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European External Action Service
EEAS Building, 9A Rond Point Schuman - 1000 Brussels
EEAS Building, 9A Rond Point Schuman - 1000 Brussels
Agricultural dialogue - Information society - Civil aviation - Intellectual property rights (IPR) - Competition policy -
Macro-economic policy and the regulation of financial markets - Consumer product safety - Maritime transportCustoms cooperation -
Regional policy - Education and culture - Regulatory and industrial policy - Employment and social affairs -
Science and technology - Energy - Space cooperation - Environment - Trade policy dialogue -
Food safety- Sanitary and phytosanitary issues - Textile trade dialogue - Global satellite navigation services - Transport (in general)
What are Sectoral Dialogues and what drives them?
Relations between the European Union and China have intensified tremendously in recent years. To some extent this is the natural consequence of China's impressive economic growth and her increasing importance on the world stage as a major political partner. But substantial impetus for the rapid development of the relationship also stems from the shared interests that exist between the EU and China.
Evidence of this complementarity of interests can clearly be seen in the political arena, in areas such as multilateralism and global sustainable development. Considerable further evidence is to be found in the less visible, but flourishing area of exchanges on sectoral policies and technical issues or, as they are known, 'sectoral dialogues' between China and Europe. These dialogues have grown considerably in recent years and now cover a wide range of areas: from science and technology to enterprise regulation, and from environmental issues to education and the information society.
In many of these areas China and the EU face similar problems and favour similar approaches to them. Some examples:
China and the EU are both major players in internationaltrade and very close interaction at all levels on trade issues is in place. Both Chinese and EU policy makers are fully aware of the benefits of free and open markets, but social and regional considerations also play and important role in decision making. Both sides tend to seek consensus-oriented solutions in order to avoid conflict – a path which implies lengthy co-ordination before decisions can be taken.
In short, China and Europe have considerably more in common than might appear at first sight. This creates a strong mutual interest to promote the exchange of experience and know-how.
China today is experiencing challenges which Europe started to tackle a number of years ago in areas such as the environment, the internal market, and competition. The EU is demonstrating its willingness to share this experience with China. And China has shown an interest in using the best practices of the "EU model" in these policy areas.
In other areas too, both Europe and China are simultaneously confronted with new challenges, such as rapid advances in science and technology and problems with health protection. This is a two-way street. In some areas Europe could usefully benefit from Chinese know-how and experience. Peaceful nuclear research is an example of such an area, where Europe will soon have to close down its ageing experimental nuclear reactors, whereas China is currently building state-of-the-art facilities. As a consequence of the conclusion of a new Euratom agreement - concluded at the December 2004 EU-China Summit – China is prepared to share the technology behind her new facilities with European researchers.
Common interests and complementarity – together with political receptiveness on both sides - thus help to explain why the Sino-European relationship has grown so quickly on many fronts.
Who participates and how do they work in practice?
The purpose of this document is to provide an overview of the European Commission's sectoral activities which now cover 24 different areas. It does not deal with exchanges that take place in the areas of human rights and migration, which are of a somewhat different nature and more directly related to the EU-China political dialogue. The new Tourism Agreement (also known as the Approved Destination Status Agreement – ADS) is also not covered here, although it will serve to bring Chinese and Europeans closer together through the facilitation of travel for Chinese citizens to EU destinations.
Exchanges take place under different denominations depending on the specific context of the sector. They are referred to as 'dialogues', 'regular exchanges', or simply as 'co-operation', and they take place at various hierarchical levels, from working level to ministerial level. A variety of participants may be involved, including officials, politicians, business organisations, and private companies. Proceedings are organised in a flexible way and take the form of working groups, conferences, annual formal meetings or simply informal exchanges. Specialists from nineteen Directorates General in the European Commission are involved in regular exchanges with their respective counterparts in China.
What purpose do they serve?
Sectoral dialogues have helped to develop a solid foundation for the EU-China relationship which is now characterised by increasingly close policy co-ordination in many important areas. The European Commission strongly encourages these dialogues, which are an important area of support to the overall relationship.
The dialogues constitute an effective tool for further widening and deepening EU relations with China, for exploring new areas of common interest, for exchanging know-how, and, especially in the area of economic reform, 'EU models and practices'. A new support facility for dialogues and exchanges has been prepared with Commission financing of €5 million, and will shortly become operational to support activities.
Sectoral dialogues tend to pave the way for business and other operators by eliminating potential regulatory obstacles, and through raising awareness and facilitating contacts. Regular exchanges between specialists, officials and the business community serve to boost mutual understanding, and provide the substance for further developing the EU-China 'strategic partnership'. This is a stabilising element for the relationship which helps to counterbalance other more sensitive issues such as human rights, migration, and trade negotiations.
What does the future hold?
Most of the dialogues have been established over the past two to three years, and they reflect the massive growth in activity that characterises the relationship. Sectoral dialogues & agreements are expected to play an increasingly important role in building a privileged EU-China relationship with important benefits for both sides.
EU- China sectoral dialogues: What are the areas?
On 15 July, 2005, a Joint Declaration was signed between the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission, establishing a dialogue on agriculture between the two sides. The objective of the dialogue is to promote bilateral cooperation and to facilitate the communication on issues that may arise and work on an efficient solution. The working methods include regular meetings during which new legislation and regulations, new technologies, quality policies (including geographical indications and organic production) and any other topic of mutual interest, relating to agriculture, will be discussed. In October 2006, a two-day session took place in Brussels between experts on both sides. Of particular use was the fact that the meeting enabled Commission experts of three Directorates General - Agriculture, Trade, Health Matters and Consumer Protection – to speak jointly with their Chinese counterparts.
The need to develop a new framework for China-EU civil aviation relations was highlighted by a judgment of the European Court of Justice, in 2002. The Court ruled that the bilateral air services agreements between European Member States and third countries such as China run counter to European law if they discriminate against carriers from other Member States. This is the case under practically all existing bilateral air services agreements between EU Member States and third countries, including China. China has agreed to restore legal conformity through negotiating a single over-arching agreement that would bring bilateral agreements in line with Community law. Negotiations on this agreement started in 2005 and are expected to be concluded by 2006.
The Chinese side has furthermore shown strong interest in enhancing technical co-operation and assistance in a broad range of areas including aviation safety, security and air traffic management. A successful co-operation project in this area financed by the Commission and European and Chinese industry was in 2005 extended until-2006. A successful EU-China Aviation Summit, organised by the European Commission and the Chinese civil aviation authority CAAC, took place on 30/6 and 31/7 2005 in Beijing.
Competition policy is a crucial issue in the context of China's efforts to restructure its economy. China's large economy needs a sound competition regime. The fragmented domestic Chinese market needs improved regulation to create a level playing field for market operators and to accompany the reform of large inefficient state-owned enterprises. In the medium-term improved regulation should also alleviate the current risks of trade dumping and economic instability emanating from China. With this in mind, in May 2004 China and the EU agreed upon a permanent mechanism for consultation in this area. The dialogue will enhance the EU's technical and capacity building assistance to China in the area of competition policy with the aim of developing a proper Chinese competition regime which is shaped in the right way to fit the Chinese reality. The process is facilitated by the fact that the emerging Chinese competition system follows the "European model".
China is one of the EU's most important trading partners when it comes to consumer goods, and this relationship can only be expected to grow in the coming years. By developing a common understanding between Europe and China on product safety issues, a culture of mutual understanding and trust can be developed. The recent Memorandum of Understanding between the European Commission's DG for Health and Consumer Protection (SANCO) and the Chinese governmental agency for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) aims at enhancing the co-operation on these issues and to establish better communication and collaboration between the responsible authorities on product safety. A Working Group has been established between DG SANCO and AQSIQ to implement the different actions under the agreement.
Close co-operation between customs authorities is vital to facilitate trade and to help combat illegal activities such as fraud and counterfeiting. An agreement for EU-China customs co-operation was signed in December 2004; among other things it opens the way for inspection missions in both directions in order to ensure the effective enforcement of customs regulations.
The European Commission's new Erasmus Mundus programme came into force in 2004. It provides financing for students from third-countries to pursue post-graduate studies in Europe. Special 'windows' for China and other Asian countries have been set up to attract significant numbers of students from this region to study in Europe. Further ways of enhancing dialogue and co-operation in the field of education and culture are currently being explored.
On 5 September 2005, at the EU-China Summit in Beijing, Commissioner Vladimir Špidla signed with the Chinese Minister of Labour and Social Security, Tian Chengping, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on EU-China cooperation on Labour, Employment and Social Affairs. This MoU provides the framework for EU-China dialogue on areas such as social protection, social cohesion, labour legislation, employment, labour relations and social dialogue. Each side will visit the other at least once a year in Brussels and Beijing alternately. The first China-EU event under the MoU, a seminar on "Employment Promotion and Vocational Training", took place the day after the signing of the MoU. The next event will take place in Brussels in November 2006 and the theme will be "Labour Mobility in the EU and China". In addition, the EU will assist China in the modernisation of its social protection systems through a five-year EU-China Social Security Reform Cooperation Project that has started on 1 April 2006.
Energy – including nuclear energy
China's increasing appetite for energy has significant repercussions on global markets and on the environment. The energy dialogue has been in existence since 1994 and is one of the earliest sectoral dialogues. It takes the form of annual working group meetings and a bi-annual Conference on EU-China Energy Co-operation. Current subjects of discussion include energy policy and development strategy, the evolution of energy markets, and security of supply and sustainable development. At the recent EU-China summit a Memorandum of Understanding on transport and energy strategies was concluded. Concrete actions are envisaged in areas such as energy regulation, renewable energy (including alternative transport fuels), energy efficiency, natural gas, clean coal technology (near zero emissions) and other new technologies in the energy sector. The new EURATOM agreement with China focuses on research into the peaceful use of nuclear energy and grants researchers from both sides access to each other's facilities. It is particularly interesting for European researchers to work in new state-of-the-art Chinese facilities, at a time when older European research reactors will soon be phased out. The EU and China are both participating in the international ITER programme for the construction of an experimental controlled fusion reactor.
