Wednesday, October 17, 2012

>>> A recipe for...

A Rainy Afternoon for Two
As Arranged within the Humble
Domicile of a Young Lady
in the Business of Education

Ingredients:
1 human, young male
1 couch, plush
1 table, low coffee
weekend, late afternoon
rain, heavy downpour
books, stack of
cushions, plump
Note: Young male should be of a teddy-bear like consistency.

Directions:
  1. Cushions should be arranged to your satisfaction prior to the rainstorm.
    Place stack of [well-read] books (eg. novels of various genres) in a semi-untidy fashion at the foot of the couch's armrest.
    Pull the low coffee table closer. Place scripts for marking & scoring in neat stacks and within easy reach upon the tabletop.
  2. Position young male of your choice in the corner of the sofa at an almost 45° angle. (As long as it is a comfortable angle for you, it should work.) 
  3. Arrange the young male so that it is easy for you to sit or lean against him on the couch. Place a book in his hand so that he can occupy himself and not have his hands touching you inappropriately.
    However, any inappropriateness or increased intimacy is at your discretion.
  4. Prepare2 two mugs of hot cocoa or a pot of your own home-made tea blend1 (or a commercially available blend that contains chamomile). Place beverages within easy reach upon the tabletop.
    1 Creating and/or making your own tea blend is a nice, cultured activity for a young lady and gentleman to engage in, if they so choose.
    2 You may employ the young man to prepare your preferred beverage if you so wish.
  5. Once all your preparations are done, pour yourself onto the couch into a position of leaning against the young man. Fold the unoccupied arm against your personage as you desire.
  6. Proceed to enjoy beverages, the young man's company and perform or ignore the marking of scripts (or other educational tasks) as you will and see fit.

... a lovely rain-filled afternoon.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

>> Even in this urban jungle...

"AH, my lord, you enquire after his righteous and most loved personage, Our Guardian General, the ever honourable Kyobeimaru Koning? The Thundering Hammer of the Golden Heavens, March Lord of the Demon Hundred's Parade, Lord Guardian General of the Azure Jade Lions Emerald Court, known as Ten-Roaring-Bells-at-Daybreak, he is truly a hero amongst heroes, the General Kyobeimaru-sama is our stalwart titan who leads from the front and the embodiment of our two hemispheres working together in harmony against the End. A giant of financial strength and a greatly respected individual for his work in law enforcement, he is a paragon of virtue in this humble court. Even with silver showing in his flowing mane of gold, he is still unhurt and unbowed by the travails of time. His is a long and epic saga which would take many turns of Her Holy Empress Luna to recount, my lords and ladies. His Deed-name and Titles are more than well-earned and warranted, from his time in the wilds of Afrika, to his wanderings in the Mad West and through the Emerald Wilds of Asia from the Land of the Rising Sun. And, now, there he stands at Kereihime-sama's right hand... Do you wish to discuss some private matter with his august person, my lord? I, ever your humble servant, could attempt to arrange a private audience with the Lord General, if you so wish..."
-- Gotetsu Ayari, Ashes-in-the-Waves, Courtier of the Azure Jade Lion Emerald Court

Kyobeimaru Koning, Ten-Roaring-Bells-at-Daybreak

Simba Daylight Homid, Hengeyokai

Thundering Hammer of the Golden Heavens,
March Lord of the Demon Hundreds' Parade,
Guardian General of the Azure Jade Lion Emerald Court

Alpha(N) / Confidant(D)

Bon Bhat (5) / Silver Fist (5)

Willpower 9 | Rage 9 | Gnosis 10

Physical 18
Social 16 | neg: cynical
Mental 17

Academics, Athletics x3, Awareness x3, Brawl x5, Craft (Woodcarving) x2, Dodge x5, Drive, Empathy x2, Enigmas x3, Etiquette x4, Expression x2, Finance x3, Firearms x3, Intimidation x3, Investigation x3, Leadership x4, Lingusitics x2, Meditation (T), Melee x5, Occult x2, Politics x3, Rituals x2, Security x3, Stealth x3, Streetwise, Subterfuge x2, Survival, Tactics x4.

Allies x3, Contacts x3, Den-Realm x1, Fame x2, Fetish x7, Secrets x3, Totem (Mantis) x3.

Finance x5, Media x2, Police x5, Street x3, Underworld x3.

Perfect Protocol (m1), Calm Heart (m2), Graceful (m2), Huge Size (m4).

