#efficient document creation

[pdqdocs]

Simplified Document Creation with PDQ Docs: Streamlining Your Workflow

In today’s fast-paced world, efficiency and time-saving tools are essential in every aspect of business and personal work. When it comes to document creation, many professionals face the challenge of managing complex formatting, collaboration, and time-consuming revisions. With PDQ Docs, document creation has been made easier, faster, and more streamlined than ever before. This innovative software is designed to simplify the process of creating professional documents, enabling users to focus on the content rather than the format.

How PDQ Docs Simplifies the Document Creation Process

PDQ Docs revolutionizes the way documents are created by providing a user-friendly interface and an array of powerful tools that reduce the complexity traditionally associated with document formatting. Whether you are drafting a simple letter, preparing a business report, or putting together a legal document, PDQ Docs makes the task significantly less daunting. The software eliminates the need for extensive knowledge of formatting techniques and complex features found in traditional word processors.

One of the key benefits of simplified document creation with PDQ Docs is its intuitive interface. The software is designed to be accessible for both beginners and advanced users, making it easy to create polished documents without the steep learning curve associated with other tools. Whether you are creating a document from scratch or modifying an existing template, PDQ Docs ensures that the process is as smooth and straightforward as possible.

Efficiency in Document Formatting

One of the most time-consuming aspects of simplified document creation is formatting. Whether it's aligning text, adjusting margins, or selecting the appropriate font size, these details can quickly become overwhelming. PDQ Docs simplifies this process by providing pre-set templates and automatic formatting options that save time and effort. You no longer need to manually adjust settings every time you create a new document. The software handles most formatting tasks for you, allowing you to focus more on the content itself.

Security and Reliability

When creating and sharing documents, especially in professional settings, security is a top priority. PDQ Docs offers robust security features to ensure that your documents are protected. The software encrypts your documents and stores them in a secure cloud environment, making it easy to access and edit them from anywhere while keeping them safe from unauthorized access. The cloud-based system also ensures that your documents are backed up, so you never have to worry about losing important work due to a computer malfunction or data loss.

Conclusion

Simplified document creation is no longer a distant goal, thanks to PDQ Docs. With its user-friendly interface, collaborative features, efficient formatting tools, and top-notch security, this document creation software is designed to save you time, reduce stress, and help you produce professional documents quickly. Whether you’re a small business owner, a student, or a professional in any industry, PDQ Docs is the ideal solution for simplifying the document creation process and improving your workflow. Try PDQ Docs today and experience the future of document creation.

[winged-void]

can you show the world The Mage and its Maid

Memoirs of The Mad Mage

Society, our society, is, broadly speaking, (and so agreed upon by many experts) the outgrowth of systems which never needed interact. Magic and flesh, biology and intellect that was a gift we can never return. You are familiar with these effects if not their causes, but those things are of no concern here. 

This is to say. 

You would expect such a system of systems, to produce aberrant results. The gods did not predict this nor could they plan it. Outgrowth. Externality of their need for worshippers. 

The priorities of such a system would not bias towards aberrance. Shun it. Remove it. 

But is aberrance not progress? Nothing (by definition!) can move forward without change, and what is aberrance but unexpected change. 

A wise reader might have gathered that this expert speaks of the existence of the monstrous. The strange that lurks outside of our little societies and yet seems so much more powerful than it. Is something like leviathan, or a dragon, not much more powerful than any given person? Could it not level our towns? 

Such things lack a fabric binding them. Kill ten thousand people and you'll find only more wanting your head. That power is much more. Is that not the selfsame source of the power our little intelligences were created by the gods to provide them? That togetherness, that binding agent? 

It seems then, that our society would be safe. 

Unless. There were some part of it. Some bright burning star. Some loose stitch in the fabric. That would give that gift to the monstrous, knowing it as its own. 

And I-

tick tick tick tick 

The Mage's pen stilled. 

tickticktickticktick

The pen dropped from its burn-scarred hand. 

ticktick tick   tick ticktick

It looked up. 

Across from the desk at which she wrote, there was a creature of her own creation, one she called the only name she had for a thing such as it: maid. 

An animate suit of armor, wearing a simple black robe, with a white smock thrown over it. To the untrained eye it would seem the armor had an ornate texture across it. And while that is technically true, the more expert viewer would see that texture for what it is: countless runes, all engraved by the steady hand of only the most determined mage. 

When it moved, one could hear a mild sloshing, like it was full of a liquid, which, despite many gaps in the armor, never leaked. 

Right now though, all the Mage could hear was ticking. Uneven, unsteady, disorganized ticking. 

“Cease. Cease cease cease you insipid horrid wretched disgusting thing.”

The faceplate on the armor superheated, melting into the vague impression of a smile. 

The Maid replied, “Oh, my lady, my dearest and most wonderful lady. Please understand. It produces such a rhythmic noise because it has observed, and documented, an uptick in your writing efficiency when such noises are produced.”

It tilted its head to punctuate the statement. 

The Mage stood, and leaned over the table, matted hair draping itself over the ink and paper, and spoke. 

“No. NO. I know you can produce rhythm and that was not it. It was inconsistent. You know it to be inconsistent.”

The Maid tilted its head yet more. 

“Oh my lady, it apologizes so terribly. Your inquisitive spirit was instilled in its being.

“As such, it sought to conduct an experiment of sorts. It wished to see which rhythm would best benefit you. So it switched between them.”

Silence. 

The Mage began to laugh. 

Scrambling over the desk, it grabbed the Maid's arm and began to shake it. 

“How wonderful. How creative. How beautiful. You spite me despite all precautions put in place. I simply must see more. I must.”

She thought for a moment, and looked, not at the faceplate, but instead to where it knew the organism to be. 

“I will. Thank you.”

The Mage fell back into its seat, and began to write much more frantically than before, stopping only to look back up at its creation another time. 

“I will.”

[paper-mario-wiki]

It only recently occurred to me that the Garden of Eden Creation Kits, or G.E.C.K. devices in Fallout, stand as a karmic opposite to the symbol of the nuclear bomb.

The nuclear bomb is effective as a weapon is a two stage attack. First there's the boom. An invention the size of a small car, in a flash so short you wouldn't even be able to think about it before being vaporized if you were anywhere within 2 miles of where it was, and you'd be lucky to live longer than 10 minutes if you weren't at least 10 miles away. An unstoppable, unhaltable fire that burns hot enough to vaporize anything even remotely alive instantly, and it's the size of a city before you have enough time to say "oh my god look at that". And then, after this devastating, all consuming flame goes out, the decay left over from that little drop of metal leaves the earth, the water, the sky, and all other physical domains completely uninhabitable for YEARS. It instantly creates a domain so remarkably dangerous that it becomes a global landmark. I'd say that it is only slightly hyperbolic in a cheesey poetic way that what a nuclear bomb does is create the closest thing to literal hell on earth that humans are currently capable (whether by scientific limitation, or by moral unwillingness) of creating.

On the other hand, the G.E.C.K., a sleek silver briefcase the size of a 2005 laptop, acts as a compact seed to create a stable, healthy environment, with enough power in a hyper-dense coal fusion battery to power a city. A succinct utopia in a box. In early depictions this was described as hyper resilient seeds, chemical mixtures to create viable soil, instructions for how to disassemble and reuse shelters to become extremely resilient and powerful new world places of safety, as well as vast documents on the details and assembly of advanced and highly efficient technologies like force fields. In later games, it was increased to something of a mythical item, capable of literally terraforming miles of earth down to the molecular level to be safe for habitation, as well as the ability to replicate anything you might need in terms of rations or supplies. In its own way, it is mankind's best attempt (at least in the Fallout universe) to create a massive-scale utopia in as small of a box, that creates as close to a heaven on earth, as possible. And it's even got a biblical tie-in right in the name. I think that's very fitting.

[forestclan-clangen]

Lore Dive: Deep Root Entities and Hallucinations

[Image ID: An image featuring three entities; two are creatures with long, spider-like legs, while the third had a decrepit house with a root-like plant in front and a figure at a window. In the two bottom corners are frightened cats. In text are the words, "Deep Root Entities, or, What are Woodcrawlers, exactly?" End ID.]

Almost all of the creatures that will be introduced in ForestClan's story will borrow heavy inspiration from Gemini Home Entertainment (GHE for short), with some liberties taken for the sake of a compelling story. I will give a brief summary of all the creatures and relevant entities that will be a part of ForestClan's story. GHE doesn't have an official group name for all of these monsters, so for convenience sake, I've dubbed them Deep Root entities. The only exception will be the Well-Groomed Cats mentioned in Moon 2, which are best described as a dream entity or a hallucination.

ORIGINS

Deep Root entities came to Earth in a very strange manner. While the Iris was mutating Neptune, it used the "blue spot" of Neptune - an ice storm - as a lens to focus a light-like beam of energy containing a seed of itself towards Earth's surface. It landed in Moonlight Acres Camp in the human year 1935, where the Iris then began to invade the dreams of one of the humans living near there. It convinced them to feed and cultivate this seed into something larger - resulting in the spread of all kinds of alien menaces on ForestClan's territory.

For the most part, these creatures originate from sprawling, carved out tunnel systems made of roots, flesh, and other living matter. Most of these entities follow a consistent design scheme: they are brown, earthy, and root-like. Their tunnel systems on the other hand, are more ghastly - they are red, off-yellow, flesh-like and stretched out like shifted tendons.

The list of dangers are as follows:

Woodcrawlers - a creature with spider-like legs. No cat has survived a close encounter with one to describe if it has a face, or mouth of any kind. It kills and hides so quickly and efficiently that even a cat's StarClan spirit can barely recall anything other than a "proboscis". ForestClan knows that Woodcrawlers and the Nature's Mockery plant must be responsible for the creation of Fake Beings, but they haven't stuck around either entity for long enough to figure out how. Woodcrawlers seem to be avoidant of rainy weather, and are frightened by the sound of thunder. A good example of this creature would be its appearance in Moon 4.

Nature's Mockery - a plant-like entity with a triangular shape. It is extremely dangerous, as touching it is known to cause hallucinations, muscular paralysis, flesh decay, and death. The plants seem to be vulnerable to fire. Cats of ForestClan occasionally group Woodcrawlers and Nature's Mockery together, calling them both "mockeries of nature".

