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theadventurerslog · 10 months ago

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Quest For Glory II: Trial by Fire | Part 1

The Adventurer's Log

Release Date: 1990

Here we go! Spielburg was saved and Cinder Win was whisked off to Shapeir, the homeland of the Kattas--Shema and Shameen--and Abdulla Doo. Like the first game, I've watched this game played so overall it won't be a blind play, however the wizard-specific parts and puzzle solutions will be mostly new to me.

The intro opened with a djinn watching our crew riding Abdulla's magic carpet...

And he laughed at me. Rude. At the end of the first game there was a dragon. Hints at more to come? Just cool stuff?

After some swooping around and credits we landed in Shapeir where it was time to look the part of a desert hero because the previous outfit just wouldn't do according to Shema.

New game, new kingdom, new outfit! A hero should look the part!

With the intro complete it was time to get started with character creation or character import. Thankfully, importing your character is a very smooth easy experience at now. I suspect less so originally. You can rename your character, but Cinder Win is eternal.

We opened in the Katta's Tail Inn, chatting with Abdulla. The inn was only just set up but has become the centre of Shapeir's entertainment. "Where else can you watch Shema dance?"

This'll be my base. Free food and room! No more sleeping in the flowers for old Cinder.

And I got a bit of bad news hinting at the main plot point to come.

The Emir of Raseir, Arus Al-Din has gone missing...

I asked about the Emir. He said Arus 'was the kindest of men, quick to hug you and call you brother" but not very brave. Aw.

I also asked Abdulla about Shapeir to which he said the land of Shapeir may be plagued by Elementals and Djinns but would always stand as long as there are heroes. Like me!

And I asked about money and found out I'd need to find the money changer.

I checked out my character sheet and new portrait! Look at Cinder being all magic-y!

Ah yes the game introduces the communication skill which can be used for things like bargaining. I wonder how the stat is determined on import... That looks like a pretty darn good starting score to me.

Otherwise, it was time to check out Shapeir and enjoy the sights. Which means it was time to talk to everyone and look at all the things before setting out to explore and getting lost.

I asked Shameen about the Emir and the city of Raseir. Those who were driven from Raseir spoke highly of the Emir, but of his brother Ali Hasan (Sierra really really likes using the name Ali in Arab themed places...), they merely spit. Raseir was a city much like Shapeir "a mirror". Now it's said it's foreshadowing of what's to come.

Then I exited out into the plaza! And was immediately thrown sales pitches.

Map! Compass! Souvenirs!

I can't buy anything until I convert my money. I asked Alichica for directions to the money changer... he gave me directions. So many directions. Spoiler alert: they didn't help, though that was more my fault.

I went down first which is the city exit. There are riding-sauruses! Sauruses to ride! But the seller won't be here until tomorrow.

I went back up into the many alleyways of the city. So many...

I want that map.

I got very lost and confused. I lost track of my directions immediately so Alichica's were not helpful. After a lot of wandering hopelessly I stumbled out into another plaza though, the fountain plaza.

Baskets, lamps aaand magic shop!

The magic shop is owned by Keapon Laffin who is a gnome, so he is quite the character full of ridiculous wordplay, rhymes and puns down to his name as seems to be the gnomish way in QFG. I approve. He's great.

He has spells to sell but some of them I already have. The ones I need to get are Force Bolt and Levitate. He sells Erasmus' Razzle Dazzle, so if I had given up on Erasmus' game at least I could have gotten it here. I'm glad I didn't give up, but nice to know anyway.

I asked him about magic and learned of Aziza who lives off the east end of Shmali Tarik... if I can find that... And he talked about WIT -- the Wizard's Institute of Technocery. I learned of that in the first game, and now it's somewhere here in Shapeir. I'll need magic to find it.

There were plenty of silly things to examine. And a Rosella puppet!

(She was sort of being made into a puppet for Lolotte...)

With the map in the game manual I attempted to find my way to the money changer again... I still got confused and ended up going in a circle and landed back here at the fountain plaza. The map in relation to the game corridors is confusing! And I'm not very good at directions! And aaaa!

It took a few tries, but I made it! I looked up an image of the in-game map I don't have yet and found it a bit easier to follow.

I met Dinarzad (what a name... I'm guessing a play off of Scheherazade?). There was also her guard, Franc, full of money puns.

Clap clap clap. He's certainly not gonna Buck the pun trend in this game.

I had a 172 gold. I got 113 dinars in return... because of her fees. I got curious and looked that up which I don't want to do too much, but again, curiosity and I'd rather have fewer money woes this time around. Her rate is based on much you give at a time and is apparently best to do 50. So I tried that and ended up with 154 dinars by the end. Yay!

Then I made my way back to the fountain plaza which I discovered seems to be split into two screens? I was very confused for a moment. The second half has food sellers--Scoree and Sloree--named after Corey and Lori Ann Cole, the creators of Quest for Glory. There was also the apothecary. I avoided it all for the moment to keep going onward to the starting plaza because I wanted that map before anything else.

I successfully bargained for the map and compass bringing each down from one dinar to 50 centimes! Half-off!

Map and compass!

The really nice thing about the map is once you've found a location you can just click to go it automatically.

I went back to Keapon Laffin and bought my two spells. Bargained successfully there too knocking 10 dinars off each!

While I was there I remembered to try asking him about Erasmus and happily got an actual answer.

Fenrus too!

And I asked about Katta for an unsurprising pun.

I bought a brass lamp in the fountain plaza. I'm sure I'll want it at some point.

"The shiny brass lamp is engraved on the bottom: 'Aladdin Lamp Co.'"

Evening fell so I went back to the inn to eat.

I went back outside to practice some magic. I was successful for a time until a guard came and told me off for casting in town. He warned me. I thought he was gone, and tried again, or maybe I was hooped regardless after that initial warning, but I got arrested and agame over... And I forgot to save beforehand so I had to buy my lamp and eat again. Oops!

I tried dipping my toes into the desert and fired off a few force bolts and a fire bolt, but then a pack of jackalmen showed up... I ran and fled back to town. It also wouldn't let me use levitate out there.

Turns out run isn't the command to use here. It's escape. So I had a bit of a panicky moment thinking I couldn't run away at all.

It is pretty at night though. Look at that sky!

But this screen right outside town wouldn't let me use my spells at all. So, I took the risk and back to practicing carefully back in town until I ran out of MP.

Levitate!

I realized I didn't talk to Shameen all that much before so I did again. It turns out when the katta had been driven from Raseir, the Sultan here welcomed them in here. Raseir is just in a bad way.

Then while the night was young, I still decided to get Cinder to bed.

A productive first day for getting stuff. And I even managed to already flee from something.

Onward to Day 2 next time. I'd like to find Aziza and the Adventurer's Guild. Actually enter the apothecary. Maybe get a saurus? Generally explore more and gather more information. I want to get my map filled in with as many locations as possible. The less I have to wander those street corridors the better...

#quest for glory #QFG 2 #trial by fire #QFG_2_Log #sierra #adventure games

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haruki-00xx · 3 months ago

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Eijun Week 2024 summary - ft. Kousawa [◆光沢]

Here's all of my work for last year Eijun Week. I previously uploaded some post to tumblr when the event was on going but I didn't notice I set my blog to private (˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ ) ‧º That was dumb of me, I'm terribly sorry.

The prompts I chose for Eijun Week 2024 are : Day 01 : Injury Day 02 : Victory Day 03 : Bonds Day 04 : Sun Day 05 : Ace, Soul Day 06 : Flower, Fantasy Day 07 : Childhood, Birthday

In the picture above are my works based on order of the day, and below are based on the timeline in which story takes place first. All stories are listed under my AO3 account under the collection On The Sunlit Path. Note that you need to log in to AO3 to read all my works.

All stories take post-canon setting, so it's advisable to read until the end of Daiya act II for better understanding of their dynamic. If you're a new fan or anime only fan, spoilers are everywhere.

I did these entries with one chapter cover art and one story each day. Looking back it was a lot of hard work I can't believe I pulled this off myself, kinda like a miracle.

1) Inside the Photograph

Day 7-8 | Childhood, Birthday Canon Divergence, May 15, Spring

– Perhaps with this person, one day he would be able to remember; how it felt to cherish something from the deepest part of his heart.

My commentary : The lack of info on Koushuu's bio made me want to see him playing the piano. While Eijun's family are farmers, so I think he did everything in harvest m00n game. It was before feeling realization, when you feel something but didn't understand what it was. I ♡ it

2) My Responsibility

Day 1 | Injury Post-Canon, (a little canon divergence of ch 307.5 Act II), Summer after final, before Summer Koshien

– ‘Your wellbeing has become my responsibility.’

My commentary : It begins with me imagining what Koushuu's reaction would be, bcs he was there when the water bottle fell. And since canon Koushuu has learned more of what it meant to be a catcher, I think this aligns with his line of thinking.

3) Together with You

Day 2 | Victory Post canon. Early Fall. One of Seido practice matches before the fall tournament.

