Spies Guild: Of Rumor and Hearsay

This is another worldbuilder fluff I've written for a game setting I'm writing with friends:

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The Spies Guild: Of Rumor and Hearsay.

History-

Of all the Guilds formed during the Venice Proclamation, none have the air of mystery and secrecy as the Spies Guild. No other member of the Underground can say for sure what it is they do, or who they are. Removing themselves from history and from the greater politics of the ages, they have cultivated a sense of power just from the unknown goals and elements within.

What little facts available mostly stem from the signing of the Venice Proclamation. Those who would become the Spies Guild did not band together under a common allegiance or bond like many others, the original Spies Guild was hand selected by a Chinese man names Han Xi. While the other Guilds spent time drafting themes, building power bases and joining in families, Han Xi moved amongst the Others gathered in Venice and selected individually those who would join his cause.

Understanding the need for a neutral party who's sole purpose was the protection of their race, Han Xi selected Others like himself who had the abilities to move invisibly through the world and find the enemies of their people and to kill without mercy. Those who could hypnotize, hide in plain sight, walk without a side, expert marksmanship and could even read minds were all selected. Those who would unite under Han Xi's leadership joined the ranks, willingly giving up their identity for the cause.

When the Guilds moved to sign the Venice Proclamation, the Spies Guild stood as one. Each had donned uniform clothing, each wore a white Venician mask hiding their face, and none spoke but Han Xi. He stated their purpose and goal was to protect the Underground not just from the enemies of the Inquisition, but from the enemies within the very Guild ranks. He swore, on behalf of his Guild, to remain neutral and stay out of politics. That they would oversee the protection of the Council, and that they would only act in the interest of the Underground. Han xi then signed on behalf of his people, then they walked silently out and away from the hall.

From that point on, the Spies Guild has moved at the edge of legend and fact. Dispersing across the world, they did their work in secret. Later changing their identities from the faceless legion to Mr. John Smith and Mrs. Jane Doe, they move in secret above ground and below to stop any threats to the existence of their race.

Rumors -

"I don't care what they say, there are more than 2 of them. Yeah, you only ever seen Mr. Smith or Mrs. Doe, but too many times they've been spotted as different skin tones and ages. Ya don't magically turn black, Mr. Smith! Why ya hiding how many there are?"

- Jackie Garlie, Oracle's Guild

"From what I was told by my padre, the existence of our race is the most important thing to them. That because the Inquisition is dead and gone, they've set up a breeding program. Apparently they got orders to fuck and knock up as many as they can, to keep making more of them. And you know the number of times you've banged a chica and then suddenly she disappeared never to be heard from again? Maybe they're breedin' us to, man."

- Reggie Al-Deli, Medium's Guild

"These guys? Following a bunch of rules and ancient bullshit for things that aren't real anymore. They do regular virgin sacrifices to Chinese Gods and Goddesses for what? I ain't ever seen them do shit, and all their magic hocus pokus is just to pull the wool over our eyes as they keep us enslaved. They're the real guys in charge, and we're the puppets."

- Bennie Two-Pence, Fortune's Guild

"I don't know much about them, except whenever Mr. Smith has been around there's trouble. Like a hurricane he is, when you see him fucking run for the nearest bolt hole and hide. They say they keep the monsters at bay, that they're behind the removal of AI because some got loose. Now the computer is our new enemy, and the Spies hunt them."

- Jill V., Orphans Guild

"We don't forget their oath, and neither have they. I pray you never given the cause to visit you, your life will never be the same."

- Brandon McLeason, Immortals Guild

"Fire and rage, lightning and storm. I can taste death in their shadow, regret in their smile and hope in their steps. They hide from everyone, including themselves, who they are. They suffer, so that we shall not suffer as they. They've divorced themselves from us so far, I've heard they all operate from an orbiting station. Maybe that explains why they feel so distant, and so sad."

- Jeremiah Hills, Empaths Guild

"Fuck them. You wanna know the face of the Inquisition today? Don't look any farther than Mr. Smith. People disappear all the time, whole cells and undercities suddenly collapse when they get involved. Never trust them."

- Francis Dearheart, Charmers Guild

"Hmmph. I see dozens of them, on a regular basis. Two my ass. And I don't know what they keep fighting, but it has big teeth and nasty claws. And bullets, lots and lots of bullets. as for what they do, I heard they recruit folk from other Guilds. Take away their minds, personalities and make them another drone to throw at the enemy."

- Dr. Gail Maris, Physicians Guild

"I don't care where they come from, I don't care what they are or who they are. They are angels, a godsend. I thought they were coming for me, I thought those bastards who have taken the mantle of Inquisition had me, then Mr. Smith and Mrs. Doe arrived. Saved my skin, they were throwing fucking fire from their hands! Angels, I tell you."

- XxGaleHazzardxX, Cyberpath Guild

A new way to do fiction

I couldn't sleep at all last night, and felt inspired to create. I like to both thank and blame my muse for this.

Jadrek, a character I'm writing for a new game, is different. He doesn't speak to me like the others did, its not in a conversation but in snapshots. Like I'm flipping through a scrapbook and looking at snippets of his memories and mindset. Its new, and fun.

I felt inspired to write for him a bit, I decided to do it in a PowerPoint format on Google docs. My first experience with this, so sorry its kinda shoddy. It felt strong to me though.

Still trying to figure out how to sync music and video up, so here are 2 separate links until I can match them:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1tqOWjqGPjvrayYJoHKkXHvalaKZADFears2dp5W0QkQ/edit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UcMDLOj6ss

Have the music start at the 0:03 mark to sync up with the slideshow.

Warrens

There are many homes and cities in the Underground, vast networks of tunnels and wide caverns that create the hidden homes of the Others. No two are exactly like, each being altered depending on the cultural tastes of those who live below, but neither compare the to Warren. A beast all to itself, the Warren is both museum of wealthy and beauty as well as defensible homestead for the Others.

During the time of the Venice Proclamation, those Others who could not hide from the Inquisition were hunted and exterminated. Those few who managed to flee the fires and blades found comfort in their last days below ground, often slipping into ennui and wasting away at the fate of their families. One such man named Warren Smythe refused to simply die, though the last of the stoneshapers he spent his remaining years building tirelessly below the ground to create safe havens for the Others to come and live. When he finally died of old age, his last will was read to his surviving friends and members of his city. In it he gave freely to any Other access to his own private home, the one he had kept secreted away to have his security and peace.

Upon arrival to said home, the Others gathered were amazed at the beauty and architecture this humble man had built. The home was easily defensible, cut into solid bedrock with only one exit in and out. What made the place extraordinary however wasn't the sheer practicality of it, it was the awe-inspiring beauty. Precious stones had been set in natural formations, soft candlelight bounced off reflected and polished metals to cast a rainbow of glow across the rooms. Art salvaged from the surface world hung about, and a ventilation system ensure a cool air pumped into the dwelling due to a redirection of seawater.

