Caledon, I Have Returned!

I am rather dismayed at the fate that has befallen the town of Steelhead. I returned only to be able to claim what was left of my operations (a stash here, a stash there).

I found myself in need of a new lair base of operations and traversed the lands of Caledon until I found a perfect little parcel in Stormhold. Water access? CHECK. Out of the way? CHECK. A new beginning (yet again. Oh, the life of an independent mad scientist)? CHECK!

Gather together minions and secure the crate creature and squiddy thing, we are moving back to Caledon!

Parcel Rights for Sale to the Caledon Lab--SOLD

**SOLD. Thank you for your interest!**

I have given it much thought and have decided to sell the rental rights to my lab in Caledon Tamrannoch.

It is a 1024 parcel, single prim supporting 234 prims. You would continue to pay rent to Desmond Shang at 375L/wk (1500L/month). I originally paid 10K for it a year and a half ago, but I will ask for only 2000L or best offer.

It is somewhat close to the hub and the Sanitorium is behind you, in case things get a little crazy. Do feel free to contact me if you are interested. It is located here if you would like to take a look:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Tamrannoch/154/81/22

Happy New Year...Well, Not TOO Happy

And so a new year at the Lab begins...

2nd Annual Mad Scientist Convention!

I received this missive recently and I am most excited...

"Caledon Steam SkyCity is proud to present the SSC 2nd Annual Mad Scientist Convention - SSC ReAnimated
May 2nd, 2009; 3pm and 5pm SLT

Has your research turned to archaic subjects?
Do your formulae come from ancient tomes as much as from modern journals?
Are you meddling in things Man was not meant to know?
From Frankenstein to Tesla, and from Flamel to Herbert West, some scientists cannot leave well enough alone.

Join us on Saturday, May 2nd at 3pm for the Speed Building Contest, Avatar contest entries must be received by 4pm with winners announced during the Mad Scientist's ReAnimation Ball starting at 5pm. There will be two build contests with a grand prize in each category and a dance in the evening.

*Unnatural Creation Avatar - Building starts now, with judging on the day of the convention. Create an avatar from scratch. Is it a murderous robot? A living Construct? Did you summon Cthulhu from a test tube? Let your imagination run wild, and show us that science really can "open strange doors." Avatars will be judged on creativity, quality, and fit with the theme. No parts from other avatars - must be wholly your own creation. Judging between 3pm and 4pm SLT.

*Speed build- one hour, theme related to "weird science practices" will be announced at the start of the contest. Building starts at 3pm, and stops at 4pm. Judging will be based on quality, originality, and how well it fits with the announced theme.

Do not let the narrow-minded views of fools and stagnant academics hinder you. This is Science!"

Haaaa! Science INDEED! I won "Best Rant" last year. Hmm...I do hope to be able to participate.

Spring for an Evil Kitty

Ah, Spring. A time of renewal. Flowers and trees and sunshine and such. As I reclined on the grass in front of the Lab, such fanciful thoughts went through my mind...
The sky was a lovely shade of blue and it was easy to pick out shapes in the clouds: knives, beakers, severed feet and whatnot. I even saw someone flying by in their air vehicle...I shall have to remember not to touch that particular power line again. I suppose the twitching will stop soon...perhaps...

Sim Managers in a Jar...Cloning Gone Wrong for FREE

I have been putting my failed experiments in jars. The Elf, with his copious mane, made it easy enough to find a strand to use for my genetic experiments as God knows, strands of white hair are everywhere in Steelhead. As part of the Grand Tour of Steelhead, I have set out "Lunar in a Jar". When one touches it, it says four different sayings of his. You may pick it up for free--yes FREE--at my warehouse shop in Steelhead Port Harbor on the pier...And remember the other week when I took a swipe at Caledon's Guvnah Desmond Shang? You can have your very own "Guvnah in a Jar" as well! Like The Elf's, it says four different sayings of his upon being touched, my favorite being "Did someone say 'catgirl'?" You may find Guvnah Shang's jar at my lab in Caledon Tamrannoch...

Guvnah Shang Gets A Bit Too Close for His Own Good

My, my, my...

