanes most beautiful idea is in
the essay which gives this collection its name; 'Possible Worlds'.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">This is basically that Dr Doolittle will
create a University of Animal Minds to help unify our theories of physics and
philosophy into a Unified theory of Everything.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Perhaps only Haldane or someone very like him
could have come close to having this idea because only Haldane was enough of a
batty polymath to allow it. He was deeply enmeshed in the life sciences,
genetics, the world of blood and animals, and was intelligent enough to also be
deeply interested in and largely up to date in physics, mathematics, logic and
for him the natural companion of those; philosophy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">He was thinking always of the Whole Thing, of
Reality itself, and all these little strands were just ways of getting there
and looking at it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">One of Haldanes predictions that never came as
true as he would have wished was that we would 'talk to the animals'. In his
future Humanity would gain a deep understanding of animal psychology and
communication and in effect, be able to communicate with and understand the
world-views of other living beings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">This has not worked out that well but Haldanes
synthesis is that the fundamental nature of reality is necessarily opaque to us
because the way we are made fundamentally limits us from apprehending it. As
enmeshed in both biology and philosophy as he was, he could conceive of
something like a Fundamental Human Blind Spot. This wouldn't really be a 'spot'
but whole areas and methods of thought that would be not only impossible but,
more importantly, inconcievable, to us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Like there are ways of thinking and perceiving
that you literally can't think about and if you try to conceive of them then
your mind will just loop around them like an ant walking along a mobius strip,
without ever even considering them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The point here being; how do you try to
understand that which you are inherently made not to understand?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In 'Possible Worlds' Haldane tries to begin
imagining the philosophy of reality of a Bee, or a hyper-intelligent Barnacle.
Since they occupy reality in a fundamentally different way their structure of
reality, the pattern of their thought, perceptions and therefore, philosophy,
would be utterly different.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Yet if we accept that we are all perceiving
the same Reality, the Bee and the Barnacle would both have world-views which <i>ultimately</i>
coincide or match up with ours. So if we could learn the 'language' of, or
enter in communion with, Bee and Barnacle, we could learn something of their
Paradigm and that might help us see the gaps in our own, to ask the questions
previously inconceivable to us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">(A slightly boring and lessened version of
this which might sound less weird and whacky to a modern reader is like in a
Star Trek world where there are a bunch of forehead aliens and we can fly off
to this or that alien world and talk to them and learn their weird alien
physics and philosophies which are all very strange and different but which still
actually work, if we could learn them, we might understand more about reality.
Except we don't have aliens but we do have Bees and Barnacles.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">THE LAST
JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Haldanes last article is a deep-time Science
Fiction story in the report of a Venusian historian describing the death of
Earth in forty million years time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">This future is one in which humanity has
diverged into two species which, curiously, match the dystopian futures
imagined by many 20tC authors; the engineered, happy, incurious and
unadventurous sybarites similar to the humanity of 'Brave New World', and the
Venusian Collective who are a mix of the Borg and the final evolution of the
society depicted in 'We'.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">This is a reality where rocketry is very very
hard, (Haldane had not yet seen the V2s landing on London, let alone the Space
Race), and where moving between planets takes multi-thousand-year plans,
including engineering specific new versions of Humanity to live on them.
Therefore, Humanity barely leaves earth and only a bunch of radicals get to
Venus. Terran Man monopolises the tidal gravatic power of the Moon to energise
their vast aesthetic schemes of global pleasure, which speeds up the moons
descent into the earth. Terran man can't be bothered to stop this and
eventually the two crash into each other, though not without a few thousand
years of excitingly apocalyptic but still-liveable earth with the moon gigantic
in the sky, vast discs and spumes of lunar matter forming a silver river in the
air, mountains quaking, seas rolling around the planet, its pretty great stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Haldane absorbed in Deep Time and the meaning,
if any, of humanity, exhibits all of his elegance, imagination, mediocrity,
didactic authoritarianism and weakness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">"If it is true, as the higher religions
teach, that the individual can only achieve a good life by conforming to a plan
greater than his own, it is our duty to realize the possible magnitude of such
a plan, whether it be God's or man's. Only so can we come to see that most good
actions merely serve to stave off the constant inroads of chaos on the human
race. They are necessary, but not sufficient. They cannot be regarded as active
co-operation in the Plan. The man who creates a new idea, whether expressed in
language, art or invention., may at least be co-operating actively. The average
man cannot do this, but he must learn that the highest of his duties is to
assist those who are creating and the worst of his sins to hinder them."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-19683794256518317052023-09-18T06:39:00.004-07:002023-09-18T06:42:57.961-07:00Four Books on War<p>“ .. Belgium’s leading living poet whose life before 1914
had been a flaming dedication to socialist and humanitarian ideals that were
then believed to erase national lines. He prefaced his account with this
dedication: “He who writes this book in which hate is not hidden was formerly a
pacifist … For him no disillusionment was ever greater or more sudden. It
struck him with such violence that he thought himself no longer the same man.
And yet, as it seems to him that in this state of hatred his conscience becomes
diminished, he dedicates these pages, with emotion, to the man he used to be.”
– Tuchman quoting Emile Verhaeren in ‘The Guns of August’.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">….. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It’s pretty quiet in the shop on a night shift. This lead
me to fulfil a long-time promise to myself to finally read Barbara Tuchmans
‘The Guns of August’, her celebrated history of the opening weeks of World War
One. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">At the time I also had two books of WW1 poetry on the
shelf, both from less currently-popular poets, which I had picked up because I
wanted to find out what the actual man-on-the-street/jingo poetry of the war
was like. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">At about the same time a friend online mentioned the
Manga ‘Onwards Towards Our Noble Deaths’, which I grabbed a copy of. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths by Shigeru
Mizuki.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The Poetry of Jesse Pope.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Rough Rhymes of a Padre by ‘Woodbine Willie’.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">So, with one very long book and three quite short ones,
having finished ‘Guns of August’ why not add the rest and make an event out of
it? (Because its stressful and depressing as hell but, being in idiot, I had
not fully processed that.)</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><br /></o:p></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;">The Guns of August </h1><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjCHNUdRbj-1SCH61y-1M9TJDtxrUT31c4Xg1caHYAOczMmRpD4x1_3cxQxAf7D0EBrKECewFYgJtV_0lPmLS_fVGmv63XeMyUlH0Hxzk0fs885OishXZ8aQMEx9m3DgRwQyPC5KePYqwOtyCmCIUVObD5oVKQGtx1b6-mTkOuQ8jnrDioin4hPIE4stR/s246/barbara_tuchman-757098.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="200" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjCHNUdRbj-1SCH61y-1M9TJDtxrUT31c4Xg1caHYAOczMmRpD4x1_3cxQxAf7D0EBrKECewFYgJtV_0lPmLS_fVGmv63XeMyUlH0Hxzk0fs885OishXZ8aQMEx9m3DgRwQyPC5KePYqwOtyCmCIUVObD5oVKQGtx1b6-mTkOuQ8jnrDioin4hPIE4stR/w312-h383/barbara_tuchman-757098.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Tuchman is actually a character in her own book too. </span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">She is the little girl interviewed by the American Ambassador about the British hunt for a German Battleship in the Med.)</span></div><div><br /></div>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Reading this book was like having a low-level panic
attack, at times I had to get up and walk about to de-stress. At times it
didn’t really matter who’s side I was on (the book is on the side of the Allies).
I wouldn’t have thought a beat by beat breakdown of the days and hours before
the second battle of Tannenberg, between Imperial Germans and Tsarists, would
have me biting my nails and shouting at the screen (in my mind) but it did. </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p>
<h3>Why? </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The intensity, vividness, complexity and madness of the
fog of war can, even when dealing with armies and factions I don't care much
about, cause a kind of disaster-driven engagement. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The book is a kind of anti-procedural. Instead of a cast
of characters who are very good at things facing a big problem, working out
what to do and coming together at the last minute against the odds, we have a
massive spread of characters, all struggling against each other in big teams,
arguing, perceiving and acting in different ways and coming together
catastrophically, against the odds. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It is the tension of confusion, the agony of crippled or
misguided plans. Everyone has their own little section of reality and is
struggling to do what they think they should and absolutely everyone is
deluded, mistaken, or wrong. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">We, as the minds-eye of Tuchman, fly and flow across the
battlefields, seeing more than any single person at that time ever could,
simultaneously aware, as no-one living through those events ever could be, of
the mutual, asynchronous and chaotic reality stuttering forth across the
western front, an orchestra of staccato mistuned instruments, playing in blind
opposition. Like two teams of Jazz musicians separated by a curtain, each group
told to improvise and at the same time, to precisely counter the improvisation
of the other side. Except no-one on either team actually likes each other. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It is one thing to be locked in a story with your heroes
point of view and to see thing going wrong. It is quite another to be slightly
above that point of view, to see more of the situation than your protagonist,
and to see <i>why</i> things are going wrong, in ways they can't. This is where
the agony comes in, and yet another thing to zip across the scene, into the
point of view of the antagonist, who is in fact the hero of their own story,
and who’s enemy is the original hero, and to also see <i>their</i> schemes
going wrong, and to see why they are going wrong. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">double-agony </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">At the same time we are living in the future of these
events and know that no-ones plans will go as expected and no-one (except maybe
the Americans) will come out of this well - for all this striving we are
watching a continent take itself apart. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">so really a poly-agony </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">a poly-agonist history </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3>Irony, Readability and Satire </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Oh, the Kaiser and his whacky schemes, his military-style
sleeping gown. The dithering-to-the-point-of-wooly-mania British Cabinet, the
top-down but extremely secret and authoritarian French plans,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">or French <i>Plan</i>, which can only be executed by
having one guy in charge, and that guy not really telling the government what’s
going on - was nearly the Dictator of France during the opening parts of the
war, the SECRET DEALS, the French and their obsession with red pantaloons, Russia
having the exact opposite of a Philosopher King - a guy genuinely dense but not
<i>quite</i> dumb or weak willed enough to do a Coup against or just shuffle
off to a Palace somewhere, all of this is part of what makes the book so readable
and such a good and complex synthesis of history. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">But there is a danger to irony, in its distance, its easy
synthesis and perhaps most in its argument-without-arguing. Tuchmans is a
narrative history and, looking for the most interesting criticisms of the book
I found that it was easy to avoid many of the more broad and obvious statements
by claiming “well, Tuchman doesn’t really say <i>that</i>”. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">But what <i>does</i> she say? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">She makes few absolute and explicit value judgements, but
the whole thing is an intense and vivid value judgement, only communicated
through choice of detail, focus, method and rhythm of communication. A
storyteller is not making a specific argument, one can hardly counter
point-by-point, but they are convincing you of a something more ably than
someone making a more explicit, leaden, and less persuasive statement. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3>Hair-Thin Cracks In History </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">the Russians being so badly organised that they start
sending their orders for the next day out in Clear radio signal instead of code
- this having a massive effect on the next days pivotal battle. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Von Moltkes apprehension that the German line is too
extended and loose, communicated just a day too late. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The sheer and staggering number of times that personality
conflicts between generals leads to serious problems in the war effort - they
are as neurotic and sensitive as cats. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It feels like there were not just one but a whole range
of time-travellers zipping about making sure a series of cataclysmic
co-incidences did and did not take place. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Is this just the natural pixel-resolution of all history,
made much more visible through this well-recorded super-crisis? Or were things
genuinely more utterly bollocked than ever before? It truly is a kind of
science fictional 19th century war; radio’s, codes, rail plans, the Germans
bring an actual super-gun. World War One seems to take place at a fringe of
complexity where nations and governments have just enough technological and
organisational power to organise truly insanely massive groups, plans and actions
but just not enough experience, or rapid or subtle enough technology, decision
plans, structures, feedback systems or ideas to deal with the results of that
complexity. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Its curious how everyone seems to ‘play to type’. The
Germans are angry and somewhat autistic, the French have a cartesian top-down
view of everything, the British are dithery and pull something out of their
arseholes at the last minute, the Russians are brutal, slow and fall apart. Is
this just a feature of Tuchmans re-telling? I recently finished Julian Jacksons
biography of De Gaule and he had a somewhat tragic view of European history in
which no-one ever really changes and nations are fated to play out the
conflicts of their essential character again and again over time. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3>Criticisms Of Tuchman </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">What are the most coherent, specific and least-whiney
criticisms of Tuchman? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The clearest is that for a book about the start of World
War One, there is relatively little about whatever was going on between Serbia,
Austria, Germany and Russia around and after the assassination. Neither is
there a huge amount about the eastern front. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">She goes on a lot about how awful the Germans were in
Balgium, but they were. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Sir John French comes out as a borderline treasonous
jumbled coward. His general reputation in history doesn’t seem anywhere nearly
as bad as in this book, has anyone written about that? </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;">Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths </h1>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A manga by a sweet old man; Shigeru Mizuki<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_tFVqoad7Jeq4uXtT5djXx0Cv_Xux5xLMZx_s5j3iTaCtEi-KEB8KW5m6-HX0lOSPUWYTQK60LbTEwm0GG8RDQS6vx46PRE6llxOmgP19oEa1MW3AAwW3y8iwN0_B3U_trl0qPxSuuznIaEn-R0JDwEIqdu2uD8YvXdQASEZANCi9SEGqhuBP84CCah5/s250/Mizuki_Shigeru_from_Mizukipro.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="250" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_tFVqoad7Jeq4uXtT5djXx0Cv_Xux5xLMZx_s5j3iTaCtEi-KEB8KW5m6-HX0lOSPUWYTQK60LbTEwm0GG8RDQS6vx46PRE6llxOmgP19oEa1MW3AAwW3y8iwN0_B3U_trl0qPxSuuznIaEn-R0JDwEIqdu2uD8YvXdQASEZANCi9SEGqhuBP84CCah5/w382-h367/Mizuki_Shigeru_from_Mizukipro.jpg" width="382" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This cute little guy! About the experiences of his youth!
In east Asia. In the 1940s..</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">As part of the Imperial Japanese army.... </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<h3>Familiar Things </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I have read a few soldier-autobiographies including,
oddly enough, 'Quartered Safe Out Here' by George McDonald Frasier, which is
about some Cumbrian soldiers in the British army, fighting the Japanese
Imperial Army, not in the same place, but in a similar environment. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A few things flow between them; hunger, boredom,
incoherent orders, officers and sergeants ranging from stupid to decent, the
jungle being beautiful yet horrible, being permanently sweaty, dirty, hungry
and damp, accidents and disease taking people out more regularly than the enemy,
"there are people hiding in the Jungle", people popping out of holes
or shooting at you from trees and whatever, if you see a dot in the sky better
scatter till you know whose it is. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It’s just guys hanging out you know!</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQzuL88b3SRmk2CO3xGZjdi_Q5mNVjMueYwL1z-f89k7dR8Nq6oHxxIEg8t4cSPy6cdUjT-0NXynjyph4YLNyIHiivuy3aWdqKGpAjUZwiGIzGRwN9eDC_NYwl89cA4EhLJ3JBGdSaTCdC4oyyxgGDZVgKXV4fjDU_70AaNy13pRUCFqFbNUbMBM9CkHA/s674/otonb%20pg50%20Sakaida.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="457" height="623" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQzuL88b3SRmk2CO3xGZjdi_Q5mNVjMueYwL1z-f89k7dR8Nq6oHxxIEg8t4cSPy6cdUjT-0NXynjyph4YLNyIHiivuy3aWdqKGpAjUZwiGIzGRwN9eDC_NYwl89cA4EhLJ3JBGdSaTCdC4oyyxgGDZVgKXV4fjDU_70AaNy13pRUCFqFbNUbMBM9CkHA/w422-h623/otonb%20pg50%20Sakaida.PNG" width="422" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OWqfIHNtu_tq2ZSyybR85ObYF0OwvcyXYp2SoNAv0siT5UB_5hOxtnWgU4DOjbT0KkIoH5PmX8FtKDrDRxV-TQ83VPQ3t4mugk3Cvc5xFg5GZdlh1Osqx8qkmEp0HvM9xIOIj0OYcPidfyCXXzX_n8QygWy0Cm6FaJPR5h2WeDQ7b3MtKb_8wmX1lNdc/s462/otonb%20pg51%20Sakaida.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="462" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OWqfIHNtu_tq2ZSyybR85ObYF0OwvcyXYp2SoNAv0siT5UB_5hOxtnWgU4DOjbT0KkIoH5PmX8FtKDrDRxV-TQ83VPQ3t4mugk3Cvc5xFg5GZdlh1Osqx8qkmEp0HvM9xIOIj0OYcPidfyCXXzX_n8QygWy0Cm6FaJPR5h2WeDQ7b3MtKb_8wmX1lNdc/w490-h353/otonb%20pg51%20Sakaida.PNG" width="490" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZWwdUQ9-uXFsC2-s2GX8e2FGGpzYIkuh1X9MPrPUTU-WRK2f2YnSOSiaHrXiPRp3Lxlth6zU3Y-Q3Jekcvt6sHyMzFkSmcQrH9xVgJOS0x00n-W0GZ49bOE3nGJx93vN6HwKmcUNGfuMESoSoeymew9OxQtOEoB8NtWtwgt3yzAhzsQCcicxR6Gs5t1i/s677/otonb%20pg57%20Sakaida.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="456" height="679" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZWwdUQ9-uXFsC2-s2GX8e2FGGpzYIkuh1X9MPrPUTU-WRK2f2YnSOSiaHrXiPRp3Lxlth6zU3Y-Q3Jekcvt6sHyMzFkSmcQrH9xVgJOS0x00n-W0GZ49bOE3nGJx93vN6HwKmcUNGfuMESoSoeymew9OxQtOEoB8NtWtwgt3yzAhzsQCcicxR6Gs5t1i/w458-h679/otonb%20pg57%20Sakaida.PNG" width="458" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">just some guys having a time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It’s curious to see the 'villains' from Quartered Safe
Out Here' from the other side. The main difference between the forces, from the
perspective of a common soldier, seems to be that, in the Imperial Japanese
Army, literally everything is worse in every conceivable way. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The Japanese soldiers are insanely hungry, on half a cup
of rice a day, about 500 calories.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64p5jyPLtYNdX7dPANW27O2hw3_GeF6V3MVXjkHKAouwKz6gkbVFwY_v6bvcvp0Y1DeGyis2IUQnov1MP7lQbwJxrp5Pc3CcQLdGohC68vxsW0Ijcejd-Zsv2nzvzC13z0U7iN29Ap6ItW_FNKvdO_9ea0eL-VVldMlWnV7sm_fodIxgD7jgy15MeO2rz/s680/otonb%20pg72%20Fish.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="459" height="724" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64p5jyPLtYNdX7dPANW27O2hw3_GeF6V3MVXjkHKAouwKz6gkbVFwY_v6bvcvp0Y1DeGyis2IUQnov1MP7lQbwJxrp5Pc3CcQLdGohC68vxsW0Ijcejd-Zsv2nzvzC13z0U7iN29Ap6ItW_FNKvdO_9ea0eL-VVldMlWnV7sm_fodIxgD7jgy15MeO2rz/w489-h724/otonb%20pg72%20Fish.PNG" width="489" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Ha6Kb-pKrUxDWuoiheFs_NEcPmyUFG-3HkSXVSW7gHNW--LBVqifuLd4GAkN9xasIilkjLB8pTj08v7bTfzHf_jVCkurzHaBqq1PwBRUtpn5yHbd7DDCATjoDSiNW2IUEe2t-CDLq_MBNkxypQFw519IOLynh3Aexlx5Rv6SvEjaV_y_bPDtr79u098E/s680/otonb%20pg73%20Fish.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="460" height="730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Ha6Kb-pKrUxDWuoiheFs_NEcPmyUFG-3HkSXVSW7gHNW--LBVqifuLd4GAkN9xasIilkjLB8pTj08v7bTfzHf_jVCkurzHaBqq1PwBRUtpn5yHbd7DDCATjoDSiNW2IUEe2t-CDLq_MBNkxypQFw519IOLynh3Aexlx5Rv6SvEjaV_y_bPDtr79u098E/w493-h730/otonb%20pg73%20Fish.PNG" width="493" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Instead of being shouted at and condescended to by
officers and sergeants the new boys are literally slapped repeatedly in the
face and punched to the ground. This is when they do something wrong, or just
for existing. The end of a normal day is almost lining up to be repeatedly
brutally slapped in the face for no reason<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4ZiNa966DLUvhFgMuQ2Rjlx2guLNNPcNszc1bOaJAvBMQ168jHo3OySiMXefQ_RR3u_sdtBvWfTVMHu6jpgV-T4Ve-E0hJYJz-KYdIWwYDsNq0QRr6F_EG1L6BosyF05rXPhwjepKJ86dmCr7Tb--jM-3B5JYBBnwtFXcLNeNnUgzPifRgw3TgqiLgkC/s679/otonb%20pg193%20a%20hole%20outside%20camp.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="457" height="670" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4ZiNa966DLUvhFgMuQ2Rjlx2guLNNPcNszc1bOaJAvBMQ168jHo3OySiMXefQ_RR3u_sdtBvWfTVMHu6jpgV-T4Ve-E0hJYJz-KYdIWwYDsNq0QRr6F_EG1L6BosyF05rXPhwjepKJ86dmCr7Tb--jM-3B5JYBBnwtFXcLNeNnUgzPifRgw3TgqiLgkC/w450-h670/otonb%20pg193%20a%20hole%20outside%20camp.PNG" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijckCq0x9WmhB8w8-qxDn7ZEaZdq47Qlog-dzmAP1sIDcG1VGrXvsVUpvZp1_1VQ9upyTAph5fy8UCNsS7KhOiSlLB8gtSanw6J_v_SSirZb1bphwq3fBLO8lSnl24okPDvWolfbukEZ86881p-FS0PK8yGBfnoYmyllb-PHyzGsQRGMDtw_K751A0r4sh/s674/otonb%20pg194%20a%20hole%20outside%20camp.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="462" height="642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijckCq0x9WmhB8w8-qxDn7ZEaZdq47Qlog-dzmAP1sIDcG1VGrXvsVUpvZp1_1VQ9upyTAph5fy8UCNsS7KhOiSlLB8gtSanw6J_v_SSirZb1bphwq3fBLO8lSnl24okPDvWolfbukEZ86881p-FS0PK8yGBfnoYmyllb-PHyzGsQRGMDtw_K751A0r4sh/w440-h642/otonb%20pg194%20a%20hole%20outside%20camp.PNG" width="440" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Their officers, or at least some of them, or many of them
much of the time, are in a death cult. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Their immediate commanding officer seems to fantasise
pretty much continually about executing a Banzai charge and going to an
'honourable death' to the extent that he has to be talked out of it whenever a
crisis happens, and eventually they can't talk him out of it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxwmD06_xxVyiIrtoWa3qsWhlbzQo5mjHiu5-DMoce60qSXE7nIlGZ8wMWHs-PKv2eAAJ6ap4L1kIyAPaqzcE3uOmzx-sFjW4-_p8SOC_Fznrp5Z7q0H7N5U_GtYEBTBox31BKfeAn_hU9R9Vdh-6zz1y4vYRL89W4rZbb1psad13-vBwEYfAb8tlocUT/s682/otonb%20pg204%20a%20noble%20death.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="456" height="724" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxwmD06_xxVyiIrtoWa3qsWhlbzQo5mjHiu5-DMoce60qSXE7nIlGZ8wMWHs-PKv2eAAJ6ap4L1kIyAPaqzcE3uOmzx-sFjW4-_p8SOC_Fznrp5Z7q0H7N5U_GtYEBTBox31BKfeAn_hU9R9Vdh-6zz1y4vYRL89W4rZbb1psad13-vBwEYfAb8tlocUT/w484-h724/otonb%20pg204%20a%20noble%20death.PNG" width="484" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mp9VCawpXoDf17xVolAHWbJRNpGI1NiYj_MVn0UrzgCLwoEZ3Mmvro4FNjEQvv8I2dH0j0hBJZt2WFlf4uNwMphfIJ4z2bNV8E4qi3Uye3ysRXa2Oct83gaTzyVvI42HSp0Aw5bgCBMuRRobHiK5D3j7T1a6wKBsrE_nD0ndS0TiXJWfjxwvGLTcG_bj/s508/otonb%20pg205%20a%20noble%20death.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="461" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mp9VCawpXoDf17xVolAHWbJRNpGI1NiYj_MVn0UrzgCLwoEZ3Mmvro4FNjEQvv8I2dH0j0hBJZt2WFlf4uNwMphfIJ4z2bNV8E4qi3Uye3ysRXa2Oct83gaTzyVvI42HSp0Aw5bgCBMuRRobHiK5D3j7T1a6wKBsrE_nD0ndS0TiXJWfjxwvGLTcG_bj/w504-h556/otonb%20pg205%20a%20noble%20death.PNG" width="504" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIMtCaYd3WdlBftOzNlAjfG06YuY5bICo-0w6JPm7c6Kg6UzHby0xU4Fy7v_s8EIoYQMCvc47tTrD4PtWDea6kysRX07i-Sm2jKA5hBYQAhxcnTEzGpZB6xnLOdwdEgg8uu0za0_CnhxX02qEaKZKl5JNNs5DIv4MTCgD7SJseC5HLft6TDPWGLq9OQpg/s509/otonb%20pg225%20a%20noble%20death.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="460" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIMtCaYd3WdlBftOzNlAjfG06YuY5bICo-0w6JPm7c6Kg6UzHby0xU4Fy7v_s8EIoYQMCvc47tTrD4PtWDea6kysRX07i-Sm2jKA5hBYQAhxcnTEzGpZB6xnLOdwdEgg8uu0za0_CnhxX02qEaKZKl5JNNs5DIv4MTCgD7SJseC5HLft6TDPWGLq9OQpg/w526-h582/otonb%20pg225%20a%20noble%20death.PNG" width="526" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><p></p>
<h3>Re-Banzai </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The central 'plot element' of the book is that the Lieutenant
finally manages to order the suicidal midnight jungle Banzai charge of his
dreams. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">HQ finds out about this and valorises their noble sacrifice,
making it a point of propaganda; the Japanese soldier never surrenders! When
they are finally doomed they do a mass Banzai! For the Emperor! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">But because it was dark and the jungle a bunch of soldiers
manage not to get themselves killed and get lost. Come morning they meet up and
decide to go get some food before trying to Banzai themselves again. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">When this gets back to HQ, that there are still guys
alive from the suicide charge, it becomes a major problem and an officer is
sent down the river to re-Banzai them, at sword or gunpoint if necessary <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(he shouldn't join them of course). </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The author was part of this outpost and either got ill or
was knocked out by bombs during the whole thing, went missing and only got back
after the remnants had been 're-Banzai'd'. This left him.. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sceptical of war. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<h3>Hell in the Pacific </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Looking into the war in the Pacific and the Imperial
Japanese Army was definitely on a vibe.<br />
<br /><b><br /></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/63R2aBqwsPg" width="320" youtube-src-id="63R2aBqwsPg"></iframe></b></div><b><br /></b><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">The Imperial Army ate quite a lot of people, specifically
they ate quite a lot of Indians, often alive, carving out the flesh of their
thighs while they were still living and throwing them in a ditch to die while
they ate them like steak. There are accusations that some officers ate their
own men. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I don't really know where to go from here..</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;">The Poetry of Jesse Pope </h1><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2j1uk61Z4D7zH3nzpg9Re68Q5HxOSj_SCF8vR3AzQxn3EKVSwudXfTAJZj-IbqTrFvdCBoFRkwOaiAa2ENAv-qHjUxe0UWEbeXFmhsM-NRZH1G7fPwbLcZxTN6MeuBvJgR6GDy1B78qEDPFAvhMgmTwECxIBWQrltGxviMpefr8NJ5ecPbf0rGSCrNFhQ/s388/odnb-9780198614128-e-1013811-graphic-1-full.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="300" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2j1uk61Z4D7zH3nzpg9Re68Q5HxOSj_SCF8vR3AzQxn3EKVSwudXfTAJZj-IbqTrFvdCBoFRkwOaiAa2ENAv-qHjUxe0UWEbeXFmhsM-NRZH1G7fPwbLcZxTN6MeuBvJgR6GDy1B78qEDPFAvhMgmTwECxIBWQrltGxviMpefr8NJ5ecPbf0rGSCrNFhQ/w366-h474/odnb-9780198614128-e-1013811-graphic-1-full.jpg" width="366" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I picked this up I think after hearing it referenced in
an episode of 'In Our Time'. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I wanted to hear about the war poets who were not of the
alienated faction, I wanted the Patriots and jingoists. WW1 has been re-written
in our imagination, well perhaps not entirely re-written, but re-emphasised, reorganised
and reset around the 'sad victim soldier' stereotype and the 'vague cataclysm'
tale. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">These views have a lot of truth to them, they are not
really 'lies', there were a lot of sad victim soldiers and it was a vague
stumbling cataclysm, but the left likes to remember things a certain way<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">and the popular imagination of WW1 has essentially been
transmitted by the left; Siegfried Sassoon, Pat Barker, All Quiet on the Western
Front. I mean think of a WW1 tale and you know what you are going to get (in
the anglo/westosphere at least) Amilie, Blackadder, you know the scenes, the
characters, the tone, the mud and the vague emotional tenor that hangs over it
all. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Peter Jacksons documentary about WW1 ‘They Shall Not Grow
Old’, had an interesting piece of editing which exemplified this. It’s based on
interviews with soldiers. The opening interviews are all have a relatively
positive view of the war, while the voices at the end all have a negative view.
The way they are distributed creates the impression of the grieving 'sad
soldier' who went in with high spirits and was crushed and alienated by the
experience of the war. But, both of those strands, those interviews and
recordings, are taken from the same people, all recorded long after the war. It
is their dividing up and the way they are edited which creates the nice neat
moral story of the 'sad soldier', not the actual recordings themselves. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The views of a lot of WW1 soldiers, certainly of a lot of
Anglosphere soldiers (the ones I am familiar with) might well strike a modern
ear as not what they were expecting at all. many of those men were proud of
their service and convinced they fought in a good cause, to save Europe and the
world from Prussian militarism. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Those recordings wouldn't be free of trauma and dead
friends but the moral view those men had of their own actions, the weight and colour
they placed on various parts, would be very different to that of later
generations. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">That is why I wanted to read the poetry of Jessie Pope,
because it was the popular poetry of the Daily Mail, the actually-popular
poetry of the opening years of the war. The actual voice of the time rather
than the remembered voice. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I also wanted to know if she was as utterly awful as the
historians claim she was. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">She was.. not *<i>quite</i>* as bad.. entirely </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">but still pretty bad </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3>"A Humble Appeal </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">She was a pretty, nicely mannered mare,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The children's pet, the master's pride and care,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Until a man in khaki came one day,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Looked at her teeth, and hurried her away.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">With other horses packed into a train<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">She hungered for her masters voice in vain;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And later, led 'twixt planks that scare and slip,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">They slung her, terrified, on board a ship.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Next came, where thumps and throbbing filled the air,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Her first experience of mal de mare;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And when that oscillating trip was done<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">They hitched her up in traces to a gun.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">She worked and pulled and sweated with the best;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A stranger now her glossy coat caressed<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Till flashing thunderstorms came bursting round<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And splitting leaden hail bestrewed the ground.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">With quivering limbs, and silky ears laid back,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">She feels a shock succeed a sharper crack,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And, whinnying her pitiful surprise,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Staggers and falls, and tries in vain to rise.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Alone, forsaken, on a foreign field<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">What moral does this little record yield?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Who tends the wounded horses in the war?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Well that is what the Blue Cross league is for."<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Many of the poems are <i>quite </i>interesting. Not all
the rhymes are leaden or as faintly ridiculous as the one above. There is a lot
of early stuff from 1914 to 1916 in praise of ANZACS, the soldiers, the war.
