#bulk conduit

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[writingwithcolor]

Is a Jewish Necromancer using soul energy taboo?

WWC Follower Asks:

My character is Ashkenazi Jewish and living in modern America (raised in New York, moved to the Pacific North West). He has magical talent, which presents itself in auto writing (speaking with spirits using himself as a conduit), and necromancy/death magic. I understand the Torah forbids it, and the Talmud acknowledges its existence, and read a previous answer you did regarding it. I intended to add this aspect to my character because prior to writing this magical talent, as the plot unfolded while I wrote, the character was already established as Jewish and I did not wish to erase that from him. His personal arc/story itself has a strong point of residual hauntings and healing from the past, which was how the mediumship came to exist. At this point, I am writing it as he is learning his talent, and he intends to do as little harm to the dead as possible (he will not be reanimating people). In addition, necromancy can also work in this world as a form of animancy (using the soul) to do magic. My character is against taking that energy from others (as is it is common for necromancers to take the energy of the deceased by force), and instead will tap into himself, or utilize it if it is willingly donated by another person. It possible to make this work? Are there any severe taboos involved with the idea of using soul/life energy to fuel magic that I have missed in my research? What’s your personal threshold for this idea?

One very culturally Jewish way to handle it would be if he has to bulk up and eat a lot of nourishing Bubbe ("eat eat!!") style meals when he's gonna talk to the spirits or sheydim or whatever bc he's using his own life essence to fuel the connection like "if i want to do this i need to eat 2 helpings of brisket first".

That leans heavily into emphasizing that he is drawing on his own energy, maybe he has to eat enough food for himself and the dead person too, and not sapping the strength of another (an antisemitic trope)

-Shira

I absolutely LOVE the idea of him eating for the dead person, and I think it’s Jewish by vibes even if not drawing on something specific from text (that I know of). I definitely would be wary of any magic where the other souls are diminished by working with him even if he doesn’t do it intentionally, but it sounds like you’re already on that.

I wonder also if he might take upon himself the responsibility to recite Kaddish for the deceased people he works with, to make up for disturbing them--especially if rather than recite the prayer on his own, he attends a synagogue service or gathers a minyan (prayer quorum of 10 adult Jews) to recite the prayer “Correctly,” since, some very sweet Tumblr lore aside, Kaddish is one of those prayers not traditionally recited without a minyan.

-Meir

[ncat]

The Conduit

So heres the conduit! I'm very happy with how this turned out.

The conduit as a class is best described as a "Con Based Martial with spellcaster aesthetics", since, mechanically, it fills a martial role, being a class that doesnt use resources, with a primary party focus on dealing damage, while flavor wise, it goes around slinging blasts of energy at people.

This class mechanically is very much based on the warlock of 3rd edition, with flavour and some mechanical inspiration from the Kineticist of Pathfinder 2e.

The two core design elements that I tried to stick to with making this were 1. Being resourceless and 2. Customizability.

For the first point, none of the class features are limited in uses per day. No feature adds an additional resource for the player to track, nor uses spell slots nor etc. The closest it comes to a resource is its Exertion mechanic, where certain things tire out your conduit character. Though, this serves less as a resource, and more as a temporary debuff, reducing your damage output whilst its in effect, before being easily removed.

The second point is customizability. The first element of this is subclasses. Of course, theres the variety of subclasses to pick from, but notably, is that unlike other classes, you aren't bound to picking just one subclass. From 7th level onwards, whenever you reach your subclass feature level, you can choose to continue advancing in your subclass, or you can take the initial features of a different subclass. This means while you can do a more traditional route of going "I'm the lightning guy, I'm taking lightning every level", you can also do an avatar style "Master of 4 elements" and have 4 different subclasses by level 20. Mix and match them as you like, be the "Fire and Lightning" person, be the "I control water mostly, but also a little bit of ice", combine your elements and so forth.

The next part of customizability is in talents. Talents are very much your classic invocation style feature, of which there are... like. 60 of them at this point. But! Theres a lot of variety in what they do. While you have your choices of ones that give additional powers, like flight or teleportation or whatnot, a large bulk of them are dedicated to one thing: Reshaping your elemental blast. Go out there as a fire guy and blast people with fire, then turn around and literally explode everything around you in flames, then focus your blast into a roaring line of fire that pushes everything within it towards you, and then rush the last man standing with a spear made of literal fire.

The talents are designed around not just being able to reshape and modify your blast in a bunch of different ways, but you can combine them together and do cool stuff.

Because at its core, I wanted to design this class to fill a very specific style of fantasy, and thats of the type of magic you see in some settings where its just "I control this one element", and then from that the mage turns that into a billion different things.

A fire wizard will say "I can cast fire bolt, fire ball, and scorching ray". A fire conduit instead just has an elemental blast, but they can turn that elemental blast into a bolt that is hurled at one person, or have it explode into a ball of flame, or split it into multiple beams.

Its very much a creativity first subclass, and thats whats behind its capstone! The capstone is all of this at its epitomy, the ability to freely reshape your elemental power (By freely, temporarily learning talents) into whatever form you imagine.

Hell, customizability is built even into the very core of its flavour

Yeah <3

I hope you guys enjoyed reading this class as much as I enjoyed writing it and as much as I enjoy talking about it <3

[celassa]

Mooncloth robes, a headcanon

MOONCLOTH, ELUNITE & MOONSTONES

To be a Priestess of Elune is not only dedicate ones entire self to the Goddess but to also strive to serve their people in the various capacities of which that is necessary. Ranging from humanitarian efforts, spiritual guidance or a source of strength during eras of strife. Every aspect of a Mooncloth is able to be utilized by a Priestess in one way or another to amplify their Divine-given capabilities.

