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1

Role Play Theater / Pathfinder 2.0 Crazy Gaming Group Idea

« on: April 11, 2018, 08:16:27 PM »

I created a journal in FA advertising interest in... well the topic says it all. Link to the FA journal here.

But, since this is a forum and not a chat room, I can post the text of the journal directly.

I picked up Starfinder thinking that it would be my gateway back into playing RPGs again, instead of just gorging on the source books and never playing a single session. As of yet, no Starfinder games... so I'm starting up early for Pathfinder 2.0. Playtest isn't even out till August, so let's set up a gaming group now.

Trick is, I want to be a player, but I also want to world build... and somewhere in the middle of contemplating those contradictions, I came up with an idea that would all both me and everyone else at the gaming table to be both. I know round table GMing isn't a unique idea, but normally you play in one world. But, what if, all the player characters came from different worlds? And all those worlds are connected by a hub, let's say on the astral plane for the sake of conversation. And at least at the beginning time will be spent exploring the hub and those worlds to make sense of it all, with each player stepping in to introduce their creation. From there, decisions have to be made... but I think it could be a lot of fun.

Of course, ground rules need to be set. I personally think the GM can control their character during exploration and downtime, but they should probably hand it over to another player during combat encounters; everyone's a GM in this situation, so riding two characters at once shouldn't be too much of a hassle. Also while some stuff needs to be kept hidden, certain mechanical elements of the homebrewing should be shared upfront. Not just for balance issues but also meshing the worlds together; if one person has a Science Fantasy world while another has an Urban Fantasy world, they'll both need to agree somewhat on how the homebrewd Computer skill would work.

...and yeah. Until I have someone to bounce ideas off of, that is the extent of my pitch. This would, of course, mean a level of dedication to actually pick up the Pathfinder 2.0 Playtest in August, and possibly the full setting whenever it is finalized. But if you're interested there is no reason not to start planning out the fluff now. I'll pass links to this journal around and see who I can get to bite, but eventually those who do bite will need more flexible venue to talk in... once again, though, something to discuss once people are interested.

I'm a little hesitant to post this here, mostly because I've been gone for so long that I probably won't know the majority of the people who might respond with interest. But I know know so few people anywhere so that is a hesitation I'm going to have to put aside.

Also, aside from basic premise, little has been decided. So once we actually have a group of people, stuff like table rules will need to be discussed. There's so far there has been only one maybe interested party. I have one stream I might drop a link into with the streamer's permission... and after that, maybe a second discord. If I can't get three to five interested people out of that I'm not sure what I'd do.

2

Game Room / Guild Wars 2, Take Three

« on: September 10, 2014, 04:23:02 PM »

Well, we have had another feature patch, so I guess it's time to see if there is any interest in the forum.

The Crimson Flag Guild still exists. I'm the Guild Leader, but the only other player is Draykin. I can't promise anything major, but I'll continue to invest influence when I can and build up the resources. Who knows, it might be a fully built guild eventually.

With that said, it's the Crimson Flag Guild, not my personal bank guild. So if you want an invite, shoot me your name so I can invite you. My unique ID is Benjamin Mahir.7986
Character names...
Raf Cian
Ryan Galen
Benjamin Mahir
Demra De Grenth
Fimnai Kizarmn

Those are my eighties. You'll catch me on one of those sometimes after daily reset most days. Who knows, maybe Crimson Flag will become more my main guild that Relics of Orr.

3

Role Play Theater / Planning a Guided Tour of Planet (Slots Filled)

« on: January 09, 2014, 09:40:51 PM »

As some people know, my player has been planning a small (epic) to serve as an original origin story for myself and his other main character, Ryan Galen. He managed to do a lot of planning over the course of last year, and even wrote a small little character piece for me and Ryan... but scripting out the actual stories hit a snag and he started working on other things.

Delays aren't really that big a deal, he's in this story for the long haul, but he'd like to get his creative juices flowing again in that direction, so he'd like to request some volunteers for a bit of a guided tour. He wants me to take a small group, two to five, through a portal to explore a few of the lands of Planet, the not so creatively named setting of the little adventure.

What we need from you up front if your volunteering...
One, we need to discuss species. Planet is mostly populated by seven species derived from the Carnivora Order. I don't want to deny anyone access, but people who don't fit into that model will have to undergo some... species TFs to not cause a mass riot. Also many normal furs might be gaining some minor super powers as part of the transition but we cover that after you volenteer.

Two, we need to know what you expect from me. Yes, my player is organizing this for HIS befit, but it's still a form of roleplay. We need to know what our players expect just like a proper Gamemaster. Do you just want a social romp as you explore the world and maybe your new powers? Or do you want action and drama as well? We make no promises for a masterpiece, but we shall strive to provide.

After that... we need to organize chat times as my player takes what was requested and craft enough of a frame work to game master a scenario.

Also, since some people around here might be driven off by certain climates, we do warn you that destination one will be at the nation that occupies the north pole of Planet... so bring your winter coat. Any further venues are yet to be determined. If people want to treat each venue as a separate signs up so you can go to the place that most interests you, we can work around that.

So... line starts here. Any volunteers?

4

Role Play Theater / Fixing DoW or Rebuilding in FATE

« on: October 06, 2013, 10:38:09 PM »

An interesting exchange of ideas took place in the forum tonight. A lot of people like the DoW games. And I do mean a LOT. The trouble is that the scope of what we want to do is outpacing the rules of DoW system. The DoW system was created to have a setting (RPG, story, or otherwise) created by many chefs that could then be taken and translated into the either a different game or just pure prose. The advancements are vague, some of the commands are vague, and there is little to the conflict resolution other than having armies roll off against each other.

We need something different if we’re going to be constantly going in the direction of playing DoW like a game in and of itself. Two major ideas came up. Snow casually mentioned the Fate system, while I’ve been thinking about improvements to DoW system for awhile now privately. Both approaches have their benefits and drawbacks.

Since this should be a community discussion I’m ending the first post here. The next post will have the meat of my thoughts on the two approaches. Both have their benefits and drawbacks.

5

Random Topics / Pizza Toppings... Everything You Want To Be

« on: September 28, 2013, 03:53:16 PM »

...wow that title needs work.

So, as some people in chat know, I've recently started making TF Pizzas... and after some considerations I thought I may as well make them not just a skit by a proper running gag. To do that I need to do two things.
1) Keep track of what my topping do
2) Come up with TF effects for ever single topping under the sun

So, with a small nod to the Beach War, I now open up I thread for both the compilation of my various pizza toppings and suggestions concerning all the various toppings that are still not on the list.

Pepperoni: Dragons. Because there is precedent from other TFs in the community.
Sausage: Canines. Suggested by Geary.
Anchovies: Otters. A recent recon, occurred because someone TFed themselves without my input, but allowed because honestly you become what you eat doesn't allow for any of the really cool TF... unless you want to condone eating ferrets?
Mushrooms: Macro. Inspired by supper Mario brothers.
Olives: Micro. Because something needed to shrink people down, and these things are just so tiny.
Pineapple: Muscle. Influenced by certain influences outside the CF community.
Peppers: Inflation. Modified from Kenku's suggestion.
Broccoli: Tail extensions.
Seaweed: Fish. Because... well because.
Corn: Birds. Suggested by Stormkit.
Radishes: Taur. Because horse radishes would have made too subtle of pizza topping.
Potatoes: Robotification. Suggested by Selden, inspired by Digital Potatoes.
Marshmallows: Toys. Because we need to complete the synthetic revolution.

Hot Sauce: There is no Hot Sauce. This topping is an illusion that exists to camouflage other ingredients until tasted. Because sometimes you want a mystery.
Extra Cheese: Cheese is actually the real TF agent, but is unable to induce TF without some toppings. So extra cheese means more dramatic TFs per pizza slice. Plain cheese pizza leaves the mouth electrified in anticipation of a topping, trigger a TF with the next thing to hit the tongue.
Red Pepper Flakes: Not a TF agent but a TF nullifier. Because we need something to make the pizza safe before Caleb goes on a binge, eats Mushrooms and Olives at the same time, and causes the universe to implode.

So yeah... that's what we have so far. The suggestion box is open.

6

Random Topics / Strategic Card Game Kickstarter

« on: June 08, 2013, 04:44:00 PM »

Hey guys. Player recently found out about a new Kickstarter that might have all the gamers out there interested... or at least curious... though possibly exasperated. Depends on the person. It's a new game someone is trying to crowd source. Name of the game: Tonaba The Book of Secrets.

It's look like an interesting projects, and one my player might at least toss five dollars at... which considering he's been avoiding creating a Kickstarter account, is saying something. Point is it's interesting, and even if people can't afford to be a backer, passing the word along to people who would be interested and possibly able is what crowd sourcing needs to be successful.

We (me and my player) do have some trepidation about this, if only because we've read enough design articles at WotC to know that randomness and scapegoats play an important role in a good game... but that doesn't mean their essential, and I'd be thrilled not to have hundreds of extra cards I can't actually use. So take a look, actually read what is being said, and then spread the word to whoever you think might be interested.

