Do look me up if you see me in-world. GrrBrool Lykin, back from the Abyss.
Tuesday, July 11, 2023
Monday, December 12, 2011
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
All our base are belong to you.
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Pencil note, written in a tired looking hand, dated 20/4/2009
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Well, its done. We're here and settled. Funny, we've had tha Temperance fer a while now, a location that was spied out in one of tha quieter suburbs of this city. Away from tha broken hub where tha gangs battled fer who gets tha best rubble. Away from tha more powerful factions we'd come across in our scoutin's. Just a quiet place with a pretty front, a livin park out back, and no godlings tearin tha place up.
Tha Temperance is a bar, was just a bar, a place ta meet and greet without fear of tha Island's factions botherin no one. Just a place ta hang, knock a few back now any then. Her Ladyship selected tha location a while back, and we fixed it up, or got pro's ta fix it up, then she made it pretty and i helped hang stuff and unpack boxes. A quiet place. A safe place. A place ta go and still see tha world.
Never expected ta have ta run there, leavin tha Island, gettin outta there in tha hurry we did, at least we had tha fall-back of tha Temperance. It was just a place ta hang out befer, now its another home-away-from-home. Launchin point fer tha Viators. Meetin point fer tha Institute. Home of tha Temperance Adventurers Club. Just a quiet place, ta lick out wounds, and regroup. Lots of pretty things, including some of tha best and most special stuff we snagged from tha old Library. Too precious ta leave behind.
Too precious ta leave fer those who stayed, or rather, those who wouldn’t come.
Her Ladyship is fussin with tha furniture and such, I’ve stowed my kit behind tha bar, I travel pretty light, when I need, so does She, but I suppose havin ta go like this hit Her harder than it did me. Tha way it happened, at least. I miss my Family. I go through tha motions, I spent some time cleanin my weapons, only getting an echo of tha looks in their eyes, my kin and tha Fanger, that I ended with them. I stacked up my ammo and made a couple of caches here and there. Organisin tha bar took a little bit, too, but I’d mostly done that before, before fleein was even a consideration.
I looked at tha piles I had brought, and made. Things, stuff, tha trappins of Fleshie life. My clothes, some gear, my best weapons, cleanin and groomin supplies. Everythin I thought I’d have a want fer, if needed. Not that much ta show fer 13 years of walkin about in tha wide world.
My glass is empty, and tha heat of tha manuka vodka is good. It’s scent can’t drive away tha memories of tha past but it opens my nose to smells of tha garden outside these walls. Tha grass smells greener.
Pencil note, written in a tired looking hand, dated 20/4/2009
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Well, its done. We're here and settled. Funny, we've had tha Temperance fer a while now, a location that was spied out in one of tha quieter suburbs of this city. Away from tha broken hub where tha gangs battled fer who gets tha best rubble. Away from tha more powerful factions we'd come across in our scoutin's. Just a quiet place with a pretty front, a livin park out back, and no godlings tearin tha place up.
Tha Temperance is a bar, was just a bar, a place ta meet and greet without fear of tha Island's factions botherin no one. Just a place ta hang, knock a few back now any then. Her Ladyship selected tha location a while back, and we fixed it up, or got pro's ta fix it up, then she made it pretty and i helped hang stuff and unpack boxes. A quiet place. A safe place. A place ta go and still see tha world.
Never expected ta have ta run there, leavin tha Island, gettin outta there in tha hurry we did, at least we had tha fall-back of tha Temperance. It was just a place ta hang out befer, now its another home-away-from-home. Launchin point fer tha Viators. Meetin point fer tha Institute. Home of tha Temperance Adventurers Club. Just a quiet place, ta lick out wounds, and regroup. Lots of pretty things, including some of tha best and most special stuff we snagged from tha old Library. Too precious ta leave behind.
Too precious ta leave fer those who stayed, or rather, those who wouldn’t come.
Her Ladyship is fussin with tha furniture and such, I’ve stowed my kit behind tha bar, I travel pretty light, when I need, so does She, but I suppose havin ta go like this hit Her harder than it did me. Tha way it happened, at least. I miss my Family. I go through tha motions, I spent some time cleanin my weapons, only getting an echo of tha looks in their eyes, my kin and tha Fanger, that I ended with them. I stacked up my ammo and made a couple of caches here and there. Organisin tha bar took a little bit, too, but I’d mostly done that before, before fleein was even a consideration.
I looked at tha piles I had brought, and made. Things, stuff, tha trappins of Fleshie life. My clothes, some gear, my best weapons, cleanin and groomin supplies. Everythin I thought I’d have a want fer, if needed. Not that much ta show fer 13 years of walkin about in tha wide world.
My glass is empty, and tha heat of tha manuka vodka is good. It’s scent can’t drive away tha memories of tha past but it opens my nose to smells of tha garden outside these walls. Tha grass smells greener.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
All after incinerators . . .?
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Pencil entry, messily scribbled, there are food stains on the pages, dated 12/4/2009
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Tha winds of change, they kinda stink, sometimes. This time, though, I got a wiff before tha real stink hit, and tha stink was of death. Time ta bug out. Time ta enact “Grr’s Evac plan #3”. Needed to get do some “shoppin” fer that. Why were we buggin out? Well, tha nasty critter that had gotten loose, run amuck and brought down tha heat from tha Septic Federal’s. Agent Men, wanderin about, huntin. Tha good citizens of Tox, well, they did what they do best, and after tha smoke cleared, and tha agents had been BBQ’d at tha stake, their helio shot down, and tha reprisal strike by ship ta ship missile on tha supply barge, I knew it was only a matter of time till they came back in force. I talked with some of tha Pack, who were determined ta stay, and fight fer their territory, angry pups who’ve never seen battlefield combat with a well trained and equipped military.
Between that, and the breakup of tha Institute, and everythin else that had been goin on there, tha waters were already lookin choppy, but like I say, tha wind brought tha scent of death, and even tha Messenger was absent. When tha Valkyrie depart, its time ta bug out. Didn’t have too much time, but enough ta do what needed ta be done. I collected tha tools of my trade, and set out shoppin. Huntin, is more accurate, though.