Mooncloth

The bulk of the garb is able to be turned into makeshift bandages that can cleanse impurities and/or corruption from wounds. Also if placed over a wound, a Priestess who may find her inner well of magic waning, can magnify their healing magic through the mooncloth fabrics.

Tailors tell that the first recipe for Mooncloth was scribed by Elune herself - Heroes of Azeroth

Elunite

Is most often used for the decorative ornamental workings atop the mooncloth. Elunite is a fine metal that is considerably harmful to Demons and the Undead. It causes harm to these currptive types by mere touch alone. Often Elunite is crafted into weapons for its innate effects against the undead and fel-fused beings.

Elunite ore is incredibly fine and is believed to be blessed by the Mother Moon herself. -The Shade of Elura

Moonstone

In relation to Mooncloth robes, moonstones are most often use to adorn the more decorative Mooncloth robes. Moonstones themselves can be left as offerings for the deceased or at shrines for Elune. Additionally, a Priestess may channel her divine magics through the Moonstone. The stone acting as a conduit of sorts.

A Moonstone is an artifact that is able to causes an eclipse that blocks out the sun and creates an artificial night. -Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos

REGIONAL INFLUENCES

The Kaldorei have a deep connection to the land. They view themselves as much as part of the cycle of nature as the flora and fauna. Priestesses are no exception to this and some may even draw upon the region where they took their priesthood training or their homeland to decorate their Mooncloth Robe.

Winterspring

Priestesses who took host in the snow capped landscape of eternal winter may have Mooncloth Robes that are very decorated with moonstones and Elunite. As if to mimic the regions hoar frost (the sparkles on the snow) or the icicles that dangle from every tree branch. Theirs may also be adorned with feathers to commemorate the regions local Moontouched Owlbeast population. Or fur to line their garbs from a good game.

Darkshore

With the expansive shoreline and near constant overcast, Priestesses from Darkshore may decorate their Mooncloth Robes and decorative adornments with shells. Some even decorate the bodice of their garb with sewn in shells that mimic beadwork. Pearls are also sought after. In some cases a Priestesses may spend years collecting pearls of varying color to mimic the phases of the Moon.

Ashenvale

Within the heavy overhang of canopy are various types of flora. Priestesses who trained here or were raised in Ashenvale may decorate their Mooncloth Robes with Spider's Silk from the webs spun by Wildthorn Venomspitter's. The embroidery may also be decorative in the shape of leaves or local flowers. Often a Priestess may embroider their sleeves with imagery akin to the Purple Lotus which is native only to Kalimdor.

Feralas

With the station of the Sentinel Army residing in Feathermoon Stronghold, Priestesses from the area of Feralas may wear more practical garb. Often forgoing the lengthy sleeves and skirts and wearing a set out trousers with an off hanging Mooncloth skirt. Elunite decorum is also more common here. Including but not limited to pieces that have been crafted to be used as weapons just as they are meant to be worn.

ACCESSORIES

It is not uncommon for a Priestess to wear pieces of jewelry with the intention to always have an offering to Elune on hand. or to leave at a shrine or burial stone of the deceased. A Priestess may also gift an accessory to one whom is enduring a time of strife or unease, intending for them to wear the blessed accessory themselves for good fortune or respite.

CRAFTING A MOONCLOTH ROBE

One does not simply obtain a Mooncloth Robe. A Mooncloth Robe is made specifically for the Priestess who is going to wear it. Once they have completed their trainings within the Sisterhood and are nearing their graduation into Priesthood, a student will begin the necessary preparations to create their own Mooncloth Robe which signifies their station in Kaldorei society as a Priestess.

Mooncloth can be taken from the robes of fallen Priestesses' and repurposed. It's not uncommon for a Priestess to take the Mooncloth from an aunt, mother or sister's robes and refashion them for herself if they themselves have fallen in Battle. To carry on the legacy of their relative or loved one by their endeavors.

Felcloth can be purified by ritualistic ceremony and subsequently makes Mooncloth. This is most common as the ceremony demands that the Priestess collect Felcloth which is adorned by those of Demonic Influence, or demons themselves. The soon-to-be Priestess would set out, either alone or with fellow students, and clear out an infestation of demons. They would then collect the Felcloth necessary for their purification ritual and return to their respective Temple.

Now more than ever the repurpose of Mooncloth is popularized since the fall of the Legion. Some robes are the result of several repurposed Mooncloth Robes.

This headcanon is a culmination of varying ideas spanning over the course of years. This headcanon did not start with me and certainly it won't end with me.

[karmicbias]

This was originally a reply but I cleaned it up a little more and threw it on ao3 as well!

---

Everything that has an ending has a beginning

Words: 666

Summary: A 'what if' scenario when V goes to summon a new multi ghoul

---

Look. There's a universe where this is how it goes...

---

With the help of the Siblings back at the Ministry and some overnight shipping on the company credit card, the ghouls work together to set up a summoning rig for V to find his new ghoul.

For better or worse, the more experienced of them have seen enough of these at this point they don't need Copia's help in requesting the components they need and laying out the ritual. Which is good, because he has very little inclination right now to give his brother help hurting more ghouls, which is how he sees it.

They get everything planned for the next time they don't have a show two days in a row, in an abandoned Ministry chapel on some back road no one even remembers. Whoever answers the call - if they answer - won't be able to get on stage immediately so the sooner their training, however unorthodox, can begin, the better.

Dew's served three different Papas, has seen the majority of his pack as they arrived Up Top, so despite his injured foot, he insists on helping V be the conduit. It will help if the new multi has some fire, and like calls to like. He'd prefer having Phantom too, but the little quint can barely be persuaded to join the circle, and stands quietly, slumped against Rain's shoulder on the outside edges, Aurora tucked under Phantom's other arm.

