#valorius

[csavii]

More fellas! Sternspark is the captain of the ship post war, going across the universe helping whoever he can, Breakpad was the first to join his crew followed by Valorius who prefers to go by Medic, an ex-decepticon who no longer believes in the cause, but was proud to serve with his last crew. Sternspark never picked a side and managed to stay neutral throughout the war.

[howlingday]

Nora: Wow... Jaune... This is crazy! What are we gonna do next?!

Jaune: Next? Nora... I'VE MURDERED OVER A THOUSAND ATLESIAN SOLDIERS! I'VE TURNED THE KINGDOMS AGAINST THEM! That's it. That is my VENGEANCE.

Jaune: So let me tell you what's going to happen next. First, the Schnees surrender.

Jaune: Atlas falls and their lands become free!

Jaune: We take back our homes!

Jaune: And Vale finally dominates Sanus!

Ren: But Jaune... What if they don't surrender?

Jaune: Ack- Ren! Did you miss what just happened?! Of course they're gonna surrender!

--------------------------------------------------

Marrow: ...We gotta get outta here.

???: (Draws sword) Hold. Your. Tongue.

???: If I hear of any soldier of Atlas abandon their kingdom in her hour of need, I will PERSONALLY cut them down.

???: (Winter Schnee, later Winter Valorius, HERO OF ATLAS)

[eunhathes]

Day 1 - First Revival

Dust choked Denni's first gasp of air. A voice whispered gently from in between her ears, "Good, it worked. You're awake. We need to get out of here."

Denni looked as nearly as she could around her. In the gloom of filtered light, she could see signs depicting things she did not yet understand. There were machines she couldn't comprehend. Finally, turning round behind her, she flinched away from a collapsed wall of rubble. It engulfed a stairwell, leaving it shattered. The eons since its structural collapse were communicated by strata of bone and verdigris atop a bed of fungus and pulverized concrete. The vacant eyes of long dead people peered out from the skulls arrayed in disorder and chaos. They accosted her, and implored her to action. A word echoed by the solemn voice inside her own skull, "Run."

Denni bounded to her feet and in one blurred motion found herself running the length of ruined tile floor and wide concrete pillars. Her mind spun as it burned and ached. "Who are you?" she asked of the voice.

"I…" the word was feeling and not a word. "I am a Ghost." 

To her, it felt disjointed and unsure, but solid enough an explanation. "So who am I?" Her feet found purchase on a crumbling section of wall and she leaped to a ledge higher up with the grace of an athlete.

"You're a Guardian. A Hunter." The voice was more sure of these words. It was emphatic, even, about the latter.

But Denni was unconvinced. She hauled herself up to an old steel rafter beam, rendered after so many centuries of neglect. "That doesn't make sense. Hunters dont guard, and guards don't hunt."

The voice seemed to consider this. "No, I suppose not. Well, who do you think you are?"

Crouched several meters above the floor, perched like a bird of prey, Denni considered the scene below that panicked her so. There was once life here, a multitude of people. She could see from their arrangement that they had been trapped in the vacuous confine together. Water lapped at the bones on one side, resting against long rusted out machinery. Soot and scorch marked the places fires had started. She winced at seeing this macabre diorama. 

She turned her attention to the ceiling above, pocked full of small holes. Bright sunlight filtered down through the concrete canopy and rear cage to flicker upon her face. Except her face was protected. She was clothed in attire strange and wholly unlike the murals that surrounded her. The Ghost picked back up, "I worked with the material I had available. It's not plasteel, but then, you're not a Titan."

Denni looked to the largest, nearest hole she could find. That would be her way out of this deathtrap. "No, I suppose not. Because I am Denni Valorius." And she sprung into the air towards the light. 

[intothecrush]

🗣️

Send 🗣️ and my muse will tell yours about a character from their canon and/or backstory!

She's started to walk through the woods, slowly making her way out of them towards civilization after a night out camping, looking down at her phone, she got more messages. She sends another to the boy who got her to remember "Food is Important"

"So...yeah, long story short, I think I've been isekaid by a cruel and powerful fox deity of some kind."

