#trilby's notes

[angelic-writer]

Whumpcember Day 27 - Bleeding Out (Alt 1. Stabbed)

Trilby stared at the stump that was flashing in and out of the hell dimension. Finally, he found the source of the reality shift. If only he could find some way to stop it.

"Trilby!" A familiar voice rang out behind him. He whirled around to see a familiar red-headed girl.

"Siobhan? You were supposed to leave!"

"I couldn't, I just..." She hiccuped. "Abed... The professor... He's dead..."

"I know." His mind flashed back to the professor slumped over at the bar, a mannequin head replacing the one he lost. "He was killed by the shadows. Just like they will kill you if you don't get away from here."

"What is this place?" Siobhan asked.

Trilby looked to the stump. "This cave is the center of the reality shift. This stump is what's causing it all."

"How?"

"It is the vessel for the soul of the Tall Man."

They all looked to see who spoke. It was a familiar man wearing a grey anorak, looking at them with a strange expression. "The acolyte of Chzo."

"Lenkmann." Trilby said blankly. "Nice to see a friendly face."

"Amazing, isn't it? Of all the things Sir Roderick could have used to murder his son, he chose that idol . Placing the soul of John Defoe into the wood alongside Cabadath's. Infusing the poor boy with Chzo's magick, allowing him to come back infinitely more powerful than before."

Trilby narrowed his eyes. "Certainly pretty lucky."

"Lucky? Chzo had to wait two thousand years for that opportunity. The opportunity to blend magick and science in a single entity. The opportunity to create the Bridge."

"What are you talking about?"

Lenkmann strolled over to the other side of the cave, a small smile floating up on his face. "The Bridge between the realms. Over which Chzo will cross into our universe and purify mankind. Our order has waited two hundred years for the prophecy to be fulfilled."

Trilby was beginning to understand now. His weird behavior when he met Lenkmann at the hotel, the notes... "You're not with the Ministry of Occultism. Who are you?"

"Two hundred years ago, the prophet Jack Frehorn founded the Order of Blessed Agonies. Since then, we have grown and watched and waited. It was only in recent years that the events foretold in the Book of Chzo began to occur. It mentioned John Defoe. And it mentioned you."

"Me?!" Trilby asked in shock.

Siobhan was only looking at the unfolding events with growing confusion.

Lenkmann stepped forward. "You were the one prophesied to guide the Bridgekeeper to his destiny. But you didn't finish the job! All three aspects of John Defoe had to be destroyed in order to create the Bridge. Body, Mind and Soul. You only destroyed his body. His soul and mind remained."

The house... Jim and Simone...

"Had I known about this... I wouldn't even have done that."

"That will truly disappoint my superiors. They were quite adamant that I should try to persuade you to join our cause and fulfill your foretold duty..."

"Is that why you were helping me?"

"They thought if I guided you through your visions and showed you the appropriate passages from our holy books, you'd understand that the prophecy is real."

Trilby gave him a bewildered look. "You honestly believed I'd join some insane cult just because you handed me some leaflets?!"

Lenkmann put his hand on the older man's shoulder. "Personally? No."

He felt an explosion of ice cold agony. Looking down, he could see Lenkmann had plunged a knife into his gut. He heard the pitter-patter of his blood on the rocky floor. The pain, the surprise, and his exhaustion went together to create immediate unconsciousness. He could only hear Siobhan's screams as he blacked out.

He awoke to find himself splayed upon the stump, blood still slowly leaking from his wound. In his injured state, he couldn't move. His limbs refused to respond. He was as weak as a newborn. "L-Lenk... mann?"

"Oh good, you're awake. I was afraid you'd miss this." He had just finished tying up Siobhan who was struggling against her binds.

"What... are you doing?"

Lenkmann stood over him. "After your staggering ineptitude in Defoe Manor, the Order needed to nudge things along. We need a connection to Chzo to help administrate his coming. And today might be the only opportunity we have all year to summon the Tall Man."

"You're going to... bring that... THING... into our world?"

"With a standard ritual of Blessed Agonies and an offering. After he takes your life, he will be grateful to us. And then, he will guide us to our destiny."

"So why did you... stab me?! What if I'm already dead... by the time he gets here?"

"You won't be. Men like you, Trilby, die on their own terms. They won't let their lives slip away from one measly knife wound." He put a finger to his lips. "Hush now. Cabadath is coming."

Trilby's attempts to move only made things worse. He felt a stab of pain and something snapped behind his eyes, filling his vision with spots. This nutcase is going to sacrifice him to bring a tall demon from Hell over to the mortal world. All because they wanted a connection to Chzo.

"S-Siobhan... Are you there?" He tried to call out, ignoring the taste of metal on his tongue.

"She's here, but she can't answer you." Lenkmann simply answered.

"She has nothing to do with this, Lenkmann! Let her go!"

"On the contrary, it is important that all three of us be here. It is part of the ritual."

"What does this ritual entail? What are you going to do to me?"

"To you, I have done all I need. To bring Cabadath to us, we must tempt him with three Blessed Agonies. The Blessed Agonies of the Mind, the Body and Soul. I am well conditioned to act as the Mind. Your wound makes you the Body. The girl will have to suffice as the Soul."

Trilby could feel a sense of anger come over him. Siobhan doesn't deserve to be in this hellish position, to be sacrificed to some freak of nature. He wanted to move, but his limbs were still and unresponsive. He was losing blood steadily.

He could hear Lenkmann start to chant. "I call thee, Cabadath, to the wood that is your soul. I call thee from the north."

From the corner of his vision, he spotted the familiar idol of John Defoe by his feet, staring at him as if to mock him. I see. He had it all along...

"I call thee from the east."

The pain was replaced with an ice cold numbness that was spreading fast. The room was swimming before Trilby's eyes.

"I call thee from the south."

It was getting harder and harder for him to breathe. Air rattled him and out of his lungs like a buzzsaw.

"I call thee from the west."

