1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask... 2 ************************* INSTALLED: 31 JUL 85 ********************* 3 Welcome to BWMS (BackWater Message System) Mike Day System operator 4 ************************************************************ 5 GENERAL DISCLAIMER: BWMS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INFORMATION 6 PLACED ON THIS SYSTEM. 7 BWMS was created as an electronic bill board. BWMS is a privately owned 8 and operated system which is currently open for use by the general public. 9 No restrictions are placed on the use of the system. As the system is 10 privately owned, I retain the right to remove any and all messages which 11 I may find offensive. Because of the limited size of the system, it will be 12 periodically purged of messages. (only 629 lines of data can be saved) 13 To leave a message, type 'ENTER' and use ctrl/C or break to get out of the 14 ENTER mode. The message is automatically stored. If after entering the 15 message you find you made a mistake, use the replace command to replace 16 the line. To exit from the system, type 'OFF' then hang up. 17 Type 'HELP' to see other commands that are available on the system. 18 ************************************************************ 19 20 **************************************************************************** 21 L'homme: Yes, I'll be there, the new update has misc fixes in it, nothing 22 important. One thing that was changed was that the OVP file MUST be labeled 23 .OVP now, anything else will be ignored. 24 No Archive disks this time, I haven't had time to convert them, been too busy 25 getting the CL+ ready for release. The first units went out today. (aprox 50 26 units). That along with a last minute bug fix, and the fact that the manuals 27 only came back from the printers last night made it a rather busy day. 28 Voyuer: Also will bring promised disks, plus a few other programs I found 29 kicking around. Did L'homme get you a copy of PC-file? I would give you a 30 copy of PC-write, but it won't run on your machine. I'll be bringing an 31 update for your disk as well to fix that last minute bug that was found. 32 See you there! 33 *************************** CISTOP MIKEY ******************************* 34 WKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWK 35 HMMMM, AT THE TOP. 36 WKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWKWK 37 ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 38 DAMN!!! So close... 39 ????????????????? The Doctor ??????????????????????? July 31, 85 at 9:39 ?????? 40 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 41 It was a dark and stormy knight! The old horse creaked. "C R E A K ! !" it 42 went. Sir Ben of Fish urged his horse onward. "Onward, oh mighty Rustbucket!" 43 he cried. The decrepid horse stumbled forward, its neck straining, trying to 44 go faster. Then it stopped where it was and fell over, its battery dead. As 45 Sir Ben of Fish pulled himself out from under the jumbled mess of lifeless 46 flesh, he cursed the foreign design of his transport. The horse kicked and 47 tried to move. Sir Ben sighed and took out his magical weapon, known in the 48 legends as an M-16 semi-auto, and finished the horse off. He cursed the gods 49 for his bad luck. Now he would never catch the evil computer hacker, 50 Jeffslime. The gods took personal offense and cursed him back, only their 51 curse took effect. Sir Ben screamed as his skin turned orange and his teeth 52 fell out. Just then, a giant bird swooped down and picked him up, mistaking 53 him for a giant worm. Oh, well. Better luck in your future life, Sir Ben. 54 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Guido !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! July 31 on at 9:55 !!!!!!! 55 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 56 Observation: those people who have Apples seem prone to want to inflict them 57 on those of us intelligent enough to not get them in the first place. They 58 turn them into BBS's, plug them into 300 (yuuuch!) baud modems, and don't 59 warn the population of their heritage. Oh, yes, and they write the bbs's in 60 BASIC, and run them off of minifloppies. SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW! 61 This probably won't help, but if the above describes you, DON'T!!!!! 62 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 63 _>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>__>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_ 64 _<_<_<_<_<_<__>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_> 91 _<_<_<_<_<_<__>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_> 93 Cistop: having great 'fun' trying to convince CL+ to talk sociably with my 94 ProModem. Due partly, no doubt, to the relative complexity of CL, partly 95 to the complexity of the ProModem's options, and probably due a little to 96 my cable (which is straight thru 1-8,20-22, and doesn't have RTS & CTS tied). 