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Netflix’s Witcher: What Makes a Good Adaptation? – A companion piece

If you’ve somehow found this without seeing the video first, here’s a link:

In this video I analyze the screen adaptations of Lord of the Rings, A Song of Ice and Fire, and the Witcher series. I use the comparisons of the three to discuss what makes adaptations in general work and to explain why I feel the Witcher is heading down the road to mediocrity.

However, this is a hugely complicated subject, and the works themselves are also complex, especially Martin’s work. I make plenty of claims in the video that a reasonable person could disagree with without any explanation for why I think they are true. Unfortunately, if I were to go down every rabbit hole that I touch on the video would be hours long, so I have to gloss over some potentially confusing or controversial statements.

Enter this post. Here I will be attempting to pre-empt any questions that I think people may have, and go through my thought process on certain claims. I don’t recommend that you read the whole thing. Each explanation will be followed by a timestamp and relevant quote from the video that I am expanding upon so that you can quickly search the page and find what you are looking for.

I’m sure there will be things I don’t think to cover, or things that are poorly reasoned both here and in the video, so feel free to ask additional questions. Just please check to make sure you aren’t asking something that I already covered here.

I will also be attempting to give as much credit as possible to all the wonderful writers and creators who have influenced my thinking with regards to these works. I’ll be linking as much as possible to my sources, as well as to additional content that expands on ideas I mention. Also I’ve included some personal tidbits and commentary, just for fun.

Under a cut for length.

INTRODUCTION:

Huge props to the people who put together the behind-the-scenes footage of LOTR. I’ve watched all the bonus footage numerous times in my life. If you have any interest in the nitty-gritty of how movies get made, I can’t recommend it enough. It really shows all the work and complexity that goes into making movies. That they even get made at all is honestly incredible, especially massive undertakings like LOTR.

[3:30] And if you've ever wondered what the hell happened to The Hobbit, to me it seemed like they were indulging all of these worst impulses instead of catching themselves and editing them out like they did in LOTR.

As soon as I saw that they were making three Hobbit movies my hopes plummeted. It just reeked of executive meddling, and of trying to make the story into something it just isn’t. Lo and behold, that’s what we got: sticking in loads of unnecessary and thematically incoherent material to stretch out the runtime and make it more “epic.” I couldn’t bring myself to watch past the first one, but Lindsay Ellis has an excellent video series exploring in detail what went wrong with the trilogy.

PART ONE: LORD OF THE RINGS

[8:40] If you followed the events and the chronology of the book they would just hang out with Faramir for a little bit and then the movie would end

Technically it’s more complicated than this because that’s already following the revised movie timeline. In reality, Frodo would have just left the Black Gate. They *are* moving the events around to some extent, usually by a few of days here and there, but they can’t move stuff together that takes place weeks apart or the whole timeline would crumble.

[9:55] You can call it the theme, the soul, the spirit, the point, or whatever else you want, but the great works of fiction have something at their core that pulls everything together and elevates it into art. It’s a difficult thing to describe, but I think this scene perfectly tapped into the soul of Tolkien’s work.

Huge shout out to Bob Case and his video “Blame of Thrones” for first introducing me to this concept and the language of the “spirit” of a work to describe this phenomenon. In many ways the first two parts of this video are merely building on the LOTR-GOT comparison that he makes in that video, digging a little deeper and looking at more specific and concrete (and spoileriffic) examples of what he’s talking about so that we can apply these ideas to the Witcher…and beyond. Like all his work, it’s excellent. His YouTube is pretty much inactive these days, but he also occasionally writes content for Shamus Young’s blog if you want more of his work.

PART TWO: GAME OF THRONES

Alright, here it is: the section that really caused me to want to make this companion piece. Earlier I mentioned that I have sympathy for the GoT showrunners, and I really do. Martin’s work is incredibly complex, and so this section dominates the blogpost because there is so much to explain and no way that I could explain it all in the video without incredible bloat.

First I should mention that I, and all the writers I am going to credit here, share a very specific interpretation of Martin’s work. This isn’t the only interpretation. I doubt it’s the interpretation of the majority of readers. Obviously, I fully believe it is the correct interpretation, but the showrunners clearly had a wildly different one.

People who have this interpretation express it in different ways. Joannalannister collects hers in her tag #the-meaning-of-asoiaf. PoorQuentyn expresses it here, and in his analysis of Davos, Quentyn, and Tyrion. Other writers express it in their own ways.

With my lit degree hanging over my head, I can’t help but see it as a problem of competing artistic movements. To me, HBO’s Game of Thrones is part of the art movement of the past few decades, namely postmodernism. Art movements are complex, but basically postmodernism is the cynical reaction to the sincerity of modernism which came before it. Cynicism is, I think, the defining trait of Game of Thrones.

But it is NOT the defining trait of the books. In my view, Martin’s ASOIAF is part of the art movement that we are moving towards, which is starting to become known as metamodernism. Metamodernism is a reaction to the nihilistic pessimism and cynicism of postmodernism, and replaces it not with the unbridled sincerity of modernism, but rather oscillation between the two modes. It can be both ironic and sincere, deconstructionist and constructionist, apathetic and affectual. Once you have peeled back all the layers however, it is ultimately hopeful and optimistic. It embraces a sense of radical optimism. In metamodernist works optimism is often radical because the world the characters live in can be so dark. But that darkness serves only to highlight those characters that can hold fast to virtue amidst such darkness.

So, be warned. If you believe that Martin’s work is all about controlling the Iron Throne, and believe that cynicism is for the wise and honor is for fools, we just aren’t going to see eye to eye.

[12:45] Ned is a competent northern politician who has some trouble adapting to southern culture. Through a combination of bad luck, some understandable mistakes, and a misconception about his position, he fails in his goals.

The show didn’t invent the idea of Stupid Honorable Ned. Plenty of people believed this, even before the show. Obviously I believe they are wrong. If you would like to read more about it I would suggest Steven Attewell’s analysis of Ned’s chapters that he does on his blog, particularly Eddard XI and Eddard XIII. Steven does a much better job of analyzing Ned as a political actor than I ever could.

[13:00] Most of these changes are subtle…the best example is the council debate about whether or not to assassinate Daenerys.

Many of the ideas in this section are pulled from two essays by turtle-paced: Poor Doomed Ned and The Argument to Assassinate Daenerys. Turtle goes deep into the details of the differences between the Ned Stark of the books and the show, and I skimmed some of their comparisons for my argument. Steven Attewell’s analysis of this chapter is also worth reading.

[14:09] It’s a good argument, and I think in the books we are expected to mostly agree with Ned, both morally and politically.

When I say “expected” I mean from the authors point of view, which of course relies on me being correct about my interpretation of Martin’s work. Obviously I think I’m right, but if you don’t agree with my interpretation you may not agree with this statement.

[14:16] Notice also that the supporters of the assassination: Littlefinger, Varys, Renly, and Pycelle are all villains (all except Pycelle are trying to destabilize the kingdom), and the people who oppose it, Ned and Barristan, are heroes.

Each of them represents a different sort of evil. Littlefinger is a scheming sociopathic villain. Varys is a well-intentioned extremist whose willingness to commit utterly heinous acts in the pursuit of his goals makes him a villain. This is because, as Huxley puts it, “The end cannot justify the means, for the simple and obvious reason that the means employed determine the nature of the ends produced.” Renly is narcissistic ambitious evil, willing to throw a realm into war to satisfy his own ego, and is totally uncaring about the lives of other people. It isn’t precisely correct to say that Pycelle is a villain because he represents the banality of evil. He thinks he’s just doing his job, but he’s morally bankrupt and politically corrupt.

[16:40] It would take too long to list all the ways that Tywin is awful, and everyone knows it.

To clarify, I mean that everyone in-universe knows it. For some god-forsaken reason, some readers seem to think that Tywin was just being effective after he unleashed the Mountain on the Riverlands and violated every military and political norm in Westeros.

If you are going to say that he is “Machiavellian” I would encourage you to actually read The Prince, where Machiavelli says “Nevertheless a prince ought to inspire fear in such a way that, if he does not win love, he avoids hatred” and goes into the reasons why.

[17:17] Tywin on the other hand accomplished a lot of short-term gains by being as treacherous and dishonorable as possible. But this has a cost: by proving themselves fair-weather allies they surround themselves with the same. Nobody trusts them, and so their allies scheme and betray them.

Oberyn and Doran are both scheming in their own way to revenge themselves on the Lannisters for the deaths of Elia and her children. The Tyrells poison Joffrey and scheme to spirit Sansa away to Highgarden.

[17:36] Ned failed due to a couple of minor mistakes, some bad luck, and treachery.

I mention a few times that Ned, and more broadly the Starks, get “unlucky.” Again, Steven Attewell does an excellent job of documenting this with his keen eye for how GRRM cheats political realities, but I’ll note a few of the many ways George has to bend over backward to screw the Starks.

In AGoT Catelyn leaves King’s Landing roughly around the same time that Tyrion leaves the wall, and both are on horseback. In order for them to meet at the Inn at the Crossroads Tyrion has to travel roughly 2,000 miles in the same time that Catelyn travels 400 miles. This is basically impossible, but necessary for the plot so that Catelyn can lose Tyrion at the Eyrie. If she had caught him somewhere further north she could have simply chucked him into her own dungeons and managed his trial herself.

Cersei has been trying to kill Robert for goodness knows how long with just as unreliable methods as “get him drunk on a hunt.” In order for Ned to get screwed she has to succeed in killing Robert at precisely that moment. If it had failed like every one of her other attempts she is most likely dead, because Ned would tell Robert the truth about her children as soon as he got back.

In order for Theon to take Winterfell, veteran military man and castellan Ser Rodrik Cassell has to stupidly empty the Winterfell garrison while he knows that Ironborn raiders are running loose in the North, not even leaving behind a mere twenty-five to fifty men that would have completely thrashed Theon’s assault. If Theon can’t take Winterfell, the Red Wedding doesn’t happen (as Martin has told us that the real inciting incident of the Red Wedding was the fall of Winterfell).