Something flashed and he saw the Tall Man for a moment, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

"Reality flits from realm to realm, tormented, confused. End this madness that we might bring thee to us."

His vision was clouding up around the edges. It seemed like his stubborn will was the only thing keeping him alive.

"End it, Cabadath!"

His eyelids were fluttering.

"I present thee with three Blessed Agonies. Body, Mind and Soul."

it hurts

"I present thee with the Guide, failed in his duties, for thee to judge."

it hurts

"Come."

it hurts

"Come."

it hurts

He allowed himself to fall into darkness, slowly detaching himself from his body.

----

Siobhan could only watch as a tall, humanoid figure with no face wearing a long, black coat appeared in the room. Lenkmann was looking at it, appearing to have been satisfied. Stepping closer to the fallen body of her comrade, it examined him. Turning its head to Lenkmann, it spoke in an indecipherable language. He froze.

"What? He's dead? No, that's not possible!"

It continued to stare at him, its face unreadable.

"Master?"

It raised its claws.

"Master, please no! NO! NOAAAAAAGGH!!"

It plunged its claws into his chest, blood spilling out.In a flash, they disappeared.

Siobhan sat in shock. What the hell just happened? She saw Trilby lying on the stump and her mind snapped back to reality. She wriggled herself out of the shoddy rope Lenkmann tied her with and crawled over to him. "Trilby...?" She shook him.

He was unresponsive. His eyes were closed like he had fallen into a deep sleep. His stomach had a deep wound that was leaking blood at an alarming rate. Feeling herself start to shake, she pressed her fingers to his neck. She couldn't feel the beating of his pulse.

"Oh... Oh god... Oh no no no no..." Taking off his tie, she tied it around his waist, hoping that it was enough to staunch the flow. Then, she put her hands on his chest and started pumping. I think this is how you do it. God, Abed, if you were there, you would calm me down.

His body shook like a rag doll underneath her. She didn't understand. One minute, he was awake and talking and the next, he's dying. She felt useless. She wanted to help him, but he only responded by kicking her in the face. She was angry at him for doing that, but if he starts breathing again, she'll forgive him.

As she continued, she started to lose hope. How much blood did he lose? How long was he not breathing for? Will he ever wake up? "Trilby... Please... Please wake up..."

As if he could hear her, Trilby took a shaky breath.

"Trilby?!" She tapped his cheek, trying to get a response out of him. His eyelids fluttered, he coughed... and his eyes opened.

"Trilby! Say something!"

"W-What...?"

"You're alive! Oh god, I didn't even know if I was doing it properly... But I did it! You're alive!"

Trilby weakly looked around. "W-Where's Lenkmann...?"

Her face turned pale. "That... tall man took him. he did something... horrible to him. And then, he took him away."

"Where's... Where's my waistcoat?" Trilby tried to sit up, but Siobhan held him back.

"Shh, don't talk. I'm gonna get you an ambulance. Let's get you back upstairs."

"Wait..." He pointed a shaky finger to the idol. "See that wooden idol?"

"Yes?"

"Bring it with us. Wrap it tightly in clothes and bring it with us. Don't let it touch your bare skin."

"O-Okay."

#chzo mythos #trilby #siobhan o'malley #whumpcember2023 #whumpcember2023 day 27 #Finally a Chzo Mythos post!!! #It's been 84 years!!! #trilby's notes

[chzomythos]

#trilby #chzo mythos #the chzo mythos #trilby's notes #trilbys notes #trilby the art of theft #trilby fanart #speedpaint #Youtube

[mossyappendix]

Happy grandfather's day 👍

#chzo mythos #cabadath #trilby's notes #very fun

[cat-of-many-faces]

So i was trying to share this with someone and found that I might be the only person who saved this file from Tindeck before it went down forever.

So here you go: Five Minutes a Sound Effect from the video game Trilby's Notes.

I got this from a let's play of the game from a very long time ago. The let's play is still up and can be read here:

it's a wonderfully spooky track with a lot of unsettling effects.

#spooky #videogames #soundtrack #chzo mythos #trilby's notes #horror #lost files #tindeck #really good

[lokis-wager]

Just got through some playthroughs of 5 Days a Stranger, 7 Days a Skeptic, and Trilby's Notes, and now I'm wondering how the Chzo Mythos isn't an embedded part of tumblr culture.

#i havent even gotten through 6 days a sacrifice yet! #literally the only reason that Trilby isnt a tumblr sexyman is because the Chzo Mythos are adventure games #and not some kind of webcomic or short horror story #like just off the top of my head. the main character is a pretentious self insert #there's a gay couple in the 1800s who accidentally unleash a death god or whatever #there's a flirty history student who drinks too much (giving her plenty of angst potential) #there's the opening sequence of Trilby's Notes which could easily get an entire theory post #it's weird supernatural murder mysteries (one is set in space!) #there's a teenage boy who thinks Trilby is the best shit since sliced bread (easy dark-fic shipping material) #the whole thing is very early-2000s millennial and it's just wild that Tumblr hasnt been exposed to them somehow

[afterglow-evie]

Siobhan ♡

#chzo mythos cabadath #chzo mythos #creepypasta #trilbys notes #6 days a Sacrifice #art #painting #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #illustration #my art #sculpture #acrylic #pencil #Siobhan

[star-crossed-friends]

I have awakened like an ancient evil. It's so good to be back in the fandom after all this time! And I'd like to warm up a bit.

I'd love to try to write something! Prefer trilby x siobhan or quinnby

Gen is fine 2

Be free to offer prompts.

#chzo mythos #writing prompts #cabadath #trilby #siobhan omalley #trilby’s notes #consuming shadows #writing #the chzo mythos #5 days a stranger #chris quinn

[thethirdromana]

So does Trilby have a Supernaturally Menace in it or just... jews

I gave up at 100 pages in and then read the plot summary on Wikipedia, so I can't be completely sure, but there's no sign of a supernatural menace that I came across. The antagonist, Svengali, has hypnotic powers, but there's not much suggestion that he's anything other than a normal man who happens to be very good at hypnosis.