97 For instance - when I CALL BW, it dials, then as soon as it finishes dialing, 98 I get ++ No answer / Busy ++ & ++ Aborting ++, then I am returned to 99 Command:. Meanwhile, the call may actually be going through. I have 100 managed to get it to wait until the ProModem gives up (in 30 seconds) by 101 setting CARC OFF, but that doesn't seem right. 102 The ProModem has a feature (which I think Hayes doesn't) of buffering the 103 data between the modem and the port. I can leave the port set at 1200 baud, 104 say ATB0, and call BackWater. The modem will connect at 300, but send the 105 data to the port at 1200. In order to work this with the CALL, I had to 106 Set Mod ATV0B0 (B0 sets modem to 1200, for all the other boards). 107 Then the directory looks like BW,-B1DT230xxxx CBBS,-DT284xxxx etc. 108 (the B1 in BackWater's sets the modem to 300, the T seems to be required). 109 What time I've had to spend with CL+ has been spent on such preliminary 110 details, I haven't yet gotten into the more complicated things (log strings, 111 for instance). I plan on attending Thursday night, but probably won't 112 have much more time to spend on trying stuff on CL+ between now and then. 113 ::::::::O O:::::::8/01:::::::voyeur:::::::::00:27::::::::O O:::::::::::::::: 114 (oops, the ATB0 in line 104 (it's first mention) should be ATB1) ::::voyeur::: 115 116 .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. 117 At first look at the so-called "Pell-Mell", Emu was a bit taken aback. 118 He'd never seen a machine quite like this one, especially with the plethora 119 of graphic, uh, graphic *art* decor. Some of the scenes depicted were very 120 beautiful, some were amusing, and all were, well, graphic. 121 The general shape of the Pell-Mell resembled something to a Mercedes 122 Benz mated to a Mack truck. The front end had the long, rounded Mercedes look, 123 complete with it's cherub on the radiator. As you looked further back, the 124 nose widened out to a boxy, rather large travelling compartment. It didn't 125 look like the accomodations would be very spacious for four (or five?) tra- 126 velers, but after getting lost in a Tardis several years ago, Emu knew better 127 than to judge size by outward appearance. 128 Emu turned to see what the commotion behind him was all about, and saw 129 Trainor standing back up with Zephyr on his shoulder, looking none too 130 thrilled. Just as the breeze picked up, the gathered crowd gasped, and Emu 131 saw what surprized them: Lady Tayree's shawl had blown open to reveal the most 132 beautiful, most skillfully embroidered tunic that Emu had ever the priviledge 133 to see. Then Emu noticed what had ellicited the loudest gasp. Zephyr was 134 staring in total terror at the plush rabbit fur that lined the Scarlet Lion's 135 shawl. 136 "This adventure should trully be entertaining, if nothing else," Emu 137 thought to himself. "With a rabbit who's determined to join us, a guide that 138 can't make the rabbit understand the word `no', Lady Tayree with her rabbit- 139 lined shawl, and our piper getting quite embarrased at these depictions of 140 life's most enjoyable activity." 141 On Piper's suggestion to get going, Trainor touched the left breast of a 142 figure near the door, and the door slid silently aside. As he motioned the 143 travellers to enter, they stepped in one by one and looked around. "Sure 144 enough," Emu thought, "it is larger on the inside." Though he was good at 145 finding and following paths and trails anywhere else, Emu knew not too try 146 exploring the inner reaches of this machine without a competent guide. 147 At what was the front of the room was a large control panel with two 148 rolling chairs and a wide, closeable viewport. On the far side of the room 149 was a mural, presumably of Trainor's home planet. Underneath the mural was the 150 navagational control equipment, primarily for making the jumps Trainor was 151 explaining about earlier. 152 Surrounding the door of the back wall were several environmental suits 153 for humanoid shapes (none small enough for a rabbit) and explorational 154 equipment such as ropes, pickaxes, bus tokens, and jet packs. The wall behind 155 Emu, through which they had all entered, had another mural, and more of the 156 engravings that seemed to line every corner and door of the Pell-Mell. 157 In the middle of this control room was a contraption that Emu didn't quite 158 recognize. He turned to ask Trainor about it, but Trainor wasn't inside the 159 machine yet. At Emu's questioning glance, Tayree said "He's still outside 160 discussing the situation with Zephyr." 