The Vigiles Amicae is a roleplaying guild in Everquest 2, on the Freeport and Antonia Bayle Servers.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Nearly Midnight News, July 11

Saturday July Eleventh Twenty Fifteen

Vician ~rplfg~ "Who wants to make me a bunch of bottles for the tavern........any one............"
Akhutai ~rplfg~ "Woot! FInished the whole darn beetle herding line. I have earned this set of RP clothes."
Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "And your sanity remained intact....bug wrangling is...infuriating"
Axun ~rplfg~ "Sanity? The hell is that?"
Miasmata ~rplfg~ "-throws bottles of ice-water at Axun-"
Ariahdnia ~rplfg~ "Folodu might be convinced with proper tribute"
Axun ~rplfg~ "*ducks with a grin*"
Vician ~rplfg~ "So like free booze from a month?"
Vician ~rplfg~ "*For"
Xyviene ~rplfg~ "Wonder which of them is Seven of Nine.."
Axun ~rplfg~ "Testin my macro making sure it still works."
Axun ~rplfg~ "Club Ravenous is now open! Norrath's hottest late night venue, for all the creatures of the night, and mortals to. Come see why you are afraid of the dark! Back by popular demand! (Mistmoore Craigs, Freeport, under Alupia.)"
Akhutai ~rplfg~ ""I've wrestled with reality for  years, doctor, and I'm happy to say I finally won out over it." - Elwood P. Dowd, "Harvey""
Axun ~rplfg~ "Ok it works."
Miasmata ~rplfg~ "-drops down to a branch a bit closer to Axun, peering at him with bright eyes-"
Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "You opening tonight?"
Grauhl ~rplfg~ "Grauhl like the dark. Club have pretty Oagar lady?"
Axun ~rplfg~ "I have no idea. xD"
Miasmata ~rplfg~ "-jabbers something in Sebilisian at Axun-"
Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "Pop up venue. How fun!"
Vician ~rplfg~ "<Appears from the shadows next to Miasmata>"
Mairah ~rplfg~ "club ravenous!   yay!"
Lurindae ~rplfg~ "ya fun"
Gryphyth ~rplfg~ "*bites Axun*"
Axun ~rplfg~ "*moans*"
Folodu ~rplfg~ "Did someone say "We're gonna try to tempt the Rex?""
Axun ~rplfg~ "Stop teasing, gryph."
Lurindae ~rplfg~ "ye really"
Berryl ~rplfg~ "hello"
Lurindae ~rplfg~ "sighs'"
Methadriel ~rplfg~ "hello, Berryl :)"
Axun ~rplfg~ "*waves*"
Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "/waves x"
Vician ~rplfg~ "Free booze from my tavern for a month for who ever makes me a bunch of bottles of alcoholic beverages. AND a free inn room for that duration"
Miasmata ~rplfg~ "I'd show up to Club Rav, not as Mias, but I think I have an Ayr'Dal who could be entertaining if only in his utter innocence despite being a Freeportian."
Axun ~rplfg~ "Now lessee.. .. "
Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "I dunna. Might be to risque for my naive eyes =P"
Axun ~rplfg~ "I was just testing hte marco I am not sure what venues are running these days but I may open if demaned. Though I have a few things to fix inside here."
Axun ~rplfg~ "If axun dances on stage that boy will turn the color of a berry."
Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "Sat nights are kinda open this late"
Berryl ~rplfg~ "wow, it is taking forever to load the game"
Axun ~rplfg~ "m'kay just making some quick adjustments here.. "
Axun ~rplfg~ "GAH"

Folodu
“Hmm hmm hmm. Where did I - oh right. My desk got burned. And then none I found was suitable. Well that's inconvenient. We'll just have to do this the old fashioned way.”

Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "Waits for the sound of a closet puking its contents followed by the "Samson and Son' theme song"

Folodu
“Welcome to another edition of the Nearly Midnight News, the "How long has it been edition?" I'm your host, Folodu Amrunrosse, detailer of all things News-y. In an inspired move, the NMN headquarters have relocated to a small but ginormous estate that I happen to call "Home" and "Fort Mine". It is, sadly, in the sun too often, so I don't like to see the outside.

“In tonight's News we have... er...Terrible Lizards!"

Ariahdnia ~rplfg~ "*snerk*"

Folodu
Giant ones! That go RAR! and get copied. And modified. and then we have a bit of a problem on “our hands.... BUT IT'S OKAY! We got a team of experts working on that who... were... all eaten about five minutes ago. Well bugger."

Ariahdnia ~rplfg~ "Throw more paladin at it."

Folodu
"Okay, run and scream. It's the most effective thing you can do at this point. Paladins upset Terrible Lizard stomach something awful. That's just mean."

