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grailfinders · 9 months

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Grailfinders Viewers' Choice #19: Riesbyfe Stridberg

today on Grailfinders we’re heading to the bathroom to play some Melty Blood and build a better beef sandwich. that’s right, we’re making Riesbyfe Stridberg today, the semi-immortal shielder senpai who runs around with a freakin’ pile driver strapped to her arm.

speaking of shielders, I’m taking everything I learned from building Mash into this one, so she should end up a lot more streamlined. rule one: actually trying to make a shield-based build in D&D sucks, so we’re stealing a bunch of defensive stuff from elsewhere and reflavoring them as being part of our weapon instead.

now normally someone who gets most of their power from their weapon to the point of immortality would be a shoe-in for the warlock class, but unfortunately Riesbyfe is actually not that great with magic. so much so that she only has one level in Tempest Cleric to pick up some magical defenses. The rest of the levels are all going into Kensei Monk so we can turn a spear into a pile driver. and also to learn some sick fighting game combos.

check out her build breakdown below the cut, or her character sheet over here!

Lineage and Background

so, let’s get the rough part out of the way first. you were a human once, but since then your soul has been ripped out of the aether by some magical bullshit that brings rumors to life. that means you’re a Reborn, giving you +1 Dexterity, Constitution, and Wisdom. you also have your Ancestral Legacy giving you proficiency in Arcana and Persuasion. the former to know just about anything at all about magic in your setting, and the latter because despite your general disposition you fooled one of the smarter people in this series into thinking you’re well put together. you also have a Deathless Nature so you don’t need to eat, sleep, or breathe, and you have advantage against poison and death saves, plus resistance to poison damage. finally, your Knowledge of a Past Life lets you add a d6 to your skill checks every once in a while as you remember stuff from your time as the Dust of Osiris. I apologize now if I get any lore wrong, nasuverse stuff is weird and I’m not good enough at fighting games to get this info firsthand. if I say anything dumb, blame the wiki. …it kind of makes it weird that they bring up Gamaliel’s immortality thing in-game if its user is already dead, but w/e.

you’re also an Acolyte from all your time in church, giving you proficiency in Insight and Religion. sometimes things are simple in the nasuverse. not often, but sometimes.

Ability Scores

your highest score needs to be Dexterity. I know your shield’s got some oomph to it, but fighting games are more about reflexes than raw power. you also take “woman of the cloth” way too seriously, and aren’t wearing any armor in-game. after that, you’ll need plenty of Constitution. you tank by standing still and hoping the piece of metal you’re holding will stop everything from killing you. having more health as a backup plan is just good sense. thirdly, Wisdom. your magic isn’t great and your animal handling is atrocious, but you need to keep your head on a swivel if you’re going to block everything around you. our Strength is very low considering you punch with “up to two tons of force”, but we don’t need strength for damage, and we’ll get some extra oomph later. that means your Intelligence is just okay, and we’re dumping Charisma. you’re kind of a mess, and Neco-arcs hate you. I’m sorry, that’s just how it is.

Class Levels

1. Monk 1: you’re very physical, obviously we’re starting as a monk. doing so gives you proficiency in Strength and Dexterity saves, as well as Acrobatics and Athletics to further dunk on all the nerds you fight.

your Unarmored Defense adds your wisdom modifier to your AC as long as you don’t wear armor or shields, which ironically is fine for this build. Gamliel is more of a super-unique weapon anyway, even if it can block attacks. (for simplicity’s sake we’re calling it a spear here though.)

you also learn some Martial Arts- again, as long as you don’t put on armor or shields, you get the following benefits: you can use Dexterity in place of strength for most attacks, and you always deal at least a d4 of damage, which will grow as you level up. also, if you attack with your action, you can attack with your bonus action as well, getting your combo game started early.

2. Monk 2: At level two, you can harness your Ki for even more fighting game “shmovement”- you get your monk level in ki points every short rest, and you can spend one on your turn to either attack twice, dodge, disengage, or dash as a bonus action, with the last two also doubling your jump distance as well for the aerial game. While the exact math varies based on how high your AC is compared to the enemies you’re fighting, disadvantage from dodging usually makes hitting you 25% less likely, as opposed to the flat 10% of a physical shield. Thus, your weapon is now a better shield than the real deal, if one that requires work to use.

You can also attune to a Dedicated Weapon this level, turning it into a monk weapon with all the associated benefits at the cost of an hour of meditation every day. Reborn already sleep less than other ancestries, so this is practically a moot point. Now if you ever get your hands on a real Gamliel in-game, you’ll be able to use it just as well as the fake one we’ve been using. At least, you will shortly.

For now, you can also bask in your new Unarmored Movement. As long as you follow the rules previously laid out in levels one and two, you gain additional movement speed every turn. Again, this starts at a 10’ bonus now, and grows as you level up. You’d think this wouldn’t be important in a game where the you fight in rooms that wouldn’t even allow for social distancing, but positioning is very important in these games.

3. Monk 3: At third level Gamliel kicks into high gear as you become a Kensei monk, setting yourself down the Path of the Kensei. You can now pick any two Kensei Weapons from the weapons list, so if Gamliel is considered its own thing in your campaign, you now have access to it immediately. It’s sad that this gets rid of the lore-friendly hour of work each morning, but you can always do that anyways as roleplay. The other weapon has to be a ranged one, and both of them will count as monk weapons for you, and gain access to the later features of this class. You can pick more as you level up, but again, we’re here entirely for this shieldspear.

While holding your spearshield, you can make an Agile Parry by making an unarmed attack during your attack action. As long as you hold Gamliel this round, you will have a +2 bonus to your AC- again, just as much as a regular shield. with this, not only can you add this to a bonus action dodge, but the added AC actually makes your dodge even more effective. now that’s what I call a c-c-c-combo!

You also learn the Way of the Brush and how to make a Kensei’s Shot, but the former is just a skill proficiency for roleplay and the latter only adds damage to ranged attacks, neither of which do much in a fighting game.

However, this is not all a third level monk learns. you can now Deflect Missiles as a reaction, reducing the damage of a ranged weapon attack and possibly launching the arrow back at your opponent if you reduce the damage to zero. This is our first counterattack option, and while it’s situational, it’s also very funny.

4. Monk 4: It would probably be “smart” of us to use this first Ability Score Improvement to improve your abilities directly. However, if you’re going to be using your fists in your combos from here on out, it’s best that they’re worthy of using. With that in mind, grab the Crusher feat for a +1 bonus to Constitution, as well as some extra power in your punchers. With this feat, you can move a creature up to one size larger than you five feet in any direction once per turn, and when you score a critical hit, all attacks against them are with advantage until the start of your next turn. The latter is nice, but we’re here specifically for the former, allowing you to knock creatures into the air for combos or beat them into a corner for fewer means of escape. Punching is required to turn a spear into a shield- we might as well make it fun in the process.

Fourth level monks also learn to Slow Fall, using their reaction to reduce their falling damage by five times their level- right now, this means you can fall a maximum of 39’ without taking any damage. I don’t think any fighter can juggle you that high in the air, but I’m sure Arcueid will think of something.

5. Monk 5: at fifth level monks can really dish out the pain thanks to their Extra Attack each action and their increased martial arts die. they can also turn any melee attack into a Stunning Strike to open up their real combo game- if the target fails their constitution save, they can’t move or take actions or reactions, they fail strength and dexterity saves automatically, and most importantly all attacks against them have advantage. this takes a ki point to even try, but it lasts until the end of your next turn, giving you plenty of time to keep the combo going.

6. Cleric 1: Now that we have your basic combos down, it’s time we learn how to guard. as a Tempest Cleric, there is no in-game justification for being here. You could certainly stretch and point out how God made it rain forty days and nights or whatever, but we’re here entirely for two things. one: Spells. you can cast and prepare them using your Wisdom modifier, and they’re great fun.

But first, your cantrips. Light is great, because every time someone pulls out their special move the screen gets dark for a second. If you want yours to actually hit, you have to see what you’re doing. Also pick up Guidance and Resistance to survive just about everything, including having your tournament played in a water closet.

As a tempest cleric you learn Fog Cloud and Thunderwave for free, but we’re here for Shield of Faith, which gives you +2 AC for up to ten minutes with concentration. Now you have a physical and magical component to your shield, making it twice as effective as the norm.

That being said, the other reason we’re here is for a more typical counterattack. When an enemy invokes the Wrath of the Storm by attacking you in melee, you can react to force a dexterity saving throw, dealing lightning or thunder damage to them, or only half if they succeed. You can do this twice a day for now, but it will increase as your wisdom improves.

7. Monk 6: At sixth level, monks expand their horizons thanks to their Ki-Empowered Strikes giving them the ability to punch anyone without having to worry about nonmagical damage resistances. As a kensei monk, this also applies to your shield as you become One with the Blade. Your Magic Kensei Weapons allow you to pierce resistances, and you can make Deft Strikes, spending one ki point a turn to deal an extra martial arts die of damage on one attack. It’s not quite a piledriver yet, but it’s a start.

8. Monk 7: Seventh level monks have an even stronger shield, with their Evasion preventing all damage from successful dexterity saves, just like the Shield Master feat. Even better, you now only take half damage from failed dexterity saves as well!

Also, your Stillness of Mind can end charming or frightening effects on you as an action. I don’t know how a shield prevents you from being seduced, but I won’t argue. Anyone capable of fighting Kiara is more than welcome in my book.

9. Monk 8: At level eight we can finally use an ASI to improve your Wisdom, increasing the power of your spells, your stunning strikes, and the frequency of your counterattacks.

10. Monk 9: Ninth level monks gain an Unarmored Movement Improvement, allowing you to run up walls and over water as long as you end your turn somewhere solid. Most fighting game stages aren’t wild enough to make this useful, but who knows? Maybe one day you’ll end up in Smash.

11. Monk 10: At 10th level, your Purity of Body renders you immune to diseases and poisons. It doesn’t make sense for a dead person to catch a cold, but it’s happened before. Now it won’t happen to you, at least.

12. Monk 11: Eleventh level kensei monks get their best way to spend ki, Sharpen the Blade. Bucking convention, this feature only has one use- spend ki, improve your weapon. You can spend up to three ki points to give your shield up to a +3 bonus to attacks and damage rolls for up to a minute. This only works on weapons that don’t already have a magical bonus, so hopefully Gamaliel isn’t too powerful.

It is also worth noting that this is the level your martial arts die increases to a d8, so now you can wield Gamaliel in one hand without worrying about lost damage potential, and finally allowing you to wield your shield as you do in-game.

13. Monk 12: Still, temporary bonuses can only get you so far. Use your ASI this level to improve your Dexterity for a better shield and a better shield to attack with to boot.

14. Monk 13: At level thirteen, all monks gain the Tongue of the Sun and Moon, allowing you to understand any spoken word, and for the speakers of those words to understand you. This is why every servant in FGO, from ancient Sumerian kings to distant satellites, all know modern Japanese.

15. Monk 14: Your Diamond Soul gives you proficiency in all saving throws, and you can even spend a ki point on any failed save to reroll. It’s almost as if you have some kind of ultra-powerful shield, protecting you from harm… no, it couldn’t be.

16. Monk 15: At level fifteen, your Timeless Body prevents the frailty of old age, allowing the theoretically infinite life of a reborn become a reality. You also can’t be aged magically, though I don’t recall ever seeing that as a possibility, and you don’t need to eat or drink. Again.

It’s also worth noting that Riesbyfe only mentions that you can live a lifetime, “and not show it” while wielding Gamaliel, so this technically fulfills that requirement regardless of your lineage.

17. Monk 16: We only have a few ASIs left, so it’s high time we maximized our Dexterity for the highest AC and most powerful punches possible.

18. Monk 17: With our final foray into the kensei, you’ve studied your opponent’s frame data enough to have Unerring Accuracy. Once per turn, you can re-roll a missed attack to try again. If that doesn’t work, disconnect and blame lag.

19. Monk 18: At level 18, monks have an Empty Body, thanks to your soul so thoroughly vacating it that you can become Invisible for short periods and take reduced damage, or you can astrally project. Your invisibility is the greatest defense buff we’ve received so far- even if all it did was give your enemies disadvantage to hit you for a minute, it would pay for itself before that minute was up. As is, it frees up your bonus actions for more attacks, while also further protecting you from reprisal.

20. Monk 19: Our final level feels rather basic, but it is still very important all the same. Use your last ASI for the Tough feat, giving you an extra 40 HP.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

to start things off, you’re an absolute beast of a shielder, with a good 18 base AC, plus two from your sick combos, possibly plus two more from a shield of faith, and then adding in disadvantage from dodging, and you’re really hard to hit. On top of that, you have over 200 HP on average and resistance to almost all damage while Empty Body is up, so anyone trying to whittle down your health will be there a while.

and all the time they’re fighting you they’ll have to watch out for your counterattacks, which make you a much less favorable target to go after. zap them if they’re in melee range, throw stuff back from a distance, however it goes down it’ll suck to be your enemies.

furthermore, even if you do go down you’re way more likely to get back up thanks to being a reborn and having advantage on your death saves. and of course, your enemies probably can’t wait you out, since you don’t get weaker as you age, and are already kind of dead to begin with.

