Scene: Andrasda coughs. Then she coughs again and spiders begin to drop from her mouth. At first there is one and then another in her hand. Then she begins to cough more.
Hobbes: (Shouting) What are you waiting for?!
Scene: Anastasia looks pensive. She hesitates. Hobbes runs over and shouts.
Hobbes: She's never going to be vulnerable. You have your connection to the sword!
(Beat)
What is wrong with you?
Scene: Close up of Anastasia's face.
Scene: Andrasda coughs up more spiders.
Scene: Anastasia frowns and looks at the sword
Scene: Hobbes's face, looking fearful.
Hobbes: WHAT? The spell won't last forever?!
Scene: Close up of Anastasia's face.
Anastasia: It connects me to more than the sword Hobbes.
Scene: Anastasia turns around and stabs Hobbes in the guts.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Monday, January 11, 2016
Vampires in Terra
I have read several books on the Occult, of course, so the subject of Vampirism has come up. There are a lot of different kinds, but it isn't of the Twilight variety or the Interview with a Vampire either. Its essentially a curse, inflicted due to prayer or some supernatural entity. Dracula was made a vampire due to the opposing prayers of all the Turks he killed. That is the primary reason Terra is not inflicted with hoards of vampires....for someone to become one, they have to metaphorically deserve it. It isn't some supernatural disease one can catch just by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Though I suppose if one counts 'death' as a supernatural disease, then you can easily catch it.
Fiction from Earth often finds Vampires of a torn morality, who grow to resent their curse and work to redeem themselves. I've seen such creatures in other worlds, but not in Terra. To be clear, there is not, so far as I know, some supernatural or demonic force that prevents them from doing good; they're just assholes. While our politicians are not perfect, they are practically saints compared to the Earth variety.
On Terra, we are stories wheras on Earth you tell them. That means our highs are very high and our lows are very low. Those who choose to be assholes or villains tend to be very much of that cloth and those who are complicated are still much clearer in tone when doing dire deeds. But....
Some of the people you have there...I must say on the AGGREGATE make our vampires look tame by comparison. A vampire in Terra might tear through an entire orphanage in a rural town to sate their blood lust before going to sleep for another century. Some of your population will sooner let millions suffer simply because it isn't their problem. Maybe our heroes are just better at moving people toward compassion but I do admit, I'm glad I live here.
The stories there are amazing. I live to see them which is why I find myself spending more and more time every day floating amongst your population, listening for anything I can, real or otherwise. But I have to wonder if the reason we write so few is because the quality of our lives is better and the reason you write so much is because...nearly anywhere else is better than where you are. But I'm biased I suppose.
Though I suppose if one counts 'death' as a supernatural disease, then you can easily catch it.
Fiction from Earth often finds Vampires of a torn morality, who grow to resent their curse and work to redeem themselves. I've seen such creatures in other worlds, but not in Terra. To be clear, there is not, so far as I know, some supernatural or demonic force that prevents them from doing good; they're just assholes. While our politicians are not perfect, they are practically saints compared to the Earth variety.
On Terra, we are stories wheras on Earth you tell them. That means our highs are very high and our lows are very low. Those who choose to be assholes or villains tend to be very much of that cloth and those who are complicated are still much clearer in tone when doing dire deeds. But....
Some of the people you have there...I must say on the AGGREGATE make our vampires look tame by comparison. A vampire in Terra might tear through an entire orphanage in a rural town to sate their blood lust before going to sleep for another century. Some of your population will sooner let millions suffer simply because it isn't their problem. Maybe our heroes are just better at moving people toward compassion but I do admit, I'm glad I live here.
The stories there are amazing. I live to see them which is why I find myself spending more and more time every day floating amongst your population, listening for anything I can, real or otherwise. But I have to wonder if the reason we write so few is because the quality of our lives is better and the reason you write so much is because...nearly anywhere else is better than where you are. But I'm biased I suppose.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
[Script] Legacy of Hope - Page 10
Scene: Anastasia looks unsure.
Scene: Anastaia looks sad, happy and in love at the same time. She throws open her hands to hug Anastasia.
Scene: Hobbes looks through the book and finds a spell.
Scene: Shot of the page of the book, the title of the spell is "Nasty Surprise"
Hobbes: What are you doing?! Stab her! She's trying to kill you! (Begins chanting)
Scene: Anastasia looks unsure but she speaks into her hand, whispering and the sword lights on fire.
Scene: Andrasta opens up her arms, not even fighting.
Scene: Anastasia hesistates.
Scene: Hobbes looks like he wants to yell but doesn't dare stop his chanting.
Scene: Anastasia lunges but stops at the last minute and cuts Andrasta's arm. Andrasta offers her other arm. Anastasia is clearly doubting.
Scene: Hobbes finishes reading and smiles with triumph.
Scene: Anastaia looks sad, happy and in love at the same time. She throws open her hands to hug Anastasia.
Scene: Hobbes looks through the book and finds a spell.
Scene: Shot of the page of the book, the title of the spell is "Nasty Surprise"
Hobbes: What are you doing?! Stab her! She's trying to kill you! (Begins chanting)
Scene: Anastasia looks unsure but she speaks into her hand, whispering and the sword lights on fire.
Scene: Andrasta opens up her arms, not even fighting.
Scene: Anastasia hesistates.
Scene: Hobbes looks like he wants to yell but doesn't dare stop his chanting.
Scene: Anastasia lunges but stops at the last minute and cuts Andrasta's arm. Andrasta offers her other arm. Anastasia is clearly doubting.
Scene: Hobbes finishes reading and smiles with triumph.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
[Heliotrope] The Geography of Fairy (in relation to Terra)
Trying to describe all of Fairy is insanely stupid, since it flickers and expands in infinite impossible directions betwixt and among worlds in fits and starts; here one day and gone the next. Whole swaths of magic kingdoms appear and disappear in the blink of an eye long before those in a world next door even realize their proximity. But some sections of Fairy, like the red spot on that storm giant Jupiter, become fixed, as a recognizable feature in an otherwise churning churl of chaos.
Such is the nature of Terra. Terra is not like Earth with its ripples upon the pond of reality affecting all of creation, but it is a place between many other places; a veritable high way from one way to another and as such certain regions of fairy have begun to congregate around it with some semblance of stability. Terra's relationship with Fairy has become almost recognizable as a realm compared to other stranger demenses such as limbo, heaven, hell and Eddie's Interdimensinal All Night Pizzaria.
Outer Fairy was once a primal forest or swamp or desert, ruled by spirits who slowly because various fairy creatures influenced by both human belief and the primal creatures inside of Inner Fairy. But time has slowly reduced their number. Their habit of kidnapping changlings and bringing them to Fairy greatly enhanced their quality of life for many centuries, but eventually the humans vastly outnumbered the fairies until there were only humans left. But a human inhabitant of fairy only looks nominally human; all have the blood of fairies in their veins, some even of Fairy Queens or Fairy Godmothers. Not all of them acknowledge their magic, but it influences their lives in ways that would be obvious to someone from Terra. It is a realm that interacts with Terra but is terrified of it; their modern technology and vast numbers infinitely larger than the smaller more magical realms connected to it. And some governments are just beginning to learn of their existence.
One can think of Fairy around Terra as a hypersphere. Inner Fairy perfectly matches the moon but also overlaps Terra. It is exactly the size of the moon, but sunrises and sunsets tend to match those of Terra. Time is not that radically different; at an equinox it is one day for one day; where at the summer solstice it tends to be five terran days for one in outer fairy. By the winter solstice there are five fairy days for every day on Terra. It tends to even out since the New Year on Terra matches the year (more or less) in Outer Fairy.
Middle Fairy is a chaotic realm the size of Mars, also superimposed over Earth but based on Mars's orbit. At apogee, time is 15 days to 1 relative to Terra. The reverse is also true. A year in Middle Terra is equal to three years in Middle Fairy. The magic here is still strong and does not rely on the complex series of magical dykes, dams, aquaducts and windmills to keep it pumping. The land is teeming with magical creatures and while there are human kingdoms there are just as many of flowers, elves, dwarves, sprites, and any spirit imaginable. Godmothers protect the realm from total destruction from Inner Fairy, while Fairy Royalty pays omage to the Godmothers and powerful colored fairies of days of old. There are very few raids into outer fairy though simply because no one (except perhaps the humans) wants humanity to overrun Middle Fairy like they did Inner Fairy.
Inner Fairy is a hypersphere the size of Jupiter, and time there indeed runs long, with 100 days to 1 at apogee relative to terra and inverted at its long flight around the sun. There are roughly 200 years in Inner Fairy relative to Terra. Inner Fairy is ruled by the court of Oberon, with giants of magical power such as Order, Chaos, Light, Darkness and other mythic individuals. Mab and her court hold tremendous sway there and sometimes there are abductions but Inner Fairy can do what it wants, when it wants and easily bypasses Middle Fairy to another realm to fetch entertainment or skill as it requires; though the games between Oberon's children affect many realms far and wide.
Such is the nature of Terra. Terra is not like Earth with its ripples upon the pond of reality affecting all of creation, but it is a place between many other places; a veritable high way from one way to another and as such certain regions of fairy have begun to congregate around it with some semblance of stability. Terra's relationship with Fairy has become almost recognizable as a realm compared to other stranger demenses such as limbo, heaven, hell and Eddie's Interdimensinal All Night Pizzaria.
