On toxicity

OK, listen. This is the first time I've responded to an external blog post, but there's a post out there and I don't even know the author's name and it's a catalogue of horrible, horrible sexist and racist behaviour and if you are the sort of person who needs a trigger warning then you'd best not click it because, holy God.

Now this post has caused an upswell of outrage, both from people who are horrified and appalled that such a thing could happen, and people who deny that it's even real, including one choice specimen who I suppose is counted as prominent (although people who aren't awful generally wish he wasn't) who described it as "so far from anecdotal, even apocryphal rumour to me, it might as well be in fucking Narnia."

I responded to the whole thing with my unsurprised face. I mean, the thing is, all these guys refusing to believe this woman's account is true (because their anecdotal evidence trumps hers because she's a girl presumably) are missing the point. Because every single one of these things happens. I have heard stories from people I know and strangers alike that match every single one of the things the writer of that blog post says she's been through.

It doesn't even matter if it's not all true because this happens all the time.   

Five Facts Concerning Mu, Built on Hope and Blood

XX. Judgement

Next time, I'll delve into the magic system and some examples of what one can do with it, but first another extract from the world section, this time about the land of Mu. Chariot's crowdfunder is healthy but has but a short time left. The price of the game will be higher when it goes on general sale, so please do consider helping or sharing.

The Theory of Magic

Chariot's crowdfunder now stands only about £92 short of its first stretch goal, with 15 days to go. Please tell your friends about the game, share my posts and contribute if you like my writing. 

Anyway, after all that painful family history and difficult words about rape, it's business as usual, as today, we have another excerpt from the magic rules of Chariot. Tomorrow, some explanation on how this goes together, but today, the structure of a magic system based upon a theosophical Atlantis. People knowledgeable in Western occultism will probably recognise bits. That's not a bad thing. 

On Slavery, and the Violation of Consent

Page of Wands

This post carries a warning. If you are offended or distressed by discussions of human consent and the violation thereof or if they bring back things you'd rather they didn't, please stop reading. I'm on your side here, believe me.

If you like my writing and you agree with what I'm getting at, you can still support Chariot here, and I would love you to do so. VII.CHA.BE.CHA

Fifteen Statements on the Ides of March

It's the 15th March.

Today is the anniversary of the death of Julius Caesar. He was stabbed by his political enemies and several of his friends, because they believed that killing him would put things back the way they were before. This did not go quite according to plan.

For me, it has a significance that goes beyond the mundane tide of world history. Today would have been my Dad's 77th birthday. His name was Dave Ingham.

I've written about my dad a lot over the years. Today, though, here are fifteen things about him, for the 15th. Which are, by extension, about me.

The Hat Club Playtest, Part 2

Aumec

Sorry I didn't get this posted sooner, but it's been... a rough week. Still. we finally got to have a proper first session. And it worked! I mean, look, no matter how watertight your game looks, it's one thing to thrust a rulebook under the nose of your mates... Actually playing it is a different matter.

Remember you can still support the Chariot crowdfunder at http://igg.me/at/ChariotRoleplay

What Magic Can't Do

Seven of Wands

An excerpt from Chariot's magic section. It might seem unduly negative, but the way that the magic of Chariot works, it's actually easier to define what magic can't do rather than what it can. These limits on magic, by the way, are the ones codified by early Theosophist William Quan Judge in Occult Arts, which you can read here, here and here. Judge was responsible for the US branch of the Theosophical Society, still based in Pasadena, making a decisive break with the Indian/UK branch shortly after Madame Blavatsky's death, leading to there being, now, two Theosophical Societies. Why? Leadbeater, basically. 

And don't forget: I'm still funding! Help us get to our stretch goals at http://igg.me/at/ChariotRoleplay
  VII.CHA.BE.CHA