#Key Player Roles

[sportsdp]

Manchester City vs. AFC Bournemouth: Lineups and Tactical Analysis

The encounters between Manchester City and AFC Bournemouth have consistently showcased intriguing tactical battles and strategic lineup decisions. This article delves into the lineups from their recent matches, analyzing formations, key player roles, and the tactical nuances that have defined these encounters.

Recent Encounters and Lineups

November 2, 2024: AFC Bournemouth 2-1 Manchester City

In this Premier League fixture at the Vitality Stadium, AFC Bournemouth secured a surprising 2-1 victory over Manchester City.

AFC Bournemouth's Lineup:

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Goalkeeper: Mark Travers

Defenders: Adam Smith (captain), Illia Zabarnyi, Marcos Senesi, Milos Kerkez

Midfielders: Lewis Cook, Ryan Christie; Antoine Semenyo, Justin Kluivert, Marcus Tavernier

Forward: Evanilson

Manchester City's Lineup:

Formation: 4-1-4-1

Goalkeeper: Ederson

Defenders: Kyle Walker (captain), Manuel Akanji, Nathan Aké, Josko Gvardiol

Midfielders: Mateo Kovacic; Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gündogan, Matheus Nunes

Forward: Erling Haaland

The match commenced with an early goal from Antoine Semenyo in the 9th minute, giving Bournemouth an initial advantage. Evanilson extended the lead in the 64th minute. Manchester City responded with a goal from Josko Gvardiol in the 82nd minute, but Bournemouth maintained their lead to secure the win.

November 4, 2023: Manchester City 6-1 AFC Bournemouth

In this dominant performance at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City overwhelmed AFC Bournemouth with a 6-1 victory.

Manchester City's Lineup:

Formation: 4-3-3

Goalkeeper: Ederson

Defenders: Manuel Akanji, John Stones, Nathan Aké, Kyle Walker (captain)

Midfielders: Rodri, Mateo Kovacic, Bernardo Silva

Forwards: Jérémy Doku, Julián Álvarez, Erling Haaland

AFC Bournemouth's Lineup:

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Goalkeeper: Ionuț Radu

Defenders: Max Aarons, Chris Mepham, Illia Zabarnyi, Lloyd Kelly (captain)

Midfielders: Ryan Christie, Alex Scott; Philip Billing, Marcus Tavernier, Justin Kluivert

Forward: Dominic Solanke

Manchester City's goals were scored by Jérémy Doku (30'), Bernardo Silva (33', 83'), Manuel Akanji (37'), Phil Foden (64'), and Nathan Aké (88'). Bournemouth's lone goal came from Luis Sinisterra in the 74th minute.

Tactical Analysis

Manchester City's Approach

Under Pep Guardiola, Manchester City consistently employs a possession-based style, utilizing formations like 4-3-3 or 4-1-4-1 to dominate midfield play. The inclusion of players such as Rodri and Mateo Kovacic provides stability, allowing creative midfielders like Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden to advance and support the attack. The full-backs, notably Kyle Walker and Nathan Aké, often push forward to provide width, enabling wingers like Jérémy Doku to cut inside and create scoring opportunities.

AFC Bournemouth's Strategy

AFC Bournemouth, particularly against top-tier teams like Manchester City, often adopts a counter-attacking strategy. Utilizing a 4-2-3-1 formation, they focus on defensive solidity with two holding midfielders shielding the backline. The pace of wingers such as Justin Kluivert and Marcus Tavernier is crucial for quick transitions, aiming to exploit spaces left by Manchester City's advancing full-backs. The central forward, whether Dominic Solanke or Evanilson, serves as a focal point to hold up play and link with midfield runners.

Key Player Roles

Erling Haaland (Manchester City): As the primary striker, Haaland's positioning and finishing are pivotal. His ability to draw defenders creates space for midfielders to exploit.

Antoine Semenyo (AFC Bournemouth): Operating from the wing, Semenyo's speed and dribbling skills are essential for advancing the ball and delivering crosses into the box.

Rodri (Manchester City): Serving as the defensive midfield anchor, Rodri's role in intercepting opposition plays and distributing the ball efficiently initiates Manchester City's attacks.

Lewis Cook (AFC Bournemouth): As a central midfielder, Cook's responsibilities include breaking up Manchester City's play and initiating counter-attacks through precise passing.

Conclusion

The fixtures between Manchester City and AFC Bournemouth highlight contrasting football philosophies: Manchester City's emphasis on possession and intricate play versus Bournemouth's reliance on structured defense and swift counter-attacks. Analyzing the lineups and tactical approaches offers insights into how each team leverages its strengths in pursuit of victory.

[dungeon-master-mike]

the more i think about it, the more i realize how weird mike's role in the story is

[zvaigzdelasas]

New RWN going over backers, interplay, and interests between factions in Sudan

[fandom-shitposter]

Why do we have to slog through 50 layers of heavily applied references in every current Star Wars show?

Because it's a smokescreen trying to make us dismiss the ones which point out the actual underlying story. Which is the exact same story we already know only from a slightly different angle and using clones and technology instead of Jedi since, you know, that's not really an option anymore

The story of a child living on a backwater planet who lives solely with their mother, a child who has an amazing talent for machinery and builds their own droid(s), who gets to run off with a bunch of men (their new 'family') for a far more exciting life which ultimately leads to devastation after they made some really bad life choices because they don't want to accept death as a factor of life

And yeah, I do realise how basically stripped down that description is

First we meet the small child, then we meet them again when they're older and getting all trained up (even if it is done as more of a Dooku/Ventress thing second time around)

And then they hit their final stage where they never ever take their helmet off until the very end of things, and neither of them are using their own speaking voice

Cue the supposed 'shock' ending and a bunch of Disney execs patting themselves on the back for no one seeing it coming

-

Each OG role has been divided up between 2-3 current characters so Omega can help Mommy out by building a cyborg to mimic Anakin building C3PO but she hasn't had the opportunity or ability to do the equivalent of killing the Jedi in the temple, that part was farmed out to someone else regardless of whether they stated it on that specific show yet. It already happened and we saw it previously

Tech can stand in for Obi-Wan disliking her flying style, teaching her the skills she'll need to survive and dealing with her on an emotional level (with the assistance of the rest of the 'family' like the Jedi would have supported Anakin), but the big Anakin vs Obi-Wan fight at the end of season 1 was acted out by Hunter and Crosshair instead and since Echo already lost the appropriate number of limbs which that fight claimed before becoming a cyborg there was no need to repeat it

-

Unfortunately they've spent so much time on cramming in the surface level references into all of these shows, bending existing characters into shapes that don't fit them (*cough* Ahsoka show *cough*), obscuring the details and dropping any inconvenient parts of former canon they don't like that it's all become a little bit overblown and boring.