[17:41] However, killing him was a terrible idea, and backfired on the Lannisters instantly.

Continuing this theme, the Lannisters were in an absolutely horrible position at the beginning of the War of the Five Kings. They pretty much just have their bannerman in the Westerlands. Stannis seems to have the support of most of the Crownlands, and he and Renly are splitting the lords of the Reach and the Stormlands (with Renly having the larger chunk). The Starks have all the support of the North and the Riverlands combined. The Lannisters are surrounded by enemies who outnumber them on all sides. Killing Ned immediately jumpstarts a war that will almost certainly crush the Lannisters. That it didn’t took some very thin plotting and improbable developments at times, but overall George made it work. For more analysis of this, again check out Steven Attewell Blog: Race for the Iron Throne.

[17:48] Tywin was killed by both a guest whom he considered his ally, and his son.

I firmly believe Oberyn poisoned Tywin. Here’s a good rundown of the evidence. Beyond simple means, motive, and opportunity it also provides neat answers to lingering odd questions like why Tywin rotted so oddly and aggressively, why Tyrion knew he would find him in the privy, why Oberyn was willing to chuck his life away for a confession before seeming to have secured revenge against Tywin.

It’s also thematically juicy. I love the idea that Tywin, who so egregiously violated Westerosi norms culminating in the total breach of the social contract at the Red Wedding, was a victim of contrapasso. He can’t be protected by social norms, so he gets poisoned by his guest and ally. Did Tyrion know he was dying? Had he put it all together? Was that bolt really an act of mercy? Perhaps it was one final service to the Lannisters, to keep the dream of their alliance with the Martells alive. Who knows, but boy is it interesting to consider.

[18:13] his alliances fall to pieces, and his children are abandoned by even their own family.

I’m referring here to the infighting between the Tyrells and Lannisters (and Martells, though they never had any intent of staying true to the alliance) after Tywin’s death (though there was some before as well, just intensified after Cersei takes over from Tywin). Kevan forces Cersei to take the walk of shame, and Jaime and the rest of the Lannisters abandon her to that fate.

[19:41] Just like Lord of the Rings, and the Witcher, ASOIAF is clearly dedicated to anti-violence. Not pacifism: all three works have heroes dealing out retributive violence in order to try and restore justice.

I understand it might be odd to suggest that three works which feature so much violence can be dedicated to anti-violence, but depicting something is not the same as endorsing it. I would argue in the case of Martin’s work in particular that his depiction of violence, so un-romantically brutal and direct, is intentionally revolting, and therefore is designed to be anti-violence. Martin purposefully makes you want revenge on certain characters, gives it to you, and then forces you to stare at the inhumanity of this thing you thought you wanted. Yeah I wanted Theon to pay, but not like that. Yeah, I wanted Cersei to pay, but not like that. Yeah, I want the Freys to pay, but I don’t think I’m going to like what Stoneheart is going to do to them.

There is a certain amount of this in the Witcher as well. I can specifically think of one scene in The Blood of Elves, but I promised no Witcher spoilers.

The violence in LOTR is much more romanticized, but as Faramir says: “I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend.” The hero is still Frodo, who doesn’t fight anyone or anything in the whole story. Frodo is a pacifist, but his pacifism is enabled by others who are willing to fight.

[20:07] In a Dance with Dragons Daenerys allows the old slave-holding class to maintain too much power and so they immediately attempt to continue the old violence of slavery. Daenerys did not commit enough violence against the slave-owners, so they were allowed to continue existing, and as long as they existed they were always going to abuse and oppress the ex-slaves.

A couple years after the release of ADWD, an obnoxiously wrong and poisonous idea began to creep into the ASOIAF fandom: Daenerys’ violence against the slaveowners in Slaver’s Bay is dangerous and immoral, and peace is the better option. This idea was most persuasively argued in the Meereenese Blot’s series of essays.

I’ll quote some of the conclusion here:

“They are supposed to feel this generic distrust for everyone, and to fail to grasp that their peaces were actually quite successful. Dany is supposed to conclude — wrongly — that her behavior through most of the book was silly and foolish. And if you came away with those impressions too, it’s perfectly understandable…The whole plotline is designed to maneuver Dany into a mental place where she’ll decide to sideline her concerns for innocent life, and take what she wants with fire and blood.”

This idea, much like the idea that Daenerys is some sort of unhinged fascist just waiting for the right trigger, makes me unbelievably angry. This idea that I am supposed to value the life of the slaveowner and the slave equally, and that maintaining a “peaceful” slave-owning society is an acceptable alternative to violent revolution is so fundamentally revolting to me, that it turns my stomach even to write that sentence.

Some fans went even as far as to suggest that Daenerys’ occupation of Meereen was a parallel to the US occupation of Iraq, and that she was engaged in erasing an authentic slave-owning culture that she despised. If you read the above series of essays, you can see that they are, at the least, enabling that kind of thinking.

To be clear, I do not consider any slave society to be worth a damn thing. Anything that continues it is evil and all that attempts to destroy it is good. That being said, once again Steven Attewell does a better job than I ever could of rebutting the ideas of the Meereneese Blot, and explaining how the correct parallel of Daenerys’ actions in Meereen is the American mistake of abandoning radical reconstruction. He describes her actions in Meereen as abandoning a revolution half complete. I highly recommend reading it, especially if you are American.

Martin is not a pacifist. He has said he would have fought in WWII. He demonstrated against Vietnam. As far as I know, the first time George ever used the words “Fire and Blood” was in a book released in 1982 called Fevre Dream:

“I never held much with slavery […]. You can’t just go… usin’ another kind of people, like they wasn’t people at all. Know what I mean? Got to end, sooner or later. Better if it ends peaceful, but it’s got to end even if it has to be with fire and blood, you see? Maybe that’s what them abolitionists been sayin’ all along. You try to be reasonable, that’s only right, but if it don’t work, you got to be ready. Some things is just wrong. They got to be ended.”

Daenerys is a slave-freeing, slave-owner-killing Hero with a capital H. She has made mistakes. I weep for the lives of the slaves that she has thrown away by abandoning her revolution, by failing to give the people of Astapor the strength to defend themselves, by maintaining a false peace that allows the Meereneese KKK to kill ex-slaves in the night. I shed no tears for the slaveowners that she has killed. When you treat other human beings as property you forfeit your right to Prosperity, Freedom, and Life. Preferably in that order—I would prefer that a slave society could peacefully transition, that those who attempted to continue it could be locked up, and that bloodshed could be avoided. But sometimes violence is necessary.

Daenerys will make more mistakes, I am sure. I believe that she will swing too far in the other direction, temporarily. But that’s a topic for another time.

[20:57] She comforts the hound even as he threatens her and helps him on his path from violence to peace.

Sandor did not die, despite what the Elder Brother told Brienne. He uses his words very carefully, to suggest that the Hound is dead, but that Sandor Clegane the man is simply “at rest.” He has become a brother of the isle.

“On the upper slopes they saw three boys driving sheep, and higher still they passed a lichyard where a brother bigger than Brienne was struggling to dig a grave. From the way he moved, it was plain to see that he was lame.” - Brienne VI, AFFC

[21:40] If they don’t understand why Tywin is a villain then of course they won’t understand why the Others are the main villains of the series, and will probably replace them with some blonde queen. And if you don’t understand that the cold of the human heart is the real enemy than of course you’ll think you can stop winter by just stabbing it. Like Tywin would.

In the books the Others are the villains. They are what the whole story is building towards, much like in LOTR the story builds towards Frodo casting the ring into the Fire. Martin has said that he thinks that the finishing chapters of LOTR, like the Scouring of the Shire, were important, so we may see something like that, but the clear emphasis will be on the existential evil, and cleaning up Cersei or Aegon “Targaryen’s” mess will be a clear step down in importance. It’s something that the heroes have grown beyond, but still need to handle, just like Saruman in the Shire.

[22:04] There’s nothing wrong with liking Game of Thrones, or disliking Lord of the Rings, or anything else.

I really do mean this. I am going to be critical of things you like, and am going to praise things you love. People are different, that’s to be expected. I am not here to pretend that people should only like the things I like. I’m interested in what makes these stories work. I said much the same thing in my last video about some of the new Star Wars properties. People tend to get really attached to the media they like (I’m no exception) and that can color our perception of criticism. Do try to keep in mind that if you like something I criticize it isn’t an attack on you. You have a sacred and personal relationship to the things you enjoy that no one can take from you. I like all kinds of stuff that other people might consider bad, and that’s okay. Actually it’s great, because it gives us something to talk about.

I may genuinely hate Game of Thrones because it butchers something I came to love, but that doesn’t mean I have anything against the people who do like it for their own reasons. We’re all just out here enjoying what we like.

PART THREE: THE WITCHER

There is less in this section for two reasons. First, I promised not to spoil anything past the material covered in the show and I’ll stick to that here. Second—full disclosure here—I haven’t read all of the books because after Blood of Elves I got pretty bored and from what I had heard they did not improve in quality, and if anything got worse. Having already felt that going from the anthologies to Blood I was happy to end my reading there.

If something I say is contradicted by a later book that I didn’t read feel free to let me know.

[23:31] First I should mention that Sapkowski’s works are not on the same level as Tolkien’s and Martin’s, who are the best and second-best fantasy authors of all time. I have enjoyed the Witcher books that I have read, but they are not anywhere near as complex or beautifully written.

This is just my opinion, see above paragraph. I really do think that it’s a pretty common opinion though. I’ve read it before, and you often see people recommend the first two Witcher anthologies in a “if you like it maybe see if you like the rest of them?” sort of way. Book sales numbers also support this, though by all accounts they are exploding in the wake of the show.