Note: I set this after my book [Persisting to Bloom], if you have it go ahead, linking them. Heheh

– What would his smile look like when they won the summer tournament?

My commentary : I want Kousawa victory hug, so I made it. Koushuu's biggest motivation to win the next summer tournament :D And I want them to practice together.

4) Sun

Day 4 | Sun Post canon. Early fall, afternoon practice.

Note : This one is also after [Persisting to Bloom]. That's why Koushuu knew it.

– 'You too, don’t want to be beaten by this heat either right?'

My commentary : This story was born from the idea of Koushuu who couldn't stand the heat and Eijun as the Sun. I love metaphors.

5) Embodiment of An Ace

Day 5 | Ace, Soul Post canon. One of the Fall Tokyo Tournament Finals matches.

– 'Together we will retire the batter, Okumura.'

My commentary : Like what I wrote in end notes, I like them as underdogs... and I loved their 'Shared Fate'. I also linked it with Eijun's definition of Seidou Soul. And diamond's processing steps as a gemstone.

6) The Beauty of a Fleeting Life

Day 6 | Flowers, Fantasy Post canon (with made-up setting). Off-season, Winter Holiday, 1st year Okumura, 2nd year Sawamura.

– I’m glad you’re here with me.

Commentary : It was mutual pinning but both of them haven't said it yet. I love how Koushuu always stare silently at Eijun. It's sweet

Imo Koushuu will confess to Eijun on their last day as a battery in Seidou. Yeah I will draw it and turn it into dj one day. Haha

7) Our Battery

Day 3 | Bonds Post canon. Eijun’s Last Summer, West Tokyo regional tournament.

– 'This is our battery.'

Commentary : My imagination of their battery's growth. Bcs I'm sad with the fact that I only got 1 time of them pairing in a match.

I should learn more abt ⚾️ so I can write more believable game calling.

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And that marked the end of my entry. I hope you enjoy them. Leave comments if you can (fic or art or both) bcs I like to hear people's opinion on my works!! ∑d(°∀°d) I'm really grateful to Eijun week, and to all of you who likes, rt, comments on my works (´･ᴗ･ ` )

These might not be perfect. I just like drawing and writing. And Kousawa is quite a small ship in daiya I guess, so I did turn it into my own Kousawa week to satisfy my own hunger.

Since Eijun week is 8 days, it start at my birthday and end on Eijun's birthday so it was kinda special for me. ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝ꕤ*.ﾟ I want to join this year Eijun Week too! But I'm not sure I can go for the whole week since I have convention (Comic Frontier 20) at the end of May. Let's hope I can make a few entries...

Here's the final post for Eijun's birthday last year, but I will compile it in another post together with how I draw Eijun in different years.

Thank you for being in my life, Eijun!! You are my son and my sun! (⊃｡•́‿•̀｡)⊃ (And Koushuu is my son in law lol)

#daiya no ace #ace of diamond #kousawa #sawamura eijun #okumura koushuu #沢村栄純 #奥村光舟 #◆光沢 #光沢 #光舟泽 #光舟沢 #last year Eijun Week that I want to post here also but I didn't notice my blog was private

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nitunio · 1 year ago

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O2A2 Daily Log. DAY/NiGHT 1 (July 5th, 2024)

I'll be posting these until I get to the game's development conclusion!

Day I.

It was around 10 AM when I started working. My initial process laid in drafting the story. After deciding on the main character (in this case, Amaranth) I stripped the story to its two components – place and premise – because in other cases it’d be down to building the plot off of a character, and my mind runs wild whenever I construct it like that.

The place is the library, where souls come after they’ve passed, so an Afterlife Library. And the premise is quite simple – it’s a game for the player’s life! In this case, instead of a gamble it all comes down to outsmarting the machine, ahem, the experienced librarian.

And as a person who barely knows Python beyond freely coding in Ren’py, I wandered to the search engine to find a tutorial and realised that I’ll probably be better off searching on Reddit. One of the posts gave me a really good idea – the OP was talking about imagebuttons and logic and then it clicked for me.

Tic-tac-toe is a game where you draw the image inside the grid spaces, taking turns and adjusting your movements to your opponents’... Was it possible to code something like that?!

(duh, of course it was, this log is a testament to that)

I started by cropping the supposed “images” (solid blocks of two colours – one for the scroll and one for the charcoal), and cropped tiny squares of the scroll's colour. So the layering was like this – background scroll - big dark square - vertical box full of horizontal boxes of scroll’s colour, creating the illusion of a drawn grid, when in reality it is not.

And this marks the beginning of my two-hour suffering. I ditched the idea of imagebuttons that I wanted to go with, since that’d require assets, which I only could use one of. So I opted for textbuttons, and it was the most Hell I’ve had coding.

At first I couldn’t get them to show up. Then, I remembered to set a box just for them (x/y maximum of 70ish, since the squares are 90), had nightmares doing the horizontal and vertical boxes, and increased the font. Hooray! Visible!

Setting a variable on click with “action” function was easy, and soon enough I could fill an entire board with. Xs and Os. Time to code Amaranth’s turn in! (scared)

It wasn’t as scary as I imagined: basically, all tiles are “if” functions, and if they’re empty the player can fill them. If it’s not their turn, they’re not active, and Amaranth is quick to respond (I did a test to see if she’d fill an empty cell and she did!)

Then came the invisible (for now) work – I coded in a win condition. I SCREAMED WITH JOY WHEN I SAW THAT MY ARRAYS FINALLY UPDATED!

That concluded my day-work!

Night I.

So I decided to push forward and actually coded in her responses!

I took and hardcoded the first two turns for her Xs and the rest was assigned at random. As for Os, I made it do everything at random, since she’s more experienced at playing Xs! (totally not because I didn’t want to look at tic-tac-toe ever again)

Each turn the machine checks if there are any free spaces and if any of the rows match winning conditions. If they do, the player gets to the end plot (I still haven’t written any of it, aaaa!). If they don’t, the game continues until it’s a draw or X’s/O’s win.

With that, I finally slumped into the bed. Even with taking breaks it was kind of a hard exercise to be jumping straight into after a. Year. Of not working with Python’s syntax.

[I’ve cut off a huge text segment of me trying to design a less clunky random placement system, but all of my endeavours led to dead ends caused by my inexperience and complex requests. Thank you for all the answers, StackOverflow! So many people asking the same question, it makes me feel like we’re all a part of a big community…]

#nitunio.txt #nitudev #< lord knows i wont be using this tag much after the jam #o2a2 #o2a2 vn jam #game jam #renpy

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gold-rhine · 2 years ago

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Would you recommend Playing Star Rail to anyone? Why or why not?

no, i wouldn't. my own dislike of turn based games aside, here are the reasons:

1.Way too little content. Right now there are basically two regions and a starter area. Each has like 6-8 maps, every map is just corridors with like 10-11 chests and couple of puzzles on some maps. You go through basically all of it during main quests. They just released second half of the second archon quest. There are like some side quests, but they play pretty quickly. You can go through all of this in like a week max if you play slowly and bc some quests\puzzles are time-locked to make them feel longer.

There is simulated universe, which is fun at the start, but once you build your characters and figure out best buffs, it also becomes boring, because it's the same enemies in the same corridors. I enjoyed it for like a week, and now I play it once a week for rewards and thats it, which takes like 40 min.

There is also like hsr's equivalent of abyss. Idk, you can theoretically replay same fights over and over there until you get 3 stars, but like. I mean, if that's your cup of tea, I'm not kinkshaming, but personally I play through it once and that's it. so like. another hour in a week mb.

2.So, once you burn through available content, there is literally nothing to do but grind resources. I explain to you my daily routine:

1.log in. Do daily rewards missions for primos.

2.use autoplay to grind resources. mb upgrade characters if you can

3.log off.

because there is no exploration in hsr, there is literally nothing to do but replay abyss and simulated universe over and over

3.Again, because there is no exploration and limited number of quests, it's literally impossible to get primos if you want them without spending. You can only get them from daily rewards (like 60 I think?) and events. Like, if you already did quests and abyss, that's it, you can't get even one wish per day. say what u want about genshin, but if you actually play the game, you can get 2-5 wishes daily just from exploration and quests. And there are roughly bazillion more quests in genshin, bc it's a huge game that was out for years. I have 100% exploration on my main account in every region and I still have like 20 quests and hangouts not done there despite playing for like 1,5 years.

so in genshin, if you want a character and you spent your free event wishes etc, you can grind the primos for free. I know, bc I do on my new f2p acc, like you can get like 100 wishes per banner which guarantees at least one 5 star. I started Kazuha's banner with 0 savings. spent 30 whishes on kazuha and then 70 on alhaitham and then stopped pulling bc i didn't want to main alhaitham again lol, so probably could get another 5 star on hard pity.

In hsr, you can do nothing, but spend money. Like, I started Luocha banner with 15 wishes saved and at the end of his banner I was at 70 pity. I couldn't even get to 5 star pity. I happened to get him on the last day on 73 pity and win 50-50. But if I didn't, I couldn't go grind like in genshin, I could just spend.