Outer Fairy was once a primal forest or swamp or desert, ruled by spirits who slowly because various fairy creatures influenced by both human belief and the primal creatures inside of Inner Fairy. But time has slowly reduced their number. Their habit of kidnapping changlings and bringing them to Fairy greatly enhanced their quality of life for many centuries, but eventually the humans vastly outnumbered the fairies until there were only humans left. But a human inhabitant of fairy only looks nominally human; all have the blood of fairies in their veins, some even of Fairy Queens or Fairy Godmothers. Not all of them acknowledge their magic, but it influences their lives in ways that would be obvious to someone from Terra. It is a realm that interacts with Terra but is terrified of it; their modern technology and vast numbers infinitely larger than the smaller more magical realms connected to it. And some governments are just beginning to learn of their existence.
One can think of Fairy around Terra as a hypersphere. Inner Fairy perfectly matches the moon but also overlaps Terra. It is exactly the size of the moon, but sunrises and sunsets tend to match those of Terra. Time is not that radically different; at an equinox it is one day for one day; where at the summer solstice it tends to be five terran days for one in outer fairy. By the winter solstice there are five fairy days for every day on Terra. It tends to even out since the New Year on Terra matches the year (more or less) in Outer Fairy.
Middle Fairy is a chaotic realm the size of Mars, also superimposed over Earth but based on Mars's orbit. At apogee, time is 15 days to 1 relative to Terra. The reverse is also true. A year in Middle Terra is equal to three years in Middle Fairy. The magic here is still strong and does not rely on the complex series of magical dykes, dams, aquaducts and windmills to keep it pumping. The land is teeming with magical creatures and while there are human kingdoms there are just as many of flowers, elves, dwarves, sprites, and any spirit imaginable. Godmothers protect the realm from total destruction from Inner Fairy, while Fairy Royalty pays omage to the Godmothers and powerful colored fairies of days of old. There are very few raids into outer fairy though simply because no one (except perhaps the humans) wants humanity to overrun Middle Fairy like they did Inner Fairy.
Inner Fairy is a hypersphere the size of Jupiter, and time there indeed runs long, with 100 days to 1 at apogee relative to terra and inverted at its long flight around the sun. There are roughly 200 years in Inner Fairy relative to Terra. Inner Fairy is ruled by the court of Oberon, with giants of magical power such as Order, Chaos, Light, Darkness and other mythic individuals. Mab and her court hold tremendous sway there and sometimes there are abductions but Inner Fairy can do what it wants, when it wants and easily bypasses Middle Fairy to another realm to fetch entertainment or skill as it requires; though the games between Oberon's children affect many realms far and wide.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
[Script] Legacy of Hope - Page 9
Scene: Inside of the house, Anastasia looks at the sword. She picks it up.
Scene: Hobbes is reading from the book, desperately moving pages back and forth trying to find the right spell.
Scene: There is a mighty spell, and a ghastly hand reaches out from the house.
Scene: Andrasta looks worried.
Scene: The hand comes closer.
Scene: Andrastda enters a fighting stance.
Scene: The hand opens and reaches for her.
Scene: Andrasta moves to strike and misses.
Scene: The hand slaps her on the wrist.
Scene: Distant shot from the house, where HObbes makes non dialog specific sounds of frustration and annoyance.
Scene: Andrasta smiles and seems more confident and walks up to the porch.
Scene: The door opens up and Anastasia is there, holding the sword.
Scene: Hobbes is reading from the book, desperately moving pages back and forth trying to find the right spell.
Scene: There is a mighty spell, and a ghastly hand reaches out from the house.
Scene: Andrasta looks worried.
Scene: The hand comes closer.
Scene: Andrastda enters a fighting stance.
Scene: The hand opens and reaches for her.
Scene: Andrasta moves to strike and misses.
Scene: The hand slaps her on the wrist.
Scene: Distant shot from the house, where HObbes makes non dialog specific sounds of frustration and annoyance.
Scene: Andrasta smiles and seems more confident and walks up to the porch.
Scene: The door opens up and Anastasia is there, holding the sword.
Monday, January 4, 2016
A change of cities
The letters from EP Blingermeyer had become rather frightening. I was getting pretty good at this Astral Projection thing, and now he was asking for something he never had before. He wanted me to physically travel with him to another world. He was prepared to tell me whatever horrific thing he did to accomplish this, and while I knew there were ways to accomplish this, I knew at this point that most of them were not good. I wasn't sure I wanted to know.
I made one of my frequent trips to the French Quarter and stopped by the Tattered Library, the used bookstore I kept reading a bit at a time when the proprietor looked at me differently, their one good eye open and scrutinizing me. "You've changed," she asked, her dark lips pursing thoughtfully, "Something different about you." Her husband had been the one who had been letting me see a page at a time, and I was under the impression she was the reason he had been so reluctant.
"How'd you like to keep that book?" She asked.
My interest immediately piqued. I had to admit I was obsessed with it. I wasn't sure why. Ever since TC had channeled the stories of the Heliotrope book, I was anxious to know more about the world that literally lay right next to my own. I knew more about the strange and frankly monsterous world you call home than I did about the legendary creatures right next door. "I...might be." My words were coy but my tone was desperate.
She laughed at my attempt at subterfuge and said,"Then you have to choose."
"Choose...what?"
"Who you going to work for. Blingermeyer...or me."
I blinked. This was not the way I had expected this conversation to go. "Um...do you have dental?"
Now she positively cackled though it was a warm throaty thing, filled with high pitched benevolence. "Yes, we work with teeth. And we pay well Mr Ticks. Very well." She put a put a bag of gold coins on the table. At current exchange rates that was easily two years pay. Well, anywhere but Texas, Oklahoma or Fresno.
"You have my attention. What would I do for you? Tour guide suits me but something-"
For the first time, her laugh became derisive. "That bridge to everywhere and nowhere? We have better ways of getting around Mr. Ticks. No, we'd want you to read the books we give you and keep up your...unusual arrangement with TC. Yes, we know about him, we know a lot of things."
"I..." I would have done that anyway. "What's the catch?"
"You need to move. Blingermeyer is bad news. Very bad news. You'd have to set up residence somewhere else."
Now I was upset. I loved my home. TC might be a tumbleweed driving on the wind, but I'd lived in the Bouyou my whole live. "Where?" I asked.
"Magica."
That was another name for Miami, just like some anti romantics still called Terminus Atlanta. It was too hot for my taste. I started to say no when she put a second bag of gold on the table.
"That's not all Mr Ticks," she said, not laughing at all anymore,"You already sense something wrong about how Blingermeyer moves between worlds. You're right. And you won't be able to tell him no if you stay. You want to keep your soul? Work for us?"
I told her I had to think about it. I went home. Dark formless shapes haunted my dreams, and I felt something terrible enter it...something nightmarish...and IT was warning me as well. There were horrific consequences for staying, consequences I couldn't even imagine. I woke in a sheen of sweat to the point that my mouth was dry and my gut was heaving.
I had to get out of there. So gold coins, books and a small family model T full of my remaining possessions, I headed south.
I have a new employer it seems.
I made one of my frequent trips to the French Quarter and stopped by the Tattered Library, the used bookstore I kept reading a bit at a time when the proprietor looked at me differently, their one good eye open and scrutinizing me. "You've changed," she asked, her dark lips pursing thoughtfully, "Something different about you." Her husband had been the one who had been letting me see a page at a time, and I was under the impression she was the reason he had been so reluctant.
"How'd you like to keep that book?" She asked.
My interest immediately piqued. I had to admit I was obsessed with it. I wasn't sure why. Ever since TC had channeled the stories of the Heliotrope book, I was anxious to know more about the world that literally lay right next to my own. I knew more about the strange and frankly monsterous world you call home than I did about the legendary creatures right next door. "I...might be." My words were coy but my tone was desperate.
She laughed at my attempt at subterfuge and said,"Then you have to choose."
"Choose...what?"
"Who you going to work for. Blingermeyer...or me."
I blinked. This was not the way I had expected this conversation to go. "Um...do you have dental?"
Now she positively cackled though it was a warm throaty thing, filled with high pitched benevolence. "Yes, we work with teeth. And we pay well Mr Ticks. Very well." She put a put a bag of gold coins on the table. At current exchange rates that was easily two years pay. Well, anywhere but Texas, Oklahoma or Fresno.
"You have my attention. What would I do for you? Tour guide suits me but something-"
For the first time, her laugh became derisive. "That bridge to everywhere and nowhere? We have better ways of getting around Mr. Ticks. No, we'd want you to read the books we give you and keep up your...unusual arrangement with TC. Yes, we know about him, we know a lot of things."
"I..." I would have done that anyway. "What's the catch?"
"You need to move. Blingermeyer is bad news. Very bad news. You'd have to set up residence somewhere else."
Now I was upset. I loved my home. TC might be a tumbleweed driving on the wind, but I'd lived in the Bouyou my whole live. "Where?" I asked.
"Magica."
That was another name for Miami, just like some anti romantics still called Terminus Atlanta. It was too hot for my taste. I started to say no when she put a second bag of gold on the table.
"That's not all Mr Ticks," she said, not laughing at all anymore,"You already sense something wrong about how Blingermeyer moves between worlds. You're right. And you won't be able to tell him no if you stay. You want to keep your soul? Work for us?"