(1) [Bastet] Catfeet, Cat Claws, Cat Sight, Command Attention, First Slash, Lick Wounds, Razor Claws, Shriek, [Beast Courts] Blaze Talons, Courtly Speech, Create Element, Mindspeak, Sense Imbalance, [Simba] Armor of Kings, Majesty, (3) [Bastet] Attunement, Clawstorm, Ignore Pain, Impala's Flight, Spitfire, Wolf's Terror, [Beast Courts] Part the Wall, Walking Dreams of Unity, [Simba] Fireroar, (5) [Bastet] Soothe/Summon Storm, [Simba] Rising Sun.

Knows all Common Rites of the Beast Courts and most of the rites associated with the Bastet. At the STs' discretion.

Notes:
* Doom's Melodious Chimes : (Level 6, Gnosis 8) Fetish Weapon, macestaff, counts as a Grand Klaive. Koning's weapon and symbol of office is as long as the average human is tall, which is roughly 6', and resembles an unspiked medieval morningstar. Its head is a solid sphere with ten shaallow 'wells' bored into it. Suspended inside each well is a clear jade bell. The tapering shaft is made of Japanese white oak with silver engravings along its length and wrapped in fine black and white silk. Just a half inch below where the shaft meets the head is tied an intricately knotted charm of red cord. This unique fetish weapon is inhabited by no less than three great Wisdom spirits: Thunderous-Roar-Upon-Earth (Storm), Font-of-Battle's-Blood (War) and Spectre-From-The-Darkess (Death). These three spirits may physically manifest within 30' of the grand klaive, and may actually affect the physical realm in any way should they so choose. They also form a part of his War Councils, providing advice and insight when needed.
The Doom's Melodious Chimes grants five bonus Traits in combat, inflicts two extra levels of aggravated damage and possess two powers, of which the wielder may use only one once per scene:
- the Heaven's Cacophonous Roar, which is activated by either slamming the butt into the ground or by swinging the macestaff in a full circle, that emulates the Shriek gift but in the form of a thunderclap and, in addition, stuns people within 6' of the wielder for a number of turns equal to half the wielder's Gnosis.
- the Abyss' Muted Scream, which can be activated by striking an enemy which will trigger a contested challenge using Gnosis to part the enemy from its soul. If the wielder is successful, the target dies instantly from a lightning strike and a Shriek is produced that affects all within 3 paces of the target. If the wielder is unsuccessful, he will take equal damage to what he has inflicted upon his target
The three spirits who inhabit the macestaff are of Incarnae levels, so STs please use your own discretion for their stats.

*Perfect Protocol (1-pt merit) : refer to MET: Way of the Beast Courts pg 118.

*Graceful (2-pt Merit) : refer to MET: Changing Breeds 1 pg 164.

... you still don't mess with a Lion.

posted from Bloggeroid

Sunday, June 17, 2012

>> A skilled sniper...

The target was standing at the edge of the crowd around the makeshift stage, bopping her head to the heavy beat of the growling band. In her small hands, she held a massive but aged SLR camera. The kids in the crowd had parted for her earlier like she was some sort of royalty or rock star. 

Either that or perhaps the people were just instinctively afraid of her true nature. Intel said differently, though, having read out that she was positioned highly "in the scene".

Smiling unnaturally wide, he vocalised into the mic as he casually touched his ear. "Target spotted."

A hiss of static followed by a sibilant whisper, "Stay on target."

Nodding, he slipped further into the shadows, hands sinking deep into his pockets. His smile stretched ear to ear, flesh splitting bloodlessly and yellowed serrated teeth showing through.

---

She felt tired.

So tired that her camera felt it was going to pull her to the ground and keep her there. She yawned and blinked. Her clothes were sticking to her body and she felt perspiration trickling down her back and face.

Slinging her camera around her shoulder, she walked leisurely out of the small bar which was holding the gig. Yet again, the crowd parted for her. Once upon a time, that would have made her feel really smug, but not now, not tonight. 

Not for a while, in fact.

Once outside, she fished out a battered pack of cigs from her jacket pocket. Sighing, she pulled a stick out and placed it in the corner of her mouth. She sighed again, deeply. Am I getting too old for this or what?, she wondered as she looked up into the sky while leaning against a wall. She stayed like that for a while, her cig getting soggy as it hung from her lips. A couple of kids came out for the air, giving her a wide berth and space. She ignored them, finally lighting up.

Blowing out a stream of smoke, she felt a chill travel down her spine. She rotated her neck, hearing a satisfying creak, while her eyes slowly looked around. She felt someone watching her, like there was a target board hanging around her neck.