On 4 March 2005, the Commission's Directorate General for Transport and Energy (TREN) and the Chinese Ministry for Science and Technology (MOST) signed an Action Plan on Clean Coal and terms of reference for an Action Plan on Industrial Cooperation on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energies.
Chinese policy makers increasingly see environmental protection as a major challenge for the country and with the 11th Five Year Plan they have set some specific goals to reduce certain environmental pressures. China has an important global role to play in the area of environmental protection and climate change mitigation.
Over the last decade, contacts between the European Commission and the Chinese State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) have been intensified. The dialogue on environmental issues, which covers most of the environmental problems of concern in China, was upgraded to ministerial level in 2003. A substantial part of the EC/China financial assistance budget is allocated to environmental support programmes in response to the clear wish among policy makers in China to learn from EU experience. Co-operation and exchanges cover a wide range of environmental issues, from biodiversity, climate change and waste management to water and air pollution, vehicle emissions, environmental indicators, sustainable consumption and production and chemicals management.
The Joint EU-China Declaration on Climate Change and Partnership, adopted at the September 2005 summit, is a major achievement and adds the important component climate change to the policy cooperation between the EU and China. The partnership is characterized by a strong focus on concrete steps to be made in tackling the problems of climate change. The flagship project is the agreement to cooperate to build in China a near zero emission coals fired power plant before 2020. The technology will allow the use of coal while avoiding most of the CO2 being emitted. A Memorandum of Understanding commencing this project was signed in Shanghai in February 2006.
Food safety - Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues
Co-operation between China and the EC in this field can bring benefits to consumers both in the EU and China, and facilitate trade in agricultural goods. A Joint Technical Group was established in 2002 to deal with regulatory questions in this area. The recent Memorandum of Understanding between the European Commission's DG for Health and Consumer Protection (SANCO) and the Chinese governmental agency for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) aims at considerably enhancing co-operation on these issues and at establishing better communication and collaboration between the responsible authorities on food safety and SPS issues.
Global satellite navigation services
The European Galileo programme will provide high precision global satellite navigation services, an area in which China is keen to develop links with the EU. A co-operation agreement was concluded in October 2003 under which China has invested already € 65 million to the programme, the estimated total cost of which amounts to some €3-4 billion. A follow-up agreement between the Chinese Remote Sensing Centre and the Galileo Joint Undertaking was signed in October 2004, for the first time opening this Community undertaking to the full participation of a non-EU country. Chinese participation in the programme has resulted in tangible scientific and industrial cooperation projects. The next challenge for the two sides will be to review the cooperation in satellite navigation in light of new developments such as Galileo moving to the implementation phase.
The dialogue on information society started in 1997 and all exchanges in this wide area (Information Technology, telecoms, audiovisual) have now been grouped under one umbrella dialogue, covering both research cooperation and policy discussions. On the cooperation side the aim is to promote collaboration between European and Chinese research teams. This is seen as essential to ensure exploitation of research results at a global level and to build interoperable technology and standards solutions. It is of high value for the competitiveness of European industry, and is of great interest to the Chinese government. It also offers a means to reach consensus on global critical issues such as security and dependability. Key issues on the policy side include the respective developments in telecom policy and activities in areas such as e-Government, security of networks, and the promotion of e-Commerce. At the same time, the Dialogue offers the possibility for both sides to pursue concerns – for example for the EU this includes issue such as such as the assignment of 3G licences (third generation mobile communications) in China, delays in the emergence of a transparent regulatory framework for telecommunications, difficulties in accessing telecom services markets, and a number of standards issues. The dialogue is being backed up with a considerable number of technical assistance activities under the development cooperation programme (China-EU Information Society project, EU-China Trade Project) and has developed links to the Regulatory and Industrial Policy Dialogue (e.g. for telecom equipment certification issues) and the Intellectual Property Dialogue (for IP issues regarding telecom equipment).
Intellectual property rights (IPR)
China has made considerable efforts to adapt its IPR legislation to the 'Trade-Related aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement' (TRIPs) – a cornerstone of the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) legal framework. China became a WTO member in 2001. Further concrete action is however needed on the Chinese side to update its legislation on IPR and in particular to establish a more effective enforcement system for IPR. A formal dialogue on this was signed in October 2003. The Commission has been financing an important IPR technical co-operation programme. A follow-up programme, which includes many enforcement issues, is being prepared for funding under the 2005-06 financial assistance programme.
More info at:"EU-CHINA Dialogue on Intellectual Property" [12 KB]
Macro-economic policyand the regulation of financial markets
At the EU-China Summit in December 2004, an EU-China dialogue on macroeconomic and financial regulatory issues was launched. The first meeting took place in Brussels, on 22 February 2005, jointly chaired by, on the Commission side, Mr. Regling, Director General for Economic and Financial Affairs, and Mr. Schaub, Director General for Internal Market and Services, and on the Chinese side Mr. Li Yong, Vice Minister of Finance. On 15 May 2006, Commissioner McCreevy and Chinese Finance Minister Jin Renquing participated in the second dialogue, in Beijing. At both meetings the European Central Bank was represented by a board member.
This dialogue brings together in one single venue all Chinese key authorities on these matters for a thorough discussion with officials of the European Commission and the European Central Bank. Concerned on the Chinese side are the Ministry of Finance, the People's Bank of China (China's Central Bank) and the key Regulatory Commissions respectively for Banking, Insurance and Securities. On the macroeconomic side, issues discussed concern the macroeconomic situation, global imbalances and monetary and fiscal policies. On the regulatory side main topics are China's financial sector reform and further integration of the financial sector in the EU. Other issues that have been addressed during these full-day meetings concern accounting standards and corporate governance. The two sides have agreed to continue and further develop this dialogue and a third dialogue meeting will be held in Brussels in 2007.
In 2002, a maritime agreement was signed between the EC and its Member States and China to improve conditions for maritime transport carried out by EU and Chinese companies between the EU and China and to third countries. The agreement, later amended to cover the 10 new EU Member States who joined in 2004, promotes notably the freedom for both sides to provide maritime transport services and to have unrestricted access to ports and auxiliary services. It also deals with the commercial presence of shipping companies. Cooperation, notably regarding safety, security and training will now be extended to inland waterways and ports. Annual monitoring of the implementation of the agreement is taking place alternately in China and the EU.
China is facing considerable regional development disparities between the booming coastal regions, the underdeveloped Western parts of the country and the North East with its declining traditional heavy industry. There is a more general issue of income disparities, in particular the urban/rural divide.
The dialogue on regional policy provides a basis for sharing EU experiences in developing and implementing its regional policy, governance and partnership issues and other related topics of mutual interest. In addition, the role of EU regional policy in areas like competition policy and state aid rules, public procurement, transport and environment contributes to cooperation with China in these policy areas. The EU-China dialogue on regional policy should also help contributing to other dialogue topics as presented in this paper related to, for instance, trade, sustainable development and good governance. A first China-EU Regional Policy Seminar took place in Beijing, in May 2006.
Regulatory and Industrial Policy
The objective of the Regulatory Dialogue is to ensure regulatory convergence between the EU and China in the long term. This should help to eliminate obstacles to trade and investment. Both sides try to achieve this through a comprehensive system of consultation and information on technical regulation, standards, certification procedures and market surveillance systems implemented by the two parties. Exchanges take place on best regulatory practices. In result trade should be facilitated and the quality and safety of goods sold on both markets and elsewhere should further improve. The dialogue provides for annual meetings where major issues of common interest are discussed and future co-operation is planned. A wide scope of technical issues is dealt with in greater detail in 13 Working Groups. Subjects dealt with in these Working Groups concern conformity assessment, standardisation, technical barriers to trade (TBT/WTO), electrical and mechanical products, toys, textile, lighters, medical devices, pressure equipment, automobile standards, cosmetics and radiation of mobile phones.
The Industrial Policy Dialogue promotes and enhances mutual understanding and awareness of current and forthcoming policy approaches including sustainable development, legislation and related issues in the industrial sector with a view to increase coherence between EU and Chinese industrial policy. The Parties promote consultations, mutual understanding and transparency. Working groups have been established in three sectors (automobile, metals and textile).
See also: "Regulatory and industrial policy" [16 KB]
The EU-China dialogue on Science and Technology started in the early 1990s and was one of the first areas of cooperation between the European Commission and China. The first EU-China S&T agreement entered into force in late 1999 and it was was renewed in December 2004. Cooperation has increased substantially since the first S&T agreement was signed. Its aim was to promote mutually beneficial research activities in a variety of areas, such as food and environmental safety, the management of natural resources, the control of infectious diseases etc. Today, this cooperation shows growing dynamism as is demonstrated, for instance, by the participation of Chinese partners in more than 100 research projects funded by the Commission's Framework Programme for research.
China is rapidly becoming one of the most active actors on the international research scene and in several areas it is a world leader – examples of the latter are nano materials and energy components. The momentum gathered from both the launch of the 7th Framework Programme on the EU side (2007-2013) and China's 11th Five Year Plan (2006-2011) together with the forthcoming EU-China "S&T Year" may be used to review the present cooperation scheme. It would also seem a good occasion to launch new strategic projects in areas of mutual interest and to seek to increase the number of Europeans in projects funded by China.
The Commission and the Chinese government also launched a dialogue on cooperation in space science, applications and technology. Managers of aerospace companies and research institutions attended a workshop in April 2004. High level meetings took place in July 2006 to explore ways how to implement the dialogue among the various parties concerned. Different fields of cooperation were reviewed, such as for instance earth observation, in particular with regard to the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES).