Yes, this is where we get the term "Svengali" from. And "in the altogether". And the reason we call a trilby a trilby is because Trilby wore one in the stage adaptation. This awful book was distressingly influential.

Going to drop the rest of this under a cut for discussion of anti-Semitism and other racism.

I've been trying to figure out why Trilby bothered me so much more than... well, more than pretty much every other Victorian novel stuffed with Victorian prejudices that I've ever read. I don't often give up on books.

I think the absence of the supernatural is part of it. In Dracula and the Beetle, you have an evil foreign menace who's out to do unspeakable things to our good British women, and I'm in no way defending that storyline, but in both cases the monster is legitimately monstrous. Vampires that eat people and giant beetles with mind control powers are genuinely scary. It would be possible to tell these stories without the racism and xenophobia; though the roots go deep, racism isn't inherent to what makes the story function.

Whereas in Trilby, the entire story is that Svengali is evil and does evil things because he is Jewish. There is no version of Svengali where you can subtract his Jewishness and still end up with a coherent character - or not one who would then play the role that Svengali plays in Trilby. As you put it, anon, the menace is Jews. And that's profoundly unpleasant to read in a way that's different from the monsters in Dracula and the Beetle, at least as I experience it.

There is another aspect of the novel that I find repugnant, and have been struggling to figure out how to put into words, so please forgive me if I mess it up.

So, we have a cultural idea that hatred and prejudice come from dehumanisation. It's the Terry Pratchett quote: "sin... is when you treat people like things." And the antidote is generally held to be humanising people. When Shylock asks "If you prick us, do we not bleed?" it's generally understood to be an appeal to a common humanity: if you realise that I'm a human being like you, you will put aside your prejudice.

What I find particularly disturbing about Trilby is how much it humanises Svengali. I know this doesn't seem like it should be a bad thing, which is why I've been struggling to figure out how to put this. I've drafted and deleted two or three posts about it.

He is humanised in such a way that when I read how Svengali is first introduced in the novel, I thought perhaps the criticisms that it's anti-Semitic might be overblown. Which is why I was relatively lighthearted in my first few posts about it.

Yes, Svengali is described as having stereotypically Jewish looks, but he's also an exceptionally talented musician, and in the opening scene, he and the protagonists have a lively party together. They share drinks, they share stories. He's not a Fagin-esque character, who is a cardboard cut-out labelled "evil Jew". Du Maurier fills in Svengali's character more than just about anyone else's; certainly more than the bland group of artists mooning over Trilby. He has depth, he has passions, he has humanity. He is a rounded and plausible person. He has, if you want, a soul.

And then du Maurier makes it clear that Svengali is evil, and the reader should hate him, because he is Jewish.

It feels profoundly hateful in a way that I still can't quite articulate. Most prejudice encourages us to see people as non-people. They don't have feelings, they are lesser, they don't count. By contrast, Trilby encourages us to see Svengali as a full person first and then to hate him anyway. The anti-Semitism in Trilby is the hatred of a neighbour. Du Maurier wants us to look deep into Svengali's eyes, and hate him all the same.

I don't think I've ever read a novel that wants this kind of hatred from me before, and I hope never to again.

#trilby #discussion of antisemitism #apologies if i've expressed any of this badly #this book is genuinely upsetting #reblogs are off as i don't want this to turn into a long discussion in my notes #especially if anyone is inclined to defend this book #send more asks if you want anon but i might be selective in what i answer

[an-aura-about-you]

*continuing to go through the Chzo Mythos while I'm at work, get to Trilby's Notes* hell yeah NOW we've got business!

#chzo mythos #it is perhaps unsurprising that I think Trilby's Notes is the best game #it gives us so much #Trilby is back but he's worse and I love it #we get the Tall Man #we get the Silent Hill type shit! #we get the history of the wooden idol #and we get CHZO! #I love it

[britt-kageryuu]

Masterpost: VTurtles!

I started this as just putting out there an idea that constantly kept popping into my mind, and didn't really mean to just turn it into an AU, but here we are!

Some notes about my AU: The turtles are Raph (21), Donnie & Leo (20) and Mikey (19). Splinter, April, the Casey's, and other characters will be mentioned, April is sometimes acting as a Mod, and others popping up in chat.

Medic Leo, Trans Leo.

Donnie- Coffee, Programming, omgmeme, Dox, SHRIEK, Dressform, F.F.F, Event Plans, A bit Meta, Purple Dragons, School Uniform, Vaguely Baxter, Another Code, AC Part 2, Program Mistake,

Leo- Updates, The T!, Clear Things Up, Cat, A Crush, Just woke up, writing plans, A.M.A., Fanfiction, Lou Jitsu Sitcom, Burrito Donnie, Dress Up Leo, Wedding Talk, MLP:FIM, Bits from Bunny,

Mikey- Answering Chat, Net Smack, Bonk!, Makeup, Bit of Psychology, Coffee Make Sleepy, Baby Pictures, Cooking w/ Mikey, Stream Ballet, Sir this is a restaurant,

Raph - First Red, Asleep on Stream, Exercise R&D, Instructing, Scouting Attempt, Tail Spin Maneuver,

Donnie & Leo- insomnia stream#1, Science, TestStream1, Podcast Attempt, Scary Game, Behind the Scenes, Fanmail,

Donnie & Mikey- S&C setup,

Donnie Leo & Mikey- Testing, Just Dance,

Raph Donnie Leo & Mikey - Event Testing, Movie Night,

Shelldon/River- River, Mistaken Error, Explanations, Robo Stream, Trilby, Race for Violet,

Random Extras - Clips #1, Karaoke Night, Social Media1, P.O. Box, So-Shell Media, Social Media 4, Social Media #5, Karaoke Night #2, Pizza Tier List, Fan Social Media, Testing Reblogs,

Peek into a different world, <--- might be canon, might just be a joke.

Pre-Au Ideas- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,

Art- 1 , 2, River-Concept

A slight detail I worried over that was kinda pointless: Stagenames!

