#dune awakening final challenge

[haplogamingchef]

Dune: Awakening – Final Test Walkthrough and Puzzle Solutions

Exploring the vast, dangerous world of Dune: Awakening brings many challenges, but one of the trickiest is the Final Test. This area isn't just hidden away; it’s packed with multiple layers of puzzles and obstacles that require both strategy and awareness. Whether you're hunting for gear, story progression, or just looking to clear this final stretch, this walkthrough will show you exactly where to find the Final Test, how to solve each puzzle, and what to expect from the final battle.

In this detailed guide, you'll get:

The exact location of the Final Test on the map.

Step-by-step puzzle solutions with button sequences.

How to avoid missing loot in blocked-off areas.

Tips to prepare for the final fight.

Let’s break it down from the beginning so you don’t miss anything important.

How to Find the Final Test in Dune: Awakening

To get started, make your way to the border between the Eastern Shield Wall and Myel. You’re looking for a large crevice along the cliffside — it might not seem like much at first, but that’s your entry point. This marks the start of the Final Test sequence. The path here isn’t marked clearly on the map, so keep your eyes peeled for a deep-cut area in the rock formations.

Once you enter, you’ll encounter your first challenge, a locked stone door. To get it open, you’ll need to answer a series of questions correctly. The answers are visible on-screen during this part, but you’ll need to input them in the right order. Once all answers are correct, the door will slide open, revealing the deeper part of the test area.

Navigating the Blocked Passage and Clearing the Area

After passing through the door, you’ll explore a bit before hitting a blocked passage filled with boulders. Here, you’ll need to use your cuttery (a standard in-game tool) to break through. You have two options: clear every boulder to collect all hidden items in the area, or take a faster route — go straight ahead, turn right, then left at the next turn to find the staircase.

This blocked-off section isn’t just filler — there are useful items hidden among the rubble. So, if you have time and resources, it’s worth clearing out the area. Just be sure to watch your health and equipment durability if you’re under-equipped.

Symbol Puzzle and the Hidden Lesson

Once you ascend the stairs, you’ll find yourself in a room centered around a stone table with multiple buttons. This is the symbol puzzle, and it’s tied directly to a short audio lesson that plays when you arrive. Your task is to listen carefully to the lesson and arrange the symbols on the table in a way that matches what you've learned.

To change the symbols, simply interact with the buttons located on the front side of the table. Each button cycles through different symbols. Your objective is to stop on the correct sequence. The game does not penalize you for wrong choices, so take your time and match the pattern described in the lesson. If you’re stuck, watch for subtle clues in the audio.

How to Solve the Ring Puzzle in the Final Test

After completing the symbol table challenge, the next room presents the final puzzle before the combat sequence — the ring alignment puzzle. The structure consists of three rotating rings, each of which must align to form a full image. You’ll need to work from the inside out:

Start with the innermost ring, lining it up to match the carved grooves.

Then, rotate the middle ring to continue the pattern.

Finally, align the outer ring to complete the design.

Once the image is fully formed, the altar will activate, allowing you to proceed. Be sure to double-check your alignment before confirming — a slight misplacement can prevent activation.

Activating the Altar and What Comes Next

With the rings aligned and the image complete, interact with the altar to trigger the next sequence. This action opens up the final path and initiates the last series of events in the Final Test. There’s no more puzzle-solving from this point on — it’s all about readiness. Before moving forward, check your inventory: make sure your gear is in good condition and that you’ve stocked up on health items or buffs.

What follows is a combat-heavy segment. The enemies in this area are stronger than average, and if you’re not adequately equipped, the fight can be overwhelming. They spawn in waves, and you’ll need to stay mobile and watch your surroundings closely. Using area control tools or crowd management abilities can make this part a lot easier.

Final Fight Tips and Completion Rewards

The final fight includes multiple waves of enemies that grow tougher as the battle progresses. These enemies are not just aggressive — they’re built to test everything you’ve learned so far. Stay close to cover and avoid getting surrounded. If you're playing solo, it might be worth adjusting your gear to focus on sustain and crowd control.

Once you defeat the final wave, you’ll unlock the completion rewards and trigger a short cinematic that wraps up the test. Be sure to check your surroundings before exiting — some loot containers only appear after the final battle ends. When you're done, return to the starting point to complete the Final Test segment officially.

Conclusion: Mastering the Final Test in Dune: Awakening

The Final Test in Dune: Awakening is more than just another in-game checkpoint — it’s a layered experience combining exploration, puzzles, and combat. From locating the hidden entrance along the Eastern Shield Wall to solving symbol and ring-based puzzles, every step challenges your understanding of the game's mechanics. Being prepared, both mentally and with the right gear, is essential.

Take your time with the puzzles, don’t rush the exploration, and make sure you’re combat-ready before triggering the final sequence. If done right, this part of the game is not just rewarding in terms of loot, but also satisfying from a gameplay perspective. Good luck, and see you in the next mission!

FAQs – Dune: Awakening Final Test

Q1: Where is the Final Test located in Dune: Awakening? A: It’s found at the border between the Eastern Shield Wall and Myel, inside a cliffside crevice.

Q2: How do I open the first locked door? A: You need to answer the on-screen questions correctly in the displayed order to unlock the door.

Q3: What tool do I need to clear the boulders? A: Use the cuttery to destroy boulders and access hidden items or alternate paths.

Q4: How do I solve the symbol puzzle? A: Listen to the lesson, then match the symbols on the stone table using the buttons in front.

Q5: How does the ring puzzle work? A: Align the inner ring first, then the middle, and finally the outer ring to form a complete image.

Q6: Is the final battle difficult? A: Yes. It's recommended to be well-equipped and bring plenty of healing items to survive multiple waves of enemies.

🎮 Meet Haplo Gaming Chef 🍳

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Join my party as we explore the delicious intersection of pixels and plates. Whether you're a casual foodie or a hardcore gamer, there's always room at my crafting table! #Gaming #GamingGuides #GamingChef #HaploGamingChef For More Visit: https://haplogamingchef.blogspot.com/

[ira-hydrangea]

Twisted Sugar Realm Masterlist

You can find your journey progress here along with some other notes. If you forget something, feel free to ask me in inbox.

The journey to Sugarveil Haven is not an easy one. Only after passing the several trials from the other kingdom will a traveler be granted entry into the kingdom. However, for those who succeed, Sugarveil Haven offers not just answers but the possibility to change the fate of the realms

Whenever it be through uncovering the truth behind the Chosen Cookie or learning how to combat the rising darkness threatening to consume all. It is a place where secrets are revealed, but only to those brave enough to face the challenges set before them.

Prologue {How The story Begin}

The Crystal Shards {Explanation}

The Bestowal of Crystal Shards to 7 Protectors {World building}

Crimson Tartland

A kingdom of strict order and absolute law, where every citizen must follow the Crimson Court’s unyielding rules. The land is adorned with dark berry tarts and thorny crimson roses, symbolizing both beauty and punishment. Those who defy the laws risk being judged by the Crimson Judge and his enforcers, with no chance for mercy.

Backstory + Crimson Court

The 5 Cookies of Crimson Court

Prologue

Chapter {1} {2}

Cinnamon Dune

A vast desert kingdom where golden cinnamon sands swirl under an eternal, sunlit sky. Ruled by a merchant-king, this realm thrives on trade, treasure, and fate, where fortunes can change as quickly as the shifting dunes. However, behind its wealth and charm, ancient secrets and long-buried curses lurk beneath the sands.

Backstory

Molasses Abyss

A dark, enigmatic kingdom submerged in the depths of a midnight-hued sea of molasses. Those who dare enter must navigate its eerie, ever-changing labyrinth of syrupy tides, ruled by a cunning sovereign who thrives in mystery and secrets. It is said that nothing enters Molasses Abyss without being rewritten by its depths—including fate itself.

Backstory

Gilded Sugar Oasis

A kingdom of opulence and grandeur, where golden rivers of honey flow through palatial gardens. It is a paradise of luxury, ruled by a benevolent yet extravagant ruler who believes happiness is best found in riches and indulgence. Yet, the land’s golden façade hides a delicate balance—too much excess, and even the sweetest dreams can turn bitter.

Backstory

Crystallized Belle

A breathtaking realm of shimmering sugar-crystal formations, where light refracts into dazzling colors. The kingdom is a place of perfection and beauty, ruled by a sovereign who seeks to sculpt a flawless utopia. However, beneath its ethereal glow, some whisper that those who cannot meet its high standards simply... disappear.

Backstory

Candied Circuit

A mechanized metropolis of endless gears, where electricity crackles through neon-lit sugar roads. In this futuristic kingdom, progress and invention never stop, ruled by a genius leader who seeks to push the limits of technology. But with each innovation comes sacrifices, and some wonder if this ever-moving city is truly alive or merely running on pre-programmed perfection.

Backstory

Eclipsed Sugar Hollow

A twilight kingdom veiled in eternal dusk, where the stars glisten like powdered sugar against the indigo sky. Magic and mystery intertwine in this realm, ruled by an enigmatic sovereign whose powers are whispered to be as ancient as the land itself. Though it appears serene, many fear that something powerful slumbers within the Hollow—waiting to awaken.

Backstory

The Sugarveil Haven

The final sanctuary hidden deep within the Twisted Sugar Realm, shrouded in a mystical veil that only the worthy may pass through. Said to be the purest and most sacred land, this kingdom is the heart of ancient magic, where the Chosen Cookie bestowed the fabled Crystal Shards. However, one cannot reach Sugarveil Haven easily—only those who have overcome the trials of the other kingdoms may set foot within its hallowed grounds.

Backstory

[fandomtrumpshate]

Unlisted Fandom Challenge update!

At the top of our Unlisted fandoms:

Jeff Satur (9) and Zhen Hun / Guardian (7) continue to hang on to spots 1 and 2!

Beyond that, the ties have grown!

With 5 signups each:

Alien Stage

BBC Ghosts

Control

Dungeon Meshi

White Collar

4 signups:

Cabin Pressure

Dimension 20

It - Stephen King

Schitt's Creek

Transformers

With 3 signups in an 11-way tie:

Detective Conan

Dungeons and Daddies (Podcast)

Fire Emblem Awakening

Fire Emblem Fates

Iron Widow

Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint

Roswell New Mexico

Stand By Me/The Body

The Goblin Emperor Series

Voltron: Legendary Defender

Guardian RPF

WHEW!

If you can believe it, there are now so many fandoms with two signups each – 44 – that we're bumping those below the cut with the single-signup fandoms.

And THEN! There are one. hundred. sixty. one. write-in fandoms with just a single signup. 161! Giving us a total of 228 write in fandoms all together! So far!

