#88 temples

[japanicus-nerdus]

The Photo of the Day: There be Dragons...

Taken in Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture at one of the 88 Henro temples. This was at the chozuya, the wash basin near the entrance of the worship area. You can see the ladle, hishaku, to the right.  Chozuya are usually associated with nativist shrines. The separation between Buddhism and nativist religious practices, shinto, is modern. The government in the late 1800s early 1900s had their own…

[pangolinheart]

🛤- does my muse undertake spiritual pilgrimages? Have they ever wanted to?

[From the Headcanon Ask Game] Z'rhiki isn't particularly religious, so I don't think she's ever taken a religious pilgrimage (at least, not intentionally.) She didn't grow up around a lot of organized religion and doesn't consider herself to have a patron god. And, given all of the revelations about the nature of Hydaelyn and the Twelve... that's probably for the best.

She's definitely gone on tours of places of from her past, which can be kind of a spiritual experience of sorts.

As she gets older, she kind of sees the appeal of a religious pilgrimage, like the one Gosetsu embarks on. She imagines it could be a very cathartic experience, and a good chance for self reflection and contemplation. (But she also hates self-reflection and contemplation, so that lessens the draw a little bit.) She might someday try to complete one, if the opportunity arises, but given that she has no religion of her own she's not sure where she would go. She'd happily accompany someone else on their religious pilgrimage, though. Or take the route of one just to see all the sights. Something a little less somber.

[rabbitcruiser]

At Tremont Temple in Boston, British author Charles Dickens gave his first public reading in the United States on December 2, 1867.

[baiwu-jinji]

TGCF author's notes translation

@/camilikha on twitter kindly provided links to TGCF author's notes and I translated the ones I find informative and interesting. See translations below:

chapter 58 notes: The second book is all about the overconfident Xie Lian with delusions of grandeur and the tender little flower (mxtx means kid Hua Cheng) and their diaries of the downfall of Xianle. Word count is undecided, I'm never accurate at estimating word counts anyway. It's just like the xianxia I write doesn't fit into your regular xianxia, the royalty I write doesn't fit into your regular fictional depictions of royalty - just the outlandish made-up worlds and social customs in the author's imagination...

chapter 60 notes: If we put Qi Rong in a modern context, we could say that he has bipolar disorder.

chapter 72 notes: about the chapter title "To Meet You in the Mortal Realm; to Find Flowers Beneath the Rain" - eventually I feel that "To Meet You" is more romantic than "To Meet Someone". Just think about it, "meeting you" is one of the most romantic things in the world.

chapte 80 notes: Of course (HC) won't give (XL) a handjob or help him [...], but Huahua's sexual awakening starts with this incident... (XL is seriously obssessed with martial arts combat!)

chapter 88 notes: Xie Lian never gets tanned, I envy him... I finally reached this place - in a dilapidated temple, a god about to be forgotten and a believer who's still young - this is the first mental image I have about this story, which drove me to wrote the story. I'm the kind of person who'd make up a whole book just to get to write a certain passage...

chapter 119 notes: Actually Huahua is just being naughty and wants to joke around playing dead, who'd have thought...

chapter 123 notes: So Black Water made his appearance long ago, he's been hanging around before your eyes all along. Wind Master never knew the real Mingyi, it's always been the same person before him - and before you readers. (Black Water) officially recognized as Best Actor of this story! I've been holding it a secret for so long and so has he, now I can finally let it out.

chapter 141 notes: If you heat up Huahua in the kiln, he'll grow bigger~

chapter 175 notes: "Hua Cheng! Your diary! We've read it all!!!"

chapter 229 notes: Huahua low-key sucking up to the elderly to make a good impression

chapter 242 notes: Why do you like to spook yourselves? - why on earth would there be such plots as (XL) waiting for another 800 years - too long, impossible! Happy ending is around the corner!

SVSSS is my first work so it has some exceptions that I won't discuss here, but MDZS and TGCF both only have one main couple. I said this repeatedly in the author's notes when MDZS was being serialized and in other places. As for Mo Xuanyu, he is a little gay dude but he died at the beginning of the story so he doesn't count as a serious character...It's fine to have headcanons you like as long as you don't seperate the main couple. But for me personally, my taste leans towards having only one gay couple in the story, and I have no plans to write about another secondary couple. I'm stating this to avoid some unnecessary disputes.

XL is good at making pickled vegetables. Because pickled vegetables are needed with steamed bun and rice porridge, so XL became quite experienced after practicing for hundreds of years. Also you can just leave the pickled vegetable by itself most of the time and let it undergo chemical reaction. XL mostly fail because he get inventive.

XL and Mu Qing chose the same path of cultivation and are both Daoists. But Feng Xin never studied under a master at the Holy Royal Pavillion so he's not a Daoist and simply a plebeian martial god, so he doesn't need to observe the celibacy rules like XL and Mu Qing.

My passion for inventing new dishes (or rather weapons) cooked by Xie Lian is only slightly less than my passion for making Huahua change into new clothes

Huahua often turn into human forms, in which he has two eyes, so you guys can stop counting the number of his eyes.

In the setting of this story, if you want to be a god,you need to be a human hero first, which means you need to be the best of the best among humans. Only heaven officials who ascended are real heaven officials and belong in the Upper Court. How do you ascend? Firstly it depends on your personal ability, you have to be outstanding in some aspect (such as martial arts or literary talents) to enter the path of ascension. Secondly it depends on luck, if you're extremely lucky and a favourite of fate, and just picked up some rare secret guides (to ascension) or immortal pills by the roadside, that works too. Officials in the Middle Court are appointed, which means someone in the Heavenly Realm could promote you to that position. But Middle Court officials have the opportunity to become a bona fide Upper Court official too if they're capable enough.

Black Water indeed owes Hua Cheng a huge sum of money and is a very impoverished Calamity, seriously lowering the income standard of the Calamities (although there're only three of them). But his debt isn't completely due to eating too much. As for the money Black Water owes, it's an ancient debt - 40% is the cost of buying gifts for heaven officials of Upper Court and planting agents there (bribery!), 30% is maintenance fee for his territory and expenses on pet food, the rest 30% is food (for himself).

Talismans are probably the equivalent of the business cards (of heaven officials)... "Hello this is my consecrated talisman" = "hello this is my business card"

You can't get rid of ghostly essence (which XL is tainted with because he spends too much time with HC) simply by brushing your teeth with plain water...you need to use consecrated spell water (which is super bitter and weird).

The weapon forged by a heaven official is called fabao (literally "dharma treasure"); if it's a weapon forged by mortal Daoists and monks, it's called faqi (literally "dharma tool") - only after their ascension can their weapons be called fabao.

In my imagination, Xianle ia the kind of small ancient kingdom that's overall culturally Han, but has peculiar customs...although I feel like what I wrote on Xianle is mostly just peculiar hahahaha [facepalm] [beat myself up]

Not only are the forms, customs, cultures, and politics of countries in this story made-up, the kind of arcane stuff like occult sciences and philosophical values are all made-up. Although I did research but the records I consulted are too difficult to understand, so I just made things up on my own. Please bear with me If you're knowledgable in this sort of thing hahaha.

Puqi refers to water chestnut.

Look up "Blood-Soaked Fire Social" (xue she huo) if you're interested, it exists in real life and is very thrilling. What I wrote is different from the traditional festival, there're some made-up elements to make it more exciting

[testingthewatersss]

Hi! I'm still figuring the difference between messages/inbox tbh but as long as you send in the request I'll get to it. I'm trying to keep all requests anonymous when posted so sometimes I'll message a link to whoever sent it. If it's anonymous I might start replying to the message so the sender is notified (assuming that works)

thank you for the request, I hope you enjoy <;3 (last disclaimer- I'm British so my only context for 1940s America is from movies and anecdotes)

Date Nights Trigger warnings for?nothing v v lighthearted fluff? Bucky Barnes x F reader Oneshot 1500 words fluff & comfort 18+ MDNI

Bucky tells you what your dates would've been like in the 40s.

"I'm tellin' you, Buck" Y/N beams, "if it's got food and candles, it counts as a date night."

Barnes is still tugging at his boots in the door way, looking apologetic as ever, like him being late off a Quin-Jet is something he could've prevented.

Her eyes roll, "It's fine- you text me to let me know you where behind schedule, the pizza has been here for ten minutes, and- you've finally got your boots off-"

He cuts her off with a kiss, dipping her back dramatically like hoping that the corny gesture might add to the romance.

The feeling of her laughter against his lips makes him smile so hard that his cheeks ache, and then they're eating and drinking red wine that is too good to have with stuffed crusts from Albie's.

and that's when his mind wonders again,

to dance halls and evening walks in formal jackets and what it might be like to push her on a rope swing in a pretty sun-dress-

"what are you day dreaming about?" Y/N chuckles, quirking a brow at the pinkness in his cheeks.

"…date nights" is the reply he settles on after a minute, pressing a kiss against her cheek before settling back onto the couch.

"wow" she says, laughing again, "that's impressive even for you, sweetheart, can you even get sweeter than fantasising about date night while you're literally havin' a date night?"

He rolls his eyes, before melting down into her lap. Smiling almost smuggly as she recieves him more than eagerly, discarding her wine glass to card through his hair with her fingers.

"Wait" she says teasingly, "Before you get all this fussin'- the person you were with in this daydream was me wasn't it? because if it was Steve your puppy dog eyes are goin' to be about 12% less effective"

"88% is still pretty good" he says playfully, before shaking his head in response to her mock look of hurt, "of course it was you, darlin' it just that back in my day-"

"Back in my day?" Y/N mimics, beaming down at him like he's the best thing she's ever seen, "Did you really just say that, outloud?"

Her teasing is tempered with unwavering affection, but still it makes him laugh, a true soft chuckle bursting through his chest when he realises how it sounds.

"Still" he murmurs, feigning grouchiness, "goin' on a date meant somethin' different back then, it was more of an event..."

"Oh, yeah?" Y/N presses, seeing the trace of nostalgia in his eyes, "tell me about it?"

He blinks at her, before looking away, genuinely bashful again;

"You don't wanna hear me dronin' on about ancient history, Sugar-"

"Actually" she objects, "After missin' you for 2 days because you've been galivanting across Russia, I think that's exactly what I want."

He paws at his jaw before sighing, surrendering to the arm your holding him by snuggling into your front.

"Well, they didn't usually include this much touchin' for a start"

"Is that a complaint?" Y/N quips, raising a brow in genuine curiosity.

"No- never-" he's quick to tell her, "I just don't really know where to start, doll. It's all real different now."

She just smiles down at him again, letting her thumb brush his temple as his eyes flutter shut.