161 Piper chuckled, "I'm wondering if Zephyr would really enjoy coming along 162 with us? After one look at your shawl, I thought he'd bolt away!" 163 "yes, he did seem rather disturbed about it." she answered. "oh, i do 164 wish they would hurry up. i'd like us to get on our way." 165 .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.Emu 166 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& 167 "...i know it must sound a bit precocious, but i have been looking for 168 any such excursion as this to brighten my life. silly as it may be, i 169 think i could be quite fond of standing on the edge of destruction... 170 teetering between our pleasant existance and sheer calamity." 171 i stopped, fearing that i had been carried away with the notions of 172 grandeur. lucky for me my voice was not one that carried a great 173 distance. stopping to think, now that some of us were inside this 174 dimensionaly transcendental anomaly, i whispered to the companion beside 175 that it was certainly disturbing to find that we would have to look at 176 this man's "etchings" even now that we were inside. 177 removing his burnt fingers from his mouth, he commented. "his need 178 for our aid is what should stand foremost in our minds. the plight 179 suffered by an entire people's planet would not be atoned in some 180 small way if we would but stand by the wayside, only to watch him 181 search for other companions. and about his taste in, ahem, art, one 182 could always look at the floor..." and then mumbling before he would 183 return his attention to his hand's momentary distress, "makes me kind 184 of wonder if we're banding together with some dirty old man..." 185 i only chuckled. 186 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& the scarlet lion &&&&&&& 187 :::::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::===== 188 As I sat on Trainor's shoulder, the Dimensional Traveller spoke, saying 189 "Zephyr, I know you want to come and all but I really don't think that...." 190 I interrupted, saying in a sursrising louder tone than my usual quiet voice 191 "But I am coming. I really want to help, Trainor. " my whiskers fluttered 192 in irritation "I want to help. I know that a small rabbit like myself isn't 193 the greatest thing you can xhave on your quest, but I still want to come. I 194 have a mneed to go forth and see other thigs and other places, as well as meet 195 people I' ve never dreamed possible. To see other worlds is something had 196 dreams about for all my lifetime." I lookd expectantly at the Trainor, hoping 197 that he'D let me come. 198 Silently, nearly knocking me over, the Trainor noddedd. My heart beat 199 aster as the excitement of fulfilling mttuy one true dream was within my grasp at last. 200 I thAnked him again and again, joyful that I was going to *go* somewhere for 201 a change, rather than stay where I was foever. 202 The Trainor turned around, and entered the incredibly wonderfully 203 designed device that was the Pell-Mell, with me riding on his shoulder all the 204 while. 205 :::::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::===Zephyr =====:::::=====:::::=====:::::===== 206 207 208 _>_>_>_>_>N_O>A_A>_>_>_>_>_> 209 >_>_>_>_>_>E_H>M_?_>_>_>_>_>_> 210 211 212 Shamla Mansion 213  Chapter 2 214 215 I had come up with a great idea for a game! Your going through a castle 216 trying to find the key out. First, you have to find the key for the wizards 217 tower. Once you've done that, you go into the wizards tower where you'll find 218 a map of the castle. It will show all the rooms and which room has the key out. 219 Also, you pour a magic liquid on your candle so theh key will glow when your in 220 the right room. You get the key and go out. 221 My only problem was that I was terrible with graphics! So I asked my 222 older sister for help and she designed the floor plans. But I needed graph paper to map it on. 223 224 After about a week I got gobs and gobs of graph paper and started mapping the rooms. 