My first target was ta be tha easier of tha two, I just put my nose to tha ground, and sniffed about till I found tha right kind of scent. Male, Shifter, new to town. Alone. Spent a while till I tracked him down, then some more time observin. Stayin down wind, stayin outta sight, and sound. Casual, like, not makin it feel like a stalkin, in case his instincts were good. Turns out, though, he was just another turned Fleshie, stumbling about in his War-Form, like he was finding his paws. Poor bastard, well, him or me, I win out every time. I checked tha surrounds, didn’t want any witnesses for this, or tha whole jig was up. The look in his eyes was hardest, when tha first three round burst caught him in tha middle of tha pelvis. Silver hollow-points, make em myself. I keep a couple of 5.56 clips of them handy, just in case. Silver is a sacred metal, and is due tha respect my kin give it. I craft it with prayer and blessin, because there is only one reason for me ta use it. To take my own kind over tha Wide River.
Those three rounds hit him and shattered tha heavy bone of his pelvis, and hopefully, his spine too, I saw his legs bucklin even as tha second burst took him mid-chest, a little high and left of solar plexus, but, I wasn’t at too much distance, and tha MoA was only slight. Heart shot, rather than another spine hit, but, hollow-points make a mess, even subsonic 5.56’s. Tha trick is ta make a big hole, and not over-penetrate, leave that blood-metal in tha wound ta do its work. I kept whisperin my Prayer fer tha Departin, as he jerked and twitched, bodymass dropping him as his hips cracked wider, fallin in slow motion, impacts ta his chest, rib shards and silver mushrooms sproutin in his lungs and heart. His head turned to me, as he dropped, reflexes and canine hearin getting triangulation on tha second burst, even suppressed. That’s when tha third burst landed. His eyes landed on my position, in tha bushes by tha tattoo parlour, and he opened his mouth to try to howl for help.
Even lung-shot, my kin can let out a howl loud enough ta be heard by all those who would listen, fer quite a ways, and as it happens, I was ready, in case that happened, but, fallin as he was, mouth opening ta howl, my third burst found tha mark I gave them, mouth is as good as throat, and he ate at least two of tha three rounds. He crumpled, and lay still, back of his head a wet mess, where bone fragments and silver shards punched through tha back of his skull. I had ta move fast, in case I gotr spotted, but tha hours I keep, and picked, made that pretty easy, no one much is ever about when I am, so, I was in luck. I gathered my brass, slung my weapon, and double timed it over to him. I wondered what his name was, but, Coyote knows, and will add it to my tally. I reached him ,saw his tattered clothes and realised how young he must be, maybe his second moon as Kin, not even old enough ta know how ta deal with clothes. Too bad fer him. Dog eat Dog. I whipped out a poncho liner and rolled him onto it, tied him in, and threw him over my shoulder, and got my tail back to the Library.
I got him in, unseen again, I think, and stashed him in tha store room, before changing, and re-equippin myself fer my second item. A couple of hours had passed, not sure how much longer we had, and with tha time tickin away in my head. I got myself together, and headed back out. As I wandered, I got word that a supply ship had been spotted comin in, and we were expected ta make a show of gatherin intel. Well, that’s what we do, and it’d have raised more attention if I hadn’t. Her Ladyship was still out, makin her own arrangements. So, it was up to me. I passed tha crowd, squablin over booze and eats, as they stood about tha docks, all tha while, I was scanning bodies. Size and shape, needed ta be Fleshie, if this was gunna work. There were folks talking about tha critter, and that it had been loaded up ta be shipped off. I boarded tha barge, and poked about, myself, even whe nit pulled away, I kept lookin through what was left. Folks on tha shore yelled ta get back, that I’d get taken, but, I just waved cheerily, seemed ta me like them seein I was finding a way of tha island fer a holiday wasn’t a bad thing, would add to tha confusion, and if there were repercussions? Well, all tha better, blame tha Mainalnders fer what they were gunna find, later on.
I disembarked as tha barge turned tha corner near tha harbour, out of eye-line from tha docks. Double backed through tha sea wall, past tha Pit, and towards tha Park, tha fountain. Always one by tha fountain, or at least, in tha old days. I was in luck. All alone, again, bloody good fortune, pardon tha pun, and I set up quickly in tha rubble behind tha Vet Clinic, under tha toxic vat. I had my M-70 this time, and a different load. Folks think that bein in tha Institute is all about reading books, and filin reports. What they forget is that we larn everythin, we collect everythn, we never throw anything away. As Praetor, I had access, and knowledge.
I had tha anti-Fanger Serum, to de-Fanger folks, as used in tha Fanger-Lycan War, two strains, actually, because we had developed our own, too, a legacy of Shiny, Lyra tha Furf. I had taken that, and loaded it up into tranq darts, tha same kind that used ta get used on me, when I was in tha zoo, when I was learnin ta think like a Fleshie, in tha 7RAR-L. Tha same I’ve used on my own kin ta drop them when they go moon-struck. I had two of each strain, and had them on paw, just in case.
Tha female was not big, but she moved with tha fluid power that comes with tha Fangers, sex on a stick and as cool as a Melbourne eve. Her hair wasn’t dark, wasn’t light, so I was hopin it was tha right colour, but in tha end, that’s just icin on tha cake. I lined up as she fed from tha trough, tha fountain I helped build. At least she had tha grace ta use a cup, Her Ladyship would have been pleased ta know. I was pretty sure she didn’t have a clue I was there, again, I wasn’t that far off, and this could get messy if I bullocked it up.
Tha first dart hit her in tha back, about kidney height, she flinched, and spat her mouthful out and wheeled on tha spot and looked around fer what had hit her. Not seein anything, she reached back to grab at the dart, and struggled to reach it. I loaded up tha second kind, and drew another bead on her, and tagged her, upper right chest, above her teats, below collarbone. When she took that one, she staggered a little, off balance from reaching fer tha first dart.