This dialogue covers multilateral issues of strategic interest such as the Doha Development Agenda, issues related to regional integration and free-trade areas, and key bilateral issues. The dialogue focuses on strategic issues and therefore complements the institutional bilateral meetings (which cover, inter alia, trade), such as the Economic and Trade Working Group and the Joint Committee. The first high level Trade Policy Dialogue took place in June 2004. The second one in July 2006.
To pre-empt potential conflicts after the abolition of textile quotas on 1 January 2005, the textiles trade dialogue examines ways in which a smooth transition to the quota-free textiles trade environment can be assured. The process contributed to the textiles agreements forged in the summer of 2005. The Commission expects the dialogue to lead to practical results which will have tangible and positive effects on trade in textiles and clothing between the two sides, based on fair and healthy competition in the marketplace. In addition to the government-to-government dialogue, an EU-China business dialogue is also being set up.
Transport(in general)
A Memorandum of Understanding on transport and energy strategies was concluded with the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission which will allow for the institutionalization of cooperation in the transport sector. It was in particular agreed to launch cooperation on road and railway transport.
See also: Current Architecture of EU-China Relations Political Dialogue [13 KB]


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Tuesday, 8 November 2011
The brand new—and deliberately unmarked-- offices of the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in the 20th arrondissement of Paris were destroyed by arson hours before a special issue, renamed Charia Hebdo, hit the newsstands on November 2nd. All 75,000 copies were sold out by noon (a rerun went on sale two days later, bringing total sales to 200,000). One or more firebombs aimed precisely at the IT department wiped out the satirical magazine's nerve center. Charlie Hebdo's Facebook page had been bombarded with threats, insults, and koranic verses since it pre-released the front page with a caricature of guest editor Mohamed promising 100 lashes to anyone who doesn't die laughing. As the offices went up in flames, the hacked website was plastered with a photo of Mecca packed with pilgrims, and the declaration, in English, "No god but Allah / Mohamed is the Messenger of Allah."
This shocking attack on press freedom inspired a rush of near-unanimous solidarity in French society. Unambiguously labeling the act an "attentat," meaning "terrorist attack," Interior Minister Claude Guéant promised to find and severely punish the perpetrator(s). Various Muslim authorities condemned "all violence," reiterated their disapproval of caricatures of Mohamed and other insults to Islam, and vowed to defend their religion as law-abiding citizens, in the courts.
Editorial director Charb posed meekly in front of the smoking ruins of his offices, displaying the front page that provoked those devouring flames. Interviewed by Rue89 he said that real Muslims don't burn newspapers. Elsewhere his colleague, Pelloux, opined: "As far as I know, there is no koranic law against laughter."
Charlie Hebdo collaborators cannot declare often enough that they have nothing against Islam. In fact, Charia Hebdo was inspired by solidarity with kindred souls, the Facebook-Twitter generation whose Arab Springtime struggle for democracy is now jeopardized by Islamists determined to replace the dictatorship of strongmen with the tyranny of shari'a law. Forty percent of newly liberated Tunisians—including expatriates who voted in France-- chose Nhada!
The Hebdo staff's dismay at the torching of their offices suggests they may have underestimated the dangers of sentencing shari'a to a thousand satirical lashes. Hassen Chalgoumi--the Franco-Tunisian imam mercilessly targeted by the extreme-extremist-Islamist Sheikh Yassin Brigade--warns Europe against the dangers of political Islam. "Why do the Americans rejoice in the victory of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, why did France play into the hands of al-Qaeda in Libya…?" French participation in the NATO operation in Libya was, surprisingly enough, approved by a broad bipartisan majority in France. The peace marches of 2003 are long forgotten. No voices were raised to deplore the use of force and insist on a political solution. Guttural cries of allahu akhbar (Allah is the greatest), summary executions, the destruction of Sirte, and the savage murder of Mouamar Gaddafi did not visibly disturb the peace of French society.
The term "Islamist" was coined to distinguish "radicals" from a "harmless" mainstream Islam that has every right to prosper in the bosom of our democratic societies. Then the aggregate term "moderate Islamists" was crafted to deny that Turkey is on a slippery backward slope. Quickly resigned to the inevitable domination of the Nhada party in Tunisia, commentators served up another dose of "moderate Islamists." Now we have "extremist Islamists" throwing firebombs at a French weekly. And moderate Muslims promising to plead their anti-blasphemy case in court.
We saw the same configuration in 2006 when Charlie Hebdo reproduced the Mohamed cartoons published by Denmark's Jyllands Posten that provoked mayhem and murder worldwide. The weekly was acquitted in a case brought against it by the Grande Mosquée de Paris and the UOIF (French branch of the Muslim Brotherhood) but the judgment specified that the right to publish the "admittedly offensive" turban bomb image in the context of a worldwide controversy should not be construed as license to disregard religious sensitivies.
This time around, French media, including the newspaper of record, le Monde, have amply reproduced and displayed material from Charia Hebdo. Not so the BBC's Paris correspondent Charles Chazan, who explicitly rolled up the front page to show the banner while hiding the offensive image.
A half dozen publications offered refuge to the homeless editorial staff. They chose the left wing daily Libération where they were welcomed with juvenile excitement and given free reign to do the front page and a double spread in the next day's paper. This week's issue of Charlie Hebdo, we are promised, will appear on schedule and, we expect, will respond forcefully to those who think they can silence the free press in France.
Last spring, anti-shari'a authors extensively cited in the Manifesto posted by Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik were accused in some quarters of inspiring his hateful crime. Today, in virtue of solidarity with the endangered freedom-loving democrats of the Arab Spring countries, it is permissible to expose the dangers of shari'a without being labeled Islamophobe. And, says Charlie Hebdo, we can make fun of shari'a with all the vulgarity we exercise on any subject that tickles our minds. Perhaps. But it would be wise to go to those anti-shari'a authors and find out whether there is, in fact, a koranic law against laughter.
Because the day might come when newspaper offices in France will have to be protected by the police like Jewish day schools community centers, and synagogues.
Posted on 11/08/2011 5:08 AM by Nidra Poller
8 Nov 2011
Mary Jackson
I'm glad I'm not the only one who translated "100 coups de fouet, si vous n'êtes pas mort de rire!" as "100 lashes if you don't die laughing" rather than "die of laughter", which English people don't really say.
Not that this matters in the general context.
The satire is so mild compared with what Jesus turns his other cheek to every day.
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Peak Oil Review – 19 Sep 2016
Oil prices continued to fall last week, closing Friday in New York at $43.39 and $46 in London. There was considerable news tending to push prices lower. OPEC and the IEA revised their forecasts for the next year and concluded that the imbalance in the oil markets would continue into 2017 vs. predictions that the gap would close this fall. This coupled with increased Iranian production; the possibility that Libya and Nigeria oil production will soon rebound; the report that Bakken shale oil production grew in July and EIA's admission that US oil production is not falling as rapidly as forecast; all contributed to the weaker oil markets.


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text: This countdown focuses on a persons mouth as they chew various objects. I juxtaposed edible food sounds with non-edible objects that create interesting sound/image relationships. Through targeting a savvy audience, I took a mundane act like eating and showed this at an extreme close-up of a person's mouth as they consume different things creating an eerie yet comical impression.


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- Text Size:
- ASmall Text
- AMedium Text
- ALarge Text
Two people were killed when a motorcycle and car collided Saturday night.
The wreck happened at 8 p.m. in on Highway 25 near North Spear Road in Greenville County.
Troopers said a Harley-Davidson motorcycle was traveling on Highway 25 when it collided with an Oldsmobile.
Both people on the motorcycle were killed, authorities said.
The two people in the Oldsmobile were taken to the hospital with injuries.


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What To Do When Your CD Matures
|Email Print
We put our emergency fund into a CD ladder and every month one of those certificates of deposit matures and is automatically renewed. As an added bonus, ING Direct, where our CDs live, gives us a CD rollover bonus whenever we renew (currently the bonus is 0.15% on CDs of at least 12-months long). For us, the decision is simple. It's a CD ladder and you simply renew the CD each month for the 12 month term.
What if you're money isn't in a CD because it's part of a CD ladder, what should you do?
My goal is always to maximize the interest rate while minimizing my headache. Our CD ladder isn't at ING Direct because they offered the best 12 month CD rates (though they currently do, especially after you factor in the rollover bonus or the new money bonus), it's because it was the simplest online savings account available when we set up the ladder.
1. Decide whether you want to save this money in a CD. If you intend to buy a house or a car and need the cash for a downpayment, don't put it back into a CD. If you really want to put it back into a CD, consider a no-penalty CD where you can withdraw your money at anytime.
If you still want to save it, you have two options:
- Renew the CD at your current bank
- Open a new CD at another bank
2. Review interest rates to see if your current bank is offering competitive rates. If your bank still offers the best rates, then then simplest way is the best way – renew it at your current bank. If your bank doesn't offer the best rate, you have to decide whether opening a new account and transferring the money, which will take several days, is worth the different in interest.
You can use this CD interest calculator to help you decide. 0.5% APY difference on a 12 month CD is only $5 on $1,000 in savings. That's $5 before you take away part of it for taxes.
Those are the steps I take whenever I'm deciding what to do with one of my non-laddered emergency fund CDs mature.{ 22 comments, please add your thoughts now! }


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Getting four saves from goalkeeper Danny Cepero -- including a beauty with 20 or so minutes remaining -- the Harrisburg City Islanders battled the Richmond Kickers to a scoreless draw in a USL Second Division game Saturday night at University of Richmond Stadium.
Harrisburg (5-1-6, 4-1-6 in USL-2) recorded the tie -- despite playing one man down for the final 75 minutes. The draw, the City Islanders' record sixth of the season, ended a five-game winning streak but stretched Harrisburg's unbeaten run to eight games.
The City Islanders will host USL-2 rival Crystal Palace Baltimore in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Tuesday night (7:05) at Skyline Sports Complex.