Cons:

okay, there is a big caveat on that last one. you’re not really immortal, so if you decide to change things up and play a different race, or even if your DM just gives Reborn a time limit on life, you’re suddenly just as mortal as everyone else again. generally it’s not a big issue, but it is supposed to be one of Riesbyfe’s abilities, so I just wanted to bring it up.

if you’re playing to character your Range is only five feet away from yourself at any time, unless someone throws something at you first. while this usually won’t be too big an issue, it can be problematic when dealing with wall-crawling or flying enemies. of course, unless you’re a diehard Riesbyfe fan this shouldn’t be an issue- you can just throw your spear, or even use one of your ranged kensei weapons instead.

there’s a reason Melty Blood rounds only last one minute each. when you go all-out, your Ki will burn out pretty fast. you have the most ki of any build we’ve made so far, but if you don’t take short rests often it will become a problem after one or two fights. Or even just one long, drawn-out fight like the ones you cause by going on the defensive.

#nasuverse #melty blood #Riesbyfe Stridberg #DND #D&D 5e #Monk #Cleric

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spiremire · 10 months

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its that time of year again

To all the new undergrads out there, here are the best ways I found to save money without completely sucking all the joy out of life, from a current grad student :) (a lot of this advice is usamerican-centric for students that live on/very close to campus because that was my undergrad experience)

Advice under the cut because I wrote too much:

School stuff:

Don't buy the textbooks from the bookstore. Especially don't buy them new. Rent them from Chegg or Amazon, or straight up pirate them from the internet. (I am a huge advocate for textbook piracy)

You can also see if your school has a textbook swap. You can try to start a textbook swap, or coordinate with friends about swapping books if you take the same classes at different times. Maybe talk to your RA about organizing one for your dorm floor/building.

Apple, HP, and Dell all have educational discount programs, if you need a computer with a little more oomph than a Chromebook or a ThinkPad. (I also highly recommend getting anything BUT a chromebook, but I know that's not always in the cards). DON'T get an Apple computer if you are a STEM major. It will cause more headaches than it's worth.

Take advantage of the bus pass your college tuition comes with. Go places. It's not as fast as an uber but it's a hell of a lot cheaper and you've already paid for it. Consider using this service instead of keeping a car on campus, too! Parking passes are also usually pricey.

Some regions have services like ZipCar where you can rent a car by the hour. Universities where this is available often have a deal to make it more accessible to students. (Use this when the bus isn't an option! It's usually also way cheaper than an Uber, and you can get different sized cars for different needs!)

If you get sick/hurt (of the non-emergent variety) badly enough to warrant a doctor visit: try visiting your campus health center first! Students usually get a free visit or two per semester/quarter.

Your student health center will often have free safe sex supplies. Sometimes they have the good stuff. They really don't care how often you come in and dig through the condom bowl. My campus had a monthly delivery service you could sign up for (for free). I've managed to get free condoms, lube, dental dams, and gloves this way. (This is a very cheap way to figure out what lube and condoms you like and hate, btw)

Don't say no to ANY of the free stuff. Take all the t-shirts, stickers, pens, mugs, markers, discount codes, reusable shopping bags, temporary tattoos, snacks, and cheap sunglasses they're willing to give you. Even if you won't use it yourself, it all makes excellent branded merchandise for the people in your life supporting you. You can even save on gifts during holidays by passing some of this stuff off to people who will use it. (I was given a free pair of sunglasses in my freshman year that I still use—7 years later—in situations where I don't want to lose/damage my better ones).

Smaller businesses close to campus will probably have a student discount. Ask. It'll probably be less than 20% but take what you can get, because it adds up.

Often your college will have some amount of free software for you to use while you're a student. Typically Microsoft Office, but sometimes others. I've gotten access to Photoshop, ArcGIS, MATLAB, JMP Pro, and a few others this way. (Piracy is an option here, but it's more challenging because these things are more closely guarded.)

Sometimes at the end of the year, people moving out will just leave the furniture they don't want anymore outside. I don't recommend doing this, because someone has to clean it up but take advantage of it when it happens if you see something you want.

Steal food from the dining hall (if it's the buffet kind). Some places you have to be more sneaky about it, but some places you don't. My bestie used to straight up bring in two half-gallon jugs and fill one from the dining hall milk dispenser and the other with lemonade once a week or so and nobody ever stopped her or said anything. Generally dining halls are staffed by students that don't get paid enough to care that it's your fourth stop by the pizza station and you can't possibly have eaten that much pizza in the last thirty minutes. (Bring tupperware in your backpack. If they don't allow backpacks, napkins in a sweatshirt front pocket also work (transfer to tupperware once you get your bag back)

IF YOU QUALIFY FOR WORK STUDY: do it! The WS jobs generally pay better because half the wage comes from the government and half comes from the person who hired you (makes it easier to pay you more because they don't even have to budget for a minimum wage employee).

Activities:

Go to the activities put on by the dorms and various student groups. I promise you'll have more fun than you think, and they're usually free to very inexpensive. Get a free succulent. Make friendship bracelets and cute soap. Watch a free movie. Go on that kayak tour. See a sports game for a team you don't care about. This is an excellent way to supplement your work-life balance and you might make a friend.

Share streaming service passwords/costs with friends or roommates. If everyone in the friend group comes in with one, you can have the whole shebang for a fraction of the cost. Alternatively, split the cost of one or two that you rotate between every few months (in my experience, this works best seasonally: Autumn is Netflix and Hulu, Winter is HBO and Disney+ etc) Piracy is also an option here as well.

Try to make most of your fun beverages on your own at home. Limit the starbucks coffee or boba to once or twice a week. Take the $15-30/week you saved by not buying starbucks everyday and go to the movies or something. Save up for a camping trip with friends. Idk. I spend $12/every six weeks-ish on the costco-sized container of the coffee I like and that's roughly the same price as two medium lattes. I like having that money for other stuff.

If you have metered internet: do all your big downloads on the free campus network.

Support your on campus artists by going to shows, showings, exhibits, and galleries. They're often a very inexpensive way to see art.

Like reading for fun? Check out your local library. They have the books, but also movies and games. Some libraries have a Library of Things where you can borrow like. Baking pans or a lawn mower. The city library is guaranteed to be quieter than the university libraries, if that's your thing. You also probably won't have to trip a basketball player to beat them to the last available table during finals week.

If you're going on hikes that are less than 10 miles round trip, I'd argue that you really don't need much in the way of specialized equipment* (especially if you have cell service the whole time (for maps/GPS)), which makes it very inexpensive if you already have a couple water bottles, snacks, comfortable shoes, and a backpack. *See the great outdoors section for more recommendations

Live somewhere like Alaska? Like outside? Find someone who knows what they're doing and go foraging. It's very important you bring an expert the first few times ESPECIALLY if you live in an area where you could be ingesting poisonous mushrooms or berries. My roommate and I love going on berry picking hikes.

Like hiking but don't like hiking alone? Join an on-campus club OR a meet-up group. This is an excellent way to make friends (and find a few hiking buddies)

Regal movie theatre is the most expensive. If you have a different one in your area your tickets will likely be a few bucks cheaper. (we only have regal where I am and I am angry)

General shopping:

My personal philosophy is if I don't need it immediately, I don't buy it unless it's on sale.

Get a credit card or two with decent cashback rewards. DO NOT SPEND ANY MONEY YOU CANNOT IMMEDIATELY PAY OFF (this will avoid interest charges AND build your credit score, which will be important later on for things like renting an apartment, buying a car from a dealership, or buying a house). Use the card(s) for all your expenses. Cashback will add up pretty slowly, but it will add up. Discover It is pretty good for students and comes with a quarterly rotation of different things that get higher cash back. Apple Card has good cashback ONLY if you're using actual Apple Pay instead of the physical card (which is harder in less urban areas where cardreaders haven't been recently updated).

Make a throwaway email and sign up for stamp cards, loyalty programs, and rewards programs everywhere you shop (new email is so you don't have to be spammed with all the junk they send you but you can still access the coupons when you want them). Don't sign up for the ones with the credit cards unless they have good cashback (> 1-2%) for places that aren't their store. The Fred Meyer program slaps because it gives you gas discounts. I am currently paying less than $3.00/gallon (current cost in my area is ~$4.30/gallon). Fred Meyer is a Kroger brand, so if you don't have Freds but do have a different Kroger thing, see what they've got.

Check thrift/consignment stores and yard/garage/estate sales for things that you don't necessarily need to be in the nicest condition. Suitcases, dishes for that camping trip, a mat for outside your front door. Be really careful with soft furniture (it could be hosting bugs; if it's from a yard sale, ask the owner where it was stored before the sale. Items in the garage or a storage unit or outside should be extra scrutinized) and give everything you can a good wash/scrub down before letting it live in your house.

Estate sales are fantastic for furnishing an apartment. Usually an estate sale is done when (old) people die and the family wants help getting rid of the stuff they don't want for themselves. Currently, old people generally have very well made, solid wood furniture. It will go for much cheaper than it's actually worth if you buy it at an estate sale (rather than at an antique store). A lot of the time the furniture even matches. They'll also have things like vacuums, kitchen stuff, and maybe garage stuff.

TJ Maxx, Ross, and Homegoods (et cetra) are good for finding inexpensive clothes or home items.

Back to school sales are great for just about everything. Lots of big stuff like good furniture and electronics go on sale for things like labor/memorial day.

Don't buy a mattress just because it's the cheapest one. Buy one you actually like. Buy sheets and pillows you actually like. Having a good night's rest in a bed you are comfortable in is invaluable. It will make the rest of college way less bad I promise.

See if you can repair something before buying a new one. At best, you fix it. At worst, it continues to not work. I was gifted a pair of bose noise cancelling headphones that I use often enough that I've had to replace the foam over-ear pads 3 times and the aux cable once. This has cost me about $40 over 7 years instead of the ~$300 getting a new pair would cost. Replacement parts and patch kits are where it's at.

Some insurance companies give discounts for good grades. Take advantage of that.

Check Buy Nothing groups. I've never done this but I've heard good things.

Some car companies give a small discount to recent graduates who are buying a new car. (I did this, it was only $500.)

IF YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO DO SO!!!! Buy something that is going to last over something that is cheap. You will save money in the long run if you can pay the upfront cost.

IF YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO DO SO!!!! (and the space for storage of the larger package) Buy in bulk. Unit price is always cheaper and one large package is generally wrapped in less packaging than the same amount in many smaller packages (save the earth!)

Keep track of warranties and register products for them if necessary. If something breaks and it's still covered under the warranty, the company may be obligated to replace it (depends on how it broke). Shoot your shot! If you're really lucky, the warranty period will start over with the arrival of the replacement, and if the replacement breaks within the warranty period, it will also be eligible for replacement. (I've managed to take advantage of this on multiple occasions and have saved probably $600 this way.)

The Great Outdoors:

Need to buy seasonal equipment (like snow gear or swimsuits)? Wait until the end of the current season. Prices will drop as stores attempt to clear inventory for the upcoming season's stuff. Buy your kayak and bikini in October or November and your heavy winter jacket and ski goggles in March. Keep an eye out for the sales beginning in the weeks prior if you are a common size, as those will sell out first).

I really recommend getting an REI membership. It's a one-time cost ($30??) that opens up the used website, the garage sale, and extra bonuses like random coupons, member only sale prices, discounts on gear rental and classes, a wider window for returns/exchanges, and free US shipping (I live in Alaska and the free shipping makes this one of the best deals I can get). It will pay for itself probably within your first purchase.

Consider buying open box, but make sure all the parts are there.

Keep an eye on warranties and register products for them when necessary. Trust me, given how expensive outdoor stuff is, it's entirely worth it. Keep receipts, packing slips, and tags if you can as proof of purchase.

On campus clubs for your activity of choice. Make friends, get to go cool(er) places possibly for free/cheap.

Trying a new activity? Rent/borrow some gear to do it a few times before committing to purchasing your own. This will ensure you don't spend hundreds of dollars just to find you hate backpacking. REI has a good gear rental program and a plethora of classes, and your campus may have an outdoor equipment rental option. They may also have lessons or classes you can take about your new activity so you can learn to do it safely. I learned how to ice climb this way in March, and am going to take advantage of my current university's free gear rental and free ice climbing tower until I feel comfortable enough to go out into the wild and do it on my own.

Decided you like your new activity? Check these places (none of this is sponsored lmao I just like outside and have personal experience with all these sites):

Geartrade: Discounted new* and used gear in a variety of conditions. Definitely read all the fine print here. *Geartrade sells things sometimes that are brand new but had some packaging defect; these things are usually half off.

REI ReSupply: Used gear in a variety of conditions. Defects are detailed in product descriptions. Even things in excellent condition are usually at least half off the original price.

Sierra(dot)com: brand new stuff from well-known brands at a fraction of the price. It's usually past-season overstock, but it's all perfectly serviceable and the differences between this season and last season's gear is usually negligible. They have sales and clearance as well. Get what you want/need even cheaper if you have time to wait for it to be further discounted.

Costco sometimes has pretty good outdoor gear. I personally know that the bear spray here is NOT a good deal (it's a two-pack, but the can volume/spray-time is smaller than the two-pack at REI and they go for the same price) but their trekking poles are good and I really like their men's merino wool socks. I've heard from reputable sources that the costco snow-shoes suck. Definitely read reviews before committing here.

