Nick Davis's Blog, page 129

A Steampunk Tale of Wonder – Iron Annie

The shells exploded overhead splintering the trees and rained burning branches on a very startled Lieutenant James making him drop down in this leather command seat, slamming the Tanks turret hatch closed above him. On the way down he yelped in pain as the hard metal of the cupola slammed into his elbow. Not even the thick padding of his leather tanker jacket stopped his bone from aching.

"Move out!" he yelled at his crew, and then repeated the order to the Signal Corpsman who ran the flag up the vehicles mast, and then hit signal flash. He was then rocked violently back in this chair as the Driver open the valves sending the Steamtank crunching across the forest clearing. The boxy vehicle known affectionately as Iron Annie was a tribute to right angles and good solid English Victorian engineering, with a large caliber howitzer embedded into its square turret. The vehicle bleached steam from its rear stack and pistons as it picked up speed, ground churning in its wake, as the other three tanks in the formation lurching forward to keep up with the command vehicle.

"Gunney, call out if you see anything, I want to know what just dropped shells on us," ordered James as he grabbed at his vehicles periscope and started to scan the terrain.

"Yessir!" shouted Gunney not looking back and squinting through his gun sights, the tank jolted as it ran across the gnarled clearing.

"Driver get us back into the those trees, if you cannot find a gap make one." shouted James.

Suddenly the tank was filled with the thunderous boom of a massive howitzer firing from one of his wing-men, "What are they shooting at?"

He snapped his periscope around in time to see another of his wing-men tanks fire, he then gulped, his throat dry as he caught sight of their opponent.

The large iron leg of a Dominatia Gargantuan walker filled this vision, and then disappeared again, to be replaced with large explosion and Annie number four exploded under a stream of shells from the giant walkers hand cannon, that penetrated the vehicles boiler releasing the pressurized steam. James shuddered as he imagined the crew's screams as the flames ravaged the dead tank.

"Bloody Hell! Driver push us into the red line…" shouted James trying to make himself heard over the clanking tank. "Forward dammit! Cover isn't going to help us now… We have to close with it, get under it's gun… Corpsman signal flash general advance, fire at will."

A sickening crunch punctuated his words, a glance through the periscope showed the Gargantuan level a kick at tank number three, he watched as the iron shot foot splintered the sheet metal like paper. Defiantly the stricken tanks commander tracked the howitzer back against the turret until it pointed straight up and fired. For a moment the scene was shrouded my smoke, and James hoped the commander damaged some vital system on the huge walker. He held his breath as the smoke cleared and then let out a colorful curse as the giant stomped down on the stricken vehicles turret, crushing it under its broad feet. Effectively destroying the tank, and luckily for James tangling itself up in the wreckage.

Gritting his teeth James knew this was the best chance they were going to get to stop it, "Driver bring us around 45 degrees right. Gunney when you have your target fire!"

"Sir! I could hit number three," said Gunney his face pale.

"They are already dead… Hit that thing in its knees… If we don't bring it down now we are next!"

The Iron Annie tracks dug in as it traversed to bring its gun to bear, as the Gargantuan pulled itself out of the number threes wreckage. The crew of the iron giant reacting faster than the tank could turn, moving out of the way just as Gunney fired the vehicles cannon. James watched as the shell arced past the space the walker was in, splintering the trees behind it.

"Reload! Driver swing us around… Track it… Track it!" shouted James almost chewing his helmet strap in frustration, if they lost it now they were done.

No matter how fast the tank turned it couldn't keep up with faster moving Gargantuan, and James watched helplessly as it reached down grabbing the vehicles armored skirt, tilting the Iron Annie up. The tanks free track dug into the earth canting the vehicle further, and James was thrown from his seat as tank was rocked up and down, and with a final heave was pushed onto its side. Seemingly content to leave the tank helpless, the Gargantuan moved off to engage the last tank in the squadron. That was reversing quickly back into the woods, making steam as it went.

"Sir?" called out the Corpsman, stiffly picking himself and grabbing the signals table, "Are you all right?"

James ached all over, but knew complaints would do nothing to enhance his image as a tough tank commander. "I'm alive," he said flatly wondering if there was any part of his body that wasn't bruised.

"Very good, sir," the Corpsman acknowledged. "Before… Before we were tipped I decoding a signal flash from Lieutenant Moore for you."

"Great," said James sitting down on loose cartridge box and removing his helmet, "What did our little Lord Flashard want now?"