"Shot in the dark, no idea if your world is the one I came from or not but, on the OFF HAND CHANCE that it is...you think you could try to get ahold of a Tia Porter, from Syracuse, NY? She's my oldest younger sibling of the four...aaaaand if what the fox told me is true, she just saw me fall over dead from a bolt of lightning, so I'm a bit concerned."

____________________ Bonus:

Ryuji's Phone, for some reason, would suddenly receive a sort of News Article Notification from the Universe he was getting Bre's texts from;

Do The Enigmatic Prime Minister Valorius's New Policies Threaten the Habitats of Endangered Zoan Species?

As PM Valorius expands the Helios Republic's city territories closer and closer to Xavarian borders, the fact he may be cutting into the territory of the endangered Slamhorn, a species of Zoan resembling the Rhinoceros of ancient humanity's time, may be enough to cause the Helian citizens to finally question their masked leader on his motives. Context Provided from the KitsuVerse App: Zoans are massive Metal animals created by ancient gods in the image of a previous era's fauna. Zoan are Living creatures, akin to the bestiary of the Zoids franchise. Their reproduction method is a bit...convoluted, but to keep it short in this post, the aforementioned gods have a super computer, "ONYX", in the continental crust of Somnium (The Continent that Xavara, The Helios Republic, Guyren Empire, and Luxlo Kingdom are on) that in cycles sends out pulsewaves that ignite programmed "Zoan Hearts" that attract the required metals and minerals to form a new Zoan around each heart.

When a Zoan dies, their data gets sent back to the super computer for later distribution, meaning even Man Made and modified Zoans will occasionally be born naturally into the world.

[matsucathar]

Darth Valorius (Left) and one of his Acolytes (Right). Valorius' Acolytes know as "The Ghouls" are a group of subservient beings taught in the ways of the Dark side of the force. They are guided by the teachings of the current Sith Emperor himself. The Sith Emperor would train the Acolytes personally from time to time to test their overall knowledge of the dark side of the force. Their skills exceeds that of the Emperor's Royal guards and Inquisitors.

The Ghouls are only dispatched when the Emperor's life is in danger or according to his will. The Ghouls only follow the Emperor's commands and answers only to him. As their subservient nature wills it.

The Ghouls are comprised of 55 members with no hierarchy. They are trained for a span of 15 years until the Emperor sees one ready to become an Acolyte.

They can be in charge of a legion of troopers during an attack or battle. But most of the times they are dispatched by 4's.

A single Acolyte can take down 10 Jedi masters. And can also take down 15 Sith Warrior. Only one record of an Acolyte killing two Sith Lords who were hiding within the outer rim.

The Emperor can be accompanied by 15 to the maximum number of Acolyte there are in a mission or on a war. Currently the Acolytes are hidden on a planet called "Corpuli" located in the Outer Rim. The facility has several imperial guards and Royal guards to protect the facility. There are also workers from the empire that maintain the facility for the Acolytes.

[imaginesforallkindoflove]

Silver: do you think anything about the dynamic between you and your F/O will change as the two of you grow old together?

Secret never told: what was the first secret you revealed to your F/O? Have they shared any secrets with you?

Death: what is your F/O’s attitude towards death? Do you or your F/O believe in anything like an afterlife?

I am going to reply those for Valorius!!

Silver: do you think anything about the dynamic between you and your F/O will change as the two of you grow old together?

Growing up with a wraith is something that is relatively strange, because once they reach adulthood, they don't get old! So, growing older in human terms isn't something they know but Valorius make efforts to understand. We share a common accord that once I start getting very old, he would give me his life force so I can be young again. So our dynamic will never change!

Secret never told: what was the first secret you revealed to your F/O? Have they shared any secrets with you?

I guess I could share about my traumatic childhood lol lol. And he could talk about what he doesn't like in wraith society.

Death: what is your F/O’s attitude towards death? Do you or your F/O believe in anything like an afterlife?

He doesn't care about death as he is technically immortal and he doesn't believe in afterlife but he respects my views on afterlife!

