#and have branching paths with multiple outcomes

[mossy-covered-bones]

I am scheming something delightfully fun in the way of homebrew oneshots

[felassan]

Coming in 2024: Mass Effect: Priority Hagalaz - The Board Game

Text:

"The year is 2186. On the remote world Hagalaz, a research cruiser from the terrorist organisation Cerberus has crashed directly in the path of a deadly storm. With little time before the storm hits, Shepard must lead their squad through the cruiser to uncover its sinister secrets and keep them out of the hands of the enemy. However, the ship holds more dangers than just its former crew… Mass EffectTM: Priority Hagalaz - The Board Game is a cooperative, story-driven game for 1-4 players designed by Eric M. Lang and Calvin Wong Tze Loon. The card-driven AI system and evolving stories respond to your actions, with your early choices even influencing later missions, while the branching narrative ensures unique experiences with each playthrough. So, prepare to gather Shepard’s squad from a selection of teammates from the Mass EffectTM Universe, customise their abilities, equipment, and powers, and get to the bottom of the mystery on Hagalaz!"

[source, publisher's info page on the product and link to sign up for news about it, tweet source, tweet source two, tweet source three]

Some more info:

"A board game based on the video game series Mass Effect will have players becoming members of the SSV Normandy crew battling Cerberus. Mass Effect the Board Game - Priority Hagalaz is an upcoming board game that will take place during the events of Mass Effect 3. In the game, players will take the roles of either male or female Shepard, Asari biotic Liara, Turian soldier Garrus, Krogan leader Wrex or Quarian technician Tali, as they embark on a mission on the planet Hagalaz - which is the world the Shadow Broker’s ship orbits during the Lair of the Shadow Broker downloadable content released for Mass Effect 2. In the midst of the Reaper invasion, Shepard and their crew investigate reports of a Cerberus ship crashing during a storm on Hagalaz, in an entirely new mission not found in the video games. In hopes of acquiring more information, resources and assistance with which to fight off the terrifying Reapers - as well as shut down the immoral efforts of the Cerberus organisation - players will need to explore Hagalaz and face its many dangers: both Cerberus and non-Cerberus alike. During the co-op game for one to four players, the group can experience a narrative-driven campaign that will enable players to explore different storylines and outcomes depending on their choices. As their chosen characters, players can upgrade their unique abilities by spending the experience points they gain, as well as unlock new powers through optional loyalty missions. The group can also improve their various pieces of equipment and weapons as they advance through the campaign. According to the game’s publisher, Modiphius, the narrative choices made by players will have consequences further down the line, with there being potential for multiple playthroughs resulting in never-before-seen experiences. Mass Effect the Board Game - Priority: Hagalaz was co-created by Eric Lang, the creator behind board games such as Blood Rage and Rising Sun, and Calvin Wong Tze Loon, whose previous tabletop title was 2022’s Lands of Galzyr. Besides Mass Effect the Board Game - Priority: Hagalaz, Modiphius is also responsible for publishing various tabletop roleplaying games such as Dune - Adventures in the Imperium and miniature wargames like Fallout: Factions. The Mass Effect board game will be released via Asmodee. The release date for Mass Effect the Board Game - Priority: Hagalaz is set for sometime later this year."

[source]

[source, two, three, four, five]

An email from Modiphius reads:

Text version:

"We’re excited to announce that Mass Effect the Board Game - Priority: Hagalaz is coming to tabletops later this year! For more information, sign up to join the crew of the Normandy here. Set during the events of Mass Effect 3, the crew of Normandy has one more mission. It is the year 2186, and the Reapers have invaded the galaxy. Because the Council ignored Commander Shepard’s warnings, the Citadel Races are overwhelmed and on the verge of losing the war. Aboard the Normandy, Shepard carries out missions to prepare the Crucible, an ancient alien superweapon, for a last-chance attempt to defeat the Reapers. It’s a race against time, and Shepard must seize every possible advantage. On the remote world Hagalaz, a research cruiser from the terrorist organisation Cerberus has crashed directly in the path of a deadly storm. With little time before the storm hits, Shepard must lead their squad through the cruiser to uncover its sinister secrets and keep them out of the hands of the enemy. However, the ship holds more dangers than just its former crew. Deep within the shattered cruiser stir creatures and enemies far worse than the Cerberus forces that guard them. Mass Effect the Board Game - Priority: Hagalaz is a co-operative, story-driven game for 1-4 players designed by Eric M. Lang and Calvin Wong Tze Loon 黃子倫. A branching, narrative campaign allows for multiple playthroughs with a different experience every time. Card-driven AI and evolving stories respond to your actions – your early choices influence later missions. Gather Shepard’s squad from a selection of teammates from the Mass Effect trilogy: Liara, Tali, Wrex, and Garrus. Customise and upgrade your squad’s abilities, equipment, and powers as they gain experience. Enhance them further by unlocking unique powers with optional loyalty missions. The board game features six highly detailed 32mm scale pre-assembled plastic miniatures of male and female Shepherd, Liara, Tali, Wrex and Garrus. For more information, sign up to join the crew of the Normandy here."

[source: Modiphius]

[shiftingfawnnn]

Quantum Physics and the Many Roles of Reality: How Every Choice Shapes Our Path

Quantum physics has long fascinated scientists and philosophers alike, offering mind-bending insights into the nature of reality. One of its most intriguing concepts is the Many-Worlds Interpretation (MWI)—the idea that every possible outcome of an event actually happens, each in its own separate universe. But what if reality isn’t just passively splitting into infinite timelines? What if we are actively moving through them, shifting realities with every thought and decision? This perspective suggests that reality isn’t simply branching outward but that we, as conscious beings, are navigating an infinite web of possibilities, constantly shifting into slightly different versions of ourselves.

The Quantum Nature of Reality

At its core, quantum mechanics describes the universe in terms of probabilities. Unlike classical physics, where an object has a single definite state, quantum physics tells us that particles exist in a superposition of multiple states until they are observed or measured. This idea is famously illustrated by Schrödinger’s cat—a thought experiment where a cat in a box is both alive and dead until someone looks inside. This strange behavior of quantum systems has led to deep questions about the nature of reality itself.

One of the leading interpretations of quantum mechanics is the Many-Worlds Interpretation, proposed by physicist Hugh Everett in 1957. According to this theory, every time a quantum event occurs, reality “splits” into multiple branches, each representing a different outcome. For example, if you flip a coin, one universe exists where it lands heads, and another where it lands tails. However, rather than these universes being separate and inaccessible, it is possible that we are constantly moving through them, shifting into different versions of reality based on our decisions and thoughts.

Shifting Realities Through Choice and Thought

If the Many-Worlds Interpretation is correct, then every choice we make—no matter how small—pushes us into a different version of reality. When you decide to take one path instead of another, speak to one person instead of another, or even think a certain thought, you are effectively nudging yourself into a slightly different timeline. Rather than reality simply branching outward, we are shifting between these already-existing possibilities.

Consider a simple choice: deciding whether to go for a walk or stay inside. In one reality, you go outside, breathe in fresh air, and perhaps encounter an event that alters your day. In another reality, you stay indoors, leading to an entirely different chain of events. From a quantum perspective, both realities exist, and your consciousness moves into the one aligned with your decision. This means that rather than reality splitting apart into infinite versions, you are the one shifting, aligning with the version of yourself that corresponds to your choices.

This concept also applies to thoughts and beliefs. If you begin to believe in a new possibility, you might shift into a reality where that possibility is more likely to manifest. Many philosophers and spiritual thinkers have drawn parallels between this idea and the Law of Assumption, which suggests that our beliefs shape the reality we experience. From a quantum standpoint, believing in a certain outcome may make it more probable by influencing the reality you shift into.

Quantum Superposition and the Multitude of You

Quantum physics suggests that particles exist in multiple states at once until observed. If this principle applies on a larger scale, then every possible version of you exists simultaneously, each living out different outcomes. However, your consciousness experiences just one at a time. Instead of reality being a single linear path, it is a vast web of possibilities, and your awareness moves through it like a traveler shifting between destinations.

This aligns with experiments in quantum mechanics, such as the double-slit experiment, which demonstrates that particles behave as waves of probability until observed. Some interpretations suggest that observation doesn’t just reveal reality—it helps select which reality we experience. If our consciousness acts as this “observer,” then our focus and choices play an active role in shaping the reality we perceive.

Shifting as a Natural Process

Many people associate “reality shifting” with the idea of consciously traveling to different realities, often through mental or spiritual techniques. However, if every choice and thought shifts us into a slightly different timeline, then shifting is something we have been doing our entire lives without realizing it. Every moment, we are choosing which version of ourselves to experience. The difference between unconscious shifting and deliberate shifting is awareness—realizing that you have the ability to direct your movement through reality rather than drifting passively.

This means that we are not static beings living in a single timeline. Instead, we are dynamic travelers, constantly moving through an infinite landscape of possibilities. If we embrace this perspective, it changes the way we approach life. Instead of feeling stuck, we can recognize that we always have the power to shift into a new version of reality—one that aligns more with our desires and intentions.

Conclusion

Quantum physics suggests that reality is not fixed but fluid, with infinite possibilities existing simultaneously. The Many-Worlds Interpretation proposes that every choice creates new branches of reality, but another way to look at it is that we are shifting through these realities rather than creating them. Every decision, every belief, every thought nudges us into a slightly different version of ourselves. This perspective suggests that reality shifting is not just a mystical or spiritual idea—it is a fundamental part of how we navigate existence.

If every moment is a crossroads leading to infinite possibilities, then understanding our role as conscious travelers can empower us to choose our path wisely. Whether we seek to shift into a different reality deliberately or simply become more mindful of the shifts we are already making, recognizing this quantum nature of existence reveals that we are never truly stuck. We are always moving, always shifting, always becoming new versions of ourselves—one decision at a time.

[valiant-if]

Public Demo Update 7/30/2024

The public demo has been updated. Play the updated demo here!

Keep reading for a brief list of changes, which can also be found here.

Another chunk of Chapter 2 has been added! This update continues into the next part of Chapter 2 and allows you to select one of three branches for dealing with the crisis ahead. The public demo currently only includes the "Team Ship" branch—when prompted, select to stay on the ship with Path. The other branches are incomplete and will be added in future updates once they are finished.

Any new variables added are contained to the updated content; old saves still worked when I tested my own. However, if you run into any issues or errors, please try replicating the error on a brand new save first before reporting it. Thank you!