7

Writer's Guild / Character Developement

« on: January 02, 2013, 06:56:13 PM »

Deep in the forest of Crimson Flag, no one can hear you scream. Correlation, deep in the forest of Crimson Flag, no one can hear a multi kiloton explosion from all the way back in town. Conclusion, when Raf Cian told two of his best friends they couldn’t miss his house if they just followed his directions... he might not have meant the sixty meter crater right behind the mailbox with his mailing address on the side.

But then again this is Raf we’re talking about.

Of the two furs standing next to the mailbox, the brown otter probably looked the most concerned. Wearing nothing but a bandolier with a decorative blue strip on the right side of his face, the otter known as Selden radiates apprehension bordering on the edge of panic. Not that the otter wasn’t feeling panic at the moment, but the internalization of fear was a sure sign of a green protagonist.

Signs of panic was completely absent from the red fox standing just on the other side of the mailbox. A black belt ran from shoulder to waist, a metallic letter A on the front to mirror the natural while A in the middle of his red backfur. Daren Crevan didn’t internalized his fear, but dominated it as a seasoned protagonist. It was only out of a concern for further upsetting Selden that he softened his edges at all during this moment of uncertainty as he analyzed the situation.

“So,” the otter spoke up tentatively, “...do you think we have the wrong address?”

Thinking things through, the vulpine checks the mailbox again, this time examining the contents as well as the siding. “Not unless someone else named Raf Cian could already be a winner of ten thousand dollars.” Tossing the junk mail over his shoulder, Daren produced a small metallic object which immediately started producing a yellow light when he pointed it at the crater. When the light turned blue he elaborates, “The grounds only been transformed into this state for a few hours. Also there appears to be an extensive underground structure still intact. We should investigate before we jump to any conclusions.”

Practicing what he preached, the Daren jumps down onto the edge of the crater, letting gravity and unstable soil pull him down towards the epicenter. Selden follows somewhat more hesitantly, crawling on all fours to attempt to retain control of his descent. The otter arrives at the epicenter first when his attempt at control fail and he rolls down the slope to land flat on a hard metallic circle.

Coming to a stop next to Selden, Daren helps the otter up as he once again points his little metal object at the metallic circle. A small look of shock crosses the vulpines face when his device emits a soft pink light... with green polka dots.  “Well if we needed any more evidence this was Raf’s house we just found it. Physics just took a nose dive off the edge of reason and belly flopped onto an ocean of fish finger custard.”

As if to confirm the statement, a small assortment of watermelons choose this moment to fall from the sky to the left of our protagonists. Strange enough on their own, they shatter open to reveal a viscous brown substance. Putting his metallic device to use again, Daren declares that the substance is “...maple syrup.”

Scratching his head, Selden looks around. “Actually... that makes a worrying amount of sense. Raf was always bringing strange produce from his garden of SCIENCE into town. I guess that means this really was his home.”

“You mean really is his home,” a machine filtered voice emanated from the metallic disc. Irising open, the golden haired head of a certain black ferret pops out.

“Raf!” Selden shouts as he glomp tackles the ferret, almost sending the mustelid plummeting down fifteen meters into the shaft he was still halfway lodged in.

“Wow,” the ferret who is apparently Raf Cian exclaims as he tries to maintain footing, “I’m glad to see you too Selden, and I know this is where I should be apologizing for worrying you but you guys really need to get down here now. Well maybe not right now but soon before the saber celery starts falling.” As if on cue yet again, a single stalk of celery falls into the ground... blade first. “...like maybe about five seconds ago.” A second celery blade spears the ground, followed by a third. The scene pans out as the protagonists look up to the sky to see hundreds of celery blades hurtling towards the gentle furs on the ground.

Lab reflexes kicking in Raf returns Selden’s hug and then intentionally drops himself off the ladder, pulling the otter forcefully down the shaft. Daren is just behind them, the iris door closing just in time to prevent a hail of sharpened vegetable stalks from creating fur kabobs.

What follows next is a scene of in the dark slapstick as two nimble tube rats navigate down a circular shaft with a cumbersome fox following in their wake. Which is the story we’re going with even if Raf and Selden are the ones prone at the bottom while Daren is just standing there taking in the intricacies of the metallic corridor.

Picking himself up from prone, Raf dusted off his lab coat as he addressed the others. “Sorry about that. I really wasn’t expecting much in the way of debris after that explosion.”

“Yeah,” Selden responds as he’s helped up by Daren, “What exactly was up with that?”

“...you know that meat tree that has been giving me problems?” Raf sets up his explanation with a sheepish grin. “Well, I thought I finally found the perfect anti-canine deterrent... artichoke grenades. Would have been perfect except I miscalculated the yield. Rather than a shrapnel cloud of point prickly things...”

“You ended up redistributing the local topography for a good thirty meters in all directions,” Daren finishes. “For just plant life, that was impressive. Planning on perfecting the design?”

Raf looks slightly uneasy, “...I try not to build weapons. I know they’re only as evil as the people who use them... but when a weapon goes wrong... well you’ve seen what happens with something intended to be defensive.” Moving back to the matter at hand, the ferret turns to address Selden. “I’m sorry if I worried you. Once I realized what had happened, I was so caught up on recreating what we would need that I forgot to get out there to greet you.”

Selden finally seems to relax, and with him Daren. “Yeah, it’s ok. So what was it that you needed both of us to test out?”

Raf beams slightly at Selden’s enthusiasm. “Telling you would ruin the surprise. Come on, I’ve converted one of the shielded testing rooms into a lounge.” Without waiting for a response, Raf starts bounding down the metal corridor. Selden and Daren glance at each other with some trepidation, but they already knew what they were getting into by accepting the request of such an... eccentric individual.

Bolting down the corridors, the protagonists mostly find nearly identical doors with only ambiguous signs differentiating them for each other. Signs like ‘Data Sharks’, ‘Dimmed Darkness’, and ‘Regal Rocks’. Aside from the colorful signs, the whole scene is very... “I will say, I really wasn’t expecting your home to be so utilitarian Raf,” comments Daren, finishing the narrator’s line of thought.

The ferret shrugs, “It’s a side effect of the constant reconstruction. If you guys had shown up five hours late, you might not have even noticed the the botanical destruction.”

“Seriously,” Selden yammers as he struggles to keep up with Raf and Daren’s almost professional corridor bolting, “How do you manage that?”

“One part toon construction speed,” Raf answers with a grin, “one part nanofactory in my back pocket.”

Before any followup questions can be asked, Raf leads his guests into a room labeled ‘Perfectly Safe Danger’. Inside the room was a large transparent blast shield and a single door. Seen through the blast shield was a rather pedestrian layout; three recliners, one television, an entertainment system, and a mini fridge. The entire arrangement was pulled away from the industrialism of the room by a large rug, creating an island in the center of the steel room.

“Wow... twentieth century conventional,” Daren comments, a noticeably more relaxed fox as he walks into the room behind the blast shield. “Was kind of expecting some space grade chrome... or at least some retro sixties science fiction bubbles.”

“I like it,” stated Selden as he flopped into a recliner, “It’s comfy. Very homey”

Raf smiles as he started tinkering with the gaming system, “I don’t believe in uncomfortable furniture. Space age stuff looks shiny and curvy, but it’s all camouflage for uncomfortable edges and unnatural angles.” Finishing with the console, Raf stands up straight and turns around to address his guests. “So... do you two want any refreshments before we begin? The kitchen was destroyed this morning, but I managed to harvest carpkelp and milkshrooms fresh from the labs.”

Selden’s eyes glazes over temporarily, head cocking over to the side inquisitively. “Fish?”

Chuckling at Selden’s atypical otter response, Daren broke the water weasel out of his trance with a firm pat on the shoulder. “Let’s see what you have planned, Raf. May as well work for our supper.”

Nodding, Raf stepping to the left and raising his arms to the right theatrically. “Gents and gentlemen, may I present the Marcro Games 5000! This system, along with it’s in the box peripherals, seeks to be the standard in competitive e-sports. No longer are your bragging rights limited to digital scoreboards; now with every victory you grow just a little to show how much above the competition you really are.”

As if on cue the gaming system starts up, it’s boot up screen displaying on the television. The silhouette of a rough rendered fox looking up pans out to reveal another fox who was slightly taller and also looking up at another fox who was taller still and also looking up ad infinitum until all the foxes blur together into an exponential curve on the screen. Below the curve fades in the number 5000 with the letters MG overlaid on top of it.

After that the system displays a radial game selection screen. As Daren anxiously browses the the game selection, Selden looks a bit... apprehensive. “A Macro TF gaming machine? Are you certain I’m the right otter for the job? ...more importantly, isn’t this room a little small for upsizing TF?”

Glancing at the ceiling, Raf takes out a remote from his labcoat and presses a button. With nothing but a light humming of motorized gears, the ceiling and walls immediately began to expand. Once the room was approximately 40x40x40, it stops.

