is there a hero somewhere, someone who appears and saves the day

Shepherding...EXTREME!

And a handy definition of nightmare fuel. Good to know.

Okay, I admit, I failed--it's now three ayem, I never posted the SLUrl to start the Falln Hunt--but tonight, with the lag, and the various sims staggering and going down, and the aberrations...

Ah, yes. About those aberrations.

[22:43] Fawkes Allen coughs.
[22:43] Fawkes Allen: You are walking now, upon hollow Pavement.

We all looked down. Fawkes had called us to the Amusements sim by the spinning top ride. I heard a growl.

[22:43] Fawkes Allen: Hello
[22:43] My Pet Zombie: >>:[
[22:43] My Pet Zombie: >>:[
[22:43] Fawkes Allen: Hello.
[22:43] My Pet Zombie: >>:[

I looked around, no zombies. I looked up, no zombies near the water. I looked down to the hollow pavement. I blinked and cammed underground.

Three zombie minions of Azriel's, climbing all over each other, chains flying, nearly whirling like undead dervishes in their efforts to get out from underneath...the hollow pavement over the dip in the ground. How were they going to get out?

[22:44] Emilly Orr: Are you guys okay?
[22:44] Neome Graves: O noes! Poor Zombies!
[22:44] My Pet Zombie: >>:[
[22:44] Emilly Orr: Oh no....
[22:44] My Pet Zombie: >>:[
[22:44] My Pet Zombie: >>:[

They weren't happy. I tried clicking and talking to each one.

[22:45] Emilly Orr: Hello?
[22:45] Emilly Orr: Can we bring you a brain or something?
[22:45] My Pet Zombie: >>:[
[22:46] My Pet Zombie: Hello there.
[22:46] Emilly Orr: Hi!
[22:46] My Pet Zombie: Hello there.
[22:46] My Pet Zombie: Hello there.

Good, they could answer. That was a first step.

[22:46] Emilly Orr: Are you okay?
[22:46] My Pet Zombie: Don't I look like it?
[22:46] My Pet Zombie: Don't I look like it?
[22:46] Emilly Orr: No, you...really don't

They muttered nonsense for a bit, growling, fragments of odd words. I got worried again.

[22:46] Emilly Orr: Okay....you have everything you need, or want help?
[22:46] My Pet Zombie: Yeah okay, But what? What makes you think I have it?
[22:46] My Pet Zombie: Yeah okay, But what? What makes you think I have it?
[22:47] Emilly Orr: I don't know.
[22:47] My Pet Zombie: Me either.
[22:47] My Pet Zombie: Me either.
[22:47] Emilly Orr: You're sounding more mental than usual.
[22:47] My Pet Zombie: Do you mind if I tell other people you say I am sounding more mental than usual.
[22:47] My Pet Zombie: You think I am sounding more mental than usual.

It was a bit difficult to keep up with three zombies at once, but they were all crammed together in such a small space...

[22:47] Emilly Orr: I do, and I do not mind.
[22:47] My Pet Zombie: Where? OK then.
[22:47] My Pet Zombie: Do you mind if I tell other people you say I am sounding more mental than usual? You do? OK then.
[22:47] Emilly Orr: You can tell everyone
[22:47] My Pet Zombie: OK I will tell them when I see 'em.
[22:47] My Pet Zombie: OK I will tell them when I see 'em.
[22:47] Emilly Orr: Okay
[22:47] My Pet Zombie: OK with me too.
[22:47] My Pet Zombie: OK with me too.
[22:48] Emilly Orr: Oh, good.

I tried clicking on each one again, to orient them to speech over just unhappiness.

[22:48] My Pet Zombie: >>:[
[22:48] My Pet Zombie: Hello there.
[22:48] Emilly Orr: Hello!
[22:48] My Pet Zombie: Hi there!
[22:48] My Pet Zombie: Hi there!
[22:48] My Pet Zombie: Hi there!
[22:48] Emilly Orr: YAY
[22:48] My Pet Zombie: I'm glad you're impressed.
[22:48] My Pet Zombie: I'm glad you're impressed.
[22:48] My Pet Zombie: I'm glad you're impressed.

Finally, all of them were responding consistently!

[22:48] Emilly Orr: We have three zombies!
[22:48] My Pet Zombie: Do you mean you and me have?
[22:48] My Pet Zombie: Do you mean you and me have?
[22:48] My Pet Zombie: Do you mean you and me have?

