#executioner's chariot

[tatzelwyrm]

I like Executioner's Chariot in concept:

HORSE! 🐴

simple puzzle arena that makes you go "Oh!" when you see that you can use the lever from the cutscene

The adds can be distracted by alluring skulls

badass animation of the chariot crashing into the gate.

the boss preying on the eternal inner conflict of wanting to get a good look at the horsey vs. not wanting to die 🐴 🥺

But I find the runback to it so tedious that it's tempting to use the cheese instead of attempting to fight the horsey.

[anorlondoarcheryclub]

Six Fanart challenge, Dark Souls Edition

[alberichfanpage]

Uhhh I did not get a clear picture of the boss but I think my favorite boss fight so far is the Executioners Chariot. Maybe it is because I was primed for this fight with the Chariots in Elden Ring, but I thought it was a really fun gimmick fight and I got it my first try.

[alberichfanpage]

I still think this is my favorite fight in DS2. The worst part is maybe the runback but I got it first try so I wouldn't know

I love the way the lighting is set up in the Executioner's Chariot fight so that you see their shadow first as they approach around the corner. It's such a cool effect.

[ancientcharm]

Hic habitat felicitas ("Happiness lives here" or "Good luck lives here"). We might think this is the entrance sign to a Roman brothel, but it isn't. For the ancient Romans, sexuality had the same importance it has for us today, but certainly this image didn't mean the same thing to them as it does to us.

Nor did it have the same meaning for people in the 18th century, when those things were discovered, and censored, ended up in a secret room in the museum. In the censored collection there was indeed erotic art from Pompeii and Herculaneum, but also the fascinum, which for the ancient Romans had nothing to do with eroticism. The secret room collection finally became accessible to everyone in 2000.

Fascinus -Tintinnabulum from Pompeii. It would be hung outside a house or shop doorway to ward off evil spirits. National Archaeological Museum, Naples.

In ancient Rome, phallic amulets, called fascinum, had no connection with sexuality; they were used, among other things, as protection against the evil eye, a strong belief that an envious person can cause bad things to happen to you in your life just with a look full of bad vibes.

This belief still exists intact in many cultures; millions of people believe it. The only thing that has changed is that today, no one would wear something shaped like a phallus as an amulet, and that's because it's precisely us, not the ancient Romans, who associate the figure of a phallus with sexuality. Furthermore, for them this amulet was linked to the Roman deity Fascinus.

Four Roman fascinum. They were highly valued amulets used as a protection among children and soldiers. They were used to ward off the evil eye, to invoke the protection of the god Fascinus, or to promote the germination of plants.

The funniest thing I've ever read about this topic is that this stone phallus in Via dell'Abbondanza, Pompeii, is a signpost indicating the route to the brothel. I would say it was to prevent envious people from spreading bad vibes as they walked past the many shops and bars on that street.

Fascinus

Fascinus was the Roman deity who personified the divine phallus and was invoked for protection. He was also referred to as medicus invidiae, meaning "doctor" for envy or the evil eye. He was depicted as a giant flying penis with wings, hind legs, and a penis of his own. He was associated with the Greek god of fertility, Priapus . He was used as a protective amulet, especially among children and soldiers. Houses were decorated with this symbol. They were hung around the necks of babies and children. They were also very common among legionaries.

“Should we believe that it is right to do so upon the arrival of a stranger, or that if a baby is seen sleeping, the nurse should spit on it three times? Although these are looked after by Fascinus, protector also of generals, not only of children, a divinity whose cult among Roman religious rites is attended to by the Vestals and who, doctor of the evil eye, protects the chariots of victors by hanging beneath them and, as a remedy similar to a voice, orders them to look behind them in order to obtain the benevolence of Fortune, executioner of glory, behind them.” (Pliny the Elder, Natural History, XXVIII, 39)

If you've seen the image of Fascinus in a series set in Ancient Rome, in the inevitable brothel scene, it's because no one on the production team took a moment to know what this figure meant to the ancient Romans.

In the only real Roman brothel discovered, the one in Pompeii, there are sexually explicit paintings depicting people, but not the image of Fascinus.

[paulgehleart]

Medieval-Fantasy Type Jobs List: 2025 Edition

This is a re-upload of my previous list from 2018, this time updated with even more jobs, roles, and titles for aspiring fantasy writers to give their characters. Enjoy!