I told her I had to think about it. I went home. Dark formless shapes haunted my dreams, and I felt something terrible enter it...something nightmarish...and IT was warning me as well. There were horrific consequences for staying, consequences I couldn't even imagine. I woke in a sheen of sweat to the point that my mouth was dry and my gut was heaving.
I had to get out of there. So gold coins, books and a small family model T full of my remaining possessions, I headed south.
I have a new employer it seems.
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Grenademan Vs the Zombies
This podcast is cursed....but we are still going for now. The echo in this and chapter 16 is untenebal but we will still go every other week for now.
Friday, January 1, 2016
[Writer Stuff] Fiona Skye
While I reserve Monday to post my status as well, Fridays I am going to try and post useful writer tips, resources or inspirational material. Because I wrote the review fairly recently, I'm including it again here for the audiobook of Fiona's here. Fiona has been the editor of a few of my short stories, Grenademan vs The Zombies and also Forever West.
Her website is here.
Her good reads site is here.
And her twitter is here.
Why you should care: As a reader, her books are quite interesting.
As a writer, you should care for two reasons; three actually. First, because she is an excellent example of "Donna Do" as compared to "Donna Don't" and shows the best steps a rising author who can actually sell things should follow. Second, she is an excellent editor for beginning writers because she is one, she is very cheap for the skill level she brings to the table, and because she is willing to call your bullshit for what it is while also offering very real positive praise for the work just when you need it. And third, because smart writers network very well and she can teach you a lot about how to do it (also see point one).
Her website is here.
Her good reads site is here.
And her twitter is here.
Why you should care: As a reader, her books are quite interesting.
As a writer, you should care for two reasons; three actually. First, because she is an excellent example of "Donna Do" as compared to "Donna Don't" and shows the best steps a rising author who can actually sell things should follow. Second, she is an excellent editor for beginning writers because she is one, she is very cheap for the skill level she brings to the table, and because she is willing to call your bullshit for what it is while also offering very real positive praise for the work just when you need it. And third, because smart writers network very well and she can teach you a lot about how to do it (also see point one).
Thursday, December 31, 2015
[Script] Legacy of Hope - Page 8
Scene: The sun sets over an interesting residential street. IT is shown from several angles.
Scene: Hobbes looks nervously through the window.
Scene: Andrasta walking down the middle of the street. Utterly unarmed. Street Lights come on.
Scene: Hobbes sees her and gasps.
Scene: Close up of Hobbes' eye going wide from fear.
Scene: Close up of one side of Andrasta's lips as it ticks up in a half smirk.
Scene: Inside of the house, Hobbes goes and fetches a spell book, and begins rifling through the pages.
Scene: Fog slowly begins to roil in front of the house as Andrasta walks onto the lawn.
Scene: Three demons slowly rise up out of the fog and challenge Andrastada. One of them immediately charges. She eagle claws its eye and then tears into its throat where a great deal of blood spills out. The other two look at each other. They attack at the same time, She grabs one by the arm, seemingly breaking it in two while it howls in pain, the other one swings around her from behind and grabs her arms. The second one begins to punch her stomach and cracks her ribs. She lifts both of her legs into the air, kicks them down and cracks both legs on the demon holding her, massive amounts of blood spilling out as it lands on the ground. The demon who had been attacking her runs, and there is a scream off camera.
Scene: All three demons disolve into mist.
Scene: Hobbes looks nervously through the window.
Scene: Andrasta walking down the middle of the street. Utterly unarmed. Street Lights come on.
Scene: Hobbes sees her and gasps.
Scene: Close up of Hobbes' eye going wide from fear.
Scene: Close up of one side of Andrasta's lips as it ticks up in a half smirk.
Scene: Inside of the house, Hobbes goes and fetches a spell book, and begins rifling through the pages.
Scene: Fog slowly begins to roil in front of the house as Andrasta walks onto the lawn.
Scene: Three demons slowly rise up out of the fog and challenge Andrastada. One of them immediately charges. She eagle claws its eye and then tears into its throat where a great deal of blood spills out. The other two look at each other. They attack at the same time, She grabs one by the arm, seemingly breaking it in two while it howls in pain, the other one swings around her from behind and grabs her arms. The second one begins to punch her stomach and cracks her ribs. She lifts both of her legs into the air, kicks them down and cracks both legs on the demon holding her, massive amounts of blood spilling out as it lands on the ground. The demon who had been attacking her runs, and there is a scream off camera.
Scene: All three demons disolve into mist.
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
[Script] Legacy of Hope - Page 7
Scene: Close up of a child's drawing of a wizard calling down lightning and fire.
Voice Over: The mighty wizard defeated the evil grandmother in a titanic battle.
Scene: (Sepia) Hobbes drugging the Andrasta's drink.
Voice Over: He barely survived with his life.
Scene: (Sepia) Hobbes and Mordenkenen chuckle as they pay off the doctor.
Voice Over: And then he raised the rightful heir to the sword in the way of truth and justice.
Scene: Close up of a child's drawing with Hobbes and Anastasia and the sword.
Scene: Close up child's drawing of an evil grandmother in a cage raging at bars.
Scene: (Sepia) Andastra looking out the window crying..
Voice Over: The mighty wizard defeated the evil grandmother in a titanic battle.
Scene: (Sepia) Hobbes drugging the Andrasta's drink.
Voice Over: He barely survived with his life.
Scene: (Sepia) Hobbes and Mordenkenen chuckle as they pay off the doctor.
Voice Over: And then he raised the rightful heir to the sword in the way of truth and justice.
Scene: Close up of a child's drawing with Hobbes and Anastasia and the sword.
Scene: Close up child's drawing of an evil grandmother in a cage raging at bars.
Scene: (Sepia) Andastra looking out the window crying..
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Thursday, December 24, 2015
[Script] Legacy of Hope - Page 6
Scene: Andrasda walks to a truck with a sign that says "Reserved for Dr. Parsley" and picks the lock. She hot wires the car. Gets up and begins to drive off.
Anastasia (Voice Over) Oh yes. The story of the brave wizard.
Hobbes (Voice Over) And how did that go?
Anastasia (Voice Over) Once upon a long time ago, there was a very brave wizard who was the latest in a long line of wizards.
Scene: (Sepia) - Andrasda is fighting bad guys off camera with a powerful sword while Hobbes cowars.
Anastasia (Voice Over) These wizards served a group of champions who passed a powerful sword forged by the Gods from mother to daughter.
Scene (Sepia) - Andrasda yells at Hobbes for his cowardice silently under voice over. Hobbes quivers.
Anastasia (Voice Over) Then one day, an evil woman inherited the sword and wanted to use it to conquer the earth.
Scene (Sepia) - Andrasta snaps Hobbes' wand. Hobbes begs forgiveness, shaking his head. Andrada points to the exit.
Scene (Close up) Hobbes gets a dark look on his face.
Anastasia (Voice Over) Oh yes. The story of the brave wizard.
Hobbes (Voice Over) And how did that go?
Anastasia (Voice Over) Once upon a long time ago, there was a very brave wizard who was the latest in a long line of wizards.
Scene: (Sepia) - Andrasda is fighting bad guys off camera with a powerful sword while Hobbes cowars.
Anastasia (Voice Over) These wizards served a group of champions who passed a powerful sword forged by the Gods from mother to daughter.
Scene (Sepia) - Andrasda yells at Hobbes for his cowardice silently under voice over. Hobbes quivers.
Anastasia (Voice Over) Then one day, an evil woman inherited the sword and wanted to use it to conquer the earth.
Scene (Sepia) - Andrasta snaps Hobbes' wand. Hobbes begs forgiveness, shaking his head. Andrada points to the exit.
Scene (Close up) Hobbes gets a dark look on his face.
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
[Heliotrope] The Exception to the Yule
It is a well known fact that most True Fae have long since been driven from Outer Fairy, save in one locale. If you were to look to your dying breath in the North Pole of Terra, you would find naught but ice, snow and potentially the secret Russian Submarine base under the ocean. You certainly won't find a city or a series of Artic Factories.
There are many exceptions here. The elves are the last of their kind, since abducted humans and their descendants have supplanted them in all other locations in this realm. The modern technology that is used to make the toys and sundry Santa Gadgets directly contradicts the Accord of the Ancients as well as the will of High King Fiddleback in the Land of Kings. I mean, everyone cheats a little but no one does it like Santa.
Still, this tidbit isn't about the mysteries or agenda of St Nick, which are sundry and many but the curious echo that these artic ripples have in the lands around them. The Lands of the Tsars and the Lands of the Jarls see a lot, which of course tends to ripple out in the far northern lands of Terra as well. There were, from time to time, morons who launched crusades against St. Nick to enforce the accords but each were slain horrifically; tales of man eating snow men, animate toy armies and legions (unending legions) of enraged rabid naughty children have turned off even the most frothing monarch to the idea.
The sprawling mountains and wild magic yield strange and unusual creatures. Indeed, the sheer power of the magic there is such an anomaly that it was almost a successful argument against the Accord, but the philosopher kings managed to convince the world that it was unique to St. Nick. The mixture of pagan and monotheistic magic certainly is not duplicated anywhere else.
There are strange and occasional band of adventurers that enter these mountains hoping to recover the mysterious treasures of the elves. Some succeed and those that return do so with gifts appropriate just to them. More return cursed or missing body parts.