"What would our first date have been like, d'ya think?" she asks, "and don't just rattle off some Grate-Gatsby story, I know you and Rodgers didn't eat Caviar in tuxedos when you took girls out for the night"

"God" he scoffs dreamily, smile firmly on his face now, "Gatsby was more my ma's era, darlin'… I'd have probably taken you out for a walk first, asked you when I could pick you up and spent a couple of hours gettin' myself ready… I'd have brought flowers, -I might've had to pick them from the garden-" he allows, "-but I'd have brought ya' something, and then I'd knock for ya'…"

"And would I be wearin' one of those pin-up style dresses, victory curls and red lipstick style?"

"No" he snorts, "All the dames back then wore sweat pants"

"You're gettin' sassy in your old age" Y/N is quick to tease, "I meant for a walk… since that's where you said you'd be takin' me… is that the kinda thing ladies got all dolled up for back then?"

He's grinning like a fool as he hums, picturing exactly the kind of thing she might've been wearing.

"It'd probably have been some kind of dress" he allows, shyly at first "somethin' nice but not, not the whole nine yards unless you wanted me to be fightin' all the other men in town away all night."

It's her turn to laugh then, it swims through his head like music, making his chest flutter happily.

"We'd probably spend a while just talkin', darlin', and I'd have asked you for a second date before I took ya' home."

"Is that when you'd have asked me if I had any friends for Steve?"

He chokes on a breath as he realises that's exactly when he'd have done that.

"and I'd have said "sure, but don't be late"… and then, you'd have arrived together at least 10 minutes after we'd arranged, but- you'd have been so charmin' that I wouldn't have minded one bit."

"Maybe" he murmurs, not wanting to tell her just how well she's got him figured out.

"And where would this double date be?"

"Probably dancing" he says surely, "I got tired of trying to take girls to the pictures with Rodgers. He could never stay out of trouble."

"He still hasn't figured that out"

He grins again, eyes still shut but as her hands go back to soothing his muscles, she notices that they're definitely relaxing.

"You'd have been more dressed up for dancing- but so would I, it'd be full uniform, sugar" he murmurs, "and you might've even found some stocking with seams if you'd thought I was worth the trouble…"

"Oh, you're definitely worth the trouble" she whispers, loving the dreamy quality his voice has taken on, it seems so sweet, how content he is just talking about all this, "I'd have done my hair too, and put on that lipstick"

He smiles at her description, picturing it so vividly in his mind that he could reach out and touch her lips and his fingers would come away red.

"And my pretty friend would be takin' care of Steve…" she tells him decisively, "so what would we be doing?"

"I'd get us drinks, doll…" he says, "the band would be playing, not through speakers like now, but they'd have a singer, and a whole set up, we'd ditch our glasses and I'd ask you to dance… there were always so many people there, sugar, the room was so warm- and we'd be laughin' and I'd pretend that I didn't… but if it was you in my arms I'd have forgotten all about Steve by the time the music stopped."

The fingers in his hair are like magic, drawing every facet of tension from his body as she untangles the strands with ease. He hadn't even notice how tense he'd been before. The mission had been quick and easy and without complication until the end, when Tony's "un-freezable" engine had frozen, needing 30 minutes to warm back up before they could head home. He'd been wracked with guilt for the entire flight, hating having to tell you he was going to be late for date night. The date night he'd been looking forward too all week.

"I'd have taken you for a bite on the way back to your place" he continues, clinging to the fantasy like a blanket in the cold, "I'd have wanted more time with ya'- so I'd have insisted on a diner instead of a hot-dog stand or somethin'… I wouldn't have let you drink to much, we'd have gotten cokes in the glass bottles- I swear, it tasted so much better than it does now, even with the rationing-"

"Is that when I'd steal your hat and put it on over my pretty curled hair?" she asks cheekily.

"hat?" he asks, opening his eyes to look at her curiously,

"You said you'd be in uniform- I've seen the pictures."

"Well, yeah, but-"He blinks, still not understanding "Why would you take it, doll?"

"Isn't it like cowboys?" Y/N presses warmly, still carding through his hair

"Cowboys?" Bucky echoes, confused.

"Mhmm" she hums in confirmation, "plus, if I ran away with your hat, you'd definitely follow me home wouldn't ya?"

"I'd have walked you home anyway, m-maybe even kissed ya' at the door if I was feelin' brave" he stammers, still caught up in the mental image of the most beautiful girl in the world wearing an outfit that would've put Marilyn Monroe to shame and his hat.

"Well, yeah" she agrees, "but this way you'd have to chase me inside."

Suddenly, a flush fills his cheeks as the imagined dress vanishes, leaving him with a fantasy that does more than make his face hot.

"It's your birthday in March" Y/N says coolly, "I'll see what I can do".

Masterlist

[momojedi]

Could I have #88 and #97 with Captain Rex, pretty please...??

JUST MARRIED PAIRING: Captain Rex x GN! Reader

#88 | “Don’t panic but I think we might have accidentally gotten married…” #97 | “I want you and I know you want me too.”

GENRE: Fluff WARNING: none A/N: Since I got prompted #88 by an anon who asked for no one in particular, I mixed up your request with theirs. Thanks for requesting!

MASTERLIST | MOMOJEDI'S 300 FOLLOWER CELEBRATION

"Mhi solus tome,

Mhi solus dar’tome.

Mhi me’dinui an,

Mhi ba’juri verde."

Intense concentration furrows my brow as I massage my temples, striving to translate the unfamiliar words. "For fuck's sake," I mutter, frustration punctuating each syllable as I kick a nearby pebble with surprising strength, eliciting a muffled groan and the metallic clang of beskar as it ricochets off a distant helmet.

Two weeks may not seem long, especially when operating undercover among a terrorist faction whilst the galaxy is engulfed in war. It would probably be advisable to keep a cool head and avoid making a big deal out of insignificant subjects—such as unfamiliar phrases. However, when those words escape the lips of your longtime crush, delivered with an unexpected fervor while locking passionate eyes with you in a language foreign to your ears...

Well, needless to say, I've devoted more time to overthinking it than I care to admit.

When General Skywalker tasked us with shadowing Death Watch until the Jedi Council reached more intel, I hadn't given it much thought... admittedly, he hadn't specified that by "us" he didn't mean Ahsoka and me, as usual, but rather the captain of the 501st and myself—the very someone I've harboured feelings for since the day we met.

Nevertheless, I maintained my composure, played my part, and stayed under the radar, much like Rex, until Death Watch proposed an elaborate ceremony—a ceremony whose name I could barely pronounce, let alone understand its significance. Before any suspicion could arise, Rex quickly agreed in my place, and now here I am, entangled in some eerie ritual with a military captain whose gaze seemed entranced, so intense was his focus.

"If I had my datapad right now...," I hiss under my breath, casting blame on whoever decided I should leave my sole translation device behind. Likely Skywalker.

The crunch of gravel under heavy boots interrupts my daydreaming. I spin around sharply, only to find the very man haunting my mind approaching. "I figured I'd find you here," Rex hums as he settles beside me. "Yeah," I reply with a dry laugh, brushing the dust off my hands. "Sorry, I suppose I just needed... alone time. After everything yesterday, you know?" Rex's eyes widen almost comically, and he sheepishly scratches the back of his neck. "Oh... yeah."

The ensuing silence gnaws at my nerves, prompting me to pop the question after another agonising five minutes. "Hey, about that... what did those words mean, anyway?" "I'm not sure what you're referring to," Rex responds, avoiding my gaze. I gulp. He can't have forgotten, can he? "Come on, Rex... It seemed significant." After a moment's hesitation, Rex sighs, running a hand over his buzzcut before raising his head to face me, though still evading it. "I..." "Yes?" "Alright, fine. [Name], don't panic, but... we might have accidentally... gotten married."

...

"WHAT?"

"Shh!" Rex quiets me with a gentle hand over my mouth, his eyes darting cautiously around us before he releases me. I shake my head slowly, puzzled. "Sorry, but what?" "The, um, the words... they were Mandalorian wedding vows," he admits, his tone tinged with uncertainty. I can't help but laugh. Married? Us? "You're joking." "Unfortunately not," he replies, a slight smile tugging at his lips, before his expression shifts to sheepishness as he rubs the back of his neck. "Though I do believe you'd make an excellent partner." Suppressing a chuckle, I ignore the warmth creeping into my cheeks.

"Actually, I realized we needed a distraction when I overheard some members gossiping behind our backs. They were growing suspicious, so I thought perhaps they'd relax if we participated in some traditions." Rex sighs, examining a pebble he's picked up. I shoot him a hopeful sidelong glance before quickly looking away, feeling my heart quicken.

Force, this man is captivating.

Silence envelops us once more as we both drift deeper into our own thoughts. When I sense the gravel shifting under his weight, I raise an eyebrow. "It wouldn't bother me, you know?" A lump forms in my throat, causing a series of coughs to escape at his words. "Wh-what?" "Being with you." Suddenly, his warm yet weighty hand finds mine. Sweat prickles at my heated skin as I keep my gaze fixed ahead.

"R-rex, are you suggesting...?" "[Name]," he interrupts, turning to face me. Before I can evade his gaze, he gently lifts my chin, compelling me to meet his eyes. I run my tongue over my dry lips, which his gaze is now fixated on. "I want you. And I know you want me, too." His proximity sends shivers down my spine as goosebumps ripple over my arms and back. His newfound confidence is palpable. "I've noticed the way you look at me, how you stare. I know, [name]," he murmurs against my lips, "what do you think?"

I flush, gripping his wrist as I lock eyes with his warm gaze. "I think you're right." Rex chuckles deeply, resonating like a rumble in his chest. "Good." And before I realize it, his lips meet mine,

Time seems to slip away as I surrender completely to the kiss. Eventually, Rex pulls back, leaving me breathless, and flashes me a mischievous grin.

“So, about that wedding night…”

[slainesthrone]

So trying to recreate the qsmp mos pack (Personal use ig, just sawa bunch of mods I've never seen before and when Oh Shit thats exciting, then just diecided "Fuck it gonna gather as many of the mods they're using)

I Do Not have any of knowledge of any of the dungeons that they have so I ask if you have any insight let me know.