Vician ~rplfg~ "So Folodu what about that alcohol bottles. Free booze and a free inn room"

Folodu
"Drinking While Newscasting Is A Prohibited Act And Will Be Treated As Treason - Termination Will Ensue. So says the Policies and Procedures."

Gryphyth ~rplfg~ "Axun, open the club!"
Axun ~rplfg~ "Almost ready You can come early if you want  I unlocked it."
Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "He doesn't care where you come, as long as you clean it up /rimshot"

Folodu
"In other news tonight, I have taken up chicken farming. This is more intimidating than one might realize when your damned chickens get on the damned roof. Thankfully, I have persistence, and intelligence, so it was only a half-hour chase."

Vician ~rplfg~ "Wait a second is the crypt of betrayal accessible directly from The Down Below?"
Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "Are you cybering with allegory, Vic?"
Dritzian ~rplfg~ "Nope... Vermin Snye, then up the ramp, follow the tunnel and you'll see it"
Axun ~rplfg~ "someone keeps moving my house actors. -sigh-"
Axun ~rplfg~ "I am blaming Eirthi."
Vician ~rplfg~ "What? And thanks Dritz"
Ariahdnia ~rplfg~ "maybe your house actors are half-chicken."

Folodu
"...which doesn't sound very smart on the surface, but it is! I promise! And then you catch them and they calm down, and then put them up. And all is right with the world. Until the next day."

"Chicken Farming - not for the feint of heart."

Ariahdnia ~rplfg~ "or house Actor Farming, apparently. Worse than the fence-what-is-a-fence-can-i-eat-it houdini chickens."
Axun ~rplfg~ "Well we do get pretty hungry... they might have had a bite or two taken from them before. *helo*"


Folodu
"In other news, we have a new research report from Nektulos Forest."

Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "Dark elves are still indeed....dark?"

Folodu
“A group of scientists have discovered a sect of gender-confused treants. The treats, once thought to be generally a-sexual and poly-reproductive, have since started attempting to express a gender identity - mostly with equipment stolen from killed people."

"One found a fedora, and looks quite fetching for the most part."

Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "..."
Ariahdnia ~rplfg~ "**snerk*"
Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "A fedora in the branch is worth a bush in the roots?"

Folodu
"It is unclear what has caused this phenomena to occur, and the scientists are cataloging all relevent information. One thing that keeps recurring are references to "wood" and "hard", which seems to not quite make much sense."

Arfinn ~rplfg~ "what the fancy feck am I reading?"
Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "It's all the news fit to be broadcasted"
Arfinn ~rplfg~ "says who?"

Folodu
"....We have a Nearly Midnight News virgin! During a talk about treant gender expression!"

"Do with that information what you will."

Ariahdnia ~rplfg~ "woo! **gets the whipped cream**"
Airames ~rplfg~ "hi"
Arfinn ~rplfg~ "let me speak with your editor"
Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "If they come at you with a kiddie pool and a dozen cans of creamed corn....run"

Folodu
"I am my editor. We got payroll cuts."

Arfinn ~rplfg~ "<flipdesk>"

Folodu
"I'm also my stylist and at times my gofor. I get me lots of coffee. It's not a glamorous life, but the News is important. We learn about things. Like Treat wood."

"Er. Treant wood."

Ariahdnia ~rplfg~ "In the interest of science, or possibly the Union for the Proper Use of the Letter N, can you elaborate on the nature of these ... ahem... "treats"? Or is there something you'd like to share with the audience?"
Akhutai ~rplfg~ "You keep making the same typo. One might think that you feel that treants who express a sexual identity are treats themselves."

Folodu
"In other news, the source of "jumjum" has been discovered. It is not the harmless berry we were lead to believe but is, in fact, a Controlled Substance."
"....I thought we talked about not talking about my particular wood carving business! You leave my ...merchandise... out of this!"

Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "No wonder those half-feir skid surfers love it so much"
Dritzian ~rplfg~ "I knew those halflings were up to something"

Folodu
"Yes! Halflings! Controlled substances!"

Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "Half-feirs...with their wee beady eyes...."
Ariahdnia ~rplfg~ "We might be persuaded in exchange for a discount on custom orders."

Folodu
"They are all made by some bald halfling looksing to make some gold to fix his... I dunno, broken foot, or something."

Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "Male pattern baldness. On his right shoulder."

Folodu
"That must have been it. My field reporters weren't very clear on that point. In fact, they said something about testing the product, and then it all stopped making sense."

Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "This is your news report on Jum. Any questions?"
Vician ~rplfg~ "So no one wants the free booze and inn room for making me bottles of alcohol :( "
Cavuul ~rplfg~ "Question here...uhm...have you been snorting the acid or smoking it?"
Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "The **JUM** Cavuul..."