When she plucked it and looked at it, tha look of contempt and spite that crossed her face was something outta tha movies. Classic Fanger rage face, fangs dropped, predator’s snarl, and she was on tha road ta revenge. She heard tha second shot, too, just like my kin had, and came at me, or at least, my way, a keening call made its way out of her mouth, as she ran towards tha vat I was under, I expect that she thought she’d zip under, and tear out tha throat of tha fool who tried to dart her, like some mortal. Well, I was hopin tha serum was fast actin, and that a mixed double dose would do tha trick, because tha next round I loaded was just a regular copper jacketed steel core. She had crossed tha park in good time, rounded tha tank, and was getting ready to vault tha chainlink fence I was behind, when she slowed. Makin tha jump, she only got half way up tha fence, and with a look of rage, and anger, had ta go hand over hand up it.
I took that as a sign my plan, and tha serums, had worked, and unloaded tha third round, mid-chest, iron sighted. Tha full military load cracked hard, kicked hard, and did it’s job. She was still goin up, but when that round punched through her chest, she just crumpled and sagged mid-air, and dropped off tha fence into a heap, behind tha vat. She wasn’t quite dead, makin that raspy, wheezy sound folks make when they are getting ready ta Cross, after takin one to tha lungs. I re-chambered, gathered my brass, and slipped around tha fence, at-shoulder, keeping her covered, in case tha serum wore off sudden-like whilst she was still kickin. I looked her in tha eyes as tha life went out of her, and whispered tha same prayer I had fer tha first target. She might have deserved ta die, but she wasn’t even my enemy, just needed her fer tha plan. Another name on Coyote’s list. Rolled her ta see that it was a through and through shot, then bagged her too, and after slingin my weapon, carried her as swift as i could without lookin like I was runnin with fresh meat, back to tha Library.
I got back, and again, as it often was, these days, found it empty, dumped tha almost-Fanger in tha store room, and got tha rest of what I needed. Clothes. Two sets, mine and Hers. I stripped tha two bodies, and changed them, hard work when ya think about it, harder ta do, even more so when they are all bloody and fucked up like these two were. I managed, I had to, time was tickin down on us something fierce. I dragged tha two bodies out, and Her Ladyship was there, ready, and lookin . . . grim. She nodded to me, and looks sadly at the two bodies, dressed like us, but, not us. Tha once-Fanger still had tha fangs, but tha thing that makes them be undead was dead in it, so, she was just in-between. She wasn’t even old enough ta go ta ash, just kinda looked dead and sickly. My kin had gone back to Fleshie form, reverted slowly after tha silver had done its work. I looked at them like so much meat, I had a job ta do, and I was gunna see my mission to tha end.
I reached up and yanked a pawfull of fur out, and tossed it at tha couches and look out my KA-BAR, and lookin away from Her Ladyship, stabbed myself through tha forearm. Whimpered, I did, it’s a hard thing ta do, without rage goadin ya, ta stab yerself, but I did it, and left tha blade in, and spun my arm about a bit, ta spray some blood about. Pulled it out again, and at tha same spot, sliced a chunk outta my arm, skinned a patch tha size of a dog food can lid, growlin as I sawed it off, and tossed it against tha fire place. Tha look in Her Ladyships eyes at me hurtin myself made me feel bad fer doin it, but, I could feel tha regeneration as I got to tha next stage, so, no harm done. Her Ladyship surprised me then, but, and said “I suppose I should offer the same evidence to our pursuers, don’t you think?” and before I could say anything, she bit her wrist and flicked it at tha wall and floor aways from tha bodies. I nodded, and bowed my head in thanks to her forwards thinking.
Last step. I got a metal canister out of my supplies, and slopped tha sticky, stinkin mess out of it, all over tha bodies, makin a mess of it, makin sure I didn’t spread it too far off them, but, its good stuff, made it myself, real thick and sticky. Napalm. Covered tha bodies but not tha Library. I had told tha Library Spirit our plan, and I got tha feelin it was just as unhappy as we were about tha situation, and I got tha feelin it was thinking tha same thing. It had dropped a book, for me when I had first told it about my evac plans, tha book was “You Only Live Twice” by Ian Fleming, a spook book, but I didn’t get ta read it, maybe next time . . .
We set tha bodies, and with our small bags of things, look out tha grimy windows into to that grimy city fer what was probably tha last time. I reached inta my pouch and fished out my mirror and asked Her Ladyship if she was ready. She smiled, a fierce, determined smile and nodded, I offered my paw, she took it in her smooth as stone hand. “See ya on tha flipside, Library, its been swell, but tha swelling’s gone down” and with that, we flashed outta that place, leavin mystery and misadventure in our wake, misery and muck in our past.
Pencil entry, messily scribbled, there are food stains on the pages, dated 12/4/2009
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Tha winds of change, they kinda stink, sometimes. This time, though, I got a wiff before tha real stink hit, and tha stink was of death. Time ta bug out. Time ta enact “Grr’s Evac plan #3”. Needed to get do some “shoppin” fer that. Why were we buggin out? Well, tha nasty critter that had gotten loose, run amuck and brought down tha heat from tha Septic Federal’s. Agent Men, wanderin about, huntin. Tha good citizens of Tox, well, they did what they do best, and after tha smoke cleared, and tha agents had been BBQ’d at tha stake, their helio shot down, and tha reprisal strike by ship ta ship missile on tha supply barge, I knew it was only a matter of time till they came back in force. I talked with some of tha Pack, who were determined ta stay, and fight fer their territory, angry pups who’ve never seen battlefield combat with a well trained and equipped military.
Between that, and the breakup of tha Institute, and everythin else that had been goin on there, tha waters were already lookin choppy, but like I say, tha wind brought tha scent of death, and even tha Messenger was absent. When tha Valkyrie depart, its time ta bug out. Didn’t have too much time, but enough ta do what needed ta be done. I collected tha tools of my trade, and set out shoppin. Huntin, is more accurate, though.