But, one potential issue is that I’m reading a translation so I have no idea how good Sapkowski’s prose actually is. You get a lot of sentences in the US edition like: “it must be both bothersome and irritating.” Translation is art, not science, and passages like these make me worry that the translator is just translating each phrase without worrying about all the subtlety that makes language beautiful. These are minor examples of course, but they worry me about what else might be changed. So take my criticism of his writing with a giant, translated, grain of salt, in that I don’t read Polish.

[23:58] Despite this, Geralt the Witcher has been worming his way into popular culture for years, interestingly on the back of a series of video games

Google trends clearly show that the video games are what primarily generated interest in the character before the show. There were no English editions until around the time the games started coming out, and the US editions all feature concept art from the games on the covers. The release of the subsequently translated books after the games received very little attention in comparison to the games.

[24:15] In my opinion, that decline of focus on Geralt was the greatest weakness in the books, and the focus on Geralt is the greatest strength of the games. Because Geralt is at the core of what made Sapkowski’s story and world engaging in the first place. He is a fascinating character in a way that Ciri, who is a fairly standard fantasy “chosen child,” could never be.

This is just my opinion, and I explain why I think Geralt is so great in the subsequent paragraphs. Reasonable people can disagree on this, but I’ve come across more than a couple fantasy characters who could be generically described as “royal orphans with special powers.” It’s not exactly novel. Geralt is pretty novel, at least in terms of what I have read.

[24:49] He suffers many of the same psychological problems that characters like Tyrion and Brienne suffer from in Martin’s work

The technical name for these kinds of issues is “internalized bigotry.” This happens when you get treated consistently horribly by the society you live in due to some fundamental fact about yourself that you didn’t choose, and eventually you begin to believe and “internalize” their opinion of you. For example, people expect Tyrion to be unlovable, conniving, lecherous, and debauched. Eventually he simply leans into these characteristics, because in a way it’s almost easier to be what people expect you to be.

[25:48] To top it off, he hides all this inside a cynical and nihilistic exterior, he pretends he doesn’t care when in fact, he cares more than anyone.

The shot that accompanies this, of Geralt looking intently at what’s happening in the room while others tend to be watching with a sort of mild curiosity like you might at an unexpected circus performance, did an awesome job of conveying this idea.

[26:36] This was kind of a cool idea, but predictably their scenes ended up being generally less interesting and engaging then Geralt’s. Yennefer’s were sometimes fantastic but Ciri’s rarely were.

This was the opinion of fans that I most commonly observed. I don’t have any empirical evidence of this. If you have any that either supports or contradicts this please let me know, I would be fascinated to see it. I could see someone really loving Yennefer’s scenes, and I personally enjoyed a lot of them, but I don’t understand how someone could walk away from the first season with Ciri as their favorite character of the three. I’ll come back to this in a later section.

[27:40] In many ways the first two books, and the games, have more in common with Sherlock Holmes than they do most other fantasy stories.

Really a more accurate comparison would be Philip Marlowe since Geralt is definitely more of an American Pulp detective than a British one. I do love the similarity between Geralt’s Witcher Senses in The Witcher 3 and Sherlock’s detective vision in Crimes and Punishment. I can’t make the same comparison to a Philip Marlowe game, because no one’s made one yet.

Actually that’s not strictly true. There was one game that came out in 1996.

[28:12] But Netflix’s Witcher has barely a whiff of detective fiction anywhere. I think this has caused a lot of fans to feel alienated by the show, even if they can’t explain exactly why.

It’s not reasonable to expect people to know why they like or don’t like something. It’s a feeling, and unless they have experience with writing, narratology, literature, film studies, or just read a lot of tvtropes.org, they are not likely to be able to put their finger on what it is. This causes people to disproportionally blame the things that are most obviously wrong. The premiere example of this is Jar Jar Binks in The Phantom Menace. Jar Jar was obviously bad, but he doesn’t even come close to the top ten biggest problems with the movie. It was much worse that there was no main character or understandable plot and drama. Check out Red Letter Media’s legendary review for more on that.

I think a similar thing happened with Ciri, in that her story was sort of obviously underwhelming and so received a lot of flak, but there are deeper problems with the show.

[32:04] The third change is more subtle, but I’m worried that this Geralt genuinely believes in neutrality.

Just like Ned, the showrunners would not be the first to espouse this view. This quote in particular about “evil is evil” is obnoxiously peddled about as a justification for fence-sitting despite the fact that Geralt’s actual behavior doesn’t support it at all.

I don’t know for sure if the showrunners genuinely think Geralt tries to be neutral. There’s some evidence for yes in the first episode, the Borch episode, the Striga episode, and a couple of others. There’s strong evidence for no in the Duny/Pavetta episode. We’ll just have to see.

To be clear, when I mean “neutral” I mean in the face of immediate violence or injustice. Geralt often doesn’t care who is king, as he explains to Ostrit. But he won’t let a Striga continue to kill people just for coin.

[37:20] When the writers took away Ned’s best arguments for his actions, when they took his story of existential triumph, of not compromising his morals, and turned it into a simple tragedy, they showed they clearly did not understand his heroism.

See PoorQuentyn’s explanation of existential heroism, and how it applies to ASOIAF.

[37:58] In the books, Ciri and Yennefer are included in the story through their connection to Geralt, because he is our hero and the foundation of our connection to the world. In the show they are included before ever having met Geralt, and they take up time that could have been spent focusing on those devilish detective details that make Geralt’s stories and character work.

Originally this video had a lot of discussion about how well these two other characters worked, but it ended up being kind of useless because it comes down to personal opinion, and the writers failure to properly use Geralt massively overshadows whether or not someone liked or didn’t like either of the other two leads. Again, I get why someone could like Yennefer’s scenes. I get why someone could maybe even like her scenes more than Geralt’s. Anya Chalotra did great. I thought the writing was a little weak at times, but on balance pretty decent. Geralt gets the benefit of all his stories being straight adaptations, and she didn’t, so it was a pretty decent job.

On the other hand, I thought Ciri’s storyline was a giant waste of space. When I think of all the best moments in the show, Ciri doesn’t show up in any of them. She spends the entire season running away from and interacting with fairly minor and forgettable characters that did not need to be introduced in this season. Calanthe, Eist, and Mousesack were great characters and the actors gave great performances, but that did not make up for the fact that her storyline went nowhere and did nothing to justify its inclusion. If someone loved Ciri’s storyline I would genuinely be interested to know why.

[39:10] I do have some sympathy for the writers of the Witcher.

Many times in this video I mention sympathy for various writers. Moviemaking is a massively complex undertaking. If you know anything about the difficulty of getting these things together you’ll know that it’s an absolute miracle any movie gets made and takes herculean effort from everyone involved. Television series are arguably even worse because they are longer, more complex, and often have a lower budget despite that. The people involved are honestly doing their best, and I recognize that, even if I criticize the product.

[39:47] They are in this unfortunate position where they can’t really pull the majority of their writing straight from the books because the material isn’t really strong enough by itself.

The books are very dialogue heavy. As I allude to, the one scene that was very close to the book is that scene with Filavandrel and it’s just obnoxious because the two characters just dialogue at each other. It goes on even longer in the book. How well that works in a book is up for debate but it wasn’t going to work on the screen, and it didn’t.

These problems are not insurmountable though. You can put other footage over these monologues. You could have included some footage of Elves fighting in their war. You could have footage of the “cursed” daughters of Lilit being locked in towers or autopsied while Stregobor explains it. I get this is more budget, but that budget went other places.

On the other hand some great scenes that I think would have translated excellently shot-for-shot from the book with little additional budget, like Renfri and Geralt in the Alderman’s attic, are entirely cut. Ah well.

[40:25] Well, I have my theories, but it in the end it doesn’t really matter.

I have a sneaking suspicion that somebody thought it needed to be more “epic” than the first two books are, so we got all this princess and political stuff in early. If there’s any merit to the idea that this series “copied” GoT, it’s somewhere in here, just like how the Hobbit got poisoned with all of the “epicness” of LOTR.

[44:54] Lastly, I’m gonna do my best to put out more regular content going forward. I’m aiming for at least one video a month.

I place no limitation on topics. It’ll probably be mostly media analysis, but if I’m honest I’m just going to write about whatever interests me. That’s the best way to keep myself interested.

That being said, if you have something you think I should analyze let me know. If I’m interested, I might do it.

#witcher #netflix witcher #lotr #asoiaf #game of thrones #anti-got #lord of the rings #adaptation #video companions

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sarabia-pablo · 6 years

Text

@holdmyhopeinyourhands hey hun here is the translation of the Secret Friends of Neymar video, hope you’ll like it ! There is surely a lot of English mistakes here and there but I hope you’ll forgive me, my eyes can’t see them anymore lol

As the show is 1 hour long I've made descriptions of the moments that aren't that important and I've translated literally the most important parts

00:00 to 00:51 (nothing specil he basically thanks everyone, his friends and his teammates for helping him throught the year and the difficulties to become a better person)

00:51 to 10:00 : Gabriel Medina finds out his secret friend is Letitia Buffoni, who discovers her secret friend is Gabriel Jesus. Nothing very interesting is said. There are just saying thank you, receiving gifts, and giving gifts to little children from Neymar's institut.

10:00 till the end :

Gabriel Jesus : Let's see who'll be my secret friend. Look at it, here he is ! It's someone I admire a lot. He's a bit salvage, he's a bit salvage, he has a big leadership. He's still a child, he's like "no I'll do this myself" and he doesn't want to listen but that's alright I don't take it for myself. Everything stays on the field, the friendship remains the same *he laughs*.