So I think gatcha monetization feels much more predatory in hsr bc once you're through very limited content, you're out of options.

TLDR: play this game if you, like me, need to waste time and only have your phone on you. Like I'm often bored at work, this is why I make shitposts on tumblr and have several other time-wasting apps. Also make sure you're won't be tempted to spend money on gacha. Please don't spend money on this game guys. Its turn based, its easier than genshin, you literally DO NOT NEED strong characters to play, and like. Paying money so game can auto-play itself is just insane to me. Please don't. You can find cool looking anime art on the internet for free.

Don't play otherwise.

#rhine talks

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tekdecksmtg · 11 months ago

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Log: Bloomburrow Prerelease Weekend

While I plan to do a post on my profile (formats played, history, likes/dislikes) to give you a sense of who I am, Bloomburrow is here and I thought first I’d just dive into my experience this weekend with the new set.

This month we are off to a cutesy world of critters, and Standard is rotating (finally) with its release.

I’m still digesting the impact rotation will have on Standard, so I’ll save those thoughts for another day as well.

Prerelease weekend enables you to get some early real-world experience with the set, new mechanics, and various archetypes all while improving on your Sealed skills.

While the archetypes appear to have a ton of synergy (which is going to be a nightmare to track in paper), Sealed doesn’t usually enable you to focus on just one simply because your card pool isn’t large enough.

This will be a breakdown of my decks and experience.

Day 1 (Friday): Landed on a Bant deck with a mix of Rabbits and Frogs. Deck as follows:

I let my rares drive my decision on deck choice. I was hoping I could get some bounce synergy out of the frogs which could produce card advantage while my rabbits went wide. My main concern with the deck though was my lack of removal.

Match 1: W 2-0

Built up a nice board in Game 1 with my rabbits though I struggled to finish the game until my fliers came out. Game 2 my frog synergies started kicking in and again I was able to overwhelm the board and strike through. I was really impressed with the deck and (stupidly) had 3-0 on my mind.

Match 2: L 0-2

My opponent was on raccoons and birds and in Game 1 he dropped a ton of fliers and got over me quickly. Game 2 was much closer and I had him down to 4 life until he was able to cast Beza, the Bounding Spring to get a treasure, two creatures, and 4 life which stabilized him and allowed him time to drop his big fliers out again to kill me.

Match 3: L 0-2

Not really a close match at all. My opponent pulled out Mabel, Heir to the Cragflame both games and just got free equippers and unblockable creatures to smash me. My lack of removal proved to be my downfall.

Overall: 1-2-0 (2-4-0, 16th Place out of 26)

Reflection: A bit disappointed to get trounced after such a solid Game 1, but really enjoyed the challenge of a new set. Again, the synergy just looks to be off the charts. The rabbits going wide needs some pump-ability and the frogs bouncing back to hand gives you tons of bonuses and card advantage as long as you have the mana to keep ahead. I’m not sure how I’m going to be able to track all the triggers in a fully efficient deck (but I’ll have to figure that out).

Day 2 (Saturday): Mardu with a mixed focus on Mice and Lizards, due to Mabel, Heir to Cragflame and The Infamous Cruelclaw.

Felt like my mix of lizards and mice would have some really powerful synergies if I could get them out together and put on pressure.

Match 1: W 2-0 (BYE)

Uneven players so I was granted a bye first round, which is great. The top prize for this prerelease was another prerelease kit so happy to take free wins (each win is a Play Booster as well)

Match 2: L 0-2

In Game 1, my hand filled up with red cards yet I had no red mana. Simply couldn’t cast my spells. In Game 2, I had the opposite problem and was land flooded, pulling out 11/16 lands and unable to keep pace. Pretty quick match loss and didn’t get out either of my Legendary leaders.

Match 3: W 2-0 (FORFEIT)

My opponent left! Okay, another free pack and home early (and I won a promo pack for the lucky draw!), not a bad deal. But disappointed to not actually get to try out my deck and see if it could’ve been competitive.

Overall: 2-1-0 (4-2-0, 4th Place out of 10)

Reflection: While I only played two games and my wins were via byes, I realized (in combination with Friday) that three-color decks are really hard in this set. There aren’t dual lands or treasure generators, and the only few mana dorks are in green. I need to be cognizant of this as I roll into Day 3 and will definitely be looking to go two colors.

Day 3 (Sunday): Orzhov. As mentioned, sticking to two colors considering my difficulty with three on the prior days.

Felt reallllly good about my deck going in, decent curve, sufficient interaction, and some light synergies.

Match 1: Win 2-0

Game 1 went pretty well, hitting a great curve and sufficient removal to win the game handily. Game 2 my opponent built a better board and was draining me with some effects, but a timely Psychic Whorl and some removal helped me climb back and ultimately get ahead for the win. My opponent was way too happy to swing in and trade creatures when I had more cards in hand, a mistake that may have cost him a game.

Match 2: Win 2-0

In Game 1 my opponent didn’t get red mana for a while (playing Izzet) which let me get far enough ahead for an easy win. Game 2 was much closer, both of us exchanging a lot of interaction to keep the boards pretty clean. On a pivotal target, he returned a creature to his hand and I was again able to immediately Psychic Whorl to make him go to zero cards. Consistent threats allowed me to overrun him.

Match 3: Win 2-0

Championship match and in Game 1 my opponent kept a risky hand with a one lander. I was able to drop Iridescent Vinelasher on turn 1 for some early pings, followed by some other small creatures, then flashed in a Downwind Ambusher on Turn 4 to take out his only creature and continue swinging in for the win. Game 2 saw us both dropping our best creatures but my interaction was able to pull me ahead of his bigger creatures which led to him needing to chump block down the stretch, as I was able to finally put him away with a wide board and some fliers.

Overall: 3-0-0 (6-0-0, 2nd Place out of 12)

Reflection: Two colors is clearly the way to go in this set. Finding some synergies is a bonus but most important is that nice curve and sufficient interaction since a lot of the creatures can build off each other. Keeping those threats at bay was key. Fantastic run, winning three packs for my efforts. Unfortunately I finished in 2nd place as the determining tiebreaker (after ties in points, Opponents’ Match Winning %, and Game Winning %) was the OGW (Opponents’ Game Winning %) - mine being 49.2% while his was 52.4%. It didn’t impact anything in terms of prizes, so all good. Really great way to close out Prerelease Weekend.

The new standard will be interesting. I have a couple of decks that are going through some changes due to rotation but will probably put together two more decks for random weekday Standard nights (Mice & Rabbits) just to have some fun with the new set. Stay tuned to see how those pan out!

#magic the gathering #mtg #bloomburrow #tcg #card games #prerelease

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dangan-kagura · 1 year ago

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Things I Wanted to Include for My V3 Rewrite - Part 2

The day everyone went to the Virtual World has now come to an end. My OC is in his room getting ready for bed. Kirumi comes knocking on his door to check up on him as always. She says that Kaito is doing fine and that Maki and Ryoma are doing the training stuff themselves.

I think I wanted this scene to involve my OC explaining more to Kirumi about why he doesn’t like RPGs since he refuses to go back to the Virtual World.

After Kirumi leaves his room, I wanted a scene where Kirumi is in the computer room doing something to that giant Xbox which is basically the Virtual World.

The next morning, when everyone is having breakfast, they then go outside to discover that...

Keebo is now equipped with all his robotic stuff from Chapter 6.

You know, like the cannon arm and jet-pack? I think I wanted Keebo to say something like he’s not turning back or something. Basically, it has to do with what he learned about the flashdrive my OC gave him. Keebo then gives back the flashdrive and says that he put something on it but my OC isn’t allowed to look at it until the right time.

After Keebo shows himself off, Kirumi tells everyone to go to the computer room for a surprise. She insists that they all log in to the Virtual World. Now I wrote that Keebo has to log in while standing up. My original idea was for him to log himself in by attaching wires from the giant Xbox to himself. There’s a reason for that and I’ll explain in a later time.

Now here’s one of the twists, when they all log in to the Virtual World for a 2nd time, they discover that...

The Virtual World is now a fighting game.

Kirumi explains that she tampered with the giant Xbox last night and says that she wants my OC to be happy and try the Virtual World in a different genre, one he is more familiar with. His objective is to fight the other classmates like in an arcade mode fighting game and defeating the final boss will win him another clue about the killing game.

In terms of what the Virtual World fighting game is like, the gameplay is 2D, but I wouldn’t say it’s as basic as Street Fighter or The King of Fighters. I always imagine it as being more like the fast paced fighting games by Arc System Works (i.e. Guilty Gear, Blazblue, Persona 4 Arena). These are the order of stages my OC faces.

Stage 1: OC vs Kirumi

I wanted to give Kirumi a broomstick as a choice of weapon, like the broomstick she has in her official art. As Stage 1, Kirumi explains to my OC how to play, but my OC simply wings it and starts the fight. Once he wins, Kirumi stands down and says that she’ll now watch the rest of the game from the sidelines. Kaede and Kokichi are watching too as they don’t look like the fighter types.