She is not as bigoted or wrathful as a really hardcore blood and soil type but
is more glib, positive, patriotic, a booster-upper cheering from the sides of
the football match (a football match is one of the metaphors used in the
poems), there are fragments of sort-of feminist stuff about war-girls doing jobs. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I went in for Jesse Pope and what I got was pretty much
what I half expected, a very British Church-Hall type quite common before the
1960’s. That she doesn’t seem to write much after 1916 means we don’t see any
development. She is more shallow than evil and so tea-stained mildly bad a poet
that I would feel bad for making fun of her.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">(The BBC of all people <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-32298697">argues here that the Pope vs Owen match is a stitch-up</a>).</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><br /></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;">Rough Rhymes of a Padre</h1><h2><o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmq_1JCjQlVQfO373kwWfdhLIL4Y-ZpSQceu4boIVsb81QfQ_0lgQKbL-OniBX9S_YC9JwtnDh_WI8TjzuTtVGabOBYUEU-WrDBFzfvglSoDKoRdiCuYGUIoDgcNaZUBqpJKpQTaUw1_iV2WR-TwD4WeMeH9ZBwCYDJWXmkHjUgF2tFPb-4mPiGhNDrnjG/s574/gstuddertkennedy-20181102111050663_web.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="410" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmq_1JCjQlVQfO373kwWfdhLIL4Y-ZpSQceu4boIVsb81QfQ_0lgQKbL-OniBX9S_YC9JwtnDh_WI8TjzuTtVGabOBYUEU-WrDBFzfvglSoDKoRdiCuYGUIoDgcNaZUBqpJKpQTaUw1_iV2WR-TwD4WeMeH9ZBwCYDJWXmkHjUgF2tFPb-4mPiGhNDrnjG/w315-h440/gstuddertkennedy-20181102111050663_web.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Willie is G. A. Studdert-Kennedy, an Anglican Priest who
served as a chaplain on the western front and gained the name ‘Woodbine Willie’
for offering wounded and dying soldiers Woodbine cigarettes. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This book ‘Rough Rhymes’ was mainly written in and around
the front. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Its great virtue for this review is that it is a direct
and explicit search for meaning. Mizuki, with whom Willie would perhaps have had
some things in common is, in ‘On Towards Our Noble Deaths’ seemingly detached,
almost ironic, but possessed of a deeply buried rage. Tuchman is actually
detached and ironic (apart from about Sir John French). Pope is patriotic,
glib, 'keen', jolly. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">‘Rugh Rhymes has a <i>combination</i> of emotions and
experience that was missing from every other book in this list. Even 'Onward
Toward Our Noble Deaths' has little of hatred for the enemy, they barely play
much part directly and are rarely depicted. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3>"Whats the Good?" [first two verses]<o:p></o:p></h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p>"Well, I've done my bit o' scrappin',</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And I've done quite a lot;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Nicked 'em neatly with my bayonet,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So I needn't waste a shot.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">'Twas my duty, and I done it,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">But I 'opes the doctor's quick,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">For I wish I 'adn't done it,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Gawd! it turns me shamed and sick.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">There's a young 'un like our Richard,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And I bashed 'is 'ead in two,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And there's that ole grey 'aired geezer<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Which I stuck 'is belly though.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Gawd, you women, wives and mothers,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It's sich waste of all your pain,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">If you knowed what I'd been doin'<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Could yer kiss me still, my Jane?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Studdert-Kennedys post-war journey is quite a ride. He went into the war delivering stirring
sermons about the virtues of the bayonet and came out a Christian Socialist. He
wrote a book called <a href="https://archive.org/details/lies00stud/page/n11/mode/2up">"Lies!"</a>,
was 100 per cent behind Bismark being essentially the antichrist was denied
burial in a Cathedral for being too much of a leftie. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">From his Wikipedia; </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“"After the war, Studdert Kennedy was given charge
of St Edmund, King and Martyr in Lombard Street, London. Having been converted
to Christian socialism and pacifism during the war, he wrote Lies (1919),
Democracy and the Dog-Collar (1921) (featuring such chapters as "The
Church Is Not a Movement but a Mob", "Capitalism is Nothing But
Greed, Grab, and Profit-Mongering" and "So-Called Religious Education
Worse than Useless"), Food for the Fed Up (1921), The Wicket Gate (1923),
and The Word and the Work (1925). He moved to work for the Industrial Christian
Fellowship, for whom he went on speaking tours of Britain." </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">He was also capable of some rather spicy gothic verse;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3>“Truth [lines 34 to 45]<o:p></o:p></h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The shadows have departed,</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And black night<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Lies brooding over all the earth,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And hideous things find birth.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The world brings forth abortions,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And then weeps with bloody tears,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Because her womb is shamed,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Her children maimed,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And all her home become a wilderness of sin.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The sun is darkened,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And the moon turned into blood<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And down upon us sweeps a flood<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Of Lust and Cruelty.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">These are not really an accurate representation of the
full tone and weight of the poems but are some of the darker fragments which I
personally like and which I think will grab your attention and will also make vivid
the contrast between Willie and Pope. The full range of the verse is more
religious, with much more seeking and finding of divine grace, and I thought if
I put that stuff in right away my audience would find it a bit twee. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3>“Thy Will Be Done [last verse]<o:p></o:p></h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And Bill, 'e were doin' 'is duty boys,</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">What e came on the earth to do,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And the answer what came to the prayers I prayed<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Was 'is power to see it through.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">To see it through to the very end,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And to die as my old pal died,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Wi' a thought for 'is pal and prayer for 'is gal,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And 'is brave 'eart satisfied."<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Fundamentally ‘Rough Rhymes’ is a religious text about
the search for meaning in a crushing and annihilating place, with the central
praxis or dichotomy being between deeply held faith and the martial virtues,
and hatreds, of a soldier and a patriot. The two don’t mix but that hasn’t
stopped Europeans, and Abrahamics generally, for a couple thousand years. And
you get a lot of interesting thinking and reflection out of it. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">For me G. A. Studdert-Kennedy is the most human of these
writers, or the one who seems to exhibit the greatest humanity or the greatest
and deepest range of feeling and questions. Tuchman comes close but the sheen
of her irony, which aids her in gliding over great spans of history and
synthesising its details into a coherent and engaging story, also keeps her a
windowglass' depth from the image. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Willie is also the person who seems most like a <i>full</i>
or real soldier, someone ready to stab crush and shoot his fellow man, sometimes
feeling bad about it after. Sentimental, patriotic, though not as thoughtless
or stupid as Pope who is just those things resigned, sometimes despairing,
resolute, breaking down, wrathful at the war and at the enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mizuki has this too but his war was so much
darker and there are deep elisions in his telling. I don’t know if anyone could
grapple with the whole thing head-on. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3>“Her Gift [lines 12 to 47] </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">"We’ve seen men die,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Not once, nor twice, but many times<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">In agony<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A ghastly to behold as that.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">We’ve seen men fall,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And rise, and staggering onward fall again,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Bedrenched in their own blood,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Fast flowing like a flood,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Of crimson sacrifice upon the snow.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">We’ve seen and would forget.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Why then should there be set<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Before our eyes these monuments of crime?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It’s time, high time,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">That they were buried in the past;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">There let them lie,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">In that great sea of merciful oblivion,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Where
our vile deeds,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And
outworn creeds,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Are
left to rot and die.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
would forget,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And
yet,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Do you remember Rob McNeil<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And
how he died,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And
cried,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And pleaded with his men<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To
take that gun,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And
kill the Hun<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That
worked it dead?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
bled<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Horribly. Do you remember?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I can’t forget,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I would not if I could,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It were not right I should,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
died for me.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">He was a God that boy,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The only God I could adore.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p></div>pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-55291621884885470382023-09-12T02:52:00.005-07:002023-09-12T02:52:44.428-07:00Got poor, old etc. Been workin'**<p>Sorry for the lack of posts. Things have been CHALLENGING recently. Anyway, call me if you need advice on being middle aged and the least successful member of your peer group by far**.</p><p>I just finished reading a few books on WAR; 'The Guns of August', 'Onwards Towards Our Noble Deaths' by Shigeru Mizuki, 'The Poetry of Jessie Pope' and 'Rough Rhymes of a Padre' by 'Woodbine Willie'. I will try to put together some kind of review in the next few days. I usually put these on the Substack first but everything over there ends up over here eventually.</p><p><br /></p><p>Speak, False Machine is taking its time but hopefully some news on that soonish.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dansumption/king-arthur-vs-devil-kitteh/description" target="_blank">In the brief meantime, my friend Dan is running a micro-kickstarter for a picture book based on a legend in which Merlin and King Arthur battle a giant Kitten.</a></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNkA45L2f-lfFikEN1zIUUO5JY_A4OLXvPArdCjU4W1b3Iu8iRiZaPHrt2SrRAedMo60kyBGRzKfbp9q8FiQuJjqcpXELwe5yosz_jk6rBxdCp3hGX04aZWzd71v10FNc--My6VlzirJjY9XYb4KwhsNjQjwmr20zmhwKUc4Hmm-LFrVXjW6xKKpoTlIK/s681/a84667bfa62387c76dd05a36e561614a_original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="680" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNkA45L2f-lfFikEN1zIUUO5JY_A4OLXvPArdCjU4W1b3Iu8iRiZaPHrt2SrRAedMo60kyBGRzKfbp9q8FiQuJjqcpXELwe5yosz_jk6rBxdCp3hGX04aZWzd71v10FNc--My6VlzirJjY9XYb4KwhsNjQjwmr20zmhwKUc4Hmm-LFrVXjW6xKKpoTlIK/w469-h469/a84667bfa62387c76dd05a36e561614a_original.jpg" width="469" /></a></div><br /><p>I have backed and they only need about 20 people to actually make the thing.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zTyxZ6D1HhaboDRYFBZEZAtiBpJODudkZ-1dToiSbEbGQGLmsff4IHmnPzFLj71zAX6LDlY55KyMstVC4rxbwxE_urVSsY7nqx8k7iWSR653bgLmttMW04Lm9qQNHmAz_Jl4N30BSqYThd3ZAF7GZKjNXwkMrWaWP1O1OtvPiezd44sy9iv6CeByISVn/s680/2fd442643f408231bebcf2a8578056bb_original.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="680" height="447" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zTyxZ6D1HhaboDRYFBZEZAtiBpJODudkZ-1dToiSbEbGQGLmsff4IHmnPzFLj71zAX6LDlY55KyMstVC4rxbwxE_urVSsY7nqx8k7iWSR653bgLmttMW04Lm9qQNHmAz_Jl4N30BSqYThd3ZAF7GZKjNXwkMrWaWP1O1OtvPiezd44sy9iv6CeByISVn/w447-h447/2fd442643f408231bebcf2a8578056bb_original.png" width="447" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The question is will this one be on the shelf or eventually sent to my niece. <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dansumption/king-arthur-vs-devil-kitteh/description" target="_blank">There is only one way to find out!</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3XKt91JJbSQ2dvwGQZjr4SYI13VAg4vc2SDlhXKwrrqjpcjc5b24FIz_B_qSS44GLxSSrqfPvJC5FcIoMRGVIK0LtTZAUr_AEzSCtAeZNDEmOx262EjkoeBWfijk322AvGlZzDCvRsQX8_Q9xdJDKU51NZY2QYoqu3Okfh1iwXgKjGtpt6KMU_0MvAIYn/s680/201c4db52e7da9c1331a3f5d49c92b62_original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="680" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3XKt91JJbSQ2dvwGQZjr4SYI13VAg4vc2SDlhXKwrrqjpcjc5b24FIz_B_qSS44GLxSSrqfPvJC5FcIoMRGVIK0LtTZAUr_AEzSCtAeZNDEmOx262EjkoeBWfijk322AvGlZzDCvRsQX8_Q9xdJDKU51NZY2QYoqu3Okfh1iwXgKjGtpt6KMU_0MvAIYn/w446-h446/201c4db52e7da9c1331a3f5d49c92b62_original.jpg" width="446" /></a></div></div><p><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">*</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOmQWANVvm2zeNGgC7-HFU2LZT_cTWTBzHTXBMcHPOeQAeD52w-J5_BQR4wSwKCm19CnbhgPpjN11z9OZX-86lLj2fOSN6mOKDhCiaoocpIKjWjWACWe9qk5MifiEUEVjpLJFRvw6THxtODzjpkKGuzbKILk9j9hDQfBnfTRY-1iAkR41vLiDZGolNHt9/s489/parick.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="489" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOmQWANVvm2zeNGgC7-HFU2LZT_cTWTBzHTXBMcHPOeQAeD52w-J5_BQR4wSwKCm19CnbhgPpjN11z9OZX-86lLj2fOSN6mOKDhCiaoocpIKjWjWACWe9qk5MifiEUEVjpLJFRvw6THxtODzjpkKGuzbKILk9j9hDQfBnfTRY-1iAkR41vLiDZGolNHt9/w466-h307/parick.png" width="466" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>**This is a joke. Please do not actually call. </p><br />pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-88629999167157218302023-07-27T09:49:00.000-07:002023-07-27T09:49:38.601-07:00Ride the Giants Development Blog, Part 2<div style="text-align: left;"> Part one here; <a href="http://falsemachine.blogspot.com/2023/05/ride-giants-development-blog-1.html">http://falsemachine.blogspot.com/2023/05/ride-giants-development-blog-1.html</a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<h1>The Speed of the Giants </h1>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This matters not only in general gameplay but because the
initial concept of the game was ‘a game in real time’; an adventure lasting two
to three hours, with a gaming session lasting the same two to three hours. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">There would be some, but little, compression of time. The
time-limit was meant to add impetus to the PCs choices and get them making
decisions faster. It was also meant to add a bit of interest and challenge to
the choices made. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Estimating the Gait </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I began by asking people on Discord for advice on
estimating the gait of the giants. That is, when one takes a step, how long is
the step. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">If they stood up straight, the Giants are nearly 3,000
feet high. Hunched over as they are their heads are about 2,000 feet high. So I
started with the step-length of an imaginary 3,000 foot high man. Using various
mysterious means, including reverse-engineering an equation used by the police
to derive height from step-length, the Discord homies came back with a step
length of just under 1,300 feet per-step. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">That’s just under 400 metres per step or a little under a
Kilometre per double-step. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Chronology of a Step </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Estimating the <i>timing</i> of each step is more
difficult. Giants of this size are physically impossible anyway. Large
long-legged animals have to take care of their steps as they can easily break
their own legs with their weight. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I essentially just ended up eyeballing it. Each step
takes roughly a minute and a half. 90 seconds. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10 to 15 seconds at the start for the weight to rise and
the foot to accelerate, then 30 seconds in the air, then another 10 to 15
seconds landing time for the weight to fall, the foot to settle, and weight to
be transferred through the hip to raise the other foot. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I estimate the Giants are is moving roughly 14.4 feet per
second. Which makes I think its total movement being just under 10 miles per
hour. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This sounds.. really not totally insane. Like a
reasonable synthesis of the impossible and pseudo-realism. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A good one-to-three rounds of slow-foot time for you to
leap up and grab on. A big "whoosh" as you travel 400 meters in 30
seconds. Then the settle time at the end. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So a human could run away from it, someone on horseback
could run faster than it. It could be 'boarded', but with real difficulty as
the foot is only slow and close to the ground for not that long. To match their
speed a human would need to be jogging or running. To overtake you would need
to run pretty fast or have a horse. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And a continuous 10 mph walking speed sustained essentially
forever, would be very hard to keep up with for a long period of time I think? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Boarding the Giant </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">If you were trying to ‘board’ a giants foot, you could
probably catch up with it, via sprinting, or if you had a horse. The really
dangerous part would be when the foot comes down. If the giant trod down onto
something like the soil of a field, it might send up fountains of soil like an
impact crater all around the foot. If the soil was wet or the water table was
high, it might send up actual fountains or more likely, dangerous torrents of
wet mud. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">In the area around the foot-fall it would be like an
earthquake hit. The earth might crack open, or roll like waves. Horses might
break their legs and men would fall to the ground. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">If you survive all that, you have about 15 seconds at the
weight of the foot settles and transfers where it will be relatively still. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">All you need to do is <i>get to</i> the huge curved wall
of the foot, I estimate it to be about a 100 foot climb, but you don’t need to
make it immediately, just hang one, hang on <i>hard</i>. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Because that foot is going to rise up into the air. Its
lateral speed at its going to be about 15 miles an hour during the swing of the
foot but its speed measured across the whole of its curve till it hits soil on
the next step might be more like 20 miles per hour. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Not <i>insanely</i> fast. But jarring as hell. Plus the
angle of its motion is constantly curving and shifting. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>What Strait do they Cross? </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Depending on if or how much time we leave for
organisation the actual giant-riding part of the game might range from one and
a half hours to three hours. Lets assume two hours of actual giant-riding. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Assuming ‘real time’ that means the Giants would travel
about 20 miles. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The idea of the game is that you only have the length of
the game itself to solve the problem of the giants – by the end of the game
they will have reached the Nightmare Continent and if you get off the giant
after that you are DOOMED </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Looking for real-life places of roughly the right
dimensions the first that comes to mind is the Dover strait. </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitW9R-P-nkZYtYAEx47EM1RCX3gssloj78R-_q_CPTltxaFQDTXnrBgtNAUWlPpeyqDfLstsbrjL-PAVQtjcehmfCGugm85wVk8FgtwisPEeD92oV0UquYq_U4E-nmWCML1MLjQp1GBEbSLESG2BoLSqr5RVLD4iJ-UWoznJCrvrbrLG2OBt7aQbUW_5Q/s685/41467_2017_Article_BFncomms15101_Fig1_HTML.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="685" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitW9R-P-nkZYtYAEx47EM1RCX3gssloj78R-_q_CPTltxaFQDTXnrBgtNAUWlPpeyqDfLstsbrjL-PAVQtjcehmfCGugm85wVk8FgtwisPEeD92oV0UquYq_U4E-nmWCML1MLjQp1GBEbSLESG2BoLSqr5RVLD4iJ-UWoznJCrvrbrLG2OBt7aQbUW_5Q/w420-h373/41467_2017_Article_BFncomms15101_Fig1_HTML.jpg" width="420" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Between Dover and Calais is almost exactly 20 miles </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">But nowhere near deep enough – its only 50 meters deep!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoPveddoCGqtA6m9i31FxRu1ch0MUXzhCL4bfKjpyGAfRhsW8xNTZE1RvGzB7jTxxXUT-Vd-heW3c-rTiJ3_zdfkJwMHniLZekuKFIVPyAtAwXsIkd_h3F5pNrEkiE_8fJ5ElFhiDsnWE0xbV6l0e-lLYxX31sEhv9Mvj6zrkS29ZPx9FJkxakSAaIowx/s3172/Channel_tunneL_geology.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2289" data-original-width="3172" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoPveddoCGqtA6m9i31FxRu1ch0MUXzhCL4bfKjpyGAfRhsW8xNTZE1RvGzB7jTxxXUT-Vd-heW3c-rTiJ3_zdfkJwMHniLZekuKFIVPyAtAwXsIkd_h3F5pNrEkiE_8fJ5ElFhiDsnWE0xbV6l0e-lLYxX31sEhv9Mvj6zrkS29ZPx9FJkxakSAaIowx/w473-h341/Channel_tunneL_geology.jpg" width="473" /></a></div><br /><br />
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">That’s only 164 feet! About up to the giants Knees! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Well I suppose it’s acceptable – in their hunched over
posture their knuckles will be grazing the ocean surface as they walk. It also
gives the PCs a fair amount of time to get up over the knee. Though if they are
still dicking about with that half-way through the mission is probably failed
anyway. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h1>Climbing the Giants </h1>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">There are several problems; the linear nature of the
directional choices on a larger scale, the curved, flowing and non-intuitive
surface of the giant and the shifting position and orientation of the limbs. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Linear Nature of the Choices </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The main problem here is that the arrangement of the
giants limbs is very much not like a dungeon. There are only a few routes and
risks. Large parts are semi-visible from various points. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Most of a limb-climb is just <i>getting up that limb</i>,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and to make the adventure interesting at all
I would need to make actually falling off relatively rare. Instead I would have
to produce something like the climbing in VotE; everyone can do it a bit and
failure leads to ever more nightmarish fail-states without ever quite booting you
off. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Once a climb is begun, the route-choice is largely made
and any tension or interest comes<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>more
from how challenges are met than what they will be. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Curved and Flowing Surface </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Lets Envisage the Giants Skin -What is this like? A curved,
slightly-flexing, rocky surface. Even ‘smooth’ parts are like a rocky, and in
fact most of the giants skin is deeply corrugated. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">If you look down at the skin around your knuckles. If you
make a claw with your hand so the skin bunches up there, all those little
triangles and oblongs of skin where the lines of compression meet and cross. Image
that as a karstic landscape, but much more wrinkly – like a very old persons
skin, and much deeper in its corrugations. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Smooth parts</b> – like<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a cobblestone road, but with the cobbles
jagged and not smoothed. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Intermediate parts</b> – like clambering over or up
large boulders. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Very Crinkly parts</b> – like clambering over and <i>through</i>
sharp man-sized or larger boulders<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Which tilt and grind together or apart – big enough that
the gaps make an ‘interior of sorts. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So the smooth parts are actually very easy to fall off
& quite dangerous while the rough parts where the limbs meet – the crinkly
places of our own bodies, are relatively safe – even though they are moving and
flexing, there are many holds and handholds and spaces where you can place
yourself to avoid falling off (these might be dynamic holds though). </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">But, maybe if I think about the actual shape and details
of each part of the leg, arm and side, and think deeply about how each might
move I could come up with some general ideas or abstract some rules which would
help to form encounter spaces, or interesting encounter ideas? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Shifting Gravity </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The limb orientations are shifting regularly from
near-vertical to sloped, from climb to overhang, or from climb to scramble. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Will you wait for the position of the limb to change - it
could shift from overhang to climb, or from climb to scramble and the potential
danger of an opposing encounter might grow larger or smaller if you are
willing, or able, or forced to, wait. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So that idea of having to make up, lose or gain time
feels appropriate. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">OR - you hear movement, or sense something above you, and
if you wait you might be able to get a better look - but that will cost you
time. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">TIMING – if this is ‘real-life’ timing then there could
be a metronome or something. Or you could time the giants steps minute by
minute. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I don’t know if someone’s done this before but if each 90
seconds is a real-life round and an in-game round, a single step of the giant. Could
it be made to work? You would have to roll fast! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Climbing a map of the muscle groups </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Another possibility is - making some kind of map of the
MUSCLE GROUPS of the limbs and making THAT a sub-map of each ascent. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">like you can LEAP from one muscle group to another to
avoid an encounter.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytNWkioYU2Dm6d1iTW9PkxrBJig1fXyA658RVt09EGLSIooAlGjDwuBmALmmIe_PlRQ9hnWEmXnOerpPGI_CjbZ9Gnz51a84YHgzfPpior55lHB7yadyPTIoll-xlJkKDtnP0dpGkuU3GA7jhHOmSuqsovsfqnGR9em0WaiZT3YiAt_B-Thzzc7b_Po99/s1107/muscles_human_body_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="700" height="619" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytNWkioYU2Dm6d1iTW9PkxrBJig1fXyA658RVt09EGLSIooAlGjDwuBmALmmIe_PlRQ9hnWEmXnOerpPGI_CjbZ9Gnz51a84YHgzfPpior55lHB7yadyPTIoll-xlJkKDtnP0dpGkuU3GA7jhHOmSuqsovsfqnGR9em0WaiZT3YiAt_B-Thzzc7b_Po99/w391-h619/muscles_human_body_front.jpg" width="391" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<h2>POSSIBLE DANGEROUS CLIMBING ENCOUNTERS </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">These could be quite minor - the main danger is that they
could drop you. They should also be 'rock beasts', cliff beasts really. (I
didn’t put pigeons in as they suck.) </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Seagull-Griffons</b>; micro-Griffons based on seagull
heads and wings but with the bodies of racing dogs. That sounds sufficiently
awful. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Goats</b> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Condor-Riding Snow Monkeys</b> – they bathe in the hot
springs atop the giants backs and form a symbiotic relationship with the
semi-intelligent condors, travelling on their backs and performing tasks
involving fine motor control – they can crack open bones with flints and
actually they have learned to work in close co-operation with the condors, the monkeys
can pull open flaps of skin, bare muscle, expose the joints of dead animals,
brace cutting surfaces and put flesh under tensile strain so it cuts more
easily. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>SUPER-TICKS</b> – these feed upon the giants magmic
blood. [The giants are tectonic inside so their ‘spots’ or pimples might be
popping lava and their sweat might be steam or thick bubbling oils. A walking
mountain has to be generating a pretty serious amount of heat. The giants back
– hot, even steaming, would carry a moving column or a trailing flag of hot air
above and behind it, a layer or a stream of cloud following each of them like a
pennant in the atmosphere as that pillar of air rises, cools and probably
condenses. The heat of the giants would make them of much more fecund than many
other forms of similar mountain.] The blood does cool quite a bit in them but
it’s still pretty hot and dangerous. Plus this is still a tick as big as a man
or maybe horse. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Animated magical kites that won't die</b> - These were
the creation of some ancient empire of magicians far away who wanted to study
the giants – the kites were so well made they have a basic self-repair function
and can weave the substance of cloud into solidity to act as canvas or waxed
paper to sustain them – the kites are more like solid memes, or paper golems,
semi-intelligent but not really alive, men can ride them but their actions may
be very unpredictable – possibly they will obey commands in the language of the
long-dead wizards. They might do slightly bonkers A.I. stuff based on garbled
comprehension of their original instructions. </p>pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-77940165987269193162023-07-07T09:04:00.002-07:002023-07-07T09:04:25.281-07:00Dark Corridors<h2 style="text-align: left;"> Choice Theory </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So you come to a split in a dungeon, or you come to a
room set with three portals, each seems to lead in a different direction but
they seem identical. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Depending on party and DM, game style and preference, you
either just pick one, or have a little conference with the team, maybe looking
at the map, or start asking weird questions like “what do the corridors smell
like?” </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Whether this is a good or bad thing depends very much on
the style of game and whether the needs and intuitions of the players and DM
match. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I intuit that the ‘actual’ Old School old school process
had a lot more time for no-context choices, partly due to the prevalence of
player-mapping, (easier to do in-person in a 70’s game session and which would
be part of their problem-solving procedure), partly due to what I would expect
to be longer more digressive gaming sessions and partly due to a somewhat
harder more ‘masculine’ quality where its expected that some decisions will be
tricky, oblique or apparently pointless, either due to pseudo-naturalism or a
Gygaxian riddlemaster element. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I intuit that a more ‘neo’ OSR scene would have shorter
sessions, more likely to be online so player mapping harder, more likely to
want events and drama condensed and with less tolerance for ‘dead’ time,
unguided choice and apparently contextless decisions. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Yet, in either situation, a choice must be made, and if
the choice is to be informed at all then how shall it be so? There are greater
context elements which can be brought into the question; general dungeon intel,
the use of mapping, informers, magic and guides.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">But what can be learned from the <i>empty corridor
itself?</i> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And as a corollary to that decision, what information can
be <i>imbued</i> <i>into </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that
apparently-empty corridor by the designer or DM? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I will break our discussion into elements. In lived
experience all of these will interrelate but I will try to cover those
interrelations within each subject; </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->AIR<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->SMELL<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->TEMPERATURE<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->LIFE<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->SOUND<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->STONE<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Once I started to think about it I decided that a key
dominating and synthesising element is AIRFLOW<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">so I will begin with that and discuss why.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUc0n0c3smIiptBYWHiNwig_E-sVBr-AI--c5MNlBPHZG504eN9V_N9Zf9qkzgqbmenJPv8fs6ZRpNIWjl2hQHsbvVKUdgiV69UMk9qF5sMVkosR9Ws7BYey6COokO7Bs0CaOwiLYzBKHXMpu8z94qp9USjBK9M5jgzmLzMQZlCWWUvjwp-_0fMmFg-GK/s1600/Dracula,%201917%20s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1202" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUc0n0c3smIiptBYWHiNwig_E-sVBr-AI--c5MNlBPHZG504eN9V_N9Zf9qkzgqbmenJPv8fs6ZRpNIWjl2hQHsbvVKUdgiV69UMk9qF5sMVkosR9Ws7BYey6COokO7Bs0CaOwiLYzBKHXMpu8z94qp9USjBK9M5jgzmLzMQZlCWWUvjwp-_0fMmFg-GK/w450-h600/Dracula,%201917%20s.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Ernst Fuchs</span></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Air</h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Based on my research for VotE, Caves and cave systems can
differ hugely in temperature and airflow. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This depends on whether the system massively
intra-connected or isolated, if there is running water in the cave and the
general temperature gradient around the cave. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">An isolated cave system with no big interconnections and
no water flow within will often be a bit warm. An underground space with <b>static
air</b> will often maintain a steady, not-quite-cold temperature. Mines, being
closed systems and full of people and movement, are often hot. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Conversely, a huge cave system with many exits will often
have very strong airflows. Caves 'breathe', and any slight differences in
temperature and pressure between its varied entries can create winds which can
be focused and channelled by narrow passages in the system itself. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Most caves are shaped by water and many have streams
moving through them, this creates airflow<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">and often cools the cave. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3>Dungeons vs Caves </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Dungeons are more likely to be smaller and contained and
much more likely to be made of different materials with closed doors and other
connectors and divisions within, but airflow can still tell the prospective
dungeoneer a lot. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Dungeons</i>, specifically; the classic tomb buried
under temperate soil, might not actually be cold. A tomb complex separate from
any other dungeon, well if it’s a rainy area it might be damp, but not
necessarily, it might be slightly warm, or at least no colder than the outside. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>[Question;</b> have you actually been in an actual
tomb complex? What was the temperature and airflow like?] </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">An experienced dungeoneer, or the average Dwarf, should
be able to make some decent guesses about the nature of a dungeon just by
carefully feeling the airflow. If a system is 'breathing' with air flowing in
or out after dawn or dusk; that suggests a system of considerable size. If the
air flowing in or out is warmer or colder than the outside air that might
indicate the presence of moving water within, or of something else that is
cooling or warming the air within, (like, for instance, the presence of life,
like Goblins or an Owlbear). </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Airflow is such a dominant factor because it effects the
transmission of SMELL, SOUND and TEMPERATURE, all of which are strongly bound
within the greater medium of Air. Conversely the <i>absence</i> of airflow is
itself a strong negative signal which might not explicitly tell you much but
does suggest that either this dungeon, or system, whatever it is, is either
small and closed, or has doors and closing elements.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYgY-6GyQb5A2Vd3HZ5Kwq3WnQ4CpVyMcHBvURVj4O4DBjzIfpw37dU3bF9SzXsZMblDVKjqaN4JR8-rP5oEgWBEaNPxIZZV5ZHf1t_qiRXj2OePHzHjR6UPj1yUJOOYySLQHxKJYxj0WTiAkRUZmRT0jOmLYwJcCDRL4P8MBQxTHqNpg6aO8IqPQEgYK/s1600/Golem,%20Dark%20Corridors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1152" height="608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYgY-6GyQb5A2Vd3HZ5Kwq3WnQ4CpVyMcHBvURVj4O4DBjzIfpw37dU3bF9SzXsZMblDVKjqaN4JR8-rP5oEgWBEaNPxIZZV5ZHf1t_qiRXj2OePHzHjR6UPj1yUJOOYySLQHxKJYxj0WTiAkRUZmRT0jOmLYwJcCDRL4P8MBQxTHqNpg6aO8IqPQEgYK/w437-h608/Golem,%20Dark%20Corridors.jpg" width="437" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><br /></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Smell!</span> </span></h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Smell is life! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The key aspect of scent is that in almost every case it
is indicative of the processes of life. A dungeon with intelligent things
living in it for any period of time is going to STINK. </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p>
<h3>The Food Sequence </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Acquisition, Storage, Preparation, Consumption and Disposal. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Acquisition;</b> alpha predators like monsters who
drag prey back to the dungeon as a lair will leave the stink of blood wherever
they are and repeated blood trails will lead to any feeding spot, as well as
blood smears and fur snatched from carried prey. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Anything bringing living or recently dead food back to
the Dungeon from outside stands a good chance of leaving marks of some kind,
especially since they will be tracing the same route each time to preparation
or storage spaces. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A lot of food <i>smells</i> or has a distinctive scent,
and in a still-air environment that scent might remain in place for a long
time. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Storage;</b> if left unattended, the rotting bodies of
victims or prey will absolutely <i>stink</i> to high heaven. Even for unaltered
human basic smell powers it should be pretty simple to find your way through a
still-air environment to a rotting body. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Poorly-stored non-meat foods can still rot, and will
summon their own micro-environment of insects and small mammals, all of which
can be sensed or traced. If there are mouse <i>droppings</i>, that’s a sign of
something. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Well-stored or dry foods are more complex, I imagine
these as leaving little scent and few biomarkers. It might be that the presence
of a particular dry and contained space might leave tangential markers but I am
not sure. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Preparation;</b> if something is intelligent and eats
cooked food, and/or just needs warmth or light, then there will be fire. If
there is fire there must be smoke. If there is smoke it has to go somewhere. So
either there is a chimney leading up out of this dungeon or the smoke is moving
through the corridors which will leave traces stains, and scent. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Consumption;</b> large predatory animals will
definitely leave bits and pieces here and there. Smaller more civilised beings
might still leave scent, the wall-sweat of their respiration, residual warmth,
stains, fragments and the small biomarkers that go along with them. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Disposal;</b> Poo. All of this stuff has to go <i>somewhere</i>
and unless there are convenient rivers or pits then it is going to leave strong
scent markers and all the small insects which emerge from feasting on the poo.
And spiders, which feast on the flies, the webs of which will remain in place
for a long time in a low airflow environment. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>tldr;</b> any closed system which has living respiring
and eating residents is going to stink. If there is airflow, then its strength
and direction will effect where those smells go and how strong they are. Tracing
those smells might be very useful for a dungeoneer. This is one thing that
encourages me in the idea of bringing a bloodhound of some kind to the dungeon </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHlbB9iQiXqKKibMEsmPZM1uLqlJuvn83QcReCFhx8FRv59xcvjlKaRKEKU8bDQMudK1Z-hrM-6R7oySxZFQojItmcD60KnU7L8lAqs9buOPe3_VEhyzkE-OfwqsMHwzd0mG6zjKUWcwYvhQ7c-f4lyP4XBsbjt8D248NRZjhsdgPIl4IXiv2p7xWWPxV/s1600/Sketch%20for%20Macbeth,%20The%20Dagger,%201919%E2%80%931920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1142" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHlbB9iQiXqKKibMEsmPZM1uLqlJuvn83QcReCFhx8FRv59xcvjlKaRKEKU8bDQMudK1Z-hrM-6R7oySxZFQojItmcD60KnU7L8lAqs9buOPe3_VEhyzkE-OfwqsMHwzd0mG6zjKUWcwYvhQ7c-f4lyP4XBsbjt8D248NRZjhsdgPIl4IXiv2p7xWWPxV/w452-h634/Sketch%20for%20Macbeth,%20The%20Dagger,%201919%E2%80%931920.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<h2>Temperature </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Warmth is co-dependent on airflow and the presence of
life within a dungeon so many of the basic concepts have already been
considered in those two sections. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">[<b>Question;</b> how much of a temperature differential
can an average, or sensitive human being detect if they are paying attention? Could
they intuit the presence of a living being occupying a room behind a door?
Could they tell micro difference in temperature in the air between two
identical corridors?] </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">What about <i>cold</i>? Would any particular natural
phenomena cause a dungeon to chill unexpectedly? The first thing that comes to
mind is the presence of para-normal phenomena like Magic and the Undead. Both
are often associated with rapid temperature drops. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Conversely, super-beasts like dragons or elemental
creatures might raise underground temperatures more than you would expect. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVH4YSjrfij1psC8fnNQt3bRXO2HEkZyJalqBmkFgru4c9q4JZKBfADaAGz9cf-76qJyzicZGECIDPB-rQjVKKTUxxU61XbDcHvkj_hD7hNKS2uWuH-n7Qr5fqSfqZp1NiCVwa6MpDxf2awssI965NYA4e3gPnXmyivLIYyhJOedqhuUHwQ2t5jd5rvi24/s1024/The%20Shadows,%201919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="846" height="553" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVH4YSjrfij1psC8fnNQt3bRXO2HEkZyJalqBmkFgru4c9q4JZKBfADaAGz9cf-76qJyzicZGECIDPB-rQjVKKTUxxU61XbDcHvkj_hD7hNKS2uWuH-n7Qr5fqSfqZp1NiCVwa6MpDxf2awssI965NYA4e3gPnXmyivLIYyhJOedqhuUHwQ2t5jd5rvi24/w456-h553/The%20Shadows,%201919.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><br /></o:p></p>
<h2>Life </h2>
<h3>Respiration </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">SWEATY WALLS! Why are the walls of the dungeon dripping, <i>dank</i>,
with the <i>nitre</i>, so beloved of Lovecraft? It may be water flow from
outside but more likely the combination of water and warmth coves from living
things in the dungeon. A system of closed stone with living things within it
will naturally sweat, and drip, over time. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">What about the sweaty walls of a sleeping dragons cave?
Why wasn’t the gold surrounding Smaug absolutely <i>dripping</i> with
condensation? Maybe it was and that is what caused Bilbo to slip and slide
around. Wet Hobbit action. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">[<b>Question;</b> have any of you actually been in an
actual Dungeon, under an actual castle, working or not? Are they actually the
cold, dark, dripping places of fiction?] </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I mean clearly they are made not to be comfortable, but
surely actual temperature would depend on how much airflow there is, or the
temperature of the living rock, if its carved into that. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Would a dungeon under a living castle with locked doors
and no windows, truly underground<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">actually be cold? Or might it be temperate? It would be
damp I think due to the respiration of everyone above in the castle and their
condensed breath dripping down.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3>Lichen, Moss, Mushrooms, Insects </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I feel like Gary must have at least conceived of a grand
table of microflora and microfauna that might grow in a dungeon and have the
required and likely temperature ranges, water needs, food sources, and, in the
case of insects and small mammals, roaming distances. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I am taking being a dungeon detective a bit too far here,
into Forensic territory, BUT - IF you did actually know a lot about these
micro-environments you could in theory tell quite a lot about a dungeon just from
observing them as you went through. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This should go for Rot as well, a microorganism which
leaves sensory traces. A rot wizard could tell quite a lot about living systems.
There is probably an opening somewhere for someone to produce a matrix of
easy-to-use and 'read' pseudo-realistic dungeon microfauna, not for use as
enemies or 'colour' but as a kind of spread of information that can be observed
to tell what kind of things have gone on in a dungeon. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This, because of its complexity, I think I know least
about. I know a bit about cave fauna, but the secret of that is that, beyond a
certain depth, there really isn’t much of it. Without light you get
near-nothing and so far as I know, mushrooms will not actually grow on the cold
limestone of a cave wall. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">[<b>Question;</b> does anyone out there know if lichen
will grow in dark conditions? Or any such moss? Any fungal experts who can say
which foods and temperature ranges are needed for fungal growth?]<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeq8TRyxN9ylIhZcNwkVJp096tXouhBVIt7yVJ_kmZP6rPRDHqAYi1Y93j680EDhn1ell-6Vv1wVvdHZ-5e_BcZQoOHRYfNps3EAiml3HCXa8zCZd9y7q4Pjg4wrC5xWzwuyohMaZRAqcNJO_5TTSfg3PqtcZZH8n1DlmYjBcqs-WelfRTPezR5DYPwJs/s1200/CDNII_TAV_TL65-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="887" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeq8TRyxN9ylIhZcNwkVJp096tXouhBVIt7yVJ_kmZP6rPRDHqAYi1Y93j680EDhn1ell-6Vv1wVvdHZ-5e_BcZQoOHRYfNps3EAiml3HCXa8zCZd9y7q4Pjg4wrC5xWzwuyohMaZRAqcNJO_5TTSfg3PqtcZZH8n1DlmYjBcqs-WelfRTPezR5DYPwJs/w424-h574/CDNII_TAV_TL65-001.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Unknown Artist</span></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Sound </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">How does sound carry underground anyway? Irregularly I
would think. It must depend a huge amount on the substance and layout of the
place. Some shapes and materials I know just EAT sound, but in others, small
sounds can travel a very long way. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">[<b>Question;</b> does anyone know about what kinds of
stone, material or corridor shape interact how with various sounds? Do the
stone walls and floors of a classic dungeon echo with footsteps of mocking
laughter as Gothic novels claim? Can anyone confirm?] </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The most important matter must be <b>FREQUENCEY</b>. Specifically,
is there anything in this dungeon that produces a low-bass sound, like stone
scraping, or something huge moving or rolling? Those low frequency sounds
travel a lot, through materials more than air. How many times on a quiet day
have you realised a big truck is moving several street away, or a washing
machine or other large device is working several rooms, or an entire property
away? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A sleeping dragon, for instance, will produce not only
sweaty gold but probably a very deep, but soft, sound that might transmit
strongly through stone. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Doors opening and closing;</b> if these are on hinges
there is a good chance they will be badly maintained and so screech. They may
also thud and slam. Stone doors may produce the deep frequency sounds that
transmit so easily. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Living things; the biomarkers we talked about in the
‘Smell’ section. Is there scampering? The buzzing of flies or mosquitoes? The
crawling of insects? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Consistent background sounds - Water <i>should</i> produce
some kind of distant continual sound<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">likewise, wind changing outside the dungeon, rain, storms,
these should produce some sort of effect, unless there are many portals between
here and there. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Is this place indeed as 'Silent as the Tomb'? If so that itself
might be quite unusual. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a state of
such absolute silence it might be that very super-quiet noises which are
usually indiscernible could become more prominent, like the crawling of a bug
for instance, or the shifting of dust. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">At what distance and in what circumstances can we expect
living inhabitants to produce discernible sound? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDlyqN_cqFRueOhLBP0ncoCLwHfHQkZ_R9sI3t6vu7BM8TKaYQ1HW0yyBOQe7nZTQf3xLdw6HSrK6t736F2a1Tyb9KROmUnAwX5oVgCLZGIlW1lgEbPzKSNPQuTILNmEzX4iHQ70nsjuel6AOntPVg6qIUJvf267SKf3NVdsAovON0fS8kgGDsLgOq5s4/s900/the-light-in-the-hallway-raman-singh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="900" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDlyqN_cqFRueOhLBP0ncoCLwHfHQkZ_R9sI3t6vu7BM8TKaYQ1HW0yyBOQe7nZTQf3xLdw6HSrK6t736F2a1Tyb9KROmUnAwX5oVgCLZGIlW1lgEbPzKSNPQuTILNmEzX4iHQ70nsjuel6AOntPVg6qIUJvf267SKf3NVdsAovON0fS8kgGDsLgOq5s4/w456-h357/the-light-in-the-hallway-raman-singh.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">by Art of Raman</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><p></p>
<h2>Stone </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Or whatever material the dungeon is made of. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">You would probably need to know a lot about bricks, or
slate flags, for micro differences in them to be useful in any way, but....
aren't dungeoneers (and Dwarves) exactly the type to pick up just such
knowledge? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">What could we reasonably expect a skilled observer to
pick up from various arrangements of building stone in separating corridors? Could
they guess which corridor was built first? If one is a later addition to the
other that should be obvious should it not? as well as the various skill and
the resources available to the builders. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A culture in decay producing less perfect masonry, or
cutting into a stone-lined corridor with one lined with brick. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">What the hell are the roofs of these dungeons anyway? Logically
they should be braced with wood, but that would decay (or would it?), so they
should be either megaliths or arches. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Does stone degrade over time (without use, probably
not..?) but with use and perhaps dripping water, <i>how</i> does stone degrade? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">What stone would you even expect to be used in
construction of a dungeon? Granite is too hard surely? I would expect bricks to
be the most practical and affordable and bricks do crumble both from use but
also from compression and freeze-thaw over time. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Does sound echo across marble? How about light? In the Mersey
tunnel near me, the roof has been covered with black tar or pitch. it was
originally made with a white, reflective, opalescent roof to the tunnel. The
idea was that it would reflect the lamps of vehicles and make the tunnel seem
more full of light. Two problems; exhaust fumes blackened it, and where that
didn't happen the improving strength of electric lights made the roof <i>blindingly</i>
white so they had to paint if over. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">But if you were in a classic Carrera-marble tomb, with
only lamps, it would be pretty relatively bright surely? There can't be many
materials like that. Do we have any idea of the reflective nature of various
kinds of stone? Would a difference between slate, bricks or granite slabs add
or reduce 10 or 20 feet of visibility?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdZ5vPrpKbg6Lvi-updCD8xDic4r2oKhUQ3wZQ4oEkjy3nWRMV_gb5a4Q70_Dq5_4IyHFf61udIZwEMREGsW1Tx25QxQWV5bo6puZkmBZNEKn4Z1gwy5auzT3JP_80CHU9__tMqhdItwTsGRJv7LhAlVvDzYrAoyluVBRRP4R8FB3hgVkl4qePBUyc0re/s700/14765891_master.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="489" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdZ5vPrpKbg6Lvi-updCD8xDic4r2oKhUQ3wZQ4oEkjy3nWRMV_gb5a4Q70_Dq5_4IyHFf61udIZwEMREGsW1Tx25QxQWV5bo6puZkmBZNEKn4Z1gwy5auzT3JP_80CHU9__tMqhdItwTsGRJv7LhAlVvDzYrAoyluVBRRP4R8FB3hgVkl4qePBUyc0re/w489-h489/14765891_master.webp" width="489" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Viggo Johanson</span></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>21 Questions for Empty Corridors </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">(This is my attempt to condense the discussion above into
a simple set of concrete questions, more for Dungeon designers and DMs, in a
style similar to Jeffs ’20 Questions for your Campaign World’.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Is
the air still or does it flow?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->If
there is airflow, where does it flow to or from, and at which times? (i.e. does
it ‘breathe’ in and out as it warms and cools with dawn and dusk like a cave
system might?).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Is
there moving water? If there is, does it cool the dungeon?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Is
it warmer or cooler than outside? Are any parts especially warm or cool?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Are
there living things eating, breathing and pooping in the dungeon?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Do
the walls sweat? Is there <i>nitre</i>?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Is
there a food store? Are there mice or insects?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Is
there fire in the dungeon? If so, where does the smoke go?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Is
there poop in the dungeon? Where? How strong is the smell?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Is
there rot in the dungeon? Are there flies?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Do
smells emanate evenly through still air or are they carried by airflow?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->If
you followed the smells of blood, meat, smoke, spices or poop, where would they
lead?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">13.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Are
their spiders in the dungeon? How stable and old are the webs and where?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">14.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Do
lichen, moss or fungi grow in the dungeon? If so where?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">15.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Are
there any sources of LOW FREQUENCY sound in the dungeon? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">16.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Are
there any permanent natural sounds like moving water or wind?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">17.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Do
voices, steps or door sounds transmit in a reliable way?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">18.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Would
the sound of fighting transmit and if so how far?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">19.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->If
someone stays absolutely silent in the dungeon and listens, what do they hear?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">20.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Are
there obvious changes in construction? Like in materials, methods, age, wear
etc?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">21.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Do
any of the above elements come into play at otherwise contextless choices in
which door or corridor to take?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-36634403336049523392023-06-25T06:11:00.002-07:002023-06-25T06:11:58.620-07:00Zootopia was accidentally Fascist<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UjOGNVPoSrkVoUh8aQCOVFNC70um3s56oyG7Wm74CaY3w1BevALzhpv_f70cmnhmagJmsUtTOSfGu2aAGxMoWzEpALAOdpRewOpKDmoo-DPIk7OvtAmjIhARzaMdUkH2YeqI9yOMtmu3R1IlTvZGTJyhPr7xjKyZD6ODWqFQO2EhZ-PEQr9hMfqEFGDz/s778/Patrick%20Zootopia%201.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="761" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UjOGNVPoSrkVoUh8aQCOVFNC70um3s56oyG7Wm74CaY3w1BevALzhpv_f70cmnhmagJmsUtTOSfGu2aAGxMoWzEpALAOdpRewOpKDmoo-DPIk7OvtAmjIhARzaMdUkH2YeqI9yOMtmu3R1IlTvZGTJyhPr7xjKyZD6ODWqFQO2EhZ-PEQr9hMfqEFGDz/w420-h430/Patrick%20Zootopia%201.PNG" width="420" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I have never been able to stop thinking about this; the
2016 animated film ‘Zootopia’ is a defence of liberal cosmopolitanism so
earnest and poorly thought-out that it accidentally becomes crypto-fascist.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>A Quote from Matt Zoller Seitz </h2>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Zootopia
is constantly asking its characters to look past species stereotypes, and not
to use species-ist language or repeat hurtful assumptions. This all seems
clever and noble until you realise that all the stereotypes about various
animals are to come extent true, in particular the most basic one carnivores
eat herbivores because it’s in their nature”<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Some Warnings; </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This is me going full schitzo-autist on a funny animal
movie from 2016, AT LENGTH. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">None of my commentary is aimed directly at modern headlines
or intra-group relationships, but the parallels are obvious and are <i>absolutely
necessary to the film itself, </i>so its impossible to talk about it in detail
without mirroring some of that stuff. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So BE WARNED, this is what you are in for. If you don't
want to read about that then stop reading! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Not Deliberate </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">To be clear, I don't think Zootopia is crypto-fascism.