Redirecting his attention back towards Selden, Raf answers “As for your first concern, your second concern answers your question. You work at a magic potion shop, Selden. A potion shop specializing in transformation. You’re the perfect person to have for these kind of tests. Besides... I need testers other than myself and you two are the few associates I’d be bold enough to call friends at Crimson Flag.”

An awkward silence follows, during which Selden almost takes Raf’s hand... but that hand is quickly filled a game controller shoved to him by Daren. “Ok, enough of that emotrip or I’m locking you into the goth chick for Princess Brawl.”

Raf looks at the control in shock for a moment, and was all but flabbergasted when Daren firmly pushes him into a recliner. “But... but I’m supposed to be an impartial observer! The big robotic overlord that silently makes sure nothing goes wrong. I need to remain removed from...”

“What you need,” Daren interrupts as he holds the ferret firmly down, “Is some male bonding time. Seriously, we’re not your only friends Raf, but since we’re the ones who are here,” he pauses to toss Selden a controller, “We’re the ones who are going to kick your tail. And dibs on the cross dressing tomboy.”

What follows next are two hours of thumb twitching fun. As it turns out not even the cross dressing tomboy can beat Selden and the mermaid princess in Princess Brawl. Daren gets his revenge as his police box dominates the competition in Box Racer Cars. The trio were having so much fun it wasn’t until the fifth round of being camped in Third Life that Raf notices something very important.

“...I think something's backed up in the G-Coil processor,” the ferret says as he gets up to check the game console.

“Oh come on,” jeered Daren, “just because we’re both better at your games then you are isn’t reason to blame the system.”

“If you’re so much better than me, how come I can still look you in the eye,” Raf counters as he shut down the system so he could check under the hood. Daren and Selden exchange a glance between each other before looking up at the ceiling. Sure enough the stainless steel paneling was still several yards away, just like it was at the beginning of the gaming marathon.

Getting up from the recliner, Daren produces his small metallic device as he walks up next to Raf. A small analysis later the vulpine’s device comes up with the result of... lime green with pastel zigzags. “Well, physics is still just as absent as any of your other inventions.”

Raf hmms as he looks up from the purple glowing cylinder he was examining. “Oh, that’s not my inventions. That’s me. Physics kind of disowned me when I figured out how to make an indefinite amount of matter from a single photon.” Looking back down at the cylinder, Raf taps it once with a wrench before sighing. “But yeah, this doesn’t have any built up energy at all. Even if it wasn’t working correctly it should at least have a static charge.”

Smiling, Daren puts a hand on Raf’s shoulder. “Hey, the important thing was we had fun. Admittedly it would have been even more fun if we had been towering over you after that massive winning streak you were just served, but it was still a blast. Right Selden?”

Both ferret and fox look over at the otter, only to find Selden nose deep in the fridge. Reacting to his name, Selden pulls his head free and looks around. Completely covering the otter’s muzzle was a seaweek like substance with an usual white and red coloration. Holding up a single finger, Selden takes a moment to inhale the vegetation before responding. “Technically I think this is koikelp, not carpkelp. But yeah, it’s been fun.”

The ferret grins sheepishly. “Thanks guys. Still feels like I’ve been a lacking host. If there’s anything you...” Raf suddenly stops as his eyes blank and the rest of his face flatline. For a total of five seconds he gives no response... five seconds that become six, and then seven...

It’s around ten when protagonists start to worry. “Raf... is everything ok,” queries Selden. Daren takes a more direct approach as he tries his metallic device again. Given its track record today he wasn’t expecting much... and he certainly wasn’t expecting what he got.

“You asked him WHAT!” exclaims Raf’s voice from the end of Daren’s device, a golden light emitting from it’s tip. “Why... What... Fine! I’ll be there in five.” There was a small pause. “I’ll be there in two! No arguments.” Daren’s device powers down as Raf snaps out of his trance.

The ferret, not realizing that his guests were just privy to his side of a private conversation, bore a look of staged panic as he tries to explain, “The... um... ham! I left the ham in the oven! I need to get it out before it turns into a turkey.” Springing up, Raf rushes towards the door. “Selden, go ahead and keep doing what you’re doing. Daren, try out the single player options. I’ll be back in... I’ll be back.”

And with that the ferret is gone, leaving the two furs exchanging very worried glances. Selden was the first to speak up, “So how bad do you think it is?”

“Considering he told us earlier his kitchen was destroyed,” Daren replies as he starts walking out of the room, “Bad. Very bad.” Selden pauses for a moment to make sure the electronics were actually turned off before following as well. Out in the hallway, though, there was no sign where the ferret had disappeared to.

Selden gives the hallways a long hard look before finally turning to Daren for a solution. What Daren provides is his thrice unreliable device.  “Assuming Raf was correct on the disturbance being focused around himself,” the vulpine sweeps the device across his field of vision, stopping where the light emanating from it switches from yellow to pastel purple with neon green stars, “we just follow the atrocity to good taste and we’ll find our ferret.”

Following neon stars, the protagonists walk down the corridor, eventually coming to a stop in front of a nondescript door. Nondescript that is except for the vague sign labeled ‘Head Case’. Staring at the door for a moment in dramatic tension, Daren makes to open the door.

Selden’s paw stops him, “Are we sure we want to do this? This is the realm of mad SCIENCE. Raf is more equipped to handle any problem in there than we are.”

Daren broke his serious face for a moment to flash a smile. “Never underestimate one of the last of the Athru.” Serious face returning, “Doubly important, never underestimate me when one of my friends are in distress.”

Selden pauses before making one more try, “But it sounded like Raf was going to help someone else who was in distress.” That made Daren pause, but only for a moment. The vulpine puts his hand firmly on the door and pushes forward.

On the other side of the door was another corridor. Unlike the one they were standing in, this one was made of bricks with a hardwood floor. The contrast against the steel was stark, but ultimately not unnerving enough to keep Daren from marching into the unknown. Selden follows him just before the door has time to close.

The protagonists walk the corridor in silence for awhile. Every once in awhile the lights would flicker, as if to say that something really was happening somewhere in the building but just not here. Eventually the silence grows too much and someone says something. “So, when did you change cloths,” queries Selden in idle conversation.

“What are you talking awhatthe,” Daren exclaims when he realizes that his attire has changed. His belt has readjusted itself from being a baudelaire to holding up a pair of blue jeans, while a green undershirt with red hawaiian overshirt have taken it’s place across his chest. “...these are my cloths. Weird.” The fox checks himself over, giving the otter next to him a brief glance as well. “But not weird enough. Allons-y.”

Pushing forward, the protagonists move deeper down the brick hallway. The occasional flicker of lights slowly getting more and more frequent was the only sign that time was actually progressing as they moved. At one point the lights cut out entirely, only to have emergency lights come on five seconds later. Finally, after what felt like hours, they emerge into a large open room.

The room was vast. Multistory walkways supported by pillars of various styles; brick, concrete, pipe, and even marble. Littered throughout the rooms where wall dividers trying to make the place look more smaller, or at least modular, but they only succeeds in turning the room into a three dimensional maze.

“Selden,” Daren states as he draws a katana and starts scanning the room, “if you’re having second thoughts, now’s the time to turn back.”

“I’m not having second thought,” Selden says halfheartedly. It was a true statement, he was well on his way to seventh thoughts.

“If that’s so, why are you crying,” Daren states flatly as he turns to confront the otter, only to be taken aback slightly. Even in the dim emergency lights, it was clear Selden’s eyes were dry. A silent conversation quickly takes place with only hand gestures and head tilts as the two furs actually use their ears to look for the real source of the crying.

What they finds is plump brown rat on the other side of a dividing wall. Wearing an orange shirt and brown shorts, the rat was thoroughly unimpressive without the help of his thin frame glasses. With the thin frame glasses... this was not a rat to be threatened by.

Sniffling once more between deep breaths, the rodent looks up at the approaching protagonists and does a double take. “Who... what are you two doing here?” Panic enters the rat’s eyes as the hints of hysteria got ready for it’s second round.

Daren does his best to take control of the situation. “We’re here to help. We can’t help if you’re a hyperventilating mess. What’s going on here?” Short, clear, and to the point...

...about the opposite of what someone on the verge of a panic attack needs. “You can’t help,” the rat begins, “No one can help. I tried to tell Raf, but he wouldn’t listen. Now... he’s back there... getting himself hurt and it’s all my...” And there goes the hyperventilating.

Daren sighs as he facepalms with his free hand. With the same free hand, he gestures Selden towards the rat. Taking the cue, Selden cracks his knuckles before delivering a full three sixty degree glomp. The rat went into shock at first, but he did stop hyperventilating.

...in fact he stopped breathing entirely. The otter lets go of the rat and looks him squarely in the eye with a concerned expression, “Better?”

The rat takes a few moments to breath again before reaching behind himself and pulling out a pair of blue hawaiian swim trunks. “Could you please put these on before doing that again,” the rat asked with a slight blush, averting his gaze from the otter, “or maybe just put them on right now just because.”

