“Rumours exist of a sisterhood passed down through myth and legend. A triad of doomsayers that once marked those for death. A name persists though there remains no provenance, Ember Jinx.” Lecture on Myths Lost in Time, Jeremiah Delalande.
“Power acquired by violence is only a usurpation, and lasts only as long as the force of him who commands prevails over that of those who obey.”
Denis Diderot
“I had displeased the Jacobins by blaming their aristocratic usurpation of legitimate powers; the priests of all sorts by claiming religious liberty; the anarchists by repressing them; and the conspirators by rejecting their offers.”
Marquis de Lafayette
This is another short story for this month’s prompt as I explore the world of the Necromage.
Dragon Stone: Ember Jinx
The Necromage held his ground. “You and I seek the same treacherous witch. Different reasons, but the one who stole your Stone.”
Ember Jinx continued to flux in and out of reality. “My sisters care not for your excuses, Mage. That Stone belonged to another. Ours remain where none shall find them.”
Sisters, the Necromage felt unusually concerned. One Mórrígan was all that had been referenced, even in the vague texts he’d read long ago while in the Keep. Matters had just escalated. Not only had Aurelia Wrenn stolen a Dragon Stone, but as yet, he still did not know from whom. The assumption had been Ember Jinx. Now, it seemed she was just one of a sisterhood. Each of whom could hold Stones. Not could, did. His logic suggested there were few worldly places Elder Magi could conceal such. Or another epiphany: were the Elder Magi Stone constructors, or had they discovered what already existed? Little wonder scholars brooded over relics and dead scrolls. Assumptions were the downfall of research.
“Not excuses, Ember Jinx. My anger is not given to you or your sisters. I search for the true owner of the Moonstone.”
Fool, know your enemy. How many more of these phantom queens are there?
The phantom continued to flux. An apparition through which granite behind still showed clearly. “Words from your Dragon do not go unheard, Mage. Nor does your fear of The Black. Once, that one hosted an empire at bay.”
The Necromage knew this phantom queen held more power than anything he had yet encountered. That she knew of The Black suggested many things. Another of her kind might have been the Oracle. That would explain how the Mórrígan knew of his coming. Tact was needed.
“I see that in life, you were a great Queen, Ember Jinx. Perhaps the mightiest of the old civilisation that once built Ang Nafud.”
“Feints and soft talk suit you not, Necromage. Life, as you know it, fails to apply to us.” The phantom’s form was now fluxing between revenant and crow. Another thing that bemused him. Scholars assumed the Prophecy of the Crow meant him, but what if it really referred to this sisterhood?
“You speak true and swift. I am here to seek the one my sister stole a Dragon’s Eye from. That you are here was unexpected.”
“Better Mage. Aurelia Wrenn must pay for what she has taken. That debt is not for us to claim. The Triad wishes you to enter the crypt. There will you be interrogated as to your true purpose here.”
“Has not the Oracle told you this already?”
“Insinuations. That one talks in riddles collects knowledge and pretends to know all.”
The Necromage knew all about enigmatic discourse. That was the domain of Dragons. If so, could the Stone have belonged to the Oracle? It would be a logical assumption, given what the phantom queen had just revealed. But to enter the crypt of one Mórrígan was, at best, foolhardy. Knowing Ember Jinx existed as a Morrígna was akin to entering your tomb. Three crows, all rumoured to foretell doom and stir warriors to berserk while casting fear upon the enemy. Not related to the Prophecy of the Crow, it seemed. The daemon lay in the singular detail. But why had all history erased their reference?
Older than known history, fool. This is a trap.
It seemed The Matriarch had read his thoughts. He stared at the Quartz Stone lodged in his staff. It glowed along with the serpentine eyes that now began to redden.
“To enter your crypt would be a grave mistake, Ember Jinx.”
“Not as foolish as the Quartz Dragon thinks then, Mage of the Dead.”
The phantom continued swirling. It reminded him of the vortex that spun inside his cloak. The cosmos was locked in a weave of enchantment and fuelled by souls that were collected in anger. His mind was now torn about how to proceed. Deeper in this Necropolis lay secrets none had seen since Ang Nafud was rock and desert. This God, for want of a better word, was there when the first block of granite was laid upon dirt. Watched over the building of a civilisation that fled history. Constructed the Necropolis before even the Husk or Elder Magi came to power. Knew of Dragon Stones and, the thought hit like a raging fire, would know of the origins of Tor Angra.
“What can you offer as an assurance of trust?”