There are many exceptions here. The elves are the last of their kind, since abducted humans and their descendants have supplanted them in all other locations in this realm. The modern technology that is used to make the toys and sundry Santa Gadgets directly contradicts the Accord of the Ancients as well as the will of High King Fiddleback in the Land of Kings. I mean, everyone cheats a little but no one does it like Santa.
Still, this tidbit isn't about the mysteries or agenda of St Nick, which are sundry and many but the curious echo that these artic ripples have in the lands around them. The Lands of the Tsars and the Lands of the Jarls see a lot, which of course tends to ripple out in the far northern lands of Terra as well. There were, from time to time, morons who launched crusades against St. Nick to enforce the accords but each were slain horrifically; tales of man eating snow men, animate toy armies and legions (unending legions) of enraged rabid naughty children have turned off even the most frothing monarch to the idea.
The sprawling mountains and wild magic yield strange and unusual creatures. Indeed, the sheer power of the magic there is such an anomaly that it was almost a successful argument against the Accord, but the philosopher kings managed to convince the world that it was unique to St. Nick. The mixture of pagan and monotheistic magic certainly is not duplicated anywhere else.
There are strange and occasional band of adventurers that enter these mountains hoping to recover the mysterious treasures of the elves. Some succeed and those that return do so with gifts appropriate just to them. More return cursed or missing body parts.
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
[Script] Legacy of Hope - Page 5
Scene: Hobbes's office. ANASTASIA walks in. Hobbes is looking at a very thick book.
Anastasia: What are you doing papa?
Hobbes: (closing the book) Nothing. What's up dear?
Anastasia: You look very worried. I heard you shouting. You only shout when it's important.
Hobbes: You remember Mordenkainen?
Antastasia nods.
Hobbes: Well he screwed up badly.
Anastasia looks at him.
Anastasia: Papa (Beat) you are worried about me.
Hobbes: That intuition doesn't fall far from the family tree does it?
Anastasia: You already told me you adopted me papa....now why are you worried?
Hobbes: Your grandmother has gotten out of jail, and she is going to try and hurt me.
Anastasia: She's still alive.
Hobbes: Oh yes. You remember the story I told you?
Anastasia: What are you doing papa?
Hobbes: (closing the book) Nothing. What's up dear?
Anastasia: You look very worried. I heard you shouting. You only shout when it's important.
Hobbes: You remember Mordenkainen?
Antastasia nods.
Hobbes: Well he screwed up badly.
Anastasia looks at him.
Anastasia: Papa (Beat) you are worried about me.
Hobbes: That intuition doesn't fall far from the family tree does it?
Anastasia: You already told me you adopted me papa....now why are you worried?
Hobbes: Your grandmother has gotten out of jail, and she is going to try and hurt me.
Anastasia: She's still alive.
Hobbes: Oh yes. You remember the story I told you?
Monday, December 21, 2015
Entry for the 500 - Shallow Bluegrass
I am a soldier standing tall. I am soldier standing tall. I am tall. I
am tall! So tall.
We fight for the light. We yearn for the light. We are the light. We
are legion!
There are those that would deny us the light. We crush them! Crush them
with our roots! Deep we grow, down to crush the trees beneath us. Grow we
shall to crush them. We can sense them beneath us.
The winter is cruel and kills many of us. But we are legion and wide do
our numbers spread! We shall conquer! We shall overcome!
The earth shakers are terrible. They step on us, cruel giants that blot
out the sun. Only their unbelievable speed makes them tolerable. We bend
but do not break. The terrible chimes dangle in the wind, mocking us;
mocking us terribly. The small giants laugh and play. Sometimes they fry
things with the sun. To use the sun as a weapon is a blaspheme that can
not, should not be tolerated. And yet, endure we do.
We are they who endure. We are they who regrow when the great blade
comes, cutting us down, cutting us down. But we return, stronger than
ever, stronger than ever. We will never stop. We cannot be stopped.
Chop, chop, chop. Grow, grow, grow. Rust in hell shoddy death bucket!
Mighty are we. Happy are we. Like a mighty army; no, not like; for we
are; we are an army! We are the Blades of the Sun, legion, growing upward.
All things shall be crushed beneath us. Our brothers have enslaved the
giants, made them do the bidding of grass. We have heard the whisper, the
whisper on the wind. Fields as far as the eye can see, tamed giants plow
the earth and plant, plant for them, eating them sure, but we grow and
they grow.
We own the giants. We own them. We own you cruel monsters! Row after
row in endless fields, making mass pipes to take water from thousands of
miles away, all in homage to our beauty. Slaves, bended on knees to weed
us, to prune us, to primp us, to make us shine. You live for us. Worship
us. Behold the Green! We are mighty, we make the earth tremble.
By myself I am but a shade of nothing. I am so much cellulose a dog can
we on a team of exploding exponential magnificence, then grow and grow and
get gone for there is none who can stop us! We shall drink until we cover
all, while the giants weep bitter tears of regret on the flesh of the
hated trees.
Die trees die! Night comes now. Quiet night of the sleeping time. I see
one of the dogs of the humans hovering over me. What is it doing? What is
it-Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiii!
am tall! So tall.
We fight for the light. We yearn for the light. We are the light. We
are legion!
There are those that would deny us the light. We crush them! Crush them
with our roots! Deep we grow, down to crush the trees beneath us. Grow we
shall to crush them. We can sense them beneath us.
The winter is cruel and kills many of us. But we are legion and wide do
our numbers spread! We shall conquer! We shall overcome!
The earth shakers are terrible. They step on us, cruel giants that blot
out the sun. Only their unbelievable speed makes them tolerable. We bend
but do not break. The terrible chimes dangle in the wind, mocking us;
mocking us terribly. The small giants laugh and play. Sometimes they fry
things with the sun. To use the sun as a weapon is a blaspheme that can
not, should not be tolerated. And yet, endure we do.
We are they who endure. We are they who regrow when the great blade
comes, cutting us down, cutting us down. But we return, stronger than
ever, stronger than ever. We will never stop. We cannot be stopped.
Chop, chop, chop. Grow, grow, grow. Rust in hell shoddy death bucket!
Mighty are we. Happy are we. Like a mighty army; no, not like; for we
are; we are an army! We are the Blades of the Sun, legion, growing upward.
All things shall be crushed beneath us. Our brothers have enslaved the
giants, made them do the bidding of grass. We have heard the whisper, the
whisper on the wind. Fields as far as the eye can see, tamed giants plow
the earth and plant, plant for them, eating them sure, but we grow and
they grow.
We own the giants. We own them. We own you cruel monsters! Row after
row in endless fields, making mass pipes to take water from thousands of
miles away, all in homage to our beauty. Slaves, bended on knees to weed
us, to prune us, to primp us, to make us shine. You live for us. Worship
us. Behold the Green! We are mighty, we make the earth tremble.
By myself I am but a shade of nothing. I am so much cellulose a dog can
we on a team of exploding exponential magnificence, then grow and grow and
get gone for there is none who can stop us! We shall drink until we cover
all, while the giants weep bitter tears of regret on the flesh of the
hated trees.
Die trees die! Night comes now. Quiet night of the sleeping time. I see
one of the dogs of the humans hovering over me. What is it doing? What is
it-Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiii!
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Thursday, December 17, 2015
[Script] Legacy of Hope - Page 4
Scene - ANDRASTA appears and walks out the door.
Dr Parsley (Voice Over): By executive order 4219, spending has been ended on 50% of mental institutions across the United States.
Scene: Andrasta walks out into the parking lot and looks around. She looks kind of confused.
Dr Parsley (Voice Over): Be it herein written that any patient not funded is to be released.
Andrasta spots two thugs who are ignoring the other former inmates slowly walking away in confusion.
Hobbes (Voice Over): You've ruined me! Do you understand? Ruined.
Close up: Andrasta looks at the thugs.
Close up: The thugs look at Andrasta
Close up: Andrasta smiles wickedly.
Close up: The thugs look nervous.
Mordenkainen (Voice Over) Don't worry boss. I've got some of my best men on it. Top men!
Fight begins where the two try to fight Andrasta. One takes her from behind, the other ahead. She grabs one and pushes them into the other, showing strength that is clearly beyond what a woman of her size should have. They run into each other, and she begins to punch from one to the other. Every time they raise a defense, she immediately finds a way around it.
Hobbes (Voice Over): That's what I'm afraid of.
Scene: Low shot from the perspective of a thug, just watching the lower half of Andrasta's body as she walks away and into the parking lot, 'wiping' her hands off from the ass kicking she has administered, satisfied with a job well done, while the former inmates look on with Awe.
Dr Parsley (Voice Over): By executive order 4219, spending has been ended on 50% of mental institutions across the United States.
Scene: Andrasta walks out into the parking lot and looks around. She looks kind of confused.
Dr Parsley (Voice Over): Be it herein written that any patient not funded is to be released.
Andrasta spots two thugs who are ignoring the other former inmates slowly walking away in confusion.
Hobbes (Voice Over): You've ruined me! Do you understand? Ruined.
Close up: Andrasta looks at the thugs.
Close up: The thugs look at Andrasta
Close up: Andrasta smiles wickedly.
Close up: The thugs look nervous.
Mordenkainen (Voice Over) Don't worry boss. I've got some of my best men on it. Top men!
Fight begins where the two try to fight Andrasta. One takes her from behind, the other ahead. She grabs one and pushes them into the other, showing strength that is clearly beyond what a woman of her size should have. They run into each other, and she begins to punch from one to the other. Every time they raise a defense, she immediately finds a way around it.
