Wednesday, February 23, 2005

My name is Jay Anyong.... @$$hole.

John Constantine Pic
You are John Constantine.
John has a strong knowledge of the occult and at
times he appears to wield strong magical powers
but he has also become known as something of a
con-man, more likely to talk himself out of
trouble than pull a rabbit out of a hat.


What Gritty No Nonsense Comic Book Character are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

---

Sorry, couldn't help posting this one again. :p

Skies of Fire

Harkan rubbed his nose with the back of his hand as he gave his Skywing one last check. He frowned slightly, tightening a bolt here and recalibrating a wingtip there before finally stepping back with a smile. "We've got an important run tomorrow, Osprey," he told it as he ran his hand over the Skywing's chassis, "An ammuniton drop on the front lines."

The Osprey stood quietly, it's newly polished chassis gleaming under the gaslights of the War Zeppelin's hangar. Harkan sighed as he took off his gloves and stuffed them into his jacket. "I'll see you tomorrow then. Good night, Osprey." He turned around and walked towards the hangar door, taking the time to turn the knob by the door, the lights fading into darkness.

"Do you always talk to your Skywings?" Telana frowned as she watched Harkan close the hangar door.

"Skywing." Harkan said, "Osprey is the only Skywing I'll ever need."

Telana rolled her eyes, "Whatever. It's not normal you know. The psychiatrist will have words with you if they ever find out that you do it all the time."

Harkan chuckled as they began walking down he narrow corridor, "Maybe, but Osprey's been with me since we got drafted in this stupid war."

"You don't see me talking to my gun turret, do you?" Telana said, "And we've both been stationed here longer than you have."

"True." Harkan admitted, "Still, I think talking to your gun turret would be silly."

"Look who's talking."

"No, seriously! Think about it this way. The Osprey is a complete Skywing, it's not a part of something bigger."

"Your point being?"

"Well, I'd feel silly if I were to talk to... let's say, a bolt, or a wingtip actuator of the Osprey. It would only be part of a greater whole."

Telana narrowed her eyes, "Are you saying that I don't have a right to talk to my gun turret because its only a part of the Zeppelin?"

"Kind of like just talking to a person's hand rather than the person, yes."

"You're impossible."

Harkan grinned at that, "You're only saying that because I make sense."

"Whatever." Telana smiled back, as they reached the crew quarters, "Now go get some sleep, you'll need it for tomorrow's flight."

----

The War Zeppelin flew high over the shattered remains of London, the streets littered with debris and fire, civilians running for their lives as the German BoilerMecha pressed on with their offensive, their steam vents throwing out clouds of vapor as they opened fire with their automatic cannons.

Harkan surveyed the scene below, "This is crazy..." he said even as he heard the warning horn sound inside the hangar. The Osprey was already suspended on the launch hooks, its nose pointing upwards, cockpit open. Several other Skywings hung after it on a conveyor belt even as the launch bay beneath began to open, the wind whipping Harkan's jacket.

The Launchman held up both hands and made a cutting gesture, indicating that they were about to commence launching. Harkan ran towards the Osprey and strapped himself in the belly of the osprey, sliding the glass canopy over his upper body. Pulling a lever, the Osprey's wings tucked themselves around him, in launch position.

Harkan nodded once, as the horn blared once more. He felt his gut tighten as the hooks let go, the Osprey plummeting tail first to the ground below. As soon as they cleared the belly of the War Zeppelin, Harkan yanked on another lever, the Osprey spinning in mid air like a top, before unfurling its wings, tumbling into a level flight.

Harkan couldn't help but smile at that... he loved flying, no matter what the circumstance, but the sudden sound of exploding BoilerMecha below shook him from his reverie. In the distance, he caught sight of them, the Royals, a squadron of the Queen's BoilerMecha, trying to hold off against a combined offensive of German BoilerMecha and SteamPanzers.