She pushed away from the wall and stretched. Yawning, she strolled down a ways to the entrance of an alleyway. Casually looking to her left and then her right, she cocked her head to one side as she exhaled a thick puff of smoke. Sighing again, she walked into the darkness of the alleyway.

A dark figure followed shortly behind, slipping in and out of the shadows, followed by an unusual couple. The couple acted like they were in heat and virtually slithered into the alleyway.

Several pairs of glowing eyes looked on into the alleyway from the shadow cast by the roof of the bar.

This night was about to get bloody.

---

Even if being decked out in the unusual ensemble of silver necklaces, thigh-length cheongsam, fur-trimmed leather hooded jacket, brass knuckle rings, skin-tight dark Cheap Mondays and a pair of industrial Doc Marts wasn't a giveaway, her multi-colored streaked side-fringe, long jet black hair and petite size would be.

This scene queen is famous locally not only for her unique sense of style and presence at every music event & venue but her amazing photographic skills and her loud, outspoken support of the LGBT community & women's rights.

This pugnacious li'l firecracker doesn't talk about her past before her Rite of Passage much, if at all. She clams up if ever asked, some claiming she looks haunted when pressed for details about herself. Grapevine has it that she's an orphan or an abandoned teen who lived around and grew up in the local music scene. There are some other far-fetched stories circulating around the local septs, but it's been chalked up to too much imagination and free time among the younger crowd.

To her, it doesn't matter where she's been and who she was, only that she's here now.

And she ain't going anywhere till the Fat Wyrm sings its last.

[Tsoi] Mei Lien, Flash-at-Dawn

Scene Queen Photojournalist

Black Fury Galliard Homid

Visionary(N) / Rebel(D)

Cliath (1)

Willpower 3 | Rage 4 | Gnosis 2

Physical 5 | neg: lethargic

Social 5 | neg: awkward

Mental 7 | neg: impatient

Brawl, Craft (Camera: Analog), Dodge, Etiquette, Expression (Photography) x3, Language (Cantonese), Performance (Guitar: Acoustic), Performance (Singing) x2, Streetwise, Subterfuge

Contacts x2, Fame x1, Fetish x2 (Camera Obscura), Resources x2

Influence (Media) x2

Dark Secret (f1), Petite (f1), Short Fuse (f2)

(1) Persuasion, Mindspeak, Heightened Senses

Note:
* Negative trait awkward is a lesser version of the negative trait shy.

* Fetish - Camera Obscura: (Level 2, Gnosis 5) The Camera Obscura is a vintage analog camera that's used to detect spirits and other invisible creatures. These rare artifacts are inhabited, and powered, by either an owl-spirit, death-related spirit or, Gaia forbid, an actual wraith. Flash-at-Dawn lovingly crafted hers with a combination of a titanium frame, mahongany veneers carved with roses and ivory inlays as well as charming the owl-spirit into service. Once this fetish is activated, the user can use its viewfinder to see any spirits and other such normally invisible creatures in the area for the duration of the scene. It cannot see through walls and other forms of thick barriers. However, on a critical success, the user may be able to peer into the Umbra.

* Flaw - Petite : Short, Vampire: the Masquerade page 297.

... with a phos-bright camera-flash.

Wednesday, June 06, 2012

>> From a statement of time...


"2219"


Welcome to the Year 2219.

The world has changed a lot since you were put on ice and spaced up.

It's been broken down into two super-powers: the Euromerican Alliance in the Western Hemisphere and the Pacifica Conglomerate in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Euromerica is not so much an alliance as it is one large federalized union of nation-states dominated by the nation-descendant of the 21st century USA.

The Conglomerate is a representative oligarchy, since the countries of Asia and Australasia Privatized, transforming into corp-nations.

The Yangtze Syndicate and Jai-Hind Megacorp have the largest blocs of voting power on the Oligarchical Council, but Singapura Tech (SingTech for short) and Nippon Foundries own the technologies that every nation uses.

The region originally known as the Middle-East is now known as the Desert Emirates, aligned with neither side and stubbornly holding on to neutrality. The militaristic Emirate of Israestine, the end result of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, maintains its grip on its territory, including the area surrounding the Suez Canal, and resists the predations of the other Emirates.

Russia's been broken down by severe economic pressure & downturn, orchestrated by the pre-privatisation Pan-Asian Bloc, industrial sabotage, internal strife caused by dissenters, agent provacateurs & rebels, the Chechen Problem coming home to roost, "Siberiarization" - the freak Ice Age that hit poor Mother Russia - and the Bratva Russkya hostile takeover of the government nearly a century ago.