My first target was ta be tha easier of tha two, I just put my nose to tha ground, and sniffed about till I found tha right kind of scent. Male, Shifter, new to town. Alone. Spent a while till I tracked him down, then some more time observin. Stayin down wind, stayin outta sight, and sound. Casual, like, not makin it feel like a stalkin, in case his instincts were good. Turns out, though, he was just another turned Fleshie, stumbling about in his War-Form, like he was finding his paws. Poor bastard, well, him or me, I win out every time. I checked tha surrounds, didn’t want any witnesses for this, or tha whole jig was up. The look in his eyes was hardest, when tha first three round burst caught him in tha middle of tha pelvis. Silver hollow-points, make em myself. I keep a couple of 5.56 clips of them handy, just in case. Silver is a sacred metal, and is due tha respect my kin give it. I craft it with prayer and blessin, because there is only one reason for me ta use it. To take my own kind over tha Wide River.
Those three rounds hit him and shattered tha heavy bone of his pelvis, and hopefully, his spine too, I saw his legs bucklin even as tha second burst took him mid-chest, a little high and left of solar plexus, but, I wasn’t at too much distance, and tha MoA was only slight. Heart shot, rather than another spine hit, but, hollow-points make a mess, even subsonic 5.56’s. Tha trick is ta make a big hole, and not over-penetrate, leave that blood-metal in tha wound ta do its work. I kept whisperin my Prayer fer tha Departin, as he jerked and twitched, bodymass dropping him as his hips cracked wider, fallin in slow motion, impacts ta his chest, rib shards and silver mushrooms sproutin in his lungs and heart. His head turned to me, as he dropped, reflexes and canine hearin getting triangulation on tha second burst, even suppressed. That’s when tha third burst landed. His eyes landed on my position, in tha bushes by tha tattoo parlour, and he opened his mouth to try to howl for help.
Even lung-shot, my kin can let out a howl loud enough ta be heard by all those who would listen, fer quite a ways, and as it happens, I was ready, in case that happened, but, fallin as he was, mouth opening ta howl, my third burst found tha mark I gave them, mouth is as good as throat, and he ate at least two of tha three rounds. He crumpled, and lay still, back of his head a wet mess, where bone fragments and silver shards punched through tha back of his skull. I had ta move fast, in case I gotr spotted, but tha hours I keep, and picked, made that pretty easy, no one much is ever about when I am, so, I was in luck. I gathered my brass, slung my weapon, and double timed it over to him. I wondered what his name was, but, Coyote knows, and will add it to my tally. I reached him ,saw his tattered clothes and realised how young he must be, maybe his second moon as Kin, not even old enough ta know how ta deal with clothes. Too bad fer him. Dog eat Dog. I whipped out a poncho liner and rolled him onto it, tied him in, and threw him over my shoulder, and got my tail back to the Library.
I got him in, unseen again, I think, and stashed him in tha store room, before changing, and re-equippin myself fer my second item. A couple of hours had passed, not sure how much longer we had, and with tha time tickin away in my head. I got myself together, and headed back out. As I wandered, I got word that a supply ship had been spotted comin in, and we were expected ta make a show of gatherin intel. Well, that’s what we do, and it’d have raised more attention if I hadn’t. Her Ladyship was still out, makin her own arrangements. So, it was up to me. I passed tha crowd, squablin over booze and eats, as they stood about tha docks, all tha while, I was scanning bodies. Size and shape, needed ta be Fleshie, if this was gunna work. There were folks talking about tha critter, and that it had been loaded up ta be shipped off. I boarded tha barge, and poked about, myself, even whe nit pulled away, I kept lookin through what was left. Folks on tha shore yelled ta get back, that I’d get taken, but, I just waved cheerily, seemed ta me like them seein I was finding a way of tha island fer a holiday wasn’t a bad thing, would add to tha confusion, and if there were repercussions? Well, all tha better, blame tha Mainalnders fer what they were gunna find, later on.
I disembarked as tha barge turned tha corner near tha harbour, out of eye-line from tha docks. Double backed through tha sea wall, past tha Pit, and towards tha Park, tha fountain. Always one by tha fountain, or at least, in tha old days. I was in luck. All alone, again, bloody good fortune, pardon tha pun, and I set up quickly in tha rubble behind tha Vet Clinic, under tha toxic vat. I had my M-70 this time, and a different load. Folks think that bein in tha Institute is all about reading books, and filin reports. What they forget is that we larn everythin, we collect everythn, we never throw anything away. As Praetor, I had access, and knowledge.
I had tha anti-Fanger Serum, to de-Fanger folks, as used in tha Fanger-Lycan War, two strains, actually, because we had developed our own, too, a legacy of Shiny, Lyra tha Furf. I had taken that, and loaded it up into tranq darts, tha same kind that used ta get used on me, when I was in tha zoo, when I was learnin ta think like a Fleshie, in tha 7RAR-L. Tha same I’ve used on my own kin ta drop them when they go moon-struck. I had two of each strain, and had them on paw, just in case.
Tha female was not big, but she moved with tha fluid power that comes with tha Fangers, sex on a stick and as cool as a Melbourne eve. Her hair wasn’t dark, wasn’t light, so I was hopin it was tha right colour, but in tha end, that’s just icin on tha cake. I lined up as she fed from tha trough, tha fountain I helped build. At least she had tha grace ta use a cup, Her Ladyship would have been pleased ta know. I was pretty sure she didn’t have a clue I was there, again, I wasn’t that far off, and this could get messy if I bullocked it up.
Tha first dart hit her in tha back, about kidney height, she flinched, and spat her mouthful out and wheeled on tha spot and looked around fer what had hit her. Not seein anything, she reached back to grab at the dart, and struggled to reach it. I loaded up tha second kind, and drew another bead on her, and tagged her, upper right chest, above her teats, below collarbone. When she took that one, she staggered a little, off balance from reaching fer tha first dart.
When she plucked it and looked at it, tha look of contempt and spite that crossed her face was something outta tha movies. Classic Fanger rage face, fangs dropped, predator’s snarl, and she was on tha road ta revenge. She heard tha second shot, too, just like my kin had, and came at me, or at least, my way, a keening call made its way out of her mouth, as she ran towards tha vat I was under, I expect that she thought she’d zip under, and tear out tha throat of tha fool who tried to dart her, like some mortal. Well, I was hopin tha serum was fast actin, and that a mixed double dose would do tha trick, because tha next round I loaded was just a regular copper jacketed steel core. She had crossed tha park in good time, rounded tha tank, and was getting ready to vault tha chainlink fence I was behind, when she slowed. Makin tha jump, she only got half way up tha fence, and with a look of rage, and anger, had ta go hand over hand up it.