"-kan... read me?" the radio console above him squawked to life. It was Telana. "..Mecha on their way. Drop... unition to the ..east" Harkan shook his head, stupid radio technology "I can't read you, Telana." he replied, twisting a few knobs and he began to fly at full speed, "Could-" he stopped as he saw five shapes come out of the smoke in the distance. Blitzwings... he braced himself, pulling down a grip with a trigger from the overhead console of the Osprey. "I've got company. Osprey heading to engage the Blitzwing squadron."

"We're right behind you sir." his wingman said, dipping their wings to him in salute as his squadron flew to engage the Blitzwings...

--- to be continued ---

Monday, February 21, 2005

Feng Shui your house

Just came upon this little Flash game which tells you how much Chi there is in your room. Give it a whirl... apparently my room has very little in the way to Chi. :p

Enjoy!

Constantine

Okay. I'm sure that you guys have already heard the big deal about John Constantine being miscast. I have to admit, that I would have preferred the more evil, dirty, rugged, assholic looking John Constantine from the Hellblazer comic books, but meh, for the movie, it'll do. That aside, I can get to the rest of the review.

The movie was pretty much like watching a sanitized version of the comic book. The city was brighter, people were happier and the world held more Judeo-Christianity than was apparent in the comic book. I understand that most guys who've seen the movie think I'm nuts, but if you'll take the time to flip though Hellblazer, you'll realize that it's like comparing Hello Kitty to Se7en.

As a stand alone however, the movie does well with what it had to work with. John was never a simple character, and his internal struggles were something that comic fans has a lot of time to figure out and come to grips with. As a movie, the challenge was to present him as a total uber-exorcist-badass-chainsmoker with as much appeal to him as possible to make it marketable. In that aspect, the movie works. Keanu Constantine is a fellow you sort of feel for given the fact that he has all his tragedy revealed in exposition.

*shrugs* I'm beginning to notice that all comic book movies suffer from too much exposition. Anyway, moving along...

Action-wise, the fights were cool, as they were flashy, but not Blade, cool but not Matrix. Visceral and cruel but still beautiful in the Hollywood sort of way. I would have prefered action similar to Fight Club, but again, that might be my comic book expectations showing.

The plot was pretty much a blender of a lot of Hellblazer comics with a lady cop thrown in for flavor. It dealt pretty exclusively with a Judeo-Christian take on things, and it amused me to no end that they considered a lot of Catholic legalities and arguments into the story.

In the end, Constantine was a good film definitely worth watching. And like in many other comic book movies, it would be better taken without force fitting it with what you've read. Enjoy each incarnation of JC as they are, and prepared to be very entertained.

Plus:

To those who've played Mage: the Ascension (you guys know who you are) The movie would make a great Mage session.

Friday, February 18, 2005

Darren and the Bunny

"What do you mean you're out of stock?" Darren asked, "You're a Familiar store and you don't have any toads in stock?! This is crazy!"

"I'm sorry, sir." the pimply faced boy said, eyes fearful, "We were out of toads since last week.... how about something else?"

Darren let out a long sigh, the Wizardry finals were coming up and if he didn't have a familiar by then, he'd be the laughingstock of the entire Wizard's guild. "Fine. What do you have in there?"

"Well, we've got a fine collection of rabbits here, sir."

"Rabbits?"

"Rabbits."

"Bunnies?!"

"Yes sir."

Darren bit back the urge to whip out his foci and call a demon to trash the place. "Look," he said, trying to keep his voice as calm and level as possible. "I'm a Class B Summoner, okay? I'm learning to call things bigger than your house that can reduce cities to ashes... and you're offering me a bunny for a familiar?"

"It's as good as any sir. Rabbits make great companions, they're clean, and cute."

"What part of the 'great and powerful indimidating summoner' image don't you understand, kid?"

"I'm sorry sir, but I really can't help you. The bunnies are all that we have left."

Darren touched his brow. Fantastic, I swear I'm going to be laughed at by the assembly "Fine. I don't have any more time to haggle, and you're the only Familiar Shop in town. How much?"

----

The bunny was definitely not what Darren had in mind. It's snowy white fur and fluffy ears contrasted to his black and crimson robes, and the ominous trappings of a summoner. "I guess you'll have to do." he said, as the bunny looked up to him and wiggled its nose, whiskers twitching at its new master.

