Aptitude Markers

Phoenix Rising was now keeping e-records of every player's results and providing a direct feed of the scores to the internal bureaus of major governments. Statistics were streamed into intricate corporate lists, collated for commercial evaluation also.

Although being just a game, these 'aptitude markers' and 'appetite preferences' were building valuable profiles.

Employment bodies and universities drew from the names from the higher percentiles - secretly.

It was noted that men invested many more hours than women with the games - across every culture. Their appetite for competition and skilful challenge, along with the adrenalin, was more arousing; however, this too was regarded as advantageous professionally and academically, indicating levels of advanced concentration, perseverance, reflex and response, mental agility and decision-making.

This was invaluable information, whilst the lower-end scorers had their names marked for menial work and eventual imprisonment. Health records were kept in case of organ "donation" later down the road.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

Silver Notes

Twelve small perfume bottles sat in the window of Saks's newest display.

This was a fine day for Marley. Nervina had engineered her scents with Triton (an Elvish horticultural advisor) distilling signature base oils from orchids and mixing extractions from wild flowers so rare, that the world was yet to know them.

The twelve perfumes characterised a complete seasonal year with its range floating between the assorted warm and cold notes - of musky and fresh; creamy and spiced; pure and complex fragrances - all evocative of Nature's sensual expirations.

Marley had named the range 'Silver Notes' and so far both women and men could not get enough of these whisperings of the forest. The reviews raved favourably, saying that they exuded vitality, even from inside the bottle.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

Call me the "Azlan"

[Circa 12th Century]

The light of the day was tiring and a golden glow came in through the small stone window near where he was sitting - it touched his hands with cheerful promise. He looked over to see the curious luminescence now filling his room. His wonder took him to peer out from the window that he might take in the nourishment of the falling light ... when gazing out upon the lawns his eyes then fell upon a strange creature lying there, looking up at him.

He had no idea what beast this might be. He took it as perhaps a very large dog. Instinctively he snatched a half eaten lamb leg and made fast to the grounds in the hope to get a closer look upon this marvellous creature. Down the steps and outside he found that the animal was even larger than he had first assumed. Its fur was velvety and appeared golden in the setting sun's glamour. It was twice as big as any canine and its face was more feline than hound.

Richard tentatively threw the lamb leg towards the giant cat, who moved not when the greasy mutton fell directly on his magnificent paw.

"What are you strange beasty? Are you real or a being of enchantment? Are you a cat from a giant's world perhaps? What may I call you?" the good King asked carefully.

"You may call me the Azlan" the animal purred back.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series 

Blackmail

King Richard the Lionheart 

The Sheriff of Nottingham strode past the hatchery and into the forecourt of the King's own summerhouse. He walked as an important man does; acutely confident, almost arrogant in step. King Richard suffered his presence with an impeccable grace.

Both chose this informal meeting place to escape the comments and speculations of the court. The Sheriff Marc was not much loved, being understood to be a torturer who enjoyed his work too much, it was commonly thought.

King Richard had a encumbrance owed to this keeper of all debts - it was his silence now bitterly paid for.

Marc had discovered Richard's affiliation with the Fey and was threatening to use this to disadvantage. For all things presumed as involvements with magic brought the punishment of death - so ruled by the justice of the Church - and if discovered, Richard was not immune - he, and his beloved family would perish, merely by the implication.

And so he was burdened under the heavy mantle of the one who wore a suit of blackmail.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

The Younger Flesh

Marsden waited the twelve months out before Mark was to become of legal age and entitled to collect the finances - he then raised him out of the bed and reanimated him back into life once again.

The plan was executed brilliantly, for on the farm Marsden-Mark could sleep late and wake in the very early hours, giving time to still function in the UK as Marsden who was conscious and then sleeping in the alternate hours. It was this way, over two time zones; he could inhabit two separate bodies, without skipping a beat, so to speak.

That was, of course, until the routine bothered him, and he consolidated back into just the one. It just seemed to make absolute sense - he preferred the younger flesh, and this one was a perfect fit - all things considered.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

The Perfect Vessel

The ensemble was assembled, and the preamble was a shambles, the constabulary gave the obituary, for the man who was no man...

Mark Forsythe was a man of.... means and excessive good looks. His charm and character were exceeded by his exquisite wit, with which he polished with observations, which made him almost, and very nearly, endearing.

For the past three years he had been the CEO of Phoenix USA and had held the controlling shares for that country. Who better to take over after Marsden's unfortunate passing? He was, of course, also the perfect vessel for Marsden to now inhabit.

This had been no coincidental occurrence as Marsden had prepared the body a few years earlier. He had caused a car accident that had eclipsed the spirit and sent it hurtling out of his young body, far into the spaces beyond.

Marsden was of course, first at the scene, having caused it. He pulled the body from the tangle of metal, and breathed his breath inside the corpse. During the heroic revival Marsden did not give a chance to the poor boy to re-enter; but rather he himself jumped in and took occupancy of his body, blocking the spirit entirely.

This was a rare opportunistic possession indeed.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

Phoenix Rising

Phoenix Rising had Trojans and back hollows through which its hierarchy monitored their members continuously.

Electronic demons work more efficiently than any human clerks can do - for they do not sleep and their surveillance is keen. The moods of the mortals online were recorded, assessing anxiety spikes throughout the game.

Phoenix worked in the presumption that algorithms of thought could be altered very effectively at those times when emotions peaked - and that thinking was influenced successfully by introducing suggestions during those micro-periods of elevated tension, which came throughout the game.

Subliminal tags would flash at moments of high emotion, and in the space within a single heartbeat, their product preferences would infill an opened mind.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series