robocord

"Tsukai, a curious and mischievous Kitsune, was born and raised in the vibrant lands of Tian Xia, a realm known for its rich magical traditions. From a young age, Tsukai showed an insatiable curiosity for the arcane arts, always seeking out unknown magic items and artifacts. Their innate connection to the mystical forces of the world fascinated them, and they spent countless hours studying ancient texts and experimenting with spells.

One fateful day, Tsukai stumbled upon a mysterious old mirror in an abandoned shrine deep within the forests of Tian Xia. Ignoring the warnings of its potential dangers, their curiosity got the better of them, and they couldn’t resist tampering with the magical artifact. As Tsukai’s nimble fingers clumsily fumbled with the mirror, a surge of energy sparked within it, causing a dazzling explosion of colors and light.

Overwhelmed by the magical energies released, Tsukai was abruptly rendered unconscious. When they awoke, they found themselves in an entirely unfamiliar place—a bustling circus in the city of Abberton, far from their homeland. Confusion and disorientation washed over Tsukai as they tried to make sense of their sudden displacement.

The vibrant circus, known as the Circus of Wayward Wonders, was renowned for its unusual and enigmatic performers. As Tsukai tentatively explored their new surroundings, it became clear that their arrival was no mere coincidence. The fractured mirror had served as a conduit, inadvertently transporting Tsukai across the planes of existence and depositing them in this new realm.

Faced with this strange twist of fate, Tsukai soon discovered that the circus was populated not only by skilled acrobats and exotic creatures but also by individuals with magical abilities of their own. Drawn to Tsukai’s unique aura, the circus’s enigmatic ringmaster, known as The Professor, took an immediate interest in the young Kitsune’s potential.

Recognizing Tsukai’s natural affinity for magic and their connection to the broken mirror, The Professor offered them a place within the Circus of Wayward Wonders. Grateful for the guidance and mentorship, Tsukai eagerly embraced this new chapter in their life, embracing the title of Thaumaturge. Under The Professor’s tutelage, they honed their innate magical abilities and learned to control the chaotic power within them.

Now, Tsukai travels alongside the Circus of Wayward Wonders, dazzling audiences with their awe-inspiring arcane performances. They seek to uncover the secrets of the broken mirror that brought them here, determined to find a way back to Tian Xia and unlock the mysteries of their own ancestry. Alongside their circus companions, Tsukai’s journey through the realms has just begun, as they navigate the wonders, dangers, and unexpected encounters that lie ahead.

And so, Tsukai, the inquisitive Kitsune Thaumaturge, embarks on a thrilling adventure, bound by fate and driven by a burning desire to unravel the threads of magic that have woven their life into a tapestry of wonder and uncertainty."

I miss Byte magazine so much. Now you’ve made me sad. I hope you’re happy! (jk)

MicroVAX-II was the first “real” computer I ever used, professionally. It started me down the VMS road in the late 1980s. I didn’t pick up the One True Religion of Unix until 1998.

Finally had to take VMS (and COBOL) off my resume about 15 years ago to stop all the calls from desperate headhunters trying to keep ancient systems on life support.

Back in middle school my friends and I bought an ancient computer from a bank, a Singer 5800, IIRC. It ran on 240v so we had to unplug the dryer to use it. It had a built-in seat, with the tty, processor, memory, paper tape reader, and printer kinda wrapping around the operator’s seat. It even had a little section you could flip down to bridge the last gap, leaving you totally surrounded. It was a hoot and a half going through the 5’ higher stack of manuals and learning how to use and program it. Inside the memory cabinet, where the 4K of core memory lived, someone had velcroed a horseshoe magnet to the door, with “delete utility” written on it.

Good times.