A False Machine 2011 - 2014 by

Patrick Stuart

Table of Contents
The Point of No Return..............................................................5 1 Thinking about Games.........................................................7 Ill Deeds................................................................................7 Com le! Theor"# meet $undane Realit"..............................% $onsters of In&om eten&e and 'tomi& (read....................1) $onsters and $ilitar" In&om eten&e.............................1* 'tomi& (read..................................................................1+ Ghost Proto&ols...................................................................1, '&ting Dumb.......................................................................-1 Contrarian .nobend Dungeons and Dragons......................-) 'rt in Games.......................................................................-7 god/ 0ithout limit/..............................................................)* (1T 234 .5N.16..........................................................)7 - ' Ri7er of 8hado0s...........................................................)% (efore Da0n.......................................................................)% ' Commentar" on ' endi! P ...........................................*9 5m ire of the 8ummer $oon b" C.8.G0"nne...............*9 (lind Des&ent b" :ames $.Tabor...................................*1 1n;uen&hable <ire b" Ra&hel Polla&k...........................*1 Personal $emoirs of 1.8.Grant.....................................*The 'ir =oom Gang $ike :a".....................................*In The $ail..........................................................................*) >I should ha7e li7ed before .enned" died? .......................*+ $illers Crossing The Cohen (rothers.........................*+ 'fghanistan# a Cultural and Politi&al 3istor" b" Thomas (arfield...........................................................................*, ' Paradise (uilt in 3ell Rebe&&a 8olnit......................*% The Insurgent 'r&hi elago b" :ohn $a&kinle"..............59 ) @ Game AbBe&ts.....................................................................5' &it" 0ithout a name..........................................................5-

The Demon (ehind Glass...................................................5+ (unn" 2orld.......................................................................57 I fu&king lo7e 0riting badl"................................................5% The Prin&e of Car&asses......................................................+* Plu7ial.............................................................................++ <i7e.. <our... Three.. T0o... AN5C ......................................7There are so man" signs of trouble ....................................75 $" $eans of Destro"ing 4ou 'll ......................................7, <rost 8;uid..........................................................................,1 d7 Do elgDngers ...............................................................,The 3ours in (ala&h............................................................,* ' .night of $ars ................................................................,+ ARCN5'8.....................................................................,+ <RA8T@<5TT5R............................................................,7 8TAR$@2I<5...............................................................,, 255P@45T@I@DI5..........................................................,% Aath of $ars...................................................................%9 Aath of Re entan&e........................................................%9 $arriage 8ong................................................................%1 Curse of $ars.................................................................%$" Island is the &entre of the 0orld. ..................................%) ' Cit" An The 5dge Af De&e tion ....................................%, (ut................................................................................191 The 8orro0s of The Thane of Coates................................195 * Culture..............................................................................111 The :oe" 8&hool................................................................111 Ald 8no0 ..........................................................................115 this ost is less good..........................................................11% 'nimal Cra&kers ...............................................................1-* 5 @ Teens.................................................................................1-, A ening Comment........................................................1-, The Dog 2as Called Priestl"........................................1-, Teens ............................................................................1-% )

EThe" &alled me the RiddlemasterE ...............................1)) The Riddles I $ade......................................................1)5 5motions.......................................................................1)7 Tele athi& 8nails...........................................................1), <ake (eing Ga" to .ill Thie7es ..................................1)% F4ou kno0 itEs al0a"s more fun 0hen 0e s lit u .F ...1*1 The Rules DonEt Co7er Im loding <riendshi s ...........1*Trigger 2arning for 8tu idit" .....................................1** Teens donEt kno0 0hat 57il means..............................1*+ =ike ' (e&kett Pla"......................................................1*7 F4ou &anEt femini/e me# IEll demote "ou.F ...................1*, + 8&ul ture..........................................................................151 Com letel" en&losed in the hollo0 of his hand................151 :esus =ikes 4our (a&k a&k ..............................................157 >(ut is it aaaaaarrrrrtt6?................................................1+1 F8till# that is not the oint.?...............................................1+Ten Ideas <or The (a&ks Af To" 8oldiers ........................1+, Ten $asks of the Creatures from (efore Time.................171 In &ase "ou didnEt noti&e ho0 fu&king &le7er I 0as being 17) 5!o@8uits of the 3ot Girls.................................................175 8i! 8&ien&e <i&tion <ortifi&ations ....................................1,1 Plan <or The <ilm Af 'n 'lien 8iege ..............................1,5

The Point of No Return

The Point of No Return

D D e!ists on a kin" of #er$anent cultural e%ent hori&on an" this is a 'oo" thin'( The 'a$e has rules) this attracts #eo#le for *ho$ rules are i$#ortant( +ecause they need the 'a$e the *ay other #layers "o not then they obsess o%er it an" co$e to "o$inate it( because they are $ore *illin' to s#en" $oney on it the beco$e the $ost easily ca#italise" #art of the $arket( They then sha#e the kin" of 'a$e that is #ro"uce" o%er successi%e e"itions) $akin' the 'a$e $ore like the$sel%es( ,t also ins#ires a nu$ber of %ery interestin' an" inno%ati%e #eo#le at the sa$e ti$e( So the 'a$e is al*ays bein' sucke" into the black hole of cri##le" ner"ery an" bein' "estroye"( ,t is also continually in a state of bein' rescue" by the other ner"s( So it orbits) kin" of) like a "oo$e" $oon aroun" a black hole( The reason this is 'oo" has so$ethin' to "o *ith -harles Fort an" *ith *hy Forteanis$ is a 'oo" thin'( Fort is outsi"e the syste$( he ran'es hi$self a'ainst neither faith nor "oubt) only ortho"o!y( .e is also o""( +ecause he is so outsi"e the syste$ he is al$ost i$#ossible to buil" a structure aroun"( ,$#ossible to #in "o*n( +ecause at least so$ethin' like Anarchis$ is cool) an" *ill 'et you lai") an" you can be sure that e%eryone 5

The Point of No Return belie%es the sa$e thin'( ,n a roo$ full of Forteans you ha%e no i"ea *ho belie%es *hat( There can be no #o*er structure( All 'oo" thin's ha%e t*o /ualities to the$( The thin' itself) an" the structures *e buil" aroun" the$( 0e chase thin's like beauty) $eanin') truth an" honour because they are 'oo" in the$sel%es( +ut because they ha%e inner %alue they beco$e a route to social) #olitical) cultural or financial #o*er( +ecause #eo#le *ho really really like #o*er are "icks) an" they sha#e the structure then the structures aroun" all these thin's) *hich are $eant to #rotect the i$#ortant inner $eanin') al*ays en" u# bein' corru#t( This is u#settin' for al$ost e%eryone in%ol%e"( +ut this can ne%er e%er ha##en to D D because it is alrea"y half-cri##le" by its "a$a'e" relationshi# *ith its fiercest a"herents( ,t1s orbitin' a black hole) that $akes it #oor real estate for #eo#le *ho like #o*er( That $eans it $aintains a stran'e) fracture" kin" of #urity( 2ou are free #layin' D D) free "es#ite the "a$a'e" freaks that so$eti$es surroun" you( Free) in #art) because of the$( ,t1s like the #erfect intellectual salon) one that ne%er 'ets taken o%er by borin' "ilettantes because they *ill ne%er turn u#(

1 Thinking about Games

1 3 Thinkin' about 4a$es

Ill Deeds
, "i" a ba" thin' in a 'a$e once an" , thou'ht about it for a lon' ti$e( , *as a cor#orate fi!er for 4a&#ro$ in an alternate %ersion of 5i%er#ool run by the Militant( There *as a 'irl *orkin' for an escort a'ency an" $y bosses tol" $e that there *oul" be a si'nificant #ayoff if *e "eli%ere" her( 0e *ere tol" she *as in%ol%e" in es#iona'e( 0hich *e belie%e" to be the case( , an" so$e frien"s carefully #lanne" the #erfect ab"uction an" carrie" it out( ,t took t*o or three sessions) so si! to nine hours of $y life *ere s#ent co$$ittin' this i$a'inary cri$e( ,n all the sche$es our -yber#unk characters ha" trie") this is the only one that *ent off #erfectly( ,ts also the only one that *as really %ery %ery i$$oral in an i$$e"iate sense( All of the thin's *e "i" *ere so$e*hat "o"'y) *e trie" s$u''lin' "ru's) *e 'ot into 'unfi'hts *ith #riests an" *ent 'a$blin'( At one #oint $y character ha" a security 'uy tie" u# in a base$ent an" e!ecute" hi$ in col" bloo"( .e also betraye" nu$erous frien"s) inclu"in' real #eo#le *ho *ere ri'ht there at the table in front of $e(

1 Thinking about Games +ut , ne%er *ent ho$e an" thou'ht about it $uch after*ar"s( ,t *as only the i$a'inary 'irl( 0e "i" it *ithout thinkin' about it( 6nly later) lyin' in be" in the "ark "i" , start to *on"er if , "i" a ba" thin'( , "eci"e" that , *as 'oin' to #lay $y character as a fracture" 'oo" 'uy fro$ that #oint) *hich , faile" to "o) an" he "eci"e" to ri# off so$e 'a$blers) *hich he faile" to "o( .e *as shot by #olice( 0hich he "eser%e"( Maybe it1s because it *as a *o$an) or because *e ne%er really kne* *hy they *ante" her) or because *e only $et her once so she "i"n1t really ha%e any #ersonality) she *as 7ust a ci#her really( A blank s#ace to rea" into( , *as rea"in' a 8ak S #ost an" thinkin' about $orality in 'a$es an" if the thin's in 'a$es ha%e any relation to the real *orl"( , think they "o) but the translation bet*een the t*o is lon') "istant) inconstant an" stran'e( , i$a'in' hol"in' a lon' loo# of %ery #ure silk in $y han"s) it1s e%enin' an" the silk is 'rey so it 7ust reaches off into the 'loo$) you "on1t really see any #articular #oint *here it "isa##ears) only en"less fine 'ra"ations of "arkness( An" the silk is bein' #ulle" throu'h $y han"s) so$eti$es fast) so$eti$es slo*( ,t1s so s$ooth that , can barely tell its $o%in' at all( , ha%e to concentrate on the sensation in $y fin'erti#s but , can ne%er be certain( , coul" cla$# "o*n at any #oint an" the silk *oul" be still) but , "on1t( , banne" ra#e in $y D D 'a$es( An" chil" abuse) an" chil" en"an'er$ent( ,t1s ne%er actually co$e u# *ith ,

1 Thinking about Games anyone , #lay *ith) so it1s only a tacit rule) in%isible an" unteste"( +ut it1s there( The $ur"ers an" thefts 'o ahea" as nor$al) they "on1t lea%e any #articular stain on $y $e$ory( , "on1t think about the$ *hile , *alk ho$e or before , fall aslee#(

Complex Theory, meet Mundane Reality

90hat "efines the "e#th) back'roun" an" consistency of your in%ente" *orl":9 The *ei'ht of thin's , can carry in $y ba'( About three to fi%e kilos back an" forth to the Ner" -afe is the $ost , can $o%e *ithout it beco$in' a stress( ;A factor in $o%in' a*ay fro$ 4th is that the books 7ust #hysically *ei'h too $uch(< So) t*o 56TFP rulebooks) Real$s of -ra*lin' -haos) =ornhei$) ,sle of the >nkno*n) a fol"er of one #a'e "un'eons an" info to tie it all to'ether( Dice) $any $any #encils an" a bottle of *ater( ,f it "oesn?t fit in there then it #robably *ont be for$in' a fir$ #art of the 'a$e back'roun"( 9So if you "ro##e" the *ater bottle an" took so$ethin' else then the *orl" coul" beco$e $ore "ense by a $easurable e!tent:9 2es) but that lea"s to another #roble$( @ner'y le%els( %

1 Thinking about Games 9@!#lain9 The e!tent to *hich , can connect "ifferent #arts of these sources as $eanin'ful as#ects of the li%in' 'a$e "e#en"s on $y state of $in" as the 'a$e is bein' #laye"( This is affecte" by the a$ount of foo" , ha%e eaten an" ho* recently) ho* thirsty , a$) ho* $uch caffeine ,1%e consu$e" an" *here , a$ on $y "e#resse"A$aniacal cycle( -affeine $akes $e $ore a''ressi%e an" intent) for about half an hour) then lea%es $e $ore isolate" an" lethar'ic( Then , nee" to 'o to the toilet( ,1$ #retty sure Mountain De* 'ot $ore than one character kille" *hen , *as #layin' -yber#unk( So *hen , *as M-1in' A#ocaly#se 0orl" 'a$es *oul" #eak in %iolence an" "an'er as , 'ot caffeinate") then un"er'o a #erio" of "istance an" ennui) then break for B $ins *hile , *ent for a #iss( 5ike a Michael +ay fil$ turnin' into a 0erner .er&o' fil$) then 7ust sto##in' for no reason( , try to $o"erate $y caffeine intake to ri"e this *a%e( +ein' hun'ry $akes $e $ono$aniacal an" e$otional( @$otional in a ba" *ay) like a 1C year ol" 'irl *ho ha" a birth"ay #arty an" no-one ca$e( Ne%er DM hun'ry( ,t 'i%es you "ecision fati'ue( ;Thou'h so$eti$es the i$#aire" self-re'ulation can lea" you interestin' #laces(< D0hat about the *eir" shit that co$es out *hen you run out of stuff to say an" 7ust start free-stylin':E

19

1 Thinking about Games So$e of that co$es fro$ stuff , "ay"rea$ about at *ork( So if the flo* of calls at Ar'os is lo* then the 'a$e shoul" ha%e $ore colour an" ori'inal inci"ent( ,f its hi'h then the 'a$e 'ets $ore "eri%ati%e( 6ther stuff is fra'$ents of books ,1$ rea"in'( 5ike 0erner .er&o' is the 'ran" Duke of the ,sle of the >nkno*n because , *as rea"in' an autobio'ra#hy *hen , *as #uttin' to'ether the tables( 6ther stuff is 7ust fro$ "rea$s or the silent $o$ents bet*een e%ents( D0hen "oes the Fuantu$ 6're co$e out:E 4oo" /uestion( 0hen "oes stuff 'et $o%e" aroun" behin" the scenes: 6nly if it can ha##en so /uickly that e%en , can1t think about it( T*o or #ossibly three secon"s fro$ conce#tion to state$ent( So$ethin' else , notice" M-1in' A#ocaly#se 0orl" is that if you in%ent so$ethin' %ery /uickly an" as #art of a ra#i" interaction *ith one or $ore #layers then it "oesn?t feel like railroa"in'( The sa$e thin' 'oes for reincor#oratin' stuff that?s alrea"y in the 'a$e) or that ca$e u# in tables but that the #layers "on1t kno* about( So one of the ran"o$ NPrelationshi# tables is Scro"") a #lace the P-1s are %isitin') ca$e u# that one NP- *ante" to consu$e another one( This $a"e no sense to $e( +ut then one of the #layers use" the *or" 1%a$#ire1 an" , re$e$bere" a "un'eon , ha%e *ith a %a$#ire in it( So it beca$e #art of the 'a$e( ,t ha##ene" %ery /uickly( ,t "i"n1t feel like $akin' so$ethin' ha##en) it felt like "isco%erin' so$ethin' or allo*in' so$ethin'( +ut if you think for lon'er than about C secon"s) the 11

1 Thinking about Games nature of the choice see$s to chan'e( Al$ost as if "ifferent #arts of the $in" *ere co$in' online an" tryin' to assu$e control of the situation( Forcin' it to $ake sense in a "ifferent *ay( The "ice are a kin" of 'ate*ay bet*een the #arts of you that hun'er for control an" *ant e%erythin' to be lo'ically consistent an" the #arts of you that lo%e to aban"on control an" e!#erience ne* an" inconsistent thin's( So the *hole thin' beco$es a kin" of continuous tennis $atch bet*een the "ifferent #arts of yourself) an" $ore than the #arts that $ake it u#( A DM 'ets to $ake $ore of those kin" of choices than #layers *hich $i'ht be *hy a 'oo" 'a$e lea%es $e *ith a %a'uely ecstatic feelin'( D.o* "o you kno* if you are fuckin' the #layers out of a $eanin'ful choice:E , actually "on1t kno*( , belie%e that ,1$ not( +ut , *oul"n1t *in a #ublic "ebate *ith $yself on the issue( , trust to the silent #arts of $y $in" to arran'e the #atterns so that they re$ain true to the$sel%es(

1-

1 Thinking about Games

Monsters of Incompetence and Atomic Bread

There are three a##arently unrelate" i"eas s*irlin' aroun" $y $in"( A ost1 in Monsters an" Manuals about the chan'es in 'a$e "esi'n sha#e" by %ocal $inorities( An arti&le2 on the "e%elo#$ent of ultra-*hite 1Ato$ic1 brea" in the 1GB01s( An" the book) the Ps"&holog" of $ilitar" In&om eten&eC by Nor$an Di!on , feel a stron' relation bet*een the i"eas in these sources) yet , a$ ha%in' trouble clearly "elineatin' the nature of the connection to $yself( 0hat follo*s is a kin" of internal "ialo'ue to see if , a$) in fact) correct( 6r if the sou# of $y $in" has faile" $e a'ain( .o* can these thin's be relate": The si$#lest connection is bet*een Di!on an" Manuals(

1 htt GHHmonstersandmanuals.blogs ot.&o.ukH-91-H9)Hkno0@"our@ enem".html - htt GHH000.belie7ermag.&omHissuesH-91-9-H6readIarti&leJbobro0@ strain ) htt GHH000.ama/on.&o.ukHPs"&holog"@$ilitar"@In&om eten&e@Norman@ Di!onHd H979,,1*,-*

1)

1 Thinking about Games

Monsters an" Military ,nco$#etence

The $ain the$e of Di!on1s book on $ilitary inco$#etence 'oes rou'hly like thisH0arfare is %ery "ifficult an" #ro"uces enor$ous stress in the #eo#le *ho un"ertake it( As a conse/uence) the or'anisations that are "irecte" to *arfare "e%elo# rituals) $anners an" structures that are "esi'ne" to control) "is#lace) channel) an" other*ise "eal *ith stress( +ecause these or'anisations "e%elo# such /ualities they then attract in"i%i"uals who find themselves in personal need of these qualities in normal life( ;,talics $ine(< ,n Di!on1s o*n *or"s D((those %ery characteristics *hich are "e$an"e" by *ar 3 the ability to tolerate uncertainty) s#ontaneity of thou'ht an" action) ha%in' a $in" o#en to the recei#t of no%el) an" #erha#s threatenin') infor$ation 3 are the antitheses of those #ossesse" by #eo#le attracte" to the controls) an" or"erliness of $ilitaris$( .ere is the 'er$ of a terrible #ara"o!(E .o* "oes this connect to the #ost in 1Monsters an" Manuals1: The #ost su''ests that chan'es in 'a$e "esi'n for Dun'eons an" Dra'ons ha%e been "ri%en by a $inority of #eo#le *ho base their beliefs about the nature of RP41s on the $ost ne'ati%e assu$#tions #ossible) an" then ask the creators to chan'e the 'a$e to eli$inate the #ossible en-action of those "ark assu$#tions( 1*

1 Thinking about Games Another /uote) this one is by I(J(0 -raik) , took it fro$ Di!on1s book( .e use" it as a hea"in' for a cha#ter title" 3 1Sociali&ation an" the Anal -haracter(1 D((( a for$ of a"a#tation is thus achie%e" by narro*in' an" "istortin' the en%iron$ent until one1s con"uct a##ears a"e/uate to it) rather than by alterin' ones con"uct an" enlar'in' one1s kno*le"'e till one can co#e *ith the real en%iron$ent(E So) R(P(41s 'i%e us rules to si$ulate life( They take co$#le!) li%in' situations an" break the$ "o*n to a series of abstract rules that) unlike real life) can be fully an" "irectly co$#rehen"e" in their totality( ,t is #ossible that because of this RP41s attract e!actly the kin" of #eo#le who really need rules for complex living situations( ;, can state that this is #robably a s$all) but real) factor in $y o*n attraction to RP41s< ,t is also #ossible that the $e$bers of the 'rou# that are least socially-ca#able actually #ro"uce a 'reater i$#act on the en'ine "ri%in' the hobby than the $a7ority of the 'rou#( They are 1lou"er1) they are *illin' to ar'ue for lon'er) they "e%ote $ore ener'y to ar'u$ents ;es#ecially online<( They ha%e #oorer social ra"ar *hich $eans they *ill i'nore the tacit si'nals other #eo#le use to kno* *hen to shut u# in a co$#le! situation( They ha%e no*here else to 'o) so$eone *hose life is base" aroun" D D *ill be $uch) $uch $ore "irecte" an" focuse" on chan'in' or influencin' the 'a$e than so$eone *ho has other social o#tions( 15

1 Thinking about Games ,f R(P(41s attract this kin" of #erson) an" if *e also assu$e that the least socially-ca#able $e$bers of the 'rou# also #ro"uce the lou"est 1si'nal1 in the 'a$es au"ience) then *e can see ho* a 'a$e that #ro%i"es life si$ulation as a kin" of necessity for $ost of its #layers in or"er for the$ to achie%e other ai$s can be consu$e" by those for *ho$ those rules are a nee" in the$sel%es( , #ro#ose that the situation bet*een Military forces an" those *ho are attracte" to the$ is analo'ous to the connection bet*een R(P(41s an" those *ho are attracte" to the$( +oth *ill initially attract a *i"e s#ectru$ of #ersonality ty#es( +ut ulti$ately) both can beco$e "o$inate" by those *ho nee" the or'anisation $ost( These #eo#le are not necessarily the ones the or'anisation $ost nee"s( +ut ho* "oes this connect to Ato$ic +rea":

Ato$ic +rea"
Aaron +obro*-Strain is a brea" enthusiast( The kin" of #erson *ho *ill obsessi%e search out the $etho"s to create interestin' brea"s fro$ history an" then try to recreate the$ in the kitchen( ,n this article he atte$#ts to re-create B01s 0on"a-+rea") an" *hile "oin' so) 'i%es a fascinatin' analysis of the history of in"ustrial foo") our relation *ith the thin's *e eat an" a host of other thin's( ,t1s an e!cellent #iece an" , reco$$en" you take a look if you ha%e the ti$e( 1+

1 Thinking about Games , *ill briefly su$$arise the thin's , un"erstoo" ;or thou'ht , un"erstoo"< an" that see$e" to lea# for*ar" *ith a hi""en rele%ance( Durin' the 1GB01s) the >S 'o%ern$ent a##arently beco$es concerne" that #eo#le are not eatin' enou'h brea"( They e$bark on a $assi%e #ro7ect to fin" out *hy( They ai$ to "isco%er *hat #eo#le *ant fro$ their brea") the results are sur#risin'H- Da clear #ortrait of A$erica1s fa%ourite loaf e$er'e"( ,t *as 42(G #ercent fluffier than the e!istin' in"ustry stan"ar" an" 2B0 #ercent s*eeter( 9 Peo#le *ant really *hite) really fluffy an" really really really s*eet) brea"( The 'o%ern$ent tries to 'i%e the$ *hat they *ant( They challen'e nature itself an" #ro"uce 1>SDA 0hite Pan 5oaf No(11 Peo#le hate the brea"( They co$#lain about it to a hu'e "e'ree( They "istrust its fakeness) its softness an" its *hiteness( They buy it in hu'e nu$bers( They re'ar" it as $o"ern) #o*erful) they belie%e in it1s artificial enrich$ents( There are lots of stran'e an" fucke" u# ele$ents that 'o into societies relationshi# *ith its brea"( +ut there are t*o thin's to re$e$ber(

17

1 Thinking about Games 6ne( ,t *as brou'ht about by lar'e nu$bers of #eo#le tryin' to "o the ri'ht thin'( The cry#tic 'o%ern$ent brea" #ro'ra$s are to stren'then the nation an" #rotect the health of the #eo#le( The #eo#le *ant to eat the ri'ht thin'( The cor#orations *ant to $ake brea" faster) better) an" sell it lar'e %olu$es( None of these are essentially e%il or i$$oral( T*o( There is an essential "uality to the #eo#les relationshi# to the #ro"uct( They hate it an" they *ant it( They co$#lain about it an" they buy it( They trust it an" "istrust it( So ho* "oes the brea" #ara"o! relate to the MonstersA,nco$#etence a!is: 0e can ha%e a hu$an syste$) 'enerate" only by #eo#le tryin' to "o the ri'ht thin') in *hich the *ron' #eo#le are "oin' the *ron' thin') acti%ely "islikin' it an" yet unable to #ull a*ay( All "ri%en by hu$an nee") an" a "esire to fulfil it(

Ghost Protocols
Mission ,$#ossibleH 4host Protocol is a bit like ol"school D D( The $akers finally realise" that technolo'y is $ore interestin' *hen it 'oes *ron'( A lot of S#y fil$s are about the thrill of *atchin' #eo#le think %ery /uickly in "ifficult situations( They are also about the #leasures of technolo'y( S$ooth) #o*erful toys that no-one else has( 1,

1 Thinking about Games +ut the toys are in conflict *ith the thinkin'( They ero"e each other( The *riters nee" to 'o fro$ one #lace to another %ery /uickly) or they nee" a #lot #roble$ sol%e"( So they in%ent a nice #iece of technolo'y to 'et it out of the *ay( 6%er ti$e these #ieces of technolo'y a"" u# until e%entually no #roble$s re/uire thou'ht or creati%e action) only tech( ,n bet*een "oin' the *ashin' u# , re$e$ber catchin' #arts of an e#iso"e of Terra No%a( Terra No%a is +rannon +ra'a1s borin' 1.o$estea"ers in Prehistory1 sho*( , *as sur#rise" because it looke" like it *as about to beco$e interestin'( A rock fell fro$ the sky an" *ith the #o*er of ba" science it "estroye" all the technolo'y in the settle$ent( , *as con%ince" that this *oul" lea" to so$e e$bo"ie" "ra$atic actions on the #art of the cast( 0ithout their bullshit future-science they *oul" ha%e to think creati%ely an" intelli'ently an" $ake tou'h "ecisions( ,nstea" of this it turne" out there *as one $achine left an" it coul" fi! all the other $achines( So the *hole sho* beca$e about the cast *aitin' for a $achine to *ork( The $akers of the Mission ,$#ossible series ;#robably +ra" +ir" the "irector< ha%e realise" that technolo'y is $ore interestin' *hen it 'oes *ron') an" that1s *hat it "oes all throu'h the fil$( Thin's are taken a*ay fro$ the cast an" *e 'et at least the illusion of interestin' choices( The 'a# bet*een ne* an" ol" e"itions of D D is a little like this( Peo#le like toys( So they a"" $ore an" $ore 1%

1 Thinking about Games toys to the 'a$e( @%entually it beco$es like a bo! of shiny #lastic ob7ects( ,t beco$es unsatisfyin' an" feels e$#ty( So *e take the toys a*ay an" be'in a'ain( ,f *e e!ten" the lessons learnt fro$ M,H 4host Protocol to D D *e fin" t*o thin's( 6ne - +ullshit is $ore interestin' *hen it "oesn1t *ork that *hen it "oes( ,t1s also $ore interestin' for the bullshit to be there in the first #lace an" then to 'o *ron' than for it to be taken a*ay entirely( T*o - There is only one Mission ,$#ossible fil$ in *hich To$ -ruise is not either "isa%o*e") turne" a'ainst) betraye" by or e!clu"e" fro$ his o*n a'ency( ,ts also the least interestin' one of the fil$s( So $aybe 'a$es of D D shoul" be'in *ith the #layers alrea"y ha%in' a lot of $oney an" status an" it bein' taken a*ay fro$ the$( 6r bein' bo"y'uar"s for a Dra'on an" it 'oin' *ron'( 6f bein' thro*n out of a "un'eon( 6r tryin' to esca#e a $a'ical "estiny in or"er to beco$e a lo*ly s*ineher"( This $i'ht be an e!a$#le of the counter-strea$( ,n D D ;6l" School< #layers are su##ose" to be 'ree"y bastar"s( The 'a$e su##orts this( +ut if they are only 'ree"y bastar"s an" nothin' else the 'a$e is /uite uninterestin'( So the 'a$e assu$es there is a hu$an ele$ent to the #lay that is not) an" cannot be) co%ere" by the rules( Peo#le *ill *ant to be heroes) not all the ti$e) but a little( An" this *ill naturally brin' the$ into conflict *ith the 'a$es $echanic an" that is #art of *hat $akes the 'a$e interestin'(

-9

1 Thinking about Games , really nee" to think of a *or" or a ter$ that "escribes the in%isible unseen #art of a 'a$e that assu$es you *ill #lay a'ainst the "escribe" #art of the rules) not by breakin' the$) or sub%ertin' the$ to *in the 'a$e) but in that your natural hu$anness sort of #ushes a'ainst the *ay the 'a$e $akes you #lay an" that this is a natural an" e!#ecte" #art of #lay(

Acting Dum
, #laye" so$eone $ore stu#i" than $e in a 'a$e before he "ie"( ,t took har" *ork an" , en7oye" it( Da$o"ar *orke" on a silk far$ an" esca#e" to beco$e an a"%enturer( .e ha" intelli'ence of se%en an" *is"o$ of si!( , like to think of $y intelli'ence as t*el%e or thirteen) but a##arently e%eryone "oes this so it1s $ore likely , ha%e an ,NT of ten) or) #ossibly ele%en( @%ery ti$e Da$o"ar ha" a #roble$ , ha" to think about ho* to sol%e it( , coul" ne%er sol%e his #roble$s like , sol%e $y o*n( ,f , "i" thin's he coul"n1t "o then the character *oul"n1t *ork( 0e ha%e lots of *ays to think about so$eone less ca#able than oursel%es( Peo#le like to talk an" ar'ue about this a lot( =ery fe* of those *ays in%ol%e you creatin' those #eo#le fro$ ran"o$ nu$bers an" #arts of yourself an" then takin' res#onsibility for both their sur%i%al an" the inte'rity of their #ersonality( @!ce#t #ossibly beco$in' a #arent( , kne* *hen ba" thin's ha##ene" an" Da$o"ar "i"n1t( , kne* *hen #eo#le lie" to hi$ an" he "i" not( , "i" not -1

1 Thinking about Games fin" it frustratin') but #o*erful an" ener'isin') $y $in" *orke" constantly( , ha" to #rotect hi$ *ith the only tools , ha"( The ones insi"e his character( .e aske" a 56T of "irect /uestions) because he "i"n1t kno* $uch( ;, ne%er "o this in real life) , re$ain silent(< Peo#le usually ans*ere" because he see$e" ob%iously stu#i" an" innocent( .e ha##ily acce#te" the social su#eriority of his co-a"%enturers( ;2ou *on1t see $e "o this(< That $a"e the$ ha##y an" $a"e hi$ #o#ular( , inter#rete" his lo* 0,S as coura'e so he beca$e i$#etuous( , foun" hi$ nicer than $e( An" a better hu$an than $ost of $y characters( An" #robably a better #erson than $e( Perha#s that only ha##ene" because of the action) insi"e $y $in") of #rotectin' hi$( Da$o"ar "ie" "efen"in' his frien"s( My ne!t character rolle" u# as an an'ry eunach( , #ut $ost of $y creati%e ener'y into his insane 'o"4( ,n Do's ,n The =inyar" , #lay a hi'hly intelli'ent) fun"a$entalist teena'e 'irl( 0ith +ase$eth $ost of the creati%e tension co$es fro$ her 1Gth century #seu"o-christian $orality an" $y 21st century %a'ue liberalis$( A'ain *e $ust sol%e #roble$s to'ether( She thinks faster an" "ee#er than , can( , ha%e $ore ti$e to think of her res#onses so she acts in the u##er ran'e of $y o*n ca#abilities( +ut *e ha%e "ifferent
* falsema&hine.blogs ot.&o.ukH-91-H9,H0idel"@&riti&i/ed@for@its@ fli&kering.html

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1 Thinking about Games #ers#ecti%es on the *orl"( 5ike the sa$e scene %ie*e" fro$ "ifferent #oints) *e share only certain 'roun"( 0hen e%ents $o%es out of this 'roun" one of us *ill beco$e u#set( Since *e li%e in the sa$e #erson) this ruins thin's for both of us( +ut if , let her colla#se into a sock-#u##et for $y o*n %alues then she "ies( So *e $ust *ork to'ether on re$ainin' creati%ely "ifferent( @%ery character , #lay feels like a #o*erful li%in' e!chan'e bet*een $e an" this create" thin'( A *aterfall loo#in' like a le$niscate throu'h "ual #oles( , ne%er kno* *hich #arts of $e *ill surface an" crystalli&e( 5ike $eetin' a ne* #erson e%ery ti$e( , like ran"o$ness in character 'eneration(

Contrarian !no end Dungeons and Dragons

Rea"in' $y frien" talk about ran"o$ character 'eneration an" o#ti$isationB 'ot $e thinkin' about *hat ha##ens in our $in"s *hen *e create a #erson fro$ a ro* of ran"o$ nu$bers( 5ike) *hich nu$bers are the best: An" can you "o the o##osite of o#ti$isation an" *oul" it be a 'oo" thin': , thou'ht of three *ays there can be 'oo" nu$bers(

5 monstersandmanuals.blogs ot.&o.ukH-91)H9*Hfalse@o timi/ation.html

-)

1 Thinking about Games First( 0hen you look at a list of nu$bers an" so$e are *il"ly "i%er'ent) then they are better than the a%era'e array( They $ake better #eo#le( 5ike thisHSTR-4 D@K-12 -6N-1B -.A-L 0,S-1L ,NT-M ,s better than this STR-G D@K-1C -6N-10 -.A-11 0,S-M ,NT-10 The first #erson is $ore interestin'( They are *eak) tou'h) sli'htly un#leasant to be aroun" an" %ery a*are( That is alrea"y a #erson , *ant to kno* $ore about( 0ho is the secon" #erson: 0ho cares: 0hen you look at "i%er'ent stats) your $in" "oes a "ifferent kin" of *ork than *hen you look at a stea"y ran'e( ,t?s i$#ossible to look at the first array *ithout askin' /uestions( ,t "oesn?t $ake sense so you ha%e to read it( ,t?s i$#ossible to hol" those nu$bers in your hea" as a "escri#tion of a #otential #erson *ithout your $in" *akin' u# an" interro'atin' the$ as an embodied hu$an bein'( This is a particular #erson( Not a ty#e( They ha%e a #articular bo"y an" a #articular history( 0hy are they so *eak an" so tou'h: A "isease: A'e: 0hy are they so char$less an" so a*are of the$sel%es( 0hat kin" of #ersonality "oes this $ake: Are they e$bittere": -ruel: Not thou'htless any*ay( 2ou $ay ar'ue that you can "o e!actly the sa$e thin' for -*