Here's the full list I have of confirmed mods and possible mods;

server runs on 1.20.1 qsmp 2024 mods: 1.Regions Unexplored 2.Croptopia 3.Biomes o plenty 4.born in chaos 5.exotic birds 6.enmey expansion 7.chocobo mod 8.farmers delight + some other food mods (Possibly multiple) with delight in the name. 9.Candlelight(?) 10.Handcrafted 11.Alex's mobs 12.Alex's caves (I can confirm because of a TRAP DOOR in the egg bakery. I'm in the trenches) 13.supplementaries 14.Beachparty 15.create 16.journey maps (Idk some map mod) 17.aquaculture 2 18.cluttered 19.chimes 20.fairy lights 21.FramedBlocks 22.Chipped 23.paraglider 24.Another furniture mod 25.waystones 26.connected glass 27.Create deco 28.Candlelight dinner 29.MOA DECOR 30.Tanuki decor 31.Orcz 32.Modern life 33.Bakery 34.Friends&Foes 35.Meadow 36.Abyssal decor 37.Twigs 38.lootr 39.when dungeons arise(to be confirmed) 40.nether's delight 41.rats 42.Additional lanterns 43.Alex's delight 44.Additional Lights 45.AstikorCarts Redux 46.Athena 47.Awesome dungeon net..(work?) 48.BOZOID 49.Apothic Attributes 50.AppleSkin 51.Balm 52.Better Archeology 53.Better ping Display 54.BetterF3 55.Aquaculture Delight 56.Bookshelf 57.Bygone Nether 58.CC: Tweaked 59.Artifacts 60.Camera Mod 61.Cataclysm Mod 62.Catalogue 63.Citadel 64.Cloth config v10 API 65.Clumps 66.Comforts 67.Configured 68.Controlling 69.CorgiLib 70.CoroUtil 71.Corpse 72.CosmeticArmorReworked 73.Create : Encased 74.Create Confectionery 75.Create Slice & Dice 76.Create: Interiors 77.Create: Steam 'n' Rails 78.Create: Structures 79.CreativeCore 80.Creeper Overhaul 81.Cristel Lib 82.Cupboard Utilities 83.Curios API 84.Customizable Player M(???) 85.Delightful 86.Distant Horizons 87.Domestication Innovations 88.Duckling 89.Dynamic Lights 90.Elevator Mod 91.Embeddium 92.Emotecraft 93.Enderman Overhaul 94.EntityCulling 95.Nether's exoticism 96.YUNG's (x) Mods (bridges, better dessert temples,mineshafts only ones i can confrim, might be all but idk for sure) 97.Securitycraft 98.Vinery (Confirmed because of Tubbo's drinking binge at spawn yesterday) 99.Mr.Crayfish (Furniture confirmed, possibly more) 100.Naturalist 101.Tom's simple storage

If you know or noticed mods that haven't been listed, reply/reblog with them please.

Things are numbered for my archival reasons, as some mods come in multiple separate mods (such as YUNG's) the numbering will not show the true number of the mods on the server.

I also have not checked the needed mods that any of these mods may need so.

(Please note that there may be spelling/grammar mistakes in the names of this mods!)

[warcraft-lore-archives]

War of the Scaleborn Lore Facts

The War of the Scaleborn: A Timeline

Mounting Tensions

The events of the novel start just over a decade after Galakrond’s demise (32). By the end, it has been around five centuries or so since the dragons were granted the titans’ gifts (368).

Tyr, worried the dragonflights needed to grow more quickly to face whatever threats might arise, commanded Alexstrasza to take primal dragon eggs from the wild and forcibly infuse them with Order magic (19, 24). Ysera and Nozdormu disagreed with this course of action, but Malygos and Neltharion persuaded the Dragon Queen it was necessary. Alexstrasza ultimately acquiesced to Tyr’s demand with one stipulation - that they only take unguarded eggs that had been abandoned (23-25). It seems, however, that this edict was not always obeyed; some of the primal dragons reported their entire clutches being stolen time and time again (83, 206).

The dragons placed no restrictions on ordering dragons who were with clutch as long as they consented (134).

The whelplings born of primal eggs taken from the Dragonwilds were aware they had been stolen, many remembering vague sensations of Order magic transforming them while still in the shell (53, 83, 133, 206). Vyranoth expected hundreds, if not thousands, of eggs were stolen over the course of the war (211). 

The Aspects engaged in diplomatic relations with the primal dragons for two centuries, Wyrmrest Temple acting as a neutral embassy between the factions. Unfortunately, the Winterskorn War only served to increase the primal dragons’ mistrust of the titan-forged and, consequently, the Aspects (44, 175). 

Iridikron launched a propaganda campaign against the ordered dragons, claiming they were responsible for everything from forcing Order magic on tarasek to the primal dragons being pushed out of their hunting grounds. Iridikron continued this campaign by forcing his clutch-sister, Ikronia, to burn down the towns of tarasek and mortals alike, spurring even more negative sentiment against the ordered dragons (74-76, 88). Some mortals actually joined Iridikron’s forces as a result (76). 

It was at this time Iridikron officially named his faction of followers the Primalists (117).

Raszageth and Ikronia terrorized mortal and tarasek settlements for 50 years (116).

While Raszageth often attacked ordered dragons on the edge of the Broodlands, she never dared to fully cross the border until her final attacks on the Reach (126). 

Despite Raszageth’s attacks on their borders and Iridikron’s rapidly growing army - stirred by primalist propaganda as it was -, Alexstrasza strove for peace (88). 

Neltharion attempted many times over the years to send emissaries to meet with Iridikron in Harrowsdeep, but all were turned away, sometimes even violently (88).

Alexstrasza allowed the primal dragons to hunt in the territories around Wyrmrest Temple so long as they did not harass the ordered dragons (111).

Alexstrasza forbade the drakes from fighting with the primal dragons unless lives were at stake (136).

A Rising Storm

Though it was not the case initially, the primalist forces outnumbered the Aspects’ at the onset of the war by three-to-one (115, 198-199).

Neltharion kept the truth of Tyr’s death from the dragonflights, though the Aspects knew (112). It was not until war officially broke out many decades after the keeper’s death that the ordered dragons found out the truth (230-231).

Stormsunder Crater, a region in the eastern part of the Forbidden Reach, was formed when Raszageth crashed to the ground during her assault on Neltharion’s dracthyr (154). 

Raszageth’s attack on the Reach came to be known as the Battle of Stormsunder (242). 

Neltharion did not want word of what transpired that day in the Reach - and the dark truth of what he did - to get out. Nor did he want Iridikron to turn the dracthyr against the Aspects. Afraid he could not manage either of those things without the control Oathbinder afforded him over the dracthyr, he gave them one last command with the remains of the destroyed artifact and sent them back to their creches (158, 164). A short time later, Malygos would freeze all of the dracthyr in a deep slumber (165).

Neltharion lied to Malygos about what happened at the Reach, telling his old friend that he’d personally attacked and incapacitated Raszageth before imprisoning her (161).

Malygos agreed to help Neltharion conceal the truth of what occurred at the Reach under two conditions: 1) that he would be in Malygos’ debt, to be called upon at any time, and 2) they tell Alexstrasza the Incarnates attacked the Reach right away (163).

Neltharion did not want to tell Alexstrasza about the dracthyr out of concerns that the Dragon Queen, dedicated to peace as she was, would disapprove of his choice to breed soldiers for war (161).

After Raszageth’s attack on the Reach, Alexstrasza declared all primal dragons banned from the Broodlands and Wyrmrest Temple (168). 

Battle Rages

At Iridikron’s behest, a newly-made Incarnate Vyranoth and the Primalist forces attacked Wyrmrest Temple in retaliation for Raszageth’s imprisonment. Aside from Raszageth’s attack on the Reach, this was the first battle of the war (183-184). 

Iridikron later launched another attack on Wyrmrest Temple in an event now known as the Battle of Dragonblight. The ordered dragons won, but at the cost of any territory they had beyond Wyrmrest Temple (219).

Iridikron and other primal dragons often sent earthquakes throughout the Broodlands in covert attempts to destabilize the ordered dragons’ efforts. In response, the blue and black dragonflights erected a series of magical obelisks along the Broodlands’ border that would make the land impervious to Iridikron’s earthly attacks. Each of these obelisks was connected to Vakthros through a ley line (86, 201). 

During the war, Malygos lobbied to alter the obelisks so that they would form a shield of sorts over the Broodlands. Unfortunately, Malygos warned the strain placed on them would cause the already old obelisks to give out in a year’s time. They lasted twenty-five, falling victim to sabotage from within at the last (201-202, 219, 225, 235).

The ordered dragons suffered only a hundred casualties over the first twenty-four years of battle while the Primalists lost about a thousand (220).

Nozdormu was the one to suggest building a vault to hold the Incarnates in perpetual stasis, though it was Alexstrasza who inspired the idea by insisting they not kill them (205).

Alexstrasza established flight academies for drakes at this time to teach them the skills they would need to defend the Broodlands (220).

Nozdormu saw a potential alternate timeline in which Alexstrasza hunted down and killed each of the Incarnates, one by one. The dark truth of what she had done in that timeline broke the alternate Dragon Queen’s mind, causing her to terrorize the world. In another, she forced all dragons to choose between Order magic or death (223). 

Nozdormu also told Alexstrasza that her death would inevitably lose them the war in every timeline (224). 

According to Nozdormu, Fyrakk was always the first or second to fall in the potential timelines he saw (246).

Six ordered drakes, among those who had been stolen from the Dragonwilds as eggs, turned against the Aspects in outrage when they learned the truth of their upbringing. Their ranks included Talinstrasz, Sirigosa, Ellegos, Nolizdormu, Azarian, and Ivarus. They were the ones who sabotaged the magical barrier protecting the Broodlands (227). Sirigosa would later claim she saw the error of her ways and repent (280).

Malygos was the one who captured and imprisoned Fyrakk in a conflict now known as the Battle of Flamesfall. He weaved an illusion over himself to appear as Alexstrasza, then whisked the Incarnate through a portal to the Vault once they engaged in combat. Ysera put Fyrakk in a deep slumber, allowing the Aspects to imprison the Incarnate once and for all (258-259, 265).

Five hundred of the Primalists’ forces were slain in the Battle of Flamesfall. It was the second single greatest loss of life during the war, second only to the Battle of Emberfall in which a thousand casualties were suffered between both sides (265, 267).

In the Battle of Emberfall, the brood-mother Oxoria made a push into the Reach to free Raszageth. Nearly two hundred of the black dragonflight perished in the battle (267).

The red dragonflight also had to contend with a growing force of djaradin encroaching on the Waking Shores at this time (267).

The djaradin had only become increasingly hostile in the last century, perhaps using the ongoing war to their advantage to claim territory in the Waking Shores (269).

Alexstrasza forbade drakes from fighting on the front lines against full-grown primal dragons (270).

As time went on, betrayals became more common among the ordered dragons. Black dragons played double agent, bronzes attempted to reverse time to help the Primalists, and members of the green and red dragonflights made a bid to kidnap eggs from the life pools, among other things. Many of them were imprisoned beneath the Obsidian Citadel and later freed by the Primalists (270, 277-278).