Called a Warren, in honor of the dead stoneshaper and his deeds, the style of dwelling quickly crossed all cultural lines. Every city wanted a Warren, every wealthy and influential Other dreamed of their own place to create both beauty and safety in one perfect place. It became custom that a Warren must be freely open to any Other who may wish to use it, in remembrance of the stoneshapers gift to his people. Though an owner (sometimes referred to as Caretaker) may technically own the Warren and establish any rules he may wish to have guests abide by while inside, no one may turn away an Other who wishes to come and find the peace and serenity of a Warren for a few hours.

Warrens in the modern times are still crafted how they were so many centuries ago, placed in the bedrock with a single entrance and exit and a ventilation system providing a cool breeze through the dwelling (though the breeze is now frequently just central a/c). The building is decorated in art and style, depending on the owner it may be natural formations or urban styles. There is always a calming area, a natural setting set aside for quiet prayer or meditation and plenty of space for those who wish to spend the night to have a place to rest.

The Inquisition and the nature of Guilds

More background writing work I'm doing for a LARP game setting :)

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Before the rise of the Christian Church and the Venice Proclamation, the Others lived a very different lifestyle. Any formal structure in an area was the result of those living there, some areas had miniature kingdoms of those touched while some lands had simple communities or even solitary territories jealously guarded. Each was given the ability to govern their lives as they saw fit, and for a time there was an uneasy peace amongst the Others who dwelt alongside their human cousins.

Then came the Inquisition.

Called the White Death by some Others, the reach of the Inquisition was farther than any disease in terms of death to their kind. Those that hunted them killed hundreds of thousands, whole families and lines of power which had existed for a millennium were snuffed in the matter of a few decades. Any Other who exposed themselves was found, tried and murdered by gleeful townsfolk under the cold direction of the Church. In danger of becoming extinct, the Others did the only thing left: ran.

Fleeing towns and homestead which had been theirs by birthright for countless years, they fled to the farthest reaches of the planet in a vain hope to survive. To the tallest mountains, deepest oceans, densest wood or darkest cave; it did not matter where as long as they could not be found and killed. Those who stood out in any way, those who looked abnormal or who's gift would not allow them to hide amongst humans were easily followed and hunted. Those meager few that managed to survive the purging of the abnormals fled to the wilds and untouched, living out the rest of their lives in misery and solitude. Those who were able to blend in were far luckier, able to hide among the human thong of poor and destitute as well as in the far away and deep places.

It seems the Others were doomed to fade away, die out and become just the stuff of fairytale and legend, until the Venice Proclamation. No one Guild today can say who made the call and who created the plan that would save their species, each Guild claims it was their efforts which lead to the creation of the Guilds and the Proclamation itself. What is known is a call was sounded, a great counting of the rolls of the survivors was to be had and any who would want to survive and receive assistance should attend such a gathering. Others from around the globe dared to dream and hope, coming out of their hiding holes to be registered and counted. Some only sent messages and letters, but many more arrived in person.

For the first time in their history, the Others had organization. Over the period of 2 weeks, the First Council took time to organize and categorize all the remaining abilities the Others possessed. Those of similar styles and flavors would be formed into a Guild, and each Guild was left to its own devices on how to manage the safety and security of their members. Those who's powers could not be classified were shown sympathy, many of these were the last members of their kind who had survived the burnings, and offered places within Guilds with whom they felt most comfortable.

The great organization set, each Guild chose a member to represent their people for the writing of the Venice Proclamation. Every voice was heard, every possibility planned and each Guild signed for their people agreement to follow the rules set forth. Each Guild agreed to a quarterly meeting, a gathering of the selected members to review any issues that threaten their people as a whole. Once the Venice Proclamation was issued, the Others returned to the world. The Underground was formed, offering security and safety below the earth while vast fortresses hidden in plan sight of the humans were established as safe houses for those remaining above ground.

Despite some minor hiccups of politics and disagreements between the Guilds, the system has helped insure not only the survival of each Guild but the survival of the Others as well. The flexibility of the system has helped them to accommodate the future of space travel, but with the new stresses on genetic research it remains to be seen if the Guilds will survive in their current form for another century.

The Oracles Guild

The Oracles have existed for a long time prior to being formed as a Guild, since man was first able to recognize the passage of the days and record what has come before to plan for what else may come. The first Oracles were worshiped and revered for the most part by mankind, their insights into life and what was to come valuable in many rising cultures and societies. Held aloof and separated from the troubles and toils of the world, they lived lives of public humility and power amongst both Other and Mankind. Treated with such reverence, it came as a shock to them when the Church descended down and the time of White Death began.

Dragged from their gilded temples and protected manors, the Oracles were some of those hit the hardest by the Inquisition due to their public figures. As more and more were dragged into streets and burned on accusations of witchcraft, those survivors began to flee for their lives into the wild places of the world to escape. Using only their gift to guide them in survival, they hid amongst the human peasant hordes and deep in the dark and unexplored regions of the planet. Pushing their abilities to the limit, they took pity on all the others driven out of their homes and frequently selflessly used their powers for the betterment of their new people. For the first time many of them gave of others instead of taking for themselves, and the joy they found in it was infectious.

Before the call came out for the grand gathering in Venice, the Oracles already knew of it. It is said that the simple fact that they saw a vision of their survival in attending the gathering is what spurred the others to follow them, the Oracles moved enmass from their hiding holes and wilderness shacks to descend on what they felt was their last hope. Inspired by the infectious joy that spread amongst the Oracles, the Others quickly followed and met for what would be the Venice Proclamation. Joined officially as a Guild, the Oracles made the universal ruling amongst themselves to offer assistance to their people and their new families. They moved in full to support the Underground and reject the surface world. That is, until WW2.

World War 2 was the wake up call for the Oracles Guild, the point where they realized that things were going terribly wrong with humanity and the surface world. They continued to see how horrible man could be to each other without a moral guide and advise on lessons of the past, but still held out a nervous hope that things would change after this second global slaughter. The moment that the atomic bomb was tested, every oracle young and old had the same vision. They saw very clearly that man had now the ability to eradicate themselves from the planet, the power to destroy all life on earth in their rage against each other. They saw very clearly that if a third world war was to be allowed, that the devastation and rage would be an end to everyone's way of life forever. For a second time in their history, the Oracles convened and agreed that man needed their influence more than ever.

Leaving the Underground enmass, the Oracles took to their old roles of shepherding humanity and offering advice and guidance with gusto. They entered public life, becoming leaders of revolutionary groups and business captains. They pushed the envelope of technology and struggled to end wars around the globe, hoping that a world of peace and free information could never allow such an event as a world war to erupt as it did prior. When the dark tidings of war began to brew and the storm clouds covered the earth, the Oracles felt confident that their great work had forestalled this terrible destruction. Sadly, they were blind to those who opposed them in their own midst.