The makers of Star Wars just can't get past the Anakin Skywalker story no matter how big the SWU is or how many far more interesting tales there are to tell in it. How many promising looking shows have been cancelled or lost to development hell to focus on this instead?

Just last year Dave Filoni claimed that Anakin was the best Jedi ever (or something like that) and we all laughed at him for it. So why did he claim it in the first place? Who was he trying to convince? Are we just supposed to watch these shows and decide that Disney are doing it better than Lucas ever could? Just what is the point here?

Apart from money, obviously

[thegiftofgabes]

The Gift of Dice - Intro Post

I am Gabriel Caetano (they/them), and I am a queer, Latine parent, TRPG creator, audio producer, and game facilitator (aka GM) from Brazil.

Roleplaying Games

I make tabletop Roleplaying Games, as well as TTRPG-adjacent experiences.

I like fantasy, science fantasy, and weird fantasy the most and I have been more and more invested in looking at games as enablers of social experimentation and questioning.

I like to say that every game I make is a product of excellent taste and developing skill.

You can find my games at https://thegiftofdice.itch.io/

Indie Games Facilitator for Hire

I run and facilitate (aka GM) roleplaying games as a gig.

I have over 100 session under my belt, and growing, and a large catalogue of indie, alternative games to facilitate for players anywhere out there in the world, including Masks, Thirsty Sword Lesbians, Nibiru, Apocalypse Keys, Noctis Labyrinth, Troika!, Blades in the Dark, CBR+PNK, and many more.

You can browse through the dates I setup, or make a custom request.

Politics and Ethics

All TTRPG content has a price tag, except when I think it shouldn't, and all of them should have alternate methods of access for anyone who does not enjoy the privilege of earning dollars, euros, pounds, and other hegemon currencies.

Yet, non-white people, non-het, and non cis-male people anywhere who cannot afford to buy anything I make without putting their safety and well-being financially are welcome to get my stuff for free, one way or another.

I also offer seats for free or at a greatly reduced fee to people in the Global South, where the dollar exchange would make access to my game sessions absolutely crushing.

None of the content I create is compatible with Hasbro or Paizo products, or products by any company or individual that shares their ethics and predatory approach to industrializing an art form, on principle.

Additionally I do not use or rely on artificially generated content to create my games or run my sessions.

Game Design Principles

I've come across this game design manifesto and I've decided to adopt it for my own game design as best as I can and let it evolve as I grow as a game designer and writer.

against coercion: a game design manifesto by JPLeBreton

let players wonder about things and trust them to find answers;

connect players with patterns they find intrinsically fulfilling;

never treat a number going up as an inherently positive or meaningful even;

teach respect for the autonomy and boundaries of all things;

posit alternatives to fantasies of accumulation and extraction;

do not think of emotional responses as something you extract from players;

produce and distribute ethically;

aspire to more than escape.

Whether I'll succeed or fail at following these principles, or even how they will evolve over time, all I can say is let's play to find out.

Kindly, Gabriel Caetano

[thehandwixard]

normal thoughts abt sora riku and kairi and metamorphosis with the darkness today

end of pain.

[mariocki]

Alfred Burke creeps around uncredited, as mysterious chauffeur Heinrich, in 1963 thriller The Man Who Finally Died

[dugaodna]

the short answer is no

[cursezoroark]

because im a sap for my old rejuv run that was more personal and less oc focused. im donating a few of my old mons to be mentioned in mona's failed team. My Krookodile Sasha, Carmen my Helioisk and Maple my Infernape. they were in mona's old team before getting wiped from existence :']

[crdteezv]

Haechan Fic Recs

[majority of these are smut > minors dni (18+)]

**For the key, when I say extreme, I mean fics that will contain darker themes.

S - Smut | F - Fluff | A - Angst | E - Extreme

Disclaimer: *Some of these didn't have a wc so I added it myself! Another thing, some of these fics can be on the darker side so fair warning*

!!!ALL CREDIT GOES TO THE AMAZING WRITERS!!!

A/N: Whenever I add to the list I’ll reblog this post and keep the updated date down below!!

Last Updated: December 6th, 2024

PERSONAL FAVS

pussy fiend | pt.1 (28.2k) & pt.2 (40.7k) - @domjaehyun (F) (S)

→ college au, enemies to fuckbuddies to lovers, roommate au

spur of the mommet | pt.1 (2.1k) & pt.2 (10k) - @haetrack (F) (S) (E)

→ perv/inexperienced! haechan, use of toys

thrid wheel (ft. mark) | pt.1 (7.4k) & pt.2 (13.7k) - @ncteez (S)

→  vacation setting, exhibitionism, voyeurism, car sex, 3some

pro: love: add (11.6k) - @haetrack (S)

→  perv/switch haechan & reader

stoner!hyuck (0.4k) - @calibabii21 (S)

untitled #1 (0.4k) - @neocentral (S) (E) (D)

→ noncon

[8:52] (1.6k) - @from-izzy (F)

→ established relationship au!, marriage!au, non-idol au!

can i? (3.5k) - @yutaholic (S)

→ exes to lovers

friendly competition (ft. mark) (2.2k) - @perfumejamal (S)

→ bf mark, 3some

womaniser (2.1k) - @onyourhyuck (S)

→ bestfriend hockey player!haechan

fix me softly (3.1k) - @onyourhyuck (S) (E)

→ best friend/switch/himbo/perv/ haechan, dub-con

again & again (2.5k) - @ihaechans (F) (S)

→ established relationship, sub haechan, mommy kink

nice guy (2k) - @luvyeni (S) (E)

→ stalking, non consensual photo taking

anything you can do i can do better (4.8k) - @vnti-vntiety-recs (S)

→ enemies to lovers/rivals to lovers

jealous!bf!hyuck! (0.5k) - @ye4gerz (S) New!!