[cole-saberhagen]

Rude... leave me and KVTJUSRJPNGBKAN in peace.

[kat-nevayra]

More Introductions

Now that I've told you who Victoria is, let me introduce you to her puppets- I mean, her lovely royal court and allies:

General Grace - Queen Victoria's mysterious right hand woman. Few know much about her, aside from the fact that she's always angry. She'll do anything the queen tells her to, and is her most loyal puppet. She rarely opens up to anyone, except a few knights and other members of the court. No one else knows who she is, where she came from, or even her birthday. Those are secrets that stay between her and Victoria.

Cameron Lynn - The Nevayran Grand Assassin, leading Victoria's spies and assassins. Cameron makes no secret where they came from; the capital's 'Fallout District', a place torn by old wars and never repaired. At fourteen, they were captured trying to steal from the queen, and Victoria saw their potential. After training with the Elemental Force, powerful elementals of the east, they were ready to begin their new role. Ocassionally, they visit the Fallout District, their tattered genderfluid flag reminding them of an old friend's final gift.

Erin Whisperliss - The talented vocalist and royal ambassador to Queen Victoria. As a siren, she sought him out for his ability to charm an audience. In only the most literal sense. His magic is so powerful that most fall too deep into his spell to hear the subject of his songs. To ensure that he couldn't use his powers against her, he wears a siren chain from the sirens' home realm around his neck. Not remembering his former life, Erin can be found brushing his hair, practicing a rigorous exercise routine, or singing to himself. Sometimes, his songs appear to move even him to tears.

Lord Maven Ellian XV - The Nevayran province of Maventelyn's beloved ruler. He is widely regarded as gentle and kind, but nervous and indecisive. Due to his polite and sometimes rather docile nature, he is often the mediator between the nobility. He his also seen fidgeting with his house's armband, or the scar on his thumb. Some suspect that he is hiding something, but if he is, he'll never tell.

Queen Elise Fleur - The reigning Queen of C'eiadella, and an ally of the Nevayran Empire. Although their kingdoms are on good terms, the rulers themselves don't like each other. With her son as a political hostage, she has no choice but to stay in this uneasy alliance. However, in exchange, she has Maven's daughter to make sure that the other queen maintains boundaries. Although, being in an alliance with Victoria is nothing other than signing an agreement to becoming a puppet. Every night, she looks at the stars and hopes that her son, Prince Elijah, is doing okay...

King Wang Dal - The weepy, undead king of Aeyeomi. Assassinated at nineteen years old, he now holds an alliance with the daughter of his killer. After a Nevayran necromancer reanimated his body, he has to follow the mage's every order. These orders come, of course, courtesy of the Empire's royal family. However, he does have some free will, and isn't completely docile. Death and weapons frighten him, which disrupts the necromancer's orders. To calm his nerves, a knight by the name of Eliza is his escort when in Nevayran territory. They have become good friends, and are often inseparable.

King Luke Viceroy - The western kingdom of Valorius' king. Valorius has been a longstanding ally of the Nevayran Empire, and has had a hand in many plots. It is also the secondary supplier of runestone, only behind the nation of Chromaire. Viceroy himself has a reputation for being superficial, and placing a high priority on beauty. He is often flirtatious and affectionate with the ambassadors that meet with him. His magic leaves black handprints on those he touches that take days to disappear. Some say that his magic reflects his rotten and corrupt soul. Either way, he is incredibly corrupt, and Victoria's dealings with him are equally reluctant.

[seekammo]

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Valorius Optimized or Victimized Ruger LCPs?

Welcome everyone to the 53rd edition of ‘Hot Gat or Fudd Crap?’, one of our many series here on TFB. If you’re new to the series, this is where we look at the most obscure firearms that are actually for sale (most of the time) and ask the question – is this Gat a sweet […]

Read More …

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[daltechforce]

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Valorius Optimized or Victimized Ruger LCPs?