V surprises them with his comfort in this process - while he's summoned one ghoulette already, these are not exactly the controlled circumstances and studied preparations that accompanied her arrival once Cumulus' vessel made it clear that another tour wasn't in the cards.

But what V lacks in experience he makes up in his absolute confidence in these ghouls and their love for the pack. He doesn't acknowledge it directly, but when the wind picks up and the ritual candles flare, Dew is doing a lot of the heavy lifting, magically speaking. He's tapped into the consciousness of the pack and pulling on their collective strength and bond to help find the best ghoul for a very specific job. V simply opens the gate, begins the chanting, and voices their request.

Which is, perhaps, why, when a plume of fire roars through the portal, it's mixed with a darker cloud of something that smells more like ozone than brimstone. A hunched figure coalesces, lights and flame dancing through that darkened form, slowly fading as the body gains mass and bulk.

Mountain and Rain scent the change in the air first, eyes wide as they glance at each other, then to Phantom, and finally Dew, whose eyes are screwed shut, tears streaming down his cheeks. With a gasp more felt than breathed, the summoning gate snaps shut and Mountain steps up behind Dew, grasping his shoulders and giving them a little shake. Cirrus steps forward, teary eyed, holding out a robe to the bulky ghoul rising from the middle of the summoning circle, taking in the surroundings.

"Well, I certainly wasn't expecting to see you lot again any time this millennium... Though I don't know you at all, which we'll need to have a chat about." Under the ghoul's regard, V catches a gleam in his tight smile.

The voice isn't quite right. Scorched, smoky. But unmistakably melodic and playful. The horns, too, are slightly wrong, darker, no longer containing galactic swirls. Now they are shiny obsidian, with an iridescent sheen, but still curved, still adorned with silver rings - just like his ears and nose. Aether's eyes are the most obvious change, now a molten copper as he accepts the robe from Cirrus, wrapping his arms around her for just a moment, breathing her in. Then he rounds on the rest of the group, arms out to receive an unsteady Dewdrop from Mountain's grounding hold.

"Oh, my firefly. Let me help you with that foot. I think this new vessel can still do some of my old tricks..."

[inaris-mage-of-storms]

}{ Warning for physical altercation, threat of sexual violence, and brief discussion of dead bodies.

As they entered the room, the Codfather stood at a window staring out over the water. "Pixlriffs, wait outside please," he said without turning around.

Pix silenced fWhip's protest with a gentle squeeze of his hand, then left him in the middle of the room and stepped out. As the door clicked shut, the Codfather turned and stepped toward him.

He was taller than fWhip by several feet, and the shirt of netting he wore did little to conceal broad muscles. fWhip couldn't help but be intimidated by the mer that towered over him; even if he weren't a god, it was clear that he had the advantage in size and strength. Then the Codfather grinned suddenly, sharp and predatory, the rest of his face covered by the mask.

"Hello, fWhip."

If fWhip still had a functioning heart, it would have stopped right then and there. He knew that voice.

Something shifted in the background hum of magic that fWhip could only barely sense, and as it did, so did the Codfather. He lost his height and bulk as he shed his demi form for a more humanish disguise, and even his mask shifted into something simpler. Now that fWhip was at eye level with him, he realized he knew those hazel eyes, too. He knew that mask, and that body.

And now he knew something else:

Oh, I'm fucked.

Once the Codfather - once Jimmy made sure fWhip knew it was him, he morphed back into his demi form and stepped closer. fWhip moved back, but Jimmy kept approaching until the back of fWhip's knees hit the bed. fWhip managed to keep his balance, but only barely, and didn't dare lean away for fear of falling.

"So, uh, Pix said I was officially registered as your concubine," he said nervously, trying to ignore how very, very close Jimmy's face was to his. "Is that like a, a symbolic title, or, um...?"

The Codfather's grin widened. "There's nothing symbolic about it. Your life is forfeit, little count, and belongs to me now. You belong to me." He put a hand on fWhip's chest, and it was almost insulting how little strength he had to expend to send fWhip sprawling.

"You - you can't treat me like this!" said fWhip indignantly, scrambling back to put some distance between them. "I don't want - "

The hand that wrapped around his throat and the knee that pressed between his legs were equally effective at cutting off his protest. "Oh, I'm well aware of what you want," said Jimmy. "You think I didn't notice how hard you got every time we got into a scuffle?" He leaned down and ran his tongue over the shell of fWhip's ear, pleased when wheezy protests turned into a shiver. "I guess we have a few misconceptions to clear up. Like the one where you seem to think I give a fuck what a murderer does or doesn't want."

"I didn't - " fWhip pulled at Jimmy's wrist fruitlessly, struggling for air. "I didn't know. S'posed to be - only in battle - "

"You're too smart to be that stupid," scoffed Jimmy. His hand clenched harder for one terrifying second, then he let go and watched fWhip wheeze and cough. "Do you know how many of our people I've held funeral rites for in the last few years, whenever you and Sausage weren't trying your best to humiliate me? How many farmers? elderly? children?"

fWhip shook his head, unable to meet the Codfather's gaze. Jimmy leaned close until the cold surface of his mask brushed against fWhip's forehead. "Neither do I. I lost count."

The water in a half-empty pitcher nearby lapped dangerously at the vessel's rim. fWhip shuddered, glad he'd been summoned to a room in the upper part of the palace rather than one in the depths. He wouldn't trust a conduit to function properly right now, not for him.

"I'm sorry. I am. But that's not my fault," he said in a small voice. "I just...I just tinker! I make silly little gadgets, and farming tools, and - and - "

"And cores that get forged into weapons so powerful no mortal should wield them," said Jimmy. "I've seen your 'gadgets', fWhip, and what Mythland does with them before selling them. Almost every body we recover these days is branded with the evidence of your work. Redstone burns littering the bodies of people who have never seen a speck of the stuff in their lives."

fWhip stared up at him, still unable to fully comprehend the scope of the horror Jimmy was informing him of. "They said they were defending themselves," he whispered. "They wanted peace. We were helping them make peace."