Stage 2: OC vs Ryoma

Ryoma’s weapon of choice is of course his tennis racket, like the one in his official art. He explains that he might be a bit rusty since he stopped playing tennis, but I wanted my OC to try and tell him something to give his spirits up. For my fanfic, I wanted to include a side-story that involved Ryoma going on a journey to try and overcome the depression he’s been going through, that’s why Kaito wanted him as a sidekick for my fanfic.

Stage 3: OC vs Tenko

I originally wrote a scene where my OC is having a spare match with Tenko at her lab. For my fanfic, Tenko is also a character that goes on a journey of change. My OC tries to convince her that not every male is degenerate and she eventually comes to be closer to my OC. Even though Tenko loses the match, she realizes that she actually had a fun time, but says that the next time they fight, she’ll have a better chance in the real world.

Stage 4: OC vs Kaito

Not much to say about this match. Basically, after losing the match, Kaito starts to feel sick and says that he wants to rest. So he logs out of the Virtual World and goes back to his room. I’ll just say that in my fanfic, Kaito’s illness gets worse and starts dying at a faster rate.

Stage 5: OC vs Korekiyo

After the match, Korekiyo becomes impressed by the ninja-like fighting style the Virtual World gave him, but he eventually says that he too wants to log out now that he lost the match.

Stage 6: OC vs Maki

In my fanfic, nobody but my OC knows that Maki is the Ultimate Assassin. The Virtual World fighting game however has Maki with an assassin-like fighting style and showcases her with weapons like knives and crossbows. My OC gets worried and tries to act like he doesn’t know anything. Maki is unimpressed with the fighting game and logs out too.

Final Stage: OC vs Keebo

Before the fight, Keebo tells my OC that he managed to decrypt the flashdrive and learned more about what was on it. He explains that there’s no going back now, but just when things looked like they were going ok, Keebo malfunctions and starts attacking aggressively during the match. My OC loses the match with Keebo winning via a perfect match (winning a match without taking damage). Suddenly, Keebo self-destructs.

Everyone still logged in gets worried. So they all decide to log out to see if something had happened. And they all log out to discover that…

Keebo is now the fourth victim.

To be continued…

#danganronpa #ndrv3 #blog #fanfic #fan fiction #danganronpa fanfic #kirumi tojo #ryoma hoshi #tenko chabashira #kaito momota #korekiyo shinguji #maki harukawa #keebo #k1-b0

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trackphonelocationfreegooglemaps · 29 days ago

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How to Track Cell Phone Location Free with Google Maps in 2025 (Easy Guide)

So here's the deal. I used to be that parent who texted non-stop. "Where are you?" "Are you safe?" "Call me!"

Then I discovered Google Maps can track phones. For free. Game changer.

My daughter went to her first concert last month. I was freaking out. But I could see her location the whole time. Such relief.

Why I Love Google Maps for Tracking My Family

Look, I'm not tech-savvy. At all. But this is so easy.

My son plays travel soccer. Different fields every week. I used to get lost trying to find him.

Not anymore.

Now I just open Google Maps. See that little dot? That's him. Simple as that.

What's So Good About It?

Let me tell you why this rocks:

Costs nothing (zero, zilch, nada)

Shows location right now (not 10 minutes ago)

Doesn't kill phone battery

Works on any phone

Takes 5 minutes to set up

Everyone already has Google Maps anyway. No new apps to download.

How to Set This Up (Super Easy Steps)

Ready? Let's do this. I'll show you exactly what I did.

Step 1: Open Google Maps

Grab the phone you want to track. Open Google Maps. Make sure someone's logged into Google.

Don't have a Google account? Takes 2 minutes to make one.

Step 2: Tap Your Picture

See that little profile pic? Top right corner. Tap it.

Step 3: Find "Location Sharing"

Scroll down the menu. You'll see "Location sharing." That's the one.

Step 4: Share Your Location

Hit "Share location." Now pick how long:

For kids: Choose "Until you turn this off"

Quick trips: Use the timer (1 hour, whatever)

Step 5: Pick Who Sees It

This part's important. Two choices:

Send a link (anyone can see)

Pick Google contacts (way safer)

I always pick option 2.

Step 6: They Accept

The other person gets a notification. They click accept. Done. You're connected.

Times This Feature Saved Me

True stories from my life:

Lost at the Mall: My wife's phone died at Christmas shopping. Still could see her location. Found her by the food court. Crisis averted.

New Driver Nerves: My son just got his license. I'm a nervous wreck. But I can see he made it to school. No more panic attacks.

Beach Trip Chaos: Two cars. One destination. No more "are you guys ahead of us?" texts. We see each other on the map.

"But Isn't This Creepy?"

I hear you. Really.

Here's the thing. My family knows I can see their location. We talked about it. Everyone agreed.

They can turn it off whenever. No questions asked.

It's about trust and safety. Not spying.

Mistakes I Made (So You Don't Have To)

Learn from my mess-ups:

Mistake #1: Battery Saver Mode

Location sharing stopped working. Why? Battery saver was on. Turns off GPS to save power.

Keep it off.

Mistake #2: Old App Version

Update your apps, people. Old versions are buggy. Trust me.

Mistake #3: No Internet

No data? No location updates. Found this out when my kid went camping. Whoops.

Cool Tricks I've Learned

Been using this for a year now. Here's what I know:

Family Groups Rock: Set up a Google family group. Makes everything easier.

Label Your Places: Mark "Home" and "Work" on the map. Get alerts like "Sarah left school."

Check Where You've Been: Google saves your location history. Great for "where did I park?"

Other Free Options?

Yeah, there's more apps out there:

Find My (iPhone people love this)

WhatsApp (good for quick sharing)

Facebook (has it too)

But Google Maps wins. Works on all phones. Easy to use.

When Things Go Wrong

Sometimes it glitches. Here's the fix:

Location stuck?

Check your internet

Turn location services off and on

Close and reopen the app

Can't see someone?

Maybe they turned it off

Did they accept your invite?

Update your apps

Battery dying fast?

Use battery saving mode (for location, not the whole phone)

Close other apps

Don't Be THAT Person

Important: Don't go crazy with this.

I check my kids' location once or twice. Not every 5 minutes. That's weird.

Our family rules:

No interrogating about every stop

Respect when someone turns it off

Safety first, not stalking

Why This Gives Me Peace

Real talk? The relief is huge.

My daughter's car broke down last month. Dark road. She was scared.

But I could see exactly where she was. Got there fast.

Without this? She'd be trying to explain where she was. While crying. In the dark.

Getting Your Family to Actually Use It

The hard part? Getting everyone on board.

Teens: "It's not that I don't trust you. I just worry. Plus, you can see where I am too."

Spouse: "Remember when we lost each other at that festival? This fixes that."

Parents: "Mom, this helps me worry less about you."

When I Use Location Sharing Most

My favorite times to use it:

Airport runs (no more circling)

Hiking trips (safety first)

Meeting friends ("5 minutes away" means 5 minutes)

Emergencies (help finds you faster)

Stay Safe Out There

Quick safety tips:

Only share with people you trust. Duh.

Check who you're sharing with. Clean up that list.

Use timers for strangers. Like that Facebook marketplace guy.

Turn it off when you need privacy. Your choice.

Making It a Habit

Getting everyone to use it? Takes time.

I started first. Shared my location before asking anyone else.

Made it routine. "Share your location" became like "take your keys."

Never used it against them. Saw my kid at Taco Bell instead of studying? Kept my mouth shut.

The Tech Part (Don't Worry, It's Easy)

GPS finds your location. WiFi helps. Cell towers too.

Indoors? Less accurate. See that blue circle? Bigger circle means it's guessing more.

Updates happen automatically. Every few minutes. Or when you move.

That's all you need to know.

When People Say It's Weird

Some folks think this is too much. I get it.

My response? "It's not tracking. It's connecting."

Google already knows where we are. Might as well use it for good.

And remember - it's voluntary. No forcing anyone.

Our Family Location Rules

Took us a while to figure these out:

Ask before sharing someone's spot with others

No location screenshots

Tell us before turning it off

Use it nicely (not for controlling)

Still text when you arrive (tech fails sometimes)

When Location Sharing Fails

Let's be real. It's not perfect.

Sometimes the location's wrong. Or slow. Or the app crashes.

Don't depend on it 100%. It's just a tool.

Still tell your kids to text you. This is just backup.

Cool Stuff Coming Soon

Google keeps adding features:

Indoor tracking. Find people inside malls.

Speed warnings. Know if your teen's speeding.

Auto check-ins. "Tom arrived at work safely."

Can't wait.

Bottom Line

Location sharing changed my life. Seriously.

No more worried texts. No more "where are you?" calls. Just open the app. See the dot. Breathe.

And it's free. Already on your phone.

Try it. Start small. Maybe just one family trip. See how it goes.

I bet you'll love it.

Last Thought

We use technology for everything. Banking. Shopping. Dating.

Why not family safety?

This takes something stressful and makes it simple. One tap. Question answered.