No one knows the name of the Oracles who were inside the Pentagon when the call for war erupted, but what is known is that they were there. Someone was inside the Pentagon, working against their movements and no one should have been able to follow the same tugs and pulls of fate and destiny except for another Oracle. When the nukes began to drop on American soil for the first time, the Guild realized the horror they had unleashed. In their relentless pursuit of a better tomorrow, they realized they had laid the groundwork for this war. They had been blinded by their own sense of righteousness, and were ashamed. Washing their hands of the world, they turned their backs from the bigger picture.

Oracles Guild Today

The Oracles Guild of today is a broken people, their wings burnt as they flew too high to the sun and now trudge along on the ground with the rest of humanity. Having decided to stop trying to meddle in grand affairs, most Oracles busy themselves with their own pet projects and doing their best to stay out of the spotlight. Oracles very rarely volunteer to be in charge of a situation, they’re offer support or deny it often randomly to the outside observer and offer little-to-no explanation as to why. Being able to see the past and future has jaded many a member, giving them a twisted sense of right and wrong. It is not uncommon to find many criminals and white-collar crime perpetrators amongst the Guild these days, though the reasons for such behavior are often shrouded. Deeper inspection often reveals that the murders committed are of those who got away with crimes or will kill in the future, people stolen from are in fact jewel thieves themselves.

Oracles have stopped trying to live for a better future, the Guild that used to have an optimistic view on what was to come now lives simply for the moment. Many have taken a revenge bent, trying to avenge those who have been wronged in the past but had no one stand up for them, while others are simply using their gifts to make life comfortable for themselves and their friends/families. Universally it is said the Oracles are a lost group of good-hearted Others, looking for direction again to bend their talents once again.

Choosing a Council member

Choosing a council member for the quarterly meetings is actually a fairly simple process: they simply allow their natural gifts to decide. Through a combination of divination, precog and general blind luck they let the name of the next council member be selected from a master list of Oracles kept in Venice. The information needed for that meeting is then sent to the new council member via the Spys Guild, often times an Oracle will not know he’s been selected until there is a Mr. or Mrs. Smith at his doorstep with a package.

Joining the Guild

Joining the Oracles Guild is actually a fairly simple process, once an Other has been identified as a possible Oracle he is approached and interviewed. His or hers powers are tested to verify their precog or post-cog abilities, a simple process that is clearly evident and a cut-and-dry method of sorting out possible guild mates. A unique feature amongst the Oracle guild is the physical sensations that go along with their abilities. Positive visions will create a euphoric and pleasant feeling in the body, ranging anywhere from a warm hugging sensation too full on after sex glow. Negative visions will create just the opposite, feeling of pain and uncomfortableness in the body ranging from a stiff muscle to at its worst pain-induced seizures.

Life on Apollo

When the ARC was going to have to make a crash landing, it scanned the nearest solar system to find a safe haven for the colonists. Finding every planet incompatible for normal Earth living, the Arc then began to seek out the moons. It found one, smaller than the homeworld they came from but with a primitive bio-sphere and atmosphere that could support a permanent settlement with extensive terraform works. The emergency systems began to laugh the colonists and the supplies needed to begin the work of creating a society, but before the ship could be launched in its entirety it was pulled into the gravity well of Thor and landed. From the moment the colonists of Apollo woke up alone on their barren moon, they have had a life of struggle.

Lifeforms on Apollo are incredibly close to those found on Earth, there is little genetic drift between the two. Cows and other livestock were bred from stored embryos onboard ARC and those that survived made their way into the hands of the Science Caste. There are technically only 12 species living and "native" to Apollo: Dogs, Cats, Cattle, Chickens, Pigs, Sheep, Pigeons (yes, they survive everything including spaceship crashes), Tortoise, Grouper, Catfish, Ball-Pythons and Goats. Several breeds of each species have been developed over the years, but they all trace back to those original species.

Flora also has a limited supply of genetic stock, and is kept primarily for food and material purposes. Oak, Maple and Redwood tree's exist, as well as kudzu vine and green algae. Corn, Potato, Green Bean, Peach, Peanut, Grape, Orange, Apple, Fig, and Pomegranate are the extent of the food species (though over the last century bio-genetically engineered combination's have begun to fill in the markets of Apolloian homes) available to the populous.

The populous is divided into a Caste system for most efficient use of resources and to bets maximize the potential of the populous. Children are watched and studied till the age of 10, from there they are chosen and split into one of the four Caste they will spend the rest of their lives with. They live with them, marry into them, and their jobs are centered around each caste. The Worker caste is the largest by far, the average human is sent there. They do the manual labor, they are the builders and menial job workers of the moon. The Science Caste is devoted to the higher arts of technology. The most brilliant minds are sent there, and they are responsible for most of the technological leaps and bounds Apollo has experienced. The Warrior Caste is the trained military of Apollo, they are the soldiers and star-fighters of the people. The last, least populous but most influential, caste is the Priest caste. They are the leaders of Apollo, the teachers and instructors on the Way of Humanity as well as the moral authorities and councilors. They keep and protect the traditions that have kept Apollo safe for over 400 years and are the most conservative caste. Each Caste is led by an Elder, selected as the best of those people, and the four elders rule Apollo. One Elder every 10 years is selected as the High Commander, the supreme ruler of Apollo. It rotates amongst the Elders, giving the populous the illusion of freedom.

Life on Thor

Life on Thor is dramatically different than life on Earth and the early colonists were ill-prepared for the nature of the planet. Over time, they were able to adapt and build a society around the natural habitat on the planet and not only survive but thrive, but before they could reach that summit they had to adapt to the alien wildlife.

While Earth developed as a carbon-based planet relying on solar power to trigger energy production in plants, the staple for Thor's bio-sphere is actually biologically generated electricity. The large size of the planet is attributed to the dense central core, and the incredibly powerful electromagnetic fields it has produced over time. Pulling in several asteroids and other small debris during its formation gave the rocky sphere a greater circumference than your average mineral-based crust (and thus a heavier gravitational field). Metals and sodium were the primary elements in the soil pre-volcanic eruption, priming the whole world as a super-conductor. Due to the powerful forces beneath the surface, huge volcanoes released tons of ash and smoke into the developing atmosphere early on in the planets life, causing an extensive cloud cover and cutting off nearly 70% of the possible heat and light energy that might reach the planet from the star Chiron. Life would not be deterred however, and the early proto-plants and proto-animals adapted to the most readily available energy source: electricity.

The plants developed specialty cells and glands designed to absorb the ambient electricity from the air and soil and covert it to food via photosynthesis. These unique features developed in the root structure and leaves of the various plants, they absorbed salt to better conduct the electricity and emit oxygen to better assist the electrical currents traveling through the atmosphere. Over time many plants would develop signature vessels within it that would store the electricity (much like a plant on Earth might store water), to better "harvest" the natural electromagnetic field provided by the planet. Because of the natural electromagnetic field of the planet, the plant life has bloomed and taken over almost every surface of the planet.