You'll know you have reached the end of the current demo when you see a message that states so. If you do not get this message, make sure you have chosen the correct branch (the other two are marked as incomplete). If you still don't make it to the end-of-demo message, you've encountered an unintended error and can report it using the form within the game.

Bullet-point breakdown:

Team Ship branch of Chapter 2 has been added

Includes multiple combinations for helping Path aboard the ship.

Past choices influence some of the outcomes.

Choices within the new section will influence future outcomes.

Minor spelling, grammar, and bug fixes.

[itsabouttimex2]

Hello, HUGE Lmk fan here:3 I don't have a request or anything. I just wanted to ask what happened to the A Brand New Journey series you made and/or if you're planning on continuing it😓 (I luv ur writing btw^_^)

Much love

-Looking4userthatworks

Hey there! I’m glad you asked, because I’ve been meaning to explain-

I’ve simply moved into my second “storyboarding” phase! Before I started this series I had a long list of branching routes depending on the choices taken, then routes that branched from those, etc, etc! Now that I’m at the “end” of those branches, I have to write a few more because I can go on with the actual story! I’m looking forward to updating it myself, honestly!

Some potential outcomes of alternate routes I had prepped:

A Y/N who was Ne Zha’s student was actually going to be his little sibling, sneaking around the Mortal Realm to have fun. They were going to be given the option to have a secret friend in the form of Ao Bing, who would have been played along with Y/N themselves!

Descendant of the Lady Bone Demon!Y/N who was trusted by the Monkie Kids would have been told about the LBD. From that, they could potentially choose to kill themselves and bind their soul to MK’s staff to infuse it with their powers.

Dragon!Y/N was going to be Ao Guang’s child who came up to Megapolis in an attempt to retrieve the Monkey King’s staff, and would have had multiple attempts to fight against to with MK, and then choose whether or not you were convinced he was worthy of the weapon. You were also going to be allowed to customize a pearlescent weapon of your own.

Meeting Mei in the Mentor!Macaque route would have her nickname Y/N “Broth-Face”.

Spider!Y/N was going to have romance as a potential theme of their route, as a naive heir to the Spider Queen who wanted to learn more about mortals. If the romance option was chosen, the list of candidates included: MK, Mei, Pigsy and Tang, Sandy, Sun Wukong, Macaque, Red Son, or Ne Zha. Goliath was going to be extremely protective of this particular Y/N, and he would have ended up performing a heel-face turn if Y/N chose to forsake the Spider Queen.

The Sun Wukong’s “Student” path would have had Y/N play the role of his child, bitter over lacking an inheritance of any kind- not his title or mountain or even his staff. They would’ve hated MK for being Wukong’s successor, and been given the chance to ally with several villains to fight him.

[chubphoe-linkclick]

Link Click Superpower Mechanics: Time Travel and How to Change the Past

and why neither Cheng Xiaoshi nor Lu Guang can do it alone

Tl;dr: the past CAN be changed, but you have to know the secret cheat codes to do so because the cause-effect relationship of events is mad complicated and conditional on borderline random factors. Only Lu Guang's supernatural observer powers can see these 'cheat codes' to safely direct Cheng Xiaoshi's actions to end up at the correct state. Moreover, Cheng Xiaoshi's autonomy when diving allows new possibilities to occur in the past that would otherwise have been impossible.

In Season 2 Episode 2, we see Lu Guang use his powers on all the camera feeds in the hospital and it gives a node-link graph visual in the background as his powers activate along with the more concrete visual of the hospital, CXS and QL's locations (presumably), and the person they're tracking. This graph representation in the background could actually be a hint on how Lu Guang's powers work, and it could explain why he talks about death as 'unchangeable nodes.' It's not an unusual way to think about things, but maybe there is a reason he uses the word "node" specifically.

Maybe the way Lu Guang experiences his powers is like an insanely complicated graph with multiple paths and outcomes that then also move in a bizarre chronological way, rather than seeing specific events unfold on a simple and neat line or a tree of possible events and outcomes. [Based on the visual below, the graph that Lu Guang sees is cyclic i.e. not a tree, so you can go around in circles without changing the outcome if you're not careful even if the actual events change: the meaningful causality is missing.]

If timelines are actually graphs, this affects how we can interpret how timelines work because it essentially bundles actions together in nodes, which is much more limited than allowing a near-infinite combination of any actions and outcomes. It also means that moving from Point A to Point B via Action X could be conditional on factors unforeseeable in real time (or unrealistic to account for in real time) because they've been bundled together in these nodes.

This fits with what we've seen of the missions so far and fits with Season 2's themeing of unchangeable fate while explaining why Cheng Xiaoshi couldn't change events when he dived by himself. Lu Guang to direct Cheng Xiaoshi to choose the correct series of action-bundles for a specific outcome, since which actions are bundled together isn't clear in real time as the actual timeline changes.

Okay, but couldn't we know this while using the regular framing of time as a line?

Maybe (?), but-

Thinking of time as a timeweb rather than a timeline explains more about Lu Guang's experience as well as why he does what he does and keeps Cheng Xiaoshi on such a short leash without explanation: it's just an insane amount of information that's hard to comprehend let alone explain to fucking Cheng Xiaoshi.

It tells us about Lu Guang's predictive abilities when looking at the 12 hour time frame of a photo, since he can see branches of possible actions and outcomes that are quite different from what actually happened (something that'd be impossible if he's just seeing the raw events of a photograph).

This explanation also explains why they're able to change the past without rewriting the present: because the critical path from Point A to Point B wasn't changed.

This also tells us that Cheng Xiaoshi's powers opens up new possibilities that Lu Guang could not see on his own (cough cough end of S2). Consider when Lu Guang couldn't tell what would happen if Cheng Xiaoshi won the basketball game: because it was a section of the graph that was never supposed to exist. Lu Guang can (likely) only see nodes that were realistically possible to occur in the original timeline. So Cheng Xiaoshi's influence can completely disrupt his ability to read events because it forcibly creates a series of nodes/action-bundles that were not supposed to exist thus forcing Lu Guang to re-use his ability from scratch, re-expend the energy to read a photo's timeweb, and completely recalibrate his planning to make sure Cheng Xiaoshi stays safely on course (which also takes time).

There are likely future implications that we're unaware of and need to be considered. For example, the fact that CXS, QL and Xiao Ma are all represented as nodes in his view could be used to work backwards on the limitations of his powers and the knowledge he's able to glean from them.

Suddenly Lu Guang's controlling attitude when they're diving makes a lot more sense, and I know I'd be pissy with Cheng Xiaoshi too if I were him.

[crimson-kisses]

Yandere Allies and Axis with a nymph darling that doesn't wanna be with them. Because anyone that the Gods have been with that isn't a God as well has ended in tragedy, something the darling is trying their absolute best to avoid so they don't meet an early demise. So as soon as the darling has found out that they are the Apple to not only one but multiple gods eyes, they ghosted all them. It was like they never existed. However the darling's sisters does know where she's hiding...........

Do what you will with this. ( Gods AU )

Ah yes, my long forgotten abandoned au ;-; I tried to keep this rather simple and short! I like the tragic undertones this ask has 🐝✨

Warning: contains usual yandere themes, toxic relationships and violence.

Fleeting wings

The evidence of it all remained etched on the walls, arts hidden in cave paintings and harsh whispered tales in the dark recounting and retelling the warnings.

The beings were aware of the tragic history that had occurred and unfolded before them, most carried the resilience of their broken ancestors, determined to survive against all odds.

Your mother had been one of them, a being born from the marrows of nature itself, she reminded you of the unfortunate women who gripped the hearts of the deities’ only to end up in a tragedy that wrote the end of them.

And so, you had always threaded carefully when it came to love- the most powerful, corrupted thing which once shattered entire worlds.

It was a solemn warning, when an old cherry tree, rooted atop the ancient mountains had beckoned you closer with it’s thorny branches, entangling in your dress. Hundreds of whispers echoed in your mind as it told you of the events that were bound to repeat if the deities’ so willed if they didn’t get their hands on their beloved sooner.

Their beloved being a lovely maiden, born from the very essence of untamed nature.

That maiden was you, a nymph.

After realizing the horrifying fate that could befall after their corrupted sense of love poisoned their divinity, the only thing that could help you or even delay the horrifying outcome was for you to conceal yourself into the depth of the fragile earth.

Following the long faded away paths of your ancestors, deep down into the abyssal caverns, you had found solace and refuge.

Months had passed, when not even the sunlight had the privilege of kissing your skin with its warm rays, and the wind had to squeeze in through the cracks as you lay in a slumber with the nature curling itself around you, moss covering your entirety and roots cradling your body as a womb of a woman protecting a child.

Unbeknownst to you, the world shifted and groaned, while the winds howled relentlessly and clouds descended, unleashing a torrent of icy hailstones upon the land.

On what appeared to be a tranquil morning, the deities withdrew their feeble mercy and fragile loyalty.

A gentle curl of foam unfurled, its seams unraveling, and soon it overflowed, submerging the islands under its weight.

Inhabitants desperately sought higher ground, mothers cradling their sobbing infants, sons and daughters salvaging remnants of their homes, and fathers striving to protect and guide their loved ones to safety, though their efforts seemed futile.

Sooner or later, things turned sour.

A foreboding realization gripped the hearts of some, understanding that this calamity would escalate to an unimaginable extent. The echoes of their ancestors' experiences were about to resurface, and no one possessed the strength to appease the ferocity of the deities' unleashed wrath. The very structure of the worlds trembled under the weight of their fury, threatening to shatter the boundaries that held everything together.

With a mere curl of their fingers, the sisters, torn from their deeply rooted abodes, were forcefully brought before the imposing throne of the deities. None dared to defy their commands, for chaos ravaged the worlds, teetering on the brink of unleashing something tremendous and catastrophic.

"Speak, for we demand your answers,"

A deep grumble reverberates through the chamber, while gentle droplets of dew caress the roots of the sisters, nurturing their well-being. The deity presiding over the fourteen oceans, the overseer of every movement of the water, fixes them with a stern gaze, awaiting their response.

"We shall not forsake our inherent nature, our lineage, or the vows we have made. Do as you will to punish us, but we implore you, if your divinity is true, grant us mercy," the sisters speak with unwavering determination, remaining steadfast in their convictions.

A heavy silence descends upon the room, mirroring the intense tension and seething wrath that soak through the atmosphere. The skies above darken, as if reflecting the turmoil reaching its breaking point.

A mirror materializes, its surface transforming into a silver portal that shimmers with an ethereal glow. As the portal opens, writhing green flames dance and flicker within, creating a mesmerizing spiral that beckons with an otherworldly allure.