Raph = Red Angel, Donnie = Dee, Leo = BlueNeon, Mikey = Mandarin

This detail is so miniscule that it's almost not relevant to the story.

Asks: First, Second, Third, Fourth,

------------------------

TMNT AU Competition Arc - Observation Orders, Wandering, Splitting Up,

#rottmnt au #VTurtles! #vtuber au #tmnt fanfiction #tmnt au #rottmnt fanfiction

[sureogi]

Σ(ﾟДﾟ) CRIMINAL LOVE ( SERIM x READER )

summary : You remember seeing him in the night while you were drunk and wasted. It was also the night your friend died right in front of your eyes. ⋅ notes : wrote this a long time ago for the super duper coolest serim stan to ever exist even tho her ult is jwon ;D im surprised i wrote this knowing i hate crime related things. also just putting out there i got inspo from this one comic i read so shout out to the person who wrote it 💪

genre : angst, established relationship, detective au (i don’t know anything about crime literature so i apologise if the information here is incorrect!!), hurt/comfort, fluff around the end ⋅ tw!! : mentions of homocide, blood, death, alcohol, cleaver used as a murder weapon (i don’t recommend reading this if u are uncomfortable with this, the death scene is detailed!!) ⋅ word count : 723

00:23. You stayed up late at the police station, looking through files of a murderer. This wasn’t any typical murderer with a record of homicide and a few attempted murders. He was successful with his attempts and manages to get away. The team has been looking for him high and low for the past four years. No one knows his name, his face or how he gets away with murder. Everyone simply knows he comes out when the moon comes out, anywhere.

You remember seeing him in the night while you were drunk and wasted. It was also the night your friend died right in front of your eyes.

It was twenty past two. You left the club with your friend, your arm snaked around her for balance. She asked you to watch her back on her blind date in case she gets drunk. Little did you know, you were the one who got drunk while she was ditched. She sat you down on the ground behind the bar, grabbing your purse to pull out your phone. She dials your boyfriend to pick you up but no answer.

You wished you were sober so you could quickly make your way to the club when she said that you and her should stay at the club so neither of you would get killed. You saw a shadowed figure behind her and before you could warn her, the blade of a cleaver was pierced through her chest. She collapsed, and her blood painted your hands.

Your tears mixed with her blood but you could still see the shadowed figure. He steps forward and reveals himself — a man in black coat and a trilby that covered his face. He stood right in front of you. “Shh, don’t cry. I won’t kill you if you don’t tell anyone,” he whispers as he tries to comfort you with your words. His voice taunts your brain up to this day. It was the only sound you didn’t like hearing.

He crouches down to pull the body away from you as you find your phone on the ground to call PD. He doesn’t stop you, but all he had on his mind was hiding the body, escaping and you. After he hid the body in the dumpster, he waves to bid you goodbye. “It was nice meeting you, hopefully we can meet again!” he exclaims before running off into a dark alley. By the time the police arrived, you were already passed out.

All you could remember was waking up in the warmth of Serim’s arms, comforting you as you cried all day. You blamed yourself for the death of your friend. Although you told your colleagues what happened, you never once saw him again and you doubt he’ll ever kill you.

So here you are, analysing each and every information in the files. Each piece of paper taunts you in a way. You’re close to finding him, and he knows you’re close. And once you’ve reached him, you’ll put him where he belongs — even if it means you have to sacrifice your own lif—

BZZT.

Your phone makes a sound during your little analysis. Looking over to check, they were messages from your boyfriend, Serim.

Serim : have you eaten yet?

Serim : let’s go on a midnight date ! i’m waiting for you in the car

You smiled while your heart melted.

You : i’d love that <3

You put back the files in the drawers and grabbed your belongings as you head out. His car was parked right in front of the station and hurriedly went in. The moment you entered his car, he gave you a few pecks on the lips.

“After this, you should really rest,” he says, patting your head. As you fastened your seatbelt, you noticed you were stepping on some sort of fabric. You lift your feet up and grabbed the mystery fabric. It was a hat but realization hit you. It wasn’t any typical hat. It was a hat that belonged to someone who’s been ridiculing you for years. Why is it in your lover’s car? Serim didn’t notice you found the hat while he was driving. But the moment he parked near a restaurant, you connected the dots.

The love of your life was the one who scarred you for life.

#cravity #serim #serim x reader #serim angst #serim imagines #serim scenarios #serim drabbles #cravity x reader #cravity angst #cravity imagines #cravity scenarios #cravity drabbles #kpop #sureogi

[atundratoadstool]

Do you know of any other similar gothic stories from the same time period as Dracula?

If you want a much wilder and much more racist ride than Dracula, it was published the same year as Richard Marsh's The Beetle, a gothic novel which also features a very sad initial narrator, a hyper-competent heroine, and a marauding foreign menace. It should be noted, however, that the very rough equivalent of Jack Seward is just a blatant supervillain who nobody notices is a supervillain. Instead of "She doesn't love me so I did some questionable psychiatry :'(", he's "She doesn't love me so I'll turn my thoughts to my unstoppable death gas >:("

You should also definitely check out Carmilla (1872) if you haven't, as it's an earlier vampire story that obviously had some influence on Dracula. While I cannot, in good faith, recommend Trilby without warning that it is overtly and unapologetically antisemitic to the point of being difficult to read (I would not read it again were I not doing scholarship that touches on it), it definitely has a mesmeric villain who may have influenced Dracula and it might be of interest to people interested in tracing mesmeric fiction or looking to literary precursors of The Phantom of the Opera.

Beyond that, I greatly enjoy almost all the hit fiction of the late Victorian gothic revival (Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Picture of Dorian Grey, The Great God Pan), but I'm not sure there's anything off the top of my head that strikes me as being particularly Draculaesque in particular beyond what's listed above. If you're interested in tipping into the 20th century, Stoker would later go on to write a mummy novel (The Jewel of Seven Stars) that uses a lot of the same tropes and character types as Dracula (the hero, like many of the heroes of his novels, is a hot young lawyer). Jewel isn't nearly as good as Dracula though in my opinion.