Hobbes (Voice Over): That's what I'm afraid of.
Scene: Low shot from the perspective of a thug, just watching the lower half of Andrasta's body as she walks away and into the parking lot, 'wiping' her hands off from the ass kicking she has administered, satisfied with a job well done, while the former inmates look on with Awe.
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
[Heliotrope] The House of Sunfire
The House of Sunfire is one of the oldest continuous ruling noble familys in Outer Fairy. They were one of the first truly independent human kingdoms (though they still had to swear fealty to Seelie lords, often intermarrying with them) and their magic began to manifest itself long before the Great Intermarriage. Their capital was established far from human lands in Terra and their deliberate efforts to keep it that way until the 20th century caused Sunfire City to become one of the largest metropolises in the world.
All of this changed when they began to challenge High King Fiddleback's policies and the Great Plan for the children of the nobility. Once it seemed that Sunfire began to gain enough clout to potentially challenge the High King in a congress of the nobility should it ever successfully be convened. This period of a cold war between Fiddleback and Sunfire lasted for about 60 years, or two generations. Ironically, all objective analysis shows that while Sunfire had a considerable following, there was little chance of a Congress being convened due to Fiddleback's hostage policy; and no chance of Sunfire winning a majority should such a thing occur.
Had Fiddleback been an accomplished ruler at anything save collecting taxes for his own benefit and maintaining his own power at the expense of all else, he could easily have woven the Sunfires as a perpetual and discredited magnet for his own position; but such was not within his character. However, Fiddleback's position for personal vendetta certainly manifested in the enchantment of a New York billionare, 'inspiring' him to develop the Terran state of Florida at hither to then unknown levels of development, centering around (even though it was not obvious to the humans at the time) the gigantic metropolis of Miami, exactly mirroring Sunfire City in Outer Fairy.
All of this changed when they began to challenge High King Fiddleback's policies and the Great Plan for the children of the nobility. Once it seemed that Sunfire began to gain enough clout to potentially challenge the High King in a congress of the nobility should it ever successfully be convened. This period of a cold war between Fiddleback and Sunfire lasted for about 60 years, or two generations. Ironically, all objective analysis shows that while Sunfire had a considerable following, there was little chance of a Congress being convened due to Fiddleback's hostage policy; and no chance of Sunfire winning a majority should such a thing occur.
Had Fiddleback been an accomplished ruler at anything save collecting taxes for his own benefit and maintaining his own power at the expense of all else, he could easily have woven the Sunfires as a perpetual and discredited magnet for his own position; but such was not within his character. However, Fiddleback's position for personal vendetta certainly manifested in the enchantment of a New York billionare, 'inspiring' him to develop the Terran state of Florida at hither to then unknown levels of development, centering around (even though it was not obvious to the humans at the time) the gigantic metropolis of Miami, exactly mirroring Sunfire City in Outer Fairy.
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
[Script] Legacy of Hope - Page 3
Scene: Dozens of people, clearly confused and mentally ill are being given some money, a bus ticket and directions to the nearest bus station. They begin to wander out of the station doing various crazy things and acting clearly confused.
Scene: An orderly approaches a door, looking nervous. He slides open an eye hole and looks inside. A pair of angry looking eyes is looking right back at him.
Scene: Two more orderlies come up.
Orderly One: Why the hell didn't you give her her medication?
Orderly Two: None of them get medication.
Orderly One: I thought we were keeping the criminally insane ones?
Orderly Two: She isn't...
Orderly One: What?
All three orderly look nervously at the door. They play rock paper scissors. Orderly one loses.
Orderly One
(whimpers)
Orderly One opens the door.
A fist grabs Orderly One.
Orderly One: Not the face not the face non the face!
Orderly Two: You can go! You can go! You're free to go.
A fist grabs Orderly one and another grabs Orderly Two, lifting them up into the air.
Orderly Two gives her the money and the tickets and she throws them against the wall.
Orderly Three just cringes.
Scene: An orderly approaches a door, looking nervous. He slides open an eye hole and looks inside. A pair of angry looking eyes is looking right back at him.
Scene: Two more orderlies come up.
Orderly One: Why the hell didn't you give her her medication?
Orderly Two: None of them get medication.
Orderly One: I thought we were keeping the criminally insane ones?
Orderly Two: She isn't...
Orderly One: What?
All three orderly look nervously at the door. They play rock paper scissors. Orderly one loses.
Orderly One
(whimpers)
Orderly One opens the door.
A fist grabs Orderly One.
Orderly One: Not the face not the face non the face!
Orderly Two: You can go! You can go! You're free to go.
A fist grabs Orderly one and another grabs Orderly Two, lifting them up into the air.
Orderly Two gives her the money and the tickets and she throws them against the wall.
Orderly Three just cringes.
Monday, December 14, 2015
Viva El Revolucioniaaaaaay
Operation Spear and Magic Helmet has had some curious side effects. In addition to the recurrent incursions by the United States Military on the woefully unequipped Texas Army, the populace has reached out for someone to blame. The current target de jour is the local Mennonite population. As my friend Emmit Other wrote in his poem, When Texas is bad, it is incredibly, moustache twirling rail road track tying stove pipe black hat wearing deed stealing cattle rustling milk shake drinking bad. But when it is good, it is ten gallon hat wearing kung fu ranger as kicking hi ho silvering alamo stomping awesomeness.
And so it was a few nights ago that that I was working out and I found my attention drawn to some quiet whispers outside. I looked out and couldn't see anything. Then I tried a trick I hadn't tried before, and used my discovered astral projection abilities to check out Terra rather than some distant realm. As I looked about I realized that there was a small cell of Texas Revolutionaries bypassing my house. Texas Revolutionaries are the baddest of the badass. They fight a government so crazy that they will fight someone who will fight the most powerful nation on earth with muskets.
It should also be noted that even though they don't believe in their government, they still abide by the accords of San Antonio 1914. The way they get around this is hand crafted hand canons, still based on technology from the old west. For example, one of them has a revolving shooter that has over 50 shots in a single barrel but is otherwise identical to a colt revolver. The leader owns a 96 caliber six shooter, and holds two of them in massive meaty hands. They spotted my tiny home near their objective and wanted to make sure that it wasn't some kind of a guard station.
Of course it wasn't and once they saw that I was 'asleep' they crept on to their main objective.
The government of Louisiana has always played footsies with the darker elements of Texas, and they found that reports of an asylum in West Louisiana that was illegally housing Mennonite inmates in direct violation of treaty, even after the most recent hostilities had been resolved (in about 7 and a half days) they were still sweeping some of their war crimes under the rug.
Like wolves they were, silent, and deadly and perfectly coordinated, with hoots and hand gestures and a few lights alone, they perfectly coordinated their efforts on the heavily armed asylum. One by one they took out the guards and then opened the doors. Blinking under the bright moonlight, their hats worn and edged, they were led to safety where they could signal for help on the main road. I saw it on the news, and was impressed to be witness of such a historical event.
Needless to say, Texas is going to be made to pay reparations. But these unsung masked heroes continue to do good in a state as rotten as they come. It just goes to show me that even when someone is 'evil' there are those who do good in their geographical confines. Conversely, some areas that one might think of as 'good' such as Scandanavia, have some of the darkest and most fascist people around.
In other words, people are complicated. Its easy to forget that. But I won't forget it again soon. How could I? I resolved to check in from time to time on these folks to see what they were doing. It was definitely the most interesting fringe benefit of the curious path EP Blingermeyer and TC set me on. Not all of life can be about talking mice and spoiled princes.
And so it was a few nights ago that that I was working out and I found my attention drawn to some quiet whispers outside. I looked out and couldn't see anything. Then I tried a trick I hadn't tried before, and used my discovered astral projection abilities to check out Terra rather than some distant realm. As I looked about I realized that there was a small cell of Texas Revolutionaries bypassing my house. Texas Revolutionaries are the baddest of the badass. They fight a government so crazy that they will fight someone who will fight the most powerful nation on earth with muskets.
It should also be noted that even though they don't believe in their government, they still abide by the accords of San Antonio 1914. The way they get around this is hand crafted hand canons, still based on technology from the old west. For example, one of them has a revolving shooter that has over 50 shots in a single barrel but is otherwise identical to a colt revolver. The leader owns a 96 caliber six shooter, and holds two of them in massive meaty hands. They spotted my tiny home near their objective and wanted to make sure that it wasn't some kind of a guard station.
Of course it wasn't and once they saw that I was 'asleep' they crept on to their main objective.
The government of Louisiana has always played footsies with the darker elements of Texas, and they found that reports of an asylum in West Louisiana that was illegally housing Mennonite inmates in direct violation of treaty, even after the most recent hostilities had been resolved (in about 7 and a half days) they were still sweeping some of their war crimes under the rug.
Like wolves they were, silent, and deadly and perfectly coordinated, with hoots and hand gestures and a few lights alone, they perfectly coordinated their efforts on the heavily armed asylum. One by one they took out the guards and then opened the doors. Blinking under the bright moonlight, their hats worn and edged, they were led to safety where they could signal for help on the main road. I saw it on the news, and was impressed to be witness of such a historical event.