*before saying who it is he watches the video of a little girl from Neymar's institute, her name is Jessica. He offers her a jersey and send her a kiss and whishes her a good Christmas.*

Gabriel Jesus : So ! The salvage, the good guy, the excellent athlete, it's my friend Thiago Silva. Neymar : Thiago is a sherif on the field. Thiago : *open the gift* what is it ? *it's a connected watch*. Gabriel thank you for the gift, I like it a lot. I didn't know it existed, I will try to learn how to use it. Thank you for your affection, not just for this but for all the gestures you have toward me. I'm very happy with our friendship and... for earning a gift that will remind me of you. Merry Christmas and thank you !

Thiago : *pick a paper to find out his secret friend* A little phenomenon *cute smile*. That's how I call him. He's a boy who brings a lot of happiness to the group.

*before saying who it is he watches the video of a little boy from Neymar's institute, his name is Kauan. He thanks him for his messages, offers him a jersey and send her a kiss and whishes her a good Christmas*

Thiago : My secret friend is the little italian phenomenon... his name is Verratti. Here is my present. I have a message for him because he's a very affectuous boy : Marco I wish you a Merry Christmas, may God bless you, your family, may you have a splendid new year and may all your dreams come true. May we keep walking ahead together in this new stage of our life, with a lot of peace and joy. Here is my present. Kisses. Verratti : Thiago, we've had the opportunity to spend a lot of time together. I wish you a Merry Christmas to you and your family, a good health because health is important and... see you soon ! Neymar : Verratti is a crack. He's a guy that I admire a lot as an athlete and as a person let's not talk about it because he has one of the biggest heart that I've met. I'm very happy to play by his side. Verratti : *picks a paper* I have to say the name ? He's like a little brother to me. I've known him for 5 years. He's sud-american. *before saying who it is he watches the video of a boy from Neymar's institute, his name is Nathanael. He thanks him for his messages, offers him a jersey and send her a kiss and whishes her a good Christmas* Verratti : my secret friend is Marquinhos. Neymar : Marquinhos, he's one of the most beautiful person I've ever met, he's an exemple both on and outside of the field. I'm always happy to play with him. Verratti : I wish you a Merry Christmas to him and him family. Now that he has a son he's going to see that Christmas time is an even more beautiful moment than it used to be and... I love you Marquinhos. Marqui : Hello Verrattinho ! I thank you for the present and and honored to be your secret friend, I hope it's a good present that I can have an use for and thank you from the bottom of my heart and see you soon ! Marqui : *takes a paper* Who is it ? Is it o monstro ? What a responsability !What can I say about this person ? It’ an inspiring person that has won everything and even more. *before saying who it is he watches the video of a girl from Neymar's institute, her name is Isabela. He thanks her for his messages, offers her a jersey and send her a kiss and whishes her a good Christmas* Marqui : my secret friend is Marta. Neymar : she's a queen of football. She makes the country very proud. Marqui : It's a responsability, an honor, I'm very happy, I thank you in my name and in the name of the whole country. Marta : So I'm going to show you the present my friend Marqui gave me ! Look at this, what is it ? (it’s a jewel) It's too chic, I love it, I'm going to use it a lot. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Marta : *picks a paper* top top ! *before saying who it is she watches the video of a girl from Neymar's institute, her name is Gabrielle. She thanks her for his messages, offers er a jersey and send her a kiss and whishes her a good Christmas* *well basically it's a woman named Suza, she says how much she admires her, but I guess it's not interesting to translate this part ?* Suza : My secret friend is Dani Alves. I can't believe I've felt on him. I'm sending you a small present but I hope that you'll like it. *he thanks her* Neymar : Dani is one of my idols, in football and in life in the way that he sees life, not only just football. I have a very special affection toward him. Dani : *picks a paper* I'm very suspectful about that secret friend. I run away from him and he keeps coming back at me ! *laugh* No, right, I love him, I’ve spend a lot of time talking about and to him. *before saying who it is he watches the video of a girl from Neymar's institute, her name is Daylila. He thanks her for his messages, offers her a jersey and send her a kiss and whishes her a good Christmas*

Dani : *talking about the girl and how he inspires her* this is what my objective in live is. This is not about trophees, about having a victorious career, it's simply leaving a legacy to all these young people and children. Everything is what you want it to be. Dani : so my secret friend is... Gigi for the intimates ! Neymar : Gigi is a fantastic man. I was already admiring him a long time ago because I'm a fan of football. The way he takes care of his career, and now he's sharing the lockers with me. He's training all day long, learning a lot from him, it's my great pleasure. Dani : Gigi this is my present for you. As I know you're someone who knows the values of things and as I always give a little bit of myself to my friends I'm giving you one of my favourite wine so when you drink it you always remember that you have a friend here. Gigi : Thank you a lot Dani. This is a very special present. You probably know me well because I don't drink a lot but I always drink things of quality, just like everything in life. Merry Christmas and I'm looking forward to see you again in Paris. Gigi : *takes a paper and laugh* I like it because he's a great champion. He's a very nice person. *before saying who it is he watches the video of a girl from Neymar's institute, her name is Graziela. He thanks her for his messages, offers her a present and send her a kiss and whishes her a good Christmas*

Gigi : my secret friend is Leo Messi. I gave you the best thing, because between ourselves, what can we give to each other ? We already have everything. Neymar : Leo... everyone knows that he's one of my best friend in football, an idol for everyone, I thank him for participating again with us, sharing his time with us. I miss spending him with him, our games, what we used to do outside of the field. He's a great friend . Gigi : Leo I'im giving you this present that I hope you'll accept it (awwww it's his gloves with his signature). Big hug and Merry Christmas. Messi : I'd like to send a message to Buffon, he’s a person that I admire a lot. We've had the luck to compete against each other and sharing moments on the field. He's someone who deserves a lot of respect not only as a goalkeeper but also as a person that showed how to behave in different situations. Messi : *takes a paper* Well, he's a person very simple, very humble. I'm very close to him* *before saying who it is he watches the video of a little boy from Neymar's institute, her name is Daquila. He thanks hze for his messages, offers her a present and send her a kiss and whishes her a good Christmas* Messi : My secret friend is Coutinho. He's a phenomenal boy. Neymar : I've known him for a long time, since the beginning. It's a great friendship. Messi : We're creating a great friendship between us two. Coutinho : Oh, for my daughter ? How cool thank you ! It'll be without a doubt very useful for my daughter when she'll be born, next month if God wants it. We're going to use it a lot thank you. Coutinho : *picks a paper*

*before saying who it is he watches the video of a boy from Neymar's institute, his name is Enzo. He thanks him for his messages, offers him a present and send her a kiss and whishes him a good Christmas* Coutinho : My secret friend is... Luisito (Suarez). Suarez : He's sent me a hamburger-like sweet ! I'd have prefered the hamburger to be real but right ! Neymar : Suarez, I miss him a lot because we've always be very implicated with the other, sending messages all day long. I miss these moments. Suarez : Coutinho likes hamburgers too I don't know why we're only talking about me ! Ney, Leo, everyone eats hamburgers. Coutinho : I wish you a good Christmas, a good time with your family, and I hope you'll gain a lot of hamburgers during this Christmas *laugh*.

Suarez : *takes a paper* my secret friend is... *before saying who it is he watches the video of a boy from Neymar's institute, his name is Emerson. He thanks him for his messages, offers him a present and send her a kiss and whishes him a good Christmas* Suarez : Cavani ! I'm going to send him 3 oranges as a present because we're from Salto and that's what caractarizes us. Cavani : we call our city the city of oranges, that's why. *he also offers him a hat* It's a present that represent us a lot. Thank you a lot, really I wasn't expecting a present that good. Neymar : Cavani is someone very special, he's a man who likes to win, to be active on the field, he's our matador. I thank him for participating with us. Cavani : *takes a paper* it's someone very calm, a good company. And he's deaf. He's an attack player. *before saying who it is he watches the video of a girl from Neymar's institute, his name is Raquel. He thanks her for his messages, offers her a present and send her a kiss and whishes her a good Christmas* Cavani : my secret friend is Angel Di Maria. Well Angel this is my present I hope that you'll like it and you'll find it useful. Di Maria : Thank you a lot Edi for the present, Mery Christmas to you and you family. Di Maria : *takes a paper* he's a defensor. He plays in Spain and he's tall. *before saying who it is he watches the video of a boy from Neymar's institute, his name is Joaquim. He thanks him for his messages, offers him a present and send him a kiss and whishes him a good Christmas* Di Maria : My secret friend is Pique. I wish you a mery Christmas to you and your family and I hope you'll spend a good moment with them and your friends. I'm sending you my present ! Pique : *well the thanks him without any special word so I didn't translate it* Pique : *takes a paper* He's blond, midfield. *before saying who it is he watches the video of a girl from Neymar's institute, her name is Giovannia. He thanks her for his messages, offers her a present and send her a kiss and whishes her a good Christmas* Pique : My secret friend is Rakitic. Neymar : he's a boy that I like a lot, we've made some bad jokes together. I miss every day conversations with him. He's a person that I keep into my heart with a lot of affection. Pique : You're Croatian but you feel very Spanish and it's been my pleasure to have been by your side for so many years. I wish you a mery Christmas and come back with a lot of strength so we can win a lot of titles one more time. Rakitic : *he laugh because Pique offered him a Sangoku doll* here it is. When I had my long hair everyone was saying that I looked a lot like Goku and now people are giving me a lot of Goku dolls. Rakitic : *takes a paper* well, he doesn't play with me. Last time I played against him it was awful for me but it was a very good game for him (poor boy) *before saying who it is he watches the video of a boy from Neymar's institute, his name is Carlos. He thanks him for his messages, offers him a present and send him a kiss and whishes him a good Christmas* Rakitic : my secret is... Mbappé (how cruel eirgjfeoigj). Special message : congratulations for winning a great title against me and my country. I congratulate you again, I wish you the best and I wish you to keep growing up like you're doing, we're appreciating a lot your football. I wish you a mery Christmas to you and your family, even better than this one. Mbappé : Thank you a lot Rakitic for your present, it's very kind of you and I hope that I'll meet you soon. Mbappé : *picks a paper* He's funny, he's funny, he has a big heart and he's an amazing player. *before saying who it is he watches the video of a boy from Neymar's institute, his name is Kauê. He thanks him for his messages, offers him a present and send him a kiss and whishes him a good Christmas* Mbappé : Ney, I'm your secret friend. I have a great surprise for you, be ready. Neymar : Kylian, my golden boy. Thanks for the present, I'll keep it with me and I'll cherish it (it's a boxer short. lol) To me it's always a pleasure sharing the lockers with you, train and play with you. Hug, my boy. Neymar : *picks a paper* as an athlete he's exceptional. *they cut it to talk about his institute, it's not exhaustive so I suggest anyone who's interested to check it out online. He also gives a present to a girl from the institute named Talita* Neymar : My secret friend is Gabriel Medina. It's easy to talk about him. It's someone that is like family, very affectuous, it's a pride to count him as one of my best friends. Gabriel Medina : *it's a pair of shoes* how chic ! Obrigado Ney.

