#HALF WAY THROUGH 2 MORE

[lenateliier]

Maomao in various hanfu #3: Tang dynasty

[bongosinferno]

A devastating and confusing thing about the Fallout setting, when you explore the pre-war aspects, is what the creators think about pre-war America. In the first games we only get hints of the pre-war world, but they seem to be some sort of wild fascist nation invading Canada. In Fallout 1, the first thing we're introduced to of the pre-war society is seeing a soldier shoot civilians and laughing.

Now, for the first 2 games and New Vegas we don't really know much. What we know is that there's a fascist military group known as the enclave who were a sort of US deep state even before the war, and that the government teamed up with corporate interests to preform vaguely MKULTRA-ish experiments with the Vaults. Basically, the government was an extreme version of the 50s American jingoism and McCarthyism.

This is well and dandy, I guess issues come up more when we get to the later games, especially 4, where it seems like none of this extreme plotting and societal civil unrest which would exist is seen. The society as presented in 4 also seems quite progressive, gay people are featured in the opening, and none of the baggage of say, civil rights not existing are included. Now on a baseline, I don't want settings to be more conservative, homophobic and sexist etc., but it becomes a very confusing setting when it's displayed both as this jingoist extreme thing with fascist tendencies aswell as a progressive place where everyone is seemingly equal. If you're focusing on the 50s as your setting, and American nationalism in the 50s, then you can't have McCarthyism spoofs and anti-communism as a societal paranoia norm while also general equality is the norm without misunderstanding why McCarthyism and nationalist jingoism is bad. A massive harm done in anti-communist paranoia is how it degrades and vilifies any progressive movements (women's rights, civil rights, homosexuality) as being morally un-American and therefore connected to communism. To ignore this just makes any critique of MacCarthyism and jingoism weird!

Basically, pre-war America in Fallout 4 becomes this both sides thing where America is both pure and equal and white fences in every instance that we see as the player (the intro), while also supposedly being this dystopic MacCarthyist hellscape that's broadcasting gladly about their war crimes in Canada, and wants to root out communism. I guess the only fix for this issue without getting into the fine print like they had to do is just not to focus too much on the pre-war world.

[mayomkun]

Shaper of Form

[axoqiii]

akito shinonomr...

(+ zooms)

[sweetsouldhavernas]

Like the roses need the rain Like the seasons need to change Like a poet needs the pain I need you in these arms tonight

[ride-a-dromedary]

The thing that I find interesting to think on, is that Halsin isn't wrong about framing himself as old, even from an elf perspective. Not just operating under the framework that he's a survivor, and seems to have likely been the eldest in most groups he found himself in, so it's a habit to assume younger unless informed otherwise (especially considering he's the last of his line, and suffered through the deaths of his similarly aged fellows and elders during the Shadow Curse), and not just operating under the premature maturation that seemed to stem from this, thus him likely feeling older than he really is.

No, he's just stuck in 2e DnD lore (which considering that is what BG1 and 2 utilized, he's not technically incorrect to be, as he would have hypothetically been alive in canon during that period of time - consider it as a generational gap in thinking what constitutes as "old", and how previous generations aged or viewed aging compared to current generations):

(Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd Edition: The Complete Book of Elves, pp. 37 Table 4)

[Info: A chart taken from the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd Edition Rules Supplement, indicating the age ranges of various types of elves, including Aquatic, Drow, Grey, High and Sylvan. A section of the chart is highlighted in reference to Sylvan elves. Sylvan elves are listed as being considered at venerable age by age 325+]

According to this chart, Halsin - by other elves' standards - would have been considered to be in "Venerable" territory, which is usually applied to those who are afforded a great deal of respect, particularly due to length of experience or age. And Halsin being in this category further informs his physical appearance, as according to the same manual:

"Only at venerable age do elves begin to show their years, yet they still appear younger than most humans do at age 50." (pp. 37)

and

"[At Venerable Age] the elf, at age 350 [on average] or older, begins to show signs of age. Wrinkles start mapping her face. Her physical condition deteriorates still further, but her knowledge and her wisdom continue to grow even greater." (pp. 39)

Which could partially explain *why* he refers to himself as old; by all technicality he's earned the right to do so.

And while the 5th edition of DnD does nuke this specificity of lore in favour of opening the floor to more creativity, and this is by all means technically outdated, it's still interesting to take previous lore into consideration in how it might inform choices and characters.

[marta-bee]

I’m re-reading Good Omens, or at least making a start at it, and I really don’t think I was prepared for how profoundly melancholy the opening scene is. You expect it to be, I don’t know, funny or even cute if the miniseries is what’s first in your mind, and that version is lovely.  But this? is soul-achingly beautiful.