Facebook marketplace/craigslist: Both can be hit or miss. You'll usually have better luck for equipment that is used for activities that can be done locally (ie. you will probably not find an abundance of skis in desert Arizona) but that's not a hard rule. DEFINITELY read the fine print here, and ask to inspect the item before you hand over any money (people usually aren't weird about this and if they are you might be being scammed). I got a new dog last year and got everything for him for under $100 (two beds, two crates, bowls, harnesses, dog sized sleeping bag for camping, lick mats, the whole shebang)

I'm sure that other people have better advice regarding things like electronics, traveling, and activities that don't fall into the category of Wandering Into The Woods, but this is what I know!

#college #resources #infodump #college advice #yall im so sorry this is so long

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magnorious · 4 months

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Review: The Last Airbender Episodes 2 & 3

I still need to watch this show in a pitch-black room to see anything on screen during night scenes. Did you not learn from Game of Thrones?

Jet’s here! He shouldn’t be, but he is! Teo’s here! He shouldn’t be, but he is! And they’re both fantastic. Azula, Ozai, Mai, and Ty Lee are here! Wait a second….

—

Something I didn’t touch too much on the last episode that I’m going to now: This crippling addiction Hollywood has to ~reimagining~ beloved cartoons in live action consistently has the same flaw: It’s so *boring*.

On the one hand, yes, I love the live action costumes. I love all the detail that can now be added since it doesn’t take tediously intricate details drawn frame by frame. However, cartoons, especially anime-inspired cartoons, take full advantage of the medium and frequently don’t draw *realistic* humans, they emphasize the features that matter like caricature.

ALTA not only uses caricature but the slapstick, rubbery physics of a cartoon world to hand-wave away the consequences of elemental fisticuffs. The expressions the characters make, their peak character designs, the exactness of every frame, even the less-detailed background shots of little gummy people with undefined details, these define the show.

So while the casting has been great so far, Gyatso, Iroh, Bumi, Zuko, Sokka, Gran Gran, through no fault of their own or the fault of the medium, lack the cartoonishness of the original characters. The cartoonishness that makes this show so beloved so the live action scenes feel… lesser.

Also, because it’s anime-inspired, the fight scenes storyboarded and drawn in anime are incredibly dynamic. The way the camera sits and follows the action is beholden to no real-world physics because it’s all drawn and anime is particularly good at making spectacular, intense fight scenes. This show’s fight scenes, while well-choreographed, aren’t filmed like a live-action anime, and that also makes it feel lesser.

—

I can’t be the only one disappointed that every episode doesn’t begin with Katara’s narration, can I? They went through the trouble of CGI-ing the whole thing, so why not?

I was holding out hope that they’d still find the avatar statue room, because it was so well-animated and hauntingly beautiful with the buildup and all the eyes glowing. They kept tiny versions of the statues, it just lacked the oomph.

Or the foamy-mouth guy and all the kids enamored with Aang on Kyoshi Island, and Aang reveling in the praise and attention. That dude has become his own meme. He’s hilarious.

Still not satisfied with Iroh’s voice (not the actor’s fault), or Zuko’s, for that matter. He doesn’t quite hit the “I’m an angsty 16 year old stuck with an uncle whom I do not respect or take seriously in any way and refuse to admit that I care about” vibe. Zhao also doesn’t sound intimidating (though he tries and his physical acting is great). When casting all these roles, I wish they would have paid as much attention to the voices of the live-action actors, as much as their faces. There’s zero grit in anyone’s voices, even Gran Gran’s. Zhao sounds his best when his voice lowers as he narrates his letter to Ozai.

Humor-wise, this show sits in a weird spot where it’s trying to be funny only with one-liners (like Marvel) and zero situational humor. Sokka is the best attempt the show makes at being funny and sometimes it lands, I just wish there was more of it. It’s like this show is afraid to lose its “gritty” badge if any scene dares to be legitimately funny.

I do like the nod to the cartoon’s title sequence with Aang air-scootering into that statue. That’s the situational humor I’m talking about.

—

Kyoshi island (and their costumes) was good, lacking humor and giant koi notwithstanding. Kyoshi herself making an appearance giving Aang some sagely wisdom 50-odd episodes early is a treat, even if he’s suddenly excellent at handling the Spirit World with zero effort. They didn’t turn the Kyoshi warriors into insufferable girlbosses, remaining incredibly competent warriors that happen to be women.

In attempt to make it more adult, they’re starting to fudge some backstories and motivations, like Aang now having too much power to the point where the other kids were afraid of him, and the Sokka/Suki romance being far less subtle, and a lot more physical. It’s less sweet and more “wow, these teenagers are horny”. Katara did not witness Kya getting burned alive, her mother would never have let that happen. She’d left the tent to find her dad, and by the time she came back, Kya was already gone. It was tragic already, why make it worse?

**Side note, Momo is a lemure, not a monkey, please don’t give him generic monkey noises. They already gave you plenty of sound design for Momo, just use it.

Aang fumbling around in the Spirit World at the worst possible moment is so true to form, it would be hilarious if it wasn’t so serious. Him ending that trip by manifesting into Kyoshi totally kneecaps the moment during the Winter Solstice where he becomes Roku, even if it looked cool.

The Ozai reveal, though. Why? Just why? Did Daniel Dae Kim have X amount of minutes contractually obligated? Ozai wasn’t revealed for two entire seasons, not his face. They waited and waited and waited, leaving him silhouetted by flames and shadows, only drawing him from behind or from the neck down. This was a *reveal* because we didn’t know what to expect. Would he be as ugly as his soul? Handsome? Pretty? Scarred himself, like his son?

Oh. Azula’s here, too.

The writers of this show and Percy Jackson went to the same school of “Mystery be damned, let’s shoot our load right f’ing now!”

Also, Mr. Kim should have been Zhao, not Ozai. He would have made a fantastic Zhao.

—

The more Ozai is on screen, even if his scenes are good, misses the whole point of why he was barely a character. I’m trying not to use “the cartoon did X better” too much, but the cartoon did it better and here’s why:

Ozai is basically a non-character. Who *he* is doesn’t matter, he’s a bad guy doing bad things because he’s an evil narcissist. His actions and his orders are felt across the globe, though. So the Gaang doesn’t meet him (some ever) until the finale, but they still feel the impact of his actions the entire series.

Who’s Ozai? The guy who burned and banished his son and sent him on a wild goose chase.The guy who’s admiral murdered the moon spirit. Who continues to lay siege to the Earth Kingdom and whose daughter orchestrates its downfall. We don’t need to see who he is for him to be one scary dude. He doesn’t need all these extra scenes to prove how terrifying he is.

The original perfected “less is more” and Ozai (and Azula, and Mai and Ty Lee) just don’t need to be here. Not yet.

With that said, Azula’s great, what little we see of her. Ozai is great. They really seem to be having fun with their roles.

Episode three leaves me curious if all the kids watched the original and wanted so badly to make this show funny, and all the adults told them to tone it down. They’re trying so hard. Props to everyone doing their best with an IP as beloved as this one, and the massive shoes they all have to fill.

More missing humor: Bonzu Pipinpadaloxicopolis! But at least they kept the cabbage merchant.

Episode three decided to combine the Northern Air Temple with Omashu and Jet for reasons. These were two entirely separate plots and locations, but Teo and the Mechanist are incredibly entertaining even if they’re early. They filmed only eight episodes and I feel like a broken record when I say: If you hadn’t given us the wrong filler, you could have properly adapted the missing content. You can skip the Great Divide, though. I hope you skip the Great Divide.

The filler is entertaining. I like the easter egg of the Yu Yan archers training in the background with Azula, implying that she’s as good as they are. I don’t think Azula would bother mastering archery when she’s a firebending prodigy, but the scene is nice. The original Omashu and Northern Air Temple would have been nicer.

Can’t say I miss the original Jet episode and the second I saw this scruffy boy with emo hair in his eyes on that wagon, I thought, “This is Jet, right? It’s gotta be Jet. He’d make a perfect Jet.”

And I was right!

Wrong time, wrong place, but this is the first character who, upon seeing them completely out of their episode, even if he looks nothing like his cartoon version, he fits that character’s vibe perfectly. Excellent casting.

“Omashu” is so far divorced from the original, it might as well be its own thing and it’s buckwild, but it combines elements from three independent episodes and it works incredibly well, even if the plots still feel disjointed from each other, each stays their welcome as long as they need to.

The freedom fighters are amazing. Their costumes are amazing. As each one showed up on screen I was grinning from ear-to-ear. My only detractor is the slight-fanservicey nature of it all once Jet starts naming his team. No notes on Jet dropping his disguise and the slow-mo of the reveal of his hook-swords. One more re-write and it would have been flawless. Can’t wait to see this guy ambiguously pass away beneath Lake Laogai. He’ll be great.

—

I’m liking Iroh less and less every time I see him. He’s just not Iroh. He doesn’t act like him, doesn’t talk like him, doesn’t wax poetic like him, which is a shame because, behind Zuko, I’m pretty sure Iroh is the fan-favorite character. He was an entire generation’s mentor and this just isn’t him.

Zuko’s dickishness was also tempered by him being an awkward turtleduck. Here he’s just aggressive with zero moments for second-hand embarrassment. He doesn’t get bullied by Sokka in the premier, doesn’t bicker with Iroh, he just yells and screams. He’s not endearing in the slightest.

The VFX as well – I know the underpaid and overworked artists did their best but it’s very distracting when they’re so obviously standing in front of a greenscreen.

This show still does not need to exist, make no mistake, and I can see why the original writers left. There’s scenes I’ve legit fast-forwarded through because they just won’t end and I am bored – the massacre of the Air Nomads? Skipped.

With that said, it’s not the worst adaptation in the world, and everyone still showed up to do their best with the script they were given. Does every line land? Heck no. Are the fight scenes cool? Ehhhh, kind of? Is it funny? No, not really, not compared to the original. Is it for kids? I think no less than 20 people have been burned alive at this point so, no, not really. Not like the original was for all ages.

Once again we have a “but was it better than the first attempt?” bar two feet into the topsoil. Yes, so far, it is. At least it’s not like that other horrible adaptation that forgot it was an action-adventure story.

But Jet was awesome. If he carries this review solely on how awesome he was, so be it.

#review #avatar #avatar the last airbender #last airbender #iroh deserved better #netflix

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screechthemighty · 2 years

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Okay so I joked about this while replying to a fic comment from @pokimoko but y’know what...I’ll say it in public. Several Phase Four films and shows should’ve taken place during the Blip with Endgame capping it all off before the next phase and here’s why.

What Movies/Shows Are We Moving In the Timeline

Black Widow - This is cheating, technically, as it DOES take place between Infinity War and Endgame. The only difference is that in this alternate universe, it would’ve ACTUALLY been released between the two.

WandaVision

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier - HEAR ME OUT, I will explain my logic below, trust me on this one.

Moon Knight

The Defenders/Marvel Netflix - I know these have technically already been released, so this would really just be Marvel sneaking in a cheeky wee press memo stating that they have been retconned into the period of time between Infinity War and Endgame.

I think you could also make an argument for Ms. Marvel BUT I haven’t watched it yet (I KNOW I KNOW I’M SORRY) so I’ll reserve judgment on that one. I also feel like you could make an argument for an alternate version of Hawkeye that takes place during this time period and would make a better and less stupid arc for Clint (and one that’s closer to the comics!) but I haven’t watched that either, so yeah.

The only major change that would be required of Infinity War here is that we’d un-Snap Sam, Bucky, and Wanda, and instead snap Steve.

My Overall Logic For These Changes

Listen, Marvel did nothing with the Snap/the Blip and I’m mad about it. Like, this is a universe-shattering event, basically apocalyptic, and the effects of that are BARELY explored. Here’s a list of the things that definitely happened during the Blip that are not adequately explored because they just did a time skip and then forgot about it:

> Definitely more than half the universe’s population was lost after the Snap. There’s no way the sudden loss of people doing things like “driving vehicles” and “performing surgeries” and “being the sole caretaker of a vulnerable adult or child” didn’t result in mass casualties.

> This majorly upends pretty much every societal structure that exists. Government, commerce, everything. Think about how we are still feeling the effects of what lockdowns did to manufacturing and such during 2020, then imagine that but worse. Imagine half the government on every single level suddenly gone. Imagine the chaos that would cause. Chaos that includes...

> Crime. So much crime. All the crime. Any structures that could prevent crime have been cut off at the knees and people will take advantage of that, especially when a lot of the major players that could stop them are gone (this will be especially important to my Marvel Netflix logic).

> Also, the kind of people who will fill the power gaps left by half the government/law enforcement/military/etc. suddenly vanishing will not all be people you want in charge. These will be people who are taking advantage of a bad situation to further their own goals.

All of these are potentially interesting story setups, but again, Marvel did nothing with it, so moving some stories would fix that problem. It also fixes the problem of Thanos having never meaningfully been criticized for his stupid mass murder plan and would help shut up the Thanos Is Right crowd by showing that no, actually, this was the equivalent of throwing gasoline on an open flame.

Individual Logic For Each Story

Black Widow - Again, this is cheating, it already canonically takes place in the middle of the Infinity War arc, but I think releasing them between the two would’ve added more immediate oomph to Natasha’s death in Endgame if we’ve REALLY got to stick with that (double bonus points: it sets up that we can include her found family in Endgame to similar effect).