Iridikron’s Rockfuries did not personally join the battle until centuries into the war (287).

Alexstrasza challenged Vyranoth to single combat. The terms were such that if the Dragon Queen were to win, Vyranoth would consent to being imprisoned within the Vault of the Incarnates or perish. The duel was held at the Icebound Eye, part of Vyranoth’s territory (290, 293, 300, 319). This event occurred over fifty years after Fyrakk’s imprisonment (266-267, 289). 

Upon Vyranoth’s defeat and subsequent imprisonment, her dragon companions swore to join Alexstrasza’s cause as long as she honored her original promise to Vyranoth and not force Order magic on them (321).

For centuries, Iridikron’s earthquakes had been part of a plan to carve out secret caverns and tunnels under the earth for an eventual underground attack on Valdrakken (298). 

For the next few decades after the battle at Valdrakken, Iridikron tried and failed to create more Incarnates to replace his lost commanders (331). 

It wasn’t until the end of the war - after three Incarnates had been imprisoned - that Iridikron turned to the djaradin (334).

After Razviik, Mithruz was Vyranoth’s third-in-command. He would fall in single combat against Ysera toward the end of the war (235, 325). 

Neltharion ultimately subdued Iridikron by using the gifts the Old Gods gave him. He vowed to himself it would be the last time he ever gave in to the whispers (371-372). 

As part of the negotiations made between the ordered dragons and the remaining Primalists at the end of the war, Alexstrasza promised to withdraw from the Dragonwilds and grant them to the primal dragons. She also swore that no primal egg would be stolen from its nest ever again (375). 

Alexstrasza then personally visited each dragon that had been taken and ordered in the shell, promising all of them a boon as recompense for the act she had committed without their consent (376, 378). 

Alexstrasza and the Aspects resolved to never speak of the War of the Scaleborn again, wishing to avoid imposing the horrors of it upon future generations (380).

The Vault of the Incarnates was bound with three magical protections: one of time, one of arcane, and one of stone (381). 

Alexstrasza & The Red Dragonflight

Before and during the War of the Scaleborn, a red dragon by the name of Saristrasz acted as Alexstrasza’s majordomo (5, 301).

Tyranastrasz, one of the Dragon Queen’s consorts before his death during the Second War, may have actually been her mate as far back as when they were proto-dragons (8). 

Alexstrasza knew the name of every dragon hatched at the life pools (133).

The Ruby Flamebringers served directly under Alexstrasza (272).

Neltharion & The Black Dragonflight

The black dragonflight’s majordomo was Nalaxa (159). 

A black dragon by the name of Umbrenion was principal architect of the Obsidian Citadel and various structures within Zaralek Cavern (29).

The Shadowscales were a military sect of black dragons dedicated to gathering intelligence on the enemy. They were led by Egnion (61, 86).

The Ironscales were one of the largest battalions in any dragonflight, numbering nearly two hundred (304). By the end of the war, they still boasted around one-hundred-fifty (346).

The Onyx Reavers of the black dragonflight were incredibly deadly in combat. They used their speed to their advantage, often dropping on unsuspecting enemies from above at such breakneck speeds that they would easily shatter their enemies against the ground (236, 254).

Custom dictated that the bodies of black dragons be burned, their bones interred in mausoleums in the Veiled Ossuary, and their ashes spread over the magma falls in the Waking Shores so that they could return to the earth from which they originally drew power (160, 242).  

Neltharion had heard whispers since even before he became Aspect. It wasn’t until sometime in the next two hundred years that they grew stronger, afflicting him with tormenting thoughts and whispers. He never told another soul about them (87).

Neltharion heard at least four separate voices whispering to him (87). This is of note since at this point, Aman’Thul had already dealt with Y’Shaarj, leaving just three Old Gods.

Neltharion experimented on mortals in secret for years, seeking to understand them so that he could create a hybrid army capable of withstanding the primals’ burgeoning might (105).

At this time, Rashok was captured by the black dragonflight and imprisoned within Aberrus (105-106).

Neltharion discovered Oathbinder deep within a titan vault. He asked the titan-forged to modify it so he could use it on the dracthyr specifically (149).

Neltharion was still mostly in control of his faculties after submitting to the Old Gods during the battle at the Reach, though he acknowledged he would never again be the same after letting them in (157). With time, the whispers would only grow stronger, sometimes even debilitating (195).

The black dragonflight spent 300 years preparing for war in secret, having started forging a massive cache of armor and weapons since the day after their oathstone was empowered. In doing so, they developed new forms of blacksteel and elementium, lightweight metals that could provide the dragons protection in the air (193).

The Blue Dragonflight

Beregos was the archlibrarian of the Azure Archives (220).

Centuries after Iridikron began his movement against the Aspects, the blue dragonflight learned how to summon and control arcane elementals (130).

The blue dragonflight frequently employed arcane elementals glamoured as dragons on the field of battle to make their numbers look bigger than they actually were (282).

Malygos and Nozdormu usually fought side by side (281).

Malygos was able to enchant stones that would portal a dragon at a moment’s notice, should the need arise (342, 361).

The Bronze Dragonflight

During the war, the bronze dragons discovered they could reverse wounds with time magic (267).

The Green Dragonflight

The green dragonflight’s majordomo was Vathira (208).

Toward the end of the half-century Raszageth perpetrated attacks against ordered dragons, Ysera oversaw the creation of the Eye of Ysera within the Dream (126).

The Incarnates

Thanks to Fyrakk’s help, Iridikron discovered the means by which primal dragons could imbue themselves with elemental energies and become Incarnates. It is unclear if this means Fyrakk uncovered the crucial knowledge, or if his being the first to survive the process simply helped Iridikron crack the code in his own discoveries (though the latter seems more likely) (33-34). 

Hundreds of primal dragons perished in the initial attempts to infuse themselves with elemental powers. Fyrakk was the first to succeed, followed by Iridikron, who then helped Raszageth through the necessary rituals (31, 32, 36). Iridikron did not consult Fyrakk when he opted to add Raszageth to the Incarnates’ ranks, something which greatly angered the fire dragon (31). 

While ideologically opposed to visage forms, the Incarnates decided taking on forms rooted in the elements could give them a tactical advantage in the war (116).

Fyrakk

Fyrakk is Alexstrasza’s cousin. He was the one who taught the Dragon Queen how to hunt and fight (21, 179, 248).

Iridikron

Neltharion and Iridikron had long been rivals by this time, though they were once close thanks to their shared interests in the earth. While it is unclear exactly when they grew apart, it seems likely their disagreements over the titans’ gifts caused a rift to form between the two dragons (22, 86, 124).

Even as an Incarnate, Iridikron was smaller than Neltharion (124).

Though Alexstrasza was close friends with Vyranoth and cousin to Fyrakk, she had never actually met Iridikron (22).

Iridikron had a sister named Ikronia who willingly submitted to Order magic and became a black dragon (70-71). Few of the primalists knew she even existed (169). Though allied with the Primalists, she perished at Raszageth’s hands during the Incarnate’s attack on the Reach (148).

Vyranoth

Vyranoth initially thought Iridikron no better than the Aspects, having altered himself for the sake of power just like them (46). Though he obsessively sought to recruit her to his side, she refused to pick either him or Alexstrasza over each other, instead desiring peace and neutrality (49). 

Vyranoth hadn’t laid a clutch of her own in centuries, having declined to take a new mate ever since Galakrond slew her last one (50). 

Alexstrasza and Vyranoth used to meet for a hunt at least once a season (61). 

Razviik, once of the proto-drakes Vyranoth had taken under her wing, was the one to bestow the moniker “the Frozenheart” upon her (206).

The Mortals

A tribe of trolls took up residence in Apex Canopy, a small region in southwestern Waking Shores. Having seen that they would shape the fate of the world in time, Nozdormu informed Neltharion who then told the other Aspects of his plans to reach out to them. Each of the Aspects, cloaked in an invisibility spell by Malygos, descended upon the settlement to investigate the mortals (63-65).

Neltharion claimed the trolls migrated to the Broodlands from larger well-established civilizations in the south (65).

The Aspects debated over how best to approach the mortals. Ysera thought they shouldn’t interfere with their development, but Nozdormu insisted a relationship between dragonkind and the mortal races would be important in times to come (65-66). 

Ysera was the first one to propose the dragons don visage forms to empathize with and understand the mortals (66-67).

Malygos initially wove illusions around the Aspects, trying to mimic mortal forms to little avail (67). 

Alexstrasza eventually sent emissaries to the mortals cloaked in temporary visages developed by Malygos (103).

Both the green and red dragonflights took to visage forms much more quickly than any of the other flights. As a result, the mortals forged strong bonds with the green dragonflight and moved in great numbers to the Emerald Plains (112, 131).

After five years, the mortal settlements in the Broodlands grew to triple their initial size (103).

By this time, mortals had trained wolves to hunt alongside them (104).

The dragonflights began forging relationships with Northrend’s indigenous mortal races as well (111).

The dragons gifted technology and knowledge of projectile weapons to the mortal tribes living in Apex Canopy so that they could defend themselves in the event of an attack (176).

Locations in Lore

The Aspects were the ones who conceived of Valdrakken, not the titan keepers. That said, Tyr may very well have influenced its building by teaching Alexstrasza about cities (4, 11).

While the Dragon Isles were originally known as the Broodlands, the vast expanse of territory beyond them - stretching far into modern-day Northrend - was called the ‘Dragonwilds’. The Aspects’ law covered the disparate territories of the Broodlands, but did not extend to the Dragonwilds. As a result, many primal dragons averse to the titans’ influence chose to live there instead of the Dragon Isles (14, 31-32).

Iridikron was rather reclusive and usually kept to his underground den, a place called Harrowsdeep near the Stormscale mountain range, part of what is now known as Northrend (22, 31, 39). Vyranoth’s aerie was in the ‘Frozen Fangs’ - likely Icecrown - while Fyrakk made his home in the ‘Caldera’ (33, 49, 81).

Raszageth’s aerie, the Whorl, was the closest of the Incarnates’ dwellings to the Broodlands (169).

Wyrmrest Temple was constructed simultaneously with Valdrakken (32).

Twenty years after Wyrmrest Temple was built, construction finished on the Obsidian Citadel. Shortly after that, Vakthros was completed as well (43-44). 

Alexstrasza had an upper tier added to the Ruby Life Pools two centuries later after its original establishment (48).

Construction on the Vault of the Incarnates was completed after twenty-five years (222-223).

Stormsunder Crater, a region in the eastern part of the Forbidden Reach, was formed when Raszageth crashed to the ground during her assault on Neltharion’s dracthyr (154). 

