Jock_Tamson

Defender's daughter Bubbles in her own time had many children. One of these was her son Shield. Shield was a diligent companion in seeing to the protection of his friends. After his duty was met, however, Shield would let his attention wander. If there were glowing prizes to be had, Shield would run off to claim them, even while his friends still fought.

One of Shield's friends was Blaster's son Dev. Dev's talents lay in tricks and traps. Talents Dev decided to use to teach Shield a lesson. So Dev took a brightly polished box and lined it with honey. Then he placed it near a spot where he and Shield liked to hunt.

The next day they hunted together, Dev lead them along a path he had prepared. Shield extended his gifts to protect his friend. Then Dev patiently began laying a series of traps. Shield watched for a while, then growing restless asked, "What ever are you doing!" "Laying a trap for someone.", replied Dev. Dev continued to patiently construct his increasingly complex set of snares. "This is taking forever!", complained Shield, "What could possibly be worth all this work." "Fear not!", answered Dev, "you will not soon forget the experience you gain today." Shield grew bored beyond his limited ability to bear and looked around for a way to amuse himself. Nearby, he saw the box shining in the light. "Ah", said Shield to himself, "shiny!", and rushed to open the box. Forth from the box came a cloud of insects. Many of them had stingers. All of them were annoyed.

Dev turned to see Shield jumping and waving his arms about in frustration, and laughed heartily to himself. Dev took much pleasure in repeating the tale to all who would listen. Always his favorite part was to imitate Shields motions. In this way, Shield was taught a lesson, and dancing was brought to the City.

- Jock Tamson, Mythologist

A friend of mine, and old old friend of more than 2 decades, has been complaining about you guys. Apparently he ran into a couple of Defenders in a PuG on Liberty talking about Fruit Salad and these stories, and told them off for giving me a swollen head

This story was inspired by his first Defender.

I present, The Origin of Dancing!

- Jock Tamson, Who is certain he is no more egotistical the he has even been.

Statesman was proud of his son Blaster who strived always and never gave up, though he fell often. He desired, therefore, to give him a gift to reward him. So he called Defender to him and asked, "You have often hunted with my son Blaster and protected him with your gifts. Surely you must know as no other, what is my son’s greatest weakness." Defender answered saying, "Why that he has no means to protect himself from harm. Tank and Scrapper have their armors. Controller has her allies, and I can blind and weaken my foes, but Blaster has no such gifts." So Statesman said to Defender, "I shall create from the darkness of night weapons that can smite and blind a foe such that Blaster might gain protection from his enemies as he fights them. Go tell your brother of this boon."

Now Defender quite liked the sound of such weapons, and did not wish her brother to need her aid any the less. So Defender went to her brother and said, "Our father spoke of you to me earlier today". "Oh?" asked Blaster, "What did he say?" "Well", said Defender, "he said that you clearly enjoy your ability to do great harm at distance, but for the sake of all, you should do more to weaken them instead. He said he would call you to him and change your gifts to make this so." Blaster did not wish to give up any of his great fires and energies and said, "This is terrible sister, whatever shall I do?" Defender replied earnestly saying, "Such things are my job brother. Tell Statesman that I will gladly take whatever he has planned for you, and that you wish it so. I am sure he will listen." So the next day when Statesman called Blaster before him, Blaster said, "Father, whatever you have planned for me, my sister Defender has agreed to take. Weakening our foes is her job, so I gladly agree." Smiling Statesman said, "If that is what you wish. Such generosity of spirit! Truly I am proud of you my son." Blaster was greatly annoyed when he realized what his sister had done, but with such praise from his father, what could he say?

- Jock Tamson, Mythologist

Back to the spirit of the first stories with tonight's tale, in which Defender take's shameless adavantage of Blaster.

- Jock Tamson, Who counts Blasters among some of his best friends.

One night Empathy was awoken by a great light. Stepping outside to see what had broken the darkness, Empathy was startled to see Statesman writing in a great book.

"What do you write Great Father?" asked Empathy in an awed voice.
"I write the names of those who have met the greatest challenges." answered Statesman.
"Do you write my name?" asked Empathy, lower still.
"Nay", replied Statesman. He shut his book, and darkness fell.

The next day Empathy set out to hunt with her siblings, determined to achieve great things. Together they faced a great monster. Her brother Trick stumbled too close and was struck by a powerful blow. Empathy knew her brother would be hard pressed to recover himself, and so reached out her gifts to heal him. He and the others thus rallied and defeated the foe. Trick turned, smiling, and imitated the voice of Scrapper saying, "Great heals sister!" All the company laughed, but Empathy was troubled that she had not yet met a great challange.