Fake Beings - so far, only humans and cats have been documented by ForestClan to exist. Possessed bodies covered in roots that constantly scream for help. Acts as a lure.

Luring Lights - known by humans (and in GHE) as "Lights in the Sky events". Bright balls of light that float listlessly above Woodcrawler dens. They are stationary, and do not move. Acts as a lure.

Infected predators - As mentioned by Iciclepool in Moon 3 - foxes, bears, and other predators can be infected by something coming from Deep Roots, making them behave erratically. They never seem to turn into Fake Beings, however. If an infected predator is found, it is recommended to avoid them until they leave the area, or die of whatever infected them.

Gardeners - some unholy cross between a Woodcrawler and a Luring Light - tall creatures with long legs and round, bright lights for faces. Surprisingly fast. It's rumoured that as per their namesake, they tend to the underground systems that other Deep Root entities use to navigate. Not seen often by ForestClan - and they're thankful for it.

Deep Root Disease (DRD) - a virus originating from the root-like structures that coat Nature's Mockeries and the underground tunnel systems. The roots seem to latch onto its host's flesh, and instead of fighting it, the cells welcome it. It is most analogous to a tumor at this time. It transforms any entity infected into...something else. Thankfully, ForestClan is unaware of its existence because it only infects humans...for now.

The Wretch - the monstrous creature of ForestClan myth that destroyed all the other Clans, except theirs. They believe this to be the source of all evil, and are convinced that if the woods are not fed, they risk this creature returning to destroy them. In truth, this creature is a massively mutated bear, created as a punishment when the human camp manager of Moonlight Acres tried to sacrifice it to the Iris instead of humans. The fact that the Clans were destroyed was the result of its sheer size, and the fact that the Wretch was indiscriminate in its absorption of living tissue. Somehow, it still exists, somewhere, in the woods. Waiting. It has incorporated the bodies of hundreds of animals and several humans into its form. Their former selves are no longer recognizable. It has lost all semblance to a bear.

Living Tendrils - the only original creature on this list, not originally from GHE. Since my modded Clangen rolls automatically for if a kit lives or is taken by the woods when they're created, I need a source for how the woods try to take the kits. None of the preexisting creatures seemed suitable, so I made my own. I'll improvise on occasion and have newborns die from sickness, stillbirth, etc. when I find this "mechanic" gets too much (aka repetitive and makes ForestClan look incompetent). Living Tendrils are tentacle-like vines that seep through cracks, walls, and all manner of terrain to try and steal kits...or a weakened queen or any injured warrior that dares get in its path. ForestClan fears these the most. Speaking their names are akin to inviting in a Boogeyman - they will sooner speak aloud about Woodcrawlers than speak about the tendrils. ForestClan, however, knows they fear two things: fire, and lightning strikes.

Well-Groomed Entities - these are explicitly NOT a Deep Root entity, as they are not corporeal. In GHE, these are known as the "Well-Dressed Men". For cats, they were mentioned by Iciclepool to Talonpaw in Moon 2 as the "Well-Groomed Cats with fur-less heads". These are hallucinations sent by the Iris to invade the dreams of its targets, in order to manipulate and trick its victims into performing acts that they normally would not do. For humans - a human was tricked into believing that angels were speaking to them. For the cats - they believed these were omens from the woods, and when they stopped appearing and gave way to the Wretch, the Clans believed these hallucinations had supernatural power beyond their understanding, even beyond StarClan. For all intents and purposes - Well-Groomed Entities ARE the Iris.

[jcmarchi]

Ganesh Shankar, CEO & Co-Founder of Responsive – Interview Series

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/ganesh-shankar-ceo-co-founder-of-responsive-interview-series/

Ganesh Shankar, CEO & Co-Founder of Responsive – Interview Series

Ganesh Shankar, CEO and Co-Founder of Responsive, is an experienced product manager with a background in leading product development and software implementations for Fortune 500 enterprises. During his time in product management, he observed inefficiencies in the Request for Proposal (RFP) process—formal documents organizations use to solicit bids from vendors, often requiring extensive, detailed responses. Managing RFPs traditionally involves multiple stakeholders and repetitive tasks, making the process time-consuming and complex.

Founded in 2015 as RFPIO, Responsive was created to streamline RFP management through more efficient software solutions. The company introduced an automated approach to enhance collaboration, reduce manual effort, and improve efficiency. Over time, its technology expanded to support other complex information requests, including Requests for Information (RFIs), Due Diligence Questionnaires (DDQs), and security questionnaires.

Today, as Responsive, the company provides solutions for strategic response management, helping organizations accelerate growth, mitigate risk, and optimize their proposal and information request processes.

What inspired you to start Responsive, and how did you identify the gap in the market for response management software?

My co-founders and I founded Responsive in 2015 after facing our own struggles with the RFP response process at the software company we were working for at the time. Although not central to our job functions, we dedicated considerable time assisting the sales team with requests for proposals (RFPs), often feeling underappreciated despite our vital role in securing deals. Frustrated with the lack of technology to make the RFP process more efficient, we decided to build a better solution.  Fast forward nine years, and we’ve grown to nearly 500 employees, serve over 2,000 customers—including 25 Fortune 100 companies—and support nearly 400,000 users worldwide.

How did your background in product management and your previous roles influence the creation of Responsive?

As a product manager, I was constantly pulled by the Sales team into the RFP response process, spending almost a third of my time supporting sales instead of focusing on my core product management responsibilities. My two co-founders experienced a similar issue in their technology and implementation roles. We recognized this was a widespread problem with no existing technology solution, so we leveraged our almost 50 years of combined experience to create Responsive. We saw an opportunity to fundamentally transform how organizations share information, starting with managing and responding to complex proposal requests.

Responsive has evolved significantly since its founding in 2015. How do you maintain the balance between staying true to your original vision and adapting to market changes?

First, we’re meticulous about finding and nurturing talent that embodies our passion – essentially cloning our founding spirit across the organization. As we’ve scaled, it’s become critical to hire managers and team members who can authentically represent our core cultural values and commitment.

At the same time, we remain laser-focused on customer feedback. We document every piece of input, regardless of its size, recognizing that these insights create patterns that help us navigate product development, market positioning, and any uncertainty in the industry. Our approach isn’t about acting on every suggestion, but creating a comprehensive understanding of emerging trends across a variety of sources.

We also push ourselves to think beyond our immediate industry and to stay curious about adjacent spaces. Whether in healthcare, technology, or other sectors, we continually find inspiration for innovation. This outside-in perspective allows us to continually raise the bar, inspiring ideas from unexpected places and keeping our product dynamic and forward-thinking.

What metrics or success indicators are most important to you when evaluating the platform’s impact on customers?

When evaluating Responsive’s impact, our primary metric is how we drive customer revenue. We focus on two key success indicators: top-line revenue generation and operational efficiency. On the efficiency front, we aim to significantly reduce RFP response time – for many, we reduce it by 40%. This efficiency enables our customers to pursue more opportunities, ultimately accelerating their revenue generation potential.

How does Responsive leverage AI and machine learning to provide a competitive edge in the response management software market?

We leverage AI and machine learning to streamline response management in three key ways. First, our generative AI creates comprehensive proposal drafts in minutes, saving time and effort. Second, our Ask solution provides instant access to vetted organizational knowledge, enabling faster, more accurate responses. Third, our Profile Center helps InfoSec teams quickly find and manage security content.

With over $600 billion in proposals managed through the Responsive platform and four million Q&A pairs processed, our AI delivers intelligent recommendations and deep insights into response patterns. By automating complex tasks while keeping humans in control, we help organizations grow revenue, reduce risk, and respond more efficiently.

What differentiates Responsive’s platform from other solutions in the industry, particularly in terms of AI capabilities and integrations?

Since 2015, AI has been at the core of Responsive, powering a platform trusted by over 2,000 global customers. Our solution supports a wide range of RFx use cases, enabling seamless collaboration, workflow automation, content management, and project management across teams and stakeholders.

With key AI capabilities—like smart recommendations, an AI assistant, grammar checks, language translation, and built-in prompts—teams can deliver high-quality RFPs quickly and accurately.

Responsive also offers unmatched native integrations with leading apps, including CRM, cloud storage, productivity tools, and sales enablement. Our customer value programs include APMP-certified consultants, Responsive Academy courses, and a vibrant community of 1,500+ customers sharing insights and best practices.

Can you share insights into the development process behind Responsive’s core features, such as the AI recommendation engine and automated RFP responses?

Responsive AI is built on the foundation of accurate, up-to-date content, which is critical to the effectiveness of our AI recommendation engine and automated RFP responses. AI alone cannot resolve conflicting or incomplete data, so we’ve prioritized tools like hierarchical tags and robust content management to help users organize and maintain their information. By combining generative AI with this reliable data, our platform empowers teams to generate fast, high-quality responses while preserving credibility. AI serves as an assistive tool, with human oversight ensuring accuracy and authenticity, while features like the Ask product enable seamless access to trusted knowledge for tackling complex projects.

How have advancements in cloud computing and digitization influenced the way organizations approach RFPs and strategic response management?

Advancements in cloud computing have enabled greater efficiency, collaboration, and scalability. Cloud-based platforms allow teams to centralize content, streamline workflows, and collaborate in real time, regardless of location. This ensures faster turnaround times and more accurate, consistent responses.

Digitization has also enhanced how organizations manage and access their data, making it easier to leverage AI-powered tools like recommendation engines and automated responses. With these advancements, companies can focus more on strategy and personalization, responding to RFPs with greater speed and precision while driving better outcomes.

Responsive has been instrumental in helping companies like Microsoft and GEODIS streamline their RFP processes. Can you share a specific success story that highlights the impact of your platform?

Responsive has played a key role in supporting Microsoft’s sales staff by managing and curating 20,000 pieces of proposal content through its Proposal Resource Library, powered by Responsive AI. This technology enabled Microsoft’s proposal team to contribute $10.4 billion in revenue last fiscal year. Additionally, by implementing Responsive, Microsoft saved its sellers 93,000 hours—equivalent to over $17 million—that could be redirected toward fostering stronger customer relationships.

