#geometric mean filter

[lizbethborden]

I found my schoolwork folder from my old laptop and I'm not saying everything I ever wrote was so great, but. I was honestly cooking with some of this. I did some fiction I did some memoir and I wrote some bangin term papers

[canmom]

analogistically

or, the adventure of canmom on lysergic acid diethylamide

Epistemic status: jam session

Two months ago I dropped acid for the first time, which surely explains a lot about recent posting trends on canmom dot tumblr dot edu. It was exactly as extraordinary as you would hope your first time on psychedelics would be. Among other things, LSD kind of acts like an intense reverb filter on your thoughts, boosting the intensity of sensory perceptions in various ways (for e.g. touch, music, colour, edges) and putting your capacity to form associations into overdrive. I did a lot of classic 'on drugs things' like staring very intensely at my hands or a piece of flatbread trying to map my perception into some kind of visual effects filters I might be able to recreate later... my best description is something akin to motion extraction as the primary effect, causing all sorts of little surface details to pop out very vividly as I moved an object.

This, however, is not a trip report; just an attempt to explain some ideas and connections that were formulated while on acid, in a state where my eyes were full of interesting fractals and I couldn't remember the world 'analogously'.

Here's some music to start us off - one of the first things that I listened to during the trip and something which probably informed the very geometric path I went down...

This is a music track that can be interpreted simultaneously as music and, when used to control an oscilloscope trace, as imagery. The whole function that generates it fits on a floppy. The beat of this music basically stayed with me throughout the whole trip, and for a while afterwards.

One of the curious experiences I had during the trip was what the (sadly no longer actively updated) psychonaut wiki calls perceived exposure to the inner mechanics of consciousness. Although it's not listed as a common effect of LSD, and said to be associated with a higher degree of visual effects than I reached, the description does resonate:

Perceived exposure to inner mechanics of consciousness can be described the experience of being exposed to an array of complex, autonomously-generated, cognitive sensations and conceptual thoughts which contain detailed sets of innately readable information. The information within these sensations is felt to convey the organization, structure, architecture, framework and inner mechanics of the underlying programming behind all conscious and subconscious psychological processes. Those who undergo this effect commonly interpret the experience as suddenly having perceivable access to the inner workings of either the universe, reality, or consciousness itself. (...) These specific pieces of information are often felt and understood to be a profound unveiling of an undeniable truth at the time. Afterward, they are usually realized to be ineffable due to the limitations of human language and cognition, or simply nonsensical, and delusional due to the impairment caused by of other accompanying cognitive effects.

Here, it felt like a kind of separating out of processes within my brain: a separation of sensory processing, conceptual thinking, and the word stream operating with a slight delay between them.

I imagined these different elements of me kind of floating in some kind of space, that each one possessed its own space of meaning, and that thoughts were being mapped between the different parts. I imagined that they were all working in concert to make 'Bryn' happen, so much so that I didn't perceive the different parts most of the time, and that they seemed happy with this arrangement. I also hit on a very striking metaphor of thoughts as oscillations and the resonant modes of the brain.

Afterwards, I wondered how much of this was driven simply by inputs - elaboration on stuff I'd been learning about recently, which we'll get into in a bit. I find it hard to be confident that what I perceived was actual 'direct' introspection, rather than a narrative conjured on the fly by my brain when prompted to generate a 'look inside'.

However, even if it was not the direct observation of some kind of 'brain telescope', it certainly gave me a lot of rich connections to think about. So the purpose of this post is to flesh out and record what came to me very intuitively at the time. Although my direct memory has faded a bit, my brain is still oscillating intently (upcoming metaphor) with thoughts inspired by what I explored there.

We're mostly talking about human brains here, but I will be talking about AI stuff as well, largely as a provocative counterexample.

Prior to the trip I had recently watched 3Blue1Brown's video on how LLMs encode meaning with high-dimensional vector embeddings and the 'attention' mechanism:

To try and summarise briefly, the meaning of a token inside an LLM (and various other types of machine learning system) is an incredibly high-dimensional vector of associations. By combining information from elsewhere in its inputs, the LLM is able to alter its encoding to take into account which specific nuances of a word are relevant here, its grammatical role in a sentence, etc.