Perhaps the pivotal play came in the 13th minute, when the City Islanders' Moffat Oduor was issued a caution for a hard tackle on Richmond's Mike Burke. When Sascha Gorres confronted the Harrisburg captain -- and the 30-year-old Kenyan responded with a push -- Oduor was carded a second time and ejected.
Burke, injured on the play, left the game in the 28th minute. He had been USL-2's latest player of the week after recording two assists in a 4-1 victory over Bermuda last weekend.
According to Harrisburg skipper Bill Becher, Cepero made two or three "really good saves." None, though, were better than the masterful one that came late in the second half. On that play, Cepero parried a Stanley Nyazamba rip off the crossbar to keep the game scoreless.
And, obviously, that's where things ended.
RESTARTS -- Harrisburg won the season series 1-0-1. ... The City Islanders, now 0-2-1 lifetime in Richmond, were making their first visit to central Virginia since beating the Kickers (8-7) in a penalty-kick shootout in last year's USL-2 final. ... Becher said Cepero injured a quadriceps muscle late, but remained in the crease. His status for Tuesday night's match is unknown. ... The City Islanders are now tied for fourth place with Western Mass, which plays again on Sunday at Bermuda. Harrisburg will have two games in hand on the Pioneers at the end of the weekend. ... F/M Almir Barbosa, serving the mandatory one-game suspension that accompanied his ejection from last weekend's 4-0 win over Real Maryland, was unavailable. ... M Milton Blanco, still trying to earn a contract with a team in Mexico, also was unavailable. ... Harrisburg's next USL-2 contest will be Saturday at Skyline against Wilmington.
Western Mass 1, Bermuda 0
Wilmington 1, Pittsburgh 1
Charlotte 1, Real Maryland 0


text:
Hi, I use simple subforums and after I installed the main rewrite advanced mod (without installing subforum rewrite mod) it appears to rewrite subforums correctly because I can access them via links on the home page.
I hear that the Simple Sub Forum phpBB SEO mod Rewrite mod is needed, but what does it do that isn't already being done? dcz said "It is required to activate url rewriting on the sub forums urls", but as I said sub forums seem to be working like any other forums even without installing this mod. Is there something happening behind the scenes that makes installing this mod necessary?
Please let me know if it's something I should do and what it will do.
Thank you


text:
|Cassian Vespertine
AC: 22; Touch 17; FF 15
CMD: 28 (30 v Trip)
Fort +8; Ref +6; Will +4
Speed: 30ft
Abilities: Acrobatic Dodge [7/day] (+14)
Equipped: Mithral Dueling Sword
Attack/Damage: BAB +4/-, STR +5/+5, Focus +1/-, Spec -/+2, Mwk +1/-, Expertise -1/+2 Dodge AC; Total: +10/+7 and +2 Dodge AC
You fool! I warned you. I told you to stay behind and guard my flank. Now you're set to make a liar of me.
With his off hand, Cassian begins to reach into the only unfastened pocket of his sash to retrieve a small vial of weak healing potion but is interrupted by another fierce swing of the Lieutenant blood-blackened axe. Cassian makes another grab for the potion as he gracelessly attempts to dodge the thrall's wicked attacks. As he passes over his associate's body he drops the vial onto his chest and lashes out against his attacker's legs defensively, bringing it to the ground.
Move: Over Samuel's body but staying adjacent to the LT, Retrieve potion during movement; Free: Drop Potion in Samuel's square; Standard: Trip attack on LT Thrall.
Acrobatics v LT's CMD(18): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15 (Avoid AoO)
CMB(trip): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20
"Get up boy," Cassian yells at the unconscious man bleeding out on the floor. "I can't have you die on the floor of a g****mned tavern! Now wake up, choke down that potion and deliver that letter to your mother!"
Already the head thrall was stirring and Cassian knew there was only so much he could do to hold off it's attack on the helpless man on the ground.
if you only listened to me, you fool...
**AoO When LT tries to stand**
Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
|Leon Cross
Do we know the relative strenght of a necrotech with three mechanithralls? We have an idea but if Leon and Aurora already know its suicide no matter what I have a different idea. ;)
|DM Corerue
@Leon and Aurora: Having lived in Cryx you know that there is varying ranks of Necrotechs and that Cryxians rule through strength, mainly arcane, and fear. As to being able to tell how high ranking a Necrotech is by sight is a lot harder, you won't know until he starts casting and from there you can make Arcana checks.
The Mechanithralls are different, you know them as being slow, tough and packing a hell of a punch. But in such cramped quarters they can only come at you two at a time unless they catch you at an Alcove. So depending on if they hear you or not you may catch them before they can move against you.
The Map is something like this~
This Necrotech is of the lower ranks, it doesn't carry the staff that a higher ranked Necrotech would, but it does have a third arm that it is using to inscribe runes on the dying slaves skull so that it can transform them into a Thrall. A necrotech without a staff is more vulnerable and less capable as a caster.
|DM Corerue
Donovan Lynch: Apologies for the wait my friend and here goes!
At eleven bells you summoned forth invisible plates of mage armor to protect you and waited the coming confrontation with the Dragons.
Donovans Perception DC 20 (Success) 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Stealth 1d20 ⇒ 5
Stealth 1d20 ⇒ 3
Stealth 1d20 ⇒ 10
Stealth 1d20 ⇒ 7
Stealth 1d20 ⇒ 8
Stealth 1d20 ⇒ 10
Donovan Perception #2 1d20 ⇒ 15
reflex 1d20 ⇒ 15
Reflex 1d20 ⇒ 17
reflex 1d20 ⇒ 4
?????????????????????????????1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21
?????????????????????????????3d6 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 1) + 3 + (5) = 17
?????????????????????????????2d6 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (4, 4) + 3 + (3) = 14
?????????????????????????????2d6 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (3, 3) + 3 + (4) = 13
The thunderston catches them off guard with a cacophonous BOOM! Due to the cramped conditions of the hallway beyond only a few of them are caught in the blast and soon you can hear someone shouting in Qinite in the hall. Obviously whoever it was, was urging the Dragons forward as the first three, who are all deafened stumble there way into the room. Then something strange happens...
Your shutters explodes inward from something striking them from outside and the first Dragon is struck in the chest milliseconds after the shutters shatter. The second thug stumbles as well, reaches for your nightstand and collapses into it before tumbling to the floor. The lone candle you left was snuffed out by his fall and the third thug has raised a hand to his chest and appears to be injured severely.
They keep coming though stepping over their fallen and heading straight for your bed. With knives drawn they stab into the fluff you had waiting for them and 'Mr. Chatty' shrieks in shock at your deception.
Dragons Perception Rolls 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Donovan Please roll a Stealth check, if you exceed their Perception rolls then you get a surprise round, if not then roll Initiative
Dragon's initiative 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
|Leon Cross
|Donovan Lynch
Donovan almost emptied his pistol at whoever--or whatever--burst through the shutters, but held his fire. Not only did it appear to be on his side, he had more pressing problems to deal with...namely, the bunch of knife-wielding wogs who just smashed their way into his place.
Deciding up close and personal was the best way to handle this, Donovan leapt up from where he was beside the stove, moving in to attack from behind with those weapons he knew best of all...his hands, feet, and body.
Surprise Round:
Move action = close to hand-to-hand range
Standard action = Trip on Mr. Chatty
maneuver: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
(if he goes down, AoO thanks to Vicious Stomp)
attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
damage: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (5, 3) + 5 = 13
1st Round:
initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Full Round action = Flurry of Blows. 1st attack is on the prone Mr. Chatty; 2nd is on one of the other goons, and will be a Stunning Fist.
(if for whatever reason I was unable to Trip him in the surprise round, I will instead put both attacks on Mr. Chatty, and the first will be a Stunning Fist; my DC is 14.)
attack #1: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
damage #1: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (3, 2) + 5 = 10
attack #2: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
damage #2: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (4, 6) + 5 = 15
1.) I added my sneak attack damage to all attacks, figuring they were flat-footed due to my ambush. If this is inaccurate, we can retcon the damage as lower.
2.) I held off on posting narrative until I knew the outcomes of my rolls; not having stats for these guys, I wasn't sure. Feel free to narrate Donovan's actions in your next post. The Vicious Stomp AoO is obviously a boot to the head, but I'd like the Stunning Fist attack to be a headbutt. :)
|Aurora Cross
What is the lighting like in this place? Assuming dark since this is a ship of undead.Also what do you mean a +4 for each alcove? A +4 to the dc of the thralls or a +4 bonus? Also is that per alcove? Cause that's a lot of alcoves....
Initiative:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Umd:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24There now we are in complete darkness anyway.
Stealth:1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 171d20 + 16 ⇒ (14) + 16 = 301d20 + 16 ⇒ (14) + 16 = 30
hero point reroll1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36
|Leon Cross
Stealth:1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 291d20 + 16 ⇒ (10) + 16 = 261d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22
Thrall1 Perception:1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 - 4 = 51d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 8 - 4 = 221d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 12 - 4 = 13blinded from darkness
Thrall2 Perception:1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 - 4 = 201d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 8 - 4 = 231d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 12 - 4 = 14blinded from darkness
Thrall3 Perception:1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 - 4 = 31d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 8 - 4 = 51d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 12 - 4 = 9blinded from darkness
Well ;)
initiative:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
|Leon Cross
The thralls don't even notice the twin shadows that creep along the hallway silent as death, thoughts dark. Leon takes the left side his eyes on the necrotech as Aurora stalks the mechanithrall on the right.
As soon as we have stats for these guys we'll do a full attack post :)
Realizing her perilous situation, Mirrianissa hurls herself at one of the oncoming monstrosities, hoping to inflict as much damage as possible before they can respond.
Charge, pounce if both claw attacks hit
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Rake1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Bite1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
|DM Corerue
Diyeana Stormwin:
The butler and the nursemaid return after several minutes, Adrian returns in an aged suit of armor and a mechanical sword sheathed on his warn heavy leather belt. At your surprised expression he looks indignant for a moment before raising his nose proudly. "I wasn't always a Butler Lady Stormwin."
