#Baseless speculation

[shakibone]

Why'd the remove Jumba's face turn, and keep him as the villain? Some baseless speculation:

Cut down costs by not having to cast and animate Gantu (despite having Disney money)

Streamlining the plot by removing superfluous characters (While making a shallower film by removing one character's development)

Not wanting to present a government (even the alien Federation) as being bad, or having bad agents. See also: Social Services and familial separation is good actually!

Wanting to reinforce that criminals are bad guys and deserve their sentencing and the courts are never wrong and bad guys don't deserve second chances.

Of all these, I suspect it's the most dull answers of streamlining and cheapness.

[shinobicyrus]

Well it seems the TikTok ban has been lifted after mere hours, and we now exist in a bizarre environment of confusion and uncertainty as this is all happening at the same time of Trump's coronation.

As we have no idea what the hell is going on, its time for ✨baseless speculation✨

ByteDance is currently in the process of divesting or has entered negotiations in good faith with a yet-unknown US-based party (rumors ranging from Facebook/Mark Zuckerberg to MrBeast) to sell TikTok to, which was the entire point of the ban.

Trump has instructed his incoming administration to not enforce the ban to give ByteDance time to sell to a US-based party (most likely one friendly to him) and thus endear himself to TikTok's American users.

Trump has instructed his incoming administration to not enforce the ban, ignoring the so-called national security concerns of both parties, SCOTUS, and former-CIA ghouls on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to both endear himself to TikTok users and have his own on/off switch which he can leverage to personally control and influence over TikTok's owners.

[raps-hellion]

which joel duscher are you today?

[deliciouskeys]

“They paid some poor runaway two grand to carry the embryo to term.”

@abrubag is going to kill me for one of the options.

[steve-of-the-woods]

"You can't do a solo Purge, that's just called being a serial killer. You gotta get at least a couple more people in before it's a real Purge."

-Jackson B Baly

Baseless Speculation: Daredevil Born Again - A Baseless Reaction

[karmicbias]

I'm probably reading something into nothing but what the heck is Incantapetion?

At first I thought maybe it was an anagram for 'anticipation' which would be pretty funny.

It's close to Incantapetition which tbh I could believe as a song or album name.

[brineffxiv]

My new old friends and I continue our adventures through Elpis.

We're about to be eaten by a shark with legs when Venat drops out of goddamn nowhere and knocks the thing out. So fast I didn't even manage to capture the moment.

Hell of an entrance. I can certainly say I didn't expect to meet her like this.

Venat is apparently a former member of the Convocation who has eschewed the majority opinion and elected to remain and continue her work after retiring.

*Gaaaaaaassp!!*

Former Azem!? OMG.

Venat knows Hythlodaeus and Emet-Selch of course, and they all have a little exchanging of pleasantries, discuss the current Azem (Me! It's Past Me! AAA!), and generally make smalltalk. When suddenly Venat turns to me, and asks...

DANGER! DANGER! THE CAT IS OUT OF THE CLOSET BAG!

Fuuuuuu-

The question is met with shocked reactions from my two travelling companions. Venat explains how she reached this conclusion: She senses her own magic upon me - a traveler's ward, designed to prevent the corruption of aether - and knowing she has never met me she surmises that she must have woven the enchantment at some point in the future.

I confirm her suspicions.

Emet-Selch is taking this very seriously. He is not going to like what I have to tell him.

Venat offers her accommodations here in Elpis as a place we can go where I can tell them all my story. Venat seems to me a very lovely person. She's difficult to dislike, even if I may have some grievances with her future self.

At Poieten Oikos, Venat prepares us some tea, and the group settle in to hear my tale.

I really appreciate how this was done. The time it took for me to explain everything, and the shots of the characters shown throughout as they reacted to what I was presumably telling them. The way the mood progressed from curiosity and hope to solemn horror as each of my new friends were confronted with their fates and the future of the star.

(It made sense to me that Venat was shown specifically contrasted with her future as Hydaelyn, and Emet-Selch with the fate of the convocation as a whole, but it was especially interesting to me that Hythlodaeus was confronted with - and presumably effected the most by - Emet-Selch and his phantom Amaurot. Not his own future as a shade sacrificed to Zodiark, but that of his friend and the burden he would bear. Curious, and food for thought... bad shipper brain! Not time for that!)