How exactly a concept is encoded is essentially entirely relative: a vector can be said to encode a concept because it activates other nodes in the network that correspond to that concept (insofar as, by the time that it percolates through the LLM into its final output, it generates tokens that a human will associate with that concept). It can also come in degrees, rather than being purely binary. The correspondence of individual nodes with concepts can be identified using techniques like sparse autoencoder dictionary learning, which let you find neurons strongly connected to a certain concept which can be 'pinned' to force the LLM to behave in a certain way. And they can also be in a 'superposition' of corresponding to multiple concepts that would be relevant to humans.

Crucially, the 'space' of concepts that a given LLM understands is entirely specific to that model. You can't tale a vector inside Claude and directly convert it into a vector that works for DeepSeek. You have to figure out a mapping between the two spaces.

So let's talk about spaces, and then we'll talk about language.

Spaces & thought-oscillations

Perhaps not surprising as creatures who spend our lives navigating 3D environments, one of the most versatile recurring metaphors in maths and physics is an abstract space.

In physics: you have regular physical space where particles might live; you have phase space, the high-dimensional space of all parameter values and velocities accessible to a system; you have Hilbert space, which is the infinite-dimensional space of all states of the quantum wavefunction; you have Minkowski spacetime of special relativity and various curved spacetime manifolds of general relativity which can be parameterised in multiple ways; you have frequency space accessed by a Fourier transform... Other fields have their own spaces; biology has its own phase space describing populations for example.

In my current field of computer graphics, spaces abound just as much. In rasterisation, you define your verticex positions in object space, then map them to world space, and project them into clip space before the projective-geometry perspective divide finally maps them into screen space (where various further algorithms can take place). But we are far from done! We must also keep track of the UV space over the surface of an object, and the tangent space defining directions along the surface for certain kinds of anisotropic effect. A lot of graphics calculations involve mapping points in one space into another space. It's linear algebra all the way down, baby. Even more abstract spaces like all the different colour spaces are there.

One interesting area where spaces come up is the study of oscillations. For many oscillating structures, from something simple like a string on a violin to something complicated like a building, you can decompose the motion into a combination of pure, sinusoidal vibrations known as normal modes. You do this by turning the system's equations of motion into a matrix and finding its eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Remarkably, these form a basis, meaning that you can break down the system into a sum of eigenvectors, evolve them independently, and then add it back up.

Now, let's return to machine learning, and its feature spaces. In an LLM, the feature-encoding vectors evolve in discrete steps passing through layers of the LLM. High-dimensional vector spaces also show up in neuroscience, for example when using electrode arrays to monitor the activity of neurons.

However, inside a brain, the whole system is temporal in nature, and you have all kinds of feedback effects, which means you could imagine these 'feature vectors' not as static things but as oscillations.

I imagined a thought as something like a spiky little blob oscillating with various overlapping modes. Well, I'm a 3D artist, let me make a picture of that for you. Let's make it a demo even. Let's go to Switzerland and spend a weekend trying to make a visual representation of something I saw on LSD. That's a cool thing to do.

This is a superposition of spherical harmonics, all given different frequencies. The (infinite) set of spherical harmonics forms an orthnormal basis for functions on a sphere, so if you took each component of one of those ultra high dimensional vectors as the coefficient of a spherical harmonic, you would get a unique bumpy shape.

Funnily enough, I was inspired by code that was written for displaying data from MRI imaging, although that is pretty much entirely a coincidence because there it represents something quite different, the diffusion of water molecules.

With this metaphor in hand, we can imagine recurring patterns of thought (ranging from comfortable turns of phrase to traumatic flashbacks) as something like the resonant modes of a system. They are easily excited by random impulses, and slow to die out. Conversely, other types of thought might be heavily damped. Much like a violin bow provides a whole bunch of noisy excitations which ultimately end up exciting a string's resonant modes, the noisy sensory input would get distilled down into oscillations.

