Good call feathered and furred ones! Back to the fray! (Cranks up the Kraftwerk on the noise maker, prepares to 'get into the Yor's heads')......

Just when the aussie's thought it was safe, the squack box left behind by the spymaster Gerrakin activetes.

"1,2,3,4,

IT'S FUN TO STAY AT THE YMCA, IT'S FUN TO STAY AT THE YMCAAA...


NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's a holo box of the village people... Aaaaaaaaaak!!!!


We come to you courtesy of your favorite zombie nation Canada!!!!!! So get out that medical gauze, your going to need it.

What lil ole us the enemy? Oh come now come now, enough of this talk. Join us, and rule the sought seas as our affiliate partners....

I take a day off and... :notsure:

It was a quick respite for the sake of my singing voice and a respite from my gigantic game as well. I used the time to flex the artsy-fartsy side of my noggin. I have a funny little picture that I'd like to share. It strikes me as Metaverse meets South Park. I apologize to those I left out. I only included players who provided a lot of visual stimuli. For those that I did include, if I misrepresented your persona... http://hometown.aol.com/andyt54321/myhomepage/profile.html

(edit: linking is simpler than I thought)

[Message Edited]

A dark speck impinges the extreme edge of vision; it interrupts the flat wide horizon. Someone is striding across the red desert towards a relaxed group of drinkers?. No, the waves of heat have deflected the image, for the grey form is gliding above the sun baked ground. From out of the isolated west it comes, an image that slowly grows over time. The sun relentlessly beats down on the meeting place of some of the most experienced Metaverse warriors. Conversations slow and eventually stop as the shape emerges into view. One poor soul even stops drinking.
Closer the shapes comes, One less inebriated warrior remembers the far focus glasses under the bar.
“Um, Yes get me those new fangle thingies” commands Drop bear.
A genuine pub fight starts as five brave warriors clash for the honour of being first to find the glasses. With a sigh Slitherin expertly slides through the brawl and retrieves the glasses.
“Hump” He grunts as he brings the far sight glasses to his eyes.
“It’s a….”
All turn as a sicking crunch is sounded from behind. Five sprawled body are decked out at the feet of Space wombat.
Looking mightily pleased with himself he looks up to see all looking at him with slack jaws.
“They spilt me beeeeer!” he offers as an apologue
“As I was saying. It’s a bat and It looks exhausted”
A burst of laughter meets this announcement.
“What?” scows Drop Bear
“Look in the mirror mate.” drawls Space Wombat
Hesitating slightly he looks around, this act insuring another round of laughter. Drop Bear shrugs his shoulders waddles over to bar mirror as suggested. Around his eyes he can see two round marks. He looks down at the far sight glasses and the eye pieces are covered in boot polish
“Those pesky Pirates. That’s another one I owe them!” he bellows bringing dust down from the roof. ”I’ll get them you’ll see grrrrrrrr”.
As he moves towards the water trough all can see deep claw mark impression on the hard wood bar.
“hmmm shikabab pirate” muses Slitherin while watching the struggling form of the bat.

The bat swopes into the shade of the bar and with one last effort lands stretched out on the bar.
Picking himself up the bat looks around and bows. “Hi lads. I’m bakka. Bit hot ain’t it. I could do with a middy”.
Bakka slumps down in a exhausted heap.
The question is heard “What’s a middy?”
Bakka eyes roll as he mutters “Bloody easterners!”
Slitherin comes to the rescue, “Same as a pot”
“Right you are mate, Now a beer to wet me whistle if you don’t mind” gasps bakka.
“What you doing here?” ask Space Wombat
“Beer first, questions later” replies bakka
With look of glee bakka watches as tall cool glass of amber liquid is placed in front of him. Grabbing the glass with both wing hooks he guzzles the beer down. The look relief is quickly replaced with one of almost pain.
“Bloody hell mate what was that? It looked like beer, It smelt like beer but it sure didn’t taste like beer. I bet you have a horse out back?”
“Fosters” mumbles Space wombat
“So your horse’s name is Fosters? Has it won the cup yet?”
“Hmm you a sandgroper too?” enquires Drop Bear after eyeing the cheesy grin wrapped around Slitherin’s fangs.
“Yep, though been away for a while. Got any EB around here?”
“No” Slitherin quickly replies, “It doesn’t travel that well”
“Bugger.. Oh well you could put this stuff out back and let some silly sod use it as a degreaser.”