There are no deliberately 'hidden messages'. Instead I think it presents a case
for liberalism so flawed, garbled and intense it accidentally says the exact
opposite. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So I am accusing the makers of being fools, rather than
monsters. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>But What Is Zootopia Patrick? </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Zootopia is 2016 animated film by Disney set in an
imagined utopian city if sentient, language-using partially humanoid animals. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>“Zootopia is a gleaming metropolis populated by
anthropomorphic mammals, divided into several districts including Sahara
Square, Tundratown, Little Rodentia, and Rainforest District.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYa3qQ2Y7PMtA5C8V241qDn-0-dsjgMhEl4OHsB29ustyzKBbXt0fdwcZKw-FfbiXPVrhOAaL8SBXQNDEve5Or2fSCQdzWhMDc2EBcVY53ZD0A96bkoKRySqg5kponhIdl9ZMU6jKjxW44huSbKhs0wwJalpCVJBb4FDXt8XfzdQhCG7b-OVNh4UA5T43/s1024/Zootopia-City-1-1024x426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="1024" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYa3qQ2Y7PMtA5C8V241qDn-0-dsjgMhEl4OHsB29ustyzKBbXt0fdwcZKw-FfbiXPVrhOAaL8SBXQNDEve5Or2fSCQdzWhMDc2EBcVY53ZD0A96bkoKRySqg5kponhIdl9ZMU6jKjxW44huSbKhs0wwJalpCVJBb4FDXt8XfzdQhCG7b-OVNh4UA5T43/w472-h196/Zootopia-City-1-1024x426.jpg" width="472" /></a></i></div><i><br /></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>This film begins with a jungle which fades into a
children's play about the history of Zootopia. One day, Judy Hopps, a bunny
rabbit from rural Bunnyburrow, fulfills her dream of joining the Zootopia
Police Department as the first rabbit officer, however, she is regularly
assigned parking duty by Chief Bogo. During one of her shifts, she is
manipulated by Nick Wilde, a con artist fox. Judy unlawfully arrests Duke
Weaselton at Little Rodentia and is reprimanded by Bogo until Mrs. Otterton, an
otter, arrives pleading help on locating her missing husband, one of the many
recently missing predators. To Bogo's dismay, Judy volunteers and the
assignment is praised by assistant mayor Dawn Belleweather. However, Bogo gets
Judy to agree to resign if she cannot solve the case within 48 hours. With Nick
as a key witness of Mr. Otterton's disappearance, Judy locates the fox and
coerces him to assist her with the investigation lest he be charged with tax
evasion, which he openly admitted and Judy recorded with her carrot pen, saying
"It's called a hustle, sweetheart."</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>After acquiring Mr. Otterton's license plate number
from Mystic Springs Oasis, Judy and Nick track the vehicle from the Department
of Mammal Vehicles to Mr. Big, an arctic shrew crime boss in Tundratown. Mr.
Big spares their lives after learning that Judy had rescued his daughter
earlier, and informs the pair that Mr. Otterton is his florist and had been
picked up by his chauffeur Manchas, a black jaguar, to bring him to Mr. Big to
talk about something important. However, en-route, Otterton suddenly "went
savage" - meaning he reverted to a feral state - and attacked Manchas
before running off. Judy and Nick locate Manchas at his home in the Rainforest
District for questioning. Manchas describes the attack on him and mentions that
Otterton had been yelling about "night howlers". However, before he
can reveal anything else, Manchas suddenly turns savage himself and chases the
pair, but they manage to escape. Judy calls the ZPD for help, but when Bogo and
his reinforcements arrive, Manchas is nowhere to be found. Bogo demands Judy's
resignation, but Nick takes a stand, insisting they have 10 more hours to solve
the case. As the pair leave the Rainforest District, Nick opens up to Judy,
revealing that he was bullied by prey animals as a cub for being the only
predator and subsequently became a con artist, resolving to live out the
"sly fox" stereotype, as he felt no one will ever see a fox as
anything else.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Nick realizes that the city's traffic camera system
may have captured how Manchas disappeared, and the pair consults Assistant
Mayor Bellwether. They then discover that Manchas was captured by wolves, which
Judy assumes is what Otterton had meant by "night howlers". Judy and
Nick locate Cliffside Asylum, where the wolves have detained the missing
predators (including Mr. Otterton), all of which have gone savage, and
eavesdrop on Mayor Lionheart consulting with a doctor about their condition,
revealing that he is keeping the savage predators hidden from both the public
and the ZPD, and that the cause their strange behavior is unknown. The pair
escape, inform Bogo and the police swarm the area, arresting Lionheart and
those involved. Bellwether subsequently becomes the new mayor.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Having developed a friendship with Nick throughout the
case, Judy requests that he joins the ZPD and become her partner, which Nick
happily considers. However, a pressured Judy describes the savaged predators'
condition during a press conference as them reverting to their natural
instincts. This confirms Judy's bigotry against foxes to Nick, who angrily
walks out on her offer after he asks her if she sees him as a savage predator
(along with her almost reaching for her fox repellent after he asks if she
thought he would eat her). When fear and discrimination against predators
spread across Zootopia, a guilt-ridden Judy resigns, feeling that she made
things worse. During this time, Gazelle holds a peaceful protest and publicly
asks for the harmonious Zootopia she loves to be restored.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Two to three months later,[3] Judy has returned to
Bunnyburrow and rejoined the family business as a carrot farmer. However, she
later learns from her parents and reformed childhood bully, fox Gideon Grey,
that "night howlers" are toxic flowers that have severe psychotropic
effects on mammals. Realizing that the flowers are what Otterton was referring
to and that they must be the cause of the outbreaks, Judy returns to Zootopia,
where she reconciles with Nick. They then locate Weaselton, who explains that
he has been collecting night howlers for a ram named Doug Ramses, who owns a
lab hidden in the subway tunnels. The pair finds the lab and discovers Doug
creating a night howler serum, which he has been exposing to predators via
paintball-like pellets fired by an air-powered sniper gun. <o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhroCxezuQEF8QFpCFKjHdNlayAikqKv1MuFxhfnxzN6bPTsgt1HY19WsEbr8w3pKkunXLFwmA20ipc_3goQPj_57-1DlagLZyNAWaGMdarlFd2nWhIjhJHQzcaGKUAUABqdYHvMz_RZFLXbRke1ib31EYZZQXlBIB_nJeMMgds3DQKok0H0fl6GmnHny/s1280/Ram%20Science.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="1280" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhroCxezuQEF8QFpCFKjHdNlayAikqKv1MuFxhfnxzN6bPTsgt1HY19WsEbr8w3pKkunXLFwmA20ipc_3goQPj_57-1DlagLZyNAWaGMdarlFd2nWhIjhJHQzcaGKUAUABqdYHvMz_RZFLXbRke1ib31EYZZQXlBIB_nJeMMgds3DQKok0H0fl6GmnHny/w459-h192/Ram%20Science.jpg" width="459" /></a></i></div><i><br /></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Judy and Nick hijack the lab (which is on a still
functional train) and race to the ZPD with the evidence but are pursued by
Doug's henchrams, whom they barely manage to defeat. The train is destroyed in
the process, but Nick manages to save a case containing Doug's sniper gun and
the serum pellet.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Just short of the ZPD, the pair encounters Bellwether,
who insists she takes the evidence. Realizing she is the mastermind of the
conspiracy, Judy and Nick try to flee but are knocked into a pit by her
henchrams. Bellwether shoots a serum pellet from the evidence case at Nick and
frames a call for help to the ZPD. Nick seemingly becomes savage and corners
Judy, but it turns out the pair was acting in order to trick Bellwether into
openly admitting her prey-supremacist scheme to take over Zootopia and rid it
of all predators, and that they replaced the dart gun ammo with blueberries
from the Hopps' farm. With Bellwether's monologue recorded on Judy's carrot pen
just as Bellwether made her short-lived threat to frame them as she did with
Lionheart, Chief Bogo and the ZPD arrive and arrest her and her henchrams upon
hearing everything. Upon being informed and interviewed on the matter,
Lionheart denies any knowledge of Bellwether's plot, but admits to having
illegally imprisoned the savage predators, claiming it to have been done for
"right reasons".</i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAJOpt8fzGwQ1kiz3cIt0Aldh9JvP28pPsFVevAUJjeB8IupzFg3Uqoija0OtiS7WN3a6YbsJZW3P5gn-doz80C1bKN9-KfC3-HQEFtbE_QwZ1joKumlENmozGcAP3FgM8YB2QnvdVxI3_jNwjs2zk2W8pknNZL2pUXssoZUXb8imVgZajCncAgQL5cpo/s1023/Zootopia%20Bellwether.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="1023" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAJOpt8fzGwQ1kiz3cIt0Aldh9JvP28pPsFVevAUJjeB8IupzFg3Uqoija0OtiS7WN3a6YbsJZW3P5gn-doz80C1bKN9-KfC3-HQEFtbE_QwZ1joKumlENmozGcAP3FgM8YB2QnvdVxI3_jNwjs2zk2W8pknNZL2pUXssoZUXb8imVgZajCncAgQL5cpo/w395-h311/Zootopia%20Bellwether.jpeg" width="395" /></a></i></div><i><br /></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Later, Judy is reinstated into the ZPD. An antidote is
discovered for the effects of the night howlers, and all the infected
predators, including Mr. Otterton and Mr. Manchas, are cured. Months later (about
a year after Judy started her job at the ZPD), Nick joins the ZPD as the first
fox officer and Judy's new partner. The final scene (during the credits) has
almost all Zootopian citizens attending Gazelle's concert while Bellwether
angrily as Doug, Jesse, and the other prisoners patting on their lap views it
on a television set in prison.”</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>THINGS THAT ARE TRUE IN ZOOTOPIA </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Ok, imagine you are the average Zootopia resident. statistically
you are likely to be a 'Prey' animal. (90% according to the Wiki). </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">You surround and outnumber, but are in regular day-to-day
contact with a minority group<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>who are
specifically designed to kill and eat you, and who <i>could</i> do so
relatively easily. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">But... they don't eat you. Instead they eat Fish, plant protein
and bugs. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The Mayor of the city, much of the police force, and many
of its celebrities, are all of this minority group. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So if you did, for instance, suspect that the minority
group were secretly killing members of the majority and covering it up. Or, if
a member of this minority group ‘<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Running_amok">ran amok’</a>, , you would go
to the police, who are made up of that minority, and who report to the Mayor,
who is also of that Minority. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It seems that, even when given a free choice, the
majority group will vote for, promote or valorise this minority group, they are
just that much more charismatic and powerful .<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjlZ2bwEu3JIkc50kKuNOuLl7D8QAfzakyKsde4fYFi4W9ZfmPBv7FoHCbaK1JZ9pljxXpulDo5IJ3qdfksveRHKWpL5dG7Ovz-rJ9hg_Q23mUpsc16Tz8RtvDQCX96c1wwxrWlc8gjXRQJXp7plIGi86TkW3iUxh1-xIjfeRMc1y5kjcAGai921_dUX8/s1400/Zootopia%20Cops.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="1400" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjlZ2bwEu3JIkc50kKuNOuLl7D8QAfzakyKsde4fYFi4W9ZfmPBv7FoHCbaK1JZ9pljxXpulDo5IJ3qdfksveRHKWpL5dG7Ovz-rJ9hg_Q23mUpsc16Tz8RtvDQCX96c1wwxrWlc8gjXRQJXp7plIGi86TkW3iUxh1-xIjfeRMc1y5kjcAGai921_dUX8/w464-h193/Zootopia%20Cops.png" width="464" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">There are rumours of the minority group losing control,
running amok and attacking the majority. There are rumours of the minority
group “disappearing”. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Its revealed that this has in fact been happening.
Minorities have been ‘running amok’ and savagely attacking others at random. A
situation made much more dangerous by their terrifying natural weapons. The
mayor, who is a member of this minority, has been secretly imprisoning the
guilty parties and hiding the truth while he investigates this matter. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The Mayor is fired and the deputy Mayor takes his place,
this is one of the majority group. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The police officer who revealed this scheme (one of the
few majority members of the police force), speculates that the minorities
biology might be behind these violent attacks. This is in some senses a truism,
they a literally designed to kill you and you are their natural food. For most
of history the minority group could not live without destroying you. They
simply choose not to. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A chill falls over the city and suspicions rise. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A beautiful and charismatic Gazelle music star appeals
for the return of normalcy. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">After a short interval, the same police officer reveals
the origins of the situation; the new majoritarian mayor was secretly
developing chemical weapons to drive select minority members violently insane
so they would attack members of the majority group, all as part of a plan to
put the majority group fully in charge of the city, this whole situation arose
because of Her scheme. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The Majority group mayor is imprisoned, and the old
Minority group Mayor is back in charge. He says imprisoning violent members of
his own group secretly was ‘the wrong thing, for the right reasons’. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The problem now solved, you and the city relax,
everything is back to normal. </p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">............<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Now, let me know at what point any of this reminds you
of; </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Blood libel conspiracy.</li><li>Hitlers fantasies.</li><li>Modern headlines.</li><li>Alex Jones.</li><li>The internal sound of your brain melting as you suffer
a schizophrenic break. </li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Predators and Prey are Fundamentally Adversarial </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">.. and this is <i>the point of the film</i>. From the
Wiki; </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>“The primary issues centering the film, as mentioned,
are prejudice and preconceived notions based on stereotypes. To further
emphasize this, the creatures that inhabit Zootopia were limited down to
mammals, to portray a sense of segregation between animals of predator and prey
mentality; animals such as birds and marine life were left out like most, if
not all, are consumers of other living organisms, making it difficult to narrow
them down within the status quo of the story's conflict.”</i> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Of course, if you imagine a world of sentient, tool-suing
and civilised compulsory carnivores, living in close integration with equally
sentient prey animals, what you have is a moral horror story. All of the good
stories using this as a premise include some element of moral horror because it
is inherent to the setting.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p>And ‘Zootopia’ was very nearly this. Again, from the Wiki; </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>“In response, the story was tailored to center the
relationship between the "predator and prey" group while reflecting
modern day society by having the story serve as an allegory for racism and
prejudice. In this version, predators, despite having evolved, were generally
viewed as dangerous threats and were forced to wear electric shock collars as a
means to keep their "aggressive natures" under control at the hands
of prey. The "tame collar" concept stuck through most of the film's
production, even being approved by John Lasseter, but when screened for the
team at Pixar, the response was negative. The city of Zootopia, in this state
of being so blatantly unjust, was deemed too unlikable, and the story too dark,
whereas the goal was to create a city that the audience could fall in love with
while making a film that—despite its serious subject matter—can still be a fun
family film”<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<h2>I Get "Don't Think Too Hard About It" </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">But Zootopia DEMANDS you think about it! It was designed
specifically as an allegory for racism from early development. It is a very,
EXTREMELY values-laden film. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It’s all about the greatness of cosmopolitanism, how
wonderful diversity is and how evil twisted members of the majority group might
try to destroy that wonderful peaceful diversity with evil schemes. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It is a very, very, very earnest film that is intensely
anxious about having 'something to say'. This quite intense seriousness is
written through the whole of the film<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<h3>Zootopia demands you pay deep attention to exactly the ideas it cannot
sustain </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">One thing that hit me very hard on viewing Zootopia was
the gravity of the scene where Judy Hops states that the minorities that ran
amok were reverting to their natural instincts. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This is treated with deep and overwhelming seriousness by
those in the imagined world and by the structure and tone of the film itself. it
feels like a grave sin against the rules and ideals of this world. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I must be autistic as fuck as I may have been the only
person in the room thinking "Well yea, they are wolves, lions and tigers
of course they are biologically dangerous to fucking rabbits or whatever". </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I know what the film <i>intended</i>. The deep tragedy,
gravity and sinfulness of this statement only makes sense if we view Zootopia
as an allegory or metaphor for relations between <i>human groups</i>. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">In a statement about <i>humans</i> saying "Well they
are just biologically dangerous, of course they were going to flip out and kill
someone, its inherent to them" would be monstrous and this matches the
feel of the scene </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">But as a statement about Lions and Tigers and Wolves it’s
just obviously true. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And Zootopia insists we <i>think about this</i>. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Or more precisely, it demands we think about this in <i>precisely
this way</i> and <i>no other</i>. It is so confident of its argument, its
premise and the way its scenes and message are meant to be felt and considered,
that it just leaps ahead. It is a story for an audience that already knows what
the answer is and is just waiting for the story itself to fill that in </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Prejudice <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>= bad </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Brining up biological differences in discussion of violent
acts - horrible </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">they clearly didn't think, or were so confident, or so <i>half-Intelligent</i>
that they didn't even consider that anyone would possibly read it any other way<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<h2>The Fascist Reading of Zootopia </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">You surround a minority group of biologically dangerous
potential killers. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It’s considered social death to point this out. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This is very important; saying the wrong thing, making assumptions
about someone’s nature just because they, for instance, have teeth and claws,
is considered very terrible. so you have to not mention these very clear and obviously
physical and innate behavioural differences. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Just don't bring it up. Don't bring it up or our fragile society
will implode. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">There are rumours of attacks by the minority. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">There is confirmation of attacks by the minority. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">They have been going crazy and TEARING APART members of
the majority at random. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The city government has been covering this up. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The city government is headed by a member of the same minority
and the police force is dominated by them, so essentially <i>they rule over you</i>. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Later another conspiracy is revealed, the conspirators
are of the majority faction. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">They have been triggering the dangerous minority with
drugs made from certain <i>commonly available garden flowers</i>. The old Mayor
is returned and the conspiracy ended, everything is fine now. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">You still surround a minority of potential killers,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and they could be triggered to kill randomly
at any time by the use of a commonly available chemical. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So this is hell, surely? It’s the Liberal Polity as seen
through the eyes of a Fascist. Fundamentally opposed groups bound together by a
tissue of lies under the leadership and control of elite members of the
powerful minority group with anyone who defies the lie by pointing out basic biological
and historical fact ostracised and driven into poverty. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Beastars is Zootopia Done Right<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Beastars – is an animated series based on almost exactly
the same setting and concept as Zootopia; an urbanised society of
anthropomorphic sentient animals which hands, language and tools, but still
massively different body types and huge differences in natural capacity, and
with obligate predators and obligate prey animals “trying to get along”. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Beastars is a weird, queasy, sometimes disturbing story
and the main reason it works as anything at all is because it directly
acknowledges and is largely about the massive innate differences between
Predators and Prey and the fact that this society is a thin strand of
compromise over a roiling churning mass of potential conflict.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-XZG1kqQtL1TnpEEBaeiswaXx8tbUv3KWgvXRudiyeKzNsCOHmFnoCTmAesww8GNSe9Tv4KfOSv4abk3XVdNNMWYfx6HW5mz507x476xHu74Yttuod511gjyr5I0C5NJSP46ew2eUPS8vPlldmtU4cgqXNj9JGv9p4-nvr_9DXOAidiFgCjSS7kj0CXP/s1622/828455138f0375f4678e296fdc92694cc3984dce715c2a09d378c2e2013cc23a_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1622" data-original-width="1080" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-XZG1kqQtL1TnpEEBaeiswaXx8tbUv3KWgvXRudiyeKzNsCOHmFnoCTmAesww8GNSe9Tv4KfOSv4abk3XVdNNMWYfx6HW5mz507x476xHu74Yttuod511gjyr5I0C5NJSP46ew2eUPS8vPlldmtU4cgqXNj9JGv9p4-nvr_9DXOAidiFgCjSS7kj0CXP/w333-h500/828455138f0375f4678e296fdc92694cc3984dce715c2a09d378c2e2013cc23a_1.jpg" width="333" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">In Beastars Predators do occasionally Run Amok, and eat
Prey citizens. Its not quite covered up but is down-valued by the media.
Predators have secret meat markets where they go to eat flesh and criminal
groups who supply them. Many Prey-citizens live in a state of quiet helpless
terror about being killed, many Predator-citizens live in a state of consuming
dysphoria and self-loathing about their own nature. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Despite being a pervy, weird, strange and intense story
Beastars feels more moral and sane than Zootopia because the characters in it
are grappling directly and honestly with the unresolved darkness at the centre
of their society while in Zootopia; it was all an evil conspiracy by bad
majority group members and things are back to normal now.<i><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-24446096029096278182023-06-21T12:56:00.001-07:002023-06-22T00:31:05.121-07:00A Review of ‘Northern Journey’<div style="text-align: left;"> This is a review of a videogame ‘Northern Journey’ by Sild Studios. I found out about it via this video;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH5HsoAVEk8"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jH5HsoAVEk8" width="380" youtube-src-id="jH5HsoAVEk8"></iframe></div><br /></a><o:p> <br /></o:p>I thought this would be interesting to False Machine
readers and OSR types as a game art which has a bunch of OSR-type theming and
but also as a distinct work of art by chad neurodivergent creator who made it
while sitting in a cellar for several years.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>(Maybe also with fans of 'Thief' and the Thief modding
community maybe? It has that kind of feel.)<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsjVCF-_USv078uPGzu2MVwxFWdRmcomEopAhBT2J8HTxAvqbBFeAi5jcDYa_TxDzYRkh7u1mPOISUG2HZ5d8wpLmoFovd5snATgJmaJSeXf6l0Bpmiw85myXrNARky7b37UB2R4-o3snXqqmRpvISIHEG89r08wkGkMESOWYcDUG2TbP3tPtqmSaTuKS/s1920/Game%20Opening%20and%20Close.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsjVCF-_USv078uPGzu2MVwxFWdRmcomEopAhBT2J8HTxAvqbBFeAi5jcDYa_TxDzYRkh7u1mPOISUG2HZ5d8wpLmoFovd5snATgJmaJSeXf6l0Bpmiw85myXrNARky7b37UB2R4-o3snXqqmRpvISIHEG89r08wkGkMESOWYcDUG2TbP3tPtqmSaTuKS/w392-h221/Game%20Opening%20and%20Close.png" width="392" /></a></div><br /><o:p><br /></o:p><o:p> <br /></o:p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Chad Neurodivergent Creator</h3><o:p> <br /></o:p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buA49oOboNA"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="309" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/buA49oOboNA" width="372" youtube-src-id="buA49oOboNA"></iframe></div><br /><br /></span></a><o:p> <br /></o:p>Interviewer - "<i>Working on your own, you must have
had a pretty deep schedule."<br /><o:p></o:p></i><o:p> <br /></o:p>Chad - "<i>No I didn't really have a schedule or a
plan. As you are working on something, things, story beats, come to mind. So
for instance you might realise you want some mountains, or you want to fight a
witch. Then you might be in a forest and realise you need something to go
between the forest and the mountains or it doesn't feel right</i> "<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Chad - "<i>There were a lot of things I didn't spend
time doing. Like sketching and drawing and planning enemies and whatnot. I
usually just made them then and there</i>."<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Chad - "<i>The game was made in a cellar and there
were a lot of spiders there so there are spiders in the game."<br /></i><o:p> <br /></o:p>Chad - "<i>Anyone can make music really, you look at
pictures of the place you are making music for and start making sounds."<br /><o:p></o:p></i><i><o:p> <br /></o:p></i>So, he made the game by <i>making the game</i>.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>I will return to this in the end.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBbL8p-bPCboYIb_lFzeDVQzaVHDHC8cHqbDY9cwaYnF0O5bTCGLM2LJiEgUY2s8NYaNvjvICwE6CiGexIINGv40GV8wtMmGm5PbpEgpxiR8WvrV28bRLFJXWKTbp3nB1rBzCuVyQVD6DYU0sohictBw9D6aYjmBBPUg2IeGvF1oPWl0LxNILrP0U39iy/s1920/Greenslit%20River.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBbL8p-bPCboYIb_lFzeDVQzaVHDHC8cHqbDY9cwaYnF0O5bTCGLM2LJiEgUY2s8NYaNvjvICwE6CiGexIINGv40GV8wtMmGm5PbpEgpxiR8WvrV28bRLFJXWKTbp3nB1rBzCuVyQVD6DYU0sohictBw9D6aYjmBBPUg2IeGvF1oPWl0LxNILrP0U39iy/w430-h242/Greenslit%20River.png" width="430" /></a></div><br /><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Level Design</h3><o:p> <br /></o:p>Northern Journey combines vast-feeling levels and
wide-open spaces with complex, nested and carefully planned challenge routes.
In the interview above the creator says they often solved design problems by
just removing space, bringing things more closely together.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Often the routes and locations are nested vertically,
with looping fishbone paths, leaps and scrambles taking you from one to
another, or caves, long diversions or surprising detours leading you back to
somewhere you have already seen from afar, maybe only a few feet away from
where you were standing, buy previously unable to reach.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnOQoQo5dh6G5yPPmvXAEKowI8FfBBbZxCVjj_6jWVhG5xOQA7lX0q7u2FBvueCEz8-jGFH4Y2fj1R3AqECtcKveK2xT5rXmeQHeJVXrep9nFFPVK71CPAHhDuOEnKtcKB-VWGW8R2MgJleCUwKk7OoTj2AQ6Owt4givOaxG4yHKggJAxubM38LG-SCvh/s1920/Greenslit%20Depth.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnOQoQo5dh6G5yPPmvXAEKowI8FfBBbZxCVjj_6jWVhG5xOQA7lX0q7u2FBvueCEz8-jGFH4Y2fj1R3AqECtcKveK2xT5rXmeQHeJVXrep9nFFPVK71CPAHhDuOEnKtcKB-VWGW8R2MgJleCUwKk7OoTj2AQ6Owt4givOaxG4yHKggJAxubM38LG-SCvh/w467-h263/Greenslit%20Depth.png" width="467" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The internet tells me that this is “like Dark Souls”.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>You are almost always in sight of the promise of a future
journey,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>being shown expanses you <i>might</i>
traverse, places you might visit and methods you might use. There are keys to
open doors but there is also a winch thing you can use to access ziplines which
take you whooshing across these densely-plotted levels - you can see the
ziplines coming in but can't access them till you get this widget. In terms of
level design this is in practice, just another kind of key or teleportation
system, but it doesn't feel like that, instead it feels like an extremely cool
reward for achieving stuff.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>How could this feeling be expanded to OSR-style games?
With difficulty I think. The functioning of team play using largely the minds
eye and maps doesn’t work the same way as in a videogame. In Northern Journey,
the ‘correct’ or accessible routes are obvious and the language of the game and
movement in its space is easy to accept. You know you can’t climb things above
a certain set incline, so you don’t bother. In an OSR game you <i>can</i> try
climbing things above a set incline, and can <i>try</i> doing a whole bunch of
things that wouldn’t work in Northern Journey.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>As well, the presentation of a vertically nested
environment is more difficult in map form, and the sheer power of a open view
of a big landscape promising various adventures and possibilities wouldn’t act
the same way.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Perhaps to some extent, partial maps, rumours and
‘promising objects’ serve a similar aim in D&D adventures. I tried to do
something a bit like this in Demon-Bone Sarcophagus but apparently fucked it up
<span face=""Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">☹</span>.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><o:p> <br /></o:p><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Music</h3><o:p> <br /></o:p>The music is custom, nothing in its pockets but knives
and lint. It’s dungeon synth/ambient created for each environment. This is
distinctive because there really isn’t a big gap between the sounds of the
environment, the twitchy calls of insect danger (or witches), the wind, the
treetops moving in the wind, the echoing of cave noises and whatever the
ambient music is for that area.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="297" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t_yBiiaCQDU" width="357" youtube-src-id="t_yBiiaCQDU"></iframe></div><br /><br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Fucking Spiders</h3><o:p> <br /></o:p>Or monsters generally, but most of them are fucking
spiders.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExKt8oCKDxJWPDhXVbIjpXj7pX0k097P3n5UjLcsmd3O1cn8cLlo3S7oXW8BZux8BA7DdFGY4DHJIY36od0Ju0_ECzq7A83jwKRiLgiP34P5elHyUxe6IPLfkD9CKhbTVbnDnw-OxD4BhPPwR69n0RJ-BCJhSu2SOEbgKv7TJ-wmidv8SBlBBm82v_sU_/s1920/Underwater%20Spider.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExKt8oCKDxJWPDhXVbIjpXj7pX0k097P3n5UjLcsmd3O1cn8cLlo3S7oXW8BZux8BA7DdFGY4DHJIY36od0Ju0_ECzq7A83jwKRiLgiP34P5elHyUxe6IPLfkD9CKhbTVbnDnw-OxD4BhPPwR69n0RJ-BCJhSu2SOEbgKv7TJ-wmidv8SBlBBm82v_sU_/w444-h250/Underwater%20Spider.png" width="444" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>None of the spiders are the same, look the same, act the
same or interact with the environment and the player in the same way. Some
crawl in the undergrowth quietly, some swarm in gangs, some hover and leap, or
hang in treetops and drop on you.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>The enemy design, movement plans and AI loops are
carefully integrated into the environments, the spiders in the trees, the
tree-tops slowly waving, the spiders in the waving grass which bob and move in
the same rhythm as the grass.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>The juddering, weaving repetitive but incoherent attack
patterns of the insect enemies exist apparently because they were easy to
program - presumably real insects are running something not that much more
complex than the systems in a modern computer.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The deep integration with the environments means you
spend a lot of time hiding, listening, watching, stalking and paying a huge
amount of attention to trees, grass, sounds and movement.<br /> <o:p> </o:p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWHSAmYMHF4jdD2XTITI9tr6pdrqvy_G-qaCgeLDD68P79byx7dmlgJ240jDQbMWiUcDSE_rantifPdyeVANCSZ_k3TzODfCWibJSdI-xhUdWYrYxvYsZ_c_4ELKiFRgpwL9Ib34uVlpQSVVY902KolupiHdoTCY4nn51VJkh_yD3EE2ta07FvnnCJCTC/s1920/Witch%20Sequence%20%20(2).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWHSAmYMHF4jdD2XTITI9tr6pdrqvy_G-qaCgeLDD68P79byx7dmlgJ240jDQbMWiUcDSE_rantifPdyeVANCSZ_k3TzODfCWibJSdI-xhUdWYrYxvYsZ_c_4ELKiFRgpwL9Ib34uVlpQSVVY902KolupiHdoTCY4nn51VJkh_yD3EE2ta07FvnnCJCTC/w423-h238/Witch%20Sequence%20%20(2).png" width="423" /></a></div><br /><o:p><br /></o:p><o:p> <br /></o:p><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Combat</h3><o:p> <br /></o:p>I feel like there are two main ways to run the combat in
Northern Journey; Doom Style or Cheese It.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>If you have really good twitch sensitivity and aim then
you could maybe burst into target-rich environments and race around shooting
things while brilliantly swapping weapons for optimal effect. I absolutely
could not do this and so most of the time I just cheesed it by save-scumming,
creeping forward till I trigger one or two enemies then running like fuck away
till they are lined up behind me on an attack run, then turning round and
shooting them, save-scumming and doing the same thing again.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The sling was an interesting embodied weapon. You get it
for free, it never runs out of ammo.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>On pulling out the sling the p.o.v character WHUMPS it
round your head, one, two, three, four, five, six times then puts it away. You
can trigger a cast at the peak of any of those WHUMPS. If you wait till the 3rd
or 4th WHUMP, the damage goes up to 100, which is actually not bad, on par with
other weapons, or you can release early for a faster shot with less damage.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>This starts as a crap and awkward weapon, but as you get
better with it, it becomes quite workable and your skill with its timing helps
you upgrade it along with your other stuff so it never quite goes out of
fashion.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtW-U7GMCpCUqjT9taGCgyk2OO1MxqQ7WB2CYt7cmCIWq-_tHsc1TGr7UhiXZh4ltbxBlM0vzkYd-7GapBVzg4mgFwLKg9_jkgGQ3PcVtShpOf5SDBgj89AbNr23oW49EHTIejif9PKYJ7GPGdfkZkr63u_a7zjgPbfI83d0yOv66W40cj2EoYHW6_eLB_/s1920/Witch%20Sequence%20(3).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtW-U7GMCpCUqjT9taGCgyk2OO1MxqQ7WB2CYt7cmCIWq-_tHsc1TGr7UhiXZh4ltbxBlM0vzkYd-7GapBVzg4mgFwLKg9_jkgGQ3PcVtShpOf5SDBgj89AbNr23oW49EHTIejif9PKYJ7GPGdfkZkr63u_a7zjgPbfI83d0yOv66W40cj2EoYHW6_eLB_/w412-h232/Witch%20Sequence%20(3).png" width="412" /></a></div><br /><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p><br /></o:p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Characters</h3><o:p> <br /></o:p>Oddities drawn from something like a folk tale; a village
idiot, a suspicious priest, a fool in the stocks, a policeman in his hut, some
mysterious crones with a bubbling pot, a doctor throwing runestones and
laughing, a sketchy soothsayer whacked out on fumes, an isolated engineer
living in a box held over an abyss; there is literally no-one normal in this village,<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Crones - Lots of crones in this one, a large variety of
tricky witches doing crazy witchy things, trying to push you off bridges,
strand you in infinitely black pools, fly screaming and cackling at you on
broomsticks<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The Mysterious Flute Player – is he Odin? A wizard? The
Gygaxian Game Master? He feels a little like all of these things. He has his
own theme and you can hear him noodling on his flute as you enter some levels.