I managed to catch up and have a little chat with the Guvnah for a moment in Port Caledon. Of course, I could and should have produced a doom ray and proclaimed all of Caledon for myself at that very moment, but what would have been the fun in that really? Hm...actually...well...

I forgot what an disarmingly amiable fellow he is and he made the mistake of stooping down a bit too fast as we spoke. Feline instinct kicked in at the quick movement and took me off guard so I, well, took a swipe at him. I did not scratch him, but I did manage to procure a few strands of his hair in the process. Never know how handy they might be. *cackles*

I Supposed I Am Amused...

I do not know how I missed this rather hilarious holiday tale by Miss Rhianon Jameson involving me, but I must admit...she has me pegged rather well--particularly at the end...*chuckles*

I managed to get through the day without threatening a single soul yesterday, although I am a bit disappointed that I did not get my tool set, new doom ray, Tesla coil, shark, giant automaton or catnip mousie.

However, I did find quite a LOT of coal in my bin...

A Harrowing Evening

I am usually a bit more careful, so I do not know how the explosion happened or how smoke came to be billowing out of the Caledon Tam lab...
But the next thing I knew I found myself lying on a table at Caledon Regency Hospital. I have no idea how the minions got me there, but they had instructions to do so in case I could not tend to myself. I do not trust most crackpot quack doctors out there to treat me, but if I have to pick one, at least Dr. Mason is familiar with dealing with mechanical parts. I became quite feverish and in addition to my raving and ranting about my parents and minions, I am quite sure that I promised to kill him... However, my senses are quite keen and I could have sworn that at one point there were two Dr. Masons present. The other told me his name was "Marcus". Could I have been hallucinating in my delirium? The last thing I remember before closing my eyes was looking up and seeing the Doctor standing over me, singing a song in an eastern Feline dialect to calm me...
For what it was worth, upon my waking in the morning much improved, I was brought fresh salmon for my breakfast. A good medical institution indeed! Now, where are those minions? *narrows eyes*

Still...Nothing...

I have still not heard anything from my minion. I can once again assure you that I had absolutely nothing to do with his disappearance. I posted my missing sign out on the lab wall. Mr Eclipse offered to send a search party to look for him. Hm...I hope this prolonged absence is not part of one of Mr Quan's "schemes" or I shall throttle him when I see him!

An Even Bigger Problem...

Oh...dear...God...

I took a short trip to Babbage and upon my return found that the mutated squiddy thing mutated yet again...Once I determined that it would not eat me (good) or my neighbors (a pity), I was able to focus on other matters. In the spirit of the autumn season, I have set out a few pumpkins. If anything, I hope they will distract folks from the huge tentacle-y thing that seems to like being in my front yard...

Tamrannoch Sights

I thought I would take a walk around the neighborhood, as there were no neighbors present to say anything innocuous to me. Who knew Tamrannoch had such...unusual sights to see? On Mr Hassanov's property, a steam mammoth, with an air vehicle caught in its tusks...Intriguing...that axe could come in handy...Hatshepsut is here in Tam? Ahhh...a female as ambitious as I am! Power! Glory! Ruling it all! *cackles* That gives me an idea actually...

Squiddy & Biomech Things in a Barrel

Mr Quan had brought me some dinner--fresh squid he caught during his recent whaling run. A piece fell into a barrel of chemicals I had nearby and well...I had to grab a stick and beat it back a bit...
Just when I thought it had been subdued, let us just say that it "mutated" a bit. This time it took a lead pipe to beat it back down. It seems my latest experiments have gone a bit awry...or did they?I suppose they would make intriguing pets of a sort, if you have your stick nearby, so I offer to you...
And its counterpart...

A Day at the Lab...

I thought I would get some work done at the Lab today...First, the creature in the crate got riled up again. I kicked the crate and told it to pipe down its ruckus!
I looked up at the portrait of Moriarty--one of my mentors and colleague--and thought about how much I missed him since the Reichenbach incident...
I rubbed my paws together in glee as I got to work. What new creation can I make today?