→ choking, exhibitionist hyuck, jealous/angry sex

11:21 AM (0.8k) - @junrenjun (F) New!!

→ husband haechan, suggestive

f/ck ban (1k) - @iceonneo (S) New!!

→ bf haechan

3:46pm (0.6k) - @markresonates (S) New!!

→ bf haechan, humiliation

ghost house (8.3k) - @smileysuh (S) (E) New!!

→ ghost/perv/switch sub lean!hyuck, witch!reader, supernatural au

hoes before bros (ft. mark) (12k) - @beomqu (S) New!!

→ idol! au, cheater! reader, bf! mark, fwb! haechan

caramel (2.8k) - @mejaemin (S) New!!

→ established relationship, beach sex, exhibitionism

9th member (0.4k) - @sugrclip (S) New!!

→ idol au, car sex

under the influence (11.6k) @domjaehyun (S) (E) New!!

→ stoner/perv haechan, shy reader, slight dubcon, corruption

something's missing (2.1k) - @zhongfile (S) (E) New!!

→ ex haechan, blackmailing, dubcon themes

i ❤️ hot nerds (ft.jaemin) (8.7K) - @domjaehyun (S) New!!

→ perv nerd haechan & jaemin, popular reader

ONESHOTS

the perfect victim (2.7k) - @revehae (S) (E)

→ noncon

angel tears (1.8k) - @diorcities (S)

→ possessiveness, mirror/make up sex

my favorite pair (3k) - @goodiegoddesselle (S) (E)

→ perv haechan, roommates, enemies to lovers

touch (1.9k) - @ch3rryc4ndy (S)

→ husband, teacher x student role-play (18+)

play bear (1.4k) - @diorcities (S)

→ established relationship, gamer haechan

impatient (2k) - @ihaechans (S)

→ established relationship, jealous haechan

cool off (4.6k) - @soobrat (F) (S) New!!

→ idol au, public sex(?), switch!ish

free falling (5k) - @sunpopz (S) New!!

→ gamer au, perv!hyuck, sub!hyuck?

forget him (7.1k) @smileysuh (S) New!!

→ friends to lovers, roommates au, recent breakup

DRABBLES

untitled #2 (0.5k) - @sserasin (S) (E)

→ dubcon, infidelity

untitled #3 (0.7k) - @starryhyuck (S)

→ established relationship, public sex??

thigh riding (0.5k) - @babiesdreams (S)

day 14: haechan (0.7k) - @babiesdreams (S)

→ hard dom, edging, degradation

4:15 AM (0.5k) - @taexoxosgf (S) (E)

→ established relationship, somnophilia, dumbification

untitled #4 (0.9k) - @haetrack (S)

→ cockwarming, himbo!haechan

untitled #5 (1.3k) - @starryhyuck (S)

fwb!haechan (1.3k) - @pinkynana (S)

untitled #6 (0.8k) - @toniiswrld (S)

→ roommates, fwb!enemies ?, birthday sex

day 18 - toys (1.3k) - @jaylaxies (S)

→ use of toys, mutual masturbation

untitled #7 (1.3k) - @starryhyuck (S)

→ established relationship, mean dom haechan

untitled #8 (0.5k) - @sserasin (S) (E) New!!

→ dubcon, infidelity, choking

11:32 AM (0.5k) - @jenoismydad (S) New!!

→ thigh riding

sweet release (0.7k) - @hisunflower (S) New!!

→ idol au, oral

untitled #9 (1.2k) - @vanesycho (S) New!!

→ bf haechan, oral, boob play

HEADCANNONS

pervert!haechan (0.3k) - @jaylaxies (S) (E)

→ roommates au

more perv!haechan thoughts (0.6k) - @thetypingpup (S) (E)

pervy!neighbor (0.2k) - @neo-percs (S) (E)

perv!boyfriend (0.3k) - @luvyeni (S) (E)

FAKE TEXTS

ex haechan - @handlemehyuck (F) New!!

[markrosewater]

I’ve always felt the core role of this blog has been one of information. We make a lot of choices in design, and I try to use my various communications, including Blogatog, to walk the players through what we were thinking when we made key decisions.

The challenge with this approach is that it’s very logic-focused. It uses intellectual justifications to explain actions. But the problems I’m often responding to are emotional in origin. I have a good friend who’s a psychologist. He refers to this (using the words of author Robyn Gobbel) as an owl brain solution to a watchdog brain problem.

When someone is hurting, hearing about why the thing that is causing them pain is the result of intellectual decisions falls flat. That’s what has been causing some tension lately here on Blogatog.

It’s clear that for some Question Marks changes over the last few years represent the loss of something key to what makes Magic special to them. To them, the game is losing its heart.

While I can’t necessarily do anything about that, I want to better understand what you’re going through. So I’m using this post to ask players who are concerned with the recent changes to help me understand their feelings. Let me hear your stories about how your lives have been affected by these changes.

[woso-dreamzzz]

Head in the Clouds V

Barcelona Femení x Teen!Reader

Summary: Your national team situation

There's an understanding in the team when it comes to you.

You dominate the league with your scoring and now with Pajor at your side, you've started to develop almost too quickly for the staff to keep up with.

Every ball you touch turns to goals.

You're already the Champion's League top goal scorer and everyone is just waiting for the moment that they all know is coming.

Everyone is waiting for the moment a national team snaps you up.

You're been at a youth camp for both Spain and England before but that's about it.

You don't seem to really care all that match.