The next day Empathy again set out to hunt with her siblings, again determined to meet a great challange. Together they faced a great hoard of Skuls. Each was individually of little challange, but their numbers where so great that they Children of Defender would in time tire and fall. Empathy could speed and envigorate a companion, but one alone would not be enough. She therefore reached out her gifts and lent speed and vigor to Kin, who was thus able to share his gifts with all the others. The Skuls were defeated and all congratulated Kin on his help. Kin turned to his sister and said, "I know if the others don't, we couldn't have done it without you.". Empathy thanked her brother, but was troubled that she had not herself met a great challange.

The next day Empathy set out once more to hunt with her siblings, still determined to meet a great challange. Together they battled a force of the black clad Malta and brightly dressed Carnies. Empathy knew that it was important to make sure they not stun or disable Darkity or Radia, whose concentration on weakening their foes would be greatly needed. She concentrated much of her effort on keeping their defenses strong and their heads clear so that they would not become distracted. Thus freed to act, Darkity and Radia achieved greater things than Empathy could hope to herself. While they earnestly thanked her, Empathy still was troubled that she had not herself met a great challange.

That night Empathy was again awoken by a great light. Stepping outside she once again saw Statesman writing in his great book. Empathy spoke to him, quietly but earnestly, saying, "I may not myself meet great challanges, but write me as one who has gained the love of the Children of Defender."

Statesman showed her the book, and Empathy's name led all the rest.

- Jock Tamson, Mythologist

This next story is based upon this poem. Please read the original first. My work will suffer for it, but it is better to proceed from the sublime to the ridiculous than vice versa...

- Jock Tamson, Who believes getting Defenders to like you is a worthy challange.

Kin's gifts included great speed and the ability to share it with others. This was much valued and praised amongst the other Children of Statesman. They would assail Kin saying, "Boost my speed please", and "This is wearing off, another please", and sometimes, "Cut that out! Everytime you do that I collide with the wall!" So Kin had many friend's amongst the Children of Statesman and few enemies, and those few enemies could be recognized by their flat noses.

Sadly, in time, gratitude will turn to expectation and expectation to demand. So it was with Kin's gifts. Over time the courtesy faded from the pleases, and "Thank you" became replaced by "Where is..." and "Why haven't you...". Rare is the man so noble that he will always give thanks for that which is freely given. It is the curse of Kin and his Children to learn this hard lesson again and again.

One day Kin was hunting with Tank's son Granite. Granite had inherited many gifts from his father, but was also the very apotheosis of his father's slowness. Granite often sought Kin's company, for it benefitted him greatly, but he had perhaps grown to take his cousin's help for granted. So it was that when Kin was startled by a Thorn Wizard and held tightly by his evil magics, Granite did not notice.

Granite noticed himself slowing and called out, "I slow! Speed me cousin".

"Mmmph!" replied Kin.

Time passed while Granite pounded methodically upon a Caster of Fires till he called out again, "Where is my speed cousin!"

"Mmmmph, mmm!", replied Kin.

Granite cirlced about to face another foe, and unknowingly drew the Wizard's attention. So it was that the Wizard also fell in time, a great time in fact, to Granite's patient work. By then Kin had freed himself. "Hmmph", said Granite, "I know this trick. If you just intend to watch someone work, watch someone else.", and so saying went on alone. Kin went to see his sister Darkity.

The next day as Granite set out to hunt he found, wating in a cave he often hunted in, a strange black creature the like of which he had not seen before. "Ha! Be gone!", said he as he struck it was his mighty right fist. His fist sunk into the creature and stuck solid. "Let go!", bellowed Granite, and attempted to push his foe away with his strong left hand. His left hand was soon as well stuck as the right. "You may think you have defeated me", warned Granite, "by I have feet to fight with too!", and so saying kicked hard at this strange new threat. Soon his foot was as solidly stuck as his hands, and Granite was left slowly hopping about the cave. In time he colided with a wall and both he and the creature made of tar, for such it was, both stuck fast to the rock.

As Granite struggled to free himself, Kin walked by and asked, "Do you need help cousin Granite?" "You can see that I do!", replied Granite angrily. "Yes I can", replied Kin, "Why I was just thinking yesterday, while held still by the magic of a Wizard, that a good friend notices when His Friends Need Help." The last words Kin clicked into place like heavy blocks of stone, so that Granite was sure not to miss them. Sheepishly, Granite asked, "Will you help me cousin?"