Scouting Out Caledon Downs

I visited the Steampunk Resource Centre in Caledon Downs today. Lovely place. Gave me ideas of other places to expand the organization...Afterwards, I had a closer look at the clock tower. Upon discovering its Tesla coil atop it, I purred with delight with every crackle. What are these Caledonians up to? Does this tower serve another purpose? But alas, I could not alight upon it to have a closer inspection of its inner workings...Clever.

At the Aerodrome

I took a flight around the Firth of Caledon and landed at the Connolly Aerodrome. I do swear I shall rain fire and more upon this place, you mark my words!

A Most Disturbing Situation...

"You BIT a DUCHESS!" I screamed today, pacing back and forth in the private room of my lab. My green eyes were filled with anger as I looked at Mr Quan. "A DUCHESS! Now you have gone and attracted the attention of Dr Mason and the Baron Wulfenbach and truly put yourself on the radar of two of the most powerful Sparks in the nation! Your antics in the past have made me both alternately angry and amused, but this?!" I could not hold back a hiss...
He prostrated himself low before me and explained the situation...He had met a vampyr queen, who had invited him to her palace and fed him kibble. He was not turned, he explained. He held up a vial of wormwood potion and showed me his teeth. "See? They have returned to normal." My eyes narrowed and my hand stayed on the hawthorn stake concealed by the folds of my skirts...
I welcomed her Grace Kiralette Kelley to the Lab to tell me her side of the story. According to the Duchess, Mr Quan is a great source of comfort to her and a friend, and when she leaned over to pick him up, he lightly nipped her. Chagrined at his actions, he tried to lick her wound clean afterwards. She implored me not to harm him. I looked at both felines with concern. Her Grace is now unable to control her shapeshifting and after the nip, she was disoriented and hungry, and God only knows if Mr Quan still has this vampyric virus still running through his veins. I hoped that it was a virus that would pass, but I have doubts. I have consulted Dr Mason for his medical advice, as I do so hate concocting supernatural preventative medicines and antidotes. I can assure you that it has nothing to do with his family curse in any way. In the meantime, I shall have my stake and sword at the ready as I have found that holy water only serves to make the vampires rather...angry. Now that is a story for another time.

As for Mr Quan, if I must put him down, I am sad to say that I will do so without hesitation...

To Hidden Paw!

I was finally able to meet with Mr Foden, and I was accompanied by Mr Quan, who had his claws out at first--just in case. A bit more serious in personality and a Babbagian, Mr Foden is an airman with a squadron at his disposal, and has a bit of scripting experience under his belt. He showed me his gyropticon rings as a potential alternative energy source using kinetic energy... His reason for joining Hidden Paw was simple, his dislike of humans and a touch of revenge...both motives I can understand. I decided to go ahead and take him on as a minion. We raised our glasses in a toast to our newest member of the organization: "Long live Hidden Paw! May it ever grow!"

And Yet ANOTHER Minion Prospect!

Hidden Paw must be rather appealing as I even have a defector from the RCAF applying. What a coup for the organization! I do wonder what his motives are however and Mr Quan and I shall keep a close eye on him.

Mr Pilot Sopwith tells me he is a skilled pilot and gunrunner and a bit of a scoundrel, although I believe he is quite a kitty flirt. Flattery gets you everywhere sir--also possibly in a grave, so I'd watch that...I'm not so easily charmed.

Another Minion Perhaps?

It seems I have prospective minions coming out of the aether as I have received yet another application:

Hello, there...

Might I start out by stating that I am quite simply amazed with your work? Ah, I suppose an introduction of sorts is in order. I am Asrei Foden, as I'm sure an individual of your caliber has gathered. As the title of this note suggests, I am indeed looking to become a minion, especially of one such as yourself. My skills include slightly-advanced building, sharpshooting, obtaining items through... Let's call it persuasion, and also with distracting the masses through multiple means. If it helps any, I am a fellow feline, although not of the tiny variety, and I believe I add a certain look to any sinister operation. Please inform me what I must do to encroach into your employ.

With reverence and awe,
Asrei T. Foden

I have been...away...but I shall try to endeavor to schedule an interview with him soon. I do hope Mr Quan will be able to train him well.