Abbot; Abbess

Academic/Professor (history, science, economics)

Acolyte

Acrobat

Actor; Actress

Admiral

Adventurer

Adviser (royal, military)

Aegis (Royal Protector)

Alchemist

Alienist (legal psychiatrist)

Almoner (Alms for the poor?)

Ambassador

Animal trainer (dogs, falcons, horses)

Antiquarian

Apothecary

Apprentice

Arbalest (crossbowman)

Arcanist (studies magic)

Archer

Architect

Armorer/Armorsmith

Artificer (technician)

Artist

Assassin

Astrologer

Astronomer

Auctioneer

Author, Nonfiction

Bachelor; Bachelorette

Bailiff

Baker; Baxter

Bandit/Brigand

Banker

Barbarian

Barber

Bard

Barkeep/Bartender

Baron; Baroness

Bathhouse Attendant

Beast Tamer/Master

Beekeeper

Beggar

Berserker

Bishop

Blacksmith

Bladesmith

Bodyguard

Bookbinder

Bounty Hunter

Boxer (fisticuffs)

Brawler

Brewer; Brewster (ale/beer)

Broker

Butcher

Butler

Cabin Boy

Candlemaker

Captain

Caravaneer

Cardinal

Caregiver

Caretaker

Carpenter

Carriage Driver

Carter/Carrier (Medieval truck driver)

Cataphract (armored heavy cavalry)

Chainsmith

Chamberlain (lord’s principal assistant)

Champion

Chancellor

Chandler (candle seller)

Chaplain

Chariot Racer

Cheesemaker

Chemist

Chieftain

Chimneysweep

City Guard/Guardsman

Clergyman

Cleric

Clerk

Cobbler (mends shoes)

Collector

Commander

Commissary

Commodore

Confectioner (Sweet Maker/Chocolatier)

Confessor

Confidant

Consort

Constable; Marshal

Convict

Cook; Pastry Chef

Cooper (barrels/buckets)

Copyist/Scribe

Cordwainer (Shoemaker)

Councilor

Count; Countess

Courier

Crusader

Cultist

Curate (parish assistant clergyman)

Curator

Dancer

Dandy (fancy-dressed individual)

Deacon

Dentist

Deprived

Detective

Diplomat

Diva

Dockworker

Doctor/Physician

Domestic Servants (laundry, kitchen, cleaning)

Dragonrider

Dressmaker

Druid

Drunkard

Duelist

Duke; Duchess

Dyer

Ealdorman (high-ranking village head)

Embroiderer

Emissary

Emperor; Empress

Enchanter

Enforcer of Laws against Rich Clothes

Engineer (Textile, Mechanical, Experimental, Siege)

Escapist

Executioner

Explorer

Falconer

Fanatic

Farmer/Farmhand

Farrier (horse Shoes)

Fighter (Gladiator/Arena/Pit)

Fisherman

Fishmonger

Flagellant

Fletcher (crafts arrows)

Florist

Footman

Foreman

Fortune Teller

Foundryman

Friar

Furniture Maker

Gardener

Gatekeeper

General

Glazier (glass maker)

Gong Farmer (latrine attendant)

Governor

Grave Robber

Gravedigger

Grocer

Guardian

Guru

Hack Driver

Halberdier

Harbinger

Harbormaster

Hatter

Hay Seller

Headsman; Hangman

Healer; Midwife

Hellion

Herald

Herbalist

Hermit

Hero

Hierophant

Highwayman

Horologist (Clock/Watch maker)

Houndmaster

Housekeeper

Housewife/husband

Hunter

Idol

Illuminator

Illusionist

Importer; Exporter

Innkeeper

Inquisitor

Inspector

Interpreter

Inventor (potions, weapons, science)

Investigator

Jailer

Jarl

Jester/Fool

Jeweler

Judge/Justiciar

King/Monarch

Knife Thrower

Knight

Laborer

Lady-in-Waiting

Lawyer

Leper

Linguist

Locksmith

Logger/Lumberjack

Lookout

Lord Protector

Lord/Lady (Royal Title)

Loremaster

Maestro

Mage

Magician (performer)

Magistrate

Maid

Maiden

Majordomo

Man-at-Arms

Mapmaker (Cartographer)