225 That took a lot of time! It took me 5 days to maypa all the rooms. and I started 226 poking it in to memory. It took 8000 bytes for each screen and I got discourged 227 ! Finely I stopped and tried to think of an easier way to do it. 228 229 poke poke poke poke poke poke poke poke 230 _>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_ 231 <<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>> 232 _>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_ 233 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 234 ^"^"^"^"^"^"^"^"^"^"^"^"^"^"^"^" 235 DIGITALIAN 236 ^"^"^"^"^"^"^"^"^"^"^"^"^"^"^"^" 237 &&&&&&&&&&&&&$$$$$$$$$$$$$&&&&&&&&&&&&$$$$$$$$$$$$&&&&&&&&&&&&&$$$$$$$$$$$$$&&& 238 Cragmore had been silent up to this point, for he wished no other to take 239 exception to his presence. Finally though, after witnessing the rabbit Zepher's 240 illegal and unsolicited use of mind control on Trainor, he could stand no more. 241 Cragmore was a sensitive. He could feel the shifts and eddies in the web of 242 psychic fluxes. He knew Zepher was breaking the laws of the Inn when he forced 243 Trainor to stop sneezing and then consent to take the rabbit along. Cragmore 244 was angry that one creature would resort to such dirty and dark tactics to 245 get its way. He spoke loud and clear his inclinations: 246 "No more Zepher! You will not use your forces on these good people. They have 247 made their minds up. You will NOT go along on this adventure. Who can trust one 248 like you to not use your power at any time, for your own benefit, and not that 249 of the mission!" 250 Cragmore got the attention he had shielded himself from before. All the 251 adventurers turned his way, especially Zepher, who's small face betrayed 252 great fear of one who had seen through the mind control trick. No one spoke. 253 No one moved. Cragmore spoke again. 254 "Ahhhh little evil one, do not try your skills on me. Not only and I sensitive 255 to the touch of the mind, but I can block its use as well!" 256 Zepher let out a yelp, and jumped from the shoulder of the dazed Trainor. A 257 menacing look from Cragmore caused the small animal to scurry to and fro on 258 the metal floor of the Pell-mell. The other adventurers were wise now, and they 259 began chasing the rabbit around the ship. Finally Zepher made his way to the 260 open door of the Pell-mell, and jumped to the ground outside the Inn. 261 "You can't follow us Zepher! There is no way to track a reality machine. Do 262 NOT try to catch us. Anything you say will be held as the smallest trite. Now 263 close the door good crewmen, and let us begone from this place.!" 264 Cragmore had a way with words, and his words were followed to the letter. 265 The adventurers, some of who had not even been introduced yet, sat at the 266 nearest available station, as Trainor, with Piper and Emu assisting, made 267 preparations. Switches were thrown, dials set, and the ship was off. Slowly 268 it began to fade from the scene at Inisfal, and in a second, nothing remained 269 but a very small rabbit, and a memory of what had been here just seconds 270 before. 271 $$$$$$$$$$$&&&&&&&&&&$$$$$$$$$$&&&&&&&&&$$$$$$$$$&&&&&&&&&&$$$$$$$$&&&&&&&&&&&& 272 273 Trainer et all, I hope you don't mind me stepping in like this, 274 but I could see what was going on with the rabbit, and I hope you 275 don't mind me making my entry. I hope this adventure continues. 276 I think we have a good crew here. 277 $$$$$$$$$$$ Cragmore &&&&&&&&&&&$$$$$$$$$&&&&&&&&&$$$$$$$$$$&&&&&&&&$$$$$$$&&&$ 278 279 REPLACE THIS LINE WITH A LARGE ORDER OF FRIES AND A CHEESBURGER AND PEPSI 280 281 In the beginnin}|x 282 :::::=====:::::=====:::::===== 283 The Above: Whaa? 284 Trainor: I hope you DO NOT take the above seriously, it is obviously just 285 someone out to play a few pranks, most likely an ignorant little twit. 286 Cistop Mikey: PLEAse. I'd REALLY appreciate it if you DELETED the above 287 entry, and perhaps this one, as it ruins the story and keep an o.k. writer (I'm not super, but I try.) out of the 288 story. That's NOT at all FAIR! 289 :::::=====:::::=====:::::===== 290 Just as the Pell-Mell sped off, and the surprised rabbit looked off into 291 the sky, the Trainor's mind cleared of the mental control that had been placed 292 on him by Cragmore. "Quickly, Trainor, if it is possible to do in a Pell-elMell, 293 please turn around." said the Scarlett Lion. Trainor nodded and fiddled with 294 what seemed to be the centrol control 295 board, and they were once again back at thd Inn. The door opened, as Scarlett 296 on saw the cute little bunny crying on the cold, wet, ground. Scarlett Lion 297 picked the rabbit up and stroked his back, trying to make this whole escapade 298 be forgotten by the bunny. 