Whatever's left of Russia is actually the physical landmass of Siberia, which currently stretches up to Irkutsk and is now the Corpnation of the Russo-Cyberian Enclave.

The Russian Steppes are home to nomads and vast underground warrens, neither side able to claim them wholesale due to the presence of the Kossacks and their underground dwelling Kohl Black allies. Therefore, both sides had to be satisfied to leave it as a buffer zone.

Africa is mostly desert and grassland, its countries having dissolved into supposed anarchy or gone 'wild', its people returning to feudal or nomadic ways.

Except for the remains of South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique & Madagascar and some of surrounding islands which now make up the arcological ecopolises of the Afrikaan Republic.

There are a lot of possibilities for making cred and earning rep, regardless which side of the line you choose, mate.

Unless you choose to be one of the Greys, which is another story by itself.

So, let's get you cleaned up and looking good for the world, ey...


Sent from Catch Notes for Android
https://catch.com


... came a whole idea for a world.

>> Sing a song or two...


The following two lyric sets were written/composed for the small group role-playing the members of the Gaia's Tears Rock Band pack. This was just for flavour and fun.

Enjoy.

Our Mother
Gaia's Tears

Spoken:
Can You Hear it?
Our Mother, She's Crying...
Can You Hear It?
Our Mother, She's Weeping...
Can You Hear It?
Our Mother, She's Crying Out for Help.

Neglected, Uncared for, Unloved
By Her Children, and Generations beyond
None Believed, None Saw the Truth for What it was
Living In Their Own World,
Cocooned By Lies

Can You Hear it?
Our Mother's Cries
Can You Hear It?
Our Mother's Weeping
Can You Hear It?
Our Mother's Crying Out for Help

It Came Too Late, When They'd Stopped Running
Her Skin was scarred, Body Milked Dry
Battles Upon Battles, Wars Upon Wars
Her Children, They Bled,
For Their Own Greed

Can You Hear it?
Our Mother's Cries
Can You Hear It?
Our Mother's Weeping
Can You Hear It?
Our Mother's Crying Out for Help

Listen With Your Heart
Listen With All Your Might
Can You Hear it On the Wind?
Can You Hear it On the Waves?
... Our Mother's Crying Out For Help

Can You Hear it?
Our Mother's Cries
Can You Hear It?
Our Mother's Weeping
Can You Hear It?
Our Mother's Crying Out for Help


A New World (Into Gaia's Arms)
Gaia's Tears

Gaia's arms...

Gaia's arms...

S: No one believed her
No one imagined it was true
No one could see her
winter haven coming into view
F: She says she's seen the land beyond
She said she's walked through Babylon
She felt the cold beneath her feet
And time stood still where the winter won't sleep
S: (where the winter won't sleep)

Chorus
S: I've seen a new world...
F: like nothing before...
just step through the door right
S: Into a new world...
F: Into Gaia's arms
S: I've seen a new world...
F: like nothing before...
just step through the door right
S: Into a new world...
F: Into Gaia's arms

S: All hope was fading, a darkness far beyond their might
But love came crusading on the wings of healing sacrifice
F: She gave them something to believe
Came back in all Her majesty
She conquered evil through Her love and handed them the land they were dreaming of S: (love came crusading)

Chorus
S: I've seen a new world...
F: like nothing before...
just step through the door right
S: Into a new world...
F: Into Gaia's arms
S: I've seen a new world...
like nothing before...
just step through the door right
S: Into a new world...
F: Into Gaia's arms

F: I never dreamed it but it seems that She's alive again
Shaking Her mane She's just the same as I remembered Her
The spell is weakening with every breath She's breathing in
S&F: And when She roars they can't ignore that She's our queen again

S: (There, just beyond the moonlight)

S: I've seen, I've seen, I've seen a new world...
F: Into a new world...
Into Gaia's arms

Chorus
S: I've seen a new world...
F: like nothing before...
just step through the door right
S: Into a new world...
F: Into Gaia's arms
S:I've seen a new world...
F:like nothing before...
just step through the door right
S: Into a new world...
F: Into Gaia's arms

S: Into a new world...
S&F: Gaia's arms...

Note:
* played and sung similarly to Toby Mac's "New World" track.
* slightly modified from Toby Mac's "New World" lyrics.
* S : Siobahn, opera-like intonation.
* F : Faolan, rap feel.
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... of sixpence and a pocketful of Gaia.