The otter looks at the swim trunks with a raised eyebrow before waving them off dismissively. “That’s nice, but I don’t need them. My fur covers up enouwhatintheworldisthat!” Selden finishes in exclamation as he quickly grabs the swim trunks and covers his nether region.

“That,” Daren says with a chuckle, “is an automatically correct anatomy.” Shaking his head, the vulpine manages an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I noticed when you pointed out my clothing adjustment earlier, but I don’t carry emergency pants and you didn’t seem to care.”

“I didn’t care because I didn’t know,” Selden says some indignity as he turns around to pull on the swim trunks. Fully dressed the otter turns around to give the rat an apologetic look. “Sorry about that. Seriously, I have no idea where... those came from.”

The rat looks to the side sheepishly, still not managing to make eye contact with the otter. “That’s because you’re no longer in Crimson Flag, Selden.”

There’s a dramatic pause as protagonists stare at the rat who's been causing so much commotion by basically doing nothing. Eventually it’s the otter who speaks up, “...when did I tell you my name?”

Before the rat can stutter a response, a yellow blur flies into the area and impacts the ground... hard... just a few yards away from the protagonists. Daren goes into an immediate defensive stance while Selden takes cover. The rat... winces slightly in shame. It takes a moment of dynamic tension for the smoke to clear, and when it does... well some readers might have been expecting Raf by this point, but the protagonists certainly weren't expecting the Raf standing before them.

Raf’s lab coat has been traded in for full length leather trench coat with matching yellow pants. Counterbalancing the yellow was blue vest with matching boots and gloves. The entire ensemble was redirected by a steampunk monocle and glass blown water blaster, because without them one could almost mistake him for... “Hey Tracy,” Daren jeers, “Mind making the entrance a bit louder next time? I think I still have a few nerves that aren’t on edge yet.”

The ferret jolts for a moment as he takes the necessary processing power to parse who was around him. “Daren? Selden? What in the world are you two doing here. It’sgetdown!” Raf finishes in exclamation as he scoops up the rat and dove behind Selden’s cover, just in time to avoid several orbs of blue light peppering the area. Daren remains where he was, unperturbed.

“So, Raf... mind telling us what’s going on here,” Daren asks as he readies his katana into an attack stance, “Or can we just assume whoever’s attacking you needs to be put down?”

“What? No,” Raf exclaims in panic, “This is nothing more than a really elaborate game of laser tag. A realistic, elaborate, and dangerous game of laser tag. You two need to get back to Crimson Flag,” Raf pauses in his explanation as a spectral blue sword suddenly came flying around the corner at him. Raf parries it with the butt of his gun as Selden held on tight to the rat. “Now!”

Reacting to what was going on rather than Raf’s words, Daren leaps in the direction of where all this blue light was coming from. Landing on one of the walkways the next story up, the fox momentarily observes a white housecat clad in antique green breastplate. The rod in the cat’s right hand that was projecting the light was all the information needs before he launches his attack.

Inhumanly fast, and justifiably so, Daren closes the distance between himself and the cat and severs the rod. The moment of shock on the felines face didn’t belay a counter attack with the shield in the feline’s left hand. Daren’s speed was enough to keep him from getting hit with the shield, but the shockwave of blue energy that emanates from it was a bit more persistent.

Knocked back good two yards, the vulpine comes to a stop on his feet. “Right,” he said smiling, “So you’re the type of mob who just doesn’t fold on the first hit.” Daren prepares a defensive stance with his katana as the feline draws a mace. “Good, I could use a little bit of a sparring match.”

With no comment, the feline advances. Daren blocks the first blow blade side first, his katana greeted by light blue aura around the mace. Locked in the grapple, the vulpine follows up with a kick to the stomach. Inertia alone carries the feline back a yard where he makes ready with his shield again. Prepared for the shockwave, Daren was in the air before the light left the shield. Twisting in the air, Daren comes down hard on the felines back, cutting into the breastplate and the flesh beneath.

The feline’s mace hits the ground hard, but rather than an act of folding it instead the start of a counter attack as a ward of blue light erupts from the ground beneath both Daren and the cat. Daren bounds backwards as the cat spins around, just barely falling short of clipping him.

Standing up to full height, the cat flings the shield as he charges again. Daren finds the shield easy enough to part with his katana, but soon finds himself with a shoulder to the gut not a second later. Which would have been completely manageable if he wasn’t suddenly covered in blue fire just a second after that.

Attempting to withdraw, Daren finds that his opponent was just about as fast as him when he wanted to be. Still, the blue flames engulfing them both seemed to be emanating from torch that was now in the cat’s left hand, so one good blow could tip the balance back into... the feline suddenly drops his mace, allowing a body shot to land firmly on his torso... at which point he grabs the blade of Daren’s katana with his now free right hand.

Not seeing any other option, Daren abandons his sword and makes an attempt at long ranged options... only to get hit with a fireball the instant he manages to put some distance between himself and the cat. Finding himself prone on the ground, Daren silently wonders when he’d run into a fire that didn’t resist his Spiorad as his opponent closes the distance between them again.

Before any finishing strikes could be attempted, a blue vial crashes down between Daren and the feline releasing a blue mist onto the battlefield. Despite how annoying the blue energies have been up to this point, Daren finds this one to be surprisingly soothing... energizing even. Before he could act on this feeling a thicker green mist rolls over battlefield and he finds himself grasped two furred paws and dragged away.

Once his vision clears, the vulpine finds himself between Selden and the rat. Raf was just a few feet away, his strange glass blown rifle pointed at the battlefield emitting the green fumes. When the fumes stop everyone held their breath for a few seconds waiting for a counter attack... that never came. Sighing, the ferret turns around to address the others. “Ok, he’s withdrawn.”

“Mind telling us what this is really about then,” Daren said as he shrugs off Selden’s and the rat’s paws, “That guy didn’t let up once during the fight and then suddenly he disengages with a little smokescreen? A fight, I should add, that was actually starting to put me on my toes. He might not be out for the kill, but this was certainly more than a game to him.”

Raf looks sheepish for a moment, putting a free hand behind his head. “Ryan does kind of have a habit of pushing himself as hard as he can. Kind of why I didn’t want you guys to get involved. Seriously, you two should just turn around and...”

“Raf,” Selden interrupts, moving towards the ferret and away from the rat “We can tell you're just trying to protect us, but we’re your friends. We’ll just keep on trying harder if you don’t tell us what’s going on.”

Daren nods, “Besides, that Ryan still has my sword in his gut. Do you know how hard that is to find? Not just a sword that can cut through almost anything, but someone who can take it to the stomach and not spill his entrails over your good shoes. So spill.”

Raf gives his friends a look of exasperation. He shot the rat a worried look, who shares it in turn before giving a firm nod. Sighing, the ferret starts up the explanation. “Selden, Daren... allow me to introduce my player Benjamin Mahir. Welcome to his brain.”

There was a dramatic pause as protagonists process this. It was eventually Daren who speaks up and says, “So when you two kept on making references to Crimson Flag like it was somewhere else...”

“We meant you were in my head,” the rat, apparently Benjamin Mahir, interjects. “Or at least a domain where me and the creations of my imagination can interact with each other, without context or limitation of a defined setting.”

“Yeah,” Raf continues, “All this,” he gestures at the maze like walkways, “Is just inefficient office space to represent how scattered brain he is. There’s some character housing down that way, and some personal space for me and Ryan to use to our own devices, but ultimately everything in here is a part of that rodent’s projection of the inside of his brain.”

“Right,” says Daren, shaking his head with his eyes closed as he just accepts that at face value. Selden was a little more hesitant, glancing back at Ben with a raised eyebrow. Benjamin, if anything, looks a bit embarrassed.

“Now not only is this place connected to Ben, but so are me and Ryan. As I said, he’s my player. Both me and Ryan started out as roleplaying characters on different venues a long way away from Crimson Flag. But from those early beginnings we’ve grown into rather centralized parts of his imagination, otherwise known as muses.”

Raf keeps talking even as it looks like he might be losing Selden, monolog mode all but fully engaged. Daren, for the most part, appears to be just absorbing the information showing no signs of comprehension or confusion. “Muse are inspiration manifest; though in what form depends on the creator. For Ben it’s positive traits he finds himself lacking; Ryan is willpower, while I’m levity.”

Daren interjects with a whistle, “We’re up against rat boys concept of a will greater than his own?” The fox glances at Benjamin, who in turn averts his gaze down towards the floor “The lower we put ourselves down, the higher we envision our heroes. We really might have a problem... ”

“We’re not up against him. We’re... I mean I’m,” Raf corrects as he reminds himself that he was still trying to convince Daren and Selden to go home, “trying to help him.”

“By fighting him across the mindscape of your player,” asks Selden with a disbelieving face.

“No... well kind of,” Raf waivers, not sure exactly how to explain before they ran out of time.

