18||0|3758|3|yes 0|0|0|||1||TCRF%3A S5M2 Clarion Call|Gryphon||20:48:27|12/21/2012|Just found this in the offcuts box. Don%27t really remember writing %5Bi%5Dor%5B%2Fi%5D cutting it%2C but a%29 it exists and b%29 the date stamp shows it would%27ve happened the week before %5Bi%5DClarion Call%5B%2Fi%5D%2C so I must%27ve done.%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Btt%5D%5Bpre%5D%09%09%09 ELSEWHERE...%0D%0A%0D%0A%09Cerberus languishes in a cage in a street bazaar%2C an activity%0D%0Awhich he has come to think of as his job. It isn%27t a very fun job.%0D%0AIt%27s usually hot and dusty work%2C and the cage has lately become too%0D%0Asmall for him - he%27s a growing dog%2C after all%2C not really a puppy any%0D%0Amore. Besides which%2C only on the very rarest occasions does a%0D%0Aperson%27s fingers ever poke through the bars to graze his head with%0D%0Aanything like a hint of the affection he craves. More likely they%0D%0Akeep their hands well away%2C and if they poke anything into the cage%0D%0Ait%27ll be a stick%2C which isn%27t very affectionate at all. If he moves%0D%0Atoward anyone he thinks looks promising%2C as much as he can move at all%0D%0Ain his cramped cage%2C everyone around usually draws back in full%0D%0Ascreaming-children-dragged-back-by-mothers fear.%0D%0A%09Cerberus has three heads.%0D%0A%09It isn%27t his -fault-%2C exactly%2C and it%27s not as if his other%0D%0Aheads really -do- anything%2C but there it is. He%27s a three-headed%0D%0Adog. Some genesplicer somewhere thought it would be fun to imitate a%0D%0AGreek myth - and if Cerberus were a little smarter%2C he%27d realize how%0D%0Alucky he is that the guy didn%27t read his Bulfinch%27s closely enough to%0D%0Aknow that the eponymous mythic beast also had a snake for a tail and a%0D%0Abunch more for a mane - and these street peddlers assumed that someone%0D%0Awould be struck by the novelty and pay good credits for such a thing%2C%0D%0Aespecially in that %22adorable three-headed puppy%22 phase.%0D%0A%09They%27ve been wrong on close to two dozen planets so far%2C and%0D%0Anow Cerberus%2C half-grown and rapidly losing whatever puppy cuteness he%0D%0Amight have had%2C lies uncomfortably in his cage%2C wondering in his%0D%0Arather dim canine way why no one wants to be his friend.%0D%0A%0D%0A%09%09%09MONDAY%2C MARCH 1%2C 2410%0D%0A%09%09%09PORT JERADAR%2C JERADDO%0D%0A%0D%0A%09%22You know what we need%2C%22 Lindsey Willows told her compatriots%0D%0Aas they walked through Port Jeradar%27s bustling market square%2C %22is a%0D%0A-mascot-.%22%0D%0A%09Stephen Dukat gave her a dubious look. %22A mascot%3F%22 he said.%0D%0A%09%22Yeah. You know%2C like Kaitlyn%27s generation had Serge. The%0D%0ACastle needs to have a%2C a -beast- of -mythic proportions- around to%0D%0Agive it the right ambience.%22%0D%0A%09%22Ah%2C%22 said Dukat%2C enlightened. Then%2C adopting a sober mien%2C%0D%0Ahe went on%2C %22And we%27ve lost B%27Elanna%2C more%27s the pity.%22%0D%0A%09%22Steve%21%22 Lindsey objected%2C swatting her Cardassian classmate%0D%0Aon the shoulder. %22That%27s not nice.%22%0D%0A%09Dukat winced%2C chuckling. %22Ow%21 I was only joking.%22%0D%0A%09%22Well%2C you make it awfully hard to tell sometimes%2C%22 the petite%0D%0Ablonde grumped. %22Seriously%2C though. We should see if we can find%0D%0Asomething cool for a new Castle mascot.%22%0D%0A%09%22What%2C like another neocat%3F They%27re%2C um%2C pricey%2C%22 Tom Palmer%0D%0Aobserved.%0D%0A%09%22I was thinking maybe a gryphon%2C%22 Lindsey said. %22School%0D%0Asymbol%2C you know.%22%0D%0A%09Dukat snorted. %22Oh%2C as if -that- would be affordable.%22%0D%0A%09Tom stopped in front of a cage standing next to one of the%0D%0Amarket stalls%2C his face going slack with surprise. The others didn%27t%0D%0Aimmediately notice and walked on%2C leaving him behind%2C so he had to%0D%0Araise his voice slightly as he said in a flat voice%2C %22Or a%0D%0Athree-headed dog.