It wasn't as if he'd ever had anything against the codfolk, as sympathic as he was for the salmon refugees who turned up at his gates. As much as he liked to needle Jimmy, he also liked visiting the Codlands and chatting with the merchants. He thought about the merling he sometimes bought peat from, the friendly way she clapped him on the back with a loud laugh whenever he tried and failed to negotiate a lower price. He thought about her two kids that liked to try to "help" him carry his purchases to the border and were always fascinated with the sleight of hand tricks he showed them.

He thought about finding them someday, marked by redstone weapons, and his stomach churned.

Jimmy's face contorted with anger at the word 'peace.' fWhip didn't fight back when he grabbed him by the shirt and hurled him across the room, staying low and still while the god towered over him, only flinching when the pitcher across the room shattered in place. Jimmy gathered the escaped water into his palm with a gesture, and fWhip wondered if it was about to be stuffed into his lungs. From the set of Jimmy's jaw, he was seriously considering it.

fWhip closed his eyes, preparing to endure whatever torment the Codfather was about to inflict on him.

He gasped when the cold water splashed over his head instead, leaving him soaked through but unharmed. Jimmy hauled him to his feet and toward the door. "Get out."

"What - "

"Out." Jimmy shoved him hard before slamming the door, and only Pixlriff's waiting arms kept fWhip from falling to the stone floor.

"Oh dear," he murmured into fWhip's hair, feeling the Count begin to shake against him. "Let's get you cleaned up."

Pix glanced at the closed door, then took fWhip to his own room, finding a change of clothes for him and gently towel drying his hair after checking that he wasn't injured. "You know, I really hate that he's right," said fWhip, staring absently at a stack of books perched precariously on the edge of Pix's desk.

"About what?" asked Pix, moving from fWhip's hair to his wings.

fWhip sighed and closed his eyes. "That I always thought it was hot when he pinned me down." Pix chuckled, and fWhip managed a smile. "Does it not bother you, that I think that? Or this whole...situation? You said you were married now. Aren't you jealous?"

"I knew he would take additional lovers sooner or later," said Pix. He paused his movements on the lower half of fWhip's wing for only a moment before resuming. "It's expected of him. It's quite the anomaly that both Jimmy and Lizzie have only one consort and no one else in each of their courts, in fact."

fWhip wondered if Joel knew the Ocean Queen was already married. He'd seemed to be quite taken with her whenever she made her rare appearances at House Blossom several years ago.

He wondered if he would ever even see Joel again. Or his sister, or Sausage, or any of his other friends.

He'd really thought he and Jimmy were - maybe not the closest friends, but amicable, at least. They hadn't gotten into any serious arguments for a while. fWhip liked to bully him ever so slightly just to get a rise out of him, but it was only ever the sort of things he and Sausage did to each other all the time. And yet the whole time, Jimmy was - what, gathering information on him? On Mythland? Had he hated fWhip this whole time?

fWhip struggled with the complicated feelings swirling in his chest, ground his teeth and tried to calm himself, but it had been a stressful two days. Exhaustion, anger, fear, and guilt made for a volatile mood. Pixlriffs jumped, startled as fWhip exploded into a tirade of insults and angry remarks directed at Jimmy, Lizzie, the entire Ocean Empire, Sausage, the salmon mer, himself.

Pix gave fWhip a sympathetic look and let him rant while he moved around the room, putting fWhip's wet clothes aside to be laundered, tidying his desk, pulling on a cord and opening the door to pick up a tea tray that appears shortly after. By the time he pressed a warm cup into fWhip's hand, the count's fury had subsided into a miserable silence with the occasional curse spat out in a cracking voice.

fWhip stared down at the cup, took a sip, stared at it some more. Pix asked him how it was, and fWhip looked up at him.

"It tastes like seaweed."

He looked and sounded like a sullen, petulant child, and Pixlriffs felt bad for laughing, but the annoyed huff fWhip gave him when he turned his head to try to hide it just made the sight even cuter. "I'm sorry, I didn't think about it. I'll get you one of the imported ones."

fWhip's fingers pinched the end of Pix's robes as he stood, and Pix looked at him curiously. "Could you - ...No, nevermind," mumbled fWhip, withdrawing his hand.

Pix's tail swished behind him thoughtfully, then he wrapped his arms around fWhip's shoulders. fWhip stiffened, then relaxed into the hug and pressed his face into Pix.

"It will be all right," Pix murmured, brushing his fingers through fWhip's hair. "I have a head and a tail that will never meet. Having too many of me is still quite a treat. What am I?"

fWhip furrowed his brow as he thought, but it was an easy one, and the answer came to him in seconds. "A coin."

"Hm, so it is." Pix ran his fingers over fWhip's ear, then showed off the coin he held between his knuckles. "You were right."

fWhip had always thought Pixlriffs to be very proper, and such a whimsical gesture from the man caught him off guard. He laughed harder than he should, and wiped a tear out of his eye as Pix smiled and knelt in front of him, taking his hands in his.

"Where would you look to find lakes with no water, mountains without stone, and cities with no buildings?"

"A map." Now that fWhip's mind was in puzzle-solving mode instead of spiraling into sorrow, he didn't even need a moment to think. "Don't you have something actually challenging?"

Pix laughed, wove a logic problem into a poem, and absently stroked his thumb over the back of fWhip's hand while fWhip worked it out in his head. They sat there for a while, and with his mind distracted and enjoying the sound of Pix's calming voice, fWhip could almost fool himself into believing he might come to like it here.