Marauder

Mason

Master of Ceremonies

Master of Horse/Stablemaster

Master-at-Arms

Mayor

Medic

Medium

Mendicant

Mercenary/Sellsword

Merchant (cloth, jewels, food, building materials)

Messenger

Miller

Miner

Minister

Minstrel; Jongleur

Mistress

Money Changer

Monk, Nun

Musician (military, entertainer)

Navigator

Necromancer

Nobleman/woman

Nomad

Nurse

Nursemaid/Wetnurse

Occultist

Official

Oracle

Orator (public speaker)

Outcast

Outlander

Outlaw

Outsider

Page

Painter

Paladin

Papermaker

Paramour

Parchment and Ink Seller

Pardoner (scam artist)

Pariah

Parson

Peasant

Peddler

Philosopher

Pilgrim

Pirate

Playwright

Plunderer

Poacher

Poet; Literary Author

Polymath (Knower of Everything)

Pontiff/Pope

Porter

Potioneer

Potter

Praetor

Preacher

Priest; Priestess

Prince; Princess

Prisoner (hard labor)

Produce Vendor

Prophet; Prophetess

Prostitute/Concubine; Courtesan

Provost

Pyromancer

Quartermaster

Queen

Raider

Ranger

Rat Catcher

Rebel

Recluse

Record Keeper

Recruit

Regent

Researcher

Ringmaster

Rogue

Ropemaker

Royal Huntsman

Saboteur

Saddler (Yo mama!)

Safecracker

Sage

Sailor

Salt Seller

Salter or Daysalter (makes/sells salt)

Scholar

Schoolmaster; Teacher

Scout

Sculptor

Sentinel

Seraph

Serf

Shaman

Sheriff

Shieldmaiden

Shipwright

Shopowner

Skald

Slave Trader/Catcher

Slave/Thrall

Smelter

Smith (Gold/Silver)

Smuggler

Sniper

Soldier

Sorcerer/Sorceress

Spell Caster

Spellblade

Spinster; Spinner (yarn/thread)

Spy

Squire

Stablehand

Stained-Glass Artist

Steward

Stoker

Stonemason

Storyteller

Stranger

Street Cleaner

Street Performer

Strongman/woman

Summoner (law officer)

Surgeon

Swashbuckler

Tailor

Tanner (leather)

Taxman/Tax Collector

Templar

Thane

Thatcher (thatched roofs)

Thief (burglar, pick-pocket, mugger)

Thug

Torturer

Town Crier (Hear ye! Hear ye!)

Toymaker

Tracker

Trader

Trapper (traps animals)

Traveler

Treasure Hunter

Trickster

Troubadour

Tutor

Undertaker

Vagabond

Vagrant

Valet (body servant)

Vestal

Veteran

Vicar

Viceroy (monarchy representative)

Viking

Viscount; Viscountess

Vizier

Wagoneer

Walker or Fuller

Wanderer

Ward

Warden

Warlock; Witch

Warlord

Warrior

Watchman

Weapons Instructor

Weaver; Webster (fabric, rugs, baskets)

Wheelwright (makes wheels)

Wisewoman/man

Witch Doctor

Witch Hunter

Wizard

Wood-carver

Wool-carder

Wrestler

Writer

Yeoman

Zealot

Zoologist

[sim-sideblog89]

The Sims Life and Death Tarot Cards and Inspiration of the cards

The Fool

The magician- wizard from sims medieval

High spellcaster- Lady Ravendancer (Life and Death, Sims lore)

The empress- Princess Cordelia (Sims Lore)

The Emperor- Captain Long John Buttercups (Sims Lore, Princess Cordelia's first boyfriend)

The advocate- father winter (seasons)

The lovers- Mimsy and Bernard (Von Haunt Estate)

The Chariot- Sims Medieval Pirates and Nobles

Justice: Executioner from Sims Medieval

The Hermit- Bonehilda (Sims Lore, Spooky Expansion)

Wheel of Fortune

Strength; again no idea but shes likely immortal based on the sign

Suspension: Vladislaus Straud (Vampires)

Death: Grim (Base Game, + Life After Death new interactions)

Temperance: idk but I’m obsessed

Evil: the Night Wraith (Realm of Magic)

The tower (another Sims Medieval hint?)