"Message read, driven Gargantuan into the forest towards your position stop… Form a battle line against available cover stop… Wants to hammer it on our anvil stop… Victory is near stop… Gargantuan damaged and demoralized stop… That's the entire message sir."

James removed his helmet, scratched his head and laughed, "Well, looks like that damaged demoralized Gargantuan he lost just stomped us into horseshit."

Found in the archive… Saruman and Grima a miniature study in black & white

It has been a while since I picked up a Toy Soldier and painted it, but I ran across this picture in my archive that might make me do it again soon. It is Saruman and Grima Wormtongue, from The Lord of the Rings Miniature range by Games Workshop.

I have to say this pair are amongst my favorite miniature paint jobs I've ever done. It was study in minimalism and the use of black and white; I tried to make Saruman as pale as possible and Grima as dark as a counter weight.  I used two colors on Saruman, White & Tan, and Grima used Black & Gray. Might have to break these two out of storage and put them back on display.

The Tether and Accept One books coming to a store near you?

Want to pick up a printed copy of The Tether Saga novels, but you want to check out the novel in store first? Well I have a solution for you. Printed copies of The Tether Saga novels are slowly spreading out across Maryland, and I am happy to announce the following stores are now carrying The Tether and Accept One books on their shelves.

My local comic book store and first with any Tether news – Chucks Comics, Essex MD more details at http://chuckscomics.com

Capital Comics, Annapolis MD more store details at http://capitalcomics.com

Dugoutzone, Ellicot City MD more store details at http://dugoutzone.com

J&M Comics & Games, Eldarsburg MD more store details at http://jmcomicsandgames.com

If you want copies of The Tether Saga novels on the shelves of your local store. Talk to the store manager and get them to contact me.

Sigmartyr Vol 2 – A post apocalyptic Stikfas Action Web comic Updated

Sigmartyr the Stikfas Action Web Comic has been updated, and the epic story continues here - click here to view

Review – IDW Transformers Bumblebee Mini-series

Transformers Bumblebee

Mini-series 1-4

Written by Zandor Cannon

Artwork by Chee

This Transformers mini-series takes place around Transformers For All Mankind #2 just after Bumblebee is elected leader of the Autobots, while Prime mops around being all Emo.  It is a chronicle of the little guy becoming a leader, from his fumbles and indecisions at the beginning, to the end where he is resolute and firm. The short version is Bumblebee transforms.

For some reason IDW really hits the Transformers on the head with their mini-series, and this one, just like Ironhide is pitch perfect and tells a great story that G1 fans, and new readers a like will love.

The artwork is a throwback to the older G1 designs and is slightly out of step with the earlier IDW For All Mankind series. It was nice to see, especially seeing BB doing what he does best which is interacting with humans.

The synopsis is as follows, BB is elected leader, a Colonel from Skywatch proposes a deal which BB accepts and it goes wrong. From there BB scrambles to save the Autobots in his command from his mistake, and grows into a leader. Along the way we are treated to a Decepticon hunt, a deranged Rumble, and a chilling speech from Skywarp. All good solid mature Transformer stuff.

Nice story, great artwork that is slightly out of step with the direction of For All Mankind, but it works well with a great sense of the scale of the Bot's from Chee. If you can find this story it is a must have for Transformer fans, I was only let down slightly figuring out how BB had this adventure.

3.5 Thumbs Up of 5

Secrets of The Tether, the use of indices and how they work

The world of the Tether is very similar to our own, up is up and down is down, there is just something scratching at the reality of it. The Tether is a gritty fantasy action adventure and magic, after a fashion does exist. It comes from a mysterious source that the creatures of the Tether come from, and can only be accessed using a device or being near those that have a link to it. Spells that shape the flow of the source are called indices, special latin verses that direct the power to the desired effect.

Primarily indices are driven by devices, like the Tether, but it may also be a bracelet, ring, necklace, or an amulet, or series of linked objects. Without a device a caster cannot channel energy from the source, with the exception of source creatures which are connected at all times at one degree or the other; or those whose annius (soul) are attuned to it. If a caster does not have a device, but is near a link to the source they too can cast Indices, using runes and or sigils drawn on the skin.

A fine example of this is in the extract from below when CT casts an indice for the first time around Sarah.

With one final effort, they got to the other end of the bridge and the stranger turned to face to mini-crab horde. He stood just in front of Sarah and pulled his jacket arm up to reveal odd looking markings on his forearm that looked like a series of squiggly lines. Holding his marked arms before him the stranger stepped towards the crab-creatures.