As another example of  Responsive providing measurable impact, our customer Netsmart significantly improved their response time and efficiency by implementing Responsive’s AI capabilities. They achieved a 10X faster response time, increased proposal submissions by 67%, and saw a 540% growth in user adoption. Key features such as AI Assistant, Requirements Analysis, and Auto Respond played crucial roles in these improvements. The integration with Salesforce and the establishment of a centralized Content Library further streamlined their processes, resulting in a 93% go-forward rate for RFPs and a 43% reduction in outdated content. Overall, Netsmart’s use of Responsive’s AI-driven platform led to substantial time savings, enhanced content accuracy, and increased productivity across their proposal management operations.

JAGGAER, another Responsive customer, achieved a double-digit win-rate increase and 15X ROI by using Responsive’s AI for content moderation, response creation, and Requirements Analysis, which improved decision-making and efficiency. User adoption tripled, and the platform streamlined collaboration and content management across multiple teams.

Where do you see the response management industry heading in the next five years, and how is Responsive positioned to lead in this space?

In the next five years, I see the response management industry being transformed by AI agents, with a focus on keeping humans in the loop. While we anticipate around 80 million jobs being replaced, we’ll simultaneously see 180 million new jobs created—a net positive for our industry.

Responsive is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation. We’ve processed over $600 billion in proposals and built a database of almost 4 million Q&A pairs. Our massive dataset allows us to understand complex patterns and develop AI solutions that go beyond simple automation.

Our approach is to embrace AI’s potential, finding opportunities for positive outcomes rather than fearing disruption. Companies with robust market intelligence, comprehensive data, and proven usage will emerge as leaders, and Responsive is at the forefront of that wave. The key is not just implementing AI, but doing so strategically with rich, contextual data that enables meaningful insights and efficiency.

Thank you for the great interview, readers who wish to learn more should visit Responsive,

[doctorsfavorite]

FOR MY ASK GAMEEEEE

1, 3, 4, 6, 12, 15, 20, 21, 23.

- @brutally-loving

Hi Krue! I’ll answer these for Zandik <3

1. What animal does your F/O remind you of?

A raven - for its intelligence, eerie presence and ability to pick apart mysteries with a sharp mind. And a shark - for the predatory nature, sharp teeth and the way he never truly stops moving forward, always hunting for knowledge.

3. What is your favorite hobby to think about doing with your F/O?

Experimenting together, though not always in a traditional, clinical way. He’s lost in his work, scribbling calculations at an alarming pace, muttering theories under his breath, and I, his most valued assistant, creation, and his wife, stand beside him - sometimes helping, sometimes teasing him for overworking himself. Maybe I’m lying on the operating table, allowing him to study me more, unafraid of his scalpel.

Philosophical debates over dinner are another hobby, an intellectual sparring that only strengthens the bond between us. And on rare, quieter evenings? Stargazing in the desert, lying on the cool sand, speaking of the fake sky, eternity, and how insignificant yet fascinating human life is. He'd scoff at sentimentality, but his gloved fingers would linger against mine just a second longer than necessary.

4. What chores would your F/O do around the house? Are there any they REALLY dislike?

Chores he would do around the lab:

organizing research notes and materials - Everything must be in its proper place for maximum efficiency. If a single document is misplaced, we can expect a dramatic reaction.

calibrating and maintaining equipment - If anyone else touches his machines, they’ll never do it right. Best to handle it himself.

overseeing test subjects (including myself) - Whether it’s monitoring data or making precise adjustments, he takes personal satisfaction in his work.

Chores he’d avoid like the plague:

cleaning up after experiments – Bloodstains? Shattered glass? That’s what assistants (like me) are for. He’s too busy refining theories to deal with the aftermath.

cooking and meal prep - If it isn’t something he can eat or drink quickly while working, it’s an inconvenience. He might forget to eat for hours, if not days, so cooking is my job.

laundry - He wears the same coat until it’s absolutely necessary to change it. One of his segments might handle laundry, but he certainly won’t.

Bonus: Chores he’d delegate to his segments:

“lesser” administrative work - One of his segments can handle mundane tasks like lab supply inventory, since he considers it beneath his time.

dealing with unimportant visitors - If someone dares to interrupt his work for trivial reasons, he has other versions of himself to shoo them away.

6. What kind of ringtone or notification sound would you have for your F/O?

Since I’m part of his hivemind, I don’t really need one, as we talk through telepathy a lot. Still, if my self-insert would have a phone, his voice saying “Ah… Did you think you could ignore me?” or something like that whenever he called would be funny (and make me a blushing mess).

12. What color do you associate with your F/O?

Light blue, like his hair!

15. What would your F/O get you for Valentine's day, if anything?

1) Zandik is all about his work and my relationship with him is no different - a gift that benefits us both is the perfect option. He might craft something personally tailored for me, like a specialized Geo-focused enhancement tool or a new experimental device that maximizes my powers (especially considering my sand abilities).

2) For him, the greatest gift he could offer would likely be knowledge. A private “lesson” on a forbidden or rare piece of research he’s been working on, something that could be either dangerous or highly advanced would be something he thinks would show me how much he cares. I’d learn more about his deepest interests this way.

3) He might also see the day as the perfect opportunity to “celebrate” by involving me in one of his most advanced and personal experiments yet - something that could challenge both of us, test the limits of my powers and deepen our bond in a scientific way. The experiment would be a way to bring us closer and prove the connection between us, perhaps by enhancing my abilities even further. “Gift” or not, it’s a test of love and intellect.

20. What're your F/O’s favorite personality traits of yours?

My intellectual curiosity, seeing that I’m equally interested in experimenting and expanding my limits, just like him. My ambition and determination to constantly improve and my dedication to furthering my abilities, especially considering how far I've come under his guidance, would be something he’s especially proud of. My independence, I don't simply exist as his assistant or test subject - I stand on my own and make my own decisions. I complement his need for control and precision. My ability to adapt and learn, as I’m the type who can absorb information, challenge him, and still stand firm in my ideas, which he’d view as a sign of strength. The fact that I've grown both emotionally and intellectually thanks to him makes him proud. My determination to challenge him - he’d find it incredibly stimulating when I challenge his views, question his methods or test the limits of his ideas. It shows that I’m not just a passive participant but someone who brings a unique perspective. It also means that deep down, I’m on his level, capable of thinking critically and independently. This appeals to his sense of superiority in a way that’s paradoxically flattering to him. He likes that I keep him on his toes.

The way I’ve survived his experiments and the resilience I show despite the pain and challenges I’ve faced also stand out to him.

21. If your F/O drew you, how would you describe the art piece?

If Zandik drew me, the art piece would likely reflect his meticulous nature and sharp attention to detail, with an almost clinical precision. I would be depicted with an air of otherworldly grace, perhaps standing amidst his laboratory's cool backdrop, with sand swirling at my feet or entwined around my form as a reminder of my powers. The lines would be clean and sharp, much like the precision with which he conducts his experiments. Every curve, angle and shadow would be deliberate, as though he’s trying to capture not just my physical form but the very essence of who I am - my power, my resilience and my complex bond with him. The color palette would be muted - greys, deep blues and maybe hints of warm sand tones.

23. What color would your F/O associate you with?

He’d likely associate me with a rich, deep shade of sand, a warm, earthy tone reflecting my Eremite desert heritage and connection to the sands. The sand, in his eyes, is a metaphor for my ever-shifting nature, how I can adapt, heal and even reform, much like the grains of sand that move and change shape yet remain a constant force in nature. He might see dark reds or crimson intertwined with that, representing my passion and the power he’s helped unlock!

[niuttuc]

Archmage, might I trouble you for a minute?

My research treatise on Mishra, Tamer of Mak Fawa has hit a bit of a snag and Master Malzra has been no great help, as I'm sure you can imagine. Already, I have incorporated the major players of Mishra's side of The War, as well as many of their most famous inventions, schematics, and exploits (per Bin Kroog's The Antiquities War). However, I still find myself lacking that extra umph when it comes time to report on my findings. To what areas of study would you recommend I turn my investigations? Deeper cuts would be much appreciated. Additional themes I have begun incorporating are forced combats, reanimation, and powerstones. Anachronistic elements are discouraged, lest my peers in brackets 1 and 2 disqualify my research.

Many thanks in advance, Professor, and send my regards to Lady Rayne

Ah yes, Master Malzra can get... Distracted, when it comes to this area of study.

My first question pertaining your treatise would be how strictly your research mirror the historic reality. For an example...

While it is indubitable that Mishra sailed to Argoth and established a foothold on the island to further his campaign, there is little documentation on what kind of ship he boarded to do so. It was almost assuredly not on anything resembling a galleon. Yet the design of those resonate in some ways with the Tamer's sensibilities, repurposing the ship on land into a fortress, and thus even if the voyage left it on the verge of collapse.

Similarly, while the work on this Familiar is uncredited, it is possible that it's creation was at the hands of Ashnod, some of her trademark work with necro-artifice comes through in this efficient design.

As far as impactful artifacts from the time, I assume you're already pretty well-equipped with the war machines of Mishra's design (or that he claimed from Phyrexia.) Some of the more powerful artifacts of the time, Monoliths for example, are also infamous for their resonance with others amplifying their power, which I'm led to believe research brackets 1 and 2 do not approve of. And some of the self-sufficient ones likely didn't slip your attention, like the Thran's Dynamo.

Of course, the Gixians' influence cannot be understated, and they worked more closely with Mishra than with his brother, claiming whatever Thran artifacts he unearthed and they wished for for greater power.

Even back then, they preached the same mechanical scriptures as they do now across planes. They're dangerous, but they might be worth including in your research for additional context.

If you want to demonstrate forced combat during the period, these could do the trick. This interpretation of the Showdown is definitely not fitting the time period, but I do not think anyone could argue the final battle between Mishra and his brother did not qualify as a Spectacular Showdown, between Gix's involvement and... Well, you know. It is on occasion an effective way to end wars, though one can only wish for lesser consequences.

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[beardedmrbean]

Drawing on lessons and experiences from the war in Ukraine, the Russian government is determined to ensure technological and industrial readiness for the large-scale adoption of drone technology in both military and civilian sectors, the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service says in its annual report published on Wednesday.

