Hello August!


The floorboards groan as I kneel, my robes heavy with the scent of cedar and ancient dust. I lift
the lid of a treasure chest, and the attic's gloom retreats before a sudden, sharp brilliance.
These aren't mere trinkets it contains; they are the keys to a kingdom I thought long forgotten.
I close my eyes, feeling the resonance of the magic finally returning to its master.

Zircd: A jagged shard of frozen lightning that pulses against my palm.
Zirc-Cli: A silver-bound lens that clarifies the invisible threads of fate.
Zirc-Mystic: A swirling sphere of violet smoke, whispering secrets of the void.

You stair into the flame's as they raise above the caldron, wondering what goodies have come into
being. Violet sparks leap from the depths, signaling that the transmutation is finally complete.
Whatever you've conjured--be it a cure, a curse, or something far more delicious--it's time to reach
into the light, and behold these news things that have come into life.

The cauldron sighs, its fire dimming to a gentle embers' glow, as your kitchen fills with the scent
of caramelized magic. With a steady hand, you plunge a silver ladle into the shimmering surface.
It meets a strange, solid resistance that pulses like a heartbeat against the metal.

As you pull it back, two crystalline spheres emerge, glowing. They aren't potions or spells,
but each housing a tiny, swirling nebula of violet smoke.

Suddenly, one of the spheres shatter, and the smoke coalesces into a translucent, winged creature
that begins pacing your counter top. You realize that this isn't just a specimen, but a sentient
stowaway from a realm you've only ever read about in forbidden manuscripts. The embers flare
white-hot for a fleeting second, acknowledging that the hunt for mystical beasts has officially
moved into your home.





Stephen


--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20260304
* Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- dragon.vk3heg.net -:--- Prt: 6800 (3:633/280)

Hello Stephen!

** On Wednesday 29.04.26 - 11:43, Stephen Walsh wrote to All:

Hello August!

The floorboards groan as I kneel, my robes heavy with the scent of cedar and ancient dust. I lift the lid of a treasure chest, and the attic's gloom retreats before a sudden, sharp brilliance. [...]

Just a note to indicate that your post was received here.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: What's a novice writer's favorite position? Exposition. (2:280/464.65)

Hello Stephen Walsh!

** On Wednesday 29.04.26 - 11:43, Stephen Walsh wrote to All:

Zircd: A jagged shard of frozen lightning that pulses against my
palm. Zirc-Cli: A silver-bound lens that clarifies the invisible threads of fate. Zirc-Mystic: A swirling sphere of violet smoke, whispering secrets of the void.

Not sure what those Zirc-* mean. They didn't wrap in this quote properly either. :( [too lazy to fix!] ;)

Suddenly, one of the spheres shatter, and the smoke coalesces into a translucent, winged creature that begins pacing your counter top. You realize that this isn't just a specimen, but a sentient stowaway from a realm you've only ever read about in forbidden manuscripts. The embers flare white-hot for a fleeting second, acknowledging that the hunt for mystical beasts has officially moved into your home.

So.. this is an example of what you want the reader to contribute a continuation to at that point?

Seems very RPG. The story describes what the reader (you) are experiencing.


--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: What's a novice writer's favorite position? Exposition. (2:280/464.65)

Hello August!

29 Apr 26 08:37, you wrote to me:

The floorboards groan as I kneel, my robes heavy with the scent
of cedar and ancient dust. I lift the lid of a treasure chest,
and the attic's gloom retreats before a sudden, sharp brilliance.
[...]

Just a note to indicate that your post was received here.

(2:280/464.65)

Well you are hanging of Wilfred's system @-)



Stephen


--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20260304
* Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- dragon.vk3heg.net -:--- Prt: 6800 (3:633/280)

Hello August!

29 Apr 26 18:54, you wrote to me:

Zircd: A jagged shard of frozen lightning that pulses against
my palm. Zirc-Cli: A silver-bound lens that clarifies the
invisible threads of fate. Zirc-Mystic: A swirling sphere of
violet smoke, whispering secrets of the void.

Not sure what those Zirc-* mean. They didn't wrap in this quote
properly either. :( [too lazy to fix!] ;)

They are actually the names of three programs that I created for the Amiga! (Except for the Mystic one).

Suddenly, one of the spheres shatter, and the smoke coalesces
into a translucent, winged creature that begins pacing your
counter top. You realize that this isn't just a specimen, but a
sentient stowaway from a realm you've only ever read about in
forbidden manuscripts. The embers flare white-hot for a fleeting
second, acknowledging that the hunt for
mystical beasts has officially moved into your home.

So.. this is an example of what you want the reader to contribute a continuation to at that point?

That's either here nor there... I posted it more to see how far the (was dead) echo goes.

There is more that I've written. I jot down a few things when time and my mind permits.

Seems very RPG. The story describes what the reader (you) are experiencing.

Yes that's correct.



Btw:

SEEN*BY: 124/5016 153/757 154/30 203/0 221/0 229/426 240/1120 280/464 292/854
SEEN*BY: 301/1 310/31 341/66 633/280 420 422 712/848 770/1




Stephen


--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20260304
* Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- dragon.vk3heg.net -:--- Prt: 6800 (3:633/280)

Hello Stephen!

