http://www.clockpunk.com Steampunk Field Recordings by Naturalist Dr. Julius T. Roundbottom Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:51:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 en Field recordings from a fantastical world of steampunk , faeries, and clockwork insects, brought to you by Roundbottom Foundation. Visit http://www.clockpunk.com for more information. Steampunk Field Recordings by Naturalist Dr. Julius T. Roundbottom Julius T. Roundbottom steampunk, science fiction, biology, naturalist, clockpunk, fantasy, short fiction no Jeremiah Tolbert jeremy.tolbert@tuginternet.com http://www.clockpunk.com/2008/field-sounds-the-word-of-shallis/ http://www.clockpunk.com/2008/field-sounds-the-word-of-shallis/#comments Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:30:46 +0000 Julius T. Roundbottom http://www.clockpunk.com/?p=274 http://www.clockpunk.com/2008/field-sounds-the-word-of-shallis/feed/ Hello again, dear readers.  The weather has turned most foul, and unfortunately it has thwarted our attempts to make contact with the noble faeries.  We ventured out into the rain hoping that they would not hold to the letter of their message, but Im afraid they are quite literal-minded creatures.  No moon light, and so they did not appear.  Or perhaps it has all been a game for them, and they never meant to?  When the moons are full again, we will make a second attempt. I am not afraid to admit that I have not been in the best of moods since I last wrote.  Losing a friend is never a pleasant experience, and it has led me to be most reflective this past week.  I have read your messages, and I have been tardy in replying.  I apologize. First, allow me to present the 5th edition of Field Sounds.  Miss Watkins relates a most astounding tale from her childhood.  I would not believe it if I had not verified the facts of the event myself in the local librarys archives. Now, to answer your questions. Dr. A.M. Acadine I wish you luck in yoru research with the hibylik.  You are a braver soul than I.  Demons are entities that I very much prefer to avoid, regardless of the scientific discoveries to be made.  Your research sounds most interesting, however, and I do hope to read more of it from the comfort of my laboratory.  I am grateful that there are scientists like you doing such work.  My faeries and insects are rarely so dangerous. Although lately, it would not appear that way You are right that I should speak more with the boggarts and the Bird Queen regarding the totem and its function.  Unfortunately, I have seen not one boggart since the events last related.  There is a raven that has taken to sitting outside my window at all hours of the day, and I suspect that they are keeping an eye upon me.  I dont yet have the courage to communicate with the Queen (and thus the birds) just yet.  She seemedI should say, they seemedquite annoyed by the thievery.  But birds are no strangers to thieving, and perhaps they will forgive with time. Mr. Mortlewood,  I am terribly pleased to hear that my work with the boggarts has had such an effect on your own research. These Puff-Vipers you describe sound truly unique.  Please do send me more on this species when you can.  A specimen perhaps?  I would very much like to dissect such a creature. Dr. Ventius, I believe you are correct in your solution to the mystery of the Queens appearance, at least in part.  I do not think that the Queen takes her appearance from my mind necessarily, as all those who have come in contact with her appear the same, and I am able to make photonic captures.  If she were a purely psychic manifestation, then I do not believe this would be the case. Still, I have wracked my memories and I am afraid I can remember no individual with a like appearance.  Something for me to ponder further, though, and I thank you for the suggestion.  As to the implication regarding the boggarts, I am in agreement there as well, but do not wish to speak at length on the subject, as I am pursuing a line of research into this very question. Again, my friends, I apologize for dallying in my correspondence.  I will endevour to respond more quickly in the future. Hello again, dear readers.  The weather has turned most foul, and unfortunately it has thwarted our attempts to make contact with the noble faeries.  We ventured out into the rain hoping that they would not hold to the letter of their message, [...] Julius T. Roundbottom 00:08:47 clockpunk, steampunk, faeries, fantasy, music, humor no http://www.clockpunk.com/2008/field-sounds-uncovering-the-noble-faery-message/ http://www.clockpunk.com/2008/field-sounds-uncovering-the-noble-faery-message/#comments Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:30:17 +0000 Julius T. Roundbottom http://www.clockpunk.com/?p=253 http://www.clockpunk.com/2008/field-sounds-uncovering-the-noble-faery-message/feed/ Hello dear readers.  