Welcome everyone to the 53rd edition of ‘Hot Gat or Fudd Crap?’, one of our many series here on TFB. If you’re new to the series, this is where we look at the most obscure firearms that are actually for sale (most of the time) and ask the question – is this Gat a sweet […]

Read More …

The post HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Valorius Optimized or Victimized Ruger LCPs? appeared first on The Firearm Blog.

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[arnoldschwanke]

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Valorius Optimized or Victimized Ruger LCPs?

Welcome everyone to the 53rd edition of ‘Hot Gat or Fudd Crap?’, one of our many series here on TFB. If you’re new to the series, this is where we look at the most obscure firearms that are actually for sale (most of the time) and ask the question – is this Gat a sweet […]

Read More …

The post HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Valorius Optimized or Victimized Ruger LCPs? appeared first on The Firearm Blog.

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[hermanwatts]

Swords & Dark Magic

Swords & Dark Magic (Eos/Harper Collins, 2010). Edited by Jonathan Strahan and Lou Anders.

This was a book that I read over eight years ago and came across a review while looking for an old file. This was a sword-and-sorcery fiction anthology of original fiction from a mainstream publisher. I really enjoyed Andrew Offutt’s Swords Against Darkness and Page & Reinhardt’s Heroic Fantasy back in the day and was hoping this would be the start of a new era.

The first warning sign was the cover. The cover painting for the trade paperback edition is just horrible. I have seen small press books that looked way better. The second warning was “The New Sword and Sorcery” phrase under the title. Whenever something is called “new,” watch out.

The introduction is entitled “Check Your Dark Lord at the Door,” which will infuriate some Tolkien fans. The editors think that sword-and-sorcery is smaller scale than high fantasy. I could argue against that citing Hour of the Dragon as an example. There is a very fast mini-history of the sub-genre where Karl Edward Wagner is not mentioned while Andre Norton and Marion Zimmer Bradley are.

“Steven Erikson” has written humongous doorstop fantasy novels that I have not read. I don’t like never ending series and I generally don’t like novels that go over the 100,000 word mark. This is the first Erickson that I have read. “Goats of Glory” has a small group of soldiers wandering into a village off the beaten track. Glenn Cook’s “Black Company” series has had its influence and impact. I would describe Cook and also this Erikson story as “military fantasy” more than “sword and sorcery.” Just like if you read enough science fiction, you can subtly differentiate between space opera and military science fiction, military fantasy has split off and become a separate animal from sword and sorcery. I would present that we now have a new sub-genre that could be called “military fantasy” that is unique and different enough from sword and sorcery to warrant its own designation. Some of Erikson’s soldiers are women. I have a problem with this. Destroy our modern world and women are going to be back to what they did before the industrial revolution. “Erikson” is supposedly has a background in archaeology and anthropology, but he presents very up to date correct gender attitudes. Characters have names such as Snotty, Dullbreath, and Swillman. Here is some typical Erikson prose: “The place stank of pig shit and the flies buzzed thick as black smoke.”

The soldiers are lured to spend the night in an abandoned fortress. Turns out, the fortress is infested with demons. A great idea but–less would have been more. The characters wipe out hundreds of demons in the fighting. The horror effect is markedly diminished. I think a more suspenseful story could have been written.

Glen Cook has been a very influential writer for about the past 25 years. It all started with the story “Raker” in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (August 1982), where he introduced the Black Company. Cook expanded “Raker” into The Black Company, the story of a motley group of mercenaries amidst a huge sorcerous war in a fantasy world. It is no coincidence that Cook served in a Marine Recon unit. Perhaps we should call this “jarhead fantasy.” Cook’s prose for this series is very stripped down with little in the way of adjectives being used. He reminds me of the way that “Paul Cain” attempted to take the hard-boiled crime story to sparse extreme in the mid-1930s. The Black Company books are rather dialogue driven for my tastes.

“Tides Elba” is an episode wherein the Black Company has to track down a descendent of the Dominator who about to mate with another of his descendents. The resulting child would have been a vessel into which the Dominator could project his soul. The story is disturbing with the revelation at the end while getting there is a chore.

