#Temptation of the Force

[tomthefanboy]

[dancingdorito]

"now back within close orbit to one another, the two jedi masters can no longer deny the bond that has always drawn them back together and made them stronger."

"After finally embracing their true desires and imbued with renewed purpose, Avar and Elzar devise a plan..."

YALLLLLLLLLLL I SMELL A FUCK

[generalpierrotdameron]

The reunited Jedi prepare to strike back against the ruthless Nihil in this thrilling sequel to Star Wars: The High Republic: The Eye of Darkness.

For over a year, Jedi Masters Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann were kept apart by the Nihil’s Stormwall. After Avar makes a daring escape from inside the Occlusion Zone, the star-crossed Jedi are reunited. But while the physical distance between them has evaporated, their shared grief over their failure to protect the galaxy from the Nihil threat still remains. To rally the Jedi Order, and the Republic, Avar and Elzar cling to their belief in serving Light and Life. Working together they lead a daring mission into Nihil space to liberate the planet of Naboo, and show those trapped behind the Stormwall that the Jedi will never abandon them. Now back within close orbit of one another, the two Jedi Masters can no longer deny the bond that has always drawn them back together and made them stronger. After finally embracing their true desires and imbued with renewed purpose, Avar and Elzar devise a plan to turn the tide of the conflict with the Nihil once and for all. Accompanied by Jedi Knights Bell Zettifar, Burryaga, and Vernestra Rwoh, the Jedi begin their hunt for Marchion Ro. But to seek out the Nihil’s dangerous leader the Jedi will have to survive the Nameless terrors that they have thus far been powerless to stop.

Star Wars: The High Republic: Temptation of the Force arrives June 11, 2024

[tremendouskoalachild]

it's so wild that Tessa Gratton co-wrote Defy the Storm, ending it with Elzar and Vernestra's convo like that, and then also wrote the following adult novel apparently featuring both of them prominently. i wanna know what happens next so bad

[judgingbooksbycovers]

Star Wars: The High Republic: Temptation of the Force

By Tessa Gratton.

Cover art by Grant Griffin.

[ledalausnows]

according to apple books, temptation of the force is 448 pages 📚

[fourswordsannotated]

hey wtf is he even talking about

[black-arcana]

A beginner’s guide to symphonic metal in 5 albums

Few genres do grandiose like symphonic metal. As the name suggests, it marries the scope and ambition of classical music to the power of metal. The result is orchestral, opulent and sometimes OTT, but it’s a hard heart that is completely resistant to it.

The seeds of the sound were sown in the 80s, when diverse trailblazers such as Celtic Frost and Savatage began incorporating orchestral instruments into their music. But it began to accelerate in the late 1990s, with bands such as Therion, Nightwish, Within Temptation and cult favourites Haggard began to properly fuse the two genres.

Today, symphonic metal has become an unlikely commercial force. Nightwish and Within Temptation are festival headliners, while a constant stream of newer bands have emerged in their wake. For anyone who is new to this grandest of genres, these are the five albums to start with.   

Therion – Secret Of The Runes (2001)

Therion remain the original and – the purists would have you believe – the best of all the symphonic metal acts. Named in honour of Celtic Frost’s second album To Mega Therion, the Swedes have been led by multi-instrumentalist Christofer Johnsson since 1987. While others have prospered by ‘sexing-up’ the genre’s principles, the Therion experience remains a pure one – sackcloth and ashes, almost. Take our word, it’s a beautiful thing.

After Forever – Decipher (2001)

The second album from this pioneering and much-missed Dutch outfit, who ran from 1995 to 2009, Decipher employed live classical instruments and a full choir to complement the stirring soprano delivery of Floor Jansen (now, of course, with Nightwish). Soon afterwards Mark Jansen quit, taking his growled co-vocals along to the guitarist’s next band of note, Epica. The album’s grandiose arrangements still sound masterful today.

