
Dibbets |

Thanks and make merry one and all. Try to stay cool, Dibbs. Looks like the antipodes' nuts are getting properly toasted.
Aye, we've had smoke omnipresent in the air for about the last couple of weeks - proper filthy and reminiscent of the haze that I used to get in Malaysia when Indonesia was on fire.
Weirdly we'll be escaping to the Phillipines for 'cleaner?' air on Boxing Day for a couple of weeks.

"Keelhaul" Kaul |

Enjoy respective trips and festives Gents - will raise a festive beverage to you all.
Thanks to this crazy crew for not just another year of misadventures, but for being creative inspirations and all round good salts.

Dibbets |
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FYI - I will be travelling for our Christenmas journey to Sydney (hopefully dodging bushfires on the way) then onwards to the Philippines thereafter. I will be on sketchy net connection through till about 12 January, so while an attempt at posting will be made - naught can be guaranteed.
So over this time I hope you all eat well, make merry and enjoy the time :)

Dingus Mack |

I think every game slows down around the Holidays. I'm sure we'll get back in full swing in the new year.
Happiest of holiday greetings to each of our mangy crew, and the humans that so skillfully give them life.

James "Madman Jim" Patterson |

As I write this, a couple of us have already slid into the new year, and the rest of us aren't too far behind. May your 2020 treat you well. Looking forward to continuing adventures in the new year.

Cap'n Voodoo |
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Great googly-moogly, all. 2020 feels fairly ominous to me. I'd wish you all a happy new year, but not sure anyone is gonna have one of those, but make your best effort.
I did the calcs on the Aussie fires and New South Wales is slightly bigger than California and Nevada combined. The fires in just that one state currently are 3x bigger than the horrific fires of 2018 in CA and NV. I'm glad Mark and family are safely away. Best wishes, mate.
Might as well continue the game while we await the end of the world...
(I'm awfully gloomy of late :P)

James "Madman Jim" Patterson |

Yeah, just ran across the following tweet, from @morninggloria:
Damn boy are you January 2020 because based on the first three dates we’ve had I don’t think I want to see you again

"Keelhaul" Kaul |
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Indeed 2020 promises much... of what I'm still not sure.
Am heartened that Mark and fam are safe away from the hellish landscapes we see on the newsfeeds - my heart goes out to all those affected and the flora and fauna lost.
On the homefront here our doggo went downhill ahead of the turn of the year and we feared we'd lose him as 2020 dawned... However like Lazarus he has rallied, acting like fun self and been seizure free since the 31st. It's given us some heart that we'll have more quality days (and precious memories made) than we thought. His carefree spirit has been inspiring.
Hope (against the portents) that 2020 gives us all more cause for celebration than sadness, but regardless thank you all for the continued escapism and camaraderie lads.

Dibbets |
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Happy New Year to all... and aye, we are lucky to avoid some of the worst of the season... but will be heading back home soon (a week). Air quality bad enough in Cbr that they are cancelling indoor events..
Net is bad which is why no posting, but will get back in the swing once back.

Cap'n Voodoo |

Alright, I had to do a bit of review to see where i'd left things and realize I dropped quite a few threads from the raid on the Aspis hideout what with the shipwreck and all. There was loot to divvy, I'll just have the Admiralty handle that transaction off scene and get you all 1000 sp apiece if that's ok (remember that i've switched to silver standard rather than gold). The remainder going to your general crew.
I've got a number of NPCs that were lost in the shuffle- the captain and mate of the Aspis ship- Markessa and Bloody Bjorn. I'll just say that Captain Drake had them captive the whole time and saw them to the proper authorities. There were also 3 former Aspis that joined the crew of the Black Dragon, Mylor, Kellin, and Leif. I think that is all the fraying.

"Keelhaul" Kaul |

Shipmates - just wanted to share that yesterday we had to say goodbye to my beautiful red staffy Darby. His passing was very peaceful and he's now free from the burdens his tumour inflicted upon him.
To say my wife and i are broken is an understatement - Darbs was, is and always will be, the epicentre of our lives.
Over the coming days, weeks and months we will heal and come to celebrate his life, but right now things are pretty raw. I may throw myself into distractions and my passions, so posting may be up, but likewise things may take a back seat - should that become the case please bot me when/where necessary.
Cheers
BD/Gary

Dibbets |
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Crap and bugger BD - sending some calming thoughts across the waves and aether to ya.
I have now returned to home base... with one final piece of interestingness from the holiday. The picturesque volcano that we visited on our last day in Phil (Taal) has now erupted!

Corliss Blackboots |
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So sorry to hear of your loss. Here's hoping the good memories will soon overpower the raw pain of loss you're feeling now.

James "Madman Jim" Patterson |

I may be more distractable than usual--my mom seems to have had a stroke this morning. We're waiting on test results, but she got clotbusters on spec since it was still in the Golden Hour.