The mountain range at the northern edge of the Dragon Isles is called the Scalecracker Peaks (159).

The mountain range housing the Obisidian Citadel is called the Black Mountains (254).

The mountain range on the eastern edge of Thaldraszus was one of the tallest mountain ranges in northern Kalimdor, rivaled only by the Storm Peaks (266).

Some of the many new regions mentioned in the War of the Scaleborn, exact locations unspecified, include: Icewing Rift, the Molten Abyss, Emberstone, the Glacial Maw, Frostfire Chasm, Cinderfrost Vale (220, 237, 249, 254). 

Sawtooth Mountain was near Wyrmrest Temple (336).

The Icebound Eye was a natural sinkhole in the Frozen Fangs (294).

The earth tendrils curving around the Vault of the Incarnates are not naturally occurring structures. They were made when Neltharion ossified lava Iridikron pulled from the surrounding magma pools during their confrontation at the Vault (316).

Misc

Drakonid are actually tarasek who have been transformed by Order magic, not unlike the dragons (14).

Ordered creatures apparently take on a subtle scent of something akin to “smoke and stardust” (15).

Only one in four whelplings in the primal dragonwilds ever made it to drakehood. Alexstrasza supposed barely half of those even saw half a century of life (25).

Primal dragons often abandoned their young when they grew into drakes, though one brood mother - Oxoria - was notorious for raising broods with sustained familial bonds (200).

The ordered dragons’ whelplings were raised communally, allowing their parents to be as involved in the upbringing as they desired. Sometimes this meant they chose not to be involved at all, complete strangers to their offspring (53, 135). 

Dragons can be identified by their scales (92).

It is not unusual for one to experience great disorientation and vertigo after their first portal travel. It can take hours to recover (259).

Captain Drine has been guarding Valdrakken ever since the War of the Scaleborn (305).

The dragons were under the impression that they needed titan keepers to create more Aspects (322, 326). 

The Dragon Isles are the djaradin’s ancestral lands (334).

[justasimp1]

I ADORE YOUR WRITING AND I JUST NEED FIVE HARGREEVES WITH A SHY GN READER. LIKE MAYBE THEY'RE ACTUALLY REALLY SMART BUT ONLY FIVES SEES THAT BECAUSE HE KNOWS THEM WELL BUT THE OTHERS DONT SEE IT BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY quite??

I'm sorry if you wanted a full actual onehsot but with this idea I just thought of a fluffy ramble

Five Hargreeves x GN! Reader

Fluff, Ramble

Petal

This was just supposed to be a simple escape room. So why were they arguing–again... "Did you just graduate from the 4th grade?" Diego mumbled to Viktor. "Says the person who didn't know how to spell 'beginning" He muttered back. He narrowed his eyes at him, "There's too many fucking ns" He grumbled, balling his fist.

"Five, hurry the fuck up!" Allison hissed, eyeing the clock in the corner of the room. Five furrowed his brows, pinching his temples in thought. He was shuffling through different combinations. You bit your tongue, staying silent.

Klaus was on his knees, praying to whatever new God he believed in. Luther just leaned on the wall muttering, instigating Diego. The shouting back and forth filled your ears, making you squeeze your eyes shut. "Y/n, I need your help" The mention of your name leaving Five's mouth made everything silent.

Everyone stopped their bickering, turning their heads. Even though no one said anything, their expressions implied enough. You shifted your weight to the balls of your feet. You opened your mouth, your words hesitantly falling out. "What's the equations again?"

"First number, is (7 × 9 + 2)3" Viktor explained slowly as if you were a child. "Second number is 3 + 1 × 2" Klaus lifted his head from his praying stance, but he still had a slightly condescending tone. "Third, is [9 × 5(88 - 56)" Allison finished off, crossing her arms, glancing at Five.

The questions weren't that hard but seeing as there was no paper to work with, the numbers could slip away in your head. You stepped up to the lock, thumb grazing the 3-number lock. The wheel was loose, rolling underneath your skin. Five stood patiently, glaring at any of his siblings who dared to break your concentration.

"All the answers equal 1,640 so my guess is 164" You didn't realize you were holding your breath until a pounding sensation engulfed your brain. You turned the number wheels, and the lock clicked. The object fell open in your palm, you opened the door, the next room's layout in view.

"It's vampire-themed?" You smiled, turning back to Five whose mouth was parted. "That was quicker than expected" Five whispered, he knew you were ridiculously smart but you always shocked him with your timely skills. The other Hargreeves siblings seemed ever more surprised.

Expected Klaus who seemed— thankful? "You are an angel, a godsend. We've been at that level for ages" Klaus crawled vastly to the entrance, giving a quick bow to you. "Well maybe if you idiots would stop bickering and asked them for help this could've happened sooner"

Diego did not take being called an idiot light. "Well, how was I supposed to know they're some type of freaky genius!" He stormed to Five, smacking him aside the head. "Ask, dumbass, or get to know them" Five pushed him back.

"But you're just so..." Diego turned to you, gesturing to your presence. You walked inside the new room with the rest of the siblings. "Quiet," They all say union. You hummed, nodding, sinking away from all the attention. "Do something useful and search for clues" Five pushed past them, guiding you to a corner of the room.

"So you think you could carry us out of this?" He smirked. "It was just 3 math problems...it wasn't that spectacular" You muttered, turning over small objects, checking for numbers or letters. He turned around, looking at his distracted family.

He leaned closer, placing a chaste kiss on your lips. You wanted to bask in the exploding emotion longer but Five pulled away. "You're so smart" He laughed at your shocked face. You bit the inside of your cheek, leaning forward to him again.

Five's hand snaked to your hand, intertwining your fingers. "Guys! I found something~" Klaus called from inside a coffin. You giggled, rushing over to help him out the narrow box.

Masterlist

[strrwbrrryjam]

so back in 2021 i wanted to do a rewrite of avatar: the last airbender but with avatar zuko- i actually wrote a lot of world building and was planning to like rewrite episode by episode but gave up on it before then, so- I'm just going to post it here-

Prior To Story. 

Canon Story 

Kyoshi died in the year 82 BG at the age of 230. 

Roku was born in the year 82 BG and died in the year 12 BG. 

Azulon was born in the year 0 AG and died 95 BG. 

Monk Gyatso was born at 78 BG and died at 0 AG. 

Aang was born at 12 BG and woke up 100 AG. 

Canon Divergence 

Kyoshi died in the year 52 BG at the age of 260. 

Roku was born in the year 82 BG and died 0 AG. 

Zuko was born in the year 52 BG. 

Monk Gyatso was born 22 BG (in the South Pole). 

Aang was born at 88 AG (in the South Pole). 

Sozin had wished to wait until Kyoshi had passed for his plans for war, knowing her lack of hesitancy for ridding the world of Chin the Conqueror. News of Kiyoshi’s demise was delayed to the Fire Nation, thus it was assumed she died eighteen weeks before Prince Zuko, First Born to Sozin was born. When news reached Sozin, he began his re-education for the people of the nation. Installing propaganda into the Culture of the Fire Nation, making them believe that: 

The Danger is Grave and Growing. 

War will be easy and cheap, (but only if they act now.) 

War will solve all (or at least most) of their problems. 

The enemy is evil. Or crazy. Maybe both. 

Peace is unpatriotic. 

Sozin and Roku grew as close as brothers could. Each had attended each other's weddings as best men, and when there when their children were born. When Zuko had been born, with no spark to speak of, Roku convinces Sozin that it could very much be delayed, which is true, but very much of an understatement. Throughout Zuko’s life, Sozin is not present. Roku takes on the role of a father to the young boy, educating him in the way of the old Fire Nation, him disproving of Sozin's leadership, yet being none the wiser to what his dearest friend really wants. 

On the day of Zuko’s birth, a dragon from the “abandoned” Sun Warriors Temple had flown down in the Courtyard. It was rare to see the said dragon and Zuko separated. Druk had been waiting for his companion for twenty years, to the point where he was a young adult at ten feet tall. Roku takes Zuko around the world to see the lies that Sozin is spreading are far from the truth, it is also where the Roku at the Southern Air Temple, when Zuko is ten, he learns of Zuko’s status of the Avatar as the Monk of the Temple shows him of the toys that prove of his Spirit.

Zuko began training at age four, even when his katas were cold. When Zuko is eight, he takes on the art of the sword, as he is ambidextrous, he learns to master the Dual Duo. 

Zuko grows up under the teachings of Roku, learning that what Sozin is doing is wrong, but as he grows up and accompanies Sozin to his War Meetings. He holds his tongue until he learns of Sozin's plan for the Great Comet and the Genocide of the Air Nomads, it frightens him to his very core the fact that late into the night he calls for several messenger hawks to warn the four temples of the Air Nomads to run and hide. Many heed his warning and take refuge (along with Air Bison and Winged Lemures) in towns of the Earth Kingdom and the Water Tribes as well as the Swamp. However, not all do and stay to protect the temples. When reports come that many of the Residents of the Air Temples have escaped, Sozin learns of Zuko’s betrayal and soon goes to kill his own son. Sozin burns the left side of Zuko’s body, his burn travelling from his eye to his ear, down his neck, ending on the back of his hand. 

Roku interferes, distracting Sozin enough to bring Zuko to Druk, with supplies that include his Dual Dao, and ends up sacrificing himself to save them, sending Druk to fly to the South Pole. 

On the way there, Zuko wakes up, still very much injured during a storm, causing Avatar State to freeze both Druk and him in an iceberg.

Before Avatar Zuko 

Canon Divergence 

With Zuko’s warning, while many Air Nomads, the monks at the Northern and Southern as well as the nuns at the Eastern and Western, stayed. There were many that had escaped and years into the hundred year war, Airbenders could be found all across the world, Swamp, South Pole, Si Wong Desert, Ba Sing Se, etc. 

Due to the help of the Airbenders, abandoning their pacifist morales, simply for the fact that the Fire Nation would not offer the same mercy, while preferring to offer non-violence at first, then resorting to defending themselves at the expense of the lives of the Fire Nation. The South Pole is not as decimated as it had been in the canon story. 

There are several villages and far more waterbenders in canon. Some tribes consist exclusively of airbenders, some of those of watertribe members and others of both airbenders and watertribe. While the South Pole is nowhere near the structure of the North Pole. 

Waterbenders have learned to hide their waterbending, meaning that the Fire Nation raids have become few and far between. With raids becoming scarce, Kya lives. Aang, Sokka and Katara grow up together, being thick as thieves. Aang most definitely is still a master airbender, and while Katara is so much better than she was in the beginning, there are most definitely gaps in her knowledge. Bato and Hakoda still very much leave for war, and Gyatso stays behind with Gran-Gran and Kya. 