So Kin lent a hand, and Granite was in time freed, though he was left with great slabs of the cave wall stuck about him. He claimed to his siblings, perhaps out of embarrassment, to like the protection they provided. His Children continue the custom to this very day. Of all the Children of Statesman, they are also the most likely to show gratitude to the Children of Kin.

- Jock Tamson, Mythologist

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I have to say I'm enjoying these stories, Jock. Yours, too, Kid_Disaster!

I particularly like the optimism and acceptance shown in them. As morality tales, they work quite nicely! Too often we get caught up in the gloom and doom of things. These stories get beyond that and show how cool it is to be a "child of Defender."

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Thank you!

Thank you for liking my stories.
Thank you for telling Kid he did a wonderful job when I forgot to.
Thank you for bringing this thread to the world again in the Dev Digest since that has produced all these new stories!
And thank you to all our new writers for producing them. I seem to have created a new genre: CoX Mythology

Thank you as well for the work you put in on this game I love so much. As an avid fan of the game, and a programmer myself, I feel a certain camaraderie with the developers in a "let me buy you a drink if you come to GenCon Indy this year" kind of way.

Tonight's story reveals how Granite Tanks got their armor, and why it pays not to take your teammates for granted.

- Jock Tamson, Who lives within an hour of Indianapolis. It used to be more, but they raised the speed limit on I65.

Kin and Darkity's Chase shattered the Land of the Kora Fruit into many shards of land and rock that floated in the Void Beyond. Strange creatures came from the Void and took up residence there, and jealously garded the fruit. So strong were these creatures, that while they all tried their best tricks, none of the Children of Defender were able to best them and return home with the Kora. Defender and her family went without their meals of chopped Kora Fruit for a great while, and lamented it greatly. So one day it came to pass that Sonic and Bubbles resolved to set competition aside and try together to win some Kora Fruit.

As they entered a cave together, each encircled by the protecting gifts of the other, they were beset upon by a large brutish monster that guarded its entrance. The creature rushed upon Sonic and would have surely struck him down had not his sister come to his aid. Bubbles called upon her gifts to push the fiend back against the cave wall, where it could not harm them. This began to sap her strength, and it would have failed her ere long had her brother not been with her. Sonic sang a Resonant Note that weakened the monsters defenses and togther the sibilings struck it down before Bubbles lost the strength to hold it at bay.

Travelling deeper in the came upon a wraith like spirit that sang a song designed empty the mind of those that listened. Bubbles might had succummbed to this siren song, but her brother sang a song of clarity of mind and drowned it out. Bubbles then trapped it in globe where it could do no harm, and the siblings travelled on together.

At last they came to a chamber where the Kora Fruit grew, watched by a great and baleful Eye. It turned its gaze upon the siblings, and that gaze was like a fire that burns, but it burned not these brave Children of Defender. Bubbles summoned her strength and threw out a great protective dome that protected them from harm and threw back their foe. Sonic tapped his strength and sang with such force that they very ground about quivered and the Eye was stunned by its force. They then both turned upon it with full fury until blinded at last, it sank into the earth.

As they proudly set their basket of fruit before Defender she offered praise saying, "Well done! Which child of mine has done this, for they shall choose the best fruit for themselves!" Sonic and Bubbles both spoke at once, Sonic telling how his great song had stunned the baleful Eye. Bubbles how they passed the wraith like spirit after she captured it in a globe. Soon, each hearing the other, they turned about. Bubbles reminded Sonic how he might have been burned to ashes by the Eye had she not protected him. Sonic reminded Bubbles how she would still be listening to the Spirit Song had he not sung all the louder.

Defender noticed the argument beginning and how her Children grew angry with one another and spoke firmly but kindly saying, "Have we not gone without fruit for many days because my Children must fight? Yet here we have fruit again before us because you worked together. Neither of you could have done this alone. Be proud my Children not only in your own deeds, but what others can achieve with your aid! Remember this and you will have much to be proud of."

Remeber this lesson Children of Sonic, Children of Bubbles. As did your distant Great Mother and Great Father, you have much to be proud of.

- Jock Tamson, Mythologist

Tonight's story is an ode to the joy of Hamster Balls...

- Jock Tamson, Who believes this one may have been in answer to a request for a bubbler story.