Cook is in many ways the godfather for many of the authors for this anthology.

The inclusion of Gene Wolfe does raise the level of attention for this book. Wolfe is considered a writer’s writer. Wolfe never jumped to my A list. I read his Book of the New Sun years back and my response was I had read this before by Clark Ashton Smith and Jack Vance. I did like Wolfe’s story in Cross Plains Universe though. “Bloodsport” is in the first person. The story starts out relating the participation in something called The Game, which is sort of like real-life chess with people. After one game, the town is attacked by “Hunas” who are described just like the historical Huns. Valorius, the narrating knight, and a female pawn escape, and organize a band of fugitives into a small resistance force. That section ends abruptly, Valorius and Lurn the pawn travel to the mountains where the Game originated. An enchanted mountain meadow is found where Lurn is armed and crowned as a queen. Valorius then kills her in a fight and that is how the story ends.

James Enge is a relative newcomer. He got his start with a series in Black Gate magazine about Morlock Ambrosius the Maker. Enge has said Roger Zelazny and Jack Vance were big influences I also see Michael Moorcock in the mix. There is a spear with a demon trapped within it. Enge’s prose on one hand attempts the urbanity of Fritz Leiber or Jack Vance but juxtaposed is anachronistic sounding dialogue such as “You killed my bartender!” The character shows a Jack Vance influence, the plot coupons are from Michael Moorcock. There is a certain vibe of older sword and sorcery to give a sense of déjà vu all over again.

C. J. Cherryh’s “A Wizard in Wiscezan” uses the same world that she used for “A Thief in Korianth” way back in 1981 for Flashing Swords #5. Cherryh is an old pro going back 35 years with D.A.W. Books. She has produced a competent if not overly engrossing tale of infiltration into the keep and assassination of a usurper and his wizard by means of an illusionist.

“A Rich Full Week” by K. J. Parker is written in first person and is a good case of what I think is so wrong with fantasy of the past 20 years. The story is dialogue driven. With a few minor changes, the story could be set in suburbia. The dialogue is mostly inane, takes up space, and does little to propel the story. Read some Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler if you are going to write a first person story with mostly dialogue.

Garth Nix is an Australian writer of young adult novels whom I am unfamiliar with. “A Suitable Present For a Sorcerous Puppet” is a story that has an interesting idea if not high octane in execution. It is clever with a recuperating knight accidentally coming across an ancient curse.

To put things in context, a book containing a Michael Moorcock story in 2010 would be like having a new C. L. Moore Jirel story in 1982. Moorcock’s “Red Pearls” is the keystone story or rather novella for this book. Moorcock brings nothing particularly new in this Elric story but then again, there has been little really new about Elric since the original ten stories in Science Fantasy 1961-1964. There is more multi-dimensional hokum but I have to say this is one of the better Elric stories of the past 20+ years.

I can remember about six years ago, John Pelan of Midnight House Press telling me of some horror writers who wanted to write sword and sorcery. I remember Tim Lebbon’s name from that conversation. Lebbon has been writing some novels with a fantasy setting. “The Deification of Dal Bamore” is in the same world as Echo City Falls (2010). To set the tone, here is some Lebbon prose:

“Bamore is hanging upside down from the ceiling. He is streaked with blood and feces. Beneath him, there is a large bowl collecting all fluids that leak from him.”

There is torture and then a prolonged street fight while on the way for a crucifixion. Something I have noted, Echo City is not described at all. I have no idea what it looks like as there was no description given.

Robert Silverberg has written some of my favorite space opera and adventure science fiction. He is on the fictionmags yahoo group and I like the guy. He has a story “Dark Times At the Midnight Market” set on his planet of Majipoor. It is a “cute” story that elicits a chuckle. The story is nothing major, but competently done and in contrast in tone to most of the other stories in this book.

Sooner or later, a serial killer sword and sorcery story was bound to happen. Greg Keyes’ “The Undefiled” has Fool Wolf   possessed by a spirit or godlet who makes him do very bad things. The same idea in Robert Bloch’s classic “Enoch.” Keyes’ has a habit of not explaining things very well in portions of the story. He also jumps a scene before it is finished using innuendo for the reader to fill in. The problem is the innuendo is rather nebulous.