Sokka, Katara and Aang are on a fishing trip when they find something in an iceberg…

[japanicus-nerdus]

Photo of the Day: Pilgrim

I visited Tokushima some time ago. I had been thinking of doing the Henro pilgrimage, which visits 88 temples around the island of Shikoku. I met this woman while visiting a Awa- Odori performance. She stood out in the auditorium to say the least. I struck up a conversation with her hoping to get some good travel information. On the pilgrimage, there is a tradition called, “O-settai,” where…

[chuuyrr]

triple black

bungou stray dogs x gojo! reader

masterlist of infinity

╰➤ CW(s): major spoilers for bungou stray dogs (dragon's head conflict), jujutsu kaisen (gojo's past arc and jujutsu kaisen 0 is heavily referenced) and mentions of violence

╰➤ SYNOPSIS: an alternate universe in which the young holder of the six eyes and limitless ability user is under the influence of port mafia rather than heiwa, along with two other young mafiosos, nakahara chuuya and dazai osamu.

╰➤ PAIRING(s): 17! dazai & 17! chuuya x 17! reader (no established relationship, can be romantic or platonic)

╰➤ WORD COUNT: 3.4k+

honestly didn't know what i was going for, but here's a drabble i made while stressing over school :") enjoy

chuuya and dazai were about seventeen years old when the port mafia boss summoned them both to his office. it has been roughly a year since the dragon's head conflict, an 88-day underground conflict in yokohama between various underground organizations that is regarded as the darkest conflict in the city's history. it has also been a year since the formation of double black.

however, being an underground organization always meant violence and bloodshed, resulting in the emergence of another conflict, this time fought solely by the port mafia, so the two young mafiosi weren't surprised when an underground organization had declared war on their's.

"hurry up, chuuya. god, you're so slow."

"you just walk too fast, vagabond."

"no, you just have short legs."

"i'm going to beat the sh—"

the two sixteen-year-olds shifted their gaze to the young woman speaking to mori as soon as they entered the office and were welcomed by the light peeking through the glass panes. dazai and chuuya noticed your unusual and unfamiliar attire: a black high-neck zipped up jacket, a mini skirt, thigh-high heeled boots, and white bandages covering your eyes.

"boss, you called," chuuya cleared his throat, catching mori’s and your attention.

"ah, chuuya-kun, dazai-kun," mori acknowledged the two with a close-eyed smile, "i apologize for the wait, i was just discussing some things with our newest member."

mori's introduction of you followed suit as they stared intently at your eccentric figure and style, "this is gojo [name]-chan, and she will be working with the two of you starting today," he then motioned over to them for you, "this is nakahara chuuya-kun and dazai osamu-kun."

the two young mafiosi were taken aback. they were struck by your charisma and beauty despite the fact that they couldn't see the color of your eyes due to the bandages covering them. you notably had [color] hair that seemed to have been purposely dyed due to your snow-white roots, and delicate features.

chuuya cleared his throat and swallowed the lump that had formed, and dazai's lips twitched into a smirk just by looking at you. you were making them feel things they didn't know they had for someone like you. you were practially taking their breath away.

"well, well, if it's not double black," you began, folding your arms across your chest and smiling, "i'm honored."

"tch, someone did their research," chuuya remarked mockingly before averting his gaze away from you, finally mustering enough courage and composure to speak after being awestruck by you.

"oi, chuuya!" chuuya let out a small surprised yet irritated yelp as dazai jabbed an elbow to his side, "where are your manners? how could you be so rude to someone as ravishing as [name]-chan over here?"

"ohoho~ you flatter me way too much, dazai-kun," you snickered fondly at his comment.

"oh, i'm just being honest," dazai said dismissively, waving his hand dismissively, "unlike chuuya-kun over here, i'm a gentleman, so don't mind him at all, [name]-chan~"

chuuya exclaimed angrily with a nerve protruding on his temple, "HAH?!"

"well, would you look at that? i had a feeling you three would get along just fine," mori chuckled fondly as he watched the three of you 'bond' with each other.

"dazai-kun, chuuya-kun, you better not let me down. i will now entrust [name]-chan to your care. understood?" when the port mafia boss asked, the two young mafiosi noticed his eyes darken for a split second.

but they both brushed it off and responded promptly.

“understood, boss.”

“yes, yes, mori-san.”

chuuya's genuine impression of you was downright annoying. he despised the fact that you acted so much like dazai, particularly how you dressed up like him. your eyes are bandaged, whereas dazai's arms and right eye are bandaged.

he even thought you were blind at first, which may or may not have bothered him until you started ranting to him about how you were covering your eyes to hide and keeping an immense power you had inherited from a god at bay dramatically with a closed fist to your chest.

if only chuuya knew you weren't actually joking.

dazai, on the other hand, developed an interest in you. you were a complex person, and honestly? he recognized himself in you.

while you were bubbly and friendly to them and the rest of the organization, constantly addressing everyone with familiar suffixes like -chan and -kun at every opportunity, you were notably cunning and ruthless when it came to enemies and higher-ups.

he and chuuya were genuinely perplexed as to why mori still keeps you around when you're much more of a problem child of the mafia compared to dazai. you liked to break the rules and do things your own way, but that was before the night parade of a hundred demons.

you, dazai, and chuuya were present at the meeting with the higher-ups about an underground organization posing a threat to port mafia when the elephant in the room was discussed.

"gojo? oi, gojo."

when one of the higher-ups showed an image of the man behind the incoming dispute, chuuya couldn't help but feel nervous at your sudden undecipherable expression. it was terrifying to see you staring so blankly behind those bandages on your eyes.

dazai asked, blinking as he glanced at chuuya, then to you, "[name]-chan?"

"suguru."

your voice was barely audible as you clenched your hands into closed, trembling fists. at that precise moment, an ominous aura began to emanate from you, and it reeked of danger while also feeling sad, at least according to dazai and chuuya.

at that moment, gojo [name] had turned into something else. a slip of the mask, eh?

"you know this man, gojo?" one of the higher-ups inquired, noticing your expression, which prompted the others to look at you suspiciously.

"geto suguru," you answered louder this time.

"and how do you know him?" they inquired further as dazai and chuuya's eyes widened in response to your next answer.

"he was my best friend."

your lack of emotion in your tone of voice was enough to unnerve the two mafiosi with you. in fact, you were unusually quiet for the duration of the meeting, but when asked for an opinion, you offered strategies and ideas that were comparable to dazai's, just like a true mafia with black blood.

even if dazai could see how hurt you were behind the stoic mask you were wearing to hide your emotions, you don't let them get to you.

you were also an enigma. when you joined the port mafia, you had no record of your past. in fact, you just simply appeared out of nowhere, and judging by your actions, you weren't looking for a high-ranking position in the organization even if you had the potential and wits, as mori himself assigned you to tasks that involved higher-ups' work, which is why dazai and chuuya figured you out, at least partially for now.

it was midnight on december 23, two days before christmas, and just before the aforementioned war between the port mafia and the underground organization led by geto suguru, the cursed spirit ability user.

when you entered the room after disappearing without a trace and refusing to answer any calls, even from your own boss and superiors, chuuya was leaning against the wall in one of port mafia's offices, sharpening his knife with a whetstone, while dazai simply lounged on a velvet cushioned sofa.

"oi, where the hell were you?" chuuya asked, pausing from sharpening his knife, "do you have any idea how many of us were looking for you, gojo? even the boss himself thought you were taken hostage or something!"

"i just went somewhere," you shrugged casually before taking a seat on another sofa across dazai, past chuuya.

"and where's somewhere?" dazai asked, shifting his gaze to you, watching you cross one leg over the other, arms spread across the back of the sofa, seemingly staring at the ceiling.

"you guys sure do love me, always looking for me, eh?" you clicked your tongue, smirking.

"just answer the goddamn question!" yelled an irritated chuuya, "you've done nothing but disappear for the past few days, and when you do show up, all you do is pick a fight with a fucking executive."

"if i tell you, chuuya-kun, you'd just skin me alive with that knife of yours," you tipped your head to the side before turning back to face him.

chuuya's patience was running thin, so he aimed his knife at you, but before it could strike you, you had moved to the side, the knife stabbing through the wall instead.

"alright, alright. i'll confess, but it'll be a dead giveaway if i just cut to the chase," you whistled, shaking your head with your hands raised in the air, only for your expression to darken, causing chuuya and dazai to stare at you with narrowed eyes, "so, let's start at the top. why do you think mori-sensei suddenly recruited a new member, just a few days before the conflict, hmm?”

"what in the fuck?" chuuya spat out.

"don't give me that. think about it, come on." you insisted either way.

chuuya locked his gaze on you for a brief moment before opening his mouth to speak, only to have dazai beat him to it, much to his annoyance, "you made a deal with him. a deal involves the port mafia providing protection in exchange for you becoming a member."

"and why did i do it?" you inquired.

"the boss knows that if it's anyone, you're the best candidate for the dispute between the port mafia and that geto suguru guy's little gang," chuuya replied this time, earning an eye roll from dazai, "you know him, and you know that getting into the port mafia will give you the upper hand in putting an end to him. in simpler terms, it's beneficial for both ways."

"very good," you said, clapping your hands, "now where do you think i went just now?"

"easy, you saw geto suguru himself, didn't you now, [name]-chan?" dazai exclaimed, his lips twitching into a smirk, "you had your background completely erased when you joined the port mafia, but the truth is that you used to be a member of heiwa, the organization that runs tokyo. you went there to completely cut ties with them, only to run into him, and before you ask how i knew that, it's because of geto suguru's background. i couldn't help but recall your expression and reaction when he was mentioned in our last meeting with the higher-ups. you two were once under heiwa's command, but he defected and you soon followed."

you chuckled, "looks like you two really do love me that much." instead of a smirk on your face this time, it was a genuine smile, "good job."

the night parade of a hundred demons was an understatement. the cursed man himself dispatched over two thousand mutilated monstrosities to bring down the port mafia. you were on the front lines with dazai and chuuya, as well as a large number of the organization's subordinates.

the port mafia was losing members one by one, including your own group, which was agitating you. those cursed beings were no laughing matter for those without abilities was unfortunate, but you had to persevere despite everything. there was no time for you to wallow in guilt, and there will be no tears shed either.

"tch, your ex-best friend sure is shit, gojo," chuuya scoffed, his eyes narrowing at the new swarm of monstrosities charging towards you and everyone else.

although the three of you had been fighting and moving forward for what seemed like an eternity, it was becoming infuriating and vexing.

"tell me about it," you sighed deeply, arms folded and a single hand cupped your face.