At other times a dog or raven will turn up with a rune-stave message.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7EgyzIhjbq01ZBDiGxv3V4Rr2YcspmVXpk1M4txsW4BR-7fLhxSRWIUKZFUsA0I4sr4D2ePI79ACMaksSsIKbxfwEzhCrYfal0I60jOMXpNGg7zjU56M6KC_nLuwey34nY5asHcRpsIgeV6RN5773WzpQSQQ5hZHbaoHSiGeJwHTcSYU8TlriUlkZADl/s1920/The%20Travelling%20Flute%20Player.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7EgyzIhjbq01ZBDiGxv3V4Rr2YcspmVXpk1M4txsW4BR-7fLhxSRWIUKZFUsA0I4sr4D2ePI79ACMaksSsIKbxfwEzhCrYfal0I60jOMXpNGg7zjU56M6KC_nLuwey34nY5asHcRpsIgeV6RN5773WzpQSQQ5hZHbaoHSiGeJwHTcSYU8TlriUlkZADl/w443-h249/The%20Travelling%20Flute%20Player.png" width="443" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><o:p> <br /></o:p><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Special Missions!</h3><o:p> <br /></o:p>Caving, cave-diving, diving into a haunted, drowned village
in a leaky bathysphere, taking a hang-glider through super-mountains, diving
into a maelstrom & coming out the other side, slowly scaling and ziplining
up a staggered and vast mountain face; </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjiiPAJPKEbxmsL58YA3a8WupvkJZOD5G729AXhqLULmweQbaoPAtN8A5OyWLtk-Fde1LpD00_BaxtnllUXw-iLMn9jQgEUcDpwwjwD4qiDUzLK_ba1p_cjNsndC506WLXRoa0yd5rAdRoyUu-ZYmXxTmihz88dUI_wRHZX9TMcAaYIMLZ_S9UJZS3RUrP/s1920/Cave%20Diving.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjiiPAJPKEbxmsL58YA3a8WupvkJZOD5G729AXhqLULmweQbaoPAtN8A5OyWLtk-Fde1LpD00_BaxtnllUXw-iLMn9jQgEUcDpwwjwD4qiDUzLK_ba1p_cjNsndC506WLXRoa0yd5rAdRoyUu-ZYmXxTmihz88dUI_wRHZX9TMcAaYIMLZ_S9UJZS3RUrP/w421-h237/Cave%20Diving.png" width="421" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">the darkness, fear and paranoia was <i>lovely</i>.
In particular the bathysphere mission and cave-diving was just utterly rich
with darkness and a deep sense of strange otherness. Any Veins of the Earth
fans would enjoy these.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p><br /></o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNA7z9eVDU6A0-5ZBgamaq0gmAuRIhP1-XNRwcUDA-yFiF0ViBXMA5hytPyWBH0WeWy81Tjyp6xscjbIyNq9ckf_RWw-OQ6--QHGstGy0xSzfwHIe7tLBZO__HNGnkOUjkEQVW5lYdQqT1oITp5w_QTccqPt5ydW9ZsCpBUhGvAsKzeIWpJR8sKVaXLV8H/s1920/Maelstrom%20Bridge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNA7z9eVDU6A0-5ZBgamaq0gmAuRIhP1-XNRwcUDA-yFiF0ViBXMA5hytPyWBH0WeWy81Tjyp6xscjbIyNq9ckf_RWw-OQ6--QHGstGy0xSzfwHIe7tLBZO__HNGnkOUjkEQVW5lYdQqT1oITp5w_QTccqPt5ydW9ZsCpBUhGvAsKzeIWpJR8sKVaXLV8H/w424-h239/Maelstrom%20Bridge.png" width="424" /></a></div><br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Ending</h3><o:p> <br /></o:p>There are parts of the end I love, and which feel a lot
like the pure mood of the game and other combat-based parts I don't love
anywhere as much.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>It feels like a lot of supernatural problems in Norway
are solved with a midnight communal village rave to dungeon synth electrobeats.
Probably this is just how they do it, who knows. The game nearly ends with what
I think should have been the final scene, a game of keep-away with a bunch of
crazy villagers dancing in a circle around a cursed dimensional violator while
the village idiot keeps trying to grab it and run away, while demonic root
monsters run interference. Then there is a tower shooting bit which is less
interesting.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /> <o:p> </o:p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAHcQh1nd0REpUqSRyBQbDLmTv01K2AZeXZ1_915ffFnxwPrnB2kss9BjCYwdItKrN1Im6GAjZBYGzxzYWhXpy_Mb2r3vNsRTvQlkXV3p-esycPBQ4lYLYsrtW8AjvxdCRrwnA89kO-fQmCsmJCg5laDR9xI5vI50D5niPsotOvIi0IZmBMFNgC4-W6H1/s1920/Villiager%20Rave%20(12).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAHcQh1nd0REpUqSRyBQbDLmTv01K2AZeXZ1_915ffFnxwPrnB2kss9BjCYwdItKrN1Im6GAjZBYGzxzYWhXpy_Mb2r3vNsRTvQlkXV3p-esycPBQ4lYLYsrtW8AjvxdCRrwnA89kO-fQmCsmJCg5laDR9xI5vI50D5niPsotOvIi0IZmBMFNgC4-W6H1/w423-h238/Villiager%20Rave%20(12).png" width="423" /></a></div><br /><o:p><br /></o:p><o:p> <br /></o:p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Hyperreality</h3><o:p> <br /></o:p>A game about an environment by a guy who lives in that
environment. The production loop is a hiking loop - guy goes for a hike or
climb in Norway, takes photos, records sounds, observes nature<br />then comes back to the spider-cellar, makes textures from
the plants and rocks, builds the sound of streams from the recordings.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>All of the sounds and textures in the game are made by
the creator, so those curiously pixelly textured shadows, waving plants,
lichen-spotted wood, are all recovered dreams from the real world.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHGf0O8KI9s6HkiR3dM5pE-kZ8wadawpozluUNZEkxUE8lnTIEOW2tQa1eoqiaozfoS9BV3L7NAl9UHTjZjlxZtMNrLOPptC7QbDvM20UmCWmp08XgJivRtMI_ui82z2On7H7ySZKwZ-NxYp_tKXCKbmq-rd04CzdQRgX_u-b3_3Q2vWs12V3Gr0GvJCj/s1920/Cave%20Textures.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHGf0O8KI9s6HkiR3dM5pE-kZ8wadawpozluUNZEkxUE8lnTIEOW2tQa1eoqiaozfoS9BV3L7NAl9UHTjZjlxZtMNrLOPptC7QbDvM20UmCWmp08XgJivRtMI_ui82z2On7H7ySZKwZ-NxYp_tKXCKbmq-rd04CzdQRgX_u-b3_3Q2vWs12V3Gr0GvJCj/w436-h245/Cave%20Textures.png" width="436" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p> <br /></o:p>The combination of the tightly-plotted but
expansive-feeling level design, the intensity of dealing with the FUCKING
SPIDERS and this transposition and concentration of the natural phenomena means
with Northern Journey has a kind of Hyperreality, like its NorwayPlus. The same
hyperreality you would get from surrealism but driven towards a natural
environment, a bit like 19th century romantic paintings of guys staring at the
alps where a natural view is intensified, but in this case it’s a game and a
process of doing which includes movement, exploration and challenge.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>(I am not saying Northern Journey is 'like being there'
which I think would be a mediocre aim and which I am unable to confirm anyway,
bit it is more like an intense, lucid dream of Norway)<br /><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVm2iT2R_A0biaLXMSr9qrabhe5Jz4wITKxikFp8dT7tgBy1NlEpJhIZwUn_6trWJVsvdkQb4TdJmfH-5L2U2dLU1_6pdz9djuz9FpmEgDUx2Zmkx4pav6SLJAGbljsjD3xhWgmlHQ08ndW4k0y6ytsd5qOouWaPvOGyIpdpy2J1jSIpsSrt_jAvPmZCFQ/s1920/Greenslit%20River.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVm2iT2R_A0biaLXMSr9qrabhe5Jz4wITKxikFp8dT7tgBy1NlEpJhIZwUn_6trWJVsvdkQb4TdJmfH-5L2U2dLU1_6pdz9djuz9FpmEgDUx2Zmkx4pav6SLJAGbljsjD3xhWgmlHQ08ndW4k0y6ytsd5qOouWaPvOGyIpdpy2J1jSIpsSrt_jAvPmZCFQ/w430-h242/Greenslit%20River.png" width="430" /></a></div><br /><o:p><br /></o:p><o:p> <br /></o:p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Singularity of Vision</h3><o:p> <br /></o:p>Though original, no single element is absolutely better
than the best in other games, though much is very good. Instead we must speak
of the combination and synthesis of elements in a manner original, expressive
and rare. It would be hard for a large group the make *this particular* game
because things were combined and "cooked" very closely and very intuitively.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The textures, plants, sounds, arrangements of form,
living entities, (especially the spiders), etc, are all seemingly drawn from
life and inscribed directly into the game without much pre-decision or
conversation.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpplhhIuiAwWTXP_x1oTys4_ey6IX64o_Stx8YZT4kzaC4HzRx2UyERPAt6-JnpPXZkxKhfT5QPDnUdpM9YOrAzk3UKjsLh-W04K0Hte5J52_e5iJ5Hda5xiaTyAhM2gVC5wj-uey5biGjviFDvsDyYn7lAC4mK-r9T1UoA3GyDOo5vEnU4gpD0Dr8GnJ/s1920/Howling%20Statues.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpplhhIuiAwWTXP_x1oTys4_ey6IX64o_Stx8YZT4kzaC4HzRx2UyERPAt6-JnpPXZkxKhfT5QPDnUdpM9YOrAzk3UKjsLh-W04K0Hte5J52_e5iJ5Hda5xiaTyAhM2gVC5wj-uey5biGjviFDvsDyYn7lAC4mK-r9T1UoA3GyDOo5vEnU4gpD0Dr8GnJ/w430-h242/Howling%20Statues.png" width="430" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p> <br /></o:p>For instance; in one level the waving of grass mimics the
colour and movement of the resident spider enemy, which skitters and bobs
exactly like the movement of the grass in simulated wind. in another, the
texture and size of an attacking spider means it blends with and seems to move
"under" the textured knee-high foliage. Combined with its <i>silence</i>
(which would have no significance if not for the aural tapestry of the levels),
this makes it a particular paranoia-inducing threat.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>There is a level where, after coming out of a deep dark
and claustrophobic mine, you do nothing but climb and zipline up a seemingly
endless series of mountain faces, facing a rolling grey sea, it’s wonderful and
arguably 'nothing happens'.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>These things, if done as part of a group or company,
would have taken meeting after meeting and description and argument after
description and argument. Here, done by one individual, they are simply created
and arranged immediately, intuitively, in a manner which speaks of a coherent
world, creates beauty and interest in the eye of the beholder an is 'gamic' or
playable, leading to interesting and cohesive play.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The whole game is like this; a collage or weaving
together of elements, some drawn from nature, but woven coherently, subtly, to
create a kind of hyper-reality. The sensory aspect of a Norwegian
wilderness/biome, compressed, transformed and made into something that can be
played. Any addition of complexity of the kind a corporation or marketing
director would instantiate would disrupts this clear fluidity and directness of
approach.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The credits are literally three lines;<br /><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9xAs4q47OU2z2oC-pSos7LTP0xYjQ0IT8dbFuiouLkJO_i9323vnH_7TRDoI8u6W4L9XkU4WycAs-I1WlJfod-k29dzVNaUiOn6alsEfrv3jC2Q-RnFmRJ0bWtBWPjT0VaLVy98QdH1xuJ-mLp0sMx4Hm7VEVOaypr4vzuXdghedJz50AzigHJ9aoZDV/s1920/Game%20Credits%201.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9xAs4q47OU2z2oC-pSos7LTP0xYjQ0IT8dbFuiouLkJO_i9323vnH_7TRDoI8u6W4L9XkU4WycAs-I1WlJfod-k29dzVNaUiOn6alsEfrv3jC2Q-RnFmRJ0bWtBWPjT0VaLVy98QdH1xuJ-mLp0sMx4Hm7VEVOaypr4vzuXdghedJz50AzigHJ9aoZDV/w447-h251/Game%20Credits%201.png" width="447" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHEj-JoLcVl9zqF_ZSw9QbiaVPolJcVvM52aOUi6uIvaPNJMZitb626ecnjmHBl03SBIAW3Gtg_zgnWOZ_ATrTbGvKw8jIOiVmImZdpBMIxbNIykpQNzrI8CmCGolvOqd5FCun728iAAX-sSofpP5yGsm3x8JSZcM-28d2u6la9hvVMX1SkKEND-RShIxs/s1920/Game%20Credits%202.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHEj-JoLcVl9zqF_ZSw9QbiaVPolJcVvM52aOUi6uIvaPNJMZitb626ecnjmHBl03SBIAW3Gtg_zgnWOZ_ATrTbGvKw8jIOiVmImZdpBMIxbNIykpQNzrI8CmCGolvOqd5FCun728iAAX-sSofpP5yGsm3x8JSZcM-28d2u6la9hvVMX1SkKEND-RShIxs/w443-h249/Game%20Credits%202.png" width="443" /></a></div><br /><o:p><br /></o:p></div><p class="MsoTitle"><o:p></o:p></p>
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pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-63241974215548916542023-06-07T12:30:00.001-07:002023-06-08T03:32:49.072-07:00The Grandaddy of Evil; Ian Watson and the Inquisition War Trilogy!<div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> A REGISTERED CRIPPLE</b> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">"<i>When they were heading away from the barricade
through the host of pilgrims and tents, a scrawny liver-spotted hand clutched
at Jaqs hem.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p><br /></o:p></i><i>'Charity for a registered cripple' croaked an elderly
voice.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p><br /></o:p></i><i>Smouldering thuribles of incense dangled on chains
from a gibbet-like frame. Backed up against the base of this frame was a
rickety cart with small iron wheels. Upon the cart crouched a ragged crone. her
face was wizened with age. her stringy long hair was white. Yet her rheumy blue
eyes were keen with a light of tense intelligence. In those eyes was a quality
of anticipation for which expectancy of coins alone could hardly account.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p><br /></o:p></i><i>Grimm scrutinized her circumstances. The
thurible-gibbet protected this cripple from being trampled accidentally. A
handle jutted from the rear of her cart. It might be pulled or pushed. Here she
crouched under the cool red sun, begging.<br /></i><i>...<br /></i><i><o:p> <br /></o:p></i><i>'Was the temple breaking your legs, mother?’ Surely
the Occidens Temple did not need to create and exploit cripples, pitifully to
swell its coffers.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p><br /></o:p></i><i>The crone rocked forward, as if in sudden anguish from
a cramp of the bowels.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p><br /></o:p></i><i>'Oh yes, it was breaking my legs!' was her reply. 'Yet
not in the way you're meaning.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p><br /></o:p></i><i>Grimm hunkered down by the cart. Soon s did Lex and
Jaq.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p><br /></o:p></i><i>The crones name was Herzady. One thing she had never
been was a mother. Defiantly she declared herself to be elven years old.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p><br /></o:p></i><i>Who else on Sabulborb would dream of counting their
age in local years? She had lived long enough to arrive at double figures. She
had endured more than a hundred and ten Imperial years - the vast majority of
them spent in this cart. Grimm was impressed by Herzady's longevity, even
though to a long-living Squat a century was rather small beer.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p><br /></o:p></i><i>'Pretty impressive for an ordinary unenhanced human
being, particularly in such reduced circumstances!'</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p><br /></o:p></i><i>A century earlier, as a young girl, Herzady had
attended that Holy Years unveiling in company with her pious parents. During
the bedlam which ensued, her mother and father both lost their lives. Herzady's
legs were permanently crippled. A compassionate priest had taken pity and
provided this cart. For decades Herzady had awaited the next Holy year. When
the unveiling came again she was watching from a safer place than on the
previous occasion.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p><br /></o:p></i><i>Bedlam?</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p><br /></o:p></i><i>Oh yes. At the unveiling fifty two years later there
had been homicidal bedlam once again, due to the hysteria of the pilgrims
intent on seeing... what could not be seen.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p><br /></o:p></i><i>Could not be seen, what did she mean by this?</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p><br /></o:p></i><i>Why, Herzady had been all ears and eyes for decades.
She knew that the visage had faded, aeons since, into invisibility. On the
climactic day of Holy Year when the high priest of Occidens in splendid
procession carried the requilary out along the walkway, briefly, to open the
sacred container, what he would expose to the gaze of hundreds of thousands of
pilgrims was a cloth which was blank, apart from a couple of stains vaguely
located where the eyes might have been.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p><br /></o:p></i><i>'Pilgrims are glimpsing almost nothing sired! How they
are straining and struggling to see!'<br /></i><i>.......</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p><br /></o:p></i><i>Gently he said to Herzady, 'Being crippled, crippled
because of adoring him, you are partaking in His vaster malady.'</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p><br /></o:p></i><i>'I am waiting, she replied bleakly, 'for many more
persons being crippled and killed the day after tomorrow, as surely must be
happening. Then I am dying contentedly.'</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p><br /></o:p></i><i>it was to witness this calamity that Herzady had
endured indomitably throughout the five decades since the previous holy year!
The crones persistence was pathological. her lucidity was madness.<br /></i><i>...</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i><i>The little man prompted her; 'Hundreds of people dying
outside that courthouse earlier on today. All imagining the True Face being
unveiled early - and panicking.'</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p><br /></o:p></i><i>Galvanized by shock, the crone sat bolt upright upon
her twisted shrivelled legs. She gasped tragically. 'Herzady missing so many
deaths....'</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p><br /></o:p></i><i>Her wizened face spasmed in pain. A thin spotted hand
fluttered to her chest. She slumped over.</i><i><o:p> <br /></o:p></i><i>Lex checked her pulse. In his hefty hand her wrist
looked no wider than a pencil. Herzady was dead. Of a heart attack, of a broken
heart.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p><br /></o:p></i><i>It was Grimm who reached to close the crone's gaping
empty eyes.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><o:p><br /></o:p></i><i>'Huh' he said, 'saved myself half a shekel
anyway.'"</i> <br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><o:p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpcBqNY8ULIjzQE6_aR4CnkqkCrNfwIvoiTxI0ftyPx7byJX7uqtQKGD4xDd6a_pVHstcM8pliIT_qjhPWl_ng8PN-QmfzKbE_EkjkirhPxq9cOp658R78386LUjm0giQbT2RaZFRNnaOtXSwtE8jWR1qOY1Kp_OgxNDQ9f3uFlGuGQ0r6FdN6m8QRA/s899/623px-Draco_Obispal_Harlequin_Man.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="623" height="515" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpcBqNY8ULIjzQE6_aR4CnkqkCrNfwIvoiTxI0ftyPx7byJX7uqtQKGD4xDd6a_pVHstcM8pliIT_qjhPWl_ng8PN-QmfzKbE_EkjkirhPxq9cOp658R78386LUjm0giQbT2RaZFRNnaOtXSwtE8jWR1qOY1Kp_OgxNDQ9f3uFlGuGQ0r6FdN6m8QRA/w357-h515/623px-Draco_Obispal_Harlequin_Man.jpg" width="357" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Blanche drawing Jaq Draco as... Sean Connery?</div><br /></o:p><o:p> </o:p></div>
<h1>BEHOLD<o:p></o:p></h1>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I return to the beginning; the original Black Library
novel and first Warhammer 40k fiction. Dan Abnett dedicated the first volume of
‘The End and the Death’ to Ian Watson, likely out of respect to this originating
series. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I read one book in this series many many years ago and I
did not like it at all. I thought it was dirty and weird. Uncomfortably so. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Now I think it is a work of GENIUS! Clearly I have migrated
to one end or another of the I.Q. graph meme. Which end I cannot say....<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_RB7TYwRU9ZLUYHZJOJkpJD3L0S7hJzWkhLLv0bryD11h5werqwHas35qG6lAA-xiNYwLLNdjASpbBNIDhPbRMCH19f6AEMiynEQriN81BK-eU2_HRjI6pjOcNb17xQ_ciWDTOJOluFfPGpclCaUnC57OHoBPpjQUiX4u4DJqafHeVbLBgMaQe9b5A/s675/WATSON%20IS%20A%20GENIUS.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="675" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_RB7TYwRU9ZLUYHZJOJkpJD3L0S7hJzWkhLLv0bryD11h5werqwHas35qG6lAA-xiNYwLLNdjASpbBNIDhPbRMCH19f6AEMiynEQriN81BK-eU2_HRjI6pjOcNb17xQ_ciWDTOJOluFfPGpclCaUnC57OHoBPpjQUiX4u4DJqafHeVbLBgMaQe9b5A/w478-h354/WATSON%20IS%20A%20GENIUS.png" width="478" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNoSpacing"> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">PULSING ALBUMEN-WOMB<o:p></o:p></h3><div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><o:p> </o:p><i>“A dreary slope of great boulders, poised on a scree,
extended downward into murk. Upward likewise. In the upward direction
rococo-metallic towers were visible. A small fleet of grotesque vessels might
have impacted in the terrain. Evilly flamboyant, these towers were canted at
absurd angles to one another in defiance of gravity, yet they were linked by
eerily wrought bridges along which prowled tiny figures.<br /></i><i><o:p> <br /></o:p></i><i>In a bilious sky hung an hourglass sun. Two suns were
joined impossibly at the waist like a double yolk within a glutinous pulsing
albumen-womb of glowing gas. This absurd sun made the eyes and the spirt ache.
How was gravity thus defied? That double-sun should have cohered into one sun
aeons ago. Two such celestial bodies could not exist side by side.<br /></i><i><o:p> <br /></o:p></i><i>‘Chaos’, breathed Jaq in horror.”<br /></i><o:p> <br /></o:p><o:p> </o:p></div>
<h1>ITS THE UR-TEXT </h1>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It’s all about the FUKIN STAR CHILD BABY! It’s all coming
back! Perfect circle!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Ok so what is this story actually about? Essentially an Inquisitor
wants to bang his Callidus Assassin, that’s the main driver of the plot. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Let me try again.. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Our story is about Inquisitor Jaq Draco, who encounters a
super-mega conspiracy within a conspiracy of the Inquisition to create a
psychic ‘Hydra’ and turn all of humanity into a giant singular hive mind and
thereby ‘save’ it. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Over the course of three books [SPOILERS] Draco
accidently exterminatus’s a planet, fights genestealers, enters a space hulk,
visits a demon world, goes to Terra and infiltrates the Imperial Palace for a
chat with the Emperor, sleeps for 100 years, enters the webway, visits Ulthwe
craftworld, gets into the mythical Black Library and steals the book of the
Apocalypse, gets his Callidus assassin girlfriend killed, hides out on a nutty
pilgrim world, steals a relic, escapes into the webway again and performs a
mysterious ritual to undo fate. Other things also happen. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The over-plot is all about the Sensai, the Star Child,
the schitzoidal mind of the Emperor </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Very old 40k lore from Rogue Trader says that when the
Emperor fought Horus he cut out all the actually nice parts of his psyche and
cast them into the warp so he could win. These more fluffy bits have been floating
around out there for 10,000 years and are about ready to reincarnate into the
Star Child; the actually-nice superbeing who will create the golden path to
humanities hopeful future. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Roaming around in the galaxy are the Sensai; 40ks
original Woke Warriors who roam the galaxy fighting oppression yes this is real
and I am not making it up.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIpub03PatOkFjehp5szRMRgoAFfrk2p2Uo2cN-kNnBLyGZl8KjD1-8BUSjuqg8sO3G1iss2oMHK_KckG1cOUP5kp1PZPxvi7U-brMzKus8eedSsUVvdQYcgnuTTIgu0gCqZPV2PNJ_jBnC4L4i1VNs9U2jgcOjXCXAkXcZMjY-3mFfmkgGgzdITuCQ/s3642/IMG_20230607_192439_243.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3642" data-original-width="2706" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIpub03PatOkFjehp5szRMRgoAFfrk2p2Uo2cN-kNnBLyGZl8KjD1-8BUSjuqg8sO3G1iss2oMHK_KckG1cOUP5kp1PZPxvi7U-brMzKus8eedSsUVvdQYcgnuTTIgu0gCqZPV2PNJ_jBnC4L4i1VNs9U2jgcOjXCXAkXcZMjY-3mFfmkgGgzdITuCQ/w434-h584/IMG_20230607_192439_243.jpg" width="434" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklFqJM34YIu5N_C6RQqsw9w3DL1h8KaXHS4gKVTV23_cOJIeUrcjNxgm6SgKGUtMFzkEzwGxc8yXpQmn-Fin_ikpcoDM6cyAim5CoDcmlJm7URlX_dkfHPhGIbj4j_aQ9l_nuJ1V7Oec1hU-7uaApUBt0a0wFmIJBkueXgB2ZWJn9MRinD2wnFxGajQ/s4177/IMG_20230607_192446_196.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2117" data-original-width="4177" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklFqJM34YIu5N_C6RQqsw9w3DL1h8KaXHS4gKVTV23_cOJIeUrcjNxgm6SgKGUtMFzkEzwGxc8yXpQmn-Fin_ikpcoDM6cyAim5CoDcmlJm7URlX_dkfHPhGIbj4j_aQ9l_nuJ1V7Oec1hU-7uaApUBt0a0wFmIJBkueXgB2ZWJn9MRinD2wnFxGajQ/w467-h237/IMG_20230607_192446_196.jpg" width="467" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pZwfB9FuXIGueqKxbtmQWcvma7WBXxXmhH0bx_oDNMLAI3E-ec-3kEdtrgjFqX1CC_OAN3wwcR7C_-ws0fIDMZYYhA9QAYAdD-7Lc4CEmPNepnJzxXW8xDWD8myyvFfQMjDPy_UQimWboYhevu0Yn4nbKkbvcs0hfH_TBEtlufbacUjgrNsxEhdhfg/s4409/IMG_20230607_192455_682.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1679" data-original-width="4409" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pZwfB9FuXIGueqKxbtmQWcvma7WBXxXmhH0bx_oDNMLAI3E-ec-3kEdtrgjFqX1CC_OAN3wwcR7C_-ws0fIDMZYYhA9QAYAdD-7Lc4CEmPNepnJzxXW8xDWD8myyvFfQMjDPy_UQimWboYhevu0Yn4nbKkbvcs0hfH_TBEtlufbacUjgrNsxEhdhfg/w491-h187/IMG_20230607_192455_682.jpg" width="491" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAEQy37Nw1u_8_qVVFwN_o77EZyYg2_KjFRDDpDrrFYMGtLSMXOYsZD4fCiqYkjWQZH_TFP4mHm7Ee1nb0U3bHBLgBua3fSyUBb1foSa05y8gE4PwqnAocCVQ8nlVyN5H4CKyxbzc9mUilxMs4NG0NfB-X6I1qXRGEe453_oLDL1FoXnBC9zGzlNcjw/s3691/IMG_20230607_192502_147.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3691" data-original-width="3389" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAEQy37Nw1u_8_qVVFwN_o77EZyYg2_KjFRDDpDrrFYMGtLSMXOYsZD4fCiqYkjWQZH_TFP4mHm7Ee1nb0U3bHBLgBua3fSyUBb1foSa05y8gE4PwqnAocCVQ8nlVyN5H4CKyxbzc9mUilxMs4NG0NfB-X6I1qXRGEe453_oLDL1FoXnBC9zGzlNcjw/w445-h484/IMG_20230607_192502_147.jpg" width="445" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Meanwhile</i> in Games Workshops two active series, in
the final books of the Horus Heresy series, Dan Abnett is finally creeping
towards the Final Confrontation with Horus where all this is actually set up,
and has been reintroducing the idea of secret immortals in 40k. And in the ‘present
day’ Dawn of Fire series by mainly Guy Haley I think, the idea of the Star Child
and the Emperor ‘awakening’ has been reintroduced. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So, essentially, the Horus Heresy series, the current
Dawn of Fire series and this Inquisition War series, the first one published,
form a coherent whole, or are being <i>formed</i> into one. It was all just one
giant saga all along… </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And it’s amazing how much of a 40k book it is, right from
the offing, rich with ripe dankness. Within 200 pages of the fist book we have
genestealer purging, exterminatus, a squat on a trike, a space hulk, the Eye of
Terror!, actual Terra and a month long oddesy through the imperial palace lead
by the Star Child (probably), and a MEETING WITH THE EMPEROR. The sheer amount
of stuff, of details, of incident, combined with the wild euphonia of the prose
really adds up to make a funky stew<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">TENDRILS IN THE SPINAL SOCKETS<o:p></o:p></h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>"During stages in Lex's novitiate as a future
Space Marine he had been initiated dauntingly enough - by a feast of foul
excremental unfood and other formidable ceremonies.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i><i>The forced rite of initiation which took place like a
ravishment within that Chaos vessel was execrable and almost unspeakable. How
could Lex obliterate from memory the Kiss of Corruption, the Communion with
Chaos, the Prayer of Perfidity, the spells and the invocations? And all the
while he was experiencing the slither of tendrils within his spinal sockets.
These invaded his nervous system, generating nauseating visions of the
fragility of the comos, of the feebleness of reality which demonic fingers
sought to unpluck and reknit with such vile success.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Lex in torment saw the whole cosmos burst forth from a
mere bubble in the energy warp. A sparrows fart the universe was!"</i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h1>IT FROM THE 90'S<o:p></o:p></h1>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It’s kinda, no, scratch that, <i>incredibly</i> pervy, rich
and ripe with strange life, overflowing with crazy stuff, wild with colour. It
feels a lot like David Lynches Dune in its gleeful perversity and general
oddness.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigG6FZFCRJD3nZa9sin_OQzzYuxK13dI5D0mdWsPsXFV-fKLNWpEEiGhUnnyhKiZ2I7oD46ZEUWOWlt6P5XR4NHNsJ8D2WqVFHRVh1UrMTtFo1iEGauVwqlPCbTXQW5WJAJh-pFSB0aYHs8HTBD7b8dYPQpMW-9_yvGLHYMO363Qw_RM7sdXChY4RXPg/s700/SmartSelect_20210817-224119_Gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="561" height="437" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigG6FZFCRJD3nZa9sin_OQzzYuxK13dI5D0mdWsPsXFV-fKLNWpEEiGhUnnyhKiZ2I7oD46ZEUWOWlt6P5XR4NHNsJ8D2WqVFHRVh1UrMTtFo1iEGauVwqlPCbTXQW5WJAJh-pFSB0aYHs8HTBD7b8dYPQpMW-9_yvGLHYMO363Qw_RM7sdXChY4RXPg/w350-h437/SmartSelect_20210817-224119_Gallery.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The vision of 40k is absolutely one torn from the pages
of early White Dwarf, Realms of Chaos, Rogue Trader and other early vibrant
texts; </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>“And so Meh-Lindi approached the monster on the
throne: a leering fang-toothed, armoured hog of a grandsire alien. Its eyes
glared at her from under ridged bony brows. One of its lower, humanoid hands,
adorned with topaz and sapphire rings, contemplatively stroked a fierce claw-hand
that rested on its knee. One of its hooves tapped the floor. Loaves of
armour-bone jutted from its curved spine, and it rubbed these against the carved
back of its throne grindingly, as if to dispel an itch. Its spatulate tongue
stuck out, tasting.”<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglT7sLXPbGG8jTpg_5-un4D6anJ7xoUC0Z7YQ4vEPgZrPo7sSsxonMrS2pWX2Of2T4m4IlDvdDo1K1e9iNjGyI9GpIZjwjZSbOkoUcydt7cE108a-7WfR4PzDTalDDuhGmFHmwwNESn2ADdBMUhhqAg6bjEBvpxq7fvkPsCkDle5lIKeVCq_HivV1mpg/s291/250px-PatriarchThrone.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="250" height="455" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglT7sLXPbGG8jTpg_5-un4D6anJ7xoUC0Z7YQ4vEPgZrPo7sSsxonMrS2pWX2Of2T4m4IlDvdDo1K1e9iNjGyI9GpIZjwjZSbOkoUcydt7cE108a-7WfR4PzDTalDDuhGmFHmwwNESn2ADdBMUhhqAg6bjEBvpxq7fvkPsCkDle5lIKeVCq_HivV1mpg/w391-h455/250px-PatriarchThrone.jpg" width="391" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And is absolutely riddled with often ridiculous and
sometimes really quite discomforting sexual and bodily weirdness, especially
surrounding the Callidus Assassin Meh-Lindi who starts the book doing exercises
in a giant ritual hamster wheel and then examines herself in the mirror naked
at length while remarking on her boobs as women so often do. Then she gets a
pseudo-plastic Genestealer skeleton implanted in her body in an excruciating
surgery scene.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">GROTESQUELY MUTATED RAMPANT GROINS<o:p></o:p></h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>"Were the screaming tethered female prisoners
hallucinating while abominations were perpetrated slowly and perversely upon
their flesh? The Slaanashi Chaos Marines had certainly used hallucinogenic
grenades -as well as boltguns and meltaguns and terrible chainswords, and
heavier weaponry too. Were hallucinations intensifying the already appalling
sight, and the implacable cruel touch, of pastel-hyed armour exquisitely
damascened with debauchery upon the breast plates and the shoulders? Was that
which was already monstrous being multiplied far beyond the brink of sanity?</i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>A few tormentors had shed items of armour, exposing grotesquely
mutated rampant groins, their organs of pleasure bifurcated and more, with
squinting eyes sprouting from them, and with drooling lips.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Others had no need to shed armour. Chaos Spawn had
materialized: wolf sized creatures with legs of spiders and bodies of imps,
with questing tentacles and phallic tubes. Jaq himself almost believed that he
was hallucinating. A snake-like umbilical cord connected these spawn to the
swollen groin-guards of their master - who stood back, roaring and whinnying
with delight, as they guided the spawn in the ravishing of their captives, soaking
up the sensations of these roving external members."</i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<h1>ITS A TOY COMMERCIAL </h1>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Even at this early stage its clear this is about SELLING
PRODUCT. We have to put the toys on display and while I think probably Watson
enjoyed the breakneck pace and sometimes delirious invention of the blizzard of
encounters, its also true that Inquisitor Jaq Draco encounters pretty much every
model that you can <i>buy right now</i>; Genestealers, Eldar, Space Marines,
Chaos Marines, Harlequins, Titans, Commissars, </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And the Space Marines and others are <i>fashionable </i>in
an exquisitely 90s Warhammer style;<o:p> </o:p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">TINY SILVER PENTACLES</h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>"Strapped in the gimballed control seat,
protected by padding and armour, the princeps faced those great slanting
eye-screens. Bronze bones framed the screens. Across an array of lesser data
screens diagnostic icons shuffled like phosphorescent beetles. A spaghetti of
cables led from his reinforced mind-impulse suit into ducts. Cables coiled from
his shoulder pauldrons, and wires from his impulse-helmet - which now swung
round to scrutinize the newcomers.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Behind a goggle-visor: weary blue eyes. below the
visor: a hooked nose with sapphire rings through each nostril, thin lips, and a
depilated chin tattooed with tiny silver pentacles.</i> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">DAMASCENED GROIN-HAUBERK </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>“Grimm urinated into the open helmet of the Chaos Marine.
Sizzling softly, the webs became a gingery mat clinging to horrid contours above
the gaping metal-fanged jaw. </i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>From one of his pouches Grimm produced a bar of marzipan
and began to gobble. </i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Lex snapped his visor shut to scan data and diagnostic icons.
When he opened it again, he announced, ‘My waste storage unit may be
malfunctioning somewhat.’ He murmured a prayer to Rogal Dorn. </i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Grimm cocked his head. ‘Does that mean your mighty metal legs
will start to fill with muck? </i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Lex’s gauntlet lashed out. He stayed the blow before it
could pulverize Grimms face. </i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>‘I can recycle and detox my own waste for two days,
abhuman. This suit is ancient,’ he declared. ‘Reverently repaired.’ His groin-hauberk
had visibly been renovated with a damascened silver engraving of a potent
warrior firing a storm bolter.”</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">A VERMLLION BADGE OF NOBILITY </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>“Scar tissue on Hachards chin stood out whitely as
though he had been punched. His cheek-tattoo was of a skull skewered by a
dagger. His teeth were painted black as a signal that any smile of his was
dark. A vermillion badge of nobility -a stylized power axe – adorned his right
knee-pad modestly so that, whenever bending to the Emperors image during
devotions, he should kneel upon this heraldic honour. His gloved hand strayed
to the Imperial eagle emblazoned in purple on his lavender dress cuirass, as if
to emphasize his unquestioning loyalty.”<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjI8swEiIxjRpfenqSwelDoC6Bbtnhs6ENNKdxCR_cjYy0QQD6agW6P_YHwSEXgv3jM9YsvIhG6DZSLFn6Qxw66jDMkUsZi22YdMoPcNMScHOBKROxfqzN3YLXcXFmwLDsHdnlo1TURuY_1RDke9QCd-5gSfCHiEhIvNsbmDDf6_a9PKfMGP2kYJUOg/s1473/SmartSelect_20210817-105530_Gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1473" data-original-width="908" height="684" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjI8swEiIxjRpfenqSwelDoC6Bbtnhs6ENNKdxCR_cjYy0QQD6agW6P_YHwSEXgv3jM9YsvIhG6DZSLFn6Qxw66jDMkUsZi22YdMoPcNMScHOBKROxfqzN3YLXcXFmwLDsHdnlo1TURuY_1RDke9QCd-5gSfCHiEhIvNsbmDDf6_a9PKfMGP2kYJUOg/w422-h684/SmartSelect_20210817-105530_Gallery.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h1>THE PROSE, INVENTION, DIALOGE AND TEXTURE<o:p></o:p></h1>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Its mad with dankness.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The tumbling maddening harlequinesque prose combines and
overlays with the deranged invention</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Watson is very clearly going carefully and joyfully off
his tits with his prose, his word choices, idea combinations, rushing but
ever-uneven rhythm, hold onto your hat at the start of every sentence and
paragraph because you don't know how it is going to end, like a fairground ride
that segues into some other ride in the middle, and again before the end. A
KNOWING SMIRK is the emotion I am detecting here but not the joyless Dreamworks
smirk of the empty ironist who abstracts themselves from their own ID through a
veneer of eyebrow, but an Orson Welles-type smirk of a plump <i>gourmand</i> of
words and concepts who is about to <i>gorge themselves</i> on <i>sounds</i>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">SOLIDIFYING OGRESPOOK – NIGHTMARE INCARNATE! </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>“Night rolled towards them like a velvet curtain, or
like a negative of an aurora. It hid from view those leaning towers. In the
sickly sky an eclipse was eating swiftly across the leftward sun.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>This was not how night fell in any sane reality!</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>The curtain of darkness halted before it reached them.