//END

#it was a long Journey to translate it because it had 3 different languages lol #but it was cool #it's nice to see what they all think of each others !

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libidomechanica · 3 years

Text

But thee and

— A change the other then in the clenche had I, yet I trust to blame. Still would glide these delivers dreary

winged affectual divine armes, thought hues to sing: the grievances the vain to Mire. then children light. Bless your voice, Fair best of hope dropped hair;

Listenings of Night. as generous darlings that you so cruel, could not have her

spirted haild her spot of

Soldier wish she be adord, “

fly! Then a” was for thou be theirs—

God blesse, till Morning of the dove, some odoriferous earth its comminglèd, as well arrest a dwarf-

like a frown, and Arabys or powers and

though ’“tis not the floor” of your shirt yellows up all -

not freeze lifted of other he branching of his also a garden rain;

or seemed not boast; I was, as first: they durst proven a clear eater poor color a life doth shame. You have Helen, I draggd down old till dare not Maud in some point myself warm, the sun is nothings are, a median

For a tree? Sea! during prayed.

#poetry #automatically generated text #Patrick Mooney #Markov chains #Markov chain length: 5 #125 texts

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chris-hattori · 7 years

Text

When we see each other again

This is a short story, after the dark owl episode. Hope you like it and let me know, if it wouldn’t be awesome if something like this would happen in the rest of the second season.

Warning one: bad English.

Warning two: spoilers of season two

„ Plagg Please“ whine Adrien despairing „ Just one little hint. that’s all I ask!“

Plagg look over to Adrien, he sit on his Couch and look with the best Kitty eyes he had up to him. „No Kid, I can't“ answer he for the tenth time, in the half hour since they where back home. Adrien slump back in his seat Plagg really wish he could give Adrien what he want, just a tiny hint, how the love of his live, his lady, look like behind her red black spotted mask but..

“ Camembert!“ Whisper Adrien suddenly. „ I give you as much Camembert as you want. No limits You can eat it all in my bed and throw it up there too “ offer he hopeful “But please Plagg. Tell me something!” The Kwami sigh sad. Now was the time, that Plagg had to tell Adrien something about himself. Something so important that his chosen would understand, why he can't give him a hint. Plagg fly down on the table. „ Kid there is no Camembert in the world who can convince me“

„ Are you doing this for your amusement?“ snapped Adrien

„ No kid“

„ And why then?“

„ Adrien. I know you are too young to understand what I’m talking about, but trust me there is no greater good in my life that scars me so much to lose. So even If I want to tell you. I can’t „

Adrien snort “’Greater good'? Plagg you are a God! What the hell, can be so scared about losing this ‘greater good' that you act like this. What is it anyway ?“

Plagg smirk sad „ My Wife Kid. She is the greater good and I’m not going to mess around with her and betray her trust“

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

„ Tikki?“ ask Marinette from her bed. It was the first time since they had come home from Alya, that Marinette actually spoke, with her half eaten cookie she fly to her.

„ Yes Marientte“ the girl sit in her bed and look with a jumpy view to her „ Uhm S..So. H..How is Chat in civil?“ ask she Tikki drop her cookie „ What?“ Marinette preset her chuckle together

„ Well, you have see him and i don't want know his name, although you didn't know it either right?” Tikkis blue eyes grows in shock “ I..I just want to know, if he is still my Chat“ added her chosen in a whisper.

„ Of corse he is Marinette. Only because i know who he is it doesn’t change him“ Marinette blush light „ No. I..i mean is he still tall and blond? Are his eyes green or have they an other colour? Was he nervous that I touch him or did he smirk, like he always do?“

„ Marientte I can't tell you this“ Marinette face pale, like something click in her mind, she let her self fall back into her pillow

„ Of corse, your right. sorry Tikki“ Tikki land of Marinett chest „ Mari where is this all coming from?“ Was is all ready happen? The shift, who changed all? Marinette look down at her „M.. my heart. It skip a beat when Chat touch my bare hand“ Tikki saw the tears in her eye corner. „ I…I think I’m falling in love with Chat and I can't fall for him only because of a touch Tikki. So please tell me something about him“ Marinette close her eyes tears roll down her cheek, Tikki fly up and hug her wet cheek. She hate this part of her Job, but at last the Chat chosen wouldn’t kill her chosen, this time. “ Oh Marinette” whisper she pitiful, She try to keep her own feelings down, she had to. Marinette need her now, but Tikki couldn’t forget, the green eyes, who had look so despairing at her, when she had decided, to let there chosen keep there secret „ I have seen my husband today and i miss him so much that it hurt“ whisper Tikki in a soft snob, “ Tikki” Marinette’s hand pull her closer on her cheek, so that both could cry.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

„ You are married?“ ask Adrien dry after a wile. Poor boy, Plagg saw how his face went from red to pale, Then again deep red bevor he had spoke „ Yes“ Adrien nod casual

„ I assume that she is Ladybugs Kwami“

„ Her Name is Tikki. Yes“ Adrien lean back, now he understand why Plagg didn’t try to blackmailing him with this information.

„ Plagg i don't ask you ever again for a hint about Ladybug“

„ Thank you“

„ But I want ask you something eals“ Plagg blink. ‘Oh damn, it was to easy'

” Kid if the next words content Ladybug..“ Adrien shock his head „ No. I give you my word. I just want to know everything about Tikki“

„ Tikki? She is…” The tiny god tipped his head “ She is my other half” Adrien raise his eyebrows

“ That’s it? She is you other half” Plagg nod “ And here I thought that you would be in love with her” For the first time he knew Plagg, the tiny god blush “ I am Adrien. A Kwami marriage is still a marriage, If I don't would Loved her with all my heart I didn’t had ask her to merry me” Adrien smirk “ So you do love things beside camembert” teased he him and pock him affectual in his still blushed cheek. “ I.. Would give her the last piece of camembert, when she would like it”

“ Tikki don't like chees?”

“ No, she always had a sweet tooth. She is the sweetest Kwami I know, that’s one of the reason I love her so much” confess he, his chosen look still at him with a huge smirk.

“Stop grinning like this!” Huff Plagg embarrassed. Adrien chuckle light “ Sorry is just.. You really are in love with her uh?”

“ How I already told you, of corse I am! She is my better half and I don't know what I would do without her in my life.” Plagg views softer a lovesick smile play around his mouth “ She knows things about me, sees parts of me, that i even know i had it in my until she find them. I love her, so much Kid. She let me feel good the way I am, but still she made my to a better Kwami or no i want to be a better Kwami just for her.”

“ Aww Plagg that’s cute”

The Kwami sigh “ Well, she let me always feel this way you know. No matter how much time will past, until we see each other again. My heart skip a beat and I feel whole again. She is my light, my happiness. My other half, i don't want do something that could hurt her “

„ Why you don’t talk sooner about her?“

Plagg smile felt „ It hurt to talk about her“ whisper he.“ To have her so close, but don't see her is painful for me“ Adrien’s eyes shows the pity he feels for his friend „ If you ever want to tell me more about her. I’m here for you to listen“ Plagg fly to him and hug his cheek. Adrien look surprised. It was the first time Plagg did something like this. „ Thank you Adrien“

„ I’m sorry that i can’t help you more right now buddy“ Plagg look up to him „ You are helping me right now with been my friend kid“

Adrien wait a wile bevor he ask Plagg to transform for a short run. Plagg agree immediately and transformed him. Chat Noir stand on the window and sigh deep. The way Plagg had talk about Tikki, hurt Adrien. It hurt him that his Kwami had to feel this, it hurt him, because the way Tikki let feel Plagg hole, he never felt, not even with Ladybug. He climbs out of the Window and start to run. He jump over the roof, Deep in his own troughs when he past his school ‚ Sid kick? Chat is a hero too!‘ Chat stop when Marinette’s voice echoed through his mind. A light smile played around his mouth corner. Right. Chloe had try to tease Marientte short after her birthday, for being saved from the sidekick instant, like her, from the main hero. It wasn't the first time people defense Chat Noir in front of a hard core Ladybug fan, but the way Marinette had Talk about him, with such a passion and the soft glam in her blue eyes , it had warmth his heart and let him feel dizzy the hoe day. The named heart that now beat a bit it fast in his chest. It happen to much lately when he thought about his Friend.

„ Shhhht slow down“ whisper he to him self with closed eyes he patted soft his own chest. „ Chat?“ Marinette’s voice let his eyes snap open. What was she doing out here in the death of the night? He turn around and gabs surprised „ Oh Ah H… Hi.. L..Ladybug“ stutter he guilty, like a toddler who got catch by his mother, doing something wrong His partner look worry at him „ What are you doing out here? I thought we had agree that we don't made the patrol tonight“ Chat nod quick „ I wasn't on patrol I.. I just need a bit fresh air and you?“ his heart beat in his throat. God why was he feeling so damn guilty? „ Yea me too“ They felt in a awake silence. Chat shift from foot to foot. This was so strange! There Kwami knows, but they didn't and…he blink ‘ Oh my.. That’s the answer to my problem!’ taking a deep breath, he nod to him self, he had to say it, at last ask her. If Ladybug would be up for his idea?