"We shall bestow mercy!" a smooth voice exclaims, resonating with an uncanny clarity.

Chaotic visions envelop the room, casting a hazy, disorienting hue that distorts reality. Horrifying and incomprehensible images swirl around the sisters, accompanied by series of unsettling sounds.

The deity, his figure is surrounded by the flickering green flames, same glow as his eyes, the flames unleash a thunderous roar filled with hunger and echoes the agonized screams of the unfortunate. The atmosphere becomes suffused with terror and despair.

But of course, he wasn’t the only visitor.

Suddenly, amidst the shadows shrouding the room, another dreadful figure emerges, emanating an oppressive presence that drains the very essence of the sisters.

Overwhelmed by the malevolent presences, the sisters stagger, their bodies weakened, as if being crushed beneath an invisible force. They feel trapped, as if buried deep within the earth itself.

The terrifying figure wears skeletal armor that glistens ominously in the sunlight, exuding an aura of darkness and ink-like malevolence. Burning red eyes and searing green eyes fix upon the sisters, both feigning interest while concealing a deep-seated disdain.

"Death is often the pathway towards mercy," the other figure declares, his voice laced with a chilling resonance.

"And even after that, mercy is not always guaranteed in my domain".

The sisters huddle closer together, their trembling bodies consumed by an overwhelming fear that courses through their veins.

A brief moment passes, air heavy with anticipation.

The figure of the deity of Wisdom and Wealth rises from his throne, moving with a measured calmness toward the center of the room, standing before the sisters.

He offers a gentle smile, though it fails to reach his vacant eyes. Slowly, he begins to speak in a voice dripping with honeyed richness.

"Our mercy shall be our forgiveness", he utters, each word laced with authority and concealed threat.

"Speak, unless you wish to endure eternal suffering. Your loyalty is admirable but misguided in the eyes of us deities. Do not test our patience, for our wrath knows no bounds."

No other deity stirs or makes any demands. The room is enveloped in an eerie stillness, as if time itself has come to a stop, casting a frozen stupor over the surroundings.

Silence reigns supreme, leaving everyone in a suspended state of uncertainty.

The sisters gasp for breath, their chests heaving with fear. Is this their end?

Will they suffer mercilessly and face a fate devoid of peace, even after death?

Uncertainty grips their hearts, as they ponder the grim fate that looms before them.

The silence is soon broken, when the king of the deities gives off an amused smile, sky eyes glinting with a newfound excitement.

𖣊𖡛𖣥𖡗𑗋𖣙𖥟𖢅𖢌𖥠

You supposed the elderly forces had exerted all they could, using their waning strength to shield and protect you, but their ancient power could no longer unleash its full potential.

Within the depths of your enclosed casket, a steady flow of essence awakens you from your deep slumber. Weakened vines and branches still try to hold you protectively, cradling your form.

A towering figure, adorned in gleaming metallic armor and wielding mighty weapons, enters the cavern. With a single swipe of his resplendent sword, he shatters the feeble attempts of the cavern to shield you.

The deity of War and Vengeance.

His helmet conceals most of his visage, revealing only a pair of glowing violet eyes fixed upon your captivating figure. Swiftly, the deity tears away the remaining vines and branches, careful not to cause you harm.

You knew deep down that this moment was inevitable. The ancient times did not truly capture the full extent of reality. Those days were long gone, as the world order had changed since those bygone eras.

It was different now. Their attention, once scattered among their own darlings and the allure of their beautiful women, was solely focused on you. It wouldn't have taken much longer for them to claim their beloved treasure. The powers that had thrived in ancient times could not withstand their might, or perhaps they chose not to.

Above you, the air opened up like a celestial maw, its glimmering teeth of stars welcoming you to your tragic fate.

[hpowellsmith]

How do you feel when romanceable NPCs get together with each other? I'd love to hear what you do and don't like about it!

I hate it too in general, but I think it depends on how it's presented.

I saw people before mention that when an RO always ends up with another NPC in every route where the MC isn't romancing them, then that just feels like a weird personal insert of the author. I agree.

When a game is all about the choices of the player, then it feels like this completely defeats the whole purpose. It makes the reader feel like the route where they did romance that character didn't matter at all because RO canonically would rather be with NPC. So why make them a romance option in the first place? It's fine if non-romanceable NPCs get together, even better if I get to play matchmaker, but then don't make them romance options for the MC. (I'm looking at you DA Veilguard because boy this pissed me off so much in the game)

I always assume that those authors who force ROs together (without player choice) never expect the players to make several playthroughs where they romance different characters but then lol they don't know their audience at all which is... not a good look.

On the other hand, if the game gives me a choice about it in the form of "hey do you want these two to start dating?" then thank you, now we're talking! I can say no, or I can say yes. Feels like matchmaking again, but it doesn't figuratively erase my past routes where I happened to romance one of those characters, plus, it gives me a cool new choice to make.

I think you did an excellent good job with this in your own books (and sorry this got long).

this is in response to the question:

How do you feel when romanceable NPCs get together with each other? I'd love to hear what you do and don't like about it!

This was great to hear, thank you! (and there's never a need to apologise about writing a lot!)

I want to gently disagree on a couple of things:

First, that authors who write romanceable NPCs getting together don't expect players to play several times. On the contrary, I imagine that a lot of authors who do this know players will play multiple times, and think it's fun to show how different outcomes can unfold in response to different choices from the player. I don't know this for sure, because I'm only one person, but when I've written it, that's part of why (and I always assume people will see things more than once, whatever the scene!)

Secondly, particular relationships feeling "canon" - again speaking only for myself not for other authors, I don't consider any path or relationship canon. Anything that branches is all equally canon or non-canon in my eyes!

All of that said, I totally get what you mean about wanting it to be part of the player/PC's choices - I do think it can be great fun to matchmake and it's something that the player can opt into or out of however they feel. I think as with a lot of things with interactive narrative, introducing choice and agency tends to make things that someone might not enjoy if it was framed in a different way feel better.

Sidenote, it's a bit of a balance working out how to do it without it feeling like characters giving an odd amount of control over their lives to the PC, though! I think I could get away with it in Royal Affairs because the PC is just so fancy, but in other situations it might feel a bit weird.

(I have been thinking a lot about choice and responsiveness in my current outline actually - unrelated to NPC-NPC romances, but about some plot elements/setpieces and twiddling the "player agency" dial in various directions to make things feel fun and impactful)

[pokemoncenter]

On Time Travel

Before I begin, I wish to state very clearly that this is not to be taken as fact or a dedicated primer on the subject. This is my own attempting to sort out the information I learned from Bill on the subject, by writing it out in a clear form. There may be mistakes, inaccuracies, and misunderstandings in this text.

Bill created the Time Capsule system in 1999. This system only allows for the transfer of Pokeballs up to three years into the past, and only within the Kanjoh region. The reasons for this are energy- The further something is moved in time, the more energy it takes. The further it is moved in space, the more energy it takes. And most importantly, the more mass it has, the more energy it takes- The other two are more workable, but the mass-energy requirement increases exponentially.

A single Pokemon in its Pokeball can be sent three years across time with the electricity a Pokemon Center has. Something larger, such as a Machop outside of its ball, would take an entire city's energy for a week to make the same trip.

An adult human would take enough energy to power all of Galar for a hundred years, and they would likely cease to exist in transit. We will get back to that part.

Time is not a straight arrow that can only move one direction. It is simply another axis of movement. We all move through time at one second per second, without accounting for relativity, from past towards future. However, as it is a single axis, movement can be achieved along that axis in both directions. Thinking of it as a fourth spatial dimension can help visualize it. Time's ongoing nature is not an inherent aspect of time, but of the beings that interpret it this way.

According to the Many-Worlds Interpretation, there are near-infinite timelines. Anything that could happen in multiple ways, happens in every possible way in different timelines. Thus, as time moves forward, time branches into infinite possibilities. However, according to Bill, there are two important notes to that.

First, it is not only forward. Time actually branches out in both directions. It branches backwards, such that 'every possibility that could lead to this moment' is a branch. Furthermore, there is a principle he calls 'path of least resistance'.

The same way water moves in space according to the path of least resistance, he says that time follows its own path of least resistance. To move from one instant to the next, things that would require too much change or a change of information cannot happen. Thus, when sending a Pokeball back in time, one does not actually need to worry or account for alternate timelines- By sending things backwards in time, it will branch into the timelines where the reception is possible, by following that path of least resistance.

However, the greatest problem of this is information.

By following the path of least resistance, things that did not exist in the recipient era cannot be sent there. Not just objects, or creatures, but information itself cannot cross the gap. Knowledge would be forgotten, or be scrambled. Discoveries cannot be made.

The key principle to understanding this is that there is no omnipotent, intelligent force overseeing things. Time does not have a guardian which keeps the timeline in order. It is simply a matter of energy- The energy to overcome the 'path of least resistance' to cause a paradox with information does not exist in our world, and possibly not in our universe. Thus, time itself will 'correct' the paradox, by forcing it out of your head. This is because forgetting it is 'possible', and so it would be slid into a timeline where that forgetting does happen.

If forgetting was not possible- If there is simply too much information to be forgotten, that there is simply no way it could possibly be lost- Then there will be no timeline that can receive that time travel. At which point, the outcome is...

Either total cessation of existence, or perhaps something else. A non-timeline. Either way, once this occurred, that information is lost to us, as surely as if it fell into a black hole.

... This is all I could understand. I hope any of you can understand this as well.

[zeciex]

A Vow of Blood - 17

Warnings: This fic includes noncon, dubcon, manipulation, violence and inc3st. Tags will be added as the fic goes on. This is a dark!fic. 18+ only. Read at your own discretion. Please read the warnings before continuing.

Summary: “You will be trapped by the obligations of love and duty, unable to escape the web of expectations others have woven around you,“ the witch said….

Chapter 17: The Tourney; The Melee

AO3 - Masterlist

The final day of the tourney had arrived, marking the culmination of the thrilling jousting matches that had unseated multiple knights and lords from their horses. In an unexpected turn of events, House Kettleblack emerged as the victor of the jousting tourney, as Aran Blackwood himself was unseated by a skilled knight hailing from House Mallister. 

As expected, House Arryn secured their dominance in the archery competition, showcasing their prowess with the favored weapon of their house. Their skilled archers hit their marks with precision, solidifying their claim to victory. 

However, the highlight of the entire tourney was yet to come–the highly anticipated melee competition. 