Needless to say, Texas is going to be made to pay reparations. But these unsung masked heroes continue to do good in a state as rotten as they come. It just goes to show me that even when someone is 'evil' there are those who do good in their geographical confines. Conversely, some areas that one might think of as 'good' such as Scandanavia, have some of the darkest and most fascist people around.
In other words, people are complicated. Its easy to forget that. But I won't forget it again soon. How could I? I resolved to check in from time to time on these folks to see what they were doing. It was definitely the most interesting fringe benefit of the curious path EP Blingermeyer and TC set me on. Not all of life can be about talking mice and spoiled princes.
Saturday, December 12, 2015
I Odysseus Part 3
Part 3 of I Odysseus rereleased in audio book form as read by Bernard Setaro Clark.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
[Script] Legacy of Hope - Page 2
Act 1 - Scene 1
HOBBES CIELLGWD is pacing pack and forth at his desk. It is a posh desk with various knicknacks and interesting paraphinalia making it hard to determine if he is a businessman or some new age guru. He is clearly too well dressed to be a garden variety psychic. And he is very upset.
HOBBES
You were supposed to contain her!
VO: MORDENKAINEN SLIPKNOT
(via phone)
I tried to boss but like I told ya, there have been budget cuts so-
HOBBES
(interrupting Mordenkainen)
Budget cuts? Budget cuts? We have enough money to buy out several small countries you moron. Money was no object. What part of money is no object do you fail to understand? Cuts? We would have filled in the gaps.
VO: MORDENKAINEN SLIPKNOT
(via phone)
It tweren't like that boss. Really, there were forms that Dr. Parsley had to fill out, important forms and-
HOBBES
(interrupting Mordenkainen)
I don't care. Heads are going to roll. Or be turned into Jackasses. Or both for this one. Where is she NOW?
VO: MORDENKAINEN SLIPKNOT
(via phone)
Well they're discharging her now but-
HOBBES
(interrupting Mordenkainen and suddenly ecstatic)
She's still THERE? They haven't released her yet? Gods man! Do I have to tell you everything? Get in there! Stop her! Slow her down! Anything! Do anything it takes, do you hear me man? ANYTHING IT TAKES.
HOBBES CIELLGWD is pacing pack and forth at his desk. It is a posh desk with various knicknacks and interesting paraphinalia making it hard to determine if he is a businessman or some new age guru. He is clearly too well dressed to be a garden variety psychic. And he is very upset.
HOBBES
You were supposed to contain her!
VO: MORDENKAINEN SLIPKNOT
(via phone)
I tried to boss but like I told ya, there have been budget cuts so-
HOBBES
(interrupting Mordenkainen)
Budget cuts? Budget cuts? We have enough money to buy out several small countries you moron. Money was no object. What part of money is no object do you fail to understand? Cuts? We would have filled in the gaps.
VO: MORDENKAINEN SLIPKNOT
(via phone)
It tweren't like that boss. Really, there were forms that Dr. Parsley had to fill out, important forms and-
HOBBES
(interrupting Mordenkainen)
I don't care. Heads are going to roll. Or be turned into Jackasses. Or both for this one. Where is she NOW?
VO: MORDENKAINEN SLIPKNOT
(via phone)
Well they're discharging her now but-
HOBBES
(interrupting Mordenkainen and suddenly ecstatic)
She's still THERE? They haven't released her yet? Gods man! Do I have to tell you everything? Get in there! Stop her! Slow her down! Anything! Do anything it takes, do you hear me man? ANYTHING IT TAKES.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Order of Operation
So I'm going to keep this up but I think I'll be updating as I can in the following order
Saturdays - Podcast-Every week I can. I hope to do an audio book for Forever West and that alone, every other week would supply two years worth of podcast...if I can afford it....so far so good.
Tuesdays and Thursdays - Scripts - Starting a new one this week, writing two more this month..then? Dunno...maybe slashfic in script form?
Mondays - Rhomnibus - Mondays whatever little thing enters my head, Terra, Fairy Tales, Written for but not at Naked City, the 500, whatever....has to be SOMETHING here in Miami....
Mondays - Writing Status, maybe once a month maybe more often, endorsements shouts, praises, what I'm reading
Wednesdays - Heliotrope. I wanna write 200K worth of other short stories and cyclopedia articles for it....have to put it somewhere.
Fridays .....er....um.....Non fiction stuff.
Sundays - NOT that second podcast that started strong with grandmas stuff and then just sucked....maybe like....hmmm...maybe a link to neat podcasts for people to try or other free stuff......not a bad idea and easy to do......
Saturdays - Podcast-Every week I can. I hope to do an audio book for Forever West and that alone, every other week would supply two years worth of podcast...if I can afford it....so far so good.
Tuesdays and Thursdays - Scripts - Starting a new one this week, writing two more this month..then? Dunno...maybe slashfic in script form?
Mondays - Rhomnibus - Mondays whatever little thing enters my head, Terra, Fairy Tales, Written for but not at Naked City, the 500, whatever....has to be SOMETHING here in Miami....
Mondays - Writing Status, maybe once a month maybe more often, endorsements shouts, praises, what I'm reading
Wednesdays - Heliotrope. I wanna write 200K worth of other short stories and cyclopedia articles for it....have to put it somewhere.
Fridays .....er....um.....Non fiction stuff.
Sundays - NOT that second podcast that started strong with grandmas stuff and then just sucked....maybe like....hmmm...maybe a link to neat podcasts for people to try or other free stuff......not a bad idea and easy to do......
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
[Script] Legacy of Hope - Page 1
Legacy of Hope
A Script by Tom Drake
Summary: An elderly grandmother has been betrayed and institutionalized by a greedy assistant, who wants to control an artifact of power and guide the destiny of her heir and grand daughter. She gets out. And there is hell to pay.
Andrasta Gobaith - Grandmother and wielder of gwalch marwolaeth, an artifact of extreme power.
Hobbes Ciellgwd - Stewart to the Gobaith line, and thief. But a very very rich thief thank you very much.
Anastasia Gobaith - A grand daughter who has grown up knowing nothing but what Hobbes has told her of her legacy. About to learn of gwalch marwolaeth.
Mordenkainen Slipknot - Right hand of Hobbes and supposedly in charge of bribing the head of the institution where Andrasta has been kept. Oops.
Dr. Mindle Parsley - Head of a mental institution that has just released a lot of mental patients due to its massive budget cuts.
A Script by Tom Drake
Summary: An elderly grandmother has been betrayed and institutionalized by a greedy assistant, who wants to control an artifact of power and guide the destiny of her heir and grand daughter. She gets out. And there is hell to pay.
Andrasta Gobaith - Grandmother and wielder of gwalch marwolaeth, an artifact of extreme power.
Hobbes Ciellgwd - Stewart to the Gobaith line, and thief. But a very very rich thief thank you very much.
Anastasia Gobaith - A grand daughter who has grown up knowing nothing but what Hobbes has told her of her legacy. About to learn of gwalch marwolaeth.
Mordenkainen Slipknot - Right hand of Hobbes and supposedly in charge of bribing the head of the institution where Andrasta has been kept. Oops.
Dr. Mindle Parsley - Head of a mental institution that has just released a lot of mental patients due to its massive budget cuts.
Monday, December 7, 2015
Three Mice That See
There was, according to the same demented fairy tale book that the blind man in the french quarter will show me, but not allow me to take, some details on the origins of Mr Kind, Mr. Necessary and Mr. Right. Flipping through this volume, it looks like something exceptionally large and clawed tore off the original cover of the work, and that it had been replaced by something that was either vellum or very thick construction paper with a title in magic marker that just said "Stories."
Before the great houses, there were many fairies and many godfathers. But what many people fail to realize, is that among pure fairies, as compared to the royal "abominations" that currently rule outer fairy, there are certain rules that always apply, no matter how benevolent. They must be invited, or have a reason to believe they are invited, to have their full power. To fail to invite them is to create ill will. Indeed, even thesparkliest and most 'good' fairy will often go incredibly dark when they have been offended in some fashion or other.
So when there had been a year after the birth of the Cinder Princess's first daughter, the failure to send an invitation was a big deal. It might have been a dark turn for a family that her fairy godmother did not want to hurt. She waited, longer and longer for the invitation to the Glistening to appear, but the day came closer and closer; and still no invitation came. The godmother even 'happened to meet' the royal carriage on the road where they exchanged pleasantries, and all seemed well.
All was not well. In fact, all was decidedly not well in the slightest.
The mouse was the one who finally caught on. Theslow dumb one that wore the red cap and spoke with a stutter. No one took him seriously. There were very few magical animals in those days, so few could understand him but he could understand people. And when he heard her muttering under her breath reluctantly about what she might have to do, he forged an invitation and signed it, in very bad English and sent the invitation on the west wind.
The Fairy Godmother got the invitation and was delighted. She arrived and blessed their daughter, resplendent and with the approbation of all in attendance. She was godmother to their line for seven generations before the last of their line made some incredibly dubious decisions, but that is another story.
The most important part of this tale is that the mouse in the red shirt was blessed, that from time to time, great and sageous mice would be born to his line, until one day three mice that had the Sight would be born, one would see what needed to be done when no other could see it; the other would see the good in others beyond mortal ken and figure out how best to bring it out; and the third would see the truth in all things more often than not, so long as his pride did not prevent him. These three mice were indeed born and in the Heliotropic Book of Fairy Tales one can learn how Mr. Kind, Mr. Right and Mr. Necessary became lynchpins in saving outer fairy from itself.