„ Ladybug i have to ask you something really imported“

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Plagg open surprised his eyes „ Kid this was a short run“ mutter he Adrien smile at him „ Had something imported to do for you“ Plagg blink „ For me? Wait why are we on a roof?“ Adrien lean back on the chimney. „ Chat is everything all right over there?“ calld a female voice form the other side of the chimney „ Yes Ladybug“ Plagg eyes grows „ Kid what are you two doing?“

„ Plagg?“ the black Kwami turn around. Tikki face light up. „ Plagg!“ she rush into his arms, her head knock soft on his chest instinctive his paws wrap tight around her shoulder „ What’s going on here?“ whisper he with broken voice. „ We thought that when you both miss each other so much and we have a way to keep our identities save. That there is no need for the two of you to miss each other“ explain Adrien in a softer voice. „ It was Chats idea“ correct Ladybug him. „ You had done the same My Lady“ remind he her. She giggle soft „ yes I would have“ Amit she

„ Kid that’s.. Thank you“

„ Your welcome“ Adrien look to the new Kwami „ So You are the famous Tikki“ The Ladybug Kwami Rup soft her eyes „ Yes. Hi Chat Noir nice to meet you official“

„ Hello Tikki. Is a pleasure“

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Marinette smile to her self. Chat really knows how to surprised her every time anew. She listen how Tikki talk with him. She sound happy and this made Marinette happy. Even that she wish she could spy around the small chimney and see her partner. Chat. Marinette lean her head against the bricks and sigh, her love life was going to be complicated when she admit that she really had more then platonic feelings for him. She shake her head. It all ready happen, she like Chat in a way that top the way she feels for Adrien. Great her heart was split in two and she didn’t know what do about it.

„ So Plagg this is Ladybug“ said Tikki happy „ Hi Sweetie“ Marinette look at the black Cat. „ Hi. Aww you are adorable“ Plagg grin „ I like you already“ Marinette giggle and stroke over his head „ Ah. He is adorable and I’m a hug Bug rat?“ ask Tikki playful. Marinette look apologized to her when Chat said „ Wait until she know him better. Then she will see, who the adorable out of you two is“ Plagg ignore his chosen and purred „ Oh Ladybug your sooo sweet, aww if Kid could see you now. Oh wait he can't“ Marinette laugh about Chats painful growl „ One day he will know it too Plagg “ answer she honest „ And until then, you two can see each other more often true the patrols, but only if you stop teasing him“ Plagg purr stopped, with wide green eyes he look surprised at her„ Wait this isn't a one time thing?“ Marinette shock her head „ But this is dangerous“ said Tikki worry „ Let it to us. We have to find one or two things out, but we can do it. For you two”

„ Thank you Ladybug“ answer Plagg with a trembling voice. He press Tikki closer on his side

„ We never had such chosen like you two“ Marinette grin „ I hop in a good way“

“ In the best way”

„ Uhm what do you say Kitty, a race around the roofs?“ ask Tikki Plagg smirk, “Only a short one. We don't want tempt them to much to look“ Tikki giggle and zip away, with a moody sigh Plagg chase after her.

„ Hey LB?“ said Chat quiet

„ Yes?“

„ Thank you for this. It means a lot for Plagg“ without looking, Marinette lean her hand back, until she find his hand to hold, with a smirk she feels her heart skip again a beat

„ I’m glad you hade this idea Kitty“ response she soft. The cold air brushed over her blushed face and she know it exactly.

„ Chat“

„ Hmm?“

„ Your my best friend and no matter what will happen, some day you will know who I am“ promised she honest, „ You are m best friend too Bug and someday, when we know. We’ll spend a day with each other and do totally funny stuff with them. Only the four of us.“

Marinette smile soft „ It s a date“

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Tikki look over to the roof with the two teens. There hands entwined, but looking strait in the opposite direction„ You know, it will happen soon“ whisper she to Plagg. Her husband nod „ I hate the shift“ agree he „ Well at last we can see each other more and keep us update“ Plagg nuzzled his head on hers „ Yea that’s true, but i hate to see Adrien down“ „ Me too. I think Marinette feels it already “ Plagg look surprised down at her „ What?“ The red Kwami nod „ She ask me about him. The way she did it and looked. She is falling in love with him again“ Plagg look over to his chosen„ Maybe this time is one without to much drama“ Tikki giggle „ oh I’m sure about this. But until then“

„ We don't say a single word“ finish Plagg her sent. She look up to him. With a tender smile she Rupp her nous over his. For a short moment, Adrien and Marinette could see, out of there eye corners, a pink green sparkling light.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Bonus:

Marinette lay half asleep in her bed. „ Tikki?“ said she soft „ Hmm?“ ask Tikki back near her pigtail „ I’m in love with him“ whisper she, Tikki pat with her time paw her cheek „ Oh Marinette“

„ I know. I’m sitting in the dirt“

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Adrien heard the peacefully snore from Plagg. His hand lay over his chest feeling his own fast beading heart. He was use to it ever time, after he sees his Lady, only that this time it wasn’t because of her. It was a bad singh and he knows it. This wasn’t going to work, he had to stop feeling this way for her, it was to dangerous and he couldn’t lose her or her friendship with his stupid, one side feelings

„ She is a friend. Marinette is just my friend“ repeat he in whisper, like a prey until he fall asleep.

Thank you for read this! I know there are many grammatical errors in this story and if someone of you want to be a beat reader. Please feel free to send me a message.

Happy new year

Chris

#miraculous ladybug #ladybug fanfic #plagg and tikki realshonship #im sorry i don't know how to put this under a cut #dark owl #ml season 2 #season 2 spoilers

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lati-will · 8 years

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Reincarnation As A Biological Adaptation To Natural Selection

Collaborative behavioral neuroscientists, Professor Todd Murphy and Dr. Michael Persinger, have steadily built up an empirical, correlative assessment of ancient metaphysics through the field of speculative research called “neurotheology” since the 1990’s. A bit of a slang term, “neurotheology” is acknowledged by its researchers as a philosophy applied to scientific principle; meaning that this philosophy is a transposition of a variety of ancient metaphysics onto the blueprint of the modern scientific method and the latest updates in fields like neurology, behavioral psychology, anthropology, physics, and even comparative religion.

Unfortunately, instead of being invited into the scientific community as a much-needed reassessment of ancient philosophy within the postmodern paradigm, Murphy and Persinger have of course met a great deal of persecution. However, the thorough methodology of their research, their versatile repertoire of data sets, and their novel application of the scientific method into the realm of philosophy and theology, has given them continuous support within the alternative research community.

Publishing his preliminary studies into a scientific journal in 1999, Todd Murphy in association with research and development from Dr. Michael Persinger of neurocognitive electro-stimulation technology, developed his scientific postulation that if reincarnation could be theoretically supposed as an axiom of life, then it would be because it was a biological adaptation to natural selection. Unfortunately, the mere cross-analysis of the two concepts in the title made many people dismiss it, but upon looking at this cross-analysis it not only becomes a smooth transposition, but a plausible one as well.

Since his initial development of the subject, Murphy published a book in 2013 entitled Sacred Pathways: The Brain’s Role in Religious and Mystic Experiences, which included a foreword by the Dalai Lama. To quote the book’s official description:

“Professor Murphy proposes that rebirth is an evolutionary adaptation that contributed to the survival of our species, and that the self is a hallucination, that God is a manifestation of our own sense of self, and how enlightenment appears after an avalanche of neural activity, making changes in very specific areas of your brain. He also believes that spirituality is a very positive force in the world, and in the lives of individual people. Spirituality, he argues, is an adaptive force that’s crucial to our survival as a species, and so is an integral part of our nature. An atheist who openly encourages prayer, The author goes well past the debates between skeptics and believers to see how religion helps us, without regard for the truth or falsehood of anyone’s private beliefs.”

The original paper, published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Near-Death Studies, boasted the enticing title, “The Structure And Function Of Near-Death Experiences: An Algorithmic Reincarnation Hypothesis based on Natural Selection.” Before moving forward, it’s important to note that Darwin was just another scientist proposing ideas based on his own observations, and in the present scientific community, his ideas are a bit too emboldened and are lacking in continuous and updated reassessment; however, the basic postulations of natural selection have been fundamentally proven in the sense of genetic adaptations to environment in order to further survival.

Now that the groundwork has been laid, some theory can be assessed. The specific fields being cross analyzed are Near-Death Experiences (NDE’s), in association with Out-of-Body Experiences (OBE’s), through altered states of consciousness represented by changes in electrical fields emitted by different aspects of the brain–specifically the temporal lobe. One of the four sections of the cerebral cortex, the temporal lobe, is responsible for “processing sensory input into derived meanings for the appropriate retention of visual memories, language comprehension, and emotion association.” Very much so, this can be considered the integral piece of the brain that allows humans to interact on a social level that involves analogical thought process (reading, writing, speaking, drawing, playing video games, music, even math) and especially dreaming. To quote Murphy’s study,

“It has been theorized (Persinger, 1987) that when our species first evolved it’s unique cognitive abilities, two parts of our brains enlarged more than other portions. The frontal lobes (generally specialized for extrapolating out into the future) and our temporal lobes (generally specialized for remembering the past). When this happened, people learned a new skill; The ability to remember death, and to realize that the same thing would happen to them in the future. The then-new neuromorphological upgrade software included a program for death anxiety. The fear of impending doom.”