“Much Necromage. Is it not your ambition to revest? Slay Aurelie Wren and safeguard the Hatchery for the Quartz?”
“If that cause is common ground, then our ambitions run the same.”
The phantom twisted, throwing spectral light around the chamber. When it settled, three crows lay inside the vortex. Each faced the Necromage, and from the stares, he understood why armies battled to the death under their spell.
“Yet you talk to the dead.” This was Ember Jinx. “Does that make you worthy of our trust?”
So far, the names of her sisterhood remained unknown. No doubt, like the Mórrígan, each would have an ancient name of myth passed out of time and another that made them acceptable to the fodder they controlled. It was a fascinating question. Was he trustworthy? To some, yes; to others, no. It was a commodity that was not freely given. Being wary of all gossip and motives had kept him free on ties and persisting. He doubted the dwarf or elf would say he was credible. Both were lured into his release from the conjurer’s bubble and fell by deceit. Trust between him and The Matriarch was thin at best, yet accepted as part of their nature. Aurelia Wrenn was a deceptive succubus. Was necromancy any better? Perhaps not if you were dead. Once, a Witch Queen fell by the wayside as she was lured away by a man wrapped in a paradox.
“If agreements are made, then they are bound in blood; if that is how you interpret trust, then yes. If you fear necromancy, then mistrust is unavoidable. If you embrace it, then with your talents, we become formidable.”
“Then come to the crypt, and we shall begin to understand each other better.”
The vortex became a maelstrom before ceasing to exist, leaving the Necromage alone in the darkness.
You play a dangerous game, fool.
###
After the phantasmal light from the Morrígna had subsided, the Necromage found the cold darkness of the antechamber soothing. If he was correct, then his sister had stolen the Moonstone belonging to the Oracle, yet had not Ember Jinx said each of the sisterhood held their own Stones somewhere below. Was that the source of their power over others? Three unknown dragons that, if all went well, could be harnessed. With their help in battle, the horde would remain undefeated, and all worlds would fall.
Now that the Morrígna were gone, he decided a return to the Oracle might be more prudent first. One to discover if the Moonstone did belong to that djinn and, if so, offer retribution. The other reason was that if any beast here knew the names of all the phantom queens, that one would be it.
Careful, fool. This is their domain. Nothing on this side of the rune wall will go unnoticed.
Noted Dragon. Yet they knew you by another name. Have you encountered these crows before?
Not directly.
Another indirect answer. Always Dragons evaded answering. Little wonder their kind had little use of governance. However, they would fit the walls of human politics entirely.
I shall tread carefully, Dragon. There is an opportunity here, and much remains hidden.
He turned to retrace his steps toward the Oracle chamber. Aware that the eyes of the crows were tracking him. Names held power, and Ember Jinx had refused to disclose them, suggesting trust was as hard to come by as his own. This might drive a deeper wedge. Yet names could prove invaluable.
Again, he found the construction quality impressive. Everything since that time paled by comparison. Not in the world of men, at least. Dwarves he knew could craft vast underground cities and work metal, which, once combined with arcane smithing, created weapons of great power. Dragon blades, he knew, were relics of that time. Yet their whereabouts were even less known than the Dragon Stones. Another mystery to solve and, if he were not mistaken, the old city of Ang Nafud would have an armoury. What enchanted weapons rested there was worth the time spent trying to forge an alliance with the Morrígna.
He reached the rune wall and found it had remained open. Curious for he was certain it had sealed behind him. Either the Oracle was expecting him, or, a more sinister consideration, something was tracking him. He reached out, Builder. Have any others followed into this place?
Not from the entry passage, Mage. That is now sealed, as you instructed.
Then, from within.
Perhaps. The Necropolis holds many secrets in the depths. Our time here was of the Husk. You will need to interrogate older bones to discover if any other shades exist.
That he could do once the crypt had been visited. Now, he needed to know if there was another revenant on the loose.
His cogitating was interrupter as the djinn rose from the central well once more. “Back so soon, Necromage.”
“Aye. I seek names, Oracle.”
“In exchange, what can you offer as a trade?”
“The witch that stole your Stone.” A test of his assumption after the slip by Ember Jinx.
“Very good, Mage. As I said before, you are not the fool The Matriarch takes you for. Names I will offer, but not for Aurelia Wrenn. She is yours to put down. Return what is mine. That is the bargain.”
“Very well.” It was no easy task, but Stones were safer in the Necropolis and away from those who were unworthy to use them. It might be possible to despatch this Oracle later.