Aran had made the decision to partake, and truth to be told, Daenera couldn’t help but feel a pang of unease over it. Over the course of the tournament, she had grown fond of Aran’s company, spending their days and evenings together, exploring the tourney and the castle grounds, engaging in meaningful conversations. Aran had proved himself to be sweet, considerate, and honorable–a man who would undoubtedly make a fine husband. Though she did not feel a burning passion for him, she believed that their marriage would be comfortable, and perhaps, with time, love could blossom between them if she chose him as her husband. 

As the bustling atmosphere of the tourney grounds filled the air, Daenera couldn’t help but wonder about the outcome of the melee competition. Her thoughts were entangled with a mix of hope, apprehension, and excitement. Whatever the results, the competition would undoubtedly mark the conclusion they were all waiting for.

As they walked along the path leading to a smaller, sunlit arena with white stone and fluttering fabrics providing shade, Jelissa couldn’t contain her excitement. She turned to Daenera. “Do you like him?”

“Well enough,” Daenera replied, her tone measured and casual. She understood the weight of the decision before her. Marrying someone was a significant choice that held the potential to either strengthen or weaken her mothers claim. She contemplated whether her feelings for Aran Blackwood were enough to justify such a union. 

Jelissa’s excitement overflowed as she dreamed of the prospect. “I think he’ll make a fine husband!”

Daenera smiled, but remained quiet. He would make a fine husband, but she already knew that Daemond would counsel her to choose someone of more importance than a mere Blackwood. 

“He’s handsome, brave, and skilled with a sword,” Jelissa continued, her steps skipping over the gravel. “And he gave you a sprig!”

“A branch of pear blossoms,” Daenera corrected. 

“A stick, you mean,” Fenrick interjected playfully, teasing the princess. “The princess should consider more than just good looks when choosing a husband.”

Daenera rolled her eyes in response.

“He is also kind,” Jelissa argued, defending Aran’s character.

“And kindness is a rare and noble quality in this world,” Daenera chimed in, purposefully japing at Fenrick. 

“ And he is good with a sword,” Jelissa added, furthering her argument. 

“What woman doesn’t want a man who would kill for her?” Daenera exclaimed dramatically, fanning her face and fluttering her eyelashes in a playful swoon. 

“No, that wasn’t–”Jelissa began, her voice lowering as she tried to process Daenera’s statement, her face contouring in a familiar expression of distaste, the same way it did when encountering something sour. 

“You should find a man who knows when to wield a sword and when to lay it down,” Fenric said, making his opinion clear. “Someone who understands when and where battles must be fought, someone who will protect and honor you.”

“And you don’t think Aran would do that?” Daenera’s voice turned sharp, as if Fenrick had insulted her. 

“I simply believe you’ll find little challenge from the Blackwood boy,” Fenrick clarified his perspective. 

“You think I’ll grow bored with him?” 

“I think it’s a difficult decision that should not be rushed,” Fenrick replied, his words conveying a sense of caution. 

Daenera pursed her lips, squinting at Fenrick with suspicion. Would there ever be a man he deemed worthy of her? It seemed to her that Fenrick would find fault in any suitor. Aran was the better of them, and even he could not live up to Fenrick’s standards. 

“Will he be able to protect you?” Fenrick continued. 

“You speak as if we’re preparing for war,” Daenera observed, her mood damped by the thought.

Fenrick gave her a knowing look, hinting at the uncertain future that lay ahead. 

“War is always on the horizon, Princess. And especially now, should the Hightowers wish it,” Fenrick murmured in a low voice, meant only for Daenera’s ears. His words carried a somber undertone, reminding her of the ever-looming threat that lingered.

Pale hair caught Daenera’s attention, and she looked over to see Aemond engaged in conversation with Boris Baratheon. Despite Baratheon’s towering stature, Aemond never seemed diminished in his presence.  

“Come on! Let’s not speak of war and indulge in such gloomy thoughts,” Jelissa interjected, gripping Daenera’s wrist and urging her up the steps towards the sheltered canopy of the balcony, stealing her attention away from Aemond. 

Daenera cast a pleading glance at Fenrick, but he merely shrugged, acknowledging Jelissa’s point. It was not the time nor the place to dwell on the wavering stability of the realm or Viserys’ ailing health. 

They reached the railing of the balcony and leaned over to peer down into the sandy center of the arena. A perfect circle, demarcated by ropes, lay untouched, its sand smooth and undisturbed. 

The anticipation seemed to swell within Jelissa as she exclaimed, “I cannot wait to see Ser Blackwood! He simply adores you.” 

A fluttering sensation stirred in Daenera’s stomach at the thought. It resembled a childhood infatuation she had experienced in the past, where it quickly moved from one handsome man to the next. Yet, this time, it felt different. It held the potential for something more enduring, perhaps even love. 

“We are still in the process of getting to know each other. No marriage contract has been discussed or signed,” Daenera clarified, tempering Jelissa’s excitement. It seemed the girl was more excited than Daenera herself was. 

“I believe Princess Rhaenyra would agree to it if you asked her,” Jelissa chimed. 

Daenera nodded, acknowledging the possibility. However, Fenrick interjected with a warning gaze, emphasizing the importance of Daemon’s approval. His meaningful look seemed to convey the expected outcome, reminding Daenera of the potential obstacles there were in choosing a husband. 

Basking in the warmth of the sun as it radiated from the clear blue sky, Daenera closed her eyes, allowing the comforting rays to wash over her. She embraced the moment of tranquility, letting the anticipation build as they awaited the start of the competition. 

As she blinked away the temporary blindness, Daenera’s gaze was immediately drawn to a figure bathed in the sunlight, giving his hair an ethereal glow of moonlight. Aemond stood on the opposite side of the circle, his presence sending a surge down her spine. Her heart tightened within her chest, torn between irritation and fascination.

Aemond's expression bore a smugness that hinted at hidden secrets, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips. Daenera's anger mingled with an intense curiosity, fueling a fiery concoction within her.

 Suspicion clouded her narrowed eyes as she tried to unravel the enigma before her.

Always present, Aemond lingered in the background, his mere presence drawing her attention away from matters of importance. It was as if an invisible force tugged at her heart, refusing to release its grip. Despite her resistance, she found herself unable to avert her gaze from Aemond, caught in a relentless battle against the enticement that burned under her skin. She staunchly refused to succumb to such madness.

Her attention snapped back to the enclosed circle as the contestants made their entrance. 

The ten victorious knights from the previous melee competition strode into the arena, their footsteps sinking into the soft sand under the weight of their formidable armor. Each knight proudly displayed their house sigils or colors in various ways, a display of loyalty and identity. 

Aran stood out among them, clad in a combination of boiled leather and light plate armor, favoring agility and speed over heavy protection. In contrast, Boris Baratheon donned a suit of chainmail and sturdy plate armor, his yellow tunic adorned with the iconic black stag emblem. It seemed that most contestants had opted for a lighter armor setup similar to Aran’s. 

As each contestant entered, the crowd erupted into a cacophony of cheers, jeers and excited shouts. The air crackled with anticipation, and the fervor of the spectators was palpable. Bets were being made, adding an extra layer of excitement and tension to the atmosphere. 

Jelissa couldn’t contain her excitement, squealing with delight as she clutched Daenera’s arm, shaking it with enthusiasm. Aran’s radiant smile in her direction brought a faint blush to Jelissa’s cheeks, the subtle signs of her affection evident for all to see. 

Daenera remained composed. 

“You are aware of the dangers of the melee competition,” Fenrick said, the voice of reason. He couldn’t help but express his concern and his eyes shifted from the bright-eyed Jelissa to Daenera, a glimmer of worry in his gaze. 

However, Jelissa seemed oblivious to Fenrick’s cautionary words, caught up in the thrill of the moment. The allure of the competition overshadowed any thoughts of the potential risks involved. 

Daenera understood that when knights had adrenaline coursing through their veins, it fueled the innate savage bloodlust that laid in men. And despite the participants’ best intentions, the line between controlled combat and unbridled violence could blur in the heat of the moment. 

The competition commenced, and it didn’t take long for the violence to unfold. Boris Baratheon, wielding his greatsword with deadly precision, landed the first significant blow, sending the Arryn knight sprawling out of the circle. Filled with rage and humiliation over being the first defeated, the knight tore off his helmet and hurled it to the ground, hurling insults at Baratheon in a fit of anger. 

Undeterred, Baratheon continued his onslaught, effortlessly swatting aside the Lannister knight as if he were a mere nuisance. The Lannister, realizing the futility of challenging Baratheon, wisely redirected his focus to the Redding knight, seeking a less formidable opponent. 

In the chaos of battle, House Fenn and Glower managed to incapacitate each other, their dented helmets crashing onto the sand. Seizing the opportunity, the relentless Lannister knight plunged his sword into Redding, forcefully expelling him from the circle, blood streaming from his side. 

Meanwhile, Aran skilfully fended off Manderly, his blade cutting through the knight’s leg. Seizing the moment, Aran grasped a handful of Manderly’s leather armor, swiftly yanking him and propelling him outside of the circle. As this unfolded, Baratheon mercilessly struck the Thorne knight across the face with the pommel of his sword, causing teeth and blood to fly from the knight’s mouth. 

Jelissa’s excitement reached a fever pitch as she witnessed the brutal scene before her eyes. The crowd, equally enthralled by the display of bloodshed, erupted in a roar of exhilaration. 

Daenera felt a lump forming in her throat, her hands clenched into fists on the cool marble railing as she observed Baratheon’s ferocious strikes. With thunderous roars, Baratheon swung his sword through the air where Aran had stood just moments before. In a fleeting moment, the Lannister knight seized the opportunity to attack, thrusting his sword forward, only to have it effortlessly parried away by Baratheon’s ironclad hand as if it were a mere toothpick. 

Never before had Daenera truly grasped the sheer size and strength of Boris Baratheon. He swung at the Lannister knight, swatting him away like an annoying fly. The knight managed to evade the blow by ducking under it, retaliating with a desperate thrust of his own sword. But Baratheon’s counterattack was swift and powerful, jolting the Lannister knight’s arms and forcing him to stagger backward. Growling with fury, Boris relentlessly swung his sword again and again, until the Lannister knight, overwhelmed by the unyielding assault, momentarily dropped his guard. 

Aran attempted to intervene, but his efforts were swiftly repelled, causing him to stumble backward. Boris brought his sword down with bone-shattering force, shattering the Lannister knight’s arm, and then repeated the action on his leg. Though the Lannister knight proved his mettle by drawing his knife and attempting a desperate stab at Boris, his attack was deflected, leaving him no room for honor in his actions. The blade did manage to find its mark, piercing Boris’s side, but the ferocious warrior barely acknowledged the wound. The Lannister knight collapsed onto his back, blood spilling from his mouth as Boris delivered a vicious kick that rendered him unconscious. Two squiers rushed to his aid, gripping his shoulders and dragging him out of the circle, hastily carrying him to the medical tent. 