1 Thinking about Games the secon" #erson( 2ou can 'i%e the$ a history an" a character an" e%erythin'( 2es( 2ou can) but you "on?t have to( They slot neatly into #lace( The nu$bers float throu'h your $in" *ithout tri''erin' any "issonance( The first #erson is a #roble$ to be sol%e" an" *hen you look at the$ your $in" *ill try to sol%e the #roble$ *hether you *ant it to or not( 2ou alrea"y tol" your brain its lookin' at a #erson an" it can?t allo* #eo#le to be ato$ise" or inconsistent( ,t sees #eo#le e%ery "ay( They ha%e to $ake sense) so$eho*( Not the usual kin" of sense #erha#s but they $ust be a $eanin'ful *hole( Secon"( 0hen you assi'n this #erson a class you are "eci"in' a bi' chunk of their history) so$e of their nature an" e%erythin' about their future( 2ou also choose $uch of ho* they *ill interact *ith the 'a$e *orl"( 0e "on?t *ant our 'uy to "ie so *e can?t $ake hi$ a fi'hter( A cleric $i'ht be ok) or a *i&ar"(( +ut *hat if *e "eci"e" to not 'i%e a fuck about that: 0hat if *e a""e" another kin" of "issonance on a "ifferent scale( 0hat is the least appropriate class for this #erson: 5ets $ake the$ a fi'hter( 0hat ha##ens insi"e our hea"s no*: The first choice took effect o%er secon"s( The secon" choice *ill take hours to #lay out( 0hat ha##ens *hen *e try to #lay a character a'ainst ty#e:

-5

1 Thinking about Games The ans*er is that *e think an" *e think furiously( 0e obsess) *e e$bo"y( 6ur *eak fi'hter *on?t sur%i%e in a s*or"fi'ht) they ha%e to fi'ht at ran'e( .o* *ill they "o this: 0hat tactics *ill they use: 0hat kin" of #erson "oes this) *hy "o they fi'ht: The only *ay for us to "eal *ith this is to harry the 'a$e *orl"( 0e beco$e obsessi%e in%esti'ators of the fictional en%iron$ent( 0e cannot sit an" *ait for the tools an" situations the DM 'i%es us( That *ill kill us( 0e $ust search) obser%e) intuit) stri%e an" "eci"e( 2es you can *ith a nor$al character( +ut *ith our broken fi'hter you must( They cannot be #laye" *ith 7ust the stuff on the sheet an" in the book( They *ill only sur%i%e as the #ro"uct of an acti%e $in"( Thir"( 6n another le%el *e $ust "o this as a %ery particular #erson( The #ro"uct of a %ery #articular history( No nor$al #erson *ith these /ualities *oul" choose to fi'ht( There $ust be so$ethin' "ifferent about the$) #ersonality or history or both( 2ou can?t i'nore this( >nless you sol%e it the character "oesn?t *ork( An" you *ill be sol%in' it continuously as you #lay( +ecause you $a"e this #erson) you *ill see the *orl" throu'h the$( 2ou "i"n?t $ake the$ *hen you rolle" the "ice( 2ou "i" it *ithout realisin' *hen you looke" at the stats( An" then a'ain *ith ten or t*enty $icro-choices in the first hour of #lay( 6nes you "i"n?t e%en see yourself -+

1 Thinking about Games $akin'( 2ou "i"n?t "esi'n this #erson but you $a"e the$ nonetheless( They are a #ro"uct of the #atterns of your thou'ht( So you see thin's fro$ their #oint of %ie*) because it 're* in%isibly fro$ your #oint of %ie*( So no* you ha%e to sol%e three e!citin' #roble$s on three le%els si$ultaneously an" continuously( The conflict bet*een stats) the conflict bet*een stats an" class in #roble$ sol%in') an" the #roble$ of seein' the *orl" throu'h a %ery #articular #ersonality( , call this N-ontrarian Inoben" Dun'eons Dra'ons? or -ID D) because you are bein' a #retentious fancy bastar" an" $akin' a bi' #oint of $akin' thin's "ifficult for yourself because you are a bit s#ecial(

Art in Games
, ha%e often *on"ere" about the #ur#ose of art in 'a$es( 6ne of the first thin's , ha%e usually thou'ht is that the *or" N#ur#ose? *as the *ron' one to use( A hi'hly #ur#ose" #iece of infor$ation is one create" *ith a %ery #articular intent( ,t locks into #lace like the necessary #art of a $achine or the action of a #lan( Probably the lo*est for$ of this in RP4?s ;or at least the $ost s#at u#on< is #lacehol"er or Nfiller? art) "esi'ne" to fill the for$attin' 'a# in an alrea"y #oorly "esi'ne" thin'( Art create" si$#ly because there is an une!#ecte" #lace for art to be( 0e ten" to think of 'oo" art the other -7

1 Thinking about Games *ay roun"( First the Artist has a se$i-$a'ical i"ea about so$ethin' they *ant to $ake) then they select tools an" for$s $ost a##ro#riate to the i"ea) then they $ake the thin') then *e arran'e the s#ace aroun" the thin'( The s#ace co$es last ( 0hether this is ho* thin's *ork in real art , "o not kno*( , sus#ect you coul" start at any #oint in this #rocess an" *ork out to the rest( That is ho* , *rite any*ay( As you can see fro$ the ra$blin' of this initially-si$#le #ara'ra#h( ;,t only crosses $y $in" no* that , think about it) but filler art) or the circu$stances that brin' it about isAare like 'raffiti an" that filler art *oul" #robably be better if the #eo#le co$$issionin' an" creatin' it thou'ht about it that *ay( They both be'in *ith an une!#ecte" s#ace *hich has to be fille" /uickly rather than a 'ran" i"ea *hich $ust be incarnate" a #articular *ay( 0oul" Nfiller? art be better if instea" of 'i%in' artists a bunch of rules an" 'ui"ance RP4 co$#anies si$#ly tol" the$ to fill a #articular s#ace as %ibrantly) ra#i"ly an" a''ressi%ely as #ossible in as short a s#ace a ti$e as #ossible) an") instea" of kee#in' e%erythin' in accor"ance *ith the the$e an" aesthetic of the #ro"uct) they *ere tol" to attack) sub%ert an" re-*rite their o*n intent onto the s#ace: 0hat *oul" that look like in a book: ,nconsistent certainly) but %ibrant an" ali%e(< AN20A2 5et?s i'nore e%erythin' , 7ust sai" or inferre" an" assu$e that filler art is ba" because it is N#ur#ose"? an" that it is the $ost ba" kin" of RP4 art because it has the $ost #ur#ose an" is the $ost like a $achine #art( -,

1 Thinking about Games So) to return to $y ori'inal #oint) art in 'a$es that is 'oo" is often the art that has least N#ur#ose?( 4enerally this $eans that the art is 'enerati%e) it ca$e in earlier in the #lannin' #rocess) #erha#s it ori'inate" the #lannin' #rocess( ,t *asn?t $a"e to fill a role) it create" the conte!t in *hich other "ecisions *ere $a"e( ,?$ thinkin' here about the "ifferent a##roaches to "e%elo#$ent re#resente" by 4a$es 0orksho# an" *hoe%er is runnin' D D( ;.asbro: 0i&ar"s:< , "on?t actually kno* $uch about this in "etail but , *ill 'i%e you $y i$#ressions( ,t looks to $e that fro$ the be'innin' 4a$es 0orksho# brou'ht in artists an" base" their 'a$es an" i"eas an" #ro"ucts on art that #eo#le ha" alrea"y $a"e( The #rocess , i$a'ine 'oes like thisH40 Mana'er 3 DJohn) #aint so$ethin'(E John +lanche- D0hat "o you *ant $e to #aint(E 40 Mana'er- DSo$ethin' bi' an" intense that kin" of 'oes NRAA004.? *ith the "ark future an" $aybe a fetish nun(E John +lanche- D6I , "i" this(E 40 Mana'er- D0hat are those thin's:E John +lanche- DThey are floatin' skulls *ith *ires(E

-%

1 Thinking about Games 40 Mana'er- D+ut *hy:E John +lanche- Dbecause they are floatin' skullsE 40 Mana'er- DThen they shall be na$e" Nser%o skulls? an" *e *ill $ake $o"els out of the$(E An" that?s *here ser%o-skulls ca$e fro$) so$eone sa* the$ in a #aintin'( 0hereas , i$a'ine the scene at D D .F $ore like this( D D Mana'er- D0e nee" a #icture of a TrollE Artist- D0hat "oes a Troll look like:E D D Mana'er- D,t looks e!actly like thisE ;'i%es in-"e#th "escri#tion< Artist- D6k ho* about this:E D D Mana'er- DMore TrollishE Artist- D.o* about no*:E D D Mana'er- D2es( That is a Troll( That is the #icture , tol" you to $akeE , re$e$ber seein' #ictures of the insi"e of 4a$es 0orksho# an" seein' that they ha" +lanche art e%ery*here an" that the bar *as a D*arf +ar an" thinkin' Nyes of course) if you ha%e a 'a$e co$#any) that?s *hat you "o) *hy $ake 'a$es at all if you can?t "o )9

1 Thinking about Games that:?( An" , think , recall seein' the insi"e of 0i&ar"s of the -oast on the internet an" thinkin' Nthat looks like an office) the *alls are bare) there are cubicles?) an" , think , *as %a'uely #assi%e-a''ressi%ely satisfie" by this because of course A$ericans *oul"n?t 'et it( They *oul" think the #oint of ha%in' a 'a$es co$#any *as to $ake an efficient $achine that churne" out 'a$es( ;All of this $ay be bullshit( 40 an" 0i&ar"s are both cor#orations( Neither shoul" be re'ar"e" as Nnice?( A $achine of ca#ital an" 'ree" cannot be Nnice?( .o*e%er((< .o*e%er) it "oes see$ that 40 re'ar"s artists /uite "ifferently in its "e%elo#$ent #rocess( They are brou'ht in earlier) 'i%en $ore free"o$ an" 'enerally see$ $ore or'anically inte'rate"( At least fro$ listenin' to 40 inter%ie*s) it see$s that #eo#le are fee"in' off each others i"eas an" i$a'es /uite a lot( , "o think the stan"ar" of art in 40 is hi'her than that in D D) , think #art of the reason for this is the *ay the co$#anies are or'anise"( ;Soun" reasons to "isa'ree *ith this inclu"e Nit?s 7ust your taste in art?) N40 lucke" out by ha%in' so$e e!ce#tional artists in fro$ the be'innin'? an" Nyou "on?t kno* enou'h about this to be co$$entin' on it? also Nyou are #re7u"ice" a'ainst A$erican cultural #ro"ucts because you are a thou'htless) s$u' little-en'lan"er an" you ha%e foun" a *ay to be chau%inist about fuckin' toys(?< So , ha%e 'i%en so$ethin' a ne'ati%e "efinition( Art is 'oo" *hen it is not N#ur#ose"?( That is %ery easy to "o )1

1 Thinking about Games *hen you are bein' Mr S$u' on a blo') but it is not so useful *hen you are actually tryin' to $ake a thin'( 0hen you $o%e fro$ bein' the consu$er to the #ro"ucer) ne'ati%e "escri#tions are not enou'h( 2ou $ust 'o to*ar"s) rather than a*ay( This has lea" $e to think about *hat , *ant in art an" *hat it shoul" "o( The ans*er , ha%e co$e u# *ith is NPsychic @ner'y?( ,t?s not a $eta#hor( , $ean A-T>A5 PS2-.,- @N@R42 T.AT -AN PR6J@-T 26> ,NT6 AN6T.@R 06R5D or at least *ith the "esire to be in that *orl"( So$e 'a$es are *ell-"esi'ne" an" ba" an" so$e 'a$es are fuckin' horrific train-*recks of "esi'n an" are still 'oo"( The "ifference is that so$e ha%e #sychic ener'y an" so$e "o not( So$e clusters of i"eas) "escri#tion an" actions can fill you *ith the i$$inence of bein' in another *orl"( , shit you not) the 'un "escri#tions in -yber#unk 2020 *ere actually transcen"ent artefacts( +ecause of course the ni'ht$are future *oul" be "escribe" throu'h its 'uns( An" throu'h a lon' list of 'uns too( ;An" *hen , say N*orl"? , "on?t 7ust $ean as in like the lan" an" thin's there) but also the relations bet*een #eo#le that $i'ht take #lace there(< +ecause the 'a$e is not *ritten "o*n in front of you( ,t takes #lace bet*een you an" other #eo#le( An" 'enerally the 'a$e "oesn?t nee" to ins#ire e%eryone #layin' to the sa$e e!tent( Mainly it nee"s to 7a$ a sli%er of "esire into the hea" of the DM( They *ill then acti%ely seek out #eo#le to $ake the 'a$e ha##en( =ery often 'a$es are )-

1 Thinking about Games force" into bein' by one #erson *ith a *eir" i"ea stuck in their hea"( So that?s *hat art has to "o( Ja$ that i"ea into the brain( ,t?s not like a"%ertisin'( N.ey co$e to this *orl" an" ha%e fun?( ,t?s $ore like otherness( 5ike a shar" of so$ethin' else #okin' throu'h( That is *hat 'oo" RP4 art shoul" be( An incursion fro$) or relic of) so$e other #lace( Presentin' itself so %ibrantly an" #o*erfully that it lea%es #uckers in the skin of reality that *on?t heal( 5ike fin"in' so$ethin' in your "rink that *on?t "issol%e) sli"in' aroun" in the botto$ of the 'lass( An i"ea rollin' aroun" in the back of your brain lon' after you #icke" it u#( So$ethin' you can?t /uite for'et( An" there shoul"n?t be any art in there that "oes not "o that( ,t?s not like you ha%e to be fair to all the $e"iocre art that "i"n?t 'et in( 2ou "on?t ha%e to be co$#lete( ,t?s not an encyclo#ae"ia or a "ictionary) it?s 7ust #reten"in' to be one( ,t?s so$ethin' else *earin' the "is'uise of a reference book( A ki"na##er "resse" as a #olice$an( The book isn?t here to "efine all the fourteen %arieties of 'host you can fin"( ,t?s here to $ake you feel like there is a 'host in the roo$) e%en $ore) it *ants to turn you into so$eone *ho *ants to $ake others feel that *ay( ,t?s a con"uctor for a kin" of cultic beha%iour( So that is $y rule for art , su##ose( 2ou *ill ha%e your o*n list of 'a$es that ha%e or "o not ha%e #sychic ener'y( ,t?s actually easier to notice it?s #resence *hen it "oesn?t coinci"e *ith /uality( That is to say) ba" art or ba" 'a$es *ith #sychic ener'y let you see ))

1 Thinking about Games the ener'y $ore( 2ou *ill notice this *hen you 'o to see a fil$ an" *hen you ask yourself if you like" it) you cannot "eny it *as 'oo") but nothin' ha##ene" insi"e you( So$ethin' can tick e%ery bo! of thin's you think you like) it can be *ell $a"e) *ith care) but *hen you lea%e the theatre there is nothin'( An" so$eti$es you cannot say it *as anythin' other than ba") but it still ha" an effect on you insi"e( ;My $ost recent sense-$e$ory of this is Star Trek ,nto Darkness( 0hene%er , *atch the *ork of JJ Abra$s an"Aor Da$on 5i"lehoff) , a$ e%entually fille" *ith a #eculiar feelin' of inner "ea"ness( ,t?s o##osite is #robably +a& 5ur$ans The 4reat 4atsby( 0hich is a terrible terrible fil$( , literally ha" $y hea" in $y han"s at $ulti#le #oints because +a& 5ur$an has the subtlety an" "iscretion of a caffeinate" ten-year ol"( 2et( There *as so$ethin' there( ,t *as) at least) not a #ale sha"o* of en"lessly "i'este" i"eas( ,t *as a bit like bein' s#oken to intently by an a$usin' i"iot on the bus( They $i'ht be fuckin' stu#i") an" you are 'la" to be 'ettin' off the bus) but they are the$sel%es entire( They ha%e so$ethin' insi"e the$(<

god" #ithout limit"

2ou ha%e a #roble$ to sol%e an" t*o *ays to sol%e it( The first *ay $akes use of a circle of frien"s( 2ou nee" to think of all the #eo#le you kno* *ho you coul" #ossibly call for hel#( ,$a'ine the /ualities an" #ersonalities of e%eryone close to you( Fin" the #erson *hose nature )*

1 Thinking about Games $akes the$ best suite" to the task( Then call the$ an" ask( The secon" *ay in%ol%es callin' a #rofessional( Firstly) classify the task by its nature( Disco%er a #rofession that "eals *ith the #roble$ you ha%e( -all an effecti%e $e$ber of that #rofession( Pre#are to $ake a transaction( , think about 'o"s like this( 6ne one si"e rank the 'o"s "escribe" by .o$er an" on the other stan" the 'o"s of Ro$e an" the $a"e-u# 'o"s of D D( .o$erO "oes not "escribe 'o"s of *ar or 'o"s of lo%e or of *is"o$ or of any other thin'( .e na$es the$ by *hat they do an" ho* they act) not by their fuckin' 7ob "escri#tion( The necessary re#etiti%e #oetics of an orallyconcie%e" story "o not "escribe Athena as 14o""ess of 0is"o$1( They call her 'rey-eye" Athena) or bri'ht-eye" Athena) "e#en"in' on ho* you translate it( .o$er 'i%es us 'o"s as #eo#le first) #ositions secon"( Athena "oes not represent cal$) or"er) cunnin') ci%ilisation or craft( These /ualities she has) cal$) or"ere") cunnin') ci%ilise" an" crafty( 6%er the 4reek #erio" the 'o"s "ecay so$e*hat( Polybius *rites of the rise of Ro$e( .e talks about Tyche in "ifferent *ays( 5ater translators fin" the$sel%es confuse" by his %ie*s on the role of fortune( Polybius "oes not reco'nise their confusion( .e *rites about a
O , "escribe the follo*in' theory fro$ $e$ory only an" hol" fir$ly an" 'lu$-han"e" the likelihoo" that , lock $yself in utter *ron'ness(

)5

1 Thinking about Games #erson an" about a force( Tyche "oes the thin's that a #erson "oes( So$eti$es #resent) so$eti$es not( This $akes for ba" an" ill-"efine" history( +ut $ore truth( +y the Ro$an #erio" the 'o"s ha%e been fully sub"ue" to hu$an *ill( No lon'er a se#arate self-contra"ictory relationshi# outsi"e oursel%es that *e $ust stru''le to un"erstan"( Ares) the thu' an" a terrifyin' %iolent killer to *ho$ fe* #raye"( The Ro$ans $a"e hi$ Mars) #otent) stable) an" a fir$ "efen"er of the state( No lon'er a 'leeful anarchic .obbsian( The 'o"s ha%e 7obs an" roles( The 7ob before the #erson e%ery ti$e( 5ike the secon" e!a$#le abo%e) they beco$e #lu$bers *e call *hen *e nee" so$ethin' "one( -haine" by the thou'hts that calle" the$ to our $in"( Mars cannot "o certain thin's because they "on1t fit the role( +ut Ares has nothin' he cannot "o( .e has no role to fill) Ares e!ists( This "escribes *hy $y insane $a"e-u# 'o" *ho alternately hunts an" flees throu'h $a&es eatin' 'hosts an" bein' chase" by the$ cannot be calle" the 'o" of $a&es( , na$e" ManPac 1@ater 6f 4hosts1 or 1.e 0ho Flees1( .is co$$an"s an" #rescri#tions *ill ne%er $ake clear rational sense( +ecause he e$bo"ies as a hu'e yello* ball of hun'er fear an" ra'e char'in' throu'h an en"less labyrinth) *hich) *hen esca#e" fro$) e!its into another) $ore "ifficult labyrinth( +ut they *ill be 7ust on the e"'e of $akin' sense) like an o#tical illusion 7ust before it resol%es) , *ill try to kee# hi$ 7ust there) like the 'o"s of .o$er( So$ethin' lar'er) )+

1 Thinking about Games outsi"e oursel%es( , #ilot a #erson , create") *ho belie%es fer%ently in a su#ernatural bein' that , also create") in a *orl" , "i" not create( 6ccasionally the su#ernatural bein' 'i%es insane ran"o$ ans*ers to the #erson) *ho then has to $ake sense of the$( , ha%e to $ake sense of the$ both( For so$e reason this interests $e(

B$T %&' !()!$*

1+ut *hy Masks:1 , hear you ine%itably cry( 1Don1t Ienku alrea"y e!ist in D D: Aren1t the bir"-"e$on-#eo#lethin's cooler any*ay: ,s a $an *earin' a +ehol"er Mask better than an actual +ehol"er: 0hat about the $aterial nature of thin's: 0hat about their #hysical #resence in the i$a'inati%e s#ace: ,s this really the ti$e or #lace to be #layin' silly conce#tual 'a$es:1 6f course , un"erstan" your *orries( Allo* $e to $ake a si$#le ar'u$ent in e!#lanation( ,f you follo* Ienku lon' enou'h) you1re 'oin' to see the$ take a shit( Then you *ill see the$ clean u#( @%entually no $atter ho* stran'e the De$on bir"-$en *ere to be'in *ith) the irre#ressible force of 4y'a!ian naturalis$ *ill consu$e the$ an" ren"er the$ /uoti"ian( Men *ho ha##en to be +ir"s) no $atter ho* stran'e they be'in) $ust e%entually "e%elo# a naturalis$ of their o*n( )7

1 Thinking about Games +ut hu$an bein's are alrea"y kno*n( There is no challen'e to the "isco%ery of the bare facts( The stran'e internal s#aces of $ankin" ho*e%er) are still beyon" our reach( The "arker) in%isible reaches of the hu$an soul are as "istant to us no* as they *ere a $illennia a'o( As far as the "ee#s of the sea or the col" reaches of s#ace( The "ee#s of $ankin" cannot be reache" because they are a sha"o*e" s#ace) for$e" in the hinterlan" of our reasonin' sel%es an" e!#an"in' as fast as our #o*er to co$#rehen" the$( Men *ho ha##en to be bir"s can be) an" $ust be e!#laine"( Peo#le *ho obsessi%ely *ear +ir" $asks cannot( The reasons for the $ask can chan'e as ra#i"ly as our /uestions) al*ays re$ainin' a short "istance out of reach(

),

- ' Ri7er of 8hado0s

2 3 A Ri%er of Sha"o*s
Before Da#n
Po*ers rule the ni'ht) #o*ers rule the "ay( +ut in the brief s#an bet*een ni'ht an" "ay there is an unseen anarchy( 0ho 'uar"s the Da*n: 2ou "o( +et*een the first li'ht ha&in' the sky an" the $o$ent the suns "isc clears the hori&on) you an" a bunch of other lo* le%el $e"iocrities are all that stan"s bet*een the *orl" an" un"rea$e"-of horror( ,n you nor$al li%es you are irrele%ant nobo"ies) the *orl"1s 'eo'ra#hy teachers) ta! a"7usters) bin$en( +ut for an hour an" a half at the be'innin' of each "ay you are heroes( 0ith nothin' $ore than a fe* stolen tricks) so$e scratche"-to'ether fire#o*er an" your o*n t*o han"s( No-one can e%er kno*(

)%

- ' Ri7er of 8hado0s

A Commentary on Appendix P
A %ersion of $yself fro$ a #arallel *orl" en"e" u# $akin' an RP4 calle" 1Ri%er of Sha"o*s1( , coul"n1t 'et $y han"s on a co#y( +ut , "i" fin" this chunk of analysis of A##en"i! P) *hich see$s to be a list of books that ha%e influence" the 'a$e "esi'n alon' *ith a co$$entary on the influence of each book( @$#ire of the Su$$er MoonL by -(S(4*ynne( The horrific an" sustaine" le%el of %iolence in the $i"-tolate sta'es of the 'a$e are clearly ins#ire" by 4*ynne1s relation of the ,n"ian 0ars( The fact that in early "rafts of the 'a$e all P-1s *ere referre" to as 1settlers1 sho*s the clearest link( Thou'h all such references *ere utterly e!#un'e" in the 1st e"ition( Stuarts contro%ersial &ero-su$ a##roach to cultural an" #olitical "e%elo#$ent has attracte" criticis$) thou'h it is "ifficult to tell if this is an ironic state$ent on Stuarts #art( This $ay be the first "e%elo#$ent of 1'host #rotocol1 rule syste$s that #lay such a lar'e #art in later e"itions(

7 htt GHH000.ama/on.&o.ukH5m ire@8ummer@$oon@Coman&hes@ Po0erfulHd H1*1+5%195-

*9

- ' Ri7er of 8hado0s +lin" DescentM by Ja$es M(Tabor Stuarts note" obsession *ith lar'e un"er'roun" s#aces is *ell "ocu$ente"( The ran"o$ tables for %ast subterranean Iarst for$ations 'i%e us so$e of the $ost #oetic an" luci" #rose of the first e"ition( Many #layers recall bein' ins#ire" to start their first 'a$e si$#ly to e!#lore these e!-lu$inous ne'ati%e s#aces( ,s is a source of al$ost uni%ersal frustration that the tables are al$ost i$#ossible to use coherently( 5ater hacks an" a"a#tations ha%e #ro"uce" *orkable %ersions) but al*ays at the cost of the #oetic ele$ent( Stuarts self-"e%ise" syste$ for 1easily an" an" intuiti%ely $a##in' C-"i$ensional un"er'roun" s#aces1 usin' #i#ecleaners an" bea"s has ne%er been successfully use" by anyone( >n/uenchable FireG by Rachel Pollack A ran"o$ roll for 'en"er at character creation an" a'ain at e%ery thir" le%el *hen in the #resence of $a'ic) is the $ost "irect of Pollacks influences in the 'a$e( Stuart cause" contro%ersy *hen a transcri#t of an alle'e" ,nternet chat e$er'e" in *hich he raile" a'ainst Pollacks 1beatnik a#ocaly#se1 an" rante" for se%eral non, htt GHH000.ama/on.&omH(lind@Des&ent@Kuest@Dis&o7er@ Dee estHd H1*999+7+77 % htt GHH000.ama/on.&omH1n;uen&hable@<ire@Ra&hel@ Polla&kHd H9,7%515)9%

*1

- ' Ri7er of 8hado0s #unctuate" #a'es about a *i"e %ariety of a##arently unrelate" #olitical to#ics( Stuart has "enie" any connection to the transcri#t( Pollacks influence is clearly sho*n in the $a'ic syste$( The use of e!ten"e" i$#ro%ise" #oetics an" the ra#i" #o*er e!chan'e bet*een the #layer an" 'a$e $aster) so$eti$es #eakin' in a total an" i$$e"iate re%ersal of roles) is one of the $ost uni/ue features of the 'a$e( Many #layers 'ot there first taste of runnin' a 'a$e after an une!#ecte" use of $a'ic an" so$e of the $ost fa$ous ca$#ai'ns ha%e e!#eriences $ulti#le) un#lanne" re%ersals of this kin"( Personal Me$oirs of >(S(4rant10( M-5@55ANP Ah) *ho "oes not recall the first a##earance of M-5@55AN in their 'a$e( That re$arkable an" en'a'in' ene$yAally fi'ure "oes $ore than anythin' else to a"" a $uch nee"e" hu$anity to *hat is often little $ore than a "isturbin' #ali$#sest of stran'e encounters( The "ice $atri! use" for 'eneratin' Ran"o$ Falstaffian -ounter#oints of 6cclu"e" Moti%ation are one of the $ost e!citin' an" $ost-often co#ie" #arts of the 'a$e( .ere) if no*here else) *e can truly say that Stuart has a""e" so$ethin' to the hobby as a *hole( The Air 5oo$ 4an'11 3 Mike Jay The re-*orkin' of al$ost all %illains in the settin' as
19 htt GHH000.gutenberg.orgHebooksH*)+7 11 htt GHH000.ama/on.&o.ukHThe@'ir@=oom@Gang@$ikeHd H955),1*,59

*-

- ' Ri7er of 8hado0s i$a'inary tele#athic $achines) $anne" an" create" by schi&o#hrenics) is one of the stran'est an" $ost "isturbin' as#ects of the 'a$e( Fe* first ti$e #layers *ill fail to recall the final "oor in castle Roscoe o#enin' to re%eal) not the cacklin' =a$#ire Monroe ;*ho ha" taunte" the #layers "urin' the *hole le%el< but the sha"o*y) clatterin' for$ of an i$#ossible $achine) $anne" by the insane( ,n fact about M0Q of #layers *ho *ere intro"uce" to the 'a$e by the 1Roscoe1s Folly1 a"%enture si$#ly sto##e" #layin' after the first le%el( ,t is of interest that al$ost all the "esi'ners an" *riters for later e"itions of the 'a$e *ere "ra*n fro$ the re$ainin' 20Q fro$ the sa$e a"%enture(

In The Mail+,
Recei%e" the belo* scra*le" on a ruine" #ostcar") sho%e" lou"ly throu'h the letterbo! 7ust before "a*n( ,t *as *ritten in tiny #encil letters an" they are alrea"y fa"in'( , *as 7ust about able to "eci#her *hat follo*s( R-.-/ Ruleset Not for "istribution) #lay alone or in bri'ht sunli'ht or in total "arkness) let no half-li'ht enter the roo$( Meta#hor 2ou cannot "irectly "escribe or relate any of the stran'e or unreal thin's your character sees to other #layers( Describin' the$ $akes the$ $ore real an" $ore
1- To be honest# it looks 7er" mu&h like the 0riter ri (58$ rule s"stem b" $ark C. $a&.innon ed this off the

*)

- ' Ri7er of 8hado0s "an'erous( 5ocatin' the$ #recisely in ti$e) in s#ace or accurately in for$ or beha%iourH- all of these thin's $ake your ene$ies $ore #otent an" call the$ to you( >se $eta#hor( Fill your s#eech *ith /uoti"ian reality( ,t *ill kee# you safer( Points @%eryone 'ets 1C #oints( 2ou ha%e three stats) Body) Mind an" /oul( Di%i"e your #oints bet*een the$( 4 is an a%era'e #erson( M is %ery 'oo"( 12 is $a!i$u$ hu$an #otential( 2ou can buy e/ui#$ent that a nor$al #erson *oul"n?t ha%e at the cost of one #oint #er syllable( @%erythin' else is 7ust stuff that you ;the #layer< ha%e in your #ockets ri'ht no*( 2our co$bat %alue is 4( 2our "efence %alue is 2( 2our health is the su$ of your bo"y an" soul $ulti#lie" by B( Rolls There are three kin"s of rollH 0oach) 0ynch an" Tarentino 0oach 1 ,f it1s so$ethin' that coul" ha##en in a Ien 5oach fil$ or an e#iso"e of @asten"ers) if its so$ethin' you ;the #layer< coul" "o or ha%e "one) then roll 2"4 an" try to 'et your Stat or lo*er( **

- ' Ri7er of 8hado0s Tarentino 1 ,f it1s so$ethin' that coul" ha##en in a Tarentino fil$ or a +ourne $o%ie) so$ethin' you could "o) but you1re #retty sure you ne%er *ill) then roll 2"O an" try to 'et your Stat or un"er( The ne!t one is a bit "ifferent( 0ynch 1 ,f its so$ethin' that *oul" ha##en in a Da%i" 5ynch fil$ or Surrealist $o%ie) so$ethin' you are not sure can be "one or has e%er been "one before) then roll one "O( A"" a Stat( ,f you 'et a 10 or abo%e you 'et *hat you *ant( L-G you 'et *hat you *ant an" so$ethin' else ha##ens( 6n a O or belo* shit 'oes %ery *ron'( Ti$e Ti$e is $easure" in #anels) #a'es an" issues( ,f its so$ethin' that coul" ha##en in one #anel of a co$ic then that)s *hat it is( ,f it *oul" take a #a'e then that1s *hat it is( Sa$e for issue( Distance Distance is $easure" as Breath) Touch) %hites) /hout an" /hape( That1s *here you can feel so$eone1s breath on your skin) touch the$) see the *hites of their eyes) shout to the$ or see their sha#e in the "istance( S#ee" is one or t*o( That1s the "istances you can $o%e bet*een in one #anel( ,f your bo"y is M or $ore then your speed is ,) other *ise it is +(

*5

- ' Ri7er of 8hado0s -o$bat ,f t*o li%in' thin's are contestin' for so$ethin' to ha##en ;or not ha##en< both roll "ice( A"" a stat( Attacker succee"s) Defen"er Fails 3 Thin' ha##ens) if "a$a'e then "efen"er takes "a$a'e to the sa$e %alue that the "ice rolle"( Attacker succee"s AND Defen"er Succee"s 3 Defen"er chooses) take "a$a'eAallo* e%ent or let attacker choose non-"a$a'e result or non-success situation( Defen"er Succee"s) Attacker Fails 3 no result) turn 'oes i$$e"iately to "efen"er *ho then $akes attack roll( +oth fail 3 +566D+AT.( 4M chooses) "a$a'e e%ery*here an"Aor *hate%er a""e" chaos they can co$e u# *ith(

2I should ha3e li3ed efore !ennedy died4

Mana'e" to "i' u# a bit $ore of the co$$entary to A##en"i! P for that #arallel *orl" RP4 1Ri%er of Sha"o*s1( ,nclu"in' so$e stuff about -har4en this ti$e( ,t1s all frustratin'ly inco$#lete( Millers -rossin' 3 The -ohen +rothers Millers crossin' is an ori'in #oint of) an" continual influence on) Stuarts hat obsession( .is belief that *+

- ' Ri7er of 8hado0s character 'eneration $ust be'in Dfro$ the hea" "o*n) or) if #ossible) fro$ the hat "o*nE has been re#eate" in $ulti#le inter%ie*s( The connection of hats *ith a society obsesse" by status) honour an" "ece#tion is clearly influence" by the fil$( -haracter ty#e an" hat ty#e ha%e al*ays been re'ar"e" as the sa$e thin' in e%ery e"ition( ,t has al*ays been #ossible to i"entify NP- ty#es %ia hat ty#es( ;>nless a "ece#tion is bein' atte$#te"(< 5oss of hat has al*ays been a character fate sli'htly *orse than "eath( Total Party .at 5oss or TP.5 is the ni'ht$are scenario for any 'a$e( 4a$es al$ost al*ays en" after such an e%ent( Frien"shi# 'rou#s outsi"e the 'a$e *ill usually break u# for a year or $ore after a TP.5) so$eti$es #er$anently( Most rea"ers *ill be fa$iliar *ith Stuarts obsession *ith hats an" hat-relate" cultures ;in"ee" the 2B #a'es of ran"o$ hat tables in the first e"ition coul" har"ly lea%e one in any "oubt of this< an" his often re#eate" re$arks that he shoul" ha%e Dli%e" before Ienne"y "ie"E( .o*e%er) fe* kno* that "ue to the "is#ro#ortionate si&e) an" unusual sha#e of) his hea") Stuart has ne%er been able to *ear a hat *ith any aesthetic success( The cu$ulati%e #sycholo'ical effect of this frustrate" "esire $ust ha%e been a #o*erful en'ine behin" the "e%elo#$ent of R6S(

