Jack's Saloon

I had to come back...

 I know.

Determining Life - The Drake Equation

As recounted in Howard Blum’s Out There the Drake equation was the brainchild of a young radio astronomer working at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia. Radio astronomy was in its infancy and Frank Drake was a second generation adherent. Radio astronomy had reared is pretty head in 1931 when Karl Jansky working at Bell Telephone Laboratories kept encountering radio interference that he could not initially track down. After some home-brewed experiments he discovered the heavens above and beyond earth were filled with radio static. This discovery led to a the new science that landed young Frank Drake in the small, remote  observatory in the wilds of West Virginia in 1959.

The source of these radio waves was not clearly understood and there was a great deal of speculation as to what we were hearing; they ran the gamut from thunderstorms somewhere on earth being bounced through the atmosphere to waves being released by distant nebulae only now just washing the earth. But Drake began to speculate that perhaps they were waves emitting from distant planets. Maybe it wasn’t just stars and galaxies, but planets. Why not? His math showed that the smaller telescope in Green Bank could “hear” noise from 10 light years away. Why not something more? He posed this at a lunch at Antonine’s Diner to his colleagues.

As Blum relates, one of the astronomers challenged him with a french fry with a so what? attitude. Perhaps, Drake replied, the planets were the source, and the source lay in extraterrestrial civilizations. He then pitched an idea on how to figure this out. By choosing a specific frequency that was the most logical for a civilization to use (this is a whole different tale) that might be able to “hear” them. It didn’t hurt that this frequency also allowed them to search for magnetic fields, and for that they could certainly get funding from the government. They would need about $2,000 to begin their search. He was given the go ahead by the head of the observatory, because, well scientists like to science, and he built his relay and begin listening. Though he only got one hit from his gear it did not dampen his enthusiasm, in fact it was something of a catalyst for the creation of the Order of the Dolphin (another story, and was some of the driving force behind the SETI observatory).

Two years on, in 1961, the Space Science Board of the National Academy of Sciences invited selected astronomers to gather at Green Bank for a meeting. There, amidst news of a Nobel for one of the invitees and discussions about possible life on other planets Frank Drake posed the Drake Equation, the equation that became and remains the standard for determining the number of technologically advanced civilizations in the galaxy.

The Drake equation is thus:  N = R × fp × ne × fl × fi × fc × L

For a more thorough discussion of the equation head to the Seti website.

From this small beginning in the hills of West Virginia begins a long discussion of the possibility of life on other planets, and where that life may be in their arc of development and how, if at all, that life may interact with earth.

Go check out Howard Blum’s book Out There. It is replete with a history of this and other weird science that circles the whole UFO phenomena.

Heavy Metal Magazine

Early Heavy Metal Magazines were amazing, all manner of new art, weird stories, new perspectives, a look forward to the world as it might be. Just an all-around different vibe.

The list: Heavy Metal.

Red Gums Raw - The Story of Oisoth the Eldritch Goblin

 Long ago when the world was younger and the dwarves new come to the world Aihrde, many of the dwarves set out on their own, leaving the lands and Kingdoms of their kin behind. These dwarves, the 14th Realm as they were called, dwelt in the wilds singly, in pairs, or once in a great while in groups. When the war between the god Ornduhl and the dwarves began, it is these dwarves that he visited with his wrath. As is known, his brother Narrheit convinced him that the dwarves bore some power that no member of the Val Eahrakun could overcome. It was a lie of course, but it put the fear in the Ornduhl, who would not make open war upon the dwarves. His assaults became more subtle.

He took to the wilds and found the dwarves that dwelt there, far from kith and kin, and he came to them  as a wind and spoke to them. He played upon their desires, their jealousies, their secret thoughts – for few minds of mortal were hidden to the Val Eahrakun – and he twisted them. Those who fell to his guile, and there were many, were cursed. They turned to evil ways, and when they did so Ornduhl was there and touched them with his breath and gave them power they could only dream of, power and immortality. But it came with a price, for these dwarves fell afoul of their kin and their breath of life corrupted their flesh and poisoned their minds to perform deeds unheard of. This was in the second Rin of the world and these were the eldritch goblins to whom Oisoth belonged.

In those long ago days, many dwarves wandered wild and free. Gladunful was one such. He wandered over many a mountain, crossed many streams. He mined precious ores, he mapped the land, he studied the weather. He did all those things that wanderers do. In time he became known among the scattered communities that peopled the wilderness. He was tall for his people and fair to look upon, with a mighty beard and beautiful teeth. These he was particularly proud of and would proclaim for all to hear his joy in rending meat with his teeth. “I grind bone with my ivory! Grind it so’s the marrow becomes a meal.” 

Few cared about his pride and fewer still his teeth. What they cared most about was his dealings, for he delt ill with most people. He shorted them or took advantage of their needs. He mocked them as well and held himself in high regard. 