I speak for a long time; until the tea has long grown cold. None of them take what I've told them particularly well, and all express doubts. Venat seems the one most inclined to credit my story as being true.

I am extremely pleased to see that she has several of the same critiques of her future self's actions as I do! Perhaps we will get along better than I expected!

Emet-Selch is not taking this well at all. Honestly, I don't blame him. He plays the role of villain in this tale, and not only is he fated to labor in grief and isolation for thousands of lifetimes, he is ultimately doomed to fail. He alone among the Convocation must carry the burdens of sanity, memory, and responsibility.

In defence of your future self; I do not think you abandoned your brethren or your duty. I think assisting me was simply a backup plan in the event that I killed you. As to why you would do something so seemingly illogical as to invite me to Amaurot in the depths of the Tempest? I think, despite it all, you desperately wanted the person you still saw as your old friend to understand you. What you were doing and why. Deep down you didn't want to kill me, but rather, you wanted me to agree with you, to convert to your side of things. As impossible as that eventuality might seem, you still had hope that we could see eye-to-eye. The friend who disagreed so strongly with your chosen course that he left the Convocation might yet return. Your people - those sundered and those imprisoned with Zodiark - might be made whole and restored to life. All could be as it was, and the world could be restored to the version you loved, when you were happy and whole.

So you invited me to Amaurot. A final attempt to force me to see what we'd lost. It wasn't about winning, or the most logical course of action; it was about a desperate hope to reclaim even the tiniest sliver of what you lost. A friendship, a connection. Pain and loneliness and grief and love were your motivations.

Emet-Selch speaks and plans logically, and rationalizes his actions in the moment. But in truth he is ruled by his emotions: he feels too strongly and too keenly. He loved so much that loss turned him into a monster.

Anyway, back to the preset, Emet-Selch storms out the door with Hythlodaeus running and calling after him.

Venat and I are left alone.

I am concerned, but Venat assures me that if Emet-Selch is truly the man Azem has led her to believe he is, we will see him again.

Fortunately, Venat seems inclined to help me. I tell her of what I've learned of Dynamis, and of Hermes' experiments with it regarding Meteion. We set about questioning the nearby researchers regarding Hermes and his activities.

Our inquiries are mostly unproductive until we chance upon a researcher whose partner once saw Hermes, late one night, sending multiple Meteia skyward. We decide to speak to the researcher personally to hear this story in full. We ascend to the skyway, and, while waiting to hear from the researcher herself, Venat and I get to talking.

Venat wants to know what the world in the future is like. She asks me to tell her about my adventures - the smaller details, as opposed to the world ending ones.

In turn, Venat tells me of her own history; she has been a scholar, one who sought to learn and discover the mysteries of the world. Through her work she feels perpetually in awe of the miracles of creation. She is the Ur adventurer; the desire to travel and learn and experience runs strong in her. And she loves fiercely all that she has come to know.

Her people are her meaning and her purpose, and they are why she cannot bring herself to return to the star. Not so long as she feels they still need her. She speculates that her future self as Hydaelyn is still waiting for a time when She can let go, confident that we can guide our own way.

Oh. That is a hell of a question.

And one I'm not given time to answer before the woman we are waiting for appears. But here...

I think it's obvious I love this game. I adore it. It's fantastic. I'm already planning to play it through again once I've finished.

But what of Rhesh'a? How does he feel?

I imagine he's still somewhat in shock. He hasn't had a moment to rest and breathe in a very long time. He's very good at compartmentalizing, bucking down and dealing with stress in emergency situations. But, now, he's approaching the end of his rope emotionally, and he's going to have a hellish reckoning to face when he finally has a chance to come to terms with all he's been through. I do not think his journey can be described in such simple terms as "good" or "bad". Worthwhile? This is his life. All he is, all he has and loves has come to him through this journey.

I will have to think on this more.

The researcher arrives! She regales us with the tale of the Meteia, shooting skywards like stars from a little isle not too far off. This must be what Hermes was talking about when he told me of Meteion's sisters, off exploring distant stars.

When the researcher had asked Hermes about his secret project, he'd told her that he needed to do more tests before answering any questions.

I am strongly suspecting that this project of Hermes' with the Meteia is related to the root cause of the Final Days, and it seems Venat agrees with me. We are going to go to the little isle to investigate some more, but I cannot yet fly in Elpis so we need some way to get me there...