Bakka turns to Drop Bear, “Sir the Metaverse is a dangours place and I wish to have some mates with me as I fight for survival. Would yo please consider me application to be one within your mighty ANCAZ ranks?”
“Um..” stammers Drop Bear
“Hey fuzzy you think that was formal enough for his nibs?” bakka whispers to Space Wombat but loud enough for all to hear.
“What’s formal?” whispers back Space wombat
“Why us? rumbles Drop bear

Bakka ponders for a second, “Well sir, The Pirates, though a powerful force seam to have a might alignment against the undead and being a ghost bat I think I would not fit in that well. This brings me to the far northern clan of the undead. They have no idea basically.” Bakka pauses to take another swig from his glass. “Near the undead are some farmers. I couldn’t work out what was corniest, the corn crop or the hard working folk, so I continued on my way. A great distance away I came across this close knit group. They didn’t say much and when some thing was said it sounded like they had marbles in their mouth. Now the fine fellow’s found in that tavern where a great bunch but I just couldn’t get used to the skirts and I think them pet owls they keep have a featherist attitude. “
“So that brings you here?” enquires Space Wombat
bakka nods to the battle scared Meta warrior “Almost, I did a fly by the Jedi camp and not once did any of the young un’s take the micky out that small guy with the funny mouth. Talk about wasted opportunity. So here I came and I like what I see so I apply to stay. I’m not big on speeches but my one liners can take two layers of battle armour off.”


~SDC~

Part 6

Dropbear tapped his claws, thoughtfully, on the rough wood bench. He stole a sip of pinot to hide his dismay and enjoyment. Thoughts twirled in his compact mind:
A fellow ANZAC mate: Yet also an undead.
Another hard working player: Yet, not good or bad, but a neutral.
Another chirpy member of the group: Yet also another beer drinker.

Dropbear eyed the bat thoughtfully. Bakka’s work ethic and obvious talents surely outweighed his honest love of beer (and Dropbear knew he had a long, hard road to waddle before he converted the current mob to pinot). Indeed, Dropbear had already thought of a suitable, potentially suicidal, mission for bakka.

It was time to get away from this hard, red desert (the location had been Slitherin’s unfortunate choice for a BBQ). Dropbear much preferred the moist, thick air of the eastern swamp.

Fortunately, Dropbear had bought the last round, so took the floor. “bakka, as most recent shouter I have the honour of welcoming you to our august gathering of distinguished…”

“Aaah Dropie, knock it off”, said Slithers. A drip of liquid on the snake’s fang shut up Dropbear rather quickly. “Sorry about Dropie, he’s from Sydney. G’Day mate and pleased to meet ya. Um, your shout?”

The welcoming tipple lasted some time, that hot, winter July day.

Oh, where to start. Can I quickly comment on the rather heady week as it were.

bakka: welcome! Don't mind if I send ya on a seemingly suicidal mission in the future. No animals have yet been killed in the line of duty (although we're not too sure whether all members of ANZACs are still alive).

Ah Pontius: I love YMCA (he says, whilst vogueing). I'm starting to sense that you were an impressionable young'un in the 1970s. You pirates are 'the enemy' as it were, coz its more fun! My ego is not yet strong enuf to read a comment like: "What was the point of that story. Anyway, who won the ice hockey."

Slithers: Ya shoulda taken the chance that Rowling wouldn't have discovered your breach of copyright. Still, Slithers looks better than Slythers, and you've brought your personal touch to the name. I actually couldn't register Dropbear as it was supposed to be taken- so went with the clumsier Drop Bear.

KitWarrior, I sense you are going to go thru hell and back before not too long.
Love the picture LOL (Hurray. For the first time in my LIFE I am the tallest person in a picture!) You may have got confused with Northern bears: koalas are actually smaller than wombats! Still, you've captured the personal presence that I have (at least in my own mind).

Wombie: Last but not least. Any more info on the Velvet Underground? I like the feel of it, but will people 'round the world see it and twig? I note that the song Hurls was singing was from the web site concerning the VU.

I was thinking about one of my favourite games: FF7, and remembered that the most powerful materia in that game was The Knights of the Round. Does a suggestive medieval theme get people's imagination? Not sure if fauna and music can be encompassed in that. I don't want to discourage women from joining either.

Cheers on a long, hard week and read ya all later.

Wombat led the group through the mountain passes high atop Mt.Dandenong. The cool, crisp air was bracing after the stifling heat of the Outback barbecue. The usual amenities had been provided; several large kegs of beer, stacked neatly next to several slabs of beer, together with a few dozen bottles of beer as an emergency after the kegs were finished. You could never be too careful with this mob. Wombat's less than keen eyesight also noticed several bottles of strange, red liquid - he suddenly looked around at Drop Bear, who glanced away hurriedly.

His eyes gathered in the menagerie collected in the clearing; all mates good and true in the great Metaverse fight. Bear, snake, bat, rock-and-roll superstar - WAIT - not all was right here.
"HURLEY - get your own bloody beer, mate!"
Hurley: "Sorry, Wombat - honest mistake - didn't know which slab was mine, you know...heh..."

After shouting the first round, Wombat drew himself up to his full height of 3ft6": "Listen you blokes, we're in a bit of a crisis. Those bloody pirates are still in first place, but at least they're awake. The Undead are in second and don't even BOTHER to read our stuff. You know how that makes me feel. The blasted farmers and those poncy Euros and the Tolkien readers are still between us and glory."

"You know that no one is giving us any R-S-P-C-A."

Slitherin: "Er...Wombat, are you sure about that...do we need the protection society?"