The animal life adapted to the electrical nature of their world by developing organs and nerve structures to consume the bio-electromagnetism created by the plant life. The nerve endings on the carnivorousness animal life became highly specialized, able to channel and ignore the pain of most forms of electricity and store and absorb the electrical currents in glands and other specialty cells in the body. This stored electricity could then be used as a weapon, to increase muscle reflex and speed, mating rituals, regulate body temperature, etc. Herbivore life forms have specially adapted glands and organs which they use to produce their own bio-electrical charge, although this is a very weak form and not enough for the animal to survive on. They use the excess electricity they take from the plant-life as defensive structures, for mating rituals and the like. But they also use them to feed the plant life, to speed up blooming and growth of fruits and leaves, to charge the plant with extra energy for it to grow food faster. Thus, every life form on Thor is interconnected via the electrical field generated in the very core of the planet.

Those that survived the crash landing were faced with a difficult challenge. They did not have the technical skills, nor did they have much of the supplies and technological advancements that Apollo was granted. The remaining crew had to make do with what could be salvaged from the ship and simple survival training in the hostile new world. Due to the lack of knowledge and supplies available to the crew, their technological progress was behind that of Apollo. However, they did learn early on how to harness the various plants and animals on Thor for electricity, agriculture, farming and, later on, technological advancements.

The people of Thor split into 5 distinct sub-cultures. There are more than 20 various city-states along the super continent of Thor and its great Ocean, though several city-states share the same cultural lines (just different governing beliefs) amongst each other. The first group is the Thorians, they are the majority group represented on Thor. They feel they have escaped from bondage and the past of Earth and have a fresh start here on Thor and are determined to create a society with liberty and justice for all, free of the prejudices from Earth and free to start anew with clean slates. The next are those of the Natives, most of this group live in the woodlands and mostly untouched nature of Thor. These people believe that it is best to forget their old ways of technology and learn to live with the land. They use and adapt technologies that are eco-friendly and least impactful on the planet, the tree city of Eden is the model image of blending science with nature to create a home for both. The New Earthers stay primarily in the mountain ranges and great plains on Thor, they wish to bring everything that was Earth to this new planet. They subjugate and cage the powers of Thor, using them to fuel machines and (thanks to Apolloian traders) specialty bio-domes designed to replicate Earth's natural environment. The Fish Mongers are next, they spend most of their lives on floating cities and vessels along the great ocean of Thor. They are a free-spirited people, believing that each has a right to fulfill their own destiny and should be hampered by minimal laws. The only city on land claimed by them, Freeport, rests in the caverns of the great island Loki (the only other landmass on Thor and roughly the size of Texas). Last are the Walkers of the Way, a people who claim no city as their own. Traveling primarily along the deserts and plains of Thor, they are a Nomadic people who preach the religion of Spirit (that every planet has a spirit that is its guide and protector, and deserves respect and assistance in helping the planet). They travel between all the cities, healing both the land and people with their medical sciences.

A recent sub-culture has sprung up within the last 75 years and is beginning to spread rapidly along the planet. Known as the Connectors, they are viewed with an air of distrust and apprehension by those of Thor (hatred and violence by those from Apollo) due to factors beyond their control. Genetic drift is bound to happen, and those known as the Connectors are seen as the first steps in an evolutionary jump for humanity on Thor. Born among any of the cultures, they have triggered a genome in their body that allows them to store and manipulate bio-electric fields much like the native creatures to Thor. Using a hyperactive chemical stimulant to increase the electric currant and voltage in their bodies, they have unlocked a limited telekinesis in which they can project their own living bio-electrical field, or draw upon the fields of other life forms around them. Rare, as they only have a 50% chance of passing on the genetic trait, they are a growing situation that one day Thor will need to address.

The Chiron System

The Chiron System is a sparse place compared to other solar systems, often attributed to the density of the star and the high electromagnetic core of Thor. The System contains one medium sized star, a small rocky planet named Hermes, the terran sphere Thor with its single moon Apollo, the gas giant Hercul with its 12 moons, the gas giant Tiamat with its 5 multi-colored rings and finally the terran sphere Trinity with its 3 moons in altered elliptical orbits. There are only 2 meteors that regularly travel through the system, and unlike the Sol System is contains no asteroid belt.

Chiron is a medium sized star, with an intensely heated core. A higher than average core temperature fuels the star, leading to frequent solar flares and expulsion of comic gas into space. It also spins around the galactic core at an increased rate, the movement speed helping to increase the heat density of the star itself. Frequent solar storms have lead to a highly charged atmosphere in the planets within the Chiron System, as well as scorching and destroying any proto-planets that may have existed in a closer alignment in the early days of the system.

The first planet in the Chiron system is the planet Hermes. Orbiting incredibly close to Chiron, Hermes races around its star at a breakneck speed. One Hermes year is only 99.5 days, and temperature extremes can reach up to 2000F on the daylight side (Hermes has a 12 hour day) and plunging to 950F on the dark side. No moons, and deemed uninhabitable by Apollo scientists, it is the smallest planet in the Chiron System just a few miles in diameter less than Apollo.

The Third planet, Hercul, is a gas giant. Swirling with gold and amber gas storms all along the surface, the actual core of the planet is rumored to be no larger than Apollo itself. Severe and frequent gas storms rage across the surface, some which stop over the years others which have raged on since Apollo first gazed eyes on it. Hercul is ringed with twelve moons, the largest being Augean (with its volcano's spewing toxic clouds of gas and soot into the air) to the smallest being Cretan.

The Fourth planet, Tiamat, is another gas giant in orbit around Chiron. Tiamat's gas is a prismatic coloration, naturally a soft black but when reflecting the rays of Chiron is shimmers with color. Tiamat has no moons, Apollo theorizes it was once of the last planets to develop from the excess storms cast off of Hercul, but instead has five multicolored rings (red, blue, green, white and gold) which are all that remain of its original moons. The rings all spin incredibly fast, orbiting the planet similar to a moon, and it is gravity alone which keeps the rings from coliding into each other.

The fifth, and last planet, in the Chiron system is Trinity. It is a terran sphere, much like Thor and Hermes, and is shrouded in white coloration that seems to permeate the entire atmosphere. Apollo scientists are unsure if the white coloration is due from a gigantic ice sheet surrounding the planet or high density cloud and ozone cover. It has three proto-moons (not true spheres but most likely asteroids caught in orbit), orbiting in opposing elliptical patterns around the planet. It is the farthest away and thus the least is known planet in the whole system.

Welcome to Thor

Welcome to Thor, 2nd planet in the Chiron System. It has but one orbital satellite named Moon by the settlers of Thor, but now designated Apollo by its inhabitants.