#Bram Stoker #Dracula #Dracula Daily #J. S. LeFanu #Carmilla #Richard Marsh #The Beetle #George Du Maurier #Trilby #The Jewel of Seven Stars #Dracula Daily asks

[disappointingyet]

The Decline Of Western Civilisation

Director Penelope Spheeris Stars Claude Bessy, Exene, Darby Crash, Ron Reyes, Nicole USA 1981 Language English 1hr 40mins Colour/Black & white

The classic LA punk doc

I feel it’s rare to have a (theatrically released) documentary that is much less well-known than its sequel. But The Decline Of Western Civilisation II: The Metal Years had famous people in it, some much-quoted funny moments and set up director Penelope Spheeris up to make the massive hit comedy Wayne’s World. The first Decline, on the other hand, is bleaker, occasionally funny in a very dark way and put Spheeris on the way to directing the grim (and fairly obscure) squatland drama Suburbia. And at the time none of these people were celebrities and even subsequently, the only person here who has nudged fame is Pat Smear, the guitar player from Germs, who was a touring member of Nirvana in their last days and is currently a Foo Fighter. 

But make no mistake, The Decline Of Western Civilisation is an extraordinary music documentary. Filmed in late 1979 and early 1980, it drops us right into the middle of punk in Los Angeles. There’s no voiceover – although we do occasionally hear Spheeris asking questions – so the description and analysis comes from bands, fans, managers, club owners, bouncers and the staff of Slash magazine.*  

In what I think was an accident of timing, Spheeris caught a pivotal moment. The early punk scene in Los Angeles had been open-minded and stylistically diverse. Here we see the codifying of hardcore punk and the amped-up aggression of bands like Black Flag, Circle Jerks and Fear and their audiences. Fear, in particular, incite their gobbing crowd with a steady stream of homophobic derision.

The contrast is with Catholic Discipline, led by Slash editor Claude Bessy (aka Kickboy Face), whose guitar player Phranc was a trilby-sporting lesbian. (And Catholic Discipline are shown playing at venue we learn had banned the hardcore bands by this point.) Their crowd looks like a relatively sophisticated bunch who have put a lot of time into their outfits. But they also, it should be said, seem a lot less into the occasion than the kids at the Circle Jerks show. 

There wasn’t (it seems) even the language to describe what was going on those crowds. Everyone refers to pogoing, but these kids aren’t jumping up and down on the spot, they are smashing into each other and creating a vortex of bodies, and clambering up onto stage and getting shoved off. It seems the terms slam dancing (moshing was an even later coinage as I remember it) and stage diving were not yet in common use. 

So how does Spheeris put us in this world? We get a lot of footage of the bands on stage, which might be hard work for some viewers. But because Spheeris and her camera crew are interested in the scene as a whole, there’s always something anthropologically interesting to note**, even if you can’t tell where one Fear song begins and the next one ends. 

And then there are the interviews. This the opposite of the uniform talking-head approach, although the great access Spheeris had helps. Interviews with kids from the scene are face-on in a stark room with a bare light bulb hanging down, shot in black & white and tinted blue. Venue owner Brendan Mullen is filmed on a cliff high above Los Angeles. Nicole, the long-suffering manager of Germs, talks in close-up with her clothes merging into the black background. 

Germs lead singer Darby Crash, by contrast, is filmed cooking eggs and bacon in a grubby kitchen – this is probably the film’s most notorious segment, as his mate blithely recounts stumbling across the body of a workman at her parents’ house. Spheeris [unseen]: “Didn’t you feel bad that the guy was dead?” Michelle: “No, not at all. Because I hate painters." During the X interview, singer John Doe is tattooing LA music scene character Top Jimmy's arm while the band’s other singer, Exene, talks through her collection of fundamentalist Christian pamphlets that she’s collected on the streets of LA.

All of which is to say that faced with my key question about movie docs – is this actually a movie? (rather than TV or – these days – YouTube content) – the answer is about as emphatic a ‘yes’ as is possible. This is a visually fascinating bit of film-making, regardless of what’s being said. But the what’s being said is interesting, too. Both the letters from readers to Slash magazine and some of the things the kids filmed under the light bulb say are (to a 2023 viewer) evidence that it wasn’t the internet that created all manner of unpleasantness – it was always there, and (in the case of the readers’ letters), people used to bother to actually write and post trolling nonsense (I was going to say and pay for postage, but I’m guessing a lot of these were kids using stamps from their mom’s desk.)

This is one of those movies I’ve known about for decades, but only finally now got a chance to see. And yet somehow it went way past my expectations – this is one of the great rock documentaries.

(In the UK, all three TDOWC movies are currently available to stream for free – legally! – on Plex.)

*OK, so maybe worth saying I know a certain amount about this stuff – for instance, I’ve read We’ve Got The Neutron Bomb: The Untold Story Of LA Punk so I had a lot of context that the more casual viewer wouldn’t. But I still think it would be an absorbing watch if you don’t know anything (you don’t have to have read a book to realise that Darby Crash was very bad news).

**For instance, at this point at least, both in terms of the bands and their audience, this was less all-white than you might imagine/despite the bile spewed by a couple of the interviewees. (Not as far as I know shown in this film, but definitely already a key figure was Spot, RIP.) This is part of my 'Every girl should be given an electric guitar on her 16th birthday' series of reviews

#punk movies #the decline of western civilisation

[skellinore]

Lord Cabadath.

I was doing some research on Cabadath, considering I've seen him like once back in my childhood.

Then he suddenly he came back, memories rushing into my head.

So into the fray I went.

Spent my time watching and reading stuff about Trilby's Notes, where Cabadath is originally from.

It's pretty interesting, I was never one for typing response games.

Is that the right category?

I dunno.

Along with Cabadath originating before Slenderman.

Which I think is great!

The fact that the Creepypasta Fandom just abducted this demon, just.

Y O I N K.