%22%0D%0A%09%22Not exactly what I had in mind%2C%22 Lindsey said%2C turning back%0D%0Ato face him%2C %22but - EEEEEEE%21%22%0D%0A%09Her sudden cry of delight startled her companions%2C who whirled%0D%0Aas well to see her trotting back to Tom. She knelt down next to the%0D%0Acage he stood in front of%2C beaming. %22I thought you were speaking%0D%0Ahypothetically%21 How CUTE is that%3F%21%22%0D%0A%09Cerberus was slightly taken aback. This was... unaccustomed.%0D%0AWell%2C the scream was par for the course%2C but usually when young humans%0D%0Ascreamed at the sight of him%2C they accompanied it with a bit of the%0D%0Aol%27 running away%2C not toward. He perked up a little bit%2C raising his%0D%0Amiddle head and sniffing. Normally that was enough to send even the%0D%0Amost intrepidly curious urchin bolting for the nearest exit%2C but the%0D%0Agirl who had crouched by his cage grinned wider%2C then looked up at the%0D%0Ayoung man next to her.%0D%0A%09%22This is -perfect-%2C%22 she said. %22I mean%2C consider the timing%21%0D%0ATom%2C it%27s -fate-. You can%27t go against fate%2C%22 she declared.%0D%0A%09Tom looked down at his fellow Duelist%27s face for a few%0D%0Amoments%2C then at the dog%2C then Linday%27s face%2C then the dog%2C then%0D%0ALindsey%27s face. Then he let out a huge sigh. Turning to Dukat%2C who%0D%0Awas taking the whole scene in with an utterly blank look%2C he said%2C%0D%0A%09%22Go ahead%2C Steve%2C you%27re the treasurer.%22%0D%0A%09Dukat eyed him%2C then said slowly%2C %22Fine%2C OK.%22 Turning%2C he saw%0D%0Athe stallholder%2C a tall%2C thin-faced Muun%2C observing the trio of%0D%0ADuelists with faint bemusement. %22%28Well%2C here%27s a phrase I never would%0D%0Ahave imagined I%27d ever say%2C%29%22 he muttered to himself%2C then approached%0D%0Athe merchant and said with a smile%2C %22Pardon me%2C sir - how much for the%0D%0Athree-headed dog%3F%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%09%22Wow. I can%27t believe what a bargain we got%2C%22 Lindsey%0D%0Aobserved as the three Duelists and their newly acquired mascot - who%0D%0Aseemed just short of -stunned- to be out of the cage and in the open%0D%0Aair - walked along the path around Lake Jeradar toward the campus of%0D%0Athe Deedlit Satori Mandeville Memorial Institute.%0D%0A%09Dukat said%2C %22You know%2C we%27ve doomed future Duelists to finding%0D%0Aever-weirder mascots now. Someone 100 years from now is going to curse%0D%0Aus and our three-headed dog.%22%0D%0A%09Lindsey snorted. %22You%27re all lucky I%27m my mom%27s kid instead%0D%0Aof her boss%27s kid. We%27d have Scruffy the Wonder Death Beetle from%0D%0ARagol as a mascot.%22%0D%0A%09Tom sighed again. %22Boba%27s going to kill me%2C%22 he said.%0D%0A%0D%0A%09Institute Duelists%27 Society President Boba Fett happened to be%0D%0Aarriving at the Castle at exactly the same time his fellow Duelists%0D%0Awere%2C which Tom had been rather hoping wouldn%27t be the case - but to%0D%0Ahis surprise%2C Fett reacted to their new acquisition with almost as%0D%0Amuch glee as Lindsey had.%0D%0A%09%22Wow%21%22 he said when he caught sight of the creature - now%0D%0Adelightedly lunging about%2C attempting to investigate everything - at%0D%0Athe end of the leash. Hunkering down%2C he examined Cerberus more%0D%0Aclosely%2C then laughed as two of the dog%27s heads tried to lick him%0D%0Awhile the third panted cheerfully. Giving the middle head a rub%2C he%0D%0Alooked up at Lindsey and asked in his mellow Concord Dawn accent%2C%0D%0A%09%22Where th%27ell%27d you find a three-headed Rottweiler%3F That%27s%0D%0A-awesome-.%22%0D%0A%09Well%2C thought Tom%2C I suppose it stands to reason that he%27d be%0D%0Aa fan of genetic engineering.%0D%0A%09%22Some Muun trader at the street bazaar in Port%2C%22 Dukat told%0D%0ABoba. %22It appears a gene shop on the Rim sold him a bill of goods.%0D%0AThe poor chap was -desperate- to sell. Apparently Cerberus here has%0D%0Abeen scaring off customers everywhere he%27s gone.