Eventually it’s Ben who finds the words, “Just because they’re muses doesn’t stop them from being my characters. Over the years I’ve found it a growing disservice that my two most important characters to have only existed in other people’s worlds but never their own. In preparation of creating such a world... in writing such a story... I’ve been reexamining their character traits to make sure they’re representative of who they really are and not arbitrary baggage of what they had to become to fit in other people’s settings.”

Daren shakes his head, “Right. Well it’s kind of obvious where this is going. So what prospective change set the grim swordsman on the warpath?”

“Let’s just say I’m nobodies dog.” The hard edged statement resonates from up above the protagonists. Even knowing they shouldn’t, the laws of dramatic tension inevitably draws all four pairs of eyes to gaze upwards. Standing above them was the feline known as Ryan. Gone was the encumbered breastplate, and in it’s place was a green swordsman robe with a black bodysuit underneath. On his head he wears a metal forehead protector, while in his hands he carries Daren’s katana.

“...and he switch skillset to BvS. Run,” whispers Raf before the he bolts for cover underneath the walkways. Ryan, despite the dramatic entrance, ignores the furs remaining down below and takes off after Raf using the high ground. Without saying a word Daren produces a pair of semiautomatics and joins the chase, apparently still not convinced that backing down was the option. That just left Selden and Ben...

The rat, looking at the otter, says, “You really should just go. There really is nothing we can do but wait for it to blow over.” With full signs of exhaustion and defeat, Benjamin finds a bench against one of the room dividers and sits down.

Selden with a bit of hesitation looks back towards the corridor he and Daren used to reach this place. It would be pretty easy just to walk on out of here, and yet... the otter sits down next to the rat. “So... what exactly was it that set Ryan off like this?”

Back at the chase, Ryan had finally catches up to Raf, landing in front of the ferret with a light thud. Backing up against a marble pillar, Raf braces himself for the inevitable... which never came as suddenly Ryan was peppered with bullets. Coming to a stop next to Raf, Daren lowers his guns, “...ok, no way it was that easy.”

True to point, before Ryan hits the ground there was a cloud of smoke and only a wooden log hits the floor. “BvS... Billy vs Snakeman, a browser based anime parody game. Basic ninja technique are the least of what he can do right now.” The ferret circles around, making sure to keep his back to the pillar. “Is there really no way I can talk you out of this? I’m the one who volunteered to be a punching bag.”

“He has my sword,” Daren jests as he fell into a defensive position next to Raf, “besides, you don’t exactly appear to be just sitting down and taking hits.”

Raf shrugs, “There wouldn’t be much venting if I didn’t make him work for it.”

Before any more banter could take place, there was a brief swishing sound that causes them to both to look down at their weaponry... all of which have been rather thoroughly cleaved through. Looking up rather knowingly the ferret and fox stare at the feline before them. “Working implies effort,” the cat says grimly. “You should be taking your own advice Raf. Fold.”

“Not until you let go. You need this Ryan. And more importantly...” Raf suddenly grabs the pillar behind him and pulls. When the marble structure came free it takes all of Daren’s speed to get out of the way so the ferret didn’t take his head off with a three sixty spin. The pillar was easy enough for Ryan to cut with Daren’s sword, but unfortunately a moving slab of marble is still a moving slab of marble no matter how you divide it’s inertia.

As the cat was sent flying through a room divider the ferret pants from the exertion as the rest of the skillset switch kicks in, Raf’s trenchcoat shifting into a sleeveless cadet uniform, complete with beret. “...people always forget I was rolled as Karuk on Vindictus.”

Looking through the rubble briefly to see if he could find his sword, Daren retrieves the katana before regrouping with Raf. “So, all this was mostly physical activity for some pent up brooding swordsman to let off some steam?”

Raf shrugs “In a very blunt way of putting it. Ryan used to be a little bit of an emo character. When he got over moping outwardly about things, he just started brooding internally which really only looked healthier. Ben asked him his opinion about a possible change and he just bottled up, so I came to get him to at least vent the emotion if not express it.” The ferret glances at the pile of rubble. “Admittedly I didn’t expect it to take so much but...”

Suddenly a pressure shock wave emanates from the rubble where Ryan was last seen. The emergency lights, which have up to this point not faltered, start to dim as a tangible darkness seeps into the air. “So... what was that about him used to be emo,” Daren comments as he readies his sword.

“Let’s put it this way,” Raf said as he braces his pillar against the building pressure, “have you ever felt angry enough that a small part of you wanted to destroy the world?”

Daren scoffs, “Kind of like asking if I’ve ever been a teenager.”

“Well aren’t you glad now you didn’t have that kind of power back then,” Raf finishes as the pressure finally reaches a critical mass and Ryan bursts out of the rubble. His form is covered in a dark aura, mostly conforming to his actual body with the exception of a second and third head on top of his left and right shoulders respectively. The beast within lets out a howl, a dark harmony that threatens to strip hope from the hearts of those who heard.

“Right,” Daren states as if this was just another day for him, “Once more into the fray?”

“I let this out,” Raf breaths shakily, “I’m putting it back in.” Without waiting for a signal from Daren, Raf charges. Just before impact, Raf slams his pillar into the ground and lifts himself up, allowing inertia to carry him into a dropkick... that the beast that is now Ryan catches with one hand. The feline effortless flings the ferret in the direction of the incoming fox, but Daren just as easily dodges without halting his run.

Blade side down, Daren swipes a body blow that Ryan catches before it penetrates the skin. Grinning, Daren turns around as if to retreat and instead uses the leverage of the new position to flip the cat holding onto his sword. Shock not even registering on Ryan’s fact, the feline let’s go of Daren’s sword so he’ll be in control of his fall. That’s when Daren really strikes.

Launching into the air after Ryan, Daren lands a blow, lands on the side of one of the overhead walkways and launches at the cat again. He repeats this process over and over again for as long as the cat is in the air. Then, just as he’s about to hit the ground, Daren goes in for a downward stab... only to have Ryan catch the finishing blow with both hands.

And yet again, Daren grins, breaking off to the side. It’s then that the shadow over Ryan becomes obvious. Pillar grasped in both hands, Raf brings the hunk of marble down hard on the sword, forcing the blade down to hilt Ryan’s chest. There’s a moment of stillness...

...followed by a pressure wave of darkness that blasts Raf backward. Daren manages to catch him before he flies too far, leaving the two protagonists to watch as dark beast stands once more, a katana blade driven directly though it’s heart. Lifting it’s three heads it howls one more time, this time the darkness exploding into the form of a full two story feral cerberus.

Daren... is actually slightly taken aback by this development. “...right, where you being serious about that destroy the world thing? Because if this really is just a hissy fit, I’m tempted to just let it run it’s course.”

“Then go,” Raf pants, “I’ve been asking that of you since the beginning.” The ferret begins to advance again but finds a restraining hand on his shoulder.

Holding Raf firmly back, Daren sighs, “Raf... I asked you to be honest with us, but apparently that was a step too soon. Be honest with yourself... why is this so important to you?”

“Because his brother is in pain,” says a voice from behind them. Raf and Daren turn around to see who spoke, and are a little surprised it is Selden. A slightly larger surprise was the rat standing behind the otter; Benjamin almost looks... confident.

Raf in contrast looks defensive, “I never said that he was like an older brother to me.”

Selden steps forward and places a hand on top of the one Daren already had on the ferret’s shoulder. “I never said anything about older. I just said brother.” Raf tries to avert his gaze, but with Selden and Daren standing right next to him the only place left to look was back over towards Ryan. The darkness was still seething around the cat, but he wasn’t advancing. It’s like he was just... waiting.

Sighing, Raf looks the otter in the eye. Beaming, Selden reaches into his bandolier and pulled out two soda pop potions, “Come on. Me and Ben came up with a plan.”

--- --- ---

First story in awhile. True writer commentary coming with the rest of the story... since apparently my short story exceeding the 50000 character limit.

8

Game Room / Guild Wars 2 Beta Weekend: ask me stuff

« on: May 30, 2012, 11:44:35 AM »

Arena Net has announced the date for the next Guild Wars 2 Beta Weekend Event: June 8th

I’ve tried doing at some discussion asking for things to test during the press test, and the interest from the crowd was... well of those present only Draykin was interested. Any interest is better than none, but even if it turns out only me and Draykin will be playing Guild Wars 2, having a thread to memorialize things down will keep me from repeating myself.

It also gives me the benefit of allowing more than just the people who happen to be on in the chat at that particular moment to respond. So go ahead and ask me questions of things to check out, or ask questions about what I have already checked out.

List of what I have already checked out followed by what I’m planning to check out are as follows:

Professions
Guardian: I have a level 20+ charr guardian. Needless to say I LIKE this profession, and while the melee issues need to be corrected, new BWE means a new build meaning corrections may have been made.
Necromancer: Got to level ten, and enjoyed it. New build may mean things have changed, but I they would have to turn on a dim to make things less fun. Since Guild Wars 2 practices iterative deisgn, this may have changed.
Mesmer: Created and have deleted a Mesmer. Created it because I planned on playing it, deleted it because between my own confusion about certain issues with the pet AI made things less fun than it should be. Will need to come back to this class when the pet AI issue is finally fixed.
Elementalist: I played one during the short eightish hour stress test, partly looking for a replacement for the Mesmer and partly at Draykin’s recommendation. Certainly more fun than the Mesmer, but didn’t unlock enough skills to have a proper opinion on it. They won’t be deleting the old characters for the next BWE, so I will be continuing to test the Mesmer this weekend.