«Under the national drone development project, drones are being developed and produced based on standardized types, sizes and functions, for example light, medium or heavy drones of the airplane, multirotor or helicopter type designed for transport, training or reconnaissance purposes,» the report says.

To ensure standardized production and development, the project aims to establish 48 research and production centers across Russia. These centers will provide shared laboratory and production equipment, along with facilities for development, testing and production, as well as support personnel for participating enterprises.

Russia plans to allocate on average one billion euros annually to this project until 2030, with the aim of creating one million jobs for experts in the sector, who will be registered in a national electronic database. The project also includes the goal of integrating drone-related education into 75 percent of Russian schools.

According to the report, the national drone development project likely reflects both economic ambitions and an intent to emulate China's model, where civilian initiatives for new technologies and production capacities also facilitate rapid and cost-efficient transfers to the military sector.

By centralizing the integration of private enterprise with this state-led project, the Russian government likely aims to establish complete control over development and production resources, specialist personnel and the resulting technologies.

Research and development centers are envisioned as innovation hubs designed to help Russia achieve «technological sovereignty» and reduce its dependency on Western technologies and imported components.

The creation of an electronic database of industry experts mirrors the practices across Russia's broader military-industrial complex, where cross-sectoral databases enable the identification and allocation of critical personnel as required.

These initiatives, combined with lessons from the war in Ukraine, will likely secure a strong position for the Russian armed forces in the long-term deployment of drone technology.

According to the Foreign Intelligence Service, Russia has extensively deployed one-way attack drones (NATO designation: OWA UAS) in its war against Ukraine. These drones merge loitering munitions with unmanned aerial strike systems, creating a precision-strike platform capable of serving both tactical and strategic purposes, depending on their application.

As of January 2025, Russia has used over 11,000 Shahed, Geran and Garpiya drones in Ukraine, targeting critical infrastructure in massive waves combined with other precision weapons, such as ballistic and cruise missiles.

This terror tactic aims to undermine Ukrainian morale. From Russia's perspective, targeting civilian infrastructure also increases the likelihood that Ukraine will expend its limited stock of air defense resources to intercept drones. Thus, one-way attack drones can also serve as saturation decoys for Ukraine's air defenses so that Russia's more expensive and capable ballistic and cruise missiles can reach their intended military targets.

The Shahed series of one-way attack drones, produced by Iran, has been sold to Russia in large quantities. The extensive use of Shahed drones against Ukraine has been well-documented through video evidence and physical remnants; however, a key source of information emerged on Feb. 4, 2024, when the PRANA Network hacker group leaked the email servers of Sahara Thunder, a purported front company for Iran's Revolutionary Guard, according to the report.

According to the Foreign Intelligence Service, the leaked documents revealed that Iran initially offered Shahed-136 drones to Russia at a price of 375,000 US dollars per unit. Following negotiations, the parties agreed on a reduced price of 193,000 dollars per drone for a bulk purchase of 6,000 units, or 290,000 dollars per drone for a batch of 2,000 units. The price quoted by Iran is vastly higher than the estimated production cost, indicating that, for Iran, the Shahed drone sales were primarily an economic transaction. For Russia, accepting such a high price reveals its urgent need for these drones.

Russia also produces a modified version of Iran's Shahed-136 drone under the name Geran-2 in Tatarstan's Alabuga Special Economic Zone. Compared with the original, the Geran-2 incorporates several modifications, including the use of more advanced materials. It features an improved navigation and control module assembled in Russia, which includes the adaptive Kometa antenna to enhance its resistance to Ukraine's electronic warfare systems. Reports estimate the production cost of one Geran-2 drone in Russia at 48,800 dollars, which is significantly less than the cost of importing a Shahed-136 from Iran.

In late 2022, a group of Russian defense industry companies, led by the Almaz-Antei conglomerate, began developing a domestically produced one-way attack drone, the Garpiya A1. This drone shares many components, including its engine, with the Iranian Shahed-136 drone and its Russian-manufactured version, the Geran-2, produced in Alabuga. The Garpiya A1 is nearly identical to these models in appearance and technical specifications. It is highly likely a case of reverse engineering the Iranian Shahed-136 in Russia, with the apparent goal of lowering the costs of acquiring one-way attack drones.

The Garpiya is undergoing upgrades, including new targeting systems to improve autonomy, accuracy and lethality. Plans for a jet-powered version promise greater speed and altitude, making it a more challenging target for Ukrainian air defenses. The advancement of one-way attack drones, particularly jet-powered versions, blurs the line between drones and cruise missiles and offers similar capabilities at a fraction of the cost, almost certainly enhancing the scale and effectivenes of precision-strike campaigns in future conflicts. After the conclusion of active hostilities in Ukraine, Russia will likely use its drone warfare experience and insights into Western air defense systems to shape the development of its forces along Estonian and NATO borders, according to the report.

The Kometa controlled reception pattern antenna (CRPA), widely used in Russian armed forces equipment, ensures resilience against jamming and spoofing of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals. Various versions of the Kometa antenna are fitted on virtually all Russian weapon systems that rely on GNSS signals, including ballistic and cruise missiles, glide bombs and drones such as the Geran-2 and Garpiya A1.

According to the Foreign Intelligence Service, each element of the CRPA receiver processes signals with specific delays and phase shifts based on the direction and wavelength of incoming signals, as well as the relative positioning of the elements. This enables the system to identify and counteract interference by adjusting the antenna's reception pattern to avoid disruptive signals.

The Kometa CRPA receivers very likely enhance the resilience of Russian weapon systems, including one-way attack drones, against Ukraine's electronic warfare efforts to disrupt GNSS signal reception. This capability enables Russia's armed forces to carry out more accurate and devastating strikes. The reduced effectiveness of electronic warfare in disrupting navigation signals heightens the need for alternative capabilities, such as kinetic strike options, within air defense systems.

Additionally, Kometa's proven performance and operational experience during Russia's aggression against Ukraine is a factor Estonia must consider when acquiring precision munitions and drones, as well as when developing countermeasures. The mass production of Kometa antennas will enable Russia to equip both new and existing systems with this technology, reducing the impact of adversary electronic warfare measures on its operational capabilities.

«The Russian Ministry of Defense set an ambitious target to reach a production rate of 100,000 drones per month by the end of 2024 to support its so-called special military operation in Ukraine. To achieve this, numerous federal and regional support initiatives and funding schemes were launched. Most of the drones produced are FPV (first-person view) light multirotor drones with military functionality. It remains unclear whether Russia achieved this goal in 2024, but available information indicates that monthly production volumes grew several-fold over the year. Furthermore, Russia is likely capable of scaling up its one-way attack drone production faster than Ukraine can strengthen its countermeasures,» the report says.

According to the Foreign Intelligence Service, Russia's drone industry remains reliant on imported components, particularly electronics and drone motors and engines, for which no domestic alternatives exist. These components are largely sourced from Western manufacturers. However, manufacturers' ability to monitor end users is limited, as components are sold in bulk to electronic wholesalers, who then distribute them to end users and retailers worldwide. Russia has built procurement networks to exploit these supply chains, constantly seeking opportunities to acquire sanctioned items by involving companies from various countries as intermediaries to conceal Russia's role as the end user. As a result, the burden of ensuring compliance with sanctions falls more heavily on wholesalers than on the component manufacturers themselves.

«Sanctions have had a limited impact on Russian drone production. Russia's military-industrial complex continues to access critical components via intermediaries. Estimates indicate that up to 80 percent of sanctioned Western components reach Russia through China, suggesting that representatives of manufacturers, wholesalers and intermediaries within China are almost certainly a weak link in the supply chain. China has made some efforts to restrict its state-owned and state-associated entities from supplying sanctioned goods to Russia. It has also tightened existing restrictions and introduced new ones, such as the Chinese Ministry of Commerce's export controls on certain drones and drone components imposed on 1 September 2023. Despite this, covert supplies from Chinese private companies persist, with Beijing remaining Russia's primary hub for importing high-tech and dual-use goods,» the report says.

According to the Foreign Intelligence Service, dependency on imported components, including drone motors and engines, has been one of the most significant challenges to developing Russia's domestic drone production. Potential transfers of drone technology from China to Russia through private-sector collaboration could significantly decrease Russia's dependence on foreign suppliers. Although the Chinese government likely seeks to avoid the direct involvement of its state institutions in supplying sanctioned goods to Russia, it facilitates bilateral cooperation and covert transfers of dual-use components through private companies. This approach will likely decrease Russia's dependency on Western components and, in the long term, could undermine the West's ability to leverage influence in this domain.

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[animeraider]

Project 2025 will kill you. Yes, you. Sections 11-15 (of 30)

So I've been reading Project 2025 so you don't have to, and I'm going to report on everything I find that is alarming, which is a lot. Part One can be found here. Part Two can be found here.

Section 11 - Department of Education

"Federal education policy should be limited and, ultimately, the federal Department of Education should be eliminated."

That's the first sentence in this whole section. I think that pretty much says it all.

All student loans and grants are to be moved to the private sector. Move education for military families to the Defense Department and for Washington D.C. to Congress. I imagine that also applies to protectorates like Guam and Puerto Rico but the document actually doesn't say.

Put all education funding under State Control. You should really ask a child living in Florida how that's working out. Reject Gender Identity and Racial studies. Eliminate executive orders in education. I remind you that integration was done by executive order.

Transfer all Native American education to the Bureau for Indian Affairs. Transfer all adult education programs to the Department of Labor. Privatize Student Aid.

Move all civil rights enforcement to the Department of Justice. Transfer all civil service employees to other agencies. Eliminate the understanding that Trans people even exist.

Eliminate any privacy regulations used to protect students from any form of abuse. Rescind all regulations in Equity in IDEA.

Eliminate all food programs for students. All of them.

Phase out income-based student loan repayment programs. Rescind all funding for the National Education Association. Consider "Critical Race Theory" to be racism. 

Here's a crazy one that takes paragraphs to unravel: Allow parents of children over the age of 18 to sue to recover any monies spent on their education. Also, allow families to "opt out" of the education system entirely and for those that do give as a tax break the funding that would have been used to educate that child directly to the parents.