The idea of considering the movement of neurons through some kind of phase space is not so outlandish. In fact, recent research has been investigating the topology of 'subspaces' explored by neurons in the brains of mice, as discussed in this video (yes I've been watching a lot of Arsem's videos lately...)

However, the exact meaning of any of these hypothetical 'modes' is entirely contextual. We might be able to say 'this mode is stimulated when you receive sensory input with the colour red' for any given brain, or even section of one brain.

But to map the oscillations in one space into another space, we need to have some kind of common interface. Perhaps for adjacent regions of the brain, we could go 'directly', with one functional unit of neurons wired up to excite corresponding oscillations in another.

But what about brains that are only connected by whatever you can pass through the physical world inbetween them? Sound, images, etc.? How can you create a correspondence there?

Language

Writing has been described as a kind of telepathy: we encode our internal world into a series of symbols (either as images or sound), which are then decoded to generate a thought in someone else's brain - one that is notionally equivalent.

But what is the nature of that equivalence? It isn't that it will make the exact same pattern of neuron firing in your brain that it did in mine. After all, you have a completely different neural network that has learned different inputs. So there is some kind of mapping from one space to another: the pattern of activity in my brain and the pattern of activity in your brain are related in some way.

We all know that the meaning of sounds in language is pretty much arbitrary. It's built by associations: you have learned that the symbol-sequence 'red' corresponds to this colour's internal representation [assuming your monitor is not calibrated in a really weird way].

And insofar as we have broadly similar sensory and bodily experiences, it is possible to build up this mapping of associations between words, sensations, and whatever other internal representation exists in our brains. It's also a feedback process, spawning all sorts of social constructs by giving them names and acting as if they exist.

However, language does more for us than this.

A moment of introspection: I personally experience an ongoing verbal 'stream of consciousness' most of the time. How this manifests more concretely is that words come to me rapidly from 'somewhere inside'; if I am speaking, I might consider briefly whether they are the 'right' words before saying them.

Internally, I might consider a thought that occurs to me and decide that I do not agree with it, or just think about a sentence I have thought as a kind of 'object', as if I am perceiving it from a different vantage point. It seems to be impossible to consider a thought 'as I am thinking it'; only after it has entered into memory can I 'observe' it.

When I was on LSD, I perceived a kind of 'separating out' of the 'inner', nonverbal process of thought and the linguistic stream. There would be a delay in which the linguistic stream would be waiting for input, and would have to kind of 'spin its wheels' and fill space as it waited for something concrete to encode. This separation was quite delightful, since I am not used to perceiving it in such a way. Other times when I was on LSD I had a vague sense of multiple thought streams occurring in parallel, of switching tracks to bring one or another into salience (something covered here on the psychonaut wiki). I'm not entirely sure if these 'seemed verbal'.

This suggests to me some kind of feedback cycle, of thoughts bouncing between the 'language space' and the broader 'conceptual space' of the rest of the brain. Speculatively: my brain might encode something into language in order to store it while it thinks about something else, for certain more 'sequential' forms of thought, or to activate resonances with linguistically-encoded things. By bouncing thoughts in and out of 'language-space' it might be able to perform different kinds of thinking/computation.

Expanding the space

One of the more intense images that occurred to me while I was jamming with all these ideas of spaces and oscillations was the thought of how new ideas get encoded into the space as I encounter new things and learn. I had recently made two friends, and I had the idea of new dimensions appearing: first a direction that was associated with my friends as a pair, and a secondary dimension that encoded the differences between them.

Each of these 'dimensions' would be associated with other concepts by the dynamics of the neural network.

Visually, I imagined a line extending out from (something that represented the space), and then dividing into another line. I think this is kind of what is meant when the psychonaut wiki speaks of 'intrinsically understandable' geometric representations: I knew exactly what this line was supposed to mean, but it would hardly be clear if I drew you a picture.

Exactly what that 'adding of dimensions' would mean on a physical level I can't tell you. I don't think it's like my brain was literally growing an extra neuron that would specifically be stimulated by thoughts of my friends, like the now-famous 'golden gate bridge' neuron in Claude. Internally, it all presumably exists in some nebulous state of superposition with all sorts of other ideas. Maybe you could extract a vector associated with that concept by some kind of statistical bullshit if you had somehow access to the states of all the neurons, but we don't. Do we?