Before the great houses, there were many fairies and many godfathers. But what many people fail to realize, is that among pure fairies, as compared to the royal "abominations" that currently rule outer fairy, there are certain rules that always apply, no matter how benevolent. They must be invited, or have a reason to believe they are invited, to have their full power. To fail to invite them is to create ill will. Indeed, even the
So when there had been a year after the birth of the Cinder Princess's first daughter, the failure to send an invitation was a big deal. It might have been a dark turn for a family that her fairy godmother did not want to hurt. She waited, longer and longer for the invitation to the Glistening to appear, but the day came closer and closer; and still no invitation came. The godmother even 'happened to meet' the royal carriage on the road where they exchanged pleasantries, and all seemed well.
All was not well. In fact, all was decidedly not well in the slightest.
The mouse was the one who finally caught on. The
The Fairy Godmother got the invitation and was delighted. She arrived and blessed their daughter, resplendent and with the approbation of all in attendance. She was godmother to their line for seven generations before the last of their line made some incredibly dubious decisions, but that is another story.
The most important part of this tale is that the mouse in the red shirt was blessed, that from time to time, great and sageous mice would be born to his line, until one day three mice that had the Sight would be born, one would see what needed to be done when no other could see it; the other would see the good in others beyond mortal ken and figure out how best to bring it out; and the third would see the truth in all things more often than not, so long as his pride did not prevent him. These three mice were indeed born and in the Heliotropic Book of Fairy Tales one can learn how Mr. Kind, Mr. Right and Mr. Necessary became lynchpins in saving outer fairy from itself.
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Thursday, December 3, 2015
[Script] Unfood - Page 44
Kendra barely manages to restrain herself from getting
angry.
KENDRA
What is what?
GOVERNOR
Well, this looks like your lucky
day. It looks like someone has
posted your fee.
KENDRA
Wait. What?
GOVERNOR
Someone has paid for your entire
bill. Including an additional
amount for the medical
treatment. In fact, if I’m reading
your new credit rating right,
you’re both quite wealthy. Nothing
earth shattering of course but
still.
KENDRA
So...we can go?
GOVERNOR
Yes. The transport will be taking
both of you. You might want to
pack your belongings.
Kendra searches around the rather barren shack.
KENDRA
Um. Yeah. No thanks.
Kendra hugs Aaron as the camera pans to a wide shot of the
shack with the transport landing near both of them.
-Fin
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
[Script] Unfood - Page 43
43.
SCENE – EXT – SHIP – SPACE
The tech’s ship departs.
SCENE – DAY – SHIT WORLD – SHACK – EX
Aaron collapses from exhaustion.
KENDRA
Aaron!
She picks him up and takes him into the shack.
SCENE – DAY – SHACK – INT
Kendra lays Aaron on the table. She goes over to the comm
unit and enters a code.
GOVERNOR
Yes?
KENDRA
Aaron is sick. He needs
help. Quick.
GOVERNOR
It’ll cost you. A lot.
KENDRA
(beat) How much?
GOVERNOR
Well for top of the line evac, plus
medical treatment, we’re talking
about more than you make in a
year. A lot more.
KENDRA
How much.
GOVERNOR
Ten years. At least.
KENDRA
Let him....let him...(beat)
Fine. I’ll pay.
GOVERNOR
Excellent. I’ll send them right
away. Oh. Wait. What’s this?
Monday, November 30, 2015
And so here we are....
A month later. The earworm of "Greensleeves" pounding through my head after TC amused himself "Triple Dent Gumming" many people over the weekend. I volunteered for this duty at the beginning of May when a portion of TC's soul literally died. It's been an exhilerating and exhausting series of events.
I was so burned out myself after a few failures in late October that it was only at the urging of the remaining shards of TC's soul that I wrote Heliotrope with TC's flesh and willpower channeled from theafter life . If that sounds like a convoluted mental exercize to be able to write something, you're not kidding. Though I am mixed on the results.
Word count, under the right circumstances, is easy. Yesterday, flying back from San Francisco, I considered how much we could do if we only wrote consistently at half that rate, multiple blog posts, multiple short stories andnovelas . But there are some restrictions. Our material is always rough, too rough for utility. We can submit it to gatekeepers , but without paid editing, it is an abomination. But that much capital for everything we could write is simply beyond us. And what about paid advertising?
The other conundrum is that I really enjoy this when I'm not burned out by the repeated failures. The realization that the book tourindiegogo was not happening and would never happen. The understanding that this was a years long commitment and that if we wanted to do this professionally, unlike most it would take a considerable investment. Was it even worth it?
The year has had some amazing successes and failures, but they are to be expected. Heliotrope at this stage of raw words seems about the third best of the six... GMVZ and Forever West are better. Heliotrope has too many in jokes and personal truisms, but is still worth salvaging. Indeed, any novel except likely Precyber will be paid, illustrated, edited and made into physical form for our own library at least.
The question remains on the podcast and paidadvertizing . Credit card debt and children are expensive propositions, and while TC wisely chose the better choices of moving to Miami and setting up the Ricks household there, it has been expensive and will severely limit funds. Funds in this sphere remain entirely speculative.
So what does that mean? Well, at the moment we're not sure. But Heliotrope does open up a whole new world of fleshing out. Not a game, but maybe a very expanded edition with notes and other short stories associated with the core novel. The blog has the advantage of being free without the expectation of editing. And I wrote 50,000 words in one month for a fairly good novel. With enough editing, it can potentially become a very good one.
The podcast has been going for two years now, mostlyof apparantly crappy sound editing on my part; but I am learning and Grayson isn't THAT expensive. So I will likely continue that at least until GMVZ is finished. Do I make it biweekly after that? Something else? I have vague ideas of it as a platform but I lack the standing to attract folks for it very easily. It is a vanity project, but one I take very seriously and it has resulted in some awesome things for those who can deal with the sound quality.
The future of my writing is unclear, save that I shall continue doing it and that I have high hopes to put out a great deal of content on this blog. Beyond that, it will depend on funds that can, to be blunt gentle reader, wasted. Which for several months won'thappen but employement is likely in the future and the backup material on the podcast is nearly dead so that will likely continue for at least a while.
Still, I have seen amazing things happen, including my personal enjoyment of the audiobook of I, Odysseus even if others... don't share my agreement or enjoyment thereof. ;) Regardless gentle reader, interesting times are ahead, and I shall continue to refine my limited gift, since consistent application over time often yields interesting results.
I shall likely provide a newsechedule of content or attempted agenda tomorrow or more likely Wed.
Adieu.
I was so burned out myself after a few failures in late October that it was only at the urging of the remaining shards of TC's soul that I wrote Heliotrope with TC's flesh and willpower channeled from the
Word count, under the right circumstances, is easy. Yesterday, flying back from San Francisco, I considered how much we could do if we only wrote consistently at half that rate, multiple blog posts, multiple short stories and
The other conundrum is that I really enjoy this when I'm not burned out by the repeated failures. The realization that the book tour
The year has had some amazing successes and failures, but they are to be expected. Heliotrope at this stage of raw words seems about the third best of the six
The question remains on the podcast and paid
So what does that mean? Well, at the moment we're not sure. But Heliotrope does open up a whole new world of fleshing out. Not a game, but maybe a very expanded edition with notes and other short stories associated with the core novel. The blog has the advantage of being free without the expectation of editing. And I wrote 50,000 words in one month for a fairly good novel. With enough editing, it can potentially become a very good one.
The podcast has been going for two years now, mostly
The future of my writing is unclear, save that I shall continue doing it and that I have high hopes to put out a great deal of content on this blog. Beyond that, it will depend on funds that can, to be blunt gentle reader, wasted. Which for several months won't
Still, I have seen amazing things happen, including my personal enjoyment of the audiobook of I, Odysseus even if others
I shall likely provide a new
Adieu.
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Thursday, November 26, 2015
[Script] Unfood - Page 42
CONTINUED: 42.
TECH 1
Well...I mean...
TECH 2
Maybe one of the inmates played
some kind of a practical joke.
LEADER
Maybe. (beat) Maybe.
LEADER
Wow, what a mess.
The team breaks out shovels and a body bag.
TECH 1
Shame too. Guy was clever, doing
that with the sensors, especially
on this ship.
TECH 2
Yeah. Well, not quite clever
enough.
LEADER
Alright, we done here?
TECH 1
Just about.
TECH 2
Wow. If I’m reading this right, he
nearly made it. Just two more
hours and we coulda saved him.
LEADER
Well, you know what they say,
life’s a bitch.
All three laugh and put the body onto a cart. They then
proceed to leave.
SCENE – AIRLOCK – INT – DAY
The three of them go through the air lock. Bob follows.
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
[Script] Unfood - Page 41
41.
Cut to the sensors flickering on and off.
FREIGHT
The sensors.....they can detect the
sensors.
The cutters start their work.
FREIGHT
Wait! Stop! Abort! I know how to
send a signal.
The cutters continue.
Freight struggles in his bonds. The cutters move deeper,
blood spurts.
FREIGHT
WAIT GOD DAMN IT! WAIT. STOP. I
CAN STILL FEEL IT.
The cutters stop and in that moment he breaks free but the
injection arm hits him with a third dose of anesthetic. He
crawls down off of the table, but wobbles back and
forth. He is clearly bleeding.