Allow states to opt out of any and all federal education programs. Eliminate Parent PLUS loans. 

There is page after page of basically "end anything Obama or Biden did", but eventually it all boils down to that first sentence. Eliminate the Department of Education.

Section 12 - Department of Energy (and related commissions)

You would expect this whole document to be drill baby drill but in fact it starts with the repeal and elimination of the Biden Administration's Infrastructure Act - the single largest jobs creation bill in the last 75 years. That's followed with not only a dependence upon oil and natural gas but a declaration that the U.S. needs to be the best in the world in Science. Great for a country trying to eliminate the Department of Education.

Eliminate the office of Clean Energy, and the office of Grid Deployment. Yep, they don't want the government looking at the power grid. 

Not only increase a reliance ("dominance") in oil and gas but nuclear power as well. 

Lots of paragraphs on focusing on science, which again - see the section on the Department of Education. Lots of contradictions here. Increase the level of private sector disposal of nuclear waste. What could possibly go wrong?

Fund a rebuilding of the country's nuclear arsenal. New warheads and testing. Eliminate Carbon Capture programs and Carbon offsets. Pursue much more coal, including coal waste as fuel. Increase fossil fuels. 

End the government's focus on green energy and renewables. Eliminate efficiency standards for appliances. In fact, they put this paragraph in the document twice on consecutive pages. 

"End Grid planning and focus instead on reliability." I shit you not, that's a whole topic in here. Say goodbye to grid upgrades and hello to more Texas-style outages. They then spend several pages repeating everything I've already told you about. 

Eliminate the Department of Energy's ability to make loans. Eliminate the Advanced Research Projects Agency. Looks like that better battery for your Tesla is going to have to wait.

Eliminate the Clean Energy Corps. Privatize the Energy Information Administration. Stop all funding for "climate reparations" - i.e. paying for the damage caused by oil production in underdeveloped nations.

Drill in Alaska (of course). Claim the Arctic Circle for the same purpose. Take an "America First" approach at the Office of Technology. 

Accelerate cleanup of all "Superfund" sites (except for Hanford in Washington State - which is where the U.S. government has stored Plutonium Waste for many years) with a goal of completing all work by 2035. That sounds good on the surface but in most of these sites there is a reason that it needs to go slow: fast work actually makes the contamination WORSE and spreads it further. Eliminate some regulations specific to the Hanford site.

Get all active Nuclear Waste stored at Yucca Mountain already.

As long as we're talking about nuclear stuff again, let's make more nukes. Abandon the Test Ban Treaty. Divest certain programs at Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore to refocus on nuclear energy and weaponry. Several pages are spent rehashing the need to get rid of renewables

Refocus transmission of electrical to the state level. I mean, why can't we all be Texas? Eliminate all questions about oil and gas pipelines to only consider the need for the fuels, not environmental or any other concerns. 

Eliminate the guidance of "as low as reasonably possible" for nuclear exposure when considering renewing the licensing for existing nuclear power plants or building new ones. 

Fuck, this was a nightmare to get through. but guess what's next?

Section 13 - Environmental Protection Agency

This whole section was written by Mandy M. Gunasekara, a former Chief of Staff at the EPA under the Trump Administration who in 2023 was kicked off the ballot in Mississippi when she ran for Public Service Commissioner - because she didn't live there.

Let's start that in the mission statement that it blames the lead poisoning crisis in Flint Michigan on The Obama Administration, which is so obviously incorrect that it boggle belief. It also states that every expansion of the EPA since 1972 is unnecessary.

Eliminate the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights. Eliminate the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assistance. Eliminate the Office of Public Engagement and Environmental Education. "Relocate" the Office of Children’s Health Protection and the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization - although the document does say where to relocate these agencies to.

Review the grants program to ensure that taxpayer funds go to organizations focused on tangible environmental improvements free from political affiliation (there are no such groups). 

This document goes on for more than 30 pages and makes the same faulty assumptions and rewrites historical data so often that it should be considered a work of fiction. But the key thing is unchanged: That everything that the EPA has done in terms of rulings and regulations since 1972 should be repealed.

Where I grew up you could see the air in 1972. It was grey. That's what they want to go back to.

Section 14 - Department of Heath and Human Services

This whole section was written by The Heritage Foundation. In the first two sentences it proclaims the COVID-19 Pandemic as over (which it isn't) and that life expectancy has decreased since the end of the Pandemic - which we do not yet know as the timing is too recent for statistical analysis. It's a lie.

No more abortions. Ever.

Prioritize families over everyone else. By the way, that's "traditional" families. Mother, father, children, church.

Remove the ability to declare emergencies and provide guidelines for outbreaks of diseases that contradict the political agenda of the administration. Move the recommendations of the CDC on how to treat anything into a separate political agency.  The entire document assumes that the CDC is faulty and corrupt, and not that the people using the CDC to make policy are. This is also a lie.

Remove Generic drugs from Medicaid. Make Abortion pills a controlled substance, with the ultimate goal of making them illegal at the same degree as Meth and Cocaine.

Eliminate chickenpox, Hepatitis, and MMR vaccines that originate from studies and science from fetal tissue. That's all of them, by the way. Also, eliminate vaccine mandates of any kind - you know, the type that for a while eliminated chicken pox, small pox, the mumps, measles and so on and could have been used to eliminate COVID. I notice that all of these are on the rise in the US. Even motherfucking POLIO is back.

Eliminate all research that uses science from Fetal Tissue. Eliminate all science funding and research that involves the fluidity of human sexuality. There are men and there are women and they are born that way. Period.

Several paragraphs are about "Woke" policies, and they encourage an end to diversity in conferences and studies.

When it gets to the Medicare section there is paragraph after paragraph about the bureaucracy of Medicare and how much time doctors have to spend on paperwork. This is a common fallacy that has been around for decades - yes, there is paperwork and there is a lot of it, but it's still LESS PAPERWORK THAN REQUIRED BY PRIVATE INSURERS. 

The truth is that bureaucratic waste in Medicaid is about 2%, where in the private industry it varies from 5% to 10%.

Eliminate the ability to negotiate drug prices under Medicare. 

As for Medicaid, paragraph after paragraph is dedicated to the elimination of problems that don't actually exist, plus adding work requirements to eligibility and actually taking away from states the ability to make programs flexible - which seems like an oxymoron until you realize that most waivers for various programs under Medicaid are for Democratic Party controlled states that are allowed to use these funds to treat the LGBTAI+ community and allow for abortion access.

Under the Affordable Care Act there is an awful lot of focus on redesigning medical care into a Concierge Medicine approach, which most people would not be able to afford. The document calls this stronger health care (true) and more affordable (patently false). It would also eliminate all of the cost controls in the system. There is no language saying that they want to eliminate the ACA, but they certainly would render it useless.

Prohibit travel for Abortion care.

Defund Planned Parenthood, which as I like to tell people is NOT a chain of abortion clinics but is a chain of Doctor's Offices with an emphasis on women's care. Withdraw Medicaid funds from any state where abortion is legal.

Deny gender affirming care for anyone with Medicaid or Medicare. Again, men and women are the only two genders and they are determined at birth.

Rescind all COVID-19 Mask and Vaccination guidelines, and pay damages to anyone displaced (i.e. fired) for not following those guidelines.

Institute work requirements for all recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Most of the verbiage about the prevention of teenage pregnancies is to deter things that aren't happening. Adoptions should be funneled through religious organizations. Crazily enough, the document in the same paragraph also acknowledges that there are 4 times more children awaiting adoption than people who want them, although I believe the actual ratio is closer to 7 to 1.

Move the office of Refugee Settlement to the Department of Homeland Security. Looking back at that document, there is no indication that DHS actually wants this.

Allows for parents who do not have custody of their children to receive a child-tax credit anyway. It actually specifically calls out that it wants the ability to allow deadbeat dads to take the tax credit.

Encourage bad marriages to stay together as a requirement of government assistance. Allow faith-based organizations who distribute this aid to discriminate as they see fit. Implement a national campaign that is pro-father propaganda. You know, to keep marriages together. Think of the poor men.

Eliminate Head Start.

Criminalized Physician assisted suicide, which is legal in 10 states according to this document. Remove requirements that telemedicine be local to the patient. I should point out that this would eliminate the ability to recommend hospitalizations, as these doctors wouldn't have admitting privileges where the patients actually are.

Allow hospitals, doctors and physicians to not provide abortion related care of any kind because of religious beliefs, even in states where it is legal and protected.

No more funding for condoms. No more funding for "Morning-after" pills (which they call "the week after pills" in this section). Withdraw all support for gender affirming/transitioning guidance. 

Stop teaching the medical procedures used in abortion care. I repeat, hinder the educational skills of every doctor in America.

The entire section on Indian Health Care (and why can't they ever use the phrase "Native Americans"?) is full of lies and I won't dignify them. 

Sunset all HHS regulations, which Trump tried last time around.

More bullshit about violations of human rights that never happened (mostly involving twitter and Facebook). They don't want the department to push back against lies on social media.

More verbiage that the administration needs to be Pro-Life and anti-Trans care. This is like the fifth or sixth time in this document so far, making it one of the longer ones I've gone through. This is followed by a series of paragraphs that are mostly lies about the COVID Pandemic, complaining about things that never happened.

It's full of lies.

Restrict and/or rescind funding to any country that supports abortion care. Prohibit overseas personnel from providing care that is in contradiction with administration policy. That's right, overseas care is now a political decision.

The entire rest of the document - several pages - is about how the only civil rights violation in health care is that providers of care of certain religions are not allowed to discriminate in their health care decisions, and that such discrimination should be allowed.

To summarize: No abortions, no gender affirming care, no contraceptives, stay in abusive marriages, no good health care for poor people, let churches discriminate, and lie every third sentence (or more often).

Section 15 - Department Housing and Urban Development

Woohoo! This section was written by Dr. Ben Carson! This of course means it's the shortest section in the whole damn thing, clocking in at all of 14 pages, 4 of which are footnotes.

Also, unlike previous chapters, the first 4 pages are only about what the department does who what the department posts and responsibilities are, and has no policy directives save for the basic concept that the department needs an overhaul.