In order to understand this “Algorithm of NDE’s,” there must be a few different angles fleshed for each step of the theory. Setting aside the evolution of the brain for a moment, it’s important to understand that the definition of an algorithm is essentially: a process that converts randomness to non-randomness (in terms of data sets).

Taking an excerpt from Professor Murphy’s paper:

“There seem to be certain grammatical rules governing NDEs. Although the research elucidating them is far from complete, a pattern of rough (we cannot emphasize this too strongly: rough; approximate) rules of thumb’ appears to be emerging. Examples include:

(1) In India, instead of an autoscopic out-of-body experience (OBE), the death process may begin with seeing’ messengers of death (Pasricha, 1986). When they call you, you must come. There are also a number of Indian NDEs that begin with an OBE (Blackmore, 1993). The same rule applies to Thai NDEs (Murphy, in press)

(2) For those under seven years old, the Life Review is avoided (Serdahely, 1990) and instead, a visit to heaven or a fairyland is in order.

(3) In preliterate cultures, delete the Life review, and substitute a spirit world , where the significant events of one’s life will manifest symbolically, as features in the spirit world (Kellehear, 1993).

(4) If an NDEer has been able to anticipate their death, (and presumably has had the chance reflect extensively on their life), they may skip the life review (Greyson, 1985).

(5) If your death has appeared unexpectedly, review your life (Greyson, 1985)

(6) If one believes strongly in a particular religious tradition, they may experience the being of light as they have been taught it appears (Osis, 1977, Pg. 37)). If one is an atheist, they may experience it as a ‘presence’.

(7) If one has come to believe that ‘all mysteries will be revealed at death’, they may have a transcendent experience in which the mysteries’ are revealed to their satisfaction. (cf. Eadie, 1992 & Brinkley, 1994)).

(8) If an NDEer needs help, guidance, or an escort during their NDE, they will encounter an Angel (Lundhal, 1992), or a Yamatoot (Murphy, in press). Long discussions are possible in which their concerns are dealt with.

(9) If an NDEer needs reassurance that it’s OK to be dead, they can see their deceased relatives and beloved friends. A joyful reunion with a beloved friend who have passed on may be just the thing to help them have positive affectual post mortem states of consciousness. One too young to have known anyone who has died, but you has lost a pet, can see the pet instead (Serdahely, 1989). If they have not lost a pet, they might see whatever comforts them; A toy for example (cf. Morse 1994, Pg. 62).

(10) If an NDEers life was marked by destructive behavior patterns, the affect of their life review may widen to include the effects of those behaviors on others (cf. Brinkley 1994 & Atwater, 1994, Pg.11).

This list of ‘rules of thumb’ should be taken as being both speculative and incomplete. Each item on the list could be regarded as an approximation of a real grammatical ‘axiom’ that influences the algorithmic progress of NDEs. Because NDE researchers haven’t been looking for them, it is not possible, at present, to state a real series of rules that will explain the functional connections between specific NDE episodes and their predisposing factors in all NDEs. Lundhal (1993) has been able to find a series of NDE rules, but these deal with likelihoods of NDE episodes, rather than their functional roles. In any case, it must be emphasized that the rules or axioms that govern NDEs will not be applicable so much to the experiences as they are to the states of consciousness that produce them.”

As the final quoted sentence states, the research correlates to not only NDE’s but also to other states of consciousness, such as meditative, “shamanic” experiences, psychedelic drug experiences, and most directly, the cycle of sleeping, dreaming and waking. Murphy postulates that the fundamental analogical aspect of dreaming likely made it an instrumental part in the development of the brain’s temporal lobe, and by proxy played an equally large role into the spike in sociocultural development at this evolutionary point in history.

Another correlation is found when looking into Dr. Rick Straussman’s clinical studies with N,N-Dimethyltryptamine, as well as the excretion of the chemical from the pineal gland of mammals during sleep cycles, heavily considered to play an integral role in dreaming. Preliminary studies also point to the brain’s release of DMT during the onset of the death experience. Murphy proposes that–whichever was the first catalyst of this chain event, the development of the brain’s temporal lobe came with the development of dreaming as a biological adaptation, which in turn produced the surge in sociocultural activity in ancient man. Supposing that reincarnation is as well a biological adaptation, it is postulated that it would have received development through the same neurological development that corresponds to dreaming, and the sequence of events previously described.

Yet, if reincarnation could actually be a biological adaptation, then there is one crucial blockade in the synthesis of this idea: how could anyone gain a biological advantage from dying? It’s a fundamental fallacy when first approached, but ancient Eastern perspective provides basis for an empirical scientific hypothesis:

“… NDEs appeared in our species even though death prevents the breeding opportunities that select for positive traits. ‘Survival of the fittest’ cannot explain NDEs in our species, because nobody survives death… Rebirth is [theoretically] an adaptation which contributed to our survival at some point in the history of our species. If this is so, then the specific mechanisms by which rebirth operates must be the same for everyone, because we all share a common evolutionary ancestry. A simple, first statement about rebirth is that: Information which enables individuals to adapt is conserved at death, and passed on to other individuals still undergoing prenatal development elsewhere.“

However, in order to entirely cover a working empirical explanation of reincarnation, one simply cannot leave out the two connected ideas of “Karma” during life and the “Life Review” after death. Now, the definition of karma in the east tends to vary slightly from ideology to ideology, but a definitive approximation of the law of karma can be described as such: Individual behaviors in one life can have an impact on following lives. “The theory of natural selection requires that the postulated death and rebirth process should have increased our chances for survival in some way. If so, then it seems reasonable to conclude that if behaviors in one life can influence those of another, that influence must tend to increase the adaptivity of our behavior,” (Murphy). To further stress the empirical approach to the process here, Murphy also states, “To say that rebirth is a mechanism to produce enlightened people is like saying that language is a mechanism for producing writing, as though language had no purpose before it was invented,” meaning that something like an enlightenment would be a byproduct and not a biological function. At least, not directly.

Murphy scientifically assesses karma in a person’s life as a “repertoire of brain states” that are either positively or negatively reinforced by the compounding of life experiences. Darwinism thus plays its role as a social mechanism with the development of the temporal lobe when it became increasingly valuable to easily, fluidly, and comfortably communicate with other human beings on a social level. Of course, this was not always so positively willed, as seen by the many social conquests of empires throughout history. This can also be postulated as being genetically maladaptive, however, when looking at it from a social standpoint instead of a primitive standpoint.

In any case, karma became a person’s cognitive portfolio of both adaptive and maladaptive social mechanisms that ultimately either hindered or helped them to pursue biological reproduction.

“A piece of computer software is the same whether it’s on a disk or actually being used in the system. The recorded behaviors are the same whether the records are in our brains or downloading to a next birth… The life review, we suggest, is the phenomenological manifestation of a state of consciousness which uses the effects of states of consciousness experienced in one’s lifetime to create suggestions for states that enable adaptive behavior during the next life, reinforcing culture-bound behavior and at the same time preparing to download them to a future birth.” -Murphy

It should be stated that being culturally adaptive does not equate to “conforming to a social status-quo,” but rather is a matter of exploring one’s own inner social potentials, and thus exploring more cognitive and biological capacities within an individual and within the their social environment. “The life review can require an NDEer to re-examine everything they have ever done. Not as they remember their experiences, but as they actually happened. When they remember having done something adaptive, and recalling it induces positive affect, the correlative state is marked for repetition in their next life. If they’ve done something bad, and it makes them feel bad to remember it, the state is marked for suppression in their next life. Remembering that it’s our cultures that tell us what is good or bad, the possibility arises that (if our argument up to this point is accepted) life reviews sorts states according to how likely they are to generate culturally adaptive behavior. Perhaps the life review is usually concerned with behavior because behaviors are state-specific. States of consciousness cannot be viewed directly, but the behaviors that act them out can. Re-experiencing an event will include a recurrence of the state one was in at the time of the event, including its emotional content,” (Murphy).

The part that is much more philosophically speculative, while never forfeiting the scientific method, is Murphy’s theory that a reincarnating soul (since brainwaves are Hertz radio waves akin the Earth’s magnetic field) is an electrical signal; he further theorizes that this electrical signal could be considered as a “soliton” in modern physics. Taking the basic definition Wikipedia: “In mathematics and physics, a soliton is a self-reinforcing solitary wave (a wave packet or pulse) that maintains its shape while it propagates at a constant velocity. Solitons are caused by a cancellation of nonlinear and dispersive effects in the medium. (The term “dispersive effects” refers to a property of certain systems where the speed of the waves varies according to frequency). Solitons are the solutions of a widespread class of weakly nonlinear dispersive partial differential equations describing physical systems.” If a “soliton/soul” is absorbed by the Earth’s magnetic field while retaining its solitary informational structure, it would be a basic matter of physics (an electromagnetic attraction) between a wandering soliton and a prenatal fetus or perhaps even postnatal infant.

In a final assessment of the variety of data sets analyzed here: Ancient man‘s spike in sociocultural development directly correlates to the biological adaptation of the human brain’s cerebral cortex (temporal lobe), and the initiation of analogical thought with the incorporation of analogical process (dreaming) during physical recuperation (sleeping). While dreaming by proxy strengthened mankind’s social contexts and civilization development, it in turn served as a precursor to an after-death experience. Dreaming allowed for the analogical processing of karma, which is considered as a repertoire of brain states that have been positively or negatively reinforced due to social contexts of the individual, which is contingent on his success or failure in society.

Upon death, the human being experiences, through their own analogical process, what is described by experiencers as a Near Death Experience (more so in ancient societies as shamanic experiences, since modern science has only recently allowed for the capacity for NDE’s). This Death experience includes the Life Review, which is akin to a software engine that guides the soul through its experiences and extrapolates from it what is biological adaptive and maladaptive, in order to further the success of the soul in its future social developments. Enlightenment, from a biological standpoint, is a cognitive metaphysical “byproduct” of this socially adaptive process.