...well, I thought we don't. Actually we pretty much do have access to individual neurons in mice. We can do all sorts of crazy shit like make their brains transparent and attach glowing proteins to specific neurons that are activated when a specific memory is stimulated. That is fucking insane. We are literally living in an age. Here's Arsem again:

The idea of 'engrams' as the physical correspondents to memory is nearly a century old, but now we can actually physically observe them.

So, you develop a new concept-association, and a certain subset of neurons get tagged to that concept and excited when it comes up. We mentioned these 'subspaces' up above: presumably that is what could be said to grow an extra dimension. If I have a conceptual dimension that is 'associated with my friend M.', presumably there is a set of neurons that correspond to her, and another set of neurons linking them to various concepts that I associate with her, my memories of what she looks like, etc. etc.

I get a strong sense that the more things that I encounter, the larger my internal 'space' of concepts becomes. But these feature dimensions don't seem to be 'independent'. I suppose what I'm approaching obliquely and fuzzily here is the idea of covariance, and the covariance matrix seen in techniques like principal component analysis. Or something to do with the subspaces mentioned above.

The role of prediction and roleplaying

The thing language models optimise for is to generate something that is contextually appropriate and consistent. This results in a curious behaviour akin to 'roleplaying', where the model will respond as if it's 'in character', according to a premise set up in a prompt.

I previously talked about the 'free energy' model in neuroscience, in which the brain is constantly attempting to predict the next sensory input. There, the main point was in the creation of art: that a lot of the interest we have in artworks comes from its delicate balance of predictability/unpredictability.

However, I think the brain is also predicting something even more significant: itself!

Viewed in another light, an LLM generates a variety of contextually plausible tokens that it might continue along, and then it selects one. The form of its selection is to pick one at random. However, what if it was not random? What if there is some process that views the prediction output and goes 'yes, that one?'

When I am talking, ideas of things to say will come into my head. I will have just a moment to decide whether to let them come out my mouth or not. Or, I will think a thought in my internal 'stream of consciousness', and then conclude that 'yes, that is good' or 'no, this appals me, I won't say this'. We could say that the process that is generating the stream of language is attempting to predict whether I will find it agreeable, or interesting, or relevant or some such thing.

In other words, I am continually engaged in an elaborate performance of 'Bryn'.

On LSD, I had the curious sense of how all these functional elements I was dimly sensing within my brain were acting in concert to produce 'Bryn'. I had the strange and honestly very comforting sense that they were all happy to play a role in generating this persona. I don't know how much credence to lend to this idea.

When I enter a new social context where the rules are unfamiliar (such as a kink scene, c.f. everything is roleplaying except roleplaying which is improv), I become temporarily compromised in my ability to perform the contextually appropriate character. I need to get a sense of the dynamics of this new space - in other words, my brain must develop its prediction-model. It is, in other words, very much like learning to play a new game. (I'll read you eventually, Wittgenstein.)

Depending on context, depending on which set of dynamics you are attempting to predict, different memories will become more or less able to be drawn up through the associative links. Feedbacks are possible; hence 'flashbacks', emotional and literal, where the memory becomes so furiously excited that it shuts out everything else for a while. But this also shapes what sort of person the brain predicts you will be (and thus gives you the option to be) in a given moment.

Compression

Prediction, game-playing, and performance are all facets of this constant process of updating my internal representations - in other words, adjusting the resonances and dynamics of those neuron-interaction spaces. The brain 'wants' - generally tends - to simplify and abstract. In other words, it wants to compress - to discern underlying patterns so it can store its information and generate predictions more efficiently.

So it will try to relate unfamiliar new things to familiar types, and then, where necessary (e.g. because of an extended interaction with a person or a thing), flesh them out with additional details - which is to say building out a subspace for that thing to vary within.