Replace all career officers with political appointees. Issue an executive order making the HUD Secretary a member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S, to counter the Chinese threat that they are buying to much real estate in the U.S. Seems highly reminiscent of the same language used against Japan in the 1980's.

Reverse all protections for LGBTQIA+ persons implemented under the Biden Administration. Reverse all property appraisals done under the Biden Administration, because you know they did them all wrong. Eliminate any programs that have any mention of Climate Change. Eliminate the use of special-purpose credit authorities. Eliminate the new Housing Supply Fund.

Non-citizens, even those households who are comprised of both citizens and non-citizens, are to be denied housing assistance. Anyone with mental issues or drug assistance issues need to be treated before considered for housing. 

"Statutorily restricting eligibility for first-time homebuyers." That's the EXACT wording.

Finally, create an office of CFO for the department, who will do most of the work. Not bad for the laziest cabinet secretary in all history.

14 pages, only 6 of which are policy, all of which is designed to not actually do anything.

Next posting will cover the Department of the Interior, the Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of Transportation, and the  Department of Veteran Affairs.

[akshaykumar7866]

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[priya-joshi]

The Roadmap to Full Stack Developer Proficiency: A Comprehensive Guide

Embarking on the journey to becoming a full stack developer is an exhilarating endeavor filled with growth and challenges. Whether you're taking your first steps or seeking to elevate your skills, understanding the path ahead is crucial. In this detailed roadmap, we'll outline the stages of mastering full stack development, exploring essential milestones, competencies, and strategies to guide you through this enriching career journey.

Beginning the Journey: Novice Phase (0-6 Months)

As a novice, you're entering the realm of programming with a fresh perspective and eagerness to learn. This initial phase sets the groundwork for your progression as a full stack developer.

Grasping Programming Fundamentals:

Your journey commences with grasping the foundational elements of programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. These are the cornerstone of web development and are essential for crafting dynamic and interactive web applications.

Familiarizing with Basic Data Structures and Algorithms:

To develop proficiency in programming, understanding fundamental data structures such as arrays, objects, and linked lists, along with algorithms like sorting and searching, is imperative. These concepts form the backbone of problem-solving in software development.

Exploring Essential Web Development Concepts:

During this phase, you'll delve into crucial web development concepts like client-server architecture, HTTP protocol, and the Document Object Model (DOM). Acquiring insights into the underlying mechanisms of web applications lays a strong foundation for tackling more intricate projects.

Advancing Forward: Intermediate Stage (6 Months - 2 Years)

As you progress beyond the basics, you'll transition into the intermediate stage, where you'll deepen your understanding and skills across various facets of full stack development.

Venturing into Backend Development:

In the intermediate stage, you'll venture into backend development, honing your proficiency in server-side languages like Node.js, Python, or Java. Here, you'll learn to construct robust server-side applications, manage data storage and retrieval, and implement authentication and authorization mechanisms.

Mastering Database Management:

A pivotal aspect of backend development is comprehending databases. You'll delve into relational databases like MySQL and PostgreSQL, as well as NoSQL databases like MongoDB. Proficiency in database management systems and design principles enables the creation of scalable and efficient applications.

Exploring Frontend Frameworks and Libraries:

In addition to backend development, you'll deepen your expertise in frontend technologies. You'll explore prominent frameworks and libraries such as React, Angular, or Vue.js, streamlining the creation of interactive and responsive user interfaces.

Learning Version Control with Git:

Version control is indispensable for collaborative software development. During this phase, you'll familiarize yourself with Git, a distributed version control system, to manage your codebase, track changes, and collaborate effectively with fellow developers.

Achieving Mastery: Advanced Phase (2+ Years)

As you ascend in your journey, you'll enter the advanced phase of full stack development, where you'll refine your skills, tackle intricate challenges, and delve into specialized domains of interest.

Designing Scalable Systems:

In the advanced stage, focus shifts to designing scalable systems capable of managing substantial volumes of traffic and data. You'll explore design patterns, scalability methodologies, and cloud computing platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.

Embracing DevOps Practices:

DevOps practices play a pivotal role in contemporary software development. You'll delve into continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, infrastructure as code (IaC), and containerization technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes.

Specializing in Niche Areas:

With experience, you may opt to specialize in specific domains of full stack development, whether it's frontend or backend development, mobile app development, or DevOps. Specialization enables you to deepen your expertise and pursue career avenues aligned with your passions and strengths.

Conclusion:

Becoming a proficient full stack developer is a transformative journey that demands dedication, resilience, and perpetual learning. By following the roadmap outlined in this guide and maintaining a curious and adaptable mindset, you'll navigate the complexities and opportunities inherent in the realm of full stack development. Remember, mastery isn't merely about acquiring technical skills but also about fostering collaboration, embracing innovation, and contributing meaningfully to the ever-evolving landscape of technology.

[cubikcadd03]

Revit Architecture Online Training - cubikcadd

Revit Architecture Online Training - cubikcadd

In today’s fast-paced design and architecture world, staying ahead of the curve requires mastering the right tools. One of the most powerful and widely used software platforms for architects, engineers, and construction professionals is Autodesk Revit. If you’re serious about elevating your skills and advancing your career, enrolling in a Revit course can be a game-changer. This blog will explore the benefits of taking a Revit course, what you can expect to learn, and why it's essential for anyone in the design industry.

What Is Revit?

Revit is a Building Information Modeling (BIM) software developed by Autodesk that allows architects, engineers, and construction professionals to design, visualize, and manage building projects in a 3D environment. Unlike traditional CAD software, Revit is more than just a drawing tool. It enables users to create intelligent models with real-world information about materials, structures, and systems, providing a holistic approach to design and construction.

Why Take a Revit Course?

A Revit course is crucial for professionals who want to maximize their productivity and accuracy in design. Here are a few key reasons why learning Revit is a smart investment in your future:

1. Industry Standard

Revit is an industry-standard BIM software widely used in architectural firms, engineering companies, and construction projects worldwide. Employers often seek professionals proficient in Revit, making it a valuable skill on your resume.

2. Improve Design Efficiency

Revit allows you to work smarter, not harder. By learning how to use the software’s advanced features, such as parametric modeling and automatic updates across the project, you can significantly reduce the time spent on revisions and manual updates.

3. Enhance Collaboration

Revit supports team collaboration with ease. A Revit course will teach you how to work with cloud-based models, enabling multiple users to access, modify, and update a single project file in real-time. This is especially important in large projects where coordination between different disciplines (architecture, structural engineering, MEP) is crucial.

4. Create Detailed 3D Visualizations

One of the standout features of Revit is its ability to generate highly detailed 3D models and visualizations. By enrolling in a Revit course, you’ll learn how to create photorealistic renders, walkthroughs, and simulations, helping you and your clients better understand the design before construction even begins.

5. Better Project Management

Revit’s intelligent data system ensures that every part of your model is interconnected. This allows for accurate cost estimates, material takeoffs, and construction timelines. A Revit course will show you how to use these tools to improve project management, ensuring projects stay on time and within budget.

What Will You Learn in a Revit Course?

From basic to advanced, a well-designed Revit course usually covers a wide range of topics. The following summarises what you can anticipate learning:

1. Introduction to BIM and Revit Interface

You’ll start by getting familiar with BIM concepts and the Revit interface. This includes learning about tools, menus, and how to navigate the software efficiently.

2. Modeling Techniques

The course will teach you how to create accurate architectural models, including walls, floors, roofs, doors, and windows. You’ll also learn how to model structural components and MEP systems, depending on the course's focus.

3. Documentation and Annotations

Learn how to generate construction documentation, such as floor plans, sections, elevations, and details. You’ll also cover how to annotate your drawings with dimensions, text, and other symbols necessary for clear communication with contractors and clients.

4. Advanced Modeling and Customization

Once you master the basics, you’ll dive into more advanced topics such as custom family creation, curtain wall systems, complex roofs, and parametric design, which allows you to create flexible models.

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[fabvancesolution]

The Future of Web Development: Trends, Techniques, and Tools

Web development is a dynamic field that is continually evolving to meet the demands of an increasingly digital world. With businesses relying more on online presence and user experience becoming a priority, web developers must stay abreast of the latest trends, technologies, and best practices. In this blog, we’ll delve into the current landscape of web development, explore emerging trends and tools, and discuss best practices to ensure successful web projects.

Understanding Web Development

Web development involves the creation and maintenance of websites and web applications. It encompasses a variety of tasks, including front-end development (what users see and interact with) and back-end development (the server-side that powers the application). A successful web project requires a blend of design, programming, and usability skills, with a focus on delivering a seamless user experience.

Key Trends in Web Development

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs): PWAs are web applications that provide a native app-like experience within the browser. They offer benefits like offline access, push notifications, and fast loading times. By leveraging modern web capabilities, PWAs enhance user engagement and can lead to higher conversion rates.

Single Page Applications (SPAs): SPAs load a single HTML page and dynamically update content as users interact with the app. This approach reduces page load times and provides a smoother experience. Frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue.js have made developing SPAs easier, allowing developers to create responsive and efficient applications.

Responsive Web Design: With the increasing use of mobile devices, responsive design has become essential. Websites must adapt to various screen sizes and orientations to ensure a consistent user experience. CSS frameworks like Bootstrap and Foundation help developers create fluid, responsive layouts quickly.

Voice Search Optimization: As voice-activated devices like Amazon Alexa and Google Home gain popularity, optimizing websites for voice search is crucial. This involves focusing on natural language processing and long-tail keywords, as users tend to speak in full sentences rather than typing short phrases.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning: AI is transforming web development by enabling personalized user experiences and smarter applications. Chatbots, for instance, can provide instant customer support, while AI-driven analytics tools help developers understand user behavior and optimize websites accordingly.

Emerging Technologies in Web Development

JAMstack Architecture: JAMstack (JavaScript, APIs, Markup) is a modern web development architecture that decouples the front end from the back end. This approach enhances performance, security, and scalability by serving static content and fetching dynamic content through APIs.

WebAssembly (Wasm): WebAssembly allows developers to run high-performance code on the web. It opens the door for languages like C, C++, and Rust to be used for web applications, enabling complex computations and graphics rendering that were previously difficult to achieve in a browser.