Bakka whispers quickly in Wombat's ear. Wombat blushes as much as a wombat can blush (which is not very much)" "SETTLE DOWN, blast you - we're not getting any R-E-S-P-E-C-T, you know what I meant!!"

"I want some SERIOUS consideration about the future of this group. We'll need beer from all corners of Australia - yes, Drop Bear, and that bloody red stuff if you must - and we're going to sit here and drink until we've decided what to do."

"Nobody stops drinking until we've made a DECISION."

A somber mood overtook the group, punctuated by the occasional sounds of kegs being cracked.....

My wings are yours to command.

Bakka stands to he feet after a six pack
Warriors of the ANZAC's attend me..

My travels have revelled a great conspiracy.

Now I cannot see from above as the great wizards of the smoke taken fellowship can but I fly above and below I can sense enough to know things are not as they appear.

Either I’m a candidate for the men in white coats to capture and lock me away for my own good or we must punch through the illusions before us.

In this great locality of ours we have developed a mindset that all without wonder at how it happens. Down the middle we sit in perfect harmany with both.

What I tell you now could end this forever or give rise to cries of madness.

Through the undead sensers I see a vision of a world that is not round but plate shaped.. It has a axel in the centre at the top of this sits the gods of world playing their favourite game of jerk the heroes around. I tell u also that this plate or "disc" if you want the official word rests atop 4 huge elephants with feet planted on top a large space faring turtle. Male or female the debate still reigns.

~SDC~
[Message Edited]

Time waits for no man*, ANZACs.

Ponder deep and hard on the issue at hand, for therein lies your destiny.

*or animal
[Message Edited]

Re: The Velvet Underground

The more I think of it, the more I like the musical metaphor - it sounds cool, and I could go for the rock-and-roll outlaw image in roleplay terms. I could certainly have fun with it. Not sure whether people want to change nicks to go along with this - although I've already got mine picked out: Jive Wombat

And Chris - I have one for you : Poetic Champion (from Van Morrison's album Poetic Champions Compose).

Look - talk it up a bit; I don't want to be forcing us down a track no one really wants to be on. Do you really want some kind of bio on the VU? Also, I'm conscious that Cotal (house hunting) and Quack (Reserve duty) aren't around to comment at this stage - don't want to leave them high and dry.



Now this is slightly interesting. For those who came late, I understand the Republic and the FOTR are considering some kind of affiliation. Haven't kept up with the details, though. Might do us to look at this, without being too Machiavellian about it. I must say, in all seriousness, that I enjoy Pontius, Gerakken, Kit, EBZ et al most of all in interacting on this board (like minded sense of humour?) and I could definately go with this.

And I would like to state as of 22:20 EST, July 13, that I have snuck between Hurley and Slitherin (make of that what you will!)

Cheers everyone!

Oh my heavens- Discworld! I wonder...

Drop Bear, Space Wombat, are u guys able to access the #galciv chat room?

[Message Edited]

oops

Another thought - if you want to retain the animal metaphor: Animal House? The Menagerie? Help me out here!

Food fight!

I also need to make a confession, although I enjoy beer, I, like the august Drop Bear greatly enjoy, often too much, a red wine. Can't quite raise the same enthusiasm for Pinot as for a good Shiraz or Cabernet but still.

There, thats better, off me chest, now "pass us that bottle Santa" to quote anotehr rock and roller.

That's a great idea, Slitherin.

Animal-shapeshifters would be cool.

SuperHero theme? The possibilities would be limitless.

I really like my Superhero idea as it gives tremendous space for role-playing for both guys and gals.

If you guys don't want it, I'll suggest it to other empires looking for a theme.

- sounds good slitherin.



- I agree an excellent thought Ray.

Hmm, my alterego was a phtotographer, a suppose that can be covered as a type of animal???

Hurley - you may not realise it, but the SPIDERMAN character (Peter Parker) was a photographer in his day job.

Super hero sounds good too! Anyone play that PC game: Freedom Force? Could combine that shapeshifter/animal with superhero.

Definately agree with Slitherin that this should NOT be set in stone; we'll probably change again when we get bored (or when the beer runs out).

Thanks Ray!

Oh you mean sort of an Anzac Dominion. Now just who would be your vorta, and your Gem hadar?

Thanks you Space Wombat, no I didn't realise that.

Hmm, more possibilities!

Hmm, your idea seem to be more tribal spirits, Slitherin.

I was thinking along the lines of Marvel Superheroes -Hulk, Spidey, Avengers, X-Men, Excalibur (:)), Thor, IronMan, etc.

Well what about Freedom Force ? It sounds catchy. It can relate to the game (ie freedom from aliens) or even freedom from other human (and undead) factions, is bi-gender, and everyone can be who they want to be (ie people who don't want a 'character'!).
Wombie can shapeshift to become Jive Wombat etc etc.
And, players from around the world will probably check out the empire and be tempted to join!

I agree, that sooner than later we'll be in need of a change, so it's not set in concrete.



Gee, it's not too often I miss a reference, but 'vorta' and 'Gem hadar'?