Argos is less than amenable to me riding on him this time. Venat's solution is for me to fight her, and prove to Argos that I am worthy. She does not go easy on me.

Ouch.

Venat kicked my ass. This fight was not easy with a broken hand, I tell you. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Yay! Argos likes me now!

Again.

...

Oh.

Oh no.

This dog. This fucking dog, man.

I'm sorry Argos, I'm sure you're the goodest of boys, it's just that you've suddenly become a symbol of everything about to go wrong for me. I tried. I tried so damn hard to ignore it, to put it aside, but my brain can't stop assembling the pieces of the puzzle. And the picture it's creating is upsetting.

Back up a bit. I've been keeping my eye out, and I'm certain I have yet to meet anyone who could be Elidibus. But this dog. Just made me think of something. Elidibus knew to send me into the past because he remembered meeting me here. Re-framed another way; the future I come from already exists as a result of me visiting the past. It's a closed time loop. In order for me to have travelled into the past, I must always have done so. The act of me travelling into the past itself does not create a change in the timeline because that act is a pre-condition to the existence of my own future.

All very well and good, but this dog.

This dog.

This dog knew me in the future.

Argos here had to learn to respect me before he would let me ride him. In the future I come from, my past, he liked me right away. The Watcher even remarked that it was strange for him to behave that way towards me.

But I'm the WoL: I'm used to being exceptional. Why would it be strange that the otherwise unapproachable dog liked me? I am Hydaelyn's specialest little boy, after all.

But here!

He doesn't! He fucking doesn't! I am NOT the exception to the rule!

Which can only mean, that when I encountered Argos on the moon, he was remembering me having earned his respect in the past.

Right now.

I always fought Venat in the past in order to earn Argos' respect. That's why he let me ride him.

Somehow. Incredibly. Horrifyingly. After all I have done. I have not managed to change the future. The timeline has not split. Despite Emet-Selch, Hythlodaeus, and Venat all knowing exactly what is coming... and the former two at least (if not all three) explicitly not knowing that in my future... this time still leads to mine.

While I'm having my little freak out crisis, Venat and I arrive on the little island with the pretty pink tree.

Venat informs me that there are two ways to view an event in the past with my abilities. The first is what I've always experienced with the Echo, the second is utilizing the ambient aether for the same purpose. While I still can't control the ability voluntarily, Venat will help me.

I am granted a vision of Hermes and Meteion, having just sent the other Meteia off on their journeys to other stars. Their missions are to seek other intelligent lifeforms on other stars, and inquire of them their conceptions of life and what they live for. In finding these answers Hermes hopes to bring enlightenment to the peoples of this star, and improve the quality of life for all beings, not just man.

Hermes promises to hold a celebration for Meteion upon her return, and gift her a beautiful flower. I wonder if this is why she wanted to in turn gift Hermes a flower?

Returning to myself, Venat and I agree that it does not seem likely that Hermes would cause the Final Days on purpose. But we cannot rule out an accidental cause, or an oversight. In light of this, Venat suggests we fill Hermes in on my story, and seek his expertise in the field of Dynamis on this matter.

That it would not. If there is anything that can be done to prevent Hermes from becoming the Fandaniel of my time, then I would do it.

[peterbscaprisweatpants]

broke: sad the bs boys will never based reaction conclave (2024)

woke: the bs boys generally discuss franchise cinema--a model that completely makes sense for an ongoing podcast that extrapolates from forerunning works/cinematic universes

bespoke: but what about those eps where Jackson watches a random movie instead of doing his job???

[benedictive-shaman]

So, for the past week on Twitter I've been losing my marbles over the latest Sdorica teaser

For context, Sdorica has not had a story update in over a year and this looks awfully like it 'might' be a story update finally. A lot of us had taken to just expecting EOS before we ever got to see the end of the story so this is renewed hope. This is all speculation however and nobody really knows if it actually is a new season or if it's just like a new event or a new series of alts. So I've thought to take the liberty to analyze the image for all it's worth here.

Firstly, if you look at the background you can see what appears to be..... A whale? I wouldn't be pointing this out if it wasn't something that might be important. We actually have seen it before!