As his wealth grew, so too grew his suspicion, and he convinced himself that others sought to wrest his jewelry from him and find his hidden treasures. He had it in his mind that he must gain some advantage, and thinking thusly he took himself to a rune mark that lived near by. He paid her well to inscribe runes upon his teeth, and each of these granted him some power over his fellows. One tooth marked him with clever speech. Another made him see more fair. So they were all marked.

When the runes were cast, the rune mark turned from her board and said to him: “Now only you and I know the secret you bear!” She laughed in good humor, for all knew that rune marks “kept the silence” as it was said in those days.

But Gladunful did not laugh, and he thought to himself that she could sell him out, so he strangled her in her parlor. Temporarily drained of her magics she could not fight him as she normally would, but still she struggled, until he bit her in the throat and violently killed her as an animal would.

He fled her house and spoke of it to no one, and he went back to his business. None knew the tragedy of her murder, not at first, but soon it was discovered for the dwarves were crafty and Gladunful not nearly as clever as he thought. They hunted him then and drove him into the wilds. One in particular spent many years pursuing him, the rune mark’s brother. He followed Gladunful until he himself perished in sorrow and tragedy.

Gladunful cursed his people and fled further to the east, but the word of his deeds were always there before him and he found no refuge.

It was thus that Ornduhl found him, alone by a fire. He came to him on a red wind and joined him by the fire.

“How now spirit? Leave me in peace. Be gone or I’ll curse you.”

“No need to curse the bearer of gifts. I am Ornduhl, and you have heard of me.”

“I have. And you are plague.”

“Then I have joined the right company. For you are shunned by your people like I am shunned by mine.”

“They are fools and will suffer a fool’s fate.”

“So it may be. But you are alone and without recourse, but for your teeth and the gift of that Rune Mark. But you are a murderer, a liar, an outcast.”

“I am all of those things.” Gladunful lowered his head. “Why do you plague me with what I already know. Isn’t your company plague enough.”

Ornduhl stood, for the dwarf was insufferable. “I am the Red God. I carry the Ember Sword. I alone know the mind of the All Father. I alone know the truth of the Andanuth. And I will grant you what you do not ask for. Take it as a benefice. Take it as a punishment. I do not care. But take it you shall.”

He breathed the breath of life upon Gladunful, so that it flowed through his every vein, every muscle, his very bones. The dwarf suffered pain like no other and he rose, screaming and fled into the night. The pain lay in his precious teeth, a throbbing, numbing pain. In the end he could not bear it, and taking up some pliers he pulled his teeth from his mouth, and though this brought him some relief it did not allay his madness. For always and ever after did he hear the sound of this teeth being pulled, the metal on his teeth, the grinding breakage of root and bone. Thus, he took a new name Oisoth, that is, one who hears sounds in his mind only.

Oisoth carried his teeth ever with him, tucked away in a small pouch, so that he could use them at will and when he needed.

Thus he became a curse to all the dwarves, hounding them for many centuries until at last, many years later, the dwarves of Magdul Hohle captured him, stripped him of his bag of teeth, and cast him in a dungeon made for him and him alone. There he remained until the seal on his tomb broke and he escaped.

The teeth of Oisoth were taken by order of the King to Magdul Hohle. There they remained until the Goblin Dwarf Wars, when the upper halls were during the Second Goblin-Dwarf Wars. The teeth were taken by a lord of men and borne into the wide world. They would surface from time to time. Magical teeth with wonderous powers. The Lord of Aufstrag found them and gave them over to Unklar during the Winter Dark. But when that god fell and his treasuries were sacked, the teeth were borne back into the world. They have since passed from memory.

For more on and to plunge into the adventures of Oisoth see Winter's Bite.

White Plume Mountain in Aihrde

We've had many requests over the years on where to place both TLG and TSR adventures in the world of Aihrde. This popped up again while I was writing the Aihrde Expansion Book Saerien Heath. I named a mountain Plume Mountain and then though, that would be cool to attach it to the adventure of yesteryear. Well turns out it wouldn't fit in the arid wastelands of the east, so I got ahold of Mac Golden of C&C fame and we started thinking.

Once it was placed, I thought maybe it's time to start doin gthis for all those adventures.

Thus, here we are.

Many of the TLG adventures are already placed, though putting them on a map would be very helpful. The TSR adventures are another thing. Placing them takes a little bit of thought.

We'll start with Mac Golden's favorite adventure, White Plume Mountain. After much discussion we decided it would be best south of the Soup Marsh, just in the edge of the Maedrumaust Mountains.

I've dropped a blue pin for it. It is in Hex Zz25. You will probably have to download it to see. Its a big world.

We've Been Duped - UFOs

Whether we recognize it or not, we have been duped.

In 1952 members of the Intelligence Community under the Truman administration called together a working study group to examine the UFO problem. The panel included 10 or so members (it varied by day and included photo specialists and Air Fore Analysts) led by the theoretical physicist Dr. Howard P. Roberton.