The star- IDK but again, OBSESSED

The moon: Werewolves

The sun: Plant Sim toddler (Base Game but NEEDS an update, I suggest using @SpinningPlumbobs plantsim mod till EA updates/rehauls)

Judgment: Cowplant

The World: Mt Komorebi, Sulani, StrangerVille, and Forgotten Hollow

the Coins

the cups

the Swords

The Wands

Names have been changed from regular Tarot for a few cards, probably to keep the rating still 'family friendly' but the art is really fun and with all the references to Sims Medieval and the Castles mini expansion, I'm betting we will see a castles or Medieval expansion in the future

[collonelatom]

Executioner's Chariot

[crow-gosh]

Very glad you asked user @daikusai-fishing ! But it is not about the unused voice lines, I do not know anything about Naoto's unused voice lines but now i'm interested in them if you want to share that. For the sake of not sparking gladiatorial combat in my notes I am going to be referring to Naoto with they/them pronouns. "Read more" to not clog someone's dash. English is not my first language so if anything's super misspelled or something- sorry..

What I realised was regarding Naoto's dungeon bosses, specifically, those that are not their shadow. Meaning I will be speaking on the Dominating Machine and the Extreme Vessel. I will warn this is a very "the curtains might just be blue" moment, so take everything I say with some grains of salt, or a shaker if you feel so inclined. To make this more palatable because I have no idea how long I'll be talking for, I'll be splitting this up into two segments, one for the Dominating Machine, and another for the Extreme Vessel.

I will note that despite this being Naoto's dungeon, and them both being bosses that I believe to carry a form of significance in their character, neither are of the Fortune Arcana. Which was what sent me spiraling last night in the first place.

The Dominating Machine

A large, hulking action figure brought to life, it scowls at your party with green eyes. Parts of it's exterior are painted red, with silver accenting. On each block-like shoulder, it carries kanji, that spells "Just Righteousness." (? that's my best guess. Take that with some salt as well.) However, beneath the paint, it's truest metal pieces are painted black. It carries it's mask on it's chest. It carries a silver, red-hilted sword in it's left hand.

The Dominating Machine is a shadow of the Justice Arcana, and it seems to represent that well. The Justice trump (or major arcana card) is a card that, outside of the context of Persona, is a card that represents equality. It is the card of balance and wrongs that have been righted. Inverted, of course, it is a card of partiality and favouritism. But also of legal manipulation. While the cards inverted meaning means little here, I do believe it is an interesting card in general. But that's a discussion probably best not held at the moment.

In short, I believe that the Dominating Machine is somewhat of a power fantasy(?), or moreso, a hope that one day the workforce will be fair to Naoto Shirogane as they are. The Dominating Machine is, as it's name implies, is a machine that dominates, but more than that, it's created purpose, as painted on each of it's shoulders, is to be a form of judge or prosecutor, maybe even an executioner of Justice. A being to make things fair. Without Naoto themselves having to try to make any of those changes themselves. They'd rather wait for someone else, for something else to change the system causing them grief.

Of course, that's how I see it and I may be wrong. I do encourage anyone taking the time to read this to form their own opinions on what these symbolise and such.

The Extreme Vessel

A hollow wooden body adorned with silver spikes, from raised boards in it's build, guns, or maybe cannons, sprout out, pointing in every direction. It spins without clear focus. Eyes unseeing through it's yellow mask prepped at the top of the machine, the Roman numerals VII engraved in it's forehead in charred black. Imprinting it with the number of it's given arcana.

As I just mentioned in the above summary of the appearance of this shadow, it's arcana is the 7th of the major, or trump arcana. Better known to more casual Persona fans as The Chariot Arcana. While the games paint a certain picture for this arcana through it's character tropes, for the sake of my analyses (? spiral into madness?) I will be disregarding that to focus on the meaning of the tarot both upright and inverted.

The trump card of the Chariot is a card of regality, in a sort of way. It depicts a man wearing armor in the box of a Chariot beneath a canopy, usually adorned with stars. In one hand, he holds a wand, in the other, he usually places a hand on the chariot itself, two sphinx crouch before the chariot.