I have been reading Michael Shea since Nifft the Lean came out in the early 80s. He is one of those writers that you must concentrate in order to get everything. You will miss something if you don’t. “Hew the Tintmaster” is starts out in the world of Nifft. Bront the Inexorable teams up with Hew the Tintmaster (i.e. house painter) on a quest for a wizard who is paying handsomely. They are sent to Jack Vance’s Dying Earth and then meet Cugel the Clever. Remember that Shea got his start with A Quest for Simbalis featuring Cugel. In some ways, Bront and Hew are the most conventional sword and sorcery characters up to now in this book. They are also the most heroic in their own way.

I was waiting for a Harry Potter sword and sorcery story to happen and Scott Lynch’s “In the Stacks” is that story. If you like Harry Potter, you will like this story. Set in a library with a wizard pupil who decides to go mega maniacal.

Tanith Lee has been in Swords Against Darkness, Heroic Fantasy, and the paperback Weird Tales. A friend of mine thinks of her as closest thing to a modern Clark Ashton Smith. “Two Lions, A Witch, And the War-Robe” is typical Tanith Lee. The story is very fantastic as is often typical with Lee. This story would not be out of place in one of her old collections such as The Gorgon.

Caitlin R. Kiernan is another horror writer now moving into sword and sorcery. “The Sea Troll’s Daughter” is probably the worst story in this anthology. The story begins after the action is over. The dialogue is top-notch:

“Why, you ungrateful, two-faced gaggle of sheep-fuckers.”

A sword woman amazon kills a sea-troll terrorizing the town. The story starts with her after the fight. The narrative is about drinking and lesbian seduction of a bar-maid.

Bill Willingham’s “Thieves of Daring” reads as sort of homage to Fritz Leiber. It is an entertaining enough vignette. He keeps up the suspense and the reader interested. I hope Willingham keeps it up and writes longer works of fiction.

Joe Abercrombie has been getting a fair amount of press. I have known people who like him, know others who don’t like his fiction at all. This is my first introduction. “The Fool Jobs” has a sort of Dirty Dozen meets Deliverance with swords plot. The characters are all unlikable, which is probably the point. The writing is matter of fact with a little description to paint a depressing landscape. Get Abercrombie a thesaurus as “fucking” seems to be every tenth word he uses.

“Cause it’s my fucking job to fucking tell you to the fucking thing is why, Yon fucking Cumber,” or “Use your cock as a spoon.”

Somebody has a potty mouth. I will say that Abercrombie can write an action scene. I just can’t say reading him is the most pleasurable experience.

So there you have it, the first sword and sorcery anthology in a while. The last anthology I can think of is Swords Against the Millennium from the turn of the century.

First impression– disappointment. My own name for the book is Swords and Excrement. If this is the new sword and sorcery, I want no part of it. I can remember reading Page & Reinhardt’s Heroic Fantasy and the enjoyment and entertainment I got during a rather bad time in my life. I actually dreaded reading this book each night before too long. I couldn’t wait to be done.

The editors have no background in sword and sorcery that I know of. Lou Anders seems to have the most background in Star Trek and Star Wars books and magazines. Jonathan Strahan has edited (new) space opera anthologies. They might have ideas brought in from other sub-genres.

You can divide the book into three categories– the D.A.W. Fantasy Reader (Shea, Cherryh, Lee, and Moorcock), uninteresting writing (Nix) and the scatological.

If you are going to write sword and sorcery, you must engage in landscaping. Landscaping is a term used in conjunction to Zane Gray’s description of the West. The author must do some background painting with words. Sword and sorcery is not a modern day thriller with swords. One of my gripes with Glenn Cook’s Black Company series is the utter lack of any detail. There are too many stories where you have no idea of regarding the architecture, clothing or costumes, weapons etc. Describe the kind of swords used for example. You don’t have to do an info dump, but some detail goes a long way. My own opinion is dialogue driven stories don’t work in sword and sorcery. This isn’t a T.V. show.