WandaVision - There’s basically nothing in WandaVision’s plot that keeps it from taking place during the Blip. The only real change you’d have to make to the plot is swapping which Rambeau was Snapped. All the emotional resonance would be kept intact, and it would explain why literally no other Avenger stepped in to help Wanda in the wake of her grief--there was too much going on for anyone to notice she’d gone off the rails.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier - This one would require the most plot changes, but hear me out. The version of TFATWS where the Flag Smashers are fighting against post-Snap governments that are actively becoming more corrupt and divisive instead of banding together in a time of crisis. Sam having to take on the banner of Cap under circumstances that aren’t completely stupid and derail Steve’s character. Not having to skirt around why Steve isn’t involved in Sam not being made Captain America despite that being his express wish at the end of Endgame (like, fr, they never explicitly establish that Steve died, so where the hell is he??). It would also explain why the US government is so eager to establish a new Captain America: they’re trying to slap a band-aid on the many, many problems going on in the world, and think “well if we have a new Captain America, that will help, right?” (Spoilers, it does not.) Also, just imagine the pain of one of the last shots of Infinity War being Sam stumbling over to where Steve dropped the shield and picking it up and getting the “we lost” line himself...imagine it. I’m right about this.

Moon Knight + The Defenders - I’m putting these two in the same entry because my logic for them is by and large the same: establishing street level vigilantes during a time when the world needs new and local heroes the most just makes sense to me, especially with all the bullshit that happens during these stories. Like, Khonshu moves the sky, a crime lord is blowing up chunks of NYC, Kilgrave exists, the Defenders blow up a whole-ass building, and somehow the government never gets involved?? Even in a post-Accords society??? It’s not a complete breaker-of-disbelief for me personally, but it does make a bit more sense logically. The only real hiccup in this is DD s1 alluding to Avengers One, but seeing how Thanos also rolled up with an alien spaceship and blew up at least parts of Greenwich Village, I think we can accept it as a retcon and move on (I know I wouldn’t question it too much). You could also use this logic to move Shang Chi into this part of the timeline too, tbh, and is part of the reason why my gut says Ms. Marvel could’ve taken place in this time period, but like, again, I still haven’t watched it, so grain of salt.

Resulting Changes to Endgame That I Think Would Improve The Movie, Actually

> Steve Rogers could have a better way of retiring or changing career paths that doesn’t absolutely suck. He gets un-Snapped, he sees all the work Sam has done, he tells him to keep the shield because Sam is the Captain America the world needs now. He either retires or moves on to be an independent operator.

> Deletes the dumb bullshit exchange between Tony and Steve that happened in early Endgame.

> Again, we can put Yelena in Endgame and that would add more pain to Natasha’s death (assuming we keep that, which, again, WHATEVER, MARVEL-).

> You could stick some of the new guys from Phase 4 into the final battle, which I don’t have strong opinions about PERSONALLY but it WOULD make the nerd crowd happy, so that’s a win for Marvel.

> Also, disclaimer, I haven’t watched the new Doctor Strange, but personally I think the logic of WandaVision -> Endgame -> MoM makes more sense for Wanda’s plotline, as it adds the pain of her seeing so many people get their loved ones back, but not her. Everyone is moving on, but she’s still lost everything. (Bonus round, this could serve as a criticism of the Avengers just. Straight up not reversing everything. Shows that the pain of the Blip extends beyond just the people who went missing and the short-sightedness of some caused many more to suffer. Yes I WILL be addressing this in meet me at our spot, what of it-)

Anyways thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

#mcu critical #cheap shots at the mcu #screech's ted talks

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jimothy-g-brooks · 22 days

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Kitchen Sink Urbana: Magic (Part 0)

Part 1 Part 2

A broad overview of Magic in this setting and the goals I sought to achieve structuring it this way. I recognize these methods weren't the only way to achieve my goals but what I came up with was the way I enjoyed the most, as well as achieving other goals as well.

This is a copy-paste from a post I made on the TVTropes forum, and therefore has links to it.

There is no Masquerade. Magic is well known to the general public.

Magic can be pretty potent, just like you'd imagine in a fantasy RPG setting for example.

Despite all that, magic is not a part of normal everyday living and is not incorporated into global infrastructure.

Despite all that, magic is something that's been a part of the world for a while, since pre-historic times until the Now of the Information Age. The Magic Comes Back, it did not.

"In my setting, there are two types of magic. Actually, three and a half, but the third one shares all the problems of the first two, albeit to lesser extents, and the fourth one is more of a metastudy of the first. It comes down to two factors, Reliability and Replicability."

Witchcraft: Wild Magic, Black Magic, Wishcraft

The art of ritually constructing a wish. You put together a ritual with a number of ingredients that includes "occult paraphernalia", which can be just about anything but some things are, of course, more potent than others. Along with the physical objects as you might expects, this can also be runes and sigils, dead languages, blood sacrifices and mystically significant dates, times and events. You also needs things having to do with the wish you're trying to make and if you can link the two, having occultic things related to your wish, all the better. You also need emotion and/or willpower, though you can crowdsource that which makes having a coven backing up your ritual a pretty good thing to have.

This one has the advantage of Replicability and the flaw of Unreliability. Anyone can do it and it's relatively simple with its very vague parameters. As long as you put together enough "oomph", your wish can be granted. But you're calling upon the raw Will Of Magic to intercede on your behalf and warp reality to your request, and Magic, the entity, has an agenda of its own. Namely, it wants a story and it will gladly turn your wish into an Inciting Incident and you will be standing at ground zero. It seems to enjoy punishing hubris most of all but it is almost always compelled to cause Conflict that needs to be Resolved. Unless it inscrutably judges that enough conflict has happened already and now is the time for the Dénouement, your wish will be twisted in some fashion. It's not necessarily a Jackass Genie but it's not not one either.

The most common example brought up in-universe is "man brings back dead wife". Almost invariably, she Came Back Wrong but the "almost" is important and so it doesn't stop some people from trying over and over. A more contemporary example is when a game developer struggled to fulfill their promise for a fully immersive VR MMO RPG and tried to fill all those cut corners with magic. The tragic end result was when tens of thousands of people ended up trapped in the game where if they died in the game they'd die in real life, unable to escape until its final boss was defeated. "Sprinkling on the fairy dust" is a common slang term for engineers, scientists and developers of varying stripes trying to cheat with magic and hoping they can patch it out before something goes terribly wrong. Thing is, you never hear about the ones that actually succeed in doing so because they sure as Hell aren't going to admit to it.

(Tangentially related, this setting also has what are officially labelled as "Wild Magic Zones" but tend to be more commonly called "Cursed". Places becoming haunted due to deadly tragedies taking place there is one of the most common form of these Cursed Places. The prevailing theory is that whatever took place in these area constituted a form of accidental and unaimed witchcraft ritual, allowing wild magic to just spill out and turn the whole place into a problem.)

Sorcery: Mild Magic, Bound Magic, Ruled Magic

Sorcerers are rare individuals with innate magical talent that resonate with a "Magecraft". A Magecraft is a magical system with its own rules, limits and implied metaphysics and cosmology. This kind of magic has the advantage of Reliability but is difficult to Replicate on a wide scale. Sorcerers are already rare individuals and are split among different Magecrafts, so two or more Sorcerers will likely operate under different magical systems with incompatible rules that make collaboration difficult. You may even run into interpersonal conflict: Learning a form of Sorcery often involves at least a certain amount of buy-in to its cosmology. If you ask two people with two different ideas of how the universe works when their job is each using their knowledge and power over these universal functions to work together, it's possible it ends in a fist fight.

And this is if a potential Sorcerer even discovers their talent, pursues it and is able to find the correct Magecraft they resonate with and the material they need to learn it. The global population explosion since the Industrial Revolution has not necessarily helped. Although many Magecrafts experienced a population increase, more often there was an increase in the number of different Magecrafts instead, being spontaneously created or rediscovered. Sorcerers are more splintered among dozens and dozens of competing magical systems than ever before. Would-be sorcerers may have a difficult time finding which magical system they resonate and are never able to fully explore their talents, though other forms of Magecraft involve enough of a degree of intuition and/or spotlighting.

There may be locales such as towns, cities, regions or small nations, which have a dense enough concentration of a particular breed of Sorcerers and have had such for a long enough time that their magic is incorporated into the local infrastructure. These places are relatively uncommon but not unheard of, often attracting some tourism just for the novelty of watching how the locales work with their locale brand of magic. However, in this increasingly globalized world, shared standards outweigh most magical convenience and science and technology reigns supreme.

(Sorcery and Witchcraft are usually thought to be binary and functionally are for the most part. However, some forms of Magecraft tend be vague and wibbly with their ruleset, running on inconsistent or nonsense logic, having a more fairy tale vibe to them. Practitioners of these forms of Sorcery have a Witchcraft-esque presence of narrative nonsense that follows them around, collectively and/or individually.)

Shamanism: Spirit Magic, Pact Magic, Blessed Magic

This setting has a number of entities, presences, forces and artifacts that may be called upon, tapped and/or wielded under the right circumstances. These various Mystical Things™ have their own various idiosyncrasies, dramas and variably logical prerequisites to their use, although they can usually be trusted not to cause problems on purpose. They're relatively rare and so are the people that meet (or are willing to meet) whatever standards they demand for the usage of their powers. These can range from someone making a Deal with the Devil to someone managing to get a Choosy Magical Artifact on over to a number of other possibilities.

(Like with Sorcery, you might have relatively small locales where some mystic power is worked into the infrastructure, resulting in weirdness. Some breed of Sorcerous Magecraft have Shamanistic elements. Some powers a Shaman may potentially tap have properties of strongly being of Wild Magic, and calling on them is basically considered Witchcraft.)

Wizardry: Studied Magic, Warding Magic, Kinda Magic

"Wizardry" is more the archaic and informal name for the science and study of magic outside its actual practice. It has its disciplines in the categorization of Sorcery to the spirit anthropology good for Shamans, but most well-known to the lay people, the one most likely to saddle you with the archaic title of "Wizard" by the public is the study of Wild Magic, and the things that veer close to it. Their jobs are often to try and predict how any given example of Wild Magic is going to explode in everyone's faces next and what we can do about it.

Many professional wizards will pick up various tricks on their trade, wards and seals and things of that nature. Much of these things are essentially witchcraft in theory but usually aren't treated as such in practice, by other people or by Magic. Using Wild Magic to compel an example of Wild Magic to go away or stay put doesn't usually have the same narrative fall out as other forms of Wild Magic. At worst, it often only delays or decreases the danger, though it's not unknown for things to blow up spectacularly either.

Wizardry gets a little bit of leering suspicion, not necessarily for the Warding Magic itself but for how well in synergizes with more conventional Witchcraft. There's an obvious advantage for any practicing Witch to also study Wizardry, in the hopes that they can get all the magical power they ever desired while mitigating the price they will have to pay.

#kitchen sink urbana #world building #magic #tv tropes

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ecutuning · 2 months

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Boost Performance: Benefits of Dyno Tuning Your Vehicle

Are you ready to take your vehicle's performance to the next level? If you're passionate about squeezing every ounce of power and efficiency out of your ride, then dyno tuning might be just the thing you're looking for.

In this post, we'll explore the benefits of dyno tuning Melbourne and why it's a game-changer for car enthusiasts everywhere.

What is Dyno Tuning?

Before diving into the perks, let's quickly cover what dyno tuning entails. Essentially, it's a process where your vehicle is placed on a dynamometer, often referred to as a "dyno," to measure its power output.

A skilled technician then fine-tunes various engine parameters to optimize performance, such as air-fuel ratio, ignition timing, and fuel mapping.

Unleash Maximum Power

One of the most significant advantages of dyno tuning is the ability to unlock your vehicle's full potential. Stock vehicles often come with conservative factory settings to ensure reliability and compliance with emissions standards. However, these settings leave room for improvement, and dyno tuning allows you to tap into that hidden power.

By optimising engine parameters to suit your specific vehicle and driving style, dyno tuning can significantly increase horsepower and torque. Whether you're a track enthusiast craving faster lap times or simply want more oomph for spirited driving on the streets, dyno tuning can deliver the performance gains you desire.

Enhanced Fuel Efficiency

While many associate dyno tuning with performance gains, it can also lead to improved fuel efficiency. By fine-tuning the air-fuel mixture and ignition timing, dyno tuning ensures that your engine operates at its most efficient level.

This optimisation can result in better mileage, saving you money at the pump while reducing your environmental footprint.

Customised to Your Needs

No two vehicles are exactly alike, and neither are their drivers. That's why dyno tuning is all about customisation. Rather than settling for generic off-the-shelf tunes, dyno tuning Melbourne allows for precise adjustments tailored to your vehicle's unique characteristics and driving preferences.

Whether you're looking for maximum power, a smoother throttle response, or better drivability in everyday traffic, a skilled tuner can work with you to achieve your goals. This personalised approach ensures that your vehicle performs exactly how you want it to, delivering a driving experience that's truly one-of-a-kind.

Diagnose and Correct Issues

In addition to optimising performance, dyno tuning can also serve as a diagnostic tool. The dynamometer provides real-time data on your vehicle's performance, allowing technicians to identify any underlying issues that may be affecting power delivery or drivability.