You spend most international breaks back home with your parents or off in France with your girlfriend, one of Lyon's star centrebacks.

Her international situation isn't quite as complicated as yours but everyone knows it influences your own. She could play for France or England and people know that if she were suddenly to declare for England then you would go there too.

Unless somewhere else snaps you up first.

Spain seems like the obvious choice with their most recent World Cup win under their belt and their dominance in last year's Nation's League.

But Frido is there with a face time from Magdalena Eriksson, who you excitedly inform is your grandmother's favourite players. She's flattered, of course, if a little confused by what's going on - especially when you gasp and stutter over your words when you catch a glimpse over her shoulder of Pernille Harder.

Alexia fumes by the door of the locker room, a disgruntled look on her face as she crosses her arms over her chest.

"We can't lose her to Sweden!" She hisses to Irene," Do something!"

"Me?! What am I meant to do?!"

"I don't know! Make her a home cooked meal! Remind her off her Basque roots! Anything!"

Irene sighs deeply. She's taking this a little easier than Alexia is but she still would have you join the Spanish team at the drop of a hat.

You were a once in a generation kind of striker and it would make it all the more worse if they lost your allegiance to one of their own club teammates.

The threat of you choosing England seems to have diminished a little with Keira and Lucy gone but Ellie's still here and while she's currently not a part of the England squad, she's still been seen dropping little hints towards you about joining up.

Thankfully for everyone else though, subtlety and hints goes over your head so you don't even realise what you're being told.

But where England has fallen, Sweden has only grown bolder.

Sweden, of course, meaning Frido and her wielding of Magda as a tool to get you to choose them.

"We need to find our own Magda," Irene says solemnly," Do we...Do we have a Magda?"

"We have a Mariona."

"We can't pick Mariona. Y/n already knows Mariona. We need someone older. We need someone mysterious. We need someone more fun that Magdalena Eriksson!"

They turn to each other in horror.

"We need Jenni."

Being Spain's Magda is a role that Jenni is all too comfortable stepping into. She arrives in the country with her usual brand of drama by using her key to access Alexia's house without telling anyone and eating a bowl of the paella she took straight from the fridge.

"So where's the kid?"

"At Irene's," Alexia replies from the stove," They're coming around for dinner." She waves the spatula at Jenni. "You will be nice and charming and you will, under no circumstances, mention any of the other countries vying for her. You have one job. Do it."

"I got it," Jenni says with ease, leaning back on the sofa," Woo the kid. Be the fun aunt. Make sure she chooses Spain. I got it."

Introducing you and Jenni, Alexia and Irene come to find, is the worst idea they've ever had.

Jenni takes her role as the 'fun aunt' to the extreme in the the four day period she has with you.

You go out for lunch and dinner, at both fancy restaurants and little street vendors. Jenni spends a bunch of money on new cooking implements even though you just mentioned them in passing.

There's even a very impromptu Instagram post and accompanying story of you two on a zip wire and Alexia and Irene are more than happy to shoo Jenni back to Mexico.

"Jenni's cool," You tell them the next day," She even signed my autograph book and gave me one of her old Spain shirts!"

At least she'd done something for a job well done.

With Sweden closing in, Alexia can't take any chances.

She even feels confident in her feelings of you choosing Spain.

Until, like it always does, it comes crashing down.

Because a new contender shows up.

It happens out of nowhere and nobody could have predicted it.

"You have brothers?" Vicky asks one day during a break in training.

"Three," You say with a nod and that same wide smile you always get when you talk about your family," A surgeon, a neurologist and lawyer."

"How come we've never heard of them?"

"Oh, they didn't come with us when we moved back to England."

Alexia's heart stutters.

"You didn't always live in England?" Salma asks and you shake your head.

"I grew up in the Netherlands." You think for a moment. "Until I was like thirteen. It was home."

The gears turn in Alexia's head, trying to draw up FIFA's eligibility rules.

But someone gets there before her.

Esmee.

Esmee with a wide grin and Alexia's heart plummets.

"You know," She says, speaking casually to you as the whole team holds its breath," You could play for the Netherlands with me."

"Really?"

"Yeah, the rules say you can. You could come to camp, see your brothers more often. I'm sure Viv would love to have you around."

Sweden may have Magda.

Spain may have had Spanish Magda, Jenni.

But the Netherlands have Viv and Esmee grinning like she's just won the lottery.

Within the week, you've received a signed Miedema jersey and a little note that no doubt Esmee had Viv write about potentially playing together at some point.

"It's fine," Irene whispers days after," It's fine. We've got a recent World Cup. They can't beat that."

You're sitting in your cubby, scrolling on your phone absentmindedly. "Oh!" You say out of nowhere," Are we going to America anytime soon? Should I renew my passport?"

Alexia frowns. "No, we're not and you don't need to renew your passport. Your Mama told me that you've still got three years on it."

"Not my Spanish passport. My American one! Should I renew it now or wait?"

Frido has also stopped what she's doing, turning around slowly with her eyes wide. "Why do you have an American passport?"

"I was born there!" You say brightly," Mama and Papa were there for work and I got impatient! That's what Papa says. So they had to have me in America and I got a cool passport out of it!"

"You have...You have American citizenship?"

"I have a passport!"

"So, yes."

In the background, Esmee groans and there's the clunk of a head hitting a locker door.

Irene looks equally as shocked as Alexia feels. "And...who knows about your citizenship?"

You shrug. "I don't know."

Alexia clears her throat. "Let's...Let's keep it that way. No reason to announce it to everyone."

You shrug. "Okay then."

Silence descends on the locker room and a joint exhale of relief spreads across the room.

Until...

"Oh! Mama said Emma Hayes just called her! I wonder what that's about."

[yumeka-sxf]

The school vacation is over and the new term at Eden is starting...of course, Anya is less than pleased with this development 😅

Seriously, her groaning reminds me of my "anti-school" phase I had when I was around her age, lol.