The Children of Statesman will often gather at the Great Hall in Atlas Park to trade stories, to see, and to be seen. This has long been the case. So it was to an audience that Darkity stode the next day into the plaza. Her head was held high and proud, and her sheep walked behind her, trotting to keep up. The gathering fell silent as heads turned one by one to see this novel sight. Illusion, standing by her siblings, whispered to them and laughter broke out from that corner. Scrapper's son Essar was first to speak,

"Cousin?"

"Yes cousin Essar?"

"Uhmmmm, Why do you have a sheep?"

Darkity laughed and replied, "Why this is my noble and powerful ally in battle, woven for me from darkness and light by our cousin Illusion. I am almost afraid to be seen with it, but swore to always keep it with me."

"Afraid cousin?" asked Essar, puzzled even futher.

"Yes afraid!", Darkity said earnestly, "For such an ally has made me so strong that I fear I will draw Statesman's eye. Why already today I have felled a great foe unaided!" Then glancing nervously around, "...but I should not speak of it..."

"Bah!" said Essar, to the sheep's agreement, "Children of Defender cannot do such things alone! I shall need to see it or it never did happen!"

"Very well then.", Darkity replied calmly, "I shall prove it, but I think some form of wager is called for. I shall offer a Boon if anyone shall do the same." "A Boon?!", laughed Essar, "Just that, anything we care to name you shall do? I should not make such a wager for any cause!" Darkity seemed so sure of herself that the Children of Statesman there gathered grew doubtful. Perhaps this little sheep was indeed a force in battle? Illusion, of course, suffered from no such illusions. She stood forth from her siblings and spoke surely saying, "We shall match your wager cousin." Darkity smiled.

The smile had its intended effect, for as the company followed Darkity forth from Atlas Park, Illusion's siblings spoke nervously to her. "What have you done sister! Clearly she is up to something. Tricks and traps are your gift. Do something!" "Shhh!", Illusion hushed them, "she must have planned some trick using the sheep. I shall use a trick I know so that she cannot aid it as an ally." So saying, Illusion reached out her gifts and did just that. Darkity pretended not to notice.

The company reached a distant place, and standing by a burned and battered box Darkity called out. "Dreck! I challange you! Come forth!" So summoned Dreck, Great Father of the Freaks, approached the company and spoke saying, "Wh47 i5 thi5?" "A challange!", answered Darkity, "Join me in that building nearby, so my family cannot aid me, and I shall fell you in combat!" "U pwn me!", laughed Dreck, then walked to the building and gestured to show he was ready. Darkity strode confidently forward. As she walked, Darkity used a trick she knew and sometimes used on her foes. She shrouded the sheep in darkness such that it was unable to do any harm, but also removed from all harm. The former was, in this case, a technicality.

Darkity strode into the building and, walking to the far wall, placed the sheep before Dreck. They looked at each other, both slightly bewildered. Darkity spoke with authority saying, "This is my great and powerful ally in battle. You cannot defeat it. Surrender now." Dreck laughed mightly and drawing all his strength to him, smote the sheep. The wall crumbled around them and the earth shook, but the sheep was unharmed. Stepping to her right and guiding the sheep with her, Darkity spoke again, "I had heard you were a mighty foe. Is that your best effort?" Again Dreck called upon his strength and struck down upon the sheep. The earth shook, the wall crumbled about them, and Darkity herself was thrown back and forced to call upon her gifts to remain standing.

The sheep was unharmed.

Stepping into the doorway, Darkity spoke again, "I had thought there were no female Freaks, but it appears I was mistaken. Here, try again!" So saying, she set the sheep again before Dreck. Again Dreck called upon all his strength and smote down upon the sheep. "That's three", said Darkity as she grabbed the sheep and stepped back out of the building. As the third wall crumbled, so did the entire building, and its vast weight crushed Dreck to the ground. The company burst into applause. All except the Children of Controller.

For her Boon Darkity had returned to her all those aspects of her mother's gift to Controller that resembled her own gifts. To this day, the Dark Children of Defender alone share no gifts with the Children of Controller.

The sheep, as you know, was one day lost in the furthest and deepest cave where Kora fruit grow. An Unbreakable Oath cannot be broken, and so the sheep even then returned to Darkity's keeping. It was, in some strange way, changed by the experience and a true aid in danger from that day on. The sheep has never been able to satisfactorily explain how this came to pass.

- Jock Tamson, Mythologist

Tonight Darkity has her revenge, in a style that could only make her mother proud.

- Jock Tamson, Who reminds you that two is the safe limit for some things.

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These are very good. They tell a story that is both entertaining to CO* players aswell as enlightening to others. As someone who commonly plays a stalker, I'm thinking of making an attempt at a stalker spin off written in this style. That is, ofcourse, if you wouldn't mind Jock.