“We shall know if you betray this deal, Necromage. There are creatures here that none have seen since the beginning of time. Of the names, one is Elsbeth Crow. Named to match her title as Battle Crow. The other is Elenwen Vex. Her dominion lies with fertility and livestock. She is the King Maker.”
“So be it, Oracle. The pact is drawn. But one more question.”
“There always is.”
“What followed me through the rune wall?”
“Spies, Necromage. Ghosts and shadows that use the Assassin’s labyrinth. Even I do not know who or what these creatures serve.”
“More secrets, Oracle.”
“You have yet to grasp the age of Ang Nafud and Tor Angra. Their foundations were laid on sites of power already rich in myth and runes that nothing has yet deciphered. Since that time, civilisations have ebbed and flowed, leaving no traces in the dust of their accomplishments. Do not walk this place without caution. It is death.”
The Necromage nodded at the entity in front of him. Much to ponder and new areas to explore. As he watched, the djinn faded once more, and the chamber went dark. In the distance, he could hear the dripping of water.
Builder, what of the Dragon Gates?
One has been found, but it has been destroyed from within. Two more exist, but we have yet to locate them.
Then continue your search and locate the entity that dared destroy a Gate.
He turned, casting his art before him. If there were revenants or ghosts at large, then necromancy would seek them out. He was beginning to tire of unknowns. What had started to seek out the sanguisuge and the resting place of the stolen Moonstone had turned into quest upon a quest. The first of which was to enter the crypt of the Morrígna.
Roger and Gary !
Have you two ever thought of starting a podcast!!!! 🤣
Now there’s an idea, except we don’t yet have a suitable Heckle Fish. (Why Files). Tin foil I do have to create a suitable hat though.
You two should so get together. I love your writing but honestly I’m here for the comments section every time 😁
Quite like a bit of Dominion myself. It’s good for a sing along on a long lonely drive 😊
Interesting to see how they all fit together – back to Dave, the twins and Rose .
Good stuff
Not quite back to yet. However old places are appearing more as POI moves forward!
The story is so vast how will you know when it’s finished?
A very good question. A novelette called Letters of the Amanuensis opened the door to the next sequence, probably Return of the Crow. However, currently the Crow Prophecy could be either Necromage or Morrígna.
I like to think that’s once we have created our characters that there stories continue off the page. That they exist for as long as someone reads or remembers them .
Very much so. In fact I am struggling to remember half the cast now. Still, I’m sure they will leap out once its their turn to appear. Although I need an improved world map and a chronology one.
It’s why i keep my cast list small!!
Always seems like a map and cast list would have been a good idea when I hit about 60000 words!
Always the way! Only small cast list I have is in I Am Corona. Another WIP waiting to get started. Even that’s going to have more as it moves forward. With DS its not possible to have a small cast though. Not with 13 Stones and a map that’s become huge. It’s a fascinating thing to create though.
More and more layers to the Dragon Stone saga. Such deep history, so many factions, the ancient civilisations. I don’t know how you keep track of it all as you write it, Gary! Reminds me of when I read that King read the Dark Tower compendium before finishing the series, so as to not mess anything up. The richness of your lore is staggering, as always. Do you have this all preplanned – the lore I mean – in your mind, or do you sit at the keyboard and let loose? Because it all clicks into one another like cleverly thought out puzzle pieces.
Love the Ember character, too!
Great stuff, as ever, Gary.
Thanks Joshua. Its one of those stories that has lived in BB and some gaming I once did on SOI Castle Beware decades ago. Most of it lives in my head, although back story is legion as you know. I also found an old map I drew as a kid doing D&D. That holds place names that I use.
That said I need a huge revision of it now.
The current WIP Prison of Ice is much tougher mind. It feels like it needs splitting. In fact I just said as much to Roger.
The lore part has actually reinforced itself over time too. This particular one is relatively new in terms of the Morrígna. Again drawn from actual mythology.
Obviously DT is a huge inspiration. I just finished Gwendy’s Final Task to find King has drawn in DT with huge references to the Tower itself.
As for keeping track.. I have several documents now with character references. My WIP always has things like the Dragon Stones and who has claimed what. Along with key players relevant to the WIP and ideas I find when watching stuff like The Why Files on YouTube. Totally recommend that btw. I ended up getting the Egyptian Book of the Dead and The Book of Enoch because of that.
Its comments like this that keep my mojo going too so thank you again
The layers and the agendas keep on coming giving a fearful power to the stones. Each player taking great risks and in danger of being mired in the criss-crossing of those agendas.