In 2109, the nations of the Earth began their first grand colonization project. Scientists were dedicated to the cause and money invested in grand projects for future homes for mankind among the stars while the nations of the world raced to be the first to establish colonies inside of the Sol System and beyond. However, like in everything that involves governments, politics came into play. Human rights activists, environmentalists. religious zealots and isolationist all found common ground in wanting to deny these programs from occurring. Public relation nightmares all over the globe put an end to publicly visible plans for colonization, politicians and national figures more interested in protecting their seats of power than the future of mankind bowed out and removed support.

But, what the people of Earth didn't know...wouldn't hurt them.

A massive ship, the first of its kind, was built in bunkers and secret locations all across Earth. Codenamed ARC, it stood for Aerial Relocation Colonizer. Ungraded with the most up-to-date technology the combined minds of Earths most brilliant men could come up with, it was fitted with everything a population would need to survive on a new world and flourish. Chosen for the this secret mission were those deemed expendable (and also most likely to survive near-impossible situations), prisoners and other convicts from jails and prisons. Given the choice of certain death via lethal injection/life in prison or the chance at a brand new life...a crew of 500,000 were chosen. Health screens, professions trained and rechecked before the final number, 325,000, was reached.

The launch was perfect, the massive ship and its crew were disguised as a asteroid belt mining ship to the press, and scientists cheered as the new experimental NLS engine pushed it out of the solar system in a matter of hours. Communications with the systems were perfect, and they all celebrated their luck.

Celebrated a bit too early it seems.

As the ARC traveled through various identified solar system, a problem occurred. An unstable star had entered its final death face, and random luck had it expand and explode as the ARC passed by. Going super nova the plasma and fusion waves pushed off the star, reaching the ARC in a matter of seconds. The plasma waves ripped through the ship, destroying the communication arrays and scrambling the autopilot navigation system. On Earth they were too late to do anything at all. By the time the plasma wave hit their sensors, the ship had already disappeared. In the black reaches outside of the Sol System the ARC was lost...and forgotten by all who lived back on that world.

The ship cruised on, traveling the void. It kept going deeper and farther, traveling beyond what any man would come to know for centuries, its NLS engines pushing it to the edge of the galaxy and beyond. As all things are want to do, it eventually ran out of power. Scanning the new solar system it had arrived in, it found that the Moon orbiting the 2nd planet in this system was the most Earth-like. It began to emergency eject it's inhabitants, dropping off most of the supplies and those deemed critical to a colonies survival first, before an electromagnetic wave radiating of the main planet tore through the ship. It destroyed what little automatic computer flight AI's were remaining, and while a quarter of the crew was landing on the moon and beginning to awaken from stasis, 3/4 remained as the ship careened into the planet below. Saved by the last of the emergency power, those who had to survive on the planet faced a far different world than either were accustomed to.

It has been 525 years. The two societies regained the ability of space travel, and the resulting war that took place between the two great peoples nearly tore all life apart. An uneasy peace has been brokered, and in a joint effort the two governments have built together their first deep space probe, aimed at exploring the remainder of the Chiron System.

You are those first brave souls to leave the orbits of Thor and Apollo.

Good Luck.

From the Vault - IC: Welcome Home...

This is a piece of short fiction from my Vampire: The Requiem game, one from the vaults so to speak. I was pretty happy with it at the time, so I htink I'll actually post it up here for viewing pleasure:

                                                                            * * *

Lachlan scowled as he stepped off his private jet in the secluded airstrip. His trip from the Amazon had been most uneventful, mostly his own nerves getting the better of him as he thought of all his family. Their images from nearly a century ago still haunted his waking hours, not an hour has passed by since that first scattering that he did not think of them. The air was gritty with the pollution of the Kine, the land was lit by harsh bulbs which blocked the natural beauty of the stars...this was no Ireland by any stretch of the imagination.

His combat boots squelched in the mud as he stepped into the limo, adjusting the trench coat around his person to hide the various blades and guns on his person. A Knight of the Invictus, let alone a loyal Knight of the Scarabae, never entered a new scenario unprepared for anything that may arise. Taking deep breaths, not for air but for the sake of keeping calm, Lachlan forced himself to think on what was to come. Already Pelinora had fallen so low, lost so much of her civility...what had fared with the others?

Would the Twins still have that same sad smile when they looked at the world? Had the past century effected them so, warped their bond and driven a wedge between the both of them?

What had happened to the Amun? Lachlan's face turns into a scowl as he thinks of what may have befallen the once proud Nosferatu when separated from those that they worship. They both created such works of beauty for the Twins, giving up much of themselves into every bit of the art...how have they lasted while separated from their muse?

How had the separation been to the newest member of the family, the youngest known as Rhealette? Had the time apart from the family made her leery, made her separate? Would she fit in, would she even want to come back when Khemet so unjustly broke apart the one thing that was truly good in any of their lives?

What fate befell those star-crossed lovers, the stoic Corvin and Lachlan's dear sister Sairy? Had the century in isolation strengthen their bond, or had it weakened and crumbled without support? Had Corvin treated her right, had Sairy come to terms with her own power over Corvin? Lachlan places a hand on his thigh and squeezes it as he remembers Sairy as they used to walk for hours under the moonlight, just talking and sharing between the two. Would his bond to his Daeva sister ever be the same again?

Would his Elder Rainier receive him, welcome him, respect him? Would he be punished for allowing Khemet to split the family, would he be punished for Elebeta's death?

Lachlan closes his eyes and places a hand over his heart at the mere thought of his beloved, the only one he failed to save. Duty and honor made him abandon her, made him leave her to death. He had fought with her even then, tears of blood pouring down his face as his Duty and Honor fought with his Soul and Love. In the end it was she who convinced him to go, he would have surely betrayed Khemet and risked death for her life.

How her sweet words elated his soul, her gentle touch calmed him and excited him so. How she knew the animal inside his soul, that part of Lachlan that he kept hidden even from his dear Sairy. A part of him died with her that night, as he let her to the flames. She gave herself so the Family might live...but Lachlan was never sure if he would ever allow himself to live again.

As the car pulled off the side roads into the major interstate connecting Orlando, Lachlan could not help but have his breath caught in his throat. It had been long, too long, since he had been in a proper city. He could already feel his blood stirring, the Beast within pacing as it paws eagerly at the gates within his soul. It wanted to hunt, to claim his territory. It wanted to make this home so desperately...but a part of his heart remained cold. His eyes scanned the side of the road as his driver sped past the gleaming steel, searching for any sign of his Family.

It would not feel like home until they were all gathered. Not a moment before. And then he would guard them, protect his home from whatever danger might rise its dreadful head. Lachlan gives a silent prayer that the hole in his heart may one day be filled, and that he may hide his one weakness from the rest.

"Welcome home House Scarabae..."