"I don't have much time left." Darren said, dropping the rabbit into his backpack as he went over to his bicycle. "I need to bring something good for class tomorrow." he explained as the bunny poked its head out of the backpack.

Soon, Darren was home, the living room furniture pushed off to one side as he finished the summoning circle. Arcane designs copied straight off "Summoning for novices vol. 1" filled the hardwood floor, as Darren tossed the chalk to a nearby table, clapping his hands together to dust off most of the chalk. "There." he said, inspecting his handiwork, and looking at the instructions one last time.

Everything is complete... now to do the summoning... Darren heard his bag fall over and realized that he had left the bunny there. The determined rodent had knocked the bag down in its valiant efforts to free itself.
Darren walked up to it, picking it up.

"Since you're my Familiar now, you might as well do something useful." he said, placing the bunny beside him. He wasn't really sure what bunnies did. Toads granted strange mystic energies, cats gave out advice on how to cast spells, rats made excellent spies... but bunnies? Darren shrugged as he raised his hands and began chanting... calling on the spectre of the dreaded Demon of Swords... a class 2 demonic entity which can be bound by strictly following the protocols set down in "The Acquisition, Feeding and Care of Demons, Revised Edition".

Darren narrowed his eyes and steadied his breathing, keeping an eye on his crib sheet, making sure to carefully pronounce the words, feeling the magics in the circle resonate with his own. It's working! Darren continued chanting, hand moving gracefully, leaving trails of magic suspended in the air, forming the patterns of binding even as the Demon of Swords began to manifest in the middle of the circle. Darren's eyes grew wide at the realization that even as it was in a crouching position, the Demon of Swords nearly reached to ceiling, it's massive girth pushing aside the chandelier. Oh no! Darren grit his teeth, seeing the Demon of Swords reach out tentatively against the warding circle, it's sharp talons crackling with energy as it felt the circle resist... then give way. I can't hold it back! Daren gasped, I'm going to die!

The Demon of Swords smiled wickedly as it realized that the boy had no power over it, moving forward, talons at the ready. It would be free to wreak havoc onto the world! Darren recoiled, trying to think of something, anything that could possibly save him.

The bunny stepped forwards, it's ears tucked back, wriggling its nose as it hopped into the circle. Darren looked at it. What the hell is it doing?! he let out a cry as the Demon of Swords looked down as raised one awful claw, swiping down at the rabbit...

A powerful burst of light filled the room, Darren recoiled, holding his arm over his eyes to shield him from the brightness. When the light faded, the Demon of Swords was gone. No residual presence, no demonic energy... just the bunny, sitting quietly in the center of the circle, twitching its nose.

What the hell just happened?

----

Darren sighed, it was going to be hell explaining this to his class. His attempts to bring a demon to his finals was a complete disaster, and the only thing he had to show for it was a bunny familiar. "No offense, bunny." he said, as it poked its head out of his backpack as he biked to school, "But I think I'm going to fail my finals."

The Gymnasium was massive, empty of the crowds that usually filled the venue in monster summoning competitions, Darren made his way to his class, where his other classmates waited. There was Maximillian Blue, with his snow wolf, Terry with his imp, and Marie with her fairy familiar.

"Hey Darren." Max smiled, waving as Darren came closer, "What did you have ready for today's summoning match?"

"Er..." Darren said, trying to find an excuse. The bunny then stuck its head out of his backpack again, looking around curiously.

"What the heck is that?" Terry laughed, "don't tell me that's your Familiar." he grinned maliciously, his imp doing the same.

"Actually..." Darren confessed,"It is... they ran out of Familiars back in the store."

"That's what you get for shopping at the last minute." Marie said, "At least it's cute, right Winka?" her fairy nodded its agreement, giving a little happy tinkling sound.

Terry chuckled, "Well cute ain't going to help him here." he grinned, "let's have a match Darren!" he smiled, as he took out his summoning glove, putting it on. "Just for fun!"

"But, I'm not ready!" Darren said, "I didn't..."