The interlude with Amber Jinx illustrates the complexity and interweaving within the realms the narrative takes place.
Again a captivating read Gary. Do you intend to break the entirety into volumes?
Thanks Roger. The spitting thing is looming hence needing another set of eyes. I’m on Chapter 18 as of today and its getting such a wide cast list that I feel I’m flowing words that belong in separate volumes. I could write one just with the Necromage alone journeying through the Necropolis. That’s before dealing with Wayland et al, Yish and Naz, and the Amanuensis.
That said it may well be flowing as it should and its me that’s querying it. Mind you DS is with my proof reader so that will soon get a professional gaze cast over it.
Bit behind on reading here so might just go see a few now.
I was wondering that. Different volumes for differing groups of characters so reader can focus on one set of motivation. The challenge being the link ups and continuities in the volumes.
I have faith in you to do it. 👍
Ha ha, you have more faith than I on that one. I think maybe just plod on then review it after. Its exploding in terms of cast.
Oddly, last night a I discovered a barmaid friend of mine makes jewellery. I’m seeing her on Thursday to see if she can knock up a necklace made up of the Stones I have listed for my Dragons. Figured that might be quite cool!
Now that would be so cool!!!😀.
Yes plod on. A work of this scope will develop its own identity, you will the narrative speaking to you, drawing you onwards, and at some stage the full nature and shape will become clear.
My trilogy was in terms of sales and readership response a complete ‘nothing’ and yet I would not have missed the years of discovery and creativity. Time well spent.
I’ll find out Thursday and let you know.
I started the next chapter yesterday and it took a re-read of the last time Elijah appeared to even remember where it ended! Still, it is starting to come back. I guess I need a folder for reference with all the various bits in as chapters and such like,
As for the trilogy, any writing for that matter, actually putting any words down is better than no words!!
Just strive on Gary. All will work out.
I usually force myself to start a Word Doc with all the character’s names and also important locations or elements.
Then the problem arises the identification of sub-folder’s subjects and it gets all very Civil Service.
Progress made. I find word documents to convoluted at this point. A GM moment realising its time to start keeping track of what’s under the iceberg. maybe a King approach, stick in drawer and refind it decades later. Mind you, I find SOC the way forward personally.
Whichever path works I reckon.
As a dedicated ‘Pantser’ SoC works for me too.
If you’re in the zone SoC I find really effective. I used to do that on Linda Hills blog years ago. Wrote most of the Raz stuff for that including Know Your Organs which has been incorporated into POI.
SoC does allow a certain degree of spontaneity which I miss when writing ‘planned’
I don’t think I’ve planned anything as such. Most of my writing is SoC. I find the spontaneity is a bit like reading a book. I’ve said it before that over planning leads to inventive creation by the writer if the character encounters something that wasn’t in the plan. E.g. uber weapon out of nowhere when the real choice is probably runaway.. to coin Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Quite.
I encountered quite a good series of thrillers in the style of someone very adept wakes up somewhere. They don’t know who they are and someone is an ‘organisation’ is out to kill them.
Problem 1.
They kept encountering folk willing to help them because the helper is a ‘good sort’ – they get killed for their trouble.
Problem 2.
The central character takes some hits but repairs easily. The ones sent to kill them don’t, and the large number of them are supposed to be professionals.
At least the ending was quite feasible – the central character eventually skedaddles off into the wild blue yonder- makes perfect sense.
Luckily it was a free audio book series and the narration was excellent. So quite entertaining.
Exactly why I go here for inspiration
https://youtu.be/bVpV5oRv0Z4?si=Iw9eIC7nRRNy3pNt
explains much. Or the Robert Browning poem that inspired Dark Tower. Chylde Roland to the Dark Tower Came.
Neverland is also a good one to chill to as I’m listening to it now!
Hypnotic.
A sad reflection on our times – I doubt if this would be played on mainstream radio. ‘Knife’ having other connotations these days.
Most of that album is. But try Neverland extended, Afterhours (a favourite) or Lucretia extended.
So true about modern connotations on words that have been usurped in urban culture. Why they get accepted into dictionaries is another soapbox. Give it a hundred years and literacy will be all but extinct!
Whereas I subscribe to the position that as a matter of course languages changes I often read a news headline and think:
‘What the heck is that supposed to mean?’
Indeed! Often its soundbites and in many cases delusional or ill informed. I may be getting cynical, but if its not a disaster they don’t seem interested.