~ KD, who plays the hated arch-type.

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Hmmm, on one hand you are a Stalker and therefore indescribably evil and responsible for my inability to ever stand still in PvP.

On the other hand, you did flatter me

What the heck, I'll go with the Ego. Go for it!

- Jock Tamson, Who can't really claim to have a copyright on the style.

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I love reading these, but I think you were going for Aether instead of either (or ether)

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Ah the perils of spell check. Thank you!

- Jock Tamson, Who is a bad speler.

Controller and her daughters had the gift of summoning to their aid elemental creatures of fire, stone, ice, light, and even the very fabric of the world. Now Defender and her children had been cursed from the Beginning to not use their greatest gifts for their benefit alone. So it was with great jelousy that the Children of Defender watched the Children of Controller use the gifts Defender once shared with their mother to aid their loyal pets. It was this dark emotion that moved Defender's dark daughter to gain herself a pet.

If Darkity was Defender's dark daughter, then Illusion was Controller's light daughter for it was her gift to weave weapons, traps, and allies from the Luminous Either itself. It was to Illusion that Darkity went to seek her prize. "Do you not like me cousin?", asked Darkity. Sighing in a way that suggested that at this moment she did not, Illusion replied, "Why whatever makes you say that?" Darkity answered thus, "Every day I watch you stride the City aided by the companions you weave for yourself. I watch you strengthen them with gifts you have from my family. You have so much, but do not share with us. So I wonder, is it that you don't like us?" "Of course I like you cousin", said Illusion with little conviction, "what would you have me share?" "Make me a pet!", was the rapid reply. In the pause that followed, there was a twinkle in Illusion's eye.

"Of course dear cousin!" Illusion beamed, "But first you must make me a promise." "Yes?" asked Darkity eagerly. With a stern expression Illusion commanded, "You must swear an Unbreakable Oath to always keep and care for the pet I make you." Her prize in sight, Darkity eagerly did as her cousin asked. Taking some of the darkness that surrounded her cousin, Illusion called on her gifts and wove from the Ether a small black sheep. The sheep and its new mistress stood staring at each other, both looking slightly bewildered. Illusion laughed saying, "Why cousin! It looks just like you!" As she faded from sight, her laughter lingered in the air.

Ah brothers and sisters, someday the other Children of Statesman may learn it is not wise to anger a Child of Defender. As she walked home holding her shivering charge, Darkity's thoughts turned to revenge...

- Jock Tamson, Mythologist

I suppose you might call this short sequence of stories The Black Sheep Cycle. Here is part 2.

- Jock Tamson, Baaaaaaa!

When the City was young and the Great Progenitors still walked its streets, there was a land at its borders of high mountains and many caves. Within these caves grew the Kora fruit, which has power to give strength to a Child of Stateman. Each day as meal time approached, Defender would send some of her children to these caves to gather fruit. An offering of chopped fruit is still, to this day, considered an honorable offering amongst the Children of Defender. In those distant days when the First Children of Defender were still young, they would compete to be the first to return with the best fruit.

First in these contests was Kin, who was gifted with great speed. Last was dour Darkity, who was slowed by a black sheep she was required to care for in her travels, but that is different tale. In this tale it is Darkity, last and slowest, who is first to make a great discovery. In the deepest part of the deepest cave in the furthest mountain she came upon a wonder. Darkity found two great and shining fruit, one of silver, and one of gold. Resolving this time to be first back, she secured her sheep in a safe place and ran as fast as you could manage towards her home. Wreathed in dark clouds and vapours, she did not escape her brother's notice.

Running towards his sister with all his great speed, Kin saw the two great fruit and desired greatly to take them home himself. So when Darkity came to a narrow bend on a high pass, he reached out with his gifts and greatly increased her speed. Darkity hung, startled, in the air for a moment before Gravity took notice and flung her down. In that instant her brother rushed past and stole the fruit.

Now the game was on.

Pulling herself up from the ground, Darkity reached out with her own gifts and set before Kin a great patch of clinging darkness. Some aura of the fruit must have enhanced her strength for as Kin reached it he came to a sudden stop and fell flat. The fruit arced through the air shining brightly in the City light, and Darkity ran towards them, her arms out stretched. She was almost within reach when Kin freed himself at last. Kin reached out with his gifts again to slow his sister. He too must have gained strength from merely holding the fruit, for his sister was slowed as if time itself had nearly stopped, the fruit balanced gently on her fingertips. Again Kin rushed past and stole the fruit.