From air leaks and sensor malfunctions to ignition problems and fuel system issues, dyno tuning can uncover hidden gremlins that would otherwise go unnoticed. By addressing these issues during the tuning process, you not only improve performance but also prolong the lifespan of your engine and drivetrain.

Future-Proof Your Upgrades

Are you planning to install aftermarket performance parts or modifications? Whether it's a new intake system, exhaust upgrade, or turbocharger kit, dyno tuning is essential for maximizing the benefits of your upgrades.

By fine-tuning your vehicle's engine management system to accommodate these modifications, dyno tuning ensures seamless integration and optimal performance gains. Plus, if you decide to make further upgrades down the road, a dyno tuning session can easily be adjusted to accommodate the changes, keeping your vehicle running at its best.

Conclusion

In the world of automotive enthusiasts, dyno tuning is the ultimate tool for unlocking the full potential of your vehicle. Whether you crave more power, improved fuel efficiency, or a personalised driving experience, dyno tuning Melbourne delivers results that can transform your driving experience.

So, if you're ready to elevate your ride to the next level, don't hesitate to schedule a dyno tuning session with a reputable tuner. Your car—and your inner gearhead—will thank you for it!

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beautiequeenspa · 2 years

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Skincare Treatments & Beauty Trends in 2022

In recent years the beauty and skin industry has experienced a fantastic expansion. In today's market, you will find there is a therapy or cream made specifically for you, regardless of your age, sexual orientation, or lifestyle.

Our surrounding environment is changing gradually, and our way of life is becoming more aggressive. There is more pollution, and food is more processed, etc. It has become clear that these things impact our bodies and minds.

There is a connection between lifestyle and skincare issues (especially acne). Everything from the food we consume to the amount of stress we experience at work can cause some skin damage, leading to anxiety.

This year, skincare routines like discoloration treatment skincare for spot removal treatments are following a more minimalistic trend. Check out the most trending cosmetic and skincare procedures in 2022 and why they are effective for the skin.

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy will enhance your skin's texture using Foreo-style devices, cosmetic ice globes, or plain ice cubes. Applying cold objects to the face improves skin cell activity, relaxes veins, and stimulates blood flow, as is well-recognized in the beauty industry. Cryotherapy has to be included on the list of skincare trends for 2022, given this, I suppose.

Non-invasive procedures

This new facial procedure in 2022 is one of the best examples if you want to choose a painless method. Chemical peels, lipolysis, botox, facelifts, and laser treatments, among others, are all available to improve the texture of your skin and make you feel more attractive this year. Additionally, there will be no pain and no need for rehabilitation! Some procedures can lift, tone, and contour the muscles of the face while also erasing wrinkles.

Eyelash extensions

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Dermarolling

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thereaderinsertlady · 2 years

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This can be seen as a pt2/epilogue to this other fic, A Day With Dimentio, but it can be its own stand-alone fic! I also posted it on ao3 too.

Dimentio x Reader - Nap Time

Dimentio really didn’t feel good right now.

Firstly, he was hungover, and couldn’t do much without his head pounding. Secondly, his legs hurt from all the walking he did yesterday, and finally, he didn’t get any worthwhile sleep despite taking a bunch of pills Fawful gave him.

Right now, he was on the couch laying on his stomach, and every time you passed by him, he could tell you were worried... He didn’t want you to worry about him. You shouldn’t worry about him. His worries were none of your concerns.

And yet...

“Are you okay, Dimentio dearest?” You asked in a somewhat cheeky tone, poking the back of his shoulder. “I can make you an egg sandwich for lunch, if you’d like?”

...Slowly, he shook his head.

“No? No egg sandwich? Mkay. Can I get you anything at all, like... water, or something?”

......Once again, he shook his head.

You... let out a sigh, and reached over to rub his back. He practically melted against your touch. “Well, try not to drink as much alcohol next time... stinky,” you added that last part after a pause.

Dimentio lightly snorted, and turned his head to look at you. “And who are you to judge, hmm?” He replied hoarsely. “You forced me to cuddle with you. Really, you took advantage of me when I was most vulnerable.”

“And I’ll do it again, too,” you said with a pout. “Scooch over.”

“What?” He laughed incredulously, thinking that you were joking.

You huffed. “I didn’t stutter!”

“I’m... not scooching over.”

You grunted this time, and pushed against his shoulder. “Move your ass!”

“I’m going to throw up on you!” He threatened, and, and— and let out a defeated sigh when you managed to push him onto his side.

You laid down next to him, grinning like you had won some trophy.

“Proud of yourself?”

“Very... hmph, why don’t you have a blanket with you? It’s cold.”

“You could get up and get one,” Dimentio smiled at you.

You grunted. “Just so you can steal my spot? Hussy? I think not.”

“I won’t.”

“Mhm.” You eyed him. “So, if I get up to grab a blanket, you won’t roll back over and take away my spot?”

Dimentio’s smile widened. “I pinky promise,” he said, holding out his pinky.

...You pouted, and wrapped your pinky around his. “Okay. If I see you in my spot, I’m gonna kick your ass, mkay?”

“Yes mother,” he teased, and you rolled your eyes, getting up to head to your room.

You shuffled over to your closet, and grabbed a thin, but very soft pink blanket from inside... before pausing. Would this be enough to cover the both of you completely? The blanket wasn’t that big, and it was pretty cold in your living room... After thinking about it, you placed it back where it belonged, before going over to your bed to get the large comforter.

With the very large blanket in your arms, you waddled back into the living room... before grunting when you saw that Dimentio was laying on his back, taking up your spot.

“You fat liar,” you hissed, shuffling over to him.

He hummed cheekily, peeking an eye open. “Hmm? Ah, gravity must’ve made me turn over. I deeply apologize, my— oomph!”

You flopped down on top of him, adjusting yourself to where your head rested upon his shoulder. You also adjusted the blanket as well, to where it was covering you both.

“Stinky,” you murmured, nuzzling your head against him while closing your eyes.

He paused, and stared down at you for a long moment, thinking about what to say... Eventually, he sighed, and petted the back of your head.

Dimentio really didn’t feel good right now...

...But you make him feel better.

#super paper mario #Dimentio #reader insert #dimentio x reader #uh oh more self-indulgent works?? 😳 more likely than you think #don't worry lol I am working on the other stuff too. i kinda wrote this as a break between writing.. like that other small fic #i am working on the trade fics and the two commissions all at the same time so I can post them close together #..also let me know if there's spelling mistakes 😅

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epicspheal · 3 years

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Smell Ya Later

Alright so it’s time I talk about one of my favorite characters in the Pokemon franchise...that isn’t Leon. If you guessed by the title that I’m talking about Blue/Green Oak then you’re right.

[Image Description: Gif image from Pokemon Generations Episode: The Challenger. Picture of Blue (Green) Oak in his FireRed/LeafGreen outfit pulling out a pokeball. He’s talking to an Elite Four member who is offscreen with an insufferably smug look on his face]

Ah yes, the OG rival. He was quite the brat in RBGY/FRLG and that’s what many people like about him (in a love to hate fashion) since there’s a huge catharsis factor in being able to beat him and his team down. And unlike most rivals in the series he’s one of the few that can in-game beat you and the story continues (3 times in RBGY, twice in FRLG). Blue provides some of the few moments in the series where a loss actually means something (something that I wish the games would take advantage of more). And of those few times, he’s one of the few that can actually knock your team out as he often shows up in the worst possible moments where your team likely isn’t at it’s best.

He’s also always one step ahead of you. In comparison to most other rivals (bar Wally and Hop pre-Bede butt-kicking) he actually gets to places first and is outpaces you. Then you get the following:

"Hey! I was looking forward to seeing you, <player>! My rival should be strong to keep me sharp! While working on my Pokédex, I looked all over for powerful Pokémon! Not only that, I assembled teams that would beat any Pokémon type! And now! I am the Pokémon League Champion! <Player>! Do you know what that means? I'll tell you! I am the most powerful trainer in the world!" -Blue RBGY pre-champion battle

[Image Description: GIF image from the Pokemon GOTCHA! Music Video. A shot of Blue (Green) Oak) in his RBGY outfit in the Indigo League’s Champion Room. As the camera moves closer to him you see his team po out. His team consists of Venusaur, Gyarados, Arcanine, Pidgeot, Alakazam and Rhydon. As the camera moves even closer to his face, we see that iconic smug grin of his form as he is usrrounded by a Green aura, his Pokemon are surrounded by a green aura as well]

This is quite possibly one of the most iconic fights in the series. Your once friend turned bitter rival actually beating you to the punch and claiming the title of champion for himself. No other rival other than Trace (Hau doesn’t count as he isn’t champion in USUM rather you and him fight to see who will be champion). And Trace by being a friendly rival, lacks the same oomph factor in the battle (I think Trace would’ve benefitted from USUM Hau style final battle personally). You kind of feel bad kicking Trace’s butt. It’s a huge moment of catharsis, however, taking Blue down.

And the humiliation for Blue doesn’t stop there. Something that’s expanded upon more in FRLG is how Professor Oak kind of blatantly prefers Red/Leaf over him. In the case that you lose to him after receiving your starter Professor Oak says “Hmm...how disappointing”. Like sir I know you’re grandson is a jerk but show at least some pride. Like I mean even in the league he comes off overly harsh as we have no evidence that he actually mistreats his Pokemon. Especially when you consider that one of his signature Pokemon is a Pidgeot which stands out in the many gen 1 threats he has on his team. He holds some sentimental attachment to the first mon he caught and that shows he’s not some irredeemable jerk. If anything he’s more self-absorbed than actually mistreating his team. Like take this line from generations “See that? I happen to be an incredible genius” As we see throughout the series, Blue is indeed a brilliant tactician. But the issue there is that he isn’t giving his team their proper dues. But that’s just being self-absorbed. Not like he’s kicking them when they faint or anything.

"Hey, I heard that! Gramps, what's with favoring <player> over me all the time? I went and collected more Pokémon and faster, too. You should just let me handle everything." - Blue after receiving the National Pokedex

And then of course the above quote, even Blue can tell his Oak favors the player over him. Ouch. Add that to the fact that he and Daisy’s parents are nowhere to be found you can make the argument that maybe this kid just wants some attention and affection. Considering his name is Green in Japan, and green is associated with envy and you can see how the OG rival is likely just fueled by jealousy that Red has at least one parent still around and has the attention/affection of Oak. Does that excuse his behavior? Absolutely not. But it does contextualize it a lot.

But still being scolded by Grandfather like that so publicly definitely left a mark on our rival. And then comes the Gen 2 games where we see a huge shift in his character:

"Who are you? My name's Blue. I was once the Kanto Champion. Although it was short-lived thanks to Red… Anyway, take a good look around you…""A volcano erupts, and just like that, a whole town disappears. We can go on winning and losing in Pokémon, but if nature so much as twitches, we can be overwhelmed in a second… That's the way it is… But, anyway, I'm still a Trainer. If I see a strong opponent, it makes me want to battle." - Blue at Cinnabar Island HGSS

This dialogue from Cinnabar Island is not something one would expect from Gen 1 Blue. Gen 1 Blue would’ve challenged you to a battle right then and there like he did in Silph Co. But here’s he’s more contemplative (even if still a little salty about losing to Red). It’s a marked change that’s further strengthened by his position as gym leader. He’s taken on a esteemed position and proves to be highest levelled battle for a badge in the games. Yes being the 8th gym leader is not nearly as prestigious as his short reign as champion, but it provides a needed bit of growth for Blue as he learns to deal with losses better (which judging by his dialogue is implied that him losing is still pretty rare showing that he is definitely a powerful trainer). Not only that his Pidgeot which is not only his highest levelled Pokemon, but also knows Return in HGSS (a move that gains power the stronger the bond). It’s quiet character development over the 3 years between the gen 1 and gen 2 games that makes Blue such a good character.

Of course this doesn’t stop there. Over his next appearance in Gen 5 we see him in the PWT in the champion’s tournament (which sidenote one thing that I dislike about Pokespe!Blue and Gary is that they don’t achieve champion status when it’s clear that this is a key part of his character). His winning quote in the PWT is this gem "You're tough, I'll give you that. But there's always someone better. You have to be more dedicated! Smell ya later!"

It’s solid advice, and lacks the gloating of the “Yeah! Am I great or what?” lines you could get from the battles you can lose to him in the early gen 1 games.

[Image Description: GIF from one of the promo videos or Sun and Moon. The animated part is framed by a still with adult Red on the left, and Blue (Green) Oak on the right. The caption on the still portion of the shot says Red and Blue. In the animated part, we see Red and Blue at the battle tree talking to the player character. Red says “... ... ...” with Blue responding “Stil as silent as ever, eh?”]

We see him once again in Gen 7 games as you approach the battle tree, your team weary from facing the Poni gauntlet. His iconic encounter music coming no doubt fills many who ever played the Gen 1 gamess with dread as you remember how many times that jingle played right when you really didn’t need it to happen. Yet this time it’s different, as he actually heals your team before you face him or Red. While some may chalk this up to the games being easier, consider that in this instance this is another sign of how much Blue has grown. Because Gen 1 Blue would’ve forced you into a battle right then.