Part 6 of The Codfather's Court AU

[mariacallous]

A data broker owned by the country’s major airlines, including Delta, American Airlines, and United, collected US travelers’ domestic flight records, sold access to them to Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and then as part of the contract told CBP to not reveal where the data came from, according to internal CBP documents obtained by 404 Media. The data includes passenger names, their full flight itineraries, and financial details.

CBP, a part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), says it needs this data to support state and local police to track people of interest’s air travel across the country, in a purchase that has alarmed civil liberties experts.

The documents reveal for the first time in detail why at least one part of DHS purchased such information, and comes after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detailed its own purchase of the data. The documents also show for the first time that the data broker, called the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), tells government agencies not to mention where it sourced the flight data from.

“The big airlines—through a shady data broker that they own called ARC—are selling the government bulk access to Americans' sensitive information, revealing where they fly and the credit card they used,” senator Ron Wyden said in a statement.

ARC is owned and operated by at least eight major US airlines, other publicly released documents show. The company’s board of directors include representatives from Delta, Southwest, United, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, and European airlines Lufthansa and Air France, and Canada’s Air Canada. More than 240 airlines depend on ARC for ticket settlement services.

ARC’s other lines of business include being the conduit between airlines and travel agencies, finding travel trends in data with other firms like Expedia, and fraud prevention, according to material on ARC’s YouTube channel and website. The sale of US fliers’ travel information to the government is part of ARC’s Travel Intelligence Program (TIP).

A Statement of Work included in the newly obtained documents, which describes why an agency is buying a particular tool or capability, says CBP needs access to ARC’s TIP product “to support federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to identify persons of interest’s US domestic air travel ticketing information.” 404 Media obtained the documents through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

The new documents obtained by 404 Media also show ARC asking CBP to “not publicly identify vendor, or its employees, individually or collectively, as the source of the Reports unless the Customer is compelled to do so by a valid court order or subpoena and gives ARC immediate notice of same.”

The Statement of Work says that TIP can show a person’s paid intent to travel and tickets purchased through travel agencies in the US and its territories. The data from the Travel Intelligence Program (TIP) will provide “visibility on a subject’s or person of interest’s domestic air travel ticketing information as well as tickets acquired through travel agencies in the U.S. and its territories,” the documents say. They add that this data will be “crucial” in both administrative and criminal cases.

A DHS Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) available online says that TIP data is updated daily with the previous day’s ticket sales, and contains more than one billion records spanning 39 months of past and future travel. The document says TIP can be searched by name, credit card, or airline, but ARC contains data from ARC-accredited travel agencies, such as Expedia, and not flights booked directly with an airline. “If the passenger buys a ticket directly from the airline, then the search done by ICE will not show up in an ARC report,” that PIA says. The PIA notes that the data impacts both US and non-US persons, meaning it does include information on US citizens.

“While obtaining domestic airline data—like many other transaction and purchase records—generally doesn't require a warrant, there's still supposed to go through a legal process that ensures independent oversight and limits data collection to records that will support an investigation,” Jake Laperruque, deputy director of the Center for Democracy & Technology's Security and Surveillance Project, told 404 Media in an email. “As with many other types of sensitive and revealing data, the government seems intent on using data brokers to buy their way around important guardrails and limits.”

CBP’s contract with ARC started in June 2024 and may extend to 2029, according to the documents. The CBP contract 404 Media obtained documents for was an $11,025 transaction. Last Tuesday, a public procurement database added a $6,847.50 update to that contract, which said it was exercising “Option Year 1,” meaning it was extending the contract. The documents are redacted but briefly mention CBP’s OPR, or Office of Professional Responsibility, which in part investigates corruption by CBP employees.

“CBP is committed to protecting individuals’ privacy during the execution of its mission to protect the American people, safeguard our borders, and enhance the nation’s economic prosperity. CBP follows a robust privacy policy as we protect the homeland through the air, land and maritime environments against illegal entry, illicit activity or other threats to national sovereignty and economic security,” a CBP spokesperson said in a statement. CBP added that the data is only used when an OPR investigation is open, and the agency needs to locate someone related to that investigation. The agency says the data can act as a good starting point to identify a relevant flight record before then getting more information through legal processes.

On May 1, ICE published details about its own ARC data purchase. In response, on May 2, 404 Media filed FOIA requests with ICE and a range of other agencies that 404 Media found had bought ARC’s services, including CBP, the Secret Service, SEC, DEA, the Air Force, US Marshals Service, TSA, and ATF. 404 Media found these by searching US procurement databases. Around a week later, The Lever covered the ICE contract.

Airlines contacted by 404 Media declined to comment, didn’t respond, or deferred to either ARC or DHS instead. ARC declined to comment. The company previously told The Lever that TIP “was established after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to provide certain data to law enforcement … for the purpose of national security matters” and criminal investigations.

“ARC has refused to answer oversight questions from Congress, so I have already contacted the major airlines that own ARC—like Delta, American Airlines, and United—to find out why they gave the green light to sell their customers' data to the government,” Wyden’s statement added.

US law enforcement agencies have repeatedly turned to private companies to buy data rather than obtain it through legal processes such as search warrants or subpoenas. That includes location data harvested from smartphones, utility data, and internet backbone data.

“Overall it strikes me as yet another alarming example of how the ‘Big Data Surveillance Complex’ is becoming the digital-age version of the military-industrial complex,” Laperruque says, referring to the purchase of airline data.

“It's clear the data broker loophole is pushing the government back towards a pernicious ‘collect it all’ mentality, gobbling up as much sensitive data as it can about all Americans by default. A decade ago the public rejected that approach, and Congress passed surveillance reform legislation that banned domestic bulk collection. Clearly it's time for Congress to step in again, and stop the data broker loophole from being used to circumvent that ban,” he added.

According to ARC’s website, the company only introduced multifactor authentication on May 15.