"Tego texi tectum paries", he said his face suddenly strained with effort, the markings glowed, and started to burn with a fierce light. Unperturbed the crab-creatures kept scuttling towards them.

"TEGO TEXI TECTUM PARIES", he repeated the words echoing with an inner strength, the light surrounded his arm, and then with audible pop and the sudden smell of ozone, the light blasted forward to encase the inside of the bridge and swept over the mass of Scuttlers, disintegrating the creatures as it touched them. Before forming a visible golden barrier which the crab-creatures threw themselves at despite the fact the burning light made them pop like rotten eggs.

Sarah just stared open mouthed and didn't register that the stranger had fallen to his knees, his head sagging with the effort of producing the light.

"Hey you okay?" she called out to him.

"Yeah…" he said breathing heavily. "Only ever done that in practice, and never produced a light shield as big, or as powerful as that before."

He turned and looked at Sarah and grinned, "But I've never been that close to such a powerful source before, you must have a remarkable will, it burns brighter than my Gramps ever did."

Sarah looked at him puzzled before catching a glimpse of the markings on the strangers arm, for a moment they seemed to be glow white hot, before fading from his skin leaving a red raw mark.

As you can tell from reading that the use of indices in this reality is a painful experience and can exhaust the caster. Imagine sticking your hand in an electrical socket and then channeling the power through your body, while using your willpower to bend it to your design. It is hard, bringing this unnatural power into any reality and it takes a considerable effort to do. Even the most powerful of entities must rest themselves if they over reach themselves, and after a while must link themselves to those who have a powerful annius (or soul). To be frank the use and effect of source energy is very environmental it makes hair stand on end, brings up goosebumps, it's like being inside a huge ball of static and that is earthing through you.

Indices, are controlled by latin in verse, for example.

Tego Texi Tectum Paris literally means casting light

The words form the enchantment/indice, the words are the power, with that casters will channeling the energy behind it. Indices and their use are not the norm in the world of the Tether, it is powerful, unpredictable, is not a cure all and recommended to be used sparingly.

One thing to note, casting any indice is like sending up a flare that can be seen by any other source creature on both sides of the Tether reality, or those that are attuned to it and can attract unwanted attention.

Day Seven 100 Word Flash Fiction – Tea Leaves

Read your tea leaves, sir?

The old woman took my empty cup.

You are going to undergo a great journey.

To met a blonde haired girl who you will fall for,

you will have two children, but the love will be a lie.

You will then meet a stubborn redheaded girl

who will love you unconditionally.

I thanked her laughing no way, not me.

The next year I moved to the USA

for the blonde haired girl we had two beautiful children,

we divorced.

Then I met the stubborn redheaded girl and we married.

Life does comes at you fast.

Nick Davis

Made it through seven days of flash fiction stories, this one brought to you by tea, stubborn,children. I hope you've enjoyed all seven tales.

Just got my printed copy of Volume One of The Wonder Tales

Just got my printed copy of Volume One of The Wonder Tales in, I think it looks amazing and I had to share. You can pick up my first compilation of all ages fairy tales in eBook and now print form by clicking here.

Day Six 100 Word Flash Fiction – Fear Itself

I never knew what fear was.

My father taught me you have

nothing to fear except fear itself.

I grew up confronting it, I feared no man

and no situation would bow me.

I was fearless.

Then I became father

and I learned what fear was.

Fear of failure, fear of not being able to provide,

fear of being unable protecting my child.

It humbled me; I became a better man for it.

I teach my children instead about courage,

I say it is okay to have fear,

because we have courage to overcome it.

It is a greater notion.

Nick Davis

Day six of my flash fiction week, and only one day left to go. Todays 100 word story is brought to you by the words fear and courage. Enjoy…

Day Five 100 Word Flash Fiction – Home Invasion

My life changed forever 25 years ago,

three flash bang moments I lost everything that I knew.

I ran and hide under the porch.

Saved by Baltimore's finest,

a horrendous crime the papers called it.

Home Invasion Slays Three with a fancy graphic on the Evening News.

Such a long time ago, everyone forgot but me.

Now they released him from prison,

I spent the day watching him,

he shuffled through neighborhoods that long forgotten him.

Now an old man, bent, no future.

Me, I'm still young, a family of my own.

Living life was my sweet revenge on him.

Nick Davis

This is flash fiction day five, a change of tack story and 100 words brought to you by home, revenge, family. Enjoy…