Agnes returns with a cleaver and still clad in her serving clothes. She gives Adrian a wide eyed look, looking up and then down. "Ye Gods Adrian wherever did you hide that?" He responds with a proud sniff and moved to stand in front of your Aunt. "Can't tell you all my Secrets Agnes, or else I would be a real bore." He leads the way with your Aunt directing your movements, her rifle laid across her shoulder and a hand on her pistol.
The Defense Force try, unsuccessfully, to turn your group around and eventually give up altogether. You pass several small platoons of their men marching around and looking for all appearances to be a small but intimidating force. Half an hour passes and nothing appears to threaten the nobles district, a gargantuan airship has also came floating lazily overhead. The ships outer hull has iron plates riveted to its side and it appears to be an aged ship of the line. What class though your unsure of.
The line of dragonriders that had screamed over head many minutes ago appear to have met resistance out in the open water. Several airships by the looks of it, as to what types your not sure. Between the gouts of flame coming the dragonriders and the ever enveloping darkness it was hard to make out any real details. But its not long after they engage the ships that the dragonriders send many of them into the sea engulfed in flames.
You finally make your way to the gates and are met by a familiar face. Joey is currently arguing with some of the guardsmen of the Defense Force who are keeping the gated district firmly shut to the young mechanic. Upon seeing you he smiles and leans over the shorter guardsman. "Miss Stormwin! Smitty sent m-" He's cut off as the guardsman slams him in the gut with the but end of a billy club, backed by his fellow they shove Joey back out of the gate without so much as a second glance to you and your aunts party.
Your Aunt being the firm woman that she is sees the recognition on your face and moves to engage the guardsmen in a heated discussion. With the Help of Agnes and Adrian she successfully bully's them away from the gate momentarily.
|DM Corerue
|DM Corerue
Cassian Vespertine
Your second strike shakes the LT to its core, its runes are fractured, its bones are bleeding black ichor all over the floor in which you stand. Despite its injuries the Thrall raises its axe and lets off a death rattle, as though it was laughing at your efforts.
SA: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
You easily dodge the shaking lieutenants poor swing and as it buries its axe in the floor it turns and looks at you. Hissing defiantly as it waited for its coming end...
Some of the patrons were overpowering the thrall warriors, the barkeep is reloading and the fist fighting monk shatters his opponent with a a backhand blow. As it falls apart his comrade looks angry, pulling a pouch off his belt and tossing it to the shorter fighter.
Thrall Warrior
NE Medium undead
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +0
AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 17 (+5 armor, +1 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 4
Fort +0, Ref +3, Will +2
Base Atk +0; CMB +2; CMD 14
DR 5/bludgeoning; Immune cold, undead traits
Weapons - Heavy Mace, Longsword or battleaxe
Thrall Lieutenant
NE Medium undead
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +0
AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 17 (+5 armor, +1 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 2/18
Fort +0, Ref +3, Will +3
Base Atk +2; CMB +4; CMD 16
DR 5/bludgeoning; Immune cold, undead traits
Waepons - Greatsword [ dice]2d6+1[ dice]
|DM Corerue
|Cassian Vespertine
AC: 20; Touch 15; FF 15
CMD: 26 (28 v Trip)
Fort +8; Ref +6; Will +4
Speed: 30ft
Abilities: /cannot use this round/ Acrobatic Dodge [7/day] (+14)
Equipped: Dueling Sword [Two-Handed]
Attack/Damage: BAB +4/-, STR +5/+7, Focus +1/-, Spec -/+2, Mwk +1/-; Total: +11/+9
Clearly enjoying his advantage over the thrall, Cassian quits his defensive stance and moves in against his foe with a cocky grin. Deftly leaning out of the axeman's clumsy swings, he steps inside and gets a foot behind the Lieutenant's and hammers into him with both hands on the hilt of his sword, knocking him helplessly back onto the ground.
CMB(trip): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18
With his enemy right where he wants him, Cassian puts on the theatrics to a full degree. Juggling his spinning blade effortlessly all the while keeping a steady eye on the broken thrall working to regain his feet. when it gets to it's knees Cassian's display comes to a close with a two-handed overhead chop, dividing the abomination into two uneven pieces. "I'll not give you the honor of dying on your feet."
**AoO to stand**
Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
I can foresee a lot of interesting synergy between Cassian and Donovan. We'll make for some good flanking buddies.
|Leon Cross
surprise round1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16...swing and a miss
Round 1
Attack:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Save for drow posion...1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13why couldn't he have rolled a 6?
Damage1d8 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (8) + 8 + (5) = 21
When Leon comes within arms reach of the necrotech he strikes out with his katana, and in an attempt to quickly disable the necrotech he had applied poison to his blade. Unfortunately in his haste he hadn't noticed the pooling blood and momentarily loses his footing. Luckily for the deadly assassin he recovers in time to turn his stumble into a spinning slash slicing into the tech. Who unfortunately shows more resistance than Leon had guessed and he resists the poison. He curses as he removes one hand from the blades hilt ready for any retaliatory strikes.
|Aurora Cross
|DM Corerue
This time your blade penetrates the creatures thin garments, piercing its blackened heart and ending its existence forever. At least you hoped forever. As it collapsed Bera snorts loudly and pushes forward with a guttural laugh, sounding as though she were strangely enjoying this fight for survival as she slashing the abomination in front of her with her tribal weapon. Her opponent shrieks and slashes back at her feebly, unable to find a soft spot in the brawny goat creatures defenses.
Bera's Attack w/Macuahuitl 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Damage 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
You opponent turns from you and focuses on Bera as well, savagely biting her and slashing her along her side. Despite her injuries Bera is able to resist the soulless's paralytic touch and shrugs off the disease it bares as she continue to fight on Valiantly.
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Bite 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Claw 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Bera Fort Saves
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Back to you Ael!
AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 22
Fort +2, Ref +2, Will +5
Current Hp~
-2/22 - Destroyed by Ael
-4/20 - Destroyed by Ael
|DM Corerue
Cassian Vespertine
You two together is gonna be a fun but painful combination for me! Feel pity for your Dm. D: J/K ;) good luck you pair of sluggers! >:)
On its back the Thrall looks up at you defiantly, its empty eye sockets were twin orbs of green necrotite flames. It hissed, another death rattle escaping from between its teeth. Not long after the other thrall warriors give off the same rattle just as their LT stands and takes a final blow from your blade.
AS its skull crumbles away, its runes start to fade. The dark lines that formed them glowed strangely for a moment before completely vanishing. As the LT collapses to the floor, its bones quickly turning to dust before your very eyes, the Thrall warriors that had accompanied it collapses soon after. Their runes fading away and bones turning to dust.
With the thralls destroyed the battered tavern patrons stand in shock, some crying others sobbing over the fallen friends and family. The Barkeep yanks a broken blade from his shoulder and hopped over the bar with his rifle still in hand. "Blazing hellfire! Where in the blazes did they come from? The city is supposed to be safe..." He waves at his cowering staff. "Secure the door you useless gits! lest we let more of them catch us by surprise."
Samuel Quinn remains unresponsive, his skin pale as he continues to bleed out from his injury.
|Diyeana Stormwin
Diyeana Stormwin:
The butler and the nursemaid return after several minutes, Adrian returns in an aged suit of armor and a mechanical sword sheathed on his warn heavy leather belt. At your surprised expression he looks indignant for a moment before raising his nose proudly. "I wasn't always a Butler Lady Stormwin."
Agnes returns with a cleaver and still clad in her serving clothes. She gives Adrian a wide eyed look, looking up and then down. "Ye Gods Adrian wherever did you hide that?" He responds with a proud sniff and moved to stand in front of your Aunt. "Can't tell you all my Secrets Agnes, or else I would be a real bore." He leads the way with your Aunt directing your movements, her rifle laid across her shoulder and a hand on her pistol.
The Defense Force try, unsuccessfully, to turn your group around and eventually give up altogether. You pass several small platoons of their men marching around and looking for all appearances to be a small but intimidating force. Half an hour passes and nothing appears to threaten the nobles district, a gargantuan airship has also came floating lazily overhead. The ships outer hull has iron plates riveted to its side and it appears to be an aged ship of the line. What class though your unsure of.
The line of dragonriders that had screamed over head many minutes ago appear to have met resistance out in the open water. Several airships by the looks of it, as to what types your not sure. Between the gouts of flame coming the dragonriders and the ever enveloping darkness it was hard to make out any real details. But its not long after they engage the ships that the dragonriders send many of them into the sea engulfed in flames.
You finally make your way to the gates and are met by a familiar face. Joey is currently arguing with some of the guardsmen of the Defense Force who are keeping the gated district firmly shut to the young mechanic. Upon seeing you he smiles and leans over the shorter guardsman. "Miss Stormwin! Smitty sent m-" He's cut off as the guardsman slams him in the gut with the but end of a billy club, backed by his fellow they shove Joey back out of the gate without so much as a second glance to you and your aunts party.
Your Aunt being the firm woman that she is sees the recognition on your face and moves to engage the guardsmen in a heated discussion. With the Help of Agnes and Adrian she successfully bully's them away from the gate momentarily.
Smiling her gratitude at the distraction provided by her aunt her the others, Diyeana quickly darts to the gate and opens it. Grabbing Joey by the arm, she yanks him in, shuts the gate and quickly leads the young mechanic away from the eyes of the arguing guards. Once she has him safely out of easy sight she asks him intently, placing a gentle hand on his face "You alright sugar? Them guards was outta line hitting you like that, but I suppose it's understandable them being all cranky and outta sorts what with this attack and all. But I ain't seen none of it yet! We're too protected here in the nobles compound. But listen to me ramble! Tell what you came here ta tell me honey. It's not Smitty is it? He's not hurt??"
|DM Corerue
Donovan Lynch
The Qinite thug never sees it coming, the air is knocked out of him as he hits the floor and your vicious stomp breaks his jaw. He spits blood on your floor as you unleash your deadly abilities among his remaining gang members.