This whale actually showed up previously in this loading screen! So you might think we know more about it then? Nope! It's been a loading screen for the longest time but we know nothing about what it depicts. I can't find my source for this claim and I don't want to scrub through files again but I heard a long while ago the file name is something like 'Atlas Beast' so that gives us a location too. This is a pretty interesting thing to include and makes me think that this something more as dropping a long running mystery in something that isn't a story chapter seems very unlike them.

Second line of thinking is the importance of dreams within the game's narrative. I think this is most strongly associated with Sdorica themself/ourself(?). Sdorica can't die so right now it's in a sort of 'waking dream' esque state. We aren't embodying the holy dragon right now but living through a dreamlike state while we rest. The Dracotines then would naturally be trying to wake us from this dream.

The other character related to dreams in Nolva. She enters a dreamlike state everytime Waverlyde takes over her body and her SP has her literally in dreamland. This doesn't mean too much initially but then you consider how she is the only character who is capable of directly communing with Sdorica. Her connection to monsters via Waverlyde and to dreams might be what allows her to do such a thing.

So we can see this reference to dreams as a possible direct connection the narrative which somewhat suggests it might be story content

Okay now that the factual stuff is out of the way here's my doomer and copium theories:

It could possibly just be a new type of alts ala OS two whole years ago. The game has pretty much ran out of girls they can make alts for and the game still holds firm on the idea of one SP per character. So the new type of SP would exist as a mechanism by which they can release alts of popular characters again. These alts might be 'dream world' alts that are perhaps the characters as their 'ideal' selves. OS already exists for a similar purpose but maybe they found the theme too restricting.

My cope theory is that this is a main story chapter and ALSO it is Soohyeon's dying dream. She has a connection with monsters (bewitched) and a theme of her character is 'hope' like the teaser says. So Soohyeon while in the throes of death will.... Idk commune with Sdorica or something? Kiss Tindoiimu sloppy style? Cure herself? The teaser is also blue and you know who else is blue? That's right, Soohyeon! She will show up within a week and I'll get to retire my Twitter gimmick account.

Anyways that's all, if you read this far I really really love you and want to give you a big smooch on the cheek.

[verysharpfish]

most unhinged episode of baseless speculation to date

[avnj0gia]

top 5 or 10 celeb crushes you think are well hung

Too lazy to bother trying to put these in any kind of order, but,

Avan Jogia

Aaron Taylor Johnson (Is this cheating? Eh whatever)

Michael Cimino

Joshua Bassett

Taylor Zakhar Perez

Mason Gooding

Jaboukie Young-White

Harry Styles

Jack Champion

Lil Nas X

Ask my top 5/10 anything

[runedscope]

The devils honey was to trick helios into thinking buddy still believed in him and the clerics vow to revive the bad kids wouldn't matter because he was revived and now worships ankharna

"YOURE THE MURDERER! I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! YOURE SUCH A BITCH! YOURE SUCH A FUCKING BITCH!"

[steve-of-the-woods]

Binge listening to Plumbing The Deathstar and Baseless Speculation while I have a fever to permanently rewire (ruin?) my brain chemistry

[egophiliac]

listen. people have always debated which character is the most normal guy but what if it has in fact been crowley the whole time. no string pulling no master plan just a guy who wants to keep his school running and is cursed with problematic students and incidents

honestly I think the funniest possible reveal would be one of two options:

ONE: Crowley has no plot relevance whatsoever. he wears the mask to cover his receding hairline. his darkest secret is the bottle of "medicinal" whiskey under his desk. this man can barely plan a PTA function with six months' advance notice, he doesn't have the time or patience for any kind of overarching master plot involving mutating students or whatever. the only thing wrong with him is that he's been running this school for (mumblemumble) years and, quite frankly, if you'd been putting up with NRC students for a couple of centuries, you'd have totally checked out by this point too.

OR

TWO: Crowley IS actually Raverne and HAS been slowly enacting a master gambit...to embezzle school funds. the overblots are still completely incidental. he has somehow less idea of what's going on than we do. we confront him about it and he's just like

[astrid4189]

i’m gonna laugh my ass off when it turns out the AMPTP companies locked a bunch of assets into crypto in like 2017 and now they don’t have enough real assets to cover their bills, much less the actual wages and residuals that writers, actors, and vfx artists deserve and have earned. Like, it’d just be really nice to see an audit of their portfolios turn up exactly zero actual value, and they’ve just been lying on their taxes for half a decade.

[thefirstknife]

15 second teaser to lose my mind