#Blue Dragon Official Trading Card Game

[gamersonthego]

Gamers On The Go's Top 25 Game Boy & Game Boy Color Games

On the off chance you don't have 2.5 hours to listen to a podcast where Chase Koeneke and Matt "Giggysan" Giguere debate and deliberate over our shared GOTG list of the best Game Boy and Game Boy Color games of all time, here's the ordered list of 25 we came up with.

Same criteria we used in previous lists:

One game per series (only one Super Mario Land

No ports (so something like Dragon Warrior III didn't count)

Total remakes were allowed (is DK'94 a remake? Who knows?)

Only official North American releases

Look for Chase and Matt's personal lists later this week.

25. The Game Boy Camera

24. Metroid II: Return of Samus

23. Metal Gear Solid (Ghost Babel)

22. Mario's Picross

21. Mole Mania

20. Pokemon Pinball

19. Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble

18. DuckTales (Giggy assures me it has different levels from the NES)

17. Mega Man V

16. Kwirk

15. Shantae

14. The Final Fantasy Legend

13. Mario Tennis

12. Warlocked

11. Final Fantasy Adventure

10. Wario Land 3

9. Gargoyle's Quest

8. Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins

7. Kirby's Dream Land 2

6. Mario Golf

5. Pokemon Trading Card Game

4. Donkey Kong '94

3. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX

2. Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow

Tetris

And be sure to check out our lists for the Top 25 GBA games, Top 25 DS games and Top 25 3DS games.

[zaph1337]

Monster Hunter Rating 43: Ashen Lao-Shan Lung, the Rock Mountain Dragon

As promised, we’ve moved on to the Elder Dragons introduced in Monster Hunter G! There are only two of them, though, so it won’t be long before we move on to...well, Monster Hunter Freedom, actually, but there’s only one monster there, so after that we’ll be at MH2! For now, though, let’s see if slapping a new coat of paint on a monster I’m not too keen on helps its score any: say hello to Ashen Lao-Shan Lung!

(How it appears in Monster Hunter Freedom 1)

Okay, this is actually the only render of this monster on the wiki, so I’ll instead show you guys something special: the artwork of Ashen Lao-Shan Lung’s Hunting Card from the official MH trading card game!

Appearance: You’d think that something described as “ashen” would be black or gray, but Ashen Lao-Shan Lung is actually bluish, with the materials you get from it being called “azure.” If you’ve read these reviews before (or just looked at my blog theme), you know that making something blue is just about the best thing you can do to make me like it more. Granted, it’s not my preferred shade of the color, and ALSL looks more like a blue-gray, but I still like it. 8/10.

Behavior/Lore: Much like Black Diablos, ALSL are variants that get treated like subspecies, and therefore serve as further proof that the Guild needs to invest more time into education. As for what changed them, though...

They got sooty from living near volcanoes for so long.

Yes, that’s it. It’s not even a physiological change, it’s just a dragon in need of a bath. As you can probably tell, I’m not a fan of this. When I said that this monster had a coat of paint slapped onto it, I wasn’t that far off, and that’s disappointing. This very much feels like the devs wanted to add a variant/subspecies of Lao-Shan Lung, but couldn’t figure out how to truly differentiate them. so they just went with the most basic route possible.

For what its worth, the fact that ALSL spend enough time near volcanoes for their entire bodies to be covered in ash means that they give us a clue as to their habitat, something which is/was unknown for the normal kind. And it seems that they’re more aggressive than normal Lao-Shan Lungs, for some reason, ‘cause they’re described as actually attacking perches that hunters shoot them from, a detail which isn’t mentioned in LSL’s ecology on the wiki. For all I know, though, normal LSL’s could do this, too, and it just wasn’t mentioned for some reason.

Does it make sense that ALSL’s don’t behave differently from the normal kind? Yes, seeing as the difference between them is basically insignificant. Is it cool that they may reveal something about the Old Mountain Dragon’s lifestyle? Yes, because I’m a nerd who finds that sort of thing interesting. Does that excuse how little work seemed to be put into them. NO. Having the admittedly interesting qualities of Lao-Shan Lung doesn’t change the fact that they barely have their own identity in this regard. 5/10.

Abilities: The exact same as regular Lao-Shan Lung’s. Shocker. Okay, the volcanic ash coating their bodies is actually packed on pretty hard, so they’re harder to damage, and these guys do swat at hunters who annoy them, but that’s hardly a saving grace. 3/10.

Equipment: Now, THIS is where things pick up again! I liked the designs of the Lao-Shan Lung weapons, even though they didn’t always look like they fit the Elder Dragon itself, so making them blue can only be an improvement in my eyes! “But Zaph, I thought you weren’t a huge fan of the blue-gray color ALSL had. Are you sure that these’ll live up to your expectations?” To that, hypothetical reader, I say “remember when I said that this monster’s materials were ‘azure?’” To demonstrate my point, here’s the ALSL Sword and Shield, the Blue Ogre Sword!:

“Supreme Dragonsword. Causes even mountain[-]like wyverns to tremble with fear.” And it makes me very happy! The iridescent sheen complements the blue coloring perfectly, even though neither are actually present on ALSL. I’m guessing the smithies did something to the ash on the parts to make it look this way. I also like how the shield looks just like a scute from the monster’s back, albeit much smaller than normal. Next up is something that should look rather familiar, even though I never showed off this weapon type in the Lao-Shan Lung review--Dual Blades called the Demonic Flaming Pair:

The blades do look like they were plucked straight from the Long Sword, but they’re blue and I’m biased so it’s all good. Here’s some interesting lore, though: the weapon’s description calls it “[t]he master's last creation” and claims that it was “[s]o terrifying that it was sealed upon its completion.” Now, that raises some questions! Who was this master? What terrified the Guild so much that they locked the Flaming Pair up? That last question is especially intriguing to me, ‘cause nothing about ALSL's other weapons indicates any kind of lingering power that affects the user like Fatalis’ do. In fact, some of the ALSL weapons have positive-sounding descriptions, so if there’s any credence to the Flaming Pair’s description, that means that there’s something about the Dual Blades that stood out to the Guild. We’ll probably never know, though, so instead of obsessing over the matter, let’s finish the weapon discussion with a Lance called DragonSealer “Virtue”:

I love a good trident, and the shield’s cool, too. The eye patterns are intimidating, and I’d imagine that in-universe, some monsters would balk at them. As for what the description says about the weapon, “[i]t pays the highest respect, and is ideal for the proud.” I don’t know whether it pays respect to the wielder or the Ashen Lao-Shan Lung, but given the attitude the Guild tries to promote towards monsters, I’d wager it’s the latter.

So, the weapons were a smash hit, in my opinion, but what about the armor? When reviewing regular Lao-Shan Lung, I was deeply confused by how the armor seemed to have no connection to the monster itself, both in terms of color and design. Is that going to be a problem with these sets? Well, let’s find out with the Blademaster set, named Auroros/Borealis Ten:

So, the designs still don’t make a lot of sense to me (especially the women’s set; why add leggings that don’t cover the entire legs?), but by God, the colors are FANTASTIC. The blue flame pattern on the men’s set and the pink petals on the women’s pair beautifully with the armor’s blue hue, and since said hue is more thematically appropriate for ALSL than the normal LSL’s armor color was, I can look past the design discrepancy. As for the Gunner armor, it’s called Genesis/Glyph Ten, and it looks like this:

What’s really interesting about these sets is that they trade their flames and petals for entirely new accents: the men’s set has rising, churning waves, while the women’s set has trees and mountains. I don’t know why these were included on the armor, but they look so good that I honestly don’t care. Really, the only complaint I have that I didn’t voice when talking about the Blademaster set is that I think the helmet on the men’s set looks ridiculous. Hey, can’t win ‘em all.

Obviously, I think the Ashen Lao-Shan Lung equipment is phenomenal; the already impressive weapons became even cooler, and the armor sets got a huge glow-up. Sure, nothing here is perfect, but it stands head and shoulders above most of the gear I’ve talked about so far. 9/10.

Final Thoughts and Tally: While I definitely prefer Ashen Lao-Shan Lung over the normal variety, it’s not by much. It’s such a blatant copy-paste job that I dislike it for not bringing anything new to the table, but at the same time, I love the equipment and find the monster’s colors more appealing than LSL’s. I suppose with the unique way you fight these guys, they couldn’t really do much to make it massively different, but that just means it stays as mediocre as it did before. 6/10.

[vibrantshadow]

Behold... Cards from the Blue Dragon TCG. I don't have it myself, but I found images of it on the internet. Here.

[pyroreadscomics]

TAG 9 PEOPLE YOU WANT TO KNOW BETTER:

(I love doing theses things btw) I was tagged by @gothamstreetcat (thanks btw). Don't know what the etiquette is for when someone tags a side blog but, shrug, I'll keep this here. (BTW if you do want my main blog i'm @pyrocortex)

1. Favorite piece of clothing you own? If it still fit me it would be that steampunk-y vest with actual tails, however it's probably the black and red dress with the flower pattern (It's my goth phase and i get to decide when it ends, which is never)

2. Your comfort food?

Homemade baked goods. It doesn't specifically matter what, the comfort comes from the baking.

3. Favorite time of year?

Autumn is just generally aces but Halloween month is that extra good stuff.

4. Favorite song?

Depending on mood: Achilles Come Down by Gang of Youths, Adrianne by Orion Experience, Burning for You by Blue Oyster Cult, or Misanthropic Druken Loser by Days N Daze

5. Do you collect something?

Currently Nothing (except prephaps comics about Catwoman and D&D minis). previously? Stamps, coins, pretty rocks, MTG and Pokemon trading cards, legos, stuffed animals almost all when i was really young and didn't understand how "collecting" worked (like, secondary markets were a mystery to me, i just came across neat things and hoarded them like a dragon)

6. Favorite drink?

Hot Chocolate. Because the winter is cold, chocolate is tasty, and alcoholism seems like zero fun.

7. Favorite Fanfiction (if you are comfortable to share)

Sure, why not. Though given some of the fanfics that have most stuck with me are for fandoms tied to media properties i don't feel like giving even the most minor attention, or just fandoms i'm not willing to admit being a part of. That said Current favourite is: Red Robin Hood by Candlebreak (Batman) Which is not done, but damn if it not well written (and well constructed, and with thematic death). Plot tl;dr, Under the Hood AU where Jason kidnaps Tim after their fight in the tower and the entire bat family mobilizes to try to get him back. It's kinda really fucking dark in places (arguably no one in this story is in a mentally healthy place even before Tim got kidnapped) but... damn it's good. Also some previous favs which i'm willing to admit possibly do not hold up it's been a while since i've read these: Better Angels of Our Nature by bzarcher (Widowtracily, Overwatch), which one hand, Blizzard sucks as a company and by all reports overwatch currently sucks as a game, on the other hand... cute lesbian polycule working through trauma together (I'd say it doesn't quite hold up through the ending, but it's still solid). and legit, the first fanfic I think I ever read (which I found on Deviantart): Jane and Amelia 1: A Cry for Help (along with the rest of that series) by Firefall Bangenthump. Which is a crossover between's Disney's Tarzan and Treasure Planet, that ships Captain Amelia and Jane Porter together... And while it's been, probably more than half of a decade since i've read these, I do remember it being pretty good (and also it kinda just logged itself in my brain and hasn't left since). I have no explanation, or justification, save for the fact i was barely a teenager. On reflection it's probably weird that i can't think of any truly stand out fanfics for what I'd consider my biggest media obessions, (Cybersix, Discworld, the Vorkosigan saga, Catwoman). but also I will admit to not having done a through search (plus it's like, With discworld the vorkosigan saga and catwoman there's a mountain of official content, and full read throughs of any of those could take weeks (but more likely months or maybe even a full year) and with Cybersix it's just, old and obscure and last received new content a decade before ao3 launched). All that said i'd be down for any recommendations forged Catwoman centric fics. TAGGING: @biracialdamianwayne @harlequintears @pleasestophoney and@the-caped-crusader and anyone else who wants to do this.

[radramblog]

On the origins of Shiny Pokémon

Shiny Pokémon are a quirk of the franchise that has blossomed into a huge part of the Pokémon fandom, to the point where content creators (streamers, mostly) have built careers on spending hours and hours hunting for them.

Considering the humble origins of the concept, it’s kind of a surprise how we got here, frankly.

Shiny Pokémon were introduced in the series' second generation, in Gold and Silver. These were the first games in the series to be in colour, basic as the palettes were, and the developers thought that having variations in a species’ colour, kind of like albinism, would be an interesting idea to use this new technology. At least, I assume that’s what happened, I obviously wasn’t there. There wasn’t originally an official term for Shinies, though “Alternate colour” or “rare” were in some of the earlier games- the first official use of “Shiny” was in a promotional TCG card in 2009. Interestingly, Gold and Silver (but not Crystal) were actually playable on an original Game Boy, albeit in greyscale, which is why the twinkle animation and sound effect that gives the phenomenon its name were added in the first place.

The addition of the Red Gyarados plotline was kind of a genius way of introducing the concept to the player and fanbase. After all, the phenomena are typically extremely rare at 1/8192 per Pokémon encounter, and I believe only one very missable NPC alludes to them in the entire game. It’s quite possible that without all the fuss about the Red Gyarados and the Lake of Rage plot in general, Shinies would have been the subject of the same schoolyard rumours that surrounded the early generations, like “Pikablu” (Marill leaking before its official introduction) or the Pokegods.

I know I didn’t know what a Shiny was when I first encountered one. Sure didn’t catch it either, though I know I was trying to. It was a Ponyta, in Fire Red, and it was on the path up to Mt. Ember who’s name I’ve forgotten. I definitely spent a long time running around after accidentally KO’ing it in order to find this “Blue flame Ponyta” again, to no luck.

The introduction of shinies in Gen II led to some interesting quirks in their original iteration, considering the jank of early gen Pokémon. Shininess, like many other things that generation, were determined by IVs, a calculation that would later be replaced by an individualized “personality value” for each Pokémon. A Gen II (or Gen I, if trading is used) Pokémon will be Shiny if its IVs are all 10 except for Attack (2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, or 15) and HP (which is calculated from the remainder), which ironically means the aesthetic bonus that’s not supposed to have an in-game function actually is a result of largely above-average stats. This calculation comes with a few other quirks resulting from other things attached to IV calculations- they can only have a Hidden Power of Grass or Dragon with 49 or 69 power, any species that has a 7:1 male:female ratio such as the starters or Eevee cannot produce a female shiny (Gender is determined by Attack IV, and those species only are female with a 0 or 1 Attack), and, perhaps ironically, only the I and V Unown variants can be Shiny.

That’s a lot of bullshit trivia, isn’t it!

Both in and out of the actual games, it would be a while before Shinies were properly recognized and further integrated into the canon of Pokémon. A few TCG cards featured them, along with a rule in which you could only have one in your deck- I’m not sure how powerful they actually were, but the rarity was at least accurately represented. A handful of trainers in Firered/Leafgreen’s Trainer Tower have them by default, the first (and, I think, only? (nope just checked there’s one guy in Gen VII)) NPC trainers guaranteed to have a Shiny in the games. As well, the Celebi event in Heartgold/Soulsilver would feature a Shiny Pichu, the first guaranteed Shiny since the original Gold/Silver (it also has the Red Gyarados, being a remake), and that generation would feature the series’s first method of increasing the encounter rate with the Poké Radar (as well as the Masuda breeding method), but beyond this, the odds were still and always 1/8192.

It wasn’t until Generation V and Black and White that more effort was taken in the games to acknowledge Shiny Pokémon. This was the first time that the term was actually used inside the game, for one, and Shiny Hunters were given their first real tool in the Shiny Charm- a passive item available by completing the entire Pokédex that effectively triples the encounter rate and stacks with the aforementioned Masuda method (which was also slightly buffed).

This came at a cost, however- the Shiny Lock mechanic. This is an inbuilt feature in the encounter code that prevents certain species of Pokémon from ever generating as Shiny- in this game, that applies to Reshiram and Zekrom, the games’ cover legendaries, as well as the Mythical event Pokémon Victini and anything obtained through the Dream World feature. Shiny sprites for these species still existed in the game, effectively as failsafes, but nothing you could do in the game short of cheating/hacking would let you actually access them. This Lock feature would continue for every main series game that followed, though it would almost exclusively apply to Legendary Pokémon, and would often be taken off of them the generation later- and while I understand the inconsistency between a Pokémon's appearance in story cutscenes and actual battle would be awkward, it is still frustrating that such cool designs like Shiny Victini are completely unavailable.

It wasn’t all bad, though, since through some of these mechanics and the growing popularity of the franchise, more players were exposed to the idea of Shiny Pokémon. Black 2 and White 2 also had the games’ second and third Guaranteed Shinies in the form of a gift Gible or Dratini (depending on version) available through a postgame challenge and a Haxorus catchable in an area unlocked by completing the regional Pokédex. This was also when they were more exposed in other media- more TCG cards, their appearance in one of the movies (and the associated in-game events), etcetera.

Were it not for Generation V’s changes and additions, it’s very likely that Shiny Pokémon would be substantially more obscure than the popular huntable prize they are now. For better or for worse, I suppose. Probably better, ultimately, because they are pretty much just a fun thing to have around? I’m not sure how I feel about people spending hours upon hours for a slightly differently coloured mon (though I have done it a couple times), but it’s just a nice thing that exists for people. A little mystery to a series that’s so utterly picked apart, as it were.

[pokeexehasstoppedworking]

Love Doesn’t Do Encores Ch14 Battle Gym Leader Bea

You two had found yourselves out of Hammerlocke by sundown that day. But not before you went back into the town and stopped by that cafe you both had passed earlier, and each gotten a free piece of cake and small cup of tea from those coupon things that Applin Boy had given to Gloria as thanks for helping him. Cake and tea weren't exactly what you would call dinner but you weren't going to complain about free food. Your drizzilie sure tried sneaking it from you but settled for the small bag of fruit you tossed at it after you told him no.

"So," you asked Gloria after taking another sip of the tea you received, "You mentioned challenging Bea next right?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Remember how I told you there was four gyms that gave the same badge?" You nodded. "The Fighting Type and Ghost Type gyms give the same badge. While the Ice and Rock gyms give a different badge from the Ghost and Fighting gyms, they give the same one as well. So either someone can just chose the Fighting or Ghost type gyms then move on and chose either the Ice or Rock type gyms. But I plan on stopping by both. The closest one just happens to be the Fighting Type Gym run by the Gym leader Bea. Not only is she the top fighting type pokemon trainer, but she's been the winner of the Galarian Martial Arts Championship seven years running undefeated. They say she can go bare fists with her machomp and win."

"Wow. She sounds really strong."

"She is. Which is why I think that's why Hop's going there too." She frowned stabbing at a piece of her free cake. "He said he wanted to become stronger. Challenging another strong gym leader right after defeating Kabu but loosing to Bede sounds like he's trying to conquer another hard challenge to prove he's strong. ...I'm worried about him."

"I know, but don't worry," you assured with a smile. You remembered enough about the game to know Hop would definitely bounce back, and after hearing him speak the other day, you knew he'd be fine. "He's a strong and has enough determination in him to move a mountain if he felt like it."

...She smiled at you. "Thanks Y/n.  I knew I made a good choice in my traveling buddy."

You paused a moment...before blinking. "That reminds me. Why did you want me to come along with you back in Postwick? I mean it's not that I mind, but we were practically strangers then."

She shrugged. "I really don't know. I know it's gonna sound weird, but there's a really good atmosphere around ya. Like...You just give off good vibes, and my gut feelings are usually spot on anyways. An' I wasn't wrong!" She smiled. "You've been a great friend ta us!"

You smiled. Well that was strange. It was almost like what Sonia said about your 'good aura', but you weren't going to complain about the nice compliments.

"You're one of the gym challengers endorsed by Leon, aren't you?" Both of you looked up and blinked at the sight of an older woman, who looked older than Kabu, dressed in a blue and pink outfit with accessories, an umbrella in one hand, was pretty tall for someone you'd expect, and aquamarine eyes looking at Gloria curiously. Stunned that you two hadn't noticed noticed her walk up to you before now, both you two looked at each other before Gloria looked back to the old woman and nodded. She hummed for a moment before suddenly holding out something to her you recognized right away. "My name's Opal. If you want to know more, have a look at my league card." Gloria's brown eyes stared at the card for a moment before taking it from the lady. "I'll keep an eye on you, Child. I want to see what you can do when you go all out."

Both of you watched silently as she silently just...turned around and walked right out of the cafe. Like nothing had just happened. Leaving the two of you sitting there looking after her blankly before looking at one another with blank faces wondering if that actually happened.

Eventually you blinked as Gloria looked at the card handed to her. "Who was that?"

"According to this..she's Ms. Opal." She looked up to you holding up the card in her hand, "And the Fairy Type Gym Leader from Bellonlea!"

"What?" You held out your hand as she offered it to you. "Lemme see that." And true to Gloria's word, it was an official League Card with the picture of the very same elderly woman you just spoken too on it. "Huh." You handed it back to her. "I wonder what she was doing all the way here in Hammerlocke then?"

She shrugged before pocketing the card. "The same thing as Lee? Like maybe she's seein' the Chairman too? Or maybe traveling since I don't think anyone would challenge her yet. March is almost over so it's still pretty early in the year for anyone to gather many badges."

Wow. Almost three months had passed already? You must've lost track of time from traveling so much. You weren't too sure but shrugged. "Who knows? C'mon. Let's finish eating and hit the road before it gets too dark outside."

After the meal the two of you headed back out on Route Six as the sun nearly set in the sky making everything lightly darker but had enough light to still see. The lights of Hammerlocke shining out as the two of you left the dragon town. You were a bit nervous about running into Raihan or that Mr. Rose again, but you ran into neither as you left the town. Thank goodness. You and her then fell into the familiar routine of walking, camping, and more shaking of berry trees as you passed by them by chance. Only this time Gloria seemed to pick back up her hobby of taking pictures for her dex challenge again. The photos Victor had given her had filled up a good sizable amount of the book already but there was still more photos needed for it as well as for that curry dex challenge book she needed. It was a bit random but you were glad she found something to keep herself occupied on the way there, and photography was a pretty neat hobby. Although she didn't seem to be as into it as Victor was. If she wasn't doing that, she battled a pokemon here n' there as you either watched or gathered food or some other needed thing to be done and like before you traveled past a few small towns, houses, or other travelers heading in the opposite direction. No signs of the boys, but you were glad not having any more run ins with those Team Yell grunts as days passed as you two slowly made your way towards Stow-on-Side.

"So how long until we reach Stow-on-Side?," you asked one day while walking.

Gloria hummed for a moment before whipping out her phone and flipping through the screen once it turned on. Lately the region around you had started to get rockier with more and more hills and cliffs jutting out of the earth until it slowly consumed both side of the path the two of you walked. "According to Rotom we should be there sometime tomorrow if we keep on goin' down this pathway." That was great news! "Also accordin' ta this, there's another historical wonder protected by the Galarian Conservation Society! ...Hmm. I wonder if she'll be down here too??"

You rose a brow at her. "Her who?"

She looked at you. "When I was chattin' with Sonia at the vault I showed 'er some old pokemon fossils I picked up. Useless really. Ye find 'em sometimes and see 'em in your science classes n' museums and the like. I was gonna give 'em to Hop as a gift since he's into that kinda stuff but she told me an old scientist friend of hers was in Stow-on-Side trying out this new fossil restoration or somethin' like that. But she couldn't find any fossils to try 'em out on."

......You blinked. "Since when did you get fossils??"

"I found two by accident back when we 'ere in the Wild Area. Y'know. When I fought that wild diglett in the cave." You groaned remembering that experience. "And then some bloke traded me two he didn't want at the pokemon center for the applin I was gonna put back when the red-headed bloke didn't want it. I completely forgotten I even had them til I remembered just now."

"That reminds me. Whatever did you do with those other pokemon you were given? Especially that baby toxel. It looked pretty young."

"Ah! I sent it to Mum to take care of! She mentioned being lonely without us there so I thought she'd like raisin' the wee tyke!"

You rose a brow. "Can she handle a toxel??"

"She sent me pictures of the lil thing sleepin' with Munchlax so I think they're doing just fine!"

"If you say so."

The both of you traveled until the sun went down and you set up camp under a shady ledge before quickly packing up the next day at day light and going to travel again. Until coming to a bunch of bright stony ledges and cliffs in a dead end where the path ended just a few yards in front of the cliffside. .......Which left the both of you confused looking around.

