A Rather Interesting Rez Day

I ventured out of the Lab to particpate in Steelhead's Holiday Storytelling Festival and perform my "12 Days of Mad Scientist Christmas" to an appreciative audience...
Lest anyone think I am anti-holiday, I rather enjoy the season and the prospect of gifts of fishies, mice, and doom rays. Not to mention sharks in tanks...sharks not in tanks. It warms my heart, but not as much as the coal I seem to receive instead. My Hidden Paw colleague, ChairmanMe Yowman was there, and engaged The BunnyElf in a round of fisticuffs...I attended the dance afterwards with music presenter Diamanda Gustafson, whose snowflakes were in the form of skulls. I was thrilled. She was also wearing a rather interesting hat...I normally do not like dances, but I checked the calendar and realized it was my rez day. Another year of dodging enemies and friends and I am still here to tell the tale!

Holiday Recitation of the 12 Days of Steampunk Mad Scientist Christmas

Tomorrow, do come out as I shall be caterwauling singing my "12 Days of Steampunk Mad Scientist Christmas" song at the Steelhead Holiday Storytelling Festival. It will be held from 5 - 7 pm SLT at the Steelhead Library Gardens in Steelhead City. I go on at 6:30.

The Elf was so kind as to recite it for me last year. I shall spare him this time. For those of you who would like to follow along, I am reprinting my lyrics here:

The 12 Days of Steampunk Mad Scientist Christmas
by Malegatto Alter

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...a tock lobster in the warehouse
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...two Tesla coils
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...three brass cogs
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...four rubber gloves
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...FIVE BIG AIRSHIPS!
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...six mobs a yelling
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...seven folks a screaming
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...eight rats a running
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...nine minions missing
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...ten labs a burning
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...eleven beakers bubbling
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...twelve diff'rence engines

And for the fun of it, my version of "The Christmas Song"...

"Minions falling into an open fire
Police breaking down your door...
Brass robots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to beep tonight..."

Yes Cato, there really is a Santa Claws. See you all tomorrow.

Steam Willard is Out

I set out the larger version of Steam Willard the Rat at the warehouses, which reminds me that I must pay a visit to the live one.

Automaton of the Week: 1850 Roullet & Decamps Kitties in a Milk Churn

One is as it should be and the other is unrestored. I don't know which I love more: the fact that this 1850 Roullet & Decamps automaton is of kitties, or the crazy tinkling music...

Automaton of the Week: 1772 French Dulcimer Player

How lovely this one is. 'Twas created in 1772 for Marie Antoinette. Do peruse this aethernet site for more information.

Automaton of the Week: The Workshop of François Junod

Mr. Junod is an artist who creates and restores incredible automatons in his workshop in Switzerland. The following cinema piece is in French, but 'tis worth a watch for the inner workings and the gent at work. I do so love to see the workshops of others...

Automaton of the Week: 19th c. Japanese writing kanji

Fascinating, given its age. Look at its mechanisms. It makes me feel "Ooo.."

My, What Lovely Spinning Gears and Such...

Spinning gears make me happy. Very happy...

Oh My...I Have a Trophy

Well now...it seems my chupacabra creature won first place in its category in the Harvest Festival Steampunk Animal building contest in Steelhead...I had a moment to chat with The Elf about it and he was rather pleased with the entries, which I will admit, were rather interesting. The Elf himself has been feeling a bit poorly of late. Perhaps I can get the minions to prepare some rattail soup for him? I promise that it will not have any "extra" ingredients. *coughs*

Surveying the Place

Hmm...I suppose I am getting used to the look of the giant bolt in the front. It adds a certain "flair" to the warehouse.

Mason Labs Destroyed...FINALLY

There...is...a...BOLT...stuck...in...my...warehouse!!! The Elf came over and and we both looked upwards at the large piece sticking out of my smokestack. "That is...massive," he said. "That is one big nut." I must have inherited some of my father's love of crass humor as I could not help but laugh despite the fact that we were standing among rubble. He offered to remove it for me, as it is supposedly "active", but I said to leave it. I am a feline of science and this is a lab and warehouse--not an "oh-so-delightfully pretty" Victorian house...
The last time I saw Mason Labs, it was still intact. I had made a pact with them not to destroy it (or let my minions burn it to the ground) although sorely tempted to do so on many an occasion...
Last night I found it in ruins, the building's remnants smoldering......and its parts strewn across Steelhead Port Harbor from the force of the explosion...The Elf had told me that only the so-called "Jeremiah" had been injured. If he is a Mason as he claims, then he should be fine. Those Masons are quite a resilient lot. I had also inquired as to the canines in Miss Davies' Dog Park across from it. When told that they were fine despite the pieces in their midst, I could only say "Pity." When I went over to see for myself, some ran over to greet me. EW. I feel so dirty now.

A Building Contest

Hmm...it seems Steelhead is having a delightfully twisted take on a state fair blue ribbon contest: A Steampunk Build Contest for livestock, poultry and "other" animals!

I do believe I shall participate. I have until the 23rd to submit my entry. I suppose if others wish to participate as well, they need to let the Elf know before the 18th.

*cackles* Must get to work then! Where's my wrench?