*7

- ' Ri7er of 8hado0s Af'hanistan) a -ultural an" Political .istory1C by Tho$as +arfiel" The ri%ers run "ry into the san"( The routes are e$bar'oe") the roa"s o%er'ro*n by 'rass( The 'e$ lies uncut fro$ the stone( -hains bar the roa"s) "rones haunt the skies( ,n the final corners of the earth an" the Sar'asso of e$#ire) the only e!#ort re$ainin' is *ar( The "e%elo#$ent of conflict itself as a kin" of #ro"uct) an in%est$ent of last resort) see$s uni/ue to the 'a$e( Stuarts cross-linke" e/ui#$ent lists *hich connect the #rices of ite$s abo%e an" belo* the earth ha%e ne%er been bettere"( -ritics ha%e clai$e" that the e/uations use" to link the lists to'ether in a reci#rocal $anner are unstable) follo*in' the #ricin' arran'e$ents lon' enou'h *ill lea" to *il" s*in's in costin' an" ulti$ately lea" to the P-1s beco$in' net i$#orters of 'ol" into the un"ers#ace( .o*e%er this instability-lea"in'-to-colla#se is clearly a "eliberate #art of the "esi'n( Stuart $ay be the first RP4 creator to use notion of the =ertical Archi#ela'o to e!#lain a##arently inconstant econo$ic an" en%iron$ent factors in the 'a$e s#ace( ,n nations) like Af'hanistan) *ith "ra$atic $ountain an" %alley ran'es) the shifts in ele%ation an" the $icrocli$ates create" by stee# %alleys $eans that 'oo"s #ro"uce" by %ery "ifferent en%iron$ents can be co$bine" in %ery s$all areas(
1) htt GHH000.ama/on.&o.ukH'fghanistan@Cultural@Politi&al@Prin&eton@ Politi&sHd H9+%11*5+,7

*,

- ' Ri7er of 8hado0s ,n #articular) +arfiel"s "escri#tion of ri#e) locally 'ro*n $elons bein' s#rinkle" *ith fresh fallin' sno* in Iabuls *inter $arket see$s to ha%e been stolen "irectly fro$ the book( A Para"ise +uilt in .ell14 3 Rebecca Solnit( The Anarchist -ity of Solint ; *ith the re%ersal of t*o letters in the na$e< *as clearly na$e" after the *riter( The "es#erate re"-fla''e" fla%ela) cra*lin' starfish-like in the ruins of the "ysto#ia it *ill one "ay beco$e has been a fa%ourite of #layers since the 1st @"ition su##le$ent 1Traitor 6f The Ti$e-ity1( Solnit1s ;the *riter< book also ins#ire" the unusual social syste$ sho*n in 1Traitor1( The citi&ens of Solint ;The city< li%e e%ery "ay kno*in' that the city they are fi'htin' to create *ill e%entually beco$e a %ast an" corru#t Me'o#olis) *hich *ill then be "estroye" in a cataclys$ic *ar *hose *ea#ons *ill shatter ti$e itself) "ri%in' the citycor#se in s#linters back into its o*n history like bullet fra'$ents in flesh( They are also continually assaulte" by burnt an" %oi"e" li%in' $e$ories( =icti$s of the city1s "estruction in the far future( 0ar#e" an" harrie" 'hosts) hurle" throu'h the fires of their o*n "estruction to "es#erately haunt an a'e lon' before their o*n( Ma" an" 'rie%in' they hunt their o*n ancestors throu'h the ruins(
1* htt GHHtherum us.netH-99%H9,Ha@ aradise@built@in@hell@the@rum us@ inter7ie0@0ith@rebe&&a@solnitH

*%

- ' Ri7er of 8hado0s Des#ite ;or as *e can see fro$ Solnits ;the *riter< book) because of< the continual #hysical) $oral an" #sychic threat un"er *hich they li%e) the citi&ens of Solint ;the city< are utterly heroic) selfless an" bra%e( That this effect *as achie%e" *ithout nu$bin' the $ore hu$an) in"i%i"ual) #ersonality-"ri%en as#ects of the settin' is *orthy of note( 5ater %ersions of the sa$e su##le$ent ha%e not sho*n the sa$e ele'ant synthesis( The ,nsur'ent Archi#ela'o1B by John Mackinley @ne$ies in the final le%els are usually co$#le! for$ations "ri%en buy the une!#ecte" blo*-back fro$ earlier) successful $issions( As the #layers "efeat ene$ies an" force or"er onto the 'a$e-*orl") they "isco%er that the i$#osition of or"er) re'ularity an" syste$ "oes not re$o%e chaos but instea" fra'$ents it into stran'e ne* for$s li%in' in) an" e!#an"in') the #roliferatin' 'a#s in ne*er $ore co$#le! syste$s( Dun'eons in%ert to beco$e city?s( -astles t*ist slo*ly into the earth an" beco$e ne* "un'eons( +y this #oint the P-1s ha%e assu$e" incre"ible ne* #o*ers but their increase" kno*le"'e of the unseen conse/uences that can result $akes the$ afrai" to use any of the$ to the fullest e!tent( The ran"o$ise" knock-on effects of hi'h le%el s#ells $ake the$ all but i$#ossible to cast( The last lines of hi'h le%el %erse $ust be curle" back into the first in or"er to a%oi" catastro#hic loss an" to a%oi" riskin' the en" of the 'a$e( This is al$ost i$#ossible to achie%e) "ue
15 htt GHHkingsof0ar.org.ukH-919H9-Hre7ie0@the@insurgent@ar&hi elagoH

59

- ' Ri7er of 8hado0s to the lyrical "ensity re/uire"( Many #layers choose to lea%e the 'a$e at this sta'e(

51

) @ Game AbBe&ts

C - 4a$e 6b7ects
A city #ithout a name
, *ante" to i$a'ine buil"in' a city for D D( No( Not true( , *as fantasisin' about bein' aske" to buil" a city for D D( So$eone i$#ortant *as sayin' N*ell you are a 'enius Patrick) 1=eins 6f The @arth1 *as a hu'e success) e%eryone is thinkin') *hat are you 'oin' to "o ne!t:1 , *as sayin' N*ell , coul" "o the ulti$ate Dro* source book but to be honest if , "i" it , *oul" *ant to 'o full out an" not hol" back anythin' an" if , "i" that it *oul" be $ainly about sla%ery an" *ay to "ark an" u#settin' an" tri''er-*arnin'y for $ass #ro"uction so , better not( Plus) thinkin' about all that "ark shit for a lon' len'th of ti$e *oul" 'et $e "o*n( So instea" , *oul" like to "o a si'nature city or #lace for one of the 'oo" 'uys( 5ike those 4th e"ition $o"ules) but 'oo"( 5ike the $o"ule as you re$e$ber it throu'h the ha&e of chil"hoo" fifteen years after you actually rea" it( 0ith all the cra# for'otten an" the 'oo" stuff e$broi"ere" by the in%entions of ti$e( An" , sai" D0AR=@S( +ut "ifferent( ,$a'ine you are co$in' to the #ainful en" of a lon' life( 2ou can feel your bo"y "ecayin' aroun" you( 2ou ha%e Al&hei$er?s) you can feel your $e$ories an" sense of self "riftin' a*ay $o$ent by $o$ent( 2ou are alone( 2ou are afrai"( 2ou are li%in' the last $o$ents of your life in the "irect #resence of annihilatin' "es#air( A %oi" of 5-

) @ Game AbBe&ts $eanin'( +ut) let loose fro$ all calculations) at the en" of e%ery #ossible ho#e) instea" of colla#sin') or cryin' or silently breakin' "o*n) *hat if you *ere to rise u#: To sur'e( To thro* yourself carelessly into "ea"ly a"%enture: To coil e%ery fa"in' $e$ory) e%ery tenuous #ale fla$e of selfhoo" an" e%ery "yin' e$ber of selfres#ect into a char'e" s#rin' of action an" then to hurl yourself $a"ly an" %iolently into the face of e%il an" $a"ness for the cause of all $ankin": ,$a'ine if instea" of a #erson) that *as "escribin' a ci%ilisation) an" that ci%ilisation *as enco"e" in a sin'le city( That is the city , *oul" *rite( , "on?t kno* *hat it?s calle"( ,t?s lyin' tilte" an" fallin' in the $outh of a %olcano( A 'oo" thir" has alrea"y fallen in an" bits an" #ieces are 'oin' all the ti$e( The *hole thin' coul" 7ust si"e a*ay e%ery secon"( The %olcano lea"s strai'ht to hell an" "ae$ons s#e* out e%ery ni'ht( The kin's of hell hate this city( ,t is the city of the D*ar%es( The D*ar%es *ere 'reat an" $i'hty in a'es #ast( They *ere so$bre an" 'ri$ an" "*arfish an" san' lon' lo* son's) but they *ere har" as fuckin' nails) so instea" of 'ettin' "eca"ent an" #er%y) *hene%er their ci%ilisation 'ot bore") they *oul" collecti%ely fin" the e%illest creatures an" forces across all the cos$os an" they *oul" 7ust fuck *ith the$( Just to ruin e%ils "ay( That is *hat the "*ar%es "i" *ith their s#are eons( 5)

) @ Game AbBe&ts -entury o%er century o%er century of trackin' "o*n "ae$ons an" liches an" "iabolic "ra'ons an" creatures of the outer "ark an" 7ust fuckin' *ith the$) killin' the$) *reckin' their #lans) freein' their sla%es) brin'in' "o*n the "ark to*ers) 7ust for the #leasure of "oin' it( That?s ho* you run a culture( So no* the a'e of "*ar%es is "one( Their ci%ilisation is "yin'( The kin's of hell ha%e s*orn to "ra' the last city of the D*ar%es "o*n into the fire( 0ho is 'oin' to sto# the$: The -ity is a #lace *here e%ery ni'ht hell unleashes another a#ocaly#se to "estroy it) an" e%ery ni'ht the anarchist re$nants of the D*ar%en #eo#le ;an" anyone else *ho *ants to turn u#< fi'ht the$ off) 7ust to ensure another "ay 'oes #ast( There *oul" be bi' tables to "eci"e *hat kin" of a#ocaly#se is ha##enin' toni'ht) they *oul" all be utterly "ifferent( 2es) bi' re" "e%ils *ith *in's) but also li%in' creatures of "es#air) e%il #lots) stran'e $a'ics) 'hosts of e%il "ra'ons) fallen an'el "eathson's) "iabolic brass sie'e en'ines) ne%er the sa$e thin' t*ice( Ne%er the sa$e kin" of thin' t*ice( An" because this is a #lace *here you are 'uarantee" to co$e face to face *ith ulti$ate "es#air e%ery ni'ht) only the coolest) cra&iest) bra%est #eo#le 'o there( The kin" of #eo#le *ho are either $assi%ely 'oo") totally at the en" of their tether) or 7ust "on?t 'i%e a fuck( There is no real central authority( There $i'ht be a kin' 5*

) @ Game AbBe&ts but he is #retty busy foilin' en"less e%il #lots to *orry too $uch about *hat you are u# to) so it?s cool( ,t?s $ainly D*ar%es( Stran'e $a" bra%e "*ar%es( They are ol" an" *eir" *ith the kno*le"'e of for'otten centuries an" "ea" frien"s) or youn' an" careless in the face of "estruction( There are lots of other ty#es of #eo#le there as *ell( All the #eo#le *ho coul"n?t 'et alon' any*here else because they *ere too real for the system( No-one is too fusse" about nor$ati%e con"uct because you ha%e #robably si'ne" your o*n "eath *arrant by co$in' there( ,t?s 'enerally assu$e" that you are 'oin' to s#en" your ti$e "oin' so$ethin' uns#eakably heroic( +ecause if e%eryone in the city *asn?t "oin' that all the ti$e then the city *oul" be 'one( There are en"less halls an" cataco$bs an" ancient libraries an" $useu$s an" stran'e cry#ts( They are full of the kno*le"'e an" secrets an" treasures of the D*ar%es( Accu$ulate" an" 'uar"e" o%er $illennia( The secrets are all about fi'htin' e%il( @%ery ni'ht "e$onic forces sur'e into the city an" try to *i#e out the collecte" $e$ory of ci%ilisation( @%ery ni'ht) tea$s of anarchist ka$ika&e librarians "o battle to #reser%e the $e$ory of the #ast so that future 'enerations *ill kno* ho* to successfully fuck *ith e%il too( ;There is also lots an" lots of 'ol" an" treasure *hich nee"s to be rescue" fro$ hell(< 0hen the sun co$es u# an" the city is still there) #eo#le thro* a "runken "*ar%en #arty( There *ill be bi' ran"o$ tables an" rules for #artyin' an" *hat ha##ens then( 55

) @ Game AbBe&ts ,n the "ay *hile li%in' heroes slee#) the 'hosts of the heroic "ea" 'uar" the city silently a'ainst in%isible e%ils no-one else sus#ects( So e%en if you "ie in the city then that?s 7ust the start of a bi''er a"%enture for your 'host( ,n the #oints bet*een fi'htin' e%il) #artyin' an" slee#in') #eo#le try to run a ;sort-of< nor$al city( They fi! se*ers) sho#) "eal *ith infrastructure( There are nor$al 7obs but the #eo#le "oin' the$ are the best #ossible %ersions of the #eo#le "oin' the$ any*here because e%eryone here is sli'htly $a" an" heroic( An" that is the city , *oul" $ake(

The Demon Behind Glass

A floatin' #ane of 'lass) %isible only fro$ the front( +ehin" the 'lass sits a blotche" an" ha''ar" "e$on *ith #in-#rick eyes( .e looks at you) silently $ouths your na$e) an" "ra*s one stroke in his book( 2ou lose one #oint of -6N( ,t "oes this) slo*ly an" "eliberately) once #er turn( +reak the 'lass) ;1h#< an" you s*a# #laces *ith the "e$on( ,t i$$e"iately tries to throttle the nearest #erson *hilst screa$in' *ith lau'hter( ,f it "ies) you are release"( 2ou ha%e the "e$ons book( The $ore you use it) the $ore like the "e$on you beco$e( 5+

) @ Game AbBe&ts

Bunny %orld
$" girlfriend asked for >a ost@industrial bunn" 0orld 0here la&es are olluted and the bunnies ha7e a so&ial hierar&h" that re7ol7es around 7egetables be&ause there is no longer enough fertile areas of land left to gro0 7egetables. This (unn" 1 ) * 5 + 7 , % =ord 3o ington Li&e Ca tain Nibbles Do&tor <lo s =ad" Lon (inks The $ar;uis of Poo s Professor Is&rat&h"ou 'dmiral Pa0less (aron 2hite@(ell" $adame Do0ne" 2ho is a fine e!am le of a Re! =o 3eli&o ter =o Dut&h =ionhead (elgian 3are (lue of ham D0arf 'ngora 3arle;uin

19 Pontife! Thum s

8eeks 1 ) The Carrot Code! The Cro0n of the (ro&&oli (aron ' 8edu&tion in 8tra0berr"

't 'greeable drinks under the rail sidings. Polo in the bell" of a &rashed tanker. =un&heon on an o7ergro0n roof. 57

) @ Game AbBe&ts * 5 + 7 , % 19 The Cabbage Contra&t ' 0edding in the burro0s under an abandoned fa&tor". ' Parsni Inheritan&e ' Dandelion Do0r" The Pea@Pod Peerage ' (ell Pe er (irthright The Truth about Turni s Celer" In7estments ' dinner art" in a roofless o7ergro0n sho ing &entre. The theatre on a grass" b" ass. ' garden art" of the forested landing stri . 1ne! e&ted ele7enses in a soil@ filled tru&k. ' ra&e in the old smelting 0orks. ' dan&e on a do0ned dirigible.

(ut ma" be re7ented b" 1. 'n embarrassing dis&losure. -. 'n unfortunate fau!@ as. ). The gossi of ri7als. *. The mis&ommuni&ation of a boon. 5. ' brute of a &ousin. +. ' re7ealing Boke. 7. Drink. ,. The unre;uited lo7e of a ser7ing girl. %. 'n in&om etent butler. 19. The t"rann" of an an&ient de endant.

5,

) @ Game AbBe&ts

I fuc5ing lo3e #riting adly

,t cal$s $e ri'ht "o*n( , #ro$ise" a frien" an 9achin'ly #ortentous) barely co$#rehensible) sub-tolkien #ro#hecy to $oti%ate you9 This is a #ointless /uest) lea"in' no*here( ,s follo*in' a "eran'e" $a"e u# #oe$-#ro#hecy $ore stu#i" than thie%in' 'ol" fro$ $onsters so you can 'et #oints that $ake you 1better1: Probably( ;6nly $uch later "i" , realise that he #ronounce" the na$e D2oo-see-ru$E an" not) as , *as #ronouncin' it D@e-you-see-ru$E) *hich $eans the $etre is off for the *hole thin'(< 9.ee" F665 these li#s ha%e s#aken lines that counselle" "yin' kin's an" "ee"s of starry *is"o$ s#at in a burnin' s#ray of rin's( , ha%e hear" the $uttere" *his#er of "e$entia-ri""le" 'o"s , ha%e seen the subtle barkin' of the Pro#hets sneaky "o's , ha%e s#oken *ith the Iraken on his in"i'o-black throne , ha%e feaste" *ith the 'houl-'o" as he cracke" an an'els bone ,n the $arro* of the bone there) in the scratchin's of the "o's ,n the Iraken-li$b $an"ala) in the be''in' of the 'o"s 5%

) @ Game AbBe&ts A na$e has $a"e it1s knittin' like a fish cau'ht in a scarf A scarf *here fish are knitte" in an u$ber-*oolen #ath A NAM@ cra*le" forth fro$ le'en"s in the "arkest "rea$s of $an a na$e that /uakes an" blee"s an" burns) 1tis yours @>S2RAMP A2@ @usyra$ the noble an" @usyra$ the fool tis your na$e hi""en in the tale the co$et s#rea" fro$ Thule A2@( ThuleP That "istant lan" of $en *hose sourcerous $in"s "oth scorch *hose sky-craft fli#s throu'h history1s #a'e on "estiny1s front #orch ha%e na$e" your na$e as forefront in the *i&ene" *i&ar"s sche$e to surf the fla$e an" /uench the "ee# an" seek the -rystal Drea$P F,=@ S,4NS they ha%e #re"icte" that *ill s#ee" you on your /uest yet N6N@ $ay be relate" lest its secret free the rest( So ri""les , shall #ose thee @uysra$ the kni'ht unknot these cry#tic *ea%in's an" the "rea$ is yours by ri'htP Deco"e these lines an" kno* the sche$es an" si'hts an" tricks an" #ath e%a"e the 'ur'lin' 4natho#o") +9

) @ Game AbBe&ts flee fro$ the -hetchin"*rathP First) seek you out the *or$li'ht *here the yello* 'rasses 'lea$ then $ount the lunar lion) but) be*are the horri" +ree$P The +ree$ The +ree$) oh $onster s*i$$in' fro$ a ni'ht$ares 7a* e%a"e the boilin' eye of it an" break the horrors $a*P Then secon"ly) $ake strai'ht for shores *here t*o $an *alk as one) *here 'ol" 'i%es *ay to sil%er an" the a##le eats the sun( *here earth an" *ater $asticate beneath the hoof-struck bri"'e) *here ra%ens $ock the ea'les beak as sunli'ht strikes the ri"'e( 6bey these *or"s @usyra$ an" *is"o$ you shall fin") an" soon the "rea$ of Asteroth that cracke" the crystal $in"P Ne!t) *aste no ti$e but strai'ht a*ay "isrobe the *i"o*s *ife) $ake hobbit ste* an" "*arf #ies too an" *het the elf-lor"s knife this "one) $y cry#tic ri""les shall re%eal their subtle for$ an" rouse the han" of Asteroth beneath the ni'hte" "a*n(

+1

) @ Game AbBe&ts 6h Asteroth oh Asteroth) the $aster of the +ree$ the crocheter of $ockin' ti$e the *ea%er of the "rea$P The -rystal Drea$ that broke the cycle $any $oons a'o an" lyin' no* in fra'$ents *aits for li'ht) it *aits for youP For you @usyra$) for fates entra##in' bla"e for "estiny1s s*eet $i"*ife *ho a hun"re" "a*ns ha%e 'reye"( Fear not @usyra$ for your /uest is near at han" *here castles cla$# the shoreless sea an" /uell the *his#erin' san"( 0here fools are kni'hte" by the *ise) *here *i&ar"s bo* to bir"s) *here eyebea$s fro$ the hero1s 'a&e entra# the #oets *or"sP 5ook there @usyra$P 0ithin the black encry#te" roo$s) the cellular asylu$ *here the "ir'e of $a"ness boo$sP See you no* @usyra$: See you no* the truth: The eyes that hear the $oanin' *hale shall t*ist the$sel%es in ruth( 6ne clue re$ains @usyra$ to un%eil the -rystal Drea$) to bear the #ath of Asteroth *ho bore the horri" +ree$) you $ust battle nake" "ay$ares in the "ark archi%al halls an" se"uce the one-eye" "uchess +-

) @ Game AbBe&ts in the bri'ht cera$ic balls you $ust tra%el to the horse-hen'e *hen the Pleia"es are hi'h an" *ea%e the son' of Asteroth to 1o#e the Dea$ons eyeP 0ithin the Dea$ons iris *here the horri" colours t*ist is *rit the na$es of Asteroth in *in"in' heli! list( Recite the na$e @usyra$ an" Asteroth shall hear "efeat his 'host) then eat so$e toast) the -rystal Drea$ is nearP The Drea$ the Drea$) it1s hi"in' #lace a #ro#hets fe%ere" secret( ,f you ha%e rea" these ri""les ri'ht) @usyra$) you1ll kee# it( An" once the -rystal Drea$ is yours @usyra$ the 4reat) your "estiny1s fulfille" $y chil") not soon) nor far) nor late(9

+)

) @ Game AbBe&ts

The Prince of Carcasses

=oathsome# tiresome# heroi& onl" in the smallness of his self@ a0areness# the Prin&e of Car&asses thro0s himself do0n in the mudd" soil ne!t to a tomb# boun&es off the marble to and lies 0rithing# undulating like a snake# gri ing the &old sides and ushing his head ba&k0ards into the mud. 3e is 0ee ing a 0omanMs name. Dull@fa&ed footmen stumble for0ard holding &o er tanks of ro&ks and rain0ater. >Ah the thunderC? &ries the Prin&e >bla&k &onsuming horror of endless nightC? An &ue three footmen ring the largest &auldron# hoist it u and shake it ba&k and forth. The rolling ro&ks &ounterfeit the sound of storms. ' se&ond &re0 holds u a huge bla&k 7el7et &ir&ular shade on dull brass oles# designed s e&ifi&all" to blot out the sun. The" la&e the Prin&e of Car&asses in the &entre of his &arefull" ordered blot. ' third stands b" the moaning man as he &ra0ls# he holds out an iron sie7e on a ole and deli&atel" shakes &old rain0ater o7er the rin&es 0ee ing fa&e. >Ah monstrous i&e@hearted 0oman 0ith a daemons e"eC? &ries the Prin&e. 3e 0a7es and makes a 0riting sign. ' ser7ant sighs. Pa er is brought. ' en. 'nother 0oman 0ill die soon. The Prin&e of Car&asses is sear&hing for a 0oman 0ho &an a re&iate the gre" &hurning de ths of his ennui and the dark silent traged" of his fallen soul. This 0ill ne7er ha en. The +*

) @ Game AbBe&ts Prin&e of Car&asses is a sni7elling ri7ileged little shit 0ho ha ens to ha7e a magi&al talent. The Prin&e lo7es 0omen. 3e doesnMt reall" a" mu&h attention to 0hat the" do or 0h" the" do it or 0hat the" sa"# or 0hat that means# or ho0 the" a&t 0hen not around him. (ut he lo7es them. 3e is hungr" for them and dra0n to them. The" in him 0ith arro0s of burning desire. 3e shakes and shi7ers in their 0ake. Turned ankles &orks&re0 his heart. 2hen the rin&e &an no longer hold ba&k the red gurgling of his onrushing lo7e# he 0rites a oem. The 0oman be&omes immortal. 3er bod" dies. No@one kno0s 0hat the 0omen in7ol7ed think of this as he steals their 7oi&e at the same time. The" are silent fore7er. De ending on ho0 the rin&e felt about them# the 0omen be&ome different kinds of undead. Those he 0at&hed and 0orshi ed from afar usuall" transform into earl" floating ghosts and beautiful 0raiths. Those he 0as se!uall" obsessed 0ith slo0l" rot. Nombies. 3e 0at&hes as their naked flesh de&a"s. .no0ing no@one &an e7er &om rehend the storm of emotion in his oetsM soul. 2ho kno0s the oets s leenC The Prin&e of Car&asses has had all the buildings in his &it" re la&ed 0ith gra7es. 'll the homes are buried or disguised as statues and tombs. 3e has taken the to s off drains the make the gurgling resonate and &ommanded gre"ness and &ontinual rain. This has had no effe&t. 3e has re la&ed all forms of entertainment 0ith games of solitaire la"ed 0ith in&om lete a&ks of &ards in em t" 0ood@ +5

) @ Game AbBe&ts anelled rooms. 4ou &an also listen to musi&# so long as it see s out of a building se7eral doors do0n. 3e also ad7ises "ou to stare at the sk" 0hen it is blank. 3e likes &ats and is kind to them# ossibl" re&ognising the onl" other form of life as self@&entred and indifferent as himself. The Prin&e al0a"s hungers for 0itt" &on7ersation. 3is o0n. 3e does# ho0e7er# need someone to talk at. If "ou 7isit 0ith the rin&e he 0ill not listen to "ou. 2hen "ou are gone he 0ill &om ose satiri&al 7erse about "our stu idit" and &loddish indifferen&e# it 0ill be belie7ed. 3e is a genius after all. Des ite his tenden&ies# 0omen often still attend the rin&e. 3e a"s 0ell# the &it" is oor and there are no Bobs. No@one destro"s the oems. The" are too beautiful. 3e ublishes them. Poetr" is the &ities remaining e! ort.

Plu%ial
Plu7ial sits u on the broad and 0asted lains of 5nnui# highl" fertile arable land fed b" the flooding of =ethe. Not farmed at an" time# its mudd" shoals left to rot. The life of a skeletonised beggar in Plu7ial is not so bad. The arthritis from the semi@&onstant rain is gone so "ou &an stand straight u at least. 4ou get Oha7eP to dress u for the balls as 0ell. 4ou still ha7e to bend# &a er and dan&e madl" as the rin&e goes b". 3e likes to s&ream in rage@bla&k madness at the sight. ItMs easier# at least# than sim l" being old. 8keletons and flensed bodies animated b" oeti& ba&k0ash do ++

) @ Game AbBe&ts most of the menial 0ork and tomb &on7ersion. The" donMt reall" get tired. The free labour has destro"ed 0hatMs left of the e&onom"# 0hi&h runs mainl" on rostitution and 0ords. 'n&ient men must bend at %9 degrees and &ra&kle around in single file ta ed out in held &anes &ut onl" from lum s of the darkest 0ood. No ine. No bee&h. The blind are &ommanded to ga0 and loll madl" in the streets# regardless of ho0 the" feel about the matter# though some ha7e taken to e!&hanging braille o&ketbooks 0hi&h the" read se&retl" b" fingerti s 0hilst moaning at the ta ing of dan&ing skeletons the" &annot see. 4oung &hildren are allo0ed out if the" look suitabl" thin# ghastl" andHor star7ing@gamine. '7erage# lum &hildren# the middle aged# the robustl" ro ortioned and those 0ith good skin and bright e"es# tend to get their Bobs done in the morning and mid@afternoon 0hen the Prin&e of Car&asses slee s. Ar on Tuesda"s 0hi&h he has banned as Qgau&heM and no0 ignores as a matter of form. OAr sim l" e! ands $onda" and 2ednesda" b" 1- hours ea&h to meet in the middle.P 2omen b" de&ree must be beautiful or old. Ald 0omen must be itied and 0e t o7er 0here7er the" go. Gre" lo&ks and ragged hems &aressed as eria tMs of 'ge and =oss. (ut not a&tuall" hel ed in an" h"si&al 0a"# for instan&e# i&ked u off the ground# or gi7en some0here to li7e. 8o&ial e7ents are sometimes li&ensed if suffi&ientl" s"mboli& of de&a". <or this reason# ageing rostitutes in flaking grease aint are in mu&h demand# bussed in en@mass in broken &oa&hes dra0n b" ale and lagu" mares. The" un@li7en retirement +7

) @ Game AbBe&ts arties and &amouflage ha " 0eddings 0ith broken de&orations and re@0eathered aint that &ra&ks on a li&ation to the 0all. (urghers hold &o7ert barbe&ues on tomb@to roofs 0hen the sun ee s out from round a &loud. The se0er s"stem is e!&ellent. Ar at least &a a&ious. =ab"rinthine. Cathedral@Na7ed# baro;ue# knotted like lost string and se7eral times dee er that the &it" is tall. Presumabl" the stuff is going some0here. Though drainage does des&end belo0 the 0ater table and kee going# 0hi&h seems strange. In a 0a"# itMs lu&k" it rains so mu&h. The &onstantl" running 0ater means that des ite mu&h en&ouragement# tuber&ulosis has "et to take hold. 2hite foundation# diet books and re@useable blood &lots &an be bought at lo&al sho s. $en ha7e been hired to aint the sk" the &olour of bruises and rot# to no effe&t. 5n;uiries of their rogress ha7e not "et been made. Crime has been en&ouraged in song and hand" rat0a"s built a&ross the tomb@to roofs in ho es that assaulters# housebreakers and masked bandits 0ill transit silentl" in the night. =a&k of an"thing to a&tuall" steal has limited o ortunities for &rime but numerous anon"mous tr"@hards still make the nightl" effort# &limbing around# assing ea&h other on the midnight ea7es# sometimes mugging ea&h other in a sad# ritual 0a". 6nce) so$eone broke into the Princes 'arret ;he li%es alone in a broken-"o*n tene$ent $a"e es#ecially for hi$(< The Prince foun" e%i"ence of the cri$e an" the resultin' break"o*n ke#t hi$ out of e%eryone?s hair for t*o *eeks( Re'rettably it also resulte" in se%eral #oe$s( +,

) @ Game AbBe&ts The e!#eri$ent has not been re#eate"( :usti&e In Plu7ial# the" donMt &all "ou for Bur" ser7i&e# the" &all "ou to Budge. The most im ortant fa&tor is that erson Budging a &rime is in e!a&tl" the same mental state as the &riminal 0as 0hen the &ommitted it. 8o# drunk# angr"# des eratel" in lo7e# insane# enraged# Bealous or sui&idal. 2hate7er "ou need to &ommit that &rime# thatMs 0hat "ou need to Budge it. The &ourts of Plu7ial send all o7er the &it"# and sometimes all o7er the 0orld for someone in the e!a&t right state of mind to Budge a arti&ular &rime. .illing "our husband or 0ife is generall" ok# if the" 0ere reall" anno"ing. 8ui&ides are al0a"s found guilt" in@absentia during 7er" ;ui&k trials. Theft is rarel" rose&uted as "ou ne7er get a &on7i&tion. Religion 'n" god ma" be 0orshi ed# but ra"ers are allo0ed onl" to re;uest from a arti&ular god those things the god is unable to gi7e. <rom the De7il it"# from the (uddha engagement# from Thor &alm# from Neus &hastit". <aith is en&ouraged so long as "ou are in the middle of losing it. 3olida"s 2eekend tri s are laid on to C"thea# a bla&k naked island in a +%

) @ Game AbBe&ts storm" sea# stre0n 0ith &reaking gibbets# o ulated onl" b" 0asted and highl" oliti&al lesbians 0ith a &ulture of for&ed nudit" in all 0eathers. 8o&iet" Casual &on7ersation 0ith friends must in&lude some &ursing or dis aragement of the Prin&e# he listens at door0a"s se&retl" hungering for the amused &ondes&ension of the eo le. If the Prin&e hears "ou mo&king him# he s&reams# rolls on the ground &lut&hing his head and staggers a0a" shaking and &ursing "ou. Then he 0rites a oem about "ou. If the rin&e doesnMt hear "ou &ursing him he lea7es silentl" and "ou disa ear the ne!t da". Con7ersations begin and end 0ith frightened &ried of >&urse our 0orthless Prin&eC? and >&urse the rh"mesC? 'l&ohol is en&ouraged but lu7ial la0 sa"s to drink at all "ou must drink at least 7 units in the first ten minutes or fa&e arrest. (e"ond that oint "ou are on "our o0n. Regular drinking tests are administered. Taste is ignored but im urities are added to guarantee arti&ular kinds of hango7er. Drinks are named after the de ressions and heada&hes the" ro7oke. 'rt and the $edia Portraits are allo0ed onl" if the subBe&t is de&a itated before the" are ainted. <amous ortraits are re;uired for famil" tombs# though the" &an take a 0hile to &om lete. 'rt is onl" of the dead. Porn is onl" of the dead. 79

) @ Game AbBe&ts Porn is re;uired reading. Ather art is o tional. $ost of the ne0s a er is orn and "ou ha7e to read it on&e a da". Plu7ial ID is a &o " of toda"Ms a er and some ;uestions about its &ontents. This makes "ou a &iti/en. 57er"one is familiar 0ith re&ent obituaries and editors tr" to sneak in useful ne0s under des&ri tions of the re&ent a&ti7ities of the Bust@de&eased. <or instan&e# this re&ent label to a i&ture of a headless &or se fu&king a star7ed# dead# naked ensioner. >..0hile attending the re&entl"@built bridge a&ross the la&hr"mose tributar"# $onsieur R@ 0as de&a itated b" a falling stan&hion from b" 0hat he des&ribed# a fe0 moments before its &olla se# as Qa reall" e!&ellent ie&e of engineeringCM The a ers artist $ademoiselle G@ states of the 0ound# QI &ouldnMt ha7e done better m"selfM. The bridge is no0 &losed and edestrian traffi& is asked to di7ert around the Rue De 8miles or QBust thro0 "ourself in the ri7erM. Curse the Prin&e.? Plu7ians tend to look at "our hands 0hile the" talk to "ou# in &ase the" need to re&ognise "our ornogra hi&all"@arranged &or se in tomorro0Ms a er. ' &ommon Plu7ial QBokeM amongst familiars is >I thought I sa0 "our thumbs in the a erC? 8ometimes an e! ression of ha " sur rise that "ou are ali7e# meaning QItMs been too longM. (ut also# sometimes a &oded &riti&ism from an older relati7e for not 7isiting enough. 71

) @ Game AbBe&ts 'll Plu7ial la"s and fi&tion are &omedies# all set in a better 7ersion of Plu7ial# a@ Q(abel of endless stairs# ar&ades It 0as a ala&e multifold Re lete 0ith ools and bright &as&ades <alling in dull and burnished goldM ,n these fictions lo%in' cou#les li%e ha##ily e%er after) carin' fa$ilies stick to'ether) "ecent Priests #raise kin" rational 'o"s) *ars are short an" 'lorious) cares are fe* an" no cri$e 'oes un#unishe" un"er the blue an" 'ol"en sky( The Prince of -arcasses co$$an"s this because he *ants his sub7ects to "rea$ of that #erfect *orl"( @%ery $ornin') *hen they *ake u# fro$ that "rea$) an" re$e$ber *ho an" *here they really are) 7ust for one $o$ent they un"erstan" ho* he feels e%ery "ay(

6i3e-- 6our--- Three-- T#o--- .)(7

4ou mainl" kno0 other men. The" might be famil"# or eo le "ou 0ork 0ith. If itEs "our famil" then the" ma" Bam &om uter kno0ledge into "our brain# send to to li7e alone outside the earth# or insist "ou refer to them b" rank.

