Scribal Terror

What's Halloween without this?

The Return of Vampyre Robin: A Ghoulish Conspiracy

Round Robins are an ancient and profoundly dubious tradition at Scribal Terror.

They are collaborative fictions, written on the fly in the comments section. ST Round Robins usually involve a character named Robin. They usually happen around Halloween. And they usually flirt with THE DARK SIDE.

We missed Robin last year, but the old bird has not died. Not strictly speaking, anyway. He is back, and he doesn't drink . . . wine.

For the remainder of the week, we will continue the story in the Comments section. Each person can add as many comments as they want, but keep them relatively short (no more than three sentences or so). Be sure you refresh the page before you contribute because we want the story to flow. Like BLAAAAHDDDD!

Thanks to Edgar Allen Dorkafork, we have an opening:

It was an overcast and clammy night, with a low chance of precipitation, as the darkness moved in like a cold front from the north that may result in temperatures in the low 50s. My restiveness continued, the ghastly glow of the Weather Channel flickering in my poorly-lit abode increased my disquiet. The grim countenance of the weather girl stared back at me. I pondered how I had arrived at my despicable state. The memories were patchy, like the clouds that are likely moving in on Thursday...

Now, do your worst, cheeldren of the night . . .

UPDATE: The story is proceeding with all due awesomeness. We need to move toward an ending by midnight on Halloween. Then I'll put the story together from the comments section and publish it as a post. So let's have some fiendly competition. In the battle for the conclusion, will your ending be a new beginning or a last gasp?

Junior prom

The Paperclip is growing up.

Vampyre Robin requires an offering

--FINAL DAY FOR ENTRIES--

Round Robins are an ancient and profoundly dubious tradition at Scribal Terror.

They are collaborative fictions, written on the fly in the comments section. ST Round Robins usually involve a character named Robin. They usually happen around Halloween. And they usually flirt with THE DARK SIDE.

We missed Robin last year, but the old bird has not died. Not strictly speaking, anyway. He is back, and he doesn't drink . . . wine.

But Vampyre Robin needs your help. For his depraved and lurid tale to be told, we need a suitably spooky opener. So place your entries here.  ("Dark and stormy nights" prohibited.)

When we have enough offerings to choose from, we'll take a vote. Then we will have at it. There will be no holds barred. We will plumb the depths. We will kill each other's characters. We will go where no collaborative fiction has gone before. And it will be immensely silly. Muahahahahaha!

One jot or tittle

According to Bible History. com, the phrase "one jot or tittle" in Matthew 5:18 refers to a tiny letter and an even tinier "decorative mark":

The "Jot" is the Hebrew word "Yodh" which is the 10th letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It is also the smallest letter. Its European or English equivalent is the letter "Y" as in the English term Yahweh or in Hebrew YHVH since there were no vowels used in the ancient script.

The word "jot" itself is an English transliteration of "iota" which is the 9th letter of the Greek alphabet. "Iota," in turn, is the nearest Greek equivalent for the Hebrew yodh.

The "tittle" is the small decorative spur or point on the upper edge of the yodh. If you can imagine a tiny letter with a slightly visible decorative mark. Tittle is used by Greek grammarians of the accents and diacritical points.

Here is a yodh:

And here is an iota:

Gail's lentil soup

2 T light olive oil
1 onion, ch0pped
two large celery stalks, chopped
one clove garlic, crushed
two whole cloves
1 cup brown lentils
2 quarts water
1 cup chopped carrots
three medium baking potatoes, diced
1 T tomato paste
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 chicken bouillon cube (*vegetarians substitute 1/2 veg cube)
salt and black pepper to taste

Saute the garlic, onion, and chopped celery in the olive oil until wilted but not brown.
Toss in two cloves, salt and pepper.
Toss in lentils, potatoes, and carrots.
Add water, tomato paste, and bouillon cube.
Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer about an hour.
Uncover, add cayenne pepper, and reduce liquid to desired consistency.
Add milk and heat briefly.
Adjust seasonings. Serve.

Allerton Park

We went to Allerton Park in Monticello, Illinois, today. (Plenty of info at the link.) Although the mosquitos and the prickly little orange beetles were nasty, the park was beautiful. Here are a few of my shots.

Allerton mansion

Koi pond

Dying Centaur

Musician

Espaliered trees in the formal gardens. I think they're pear.

Sphinx, one of two, just outside the mansion

Woodland path, mosquito heaven

One of a pair of statues outside the walled garden

Uber-tiny toad, about a half inch long. Very well camouflaged, but Warren spotted him.