299 "Never....try txhat again!" said an angered Trainor, who was upset that 300 someone so small and defensless would be chased about and thought to be evil 301 by this Cragmore, who none of them knew and who had most likely taken control of them and ordered them to close 302 the door on the bunny. 303 "Thank you, good people." said Zephyr, his infectuious smile warming all of the 304 party members. 305 "What should we do about him?" asked Emu, pointing to the glaring and annoyed Cragmore. 306 "Zephyr was the accused, so Zephyr decides." said Trainor. 307 "If he wants to come with us so be it. He was misguided into thinking I was 308 evil, and I don't think that someone should be unished BECAUSE THE Y WERE **WRONG*** about something, so let him 309 come!" 310 "Agreed." said Trainor, as the little rabbit hopped up onto his shoulder for 311 the fourth time. 312 :::::======:::::=====:::::===== 313 Cistop Mikey: You can delete this all, including Cragmore and my entry, if you 314 want to, because they lend no real line or plot to the story, nor benefit it in 315 the least little way. 316 :::::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::==Zephyr :=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::===== 317 Huh? 318 how about puting a line limit on messages so we don't have to read all 319 the CRAP which some people seems to find so amusing? 320 #$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$ 321 There's another solution for all the CRAP on the board, my friend. It's called 322 an off switch. Why not give it a try? 323 #$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$# 324 325 326 -==--==--==- 327 to observer: if 300 baud is so stupid, so damn slow, only people who were 328 stupid enough to buy apples do things at 300 baud then what the heck are you 329 doing on this 300 baud only system? and apple boards are only as slow as 330 their sysops. the board i have written is like bmws, save all the little 331 commands that i don't know how to use. the board doesnt spend all of it's 332 time writting files to disks, printing nifty messages on the screen or any 333 fool thing like that. all the saving it does do is at the end of the day 334 and even then its saved onto a ram drive - hardly noticable. apples are 335 slow, sure, but we work with what we have. im not sorry for what i do 336 have, its better then nothing. and if other people just couldnt stand calling 337 it why should they? anyone who doesnt wat to call doesnt have to, anyone that 338 does can and not have to pay for anything. if you just cant understand ill 339 call ya up with 2400 baud and we can chat. 340 OBSERVATION: why are people so damn blind? cant they except people for what 341 they are, take things as they are and not put poeple down if they dont like 342 what they see? 343 -==--==--==- 344 !_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_! 345 NEOHAMA 346 !>!>!>!>!>!>!>!>!>!>!>!>!>!>!>! 347 348 Hey Mudge er Sranul er, aw heck, who ever you are... 349 I noticed that half of whats on this disk is your story. C'mon, leave some space 350 for us people with brains!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 351 I dont really think much of your story (on 1/2 of the disk). I like that robot 352 story that I saw awile back. I'd like to see some computer stories in addition 353 to the other s. 354 Any way I'll CONTinue with my own story. 355 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> 356 357 358 Shamla Mansion 359 Chapter 3 360 361 As I was thinking about a better way to poke my screen into memory, I got the idea to make a PLOT subroutine 362 in ML. That would solve my problems pretty much. So I started planing it. 363 364 First, I wanted it at 8192. I could set the address (8192) in zero page and increment it. The way a bit mapped 365 screen was set up it went "8192-8199 step 1" then it went (8192+320 $2000+$140) 366 I had to do was add $40 to peek $FB and if that "wraped around" past zero INC$FC then increment peek $FC anyway. 367 368 [ I'll print this out just in case some C/64 user could find it useful ] 369 370 It said... 371 372 LDA#00 STA$c00C003 LDA#20 STA$C004 373 LDY#00 374 LDA$C002 CMP#00 BNE#01 RTS 375 CPY#07 BEQ#0A 376 INY DEC$C002 INC$C003 JMP$753C 377 LDY#00 DEC$C002 378 INC$C004 LDA$C003 ADC#38 STA$C003 379 BCS#03 JMP$753C 380 381 INC$C004 jJMP$753C 382 383 384 LDA#80 STA$C005 385 LDA$C000 CMP#00 BNE#15 386 LDA$C001 CMP#00 BNE#01 RTS 387 LDA#FF STA$C000 LDA#00 STA$C001 388 JMP$7591 389 DEC$C000 LDA$C005 CMP#01 BEQ#06 390 LSR$C005 JMP$7572 391 LDA#80 STA$C005 LDA$C003 ADC#08 392 STA$C003 BCS#03 JMP$7572 393 INC$C004 JMP$7572 394 395 JSR$7530 JSR$756D 396 LDA$C003 STA$FB LDA$C004 STA$FC 397 LDA$C006 CMP#00 BEQ#0A 398 LDY#00 LDA($FB),Y ORA$C005 STA($FB),Y 399 RTS 400 LDY#00 LDA#FF sSBC$C005 STA$C005 401 LDA($FB),Y AND$C005 STA($FB),Y RTS 402 In this sub., x was from 0 to 319 and y was from 0 to1 199. X was stored at 49152 $C000 and if X was > 255 403 than poke49153 $C001 ,1 and subtract 255 from x(0to319) and store that at 49152 404 Y was at 49153 $C002. TPeek 49158 $C006 was to turn the bit on or off 1=on and sys30134 405 In a week I had all my screens done and ready for the game (Shamla Mansion) 406 Now I had to program it. 407 408 Later NEO 409 _>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_> 410 I almost forgot.. 