7-

) @ Game AbBe&ts If its 0ork# the" ma" ha7e seen "ou die multi le times# "ou ma" ha7e seen them die. 4ou ma" ha7e sent them to die. 4ou ma" be in s a&e. 4ou ma" be sent to s a&e. 4ou ma" fear the things that &ome from s a&e. 4ou &annot gras soft obBe&ts but "ou &an hold the &ontrols of "our in&redible 7essel. 4ou ma" ha7e onl" one 7ehi&le. If "ou do# it is the greatest ie&e of te&hnolog" e7er de7ised. It &an do an"thing. The faster it goes the more o0erful it be&omes. There is no danger it &annot outra&e. 2ithin the ma&hine "ou fear nothing. 4ou are an arro0 in the heart of des air. 4ou ma" ha7e man" 7ehi&les. The" are all s e&ial# but if there is no rimar" ma&hine that means "ou "ourself are s e&ial. The ma&hine is inside "ou no0. 4ou died and 0ere remade b" alien ma&hines# "our father has re rogrammed "our mind# "ou osses a shrinking de7i&e. There is an organisation. The o0er of this organisation is re resented dire&tl" b" the kineti& mo7ement of its head;uarters. Its head;uarters is 7ast# shining and futuristi&. It ma" fl"# sink# rotate or re7eal itself strangel". There ma" be no a arent reason for this. 4ou are a member of this organisation. ItEs heraldr" is bright and strong. It it ma" seem fas&ist. It 0ill rote&t e7er"one. Its origins are unkno0n. Its ur ose is absolute. It stands bet0een life and death for millions 0ith its shining ma&hines. It is a bright se&ret in the air# behind the me&hani&al trees# beneath the 7ol&ano# under the sea.

7)

) @ Game AbBe&ts 2here7er "our bright &olours go# the 0eak 0ill kno0 ho e and the e7il 0ill kno0 fear. The" 0ill al0a"s be defeated. If "ou kno0 0omen# the" ma" be "our housekee er# mute# or fl" fighter Bets. 4ou ma" also kno0 a robot# a et# a &hild or an amusing alien. 4ou 0ill be inBe&ted into "our shining 7essel. The ar&hite&ture of "our home is a se&ret ma&hine that 0ill deli7er "ou there. 4ou &annot smile or kiss. Time is running out but "ou are &ounting do0n. 57er" moment of "our life is immanen&e. 4ou are the arro0 at the moment if its release. 4ou are the bullet as it ignites. 4ou are the ro&ket 7enting steam# shaking i&e from its flanks like a beast as it rises into the air. 4ou are the moment before the moment# al0a"s and fore7er. The 0orld is in danger. There are things that hate the 0orld. There is &haos under its skin. 4ou 0ill o ose the danger and "ou 0ill o7er0helm it. 4ou rarel" kill. 4ou &annot run. 4ou &annot 0alk through doors. 4ou 0ill out0it the danger and &onfound it. 4ou 0ill unra7el its m"ster" and neuter it. 4ou 0ill outra&e death itself and mo&k those 0ho feed on death. The lane 0ill fall from the sk" and "ou shall &at&h it in mid@ fall 0ith "our shining ma&hine. Then# "ou too 0ill disa ear. 4ou are born in the teeth of the great de ression. 4our grandfathers name is (ieloglo7ski. 4ou 0ill see the &it" around "ou burn before "ou die. 4ou 0ill be told "ou &annot go into s a&e. 4ou 0ill Boin the R'< and be told "ou &annot fl". 4ou 0ill be told the future is be"ond "our rea&h. 4ou &ome to 7*

) @ Game AbBe&ts manhood 0ith a ration &ard# in a bombsite in a burned@out# roud and d"ing em ire. 4ou 0ill o7er0helm the resent 0ith the future. 4ou 0ill summon it to "ou 0ith the strength of "our dream. inside the still# gre" 0orld "ou 0ill build a bright realit" of motion and s eed. 4ou 0ill res&ue e7er"one.

There are so many signs of trou le

The &ro0s sto talking in immigrant hashmarks and s eak onl" 7aguealities in ((C 5nglish. 3urled ra&ial e ita hs of the urban ratbo"s im a&t# not assers b"# but ost bo!es# telegra h oles. Teen earths noos heri& hatefield b" assaulting streetlam s&reaming >"ou fR&king olish &RntC? The bus dri7ers sig saur is on to of the &hange ma&hine behind the glass# not holstered like it should be. Amni resent asian (eatles ilgrims flee the s&ene. The 0eekend loan sho s silentl" shutter their doors. Peo le look u from their hones. <ree go7ernment lend@a@bikes auto breaklo&k to re7ent &ollisions in e! e&ted fra&as. Numerous falls# skinned knees. Pigeon flo&k s irals through the darkening gre" on a bed of breaks;ueals from in7isible gridlo&ked &ars belo0. 75

) @ Game AbBe&ts The old man shouting Q5&hoM behind the ne0s stand silentl" sto0s his a ers and e!tends his 0heels. The rambling &on7ersation of teenage girl grou s orbits &loser and &loser to &onsensus realit"# be&omes a0are# rele7ant to immediate &ir&umstan&es. The ghosts on the abandoned floors abo7e sho s ress themsel7es against the bla&k glass and do not flee "our ga/e. Ro"al badges on ost bo!es oli&e helmets and stam s briefl" fli&ker 0ith ara@realit" 8tuart &oat@of@arms. The $ost Catholi& 5m ire ne7er &eases tr"ing to o7er0helm our realit" and its influen&e see s dee er in times of stress. 4ou &anMt remember 0ho the monar&h is and do not kno0 the fa&e on &oins. O8ee 'bo7eP $erse" flo0s the 0rong 0a". <err" seen though fog at the 0rong time# seems to &arr" 0ar damage# torn b" shells. 5le&tri&al bollards as&end and loudl" den" entr" to in7isible 7ehi&les. The 4ello0 $an a ears on edestrian &rossings bet0een the green and red. Re7elling students 0earing traffi& &ones 0alk out of em t" &lub to find themsel7es in the middle of the da"# break do0n# start &r"ing. 7+

) @ Game AbBe&ts The man 0ith his legs on 0rong is la"ing his i es again. Clouds fill 0ith na&reous# numinous "ello0 light# rain falls in bright sunlight at 75 degrees# looking like a gate of golden fire. 8;uirrels. 57il e7il e7il e7il. A osed rainbo0s# neither gi7ing ground. 8&allies 0ait neatl" at the &ross light# re aring to mo7e safel" a&&ording to the rules. Thi&k# gre" &louds &ondense briefl" from the tunnel air 7ents# then dis erse. Pre@re&orded sales atter from in@store mega hone starts loo ing single senten&e# &om ressing ine7itabl" into single terrif"ing hrase. $atri! 7an atrolling e!tra slo0. 8ugared doughnut sellers find ma&hines rodu&ing oddl" &ur7ed sigil@doughnuts. Doors to 0indo0ed bar seem lo&ked# eo le inside refuse to look round. No@one lea7es or mo7es. =ight aths on the fruit ma&hines start flashing sub&ons&ious 0arning atterns. Pigeons riding bo0 0a7e of arri7ing tube train fl" straight ast "ou# out of station &om letel". 77

) @ Game AbBe&ts

My Means of Destroying 'ou All

IM7e had enough of "ou and of this# no0 "ou must be destro"ed and I must rule. 3o0 shall I go about this6 1. 8ei/e bla&k h"mns in the shado0 of a burning &hur&h# en&ode them in a ol" honi& bomb and detonate 7ia lightning strike at the ti of a bla&k s ire on the da" of 8t :ames. -. Politi&ise ratling &odebo"s 0ith engram indu&tion te&hni;ues hidden in fast@deli7er" &heese0heels# aim them like a gun at the mirror&ogs of li7er ools mone"&ore# bring it all do0n in debt. ). $editate in a null@fused stratos here for nine hundred da"s of storm# learn the lightningMs song# sing it and bring do0n an age of ele&tri&al t"rann" like di7ine fire. *. 'd7ertise for an arm" of the &"berneti& oor. <or&e@im lant Clause0it/ &hi s and hand out light armour su ort and lasma rifles from Ba an# storm hea7en# harro0 the sk" 0ith des&ended souls. 5. Raid atom@smashers 0ith e! endable &rime gangs# assemble irated strangelets into an anti@laminate gauntlet 0ith higgs@ boson knu&kleduster. Pun&h through s a&etime and &on;uer 0hate7er I find. +. 3iBa&k the 3$8 Naboko7# sink it onto the trans@'tlanti& tunnel# set u as ressure@sealed undersea irate state# hold 7,

) @ Game AbBe&ts both nations to e&onomi& ransom 0hilst laun&hing raids on the 'nglian &oast. 7. =ens gra7it" 0a7es through a self@laun&hed mirror@darkl" o ales&ent moon orbiting in =unas"n&hronous orbit# hiding the real moon like a domino mask. Tidal &haos# au&tion moons se&ret identit" to go7ernmentsHmadmen for &ash. ,. 1se fake A8 u date to infiltrate S@&r" ts onto all mobile de7i&es. Phones radiate &ons iratrons. 'll &iti/ens &onsumed 0ith aranoia# se&re&". (egin realit"@ ogroms. %. Put &ameras in dogs. <ind out 0hatMs going on. 19. 2ar s a&e gate to the m"thi&al lanet@of@&rime# train there 0ith transhuman o7erbeings dedi&ated onl" to de&e tion and theft# return 0ith ne0 skills and laun&h one@man in7isible 0ar on Busti&e# boredom. 11. (uilt &r"stallised death@refra&ting dis&o@armour# de&ode DanteMs inferno using 19th gen &om uter bees. 5at the hone" and s0andi7e into hell. Tra&k do0n hitlerHstalinHGhengis and istol0hi the gold lo&ations out of them# return to earth and bu" the e&onom". 1-. 8&rat&h together &ontinental ele&tromags. 1se to 7in"l@ s&rat&h earths iron &ore like an old re&ord. 8end mango0a7es out in s a&e and ba&k in time to affe&t the de7elo ment of nearb" &i7ilisations millions of "ears ago. '0ait arri7al of alien s a&e armada that alread" hails me as &reator@god. 1). Tea&h monke"s kung@fu. 'ssassination terror s;uad.

7%

) @ Game AbBe&ts 1*. (reed kaiBu from ha&ked 0hale organs underneath the north ole. 5mbed se&retl" in i&e. 2hen ole melts due to global fu&ker"# .aiBu released# battle and destro" 0ith se&ret &ranial doom@&hi # use kno0n onl" to me. Demand a"ment# girls. 15. 1se global dan&e &ra/e as lanet si/ed ritual so summon rimordial antibeing to earth. 'll" 0ith the nega@lord re 0orld domination. 8e&retl" inform heroes of 0eakness. 2at&h as the" take it do0n. Throne of nega@7erse no0 a7ailable. No@one thinks strategi&all". 1+. (attle 3indu antheon in s a&e. No 7i&tor" ossible# &"&li&# ine7itable. $ight be fun though. Possible global destru&tion. 17. 8ei/e drone fleet from skies of arab state# fling 0itlessl" at 18 eastern seaboard. Ca&kle. 3ide. $int it on the defen&e &ontra&ts o7er de&ade of global 0arHmoral de&a". 1,. <ree/e the 3indenberg. 1se &hronal sho&k to s linter self into time@ghost. 5na&t infinite s&hemes throughout histor" of man# tra&e atterns of failure and su&&ess to de7elo ossible &onsuming o7er@s&heme OdangerG ossible 0ill dis&o7er am a&tuall" godP 1%. $ass@assassination &am aign# 7i&tims irrele7ant. 8e&ure on@site murder@shaman to &at&h ghosts of killer rounds as the" fl". Colle&t ghostgun rounds and imbue 0ith redator" life. 3a7e bullet@0raiths re@enter 0orld ossessing random guns and bullets# must battle for su rema&" &asting aside s ent 0ielders like meat" &haff. <inal ghost is king of roBe&tile death. <ire dire&tl" into night sk" to un&ture darkness and usher in bla/ing 0orld of eternal light# oor slee . ,9

) @ Game AbBe&ts -9. 1se trans@&or orate h" er@sigil from demntia@s a&e to a&ti7ate the no@bot &urse. 'll automita be&ome e!istential# <ren&h# anno"ing. $ankind goes to 0ar against o0n &reations. Gi7es u . 2hatMs the oint an"0a"6

6rost /8uid
Gentl" 0rithing translu&ent fl"ing s;uid. 'lmost in7isible in dire&t sunlight and at night . Therefore mu&h more deadl" in midda" and midnight than in the &hangeable ra"s that bra&ket the da". Named not for its tem erature or a earan&e but for itEs a arent moti7ation. The inno&ent <rost 8;uid is ada ted for hunting in an ab"ssal s a&e 0ithout light or sound and is dra0n b" e! ulsions of sadness and des air. In our 0orld# the <rost 8;uid is dra0n aggressi7el" to0ards those 0ho ha7e suffered re&ent berea7ement# the sur7i7ors of battles and disasters# arted or abandoned lo7ers and the generall" de ressed. 2hi&h means that for most 7i&tims# things ha7e alread" gone 0rong# the" are as lo0 as the" 0ill get and are ;uestioning the meaning of life itself. Then the" get atta&ked b" a fu&king fl"ing in7isible s;uid.

,1

) @ Game AbBe&ts

d9 Doppelg:ngers
=ooks =ike 1. That 5nglish tea&her "ou had that reall" Qgot "ouM. -. 4our <ather the first time "ou sa0 him fail. ). The o ular kid in &lass the first time the" in&luded "ou. *. The girl "ou thought 0ould be "our girlfriend 0ho then mo7ed. 5. The &o that took "ou home 0hen "ou got lost. +. The smart@ass sit&om best friend "ou al0a"s thought 0as Bust like "ou. 7. The do&tor that sa7ed "our mum. The" sa" 1. The" finall" noti&ed that thing "ou did# the" are sorr" the" didnMt before. -. The" kno0 0hat "ouM7e been through and think "ou handled it 0ell. ). The" 0ere Bust thinking of "ou and de&ided to &all. *. The" onl" Bust understood 0hat "ou 0ere talking about that time and it stru&k home. 5. It turned out "ou 0ere right all along. +. There 0as no one else the" &ould talk to about something this im ortant. 7. The" realised they 0ere that one that let you do0n. 8o 1. 4ou talk for a long time on all the things that make "ou sad. -. 4ou mention the things "ouMre s&ared to tell "our 0ife. ). 4ou e! lain ho0 it ne7er felt right# the" understand. ,-

) @ Game AbBe&ts *. The" hel "ou understand 0here things 0ent 0rong. 5. 4ou &onfess about the thing# and &r". +. 4ou gi7e them the se&ret ambition "ou ne7er mention to others. 7. 4ou admit the in7isible distrust of one "ou lo7e. (ut slo0l" "ou sense 1. 8ome kind of se&ond meaning in their 0ords. -. 1nlikel" &oughs that sound like strangled laughs. ). Their e"es on "ours 0hen "ours are some0here else. *. ' 7agueness in their relation of e7ents. 5. That the auses before the" s eak are be&oming un&omfortabl" long1+. +. Their ga/e fli&ks to an unseen audien&e. 7. Their e"es donMt smile 0hen the" do# and do 0hen the" should not. 'nd then 1. The" look "ou in the e"e and slo0l" dribble blood" hlegm. -. The" stand behind "ou# grab "our hands and giggle h"steri&all" into "our ne&k. ). The" bite "ou# dra0 blood breathing hard and donMt let go. *. The" ki&k "ou sa7agel" in the ba&k of the knee. 5. The" thro0 the &ontents of "our o&kets in the street. +. The" grab "our lo0er li in their fist and shake. 7. The" ull a &lum of hair right out of "our head.

1+ This arti&ular entr" added b" Neil 2# after he ointed out that I missed one from this se&tion.

,)

) @ Game AbBe&ts 'nd "ou &an do nothing be&ause 1. 4ou told them e7er"thing# e7en the se&rets. -. There is no@one "ou kno0 here and eo le look at "ou like "ou are dead. ). <ighting 0ould mean admitting it is real. *. The authorities told "ou not to &all again. 5. ItMs all &oming ba&k and "ou are there on the floor in the rain again. +. The" kno0 about "ou and others kno0 as 0ell. 7. 4ou suddenl" realise "ou &an die right no0. <inall" 1. The" beat "ou blood"# laughing out the things "ou said. -. The" &hoke "ou to the ground# as "ou bla&k out "ou see "our o0n fa&e smile. ). The" be&ome someone 0eaker and smaller than "ou# and &r" out for hel . <a&es turn. *. The" sa" the" 0ill return# and disa ear. 5. The" double "ou and start s&reaming as the" oint. +. The" knife "ou and ease "our bod" to the ground# 0his ering "our address. L( They 'rab hol" of you screa$in' out your na$e) clai$in' terrible thin's(

The &ours in Balach

,n +alach the .ours li%e( @ach in"i%i"ual se'$ent of the "ay has a /uiet thou'ht) a $in" an" a relationshi# *ith ,*

) @ Game AbBe&ts the other .ours( As each hour #asses) so$e*here in +alach) they "uel in #hysical for$( 6ne hour *ill "ie an" #ass on) the other *ill li%e for si!ty $inutes an" rule in the s#aces bet*een $o$ents( Al*ays the sa$e *ay( >nless you $eet the$ by chance( An" chan'e the result( ,f you can befrien" an .our) you can also beco$e the ene$y of one( So ti$e can ha%e both #ersonality an" #olitics( The .ours ha%e na$es( 00(00 5a"y Mi"ni'ht 01(00 The .our of Thie%es 02(00 The .our of the 4rin"in' 4ear 0C(00 The ,ce-Touche" .our 04(00 The .our of the 0olf 0B(00 The ,n%erse Prison .our 0O(00 Da*n 0L(00 The hour -lothe" in 4rey an" 4ol" 0M(00 The .our of the -rystal =ie* 0G(00 The .our of Surren"er 10(00 The Thief .our ;Not the .our of Thie%es< 11(00 .our of The +ees 12(00 @$#eror Noon) The -ro*ne" .our 1C(00 The .our of 5ittle Do's 14(00 The Many Petalle" Flo*er .our 1B(00 .our of the Tethere" Sha"e 1O(00 .our of the +urnin' Sea 1L(00 The Rat .our 1M(00 The .eart +it .our 1G(00 The Re#eate" .our ,5

) @ Game AbBe&ts 20(00 Sun1s Death 21(00 The .our Torn 22(00 ;No Ino*n Na$e) #ossibly "ecease"(< 2C(00 The Fallen .our

A !night of Mars 6R-N@AS

6rcneas is a flat s$ooth o%al of unkno*n ori'in an" "esi'n( ,t *as clearly "esi'ne" to bra%e the ti"es of so$e alien sea) or the core -*in"s of a Jo%ain 4iant( +ut so$e re$ark on the thickness of its hull) the ine!#licable stran'elet-scarification s*irlin' in $o$entary iri"escence in the re" Martian li'ht) clin'in' s#arks of unkno*n sha"e *a%in' an" ri##lin' in %iolent fractal curls 7ust as the creature skylines in the "yin' sun( They say 6rcneas *ent so$e*here terrible( That it *as ne%er $eant to return( The li$bs are of $ore recent "esi'n) only a fe* thousan" years ol"( @i'ht titanic $ono$olecular s#i"er-crab li$bs) flakin' en"lessly in #a#er-thin confetti-shar"s( -hil"ren kee# the "iscar"e" $etallic curls as 'oo" luck char$s( The li$bs are rene*e" slo*ly fro$ *ithin by so$e for'otten #rocess fe" by the still-hu$$in' core( The #o*er still flo*in' o%er uncounte" $illennia) en'ineere" for a ti$eless *atch so$e*here beyon" the si'ht of $an( ,+

) @ Game AbBe&ts The t*o front li$bs ha%e four-fin'ere" han"s( The front le's *alk on car-si&e" knife-bri'ht cla*s( 0ithin the shell) the Si'nal bla"e( S,4NA5 is the only still-le'ible *or" on the ener'y #ro7ector insi"e 6rcneas( ,ts bea$s 'ash 'ol"-%er$illion an" the bla"e itself is na$e" in the "eath son' scratche" in $ono-carbon ruins in the sha"o* of 6ly$#us Mons( 0hat *ork it "i" there lon' a'o no-one li%in' no* can say(

FR6ST-F@TT@R
Frost-Fetter is ol") as ol" as one of the 'reat cyclic terrafor$in' e%ents of Mars) #erha#s the first( She is a tall tri#o") $o%in' *ith unner%in' 'race on "elicate ti#s( 0e kno* she *as not $a"e to kill) but to *ork 'reat crafts u#on the #lanets li%in' flo*s( 2et *e $ust use her so) an" be 'la" of it( The tri#o" core houses a lance of ice( A burnin' ray that free&es all it strikes an" that cannot fail( 5e'en"s s#eak of Frost-Fetter sur%i%in' hor"es throu'h her s#ee") her "ancin' le's an" her ine!haustible free&in' li'ht( 6n each si"e of her cano#y are nests of #ris$atic tracto$or#hic tentacles( These can s#iral an" co$bine to for$ burnin' #ris$s that blee" fire( So$e think that Frost-Fetter *as $a"e to $oul" an" sha#e 'laciers( Thou'h not inten"e" to) Frost-Fetters tentacles can be use" as a $an uses his han"s) to hol" an" *iel"( An une!#ecte" a"%anta'e( Much %alue") an" ke#t secret to the best of our ability( ,7

) @ Game AbBe&ts

ST6RM-0,F@
Stor$-0ife 'uar"s the Te$#est an" hol"s the StarStone( 5ike Frost-Fetter he *as not $a"e to kill) but to #reser%e( +ar"s sin' of a "ay *hen our han"s are returne" to their #ur#ose an" "o not hol" the s*or"( Perha#s those "ays ha%e alrea"y #ast( Stor$-0ife *as born in the ni'ht abo%e the sky( Men *alke" there once( .e *as built to rescue those that fell) to #reser%e the tra%eller an" safe'uar" the *eak) an honourable "esi'n( .is s$ooth *hite li$bs) sha#e" like a $an) an" his "elicate hu$an han"s *ere built to hol" an" #reser%e( 6ther houses $ay $ock his fra$e( Re$e$ber the "esi'n( 0e ha%e ar$oure" hi$ in cru"e steel) *el"e" aroun" his sno*-bri'ht skin an" hel$ete" his #ilot-"o$e in fi%e-ti$es-ri%ete" $etal col"( 0e ha%e 'i%en hi$ the Te$#est) the 'reatest cannon *e #ossess) the stor$ is cru"e so$e say) but this is a technolo'y kno*n to us( .er hun"re"-cal roun"s 'i%e a ser$on that *ill not be for'ottenP 0e ha%e 'i%en hi$ the Star-Stone( A fra'$ent of ruine" earth( +laste" into the "arkness an" #lu$$etin' into the Martian soil( The stone is $eteoric iron( +urnt into runnels an" channels by her bla&in' "escent( Scoo#e" an" sha#e" in *il" #eaks *ith the co%erin' rock scorche" a*ay( 0e ha%e shar#ene" her) burnishe" her e"'es till they 'lo* re" like our sun( A haft *e ha%e lon' sou'ht) an" foun"( The black s#in"le-steel) it $a"e the ruine" heli! that lon' a'o reache" u# to the stars( 0e ha%e tra"e" $uch for this in%incible $etal( No* Star-Stone is rea"y( A $ace like no other( Shoul" Te$#est fail) the ,,

) @ Game AbBe&ts stone shall ans*er( +ut re$e$ber the "esi'n( They lau'h at us an" call us sca%en'ers( +ut hi""en in the *ar-shells has# is the $e$ory of the #ast( 6f *hat *e *ere) an" coul" be a'ain( .e *as $a"e to 'uar" li%es( Do not "ishonour his #ur#ose(

0@@P-2@T-,-D,@
0ee#-yet-,-"ie you kno*( A scratch-built $inin' ri' *ith nothin' left to $ine( .er "rill-bits blunte") broken an" aban"one"( She is a *ork-horse no*) as she has al*ays been( She carries an" labours *hile others fi'ht( Four stout le's an" her one ra$blin' ar$( She has secrets yet thou'h( 6ne "ay soon you *ill 'o "ee# into her core an" listen to the $essa'e hi"in' there( 2ou *ill kno* the secret of her na$e( A $an lon' a'o s#oke of a shi#) note" in *ar an" #reser%e" a'ainst ti$e( .e sai" that e%en thou'h each #art of this shi# rotte" an" fell a*ay that this shi# itself) the #attern) re$aine"( .e sai" this *as the secret of i"entity) not #ieces conten"in' a'ainst each other) but #atterns) re#eate" an" rene*e"( Selfhoo"( 0ee#-yet-,-Die is the ol"est of ours( She has been re#lace" an" rene*e" in e%ery #art but she has re$aine"( Perha#s her lesser nature has sa%e" her fro$ the eyes of the #o*erful( .er lu$berin' stu$blin' 'ate is still fast enou'h to "o"'e the eye of history( She has been there( ,n e%ery *ar) throu'h e%ery cataclys$( She has sur%i%e"( ,%

) @ Game AbBe&ts Not al*ays the sa$e) but al*ays in #art( She is out true link to the #ast( The "eath $essa'e recor"e" insi"e her) fro$ one of her first #ilots) lon' lon' a'o) can barely be un"erstoo"( Men ha%e chan'e" $uch since then( +ut you *ill kno* those *or"s *hen the "ea" $en s#eaks the$( 0ee#-yet-,-"ie( Those ha%e not chan'e"( Tell no-one this(

6ath of Mars
Re" earth break these bones 4reen sea "ro*n this ton'ue +lack sky an" all your stars Fall fore%er on Mars Shoul" , fail this trust As , li%e) it shall be "one

6ath of Re#entance
6l" ones , be' your for'i%eness , ha%e for'otten your %oice 2our $usic an" your soun"s , hear you not 6l" ones , be' your for'i%eness , ha%e for'otten your faces 2our colour an" your for$ , see you not 6l" ones , be' your for'i%eness , ha%e for'otten your lan'ua'e %9

) @ Game AbBe&ts An" lost the ton'ue of your $achines They hear $e not 6l" ones , be' your for'i%eness , ha%e faile" your creation The fiel" "ies in $y #ath The sea battles the black sky An" the te$#est for'ets his course 6l" ones , be' your for'i%eness(

Marria'e Son'
@ye of @arth) our $other) our ho$e 2ou ha%e *atche" $e in your "ance All *e are *as born of you 5ife 'i%er) star-see") creator of us all 2ou han' no* beyon" $y reach 6r the reach of $y fathers 2ou $a"e $e an" 'uar" $e 0e kno* you still The cra"le an" the han" The buil"er of the flesh .eli!-*ea%er) bone-$ason) $aker of us all , turn fro$ you) , $ust 2ou are rebuke" Another , ha%e foun" .er eye is bri'hter an" $ore constant She is *ith $e un"er sun an" stars .er "ance is *ith $e) not the sky She has re-$a"e $e %1

) @ Game AbBe&ts She is the *ea%er of $y "aily threa" My hours) $y $oo"s) $y silences an" cal$s She is $y architect) she is $y "esi'n She is $y #assa'e an" return 0e $ake ane* *hat $a"e us first The threa" is lon'(

-urse of Mars
, curse you @ne$y of Man an" @arth an" Mars 2ou are no true kni'ht 2ou broke your bon" 2our heart is the black bet*een the stars 2ou faile" your 5or" 2our %oice the hiss of e$#ty fre/uencies 2ou faile" your bloo" 2our ar$ is *eak) it?s actuators shake 2ou $ocke" your 'o" 2our roun"s burn in their barrels 2our $issiles hunt like co*s 2our bea$s refract in $ist 2our $a'a&ines click "ry 6utla*( Tracke" sca%en'er( Footless bri'an"( Dustbitin' bastar"( Mekless kna%e( 0ater-*or") honourless $an( 2ou shake the Drea$in' Fathers in their slee#P 2our Thane is -haos .eral" of a Tattere" 5or"( %-

) @ Game AbBe&ts

My Island is the centre of the #orld' re ort on the island of Pat@Te@Cha&k@3a. F$" Island is the &entre of the 0orld. I kno0 this be&ause all 0aters are born 0ithin it# the" flo0 out0ards under the ro&ks and turn to the 0aters of the sea. 2e make our li7ing under0ater and underground.F Geogra h" FIn the middle of the &entre of the 0orld is our bla&k father. 3e is old and ;uiet no0. 3e has man" long halls under the earth 0here his blood 0as# but he is old no0# and dr". $an" small streams &ome from him# but the" disa ear into his halls and then into the 0hite ro&k. Anl" 0e kno0 0here the" go. 57er" tribe kno0s one stream# or more. Anl" the" kno0 and it is the most im ortant kno0ledge a tribe has. To get 0ater "ou need to li7e# "ou must follo0 the stream underground# or kno0 0here it meets the sea. The" all flo0 out under the surf and the &liffs. Go to the right la&e 0ith "our bag &losed# di7e do0n and fa&e the bla&k o ening 0here the 0ater &omes out# o en "our bag the right 0a"# then &lose it. No0 "ou ha7e a bag of fresh 0ater. There is soil in some of the big its and the mouths of &a7es that 0ill hold 0ater for a 0hile. 4ou &an make a farm there that %)

) @ Game AbBe&ts 0ill not be seen from the outside. Ather eo le kno0 there is no 0ater on our island. The" kno0 e7er"thing here is oisoned. The" kno0 nothing &an li7e here so the" think 0e are ghosts. If the" &ome# 0e 0ait for them to get thirst"# then 0e &ome out of the ground and take them.F 8 ells FTo make a s ell# take the smallest grain "ou &an hold# sing the s ell to it. Di7e do0n to 0here the big o"sters are. Put the s ell in the o"ster# donEt get &aught. 2hen "our grand&hildren are old# the" &an go to the same o"ster and take out the s ell. 2hen the" 0ant to &ast it# the" thro0 it into a &u of strong drink. The earls dissol7e in their stoma&h and the s ell &omes out and is &ast. 8o "ou &an ne7er &ast s ells "ourself# onl" send them to "our grand&hildren. 4ou ha7e to think hard about the kind of s ells the" 0ill need. :ust like "our grand arents though hard for "ou. ' big string of earls is a big song of s ells. 'n"one 0ith that had o0erful grand arents. The" &an &ast the s ells one@b"@ one# or sometimes all at on&e. Ne7er tell an"one 0here "our s ells are hidden# the" &an be stolen. The moon is gods s ell and he is 0aiting to &ast it.F

%*

) @ Game AbBe&ts Tools FThere is not mu&h 0ood here and it is re&ious. If "ou see an" others# tr" to take their 0oodC If "ou ha7e a 0ooden &lub that belongs to "our famil"# tr" not to break it. If "ou do# "ou must go to one of the other la&es to get more 0ood and make a better &lub so "our famil" doesnEt suffer. The shells of the turtle make good shields. The shells of the o"ster &an onl" be used b" the Chief and his men. If "ou see a &ur7ed 0hite dagger made from a broken o"ster shell# the erson holding it is a &riminal. The" smashed the shield of the &hief. 4ou &an kill them for this. OTr" to kee the dagger# the" are 7er" useful. DonEt let an"one see it or the" &an kill "ou.P The s ell@making men ha7e e!&ellent a!es that &an ne7er break. The" &an onl" e7er be used for &ar7ing the tortoise shell shields. The" &an ne7er be used for an"thing else. 8o donEt tr" or "our arents 0ill die straight a0a". If "ou 0ant to trade# ha7e the bla&k &oral. Ne7er trade 0ood# it is too im ortant. :ust trade the right amount of bla&k &oral for 0hate7er "ou 0ant and 0hen it is done# 0alk a0a"# lea7ing the 0ood 0ithout looking at it. If "ou see it again# retend not to re&ognise it. In this 0a" "ou &an EsellE 0ood if "ou are &areful. Aur father kno0s 0e are oor# he gi7es us the bla&k glass to make our kni7es 0ith. Not man" eo le ha7e this. Tr" not to see "our refle&tion in the glass. It is not a friend.F Osee belo0P.

