Saturday, December 29

New Year's Eve Party - Posted on behalf of the Duchess

The Caledon Gaiety Company, Prim Perfect Magazine, Radio Riel and Riel Events cordially invite you to celebrate New Year's Eve in the Independent State of Caledon at the:

Gilded Age Masqued Charity Ball
The Gaiety Theatre - Caledon Penzance
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Join us for an all-day extravaganza of formal balls, live auctions, silent auctions and "best dressed" contests! Let's celebrate the new year and give to a worthy cause - "Gardens of Hope"!

* 4:00AM - 6:00AM SLT - Sydney/Melbourne New Year's Eve Ball
* 2:00PM - 3:00PM SLT - Live Charity Auction
* 3:00PM - 5:00PM SLT - London New Year's Eve Ball
* 8:00PM - 10:00PM SLT - New York New Year's Eve Ball
* 10:00PM - 11:00PM SLT - Live Charity Auction
* 11:00PM - 1:00AM SLT - San Francisco New Year's Eve Ball

The Silent Auction will run for 24 hrs starting at 1:00AM SLT December 31st. You can view, and bid on, the items for the Silent Auction in the glass pavillion just south of the Theatre.

Attire: Formal gowns and suits from 1850 - 1910 with masques
Or whimsical, yet tasteful, Victorian period costumes with masques

$500 L awarded to both Best Dressed Lady and Gentleman at each event

The event hosts are donating all auction proceeds to "Gardens Of Hope", an organization that builds greenhouses, tree nurseries, and more in Lesotho, Africa. These gardens are then used as a source of food, firewood and income for several communities in this Southern African nation.

For more infromation visit Better World Island in SL at:
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Or http://www.solidsaltspring.com/gardens.html on the Internet.

In case of Sim crash or unbearable lag, we will have Coughton Court in Caledon Carntaigh open for the event as well. Guests can enjoy the simulcast of the event, view pictures of the Silent Auction items, and dance free of lag!

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Friday, December 28

Three Wishes

How do I comfort the mourners?

The Slayer wants her friend brought back. The constructs who welcome my second daughter into their ranks with open arms at the same time pledge to help me rescue the spark of the first. And those who shed tears for the demon...

I have to remember why this happened. The survival of the Foundation demanded it. Koen and Bloodwing were becoming too dangerous. Even if the demon was the one people paid to see. I'll find the money somewhere.

As for Qli...she sacrificed herself so a friend could live. Qli-Nova adores me as a Father...something Nova's Creator never was. If a Time Lord can find the Fire Chief's soul chip, I have enough spare parts to cobble something together for her to start rebuilding herself with, like she always has.

Everyone is offering to help. And I think you. But I must stress again, this all has to be handled slowly...and carefully.

Thursday, December 27

Koen Comes Home

Kira delivered the coffin containing Koen's body to the Foundation this morning. I treated the wounds she received when my son was consumed by bloodlust. I've cured Vampirism before and I can do it again. But this is not an infant. If something goes wrong here, even his extra neko lives may not be enough to bring him back.

Kira promised me she would speak with Dr. Sputnik to see if finding and recovering the first Qli's soul chip from the chronosphere is even theoretically possible.

And still, no sign of Bloodwing. Just when I could actually use his help, he's torn away by the very disasters I need him to help me repair. The most frustraating part is I can sense he's somewhere still in this world. His new Host probably doesn't even realize he has him yet. It has to be some distant relative...but how many of your cousins seven times removed do you know? He could be anyone...maybe not even male...or even human...his first House Bloodwing was made of nekos as we've been told.

Sleep peacefully, my son. I'm not saying the Kaddish for you yet. To you, this will be over in the blink of an eye. It is the rest of us who must be patient.

~Dr. Mason

Wednesday, December 26

A New Qlippothic and a New Harborside


I had an opportunity meet my daughter's successor last night. Qli 2.0? Qli-Nova? It's up to her find a new name for her amalgamated form. I almost didn't recognize her but for the way she was calmly rebuilding herself, as she always has. Her new frame is definitely...what is the word? Chibi.

She is reverse-engineering her frame with hazy memories of 21st century technology and 19th century supplies. A worthy challenge indeed! She excitedly showed me her new bionic arm and personal defense systems, as well as her new rechargeable power supply. Never mind that city-wide electrical grids haven't been invented yet. Luckily, the generator on my roof (powered by the glowing meteor inside) can provide the electrical energy she needs.

I started giving her a bit of a tour, and was immediately as befuddled as her...not only have two of my neighbors' houses vanished leaving a pastoral scene in the void, I had forgotten that Lumina's store was moving to the pier!

Then I received an invitation from the Sheriff to visit Harborside before continental drift slammed it against our home shores. I surrendered to the giddiness of my youth and climbed the mountain ridge to shout out taunts in the old Capper Brigade tradition!