One from the Vaults: Twas the Night After Thankgiving

'Twas the night after Thanksgiving, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The plates were all dirty, the cupboards all bare,
The fridge was all stuffed with leftovers in there;

My son was all nestled all snug in his bed,
While visions of tinker toys danced in his head;

And I in my worksuit, scarf and fine hat,
Had just settled down for a vodka nightcap,

When out from the workshop there arose such a'clatter,
I sprang from the couch to see what's the matter.

Away through the Hedgegate I flew like a flash,
Opened  door wide and kicked aside all the trash.

My Hedgebeast was running and jumping to and fro
To signal the completion of my weapons down below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a Hedgespun sleigh, and eight steam-powered reindeer,

The weapons were primed and the missiles were quick,
"Well, that will finally do in that bastard St. Nick!

I have cold iron stocked and nitro boosts steady
With my night vision goggles I'll not be caught unready!

Now, Basher! Now, Lancer! Now, Taser and Mixen!
Now, Kermit! Now Ares! Now, Flamer and Twitchin'!"

I hopped in the sleigh and turned the key hard,
And rose high from my workshop, leaving ground charred.

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the Hedge-top the robo-deer flew,
With a sleigh full of high-grade explosives, and rocket or two.

And then, with a roar, I heard in the night
A pack of Briarwolves, their eyes burning bright.

I drew up my reins, and turned myself 'round,
And pointed my weapons at the bastards on the ground.
There were rockets and rifles for hitting long distance,
And napalm and flamethrowers to ignite me some bitches;

I let loose my payload, tinsel sparkling in the sky,
And blew those poor briarwolves high up into the sky.

My eyes -- how they twinkled! My dimples how merry!
My cheeks were a sparklin', and I ate a hedge-berry!

"These weapons may seem abit much, but they just don't know,
How much I would give to see Santa's guts all over the snow;

His horrific reign of terror finally brought to an end,
And children everywhere can celebrate without fear once again!

And when he is gone," as I rub my hands in the napalm light,
"Then I can do his job, much to the childrens delight,

I can make all the best toys like a right jolly young elf."
And I laughed when I thought of it, in spite of myself;

"A dolly for Susan, and a Nerf gun for Fred,
Soon all will know they have nothing to dread!

A Teleporter for Holly, and a new yacht for Bandy,
While Edria gets a new dress that's just dandy!"

And laying my hands on the reigns nice and tight,
And giving a nod, I flew deep into the night;

The Hobs they all stared in wonder and gave whistles,
As I flew high above them, above Briar and Thistles.

And they all heard me exclaim, as I drove out of sight,
"You're time's up fat bastard, and soon it'll be Toil's night!"

One from the Vaults: The Forge

tink tink tink

For hours on end, that was his only companion in the darkness. He could see nothing, having doused every flame and ensured that no sun shone over his Hollow, and worked his craft in absolute darkness. The furnace even produced a black flame, the blade when heated seemed to suck in the light around it.

tink tink tink hisssssssssss

Wiping sweat from his brow, Toil pants softly. This was the longest part, the hardest part of the craft. Until now it had all been physical strength which was required, a strength Toil sadly lacked. Hammering the metal, heating and cooling over and over for more hours than he could recall, Toil's body ached in places normal bodies were not meant to ache. Yet this was all easy, all simple. The real hard part became the magic, which he would have to add neck.

tink tink tink hissssssssss

Pulling the blade from the water once more, he lays the metal back onto the furnace. Feeling the heat beat form the dark flames, he begins to sweat profusely. Summoning his courage, he reaches into his sack. He begins to pull items from it, placing them on the hollow of the blade. Thrusting his hands into the fire time and time again, he winces as he feels his flesh blackening and burning, the smell of cooked meat to his nose. Each time he thrusts his hands in, he seems to speak aloud to only his own ears what he has added.

"The first rays of dawn, so it may know hope."

"Blood of the enemy, so it may thirst."

"Platinum, so it may remain pure."

"Blood of the hero, so it may know its path."

"Blood of the creator, so it may know sacrifice."

As he with draws his burned hands, he steels his resolve. Grabbing the blade from the flames once more, he sets it within the hilt and begins to hammer. Every ounce of pain, almost enough to make him faint, he used to fuel his strikes. As each hammer blow fell, sparks of light rose up as if to defy the darkness. Toil hammers, slamming the mallet down over and over for hours before stopping from sheer exhaustion.  Dipping his own hands into the water, and knowing he taints its purity with his blood, he looks at his finished work. Wrapping his hands around the hilt, he holds it aloft, gazing with unseeing eyes.  "You who was forged in the darkness, when all hope has seemed lost for a new day. What say you then, to the endless night?" The most critical part...that which would define if he were to succeed or fail.

The blade begins to hum, like the soft thrum of a new day. From deep within it's core, it starts to glow a ruby red and gold. As if the dawn itself was rising from within the blade, it began to glow brighter and bright like the sun. Banishing the darkness from the workshop, it illuminates every corner of small space. Its light is reflected in the tears on Toils face, shimmering and sparkling as he admires his creation.

"You...are ready."

A Private Moment Aboard the Gym

Thud thud thud THWACK

Jolan punched the sandbag over and over till his knuckles had split open, then over and over again until the bag was dyed red. It felt good to get this rage out of him, this anger that he felt threatened to overtake him like it had the other councilors. The negotiations had gone sluggish, the Vosch penchant for expressing emotions as they're felt leading to many fistfights in the middle of the discussion amongst the Chorus. Tempers were boiling, emotions were high and the tension each day the negotiations continued could be cut with a knife.

Thud thud thud THWACK

Never before in their peoples history had anyone WANTED to leave the Fleet in such large numbers. Sure, the occasional family would depart or a child would not return from a pilgrimage...but a whole 1/5th of the Fleet wanting to tear away and start their own Fleet? It was like someone had stabbed a knife into the heart of the Vosch, families and whole clans of people torn apart. The smell of inner war was on the tip of every tongue, and it seemed that the only thing containing the fire were these talks. Like they were actually accomplishing anything.

Thud thud thud THWACK

And over Christmas no less! A wonderful holiday, one had was trying to spend with his sister...then the goddamned Fleet decided to get a hair up their air hose and cause this mess. Would she be able to forgive him for not attending, hell what would the rest of the crew think? It's hard to spend bonding time with a crew when your constantly being pulled away...but the Fleet was his home and he needed to take care of it. At the same time, this kind of fighting was NOT what home was supposed to be about, and the cold looks and sneers at laving his ship from the other Councilors had given Jolan enough anger to knock out more than a few teeth.

Thud thud thud THWACK

If he wasn't at home in the Embery Riddle, and he wasn't at home amongst the Fleet...where was home?