%5

) @ Game AbBe&ts 2arfare F2hen "ou get &lose# turn "our &anoe o7er like it has been in a storm# then the" &anEt shoot at "ou. Then s0im underneath them and &ome from belo0. Remember# if "ou atta&k b" s0inging o7erarm# the dead &an see "ou. 8o tr" to onl" do that if "ou are a7enging someone. If "ou do it Eout thereE then alien ghosts might follo0 "ou.F <ood FRemember almost e7er"thing in the 0orld is oisonous. The onl" 0a" to a7oid the oisons is to get e!a&tl" the right foods and mi! them in e!a&tl" the right 0a". If "ou do this# the oisons &an&el ea&h other out. If "ou go Eout thereE to the edges of the 0orld and "ou see an"one mi!ing foods 0hen the" eat# al0a"s do e!a&tl" the same thing.F Religion FThe thing 0ith the food is basi&all" true for e7er"thing. 4ou &an al0a"s &an&el out a tabu or a sin 0ith a different tabu or sin. (ut the" ha7e to be e!a&tl" right. If "ou &an kee "our a&tions e7en# "ou 0ill be ok 0hen "ou die. =isten and a" attention to find out 0hat things &an&el out 0hat other things. In the &entre of the 0orld the s ell@making men kno0 0hi&h ones# but out in the edges "ou are on "our o0n. Remember that refle&tions are other sel7es 0ho &an be tri&ked into hel ing "ou. DonEt trust the ones "ou see in 0ea ons. The" are fier&er than "ou and 0ill tr" to tri&k "ou into d"ing in their la&e. If "ou see one in 0ine or milk thatEs good. ORemember %+

) @ Game AbBe&ts the 0ine and milk are oisoned.P If "ou are in trouble# remember to al0a"s turn things inside out and u side do0n if "ou &an. Trust du&ks. The" kno0 both 0orlds.F Tattoos F8ome tattoos go one one half of the bod"# some go on the other. The" ha7e to be e!a&tl" e7en. 2hen "ou are born the s ell@making men 0ill tell "our arents 0here to get the tattoos from. $" un&le had one side tattooed 0ith things seen b" the star7ed and the other side 0ith things seen b" the mad. $" father had one side 0ith things 0omen sa0 in dreams and the other 0ith things seen in the night sk" refle&ted in the sea. Remember the" ha7e to be e7enC 8o if "ou kno0 "our left@side tattoos &ome from the teeth of sharks 0hen "ou see them. 'nd "ou see the teeth# and get the tattoo# then "ou ha7e to get the other side tattooed. 4ou 0ill not be safe until it is done. This is 0h" most eo le lea7e the &entre of the 0orld. The" ha7e une7en tattoos and need to find the right thing or erson to e7en them out. If "ou get a s&ar on one side# remember to get the right s&ar on the other side. If "ou lose a hand and li7e# "ou are a daemon# ne7er &ome ba&kF

%7

) @ Game AbBe&ts

A City .n The (dge .f Deception

An the border bet0een 3ell# and the Plane of Des air# is a gla&ier of oisoned &oins and fro/en blood. The &oins are all those e7er used to bribe and to betra"# the fro/en blood is that 0hi&h fell from unsus e&ted 0ounds stru&k b" false friends. 2hen briber"# &orru tion and betra"al end# the gla&ier 0ill melt and fade a0a" In the &entre of the gla&ier of red and gold# is a shining island# made of &om ressed kni7es# 0hose earth &uts unshod feet. The kni7es are all those used b" ba&kstabbers traitors and thie7es. The island is &onstantl" &arried a0a" b" the gla&ier of groaning oisoned gold and fro/en blood# and &onstantl" it is rene0ed. An this island is a &it". The &it" of Ganglia $oor. $an" ala&es are seen there# fa&aded in marble and &erami& bri&k. De&e tions all# fronting 0arrens of bla&k de&a". 2ithin# &hained madmen and foul@smelling &ells# the doors banging 0ide. 2ithout# are &old i&e@mists# and in the mists a 0at&hful and unslee ing 8e&ret Poli&e. Ganglia $oor is kno0n to the rulers of both 3ell# and the Plane of Des air# and regarded as a se&ure border bet0een the t0o. Politi&all" inert. ' Casablan&a of Pain. <e0 go there# but sometimes the souls of the betra"ed are sent as a"ment to maintain dTtente. Ganglia $oor s e&ialises in marginal &ases of &orru tion# de ression and loss. 2hen &orru t &o s for&e a bag o7er the head of their artner# Bust before shooting them in the ba&k# the %,

) @ Game AbBe&ts &it" the" see rising u inside the gre" is Ganglia $oor. 2hen liars and de&ei7ers die in shame# sometimes the" &ome here. 8ui&ides of a arti&ular kind as 0ell. Ganglia $oor is ruled b" a madman# Duke (light =iken is &on7in&ed of infinite &ons ira&ies against# 0ithin# and be"ond# the throne of eternal hate. $addened and obsessed b" the endlessl" s iralling s&hemes that onl" he &an sense and find# he has turned his &it" into one 7ast &easelessl" self@ oli&ing &ounter@intelligen&e &ell and madhouse. 57er"one informs u on# s ies u on# im risons and tortures# e7er"one else. There is no trust but onl" aused &ontem t. Duke =iken e!erts the most unrelenting and murderous 7illain" and has ne7er been obser7ed to smile. 4ou 0ill find the &ourt of Ganglia $oor gathered# in a &ellar some0here# around a 7ast ma&hine of 7al7es and 0ire. ' 8e&urit" Argan. There# "ou 0ill see Duke =iken# his 0ife# Re&to =ath@=iken# Ohalf naked# oorl" fed and &hained to a 0all#P Do&tor Damned $e@3ilt 0ho built the thing# but onl" re eats the follo0ing 0ordsU >he is the talisman? again and again and again. There "ou 0ill also find :udge Comer 3ost@:a&kles# taking notes on information re&ei7ed from the ma&hine# making a merriment of the business# offering 0eak ;ui s 0ith grins. >IMm here to see fair la"?# he often sa"s.

%%

) @ Game AbBe&ts The Argan is attended and o erated b" =ad" $agno Lo0el. 2at&hing her glo7ed fingers la" a&ross the ke"s# is =ad"H=ord Iris 3e@'r&# foul mouthed# lo0 minded# dressed in "esterda"s fashion and thro0ing out &oarse guffa0s. This Argan# Oal0a"s being tested and refinedP s its out regular re orts on treasons done# or about@to@be@done about the to0n. 2ith ea&h re ort re&ei7ed# ne0 arrests are made and ne0 tortures lanned. $an" monsters haunt the mist" streets of Ganglia $oor. 2ell kno0n are the <og Dogs# shagg" &entri etal blue@e"ed 0ol7es that &limb and 0rithe. 'lso kno0n# the $ist@$en# 0ra ed in 7omited binding sheets. The 'naemi&s# &oal@e"ed 0astrels make u the &iti/enr"# bureau&ra&" and oli&e. $alefi& 'shen 'utomita. Gra&ile ma&hines of stained un olished brass# moulded metal hoods o7er masks 0ith do0n&ast e"es and traged"@mask mouths that breath out &ontinual fle&ks of Bust@0arm ash that ra idl" &ools. The eaters of e7iden&e. Po0ered b" the ghosts of fires. The Cali hs Af 2ire. Rarel" seen behind the farada"@&age 7eils of their antennae@ alan;uins. The" are hauled about b" 'naemi& teams to erfe&t listening osts. The" gather intelligen&e and &an hear the thoughts of an" &reature that lies as it is l"ing. These doubleHsignals fall in 0a7es from the 0orld abo7e and the mo7ements of the Cali hs# if ma ed# look like the shifting of iron filings in a magneti& storm. The (lue@Gre" Chasm Cats &reate mile@dee metre@0ide 199

) @ Game AbBe&ts &hasms as the" lea a&ross "our ath. Then lea ba&k# bringing "our shattered bod" to the surfa&e for them to feast on. The I&elings are &orru t &hildren 0ith s ires and blades of broken i&e gro0ing from their bones out through their skin. The" make a tinkling as the" 0alk# a shattering as the" run# and &annot be &aught. The maddened I&e 5l7es li7e out on the gla&ier of &oins and blood that oo/es round Ganglia $oor. 8a7age immortal hunters. =ooking for something. Ne7er finding. 'nd that is all the" kno0# in 3ell# of Ganglia $oorV.

+ut(
That. Is not the truth. (e&ause nobod" and nothing in Ganglia $oor is 0hat it seems. 'nd it is not &alled Ganglia $oor. ItMs name is Gre"s=ot@Caod# and it is a &it" of s ies. 'nd ea&h and e7er" one is =a0ful Good in full. In e7er" &orru t re&in&t there is one oli&eman 0ho refuses to be bribed. In e7er" di&tatorshi there is a :udge that tells the truth. <or e7er" thousand &on@men there is one 0ho does no 191

) @ Game AbBe&ts harm. <or e7er" million monsters there is one 0ho turns a0a". The number of these rarities is not large# but souls are eternal and the" build u o7er time. (ra7e and lonel" 0at&hmen# d"ing in the mud# shot through the ba&k# bagged and e!e&uted# murdered in their homes# oisoned# dro0ned# betra"ed. 'll e! erts at seeming 0hat the" are not. 8hards of infle!ible honour# &arefull" masked. 8 linters in the s"stems of the 7ile. Colle&ted here# disguised# and trained. Gre"s=ot@Caod is a Potemkin 7illage of e7il# it is a Pirate@Cit" of Busti&e and an 1nderground@Railroad out of 3ell. The I&e@5lf barbarians out on the gla&iers sides kee 0at&h for lonel" souls# &hased and seeking to &ross. 2hen sear&hing atrols arri7e# all thatMs found is blood and an 5lf 0ith a barbarous grin. The <og@Dogs are friendl" and 0ill se&rete "ou in their &oils to kee "ou safe# the $ist@$en are $ist@2omen# &arefull" 0ra ed and in disguise. The Chasm@Cats hunt &ounter@s ies# the I&elings interfere 0ith the 7isiting Nobilit" of 8hame. Des air@bound &reatures &annot see through the &old &ages of their i&" blades. The Cali hs of 2ire are listening for &alls for hel . The" lies the" are seeking are honourable 0ords. >There are no &hildren in the &ellar.? >I donMt kno0 0here the" 0ent offi&er.? >Af &ourse I am lo"al to the 5m ire.? 19-

) @ Game AbBe&ts >I hate the sla7es# burn them all.? The" &annot bring hel often# but the" do. ItMs resen&e in the Plane of Des air gi7es Gre"s=ot@Caod o&&asional a&&ess to an"one in a state of total des air. The" are looking for a arti&ular kind and &ause. Ler" o&&asionall"# for those at the final e!tremit"# 0hen there is absolutel" no ho e left# the &it" 0ill take the enormous risk of sending its gre" tendrils into realit"# the gla&ier of blood and gold 0ill unfold before those lost# like a fe7er@dream of ultimate des air. Then# 'naemi&s Oin realit"# souls of the &unning but honourable deadP 0ill s0ee the 7i&tims off to se&ret 7aults. The 'shen 'utomita 0ill &onsume an" e7iden&e. The &it" 0ill disa ear as ;ui&kl" as it &ame# and if an"one asks ;uestions. It 0as Bust another sui&ide &laimed. Gre"s=ot@Caod uts itself at enormous risk e7er" time it res&ues eo le from the material lane. ItMs onl" se&urit" is total obsessi7e se&re&". If anyone found out# the" 0ould be easil" destro"ed. (ut# that is the reason the &it" is there. The" 0ill not fail a trust. The Nobilit" are not 0hat the" seem. The" are the dee est under&o7er souls. 5! erts at so&ialising 0ith the &ourts of 3ell and Des air. Ca able of fooling entities of godlike o0er. The longest# subtlest of &ons. The madness is an a&t17 and their true names are not kno0n# but the" ha7e &odes.
17 Probabl".

19)

) @ Game AbBe&ts Q(ill the .ingM QGlo7e 2omanM QThe $iddle $anM Q8&hoolmaster :a&kM 'nd Re&to =ath@=iken# half naked and &hained to a 0all these thousand "ears6 2ho kno0s6 Perha s a &a tured double agent of 3ell# erha s art of an im ossible millennia@long double bluff. The 8e&urit" Argan is e!a&tl" 0hat it &laims to be# itMs a&tion is reversed. The se&ret 0a7es of the ma&hine tease out in7isibl" through the air# 0ith the lightest of tou&hes it fans the flames of sus i&ion# madness and rage inside the minds of the Dukes of 3ell and the Gre" Court of Des air. It turns them endlessl" against themsel7es in Gordian &ounter lots# and &ri les the effi&ien&" of the dammed. ItMs kno0n in 3ell and in Des air that Ganglia $oor is badl" run. That souls go missing and are ne7er seen again. (ut =ord =ath@=iken is insane. 'nd the &it" is small# and not our roblem an"0a". =ea7e it 0ith the other ones# a&ross the 0a". 2h" 0aste the time6

19*

) @ Game AbBe&ts

The /orro#s of The Thane of Coates+;

Roll +d+ for a sorro0ful Thane. I remember once, 1. $" father standing 0at&h# da0n@light &radling his burnished mail# the fingers of night sli ing through his &loak. -. $" mother sounding 0ords of an&ient tales# &utting letters in the earth before m" e"es# holding ba&k the se&ret ending till I learnt the sha es. ). $" brother harr"ing me late into a 0inter night 0ith &ar7ed o onents on a board of games. *. $" kin# &lose# ea&h name a &ommon breath# ea&h a&tion tied as one. 5. The feuding of m" eo le and the hunt# first strike# Oit 0as not mine for ne7er 0as I bladed# of tongue or of deed#P but first blood and last# often enough I made. +. The fa&es of m" eo le and fe0 else# a 0orld 0alled 0ith features kno0n# 0ithout a foreign tou&h for good or ill. 1, 8o ob7iousl" Ta@Nehisi Coates is a 8a!on Thane. I 0as going to make him an 5mir or
something sin&e he 0ould robabl" refer that# but dude is mad sorro0ful. 3e Bust has a lot of sorro0s. The onl" 'rabi& 0riter I kno0 0ho &omes &lose is Ibn .haldun# and the" are not the same kind of erson at all. .haldun is 0riting from 0ell inside a &ulture. I al0a"s imagine Coates ga/ing out o7er some natural ram art of ro&k# staring into a gre" storm" o&ean# or looking out o7er ea&eful fields but remembering 0ar. 'nd he does kee 0at&h at the 'tlanti&.

195

) @ Game AbBe&ts But then 1. Aur land 0o7en in blood# hi dee # tra ed as 0e 0ere bet0een o osing kings# 7ile and honourless ea&h. -. Those lords of all 0ho made of the earth a tr"ing@ground for ain# kne0 fear# as 0orks the" made against the distant 0eak 0ere turned u on the makers to inflameU 0ar against life and time# 0ithout reason or limiting &lime. ). The gri ing of the harro0@man# star7ation. 2asted figures turned forth from e7er" home. The steading em tied# &or ses 0alking# dead feasting on the dead. *. Those o osing 0ar Oit 0as not oursP made of us a sa&rifi&ial &laim. (reaking their o onents b" mar&hing through our lands# a s0athe or burning homes &ut to the sea. 5. It 0as in those times that man 0as a 0olf to man and kings ha0ks to their re"ed@u on thanes. ' 0ar of all# against all# and onl" those 0ithout ho e to re7ail. +. <ire &ame then# on midnight 0ings that folded in the dark abo7e a thousand homes. Then ruin# blasted ash and gre"ness# burnt fingers &ra0ling forth from hidden &o7es. It was no chance that brought this thing to be. 1. I ha7e found it s&ribed on hidden s&rolls# dated# notarised and &onfirmed# ea&h name attended and ea&h deed lanned out. -. 8ee no0# the 0ounds 0ithin our eo le it&h and shi7er still# 19+

) @ Game AbBe&ts man" &urrent shames and se&ret debts date from this time and it is not forgotten. ). 3arms done from on high# 0ith seals and heralds making formal note# often are not s oke of. 3urts done b" the strong are left ignored# for fear of future 0rong to &ome erha s6 *. Though this 0as done un&ounted 0inter suns be"ond the memor" of an" here# its lega&" li7es on in thought and deed# onl" look u on the sorro0s of m" eo le to behold. 5. $u&h gold is found in fire# and harm u on those 0ithout strength to fight# and gold is as immortal as the soul# "et as&ends &learl" and &leanl" 0here a murdering soul 0ould fail# ga/e u on the tra&es of the gold to find the &rime. +. =a0s are but the s ee&h of kings# are harms done b" a legal hand 0ithout a&&using stain6 're deaths from an a&&using Budge not 0orth" of re7enge6 Now I ask of you 1. Re ort this &rime# ubli&all" 0ith e7iden&e gra7e. 'nd this re ort must go in full# to those des&ended of the a&&used. -. 8eek out hidden reli&s of this truth. Turn o7er stones# &onfirm 0ith on&e@hidden testament and e7iden&e the truth of this forgotten horror# amend the re&ord on&e and for all. ). Go no0 to the &it" of these monsters# in a fane# sa&red to them# the" kee a dark memento of their a&ts. ' tro h"# sa&red to them "et held lightl". Take it from them se&retl" and bring it here to me. 197

) @ Game AbBe&ts *. <ind the &urrent ruler of those named# or the assembl" from 0hen&e the" take their 0ord. 8tate before them the un7arnished truth of 0hat 0as done. Persuade them utterl"# e7en if it be against the memor" of their kin. 5. There is one kno0n to me# a truth@s eaker# 0ho has suffered mu&h under the blo0s and 0ounds of those 0ithout honour and faith. Go no0 and defend them in that land. 2hate7er the &ost to "ourself. +. 3old this truth outright# freel" in the sight of men. 3old to it# no matter the o osition or the ain. 2hate7er for&es are brought against "ou# do not ;uail# but state ubli&l" and 0ithout shame the truth. I tell myself 1. If 0rongs are made to ser7e# and hate must be &onstru&ted b" de&ided@a&t# ma" not these same 0rongs be demolished as 0ere made# b" men and time6 -. Nothing has been done to me and mine or suffered here that those 0ho 0rought it failed to feel themsel7es. 3arms ha7e assed like arro0@shafts in air# landing 0hen&e the" ma"# none ha7e dosged the barb entire. ). 57en ha7e I seen Bo"s and sorro0s iled u on themsel7es and intermi!ed like birds es&a ed in flight. Is m" &ertaint" e!a&t6 Ar rodu&t of m" lagging in the flo&k6 *. $an" makings and un0ea7ings ha7e assed in the "ears sin&e m" "outh. The Norns run 0ild 0ith their thread and it 19,

) @ Game AbBe&ts seem the 0hole earth &hanged. To the good6 Perha s. 5. $" o0n seed gro0# un&om rehending of the &rimes that sha ed their birth# is this not ho e6 $" sons seek out no gra7e@ site on m" 0ord and the gallo0s arms 0a7e 0eakl"# &at&hing air. +. A7er the un&ounted assage of "ears# &an 7ileness and de&e tion out@last truth6 Ar must the harder stone remain# skinned of unreason b" 0ater of "ears and the &utting i&e of time6 Oh, but I am a fool 1. 2hen 0ill the sun rise on a kingless da"6 2hen 0ill o0er not ser7e itself6 2hen 0ill &ro0ns not bend together in se&reti7e &oun&il# e!&using indignities done to those belo06 That da" is endless night# It 0ill not &omeC -. $an is a beast# his 0ords are e!halations from a s0elling &or se# his romises are a er in a fire# his thoughts are ants u on a rotting age. 3is la0s are lies. 57er 0as it thus and so shall be. ). The "oung lough onl" a fools a&re of thought# kno0ing nothing of the ast and &aring less. 'll that 0e are shall ass unseen into the dirt# a 0orm di7ided b" the lough# lost e7en to itselfC *. 3arm &ir&les like the ra&ing 0heel of a mill# le7ering u on itself. It feeds like fire that needs no fuel# su l"ing all it needs from 0hat it takes. There is no end to harm or hurt.

19%

) @ Game AbBe&ts 5. 2hat Budge has e7er &ome 0ithout a s0ord6 2hat Busti&e has been taken in this 0orld 0ithout the threat of life behind the 0ords6 It is a gift ungi7en# onl" theft and murder see it done# and the" are &rimes themsel7es that must be Budged again. +. 2ill the hearth@lords burn the that&h of homes6 2ill the ring@gi7er &ut fingers from his hand6 2ill bards fall silent at 0ill6 The maiden mask herself or s&or&h her hair6 Those 0ho kno0 s0eetness in this life ne7er gi7e it u # regardless of its ro7enan&e or ainful distant birth.

119

* Culture

4 3 -ulture
The <oey /chool
3e" Carl Ni&lasC 4ou said this on GW >I 0at&hed a bun&h of (ig (ang Theor" e isodes this 8ummer# for 7arious reasons# and it is ;uite interestingG The &hara&ters a&tuall" get shallo0er as it rogresses. IEm not sa"ing the" 0ere oignantl" 0ritten eo le 0ith dee and la"ered ersonalities from the start# but 0hat little there 0as of ersonalit" d"nami&s seems to ha7e been deliberatel" eroded further into the series.? No0 is as good a time as an" to tell "ou# 'ND 5L5R4AN5 about the :oe" Tribbiani s&hool of 0riting and oliti&al hiloso h". 0hen NFrien"s? is on the T= on t*o "ifferent channels you can flick back an" forth an" *atch Joey "ecay( 0hen the *riters starte" $akin' the sho* they kne* %ery little about it so they ha" to $ake it out of their o*n li%es) or li%es they ha" seen( They "re* kno*le"'e of their characters fro$ the *orl" aroun" the$( +ecause of this the characters of NFrien"s? are a bit $ore interestin' in the first fe* seasons( This is es#ecially true of Joey( Joey starts out as an attracti%e) #otent) $il"ly slea&y 'uy an" en"s u# as so$eone so functionally subnor$al that if 111

* Culture they *ere real they *oul" be sent to a S#ecial .o$e( 0hy: Joey *as too useful an" he refers only to hi$self( ,n a "ra$a or sitco$) es#ecially one *ith a lon'-stan"in' cast) "ra$a $ust be create"( A useful *ay to "o this is for #eo#le to "o stu#i" thin's( Make stu#i" assu$#tions( -o$e to stu#i" conclusions about thin's they shoul" kno* *ell( They kin" of thin' that ha##ens in your life about once e%ery fi%e years an" 'ets brou'ht out for stories at *e""in's ha##ens in a sitco$ e%ery *eek( D0hat: That *as your "o':PE DThe #arents *ere gay: >h ohPE , think it?s calle" the Ni"iot ball?( So$eone has to hol" the i"iot ball this e#iso"e( So Joey is hot an" so$eti$es a bit "u$b( Then Matt 5e+lanc is 'oo" at 'oofy co$e"y an" his character sells *ell so a fe* e#iso"es "o*n the line so$eone asksR Dbut *hy *oul" -han"ler belie%e his boss hated -hinese foo": -han"ler) after all) is not a fuckin' i"iot(E An" so$eone re#lies D.eeeeyy) $aybe Joey takes the #hone call(E 2eah) Joey( That fuck*it( -haracters) if they are 'oo") start out as "ra*n fro$ life) 11-

* Culture or *ith the ani$a of real life( 6%er ti$e they are seen to be 'oo" at a fe* thin's( Then) "e#en"in' on the lon'ter$ #ressures on the story an" the hu$an effort of the *riters an" creators) they slo*ly corro"e into $achines for "oin' the thin' they are 'oo" at( -han"ler /ui#s) Joey fucks an" fucks u#) Phoebe is $ental) Monica is anal( 2ou "on?t really nee" to think about anythin') 7ust #ress the buttons on the characters to $ake the$ "o *hat they "o( ,t ha##ens slo*ly in so$e cases an" it ha##ens in%isibly( Due to #ressure an" assu$#tion( -re"it to the *riters of Frien"s) you can see the$ fi'htin' this) they #ut in a better effort than $ost sitco$ staff( They kee# that shit afloat for a 'oo" lon' *hile( +ut they are fi'htin' 'ra%ity( ,t?s not 7ust a story) it?s a $achine( 2ou ha%e 24 e#iso"es a year to "o( They can take o%er a *eek to fil$( Peo#le are 'ettin' fire" an" tire" an" freakin' out( Thin's are 'oin' *ron'( Money is co$in' in or 'oin' out( The syste$) an" e%eryone in it is un"er #ressure( 4et it "one( An" you nee" that 7oke 7ust there( 2ou "on?t ha%e the ti$e to "ra* fro$ life any $ore( 2ou ha%e to "ra* fro$ the story as it is( The first season if Frien"s is base") a bit) on real-ish life( 6r so$eone?s life( So$eone?s story in the *riters roo$( The later seasons are "ra*n) increasin'ly) fro$ the history an" "ra$atic en'ine of NFrien"s?( The $e$ory of the sho* an" the action of the sho* beco$e the 7ustification an" ins#iration of the characters( The i"ea kin" of "isa##ears insi"e itself( 11)

* Culture +ecause Joey is so funny( 0hat if he $a"e this $istake. >h-ohP This isn?t 7ust about Sitco$s( All co$#le! i"eas ha%e a kin" of life insi"e the$( There is a half-life of hu$an i"eas( @s#ecially i"eas of #olitical #hiloso#hy( 5ike NFrien"s? these i"eas are be'an by #eo#le enthralle" by the co$#le!ity of life( They are usually in%esti'ations into thin's as-they-are( The first-to-$i""le #arts of any book of #olitical #hiloso#hy are al$ost al*ays the best bits because the #erson *ritin' is as en'a'e" in the *orl" as you are( They are fascinate" by all the little *rinkles of nature an" all the #arts that "on?t fit to'ether( 2ou 'et to surf alon' *ith a 'reat $in" as they "isco%er) /uestion an" un"erstan"( +ut then *e hit the $i"-#oint of the series( +y this #oint the *riter has #robably s#ent a %ery lon' ti$e "e%elo#in' their i"ea( 2ears #robably( They $ay be un"er #ressure( @%en if they are not) they no lon'er li%e in the *orl" as $uch as they "i"( They li%e in a selfcreate" *orl" of sy$bols an" i"eas( A *orl" they $a"e so they coul" un"erstan" it( The $ore intelli'ent the #erson) the 'reater the "an'er( A stu#i" #erson can?t hi"e fro$ the "iscontinuity of their o*n thou'ht that lon'( Sooner or later they ha%e to crash back into thin's-as-they-are( A %ery intelli'ent #erson can kee# it u# for a lon' lon' ti$e( Till they "ie in fact( +ut) because they are li%in' in a syste$ of self-create" 11*

* Culture i"eas) those i"eas beco$e like Joey Tribbiani( They beco$e $achines( They ser%e the syste$( ,n%isibly) they are sha#e" to #ro"uce a result( 0hat be'an in lo%e of life an" #rocee"e" throu'h co$#rehension an" analysis an" co$#arison) al$ost al*ays en"s u# as absolutis$ an" certainty( N-oul"? is re#lace" *ith N$ust?( N0hy? is re#lace" *ith Nbecause?( -hains of circu$stance that) in the first cha#ters) be'un an" en"e" in e!a$#les fro$ life) no* be'in in theory) #ass throu'h an illusion of life) an" en" u# back in theory( An" that?s *hy you shoul" ne%er rea" the en"s of "ee# books( 2ou ha" $ost of the 'oo" stuff at the be'innin'( The $i""le $a"e you think( The en" is 7ust there to kill thou'ht( 2ou shoul" tear out the last cha#ters *hen you buy the book(

.ld /no#
, "on1t kno* if $y $e$ory has al*ays been #oor but the e%ery"ay thin's sleet throu'h $y han" like ol" sno*( Perha#s because of this) , ha%e an obsession *ith $e$ory an" *ith the history of thinkin' about $e$ory( +efore *e coul" *rite *e thou'ht "ifferently( The #atterns of s#eech an" thou'ht are "ifferent in an oral culture to a *ritten one( They are e%en "ifferent for those *ho cannot *rite( ,f you s#en" ti$e co$$unicatin' *ith #eo#le connecte" to a *ritten culture) their thinkin' sli#s into yours an" chan'es it( This ha##ens in%isibly) for the $ost #art( +efore *e coul" *rite) *e nee"e" *ays to lock i$#ortant 115

* Culture $e$ories into #lace( A la* that the $a7ority "on1t re$e$ber is barely a la*( A history of the culture can only li%e for a 'eneration if no-one recalls( So *e $a"e stories) an" *e $a"e the$ a certain *ay( The stories ha" $o%e$ent in the$) tra%el throu'h lan"sca#es an" three "i$ensional s#ace( Peo#le are keye" to recall the *ay they $o%e( ;6nce) "runk) , foun" $y *ay ho$e like a "o') nonconscious but a*ake) follo*in' the route *ritten in the "ee#er structures of $y brain( ,t1s not unusual for this to ha##en to #eo#le but its rare that *e *on"er about the #ersistence of co$#le! s#atial infor$ation e%en *hen the #ersonality is "a$a'e" or inacti%e( 6ne *oul" think that the brain *oul" 'uar" continuity of #ersonality abo%e all else) but it is not so(< They ha" #otent) stran'e li%in' bein's( Thin's like ani$als but *ith /ualities no ani$al has) or 7u$ble" u#) or e!#an"e" or contracte"( 0e re$e$ber li%in' thin's( 0e re$e$ber ani$als es#ecially) *e still teach our chil"ren *ith their na$es( They ha" #eo#le( The #eo#le *ere often only $et one at a ti$e) but they *ere in co$#le! relationshi#s *ith each other( They all relate" to at least one other #erson in so$e *ay( Fe* *ere alone( ,t1s a techni/ue for $e$ory $asters to recall the se/uence of a "eck of car"s by en%isionin' a 7ourney *ith a series of $eetin's *ith "istincti%e #eo#le in kno*n #laces( The 4reek creator of the Art of Me$ory is sai" to ha%e "isco%ere" it *hen after fleein' fro$ a "inner #arty *hen the house colla#se") he 11+

* Culture *as able to #in#oint the location of each other #erson an" so i"entify the bo"ies( Personality( 5ocations( 5ooke" at as #urely an infor$ation #rocessin' #roble$ it shoul" be easier to recall a se/uence of isolate" car" nu$bers an" na$es( That1s ho* *e *oul" set the #roble$ for a co$#uter( ,t1s $ore efficient( +ut our $in"s ;$ainly< hate that( They "islike abstracts( They lo%e net*orks of li%in' thin's) locate" in s#ace) e%en thou'h it takes $ore infor$ation to #rocess) this is kno*le"'e *e *ill han' on to( The stories ha" other thin's) not hu$an) not ani$al) thin's that coul" ne%er e!ist( 4o"s) 'hosts) $onsters( 0e nee"e" to re$e$ber i"eas but our $in"s are not frien"ly to abstraction) es#ecially *ithout the "istance *ritin' creates( So our 4oo" an" ,ll) +ra%e an" Fearful) all beca$e li%in' thin's) they coul" s#eak to us like that "irectly) they still s#eak to $any #eo#le( A'ain) this see$s less efficient than si$#ly ha%in' a la*) but it1s not( ,t1s $uch better to s#eak to 'o" "irectly) *hat if he chan'es his $in": @%en if *e are only s#eakin' to a #art of oursel%es *hen this ha##ens( ,t1s still 'oin' to be $ore a"a#table) an" #ossibly s$arter) than a *ritten la*( An" there is one last thin'( 4rou#s( Peo#le re$e$ber better *hen they ha%e to create) an" #erfor$ as a 'rou#( A story tol" fro$ one #erson to another) in isolation) *ill be recalle" one *ay( 6ne *e ha%e to learn) #erfor$ as a 117

* Culture synchronise" 'rou# an" "o so in front of our closest net*ork) that *ill stick in the $in" like nothin' else( ;An" sin'in' an" "ancin'( 0e talk about *ritin' as a technolo'y an" *e can sense the re$ains of oral culture in our *ritten culture( 6nce) $y cousin tol" $e a 7oke an" , sto##e" hi$ half *ay throu'h an" aske" D,s this ,rish:E .e sai" D.o* "i" you kno*:E , re#lie" D,t1s lon'E( +ut , coul" hear it in the *or"s) the lon' lon' sentences) the re#etitions an" returns you nee" to enco"e so$ethin' *ithout *ritin'( 0ritin' is a technolo'y but talkin' is also a kin" of technolo'y an" , think "ancin' an" sin'in' ca$e before talkin' an" #ersiste" in the talkin'-culture in the sa$e *ay that ,rish 7oke an" the call-an"-res#onse of churches an" a thousan" other thin's #ersist an" call back to the oral culture ours 're* fro$(< So it1s interestin' to $e that $y fa%ourite hobby is #retty $uch a kin" of re%erse-en'ineerin' of the techni/ues an" obsessions of an oral culture( Journeys throu'h stran'e s#aces) unusual an" "istincti%e li%in' thin's) co$#le! #ersonalities in relationshi#s) #o*erful) e$bo"ie") su#ernatural forces( All "one in a 'rou#) #erfor$e" by e%eryone #resent) for each other( ,t1s like the "ee#er #arts of our $in"s re$e$ber *hat *e use" to 'et u# to an" the structures 7ust kin" of %o$ite" u# the *hole RP4 in"ustry as a kin" of acci"entalAe%ol%e" %ersion of our ol"er sel%es( , can re$e$ber ho* all $y characters "ie") *ho they $et an" *hat they "i"( ,1$ in trainin' at *ork) a #lace , #ai" to #ay attention to( , ha%e for'otten $ost of the #rocesses *e ha%e to learn( 11,

* Culture

this post is less good

,f you are rea"in' this an" thinkin' N*here is this 'uy 'oin' *ith this:? 0ell he "oesn?t kno*( Fair *arnin' if you rea" on(

No*) , ha%e been rea"in' a book about $e$ory syste$s in oral tra"itions1G an" for so$e reason , *ant to talk about it( +ecause it feels like it relates( +alla"s an" e#ic #oe$s in oral tra"itions are "esi'ne" to sur%i%e in the $e$ory( 0hen you really start lookin' at the$ it see$s that everything about the$ is "esi'ne" to sur%i%e in the $e$ory( They are like "ea"ly fuckin' $achines for that one #articular #ur#ose( 0e are not use" to thinkin' about it this *ay because *hen *e think about ol" stories an" contrast the$ *ith ne* stories they often see$ a bit shit( 5on') *in"in') re#etiti%e) "irect) conser%ati%e) unin%enti%e) literal) usin' the sa$e sy$bols an" a lot like each other( An" at the thin's *e think stories "o) *e are ri'ht( +ut ol" stories are not "esi'ne" to "o those thin's( At least
1% htt sGHH000-.b&.eduHXri&haradHl&bHre7Hdr.html