".....Does this mean we're at Stow-on-Side?," you asked pressing you hand against one of the rocky hills before yanking and waving it back from the heat of them sitting in the sun all day. Speaking of which it was hot as you traveled. Must be entering summer territory. Your f/c eyes scanned up and down the cliffs surrounding you all and a hand pressed above your brows to block the sun. "Or did we make a wrong turn somewhere??"

"Can't be! We followed nothin' but Route Six all the way here!" Gloria had already brought out her phone giving it a little shake. "Accordin' to this Stow-on-Side's just up ahead!"

"So either your phone's broken or we have to suddenly learn how to rock climb." Your eyes scanned the ledges more. They looked a little too dangerous to just be climbing without any professional gear or unless you were a rock climbing expert. To which you had neither...."What about that corvisquire you have?"

"It's not big enough to fly either of us up these mountains!...*sigh* We might have ta just call a flying taxi at this rate."

Yeah. That might be the best option either of you two had at this point. ....Your Drizzilie, which had taken to fully putting itself into your pack with just his head peeking out from under the lid to avoid the sun, suddenly gave a look towards something shiny. Before it's eyes widened and it gave a loud chirp poking it's head out fully to the both of you. You looked over your shoulder as it continued to make noises at you. "Whoa! Hey. What is it boy?" It's arm popped out and he pointed his hand towards the other side of the dead end you were at. You both looked over and you blinked at something against the cliffside shining in the sunlight. "Hey! What's that over there?" You pointed and began walking towards it...Gloria blinked, before putting her phone away and quickly following after you. You approuched the shining thing and soon discovered it to be a- "It's a ladder!" Walking forward more it was indeed a metal ladder. Secured and bolted to the cliffside and going up until it ended at the very top of it. "....What's a ladder doing here?"

"That must be how people get ta Stow-on-Side from 'ere," Gloria reasoned. "Ya think they'd actually make this more easier to get too."

"You'd think so. Good Boy!" Drizzilie gave a huff before returning to it's spot inside your bag. Ok be tsundere. Pausing to look at it for a moment you grabbed it before immediately letting go from how hot it was. "...You really think this is the way?"

"There's no other way around here other than a taxi, and what do we have to lose? The worse case scenario is that we'll hit another dead end or just climb to the top and hail a cab like we were thinkin' anyways."

She had a point. And if you did end up just going to the top of the cliffs here you could get a better look of your surroundings. So reluctantly you nodded. "Alright. But let me go first to make sure it's safe."  Slowly and with a sigh you grabbed the metal ladder wincing in pain when the hot metal stung your hands lightly, and began to climb up. It wasn't too hard or high of a climb, and you were fast to release the ladder as hard as you can also considering the weight on your shoulders, it made it a bit more difficult. Once you reached the top however and climbed up all the way, you noticed there was nothing but more ledges, dead grass, and...another ladder leading somewhere ahead of you. Standing up, once you deduced it was safe, you carefully looked over the edge to Gloria looking up at you and waved. "It's safe! And I found another ladder!"

Gloria didn't even hesitate after that. In her excitement you weren't sure if she just didn't notice the pain or bared it to climb up but you were there to offer a hand and pull her up with you once she was there. And you two wasted no more time and got climbing. Not baring to stand in this heat anymore. The second ladder you climbed up lead to the top of one of the larger clifftops, a small pond of some sort, and another much longer ladder leading you further and higher into the mountain sides and you two went. Your muscles were sore and tired from the extra weight of your Drizzilie who peeked out and down from your bag every so often, and your hands burnt under the ladders' metal. You were sure it wasn't enough to be badly hurt for a long time, but it sure stung, and you were paranoid that at any moment you would fall. But luckily you didn't and by some miracle forced yourself NOT to look down before making it to the third ledge and ..another ladder. Gloria right on your heels. Rinse and repeat. Climb, pray to whoever heard you that you wouldn't fall, get to the top, and then do it again. The both of you must've been on your seventh or eighth ladder and ledge at this point and you were resting on your knees exposed to the hot sun tired, breathing heavy, and shaking your sore hands. Gloria doing the same with her hands before reaching up to wipe her brow and look around ...Before spotting and pointing to yet another ladder.

"Hey look! It leads up to a tunnel of some kind!"

You looked to the giant black whole that the ladder lead into and groaned. "Oh PLEASE tell me this isn't going to be another mine."

"Only one way to find out!" She happily bounded towards the ladder, and with another groan, you slowly forced yourself to stand and followed after. Where does she get so much energy? And in this heat? She was already half way up the ladder by the time you got there and began slowly climbing, grip so hard your knuckles turned white to keep yourself from falling. Gloria making her way right into the tunnel and disappearing from view as you got closer to the top yourself. "Y/N!!" She suddenly shouted echoed by the tunnel. "Ya gotta see this!!"

"I'M COMING!!," you strangled out in a shout still making your way up.

Gloria was waiting for you when you finally got to the top, letting her grab your arm to pull you with a grunt into the shady tunnel with her. With a sigh as your sore hands touched the cooled floor of the cavern, you twisted your legs around, and just sat there breathing and wiping at your forehead from the long trip you two had suffered. Gloria was kind enough to let you catch your breath, considering it must've been harder for you with your Drizzilie being no help, for around five maybe ten minutes before you turned your head..and blinked at the light coming from the other side of the short tunnel. Gloria went ahead and started walking towards it...and you again forced yourself up and walked after her. But slower this time considering how tired and sore you were. She stopped by the cavern opening and once you caught up, your eyes widened.

"Holy smokes!"

Carved into the cliffside was the BIGGEST statues you had ever seen! The stone digletts stared out blankly onto the horizon and were blocked off by a chained fence embedded into the stone ground below it. Was this the historical landmark Gloria spoke of yesterday? She started walking forward and after a moment you followed staring up at the massive stone beasts before you. A flash of light going off as she snapped a picture of it while passing....Before she turned and with a gasp that had you snapping forward pointed excitedly.

"Y/n! Look! We found it!" What was unmistakeningly a stadium shone brightly in the sunlight as you looked and blinked, and before it was a couple small buildings, one including that classic pink pokemon center. You two wasted no time in jogging towards it past the statues and up a small flight of stairs carved into the stone floor, past under a wooden gate of some kind and over to the buildings ahead. Where you saw people. PEOPLE!! Walking around doing their everyday lives as usual! You two had successfully found Stow-on-Side! The tall two story buildings were all carved from stone as well with a couple small tables in the pathway you two walked that had a few people yelling at passerbys to come and bye from them as they sat under umbrellas from the hot sun. As you walked past everyone Gloria took out her phone again and after a few taps on it nodded in glee. "This is Stow-on-Side alright! Apparently the diglett statues we saw are part of some famous ruins including an ancient mural up the path by the stadium! We should go check those out once I'm done with the battle here!"

"Once we rest first!" You sighed and again reached up to rub your temple. "I'm beat from all that walking and climbing! And it doesn't look like this place has any inn or public place besides the center we can rest up in."

You both turned right still walking along the path towards the stadium.

"Yeah? Well I can check on my regional map of Stown-on-Side. It should tell u-" She stopped. Freezing like someone paused her on tv. Her face suddenly drawing a blank. Curiously, you stopped too and turned around to give a raised brow at her suddenly blank expression. Before you turned to look where she was looking. A whine coming from your backpack as your Drizzlie poked it's full head out. And you under stood why she stopped. IT WAS THE BOYS!! Both were talking to each other walking down from the stairs leading to the big stadium, until they happened to look down towards the both of you and stopped. The four of you staring at one another in surprised silence...Before Gloria straight up BOLTED towards them both! "HOP!!"

"Glori-AH!!" The poor boy didn't even get a chance to finish talking before he was glomped by the brunette nearly knocking the both of them over in the process.

"I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!! YA PURPLE HAIRED LOONEY PONYTA!!," she shouted with a smile. "YA HAD ME SO WORRIED!! DON'T DO THAT!!"

"N-Nice to see you too!," he forced out strangled by the crushing hug, "M-Miss Y/N help!"

You walked on over but didn't need to pry them apart thankfully as she let go and let Hop breathed and clutch at his chest by the time you got there. Victor looking annoyed opening his arms. "And what am I? An invisible Sobble?" Gloria giggled before giving her brother the expected hug he wanted.

"We thought we'd miss you guys here by how long it took! Were you here that long?"

"Sadly yes," Hop answered rubbing at where Gloria nearly crushed him to dust. "Turns out there was a few people here itchin' to battle Bea before going on to harder gym leaders like Kabu, so we had to camp out for a bit for an opening."

Gloria paused...slowly retracting her hug from her brother and turning to him, face concerned. "Does...D-Does that mean you didn't win?"

...He smiled. "Took me two tries! But I managed to get my fighting badge!"

"You did!! Hop that's amazing! I told you, you could do it!"

He chuckled....before his face turned back to a neutral one. "But...Glory." His hands came to stuff themselves into his pockets. "I'm still not too sure what I should do about all that stuff I told you before. About me being weak and dragging down Lee's good name and all, yeah? "..He smiled again. "But the only thing I can do is get stronger right?"

With a sigh Gloria gave her own determined smile, reached over, and made him blink as she flicked his nose. "That's what we've always told you, Hop. I never lost doubt in ya."

He paused for a moment gold eyes blinking and looking cross eyed at his nose, before his face went pink again and he chuckled. "Y-yeah! A-Actually I was hoping for a b-battle with ya the next time I saw you." Your Drizzilie whined more. "Vi-Vic's been battling me and helping me build up my team and come up with new s-strageties on how to battle upcoming gym leaders. So I'm gonna try out all kinds of different things against you and see what works!..If you wanna battle that is?"

"Do you really need to ask? You're on!"

"Then let's do this! I bet an all out battle with my true rival will help me get my head on straight-"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH-"

A screech that pierced your eardrums interrupting Hop from saying anything else. Immediately all your hands shot up to your ears and you all made some kind of cringed face or closed their eyes from the scream that came from directly behind you. You forced yourself to turn around at your drizzilie's head poking out from your bag. Mouth open wide and yelling at the top of his lungs before he abruptly stopped upon noticing you had looked at it in utter shock.....How could such a small thing make such a noise!! Slowly, the others uncovered their ears as well giving the three back and forth looks, before also looking in the direction of your bored looking drizzilie.

..........Victor blinked and pointed at your backpack. "What the absolute Arceous was THAT!?"

"I......have absolutely no idea." You eventually managed to get yourself to talk. "I've never heard him make a noise like that before."

"Could there be something wrong with him?," Hop asked rubbing one of his ears, "It is pretty hot and he's a water type. Maybe he's gotten dehydrated from lack of water or something?"

You jumped. YOU HADN'T EVEN CONSIDERED THAT WHILE TRAVELING!? WHAT THE HECK!! YOU WERE AN AWFUL TRAINER!! "I...." You swiftly turned nearly nailing Gloria in the side with your back pack in a panic. "I-I gotta get him back over to the center just in case! You two go ahead and have your battle!"

"I'll come too!" Victor stepped forward. "I meant to stop by anyways to grab some potions from the center."

If you heard him you didn't pay him much mind as you practically stumble-ran your panicked self back down what few steps you had climbed up towards the stadium and RAN towards the center with Victor right behind you. You nearly tripped and slammed in your haste turning the corner and RUNNING past the vendors calling out towards that bright pink building. The people inside jumping and looking on in surprise when you practically ripped the doors off their hinges bursting inside and without missing a beat flew to the wide eyed nurse joy standing behind the counter, swiftly turning your back where your drizzilie still bored looking despite everything that was happening right now, and in panic DEMANDED she'd take a look at him NOW!! Surprisingly no one moved, too shocked to really know how to react. It took Victor coming in and explaining calmly to the startled Nurse Joy what the drizzilie did and politely asking her to look him over did she finally react accordingly. She took her sweet time in the next ten minutes pulling your water pokemon from it's hiding place, making it sit on the counter as you watched a nervous wreck with Victor assuring you he was ok, and slowly and carefully examining him as a doctor would a patient during a physical....All to just smile at you and tell you essentially......Your Drizzilie...Was throwing a tantrum akin to that of a moody angsty teenager during puberty. ....You blinked and had to be explained to again as, even though Drizzilie was a little dehydrated from the hot weather, he was actually throwing a tantrum because he was hungry. So you, worried you might have let something bad happen to your pokemon without knowing, had panicked over nothing and rushed him over here to be told he was acting like a toddler not getting their way because he was hungry......WHAT!?

"He's perfectly healthy, you probably just haven't fed him today yet and he was just expressing that to you in what way he thought you'd understand. Although in this heat he is naturally a little dehydrated, and you yourself look it too and exhausted. My advice to the both of you is to rest here for an hour or two out of the weather and have you both drink some water. I'll lend you some and some pokemon food so it doesn't happen again. After all we don't want anyone dropping from the heat."

You sighed. Relieved Drizzilie wasn't really hurt, but annoyed he had scared you for no reason. You shot a scowl at the pokemon standing next to you and as soon as it made eye contact with you looked embarrassed to the floor. Nurse Joy was nice enough to give you some bottled up water and a small bowl of pokemon food for the two of you and you thanked her before Victor was nice enough to help you carry them over to the table and chairs in the corner. You gladly plopped yourself down in one chair exhausted, sighing as at last your muscles got a chance to rest among the cool ac of the center. Victor sat across from you as your drizzilie plopped itself on the floor by your feet with it's newfound food and water to make it happy.

".....Hey. Y/n?" You hummed from where you had laid your head against the table. "Are you ok?"

".......Yeah."

".......Would you like some water?"

".....Yeah."

He was nice enough to hand you a bottle of water which you chugged down before resuming your position of laying against the table silently resting. Even when the other two finally caught up to you and entered the center.

"My strategy goes right to the pot when I've got all these bad thoughts running through my head," Hop's voice came as you heard the door open just didn't look up.

"Yeah. But I also barely won. I blame the heat. 'Sides you're gettin' better!," Came Gloria's voice right after him.

"Hrmmm. I tried switching my team members in and out to max out their potential in every match up but we just couldn't get it together somehow. Maybe that's why I'm still so weak?"

"Call yourself weak again n' I'll drag ya ta Lee myself kickin' n' screamin' and have him talk ye out o' that crazy mindset!"

"Ok! Ok! I won't! No need to go all charmander on me, Mate. .......Oh! Y/n! Hey!"

"......Hi," you mumbled to Hop.

"So how'd it go? Is everything ok?"

"Oh yeah. Turns out he was just throwing a big whiney fit cuz he was hungry like a big baby, but he should be fine now. How was your battle?"

"OH! That's good to know he's not hurt or anything. It was fine thanks. I got to see how my tactics work on the battlefield and what to improve on. In fact I think we're ready to move on. Are you ready to go, Victor?"

"What?! You mean you're both leavin' us again?!" This time you did force yourself to look up. More out of concern than anything as Gloria stared at the two boys, and you noticed Victor had stood up from his seat. "B-But we just caught up with you!"

...Hop sighed. "I know, and I don't really wanna split up either but I still have some things I need to work out myself. And I wanna make more good choices when it comes to battling and strategies for them. .." He smiled. "But Lee really is the greatest trainer, and I don't want people laughing at him all because his little brother is rubbish. It's not enough. I've got to try harder and harder and hard 'til no one's laughing!"

"But....you're not rubbish to me."

Hop paused again before sighing again. "I know...That's why you make such a good friend and rival, Glory."

"............Hey Hop." The three looked at you and you hesitated for a moment. Would this change the game's story events?? Well it wouldn't hurt to give him some words of encouragement like you gave Sonia. "Listen. You got the Fighting Type badge right?" He nodded. "Then you're not rubbish! You said it yourself that there was a few other gym trainers were here because they didn't want to challenge Kabu yet. But you did. And you won against the guy that supposedly makes their numbers drop."

He blinked wide eyed, not really expecting that. "Yeah...But just barely. And not exactly how I would've liked."

"So? That didn't stop you from winning on your FIRST try either way. How many trainers besides you two have those bragging rights?? The dude's so powerful he personally says congrats to anyone who does beat him. A guy doesn't do that unless only a few actually manages to get past him. Sure Bede may have beaten you. Sure he said a bunch of stuff about you and your brother, but he's just doing it because he's trying to get under your skin. He's trying to make you doubt yourself. He's trying to make you lose." You pointed to the wide eyed looking boy. "Hop. You CAN'T just be calling yourself weak. Leon and you are both strong. Just in different ways and Leon sees that in you. Why else would be agree to sponsor you in the first place? Haven't you seen what you've been able to do so far?" You gestured to his back pack. "In there somewhere is four badges ok? Four badges that you won on either your second or even first try. Do you think I could have done that? Absolutely not. You have four badges and you just need eight to compete at the end of the year! It's been three or four months and already you've come farther than most of your rivals in the challenge." You smiled. "That's not rubbish or weakness Hop. That's your true strength plain and simple."

Hop continued to stare at you with those bright gold eyes for a long moment, before the biggest smile you had ever seen on him came through. "...Yeah...YEAH!!" He pointed at you. "You're absolutely right! ...I...Still need some time to think about a few things, but I appreciate the words."

You smiled and nodded. "You'll figure it out eventually. Until then, just keep calm and work hard and you'll get there. Don't worry yourself over what Bede said because Gloria's right about him being wrong."

With a nod, Hop turned back to Gloria who blinked back at him. "I'm off, mate. Off to find the kind of pokemon that I can really draw the strength out of."

She frowned. "We'll meet up with you later tho...Right?"

"Oh you know we will! I still have to beat you sometime. I'll see you around. Ok?"

....Gloria nodded and the two of you watched as they bid farewell and after a moment they were gone. You two looking after where they left....before you looked over at Gloria's sad face. "Hey. Are you alright?"

After a second or two she nodded. "Y-Yeah." She inhaled. "Yeah I'm good. It's just a bit unfair y'know? Gah!" Her hands came up to grip her head. "I wish I could just get my mind off all this!"

You opened your mouth to speak- "That child." And practically yelped, jumping up, as the both of you whirled around face to face with....Opal. The elderly woman staring at where they boys left. "Gym Challengers should battle for the sake of their own pokemon. Why worry about saving the Champion's name? We all know he's unbeatable."......You exchanged a look with Gloria. "Anyway, here's a little something for letting me watch your battle." To your surprise what she handed out (more like put in Gloria's stunned hand-) was another league card. "Now on you go, Child. You're headed to the Stow-on-Side Gym next, no? The Gym Challenge is about having fun."

You both watched silently as she once again appeared out of no where, before ignoring anything she just did, and just...Left! Gloria finally blinked before curiously looking down at the card in her hands. Slowly turning to you as she rose a brow. And looked up to you. "..This is Bea's League Card."

....You blinked. "You mean the gym leader from this gym?" She nodded. "Why on earth would she have that?"

"I'm more confused on why she's here too."

"I'm more impressed she managed to do all that climbing required to get here. Wouldn't be surprised if she did the smart thing and grabbed a taxi....But she's got a point." You pointed to the card in Gloria's hands. "We came here so you would challenge Bea. If you want to get your mind off things, then a battle against her would be the best thing to do just that."

Gloria stared at you a moment. Before looking down to the card in her hands a determined look coming over her as she inhaled and pumped a fist into the air. "You're right again! I came here to challenge the fighting type gym and it's leader! I didn't spend days travelin' and climbing an unholy amount to just quite now! Hop plans on challengin' me 'n the finals! I owe it to him to at least try my best to get there with him! If he can do it then so can I too!" She turned, her mind dead set and seeming to forget you. "Look out Bea! Cuz 'ere I come to get that badge!!"

"You can do it!," you called after her as she suddenly ran out of the center, fist still high in the air. And leaving you sitting there by yourself. After a moment you sighed and leaned your cheek back down against the table. You were too tired and sore to move at the moment and your back could use a rest from days of lugging that troublemaker aro- The chair in front of you creaked as Drizzilie climbed onto it, before pulling itself onto the table and sat there next to your head, careful to not sit on your hair spilt over on the table behind you. After a moment it gave off a questioning sound and tapped your head as if expecting an answer outta you. You blew out a breath. "I get you're used to being carried around by now, but now you're bigger and heavier. And it's starting to strain my back out." It made another squeak noise. "That means you're a big boy now. One day you're gonna be taller than ME!" You were right that Inteleons were genuinely taller than most humans if you remember right. "What then? You can't expect me to piggy back ride you everywhere. It tires me out. So after today, how about you start giving walking a try?" Your answer was a few pats to your head. "I'll take that as a yes. Because there's NO way in heck I'm trying to carry you back down those ladders."

It was...mostly a blur right after that. It was almost embarrassing how fast you were to fall asleep sleeping half way on a table, but you must've been more tuckered out than you thought. You weren't even too sure how much time had even passed. All you can remember was waking up to a flash of light from behind your retinas making your sleeping body flinch....And your hearing picking up giggling from a far distance. And the feeling of something pressed against your neck. It felt like a cool water balloon just laying again your neck, not that you didn't mind being inside from the heat and all that, but you definitely shied away from the something that was shaking and as COLD AS ICE sniffing at your cheek. With a groan from being deep in sleep for so long, your eyes slowly blinked open to blurry yellow-....Yellow?? You blinked back more in your sleepy stupor as your drizzilie laid lazily like a cat in the crook of your shoulder and next as you yawned. Reached a hand up to rub at your eyes. And looked at the yellow dinosuar as it tilted it's head at you curiously. Blank faced you sat there and stared at it. ......It blinked and gave a small noise. And you yelled up immediately shoot up to your feet as the thing gave a scared sqawk like a parrot and dove itself to cower behind Gloria shaking. Drizzilie chirping in annoyance at being disturbed from it's spot of rest on the table next to you! Everyone in the center was either hiding behind the counter or like you pressed against the walls away the scary looking pokemon who looked like a giant yellow dinosaur trapped in a blue upside down acorn. The thing gave a sad noise as you stared at it, body pressed against the wall, your chair knocked over in the process of getting up. Gloria was already cooing at it soothingly and patting it's head, camera slung around her neck and a picture in her other hand........You pointed.

"WHAT THE HECK IS THAT THING!?"

"Calm down, Y/n. Ya gonna scare Arctozolt even more than the wee babe already is," she said calmly patting it's head.

......You blinked. "I SCARED HIM!? Gloria what IS that?!"

"Oh this?" She gestured to the thing glancing around nervously. The only ones not so freaked out about it was apparently her and your Drizzilie who looked more annoyed it's nap was cut short. "Remember that scientist las I mentioned before? Well I found 'er wonderin' around with the weird contraption in hand. You were still sleepin' when I went back out for food so I figured why not give it a try? This is only one of four new wee ones I've got....But I wanted to come to you straight away because...well..." She looked nervously at you with a strained apologetic look. "I think we might have ta make a run for it."

.........You blinked. "....Run from what?''

She hummed making a rolling motion with her now free hand. "That scientist lady may be lookin' 'round for me cuz I ran off with her 'research'." She gestured to the pokemon who pressed it's nose against her arm curiously.

......"Gloria." You peeled yourself from the wall finally. "PLEASE tell me you didn't steal those pokemon."

She scowled stuffing the picture into her pocket. "I nay stole anything! Especially since it was mine in the first place! They were my fossils she just did some science whatcha-may-callit to 'em. It's not my problem she throws a fit once she sees me flee with 'em. 'Sides. Do ya really want them cooped up in some lab being studied like statues?"

....Well...You couldn't argue with her there. So with a breath in you breathed out calming yourself and held up your hands. "Right." You quickly moved to grab your bag, Drizzilie taking the hint and hurrying to climb off the table to join after you. "Ok then. Let's leave. And put that thing in it's ball-" You paused. ".....hey. What about Bea?"

"I told you I came for the Fighting Badge didn't I?", she asked pulling out a pokeball, in a flash of blue the light the thing was gone. "And I walked out with it as well! No need to worry ye head off!"

You nodded already going to the door. TIME TO LEAVE!! The last thing you wanted was to be arrested by a scientist for tampering with her research or stealing or-...Or whatever Gloria did while you were out cold. Darn it you had to stop being such a deep sleeper! You should've went with her instead of sleeping in! "Which is the fastest way out of Stow-on-Side?" You asked speed walking to the doors with your pokemon at your heels easily keep up with Gloria in tow behind you.

"The fastest way out is the back path leading behind the stadium." She said pointing as you sped walked out into the hot sun. "It's up that long stairway past the mural!"

You nodded. Sounded good to you! And your body was well rested from that powernap so you had the energy now to spare. Footsteps slapping against the stone pavement the three of you sped walked past people who looked like they'd seen a ghost. Oh no. Don't tell me Gloria paraded whatever ancient thing that was on the way there! Looking around, you peeled your eyes out for any sign of an angry scientist with a machine or anything the like. And you did run into a scientist. Just not the one you were fearing. As you two made it up the first flight of steps that lead to the stadium and path to the mural, a dash of yellow side lined you.

