Nothing is True. Everything is Connected.
Author: <span>Nicolaus Meridius</span>

Sylum: Social Media

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Sylum: Social Media

 

With the recent problems with the Blog not sending out notifications or publicizing posts to the social media accounts we do have, I figured it was a good time to remind people of that we do have some presence on Social Media.

Sylum Twitter: To keep up to date on posts, new items for the Sylum Vault, and random thoughts from the Sylum Creators follow us Twitter.  If you have a twitter account it would be a good idea to follow – it’s here I’ll make posts about maintenance for the blog or updates when things go wrong.

Sylum Tumblr:  It’s not really Sylum, it’s my personal tumblr.  But if you want fun posts showcasing fandoms from Sylum or photos of Sylum Locations or snippets of stories I’m working on … even sneak peeks of upcoming Sylum stories.

Sylum Vault Tumblr:  It’s where we post our inspiration and showcase collections on the vault.

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Nicholas J. Finch Tumblr:  This is still a work in progress I have to admit.  But I’ll be posting more updates about my next book, inspiration, and randomness.  You can also find links to where my books are being sold.

Nicholas J. Finch Facebook: Also a work in progress, at the moment what gets posted on the Tumblr goes to the Facebook as I work out how to utilize it the most.  So if you have a Facebook, you can follow what I’m working on there.

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This would likely be your one and only time to suggest other Social Media options or ideas.  What platform would like to see Sylum on?  What would you like to see beyond the Blog & Twitter?

Sylum Inspiration: Alexander

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Sanguen Vitae: Clan Leader

Alexander as a king of Macedon, a state in northern ancient Greece. Born in Pella in 356 BC, Alexander was tutored by Aristotle until the age of 16. By the age of thirty, he had created one of the largest empires of the ancient world, stretching from the Ionian Sea to the Himalayas. He was undefeated in battle and is considered one of history’s most successful commanders.

Alexander succeeded his father, Philip II of Macedon, to the throne in 336 BC after Philip was assassinated. Upon Philip’s death, Alexander inherited a strong kingdom and an experienced army. He had been awarded the generalship of Greece and used this authority to launch his father’s military expansion plans. In 334 BC, he invaded the Achaemenid empire, ruled Asia Minor, and began a series of campaigns that lasted ten years. Alexander broke the power of Persia in a series of decisive battles, most notably the battles of Issus and Gaugamela. He subsequently overthrew the Persian King Darius III and conquered the entirety of the Persian Empire. At that point, his empire stretched from the Adriatic Sea to the Indus River.

Seeking to reach the “ends of the world and the Great Outer Sea”, he invaded India in 326 BC, but was eventually forced to turn back at the demand of his troops. Alexander died in Babylon in 323 BC, without executing a series of planned campaigns that would have begun with an invasion of Arabia. In the years following his death, a series of civil wars tore his empire apart, resulting in several states ruled by the Diadochi, Alexander’s surviving generals and heirs.

Alexander’s legacy includes the cultural diffusion his conquests engendered. He founded some twenty cities that bore his name, most notably Alexandria in Egypt. Alexander’s settlement of Greek colonists and the resulting spread of Greek culture in the east resulted in a new Hellenistic civilization, aspects of which were still evident in the traditions of the Byzantine Empire in the mid-15th century. Alexander became legendary as a classical hero in the mold of Achilles, and he features prominently in the history and myth of Greek and non-Greek cultures. He became the measure against which military leaders compared themselves, and military academies throughout the world still teach his tactics.

After Alexander traveled to Ecbatana to retrieve the bulk of the Persian treasure, his closest friend and possible lover, Hephaestion, died of illness or poisoning. Hephaestion’s death devastated Alexander, and he ordered the preparation of an expensive funeral pyre in Babylon, as well as a decree for public mourning. Back in Babylon, Alexander planned a series of new campaigns, beginning with an invasion of Arabia, but he would not have a chance to realize them, as he died shortly thereafter.

For more information contact the Vampire Council Library

Alexander had developed a fever and succumbed to his bed unable to even talk.