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* Culture that is not their $ain intent( They are hone" to li%e insi"e the substrate of the hu$an $in" in a *orl" e$#ty of *ritin' or $achines) an" at that) they are hy#er-e%ol%e" cultural technolo'y( Da%i" -( Rubin ar'ues that one of the $ain *ays these oral stories "o this is *ith the use of layere" constraints( .e uses constraints to $ean the thin's about a recollection that li$it the thin's that can be thou'ht of( They are of $ulti#le ty#es( There are bi' sta'e-settin' constraints that "eci"e the ty#e of tale that *ill be tol"( 0e call these 'enre an" the$e( There are structural constraints( No* these are interestin'( They are about the arran'e$ent of *or"s( 6f rhy$e) *or" len'th) syllable stress) *or"-soun"( 5ine len'th) line rhyth$) en" stresses( All the stuff you fin" in #oetry( These #ro%i"e the 'ri" or layout of the thin's that *ill be sai"( The *or"s co$in' out of your $outh ha%e to fit into the #attern so this li$its the kin"s of *or"s you can say( ;Rhyth$ is so i$#ortant) if you rea" #eo#le strin's of ran"o$ nu$bers) re'ular caesuras bet*een nu$ber 'rou#s raise recall a 'reat "eal) e%en *ith no internal $eanin') re'ular #auses allo* the $in" to or'anise infor$ation( , hate talkin' on the #hone an" , hate talkin' on the $obile #hone because the la' is "ifferent by a /uarter of a secon" an" you feel like an i"iot(< 1-9

* Culture The $ost i$#ortant kin" of constraint use" is %isual) s#atial i$a'ery *ith #eo#le #erfor$in' se/uential actions( Makin' #eo#le learn infor$ation of this kin" really locks $e$ory into #lace( , "on?t thinks of Rubin?s constraints *ith the *or" he 'a%e $e( , think of the$ as acti%ators( , i$a'ine a net*ork of #ale 'ol"en li'ht( A li%in' three "i$ensional neuronal *eb( This is the o#enin' 'enre) the basic culture that un"erlies the son'( ,t #robably *oul"n?t be like that because it $i'ht not be a net*ork of neurons( @ach acti%ator $i'ht be a "ifferent ty#e of *ork *ithin the $in"( +ut it?s a nice i$a'e( They all interact( Then *ith each ne* constraint , i$a'ine a "ifferent net*ork s#rin'in' into e!istence( They cross at #laces an" *here this ha##ens the 'lo* intensifies( The i"eas in the son' create one kin" of net*ork) the %isual) actual "escri#tion en'a'es another) the rhyth$ic *or"-#attern another) then finally the i$$e"iate serial *or" relationshi#s s#rin' into #lace( 0here all the net*orks cross) at the #oint of 'reatest acti%ation there is a co$#oun"e" 'ol"en #oint of fire( That is your *or"( The only *or" that coul" be in that #lace( As *or" lea"s to *or" that 'ol"en #oint $i'rates) the net*orks shift an" "ra' the #oint of acti%ation alon') *or" to *or" to *or"( ,t has to be serial an" it has to 1-1

* Culture $o%e( ,t can?t 7ust be a stea"y state like a $e$orise" list( ,f has to be a #rocess an" you recall each in"i%i"ual thin' in its #lace) *hich itself for$s #art of the /ueue or referent for the ne!t #articular thin'( There are lots of *ays in *hich e#ics an" balla"s are not like D D) but here?s a fe* si$ilarities( - 6bsesse" *ith s#atial infor$ation( - 0ith #eo#le transitin' throu'h #articular s#aces in se/uence( - 0ith concrete %isual i$a'ery( - Peo#le takin' se/uential actions ;for action B to ha##en) actions 1 to 4 must ha%e ha##ene"(< - They are $a"e fro$ conser%ati%e #arts20( Maybe you can ha%e conser%ati%e #arts in a no%el structure) or a conser%ati%e structure *ith no%el #arts but rarely both at the sa$e ti$e21(

20 There is a 8ak line so$e*here , half re$e$ber about =ornhei$ ha%in' to be $a"e of #ieces #eo#le alrea"y un"erstan" because *hen you e!#lain stuff to #layers you ha%e to use the stuff alrea"y in their hea"s as referents(

-1

D D is such a stran'e tan'le of conser%atis$ an" in%ention( 2ou ha%e the #o*er to create anythin') but if you can?t fit it into the fantasy *orl" archety#e that e%eryone is fa$iliar *ith then it often "oesn?t 'o any*here( 5ike *ith oral e#ics) *hen anythin' is $isre$e$bere" or chan'e" by chance) it is chan'e" to be $ore like *hat #eo#le alrea"y e!#ect( 5ike there is a kin" of cultural 'ra%ity #ullin' e%erythin' 'ra"ually back to*ar"s the centre(

1--

* Culture - They are often) in so$e sense) #erfor$e") an" #erfor$e" in 'rou#s( ;0hen *e #lay to'ether *e are #erfor$in' for each other a little bit , think< - Meanin' an" structure are usually ;usually, broadly) coherent to each other( ;i(e oral #oe$s "on?t use en7a$b$ent( @ach line is a "iscrete chunk of $eanin') each rhyth$ic unit is usually a "iscrete chunk of $eanin'( @ach stan&a is about one thin'( ,"eas "on?t s#ill o%er onto the ne!t line( They 'o in ti"y se/uence( D D is not al*ays like this( ,t "oesn?t have to be( +ut it likes that for$at( @ach "un'eon roo$ a se#arate chunk( Meanin') Ti$e an" S#ace $a##in' "irectly onto each other in the "un'eon $a#( @ach "un'eon a se#arate thin'(< , su##ose that , ha%e often thou'ht that $e$ory an" creation are hacks or re-#ur#osin' of each other( 5ike t*o cra&e" scientists fi'htin' for control of the sa$e $achine( ,t *as thinkin' about constraints that "i" it( ,f oral $e$ory i'nites an" $ana'es these layere" net*orks to ensure stability of recall) are *e usin' si$ilar layere" constraints to "o so$ethin' "ifferent *ith the sa$e technolo'y: 5ike *e use 'enre an" the$e too( An" concrete %isual i$a'ery) *e a"" "ice an" classes an" nu$bers( +ut it?s still a *ay of ensurin' that #articular thin's ha##en( 0hen *e #lay are *e tryin' to snatch so$ethin' out of 1-)

* Culture the air: 0e "on?t kno* *hat it is but *e kno* its sha#e( ,t?s not like fin"in' so$ethin' *e?%e ha" before( ,t?s a kin" of acti%e li%in' e!#eri$ent to $ake(( so$ethin'( ;The $en *ho "isco%ere" Neon) an" Phos#hor ;%ery se#arate #eo#le< both foun" out they ha" "one it *hen so$ethin' in the lab starte" to 'lo* *ith its o*n li'ht( A li'ht no-one ha" e%er seen before( Those $ust be the best ele$ents to "isco%er( They 'uys *ho isolate" the Rare @arths 7ust 'ot $ore bro*n 'loo#) , kin" of feel a bit shit for the$(< 0ell that?s it( , *arne" you at the be'innin'(

Animal Crac5ers
Thinkin' about ani$als an" lan'ua'e has lea" $e to belie%e) or $ore truly to sus#ect) that the obser%ation of ani$als for$e" the basis of hu$an lan'ua'e( Ar'uin' *ith a frien" a fe* *eeks a'o he sai" ;if , re$e$ber correctly< that no lan'ua'e can e!ist *ithout synta!( , un"erstoo" this asH- For the ceaseless flo* of natural e!#erience to be "i%i"e" into abstracte" #arts an" use" to co$$unicate) then there $ust be a structure *ithin *hich to arran'e these #arts( ;this $ay not be 1-*

* Culture *hat he $eant< , a$ assu$in' a s#ecific #attern of "e%elo#$ent for hu$an lan'ua'e( , ha%e rea" about the transfor$ation fro$ oral to *ritten co$$unication( Patterns of oral an" *ritten re$e$berin' an" abstraction interact as one $etho" slo*ly su#erse"es the other( 0ritten culture 'ro*s *ithin oral culture an" uses it1s #atterns( @%entually) like a thin' esca#in' a #etri "ish) it e!#lo"es an" beco$es the "o$inant #attern of $e$ory( They *ay *e *rite chan'es the *ay *e s#eak( They s*a# #laces an") instea" of oral culture ha%in' *ritten culture insi"e it) a *ritten *orl" carries a fa"in' oral tracery in stuff like $usic an" #atterns of hu$our( 6nce) the son' *oul" ha%e out*ei'he" the bureaucratic for$ as a sy$bol of authority an" intent) literally( No* its the other *ay aroun"( So , i$a'ine a si$ilar e!chan'e *ith $o%e$ent( , think oral culture took o%er fro$ a $o%e$ent culture( , "o not $ean a culture of si'n lan'ua'e an" silence) but one in *hich the *ay you $o%e carries the "o$inant infor$ation an" the soun" you $ake 'oes alon' on to# to a"" inflection an" $il" #recision( , think *e learnt our $o%e$ent-*or"s an" synta! fro$ ani$als because they occu#y a s#ecial #osition in our *orl"( To #ro%i"e this synta! a #heno$ena $ust be clearly "efinable a'ainst the en"less flo* of natural life( 0eather an" trees an" seas an" stars an" the sun all $o%e but they "o not carry the ri'ht kin" of infor$ation for 1-5

* Culture hu$ans to #ick out an" use( , belie%e other #eo#le also fail to carry the ri'ht infor$ation( 0e are too close to oursel%es an" each other( 0e burn too bri'htly in the $in" for us to re"uce oursel%es to abstracts( 0e are also irre'ular( 2ou cant $ake a re'ular lan'ua'e by obser%in' an intelli'ent bein' *ho is also obser%in' you at the sa$e ti$e( ,ts too co$#le!( 0e "i" not "ra* hu$an for$s for a lon' lon' ti$e after *e starte" #aintin' ani$als( 0e "i" not $ake hu$an faces for a lon' ti$e after that( ,t that because hu$anity *as not i$#ortant to us: , think the inner li%es an" #resence of other #eo#le s*a$ in our %ision like a fla$e hel" to close to the face( 0e coul" not see it( Ani$als( 0e *ere close to the$( 0e obser%e" the$( Nee"e" the$( 6ur ability to track an" #ersistence-hunt $eant *e ha" a co$#le! theory-of-$in" for the$ *hich *as reinforce" by huntin' success( They are "istinct fro$ the flo* of nature( -learly their o*n thin'( An" they $o%e( They $o%e in #articular *ays) in #articular #atterns( They re#eat the #atterns a'ain an" a'ain( Mi$ickin' these #atterns co$es naturally to us( Those $irror-neurons "esi'ne" for social "e%elo#$ent can be hacke" to $irror other thin's( @ach ani$al has a kin" of acti%e lan'ua'e e$bo"ie" in its $o%e$ents( 0atchin' a lion hunt is like seein' a sentence enco"e" in s#ace an" ti$e( 2ou "o not kno* e!actly *hat *ill ha##en but you kno* the #attern( ,t *ill en" only t*o *ays( A #re"ictable series of si'ns( , i$a'ine early hu$ans learnin' the huntin' $o%e$ents 1-+

* Culture of a lion) $i$ickin' the$ before the 'rou#) an" then abru#tly) ri'ht at the en") 7ust at the 1lion1 is about to #ounce) substitutin' the si'nature $o%e of so$e other creature( The lion lea#s an" turns into a bir"( The bir" nests an" has chicks( ,t flies off an" #icks u# an ele#hant to fee" to the$( 5ike a kin" of kinetic 7oke( Mi!in' an" $atchin' *ell kno*n kinetic si'ns to "escribe so$ethin' that coul" ne%er ha##en in the ori'inal arran'e$ents of those si'ns( A lan'ua'e of $o%e$ent(

1-7

5 @ Teens

B - Teens
These are a&tual la" re orts of a DYD game I ran 0ith a small grou of teenage bo"s o7er a &ou le of months. I onl" managed to s&ribble do0n a tin" fragment of the insane shit the" &ould &ome u 0ith. The" 0ere mu&h mu&h funnier in real life.

6#enin' -o$$ent
57er" time I introdu&e a ne0 la"er I tell them outright that the game is both unbalan&ed and unfair and that if the" die fast its robabl" not their fault. Then the" roll u &hara&ters and start la"ing 7er" ;ui&kl". V... I still ha7e la"ers asking for er&e tion rolls and stuff like that. I denied them a bit and then a la"er ended u in7estigating a dark room b" thro0ing a burning lantern through the door and seeing shado0 of a giganti& $oth. 3e then stole another players pet dog and thre0 it in# lured the moth and shot it 0ith a &rossbo0.

The Do' 0as -alle" Priestly

6ne of the initial characters en"e" u# bein' curse" so that it al*ays raine" *here%er they *ere( @%en thou'h this ha" %ery little in-'a$e effect it en"e" u# "e#ressin' the #layers so $uch they 7ust 'ra"ually for'ot about the 1-,

5 @ Teens 'uy an" left hi$ behin"( 6ur -leric en"e" u# bein' curse" *ith a %ariant of 8ak S1s =ile .oun" s#ell an" ha" to #erfor$ an e$er'ency -esarean on hi$self to re$o%e a little -hihuahua( .e then faile" his loyalty roll to co$$an" the beast *ho i$$e"iately $a"e frien"s *ith another P- after bein' fe" scra#s of flesh fro$ a "ea" 0i&ar"( The "o' *as ulti$ately $a"e useful as a lure for $onsters) a'ainst the *ishes of its o*ner(

Teens
90e *ere talkin' about ho* *e all 'ot fro&en by that #riest an" , "i"n1t an" ho* , sa%e" us all) an" Teen11s 'irlfrien" *as there an" he "i"n1t like $e talkin' about ho* , sa%e" hi$(9 (((((((((((((( 16(I you1re "ri%in' a cart full of treasure throu'h to*n) in the rain) in the early hours of the $ornin') *hat "o you "o:1 1-an , sin':1 1,f you sin' the son' in full) in front of $e no*) then you can sin'(1 1-an , 'et other #eo#le sin'in':1 1There is one "runk $an follo*in' the cart( Roll a 1-%

5 @ Teens charis$a test(1 The ne* #o#ular son' in the tiny $e"ie%al to*n of Scro"" on the lost ,sle of the >nkno*n is no* 1-all $e Maybe1 12ou are bein' a*ar"e" the free"o$ of the to*n for clearin' Ruffthroat Iee#( Do you *ant to $ake a s#eech:1 1-an , sin' 1-all $e Maybe1:1 1,f you *ant to( Sa$e rule as before(1 ((((((((((((((((((((((((((( 12ello* the >nholy) the rain-curse" *i&ar" is be''in' you to hel# hi$(1 1Di"n1t you say that as *ell as bein' curse" *ith eternal rain he also ha" to talk constantly about the $oon:1 1, "i" say that( +y the $oon) hel# $e(1 1-an , heal hi$ *ith the #o*er of Thor:1 1That is a s#ell *ay abo%e your le%el(1 1, *ant to try it any*ay(1 12ou un"erstan" you *ill be rollin' on the sa$e table that en"e" u# cursin' the 0i&ar" *ith the Moon an" the Rain thin':1

1)9

5 @ Teens 1, *ant to try it any*ay(1 1, *ill allo* that as a one-ti$e roll as it is non-co$bat an" fuckin' hilarious(1 ;the eternal rain *as also #issin' $e off< rollrollrollrollroll 16(I your s#ell *ent *ron'( Thor is #unishin' you *ith((((1 rollrollrollrollroll 1A 'i'antic ani$ate brain an" t*o 'iant eyes( ,ts a Si! .D $onster) you are a 1st le%el character) the 'iant brain has a##eare" in the castle stables( 2ou are in the stables( ,t1s bet*een you an" the "oor( 0hat "o you "o:1 6ne sur#risin' co$bat later(((( 1Since 2ello* the >nholy is "ea" "oes that $ean the rain has finally sto##e":1 12es(1 1So "oes that $ean the *eather #re"ictin' "e%ice , foun" un"er the kee# that tol" $e it *oul" be sunny is actually correct:1 12es) yes it "oes(1 (((((((((((((((((((

1)1

5 @ Teens 1As you cross the bri"'e you look "o*n an" see a bo"y cau'ht a'ainst the #illars( 0hat "o you "o:1 1, "on1t kno*) can , #ull it out:1 1,t1s u# to you) you can follo* the ri%er an" *a"e throu'h the $u" on the bank) you $i'ht be able to sna' it(1 16(I) , #ull hi$ out(1 1Are you 'oin' to tell anyone: There is a church ri'ht behin" you( 2ou coul" take it there( Maybe so$eone sa* you:1 1They $i'ht think , kille" hi$(1 1They $i'ht(1 +ut so$eone $i'ht ha%e alrea"y seen $e(1 1They $i'ht ha%e(1 1, coul" 7ust #ush hi$ back in the ri%er(1 12ou coul"( Maybe so$e*here in Scro"" there is a fa$ily *aitin' for "a" to co$e ho$e) but he ne%er *ill( Maybe so$e*here there is a #et "o' slo*ly star%in' to "eath behin" a locke" "oor) *aitin' for $aster(1 1, 1 kno* *hat to "oP 0hat shoul" , "o:1 @%ery other #layer at the table - 10e1re not there( ,ts 26>R character) 26> ha%e to "eci"e( ,t1s a role-#layin' 1)-

5 @ Teens 'a$e1

1They calle" $e the Ri""le$aster1

1The $ysterious far$er *ants you to hel# fin" his lost *ife an" "au'hter(1 10e say 2esP1 1The last he sa* of the$ they *ere 'oin' to %isit a stran'e statue to the *est( 2ou can ask it a /uestion once a *eek an" it *ill 'i%e a true ans*er( ,f you ask any further /uestions) it *ill 'i%e you a ri""le( Succee" an" you can recei%e another true ans*er(1 They reach the statue((( 16(I) *hat "o you ask:1 10hat "oes this e%il $a'ical flo*er that *e stole fro$ a safe an" that1s bein' hunte" by e%eryone on the islan" "o:1 1The one bein' hunte" by all the flo*er-base" $onsters) inclu"in' the Death Saint) an" the the 6rchi"$en that 7ust $elte" the face off Ilaus =on Scorn1 ;.ero of Scro"") *iel"er of e "e$on su$$onin' bla"e *ith a CBQ failure rate) 2n" le%el fi'hter an" first P- fatality< an" the 5or" of the ,slan" an" his "ea"ly 0ar -hi$#s:1 12es(1

1))

5 @ Teens 12ou1re not 'oin' to ask about the *ife an" "au'hter:1 1No) *e1ll sa%e that for later) tell us about the flo*er(1 1,t1s roots 'ro* in the afterlife) it can be use" to break the barriers bet*een life an" unlife( ,t can "estroy the boun"ary bet*een the t*o real$s(1 1Ahhh *e coul" ha%e use" it to brin' Ilaus back to life(1 16(I ,1$ 'oin' to *ra# it u# here) see you here ne!t *eek(1 1Are you 'oin' to #rint out a loa" of ri""les:1 12es(1 Then later) on the *ay ho$e a #layer sai" this( 1, use" to run a #a'e *ith a ne* ri""le e%ery "ay( ,t 'ot so #o#ular that , beca$e 2n" in co$$an" in the clan( , only sto##e" #layin' becasue our ene$ies *ere Turkish an" they *ere allo*e" to #lay the 'a$e in *ork) so it *as i$#ossible to 'et the "ro# on the$(1 1So you *ere kin" of like the Ri""le$aster:1 12eah) that *as $y online na$e actually) the Ri""le$aster(1

1)*

5 @ Teens

The Ri""les , Ma"e

1S , a$ the si'htless eye blin"e" by ti$e( , *elco$e" in the sun an" sent back the rest( My $asters left $e( boys kille" $e( all #ass freely( none care( 2S , lea" you to lo%e an" "ru$-beat at "eath( ,n $y *hite-*alle" city , a$ the stron'est( 2et , *ill ne%er rule( 2ou can break $e *ith a 'lance( +ut if $y $usic sto#s the city falls( CS A $i'hty hoar" , 'uar" that 'li$$ers in the *oo"en #aths of a bri'ht "un'eon( 4S My roun" roof s#ins fast - 'ra%en $etal 'lints( My house *alls hollo* - the tick tock of a clock( Trust $e too $uch , *ill kill you but you *ont sur%i%e a "ay *ithout $e( 2ou be' $e /uestions but thro* $y i"ols "o*n( 1)5

5 @ Teens BS , a$ like no other art $y brush $arks re" *here%er it 'oes an" al*ays lea%es less behin" than *as( , a$ a 'reat scul#tor of flesh but $y fi'ures fail) $issin' so$e #art( , $a"e the$ so( Ino* $e an" kno* sorro*) i'nore $e an" kno* $ore( OS , can take anythin' fro$ your han"s Thou'h , hol" nothin'( , ha%e seen secrets you frien"s ha%e not( +ut you barely see $e at all( My betrayal can lock e%ery "oor a'ainst you( +ut co$$an" $e once $ore) $ake $e loyal *ith cor") an" a s#ear of steel( LS , ha%e hel" your face) 2ou turne" a*ay( , looke" into your eyes) 2ou curse" $e( , took your cloak an" hat) 2ou "i" not thank $e( , $ake brea") an" #lay *ith the 'rain(

1)+

5 @ Teens MS My $other in the *oo" lo%es the sky( , fear it( $y hun"re" 'rey "au'hters kiss the earth( , s#urn it( , hun'er for the co$#any of close cro*"s( They hate $e( , *ill "ance for you like no other but only *hen all else is still(

@$otions
That has to be the $ost e$otional 'a$e of D D ,1%e e%er #laye"( half *ay throu'h , *as #retty sure that Teen1 an" Teen2 *ere 'oin' to sto# bein' frien"s( They cons#ire" a'ainst each other) let each other "o*n an" s#ent $ost of their ti$e tryin' to 'et their characters as far a*ay fro$ each other as #ossible( @%en in the "un'eon( .alf *ay throu'h , ha" to 'i%e the$ C $inutes of Re#ublican Da") a len'thy s#eech *hich be'in *ith 16(I) fuck your free"o$ of a'ency1 an" en"e" *ith 1you *ill *ork to'ether as a tea$ or , s*ear to 'o" , *ill fuckin' kill you(1 , honestly thou'ht his $i'ht be the last 'a$e as they *oul"n1t turn u# a'ain( The *hole thin' en"e" *ith the teens finally learnin' to check for tra#s by thro*in' rocks) "isco%erin' a secret "oor) rescuin' the fa$ily of a local far$er an" trickin' so$e skeletons out of treasure( Teen1 %olunteere" to stay 1)7

5 @ Teens behin" an" hol" of the $onsters *hile the other t*o esca#e"( They chose to stay as *ell an" Teen2 en"e" u# sacrificin' hi$self to sa%e Teen1) *ho ha" been re"uce" to 8ero .P *hile TeenC sa%e" the$ all by settin' his =ornhei$ .e!enhun" on the re$ainin' skeletons( An" e%eryone *ent ho$e ha##y(

Tele#athic Snails
96(I the 'uy has a ba' full of snails( About G00 of the$(9 9Snails:9 92es) an" they ha%e shells of soli" sil%er(9 9.o* $uch #er shell:9 9About one sil%er #iece #er shell(9 9-an , 'et KP for that:9 92es) if you sell the$( +ut(( 2ou hear a tiny #i#in' %oice in your hea"( ,t1s screa$in') 1"on1t hurt us #leeeease1(9 9Are the snails tele#athic:9 9An" intelli'ent( An" they are be''in' you for hel#( So( 0ill you sell the innoc((9 9-an *e $ake a "eal *ith the snails so that *e #ut the$ in a she" or *here%er they nee" to 'o but so$e co$e *ith us an" *e can carry one each an" talk to the$ an" they 1),

5 @ Teens can co$$unicate *ith each other so *e ha%e like tele#athic ra"io:9 9(((((( , can1t see any reason *hy not(9

Fake +ein' 4ay to Iill Thie%es

5essons learnt fro$ toni'ht?s session( There is nothin' *ron' *ith flirtin' *ith teena'e boys throu'h an i$a'inary $ale character in an i$a'inary bar if that is what the reaction die says( ,f this $akes you incre"ibly a*k*ar" you can 7ust say 9ok ok) he flirts *ith you(9 Fake bein' 'ay to kill thie%es( ,f an in%ulnerable $onster co$es out of a 7ar you 7ust s$ashe" o#en an" tries to eat your le') the ans*er *ill be foun" by s$ashin' o#en all of the identical =ars( 14uy-0ith-The-Falcata1 soun"s cooler than 1A!e 'uy1 6ne of $y #layers actually kno*s *hat a Falcata is( Psionic snails $ake e%erythin' easier( Players are ha##ier *ith ran"o$ tattoos fro$ a carousin' roll than they are *ith actual treasure( A #layer *ho *ill not surren"er his #late-$ail ar$our in an a'onisin' cross country *alk) or *hen it 'ets bent out 1)%

5 @ Teens of sha#e in a #it-tra#) or in a $assi%e ar'u$ent *ith his actual real-life frien"s about the conse/uences of encu$brance) *ill "o so i$$e"iately 9to 'et it ena$elle" *ith like a ser#ent-ro#e "esi'n to $atch $y tattoo9( ,f you 'et a neck tattoo) you can ne%er 'o back to bein' an accountant( So$eone #layin' a thie%in') $ass-$ur"erin') 4oatSkull-0orshi#in' for$er accountant *ill refuse to thro* an ar$ *restlin' $atch for $oney because he consi"ers his character 1-haotic 4oo"(1 ,f you $ur"er so$eone) an" they co$e back fro$ the "ea" *ith the e%il use of a Ja"e Monkey22 a$ulet( And you 5ill them again- 2ou can 7ust $ess u# their stuff an" lea%e the bo"y ho#in' the authorities take it for a 97a"e $onkey hate cri$e(9 A cleric calle" 1.ir'en the Fon"ler1 shoul" 'et a thicker skin) or not 'o out "rinkin'(

22

These 'reen-eye" te$#le-"*ellin' $onkeys are incre"ibly cal$ an" *ell

$annere"( Just ha%in' the$ aroun" chills #eo#le out an" $akes easier to rela! an" concentrate( For unkno*n reasons they ha%e hearts of #ure Ja"e( For reasons e%en $ore unkno*n the heart of a Ja"e $onkey is itself in the sha#e of a $onkey( The stone 7a"e $onkey that $akes the heart of an actual li%in' 7a"e $onkey) if *orn aroun" the neck) can 'ui"e the bearer throu'h the afterlife an" back to their bo"y) thereby raisin' the$ fro$ the "ea"( 6nce( 6f course anyone *earin' a stone Ja"e $onkey ha" to actually kill a real Ja"e $onkey to 'et it( @%erybo"y lo%es Ja"e $onkeys( @=@R2+6D2( @%en %a$#ires an" 5iches an" a'e ol" e%il 'o"s like the$( @%en -thulhu like the$( ,f anyone fin"s you *ith a Ja"e $onkey #en"ant then you *ill be looke" "o*n on by the scu$ of the earth(

1*9

5 @ Teens

92ou kno* it1s al*ays $ore fun *hen *e s#lit u#(9

96k $y backstory is that $y #arents *ere kille" an" , *as raise" by D*ar%es9 ;*ho a##arently na$e" hi$ after the city they li%e" in) 0i''leton< 9but the corru#t "*arf kin'1s $en kille" $y "*arf "a" an" then , #icke" u# a bar of iron fro$ $y fathers for'e kille" the kin's 'uar" an" that1s ho* , kin" of beca$e the ulti$ate #erson) oh) an" , sle#t *ith the kin's "au'hter(9 ((( Teen1 - 9Do , ha%e to take a 0,S test e%ery ti$e , take a "rink: , "on1t really feel like $y characters an alcoholic(9 DM- 9,1ll 'i%e you an" Teen2 B0 KP each if you can #ersua"e TeenC that it1s a 'oo" i"ea to 'et "runk ri'ht no*( TeenC , *ill 'i%e you 100 KP if you can #ersua"e the$ to stay sober(9 C0 secon"s later Teen1 - 9,f you take a "rink no*) , *on1t kill you(9 ((((( D.ol" onP Do you think this $onastery $i'ht be a %ery e%il $onastery:9 T*o $inutes after cuttin' the ar$s an" le's off an un"ea" $onk in aban"one" s*a$#-struck .ell$arsh $onastery( 1*1

5 @ Teens ((((( After a fi%e $inute "iscussion of the accuracy of scholarshi# surroun"in' the life of Jesus) the relati%e loyalty of 5i&ar"folk to a si!-foot lunatic *earin' ena$elle" #late $ail *ith the -ro*n of the 5i&ar" Iin' 'il"e" to the hel$et) the #oor con"itions in the s*a$# aroun" .ell$arsh $onastery an" the ne'ati%e i$#act of hu$an hy#ocrisy on #ossible re-settle$ent of an occasionally $an-eatin' race because 9*e eat co*s an" nobo"y says *e1re e%il(1 9,t "oesn?t $atter *hat the actual Jesus looke" like( The 5i&ar" Jesus can be a totally "ifferent thin'( , can be 5i&ar" Jesus *earin' ena$elle" Plate$ail(9 ((((( 6n the co$#laints of the relati%ely sane TeenC *hen 'oin' throu'h three se#arate "oors in .ell$arsh Monastery *ith three se#arate characters( 9-o$e on) you kno* it1s $ore fun *hen *e s#lit u#(9

The Rules Don1t -o%er ,$#lo"in' Frien"shi#s

So it "i"n1t really $atter that , for'ot to brin' the$( After bein' $u''e" after a carousin' roll an" turnin' u# nake" at the ta%ern *ith one hit #oint an" no $oney(

1*-

5 @ Teens Teen1 ;about Teen2< 9-ut his face(9 TeenC 9No) tie hi$ u# nake"(9 Teen2 90oul"n1t they be sus#icious that you1re takin' a nake" $an u#stairs to sa* his face:9 DM 9No because you1re alrea"y a cou#le(92C At the @ternal Feast of the .ar%est Ini'ht 96h so *hen it1s in to*n an" *e1re be''in' you not to "rink T.@N you 'et "runk) but you *on1t eat anythin' no*(9 9No because you ne%er eat the foo" they offer a #lace calle" the Ne%eren"in' Feast(9 ,n the Dun'eon beneath the castle of the recently $ur"ere" .ar%est Ini'ht( 9,1ll follo* you because so$ethin' ba"1s 'oin' to ha##en an" , *ant to lau'h in your face *hen it "oes(9

After #issin' on the Mysterious 2et ,$#ossible statue of a P- in sai" "un'eon( An" bein' *restle" to the 'roun" by sai" P-( 2C 6n reflection) yes) yes they *oul" be sus#icious at the facial $utilation thin'(
Assu$in' 'ay cou#les in $ock-feu"al settin's co-$utilate is insane( , *as un"er a lot of #ressure at the ti$e( Sorry 'ays(

1*)

5 @ Teens 9, "on1t care if , #ee on $yself) ,1$ 'oin' to #ee on your statue(9 TeenC *hile hol"in' "o*n fello* tea$$ate( 9-ar%e 1T,T1 into his #late$ail(9 An" yet *hen challen'e" for a son' to enter the feast of the .ar%est Ini'ht Teen1 an" 2 broke into a #erfect "ual ren"ition of 1T*inkle T*inkle 5ittle Star1( TeenC chose 1,1%e 'ot a lo%ely bunch of coconuts(1 They see$e" ha##y by the en"( , nee" to focus $ore( , *as la&y) "isconnecte" an" un#re#are" this ti$e( , o*e the$ a bit better than this(

Tri''er 0arnin' for Stu#i"ity

The Sub-Title *as 'oin' to be1A Pi' -an -he* Throu'h a Dra'ons Neck1 ,f it1s a #oly$or#he" P- *ith a #otion of Dra'on -ontrol( Teen1 - 9, thou'ht he *as a +a" 4uy) 7ust not an en"-the*orl"-ba" kin" of 'uy(9 4M - 92ou1%e been talkin' to hi$ throu'h a #ossesse" 'oats skull(9 Teen1 - 92eah but fro$ the skull he see$e" alri'ht(9 1**

5 @ Teens

.e *asn1t alri'ht) he *as a $ass-$ur"erin' 5ich *ho) its been stron'ly su''este" ;R@DA-T@D<ba" stuff *ith ki"s( Teen1 - 9Di" you really e!#ect u# to *in: .o* hi'h le%el is he:9 DM - 1looks at sheet1 90ell(( 0ith you t*o) an" the $in" controlle" "ra'on(( ,t1s *ithin the boun"s of #ossibility(9 Teen1 - 9,f *e tea$ u# *ith hi$ *ill *e really ha%e to en" the *orl":9 4M - 9@%entually , su##ose( .e1ll #robably try to take o%er the islan" first thou'h(9 So no* Passirisk the Ni'ht Ser#ent has a ne* bo"y an" his free"o$( +oy" 6f The Ro#e has a ne* $a'ic s*or"( Jonathan S#rin' has a ne* na$e 1Jonathan The 4rey1 9because *e1re 'oin' to be #ro#er e%il9( 0i''les ;6f 0,445@T6N) the D*ar%en -ityP< has a sur#rise *hen he co$es back fro$ his holi"ay an" fin"s his frien"s are no* 6fficially @%il) an" the 4M has to co$e u# *ith one of those $ulti#le-colu$n $ission 'enerators *ith only e%il %erbs( They also kille" a ,sle of the >nkno*n *i&ar") on the behalf of a 'iant sta' $an an" recei%e" =ornhei$fortunes( DM - 96ne you seek *ill be foun" in a closet(9

1*5

5 @ Teens Teen2 - 92esP ,1$ 'oin' to look in e%ery closet , fin" fro$ no* onP((( ;C0 secon" #ause< (( 0A,TP(((( 0hat "oes she $ean by 1in a closet:19

Teens "on1t kno* *hat @%il $eans

0hat ha%e , "one: Teens ha%e about as $uch nati%e 'oo"ness as $oonli'ht on a $oths *in'( Teen2 *as on fire toni'ht( Teen2 - 1*hat 'oo" has e%er co$e of ran"o$ encounters:1 6n hearin' ne*s of the sur%i%al of an ol" foe( Teen2 - 1that1s ho* e%il , a$) ,1$ s#rea"in' ru$ours that she1s a slut1 Teen2 - 1, hear" ru$ours of so$e 'uy *ith a $etal %ase that heals hi$) an" since *e kille" that 'uy an" took his %ase) $aybe this is it(1 6n "ra''in' a *oun"e" horse into a forest to tra"e a %aluable forest s#irit fa%our for horse-healin'( DM - 1T*o e%il characters care that $uch about their horse: Teen1 - ,t1s an evil horse(1 TeenC - 1, "on1t *ant to kill #eo#le for any really evil reasons( , "on1t $in" killin' #eo#le because so$eti$es they irritate $e(1 1*+