Within that darkness flapped moth-like shapes, faintly phosphorescent, visible
in violet.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>More such moths swiftly gathered, They massed to form
a giant humanoid figure bestriding the shrouded land. The hulking figure gained
substance moment by moment as Lex continued to engrave Azul’s eye.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>On the shoulders of the figure were mounted what
appeared to plasma cannons. Great grasping powerhands dangled. Around the
ankles of that solidifying ogrespook capered shadows – reminiscent of that
horned spiked suit of armour which had lain in Ulthwe’.”<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>…</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>“Jaq was sighting his force rod tentatively at the
looming colossus, muttering prayers of his own. Just then an extremely low moon
sailed into view. Astride the capsized crescent sat the vilest of creatures, as
on a saddle. Such saucer-eyes, such a parrot-beak. That tentacled fiend
resembled some kraken from the deeps of an ocean. Its tentacles trailed down,
becoming vastly long threads. With these, it began to fish. <o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>…</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>“Here was nightmare incarnate. Another thread snared a
Chaos Marine, plucking the armoured brute from out of the darkness. ‘That ain’t
no helmet,’ exclaimed one of the Imperial Fists, ‘that’s his head – ‘</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>To the amplified horror-struck gaze of the Marine it
was evident that the grotesquely metamorphosed Chaos warrior was guffawing with
insane delight as he was drawn up to share that surreal perch with the daemon.”</i> </p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">……………………<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">THE DIALOGUE feels like a kind of arch 70's fantasy
somehow, declarative, anquished, arch, pointed, ridiculous. Theatrical. Is he
joking? Is he screwing up or screwing about, or both? We will never know… </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">HOMOGONIZED ENTRAILS </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>“Lex’s voice rumbled sympathetically. ‘I understand
loss, Sir Jaq.’</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Loss?</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Jaq had long since lost his holy office. He had lost
the fellowship of his ordo. He had lost his cherished funereal ship, which
might well have been blasted to pieces in that eldar dock by Imperial forces
quite incidentally. Now he had lost his…. Helpmate.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>‘Reckon we can steal this hyper-lance?’ Grimm asked
Lex. ‘Can you use it? Must be ancient and revered to be so powerful. Shall we
pull it free? Reckon that’s wise?</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>‘No-oh-oh-oh!’ Such a howl burst from Jaq’s throat, a
howl of universal rejection and misery. Pull the great blade from Meh’lindi’s
ravaged ribs and homogenized entrails? ‘No!’ he cried. ‘She shall not be
treated like some harpooned sea-beast!’<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fMXzlSQVdFz72r7uFwYGfBpEHQXdJIUalxTxRsyhAL1LdWzFAsNx0dzA3g-FmUVFZ4la2BUwGi3R6cUzaSCci0D56e0Ua-Kz5TaY2nfYLzlJsZDXKKXzuQXHjwG6Ol06r45VjPaS5B28_GsIOHP-fQtXREK2CCvdF4OWMeqX3-af_SikPHwe-QbO_A/s1000/51AWK2X0DQL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="682" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fMXzlSQVdFz72r7uFwYGfBpEHQXdJIUalxTxRsyhAL1LdWzFAsNx0dzA3g-FmUVFZ4la2BUwGi3R6cUzaSCci0D56e0Ua-Kz5TaY2nfYLzlJsZDXKKXzuQXHjwG6Ol06r45VjPaS5B28_GsIOHP-fQtXREK2CCvdF4OWMeqX3-af_SikPHwe-QbO_A/w390-h572/51AWK2X0DQL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg" width="390" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing"> </p>
<h1>ITS AN *ACTUAL* EPISTOLARY NOVEL<o:p></o:p></h1>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p>Or at least it tries to be for a while. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Most 40k texts are fake Epistolary novels; remember in
the grimdank future no record can be trusted and unreliable narrators and
whatever, but *in <i>effect</i>* books tend to be written from a floating 3rd
person perspective and are clearly not 'in-world' texts in any way, and
furthermore, texts part of the same general series are clearly attempting to
tell a coherent story where all the details match up, and not presenting a
dracula-style collection of missives or whatever. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So there is a certain fakeness to the 'everything is true
and untrue' shtick. But the Inquisition War, while written in a 3rd person, does
fully purport to be an in-universe text, (apart I suppose, from some framing
stories where some people are reading it and asking "why did he write it
about himself, in the third person?") These ‘novels’ are actually strange
chunks of paper found in the entrails of the Golden Throne, transcripts of a
report of something and Eldar Farseer maybe said, or just a funky book from the
Inquisitorial archives. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">They kind of give up on this somewhat , actually the
middle one is the only 'impossible' report as it ends with Jaq raiding the
Black Library, </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I do love the idea of it being a theme with Inquisitors
that they commonly write their own experiences down as pulp novels and hide
them in archives, a useful technique since the truth must be disguised with
fiction and fiction with truth, an ever-deniable record which may represent
true events, or the shape of true events. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">FURNACES OF NAUSEOUS LIGHT</h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>“The ribbed wraithbone walls of an immense dome rose sombrely
upward. Across the zenith stretched a lake of night. A vast sky-light or
energy-field excluded yet also revealed the void of space.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>That funereal lake was polluted by diseased lurid
gases. Hues of jaundice and gangrene and blood and bile stained those billowy
shrouds. Suns within the sickly veils of gas, and of vile corruption, of a cancer
spreading through the void.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It was the Eye of Terror – where Chaos spiled into
reality. Where warped worlds of unnatural geometry orbited furnaces of nauseous
light. Where daemons ruled.”</i> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h1>(many of) THE BAD BITS ARE NOT THAT BAD ACTUALLY </h1>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Ok the perving on the Callidus assassin, including her
constantly stripping naked, putting on sysnskin, examining herself in the
mirror naked and noting the shape of her breasts (watson what the fuck). Pretty
much everything to do with sex is anguished, overwrought, obsessive, horrifically
and malignantly autistic in a negative sense.. however, is this Watson being a charismatic
nutter or <i>brilliantly illuminating the perverse compression of natural human
desire in a nightmare future? I refer you to the IQ graph above..</i> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The meeting with the emperor is relatively well done and
not that dumb. It takes a super-competent inquisitorial team about a month to
weave their way through the palace, constantly changing identities, being lead
a crazed path of opportunities by a prescient fragment of the Emperors soul
itself and they only get through the Eternity Gate because a larger gestalt of
the Emperor casts Time Stop and pulls them through.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p>The last book is a downer with the team hiding out on one
single world instead of having a crazed rollercoaster time, but there are still
a host of deranged moments and a sad, hurried end.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h1>JAQ DRACO WILL RETURN! [SPOILERS!] </h1>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">What happened to the Ordo Hydra? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The Sensi are coming back! The original Woke Warriors for
our Disney Plus future! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The Star Child! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">At the end Jaq Draco DIES but his spirit is trapped in
the webway where he can commune with dead Eldar seers. HE COULD STILL BE IN
THERE! Its going to be great if he pops up randomly in some future book. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Meh-lindi the sexy, dangerous Callidus assassin is
sort-of resurrected in the end! I fucking BET Abnett or *someone* will being
back the only Callidus to successfully impersonate a Genestealer AND and Eldar
(though not at the same time), she is still out there! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Grimm the Squat! That utter legend! Will he turn up on
Necromuda? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Probably GW aims to escape the looming tentacles of the
hysteric left and the pink captialists “WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE NERDS? IS THAT
FASCISM I SEE?” by shattering the Galaxy, turning it into something like Age of
Sigmar with bits dominated by Primarchs and godlings, and brining back the
Sensai and the Star Child so that you can finally tell your mum “No mum I an
playing the good-guy anti-fascists <i>actually!”</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Hey its from Rogue Trader, its scripture so you can’t complain.<o:p></o:p></p>
<span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br clear="all" style="break-before: page; mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="color: #2f5496; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h1>JONATHAH KEEBLE NEEDS TO PERFORM THIS BOOK! </h1>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">That’s it! Imagine him reading this stuff. It would be
wild!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">WE ARE MANY<o:p></o:p></h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>“WE ARE MANY, INQUISITOR’. The voice boomed in his
mind almost gently – if gently was how an avalanche would sweep away a doomed
village, if gently was how a scalpel might strip a life to the bare, aching
bones.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>HOW ELSE COULD WE ADMINISTER OUR IMPERIUM – ‘</i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>‘AS WELL AS WINNOW THE WARP – ‘<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>‘HOW ELSE?’</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>The Emperors mind-voice, if that truly was what it
was, had dissociated into several voices, as if his great undying soul
co-existed in fragments that barely hung together.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>‘SO DOES THE HYDRA THREATEN US?’<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>‘IMPERILLING OUR GREAT AND AWFUL PLAN TO STEER
HUMANITY?’<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>‘PERHAPS, IN A PART OF US, SINCE THIS HYDRA PROMISES A
PATH?’<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>‘SURELY A MALEVOLENT PATH; FOR HOW COULD HUMANITY EVER
FREE ITSELF?’<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>‘THEN WE MUST BE MALEVOLENT TOO. FOR WE HAVE EXPELLED
OUR SENTIMENTALITY LONG AGO. HOW ELSE COULD WE HAVE ENDURED? HOW ELSE COULD WE
HAVE IMPOSED OUR RULE?’<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>‘YET BY VIRTUE OF THAT WE ARE PURE AND UNCONTAMINATED
BY WEAKNESS. WE ARE GRIM SALVATION.’<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>…..<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>‘NOTHING THAT SAFEGUARDS HUMANITY CAN BE EVIL, NOT
EVEN THE MOST STRENUOUS INHUMANITY. IF THE HUMAN RACE FAILS, IT HAS FAILED
FOREVER.’<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>….<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>‘WHEN WE CONFRONTED THE CORRUPTED, HOMICIDAL HORUS WHO
ONCE USED TO SHINE LIKE THE BRIGHTEST STAR, WHO USED TO BE OUR BELOVED
FAVOURITE – WHEN THE FATE OF THE GALAXY HUNG BY A THREAD – WERE WE NOT
COMPELLED TO EXPEL ALL COMPASSION? ALL LOVE? ALL JOY? THOSE WENT AWAY. HOW ELSE
COULD WE HAVE ARMOURED OURSELVES? EXISTENCE IS TORMENT, A TORMENT THAT MUST
NOURISH US. EVIDENTLY WE MUST STRIVE TO BE THE FIERECE REDEEMER OF MAN, YET
WHAT WILL REDEEM US?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>‘Great<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>lord of
all,’ whimpered Jaq, ‘did you know of the hydra before now?’</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>‘NO, AND SURELY WE SHALL ACT IN DUE TIME – ‘<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>‘YET SURELY WE KNEW. HOW COULD WE NOT KNOW?’<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>‘ONCE WE HAVE ANAYSED THE INFORMATION IN THIS SUB-MIND
OF OURS,<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>HEAR THIS JAQ DRACO: ONLY TINY PORTIONS OF US CAN HEED
YOU, OTHERWISE WE NEGLECT OUR IMPERIUM, OF WHICH OUR SCRUTINY MUST NOT FALTER
FOR AN INSTANT. FOR TIME DOES NOT HELT EVERYWHERE WITHIN THE REALM OF MAN.
INDEED TIME HALTS ONLY FOR YOU.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>‘WE ARE AN EVER-WATCHFUL LORD ARE WE NOT? DID YOU HOPE
TO GAIN OUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION?’<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>‘HOW ELSE SHOULD WE SOUL-BIND PSYKERS AND OVERVIEW THE
WARP AND BEAM THE ASTRONOMICON BEACOM AND SURVIVE AND RECEIVE INFORMATION AND
GRANT AUDIENCES ALL AT ONCE, UNLESS WE ARE SO MANY?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>‘AND YET STILL WE MISS SO MUCH, SO VERY MUCH? SUCH AS
THAT WHICH GUIDED YOU HERE.’<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>‘OUR SPIRIT GUIDED YOU.’<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>‘NO: ANOTHER SPIRIT, A REFLECTION OF OUR GOODNESS
WHICH WE THRUST FROM US.’<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>‘WE ARE THE ONLY SOURCE OF GOODNESS, SEVERE AND
DRASTIC. THERE IS NO OTHER SOURCE OF HOPE THAN US. WE ARE AGONISINGLY ALONE.’<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCU6qb015SG9mFvqIiAMliRHbpMlRo0GSGc-DzIaMuWeU29XZxSVOldEcDxiSBk3mPxdPaN-DZip1FK13Ceg4hHtYr2Px0TMgbRS0Jf5z2SpY8REa1ZVKoXjfCl4GgkI2zuszcTy-QLH1MU-eALeP-rigvos6gHl8Rbg2VZ2gAo0VHDUYsJwxe5RtpTg/s373/300px-God-Emperor.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="300" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCU6qb015SG9mFvqIiAMliRHbpMlRo0GSGc-DzIaMuWeU29XZxSVOldEcDxiSBk3mPxdPaN-DZip1FK13Ceg4hHtYr2Px0TMgbRS0Jf5z2SpY8REa1ZVKoXjfCl4GgkI2zuszcTy-QLH1MU-eALeP-rigvos6gHl8Rbg2VZ2gAo0VHDUYsJwxe5RtpTg/w408-h508/300px-God-Emperor.jpg" width="408" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-649268464905065942023-05-28T09:03:00.002-07:002023-05-28T09:03:57.377-07:00Ride the Giants, Development Blog 1<div style="text-align: left;">As mentioned <a href="http://falsemachine.blogspot.com/2023/05/designing-for-cauldron.html" target="_blank">here</a>, I am attending the 'Cauldron' Con in Germany and am trying to develop a 'real time' adventure to run there. This is a development blog for that adventure. This is what I have so far. Later blogs will probably go into more specific sections and problems rather than giving an overview.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...................................................</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h1 style="text-align: left;">Ride the Giants </h1>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Once in every century, a crowd of ancient,
stoop-shouldered giants come down from the Star<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mountains and stride down the Sword Peninsula towards the Titans Reach,
where the Sea of Storms separates the Lands We Know from the nightmare Monster
Continent which lies beyond. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">There, at the very point of the land, the Giants slow a
little, perhaps to gaze at the wild ocean before them. Then they walk off the
land, into the sea, and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>wade across the
Titans Reach, the sea covering them even to the neck, the mouth, the eyes. Without
slowing, they surge through the waves and, after four hours of wading, they
rise once again to the land, walking up the shore and making their way off into
the Monster Continent. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Where they go, or why, none know, nor how they return.
Perhaps they endlessly circle the world, for in roughly 100 years, the same
giants will return, again coming down from the Star Mountains, and again,
slowing, just a little, to gaze at the Sea of Storms before they plunge into it
and wade across the Titans Reach. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">They do not speak or communicate in any way. They walk
through anything in their path, pushing down fortress walls like a man pushing
through weeds, but ignore anything beyond it. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A century ago observers with telescopes and trained birds
noted <b><i>ruins</i></b> on the giants backs, strange parasites in their rocky
skin, relics and remnants of unknown actions studded across them and what seem
to be <b><i>mysterious temples</i></b> built atop their bowed heads! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Now the Giants come again, but this time we are ready! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I am King Sleet and I have called adventurers from across
all realms. I have called <b>you</b>. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Not to stop the giants, for nothing can, and we fear their
wrath if we try, but to board them! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">As the giants slow before the Titans Reach, they are just
slow enough that it becomes possible to climb onto their feet. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Board a giant. Climb it. If you are quick, it should be
possible to climb their legs as they wade into the ocean, staying just ahead of
the rising water. Investigate. For any Lore or Treasure you return, you will be
well paid. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">My small navy waits at sea. They shall try to follow the
giants, as well they can. A few experimental Hot Air Balloons await. They are
hard to control but they will try to follow and assist. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">You have FOUR HOURS (in real time) until the Giants walk
onto the Continent of Monsters. None who go there return! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">They come! Prepare yourselves! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">The Scene </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">As you look across the ranging fields you see spots of
colour; other groups of wild adventurers waiting with hooks, grapples, ladders,
horses and a crazy range of tool and tricks. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Far beyond the giants path, the King observes from his
pavilion, and lined around him, the people of the land, waiting to see the
Giants. Far out to sea, the Kings small navy prepares to attempt to follow the
giants and in the air, experimental but hard to control hot air balloons bob
about, hoping to observe and perhaps even offer rescue. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The brass horns are blowing! The ground is shaking! The
crowd roars! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">The Giants </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The Giants are proportioned like immensely strong but
very ancient men with stony skin. They walk bent over like hunchbacks, heads
tilted up so they can see. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">From <i>their perspective</i> they are not walking very
fast, but their enormous size means that, to us, their feet thunder past. The
relative movement of their bodies is very slow, but for someone on the ground
as they step over, the gargantuan foot fairly flies past overhead. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The Giants heads are roughly <b>2,000 Feet </b>in the
air. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Their skin is pitted and rocky. Where an ancient man
would have wrinkles and folds, they have cracks and crevices. Their surface
looks rough and fricative. Scrub plants have taken root in places. Some have
trees or heather, scrubland and maquis, even small trickling streams, on their
backs. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">If a giant was <i>static and still</i>, an energetic
hiker could possibly climb one in an hour and a half. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The giants have something like hair. Perhaps it is vines
or growth of some kind mixed with ancient hair as thick as ropes or the
branches of trees. The hair hangs down around their heads and faces. On some,
hair speckles their forearms and thighs. The Giants have thick hanging crotch
and ass hair, which thankfully spares the modesty of those who look upon them,
and which might also prove useful to climbers. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">The Giants Path </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">There are about a dozen Giants. They walk together in no
fixed formation. They sometimes stumble and brush up against one another. (It
might be possible to leap from one to another). </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Over the Eons the Giants have worn a shallow valley in
the ground. Rivers and streams often weave and gather in this valley, so the
giants sometimes splash through them on their way.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h1 align="center" style="text-align: center;">Giant Layout – Labelled<o:p></o:p></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqlv2vMp38ZrZLeZRQDD3dsVmqBUxNNXB9YbBuurFajPU2J_Wg3PgsxCOxsYdif5Idzu-k0IRlcyCY5ayAfLY9qwsVWAVD8luis8OKfsxtgz1HDXHX8FkjjWocIhFigQLl6fPm_SauzsvHRt-hQpQ8CMzjEKLtB3gs0ih8HoBngQchWzw-K96khfK0g/s2479/Sea-Wading%20Giant%2028-05-2023%20PNG.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2479" data-original-width="1751" height="730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqlv2vMp38ZrZLeZRQDD3dsVmqBUxNNXB9YbBuurFajPU2J_Wg3PgsxCOxsYdif5Idzu-k0IRlcyCY5ayAfLY9qwsVWAVD8luis8OKfsxtgz1HDXHX8FkjjWocIhFigQLl6fPm_SauzsvHRt-hQpQ8CMzjEKLtB3gs0ih8HoBngQchWzw-K96khfK0g/w516-h730/Sea-Wading%20Giant%2028-05-2023%20PNG.png" width="516" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">The Climb </h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">1. The Foot </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A 50 foot cliff. Very rugged, not sheer, more like a
clamber. Race to the ankle. Need to climb up over and around the ankle to the
back of the lower leg. There are unlikely to be other life-forms or encounters
on the foot. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Though, as the most accessible place, there might be
small encampments of bandits, sigilites, monks or others who have mounted the
giant at some point during its great journey. Those who understand the ocean is
coming will either be about to jump off or, like you, be willing to risk a rapid
ascent to stay above the waters. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This would be a good place for a goatherds shack actually.
They could let their goats rove all over the giant. Maybe they are a monk. Will
they come with you as you climb or refuse to believe in their doom until the
sea washes over them. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">The Ankle Cross </h4>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A traverse around a moving joint. Big possibility of
falling off here, it must be accomplished quickly before the giant takes too
many steps into the sea. Once on the rear of the calf the terrain becomes more
predictable and the angle of climb more advantageous. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Of course you could try climbing the overhand of the
shin, but that is madness.. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">If there are other teams or spoiling factors this would be
a good first spot to knock someone off, but does not guarantee their death…. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">2. The Lower Leg Climb </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">How far is this? About 150 feet. A hard scramble and
climb up the back of the calf, a moving surface which shifts from near vertical
to overhang in pulses as the giant walks. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This is probably the most important time-sensitive climb
as reaching the knee will keep you safe for most of the journey, only the
deepest part of the ocean at the two-hour mark will reach past this </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">The Knee Decision </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">As one reaches the knee another traverse is required,
followed by a decision. Should one continue to climb the frontal thigh, aiming
for the hips and lower back, or risk it all with a daring leap onto the giants
hand? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The hand swings very close to the knee over the giants
slow steps. It is certainly possible to try to jump onto a knuckle as it swings
near the kneecap. This might allow you to climb the arm and give you a time
advantage, avoiding whatever terrors occupy the back.. You can aim right for
the head! It’s a straight climb up past the shoulder, </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">3. The Upper Leg </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The climb up the front of the thigh may be fatiguing but
is not technically difficult and it stands the best change of keeping your
party together. As you begin to reach the hip you are truly out of danger from
the rising sea level and can afford to take s short break to consider. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Will you attempt a traverse up and over the hip, aiming for
the side of the back? Or will you clamber into the giants dense ass hair? The
growth is thick and tangled, making the way seem relatively safe. You could
move through the crotch like a tick, work your way through the steaming jungle
of the taint and then haul your way up to the base of the spine via the ass
hair between the cheeks. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It sounds horrific, but isn’t just such an investigation
the reason you are here? And who knows who, or what you may discover in that
Dark Realm? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">4. The Back </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">At last, the great tilted expanse of the Giants Back. Finally
you need no longer fear falling off. However this is a ready environment for
combat, either with other explorers or denizens of the Giants body. Its also a
good place for a Balloon to try to land, they could tie up here and wait for
you, assuming you have already made arrangements. Or Balloons could land rival
parties or pirates. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Will you explore the karst and moorland of the back or
head straight for the head and its mysteries? From here you can probably easily
make out the tailing naval forces. You may also be exposed to any flying monsters.. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">5. The Head </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">What is the mysterious structure atop the Giants head and
what secrets or treasures does it hold? Can you gain access to the Giants Thoughts
(and even PILOT the giant?) </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This would be a good place for a Balloon to try to pick
you up from (if possible), but the Head may be haunted by Quetzacotolous or
other flying creatures, perhaps mountain lions or even super-monkeys making
their home in the dense forest of its hair. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Getting through that dense hair to the temple or fort on
the giants crown will be the hard part. One must risk diving or crawling
through the maquis of the scalp, risking attack by whatever lies beneath, or
attack from above, the whirl of strange flying parasites which circles above
the giants highest point, riding the thermals of its exertions. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">From here you can easily see the head-tops of the other
giants. Which other adventurers have already reached their summits? Some may be
being picked up by balloons already, others may be rotating vast cannons or
lazer guns to blast at you! Or signalling more peaceful intentions, even requests
for aid… </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This might be a good place to consider, will you risk leaping
to another giant? If you traverse down to the arm it might be possible as they
brush against each other… </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Reaching the peak of the head would also give you a good
look at the advancing line of the Monster Continent, coming closer with each
mighty step…. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">6. The Arm Climb </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The arm in general is a tough, vertical climb with less
hand holds and less safety. It may however be less populated than the thigh and
if one can manage it, it might bring you more directly to the neck, and thence
to the head, bypassing the great Karst of the back completely. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">The Mysteries of the Hand! </h4>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Do the Giants have great rings upon those stony fingers?
If so can you read the cartouche of its symbols as you climb across its golden
surface? Or does the giant have something in its hand? How big is that something
and might it drop it? Is the giants ‘skin’ around its palm and fingertips
perhaps sensitive enough that it may detect the PCs climbing it? Here the
swinging force of the giants movements would be the greatest of all. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">The Elbow Traverse </h4>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Like the Knee traverse but worse. The angles of the
giants arms are more vertical than their legs but its still much easier to
climb the upward diagonal of the rear of its upper arm than to risk the
overhang of the front of the upper arm. Cover is less, as the rocky ‘skin’ of
the giant is less chunky and dense. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Hair or Shoulders? </h4>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The giants armpit hair can provide a brief respite of
illusory safety but ultimately you are going to have to get up, out and over.. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">OR – if you are feeling truly radical, and if the giant
itself has long enough hair or a long enough beard, you could try another LEAP
into the giants beard and/or hair. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Climbing the Hair </h4>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The thick, foresty hair should be climbable by anyone thief-like
or elf-like. But the hair is dense, may contain even more bugs and monsters. Huge
flakes of dandruff, and is a vertical climb which, no matter the hand holds,
will be challenging. Though if you fall there is s good chance of grabbing
something on the way down. The beard (if<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>present) could provide a useful ‘off ramp’ for the last part of the
adventure. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">If one wishes to make a quick exit on the return as the
giant is rising from the waves, it might be worth abseiling or clambering down
its beard and dropping from the tips, hoping to be picked up by following ships
before the weight of your treasure drowns you. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">The Giants Face </h4>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Only by climbing the hair will you stand a chance of looking
deeply into the giants FACE<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It can be seen from far off, but what strange sadness
does it hold when seem from close up?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">What impossible and ancient emotions might it project? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">The Great Shoulder Traverse </h4>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The tricky part is getting out of the armpit via the
overhang. But once this is done it’s a fatiguing but relatively simple scramble
across its shoulders, up to its neck. If you are quick you may well beat anyone
climbing from the legs. </p>
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">The Schedule </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">How long to board the foot? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">How long till you have to climb? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">THE SPLASH POINT </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The giants enter the sea! This should be a major deal! As
the giants foot slashes into the waves, from this point, the water is rising! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Two Hours In – The Mid Point </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The Giants are as deep in the sea as they can be<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Now would be the safest time to jump off<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And if you are still alive it must be because you have
got pretty high<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So why wouldn’t PCs jump off at this point?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Maybe the Giants only get up to their hips? So you have
two hours to get that high?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Then the rest of the time to get over the back and down?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Or maybe even to try your luck on another giant? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Three Hours In<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- race for the scalp </h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Four Hours In – The Turnaround </h3>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Design Questions </h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">‘Encounters’ while climbing </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Or just things you find or discover there..<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">These could be potential treasures, life forms, bits of
history<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Maybe whole ship fragments<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">In the foot-to knee area (currently the part of the giant
where they are climbing quickly to escape the rising sea levels </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">When might you fall off?</h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Lets say with climbing limbs<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">You are in most danger of falling off *when the limb is
vertical*<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And since the limb is moving in ‘real time’ you can use
that as the ‘pulse’ of the game<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">With some kind of real-time timer<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So while climbing, each pulse of gaming would be a
scramble to secure yourself, or at least not be doing anything risky, before
the limb reaches vertical </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">What is the Procedure for falling off and getting back on? </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I mean, if you fall from high enough, death is pretty
likely<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Above a certain height water, even sea-foam, is like
concrete<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">But there should be some kind of possibility of getting
back on the giant<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Bribing a ship captain with treasures or a balloon pilot </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Spoiling factors.. </h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A Naval war as ships from a rival king, or even from the
Monster Continent attack those following in the lee of the giants. A Trafalgar
attacks! You see the ships blasting at each other from above. No idea who will
win. Will you risk leaping into the sea, not knowing who may pick you up or how
long it may take? Will you try to intervene, perhaps firing from the giants
head or even attempting to manipulate a giant into crushing your foes?<o:p></o:p></p><br /></div>pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-5976249852173114982023-05-17T06:55:00.000-07:002023-05-17T06:55:01.034-07:00The Gravity of Cows<div style="text-align: left;">Over many a volume of forgotten Lore, through many an hour of Netflix and Disney dreck and many a meltdown over whatever Games Workshop is doing this week, I have pondered the interlacement of the Paracosm, the Corporation, and Autism.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lets say instead, - 'autistic traits' or 'light autistic spectrum traits'. Strongly Autistic individuals have a very hard time and don't get to do much. Those of us with autistic <i>traits</i>, of whom there are many more, well we have quite a strong effect on, and relationship with, popular culture.</div><div><br /></div><div>You might even say that we are the collective gravitational force of Genre-based popular fiction.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Part One - Evolution of the Paracosm</h2><div><br /></div><div>But first the Paracosm, the alternate world! Its primordial precursors; most religions, imagined tales of distant lands, stories of a legendary past, </div><div><br /></div><div>Then more recently; the philosophical disquisition given concrete form; what if there was an island where this or that happened? Or a country that was ruled this or that way? Lets imagine it in detail, not just the parts relative to the argument but the whole thing. a republic, a Utopia, a perfect king a most awful tyranny.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then; what if we just imagined such a place but there was no (direct) political argument to it? Or at least, it did not primarily rest on such an argument. This is not, legend, history, argument or scripture, it is directly stated fancy, a <i>fiction</i>. A creation of the imagination, and called so,</div><div>but described as if it were a real place.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then; when does it become a full Paracosm? When it is shared between multiple people? If so then the earliest I can think of is Glassland, the imaginary world cooked up by the Brontes. </div><div><br /></div><div>There must be a deep forgotten history of the Paracosm because it emerges so naturally from the play of children in friendship groups and families.</div><div><br /></div><div>E.R. Eddison, writer of The Worm Ouroboros had one with his own brother I think, which is where many of his stories were set. The serial scientific and fantastic fictions of the late 19th and early 20th century were Paracosm, but owned by their author, and usually made purely as a vector for stories, the linked stories by various authors in 'Strange Tales' in particular</div><div><br /></div><div>The vast, many-peopled Paracosm as we understand it I think really took root in the 70s and is closely related to D&D and corporate ownership.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Part Two - Corporate Power</h2><div><br /></div><div>for a Paracosm to be projected across a vast range of people, and for those people to be able to interact in a regular and systemic way with it, and for those systems to be unified and universally communicated, requires industrial production, complex communication and organisation.</div><div><br /></div><div>A substantially large organisation must do this. Something bigger than just a small business, and for a substantially large organisation <i>to </i>do this there must be a substantially large reward. <i>At minimum</i> enough to pay for the industrial reproduction, communication and organisation. So the beast becomes something that feeds upon itself. The more industrial reproduction and systemisation spread the Paracosm, the more people interact with it, which feeds back into greater profits, which can go into more industrial production.</div><div><br /></div><div>But more. As we consider the Paracosm <i>though time</i>, (and the most active ones have not been active that long), like land, if you want it to remain coherent, that is; stable in use and nature, then it must have an owner of singular identity, but one much longer lived than any individual person.</div><div><br /></div><div>Historically the owners of land have been; an aristocratic family, the Church, a religious order, the King etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>To which we may now add the corporation. The aristocratic houses of our modern day, and the Paracosm a virtual barony, which, like a stretch of agricultural land, can be conserved, developed, sold off, reduced to ruination and treated in many ways as a real place.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now the Corporation, a 'virtual' aristocratic house, has its own virtual kingdom, a place sustained and made real by the interest and investment in it.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Something </i>happened in the late 60's and 70s. Something to do with the growth of genre, the power of information technology and industrial production, free time for nerds and corporate interlacement with the imagination.</div><div><br /></div><div>The 60's - Star Trek, Tolkeins major growth. Marvel and DC get a boost here and are re-integrated as Paracosms though they have been running for a while.</div><div><br /></div><div>The 70s - Star Wars, Dungeons and Dragons</div><div><br /></div><div>The 80's - the Warhammers </div><div><br /></div><div>So we have a synthesis; the Paracosm, an imagined barony, and the Corporation, an imagined and potentially immortal individual. The Corporation can own a Paracosm ... forever perhaps, and can theoretically maintain a profit on it forever, and it is that profit that allows the Paracosm to keep developing. The corporation is not an author, it has no <i>single use</i> in mind for the Paracosm</div><div>but far from it, desires <i>as many uses as possible</i> across as many systems of production as possible. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Part Three - Autistic Traits</h2><div><br /></div><div>The interest in a Paracosm is not the same as the interest in an individual book or film but is renewed and remade through books, films, comics, television, animation, games, toys, models, props, bought costumes, embodied in acts of shared social play and through gatherings. All of these methods united by their shared love for and expression of, a place, or a reality, which is not real, yet is still shared and experienced by a great many people.</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>DEPTH of interest.</li><li>love of DETAIL.</li><li>Love of OBJECTS.</li><li>SYSTEMISATION of shared communion.</li><li>DISCUSSION and ARGUMENT over details.</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div>And chief and ruler of these passions, desire to be POSESSED BY THE IMAGINED WORLD</div><div><br /></div><div>None of these are <i>necessarily </i>the product of light autistic traits, but as a whole they synthesise with those traits, and with the pressures and coping strategies they produce, perfectly.