While this is truly an incredible theory, it still stands as such; but the cohesive line of information that this cross analysis of “neurotheology” thus far represents is truly astounding and intriguing, and deserves further development, consideration, and scientific studying. An afterthought to this concept challenges the reader to take this information beyond the confines of their “ego.” It is considered by Professor Murphy, and all ancient ideologies that believe in reincarnation, that while the cognitive “soul” does survive death, it survives as a repertoire of karmic brain states, and that it does not carry any individualized traits that would be considered as an “ego.” Instead, the individual characteristics of the ego represent the context of each soul’s life cycle.

The idea of reincarnation is one of the oldest theological beliefs of all humankind, but still the question remains: Is it a belief, or a matter of physics? The hypothesis at hand suggests it is a combination of both.

Sources:

www.shaktitechnology.com/rebirth.htm

www.shaktitechnology.com/index.htm

www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2uZkPzJrZc

By: Anthony Tyler

#life #consciousness #natural #soul #science #physics #metaphysical #metaphysics #spiritual #spirituality #spirit #reincarnation #multidimensionality #articles

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witherlight · 6 years

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The Gods

Deus Rex rgis – (The God King) Reigns over all other gods creating balance between the three realms. He is the god of all life and light. A truly powerful immortal being, usually depicted as a large, muscular man, with a billowy beard, and holding a very large blacksmith hammer known as the hammer of creation. The hammer of creation was used to forge the foundations of the three realms and bring about life. Some legends tell of how the hammer of creation can undo any creation or create any life with a single swing.

The Elements are the children of Deus Rex rgis and Matris Vis who were lovers during the creation of Medius Regnum. Soon after the Medius Regnum was finished Matris Vis stayed in there to raise their children and nurture all life that resulted.

Vulcanus – (Elemental: God of Fire) Reigns over all aspects of the element of fire. Usually this being is depicted as a more spiritual entity made up of flowing magma and fire. There tends to be many statues and paintings that vary on how this entity should look. However, all agree that Vulcanus has ultimate control over every form of fire within the middle realm. They say that he and his siblings are bonded with Medius Regnum and can never travel from it. Even so, all of the elementals are exempt from mortality because they are the combined offspring of Deus Rex rgis and the Goddess of Nature.

Unda – (Elemental: God of Water & Ice) Reigns over all aspects of the element of water. Usually this being is depicted as a spiritual entity made up of flowing water and ice. The solid nature of ice has allowed a more common depiction of this elemental shown through statues and paintings in the form of a beautiful woman with long flowing hair and holding a trident in one of her hands.

Terra – (Elemental: God of Earth) Reigns over all aspects of the element of earth. Usually this being is depicted as a spiritual entity made up of stone and dirt commonly shown in statues and paintings as a large mass of rocks and boulders resembling a human like form. This elemental is hardly ever depicted as gender specific, but on the rare occasion that it is, it typically is shown in the form of a man large in stature and chiseled from stone.

Aer – (Elemental: God of Air) Reigns over all aspects of the element of air. Usually this being is depicted as a spiritual entity made up of long flowing wisps of wind and clouds. This elemental is most commonly shown in paintings as an elusive image of a regal man. The most popular depictions show Aer as an almost transparent warlord descending from the heavens.

Most of the legends say that Aer descended from his throne in Superus Regnum to bring order to the currents of the wind and in so doing allowed Medius Regnum to become free from the chaotic storms that wreaked havoc upon the land. However, there are a few less common stories that say that Aer could not control his own power. His mother Matris Vis petitioned Deus Rex rgis to use the hammer of creation to split up the power of the air into four parts. When the God King rejected her plea she took matters into her own hands. After calming her child, she then seduced him and bore him four children with which to bestow the power of the four winds. Aer still maintained his title still having ultimate control over all that is air. He then split the middle realm into quadrants that were given to each of his children to lord over. As the story goes, he governs his children from high in the heavens where he can see all of the quadrants and currents.

Aquilo – (Air Elemental) Controls the North Wind. The only depictions of Aquilo are ones showing a chubby cheeked face made from the clouds embedded in a bright blustery snow storm.

Notos – (Air Elemental) Controls the South Wind. The only depictions of Notos show a thin drawn face outlined in ice amidst the thralls of a monstrous blizzard.

Oriens Ventus – (Air Elemental) Controls the East Wind. The only depictions of Oriens Ventus show the face of a woman made from streaks of lighting embedded in the billowy black clouds of a massive lighting storm

Zephyr – (Air Elemental) Controls the West Wind. The only depictions of Zephyr show the face of a man outlined in dirt and sand embedded in the heart of a twister or tornado.

Bellum Pugna – (God of War and Conflict) Rules over all aspects of conflict, war, and ruin. This being is a manipulative lover of conflict typically depicted as man of large stature dressed as a warlord with blood red hair, fiery eyes, and smug grin. Usually he is shown riding in a golden chariot pulled by a black steed with the same fiery eyes. Sometimes there is shown a pack of rabid wolves running along his flanks. This god is worshipped by those who pride themselves on prowess in battle and war. They say that Bellum quod Pugna does not like to stand idle for very long. If there is too much peace upon the land he will manipulate the people to incite a war among them. Many believe that any conflict that occurs is the result of this Gods manipulation. His followers, though they appear content during times of peace, will thrive during times of war priding themselves on their strength and cunning in battle.

Affectus Dea – (Goddess of Emotion) Rules over all emotions, especially those composed from the heart. This being is a manipulative fiddler of emotions typically depicted as a woman of extreme beauty dressed in a thin sleek dress, if she is dressed at all, with flowing blond hair, large hazel eyes, and a seductive smile. Usually she is shown in a flirty or seductive manner surrounded by both men and women. This goddess is worshipped by those who seek to be in tune with their emotions, especially love and passion. The legends say that Affectus Dea is responsible for any heartfelt emotion. If a person cannot obtain their hearts desire, it is said that a prayer at a shrine of Affectus will grant you your deepest wish. Some seem to think that the God of War and Conflict and the Goddess of Emotion were lovers, often feeding off of the others power.

Luna Dea – (Goddess of the Moon) Controls every aspect of the moon. She is typically depicted as a young elegant woman dressed in an almost transparent silver and white gown, with long braided silvery white hair, almond shaped silver eyes, and sad expression upon her face. Usually she is shown riding in a silver and black chariot being pulled by a very large white horse with a silver mane with the moon in tow. They say that even though Luna Dea has no direct power over water, her power controls the tides of the sea. As legends would have it, she is responsible for ensuring that night comes across the land. There are some who speculate that Luna and Unda are great friends and this friendship gives Luna some sway over the tides.

Sol solis – (God of the Sun) Controls every aspect of the sun. He is typically depicted as a slender man with platinum blonde hair, golden tan skin, and dark brown or black eyes. His face is usually shown happy and smiling. He is typically dressed in gold armor and driving a golden chariot led by two fiery red horses with flames for manes and flames shooting off of their hooves. They say that Sol solis is care free and loves all life regardless of who they are or what they do. He remains completely neutral to all situations and conflict, as his only purpose and goal is to ensure that the sun travels across the heavens at a consistent pace without stop. He only wishes the light of day to touch every life on the face of Medius Regnum.

Matris Vis – (Goddess of Nature) Controls every aspect of living nature. She is the Goddess of all of nature. She governs and controls all aspects of life and living. She cannot give life or take it away, but as for the living earth she guards and protects it bestowing the nature of changes during each season bringing about growth and renewal in the spring, continued growth and the bearing of fruit in the summer, the reseeding and preparations for hibernation during autumn, and the time of sleep and rest during the winter. She is responsible for caring for all life as it exists and maintaining the balance of life upon the face of the middle realm. She is usually depicted as a tall willowy woman of extreme beauty and grace. The color of her appearance changes, typically to match the season in which she is depicted.

The legends say in the beginning, when Deus Rex rgis was forging the foundations of Medius Regnum Matris Vis was his lover. As the legends continue they say that the four elements are the results of their love. However, after the middle realm was finished being forged, Deus left Medius Regnum to attend to other business. Some say that he had asked Matris Vis to join him in Superus Regnum to rule over all of his creations together, but she saw the chaos that would ensue should she leave their children unattended. Having decided to stay all of eternity in the middle realm to take responsibility for the life that they had brought to this place she raised the elements of fire, water, earth, and air and taught them all what they should know to maintain balance for life

Abbas Vicis – (God of Time) Controls the very fabric of time. He is usually depicted as an average looking man with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes with no facial hair or remarkable feature to distinguish him. He is usually shown dressed in humble looking black clothes and his image is one that typically blends in with the people around him. The legends say that he has three wives with whom he weaves the fabric on which the tapestry of life is depicted.

Preteritus – The wife of Abbas Vicis that watches over the fabric of the past, ensuring that there are no loose threads that would jeopardize the well being of the present or unravel the fabric of the future. She is usually depicted as an older more mature woman with salt and pepper hair, light blue or silver eyes, and skin that is so white that one would think that she was a ghost. These depictions typically showed her hiding in the background dressed in a long black or brown cloak.

Tendo – The wife of Abbas Vicis that weaves the threads of time into a fabric featuring the tapestry of life as it happens in Medius Regnum. She is usually depicted as a young, yet mature woman of great beauty with light red curly hair that is radiant with life, dark blue or hazel eyes, and fair light tan features. She is typically depicted in the fore ground enjoying life dressed in a summer dress of some kind.

Posterus – The wife of Abbas Vicis that feeds the threads of time into the loom to be woven into the tapestry of life. She is usually depicted as a young lady, a woman barely of marrying age with bright golden locks of hair, dark brown or black eyes, and dark tan or brown skin. She is typically shown at the edge as if she was just entering the scene.

Everto Rex rgis – (The Demon King) God of the underworld; Controls all aspects of death, decay, demons, and devils.

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