1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
The Burukamin proved to be quick on there feet though, but despite their best efforts their leader was felled by another vicious blow to the face. As he slipped into unconsciousness your fist found the wounded thug, sending him rolling over your bed as you broke his injured rib. The remaining two thugs wielded there weapons at you. One had a knife and the other a shoddy looking club, these guys were amateurs. That was until the smallest of the thugs made an excellent attempt to grapple you, but unlike you he lacked the training you have received and you easily counter him. His lack of training allowed you to strike back!
SA: Attempt to grapple Donovan 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Please roll an AoO
The Second Thug sidesteps, allowing his compatriot to distract you as he slashed at you with his knife.
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Despite his attempts though his knife is deflected by your invisible armor and the thug stares in amazement as the air itself appears to be protecting you.
Back to you Donovan!
|Donovan Lynch
Donovan's lips were peeled back in a brutal grin as his boot connected with the arrogant Qinite leader's mouth. There was just something so satisfying about showing a bully he wasn't half as hard as he thought he was. Before the man could rise, a hard right cross put him back down, out of the blue and into the black. Donovan's backhand blow that knocked the other one sprawling seemed almost casual, but had all the force of his powerful shoulder behind it.
As the others surrounded him with weapons, he danced lightly on his feet, his contempt showing on his face. These louts might be fine at intimidating shopkeepers and beating up old men, but against a seasoned veteran--particularly one well-versed in close-quarters mayhem--they were hopelessly outclassed.
The smaller one made a decent move, trying for a choke hold...but Donovan had seen it before, and was far too experienced at wrestling to be outdone by a gutter-rat. He slammed his head back, feeling it connect with the ganger's face, and sending him reeling backward with a broken nose. It did put him off his stride enough for one of them to get in a lucky slash with the knife...it might have caused a decent gash, if not for his magical protection. Donovan inwardly gave thanks to the nameless war-wizard who had taught him a few tricks with wands, when they were stuck in a trench somewhere trying to ignore the artillery.
He feinted low on the knife man, then delivered a solid one-two combination that knocked blood and teeth from the Qinite's mouth and put him on the floor with a concussion.
AoO: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
crit confirm: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
crit damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Full-round Action: Flurry of blows. I'm thinking I took down the little guy who grappled me (thanks to that timely critical), so I'll put both on the knife-artist.
attack #1: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
damage #1: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
attack #2: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
damage #2: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Since 23 points put down the leader, I'm guessing that 20 should put down Mr. Knifey. I don't know if the guy I hit with Stunning Fist is out or not, but I'd like to spare a glance to know...likewise if 15 points is good enough to take out the little wrestler.
If both of those guys are down...then that just leaves Mr. Cudgel here, and I will grapple him next turn. :)
Again, eager to thin the monstrosities' ranks, I strike toward the creature injured by Bera:
attack 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
|DM Corerue
The first two Soulless that had been attacking you are dead and the remaining two were the ones that were in back initially. When you killed Bera's opponent she stepped forward and hacked the soulless that had been in back.
on a map it would be something like this~
] - Wall
A - You
B - Bera
S - Soulless
x - Empty Space
I will reroute your roll to the one in front of you do to bein unclear. Sorry about that. ^^;
|Cassian Vespertine
"Blazing hellfire! Where in the blazes did they come from? The city is supposed to be safe..."
"Does that really matter now?" Cassian replies insolently as he wipes the tar-like substance from his sword and slips it back into it's sheath. He leans over the borderline amputee and attempts to assess whether or not he is still alive.
Heal: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Though his pulse was weak it was still identifiable. Dropping his knees into the bioslime on the floor, Cassian props the man's head up, pops the bloody potion vial open with his thumb and slowly empties it down Samuel's gullet. "C'mon you sonofab****h. It's not too late for you."
Cure Light Wounds [CL 1]: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
"What did I tell you?" Cassian ask the boy's body scornfully. Collecting his potion he begins to stand but stops abruptly and reaches into Samuel's cold wet pocket to retrieve his mother's letter. Although it's edges were stained red, the address was still legible and he could only hope the same could be said of the text inside. "When this is over, I'll deliver this for you," he assures the corpse as he stuffs into his inside breast pocket.
Rising to his feet, Cassian takes a second to absorb the scenery before issuing commands to survivors. "Don't stop at the door. You'll want to board up the windows and stair case as well; use the tables and chairs to plug all entryways and exits. There are plenty of people still upstairs in their rooms; you'll want to get them downstairs and into your wine cellar - if you have one - immediately. Strip these thralls of their weapons and give them to every able bodied person in the building." He moves towards the nearest window as he speaks and peeks outside from behind the curtain.
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
"I can't say for sure how long you'll be stuck inside this building so you'll need to wrap your fallen in bedsheets and store them in one of the rooms upstairs to avoid the spread of disease." And to stretch whatever morale you have left. "There will be a time to properly mourn your losses but now is not it. They've given their lives for your protection, honor their deaths by seeing this night through."
Now standing in the center of the room Cassian takes a moment to make eye contact with everyone in the room who had been listening. "These aren't suggestions people. If you're planning on living to see the sun, start blockading the door. Now!"
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Pointing at the apathetic beauty, "You. Go upstairs and console the families in hiding. These people need to be united and you have a good face for diplomacy. 你明白我說什麼?"
|DM Corerue
Your opponent shrieks as your blade finds purchase and pierces its necrotic skin. A black tar like substance leaks from the hole you've just made in its side and the ghoulish creature turns its jaundiced eyes to look at you balefully.
Bera's Attack w/Macuahuitl 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Confirm?! 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Damage 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (5, 7) + 8 = 20
As you distract your opponent Bera spins her tribal weapon and swings it with all her might, splitting the ghoulish creature from groin to forehead, spraying the floor and walls in the creatures black blood. As the corpse falls to the floor in two halves the remaining ghoul throws its head back and screams in rage, before throwing itself at Bera once more. Biting, clawing and seeking nothing more then her gruesome death...
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Bite 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Claw 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Claw 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
IT bites into her shoulder, causing the large warriors blood to flow and adding to it as it shredded both of her sides and splattering the floor with Beras lifeblood. She remains standing though, battered, bleeding and proudly bringing her weapon to bare on the creature with a look of triumph dancing in the wounded creatures eyes.
Back to you Ael!
AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 22
Fort +2, Ref +2, Will +5
Current Hp~
-2/22 - Destroyed by Ael
-4/20 - Destroyed by Ael
|DM Corerue
Leon & Aurora Cross
The Necrotech shrieks in rage as you both suddenly appear and get the drop on it and its bodyguard. It rears back, flailing at you with its lower mechanical half and withdrawing from you as it shrieked orders at the Machinthralls. It looks at you with its dead eyes, sneering at you through its surgically tightened skin as it pointed at the pair of you and continued shrieking at its slower minions. "KILL THE BLOOD BORN, FLAY THEIR SKIN AND BRING ME THEIR BONES FOR THEIR INSOLENCE!"
The Machnithralls are slow to stand, eliciting another strike from the quick footed Aurora as they move to face the threat the pair of you pose to their master. You notice something curious though, a hissing noise. Like a kettle thats been cooked too long and soon after hearing it the Mechanithralls started to move a little faster and the hoses that run from thri backs to their forearms start to writhe and move slowly, but moving faster and faster with every second.
Necrotech withdraws... 30ft...
M1 1d4 ⇒ 1 M2 1d4 ⇒ 2 M3 1d4 ⇒ 2
Leon if quickly face to face with M1, who interposes itself between him and the stairs and tries to strike the lithe Dhampir with its massive spike covered fist. Thankfully, it missed though denting the wooden wall to Leon's left...
MA: Move to G4
Slam 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
M2 who had been blocking the slaves in their cells and making sure they hadn't disturbed their masters ritual moves to engage those who would harm the Master. As it approaches it attempts to strike down Leon but finds he is quicker then its oversized fist and finds only air where its opponent once stood...
MA: Move to G4
Slam 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
M3 stands Provoking an AoO and turns to strike you, its first punch barely misses your shoulder and as you dodge to the right the Machinthrall brings its right fist down low and slugs you hard in the gut, early knocking the air out of you and bruising you pretty badly.
Slam 1 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Slam 2 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
--> Damage 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Hp 31/52
|DM Corerue
Donovan Lynch
The smaller man crumbles as you literally knock his teeth out and when you turn your fist on the other man you find that he wasn't as up to the task of taking you down as his fellows believed. When your fist hits the thug immediately drops his knife and teeters back, luckily, avoiding your second punch. He remains standing though, arms slack and eyes vacant, looking ready to fall any minute.
You hear something trudging its way down the hallway. Whoever it is they're big.
All of the dragons are down, your room is illuminated only by the glow of your fireplace and just as you were enjoying the quiet a WHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR began to rise and fall over the ciy of Rennor. You know the sound instantly, an Air Raid Siren, and it wasn't a good sign. Basic training reminded you that Rennor hadn't been directly attacked since the time of Blackwaters destruction. The Old King ensured that Rennor would be a bastion of defense and strength against the the vile threat that the Cryxians posed...
|Leon Cross
|DM Corerue
Tanya regards you curiously for a moment, but with how her robes cover her tall form its hard to tell exactly what she is thinking or her stance. She nods to you after a moment and rises from where she had been sitting. "No Tyil-Num-Rah, I am prepared. The blade brothers have stepped out, Selric seems to be berating Galsah for his earlier offenses. Let us hope that he listens to his litter brother."