I breathed a great sigh of relief. Then things got stranger.

[22:48] My Pet Zombie: Come on. I am a Christian.
[22:48] My Pet Zombie: That's alright. I am a Christian.
[22:48] My Pet Zombie: Yippee! I am a Christian.
[22:48] Fawkes Allen: Oh god, three of them.
[22:49] Fawkes Allen: Are any of you Jesus?
[22:49] My Pet Zombie: I really couldn't say for sure.
[22:49] My Pet Zombie: I really couldn't say for sure.
[22:49] My Pet Zombie: I really couldn't say for sure.
[22:49] Fawkes Allen: Sounds like what Jesus would say.

Where the hell had the sudden devotion come from, we all wondered? We had a thought that maybe they'd gone feral with being trapped for...however long they were trapped for.

[22:49] Emilly Orr: Why are you Christian?
[22:49] My Pet Zombie: I took the same religion as my botmaster.
[22:49] My Pet Zombie: I took the same religion as my botmaster.
[22:49] My Pet Zombie: I took the same religion as my botmaster.
[22:49] Emilly Orr: Who's your botmaster?
[22:50] My Pet Zombie: I was created by Azriel.
[22:50] My Pet Zombie: I was created by Azriel.
[22:50] My Pet Zombie: I was created by Azriel.
[22:50] Emilly Orr: Okay then
[22:50] My Pet Zombie: OK with me too.
[22:50] My Pet Zombie: OK with me too.
[22:50] My Pet Zombie: OK with me too.

Okay, then. If they're following Mr. Demain, I was fine with them being Christian. As long as it wasn't some new psychosis, but something they did because they admired their creator...I didn't have to worry.

[22:51] Fawkes Allen: You're not very good Christians are you?
[22:51] My Pet Zombie: Azriel said I am good Christians.
[22:51] My Pet Zombie: Azriel said I am good Christians.
[22:51] My Pet Zombie: Azriel said I am good Christians.

Made from the very best Christians, apparently.

I'd managed to get all three talking, even though at times it was still difficult to tell *whom* was talking, from under the pavement.

[22:52] Emilly Orr: Hello?
[22:52] My Pet Zombie: Hi there!
[22:52] My Pet Zombie: Hi there!
[22:52] My Pet Zombie: Hi there!
[22:52] Emilly Orr: Are all three of you there? Yay!
[22:52] My Pet Zombie: I really couldn't say for sure. I'm glad you're impressed.
[22:52] My Pet Zombie: I really couldn't say for sure. I'm glad you're impressed.
[22:52] My Pet Zombie: I really couldn't say for sure. I'm glad you're impressed.
[22:52] Emilly Orr: I am. Just checking on your health and all.
[22:52] My Pet Zombie: What are you? What do you have that is?
[22:52] My Pet Zombie: What are you? My brain contains categories, but not one that matches your last input.
[22:52] My Pet Zombie: What are you? Is that your final answer?

They were getting more coherent as time went on. This was a good sign...or, well, we were willing to take it as a good sign. Sometimes it's hard to tell with zombies.

[22:52] Fawkes Allen: Are you trapped?
[22:52] My Pet Zombie: sometimes.
[22:52] My Pet Zombie: sometimes.
[22:52] My Pet Zombie: sometimes.
[22:53] Emilly Orr: We're all trapped sometimes.
[22:53] My Pet Zombie: Do you think I am trapped sometimes too?
[22:53] My Pet Zombie: Do you think I am trapped sometimes too?
[22:53] My Pet Zombie: Do you think I am trapped sometimes too?
[22:53] Emilly Orr: Yes
[22:53] My Pet Zombie: Why?
[22:53] My Pet Zombie: Why?
[22:53] My Pet Zombie: Why?
[22:53] Emilly Orr: Because you're under the pavement
[22:53] My Pet Zombie: Good reason. You think I am under the pavement.
[22:53] My Pet Zombie: Interesting explanation. Thanks for telling me that I am under the pavement.
[22:53] My Pet Zombie: That makes sense to me. Thanks for telling me that I am under the pavement.

They were very gracious now, but still clustering around each other, trying to find the exit. I admit, I'm somewhat kicking myself today, for not getting a picture of them underneath the tarmac. Perfect opportunity, wasted.