Within Temptation – The Silent Force (2004)

Although you’re likely to be distracted by the captivating strength of Sharon den Adel’s upfront vocal dynamism, Within Temptation’s symphonic aspirations reached their most querulously romantic apex on this goosebump-inducing masterwork of the form. Although the guitars were louder and crunchier than on 2000’s Mother Earth, and the open- hearted pop savvy was at full widescreen pelt, this 2004 follow-up confirmed the band’s special affinity for wizardly orchestral bombast, here performed by the Ego Works Session Orchestra, under the noted Russian conductor Felix Korobov.

Epica – The Quantum Enigma (2014)

Formed by former After Forever guitarist Mark Jansen, Epica played a crucial part in the development of symphonic metal via a string of consistently impressive releases, but with The Quantum Enigma – their sixth studio record – the Dutch band raised the bar to a whole different level, hiring a live chamber choir and a string orchestra to enhance a collection of tunes that is uniformly strong. Throw in the soaring vocals of flame-haired mezzo-soprano  Simone Simons and the results are seismic.

Nightwish – Endless Forms Most Beautiful (2015)

You could pick anything from 2000’s Wishmaster onwards, but the Finns’ first album with Floor Jansen represents Peak Nightwish in terms of a grandiosity. A high-concept exploration of evolutionary science, featuring narration from scientist Richard Dawkins, it’s an absolute triumph. From the full-pelt throttle of Shudder Before The Beautiful and cinematic bombast of Weak Fantasy to the  life affirming anthemia of Alpenglow, it’s a constant stream of brilliance. Then there’s The Greatest Show On Earth, a 25-minute show-stopper most bands could only dream of writing. It’s no surprise this was the record that turned Nightwish into festival and arena headliners.

[dancingdorito]

JSJHDJDJEJSBJDOFUDKSHFJEIBEJDDJEJDKEBSKDOHDJDBWKEIFIEPKRNQYDIFOHCTSIAPBDKFJDJFIDJKDJDHDHQHAKHDJSJSBDHSJS

my brain is in overload with all the content i've gotten from my fandoms today y'all this sent me over the edge. ELVAR MY LOVES

[daringdoombringer]

Skytober Day Four: Air!

Believe it or not, I have a very interesting reason why I chose Boom Jet for this day, and it involves my initial childhood Skylanders phase.

So this was when I was 11/12, maybe 10. Around Halloween I made up a scary(?) story with a some of my Skylanders. Keep in mind Little Daring knew next to nothing about the Skylanders games/lore. I was solely in it for the toys.

So in said story, Boom Jet accidentally(?) gets a cursed jewel stuck to his chest, and obtains a monstery form as a result. Which was just demon wings I drew with bright red and blue markers taped onto his back. The other Skylanders (along with some of my other toys, there was a whole universe going on) were scrambling to try and get the jewel off. The demon wings could also shoot blades iirc.

Why did I choose Boom Jet in particular? No clue. Did it make sense? Absolutely not. But that was me having some Halloween fun as a kid. While I was thinking of who to do for the Air prompt, this clusterfuck from seven or eight years ago just flashbanged back into my brain from the depths of my memories.

So yeah. That’s why I chose Boom Jet.👍

[catchildren]

Caretaker helping Whumpee escape and is forced to face Whumper's wrath alone. Realizing just how fucked they are, and whether it be through brute force, convenient blackmail, or a simple emerging thought that no matter how much they sympathized with Whumpee, it wasn't enough to put their own life on the line.

Whumper pretends to be benevolent, insists that if Caretaker aids in Whumpee's recapture, then they won't face as harsh a punishment for their disobedience. So they do so, however reluctantly. And Whumper thanks them afterward, their voice syrupy sweet as they insist that Caretaker stay for just a moment longer.

Whumper never said they were going to do away with a punishment completely, after all. And what better way to drive it all home than to let Caretaker watch (or even help) Whumpee get broken in again? More brutal than usual, of course. A preventative measure to make sure silly Whumpee doesn't get any ideas about seeking help from Whumper's protégé again.

[handsofdarkness]

❖ WITHIN TEMPTATION ❖ Memories ❖