The Quickening Gather

Apr 17, 2025

A rough dub of this original piece, featuring two – COUNT EM TWO! – 3string guitars. Written and performed by Tod Foley. Although I can’t really call it “mixing”. Rawk aut, do0d.

Listen [MP3]


T H E   Q U I C K E N I N G   G A T H E R

In the dawn or the twilight
Or simply a phase of development
The quickening gather
In wordless commune
Crossing the threshold
Dazed and amazed with antennae intent
On attending the tension
They tend to attune

In the heat of the action
Or simply in sync with insanity’s spin
The gathering quickens
To the beat of the hungers that number within
Is it passive resistance
Or active compliance that drives them along?
An instinctive insistence?
A need to belong?

     The numbers are dumb as a flock of birds
     They eat through the art with their awful words
     Or do they degrade with good intent:
     A satirical statement on sentiment?
     Is the system integral beyond the pale?
     Will we know who we are when we lift the veil?
     Is it act or reaction to gather here
     In this sickening quickening atmosphere?

In the eye of the psyclone
Or simply the stillness preceding the storm
Where the quickening gather
Eating the illness to further the form
Is the center still holding?
Are the rifters adrift, are we linked to the line?
Will the dawn still be golden?
Will we know when it’s time?

Explore More Insights

Spellcasting Critical Failures

Show your magic-users some negative love! This table produces dramatic results for critical spellcasting failures in a world where the power of magic can actually harm you - even kill you - if it gets out of your control . [download PDF]

read more

Games by Tod Foley

The following games designed by Tod Foley are all currently available at RPGNow.com and DrivethruRPG.com... For those classic 80s RPGs designed for Iron Crown Enterprises, click here.

read more

The As If Collective

The As If Collective is a network of roleplayers, gamers, GMs, Game Designers, artists and neophiles interested in exploring and contributing to experimental applications of narrative engineering. Every month I do 2-4 Releases: each is a minigame, a subsystem, an...

read more