BARK!!

WHOA! You yelped and swung your arms out as you stumbled a step, only saving grace was Gloria who thanks to her quick reflexes grabbed onto your pack and pulled you back upright. Catching yourself back onto your feet as the yamper culprit wagged it's lightning bolt tail and panted happily at the both of you before giving off another loud bark. ....Wait a second. A yamper?? What was a yamper doing all the way up here? That could only mean one thing.

Footsteps rapidly approuched. "I'm so sorry!" You both turned. "Is everyone ok?"...Yep. It was Sonia. You both sighed in relief to see her. Thank goodness! It was just her. The red headed scientist quickly approuched scowling at the happily panting pokemon before wagging a finger at it and placed one hand on her hip. "Bad boy! You know better than to run off and scare people like that!" The dog pokemon tilted his head at her but otherwise didn't change it's expression as she turned to you two apologetically. "I'm so sorry about that. He can get easily excited. But it looks like my yamper really likes you, huh?"

"Sonia." A hand on your chest as your headed tilted back with a smile of relief, "Thank goodness it's only you."

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to come examine the ancient ruins and mural around Stow-on-Side after flipping through all those history books in the Hammerlocke library." They had a library?? "I thought maybe something was here. Anyway, we've run into each other at a good time." She happily turned and gestured up the way towards the stairs you two were about to run up anyways. "You know the mural here in Stow-on-Side I just mentioned? It's said to tell the story of the hero of Galar as well. Though what's there today is actually a replica of the ancient art that used to be here."...She paused...and you blinked as she turned to Gloria with seemingly a bright new idea in her mind. "Say. You tend to have surprisingly sharp eyesight, so I was wondering what you might think when you see the ruins?"

Gloria blinked..her hand coming to rub her arm embarrassed. "Uh..Actually I haven't see the ruins or m-mural yet."

She blinked taken a back. "Oh really?,'' she asked surprised. Gloria nodded embarrassed and Sonia held up a hand in assurrance. "Hey that's alright. There's a first time for everything. Since you haven't see it yet, how about we go together since I'm heading there anyways?"

"Would we!?," Gloria beamed and you coughed to gain her attention.

"Aren't you forgetting we're supposed to be leaving town for something?," You pressed raising your brows.

"Yeah. We're still going the same place anyways. But don't ya think running would make us look more suspicious?"

You opened your mouth...but closed it. She had another point. It's make you both look suspicious if either of you just ran outta here like a ghost was chasing you, it'd make you look like you were fleeing the scene of the crime. Acting along with Sonia like tourists would probably help you both blend in here a little better with the other people walking up and down the stairs...You nodded. Alright. You'd do that but then you two had better skedaddle while you had the chance too. Sonia looked please at your answer and would've probably expressed it too, if it wasn't for the earth rattling KA-BOOM sound that went off like a bomb somewhere above all of you. The echo of it boomed across rattling the sky, and you and the other two girls, and a whole bunch of other people looked up in alarm at the frightening sound. Which had come in the direction of the very place you were about to head off too. Sonia's yamper made a distressed bark sound and scampered behind the woman's legs. Drizzilie too seemed mildly surprised at the sound. The best you would describe it as a far away grenade or a firework going off, but who'd have either of those around here!?

"Wha...What in the world was that!? What's going on up there?!," Sonia managed to asked out before another ka-boom noise had you all more startled. "Sounds like it came from the direction of the ruins, too!"

"Maybe some of the old things are collaspin' in on themselves from age?", Gloria suggested.

That made a worried look come over the young scientist and a hand came up to her cheek. "Oh no! That's not good! Those are historical sights we're still studying!"She gave a look to the pokemon still cowering and shaking behind her heels. "Let's have a look! Come along, Yamper!" Her heels left loud footsteps in her wake as she turned and ran towards the stairs the yamper whimpering like a scare dog before quickly running after it's owner.

You yelped as Gloria suddenly grabbed you too and yanked you into a run after her. "Come on! We gotta see what's goin' on too! That's are way outta here remember!?"

You didn't argue with that. Only willed yourself to ran with Gloria after Sonia who was already ahead of you running up the flights of stairs as fast as her legs could carry her. Without the extra weight on your shoulders anymore it was really easy to keep up with them as you all ran past people who were looking with concerned, confused, or scared faces up towards the top of the stairs. One little boy even gripping the pants leg of who must've been his grandmother sobbing in fright. Sonia was the first to reach the top of the hot weathered stairs and stop facing what must've been the source of the sounds because ANOTHER giant boom noise echoed throughout the sky. Your heart raced in your throat, and your lungs heaved as you picked up the place. The second one to get there was Gloria and then a minute later you right behind her and then your Drizzilie who had resumed to running on all fours just to keep up with the lot of you. And the source of the noises were laid at your all's feet. No it wasn't a grenade. Or fireworks. Or even ruins collasping in on themselves from old age. It was a HUGE elephant looking pokemon who must've been the size of a large soccer mom's mini van who had it's trunk halfway stuck inside the cliffside where this strange but beautiful looking hand painted mural was drawn onto the cliffside. A giant hole was in the mural sadly disrupting it's beauty as many spiderweb cracks surrounded it as the elephant thing forcibly pulled it's trunk out of it scattering rock dust and tiny fragments at it's base. And the white haired boy encouraging it on as he pointed.

"Yes! Destroy it! Destroy it all!," he shouted to the elephant pokemon in absolutely frustration, "We're going to find those Wishing Stars!" Your eyes widened in absolute SHOCK. Holy heck!! It was BEDE!! What in the world was he doing!? The others must've been in shock too because they didn't react at all staring in horror as the thing raised it's trunk again and with a sickening crunching gravel sound slammed it's trunk back into the whole it created. More cracks slowly forming across the pretty painted picture. "We've got to bring the chairman more wishing stars if we want to please him! Copperajah! If you're truly the chairman's pokemon then you should feel grateful for this chance to help him find wishing stars!" The thing gave out another elephant sound and repulled it's trunk out from the now slightly bigger hole it made.

"BEDE YA BLOODY KOOK!!," you both jumped as Gloria finally found her voice, hands flying to grip her head as she stared horrified at the destruction before her. At the sound of her scottish accent Bede let out a high pitched wail of surprise and whirled around back pressed to the pokemon's side as his wide purple eyes stared. Surprised no doubt to see Gloria there. She threw her hands at him and his mess. "WHAT IN THE WHOLE STUPID HAIRBALL BRAIN SCHEME OF YERS ARE YE DOIN' NOW!?"

Bede continued to stare at her wide eyed for a moment, before instantly righting himself and dusting himself off. "Oh my. You again." He was WAY to calm for this to be normal. "So you think that you can start collecting wishing stars now and get in the chairman's favor? That's the way of things, is it?!"

Gloria blinked and looked at him like he was stupid for accusing her of something so...so...Well stupid too. "Have ye stumbled and hit your head on somethin' or is your head so stuffed full of that fluffy hair ya can't see what you're doin' right there!?" She pointed even more at the destroyed mural. "And what are ye goin on about wishing stars for!? Like I give a ratatta's arse 'bout lil rocks when I already have the one I need!"

"I see. So you have some cunning in you. But I won't have it!," he growled pointing back at her in anger. "I won't allow anyone to stand in my way! I have to win this for the chairman! Do you really think I'd let you keep me from everything I want!!"

"Did ya even hear what I just said!? I don't want ta git in your way! I want ye ta stop damagin' that thing! Are ye deaf!?"

He chuckled without any happiness. "Oh yes. My partner's move is simply splendid, wouldn't you say?" He held up his hand and with a snap the copperajah as he called it gave a giant elephant roar before lifting it's trunk back up and striking back into the same place it had been before hand. "Now leave me be until I can figure out what to say to you officially!" He turned back around. "I have work to do."

"What do we do!?," you turned to Sonia in a panic as she as panickedly looked back to you as you helplessly pointed at the GIANT elephant thing. "I can't take that thing on with Drizzilie! I can barely beat my own sleep time!!"

"I-I-..." She stammered looking around panicked hands lightly shaking not sure what to do herself before whipping to the stairs to everyone there. Sweat on her face. "SOMEONE GET THE GYM LEADER!! SOMEONE GET BEA NOW!!"

Good idea! Bea would absolutely be able to stop this but by the time she got up here that mural would've been nothing but rubble- ?! "GLORIA NO!!!" Your hand snapped to stop the girl but she was too fast as your hand grabbed empty air.

Gloria had dropped her bag to the ground. Her hands gripping her camera so hard her knuckles were white as she charged forward with speed you hadn't seen her use before. The copperajah pulling it's trunk back again to slam it for the hundredth time back into place in the crater it made in the rock as Bede persisted in barking at it to do so. It's trunk lifted high to the point it was about to slam it back down, when Gloria slid her way between them and the mural, before holding up the camera- "SAY CHEESE!!" And a flash of bright white shot out. The copperajah gave out a pained wail as it turned itself away from the flash quickly shaking it's head. The trunk that was raised to strike the mural more instead coming to it's own body to rub at it's eyes. Bede himself flinching back with a angry cry followed by a growl and gritted teeth as he was stopped.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?," he cried out angrily to her arm wiping at his eyes before blinking wide purple eyes full of confusion at the scowling girl. "I'm doing this for you! I'm doing this for everyone in Galar!!"

"What you're doin' is destroyin' Galar! Not helpin' it ya dummy! Why would I want ya doin' this for me!?" Bede stopped seeming stunned and...it might've been your panicked mind but he looked a little hurt at her words as she glared and held up her camera at him like a weapon. "Now stand down before I get more evidence of yer crimes!"

"...I...But why? How can this be?" ..He numbly pointed at her. "How could someone like you get in my way? I was the one chosen by the chairman! I was the one to defeat the champion!" He cried out at her. "I'm one of the elite! Someone who can shoulder the future of the Galar Region!" He pointed at her. "YOU EVEN AGREED WITH ME!!"

"Since when did I agree with destroyin' ancient sights for bloody sparkly rocks!?"

He didn't get time to anwer. In fact none of you did as a group of footsteps made their way from from behind you and your Drizzilie chirped in surprise before diving in front of your legs to avoid being swarmed by a few people in police suits like you'd often see Officer Jenny wear, a few gym staff people in white suits, and at least three pokemon that you supposed was to help restrain the culprit. You and Sonia looked around yourselves surprised but relieved to see the police coming FINALLY, and Bede suddenly looked even more panicked hands at his sides and lookig around widely as he was affectively surrounded.

"Make way for the Chairman!" Hey! You recognized that woman's voice. And turned just in time for the Chairman himseld and an angry Oleana part their way through the crowd. But instead of feeling relief anymore, a bad feeling pooled at the end of your stomach. "Challeger Bede!" She yelled and just when you thought Bede couldn't have gotten any paler, his skin turned such a white the bright white of his hair could've been considered darker than his skin tone. "I wondered what you were up to when you asked to borrow Chairman Rose's copperajah.I can't believe you'd try to use the chairman's pokemon to destroy a historical sight!"

Wait wait WAIT! HOLD UP!! They actually let Bede borrow THEIR pokemon without asking what he was doing and surprised about this!? ..A low rumble noise came from the wall as a piece of it slid away between the cracks around it. A few pebbles falling from it and landing right behind Bede's feet. No one noticed but Gloria who was still standing between Bede and the destroyed mural, blinking and looking up at the stone wall. You all were too busy watching the show between Bede and his sponsors to notice.

Bede had stood there stunned for a moment before scowling and pointing at her, but his tone was obviously scared. "Who cares for some ancient ruin when the next thousand years are at stake!? Did you stand in the path of a pokemon's simple beam or something?" Wrong move. Oleana looked even more angry now. "How do you expect to support the Chairman with that sort of thinking!?"

More pebbles fell down and Gloria looked right up, twisting her body around as she took a few steps back staring at the wall.

"Bede." Bede Froze. Absolutely. Freaking. FROZE as the Chairman addressed him holding a hand up to Oleana who immediately stood down at his motion. "Young Bede." His hand was slowly returned to his pocket, the chairman's eyes scanning his pokemon who still shook it's head and the absolutely destructon of the once beautiful mural. And shook his head. How was he so calm about this? "It pains me to say this but I am truly disappointed."

".....W-What?"

"It's true that I'm the one who found you, back when you were all alone." He sighed reaching a hand up to rub his head. "I saw talent in you. You reminded me a little bit of myself back when I was young. That's why I sent you to a trainer's school, to give you a chance at success. But trying to destroy the mural, part of Galar's history! You show no love toward Galar!" He looked back up to the boy who by this point was lightly shaking. Just staring at him like a little scared mouth. "You are clearly not a worthy challenger for the Gym Challenge."

"W-W-WHAT!?," Bede shouted at him. "B-B-But all I have ever done was for you!" He placed a hand to his chest. "All I have ever done was for Galar! Y-You must be joking right!? You're disqualifying me from the Gym Challenge?! But you're the one who endorsed me! T-T-There are a hundred different ways we could sort this out!" He insisted more desperate. "Why are you chosing the worst possible option?!"

Mr. Rose just held up a tired hand again. "I don't want to hear anymore from you, Bede. We will decide what to do with you later. For now you will return to Hammerlocke with us."

"B-B-But-.." He looked around in a blind panic around himself at every staff, policeman, and other adult there watching him. More pebbles falling and Gloria's eyes widened in danger. "I-I REFUSE!! THERE WAS A MISTAKE!!"

"Challenger Bede," Oleana stated firmly, "I'll be taking those wishing stars you have gathered. And you WILL be returning with us to Hammerlocke."

"I- N-No wait!" He was grabbed by two men in those white gym uniforms and his purple eyes shrank as Oleana walked towards him.

That's when the Chairman turned towards the rest of you and smiled apologetically. "AH! Sonia! And Gloria and her friend too!" You both turned to the Chairman as Gloria paid no attention to you, the Chairman, or Bede's shaking form as Oleana collected what looked like more sparkling gems out of his pockets. "Terrible shame all this." he gestured to the seen before him and you wanted to hurl at how disgustingly calm he could POSSIBLY be about all this! "An absolute disaster." OH YOU THINK!? "I never wish to see us lose challengers for this sort of reason. Yet we do what we must do to keep things fair and sportsmanlike."

"Then why did you lend him your copperajah without watching him?," you found yourself saying with a frown, "Or have a young boy collect stones from possibly dangerous mines?"

He fell silent, giving you a look that could have been surprised at what you said as you still stared at him. The reality of what you had said not catching up to you then and there because on top of what just happened something else struck. The sound of cracking walls and moving gravel made everyone look up as the cracks and wall of the cliffside moved ever so slightly under the weight of the lose boulder as it slipped free and fell down towards the earth. Down right towards the scrambling and screaming people. Right towards the frozen form of Bede as his mouth opened in a silent scream at the heavy rock barraling towards him as he stood in it's shadow- Well the rock did made contact with the ground, shattering into lots of tinier pieces on impact. Everyone yelped and cowered, arms flying up to shield their faces or turning away as the tinier rocks flew everywhere. Bede and Gloria laid upon the ground sprawled out from where she tackled him out of the flying death maker's way. Both groaned out before sitting up. Bede once again freezing at the sight of Gloria being so close and pulling him up into a sitting position with a scowl!

"Ye alright?"......he slowly nodded. "That's good." Before she began shaking him. "WHAT THE ABSOLUTE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU!? NOW DO YA SEE WHY IT WAS A STUPID IDEA YA DUMMY!? YA COULD'VE BEEN CRUSH BY A STUPID FLYIN' BOULDER!!"

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!?" A loud female voice cried out and if you thought Oleana's loud voice was scary it was nothing compared to the slightly smaller than you woman who stomped her way through the crowd barefoot, angry, and with at least three fighting type pokemon behind her. Just how many people were going to show up here!? And how could she stand walking around barefoot on the hot ground!? The grey haired woman looked absolutely shocked at the state of her town's mural and all the debry around the ground from it, but unlike everyone else who stood around taking a long time to react, her reaction was instant. Anger flooding her features and her face looked like a tea kettle ready to pop as it turned beat red. An accusing hand was pointed at the destruction caused. Wait. She looked familiar. "WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS!?"....Oh right! You saw her on the card Opal had given Gloria! It was Bea the gym leader of this place!...And she did NOT look happy to see what happened. Even more unfortunate for Bede some people around him pointed him out to the angry woman and once she snapped his gaze to himself still half held by Gloria, you could tell he was just one more heart attack away from fainting. "SO IT WAS YOU!!" She pointed right at him. "IT'S BAD ENOUGH YOU INSULTED THE TRAINER I ENDORSED BUT NOW YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY OF RUINING MY TOWN'S SUPPLY OF INCOME TOO!? WHERE DO YOU THINK SOME OF THE MONEY TO KEEP THE STADIUM RUNNING COMES FROM YOU LITTLE PUNK!? I SWEAR BY THE TIME I'M THROUGH WITH YOU YOU'LL BE GLUING THE ENTIRE THING BACK BY HAND WITH NOTHING BUT A LITTLE CHILD'S GLUE STICK!!" By now Bede looked pale enough to pass as a ghost.

"Bea now, now." The Chairman held up his hands to her in a calm manner. "Calm down. I'll pay for all the damages and repairs to be fixed. We'll have an exact replica of the mural back up in no time at all. It'll be like this never happened."

"WHAT?!" She snapped a look towards the chairman. "AND LET THIS LITTLE TROUBLEMAKER GO UNPUNISHED FOR ALL THE TROUBLE HE'S ALREADY CAUSED!?"

"I never said he wasn't going to be punished. We were just about to figure that out just now I assure you."

She huffed crossing her arms. "Oh yeah? Is that right? If you ask me you should take away the gym badges from him-"

"NO!!" Bede gave off an 'Oof' as Gloria suddenly grabbed him to her in a protective manner and his face hit her shoulder as he blinked confused. The adults looking at her in a way that made you nervous just standing there watching.

...Bea got a look of realization over her before she pointed at Gloria. "Hey. I know you. You're the trainer that I just badge the Fighting type badge too. Are you in on this too?"

Gloria shook her head no. "NO!! Are ye kiddin' me?! I'd never do somethin' as stupid as this!" Her hand pointed at her. "BUT YA CAN'T TAKE AWAY HIS GYM BADGES!!" She then pointed at the Chairman who blinked at her. "AND NEITHER CAN YE!! BEDE WON THOSE FAIR N' SQUARE!!" Bede blinked and looked up to her in shock. "YER RIGHT THAT HE SHOULD BE PUNISHED FOR DOIN' WHAT HE DID!! BUT GYM BADGES ARE A SYMBOL OF ALL THE HARD WORK YOU PUT IN AS A POKEMON TRAINER JUST TO GET THEM!! ONCE A GYM LEADER GIVES THEM TO YA IT JUST SHOWS HOW MUCH YOU IMPROVED AND GROWN FROM THEN!! IF YOU TAKE THEM FROM HIM THEN YOU'LL BE DOIN' NOTHING BUT TELL HIM HIS WORTH AS A TRAINER IS NOTHING AND I WON'T ALLOW THAT!!" Her grip on him increased slightly. "Punish him for what he did to the mural if you want, but don't you DARE take his gym badges from him!"

You weren't sure whether you wanted to bury yourself under a rock or be proud of her in that moment, but her words got the Chairman to stare at her a moment. Humming and eyeing her protective stance frowning at him before he sighed and nodded. "She's right Bea. I won't tamper with the progress he's already made thus far, but he sure will be answering for the mess he's caused everyone today." He gestured back down towards the stairs. "Come. Lets discuss what we can do about the mural out of the hot sun alright? Ms. Sonia I don't suppose you could stand by until my team gets here could you?"

Sonia blinked."...OH! I-i-...Sure."

The two of you stood there as everyone and their pokemon trickled out of the destroyed area and back down the stairs after the chairman and gym leader who shot a nasty glare at Bede before she left. ...Bede slowly pried hmself away from Gloria falling back onto his bottom as she blinked. He got up shakily, dusting himself off in the process, before looking back to her. The two of them silently staring at each others for the longest time.

"Bede," He jumped and turned to Oleana as she stood there waiting for him expectantly, "Come along. You're aware the Chairman doesn't like to kept waiting." Bede paused for a moment looking between her and Gloria exactly once, before turning and started walking towards her. She turned and walked away from the three of you as Gloria slowly stood herself. Bede not sparing either of you a head glance as he walked past the two of you head down without a word.

The three of you stood there watching everyone leave down the long flight of stairs silently ...before you finally broke the silence by looking at the mess as the copperajah lumbered past after it's owner. ".....Well I can say for certain that this so fair has been the most eventful day I've ever had in my life."

"Tell me 'bout it!" Gloria grumbled dusting herself off as she walked over to you to which you looked at her.

"Hey. Are you ok? You're not hurt are you?"

She shook her head no to your relief as she still deeply frowned. "I know the show ponyta was a looney but I didn't think he'd have the gall ta pull somethin' like this."

You hummed. ".....Somehow I don't think that was exactly all his fault."

"Whatcha mean by that?"

You went to answer her but was cut off yet again by voice. "Now that I think about it..." Both of you looked to Sonia who hummed. "You know. During one of Bede's matches, I heard the announcer say that Bede has no family. Apparently it was Rose who took Bede under his wing, and so Bede was battling for the Chairman's sake." Gloria looked between you two surprised, but you were more angry than surprised at this point gaining a frown. You had pretty much picked up on that by now. "*sigh* But that's a story for another day." She looked to the destroyed Mural. "Oh poor Bea. What an awful turn of events. I hope the mural survived all that."

"I doubt that." Gloria kicked a decent sized rock away from her at the mention.

And then that's when the rumble started. Just like the sound of the rock that nearly crushed Bede, only there was a lot more of it! The three of you looked up in horror at the cracks in the once pretty mural finally giving away under the strained weight, and it fell apart.

"LOOK OUT!!"

You quickly grabbed Gloria and yanked her behind you as your Drizzilie once again ducked behind your legs for cover as the rocks fell away and crumbled to the ground in a heap. Sending smaller rock fragments and dust everywhere making the three of you cough up a storm. But it's when you looked up however, is when the REAL mystery began. Because when the two of you looked up....your eyes widened. In place of where the mural used to be was a pile of rubble and a hole in the cliffside. But in the hole ..was a couple of statues. Two of which were two GIGANTIC dog looking pokemon holding a sword or shield in their mouths, and behind them were two kings carved into the stone.

"...Hey." You glanced at Gloria shaking dust from her hat and Sonia walked up wide eyed to the statues. "Are you ok?" She nodded before plopping the hat back onto her head. "Good. What about you Sonia?.....Sonia?" You blinked and looked over to the orange haired woman gaping up at the statues...Huh. Why did they seem familiar to you?

"......Not a brilliant turn of events, but the ruins were brought into the light for us to see!," Sonia finally said after a long moment of silence. "What does this tell us about Galar's legends?"

"Uuuuh." You rose a brow up at the statues. Not really sure if she was talking to you or not. "A....sword and shield?" You guessed based off what the things were holding in their mouths...Hey. Wasn't this whole game's thing revolved around a sword and shield or something??

She nodded. "Right! More than any hero, there's those things that appear to be pokemon that stand out! Not just that, but those pokemon appear to be holding a sword and shield as if they were using them! Anything else look interesting to you?!"

"Uuuuh. ...Those two guys there." You pointed to the two king statues. They're the same as the tapestries aren't they?"

"I didn't notice that! Oh good observation! There really were two heroes. But if that's the case then why only the one statue at Budew drop inn?"

You shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe whoever built it didn't feel like making two giant gold statues."

She hummed. "More than any statue of a hero or old tapestry, these ruins made in truly ancient times must show us the real truth! Which means that....."

"....The sword and shield are pokemon?"

"YUP!!" She snapped with a smile to you making you blink. "I was thinking the same thing! Seems like at some point in history the sword and shield were combined with the two actual pokemon and treated as the same thing!" She hummed looking back to all the rubble. "But then what? They just faded from history? Two young heroes. The sword and shield were actually pokemon. But why would the truth of these ruins be hidden when their stories were depicted in artwork?"

"...Maybe they had something to do with it?" She looked at you and you pointed to the human statues. "The kings or whoever they are. They went through a lot of trouble hiding this..maybe it was to protect the things that protected them."

She hummed. "Possibly. We won't be too sure until I get Mr. Rose's approval to study it more. Thanks! With your help I really feel like we made a big discovery here!

"Not sure how I helped but your welcome!"