The better sword and sorcery writers who came out of the 1970s got their start in the small press. They started out writing short stories, then novelettes. A few then made the jump to mass market paperbacks that were generally 80,000 words long. Now it is backwards, the writers of the past ten to twenty years start out writing 700 page novels for seemingly never ending series. They have no concept of economy. You can stretch out a novel with lots of dialogue. In a 15,000 word story, you have to move it along and talking is not the way to do it.

Readers in the past have been attracted to the glitter, pageantry, and Technicolor of sword and sorcery. Replacing it with mud, feces, and urine is not a good business plan for growing the genre. I was telling John C. Hocking (Conan and the Emerald Lotus) about this anthology. He thinks that maybe our lives are so easy now that getting covered in excrement is about as horrible as some writers can imagine. As one friend of mine said, just because someone takes a dump does not mean it has to be shown. There was not one conventional heroic story in this book.

If you are going to write about a barbarian serial killer, have the gonadal fortitude to channel a little Brett Easton Ellis and show a serial killer in action.

Horror writers– sword and sorcery is not horror. Changing the scene from cars to horses and from guns to swords does not make for automatically a good sword and sorcery story. The gothic element is key in classic sword and sorcery over horror. There is a difference.

When I wrote this review in 2012, there was unease out there with by friends of mine. The increasing scatological obsession was one issue. Nihilism and lack of heroism is another. Literary moral relativism and realism creeping in from the mainstream as a source of contamination. At the time, I was not sure if these were separate issues or all facets of the same thing. I now see it as all part of a cultural change that has accelerated the past ten or so years. I bought Swords & Dark Magic at the local Barnes & Noble store and then felt burned when a few months later it was offered at Edward R. Hamilton online for about 1/6 of the original price. Now I wait.

Swords & Dark Magic published first on https://sixchexus.weebly.com/

[smollinguist]

On da Net: Notes #2

Brenda Danet’s Cyberpl@y: communicating online

Concluding Reflections:

Playfulness Revisited

“...I suggested that ... set of factors fostered playfulness in the new medium in the mid- to late 1990s. They were: objective freatures of the medium itself and particularly its interactive, dynamic, immersive nature; hacker culture with its valoriuation of wit and play with symbols and typography, and a predilection for various forms of subversiveness; the “Wild West” quality of cyberspace as a new and relatively unsettled social and cultural frontier foverned by few norms; and the masking of identity - the lack of cues to physical appearance, ethnic identity, gender, etc.” (362-3)

[shyuk]

~Interracial delight~

Black interwoven seamlessly with white.

Feelings of rapture that last through the night.

Driven by animal urges of sinful delight.

Pale fingers running slowly through your hair.

Tied oh so tightly to a chair.

Sensations of fire emanate when i touch you there.

Dark skin that I long to taste.

Memorizing the subtle features of your angelic face.

Come with me again to our special place.

Your body responds to me as never before.

Electric sensations that deliver pleasure so pure.

Give in to the temptations of your inner whore.

Head pulled back by your hair.

Blue eyes full of passion meet you in a stare.

Momma was talking about devils like me when she said beware.

Give in at last to your desire.

Together we will set the world on fire.

Interracial love that burns hotter than any pyre.

Laying back, dripping with sweat.

Please baby girl never forget.

Ebony and Ivory make the sweetest duet.

~Valorius

[imaginesforallkindoflove]

What does your F/O think of humans in general?

As a very old wraith, one of the firsts, Valorius considers humans either as a cattle to feed on or amusing pets to watch struggle under his eyes.

[cole-saberhagen]

Nightmares about giving speeches in your underwear? Altaire Valorius does not fear those as he does it all the time

Some may consider this an inspiring level of not giving a fuq

But this lady does not 

Darth Krovos did a stellar job of pretending to shield her gaze

Whist Lord Izar could not have done a worse job at this if he tried

Embrace the underwear speeches!

Onward to battle! (in your underwear, of course)