411 SYSOP, if you fithink my subroutine just takes up space and you dont want it there, Delete it. 412 413 Yes, Cistop, please delete it. It's not really appropriate for THIS board. 414 415 _>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_> 416 I forgot the begining adress. 30000 $7530 417 sorry 418 Neo 419 To whomever left that last message, I respect your opinion. Please delete 420 it Cistop. 421 .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. 422 Most other continuing stories that I've seen on this board don't ever 423 have such conflicting viewpoints as the one that has been started by 424 Trainor. Usually, once something has been written, no one argues with it, 425 and simply continue the story from there. The individual writers have 426 control over they're own characters, and *limited* control over the other 427 characters. This is called common courtesy. 428 When this courtesy is ignored by one person and that person begins to 429 be a pest and force a story to go in his/her direction *only*, with no 430 regard to other's wishes, that person has opened him/herself to *lots* of 431 complaints, criticism, and otherwise nasty comments. 432 I don't like reading those comments, not to mention writing them myself, 433 but it has become apparent that something needs to be said. Zephyr, *please*, 434 let us continue our story without anymore fuss. You have made yourself known 435 to all over the past few months, and we are getting tired of your forceful 436 inclusions. And please, I don't think our friendly Cystop will do a whole 437 lot for you if you keep crying to him for deletions. I personally hope he 438 leaves them there as a testement to your writing. 439 Trainor: may we continue where we left off? I beleive that we had just 440 taken off with a new arrival, who seems to be well trained in mentalics... 441 .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.Emu 442 [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] 443 Opon reaching the door he stopped, and sat down slowly on the stoop. He 444 watched the small group mill around the machine. There seemed to be a bit of 445 discord within the group, and now was not the time to go forward. It dod not 446 however disturb him to see it. Adventures never get along. It is their 447 difference that make it interesting. A group that has all motives in common 448 tends to fall into a boring cycles quickly. He could not think of a story 449 of much worth that the heros all got along. 450 He had always liked stories with heros. 451 452 Maybe now was a good time for an adventure. 453 [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] THE TIN MAN 454 Tin Man: Zephyr might have been welcome at one time. Or he might have been 455 able to convince us that he was an asset. Unfortunately, he instead chose 456 to manipulate other people's *main* characters, in a manner that went far 457 beyond the limits of courtesy & propriety. The last straw for a number of 458 people was when he had Trainor "consent" to take him along. 459 Trainor doesn't like having someone else making *decisions for his 460 character. I'm not going to allow someone with so little regard for other 461 people's characters to be in a story with me (assuming he gives me any 462 choice). Several others are of a similar opinion. The only way he could 463 have been more impolite would be to start a story and start using our 464 characters after we had said we didn't want to go! 465 There has been only one other instance of 're-writing history' 466 on BWMS. That was during the McKane-Net conflict. It almost killed *both* 467 organizations. 