5 @ Teens

5ike A +eckett Play

Too $uch stuff to re$e$ber( More Teen cra&y) non-teen ra#i"ly corru#te" by Teen *ays) 'rou# near "eath) sues for #eace) only a"ult re-starts fi'ht out of s#ite an" $a"ness( P- curse" *ith 'ibberish) en7oys hi$self talkin' about flo*ers) trees) uses *or" 1*i''les1 to "escribe e%erythin' he sees for fi%e or ten $inutes( Teen2 refuses to hel# other teens fi'ht $onster) ai$lessly s$ashes 7ars in e$#ty roo$ lookin' for treasure instea"( Teen1 loses a character for only secon" ti$e( 56TFP $eans no resurrection but character "oes *ork for 5iche *ho has boaste" of "efeatin' "eath( Threats to se!ually assault NP- an" DM an'er re threats #ractically 'uarantees P- *ill return in fe$ale for$ as chea# lesson about #atriarchy( Non-teen succu$bs to e!ten"e" ar'u$ent about kno*le"'e of Star 0ars si"e-fiction) "iscussion of *hether 1=a"er kicke" a 0ookie1 in a license" #ro#erty( Discussion s#irals once a'ain into ar'u$ent of the nature of e%il by #eo#le *ho are si$ultaneously robbin') ab"uctin') $ur"erin') threatenin' an" relentlessly "oublecrossin' each other( ;@!ce#t for TeenC< 9, ha%e a bounty on $y hea"( An" you Jonathan of the 4rey) are you also 0ante") "o you ha%e a bounty on your 1*7

5 @ Teens hea": 1No((((( (((( ((( oh *ait yes) yes , "o) , for'ot , chan'e" $y na$e(9 They nearly "ie" "ue to stu#i"ity) faile" in their $ission for Passirisk an" all *alke" ;or *ere "ra''e"< out *ith a 'iant #ile of loot( , $ust try har"er to kill the$(

92ou can1t fe$ini&e $e) ,1ll "e$ote you(9

Teens are back an" the tables ha%e turne"( +oy" 6f The Ro#e is no lon'er a $an $ountain *ith a stren'th of 1M but a tire" toothless $i""le-a'e" $an) "es#erately clutchin' the +ir"house that no* contains his soul( A $assi%e battle usin' 8ak S1s Mosh#it24 Rules an" the Dun'eon Do&ens Ar$y 6f @%il2B tables sa* the teens facin' an e#ic force of e%il #lant-base" necro$ancers *ith only frien"ly 5i&ar"$en) a "etach$ent of Pre"ator Drones fro$ the future) a 4or'on) #ick-*iel"in' $an-a#e shock troo#ers an" @%il Fake 5uke Sky*alker( Result L on the .ea%y ,nfantry table is a 1.ar"-bitten "i%ision of ar$oure" si$ulacra of fa$ous cha$#ions of 'oo"1( So , let the$ na$e the heroes( 0e 'otH5ancelot(
-* dnd0ith ornstars.blogs ot.&o.ukH-91-H9%Ha&ross@mosh it.html6/!Id*&a&,9+e7d&5%b9 -5 roll1d1-.blogs ot.&o.ukH-91-H9%Harm"@of@e7il@*@s e&ial@for&es.html

1*,

5 @ Teens Aulcar"( ;Teen 11s .allo*een costu$e( .e brou'ht the hat to the 'a$e(< +en 10( ;Soul eaten *hen he fell into a $oat $a"e of the e%il 'reen $ist fro$ the "isney fil$ Anastasia(< +u&& 5i'htyear( ;Sta$#e" to "eath< Teen1 9Ahhh) *e coul" ha%e 'ot Su#er$an( +ut *e 7ust *ent for ones that *ere funny(9 The Ter$inator( ;T1000 "ie" sa%in' Teen 2 fro$ li'htnin' cause" by flyin' Pre"ator Drones into -li$ate .a*ks(< 5uke Sky*alker( Ash Ietchu$( ;Punche" to "eath before "e#loyin' his first Poke$on( 4enerally consi"ere" by all #resent to be secretly e%il as 1he ne%er a'es) he1s been on $issions that take 1C years an" he still says 9,1$ t*el%e9(1 Table o#inion *as that Ash han's aroun" *ith a lot of ne* #eo#le as he is secretly "is#osin' of the$ to conceal his freakishly a'e" bo"y(< Mario( ;-ause of "eath unclear( @ither trie" to 7u$# on so$eone in the battle an" 'ot ske*ere") or trie" to eat a ba" $ushroo$ an" e!#lo"e"( Not enou'h ti$e for anyone to check(< -o$$an"er She#her"( ;Sur%i%e"( , think(<

1*%

5 @ Teens An" #erha#s one or t*o other A$ine characters ,1$ not fa$iliar *ith( TeenC ably #re%ente" a F5A,5SNA,5 incursion by #ointin' out that 1,1%e 'ot a tele#athic snail ri'ht here(1 Teen1s hi'h charis$a an" snail-base" #sionics enable" hi$ to sub%ert the F5A,5SNA,51S loyalty( Sa$e teen still takes B $inutes of furro*e" bro* *hen , ask hi$ 1ho* to you hi"e:1 *hen he *ants to use stealth( +attle en"e" *ith the Teens takin' "o*n an e%il2O 8oi$ancer that Teen 1 ha" #re%iously tricke" into beco$in' a Minotaur) thereby $akin' hi$ $ore "an'erous) *hile an e%il 5iche *ith recently stolen eyes sat on his ne* Flailsnail an" lau'he"( Success resulte" in no $a'ic ite$s) but a fiel" #ro$otion for Teen2) *ho *as ran"o$ly assi'ne" co$$an" at the start of the battle) no* $akin' hi$ a 1Ma7or 4eneral1( 0hich #ro%e" useful *hen the others lau'he" at his .allo*een costu$e for #ossibly containin' a skirt(

-+ Thou'h the *or" really has no relati%e $eanin' in the ca$#ai'n( 159

+ 8&ul ture

O 3 Scul#ture
Completely enclosed in the hollo# of his hand
>3e must stri7e &ontinuall" to think of# and use# form in its full s atial &om leteness. 3e gets the solid sha e# as it 0ere# inside his head @ he thinks of it# 0hate7er itMs si/e# as if he 0ere holding it &om letel" en&losed in the hollo0 of his hand. 3e mentall" 7isualises a &om le! form from all round itselfU he kno0s 0hile he looks at one side 0hat the other side is likeU he identifies himself 0ith its &entre of gra7it"# its mass# its 0eightU he realises its 7olume# as the s a&e that the sha e dis la&es in the air.? 3enr" $oore QNotes on 8&ul tureM in 3erbert Reads Q3enr" $oore# s&ul ture and dra0ingsM There is o ular musi& and o ular &inema and there is a&tuall" o ular s&ul ture. $u&h of it is 0hat 0e 0ould usuall" &all ornaments. 8ome of it is miniMs. $inis are s&ul ture for the masses in the same 0a" as o is musi& for the masses. It is a kind of in7isible art. Constraints sha e thought. The mind is a little like 0ater. 'n" arti&ular thought 0ill usuall" &hoose the ath of least resistan&e to its assumed end. Total freedom often leads to general blandness. 8ee the melange of modern fantas". 151

+ 8&ul ture 2hen &onstraints are introdu&ed. OI think of them as atterns of a&ti7ation rather than &onstraints.P The thought is dis la&ed from its tra&k. =ike a ri7er being dammed. It must find a ne0 route through usuall" untou&hed astures of the mind and make unusual &onne&tions to be 0hat it needs to be. The most o0erful and &reati7el" interesting &onstraints are those of different kinds. If a DYD &hara&ter has to be a &leri& but &annot 0orshi an" stated god in a DYD book# that is t0o &onstraints from 0ithin a 7er" similar field. If the &leri& has to be &reated in fi7e minutes be&ause a train 0as late# that introdu&es a &onstraint from a different le7el. If it needs to fit into the oeti& formation of a sonnet# that is another# if it needs to be generated from a memor" of "our real life then this is another. Constraints im osed from different levels of realit" are the most o0erful I ha7e been thinking about the o7erla ing &onstraints under 0hi&h big &om anies make o ular s&ul ture and the" fas&inate me. 3o0 man"6 The <i&tion. 57er" mini is linked to and feeds ba&k into an o7erar&hing fi&tion# so ea&h mini must en&a sulate and e7en mo7e for0ard a bit of the stor". It has to ha7e &ontinuit" 0ith 0hat &ame before. Ane of m" fa7ourite things about *9k lore is the ba&k0ard te&hnolog". In the *9k 7erse older te&hnolog" is al0a"s better and most of it is lost. RYD is forbidden. To make something 15-

+ 8&ul ture better "ou ha7e to a&tuall" find an ar&hi7e and mine it for alread" e!isting designs. This makes sense of the insane te&h le7els in *9k# es e&iall" in human &ulture. Ald and ne0# re&entl" dis&o7ered and long forgotten all mi!ed together almost in&oherentl". If game designers 0ant to in7ent something ne0 the" Bust ha7e something old dis&o7ered. This means designers get to in7ent 0hat the" 0ant# so long as it makes artistic sense. It feeds ba&k into the o0er of the fi&tion be&ause e7er"thing is old and de&a"ed and no@one understands it. The old seems ne0 and the ne0 seems old. It is an elegant formulation. 8tories need inherent te&hnolog" to talk about the future so that 0e understand it no0. 8tar Trek has ost@relati7isti& s eeds# gra7it" &ontrol# matter reorganisation and 'I. ' so&iet" 0ith those things 0ould look and a&t like nothing 0e &an re&ognise. 8o the te&h is used but the im li&ations are ignored. *9k gets around this b" in7enting an in&oherent &ulture. ItMs brokenness adds emotional and aestheti& o0er rather than taking it. Ca ital. If itMs made b" a maBor &or oration then it 0ill be affe&ted b" 0hat the market 0ants. 8 a&e $arine models outnumber Im erial Guard models be&ause e7er"one 0ants to la" 8 a&e $arines. The &om an" semi@a&&identall" hit something that Bams right in to the adoles&ent male mind. It does so in an interesting 0a". ItMs like a o hit of o ular s&ul ture. 57er"thing the" do almost has to hang some0here around the orbit of 8 a&e $arines as the" dri7e rofits. If 0e look ba&k at the fi&tion &onstraint# the" need to li7e inside a 15)

+ 8&ul ture uni7erse that Bustifies the e!isten&e of 8 a&e $arines. It 0ill be affe&ted b" 0hat the &om an" thinks it &an ersuade eo le to 0ant and b" 0hat makes the most mone". The &om an" has 0orked out it has a higher rofit margin on 7er" large 7er" e! ensi7e kits. No0 e7er" arm" has one. 2ould "ou like a giant multi@ art G2 kit6 (u" t0o for "our a o&al" se game. The &reation of these mega@kits has been enabled b" shifts inV The $eans of Produ&tion. It needs to be mass rodu&ed. The materials and the te&hni;ues &hange. Generall" "ou are tr"ing to fake a figure that o&&u ies three dimensional s a&e 0ith a te&hnolog" that 0ants to make long thin things. Ald models 0ere usuall" arranged a&ross a single a!is. 8o instead "ou make it in arts# the arts get sni ed off the s rue and atta&hed a different 0a" so it o&&u ies )d s a&e in a more fluid 0a". Com uters &an s&an in &om le! sha es for mass rodu&tion. $aterials. =ead holds differentl" to e0ter 0hi&h holds differentl" to lasti& 0hi&h holds differentl" to fine&ast resin. $etals are hea7" and need s e&ial glues to make them sti&k so its hard to build big multi art models 0ithout s e&ial skills. Plasti& bends under heat and glues su er eas" so that effe&ts things for the &onsumer. O8ome of 0hat 0e think of as an an&ient st"le of s&ul ture is based on ho0 granite &arries detail. Granite is a hard ro&k. It sur7i7es 0hen others 0ear. Its hard to &ut so "ou ha7e to use sim le bold designs. Those designs last so the" be&ome s"mboli& of time. The material affe&ts the form 0hi&h affe&ts the &ulture.P

15*

+ 8&ul ture 'r&hite&ts of old large buildings 0ould shift the le7el of detail in the building de ending on its distan&e from the 7ie0er. <ine detail in the distan&e is often bad detail be&ause its fineness fades 0hen seen from a long distan&e a0a". Detail on a battlefield might 0ork in the same 0a". The use of lead# arti&ularl" in 15mm s&ale# for&es the s&ul tor to en&ode form more o0erfull" as art of the identit" of a model. The small s&ale means the mini must stand out o0erfull" from tose around it 0ith minimal detail# lead doesnt like holding a lot of detail either# but it holds mass 0ell. Identit" must be &ommuni&ate through mass not fiddl" e!tras. The 5 i& s&ale s&ul ts 0ere some of the most inno7ate and o0erful G2 e7er ulled off. $an" of their most re&ent &reations# no matter ho0 finel" made# are sim l" feeding off the &reati7e energ" of those earl" forms. 185C This is 0here o ular s&ul ture is reall" different to an" other kind of art. The gu" 0ho designed 8 a&e $arines ga7e them that unusual highl" distin&ti7e u er bod" rofile be&ause the la"er is al0a"s looking do0n on them from abo7e and the" need to o against a mi!ed ba&kground. 2arhammer fantas" minis need to &li&k together ne!t to ea&h other on s;uare bases as a regiment 0hile also forming a semi@realisti& im ression of something going to 0ar.

ItMs assumed that the user 0ill and should 0ant to alter the rodu&t. $eans are designed s e&ifi&all" for the end user to do that. Is there an" other form of art in 0hi&h it is assumed that the &onsumer is also a minor &reator6

155

+ 8&ul ture Painting is a 0hole other thing. 8o far as I kno0 the 0est hasnMt ainted s&ul tures sin&e Gree&e. 5!&e t 0e do. Go here-7 and tell me if "ou think "ou are looking at an artform 5motion6 This ma" be a sub@&onstraint of stor". $ost 0arhammer minis need to not look stu id 0hen the" are osed alone a0a" from a &ombat# but also not look stu id 0hen rammed right u ne!t to another model in hand@to@hand. This often strands them in a kind of strangulated emotional s a&e. There are e!&e tions# sort of. O2hi&h "ou &anEt see in this book as I donEt ha7e the rights or the te&h to embed it# sorr"P I su ose 0here I am going 0ith this is that it makes more sense to think about minis as a form of o ular art and to assess them along 0ith elite offi&iall"@art s&ul ture in a similar relation as that of o musi& to &lassi&al musi&. I &anMt hel but think that if "ou took some G2 s&ul ts# filed off the details# lea7ing them as abstra&t sha es# then gre0 them is si/e and took them to a galler"# the" 0ould be regarded as art and ossibl" as high art. 5!&e t if "ou brought in assessment of '== the things 0orking on a model design and ho0 the" all knit together to make
-7 htt GHH000.games@0orksho .&omHg0sH&ontentHarti&le.Bs 6 &ategor"IdIY Inde!I1YaIdI1)99999%aYmultiPage$odeItrueYstartI-

15+

+ 8&ul ture something "ou are talking about it in a 0a" I think no@one has before. 'rt has mo7ements and markets and the mind of the s&ul ture but it doesnMt ha7e a fu&king uni7erse to dra0 from and a&&ount for. 'nd it isnMt for the eo le. ItMs for some eo le. 4ou &an go and bu" some remarkable forms of art right no0. 'nd the &reators assume "ou are &a able and 0illing to alter and ada t them to "our 0ill. 4ou are in7ited to do so. 4ou are in7ited to use the art. 4ou &an hold one in the alm of "our hand.

<esus 0i5es 'our Bac5pac5

$an" things ha7e been said and some are belo0 the Bum . (ut first# the ba&k a&k. I 0ant "ou to imagine "ou are la"ing a game of *9k in the middle of a &hur&h. There is no@one else around. The table is in the middle of the building. $iniMs might be like s&ul ture# but the battlefield is more like a &athedral. The" both ha7e to &arr" information in a similar 0a". The" are information@ rodu&ing s a&es. The information is a narrati7e. In the &athedral the stor" is the religion. It ne7er &hanges# but "ou are meant to. The battlefield is a stor" "ou &reate and resha e moment b" 157

+ 8&ul ture moment. (ut "ou need to get that information either 0a" or the 0hole thing has no oint. The" both need to 0ork on multi le s&ales. Not man" forms of art need to do this. 4ou are usuall" e! e&ted to be onl" one distan&e a0a". The mini &an be in "our hand. Close. An the table# arranged either on its o0n or as art of a grou . It must stand out or lo&k in 0ith the grou in an intuiti7e 0a". It must &learl" sho0 informational &a a&it" both at short range as a dis&rete thing and 7er" far a0a" from "ou as art of a mi!ed grou . ' &athedral has to 0ork on similar s&ales. 8&ul tures in there must 0ork u &lose to gi7e dire&t information. The" are also art of an o7erar&hing s&hema# the" must harmonise 0ith a grou of other s&ul tures 0hen seen from a great distan&e. The" must also 0ork as art of the stru&ture of a large building. The &athedral is a s a&e "ou transit through# saints and the like look do0n on "ou from abo7e. The battlefield is a s a&e "ou &reate and &hange as "ou la". In both &ases there is a kind of mo7ement through the s a&e# one literall" 0ith "our bod"# the other 0ith "our intent and minds@e"e. If "ou tra&e the line of sight from one of the saints in the 0indo0s to the miniMs on the table then the line goes rett" mu&h through "our head. The saints are looking do0n on "ou from the same angle from 0hi&h "ou look at the table. ItMs a 0eird fu&king angle to be intera&ting 0ith something at. 'bout 75 degrees. 'nd thatMs 0h" the Im erial Guard need better ba&k a&ks.

15,

+ 8&ul ture 8o far as I ha7e been able to find out Olet me kno0 in the &omments if I am 0rongP $iniMs are the onl" form of s&ul ture# of a human form# in 0hi&h "ou are e! e&ted to intera&t 0ith the thing from behind and from above. $ost of 0hat "ou see of "ou miniatures on the table is them fa&ing away from "ou. 4es "ou &an# and 0ill see them from e7er" other angle as the game goes on. (ut the rimar"# the assumed angle is from behind and from abo7e# at about 75 OI thinkP degrees. This is the same angle from 0hi&h the 8aints 7ie0 "ou. 2hi&h e! lains 0h" a great man" religions are obsessed 0ith &ertain headgears# robes and hair&uts. ItMs be&ause God is looking at "ou from the same angle. 75 degrees. <rom behind. 3e 0ants "ou to ha7e a distin&ti7e re7erse silhouette so he &an i&k "ou out of "our s;uad. In &ase he needs to grab "ou. ' good mini &an# and must# hold mu&h of its informational identit" 0hen seen from this angle. The designer of the 8 a&e $arines kne0 this. 3e ga7e them a &ool nu&lear ba&k a&k based on that of a roman legionnaire. 'nd then there 0as an e7en better idea. Gi7e the bad 8 a&e $arines their o0n evil ba&k a&k. 2hen seen from behind# 0ithout an" &onte!t# the" are strange amulets. Interestingl"# a *9k model and a fantas" model ha7e to do slightl" se arate things 0ith their god@angle rofile. ' *9k model 0ill be 0ith a loose grou # &ontinuall" re@arranged. It must &arr"# mat&h and mesh 0ith that grou identit". It must 15%

+ 8&ul ture bind the s;uad together instantl"# at a glan&e. 4ou need the information no0# "ou &annot 0aste time thinking about it. ' <antas" mini# b" &ontrast# 0ill al0a"s be &onsidered as art of a large automati& blo&k. It is more like a ie&e of ar&hite&ture from this angle than a s&ul ture. It must fit neatl" 0ith its regiment and form art of a large alread"@&ohesi7e grou . The informational transmission of the miniMs from the god@angle is different and I 0ould e! e&t the *9k miniMs# generall"# to ha7e a more o0erful and more e! ressi7e god@ angle rofile be&ause of it. 'nd thatMs 0h" the im erial guard need something on their ba&ks. There is not mu&h interesting stuff going on ba&k there. The" do not ha7e a o0erful god@angle rofile and this makes them less &harismati& and less useful s&ul tures. If "ou look at the e! ensi7e <orge 2orld Im erial guard $iniMs# the" ha7e one thing in &ommon. The" ha7e been gi7en# or gi7en the o tion for# &ool things on their ba&ks. In addition to this# the .rieg helmet# &ombined 0ith the ba&k a&k# makes a mu&h bolder god@angle rofile than an" other guard unit. I donMt kno0 ho0 full" G2# or other &om anies# think about this. The" seem to do so 0ith 0ar ma&hines# 0hi&h often re&ei7e an e!&iting rofile of this kind. 2ith troo s the" seem to go on and off. There are no god@angle hotoEs on the G2 0ebsite that I &ould find. 'nd no@one seems to hotogra h their miniEs like this. 2hi&h is strange as this is ho0 the" use their miniEs. (ut 1+9

+ 8&ul ture e7er"one thinks of them as s&ul ture 0hen the" hold them and then forgets ho0 the" are used. I fantasise about a G2 RYD meeting in 0hi&h the first thing the" do is de&ide on the boldest and most o0erful god@angle rofile. 2hat do the" 0ear on their ba&ks and their heads. 2hat is the bod" sha e. Anl" then do "ou think about the front of the bod". The "ou de&ide on the te&hnolog" and aestheti&. Then sim l" 0rite the 0hole &ulture and histor" to a&&ount for the ba&k and the to of the head. O't this oint I dis&uss 7arious eo les &omments on the blog.P

D+ut is it aaaaaarrrrrtt:E
In the old 0orld "ou 0ould fight to make it real. 4ou 0ould find something of interest. Then "ou 0ould 0rite about it. If "ou 0rote enough# and 0ell enough "ou 0ould graduall" &limb the ladder of eo les attention. 4ou 0ould in&h b" in&h &ree &loser to the mainstream elite. 'rguments and fights. 'll the tiresome ritual a&ti7ities. Then# one da"# the thing "ou like a ears on =ate Re7ie0 or something. Ar someone im ortant 0rites about it. Then "ou are a real art. Not a 7er" good one at first. ' bit of a shit one. 4ou are in Guardian re7ie0s be&ause the" 0ant to ro7e a oint. (ut if "ou hang on for a fe0 "ears things slo0l" &hange again and then one da" "ou are a real art. 4ou are in the &lub. ThatMs rett" mu&h 0hat ha ened to &omi&s. It took a 0hile. I &hoose to ignore this. Clubs# es e&iall" elite &lubs# are generall" full of the kind of 1+1

+ 8&ul ture eo le 0ho are there be&ause the" think its really important to be in an elite club. 'lmost b" definition "ou are dealing 0ith a grou 0ho is 0illing to burn a huge degree of intelle&tual# emotional and finan&ial &a ital sim l" to be in a la&e full of eo le 0ho need to ro7e the" are in the la&e. I do not reall" think the" 0ill be 7er" interesting. I donMt ha7e an" mone" and I am rett" sure I 0ill die oor. That isnMt great. (ut it &on&entrates the mind 0onderfull". 2hat do I a&tuall" &are about6 I realise the internet# and all human dis&ourse# has a tenden&" to0ards &onfli&t. ItMs the 0a" eo le think. (ut I donMt ha7e to gi7e a shit about that. I ha7e nothing# and &an lose nothing. I am not fighting. I donMt &are if other eo le think $iniMs are a form of art. I belie7e on an intuiti7e le7el that the" are. If "ou agree or if "ou are sim l" interested then feel free to kee reading. I am interested in the 0orld and this blog and 0hat I 0rite 0ill be a refle&tion of that interest. I think 0e are surrounded b" e!am les of a strange o ular artform that 0orks mainl" b" itMs o0n rules. I am going to in7estigate that form 0ith as mu&h intelligen&e and imagination as I &an until I get bored or run out of things to noti&e.

>/till, that is not the point-4

OThis 0as another ost 0ith lots of i&tures in its original format# I 0ill ha7e to see 0hat I &an do 0ithout them.

1+-

+ 8&ul ture ResultU itEs rett" terrible. 3a7e an image sear&h o en as "ou read itP 2hene7er 0e tr" to de&ide 0hether to a&&e t a ne0 idea# 0e must ask oursel7es some 7er" serious ;uestions. 1 Does it make me look good6 - Is it like something I alread" half@belie7e but better hrased6 ) Can I get a0a" 0ith it6 * 3as someone alread" done most of the hea7" lifting6 5!a&tl" one 0eek ago I 0ent to the librar" to look for books on s&ul ture. Af the t0o I i&ked u # one 0as &hosen mainl" on the basis of si/e. It 0as large and bro0n and looked offi&ial. The de0e" de&imal number 0as embossed onto the s ine# 0hi&h is ho0 "ou kno0 someone means business 0ith their book. There 0ere also lots of i&tures. 'nd b" ure &han&e I i&k u the one book I absolutel" need. 2hat a sur rise is 3erbert Read. 3e died in +,M I think and ne7er sa0 large@s&ale miniature rodu&tion. =et alone 2arhammer. (ut I think he 0ould ha7e liked it. 3ere are some things I learnt from 3erbert Read belie7es that the QPainterl"M and the QPlasti&M are in &onfli&t all through the histor" of s&ul ture. 2hat this means is a little &om le!. I ho e I ha7e under stood 0ell enough to summarise 0ithout sa"ing an"thing too stu id. The sim lest 0a" to sa" it is that it is s&ul ture made to be seen# made to &reate an image first. To do the same thing that 1+)

+ 8&ul ture ainting does# but 0ith different materials. I think 3erbert 0ould robabl" think that 5l7es are Painterl" as 0ell. The" are kind of an illusion. The material is not being itself# it is being transformed# 0ith skill# to &reate the reten&e of another kind of matter. To float. The roblem 3erbert has 0ith this is that#0hile not bad in itself# and re;uiring a high le7el of abilit"# it se arates s&ul ture from its &ore. 3e thinks s&ul ture &an do something that images &an ne7er do and that 0hen s&ul tures be&ome too ainterl" and feed on ea&h other the"# o7er time# be&ome absent of this &ore ;ualit". >but it is erha s still ne&essar" to e! ose the 0eaknesses that# resent in the ainterl" &on&e tion at its best# lead 0ith logi&al ine7itabilit" to the horrors of a&ademi& s&ul ture at its 0orst.? 8o 0hat is this ;ualit"6 8&ul ture &an sha e mass. It &an o&&u " s a&e in a arti&ular 0a". It holds and &ontains 0eight and de th and roBe&ts or embodies this in the 0orld. The s atial resen&e &omes first# the 7isuals are Bust a &onse;uen&e of that. >The mind# said Rodin# onl" 0ith diffi&ult" familiari/es itself 0ith the notion of de ths# it al0a"s tends to la" o7er surfa&es.? >3en&eforth# 0hen "ou &ar7e# ne7er see the form in length# but al0a"s in thi&kness. Ne7er &onsider a surfa&e e!&e t as the e!tremit" of a 7olume# as the oint# more or less large# 0hi&h it dire&ts to0ard "ou. In that 0a" "ou 0ill a&;uire the s&ien&e of 1+*

+ 8&ul ture modelling.? some gu" ad7ising Rodin >$i&helangelo# 0hose 0ork had this &om a&tness# said that onl" those 0orks 0ere good that &ould be rolled from the to to the bottom of the mountain 0ithout breaking.? No0 D0ar7es. D0ar7es embod" mass. The" o&&u " s a&e. 4ou &ould roll them do0nhill and nothing 0ould sna off. If the" are interesting to look at it is robabl" a se&ondar" effe&t of the 0a" the" o&&u " the s a&e the" are in. ONo0 0e ha7e a roblem here in that 0e &an onl" look at these i&tures. 2e ha7e onl" the 7isual sense in this &ase. 8o 0e are tr"ing to rea&h behind or through one sense to rea&h another. The 0a" I think of thisU@ I imagine feeling it in m" bod"# beginning 0ith m" hands I retend the s&ul ture is life si/e# I ress m" alms against it# I mo7e m" bod" for0ard until I &an feel m" 0eight mo7e against itEs. I imagine tr"ing to ro&k it gentl" ba&k and forth# mo7ing around it and ushing it from e7er" side. If I &an feel the s&ul ture# then I 0ould sa" it has this ;ualit". ItEs ossible that I am being a little mad. (ut ma"be not.P >It is 7er" diffi&ult to &on7e" the nature of the sensations b" des&ri ti7e 0ords or e7en b" hotogra hi& illustrations. Ideall" ea&h reader of this 7olume should be ro7ided# at this stage# 0ith a ie&e of s&ul ture to hug# &uddle# fondle rimiti7e 7erbs that indi&ate a desire to treat an obBe&t 0ith lasti& sensibilit".? 1+5

+ 8&ul ture

>I kno0 that 0e &an get on ;uite 0ell 0ith a life of 7isual sensations# 0ith erha s an merel" sub&utaneous or sub&ons&ious life of ta&tile sensations. 8till# that is not the oint.? Goblins. Goblins# on the other hand# are 3a ti&. The" are sha ed b" tou&h. The" are a rimiti7e sense feeding straight ba&k into itself 0ithout intera&ting mu&h 0ith sight. There is the ha ti& homun&ulus. 4ou ma" be familiar 0ith it. The human bod" 0ith the si/es and ro ortions relati7e to the densit" of ner7e endings. he bod" as "ou tou&h it and as it is tou&hed. 'bsent of sight. Congenitall" blind &hildren often s&ul t the bod" 0ith these ro ortions. Goblins are ha ti& homonl&uli. I think thatEs 0h" I enBo"ed ainting them so mu&h. 2e &annot a&tuall" stroke or &uddle out miniEs mu&h. Aur main oints of &onta&t 0ith their surfa&es is firstl" 0hen 0e assemble them# but mainl" 0hen 0e aint them. 2e feel then 7irtuall" through the ti of a 7er" soft# and &arefull" obser7ed aintbrush. Though 0e do not ha7e erfe&t ta&tile feedba&k on the brush ti # 0e obser7e the aint being a lied and the e!a&t nature of the tou&h affe&ts that 7er" &learl". I al0a"s lo7ed ainting goblins Oand Ar&s some0hatP more than an"thing else. The hugeness and &rudeness of their features 0as a delight# ;uite a different feeling to a normall" ro ortioned model.P 1++

+ 8&ul ture It is ossible that a &ombination of the limited means of lead &asting and the# kind of# artisti& EmomentE of the times meant that earl" &itadel miniatures 0ere better s&ul tures in this 0a". =ess erfe&t as i&tured things# and ma"be not as skilled. (ut the" o&&u ied s a&e and held mass in a different 0a" and in that sense# 0ere more ure s&ul tures be&ause the" did that thing that onl" s&ul ture &an do. 'nd the" 0ere made of lead# 0hi&h 0eighs differentl" in the hand. 'nd eo le might sa" 0h" does it matter if the sha e is better and I 0ould re l" 0h" 0ouldnEt it. It is a ta&tile form. It is a ha ti& form. The 0eight is art of 0hat it is. ItEs not Bust 0hat the material &an do it is also 0hat the material is. Tou&h is the most shat@u on sense. 'long 0ith smell. 3o0 do 0e tell if someone is lo0 status or mentall" ill6 If the" smell# if the" tr" to smell other eo le. If the" tou&h things. Children tou&h things. 'll the time. Grabbing t0isting biting li&king. (ut 0hen "ou hit t0el7e "ou are e! e&ted to ha7e all the ha ti& information "ou 0ill e7er need. (etter remember it. 4ou might sa" that an" mini in "our hand is better than an" mini on the s&reen be&ause it is in your hand. >&onfirms the h" othesis that the free la&ing of s&ul ture in s a&e had not been a&hie7ed b" the end of the si!teenth &entur"# not e7en b" $i&helangelo. 'gain# as in Gree&e and 5g" t# it 0as onl" in and through Q.lein lastikM# small obBe&ts that &an a&tuall" be handled# that s&ul ture be&ame eman&i ated from all ar&hite&toni& and utilitarian ur oses and &on&ei7ed as an inde endent lasti& art.? @ Read 1+7

+ 8&ul ture

Ten Ideas 6or The Bac5s .f Toy /oldiers

I am taking an hour or t0o off to imagine differentl" rofiled to"s. 1. ' single air tank like the ones di7ers &arr"# either 7erti&all" or aslant. 8een in grou s this highlights the 7ulnerabilit" of the guardsmen. 2hen aslant# 0ould seem like a ro0 of tall"marks. $arines get Rhomboids and Triangles# guardsmen get single lines. ' gasmask ushed ba&k o7er the head so it hangs u side@ do0n# a line of deflated fa&es staring ba&k at the la"er in blunt a&&usation. =ike a ro0 of gra7es. ' 0orld 0here large o&kets of in7isible gas fill 7alle"s# turning them into lifeless o&eans. 'rmies 0alk into the gas like going under0ater. -. .ineti& s&ul ture. The sim lest 0ould be some kind of in0heel. $a"be s"&hi&@dis ersal 7anes that &at&h the unseen 0ind of &haos and sto "ou mutating. Chaos troo s ha7e an une7en eight@arro0ed in0heel that s ins on their ba&ks. The" 0ouldnMt e7en need a reason# those gu"s 0ould Bust be into that shit. OI Bust reall" 0ant to get .ineti& s&ul ture on the battlefieldP ). ' &ounter0eight for aliens. $o7e the bulk of the s&ul ture mu&h further for0ard of the base# &reating a great im ression of d"namism that 0ould be a rofile for the entire arm". 1+,

+ 8&ul ture Imagine a beast lea ing for0ard 0ith onl" its rear limbs Bust tou&hing the base. (ehind it a long tail 0ith some nodule or &lub at the end. Inside the &lub# a small lead 0eight. *. ' mirror. The la"er 0ould ha7e their fa&e staring ba&k at them. .inder eggs do stuff like this. Regiment &arries half@ araboli& defensi7e mirror shields like tin" radio teles&o es 0ith &hunks taken out of them. Affi&ers and assault grou s &arr" them for0ards. The bite taken out of the sha e makes room for the a&ti7e 0ea on arm. Rifle troo s &arr" the mirror shields slung on their ba&ks. Pointing ba&k to0ards "ou. The" &ome from the 0orld 0here the" make the ultra@rare anti@ lasgun shields. Ar from airless asteroids 0here laser fire &an &arr" a&ross hundreds of miles as it doesnMt dis erse# so the" had to think u an a&ti7e defen&e. 5. <a&es in rofile. 5mbossed bod" armour 0ith fearHmedusa fa&e going for0ard like the fa&e of Phobos on 'le!anderMs breast late and the fa&e of <ortune# or T"&he# on their ba&ks. <ortune does guard "our ba&k after all. The la"er 0ould see a series of serene smiling female fa&es in rofile# like on &oins. 'll fa&ing the same 0a". +. ' s irit le7el. Carried in small of the ba&k or a&ross the shoulders. 2idth of a drain. :ust a bit 0ider than the ba&k# 0ith an a&tual bubble in there. Regiment from non@demoni& others a&e or &olla sed 0eb0a" fragment. The" gro0 u in a non@eu&lidian /one and need this stuff to fun&tion in reals a&e 1+%

+ 8&ul ture at enormous &ost. 8trange angular helmets 0ith risms inside them to alter their e"esight for normal s a&e. Leteran assault for&e# trained for sui&ide a&tions. Ar for assaulting deamon 0orlds. CanMt be dri7en mad# so thatMs hand". 2ea ons look like Naum Gabo 8&ul tures. 7. .nots. (ig knots of ro e 0orn a&ross one shoulder# deliberatel" en&r" ted &limbers harnesses. =ike that thing 2orf al0a"s 0ore# but bigger# &hunkier# gi7ing a strong as"mmetri& rofile. =ike Celti& knot0ork in )d. Regiment adds one knot for battle sur7i7ed# 7ets ha7e huge ba&k a&k knots the" ne7er take off. ,. 8to0ed &eremonial o0erfists the" are not allo0ed to use. Probabl" not the real thing but religiousH&argo &ult re li&aMs. =ike a air of huge o en hands &rossed at the ba&k. Could be 0orn alm do0n like hands rea&hing o7er the shoulder ulling them for0ards into battle. Ar alm u like hands rea&hing u out to the la"er. <its 0ith god@angle theme as its like ra"er aimed at "ou. %. 8a7age 0orld 0ithout te&hnolog" "et 0orshi s ma&hine god. 2ears i&ons made from 0ood on their ba&ks. Cargo@&ult me&h arms like Te&h Priests# but made from 0ood and ob7iousl" &ar7ed. Ar &urled@u 8 a&e $arine i&ons made from 0ood. Argani& grain &ontrasting 0ith me&h form. Possibl" lea7es and 179

+ 8&ul ture bran&hes still left on. 19 3e!agonal ba&k a&ks6 Ak this one is reall" rubbish# but the" 0ould lo&k together on the field and look like a big beehi7e# 0hi&h is ni&e.