"so much for lovers' quarrels," dazai remarked, shaking his head with a soft chuckle.

you snorted, pointing at him and chuuya, saying, "you're one to talk," to which dazai and chuuya gagged and held disgusted expressions.

"WE ARE NOT A THI—chuuya began to argue when a broken air conditioner was sent flying towards your direction from behind, causing him to scream in concern instead, "GOJO!"

the broken air conditioner merely hit something else, and an unseen force miraculously protected you just as chuuya was about to shield you. chuuya's eyes widened with the rest of them. before it could even make contact with you, the air conditioner that was facing you shattered into pieces.

what was that just now? why weren't you hurt? there is not a single scratch or piece of debris on you either.

you clicked your tongue in annoyance as you turned around to see a tall man dressed in a white outfit and blue sunglasses holding a rope in front of the monstrosities behind him.

"let me introduce myself; my name is miguel, and I'm your opponent, gojo [name]," he said, a grin on his face and a hand on his hip.

before chuuya could finish his sentence, you had turned your head over your shoulder and grabbed the bandages covering your eyes, loosening them with a single pull to reveal an eccentric, electric blue iris filled with pure rage. there it was once more. your mask has slipped; your entire playful and casual exterior had been wiped clean.

"sorry, but you're running on thin ice."

you had vanished from view, leaving only a brief disturbance in the air, only to reappear where your opponent was. the man whipped his rope towards you, only for you to flick it upwards with your hand.

'that rope of his has something unusual woven into it.' you thought, narrowing your eyes.

you quickly shifted your attention away from your thoughts and extended your right hand, not breaking eye contact with miguel, saying, "you're in the way."

a luminous red ball appeared and darted towards the monstrosity that was being shot down by the port mafia's subordinates as well as chuuya and his gravity manipulation, blowing a hole right in its face and effortlessly destroying all the glass panes and foundations of all the surrounding buildings, leaving behind a much more massive mass of destruction and a series of gasps and surprised looks from the port mafia. you just obliterated that thing as if it were nothing at all.

"what the fuck was that just now?!" chuuya exclaimed, clutching his hat, which was nearly blown away by the violent wind caused by your ability, "gojo could do that this entire time?!”

"my, my, our [name]-chan just snapped," dazai whistled, merely shrugging his shoulders at chuuya and the rest of their men's reactions to you as his black coat flew in the air from the immense turbulence of air in the atmosphere.

dazai couldn't take his gaze away from you, especially the crystalline blue that was exposed by your bandages. this was the first time he saw the six eyes you possessed, the true reason mori recruited and agreed to a deal with you.

you weren't just an ordinary ability user. you were a valuable asset to have, especially with your raw, untamed strength right now. dazai knew you were hiding something from the moment he met you through mori, and he could tell just by deduction, but he, like chuuya, was surprised; dazai didn't expect you to be this dangerously strong, with such an ability. In his eyes, you were a dangerous yet beautiful storm.

a terrifying force to be reckoned with.

miguel lunged at you while simultaneously using his rope, and you retaliated without hesitation. you easily avoided all of his hits and whips before taking a high jump back. miguel used his rope to grab and break electrical lines, but you simply jumped high enough to avoid the electricity leaking from the lines and manipulated that same unseen force to cut through and cause a smoke explosion from the collision.

leaping and bursting from the debris and smoke in mid-air, you immediately clasped your hands together and vanished out of sight, just in time for another one of those damned things to jump on you.

as the demonic creature that tried to get you fell and crashed to the ground from the building, miguel used his rope once more, this time to swing himself upwards at you who was somehow upside down in mid-air this time, but he merely crashed into that same unseen force that chuuya couldn't figure out.

with that, you flipped yourself upright and thrust your leg upwards then downwards, kicking him down with such force that miguel crashed to the ground alongside dazai, chuuya, and the other port mafia members.

even so, you didn't give your opponent a chance to catch his breath. you immediately engaged him in hand-to-hand combat, sending aggressive and domineering attacks one after the other with such precision and speed that miguel couldn't block any hit you sent him.

you literally gave nakahara chuuya, the mafia's deemed strongest martial artist, a run for his money. it was just straight up harassment at this point, and the fact that you were raining hell on him while wearing an indecipherable expression on your face was terrifying. your opponent coughed up blood as you threw and punched him towards a broken lamppost, delivering the finishing blow.

"oi, oi, [name]-chan, you're not going to leave us in the dust, are you?" dazai's voice trailed behind you, and his voice alone was enough to bring you back to reality, especially since you were about to walk back towards miguel with your right hand outstretched, presumably to construct another one of those red spheres.

"oops, looks like i overdid it," you smirked as you straightened your posture and looked over your shoulder to see him and chuuya approaching you.

"tch, why the fuck were you messing around this whole time when you have that ability?" chuuya focused his gaze on you.

"consider it my surprise, chuuya-kun," you chuckled, placing a hand on your hip.

your conversation was immediately cut off short however when a new presence had made himself known. the three of you averted your gaze and found yourselves coming face to face with a tall, slim man with long black hair partially tied up behind his head while the rest draped down his back, sporting a gold-colored kasaya garment over black yukata robes. he stared at you, then at dazai and chuuya who returned his stare with a dark glare.

"i didn't expect you to replace shoko and i with those two already," he exclaimed, pretending to be hurt as he feigned a frown, "you sure are cruel, [name]."

dazai and chuuya exchanged a brief glance as they took a step forward, almost as if they were both standing guard in front of you. you couldn't help but feel your lips twitched into a smirk. you've only known them for a short time, but their actions were sufficient to provide the big picture.

dazai and chuuya, on the other hand, didn't like how this young man was so familiar with you. although it was obvious that you and suguru used to be members of the same organization and best friends, he was a traitor, and chuuya, who was known for his unwavering loyalty, found this unacceptable.

who did he think he was for returning to you, let alone declaring war on the port mafia?

without another word, dazai immediately equipped himself with a gun, and chuuya activated his gravitational control ability as you completely removed the bandages covering your eyes, allowing yourself to make direct eye contact with geto suguru himself, even if it meant it would be the last time you'd see him with your very six eyes, and knowing how extremely painful it would be.

as you had already defected from heiwa, you had made a deal with the port mafia and pledged your loyalty. there was no going back now. you made the decision to stop him and protect the other children much younger than you back at heiwa from him.

work in dark to serve light.

so, with a heavy heart, you, along with dazai osamu and nakahara chuuya, attacked.

after closing the record file and putting away the worn out bandage and hair tie, as well as his pen, ango took hold of his glasses and adjusted them before sighing.

"in the memorable night of the night parade of a hundred demons, dazai osamu, nakahara chuuya, and gojo [name] defeated an enemy organization in a short amount of time, and as a result, they were dubbed as miekuro among other underground organizations. they are also known as "yokohama's vicious trio" after that."

(fun fact: 三重 (mie) means triple, and 黒 (kuro) means black.)

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

Colin Firth, filming Lockerbie and embodying Dr Jim Swire, 88, in Glasgow as he sported Jim's famous 'Lockerbie: The Truth Must Be Known' badge. 📸 © Wattie Cheung

Sky drama and Peacock “Lockerbie”.

It's not the one original series "Lockerbie," about the 1988 flight disaster. Sky and Peacock began filming in Scotland in February and BBC, Netflix and MGM started programming in March.

The cast members in Lockerbie Colin Firth (The King’s Speech, A Single Man, The Staircase) join Catherine McCormack (Slow Horses, Temple, Lucan) to play Jane Swire opposite Firth’s Dr Jim Swire.

Known as the Lockerbie bombing and the Lockerbie air disaster in the UK, it was described by Scotland's Lord Advocate as the UK's largest criminal inquiry led by the smallest police force in Britain, Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary.

The five-part series, featuring Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth, is based on the tragic Lockerbie terror attack on 21st December 1988 when Pan Am flight 103 from London to New York exploded over the Dumfries and Galloway town, killing all 259 on board and 11 residents.

Colin Firth, will play Dr Jim Swire, a doctor who lost his daughter, Flora, in the 1988 tragedy. Writers also took inspiration from Jim's book, The Lockerbie Bombing: A Father's Search for Justice.

In the wake of the disaster, Dr Jim Swire (Firth), is nominated spokesperson for the UK victims’ families, who have united to demand truth and justice. Travelling across continents and political divides, Jim embarks on a relentless journey that not only jeopardises his stability, family and life, but completely overturns his trust in the justice system. As the truth shifts under Jim’s feet, his view of the world is left forever sullied.

Colin dyed his hair a whitish shade of grey to match Jim's and wore a tartan tie. 📸 © Wattie Cheung

Firth was seen on the set of the new drama in Linlithgow, which will close several roads in the east end and city centre during the filming. Colin was spotted in character and has taken on the role of Jim, 88, the father of one of the 270 victims of the 21st December 1988 Lockerbie bombing.

At the back of Colin's briefcase was a drawing of Jim's daughter, Flora Swire, who was on her way to the US to spend Christmas with her boyfriend when Libyan terrorists blew up the plane.

The real Jim (pictured in 2015) became famous after the bombing for his relentless lobbying towards a solution for the difficulties in bringing suspects in the original bombing to trial 📸 © PA

The series is based on the book The Lockerbie Bombing: A Father’s Search for Justice by Jim Swire and Peter Biddulph – as well as other sources.

Lockerbie bombing, The new drama, Flight 103: Film crew in Linlithgow to work on, have been spotted in Glasgow as filming begins in the city. Road closures are in place as filming kick starts.

A film crew is currently filming in Linlithgow working on a new TV series based on the Lockerbie disaster.

Linlithgow is situated between Edinburgh and Glasgow, to the south of the Firth of Forth and on the edge of Linlithgow Loch. Linlithgow Palace, Stewart residence, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, and rest stop between Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle.

It had been noticed for its similarity to the original Pan Am Flight 103 which exploded over the town of Dumfries and Galloway, 40 minutes into its flight from London to New York.

@getty Images

Scottish playwright David Harrower (Blackbird, Knives in Hens) is the lead writer. Maryam Hamidi (Vigil) is guest writer on an episode. Additional writing comes from Jim, Kirsten and Naomi Sheridan.

BAFTA Award-winning Otto Bathurst (Peaky Blinders, The Winter King) is lead director. Jim Loach (Save Me) will also direct an episode. Gareth Neame and Nigel Marchant are Executive Producers for Carnival Films. Sam Hoyle is Executive Producer for Sky Studios. Additional Executive Producers include David Harrower, Otto Bathurst, Liz Trubridge, Jim Sheridan, Kirsten Sheridan and Oskar Slingerland.