"..So there was history being covered up by all that over stylized artwork. I'm gonna have to look into this some more. OOHH!! IM SO EXCITED!! NO RESEARCHER HAS EVER MADE SUCH A DISCOVERY-" A bark caught both of your attention as Sonia looked down at her feet in time for her yamper to drop something white at them. And she blinked. "Hey boy. Whatcha got there?" Not a bone you hoped. She quickly reached down as you leaned over to look and she stood up with a white mask in her hands. It was covered in does and a bit yellowed with a few scrapes, and had three black holes in it presumably for a person's mouth and eyes. "Well would you look at this. I dont think this is from the ruins. ...It kinda reminds me of the one's Allister wears."

"Who?," you asked trying to see it. Sonia handed it over to you and you grabbed it from her to get a better look.

"Allister. He's the boy who's in charge of the Ghost type Gym just down the road there." She pointed towards the exit path from Stow-on-Side. "It's located by the Stow-on-Side cemetary, but it'll take a full day just to get there from here. I just mentioned it might be his since the only one I've ever seen with that kind of mask was him at the Entrance Ceremony....But I guess you'll be headed to Bellonlea next, right?"

You opened your mouth- "Y/N!!!" You were nearly knocked to the ground when Gloria ran up to you and grabbed you suddenly. Yanking you forward hard enough to send you stumbling a few steps as she panicked. "It's that restore scientist lady! She's headed up the stairs this way!" She pulled you into a run away from Sonia as she watched bewildered down the path away from here. Your Drizzilie running at your heels.

"Bye Sonia! Good luck in your research!!," you called back.

Guess you'd be able to finally leave Stow-on-Side.

[videogamesdensetsu]

Katsuya Terada / 寺田 克也 - Part 1: 1987-1993 http://cacazan.com/ http://katsuyaterada.tumblr.com/ https://www.facebook.com/katsuya.terra.terada Terada has worked on about 50 games in the past 30 years. He became famous in the West in the early 2000s with the release of the movie Blood: The Last vampire for which he designed the main characters, his cover girls and his huge artbook "Rakugaking". Paradoxically, nowadays , outside of Japan, his name is more often attached to the Zelda series, one of his earliest works -- from 1989 to 1995, he was a regular contributor to the North American magazine Nintendo Power for which he did many artworks, including illustrations for Link's Awakening and A Link to the Past. On a related note, some of his Link's Awakening artworks seem to be exclusive to the official German player's guide. Games pictured above: 1) Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Shinjuku Chūō Kōen Satsujin Jiken / 探偵神宮寺三�� 新宿中央公園殺人事件 (FDS - 1987) 2-5) Sorcerian System Scenario Vol. 2: Sengoku Sorcerian / 戦国ソーサリアン (PC-88 - 1988) 6) Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Yokohama-kō Renzoku Satsujin Jiken / 探偵 神宮寺三郎 横浜港 連続殺人事件 (Famicom - 1988) Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Kiken na Futari Zenpen / 探偵神宮寺三郎 危険な二人 前編 (FDS - 1988) Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Kiken na Futari Kōhen / 探偵神宮寺三郎 危険な二人 後編 (FDS - 1989) Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Toki no Sugiyuku Mama ni... / 探偵 神宮寺三郎 時の過ぎゆくままに… (Famicom - 1990) 7) Blue almanac / ブルーアルマナック, AKA Star Odyssey (Mega Drive - 1991) 8) Prince of Persia / プリンスオブペルシャ (SFC - 1992) 9) Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, AKA Final Fantasy USA: Mystic Quest / ファイナルファンタジーUSA ミスティッククエスト (SNES - 1992) 10) Bishin Densetsu Zoku / 美神伝説Ｚｏｋｕ Bishin Densetsu Zoku / Zoku: The Legend of Bishin (SFC - 1993) Games he has worked on: Note: I omited a few games such as Tekken 5 Dark Resurrection, Culdcept II: Expansion and Culdcept 3DS which reuse designs/card illustrations from earlier games.

Alteil / アルテイル (browser game - 2004) card illustrations and chara design for 4 EX Villains Battle K-Road / バトルクロード (Arcade - 1994) character illustrations Bishin Densetsu Zoku / 美神伝説Ｚｏｋｕ Bishin Densetsu Zoku / Zoku: The Legend of Bishin (SFC - 1993) cover art, illustrations Blue almanac / ブルーアルマナック, AKA Star Odyssey (Mega Drive - 1991) cover art, manual illustrations Busin: Wizardry Alternative, AKA Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land (PS2 - 2001) chara-design, illustrations, cover art Cristopher Columbus / クリストファー・コロンブス (SFC - ~1993 - canceled) illustration Culdcept II / カルドセプト セカンド (Dreamcast - 2001) card illustrations (with others) Culdcept Saga / カルドセプト サーガ (Xbox 360 - 2006) card illustrations (with others) Dual Heroes / デュアルヒーローズ (N64 - 1997) character illustrations, in-game illustration, "Virtual Gamer Design" Fate/Apocrypha / フェイト/アポクリファ (cancelled MMO - year unknown but the project was covered by a book published in June 2011) chara-design for 2 characters (Berserker and Lancer) Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, AKA Final Fantasy USA: Mystic Quest / ファイナルファンタジーUSA ミスティッククエスト (SNES - 1992) manual illustrations (North American version) Final Fantasy XI / ファイナルファンタジーXI (PS2, PC - 2005) promotional illustration featured on postcards available at the FFXI Summer Carnival 2005. Final Fantasy XI Tsuika scenario "Ishi no Miru Yume" / ファイナルファンタジーXI追加シナリオ 『石の見る夢』, AKA Final Fantasy XI Additional scenario: A Crystalline Prophecy (PS2, PC, Xbox 360 - 2009) illustration Galak-Z: The Dimensional (Windows, Mac, Linux - 2015) enemy-designs (with others) Kengō 2 / 剣豪2 (PS2 - 2002) cover art, illustrations, chara-design Kitakata Kenzou Sangokushi / 北方謙三 三国志 (PS2 - 2001) Cover art, illustrations Knights Contract / ナイツコントラクト (PS3, Xbox 360 - 2011) promotional illustration La-Mulana EX (PS Vita - 2014) Illustration Lord of Vermilion / ロード・オブ・ヴァーミリオン (Arcade - 2008) card illustration x1 Maten Densetsu: Senritsu no Ooparts / 魔天伝説 戦慄のオーパーツ (SFC - 1995) chara design, illustrations, cover art Nanatama: Chronicle of Dungeon Maker / 七魂 クロニクルオブダンジョンメーカー (PSP - 2009) cover art, illustrations, chara design Onimusha Soul / 鬼武者Soul (browser game - 2012) chara-design (Tokugawa Ieyasu, Takeda Shingen) Prince of Persia / プリンスオブペルシャ (SFC - 1992) cover art Ryūteki go sennen: Dragons of China / 龍的五千年 Dragons of China (Saturn - 1997) Chara-design Sangokushi Taisen / 三国志大戦 (Arcade - 2005) card illustration x1 (EX005 Zhang Liao) Seifū no Kyōshikyoku: The Rhapsody of Zephyr / 西風の狂詩曲 (Windows - 1999) cover art Sengoku Efuda Yūgi Hototogisu Ran / 戦国絵札遊戯 不如帰 -HOTOTOGISU- 乱 (PSP - 2008) card illustrations (with others) Sengoku Efuda Yūgi Hototogisu Tairan / 戦国絵札遊戯 不如帰 -HOTOTOGISU- 大乱 (PSP - 2010) card illustrations (with others) Sengoku IXA / 戦国IXA (browser game - 2010) Simple 2000 series Ultimate Vol. 12: Street Golfer / SIMPLE2000シリーズ アルティメット Vol.12 ストリートゴルファー (PS2 - 2003) illustrations, chara-design Sol Divide / ソルディバイド (Arcade - 1997) illustrations, chara design Sorcerian System Scenario Vol. 2: Sengoku Sorcerian / 戦国ソーサリアン (PC-88 - 1988) cover art, illustrations Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Early Collection / 探偵 神宮寺三郎 アーリーコレクション (PS1 - 1999) cover art, illustrations, chara-design Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Ghost of the Dusk (3DS - 2017) cover art Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Innocent Black / 探偵 神宮寺三郎 Innocent Black (PS2 - 2002) Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Kiken na Futari Kōhen / 探偵神宮寺三郎 危険な二人 後編 (FDS - 1989) cover art, illustrations, chara-design Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Kiken na Futari Zenpen / 探偵神宮寺三郎 危険な二人 前編 (FDS - 1988) cover art, illustrations, chara-design Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Kind of Blue / 探偵 神宮寺三郎 Kind of Blue (PS2 - 2004) original chara-design, illustrations Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Mikan no Rupo / 探偵神宮寺三郎 未完のルポ (PS1, Saturn - 1996) Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Shinjuku Chūō Kōen Satsujin Jiken / 探偵神宮寺三郎 新宿中央公園殺人事件 (FDS - 1987) cover art, illustrations, chara-design? Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Toki no Sugiyuku Mama ni... / 探偵 神宮寺三郎 時の過ぎゆくままに… (Famicom - 1990) illustration, original art Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Tomoshibi ga Kienu Ma ni / 探偵神宮寺三郎 灯火が消えぬ間に(PS1 - 1999) Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Yokohama-kō Renzoku Satsujin Jiken / 探偵 神宮寺三郎 横浜港 連続殺人事件 (Famicom - 1988) cover art, illustrations, chara-design Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Yume no Owari ni / 探偵神宮寺三郎 夢の終わりに (PS1, Saturn - 1998) Tekken 5 / 鉄拳5 (PS2 - 2005) extra costume designs x3 (Ling Xiaoyu, Raven, Ganryu) Tekken Tag Tournament 2 / 鉄拳タッグトーナメント2 (PS3, Xbox 360 - 2012) extra costume design (Kunimitsu) Virtua Fighter / バーチャファイター (Arcade - 1993) illustration Virtua Fighter 2 / バーチャファイター2 (Arcade - 1994) illustrations (later reused for Virtua Fighter Remix) Virtua Fighter Remix / バーチャファイターRemix (Saturn - 1995) cover art + an untitled unreleased game for which he designed the characters

To be confirmed: Lunatic Dawn / ルナテックドーン (illustration featured in Zenbu, probably a fanart) Marvel Trading Card Game (DS, Windows, PSP - 2007) maybe the game reuses pre-existent illustrations Optical Axis / オプティカル アクシス (line art dated 1992, not sure if it's a game)

I don't know if Terada has worked on the Tantei Jingūji Saburō series since the PS2 episodes, apart from the recent 3DS game for which he created the main illustration. Of course, since he designed the main characters of the series, he is probably credited in some if not all of these games. Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Akai Chō / 探偵 神宮寺三郎 赤い蝶 (DS - 2010) Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Fukushuu no Rinne / 探偵 神宮寺三郎 復讐の輪舞 (3DS - 2012) Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Fuserareta Shinjitsu / 探偵 神宮寺三郎 伏せられた真実 (DS - 2009) Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Hai to Diamond / 探偵 神宮寺三郎 ～灰とダイヤモンド～  (PSP - 2009) Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Inishie no Kioku / 探偵 神宮寺三郎 いにしえの記憶 (DS - 2007) Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Kienai Kokoro / 探偵 神宮寺三郎 きえないこころ (DS - 2008) Tantei Jingūji Saburō - Shiroi Kage no Shōjo / 探偵神宮寺三郎 白い影の少女 (GBA - 2005)

Other video game related works: Note: One of his Alteil illustrations is featured on the cover of the book Alteil～神々の世界『ラヴァート』年代記 オフィシャルガイド.

Arc System Works 25 Shūnen Kinen Kōshiki Character Collection / アークシステムワークス25周年記念 公式キャラクターコレクション (artbook - 2013) guest illustration Assassin's Creed art Exhibition (exhibition - 2011) illustration Dragon Quest 25th anniversary (2012) illustration Fire Emblem : The complete / ファイアーエムブレム ザ・コンプリート (artbook - 1996) guest illustration Gunbird / ガンバード () guest illustration featured in the artbook Psikyo Illustrations KG Sengoku TURbuhā / KG 戦国TURぶはあ (book related to the Dreamcast game Sengoku Turb) illustration(s) Sengoku Blade / 戦国ブレード () guest illustration featured in the artbook Psikyo Illustrations The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - Nintendo Player's Guide (Guide book - 1992) illustrations The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening - Der offizielle Nintendo Spieleberater (Guide book - 1994) illustrations for Zelda 1, 2 ALTTP and Link's Awakening The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening - Nintendo Player's Guide (Guide book - 1993) illustrations for Zelda 1, 2 and Link's Awakening Virtua Fighter 2 Ten Stories / バーチャファイター2 テンストーリーズ (comics - 1997)

Nintendo Power contributions: #1 July-August 1988 - Gauntlet #3 November-Decermber 1988 - Ultima #5 March-April 1989 - The Adventures of Bayou Billy (to be confirmed. Terada is not credited but the illustration has his distinctive art style) #6 May-June 1989 - Dragon Warrior #7 July-August 1989 - Dragon Warrior #8 September-October 1989 - Dragon Warrior #9 November-December - Dragon Warrior (Nintendo Power Strategy Guide) #12 May-June 1990 - Crystalis #12 May-June 1990 - Ninja Gaiden II #15 July-August - Ninja Gaiden II (Nintendo Power Strategy Guide) #16 September-October 1990 - Dragon Warrior II #18 November-December 1990 - Castlevania III 1 #19 4 Player Extra - Gauntlet II #21 February 1991- Ultima Quest of the Avatar #23 April 1991 - Sword Master #27 August 1991 - Dragon Warrior III #30 November 1991 - Final Fantasy II #31 December 1991 - Actraiser #33 February 1992 - Ys III #38 July 1992 - Magic Sword #39 August 1992 - Contra Force #41 October 1992 - Double Dragon 3 #45 March 1993 - Zen #46 April 1993 - Dragon Warrior IV #47 May 1993 - Koei #52 September 1993 - Final Fantasy Legend III #54 November 1993 - Ultima Runes of Virtue II #59 April 1994 - X-Kaliber 2097 #62 July 1994 - Secret of Mana #63 August 1994 - Secret of Mana #64 September 1994 - Secret of Mana #65 October 1994 - Illusion of Gaia

Sources: Falcom Chronicle (Sorcerian, Seifū no Kyōshikyoku) Fate/complete material IV Extra material (Fate/Apocrypha) Psikyo Illustrations - Psi (Battle K-Road, Sol Divide, Sengoku Blade, Gunbird) Rakugaking (Prince of Persia, Nintendo Power, Tantei Jingūji Saburō, Prince of Persia) (p12, 18, 322, 357, 449-451, 496, 850) Koko 10-nen / ココ10年 (Street Golfer, Knights Contract, Sengoku Efuda Yūgi Hototogisu Ran, Assassin's Creed, etc.) Virtua Fighter Maniax Zenbu (Nintendo Power, Dragon Warrior Strategy Guide, Blue Almanac, Dual Heroes, Sol Divide, Bishin Densetsu Zoku, Battle K-Road, Tantei Jingūji Saburō, 1 untitled game, Prince of Persia) Alteil: https://login.alteil.jp/al2CardDB/list.php Busin http://i.mtime.com/tmdmlgb/blog/3439230/ Culdcept series: http://www.culdceptcentral.com/index.php Final Fantasy XI: https://www.famitsu.com/pcent/news/1220014_1341.html http://elemen.jp/ff11/contents/goods/etc.html Galak-Z https://twitter.com/17_BIT/status/834692786096058368 Kengō 2 http://www.genki.co.jp/game/ps2/kengo2/02.php Kitakata Kenzou Sangokushi: http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20010615/mfac.htm Mirai Ninja by Katsuya Terada https://twitter.com/Yoshi6054/status/609579957988098049 Sangokushi Taisen http://gr.qee.jp/02_st/st2/ex/ex05.html Sengoku Efuda Yūgi Hototogisu Ran http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20081010/irem.htm Sengoku Efuda Yūgi Hototogisu Tairan http://dengekionline.com/elem/000/000/271/271180/ Sengoku Ixa http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/384590.html Tekken 5 http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20050318/tk5.htm

[aion-rsa]

The Most Terrifying Magic: The Gathering Cards

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October means we’re officially in spooky season, so what better time to explore some of the more terrifying corners of Magic: The Gathering? Plenty of monsters and villains occupy each color of Magic, but it’s the black swamps that host the most vile and decrepit. Among the infinite shadows of these landscapes, few threats are as immediately fear-inducing as zombies.

If you’re looking to build a deck that’ll send shivers down your opponent’s spine, or just devour anything they throw at you, an army of the living dead is the way to go. Though often quite weak on their own, the dead quickly outnumber any adversary with the right strategy, and the right leaders. Rare, high-powered ghouls are key to any good zombie deck, whether in commander, standard, or otherwise – here’s a list of the best and rarest for you to track down for your own nefarious means.

Mikaeus, The Unhallowed

Here’s a legendary zombie priest to start with, and a very troublesome one at that. As part of Dark Ascension, Mikaeus can’t be used in standard, but he’s perfect for running a shambling black commander deck. The strengths of Mikaeus, The Unhallowed are three-fold. First, when a human card deals damage to you it gets destroyed, which is already a worthwhile defense. Then, other non-human creatures you control get +1/+1, so your ghouls already out are getting buffed, and on top of that, they have undying, meaning they’re resurrected with a +1/+1 counter if they died without one. With him out, the plague does not stop coming.

At around $35, Mikaeus is an investment, but one that puts the edge on any black commander build. For less than ten bucks more, you can find the foil version, which could be even better as trade fodder, too.

Sidisi, Undead Vizier

A slightly cheaper purchase is Sidisi, Undead Vizier, a rare from Dragons of Tarkir. Sidisi’s less about immediate strength, and more about strategy. When the zombie naga comes into play, you can sacrifice a creature. If you do, you can search your deck for any card and put it into your hand. In the commander format, since everything beyond lands can only be included once, that’s a handy tool to have in your arsenal.

Outside of that, the Undead Vizier has deathtouch, meaning any damage he deals to an opposing creature will kill that creature. At a converted mana cost of five and four strength and six toughness, Sidisi can deal some serious blows if need be. The pleasure of doing so will run you just over $10, so not too cost prohibitive an acquisition.

Balthor the Defiled

Magic: The Gathering has a penchant for producing some truly heavy metal card concepts, and Balthor is a classic. A zombie dwarf legend, which should tell you enough, Balthor’s two abilities are to strengthen minions, or bring back all red or black creatures in everyone’s graveyards to play. The first is self-explanatory, all minions in play get +1/+1, but the second can be explosive. For three black and removing Balthor from the game, every black and red creature in a graveyard returns from the dead. If you’ve been heavy on the low-level, easy-to-kill creatures, that could be catastrophic for whomever you’re against.

Balthor’s services are pretty easy on the wallet, at $10 or so, four times that if you’d like the foil version. “He remembers enough of his life to weep for what he has lost,” his description reads. Heavy.

The Scarab God

If mono-black feels a bit limited, The Scarab God is a strong way to expand, requiring one blue along with one black and three colorless. This undying God – the title’s not just for show – is a literal zombie machine that trades corpses for powerful tokens. Its main ability is, for two colorless, one blue and one black, that you can exile a creature from a graveyard to create a 4/4 black zombie token in its place. Then, if that wasn’t enough, this legendary inflicts one damage to each opponent for every zombie under your control at the start of tour upkeep, and gives you scry for each zombie too.

What’s more, Scarab God returns to your hand the turn after it dies. At $15, you’re getting a serious asset for a commander deck that can overwhelm most anything it’s up against.

Geralf’s Messenger

Of course, all these commanders are nothing without the frontlines, the wave of undead soldiers that battle in their stead. You can find many a decent pile of rotting flesh to fill out your ranks, of which Geralf’s Messenger is a fine addition. The three black, 3/2 zombie enters the battlefield tapped, but gives your opponent two damage right from the off, just so they don’t think they’re getting off easy. Then, this shambling corpse has undying, meaning it comes back with a +1/+1 counter if it dies without one, so once your opponent kills it, it returns stronger, like any good ghoul.

Commander, modern, legacy, Geralf’s Messenger is legal in a number of formats, and his price of $7 reflects that. Not everyone is meant to be a leader, some are almost criminally good at being a follower.

Commander, modern, legacy, Geralf’s Messenger is legal in a number of formats, and his price of $7 reflects that. Not everyone is meant to be a leader, some are almost criminally good at being a follower.

Murderous Rider

The current playing field for standard offers a couple of cheap options if you want to incorporate rotting flesh and zombification into your repertoire. Murderous Rider is one, a Throns of Eldraine rare zombie knight. This resurrected knight on horseback gives you two lovely abilities that can be useful in the right circumstances. As an instant, with swift end, it can destroy a creature or planeswalker, but you lose two life and it’s exiled. If it dies normally, it goes to the bottom of your library.

For a converted mana cost of three for a 2/3, it could be the trump card you need in a bind, and at $3 at the minute, it’s a bit of a steal.

Polukranos, Unchained

Zombie hydra – need I say more? This green-black legendary creature is a costly behemoth, but if you can tame it, you can do some heavy damage. It enters the battlefield with six 1/1 counters, so for two colorless, one black and one green, you’re getting bang for your mana. The drawback is that damage is calculated using those counters, so whatever damage it takes, it lose that many counters. For one colorless, one black and one green, however, Polukranos can can fight another creature, so you can bounce this thing around the opposition.

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Four colorless, one black and one green, and six exiled cards from your graveyard lets this multi-headed monster escape back onto the battlefield if it’s killed, this time with 12 1/1 counters. Costs around $3 at the moment, and allowed in every format. A legendary zombie in every sense of the word.

The post The Most Terrifying Magic: The Gathering Cards appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[tratct]

YUGIOH TOURNAMENT (YT)

YuGiOh P Sche (PTTS Schedule) Post 5: YuGiOh Tournament (YT)

Table of Contents 1. (YuGiOh Tournament) YT Demonstration Match 2. YuGiOh TCG Guide 3. YuGiOh TCG Guide Redemption (First YT Revisit) 4. Booster Pack And Tournament Pack 5. Tournament First Place Deck (TFPD) Solemn Judgment (SJ) Deck Biography 6. Warrior (WAR) Deck Biography

________________________________________________________________

YuGiOh Tournament (YT) Demonstration Match

Time, Location, YuGiOh TCG Sets Time: Around 2002 Location: MBHS YuGiOh Gathering: This is a place for YuGiOh Players to stop at.  This place created for YuGiOh Players to hang out.  When I was invited to the YuGiOh Gathering, it has been going on for weeks of time.  The activities are duels, trades, YuGiOh talks, and etc. YuGiOh TCG Sets: The sets released are “Legend of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon” (LOB), “Metal Raider” (MRD), “Magic Ruler” (MRL)

My TCG Background After going through Pokemon TCG and YuGiOh TCG comparison, I started working on how I would able to use what I got from Pokemon TCG and transition it to YuGiOh TCG.  Read the Pokemon TCG and YuGiOh TCG comparison for more information. The following are my PT (Pokemon Tournament) History: 1. I has a PT First Place Streak 2. I has a Pokemon Master/Duelking title 3. I has the largest collection Pokemon TCG cards in the city of San Diego, California Read the following articles for more information: “1999 “Name of the Game” PT: The Beginning Part”, “1999 “Name of the Game” PT: Objective 2”, and “2001 PT Prime Time”

My TCG History: Getting Pass 1999 PT Crisis 1. The 1999 PT Crisis started around Spring 1999, because Pokemon TCG imported to USA Country for only months of time. 2. TCG Media References was uncommon.  Example: 8 months later after the PT Crisis, the first TCG Magazine was being sold on October 1999.  The following are the two available TCG Magazines at the beginning of 2000: A. Pokemon Association: “Beckett” Magazine first issue was being sold on October 1999.  “Beckett” Magazine is a monthly subscription magazine that entirely about Pokemon. B. TCG Association: “Beckket” Magazine target audience are mostly Pokemon Players and Pokemon fans.  So, there were a need for boarder audience base.  “Top Deck” Magazine first issue was being sold on December 1999.  “Top Deck” magazine is a monthly subscription magazine about Trading Card Game (TCG) and Video Game.  Mostly about TCG.  Only limited section on Video Game.  “Top Deck” audience are TCG Players in general and Video Game Players in general (Computer gaming and console gaming). 3. TCG Tournament Leader: Because of my Basketball matches performances, I started having thoughts about able to get pass the PT Crisis.  Example: During picking team, the Basketball Players would always pick me first.  There are time I would score all the points for my team.  The team that picked me always win the match.  This mean that I will have to lead my teammates through the PT crisis.  After teammates and I getting pass the PT Crisis, we felt that we were the ones that set tracks for “Beckett” magazine, “Top Deck” magazine, and the future of TCG.  Check out PTTS for more information. 4. TCG Career: The question, “The TCG Players and spectators acknowledged you as Pokemon Master/Duelking, why did you not acknowledge there is a Pokemon Tournament (PT) crisis?  This is going against our common senses such as common values and beliefs.  My Answer: I am committed to having a TCG Career.  I am not going to watch my TCG Career being destroy in front of me.  If I could do something about the PT crisis, then I would do it.