Darkity released a clouding darkness as she had done in the past to hide herself and her friends from harm. She hoped that she might obscure her brothers way, and he might trip in the darkness, but again the presence of the golden and silver fruit seemed to greatly enhance her power. A great all consuming darkness spread forth for miles around till all that was visibly was the twin glowing orbs clutched close to Kin's chest. He stopped, unable to see his path before him, but Darkity was daunted by no darkness and it was her who this time rushed past and stole the fruit.

And so the chase went on, one sibling tricking or thwarting the other as their strength grew and grew under the influence of the fruit. Soon they began to discover skills they had never known before. Darkity found the gift to draw strength from the life around her, and to protect herself with dark auras. Kin found mastery of his own strength such that he could focus and conserve it as never before. The contest became a series of ever greater bursts of light and dark until the very mountains about them began to shatter and drift into the Outer Void, and Statesman himself took notice.

Statesman caused a great weariness to come upon the two Children of Defender and they soon fell into a deep slumber, Kin clutching the golden fruit and Darkity the silver. He then took the fruit and set them in sky above the City, where they continue the chase to this very day. In time all would benefit from their invigorating glow. The children Statesman returned to their mother, who was most displeased. For Darkity had lost her sheep.

- Jock Tamson, Mythologist

This story introduces my favorite character. See if you can guess which one it is

- Jock Tamson, Who is Scottish after all

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the canon of the Church of Storm

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Can we agree on

THOU SHALT NOT HANG THY HEAD IN SHAME

If Storm were to hang his head, it would only be to allow her scarf to whip dramatically in the wind before raising his head with the kind of smile only seen on the powerful (yet doomed) anime character before revealing never before seen reserves of awesomeness.

- Jock Tamson, Who is thinking of this not this

Fallen? I have not fallen, I stand stronger and prouder than ever. It is not in Defender's character to hang her head in shame. Though to see Her Children do so might bring a tear to her eye, and a touch of The Storm to her eye.

You would make a demon of Balance and accuse others of worshiping at its altar. Balance is neither Demon nor Idol, it simply, inevitably, is. Day and Night. Life and Death. Buff and "Nerf". Why do you see only one side? There will always be both. Like Life itself, our City is always a place of change which will never be all good or all bad. The will always be both. How you are affected by that change and how you respond to it is called "living". The alternative is generally considered a bad thing, so you may as well find ways to enjoy the ride.

Rage against the machine if you must, just don't stand still, don't think there will never be "nerfs", and don't lose sight of the buffs that are always there too.

There will be rises, there will be drops. You can fall through the drops if you insist. I shall sky dive.

- Jock Tamson, Who may be a Western Anthropomorphic Personification of the Brotherhood of Man, but spun an Eastern Philosophy into his last tale.

Balance. Balance is important in all things. Imbalance soon leads to destruction, and thus to balance again. Statesman, it is often said, knows his children need challange to thrive and grow. Too little and they will perish from boredom. Too much and they will perish from despair. Balance must be sought. But inertia is another form of death. While there must be balance, their must also be change. The pendulum may always swing about the balance point, but the pendulum does swing.

There is a land in the south of the City noted for its sunny plazas and towering waterfalls. Pleasant though this land is, it is beset at times by a great and powerful Titan. A worthy challange for many heroes. Bold Children of Statesman would summon this beast to face it, almost always they were victorious till it came to seem not the challange it once was. So it was that Statesman took some of the power he had taken from Scrapper's son Reg, and gifted it to the Titan.

One day it came to pass that Radia was travelling through the Land of the Falls when she noted a sad a somber procession marching forth from the place of healing. Radia stopped the leader of the procession, a Child of Blaster, and asked, "Why such despair my child?". The Child of Blaster answered, "I was defeated in battle.." Radia interrupted asking, "This is unusual Child of Blaster?" "I WAS DEFEATED IN BATTLE", came the reply more loudly "And woe is upon us for I have unleashed a great evil. I summoned the Great Titan, as many have done in the past, but the Titan who now lays waste to the south of this land is like none before! Though we assault it in great numbers, it seems to feel not our blows. It seeks me, I go to give myself to it in hope that it will leave us in peace." Radia replied boldly saying, "I shall not let you give way to despair. I shall face this Titan, and together we shall see what can be done!"