When he laid in bed he was visited by emissaries from Egypt, Ardeth Bey and Rick. It was Ahmet that told him he had too much to live for, and after a few hours of talking Turned him.

Sylum Recap: What’s Been Happening This Past Week!

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Maintenance/Plug-in From Hell

 

Since last Thursday, after one of our plug-ins was updated, all notifications stopped.  Subscribers weren’t getting emails, and posts weren’t being sent to Twitter or Tumblr.

Nothing.  Natta.  Zippo.

I started personally posting it to Twitter & Tumblr hoping that would help, while researching and waiting to see what the problem was.  Come to find out the Developers of that plug-in were on vacation and wasn’t back until this Monday.

So I waited.

Waited.

*checks watch*

Posts still not going through, start noticing the message boards going crazy with the same problem.  Finally get enough info to send it to the developers directly.

So I waited.

Waited.

*checks watch*

Yeah that kinda week.

Anyway, long story short (too late) they finally got back to me and said oh it’s because the plug-in is timing out.  It times out if your website doesn’t respond in 5 seconds, you need to talk to your hosting company as it takes 20 seconds for your site to come up.

Me: Bullshit, my hosting server has always been slow it wasn’t until you updated this shit started happening.   And points to message boards I’m not the only one … you upgraded when didn’t really need to and broke something and instead of rolling it back or finding a solution you’re blaming ‘internet speed’ … yeah fuck you.

So I did what I normally do figure this out on my own.   In the end I cleared at Cache’s, got rid of the Forums … no one was using it .. and if you’re sitting there going ‘what forums?’ my point was made!  Then … wait for it.  I deactivated the plug-in counted to ten and plugged back in.  I’m not kidding.

It worked.

Well I’m hoping it truly worked we’ll see if this post gets sent out publicly.  Sends quick prayer to St. Isadore of Seville!  Note if you do get this via email, click via tumblr or twitter … leave a reply just so I know it’s working again.

A Few Things:

The ability to Like a post has been taken off, cause it doesn’t want to play with others.

As stated the Forums are gone.  I’m hoping we can get more discussions going in the RP and Coffee House Fridays.

What You’ve Missed:

As no one was getting emails and it wasn’t being publicized here’s a few highlights of Posts you may have missed:

Throwback Thursday: Demons & Angels by Timothy Quinn

Due to the recent Sylum headcanon changes concerning Sam Winchester now being Theo … no longer Meridia … both these stories needed to be looked at.  They were already on the ‘need to look at’ list considering changes in Canon from the 10th Anniversary Clan War Edition.

Secondary Note: Roads Untraveled is being worked on at the moment

Sylum: Quiet on the Set

You get to choose one scene from the Sylum Universe to be filmed.

Which scene would you choose?

Sylum Advent 2016: Check In

If you’re working on a story or artwork let me know how it’s going!!

Throwback Thursday: The Black Queen by Gil Grissom

Hotchner and his team go to Seattle to recruit a hacker and Aaron gets far more than he bargained for.

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Please for the love of my sanity – let this work!

Sylum Maintenance: Test

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We’re having issues with getting things sent via email or posted to Twitter/Tumblr.

We’re going to be digging around in the wires, pulling things and plugging it back in.

So if things blip that would be why!

Throwback Thursday: The Black Queen by Gil Grissom

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Title: The Black Queen

Author: Gil Grissom

Summary: Hotchner and his team go to Seattle to recruit a hacker and Aaron gets far more than he bargained for.

Link to Sylum Archive

*Note: Make sure to let the author’s know that you appreciate the story – even if it’s a simple ‘I liked it’

Sylum Inspiration: Dakota Moseley

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Serenity: Caretaker

 

Dakota and her sister Missouri will always tell you that they had a good loving family. Neither are surprised they both ended up taking care of Clans. it’s part of who they are.

Dakota had taken an opportunity to teach up in Sitka, Alaska, seeking a new adventure. It was a church social she met Derria Book. The two hit it off instantly. When he sat her down and told her the truth, not wanting to lie to her about who he was, she accepted it with an easy heart.

Derrida courted and married her, later she was Turned and they Bonded.