How The YT Demonstration Match Started In summary, from my PT History, I know that the “Blue-Eyes White Dragon” (BEWD) Deck I constructed would qualified as able to demonstrate a YuGiOh Tournament (YT) Demonstration Match.  One of the reasons was I was asked by YuGiOh Players about YuGiOh matches.  Like I wrote, among YuGiOh Players, Andy have won the most YuGiOh matches at the YuGiOh Gathering.  This mean that Andy’s deck would consider as the better deck.  So, Andy was the one who was select to be my opponent in the YT Demonstration Match.

Another reason, each time I am at the YuGiOh Gathering, all the YuGiOh Players gave me their acknowledgement, appreciation, and sincere respect.  Also, those YuGiOh Players did not mind about my cardboard box of YuGiOh TCG cards and the Official Card Game (OCG) YuGiOh TCG cards that are departing gifts from my relatives during my travel to Asia Continent.  Those OCG YuGiOh TCG cards are in Japanese Language.

In addition, there are YuGiOh talks all the time at the YuGiOh Gathering, so I assume in one of those talks, one of the YuGiOh Players would ask about my TCG experience.  I have a PT History.  In other words, my TCG experience is more advance than the YuGiOh Gathering.  I thought it through.  The YuGiOh Gathering is going through a YuGiOh TCG transition.  YuGiOh TCG transition mean that those YuGiOh Players at the YuGiOh Gathering are finding ways to learn more about the YuGiOh TCG.  So, there are not much room to try to comprehend a higher level of TCG Experience beyond the YuGiOh Gathering.  Basically, it is not the teaching part.  Example: I been teaching many individual TCG tutorials and group TCG tutorials in the PT.  From teaching those many tutorials that is how I come up with why in the YuGiOh Gathering there are not much room to comprehend a level beyond the YuGiOh Gathering.

In conclusion, I told them I am putting together a YuGiOh Tournament (YT) demonstration match, because the YT demonstration match would able to meet my standard of having a PT History.  Also, the reason I having the YT demonstration match, because the YuGiOh Gathering don’t have the YT experience.  Because of Andy YuGiOh TCG experience, so I selected Andy as the opposing YuGiOh Player in the YT demonstration match.

2002 BEWD Deck Biography In the year 2002, the BEWD Deck is consider an advance deck in the YuGiOh Gathering.  At the same time, keep in mind that this is 2002 YuGiOh TCG.  Only 3 Sets of YuGiOh TCG have released.  Every year, there are multiple sets of YuGiOh TCG being released.  The Plays and Combinations in BEWD deck during the YT demonstration match got the crowd of YuGiOh Players and spectators going.  Basically, the crowd did not expected more from what they saw.  The following are some of those plays I used in the YT Demonstration match:

1. Setup Plays (Opening Plays) A. Getting “Lord of D.” on your Field early. I. Once “Witch of the Black Forest” sent to the graveyard, you may search for “Lord of D.” in your deck.  Then, put “Lord of D.” in your hand. II. Magic Card: “Pot of Greed” and “Card Destruction” allow you to draws cards from your deck.  Giving more chance to draw “Lord of D.”

2. “Lord of D.” on Field A. Use “Lord of D.” Effect to have benefit from having Dragons on your side of Field B. If “Lord of D.” on the Field, you may use the “The Flute of Summoning Dragon”.  Each time you use “The Flute of Summoning Dragon”, you get the following benefits: I. Up to 2 Extra Summoning II. Without having to tribute of up to 4 Monsters Tribute to Summon Dragons

3. “Magic Jammer” Plays A. Save Magic Jammer for “Raigeki” and “Dark Hole” B. When “Lord of D.” under your control on the Field, “Raigeki” and “Dark Hole” still destroy all the monsters on your side of the Field

4. “Trap Hole” And “Fissure” Plays These Trap cards and Magic cards only work on face-up monsters your opponent control. A. Use “Trap Hole” when your opponent summon a monster.  “Trap Hole” will destroy targeted monster. B. Use “Fissure” to destroy a face-up monster your opponent control

5. “Soul Exchange” and “Change of Heart” Plays A. These Magic cards work on face-up or face-down monsters your opponent control. I. When you use “Soul Exchange”, you destroy a monster your opponent control on your opponent side of the Field.  Also, you get to count the destroyed monster as 1 tribute to “Tribute Summon” a monster from your hand. II. You could use “Change of Heart” the same way as “Soul Exchange”.  That is just 1 way to use “Change of Heart”

6. “Blue-Eyes White Dragon” Plays A. “Lord of D.” under your control on your side of the Field.  Then, use “The Flute of Summoning Dragons” to summon up to 2 “Blue-Eyes White Dragon”. B. Use “Lord of D.” Effect, so card effects cannot target “Blue-Eyes White Dragon” C. Make sure to set “Magic Jammer” on your Field, because “Raigeki” and “Dark Hole” destroy all monsters on your Field (without targeting a monster(s)). D. Use “Mask of Darkness” Flip Effect to retrieve a “Magic Jammer” from your Graveyard, so you could set it on your Field

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YuGiOh TCG Guide

Would anyone listen to my stories about the YuGiOh TCG?

The first shipment imported to the United State of America (USA), San Diego, California around 2001.  The following are some of the YuGiOh TCG highlights: 1. YuGiOh TCG is one of the greatest hits in the Asia Continent. 2. The YuGiOh TCG released in the Asia Continent is not in the English Language.  Also, those cards needed translation.

My TCG Status started in Spring 1999.  I was in my Middle School years.  There are classmates who been to the TCG Tournament I been to.  So, they know about my TCG Status.  Because of my TCG status, so I have to put time into keeping my TCG status.  The following are examples of keeping my TCG status: 1. TCG Gathering: There were many invitations from my classmates, YuGiOh Players.  Those invitations were mostly classmates verbally asking me to go to the MBHS (Mission Bay High School) YuGiOh Gathering.  I was well accepted in the MBHS YuGiOh Gathering.  The first few time I went there, I did not get into the YuGiOh TCG matches. 2. TCG Players Feedbacks And TCG Enthusiasm: Many classmates, YuGiOh Players was appreciated that I went to the YuGiOh gathering.  There were YuGiOh Players who acknowledged me right away.  Those acknowledgement were more than some the YuGiOh Players who went to the YuGiOh gathering regularly.  Because of the sincerely respect and invitations.  Later on, I also send out invitations asking my classmates to come over to my apartment to watch the YuGiOh TV series.  The awaited new episodes.

The reasons I asked the question who would listen to me, because of my TCG status.  Example: TCG Players know that I have to put time into keeping my TCG status.  In addition, I remember there were talks about the TV show, “Ripley Believe It or Not”.  Well…  is like the saying, “Now, it is your turn.”  Most of the time, I try to avoid the TV shows, hoping I don’t have to be in those situations.  Why and how does people end up in “Ripley Believe It or Not”?  Because of my TCG status that I put a lot of time into it, so my answer is I think that “Ripley Believe It or Not?” might be related to status.  Example: Pokemon Players, TCG Players, and spectators voted the PT (Pokemon Tournament) that I am leading as the #1 PT in San Diego, CA.  That is just one of the parts in my TCG status.  In other words, my TCG Status would out rivaled the TV show, “Ripley Believe It or Not”.  In comparison, my TCG status and “Ripley Believe It or Not”, those “Ripley Believe It or Not” TV shows would fall into believable.

In summary, those classmates, YuGiOh Players showing those acknowledgement, appreciation, and sincere respects, because they want me to be a part of YuGiOh Gathering. Example: If I am at the YuGiOh Gathering, then I could show them my insights, tips, and guides on TCG.  As for me, the following are my feedbacks to the YuGiOh Gathering: 1. Because of my travel to the Asia Continent, I have took some months of time away from the PT (Pokemon Tournament).  So, there are a few months that I have not see those TCG Players awed reactions to my TCG status.  Example: I have not heard the shouting out loud of , “Un-be-live-able!”  for a while. 2. The YuGiOh gathering barely started.  Probably weeks of time. 3. Andy who have got into the most YuGiOh matches.  Nick who relatives own a TCG store.  Jason who I have seen in the PT some time from before.  As for my background, first, they would wanted to look into my TCG Status, because I am at a TCG Gathering.  Second, my family immigration, my travel to the Asia Continent.  Third, my academic Standard/GPA (Grade Point Average) and sport standard.  Fourth, “Contact Sport” Status.

Believe it or Not #1: My traveling expenses, my TCG supplies, my living expenses, and etc.  I have to cover those things.  As for my classmates, they don’t really have to worry about those things.

Believe it or Not #2: Because those classmates wanted me to be a part of the YuGiOh gathering, so they probably did not pay attention to the huge cardboard box of YuGiOh TCG I ordered.  Also, my relatives departing gift of some YuGiOh TCG cards.  Those YuGiOh TCG cards were before the North America release date.

From the “Ripley Believe It or Not” talks, the audience get to votes.  Also, “Ripley Believe It or Not” the audience get to watch video.  In other words, without the voting, I have to make assumption. I concluded, in my TCG History: 1. Mutual Understanding: I made that decision to lead my teammates made all the differences.  In other words, if I don’t make a decision to guide my classmates would be equivalent to abandon them.  At the same time, my classmates choose to show their acknowledgement, appreciation, and sincere respects.  So, vice-versa they did not abandon me also. 2. Overcoming PT Crisis: Because of the PT Crisis, the “Name Of The Game” PT in Pacific Beach Neighborhood was going to shutdown.  My decision to lead my teammates through the PT Crisis that was the reason the PT did not get shutdown.

Believe It or Not #3: My TCG History highlights: 1. I has an unbeatable PT First Place Streak 2. I has a Pokemon Master/Duelking title 3. I has the largest collection of Pokemon TCG cards in the City of San Diego, California 4. I lead my teammates through the 1999 “Name of the Game” PT Crisis 5. “Name of the Game” PT got voted as the #1 PT in the City of San Diego, California 6. From 1999 “Name of the Game” PT having struggle with the PT Crisis to 2001 “Name of the Game” PT having noticeable PT achievements during the PT Prime Time 7. Before PT line traffic system was created, the line to join the PT was all the way outside the “Name of the Game” store

Believe It or Not #4: My background such as my TCG History, my family immigration, my travel to the Asia Continent, my academic standard/GPA, sport standard, my “Contact Sport” reputation.  As for my classmates background, my classmates background don’t need that much attention.  This mean that my background required more attention, more time, and more works.  So, the question if I take time from my schedule to “Guide” my classmates through the YuGiOh TCG import and YuGiOh TCG transition, how or where am I going to get those extra attention, extra time, and extra works?

In conclusion, my classmates would be more believable if my classmates took time from their schedules to support my schedule, so that I could get those extra attention, extra time, and extra works.

I concluded my decision to be my classmates “Guide” is relevant, important, and necessary decision.  The following are my reasons: 1. My “Guide” will be multiple time better than the News Stand Guides and/or conventional Guides.  (Those News Stand guides and conventional guides included guides classmates exposed to such as their surrounding and the media they tune into.)  To name some of those guides: TCG: Beckett, Top Deck, Scryth Video Game: Nintendo Power, GamePro, PlayStation Magazine, PSM, Game Informer Strategy Guide: Brady, Primo, GameFan, Versus 2. My “Guide” is at professionalism and proficient level of the Hotline Guide.  The Hotline Guide is consider a better and more proficient guide.  But, Hotline Guide charge by the minute.  Those rates are from $0.10 a minute up to $1.00 a minute or more than $1.00 a minute.

When did you made that decision to be your classmates “Guide”? Like I wrote above, the first few time I went to the MBHS (Mission Bay High School) YuGiOh Gathering, I did not get into the YuGiOh TCG matches.  The following are my reasons: 1. Like I wrote above, the YuGiOh gathering barely started.  Probably weeks of time. 2. The “Believe It or Not” #1-4 3. My travel to the Asia Continent.  My PT Intermission.  Both happen at the same time. 4. My TCG Status.  Example: There are TCG Standards

Furthermore, after I made the decision to be my classmates “Guide”, I decide to have a demonstration match.  The demonstration match purpose was to show my classmates, YuGiOh Players what is the YuGiOh Tournament (YT) going to be like.

In conclusion, after reading the above, now do you see why I don’t think anyone would listen.  Just image this in your head.  How many people go to the Hotline Guides?  What if you did not pay the Hotline Guides?  Those Hotline Guides would have to come up with ways making sure their clients pay for their Guides. 1. I am not charging my classmates, YuGiOh Players.  The Hotline Guide is charging by the minute. 2. My Guide is tangible.  It is not like the Hotline Guide by using telephone. 3. My Guide is convenient.  I am at the YuGiOh Gathering.  My classmates, YuGiOh Players don’t have to travel far. 4. I have a solid and tangible TCG background.  As for the Hotline Guides, it is charging by the minutes, you will have to make your decision to stay or switch service soon, because each minute is coming out of your wallet.

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YT (YuGiOh Tournament) Redemption (First YT Revisited)

I lead my classmates to “Wizard of the Coast” Mega Store.  Read Arachnus Post contents, for the whole story.  Weeks later, YuGiOh TCG Coordinators decided to have a vote to host YuGiOh Tournament (YT) or YuGiOh League.  There were a Mega Game Room full of YuGiOh Players.  There were over 60 YuGiOh Players.  More than enough to host a YT.

The setup of the voting system was all the YuGiOh Players raising their hands, so the coordinators could make the count.  After all the YuGiOh Players made their votes, there were more YuGiOh Players voted for the YuGiOh League.  My classmates and I were looking forward to a YT.  We had high hope that “Wizard of the Coast” Mega Store would able to host a YT.  After the votes, I would confirmed to my classmates that sooner or later San Diego, California will have a YT.

In addition, from the talks with my relatives in the City of Macao about the YT, my relatives informed me that the YT had reach exceptional TCG Tournament height and there are professional level.  This mean that the YuGiOh TCG imports in the North America will going to have YT follow ups soon or later.  The reason is because there were 1 or 2 Pokemon Tournament (PT) in each Neighborhood in the City of San Diego, California.  So, my YT confirmation to my classmates was not false hope.

Furthermore, weeks later, I found another location, UTC (University Town Center) Mall.  This location will host a YT (YuGiOh Tournament).  I got to UTC Mall at around 8:00 AM.  I told my classmates, they don’t have to be at the UTC Mall.  I will make sure there is a YT, then I will give them a call in their phones.

My classmates probably still recovering from spending weeks of time in “Wizard of the Coast” game room to find out that that location could not host a YT.  The following are the reasons: 1. “Wizard of the Coast” Mega Store is the biggest TCG store in the City of San Diego, California.  The Mega Game Room is multiple time bigger than the average Game Room. 2. There were over 60 YuGiOh Players in the Mega Game Room.  More than enough to a host YT.

If there were a YT, then what about those “What If” scenarios?  The following are the example of the “What If” Scenario: The professional level my relatives informed me in the City of Macao.  Such as a person from Asia Continent who had years of YT experience and at professional level came to the USA.  That person decided to join the UTC Mall YT.

My answer to the “What If” scenario, I been leading and guiding my classmates for some time through the YuGiOh TCG import and YuGiOh TCG transition.  Not including the YuGiOh TV series.  The reasons they been following my lead, because they know that I am on top of the YuGiOh TCG.  Also, I have not lost a match before with the “Blue-Eyes White Dragon” (BEWD) Deck.  I have been embracing the PT Prime Time, so every PT during the PT Prime Time, I have provided huge amount of the PT Enthusiasm.  So, it is rare for me to feel this way about a tournament in general.  I concluded one of the reasons I have this feeling, because I has a PT History and a PT Reputation.  Example: My PT First Place Streak.  Anyway, if the “What If” scenarios happen, then I have a PT First Place Streak to back myself up.

In addition, I went to the UTC (University Town Center) Mall early, so that I could sort out those situations I wrote above.  During my thoughts, I pick out a breakfast Joint in the Ice Stadium food court.  The Ice Stadium is inside the UTC Mall.  Like I wrote in Arachnus Post, My First YT what if the YT did not happen, I just came to visit the UTC Mall?  Would that be different than coming to the UTC Mall for the YT?  My answer, my classmates and I had went through a lot of YuGiOh TCG to go back, so I am determine to provide the YT Enthusiasm like how I provided the PT (Pokemon Tournament) Enthusiasm.  Example: My teammates and I carried the “Name of the Game” PT to the PT Prime Time.  The PT Prime Time is the reason the PT History was made.

About 10:00 AM, I saw a few YuGiOh Players walking to the Game Room.  The YT is hosted in the Game Room.  The Game Room is located in the Ice Stadium.  YT Start at 12:00 AM.  There are 2 more hours until the YT start.  After I confirmed with the YT coordinators, I phoned my classmates.  They were a bit surprise, because “Wizard of the Coast” mega store and mega game room could not host a YT yet the UTC Mall could host a YT.

In addition, because my classmates probably still recovering, so I will put on a performance to get them through the recovering.  The performance is to make a few Deck Modification and side Deck Modification before the YT start.  This performance is an expression of saying, “It is okay if you are slightly not ready.”  Because of what happen in “Wizard of the Coast”.

As we started making our decks modification, I told them I am not using the BEWD Deck in this YT, one of my classmates, immediately asking me if they could borrow my “Blue Eyes White Dragon” (BEWD) Deck, because of what happen in “Wizard of the Coast”.  Also, they could see I was confident about this YT.  I had already decided to use the TFPD (Tournament First Place Deck) Solemn Judgement (SJ) Deck, so I lend them the BEWD Deck.

To my classmates and I, this is our First YT.  To keep our YT spirit strong and going.  I pick a card from each of my classmates’ YuGiOh collection and add them into my SJ Deck.  Those cards I picked are cards that we all have in our collection.  I basically did that to show our bond and unity in this YT.  The following are those cards: “La Jinn The Mystical Gennie of the Lamp”, “7 Colored Fish”, and “Jirai Gumo”.  Also, so they don’t feel awkward borrowing my BEWD Deck, because I have not lost a match before using that deck.

Furthermore, I have been leading and guiding my classmates, YuGiOh Players for some time.  This mean that they have faith in me such as they trusted my leadership.  Because of the amount of time we been in “Wizard of the Coast”.  Example: we were all so ready for the YT in “Wizard of the Coast”.  So, I was glad that they still have faith in me such as they still showing up again for this YT.

In conclusion, since we been in the MBHS (Mission Bay High School) YuGiOh Gathering until our First YT, we had went through a lot together.  I even lend them my BEWD Deck.  The rest will be to embrace the YT spirit and energy.  What happen in “Wizard of the Coast” was like my classmates got curve ball.  I am reconstructing my deck right before the YT start to show them I am not that far from them.  I even lend them my BEWD Deck.  In other words, I am expressing to them we have went through a lot together.  We are together on this.  After my classmates got eliminated in the YT, they swarm over to my YT matches.  In summary, I got first place in the YuGiOh Touranment (YT).  Also, I led and guided my classmates, YuGiOh Players to their First YT.  But, there are still the following conflicts and arguments: 1. What if a person brought up the “Wizard of the Coast” conflicts?  Example: “My classmates could have got curve ball in “Wizard of the Coast”.” 2. First argument, we are all in this YT together, but they got eliminated, I am still going. 3. Second argument, I am not using my BEWD deck, even though I have not lost a match before with that deck. 4. Third argument, it was my classmates who invited me to the MBHS YuGiOh gathering.  What happen if they did not invited me the YuGiOh gathering? As for my answers to those conflicts and arguments: 1. I am not charging my classmates, YuGiOh Players.  The Hotline Guide is charging by the minute. 2. My Guide is tangible.  It is not like the Hotline Guide by using telephone. 3. My Guide is convenient.  I am at the YuGiOh Gathering.  My classmates, YuGiOh Players don’t have to travel far. 4. I have a solid and tangible TCG background.  As for the Hotline Guides, it is charging by the minutes, you will have to make your decision to stay or switch service soon, because each minute is coming out of your wallet.

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Booster Pack And Tournament Pack

YuGiOh TCG Sets Indication: Name, Date Release, Total # Of Card 2002 Booster Pack LOB: Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon, 03/08/2002, 126 MRD: Metal Raiders, 06/26/2002, 144 MRL: Magic Ruler, 09/16/2002, 104 PSV: Pharaoh's Servant, 10/20/2002, 105 Tournament Pack TP1: Tournament Pack 1ST Season), 09/01/2002, 30 TP2: Tournament Pack 2ND Season), 10/01/2002, 30 TP3: Tournament Pack 3RD Season), 03/01/2003, 20 TP4: Tournament Pack 4, 10/01/2003, 20 TP5: Tournament Pack 5, 11/01/2004, 20

Those YuGiOh TCG Sets listed above are from the first some Seasons of the YuGiOh Tournament (YT).  This content is the follow up to the YuGiOh Tournament (YT) Demonstration Match and YT Guide.  Read 1. YT Demonstration Match, 2. YuGiOh TCG Guide, and 3. YuGiOh TCG Guide Redemption (First YT Revisit) contents in this P Sche for more information.  The following are the facts in those contents: 1. The number of YuGiOh Players and spectators in MBHS YuGiOh Gathering almost double in number during the YT Demonstration Match. 2.  There are more YuGiOh Players in “Wizards of the Coast” Mega Game Room than the MBHS YuGiOh Gathering. 3. In the UTC Mall, I was able to guide classmates to the First YT.

By this point, I have taught my classmates, YuGiOh Players YT Tips and got them ready for the YT.  Also, I guided them to their first YT.  I called it the “whole YuGiOh TCG and YT Package”.  Basically, I kept my end of the deal for having TCG Status and TCG Career.  This is equivalent to having lifted away a heavy load of TCG Status and TCG Career commitments.  In comparison to leading teammates through 1999 PT Crisis, this heavy load was not as heavy.  The following are the reasons: 1. The 1999 PT Crisis started around Spring 1999, because Pokemon TCG imported to USA Country for only months of time. 2. TCG Media References was uncommon.  Example: 8 months later after the PT Crisis, the first TCG Magazine was being sold on October 1999.  The following are the two available TCG Magazines at the beginning of 2000: A. Pokemon Association: “Beckett” Magazine first issue was being sold on October 1999.  “Beckett” Magazine is a monthly subscription magazine that entirely about Pokemon. B. TCG Association: “Beckket” Magazine target audience are mostly Pokemon Players and Pokemon fans.  So, there were a need for boarder audience base.  “Top Deck” Magazine first issue was being sold on December 1999.  “Top Deck” magazine is a monthly subscription magazine about Trading Card Game (TCG) and Video Game.  Mostly about TCG.  Only limited section on Video Game.  “Top Deck” audience are TCG Players in general and Video Game Players in general (Computer gaming and console gaming). 3. TCG Tournament Leader: Because of my Basketball matches performances, I started having thoughts about able to get pass the PT Crisis.  Example: During picking team, the Basketball Players would always pick me first.  There are time I would score all the points for my team.  The team that picked me always win the match.  This mean that I will have to lead my teammates through the PT crisis.  After teammates and I getting pass the PT Crisis, we felt that we were the ones that set tracks for “Beckett” magazine, “Top Deck” magazine, and the future of TCG.  Check out PTTS for more information. 4. TCG Career: The question, “The TCG Players and spectators acknowledged you as Pokemon Master/Duelking, why did you not acknowledge there is a Pokemon Tournament (PT) crisis?  This is going against our common senses such as common values and beliefs.  My Answer: I am committed to having a TCG Career.  I am not going to watch my TCG Career being destroy in front of me.  If I could do something about the PT crisis, then I would do it.

It is not over yet.  There were still the First Place Prizes.  Like I wrote in the YuGiOh TCG Guide Redemption (First YT Revisit), I got First Place in the YT.  So, there are YuGiOh Players stayed at the YT after the YT ended for my First Place Achievement such as watching me being awarded my First Place prizes and hearing my overall experience on getting First Place.

In summary, there were time and living expenses I put out for the “whole YuGiOh TCG and YT package”.  I basically have thoughts that my First Place Prizes would be equivalent to I am getting something back such as a reimbursement for the “whole YuGiOh TCG and YT package”.

