Story Seed - Temple

Image Source: http://verbalhologram33.deviantart.com/art/The-Sun-Temple-190346149

The view was breathtaking. Yeddun sucked in air, bone chillingly cold at this high altitude, and stared. After months of trekking up and down the great mountains of the Nammu range he had finally found the lost temple.  Some said that it no longer existed, others that it never had.  Yeddun smiled, knowing that he was right had been easy enough, being able to prove it would be harder.  Even now, having located the Temple of of the Maker, he would need to not only map its location in great detail and with great accuracy, but he would have to return here with others.

For the moment though he felt the satisfaction of proof.  He then realized that seeing the great structure a half mile away was one thing, and setting foot on its holy steps was entirely another thing. He wasn't there yet.

It took three more days to work his way down and then back up to finally stand at the foot of the temple.  His legs trembled with fatigue, his breath now came in ragged gasps. Yeddun pawed through his bag and removed a tiny bottle wrapped in dark leather. After so much time in the mountains he had truly thought this would not be needed, but here, now, this cypher would grant him the ability to reach the end of his quest.  The bitter liquid allowed him to breathe, and finally Yeddun began to climb the steps of the temple and entered it at last.

Inside he allowed his eyes to adjust to the dim light before finally relenting and setting a torch ablaze.  The interior was spartan, almost bare of decoration.  Even the walls were oddly bare of carving or mural.  At the far end of the room, upon a raised dais, stood a great table piled high and overflowing with tablets and scrolls, and a chair, long abandoned. Yeddun mounted the steps and leaned over one of the tablets, eager to read the Maker's own handwriting.

Instead he stood baffled.

The tablets contained only strings of ones and zeroes. Over and over in a seemingly random jumble.

~~~~~~~~~

Summary - A long lost temple.  The Maker's own writing's from the creation of the world. For one resident of Ardyen, seeing behind the curtain of creation is not as expected.

Back Issues #8 - TurboSwine!

I think a lot of us build a character from concept through background and stats, and then when it comes time to put a face on the PC, we struggle to find something to match. I'm sure that not everybody does, but often it's how I do things. It was suggested to me that I write something about character art and the creative process. I'm going to go one step further and take a picture and build the PC after the fact. Brace yourselves for the coming of TurboSwine!

Issue #8: TurboSwine!

Author's note: I stumbled on this pic over at the Atomic Think Tank forums. The art was created and is owned by Darren M. A. Calvert (a.k.a. DMAC), you can find his website by clicking on the image.

TurboSwine is the product of an accidental RNA cross mutation resulting from a cancer vaccine trial, and a test program for an Army infantry flight pack. Naturally these two projects had nothing to do with each other except for both being carried out by the Helix Engine Technologies, a start up scientific research company.

Project C.R.A.B. (Cancer Retroviral Antibody Booster) was intended to help the human immune system combat cancer cells within the body. The vaccine would be tailor made for the subject after diagnosis. The Retrovirus would locate the altered cancerous cells and tag them with genetic markers which would allow the human immune system to more successfully target and eradicate them. During trials a primate test sample was accidentally administered to a swine test subject. The pig, cleverly named Wilbur, began to display an adverse reaction to the serum win the first 24 hours. The scientist in charge, as of yet unaware of the mix up, ordered continuous observation of the subject. None of the prior tests had produced this effect and he desired to study it in full. Over the next week Wilbur mutated as the primate DNA was patched into his own primary DNA (and not the cancerous cells as expected). After fourteen days Wilbur was standing on two legs, and learning to speak, his own swine intelligence combining with the boost the primate DNA gave him rendering his mutated brain equal to that of an average human.

The scientists were amazed, and, despite running many tests, treated Wilbur humanely; one of the junior scientists, Adam, even brought a TV and DVD player with him on overnight observation and the two would watch superhero cartoons and films.

It was one such night that the facility found itself under attack by the villain, Iteration Zero, who wanted the HelixEngine's prototype rocket pack for himself. The test lab was next door to what Wilbur now considered his "room," and during the commotion he and Adam went to investigate. Seeing that the security guards needed help against Iteration Zero's armory of stolen gadgets, Wilbur, inspired by the superheroic fare he and Adam watched, jumped into action. He found that his strength and layers of fat helped him to hold his own against the villain.

Seeing that the fight was lost Iteration Zero fled, but Wilbur refused to let the villain escape and quickly donned the experimental flight pack to follow the villain. Their battle, Wilbur with his rocket pack, and Iteration Zero with his stolen prototype motorcycle, took them halfway into the city before Wilbur succeeded in disabling and apprehending the villain. Seeing the success of his actions Wilbur, with Adam's help, escaped with plans for the flight pack (they returned the prototype). Together they built a new turbocharged rocket pack, and created an elaborate costume for Wilbur to wear. TurboSwine was born.

~~~~~

So there you have it, a character concept and background created from nothing but a picture I found scarcely an hour ago. It's silly, sure, but I took what I had to work with and did my best. Next time you are trolling the internets keep an eye out for images that might inspire you to create your next character.

3100+ views and growing!

Wow.

When I cross posted to Google+ yesterday I saw we'd passed 3000 view, which is awesome, and this morning we are past 3100.  I just want to say thank you to every reader for this little bit of passive encouragement, and an extra thank you to those who take the time to comment, re-share, and discuss for the active encouragement.

So, Thank you.

Seriously.