Avatar of Lurking Shadow

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12 mos ago
Current I love hunt showdown. nothing like talking shit in prox chat while having a friendly cowboy shootout over a bayou bounty. Now I just need to acquire skill over ungodly amount of hours playing the game
12 mos ago
It's crazy to see another furry in the wild. Well, back to my hidey-hole.
1 yr ago
Angus McSix and the Sword of Power is a pretty damn good album. I was hesitant about Thomas Winkler's new band after being booted from Gloryhammer but my worry was unfounded. He is def back one better
1 like
3 yrs ago
What's all this about DnD, where my CoC bois at who enjoy the game where every encounter can be a TPK, never use magic unless you want to die, and where you never save the day but delay the inevitable
4 yrs ago
Kane Lives
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Fionn sat silently, occupied more by his own thoughts than the conversation, waiting for if and when someone would mention him or someone would involve him in the conversation in anyway.

He pondered the words he said and whether he said them effectively, as language can be tricky and words can confer different meanings in different context. Something he always had some difficulty with given the general lack of direct interaction with others in his life. The other part of the shifting nature words have is the experiences of others. The background they come from can manipulate their understanding of words more than any contextual clues that can be gleamed by indirect observation. All important things to whether the message was conveyed successfully or not. Something Fionn strives to do by formulating the right words in the right order, as incorrectly conveying messages can lead to negative results of varying degrees. Part of knowing which words to use is based on knowing the other members of the conversation and how they might portray the message.

Which lends itself to a catch 22. Fionn wants to avoid conveying false messages, which is easily done by avoiding conversation all together, but he needs to conversate in order to learn about others and how they might view information. This leads to a bit of indecisiveness on his part. Should he talk and risk failure to convey the message? Would this choice of words convey the message better than these other words? All in all, this is another part, albeit small, of himself that he loathes, adding to his self-deprecation. Self-hatred would lead a lot of people to depression, but fortunately (or not, depending on the context) Fionn is too stubborn to fall into such a state, letting the anger fuel his endeavor for self-improvement. He is mad at his mistakes, not himself, and he’ll be damned if he is condemned by them.

She smiled, softly and gazed at everyone seated around her. "So please, if you're hurting now, or you start hurting later just let me know. I'm here to treat you and make your lives easier. Not judge."


“Not feeling any pain now, but I’m sure that’ll change soon enough. Rest assured though Doc, because I fully intend to dole out the injuries rather than receive it.” Fionn said, ending in a small laugh.

“I guess you let your weaponry do the talking…”


This idea intrigued Fionn. He never thought about it much, but what are bullets but blatantly a obvious Fuck You to the recipient. In a way bullets, and by extension similar lethal implements, are very specific words given form. Form in a way that is universal to all languages. It’s odd to think about, but in this sense he is very talkative. Fionn could hardly help as this brought a faint grin to his face before considering what words to say.

“It’s just that words are these shapeless, shifting things. The meaning they hold is defined by what is understood about the words themselves and what context they hold with the others. Sometimes, people are influenced, by their different background than the speaker, to infer different meaning than what is intended…” Fionn spoke quietly before pausing briefly, looking for the right words.

“…but bullets, well I am hard pressed to find a better way to express my dislike of someone than filling them with lead.”

Fionn finished, with a tone to match his conviction, and feeling confident that everyone understands that his quiet nature is only a part of him. Truly, he believes, there is no greater way to make your thoughts known than a few very small (and on occasion, very large) objects headed towards someone at frighteningly fast speeds.

Overall, Fionn is starting to warm up to this group of strangers, starting to figure them out a little more. Like it or not, He’ll need to put some trust into the others. Trust in their ability to cooperate in the tribulations that are sure to come. It is likely to get easier in the future as the strongest bonds are formed in the face of adversity.

Of particular note is Max. He seems to be most similar to Fionn as far as personality or worldview. Though He cannot say as to what exactly he has gone through, he feels some sympathy from a similar experience though he may have came at a different conclusion. Fionn barely remembers the times he had to make decisions. He barely even thinks about the aftermath. All he remembers is having orders, and following them to the best of his ability. His first kill was something that happened quick, he barely remembers the circumstances. He only remembers seeing something, and acting on it by the instinct drilled into him in basic training. Sure it came back to him later, but he learned to realize shortly afterwards that when seconds matter, hesitation ticks some of them away. Hesitate more, and you might run out of time and be forced into an outcome you may or may not like. Acting fast is the only way to be certain of the outcome, whether good or bad, and often, the outcome that comes from hesitating is worse. Ever since, it has been relatively simple for him. He just asks himself a few questions. Friend or Foe? Threat or harmless? Priority or not? Those three questions are all he’ll ever need in most cases. It takes a fraction of a second to pick a person out from the environment. A fraction of a second to determine if it is hostile or friendly. A fraction of a second to determine if it is a threat. More questions take more time to answer, and time is a resource that once lost can never be gained.