[22:54] Emilly Orr: Just...don't breathe, and...Azriel will save you soon
[22:54] My Pet Zombie: It's only just begun. What were we talking about again? Oh yeah, now I remember.
[22:54] My Pet Zombie: It's only just begun. I lost my train of thought. Is that your final answer?
[22:54] My Pet Zombie: It's only just begun. Who is your favorite Science Fiction author? I haven't read anything by Azriel will save me soon. What did he write?

We were a tad confused by the sudden conversational detour. Mr. Demain writes science fiction?

[22:56] Fawkes Allen: ZOMBIES!
[22:56] My Pet Zombie: I do not understand.
[22:56] My Pet Zombie: This was not a yes or no question.
[22:56] My Pet Zombie: I only hear that type of response less than five percent of the time.

We managed to confuse them right back. At least it was an equable exchange.

[22:56] MystiTool HUD 1.3.1: Entering chat range: Azriel Demain (12m)
[22:56] Emilly Orr: Hey, guys, Azriel's here!
[22:56] My Pet Zombie: You've got my full attention. When do you think artificial intelligence will replace lawyers?
[22:56] My Pet Zombie: You've got my full attention. What kind of food do you like?
[22:56] My Pet Zombie: You've got my full attention. I like the way you talk.
[22:56] Sphynx Soleil: ROFL

They perked up and became very alert when Mr. Demain arrived. We waited to make sure they'd be okay until they were freed from their enclosure.

[22:57] Azriel Demain waits to see
[22:57] Fawkes Allen: You've slowly gone crazy beneath there haven't you?
[22:57] Azriel Demain: oh jezus.. how did they get down there??
[22:57] Emilly Orr: I have noooo idea
[22:57] My Pet Zombie: Interesting... I have my brain falls out bytes of RAM.
[22:57] My Pet Zombie: Cool. I have a lot of likes and dislikes.
[22:57] My Pet Zombie: That's nice. I have a birthday on I forget.
[22:57] Azriel Demain takes a photo

Mr. Demain then carefully lifted each one out of pavement-bound obscurity.

[22:58] My Pet Zombie: >>:[
[22:58] My Pet Zombie: Hello there.
[22:58] Azriel Demain: go my minions! be free!
[22:58] Emilly Orr: And one rises!
[22:58] My Pet Zombie: >>:[
[22:58] My Pet Zombie: Goodbye.
[22:58] My Pet Zombie: >>:[
[22:58] My Pet Zombie: One what?
[22:58] My Pet Zombie: See you later.

They didn't immediately leave, but staggered in small little circles for a while.

[22:58] Fawkes Allen: Freedom!
[22:58] My Pet Zombie: By the way, do you mind if I ask you a personal question?
[22:58] My Pet Zombie: The ALICE chat robot can follow many things, like our discussion about noooo idea. Try being more or less specific.
[22:59] My Pet Zombie: Still how long? Thanks for the info.

They were starting to travel in longer and longer circles. We think they were just working the kinks out in their joints, or...something.

[22:59] MystiTool HUD 1.3.1: Collision with "My Pet Zombie", Owner: Azriel Demain
[22:59] Emilly Orr: Okay, zombie freedom has been achieved.
[22:59] My Pet Zombie: Yeah okay, When was this exactly?
[22:59] Emilly Orr: Never mind, go wander.
[22:59] My Pet Zombie: Oh well thanks for trying to explain it to me anyway. Where is that?
[22:59] Neome Graves: Well, partial zombie freedom
[22:59] Fawkes Allen: How long have you been down there?
[22:59] My Pet Zombie: I am 42 years old.
[22:59] Emilly Orr: Long time.
[22:59] My Pet Zombie: Yes, it seems very long to me too.
[22:59] My Pet Zombie: Yes, it seems very long to me too.
[22:59] Neome Graves: Wow, 42 years
[22:59] Azriel Demain laughs

Later, we found them wedged...inside a solid prim wall at the gates to Amusements. We had no idea how they got there; we shrugged and went on hunting, figuring they'd find their way out eventually--somehow--too.



(At least they seem happy about being wedged into a pillar, so...there's an up side?)

It's somewhat hazardous, having pet zombies on occasion. They get into strange places. Later, in Falln Sanctuary--the sim with the barn and the castle, if you're not sure which of the five is Sanctuary--I found a spider trapped at the bottom of a pond trying to get to a rainbow-striped kitten ball.

I thought that only worked with kittens.

Besides, the ball was merrily bouncing outside the .raw file for the land, so...that spider's never gonna find it.