468 Zephyr: Please stop trying to FORCE others to bow to your wishes. If you 469 continue, you will force us to abandon the first good adventure in quite 470 some time. I have heard a number of suggestions regarding what might be 471 done if you continue to 'run' other people's characters. All of them are 472 rather extreme. I hope it doesn't have to come to that... 473 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 474 This was getting ridiculous. Reality seemed to be shifting badly 475 from moment to moment. Bard could not be certain which of the three 476 figures was responsible. But it had to be one of them. Since they were 477 all busy arguing, he was able to motion the others out of the line of 478 fire. 479 He reached into his pack and removed several devices. He clipped 480 the reality stabilizer to his belt. He then donned the psi-shield. Finally, 481 he raised the Assualt shotgun, moved the fire selector to full-auto, and 482 spoke: 483 "Alright! THAT'S ENOUGH!" he yelled. Zephyr, Trainor, and the 484 pyshic (Cragmore?) turned and found themselves looking at a *very* angry 485 Bard. "We are going to settle this NOW! Someone is playing games with 486 other people's minds. Possibly even playing at reality shifts. You know 487 who you are... you've got 30 seconds to admit it and leave... " 488 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BARD~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 489 All: this is not as extreme as most of the suggestions... And I wouldn't 490 make any bets as to whether or not Bard is bluffing... 491 (hmm, lessee, on full auto, the whole clip goes, and with double-ought buck 492 loads (12 gauge shotgun) we'd need a sponge...)(I'd *hate* to mess up the 493 lawn) 494 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 495 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 496 Released from the dizzying shifts of reality, the piper sank exhausted, 497 to his knees. The Bard's shout brought his attention back from his own 498 concerns. Somehow, the Bard had been spending time on a higher technology 499 plane again -- the weapon held in his hands bore mute (at the moment) 500 testimony to the efficiency of the culture that had produced it. Short 501 and deadly, it held the look of deadly meanace. Even the slight odor 502 of gun oil that wafted from it's finely-crafted mechanism spoke, as did 503 the "snick" of the fire-control lever, of the destruction waiting to 504 leap from the muzzle. 505 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 506 :::::===== 507 Trainor: Sorry. Didn't know you would mind if I said I could come. 508 Didn't think you didn't want me. I guess my character isn't very 509 good, but I thought someone "on your shouldre giving friendly advice 510 sommetimes." would be interesting, and besides, the shawl incident 511 was a hillarious oppourtunity which I couldn't pass up. I had to 512 come along and oet some words in with the Scarlett Lion about that 513 shawl. You don't really want to leave someone behind who wants to 514 go, after all, this WAS an open adventure, and if you can take a 515 person who JUMPS out of the blue, then why can't you take me]? 516 :::::===== 517 BArd held the gun up to Zephyr and then to Trainor, then to Cthe 518 being known as Cragmore. 519 (Whoops. forgot first person, ch Zephyr to I) 520 "Ok... I was the one who manipulated Trainor in order to go. 521 But it was because..." my whiskers twitched "My DREAM has allways been 522 hisk off into other places and SEE things. Emu, Piper, Bard, Scarl 523 Lion, TRainor Cragmore, I am truely sorry that this ever happened. I didn't 524 want to be left out, I had been for so long, and it hurt. My life is short, so I want to DRAEM and FEEL!" I said 525 as a crystally tear fell from my left eye. 526 "Can I still go? I'll never do it aagain! Honest!" 527 :::::=====::::: 528 Trainor: Better??? I didn't manipulate you nor Piper, Emu, Bard, Cragmore, or 529 The Scarlett Lion. So can I come?? 530 :::::=====::::: 531 (*{(*{(*{(*{(*{(*{l'oeuf}*)}*)}*)}*)}*)}*) 532 As Fencer and his caninie companion travelled south, along a long-forgotten 533 path, in search of the magical, mystical, caloric Savoy Truffle, he felt a 534 shift in the fabric of reality. Sensing dangerous vibes and excitement, he 535 beat a hasty path back to the lawn of the Inn. What he saw there was indeed 536 something exciting- a gadget. A rather large gadget. This one was actually 537 a mid-sized gadget, and as Fencer stood on the dewy lawn he heard a scuffle 538 from inside of this vehicle- was this the Pell-Mell that Trainor had spoken 539 of? - and walked around one corner of the vehicle just in time to see a small 540 furry thing tossed out the doorway. Zephyr? Was that the rabbit Zephyr? Who 541 could be sure of anything in these surroundings? Just then, Fencer detected 542 *another* shift in the fabric...only this time when his senses had cleared, 543 there was a burnt spot in the lawn, a whooping/sputtering sound, apperently 544 from the