To-Do List

I sat at the warehouse and thought about all of the things on my to-do list:

1. Reprimand minions
2. Use a minion as an example
3. Order new beakers
4. Get the doom ray out of the shop
5. Feed the squiddy thing
6. Write letter of demands to The Elf
7. Threaten my enemies
8. Threaten my friends
9. Assess lair for weaknesses
10. Reprimand minions if weaknesses are found
11. Invent a "fire extinguisher"

An evil genius' work is never done...

My, What Large Wings You Have

I rarely attend social events in Steelhead as I am usually quite busy off tending to business or working in the laboratory. I thought I would take my customary walk through Steelhead and came upon the Friday night dance at the Capital City dock. I hesitated to go at first, pausing and ready to walk back to the warehouses. At the last moment, I changed my mind and was sitting there quietly on a crate watching the others when I smelled a familiar scent. I looked over and the purple-haired demon had seated himself nearby. I was surprised to see Chronos, as the last I knew he had been taken away. He asked me to dance and we had an interesting conversation.

If you have regularly perused this journal, then you know that I have participated in my share of campaigns and assorted underhanded schemes and such, but I do not get to chat about them much. After all, I am not a Siamese kitty, I know when to be quiet about those matters. I will admit that it was rather nice to talk with someone that did not seem to mind the rather questionable things that I have done and was also impervious to my sharp claws. We spoke of his confinement and he explained to me that he had been rescued. He is a most intriguing demon, not like any of the others that I have met before and especially not like that one, from so long ago.

Oh stop. 'Twas just a dance. If anything, my mother will be happy to know that the money spent on my dancing lessons was not in vain.

Ode to a Gasworks

Yesterday, as I stood before the now destroyed and much-despised gasworks in Steelhead City, I composed a little poem:

O gasworks, trees you did consume
Hated thing you were
With your gears and noise and saws
Amidst idyllic Steelhead green.

Those naysayers to progress
Adverse to soot
With their fresh air, clean living ways
A problem-solving "storm".

Such rubble, all about in ruins
Still now are your blades
Know all, there is only forward
Industry marches on!

Oh My...A Tower...

Oh my...a fancy wasserturm? As the saloon is now gone, I suppose this is the Elf's doing...
I could not resist going in and climbing up its stairs towards the top...Of course, upon reaching the highest point and looking down I could not help but to think of how far down it was and how there are some folks that I...haaaa...Now now, my good folks, I would never do such a thing! If one simply "loses their balance", I could not possibly be at fault for their clumsiness?

Hmm...Getting Better at This Full Moon Thing...

I think I am beginning to be getting a bit better at controlling this. Although my mind felt "swirly", I seemed to weather the werecat change more so than before...However, to be safe, I still barricaded myself in the warehouse last night to tough it out. We remember what happened last time...

19th c. Airship and Balloon Broadside Announcements

I do so love the repository of knowledge that is the U.S. Library of Congress. While perusing its aethernet offerings, I came across the wonderful Tissandier collection of French and British broadsides with airship and balloon ascension announcements. Do enjoy.

Happy Birthday Mr. Tesla

Happy birthday to Mr Nikola Tesla, innovative "mad scientist" and an inspiration to steampunks everywhere! This is an 1899 photo of him in his Colorado Springs laboratory...what wonderful sparks!

"Kaboom!" Or, "How I Singed My Whiskers"

I could only stand and wait on the warehouse roof as the full moon rose over Port Harbor, its waters covered in a light fog. I ran a claw through my unpinned hair and sighed, resigned to the fact that I was very likely forever changed by that regeneration serum that saved my life many months ago. I probably would have been better off if I had been allowed to Transition instead and move on to my fifth life. Although knowing the Masons, I should just be glad it didn't make me grow an extra arm or some other unsightly aberration. It probably helps that parts of me are not...

Anyway, I have become more used to the physical changes such as the swiftness, strength, and keener senses than normal, but what it does to my mind? That, I seem to be unable to control very well. On these werecat nights, my normal ability to keep my emotions in check becomes negated and everything becomes a swirling confusing whirl of emotion and instinct combined...
Since I have been in Steelhead, I have been quiet. I have made no campaigns of late. No machinations as normal. That is...unlike me...and I am sure that I will be hearing from my Hidden Paw superiors soon. I know that this is not what they want of their Western Fang. I expect a missive at any time. My mind has not been here though. I have had other thoughts on it as of late. I wondered about the fate of the purple-haired demon who brought me fish and something kicked in.

I hissed and jumped down from my perch and rummaged through the warehouse until I found what I was looking for. Moving swiftly through the dark Steelhead streets, most of its residents now quiet or asleep after the town meeting earlier, my strength accorded to me for just this one night made carrying my burden even easier. I stopped before The Elf's home, my muddled mind enraged at the thought that he possibly had a hand in his demon brother being taken away. It made it even easier to toss what I carried onto his porch...I licked a fang, smiling with satisfaction as the brass chicken did its work. A bit of something from a minor kerfluffle in Kentucky (something to do with a renegade Colonel), I knew it'd come in handy. When I was sure that the house was in a smouldering rubble, I thought I would return to the warehouse. I needed to lie down now. My head, it felt so wrong...I heard the shouts of "Fire!" and "Oh no, my good china!" as I slipped away. I did notice one unusual thing though--despite the destruction of her home, Miss Tensai seemed to be taking it all in relatively resourceful feline stride...