Professor Welterschmidt (pictured once again above) and I are still deep in the thick of the Bird Queen/Boggart ordeal.  I should have a very satisfying update on that matter by next week.  In the meanwhile, Miss Watkins has put together a wonderful edition of the Field Sounds acoustic recording.  This week, along with the help of our Tinkerer, she has deciphered the hidden meaning of the noble faery music.  We would very much appreciate your advice on how we should proceed in this matter. Fall is rapidly approaching the city and with it, the annual slow-down in my research.  Never fear, however. I plan to make use time with laboratory experiments and by turning to some ethnographic work.  There are many unusual peoples making their residence here in the City, and some of them suffer plights that cannot go ignored.  In particular, I hope to shine a light on some of the deplorable conditions that the buckmen and doewomen live under.  As the latest in a long history of refugee populations, they have it the worst, but there are other conditions that I wish to investigate. I believe as an outsider to the City, I can present a fair view of these matters.  Local researchers often show their bias in using such terms as savages and the like.  While most here are Englunders, they are not native to this place, and yet they treat the more unusual arrivals very poorly.  Its one of the great shames of my adopted city. I have one other important bit of news to relate to you this week.  Miss Watkins insist that I spend time talking about our latest membership drive.  Memberships in the Roundbottom Foundation can now be purchased on the Foundation section of the Informatitron.  Memberships have a purchase price of $35 (translated to your local currency).  They include a membership card, a letter of thanks, and one 8 inch by 10 inch print of some of my earliest photonic captures.   Larger prints of all other photonic captures can be purchased for reasonable sums.  See the Print Store for more details regarding that. Now, with the distasteful issue of finances out of the way, I present to you the fourth edition of Field Sounds: Hello dear readers.  Professor Welterschmidt (pictured once again above) and I are still deep in the thick of the Bird Queen/Boggart ordeal.  I should have a very satisfying update on that matter by next week.  In the meanwhile, Miss Watkins has [...] Julius T. Roundbottom 00:10:30 roundbottom clockpunk steampunk fantasy audioplay no http://www.clockpunk.com/2008/field-sounds-noble-faery-games/ http://www.clockpunk.com/2008/field-sounds-noble-faery-games/#comments Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:30:43 +0000 Julius T. Roundbottom http://www.clockpunk.com/?p=226 http://www.clockpunk.com/2008/field-sounds-noble-faery-games/feed/ Regarding the matter of the Bird Queen, I am awaiting the arrival of noted expert of the supernatural Dr. Finneas Welterschmidt to continue with plans to design a ruse that will satisfy by parties and avert the war.  At present, I am off to present my preliminary research notes on boggart intelligence to the Adventurers Club.   When there is movement on the matter, I will report to you, dear readers. Until then, Miss Watkins has a most fortuitous Field Sounds edition for your aural examination.  After many years of futile search, the noble faeries may have initiated contact!  As you may well know, noble faeries say nothing simply, and the music captured on cylinder her is most curious.  I hope that in my absence, you may help discern the meaning with Miss Watkins.  I leave you for now in her most capable hands. Miss Watkins here perhaps one day, Dr. Roundbottom will create a profile for me on the Informatitron.  Until then, I will post my communications via his profile. I am proud to present to you the third edition of Field Sounds. My ramblings aside, I look forward to your thoughts on the unusual music and what message the song may contain.   I cannot escape the feeling that it holds some meaning that if only we can untangle, we could reach out to this worlds first inhabitants and finally open a dialogue. When my ancestors first settled here, building their city on the Lower Machinery, tapping crudely into the mess of gears and pumps to warm our homes and power various factories, the noble faeries retreated without a fight.  I have always wondered why.  Soon I hope to ask this question and more Regarding the matter of the Bird Queen, I am awaiting the arrival of noted expert of the supernatural Dr. Finneas Welterschmidt to continue with plans to design a ruse that will satisfy by parties and avert the war.  