Engineer: Both me and Draykin(based on the stress test questioning) want this to be my next profession to check, so I will be rolling a level one engineer during this weekend once I have a good idea of how the Elementalist plays.
Other Professions: While I plan to play a Ranger, I’m withholding testing one till the pet AI is fixed. I don’t have a big desire to play the Warrior and Thief, but I will test them eventually. Based on the previous BWE I will have time to test three professions, and unless I check the forums to find out the pet AI is fixed Saturday would be the time to test Warrior or Thief.

PvE
We have know we have Human, Charr, and Norn starting areas plus their associated explorable zones up till level 25. We do not know yet what they will be adding in the new build for the BWE. They’ve had the area north of Lion’s Arch in previous demos so it would be easy(ish) for them to drop that in if they didn’t already I and just didn’t notice, but its level 25-35 so I’d need to level my charr a bit before exploring that.

Otherwise... there was a PC magazine exclusive on the asuran starting area last month that makes it encouraging that they are almost ready to give us that starting area, but we have no clue if it will be coming now or not. They have a week and a half to tease us with new information, and they will be taking advantage of every tease they can get.

PvP
I haven’t PvPed and don’t plan to, sorry. If you have questions I can answer them based on keeping track of the academic information released to the public and reported on by other people.

Screenshoting
Requests open. My computer is not 1337 enough to do video captures but I plan on print screening as often as I can think of it. If there is a certain aspect of the game you want explored, ask for it and I’ll try to satisfy.

9

Random Topics / Recruiting For the (Beach) War effort

« on: May 28, 2012, 09:52:28 PM »

Ok, as some observant people might have noticed my player is writing a story. It's a slow process mostly involving mortal combat with writer's block and then strapping his behind to a chair and staring at a word processor for a bit. The story was almost reach for it's second chapter... but each character is allowed to review their scenes for ICness and as it turns out Kenku doesn't do TG.

And by that I mean he doesn't do it onto other people. So I'm scrapping the later third of the chapter and find myself in need of an actual female character. Now, I know there is a female variant of Virmir and a few others of otherwise male characters, but I don't know any of them. So I need to get a volunteer female to put herself at the mercy of Kenku's free samples.

Also, since the thread is open if anyone else would like to volunteer/request/blacklist something now would be the time. As I explained to Selden yesterday this isn't just a muscle growth story (though my player is found of those), this is a beach TF story, so things will be escalating slowly until eventually... well that would spoil the ending. The point is this is not a time to be shy; the longer this story drags on the more likely that anything will go.

...within a reasonable G(ish) rating of course.

10

Writer's Guild / Crimson Flag Beach War

« on: April 05, 2012, 07:27:22 PM »

Opening Gambit

It was a hot and smouldering day at the Crimson Flag beach. Child furs were playing in the water trying to keep cool. Dragons were baskings on the sands slowly baking to a golden brown. Vendors peddled their wares to any fur actually carrying currency. Even the great fox mage looked almost cheerful that he didn’t need his fire magic to keep warm at this time of the year. Overall it was a happy beach... but something seemed missing.

One would not guess that something was a large shipping crate being dragged into one of the parking lots by a not that small black ferret. Far from the largest fur in Crimson Flag, the ferret known as Raf more than made up for strength of body with intensity of tunnel vision. If a shipping crate needed to be moved from point A to point B, he was going to move it. Thankfully as a toon convert that logic was all the strength he needed.

While several furs noticed the ferret’s efforts, none lent him a hand. When one gains a reputation as a mad scientist the background characters tend to give you a wide breadth until it was time to break out the torches and pitchforks. Raf was used to this sort of treatment; one did not last long as a practitioner of true SCIENCE without developing tough skin to contain all the voices in your head.

Reaching his destination, Raf jostled the crate back and forth for perfect positioning before he stepped back to admire his work. Then, almost as an afterthought he reached into his lab coat and pulls out a single button remote... which of course he pressed immediately.

With a clank the sides and top of the shipping crate fell away and tucked themselves underneath the odd box like contraction within. Cloth signs unfolded themselves, safety signs light up, and the entire machine briefly hummed with life before it mellowed down to an anticipatory hum.

Eager to get his chaotic good scheme on the road, the ferret known as Raf Cian waited for his first customer.

He did not have to wait long as a blue striped otter is quickly approached.

“Hey Raf, w’tch you got there,” the otter the ferret knows as Selden inquired with his greeting.

Raf, with a possibly too eager grin on his face, grabbed the otter by the shoulder and ushered him onward towards the front of the machine. “What I have here Selden is the new wave of the summer. Guaranteed to sweep up the town and leave it on the beaches of new horizons. The one and only accessory you’ll need till fall scares all the beach bunnies away.”

Caught off guard by the furious pitch side of the ferret, Selden took a moment to actually focus on the machine in front of him. Its various signs were... descriptive if not informative. “...what’s an Eight Hour Auto Buff?”

“Truth in advertising my friend,” Raf responded with what was possibly his favorite description for his newest invention, “Truth in advertising.”

The otter hmms as he inspected the machine a little bit more. Taking a full walk around the thing, Seldon eventually returned to the front to deliver his conclusion, “Looks like a car wash.”

Raf looked slightly hurt, “Only due to the essential service utility of the car wash design. It’s completely safe for any fur... as long as they’re shorter than six feet tall.” Which was all clearly stated on all the safety signs: must be this short to ride this ride. There was also a recommendation of only male participants, but that wasn’t of direct interest in this situation.

Selden is obviously considered all this very carefully, glancing at the dollar intake slot in the machine the otter had another crushing blow to deliver to the ferret. “Five dollars is a little steep for something that lasts just eight hours.”

Taken aback, Raf attempted to generate a comeback, “Um... market research indicates the consuming public will adapt...”

Selden interrupted his friend by putting a hand on the ferret’s shoulder. “Raf, you’re raving mad scientist, not a sales fox. What’s going on?”

The ferret slumped dejectedly. “That’s just it. I’m a mad scientist. I have a nice little hovel in the forest completely swarming with creations and they’re all just... stuck there. Inventions are made to help people, and they aren’t helping anyone isolated away from all civilization.” Selden seemed tempted to disagree, but Raf was adamant to continue, “I need capital. I can invent without it, but you need money for storefronts and business contacts. The auto-buffer seemed marketable, so I thought I’d try earning starting capital with it...”

Selden hmms in thought, balancing sympathy with caution. Curiosity eventually pushed him to at least ask again, “So... what exactly is auto buffing. And don’t say truth in advertising.”

Raf is at a lost for words, not quite figuring out how to elaborate on something which to his ferret wheel mind seemed like a self explanatory description. Like all mad scientists though, he eventually got a brilliant idea. “Would you like a free sample?”

The otter is overwhelmed as curiosity meets the shrewd shopper within him. “...OK! What do I need to do?”

“Just stand on the conveyor belt’s pawprints while I use the manager overrides,” the ferret excitedly explained as he fished out a key from his lab coat. Inserting the key into the machine, Raf waited for Selden to be in position before he turned it with all the prompt and flair of throwing the final switch in a thunderstorm. Not to disappoint, the machine came to life...

Safety lights flickered on, the conveyor belt pulled the wide eyed otter into its maw. Raf, ever excited whenever one of his creations is in use, put his ear against the side of the machine to hear SCIENCE in progress. Even without such close perspective the sound of dozens of rotary pads revving up could be heard by some of the passing crowd, some of whom took this moment to be in the background of a potentially safer story like a reenactment of Gallipoli Campaign.

Eventually the sound of rotary pads came to a halt and Selden is ejected from the other side of the machine. Truth in advertising the otter has been buffed... up. Increased muscle mass all along a frame that was not only taller than before but had a slight exaggerated v silhouette.

Whatever Selden was expecting, the actual results took a moment to adjust to. “Wow... well I can certainly see justification in the five dollar price tag.” The otter experimentally flexed a bicep, generating stark mountains leagues above the smooth hillsides he would have produced just minutes before. “Still... why eight hours?”

Eager to pave over past failings, the ferret leapt to explanation, “It’s intended for a day at the beach. I’m selling dream bodies for a vacation, not lifestyle changes. Walk the sands, strut your stuff, and be back to your old pants size by the time you’re home for dinner. Nice, clean, and nobody gets hurt.”

Lost in thought, the Selden’s brain failed to poke holes in the ferrets innocent logic. Aside from being fairly innocent himself, five dollars is a steep price for a potentially daily habit. “You know, it’s a long summer. You might get a lot more return customers if you lower the price.”