She pauses and looks past you, as you turn Kel is there with his hands placed on the table once more. The map looked to be changing, revolving, the ruins growing larger and then smaller again as if he was looking for something. His large claws were literally digging into the table and the map changed again, showing the country side. Except the map was different orientated over a part of the farmlands just outside of Koolat, it also showed a familiar symbol. The upraised Sword of the High Ones, one of the many symbols that the Beleghtor display proudly when on patrol.
Kel notices your questioning look and shakes his head wearily. "This map is able to find many things, namely we can see even our own patrols. It takes a lot of time to learn though and the insights we can glean from its use are beyond any word to describe. But... The one thing we cannot see are these Dark Ones. The map cannot see them, they are somehow invisible to it. If we knew how we could track their movements and be better able to face them down."
|DM Corerue
Cassian Vespertine
The barkeep frowns, but says nothing as your words were all too true. He cotinued directing his cowering staff to assist the wounded and get the door barred.
When you kneeled to check on Samuel he seemed to be holding on doggedly, despite the grievous injury he was still breathing shallowly. As you force the potion down his throat, all the while Samuel coughing and sputtering, you notice no change in his condition. After a few moments your hopes dimmed, nothing was happening, and Samuel was growing weaker, his breaths fading almost to nothing as his body lost the fight to live on.
Then you saw it, the strange black liquid that had covered the Lieutenants axe was literally fleeing from the wounded man's body and his wound started to stitch itself back together as the magic of your potion took hold finally. After about a minute Samuel's eyes flared open and he sat up with a start, literally grabbing up his handaxe and giving a weak shout as he looked around in confusion. Once he took a hold of himself he looked at the floor ashamed. "Mum was right, shoulda stay home today. I guess I wasn't so useful to ya sir..."
Your speech roused many of the survivors to get to their feet, the barkeeps staff rose almost in unison as your words hit home. Your suggestions were immediately followed up and despite the tears streaming down some of their faces the people moved the dead quickly to the second floor. The door was quickly barred, people were moving tables and chairs to help cover the windows.
The Qinite bodyguard regard you curiously, the taller of the two staring daggers at you as he rises from his chair in an aggressive manner. Before he takes a step forward however the Qinite women behind him snaps her fan shut, the light sound of it causes both of her bodyguards to turn and face her. "Shu, Fao'in help with the barracades." They both bow to her deeply, very deeply. "Hai! Highness." She rose then and walked towards you with a smooth stride, this woman was far too relaxed for what just happened. She regarded you with an unreadable expression before commenting quietly. "Far too bold for a Cygnian." She steps around you still talking to herself. "Not Prideful enough to be an Imperial..." She stands behind you leaning over your shoulder whispering in your ear. "Are you a Lyonissian? Hmmmm~ She purred the last words before slowly walking away with a sensual and sultry grace as she head for the stairs. "How intriguing~ I shall do as you ask as your passion has swayed me." Before dissappearing up the stairs she looks at you again, her eyes inviting. "I do hope we meet again stranger." With that shes gone.
Her bodyguards though continue to watch you warily, their stances easily conveying more then any words could.
You see sporadic fighting in the streets but it not just civ's fighing undead, you spot a large patrol of MP's fighting off a band of thrall warriors and a group of Trenchers taking on an Lieutenant and its warriors. As you watch you can hear the distant sound of a rifle crack and near simultaneously a thrall warrior drops as its skull shatters from the impact of a Long gunners bullet. Things were definitely crazy on the streets.
|DM Corerue
|DM Corerue
You charge the larger abomination and depite how large it is, it proves to be quite agile. IT dodges your first claw strike but takes the second claw attack straight in the chest and hisses loudly. As soon as you engage them though the Master raises his staff and points at you. "I wannttt heerrr alllive. I willl teaachh herr the ignooorraance of resisssting us!" The Abominations move towards you taking everythign they have to close the distance while your first opponent brings its fist back and swings at you.
The abominations appear to be doing something!
M4 1d4 ⇒ 4 M5 1d4 ⇒ 2 M6 1d4 ⇒ 1
Slam 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Back to you Mir!
|DM Corerue
Diyeana Stormwin:
Joey smiles at you and nods in thanks. He rubs his bruised stomach and looks at you sheepishly for a moment before remembering why he was there. "Well, Smitty sent me to tell ya we got the old girl up in the air. The old bat didn't realize that I had installed my upgrade anyway. HA serves that old bast... err... Right..." He pauses before returning to what he was supposed to say. "He told me to have you and your boys gather down at the barracks at the docks. Said it was the safest place to go with the soldiers and all. He's circling right now, keeping her high while the fighting continues. The Dragoncorp, the Royal navy are all out and fighting right now its incredible!" He looks to the sky excitedly.
|Leon Cross
Leon Cross Darkvision. :)
Of course they do.... was hoping for those sneak attacks because of the darkness....you sure you haven't decided on whether or not we are using the heroic distinctions/archetypes yet? The extra 1d6 from hammer blow sure would be nice about now *winkwink*
Leon curses as the tech backs away and the thrall moves to block him. He dodges and weaves avoiding their blows like a leaf on the wind. Moving just enough to be missed but not enough to lose his offensive edge.
As the other thrall moves to stand he lashes out with his sword. Which causes it to move into the path of Aurora's shadowblade.
AoO1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Aurora AoO1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Damage1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
After Aurora's blade bites into the thrall Leon is caught in the stomach by the thralls return punch, probably in retaliation of Leon's attack. His eyes go crystalline almost devoid of color as the shadows around him seem to darken.
activating deadly focus..(can't believe I'm using it on a mook)
attack1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 161d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21 using hero point for reroll.
1d8 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
Leon goes cold as he begins a dance of death almost taunting the thrall while still avoiding the lumbering moves of the other two when he notices a tinny misstep from the thrall due to Aurora's cut. He snaps forward and slashes across with his katana nearly bisecting the thrall. He spins on the defensive watching the other two.
|Aurora Cross
acrobatics:1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25 tumbling to i4
Attack1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Damage1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Aurora as intune with her husband as always, realizes what he's doing when his cut caused the thrall to flinch away her own blade finding a new resting place in its lower back while it was distracted. She tears her blade back out causing another fresh wave of necrotic fluids to seep from the wound. As soon as Leon cuts the thrall down she vaults over the falling monstrosity and rolls perfectly by the thrall who had been guarding the prisoners. As she passes by she gives the thrall a contemptuous slash hardly even doing damage to it.
|Diyeana Stormwin
The young man's excitement is immediately reflected in Diyeana's eyes as she says, more to herself "Finally! Some action!| then, her expression turning more serious for a moment, she says to Joey "Darlin', I know you're a big, strapping, lad, believe me I know honey, but I would just never forgive myself if something happened to you on account of me. So, unless you know for sure that Smitty needs your help on that tug, I'd feel much better if you'd stay here, with me knowin' that you're safe and sound." she then sighs before finishing "But you're a grown man sugar, so you make whatever decision for yourself you feel is best."
Then with a last fond look and a tender pat on the cheek to Joey she turns and fast walks over to her Aunt. Interuppting the arguement and completely ignoring the guards she says excitedly but also firmly. "Aunt Tesa, adventure is a callin' me! Joey here's passed on a message from Smitty, you remember him dont'cha? I'm to meet him down by the barraks at the docks with a crew I was workin' to put together. And no time to lose! I gotta run!"
Then, knowing no words of good-bye are wanted or necessary, she gives Adrian a brief but warm hug, then wraps Agnes in a tight, loving embrace and, finally grabs her Aunt by the shoulders. For a long moment the two stare into each others eyes, the slight building of tears only enhancing the love shining between them. As they then both grin and hug fiercely, Diyeana finally disengages and glances at Joey "So, you comin' or stayin' cutie-pie?"
And then, with a last wave of farewell, if none stop her, she is off at a quick jog towards the docks. Rifle loaded and ready in her two hands, long hair streaming behind her, and a devil-may-care grin plastered on her face.
Bera, we'll get through this! Get behind it! Suggesting that Bera 5-ft step to flank
Once we are in position, I strike again with my rapier, praying that Bera can survive this.
attack 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Desperate not to miss, I pluck a moment of focus from my future to enhance my aim. 1d4 ⇒ 2
That is a 13 to hit but I have not factored in flanking, so whether I hit depends on whether Bera listens to (or maybe understands) my advice.
|DM Corerue
Leon Still trying to decide I will read it over again tonight and get back with you guys on it, work has been hectic this hitch. Still doing long hours and switching camps which is hell on how little time you get up here sometimes. You also get an AoO as well because you were right next to the thrall as well. My bad there~
|DM Corerue
Bera proves to understand you perfectly but is to slow in getting in position before your attack and the ghoulish creature deflects your strike before hissing back at the horned Bera. Bera moves over the bodies of the fallen and elicits a slash from her opponent as she moves to enclose him between her and Aelessaer.
Soulless Claw attack
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Bera's Attacks
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
As Bera tears a chunk out of her enemy, tearing through its skin with the sharpened obsidian stones, it shrieks and attacks her once more with its claws and fangs but this time isn't able to get a hold of Bera like before.
Soulless's attacks on Bera
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 22
Fort +2, Ref +2, Will +5
Current Hp~
-2/22 - Destroyed by Ael
-4/20 - Destroyed by Ael
0/20 - Destryoed by Bera
|Leon Cross
Leon Still trying to decide I will read it over again tonight and get back with you guys on it, work has been hectic this hitch. Still doing long hours and switching camps which is hell on how little time you get up here sometimes. You also get an AoO as well because you were right next to the thrall as well. My bad there~
I did I missed. On M3 right?
|DM Corerue
|DM Corerue
Leon and Aurora Cross
Leon's blade ends one of the monstrosities and as the thralls body was torn open by his blade a great blast of steam escaped from several of the tubes that had been severed in his strike. The steam allows Aurora to attempt to roll past one of the abominations as it swings at her.
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Its fist however impacts one of the wooden supports in the hallway and as it was distracting tearing itself free Aurora's blade caught it in the side. Ripping its fist free it turned to face her and bring both of its fists to bear on her.
