VTT-666 "Hell Tank"

A ground vehicle designed for the various volcanic worlds in the Human Empire, the aptly-named Hell Tank can go where few other armored vehicles can. Half meter thick duranium armor protects the tank from lava, magma, even low-grade plasma. Like most tanks, the VTT-666 is propelled by hover treads, but these can be retracted and four duranium treads - two dorsal, two ventral - extend, allowing the tank to crawl over the harshest terrain. A plasma drill allows the tank to even burrow beneath molten rock if necessary.

The Hell Tank is powered by a Mk. IX "Envy" fusion engine. Armaments vary by field usage, but the standard VTT-666 is equipped with an M-79 "Wrath" repeater turret, two forward-mounted TS-49 "Pride" plasma cannons, and an LR-987h "Avarice" artillery system. The pressurized cabin houses up to two pilots and one gunner; all crew are required to wear heat-resistant pressure suits while operating in volcanic terrain.

Inspired by a FlashChat, I believe between Scrasamax and myself. Go to Comment

Very good, and very creepy. I get a great visual of a Silenced One over a terrified traveller, its eyes expressing its desparation and unholy need to tell their tale as it tears off his ears. I love it. Go to Comment

A good color character. Go to Comment

The cestus is all too often overlooked as a weapon. This is a nice, practical use of one. Go to Comment

Good background, interesting details. A nice modification of the classic paladinic order. Go to Comment

A very authentic-sounding creation story. Go to Comment

Thanks for the format advice, Muro. It has been implemented.

Glad you like the Last Wish hook. If you or anyone else can think of more hooks, feel free to share. ;) Go to Comment

A unique little dungeon. Perhaps as another hook, a paladin or cleric in the party senses dark, cursed presence and attempts to find and purify the source. This leads the party to the cleft, and the paladin insits they go and cleanse the darkness. Go to Comment

Pretty detailed, for essentially being a really big crossbow. Now that you mention it, why aren't there more elephants in fantasy? Go to Comment

Excellent. It has a very subtle, creepy feel to it. Great details, good variety. Could have possibly used more combat, but I'll excuse that in favor of the amount of details and uniqueness. Job well done. Go to Comment

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Not quite a plot, but something that could make for an interesting item in a bronze age or medieval setting:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/06/07/antikythera_mechanism/

Scientists probe 2,000-year-old Greek computer

A bronze Greek device constructed in around 80BC could be the world's oldest computer, joint British-Greek research seems to suggest.

The "Antikythera Mechanism" - consisting more than 30 bronze dials and wheels - was recovered from the wreck of a cargo ship off the Greek island of Antikythera in 1900, the Scotsman reports. Its exact purpose was unknown, although a previous theory centred on it being used to calculate the movement of the planets then known to the Greeks: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.

The researchers from the universities of Cardiff, Athens and Thessalonika now believe they are close to cracking the mystery, by bringing to bear very modern X-ray technology which has revealed a previously-hidden Greek inscriptions which may confirm the planetary hypothesis.

The imaging was done by the X-Tek Group using a "unique" and snappily-named "400kV microfocus Computed Tomography System". British team leader Mike Edmunds of Cardiff University enthused: "The outstanding results obtained from X-Tek's 3-D X-rays are allowing us to make a definitive investigation of the Mechanism. I do not believe it will ever be possible to do better."

The exact nature of the inscriptions is not reported, and while Athens university researcher Xenophon Moussas is reported as saying the "newly discovered text seems to confirm that the mechanism was used to track planetary bodies", Edmunds advised caution. Acknowledging there was one word identified which may give an indication of the device's purpose, he said lots of decipherment work remained. He told El Reg: "It's still up in the air, and there's plenty of work yet to be done."

If the Antikythera Mechanism is indeed what the investigators believe it is, then there are further suggestions that it may be based on a heliocentric view of the solar system - highly unusual at a time when most Greeks accepted Aristotle's view that the universe revolved around the Earth.

According to Michael Wright, the curator of mechanical engineering at the Science Museum in London - who in 2002 advanced the planetary calculator theory - the device may have been constructed in an academy "founded by the Stoic philosopher Poseidonios on the Greek island of Rhodes". Poseidonios's student Cicero later described a device with "similarities" to the Antikythera Mechanism.

Although the researchers seem close to discovering the device's purpose, one poser still remains, as Edmunds explained: "The real question is, 'What was the device actually for?' Was it a used to predict calendars? Was it simply a teaching tool? The new text we have discovered should help answer these questions".

According to Yanis Bitsakis of Athens University, the challenge is to "place this device into a scientific context, as it comes almost out of nowhere ... and flies in the face of established theory that considers the ancient Greeks were lacking in applied technical knowledge".

Edmunds agreed, saying: "I think it is a great testament to the sophistication of the Greeks and how far they advanced before the jackboot of the Romans came through." ® Go to Comment

Really like it... But is it Heart's Scorn or Scorn's Heart? The post gives the former, the title the latter. Good job, either way. Go to Comment

Volomain sounds like a great guy, but I'm really more interested in this "Tower of Bones." Who built it? What does it do? Why is it made of bones? What's with the red armor? If I had background that covered that, being such an important aspect of the character, I think I could really dig him.

It's a great start with some interesting detail, but it needs some more background to be really accessible. I'd love to see how much further you can take this sub, Agony. Go to Comment

Only voted Go to Comment

Updated: Finally "finished" it more. :p Go to Comment

The "evil witch/wizard who encases people in stone" is an oldie (I'm instantly reminded of both Medusa and the White Witch from Narnia), but this is well-written enough to be a classic homage rather than a cheap copy.

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I like the low sorcery tools added to what's basically your standard petty bureaucrat. Certainly adds some flavor to an otherwise stock character.

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I love visualizing this armor. It seems so dark and ancient, yet alive. More like this, please. Go to Comment

My first real character was Dozus the Windward. I've never actually used him for desktop RPGs, just freeform online ones. He started as just a pirate mercenary, a half-elf, half dragon sailor with two swords and a cigarette. I eventually gave him an epic past, and future.

His father, Damiel, was once a member of the High Council of Dyressendel, an High Elvish nation, until he was captured in battle. He was forced to become a slave and gladiator, and eventually met another High Elf, a woman named Eccaia. They fell and love and had a son, Dozus, who has scales on parts of his body. Then Eccaia disappeared (turns out she was a leviathan, a water dragon... go figure), Damiel is killed brutally in combat before his son, and Dozus is raised by his fellow gladiators. He eventually is purchased by Baron Alaan Alios, a famous swordsman and politician, who trains him in combat. Dozus escapes and joins a mysterious mercenary group. He soon learns the mercenary group is noneother than an arm of the Guild, a worldwide criminal organization. Dozus jumps ship (literally), washes up on shore, is taken care of by an old woman, and eventually joins another merc group, the Iron Wolves. He eventually becomes captain of the Wolves and leads them on many noble and adventerous quests. Then he quits the Wolves, goes off to settle down and treasure hunt, et cetera et cetera, and eventually finds himself trying to save the world in a battle to end all battles. In the end, he fakes his own death and becomes a fisherman.

Looking back, it's all silly schlock, but it's fun schlock. Wouldn't make a good RPG or novel, but a decent comic book, I reckon. Go to Comment