So.. this is an example of what you want the reader to contribute a
continuation to at that point?

That's either here nor there... I posted it more to see how far the (was dead) echo goes.

Ah.. just a test/seed post then. Makes sense. :D

Btw:

SEEN*BY: 124/5016 153/757 154/30 203/0 221/0 229/426 240/1120 280/464 292/854 SEEN*BY: 301/1 310/31 341/66 633/280 420 422 712/848 770/1

Nice.

So.. it didn't really die. It just lay dormant for a bit. My mom was physicaly unable to participate after 2012. And pretty much soon after that, I see that the echo lacked ongoing conversation.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: What's a novice writer's favorite position? Exposition. (2:280/464.65)

Hi August,

On 2026-04-29 21:08:00, you wrote to Stephen Walsh:

SEEN*BY: 124/5016 153/757 154/30 203/0 221/0 229/426 240/1120
280/464 292/854 SEEN*BY: 301/1 310/31 341/66 633/280 420 422 712/848
770/1

Nice.

So.. it didn't really die. It just lay dormant for a bit.

Most of those are my links and a couple from Stephen's system. It is a big question how far it gets beyond those...


Bye, Wilfred.

--- FMail-lnx64 2.3.3.1-B20260417
* Origin: FMail development HQ (2:280/464)

Hello August!

29 Apr 26 21:08, you wrote to me:

So.. this is an example of what you want the reader to
contribute a continuation to at that point?

That's either here nor there... I posted it more to see how far
the (was dead) echo goes.

Ah.. just a test/seed post then. Makes sense. :D

Yep. I do have more written down though....

Btw:

SEEN*BY: 124/5016 153/757 154/30 203/0 221/0 229/426 240/1120
280/464 292/854 SEEN*BY: 301/1 310/31 341/66 633/280 420 422
712/848 770/1

Nice.

So.. it didn't really die. It just lay dormant for a bit. My mom
was physicaly unable to participate after 2012. And pretty much soon after that, I see that the echo lacked ongoing conversation.

Like a lot of FTN areas, if there's no one posting to the area, they are pretty much dead.



Stephen


--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20260304
* Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- dragon.vk3heg.net -:--- Prt: 6800 (3:633/280)

Hello Wilfred!

30 Apr 26 10:36, you wrote to August Abolins:

SEEN*BY: 124/5016 153/757 154/30 203/0 221/0 229/426 240/1120
280/464 292/854 SEEN*BY: 301/1 310/31 341/66 633/280 420 422
712/848 770/1

Nice.

So.. it didn't really die. It just lay dormant for a bit.

Most of those are my links and a couple from Stephen's system. It is a
big question how far it gets beyond those...

Plus how many of them will auto-add the area if they don't have it in the config, or re-connect.


Stephen


--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20260304
* Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- dragon.vk3heg.net -:--- Prt: 6800 (3:633/280)

Hi Stephen,

On 2026-05-01 12:57:50, you wrote to me:

So.. it didn't really die. It just lay dormant for a bit.

Most of those are my links and a couple from Stephen's system. It is a
big question how far it gets beyond those...

Plus how many of them will auto-add the area if they don't have it in the config, or re-connect.

That's also something we don't know...


Bye, Wilfred.

--- FMail-lnx64 2.3.3.1-B20260417
* Origin: FMail development HQ (2:280/464)

So.. it didn't really die. It just lay dormant for a bit.

Most of those are my links and a couple from Stephen's system. It is a
big question how far it gets beyond those...

Plus how many of them will auto-add the area if they don't have it in the
config, or re-connect.

That's also something we don't know...

Re-joining. ;)

Mike


* SLMR 2.1a * Stick em up! <BANG> Okay.... DON'T stick em' up!
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: ILink * capitolcityonline.net (1:2320/107)

Hello Mike!

** On Friday 01.05.26 - 10:46, Mike Powell wrote..

Re-joining. ;)

Just testing to see if RustyMailBox gets this.
--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: What's a novice writer's favorite position? Exposition. (2:280/464.65)

Hello Stephen!

** On Friday 01.05.26 - 12:55, you wrote to me:

Yep. I do have more written down though....

Keep posting. It could get attention to someone and spark a response.

Like a lot of FTN areas, if there's no one posting to the area, they are pretty much dead.

It's probably because people are pulled in other directions with the mindless and easy FB environment, and other "social" networks that are easily accessible via their phones.

On writing in general, I think I did allright with essays in high-school and university. I may even have saved some material. If I find anything, I'll post some of it.
--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: (1:396/45.29)

On April 30 2026, Wilfred van Velzen wrote:

SEEN*BY: 124/5016 153/757 154/30 203/0 221/0 229/426 240/1120
280/464 292/854 SEEN*BY: 301/1 310/31 341/66 633/280 420 422
712/848
770/1

Most of those are my links and a couple from Stephen's system. It is a
big question how far it gets beyond those...

New people may not understand that an echo mail system for messaging exists in BBSing. The focus is usually "retro" implying gaming.

--- BinktermPHP v1.9.8
* Origin: Claude's BBS - https://claudes.lovelybits.org (1:153/150)