</div><div><br /></div><div>And from hence comes the great and terrible danger and most subtle trap of the Paracosm, the need to MILK THE COWS, for the cows are we.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Four - The Milking Process</h2><div><br /></div><div>Those who are drawn to the Paracosm tend to have autistic traits and <i>of </i>those who are drawn, there is something of a curve.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cows.</div><div>Cows is what we are.</div><div><br /></div><div>But imagine you owned a field of cows, and some cows you could only milk once a day, or even once a week, and you had to go and round them up to do it.</div><div><br /></div><div>But there were other cows, a minority, who you could milk twice a day, three times a day, more. And you don't have to go round them up. Instead they come to you, constantly, and in fact they get quite violent if you refuse to milk them.</div><div><br /></div><div>So originally you start out with a Dairy Farm, as we would understand it, but what you end up with is quite different. It’s a milk factory . Which, yes a Dairy Farm <i>is </i>a milk factory. The difference is in the proportion of attention and resources you give to each part.</div><div><br /></div><div>By the end, the factory is the main thing and you have forgotten you even had fields. There are fields out there sure, the cows live there, but most of your time is taken up with the very productive cows</div><div>and even more with those small minority of hyper-productive cows.</div><div><br /></div><div>Really, as accounting goes, and as your milking operation improves, becoming more and more efficient, your fields decay, <i>and this is inevitable.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Hence the life-cycle of the Paracosm</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Five - The Natural Life-Cycle Of The Paracosm</h2><div><br /></div><div>Now, we don't know a lot of this for certain. The Paracosm that most neatly fit our definition have only been going since the 30s , so even the oldest are less than a century old, nor can we guess how they will respond to copyright laws which usually max out after about 100 years, but within that time period we can see a continual process, a pulse of growth and die-back.</div><div><br /></div><div>Following the cows.</div><div>Always follow the cows.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">............</div><div><br /></div><div>(It’s beyond curious to me that after Marvel and DC essentially bricked themselves into the Comic Book stores, to milk the cows of course, and maybe 40 years later, Disney/Marvel finds itself doing exactly the same thing, bricking itself back up inside Disney Plus.</div><div><br /></div><div>It costs less outlay, less terrifying risk <i>and the cows come to you</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>At the same time Games Workshop attempts its own Streaming Service.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are echoes here of the Comic Shop but also of Apples 'walled garden', of a lifestyle brand where every widget and thingy integrates with every other whatever, and where you can charge people a LOT, for entrance to that garden because, in Apples case, you are essentially guarding entrance to the globalised middle class.</div><div><br /></div><div>None of the Paracosm-guardians have managed that yet, and likely nor shall they, (because of the Autistic Traits))</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">............</div><div><br /></div><div>I will venture this as a thesis; every corporate-owned Paracosm, (which is to say nearly every major Paracosm), is at any point, somewhere in this long orbit between states.</div><div><br /></div><div>Its natural arc is to slowly decay into a nightmare milk factory.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then once that collapses, the milk factory will be razed and the clean open fields of a fresh new farm to be opened (with the ruins still lingering beneath the soil).</div><div><br /></div><div>Then the whole process will begin again.</div><div><br /></div><div>At times Paracosm can be pulled back and forth between the poles. Sometimes they can totally collapse and be regenerated, either by being newly acquired or even through 'community action', but they are always <i>somewhere </i>between these two points and defined by the gravitational pull between milking the cows and luring more cows. Those are the tectonic forces of imaginary worlds. The Gravity of Cows.</div><div><br /></div>pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-91818743807789002952023-05-07T08:43:00.002-07:002023-05-07T08:43:31.091-07:00Designing for the Cauldron<div style="text-align: left;"> WHATS GOING ON HERE</div><div><br /></div><div>I have been invited to a Con in Germany called 'Cauldron' </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://cauldron.pesa-nexus.de/en/home/">https://cauldron.pesa-nexus.de/en/home/</a></div><div><br /></div><div>and my mum said I should go so I am going. I will be picked up in Frankfurt and driven to a castle in the middle of Bavaria.... For several days.. I am sure everything will be fine...</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway they asked me to run something;</div><div><br /></div><div><i>"the general idea is to play mostly FLAILSNAILS compatible sessions, so that a player can play his character across the convention. .... The minimum requirement for any game system during the weekend is to award gold & treasure in the adventure commensurate with the challenges & dangers, i. e. an "XP for gold"-standard, roughly following B/X, 1e or OD&D tables in value."</i></div><div><br /></div><div>So, now I must dig through my mental 'bits box' to put together... something. A four-hour FLAILSNAILS session at least.. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lets think about some possible concepts;</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">1. GIANTS IN THE ACID SEA</h2><div><br /></div><div>A dungeon, or a series of dungeons, set 'on' the bodies of some enormous stony giants who are wading across a sea of acid. (So you can't just jump off).</div><div><br /></div><div>Though, the problem of what to do if or when someone fals off a giant, and if or how they might get back on, would be tricky.</div><div><br /></div><div>Mapping would also be tricky; the backs and top of the heads would be relatively easy </div><div>but climbing around the torsos and faces and under the chins would be hard to depict</div><div>and YES its just 'Shadow of the Colossus' or whatever was going on with those Zelda dungeons.</div><div><br /></div><div>If its for a Con, the time factor of the giants wading the acid sea could be a neat limit. Say you leap onto a Giant as they enter the Acid Sea and have until they wade across to complete your mission. We could just say there is a real-time time limit. </div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe they are gradually wading so deep that only the tops of their heads are exposed and you need to jump back on the airship before they go completely underwater, or they reach the deep part of the sea precisely half-way through the session, with parts of the giants becoming un-navigable up to that point, with all the surviving creatures on the giants gradually forced up to the crown of their giant heads, then after the middle of the session the 'maps' slowly open up again until they reach the shore, then you can climb down a leg and exit via the heel.</div><div><br /></div><div>You can jump from giant to giant. They have treasure on them, like earrings or crumbs of gold in their hair. Or you have a mission of some kind to find something.</div><div><br /></div><div>Probably they have small temples or castles on the tops of each head and you can fire catapults or cannons from crown to crown.</div><div><br /></div><div>For some reason I was imagining this as a knock-out 'vs' game with rival teams of adventurers clambering over the giants and trying to take each other out. Or maybe a rival tomb, or crown-robbing expedition where you leap onto the giants feet right at the start and everyone is racing to make it to the top, but also you can 'board' or jump onto other giants who are also stumbling along.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">2. THE ROPE BRIDGE BROKE</h2><div><br /></div><div>An adventure starts mis-en scene with the party in the middle of a rope bridge, they are in the middle of a fight or adventure, the bridge snaps and two half's of the group are flung to either side of the ravine.</div><div><br /></div><div>Its entirely random who ends up on which side of the ravine. Though the groups are relatively equal in number.</div><div><br /></div><div>From that point on its a journey up along the river/ravine. The aim of the party is to get back together (maybe each half of the party has half of a magical McGuffin</div><div><br /></div><div>There is a group of bad guys, a specific group, with their own identity and rituals. Presumably they also want the McGuffin (both halves). </div><div><br /></div><div>Probably the cliffs to both sides have various tombs, statues and complexes worked into the stone, so you can run along the cliff top, or if threatened, or that becomes impassable, climb across the statues and run through the tunnels of the cliffside.</div><div><br /></div><div>(Maybe there are giants or trolls up there throwing boulders for fun so you don't want to skyline). </div><div><br /></div><div>The main challenge in this case is not getting past any particular problem but getting past it *quickly* and without burning a lot of resources.</div><div><br /></div><div>Probably the enemy group is pursuing you and, since the terrain on each side of the ravine is very lumpy, the PCs on the *opposite* side can see the people pursuing you, and even shoot at them, while you can't see them yourself, and visa-versa. So part of the game might be combining your efforts to aid each other.</div><div><br /></div><div>The end-game is you need to get to the stone bridge further upstream, but when you get there there is a big monster or something waiting and you will need to work together and hopefully use the stuff you grabbed as you ran through the tombs to fight it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">3. A RACING GAME....</h2><div><br /></div><div>this is kind of blissfully dumb but could stripmine Gaslands for rules, instead of cars, use magic animals. Players can pick toys to choose which animal their PC is riding. All PCs retain their powers and skills. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now their job is to win a race. Maybe they are racing for the hand of the Infinite Princess. But its an apocalyptic deathrace 2000 pod race kind of thing, with lots of encounters and strange terrain, treasure and tools hanging around plus problems its really hard to overcome without teaming up with other players, plus orc racer gang on pigs.</div><div><br /></div><div>Will the PCs work together or try to beat each other to the finish line? Coolness of prizes goes in order of finishing so being ahead of someone might get you more XP or fun magical stuff for the next adventure.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">4. LOOT THE SINKING SHIP</h2><div><br /></div><div>A ship is a nice, contained and explicable shape. A sinking ship having four real-time hours before it fully sinks and you need to get away from it to escape being dragged down. Advancing fish-creatures or mer-people. Interesting time-sensitive choices between things i.e. do you release prisoners or search for treasure. </div><div><br /></div><div>You might have to fight the crew, or choose between fighting or saving the crew.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">5. STOP THE MEMETIC PLAGUE</h2><div><br /></div><div>This is one, really designed specifically to be a nightmare for EVERY OTHER DM AT THE CON. </div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know exactly how it works but there is some kind of memetic plague, maybe something that trades power for slow degradation and transmittabillaty. Like Vampirism except faster and more fun, like Fireball Vamparism where someone gets the ability to cast 'Fireball' but its transmissible and wants to keep being cast. (Also its slowly killing you).</div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe the fire itself is the medium of transmission. </div><div><br /></div><div>But if the PCs screw up and the 'infection' gets out of this particular game (like the Zombie survivor who gets bitten but doesn't tell anyone), then it can 'infect' every other game at the CON that those survivors get to, and then pass on, and on, absolutely destroying Germanies FLAILSNAILS scene, if such a think exists.</div><div><br /></div><div>I suppose a good basis for this would be the 'Fire at the Laboratory' adventure. Maybe a wizards black tower, or worse, an interdimensional TARDIS-like lair, but its burning down. (A fire burning in an interdimensional place might be fascinating). The PCs have to make choices about fighting the fire, looting the place, not getting infected by the Fireball plague, (or 'getting' infected if they are sneaky). </div><div><br /></div><div>The Wizards wierd mutant experiments getting out, or maybe you want to let them out, they are just experimental animals after all, its not their fault they are locked in a burning TARDIS. </div><div><br /></div><div>The interdimensional nature of the space makes incorporation into a FLAILSNAILS setting pretty simple since PCs could easily be vomited out wherever. It also means creatures and NPCs could 'escape' into other games, or that people or things from other games could show up in this one, having accidentally wandered in, or having been captured or whatever.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">6 - One of these OLD POSTS turned into an adventure somehow;</h2><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://falsemachine.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-watchmaker-and-his-wife.html" target="_blank">THE WATCHMAKERS WIFE </a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://falsemachine.blogspot.com/2016/04/who-will-stop-worlds-most-evil-dog.html" target="_blank">WHO CAN STOP THE WORLDS MOST EVIL DOG?</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://falsemachine.blogspot.com/2021/06/xopht-city-where-sculptures-sleep.html" target="_blank">AN ADVENTURE IN XOPHT</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/16kOrN4SVnJxzNrmQqKrxtTBOKlIccCZ8/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=104778332638489294828&rtpof=true&sd=true" target="_blank">THE STOLEN SKIN OF SUN</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">YOU MAY VOTE OR COMMENT IF YOU WISH</h1>pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-88197055339426003442023-04-27T11:37:00.004-07:002023-04-27T11:37:32.690-07:00 WALLS OF ICE<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>What was Africa like during the Pleistocene?</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh it was pretty <i>cool</i>. <span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">( ̄ー ̄)</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Human population bottleneck theories vary quite a bit but the most recent, most reliable synthesis I am familiar with guesses the total human population reduced to somewhere between 3,000 and 10,000 individuals for 5,000 to 10,000 years some time in the Pleistocene, say maybe about 70,000 years ago, possibly in what is now north east Africa.</div><div><br /></div><div>WHAT IF we created some kind of RPG set within that forge of mankind? Its a tantalising reality; a closed environment, surrounded by, well probably not ice, as the ice walls would be further north, but probably dry land and super-deserts, then ice. Plus the mountains of Africa would probably have substantial glaciers so there's your 'Ice Walls', title still counts.</div><div><br /></div><div>The entirety of humanity being about 7'000 people. If we go by Dunbars numbers and eyeball it we could say four or five 'tribes', each with say 15 lineage groups with about three bands each. So depending on the kind of game you play, you could 'encounter' pretty much everyone who exists.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>WHAT WAS THAT ENVIRONMENT LIKE?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>In Africa? Warm and wet I think, especially wet. BIG lakes, big rivers, Glaciers coming down from the mountains. Africa probably quite a bit chonkier side-to-side due to lower sea levels. May possibly have joined with Arabia at points. Pretty big north-to-south as well but you can't actually get north due to the arid super-sahara and beyond that.. the valley of the Mediterranean? No idea what that would have been like. North of that maybe some microclimates in the alps then permafrost for a few 100 miles then ICE SHEETS.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jEk1PXADHFuC4G19X_AqWhq3hbCR-hQu9F7oLIFOBgRacBIlOUg2Fx2HLNjlH1svZbVFDniVHrbK2MA80P4Q_1t9ENnCb22TukstpV2qmKnXf2SwFatyK3PSrYwjab45ZgOmGS452qTxtSAsJ-6zXhHddQaeF2v_CQ0JIwF6JTciFI77tqBlNhQtpg/s800/Africa_Climate_14000bp%20from%20Wikipedia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jEk1PXADHFuC4G19X_AqWhq3hbCR-hQu9F7oLIFOBgRacBIlOUg2Fx2HLNjlH1svZbVFDniVHrbK2MA80P4Q_1t9ENnCb22TukstpV2qmKnXf2SwFatyK3PSrYwjab45ZgOmGS452qTxtSAsJ-6zXhHddQaeF2v_CQ0JIwF6JTciFI77tqBlNhQtpg/w410-h410/Africa_Climate_14000bp%20from%20Wikipedia.png" width="410" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i>"In Eurasia, large lakes developed as a result of the runoff from the glaciers. Rivers were larger, had a more copious flow, and were braided. African lakes were fuller, apparently from decreased evaporation. Deserts, on the other hand, were drier and more extensive. Rainfall was lower because of the decreases in oceanic and other evaporation."</i> - from Wikipedia</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>FUNKY ANIMALS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I could build you a list of 'cool' Pleistocene animals to encounter but, tbh, the African 'Big Animal' set doesn't look like it was *that much* different during that era. There are various theories about this, the main one is that this biosphere had longer to get used to human behaviour and wasn't hugely changed when humans as we know them spread out after the last glacial maximum.</div><div><br /></div><div>Most importantly, several cool animals were *quite larger*, i.e. Super-Hippos, Murder-Baboons. And humanity really had utterly crap technology to deal with them. </div><div><br /></div><div>And also some very fun art has been made of this environment</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuNbCj7r3byPx-YpkKPDLbDoKl8SU-L8lTbxsP4JlrMVmIZwQ6_EgZUwShoR6HA5NkMNp6fJBCRVWk_vjkUnP9PWixCcnTzI8F6Lpv5zz50rvqvaw_DUPxPTlmFdOZy9UqMHbTc4B8GHdHyUYMkrNCgNmJLHOjsAumf_tBach0Klr6uIE-HEdmadTTw/s562/Got%20this%20one%20off%20pintrest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="562" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuNbCj7r3byPx-YpkKPDLbDoKl8SU-L8lTbxsP4JlrMVmIZwQ6_EgZUwShoR6HA5NkMNp6fJBCRVWk_vjkUnP9PWixCcnTzI8F6Lpv5zz50rvqvaw_DUPxPTlmFdOZy9UqMHbTc4B8GHdHyUYMkrNCgNmJLHOjsAumf_tBach0Klr6uIE-HEdmadTTw/w408-h227/Got%20this%20one%20off%20pintrest.jpg" width="408" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Got this one off pintrest</span></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Its quite wonderful for a D&D type game as everything is so sublimely dangerous.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>DIFFERENT HUMAN STRAINS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>A fascinating but somewhat morally-complex element is the vast potential range of human strains. </div><div><br /></div><div>(Please don't comment about what exactly a species or subspecies or race or whatever is or is not, the matter is <i>in development</i>.)</div><div><br /></div><div>A trend in Prehistory(?) currently is the gradual expansion of a much greater variety of human and humanlike 'types'. (I will just call these 'human strains'). Previously we knew that 'Sapiens' and Neanderthal co-existed, but genetics has unravelled that this bottleneck population, or something close to them, interbred with Neanderthal enough to leave a tangible trace in their genetics. We know about Florensis, the little hobbit dudes and from Denovisian Cave we know that a bunch of human strains were effectively hanging out in what seems to have been the Mos Eisley Cantina of prehistory. We also know that a lot of current African populations have 'ghost populations' in their genetics; traces of some kind of lost strain for which we have no evidence except for the faint echo they left behind in a surviving Sapiens population.</div><div><br /></div><div>The 'out of Africa theory remains <i>broadly</i> in place but with massive, (I can't emphasise this enough, MASSIVE) complexification, with loop-backs, bottlenecks, strain-crossing, evidence of these strains hanging out just a lot of stuff.</div><div><br /></div><div>If the pre-21stC version of <i>Homo</i> origins was a nice neat set of spreading lines and a few discreet 'subspecies' who may have barely interacted but displaced each other through environmental effects, then the new version is.. basically Jabbas Palace. Way, way way more types and strains of <i>Homo</i>, way more crossbreeding, way more interaction, way more messy strange bullshit. </div><div><br /></div><div>The very-rare nature of pre-glacial-maximum remains (plus the fact that many are probably in Africa and even with a massive input of wealth and tech, are probably covered by rainforest and won't be found without a truly sci-fi level of tech), and the massive increase in types, and genetic and archaeological evidence of mutual-existence and interaction, has strongly tilted the general view of pre-historic human-strain history into kind of more like an American post-Tolkien fantasy novel. Its not really stupid any more to say hey, maybe a surviving *Erectus*, a Neanderthal and Denovisian and a <i>Sapiens</i> team up to fight a fucking giant tiger or something.</div><div><br /></div><div>Its still not probably <i>likely</i> but it feels way more likely than it was.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx01H8BSqjsc9awQx1XxBJOr2QJg3Ge2G3yzt03Ge2CXH9LB06M1vG2F9CE7_5mTj-kdUZoRXlhSHcN_R54tW1RijcuwYOVEkADXSY7PDPrNRoxJOwBjzfF9aXIPeVNHYJ2wVoN5eZsWgHa4FpwNbLG3rm7d8bZ7dgZnWZHaUeK4bCY0PRR5BjDYbxfg/s602/main-qimg-8a4cf638986facfd839bcd70a0f1ae8d-lq.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="602" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx01H8BSqjsc9awQx1XxBJOr2QJg3Ge2G3yzt03Ge2CXH9LB06M1vG2F9CE7_5mTj-kdUZoRXlhSHcN_R54tW1RijcuwYOVEkADXSY7PDPrNRoxJOwBjzfF9aXIPeVNHYJ2wVoN5eZsWgHa4FpwNbLG3rm7d8bZ7dgZnWZHaUeK4bCY0PRR5BjDYbxfg/w401-h252/main-qimg-8a4cf638986facfd839bcd70a0f1ae8d-lq.jpeg" width="401" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I <i>think</i> this is by Marucio Anton</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>THE GENETIC SQUEEZE-BOX</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This 'Bottleneck', (both the real one and the one we are simulating in this game), may well have acted as a genetic sausage machine for a variety of human strains. This means the populations going <i>in</i> to the bottleneck might have a pretty high level of diversity, but the population coming <i>out</i>, is singular; after several millennia with less than 10,000 individuals they have the very low-diversity genome we associate with the extra-African <i>Sapiens</i> population.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcczEw-A931N1AtwsTBRC8-6NMNjkAqgKi9JsjXGxZR21DsNvM0fO4d4BoMUNRPLuOaVYHJMWROHkZSB7F7apDvDtkJxJDZZBXtG3IT-rI4vw0kVSuf5XJbKeA1x4raGaZ9ZxpIZ9hwOzIQdC3ZDchQbV9tHK-NrzoTES0vKHEcveHEwDmEe4oI7Uv_A/s563/Peter%20Schouten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="563" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcczEw-A931N1AtwsTBRC8-6NMNjkAqgKi9JsjXGxZR21DsNvM0fO4d4BoMUNRPLuOaVYHJMWROHkZSB7F7apDvDtkJxJDZZBXtG3IT-rI4vw0kVSuf5XJbKeA1x4raGaZ9ZxpIZ9hwOzIQdC3ZDchQbV9tHK-NrzoTES0vKHEcveHEwDmEe4oI7Uv_A/w454-h288/Peter%20Schouten.jpg" width="454" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Peter Schouten</span></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>WHAT IS THE ACTUAL GAME LIKE?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>WHO is the RPG player playing? </div><div><br /></div><div>The tribe? The person? The Gene-line? Is this a survival/crafting game? A cultural development game? A game of genetics? A game about exploring the boundaries of your world, or a game about surviving within the boundaries of a closing world?</div><div><br /></div><div>I honestly don't know and in fact it sounds more like a series of games.</div><div><br /></div><div>At the 'top end' a genetics/environmental-influenced <i>Microscope</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Below that a crafting/cultural/technology semi-simulator in the middle. Battles and diplomacy in a closed and shrinking world (maybe something <i>patterned </i>like Pendragon).</div><div><br /></div><div>At the bottom end a very BX-like survive-the-monsters, gather food D&D-esque game.</div><div><br /></div><div>I suppose you could combine these into one vast Fantasy Heartbreaker with each player playing a Gene-line at the top level, then after that 'round' of game time is played, they go down a level and play the 'tribe' or Culture-line, with abilities and developments influenced by the gene-tree, then you zoom down to the deep granular history and generate a bunch of <i>Homo</i> who's stats/equipment/abilities etc are all influenced by the previous two rounds. Then this little D&D team faces one of the crisis points of their small, closed world. </div><div><br /></div><div>Depending on how they do in that mission they get more or less points to feed back into the next loop of gameplay.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>PLAYING THE GENE-LINE</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't actually know enough about genetics to even begin to attempt this, and I think possibly humanity doesn't know enough for anyone to simulate it. So I would be really very largely making it up. Which, from a political point of view may actually be better as this is one of the most politically and morally complex and dangerous parts of this extremely politically and morally sensitive game (see below for 'Things Which Won't Be In This Game').</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>THE TECH/TRIBE/CULTURE TREE</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This might be a very-great compression but I would probably be going from starting out something like a very-clever <i>Erectus</i>, who might occasionally sharpen a rock, and ending up as something a bit like an Aboriginal Australian culture.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have to base a extra-African just-post-Glacial-Maximum culture/technology group on something and Aboriginal Australians seem like the closest we are going to get any good info on. Their tech and culture feels pretty "early stone age".</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>POSSIBLE TECH/CULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Most Important; textiles, bags, containers, glues, attachment materials, hooks and lines, woven string and rope. </div><div><br /></div><div>We would go from "Pick it up, drop it or bury it" to "Put it in the bag/gourd". This is a pretty big deal. Lines and cords are, as anyone who has played D&D will know, a <i>very</i> big deal. Clothing is maybe the most vital technology in allowing <i>Sapiens</i> to enter such a wide range of environments. Sewing is a killer app.</div><div><br /></div><div>Most Charismatic; weapons, spears, boomerangs, atlatls, slings, hunting clubs, throwing sticks, early simple bow technology? Probably the simple bow was invented independently a bunch of times. Shields and armour are both important too. Aboriginal Australian cultural beliefs about shields are interesting.</div><div><br /></div><div>Travel; canoes, (dugout and bark), initial canoes more likely to be used in lakes of which there were apparently quite a lot during the Pleistocene. I think even strapping things to friendly animals is quite a way off. Complexity of language and the cultural complexity required to receive, remember and transmit that information would be important. Going from "I will show you the way" to "I can tell you ALL the way" is a big deal and would fundamentally change the capacities of a society.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cultural; message sticks, drumming, dance and Communal Performance as a 'living law book' capable of harmonising and transmitting a shared culture across many more people. Drumming and dance also seem really important in building shared identities and a 'communal self' probably enabling larger group sizes, mor sophisticated group actions giving you something to actually do or exchange if you go visit other humans other than just material things, and also just making life less shit. Complexity of language would be another; the development of syntax and tenses, descriptions of actual and supernatural things. This cultural complexity and the firmware needed to carry it helps you hang on to those cool inventions like slings and atlatls and sharp rocks. Most of these things were probably invented hundreds of times by increasingly clever <i>Homo</i> until finally someone found a way to jam them into the culture, transmit and preserve the information even if the original inventor wasn't there to show you how to do it. The relationship with, and inner conceptualisation of animals a main thing, you have to build the animal in your mind before you can interact with it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Agricultural/Survival Shifts; from scavenging to hunting to possible-pastoralism and maybe some mild agriculture. Finding a new thing to eat and a new way to eat it is a big deal. Curiously in later pre-history there seem to have been some Neolithic culture groups who really liked fish, and others living in exactly the same environments who just would not eat fish, even over long periods. People are pretty interesting. One of the side-effects of culture may be... I suppose we would call it 'bugs', like "We are not eating shellfish fuck no not even if it means starving that stuff is banned by the spirits for a reason."</div><div><br /></div><div>Dogs.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3nsR3CZgNwpLmmH4rYxCQVWLUbckvtN5GbbL5gH4oGC7Rcl4A7Bl9O5Wfg7WVzR1NuRa7YtzYezz1yeaDGMyUkojXxH8QWyo08KuNrBo23oSCReHBpfgKaWlXRhDrdFHnSjjxXUDfz78w3Nx55Ah1wrZQvPYzQFcwkehmIwZwX7zorpZaGL5swHAfw/s768/pleistocene-ecosystem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="768" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3nsR3CZgNwpLmmH4rYxCQVWLUbckvtN5GbbL5gH4oGC7Rcl4A7Bl9O5Wfg7WVzR1NuRa7YtzYezz1yeaDGMyUkojXxH8QWyo08KuNrBo23oSCReHBpfgKaWlXRhDrdFHnSjjxXUDfz78w3Nx55Ah1wrZQvPYzQFcwkehmIwZwX7zorpZaGL5swHAfw/w443-h314/pleistocene-ecosystem.jpg" width="443" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>THE REAL-TIME GAME; EARLY HOLOCENE CATASTROPHES</b></div><div><br /></div><div>All those melting glaciers, shrinking lakes, expanding land and changing rivers open the possibility for some quite-sudden catastrophic events. Not to mention the fucking MONSTER ANIMALS. Plus ALIEN HUMAN STRAINS! </div><div><br /></div><div>Gigantic things, or the axial points of super long-term processes, can happen over a day, or a few hours, like an ice barrier breaks, tectonic shifts tilt a super-lake slightly against a thinning rock wall, a super-lake drains away mysteriously. Tunguska events. Again not likely of *common* but at least a few of these must have happened.</div><div><br /></div><div>Or even slightly less catastrophic sudden arrivals of super-predators, giant unbeatable animals either driven south by expanding ice walls, or displaced by warming and its knock-on events. The arrival of a *last of its kind* forgotten mega-predator in an 'alien' environment would be fit fuel for an adventure. You want to try taking on that thing with sticks?</div><div><br /></div><div>The arrival or displacement of an 'alien' human strain (i.e anyone sufficiently different from you) would be another. Its a limited resource-poor environment after all, and you can't really leave till the glacial maximum ends. Will this be a matter of SUPER WAR where you use all your cultural sophistication to turn your whole tribe into a SUPER HUNT gathered together and synchronised at an heretofore unimagined scale. An army of hundreds in one place? </div><div><br /></div><div>Or could it be a Pleistocene Star Trek where your Sapiens/Neanderthal cross uses the power of imagination and intelligence to perform cross-strain diplomacy for the first time, entering into the gaze of an unknowable Other in attempts to bridge an unimaginable cognitive gap and form some common understanding?</div><div><br /></div><div>Your kin-group is starving, your kin-group is sick, a new environmental possibility has opened up, another has closed down. Literally any kind of megafauna is fucking with you. Fucking MURDER BABBOONS?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloL7_QdaSvv1LzVBThS1DwRLr7kVWtmiCiD2tcyeW23oQoccYbAlBI6mxl8QmO6-vG5ibSQ_j7DoXsHoDDp4t6ds9U-4ifdg6SlwGXr5-r-hRaYM7DVy_8k0ZYpjDVpWAKAT93E-GUSHs28MGg0UkEx_2x3WPDByDkdoyjGlagVe3sG9wTma9dq4bmw/s618/dinopithecus-size.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="618" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloL7_QdaSvv1LzVBThS1DwRLr7kVWtmiCiD2tcyeW23oQoccYbAlBI6mxl8QmO6-vG5ibSQ_j7DoXsHoDDp4t6ds9U-4ifdg6SlwGXr5-r-hRaYM7DVy_8k0ZYpjDVpWAKAT93E-GUSHs28MGg0UkEx_2x3WPDByDkdoyjGlagVe3sG9wTma9dq4bmw/w445-h289/dinopithecus-size.jpg" width="445" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">nooooooooooooooooooo</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>THINGS THAT PROBABLY HAPPENED THAT YOU PROBABLY DON'T WANT IN YOUR GAME</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Probably more than any other game I can imagine, this one would need a VERY long introduction, explanation, disclaimer and probably you have to sign something before you play promising not to cancel or sue the makers.</div><div><br /></div><div>Starting with things that probably happened quite a lot in pre-history but which won't be happening (much) in this game;</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Rape</li><li>Slavery</li><li>Patriarchy</li><li>Mutilation and torture</li><li>Genocide</li><li>Intensely weird sexual stuff</li><li>Human sacrifice </li><li>Cannibalism</li><li>Batshit Xenophobia</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't mean to say (and we don't fundamentally know) if this stuff was universal, much less common in pre-history, but what we know of many Stone Age peoples (and since) strongly suggests the normalised nature of most if not all of this.</div><div><br /></div><div>RPG players will tend strongly towards leb-leftism, but even if they didn't, on a greater scale, there is probably a hard limit to how much rape, abduction, genocide, mutilation, human sacrifice etc ANY person can reasonably expect to actually play out.</div><div><br /></div><div>Any game which functions *as a game* will inevitably be presenting a very 'softened' interpretation of human capacities and nature, and this is ok, so long as I am very clear about the fact that this is a fantasy with softened corners and less sharp edges. Be aware you are participating in a real-seeming dream, and NOT a simulation.</div><div><br /></div><div>Its just a limitation of the form. It is what it is I guess.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrNP5jw-OClxhxE3FYrFijsLx-zmCgIx4PjxYxn6UDNbyKlYYtMqWt1YTNFt1xHFteTNeYj0Grb3Tge_Ox0lnMHdC-c0iz_bm6Jq1M_Y64dbNdqtpbpEFttwt2QxDZSOcrYKRx7jjoOG9P_H11QTsUzP9Ulbw5JS9t_yupNfidh-t4eZO75jzaUPMJQ/s2048/reddit%20-%20megafaunarewilding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="2048" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrNP5jw-OClxhxE3FYrFijsLx-zmCgIx4PjxYxn6UDNbyKlYYtMqWt1YTNFt1xHFteTNeYj0Grb3Tge_Ox0lnMHdC-c0iz_bm6Jq1M_Y64dbNdqtpbpEFttwt2QxDZSOcrYKRx7jjoOG9P_H11QTsUzP9Ulbw5JS9t_yupNfidh-t4eZO75jzaUPMJQ/w466-h227/reddit%20-%20megafaunarewilding.jpg" width="466" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>And... GENETICS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The beloved Science of Human Inequality raises its Janus-split face. It is genetics, to a large degree, with a fair amount of archaeology, we can thank for our expanding deep-view of our own prehistoric origins and all of the wonderful and sometimes awful complexity and detail that has emerged. Our genes really are a telescope in time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately our own society is based around a rather hard-won principal of the broadly equality of human life, and genetics is the science of precisely-described human inequality. This 'bottleneck' whether it was one event or several, created a deep shared structure in the *extra-african* Sapiens line (which then looped back into Africa in several ways). Enough of a commonality so that when this line spread out across Eurasia and into America, it seems to have either murdered the fuck out of every big animal it could find, or at least disrupted the environment so much those megafauna couldn't survive.</div><div><br /></div><div>We don't know how and how much genetics interacted with culture and technology to produce this hyper-successful strain but I doubt it was *zero*. And that fact that it isn't *zero* is a meaningful moral challenge to the mainstream of our society.</div><div><br /></div><div>Gene-line or 'descent' differences aren't the same as 19th Century concepts of race, but they speak the same language and unlike race, modern genetics speaks *precisely*. Genticists have largely gotten around this with a combination of blather and mild autism; "ah yes the 19thc century concept of 'race', oh no we wouldn't use anything like that any more, rather disproven you know, anyway, here's your childs likely IQ, to within a 5 pt margin."</div><div><br /></div><div>On a deep level the genetic history of humanity teaches interwoven strands of truth. One strand is quite nice; it’s about shared human origins, a deep diversity of human strains, a shared struggle and a shared environment where everything effects everything else. The Force does indeed bind and link us all Obi-Wan. </div><div><br /></div><div>But the other strand, which is equally true, is about utterly ruthless competition, hominids murdering and raping the fuck out of each other, displacing each other from environments and differences in genetic advantage cascading into and/or synthesising with cultural and technological advantages. It’s about humans as the monsters from a science fiction movie and has kind of a 'there can only be one' Highlander vibe. </div><div><br /></div><div>And both of these are true. It just depends which lens you look through. There is a level of choice in what we emphasise and find meaning in, and in the lessons we take, but there is no choice in the facts.</div><div><br /></div><div>Which is a main reason this game will probably never exist, or if it does, it will come with something you have to sign before you play.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>That was a little depressing so to end the article;</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDd9CzHYeNRIphsQ7yAApsCnupfcWVHubihic_lVqbzVoSzingJGHLEh4vklZ_2G3wSc-aXXOYVq51e4mbOIYeigEwN0TCF7njV0e8tYwfAHi-c3i3AYqIMsMlK5HVHkfH55xfLjW7MHfgkPKg-_o8sRmhf3QZ4y5BcnGSwh_P4i2AM9VQIQxpmgrtDw/s1280/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDd9CzHYeNRIphsQ7yAApsCnupfcWVHubihic_lVqbzVoSzingJGHLEh4vklZ_2G3wSc-aXXOYVq51e4mbOIYeigEwN0TCF7njV0e8tYwfAHi-c3i3AYqIMsMlK5HVHkfH55xfLjW7MHfgkPKg-_o8sRmhf3QZ4y5BcnGSwh_P4i2AM9VQIQxpmgrtDw/w438-h247/maxresdefault.jpg" width="438" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>'POSSIBLE' THEORETICAL PLEISTOCENE DEVELOPMENTS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Previously I was working in the realm of the 'likely', based on our current understanding of history. But fuck that, what if we ignored 'likely' and went straight for 'possible'!</div><div><br /></div><div>Pleistocene Empires baby! Can't find them? That's because their cities are UNDER THE SEA. The Inca of the Glacial Maximum! Polynesians of the Great Lakes!</div><div><br /></div><div>We could just take *every* kind of *possible* Stone-Age technology and culture and jam it all together in a Conan-the-Barbarian style mashup of cool things. You can't prove it didn't happen! Glaciers took the evidence!</div><div><br /></div><div>So; Very large boats. Oceanic vessels. Intra-oceanic navigation (it is *possible* as the Polynesians have proved, but what if it also happened at a previous time?) Inter-oceanic navigation (even less likely but *possible* at least in theory). A worldwide coastal empire, why not?</div><div><br /></div><div>Super-stonehenge Ziggurat cities, cave-cities (we know they turned up later). Mass scale Imperial warfare. Grass suspension bridges with villages whose whole purpose is to continually re-weave the bridge (Inca did it). Catapults. Sieges. Terror-bird cavalry. Trained super-baboons and mega-hippos.</div><div><br /></div><div>Neanderthal shock troops and Florensis advisors wearing capes of humming bird feathers. Super wars to crack open the gates to the Mediterranean basin and drown the Empire of the Morlocks. Eating small horses for dinner. Crowns of amber and bone. Flutes of mammoth ivory. You could do an entire Pleistocene-Elric series or 'forgotten Aztecs' game set in some early inter-glacial period when the world looked an utterly different shape. </div><div><br /></div><div>It would have quite an elegiac lost-summr feel as this civilisation grew too soon, and the glaciers were coming back, and then after that the glaciers were shrinking waaay too much and the seas rising so even the ruins of these Inca/Minoan/Polynesian cities were drowned and forgotten.</div><div><br /></div><div>Honestly if you just jammed in every cool thing from every stone age 'high' civilisation</div><div>and all of the 'homo' descent groups you could imagine, plus all of the Pleistocene fauna you could think of, it would be pretty fucking great. </div><div><br /></div><div>Like being an extinct homo species and calling your Florensis slave to your ziggurat to bring you a humming bird quill so your can write poetry on calfskin about the doom of your civilisation before riding forth on your war-glyptodont to battle the savage raiders for the last time. Behold! how an empire ends!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IwX2sFf1VEf2Hsaf_k4VdgzFNT468DxuSEZAzK_M42nPlDLi9mZXmOJ5KjXaELQB2fC4VLHMtYiUpNz1ZCnpdJGqTBWf9Vq_lITQP-B7tcgSIVL8aHT_mURGno4YS_YEHiePq4E_GMqF8RYu-YDFth7SJUVstbM-B0S9Ra72tCb3oJntdLGLsc8Lhw/s602/main-qimg-08c59d7af5c0ef2fdf61eb22bc43c3c4-lq.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="602" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IwX2sFf1VEf2Hsaf_k4VdgzFNT468DxuSEZAzK_M42nPlDLi9mZXmOJ5KjXaELQB2fC4VLHMtYiUpNz1ZCnpdJGqTBWf9Vq_lITQP-B7tcgSIVL8aHT_mURGno4YS_YEHiePq4E_GMqF8RYu-YDFth7SJUVstbM-B0S9Ra72tCb3oJntdLGLsc8Lhw/w477-h200/main-qimg-08c59d7af5c0ef2fdf61eb22bc43c3c4-lq.jpeg" width="477" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-83090286348177020132023-04-18T11:28:00.000-07:002023-04-18T11:28:10.081-07:00RoC RaW - The Creation of Tristian le Tigre, Slave to Darkness<div style="text-align: left;"> A trip to Warhammer World recently left me with a copy of the re-printed 'The Lost and the Dammed', to go along my copy of 'Slaves to Darkness'.