Serverless Computing: Serverless architecture allows developers to build and run applications without managing server infrastructure. Platforms like AWS Lambda and Azure Functions enable developers to focus on writing code while the cloud provider handles scaling and maintenance, resulting in more efficient workflows.

Static Site Generators (SSGs): SSGs like Gatsby and Next.js allow developers to build fast and secure static websites. By pre-rendering pages at build time, SSGs improve performance and enhance SEO, making them ideal for blogs, portfolios, and documentation sites.

API-First Development: This approach prioritizes building APIs before developing the front end. API-first development ensures that various components of an application can communicate effectively and allows for easier integration with third-party services.

Best Practices for Successful Web Development

Focus on User Experience (UX): Prioritizing user experience is essential for any web project. Conduct user research to understand your audience's needs, create wireframes, and test prototypes to ensure your design is intuitive and engaging.

Emphasize Accessibility: Making your website accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, is a fundamental aspect of web development. Adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) by using semantic HTML, providing alt text for images, and ensuring keyboard navigation is possible.

Optimize Performance: Website performance significantly impacts user satisfaction and SEO. Optimize images, minify CSS and JavaScript, and leverage browser caching to ensure fast loading times. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights can help identify areas for improvement.

Implement Security Best Practices: Security is paramount in web development. Use HTTPS to encrypt data, implement secure authentication methods, and validate user input to protect against vulnerabilities. Regularly update dependencies to guard against known exploits.

Stay Current with Technology: The web development landscape is constantly changing. Stay informed about the latest trends, tools, and technologies by participating in online courses, attending webinars, and engaging with the developer community. Continuous learning is crucial to maintaining relevance in this field.

Essential Tools for Web Development

Version Control Systems: Git is an essential tool for managing code changes and collaboration among developers. Platforms like GitHub and GitLab facilitate version control and provide features for issue tracking and code reviews.

Development Frameworks: Frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue.js streamline the development process by providing pre-built components and structures. For back-end development, frameworks like Express.js and Django can speed up the creation of server-side applications.

Content Management Systems (CMS): CMS platforms like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal enable developers to create and manage websites easily. They offer flexibility and scalability, making it simple to update content without requiring extensive coding knowledge.

Design Tools: Tools like Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD help designers create user interfaces and prototypes. These tools facilitate collaboration between designers and developers, ensuring that the final product aligns with the initial vision.

Analytics and Monitoring Tools: Google Analytics, Hotjar, and other analytics tools provide insights into user behavior, allowing developers to assess the effectiveness of their websites. Monitoring tools can alert developers to issues such as downtime or performance degradation.

Conclusion

Web development is a rapidly evolving field that requires a blend of creativity, technical skills, and a user-centric approach. By understanding the latest trends and technologies, adhering to best practices, and leveraging essential tools, developers can create engaging and effective web experiences. As we look to the future, those who embrace innovation and prioritize user experience will be best positioned for success in the competitive world of web development. Whether you are a seasoned developer or just starting, staying informed and adaptable is key to thriving in this dynamic landscape.

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[tarithenurse]

I see fire - 9

Fandom: D&D 5E/homebrew campaign. Word count: 3563. Contents: Goodbyes, surprises, new quests. A/N: I know no one reads this story but I want to share something and this lives in my head anyways - so there you go. Any questions are welcome. Please comment and like and reblog. Let me know if you want a tag. Divider by @firefly-graphics

IX

Waking on the rainy morning, the trio finds that they are feeling surprisingly well and Anvindr is reminded a bit of how he felt last time he had had some of the monastery’s wine. Whether there is a connection or not they don’t know, though, so they do head down to breakfast, ready for anything the day can bring and with the intent of asking.

In the dining hall slash kitchen, they find brother Samuel who is enjoying the rest of his morning meal in solitude but doesn’t mind some company.

“I hear congratulations are in order,” he smiles, sliding a bit closer to Anvindr, “you’ve been busy since you arrived! The vineyard, the mine, the wolves...seems you’ve been the answer to our prayers!”

Morella smiles brightly. “It has not been boring here.”

“No I believe that,” the friar smiles without taking his eyes off the blue male, “but soon all that’s left is helping with the cleaning – you have been so efficient.” This does support the trio’s suspicion and they nod in silence. “I’d...hang on,” Samuel continues before ducking out of the room briefly.

Looking to each other, none of the adventurers know what to expect.

When the man returns, he’s clutching a bottle of wine which he hands over to Anvindr. “Just a small token of our gratitude.”

“Thank you!”

“It’s not one of the fancy ones but it is still good, of course,” Samuel reveals, reclaiming his seat next to the air genasi.

Unsure what to say or do apart from eat, Anvindr lunges into the first subject he can think of: “That man yesterday...do you know of him? He called himself #2.”

Samuel shakes his head, looking a bit tight. “No.”

“Huh...we kinda fought him but not for real it was more like he was testing us,” the blue male continues.

“Well, whoever he was, he got ol’ McBribe all worried – our dear marshal is already busy with reports in his office.”

They hear a huff from the door and look over to see the rotund brother Paxton joining them. Rather than the smiling persona that he normally is, he appears to be sulking even at the sight of the lovely food.

“What’s wrong?” the eladrin inquires.

“Oh...nothing!” he pouts, “just the woe of someone having drunk one of the good bottles of wine and I wasn’t offered a glass of my own creation!” The trio feels a bit guilty but the man doesn’t allow them time to confess anything: “And to make it worse one of my promising developments has gone awry!”

“How so?” Morella wants to know – her seasonal inclination making her optimistically helpful.

The brother sighs. “It’s like vinegar now! The fermenting process went all wrong...”

But the green woman merely pats him on the arm. “I always like fresh figs with a drizzle of something vinegary.”

His face lights up, eyes slightly glazed at the ideas of opposing yet complimenting tastes. “Oooh...”

---

McBribe is indeed in his office, busy sorting through paperwork and writing up reports, but he’s happy to let the trio inside for a moment.

“Seems I’m all out of jobs for you,” he admits, “can’t say I haven’t enjoyed having you guys here.” He moves some documents around a bit, eventually finding a rolled up paper with three seals on it. “Give this to Tio at the Adventuring Guild – it’s a report of what you’ve done and my recommendation for pay and such. I’m really very happy with all of your help,” he smiles genuinely. Then his face grows more serious. “I’m...yesterday...that #2, I don’t know much about him and he didn’t tell me a whole lot so I’m sorry that I couldn’t warn you. I understand that you had a bit of a scuffle?”

“Nothing serious,” Morella grins.

The marshal nods. “Yes...good.” Clearing his throat, he looks them over and then shifts his gaze to the work waiting for him on the desk. “Well, I suppose all I can say is thank you and good luck from here on.”

“Just...one thing,” Anvindr interjects, “do you happen to have some spare raincoats?” He gestures towards the window which the rain is thrumming upon.

“I’m sorry, we don’t really have any extra to give or even sell,” McBribe admits.

“No worries, it was worth a shot,” the air genasi shrugs, “but maybe...” his brain is clearly working hard, “maybe I can make an umbrella if I can salvage some wood and leather?”

“Uhhh....sure?”

And with that the tinkerer sets to work, allying himself with Willem and Daremot (both of whom are happy to watch and assist) and soon the blue male is crafting an uncollapsible umbrella where the stick can be removed and the canopy be attached to a backpack like a shell when not in use. Throughout the process, McBribe has been allowing himself to grow distracted from work, watching curiously.

“Alright, wait a moment,” he mumbles before disappearing.

When he returns, he has a raincoat bundled under the arm and another document which he hands over to Anvindr. “This...it’s more than I ought to but you guys have been such a great help. It’s a commission for three raincoats by a leather-worker called Sue Thao in Stouvania. And this,” he holds up the cloak, “is just a loaner. Make sure it comes back to us.”

“That’s very kind,” Zilvra and the others agree.

Preferring the free mobility, Zilvra is given the raincoat while the other two share the umbrella and then they set out into the rain.

---

The way to Oldgarde is quaint and safe with little to no events worth noting.

One day they do hear the snapping of twigs off into the forest and decide to investigate, but all the find is a stream and some mud that’s been disturbed – the scent of fish alludes to a predator having been lucky on a fishing trip.

And so they continue, arriving in Oldgarde on the evening of the third day where they aim for the Lion’s Pride Inn, knowing they at least can have a roof over their heads (regardless of how miserable the basement is otherwise).

As the trio talk with the barmaid Malikka about their quest with the mine, Morella notices that another group of adventurers are listening in and she (being influenced by the spring season) marches right over to them and begins chatting. It’s the classic three-man-crew that the trio recognizes from Tio’s guild; in this case what might be a fighter, a ranger, and either a wizard of a sorcerer. All human, they do a better job at blending in, even eating pretty decent food too.

“You guys fought duergar too?” Morella beams, her verdant face endearing.

The three strangers exchange glances briefly.

“No,” the ranger admits, stroking his white-blond goatee, “but we couldn’t help but hearing you find them in an old mine?”

Zilvra is sidling over, kinda preferring not to get involved but also wanting to be able to stop her friend if she begins on the subject on the grape thief. There’s something about the way the three men look at Morella and the rest of the trio but the drow can’t put a finger on it.

Morella has admitted about the mine in Heartwell Shire. “Very hospitable there,” she smiles. “Are you copper rank too?”

“Co-what? No,” the fighter shakes his head baffled, “we’re gold.”

“Ah, so you’re off to the real deal,” the eladrin winks.

“Sounds like you’ve had quite an adventure too,” the caster smiles back. “Come! Why don’t you and your friends join us for a drink?”

Anvindr and Zilvra joins the table, exchanging awkward hello’s and soon answering question about the duergar. It’s the two colourful of the trio who does most of the talking while the drow listens and watches mostly.

“So you’re copper and you dealt with that?” the fighter asks for the third time as though he has a hard time believing it and it rubs Zilvra the wrong way although she can’t explain why. “We’re off to investigate a mine too,” he continues, “kobolds, though, and not duergar...and some sort of fire-thing? Anyways, things are getting lively and the copper group that was sent out last couldn’t handle it so now we’ve been called in, so to say.”