When I sit down with her next we'll discuss how the skills she inherited from Miss Sakigake can benefit the Foundation and Steelhead.

~Dr. Mason

Sunday, December 23

Now is the winter of our discontent

A delicate hand raises a small crossbow skyward...a splinter spins on fletches through the night winter air towards a floating shadow with crimson eyes and spread wings. The shaft pierces the heart, and with a yowl the cat falls into the Winterfell snow. Koen looks up from where he has crashed in a heap to see a lithe girl shrouded in white furs. He recognizes Kira's face through her stinging tears. He barely has time to say "Thank you" before the hunger of Undeath is lost in the suspended state of Torpor.

In the time between times and the place between places, the neko's sister of brass and gears loses her soul's housing in the shock of re-entry to her home dimension. The steampunk android risked all to rescue a fellow construct from Hostel, a dimension that had lost its moorings and hurtled towards the future...and collapsed into Oblivion. Reality reassembles the survivor from the remains of both entities...and Qli-Nova is left to come to terms with her spliced identity.

When the Seventh Son has no remaining heirs, the Bloodwing shall inhabit another Seventh Son.


Bloodwing had not counted on this clause in the Curse manifesting again, especially after being torn free from the current heir to the curse. But the simultaneous loss of Koen and Qlippothic set this primordial edict in motion. The disinherited Demon-Prince is caught off guard, and drawn into the body of another. Being the passenger from behind another's eyes, he is trapped as his last Host was, until he masters this new form. His one solace is that he recognizes the terrain of his new symbiote.

He is Caledon.

Dr. Mason is pulled from the rubble of his underground laboratory by a team of his robotic creations, both massive and miniscule. A wheeled mechanoid injects a massive syringe of glowing green liquid into the chest cavity of his broken creator. The Doctor takes a heavy gasp of air again as his muscles, nerves and blood vessels are reknit.

"The cure! I almost had the CURE! My poor son! I WILL bring you back!"

In Winterfell, the sound of nails driven into wood is muted by the falling snow. Several pairs of hands lower the neko into a coffin, wooden stake still in place. The lid covers the lifeless body and is quickly nailed shut before the rise of dawn.

The android rushes down to assist in carrying the Doctor to safety. Through shattered goggles, blue eyes stare at the figure that both resembles his greatest creation, but glows from components so advanced that even a Spark must stare in awe.

"Qli? Is that you?"

"Yes...and no...Father?"

Thursday, December 20

The Hunger Grows

*Ears perk as he hears the echoes of ghosts again, but continues feeding upon his prey. Soon all struggling has ceased, and he pulls his fangs back from the stag's neck, leaving not a single drop to stain the game's white fur. He releases his lock around the beast's jaw and antlers, letting it fall to the ground, drained and lifeless. He licks the crimson from his lips and spreads his dark span, taking to the air again to search for one more bite before he withdraws from the advancing dawn*

Sunday, December 16

The Great Steelhead Fundraiser!





I and a few other brave souls donned our kilts and danced on board the galleon in the Harbor for the benefit of Harborside. Our goal was 60,000 Linden Dollars in one night. By the time I left, we had over 85,000L! The expansion is close...very close. Less than a hundred US dollars away!

At various donations levels, shirts mysteriously fell off various dancers and went overboard. By the end of the vent even some of the more reserved guests of male and female persuasion were torso-exposed to the winter maritime breeze!

(And no, I shan't show you any depictions of those brave souls in defense of their virtue!)

Near the end of the night I conversed with Mr. Zymurgy, who was not only shirtless, but partially fleshless as well. It seemed only logical that a zombie and a ressurectionist should collaborate. I offered him use of my facilities to design forms that appeal more to a Steampunk clientèle than his traditional customers of the gore-splattered, cortex-consuming persuasion.

~Dr. Mason

Saturday, December 15

The World was Square

Kokopelli Square, that is. It was a Steelhead Dance themed after the Victorian novel Around the World in 80 Days. I dressed in my traveling gear and greeted the lovely ladies from around the globe...who seemed to take a fancy to my new mustache.

And of course we were invaded by those infernal Daleks again. I informed them (and whomever was in that blue booth) that the Time Machine party is in two weeks, and that they would please turn their dials a tad and show up when they would be more apropos.

Bloodwing always said women like men with handlebars. Not having facial hair himself, I can't help but wonder if this is what he meant, but he seems to be right. I look much more Victorian this way, don't you think? Now I just need to purchase a mustache cup...

Friday, December 14

Of Ducks, Oranges and Egg Nog

If It Bills Like a Duck

I had a busy night last night. Mr. Turing Weyland of the Library Militant telegrammed me, requesting a coordination the Library, HealthInfo Island and the Caledon Red Cross on an exhibit for February. It would be a History of Medical Quackery of the 19th Century. There would be explanation of such discredited studies as phrenology, hydrotherapy, and most certainly the whispered-about hysterical paroxysm generator! Perhaps Regency Hospital could offer these services to raise interest in the exhibit (except for the last one of course).