There are 9 cards in each Booster Pack.  3 cards in each Tournament Pack.  The Booster Pack you could purchase it at TCG Stores.  The only way to obtain the Tournament Pack is you have to join the YT and get First Place, then you will be awarded 6-12 Tournament Packs as your First Place Prizes.  The higher number of YuGiOh Players participated in the YT, the higher number of Tournament Pack will be in the First Place Prizes.  Since this is YT first season.  Also, the UTC Mall YT are the first few locations that were able to host YT.  So, there were not as much YuGiOh Players participated in the YT.  I got 6 Tournament Packs as my First Place Prizes.  In addition, Tournament Packs have high values.  Also, not that many YuGiOh Players have Tournament Packs.  Example: There were YuGiOh Players offer to trade 3 Booster Packs for 1 Tournament Pack.  Or offer multiple Ultra Rare rarity cards for 1 Tournament Pack.

After getting First Place on the First YT, I got a handful of First Places in the YT.  Using those Tournament Packs I obtain from the First Place Prizes, I was able to increase my YuGiOh TCG Collection.

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Tournament First Place Deck (TFPD) Solemn Judgment (SJ) (Modified) Deck Biography

Monster X16 Goblin Attack Force X3 Jirai Gumo X3 Hayabusa Knight X3 Mataza The Zapper X3 Magician of Faith X2 Morphing Jar X1 Cyber Jar X1

Magic X18 Megamorph X3 Axe of Despair X1 Mask of Brutality X1 Pot of Greed X1 Graceful Charity X1 Change of Heart X1 Snatch Steal X1 Monster Reborn X1 Premature Burial X1 The Forceful Sentry X1 Delinquet Duo X1 Raigeki X1 Harpie's Feather Duster X1 Mystical Space Typhoon X1 Nobleman of Crossout X2

Trap X6 Solemn Judgment X3 Imperial Order X1 Mirror Force X1 Call of the Haunted X1

Side Deck X15 Giant Trunade X1 Heavy Storm X1 Nobleman of Extermination X1 Confiscation X1 Malevolent Nuzzler X1 Upstart Goblin X1 Dark Hole X1 Nobleman of Crossout X1 Lightning Vortex X1 Fissure X3 Magic Jammer X1 Torrential Tribute X1 Hallowed Life Barrier X1

This is the deck I used in my First YuGiOh Tournament (YT).  I got a handful of First Places with this deck.

SJ Focus: 1. High Attack Value 2. Monster that could attack multiple time during 1 Battle Phase 3. Double Attack Value

YT TIP: 1. Megamorph Plays Your Life Point have to be lower than your opponent’s Life Point to use the “Megamorph” effect. A. When you are setting up to use “Megamorph”, the Life Point matter.  The following Cards have effect that associated with Life Point: I. Monster: “Jirai Gumo” II. Spell: “Mask of Brutality”, “Snatch Steal”, “Premature Burial”, “Delinquet Duo”, “Confiscation”, “Malevolent Nuzzler”, and “Upstart Goblin” III. Trap: “Solemn Judgment” and “Imperial Order” B. The Monsters in SJ Deck have either high Attack Value or Monsters that could attack multiple time during 1 Battle Phase.  When you use the “Megamorph” effect to double your Monsters Attack Values, those Monsters will have more benefits.

2. Clear Away Spells And Traps Plays You want clear away Spells and Traps on your opponent’s side of Field when making “Megamorph” Plays or similar plays to “Megamorph” Plays. A. Use “Harpie’s Feather Duster” and “Heavy Storm” to destroy all Spells and Traps on your opponent’s side of the Field.  Use “Giant Trunade” to return all Spells and Traps on your opponent’s side of the Field to your opponent’s hand. B. Use “Mystic Space Typhoon” and “Noble of Extermination” to destroy a Spell or Trap on your opponent’s side of the Field. C. If your opponent’s expecting your plays, then setup the following Traps: I. “Solemn Judgment” II. “Imperial Order” III. “Magic Jammer”

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Warrior (WAR) Deck Biography

Monster X20 Queen's Double X2 Marauding Captain X3 Tactical Espionage Expert X1 Warrior Lady of the Wasteland X1 Field Commander Rahz X1 Exiled Force X1 Zombyra The Dark X2 Goblin Attack Force X3 Dark Blade X3 Warrior Dai Grepher X3

Spell X13 Two-Men Cell Battle X1 Reinforcement of The Army X1 Pot of Greed X1 Graceful Charity X1 Gift of the Martyr X3 Double Attack X2 Giant Trunade X1 Heart of Clear Water X3

Trap X7 Ultimate Offering X1 Waboku X2 Backup Soldier X2 Rivalry of Warlords X2

Side Deck X15 Queen's Double X1 Tactical Espionage Expert X1 Warrior Lady of the Wasteland X1 Field Commander Rahz X1 Exiled Force X1 Zombyra The Dark X1 The A. Force X1 Butterfly Dagger Elma X1 Divine Sword Phoenix Blade X1 Harpie's Feather Duster X1 Heavy Storm X1 Array of Revealing Light X3 Rivalry of Warlords X1

The Monsters in this deck are all Warrior Type.

WAR Focus: 1. Extra Summoning 2. Warrior Type Afiliation 3. Attack Boost Up And Extra Attack

YT Tip: 1. Extra Summoning Plays A. "Marauding Captain" Effect: When you summon the Marauding Captain from your hand into your Field, you may Special Summon a Monster from your hand into your Field. B. "Two-Men Cell Battle": At the End Phase, you may Special Summon a Normal Level 4 Monster from your hand into your Field.  There are Dark Blade X3 and Warrior Dai Grepher X3 that are Normal Level 4 Monsters in this deck. C. "Ultimate Summoning": Pay 500 Life Point to have an Extra Normal Summoning

2. Warrior Type Afiliation Plays A. "Marauding Captain" effect is when "Marauding Captain" is in your Field,  all Warrior Type Monsters on your Field cannot be select as target of a Monster attack.  Your opponent must select "Marauding Captain" as the target of the attack. B. "Marauding Captain" And "Heart of Clear Water": Monster equiped "Heart of Clear Water" cannot be destroy in battle.  "Marauding Captain" attack is 1200, so "Marauding Captain" may equip the "Heart of Clear Water". I. "Marauding Captain" effect protect all your Warrior Type Monsters on your Field II. "Heart of Clear Water" effect protect "Marauding Captain" from being destroy in battle C. "Rivalry of Warlords" effect: This effect will not effect your side of the Field, because this deck is all Warrior Type Monsters.  If your Opponent's have multiple Monster Types on his or her Field, then "Rivalry of Warlords" effect will destroy all of your Opponent's Monsters expect for the first Monster Type he or she summoned in his or her Field. D. "Array of Revealing Light": This effect will not effect your side of the Field, if you declare a non-Warriror Type when you played "Array of Revealing Light" in your Field, because this deck is all Warrior Type Monsters.

[collectorscorner]

CC Blogger - New Arrivals @ Collectors Corner : Wednesday - 7/24/19 Complete list of items shipping to the stores, some items may be limited in availability. If you see anything you want to purchase on the list and are not a subscription member at Collectors Corner, just contact us and let us know if you want an item held at the stores. email - collectorscornermd@comcast.net Subscription Membership & Free Membership Card : Collectors Corner’s No Obligation (FREE) Membership Card or FREE (In Store) & ONLINE Subscription Membership saves you 10% Off ALL Bagged & Boarded Comic Book Back Issues, Board Games, Graphic Novels, Manga & Special Orders. Plus Never miss a comic again! Computerized and organized + you can add and cancel titles on your subscription list from home on your own time, or in the store when you pick up your comics at : Maryland’s Coolest Stores! 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Asrar), $3.99 Valkyrie Jane Foster #1 (Cover B Russell Dauterman), AR Valkyrie Jane Foster #1 (Cover C Terry Dodson), AR Valkyrie Jane Foster #1 (Cover D Meghan Hetrick), AR Valkyrie Jane Foster #1 (Cover E Joe Simon/Jack Kirby/Will Sliney Hidden Gem Variant), AR War Of The Realms New Agents Of Atlas #1 (Of 4)(Billy Tan 3rd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99 Web Of Venom Funeral Pyre #1 (Cover A Declan Shalvey), $4.99 Web Of Venom Funeral Pyre #1 (Cover B Coax), AR Web Of Venom Funeral Pyre #1 (Cover C Clayton Crain), AR X-Men #137 (Facsimile Edition), $4.99 NETCOMICS To Take An Enemy's Heart Volume 5 GN, $12.99 To Take An Enemy's Heart Volume 6 GN, $12.99 NOBROW Skip GN, $22.95 NOBROW - FLYING EYE BOOKS Akissi More Tales Of Mischief GN, $14.95 ONI PRESS Letter 44 Deluxe Edition Volume 3 HC, $59.99 Scott Pilgrim Color Collection Trade Paperback Box Set, $89.99 Scott Pilgrim Color Collection Volume 1 TP, $29.99 Scott Pilgrim Color Collection Volume 2 TP, $29.99 Scott Pilgrim Color Collection Volume 3 TP, $29.99 RED 5 COMICS Afterburn Crossfire #3 (Of 4), $3.95 SCHOLASTIC Pokemon Ash's Quest The Essential Guidebook HC, $14.99 SCOUT COMICS Crucified #2, $3.99 Electric Black #2 (Cover A Rich Woodall), $3.99 Electric Black #2 (Cover B Rich Woodall), AR Sabretooth Dan Volume 1 TP, $12.99 TITAN COMICS Disney The Lion King The Official Moviel Special Magazine, $10.99 Life Is Strange #7 (Cover B Game Art), $3.99 Life Is Strange #7 (Cover C T-Shirt), $3.99 Spider Man Far From Home The Official Movie Special HC, $19.99 Star Wars Insider #191 (Newsstand Edition), $7.99 Star Wars Insider #191 (Previews Exclusive Edition), $7.99 Tank Girl #5 (Cover A Brett Parson), $3.99 Tank Girl #5 (Cover B Dan Panosian), $3.99 Tank Girl #5 (Cover C Shaky Kane), $3.99 VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT Livewire #8 (Cover A Kenneth Rocafort), $3.99 Livewire #8 (Cover B Paul Renaud), $3.99 Livewire #8 (Cover C Rahzzah), $3.99 Livewire #8 (Cover D Khary Randolph & Emilio Lopez Pre-Order Edition Variant), AR Psi-Lords #2 (Cover A David Nakayama), $3.99 Psi-Lords #2 (Cover B Caspar Wijngaard), $3.99 Psi-Lords #2 (Cover C Stephanie Hans), $3.99 Psi-Lords #2 (Cover D Paulina Ganucheau Pre-Order Edition Variant), AR VIZ MEDIA Case Closed Volume 71 GN, $9.99 Radiant Volume 6 GN, $9.99 YEN ON Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki Light Novel Volume 1 SC, $14.00 Dirty Way To Destroy The Goddess's Heroes Light Novel Volume 1 SC, $14.00 Final Fantasy XIII-2 Fragments Before Novel Volume 1 SC, $14.00 Last Round Arthurs Scum Arthur And Heretic Merlin Light Novel Volume 1 SC, $14.00 Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Light Novel Volume 4 SC, $14.00 YEN PRESS Alchemist Who Survived Now Dreams Of A Quiet City Life Volume 1 GN, $13.00 Interspecies Reviewers Volume 2 GN, $13.00 Sacrificial Princess And The King Of Beasts Volume 6 GN, $13.00 Secretly I've Been Suffering About Being Sexless GN, $15.00 Skull-Face Bookseller Honda-san Volume 1 GN, $15.00 Torture Princess Fremd Torturchen Complete Manga Omnibus GN, $30.00 Woof Woof Story I Told You To Turn Me Into A Pampered Pooch Not Fenrir Volume 1 GN, $13.00 ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT Oz Heart Of Magic #4 (Of 5)(Cover A Geebo Vigonte), $3.99 Oz Heart Of Magic #4 (Of 5)(Cover B Igor Vitorino), $3.99 Oz Heart Of Magic #4 (Of 5)(Cover C Anthony Spay), $3.99 Oz Heart Of Magic #4 (Of 5)(Cover D Martin Coccolo), $3.99 GAMES NECA/WIZKIDS Kibble Scuffle Card Game, AR Star Trek HeroClix Resistance Is Futile Expansion Pack, AR Star Trek HeroClix Resistance Is Futile Fast Forces 6 Pack, AR USAOPOLY Die Hard The Nakatomi Heist Board Game, AR Monopoly Scooby Doo Board Game, AR TOYS - T-SHIRTS & COLLECTIBLES 2001 Space Odyssey Space Suit 100% & 400% Bearbrick 2 Pack (Yellow Version), AR 2001 Space Odyssey Space Suit 1000% Bearbrick (Yellow Version), AR Absolute Carnage #1 Party Invite Postcard, AR Avengers Endgame Black Widow Life Size Stand-up, AR Avengers Endgame Captain America Life Size Stand-Up, AR Avengers Endgame Hawkeye Life Size Stand-up, AR Avengers Endgame Iron Man Life Size Stand-up, AR Avengers Endgame Nebula Life Size Stand-Up, AR Avengers Endgame Thor Life Size Stand-Up, AR Berserk Movie Griffith Figma Action Figure, AR Cosmo Fleet Collection MSG EFSF Pegasus Class Assault Mini Figure, AR Dungeons And Dragons Figural Keyring 24 Piece Blind Mystery Box, AR DC Designer Series Wonder Woman By Jenny Frison Statue, AR DC Heroes Batman I T-Shirt LG, AR DC Heroes Batman I T-Shirt MED, AR DC Heroes Batman I T-Shirt SM, AR DC Heroes Batman I T-Shirt XL, AR DC Heroes Batman I T-Shirt XXL, AR DC Heroes Batman Smokin T-Shirt LG, AR DC Heroes Batman Smokin T-Shirt MED, AR DC Heroes Batman Smokin T-Shirt SM, AR DC Heroes Batman Smokin T-Shirt XL, AR DC Heroes Batman Smokin T-Shirt XXL, AR DC Heroes Darkseid Is Symbol T-Shirt LG, AR DC Heroes Darkseid Is Symbol T-Shirt MED, AR DC Heroes Darkseid Is Symbol T-Shirt SM, AR DC Heroes Darkseid Is Symbol T-Shirt XL, AR DC Heroes Darkseid Is Symbol T-Shirt XXL, AR DC Heroes Darkseid Wants You Symbol T-Shirt LG, AR DC Heroes Darkseid Wants You Symbol T-Shirt MED, AR DC Heroes Darkseid Wants You Symbol T-Shirt SM, AR DC Heroes Darkseid Wants You Symbol T-Shirt XL, AR DC Heroes Darkseid Wants You Symbol T-Shirt XXL, AR DC Heroes Flash 2019 Symbol T-Shirt LG, AR DC Heroes Flash 2019 Symbol T-Shirt MED, AR DC Heroes Flash 2019 Symbol T-Shirt SM, AR DC Heroes Flash 2019 Symbol T-Shirt XL, AR DC Heroes Flash 2019 Symbol T-Shirt XXL, AR DC Heroes Mad Hatter Coffee Time T-Shirt LG, AR DC Heroes Mad Hatter Coffee Time T-Shirt MED, AR DC Heroes Mad Hatter Coffee Time T-Shirt XL, AR DC Heroes Mad Hatter Coffee Time T-Shirt XXL, AR DC Heroes Superman Pride T-Shirt LG, AR DC Heroes Superman Pride T-Shirt MED, AR DC Heroes Superman Pride T-Shirt SM, AR DC Heroes Superman Pride T-Shirt XL, AR DC Heroes Superman Pride T-Shirt XXL, AR Dennou Shoujo Siro Nendoroid Action Figure, AR Desktop Army B-101 Freyja 3 Piece Display Set A, AR Desktop Army B-101 Freyja 3 Piece Display Set B, AR Desktop Army Sword Art Online Gun Gale Online 3 Piece Display, AR Digimon Stuffed Collection Mochimon Plush, AR Dr Slump Arale Chan Nendoroid Action Figure (Cat Ear Version With Gatchan), AR Dragon Ball Styling Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan Gogeta Figure, AR Dragon Ball Styling Super Saiyan Broly Full Power Figure, AR Dragon Ball Styling Super Saiyan God Vegeta Figure, AR Dragon Ball Super Adverge Motion 10 Piece Mini Figure Display, AR Dragon Ball Z World Colosseum 2 V5 Figure, AR Dragon Quest IV Bring Arts Alena Action Figure, AR Dragon Ball Super Z-Battle Frieza Figure, AR Dragon Ball Super Z-Battle Saiyan God Super Saiyan Gogeta Goku Figure, AR Dragon Ball Super Z-Battle Super Saiyan Broly Figure, AR Dragon Ball Super Z-Battle Super Saiyan Son Goku Figure, AR F.R.I.E.N.D.S. 3D Figural Keyring 24 Piece Blind Mystery Box, AR Fantasy Limited Edition 18.5 Inch Lighted Dragon Statue, AR Final Fantasy Bring Arts Cloud Strife Another Form Variant Action Figure, AR Final Fantasy Chocobo Perpetual Calendar, AR Friends Life Size Stand-up 2 Set, AR G.E.M. Series Digimon Adventure Wargreymon PVC Statue, AR Godzilla 1956 Movie Poster 12 Inch Long Action Figure, AR Gundam G Frame Mobile Suit Gundam Set 1 5 Piece Blind Mystery Box, AR Hatsune Miku GT Project Racing Miku Nendoroid Action Figure (2013 Sepang Version), AR Invader Zim 2020 Wall Calendar, AR It Pennywise 400% Bearbrick, AR JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Stardust Crus Noriaki Kakyoin Nendoroid Action Figure, AR Kantai Collection Kancolle EXQ Kongou Figure, AR Kantai Collection Kancolle Kumano Kai-II Figma Action Figure, AR Keomomimi Oukoku Kokuei Noja Loli Ojisan Nendoroid Action Figure, AR Kid Flash Rebirth By Lee T-Shirt XL, AR Kid Flash Rebirth By Lee T-Shirt XXL, AR Kuroko's Basketball Ryota Kise Nendoroid Action Figure, AR Legend Of Zelda 2020 Wall Calendar, AR Lord Of The Rings 3D Foam Figural Keyring 24 Piece Blind Mystery Box, AR Love Live Sunshine EXQ Hanamaru Kunikida Summer Figure, AR Love Live Sunshine EXQ Yoshiko Tsushima Summer Figure, AR Madoka Magica Side Story Sana Futaba 1/8 Scale PVC Figure, AR Marvel Comics Retro 2020 Wall Calendar, AR Marvel Good Vs Evil 2020 Wall Calendar, AR Mashin Hero Plamax MS-04 Ryujinmaru And Senjinmaru Model Kit, AR Masters Of The Universe 3.75 Inch ReAction Figure Wave 5 Grizzlor, AR Naruto Shippuden Tsunade Nendoroid Action Figure, AR Nendoroid Doll Boy Archetype Action Figure (Cream Color Version), AR Nendoroid Doll Girl Archetype Action Figure (Cream Color Version), AR Nendoroid Doll Hand Parts 18 Piece Set (Cinnamon Version), AR Nendoroid Doll Hand Parts 18 Piece Set (Cream Version), AR Nendoroid Doll Hand Parts 18 Piece Set (Peach Version), AR Neon Genesis Evangelion Eva Evangelion Shogo-Ki Mafex Action Figure, AR Nier Automata Machine Lifeform Coin Bank, AR Nier Emil Coin Bank, AR One Piece 20th Anniversary Masterlise Monkey D Luffy Figure, AR One Piece 20th Anniversary Masterlise Portgas D Ace Figure, AR One Piece 20th Anniversary Masterlise Roronoa Zoro Figure, AR One Piece 20th Anniversary Masterlise Sabo Figure, AR One Piece 20th Anniversary Masterlise Trafalgar Law Figure, AR One Piece Glitter And Glamour X Materia Kalifa Black Figure, AR One Piece Glitter And Glamour X Materia Kalifa White Figure, AR One Piece Grandista Grandline Men Portgas D Ace Figure, AR One Piece Grandista Monkey D Luffy Manga Dim Figure, AR One Piece Portrait Of Pirates Sa-Max Zoro PVC (San Zen Version), AR One Piece Portrait Of Pirates Tony Tony Chopper PVC (OT Version), AR One Piece World Colosseum 2 V5 Figure, AR One Piece World Colosseum 2 V6 Figure, AR One Punch Man DXF Premium Genos Figure, AR Parappa The Rapper PJ Berri 3.25 Inch Vinyl Figure, AR Pinata Fiesta Mini Collectible 12 Count Series 1, AR Place Further Shirase Kobuchizawa Nendoroid Action Figure, AR Plamax MF-31 Minimum Factory Colletta 1/20 Scale Plastic Model Kit, AR Puella Magi Madoka Magica Movie Rebellion EXQ Kyoko Sakura Figure, AR POP DC Heroes Red Death Previews Exclusive Vinyl Figure, AR POP Dragon Ball Z Chi Chi Vinyl Figure, AR POP Dragon Ball Z Goten Vinyl Figure, AR POP Dragon Ball Z Radditz Vinyl Figure, AR POP Dragon Ball Z Radditz Vinyl Figure, AR POP Games Fortnite S2 DJ Yonder Vinyl Figure, AR POP Games Fortnite S2 Leviathan Vinyl Figure, AR POP Games Fortnite S2 Loot Llama 10 Inch Vinyl Figure, AR POP Games Fortnite S2 Tomatohead Vinyl Figure, AR POP Marvel Nova Prime Previews Exclusive Vinyl Figure, AR POP Movies Beverly Hills Cop Axel Mumford Vinyl Figure, AR POP Rocks Rush 3 Pack Geddy Alex Neil Vinyl Figure, AR Re:ZERO Starting Life In Another World Emilia 1/7 Scale PVC Figure (School Teacher Version), AR Re:ZERO Starting Life In Another World Rem And Ram Pudding Figure, AR Rebuild Evangelion Parform Evangelion 01 PVC Figure (Awake Version), AR Rebuild Of Evangelion Evangelion Unit 01 Parfom Action Figure, AR Sailor Moon Petit Chara 2 Pack Set (Kyoto Marubeni Version), AR SSSS Gridman Max Combine DX Full Power Gridman Action Figure, AR Sword Art Online Memory Defrag EXQ Sinon Figure, AR Tokidoki Cactus Bunnies 16 Piece Blind Mystery Box, AR Toon Tumblers Harry Potter Charm Castle Glass, AR Toy Story 4 3D Foam Bag Clips 24 Piece Blind Mystery Box, AR Who's Your Llama Figure Blind Mystery Box Series 2 Assortment, AR Who's Your Llama Plush Series 2 Assortment, AR Wizard Of Oz Witches Brew Teapot, AR X Japan Q-Posket Hide V3 Figure, AR X Japan Q-Posket Hide V3 Metallic Figure, AR

[immedtech]

What's on TV: 'Justice League,' 'Secret of Mana' and 'Bayonetta'

This week Winter Olympics action continues on NBC (get ready for more women's skeleton, Super-G and hockey), but you can also watch Justice League on video on-demand. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend fans will see the third season's finale episode Friday night, while gamers can dig into a 3D Secret of Mana remake, as well as Bayonetta 1 & 2 on Nintendo Switch. Look after the break to check out each day's highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).