The Chariot, outside of how it's outside looks, is a card that preaches that subjugation of others in it's meaning. It is a card that tells that moving forward quickly, without allowing others to stop you, will help you win. It is a card that of which has a meaning associated with spoils of conquest. A card of ambition and will power. When inverted, the card can speak of rebellion, or aimlessness, at times, even telling the subject of the reading that they need help.

This is the shadow that replaces Naoto's shadow boss in their dungeon. A hollow, wooden body at the center of this dungeon. I love this for Naoto. I believe, in a way, it represents Naoto themself while they were in the process of being kidnapped, the events leading up to that moment. A teenager who refused to stop, convinced that they could act as a vessel, a hollow, empty body to be thrown away for the sake of this case. Naoto treats themselves without much care, like bait. Somehow managing to both embody the meaning of the Chariot upright, and reversed.

SoRRY I JUST LIKE NAOTO. i'm probablyy wrong on so many things here take this all with a grain of salt. or a lot of salt I'm not like. the CEO of naoto or anything man

[poisonheadcrabsalesman]

Request from @bloodgulchblog: first time palmer or lasky figures out roland is flirting with them dealer's choice. Thank you for the prompt!

Roland enters service December 5, 2557 and then sometime circa February 18th, 2558 during a live mission with Fireteam Crimson present and engaging with Promethean forces, Roland says to Miller after Miller attempts to shoo him away: "I can do a million things at once, like can talk to Captain Lasky, I can flirt with Captain-" from Spartan Miller E5.01 of SpOps. He is 2.5 months old and saying this. In front of at least 5 Spartans.

Halo doesn't give us any vetting process or inside look into how AI are chosen or when they come off the shelf vs go into active service.

-

Leading a campaign is stressful. Lasky had done it before, in all but name, as the XO behind Del Rio. He's the reason the UNSC Infinity was still afloat, not that he wants to take credit for helping the Master Chief stop the Didact. There's more important things he's dealing with, and getting more attention from the upper Brass doesn't seem like a good career move or life choice at the moment.

Returning to the Forerunner planet Requiem means balancing a million details all key to their victory. Olds hands returning do help, but there's a lot of new blood in the crew as well. Including the ship AI.

As captain, Lasky had been included in the vetting process. Roland was chosen because he was the best fit. Part of the newest generation of Smart AI, with a personality fit for managing not only the enormous and diverse needs of the crew, but also the retrofitted colony ship with Forerunner engines and more armament than the navy had ships welded to her.

Suffice it to say that Lasky had a lot on his plate, and maybe didn't pay the closest attention to Roland's tone. Or the little winks and knowing nods thrown at Lasky before he blipped away. Or how he motherhenned Lasky more than Aine ever did. It was just differences in personality between AI. Captain's duties took precedent over lilting tones and pointed questions and an avatar lingering in his presence at the end of the day.

Aine never said "sir" with so much weight. She wasn't so free with compliments towards him and didn't linger for him specifically. Aine enjoyed her time on the Infinity, the care in its construction, and her crew. Roland's focus was different, and something Tom might not want to label without a second opinion. Not that he was going to talk to Sarah about it… He could already see her face, eyebrow raised, as he'd try to connect two points in front of her.

The second Requiem campaign ends, badly, but with them alive and not in the heart of a star. Lasky exhales. Sarah's mad about his contingency with Majestic and Halsey getting away, but she's coming with him to face the admirals together. Not that they have much choice, but they've already gotten their story straight. Their friendship would heal. Tom fixes his uniform in the mirror and swallows. Going planet-side for an official debriefing felt more like marching to meet his executioner. At least Hood liked him.

"Captain, your chariot awaits in hangar 11." Roland announces with a flourish.

Tom nods and thanks him with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. He's not really in the mood for levity right now.

"If I may be so bold, sir." But when has that ever stopped Roland?

"When have you not?" Tom says, smoothing down his cuffs again.

"You're worrying too much. The reports are in, the commander is going with you, your pelican is fueled and waiting. It's all going to go smoothly. You'll be fine, you're very likable, sir. I like you!"

"I noticed." Tom says with a smile aimed at Roland's camera. "You were laying it on kind of thick there."

The look on his avatar's face is enough of a prize, but then Roland starts backpedaling. That's something Tom's never seen him do before.

"Well, of course, sir. I mean, you are my captain. The captain. Of the ship- that I run, mostly."

