talislanta

Fiction: Game Module, Talislanta

~ Bon Steele ~ Leave a comment

This is flavor text I wrote for my Talislanta game module, Retribution.

FYI: Aaman and Zanth are countries and a people diametrically opposed in almost every way. The Aamanian people are pious, monotheistic zealots. The live in a theocracy, led by The Heirophant. The Zandir are polyglot, polyandrous libertines. They are ruled at the whim of the Sultan.

As you can imagine – the two countries detest each other.

 

DOCUMENTS AND LETTERS

Aspirant Aabas
Personal Journal Entry
Ardan 31, Year 624

All-Seeing Aa has shown me the Way! I see it so clearly, now!
Only through the conversion of the unfaithful will Aa’s Light be spread. His Law shall shine down upon the sinners and they will be uplifted to glorious heights. With their uplifting, they shall be grateful – and we shall benefit as well. Only when we are independent shall we have victory!
Aa! Most Victorious and Noble Aa!
No more shall we depend upon the whims of the mineral traders! By controlling Shattra, we shall be able to bring the merciful and just Law of Aa to the masses who await their redemption! From Shattra, we shall shine Aa’s Holy Light into wretched Zandu and destroy the herectics!

I have seen it!  I have seen it!

 

*******************************************************

Coded Message
From: Aabas, Monitor of Aanu, Newest City in Aa’s Domain

In the knowledge that Aa the Omnipresent will deliver this safely into proper hands, written on this 17th Day of Drome, Year 625.

Most HOLY,

In the wondrous city cities of Aaman and especially in Aamahd, all praise to Aa the Omnibenevolent!,  the great work moves forward. The perfidious Zandir know nothing of our plans; may Aa smite the eyes from their heads! Captured infidels are being placed in the Halls of Penance at a constant pace and are being shipped to Aanu every day to supplement our newest city. They praise Aa the Omnibeneficient  at their chance to convert other infidels, as is proper. As discussed, no traders or merchants are being detained. It is our thought – assuredly given by Aa, Most HOLY – that by the final week of Jhang, all will be in position and ready.

In Aa’s Holy Light,
Monitor Aabas of Aanu

*******************************************************

Inscribed on this Glorious Day, the 35th of Drome

Most Blessed and Magnificent Sultan,

As the captured missive indicates, it is perhaps in our best interest to find out what those idiots are doing. I have not heard of a new city being raised in Aaman. May I humbly suggest an infiltration party? I have some….candidates in mind for this particular job.

By my hand,
Palitarus, Master Seneschal

 

*******************************************************

Inscribed on the 37th Day of Drome

I am busy with my newest wife, who is the light of my eye and has the roundest bottom I have ever seen. Her breasts are as pomegranates and her aim is WICKED.
If you are not getting my hint, leave me out of this (for now.)
Do whatever you think is necessary. But lest you forget your place, please recall your predecessor.

I will not tolerate incompetence.

Scribed verbatim

<Sultan’s Personal Seal affixed here>

 

 

 

 

I got sunshine….

~ Bon Steele ~ 1 Comment
"Mu'ab Sol! Your name is a killing word!" "It is the weirding way."

I was thinking this morning, as I was running along: why, again, did I choose to start my running program in the summer?

Oh, that’s right. That whole “insane” thing.

Seriously, folks. There has got to be something wrong with me. Because sane people don’t do this sort of thing. Of course, many sane people choose to live somewhere the sun isn’t actively trying to murder them, too.

On a more positive note, there is something that I have noticed. When I am smiling and feeling happy, the run feels tons easier. Not that I am slowing down – the music wouldn’t let me! No, just my attitude seems to impact how it goes. When I am feeling crabby and hating everything around me, then it seems like lead weights are strapped to my ankles and everything takes far.too.long. Conversely, having a happy whilst watching the dragonflies and birds zoom around as I go by means that the run is over too soon.

Attitude truly is everything.
Of course, I still think that the sun is terrible and angry.

To be fair, at least half of this issue is not so much the sun’s fault as it is my own. Y’see, instead of doing my run before the sun rises, I am out there about 8AM or so. This is what works for my moring schedule – get the Girl up and dressed. Fed and out the door. I wait a decent amount of time while tying my shoes and stuffing my hair under my hat. I gather my iTouch and put my sunglasses on. Then – when I feel that there is no one on the streets of my neighborhood? THEN (and only then) do I head out the door.

I don’t like to run in front of other people. I am extremely self-conscious of what I look like when I run. It’s a holdover from when I was big. Even now, with the wonders of modern bra technology, I still look much like the Jell-O scene from Airplane! the Movie.

On that note, I’d like to thank the Parks and Recreation dudes this morning who stopped to watch me this morning. I could hear the wholf whistles over the üntz coming through the earbuds. Had I missed that, the slowing to a crawl in the center of the street would have been a dead giveaway. I smiled into the middle distance and ran on my way.

Now, if you will excuse me. I am off to find a shower and a giant glass of water. And possibly a better running bra.

 

PS – It is Tuesday today, so double-post; fiction later on this afternoon.  I think I’ll put up some character sketches for a Talislanta module I wrote some time ago.

PPS – How many geek references do YOU see in this post?