I took that as a sign my plan, and tha serums, had worked, and unloaded tha third round, mid-chest, iron sighted. Tha full military load cracked hard, kicked hard, and did it’s job. She was still goin up, but when that round punched through her chest, she just crumpled and sagged mid-air, and dropped off tha fence into a heap, behind tha vat. She wasn’t quite dead, makin that raspy, wheezy sound folks make when they are getting ready ta Cross, after takin one to tha lungs. I re-chambered, gathered my brass, and slipped around tha fence, at-shoulder, keeping her covered, in case tha serum wore off sudden-like whilst she was still kickin. I looked her in tha eyes as tha life went out of her, and whispered tha same prayer I had fer tha first target. She might have deserved ta die, but she wasn’t even my enemy, just needed her fer tha plan. Another name on Coyote’s list. Rolled her ta see that it was a through and through shot, then bagged her too, and after slingin my weapon, carried her as swift as i could without lookin like I was runnin with fresh meat, back to tha Library.
I got back, and again, as it often was, these days, found it empty, dumped tha almost-Fanger in tha store room, and got tha rest of what I needed. Clothes. Two sets, mine and Hers. I stripped tha two bodies, and changed them, hard work when ya think about it, harder ta do, even more so when they are all bloody and fucked up like these two were. I managed, I had to, time was tickin down on us something fierce. I dragged tha two bodies out, and Her Ladyship was there, ready, and lookin . . . grim. She nodded to me, and looks sadly at the two bodies, dressed like us, but, not us. Tha once-Fanger still had tha fangs, but tha thing that makes them be undead was dead in it, so, she was just in-between. She wasn’t even old enough ta go ta ash, just kinda looked dead and sickly. My kin had gone back to Fleshie form, reverted slowly after tha silver had done its work. I looked at them like so much meat, I had a job ta do, and I was gunna see my mission to tha end.
I reached up and yanked a pawfull of fur out, and tossed it at tha couches and look out my KA-BAR, and lookin away from Her Ladyship, stabbed myself through tha forearm. Whimpered, I did, it’s a hard thing ta do, without rage goadin ya, ta stab yerself, but I did it, and left tha blade in, and spun my arm about a bit, ta spray some blood about. Pulled it out again, and at tha same spot, sliced a chunk outta my arm, skinned a patch tha size of a dog food can lid, growlin as I sawed it off, and tossed it against tha fire place. Tha look in Her Ladyships eyes at me hurtin myself made me feel bad fer doin it, but, I could feel tha regeneration as I got to tha next stage, so, no harm done. Her Ladyship surprised me then, but, and said “I suppose I should offer the same evidence to our pursuers, don’t you think?” and before I could say anything, she bit her wrist and flicked it at tha wall and floor aways from tha bodies. I nodded, and bowed my head in thanks to her forwards thinking.
Last step. I got a metal canister out of my supplies, and slopped tha sticky, stinkin mess out of it, all over tha bodies, makin a mess of it, makin sure I didn’t spread it too far off them, but, its good stuff, made it myself, real thick and sticky. Napalm. Covered tha bodies but not tha Library. I had told tha Library Spirit our plan, and I got tha feelin it was just as unhappy as we were about tha situation, and I got tha feelin it was thinking tha same thing. It had dropped a book, for me when I had first told it about my evac plans, tha book was “You Only Live Twice” by Ian Fleming, a spook book, but I didn’t get ta read it, maybe next time . . .
We set tha bodies, and with our small bags of things, look out tha grimy windows into to that grimy city fer what was probably tha last time. I reached inta my pouch and fished out my mirror and asked Her Ladyship if she was ready. She smiled, a fierce, determined smile and nodded, I offered my paw, she took it in her smooth as stone hand. “See ya on tha flipside, Library, its been swell, but tha swelling’s gone down” and with that, we flashed outta that place, leavin mystery and misadventure in our wake, misery and muck in our past.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Ejected from my Sim, removed from my groups, removed from my Faction
i was wandering about, Roleplaying, when all of the sudden, i wasn't on the Sim anymore, i contacted one of the Sim owners, who had ejected me.
this is due to a side project i have been working on, to re-include a number of our players who left the Sim due to GMing conflicts, the way some roleplay's had been handles and / or quashed or had for one reason or another been driven off.
this was leaked to one of the Senior GM's (Omega being the other one) who passed it on to the Sim Owners (remaining nameless). They then fired me as a GM, as the Assistant Manager of KTOX, (where i have essentially run the station for the last year) and ejected me from the Sim. They also threatened to ban me from the combat system, SL wide, if i didn't comply, and remove myself from all related groups.
Two years worth of work, dozens of pages of roleplaying writing, plotlines, story material and hours of GMing frustration, heartache and negotiations, and they've slammed the door on me. Good thing there -WAS- a backup plan, even though we were being very, very polite and not poaching anyone, or promoting our group to anyone who hadn't already left that Sim.
Nothing will be lost, except the connection to those groups, and the opportunities to interact with my friends there, all my work i bring with me, and will offer under a different title, in a different Sim.
None of this makes me feel like i haven't been stabbed in the back, and exiled.
Here are some of the conversations that occurred.
Its taken me till now to be able to write about this.
With everything else going on in my life right now, this was like the cherry on the cake. I am so grateful to my friends to be here for me and take my mind off it all as best they may.
I don't know how many more things like this i could cope with.
************************
[Sim owner]: You have been ejected from 'Toxia - KTOX Radio' by [Sim owner].
[Sim owner]: You have been ejected from 'Toxia - GMs' by [Sim owner].
GrrBrool Lykin: hi there, may i ask what is going on?
[Sim owner]: Your fired along with omega
[Sim owner]: please leave toxia grps
GrrBrool Lykin: may i ask why?
[Sim owner]: enjoy nor with your new group
[Sim owner]: I suggest you contact omega and have her leave the toxian groups befire you both recieve a dcs wide ban
GrrBrool Lykin: ok, as you like. i can see that something has been said. i'll comply with your wishes.