Full list of fandoms with one or two signups below the cut:

The 44 fandoms with 2 write-ins each:

Animorphs

Avatar Legend of Korra

Biggles Series — W. E. Johns

Binan Koukou Chikyuu Boueibu (Cute High Earth Defense Club)

Bridgerton (TV)

Carry On

Cherry Magic

Conclave (2024)

Dangan Ronpa

Dead Boy Detectives RPF

Digimon

Dishonored

Due South

Dune (Villeneuve)

Fields of Mistria

Five Nights at Freddy's

Grantchester (TV)

Gravity Falls

Inception

Kingdom Hearts

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Link Click (Shiguang Dailiren)

Lovecraft Mythos

Lucifer (tv)

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury

Nirvana in Fire

Pathologic

Princess Tutu

Sailor Moon

Slow Horses

Team Fortress 2

The Blue Wolves of Mibu

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (TV series)

The Poppy War

The Stanley Parable

The X-Files

Tiger & Bunny

Tower of God

Universal Century Gundam

Valdemar Series

What We Do In The Shadows

When the Third Wheel Strikes Back

Word of Honor

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

And finally, the 161 single write-in fandoms:

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Among Us

Arctic Monkeys/The Last shadow Puppets

Around the World in 80 Days (TV 2021)

Babylon 5

Baseball RPF

BBC’s Musketeers

Bendy and the Ink Machine

Beyond Evil

Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei Bu Love/Happy Kiss

Black Doves

Black Sails

Boygenius (Band)(RPF)

Brilliant Minds

Britpop RPF

Brokeback Mountain

Bullet train

Canji Baojun De Zhangxin Yu Chong (The disabled tyrant's pet palm fish)

Cassette Beasts

Castle

Challengers

Charmed (1998)

Countryhumans

Criminal Minds

Danger Force (TV)

Dark Deception

Dark Rise

Dead by Daylight

Descendants

Destiny 2

Divergent (Movies)

Downton Abbey

Dr. Stone

Dragonball

Dragonlance

Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey

Emma - Jane Austen

Etta Invincible

Fangs of Fortune

Farscape

Fear & Hunger: Termina

Fields of Mistria

Finder no Hyouteki / Finder Series

Flight Rising

Formula 2/3 RPF

Frieren

Fruits Basket

Gangsta (Anime & Manga)

Generation Loss (Web Series)

Giselle

Grimm

Hatoful Boyfriend

Haven (TV)

Helluva Boss

Henry Danger (TV)

High School Musical (Movies)

Hikaru no Go

HLVRAI - Half-life VR But the AI is Self-Aware

Homer's Epics, Ancient Greece Religion and Lore, Epic The Musical

House MD

In Other Lands

In Stars And Time

IndyCar RPF

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Jeeves and Wooster

Jet Lag The Game RPF

Jurassic Park (Extended Universe)

Kamen Rider GotchardKane and Feels

Kraven the Hunter

Kuroko no Basuke / Kuroko's Basketball

Law & Order

Lays of the Hearth-Fire Series - Victoria Goddard

Lies of P

Life is Strange

Live A Live

Lord Seventh/Qi Ye

M*A*S*H

Malory Towers

Mass Effect 1, 2 or 3

Metaphor: Refantazio

Mononoke (2007 series and 2024 movie)

MotoGP RPF

My Time at Sandrock

Mystic Messenger

NBA RPF

Nerdy Prudes Must Die

Norah Grant Bruce's Billabong books

Oasis

Oh No! Here Comes Trouble

Once Upon A Time

Order of the Stick

Outlast games

Over the Garden Wall

Pacific Rim

Paradise Of Thorns

Peaky Blinders

Persuasion - Jane AustenPhandom

Pirates of the Caribbean

Power Rangers (2017 movie)

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

Prodigal Son

Project Sekai

Psych (2006)

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Qiang Jin Jiu (Ballad of Sword and Wine)

Quantum Break

Ranma 1/2

Resident Alien

Resident Evil

Rise of the Guardians

Riyria Revelations

S.C.I Mystery

S.W.A.T. (2017 show)

Saint Seiya

Saw franchise

Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated (2010)

She-Ra Netflix

Shipwrecked Comedy

Sonic the Hedgehog (Games)

Sonic The Hedgehog (movies)

South Park

Spinning Silver (Novik)

Spirited

Squid Game

Starkid Musicals (no hp)

Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical

Super Sentai

That 70s Show

The A Team (either the 2010 movie or the 1980s series)

The Coffin of Andy and Leyley

The Librarians

The OC

The Pairing - Casey McQuiston

The Paradise of Thorns

The Radiant Emperor

The Silt Verses

The Umbrella Academy

the vampire diaries universe

The Venture Maidens

The Walking Dead

The West Wing

Thousand Autumns

Tokusatsu

Tron

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles

Turning

video games by Arkane Studios

Wander Over Yonder

Warriors / Warrior Cats

Watcher Entertainment/BuzzFeed Unsolved RPF

Wind Breaker

WNBA RPF

Wonka

Xenoblade Chronicles series

Yellowjackets

Young Wizards (Diane Duane)

Zatch Bell

บ้านหลอน ON SALE / Peaceful Property (TV)

Signups are OPEN!

[dramagodesss]

lotus

playlist | the record player collection | main masterlist

You’re not supposed to be the one Kiara falls for.

She tells herself this the first night you show up at the Chateau, tracking sand through the kitchen and grinning like you’ve been here forever. She tells herself again the first time you both fall asleep on the couch, shoulders touching, her fingers twitching toward yours and pulling back like it burned.

And she tells herself for real the night Pope calls you "a good addition to the group" and she pretends that doesn't make her stomach twist.

You aren’t supposed to be her person. You’re not part of the plan.

But then summer drags on like honey, slow and sticky. And somehow you’re always there. Fixing her surfboard. Sharing fries in the back of the Wreck. Sitting next to her during storms like you don’t even notice she’s shaking a little.

She doesn’t remember the moment it shifted. Just that it did.

Maybe it was the day you helped her clean out that abandoned shack by the marsh, and she caught you gently moving a dead dragonfly so it wouldn’t get crushed under your boot.

“Kindness matters. Even when no one is watching. Even when something is already gone.” you said with a shrug.

She looked away like it wasn’t the most beautiful thing she’d heard in months.

The lotus flowers happen after that.

You’re sitting on the hood of your truck, parked half off the road near the dunes, passing a joint back and forth, sharing quiet like it’s something sacred. She reaches into her bag and hands you something wrapped in crumpled napkins.

“Here,” she says, eyes not quite meeting yours.

You unwrap it. A few small lotus blooms — delicate, imperfect, stolen from the pond near her mom’s yoga retreat.

“For me?” you ask, teasing.

“For you,” she says, dead serious.

You blink.

“They’re, uh, symbolic or whatever,” she adds quickly, looking away. “Growth. Awakening. People only give them to people who actually mean something. I don’t know why I did it. I just—felt like you should have them.”

You sit in that silence, her confession dangling in the air between you like a challenge.

And then you say, “I’m not gonna waste your time, Kiara.”

She finally looks at you.

You’re closer than either of you realized. Her breath catches. Your fingers brush.

“I think…” she starts, then laughs under her breath. “I feel like you are the one”

You smile. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

You kiss her — soft and slow, like you’ve both been waiting to exhale. She tastes like salt and smoke and something warmer underneath.

And in that moment, you know: you were never just part of the group.

You were always hers.

a/n: CATALANIZING MY READERS AS I SHOULDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[yayakoishii]

Idaten Jump

Japanese Dub, English Subs

Translations & Subbing by YayaKoishii (me)

Re-uploads on other sites with credit is welcomed! Reworking the translations with credit is also okay.

Note: I do not gain to earn any profit from this whatsoever; if asked, I'm willing to remove/take down the videos!

★ YouTube Playlist - *taken down

★ Internet Archive Account (sort by date added)

★ Episode List:

Ep. 1 - This is MTB Battle!

Ep. 2 - The Great Escape! Battle of the Sand Dunes

Ep. 3 - Crash! First Defeat?!

Ep. 4 - Take Back! My MTB

Ep. 5 - Battle of the Flaming Volcano!!

Ep. 6 - The High Tech Team's Challenge

Ep. 7 - Ow! Graveyard of the MTBs

Ep. 8 - Enter Neptune!

Ep. 9 - The Masked Youth's Identity!

Ep. 10 - The Strongest Rival Appears!

Ep. 11 - On Board Battle! Team ST's Trap

Ep. 12 - The Gold Celeb Resort City We Longed For

Ep. 13 - School Battle! Great Explosion, Idaten Cross!

Ep. 14 - The Man Who Defeated Flame Kaiser!?

Ep. 15 - The Prince of MTBs

Ep. 16 - Struggle in the Rain, Awaken Neptune

Ep. 17 - Finally Understood! Team ST's Secret

Ep. 18 - A New Assassin! Test Battle of the Siblings

Ep. 19 - Showdown! Flame Kaiser vs. Thunder Emperor

Ep. 20 - A Formidable Opponent! Ninja Rider Koei

Ep. 21 - The Gatekeepers of X City

Ep. 22 - Finally Arrived! X City

Ep. 23 - Idaten Battle Tournament Begins!

Ep. 24 - Clash! Flame Kaiser vs. Neptune

Ep. 25 - Hammerhead! The Sixth Idaten Bike

Ep. 26 - Certain Kill! Shidō Special

Ep. 27 - Fierce Battle! Hammerhead vs. Aero Scissors

Ep. 28 - The Final Battle's Conspiracy

Ep. 29 - Final Battle! Who Will Be The Winner?

Ep. 30 - Charge! X Tower

Ep. 31 - Final Battle! Flame Kaiser vs. Bloody Fang

Ep. 32 - Farewell X Zone

Ep. 33 - A New Formidable Opponent! Team X

Ep. 34 - Once Again to X Zone!

Ep. 35 - Shock! Sho's Dad is Alive

Ep. 36 - Roar! Imperial Dragon!!

Ep. 37 - The Dreaded Dark Emblem

Ep. 38 - Gabu's Temptation, Flame Kaiser in Trouble!

Ep. 39 - Climax! Imperial Dragon vs. Aero Scissors

Ep. 40 - The Bad Bacteria of Nameless Forest

Ep. 41 - Arthur's Challenge! The Way to the Illusionary Island

Ep. 42 - The Great Idaten Bike Assembly! Decisive Battle with Team X

Ep. 43 - Sho vs. Shidou! A Battle with Souls on Stake!

Ep. 44 - A Shocking Reunion! Imperial X Arrives!

Ep. 45 - The Second Island Appears! The World Begins to Crumble

Ep. 46 - Great Attack! Team X vs. Imperial Dragon

Ep. 47 - coming soon on 06/07/2025

[atplblog]

Price: [price_with_discount] (as of [price_update_date] - Details) [ad_1] WARNING: This epic conclusion to the AGNI trilogy contains intense scenes of cosmic violence and emotional devastation. Reader discretion is advised. Can a mother's love transcend the boundaries between humanity and godhood? When vengeance consumes everything, what remains of the soul? A highly emotional, violent and heartbreaking origin story of AGNI comes to an end with "Rise of Agni". This paves the path for the "Echoes of Bhu" Universe of superheroes. In a universe where ancient powers awaken and cosmic forces collide, "Rise of AGNI" delivers a heart-stopping conclusion to origin story of Agni in this award-winning space opera series. As the galaxy plunges into chaos, the line between divine justice and vengeful destruction blurs, forcing heroes and villains alike to confront the true cost of power. Transformed by grief and wielding powers that defy comprehension, Kanishka must face her greatest challenge yet - not just saving the galaxy, but preserving her own humanity. As she grapples with forces that threaten to consume her, she discovers that the path of dharma is paved with impossible choices and devastating sacrifices. Meanwhile, ancient prophecies unfold, cosmic powers awaken, and the fate of entire civilizations hangs in the balance. In this epic tale where Indian mythology meets space opera, prepare for: - Mind-bending cosmic battles that challenge the very laws of physics - Deep philosophical questions about power, duty, and the price of peace - Heart-wrenching emotional conflicts that will leave you breathless - A conclusion that will forever change how you view heroism and sacrifice Perfect for fans of "Dune," "Mass Effect," and "Foundation," this genre-defying finale combines the philosophical depth of classic science fiction with the emotional resonance of modern space opera. If you crave stories where ancient wisdom meets futuristic technology, where personal struggles echo across the cosmos, and where the fate of existence itself hangs in the balance, "Rise of AGNI" awaits. The galaxy will never be the same. Will you witness its transformation? #SpaceOpera #ScienceFiction #IndianMythology #SpaceFantasy #CosmicHorror #MilitarySciFi #SpaceBattle #EpicConclusion #SuperheroSciFi #PhilosophicalSciFi From the Publisher RISE OF AGNI: Where Ancient Myths Meet Cosmic Warfare. Winner of the 2024 Salis Mania Award for Best New Author In this groundbreaking debut that masterfully blends Indian mythology with dark science fiction, author Ashwin Chitransh crafts a visceral tale of vengeance, love, and the price of power that spans galaxies. Step into a universe where humanity stands at the crossroads of ancient species and cosmic powers. When a devastating attack shatters the fragile peace between worlds, one woman's transformation from grieving mother to cosmic force will forever alter the balance of power in the galaxy. As she wields powers that blur the line between divinity and destruction, alliances shift, empires tremble, and the very fabric of space-time threatens to unravel. The story unfolds across multiple worlds, from the tidally-locked planet Kritika to the desolate wastes of Venus, as ancient prophecies collide with futuristic warfare. Follow a cast of unforgettable characters - Humans, Asuras, Suras, and more - each fighting for survival, redemption, and the right to shape the future of the galaxy. Meet Indrajeet A formidable Asura prince whose mastery over ancient weapons and advanced technology makes him one of the most dangerous warriors in known space.