Aran, determined to turn the tide, aimed to bury his sword in Baratheon’s back, but the formidable brother of the Lord of Storm’s End swiftly turned, swatting the blade aside with a contemptuous ease. Boris retaliated, swinging his sword with such force that it nearly disarmed Aran in a single blow. The clash of steel echoed through the arena, intensifying the atmosphere of chaos. 

“He is going to kill him!” Jelissa cried out, her hands flying to cover her mouth in horror, while the other one gripped Daener’s wrist tightly, digging her nails into her skin. 

Fenrick’s brow furrowed deeply as she responded, his voice filled with disapproval and concern. “He is showing some restraint, aiming for broken bones and damaged teeth. No one has died yet.”

“What restraint? I’m certain the Lannister knight has internal bleeding,” Daenera murmured, scowling down at the bloodied sands of the arena. 

Boris Baratheon’s brutal assault continued without mercy. He struck Aran across the face, reopening the healing wound on his brow and breaking his nose. Blood gushed from the broken appendage as Aran stumbled, blinking in a desperate attempt to regain focus. Barely managing to defend himself, he ducked, rolled through the sand, and rose to his feet, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Despite his unsteady stance, Aran refused to yield. 

Baratheon spat something at Aran, but his words were drowned out by the cacophony of the jeering crowd.

 Daenera clenched her teeth in frustration as Aran glanced up at her, then turned his stubborn gaze back to Baratheon. She felt her heart strain in her chest, and she prayed that Aran would see reason and yield. Better to yield than to allow the brutality to continue. 

Aran mustered all his strength for a single retaliatory strike, his sword connecting with Boris’s side. But Boris seized Aran and delivered a powerful blow to his stomach with the pommel of his sword.

Doubled over, gasping for breath, Aran dropped his sword, clutching his abdomen. He heaved, spit and snot dripped onto the sand, as tears streaked his cheeks. 

With another roar, Boris brought his sword down on Aran’s back. 

Jelissa couldn’t bear to witness the brutality any longer, tears welling in her eyes as she turned away. But Daenera’s gaze remained fixed on Boris Baratheon, a sickening feeling churning in her stomach. Something was terribly amiss. Boris had already secured victory, yet he continued to mercilessly pummel Aran’s defenseless body. The sickening sound of bone cracking finally brought an end to the onslaught. 

Boris raised his arms triumphantly, basking in the adulation of the crowd, who showered the bloody sand with flowers as if he hadn’t just brutally beaten a young man of barely eighteen. 

The squiers from House Blackwood rushed onto the sand, gently turning Aran onto his back, desperately attempting to retrieve him in time. They quickly summoned a gurney and carefully transferred him onto it before hurriedly making their way out of the arena. 

“Gods,” Jelissa gasped, her face pale and eyes red-rimmed with tears. “Is he…is he dead?”

Daenera grasped Jelissa’s arms firmly, her gaze unwavering as she spoke clearly. “Go and check on Aran. Find out his condition and bring us news as soon as you learn anything.”

Jelissa nodded, gathering her skirts and running off to fulfill her task. 

A glimmer of silver caught her attention, drawing her gaze to the other side of the balcony once more. Aemond raised his wine-filled cup in a mocking toast, a wicked and malicious smirk playing on his lips. His eye gleamed with triumph and challenge, sending a shiver down her spine. 

In that moment, she understood. 

“Daenera Velaryon!” Boris Baratheon’s booming voice echoed through the arena, his sword pointed in her direction. A wide grin spread across his face, radiating the glow of victory. “I dedicate this triumph to you!”

Controlling the scowl that threatened to form on her face, she managed to summon a smile and graciously nodded in acknowledgment, aware of the scrutinizing gaze of the crowd upon her. Her eyes rose towards Aemond once again, then back to Boris as he continued speaking. 

“Princess of Flowers, a rare beauty, as sweet as the sweetest flower of all. You occupied my thoughts throughout this competition, and I knew I had to emerge victorious for you. I humbly request that you keep me in your thoughts, as I shall keep you in mine.” 

The lump in her throat was thick and sticky as Daenera nodded in gratitude, plucking one of the black roses adorning a nearby vase. With a swift motion, she tossed it to Boris Baratheon, who caught it with a gleam of ambition and triumph in his eyes. 

Daenera cast a seething glare at Aemond, her expression filled with a murderous intensity, before she turned on her heels and walked away, her steps purposeful and resolute. 

In the shade outside of the arena, where the melee competition was soon to commence, Aemond stood watching the contestants prepare themselves. He twirled his dagger absentmindedly in his hand with practiced ease, as he looked at Boris Baratheon's little squire was struggling to lift the heavy breastplate high enough to strap it onto his lord's chest.

His mood had been foul for the whole tournament, each day souring it worse than the other, and he blamed Daenera and the little pup following her around. 

“Have you changed your mind and come to participate in the competition?” Aran Blackwood asked. Clad in his padded leather armor adorned with his sigil and armed with his sword, approached Aemond with a smile on his lips. Aemond glanced at him momentarily, his gaze lingering only briefly before returning dismissively to the other knights. The dagger continued its mesmerizing dance in his hand.

“No,” Aemond curtly replied, his tone dripping with indifference, as if the mere suggestion remained beneath him, but he would lie if the thought hadn’t crossed his mind, if only to spite Daenera.  

Undeterred by Aemond’s cold response, Aran pressed on, seemingly oblivious to the tension between them. “It’s a shame. I am sure you–”

“What do you want?” Aemond interrupted sharply, his glare intensifying as he fixed his eye on Aran. He wasn’t sure whether the boy was willfully ignorant to his animosity or if he was genuinely oblivious. 

Aran stumbled over his words, taken aback by Aemond’s hostility. “I am aware of your… strained relationship with the princess…”

Aemond’s gaze flickered with a dangerous glint, a flicker of violence crossing his mind as he continued twirling his dagger, imagining the ease with which it could silence Aran’s words permanently. 

“...But I thought you might have some insight into where I stand with the princess and if she considers me a real contender for her hand,” Aran continued, his voice filled with foolish hope. “We’ve spent a lot of time together, and I find myself thinking of her even in her absence. I hope she might feel the same and consider marrying me.”

Aemond’s reply was swift and short. “No.”

The dismissal hung heavy in the air, and Aran’s face fell, a confused and disappointed expression screwing up his features. “May I ask why?”

The dagger ceased its twirling, and in a swift move, Aemond slid it into its sheath at his hip. The cruel glint in his eye had a worse bite than the blade that had just been sheathed. “Face the truth, Blackwood. You possess no lands or titles to your name, and when your grandfather breathes his last, you shall inherit nothing. Your brother has already secured heirs, leaving you with scraps. Perhaps you can find solace in marrying some lowly woman from a minor house, but make no mistake: you offer nothing to a princess. Daenera is far beyond your reach, and you delude yourself if you believe you are a suitable match for her.”

Aemond reveled in his cruelty, relishing in the way his words diminished Aran’s hopes into dust. 

“You’re wrong,” Aran spoke up, his voice tense and wavering. He stared defiantly at Aemond. “I do have something to offer–”

“Do not say love,” Aemond cut him off with a scoff. 

“Titles and wealth do not define a man’s worth,” Aran replied, his voice steady despite the sting of Aemond’s cruel remarks. “It is honor, loyalty, and the strength of character that truly matter. I may not have inherited grand titles or vast lands, but I have what you do not. Bravery .” 

He took a step closer, meeting Aemond’s gaze with unwavering resolve. “Daenera and I share a connection that cannot be dismissed so easily. We have spent countless hours together, sharing laughter, dreams, and understanding. Love knows no boundaries of birthright or inheritance. It is in her heart that my hope resides, not in titles or lands.”

Aran’s voice carried a hint of defiance, his words cutting through the air with a newfound clarity. “You underestimate the power of love, Aemond One-eye . Perhaps if you had both eyes, you could see the world’s ability for love. But mark my words, I will prove myself worthy of Daenera’s affection, not through material wealth, but through the strength of my devotion. I will win this competition, in her honor.”

A sneer pulled at Aemond’s lips as he stared at the boy with incredulity and he let out a crude scoff. “A man with only one eye sees more than a boy with two, it seems.” 

Aemond’s gaze burned with fury as he locked eyes with Aran, his fingers itching to unsheathe his dagger and unleash his wrath upon the insolent boy. The thought of slicing him permanently tempted Aemond, allowing his twisted desires to surge through his veins like a raging inferno. He could almost taste the satisfaction of seeing Aran crumble beneath his own foolishness. 

A cruel smirk curled on Aemond’s lips as he leaned in closer, his voice laced with a venomous sneer. “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into, Blackwood. Daenera will devour you like a starved dragon tearing into a helpless lamb.”

“You seem to have no understanding of the princess,” Aran opposed, with the same level of conviction. “Her beauty is not just skin-deep; it emanates from within, a reflection of her grace, intelligence, and compassion. She is a beacon of light in a place consumed by darkness. She inspires and uplifts those fortunate to know her, and she possesses a kindness rarely seen.”

Aemond felt genuine laughter bubbled up within his chest and strained to swallow it. The smirk on his lips turned sharp and biting. “It is you who do not know her. Daenera craves what you cannot give her.”

“And what is that?” Aran questioned defiantly, wanting to prove him wrong. 

“Fire,” Aemond answered. “You may think yourself capable of giving her that, but you will never make her burn for you. All that you can offer her is your feeble devotion and hope that it will be enough, and she might delude herself to think it is, but it is not. She will grow bored with you, and the boredom will grow into indifference if you are lucky, and resentment if you're not. And should she decide that you have outlasted your worth, she’ll free herself of you.” 

She was a tempest, an uncontrollable force of nature, and he knew that she would attempt to contain herself for the sake of Aran. However, Aemond saw it as nothing more than a delusion she wove around herself, convincing herself that the faint flutters she might feel in Aran’s presence could blossom into love. Aemond knew it would not. It would wither like spring flowers caught in a blizzard. 

Aran lacked the power to make her burn, to challenge her on a level that stirred her depths. All he offered was a childlike devotion, a feeble notion that held no weight in the face of Daenera’s fire. 