A true story with an Academy Award®-winning actor Colin Firth not to be missed 📍

#Lockerbie #ColinFirth #DrJimSwire #book #TheLockerbieBombing: AFather'sSearchfor Justice #SKY #Peacok #truestory #bombing #CatherineMcCormack #Linlithgow #Scotland #PanAmflight103 #DumfriesandGalloway #disaster #filming #newdrama #FloraSwire #JaneSwire #series #Libyanterrorists #plane #LockerbieairdisasterintheUK #policeforce

A release date for the series hasn't yet been set.

Posted 6th March 2024

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Jeff Arnold

Published: Apr 4, 2024

Before U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman “came out” as a secular humanist, those closest to the California congressman warned separating himself from the rest of Capitol Hill could produce disastrous results.

Yet, Huffman, D-C.A., remains part of a super minority of U.S. politicians who remain uncommitted to a specific faith group.

Among the 118th Congress, 88% of Congress identifies as Christian at a time when almost 30% of Americans are characterized as “religious nones,” according to a 2023 Pew Research poll. Only Huffman and Arizona independent Kyrsten Sinema check the box of religiously unattached or unbelieving — making up 0.2% of the 535-member lawmaking body.

Many candidates and lawmakers alike are leery to identify as anything but Christian, Huffman says, fearing political backlash. He says it makes him the only legislator “the only one dumb enough” to become what he refers to as a “religious oddity.”

“That really puts me in a league of my own,” Huffman told NewsNation.

To believe or not to believe

Huffman was once devoutly Mormon and even a member of the denomination’s priesthood.

But after checking the Humanist box, the Democrat says he is among a quietly growing number of politicians who are uncomfortable with being forced into a religious box, which he finds limiting while the majority of his congressional colleagues represent a Christian category that has several denominational sectors.

New Jersey state Sen. Andrew Zwicker has stepped out even further.

Zwicker considers himself a “multi-generational atheist” who jokes he has been in more churches, temples, synagogues, and other houses of worship since he was elected than ever before.

Yet, his standing as a non-believer and blue state representative has not cost him in ways it might in more conservative parts of the country.

“It’s not about what I believe or don’t believe in,” Zwicker told NewsNation. “It’s more about, we are a country of … all faiths and the freedom to have any faith or no faith at all.”

Huffman initially had concerns about how voters would react to what he jokingly refers to as his “leap of faith.”

A 2020 Gallup poll of voters showed that 40% said they would not vote for an atheist for president, which ranked as one of the largest percentages among several categories. It only trailed “socialists” — of which 55% of voters indicated they would not support.

But in a progressive district, Huffman captured 72% of the vote in the California primary election this March. He faces Republican Chris Coulombe in November.

Does being a believer equate to trust?

Azhar Majeed, the director of government affairs for the Center For Inquiry, told NewsNation that politicians who identify as persons of faith have become co-mingled with being a decent person who will do the right thing and choosing to classify as an unbeliever can often be met with negativity.

“The question, I think in many voters’ minds is, ‘Is this a trustworthy person? Is this somebody who will do the right thing and have my interests in mind as a voter?'” Majeed said.

In the 1970s, Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority carried a significant Washington influence. In the 1980s, one of President Ronald Reagan’s most important speeches came before religious broadcasters.

NewsNation political contributor George Will says in 2024, however, the political tide has turned in matters of faith.

Will, a self-identified atheist who “doesn’t make a deal of it,” says that among the most important questions to be asked is whether a political candidate cares about potential constituents.

“Very few people, it seems to me, say (a candidate) is unchurched, therefore, he’s ungodly, and therefore, he’s untrustworthy, unworthy, and disagreeable,” Will said. “I don’t think many people reason like that anymore.”

Yet, for many politicians, identifying as Christian means that “you’re not offending very many people and you’re pleasing a lot more people.”

Sinema, Congress’ other 0.2 percenter, was raised Mormon. But since leaving that faith group, she has stopped short of considering herself an atheist. When she was sworn into office, she did so by holding a bound copy of the U.S. Constitution rather than the Bible.

A spokesman told CBS News that Sinema’s choice had more to do with her fondness for the Constitution rather than a defiant act of non-belief.  Sinema’s office did not respond to NewsNation’s interview request.

Huffman, the card-carrying Humanist, technically considers himself an atheist.

Humanists believe in “good without God” and base their beliefs on science and rationality, Huffman said. They also are committed to a moral obligation to those around them as human beings and do not subscribe to incentives for an afterlife or a penalty toward hell.

Atheism, meanwhile, is not an affirmative belief there is no god, but instead, a rejection of the assertion that there are gods, according to the website for American Atheists.

Huffman agrees that there is still a clear stigma linked to the word which he calls an “incomplete label” that prioritizes atheists don’t believe rather than what they’re for.”

While Zwicker isn’t shy about his atheism, he says he doesn’t lead with it either, avoiding a trap that some conventional wisdom suggests may exist, experts say.

“It kind of becomes low-hanging fruit,” Majeed said. “I just think it becomes a line of attack that you are opening yourself up to.”

A growing population

In 2007, only 16% of Americans did not identify with religion while 78% considered themselves Christian, Pew reported.

By 2023, 28% identified as religiously unaffiliated. Among that group, 17% were atheists, 20% were agnostics, and 63% said they believed in “nothing in particular.”

Shortly after coming out, Huffman co-founded the Congressional Free Thought Caucus along with Maryland Democrat Jamie Raskin in 2017. The group started with just four members but has since grown to 23, Huffman said.

Despite the group’s growth, Huffman says that politicians tend to lag behind what is “happening in the real world.”

With more Americans choosing to lose their religion, Will and Majeed insist lawmakers will eventually do the same as they are a governmental institution that is representative and broadly reflects the contours of the country.

“Progress has been slow and it’s not necessarily going to be a 1-for-1 change,” Majeed said. “But with each succeeding generation, you’re going to have a higher percentage of Americans who are religiously unaffiliated. I don’t think that’s going to go in the other direction any time soon.”

[officialyourdailyinspiration]

A Psalm of David.

A Song at the dedication of the Temple.

1 I will extol thee, O Lord, for thou hast drawn me up, and hast not let my foes rejoice over me. 2 O Lord my God, I cried to thee for help, and thou hast healed me. 3 O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.

4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. 5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.” 7 By thy favor, O Lord, thou hadst established me as a strong mountain; thou didst hide thy face, I was dismayed.

8 To thee, O Lord, I cried; and to the Lord I made supplication: 9 “What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise thee? Will it tell of thy faithfulness? 10 Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me! O Lord, be thou my helper!”

11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; thou hast loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, 12 that my soul may praise thee and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to thee for ever. — Psalm 30 | Revised Standard Version (RSV) Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved. Cross References: Exodus 3:15; Exodus 15:20; Numbers 12:13; Deuteronomy 31:17; 2 Samuel 5:11; Esther 9:22; Psalm 3:3; Psalm 4:1; Psalm 6:2; Psalm 6:5; Psalm 9:13; Psalm 10:6; Psalm 16:9; Psalm 27:7; Psalm 28:1; Psalm 31:23; Psalm 57:8; Psalm 62:2; Psalm 88:10; Psalm 103:9; Psalm 104:29; Psalm 142:1; 2 Corinthians 4:17

[the-monkey-ruler]

Westward Journey Online II (2002) 大话西游2经典版

Date: August 15, 2002 / August 07, 2015 Uncoded test Platform: PC Developer: NetEase Publisher: NetEase Genre: Turn-Based Theme: Fantasy Franchises: Westward Journey Online Aliases: New Westward Journey 2 / Westward Journey 2 Classic Edition Type: Reimanging

Summary:

Since Pangu opened up the world, the heavens are divided into three realms, and the earth is divided into four continents. All ethnic groups coexist in Dongsheng Shenzhou, Xiniu Hezhou, Nanzhanbuzhou, and Beijuluzhou, thus determining the pattern of heaven and earth. All species originally coexisted peacefully: The immortal clan ruled and dominated everything from above, the human race admired the brilliance of the gods and reproduced endlessly, the demon clan was always sealed in the darkness and lived stubbornly but arrogantly, the ghost clan continued the cycle of yin and yang, and lived freely in the underworld... all things in the cycle of reincarnated endlessly, and tens of thousands of years of time flow like water.

However, an accident 13,000 years ago caused the Demon Race to invade the Immortal Race, disrupting the order of the entire world, and the Ghost Race gradually became stronger. According to the historical records of the Heavenly Court: On the day when the demons slaughtered the immortals, the sky and the earth changed color, the sun and the moon were dimmed, the terrain of the invasion was like a broken bamboo, and the guards of the Heavenly Court were like fallen leaves in a strong wind... It can be seen that the degree of tragedy is extraordinary. After this battle, the dominance of the fairy clan was also shaken, and the sealed demon clan began to wait for an opportunity to come out. Wrathful ghosts and wild ghosts were everywhere in the land of Shenzhou, monsters are reborn, and it is even more difficult for mortals to resist the demons in their hearts as hate and killing fill the world. In the human world and the underworld, ghosts gathered for a while, and the ghost clan gradually awakened in the chaos of war and came to the Three Realms.

In a blink of an eye, it was the Tang Dynasty. It is said that one day, the Tathagata Buddha summoned all the Buddhas, Arrows, Jiedi, Bodhisattvas, arhats, monks, and nuns in the Daleiyin Temple of Lingshan to give lectures on the Dharma. He talked about the great numbers of the world and the good and evil of all living beings. Immediately, his compassion arose, so he summoned Guanshiyin Bodhisattva from the South China Sea, saying that there is a Tripitaka of Mahayana Buddhism, which can transcend the souls of the dead, free them from suffering, and make life and body invincible. However, those who have a predestined relationship with Buddha need to pray sincerely and overcome ninety-nine and eighty-one difficulties. Only by getting rid of the shackles of the physical body can he retrieve it; then he uses this scripture to pass on to the Eastern Tang Dynasty, and it can relieve the calamity between heaven and earth. So Guanyin enlightened the Buddhist monks to go west to learn Buddhist scriptures. Helplessly, the world has been determined, and the path to learn from the scriptures is doomed to be full of hardships.

At this time when the world is full of numbers, when immortals, humans, demons, and ghosts coexist in the world, you were born in a fishing village on the shore of the East China Sea that gathers the essence of heaven and earth, the aura of mountains and rivers, and talented people come forth in large numbers. People in the village say those who are born here are the people of destiny who shoulder the important task of resolving the great numbers in the world. So, you are on your way.

Source: https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%A4%A7%E8%AF%9D%E8%A5%BF%E6%B8%B82%E7%BB%8F%E5%85%B8%E7%89%88?fromModule=lemma_search-box

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNeQlXej8YE&ab_channel=thitramy https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1aN4y177F5/ https://xy2.163.com/