Behind his calculated exterior lies a soul torn between duty and personal desires, wrestling with the weight of morality. Vayu and Kanishka A mother's boundless love collides with a son's burning hatred. While Kanishka's heart bleeds for the child she was forced to leave behind, Vayu's soul festers with rage at his perceived abandonment. Their inevitable reunion promises to either heal ancient wounds or tear the universe apart. Surya A monster wearing human skin, Surya stalks through this tale leaving a trail of horrifying violence. His twisted humor and disturbing intimacy with brutality make even hardened warriors tremble. Yet this is merely a glimpse of the darkness that drives him - a darkness that demands its own story. AGNI A primordial force awakens in the Milky Way—ancient, terrifying, and beyond comprehension. Neither Sura nor Asura, this entity manifests with obsidian skin cracked with cosmic fire, bloodshot eyes blazing with fury, and a presence that makes even the mightiest tremble. ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DT1JB9CB Language ‏ : ‎ English File size ‏ : ‎ 2.5 MB Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled Print length ‏ : ‎ 625 pages Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ B0DT4QL5MQ [ad_2]

[princesspuresarahk]

Egyptian Guardians fanfic:Seth's Awaken Journey

Prolong: Quietness that was all could in the endless desert night it was quiet that not almost a sound could be heard yet no predators were hunting nor human were about as the silent cold wind bellowed in low howls across its red sands as if it were in hollow gloom as big cloud grew grey and heavy in loneliness and sadness, this reason was the cause of Nut guardian of the sky and stars who was in a state of desperation and sorrow something she couldn’t stand anymore. It has been centuries since Seth the(once)Guardian of desert,war,and storms was defeated by Horus guardian of the sky and(now)war. in a three challenged battles that lasted for eight days with Horus as the successor ending Egypt in its great depression and slowly bringing it back to its former glory, as for Seth after his defeat had surrendered, went into exile as his punishment wandering into the endless desert never to appear in Egypt’s kingdom again with no one or anyone having seen him since which made Nut worry with every decade that went by not having seen a small sign of her son for years and desperately wanting to look for him yet her position in sky and couldn’t let her leave(yet) until one day Nut finally found her chance to leave the skies. 

Waiting for the rays of the sun to peak against the dunes Nut cloaked herself with a shawl wrapping securely she slowly made her way down landing softly against the sand with a gentle thump. picking herself dusting off some of it from her dress that sparkled s like the milky way rest of her body except her eyes that shined starlight and blue like sea, her dear son Seth inherited these eyes and she was determined to find him as the wind softly blew against her “ I cannot stand it no longer, I must find him I will find him!” from dawn till dusk and days throughout the night she searched for her son walking high and low across the seemingly endless sands only stopping to search in areas where her son possibly might be hiding between rocks to abandon wells, to the mountains and caverns finding nothing yet she continued on until her feet ached from sores and numb from walking nonstop. 

“Please please show me a sign my son, you have to be somewhere, anywhere?” Nut whispered She had reached an area full of large rocks and boulders where she climbed everywhere she to see her surroundings until once again demanded rest thus found herself sitting on a bolder lifting a leg to massage her sore feet “oh darn these stubborn sores.” She mumbled to herself frustrated as she worked the other foot relieving the stress it endured (just a few minutes of rest then it’s back to searching)she reminded letting the sun gently warm her tired face, Ra seemed to be in a peaceful mood oh Ra.. if only they could help but she knew Ra’s duties were perpetually and it was also rare occasions for the first Guardian of the Sun for them to leave the sun boat the only other time they leave was when the trial….she paused on that thought shaking it away she didn’t want to think about that it brought to many bad memories that she found unpleasant. Soon the soreness from her feet had faded taking a deep breath ready to continue she looked at surroundings to determine her next search when something caught her eye! It was feet from where she was sitting it was small in the shadows under a bolder ledge between two rocks creating a small like cave but it was there. Getting up from her spot Nut carefully made her way down from the bolder to try getting a better look, yes she saw it again! Yes despite hidden the dark shade the more she cautiously walked closer the more she could tell a it was a piece of cloth attached to something as it blew slightly against the air, closer she came trying not to make a sound until she was at the edge of the shadow of the cave the object laying very still against it, looking closer she the object gasped in revelation that indeed it was a pile of rags wrapped all black and grey were very worn out from old age and dirty with sand, dust and grim with holes and tares ready fall apart, but that didn’t concern her what really brought to her attention of not ‘what’ but ‘who’ was in the pile of old cloths, because peaking from one of the torn parts of cloth a small strand of hair that so deep a shade red you could compare it to crimson blood itself.

Carefully Nut reached for the area the hair was peeking out, picking up the material with her fingers she lifted the cloth completely to reveal a very pale face as tears of joy and sorrow welled in Nut’s blue eyes realizing who it was! She finally found him, she found her son Seth! “At last I found you my son I’m here now.” But wait something doesn’t seem right upon closer inspection she saw Seth didn’t look well. His cheek slightly hollow dark circles surrounded his eyes as if he hadn’t slept for a very long time and looks like his body finally gave out letting small breaths of a deep unconscious sleep. his skin looked paler slightly flushed and lips were chapped and cracked as she laid a hand on his forehead brushing his tangle long locks to feel his skin. It was hot against her cool hand he had a fever! which wasn’t good despite being immortal he was still left vulnerable after most of his magic was stripped from him and now he was very sick it made her heart ache in pain and she needed to act fast “it’s going to be ok Seth mother’s here let’s get you out of here.” She whispered taking of her shawl kneeling down carefully and gently lifted Seth’s small body into her arms weighing nothing as if he was a child. Once she sure he wrapped and secure she carefully way out of the valley of boulders until she was in the soft sand dunes of the desert. Now where to take her son to safety she wouldn’t dare take him back to Heliopolis, nor anywhere near civilization near other Guardians otherwise people might find out and could cause trouble she needed a place she knew they’d be safe? But where (think Nut where is a place you know of that will keep you both safe for shelter?) meditating hard she came to a solution to her issue giving a smile down to Seth, her son’s eyes still closed still asleep not making a sound with his small breaths his chest, giving a small kiss to his head she whispered again “do not lose sleep my son I know where we will be safe.” With that determination set she mad way across the sands to the directions to the secret place she knew to seek shelter at and heal her son, her little Seth its going be ok.

prologue of my Egyptian Guardians au and next chapter 1 as Nuts takes charge to heal her son and how will Seth react when he wakes up?. write in reply what you think can happens or ideas . credit will appear : ) 

[snidgetwidgeon]

Son of Hylia, Daughter of Farore

A roleswap Zelink AU

Art by @anxioussailorsoldier and used here with permission

This story is a one-shot inspired by the prompts from @drsteggy and was gifted to her in a fic exchange.

~~~

Link awoke suddenly, desperately trying to cling to the vision of a woman surrounded by bright light as it diminished from his foggy mind. Try as he might to enter back into the haze of his mysterious dream, sounds came louder and clearer to his ears, and he registered the rustle of the sheets sliding against his feet as he stretched, his senses slowly returning. Today would be a trying affair. He always remained fatigued after she appeared to him, ever speaking yet rendered frustratingly silent.

Perhaps he could try to lay low, hide in the library, and search yet again on the shelves he’d already scoured for something he may have missed; something to prove it was possible that he was having the visions vessels were known to have had. He just couldn’t interpret them. He spared a bittersweet thought for his late mother. She would have known, would have shown him. Or perhaps she would have bore a daughter, and there would be no question; and he could have supported his sister when they found out the Calamity was foretold to return.

But the Kingdom of Hyrule was left with a Prince at the precipice of doom. He’d never felt more useless, or more determined to do something about it. He would find a way. He would protect everyone.

Zelda shifted her feet, practicing her forms to warm up before training. She missed her scimitar. This new blade felt so different and she had to relearn how to make it an extension of herself. It was humbling when sparring partners she had previously bested came out on top. It just proved she still had much to learn and needed to become proficient with many weapon types if she wanted to be the greatest.

She recalled being a bit intimidated as her group of friends grew over the years. Where they used to be physical equals, they now towered above her; but she supposed she could be thankful for the challenge because it caused her to become an incredibly scrappy fighter, always looking for openings she could wheedle into.

This time she wheedled too far and forgot to watch her flank while in pursuit of one of her opponents. Another warrior swept in and bashed her ribs as she was on an upswing and it sent her flying. As she was pulled up, she couldn’t help but think spitefully that the same would not have happened if she were allowed her weapon of choice. She could have recovered with her scimitar but the swing on the Master Sword was different.

“Nice air you caught there,” her sparring partner teased in Gerudo. “Again?”

Zelda recovered her blade from a few paces away and declined, “I think I’ll just nurse my wounds and ego for awhile, thanks.”

“Suit yourself. I recommend you do solitary for a few days with your new acquaintance,” she pointed her chin towards the Master Sword in Zelda’s grip. “See if you two can make friends,” she winked and ran back to join the fray.

Zelda stared down at the sword with slight contempt. Urbosa had told her of the legends she’d learned from the late Queen of Hyrule, and her son, Prince Link- that the sword was wielded to protect Hylia, and how the blade itself chose its master and would even communicate. Someone being chosen meant that a shit storm was likely brewing.

Urbosa also mentioned that preparations were being made against some sort of Calamity. The word made Zelda’s blood run cold and she knew it was something to be feared. If the sword was not speaking to her, perhaps it chose wrong and she was not suited to the challenge. She had tried everything she could think of, even hours of meditation, which she hated because she didn’t like sitting still for long.

But it was all for naught.

She wove her way through the stalls and bustle of the marketplace, sword heavy on her back, and day after day it had only served to weigh her down even more. She could no longer stand it. She exited the north-western gates and ran along the outer wall. Heart pounding and sweating all over, she dug a rather shallow and pathetic hole, chucked the sword in and kicked sand over it before walking away in a huff, muttering, “Curse the day I found your infuriating silence!”

She’d been training in the desert when she discovered it, exploring further than she ever had over the dunes. Following the statues with their guiding swords, she finally came upon the last one and sheltered under her cloak at its base as a sandstorm passed. Thankfully, it was short and as she stood to shake as much sand as she could off her person, she noticed something strange in the distance. She could have sworn she’d reached the last statue of the warriors. Perhaps she’d miscounted as there stood another on the horizon, the reflection of its sword glinting brightly in its grasp.

Zelda took a drink from her ration, taking note of how much was left before deciding she could manage one more. If anything, it would improve her survival skills.

As she neared the solid figure rising out of the sands she noticed that the sword it held was elaborate. Oddly enough, a scabbard for it was slung over the shoulder which made it appear that someone had just left it there. She looked around but only saw a few cacti bearing voltfruits, perfect for carrying around extra moisture for the return trip. Some movement caught her eye behind a cactus and she ran over, pulling her scimitar, in case there was meat to be had, but she was met with a poof of sparkling petals and could have sworn she heard a childish giggle.

After investigating thoroughly, she cut the fruits and placed them into her bag before returning to the statue. It would be a shame to leave such a fine piece of work out in the middle of nowhere. She climbed the figure and slipped the scabbard off the shoulder, letting it fall to the sand before holding the neck and planting her feet against the torso so she could reach the hilt with her free hand. It did not budge. Hiking herself up, she wrapped her legs around the neck so she could use both hands to pull on the wings above the hilt.

She was straining when she heard the laugh again, accompanied by a rattle, and in her distraction, the blade suddenly came loose and they both tumbled into the sand.

She’d thought nothing of it until returning to Gerudo Town.

During a routine visit to the throne room, Chief Urbosa had nearly sent away visiting dignitaries when she spied the sword on Zelda’s back. After the meeting, Urbosa called her into her private quarters, which was very unusual. Perhaps she was to be given a special assignment.

“Where did you find that sword?” Urbosa asked with intense interest and a hint of concern.

Zelda stood at attention and replied concisely, “In the desert, Chief.”

“Zelda, have you any idea what you’ve found?”

Zelda began to doubt her decision to play finders keepers. Maybe it was a ceremonial sword or relic that should have stayed where it was. Though she had been raised with the Gerudo, she certainly did not purport to know all of their culture and was horrified by the idea that she’d deeply offended them.