The alleged saying in the American media circles is:
‘If it bleeds…it leads’
WE in the UK seem to be cursed with folk who painfully fail at being humorous, or think they are pithy, or worse mix up the concept of Succinct with Incomprehensibility.
Particularly those who announce a programme on TV.
I think that about sums it up. You only have to watch our politicians and this reprobate Farage to see humour fails every time they open their mouths.
Frightening stuff really. Affluence to the right and Union pay checks to the left. In the words of Fraser off Dad’s Army, We’re all doomed…
Farage is a fellow who seems to go where the ‘nice little earner is’.
He spouts off that he is going to the USA, then changes his mind comes like a tawdry Arthur out of a ghastly Camelot to lead Reform and appropriate England.
Compared to him Sunak seems a positively ‘nice sort of chap’ . Which sets the bar, well a bit low. And Stammer is filed under ‘Well. Might as well give him a shot at it, I suppose’ (said in a fatalistic tone)
There again Democracy is a combination of being ready to seek that least worst option, prepared to be disappointed and wait for the next time around, meanwhile grumble a lot, loudly.
Which is more than the ordinary folk dare do is Russia, Iran, China.
As opposed to be shot at or caught in the cross fire of two or more sides.
Small wonder some us find great comfort in writing Fantasy novels (I always go for the upbeat ending)
Bit like Brexit when he continued to sit in Europe to claim the pension. Seems the Libs want to take us back in too. Wonder if they realise the deal will not be anywhere close to what we had on leaving.
Starmer I am not sold on. It leaves my vote floating on WTF. Options are slim.
Still, politics is often useful in world builds although in mine they tend not to be feeble halfwits.
And the chances are the Lib Dems might have to deal with a clutch of right-wing minded agendas too. We should have stayed and fought within.
I’m with you on Starmer. The Leninist part of me says well he’s getting the party back to ‘Democratic Centralism’ (sardonic laugh). Other than that it’s a case of:
‘Well he’s a poor choice, but all the alternatives seem so much worse’
I confess I belong to the little talked about but ever popular ‘Fatalistic Shrug’ movement.
Yeah in my world they tend to be manipulative, realpolitik folk who do not go in for fanatical approaches. One school of thought holds above all else ‘Stability’ as that’s generally what works, what the populations want and is cheaper….. Pity help anyone though who tries to disrupt it, they live (not that long) to regret it.
Those are the feeble halfwits, you can tell early on they are heading for a fall, just sit back and enjoy their well deserved growing misery.
Are there any good choices? I see Farage now has Home Office guardians to ward off milk shakes. Heck I’d despatch them to chuck something more potent at him. Maybe a whip round for a one way ticket to somewhere very remote.
Sheeples as Hecklefish calls them. At times some folk make zombies look alive”
Good choices?
I can’t think of any that were throughout their whole tenure considered a ‘Good Choice’. That has to be left up to History, or reading several histories and making up your own mind.
The thing is, History indicates that someone has to do it, or wants to do it, or is told to do it.
In our current state, which is one of decline, because that happens to every nation, kingdom etc the important thing is to stop something odious like Farage getting too close to Number 10, we had a narrow enough squeak with Johnson and then Truss.
That’s Democracy for you (fatalistic shrug) – looking around the world….could be worse y’know.
I have said Starmer on TV now and he’s talking jibber jabber as if money is growing in an orchard. £15 billion in whatever a gigafactory is. Heck alive round here a lorry full of bricks can’t even go round a roundabout without turning over causing chaos and gridlock. Someone calls the fire brigade and they send 5 engines for no reason which they get a call out but end up stuck in the traffic jam.
You can’t make this up.
As for worse, it can always be worse!!
Governments have been making up money for centuries. It’s a magnificent act of smoke and mirrors, which relies on one small slender fact…
Confidence by Money Folk that what the government is saying can actually be pulled off by slight of hands and deft use of words.
There is no actually secret pile of gold ingots and precious stones buried away in caverns unknown to ordinary folk, sure there are some gold bars about the place, but its mostly relying on paper or in these days computer records.
If folk loose faith, the things get wibbly / wobbly.
Actually it’s best explained by this legendary person:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D6KBqgNGDw
I think its all they know how to do. Sound biting since the Blair Witch project created spin in order to achieve victory rather than substance. Sheeples again.
The pile of ingots, I think, was sold off by Gordon Brown to finance stuff that had no economic sense. My kids attended clubs that folded as the income was way short of expenditure.