%22%0D%0A%09%22I can%27t imagine why%2C%22 Boba remarked%2C but there was no sarcasm%0D%0Aat all in his voice. %22He%27s just a big sweetheart. Aren%27t you%2C%0D%0ACerby%2C%22 he said%2C ruffling the center head%27s ears.%0D%0A%09%22I figured he%27d be our new mascot%2C%22 Lindsey explained. %22Like%0D%0ASerge was for Kaitlyn and Utena%27s crew.%22%0D%0A%09Boba grinned. %22I think that%27s a great idea%2C%22 he said. %22Look%0D%0Aat the -paws- on this guy%21%22 he added. %22He%27s going to be a big fella.%22%0D%0A%09%22I hope he doesn%27t -eat- for three%2C%22 Dukat observed dryly.%0D%0A%22The discretionary fund stretches only so far.%22%0D%0A%09%22Hey%2C you guys%2C%22 came another voice from the cobbled footpath%0D%0Aleading down Castle Hill to the rest of campus. %22How%27s - what the%3F%22%0D%0A%09Dukat grinned at the approaching figure%2C a Bajoran student%0D%0Anamed Nita Daran. %22Ah%2C Daran%2C you%27re just in time%2C%22 he said. %22Meet%0D%0Athe Society%27s new mascot%2C Cerberus.%22%0D%0A%09Daran crouched down next to Boba. %22Why%2C hello%2C%22 she said%2C as%0D%0Aundaunted as her Mandalorian classmate. Cerberus%2C by now absolutely%0D%0Aglutted with happiness%2C flopped over on his side%2C tongues lolling.%0D%0ALooking up at Dukat%2C she added%2C %22Shouldn%27t it be pronounced%0D%0A%27Kerberus%27%3F%22%0D%0A%09%22Perhaps%2C%22 Dukat replied. %22Earth myths aren%27t my strong%0D%0Asubject%2C and I rather doubt they were our Muun merchant friend%27s%0D%0Aeither... %22%0D%0A%09Daran rubbed the dog%27s chest for a moment%2C then asked%0D%0Aoffhandedly%2C %22Is he housebroken%3F%22%0D%0A%09There was a slightly brittle pause.%0D%0A%09%22I... ... don%27t know%2C%22 Lindsey said.%5B%2Fpre%5D%5B%2Ftt%5D%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 1|1|0|||||RE%3A TCRF%3A S5M2 Clarion Call|glasswalker||22:16:12|12/21/2012|%3E They%27ve been wrong on close to two dozen planets so far%2C and %0D%0A%3Enow Cerberus%2C half-grown and rapidly losing whatever puppy cuteness he %0D%0A%3Emight have had%2C lies uncomfortably in his cage%2C wondering in his %0D%0A%3Erather dim canine way why no one wants to be his friend. %0D%0A%0D%0AI can only imagine what ASPCA commercials must be like in the UF-verse. Now my mind%27s eye is showing me Cerberus staring soulfully at the camera while Sarah MacLachlan%27s %22Angel%22 plays in the background....%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22%28Well%2C here%27s a phrase I never would have imagined I%27d ever say%2C%29%22 he muttered %0D%0A%3Eto himself%2C then approached the merchant and said with a smile%2C %22Pardon me%2C sir %0D%0A%3E - how much for the three-headed dog%3F%22 %0D%0A%0D%0AAt least it wasn%27t in the window%2C with a waggily tail.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E Dukat said%2C %22You know%2C we%27ve doomed future Duelists to finding %0D%0A%3Eever-weirder mascots now. Someone 100 years from now is going to %0D%0A%3Ecurse us and our three-headed dog.%22 %0D%0A%0D%0AFast forward to 2510%2C when someone is trying to smuggle an Arakkis sandworm into the Castle....%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E Daran rubbed the dog%27s chest for a moment%2C then asked %0D%0A%3Eoffhandedly%2C %22Is he housebroken%3F%22 %0D%0A%3E There was a slightly brittle pause. %0D%0A%3E %22I... ... don%27t know%2C%22 Lindsey said.%5B%2Fpre%5D%5B%2Ftt%5D %0D%0A%0D%0AYeah%2C that%27s about the right note to end on. I would love to see this developed further%2C even if I have no idea what the end product would look like. 2|2|1|||1||RE%3A TCRF%3A S5M2 Clarion Call|Terminus Est||17:48:40|12/22/2012|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Dec-22-12 AT 05:49 PM (EST)]Well%2C they%27ll probably have a dragon at some point in the not-so-very-distant future%2C what with the Trinity%27s little girl and all. Gonna be hard to top that.