Blu-ray & Games & Streaming

Justice League (VOD)

Coco (VOD)

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (VOD)

Pokemon the Movie

Wonder (4K)

The Deuce (S1)

The Thomas Crown Affair (50th Anniversary Edition)

Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Night of the Living Dead (Criterion)

Hell or High Water (4K)

Secret of Mana (PS4, PC)

Xeodrifter (Switch)

Drunkn Bar Fight (PS VR)

Bayonetta (Switch)

Bayonetta 2 (Switch)

TorqueL (Switch)

Fe (PS4, Xbox One)

Dynasty Warriors 9 (Xbox One, PS4)

Monster Energy Supercross: The Official Videogame (PS4, Xbox One)

Kingdom Come: Deliverance (Xbox One, PS4)

The Fall Part 2: Unbound (PS4, Xbox One)

Claybook (PS4, Xbox One)

Crossing Souls (PS4)

CubeWorks (PS VR)

Guilt Battle Arena (PS4)

Pinstripe (PS4)

Shacht (PS4)

Wednesday

The Path, Hulu, 3 AM

Greenhouse Academy (S2), Netflix, 3 AM

Love Per Square Foot, Netflix, 3 AM

This Close (S1), Sundance Now, 3 AM

The Relationships Just for Laughs, CW, 8 PM

The X-Files, Fox, 8 PM

Grown-ish, Freeform, 8 PM

2018 Winter Olympics, NBC, 8 PM

Alone Together, Freeform, 8:30 PM

The Top 14 Greatest Valentine's Day Movies of All Time, CW, 9 PM

9-1-1, Fox, 9 PM

The Magicians, Syfy, 9 PM

The Amazing Race, CBS, 9 PM

Channel Zero, Syfy, 10 PM

American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace, 10 PM

Slutever, Viceland, 10 PM

Catfish, MTV, 10 PM

Corporate, Comedy Central, 10 PM

Knightfall, History, 10 PM

Match Game, ABC, 10 PM

Criminal Minds, CBS, 10 PM

Waco, Paramount, 10 PM

Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, TBS, 10:30 PM

Trixie & Katya Show, Viceland, 10:30 PM

Desus & Mero, Viceland, 11 PM

Thursday

Re:Mind (S1), Netflix, 3 AM

2018 Winter Olympics, NBC, 8 PM

Beyond, Freeform, 8 PM

Black Card Revoked, BET, 10 PM

Lip Sync Battle, Paramount, 10 PM

Portlandia, IFC, 10 PM

Thursday Night Darts, BBC America, 10 PM

Desus & Mero, Viceland, 11 PM

The Rundown with Robin Thede, BET, 11 PM

Friday

The Grand Tour, Amazon Prime, 3 AM

Breathe, Amazon Prime, 3 AM

Everything Sucks! (S1), Netflix, 3 AM

First Team: Juventus FC, Netflix, 3 AM

Cardinal (S2), Hulu, 3 AM

Mozart in the Jungle (S2), Amazon Prime, 3 AM

Irreplaceable You, Netflix, 3 AM

Dragons: Race to the Edge, Netflix, 3 AM

Fly Guys, Facebook, 12 PM

2018 Winter Olympics, NBC, 8 PM

Zombies, Disney, 8 PM

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (season finale), CW, 8 PM

The Trade, Showtime, 9 PM

Word is Bond, Showtime, 10 PM

Strike Back, Cinemax, 10 PM

High Maintenance, HBO, 11 PM

2 Dope Queens: Titus Burgess, HBO, 11:30 PM

This is Not Happening, Comedy Central, 12 AM

Saturday

2018 Winter Olympics, NBC, 8 PM

Premier Boxing Champions, Fox, 8 PM

2018 All-Star Saturday Night, TNT, 8 PM

Planet Earth: Blue Planet II, BBC America, 9 PM

Falling Water, USA, 10 PM

Final Space, TNT, 10:30 PM

Sunday

2018 Winter Olympics, NBC, 7 PM

Big Brother, CBS, 8 PM

Our Cartoon President, Showtime, 8 PM

Counterpart, Starz, 8 PM

EE British Academy Film Awards, BBC America, 8 PM

2018 NBA All-Star Game, TNT, 8:20 PM

Unsung: Silk (season premiere), TV One, 9 PM

Here and Now, HBO, 9 PM

Homeland, Showtime, 9 PM

The Radical Story of Patty Hearst, CNN, 9 PM

Victoria, PBS, 9 PM

The Chi, Showtime, 10 PM

Divorce, HBO, 10 PM

Crashing, HBO, 10:30 PM

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, HBO, 11 PN

[All times listed are in ET]

- Repost from: engadget Post

[gemcitycomiccon]

#GemCityComicCon is pleased to welcome @joecorroney to our 2017 show! Joe Corroney has been illustrating official #StarWars and #StarTrek artwork for books, games, trading cards, comic books, posters and magazines since 1997. Other comic books he’s illustrated include #XFiles, #TrueBlood, #GIJoe, #FallenAngel, #24: Nightfall, #DoctorWho, #AngelandSpikeVsDracula for #IDW Publishing, #Farscape for #BOOM! Studios, #BuckarooBanzai, #KolchakTheNightStalker, and #ThePhantom for #MoonstoneBooks and #CromspmDynamo for #MarvelComicsrimson. Currently, he’s illustrating for IDW’s new Star Trek ongoing series comic books. He’s also developing his creator owned comic book series, #DeathAvenger and continuing to create new Star Wars artwork for Lucasfilm. Some of the other licenses and professional publishers he has illustrated for are #Disney, #RandomHousePublishing/Del Rey Books, Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books, #DCComics, CBS Studios, #Hasbro, Becker & Mayer! Books, Frozen, Marvel Comics’ Avengers, The Walking Dead, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, Heroes, Wizards of the Coast, XBox, Dragon Magazine, Sony Picture’s Men In Black, Xena: Warrior Princess, ThunderBirds: The Movie, IDG Entertainment, Upper Deck, Rittenhouse Archives, Paizo Publishing, White Wolf Publishing, Cinemagraphix, Last Unicorn Games, West End Games, Image Comics, Blue Line Pro, and Microsoft’s Age of Empires collectible card game. He has been the instructor for the Comic Book Illustration and Digital Illustration courses at the Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, Ohio for ten years and has taught the Ohio State University’s Summer Comic Book Workshop as well. Joe runs a full-time illustration studio and can be commissioned or contracted for work. http://ift.tt/2k7Tntu

[recentanimenews]

$1,000 Yu-Gi-Oh! Blue-Eyes White Dragon Cards Sell Out Immediately 

  Back in February, Yu-Gi-Oh! revealed a new addition to the line of commemorative Masterpiece Series of cards for the trading card game. Each of the very limited Blue-Eyes White Dragon cards were encased in a transparent acrylic glass container, limited to a thousand copies, and priced at $1,000, and they sold out right after launch. 

  Made of 99.9 percent pure silver with a platinum finish, the items were strictly of interest to hardcore fans… and scalpers. Those looking to pick one up well after launch can look forward to sifting through online auctions, some of which have prices listed as high as $11,000. It's hard out here for collectors, y'all.

  Here's the official account's tweet right before everyone swooped in on the pre-orders:

  Set your alarms! Pre-orders go live in 24 hours! Get the limited edition Platinum Blue-Eyes White Dragon via the pre-order page tomorrow at 8 AM PT. The pre-order page will be live tomorrow so be sure to check back for the link and turn on notifications!#YuGiOhTCG #YuGiOh #BEWD pic.twitter.com/XBKC63QyTC

— Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG (@YuGiOh_TCG) June 13, 2021

  Via Hypebeast

    -------

Joseph Luster is the Games and Web editor at Otaku USA Magazine. You can read his comics at subhumanzoids. Follow him on Twitter @Moldilox.

By: Joseph Luster

[itkmoonknight]

ITK Newsletter, no. CXI: LUNAR-PICK - Comic Book Reviews on Contagion + Sister Mercy!

Loonies!

Allow me to assault you once again with a fair newsletter for your weekly consumption!

Welcome back to the ITK newsletter which gives you all you need to know for the upcoming episode. This time around, there is of course your usual Moon Knight fare, but things are slightly different this time around as we look towards some creative work done by one of our own Loonies, Corey Hardiman…it’s an independent comic book, ‘Sister Mercy’ which we will ‘review’ (I’m hesitant to ‘review it, as I don’t want to ‘mark’ it) and discuss on the show!

PHASE OF THE MOON: NULL + VOID 

LUNAR-PICK REVIEWS - OVERVIEW OF THE CONTAGION SERIES + SISTER MERCY ISSUE #1 by Corey Hardiman

But apart from that, there will be standard Moon Knight goodness with two things of note -

Firstly, we’ll be discussing the recently concluded Contagion event which featured our Fist of Khonshu - and not only was it a fleeting appearance, but Marc actually swung in to save the day! I won’t give much away here as to my thoughts on the series, but needless to say, you’ll want to tune in for this one to gather some…let’s just say, interesting thoughts I had on it all…

Very keen to hear what you thought of it too - I’ve posted up a Spoiler Thread in the FB Group and Page for those who want to drop us a line…we’d love to read out and discuss your thoughts too on the show.

I actually had the honour of guesting also on the Iron Fist podcast, to chat about Contagion too…more on that later down the newsletter in our Collective section…

As you can see, we’ve ignored Khonshu once again with the phases of the Moon…methinks it has to do with the lost Golden Sceptre…remember that? :)

Yes, I’ve not forgotten about our little serial, and you’ll be happy to know that Episode 6 of THE HUNT FOR KHONSHU’S GOLDEN SCEPTRE should drop either this coming episode, or next. I just have to find some time to stitch the episode together, but I have all the material and am keen to keep our serial chugging along!

Aside from the Contagion and Sister Mercy review/discussion on the show, there’s also the ’10 Things you Need to Know about Moon Knight’ initiative that Rebecca and Connor(shu) instigated int heir podcast episode 118 ‘2K Nine-Nine’.

We got heaps of feedback for it, so I’m keen to feature this on the show, however, I’m not really sure what the other High Priests had in mind. Speaking of which, Rebecca will be unavailable this coming episode, and I’m just trying to confirm the availability of young Connor(shu)…what you MIGHT get this coming episode is either a solo from me (which I’d prefer not to, as I’d love to discuss these issues for review with someone else), or a special guest that I may happen to snag.

Just another tiny factor playing into consideration is that my little Khonshu, Finn, has upturned his sleeping pattern and so it’s hard to ascertain when I can actually record. Fear not! I will find a slot somewhere in the day (or night) and be sure to release an ITK episode to keep this show going strong! Only downside is that it’s hard to coordinate co-hosts, as my time availability is at the whim of my 15-month old! :P

I'm even thinking of perhaps taking a short break to record a bunch of pre-recorded shows as an option of keeping the lights on at ITK...I don't know...it's a tricky one, as with pre-recorded shows you can't really do current news or updates...hhhmmmm, I'll have to give it some more thought...

FANTASY COMIC LEAGUE - OCTOBER RESULTS IN!

We have the results for the end of October and geez Louise, call me Mac 'n' Cheese, things are damn well exciting!

It was no surprise that Tommy took out the month with a commanding lead in week three of October, and as seen in the card above, Tommy remains top dog with juuuust under a century to his name. Well done, Tommy! Both The Thing and Miles had a huge month...with ol' Blue eyes in Contagion as well as the various FF books, his points saw him shoot The Man on the Streets up to top billing...

I was fortunate enough to have Cap do very well at the tail end of the month, so I managed to hang onto second place for the second time this season, with a respectable score of 85. I was pretty disappointed with Wolverine's effort and to be honest, I was expecting way more from Iron Fist too, as the weekly Contagion I was sure was going to yield a flurry of points for Danny...but not to be...

This was a clincher! Jason (previous month's leader) scraped into third position this month by one point! Poor Dustin must have been ropable! Still, well done to Jason for again picking a solid draft and making it to third spot. The big standout for Jason was Sue Storm, and I think she'll continue to do well in November, considering her solo title is still going, and she is of course, like The Thing, featured in the numerous FF titles out this month...it truly is a golden era for the FF in comics after a long drought, so expect to see the FF members firing in the FCL...

Cold Case Kurtz comes in at fourth at the end of October, just missing out by a whisker. Doctor Strange seems to have served him well (and I'm pretty sure he'll continue to do so in November) with modest totals from the Hulk and Thor. Dustin has already relinquished She-Hulk for another, so we'l see how his team fares in November...best of luck, Dustin (and Happy Birthday!)

Beloved Loony, The Power of Chad rounds out the division, and for me, the biggest upset here was Venom. With Absolute Carnage in full swing, I would have thought Venom to be cleaning up the points but perhaps with Absolute Carnage wrapping up in November, that may still be the case. Chad really needs more from Doctor Doom...I've not read the title, but with an issue out this month, let's hope for Chad's sake that Victor lays it on thick for his Latverian citizens! Modest totals from Black Panther and Conan provide the meat of Chad's score...again, let's hope there's more activity from T'Challa in both the Avengers book, his solo title and the Agents of Wakanda...! Similarly, Conan has his solo title, potential appearances in the spin off titles, and Savage Avengers...plenty of chances to light up that scoreboard!

So, at the half-way mark of the season, the standings for our Loonies are as follows:

Tommy - 4 points

Rey - 4 points

Jason - 4 points

Dustin - 1 point

Chad - 1 point

It's still anyone's game..if Dustin or Chad dominate in November and December, then they could certainly make a play for the title this season, and walk away with e free trade of their choice...!

In addition to that, Tommy, Jason and myself are in a good position to consolidate and potentially if either of us take out one of the coming months, then it would be hard to beat...

It's all still up for grabs!

I'm hoping to maybe get Brian Bradley and a couple of the Loonies from our division on the show as we get close to the end, to discuss more of the FCL and how things look like panning out...until then, we've got a bit more drafting to do, then it's all systems go!

THE COLLECTIVE, THE SPECTOR-CALL

It's fun being part of The Collective, and in addition to all the podcasts helping each other out...it's fun to listen to them all too! I've been catching up on a few of our colleagues, and as started last week, I'd like to SPECTOR-CALL them out here for your perusal...Give them a go if you're up for alternate things to listen to (but keep listening to us of course! hahaha)

Anyway, here's what's on display at Collective-Mart this week coming....

A shoutout to The Signal of Doom Podcast - Dave is really pumping hard and the Patreon push is in full swing! If you are a listener of the show, please consider being a patron. Dave is recording his first Patreon-exclusive episode and it'll be a review on 'Escape from New York' starring Kurt Russell!! Sounds very cool...

As mentioned earlier in the newsletter, I'll be guesting on the upcoming Sons of the Dragon - An Immortal Iron Fist Podcast, where I chat with host Connor, about Contagion #4 and #5. As I write this it hasn't dropped yet, so I can't give you a link, but it's bound to drop any minute now, so please just check their website for any updates!

CONTACT US!

Again, as mentioned, we'd love to hear your thoughts on Contagion too...I've posted up a Spoiler Thread in the FB Group and Page, so if that makes things easier, please drop your thoughts there...otherwise we have other ways in which you can contact us....

If you DON'T want your comments broadcast, please just add, "(DNB)" at the end of your comment, and we'll be sure not to broadcast it. We'll pick a few comments from here and discuss on the show!

Email: itkmoonknight@gmail.com

Podcast Page: http://intotheknight.libsyn.com

Facebook Page: Into the Knight - A Moon Knight Podcast

Facebook Group: Into the Knight - A Moon Knight Fan Base

Twitter: @ITKmoonknight

Discord ITK Server: ITK Server

GetVokl : Into the Knight Welcome Room

OK, I better shoot this off to the printers to get published...(yes, I am ye of olden day speak...you know what I mean!)...stick with us, it's always bound to be a surprise...! Hope to hear from you on any of our platforms and hope you like the upcoming episode!

May Khonshu Watch Over the Denizens of the (K)Night,

Rey

Proud Member of The Collective

  Remember! You can buy your official ITK merchandise at ...ITK Store Front @ TeePublic

Check out this episode!

[girl-in-the-library]

Elementary School Memories

I was thinking a lot last night about things I remembered from my childhood. I think it came from a fanart of Crowley as Nanny Ashtoreth questioning when Warlock’s permanent memories would begin to form. So I began to wonder...what memories do I have of things from when I was a child? So I decided to write some down here...in as close to chronological order as I can.

I’m just going to do memories until I was 10 - the end of 5th grade - because I started writing this and it got super fucking long so I figured middle and high school memories could come another time, if I decide to do that.

Under a cut for length

I went trick or treating with my sister and my dad. She was dressed as a Dalmatian from 101 Dalmatians but she lost her mask at some point during the night. I was dressed as Pocahontas because that was my favorite Disney movie

I was swinging on the monkey swing when an enormous moose ran through the back yard. I ran inside the house, terrified (it was probably not a moose. It was probably just a large, male deer and I was tiny)

We won a giant monkey at my town’s 4th of July carnival, but it was one of those ones that was filled with newspaper/packing peanuts as filling (you know, a typical carnival prize) and so my mom made us keep it on the enclosed porch so when it eventually got moldy we could just throw it out instead of having it drip in the house

Singing “Who knows one?” in the stairwell of preschool (I can only think of up to seven nowadays...)

“gym class” in preschool included a game where we all were in a very large circle and we had to walk around it and then sit on cushions and it seems kinda like musical chairs in hindsight, except we all always got chairs

blowing kisses at the boy I had a crush on in kindergarten until he got uncomfortable and told the teacher (who I also had a crush on) and I got in trouble, but like, little kid trouble

I went to this kid’s house for a birthday party that was pirate themed, and I was one of only two girls there. We made treasure boxes out of little wooden boxes that we decorated with markers and glitter and plastic gems

Climbing to the top of the playground with my kindergarten teacher (he was also my first grade teacher) and the rest of my class during recess as he sang “I am the pirate king!” from Pirates of Penzance and we would all reply with “Hurrah for the Pirate King!” 

Going to see said teacher act in a local performance of The Secret Garden. He was an actor, I remember him being very good, but I don’t know if he acts anymore (I think he’s a third grade teacher now)

His name was Mr. Congdon (though I don’t remember if that’s how it was spelled)

The day I moved into a new house I was so upset I went to first grade crying and wanted to talk to my teacher about it, but we had a substitute that day (my dad remembers this exactly the opposite - that I was all smiles and excited, and my teacher wasn’t absent, and I was babbling on and on about my new room, etc)

The Kelly-Lexi war at recess. Kelly and Lexi were enemies, and everyone on the playground was either on Kelly’s side or Lexi’s side. I was on Lexi’s side, my future best friend Krislyn was on Kelly’s side. We made battle strategies and drew them in the dirt and pretended to fight each other.

“planting” an apple seed in a rock and trying to water it with ice chips

My first two pokemon cards were a Ponyta and a fire energy.

The pack of pokemon cards from Toys R Us that I got a shiny Ninetails in and being so fucking excited

Trading a Mewtwo card for a Gyarados card

Trading a Dugtrio card for an Articuno card

Pokemon cards getting banned from school

getting glasses in second grade

my second grade teacher being absent for a while, and then dying (the first time I ever saw a therapist was after she died). Her name was Ms. Klein

Digimon cards. I don’t think I ever did anything but collect them, and I only had a small amount, but I loved my Digimon cards.

Crazy Bones. Little plastic collectible nothings that you would play with by flicking them at each other. (These things)

playing and trading Crazy Bones with the neighbor kid across the street, Drew, in my backyard

The game shop where I spent my allowance on crazy bones, pokemon and digimon cards going out of business

Being afraid to sleep in my own room, so I slept on my sister’s floor for months. My parents actually made a chart, that if I slept in my own room for a week, I would get a pack of pokemon/digimon cards or crazy bones.

the 50 states quiz - where we got one M&M for each state we could name, and if we got all 50 we got an extra 50 M&Ms (or skittles, if you didn’t like chocolate). I hadn’t memorized the 50 states song yet, so I only got 46 states

everyone being so proud they could spell Massachusetts, but when our teacher asked if anyone could spell Connecticut (the state I lived in) none of us could

learning to spell Connecticut

My first Yu Gi Oh card was one whose name I can’t remember, but it was a regular card, not too good stats, with a blue atlantean sea monster on it? I kept it in a card case and carried it around at school

Buying three Kaiba starter decks so I could have three Blue Eyes White Dragons and not understanding that I needed polymerization and a Blue Eyes Ultimate fusion card to actually make Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon in the game

Yu Gi Oh cards being banned from school

Mad Science Camp in the summer. I went for two weeks, for several summers, but this summer in particular I remember one week we built mini robot kits and at the other I don’t remember what we did but the boys were obsessed with yu gi oh and I wanted to play with them but they wouldn’t let me play because I was a girl (and the other girls, except for my sister, didn’t understand why I wanted to play yu gi oh)

Those same boys, when I climbed onto the jungle gym wanting to play yu gi oh with them, saying “let’s scream like a girl until she goes away” and then they screamed at me until I went away

math minutes - doing as many math problems as we could in a minute. If we got 100%, we got a candy or a bonus point on our next test.

my third grade teacher reading to us. Her name was Mrs. Klein, I think she was cousins with the Ms. Klein who was my second grade teacher who died. she read the BFG and it absolutely terrified me - not the BFG himself, but the other giants who would crunch on children’s bones. I couldn’t sleep at night and had to talk to my teacher and she said that if I was scared or uncomfortable just to ask to go to the bathroom and she would let me

Bug check. I made my dad check my bedroom for bugs every night before I went to bed because I was scared of them. I’m still freaked out by a lot of bugs, and definitely arachnophobic.

officially meeting my best friend Krislyn and playing Mario Party 2 all the freaking time (she was the one who inspired me to ask for an N64 for my birthday)

the new kid Mark from California who became one of my best friends

the crush I had on Mark from California that I confessed to him at recess one day and then as soon as I said it immediately ran and hid behind a bench on the other side of the playground. I made Krislyn go and check what his reaction was and he was standing confused by the fence

Playing dodgeball in gym class and jumping over 4 balls at once (this might not be real, but it is definitely a memory I have)

deciding to try and bring Pokemon to life with my friends Krislyn, Mark, and Tyler by extracting the DNA of a Poliwag from the Poliwag pokemon cards and putting it in a fishtank with a bunch of tadpoles.

Accidentally killing a bunch of tadpoles

making an upset face when in gym class my teacher told us we were only running one lap today (hah! wouldn’t I love that to happen at LITERALLY ANY OTHER POINT IN MY LIFE) and the teacher pulling me aside and telling me that was very rude

sitting around on benches at recess making up our own Pokemon and telling each other stories about the Mario universe (basically writing fanfiction, but we didn’t know what that was yet)

my favorite pokemon that I ever made was called Tickel, it was a blue bear with spikes on its ears and it wore a shell kinda like Togepi

Having multiple teachers for the first time in 4th grade - we had one teacher for math (I don’t remember his name), one for science (Mrs. Iacurci) , and then one for history (Ms. Greenberg) and english (Ms. Koritko). Ms. Koritko was my homeroom/main teacher.

Getting a C for the first time on any test ever in science class, but on my favorite subject - Outer space.

my 4th grade teacher playing Enya for us while we were doing our writing assignments

September 11, 2001. It was a Tuesday. A lot of people were getting called out early and none of us knew what was going on. Ms. Koritko was trying to keep the class calm but we were all really rowdy because things were so strange. She told us we were going to have indoor recess as punishment for being rowdy - but I think they just wanted to keep us inside. When we went home, our parents were waiting for me and my sister by the bus stop, which they had never done before. I told them I didn’t want to go to Hebrew School that day. They told me I didn’t have to. The kitchen construction workers had just started that day tearing down the kitchen and then the news hit. My parents told me and my sister. We were worried about my Aunt, who worked in New York City, but she was fine. We were worried someone would attack Sikorsky Helicopters - a military helicopter manufacturing plant that was only 20 minutes from where I lived. Things were very scary and confusing for a fourth grader

writing in my school journal about it. we were all asked to process our feelings, and told there were therapists available. I remember writing that maybe the people who did it just wanted America’s attention.

And things moved on

Adopting my kitties Pepper and Phoebe!

My grandfather died at the end of 2001

My grandmother died at the beginning of 2002

I started writing a lot of poetry in 4th grade about death. I wrote it in a notebook with red pen. Sometimes green pen.

Here’s one of the overdramatic poems I wrote:

“Be still, be soft, my beating heart, because the battle’s won / come home to me, my love, before the day is done. / Come home to me, my love, as I darespeak these words. / The chase is on, my love, as the horses fill the land / And you soon will be battling again / The enemy’s near and you will have to lend a helping hand / but, my love, please come back to me, safe as a beach of warm sand / The leaves have fallen one too many times and you have not come back / so I must go and fight with you / but I find you are gone so the time has come for me to go too / because waiting to die for all these years shall put me in despair / but to be up there with you is no punishment nor crime / so die, my self, die, die, die!

And another one:

As darkness descends, I mournfully cry. / Never again will my tears dry / Sadness engulfs me / I’m lost in the dark / as blackness threatens to crush my heart / peace will forever elude me until the day I die / as I close the casket and whisper goodbye

A book report on the book Julie of the Wolves - which was probably my favorite book report I wrote ever

One time I was trying to do group work but no one in my group was even paying attention and Ms. Koritko noticed I was trying so hard to get everyone to work but was getting frustrated, so she came over and said “Come on guys, Nikki is rolling her eyes here!” and then I rolled my eyes really overdramatically and she laughed

We all had to write a little “book” called Collections containing one piece of creative writing, and one piece of expository writing. My expository writing was an essay on the topic of love. My creative piece was called “Princess Blue and the Mystery of the Scary Noises.” It was about a princess with blue hair named Princess Blue, who went on a camping trip with her parents who were the king and queen, her brother Prince Red (who had red hair) and her two best friends whose names I don’t remember. One night they heard scary noises. They thought it was a monster! But it was just a squirrel. They laughed really hard at their mistake!

Princess Blue came into being as a character because one day I came out of the shower and had a blue towel, which I let hang over my head. I saw myself in the mirror and thought, “Man, wouldn’t it be AWESOME to have blue hair?”

I had a teacher named John Johnson. 