I love that, thanks guys.

Also I know I drew Cabadath's scythe wrong, I KNOW IT'S FOUR BLADES.

I just suck at perspective.

;-;

I'll try next time.

Maybe...

Anyways, this is where I speak about my head-cannons about the characters I draw.

I love my OOC takes.

So this Cabadath isn't going to be the same as his in-game counterpart.

I'm referring to this version of Cabadath to where he is in the Creepypasta Fandom.

1.) Faceless Demons such as Lord Cabadath and Slenderman are royalty in Demon/Hell hierarchy. Second highest to be exact, before Zalgo's family.

The reason being is due to immortality, power, and magic, along with not needing to sacrifice something for curses, spells, teleportation, and basically, everything else.

Lord Cabadath is very, and I mean very strong with magic and curses.

2.) Faceless Demons are also made of pure magic along with one elemental element when being born, Cabadath was born with the darkness element, he can control shadows, nightmares, insanity, and can also possess Demons, Humans, and even Angels without a binding spell.

But because Faceless Demons are made purely of magic, when they die, their body transforms into magical dust that's seeps into the ground, a tree surrounded by soft blades of grass and their favourite flowers grow in its place in an instant, it's unable to be cut or burned down.

3.) Because Faceless Demons are part of royalty, it's not uncommon for arranged marriages to happen. When Cabadath was younger, he was forced into one, and forced to produce offspring, which was hard for him. Since Lord Cabadath is aromantic and asexual.

Because of this, Cabadath refuses to do the same thing to his children, often getting into spats with his significant other.

4.) Every species has two rulers that represent their species as a whole, and Lord Cabadath is the ruler of his people, making Slender, Splendor, Trender, and Markus, princes. But sadly, all of his children had abandoned tradition of their people, which to Cabadath's significant other's dismay, he is happy for them, they are free to make their own decisions.

I know most of those head cannons were about his species, but I'll actually explain more about him in my later drawings to come.

Hopefully.

>:3

Anyways, have a wonderful day or night.

#digital art #art #creepypasta #chzo mythos #Lord Cabadath #Cabadath #traditional art

[officialleehadan]

First of Fireworks

Hello darlings! Today's story was brought to you by Jon! Darling, I'm sorry that Oli didn't have a PoV for you, but here's a fun little holiday celebration for you instead!

Prompt: Household Moments, if Oli doesn't have a story, to share, how about an HGE holiday celebration?

+++

New Year’s Eve was always a bash. The Cats went all out, Blake managed a truly impressive stack of permits, and they shot fireworks off the roof. Half the neighborhood came to party. Blake was in his element, playing the host to everyone, spanning around in painted-on leather pants and a shirt that was almost as tight. Both of them glittered with rhinestones in the shapes of fireworks. He wore a jaunty trilby hat on his head, with a burning sparkler stuck in it like a feather.

If Tracy didn’t know that it was Miracled not to light anything on fire, she would have thrown a tantrum about it. As it was, though, there was nobody safer than a demon to be managing a lit firework.

Even if it was stuck into his hat.

Angelika was son deck as the safe person for everyone at the party. With three of the Cats as her eyes and ears, she ushered anyone who was overwhelmed into their designated Quiet Room, presented them with the beverage of their choice, and got them settled down again. She did it so gracefully and smoothly that most of them didn’t even realize they were approaching meltdown.

The Cats, on a rotating assignment, had a strange but delightful job of arranging business deals between people with good ideas and people with money. The guest list featured a large number of people who had a large amount of expendable cash, and plenty of Tracy’s friends, who did not know about the truth of her Household, from school. They had wonderful ideas, all of which needed capitol to make them happen.

By he time her Cats were done, the people with money would have lots of new projects to invest in, and the people with ideas would find out that their ideas were suddenly getting traction.

The Cats were in charge of making sure all those deals actually happened moving forward.

If they were also collecting residuals from each deal, well, that was Mara’s job to manage. She was in charge of their household finances, and Tracy didn’t get involved.

Tracy herself was in charge of just enjoying the party, which was largely populated by, among the business people and her student friends, a pair of archangels who were definitely enjoying the party.

Although they couldn’t get drunk, Gabriel was doing shots with a handful of students. His usually clothes were soft sweaters and comfy slacks, but for today, he was at his flamboyant best, and was even more sparkly than Blake. He was in a suit, at least, but it was head to toe black sequins with angels wings, his angel wings, on the back all the way down his jacket. His makeup, which was all silver glitter, perfect eye liner and highlighter to die for, was incredible.

He also seemed to be cheating at cards.

Rafael was delightedly watching the Cats work, and was eagerly surrounded by a whole group of young doctors. Tracy wasn’t sure who exactly they thought he was, but they were all happy and Rafael was beaming.

If she had to guess, all of those young doctors were soon to have very promising careers, and would help a whole lot of people.

The hobbies of archangels.

“You’re happy,” Davi noted  when Tracy circled back to the counter, where there were countless bottles of champagne and every other kind of alcohol available. All of them, like every cup in the place, were blessed to keep the partiers at exactly the right stage of happy-buzzed, without ever getting the spins, or getting blackout drunk. Nobody would wake up with a hangover either. “You take such good care of us, making our home, but I don’t think I’ve seen you happy very often.”

“There are two archangels, all the Cats, Blake, Mara, you, and Angelika watching over things,” Tracy said, buzzed, happy, and relaxed for once. “Finals are over, and if anyone causes a problem, it’s officially not my job to get involved. For once, I can actually relax.”

“I’m glad,” Davi told her and refilled her glass with some spectacularly expensive champagne that tasted good for once. Maybe money really did help sometimes, even if it was miracle money provided by her squadron of demons and blessed by her angels. “With everything going on, we’ve really been worried about you. None of the rest of us really know how to take care of you the way you take care of us.”

“I don’t need it, Lovebird,” Tracy said and gave him a tight hug. “Thanks, sweetie. You all do a great job giving me what I need in life.”