~~~

Urbosa removed her bracelets and hair ornaments, letting the thick, red locks fall down her back. Making sure her tea would be in reach, she snuggled into her bed and opened a letter from her favorite Hylian. She always saved his letters for the end of the day when her attention could be undivided and she could imagine actually having a conversation with him. He was so bright and inquisitive, and optimistic- as his letter revealed. Just like her love.

~I have not given up my search. I keep thinking that surely, there is a pocket in the library I have not scoured. But then another duty and another day takes me away from it. I see her, Urbosa. It has to mean something. If only I could find evidence that there has been a son of Hylia. Why else would I be given visions? If only I could interpret them...

Do you know how mother did it? Did she ever say anything?~

He then went on to describe his involvement with the funding of the research at the Royal Ancient Lab as well as other gossip that he and Urbosa kept up on, including their inside jokes about stuffy nobles. He also wanted to hear more about the warrior who had pulled the Master Sword.

~Does the bearer of the Blade that Seals the Darkness fare well? The moment I learned of her, I hoped that it was a sliver of evidence to prove my case. If there is a woman as Farore’s chosen, then perhaps it lends weight to the fact that a man could be Nayru’s chosen. But I’m harping. Perhaps I will be able to meet her soon, though father keeps me tied up in social engagements. He has taken to parading me at events where there are ample amounts of young debutantes to vie for my attention. I’d much rather be studying.~

Urbosa wrote back early the next morning after skimming the letter again.

~It seems our chosen Hero is having trouble awakening the power within the blade. When you sent word of legends that say the sword speaks to a worthy master, she immediately felt inadequate. Zelda excels at any challenge and eventually overcomes all obstacles, so when she continually failed to connect with the sword’s spirit, she took out her frustrations in a childish manner. The other day she was witnessed burying it in the sand outside the town walls. She must have blown off all her steam because she did retrieve it later that night.

I think that learning her fate has been weighing on her. She puts on a stoic face but I can see she has reservations. Perhaps if you two came together, something will give?~

After reading Urbosa’s reply, Link laid the parchment back down on his desk and pondered her proposition. He had been wanting to expand his search outside the castle for sometime and though he enjoyed visiting the Royal Lab, it did not hold any answers for what he sought; they were just a bunch of rowdy mechanics who were a lot of fun to hang around with. But to understand his history and role, he wanted to go on a pilgrimage to the known spiritual sites of Hyrule, and perhaps discover unknown ones as well so he could be better informed on how to defeat the Calamity, and possibly awaken the power of Hylia along the way.

He would start making arrangements right away.

~~~

King Rhoam rapped his knuckles on the door of his son’s study. When Link answered with a curt nod and a polite greeting, he entered, leaving his guard detail outside. He thought it prudent to retain at least some privacy for this matter, considering the gossip it could generate.

“I hear you’re planning some sort of trip,” it came out as a statement more than a question.

“A pilgrimage. To try and find any proof of my suspicions-”

He was interrupted by his father’s large, dissatisfied sigh. “Link, you really must stop harping on about that nonsense. Hylia has only ever been reincarnated into the mortal body of a female, that’s just the way it is. A tradition that extends even far beyond what we have in written history.”

“Exactly. We don’t know everything. How do you explain my visions? Mother had them. She knew how to interpret them.”

“Perhaps they’re just dreams,” Rhoam offered again in a misguided attempt to engage.

Link smacked the book he was about to pack on the table in frustration. “I can’t believe you keep saying that, you just don’t understand.”

“What I understand is that you continue to foolishly insist on chasing dreams and fantasies rather than doing something tangible for your people. You’re wasting time, Link. You should be courting and choosing a wife so that you can pass on the bloodline to a potential Princess who will-” Rhoam saw the shock in his boy’s face and tried to change track, “We have no idea when the Calamity will strike, we should be doing everything we can to prevent disaster.”

Link clenched his jaw as a deep anger and loathing swelled in his breast. Voice trembling in rage, he rebutted, “I am not going to produce an heir just to send her to the slaughter. I will fight my own battles. This Calamity is coming down on us! I just need to figure out how to awaken Hylia’s power.” He grabbed his bag and stormed out before Rhoam could push his agenda further.

~~~

The next letter Urbosa received from Link outlined his travels. She grinned as she read through them, glad that he’d managed to get away.

~The Forgotten Temple was very difficult to access, and though it did not produce any results, it was a breath taking trip. It has the largest Goddess Statue I have ever seen and I felt a peculiar familiarity while standing under her benevolent smile. I think this is promising.

We’re now at the ruins of the Temple of Time on the Great Plateau. I’m no stranger to the place of course, but the Priestess has been most helpful in providing old texts to study that were not available at the Castle. She’s even offered to assign a scribe to make copies for me.

I hope to be underway again soon and I would like to visit the Seven Heroines. I want to leave no stone unturned. I shall send a dispatch for when we expect to be arriving in the desert.~

When the time came, Urbosa bid Zelda to be an escort for the Prince across the sands to Gerudo Town. “Listen carefully, Zelda. Being the Prince is more than reason enough to keep him safe, but there may be a chance that he is so much more. The fact that you wield that sword lends weight to his theory that he may be Hylia reborn.”

Zelda’s eyes widened but she remained silent, nodding dutifully.

“I’ll need you to deliver some supplies to him so that he may enter unmolested upon arrival.”

“Chief?” Zelda asked, uncertain about the order. Hylia possibly being in a boy she could handle, but in all her time there, she’d never heard of a voe entering Gerudo Town. For Urbosa to speak of it almost as if it were done every other day was- confusing, to say the least.

Urbosa raised her brow at the question. “He is my Oten’vehvi and knows how to behave within these walls. You need not concern yourself with the politics, just act as his personal guard.”

“Yes, Chief.”

She made her preparations and checked that all was secure with the ‘contraband.’ The idea of meeting the Prince was troubling to say the least. She felt completely inadequate, bearing a sword that considered her unworthy. Perhaps she could pass it onto him and he could find the most courageous person in Hyrule. With his resources she was sure it wouldn’t be that hard. Then again, legendary swords weren’t known for choosing incorrect Heroes, so what was wrong with her?

They would just have to work together somehow.

She rode most of the way at a leisurely pace behind her sand seal until she noticed a scuffle as she neared Kara Kara. “HUP!” she directed her seal to go a bit faster to investigate.

A couple of Hylian vai shrieked when they saw her. “The Prince! Please save our Prince!” they cried as they pointed west.

There were two Yiga chasing after a nimble blond clad in light blue. She sprung after them, tongue rolling in a call to let her mount know they needed to go as fast as if they were fleeing a molduga.

The Prince was doing well for himself until he fell, a prey disposition coming over him. He scooted back but could only stare at the assassins, frozen in fear.

Zelda used her inertia to whip across the sand and jumped to land between the Prince and his attackers. She drew her sword, imbued with courage and confident that she could easily protect the boy against the likes of this desert rabble. She almost become distracted by the sword’s sudden glow before exchanging blows with the masked Yiga. They soon realized they were no match for her and dispersed in pops of red and orange light, laughter echoing in their place.

Breathing heavily, she turned back to face the Prince who was still flat on his bum. They both ogled the glowing sword.

An ethereal, disembodied voice broke the silence, “Master, it is good to see you again.”

Their eyes snapped to each other and searched for understanding. There was an immediate and unmistakable bond between them. They’d both heard it.

“I see...” Zelda began. She glared down at the Master Sword, fist clenching the handle and shaking with anger. “So you only deign to speak when your charge is present?” Her voice rose, “I wasn’t good enough for you?! You picky piece of shit!” she yelled as she hurled the sword into the dunes.

Link gaped in disbelief that his protector was so uncouth when something profound occurred to him. He fell back into the sand laughing, a massive wave of relief washing over him.

She looked at him curiously. “What? What is it?”

His laughter died down and he gazed into the sky, moisture glistening in the corner of his eye. “She’s with me.”

Zelda’s eyebrows knitted in confusion, unaware of the turmoil he had experienced regarding his identity.

Link stood and brushed himself off then held out his hand in greeting. “You must be Zelda. Bearer of the Blade that seals the Darkness.”

She accepted his shake and added spitefully, “More like the blade that won’t open its trap unless its mommy is around.”

“You know, I find it very intriguing, my mother’s name was also Zelda.”

“Yes, my mother was a big fan. It’s kind of flattering, she was a great lady. But people always joke that I’m the lost, secret princess and other nonsense.” She started to move away but he touched her arm and she paused.

“Thank you- for saving my life; but also for revealing the truth. Now that I know she’s here,” he touched his heart, “I will find her.”