This chapter was mainly focused on introducing Anya's new classmates. I'll admit that I feel SxF has enough side characters already for the type of series it is, but maybe they'll only be relevant for one story/arc (like Daybreak and Wheeler). Though having another female friend in Connie might be nice. She seems weird enough for Anya to have fun reading her mind 😂

Since recent chapters have dropped hints about Anya's past and the emphasis on mind-reading abilities/the occult via Melinda, plus we have the lingering mystery of Anya's affinity for classical languages, I feel like this new set up at Eden is going to play into that. Not only has Arnold returned, but we now have a supposed prince in the mix. It's been theorized that Anya's classical language skills are somehow tied to royalty in a foreign land...so maybe Tertius is connected to that somehow. I mean, you must be royally royal to have hair shaped like a crown 🤣

Then we have the as-of-yet unnamed kid who flicked a booger on Tertius. Curious what role he'll play if all this is indeed leading up to more Anya backstory reveal.

I should clear up some weird translation in the English version. In the below panel, it seems like Tertius is mentioning Jeeves, but the term he's using is 爺や ("jiiya") which I believe is an old term used to refer to an elderly male servant.

Now the word "jeeves" in English is a generic term used to refer to a butler or valet. If you've watched enough movies and/or TV series, you may have heard someone refer to their butler as "jeeves." So technically it's not an incorrect translation, but it's incredibly confusing because we already have an established character named Jeeves, who is Damian's butler. So this could make people think that Tertius knows Jeeves, which is likely not the case. They really should have come up with a different word to use, something like "pop" or "gramps."

Besides the new characters, we now have more potential for Anya and Damian to be alone, without influence from Emile, Ewen, and Becky. Hopefully it will lead to more talk about Anya's mind-reading and Desmond lore.

Guess that's all I have to say about this chapter as it mostly seems like setup for what's to come. I've probably mentioned before that the Eden-focused stories aren't exactly my favorites, especially when Anya isn't a key player. But hopefully whatever's going on with Tertius and the booger kid will be leading up to something significant in the end.

Interestingly, this is the first chapter since Loid's backstory that's being split into parts, as this chapter is called 112.1 (112 part 1 in the Japanese version). Similar to what he did for Loid's backstory chapters, Endo tweeted about this for chapter 112. Guess it's just gonna be two parts?

Also, on an unrelated note, we also got the cover reveal for volume 15 today! Features Martha, not surprised since it will include chapters from the Henry/Martha backstory arc.

[ph-cutie]

ANOTHER thing about what makes martinaise so alive is that every character truly has their Own Little Things going on outside of whatever role they fill in narratively. its not only the main 2 who get the dignity of an inner life. From the key players in the investigation, to the most obnoxious nuisances, to the most average joes, there's something random and neutral you can say about them. Joyce has a husband and daughter(s), her real name is ReJoyce, she shares your interest in disco culture and has an overall nostalgic worldview. Garte is in love, has 3 jobs but has been holding the Whirling one for nearly half his life. Gary Cryptofash is a food delivery guy. Measureahead loves and respects his mom, in some weird measurehead way. Easy Leo immigrated with his mum at a young age because his father was abusive. Eugene, the Hardie boy, is a teetotaler, he drinks tomato juice. Evrart is also a teetotaler, he likes fishing and garish knick-nacks for his office. Andre is balding at "not 20". Isobel from the fishing village is nearly blind, and Lilienne is a widow, but they're in no way defined by these hardships, rather we know them for their wit and whimsy. Jean has obvious facial scarring and it's never brought up. Everyone's just a little guy who was living a fully realized life even before You came around

[stellarsecrets86]

Sun In Groom Persona Chart

Sun in the groom pc represents vitality, ego, and the core identity of your future spouse, it reveals where their confidence and life force are most strongly expressed, which can also influence their approach to relationships and marriage.

(PS: For Entertainment Purpose Only.Have Fun💚)

1st House:

The person has a confident and charismatic personality. This can make them take charge of marriage, and they usually search for a partner who would like their commanding nature. One's identity is wrapped in how others perceive them.

2nd House:

Financial security and shared values are important in marriage. This placement often indicates a person who finds personal worth in providing stability and material comfort to his or her partner.

3rd House:

Communication and intellectual connection are key. This is a person who wants a relationship that nurtures ideas, learning, and mutual curiosity.

4th House:

Very family-oriented, this placement will have a partner seeking emotional security and stability. They are apt to put home and nurturing first in the marriage.

5th House:

Passionate, romantic, living on excitement and creativity within the relationship, he may express his prime interest in building a fun, dynamic, adventurous bonding.

6th House:

Service and responsibility-a person will take such stands in his or her role of partnership. He/ she may want to help and support their spouse practically, and prefer those who admire one's reliability.

7th House:

The Sun in the house of partnerships really puts the emphasis on the marriage itself. The person shines through their relationship, seeking balance, harmony, and mutual respect.

8th House:

Intimacy and transformation are key players. This placement shows a person who seeks a deep, soul-level connection often involving shared resources and emotional growth.

9th House:

They are attracted to a partner who shares their interest in philosophy, travel, or spirituality. Marriage can be a means of growth and exploration.

10th House:

Public recognition and ambition play a role in the partnership. They may look for a spouse who boosts their career or social status and find satisfaction in a marriage that raises the prestige of both partners.

11th House:

To them, friendship and shared ideals are at the core of their relationship. This placement particularly favor those marriages and partnerships based on mutual idealism and community involvement.

12th House:

Mystical, introverted, they are likely to regard marriage as a profoundly spiritual union. They would want a person to share in their innermost psyche, as this inner companion can navigate life's unrevealed dimensions.

[theplotmage]

Medieval Nobility: Ranks, Titles, Authority

Reference for Historical Fantasy Setting--Writers save this!

1. Emperors and Empresses

Rank: Supreme

Territory: Vast empires, often comprising multiple kingdoms.

Titles: Your Imperial Majesty

Authority:

- Ultimate sovereign power over multiple regions or kingdoms.

- Capable of enacting laws and decrees that influence entire empires.