"Come on you wuss!" Terry sneered, as his imp pointed and laughed. "Show me what you've got!"

Darren grit his teeth, there's no way I'm going to let him say that to me! he set his pack down, the rabbit worming its way out of the back to stand beside him. "Fine." he said, trying to remember the spell for one of the summons that he can pull off.

Terry smiled, "That's better." he said, suddenly casting already, hands moving as he drew his symbols of power in the air.

"Hey wait!" Darren cried out as he struggled to catch up.

"That's no fair!" Marie cried out, "you didn't even tell him you were starting, Terry!"

"Tough luck then." Terry said, as he finished his first circle, "Come on out, Firelord!"

The Gym suddenly radiated with heat as a massive man-shaped fire demon stepped out of a space in reality. The air around it warping with the heat, as it drew a flaming sword from its mouth.

"Aaaah!" Max and Marie ran back to the benches, "Don't let him get you, Darren!" Max cried out, "Those things don't hold back!"

"Now you tell me!" Darren said, modifying his circle, trying his best to change it to something, anything that could go up against the Firelord.

The Firelord stepped towards Darren. Terry sneered, "Go get him!"

Darren fumbled, his circle dissapating as it executed a failed command. "Ack!"

The bunny jumped towards the Firelord, and bit the demon's toe. Silence filled the room as everyone stared in shock as the tiny rodent valiantly sunk its buck teeth in...

And the Firelord's head flew off with a loud pop, sliced cleanly off its shoulders as if severed by a very sharp blade. The demon disappated instantly with a low moan.

"What the hell?" Terry said, recoiling in fear at the bunny, "What is that thing?!"

Darren picked up his Familiar, "It's a rabbit."

"I know that! But how did it behead my precious Firelord?!"

Max grinned, "Darren, you sly fox!" he smiled, "You knew about it, didn't you?"

Darren looked at Max, equally confused, "About what?"

"The secret of the Vorpal Bunny, of course."

----

Found this little story somewhere in my hard drive before. I found it cute so I figured I'd post it here. Enjoy!

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

Mother blames game in suicide of 11-year-old son

Mother blames game in suicide of 11-year-old son

Jeez... I feel like we're back in the past when Gamers and their Games were blamed for everything from satanism, to drugs and to suicide. I feel sorry for the kid to be honest, but it seems that yet again, we've got to play the bad guys.

It was bad enough when we had a stupid local TV show denounce RPGs as evil and satanic. (a stand that was sort of recalled after a local hobby store threatened to inform Hasbro / Wizards of the Coast, and implied that it would mean an international lawsuit against the TV station). I just hope that this doesn't start off another wave of frenzied "Blame the game for the deaths of our children" spree again.

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

A Very Morbid Valentine's Day

CNN.com - Philippines bombings kill at least 9 - Feb 14, 2005

I'm sitting in the office right now, a little early as nobody else is here yet, and I can't help but blog about this.

Last night, a friend and I were just discussing about how cliche Valentine's blog entries were, and how all over the world, blogs will whine or grow mushy.

I wish my blog was mushy or whiny right now, rather than to hear of something like this.

For those who might be visiting my blog from the Western Hemisphere, a busload in the Philippines is a lot of people. This is pretty much still in the rush hour, where tired commuters holding wilting roses look forward to just coming home to the arms of their loved ones. These unfortunates in the bus won't even make it.

Abu Solaiman, the spokesperson for the terrorist group Abu Sayyaff went on the radio to claim responsibility and offer the bombings, three overall, to the President of the Philippines as a "Valentine's Day Gift." I can't help but feel that these people are either so far gone that they can't imagine the pain and suffering that their attacks have caused, or if they truly are monsters that have no capacity to understand that these dead have nothing to do with their agenda.

----

A side of me wants to grab this Abu Solaiman, arm him with a knife, and throw him in a solitary confinement cell. Complete with a closed circut camera and night vision and plug the video feed on the internet without him knowing. The ultimate reality show.

One terrorist. One tiny cell to small to stand in, and too narrow to lie down on. One knife in his hand.