%0D%0A%0D%0AAssuming she doesn%27t end up going to school in Cephiro%2C that is. 3|3|2|||1||RE%3A TCRF%3A S5M2 Clarion Call|Pasha||00:49:34|12/24/2012|Yes%2C but Ruby isn%27t a mascot. She%27s a student in her own right.%0D%0A%0D%0A-- %0D%0A-Pasha %28It%27d be like saying Nall was the mascot of Koopman%29%0D%0AWhat was that feeling again%3F%0D%0AOh yes.%0D%0A-Rage- 5|4|3|||1||RE%3A TCRF%3A S5M2 Clarion Call|zojojojo||13:20:06|12/24/2012|%3EYes%2C but Ruby isn%27t a mascot. She%27s a student in her own right. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E-- %0D%0A%3E-Pasha %28It%27d be like saying Nall was the mascot of Koopman%29 %0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0Aone does not preclude the other.... Koopman did not have an Association of Appropriate Whimsy for Nall to be a part of %3B%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A-Z %5Bi%5D%5B%2Fi%5D%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A---%0D%0ARemember kids%3A guns make you stupid%2C duct tape makes you smart. 6|5|5|||||RE%3A TCRF%3A S5M2 Clarion Call|trboturtle2||19:46:49|12/24/2012|For some reason%2C this came to mind%3A%0D%0A%0D%0A%22No%2C Kaname%2C you cannot donate Soske to the Duelist society as a Mascot.....%22%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m going to go lay down now....%0D%0A%0D%0ACraig%0D%0A%0D%0A 12|6|6|||||RE%3A TCRF%3A S5M2 Clarion Call|cuso4||00:33:45|12/27/2012|%3EFor some reason%2C this came to mind%3A %0D%0A%3E%22No%2C Kaname%2C you cannot donate Soske to the Duelist society as a %0D%0A%3EMascot.....%22 %0D%0A%0D%0ASpeaking of FMP%2C then Sousuke%27s Bonta-kun is perfect for being a mascot.%0D%0A%0D%0A 7|3|2|||1||RE%3A TCRF%3A S5M2 Clarion Call|A Vile Gangster||08:51:37|12/25/2012|I give %27em five generations at best%2C before something Kaiju-ish ends up living under a circus tent behind the castle.%0D%0A%0D%0A----%0D%0ANow Playing%3A%0D%0A%5Bi%5D...%5B%2Fi%5D%0D%0A%0D%0A%3C THIS SPACE FOR RENT %3E 10|4|7|||1||RE%3A TCRF%3A S5M2 Clarion Call|Terminus Est||08:32:14|12/26/2012|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Dec-26-12 AT 08:47 AM (EST)]That or a visiting professor%2FDesignated Adult Supervisor by the name of Gojira Nakajima. 4|2|1|||1||RE%3A TCRF%3A S5M2 Clarion Call|The Traitor||08:15:18|12/24/2012|%22A three-headed abominable spawn of rogue genesplicers is for life%2C not just for Christmas.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A---%0D%0A%22Yeah%2C I%27m definitely going to hell%2FBut I%27ll have all the best stories to tell%22 -- Frank Turner%2C The Ballad of Me and My Friends 8|2|1|||||RE%3A TCRF%3A S5M2 Clarion Call|StClair||14:12:12|12/25/2012|%3E%3E Daran rubbed the dog%27s chest for a moment%2C then asked %0D%0A%3E%3Eoffhandedly%2C %22Is he housebroken%3F%22 %0D%0A%3E%3E There was a slightly brittle pause. %0D%0A%3E%3E %22I... ... don%27t know%2C%22 Lindsey said.%5B%2Fpre%5D%5B%2Ftt%5D %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EYeah%2C that%27s about the right note to end on.%0D%0A%0D%0AAgreed%2C though the most likely answer is %22probably not.%22 Typical Cerberus%2C leaving nasty messes all over for someone else to clean up...%0D%0A%0D%0Await%2C no%2C wrong reference.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28GETH TACO%29 9|1|0|||||RE%3A TCRF%3A S5M2 Clarion Call|goosey||14:57:44|12/25/2012|....I wish you%27d warn a dude before you reduce him to tears with a sad three-headed puppy. 11|1|0|||1||RE%3A TCRF%3A S5M2 Clarion Call|ebony14||09:52:33|12/26/2012|Thankfully%2C the genesplicers were traditionalists. Otherwise%2C we%27d have ended up with a misogynistic aardvark.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28In Bizarro World%2C where Gryphon has somehow developed Space Madness and Incredibly Poor Taste%2C and Nicholas Cage am Superman.%29%0D%0A%0D%0AEbony the Black Dragon%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Life is like an anole. Sometimes it%27s green. Sometimes it%27s brown. But it%27s always a small Caribbean lizard.