- Commanders of large, imperial armies and navies.

- Oversee administration across vast territories, managing both justice and taxation.

- Engage in high-stakes diplomacy with other empires and realms

2. Kings and Queens

Rank: High

Territory: A single kingdom.

Titles: Your Majesty

Authority:

- Absolute rule within their kingdom, capable of legislating and decreeing laws that impact their entire realm.

- Lead the kingdom's military forces and are the highest judicial authority.

- Oversee administration, including management of the kingdom's justice system and tax collection.

- Conduct diplomacy with foreign powers such as neighboring kingdoms and empires.

3. Princes and Princesses

Rank: Royalty, often next in line for the throne

Territory: Varies, often given duchies, counties, or smaller regions to govern.

Titles: Your Highness

Authority:

- Dependent on position; typically serve as advisors to the king or queen and govern specific territories.

- Can command military forces, administer justice, and oversee taxation within their assigned lands.

- Play significant roles in court politics and are often key players in diplomatic missions or alliances.

- As heirs, princes and princesses are groomed for future rule, receiving responsibilities that prepare them for kingship or queenship.

4. Grand Dukes and Grand Duchesses

Rank: High

Territory: Large regions, often exceeding standard duchies in size and influence.

Titles: Your Grace

Authority:

- Command significant regional power, governing over numerous counts, barons, and lesser nobles.

- Ability to enact regional laws, oversee justice, and manage estates across vast territories.

- Command regional military forces, often pivotal in defending or expanding the realm.

- Conduct regional diplomacy and maintain relationships with nearby territories.

5. Archdukes and Archduchesses

Rank: High

Territory: Large, often strategically or ceremonially important regions.

Titles: Your Grace

Authority:

- Hold considerable sway in both local and imperial court politics.

- Exercise legislative power, control estates, and command military forces within their territories.

- Responsible for the administration of justice and collection of taxes in their lands.

- Engage in diplomatic negotiations at both the local and imperial level.

6. Dukes and Duchesses

Rank: High

Territory: Duchies.

Titles: Your Grace

Authority:

- Exercise significant influence, overseeing the administration of their duchies.

- Govern large estates, enact local laws, and command regional military forces.

- Oversee justice, taxation, and maintain order within their lands.

- Engage in diplomacy, often acting as key regional liaisons with neighboring nobles and the crown.

7. Marquises and Marchionesses

Rank: High

Territory: Marches or border territories.

Titles: My Lord/My Lady or Your Lordship/Your Ladyship

Authority:

- Tasked with defending frontier regions, holding vital military responsibilities.

- Oversee the administration of law, justice, and taxation within their border territories.

- Command border garrisons and protect the realm from external threats.

- Often engage in frontier diplomacy, managing relations with nearby foreign powers.

8. Counts and Countesses

Rank: High

Territory: Counties.

Titles: My Lord/My Lady or Your Lordship/Your Ladyship

Authority:

- Govern counties, ensuring law and order, tax collection, and justice administration.

- Oversee estates, command local military forces, and implement local laws.

- Conduct regional diplomacy and manage relationships with neighboring lords and the crown.

9. Earls and Countesses (Primarily British Context)

Rank: High

Territory: Counties.

Titles: My Lord/My Lady or Your Lordship/Your Ladyship

Authority:

- Similar to counts, earls govern counties, overseeing local governance, law enforcement, and tax collection.

- Command local military forces, often participating in regional defense.

- Engage in local diplomacy, managing relationships with surrounding nobles and the crown.

10. Viscounts and Viscountesses

Rank: Intermediate

Territory: Sub-regions within counties.

Titles: My Lord/My Lady or Your Lordship/Your Ladyship

Authority:

- Act as deputies or assistants to counts or earls, managing smaller estates and overseeing local justice.

- Enforce laws, collect taxes, and maintain order within their territories.

- Command smaller local military forces.

- Manage local diplomacy, often representing higher lords in negotiations.

11. Barons and Baronesses

Rank: Lower Nobility

Territory: Smaller estates.

Titles: My Lord/My Lady or Your Lordship/Your Ladyship

Authority:

- Govern their lands, maintaining local law and order, and providing military support to higher-ranking nobles.

- Responsible for the administration of justice, tax collection, and estate management within their lands.

- Command small local forces and contribute to the defense of the kingdom.

- Engage in local diplomacy, often representing higher-ranking nobles in smaller disputes or agreements.

Medieval Gentry

The gentry represented the upper-middle class of medieval society, often possessing land, wealth, and influence, though they were not part of the nobility. They held important local roles and contributed significantly to governance, military, and economics at the regional level.

1. Knights

Rank: Upper Gentry

Territory: Typically smaller manors or estates.

Titles: Sir/Dame

Authority:

- Sworn military service to a higher noble or the crown, responsible for local defense and enforcement of law and order.

- Managed estates granted to them, overseeing agricultural production and local administration.

- Often served as local judges or sheriffs, ensuring justice in their regions.

- Held significant status in society due to their martial role, often participating in tournaments and other chivalric events.

2. Esquires (Squires)

Rank: Upper Gentry, typically below knights

Territory: Often managed smaller estates or served as aides to knights.

Titles: Esquire

Authority:

- Served as apprentices or attendants to knights, gaining experience in military tactics and estate management.

- Held responsibilities in local governance, such as collecting taxes and overseeing the workforce.

- Managed the day-to-day affairs of estates, particularly if the knight or lord was away in service.

- Held potential for knighthood, depending on service and recognition by higher nobles.

3. Gentlemen and Gentlewomen

Rank: Gentry, below esquires

Territory: Often owned small estates or managed properties for wealthier lords.

Titles: Mister/Mistress

Authority:

- Possessed land and wealth but did not typically hold titles of nobility.

- Often served as local officials, such as justices of the peace or mayors, contributing to the administration of justice and local governance.

- Acted as stewards for larger estates, managing agricultural production and tenant relations.

- Enjoyed a degree of prestige due to their education, wealth, and societal position, often involved in trade or finance.