Aemond despised the feeling he had been left with watching Daenera pretend to be something she was not, to hide away the darkness that resided within her in favor of the mask that was expected of her to wear. He hated watching her with Aran, laughing with him, and smiling at him. The idea that Daenera might settle for someone who couldn’t match her intensity gnawed at Aemond’s core, an unwelcome ache that accentuated his dark desire for her. It burned in the bit of his stomach. Festered. Poisoned him. 

“That is rich coming from a man who is in no better position than I,” Aran sneered, finally showing the spine he had. “A second son, half a man, lacking the courage to partake in a competition, too fearful of facing defeat. The fault lies with me for seeking your counsel on matters beyond your feeble comprehension. Excuse me, my prince, as I must now ready myself to triumph in the competition.”

Aemond’s gaze followed Aran as the boy walked away, a cruel smirk etched upon his face, concealing the anger that flickered within. The sting of Aran words resonated deep within him, fueling the fire of his resentment. A sudden shift in Aemond’s focus directed his attention towards Boris Baratheon, who dismissively waved away his squire after the boy had secured the arm braces around his forearms. A devious plan began to take shape in Aemond’s mind, intertwining with his growing desire for revenge. 

Aemond approached Boris Baratheon, the towering figure before him, instinctively straightening his own posture to match the man’s height. Boris Baratheon was a mountain of a man, with broad shoulders and arms as thick as the trunk of a tree, and his face was handsome, but half of it covered in a thick black beard. 

“Boris Baratheon,” Aemond greeted, a touch of formality lacing his tone, as he asserted the formidable knight whose hands were as big as the paw of a bear, and likely as powerful.

“Ah, Prince Aemond,” Boris returned the greeting with a hint of amusement. “Have you come to join the competition? It would do me some good to have someone who actually poses a challenge, though I promise you, you will not win.”

Aemond’s lips curved into a dismissive smile. “No, I fear I cannot provide you with a challenge at this moment. My sword is still being forged, and I would not wish to compete with a lesser weapon.” 

Boris, undeterred by Aemond’s response, shifted his focus to Aemond’s earlier interaction. “I noticed you speaking with the Blackwood boy. Offering his advice, perhaps?”

“He would not heed my advice, even if I were to offer it. He seems to harbor delusions of victory.” Aemond answered, letting his eye slide over Boris’ features as they tightened. 

Boris let out a boisterous laugh, his amusement filling the air. “That scrawny pup? I can hardly believe he stands a chance against children wielding wooden swords. He doesn’t even yet have hair on his chest. His triumph over the Bracken knight was a stroke of luck, nothing more. “

“But it is not just the competition he believes he will win,” Aemond’s drawled, letting his words lead Boris down a new path. 

“Oh?”

“He fancies that his victory in the competition would bestow upon him enough honor to ask for Princess Daenera’s hand in marriage,” Aemond replied, his words dripping with mockery. 

“That is preposterous. The boy is a fool if he truly believes in such fantasies.” Boris shook his head in disbelief, dismissing the notion, a flash of anger crossing his face. “He’s been following the Princess around like a lost puppy, making it impossible for anyone else to approach her without his constant yelping and inserting himself into every conversation.”

“Indeed,” Aemond agreed smoothly. “It seems we are both in agreement that the boy is a nuisance. I think it would be best if Aran Blackwood’s delusion were met with reality.”

“Do not worry, Prince Aemond. I will make sure to shatter his delusion as well as his honor,” Boris assured Aemond.  

A shiver ran down Aemond’s spine, as if a cold gust of wind had brushed against him. Though his blind side was turned to her, he could feel Daenera’s gaze slither across his presence. He turned his head ever so slightly, meeting her eyes with a piercing gaze. Her brows furrowed in a cautiously curious frown, but before their silent exchange could continue, her serving maid intervened, obliviously pulling her along up the stairs towards the balcony. 

“Indeed,” Aemond agreed, dragging his attention back to Boris. “It would be best if Aran Blackwood was not only unable to win, but also incapable of making any marriage proposal at all.”

** Black Rose; Death, hatred, despair, sorrow, danger, obsession.

[squided]

A couple nights ago I watched "encanto" (the Disney movie) with my mom and firstly have to say I loved it, I loved the theme, I loved the story, I loved the conflict, I loved the characterization and their interactions, and most importantly I loved the moral and its applicability to the real world in multiple ways.

But anyway, I've been thinking a lot about the character called "Bruno". For people who haven't watched Encanto (2021) and plan on watching it: mild/moderate spoilers ahead (not going into the plot just his power, and how he handled it and how I think it provides such an interesting backstory to pretty much any "seer")

So Bruno has the ability to see the future and then is presented with a tablet that depicts what he saw in the sands. He admits himself that sometimes his visions are vague and you get to witness this yourself when he demonstrates his power in the movie. Visions of the future come as broken up sections of events. The fact that his power puts it all together in a single tablet at the end, presumably with an effect similar to Lenticular Printing (wiki linked) but we are only ever really shown one tablet and it had this design would make sense that in order to accurately depict the future it would need to provide at least two images sometimes to show what it means (the magic dies and a specific someone is going to fix it, how else to depict this than showing an image of the house falling apart with the chosen savior in front of it followed by an image of the house in perfect condition) but it leaves so much up to interpretation is what I'm getting at. Bruno never sees how the events actually play out just the overall outcome which sometimes is singular but sometimes he claims is "multiple outcomes" but I believe it's really just the vision being too complex to depict with a singular image.

Anyway, in the movie, Bruno becomes hated by the family for constantly telling people his visions and then as a result, the vision comes true (I think due to his power this would always be the case but his interference led to it coming true BECAUSE he attempted to intervene, one of those "the prophecy will happen one way or another" type situations. So Bruno goes into hiding and he doesn't use his power anymore.

Now this concept I found really interesting when thinking of pretty much every story I've ever read or watched including a person who can "see the future". Usually follows the same general idea: the way they perceive the future is broken up and distorted, occasionally branching out depending on if free will exists in the situation of a prophecy or not ("the prophecy will always come true exactly as foretold" vs. "the prophecy is an event which will come true followed by multiple outcomes depending on the decisions of others")

A common trope you'll see is a seer saying things like "the future is unclear" or "i cannot see into that future now" or something of the sort. I think almost all seers experienced something similar to Bruno in the way that when they get their power, they usually probably tried to help people, prevent a horrific event from occurring or at least warning people of it. People, even if understanding the person can seer the future, typically assume "person says something happens -> thing happens -> the person made the thing happen by speaking about it" and they're made to be blamed.

Even worse when visions of the future, usually catastrophic incidents that heavily impact everyone in their life and lead to (perceived or actual) multiple outcomes, people get frustrated because visions of the future usually only include the moment an incident occurs with no further context, and either could actually include branching paths or an "unclear outcome" too distorted to see, or a series of events that lead to an singular outcome but each individual event can be interpreted as a final outcome in itself such as:

dragon appears next to mysterious person in a cloak -> the town is destroyed with the cloaked figure standing among the wreckage -> the town is restored to its original form == could be interpreted as cloaked figured summons dragon and destroys town OR something happens that prevents that and the town is saved but it really means the cloaked individual fought the dragon but it was too late and it destroyed the town. The townspeople get together and rebuild and the cloaked individual is welcomed in the community as a hero

Essentially what I'm saying is seers have a difficult power of knowing things but if they tell anyone they're blamed for not providing everyone with detailed instructions because "what use is seeing the future if it doesn't tell you how to stop it" or they're blamed for incorrectly deciphering the like 3 second long scenes they see and how they interconnect.

Seers who don't go all "hermit mode" because of this are the ones who learn to just pretend they can't see that future or admit it is unclear and not offer any further details, because they realize that the danger of their power is that it is easily misinterpreted, almost as if it wants to confuse people. Maybe the magic itself also influences people's perception to assure the prophecy comes true / as a type of punishment for viewing into the future, knowledge people are not meant to have or possibly an event of fate that has been predetermined to occur and attempting to change this violates some divine law and as a result the truth of the incident is obscured as much as possible from the seer and purposefully meant to come true but also misdirect them into thinking something else.

I think seers all probably had to deal with Bruno's problem when they were growing up or after they first got their powers. I think that the two outcomes of that is either a hermit/nomadic seer or "the witch that sees the future and stays locked in their tower" who cuts themselves off from other humans and may stop using their powers or they simply won't speak of what they see, possibly only once in a while when a future is certain and the person they talk to will never see them again. Or it leads to a "court seer", "oracle", "prophet", or "psychic that people think is a scam but has a really unusually high rate of being correct but that's just like luck right?". These ones will openly use their powers but heavily restrict the information they provide, often pretending their powers are much weaker than they actually are but enough to keep them useful and able to still live and interact with people in a fairly normal way.

Anyway that's just been some stuff I've been thinking about since watching Encanto. I think it adds so much depth to seers and the relationships they have with their powers. I think it also gives room for "professional seers" usually exceptionally old and wise who have trained and experienced their power enough to accurately interpret their visions, though even for them it's not 100% accurate all the time but I think in terms of fantasy powers this is such a good way to set up a seer's backstory and why they have the power to see the future "but why couldn't they see this thing?" they could. They did. They knew if they told you it wouldn't have changed anything and just made people mad at them so they say "I'm sorry my power wasn't able to see this. I don't know why it was like something was blocking me from being able to view past this point" or some bullshit.

[tenaciouschronicler]

Dave's Rewind: An exploration of timelines and paradoxes

Or how Back to the Future explains time shenanigans

I want to circle back to something Davesprite said about what he did with the Rewind. Apparently he 'splinter[ed them] off into an alt timeline' where everything now goes according to the future the tolls can see, changing nothing and rather reinforcing it.

Here is @homestuckreplay interpretation of how that looks:

And here's mine:

They are nearly the same but rather than having branches from the timeline we know, instead Homestuck also follows the Intermission in having multiple timelines. Like so:

Essentially every choice would create another timeline, though we never see them. Dave is not proficient enough to do the easy jumps straight across, rather much like an rpg he can only access the previous points hes experienced that follow the 'correct' line. For this to work there does have to be a 'correct' path that has already been trod.

Something about this felt really familiar and thats when I remembered Back to the Future. BTTF deals with a lot of time travel and exploration of various paradoxes. The one most pertinent to us is the Predestination paradox. Its used alot in science fiction to explain how a character can go back to change history but yet still have a future where they go back to change history. Very roundabout yes but it explains a lot of the Exiles roles during the game and how the trolls can still see the future events of the kids even with Gallows attempting to change said future.