You know what else Gen 1 Blue wouldn’t have done? Travel the world with Red (okay but seriously when is the Viridian Gym ever open?). Somehow he has made peace with his bitter rival enough to travel to Alola and be co heads of the Battle Tree. Again subtle (and to be fair, I do wish we got to see more of his growth on screen) but major. I don’t think anyone who only played the Gen 1 games would’ve ever seen that coming. But also the fact that he’s considered Battle Legend, second only to Red is amazing. It shows he truly is one of the most powerful trainers in the world, and it’s not just his ego talking.

[Image Description: A still image from one of the Pokemon Masters promo. Here we have Blue (Green) Oak in his Sygna Suit that matches his blastoise that is standing behind him in the stadium]

But then comes Pokemon Masters which I think provides some of the greatest insight to him as a character. We seem him more as a mentor (which is also how we see him in Let’s Go). Which is a fitting end for his arc as he’s one of the best around but he knows what’s it like to be have been beaten down truly.

"Blastoise and I have overcome a lot of tough situations over the years. There were a lot of times when I felt so beat down, physically and mentally, that I didn't think I could keep going. But being in those tough situations would always fire me up. And the joy I felt when we overcome them was like nothing I'd ever felt before." - Sygna Suit Blue Sync Pair Story

This is a powerful quote from him. Again Gen 1 Blue would’ve NEVER admitted something like this to anyone. But you can see he’s shed much of his pride and allows himself to be vulnerable.

“And I guess I don't really mind teaching people, either. I'm better at it than Red is, anyway I can't even imagine him teaching anything to anyone."

And this quote shows him excepting his role as a mentor which I think he’s truly best at. Sure Red is more powerful than him, but the best of the best rarely make for good teachers. But the ones at the top who have tasted defeated multiple times like Blue has, will have an extra bit of wisdom that they can give.

So yes tl;dr Blue/Green Oak is a great character. No other character has been a rival, gym leader and champion in the series. Not only that he’s shown great growth from the cocky brat he was in gen 1 to a powerful trainer and mentor he is today.

[Image Description: A gif of an adult Blue (Green) Oak in his Gen 7 attire in his VS animation. He’s sporting his signature cocky smirk and doing his iconic 3 finger salute.]

#champion blue #champion green #trainer blue #trainer green #pokemon masters #rival blue #rival green #character analysis

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izumi-fanclub · 3 years

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A3! Translation Chikage SR Card “SUNNY SPRING” [Harugumi Fanservice Study Group ~Chikage Edition~]

Aren’t you curious?

Citron

Live music is the best~! It is so exciting and hyping dayo!

Izumi

Citron-kun, you went to an anime song singer’s concert the other day, right?

Citron

Yes! It was a very hot live concert! Coke & Lemon Pawns were also fun!

Masumi

Call & response.

Citron

That is it!

Itaru

Cool, I was really itching to go too. You could just drop by on weekdays any time you like, talk about unbeatable……

Chikage

If you wanted to go so much, you could’ve just taken a paid leave.

Itaru

That’s like, trying to casually pull out a legendary sword out of a stone.

Sakuya

The venue was built by MIZUNO Enterprises in the next town over.

Citron

That is right. It is newly built, and the audience seats were very comfortable!

Tsuzuru

We were on stage at the opening of that venue, right? *

Even though we had the power of Mizuno on our side, I still can’t believe it.

Itaru

That stage really was different from our usual one. It’s pretty refreshing.

Izumi

The re-viewing performance we did before and the White Day Live were both very received……

We often get requests for live performances.

Maybe we’ll have another chance to hold another live together, maybe.

Citron

Yes! I also want to do it!

Sakuya

If that happens, I’ll have to work on my singing again!

Tsuzuru

It also helps when you’re onstage in a musical.

And as an actor, there’s nothing better than being able to sing.

Citron

Of course, singing is important, but that is not all there is to it!

Masumi

More than just the song?

Citron

The fanservice, of course!

I went to the concert as a spectator, I felt the importance of fan support again.

Chikage

Sakyo-san would always tell us to say things like “I would like to thank my fans at….” to thank them for their support.

Citron

Yes! That is why we need to study more about fanservice.

Tsuzuru

You got a point there.

Sakuya

I want to convey how I feel to my fans through various fanservice!

Citron

Like the singer I saw at the concert, you will be more popular if you do stuff in a way that suits your personality while doing fanservice!

Itaru

I get what you mean, the princely type, the energetic type, the cool type and the list goes on.

Citron

Our company members all have different weapons! I am going to start researching on fanservice to take advantage of them!

Sakuya

Chikage-san also puts on a wonderful smile in front of the fans.

Citron

A mature and gentlemanly smile dayo!

Itaru

But, senpai’s also pretty bland.

Chikage

Oi, don’t give such a petty response.

Itaru

How do we add more oomph......

Ah, I got it.

Tsuzuru

I think I’ve got an idea on what it is.

Chikage

I got a bad feeling about this.

Part 2

Itaru

This is why I called you over. This is Producer Sakisaka.

Muku

N-nice to meet you!

Citron

I see, we will be under Muku Productions!

Itaru

Thanks for coming, Muku. We’re researching bout fanservice right now, we plan on using each spring troupe member’s personality to our advantage.

Muku

Wow, each one with a unique fanservice style...... that’s so cool!

Itaru

So, Muku, we wanted to ask for your help in producing a new kind of fanservice that would take advantage of senpai’s sadism.

Muku

If I can be of any help, of course I’ll help you in anything!

A handsome man who is very sadistic... I got it! Please wait a moment!

Masumi

I think he went to get something.

Tsuzuru

Muku knows a lot about shoujo manga, handsome guys and heartbreaking lines, maybe he went to get a book about it to help us.

Izumi

(Chikage-san's fanservice produced by Muku-kun, I wonder that’ll be like.)

Muku

Sorry for the wait!

How about we refer to my shoujo manga!

It’s shoujo manga that’s very popular these days, and it features a really sadistic, handsome guy from the underworld!

Izumi

Oh, I know about it!

There’s even a movie adaptation.

Muku

That’s right.

I’ve always thought that the sadistic hero Byakuran-san is a lot like Chikage-san!*

Tsuzuru

I agree, the vibe is pretty similar.

Sakuya

You’re right!

Chikage

Well, I don’t know, I’m not sure myself.

Citron

This cool bare is awesome!

Masumi

It’s glare, not bare.

Muku

And this line on page 38 of volume 5 has a buzzing great quote in it......! It’s really popular!

How about practicing this line as reference for fanservice?

Chikage

No, I.......

Itaru

If you give it a shot, you might even get some ideas for new fanservice.

Muku

This line is really cool.

I think it’ll definitely suit you, Chikage-san! Please do it...!

Tsuzuru

…... Muku, your eyes are shining.

Chikage

Sigh...... if you look at me like that, how can I not? There’s no way around this, so I’ll give it a try.

Muku

Wow, thank you!

Chikage

Is it the line on this page?

Sakuya

Do your best, Chikage-san!

Itaru

Your move, senpai.

Chikage

“Fuu...... You’re the one who made me get all serious. No matter how much you cry or whine, it won’t reach anyone.”

Chikage

“I’ll chase you to the ends of the earth. Don’t you ever think you can escape me.”

Muku

Wow......!! A heartthrob!

Sakuya

That was so cool......!

Citron

As expected of Chikage! Sadistic lines are perfect for him!

Tsuzuru

No, it’s cool, but......

Izumi

The lines hit and the vibe was perfect, but......

Itaru

Somehow, when senpai’s the one saying the line, there’s like this bloody fear for some reason.

Masumi

It’s not like shoujo manga or a live fanfic.

Itaru

Yup.

Tsuzuru

This is production is a no-go......

Story Clear!

—————T/Ns:—————-

May be referencing Mankai Company doing a live show there at the opening day (A3! White Day event story “Sing Big Thanks!”)

This might be a reference to the character ‘Byakuran’ from the Reborn! Manga/Anime series, if you read his personality section in their fan wiki, you’ll definitely get what Muku means

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dani-of-the-cosmos · 4 years

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~placements that are especially attractive in males~

-scorpio rising: a penetrating gaze and a profound way of looking at you. doesn’t talk much, but is thought of as an excellent conversationalist due to his talent for getting people to talk about themselves. understated charisma--doesn’t vie for attention. the type to quietly mumble a one-liner and softly smirk to himself afterward--it doesn’t matter to him if you heard it or not. a still, rather intimidating presence.

-leo rising: think young johnny depp (who i LOVE)--a hypnotically golden presence, a soft deep voice and a fluffy head of hair. the type of guy whose emotions are apparent in his eyes--a charmingly expressive face. usually clear skin as well

-pluto in the first house: similar to scorpio rising, just more “oomph”. with a scorpio rising, the guy may seem far away, like a work of art or something, but with pluto in the first house, his humanness is utterly there, up-close, and shockingly real. i hope i’m making sense lol! the guy will seem intense and probing, and will always maintain the upper hand.

-moon in the first house: warm, earnest eyes. a quiet, low voice. if this guy smiles at you, you’ll feel almost uncomfortably soft and mushy inside--it’s so easy for him to express his adoration, in the most genuine and little ways. also, oddly enough, i’ve noticed, beautiful and strong hands.

-neptune in the 3rd house: charming and personal way of speaking, as well as a dreamy, relaxing voice. will make you feel important in a one-on-one conversation. he has an endearing tendency to get distracted, or daydream a lot. is frequently caught gazing off into the distance, which just makes you want to ask him to share the beauty of his thoughts with you.

-mars conjunct venus: the most apparent display of charisma. these guys always get the ladies, even if they’re not the most conventionally attractive-looking. they know exactly what to say. their passion is romantically refined, and the way they woo a woman is enhanced by their fieriness that peeks through as they talk.

-mercury positively aspecting pluto: mercury is all about communication, and pluto energy is all about intensity and darkness. if the guy’s communication style is tinted with seductive, dark sort of mannerisms, then watch out! these types of men are enormously persuasive, and know exactly how to phrase things. they’re rarely caught stumbling over their words, or proclaiming “no no, i didn’t mean it like that!” (as opposed to mercury negatively aspecting pluto)

-mercury positively aspecting neptune: similarly to neptune in the 3rd house, this man has an eloquent and dreamy way of communicating. he knows how to articulate abstract concepts and put them into words flawlessly. he’s likely an artistic type--a guy who will write about you, or who will describe your essence or appearance in a way you’ll never forget. on top of this, he’s intuitive and knows instinctively how to time his actions.

-libra sun: oh lord. libra sun guys will be the death of me and my friends. they’re just so...smooth. they know exactly how to look at you, exactly what to say, and exactly what to do (or not do) to keep you on your toes. he’s the type of guy who will idealize you in his head, and it will be apparent to you--you’ll love his flattery; you’ll love the version of yourself you are when you’re with him. just don’t fall into that trap. you have to face the reality of the situation, and if he can’t take it, he’s not worth your time.

-moon in taurus: a stable way of handling things--you can count on this man to defend you and to be your rock. since taurus is ruled by venus, he’s aesthetically oriented--he’ll notice the new thing you did with your hair, or the new eyeliner you bought. overall, he’s highly attuned to femininity and knows how to handle himself in the presence of women.

-moon in capricorn: a somber and self-deprecating sense of humor that is sure to warm you up to him in no time! an intellectual type with a talent for sexy glances. highly goal-oriented and, while realistic, has big aspirations. this hunger within him for success is incredibly attractive, and combined with his realistic way of viewing the world, this is a partner who’s well-suited for the long haul.

-mars positively aspecting pluto: his physical movements and mannerisms are tinted with the hypnotic darkness of pluto. likely very sexual and almost predatory-looking. you feel flustered in his presence, which he picks up on and takes advantage of.

-a full 9th house: maybe this is just me, but i love it when a guy (or anyone, for that matter) is aware of their surroundings, interested in exploration, and overall seeks truth and understanding. this guy is someone who is interested in philosophy, spirituality, different belief systems, and is enthusiastic about getting to know his home--the entire world, that is! this guy is someone who is rarely boring and seeks to express kindness to all. his ultimate goal is to find meaning, which i bet will spark some pretty thought-provoking conversations.

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wesimpforxiao · 3 years

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Inception: Chapter 4

"Tch!" Your forearm blocked a particularly heavy strike from Childe. It was sure to be bruised tomorrow, but the pain was so freeing. Maybe you should be attacking the Fatui more often if fighting made you feel THIS good.

"Don't tell me you're tired already," Childe smirked. "I haven't even gotten to see you use your vision yet!"

The lanterns lighting the city below vaguely illuminated the mountainside in which the two of you were fighting. It was the perfect view of both city and sea. Childe was interested in seeing the fantastic firework show, but the way things were going right now, he was more interested in testing your limits.

"Enough about that already," you growled and thrust your elbow into his side. The small 'oomph' that he exhaled made you a little too happy. He's wanted a fight with you ever since he came back that day, and even more so since you reunited. Who were you to refuse him now? Sure, you've refused in the past, but the anger and bitterness that came flooding back while you were at the festival needed relief. Ajax needed to know how much he hurt you all those years ago, whether you directly told him or not.

Childe, oblivious to the reason behind your sudden willingness to fight, was more than delighted to fight you. You must've been pretty desperate to change the subject of your phobia if you chose fighting as the alternative! That didn't stop him from feeling a little bad for pushing the subject, but the thrill of battle soon overcame the guilt and a new fascination overwhelmed his senses.

