Fire Over Phoenix

Didn't think you were. Just wanted to make it clear, while admitting that there are similarities.

I found this difficult to read due to the subject matter, but it was worth the effort. Excellent writing.

The next parts will be chewier...

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All of those files and folders will be interesting for Hartford to work from.

All of those eating establishments and the people that use them. Who were the customers?

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Since the building had magical shielding, unless they used contract mages bound under magical NDA's, then the mages providing the magical wards would be part of the consortium running this.

Is this part of a Grand Hall of Sinister Wisdom plan?

All of Thulia's reactions towards the willingness of Earthlings attitude towards blood are directly relevant.

"What are they thinking of when they make themselves so vulnerable so easily?" and mutant blood will be an even more versatile source of power.

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Might this be where the phrase "Butcher's Row" came from?

What will the Dragonslayer's reactions be when they realise that they didn't stop it happening again?

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Looking forwards to the next part.

Mister D wrote:

I found this difficult to read due to the subject matter, but it was worth the effort. Excellent writing.

The next parts will be chewier...

---

All of those files and folders will be interesting for Hartford to work from.

All of those eating establishments and the people that use them. Who were the customers?

---

Since the building had magical shielding, unless they used contract mages bound under magical NDA's, then the mages providing the magical wards would be part of the consortium running this.

Is this part of a Grand Hall of Sinister Wisdom plan?

All of Thulia's reactions towards the willingness of Earthlings attitude towards blood are directly relevant.

"What are they thinking of when they make themselves so vulnerable so easily?" and mutant blood will be an even more versatile source of power.

---

Might this be where the phrase "Butcher's Row" came from?

What will the Dragonslayer's reactions be when they realise that they didn't stop it happening again?

---

Looking forwards to the next part.

Thanks!
In a way, I'm sorry and not sorry about the darkness of some of the content. It was definately dark, but without dark to fight, what use are heroes?

The customers of course are WELL hidden. You will see FrankenCorps again, and their customers.
They arent part of the Grand Hall of Sinister Wisdom, but the Grand Hall does buy things off them.

Blood is useful (thought not as critical as legends say); it is a good connection with someone, and its more of a 'why do they trust me so readily' question. Perhaps the best equivalent is the way most humans are taught notcto put fingers across a live power cable. Although as an ex-engineer we did use to do that, but then we knew what we were doing. It can be dangerous if you dont know whats involved.

Mister D wrote:

I found this difficult to read due to the subject matter, but it was worth the effort. Excellent writing.

The next parts will be chewier...

---

...

All of those eating establishments and the people that use them. Who were the customers?

---

---

Might this be where the phrase "Butcher's Row" came from?

What will the Dragonslayer's reactions be when they realise that they didn't stop it happening again?

---

Looking forwards to the next part.

Thank you.

Butchers Row is from early 2000 or possibly late 1990's, almost certainly before FrankenCorp was formed.
The Dragonslayers are now in their late 30's or early 40's and been retired or dead for years. If they hear of this, they'll be pissed, but they're out of the game.

Astro and I both have plans for FrankenCorp, but we'll be splitting back off to individual stories.
If you want to see FrankenCorp specifically in Phoenix, Arizona region, they'll have a low key, but important role in Forte's overall story line.

Astrodragon wrote:

Thanks!
In a way, I'm sorry and not sorry about the darkness of some of the content. It was definitely dark, but without dark to fight, what use are heroes?

The customers of course are WELL hidden. You will see FrankenCorps again, and their customers.
They aren't part of the Grand Hall of Sinister Wisdom, but the Grand Hall does buy things off them.

Blood is useful (thought not as critical as legends say); it is a good connection with someone, and its more of a 'why do they trust me so readily' question. Perhaps the best equivalent is the way most humans are taught not to put fingers across a live power cable. Although as an ex-engineer we did use to do that, but then we knew what we were doing. It can be dangerous if you don't know what's involved.

Blood is one of the simpler/older/"more primitive" ways of making a magical connection.

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It figures that the GHSW would be a customer, but they might work as a supplier of magical services to FrankenCorps. Pre-existing business relationship, and, aligned interests.

It has a very similar feel to the stories about the child soldiers in Africa. A very old pattern of behaviour translated to a modern day setting with "today's" technology. ( Putting "today" in quotes to reflect the influence of Gadgeteers in the WU. )

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Another idea that occurred to me. In the stories about the blind baseline Psychic, she was fighting with psychic entities that thrived on pain, terror, and fear.

The magical shielding on the buildings would partially be installed to keep those entities out, as well as the cannabilism creating them as a side-effect.

This would affect the people working for FrankenCorps. The whole enterprise must reek of fear, as there's no retirement except via the table, unless you are powerful enough to survive the reprisals.

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It'll also be interesting to see The Order's reactions to what the humans are doing.

"They're creating magical toxic waste sites in the middle of their cities...? WTH!? Are they trying to bring the Fallen down upon them?"

The reason for the magic shield is to keep people from realising what is going on. So it blocks/misdirects scanes from outside, and blocks the fear/terror from being detected. Its designed to look like the typical wards a business who needs privacy would use, and its quite legal (like fitting a security system).
FrankenCorps know that if anyone finds them, they are dead, so the whole aim is to avoid being found in the first place.