Zelda eyed him like a strange bug, still unsure as to what he was on about. She patted his shoulder as she walked over to retrieve her weapon, “Good luck with that.”

~~~

A few nights later, Link and Urbosa took a stroll just outside of town to enjoy each other’s company, catching up on their daily lives. The stars twinkled brightly and the moon shone pale on the dunes, a steady breeze drifting the sands away to the dark horizon. He’d just intimated what his father would have him do to stay the coming Calamity.

She touched his shoulder in support, “And what did you say?”

“That this was our battle. And I would absolutely not have a child just to-” he sighed deeply. “I mean, I know the legends. There will always be a vessel of Hylia and her chosen Hero, but to be so deliberate and unfeeling about it, I just...”

“It’s alright. Your father has always been rather blunt, and practical to a fault. For what it’s worth, I believe in you. The visions you describe sound very similar to what your mother shared with me.”

He looked up to her with a smile, “It’s worth a lot, you’re my Oten’baba; your opinion matters to me more than anyone else.”

They continued on for a short time in companionable silence when Urbosa stopped and lifted her head to the night, listening and placing a hand on her scimitar.

“What is it?” Link asked, only noticing after he’d taken a few steps ahead.

A raucous laughter cut across the desert and as quick as Urbosa had been to draw her blade and prepare a snap of deadly electricity over her foes, two of them grabbed the Prince and held their sickles to his neck causing her to stay her hand.

“What a lovely package we have here tonight. Not only can we bag the boy, we can finally rid ourselves of the thorn in our side, Gerudo Tempest!” a Yiga foot soldier, hidden amongst the rest, spat the last two words out in disgust.

They attacked and dozens fell upon the Chief, running head on and popping up behind. A dance of blades began and Link struggled to free himself. Urbosa tried to lead her foes away but Link’s captors followed, dragging his feet through the sand.

“You’ll not be using your lightning with the precious Prince so close, will you?” gloated the same antagonizing voice.

Link cried out in terror when he saw a Yiga succeed in cutting her arm. She seethed and decked them right across the jaw. When they fell she jumped onto their back and launched herself in the air so she could shoot off a bolt.

“Oh, no! Is the Tempest in distress?” the voice goaded, and the masks cackled.

Link couldn’t tell where the mocking was coming from, they were everywhere and nowhere at once. There were too many. Urbosa was becoming overwhelmed and aid may not arrive in time- a gash landed on her leg- he was going to lose her. The laughing was getting louder, the air becoming so thick with magic that it tasted like chalk on his tongue- a slice was delivered up her back and she cried out. He squeezed his eyes shut and thought of his mother. What would she do? There hadn’t been anything he could do for her then, but he was here now for his living mother.

Link���s eyes shot open just in time to see Urbosa drowning under the onslaught and his insides fell into oblivion. They were replaced by a warmth that spread through his body and beyond. He jerked his head in confusion as those that held him fell away. He was free. Sparks akin to those he felt when he fell asleep on his hand in the library spread through his fingers and he launched himself into the foray. He clawed through Yiga soldiers to get to her and did not see how each one he yanked was thrown back with a force of golden energy.

“Urbosa! URBOSA!?” They hit the ground.

The desert was lit with a false sunrise as Link crushed Urbosa in a desperate embrace. The light washed over her, healing her wounds as it cascaded around them in a dome, their enemies lying motionless on the outside.

After a few stunned moments, they opened their eyes and picked each other up. Urbosa held his face in her hands and wiped his tears. “Just look at you,” she said, smiling proudly.

“I- I couldn’t. I was,” he stumbled over his words as more tears fell, “I was going to lose you. I couldn’t lose you too,” he cried into her chest and she held him close.

~~~

Link was a natural at seal surfing. That’s what Zelda thought before she realized that he must have actually visited Gerudo Town previously and she just didn’t know it. They had left at sunrise and arrived to their destination mid morning. After taking a much needed rest, re-hydrating and snacking, Link took a leisurely walk around the place to get his bearings while Zelda tended to the sand seals. She joined him after they were settled for a long siesta and the two of them began their research of the Seven Heroines in interest.

There were orbs scattered about the place. Very large, Link noticed. He pushed one with his foot. And heavy. The sand seals might have to work after all. He tasked Zelda with collecting any she could find and in the meantime he studied the statues, picking up rather quickly that some had prominent corresponding symbols to the orbs on various parts of their bodies. Some he couldn’t make out as they were too high so there would be some educated guesses by process of elimination.

Zelda couldn’t help being drawn into his enthusiasm, the way he took notes- the face he made when he took those notes; it was all very quaint, and a bit impressive. Having spent most of her time advancing physically, she appreciated the mental gymnastics they were doing. Where most might sit back defeated, Link pushed through with a calm determination. They tried dropping the orbs in the pedestals in numerous combinations, each with a sound theory behind them. How was Link to know that if shrines had been activated, he would have succeeded in getting a result on the first try? A fact that they both wouldn’t learn for another 103-odd years.

After the sun set, Link scrawled until the dimming light rendered the page unreadable. Zelda had already set about making camp. They could head back to town in the morning, both were knackered. Even with the help of the seals, they’d heaved plenty of orbs around for hours. Eventually he plopped down on the rug with her and heaved a big sigh.

“Wow, you been working all day or something?” she asked in jest as she turned the vegetables in the fire.

“Yeah, something like that. It’s been a long while since I’ve been out in the field.”

She regarded him thoughtfully. “What’s it like up at the castle?”

“Stuffy.”

She chuckled and didn’t press but it wouldn’t be fair to leave it at that. For all its faults, it deserved more. “I loved exploring the halls as a boy. I’m fairly certain I found long lost passages even the castle historian didn’t know about. My favorite places are the Library and the Observatory. “

“Sounds about right,” Zelda smirked.

“Ha ha. But really, the Library has books as far as you can see, you’d never finish them in one lifetime. And my mother used to take me to the Observatory. I still go there to feel close to her.”

They sat in silence for a moment when Zelda touched his forearm. “I’m sorry you lost her.”

Link nodded in thanks and Zelda started to collect the hearty truffles from the coals. “I lost my father,” she began, and Link was a bit surprised she was sharing.

“He was a knight. We didn’t have any other family close by and mom didn’t fancy moving to Tabantha Village. She hates the cold,” Zelda added as she passed Link a stick laden with dinner.

“Thanks. So she just came to the desert instead?” Link asked before blowing generously and taking a bite.

“She had a close friend here who is practically my auntie. I think she was hoping we could just get away and start fresh from everything we knew before. But then I had to take after dad. Took her a while and a lot of arguments to come to terms with the fact that I was also a warrior.” She shook her head. “I feel bad. I’ve put her in a constant fear of losing me too but... you have to do what your soul tells you, right?”

Link closed his eyes and thought of Hylia, feeling a vibration in his core. “Right.” He agreed thoughtfully.

“Anyway, then this happened,” she said, unsheathing the sword on her back a few inches and letting fall back in with a shinck. “That was not a fun conversation.”

“I can imagine,” Link commiserated as he thought of his own recent rows with his father.

Zelda took a bite of her own truffle and regarded him up and down. With no tact for manners, she said with a full mouth, “You’re alrigh’ fo’ a Pince.”

Link laughed and his genuine mirth spread warmth through Zelda’s chest. “And you’re alright for a Hero.”

[pitviperofdoom]

I participated in @redwall-secret-santa. This one’s for @readwall-abbey. Merry Christmas!

---

The sun shone high above the beach as Mem Divinia paused at the highest point of a dune, planting her paws firmly in the shifting sand. She breathed deeply, shoulders rising and falling as she settled her pulse.

Just a few seasons ago, running a distance like that would have left her staggering and gasping for breath, heart pounding wildly and painfully in her chest, in no fit state to see her paw in front of her face, much less any signs of marauders. Sand was difficult terrain to march on, much less run long distances, with the way her paws sank with each step. But Mem was no novice Runner. It had been a while since Sarge sent her out on short little scouting trips to train her eyes and stamina. By now she was miles from Salamandastron, with more to run before she would have to turn back.

With her breath back, she sipped from her canteen and inspected her meager supplies. She was hardly hungry yet but popped a chestnut into her mouth anyway, if only to lessen her load by a little. Long Patrol Runners packed lightly in both food and supplies, but running long enough could make even the lightest pouch feel like carrying another creature.

Her sharp eyes scanned the horizon on all sides, the sea on one and the rolling dunes on the other. The dunes were empty and still, broken only by the occasional cloud of sand, probably kicked up by some lizard or crab. As for the sea…

There was only one point of interest on the sea. Far in the distance, just barely closer than it had been the last time Mem checked, was a single ship.

She squinted at it, scowling in the glare of the sun. It was difficult to judge the threat, if indeed it was one. There were no distinguishing flags or features that she could see; the sails were simple undyed canvas, and if the ship had a figurehead, it was too far away for her to make out. In all likelihood it was a mere traveling ship. Woodland sailors, or sea otters perhaps. One unidentified ship didn’t have to mean pirates.

But, seeing as Salamandastron and the Long Patrol were Mossflower’s first line of defense against dangers from the sea, it was up to them to make sure.

She checked her weapons again: a sling, a pouch of stones, and her trusty dirk. Hopefully that would be enough, should trouble arise. Without another moment of hesitation, Mem took off again across the sands.

She stopped several more times to check the ship’s progress. On the fourth or fifth stop, the ship stopped moving closer. There were no colors flying, no notable marks; it was simply a plain, unmarked ship, too far off for her to see the nature of the beasts sailing it.

On the sixth, she was sure that she could see a longboat approaching the shore.

Mem slowed her pace and continued on with care. She stopped cresting the dunes for a better view, and instead kept down between them so that nobeast would see her approach.

Gradually, the longboat made its way closer and closer to shore. Mem was no longer running, but creeping low on all fours as she made her way toward the point where the boat would most likely land.

She finally risked climbing a low dune, at the very edge of where the sand smoothed out from the crashing waves, when the longboat made landfall on the beach. Mem dug herself down into the sand to stay as hidden as possible. She was close now, just barely within shouting distance, when she saw the first creature leap out onto the sand.

Tall, long-bodied with brown fur. Too slender and willowy to be an otter. It was a stoat or a weasel, decked out in corsair gear. Behind them was the unmistakable figure of a searat.

Mem watched them for a while, not daring to creep any closer and press her luck. Eight vermin in total disembarked, far too many for her to challenge by herself. That was all right, though; she was meant to be a scout, not a defender just yet. At this point, she had plenty to report back to the mountain. The ship was indeed loaded with corsairs, and they had already sent out a small landing party, most likely to scout out the beach. There was no more that she could do here.

Besides, night was falling, and the vermin were moving inland into the dunes themselves. They would most likely make camp here, and the darkness would cover her retreat.

Mem was beginning to back away when the sounds of a shouting reached her ears.

She risked poking her head back up over the dune, but the growing darkness made it difficult to make anything out. There was shouting, cursing, and a great deal of sand kicked up. Were the vermin squabbling amongst themselves?

Or, Mem thought with a jolt, had they found a traveler to attack already?

Sarge would probably give her a knock between the ears for taking the risk, but once that thought was in her head, she could hardly ignore it. Keeping to whatever cover the dunes provided, Mem crept toward the scuffle.

She was almost too cautious, in the end; by the time she was close enough to see what was happening, much less do anything about it, the fight was over. Her heart sank; was their victim already dead?

Muffled, high-pitched cursing proved otherwise, followed by the vermin’s jeers. They had captured somebeast.

Mem took a deep breath and let it out again, before settling down into the sand. If she left now and reported this, nobeast would fault her for keeping safe. There was one of her, and eight vermin. Very poor odds indeed.

She settled in to wait.

***

Night had fully fallen. At this rate, Mem would be hours late making it back to the mountain. At last, she approached the corsairs’ camp.

The fire was still burning, just bright enough for her to make out seven sleeping figures, one sat up keeping watch, and a ninth, much smaller, sitting trussed up at the edge. Silently, she made her way around.

The rat on sentry duty was nodding. She had waited for third watch before approaching; it was better to risk sneaking past a creature that had just woken up and desperately wanted to go back to sleep. The rat took no notice of her as she skirted the camp on all fours and crept over  the prisoner.

Firelight glinted off a pair of open eyes, and Mem froze when she realized that the bound squirrelmaid was looking right at her. Mem put a paw to her lips, only to realize belatedly that the squirrel was muzzled.