Thud thud thud THWACK

Soundtrack

1) Life's a Happy Song - Staring: All
2) Every body wantsta be Acanthus - Staring: Moonshadow, Skyla, Michael, Eddy
3) I've got a Theory - Staring: Gypsy, Solomon, Noel, Cloud
4) Grim Grinning Ghosts - Staring: Bruja, Gauss
5) Tik Tock - Staring: Jason 13
6) Til I Hear you Sing - Staring: Sparrow
7) Going through the Motions - Staring: Asha
8) Party for One - Staring: Eucharist, Bowie
9) Pictures in my Head - Staring: Asha, Gypsy
10) Fireflies - Staring: Skyla
11) Man or Thyrsus - Staring: Jester, Cloud
12) Confrontation - Staring: Jacob, Marhime
13) Walk through the Fire - Staring: All
14) Dangerous Game - Staring: Lazarus, Christine
15) Mah Na Mah Na - Staring: All

IC: The flower of passion blooms even in the coldest depths of winter

He did not care about the foolish chink or his perverted club offerings. To care about such things was to invest emotion and precious inner flame to a path that bored and drolled onto endless sleep.

He did not care about the brain-rotted redcap, nor the sniveling Pooka who would cower and follow such a man. They were brutes and the victims of brutes, he could help neither and in fact would make good targets for a scam in the coming months.

He did not care about the state of the slums, nor its houses of broken dreams and whitewashed sin. He would use this place, feed his eternal flame within in their suffering if they would fall to his temptations.

He did care for the starved, for the scared. This was not their choice, they could not help what had happened to them and were desperate. They turned to the Brute, to the Betrayer, to the Lazy and to the Politician. They clung to anything that would support them, for they had no choice.

He remembered when he had made those same mistakes. He remembered it had cost his family and friends and entire plantation everything they had. He remembered the starved women and children, those in his old folly had condemned to death. He remembered his Oath to never stand for this again.

He felt that familiar flower begin to bloom within the soil of the soul, uncurling its blood-red petals slowly through his body till every inch of him thrummed with potential and inner flame. The flower needed pollen spread, water applied and soil replaced to grow lest it consume the poor mortal shell that contain it. He gazed upon the moon and let out the primal cry of his people from ages gone past.

"Soon."

IC: A quiet moment aboard the ship.

Jolan quickly made his way back to the ship, sealing the airlock with a relived sigh. He had barely spent time off the ship, just long enough to gather supplies and price check while the sky was still dark. A small shiver runs up his spine as he shies his eyes away from the singular piece of hull still for repairs and quickly heads to his bunk to seek the solace of darkness and cool metal beneath his hands.

In the past 48 hours his life had been shaken and were it not for his space-legs he may have had far worse of an outburst than a simple punch to Yardley. His long-dead sister comes back into his life, the man whom took her for whatever reason is his Nav-Com, his boss is an alien robot and the ship councilor is a mutant. Jolan wished he could shake his unsettled feelings towards the Captain but he couldn't get over the fact all this was going on aboard without his knowledge. If he had been an ivosch aboard a Fleet ship...

No, he wasn't aboard a Fleet ship and he had to get used to that idea. Maybe that was his big issue, he wasn't home. This ship was beautiful no doubt, a dream come true to any young Vosch who had ambitions of becoming a Fleet mechanic. The crew was full of stories and he knew that in the years to come he would spend so much time laughing, crying and loving with them all fiercely. His sister was just as beautiful as he remembered, and she looked so much like his mother. Adventure was on the horizon and in his mind he knew he made a good choice.

But still.

There was no singing as the ship launched, nor were the sounds of laughter and life echoing from the halls. The lack of pitter-patter of small children was like a void in his heart, the missing sounds of the cook chasing tonight's dinner around the mess hall made his breath catch. There was no sense of history or family for him, no paintings or fabrics from a cousin's mothers uncles wife. Stories weren't being told over the glow of a fuel cell, and there was no silent dancing through the zero-g fields. Everything that made Jolan feel at home was not here, no matter how hard he tried to fill it and put it there himself. No one would give a friendly touch or comforting hug, no one would fight with him when angry or cry with him when upset. Even his sister, the vain hope he clung to that she would be just like any other Vosch, couldn't stand his touch to be awoken by or didn't want to spend personal time with him to learn and just be near each other.

Jolan stared up at the soft red fabric draped above his bun to help him feel more enclosed. On this busy planet, with billions of travelers in and out, and crammed into an old ship with minimal personal space at best...he had never felt more alone.

Lachlan's Lament

The walk up to 55 West was long and lonely, his steps echoing along the sidewalk. Maybe it was fitting that he make the trip alone, his shame pressing hard on his soul and making him regret ever coming. "Maybe I should have never come. Maybe I should have faced the sun." He ponders quietly to himself as he walks the corner around to the front of the building.

For a moment, his heart leaped. The feminine shape standing shadowed one the sidewalk reminded him so much of her it pained him. The scent of her skin wafted into his nose and calmed him, soothing the pain and wrapping him in a blanket of comfort. "Sairy." He speaks softly as to not startle her.

"Lachlan." Sairy's voice was joyful, and she abandoned composure as she ran up to crush the Gangrel that had been a brother to her in a hug. He nuzzled her cheek softly and smiled. "It is good to see you, brother."

"And I you, darling sister. I am confused...where is Corvin?" Lachlan tilted his head and inquired, the usual scent of her male disturbingly absent.

Sairy explained what had happened, where she had gone and to what lengths she had run. Lachlan felt the hole in his heart throb, though he hurt and just being near family was a torment he could not deny his sister comfort. Enfolding Sairy in a tight embrace, he whispers softly to her and together they make the long climb. Sairy needed his strength, his stalwart emotions to support her and no matter what he felt...Lachlan could not abandon his family.

The reunion was bittersweet. Lachlan felt a warmness in his heart, a swelling he had not experienced in decades as he made the rounds. He was mostly silent, giving bows of respect and brushing himself against his fellow Scarabae to feel comforted by their presence in his life once more. The Amun Brothers were a welcoming sight, and never had a glass of champagne tasted sweeter than when it was poured by his dear friend. Pel was...well Pel, and even her chaotic methods were a welcome sight. Aldar Rainer and Kin once again provided a stable position of authority and dignity to the room. The shock of the Twins being so separated was even smoothed over, his mood so jovial.

Even the dust-up between Corvin and Sairy was but a hiccup moment. As Corvin rampaged in his fury, Lachlan stood by his sister and comforted her. He whispered softly to her, stroked her hair and held her as she sobbed until Corvin returned. He said two words to Sairy, "I'm sorry", before they were both entangled in such a tight embrace to make even the bawdiest of poets blush. Lachlan just turned his back and allowed them to finish their reunion in peace, his own mind calm and centered as he stepped downstairs to greet the newest members of his family.

Then Aldar Rainer began to speak.