[blackjackkent]

All right, let's see if I can finish Blood of Arlathan today. :D

We've made it through Elgar'nan's weird Fade maze, so time to go save those Dalish prisoners! \o/

This of course starts with more Venatori battles. Judging by the comments from Helena and Bellara, the trapped Dalish are behind those crystal forcefields. [cracks knuckles] Let's go.

Helena is absolutely not enjoying this experience, not least because Elgar'nan and Solas are STILL sniping at each other using her brain as a conduit.

Solas> "The cruelty is nothing new, but what has happened to the vaunted brilliant mind of Elgar'nan the mighty? The blight has left you blunt and slow, a monster, not a mastermind. You used to be a challenging opponent." Elgar'nan> "You saw me as an opponent. TO me, you were an irritation, a fly buzzing ceaselessly." Solas> "I must speak to you in this tongue. It seems elven is beyond your grasp." Elgar'nan>"As much as freedom is beyond yours."

"Rook? Rook!" Neve's voice snaps through the fog in Helena's mind.

Helena blinks, staggering, narrowly avoiding a Venatori blade swinging past her head. "What? Were you talking to--" She swallows, sparing half a second to clutch at the side of her head. "Sorry," she mumbles. "They are... very loud..."

-----

This is a very long and mildly complicated fight, as it involves a bunch of crystal puzzling while also getting beaten up by Venatori, including another Blood Forge. And more sniping between Elgar'nan and Solas as we go:

Solas> "Once the blight is free, it will rule this world, and you will be its attack dog. You will burn this world at its command, as Andruil did at yours, and you will leave only ruin behind you." Elgar'nan> "This world is ruined already! Your Veil destroyed it!" Solas> "You could heal it. You have the strength to repair the damage without using the blight!" Elgar'nan> "Save your games for the mortals, Dread Wolf. The blight is my blade, and it will take more than your tricks to get me to lay it down."

Elgar'nan> "Your whining comes from envy, Fen'Harel, but it does not have to be so. There is a place for you at my side in a new, glorious empire." Solas> "But it will not have eluvians, will it? June built them, and now he is dead. Our great cities came from Sylaise. Our deepest mysteries from Dirthamen." Elgar'nan> "I will restore it all. Their achievements will not be lost." Solas> "You were a bully who ruled over what others had built, and now the others are gone! Who do you have left? Ghilan'nain? You cannot rebuild a world by stitching together monsters. "

Sheesh. XD

Helena is trying desperately to focus on not dying while all this is going on, but the conversation is definitely pissing her off. It's only adding to her sense that she and Solas might have a common enemy, but he is doing things for his own reasons, reasons that she still does not trust.

But that doesn't matter right now. What matters is the trapped Dalish, and after that extended battle sequence, we finally reach them!

One quick shot to the crystal and they're free!

"I can guide you to one of my old hideouts," Solas hisses in Helena's head. "You can use it to make your escape. The wards still in place there will shield you all from Elgar'nan's sight."

"Solas... thank you," Helena answers inwardly. It grinds her gears terribly to have to acknowledge it, but he is saving their lives. She just wonders what the price will be later.

They run. Helena is conscious every minute of the bulk of the dragon so nearby, of Elgar'nan's gaze watching them until they're out of sight.

She doesn't relax until Solas's wards swallow them up. And then she leaves Neve and Bellara in charge and curls up in a corner of the waiting cave and sleeps almost a full day, the pounding in her head slowly, slowly receding back into quiet again.

[late-to-the-fandom]

Writing Share Tag

Thank you @willtheweaver for this tag from 15 days ago 😅 just crawling through my tags, dabbling in the art of just writing lines without going back to look at them, correct them, judge them, etc.

"It will be long dormant and bereft of anima," said Renathal, considering the metal's dull cast; and, as if on cue, his stomach cramped in piteous reminder of how little anima it, too, contained. "Of course,” he added doubtfully, “there is always a chance a tendril or two still remain," and, on a whim, he reached out a hand and brushed the conduit's side - then sucked in a superfluous breath of pain and surprise. Power thrummed through the conduit. Anima - more than Renathal had felt in one place since before the drought; but more than anima. Another magic, both strange and, somehow, familiar, laced the roil of sanguine magic, locking it in place like electric chains. It burned white-hot against the skin of Renathal’s palm until he could not bear the sensation and drew his hand away. He stared at it for a moment before clenching his fingers around the echoing ache and re-assessing the massive bulk of iron and stone every bit as dull and unremarkable looking as before. "Are you alright?" came Elisewin’s strained voice from his shoulder, and Renathal was vaguely aware of her own warm fingers prying his apart and stroking gingerly across his palm as if inspecting it for damage. "What happened? I thought you said it was dormant." He shook his head, slowly, and let his once-more wary gaze wander the still, silent chamber. "I do not think anything in this place is as dormant as it appears."

Tagging: @oh-no-another-idea @romances-not-tragedies @rjcopeseethemald @cosmiccoincidence @darknightfrombeyond @mysticstarlightduck @frostedlemonwriter to write some new, unpolished lines and share them with the class

[andmaybegayer]

Last Monday of the Week 2025-02-03

It fuckin cold

Listening: I have been installing and testing my new TV speakers so I need a nice bass-heavy song to run tests and dial in subwoofer levels, and I am regularly coming back to Bad Guy by Billie Eilish. It's good! It was a good song. She's been much gentler in style lately so it is interesting to compare styles.

Also just a fun video to have on a big screen.

Watching: The Court Jester (1955) starring Danny Kaye which you know from the incredibly silly swordfight at the end, you've seen it be used on here to litigate stupid arguments about mastery of skills.

Extremely funny! Watched with my partner and their friends. Really solid use of a Danny Kaye and cute wordplay. This is a movie about dating a closeted trans man.