My grandparents managed without cell phones. Good for them. But why make life harder?

So open Google Maps. Set up sharing. Give it a week.

Trust me. You'll wonder how you lived without it.

And that peace of mind? You can't put a price on that.

So what do you think? Ready to try Google Maps location sharing? Or maybe you already use it? I'd love to hear your stories. Because we're all just parents trying to keep our families safe, right?

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ludoonline · 2 months ago

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Teen Patti App: Your Gateway to Winning Real Money with Skill & Strategy

In the world of online gaming, Teen Patti (or 3 Patti) has carved out a significant space, especially when it comes to playing for real money. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a newcomer, the right app can take your gaming experience to the next level. Enter the Skill Patti Empire app — your ultimate gateway to playing Teen Patti and winning real cash with skill and strategy.

In this blog, we’ll explore how the Teen Patti app offers an exceptional gaming experience, helping you not only to play but also to win big while utilizing your skills and strategies.

🃏 Why Choose the Teen Patti App for Real Money Gaming?

1. A Seamless User Experience

The Skill Patti Empire app is designed with user experience in mind. Whether you’re playing on your smartphone or tablet, the app’s sleek design and smooth navigation make it easy for you to get into the game quickly. From creating your account to withdrawing your winnings, every aspect of the app is streamlined for a hassle-free experience.

2. Play Anytime, Anywhere

One of the major advantages of using the Teen Patti app is the freedom it offers. You can log in anytime, whether you’re at home, commuting, or even during your lunch break, and start playing real money Teen Patti games. The app’s mobile accessibility ensures that you can take your gaming experience wherever you go.

3. Exciting Real Money Games

The Teen Patti app offers a variety of real money games, where you can play and win cash rewards. Choose from multiple tables, each with different stakes to match your budget and experience level. Whether you’re playing a casual game or a high-stakes tournament, the app has something for everyone.

💰 How to Play & Win Real Money in Teen Patti?

Now that we’ve covered the basics of the app, let’s dive into the exciting part — winning real cash. Here’s how you can get started and boost your chances of winning:

1. Install the Teen Patti App

First things first, download the Skill Patti Empire app on your smartphone. It’s available for both Android and iOS devices. After installation, you’ll need to sign up with your email and basic details to create your account.

2. Fund Your Account

Once your account is ready, deposit funds into your Teen Patti wallet. Skill Patti Empire supports various payment methods, including UPI, bank transfers, and e-wallets, to make the deposit process quick and easy. Make sure you check for any welcome bonuses or promotions available to boost your deposit!

3. Choose a Table & Start Playing

After funding your account, you can choose from various Teen Patti tables. There are options for players of all levels — from beginners to high-rollers. If you’re new to the game, it’s a good idea to start with low-stakes tables until you get comfortable with the gameplay. As you gain confidence, you can move up to higher-stakes tables to maximize your winnings.

4. Understand the Rules & Hands

To win big in Teen Patti, it’s important to know the rules and hand rankings. Here are the common hands you’ll encounter:

Trail (Set): Three identical cards (e.g., 7-7-7).

Pure Sequence (Straight Flush): Three consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., 5-6-7 of hearts).

Sequence (Straight): Three consecutive cards, but not of the same suit (e.g., 2-3-4).

Flush: Three cards of the same suit (not in sequence).

Pair: Two cards of the same rank.

High Card: When no one has a pair or better, the highest card wins.

5. Use Smart Strategies

Winning at Teen Patti requires a mix of luck and strategy. While the cards you’re dealt play a significant role, your ability to read your opponents and make smart betting decisions is what sets top players apart. Here are a few tips:

Bluff strategically: Bluffing can make a huge difference, but don’t overdo it. Bluffing at the right time can throw off your opponents and help you win pots.

Fold when necessary: If your hand isn’t strong enough, don’t hesitate to fold. This saves you from losing more money.

Observe your opponents: Pay attention to the way your opponents play. Are they aggressive? Do they tend to bluff often? Use this information to adjust your strategy accordingly.

💡 Why Teen Patti App Is Perfect for Both Beginners and Pros

Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned Teen Patti player, the app provides an environment where you can hone your skills while competing with others. It offers various tutorials and practice modes, allowing beginners to get the hang of the game before betting real money. Plus, for experienced players, there are high-stakes games and tournaments where you can test your expertise and win big!

💸 How to Cash Out Your Winnings

Once you’ve played and won real money, you can easily cash out your winnings using the withdrawal options available on the app. The process is quick and secure. You can withdraw your funds via bank transfer, UPI, or e-wallets, making it convenient for players from all backgrounds.

🏁 Conclusion

The Teen Patti app on Skill Patti Empire is the perfect platform for those looking to enjoy the excitement of Teen Patti and win real money. With an easy-to-use interface, seamless payment options, and a variety of game modes, this app offers everything you need to enhance your Teen Patti gaming experience.

Download the app today, test your skills, and start winning big on Skill Patti Empire!

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thendrawtwo · 4 months ago

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Hardcase Day 3

I was the first person in Cutter's Line today, the toolkit I picked up yesterday worked a charm, and came with enough Tools that I was able to improvise the rest and get through the Eye. Carefully detaching wires, removing components and full boards and setting aside. Full rounded panels were able to be screwed off once I knew the more valuable parts were off and safe, no point being careful if I was going to just risk blowing up half of the Line with a loose fuel line.

Reaching the lens' that Dean wanted took time, but it was done and I handed them over with a big smile on my face as everyone else was starting to pack up. He paid up, and gave thanks, saying he'll let me know when work comes up again. I left the Line and gave out a sigh of relief he handed noticed the bulky recording drive I was hiding inside the secret pocket of my jacket. It was outside my expertise to get into, but figured I could talk someone to get into it for me, for a decent price. Maybe tomorrow I'll spend some time at The Arcade or one of Boxtown's bars and see who I could shake up. But that was tomorrow's problem. Tonight, I deserved to celebrate a little.

I went to a bar, got myself a pack of Extra Long Ladyfingers at the Vender, along with a Spicy Synthmeat Kebab, a personal favourite, and even treated myself to a can of Haishenwai Beer. The can was dented and had clearly been there a while, but Hais was Hais. I took my little ensemble and tried my luck at the slot machine. Took a few spins but eventually I landed on a nice straight, the machine flashed wildly, made gunshot noises and played an old Western musical sting and as I finished my can, I heard a thunk in the tray and reach down to collect my winnings.

Fuck you.

A bounty puck, $25, enough to get myself onto the full time employment line and on my way out of here, but there, staring back, was the face of Pyotr. The Fucking Old Head himself.

It wasn't until I got back home, clutching the puck I remembered the recording still in my jacket. I needed sleep.

This is a days entry in the journalling game HARDCASE by Thursday Garreau. If this intrigued you, you could find this game and many others at their Itch, which I implore you to visit.

Below you will find images of my character sheet and the log for Day 1-3

This sessions listening was Partial Eclipse of The Pomps by The Pomps

You can follow me at [email protected]

#indie ttrpg #ttrpg #ttrpg community #dnd #solo game #solo games #journal #journal games

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patch-the-hole · 4 months ago

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patch a hole game

Game Description:

A big hole has been at the center of this target board. You will take on the role of one of 2 patch companies. You will compete with the other company to patch this whole. Whoever manages to place 3 patches in a role wins the battle and will go on to be the most profitable patch company!

This game is a combination of luck-based and strategy. The luck comes from the card drawing component where there are a total of 52 cards with a variability of 5 cards that can either give points, take points away, steal points, or test your luck among other things. Through drawing these cards, the player can earn up to 3 points which will allow them to place a patch onto the board. However, if they get down to -3 points than the opponent automatically gets to place a patch. This is where the strategy portion comes in. You can either play aggressively to get the opponent’s points down to -3 or test your luck to get to the 3 points first. Or you can be patient and play passively. The placing patch mechanic is similar to Tic-Tac-Toe where you have a 3x3 board and the first person to get 3 patches in a row wins.This addition of the card and point system expands the playtime of the game as it is no longer about who knows where to place their patches but it now also includes who can get to the required amount of points first in order to even place a patch.