You’d think that would be basic economics before actually doing it. Hey ho, Farage will, no doubt, solve all.
We all invest something of our future in one idea or another. Even an absence of belief is some kind of choice. Either because we have bought into the idea, or we are greatly against others on offer, or because we feel we need to make a choice.
And we all join into the complexities of actions, interactions and reactions, shifting views and perspectives in tydes (sic) of Life.
Apparently Reform are wont to
1. ‘Nationalise utility companies’ (Latent far Left Socialists- who’d thought it?)
2. Income tax exemption for front-line NHS workers through zero rate taxation. Having spent 25 years in H.M Inspector of Taxes (the true and only title) and some 30 years watching the awesome wonder that was the computerisation of the Civil Service mixed with selling bits of the the lowest bidder that gave me pause for thought this morning. How do they ensure every NHS organisation is interfaced with the HMRC, and do they grant a special allowance…which is kinda difficult as that means it has to cover all rates of pay or do they by ‘interface’ ensure no tax is deducted from ‘some staff’, while getting a programme to work co-operate…..Interesting. If you were of singularly detached disposition you could be tempted to vote for them just to see how the heck that would work.
Ah back to the writing of Fantasy novels, where everything makes sense.
He’s on TV now, “Come on, join the revolt. What have you got to lose?” Um, Brexit went well mate. Couple that with what you said and throw in Trump and we have a right fiasco in waiting.
Nothing I’ve seen with my trips to the hospital have proved communication between departments, never mind anything else, works. No idea how the so called IT experts come form, but they sure aren’t what I’d call half decent.
Not to mention training on how it all works.
Now where did I get to with the Hybrid?
‘What have you got to lose?’
Just a minute while I get that A4 notepad out.
IT experts… Yes they must be about, but probably quality costs too much up front for Governments.
They normally go for the cheapest (Arthur Daley …. ‘e’s alright) and then have to spend another billion or so sorting out the mess when it goes wrong.
Ah training…. Yes sitting in front of a computer screen, pressing ‘Yes’ / ‘No’ after reading a page of incomprehensible stuff and then asked an equally incomprehensible question, while you have one eye on the work piling up on your desk….. I don’t miss it- not one jot.
Meanwhile back on the June Blog Battle…..
That’s assuming they are bright enough to actually recognise quality IT experts as opposed to cheap calls so they can still use their private jets.
Indeed, Possibly made worse by trying to locate the English section amid a plethora of other languages to find its got no bearing on what it is you’re trying to operate.
Currently have Trooping of the Colours on TV. Nothing like old highly camouflaged uniforms, even if they are quite pleasant to look at.
It seems to still come down to ‘Err…let’s press this key and see if this works, it looks like it might. But I better write down the unofficial process lest I forget in the surprise of actually getting it to work,’
On that subject I was so tied up in discovering the process by which the pictures of our great-granddaughter could be moved from Whats App, to the phone’s gallery to the phone’s album, to the laptop album and then to format a printable version (all three devices being very recalcitrant) that I quite forgot about the Trooping of the Colour.
A typical example of our times I reckon.
Either that or rather loud cursing at an inanimate object that may well now have AI which silently laughs.
Whats App, I use that now too. Might be a good way to keep in touch Roger. A mechanism far more instant that many.
You missed nothing of great import, Lots of blokes in red with large hats pulling shiny metal. Hard not to think of Zulu when some of the music started up.
I have a theory that computer programmes respond to Hate and Anger, on the basis that both convert the electricity used in the brain activity into pulses of energy which computer programmes are susceptible to and hopefully will learn to avoid.
It’s my supposition and I’m sticking to it.
Whats App would be good in theory if I could remember where I had last put my phone, or not bothered to read a message because I was listening to an audio book on my phone. My two daughters and one son are used to the ‘time-lag’.
Trooping of the Colour is a very British thing from a bygone era, and brings in tourists. Less harm that voting for Brexit or Boris Johnson.
Being from South Wales – the film Zulu was a big deal for us lads- pity the regiment was actually Warwickshire based at the time of the battel. At least it is now common knowledge that the real Henry Hook was nothing like the film’s character- whose was more like the actor playing him.
Now there’s a thing for a Sci-Fi novel. AI feeding off hate and anger pulses that generates a UI designed for maximum WTF.
I find it quite good actually even though I was very reluctant to use it at first.
True about tourism too. Pomp and circumstance, as is Black Rod in tights.