Mem shot a glance at the searat, just in time to see his head bob down and up again as he fought to stay awake. She looked to the squirrelmaid, who followed her gaze, then inched carefully over the sand toward where Mem lay hidden. The sand scraped beneath her, and both of them froze.

Silence followed, broken only by the crackle of fire and the vermin’s snores.

The squirrelmaid stretched out, as if seeking a comfortable position to lie down. Her bound footpaws lay within a stone’s throw of Meme’s position.

Her heart was beating in her ears, so loudly that she half-believed the vermin might hear it. This was easily the most foolish thing she had done, and Sarge was going to shout herself hoarse over this when she got back.

But there was a woodlander in danger before her, and she had come too far to turn back and abandon her now.

Mem had never drawn her dirk as slowly as she did then. Bit by bit, so slowly that the steel did not even rasp against the inside of the sheath, she slid her blade free. Then, with one more glance at the sleepy sentry, she crept over the sand until she could push it within reach of the squirrel.

The squirrel grasped it between her footpaws, then curled up so that she could reach her bound paws with the blade.

Mem kept the blade keen enough to cut a strand of fur lengthwise. It took two slices to free the squirrel’s paws, leaving her free to hold the dirk properly and make short work of the cords binding her footpaws. Without wasting a moment more, she got all four paws underneath her and began to creep toward Mem.

Next to her, a sleeping weasel stirred and murmured, with the telltale sounds of a beast about to awaken.

The squirrel struck like an adder. One paw went over the vermin’s mouth, and the other drew the dirk across the weasel’s mouth. It was over just as quickly as it had begun, and the weasel died without a sound.

Mem looked to the rat. He hadn’t even turned his head. Maybe he was already asleep.

The squirrelmaid left the weasel where he lay, blood soaking into the sand beneath him. She joined Mem without a word, and together they stole off into the dunes. They took the long way around, putting as much distance as they could between themselves and the camp. The squirrelmaid’s bushy tail swept behind them like a broom, wiping away their tracks.

Only when they were well away, the campfire a distant orange glow, did the squirrel cut the muzzle from her head and throw it viciously to the ground, before kicking it away with a quiet snarl. The dirk was thrust hilt-first into Mem’s paws. She took it with a nod of thanks, wiped the blade, and sheathed it again.

“Th’nks,” the squirrelmaid grumbled. “Could’ve handled it, but thanks.”

For the first time, Mem took a proper look at the creature she had rescued. She was small and young-looking, probably even younger than Mem by a pawful of seasons, but she had the rough, raw look of a creature used to hard living. And now that stealth was no longer the priority, Mem could see the way she put all her weight on one footpaw, as if favoring the other.

“Think nothing of it,” Mem said, smiling a bit shakily. “Good show with that weasel. Quickest paw-work I’ve seen outside of the jolly old training room back at the mountain.”

The squirrelmaid grinned, showing sharp white teeth in the dark. “Yore one of them fancy mountain rabbits, ain’t yer,” she said.

“Hares, but close enough,” Mem replied. “Is your footpaw all right?”

The squirrelmaid grimaced. “I’ve had worse,” she said, though she made no attempt to put any more weight on it. “Don’t worry yore pretty little ears over it, fancy rabbit.”

The words were barely out of her mouth when a shout rose from the vermin camp. Both of them whipped around to stare, wide-eyed, as the pirates they had left behind came awake.

“On my back,” Mem gritted out. “Quickly now, no time to for belly-aching.”

Grumbling, the squirrelmaid obliged. She was every bit as lightweight as she looked. “By the fur and fang,” Mem muttered. “You could do with a jolly good tuck-in, sooner rather than later. Hold on tight, now!”

She took off with the squirrelmaid clinging to her back, claws digging into her shoulders.

Even with the extra weight, she left the vermin camp in her dust. With the wind off the sea blowing across the sand, her tracks would be wiped away by morning. Still, it was only when the vermin’s fire was so far behind them that she could no longer see it, that Mem felt save enough to slow to a trot rather than a flat-out run. The squirrelmaid still clung to her, laughing breathlessly.

“Hellsteeth, that’s what’s I call a gallop!” the squirrel cackled near her ear. “Wot’s yer name, fancy rabbit?”

“Lance Corporal Mem Divinia of the Long Patrol, at your service,” Mem replied, breathing steadily. “What may I call you, my good maid?”

“Name’s Russa,” the squirrel replied. “Got any food on yer?”

“A pawful of nuts and a bit of water,” Mem replied, passing up her food pouch. “Here, try to leave some for me. I’ve got to get back to the bally mountain by dawn, or Sarge’ll send out a search party, and they’ll be right miffed at me for causing a spot of bother.” She paused. “Er, d’you happen to have a family who might be looking for you?”

“If’n I do, they ain’t lookin’ hard enough,” Russa replied airily. “Been on my own, long as I can remember.”

“Righto. Would you like to visit Salamandastron, then?” Mem asked. “Get your footpaw looked at, have a proper scoff in the mess hall?”

“If scoff means food in Fancy Rabbit, then lead the way,” Russa laughed again.

“Jolly good.” Mem took off again, at a steady lope that would get her home in good time. “Tell you what, Russa my gel, after I make my report and have a quick kip in my bunk, I’ll stop by the kitchens and make you some pancakes.”

The squirrelmaid was quiet for a moment. “Wot’s pancakes?” she asked.

“Can’t wait to show you, m’dear!”

The moon rose high over the seashore and the rolling sand dunes. Mem was going to be late. But, the way she saw it, one little dressing-down from Sarge was a fair trade for saving a life, and making a new friend along the way.

[solitarylurker]

a critical reflection on the failings of star wars: the rise of skywalker

(Rey's failure on a mythological level)

the surprising twist of Rey's story after The Force Awakens was that she was on a legitimate heroine's journey, which is a journey mostly into the inner world; this was an aspect that Rian Johnson's The Last Jedi nailed perfectly, and it's the main reason that film still works despite its flaws on other analytical levels

the heroine's journey, a tragic rarity now in modern storytelling, requires Rey to confront her animus, to grapple with it, and eventually to incorporate it (or marry it in a more literal sense), all the while overcoming these challenges with wit and love

in TFA, we see her meet her animus--represented by the hulking, shadowy figure of Kylo Ren; in TLJ, she grapples with her animus--her conversations with Kylo Ren transform him from monster to man, and she is forced to wrestle with the humanity within him and the shadows within herself

The Rise of Skywalker should have completed Rey's heroine's journey, allowing her to incorporate her shadow into herself, to triumph over it by using its strength and quelling its weakness, and to marry herself to her animus, a reformed/redeemed Kylo Ren

in a properly formed heroine's journey, the heroine does not reject her animus in the end--she embraces him and accepts that he is part of her as she is part of him; her love, in essence, transforms him from a shadowy monster to a functioning part of both herself and society at large

the heroine's ultimate goal is to mend the bridges between the spiritual realm (the inner world) and the physical realm (the outer world); much like the hero's journey, the heroine must bring something of value back to her community, but the specific thing of value is different from the hero--she's not meant to slay a monster, but to integrate one, defeating it via her own set of skills

the wisdom she gains from the experience informs her as she transforms herself from maiden into matron, completing the first phase of a woman's life cycle

unfortunately, JJ Abrams didn't seem to get the memo on the core element that makes Rey's journey work, and he tries to stuff her into the hero's mold instead

the beats of the traditional hero's journey fall flat in a story like Star Wars, which has always held an element of the inner journey at its heart

even Luke's hero's journey does not end with him vanquishing his foe--Darth Vader; instead, it ends with him offering compassion to his foe, and through his compassion he reforms Vader enough for Vader to complete his own heroic arc and slay Palpatine

Abrams is so focused on making Rey into a super woman type of high priestess character, a woman so pure and moral that despite showing obvious signs of fragmentation and subliminal rage still manages to always make the "correct" decision 

Rey in TROS is a Queen of Swords, a harsh woman of sharp judgment and little compassion for anything that doesn't do exactly what she wants when she wants it; these aspects would be fine if we were still in the second film, for this would symbolize her obstacles she'd have to overcome to reach her full potential, but unfortunately TROS is the third film and these are presented as admirable qualities (or, if not admirable per se, then not detrimental)

Rey repeatedly has several run-ins with Kylo Ren, her animus, who continues to open the door to conversation and understanding with her, but unlike in TLJ when Rey allowed herself to soften toward him, she remains hard and implacable in TROS

she draws a hard, sharp line between her fictional image of "Ben Solo" and the shadow of Kylo Ren who stands before her

this comes out most prominently in the scene where she and Kylo Ren fight for the final time--she is snarling with rage and absolutely incapable of conversing with him, despite having cared for him in the previous film

she goes so far as to fatally stab him with his own saber and then has the nerve, after half-heartedly healing him (while she's crying more for Leia than for him), to tell him she wanted to take Ben's hand, the subtext being that she would never take Kylo Ren's hand

lucky for Rey, Kylo Ren magically transforms himself for her because he's so desperate for any human contact that even a woman who avidly loathes him so obviously is better than nothing

however, this is no win for Rey on any genuine level--this is merely her being a creator's pet and receiving narrative benefits she hasn't properly earned

Rey shows no legitimate remorse for how far she's fallen, or for her own lack of compassion for Kylo; she never once in the film attempts to understand Kylo or reach out to him or offer him an alternative, instead continuing to make demands of him without offering anything in return

when she speaks with Luke, she's more worried about her own purity as a jedi than she is the darkness that's caused her to harm someone she supposedly cares for or her own temptation (which is never shown) of joining him as his Empress

in the end, Rey gets her wish and Ben appears before her, rescues her, and dies sacrificing himself for her; while the scene is pretty, it's ultimately hollow because Rey did nothing to earn Ben's love and sacrifice--these are entirely testaments to Ben's character and his own heart than to Rey's, as she is merely the passive beneficiary of a love she neither pursued nor sacrificed for

the enormous gaping hole in Rey's journey falls in her own inability to properly face her own shadow and incorporate it, thus healing her interior wounds and enabling her to reach Kylo Ren; to do this properly, in TROS she should have learned how to accept her own call to the dark side, as well as Kylo's, and accepted them both as having these sides to themselves while offering Kylo a way to move forward without giving in entirely to the dark

her inability to accept her own inner animus and transform it into something of worth to the community is why her journey fails, despite the success of her shoehorned hero's journey--her journey had never been a traditional hero's journey, and killing is never the proper ending for a legitimate heroine's journey; love is always the correct end to a heroine's journey

worse than failing to accept the darkness within herself and Kylo, she fails to understand that the man she loves is the culmination of Kylo Ren and Ben Solo; she is not in love with Ben Solo

Rey does not even know Ben Solo; there is no guarantee Ben Solo would have loved Rey had he met her ten years before

the man who extends his hand to Rey, the man who pushes her, the man who offers her companionship and understanding, is Kylo Ren, the very same one who offered her a galaxy because he didn't understand she only wanted him

it was not Ben Solo's light that drew Rey to him, it was his darkness that compelled her; her desire for his light comes from her inability to accept her own inner darkness, which is merely her ego wanting to remain a "good girl" for her parents rather than properly face the totality of the woman she is becoming

