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I’ve been thinking about ninja. Kind of. And as with most of my creative thinking these days, I did a little art along the way. My render above depicts a fairly typical Japanese shinobi, or ninja. It’s adapted from Lubthbel’s lovely Way of the Shinobi model available from DAZ. It was conceived and rendered in DAZ Studio with postwork in Photoshop.
(The ninja bit stops here. The rest of this post is obscure rpg stuff. Strictly for completists and Ontolosnans).
What was I really thinking about? Ontolosnan ninja-equivalents. Empty Sky Dharmists. There are four or five key ‘adventuring’ groups which will be of key interest and concern to player parties. There are of course the Dakinis, solitary tantrikas who serve the Aji. There are the Mirror and Lens cults, who primarily serve the purpose of the rajina courts. There is the Ministry of Sunlight and the Graceful Iron Forge, who police the creation and worship of kut. And there are the Empty Sky Dharmists, servants of the kut temples.
The central passages of the Bhagavad Gita describe Krishna’s teachings to Arjuna on perfect action and perfect duty – dharma yoga. My (evolving) conception of the Empty Sky Dharmists are an elite ‘whatever it takes’ force who usually work in secret, agents of the Theagyns and the kut temples, They espouse an ethos of perfect duty and perfect obedience, no questions asked. They’re starting out a little bit like ninja. I wonder if you’ll recognise them at the end? Stay tuned.
Margaret Baron is Executive Director of Strategic Projects on Shackleton, and directs station security. Her quarters are on Toorak level. She is guardian to Cai Gentle.
Ah, Mr Gould, sit down here. I usually make up my mind about a man in ten seconds, and I very rarely change it. And I like you Mr. Gould. We can do business together. The trouble, though, is that your spine does not always reach your brain. Sometimes it seems I am a tigress surrounded by hamsters.
This situation represents a unique opportunity. We must be bold. Are you afraid, Mr Gould? Frightened? Frit? Can’t take it? Utter rubbish. You do not achieve anything without trouble, ever. This lady’s not for turning.
Be aware of what is expendable and what is not. Do whatever the mission requires. Mr Gould, you have my authority and protection. Remember who cares for you. Do you think I am heartless, cruel? Let me share with you a brutal but powerful truth, Mr Gould. The company has evolved to perfection. it comprises a small number of sadists and a large number of masochists. And I, Mr Gould, am no masochist.
What about you?
And Mr Gould, one final thing. If you want to cut your own throat, don’t come to me for a bandage.
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Male, Korean-Australian, late thirties.
Enthusiasm, guns, limited technical competence. Possible testosterone poisoning.
Drop Bear and Shackleton security officer. An aggressive bully all-too-familiar with violence, Crowe has been demoted for going too far.
Chul-Moo Crowe is a player character in Xenomorph. Artwork created and rendered in DAZ Studio, with postwork in Adobe Photoshop.
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Male, Anglo-Australian, late forties.
He’s not a hero. He’s not a villain. He’s just so fucking tired of everything.
Head of Shackleton security, a Drop Bear. Gould is a warrior past his prime, weighed down by what he has done in the name of the Corporation.
Wayne Gould is a player character in Xenomorph. Artwork created and rendered in DAZ Studio, with postwork in Adobe Photoshop.
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Male, Japanese, mid twenties.
Researcher. Genius. Uber-Geek. Bit of a prick.
Pynne is a genius, and he expects everyone to recognise his gift. His fascination is life on the planet below.
Uki Pynne is a player character in Xenomorph. Artwork created and rendered in DAZ Studio, with postwork in Adobe Photoshop.
Myth-O-Logic 