[Sim owner]: some how she is owner in omega inst
[Sim owner]: and needs to leave
[Sim owner]: without sending a notice
[Sim owner]: she even sends a goodbye she will get a dcs ban
GrrBrool Lykin: she is out currently, and will not be home for a couple of hours, if you could see to extend her that leeway, it would be appreciated, i'm sure
[Sim owner]: as soon as she comes on she needs to leave em ok?
GrrBrool Lykin: i will call her and let her know,,
[Sim owner]: no drama
[Sim owner]: tell her to just leave like grown adult
[Sim owner]: this conversations over
GrrBrool Lykin: i will pass on your message. thank you for the information.
[Sim owner]: You have been ejected from 'Toxia - The Omega Institute' by [Sim owner].
************************
************************
*RP NOTICE*
Sun Apr 12 16:51:25 2009
[Sim owner]
Omega and Grr were found dead in the libary today..
Their bodys were snatched up by some hazmat team and burned and removed from the sim. A new leader will be elected and put in place.
************************
this is due to a side project i have been working on, to re-include a number of our players who left the Sim due to GMing conflicts, the way some roleplay's had been handles and / or quashed or had for one reason or another been driven off.
this was leaked to one of the Senior GM's (Omega being the other one) who passed it on to the Sim Owners (remaining nameless). They then fired me as a GM, as the Assistant Manager of KTOX, (where i have essentially run the station for the last year) and ejected me from the Sim. They also threatened to ban me from the combat system, SL wide, if i didn't comply, and remove myself from all related groups.
Two years worth of work, dozens of pages of roleplaying writing, plotlines, story material and hours of GMing frustration, heartache and negotiations, and they've slammed the door on me. Good thing there -WAS- a backup plan, even though we were being very, very polite and not poaching anyone, or promoting our group to anyone who hadn't already left that Sim.
Nothing will be lost, except the connection to those groups, and the opportunities to interact with my friends there, all my work i bring with me, and will offer under a different title, in a different Sim.
None of this makes me feel like i haven't been stabbed in the back, and exiled.
Here are some of the conversations that occurred.
Its taken me till now to be able to write about this.
With everything else going on in my life right now, this was like the cherry on the cake. I am so grateful to my friends to be here for me and take my mind off it all as best they may.
I don't know how many more things like this i could cope with.
************************
[Sim owner]: You have been ejected from 'Toxia - KTOX Radio' by [Sim owner].
[Sim owner]: You have been ejected from 'Toxia - GMs' by [Sim owner].
GrrBrool Lykin: hi there, may i ask what is going on?
[Sim owner]: Your fired along with omega
[Sim owner]: please leave toxia grps
GrrBrool Lykin: may i ask why?
[Sim owner]: enjoy nor with your new group
[Sim owner]: I suggest you contact omega and have her leave the toxian groups befire you both recieve a dcs wide ban
GrrBrool Lykin: ok, as you like. i can see that something has been said. i'll comply with your wishes.
[Sim owner]: some how she is owner in omega inst
[Sim owner]: and needs to leave
[Sim owner]: without sending a notice
[Sim owner]: she even sends a goodbye she will get a dcs ban
GrrBrool Lykin: she is out currently, and will not be home for a couple of hours, if you could see to extend her that leeway, it would be appreciated, i'm sure
[Sim owner]: as soon as she comes on she needs to leave em ok?
GrrBrool Lykin: i will call her and let her know,,
[Sim owner]: no drama
[Sim owner]: tell her to just leave like grown adult
[Sim owner]: this conversations over
GrrBrool Lykin: i will pass on your message. thank you for the information.
[Sim owner]: You have been ejected from 'Toxia - The Omega Institute' by [Sim owner].
************************
************************
*RP NOTICE*
Sun Apr 12 16:51:25 2009
[Sim owner]
Omega and Grr were found dead in the libary today..
Their bodys were snatched up by some hazmat team and burned and removed from the sim. A new leader will be elected and put in place.
************************
A letter from Libertie Shieldmaiden: patriot
I received this message from a member, one of my Faction, it seems, who felt strongly about my, and Omega's being permanently banned from the Toxian City Sim, and fired from our various jobs and responsibilities in Toxian City. She's what we would call a fringe member, we don't have any control over what they do or say, but . . .all the same, it was lovely to hear someone sticking up for US . . .
*******************************
Greetings.
Something very important has happened.
Your leader and her 2IC have been exiled. Their crime?
Defending you.
Do not beleive the lies you have been told. Omega and GrrBrool are not dead. They have merely been exiled from Toxian City because it became evident they cared more about their people, you, than the sim owner found pleasing.
The sim owners have arbitarily put in place a new leader, one they beleive will look after their interests - not yours.
Omega has been told if she says anything to you, even so much as a "Goodbye" she will face a DCS-wide ban. I must therefore speak in her stead, having nothing to lose.
Omega and GrrBrool have been dismissed without reason, without explanation, without any sembalance of justice, logic or reason. They have been put on an estate ban - a permanant ban normally reserved for serious griefers and others who pose a clear and present danger to the sim.
Why have they been dealt with so harshly? Without explanation, without reason?
Because they were sticking up for you.
Day after day, players who break the mold in some way - an innovative background, an unusual avatar, a new plot line... these players are put on trial.
Omega and GrrBrool attempted to be voices of reason, counselling to allow creativity, innovation and freedom - within the sim's established rules. They spoke out against arbitary rulings based on subjective opinion. They pleaded for the "unwritten" rules to be clarified, for a clear and transparent set of rules for the players to follow, for an end to the inconsistent application of rules recorded and unrecorded.
They pleaded for things to be fair.
The sim owners have been more-or-less absent for some time. The caretakers they left in their stead have decided to interpret the rules their own way - often to the detriment of players. The sim owners are fed a version of reality that suits the caretaker's views.
The caretaker has seen an opportunity to get rid of these dissident voices once and for all - and has taken it.
So your leaders are gone. Because they stood up and defended you.
What to do?
You could drop notecards on the sim owners letting them know your displeasure. To do so would almost certianly earn you a ban.