Kylo's darkness calls Rey toward growth and autonomy, but it also represents the danger of temptation and wrath, fatal flaws Kylo himself has fallen prey to

if in TROS Rey had properly found herself, she would be able to help Kylo see he was more than just the darkness, and help him reincorporate his light as she had incorporated the darkness he'd helped her tap into; these could have turned into deep wells of strength for both characters, allowing their bond to become a force (pun intended ;D) capable of taking down whatever villain stood at the end of their journey

but because Rey refuses to accept that the man who has been the one by her side the entire journey is the "evil" Kylo Ren, she can't complete her journey into womanhood and instead retreats into childish fantasy; ultimately she can't have a happily ever after with whatever the Kylo Ren/Ben culmination turned out to be because she never grows up enough to accept such a man (this is further emphasized when she's sliding down the dunes like a child again at the end of her journey, a subtle sign that nothing of relevance has changed)

Rey never comes to the understanding that Kylo Ren is not split from Ben Solo, nor that her own darkness is not split from her light; she never reaches the understanding that Kylo and Ben are one and that her light and her darkness are one

this inability to incorporate the two aspects within herself leads to her failure to accomplish her narrative objectives while her inability to show any form of compassion to either Kylo Ren or Palpatine clinches the deal and renders her character ultimately a sad example of a creator's pet who never achieved her full potential

as far as i'm concerned, the reason this film fails goes beyond poor plotting, poor pacing, and poor characters--it can't even get the basic mythological steps of the final leg of the heroine's journey correct, thus rendering Rey completely ineffective in the only two missions her character had: find belonging with someone and come to terms with herself and her past

it's truly a shame Abrams couldn't stick the landing on this one, because Rey deserved to grow up, learn how to express true love and compassion, marry the man she loved, bring him back into the community as an asset rather than a liability, and bring forth the next generation with him at her side

[7/9]

[jrobert1698-blog]

The Mandalorian Season One Review

The Mandalorian is a Disney+ original television show starring Pedro Pascal and created by Jon Favreau.  In addition to featuring a supporting cast of Gina Carano, Carl Weathers, and Giancarlo Esposito, the show also created a legend of our time: Baby Yoda.  Logging just eight episodes in its debut season, the show follows a conflicted bounty hunter as he attempts to honor the creed of his people, the customs of his profession, and his heart’s desire.  If you haven’t seen the show yet, I highly suggest you check it out.  Some spoilers lie ahead if you wish to turn back now; otherwise, “this is the way.”

I’ll be honest: I’m a really big Star Wars fan.  I should qualify that by saying I haven’t consumed every bit of the Star Wars canon, and I’m not extremely familiar with the Expanded Universe.  I know this qualifies me as scum; force choke me if you must.  Nonetheless, it is one of my favorite franchises dating all the way back to my early childhood.  This makes it somewhat difficult to review anything Star Wars related because I’m always subconsciously rooting for it to be good.  I allowed this to get the better of me with The Last Jedi, and I defended that film for far too long.  In short, I tried to approach The Mandalorian with an open mind but without letting my inner fanboy take over my sensibilities.  I’d like to believe that this review is as neutral as possible but if I do sound overexcited please forgive me. 

Before I get into The Mandalorian in detail I want to take a brief step back to 2015.  Before The Force Awakens cam out, everybody was excited to see Star Wars again.  Despite box office success, some people dismissed Episode VII as too derivative of A New Hope.  Others were just happy to have new characters, a diverse cast, and a competent director in J.J. Abrams.  I will go to the grave believing that the single biggest mistake Disney made since purchasing Star Wars was hiring Rian Johnson to direct The Last Jedi. While he is clearly capable of creating a great film in his own right, his vision clashed significantly with Abrams’ and the end result was a very divisive movie that split up the Star Wars fan base.  It made at least half the fandom bitter and jaded towards anything Star Wars that Disney produced.  People desperately needed something to unify them and make them remember why they love Star Wars again.  I’m happy to report that season one of The Mandalorian is exactly what the fans, and Disney, needed. 

I feel as though its only proper to begin a review of The Mandalorian by discussing Din Djarin himself as portrayed by Pedro Pascal.  I liked him in Game of Thrones and I like him even more here.  Some people might assume that having a mask cover your entire face makes acting easier.  To some extent this is true.  Not having to express emotions with one’s eyes and mouth alleviates some of the burden.  However, its also a unique acting challenge to make people get invested in a character whose face they can’t see.  The fact that so many love this character is a testament to good screenwriting and Pascal’s acting ability.  The audience actually roots for Mando to keep his mask on because the writers made it a crucial part of his identity.  Additionally, Pascal has to express emotion through the intonation of his voice, the speed at which he turns his helmet, and his deliberate pace when he walks.  This is far more difficult than people realize, and Pascal deserves a lot of credit for making this season the success that it was.

The character of the Mandalorian also stands out to me because in many ways he exemplifies the qualities of a good action hero.  Again, good screenwriting.  He comes off as a believable bad ass from the minute he slices a guy in half with a door in Episode 1.  However, unlike other Star Wars protagonists of late, he never feels overpowered either.  Audiences need to feel like their hero is in danger of getting hurt or dying in order for excitement to register.  There are many moments in this season where Mando gets his ass kicked.  He gets electrocuted by Jawas, gored by a Mudhorn, pinned down by Bounty Hunters and almost blown up several times.  However, like any good action hero, he always manages to bounce back and lives to fight another day.  This is why audiences truly respect this character who, at the end of the day, is just a human being like all of us. 

Another great, and perhaps underrated, aspect of this show is the amazing score by Ludwig Goransson.  I really liked his work on Black Panther as well and I’m looking forward to any future projects he works on.  This is the first time I can remember that anyone other than John Williams has made an original and memorable Star Wars score.  The main title is freakin’ awesome.  It’s the perfect blend of tribal mysticism and the military marches we’ve come to know and love.  Fortunately, this space opera comes with some great overtures to highlight it.

Before I sound like a total fanboy, let’s talk about a few issues I have with the show.  There are certainly issues you can nitpick from a canon perspective but that isn’t my main concern.  My biggest complaint would be the sometimes haphazard nature of the show.  Episode 5 in particular felt like a sizable departure from the main story.  Episode 6, while more entertaining, similarly broke from the overarching narrative to give us a little bit of Mando’s backstory.  I don’t necessarily have a problem with this video game mission approach to the show, but I do hope that some of these side quests get paid off more significantly in future episodes.  I also would have liked a more consistent emphasis on the supporting cast members like Carano’s Cara Dune and Weathers’ Greef Carga.  Even Kuill could have used more screen time if for no other purpose than to make us more attached to him before his untimely death.

My complaints, in the long run, are relatively minor.  Compared to my overall respect and enjoyment of this show, they pale in comparison.  One major reason why is that Disney spared no expense in making this show the best it could possibly be.  The visual effects, where I feared they might skimp, were better than a lot of feature films.  The show felt cinematic, like Game of Thrones did at its best.  The cinematography was mostly great as well.  I particularly liked Taika Waititi’s direction in the season finale.  That shot of Mando finally using a jetpack to latch onto Moff Gideon’s TIE Fighter deserves to be on a poster.  I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention the closing shot of Gideon holding the fucking Darksaber.  I can’t wait to see Giancarlo Esposito in an expanded role in Season 2 and hopefully beyond.  If he can play half the villain he did in Breaking Bad it will be a success.

And, of course, I had to save the single best part of this show, by far, for last. Baby. Fucking. Yoda.  This is one of the most well-concealed plot twists in recent memory.  Disney, somehow, did a fantastic job of keeping Baby Yoda out of marketing materials and trailers in the pre-release process.  When I first saw that adorable green face for the first time I somehow screamed, laughed and cried out in excitement at once.  This character is great for so many reasons besides obviously being the cutest thing to come out of 2019.  The Child makes Mando extremely conflicted and puts him in the most difficult quandary of his life: honor his code as a Bounty Hunter or follow his instincts and protect this child in need?  Baby Yoda also kicks a lot of ass for a one-foot-tall fifty year old.  His obviously strong connection to the force presents a myriad of options for his future: will he train as a Jedi, be a powerful vigilante, or turn to the dark side?  I’m kidding, but I’m also serious; he did force choke Cara Dune after all.  And he’s grown up among a series of explosions, laser beams, and punchy storm troopers.  That’s a pretty traumatic childhood.  Clearly, Baby Yoda has turned into a phenomenon and sparked an infinite number of memes, songs, and art.  I think it’s well deserved and I can’t wait to see more adventures in baby sitting with our little green friend. 

My thoughts on The Mandalorian can be expressed very simply: it’s fucking awesome. There is a whole lot to like about where this story is going and what Favreau and the slew of directors have done so far.  They’ve managed to inject genuine excitement into the fan base for what feels like the first time in a very, very long time. Additionally, Disney needed to knock one out of the park in order to salvage their reputation and preserve fan interest in one of their most valuable franchises.  Despite a few minor missteps, season one of The Mandalorian is a fantastic and I eagerly anticipate season two whenever it comes out.  If you haven’t seen it yet, go check it out.  Baby Yoda alone makes it worth it.  I have spoken.

Rating: 9/10

[languageyeti1985]

The Spice of English, How Dune Can Lead You Along The Golden Path Of Your Language Journey...  

Frank Herbert's Dune is a masterpiece of science fiction that has captivated readers for over half a century. One of the most striking aspects of the novel is Herbert's writing style, which is both poetic and philosophical.

The Dune series is a classic work of science fiction that has captivated readers for decades. Its intricate plotlines, complex characters, and rich vocabulary make it an excellent tool for any English students looking to improve their skills while exploring the world of science fiction.

One of the key benefits of reading the Dune series is the vocabulary-building opportunities it presents. The series includes many specialised terms related to ecology, politics, religion, and science fiction, which can be challenging for students. However, by reading and analysing the story, students can build their vocabulary and expand their understanding of these topics.

In addition to building vocabulary, the Dune series can help students develop their reading comprehension skills. The complex plotlines and themes require careful analysis and interpretation, which can help students develop their critical thinking skills and improve their ability to understand and interpret complex texts.

As language learners read the Dune series, they can also practice their writing skills by summarising and analysing the story, expressing their ideas and opinions about the themes and characters, and even writing their own science fiction stories inspired by the series.

Moreover, the Dune series can allow ESL students to practice their conversation skills. As a classic work of science fiction, the series is an excellent topic for discussion, allowing students to engage in meaningful conversations with their peers or teachers and practice their speaking and listening skills.

Finally, reading the Dune series can help ESL students develop cultural literacy. The series has significantly influenced popular culture, with references to the series appearing in movies, TV shows, and other works of science fiction. By reading the Dune series, students can gain a deeper appreciation of science fiction as a genre and improve their understanding of cultural references related to the series.

In conclusion, the Dune series offers a wealth of opportunities for students to improve their English skills while exploring the world of science fiction. Through vocabulary building, reading comprehension, writing practice, conversation practice, and cultural literacy, ESL students can develop their language abilities and explore the rich themes and ideas presented in this classic work of science fiction. 

So, let's embark on a journey to Arrakis and join the quest for The Spice!

Here are some English vocabulary words, phrases, and fixed expressions commonly used in the Dune series.

Vocabulary:

Ecology, is the study of living organisms and their relationships with each other and their environment.

Melange, which is the fictional drug in the Dune series, has a variety of effects on the body and mind.

Kwisatz Haderach, is a male Bene Gesserit who has access to the collective memories of his female ancestors.

The Fremen, are a group of desert nomads inhabiting the planet Arrakis.

Bene Gesserit, is an order of women with exceptional mental and physical abilities.

Guild Navigator, who is a human with mutated powers and bodies, navigates spacecraft through space because of the use of Melange and spice.

Sardaukar, which is an elite military force in the service of the Padishah Emperor.

Paul Muad'Dib, who is the main character in the series, is also known as Muad'Dib.

Phrases you need to know:

Fear is the mind-killer, which is a Bene Gesserit mantra used to overcome fear.