Re Zulu, I once saw a fascinating archaeological things about the Isandlwana catastrophe. It slated the British as arrogant and the Zulu’s as quite a well led force. Totally trashed the film as nonsense. If I could find it again on YouTube I’ll give you link.
In my final offices days, on a second floor building when my computer was being difficult I would ask it, in a friendly voice if maybe we ought to see if the Laws of Gravity are still working at top efficiency.
Chelmsford made a classic error of dividing his force in the face of an unknown number of foes, and the resulting battle was an odds odd of 20 to 1 in an open terrain, both sides being trained and disciplined. It was always going to be a defeat for the defenders.
Naturally it was recorded as a glorious, heroic defeat.
Did it work? Or did said screen simply blink and continue staring darkly..
Lots of errors IMO. Over confidence rank and volley fire would work. Which, if deployed correctly it would have, However evidence says they were in to advanced a position with single file separate by about 10 yards. Zulu chieftains just waited for smoke to stop indicating a rifle jam and aimed his impi at them. Film says quartermaster was at fault. Nails from opened ammo boxes were all over the place saying nope. Troops were just too far forward. Whole lot dissolved once several breeches were made, hence the slaughter.
It might have been on Great Military Blunders thinking about it.
They said rank and volley applied properly would have cut them to pieces. Single ranks was a catastrophic error of judgement.
(Cold detached voice:) In my experience… the practice usually worked.😐
I’m not too sure if any force out in the open would have survived against those odds and the Zulu ‘Horns of the Buffalo’ tactics.
1896 and the Italians were to face an even greater disaster at Adowa.
And there was the Little Big Horn 1876.
Not forgetting the 1842 retreat from Kabul.
No one seems to learn the lessons of The Big Picture. Over-confidence in weaponry, Terrible Diplomacy and Racial Arrogance.
History is heavy on examples and warnings.
Ahh, mind control of the AI.
True but Rourke’s Drift proved a defensive scenario reasonably well constructed was harder for an impi to penetrate. Like I said the documentary went heavily into how effective rank and volley fire deployed properly could be. I think the estimate was cut down at around 10,000 feet. Even with rifle jams the compactness of the ranks could cope. Spread them out and poof.
Those grievous errors litter history when you delve deeper than “traditional” history says. Overconfidence is often the downfall of the ignorant. Look at football!!
This is why I have great fascination with ancient civilisations and history.. ergo Why Files as he gives the conspiracy before looking at in to debunk fiction from fact.
Overconfidence. Quite so. Failure to read the terrain, the opposition and expect too much from the forces under your command.
And biggest mistake of all, thinking one battle or one campaign wraps it all up neatly. Conflicts have long, long hard roads, with thick fogs drifting across them.
Exactly. Not to mention the stench of death and decay. Cries of pain, continuous sounds of artillery, gunshots. Not forgetting carrion waiting for dusk to feast on those that have passed on, or are close to it.
Eyes only need to see the wider world at war now. Most forgotten by media as some new soundbite appears. Or the danger of some of those that may get elected because apathy for the other two parties drops in.
Blow the whistle and the sheep follow, as it were.
War has its own fearful, dread logic which once it appears as an option draws folk in. In all damned sincerity and conviction drawing a line from the initial research into atomic physics to the dropping of nuclear bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki once you add the political element- there is an inevitability.
This is the awful revelation once certain factors are aligned in a certain order War becomes a certainty.
We, as a Species have not yet learnt to break that Cause and Effect; only if we get lucky veer away from it from time to time.
The Doomsday clock ticks ever closer to such an event once again. Brian Cox posted a witty response in relation to that. The Great Silence… No one has heard anything because numpties invent the internet and devolution occurs to the point where they blow themselves up. A lesson perhaps.
Either that or they simply watch in disbelief while forging conspiracy theory bases ready to thwart any attempt to populate the cosmos. Still, no doubt Trumps space force will soon take them to task.
I think we might be stuck with the Solar System. There’s enough to explore around there to keep us occupied.
IMO the race to Mars suggests there might be archaeology hidden under NASA’s airbrushing. Not to mention the original orange tint which was “supposed” to make it look nicer. Or, found a base there ready to harvest the asteroid belts to exhaustion while inadvertently knocking one into earth trajectory.
That said NASA also scraped eBay for old IBM machines so they could fix assorted old tech. Amazing what you learn from AJ and Hecklefish
Leaping ahead a few planets I was listening to my audio book version of ‘The Planets’ – Brian Cox. When it came to Saturn and describing the likely pressures and temperatures as you go deeper I concluded we will never stand upon that core.