"Of course." Lasky says, turning for the door. "We can discuss it when I return. I leave the ship in your capable hands." He smiles, wry and teasing.

Roland snaps a salute with smothered smile. If Lasky's mouth does anything funny, no one sees as he's schooled his expression by the time he hits the hangar.

[queen--of--maggots]

Thanks for the tag @hellomynameisalias! This tag game is always fun, but I already did it twice before. This time, I tried something different and only used songs from the Dark Souls OSTs and one from the Sekiro OST because there isn’t a single song that starts with U on the three DS OSTs.

Tag game: Use song titles to spell your URL

Queen of Drangleic (DS2)

Up in Flames (Sekiro)

Executioner’s Chariot (DS2)

Elana, the Squalid Queen (DS2)

Nashandra (DS2)

Oceiros, the consumed King (DS3)

Firelink Shrine (DS1)

Milfanito (DS2)

Abyss Watchers (DS3)

Gwyn, Lord of Cinder (DS1)

Great Grey Wolf Sif (DS1)

Ornstein and Smough (DS1)

Twin Princes (DS3)

Slave Knight Gael (DS3)

I tag @pyreneese @raitobie @purplink8 @liquidpaperfoundation

[miserywizard]

man i love dark souls 2 i am in aldia's keep i have slammed my way through this game and while there are some obnoxious parts (did not like shrine of amana and i really like picking things off with bows! didn't really like undead crypt all that much either! my controller slamming frustration has happened exclusively in the shaded woods!) i've had a great time with it. there are some wild runbacks, sure, but i've found that i haven't wanted to run any of them. if there's one i think is tricky (the one before the executioner's chariot whew) i just took my time and cleared it out so i didn't have to worry about it! i like that you can send all the npcs to the village and they don't all keel over after you've spoken to them twice! i like that there's a plot! i like that you get to the end of the game and thE GAME IS STILL GOING (not in a ng+ way in a, oh vendrick is like that huh kind of way) i like lucatil (what do you mean 14% have her achievement why are you guys not summoning her). i like all the silly npc summons! they're fun! i like when you can get a few and have them trailing behind you to the boss! that's silly!

maybe it's going from elden ring backwards puts this game in brighter perspective because there's a lot in this one they clearly pulled into elden ring. maybe everyone is just wrong. idk why this game is treated as The Worst Ever.

[orthodoxydaily]

SAINTS&READING: SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2025

may 17_may 4

MARTYR PELAGIAS OF TARSUS IN ASIA MINOR (287)

Saint Pelagia of Tarsus in Cilicia, home of the apostle Paul, (southeastern Asia Minor) lived in the third century, during the reign of Diocletian (284-305), and was the daughter of illustrious pagans. When she heard about Jesus Christ from her Christian friends, she believed in Him and desired to preserve her virginity, dedicating her whole life to the Lord.

Emperor Diocletian’s heir (a boy he adopted), saw the maiden Pelagia, was captivated by her beauty and wanted her to be his wife. The holy virgin told the youth that she was betrothed to Christ the Immortal Bridegroom, and had renounced earthly marriage.

Pelagia’s reply greatly angered the young man, but he decided to leave her in peace for awhile, hoping that she would change her mind. At the same time, Pelagia convinced her mother to let her visit the nurse who had raised her in childhood. She secretly hoped to find Bishop Linus of Tarsus, who had fled to a mountain during a persecution against Christians, and to be baptized by him. She had seen the face of Bishop Linus in a dream, which made a profound impression upon her. The holy bishop told her to be baptized. Saint Pelagia traveled in a chariot to visit her nurse, dressed in rich clothes and accompanied by a whole retinue of servants, as her mother wished.

Along the way Saint Pelagia, by the grace of God, met Bishop Linus. Pelagia immediately recognized the bishop who had appeared to her in the dream. She fell at his feet, requesting Baptism. At the bishop’s prayer a spring of water flowed from the ground.

Bishop Linus made the Sign of the Cross over Saint Pelagia, and during the Mystery of Baptism, angels appeared and covered the chosen one of God with a bright mantle. After giving the pious virgin Holy Communion, Bishop Linus offered a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord with her, and then sent her to continue her journey. She then exchanged her expensive clothing for a simple white garment, and distributed her possessions to the poor. Returning to her servants, Saint Pelagia told them about Christ, and many of them were converted and believed.