All you can really do is vote with your time. Choose how to spend your RP time, under whose rule, under what rules.
Let others know, whenever you get the opportunity, why you have chosen to spend your time where you do.
If you do spend any time in toxia, remember:
Renting land anywhere but Toxia is grounds for banning.
Helping out or GMing anywhere but Toxia is grounds for banning.
Reminding the sim owners of something they said or did is grounds for banning.
Creating a character that does not fit the mold, is not easy to understand, is grounds for banning, even if that character does not seem to break the rules of the sim.
The grounds for banning change all the time and are rarely explained.
Now it's up to you - will you support what has been done or not?
Toxia is a small RP sim, not one of the most popular for a long time now. There are other options. Do your research and make your choice - and when you do, we'll be waiting.
*******************************
Greetings.
Something very important has happened.
Your leader and her 2IC have been exiled. Their crime?
Defending you.
Do not beleive the lies you have been told. Omega and GrrBrool are not dead. They have merely been exiled from Toxian City because it became evident they cared more about their people, you, than the sim owner found pleasing.
The sim owners have arbitarily put in place a new leader, one they beleive will look after their interests - not yours.
Omega has been told if she says anything to you, even so much as a "Goodbye" she will face a DCS-wide ban. I must therefore speak in her stead, having nothing to lose.
Omega and GrrBrool have been dismissed without reason, without explanation, without any sembalance of justice, logic or reason. They have been put on an estate ban - a permanant ban normally reserved for serious griefers and others who pose a clear and present danger to the sim.
Why have they been dealt with so harshly? Without explanation, without reason?
Because they were sticking up for you.
Day after day, players who break the mold in some way - an innovative background, an unusual avatar, a new plot line... these players are put on trial.
Omega and GrrBrool attempted to be voices of reason, counselling to allow creativity, innovation and freedom - within the sim's established rules. They spoke out against arbitary rulings based on subjective opinion. They pleaded for the "unwritten" rules to be clarified, for a clear and transparent set of rules for the players to follow, for an end to the inconsistent application of rules recorded and unrecorded.
They pleaded for things to be fair.
The sim owners have been more-or-less absent for some time. The caretakers they left in their stead have decided to interpret the rules their own way - often to the detriment of players. The sim owners are fed a version of reality that suits the caretaker's views.
The caretaker has seen an opportunity to get rid of these dissident voices once and for all - and has taken it.
So your leaders are gone. Because they stood up and defended you.
What to do?
You could drop notecards on the sim owners letting them know your displeasure. To do so would almost certianly earn you a ban.
All you can really do is vote with your time. Choose how to spend your RP time, under whose rule, under what rules.
Let others know, whenever you get the opportunity, why you have chosen to spend your time where you do.
If you do spend any time in toxia, remember:
Renting land anywhere but Toxia is grounds for banning.
Helping out or GMing anywhere but Toxia is grounds for banning.
Reminding the sim owners of something they said or did is grounds for banning.
Creating a character that does not fit the mold, is not easy to understand, is grounds for banning, even if that character does not seem to break the rules of the sim.
The grounds for banning change all the time and are rarely explained.
Now it's up to you - will you support what has been done or not?
Toxia is a small RP sim, not one of the most popular for a long time now. There are other options. Do your research and make your choice - and when you do, we'll be waiting.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The Lady Walks
=========================================
Pencil entry, dated 26/3/2009, there is a deep red smear in one corner
=========================================
Through the darkened streets She walked, crunching over the concrete gravel and spent casings. Standing tall and upright, but I could see Her shoulders were low, as if some weight were on Her, something, I couldn’t see what. But She walked on, and I followed. Knew I was there, I’m sure, I had made no secret of it, but, when She needs to stroll to think, I’m happier if I know there are extra friendly eyes Watchin. She don’t need much in tha way of protectin, there’s not much more I can do, that an Ancient Fanger, as She is, couldn’t handle. Still, makes me feel better knowin She aint wanderin all alone, and I think She finds it warmin that I tag along sometimes, either in arms reach, or like now, from across tha street.
I sing a little song to myself as we walk, Her where She would go, me, watching her “6”. It’s a song from home, called “Thorns”. One verse catches me, especially as She walks, and I think I understand what is happening.
No point complaining, I've been here before,
The same old same old you know the score,
Faces unfeeling, look down on me,
Eyes cut from stone shine with no sympathy,
This silent of silence, this river of pain,
And here I am walking down her streets again,
On thorns...
She walks through the city, not a straight line “walk with a mission”, just, walking. From tha Library I follow her to tha Garage, tha Ryders took off, just roared into tha night, and no one’s heard much from them since, there are still a couple of folks about, but they don’t wear the Colours, so I figure they’re strays. They don’t even look up from their scavengin as Her Ladyship passes, and pauses to look over the near empty stronghold. Its not till She is passed that they look up, and look to one another and nod at Her back. One stands, and they make to move on what looks to be an easy mark, a Lady, in fine clothes, walking in the dark, alone. Except, She aint. I saw them through the window, and as they step up ta make a move towards Her, I pad to tha open Garage doorway. Lookin in from my crouch, tall even with my paws close to the ground, I give a snarl to let them know She is not prey for them, they go silent, looked to the floor, and I move off.
The Pit, that fucking place. Power and terror, fear and rage. I’ll be glad to see the back of that place, some of my Timor dreams are matched by the ones I have from that place. She walks up the long ramp and pauses, staring inwards and shakes her head, not a negative, but disappointed, and walks back down, and away. I Watch from the back of tha Shelter, ready as ever to go in for Her, as I have in tha past, when She was confronted by tha Shadows, seeking reparation for Nareth’s being ett. Not this time though, tha Pit was as silent as tha Graveyard, which was Her next destination. We walked, Her down the middle of the street, me, dartin from cover to cover, past the Shelter, past the hospital, to tha Church of tha Righteous, and tha Graveyard.
Still, silent. She moves into tha Church, and down tha aisles. I could hear her heels on tha boards, and tha echo was telling. Tha graves were as still and silent as ever, tha muck and mist givin no sign of bein disturbed for some time, no couples scrumpin, no Fangers, fangin, nothing. Dead. Ironic, that. I hang back as I hear Her return, lettin Her walk as She will. South again. Past Haven, past tha Diner, to tha Park.