There are so many guys in this movie! Danny Kaye, Basil Rathbone, Angela Lansbury, Michael Pate, Alan Napier, hell even John Carradine makes an appearance before being bonked on the head.

Reading: Still working my way through Pale Fire, there's a lot happening. I feel like I don't have the whole picture yet.

Playing: Not a ton, I was not at home much this past week for reasons.

Making: when I have been at home I've been working on my whole TV deal. I do not use the TV but part of that is that it has dogshit sound and no computer attached that I enjoy using, so I've been solving that. One thing I said when the Steam Deck came out was that it was an ideal form factor for a home theater PC, since it has enough computing power to get out of its own way and even do some light gaming, but it's also small and multi-use. HTPC's tend to feel like a waste if they're powerful and annoying if they're too slow, so being able to just rip your HTPC out and carry it around without having to deal with the bulk and height of a laptop is nice.

I've been installing a hub with some peripherals and networking for that, and then also installing the speakers I got on the front of the TV cabinet, which is more or less done now! I still need to print some cable conduit so route those cables to the back of the cabinet. But it's good for now, looks nice, and sounds decent.

Up next is to design some kind of more robust docking solution for the handheld. The handheld also needs to get punted over to Linux so I can incorporate it into my home network, it'll be able to NFS mount my media libraries and act as a wireplumber sink so that I can beam audio to it. Actually hmm I think my TV can do AirPlay so I might be able to use WP to hit that directly. I'll see! It'll be nice to have everything integrated.

I mean actually actually up next should be the big projects, which is to say soundproofing the server a little and designing the coffee table, which are ongoing design projects (see: I have a bunch of OnShape windows open)

Tools and Equipment: This counts: The big thing these days is the absorption method for rice where you carefully measure out the right amount of water so that it is perfectly taken up while cooking. It's good. However. You should try making parboiled basmati rice the Indian way where you boil it in a ton of water and then drain it like pasta. It is so good. I just made like two cups of rice for the week like this it's very easy and pretty quick if you preboil some of your water in a fast kettle, or you have good induction.

[ledestube]

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[renxfields]

@seeingvivianne location: Dragon Palace or whatever, the one in the sky notes: um... i don't know when this was, but it's their first time seeing each other so maybe freshly possessed and just back Demetria.

With a splat, a demon that Renfield had used as a conduit heaved a mass of tentacles onto the gilded tiles of the palace. A volatile, explosive black ooze seeped from the appendages as bits of sinew and viscera spilled from the monster's gut until it was emptied out. A hollowed out husk that had served its purpose.

The technology was there, just as Gods could ask for entrance, it wasn't impossible to implant ideas either. Ilsensine was an expert at that as well, but this demigod's eldritch mind mirrored his own. He knew the ins and outs, the backdoors and how easy it'd be to slip something into one of the many layers. Renfield had never questioned it, arrogant enough to think that every idea he'd ever had was entirely his own. It was only when the light faded from his eyes and The Great Old One had taken hold that Renfield had realized he'd fallen prey to an Elder Evil.

Holashner, The Hunger Below, shifted the mass of tentacles into something reminiscent of a humanoid shape. Slithered and crawled as skin shifted over the eldritch visage until he appeared every bit like the vessel he'd inhabited, save for a few stray tentacles. Elsewhere, the bulk of his true frame remained integrated into The Great Old Ones' technologies and manufacturing, forcing the halfbloodeds to use their powers completely while controlling not just their movements but the witch Trivia's as well remotely. A puppeteer with infinite limbs and eyes.

"Demetria." Holashner praised as he brought a hand to the draconic goddesses cheek, too many years had passed between the last time he'd seen her and now. "Your vessel took some time to prepare, but she suits you."

[augment-techs]

"You killed me with your smile" Bulk/Jason

A seagull with human food much further away from the picnic areas and boardwalk than it usually would have been, a flour tortilla bowl clutched in its beak as it tried to break it on a rock in an effort to get something to eat; not much luck with such an ungainly beak and it still being so young.

Bulk didn't notice Jason coming up behind him as the larger man cooed at the little thing as it dropped the shell and flittered half a step away. Jason didn't want to break the spell, but he did get out his phone camera. Bulk carefully lowered himself down to a squat, picking up the tortilla shell and crushing it carefully between his hands so the little bits of rice and greens were in the center as he set the crumbles back to the the ground and carefully got up, stepping backwards until the seagull was comfortable with his distance. Then the little thing went to town on its meal, swallowing a mouthful, looking at Bulk once as the man laughed hearty and joyful at the tilt of its cute little head in what almost seemed like a 'thank you' before going back to indulging in the free food. Jason clicked the phone off from video and took the moment to jump up and wrap his arms around Bulk's neck, pulling himself up on his tiptoes so he could kiss him on the shoulder and cheek. Bulk looked a little confused, but took a second to pitch forward and wrap his hands under Jason's legs so they were in a piggyback pose, like they were five years old on the playground in kindergarten instead of thirty-five and had been on their honeymoon for a week in a town even smaller than Angel Grove, but without the conduit of constant monster attacks. "What's got you in such a good mood?" "Just the realization that I get to spend the rest of my life seeing you smile." "Wow, way to lay it on thick, Mr. Scotty-Bee," Bulk almost barked out laughing, starting a fairly swift pace towards their tiny little rented cabin on the far-side of the beach along the tree line, "You really don't have to try so hard anymore. I'd be more than happy to tuck you into bed---after helping you out of all those clothes." Jason almost shrieked as Bulk gained speed, barely managing, "A t-shirt I stole from you and swim trunks don't count as a lot of clothing, Mr. Scott-Bulkmeier!" "They do on our honeymoon!" Raucous and boisterous laughter; the little door that was little more than driftwood and a bug screen open and closing with a clatter; the pleased seagull tilting its head at where the noisy humans had left footprints along the sand---with any luck, when the tide came in, some little fish or shelled creatures would be easier to spot where toes and the balls of feet had dug in.