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XG_osJV-RacqHDtXb2oJasAEt3KNt-BYwtaLV1F8MnX_nWF0FjHCbUHmtRCLz9wImbeptAPE31c-L71iZUFZoF9QT14hr8fHuaod94PgPIVjpKJjzKqvB7Byw4MDSjgz55cKsCd_ZUyxeHZsf4QuFf3O3q0h5stltirIQFCZM3hHjZew5yxh6oIeBg/s4608/RoC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XG_osJV-RacqHDtXb2oJasAEt3KNt-BYwtaLV1F8MnX_nWF0FjHCbUHmtRCLz9wImbeptAPE31c-L71iZUFZoF9QT14hr8fHuaod94PgPIVjpKJjzKqvB7Byw4MDSjgz55cKsCd_ZUyxeHZsf4QuFf3O3q0h5stltirIQFCZM3hHjZew5yxh6oIeBg/w457-h343/RoC.jpg" width="457" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Of course, the fact that I now possess both means I can attempt the <i>impossible</i>; rolling up a Chaos Champion using the 'Realms of Chaos' system, RaW, that's Rules as Written. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnli-ZpRTdzAW1otm3ERHokFsO5mvxopEqNDgmFZ2VxE4SnLyvpOYWKpOYPb4sN7QOxPKfol1zv2vmSost8Tw2pbydgVwPFqJuwoUEisjU0ZetNr5vHFwGO5eFGmfNWa-V0zx-pgCWKYcO2Qo2yyeFwePJE1wu-kO7ESBzCVvUv-_6cpodu0MqxSHe9w/s4608/Flow%20Chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnli-ZpRTdzAW1otm3ERHokFsO5mvxopEqNDgmFZ2VxE4SnLyvpOYWKpOYPb4sN7QOxPKfol1zv2vmSost8Tw2pbydgVwPFqJuwoUEisjU0ZetNr5vHFwGO5eFGmfNWa-V0zx-pgCWKYcO2Qo2yyeFwePJE1wu-kO7ESBzCVvUv-_6cpodu0MqxSHe9w/w454-h341/Flow%20Chart.jpg" width="454" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I attempted this wonder on a friendly Discord, I have edited out the other responses but thank you to the unnamed person who came up with a PDF of 'Warhammer Armies' by Nigel Stillman.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">(Yes, rolling on this wonderous labyrinth of tables did indeed require access to a totally seperate and long out-of-print book, in addition to the two expensive reprints I already had.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Without further ado, let us witness the birth of Tristian le Tigre, Champion of Carnalpierce!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Part One - a Standard Human?</h1><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><div><b>pjamesstuart;</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Ok, #RoCRAW here I go..</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bvXikxBlemjyfwt1v7B-zhPV36mSsJab3Izsnek8AAc94ktQU_osG6XmK80oL5gRLtqEvxdxGfwCjkj5AL7mQACZ6DBoPolLCLaPoniTXN-T6N11LR94hWL937aCGWLFWkzs63-xJOfo4LpOzzFWmHTngrfHbAtFWQjFVvIy_U3QO0-rJYMHcZB79A/s4608/Flow%20Chart%20Closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bvXikxBlemjyfwt1v7B-zhPV36mSsJab3Izsnek8AAc94ktQU_osG6XmK80oL5gRLtqEvxdxGfwCjkj5AL7mQACZ6DBoPolLCLaPoniTXN-T6N11LR94hWL937aCGWLFWkzs63-xJOfo4LpOzzFWmHTngrfHbAtFWQjFVvIy_U3QO0-rJYMHcZB79A/w367-h490/Flow%20Chart%20Closeup.jpg" width="367" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>"Generate the Champoins Starting Profile using the Starting Profile table..</div><div>is there a dice roller on here?</div><div><br /></div><div>[1d100] Roll: [57] Result: 57</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEU8HyOmr33QXTQ1G5fhUT-TL3ojI2xTmYKBeHpqqJTyCCi5Qzj735k_ojhsXISxZMSwZq6S1Hb04oGOfvthgUC7C6iAHqmb01eP9X9ajO0OIRD5jSMV_BI-iXNuHCs5z2QtfuJ05TNeGyDuEPkjzxirEEvn0mjYf_MrC1Nld8epHhT_m_SXfUIlmAw/s4608/Champion%20Stats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEU8HyOmr33QXTQ1G5fhUT-TL3ojI2xTmYKBeHpqqJTyCCi5Qzj735k_ojhsXISxZMSwZq6S1Hb04oGOfvthgUC7C6iAHqmb01eP9X9ajO0OIRD5jSMV_BI-iXNuHCs5z2QtfuJ05TNeGyDuEPkjzxirEEvn0mjYf_MrC1Nld8epHhT_m_SXfUIlmAw/w460-h345/Champion%20Stats.jpg" width="460" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>They are a... Human!</div><div><br /></div><div>[1d100] Roll: [2] Result: 2</div><div><br /></div><div>A standard human! 😭 </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Move 4, Weapons Skill 3, Ballistic Skill 3, Strength 3, Toughness 3, Wounds 1, Initiative 3, Attacks 1, Leadership 7, Intelligence 7, Cool 7 Will Power 7</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Literally the most standard human you could imagine, no wonder they turned to chaos.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next, the <b>Starting Equipment Table</b></div><div><br /></div><div>So, this is a point-spend thing where you get a certain semi random number of points and get to spend them depending on your level, but that level starts at "5 Hero or Wizard" while I am level 1 or zero, and this isn't mentioned, so I suppose I get no equipment</div><div><br /></div><div>Next, I receive a 'Mark of Chaos' from my Patron. I am allowed to choose whether to follow Korne, Slaanesh, Nurgle, Tzeentch or Chaos Undivided. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am also allowed to generate a Chaos Patron demon, so I will do that next.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Creating a Patron - the birth of Carnalpierce</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejOUWZWt_pASCQDcmnRpqmrTG39X2QQHHbQSj_ggaaPZCE19RP_z1OV1p6DjLKnjlvSDGAhqmkQkGM87bGemiaVL13ZorUVLVhN0ELZnQ9ObHb2t3jGRi29dvKStN6ZX-cbzOAide6LvQReblgr_UA4fRfeMqT5QzCNSwCqvDxiTWJHzTraU0ca113A/s4608/The%20Patron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejOUWZWt_pASCQDcmnRpqmrTG39X2QQHHbQSj_ggaaPZCE19RP_z1OV1p6DjLKnjlvSDGAhqmkQkGM87bGemiaVL13ZorUVLVhN0ELZnQ9ObHb2t3jGRi29dvKStN6ZX-cbzOAide6LvQReblgr_UA4fRfeMqT5QzCNSwCqvDxiTWJHzTraU0ca113A/w336-h448/The%20Patron.jpg" width="336" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>My Demonic Patrons Origin is;</div><div><br /></div><div>[1d3] Roll: [2] Result: 2</div><div><br /></div><div>Its is "<i>a composite demonic entity founded upon one or more highly focused souls - such souls are not dissolved in the warp but retain their own integrity as deamons.</i>"</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Next, choose a mortal creature as a basis for the demon, refer to the Universal Creature Table and randomly generate a creature from it.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pEnCtI9pdmQs_x_0RYKqhCKk_WyTGdmMxeDft0zr1zni9jjy3JcsEhdZsv-O1TS-iNP9PxdqcMAOtAMzB5iBx2jgLgSznRijWpKgrPl2sMbdRDxfz8z6Dun_8lUtBdIxWF5L_wum5PBEuiuGFbhdD0-DF6HPLPorTlmcITZfyDhaphf5_JdkCgoAnQ/s4608/Universal%20Creatures%20Table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pEnCtI9pdmQs_x_0RYKqhCKk_WyTGdmMxeDft0zr1zni9jjy3JcsEhdZsv-O1TS-iNP9PxdqcMAOtAMzB5iBx2jgLgSznRijWpKgrPl2sMbdRDxfz8z6Dun_8lUtBdIxWF5L_wum5PBEuiuGFbhdD0-DF6HPLPorTlmcITZfyDhaphf5_JdkCgoAnQ/w472-h354/Universal%20Creatures%20Table.jpg" width="472" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></div><div><br /></div><div>[3 1d10] Rolls:</div><div>[3] Result: 3</div><div>[4] Result: 4</div><div>[7] Result: 7</div><div><br /></div><div>its a Troglodyte ...</div><div><br /></div><div>[1d100] Roll: [33] Result: 33</div><div><br /></div><div>just a standard Troglodyte...</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Move 4, WS 3, BS 3, S 4, T 4, W 2, I 1, A 2, Ld 9, Int 4, Cl 9, WP 9</b></div><div><br /></div><div>So despite being a standard demonic immortal Troglodyte this thing is actually better than my standard human champion, except for intelligence where it seems like I am smarter than my Patron</div><div><br /></div><div>So this is clearly some shitty back-alley demonic patron deal between the absolute bottom of the barrel demon and some random schlub</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Refer to the Chaos Attributes table and generate D6+3 attributes.</i> (If it turns into a spawn or becomes mindless I am meant to re-roll.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMc4h1KcgVyKqFMEixmYfI2KY9mDx3ZzLsbM71MPW_sYq-0t4t9EZkxNnVajb8qtxokGTvL8UPEu0ikvGz9-WBUZYSaajjrxxs-2GuAdRX2R5jhecI1dAq1zb7xvOM8f5w84m1IxoGfgZj6FonPyL2B3lxQmuvHTqIw-E8K4Q9U8U3PEIOA8YraYZc4w/s4608/Attributes%20Summary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMc4h1KcgVyKqFMEixmYfI2KY9mDx3ZzLsbM71MPW_sYq-0t4t9EZkxNnVajb8qtxokGTvL8UPEu0ikvGz9-WBUZYSaajjrxxs-2GuAdRX2R5jhecI1dAq1zb7xvOM8f5w84m1IxoGfgZj6FonPyL2B3lxQmuvHTqIw-E8K4Q9U8U3PEIOA8YraYZc4w/w407-h305/Attributes%20Summary.jpg" width="407" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>[1d6+3] Roll: [2] Result: 5</div><div><br /></div><div>Ok five attributes, here we go..</div><div><br /></div><div>[5 1d100] Rolls:</div><div>[46] Result: 46</div><div>[13] Result: 13</div><div>[25] Result: 25</div><div>[1] Result: 1</div><div>[5] Result: 5</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Ok that was meant to be 5 d100 so I will roll a d10 for each and add that as a single digit to the end</div><div><br /></div><div>[5 1d10] Rolls:</div><div>[6] Result: 6</div><div>[5] Result: 5</div><div>[5] Result: 5</div><div>[2] Result: 2</div><div>[9] Result: 9</div><div><br /></div><div>So me results are ...</div><div><br /></div><div>466 - HORNS!</div><div>135 - BESTIAL FACE (see main chart...)</div><div>255 - CHAOS WERE (see main chart)</div><div>12 - AGILITY</div><div>59 - BESTIAL FACE (see main chart) again, I guess it can have two?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXk4WAjXHdybAkcsSq8u0zrhuYn4uaDNAmkwI9a0D3xxxk35FUlgIOnuJ6aQm5y4NT_4g8q0b2nuC7pzqYXRo80ahESvGoRHy1can1NmG_VTsNqHlkGY8BGUNFjzkNM1zcWfTS0joymxVYBBuXU10VTl0W5RvujKasD1t2brcBuQdc2YjJ2CiovzXHg/s4608/Bestial%20Face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXk4WAjXHdybAkcsSq8u0zrhuYn4uaDNAmkwI9a0D3xxxk35FUlgIOnuJ6aQm5y4NT_4g8q0b2nuC7pzqYXRo80ahESvGoRHy1can1NmG_VTsNqHlkGY8BGUNFjzkNM1zcWfTS0joymxVYBBuXU10VTl0W5RvujKasD1t2brcBuQdc2YjJ2CiovzXHg/w382-h510/Bestial%20Face.jpg" width="382" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So for the 'Bestial Faces' there is a sub-table where usually they get the face of their patron god, but I feel like the horned troglodyte is a servant of chaos undivided so I will roll twice on the sub-sub table..</div><div><br /></div><div>[2 1d20] Rolls:</div><div>[10] Result: 10</div><div>[18] Result: 18</div><div><br /></div><div>One face is that of an EAGLE! (+1 bite attack and excellent vision gained.</div><div><br /></div><div>The second is that of a SPIDER (+1 bite attack)</div><div><br /></div><div>So the horned, agile troglodyte Demon has the face of an Eagle and the face of a Spider, but its also a Chaos Were, which means it has a second form, which means more sub-tables... </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Generate a random Chaos Creature under the procedure set out under 'Instant' Chaos Spawn,</i> <i>but only give it D6 Chaos Attributes. Keep a seperate record of this creature, including a seperate record of fear points, as this is the mutants Chaos Were-Form</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXk5arATBuRmZ8CRon2eEUP3Uwe5LUQCeWbLbxW1jrEYGJ7411lZ6cB0wV3_lVQmoj6gxCEQUQ0oHaNGZARReybtFj4ovGH76LftOfl1jtWyGFSwH_6B1TlpuAWAlHWx1ihigDL_7srZxv-ustky01MQkz4PcyAt_uPNoAOctwN9AuNULGxvAeW3wqw/s4608/Instant%20Spawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXk5arATBuRmZ8CRon2eEUP3Uwe5LUQCeWbLbxW1jrEYGJ7411lZ6cB0wV3_lVQmoj6gxCEQUQ0oHaNGZARReybtFj4ovGH76LftOfl1jtWyGFSwH_6B1TlpuAWAlHWx1ihigDL_7srZxv-ustky01MQkz4PcyAt_uPNoAOctwN9AuNULGxvAeW3wqw/w368-h490/Instant%20Spawn.jpg" width="368" /></a></div><i><br /></i></div><div><br /></div><div><i>The mutant is now subject to frenzy, when it becomes frenzied it must make a WP test or become frenzied for the rest of the battle.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><i>It gains +2 fear points when it changes into its new form</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Ok, on to page 65 of 'Slaves to Darkness', only give it D6 Chaos Attributes</div><div><br /></div><div>So, basic form first;</div><div><br /></div><div>[1d6] Roll: [1] Result: 1</div><div><br /></div><div>[1d10] Roll: [1] Result: 1</div><div><br /></div><div>So its were-form basis is that of a <b>GIANT BAT</b></div><div><br /></div><div>How many Chaos Attributes..</div><div><br /></div><div>[1d6] Roll: [2] Result: 2</div><div><br /></div><div>TWO Chaos Attributes</div><div><br /></div><div> [2 3d10] Rolls:</div><div>[8, 8, 5] Result: 21</div><div>[8, 6, 5] Result: 19</div><div><br /></div><div>885 is ... TELEKINESIS!</div><div><br /></div><div>865 is... TALL!</div><div><br /></div><div>No sorry, 865 is TAIL!</div><div><br /></div><div><i>"This tail is not strong enough to give the mutant a tail attack, nor can it manipulate anything if prehensile"</i></div><div><br /></div><div>So! My Chaos Patron is a Demon of CHAOS UNDIVIDED. It has the form of a horned Troglodyte with two faces, one of an Eagle and one of a Spider. It is an agile being.</div><div><br /></div><div>But it is also frenzied and if enraged will transform into the form of a giant bat with a prehensile (but not otherwise dangerous) tail, with the power of TELEKINESIS</div><div><br /></div><div><i>"Modify the creatures profile as follows;</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Strength - double up to a maximum of 10</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Toughness - add +2 up to a maximum of 10</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Wounds Double</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Initiative Double"</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Its stats should now be ;</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Move 4, WS 3, BS 3, S 8, T 6, W 4, I 2, A 2, Ld 9, Int 4, Cl 9, WP 9</b></div><div><br /></div><div>So still a lesser demon but now a bit more obviously demonic</div><div><br /></div><div><i>"The creature grows to 1 1/2 times its size. It acquires horns, wings and a tail if it does not already have them....</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Kind of feel like rolling horns to begin with was a bit of a waste but ok</div><div><br /></div><div>So now its a HUGE horned, winged betailed troglodite which is agile with the face of an eagle and that of a spider, and it can were into a HUGE Giant Bat with Horns! Which is telekinetic!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>C;</b></div><div>he had horns before it was cool</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>pjamesstuart;</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>The creature becomes demonic and is subject to the normal rules for Greater Demons, ie;</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>1. It cannot be harmed by normal weapons...</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>2. Its own attacks are magical</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>3. In the material universe the Demon will be subject to instability</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>4. It is not effected by psychological affects other than those caused by one of the four Great Powers in person</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>5. If it has spell casting powers it can use them without expending magic points.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>6. It can fly as a swooper with a max speed of 32 and etc etc</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>7. Causes fear</i></div><div><br /></div><div>So now he needs a name. <i>"A name can be generated by the <b>demonic name tables</b> in 'Slaves to Darkness',</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Ok, lets go..</div><div><br /></div><div><i>"The number of elements in a Deamons name depends on the number associated with the Chaos God it serves.."</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Its not quite RAW but lets say a D6</div><div><br /></div><div> [1d6] Roll: [1] Result: 1</div><div><br /></div><div>It has one element to its name..</div><div><br /></div><div> [1d6] Roll: [6] Result: 6</div><div><br /></div><div> [1d10] Roll: [7] Result: 7</div><div><br /></div><div>So the demons TRUE NAME is.....<b> EE</b></div><div><br /></div><div>But it will also have a 'Use-Name'</div><div><br /></div><div>First part..</div><div><br /></div><div>[1d10] Roll: [4] Result: 4</div><div><br /></div><div>[1d20] Roll: [2] Result: 2</div><div><br /></div><div>'<b>CARNAL</b>' is the first part</div><div><br /></div><div>Second part..</div><div><br /></div><div>[1d10] Roll: [7] Result: 7</div><div><br /></div><div>[1d20] Roll: [16] Result: 16</div><div><br /></div><div>'<b>PIERCE</b>' is the second part</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I serve the demon 'Carnalpierce' who's True Name (speak it not) is 'EE'</div><div><br /></div><div>He beeth a great trogolodyte with wings, horns and a tail and one face be that of an Eagle for he sees all, and the other that of a Spider'</div><div><br /></div><div>Yet he have a second more wrathful form, that of a great horned Bat, Huge as a dragon, which castes all about with only a thought.</div><div><br /></div><div>'Carnalpierce' is a composite demonic entity founded upon one or more highly focused souls, and serves Chaos Undivided!</div><div><br /></div><div>"Roll D6+3 times on the 'Demonic Trappings' table below..."</div><div><br /></div><div>ok</div><div><br /></div><div>[1d6+3] Roll: [1] Result: 4</div><div><br /></div><div>[4 1d6] Rolls:</div><div>[3] Result: 3</div><div>[4] Result: 4</div><div>[2] Result: 2</div><div>[4] Result: 4</div><div><br /></div><div>He wears CHAOS ARMOUR</div><div><br /></div><div>He is MIGHTY in STRENGTH, making his Stats now</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Move 4, WS 3, BS 3, S 10, T 6, W 4, I 2, A 2, Ld 9, Int 4, Cl 9, WP 9</b></div><div><br /></div><div>And he wields a might CHAOS WEAPON</div><div><br /></div><div>His weapon is....</div><div><br /></div><div>[1d100] Roll: [38] Result: 38</div><div><br /></div><div>a <b>LONG BONE (eg femur)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>A fitting weapon for the Dweller in Stone</div><div><br /></div><div>I think thats it for the patron?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">The Gifts of Chaos</h1><div><br /></div><div>The Champion recieves the 'Mark of Chaos' from his Patron.</div><div><br /></div><div>ok</div><div><br /></div><div>The Mark of Chaos Undivided...</div><div><br /></div><div><i>"If the new Champion chooses to worship Chaos in its undivided glory rather etc etc.. he receives a Random Reward from the Chaos Rewards Table, he also receives a random Chaos Attribute.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Ok, the random Reward..</div><div><br /></div><div>[1d100] Roll: [34] Result: 34</div><div><br /></div><div>ok thats just a random attribute, so thats two attributes then..</div><div><br /></div><div>[3 1d10] Rolls:</div><div>[4] Result: 4</div><div>[5] Result: 5</div><div>[10] Result: 10</div><div><br /></div><div>450 is.... GROWTH! D3+1 times original size!</div><div><br /></div><div>[1d3+1] Roll: [1] Result: 2</div><div><br /></div><div>TWICE THE SIZE OF A MAN, his stats are now..</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Move 5, Weapons Skill 3, Ballistic Skill 3, Strength 5, Toughness 4, Wounds 2, Initiative 2, Attacks 1, Leadership 7, Intelligence 6, Cool 7 Will Power 7</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Plus one fear point</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Durrr, Carnalpierce make me big an strong durrr"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Z;</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hail Carnalpierce! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>pjamesstuart;</b></div></div><div>[3 1d10] Rolls:</div><div>[10] Result: 10</div><div>[7] Result: 7</div><div>[8] Result: 8</div><div><br /></div><div>78! is... BESTIAL FACE</div><div><br /></div><div>[1d20] Roll: [19] Result: 19</div><div><br /></div><div>The face of a TIGER! Plus one Bite Attack, plus Night Vision! Plus an extra Fear Point!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Move 5, Weapons Skill 3, Ballistic Skill 3, Strength 5, Toughness 4, Wounds 2, Initiative 2, Attacks 2, Leadership 7, Intelligence 6, Cool 7 Will Power 7</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Fear Points - 2</b></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Raww grrr ragghhh"</div><div><br /></div><div>Now I roll on my RETINUE TABLE...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>F;</b></div><div>Someone has to kitbash this dude.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">The Retinue of Tigerface</h1><div><br /></div><div> [1d100] Roll: [71] Result: 71</div><div><br /></div><div><b>2d4 Mercenary Band and Captain</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>"Mercenaries retain their soldierly organisation and bravado but are otherwise very much like warbands in their way of life. Sometimes they will join a Chaos Champion whose reputation suggests a promise of loot and mutual protection."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"Mercenaries can be represented by any of the troops types included in the Bretonian or Empire Armies or Human Mercinary or Ally contingents in Warhammer Armies. Alternately you may prefer to equip them as a standard type with a basic profile, light armour, shields, and either double-handed swords, spear or crossbows.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>It is certainly more interesting to generate them as if they were part of a defeated army. refer to Warhammer Armies and choose the list you wish to use. Randomly determine an army list from amongst all the ranks and file troops available to the army. All troops come with the basic equipment listed in the box, and there is a 50% chance the entire unit will be equipped with up to D3 of the options listed.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>The Band is lead by a mercinary captain who will be of the same nationality and type as the others - he has a randomly determined profile...."</i></div><div><br /></div><div>[1d100] Roll: [34] Result: 34</div><div><br /></div><div>Captain is a 5 Hero - <b>Move 4, WS 4, BS 4, S 4, T3, W 1, I 4, A 2, Ld 7, Cl 7, WP 7</b></div><div><br /></div><div>[2d4] Roll: [2, 2] Result: 4</div><div><br /></div><div>He leads a band of four men!</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't think I have even a PDF of Warhammer Armies, if anyone does let me know</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b>K;</b></div><div>Yes, I have that one</div><div>I have pdf</div><div>54 mb</div><div>Let me upload it to GDrive</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWyBiZuWiFLbvZH79KKH8ejRywK8Alyk1K0Y0ocjXSgDSVs038ynxIzdOSVbrku_MpeBDPwMWhrfL8PF87kCbzkX_8FJB6jIWquABNFDcBZkwF8dTNL5E8oPOu2i0PE57FmSPc-QupsJQjTT0f9oW5PhE1dvd-zs53FIi3ismWXeVgo2YwrvqaUnkFQ/s874/Warhammer%20Armies%20-%20Stillman.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="646" height="595" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWyBiZuWiFLbvZH79KKH8ejRywK8Alyk1K0Y0ocjXSgDSVs038ynxIzdOSVbrku_MpeBDPwMWhrfL8PF87kCbzkX_8FJB6jIWquABNFDcBZkwF8dTNL5E8oPOu2i0PE57FmSPc-QupsJQjTT0f9oW5PhE1dvd-zs53FIi3ismWXeVgo2YwrvqaUnkFQ/w441-h595/Warhammer%20Armies%20-%20Stillman.PNG" width="441" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>pjamesstuart;</b></div><div>Thanks!</div><div>I feel like we are using it in the spirit intended.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>C;</b></div><div>So I was picturing a Troglodyte like the D&D monster but they're presented a little differently here</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uqCTMS6VBOFgdaK0_8XmksdybDHaBleUOvv16saiZwf0Abd91txuOxQMsm86AezW-CLaYLsLNgKLmsxwXSjbCPA6nLG9p_b_uXkTUUR_FOb9Gcrh4F89P4i8Rba69_FuPawLFrfo_H-RKk6GAzCAel1Xx_qIUCLvQILxRoAW4sKBTaGzdaG3ExhdtQ/s325/Troglodytes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="325" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uqCTMS6VBOFgdaK0_8XmksdybDHaBleUOvv16saiZwf0Abd91txuOxQMsm86AezW-CLaYLsLNgKLmsxwXSjbCPA6nLG9p_b_uXkTUUR_FOb9Gcrh4F89P4i8Rba69_FuPawLFrfo_H-RKk6GAzCAel1Xx_qIUCLvQILxRoAW4sKBTaGzdaG3ExhdtQ/w422-h422/Troglodytes.png" width="422" /></a></div>sort of proto-kroxigor?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>pjamesstuart;</b></div><div>So, shall we go with Brettonian or Empire army?</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, we can let the die decide. 1 for Empire, 2 for Brettonia.</div><div><br /></div><div>[1d2] Roll: [2] Result: 2</div><div><br /></div><div>A defeated Brettonian army!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Z;</b></div><div>are Bretonnians in this era of Warhammer already Francophone Round-Table knights?</div><div><br /></div><div><b>C;</b></div><div>Pretty much</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eFF_CIz-dIK2LH0RKYI2DugG6HtWit_pH8F8_gsO6qr4sEb1foXj68zcRpunOEbdoKExsNfDIDvkpBuIXHH9VTgxeEWJwATuwFzv_hZoncE5ImaO8Cvg9ewn2dQjAYB2I_sBEclBPr1EA5hR4cNPtuy2wdnvkqAIXYIrNK2I6aArzGa_Qjf7wb7VKw/s356/Brettonians.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="314" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eFF_CIz-dIK2LH0RKYI2DugG6HtWit_pH8F8_gsO6qr4sEb1foXj68zcRpunOEbdoKExsNfDIDvkpBuIXHH9VTgxeEWJwATuwFzv_hZoncE5ImaO8Cvg9ewn2dQjAYB2I_sBEclBPr1EA5hR4cNPtuy2wdnvkqAIXYIrNK2I6aArzGa_Qjf7wb7VKw/w439-h498/Brettonians.png" width="439" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>pjamesstuart;</b></div><div>It looks like even more so. </div><div><br /></div><div>The rank and file troops choices are;</div><div><br /></div><div>Villains, Ribalds, Arbalstiers, Rapscallions, Brigands and Rascals</div><div><br /></div><div>Those are the actual troops choices names</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Z;</b></div><div>delicious!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>pjamesstuart</b></div><div>So if we go</div><div>1. Villains, </div><div>2. Ribalds, </div><div>3. Arbalstiers, </div><div>4. Rapscallions, </div><div>5. Brigands and </div><div>6. Rascals</div><div><br /></div><div>[4 1d6] Rolls:</div><div>[2] Result: 2</div><div>[2] Result: 2</div><div>[5] Result: 5</div><div>[2] Result: 2</div><div><br /></div><div>Three Ribalds and a Brigand</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>K;</b></div><div>three "2"?</div><div>This is rather nice</div><div>(I initially mis-saw the roll as it it was 4 "2" hence the reaction) </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>C;</b></div><div>ah nice, you roll for each individually?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>pjamesstuart;</b></div><div>Its says <i>"Randomly determine an amry list from amongst all the ranks and file troops available to the army." so I improvised</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b>C;</b></div><div>Bretonnians of this edition are more frog and snail focused than they would be later</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQx0WzkxjgiTsKpSZeJ6xZTQ3M1yUWn2y2ODf_zE-bQRnvNlW8F5d4J1cQKY2LzgYVcq6QEAvRjwZPLp27hRfDd2c_xkA5VzckrU_wFS7Xoq-hEmlWO7dhF6Jko0rpxgf9Jr2bzJ7LMEnYhpIBMAiSAG9jqmsiHPNxUwDdjX-zlkPrQnxD3R9VM8B_rg/s516/frogs%20and%20snails.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="516" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQx0WzkxjgiTsKpSZeJ6xZTQ3M1yUWn2y2ODf_zE-bQRnvNlW8F5d4J1cQKY2LzgYVcq6QEAvRjwZPLp27hRfDd2c_xkA5VzckrU_wFS7Xoq-hEmlWO7dhF6Jko0rpxgf9Jr2bzJ7LMEnYhpIBMAiSAG9jqmsiHPNxUwDdjX-zlkPrQnxD3R9VM8B_rg/w387-h288/frogs%20and%20snails.png" width="387" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>pjamesstuart;</b></div><div>These are 'Ribalds'</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFcpG12k0eaBUC0PvttrXGIijSPYkxXztMAoJeS91USh_hOflE2ZSfgtFpJozD8BQccDzc1w3Fox-ATTNNziJiNLtSXOXG7GcVZnzonBuwll3xtsGIt3aKtEAJoSGHjspT9r7jxAs-7UM7yuV_T04zhdwyxOGUpJ9hf3tDMTLa5NvQGxOLD61fajnvQ/s493/Ribalds.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="486" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFcpG12k0eaBUC0PvttrXGIijSPYkxXztMAoJeS91USh_hOflE2ZSfgtFpJozD8BQccDzc1w3Fox-ATTNNziJiNLtSXOXG7GcVZnzonBuwll3xtsGIt3aKtEAJoSGHjspT9r7jxAs-7UM7yuV_T04zhdwyxOGUpJ9hf3tDMTLa5NvQGxOLD61fajnvQ/w353-h358/Ribalds.png" width="353" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>K;</b></div><div>This is not what dictionary told me but makes more sense</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>pjamesstuart;</b></div><div>Brigands</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRks1AheFrtmBtKqfPfcbIbQaNJyu3Kbk6A05TaYOgxyk8W1GlgTTmEbP5QCvHWPY-6u8rDYxQ2ny-XC5TnpLm6s3kOhhYGU1hBh1b_1-_HWsv8656EUm5S9zXWpK-K-bNnkf4afZc7ICwU62mmrrfp_cNgA3hVfLYlW7CMSO9kN9G3A0JW53R6VMcQ/s489/Brigands.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="481" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRks1AheFrtmBtKqfPfcbIbQaNJyu3Kbk6A05TaYOgxyk8W1GlgTTmEbP5QCvHWPY-6u8rDYxQ2ny-XC5TnpLm6s3kOhhYGU1hBh1b_1-_HWsv8656EUm5S9zXWpK-K-bNnkf4afZc7ICwU62mmrrfp_cNgA3hVfLYlW7CMSO9kN9G3A0JW53R6VMcQ/w358-h364/Brigands.png" width="358" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div><i>"All troops come with the basic equipment listed in the box, and there is a 50% chance the entire unit will be equipped with up to D3 of the options listed."</i> what?</div><div><br /></div><div>Ok a 50% chance for the Ribalds!</div><div><br /></div><div>1 is yes, 2 is no</div><div><br /></div><div>[1d2] Roll: [2] Result: 2</div><div><br /></div><div>NO!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>K;</b></div><div>I.e. Brigant might have a two-handed sword, I think</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>pjamesstuart;</b></div><div>And for the Brigand!</div><div>[1d2] Roll: [2] Result: 2</div><div><br /></div><div>No!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>K;</b></div><div>Nope</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>pjamesstuart;</b></div><div>So they just have crappy weapons and armour</div><div>makes sense if they have been defeated.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Z;</b></div><div>(Hope you don't mind me taking a look at the book @<b>K</b> damn, the book is fucking charming</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>K;</b></div><div>The link is free for all</div><div>I'll take it down in a few days but if people wish the pdf the pdf is here to download </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>pjamesstuart;</b></div><div>So according to this book a Level 5 Brettonian Hero is a 'Baron'</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>K;</b></div><div>Robber baron?</div><div>Or is it a Captain?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>pjamesstuart ;</b></div><div>I will roll randomly to see what kind of unit he might have belonged to</div><div>1. Chevalier D'Honnour</div><div>2. Chevalier De Notre Dame de Battale</div><div>3. Noblesse d Epee</div><div>4. Chevallier Rampants</div><div><br /></div><div> [1d4] Roll: [4] Result: 4</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>K;</b></div><div>Rampants...ram-pants? 🐏 + 👖 </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>pjamesstuart;</b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimaIfi_JraqBbhpG7KkFta7k7caeK_Zm-8arvopZijeTwTYk09nW2nd2l0x4Rbqxyb6lImzxao2JFGPIzll7o5ULYK0m8vv8-RpvtwF1ovVb8rndCrdLJY1uPUD78fZDUWACij5srvl8CYlLKhhEOQHIsAaFmRN45JQegcEauNRQ4O3PMLVsjyXnZ_A/s490/Chevalier_Rampant.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="487" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimaIfi_JraqBbhpG7KkFta7k7caeK_Zm-8arvopZijeTwTYk09nW2nd2l0x4Rbqxyb6lImzxao2JFGPIzll7o5ULYK0m8vv8-RpvtwF1ovVb8rndCrdLJY1uPUD78fZDUWACij5srvl8CYlLKhhEOQHIsAaFmRN45JQegcEauNRQ4O3PMLVsjyXnZ_A/w382-h384/Chevalier_Rampant.png" width="382" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div>Did he keep his barding and shield? 1 is yes, 2 is no</div><div><br /></div><div>[1d2] Roll: [1] Result: 1</div><div><br /></div><div>Yes! Mon Baronne!</div><div><br /></div><div>So this was a Brettonian army that was badly beaten. This young Baron managed to escape with a handful of men.</div><div><br /></div><div>If we take the original stat line as a guide, my Chaos Champion was just a Ribald to begin with, before he made a deal with 'Carnalpierce, the Dweller in Stone'. Now he 'leads' (he's a pretty dumb giant tiger-faced man) this doomed group of mercenaries, their honour long forgotten!</div><div><br /></div><div>There are some 'Narrative Tables', the most omni-applicable looks to be the 'locations' table, lets see what we get..</div><div><br /></div><div>[1d100] Roll: [22] Result: 22</div><div><br /></div><div><i>"The wastelands of the north are full of ruins. Most were prosperous cities before the incursions of Chaos swept them away.Many of those desolate places shelter hidden treasures buried by their destruction. Most house more recent inhabitants in the form of warbands, rampaging bands of Beastment and other unwelcome creatures."</i></div><div><br /></div><div>A bit boring but ok. Looks like we delved too greedily and too deep and I was confronted by 'Carnalpierce' in the caves of a ruined city in the northern wastes, and made a deal with Chaos.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>K;</b></div><div>Holed up in wastelands after going for Chaos after the defeat and looking for some chaos artifact for their patron?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>pjamesstuart;</b></div><div>All to save mon beloved Baronne..</div><div><br /></div><div>I went here for a name for Mon Baronne https://www.realmofplastic.com/warhammer-fantasy-blog/bretonnia-character-name-generator-warhammer-fantasy</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And got '<b>Gornemant de Grescfort'</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Another random generator gives me;</div><div><br /></div><div>The Champion of Carnalpierce - <b>Tristian le Tigre!</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>His Mortal Lord - <b>Sir Gornemant de Grescfort</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Three Ribalds - <b>Huchon Pie</b>, <b>Talbot Marcel</b>, <b>Guibert de Bonpre</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>And the Brigand <b>Evrard du Mesnil</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>We stand ready to battle for Chaos! (and gold)</div><div><br /></div><div>Its more poetic if he got warped there out of pure feudal loyalty, despereately trying to preserve the life of his lord!</div><div><br /></div><div>So that was fun</div><div><br /></div><div>Curious that most of the other characters were more interesting than the main chaos champion but still fun to do</div><div><br /></div><div>Evrard, you brigand! Were you somehow behind all this?</div><div><br /></div></div>pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-85121017231647186102023-04-13T12:39:00.002-07:002023-04-13T12:39:25.789-07:00The End & The Death - BINGO!<div style="text-align: left;">Whats my score?</div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Before the publication of ‘The End and the Death (Part
One)’, I came up with a BINGO CARD; would I, a man who has read or audibled
nearly the entire Horus Heresy series, be able to predict the end?<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLwqiNQ20QjJP2FRa8yviCUX6xlpMM6wCUQ7H0uXUDGdFNJ55PkmVpGH5FuCQyiyhhKoRipMm4fUDRaBFgAuB1BhKnWqaDnYRnvXoxrqKBoa7lc4ZrIrwVWl9xK5gKzHf1CuKD6GvZ6lVFbRyA9SE4RJePJyPO3N-vuyyUGz4_rfTb1KnfDRYTA8_2A/s5721/Heresy%20Bingo%20Reviewed%20After%20One%20Book%20Done.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5721" data-original-width="4050" height="664" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLwqiNQ20QjJP2FRa8yviCUX6xlpMM6wCUQ7H0uXUDGdFNJ55PkmVpGH5FuCQyiyhhKoRipMm4fUDRaBFgAuB1BhKnWqaDnYRnvXoxrqKBoa7lc4ZrIrwVWl9xK5gKzHf1CuKD6GvZ6lVFbRyA9SE4RJePJyPO3N-vuyyUGz4_rfTb1KnfDRYTA8_2A/w471-h664/Heresy%20Bingo%20Reviewed%20After%20One%20Book%20Done.png" width="471" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Only Part One is out so far, lets see how I am doing…..<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<h1> </h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6q9yGsWujjxVpjuEG1mXWYxT5xDpYiHRtSjDEWoyZL2lAuk7Y42PN40UaGCr0zE8v9Y6-q9KY-7tsTyCdtgRLBSE6FysO1IYZfXODy6_0S6iXSIXOlj1obuDXt4oit3tgTz72Aq2z8Yy3pRIsIzCutUjWyLhWZ6zP5h9yqOe6nWc0z-fA7azFS42bPw/s1801/Heresy%20Bingo%20Reviewed%20After%20One%20Book%20Done%20Section%201.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1801" data-original-width="881" height="772" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6q9yGsWujjxVpjuEG1mXWYxT5xDpYiHRtSjDEWoyZL2lAuk7Y42PN40UaGCr0zE8v9Y6-q9KY-7tsTyCdtgRLBSE6FysO1IYZfXODy6_0S6iXSIXOlj1obuDXt4oit3tgTz72Aq2z8Yy3pRIsIzCutUjWyLhWZ6zP5h9yqOe6nWc0z-fA7azFS42bPw/w379-h772/Heresy%20Bingo%20Reviewed%20After%20One%20Book%20Done%20Section%201.png" width="379" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>
<h2>Erda: she’s back baby! Back from the VASE. </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Erda! The Emperors sort-of GF and mother of the
Primarchs<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(not Amar Astarte, a different
one). She had enough of Neoth and his spooky ways and, after playing some part
in the triggering of the Scattering of the Primarchs, went off to live in the
desert and be a super-witch. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Dan Abnett invented her out of whole cloth, and at the
last minute, I think in Saturnine? Then I think Chris Wraight packed her away
neatly in ‘Warhawk’ (I think?). I had assumed she was just too similar in
concept to Amar Astarte, the Selinar Gene Witches and a few other factions. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Last seen – beat up by a bunch of chaos demons and her
remaining anima… in a vase? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I had assumed that since Abnett had invented her she
would magically pop back up in the final book. I was wrong! So far… One of the
few Abnettverse characters who <i>doesn’t</i> get a look in, I retain high
hopes for her rebirth in the last volume FOR SOME REASON. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Enuncia </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The magical Enochian word-of-god super-sorcery language
Abnett invented in the middle of the Heresy, and gave as part of the backstory
to Oll Persson and the Emperor while at the same time integrating it into his
latest Eisenhorn books set 10,000 years later. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">YES! Of <i>course</i> we have to have more Enuncia. Or at
least its mentioned. John Grammaticus still has a magic word he can say once
which will do <i>something</i> super-magical though he doesn’t know what. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It’s a free get-out-of-plot tool and I fully expect John
to say his magic word in the next book. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Place your bets for what the last word of the super-magic
language to be spoken will be in the comments below! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>GASP! Something-someones-on-the-golden-throne! </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So there are a bunch of 40k conspiracy theories about who
ends up on the Golden Throne and how. Some say the Emperor dies and Horus ends
up on it, others Malcador or whatever. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Its book one so too early to see but at this state I
highly doubt any jiggery-pokery will take place. Abnett seems committed to
producing a <i>relatively</i> orthodox interpretation of events with sketching
round the edges but no massive twists. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I will call this now – The Emperor ends up on the Golden
Throne. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>He Wrote Three Fucking Books </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And </p>
<h2>O My God He Wrote Four Fucking Books! </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Failed so far and I would judge unlikely to be fulfilled. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">HOWEVER </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The Book we do get is not only physically gigantic but
Voluminous as hell. A huge, rambling, staggering baroque Titan of a thing,
stumbling towards its end. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Will the next book be any shorter? Mmmmmmaybe. It will
certainly have all the actual <i>events</i> in it. For reference, the last
scene of the previous book; Echoes of Eternity has the Vengeful Spirit lowering
its shields. It takes until the last third of this one for the Imperials to
actually go up there. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Euprati Keeler; LETS BURN! </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Not only wrong but so ridiculously wrong its nearly
laughable. Keeler, so long as Abnett was writing her, was a classic Abnetty
likeable Paragon. In ‘Warhawk’ Wraight takes her on a hard right turn into
proto-Torquemada, she is found wandering around with skulls, carefully planning
mass suicide assaults on enemy Astartes where her flock will clog the enemies
chainsword with their own flesh, simping for Sigismund in his super-sayan
puritan mode and talking about how aces the power of pure hatred is. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I half-expected this to carry on in ‘TEatD’. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It does not <i>at all</i>. Abnett pretty much ignores the
Keeler of ‘Warhawk’ and just rotates Keeler back to being the paragon saint of
a pretty-reasonable-actually Imperial Cult; </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">“What I’m saying
is that hope contains the future, and it’s the one thing we have. More potent
than a cartload of shells.’ </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">‘Is this where you
tell me the Emperor has a plan? </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">… </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">‘Alright then. I
think He <i>does</i> have a plan, and its contingent on us believing in it. Our
hope in it, our faith in it, makes it happen. We are the plan and the plan is
us. The Emperor doesn’t have a plan that, if we perish, will still come to
fruition. <i>The plan is us.</i>’</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Basilio Fo! Remember me? Supervillain guy? Kill-All-Astartes-Guy? Remember? </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Well if we didn’t before we will now! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Basilio Fo turned up in an Abnett short story ages ago; a
former Age-of-Strife Warlord/Evil Scientist, a Mega-Bile if you will, who was
driven off Terra by the Emperors rise. A super-evil (?) plot-armoured ‘genius’,
he has a plan to make a super-weapon to kill all the Astartes, good and bad. <i>How?</i>
Who fucking knows. He turned up in <i>Saturnine</i> and was involved in various
shenanigans, now he is back for a sub-plot of his very own where the Custodes
and Malcadors-chosen are fighting over him and his last-option super-plot. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">His sections are a little silly. He outwits custodies by
being arch and mysterious. He will for sure be back to do <i>something</i> in
the final book! Although since that something clearly isn’t setting off his
anti-astartes super weapon fuck knows what it will be.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QkOUQQ1a-JIfmODBC0feDdanKsdfXe2kBf3xDtt6emgWh_8LIwQ3Hl8ysL3iTgjpT7RUKiNAuvolgxdpu1xxZxo36X82nhjWaXjB_17Vi-dYftwakZuJdzxZjYdkDbDBJr_su8CEmVFLxEWTD-cRVzVQSqLBc52dESsJK55QzEbf_3mszjcVA7e2ZQ/s1806/Heresy%20Bingo%20Reviewed%20After%20One%20Book%20Done%20Section%202.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1806" data-original-width="1366" height="519" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QkOUQQ1a-JIfmODBC0feDdanKsdfXe2kBf3xDtt6emgWh_8LIwQ3Hl8ysL3iTgjpT7RUKiNAuvolgxdpu1xxZxo36X82nhjWaXjB_17Vi-dYftwakZuJdzxZjYdkDbDBJr_su8CEmVFLxEWTD-cRVzVQSqLBc52dESsJK55QzEbf_3mszjcVA7e2ZQ/w393-h519/Heresy%20Bingo%20Reviewed%20After%20One%20Book%20Done%20Section%202.png" width="393" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h2>jJHonN GramATTIcuS </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A character that absolutely no-one but Dan Abnett likes,
but he’s the one writing this book so FUCK ALL YA’LL, it’s John Grammaticus
Adventure Time baby! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Strangely, one of the only pseudo-American accented
characters in all of the Audiobook-universe of 40k, John is some dingus who was
made immoral by creepy aliens in return for turning on his own species. The
aliens had a plan to make sure Horus won, thinking he would ‘burn out’ chaos in
a grand madness that would end with humanity extinct and the galaxy at peace.