"There is one among us missing. My voice, my soothing voice. My Elebeta." Lachlan felt his Beast rise, and it took everything in his rational and controlling brain to keep from leaping across the room and pouncing the Aldar. He didn't hear anything, not what was said or who said it. Once the words were finished, and Pel dug the knife deeper into his heart, Laclan stalked out of the room.

The poor tree didn't know what hit it, his fists becoming cracked open and blood staining the bark. His hurt and pain, fury and angst all poured from him as he imagined the tree being Khemmet. Khemmet was the one responsible for his Bet's death, not Lachlan. Khemmet would pay.

But no matter how many times Lachlan tried to tell himself that, he never believed a word. In his heart, he would always know it was his fault his Elebeta had perished.

Tick tock

Moonshadow frowned as she left the small apartment room Bruja was being kept in. Today was not a good day. Her car had been broken into and her favorite pen was broken on the floor of the seat. It wasn't a big deal, but it clearly set the tone for the rest of the day.

Traffic sucked, it was as if the whole city had been turned into one way lanes for some reason. The target snitch she had to execute ran and she broke a nail chasing after him. Her lunch was burned by an improper heating format. She almost got a speeding ticket when she got the news about the young girls visions, and now it seems she has evidence that the Seers somehow knew about the operation kicking off in just mere minutes.

Grumbling to herself as the automated coffee machine _again_ only half filled her cup, Moonshadow pauses to consider. Who was the spy, who was the snitch? Someone inside the operation somewhere had to have leaked all the details. "Its not like we hid them well." She mutters, remembering Luke's fondness for making sure everyone knew everything. Finding the Seer plant would be tricky, if they've been undercover this long rooting them out will be even longer.

Moonshadow casts a cool eye over the assembled Magi as they all moved with a nervous energy. They all knew this was the big day, the big moment. If they knew they were all going to die, would they still feel the same energy and excitement? Would they die for the cause, or run and hide? "Hey soldier...hold up. I need to talk to you hun." She raises her hand to pause one of the UA members in mid-stride.

"Actually, I was sent to find you miss. The final stratagem meeting is about to take place, your expected to offer any intel you can." The woman magi salutes crispy before heading off again.

Moonshadow frowns. Things are moving too fast, too quickly. She glances over to the door where Bruja was being kept and nods. "They may not believe me, but surely her." She speaks below her breath.

Time was up, and if they didn't listen to her then time would be up for all mankind.

Waiting...

It had been a whirlwind week for Ronald, moving site to site almost every few hours just to keep ahead of patrols. He had fought hard to earn respect as a fighter for the UA cause, even mastering a few stolen Seer rotes. If his father had been alive, Ronald imagined he would be proud of how skilled his son had become.

So why was it, he thought gloomily to himself, that he was stuck doing guard duty on some moody teenager?

One of the fellow guards nods to him and he moves to open the small apartment door. Poor kid, he thought, locked away for so long and now under more lock and key. "'Scuse me ma'am, but you got a visitor." As the young girl looked up from her computer game and gives a small sneer, Ronald shivers. It was if a shade of death stared back, and every time it gave him the Hebe-Jeebee's.

"Not like you're giving me a choice...I've already told you all I know. Can't you just leave me in peace?" She mumbles slightly, a scowl forming on her smooth white skin. She brushed back her hair and quickly typed an excuse to pause on her online game. Looking more like a young woman on the cusp of death than a teenager in bloom, Bruja was used to this kind of treatment.

It had been a strange few days. Her life had been turned upside down, finding out the truth of her father then the "rescue" by some woman named Dea only to be kept "guarded and protected" as they pumped her for all the information she knew of her fathers Seer-related activities. Bruja didn't like the "talks", the UA members always seemed to get freaked out by her simple appearance and the guards had rotated fairly regularly.

She knew something was going on, her eyes were clouded by it. They sounded like lunatic rantings to others, but all she could see clinging to everyone was an encroaching death. Like a slime mold creeping down rank and dark stairs, the stain of death oozed about and clung to everyone it touched. Bruja tried to describe that which could not be described, that death was upon them all, but no one listened. She was stuck in this apartment room, and if she had to be miserable than by _god_ she would make everyone else so.

Brujah raised an eyebrow as a beautiful woman stepped into the room. "Thank you Ronald, leave us. You won't be needed." She spoke softly, like one might speak to a skiddish animal.

Ronald blinked, then frowned as he stepped away and shut the door. The young woman looked down at Bruja and smiled, holding up a file folder. "I know you've been over this a million times, but I'm different. I actually believe you. My name is Moonshadow, and I have less than an hour to try and save a large number of lives on the line. Will you help me?"

Bruja did her best not to look surprised at the forwardness of the woman. She looks to the clock, seeing the shadow of death begin to waver for the first time as it crossed the clock face. "Less than an hour? Then what are we waiting for, how can I help?"

Filk Song #3 - I have a Theory

So as some of you may know, I enjoy writing filk tunes to have acted out in my Game sessions. I'm working on my 3rd musical came currently, I figured I'd give those who follow the blog a sneak peak at one of the songs I've finished.

This one didn't require much work sadly, but once I finish recording it it'll sound awesome! I'll post the link to the finished product when the recording is finished.

Song: I Have a Theory!

Noel: I’ve got a theory that it’s a demon! A dancing demon? No something isn’t right there.

Asha: I’ve got a theory some kid is Waking, and we’re all stuck inside his wacky passion nightmare.

Solomon: I’ve got a theory we should work this out.

Sam, Gauss & Bruja: It’s getting creepy what’s this cheery singing all about?

Solomon: It could be women, some evil bitches! Which is ridiculous 'cause women they were persecuted. Ladies good and love
the earth and women power and I'll be over here.

Cloud: I got'a theory, could be unicorns!

Gambit: I’ve got a theory-

Cloud: Unicorns aren’t just cute like everyone supposes. They got them spiral horns and stompy diamond hooves, and what’s with
all the virgins!? What do they need such pure women for anyway!? Uni, uni, its just unicorns!! Or maybe midgets…

Asha: I’ve got a theory we should work this fast

Asha & Noel: Because it clearly could get serious before it’s passed.

Gypsy: I’ve got a theory, it doesn’t matter. What can’t we face if we’re together? What’s in this place that we can’t
weather. Apocalypse? We’ve all been there. The same old trips, why should we care?

Gypsy, Noel, Dea, Witness, Moonshadow & Eucharist: What can't we do if we get in it. We'll work it through within a minute. We have
to try, we\'ll pay the price. It's do or die.

Gypsy: Hey, once I died.

Gypsy, Noel, Dea, Witness, Moonshadow & Eucharist: What can't we face if we're together.

Noel: What can’t we face?

Gypsy, Noel, Dea, Witness, Moonshadow & Eucharist: What's in this place that we can't weather?

Noel: If we’re together

Gypsy, Noel, Dea, Witness, Moonshadow & Eucharist: There’s nothing we can’t face

Cloud: Except for spirits.