Theres two other things that we can take away with this rewind. First, it raises the stakes higher than we originally thought. We have seen near misses and harrowing moments, but its an action comic about kids playing a game. Theres not really any precedent for an author to actually kill off their main characters. During the Intermission we did see characters die, but that makes sense for a mob noir genre plus with timeline shenanigans the characters take it as par for the course. Second, theres something we forgot, or at least I did. We are playing a game. Remember, all those pages ago, the cursor? How the narration doesnt just address the story but us as well? And what happens in the action genre, regardless of raiting?

You die.

You die and go back to a prior save. Whether thats the immediate moment when you lose a life or the beginning of a battle/level, you get the option to go back and try again. Try different. Daves power lets him do that. The only weird part is that his whole physical self is returned and now there's two of him. Without paradoxes.

For some reason, we were shown this failed branch. Inexplicably and outta left field but only to the point where Dave is going back to complete the loop. This further begs the question of what exactly is the goal for these kids?

Supposedly they have already lost their game, and yet all their actions are attempts to win the game they are destined to lose. We know its a futile effort so why bother, aside from completing the loop? The only way to win is to somehow break this loop in a way that follows the 'correct' path while setting up the pieces differently enough that a win condition can be met. That's a tall order when everything and everyone says your outcome is inevitable.

[arkham-dossiers]

Patient File: Edelgard von Hresvelg

This is a patient whose life has multiple outcomes, but only one root.

The root in question is that she is one of many children borne by Ionus von Hresvelg IX, the Emperor of Fodlan's Adrestrian Empire. During the first few years of Edelgard's life, she was instilled with a sense of imperial pride...and imperial responsibility. This on its own would be unremarkable given her circumstances, but said circumstances soon changed drastically. After an internal coup effectively removed Emperor Ionus from power beyond that of a figurehead, Edelgard and her siblings were locked in the palace dungeon and experimented upon by a shadowy collective of mages.

The cruelty of the experiments, which turned Edelgard's hair white and cut her natural lifespan in half, also caused her great psychological and emotional trauma, as did the suffering and eventual deaths of her siblings around her. As the only one to achieve the desired result of the mages' experiments, the ability to bear two Crests rather than just one, Edelgard holds massive survivor's guilt. All of this - in tandem with one of the few childhood memories prior to the experiments that she vaguely retained, where she was gifted a dagger by a relative and told to cut out her own path in life beyond what's expected of her - is what shaped Edelgard into who she is now and influenced the extreme actions she took.

In several timeline branches, Edelgard allies herself with the mages in order to serve their purpose while also scheming to betray them once she has obtained the requisite power and knowledge to efficiently do so. Living a double life as a student at the Garreg Mach Monastery's Officers Academy and as a masked terrorist known as the Flame Emperor, Edelgard manipulated her classmates and cut deals with criminals in order to bring instability to Fodlan, particularly the Church of Seiros that runs Garreg Mach and holds sway over most of Fodlan's society and governing bodies, with the end result being her as the newly crowned Emperor of Adrestria declaring war on the Church and its allies so that Fodlan may be united under the Adrestrian banner. In one timeline, she prevailed, while in others she was defeated and slain, although the results of the war still led to a changed Fodlan and a united government full of societal reforms.

In other timeline branches, however, Edelgard was able to betray the mages early on. As a result, she dropped the Flame Emperor guise and was instead able to manipulate the Church into acting as the aggressor toward Adrestria, now justifying a war in retaliation. Sometimes she prevailed, sometimes she didn't, and sometimes a compromise was reached, but in all cases she was able to survive.

What all of these timelines share in common is Edelgard's almost monomaniacal focus on her end goal: destroying both the Church of Seiros and the mages, and unifying Fodlan under the Adrestrian Empire so that it can be completely restructured for the better, abolishing the nobility and Crest system in favor of a meritocracy. In contrast to most warmongers, Edelgard has no intention of holding onto power. Once her end goal has been achieved, she plans on appointing a successor and stepping down to live out whatever years remain in her shortened life in peace. It's a peculiarly selfish brand of selflessness she has: ruthlessly forcing her will and ideals upon the population of Fodlan all so that they and future generations can reap the benefits rather than herself. She similarly rationalizes all the deaths her war causes this way: many will die, but if her reforms to Fodlan are put in place many more will live. There will be little chance of anyone else having to suffer the way she and her siblings did.

That is ultimately what Edelgard's motives boil down to: the desire to prevent future victims of what she was put through, by eliminating every factor that led to her suffering. The Church of Seiros, the system favoring bloodlines and the power of Crests that it perpetuates through its false gospel, the corrupt nobles, and of course the mages...Edelgard hates them all for what happened to her and her siblings, but she does not seek their demise out of a desire for vengeance. Having accepted what is done cannot be undone, Edelgard instead focuses on the future, with the past and even the present firmly pushed behind her. This is what grants her the ability to emotionally detach and repress even her own moral compass to an almost sociopathic degree in order to do what she believes is necessary. As she herself puts it: "My regret. My grief. My whole life. I've thrown it all away...into the darkness..." She is fully aware that others will see her as a villain for this, but she is willing to embrace that label so long as she can change Fodlan for the better.

Edelgard's greatest fear is forging personal attachments to others. Not only does she fear losing people she grows close to like she lost her siblings, but she fears being close to people will be a greater burden on her conscience, making her hesitate and second-guess the path she's taking even when she whole-heartedly feels it's a path she needs to stick to. In the worst case scenario, Edelgard isolates herself so much that she is consumed by her lack of self-love and her need to prevail by any means necessary, transforming herself into an inhuman monstrosity as a result. Conversely, in the best case scenarios, Edelgard discovers that being close to people willing to share her path with her and taking input from them even if it goes against what she believes is achievable and healthy, leading to her showing more emotion and vulnerability rather than stoically take on every burden by herself. This usually comes about through Byleth, the human avatar of the reincarnated Nabatean goddess Sothis.

Diagnosis: Taken on the whole, Edelgard appears to suffer from a frighteningly potent combination of post-traumatic stress disorder, high-functioning avoidant personality disorder, and mild dissociative tendencies. Her past is both everything and nothing to her simultaneously, having shaped her psychology even as said psychology centers around fixating upon the future at the expense of all else. Depending on what point of her life she's at, treatment and improvement is possible, although victims tragically unpreventable.

This patient is not dangerous if approached in peace.

[densgarden]

I've prepared 10 words usually heard when you're in the STEM strand!

❀ 1. Artificial Intelligence

Also called as AI; the mind of the machine, where data, algorithms, and logic merge to create systems that learn, adapt, and solve problems by itself.

Sentence: "Artificial intelligence is rapidly advancing, enabling machines to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence."

❀ 2. Calculus

A branch of mathematics concerned with the calculation of instantaneous rates of change and the summation of infinitely many small factors to determine some whole.

Sentence: "Doing calculus is one of the best steps in practicing derivations."

❀ 3. Derivation

The process of obtaining a function's derivative, which represents the rate of change of the function with respect to its variable.

Sentence: "The derivation of the formula was complex, involving multiple steps and mathematical principles."

❀ 4. Experimentation

The heart of discovery, where ideas meet reality through trial, observation, and analysis. It’s the process of testing hypotheses, uncovering patterns, and refining solutions.

Sentence: "Our experimentation is a way to test whether this variable affects this variable."

❀ 5. Fossil Fuels

Natural fuels like coal, oil, and gas derived from ancient organisms. They’ve powered revolutions, cities, and technology.

Sentence: "The burning of fossil fuels contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change."

❀ 6. Kinematics

The study of motion, usually without considering forces. It tells us how fast an object moves, how its speed changes, and how it traces a path through space.

Sentence: "One of the fundamental lessons as you go along in physics is Kinematics."

❀ 7. Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into glucose (food) and oxygen. It is the heartbeat of ecosystems by providing oxygen and fueling the entire food chain.

Sentence: "Algae, like plants, have the ability to do photosynthesis."

❀ 8. Simulation

The imitation of the operation of a real-world process or system over time. It is a tool to understand complex systems and see possible outcomes.

Sentence: "Simulation software allows engineers to model and test designs before physical prototypes are built."

❀ 9. Stress

The internal force per unit area within a material that arises due to externally applied forces. It occurs when an external force pushes, pulls, twists, or compresses a material that causes it to respond and adapt.

Sentence: "The stress of the body is too high, thus it needs for it to rest."

❀ 10. System

A collection of organized things; a whole composed of relationships among its members. It is the understanding that parts working together, create a larger whole.

Sentence: "A system of connected devices that share information and resources can be considered as a network."

To hear its pronunciation, watch this video:

[satoshi-mochida]

White Day 2: The Flower That Tells Lies Complete Edition launches August 15 - Gematsu

Horror game White Day 2: The Flower That Tells Lies Complete Edition will launch for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series on August 15, publisher PQube and developer ROOTNSTUDIO announced.

White Day 2: The Flower That Tells Lies Complete Edition first launched episodically for PC via Steam, starting with Episode 1 on February 15, 2023, followed by Episode 2 on May 2, 2023, and ending with Episode 3 on July 20, 2023.

Here is an overview of the game, via PQube:

About

On the night of March 14, 2001, exactly one day after the incident at Yeondu High, four individuals return to the school in search of answers to the unsolved mysteries that haunt them.

Episode 1 – Disturbed by rumours of her involvement in the death of a fellow student, Jung Soo-jin is determined to set the record straight and regain the trust of her crush Jang Sung-tae. But as the pair search for clues, they learn of a far darker secret deep within the bowels of the school, and become prey in a relentless hunt.

Episode 2 – At the same time, former teacher-in-training Kang Seo-yeon arrives to investigate the ambiguous circumstances surrounding her father’s passing on the school grounds. Drawing on her knowledge of the occult, Seo-yeon attempts to reverse an ancient ritual while evading a powerful and malicious ghost that is inexorably drawn to her.

Episode 3 – Having made a promise that can’t be broken, first-year student Yoo Ji-min searches for a way to bring peace to the restless spirit of Han Na-young. Delving deeper into the tragic history of the school and the complex relationships between its students, Ji-min makes a fateful discovery that will lift the veil of obscurity once and for all.

White Day 2: The Flower That Tells Lies Complete Edition brings together the interlocking stories of all three episodes along with every released downloadable content into one definitive package.

Key Features

Return to Yeondu High – Explore the school by torchlight and revisit familiar locations to uncover sinister new revelations, items and areas that had previously remained elusive.

Evade Unkillable Stalkers – Monitor your environment to avoid being detected by possessed nightguards and terrifying phantoms. Utilise camera flashes to temporarily stun your pursuers.