Traveling to the south they found the Great Titan, alone an unharmed, surrounded by a multitude of the fallen. All could hear their spirits greatly lamenting the power of this foe who seemed to recover faster than ever they could do it harm. Radia gathered her strength and sought inspiration from within until she glowed with an inner light. Then launched herself, alone and unaided, against the mighty beast. The multitude watched in suprise, for they had spent much time amongst the Pugs, and had not before seen such bold action from a Child of Defender. Radia's movements were truly inspired. Her attacks hit home while the Titans mighty blows could not find her. Assaulted by Radia's unique gifts to weaken her enemies the Titan did what no other had seen it do: It staggered back. "Join me!", Radia called out, and so saying revived those around her adding her own great strength to theirs. Encouraged, all there present rushed to her aid.

The battle was long and difficult. The rewards split amongst so many, were few. None the less, as the Great Titan fell, a fierce joy filled the company. They called out hailing Radia and asking what reward they might offer her. Radia answered saying, "I need no reward except this joyous moment with you, and this one boon: Remember always that great challenges will from time to time be set before us. Despair not! Relish them instead as opportunities for great deeds!" Somewhere, Defender must have smiled. Proud of the wise words of her daughter, and amused that one of her children would chastise others for complaining

Heed Radia's words my friends and relish great challenges as you would relish great power. Both in time must pass. Always there is balance, but the pendulum does swing.

- Jock Tamson, Mythologist

It seems I had tracks already built under this derailment. Here is a story about Rads, defeating GMs, and why we should not fear change.

- Jock Tamson, Who appears to be ahead of the game.

Scrapper had three sons, Dark, Essar, and Reg. Of these, his favorite was Reg, and he gave him great gifts. The Children of Scrapper and the Children of Tank will often stand rigid, braced against the might of their foes. It was Reg's gift to bend to their might, but quickly recover and not break. As the thin Reed can survive the storm that fells the mighty Oak, so Reg could survive much that his siblings could not. But remember my child, it is not wise to laugh at the storm.

In his youth, Reg was given much to laughing. He would laugh to himself while meeting challenges alone that would daunt his cousins en masse. He would laugh to himself while felling the greatest foes, then come to the meeting places to brag of his deeds. While his allies in a task struggled to withstand an onslaught, Reg would laugh and run on alone to the next challange that awaited. In this was his undoing.

There was a day when Reg found himself standing with Storm and Tank's daughter Ice against a great force of Thorns. Sighting another mass of their foes standing nearby, Reg laughed and ran off to face them. He noted not the ones that, roused from their slumber, turned not on him, but his friends. Their own numbers reduced and their enemies doubled, Storm and Ice found themselves overwhelmed. Now Storm had been holding back his strength out of respect for his cousin, but now he unleased his full force. The Thorns were thus beaten back and destroyed, but not before Ice fell beneath their weight. As they waited for Ice to recover her strength, she chastised Storm saying, "I have told you before it makes my task harder when you do that!" Reg added his support to Ice saying, "Yeah! Whenever you unleash that Tornado it just brings us trouble!" Reg would have been wise to note the dark cloud that crossed his cousin's face.

From time to time, Statesman would gather his children together to have them show what deeds they could accomplish, and what challanges they could meet. As one such time approached, Storm went in secret to where the shattered Mirror of the Spider lay and gathered from it some of the Spider's webbing. He then took a lowly Skul and using the webbing fashioned a false appearance around it such that it appeared a great and fearsome monster.

As each of the Children of Statesman demonstrated for their creator their deeds great and small, Storm spoke out saying, "Oh Mighty Statesman, Scrapper's son Reg has often told us in the meeting places of the great deeds he accomplishes alone. There is a great and fearsome monster just over there. Why if half of what Reg tells us is true he should be able to fell it without aid!" Now Statesman knows that his children require challenge to thrive and grow, so Storm's claim caused him great concern. "Show us", commanded Statesman. Reg, though sure he would fail, did as he was told.

When the monster was felled in short order with little effort, Reg was too puzzled to laugh. Statesman spoke saying, "My child you have become over mighty. I must take some of your strength so that you will be challenged. I know this will pain you now, but you will thank me in the end." Reg pleaded saying, "No! There is some mistake! I cannot have done this! You are lying when you say this is why you take my strength!" Statesman face clouded and he turned to Scrapper saying, "Your son does not seem to wish to be challenged. You must teach him better."

In time Statesman learned of his mistake, and returned some of Reg's strength to him, but not all of it. Reg does not laugh as often these days. He must pay attention now to the fates of his allies. He needs their support, and this is well. Someday he may yet learn how Storm's gifts work, but that day has not yet come to pass.