Play Log

Session 1 with Ben (in class)

Added the tic-tac-toe mechanic to make it an actual board game

When a player reaches 3 points they get to place a pin

Added mechanic of the spin board giving or taking away points based on whether you landed on an even or odd number respectively

Done to add another aspect of strategy to the game and make it more exciting

1 = -1, 3 = -2, 5= -3

2 = +1, 4 = +2, 6 = +3

Added that once all cards are drawn → recall and shuffle

This was done to tell people what to do once they run out of cards

Session 2 with Aron + Lyndon (outside of class)

Recommendation to add a board to put a frame around the game and make it look more like a proper board game

Change of the types of cards available

13 red jokers (steal a point or draw another card)

3 red kings (place a pin)

3 black kings (take a pin from the board)\

13 blue jokers (spin the wheel or skip your turn)

These were done to further add a sense of strategy to the game and allow the player to play aggressively or passively. It also drastically changed the playtime from a quick 1 minute to a 5 minute session

Further explanation on how to figure out who goes first using the spinner

First person to get even number goes first

If both players get even/odds then they have to spin again until one gets an even and the other odd

Did this to avoid confusion on what to do when both got even and to clarify that once someone gets an even, the opponent needs to get an odd for the winner to be decided

Added that getting down to -3 points automatically lets the opponent place a pin

This is to shorten the game time down because before you could go down to -10, which would have made it nearly impossible to climb back up and made the game too long

Added the ability to steal from 0 and negative points

This is to add another sense of strategy and aggressive play to the game. You can steal until the opponent gets down to -3 without having to actually get to 3 points yourself to place a pin

Added the rule that points reset while keeping the same cards every time a player places down a pin

The one who didn’t place one (the loser of the round) starts off the next round by drawing the first card

Did this to put everyone back on the same playing field

Added the rule that if there are no pins on the board then the black king is useless

If there is a pin, then the player can remove it from the board and the points reset while keeping the same cards. The loser begins the next round by drawing the first card

This is to let people know what to do when there are no pins on the board and once again to even the playing field when a pin has been removed

Session 3 with Noh (in-class)

Added the story that there is a big hole on the target board. There are 2 companies that are competing to patch this hole and the first to place 3 patches in a row wins. They would go on to become the most famous patch company for fixing this massive problem

This was done to add some context and excitement to the game

Replaced pin with custom images of patches

This was done to add my personal touch to it and to fit it into the story

Added an image of a target board with a big whole to serve as the game board

This is to add a frame to design the game layout around and to fit it into the story

Added a little oval session to frame the points display

This was done to make the points and player name easier to see since the font color blended in with the image

Game Core Mechanic

Pattern Building

Dice Rolling

Push Your Luck

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itsawhumpsideblog · 9 months ago

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And Guide Their Way Home, Book 1

Content notes: It's Christmas, and a birthday; homesickness, midnight mass and lots of good singing Our opening lyrics are the Connemara Cradle Song. If you're following the links to listen to the music, you're getting a nice and accurate picture of what my dad usually played in the car when we went places. I've seen these guys play live a couple times and they sounded great last time I heard them, but the picture on all their albums is... well, from some years ago. Listen here: https://youtu.be/PncKPO2ZUhI

"Oh, winds of the night, may your fury be crossed, May no one who's dear to our island be lost Blow the winds gently, calm be the foam Shine the light brightly and guide their way home."

~Connemara Cradle Song

We were sent south to Washington on the train, and then we were marched to a place called Camp California. A few other regiments joined us there, and mostly what we did was drill, day in and day out. My everyday life was less than exciting, but my friends and I learned to make our own fun, and to keep ourselves as entertained as we could while we were stuck in camp that winter.

The first snow fell early that year, at least by Virginian standards. It snowed the first week in December, and we came out of the hut we had constructed to find a blanket of white all over the ground.

"Great," I grumbled. "Now we've got to walk through this for the firewood, so we'll really appreciate it." I had been on picket duty the night before, and exhaustion was making me sarcastic.

"Cheer up, Micheál," Jack grinned. I rolled my eyes and felt something hit my chest. When I looked down, my coat was covered with cold, powdery snow. Jack was grinning like the cat that ate the canary.

"What did you do that for?" I asked, and Jack opened his mouth with a smart answer only to find himself with a faceful of snow. Just like that, his expression went from self satisfied to shocked. I looked to the direction the snowball had come from to find Patrick calmly dusting his hands off, his nose stuck a little too high in the air.

"You're welcome," he told me and started to walk off, when he and I were both hit at once by huge icy projectiles, more the size of cannonballs than snowballs. A little went down my collar and I shivered.

It was Ted, and Jack let out a cheer before he too was hit with a snowball the same size. He spluttered, and Ted let out a hearty laugh.

"Thought you were safe, did you, lad?" he chortled, and the three of us bent over to gather handfuls of snow and began to pelt him with them.

To Ted's credit, he fought well, but there were three of us and only one of him and he was going to lose the fight. He knew it as well as we did, but he kept on flinging snow, until all of a sudden Rory came walking over from behind him. Rory was watching the snowball fight and grinning, his arms full of logs for the fire, and he was making a beeline for the little tent we had constructed to sleep in for the winter when Patrick's snowball missed its intended target and smacked Rory in the chest.

We all froze and there was a long pause as Rory looked down at the snow, surprised, and then a scramble as he dropped the wood to the ground and picked up a handful to fling back at Patrick.

"That's the way!" Ted cheered, laughing, and he and Rory began packing more snow and flinging it back at us until all the snow in front of our tent was muddy and all five of us were laughing and exhausted.

Our uniforms were also wet and muddy, and when the last cannon-sized snowball smacked into Jack's chest, he cried out,

"Lads, they got me," and fell over into the snow, laughing so hard he had to gasp for air.

"And the Union wins, of course," Ted said slyly, scooping up a few logs before retreating into the neutral territory of our winter quarters.

We had gotten creative with the construction of these quarters, digging down into the ground, building up very short walls of logs, and putting our tents on top for a roof. This gave us just enough space for four bunks, two on each side, and for Ted, the biggest and therefore the worst strain on our bunks, to sleep on the floor in the middle. To get out, we had to climb a couple feet to ground level, but we were warmer and better insulated down there, mostly underground. We had packed the walls with sticks to keep out the cold and wet and stomped down the dirt floor, then put in a rudimentary fireplace with a barrel Ted had scrounged from somewhere for a chimney. It was very cozy, and actually warm enough at night, so that it was difficult to convince ourselves to go outside, particularly on windy days. We had even rigged up a door flap which kept the snow out.

It was very like a home, we thought, and it was nice to have some place permanent. I got to know my friends a little better for living so closely with all of them at once- almost too well. We learned that Ted snored and that when Jack got up to go to the sinks in the middle of the night he didn't look where he was going, and the result was usually that Ted woke us all up swearing after Jack stepped on him.

Rory, in contrast, was a near perfect housemate. He was quiet, which we had all known since the previous spring, when we had boarded the train together, and he slept silently, too. He was also good to have around on boring evenings, because he was for some reason not shy when music was involved, and he was willing to play his fife as long as we liked, or to sing for us. His voice was deepening practically as we listened, as he approached his 17th birthday, and he was a pleasure to listen to. He barely spoke to us, and never to strangers, but he was often invited to the firesides of various members of our unit to sing and he never turned down an offer, nor did he seem nervous about performing. It amazed us all, and it pleased us immensely so see him so happy.

A week before Christmas, I was sitting on the lower bunk which was what passed for my personal space that winter (Patrick had taken the bunk on top, Rory and Jack shared the bunk opposite) when Patrick came through the door holding a well tied package.

"We've got mail," he announced, tossing the package and catching it again.

"Don't drop that," I cautioned. "You don't know what they've put in it."

"Yes, Mother," Patrick teased and I sat up to open it with him. On the bunk opposite mine, Jack sat up to watch and Rory climbed down from his bunk, where he had been lying on his back playing his fife.

I took out my knife and cut the string on the package, and we spread it out on my bunk, our friends watching curiously. Rory had a sad look in his eyes, as he always did when we spoke of our families, or received letters from them.

This time, however, we found three letters inside the package, three warm pairs of socks and three new pairs of gloves, each with a different set of initials embroidered into the right-hand glove. There was also cheese and sausage, handkerchiefs, and a little whiskey, purely for medicinal purposes of course.

"Look at that," Patrick said, with a sly smile as he spread out the contents of the package. "The girls have knitted you gloves, Rory, and socks." He handed Rory his pair and stuck his own on his bunk. "And there's a letter for you, too. Read them aloud, Micheál."

I handed Rory his letter to open while I sliced the envelope of my own with my knife. I saw him turn it over to examine the wax seal on the back- Maura had put her best into the first letter Rory had ever gotten- the result of a discreet letter home from Patrick- and Rory was enchanted. With one finger he traced his name on the front, moving his lips as if sounding it out, and he smiled.

Dear Micheál, I read,

I wish I had more interesting information to share, but life is going on as normal here at home. Mother and I are working, and so is Bridget. She and Colleen knitted the gloves for you themselves, and they are very proud of their work, especially the idea of putting your initials on them. Bridget sends all her love, and she wants you to know she's putting special care into the next package. She would also like you to send her greetings to Rory and Patrick and all your friends in the army. Mother sends her love as well, and she prays for you each morning and night as do I,

Your sister,

Maura

Patrick's letter was next.

Dear Patrick,

Do you like the gloves? Bridget and I knitted them specially for you. They are the warmest we could make and so are the socks. Mother would like to know if you have heard from Declan, or if he is maybe with you? He ran away from home a week ago, and Mother and Da are sure he's gone to join the army, and they are hoping he's with you. We would feel much better if he was, then we would know he was safe. We are hoping for word from him soon and we will let you know if we hear anything.