"I'm not sure it's actually possible for you to do evil," said Crawly sarcastically. Aziraphale didn't notice the tone.

"Oh, I do hope so," he said. "I really do hope so. It's been worrying me all afternoon." They watched the rain for a while.

"Funny thing is," said Crawly. "I keep wondering whether the apple thing wasn't the right thing to do, as well. A demon can get into real trouble, doing the right thing." He nudged the angel. "Funny if we both got it wrong, eh? Funny if I did the good thing and you did the bad one, eh?"

"Not really," said Aziraphale. Crawly looked at the rain.

"No," he said, sobering up. "I suppose not."

Slate-black curtains tumbled over Eden. Thunder growled among the hills. The animals, freshly named, cowered from the storm.Far away, in the dripping woods, something bright and fiery flickered among the trees. It was going to be a dark and stormy night.

They’re not enemies. They’re not friends, either, but they’re there, together, figuring it out for the first time side by side. And it’s not funny, somehow. It’s not happy. It’s not even something to be angry about. it just kind of is. And they’re just kind of they. But they’re figuring it out side by side, and that seems a worthy kind of start.

[sovonight]

why is so much of sewing just tracing and cutting and tracing again q_q i see why people get projectors and use adobe illustrator now

[nerosdayinanime]

ok i originally just wanted to think of something w obagiyuu but then it went to obamitsugiyuu but then sabiuzui happened and now its a full on everyone lives au with everyone hugging the last 3 ubuyashiki kids just after kiriya announces the demon slayer corps disbanded and im Crying

[youremyonlyhope]

I forgot to watch Survivor tonight and instead watched a 60 minute long video essay called Martha Jones Deserved Better (And Other Correct Doctor Who Takes)

I regret nothing.

[andromedasummer]

you know what i would love to be an option in bg3? making your own party member. like Icewind Dale style. choose their class, voice, appearance and travel with them. obvs i understand why they didnt, but it wouldve been so fun to have the option to make your own member, esp if they could be incorporated into your backstory. a sibling, parent, spouse, adventuring buddy, best friend.

[jasontoddenthusiastt]

I’ve been watching Titans. What have they done to my boy.

[joonary]

[lucalicatteart]

Poll adventure (paventure? lol) Day 10: read the small story tidbit below the poll for more details, OR just vote based on initial impression

(✦ see past poll results + further information HERE (link) ✦)

Yesterday's poll decided that The Adventurer should join the travelers on the larger river boat for a short lunch ...

~

"Before he even fully musters the courage to shout a 'hello', the large group on the boat initiates contact first, gleefully waving at him, whooping and shouting as they near his tiny raft in the water. Apparently, some of them were betting over whether they'd actually find any other travelers out on the river today.. He fumbles over his words a bit, as always, but somehow manages to successfully get himself invited onto their boat for a quick lunch..

After safely securing his raft to the side of the boat with some spare rope, he climbs aboard, stumbling into the excitement of some sort of celebration. A few of them explain that they're traveling for 'kahesallei', an old elven holiday recently re-popularized in some of the larger cities nearby. Whatever it's true meaning and origins used to be, the current significance (at least to those within the city walls) seems to just be mindless feasting, drinking, and gaudy decor. Most of the traveling group are strangers to each other, only brought together by catching a ride on the same tour/party boat, but the mood is light, quite friendly between them, and perhaps a bit drunk.

While the boat itself is relatively plain wood, it's been strewn with gold and orange banners, flags, shimmery tassels, beads, and bushels of dark green ivy braided with fresh herbs and wildflowers. There are flat round tables of food and drink, plenty of cushions to lounge on, and one random guy perched precariously on the edge railing of the boat, gently strumming a lute for background music..

The elderly ship captain hobbles over to The Adventurer, sternly explaining that, no matter what the 'silly' passengers say, he's only allowed to stay for an hour because he didn't pay for a boat ride ticket, and thus really shouldn't even be allowed on board. By the time The Adventurer has mentally processed this information, the captain has already returned to his little steering room, slamming the door shut with a displeased grunt.. It probably wouldn't be a good idea to confront him or question the rules...... But! Hey, at least he has one hour at the party.. How should he spend his time? "

~

Additional Information

the adventurer's current main goal: follow his map to reach the abandoned castle ruins and see the rare animal specialist about the mysterious egg he has

[musical-chick-13]

The problem is that I have so many Ideas™ but I do not have the time or energy or mental capacity to write them all.

[ragingbibliophiliac]

So I actually get to a piece of media and don't experience it way late per my usual, and now I have to live with the consequence of there being almost nothing current on Tumblr about it. 😂