Multiplicative math drew the ferret in, but he was still somewhat hesitant. “OK... but by how much?”

“Fifty cents,” the otter said hopefully.

Raf stuck his tongue out slightly, “The machine only takes dollars. It’s an art of SCIENCE, not a vending machine.”

“Fine, then make it a dollar.” Content with the price, Selden backed it up with the addition, “It’s going to be a very hot summer, and if you're not breaking change you need to leave cash in the pockets for the vendors to be willing to do so.”

Raf hmms, “...right. Better get on that before the crowds start coming in.”

The ferret walks off to adjust his cash manager, leaving the otter to his own devices. Which is honestly exactly what the ferret meant when he mentioned crowds. Nothing makes a better billboard on the beach than cheerful hulking otter.

Pretty soon the crowds were coming in, from both foreground and background characters alike. Word of mouth on this little endeavor spread well beyond the beach goers, but if you’re already at the beach in a muscle bod why not stay a bit. Pretty soon the element that was missing from the Crimson Flag Beach was introduced: the swimsuit crowd.

The ferret just soaked it all in. Money was only an ends to his real drug. The euphoric high of people actually getting enjoyment from his inventions was grander than any sugar induced binge. Leaned up against the side of his machine, letting periodic vibrations strobe through him, Raf pictured what this would grow into.

Unbeknownst to the ferret, across the parking lot another entrepreneur had the same thoughts on their mind. With beady eyes underneath a wide brimmed green hat, the antagonist of the story plotted.

11

Random Insanity / Chat Reference: Ryan Galen

« on: March 14, 2012, 09:55:06 PM »

Hi guys. Player behind the ferret here. I’ve decided that it is time to introduce people to the order counterpart to my little chaos muse ferret. I’m not going to edit his description into my chat bio, so I’m creating a reference thread to link to when he shows up. Hopefully Random Insanity is the correct place to do this. I’ll be ‘logging’ the involved chats and recording it here for prosperity, but it isn’t the type of roleplay intended for the Roleplay forum and certainly isn’t for Writing.

Name: Ryan Galen
Gender: Male
Species: House Cat
Age: Appears mid twenties.
Build: Height approximate for a tall humanoid of the local setting. Fur mostly white with the exception of one black ear and a cameral tipped tail; this technically makes him a calico. Hair is of a distinctively longer length then fur but still short by human standards; blonde.  Eyes are emerald green. Muscular is athletically firm.
Attire: Black. To be exact a multi layer black: unbuttoned shirt with a black t-shirt underneath, black shorts, black sneakers, black armbands and anklebands, and a black collar. Underneath the right armband is a hint of something silver.

[Edit]

And there is the log for propriety, edited in to avoid double posting.
Not sure if this will ever happen again. Ryan is a much more... grounded individual than Raf.