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
She proves far to quick and the thrall tears great chunks out of the wall instead of striking the wily dhampir.
Leons remaining opponent starts acting strangely, the hissing noise coming from its chest grows in intensity and the tubes on its back and forearms look ready to burst as it brings its massive fist back and punches out at Leon with all the power it had.
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
3d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 2) = 6
Oh bother...
Its fist goes wide as one of the tubes bursts, spraying steam and an oily substance on the walls and floor. If that wasn't bad enough the Thralls arm crash through one of the wooden supports and finds that it was now part of the support. It yanks futile but is unable to get its arm free.
M1 AC is 19 for being flatfooted
|Leon Cross
|DM Corerue
|Leon Cross
Attack:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Damage1d8 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 8 + (6) = 17
Leon chuckles at the thralls plight. "This really is kinda pathetic you know?" Leon quips as he slashes through the trapped thralls chest causing more steam and fluid to escape from his body. Leon falls back in a low stance his blade held in a revered grip.
|Aurora Cross
|Donovan Lynch
I tripped the bossman, then put him out. I also attacked another guy, who you said I knocked over the bed (I believe he is out, right)?
That left me 3 guys...one tried to grapple (and provoked an AoO), and the other 2 attacked with club and knife (club guy used aid another on knife guy).
My turn again, I hit grapple guy with an AoO (took him out), then 2 fists on knife guy (took him out). That should have left club guy...was I able to take out knife guy with 1 hit, so my other took out club guy? I wasn't sure how many HP they had.
Anyway, assuming they are all down, moving on...
Perception check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Hearing the whoop of the siren, Donovan cursed softly. Looks like a sleepless night, he thought to himself. Retrieving his revolver, he cautiously moved to the window, pressed against the wall, then leaned out with gun ready, looking in all directions for what shattered the shutters.
Hearing something coming down the hall, he crouched behind the bed for cover and leveled his pistol at the door.


text:
Please allow me to explain to the letter writer who thinks the "Rich are paying their fair share" (Your Opinions, Sept. 28) why they are not.
First, after paying 15 percent tax on $20 million, Mitt and his family must scrape by on a mere $17 million a year. The working class family that pays the same tax rate on $40,000 is left to try to meet its needs for $34,000 a year.
Second, corporations (which often pay no tax) and the rich use demonstrably more of our infrastructure and government services than Joe Six-pack. Third, working class families that are now barely getting by spend so little on goods and services that the vast multiplier of their spending no longer powers a robust economy, as it did when marginal tax rates for the rich were more than twice what they are now.
Finally, the corporate class can now afford to purchase a majority of our Congress, leaving the working class with "taxation without representation" -- the target of the real Tea Party.
Ned Heller
New Orleans


text:
By Michael Howell
The new home being built by Habitat for Humanity in Stevensville sets a new benchmark for the non-profit organization in its efforts to build affordable homes for low-income people in the valley. Besides keeping the cost down through generous donations of materials and labor from local companies and individuals, the latest home going up in Stevensville will also continue to save the homeowner money down the road by reducing heating costs to almost zero.
The low energy cost for heating has been achieved through a combination of active and passive solar design. The design was created by local architect Meghan Hanson of Natural Dwellings Architecture in Stevensville.
As Hanson explains it, the home is elongated on the east-west access, allowing for a longer south elevation for larger windows to bring in the sun. The heat from the sun is passively 'collected' in the concrete slab floor and helps to heat the home. Minimal windows on the north elevations will help mitigate heat loss.
The design allows for almost double the insulation value of a normal home. It features a double stud wall which is one foot thick and full of blown-in cellulose insulation (recycled newspaper). In addition, rigid insulation has been added on the outside of the sheathing as a thermal break to create a very energy efficient wall system. A home built to code must have an insulation value of R21. This home will have an insulation value of R56, more than twice the required R value.
The roof is a prefabricate truss with a raised heel which is a very economical roof that allows room for a lot of insulation. The roof will be insulated to R80, code is R49.
According to Hanson, the floor plan is designed to maximize the use of a small space. Living areas are on the south with bedrooms and bathrooms on the north. A mechanical room is centrally located within the thermal envelope. A central dropped soffit runs the length of the home allowing for easy ventilation access to all areas. This is below the truss roof so that a good air barrier can be maintained in the ceiling. Windows will be triple-glazed.
"We modeled the home in two different computer programs to help with the design," said Hanson. "The first allows us to test the solar angles at any day of the year in this location. It helps us to design the overhangs to properly shade in the summer and allow the sun in during the winter. The second estimates the mechanical heating and cooling loads for the home. These are much lower than a conventional home due to the passive solar design, and well insulated/sealed envelope."
Hanson said they intend to perform a blower-door test on the home once the windows/doors are in and it is insulated. This tests the air tightness of the home before the drywall is installed and allows for areas that may have small areas of air leakage to be sealed up. Attention is paid to every detail in this regard, such as the flanged electrical outlets that allow for a tight, insulated seal.
Because the home is small, passive solar, and well insulated, it can be heated with a mini-split, that is, an air source heat pump that is very efficient.
To top it all off, an array of solar panels has been mounted on the roof that will produce up to 7 kilowatts of power and be tied into the grid.
"This will mean that the homeowner's monthly heating/electric bills will be very, very low, or nothing!" said Hanson.
The active solar installation was made possible by a grant from NorthWestern Energy and a lot of volunteer labor by Dan Brandborg, of SBS Solar in Missoula. The list of local companies donating materials and labor or providing it at cost is impressive and includes Donaldson Brothers, Beck Builders, Fisher Family Construction, Western Building Center, Massa Home Center, The Plumber, Sapphire Electrical, Turnkey Construction, Soapy's Excavation, Sweet Pea, Bitterroot Disposal, the Senior Center, Dom Florian and Ed Cummings.
As foreman for the project, Rick Wiesmann is fond of pointing out, the low cost homes being built by Habitat for Humanity are made possible not only by the local companies contributing to the cause, but by many, many hours of volunteer labor by local citizens. Some of the most notable volunteers, because they are the most constant and reliable, include Charles Renner, Tom Hanson, Brad Pollman, and Tom Galagher. Volunteers need no special skills, but any special skills are appreciated. You simply have to show up on the work site at 105 Mission Street in Stevensville between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday or Saturday and you will be put to work. A bag lunch is provided by members of various churches in the north valley.
"Volunteers can work for one hour, or for several hours, every Friday and Saturday," said Wiesmann.
A Pint Night fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity will be held on November 24 at the Blacksmith Brewery on Main Street in Stevensville from 3 to 6 p.m. There will be a split-the-pot drawing, music and a silent auction.
Next spring the organization plans to start work on a second home right next door to the one being finished. Prospective homeowners may sign up for consideration starting on December 1, 2013. The sign up period will last for 90 days. Interested persons should contact Habitat for Humanity at 375-1926.


text:
Kansas Historical Quarterly - August 1939
Volume 8
August 1939, Number 3
About the Contributors, p. 226.
James C. Malin, ed. intro., "F. H. Hodder's 'Stephen A. Douglas," p. 227. (Volunteer: Lynn Nelson) | PDF version
Cora Dolbee, "The Third Book on Kansas: An Interpretation of J. Butler Chapman's History of Kansas and Emigrant's Guide," p. 238. (Volunteer: Lynn Nelson) | PDF version
"Letters of John and Sarah Everett, 1854-1864; Miami County Pioneers--Continued," p. 279. (Volunteer: Sean Furniss) | PDF version
Bypaths of Kansas History, p. 311. | PDF version
Kansas History as Published in the Press, p. 322. | PDF version
Kansas Historical Notes, p. 334. | PDF version


text:
StandardMotor Products Inc. (SMP) has introduced a multi-coverage clone-able TPMS sensor line. The new Qwik-Sensor line will cover 94% of all domestic, European and Asian applications with three multi-coverage TPMS sensors.
SMP says the new TPMS sensor line complements its Standard and Intermotor OE-matching, clone-able TPMS program. The Qwik-Sensor offering is engineered with the technological advancements that customers have come to expect from SMP.
"We believe this new offering is keeping with our commitment to deliver leadership to the TPMS segment and provide our customers with the right products and tools to capture their share of this growing market segment," says Phil Hutchens, vice president engine management marketing for SMP.
The company says Qwik-Sensor multi-coverage TPMS sensors are easily programmed with the TechSmart T55003 TPMS tool and can be ID-cloned or factory relearned.
Each sensor is available in two valve stem configurations, metal or rubber, to match the proper application. The sensors are color-coded for easy identification, come fully assembled right out of the box and once activated, are ready for installation and will work with all major brands of TPMS tools.
To learn more, visit www.StandardBrand.com or www.youtube.com/StandardBrandParts.
Related Topics: Phil Hutchens, Standard Motor Products, TPMS
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text:
International efforts to tackle bribery and corruption are losing momentum, according to Transparency International (TI), an anti-corruption group.
Every year TI monitors global compliance with the OECD's benchmark anti-bribery convention. Its latest report shows that for the first time in seven years there has been no increase in the number of countries enforcing it.
TI reviewed anti-corruption activity in 37 countries and concluded that only seven countries were taking the convention seriously. Nine had a "moderate enforcement" approach and 21 showed "little or no enforcement", TI said.
Countries taking a lax approach to the convention include developed nations such as Australia, Canada and Ireland. Together they account for 15% of world trade, TI said.
"The collective commitment to stamp out foreign bribery made by all OECD parties is undermined when a large number of countries have inadequate enforcement," said TI chair Huguette Labelle. "Failure to enforce the convention will allow corruption to flourish, which means that resources will be diverted from the poor and that honest companies will lose out."
According to the OECD's own analysis, only five of the countries that have signed up to the convention sanctioned individuals or companies in the past year.
TI said the OECD should apply greater political pressure on countries to make them enforce the convention.