At least, that’s how he dealt with it. It may be different than how Max figured it out, but that is what works for him. He knows he has to act, as someone else will not always be able to act for him.

Aside from Max, there is also the otter, Rishun, who seems to be practically antithetical to himself. Her energetic, constantly active nature is a backwards reflection of himself like a paring of the sun and the moon. She also seems to, at least so far, be constantly embarrassing herself as if the universe itself was displeased at her existence. He made a note to keep an eye on her as she and trouble will likely make a pair. Though on the other hand he respects her use of those… ‘otter’ words, whatever language that is. He can always admire someone who appreciates their own culture, even if he himself does not show it as visibly as her.

For Silverwind, he already has an impression of him, though he will scrutinize it more heavily considering him being the leader. Nevertheless, Fionn is fully prepared to follow orders, and die if need be, out of respect to the chain of command, and perhaps later, as to respect of Silverwind himself if he proves to be worth of it.

As for everyone else, He is not sure enough to have much of an opinion of yet. Only time will reveal the bonds that will be formed. As the crucible of conflict will surely turn this group bound by the selection of some higher-up into a force capable of fighting well together.
sorry for my delay, been working on some stuff in the Unreal Engine recently that has drained me mentally and creatively. I should finish up on the post I've been working on tonight or tomorrow.

a couple energy drinks, a few breaks and one edit later, I got the post done. Hope I didn't miss anything but it is 3 in the morning and I really should sleep for work.
I see Fionn is reading Stephen King x'D


Close, but I was actually referring to The Shadow Over Insmouth by H. P. Lovecraft, whom (as far as Horror goes) I prefer over King as the Cosmic Horror he pioneered and wrote about extensively, appeals to me more. Plus all his work are in the public domain so y'know, free reading/audiobooks.

It took a while, but Fionn’s brain was finally catching up with the rest of his body on this whole ‘being awake’ thing. Just in time to listen to the briefing as well, as Fionn took his seat. His mind wandering onto what could possibly be the subject of this secret operation. If this were a novel, it’d be some kind of ‘fate of the free world’ sorta deal like some crazy dictator getting a few dirty bombs. Then there would be a globetrotting adventure visiting (and maybe destroying) some popular landmarks, eventually culminating in a final showdown with the big bad in a very cinematic way. The results being the world being saved, the status quo upheld, and maybe a book deal and a film about it.

Though what Fionn ended up learning did not shock him, it was surprising nonetheless.

At first, he was skeptical, thinking it was simply finding a pattern where none existed. It did not help that a group shrouded in conspiracy (and which probably did not even exist) was to be blamed, but Fionn conceded that it was worth investigating.

Entertaining the thought this ‘Silent Line’ group existed, what would be their goal? Usually, in the pulpier novels, secret societies try to control the world by influencing the events going on, installing puppets in important positions, and of course having a method or two to control the populace.

Kidnapping some experts in the sciences would definitely help with a few of those, especially if one of the eggheads were developing tech that could be weaponized or to control others.

What about the political heads? That seems more of a ‘hold for ransom’ or ‘personal vendetta’ sort of deal than a ‘world domination’ sort of thing. Unless in the plausible, but rather unlikely (in his mind), event the Silent Line thought they could control them or the even less plausible idea that they were trying to make doppelgangers of them that they controlled.

Fionn was snapped back to reality before he could consider the matter any further, as the fox started on his part of the briefing. Though the last part was more interesting. For all the lack of care he tends to say he has, weaponry always did have a place in his heart. He tended to like the bigger guns because in his mind, if it couldn’t gib someone into a fine red paste then it was not a gun for him.

Ending on that thought and before leaving, he turned to Silverwind before speaking. “I am not partial to the idea of hunting some boogeymen, but if they do exist… Well sir, just supply me with the biggest gun you have and I’ll make em real dead, real quick.” He said with a half-smile, before heading towards his designated bunk, intending to get a little further though a novella before breakfast.