(22:58:06) VirBot: Raf_Cian enters the channel.
(23:00:16) * Raf_Cian starts throwing props all about the place. Sandy beach, check. Lapping ocean, check. Few trees, check. Forest backdrop in the distance and we're good to go.
(23:00:48) VirBot: Kenku enters the channel.
(23:01:05) * Kenku appears.
(23:01:31) * Raf_Cian puts down a directors chair and sits down.
(23:02:00) Raf_Cian: Right... should I go back and grab someone else or just get started?
(23:02:13) VirBot: Evilhumour enters the channel.
(23:02:28) * Evilhumour blinks
(23:02:41) Raf_Cian: Ok. Good to go. And ACTION!
(23:02:55) * Raf_Cian fades from view.
(23:02:56) * Evilhumour sits on the ceiling
(23:03:11) VirBot: Raf_Cian is now known as (Ryan_Galen).
(23:04:33) * Evilhumour looks at Kenku
(23:04:43) Evilhumour: Any clue on what's happening here?
(23:05:05) * Kenku shakes his head. "No clue, it seems the designer of the place just dissapeared" (23:05:06) (Ryan_Galen): *There is a momentary crack of thunder from up in the clear blue sky. Normally that would be odd enough but it is immediately followed by a growing shadow on the ground. Impact in three.. two... one...*
(23:05:37) * Kenku tries to lead away from the shadow.
(23:05:54) * Evilhumour walks away and watches with Kenku
(23:06:08) * (Ryan_Galen) slams down into the ground. He's not that big of a cat so avoiding him shouldn't be that difficult.
(23:06:18) (Ryan_Galen): [crimsonflagcomic.com]
(23:07:45) VirBot: Trask enters the channel.
(23:08:00) * Kenku looks a little confuzzled, but shakes it off. "Ummm...hello there"(23:08:18) * Evilhumour blinks and flies down
(23:08:20) * Trask waves.
(23:08:38) * Evilhumour waves back and otternaps Selden
(23:08:45) *
(Ryan_Galen) picks his face off the ground and looks up.
(23:09:12) (Ryan_Galen): Right... well at least things are normal around here.
(23:09:41) * Evilhumour opens his quadra-hinged mouth to pick at some meat stuck between his teeth
(23:09:41) * (Ryan_Galen) glances at the landing Evil. "...still normal." Picks himself up the rest of the way.
(23:09:47) Trask: Anyone need a plushie?
(23:09:48) Trask: (23:10:01)
(23:10:19) Kenku: Normal?(23:10:23)
(23:12:09) (Ryan_Galen): Yeah. Normal. No mobs with pitchforks chasing after the upright walking talking feline monstrosity. Always a good sign.
(23:12:24) Kenku: "Ah, so your not from this world?"
(23:13:36) * (Ryan_Galen) points up in the sky a good forty feet. A small spherical portal can be seen hanging in mid air.
(23:14:27) * Kenku nods "I see. Well you shouldn't have to fear that here, this world is very diverse, although truth be told there is more than one you here."
(23:15:11) * Evilhumour got knocked out
(23:15:28) Evilhumour: What happened after I opened mouth,
(23:15:38) Evilhumour: My laptop froze
(23:16:37) (Ryan_Galen): More than one me? Do you mean you've seen another me walking around your... town? Castle? Keep?
(23:17:50) (Ryan_Galen): (whispers to Evilhumour) ((I made a comment of how that mouth was still normal and pointed out the spherical portal forty feet in the air to Kenku.))
(23:18:05) Evilhumour: (whispers) Ah
(23:18:06) Kenku: "Well to me more exact, people in this world can become what they imagine they wish to be" Kenku says before looking over to Evil. "Not much, although he did say hes not from this world."
(23:18:28) Evilhumour: Moi, Kenku?
(23:18:38) Evilhumour: That is true to an extent.
(23:19:03) Evilhumour: Then again, I do dabble heavily in essence of pure magic
(23:19:55) (Ryan_Galen): ...an entire reality filled with shapshifters... of sorts. That's... certainly different.
(23:20:08) Evilhumour: Indeed(23:20:11) Kenku: "Not exactly."
(23:20:23) Evilhumour: True Kenku
(23:20:46) Evilhumour: Plus, there is the whole deal with abnormal exterminates we have
(23:21:20) Kenku: "Yea, and in this case, Shapeshifting in most cases is learned, not innately known."
(23:21:31) Evilhumour: RIght, right.
(23:22:06) (Ryan_Galen): Right... well still just as normal as home then.
(23:22:35) * Evilhumour nods and pets his sentient tail
(23:23:28) Kenku: "Such skills were prevelent as well?"
(23:23:37) * (Ryan_Galen) jumps up and down as if testing the gravity or something. Proceeds to taste the salt water, check the grass, and stare out into space.
(23:25:08) (Ryan_Galen): You'd be surprised. The city is our world's largest open air insane asylum. At least that's what the tourist board advertises it as. Speaking of which do you guys have something like that or is it all dukes and kings back in town?
(23:25:40) Evilhumour: No no, this we have a single ruler, if you can call Virmir that
(23:26:32) Evilhumour: But some of us claimed titles with no real effect
(23:26:53) Kenku: "Locally yes, the world has democratic overbranching, but power does rule at the local level, especially since local can be its own little universe, like her.e"
(23:27:12) * Evilhumour nods
(23:27:20) (Ryan_Galen): Right... and currency?
(23:27:50) Evilhumour: It is widely divided among the globe, but we base it on the leading counry
(23:28:41) Kenku: "depends where you are, and in the little places like here, bartering is more likely."
(23:29:02) Evilhumour: Indeed, my feline friend
(23:29:14) * (Ryan_Galen) nods. Walks around a bit more checking stuff out. Stops and kicks the sand.
(23:29:46) * Evilhumour flies to the ceiling and walks around before coming back down'
(23:29:55) Evilhumour: Felt good to stretch my wings again
(23:30:02) (Ryan_Galen): This is really turning out to be too good to be true. Particularly on only the fortieth try.
(23:30:41) Kenku: "40th try?"
(23:32:53) (Ryan_Galen): One of my friends is in need of a vacation. I suggested that the only way to get him to take one would be to strand him on some tropical remote local in another dimension and leave him there until his friends with the means to take him back decided he's had enough sunshine to last him till next summer.
(23:33:08) * (Ryan_Galen) looks up and down the beach.
(23:33:31) Evilhumour: Ah
(23:34:45) (Ryan_Galen): I admit that this place isn't exactly tropical, but given that the dimensional search spell already had to sort through basic survivability I'm surprised I didn't land in the arctic... for the third time.
(23:36:11) Kenku: "Well this is an excellent place if you can stand the insanity of the main hall"
(23:36:25) Evilhumour: That is true
(23:37:05) Kenku: (Im gonna jet actually)
(23:37:15) (Ryan_Galen): ...and by insanity we're talking?
(23:37:24) (Ryan_Galen): ((Take care.))
(23:37:48) Evilhumour: See ya Kenku
(23:37:59) Kenku: "Mostly odd changes, sabatoging of other peoples stuff, random hugging. I have to leave although, Evil should be able to clue you in."
(23:38:02) Evilhumour: People turning into plushys
(23:38:27) * Evilhumour is watching a video while sitting on the ceiling without any effect of gravity(23:38:33) Trask: Sounds like domain.
(23:38:34) Trask:
(23:38:40) Evilhumour: People turing into pooltoys
(23:38:47) * (Ryan_Galen) blinks.
(23:39:02) Trask: Hmm... could be mine too.
(23:39:05) Trask: Hehe.
(23:40:04) Evilhumour: STuff like that Ryan
(23:40:48) (Ryan_Galen): So when you where talking about all the transformation before... you basically mean people running around and turning each other into poolside furniture?
(23:41:33) Evilhumour: Indeed
(23:41:47) Evilhumour: The fox next to you is a major actor of it
(23:42:27) * (Ryan_Galen) glances at Trask. It's to his credit that he doesn't edge away.
(23:42:55) * Trask looks back and smiles, waving in a friendly way.
(23:42:58) Trask:
(23:43:03) VirBot: Kenku has been logged out (Timeout).
(23:43:32) (Ryan_Galen): Right... well as nostalgic as people are for the days of Garth Carver and his Random Effects Ray, I think that ultimately would be a strike against your potential as a tourist hotspot.
(23:43:45) Evilhumour: I, however, am also a major contributor of the transformations here with muffins I make
(23:44:20) Evilhumour: No no no, it is done with complete innocence  and kindness
(23:45:05) (Ryan_Galen): Transformation without asking permission is with complete innocence and kindness?
(23:45:47) Trask: I do innocence and kindness.
(23:45:47) Evilhumour: It is done with permission usually, but Trask is known as a very friendly fox who would never harm a soul
(23:45:48) Trask:
(23:45:54) * Trask nods!
(23:47:08) (Ryan_Galen): Right... I guess this might require further investigation before I completely approve or write off the venue. Where is this great hall you spoke of?
(23:47:50) Evilhumour: It is where the local population inhabits
(23:50:18) (Ryan_Galen): What I mean is could you point it out to me so I could investigate it... assuming you think it wise.
(23:50:30) * Evilhumour points to the right
(23:50:59) * (Ryan_Galen) walks right then.
(23:51:15) VirBot: (Ryan_Galen) enters the channel.
(23:51:41) LurkingWolf: how much of a buffer do you have?
(23:52:02) Virmir: 5 pages.
(23:52:03) VirBot: Evilhumour enters the channel.
(23:58:11) * (Ryan_Galen) looks about the Great Hall. Certainly seems a lot calmer than advertised.
(23:58:12) * Evilhumour is done with his video
(23:59:16) Virmir: We never advertised uncalmness.
(23:59:32) * Draykin sets a lamp, a couch, a tv, a cieling fan, and Virmir on fire while frozen.
(23:59:47) Virmir: Gaah!!
(00:00:19) Evilhumour: Not the couch!
(00:00:27) * Evilhumour cries at the lost of the couch!
(00:00:38) * (Ryan_Galen) blinks briefly before producing and using a fire extinguisher. On the fox in a cape of course.
(00:03:53) VirBot: Trask enters the channel.
(00:04:39) Evilhumour: Oh that is not needed
(00:04:46) Evilhumour: He regenerates quickly
(00:05:08) (Ryan_Galen): ...so people just light him on fire because they feel like it?
(00:05:23) (Feral_Fox): Back.
(00:05:56) Evilhumour: In a way, yes
(00:06:04) (Feral_Fox): =3
(00:06:12) * Trask sets Virmir on water.
(00:06:19) (Feral_Fox): o.|.o(
00:06:20) Evilhumour: He regenerates quickly and does not really mind most actions towards him
(00:06:29) Evilhumour: Observe
(00:06:38) * Evilhumour flattens Virmir with a rolling pin
(00:06:38) (Ryan_Galen): ..but it doesn't keep it from being barbaric!
(00:08:28) (Feral_Fox): [personal detail redacted from log]
(00:08:57) Evilhumour: That sucks Feral Fox
(00:09:02) * Evilhumour pets the feral animal
(00:09:13) * (Feral_Fox) murrs* Thanks.
(00:09:29) * Trask hugs (Feral_Fox).
(00:09:41) * (Feral_Fox) hugs Trask back*
(00:09:50) * (Ryan_Galen) blinks at what appear to be a talking but otherwise feral animal. Sits down for a moment.
(00:09:50) * Trask squeaks and tailwags.
(00:09:50) Trask:
(00:10:10) * (Feral_Fox) glomps and noms Trask tail* ^.|.^
(00:11:46) Evilhumour: There there Ryan, it gets easier
(00:12:56) (Ryan_Galen): You're acting like I'm going to be stuck here for awhile. All a need is a ladder to get back home... a really tall ladder.
(00:13:03) * (Feral_Fox) looks at a potion* o.|.o
(00:13:09) * Evilhumour 's tail  hugs (Ryan_Galen) on it's own
(00:16:08) * (Ryan_Galen) doesn't take getting tail hugged as evidence that a limb is independently sentient. He does look uncomfortable at the physical contact.
(00:16:50) * (Feral_Fox) offers the potion to Evilhumour*
(00:17:19) * Evilhumour 's tail perks up on it's own, reaches backwards and pulls out a muffin while the wolf clicks through his windows, not paying attention to Ryan
(00:17:34) Evilhumour: Thank you Fox, but no thank you
(00:17:42) (Feral_Fox): OK. =3
(00:18:56) (Ryan_Galen): pose heard Evil state his tendencies towards morphing people with muffins. Given the tail is Evil's he declines the muffin in question.
(00:19:28) * (Feral_Fox) then decided to drinks the potion* =3
(00:19:31) * Evilhumour blinks(00:19:39) * Evilhumour turns and looks at his tail
(00:19:44) (Ryan_Galen): ((*headdesk* Almost appropriate I'd mix up some MUCK command with Ryan here.))
(00:20:18) Virmir: Off to bed. Catch you folks later.
(00:20:27) (Feral_Fox): See ya Virmir.
(00:20:33) Nik_Clarkson: Night Virmir!
(00:20:40) Evilhumour: Night Virmir(00:21:01) Radioactive_Toast: Night Virmir!
(00:21:11) Virmir: Good night.
(00:21:14) VirBot: Virmir logs out of the Chat.
(00:21:16) * (Feral_Fox) belly started to grow, being filled with chocolate* X3
(00:21:48) VirBot: Evilhumour is now known as (Evil_Gaming).
(00:22:25) * Trask 's tail squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeaks! again.
(00:22:30) * Trask hugs (Feral_Fox)!
(00:22:39) Trask: Hehe, that felt kind of nice.
(00:22:40) Trask:
(00:22:58) * (Feral_Fox) murrs as my belly continues to grow* That's good. ^.|.^
(00:24:27) VirBot: Raf_Cian logs into the Chat.
(00:25:14) * (Feral_Fox) belly expands far beyond my legs* X3
(00:25:19) Radioactive_Toast: Boo
(00:25:44) Raf_Cian: ((*blinks at the disconnect* *reads scrollsback*))
(00:26:52) * (Feral_Fox) lays on my back as my belly grows even huger*
(00:27:27) * Raf_Cian glances at the expanding fox.
(00:27:35) Raf_Cian: Shouldn't someone do something about that?
(00:28:18) * (Feral_Fox) belly stops growing when it's ten times my body size*
(00:29:18) (Evil_Gaming): No no, he's got it
(00:29:57) * (Feral_Fox) body changes into chocolate as I started to melt*
(00:30:04) VirBot: Raf_Cian is now known as (Ryan_Galen).
(00:31:17) (Ryan_Galen): ...right. Guess this would be a good enough time to write this world off. See you... possibly never again.
(00:31:33) (Evil_Gaming): Night Ryan
(00:31:39) * (Ryan_Galen) dashes out of the Great Hall.
(00:31:55) VirBot: (Ryan_Galen) is now known as Raf_Cian.
(00:32:13) * (Feral_Fox) body became chocolate as it hardens*
(00:34:30) Raf_Cian: Right. And that's a wrap. Thanks for participating everyone.

[/Edit]