The myriad wonders that await us in the Solar System.
Have to love the way Brian Cox delivers his concepts. Of course, stepping outside reality for a moment, consider it might be an illusion field generated to prevent discovery of the alien gas station. I mean they downgraded Pluto from a planet without realising its size was reduced by tactical mining by the Anunaki.
Goes hand in hand with the hollow moon that resonates like bell… although my understanding is that’s actually true. The resonating bit. Might be hollow… it think AJ did one on that.
Then there’s this mysterious other planet they believe is there but have yet to locate. Probably a very large Death Star with a cloaking device.
So much mileage in this!
We wait. On the edge of so much potential, so much to discover and learn of. How many centuries of exploration await us? What wonders await us even upon the most modest of asteroids?
So much potential is the right note of optimism. Alas avarice will drive most exploration under the guise of doing it for the greater good. As such future explorers will find mountains of skeletal remains with great big bushy beards…
Of course the now repaired Voyager could return at some point searching for whales. If so it might suggest aliens have a very good sense of irony amid their deliberate Great Silence.
Me. I shall wait and watch. From somewhere, somewhen.
Spoiler: Just identifying with some of the characters out of this month’s Blog Battle challenge – to be submitted soon(ish)- needs finishing off.
How about this one Roger. This one really resonates with my past.
https://youtu.be/DKZf9QXhjhU?si=Zno2BqqurX_BHOMs
An impressive gothic take on a love ended.
Although on another part of the music landscape it does evoke in me the same feelings I used to get with a Scot Walker song, like ‘Farmer in The City’.
All in a positive way though. Fascinating how music works
Inspiring, Roger. Must be my creative angle that draws that type of music. Here’s another I found and, would you believe, commenting has led to a few exchanges with Alan of Midnight Darkness.
https://youtu.be/LO4COHD1Krg?si=oiNMq1HHy-IoW3md
Odd how that works hah.
Re Sisters, I think the reason that first album is so good is because Wayne Hussey and Eldritch worked on it together. When Hussey left to form the Mission IMO things were never quite the same for either.
Captivating:
Can you clarify something for me Gary, did Patricia Morrison ever play on any recorded work. The accounts seems to differ?
Yes, Roger. She was bass guitarist until around 1989 (Flood album), but left as she was owed money that wasn’t paid. I thought that was when they went a bit too commercial with tracks like This Corrosion and Dominion. I did like Lucretia off it but the extended version is way better. She also played with The Damned who I saw in Leeds.
Obviously I am now into Midnight Darkwave too. Did you try Neverland or Afterhours? Those are tremendous live.
I never went into the music. It depends what mood I am in at the time.
Music is a component in my writing, whether listening to, or just going through my head. So if I need something to help work through a particular scene or chapter, it’s that type I go to….
(Like my Writing play listen which is 16 hours long and varies between The Sisters of Mercy’s live version of ‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door – ‘Soley Soley’ by Middle of The Road,- several USA indy bands,- ‘I’ll Never Get Over You’ Johnnie Kidd and the Pirates, and lots of others- never a dull moment!)
I think my music tastes direct mood. Possibly why I am drawn to goth because the sounds and lyrics I find inspiring. Especially in relation to our Necromage friend. It also reflects in the Garden of Death and Morrígna.
Years ago I often had LOTR on TV in the background too. Odd how certain things trigger words, or maybe its not that odd thinking about it!
The one facet of music which is ever a mystery is any song can raise different emotions depending on the the ‘place’ you are. I’ve written battle scenes with Enya playing in the background. (Well she wrote the soundtrack for the film LOTR)
LOTR would most certainly be inspirational. Did you ever hear the BBC radio drama?
Alas no. I don’t listen to radio very often except in the car.
I try and choose music to fit what, or who, I am writing the biography for. Hence the Sisters songs and FOTN. Although Darkwave is now another one.
Enya is also very atmospheric too. I had forgot about them until you mentioned it. I’m on the verge of testing The Emerald on her first flight since the Hybrid was lost trying to cure her from Dragon’s Bane. An old wound that lay dormant until she awoke. Kayla also took a big hit in that particular remedy attempt.
After that its back to Wayland (AKA Hybrid).
All worlds connect it seems. The Oracle is one of the Paradox Man’s company, or was until she suffered an assault by the Necromage that rendered her into a coma in our world and translated to the Obsidian Tower. Oddly another coma victim, Rose, also ended up there too.