Mr. Johnson and Ms. Nelson were every 5th grader’s OTP. We used to “spy” on them at recess and we all thought they were getting married because they “flirted” (they were probably just talking with each other). We were all devastated when Ms. Nelson moved away to get married to her boyfriend and teach in another district

Ms. Greenberg died from complications with her pregnancy when she had a baby at the beginning of my 5th grade year. This is the second teacher who I had who died while I was in elementary school

Mr. Spillane and his M&M machines

Mr. Spillane collected M&M dispensers. He had all sorts of cool ones and he would give out M&Ms as treats and prizes. We got to pull the handles on the little funny dispensers and M&Ms would fall out, it was great

Sentence of the Day was one of our daily chances to get M&Ms - we had a “Thesaurasus” (a notebook with a picture of a dinosaur on it) and he would give us a word with three synonyms. We had to write a sentence for each synonym and then share our favorite sentence with the class. Mr. Spillane would pick one sentence from each synonym and that kid would get M&Ms

The Mr. Spillane Football League. We were learning percentages in math class. Mr. Spillane developed a “football league” where we divided into teams of 2 and each of us represented a team in the NFL. We would each represent our own player plus one of the players from the actual team, so each football team had four players. Each player had numbers that they could move on, for example, the actual player that I had was Tiki Barber from the Giants - and he could move on a roll of 2 or 5, or something like that. So we had to pay tokens to bet on which player would move and if we matched, we got to move a certain number of yards. We played a full “season” of football and then we finally got to the “Super Bowl.” My team, the giants, got to the championship game before the super bowl, but lost there.

The Mario Movie - Krislyn and I were handwriting a script for a Mario Movie called “Toadstool Kingdom Sensation”. We handwrote it in several notebooks using gel pens. We ran out of gel pens so frequently Mr. Spillane joked he ought to buy stock in the gel pen company

We had Mr. Spillane read it as we were writing it. I’m sure it was absolute shit, but he reacted like it was the funniest thing he had ever read, even too crazy for him to understand

Daisy was the main character because she was Krislyn’s favorite, and Krislyn had a stronger will than I did. Peach was also featured prominently because she was my favorite character. Peach and Mario were dating, but Daisy was dating a talking, more human version of Yoshi, because we made Luigi SUPER STUPID. We called the species “yoshis” LDTs, which stood for Lizard-Turtle-Dinosaur. There were lots of booger jokes because Luigi liked to pick his nose.

We wrote a song that Luigi sang: “The best part of pasta is eating spaghetti / then I like to blow it out of my nose / but my feelings are totally different / when I’m eating ice cream!”

The only line I remember from the actual script is “There’s a fat weirdo in the haystack and Peach is hitting him with a hammer” because when Mr. Spillane was reading it, he exclaimed aloud, “There’s a FAT WEIRDO in the HAYSTACK?!?!?!” and Krislyn and I thought it was the funniest fucking thing ever

the context was Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi all lived together. Mario had eaten too much spaghetti and couldn’t fit through the door one night, so Yoshi told him to sleep in the haystack in the barn that night. The next morning when Peach and Daisy came to visit, they didn’t recognize Mario and they thought he was an enemy, so Peach started attacking him with a hammer while Daisy ran to get their friends

There were also aliens that were terrified of farmland involved at some point

Making a birthday card for my friend Krislyn and ending it with “I love you” and my mom said I couldn’t phrase it like that but I could sign it “Love, Nikki” so I did (and hindsight reveals a crush on Krislyn in elementary school, but that was not something I realized until looking back while in college. I think I also had a crush on Lexi, actually, now that I think about it).

The Voyage of the Mimi - did anyone else ever see this?

It was a movie featuring Ben Affleck as a child, playing a character named CT. He, and several others, including Captain Granville, some random dude, and a deaf girl whose name I think was Sally or Sarah or something like that, were going on a trip on a boat called the Mimi. I think at one point Captain Granville fell off the boat and got hypothermia and they had to save him.

This was part of a unit on ocean life and conservation, in particular whales. We all had to do a project, either a video project or a “newspaper”. Krislyn and I were partners and we chose to do a video project, which we styled like a News Report on the evening news. Well, as much as 5th graders could anyway. Krislyn’s dad filmed it, but we had no editing software or ability to edit at all, so it was all done in one take and had a lot of mistakes. We had a news story about Orca whales, a news story about ocean pollution, and interview with Captain Granville (Krislyn’s dad wearing a paper beard) and commercials. One of the commercials was for soap. It involved a toilet flushing and one of Krislyn’s little sisters “screaming” simultaneously but the timing was off and the toilet flushed, then her sister screamed and it was really funny. There was a commercial for the aquarium gift shop, where my younger sister and both of Krislyn’s explained how they spent over $1000 at the gift shop! And then at the end we went upstairs and Krislyn’s mom said, “look what I bought for dinner” and it was a package of calimari and we all said “ewwwwwwww!” and then the video ended. (Calimari is delicious, as I know now)

We had to do a book report on a mystery. I wanted to do mine on a Boxcar Children book, but my reading level was much higher than the other kids in my class, so Mr. Spillane asked me to pick a book that would be more challenging for me. I don’t remember what I picked.

We had to do a report on one of the states. I chose Texas. I don’t remember what I learned about Texas, but I made the cover of my report on pink construction paper and tried to draw the Alamo in crayon.

Another report was during Black History Month. I wrote about George Washington Carver.

Another was on Juan Ponce de Leon and the fountain of youth

The Chronicles of Narnia were my favorite books, but I read them in a really weird order. I don’t remember that order, just that I never ended up reading The Magician’s Nephew and I think I read The Silver Chair before Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

I tried to read The Fellowship of the Ring when I was in 4th grade, but it was very wordy and confusing for a 8-9 year old.

We had to write a little bio for our “commencement” ceremony in 5th grade and I wrote something like, “I like reading and writing, and I’m a hockey girl!” even though I never played hockey - but hockey was my favorite sport. My favorite team was the Detroit Red Wings

At one point in elementary school, Tyler invited me over to his house to hang out but we ended up sitting in his basement and he wouldn’t let me leave until I had memorized Hillary Duff’s part in the song “What Dreams are Made of”

I also helped Tyler build a chair from scratch once

my penpal from another state, Kate, moved to my town after 3rd grade and was in my class in 4th grade

I once got in trouble during lunch because I didn’t notice the principal had asked everyone to be quiet so that she could say something and I was shouting across the table about Pokemon Blue

I wanted to learn the lyrics to “Time” by Pink Floyd because my dad played it all the time on the guitar and it was my favorite song, so my dad wrote them down for me so I could memorize them. My mom found it and thought I had written it, and thought I seriously needed counseling. She did not recognize the lyrics, nor did she think about the complexity of the song and how it would be ridiculously difficult for an 8 year old to write

I once shared with Mr. Spillane that I ran into a (male) classmate while shopping for bras at Kohl’s. I think he was embarrassed but I thought it was funny.

Seeing “Recess: School’s Out” in the theaters and my parents deciding they were never going to see another animated movie in the theaters again

...and that’s all I can think of for now. I’m sure I have more memories, but this is a lot, and it was fun to take a trip back and think about elementary school.

[kisaragizan]

“Dragon King’s Ritual” [Shadow Paladin]

Hey everyone, Kisaragi here to bring you all yet another deck profile! However, for the first time on this page (with the exception of Blue-Eyes), I’m bringing a non-Aqua Force profile - a Shadow Paladin one. I wasn’t going to do much of these ones since I figured I’d wait until they get supported (which would be soon), but I found myself playing the deck recently and was asked about it via a profile so: here we are. I’m going to do this profile a bit differently because I don’t have this deck in real life so I can’t really give alternatives for budget purposes but moreso as “preferences”. So without further ado, let’s take a look at Luard.

Before I begin, if I haven’t already done so: I’m going to mention that Shadow Paladin is my official secondary clan because a close friend of mine whom I look up to as a rival and a teacher mains Shadow Paladin. And during the time of my introductory to competitive Vanguard, I always talked and listened to him about the clan and his decks so the clan became secondary nature for me. I started actively playing Shadow Paladin more during Stride Era with Diablo and Raging Folm’s upgrades, with the former being my primary choice if I wanted to switch it up from Aqua Force. I didn’t take an interest of Luard until later when I saw how fun it was managing the resources, tool-boxing, and building advantage to which I started to like it enough to take it into competitive events which it did pretty well.

x4 Dragheart, Luard: The entire deck revolves around this unit - Dragheart, Luard. His main ability being Ritual 3, return two normal units from your drop to bottom of your deck and you can stride without paying the stride cost. His heartbeat is when you Stride, counterblast retire one rear-guard to call two grade 1 or lower units from deck to your field. He’s able to stride constantly without any issues, and he’s able to build up a field and provide units necessary for combos or to build resources. In some ways, he is the best Grade 3 not only in his clan, but in the entire game. He removes the caution of securing the ability to stride allowing players to play and guard more flexible than before. As per his namesake, Luard is the heart of this deck.

x2 Supremacy Dragon, Claret Sword Dragon Revolt: So to be perfectly honest, I’d much rather be playing Blaster Dark Diablo here like I did originally since he also has a similar “reduced cost of stride” concept going on. However, Claret Sword Dragon Revolt is searchable via his own stride fodder (which we do play but I’ll explain when it shows up) which is good for deck thinning and if you just wasn’t able to get Luard. His heartbeat looks at the top cards of the deck until 2 Grade 1s are revealed: one goes to hand and the other is called to field while the rest is shuffled to the deck. This is really just honestly a back up even though there is another preferred yet riskier back up of the deck.

x1 Sharp Fang Witch, Fodla: Fodla is the “true” back up/support Grade 3 of any Luard deck currently because she can call two grade 0s for one counterblast: some of which being key cards to plus off of. The reason I have her at one is because I do not wish to ride Fodla and would prefer to ride something a bit more safer if I couldn’t get to Luard, especially when she’s a 9k.

x4 Dragwizard, Morfessa: Morfessa is Luard’s best grade 2 with a Ritual 3 getting an extra 5k power when she attacks and an on hit to call a grade 1 card from the deck. Her other skill is when she’s in the drop zone, she’s treated as a Grade 1: allowing her to fulfill Luard’s Ritual costs.

x4 Dragwizard, Naoise: Naoise is the second best grade 2 in the deck for it’s ability to call grade 1 or lower units from the top five for free. Without a doubt, building field, getting units to retire to build resources. Naoise also gains power depending on the unit called, becoming a maximum 14k. At the end of the turn, the unit called does return to the deck if it’s still on the field.

x2 Knight of Brawn, Grosne: Grosne used to be played more in this deck being able to gain power for every grade 1 or lower called to your rear-guard. However, with the introduction of Naoise and having to remove my 10k Grade 2s, I lowered Grosne since he is very susceptible to control unless I place him down after using Luard’s heartbeat skill thus missing out on a free 6k.

x4 Abyssal Owl: Abyssal Owl’s is Luard’s trusted Owl that when placed from hand to rear, you can check the top seven cards and if you see Luard within those cards, you may add it and then discard cards equal to it’s grade to the drop zone. When Abyssal Owl is retired due to the cost or effect of Luard, you counter charge 1 (provided you have Ritual 3). Abyssal Owl is a grade 3 trade that you can afford to use since you’d be effectively building your drop zone and securing a Luard ride.The counter charge is also good because it makes your plays (which are typically counterblast one) free.

x4 Dragsaver, Esras: Esras another key unit of the deck being the default sentinel. On Ritual 3: you can choose another card named “Dragsaver, Esras” and return it to the bottom of the deck and retire one rear guard, to add her to your hand. It goes without saying that Esras is the best Perfect Guard in the game and would continue to set a trend for future clans to have recyclable sentinels (after fulfilling conditions) and even Perfect Guards with bonus drop zone effects. Being able to have infinite perfect guards makes Luard a very sturdy deck with it’s only answer is through a sentinel restricting unit.

x3 Black-winged Swordbreaker: When placed on rear-guard from the deck, you may soul blast one to draw a card. Originally, I didn’t play much of swordbreaker: 1-2 at best only preferred to call her if needed. However, there were times when she’d get placed in the damage zone or stuck in the soul: to which in later on the game I did actually need her. So I put her to three because it means while I won’t use all three, I can at least guarantee one being in the deck. Luard’s deck upon release was also very soul blast heavy (much like most decks nowadays) and even now meaning it’s best to use Swordbreaker if you need the extra hand and not to spam it just because you can.

x3 Cherishing Knight, Branwen: As I started in the Claret Sword Revolt section, Branwen is played here even if the Vanguard can stride for free because if you go second, you need to have another grade 3 since Luard’s skill happens at the beginning of the ride phase. So increasing your ability to pay the stride cost traditionally is good. Additionally, Branwen is a grade 1, so when you do stride with Branwen, it is adding to your Ritual condition being in the drop zone.

x2 Witch of Nostrum, Arianrhod: Arianrhod is a very strange card to use in Luard or rather in Shadow Paladin in general since her skill is to drop and draw while resting herself. However, there are amazing benefits to having her. Opening up with her early in the game will allow you to dig into your deck for whatever it is you’re looking for while also building up your drop zone with either grade 1s or just dumping away useless cards. There have been times when just dropping an Esras with her to draw into another card, and now having two Esras’ in soul, I can retire her and add back my Esras and have one at the bottom of the deck. And after she’s served her purpose, you can retire her away for skills as demonstrated above. Though I mostly value her for being able to dig into my deck especially if I’m looking for a grade 3 or a combo piece or something that’ll allow me to search/grab either of those two, on top of deck thinning.

Difarbau: Difarbau is my starter of choice for Luard. If he’s retired for the cost or effect of a “Ritual card”, you can throw him into the soul to check the top card and either call it to rear or put it to the drop zone. There aren’t too many starters for Luard save for Dragprince Rute, David, and the Creeping Dark Goat. Rute I find useless only adding a 5k and soul charging himself for a counterblast when retired. David used to be my go to starter since my finishers were Diablo units who retired 2-3 and being able to relax your field is a good thing. Creeping Dark Goat can secure a grade 3 but the chance to whiff after paying a counterblast and giving up a unit is not very fun. Difarbau let’s me replace himself while also having him be soul charged and leaving the rest to luck: either getting a solid attacker, a grade 1 to be retired later - worst case being a heal or vanilla trigger to be retired for a skill.

x4 Belial Owl: When you use Luard’s heartbeat skill, this is the unit you will call out the most despite being a trigger. When Belial Owl is retired from rear-guard due to cost or effect of one of your cards, and if you have a Luard vanguard, you draw a card. This also triggers when retired for Esras, any stride stride, and Luard’s heartbeat. Belial’s second skill is on Ritual 3, if you have a Luard vanguard at the end of your turn, you may put Belial at the bottom of your deck. This card is your engine and the reason why Luard is able to generate so much advantage by constantly skill after skill. The more Owl’s you’re able to kill in a single turn the stronger your defenses will be and of course being able to cycle them back into the deck. Even if it were to get damage checked, you can heal it and then it’ll be back in your deck by the end of turn.

x4 Critical Trigger: The rest of Shadow Paladins’ critical triggers are vanilla (except for one but in a Luard deck, it can’t be used so it’s vanilla), so it really doesn’t matter which critical you use. Alternatively, there are some stand triggers that are recyclable in Cursed Eye Raven or Mage of the Rogue Eye, Arsur: which both are really good if you’re looking to have a recyclable deck but I personally prefer to keep it critical due to LJ and due to Belial being out of the deck more than in the deck, will keep my ability to deal extra damage at a moderate level.

x4 Howl Owl/Dragwizard, Babd: Either of these will do since they both have the same effect: throw into the soul to +3k. Luard has little to no advantage at the start of the game, thus making him super vulnerable. Not to mention, his soul building is non-existent without the starter or these draws. So these draws in particular do help the deck a lot.

x4 Witch of Heresy, Jeliddo: Jeliddo is the only heal trigger with an effect that’s somewhat beneficial to Luard - pitching a grade 1 or lower to draw a card when she’s used for the cost of her G-guardian. However, and spoiler alert: we don’t run her G-Guard so at this point, any heal trigger will do.

(Note: Some of the G-Units are not present here because I couldn’t fit them in the banner.)

x1 Supremacy Black Dragon, Aurageyser Doomed: To this day, I still call this card by it’s original named: Aurageyser Damned. This is your first stride in every game, unless you G-guard and are in range to kill. Counterblast 1 and choose a facedown copy of Aurageyser Dragon face up from the G-zone and then retiring three units. You reveal the top two cards of the deck and for each Grade 1 or less revealed, you may retire an opposing rear-guard and the cards revealed get added to hand.

x1 Supremacy Black Dragon, Aurageyser Dragon: Aurageyser Dragon is here to fulfill the cost of Aurageyser Doomed. However, I wanted to use this section to explain why I prefer Aurageyser Doomed over Aurageyser Dragon. Aurageyser Dragon has to soul blast, counterblast, and retires two only to add 5000 for each Grade 1 or lower revealed upon attack. Aurageyser Damned: doesn’t have to soul blast, and is able to retire opposing units but more importantly retires 3 of yours in the main phase. Retiring more unit’s in Luard means you’re able to gain more benefits whether it’s retiring 2-3 belial owls, 2 Abyssal owls, so on and so forth. Additionally, retiring during the main phase is a lot better than in the battle phase because you can even strengthen your board or even go for more skills after using Damned’s skills with units you drew. Damned is a lot more flexible and opens the window to plus more than you normally would without having to expend soul which can be used for later skills.

x2 Dark Dragon, Phantom Blaster “Diablo”: Phantom Blaster was the original Shadow Paladin boss and was one of, if not, the strongest strides in the game. Counterblast 1 and persona flipping, you can gain 10k and +1 Critical if the number of cards in the G zone is two or more. It also gains another skill where if you retire three of your units when he attacks, your opponent may choose to retire two of their units and if they don’t or can’t retire 2 units, they cannot call cards from hand to the guardian circle. Phantom Blaster was the card you strode if your opponent wasn’t staying on their toes and leaving themselves wide open and an amazing punishment for mirage decks like Pale Moon, Granblue, and even Resist decks. In Luard, you hardly ever stride into him because retiring three in the battle phase is not really good since you don’t have units that can count as two retires so you’ll be left with only two units and one thing to note about Luard is that he wants to keep his field by the time it’s his turn, so he can use his heartbeat skill. Plus with G-guardians in the game, Phantom Blaster can still be guarded even if they choose not to retire three (especially since there’s no Blaster Dark Diablo to force a retire upon striding into him). Most deck’s don’t bother to run him, but I still feel he’s good to have if not for the mandatory retirement, but for the free 10k/+1 Critical.

x2 Dark Dragon, Spectral Blaster “Diablo”: By soul blasting 1, retiring one of your units, and flipping a face down card from your G zone, face up: Spectral gets the ability to stand after his attack with drive-2, by counter blasting two and retiring two. Spectral Blaster is a very powerful and flexible G-Unit, setting a trend for G-zones to have generic flips because financially it’s perfect: only needing one or two and not an automatic four and can even adjust for G-Assists and even flipping up specific units whose effects are dependent on the number of face up copies of itself. It also has a special bonus for having the “Diablo” heart which is also a G-Unit design that never got re-used again, but rather, preferring to stick to the heart restriction style. Spectral Blaster was at a time my go-to finisher, especially in his ideal deck, Diablo. In Luard, counterblast two is very hefty unless he’s retiring Abyssal Owls. Like Phantom Blaster, I very rarely go into Spectral once let alone twice, but if the situation calls for it, I will stride into one while the second copy is either flipped to pay for a flip cost or will be strode: depending on the game.

x2 Dragstrider, Luard: Going to note, I wish this cards name was swapped with “Dragdriver, Luard”’s name for a very obvious reason based off of their evolution from Luard and their effects. Dragstrider has Ritual 7, when he attacks, you retire two of your rear-guards and discard any number of cards from your hand to the drop zone. He gains 3k for each card discarded and if the number of cards discarded is two or more, he gains Critical+1, Drive+1, and guard restriction of grade 1 or higher from hand. This is your go-to finisher and is the reason why Phantom Blaster Diablo is considered to be removed from the deck. This is a really powerful card to go up against considering the requirements at minimum is discarding two cards to touch 32k with bonus skills. With no counterblast or soul blast card, you can just constantly stride into Dragstrider and keep throwing cards until your opponent has nothing else while also recycling your deck. It also takes advantage of the nature that Luard does draw a lot of cards: so you can go all in with very few clans being able to guard this effectively. I feel two is fine because if they survive one, then chances are, you’re probably dead and if they can’t kill you, then chances are that they’re dead.

x1 Draganger, Ogma: My favorite art from any Shadow Paladin. Ritual 5: counterblast 1, soul blast 1, and flip up a face down card in the G zone. Choose up to 5 grade 1 rear-guards and retire them and for each one retired, the opponent chooses a card from their hand or their rear-guards and puts them into the drop zone. You also draw a card if a total of three or more rear-guards by both fighters were put into the drop zone via this effect. This is a really really niche card, as most Generation Rares should be. Like Phantom Blaster Diablo, it punishes mirage decks and resist decks by dropping their hand since there’s either no field or the field cannot be touched. The only issue I have regarding this card is having five grade 1s to retire since specific Grade 0s such as the starter and Belial Owl also benefit from being retired, however, I think that was done intentionally so I guess it’ll just settle for being able to counter charge 2-3 from retiring Abyssal Owl or by flipping him for Spectral. Ogma is also the reason why having Naoise around is really good.

x1 Dark Dragon, Carnivore Dragon: Very basic stride, retire one of your rear-guards and your opponent has to retire two of their rear-guards (even if they have one) and they couldn’t retire two, three units in the front row gain 4k until end of turn. This is really just filler and very rarely would you stride this because even if you’re lacking counterblast and/or soul blast, you can stride into Dragstrider. Originally, I had two Claret Sword Helheim’s in place of this and one Spectral but I didn’t think they were that useful in this deck and I didn’t want to run Dragdriver either (even though he’s good for an empty board.)

x1 Dark Knight, Irgahn Vert: Irgahn Vert is the generation break 8 of Shadow Paladin. You counterblast one to choose up to five of your rear guards and retire them. Then you search your deck for up to the same number of grade 1 or lower units as the number of units retired and call them to seperate rears and they get +15k until end of the turn. Additionally, you retire the same number of your opponents rear-guards as the number of units called. This is a really strong game ender - not so much that they survived against everything in your arsenal but because you accelerated your G-zone far enough to pull this off. And because Luard does recycle his deck, getting a deck of grade 1s for this is pretty easy to fulfill.

x1 Air Element, Sebreeze: Standard G-unit because Luard is a stride based deck and doesn’t like to give up stride. There are also a number of Generic flips to flip this card should you choose not to go into him, making him flexible to play.

x3 Dark Dragon, Plotmaker Dragon: Plotmaker is a 25k Shield during Ritual 3 while on the Guardian Circle. This is currently the best and really should be the only G-Guard you should be playing except for the following one.

x1 Dragwiser, Bronach: Bronach is best used as your first G-guardian since once placed she checks the top five cards of the deck and calls all of the grade 1s from among them to the guardian circle with her. If you’re really lacking ritual, she will build it back up for you, especially when you want to go for a counter attack.

Deck Conclusion

Luard at a time was considered one of the best decks after his introduction and a follow up support set in Set 10. His only equals were Nightrose, Link Joker, and Gear Chronicle. Being able to draw and recycle his entire deck and have near infinite defenses, it was quite difficult to beat Luard because while he was overpowering other decks offensively and defensively, he also was allowed to grind out others forcing them to deck out. With a specific style deck build, not this one, Luard is also able to access a loop which can strengthen specific units and deck thin extremely hard. However, ironically, in his recent support: Set 12 Dragon King’s Awakening, while giving him Dragstrider and other important cards, they also strengthened decks that had the means to make him obsolete such as Narukami’s Thunderstrike, which is a keyword - like Ritual - revolves around the opponent having a specific number of cards bound. Most of the binds come from the drop zone, and with enough, you can lose access to your Ritual requirements making it extremely hard to go into your power plays. And with a number of guard restricts available to most clans in the game, Esras can be invalidated: forcing Luard to rely on his hand to guard everything. I don’t really have too much expectation of what Shadow Paladin will get in Set 14, let alone Luard since I would much rather see Diablo support since I do love Diablo a lot, but I also do appreciate Luard’s tool-boxing and combo play making.

So thank you all for reading this profile since this is my first non-AQ profile, I wasn’t exactly sure how I was going to do this since I generally prefer to do deck profiles on real life decks that way I can step through alternatives but this didn’t seem too bad. I think next deck profile will be one that I actually have in real life: not to mention potentially some screenshots of a few updated decks in real life but other than that, look forward to this deck profile!