She tried to convert her own mother to Christ, but the obdurate woman sent a message to Diocletian’s son that Pelagia was a Christian and did not wish to be his wife. The youth realized that Pelagia was lost to him, and he fell upon his sword in his despair. Pelagia’s mother feared the emperor’s wrath, so she tied her daughter up and led her to Diocletian’s court as a Christian who was also responsible for the death of the heir to the throne. The emperor was captivated by the unusual beauty of the virgin and tried to turn her from her faith in Christ, promising her every earthly blessing if she would become his wife.

The holy virgin refused the emperor’s offer with contempt and said, “You are insane, Emperor, saying such things to me. I will not do your bidding, and I loathe your vile marriage, since I have Christ, the King of Heaven, as my Bridegroom. I do not desire your worldly crowns which last only a short while. The Lord in His heavenly Kingdom has prepared three imperishable crowns for me. The first is for faith, since I have believed in the true God with all my heart; the second is for purity, because I have dedicated my virginity to Him; the third is for martyrdom, since I want to accept every suffering for Him and offer up my soul because of my love for Him.”

Diocletian sentenced Pelagia to be burned in a red-hot bronze bull. Not permitting the executioners to touch her body, the holy martyr signed herself with the Sign of the Cross, and went into the brazen bull and her flesh melted like myrrh, filling the whole city with fragrance. Saint Pelagia’s bones remained unharmed and were removed by the pagans to a place outside the city. Four lions then came out of the wilderness and sat around the bones letting neither bird nor wild beast get at them. The lions protected the relics of the saint until Bishop Linus came to that place. He gathered them up and buried them with honor. Later, a church was built over her holy relics.

The Service to the holy Virgin Martyr Pelagia of Tarsus says that she was “deemed worthy of most strange and divine visions.” She is also commemorated on October 7.

During the reign of Emperor Constantine (306-337), when the persecutions against Christians had stopped, a church was built at Saint Pelagia’s burial place.

VENERABLE NICEPHORUS THE SOLITARY OF Mt. ATHOS, THE SSPIRITUAL FATHER OF GREGORY PALAMAS.

Saint Nikēphóros was the teacher of Saint Gregory Palamas (November 14). He grew up as a Roman Catholic, but he journeyed to the Byzantine Empire and became Orthodox. Saint Nikēphóros lived as an ascetic on Mount Athos, and died before the year 1300. His treatise “On Watchfulness and the Guarding of the Heart” is found in the fourth volume of the English Philokalia.

Source: Orthodox Church in America_ OCA

Acts 12:1-11

1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. 5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and tie on your sandals"; and so he did. And he said to him, "Put on your garment and follow me." 9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people."

John 8:31-42

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, 'You will be made free'?" 34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father. 39 They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You do the deeds of your father. Then they said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father-God." 42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.

[gamergirlbonestaskforce141riot]

(Bad, lousy, no good) Renders

I don't know what I'm doing

London fluff (Ghost and Riot)

Super Sergeants - Soap, Gaz, Riot

Zhar and Riot

Sgt. Vega's Urban gear

Bravo 0-7 and Wolf-7

Eyecandy: Price

Eyecandy: Gaz

Eyecandy: Soap

Eyecandy: Ghost

Masquerade ball trope: Ghost x Riot

Eyecandy: König

Soap and Riot on holiday

GAZFEST 2023: Pool

Sgt. Vega at the gym

GAZFEST 2023: Sofasoap's First time

Eyecandy: Nikolai (kind of...)

Zhar and Riot drinking wine

Wolf-7 (Sgt. Vega)

HeadHunters quarters: Riot, Laswell, Cpt. Rico

GAZFEST 2023: Care to join, dove? (sauna Gaz)

The Log Cabin fanart (@rileyslibrary )

Task Force 141 at the bar

Early morning at the MacTavish family farm

Needed a nap - Christine and Johnny

Nikolai and Zhar

Attending a wedding fanart (@rileyslibrary )