Love

Colleen

When I had finished reading Patrick's letter, Rory cut his open slowly and carefully, almost reverently. He split the top of the envelope, taking pains not to cut the letter inside, nor to disturb the seal, and he handed me his letter, looking a little ashamed.

Dear Rory, I read, enjoying the pleased expression on his face immensely,

We were so pleased to have you staying with us this summer! It was nice to meet one of Micheál's friends and we enjoyed your company, particularly your music. Are you still playing the fife in the army? Bridget has some music she will send you in the next package and she hopes you like it. It is very pretty, and she will try to find a few more songs to make it worth your while. We pray for your safety as we pray for Micheál and Patrick, and hope you will return with them when you get furlough.

Yours truly,

Bridget, Colleen and Maura

Rory's face was glowing and he was grinning from ear to ear when I finished reading the letter to him.

"How do you like that," Ted said amiably. "And those nice warm socks, too," he added, examining the gloves and socks enviously. "Guess you won't be going cold on picket duty."

"I guess not," Rory said quietly, still smiling broadly. We toasted our sisters in the whiskey they had sent and ate some of the food and it was then that I noticed that Patrick was brooding. After the celebrations were over, he dropped down to sit next to me on my bunk and put his chin in his hands.

"What's wrong?" I asked, studying his face.

"Declan," he replied. I had suspected as much.

"I should have known he would run off," Patrick burst out, and the other three looked over in surprise. It was completely unlike Patrick to get upset.

Patrick sighed, ignoring the looks our friends were giving him. "I hope they hear from him soon," he said, "and I hope they write me when they do."

"They will," I comforted him. "Declan's no fool. He'll get what he wants and then write home- you know how your brother is." Patrick cracked a smile.

"You're probably right," he admitted, and clapped me on the shoulder before climbing back into his own bunk. I heard him tossing and turning late into the night.

Much of the next week was spent in making plans. There were a couple of occasions coming up- one was Christmas and the other was Rory's seventeenth birthday. In fact, they came in the opposite order, with Rory's birthday on the 24th and Christmas the next day. It was clear to us that if Rory had ever celebrated his birthday, which we doubted, it had not been for many years now. We had great plans in the works and the only downside to it all was that Rory was beginning to look left out whenever we snuck around with the preparations.

There had been a letter to the girls, since the mail was still moving reliably in those days, requesting a scarf or similar for a present and Patrick was organizing the decoration of a somewhat lopsided cake into which Jack had put his best efforts- and some of the skin on his right hand. He'd had a difficult time convincing Rory that he had burnt it putting wood on the fire while the rest of us slept. Rory knew better than to believe that Jack would willingly get up in the night.

By the night of the twenty third, we had received an impressive package from home and had decorated the cake with fruit and some whipped cream and hidden it with Sergeant O'Malley. We spent most of the 23rd sneaking around to make sure the preparations were finished. We were planning to decorate the tent while Rory slept, with popcorn balls and a small fir tree so that the decorations would be useful to both holidays.

That night, we waited until Rory had gone to sleep. In order for this to work, we had to feign sleep ourselves and I had thought I was doing well until I felt something poking me. I rolled over and opened my eyes to find Patrick standing over me holding a lantern and looking amused.

"Got a little too into the act, did you, lad?" he whispered. He chuckled, and I had to smile as I rubbed my eyes.

"Maybe a bit," I acknowledged as I rolled out of my bunk. I narrowly missed Ted, who was also just waking up, but when we left the tent as stealthily as we could, Jack was already standing outside with his coat pulled tight around him, blowing on his hands to warm them. He had an axe tucked under his arm to chop down the tree.

"Let's get this over with," he whispered, "and then we should build the fire up as hot as we can. I'm frozen already." There was a chill wind whipping around us, and my coat did little to protect me from it.

"We've got to find a tree," Patrick whispered. "Let's go see if the sentry will let us go into the woods." We nodded, too cold to stand around and talk about it, and we headed in the direction of the forest, near which a sentry was posted. Inside my mittens I had my fingers crossed. If the sentry was friendly, there would be no problem. I could come up with the names of a few men, however, who would be more than happy to detain us a while. Long enough for hypothermia to set in, at least, I thought sourly.

Luckily for us, the man on sentry duty was a friend of Jack's from home. He had lived in Jack's building and let us by with a cheery threat of, "If you desert, Jack Lynch, I know where you'll be heading back to," and a laugh.

We walked into the forest by the light of Patrick's lantern and drew a little closer to each other. Somehow, darkness is more frightening in the biting cold and we wanted to be closer to the light. Luckily for us, we didn't have to go very far to find a tree we liked. It was about as tall as my waist, and had room for the popcorn balls we had made, at great expense, and which were intended to be eaten as dessert, so as not to let them go to waste. We cut the tree with the axe Jack had borrowed- I can't really say that we chopped it, because it was too small for that. With just a little more patience we could have uprooted it entirely. As it was, Ted took the tree on his shoulder and we hurried back in the direction of camp.

"Friend or foe?" the sentry greeted us.

"Friend," Patrick told him confidently.

"Advance, friend, and give the countersign."

We were at a complete loss. We didn't know the countersign and couldn't begin to guess.

"Don't you know it?" came the sentry's laughing voice.

"Christmas tree?" Patrick joked.

"How about 'let me through, Aiden Connor, or I'll hit you in the nose'," Jack supplied dryly.

"That sounds about right," Connor chuckled. "Happy Christmas, lads."

"Happy Christmas, Connor," we replied and headed back to our own tent.

Once we got there, we stole next door to fetch the popcorn strings and decorate the tree with them. We dug a hole in the floor, which was just dirt anyway, off to one side of the door, nearest Rory's bed, and set the tree trunk in it, then used the excess dirt to hold the tree in place. We wrapped the popcorn strings around it, and at last went to bed, still shivering. Ted was the last to lie down, having drawn the short stick and therefore being the one responsible for stoking the fire.

This time, I found it extremely difficult to go to sleep. I couldn't wait to wake in the morning and see Rory's face. When I finally drifted off, however, I slept heavily all night long.

I woke in the morning when Patrick nudged me with his foot- he was climbing down from his bunk. I rubbed my eyes and it took me a second to remember the night before. Then, I was wide awake and my eyes swung to where Rory sat, his legs dangling over the side of his bunk. He was eyeing the tree, and looking as though he had questions he was afraid to ask.

"It's for you," Ted supplied. "Happy birthday, Rory."

"Happy birthday!" the other three of us chimed in.

Rory ducked his head, but we could see how wide his smile was. "Thanks, lads," he said in his shy voice.

"What's more," Patrick jumped in, "We have presents for you." He produced the package from where he had hidden it under his greatcoat at the foot of his bunk.

"For me?" Rory asked, wide eyed. Patrick nodded, his own grin as broad as Rory's. It was one of those aspects of Patrick's personality that was just about too good to be true. He loved to give things to other people, and he seemed to enjoy it more than receiving things himself. He told me once that he liked the looks on their faces- it made his time seem worthwhile.

"Open it," Jack urged, leaning over Rory to join in the fun.

Rory pulled his knife out of his pocket and slowly cut the string on the package, savoring every moment. He folded the paper back from the items carefully and to his obvious delight the first thing on top was a card.

The girls had clearly gone to a lot of work with it. Maura, who drew well, had sketched a camp scene with a group of boys who were clearly us. I was impressed- you could tell from the picture which of us was which. There was Jack grinning at Ted, who was poking the fire with something. Patrick's head was thrown back in laughter and I looked to be shaking my head over something. Rory wore his usual solemn look, but Maura had managed to capture the sparkle in his eyes and that soft way he had of smiling to himself. I couldn't imagine where she had gotten the supplies to make this.

Rory marveled over the drawing for long minutes, examining the fire, each of our faces, the trees. "It looks just like us," he said in amazement. We agreed.

"Open the letter," Jack suggested, his patience gone. Rory did so and, with a light blush, handed it to me to read.

Dear Rory,

Happy Birthday! We hope that you have a wonderful celebration and many happy returns of the day.

Then each family member had written a short note and signed their name:

Son,

La breithe shona dhuit and Happy Christmas!

~ Finbar and Kathleen Murphy

Dear Rory,

We hope you enjoy the card, Maura put lots of work into the drawing. Bridget hopes you have the chance to eat lots of sweets and that they are not too expensive for soldiers. If they are, she will send you some more in the future.

Yours,

Bridget and Maura

Rory,

Be careful of Patrick, he believes in birthday punches, or at least he does for his little sister,

Colleen

But the best letter came from my mother. When I read it aloud, Rory looked down at his hands and smiled that dreamy smile that meant he was thinking seriously. His eyes were shining with tears that he didn't want to shed when he looked back up.

Dear Rory,

Take care of yourself, and enjoy your day! I hope you like the preparations the lads have made. They think the world of you, if you don't know it you should. We agree with them- it was a joy to have you with us this fall, and the house seems quite empty without you. We are anxiously awaiting the day when we can see you again.