He was right. You are like him, even if it's just when you're angry. He can hone that: train you into becoming a warrior to be reckoned with. Childe held no intentions to convince you to join the Fatui, but instead prevent your potential from being wasted. He'd give you the opportunity to grow from amateur to expert. If you managed to surprise him in this moment, only archons would know exactly what he thought of you.

The harbinger steadied himself and threw his forearm out in time to block your swing, then countered with one of his own to your gut. It wasn't often that he trained in hand-to-hand combat, but that didn't make him any less deadly. He had to pull his punches to prevent from hurting you--though if we're being honest, he completely forgot to do that after the first couple minutes. It's not like you minded anyway. Childe was also slightly impressed at your strength; your looks were definitely deceiving and it worked to your advantage. He had underestimated you.

No wonder his men were complaining about the vigilante so much.

He caught your roundhouse kick aimed for his head and threw you off balance. The grass didn't soften your landing. The sole of his boot sat square in the middle of your chest as he towered over you. "Not bad," he praised with a raising of his lips. "I can see why you chose antagonizing the Fatui as a hobby." Something flashed in your eyes, but Childe wasn't sure what it was.

Your fist slammed into the side of his knee, knocking him off of you. As he fell you grabbed his arm so he'd land on his back. You were the one on top of him now with your knees pinning his shoulders into the grass. "Do you even remember?"

Childe blinked, and the bloodlust and thrill that was in his eyes was gone. Remember? What are-- You were struggling with something dark; your hands pulled the grass out from besides his head, eyes wavering with the slightest bit of hope swirling in the depths of pain. Seeing your expression, Childe parted his lips to speak. "Reed--?"

"Heh, forget it," you sniffed, swiping the bottom of your nose with your thumb and sitting up straighter as you vacantly analyzed the blood that now painted your finger.

BOOM! C-r-a-c-k-l-e....!

The Mingxiao lantern exploded somewhere behind you. The lights from the explosives cast a prolonged glow that illuminated Childe beneath you, but you were still staring at your hand. It was hard not to think about that night with your father. What could you have done to change the outcome? What could have helped you reach Ajax when he returned a different child? Based on your fight just now, he's never stopped looking for something to take his anger out on; a cruel contrast to the friendly toy seller demeanor. Meanwhile, Childe: What would've happened if you had fallen into the Abyss with him?

The lights were beautiful from Childe's point of view, but not for the common reason; they were blocked out save for the ones peeking out from behind your shoulders and head. You were backlit with bright colors--reds, blues, greens, yellows and oranges. Each cast a soft glow to your silhouette. The thoughtful look on your face while you refused to look his way was enticing, what with the sweat that slowly rolled down your temple and the forming bruises splattering across your arms. And the bloody nose he gave you--the blood that slowly trickled its way down to your upper lip--sent a pleasurable chill down his spine. You were a breathtaking mess of art.

He briefly wondered if you thought the same of him, but you never glanced down even after the lights of the lantern had faded.

...................

A few miles westward, at the base of Mount Tianheng. Ten minutes before the release of the Mingxiao lantern.

"Alright boys," a dark figure emerged from the shadows of the mountain and scanned the crowd of twenty-plus men all dressed in black robes. The gruff voice that erupted from the man was enough to silence the hushed whispers between comrades in arms. "Our scouts confirm the whereabouts of the target in the Northland Bank. Security is minimal as expected. Our primary objective is to retrieve those documents. Understood?"

Silent nods all around. Not one uttered a word, their obedience absolute. This was the man that compensated them fairly compared to Her Majesty the Tsaritsa. Injustices laid out against them by their superiors in the Liyue division of the Fatui will be paid in due time. Now that there were enough committed to the cause, the master's plan will be put into action.

"The Fatui will fall," he bellowed.

"The Fatui will fall! The Fatui will fall! The Fatui will fall!" The servicemen dispersed as quickly as they heeded his words, shouts of determination fading into murmurs then silence.

"Charlie," the leader gestured towards his right-hand man. "A word."

"Yes, sir?" The brunette's wolf-like ears perked up at the voice of his master. It wasn't unusual that he was given a separate mission during times like this, so he prepared himself with a jaw clenched in anticipation.

"Though I doubt any of them would be caught in this operation by either party, I am not risking you for...obvious reasons. I have a separate matter to discuss with you." Eyes like a snake's watched Charlie with both thoughtfulness and pride. Charlie was by far the most trustworthy, being one of the few recruits that were in this group the longest. He's succeeded all expectations, to say the least. "You've mentioned before about a rogue citizen attacking the Liyue Fatui?"

"Yes, sir."

"Any new information on them?"

"Well," Charlie shifted his weight to his other foot and pulled at the collar of his jacket. "According to one of the agents, it's a she. The lack of evidence she leaves during expeditions indicate she's had some time to plot her attacks and escape routes...she's more of a threat to them than those who are joining our ranks--at least on the agent-level. Master Childe seems rather unconcerned with her."

"I see. Well, if you're up for a greater challenge, find her. And when you do, recruit her. With her skillset, the destruction of the Liyue Division will happen a lot faster."

"Yes, sir." This challenge wouldn't be easy. It was unusual for there to be someone like him in the ranks of the Fatui, but perhaps this could be an advantage for finding this vigilante that's been the talk of the Fatui for so long.

....................

Childe had parted ways with you a few minutes ago and decided to check in with the bank before bed. The city streets were still bustling with partiers and night owls, so he took the shortcut through neighboring alleyways to avoid the foot traffic.

He still couldn't figure out why you went quiet after sparring. Wasn't sure if he missed something--a cue, a word, a phrase...what was it? And why was it bugging him so much? His chest was tight and palms sweaty, his heart was even racing a bit. It was unusual for him to be so on-edge. His worries were rudely interrupted when he reached the stairs that led up to the bank.

Millelith.

"Why aren't you helping us?! We told you everything we know! We need those documents back!" Nadia was practically screaming at one of the authorities. "I told you, those documents are im--" Spotting Childe, she let out a sigh of relief. "Oh thank Her Majesty--We've been robbed, Master Childe."

"Robbed?"

"Mm, yes. The safe was broken into, but not a single mora was taken. The reception desk is in disarray, as is Andrei's office...papers are strewn about this way and that, and the documents Andrei was holding for you are missing."

"...I see."

"And these...these imbeciles aren't helping! They're saying there's nothing to do but make a report!"

"I understand the situation. I'll be taking it from here. Please return to your post, Nadia."

She turned on her heel. "Yes sir!"

Childe faced the Millelith again now that it was just him and them remaining. "Any leads?"

"N-No, sir." The taller one, who was seemingly the one in charge of the investigation, held a stern expression as he stared eye-to-eye with the harbinger. "No witnesses. Whoever pulled this off did so with help. The theory is at least five people were involved."

"Five?" Childe couldn't help but scoff at such a ridiculous idea. "And there were no witnesses at all? That's not possible."

"Sir--"

"No! You don't understand. That's impossible. Our security is too tight for even one person to slip through. There had to be someone. Are you sure you crosschecked those who are on duty?"

The guard just shrugged. He wasn't even interested in hearing what Childe had to say! Even the other guards that were accompanying him appeared bored and even annoyed that they had to deal with the Fatui.

Seeing this, the harbinger pulled at his hair. Steady now, he reminded himself, Don't lose your temper here. "If I may, I'd like to speak with your leading supervisor."

"You're lookin' at him," the lead guard answered with an arrogant smirk that pissed Childe off even more.

"Tch--Whoever's in charge of you."

"Sorry, but he's off-duty at the moment. You can speak with him at the civil affairs tomorrow evening."

"Right." Childe grit his teeth and took an extra deep breath to calm himself. Of course, it didn't work. Damn them! If I could have it my way, they'd be lying in a pool of their own blood right here and now for their audacity to ignore a crime against us--We fund them, for crying out loud! Perhaps I should send for the Tsaritsa's wisdom-- If it weren't for Lady Signora keeping him in the dark in regards to Morax's gnosis, he wouldn't feel like a dog on a tight leash right now. The great weapon of war forced to heel for the sake of the cryo archon's image. Childe made his way for Andrei's office with clenched fists.

Sure enough, it was trashed. Every document, every book, every folder lay strewn about or trampled on. Nadia and another agent were busy sorting through and placing each in their respective places; Andrei was out near the docks so it would be awhile before anyone managed to get ahold of him...

Childe knelt at the safe under the desk that sat before the set of double-paned windows. It was empty. Every single letter from the Tsaritsa was inside; each detailing next and future steps for the Fatui and Northland Bank; classified documents that updated him of the politics occurring in the Motherland; evidence of...certain matters that would no doubt give the Qixing enough power to ban the presence of Fatui in Liyue. All of it was gone.

Who'd go to such sophisticated lengths to get their hands on these? The Qixing abide by the law, so they wouldn't do something so unorthodox. The Millelith were definitely biased and held grudges against him, so they're not entirely ruled out...What was the suspects' goal? A smear campaign? If it is, they got it.

If he hadn't been away from the office, surely they wouldn't have been so bold as to pull off a bank heist. But one good thing came out of this: You definitely weren't involved since you were with him. Wait...whoever did this must've been watching him. You could be involved if you had help, but you've never mentioned anyone helping you. So you and this situation were completely unrelated. That had to be the case.

Regardless, his every move is being watched. The only question that remains is, by who?

#childe genshin impact #childe tartaglia #tartaglia genshin impact #genshin x reader #tartaglia x reader #fanfiction #inception

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here-be-a-dragon · 4 years

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Thoughts on Swords

Note: I am not a historian, I’m just a gremlin that likes swords

Joe seems to use a scimitar. Now the term “scimitar” refers to a family of curved swords that people smarter than me can tell apart. Curved blade designs were probably introduced to the central Islamic lands around the 9th century, possibly by Turkic warriors from Central Asia employed as body guards under Abbasid caliph Al-Mu'tasim. The scimitar, or at least swords with similar designs, first appeared among the Turko-Mongol nomads of Central Asia during the 7th century.

Nicky has a two handed straight sword. Historian Ewart Oakeshott developed the Oakeshott typology to define and catalouge the medieval (European) swords into 13 types, which differ based on their physical form and when they were used. Given the long grip and long blade, this sword most resembles a type XIII sword using the Oakeshott typology.

There is an issue with this: historically, there’s no way Nicky had a longsword. Type XIII swords, and two handed swords in general didn’t really become a thing until the 13th century, and the first crusade (during which Joe and Nicky met, fought, and died) took place in the 1090′s. The swords that would have been used during the first crusade would have been one handed and would have had a shorter blade.

However, if we handwave the historical anachronisms, it’ll all be fine. Lets look at fighting styles.

The two handed swords tend to be on the longer and heavier side than the one handed swords, since you can use both your hands to maneuver it and can get that much more power behind your swings.

The thing about bladed weapons, and swords in particular, is the historic arms race/balancing game between arms and armor. In general, cultures that use lighter weapons also use lighter armor, and conversely, cultures that use heavier weapons tend to use heavier armor.

In Europe, as armor got heavier and heavier-from leather to chainmail to plate, the blade styles changed alongside. By the time the 14th century rolled around, plate armor was supplanting chainmail and the swords were changing to become longer, thinner, and more stabby. But because Nicky’s sword, and thus his fighting style, will be using a pre-plate armor tactic, the two-handed design lets him build up power with his swings.

This comes with a tradeoff, however. With a straight sword, the blade is stopped on impact. It takes a conscious effort and non-negligible training in order to continue the strike and keep moving. Between that and the heavy armor oh so popular in the middle ages in Europe, there is a major emphasis on blocking in longsword technique (its rather difficult to move out of the way, but if a blade can be stopped, it’s stopped). But blocking a blade with the edge of the blade will damage the sword, so more training is required in order to block blows with the side of the blade. This requires wrist movement control, which isn’t easy with a heavy straight sword.

If one were to have a shorter, lighter, curved sword however...

That’s right, Joe has one of those. The curved design of the scimitar takes advantage of the body’s natural mechanics when swinging things so that a strike easily follows into a strike. It also allows for greater maneuverability, as greater degree of control over wrist and arm movement opens the door to fancier moves.

Another interesting thing: while curved blades are very helpful for chopping/cutting, those with extreme curves are less effective for thrusting, and it can cause the tip to dull much faster. But blades with a less extreme curve (like Joe’s scimitar), that issue is avoided AND the slight curvature means any thrusts will leave a larger wound than a straight sword of the same width.

The lighter design does mean it won’t have quite as much oomph behind each strike, but like with all things, it’s a trade off.

#tog meta #the old guard meta #swords #medieval weapons #nicky #joe #nicolo de genova #nicolo di genova #yusuf al kaysani #yusef al kaysani #immortal husbands #nicky x joe #joe x nicky #yusuf x nicolo #tog #the old guard

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bonkusdonkus · 3 years

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So a while ago I made a list thingy of ideas for different dynamics between a Warlock and their Patron. Honestly, the relationship between the two is such an important part of the class, it really seems like a waste not to play around with it.

Since that first post though, I’ve had more ideas, and since people seemed to like the first one, I thought I’d spew a few more. So here we go!