Folodu
"I think we might need them to pee, or something. I'll set HR on it.... which is odd, since that means me."

"Elsewhere on Norrath ... oh right, that whole dragon thing isn't going on anymore, is it. *tears that page up* "

Axun ~rplfg~ "Ok. Tweaks done for now. Will do more later. Now macro is official."

Folodu
“Well bugger. Are the Knights of Freeport still giving out free hugs?"

Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "Free with the usual donation for the Widows and Orphans Fund"
Axun ~rplfg~ "Club Ravenous is now open! Norrath's hottest late night venue, for all the creatures of the night, and mortals to. Come see why you are afraid of the dark! Back by popular demand! (Mistmoore Crags, Freeport, under Alupia.)"

Folodu
"Ah yes! And as always, the donations are given freely and honestly with no pressure! And make sure you ignore that small sharp feeling in your back as you give it. It's just a mosquito."

"I wasn't paid to say that, by the way. I did it freely and honestly."

Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "Do you have your papers.....?"
Axun ~rplfg~ "My dog ate my papers. "

Folodu
"I have all kinds of papers, Mister. Don't make me get them out."

Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "Fair enough. Anything open?"
Axun ~rplfg~ "Yes. Club Rav is open. Finally. For real this time."
Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "Ravenos. My sexy name twin"

Folodu
"In weather tonight ...Yes, we are still doing weather.... The Thundering Steppes are windy, rainy, and thunder-y. "

"Maj'Dul hasn't seen rain since 3299."

"...and If anyone asks about snow in Thurgadin, I'm going to scream."

Axun ~rplfg~ "What abou the..."
Maulgrim ~rplfg~ "It doesn't snow in Thurgadin. Thurgadin is underground. It snows in Velious."
Shalour ~rplfg~ "IT SNOWS IN THE GREATDIVIDE"
Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "Don't eat yellow snow."

Folodu
"... And no one asked. Woo!"

"In sports this season, the Freeport Soccer team lost to the Sinking Sands Shufflers. It was an upsetting game, which Freeport clearly being the crowd favorite."

Rhyianna ~rplfg~ "isnt that an executable crime to lose?"
Shalour ~rplfg~ "isn't it an executable crime to show joy?"
Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "They played in the damn dunes. The game was rigged to begin with"

Folodu
"However, with weapons being banned last year, when the zombies got a little hungry, they did what comes naturally to them."

Cavuul ~rplfg~ "how much longer is the news?  Are there any other channels?  Perhaps a channel showing a silent movie?"

Folodu
"The news is as long as it amuses me - and I killed the actors in the silent movie."

"Freeport, by the way, is recruiting for their soccer team."

Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "I hear the retirement package is a bit skimpy..."


Maulgrim ~rplfg~ "I was Freeport's leading center guard for their basketball team. I was indomitable."
Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "I tried out for the Cheer Team...."
Maulgrim ~rplfg~ "Mostly because I'm over twelve feet tall and all of my competition is less than ten feet tall, but whatever."

Folodu
"Anyways, anyone interested in signing up, please see the Knights of Freeport for information. Tell them you want to take one for the team!"

Akhutai ~rplfg~ "So you can sign up! It's basically the same sport, right? There's a ball."
Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "And if you have holes in your pocket, then you have enough experience playing ball to join the team"
Coribyn ~rplfg~ "(and welcome back Folodu, missed your news for a while now)"

Folodu
"This has been another edition of the Nearly Midnight News. I am your Host, Folodu Amrunrosse.Good night, and thanks for all the fish."

Methadriel ~rplfg~ "/applaud"
Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "Damnit. No lotto numbers.... /grins Good report"
Cavuul ~rplfg~ "I didn't think that would ever end"
Axun ~rplfg~ "*licks cori*"
Coribyn ~rplfg~ "ahhh... oh hi there"
Akhutai ~rplfg~ "I think my pet definitely hits harder than me."
Xyviene ~rplfg~ "OMG, I missed the nearly nightly news"

Folodu
"Transcripts will go up on the Vigiles Amicae blog on Monday, and will be available to read in a player book as well, in the basement of Sytan's library portal in Freeport. The shelves are labeled!"

Dreycon ~rplfg~ "Any venues running?"
Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "Fol got you covered, Xyv. Wonder if you can get back issues for the shelves?"
Shalour ~rplfg~ "what was Ravenous's adress?"

Ariahdnia
"Back issues of NMN transcripts are in fact available! Send a letter to Sytan with which ones you'd like, and when a good time to deliver them is!"