The spice must flow, which is a phrase used to emphasise Melange's importance to the Dune universe's economy and society.

The sleeper has awakened, which is a phrase used to indicate that someone has become aware of their true potential or destiny.

He who controls the spice controls the universe, which is a phrase used to describe the immense power and influence of the spice.

A leader, you see, is one of the things that distinguishes a mob from a people, which is a quote from the character Leto Atreides, emphasising the importance of strong leadership.

[promomagazine]

Q&A With Photographer | Founder & Director of Devojka Models Tina Nikolovski

In the broad prospect of fashion and lifestyle, Promo Magazine had the opportunity to interview Tina Nikolovsk, who is a photographer and also the founder & director of Devojka Models in Australia. In this particular interview, we asked a series of questions in about her creative process and how she got her booming business off the ground. We are very happy to have met with the amazing Tina Nikolovsk. You can also find her latest editorial in our latest issue with her image on the front cover, be sure to purchase your copy and see what beautiful work Tina has produced. Take care everyone, and enjoy the read!

-Do you agree that you are challenged everyday to create something that has never been created before?

I agree with this statement - every shoot, subject and intention is different and I see myself as an artist more than a business woman, therefore in every shoot I am certainly challenged to create something that is unique. Something that both aligns with my aesthetic and intention, but also the intention of the subject and one in which captures their essence.

-Can you describe your creative process? What do you look for when creating a shoot and do your shoots line up to be what you expected?

My creative process can be described as ‘beautiful chaos’. At any given moment I can have a number of ideas in my mind - triggered by any aspect of life: music, a location, the way that light hits a particular surface, the texture of a wall, an item of clothing. Once I am inspired by something, my mind automatically creates an entire concept around that piece, and this evolves over time. I then try to draw / write it down (more like a brainstorm) with the perfect model, makeup, everything I can think of at the time. From that point - the logistics are organised (teams, timelines, etc) - and on the day it is a mixture of both intention and spontaneity to achieve aesthetically pleasing, unique results.

When shooting I look for something outside the norm, one may call this the ‘wow’ factor - and usually the eyes (and/or emotion) are the most powerful element of my images. I am a perfectionist when it comes to my work - so every element (lighting, composition, intention, styling, makeup etc) must work together beautifully to convey a powerful, aesthetically pleasing image that aligns with my intention as an artist. My shoots normally line up to be what I expected but sometimes they exceed this - because of a number of uncontrollable factors when shooting on location this can quite often be the case, but I have learnt to flow with it as an artist.

-You have to have a favorite artist in mind that drives your creativity or inspires you, who is it? / -Do you have a favorite photographers who inspire you? Why is that?

I absolutely adore the work of Emily Abay. Her work definitely inspires me in terms of aesthetic, light and simplistic beauty. I also adore the masters of photography from the 1960’s/70s who shot in film - Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton. These days however I rarely set out to look at any artist’s work more than now and then, as I have too many organic ideas of my own and I love making my work as authentic as possible. When I become inspired by someone I like using one element as inspiration rather than the whole, as I strongly believe in authenticity as an artist. Intention is such an important component of the final result.

-How would you describe yourself as a person & artist?

As a person and an artist, I would describe myself as driven, visual and pure. As an artist I would say I am a perfectionist when it comes to the delivery of my final pieces. I don’t necessarily fit the mould of a standard commercial photographer, for me it’s never been about money. Since I began my career in photography my decision was to always live as close to my creative values as possible. I’ve always had the idea that I want to wake up everyday doing what I love for the rest of my life and that’s something that is a huge driving factor day to day.

-How did you know you wanted to be a photographer?

As a child - the first camera I used was a red Kodak film camera which was our family camera - which somehow always ended up in my hands even back then. I loved taking photos - at 14 I remember appreciating and capturing the architecture in Italy, France, Austria

- in a juxtaposition against the polarised skies and dramatic clouds. When I chose my electives in college I chose photography, which enabled me to get a grasp on the basics and develop through to advanced photography with 35mm film cameras and processing in the darkroom. After finishing college I actually pushed myself to attain the highest UAI possible (perfectionism trait) to become a psychologist - and two days before the course started I changed my mind and enrolled in photography instead. The reason for this is I was aware that my mind was already over-analytical, so I knew that to achieve some sort of balance I would need to pursue something creative. I have never looked back - starting my business in second year of my degree and finding my calling. Throughout my life, especially though turbulent times something always kept drawing me back to my preferred art form - photography - it has been an outlet for me in many ways and has brought so much richness to my life and the lives of others. I live to create.

-Can you describe one of your favorite projects that you have worked on and why was it your favorite?

I would have to say that the image below is definitely one of my favourite ever photographs and most enjoyable photoshoots. I captured this as a photography student in my second year of study - and I asked my parents to help me carry, up a hill, a heavy battery pack and lights, stands, sandbags and other equipment. I created this image in-camera (it is not a composite) - all I have edited is grass at the bottom and an extra layer of intensity to the colours. This image to me is magic. It symbolises how photography makes me feel and what is achieved when I push myself outside my comfort zone.

-We have taken a look at your website/portfolio Online, how do you want the viewer to feel when looking at your work?

I would never dictate how I would want the viewer to feel when looking at my work. I think the beauty of art is that it has the power to make people feel different things. When viewers look at my work - if they feel something, anything, that is enough to bring me satisfaction in producing something that moves people. If they feel nothing that is fine too. It is all relative and subjective and I don’t create art with the intention to make people feel a specific thing.

-Do you ever collaborate with designer brands.

Yes I certainly do. Another one of my favourite photoshoots, ‘SPECTRUM’ was a collaboration - I spotted Bianca Pavlic’s work at Fashfest and I asked to photograph her garments. She gave me a bunch of them and I styled my model (Emma, Devojka Models) - and put together a killer team in Canberra whose aesthetics aligned beautifully. I planned the shoot around a specific time to capture powerful lighting, which I had been keeping an eye on for days prior to the shoot. Whilst this lighting was tricky to capture well, I think something very powerful is illustrated in these images. Here is a sample:

Full series here: http://tinanikolovski.com/spectrum

-In the artistic world of photographers, do you see yourself not only trying to achieve your perfect shoot but also being known for your work?

As an artist and human who has been through an ‘awakening’ I no longer compare myself to any other artist. I wish everyone success and can appreciate what they do. I focus on my ideas and creating incredible powerful images that align with my intention. Whether or not I am known isn’t so much my focus from an ego perspective, however I do love sharing my art with the world and being known is one way to ensure that you are able to continue capturing photographs for the rest of your life. So in that sense - I would love to be known as much as I can as it would help me achieve longevity and abundance, to support creating art forever.

-If you could shoot an editorial anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why is that?

If I could shoot anywhere in the world it would be somewhere on the Greek islands (Santorini, I am yet to see and capture the beauty) - I love the blues and whites and authentic architecture. I would also love to shoot in Morocco - in the beautiful unique colourful streets, as well as on the incredible sand dunes. Imagine that.

-What was the main reason that you decided to become a photographer?

I decided to do photography to balance out my over-analytical side; to give me a creative outlet. The reason I have stuck with photography is because of the way it makes me feel, the second ‘eye’ it gives me to see the world, the way in which it allows me to connect with others and empower them. Capture their essence. Inspire others. See new places, appreciate the world in a different way. Photography also helps me live out my higher

purpose which is to connect, inspire and help others achieve their full potential and overcome their self-perceived barriers to really understand how unique, beautiful and powerful they are in their most authentic state.

-Tell me about your latest shoot. What was your vision when you created it?

My latest shoot was actually a test shoot in the studio with a local model. My intention was experimentation and the vision was ‘beauty’ style images. My aim was also to push myself to light my subject in a way that I have never done before. My vision was dark but crisp - showing beauty but also the essence of my model, and a strong yet feminine way.

-To be a photographer, you had to undergo a lot of struggles. What was the most difficult obstacle for you when putting together a shoot?

The most difficult obstacle in putting together a shoot - there would be a few! The weather (rain), lighting and other factors that are out of my control and can affect the outcome of the shoot. Also, mindset - when I first started I used to battle my own mind (‘Am I good enough? Will I know how to achieve this? What if I can’t light it the way I need to?). I have mastered my mindset to a point but the biggest obstacle would be putting myself out there to capture something that is outside my comfort zone (technically) where I don’t quite know the outcome.

-Does your personal life ever effect how you compose your shoots or do you have a set schedule/formula that you follow? What is it exactly?

After hitting rock bottom at 25 years old, I finally faced my fears head on and made choices that allowed me to live my life with as little anxiety as possible. Prior to this awakening I struggled with 10 years of depression as a result of a traumatic childhood. In hindsight, I know now that everything happened for a reason. But prior to that enlightenment my mindset stopped me from doing a lot of things - I quit, and started photography so many times in those 10 years. The fears that I had were blocking my ultimate state of thought and ‘flow’.

In terms of a schedule or formula, over time I guess I have refined my organisational practices leading up to shoots - I also run an agency of 37 models so I have become very organised (www.devojka.com.au). I used to be all over the place (typical artist). I still write on 100 different scrap pieces of paper and have piles of ideas that are not consolidated or not yet executed, but I have a system that I loosely follow to organise everything and it seems to be working.

In terms of the actual shoot day - although I may have a mood board and timeline I still allow myself to get lost in the moment and allow for a great degree of spontaneity. Some of my best work has been produced ‘in the moment’. The ultimate state of shooting is a state of

‘creative flow’ - which is in absence of all thought, where I just get in my ‘zone’ and shoot driven by something much more powerful than the mind.

-Who excites you the most (Celebrity) & why?

I can’t say I follow celebrities at all. But Russell Brand excites me - so does Jason Silva - I feel euphoric listening to their talks about consciousness, metaphysics, reality - life. Jason Silva talks about the ‘creative flow’ that I have experienced and it is amazing to witness how he articulates this. Both of these humans excite me the most, especially Russell Brand, because of his search for meaning and the way he deconstructs the material world which acts as a curtin that has been placed in front of our eyes. I also really admire him for overcoming so many years of addiction/depression and setting up cafes for recovering drug addicts, speaking his truth no matter how absurd it sounds to the general viewer, and still using his humour to lighten so many unjust situations. Challenging people’s mindsets and not conforming to the matrix in many ways.

-If you had to pass on a suggestion for someone starting out in photography, what would you tell them?

I would say to any new photographer - that the sooner you stop comparing and allow yourself to just be, to create from the deepest place within you regardless of how it may be perceived or whether or not it is ‘better’ than someone else work, the sooner you will feel freedom and ‘success’ in your chosen field of endeavour. As soon as you can, create from a place of authenticity in the absence of fear and you will then produce your most powerful work because it will be a pure reflection of YOU.

-How is your style of photography different from other photographers & what are your world-dominating goals?

My style of photography is authentic to myself as an artist because it is a reflection of my authentic ideas and unique combinations of light, styling, angles, etc. My world-dominating goal would be to never have to worry about money - and to be able to be free to travel the world and continue to take images of fashion, portraits and landscapes. There are so many beautiful places around the world and I want to witness them, appreciate them, and capture them with my eye and my lens.

 LINKS | Contact

PHOTOGRAPHER |

www.tinanikolovski.com

www.facebook.com/tinanikolovskiphotographer

www.instagram.com/tinanikolovski

info@tinanikolovski.com

 FOUNDER + DIRECTOR | DEVOJKA MODELS

www.devojka.com.au

www.facebook.com/devojkamodels

www.instagram.com/devojkamodels

info@devojka.com.au

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