Tha Park where we did a great Work. Where the willing bled and a great betrayal was struck. She stands by tha Pool, now clotted and leaf-blown, tha Alliance of Her kin seem to have never givin it care and neglect shows, its healing power is diminished, and it smells. Her Ladyship stopped and sighed. I saw her look up to the trees that grew right around it, trees planted from seeds of Her garden, Goddess knows how old they would have been. Fruit that is blood-rich, and good ta eat fer Fanger and Fleshie alike. Plums that taste kind of like salty melon. Deep red and hardy enough to even grow in Toxia. Untasted, it seems, because tha branches are full of fruit, maybe tha season change did them good. It was a hard winter. She sighs again, and walks back towards tha Library.
I pause, from across the street, and as She leaves the park, I enter it, and go to the trees. I stare at the fruit, and at the pool, and back over the city. Was it all wasted? Were all the efforts fer nothing? We’ve lost so much, so many of our people have already fled. Tha comin of Cthulhu and Dagon was tha turning point, I think. Even tha rats are hard to come by. At least my Kin in tha Pack are thrivin, but, fer how long?
I looked to the trees, and made up my mind. I picked half of tha fruit, every second one, and put them in my pouch, dozens of blood-plums, lucky my pouch is a lot bigger on tha inside than it is on tha outside, or at least, where it goes is. I harvested tha fruits, because, if this place falls, or if we go, this at least won’t be wasted. I headed back to tha Library, and stroked tha walls, letting tha Library Spirit know that I was home, fer now.
Pencil entry, dated 26/3/2009, there is a deep red smear in one corner
=========================================
Through the darkened streets She walked, crunching over the concrete gravel and spent casings. Standing tall and upright, but I could see Her shoulders were low, as if some weight were on Her, something, I couldn’t see what. But She walked on, and I followed. Knew I was there, I’m sure, I had made no secret of it, but, when She needs to stroll to think, I’m happier if I know there are extra friendly eyes Watchin. She don’t need much in tha way of protectin, there’s not much more I can do, that an Ancient Fanger, as She is, couldn’t handle. Still, makes me feel better knowin She aint wanderin all alone, and I think She finds it warmin that I tag along sometimes, either in arms reach, or like now, from across tha street.
I sing a little song to myself as we walk, Her where She would go, me, watching her “6”. It’s a song from home, called “Thorns”. One verse catches me, especially as She walks, and I think I understand what is happening.
No point complaining, I've been here before,
The same old same old you know the score,
Faces unfeeling, look down on me,
Eyes cut from stone shine with no sympathy,
This silent of silence, this river of pain,
And here I am walking down her streets again,
On thorns...
She walks through the city, not a straight line “walk with a mission”, just, walking. From tha Library I follow her to tha Garage, tha Ryders took off, just roared into tha night, and no one’s heard much from them since, there are still a couple of folks about, but they don’t wear the Colours, so I figure they’re strays. They don’t even look up from their scavengin as Her Ladyship passes, and pauses to look over the near empty stronghold. Its not till She is passed that they look up, and look to one another and nod at Her back. One stands, and they make to move on what looks to be an easy mark, a Lady, in fine clothes, walking in the dark, alone. Except, She aint. I saw them through the window, and as they step up ta make a move towards Her, I pad to tha open Garage doorway. Lookin in from my crouch, tall even with my paws close to the ground, I give a snarl to let them know She is not prey for them, they go silent, looked to the floor, and I move off.
The Pit, that fucking place. Power and terror, fear and rage. I’ll be glad to see the back of that place, some of my Timor dreams are matched by the ones I have from that place. She walks up the long ramp and pauses, staring inwards and shakes her head, not a negative, but disappointed, and walks back down, and away. I Watch from the back of tha Shelter, ready as ever to go in for Her, as I have in tha past, when She was confronted by tha Shadows, seeking reparation for Nareth’s being ett. Not this time though, tha Pit was as silent as tha Graveyard, which was Her next destination. We walked, Her down the middle of the street, me, dartin from cover to cover, past the Shelter, past the hospital, to tha Church of tha Righteous, and tha Graveyard.
Still, silent. She moves into tha Church, and down tha aisles. I could hear her heels on tha boards, and tha echo was telling. Tha graves were as still and silent as ever, tha muck and mist givin no sign of bein disturbed for some time, no couples scrumpin, no Fangers, fangin, nothing. Dead. Ironic, that. I hang back as I hear Her return, lettin Her walk as She will. South again. Past Haven, past tha Diner, to tha Park.
Tha Park where we did a great Work. Where the willing bled and a great betrayal was struck. She stands by tha Pool, now clotted and leaf-blown, tha Alliance of Her kin seem to have never givin it care and neglect shows, its healing power is diminished, and it smells. Her Ladyship stopped and sighed. I saw her look up to the trees that grew right around it, trees planted from seeds of Her garden, Goddess knows how old they would have been. Fruit that is blood-rich, and good ta eat fer Fanger and Fleshie alike. Plums that taste kind of like salty melon. Deep red and hardy enough to even grow in Toxia. Untasted, it seems, because tha branches are full of fruit, maybe tha season change did them good. It was a hard winter. She sighs again, and walks back towards tha Library.
I pause, from across the street, and as She leaves the park, I enter it, and go to the trees. I stare at the fruit, and at the pool, and back over the city. Was it all wasted? Were all the efforts fer nothing? We’ve lost so much, so many of our people have already fled. Tha comin of Cthulhu and Dagon was tha turning point, I think. Even tha rats are hard to come by. At least my Kin in tha Pack are thrivin, but, fer how long?
I looked to the trees, and made up my mind. I picked half of tha fruit, every second one, and put them in my pouch, dozens of blood-plums, lucky my pouch is a lot bigger on tha inside than it is on tha outside, or at least, where it goes is. I harvested tha fruits, because, if this place falls, or if we go, this at least won’t be wasted. I headed back to tha Library, and stroked tha walls, letting tha Library Spirit know that I was home, fer now.
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