Ten Mas5s of the Creatures from Before Time

1. The ga s in broken glass and falling lea7es delineate the angles and the fa&e 0hose shiftings &annot blur# as 0heel@s okes merge or fighters hands tra&e 7e&tors in the air# but free/e ea&h se&tored mo7ement in the e"e. -. An&e gleam# t0i&e refle&ted teles&o ed gold# like sun motes hum in the redators ga/e# the &agelike iris of the 0olf that &ounts# arranging &onstellations of s0eet time. 8e&onds &elestial# ;ui&kl" e&li sed. ). The &old# enfolded shado0 bla/es ale# 0ee s molten moonlight tears that slo0l" ool# a fa&e of sil7er &ast on umbral bone. The 0inters smiling fa&e on aling 0eal 171

+ 8&ul ture and skulls slo0@sung fare0ell to tidal sail. *. This masks a&ks fra&tured s ider0ebs on glass 0hi&h holds the slo0@&onstru&ted dro lets e"e# ga/e staring blankl" from their in7erse 0orld of harried girl@&raft fa&es and a sk" shining like the ghost of a &ara a&e. 5. The skin here is finer than a fl"Ms 0ing and folds around the features like that shield. 5! ressions fli&k and t0it&h# a fl"@leg ran&e# de&e ti7e 0ea ons lo&ked in silent 0ield# a tran&e remembered dan&e it &annot sing. +. The e"es of a ro!imate millions glare from 7enom@s elling re tilian skin# the snake of No! Oonomasti&all"U NightP a daemons ta estr" of keratin the legions &hained u in her nails and hair. 7. The smoke from burnt iron &ores of blasted 0orlds 0rithes# denser than the floors it see s on# ga0 s and talks# 0ith 0ords unfurled ennants of iron# these tongues &oronal to a boiling fa&e# sour&eless# &entreless# timeless as the ra&e. ,. Pin&lut&h of un&lassifiable e"es# <a&ial geogra h" &r"stal s lintered. 17-

+ 8&ul ture This mask is latti&ing the tongue in light# igniting solar li s and bright gnathite# bonesU setting suns like shado0s dis@interred. %. ' hi7e of thoughts is t0isting in the glassG knots ra"s inside this anti@ rism mask. Amni hagi& Gorgonite mouth# alas 1nsto ed b" its fettered ortal &as;ue making lemnis&ate noms of s a&e# and mass. 19. This mask is the skull of the dragon# death# 0ho &ame before all da"s and noti&ed hours# breath s illing out an absent numbing mist bo0er# an ar&hite&tured 7oid that no@one dre0. This first masks fist is 0eft and s&re0ed 0ith o0er.

In case you didn?t notice ho# fuc5ing cle3er I #as eing,;

I 0ill make it e! li&it for "ou. IEll admit I onl" &ame u 0ith the idea of mi!ed rh"ming s&hemes Oon to of all ten being almost erfe&t iambi&
-, I 0rote this out of rage after s ending hours on the abo7e entr" and finding eo le ignoring it. It gathered signifi&antl" more attention and &omment than the original ost.

17)

+ 8&ul ture entameterP about half 0a" through. 'nd I onl" reall" got into it dee l" on the last fe0. (ut &ome on. It deser7es more than lus t0o in total. $a"be "ou donEt 0ant to re0ard E ailingE on line four. (ut E aleE E0ealE and EsailE on one four and fi7e6 The interlo&king alliterations of EsE and E0E from t0o to fi7e6 Pulling it all together 0ith the skullHskin meta hor on line fi7e that unifies the Ebla/es aleE Eumbral boneE and E0inters smiling fa&eE. Nothing6 1mbral fu&king bone eo le. 1mbral bone. 4ou are lu&k" to be getting this shit for free I tell "ou. 5nd@sto ed lines on 1@5 and -@* 0ith the &entral end rh"me re eated t0i&e on the bottom line 0ithout fu&king u the end rh"me 0ith 16 5! ressions and 0ea ons6 The fu&king alliteration all o7er the first three lines6 2hat do I need to do here6 2rite "ou a oem6 I <1C.ING DID. 'lright I used EthisE t0i&e. (ut look at the rh"me s&heme for fu&ks sakeC I re7ersed the end rh"mes on (AT3 lines in the third and forth lines and re eated all four in sequence on the last line. Gnathite for fu&ks sake. Do "ou ha7e an" idea 0hat it took to dig u Gnathite6 Its the art of a Ba0 or mouth art that mani ulates or &he0s.

17*

+ 8&ul ture

(xo1/uits of the &ot Girls

My frien" *as askin' for i"eas about *hat he shoul" "ra* ne!t( For so$e reason , *ante" hi$ to "ra* alien *eather syste$s( +ut then , thou'htR Dall he *ants to "ra* is hot #unk 'irls( So , shoul" ask hi$ to "ra* hot #unk 'irls e!#lorin' alien *orl"s) that *ay , $i'ht 'et *hat , *ant(E 0ell , "i"n1t) but , 'ot so$ethin' better) so$ethin' , "i"n1t kno* , *ante"( , coul"n1t let 'o of the i"ea an" once , starte" askin' /uestions the rest follo*e" naturally( The /uestion) 1ho* can you tell there1s a really attracti%e 'irl insi"e this 'iant robot:1 is actually /uite interestin' to ans*er( T(((((( ,n the future $ankin" has colonise" e%ery a%ailable star syste$ *ith slo*er-than-li'ht colony shi#s( -i%ilisations co$$unicate *ith each other continually but slo*ly( @%erythin' is hy#er-ci%ilise") o%er"e%elo#e" an" "ull( No-one is allo*e" to "o anythin' interestin' or "an'erous as they li%e in a #erfect cli$a! ci%ilisation( ,f anyone *ants to be ori'inal or take a risk the only thin' 175

+ 8&ul ture to "o is try to e!#lore one of the col" *orl"s( These are e!o-#lanets lost in the lifeless %oi"s bet*een stars( Dark) ancient an" fro&en( Many terrible thin's are burie" there by ti$eless "ea" races beyon" the co$#rehension of $an( +ecause 'o%ern$ents are borin' only ra"icals *ill e!#lore the "ea" s#heres( They scra#e to'ether scra#tech *ith #ri%ate ca#ital) 7ury-ri' a "isuse" colony shi# an" hea" off in cryo slee# to the s#ace bet*een the stars( There is nothin' out there so they ha%e to take all the ener'y they *ill nee" *ith the$( They kno* they *ill return in a thousan" years-#lus) relati%e to *hen they left) e%erythin' *ill be "ifferent( They "on?t care( ,f they co$e back) they *ill chan'e e%erythin'( No-one $akes tech to sur%i%e the alien *eather syste$s an" a*ful $ysteries of the col" s#heres) so they ha%e to buil" or clu"'e it the$sel%es( ;roll 2"10< Suits the 'irls are ri"in'( 1( 4as 'iant turboliner lu!ury e%ac suit re-fitte" by #irate ice $erchants after $ass-"isaster( So$e bloo"stains) *oo"-#anelle" interior) nice "rinks selection) internal anti-#ersonnel *ea#ons for use a'ainst the #oor) #erfect cre"it history( 17+

+ 8&ul ture 2( @!-Mil ice-$oon halo-7u$# assault-suit #re##e" for lo* at$os#here hi'h-an'le entry an" ra#i" heat e!chan'e "is#lace$ent %anes for hi'h-%elocity $eltthrou'h of tectonic #ack ice an" un"ersea "ee#-#ressure assault( Dis#osable( >n-use"( C( Post-nuke search an" rescue suit *ith acti%e IirlianFara"ay "efences a'ainst necrotisin' cry#to*raiths( Ablati%e crystallisin' ra"iation slou'h-skin blee"s in"ustrial-"ia$on"-substitute( 4( Anti/ue trans-sanity -ul%erin M@44,D6-class a#ocaly#se suit( -onfir$e" three reality breeches close"( No fails( Dischar'e" *ith full honours an" $ulti-faith blessin'( Sol" as sur#lus "urin' 'o%ern$ent shut"o*n o%er co$#le! ta! issue( B( @!#eri$ental To$b-Analysis 7acket( Pro"uce" as $arketin' test-#rototy#e by futurist cla"e for #re"icte" $arket of sunless e!#lorers( Market faile" to arise( Suit hi'hly $o"ifie" by billionaire #erfor$ance artist as co$$entary on the creati%e tension bet*een %isions of the future an" the no*( O( .alf-torche" coronal-ri"er cybernetic array for $aintenance of helios#here %a$#ire-satellites fee"in' en"less thau$-hun'er of core *orl" cli$a! -i%( =a#orise" scar*oun"s in #acke"-cera$ic o%erlays ha%e little effect on sur%i%al in ultracol" to$b-*orl" 177

+ 8&ul ture en%iron$ents( L( Acti%e nuke-en'ine e!haust re#air bot *ith scoo#e" braincore an" botch-7ob suit-*ithin-a-suit life su##ort #ocket sca%en'e" fro$ crashe" hy"ro#onics resort( -hassis $a"e to clu"'e fi!e the @!-Jets of nearli'hts#ee" colony shi#s on 7ourney bet*een stars) *ithout "e-ste##in' the torch( M( NNake" S#ace? fiel" rainbo* suit ri"in' ultraco$#resse" electro$a'netic kill-*a%es of ori'inal *ea#on $ountin'( For$erly trans-orbital Nsilencer? for city-killin' stealth-shi# ener'y *ea#on( 0ea#on core an" $ountin' re$o%e"( .ouse-si&e" @M silencer re-fitte" *ith auto-$otile tracto$or#h cla*s( Dra's counterrotatin' tach-rifle" 'un barrel like a cri##le" tail( G( Sty'io-abyssal ar$e" *an"erer( Tracke" for ultraslo* transit of sub"uctin' tecto-$ur"er &one( Full translation an" a##ease$ent A, for inten"e" treatyco$$s *ith ultra-%iolent S/ui"likes belo* the "ark #hotos#here( Se$i-fle!ible syntactical tentacles a""e" for reasons of Peace( Acci"entally trans#orte" rare hu$an bacterio#ha'e on chassis that *i#e" out S/ui"like ecolo'y( @ffecti%e 'enoci"e( Mothballe" in sha$e( 10( Scratch-built kro#otkinite ultra-sa%antic PunkSuit "e%elo#e" by briefly e!istent anti-authoritarian A, crystallise" by Noos#heric flash$ob( Suit "esi'ns s#at out before %iolent "is#ersal by thou'ht #olice( +uilt 17,

+ 8&ul ture %en'efully of re-#ur#ose" cor#orate 5u!-Tech *ith bran"na$es in%erte" an" re#lace"( +ut you can still totally tell they?re hot becauseT 1( ,$#act-7in!e" $e"ical-array holo-fiel" acci"entally s#its out 'li$#se" bo"yslices like a fucke" #ro7ector( ,$a'es han' like a halo in the 62 e!haust aroun" e!it %ents an" #i#e fractures( 2( Punk #ilot $a"e nake" fi'urehea" of i"ealise" self for sensor #ro* of o*n e!o suit for easy i"entification an" #olitical state$ent( -ar%e" fro$ a"ulterate" che$-ice #er$a-fro&en in to$b-*orl" chill( A##arent Ns*eat? on o*n nake" for$ sho*s $eltin') in"icates "an'erous te$# chan'e if sensors non-functional( Fi'urehea" $elts at en" of each $ission) re-car%e" a'ain for ne!t insertion( C( Pilot is "ancer fro$ full-bo"ylan'ua'e 5o'o-culture( S#eaks *ith li$bs as *ell as %oice( -on%ince" no-one can un"erstan" her *ithout seein' her( All flat outer surfaces $aske" *ith chea# #a#er-thin 5@D screens sho*in' en"lessly 'esticulatin' bo"y of #ilot fro$ e%ery #ossible an'le( Screens #ersistently 'litch an" $a""en( 4( Self-na$e" e!o-suit #ainte" *ith bo$ber-style 'la$our #ortraits of #ilot-o*ner as bran"in' e!ercise an" 'oo"-luck char$( B( Pilot has o*n face #ro7ecte" on front of $ech-hea" 17%

+ 8&ul ture so #artners an" follo*in' cyber-"o's can see facial e!#ressions "urin' ra"io chat( @$otional %alancy a""s to co'niti%e ban"*i"th "urin' key co$$unications( Do's an" collea'ues can follo* eye $o%e$ent an" trace line of si'ht for non-%erbal instructions an" to s#ot attention #atterns( .as tau'ht $ech to shru' O( Self-"esi'ne" kni'ht-style heral"ry on suit-front an" #ro7ecte" holo-#ennants u#"ate" *ith relief of #ilots achie%e$ents) notable actions) se!ual con/uests( L( Pilot either Positi%ist Neo-.in"u or a#in' $ores of sa$e( 6*n fi'ure e$bosse" onto suit-hull in en"less tessellate" #atterns( Takes #art of nu$erous 'o"s in "i%ine story-cycle) %iolent) se!ual) nu$inous) her$etic( Mech effecti%ely te$#le to self( M( Pilot ri##e" out sensor "o$e an" re#lace" *ith &orb-ball of nano-acti%e s$art *ater( Defen"s a'ainst col") heat) all @M fre/uencies) e!u"es an" co$#resses to "efeat #hysical attacks( Pilot floats nake" or se$i nake" in centre of clear blue s#here like the #u#il of a 'iant cyclo#ic eye( G( Sensor tentacle-ti#s i$#lante" in the hea"s of hu$an-scale an"roi" scul#ts of #ilot "resse" either in ra"ical fashions) or not at all( An"roi" "u$$y scul#ts either s*oo# throu'h air carrie" by e!ten"e" #seu"o#o"ia in back of hea") or *alk across cryo-blaste" &ero-#lains on a##arently nake" feet) or in heels( S#y 1,9

+ 8&ul ture ar$s #u##etin' $o%e-style of creator( 10( Main co$$s %ane) heat e!chan'e or #ri$ary 'un turret $assi%ely re-$o"elle" as scul#ture of #ilot( +eautiful i$#assi%e archeotectic features #ass #ack an" forth en"lessly scannin' "ea" lan"sca#e( 5i#s o#en to %o$it heat or hi'h-%elocity roun"s(

/ix /cience 6iction 6ortifications

Forts in Science Fiction are still 7ust forts( So far as , kno*) fortifications "on?t really *ork %ery *ell in $o"ern *arfare) not a'ainst $o"ern ar$ies any*ay( ,f technolo'y shifts a'ain an" the "efensi%e once a'ain outstri#s the offensi%e) coul" *e see a rene*al of fortifications: , su##ose it "e#en"s if the nanotech 'uys $ana'e to outstri# the fusion 'uys( So here are si! future forts for alien technolo'ies( 2ou can class these *ith the @!o-Suits of the .ot 4irls) The Masks of the -reatures fro$ +efore Ti$e an" the +acks of Toy Sol"iers( ,t?s kin" of like an alternate 40k uni%erse "esi'ne" s#ecifically to #ro"uce inno%ati%e an" #o*erful scul#tures( Iinetic .ar#oon Forts 4et a bunch of bi' iron asteroi"s) sha#e an" $ine the$ into lon' s#ear sha#es) about the thickness of an office 1,1

+ 8&ul ture block an" three ti$es as lon'( >se a"%ance" tech to $ine insi"e the asteroi") creatin' a series of roo$s an" #assa'es that interconnect) car%e" out of the $etallic rock( Then line the$ u# in orbit) select *here you *ant your ne* fortifications( Dro# the$( Firstly the i$#act "estroys any ene$y #resent an" e$be"s the iron s#ear t*o-thir"s "ee# into the 'roun"( ,t creates a crater aroun" it( The #art stickin' out shoul" re$ain too hot for any sur%i%ors to occu#y till your forces turn u#( Then 'et insi"e the iron s#ire throu'h one of the holes you left( Turn it into a fortress of $eteoric stone( The crater *all can be fortifie" to beco$e the curtain *all( The entries no* un"er'roun" can be a startin' #oint to e!#an" the fort beneath the earth( The shocke" 'eolo'y of the i$#act site can turn soft loos soils into #acke" earth that *ill bear a tunnel( Do a bunch of the$( ,nstant "efensi%e line2G( Force-+ubble Penta'ra$ Star 0ars has tau'ht us all that you "o not #ut a shiel" 'enerator outsi"e the shiel" it 'enerates( +ut if you *ante" to you coul" "o it like thisR

-%Probabl" 0here Arnthan& &ame from.

1,-

+ 8&ul ture

.a%e a lar'e central fort an" fi%e lesser ones surroun"in' it( .a%e the central fort 'enerate the force fiel" for the fort north of it) ha%e that fort 'enerate the fiel" for the one clock*ise)an" so-on) roun" in a circle) ri'ht back to the central fort( S*itch an" ran"o$ise *hich forts are 'eneratin' the fiel"s for *hich others se$i-ran"o$ly so obser%ers ne%er kno* *hich ones they nee" to take out to reach the central fort( ,f an outer fort is taken) its su##ortin' 'enerator can si$#ly "ro# the shiel") e!#osin' it to fire fro$ the forts on each si"e) an" fro$ the centre) then re-take it( 3eat@8ink <ort

1,)

+ 8&ul ture 'ssuming for&e fields &an absorb huge amounts of energ" but need to dis erse it someho0# or at least heat u doing it# the Q0allsM &ould be a net0ork of shar red@hot heat@dis ersal 7anes. The stuff inside the for&e@field &an be su er light or urel" anti@ infantr" as it doesnMt need to absorb an" im a&t itself. No@one has reall" taken mu&h ad7antage of ho0 strange for&efield te&h &ould make militar" installations. Generall" the" need to tell a stor" and the familiar mass@based &onstru&tions gi7e the right militar" im ression as the" mat&h 0hat 0e e! e&t to see. Imagine something like a star fort but built from lea7es of ra/or@thin red hot &erami&. Infantr" assaulting through the shield has to 0ork their 0a" through the lab"rinth 0hile under fire from the &entre. =ike star forts# it 0ould be ;uite beautiful. Cannibal <orts 8&i@<i forts are al0a"s &oming under atta&k from hordes of aliens that assault a&ross o en ground. ' bun&h get shot# then the ile of bodies gets big enough that the" &an Bust run u the &or se ile and get into hand@to@hand. (e&ause thatMs more dramati&. 2hat if "ou took ad7antage of the biomass and had s"stems set u to transform the bodies into material to in&rease the fort6 2ire &ages filled 0ith &om ressed &or ses. Po0er lifters and &ranes. Cor se@&om a&ters. The Ghorids are rumoured to ha7e built a &it" 0ith bri&ks made from the blood of their enemies. The longer the 0ar goes on# the bigger the fort gets# in&reasing 0ith ea&h assault. 1,*

+ 8&ul ture Titan <orts ' fallen Titan or $e&ha on a battlefield is effe&ti7el" a fortifi&ation. It ro7ides high ground and broken terrain. Radiation or emissions &an make the surrounding area ha/ardous. It alread" has &orridors and fire oints# "ou &an s&a7enge and re@ ur ose 0ea ons. 'lso "ou are fighting o7er a giganti& metal &or se. IT I8 ' $5T'P3AR. 5rosion <orts <or a strateg" o erating in dee @time. (uilt to &hannel the natural erosion of a 7alle" or mountain so that the shifting of the land forms natural re7etments. The sedimentation at a ri7ers head &ould be sha ed to &reate islands in the right la&es. The erosion of a &oastline &ould be arranged to &reate defensi7e em la&ements. OThere is a slight suggestion the $aia 0ere u to this in the 8ilmarillion Planned for a battle that ma" take la&e in se7eral thousand "ears# or to alter the strategi& lands&a e of a de7elo ing or im lanted &ulture. Getting the lands&a e read"# Bust in &ase.

Plan 6or The 6ilm .f An Alien /iege

This started off 0ith me thinking about 0h" siege films are the 0a" the" are. That turned into an attem t to &odif" the 0a" 1,5

+ 8&ul ture h"si&al s a&e intera&ts 0ith stor" in those films. Doing that rodu&ed a list# if "ouE7e read the rest of this book then "ou 0ill kno0 0hat I do 0ith a list. Roll on it. Taking &ulture a art is boring and ointless unless "ou are going to ut it ba&k together and do something 0ith it. No anal"sis 0ithout &reation. Part 1 @ 8ieges ' siege is rett" mu&h the most boring thing that &an ha en in 0ar e7er. Its organised waiting. There are loads of films about sieges. 57en films that arenMt set in 0ars are about sieges ONight of the =i7ing Dead# 'ssault on Pre&in&t 1)P. Af all these films# I &anMt remember one 0here the oint of 7ie0 of the 7ie0er 0as 0ith the atta&king for&es. 2e are al0a"s inside. The good gu"s al0a"s defend. (e&ause the" ha7e better &amera angles. The 7ie0 from an arro0 slit is also rett" good for a &amera. Af all the la&es I &an imagine# the besieged fortifi&ation has the most erfe&t unit" bet0een its geogra h"# Othe h"si&al ositioning of eo le 0ithin and around it#P and its narrati7e. Imagine a film about a siege and start thinking about the kinds of information "ou &ould remo7e and still ha7e the film make some kind of sense as a &om rehensible stor". $usi&# eas". 8ound6 Ak# no more 7oi&es# and no subtitles either. Those are the eas" ones. Colour6 Gone. (la&k and 0hite onl". 1,+

+ 8&ul ture <a&es6 Gone. Pi!elate them. Identif"ing marks. (od" sha es. Gender. Clothes. 1niforms. Gone. Anl" gre" sha es remain. 5ra6 Ak# take a0a" the ba&kground of an" distan&e shots# gre" that out. (la&k out anything non@human that isnMt also built en7ironment. No more nature. No0 take a0a" the detail of the en7ironment. No more stone# no more sandbags. Anl" mass. $ass and gre" mo7ing sha es. (ut some gre" sha es are still outside and some are still inside. 'nd the ones out are tr"ing to get in. $o7ement. Cut to one frame er se&ond instead of -*. Time6 Ak# this one robabl" 0ouldnMt 0ork. 4ou do need time to tell a stor". 4ou &ouldnMt tell shit about this stor"# but if someone asks "ou 0hatMs going on# but "ou &ould robabl" sa" >ItMs about one grou of eo le@things tr"ing to get into a thing and another grou of eo le things 0ant to kee them out.? 8o its about a siege. 57er"thing flo0s out from eo les relations in s a&e.

Part - Inside and Autside 8o I started tr"ing to &ount the 0a"s the s a&e sha es the stor". 1,7

+ 8&ul ture This is 0hat I &ame u 0ith. Defenders 1 'tta&kers

=ook out. The" see a =ook in. The" fo&us on a =ands&a e# their o onent single obBe&t Othe fortP 0hi&h is a shifting mass on a is 7erti&all" orientated. single lain. 's the narrati7e goes on the" lose this lands&a e 7ie0. The" fo&us on the inside of a familiar stru&ture 0hi&h be&omes alien and threatening. The" fo&us on a &on&entrated roBe&ted stream of for&e. 's the narrati7e goes on# the" fo&us not Bust u on the &entral mass# but u on one oint of that mass. OThe gate# the brea&hP

The" tr" to retain and The" tr" to destro" mass# to in&rease h"si&al mass in abrade it to nothingness# to the most literal sense. &reate ure s a&e. (uilding# iling# arranging# amassing. The" seek stasis. 're unobser7ed# so&iall" o a;ue Oatta&kers &annot see 0ho the" talk to# 0hen or 0h"P# but are in h"si&al danger. ORo&ks# arro0s# bombs.P 're in &lose h"si&al &ommuni&ation 0ith ea&h The" seek mo7ement and &hange. 're obser7ed# O&an be seen 0alking aroundP so&iall" e! osed but more likel" to be h"si&all" safe.

* 5

$ust mo7e to rea&h# tou&h# grab or shout to ea&h other. 1,,

+ 8&ul ture other. OCan see# tou&h# grab $ore h"si&all" se arate. and shout at ea&h other.P 7 're likel" to a&t a&ross &lass# ra&e and gender lines. $ore and more likel" as the stor" goes on. =ikel" to e! ose ositi7e ersonal &hara&teristi&s hidden b" so&ial &hara&teristi&s. =ikel" to refle&t so&ial hierar&h". '&t as miniature of origin so&iet" 0ith o0er relationshi s inta&t. Personal o0er dire&tl" re resented and usuall" a&&urate. 5!a&tl" as dangerous as the" look.

' grou of indi7iduals 0ith ' mass. >4ou thereC? names.

19 If the" &hange morall"# If the" &hange morall"# tend tend to be&ome morall" to be&ome 0eaker. stronger O1N=588 ITM8 ' 3ARRAR <I=$P

8o this is ;uite ni&e. It turns out all those siege films are reall" about a grou of dis arate eo le for&ed into &ir&umstan&es 0here hierar&h"# &lass# ra&e and gender lines 0ill fall a0a" and the" &an a&t together as one# O0ithout losing their indi7idualit"P in an o7erriding moral &ause. This is basi&all" the tribal stor" of the 2est. It is our 1r@tale# or one of them. O'long 0ith the lo7e stor" and the stor" of the gu" that kills a lot of gu"s.P ' grou of 7er" different eo le ha7e to fa&e a &hallenge# doing so the" learn to understand and 7alue ea&h other and 0ork together as a team# but 0ithout being subsumed as eo le. If the liberal 0est had shaman# this is the stor" the" 0ould tell. 1,%

+ 8&ul ture This might be the stor" of a bun&h of &ultures# I donMt reall" kno0. To me it feel ar&h@0estern and s e&ifi&all" ost 22II. If this 0as a &ulture@studies &lass then 0e &ould sto there and &onsider oursel7es 7er" &le7er. Af &ourse 0e ha7e something mu&h more im ortant to do. We must plan a film for an alien siege. Part Three 'liens =etMs s&ramble the info 0e ha7e so far and re@arrange it to &reate the sides in an alien siege. Attackers =ook out. The" see a andscape# their o mass on a single plain. onent is a shifting

's the narrati7e goes on# the" fo&us not Bust u on the &entral mass# but u on one point of that mass. OThe gate# the brea&hP The" tr" to retain and in&rease h"si&al mass in the most literal sense. (uilding# iling# arranging# amassing. The" seek movement and change. 're unobser7ed# socially opa!ue Oatta&kers &annot see 0ho the" talk to# 0hen or 0h"P# but are in physical danger. ORo&ks# arro0s# bombs.P $ust mo7e to rea&h# tou&h# grab or shout to ea&h other. $ore physically separate. 1%9

+ 8&ul ture Personal o0er dire&tl" re resented and usuall" a&&urate. 5!a&tl" as dangerous as the" look. ' grou of indi7iduals 0ith names. 're likel" to a&t a&ross &lass# ra&e and gender lines. $ore and more likel" as the stor" goes on. O>Not bad V for an elf?P If the" &hange morall"# tend to be&ome 0eaker. Is there an" sha e that &an make sense of this6 'liens atta&king out0ards# into a shifting mass# building and arranging# tr"ing to &hange things. Doing this 0hile in danger. 1nseen# distant from ea&h other. =ook dangerous and are dangerous. Named indi7iduals. The" 0ork a&ross &lass lines but ma" be&ome 0eaker. Philoso her@2as s6 (reaking into.. something6 Po0erful# dangerous# intelligent builders. $a"be the" build 0ith the bodies of their enemies6 $a"be the" build 7er" ;ui&kl" and 0ell on their o0n a&&ording to their o0n lans# ea&h different# h" er@ada ti7e artist@0as s6 's time goes on their in7asion sla&kens# be&omes more diffi&ult# the" s eak a&ross art@&lade boundaries# but this makes them too similar# eas" to kill. 'rt@0as s building h" er@indi7idual u//le@bo! in7asion sa s# in7ading.. 0ho6

1%1

+ 8&ul ture "efenders =ook in. The" fo&us on a single ob#ect Othe fortP 0hi&h is vertically orientated. 's the narrati7e goes on the" lose this lands&a e 7ie0. The" fo&us on the inside of a familiar stru&ture 0hi&h be&omes alien and threatening. The" fo&us on a &on&entrated roBe&ted stream of for&e. The" tr" to destro" mass# to abrade it to nothingness# to &reate ure s a&e. The" seek stasis. 're obser7ed# O&an be seen 0alking aroundP socially e$posed but more likel" to be physically safe. 're in close physical communication 0ith ea&h other. OCan see# tou&h# grab and shout at ea&h other.P =ikel" to refle&t so&ial hierar&h". '&t as miniature of origin so&iet" 0ith o0er relationshi s inta&t. =ikel" to e! ose ositi7e ersonal &hara&teristi&s hidden b" so&ial &hara&teristi&s. ' mass. >4ou thereC? If the" &hange morall"# tend to be&ome morall" stronger O%N &'' I()' A *O++O+ ,I -P 8o these are some kind of hi7e@beings. The" li7e in a la&e# Oa lane6P 0here some ne0 h"si&al thing has arri7ed. The sa s 1%-

+ 8&ul ture of the art@0as s e! and out into it as h"si&al masses# 0hi&h the" must destro" in order to kee things the 0a" the" ha7e al0a"s been. (ut the" ma" be losing and their familiar place6 has be&ome strange and threatening. The" &an be seen easil" from the sa s but are hard to harm. The" are a&ked in &losel" to ea&h other. The" are hierar&hi&al and this 0onMt &hange during the film but the" 0ill re7eal ositi7e ersonal &hara&teristi&s during it. $" first thought is that the hi7e beings re resent some kind of li7ing anti@s a&e and the art@0as s are &olonising it# redu&ing it to matter 0ith their no7el fra&tal &onstru&tions# killing the hi7e@ beings and using their solidified &or ses to build more. The hi7e@beings &an destro" matter but the more original and une! e&ted it is the more likel" the" are to die tr"ing to destro" it and end u being redu&ed to mere matter themsel7es. The 'rt@2as s are burro0ing into them# staring out through ortholes in their in7asion@stru&tures# looking at the hordes of ale massless things# inno7ating and dreaming of destru&tion# but slo0l" running out of ideas 0hile the ea&eful hi7e@things slo0l" tr" to ada t their &onser7ati7e hierar&hi&al so&iet" to re7ail. The 3" er@2as s are &lose to rea&hing the &ore of the ghost@hi7e. 8o if thereMs a film itMs about these hi7e@ghosts fighting to rote&t# ma"be Nir7ana6 from the hideous h" er@indi7idual in7aders. Ar ma"be itMs a traged" about a bra7e grou of 0ild al ha@0as ad7enturers 0ho had the ner7e to &hallenge the rulers of the limbo@s a&e and &hange things for e7er"one# ma"be thatMs 0hat 0as arents tell their &hildren before the" slee . $a"be 0as s &r" 0hen the &redits roll.

1%)

+ 8&ul ture >ThatMs 0h" "ou ha7e to ha7e "our own ideaMs# dream "our own dreams. Never be too mu&h like an"one else.? Part <our @ To"s Can 0e re resent this as a s&ul ture in three@dimensional s a&e6 Can 0e 0e turn it into a game6 =ike an a&tual game "ou &ould a&tuall" bu"6 The 0as s are re resented b" shining metalli& )d u//le ie&es. 5a&h is a different sha e. 'll of the sha es are shar @ angled and 7iolent looking. The" &an be linked together but onl" no7el &onne&tions &an be made. These are sold se aratel" and are &olle&table. 5a&h has different game and s atial ;ualities. The hi7e beings are hollo0 a er &onstru&tions# the" &an blo&k off arts of the board. =ike in QGoM# e!&e t "ou are la"ing against the s a&e itself. 2as @ la"er &an turn 3i7e@ la"ers ie&es to more 2as ie&es if the" tou&h. (ut# if 2as la"er re eats an" &onne&tions 0ithout realising it# 3i7e la"er &an remo7e 2as ie&es from the board. 3i7e la"er has a &ore# or ma"be Bust a 7olume. If 2as la"er &an en&om ass Olike QGoMP or &ross it someho0# then the" 0in. If the" run out of ie&es # or fall into stasis# the" lose. ItMs not ;uite *9k# but "ou get the idea. The elements ha7e numbers so "ou &an s&ramble "our o0n. <ind out the stor"@ 1%*

+ 8&ul ture logi& of the t0o sides. Then &reate alien ra&es that make sense of that logi&# dire&t the film in "our head. Then &reate and s&ul ture or game@ ie&e based on the logi& of the alien siege. Totall" different alien forts for ea&h tr".

1%5