4. Yeomen

Rank: Lower Gentry, often wealthy commoners

Territory: Small farms or lands, usually worked by themselves or with hired labor.

Titles: Yeoman

Authority:

- Owned or leased their land, making them independent farmers who were economically stable.

- Often served in the militia or as archers in times of war, providing military service in exchange for protection and privileges.

- Held responsibilities in local governance, such as acting as jurors or local officials.

- Represented a prosperous middle class, often rising in status through hard work and successful management of their lands.

5. Merchants

Rank: Lower Gentry, wealthy commoners with commercial influence

Territory: Based in towns and cities, owning shops, warehouses, or trade routes.

Titles: Master/Mistress

Authority:

- Held economic power through trade, commerce, and banking, often becoming influential in local councils or guilds.

- Managed extensive trade networks, both locally and internationally, playing a crucial role in the economic life of the region.

- Acted as benefactors, sponsoring local events, religious institutions, and sometimes even providing loans to the nobility.

- Often accumulated significant wealth and influence, sometimes enough to purchase land and enter the gentry class through marriage or royal favor.

6. Clergy (Higher Ranks)

Rank: Gentry (non-noble but influential)

Territory: Managed ecclesiastical estates or served in key positions within the Church.

Titles: Father/Mother, Brother/Sister, Reverend

Authority:

- Held power over church lands, overseeing agricultural production, taxation, and local governance.

- Served as local religious leaders, offering spiritual guidance and administering sacraments to the community.

- Often involved in local and regional politics, acting as advisors to both nobility and commoners.

- Collected tithes and other forms of ecclesiastical income, contributing to both church and community projects.

People could gain nobility through various means in medieval society, though the process often required the favor of the monarch or other high-ranking nobles.

1. Birthright (Hereditary Nobility)

- Inheritance

The most common way to become a noble was by being born into a noble family. Titles and lands were typically passed down through generations, with the firstborn son often inheriting the majority of the family’s wealth and title (primogeniture). In some cases, titles could also pass through female lines if no male heirs existed.

- Titles Inherited

Children of nobles inherited their parents' ranks, becoming dukes, counts, barons, etc., upon their death or abdication.

2. Royal Favor or Granting of Titles

- Ennoblement by the Monarch

A king, queen, or emperor could grant titles of nobility as a reward for loyal service, significant achievements, or contributions to the kingdom. This could include elevating a loyal knight to a baron, a wealthy merchant to a count, or a successful general to a duke.

- Acts of Valor or Service

Displaying extraordinary bravery in battle or performing a critical service to the crown, such as negotiating treaties or managing crises, could result in ennoblement.

- Financial Support or Gifts

Wealthy individuals who provided substantial financial support to the crown or military might be rewarded with a noble title.

3. Marriage

- Marrying into Nobility

A commoner could gain noble status by marrying someone of noble birth, although this often depended on the consent of the noble family and the monarch. Marriage alliances were key to both maintaining and enhancing noble status, as they could bring new lands, wealth, or military alliances into the family.

- Dowries and Alliances

In some cases, wealthy or influential commoners could arrange marriages with lesser nobles by offering a substantial dowry or political alliance, which could lead to their family entering the nobility over time.

4. Military Achievement

- Knighthood

A commoner could be knighted for bravery, loyalty, and exceptional service in battle. Knighthood was a step towards nobility and often the gateway to further titles. Knights who distinguished themselves could be granted estates or titles, eventually rising into the nobility.

- Military Leadership

Successful generals or commanders could be rewarded with noble titles and lands for their leadership in protecting or expanding the kingdom.

5. Clerical Elevation

- High Church Positions

Bishops, archbishops, and other high-ranking clergy often held noble titles or lands. While clergy were technically separate from the lay nobility, the church wielded significant power. Clerics of humble origin who rose to positions of influence within the church could gain noble status through church appointments or by receiving land grants from the monarch.

- Influence over Secular Affairs

Clergy who played key roles in advising or assisting the crown could be rewarded with lands and titles, blurring the lines between ecclesiastical and secular power.

6. Wealth and Land Ownership

- Accumulation of Wealth

Wealthy commoners, particularly merchants, financiers, or landowners, who accumulated significant land or financial influence could sometimes purchase noble titles or secure them through royal favor. This was more common in later medieval periods and into the Renaissance when wealth became increasingly influential in determining status.

- Purchasing Titles

In some cases, particularly in financially troubled realms, noble titles could be outright purchased from the monarch. This was controversial but became more common in later periods.

7. Legal and Political Achievements

- High Office

Serving in a high office, such as a chancellor, treasurer, or other key political position, could lead to ennoblement. Those who proved their loyalty and effectiveness in governing could be rewarded with titles and land.

- Diplomatic Success

Successful diplomats who negotiated critical treaties or alliances might be granted noble titles as a reward for securing peace or expanding the influence of the realm.

8. Adoption and Favor by Nobles

- Adoption

In rare cases, a noble without heirs might adopt a commoner or relative, raising them to noble status and making them the heir to the title and estates. This required the consent of the monarch and was often done to preserve the family name and estate.

- Favoritism

Individuals who became favorites of the monarch or powerful nobles—such as courtiers, artists, or scholars—might receive titles, estates, and positions in return for their service or companionship.

9. Conquest or Seizure

- Conquest

Nobility could also be gained through conquest. A warlord or leader who seized land and power could eventually claim a noble title, often through negotiations with the crown or by force of arms.

- Seizing Titles

During times of turmoil, individuals who rose to power by overthrowing or displacing existing nobles could claim their titles, provided they gained the monarch’s recognition or solidified their power through force or alliances.

10. Elevations through Legal or Social Changes

- Social Mobility

In later medieval periods, legal reforms and social changes allowed for some mobility between the classes. Wealthy or influential commoners could leverage their status to gain noble titles, particularly in times of economic or political upheaval.

- Inheritance Laws

Changes in inheritance laws, such as the decline of strict primogeniture, sometimes allowed for non-traditional heirs to rise to nobility.