Chilling Ghost Encounters – Confront twisted manifestations of the building’s tragic past. Discover and document haunted sites with your camera to reveal the disturbing origins of each ghost.

Branching Episodes – Experience the story from multiple perspectives. Learn from your mistakes and revisit completed episodes to reveal alternate routes with 14 possible outcomes.

Solve Obscure Puzzles – Search for clues and key items to help solve complex puzzles and escape locked rooms. Decipher hidden riddles to unlock new story paths and additional endings.

Bonus Costume Downloadable Content Included – Introducing seven additional costumes including traditional Korean Hanbok for the player characters and a nostalgic janitor tracksuit for the guards!

Watch a new trailer below.

Release Date Trailer

[demifiendrsa]

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance - "The Sacrifice" Trailer

Japanese version

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam, Microsoft Store) on June 14, 2024 worldwide.

■ What is Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance?

Released in 2021, ATLUS’s renowned RPG Shin Megami Tensei V has sold more than one million copies worldwide.

This highly acclaimed title has evolved in every aspect, including the system and scenario, and will be available on multiple modern platforms!

At the beginning of the story, the player is presented with two divergent paths. The story told in Shin Megami Tensei V, the Canon of Creation, and a brand-new route, Canon of Vengeance, a dramatic tale of revenge by the fallen.

The Canon of Vengeance follows the scenario of Shin Megami Tensei V</em but changes drastically from the latter half of the game. The outcome will be completely different. Enjoy the two divergent stories to your heart’s content.

The battle system, demon fusion, and field exploration have also evolved in depth with the addition of new elements. We are excited to deliver a full-fledged RPG that can be enjoyed by those who have already played Shin Megami Tensei V</em, as well as those who are playing this series for the first time.

■ Story

Thou shalt be God—.

When a grisly murder scene in modern-day Tokyo blocks our protagonist’s walk home, an unplanned detour leaves him buried and unconscious. He awakens in a new Tokyo, a wasteland ravaged by apocalypse now called Da’at… but before bloodthirsty demons can claim his life, a savior emerges, and the two of them unite to become a mighty being, neither human nor demon: a Nahobino.

Revenge Awaits

Demons attack humans and seek to create a world of chaos. Defying them is Bethel, an organization seeking to protect God’s order. Caught up in the conflict between the two, while exploring Da’at, the protagonist meets and starts traveling with Yoko Hiromine. Using magic, Yoko and the protagonist stand together on the front line.

Four female Demons know as the Qadištu. “And so we have found it…The key to the resurrection…” A member of the Qadištu, Lilith, calls protagonist the Key of Resurrection, and herself The Oppressed. What is their purpose? A tale of revenge by the fallen begins.

■ Characters

Protagonist/Nahobino (voiced by Casey Mongillo in English, Kouhei Yanagi in Japanese)

An ordinary high school senior living in Tokyo. He transforms into a Nahobino, a powerful being capable of using supernatural powers to fight demons. Awaken an epic new form in Canon of Vengeance!

The protagonist has completely altered from his characteristic blue appearance. With a sickle-like blade, what is this form capable of?

Hayo Koshimizu (voiced by Sean Crisden in English, Kenjiro Tsuda in Japanese)

“To that end, I would like you to assist with the investigation and cessation of the current threat.”

Koshimizu is the Prime Minister of Japan, as well as head of Bethel’s Japan Branch. Calm, collected, and strategic.

Recruits Ichiro and others to Bethel’s cause, giving them the Demon Summoning Program to aid in the war against demons.

Abdiel (voiced by Cissy Jones in English, Romi Park in Japanese)

“As decreed by our lord, the Nahobino cannot be permitted to exist.”

An archangel and commander of the forces of Bethel.

Very strict and hard on herself and others, she will eliminate by force anyone who disturbs Bethel’s order.

Having absolute faith in God’s order, she is devoted to protecting and maintaining His will.

Shohei Yakumo (voiced by Ben Lepley in English, Tomokazu Sugita in Japanese)

“Humans need the will to survive at any cost. And those who lack that strength of will… no longer deserve to live.”

A mysterious man who stands in the way of the protagonist in Da’at.

A man of few words who calls himself the “exterminator of demons.”

His purpose and identity are unknown. He works with the demon Nuwa.

Nuwa (voiced by Laura Post in English, Ayana Taketatsu in Japanese)

“Whether I am there or not when Yakumo’s world comes to be is of no concern to me.”

Goddess in Chinese mythology. She has been working with Yakumo for unknown reasons since he was a child.

They arrive in the netherworld unexpectedly and confront the protagonist.

Mastema (voiced by Doug Erholtz in English, Wataru Takagi in Japanese)

“I am Mastema, an angel in service to the kingdom of light.”

A mysterious archangel and member of Bethel.

Says that he has received permission from God to tempt humans and test their faith.

He has come to Tokyo in pursuit of Qadištu, after they desecrated his own faraway jurisdiction. Could the strange incidents in Tokyo be related to his arrival…?

■ Demons

In addition to the demons that appeared in Shin Megami Tensei V, this title features more than 270 demons, including new demons newly drawn by character designer Masayuki Doi and demons from previous titles!

Nahobeeho (Fairy)

Jack Frost in a new form, resembling the Nahobino.

He loves snowy mornings and hopes to one day create a world made of silver.

Amabie (Enigma)

The game’s new demon.

A Japanese yokai that is said to have appeared in Higo Province during the Edo period, it is said to have emerged from the glowing sea and prophesized to the people.

■ System

The Parallel Ravaged Tokyo: Da’at

The story takes place in the Tokyo we know and the parallel world of Da’at. Demons roam in this vast netherworld, attacking the protagonist.

Da’at varies greatly in aspect from place to place, from desolate deserts and collapsed buildings, to areas lined with surreal geometric structures. Each location may contain different demons, often with tricky terrain that you’ll need to use your wits to navigate.

In Canon of Vengeance, Da’at includes a sprawling new area, Shinjuku ward will become available to explore.

—Various demons roam Da’at, blocking the hero’s way.

—Discover the mysteries of Shinjuku ward. A sacred atmosphere created by a huge object that resembles a great tree.

Netherword Exploration

Da’at is interspersed with a variety of elements, some of which will obstruct the hero’s path, while others provide advantages in his Da’at exploration and combat. Explore every corner of the vast netherworld by using these new features.

—Magatsuhi Crystal

Magatsuhi Crystals present in Da’at can be collected to provide various benefits. Green crystals recover HP, yellow crystals recover MP, and red crystals will increase the Magatsuhi Gauge.

—Magatsu Rail

This path formed of Magatsuhi connects and allows for travelling between the two locations in Da’at. Activating it not only provides a shortcut to a specific location, but also allows the user to navigate to hidden locations that are normally unreachable.

—Abscesses

Occasionally, there are large red obstacles growing in the path of the main character.

This obstacle is known as an Abscess. Powerful enemies appear in the vicinity and attack the protagonist. Defeating Abscesses will awaken new Miracles.

—Magatsuhi Demon

Demons cloaked in an aura of Magatsuhi will sometimes spawn in Da’at, called Magatsuhi Demons

Unlike normal demons, they are dangerous enemies with powerful skills, but may drop valuable items if defeated.

Da’at Exploration

Da’at is interspersed with a variety of elements, some of which will obstruct the hero’s path, while others provide advantages in his exploration and combat. Explore every corner of the vast netherworld by using these new features.

—Relics

Relics can be obtained from vending machines scattered throughout Da’at. Take them to Gustave, who will exchange them for Macca.

—Demon Navigator

Demons that accompany the main protagonist and support him in his exploration. They do not participate in combat, but will search for items, Magatsu Rails, and other useful items on the map and notify you.

—Treasure Chests and Amalgams

Yellow objects will give you items and Macca, and silver objects will give you Glory. Both are useful for adventures, so keep your eyes out.

—Aogami Husks

Aogami’s Essences can be obtained by examining the husks of Aogami scattered throughout Da’at. Once the husks has been examined, the Essence can be obtained again by after a certain time has passed.

—Demon Haunts

The Demon Haunts can be visited by accessing the leyline founts connecting the various regions of Da’at. In the Demon Haunts, the protagonist’s demons appear and gather, and the player can enjoy interacting with their allies by conversing with them and giving them gifts, as well as viewing them up close and taking photos.

In addition, special conversations may occur regarding game progressions, such as battles and field exploration, and these may offer rewards such as items or status enhancements of demons.

If you see a conversation notification in the menu, why not visit a demon haunt!

You can have conversations not only with your demons, but also with Aogami. Some of these conversations may lead to stat and ability bonuses for the Nahobino!

—Cadaver’s Hollow

The Cadaver’s Hollow shop is accessible via leyline founts. You can pay Macca to purchase items or sell Relics you have collected to Gustave.

Gustave (voiced by David Errigo Jr. in English, Yusaku Yara in Japanese)

The keeper of Cadaver’s Hollow with an interest in human-era items. He will buy any Relics found within the netherworld.

Gustave will reward you for locating Miman, his relic-seeking pawns, when you report back to him with the number you have found. The number of Miman determines the type of reward.

Discovering Miman will also help you obtain Glory, which is necessary to learn Miracles. Be on the lookout for hiding places throughout the netherworld.

World of Shadows and Demon Fusion

The World of Shadows can be accessed via the leyline founts.

With help from Sophia, the ruler of the World of Shadows, you can perform a Fusion to create stronger demons.

Aside from a two-demon fusion, there are fuse by result that allows you to choose a resultant demon, a special fusion that can be performed by choosing from two to four demons, or an Essence Fusion that utilizes Essences to lower or increase the ranks of the same race.

Most skills can be inherited by other demons through fusion, with the exception of a few select special skills.

Sophia (voiced by Erin Yvette in English, Sayaka Kinoshita in Japanese)

A mysterious being who rules of the World of Shadows. Her introduction states “I have come from a plane bar beyond this one to act as a guide to both the world and the Nahobino.”

There are multiple ways to create new and powerful demons: two-demon fusion merges two demons of your choice, fuse by result allows you to determine which demon you want first, a special fusion performed with up to four demons, and Essence Fusion, which uses a demon’s Essence to provide additional bonuses and skills.

■ Godhood Guild

Godhood awaits. Go and claim it! Become a Nahobino and sign up for SMT emails to join the Godhood Guild, a special club for Shin Megami Tensei fans!

By being part of the club, you’ll receive special perks such as getting a sneak peak of content drops, special surprises, and exciting news about Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance!

Join the Godhood Guild here!