---

Fionn was a little more than halfway finished with the story, a particularly notable staple of Horror. It is a tale from an author long dead, but who established a legacy that still resonates today. Fionn has read through it once before, wanting to read it a second time to dissect the themes and philosophy within.

The plot follows a narrator who, wanting to explore his family history, hears of a small town that he considers might be worth a visit. In usual horror fashion, the narrator elects to ignore the warnings he heard of the town, considering it superstitious nonsense, and finds more than he bargains for. Needless to say, he ends up with the whole town conspiring against him and a shocking revelation of his genealogical history.

Thematically, the story serves as a tale of inherited guilt, given that the narrator’s revelations of his family history and the consequences he faces because of deeds done by his ancestors, but not himself. The narrator realizes that he will eventually reap the consequences of the actions his ancestors have sown, and eventually accepts the fact.

Before Fionn can read any further, his pebble alerted him of a message from Maxwell. After letting out a small growl of frustration, Fionn elected to join Max and (presumably) the others. He figured it won’t serve him well to be the ‘loner’ of the group. Though not determined to make friends, at the very least he should interact to some degree with them outside of missions.

---

Arriving in the room, he was surprised to see it practically empty before realizing breakfast was over.

‘Well, guess I fed my mind at the expense of my body.’ He thought, hoping lunch would be coming up soon. ‘Least I’m not feeling too hungry, I’ll be fine.’

Quickly scanning the room, it was not hard to find the others given the scarcity of people in the room. It seems at the moment it is just Maxwell and Vonys. Fionn made his way over and plopped himself in a seat right at a pause in the conversation they were having.

Taking a brief moment to scan the both of them (Who both seem to be at the tail end of waking up), and to consider his words carefully as he is not one to throw them lightly.

“Figured I’d take this opportunity to actually introduce myself since we did not do much talking earlier… I am Fionn and I'll be handling the Heavy Weapons. You probably thought I was shy, quiet, mute, or otherwise not much of a talker. That’s not entirely the case as I can be quite gregarious, its just that I often have little to say.” Fionn said softly. He did not have anything else to say about himself, at least not something he wanted to share with people he just met only hours before.
<Snipped quote by Lurking Shadow>

Which TW?


Probably not the one you are thinking. I was referring to Command & Conquer 3 : Tiberium Wars (2007).
Given that this little party was gathered for a singular purpose, I think the name should have Taskforce in there somewhere. maybe the Indicator Taskforce, given that the operational goal is to reveal the actors behind the events. I dunno, I also suffer from ...terrible name syndrome (yeah, 140 seconds and that is the best I could come up with.).

But anyway, time to do get started on my next post....after dealing with the responsibilities I delayed to play TW for 12 hours. Unfortunately a lot of tasks can not complete themselves, but me, four bottles of BAWLS, half a pizza, and hatred of past me will. Damn him for leaving things for current me to do, what a jackass. My only consolation is that I can procrastinate things for FUTURE me cause I have problems with learning from my mistakes.
Everyone else’s post makes me feel so pitiful with the size of mine v.v I know there needs to be one with the smallest but I can’t help but feel self conscious XD


You can try things like 'I am unable to can' instead of 'I can't' or just add some unnecessarily long descriptions of minor things.

Or stop being self conscious, but that is usually pretty tricky to do.

---

...and there's a lot of political muttering alongside a lot of mystical mumbo-jumbo, so it does get bogged down (there's more than one conversation about grain exports...!)...


You say that, but still people liked the prequels so *shrugs*.

Hell in Tiberium Sun I can say there is a lot of politics and quasi-religious things in the Brotherhood of Nod in between the power struggles of a splintered faction, murdering the leader of a neutral faction and framing it on your foe, weird green crystals from space, a weird blue orb (also from space and with vague space prophecies), and the time a bald man almost genetically modified all carbon-based life to be tiberium-based instead with the World Altering Missile because of said vague space prophecy. There was so much backstabbing and questionable plot elements, but I loved the cheesy scifi B-movie quality of it.