The Warlock’s family has been working closely with the Patron for generations upon generations, to the point where they’ve pretty much become a part of the family. The Patron has accepted their makeshift adoption, and acts as a beloved, if eccentric, aunt/uncle to the Warlock and their family. Bonus points if the Warlock refers to their Patron by a family nickname rather than their title/actual name. Which of course leads to hilarious misunderstandings, and the inevitable horrifying realization that the Warlock’s “Aunti Morg” that they’ve been talking fondly of the whole time, is in fact their Fathomless Patron, Morgilana, Devourer of Foes and Queen of the Endless Deep. (Morgilana is just an example, I’m not insinuating that this idea is locked to Fathomless patrons. Pretty much anything big and scary would be funny.)

The Hexblade Patron is an ancient sentient sword, and the bearer of a terrible curse/prophecy: Any who wield the blade will be granted the power to achieve whatever they desire most, but once they achieve that goal, they will die. Kings, heroes, tyrants, villains, all have used the blade to achieve their dreams, and then payed the ultimate price. The Patron is... Mostly resigned to all of this. It’s their lot in life, they don’t know how to change it, so they don’t try. Until one day the get a new Warlock/wielder. And they’re a child. The Patron is horrified, they are not okay with killing a kid, thank you very much! But their new Warlock is stubborn and determined to achieve their dream, and they won’t be dissuaded by the Patron, no matter what argument they use. So now the Warlock is charging headfirst into danger and inevitable death, while their Patron desperately tries to keep them alive, find a work around to the curse, and just generally is an exhausted parent.

The Celestial Patron was sent on a mission from the gods to find the Chosen One of prophecy, the one who was foretold to save the world from a great and terrible evil. They were to find them, and guide them on the path to their destiny. Which would have been all well and good, if there wasn’t a... Complication. See, when the Patron appeared to the Chosen One, they died of a sudden and tragic heart attack. (Probably because a big dang angel/kirrin/unicorn/cuoatl/other celestial appeared out of nowhere,) In a panic, the Patron desperately looks around until they find a mortal who at least vaguely matches the prophecy and basically says: “You’ll do! Congratulations, you’re the chosen one now!” Bonus points if the Warlock and Patron keep having to come up with increasingly elaborate cover stories to explain why the Warlock doesn’t quite match up with the Chosen One of the prophecy. Extra bonus points if Warlock is an entirely different race than the Chosen, making their excuses even more ridiculous.(Like, for example, if the Chosen was a gold dragonborn, and the Warlock is a kobold who is a kind of yellow that could be described as gold. If you shined em’ up a bit and squinted.)

The Warlock’s original Patron was your usual manipulative jerk Patron, the kind that swindles their Warlock into some kind of terrible devil’s deal that will only end poorly. But, they also had a terrible gambling problem. Namely, that they were really bad at it. So bad that they gambled away the Warlock’s contract to an entirely different entity. Now the Warlock has a new boss, and they have no idea what to expect from the new magement. Bonus points if the new Patron is an entirely different type of patron.(like, going from an Archfey patron, to a Celestial.)

By some kind of cosmic clerical disaster, the Warlock accidentally signed a contract with three (or more) Patrons at once. Now all of them are constantly fighting each other to be the Warlock’s “favorite.” Bonus points if they manage to put aside their differences and work together to aid their Warlock, however temporarily, when the Warlock really needs them to.

The Warlock and the Patron met as children, and quickly formed a bond of friendship. Being a child, they saw no problems befriending a otherworldly entity, and the Patron was just glad to have a friend, mortal or not. Eventually they had to part ways, but not before swearing to be best friends forever. No one believed the Warlock when they told people about their best friend, they would just say they had a big imagination. And over time the Warlock begins to believe these people, seeing their friend as the creation of a lonely child. Only, one day they meet their old friend again, and they are very much real, and very, very powerful. And also now their Patron, because as it turns out, when you swear to be best friends forever with someone who is basically made of magic, it’s got quite a bit more oomph than your average promise.

Someone very close to the Warlock (a friend, a family member, a lover, whatever,) owes the Patron a massive debt, and is either unable or unwilling to pay it. The Patron is about to punish the loved one for their transgression when the Warlock offers themselves up instead, begging to take the punishment instead. Impressed by their loyalty and and willingness to sacrifice themselves, the Patron agrees, and takes them on as their servant to pay off their loved one’s debt. Bonus points if the loved one turns out to be an A-hole, and immediately abandons the Warlock to their fate and/or takes advantage of the situation to screw over the Warlock.(Gotta have some of that aaaaaaaangst.)

The Patron has been assigned by the powers that be to be a sort of guardian angel to the Warlock. As a punishment detail. Normally, watching over some mortal wouldn’t be that big of a deal, but this Warlock is a special case. They are one of, (if not the) most danger prone being in existence, bad luck and misfortune are drawn to them like a magnet. Keeping them alive on a day to day basis takes most of the Patrons power, and pretty much all of their attention. The Patron did something to piss off some very powerful beings, and now they’re stuck babysitting some mortal who can barely get out of bed every morning without dying.(side note for this one, the Patron doesn’t have to be an angel, even though I used the term “guardian angel.” They don’t even have to be a Celestial, they can be anything. Heck, can you imagine a Fiend patron getting strong armed into protecting some poor mortal? That’d be hilarious!)

#5e homebrew #dnd character concept #dnd 5e #warlock patron #warlock

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mxgilray · 3 years

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I... have some thoughts on the Loki finale. It was not what I was expecting, but I'm still hopeful for season 2.

This felt like a meh finale, like how a lot of season finales felt in Spring 2020 when they unexpectedly quit filming and had to cut things short by a couple episodes thanks to the pandemic. Only this was the planned out finale, they should've given a bit more oomph. I'm quite a fan of exposition and character development usually, but all the dialog was centered on He Who Remains, so it felt like our main characters were just side pieces.

Plus, the final "cliffhanger" of Mobius not knowing Loki and the statue of HWR replacing the Time Keeper statues felt quite lackluster. Not sure how they could've made it hit harder, but it didn't deliver the "oh shit" vibes they intended, but maybe that's cuz Mobius not remembering Loki has been an expected plot line on tumblr for half the season so it wasn't a blindside.

I get the point of the Sylki kiss. From what I've seen on tumblr so far I feel like the nuance of Sylvies actions was lost to most people (both Sylki fans and antis just Didn't Get It). It wasn't a big declaration of love like the fans are grasping onto it as, and it wasn't shoving selfcest into the canon to keep the heternormativity like antis are accusing it of being; it was Sylvie using Loki's attachment to her to trick him. She needed Loki out of her way, and she knew the only way to get past him and get He Who Remains' tempad was through emotional distraction. She used his love against him and betrayed him, a kiss was simply the most efficient way to do it. I did a whole post last week about Sylvie's feelings towards Loki, but to sum up I firmly believe that while Loki harbors some romantic feelings for Sylvie, she feels strictly platonic towards him, but is very aware of his attraction. She took advantage of his care for her to get the upper hand during their fight. Heck she even foreshadowed it herself in ep 5. "There are more important things than friends" "like taking down the TVA" she told Loki that taking down whoever is behind the TVA comes before everything; it's priority #1 in her book, above friendship or love or trust. Loki proved that his priority now is the greater good of the universe not her revenge, so Sylvie has no use for him anymore (partners only when it's convenient, because she is a Loki and that's how emotionally stunted Lokis behave).

I would like to point out the irony of her being worried about Loki betraying her, only to turn around and betray him. It's in the realm of "people who cheat assuming their partner is cheating" / "not using a turn signal when changing planes to avoid being cut off because when you see someone else use their signal you tend to cut them off", it's assuming other people will behave like you do. Sylvie feared in ep 5 that Loki would betray her in the end because she knew if it came down to it she'd betray him. But the thing is, he's actually grown past that. Loki is finally thinking about how his actions can damage others, not just his own wants and needs. Sylvie saw this moral change in Loki, realized there was no chance of getting him back on the blind revenge boat, and decided to exploit his newfound selflessness and emotional attachment to get him out of her path.

This whole season Loki has been maturing emotionally and growing into the best, most heroic version of himself. Sylvie, on the other hand, still has that deceptive, selfish, can't trust anyone persona that every Loki develops to combat insecurity. She hasn't had the emotional growth needed to see the bigger picture, she's still trapped in her own self centered mindset. As such, she disregards the impact her betrayal will have on Loki, the impact killing HWR will have on the universe. She doesn't even take a beat to consider whether revenge is still the right path cuz she doesn't practice self reflection yet; revenge has always been the goal and she refuses to give herself a chance of changing her mind. I hope in season 2 she'll get some character growth, now that her 1 goal has been accomplished.

Now on to Mobius. I enjoyed his scenes, I wish we'd been shown more of what he did to reveal the truth to the rest of the TVA. Again, I feel like too much time was given to HWR's monologing and not enough was spent on the other characters so Mobius and B-15 got very little screen time to display their plan. I am happy Mobius got the opportunity to throw Ranslayers betrayal back in her face, and his attemp at attacking her...my boy you work a desk job you ain't no fighter, she used to work in the field collecting variants, you had no chance. Also, where the F did she go??? I kept expecting her to show up at the end of time but she didn't. Where did Miss Minutes send her??

I'm sad Mobius doesn't know Loki anymore, but I can't say I'm surprised. I've got a few different thoughts on what the heck is going on with him and the TVA:

Sylvie accidentally sent Loki way back to a time early on in the TVA before HWR created the Time Keepers for anonymity. As such, this is a past Mobius who has yet to meet Loki or even learn of Loki's existence. If this is the case, then I think Loki and Past!Mobius's interaction at the end of ep 6 will be the catalyst for him becoming a Loki expert. The 63 branching timelines Mobius and B-15 are discussing before Loki interrupts are from some currently unknown disaster that'll be a plot line in s2. (This is my least favorite theory, but nevertheless a possibility)

HWR was correct when he said that if Sylvie kills him and destroys the TVA then another variant of him will just start it all up again. This variant didn't care to remain anonymous, hence the big statue of him, but kept all the memory wiped variants working there. Because time is a chaotic bitch, the changeover from one HWR variant to another may have been near seamless at the TVA and just involved a quick memory wipe of anything relating to the Time Keepers, Loki and Sylvie, or knowledge that the TVA are all variants. The 63 branches may be thanks to something Renslayer is doing like killing all the HWR variants in existence in order to negate the need for the TVA. The branching could also be from Sylvie's revenge still, we have no idea how much time has passed between her killing HWR and a new HWR taking over so the branching she caused could still be an issue.

There have actually been multiple TVAs running simultaneously, each in their own multiverse. Each one employs memory wiped variants, each one is in charge of a certain subset of timelines, and all work under the one HWR. Sylvie used HWR's tempad to eject Loki back to the TVA, but she accidentally sent him to the TVA of a different multiverse not realizing that's a Thing. The 63 branching timelines Mobius and B-15 are discussing are indeed from Sylvie killing HWR, but there's only 63 as opposed to the countless we saw diverging from Sylvie's perspective because this TVA only sees branches on timelines within their own multiverse. Mobius doesn't know Loki because he isn't our Mobius and in the multiverse he works in maybe Loki's aren't as much of an issue because none of them ever escaped the TVA like Sylvie did (or none of them have Tom's face so he doesn't recognize him as a Loki). If this is the case, then Loki is gonna have to find his way back to his own multiverse in order to be reunited with his Mobius, and that could end up happening thanks to Renslayer. Miss Minutes gave her a file that I suspect only HWR should have access to. Maybe it was tempad coordinates for other multiverses? It took til the 31st century for the multiverses to be connected despite Tony figuring out time travel in the 21st century because travel between universes is much harder, maybe HWR is still the only one who knows how to do that. (If this theory is correct then all the time travel done during Endgame was through timelines within one multiverse) Also just thought of this but what if the reason there are so many extreme variations of loki that grew to adulthood is because the criteria of "sacred timeline" is different in each multiverse. Classic Loki and maybe President Loki and Kid Loki are from the same universe as MCU Loki, but red haired Loki, Croki, Boastful Loki, etc are all from other universes. Think about it, Classic Loki, 2012 Loki, and MCU Loki all have an exact identical path up until their nexus event (or death in MCU Loki's case). I think other than identifying as female, Sylvie's childhood was identical as well and that her nexus event was coming to terms with her adoption as a child, which erased the catalyst of 2011 Thor's plot and would've changed everything for her future path. Had her adoption remained a secret and she grew up on asgard, I believe her story would mirror MCU Loki's. It mildly hit me weird that there would be such wild variation amongst Lokis, even with him being a shapeshifter, because there's a rigid sacred timeline (that supposedly the MCU movies have all adhered to) and they all felt like too big of a divergence to have been left unchecked so long. If boastful Loki was telling the truth about getting all 6 infinity stones then he should've triggered a nexus event as soon as he got more than the 3 he is "supposed to" interact with, unless in his multiverse the sacred timeline criteria is different. Another theory: the agents employed in each TVA are from multiverses other than the one they're working in. It would make sense, keep them from running into their own past by fully detaching each agent from their home timeline/universe. So the Principal!Renslayer that B-15 found will never in any future become the TVA judge we know. The one we know maybe came from the universe Loki got sent to, and that's how the two of them will end up crossing paths again.

#loki series #loki spoilers #loki #lokius #sylki #sylvie laufeydottir #mobius m mobius #tva loki #time variance authority #loki meta #mcu #marvel

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