Love,

Mother Ní Shúillebheán

Rory stared at his hands for a long time. His chin was trembling and he was taking deep breaths, as though to keep himself from crying. After a few minutes, we pretended not to see a tear drop from his face to his hand, or to see him draw a hand across his eyes.

As soon as he felt it was proper, Jack burst out, "Have a look at your presents!"

Rory laughed and put the card aside with great care before turning back to the package.

The most obvious item was a scarf, a lovely blue one, with long tassels at each end. Rory picked it up to admire it, and embroidered near the tassels were his initials, R. C. in lighter blue. He wrapped it around his neck, grinning, and turned back to the package. The next thing there was a St. Christopher medal, something I recognized as Mother's choice. St. Christopher was the patron saint of the military and travelers, and Mother had been praying to him for us every night since we had first enlisted, and this gift would come with her special blessing.

There was an orange in there, too, which the cold had kept good for Rory, and a generous handful of candy. Rory removed all his gifts to examine them, and handed around one piece of candy for each of us. We tried to refuse, but he wouldn't let us and I realized as I took the gift that this was his way of trying to do something for us, a chance he didn't often get. We thanked him and ate the candy, good molasses candy I could see my sister having made herself.

Rory took me aside that afternoon when Jack, Patrick and Ted had gone out to get firewood and, probably, throw snowballs at each other. I was reading a bible that Mother had put into my haversack so that I might not be too tempted by racy novels when there was the sound of someone clearing his throat, perhaps a little nervously.

"Micheál?" Rory asked.

"Mmhmm?" I replied absently, replacing the piece of paper I had been using to mark my page and sitting up.

"Would you… could you teach me to read?" he burst out, and then looked ashamed.

"Sure," I said. "Now?"

Rory looked as though he was about to say yes when the other three burst back through the door, wet and carrying armloads of wood.

"Maybe later," Rory said quietly, but he looked pleased at the idea.

"Whatever you like," I answered, and put my Bible aside.

That evening, there was the cake. Rory had walked around all day wearing his new scarf, his chest stuck out proudly, showing off for the first time. The other men noticed as well.

"That's a nice scarf you've got, lad," Sergeant O'Malley said with a wink. "Present from your sweetheart?"

Rory went scarlet. "It- I- it was-" he stuttered and the Sergeant laughed. He winked again and walked on without another word, leaving Rory standing there speechless, his hand on the tassels of his scarf. There was a long pause, during which Jack bit his lip until it nearly bled to keep from laughing, his face turning red from bottled-up mirth. Patrick was grinning widely, and I had a feeling that he was also trying to hold in his laughter.

"Rory, lad, come back here for a minute," he suggested. Ted was in the tent next door, waiting for the signal to come in with the cake. Rory, who never disagreed with what was asked of him, followed Patrick inside.

Before ducking in, however, Jack doubled up, his laughter exploding.

"Did you see the look on his face?" he asked between gales of laughter, holding his sides, tears running down his face. He wiped them with his sleeve. "Ah, poor Rory," he chuckled, "but it was just so funny…" he had a good laugh and I waited as patiently as I could, rolling my eyes, and after a second, Patrick stuck his head out.

"Jack, do you know we can hear every word in here?"

Jack's eyes went wide. "Oops."

"That's right. Now why don't you come inside?"

"Right. Sorry, Rory," Jack said, still snickering as he went inside, but Rory just shrugged. He was laughing a little too, though he was still blushing.

Looking around at us, Patrick raised his eyebrows and Jack and I nodded. Rory looked mystified. Without warning, Patrick stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled so loudly that the three of us instinctively ducked and covered our ears.

Ted came through the door just a second later.

"Jesus Mary and Joseph, lad, what the hell did you do that for?" he grumbled, shaking his head, but after a second he brightened up. He was holding the cake and he offered it to Rory.

"Happy Birthday," he said and Rory's jaw all but dropped.

"Cake?" he blurted out, and we were so happy to have shocked him out of himself that we all started to laugh again.

"Cake," Ted affirmed, and he pulled out his pocket knife in anticipation. "Would you like a slice, then?" Rory nodded enthusiastically, and slices of cake were handed all around.

Out of the darkness that night came a voice, the last thing we heard before going to sleep- "Thanks for the birthday, lads." It was Rory, masking his shyness with the dark, but sounding as though he had never been happier.

The next day was Christmas, with more gifts from home for everyone and more sweet things from my sister. It was almost less eventful than Rory's birthday. We had eaten most of our food to celebrate that, though we were careful with the cake and finished it for Christmas dinner.

There was one surprise, though, and it was for Jack. It seemed that Sergeant O'Malley had been holding onto the latest shipment of mail and waiting until Christmas Day to distribute it. The men complained when they discovered this, but not bitterly- letters from home were agreed upon as the best present a man could receive.

The rest of us had letters in the packages from home that had arrived somewhat earlier- Ted's mother had gotten together with Mrs. Murphy and Mother and had included Ted's package with Rory's birthday gifts and our Christmas presents- and so Jack was the only one to get a letter.

As you might have guessed, it was from Sinead and Jack grinned like a fool from the moment he saw the handwriting on the envelope until long after he had finished reading the letter.

"What does she say, then?" Patrick asked.

"She's in New York," Jack reported. "My landlady went to meet her, and she's staying in my rooms. They get along well, she says, and she's found work already." He looked proud.

"Good for you, lad," Patrick grinned, and we left Jack to his lovesick daydreaming.

We spent the night with the rest of the regiment around a huge fire that company B had made. It was a chilly night, but we sat as close as we could to the fire and ended up in the middle of a huge crowd of men and so were warm enough.

There was music, and a boy even younger than Rory played the fiddle while his father played the bagpipes. They played the old songs I remembered from Ireland, songs I had always heard sung at celebrations in town, or songs my Mother had sung to us. Everyone was quiet and listening intently, no doubt remembering the old country and the families we had left behind. That boy sure could play.

When they finished their concert, there was a long silence. I looked around at my friends- I'm that kind of person- and studied their faces. Jack was grinning, probably thinking of Sinead, and Rory was looking dreamily into the fire. Patrick had his chin in one hand and I was surprised to see Ted actually wipe away what might have been a tear- although then again, it might just have been a speck of dust.

Finally somebody broke the silence and a group of men danced a jig and performed a little, and then we all sang in unison, the entire regiment belting out whatever tunes we could think of to sing. "The Girl I Left Behind Me" was sung twice, as was "Silent Night" and my throat was sore by the time we were finished.

There was a midnight Mass to be celebrated, and all five of us went in a group.

"It's been years since I went to Mass," Rory confessed quietly as we took our places. "On the farm, they didn't believe in that."

Jack shook his head and Ted looked angry- we heard little about Rory's years on that farm, but what little we had heard gave us cause to hate the place intensely. Patrick just put his arm around Rory's shoulders and said,

"Well, you'll celebrate Mass in style tonight, lad. No place like an army camp, eh?" He laughed a little. "And my mother said the army'd ruin me." There were chuckles from the few men within earshot, and we made ourselves comfortable for a Mass that was very cold, but which still managed to feel like home.

We finally headed back to our tent more than an hour later. On the one hand, I was unwilling for the evening, which I had enjoyed immensely, to be over and on the other I was suddenly so homesick that I wanted to go to sleep and wake up on another ordinary day when there was nothing to miss at home.

January consisted of more drill, more snow, more picket duty and monotony. We near froze and it took all the wood we could find to keep warm at night, which didn't keep us all from getting sick, one after the other. In early February, however, Thomas Francis Meagher took command of our Irish Brigade, as a Brigadier General, and when the news was passed around camp- and news passes particularly quickly in army camps- there was a huge spontaneous celebration. There was more dancing and singing, whiskey was removed from the hiding places in which any man with whiskey left to hide had been secreting it, and the bottles were passed around.

Our officers watched and participated in the celebrations with great amusement, and even toasted the General themselves.

Out by one of the many bonfires that had sprung up, fire being a necessity for any celebration that winter, I was standing with my friends, warming my hands, when one of the men looked over in our direction.

"Coleman, lad?" he asked. Rory looked up, curious.

"Would you sing for us, or play something on that fife of yours?" The man looked slyly at Jack. "No need to accompany him, though, Lynch. He makes pretty enough music without your thumping." Jack laughed good-naturedly. His drumming was better than it had been, to be certain, but it was nowhere near as good as Rory's fife music, nor so pleasing to the ear.

Rory nodded and drew from his pocket the fife that he always kept close by him- I had seen him sleep with it in his hand- and blew experimentally over the instrument. It was freezing cold and he needed a minute to warm it up, but after a few seconds he began a beautiful rendition of "Home Sweet Home" and the group around the fire lapsed into a silence. After that was finished, he put his fife away and sang a few tunes. We all sang along- beautiful though Rory's voice was, it was more fun to sing these songs in chorus.

Those events were the high point of our winter- other than that, it was lots of drilling and plenty of trying to keep warm. I was actually grateful when, one day in March, we were told to gather what we needed and prepare to march. At least, we thought, we would be warm.

Masterpost

#historical whump #whump #slow burn whump #history whump

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