There was also this bit shortly after the war where a Computer Assisted Biologically Augmented Lifeform (C.A.B.A.L) realized that the failure of it's prime directive was the result of human error so it logically decided to remove the human factor by conscripting humans into it's cyborg army. This obviously was not well received by the Brotherhood and GDI who decided to team up for this one before they got back to killing each other again some 13 years during the Third Tiberium War (C&C 3: Tiberium Wars, which I am currently playing through with a mod...that makes Tiberium Wars more like Tiberium Sun. Maybe I should just be playing Tiberium Sun)

---

That aside, I get what you're saying a bit more now. Now to await the next IC post and maybe...maybe do some interactions.

That aside... aside. I now feel like delaying some of my responsibilities to play some more Tiberium Wars, see if I can finish the last few GDI missions of driving off some Tiberium lovin' aliens off the Earth after they were bamboozled into invading in the first place by the Brotherhood as predicted by the earlier vague space prophecy. Then I can get back to my comfort zone with the Brotherhood's campaign. Express some religious fanaticism, do some morally questionable things, and serve the Prophet without question. "One vision. One purpose. Peace through power!"
To say Fionn was half asleep is an understatement. Any time where both the sun and a moon (never mind both of them) are visible in the sky is too early as far as he is concerned, but the responsibility required by duty is greater than his complaints. So here he is, standing attentive despite his body’s cry out for sleep. Though his body may be great by his birthright as a bear, at times like this where it falters, it is up to his mind and spirit to pick up the slack.

Out of both, sheer will power and a little bit of self-hatred, he is able to muster the strength to outwardly appear kept-together and to stand at attention like a stone sentinel, unmoving.

He will not falter, he will not flinch, he will not move until he is told otherwise, he will not…be weak. Weakness. There is a word Fionn hates. A word he hates because he fears it. He fears the idea of being weak. He fears the void within his spirit. He hates the emptiness within himself. He hates himself.

But that is enough of that unconstructive thinking. There is no point in revisiting paths already tread, not when one is looking for a destination. That is the whole point of this, the structured environment and constant orders of the military leaves little room for thinking. It’s pretty simple in fact, he listens for orders and then he does them. Sure, it gets hard sometimes. The mind occasionally fractures in the pressure. The body weakens in the exhausting drills. But neither quite compares to the incompleteness of his spirit. The part he hates himself for, and for him self-hatred is a powerful motivator. The force that strengthens his resolve in adversity. It was that drive, after all, that brought him to this point. Presumably, it was a similarly powerful drive that brought the others here as well.

And then came a distraction that almost broke his stance, a bumbling otter losing her balance in haste, crashing to the ground. A part of Fionn wanted to help her up, but he elected to stay at attention. She did not appear to be hurt, physically at least, anyway.

Then came the brief introduction of his commanding officer. It was also his first opportunity to actually see his commanding officer. Fionn was slightly impressed by his worn appearance. Blade seemed like someone who has, frankly, seen some shit and Fionn could always respect that. Though whether he is one to earn his respect is still to be seen. At the end, he made his first movements in a while, as he silently followed the group onto the ship.

@Ramjammer

If there is one thing I learned from Starship Troopers, it is that bugs are communist and we all know it is better to be dead than red so lets nuke the sucker back to whatever hole it crawled out of.

alternatively, if no pure fusion warheads are available, fire works pretty well if you can find something flammable to coat it in.
<Snipped quote by Lurking Shadow>

I poked my head back in here to see what what ya'll were talking about and see this heretical thought.


I like big boom, but sometimes big boom is too much boom. Case in point, that boom caused *puts on glasses to read paper*... A still unknown number of civilian deaths (estimated to be in the tens of millions), devastating shockwaves across the Eastern Mediterranean (and coating it in Tiberium fallout), the premature invasion of galactic space miners (which nearly brought the already vulnerable human race to extinction), yet another evolution of Tiberium which resulted in a much faster rate of expansion/terraforming and becoming resistant or immune to already developed methods of controlling the spread of Tiberium (resulting in nearly 90% of the planet becoming uninhabitable for humans in a little over a decade), and of course the extension of the Third Tiberium War (which eventually lead to the Ascension Conflict, but we do not talk about that one)

So yeah, while big boom can look very cinematic and badass it tends to have very grave consequences. And the only heresy here is those that do not follow the prophet, let they be burned so that the purifying flame may cleanse the unbelievers from the Earth. *Insert Brotherhood of Nod propaganda here*

---
@Esailia

Ok, now I think adding jetpacks might be a bit much, I mean it seems like with the spikes and all it is going to have a large profile for a 'mini' drone. What about fuel storage? what about amphibious transport that ejects troops with comical man-cannon like circus act?
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