How long will he last, I wonder? Feed him nothing but raw oats and water and watch his devotion. I want to see him think if anyone will rescue him. I want him to fiddle with the knife, and watch as he contemplates suicide. I want to see him set his face, determined, holding the knife, and then fail, cowardice overriding madness.

And for the finale, if he doesn't do anything for oh... say two days? We fill the cell with water. Slowly.

Then we hold an online poll while we're doing so: Do we let him drown?
a) Sure
b) Absolutely
c) Why not?
d) Are you guys freakin' nuts? Of course!
e) no, because we are civilized people who want to end this cycle of violence.

Who knows? If he's lucky, people will vote for E, and we'll leave him alone, take his knife away, and keep him in solitary confinement. Still with the webcam on.

But I suppose such treatment would be cruel. And so we wait, quietly hoping that somehow, someone can stop them.

----

Hold your loved ones close and let them know that they are loved. Be they family, friends or your significant other. Remember that there are people out there who will think nothing of taking their lives away, in the name of religion, ideology, or madness.

Monday, February 14, 2005

Feeding Blogs

Hey guys!

I've been tinkering with all sorts of things lately, and the newest thing I've got going is an RSS feed to my blog right now. You guys can read all about it by clicking on the Powered by Feedburner graphic in my sidebar or by clicking here.

basically, what it will allow is for you to keep yourself updated on the latest entries of this site (and many others that support RSS feeds) with the right programs. I'm actually curious to see if my friends will be setting up their own feeds. Should be interesting to pop open a mail program (like my new e-mail program of choice, Thunderbird) and see all the latest titles and a short blurb of the newest journal entries.

I just realized that I'm such a geek to be excited about this. :p

Saturday, February 12, 2005

Infamy

My name is weak.

So common, so mundane, so impotent.

People hear my name and do not listen. They tune me out, oblivous to who I am. My being is nothing of concern.

I do not matter.

I am just like one of them, they think, small and petty and anonymous.

They are wrong.

My name will become strong.

Unique. Special. Powerful.

Men will shake their heads and clench their fists, women will wail and gnash their teeth, and children will stare, wide-eyed as they realize that the grown ups they rely on cannot possibly protect them.

From me.

I will matter.

I am not like them, so small and petty and anonymous.

I will prove them wrong.

----

And that was something I just thought about in five minutes. Not really sure what that was, but it seems pretty cool. I wonder how I can improve it though. Thoughts anyone?

Wednesday, February 09, 2005

Spy-Tech!

Well, after a few days of not being able to do anything even remotely resembling blogging, I've finally come up with an update.

Just last Saturday, I've started GMing a Spycraft campaign with the same group that played in the Exalted campaign. So far it's been a blast, each of the players really fell into the feel of the game, and everyone had a lot of fun. Of course, little did they know that the evil dictator they so easily disposed of in their game was meant to last at least a few sessions more.

*sigh*

The wonders of being a GM. Then again, like they say, "never stat out an NPC that you do not wish to see dead." Somehow, in whatever shape or form, your players will find a way to grind your villain to dust. Then again, they did it with so much finesse that I applauded for them. All my work paid off, even if it wasn't in the way I planned.

Speaking of plans, I'm stuck trying to think of another evil plot to use to rule the world and threaten my players with this weekend. Thankfully, my strange ability to dig weird stuff up in the net to find some sort of Bond villain plot device weapon has come up with this:

Here we have a new weapon being designed for use in the near future! (key bad imitation 1950's "World of Tomorrow" narrator) Introducing, the Pain Beam, a revolutionary weapon that incapacitates people "by firing millimeter-wave electromagnetic energy in a beam that quickly heats up the surface of the victim's skin. Within seconds the person feels pain that is akin to touching a hot light bulb."

Right now, it's classified primarily for crowd dispersal and control. But so far, nobody has any idea what prolonged exposure to it will do to a human body.

Well, that's about it for right now. I'm still looking for a good plot to use for super spies to foil. If you guys have any ideas on how you would rule the world, tell me about it! The comments link down there is wide open for any suggestions. :)

Friday, February 04, 2005