 After several days of discussion and analysis the panel made its conclusions and turned those over to the Office of Scientific Intelligence at the CIA. The gathering was secret and its findings marked as secret. It was first mentioned in Ruppelt’s book The Report On Unidentified Flying Objects (Ruppelt lead Blue Book for some time), though the CIA denied it. Later in 58 the Air Force released a sanitized version of the report. A more robust version was released in ’66. And through a FIOA a more complete version was released in ‘93

All that aside what the Robertson Report recommended, in short, was that the UFO were not a national security threat and in order to keep communication channels open all intelligence agencies should “have two major aims: training and debunking.” This latter could be achieved by deluging mass media with articles, shows, motion pictures etc, revealing that these are explainable and like “conjuring tricks, there is much less stimulation if the "secret" is known.” This was coupled with a training program to teach people what these sightings probably were.

Those were recommendations. Educate and debunk.

What followed were several Air Force regulations, Janap 146 in 1953 and AFR 200-2 in 1954, that both penalized military and civilian personnel for releasing information on UFOs outside official channels. Pilots began to question whether they should report sightings as it could impact their careers. And an atmosphere of ridicule began to pervade the whole phenomena.

In short the tone on UFOs changed after the Robertson Panel. Now it wasn’t one of curiosity, even doubtful curiosity, but one of penalizing and making those who reported these seem to be uneducated rubes. People who just didn’t understand what they were looking at.

So every time someone says UFO and you chuckle to yourself about “what a rube”, just remember, that is exactly how the CIA wanted you to respond.

Troll Lords at Gencon '08

 Here's a blast from the past. Gencon 2008. That Tyler Morrison, Davis Chenault, Todd Gray and Steve Chenault at our booth. That would have been our 9th Gencon. Smaller crew in those days but the spinner racks were still a thing (one of the blew out of the back of the truck some late night and another got crushed in a box stack collapse, we eventually tossed the other two).

That Troll Lord Games sign between Todd and Davis is all the remains of this stuff. It is in the print shop I believe, or the mail room.

Currently Reading...

I have just dove into the first book in the Mabinogion series by Evangeline Walton. The Prince of Annwn is one of four books that came out in the '70s. They are based on the Welsh stories of the same name, which I know next to nothing about. It might actually be nothing about.

Regardless of past knowledge I have taken the plunge. I had never heard of these books before but came across some random post on X and started taking a look. I fell in love with the covers of the books as they had that weird 1970s vibe, early 70s vibe that is hard to describe (vol 3 really caught my eye). The titles too as they are volumes but branches. That book to the right is the First Branch in the Mabinogion. I've never run across that but absolutely love it.

So with cover and titles in hand, I scoured ebay until I found the books in readable, affordable form and scooped them up. They've been on the read table since they arrived. I just finished up reading Blum's UFO book Out There and an account of WWI called Poilu and felt the need for some good old fantasy. Particularly since Blum's book was very frustrating with a great ending and the WWI book was amazing but a little depressing (read it). So on to the Prince of Annwn!

I'm only about 50 pages in but am loving every minute of it. Walton has a superior writing style. It is vibrant and engaging and epic in its feel. I feel like I'm passing through a myth.

That is the volume, or Branch, that caught my eye. I could begin to tell you why. 

Epic Cinema

 This is one of my favorite movie scenes. Pure epic from beginning to end.

UFO/UAP The War Department's New Releases

I've been reading a great deal of UFO literature these past few years. It began in Roswell but escalated to a host of books from Keyhoe's urgency, to Dolan's exploration of the Security State. It didn't stop there or in between.

There are many things about this phenomena that are strange, both earth-bound and interstellar (maybe). Simple things like the strange editions of Cpt. Edward J. Ruppelt’s "The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects.” Ruppelt was head of Project Blue Book and published two editions of his book. In the first he concluded that there is something out there, he didn’t know what but was sure we’d find it. In the second edition, published a few years later, he recanted all that and ridiculed the movement, even though just months before he was publicly talking about the real nature of the phenomena. Interestingly the copyright dates on both books are the same, though they were published 2 or 3 years apart; and after the second edition he died at the age of 35. There are the simple affairs like the pre-drawn conclusions of the Condone Report of '69. The latter is very interesting as Professor Condon’s conclusions, that it is all bump kiss, are contradicted by the report itself. His very report.

This is only the tip of the ice berg in this literature.

At any rate. The journey has been very informative, enlightening even. And enjoyable. I hope, as my journey continues, to begin posting here more regularly about all the nuances out there. My thoughts and mental ramblings.

I will say that the whole phenomena is strange. It is very strange. Peopl are, and have been for a long time, seeing things. They are seeing something. What that is is anyone's guess. 

Anyones. 

Even the government admits now, as it has admitted in the past, that they don't know what these things are. They don't know what they are doing. Only that they seem under intelligent control.

With that in mind, as I begin to collect my thoughts to put to paper I thought I would post a video here. I've downloaded the War Department's latest releases. This bundle of about 20 videos of UAP/UFOs are pretty strange. No real saucers yet, but plenty of orbs. 

So I'm posting here the most interesting of them, at least of those I've gone through thus far. It is marked DOD_111688964. It is an MP4 File.

I leave it to you to guess what this is.

More in the near future.