Hallway WIP

Eyecandy: Graves

Phoenix Squad's last coffee

Riot and Laswell

Late night munchies

A Heart Full Of Pity Chapter 1: Nikolai and Zhar

A Heart Full Of Pity Chapter 4: Nikolai and Zhar

Powerful women: Kate Laswell

Powerful women: Valeria Garza

Powerful women: Farah Karim

Rock, paper, scissors

Eyecandy: Frank Woods

Eyecandy: Alex Mason

Sergeant Christine 'Riot' Vega, beach scene

Heli nap

Eyecandy: Alejandro Vargas

Beach scene: Lieutenant Simon 'Ghost' Riley and Sergeant Christine 'Riot' Vega

MacTavish family farm's bathroom: Johnny and Christine

Fanart: This or That (@rileyslibrary )

It's the little things part 7

Captain John Price and Dr Heather Price (neé Green)

Nak, Zhar and Riot (go into a bar... ah, no, it's not that)

Kate Laswell and Gabriella Cruz

Soap and Gabi

Eyecandy: Horangi

OC Dressing game ask: One / Two / Three (with small fic)

Request: Nikolai x Mini MacTavish

Request: Frank Woods x F!Reader

PTSD

Zhar and Riot

Laswell and Riot

Soap and Laswell

Soap and Gabi

Two disasters

Three disasters and their long-suffering handler

Yuri

Request: Soap x F!Reader

Farah Karim

Zhar and Riot training

Christine Vega

Halloween 2023 - The Firebird

Halloween 2023 - The Dark Knight

Gaz and Diego (and Stork)

Halloween 2023 - The Highlander

Halloween 2023 - The Buccaneer

Halloween 2023 - The All-Father

Halloween 2023 - The Enchanter

Request: Nick Reyes (Infinite Warfare)

Halloween 2023 - The Nymph

Halloween 2023 - The Charioteer

Halloween 2023 - The Healer

Halloween 2023 - The Warrior

Halloween 2023 - The Gunslinger

Halloween 2023 - The Executioner

Price and Ghost

Angst (GhostxRiot)

141 out and about

Soap and Riot - Nil Desperandum

Full 141 + Laswell + Gabi

Request: Soap and Gabi

Request: Nikolai x Mini MacTavish NSFW

[meatball-headache]

No, I'm not ready to my grand Soulsborne post, not yet. But, I'm playing Dark Souls II again, right? And it's just interesting that I can hold in my head two thoughts, two... feelings, sorta, or rather, just a sense of the state of things. You beat the Executioner's Chariot and come up here, and now that I'm familiar with the game, with the systems, with the wikis, I'm just crossing this off my list. Beat him on the first try (I'm wildly overlevelled) so I'm just moving on down the list. But, back in the day, I remember making the runback time and time again to keep challenging him, dying a thousand dozen times, and, when I did finally beat him, I found—a dead end, a strange guy spouting nonsense, and a bunch of messages pointing out the secret passages that I couldn't figure out how to open.

But, it's not just that I remember it. It's not just that I remember that information, not just that I can give an account of events. It's not that I can remember the feeling—it's that I can feel that way again. I'm trotting in here for the millionth time (okay, third or fourth, maybe) and it's all old hat, I've seen videos about everything, whatever—but at the same time, I can see things through my old eyes, with the same blindness, not knowing what lies beyond, not understanding what's before me.

Sometimes I wonder if I was just really dumb the first time I played these? Probably, yeah. But also, this was before wikis and Youtubes to explain everything. I mean, there was Youtube, but I never even had the thought to look at Youtube for anything about video games until Dishonored. ...which was like a year or two earlier, but still.

Anyway, I had no point. Just having fun, is all.

[lucatielenjoyer]

Yuka Kitamura appreciation post

Listen, nothing is wrong with Sakuraba's work in the series. Bro is a very good composer.

BUT GOD DAMN DOES YUKA COOK EVERY SINGLE TIME!!!!!!

Ruin Sentinels? Executioner's Chariot? Sir Alonne? BURNT IVORY KING? ALDIA? ABYSS WATCHERS? DS3 IN GENERAL? QUEEN SHIT.

She really hopped on the OST and cooked that shit like my grandfather at the grill! She annihilated every single track she made and the fact that people pretend O&S (which is still very good) is the pinnacle of the Dark Souls OST when SLAVE KNIGHT GAEL IS RIGHT THERE??????

I love Yuka so much. I would die for her.