[industrywaala1]

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[getitsms]

Examining the Prospects of Bulk SMS Service Providers in Mumbai

With an ever-evolving digital ecosystem, businesses in Mumbai have begun engaging customers using more rapid and personalized messaging channels. Despite this rapid evolution, in case you ever do need to rely on one channel of engagement, the bulk SMS service stands out as a perfect medium that is easy to use, quick, and where effectiveness and efficiency meet at scale. At a time when consumer expectations are towards instant engagement, the number of reputable and innovative bulk SMS Service providers in Mumbai continues to emerge to satisfy demand across industries.

Bulk SMS, afforded by the increasing penetration of smartphones and marketing personalization, is not going away anytime soon. Nevertheless, it still represents one of the easiest and effective means of digital outreach.

The Growing Significance of Bulk SMS in Mumbai's Business Environment

Whether retail shops or universities, businesses in Mumbai are using bulk SMS as part of their daily operations to improve communication in their business. These platforms provide an effective way to send promotional campaigns (with opt-in subscriptions), reminders for services, and alerts to clients while giving them the assurance of trust. Businesses are seeing SMS as not just a notification function, but a real-time conduit to their audience.

With features like automated delivery, language customization, and integration with CRM, bulk SMS service in Mumbai allows companies to deliver the right message at the right time without the use of apps or a connection to the internet.

Why Mumbai Businesses Choose Bulk SMS Over All Other Methods

While email campaigns and mobile notifications often fail to be seen, SMS offers no competition for open rates. It guarantees that time-sensitive messages are getting read, which makes it ideal for flash sales, OTPs, and alerts.

Ultimately, the range and flexibility of SMS make all the bulk SMS companies in Mumbai relevant to businesses to ensure visibility, responsiveness, and relevancy in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Main Characteristics Causing Success for Bulk SMS Services

·         Instant Delivery: Messages are sent and received within seconds.

·         Regulatory Compliance: Enables DLT registration and other legal standards.

·         Multilingual Reach: Encourages engagement in your customer's language.

·         Performance Tracking: Provides insights into subsets of real-time analytics to fine-tune the campaign.

·         Ease of Use: Sending SMS has the same simplicity as sending an email!

In summary, these characteristics have created a sense of trust in bulk SMS providers in Mumbai to enhance communication strategies.

The Growth of Smart Campaigns in Mumbai Find out more

Today’s marketing methods are moving further into data-based marketing programs, and SMS is now being informed by analytics. Businesses can see how the user behaves, find the best times to send messages when engagement is high, and better segment targets to get higher responses.

At the same time, brands that are promoting to environmentally-conscious customers are moving to digital-first strategies that leverage bulk SMS service in Mumbai to offer greener substitutes for printed flyers, with impact but less waste.

New Perspectives: How Bulk SMS Is Driving Urban Interaction in 2025

In Mumbai's rapidly paced lifestyle, people expect real-time and customized updates. Bulk SMS has moved beyond business and has taken on entirely new opportunities for personalization in the public sphere. Municipal bodies and housing societies use bulk SMS service for community notices, alerts, public service communication, and event communication.

Hyperlocal businesses like delivery apps and local marketplaces leverage bulk SMS to communicate real-time updates and feedback solicitation forms. The emergence of a more seamless and established cycle of communication is redefining the way people connect with urban services.

Conclusion

With Mumbai continuing its march toward a smarter, more connected future, the bulk SMS service providers in Mumbai will undoubtedly serve as the communication lifeline. They provide an important service that retains the effectiveness of real-time engagement in a cost-effective, contextualized global perspective, which is critically important for brands who wish to stay ahead.If you're a new local business engaging clients or an existing large enterprise retaining old clients, a bulk SMS service allows you to start building an ongoing relationship with the communication typhoon one messages at a time.

[ambicacables]

Top Three Core Flat Cable Manufacturers in India: Spotlight on Ambica Cables

When it comes to high-performance electrical wiring solutions, Three Core Flat Cables manufacturers stand out for their reliability in submersible pump connections, industrial machinery, and other heavy-duty applications. With safety, durability, and consistent performance being critical factors, choosing the right manufacturer is essential. Among the most trusted names in India, Ambica Cables has established itself as a go-to brand for quality Three Core Flat Cables.

What Are Three Core Flat Cables?

Three Core Flat Cables are specially designed with three insulated conductors laid parallel and sheathed in a flat PVC layer. This design minimizes cable bulking and ensures easy installation in narrow conduits or channels—particularly in submersible pump connections. The structure provides excellent resistance to moisture, abrasion, and mechanical damage, making them ideal for harsh environments.

Why Ambica Cables?

Ambica Cables has carved a niche in the cable manufacturing industry with over two decades of expertise. The company’s Three Core Flat Cables are known for:

Superior Quality Copper: 99.97% pure electrolytic grade copper ensures maximum conductivity and minimal power loss.

High Insulation Resistance: Special PVC compounds offer greater electrical strength and thermal stability.

Durability: Designed to withstand water, oil, grease, and mechanical stress, making them ideal for submersible pumps.

Compliance & Certification: Manufactured according to IS:694 and other industry standards for safety and reliability.

Ambica Cables serves industries across India, ensuring prompt delivery and customizable solutions for both domestic and industrial use.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for reliable, durable, and cost-effective Three Core Flat Cables manufacturers, Ambica Cables is a name you can trust. With its commitment to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, Ambica continues to be a top choice among contractors, farmers, and industries across India.

Visit:- https://www.ambicacables.com/three-core-flat-cables.html