- Jock Tamson, Mythologist

Since I have been re-posting these, I have perhaps been remiss in something I did the first time around...

THANK YOU! All very much for the kind words. I waiver between having my head swell and feeling completely unworthy of your praise, but either way my heart swells.

The last story closed on Tradition. Tonight's story is about an important tradition in our City, and about what it is Statesman always says about Reg that Scrapper didn't care about.

- Jock Tamson, Who finds feeling guilty whenever he feels prideful results in constant ups and downs.

Over time the First Children of Defender grew older and wiser, but as is it will, the City of their childhood changed and filled with younger generations. In this way much of the City became strange and foreign to them. As you grow old, my beloved child, you will see for yourself how this is so. Perhaps the strangest place to them, in this world both new and old, was the lands around the deep pit that lies near Atlas Park. This land was home to a tribe known as the Pugs, who had ways and language all their own.

It came to pass that one day the youngest of Defender's First Children, Trick, journeyed past this land, where he was accosted by a Pug. "Are you Healer?", asked the Pug. "I am Trick?", Trick answered. "Lawl" said the Pug in his own strange language, then, "Do you heal? We need help to defeat a great monster of fire and ice." Trick replied, "I do not heal, but if you need help..." The Pug answered is his own language saying, "EhnEhm. KayKay. Tanks" then ran off to accost another passing hero. Trick supposed the Pug had behave politely in its own way, but he felt irritated and prideful at it's behavior. So Trick resolved to journey into the Land of the Pit to see this great monster for himself.

Near the mouth of the pit Trick came upon a large throng of Pugs surrounding a young Child of Empathy. She sat reclining like a Queen and nibbled on a bowl of grapes. Trick fought his way through the crowd to ask the Child of Empathy what manner of strangeness was at work here. Reaching near the spot where she reclined he called out, "Child! Why do the Pugs crowd around you so and feed you grapes?" Aitchelar, for that was her name, answered, "They love me because I am their healer and they could not face the great demon of this land without me." Trick's pride swelled within him and he spoke, perhaps unjustly, with anger in his voice. "Do you think this is what a Child of Defender is meant to be? Sitting here eating only grapes and following Pugs around to heal them? You do not need 'heals' to defeat this monster of fire and ice!" Aitchelar laughed, for Trick seemed a foolish tempermental old man to her, and the Pugs mocked him saying "lawl" and calling him "nube". "So be it!", thundered Trick, "I go to slay this monster. Who will come with me?!" The throng laughed all the harder, but one young girl child of the Pugs stepped forward and said, "I will come". So it was that Trick and a Pug Girl ventured out together to slay the Monster of Fire and Ice.

The girl led Trick to a cave of ice in which could be heard the laughter of Trolls. Trick strung his bow and crept cautiously forward, the Pug, wide eyed, following behind. As they came upon the first Troll, Trick used his crafty arrows to blind it then freeze it in a block of ice. He noticed the girl cowering in fear nearby and saw that she had a bow, almost new and unused, strapped to her back. "What are you waiting for?", laughed Trick, "You finish this one while I prepare the next!" The girl hesitantly drew her bow. While her aim was poor and her shot weak, blinded and frozen by Trick, the Troll could do little in response. Soon enough she defeated it. They traveled on in this way, the girl growing ever bolder in her use of her bow, and it seemed to Trick that while this young Pug was with him some of the strength of his own youth returned to him. As Defender taught us, the Children of Statesman are strongest when they stand together. By the time they reached the Monster of Fire and Ice, Trick and the Pug Girl were acting as one, and it was soon felled with little harm to either.

They walked together back to the gathering place of the Pugs, and Trick threw the slain monster before them saying, "See, no "Healer" is needed!". "Lawl" said the Pugs and "Ellemayoh", "You had a healer with you!". Trick turned to the girl and saw that, indeed, she did have look of his sister Empathy, and realized why he felt his old strength return when with her. No healing had been needed, but Trick knew now that he would never convince the Pugs of this. Sighing in exasperation he turned to leave. Before he had taken a step, the Pug Girl ran up to him and said, "Great Father, take me with you and teach me!" Trick's face brightened and he tossed the girl some fruit from his pack saying, "Come! You will need food, for we have far to go. I shall show you things you have never seen before!"

So some young Children of Defender go to play with the Pugs, where they are loved for certain things, and some young Pugs join the Children of Defender and see and do more. In this way there is Balance. But always wise old men and women shall grumble and be prideful. In this way there is Tradition.

- Jock Tamson, Mythologist