Throwback Thursday: Demons & Angels by Timothy Quinn

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Demons & Angels is considered one of the nexus stories in the Sylum Universe, outside the Main Arcs.

This story is one of the biggest and most influential turning points in the series.  It sets up: new characters, relationships, and future storyline.

It’s also takes place within 12 hours, and introduces two major characters who have, and will continue, to influence Sylum.

Patrick McKenna

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Ernesto Olivetti

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Ernesto’s story continues in Roads Untraveled …. leading to the introduction of Andrew Kiernan and Pius XVII, further characters who have become beloved over time.

Due to the recent Sylum headcanon changes concerning Sam Winchester now being Theo … no longer Meridia … both these stories needed to be looked at.  They were already on the ‘need to look at’ list considering changes in Canon from the 10th Anniversary Clan War Edition.

We were going to wait until Clan War was finished, but the latest chapter has been a pain in the ass for a while so we took a break and focused on these two.

And we all know how Ernesto gets when he wants attention!

There weren’t a lot of changes, subtle moments that enhanced an already amazing story and small threads of things to come.  For those who’ve read this story more than once – see if you can find the differences.

I can’t say how much I love this story, enough.

No seriously.

It’s one of those stories you catch yourself while reading, going – what happens next?  Even though you know what happens next.  It’s beautifully written, the characters are engaging, and it makes you want to just curl up with a cup of tea and keep reading.

I can’t even watch the movie anymore … well I can but I stop at Fire … cause I just refuse to watch the WTF ending.  Dan Brown should be shot for the ‘oh my god lets shock you with the most shocking of shocking endings cause you didn’t see that shocking conclusion’.  We didn’t see it coming because it was STUPID!

Sorry – small rant there.

I thank the movie for two things:  Ewan McGregor in a cassock, and introducing me to Pierefrancesco Favino.

So back to the the reason for this post.

The Re-Posting of  Demons & Angels!  Yes it’s been updated, edited, and uploaded to the Sylum Archive!

Demons & Angels: By Timothy Quinn

If you haven’t read it – you should.

If you’ve already read it – read it again.

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Special Note to Timothy Quinn

Thanks for the work you do with Sylum, for helping corral the Bobs, for your insight, talent, 50,000 word vocabulary, editing skills, and just the fact you chose me to be with.  *sappy moment is sappy*

Thank you for this.

Thank you for one of my favorite stories of all time, one that surpasses All Quiet on the Western Front and Tom Sawyer.

Now Everyone Go Read!!

Demons & Angels: By Timothy Quinn

Sylum Sneak Peek: Watch Dog

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This is the story I’m working on at the moment … I’ve been working on it for a while.  It was supposed to come out during Seven Days *hahahahahaha* Sorry …  It was basically set to be a prequel, intro to the POI storyline into Sylum.

Then these two….

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Kneecapped their original storyline and decided they wanted a bigger, brighter, longer storyline.

So now I’m re-working Watch Dog to fit their new arc.  And just as I started to get a handle on it ….

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This got into the mix ….

REALLY!?

*sighs*

Looks at Harold and John … you two good now?

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And now for the sneak peek:

Read more“Sylum Sneak Peek: Watch Dog”

Sylum RP: Prepping for Fall

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As fall approaches and the days get shorter, Sylum Manor starts prepping for the Holiday Seasons.

The air is cooler, though still warm evenings.

It’s perfect time to set outside on the porch and listen to the sounds of evening.

Hot drinks are ready in the kitchen, chairs scattered along the porch – just waiting for anyone to come by and chat.

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As always with any RP – have fun and be courteous!

Sylum Inspiration: Robert Neville

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Serenity: Scientist

 

Robert Neville was born in New York, his parents always telling him that he could do whatever he wanted. Made sure he got a good education, to stand against prejudices and racism.

His ambition got him into the University of New York, where he earned a degree in biology and physics. He later was recruited into the US Army, moving up ranks while working in the labs to come up with new ways to defeat the Vietcong.

When he transferred to a secured location in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness he knew something was wrong. His new commanding officer, Colonel William Striker, made sure he understood that he worked for him now.