Axun ~rplfg~ "Club Ravenous is now open! Norrath's hottest late night venue, for all the creatures of the night, and mortals to. Come see why you are afraid of the dark! Back by popular demand! (Mistmoore Craigs, Freeport, under Alupia.)"
Xyviene ~rplfg~ "YEEEEEEEES. Expect a long request from me, Ariah."
Axun ~rplfg~ "o.o"
Maelgrym ~rplfg~ "Tell us how you really feel, please. And remember, be truthful, this is for prosperity"

Ariahdnia
"Also available through his library: an assortment of wondertales, dissection notes, philosophical treatises, and the Complete Art of War, to suit a variety of reader appetites."

Vician ~rplfg~ "I'd love to stay but i'm gonna call it a night, I should be able to finish Stone Hearth Hall thanks to a few people who assissted me in preparing this place"
Folodu ~rplfg~ "heh - i love dissection notes"
Vician ~rplfg~ "Ciao"
Edumia ~rplfg~ "<pokes>"

Ariahdnia
"The next segment up for translation and re-binding I believe details mandibular operations and outlines historical and best-practice methods of repair."

Axun ~rplfg~ "*shriesk* Don't poke meh!"
Axun ~rplfg~ "*shrieks"
Edumia ~rplfg~ "<pokes axun again> Too bad."
Edumia ~rplfg~ "Anything going on tonight?"
Xyviene ~rplfg~ "Sytan's mailbox is full"
Xyviene ~rplfg~ "I has a sad face."
Folodu ~rplfg~ "and here's to catching that damn raccoon tonight"
Folodu ~rplfg~ "oh. a moment. I’ll go fix that"
Xyviene ~rplfg~ "I will however, take all the books. ALL OF THEM, all the time."

Ariahdnia
"It's been somewhat of a delay as our primary translator has been distracted with an investigation into the evolutionary data regarding the particularly swift and stable nature of elven locomotion despite their upright bipedal habit.
“Also, for some reason his letters are now coming by way of the ethernauts, and require extensive chronostabilization and decontamination treatment in order to be handled."

Akhutai ~rplfg~ "It'd probably be better to just go read them on the Vigiles Amicae blog if you want all of them. It's the first hit for "vigiles amicae" on Google because of course it is."

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Akhutai's Personal Journal & Research Notes

A clockmaker is not perfect. They try, by the gods do they try, but in the end all of the clock's parts will always have burrs, blemishes, and tool marks. These imperfections may be so small as to be invisible to the naked eye, but with clock parts being as small and delicately balanced as they are, they will still affect the function of the clock. So a clockmaker is also an artist. As artists, they become adept at balancing these imperfections against each other to make a precise and accurate clock. One gear spins just a whisper too fast, one spring rebounds a breath too slow, and the clock as a whole is balanced to as near perfection as a mortal can achieve.
So it is with the mind. A pressure from this memory, a beat from this impulse, and the whole thing functions as an organized whole to make an individual alive, instead of mere bag of flesh and bone. Much as a clock's parts wear out or wind down and so must occasionally be serviced by a skilled hand, so too must a mind be served.
A young mind, though sometimes warped or poorly treated early in life, and thereby in need of repair, still only rarely requires ongoing maintenance. As a mind ages, however, memories and impulses, thoughts and feelings, needs and desires, all become muddled, especially as more and more experiences are added to a life day by day. There are some minds which I have encountered that are so muddled and abused by time and experience that it would be the work of a lifetime to recover their full potential.
One mind I have encountered is of particular interest to me in this regard. This mind possesses more experience than I, and likely it, can even fathom. Yet in spite of the grime, depreciation, and even outright havoc and abuse wreaked upon it by time and experience, it remains sharp, resilient, and surprisingly balanced given its condition. I respect both it and the soul who owns it far too much to challenge its depths uninvited, but it intrigues me all the same. On the occasion I have been invited to work my art in that realm, I take the utmost precaution while there, to never disturb the extant stability, only to clear dross, lubricate worn functions, and restore failed ones.
Which is why I take personal offense that a blamed fool of a wizard decided that years of help by friends and colleagues of that soul were just not good enough. That he could repair centuries (perhaps millennia?) of wear and tear on body and mind by barging in, outright killing thought processes he deemed errant, and then simply throwing a wad of gods-magic panacea at the body. Never mind that he has no training in healing the body or the mind in any way beyond basic field first-aid, or that the defenses within this mind rallied against his intrusion. He must play the hero, "fix" everything with a wave of his hand, and fly off again in search of the next victim. I cannot fathom the willful, malignant ignorance that would lead to such incautious behavior when attending a person's physical and mental health. He would have done less damage had he opened her skull with an axe and funneled a measure of bleach into it.

A less civilized person than myself would commit themselves to reducing this wizard's mind to a crème brûlée should they ever meet him.