Gaining nobility typically required a combination of wealth, land, military service, and favor from the existing nobility or monarchy. It was a complex process, often intertwined with the politics, wars, and social structure of the time.

Medieval Clergy

The medieval clergy held a significant place in society, balancing religious duties with political power. The Church's hierarchy mirrored that of the nobility, with various ranks conferring different levels of authority, responsibility, and influence. Unlike the nobility, positions in the clergy were not inherited but achieved through devotion, education, and sometimes political maneuvering.

1. The Pope

Rank: Supreme Head of the Catholic Church

Territory: The entire Catholic Church, with temporal power over the Papal States.

Titles: His Holiness, Holy Father

Authority:

- Spiritual leader of all Christians in Western Europe, regarded as Christ's vicar on Earth.

- Held ultimate authority over religious doctrine, canon law, and church governance.

- Had the power to excommunicate kings, issue decrees, and call for crusades.

- Acted as a temporal ruler over the Papal States, wielding political and military power.

- Appointed cardinals, bishops, and other high-ranking clergy, guiding the direction of the Church.

2. Cardinals

Rank: Princes of the Church, directly below the Pope

Territory: Often governed major dioceses or held high positions within the Church's central administration.

Titles: His Eminence

Authority:

- Advisors to the Pope, often serving as administrators of the Vatican or as legates to foreign courts.

- Participated in the election of new popes in the College of Cardinals.

- Held considerable influence over church doctrine, policy, and political matters.

- Governed large dioceses or regions, exercising authority over bishops and the clergy within their jurisdiction.

- Acted as intermediaries between the Church and secular rulers, negotiating treaties, alliances, and policies.

3. Archbishops

Rank: Senior Bishops overseeing an archdiocese (a major ecclesiastical region)

Territory: Governed an archdiocese, often encompassing several dioceses.

Titles: His Grace, Your Excellency

Authority:

- Supervised the bishops within their archdiocese, ensuring adherence to church laws and doctrines.

- Held authority over religious matters in their region, including the appointment of clergy and the administration of sacraments.

- Played a political role, often advising kings and princes, and sometimes held seats in royal councils.

- Presided over religious courts, dealing with matters of heresy, marriage, and church disputes.

- Held significant wealth and land, often rivaling secular nobility in power and influence.

4. Bishops

Rank: Senior Clergy, overseeing a diocese (an administrative district of the Church)

Territory: Governed a diocese, typically including several parishes.

Titles: His Grace, Your Excellency

Authority:

- Responsible for the spiritual welfare of their diocese, including the ordination of priests and the administration of sacraments.

- Managed church lands, finances, and estates within their diocese, acting as landlords and administrators.

- Held power in local governance, often serving as advisors to local rulers or acting as judges in ecclesiastical courts.

- Built and maintained cathedrals, the central church of the diocese, which served as the bishop’s seat of power.

- Engaged in diplomacy and politics, often involved in regional power struggles between the Church and secular rulers.

5. Abbots and Abbesses

Rank: Heads of Monasteries and Convents

Territory: Governed a monastery (for monks) or convent (for nuns), with control over large estates and communities.

Titles: Father Abbot/Mother Abbess, Your Reverence

Authority:

- Held authority over the monks or nuns in their care, enforcing the Rule of their order (e.g., Benedictine, Cistercian).

- Managed extensive lands and estates, which provided the monastery or convent with food, wealth, and resources.

- Oversaw religious and educational activities within their communities, including copying manuscripts, teaching, and providing charity to the poor.

- Acted as local powerbrokers, often wielding influence over surrounding towns and villages.

- Abbots, in particular, sometimes sat in local councils or parliaments, representing the interests of the Church.

6. Priors and Prioresses

Rank: Deputies to Abbots and Abbesses or Heads of Smaller Monasteries/Convents

Territory: Managed priories (smaller religious communities).

Titles: Father Prior/Mother Prioress

Authority:

- Assisted abbots or abbesses in managing the affairs of the monastery or convent.

- Sometimes acted as the head of smaller religious houses, with similar responsibilities to abbots and abbesses, but on a smaller scale.

- Enforced the religious discipline of the order, ensuring that monks and nuns adhered to their vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

- Managed the lands and resources of the priory, often engaging in agricultural production or other economic activities to support the community.

- Provided spiritual guidance and performed religious services for the local community.

7. Priests

Rank: Parish Clergy

Territory: Governed individual parishes, typically one or more villages or a small town.

Titles: Father, Reverend

Authority:

- Responsible for the spiritual care of their parishioners, including administering sacraments such as baptism, marriage, and last rites.

- Served as the primary religious authority in the local community, providing sermons, religious instruction, and guidance.

- Managed the parish church, often the center of community life, and oversaw local charities and events.

- Acted as mediators between the church hierarchy and the laypeople, relaying messages and collecting tithes.

- Held some political influence in their communities, often serving as advisors to local lords or as scribes for legal matters.

8. Monks and Nuns

Rank: Lower Clergy, members of religious orders living in monastic communities.

Territory: Lived in monasteries or convents, often removed from secular life.

Titles: Brother/Sister

Authority:

- Dedicated their lives to religious contemplation, prayer, and service to God.

- Engaged in various activities depending on the order, such as copying manuscripts, teaching, farming, or providing charity to the poor.

- Took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, living according to the rules of their religious order.

- Held little secular power but wielded significant moral and spiritual influence in their communities.

- Monks and nuns were often seen as holy individuals, respected for their devotion and service to God.

9. Friars

Rank: Itinerant Clergy, often belonging to mendicant orders (e.g., Franciscans, Dominicans).

Territory: Did not own property or reside in monasteries; instead, traveled and preached.

Titles: Brother/Sister, Friar

Authority:

- Preached to the public and lived among the people, relying on charity and alms for sustenance.

- Focused on poverty, humility, and missionary work, often in contrast to the wealth and power of the established Church.

- Played a significant role in evangelizing, educating, and caring for the poor in urban and rural areas.

- Held little formal power within the Church hierarchy but were influential in spreading religious reform and charity.