%22 13|1|0|||1||RE%3A TCRF%3A S5M2 Clarion Call|Prince Charon||09:22:27|12/27/2012|%3E %22Well%2C you make it awfully hard to tell sometimes%2C%22 the petite %0D%0A%3Eblonde grumped. %22Seriously%2C though. We should see if we can find %0D%0A%3Esomething cool for a new Castle mascot.%22 %0D%0A%3E %22What%2C like another neocat%3F They%27re%2C um%2C pricey%2C%22 Tom Palmer %0D%0A%3Eobserved. %0D%0A%3E %22I was thinking maybe a gryphon%2C%22 Lindsey said. %22School %0D%0A%3Esymbol%2C you know.%22 %0D%0A%0D%0A%3E Dukat said%2C %22You know%2C we%27ve doomed future Duelists to finding %0D%0A%3Eever-weirder mascots now. Someone 100 years from now is going to %0D%0A%3Ecurse %0D%0A%3Eus and our three-headed dog.%22 %0D%0A%0D%0AOK%2C now I wonder how long it is before they %5Bi%5Ddo%5B%2Fi%5D get a gryphon.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A%93They planned their campaigns just as you might make a splendid piece of harness. It looks very well%3B and answers very well%3B until it gets broken%3B and then you are done for. Now I made my campaigns of ropes. If anything went wrong%2C I tied a knot%3B and went on.%94%0D%0A%09-- Arthur Wellesley%2C First Duke of Wellington 14|2|13|||||RE%3A TCRF%3A S5M2 Clarion Call|rwpikul||10:13:25|12/29/2012|%3EOK%2C now I wonder how long it is before they %5Bi%5Ddo%5B%2Fi%5D get a gryphon. %0D%0A%0D%0AProbably about as long as some splicing lab takes to realize it%27s cheap publicity.%0D%0A 15|1|0|||||RE%3A TCRF%3A S5M2 Clarion Call|Barricade||12:57:37|01/19/2013|So....%0D%0A%0D%0AWhen will Laura Kinney show up along with the Black Shuck%2C and both poochies have a playful throw-down in the middle of the dueling area in the castle%2C simply so they can snarf up treats afterward%3F Serge can%27t be the only duelist mascot that figured out how to pull that off - the new mascot%28s%3F%29 have a reputation to uphold%21 16|2|15|||1||RE%3A TCRF%3A S5M2 Clarion Call|Peter Eng||14:33:44|01/19/2013|%3ESo.... %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EWhen will Laura Kinney show up along with the Black Shuck...%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%0D%0AAssuming there%27s more truth to the legend than the tiny bit we%27ve seen%2C I%27d guess that the Black Shuck is still on New Snowdonia%2C as spectral beings are generally linked to a focus%2C whether a place %28as with most ghosts%29 or a person %28as in the case of Private Leonard L. Church%29.%0D%0A%0D%0APeter Eng%0D%0A--%0D%0AInsert humorous comment here. 17|3|16|||1||RE%3A TCRF%3A S5M2 Clarion Call|Gryphon||21:25:57|01/19/2013|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jan-19-13 AT 09:26 PM (EST)]%3E%3ESo.... %0D%0A%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%3EWhen will Laura Kinney show up along with the Black Shuck...%0D%0A%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EAssuming there%27s more truth to the legend than the tiny bit we%27ve %0D%0A%3Eseen%2C I%27d guess that the Black Shuck is still on New Snowdonia%0D%0A%0D%0AIndeed%2C I would be quite surprised if that particular Black Shuck could leave Creedmoor %28the marsh%2C not the house%29.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 18|4|17|||1||RE%3A TCRF%3A S5M2 Clarion Call|Prince Charon||14:47:23|01/22/2013|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jan-22-13 AT 02:47 PM (EST)]Of course%2C the operative part there is %27that %5Bi%5Dparticular%5B%2Fi%5D Black Shuck%27. Meaning there are others. I doubt that there are enough English people on Jerado for a Black Shuck to exist there%2C though.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22They planned their campaigns just as you might make a splendid piece of harness. It looks very well%3B and answers very well%3B until it gets broken%3B and then you are done for. Now I made my campaigns of ropes. If anything went wrong%2C I tied a knot%3B and went on.%22%0D%0A%09-- Arthur Wellesley%2C First Duke of Wellington