“Wouldn’t you like a boyfriend? Or a girlfriend? Or something we can do for you?”

“Not until we figure everything else out and I graduate,” Tracy told him with a laugh and kissed his cheek. Mara saw them from across the room and winked salaciously, full of promises she had no intention of keeping. She was totally gone on Davi of course, and didn’t like anyone else. Least of all Tracy, who would never consider violating the power imbalance between them that way. “Let’s get everything settled, and then you can form a committee with the others and find me a perfect boyfriend. Just not an archduke of Hell this time. One was enough.”

+++

HBH - Household Moments:

Sparklers and Demon Smiles

Santa Baby

Fuzzy Interlude

Making Christmas

Santa Satan  (Subscriber Only!)

All the Pillows

Low Tide

Five out of Six Ends are Pointy

Cinnamon Kisses

Thanks and Giving

Bloop

First of Fireworks (New!)

+++

MASTERLIST

#Writing #writing prompt #story #novel #romance #love #spilled ink #spilled writing #spilled romance #spilled feelings #writeblr #lee hadan #LGBT #inspiration

[star-crossed-friends]

Петля из синего галстука: день первый

Всё началось с титульного экрана игры — среди предлагаемых поиском артов, скриншотов и записей прохождений на глаза Полковника попался Blackwell:

Сперва, Полковник обратил внимание на схожесть главных героев с персонажами из мифов, конкретно:

Потом другим умом подумал, что игры связаны — быстрый поиск (включающий поверхностный взгляд на сюжет) поставил всё на свои места и хорошенько так пнул надежду — после открытия Полковник потерял интерес к обнаруженной серии игр, и вернулся к копанию в недрах интернета.

Даже не посмотрев скриншоты и количество игр в серии.

Казалось бы история закончилась — ну похожи и похожи, чего кроссовер разворачивать.

Но находка плотно укрепилась где-то глубоко-глубоко в памяти, и стоило начаться распродаже квест игр, как она вырвалась из цепей.

Миг и, вот, Полковник уже купил почти ничего не стоящий сборник, содержащий все пять игр серии Blackwell.

Теперь-то он их пройдёт? Нет.

До игр Полковник дойдёт спустя месяцы.

Запустит с скептицизмом, а потом крепко-крепко увязнет и будет жалеть, что не попробовал раньше.

(Концовка последней игры и вовсе заставит его плакать)

Идея кроссовера пришла спустя годы, совершенно случайно — и так и не ушла.

Выдержав испытание временем.

The Blackwell Legacy — первая игра серии.

Сначала затронем сюжет:

Главная героиня игры Розалинда Блэквелл ( в дальнейшем для краткости —Роза), молодая писательница-фрилансер, живущая уединенной жизнью в Нью-Йорке.

Её единственный близкий родственник, тетя Лорен Блэквелл, умирает после долгих лет пребывания в коме в местной психиатрической лечебнице.

Вскоре после этого Розу просят написать статью о самоубийстве в общежитии колледжа для небольшой газеты.

(смерть студентки постепенно обрастает странностями)

В течении всего дня Розу мучают головные боли, и в конце концов в ее квартире появляется призрак по имени Джоуи Маллоне.

Он проясняет, что Роза «медиум», как и её тетя, и что её работа теперь заключается в том, чтобы помогать призракам, застрявшим в реальном мире «двигаться дальше».

С недоверием и без наличия другого выбора, она принимает такое объяснение и приступает к поиску истинной причины самоубийства девушки, чей призрак ныне обосновался в центральном парке.

Потом пройдёмся по иной составляющей.

Игра представляет собой point-and-click квест с возможностью переключаться между двумя персонажами.

(С чудесной графикой и приятной озвучкой)

Управление простое и не содержит «дополнительных действий или меню», всё решается одной мышкой, если нужно присмотреться к чему-то, то жмём на правую кнопку.

Есть инвентарь.

Если нужно получить подсказку, то можно обратиться с вопросом к Джоуи.

Также, играя за самого (невидимого для других) Маллоне можно дуть — в чём польза?

Никогда не помешает поддуть к себе поближе чью-нибудь визитку или отвлечь внимание, а может подоставать саму Розу.

Узнавая что-то в процессе своего расследования главная героиня делает записи в блокноте, объединяя их можно получить новые темы для разговора с другими персонажами или сделать вывод.

Для помощи с «двигаться дальше» призраку нужно предложить галстук Джоуи (конечно, перед этим нужно напомнить призраку о том, кто он и помочь ему принять смерть) — Роза возьмётся за другой конец, и вместе с бедной душой перенесётся в особое карманное измерение.

Где призрак, пойдя на свет, наконец обретёт покой.

Без лишних спойлеров: в конце первой игры Роза принимает решение продолжить дело тёти.

Игра проходится за плюс-минус три часа, если не торопиться.

Немного перемотаем время назад и поговорим о персонажах.

Роза — интроверт, слабо заинтересованный в дружбе с кем-либо.

После получения креста медиума на свои плечи Блэквелл постепенно начинает становится решительней и упрямей в помощи призракам, даже если придётся нарушить закон.

Порой она может вести себя вызывающе или колко отвечать Джоуи (по проскакивающим в диалогах мелочах можно понять, что она ценит его, как друга и напарника, но прямо она ему не скажет).

Её главная цель — помочь всем призракам.

Джоуи — колкий на язык призрак.

На самом деле искренне заботящийся о Лорен и Розе, готовый стеной встать между ними и Графиней или другой опасностью.

Как бы он не походил на гангстера — до своей смерти работал в ателье.

Друга (навлекшего на ателье гангстеров — что и привело к смерти Джоуи) простить смог не сразу.

Подведём итог:

Во вселенной Blackwell есть медиумы и помогающие им призраки — «гиды».

Чтобы обрести покой, застрявший на земле призрак должен вспомнить, кто он и принять факт своей смерти.

Для переноса «в лучший мир» призрак должен попасть в особое карманное измерение в разуме медиума.

Медиум может видеть призраков.

Гид не может пойти на «свет в конце туннеля».