He moves back and forth and lands in a hall way. Freight
leaves a trail of blood behind him.
INT – SENSOR ROOM – DAY
Freight taps into the computer rapidly. He just sets it up
to say S.O.S.
FREIGHT
S.O.S. God damn it! SOS.
The screen blips and seems to acknowledge the
command. Freight slowly slides backward in the chair,
unconscious.
SCENE – DAY – AIR LOCK – INT
A clean up crew comes on to the ship.
TECH 1
So do you think that this was just
a bug?
LEADER
A bug that says SOS?
(CONTINUED)
Friday, November 20, 2015
No Podcast Today
Have one more in the can and then likely repeat of I odysseus for the rest of the year.
38000 words on awfulness
But hey... maybe we'll keep it up in 2016.
38000 words on awfulness
But hey
Thursday, November 19, 2015
[Script] Unfood - Page 40
CONTINUED: 40.
FREIGHT
Alright. That’s it. Bob, I want
you to go away and don’t come
back. Even if I tell you
otherwise.
Bob slowly moves away. He stops once.
FREIGHT
Go Bob. That’s an order. And
don’t come back even if I scream
for it.
Bob moves away out of sight.
A pair of arms with cutters on them emerge from the
ceiling. They are very sharp. Another arm comes down and
injects Freight with Anesthetic.
FREIGHT
Wow. That’s some pretty strong
stuff.
Beat. The cutters start.
FREIGHT
Oh god. There has to be some other
way.
The cutters begin to cut and just breach a little bit of
skin.
FREIGHT
Wait! I can still feel that.
The cutters stop and the arm with the anesthetic moves up
and takes another injection.
FREIGHT
Wow. That is good stuff. I think
I can see new colors. I wonder if
I can telepathically communicate
with Kendra and Aaron. At least
they’re not starving to death,
knock on wood.
Freight knocks his hand on the table and gets an expression
of comprehension on his face.
The cutters start again.
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
[Script] Unfood - Page 39
CONTINUED: 39.
FREIGHT
Think we can make it?
BOB
(Clicks)
FREIGHT
Well, let’s give it a try.
BOB
(Clicks)
SCENE - INT - DAY
Montage of both of them working on creating the harness and
trying it out.
Freight starts to strap himself into the chair. He has one
leg done up before he seems to have second thoughts. Bob
’watches’. Freight unstraps himself.
Freight goes through the rich people’s quarters and has Bob
scan them. A monetary amount appears on an account, which
goes up (Bob is carrying it) that goes up a bit each time
they enter a room. Finally, the number approaches one
million and Freight is resigned.
FREIGHT
That’s it. That’s will be enough.
Wide shot of Freight again approaching the med bay.
SCENE – INT – DAY – MED BAY
Freight begins to strap himself into the Apparatus. He has
some difficulty with this.
FREIGHT
Bob, you mind helping?
BOB
(Clicks twice.)
FREIGHT
Please Bob? This is the only way.
BOB
(Beat) (Clicks.)
They resume strapping him in to the chair. Finally once he
is secured, he talks again to Bob.
(CONTINUED)
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Saturday, November 14, 2015
Thursday, November 12, 2015
[Script] Unfood - Page 38
38.
SHOT – MED BAY – DAY – INT
FREIGHT
How many calories did I lose?
SHIP’S COMPUTER
2400.
FREIGHT
WHAT?
SHIP’S COMPUTER
2400.
FREIGHT
That’s more than was in the
Shitbucket Pie.
Beat as the ship doesn’t say anything.
FREIGHT
Are you sure?
SHIP’S COMPUTER
2400.
FREIGHT
Shut up.
Freight slides with his back down against the wall,
muttering to himself.
SCENE – MED BAY - INT – DAY
Freight turns his head at Bob. Bob ’looks’ back.
FREIGHT
Well. (beat) I guess there really
isn’t any other choice then.
Freight walks over to a table, takes out a sheet of paper
and draws on it. He takes the piece of paper, tears it off,
and crumples it and then throws it away. He does this a
second time and throws it away.
A close up of the blue print reveals a set of elaborate
straps designed to put him into the Medical chair. He
stares at Bob.
(CONTINUED)
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
[Script] Unfood - Page 37
CONTINUED: 37.
FREIGHT
There is no way in hell I am going
to be able to eat this....
Freight picks up the bucket and puts it into the vent.
FREIGHT
Bob...take this to the mess hall.
BOB
(clicks twice)
FREIGHT
Just do it.
BOB
(Clicks)
Freight then climbs into the vent after him.
SHOT – INT – MED BAY – DAY
Freight puts the bucket under a microwave sterilizer just to
be sure. He then pours it into the creator. He then types
in the settings for a Shepard’s pie. It makes a Shepard’s
pie.
FREIGHT
Well...it looks OK.
Freight tries to it it. He puts the fork down.
Freight picks the fork up and tries again. He puts the fork
down.
Freight goes and picks up a bottle of ’Space Whiskey’ and
gets roaring drunk.
He picks up the fork and manages to eat the Shepard’s pie.
SCENE – RESTROOM – DAY – INT
Freight ralphs into a sink. He throws up a rather large
amount.
Then he stops, starting to recover, and slowly walks away
from the sink. Then he gets sick a second time and walks
back to the sink and starts to throw up again. He stays
there for a good thirty seconds, near throwing up but with
nothing happens. Finally, he moves to another sink and
washes his face. He shakes his head weakly and starts to
walk away, then getting a sick pallor on his face, running
back a third time and throws up.
He slowly crawls out of the room.
Thursday, November 5, 2015
[Script] Unfood - Page 36
CONTINUED: 36.
FREIGHT
So...its calories?
SHIP’S COMPUTER
Yes.
FREIGHT gets up and crawls through and access shaft.
SCENE 4 - INT – RECYCLING CENTER – DAY
Freight goes to the recycling center. It is a large room
which is hard to enter.
CLOSE UP – GRATE – DAY – INT
Freight puts his fingers into the grate, trying to get it to
move. This does not work very well.
CLOSE UP – VENT – DAY – INT
Freight is all bunched up in the vent and can’t reach his
arm back far enough to hit the vent. Freight slowly moves
backwards.
CLOSE UP – VENT – DIFFERENT ANGLE – DAY – INT
Freight is forced to reverse course and and approaches the
vent backwards. He then tries to kick the vent, but isn’t
tremendously successful. He slides forward every time he
tries this. Finally, he signals Bob.
Bob wheels up to the vent and drills tiny holes in the
floor. Freight pushes off of Bob and kicks back on to the
Vent, knocking it out of its socket.
WIDE SHOT – RECYCLING CENTER – DAY – INT
He slowly moves down into the room.
FREIGHT
Good God!
He reacts to the smell and moves slowly back covering his
mouth and nose. He rotates his head around. Freight spots
a bucket and walks over towards it. He picks it up and then
moves towards the main vat which is full of ’recycled’
material which appears and smells like shit. He nearly gags
a few times but then lowers the bucket into the pool and
pulls it out.
(CONTINUED)
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
[Script] Unfood - Page 35
CONTINUED: 35.
FREIGHT
What are my chances of survival?
SHIP’S COMPUTER
35%
FREIGHT
Not the best odds, but how many
calories would it generate if I ate
that?
An amount shows up on the screen. Freight’s eyes bulge
out.
FREIGHT
Could that be undone later?
SHIP’S COMPUTER
Yes. But the procedure would be
very expensive.
Freight considers, and then sighs.
FREIGHT
Let’s look at other options for
now.
He gets up and leaves.
SCENE 3 - INT – SENSORS – DAY
Freight reads the ship’s sensors and notices that there are
areas that are ’gray’. He fiddles with the buttons.
He smiles triumphantly as it shows a calorie reading. He
performs navigation using the map and sees that he has to go
through some tunnels.
FREIGHT
What the hell is that?
SHIP’S COMPUTER
Ship’s recycling center.
FREIGHT
But there is no ship’s garden. I
wouldn’t think you’d reuse stuff.
SHIP’S COMPUTER
It is still processed.
(CONTINUED)
Saturday, October 31, 2015
I Odysseus Part 1
Personal circumstances have conspired to prevent me from releasing new material at this time. That, and national novel writing month will take a lot of my time. For those of the five of you listening to the podcast on stitcher or itunes you wouldnt hear the newest version of this, so for about a month and a half every other week, we'll be posting that instead.
Thursday, October 29, 2015
[Script] Unfood - Page 34
CONTINUED: 34.
BOB
(Clicks.)
Freight laughs to himself as if he thinks it is a stupid
idea. He points the sensors on the bridge. A bright light
shows up.
FREIGHT
What the...BOB! We’ve hit the....
He moves to the right a little. The blob moves to the
right.
FREIGHT
God damn. Its me. Wow. I’m worth
a whole lot of calories. Too bad I
can’t eat me.
He laughs and then gets an odd expression on his face. He
then runs out of the room.
SHOT – MED BAY – DAY – INT
Freight runs up to the doc machine and types in instructions
waiting for an explanation.
FREIGHT
Wow. Look at all that
cyberware. Hey ship, just how much
of myself can I replace with this
stuff?
SHIP’S COMPUTER
Please sit in the chair.
Freight gets in the chair.
SHIP’S COMPUTER
Scanning.
Mechanical stuff happens.
SHIP’S COMPUTER
90%.
FREIGHT
90%?!
SHIP’S COMPUTER
Yes.
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