machine that had just dissapeared, and a small, fuzzy, melancholy 545 lagmorph who was now sitting on his hind legs, watching the burnt spot. 546 The man and his dog, along with the rabbit, sat there on the wet lawn, 547 feeling unreal. Then, another shift took place, only this one had a smell 548 to it- that of dirty laundry- upon reentry into the reality zone. A gowned 549 figure stepped out, picked up the rabbit, and started to return to the 550 vehicle. Enough of this, Fencer thought, I don't need all those calories, 551 anyway. Knocking on the metallic outer covering of the strange gadget, he 552 shouted over the din from the inside- "Permission to come aboard requested, 553 sir!" 554 (*{}*) 555 556 OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI 557 Man is a fragile being. His biological functions are but a small part of his 558 total essence. The mind and the spirit are the cardinal factors in his 559 existence. Trainor slumped against an ornate bulkhead, covering up another 560 scene of deep expression that was held so dear in his homeland. But his home- 561 land was gone now, and it was up to him and a group of adventurers to try to 562 right that which was wrong with the Universe. No one in the known realities 563 had the ability to bring back the dead, and Trainor knew this. T`e small band 564 of people did have the ability to prevent innocent lives from being lost. 565 What greater good could they do? 566 Trainor's head pounded, still aching from psi attacks and verbal shoving 567 matches. He found it difficult to speak, but speak he must, for the nature 568 of this adventure, hence the balance of the whole universe hung on the 569 success or failure of what he wanted to undertake. 570 "I am nearly at a loss for words. The events in the past day have depleted 571 my body as well as my soul. I have seen much of Reality, but never have I 572 witnessed such things as I have seen here. My friends, who have done so much to 573 aid me in my quest, I have nothing but gratitude and respect for all of you. 574 It is a difficult thing when it turns out the greatest enemy is ourselves. But 575 on we must go. The bickering, the mind control, the battle that rages before 576 we even meet our black foe has worn me, but in doing so made me more resolute 577 than ever!" 578 At this last exclamation Trainor rose to his feet, and looked into the 579 experienced but expectant eyes around him. "Zepher, you have broken tradition 580 that has stood long and hard here in the realities. You have played a game 581 with other characters that no one should ever play. Your eagerness has cost 582 you the respect of the people you see around you. I don't know how our group 583 could function with such memories, regardless of what promises are made. I am 584 not fond of telling you that I think in everyone's interests you should not 585 go along with us in our Pell-mell, but I feel within me that I must. Perhaps 586 we will meet in another reality or on another plane, when you have grown and 587 perhaps even evolved into a new character with a fresh future and the knowledge 588 and maturity hopefully gained today locked away in your memory. Do not become 589 angry and lash out at those around you. Think about my words. They were 590 chosen with care so you might benefit from them. I do not fancy myself as 591 a great philosopher, but I hope some clarity rings through, and you are the 592 better for it. Good bye friend. And remember, there is always another time 593 and another place. I have found that the magic of this Inn lies in its infinite 594 possibilities....." 595 Trainor's words were cut off by the whoosh of the Pell-mell door closing. 596 The rabbit was left sitting a few feet away from the machine. His ears 597 wiggled at the sound of the Pell-mell departing once again for parts-unknown. 598 Hopefully Zepher realized that no malice was meant by the actions of the 599 others. It was the best for all that they part ways, at least for the time 600 being. 601 "Again places everyone. Bard, will you help me in the control room? Companions, we head for my homeland. I want 602 you to see for yourself the destruction the being we are after is capable of perpetrating." 603 Apparently Trainor did not notice the new character who had joined in the adventure. The other inn-goers knew 604 him as Fencer, but the time for introductions would have to wait until later. 605 OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI 606 607 608 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& 609 WHOOPS, NO ROOM FOR MY STORY. LATER I GUESS TOTAL NUMBER OF LINES = 609