It appears to be a general trend for the region that mines are activated by forces that shouldn’t normally be bothered with them and shouldn’t even be much of an issue to deal with normally except now they are and several copper groups have gotten killed.

“Well, I can’t say much about the other mines but if you’re headed to kobolds,” Zilvra finally contributes to the conversation, “they’re fairly common in caves and grottos.”

“Yeah?”

The gold group seem to be fairly new to that species and so she tells how they have short lifespans but breed in inordinate numbers by laying eggs. Fairly low of intellect, and the drow at least sees them as a lower species that are uncooperative for that very reason not to mention that they are scavengers in more senses than one.

Previously, the group has been to the south where it’s darker and they’ve killed worgen. To the south-west with the farmland things seem calmer to a certain extend while at south-east there’s a swampy area with dangerous plants…especially mosses which Morella recognizes the description off as something from the Fey Wild because where else would the plants be alive and take on an almost humanoid form and move about come from.

By then both groups have gotten a lot to ponder and the gold group, called The Slayers, kindly dismisses the trio (allowing them to take the wine with them).

---

The next day, although it’s the beginning of May, is wet and chilly, making the walk from Oldgarde a bit of a drag although the goal seems that much more enticing. Thankfully the raincloak and the homemade umbrella work well against the steady downpour.

The trio arrives at the capital by sundown, being let in through the city gates by a guard that asks to see their tags – thankfully he’s kind and can even give them recommendations for inns where their rank will grant them free or cheap lodging: Henry’s Pub, Lady Magda’s Cold Tavern (though that one might be a bit on the limits of what the tags can grant) and finally there’s the Tasty Drink which technically is more of a pub but does have a few sleeping spot. All of them can be found in the Gate District and indeed: when the trio heads on to the Adventurers’ Guild, they pass the Tasty Drink.

Master Tio is tending to the reports and book keeping at the Guild but lights up when he sees the trio enter, something that makes Zilvra recall what the Slayers had said about copper groups being killed on their quests.

“Ah! Good to see you back!” Tio smiles warmly. “I take that as a good sign.”

Anvindr hands over the documents without further preamble. “We had quite a nice time, actually, although it was a challenge occasionally.”

Taking the documents, Tio excuses himself to glance at the report. “I’ll read them properly tomorrow, I was just about to finish up for the day, but it looks good...might even look like you handled yourself better than a copper group would be expected to!”

“Thank you,” Morella smiles.

“If you come back tomorrow, I’ll have your reward ready by then,” the Guildmaster smiles just as the door opens to let someone in.

Tio is about to say something else when he makes a double take of the new comer, causing the trio to turn to have a look too.

He wears a neat raincloak, fringed by tiny feathers, and as he pushes the hood back a jovial human face can be seen taking in everything and everyone with a clear attention that speaks of intellect. His gaze lands on Zilvra and he, like everyone else, notices the bonds but at least he doesn’t seem put off by them.

“Ah, there you are,” he says without bothering to introduce himself, “been told you want rid of those.”

He steps up and rubs his hands together for a brief second, completely ignoring Tio who’s demanding an explanation including on who’s authority this is happening. But Zilvra couldn’t care less, she just holds out her hands and lifts her chin to allow the man to work.

“I’ve got my orders but I’ll explain in a moment,” the newcomer states, winking at Morella and Anvindr who look just a tad smug.

“This...might be above your pay-grade,” the genasi even admits.

Zilvra revels in the feeling as the bonds loosen and dissolve, turning into a fine dust before it too floats upwards only to disappear into nothing at all.

“Thank you for your service,” the stranger smiles before turning and leaving, not giving Tio the promised explanation.

“Well that was...unexpected. I’ll have to make some inquiries but uhm...I guess...yeah...come back tomorrow for the reward and the next quest,” Tio tries to recover. “I might send you back towards Oldgarde to another mine seeing how well you dealt with this one.” Then he adds: “And to...keep you a bit close.”

With that the trio heads back out into the rain, leaving behind a stumped Guildmaster.

It’s getting late already and they want both something to eat and to rest after a long day on the road and they end up at the Tasty Drink.

It’s a long and narrow building, wedged in between other houses. Tables are scattered inside but despite the length of the room, the bartender and innkeeper has a good view of everything except what goes on upstairs where are steep ladder leads to – it’s up there that the trio might find a place to sleep but the innkeeper makes no promises that there’s enough beds available in the communal space.

Accepting the terms, the trio orders an easy meal.

“And drinks?” the innkeeper offers.

Zilvra glances over at the table where her friends are sitting. “Yeah, lets have that erm...ale...thingy.”

Both the owner and the nearest patrons (all humans) laugh at the drow’s unfamiliarity with the drink.

“Alright, food and ale-thingy coming up!”

It turns out, however, that Zilvra doesn’t like ale but Morella is more than happy to finish it for her friend.

---

Zilvra is learning that there’s no correlation between Morella’s disposition and the weather. In other words: even on this gorgeous sunny summer’s day, the eladrin has still managed to turn to the wintry hues and the morose mood that comes with it. A mood that’s not improved when the trio is told that the inn does not serve breakfast.

On the other hand is gives the friends an excuse to make a detour along the market where the druid is cheered up by seeing a variety of the creatures from the Material Plane which she claims she will be able to transform into. She is particularly fascinated by the lobsters and crabs.

From there, they head to the Adventurers’ Guild.

“You’re early,” master Tio comments and they are indeed the first adventurers there. “I’ve filed the paperwork and got your pay. The report was an impressive read but it doesn’t explain the bonds...no offence, miss Shadowsong.”

She just shrugs, allowing the guild master to explain how he’d asked various places for an explanation but getting none. Thankfully, it doesn’t deter him from offering them a new rank within the guild, trading their copper tags for silver ones which he hands over along with 80 copper pieces for them to split.

“I want you to head back to Oldgarde and find marshal Paul Davis,” Tio requests, “he will point you towards some abandoned mines not far from there.”

A pattern is emerging where abandoned mines are showing activity due to the emergence of beings from the Underdark; kobolds, and duergar in particular but also like at a mine to the south where the other copper group have gone to: ogres.

“If that doesn’t strike your fancy, though, you can head south to the farmlands,” Tio offers.

The trio exchanges glances, quickly and wordlessly coming to an agreement to stick to the mine-jobs.

From the Adventurers’ Guild it’s a detour to go to the leatherworkers’ district where they find the sign announcing the workshop of Sue Thao. The plan is to get the raincloaks, ensuring that they won’t get cold and sick in a rainstorm.

As they enter the place, they come into a crammed but well lit space with stacks of different leathers and furs piled high in the back while the completed items are closer to the entrance (which in place of a bell has a leather flapper system): armours, cloaks, aprons...but not too many as most probably are custom orders.

Sue Thao is a pale woman with brown hair pulled into a ponytail. She’s working with needle and coarse thread on an as of yet indeterminable peace but looks up as the trio enters and greets them with a smile and keen eyes that scan the odd group quickly.

“What can I do for you?” she asks.

Anvindr explains the situation, showing her the writ that promises payment for three rain coats by McBribe. It doesn’t seem to be the usual way things are done because Sue raises an eyebrow but apparently business is business and she resolutely goes to check her stores.

“I got two cloaks ready to the price he’s asking for,” she says, “but the third...I haven’t got leather for it anymore and my usual channels have dried up it seems.” She notices how the trio exchanges glances of slight disappointment. “But tell you what...you’re energetic adventurers. Maybe you can find out why my supply is a dead end? It’s two days out of Oldgarde, so not too far off but I can’t go off to investigate myself or I’ll be out of commission. If you figure out the problem, then you’ll get the last raincoat I have for the price of a normal one. It’s a beauty of a cloak but the intended owner has never come to collect.”

Morella nods and Anvindr stretches out a hand. “We’re heading that way anyways...we could probably take a look for you.”

Sue takes the hand and shakes it. “I’ll run it by the proper channels too so you’ll get rewarded for it but that’ll take more time than I have,” the leatherworker explains. “The tanners are near the logging camp, two days out of Oldgarde, just keep following the road east.”

She procures the two normal raincoats as a token of a deal struck and Morella and Anvindr each take one, handing over the umbrella to Zilvra (causing the crafter to become distracted by the contraption for a moment).

“Bit of an inventor?” she asks the air genasi who has admitted to being the creator of the thing.

“Kind of,” he admits, “but still looking to learn. Say, you wouldn’t have heard of some gnomish inventors and tinkerers coming through at some points?”

She scratches her neck. “Can’t say that I have...but this wouldn’t be the neighbourhood they’d have frequented if they had. Try with the smiths. Why?”

“Hoping to learn how to make some goggles for my friend here,” he motions to Zilvra, “so her eyes aren’t bothered by the sunlight.”

“Hm. That sounds almost arcane and for that you’d go to those...or the elves. Up north there’s their capital but it’s high in the mountains and you need to go through orc territory to get there.” She apparently finishes scratching, flexing her hand instead. “Best would be to fly over or sail around.”

---

And so the trio sets out towards the east with the destination Oldgarde. It’s a comfortable walk as the spring has gotten a proper foothold now with mild weathers and sunshine.

There are so many colours everywhere that the drow finds it almost overwhelming but she loves the display of pretty flowers, green grasses, tall trees that creak in the breeze – it’s so different from her home in the Underdark and she explains as much to her new friends who are curious to learn of the underground world.

Morella, although less overt in her awe, is also curious of the workings of this new world which surprises both of the others until she explains that she can’t recall her past or the Fae Wild but she knows it was different.

In other words: the only one with a sense of familiarity for how things are and work is Anvindr.

“But my people are not from this plane either,” he says, face darkened by sombre memories, “we hail from the Plane of Air but were exiled by Storm Giants.”

He falls quiet again and the few probing questions are met with little information, causing the two girls to believe that it’s still a sore subject. He does admit that this was before his time though and he himself has only known the wandering lifestyle of the nomadic tribe that is his people.

While talking, they keep an eye out for some good pieces of wood because Anvindr feels like he can create a temporary solution for Zilvra to shield her eyes from the bright light. Morella is mostly looking for mosses which she seems to be very fond of.