Corliss Blackboots |

I may be more distractable than usual--my mom seems to have had a stroke this morning. We're waiting on test results, but she got clotbusters on spec since it was still in the Golden Hour.
Crap. Sending prayers and/or positive thoughts to you and your mom.

James "Madman Jim" Patterson |

Thanks much. The clotbusters did the trick, at least so far. CT scan showed a clot, the docs were going to send her for surgery to remove, but it seems to be dissolving. She's going to be in IC at least overnight. Cognition is still wonky; she sometimes remembers name & date of birth and sometimes doesn't, and though she can't tell the nurse who my brother & sister-in-law are she recognizes them.

Dibbets |

"Keelhaul" Kaul |

Hellbound and Down lol - Inferkaul has a devilish ring about it :)
As an aside - just a heads up gang that myself and my better half are heading over to UAE tomorrow for 3 weeks. My sister in law graciously paid for the ticket to allow us some time to relax, process the loss of our beloved boy and maybe heal a little.
I anticipate that by the weekend (and the weeks to come) I'll have plenty of time to post, but first few days I'll likely be off the grid as we catch up and fall into a routine.
If you could bot Kaul as/where necessary and I'll endeavour to get my head back in the game (literally) come time.

Corliss Blackboots |

I'm hoping to do some reviewing myself tomorrow, in the hopes of posting something worthwhile shortly thereafter.

"Keelhaul" Kaul |

Shipmates - Just a heads up that I'm travelling back to UK, so it'll likely be tomorrow before I'm posting again.
Appreciate the patience :)

Corliss Blackboots |

I voyaged to the Seven Stores on Monday and have been berthed in my home port ever since. Hit the bank and picked up some essentials (read: "beer and Cadbury Crème Eggs"). We haven't gotten a shelter in place order yet but I figure it's coming, so I've been practicing the past few days.
Since I usually don't have home internet, I've added a Covid-19 spoiler in the profile of my main alias (Profession Smith...) that my sister can update if I go silent.
Stay safe, folks!

"Keelhaul" Kaul |

Yup - been working from home at the behest of my Norwegian paymasters for a week now.
Socially we're being encouraged not to, but no blanket bans as such yet. Living in the boonies here in Scotland means we're not prone to visitors anyway lol...
Missing not having the hund - he'd have lapped up having me and his mum around all day... although work might have taken a hit!
Figuring the lockdown will come - London looks like it'll be enforced from tonight, but if the rest of UK can stay in sensible control then I'm hoping my limited need for travel (gym, local grocery and odd haircut) won't be curtailed too much.

Cap'n Voodoo |
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Corliss- My local brewery is still doing take-out crowlers so I'm good there. mmmmmmm, cadbury eggs. No home internet?! how do you survive?!
Kaul- gyms were one of the first things closed. you may have to resort to tossing trees and anvils like the gud auld days. I've actually pondered a pup as well now that I'm home so much. :/ Do NOT try cutting your own hair (voice of experience)

Dingus Mack |

Was planning a big shindig for the 20th anniversary of my 40th birthday this Sunday... but it's been cancelled. Guess that means I don't turn 60 now right?
As a Sales Engineer my work takes me to industrial sites which at the moment aren't allowing outside vendors... so I guess it's work on the phone and computer till things normalize.

"Keelhaul" Kaul |
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Scran - you're timeless mate... tis but a number after all :)
Aye, my earlier post was a blight as pubs, clubs, restaurants, community centres and gyms have all been closed with immediate effect. Will be back to the auld school for training indeed - stones, logs and such lol.
Cap'n: Even fostering a pup will likely help a local rescue, as you'll be there to reinforce good behaviours, ready them for forever home adoption and who knows make a massive difference to a doggo in need :)

Corliss Blackboots |

Corliss- No home internet?! how do you survive?!
I'm within walking distance to my local library (and their free wifi). I've got some health issues, so I actually joined some PbP games on these forums to force myself to exercise regularly a bit. Never considered that something like the coronavirus would come along and mess everything up.
*******************************
As some of you might know, I don’t have home internet access, walking instead to my local library to use their free wifi. Currently, I have a wifi hotspot on loan. The loan expires today, and while I don’t have to return it until the start of May, as I understand it the hotspot shuts down automatically when your loan period ends. With the library closed “until further notice”—‘til early April at the very least—I may be unable to post for the foreseeable future. If this happens, please bot my PC or have them step “offstage” temporarily if that’s more convenient.
Hopefully my hotspot keeps working and there won’t be an interruption in my ability to post…but if it doesn’t, my state’s pretty much in lockdown mode for God knows how long and I have no good posting options. I’m looking into assisted/emergency internet access, but the application process takes some time.
I’m hoping I’ll post to games as usual tomorrow, but if I can’t…Stay safe and I’ll get back in touch when I can.