В отличии от обычных призраков гид сохраняет свою память.

Призрак может ранить призрака.

Призрака можно убить — никто не знает, куда он отправится после такой смерти.

Об остальных играх серии мы говорить не будем, а дальше, обратимся к Мифам Чзо — для понимания кроссовера нам в большей степени понадобиться канон именно мифов.

Для начала первой и чуть-чуть второй игры.

Итак.

5 Days A Stranger.

Снова point-and-click, но с одним персонажем под управлением и большим выбором кнопок действий.

Управление на первых минутах или после возвращения спустя годы может показаться неудобным (особенно ходьба), но потом быстро привыкаешь.

Предметы можно смотреть, объединять и использовать.

А с людьми говорить.

О сюжете:

Вор-джентльмен (Трилби) получает заманчивое предложение наведаться в особняк семьи Дефо — последний представитель рода покончил с собой, и всё имущество осталось на расхищение юридическим конторам.

Звучит, как легкая добыча для мастера-вора?

Конечно.

Но всё веселье обрывается, когда сейф оказывается пустым, а окно захлопывается, как и все двери в особняке.

Выхода нет.

Кроме Трилби в особняке оказываются ещё пленники: Джим Фоулер (школьник, пробравшийся сюда на слабо), Симона Тейлор (известный репортёр), Филипп Харти (охотник за сокровищами ака чёрный копатель) и Эндрю Джарвис (загадочный парень, работник STP).

Поиск спасения превращается в гонку со временем, когда происходит первое убийство, а из шкафа семьи Дефо начинают выпадать скелеты.

Вновь, опуская подробные спойлеры: особняк сожжён, выжившие свободны, а Трилби…остался вором.

К сожалению, подробнее мы затронем только двух персонажей.

Собственно, Симону и Трилби.

Симона:

епортёр с неплохой хваткой и опытным взглядом.

Первая, кто заподозрил в Эндрю нечто неладное.

И та, кто под последний день сделала схожие с Трилби выводы касательно семьи Дефо.

Если понадобиться, то не побоится надрать кому-нибудь зад или постеречь с ружьём возможного убийцу.

Или принять участие в рит…

После травмирующих событий в особняке Дефо её жизнь покатилась по наклонной.

Трилби:

Вор-одиночка с позицией «не убей» и Робин-Гудовским «кради у богатых».

Воспитан, по составлениям текстов литературен, а по навыкам инженер.

Саркастичный обладатель гибкого ума и, по словам автора игры, Холмсовской дедукции.

Достаточно нагл, чтобы украв книгу «5 способов вылечить клептоманию» заметить, что это будет забавное чтиво на вечер или возмутиться способом хранения чужого дорого вина, или повесить важный для подозрительной корпорации «артефакт» на флагшток, чтобы они сами как-нибудь его достали.

События в особняке оставили на нём большой след, который позже привёл его к тюрьме, а потом в STP.

Выводы?

Музыка в Мифах Чзо невероятна!

Призраки — есть.

Люди могут быть одержимы призраками.

Подозрительные идолы трогать нельзя.

Есть тайная организация, занимающаяся расследованием паранормального.

Чёрная и белая магия — существуют.

Назад пути нет…

Trilby's Notes:

Вот и вторая игра.

Пробежим по сюжету, увы, частично и невероятно поверхностно:

Трилби (уже работника STP — организации, порой использующей преступников в своих целях) достигает прошлое.

Симона — мертва.

Пришло время разобраться с призраками особняка раз и навсегда!

Просто нужно, дождавшись конца выставки, забрать не сгоревший в пожаре идол у профессора.

Ничего сложного.

Подозрительный коллега встретит у дверей

Но во время беседы с профессором и его помощницей мир внезапно меняется — искажается — показывая разрушение, кровь и мертвецов.

Реальность или безумие?

Стоит ли доверять оставленным коллегой таблеткам?

Почему прикосновения к экспонатам вызывают ведения?

Кто оставляет религиозные тексты?

Что за высокая фигура следит за каждым шагом?

Теперь, у бывшего вора лишь один день, чтобы разобраться со всем этим.

Концовка?

Трилби понимает, что он часть пророчества, гид— лишь пешка — и то, что его «работа» ещё не закончена.

А культ Благословенной Агонии получает его кровь.

Всё только начинается

Выводы:

Существуют элементали.

Есть мир магии и мир технологий.

Чзо — элементаль боли, король.

Ему служит Высокий человек — Принц. Когда-то друид, посмевший попытаться подчинить себе Чзо, ныне его покорнейший слуга.

Культ Благословенный Агонии хочет привести в наш мир (мир технологий) своего короля.

Есть загадочный человек в красном.

Уничтожение идола поможет построить «мост» для короля.

Есть три аспекта живого: тело, душа и разум.

После событий в отеле из памяти бывшего вора удалось с помощью гипноза вытащить много интересного.

Дальше Трилби вербует министерство оккультизма — на момент событий The Consuming Shadow, он занимает там высокую должность.

Об управлении и другом:

Во второй части команды персонажу (кроме ходьбы) нужно печатать словами — бегать стрелочками.

Говоря о бывшем воре.

Очень заметно, как особняк спустил его с небес на землю — Трилби стал вести себя гораздо серьёзней, чем раньше.

В его душе крепко сидит чувство вины, а за спиной маячат призраки двух «инцидентов».

Ему еще предстоят ломающие события The Consuming Shadow — но об игре 2015 года говорить мы не будем.

Время ещё не пришло.

Нам предстоит конец статьи.

Первого д��я.

Здесь, мы немного познакомились с канонами и необходимыми базовыми понятиями — второй день или же вторая статья будет о самом кроссовере.

О том, как принимались решения.

О том, как всё могло быть — о том, чем стало.

Вот и всё на сегодня.

Берегите себя, держитесь подальше от старых особняков.

#indie horror #the chzo mythos #chzo mythos #blackwell games #5 days a stranger #trilby’s notes #crossover #Youtube