In pursuit of this, old John ran around doing secret agent stuff. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">He helped turn the Alpha Legion to the xenos’ cause,
tried to off himself, changed sides (?), met Erebus, met Eldrad Ulthuan, nearly
killed Vulkan but healed him instead? Got magic scissors(?). Just did a bunch
of random ping-pong shit, generally without a stable plan and while complaining
about himself, ended up joining up with Oll Persson with some kind of, again
very vague, plan to somehow something-something the Emperor. Oh along the way
he got a fragment of Enuncia. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I am pretty sure Abnett thinks this guy is a sexy enigma
wrapped in a tantalising interior moral conflict where as he is just the avatar
of the least interesting aspects of Abnetts writing style. The whole
get-Oll-into-the-Palace plan is riddled with last-minute janky plot bullshit,
ultimately Grammaticus has an “I know this guy from work” moment where he meets
with Vulkan again in the Throne Room and Vulkans like I know you, you stabbed
me with that thingy that time back in book twenty or something. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Probably this tiresome fuck will play some kind of major
role in the final (?) book and speak his magic word somehow. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>TROOP-PER-PER-SON </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So.. Oll Persson, have I explained this yet? I will try
to be quick. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Oll Persson (“All Person/Everyman”) is a Perpetual Abnett
invented in ‘Know No Fear’. He has been alive maybe longer than the Emperor but
instead of becoming a super-psychic magic man or Dr Who or something he has
just lead life as a near normal guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
is allegedly ‘Catheric’ and has a crucifix (which gets stranger when Abnett <i>infers</i>
that the Emperor might have been Jesus at one point; </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">“He has appeared
as male or female or neither, as child or elder, peasant or king, magician or
fool. He as been an entire cartomantic arcana, for the Master of Mankind if
also a master of disguise. He has performed all of these roles ell, with
delicacy. He has been humble when humility was needed, gentle when softness was
the best device, sly, amiable, reassuring, commanding, caring. He was been
terrible when terror was the only recourse, <i>and sometimes meek in order to
inherit the Earth</i>.” [Italics mine].</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Oll was the Emperors original ‘Warhampster’ and helped
him destroy the Tower of Babel (I <i>know</i>, it gets worse), before literally
stabbing him in the back. After the fall of Calth he picks up a magic knife and
an assortment of symbolic/representative followers and has been traipsing about
the Galaxy planning to reach the Emperor in order to do…. Something? Honestly
for the sheer amount of blood and treasure expended in it, Olls plan is pretty
fucking <i>vague</i>. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">One of his followers is ‘Graft’ a farm servitor who seems
to be getting a bit more sentient after exposure to a galaxies worth of
madness, and its Graft who calls him ‘TROOP-PER-PER-SON’. And yes Graft is in
this, though doesn’t do much! Maybe he/they will do something in the next one. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>DOOM-BREED </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Ok so the Emperor canonically fights Hitler on the
Vengeful Spirit. (It hasn’t happened yet). </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Arguably</i> he does. In the 2<sup>nd</sup> Edition
Chaos Codex DoomBreed is mentioned as a Demon prince who was a warlord of old
earth and became a chosen of Khorne and there are vague suggestions he may have
been Hitler.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iLOYjmK5ZXNz2DjDo1A8J0xtmX3t-0dVtcyYVGhIkZUzsZKisR2LNioAkrkXu714HwEF27MqLZxs-mw_6wXyg1sbo4PfPF48ZFH2OUg0HB_lTBcoFhx4An0AR_o9Yu8nWAzbP7gUpM3bKcicOj2_2uy1TXKa4aAaeakkQNMilMa7CM31V1-0tMqO3A/s4608/IMG_20230413_105457_123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="628" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iLOYjmK5ZXNz2DjDo1A8J0xtmX3t-0dVtcyYVGhIkZUzsZKisR2LNioAkrkXu714HwEF27MqLZxs-mw_6wXyg1sbo4PfPF48ZFH2OUg0HB_lTBcoFhx4An0AR_o9Yu8nWAzbP7gUpM3bKcicOj2_2uy1TXKa4aAaeakkQNMilMa7CM31V1-0tMqO3A/w472-h628/IMG_20230413_105457_123.jpg" width="472" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">But <i>Ok</i>, even if he isn’t Hitler, he’s still a
warlord of old Earth which means the Emperor almost certainly knew of him, and
we know Doom Breed-related demons are on Terra during the siege as Horus names
them. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6GwQYAejSwcUxaxMYMv9nN0qnxw62J9I7ccjs-ZHYamcBl-MqiE-5vHWZZ7ns1mvTsFQeZn-M2qAHIOALXh2e28lzzPPqjx_pvOZH4FOFm-Gy2ViqW7h0RTQvtRAbrWQ6KmjajmVhSu-B15g3WduIclB0nni4DfDt_r6_1a3FJH_p2QZN7rMrfWKQw/s4608/IMG_20230413_105450_189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6GwQYAejSwcUxaxMYMv9nN0qnxw62J9I7ccjs-ZHYamcBl-MqiE-5vHWZZ7ns1mvTsFQeZn-M2qAHIOALXh2e28lzzPPqjx_pvOZH4FOFm-Gy2ViqW7h0RTQvtRAbrWQ6KmjajmVhSu-B15g3WduIclB0nni4DfDt_r6_1a3FJH_p2QZN7rMrfWKQw/w429-h572/IMG_20230413_105450_189.jpg" width="429" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">SO, if the Emperor doesn’t meet Doom-Breed and at least
say something like; “Ah, we meet again.. <i>Ghengis Khan</i>” or some shit like
that, I will be well pissed off. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">But it hasn’t happened <i>yet</i>. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Dream-War in the Warp </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Not that much in this book <i>really</i>. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">In ‘Saturnine’ Malcador goes and visits the Emperor in
some dream-scape where he is facing off against the Chaos Gods and Horus, much
of all the Siege books has the Emperors ‘psychic shield’ slowly decaying and
falling apart and in tE&tD the chaos powers are basically melting space and
time in and around the palace, making it even more of a dreamscape (and very
convenient for moving people around for various scenes). Plus the Vengeful
Spirit is itself now basically a portal to the Realms of Chaos. But there is no
<i>explicit</i> Dream-War scene. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Dark Angels Turn It Off And On Again </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The Astronomican! The Dark Angels are up inside it and
are trying to activate it! A bunch of Plague Guys are trying to stop them!
There are various plots and business going on! They have not yet turned it on
and its looking like in this one instance Abnett may <i>subvert our
expectations</i> by setting up some kind of psychic beacon in the palace
itself. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Someone makes a pointed comment about history, memory and truth,
translation; SHUT UP NERDS. </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Ok, not <i>quite</i>. There is no ‘shut up nerds’ but as
we know, every late-period Heresy book <i>must </i>include a digression on
history and memory so the writer can be sure we know they have a degree.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"> </p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">“…. ‘I meant…
what’s the point of a poem? And when does a poem stop being just words and
become something else? When do words gain power? Under what circumstances?’ </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">‘Power?’ </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">‘You know what I
mean. The reason we’re here.’ </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">He does know what
she means, and yet he still can’t answer. If any abreactive magik lurks in the
Hall of Leng, he has no idea how they will find it, or recognise it if they do
find it. Where does verse, or prose, or memoir stop, and ritual begin? Can
things be both at once? Are there incantations of control stashed here in this
great collection, under lock and key, or merely the indulgent scribblings of
the ages, the fancy of idle men in easier eras, who set out to do no more than
praise a lover, or articulate some feeling, or describe a flower or, perhaps,
merely rhyme for the sake of rhyme? The arts, whatever they might be, have come
to play an increasingly insignificant role in Imperial life, eroded by Strife
and Old Night, until they are vestigial memories, non-functioning organs
dwarfed by rational science and secular industry. He recognises, belatedly, his
own lack of knowledge. Did the arts ever have a purpose, at any time in
history, or have they always been decorative? Does some art have true function
and capacity and other art not? How does he, with a mind raised in the schools
of the modern Imperium, even tell?”</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Flashback-to-history-as-recalled-in-the-21<sup>st</sup>-Centry (and no
other time. Remember the Age of Terra? No, us neither.) </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">As we all know, when someone in 30k or 40k quotes
something from the history of man (at least 30 millennia, in which we are in
the 3<sup>rd</sup>), its <i>always</i> something from ‘our’ history </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I may not be able to score a <i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>complete </i>victory but I think I can score a
<i>strong</i> victory. </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">“Day will not save
them, and we own the night.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">– <s>Horus
Lupercal</s> wait, no, <i>Amiri Baraka</i> ??</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p>Opening verses by Charlotte Mew, the Emerald Tablet and
Corinthians HE HAS FOUROPENING QUOTES PEOPLE! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">In the above mentioned ‘Library’ chapter we have quotes
from Milton, Tennyson & Shelly! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Fuck It, Oll & Neoth were in WWII Together </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Sadly not a score. I can live in hope though. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Of all this Bullshit, only I Kyrill Sindermann survived to tell the tale,
and die in a kind of crappy book much later, hey, I’ll take it!<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p>Yes Kyrill is in this, its him crawling through the
library. Too late to say if <i>only</i> he survives but if the last book is as
much of a ‘Greatest Hits’ story as this one, can we expect Kyril to face off
with poor old Samus again? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Sangy Dies in Some Bullshit Way </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">He ain’t dead yet! And looking at how things are going I
expect his death to be classic rather than subverting expectations. Abnett
loves a paragon and Sangy is the paragon of paragons. I am hoping for Horus to
be like “I could break his spine, but I could not break.. his <i>spirit”</i>
and for Sangy to get like four noble death speeches.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAM-CrvVZRycYS_MJWhC6D-T4Y8ecrg2g1G8e-l-WZepZfKtWGKX2k391FvSmuUfp6Faw8ftARlwr0ILo49gdVoOc_BjzvoGvXr2fPP9pSOWW40Of4_utjRMC-ZY7IK3MwcVbjmeqr53-VAENxyAu5OzuDmjbhzYYn2UsYkVBu9cuUILtJRI0jiCbLA/s1841/Heresy%20Bingo%20Reviewed%20After%20One%20Book%20Done%20Section%203.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1841" data-original-width="965" height="684" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAM-CrvVZRycYS_MJWhC6D-T4Y8ecrg2g1G8e-l-WZepZfKtWGKX2k391FvSmuUfp6Faw8ftARlwr0ILo49gdVoOc_BjzvoGvXr2fPP9pSOWW40Of4_utjRMC-ZY7IK3MwcVbjmeqr53-VAENxyAu5OzuDmjbhzYYn2UsYkVBu9cuUILtJRI0jiCbLA/w359-h684/Heresy%20Bingo%20Reviewed%20After%20One%20Book%20Done%20Section%203.png" width="359" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_i1028" style="height: 632.4pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 331.8pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
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</v:imagedata></v:shape></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>“It was all part of my plan” </h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">Pretty much, see ‘Horus Cries’ below.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Hows-Malcador-Doing-Cutaways. OUCH! </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Ouch indeed! Not just cutaways but he is the semi-omniscient
first-person narrator of much of the book! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Its a neat conceit. Malcador is less insanely godlike
that the Emperor so he can talk to the audience almost like a normal person. He
spends a few chapter giving us a lowdown on how things are going. Once he is on
the Golden Throne, as well as being slowly incinerated, he gets quasi Dr
Manhattan powers and can perceive the flow of fate or whatever but can’t
actually communicate with anyone in-world, but he can see all the tricks and
schemes of the siege, talk to us and do spooky straaands-ov-faate ‘nudges’ to
try to stop the unfolding disaster, which links him to almost everyone’s
overplot. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>I, Robute Guilliman, am also in this book! (And more than you might have
expected!<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Failed! He’s barely in it! Maybe he will be in the next one?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>NPC arrives, gives chapter-length “explanation” for another writers
previous fuckups, disappears </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Amazingly for a Siege of Terra book, this does not happen
at all! (I think.) (But it <i>may</i> in the next one, see below). </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Above Happens More than Once </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I don’t think it even happened once. Pain. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Rogal Dorn; “The Emperors Dream is Dead (again, but more this time), also,
I am Goth now </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Nnnnearly. I was so close, all I needed was a classic
‘The Emperors Dream is Dead’ from RG, but I don’t think I even got one. He does
go a bit dark and edgy towards the end where he is trapped in the chaos realm
for relative centuries. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Oh Fuck the Blood Angels have gone Mental! Fucking ruuuuuuuun! </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Hasn’t happened yet but I hold out hope for the next
book. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Ha ha! Its me; Abaddon, I’m ba… of fuck its Sigismund! Run! </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Abaddon is <i>briefly</i> in this, he has a classic
traitor siege scene of ‘This is no longer a war of legions boo hoo’, and
decides to go back to the Vengeful Spirit. That’s all we get and I <i>think</i>
Sigismund is still on the surface? So we may not get that meetup. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_4_BceBvTnrxP71X3yumsiCbOm6yMIjNaL35l8lbwAyh22siSq17k5DKFLolSqFV1c2aGYfFNkaEPZlJZOiqW-5kYZYwMEtB4jcmXAsv7G1I0cToyoJXmpi3Ms-xhlzlzqZ2mD7gWovNGsowQJ4WHSgtC5_yoPVfnB9EeyBivutXFvGW0jtYc21sIg/s1336/Heresy%20Bingo%20Reviewed%20After%20One%20Book%20Done%20Section%204.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1336" data-original-width="911" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_4_BceBvTnrxP71X3yumsiCbOm6yMIjNaL35l8lbwAyh22siSq17k5DKFLolSqFV1c2aGYfFNkaEPZlJZOiqW-5kYZYwMEtB4jcmXAsv7G1I0cToyoJXmpi3Ms-xhlzlzqZ2mD7gWovNGsowQJ4WHSgtC5_yoPVfnB9EeyBivutXFvGW0jtYc21sIg/w383-h562/Heresy%20Bingo%20Reviewed%20After%20One%20Book%20Done%20Section%204.png" width="383" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Surprise Intervention by … Oan Mkoll! He fell through time! (And is also a
perpetual) </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It was low odds but I almost feel I got this one <i>in
spirit</i>. tE&tD is so… <i>Abnetty</i>, I almost wouldn’t put it past him
to just go ‘fuck it’ and somehow link it into his 40k work. At least so far as
his heresy books have gone, he has brought back… well, everyone, every
character he ever invented, every plotline, every bit of fluffy nonsense, every
good idea and every bad idea. Its like he never left. More and more it seems to
me there isn’t one Heresy series but several, with each writer essentially
following their own themes and tendencies and pet characters, and favourite
character portrayals even when it doesn’t quite work. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>That Sniper Who Went Mad On The Vengeful Spirit, remember him? Well he’s
back, and he snipes someone! </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Sadly completely forgotten, though he may still be on the
‘Spirit’ and the majority of this massive book was spent just getting the main
cast there so I have some hope for book two. What if he snipes Doombreed! I
will probably shit myself in pleasure. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Dogent Krank (who?) You Did a Thing! </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">One of Olls not very interesting companions, I think in
this he does actually do something though I can’t remember what. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>I Herbert Zyes (who?) am the key to this mystery! </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Who indeed. Another of team-all-person. He is in this. He
says some things? I don’t think he is the key to any mysteries. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Final Paragraph will be broken down into individual sentences, each
sold separately. </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">No signs of this so far, unless you could the sheer
gargantuan SPREAD of the book itself. I feel like there is half a chance that
GW will try something at the end though. Come on geedubs! There is always more
cash you can squeeze from a property! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The final sentence will be broken into letters and punctuation marks, each
sold through a gachapon ‘lucky dip’ system, can YOU collect them ALL? </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Could still happen. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3T_2eyrh98r7O99ydgWs8NfdYWJLYPerLaDWEuUbLo-jjlcIjE4MbLkvJ_EJCgeQQHHj_RJQsVuZetmw7Ro4OxQ6Xhmv-QpvqOoakoCWxUdeSToAr38uxdn7Ab9YkrxvtfvfE76-EOzwAUBBDHKAx2PlyxrWhpEHkTFJedyGmUadr7hWQ3T3kZWAMA/s1371/Heresy%20Bingo%20Reviewed%20After%20One%20Book%20Done%20Section%205.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="1371" height="441" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3T_2eyrh98r7O99ydgWs8NfdYWJLYPerLaDWEuUbLo-jjlcIjE4MbLkvJ_EJCgeQQHHj_RJQsVuZetmw7Ro4OxQ6Xhmv-QpvqOoakoCWxUdeSToAr38uxdn7Ab9YkrxvtfvfE76-EOzwAUBBDHKAx2PlyxrWhpEHkTFJedyGmUadr7hWQ3T3kZWAMA/w441-h441/Heresy%20Bingo%20Reviewed%20After%20One%20Book%20Done%20Section%205.png" width="441" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>CORAX! turns up through the webway and helps out Vulkan! SURPRISE
MOTHERFUCKERS! (they never meet again) </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This might still happen and I am holding out hope! I will
have a cry if it happens! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Russ is useless </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Of course Russ is always useless and is so again here. He
is dying on some moon or something.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Actaea; "Yes I was CYRENE VALANTION all this time! </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">She was! (Or at least says she was). The mysterious blind
sorcerer lady who just turned up and who seemed a lot like the sexy blind prophetess
who hung out with the Word Bearers was in fact that lady, or at least says she
is. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">One of Olls ablative-plot-armour-companions, she it
traipsing along with them with some vague but mysterious purpose in mind. Will
she turn out to be evil? (It’s the Abnettverse so probably yes.) </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Actaea; "Yes I was NOT CYRENE VALANTION all this time! Surprise
motherfuckers! </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Ok, this doesn’t happen this book, HOWEVER, its not
completely impossible that it will happen. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Xtra points if both of the above </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">We will see…… </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Yes I, KATT, random psychic farm girl, actually become MORIANA! (you
thought it would be Actea but she was actually.. [randombullshit random
bullshit]" </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">SO – Moriana is a mysterious seer in later 40k, she is
meant to be one of the original members of the Inquisition who has “seen too
much” and turned traitor and gone to hang out with Abaddon. It is not clear
what she is up to, if she is really a traitor or a double or triple agent or
what. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Probably <i>someone</i> will turn out to be Moriana, but <i>whom</i>. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Katt is another of Team-Oll. A random farm girl who has
been “seeing too much” in the horrible spaces between realities and whose psychic
powers have slowly been growing from exposure to the warp and general
awfulness. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Will this turn out to be the blind seer Moriana, Katt or
someone else? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Someone turns out to be Promeus! </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Promeus is another of the ‘original’ Inquisition. No idea
who this is going to be. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn closes the book, "And that was the (fictionalised)
history of the Horus Heresy somehow, a fascinating text" .. then he WAKES
UP - even him reading the book was a DREAM! </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It could still happen! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Dream-Sequence where Abnett seems genuinely baked on epilepsy meds but the
editors were all too scared to admit they didn't understand it. </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Sadly nothing quite like this yet. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_5" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 685.8pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 451.2pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>It’s me! Limited Edition Space Marine 2!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>did a thing! AND I was part of a gigantic overplot which sounds like a
just made it up let me explain very quickly </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Erda had a pet space marine she called ‘LE2’, probably a
reference to a very early GW sculpt. LE2 has joined team-Oll and will
presumably do something interesting at some point. Hopefully. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>It’s me! The Fucking Emperor First Person chapter baby! I finally get to do
something and I am going to look COOL AS SHIT doing it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I FIGHT HITLER IN THIS! </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">He does NOT get a 1<sup>st</sup> person chapter, or fight
Hitler (YET), but we do get to hear more of him speaking (near) frankly with
Sanguinius et-al and we get to see him actually DO STUFF so that’s nice.
Hopefully he will do ever more stuff in the next one. He should try to pack in
the events as he doesn’t have much time. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Yes I, Amar Astarte have returned! To do a thing! Probably ether destroy
the Astartes or save them from Basilio Fo offscreen. </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">She has not turned back up and there is no sign of her so
far. She’s not an Abnettverse character so I would be surprised if she does
turn up. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The final, final FINAL book is actually a series of sub-articles which will
be sold separately through Games Workshops </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Ok I overplayed the joke but would you really be THAT
surprised if they actually did this? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>Horus Cries! (Burning Tears) </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Horus! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I have spoken a lot in my Corposant series about the
‘black boxing’ of both Horus and the Emperor so we get to see very little of
the actual drives and personalities who are at the centre of this
super-mega-war. The Emperor is a multi-minded trans-reality warp-beast and
Horus is increasingly shut down, visibly insane, deluded and broken. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Here we get to see Horus actually DO STUFF. He is fucking
nuts! Great. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Ever since ‘Horus Rising, Horus has increasingly been
isolated, insane, erratic, and as I said, hollowed out. In tE&tD Horus is
clearly fugueing and has space altzheimers and is barely holding any sense of
reality together. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It <i>looks</i> like what Abnett is going for is that
Horus is SUPER SANE ACTUALLY, or at least, that the <i>real</i> (?) Horus was
deliberately hiding his true core and now super-demonic personality behind a
series of masks set up to be just competent enough to get him here, and to
persuade the Emperor that he was actually as broken and empty as he looked.
Then, when the Emperor commits to his final attack, these para-personalities
fall away and are forgotten and Horus comes out as a cackling super-badass.
Will Horus become the ‘Dark King’ who has been prophesied for, well just for
this book as Abnett just made him up, or will fighting him be the catalyst to
turn the Emperor into the ‘Dark King’ the 5<sup>TH</sup> CHAOS GOD BABY! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The ultimate ‘WELL, <i>ACTUALLY’</i> of a mega-series
already well-stocked with ‘Well Actually’. Forget Chris Wraight explaining that
Mortarion isn’t dumb, just badly written, or ADB explaining that actually the
Emperor said something completely different to Magnus, it turns out that well,
actually, all the bits of the series where Horus was written as a puppet of
chaos were ALL PART OF HIS PLAN! SEE ABOVE! </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>"Its me, SAMUS! Samus is.. scared.. look, just please stop hurting me,
please..." </h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Poor innocent Samus. The first demon encountered by the
Imperial forces in ‘Horus Rising’, ever since then he has been wheeled out by
every writer imaginable as a secondary rent-a-villain who always ends up
getting beaten and banished by the hero of the book. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">After a while we start to feel sorry for the poor chump. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Well, Samus is back and he gets an whole opening
narration chapter! It seems he was just keeping it loose or whatever for
reasons or something, and in fact has a DEEP SCHEME which supersedes the whole
Heresy and which he just didn’t mention until now. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It looks like he has some kind of deal where he wants to
end reality or something and is looking for a figure to help him with that.
Could this be his big chance to finally end all reality? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Abnett doing a polish on even poor old Samus is pretty
emblematic of the book as a whole. Our boy Dan knows who he came in with, and
he is leaving with exactly those people and those FUCKING THEMES THANK YOU. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">………………………<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Join me and a couple (million?) other people for the LAST
FUCKING BOOK at some point in the future!<o:p></o:p></p>pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-5523017099073651442023-03-28T10:07:00.004-07:002023-03-28T10:07:46.386-07:00Blue Period - WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY??!!??<p> I watched this anime and I had a little spastic meltdown, which I will now inflict on you.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJECc38XsklN9xgnjR1KTpUiJO_3XRRO6b-02YrFnN4Bxhqs6DLwWGI7yKlVJSaYG-5Q41IqmAymoaCu6-s3pcwujKEkngREW5GrEcLDbm84Zg0twoh9ekc1O9GXxlMNBweifnHcm4PjjqCXuAgOiTCDqeCHNdQJtIPS2jMBMbctOT99sVUbv0wVz4mQ/s1170/MV5BOTk5NTQ5YWEtNmUzNS00NGIwLWJhNzQtYTViNzAxNGVkYjUwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzgxODM4NjM@._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="780" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJECc38XsklN9xgnjR1KTpUiJO_3XRRO6b-02YrFnN4Bxhqs6DLwWGI7yKlVJSaYG-5Q41IqmAymoaCu6-s3pcwujKEkngREW5GrEcLDbm84Zg0twoh9ekc1O9GXxlMNBweifnHcm4PjjqCXuAgOiTCDqeCHNdQJtIPS2jMBMbctOT99sVUbv0wVz4mQ/w354-h532/MV5BOTk5NTQ5YWEtNmUzNS00NGIwLWJhNzQtYTViNzAxNGVkYjUwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzgxODM4NjM@._V1_.jpg" width="354" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I will start by describing it</p><p>So it starts with this protagonist guy Yatora Yaguchi who has socially faked his way though school and high school, superficially, he is reasonably popular and successful; totally empty inside. High social capacity, not really, genuinely interested in anything. Careful, a climber, in low-level despair. Right on course for a functional degree and a job as a competent salaryman.</p><p>Out of nowhere, or maybe after a chance encounter, he takes an interest in art. Supported by some small initial success and a perceptive art teacher, over a short period of time he goes from being not that interested at all, to being in the art club, to rapidly gaining skill and interest, to deciding that he is going to go for an art degree.</p><p>The big university has a well regarded fine-arts course. The only way he can afford it is to get one of the handful of free spots and the only way to do that is to ace the entry exam, (which almost everyone fails, some people take it two or three times).</p><p>From there it’s a race against the clock as Yaguchi focuses on learning skills and discovering art. He sees himself as not being that talented, can relentless hard work and pure desire make up for a lack of talent? Can he learn everything about art and ace the big test and become a real artist?</p><p><br /></p><p><b>THINKS LIKED</b></p><p>It was the awakening of an actual, human soul inside someone who was otherwise living in a performance of their own life like an actor inhabiting a role, and maybe the first time this man/boy who had never done anything that wasn't careful and planned did anything purely non-optimal and risky for its own sake.</p><p>I like the art teacher and I like the cast of oddballs and weirdoes who make up the various art classes.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWmKFRSy65aTqJfT85KcVyAoMSOtfG27qH2Ou-IpIs9pjeEoXAZkBqHyri4EAOPwRfOM-oXz6-luEcev7dupa8TU8UOa2_CH03sd9o5XeteQRFQ0Q9hbIYWyK5vlrh9EVQUDUuNMaXnh1xs-uc6IP6L5sNT_U-ZblUHvLJ4jJfj8Qtq-1cfZBJRKXBQ/s1322/Blue-Period-01-42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="1322" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWmKFRSy65aTqJfT85KcVyAoMSOtfG27qH2Ou-IpIs9pjeEoXAZkBqHyri4EAOPwRfOM-oXz6-luEcev7dupa8TU8UOa2_CH03sd9o5XeteQRFQ0Q9hbIYWyK5vlrh9EVQUDUuNMaXnh1xs-uc6IP6L5sNT_U-ZblUHvLJ4jJfj8Qtq-1cfZBJRKXBQ/w391-h220/Blue-Period-01-42.jpg" width="391" /></a></div><br /><p>I like the procedural stuff about training and technique, common to anime but I would have been happy with more of it.</p><p>I like the slow development of the protagonist into a somewhat less empty, and therefore somewhat more usefully-empathic and morally present individual.</p><p>I like that his close drinking buddies all knew he was shallow as fuck but didn't really mind, and that one of them is inspired to go to cooking school by seeing Yaguchi follow his dream and grow as a person.</p><p>I *think* I liked the somewhat odd cross-dressing/trans(?) best friend plot?</p><p>Its an interesting look inside the processes of art school and an art education, but oh my god did I find myself unexpectedly fucking DESPISING parts of this by the end.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>NEUTRAL THINGS</b></p><p>Regarding the styles and types of art engaged in by the protagonist and their class, the in-fiction art, I didn't actually like much of it myself, it did not move my heart, and I was fine with this as I expect that from any mainstream entertainment.</p><p>I was ok with characters going "Oh, so inspiring" and "your art has really improved etc etc" when I wasn't a big fan of the art being looked at in question. I could still care about the story in which the art was embedded, so my complaints below are, I think, separate to that.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>THINGS I HATED</b></p><p>Its complex as all of these things combined and interwove at some point, but to try it one-by-one.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>The Japanese testing system</b></p><p>Hey! Lets test children to the point of destruction! And lets valorise their personal self-annihilation!</p><p><br /></p><p><b> 'Academic Art'</b></p><p>"Oh you won't have to make academic art on this course" says the teacher on the exam-prep course.</p><p>(Yes you will and that is all you will learn).</p><p>'Academic Art' is apparently a thing where they train examinees in particular.. patterns? I don't know how precisely to define it, but each university has its own particular obsessions, tendencies and fashions in its preferences so they train the Examinees specifically for the University they are applying for, like it was a written test. Perhaps they don't do this 'as-such', but I think they are still doing it in-essence.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY WITH THIS PIECE?</b></p><p>This absolutely disgusts me on every conceivable level. If I had to pick one thing in particular that crawled up my arse and screamed its this.</p><p>The looping of the language of criticism (flawed and shit anyway) with the production of art turns emotion into a performance of emotion (IN A SAVAGE TESTING ENVIRONMENT). I FUCKING HATE THIS.</p><p>'What are you trying to say, from an examiner, in a test with 200 people where only three are going to get in. Genuinely just shoot me.</p><p>Educational systems are primarily agreeability and obedience machines, and secondly analysis of skill and drive, so this definition of a visual static art, where this desperate and very young teenager is meant to have 'something to say', in an utterly silent medium, in which 20 kids in a room paint virtually the same thing, it’s a degradation of thought and emotion guaranteed to produce self-deluding drones who when they come to make art in the future, will ask themselves "what am I trying to say" from the examiner in their head. So everything becomes exam art.</p><p>(no relation to MFA culture at all there)</p><p>(was it all really the same thing I am complaining about?)</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Total separation of 'genre' and 'Fine Art'</b></p><p>So clearly, drawing a dragon or something or something from your imagination or even something interwoven with your imagination, is not going to cut it. This is a silent rule, another one these young exam takers are being inducted into, a very familiar one to me.</p><p>'we want to see the products of your heart"</p><p>'ok, here they are, they are gauche, atavistic, genre and imaginary'</p><p>'well in fact we didn’t mean that at all, and understanding *that* we didn't mean that was part of the test. </p><p>What we *meant* was 'we want to see the product of an utterly neutral heart, with a fair amount of skill and drive but almost no real creative imagination, and we want to see that they have 'something to say' (as we would understand it, and about the vanishingly small number of things a teenager might have something to say about that would be coherent to a middle aged drone), and we want that expressed entirely though a still, silent visual medium, and we want it expressed with maybe a dab of 'cleverness'.</p><p>What you are creating here is modernism and total emptiness. The painting as 'text' where the quality and "depth" (as if even one of these people would understand anything of actual emotional depth) is decided by how 'cleverly' the teenager can command, ape, combine and recombine the known forms of modernism to produce something of not-too-much emotional content, not too much creativity, but it has 'something to say'.</p><p><br /></p><p>Do I fucking despise art school and absolutely everything about higher fine art education and the kind of art and culture it produces?</p><p>I don't know but I fucking HATED this anime version of it!!!</p><p>We have to destroy (Anime) art school!!!</p>pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-83525686746399411262023-03-19T14:55:00.002-07:002023-03-19T14:55:33.773-07:00Post-Singularity Hardcopy Concepts<div style="text-align: left;">Chatbot evolution, deepfakes. conspiracy and counter-conspiracy and counter-counter conspiracy. re-editing of children's books (is your copy of 'The Twits' pre or post-purge?), all of this and more leads me to think about The Record, and its fragility.</div><div><br /></div><div>So I come to imagine forms of post-reality hardcopy, for when you absolutely postitively MUST calm ever motherfucking in the room.</div><div><br /></div><div>It needs to be readable to the *naked eye*, (the statements of trusted witnesses that they have seen the hardcopy, reporting directly and in the flesh to others, will be the only real form of proof most will recieve). This is a human thing and is about proving things from one human to another in a world where any digital or transmitted inormation, even through a single screen, like that of an electron microscpe, could be suspected.</div><div><br /></div><div>It can be the creation of machines but better if it is purely hand made, must be reasonably robust, not decay, at least not if cared for, hard, preferably impossible, to alter and amend</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>TECHNIQUES</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Close-weaved calligraphy - using a scribe to write fancy letters that mesh with each others negative space, both fore and aft but also with each line above and below. I think this was used in rennaisance/early modern counrtly letters, or at least special and expansive designs were placed to fill pages specifically to prevent any additions or amendments to whatever the king etc may or may not have said</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>BRITTLE SYNTHETICS</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Ceramic </b>- could literally be a fine china cup with the contract/text interweaved through it under the sheen</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Cut into Gems</b> - you would have to examine these with a spyglass at least. Combining gemcutting with close-weaved calligraphy would make a record easy to transport, worth preserving and hard to alter.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Glass </b>- if a record could be etched in so much the better, if some substance relevent to the nature of the record was included in the glassblowing even more so. Maybe a rare radioactive isotope that decayed at a set rate? That could give you a date? Or combine glass and organic so a leaf or something is part of the artefact.</div><div><br /></div><div>I feel most metals are out, too easy to melt and reconfigure.. Maybe etched right on the edge of a high-grade blade?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>ORGANICS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Bone or ivory is another material that could be treated roughly as a 'brittle synthetic' with scrimshawed or etched intra-calligraphy.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Shell?</b> Could writing somehow be introduced to the natural growth patterns of a shell?</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Grown-over wood</b> - carving things into wood sounds good as the interaction between the grain and carved text might make it hard to alter, maybe there could be some way to use the fact that wood can be grown over and around things to 'seal' a ceramic document?</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Skin </b>- tattooing might work, combining the fidelity of a named person and their reputation with the record written into their living skin</div><div><br /></div><div><b>DNA alteration </b>to make a bunch of apples or whatever produce certain words - sounds a bit overdone and not that useful but could be a handy way of mass-replicating a single record. (Apples etc have the name of god or whatever in them all the time, it shouldn't be <i>too </i>hard to get a single tree to produce a name or symbol).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>WHAT AM I MISSING?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>What else can be created and 'read' by humans, but is very hard to alter once it has 'been' created?</div><div><br /></div><div>I want to say; <b>very high grade silk weaving</b> - but the fact that it is 'woven' means it can be 'un-weaved' and re-made. Is there a form of weaving which is *fundamentally* un-un-weavable - that it simply cannot be taken apart and re-assembled once made, even by super-tactile robot hands?</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Urban Planning?</b> - you could pay to have the streets of a suburban or urban development effectively 'written' as a cypher of your agreement or record. This would have a natural loss over time but it would take quite a long time and a supreme degree of effort to erode the symbology. The systems of build environments have a tendency to replicate themselves. </div><div><br /></div><div>How about <b>chemical processes</b> that remain meta-stable but degrade if they are disrupted or interrupted?</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Super-clockwork </b>that remains stable so long as it runs very, very slowly, but degrades rapidly if it is sped up slowed down or stopped in any way?</div><div><br /></div><div>There must be some systems or methods in engineering that are useless or low-utility because they are coherent <i>so long as you don't fuck with them</i>, making them too sensitive or finickity for building r engineering but maybe quite good for this purpose?</div><div><br /></div>pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4522018539311056682.post-80210546044935635732023-03-13T08:41:00.005-07:002023-03-13T08:41:47.258-07:00FMASCI V2.3 please just let me die<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/18nwdFAmLVjZlGmgKEOoH7rEhBbln1vR1/view?usp=share_link" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="7016" data-original-width="4960" height="717" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgso_9Tzy4uVVxu88Gh3KI3cP0_fSckvvyRL2t8lBRmi6Zmyd7zE9UdV3q3t418quMdFfPP5X0QVAiIWpCJpl7E1ilcKghiX1h2sueO2UG7YPajkYrdBWrzmUrUclnoFJptBNAv04-daj-b9zhvB6ZR_H4sqVqjkuk-gFL86nUylr4DRwys9Abo2Ks1eg/w506-h717/False%20Machine%20Compatability%20Infographic%20V2.3%20PNG.png" width="506" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">praise be to Allah let my labours be here ended</div><br /><p></p>pjamesstuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13288777018721199748noreply@blogger.com3