The Mr. HO HO HO Show

Next, I spoke to Mr. Orange Montagne, the host of the Skype-based talk show, the Mr. O Show and invited him to see the dramatic changes in Steelhead from when Mr. Eclipse took over the management. In keeping with the season, he came dressed as Santa.

While sitting on the train, he went into convulsions. Possibly an effect from too much Egg Nog. Nutmeg does have hallucinogenic properties in megadoses, you know.


I invited him to come to the Around the World in 80 Days-themed event at Kokopelli Square tonight (his favorite book, he tells me!) and the Shirtless Fundraiser tomorrow night. (Men in kilts are apparently not his cup of cheer, however. Perhaps if some of the ladies could dress like the Gorean Christmas Rockettes like at the last Town Hall...)

~Dr. Mason

Wednesday, December 12

Yeah yeah yeah I've been tagged

Alright already. Eight things about Koen. Let's see..

1. I was named Vortex after one of the Deva's older characters. Apparently he was a horned, angst-ridden teenage mutant that could fly and make force fields. Lucky for me, the horns went to somebody else this time.

2. Remember I was a furry kitty in a tux the first time I confronted Darien/Bloodwing? The whole thing was a costume! I think it's still in the basement somewhere.

2. Like the four-legged kitties, I don't taste sweet things. All I get is that sticky feeling on my tongue. ICK.

3. Except for those ridiculously big feet on the furry costume, I don't wear shoes, ever. For obvious reasons.

4. I had a really good gig at a neko club a while ago, but I gave it up after the owner started talking trash about someone I really care about.

5. I prefer my dinosaur meat rare, but I have to tenderize it with a rock for ten minutes first.

6. I can kick your tail in a game of Greedy Greedy.

7. I was in FurNation once listened to a bunch of furries on Voice. I will NEVER go back there again! *shivers*

8. Despite people working behind the scenes to convince me otherwise, I realize my Mom's not coming back. I just have to move on.

-Koen

Tuesday, December 11

It's for the sim you know

As Lady Christine has most kindly requested, I will be dancing for the benefit of Stelhead Harborside this Saturday from 7 to 9. Yes, I will don my kilt. And yes, there will be a Shirtless O'clock.

I asked Bloodwing if he wished to participate, but he muttered something about bad luck with slave auctions.

Have you seen my daughter lately? She looks so wonderful in the Menorah chassis I built for her! I was lighting the Hanukkah candles, wondering how one night of oil could last eight nights...and BOOM the Spark hits! Next thing I know I'm in the lab fitting Qli with an oil recycling engine and a new array of limbs! She was so happy she was SPEECHLESS!

Now...where is Koen? He should be back from Transylvania by now...

Tuesday, December 4

Tag. I'm it.

Fine fine fine, I'll play your little game.

1. I have a plan to end World Hunger and defeat a force that interferes with scientific study at the same time. But I need a huge pasta bowl to do it.

2. When I called on the Elder Beings to cure Baroness Amber's daughter, I invoked Chthon, not Chthulu. He is much more entwined in vampiric mythology than the giant cuttlefish.

3. Fuzzball, meQal and I were in the Capper Brigade together. Some of you may wonder what that was. It was an elite reconnaissance unit that snuck behind enemy lines, took pictures of their fortifications and wrote captions on the backs of the pictures detailing what they were. Along the way we would play practical jokes and leave embarrassing pictures with sarcastic comments to demoralize the enemy.

4. The three civilian outfits you normally see me in (the blue and brown sac suits and the black outfit with waistcoat and hat) were a gift from my former nurse Annastina Christensen.

5. My favorite books are The Deluxe Transitive Vampire and The New Well-Tempered Sentence by Karen Elizabeth Gordon.

6. I will never post another entry with "currency" in the title.

7. My current greatest enemy: Prim limits!

8. No, I will not name eight other people. Consider yourself lucky. Normally when I tag someone, it goes on their toe. If you insist that I "tag" you, it will be with this. (Courtesy of Miss Malaprop)

Monday, December 3

Currency and Current Events

I had the pleasure of meeting young Robin Radwick in his new coin store in Caledon. A marvelous display of currency from Ancient times to the early 20th century. He tells me he's been an avid coin collector for over 30 years and...


Wait a minute...that can't be right!



Then I paid a visit to the Babbage clinic, and encountered an alien mechanoid. I felt safer on the other side of the window.



Then I paid a visit to Miss Margie Meng, a former patient of mine. She and her father (a chieftain in Gorean lands, so she tells me) would like to arrange a ball to benefit Regency Hospital. Miss Annastina Christensen offered to DJ, and the Foundation has an open invitation to stage event on the Brauerhoff property. So...all we need is a date!