At present, I am off to [...] Julius T. Roundbottom 00:07:21 clockpunk, steampunk, faeries, fantasy, music, humor no http://www.clockpunk.com/2008/field-sounds-boggarts-prepare-for-war/ http://www.clockpunk.com/2008/field-sounds-boggarts-prepare-for-war/#comments Sun, 14 Sep 2008 22:17:20 +0000 Julius T. Roundbottom http://www.clockpunk.com/?p=211 http://www.clockpunk.com/2008/field-sounds-boggarts-prepare-for-war/feed/ I enter this missive into the Informatitron with a great amount of pride and no small amount of pain.  Three days ago, Miss Watkins and I took the recorder deep into the Park.  The second edition of Field Sounds provides all the evidence I believe the scientific community will need to prove that the boggarts possess more than a basic intelligence. Not much more, mind you.  Please excuse my behavior and words in the latter minutes of the recording. Yes, ahhso. Moving forward, I am determined to locate this figure known as the Bird Queen before the boggarts can.  A battle between a bird army and a tribe of highly armed boggarts would disturb the habitats of countless rare species and while I prefer to remain uninvolved in natural matters, this is clearly a case where intelligent beings could do harm, and I have no qualms of becoming involved.  While I have successfully documented the intelligence of the boggarts, be that what it may, I have not yet determined what the cause of this conflict between the two forces.  What could this Bird Queen have done to anger the boggarts enough that she should be killed, to work them into such a rage? Listen carefullyperhaps some of you can make out some of the boggarts native language, and provide clues as to the nature of the conflict I present to you the second edition of Field Sounds: Postscript: Returning to the matter of intelligence, I hope that you will agree that the boggarts possess an intelligence more than say a common moth pixie or the sprites. I now have numerous tool samples to add to my collection, as well as the captures and this recording.  Arrangements have been made to present these findings to the Urban Explorers Club in two weeks.   My latest wounds should be healed enough in time.  The members are a notorious rambunctious group, and the dinner party afterward will test even my constitution, fully healed or not.  Until this, I will convalesce as best I can and research the Queen.  I have sent word to the Parks urchin gangs that I seek an audience, and with their keen eyes on the lookout, it will only be a matter of time before her whereabouts are made known. I enter this missive into the Informatitron with a great amount of pride and no small amount of pain.  Three days ago, Miss Watkins and I took the recorder deep into the Park.  The second edition of Field Sounds provides all the evidence I [...] Dr. Roundbottom 00:06:00 steampunk, roundbottom, boggarts, fantasy, adventure http://www.clockpunk.com/2008/field-sounds-the-first-edition/ http://www.clockpunk.com/2008/field-sounds-the-first-edition/#comments Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:09:19 +0000 Julius T. Roundbottom http://www.clockpunk.com/?p=193 http://www.clockpunk.com/2008/field-sounds-the-first-edition/feed/ Unfortunately, I must keep this missive short.  Recent experiments have led to injuries that prevent me from sitting for long periods of time at the Informatitron.  While I recuperate,  please entertain yourselves with the latest innovation in scientific research and education a cross-world audio transmission!  Narrated by the invaluable Miss Watkins, this acousti-cast details some of my recent research in imitating moth pixie mating calls.  Regarding my injuries, I do not wish to say more.  Far too embarrassing. Er, yes, anyway.  Much of the credit for this achievement goes to Master Tinkerer Nathaniel Periat for repairing my acoustic recorder and instructing me on the operation of the device.  Additionally, Master Periat was so kind as to provide a sample of music he recorded undergroundapparently, the product of a band of steamrat musicians!  I hope to bring you more of  these songs in the future for your amusement.   We cannot be all business around here, my readers! I do so hope you find this acousti-cast edifying.  We seek suggestions for new subjects to record, so please, if there is something you are dying to hear, do not hesitate to write via the Informatitron.  Let it not be said that we are unresponsive to feedback.  We value your input in this and all other matters. Without further adieu, I give you the first edition of Field Sounds. Unfortunately, I must keep this missive short.  Recent experiments have led to injuries that prevent me from sitting for long periods of time at the Informatitron.  While I recuperate,  please entertain yourselves with the latest innovation in [...] Dr. Julius T. Roundbottom and Nathaniel Periat 5:21 roundbottom clockpunk steampunk fantasy audioplay