When I was first transitioning my gender, I had a pathetic tendency to view all these interesting new women I was meeting as instances of the same type. It made me embarassing; I was viewing people as a category, not as individuals. Now many many years later, probably the subspace for thinking about all the different trans women I know is one of the larger ones in here. Perhaps other information has been forgotten (dissolved into noise) to make room for it.

The more time I spend with someone, the more specific associations I can build with them.

The more I can get a sense of the dynamics of their inner meaning-spaces.

Initiate feedback loop

So we encode high-dimensional oscillating thoughts into a stream of language-associations in order to excite analogous thoughts in the brain of another person. But of course, that person will have their own associations. Different memories and ideas will be excited by that word. I can only dimly predict how my words will be perceived.

But communication is not hopeless. Because we can ask for clarification. We can pass messages back and forth. Clarify the shapes of each of our thoughts.

The specific ideas I use for introspection, whether or not I'm under the influence of a powerful substance like LSD, are all influenced by the history and the models my brain has built. I like physical science metaphors, obviously. I am a creature who can't help but think in the language of dynamical systems, feedback loops, networks of interacting elements, fluids (hehehe), component parts, parallel processes, games, and of course abstract spaces...

Perhaps it is a worldview that is proper to this moment in the story of the superorganism!

This post represents the most complete effort I've made so far to encode the 'working model' I have of the shape of thinking into language. But the things I am talking about are very abstract, and the direct experiences I refer to are only really available to me - I can only hope that my words excite something analogous in your mysterious meaning-space.

Listen to me banging on about oscillations though. Might as well go full hippie and call it vibes. You can take the girl out of Glastonbury, but...

Postscript

The other image I had while I was on that LSD trip was of each brain existing somewhere in a void: each a constellation of connected parts, which only occasionally get so lucky as to brush up against another such structure and glimpse another mind. Each one trying desperately to roleplay itself in the face of chaotic input and its own inscrutable behaviour. As many people do when they take this stuff, I felt a sort of empathy for everyone, even - especially - the people who had annoyed or troubled me. A glow that lingered long after.

I do not think I am anywhere near done with this quest to understand what the hell I am, or what any of us are for that matter. It's impossible, isn't it? To somehow find a model of the universe and all within it so elegant that it can fit inside here and so rich it captures all that complexity. Authors to read, conversations to have (hii), sensory and emotional experiences to flesh out the spaces.

But before all that... or running through all that... is of course, well, other people. You lot. Endlessly mysterious creatures who continue to fill this hungry, vibrating brain with strange oscillations. Have you considered yourself as the nucleus of the fractal patterns evolving within the ~800,000,000,000,000,000,000 human neurons, and all that we accumulate around us? I don't know, is that a silly metaphor? Do you like it?

"The net is vast and infinite".

That's all we've got for tonight, folks. We've been canmom - love you all, thanks for listening!

[najia-cooks]

[ID: Buttermilk being poured from a Moroccan ceramic cup with orange and black geometric designs into a glass. End ID]

لبن نباتي / Lbn nabati (Vegan traditional buttermilk)

Lbn (لْبْنْ or لْبَنْ; also transliterated "lban") is a Moroccan buttermilk drink. It is not to be confused with standard Arabic لَبَن‎ ("laban"), meaning "milk"; with Levantine لَبَن‎ ("laban"), also called لَبَن رَائِب ("laban ra'ib"), which is curdled milk (a.k.a., yoghurt); or with Levantine لَبْنَة‎ ("labna"), which is yoghurt that has been strained and thickened.

Instead, lbn is a traditional buttermilk. It is historically made the same way Western traditional buttermilk is: by leaving raw milk to sit at room temperature while the cream separates and rises to the top, allowing the cream to ferment, and then churning the cream until it separates further into milk solids (cultured butter) and a cultured liquid byproduct (traditional buttermilk). Commercial Western buttermilk, and some Moroccan lbn, is now no longer traditional buttermilk but instead cultured buttermilk, which is produced by fermenting low-fat milk; this produces a thicker, more acidic liquid than traditional buttermilk. Lbn is usually made with goat's milk, though cow's milk is also often used.

Lbn—very sour and tangy, slightly sweet, and about the consistency of milk—is consumed as a refreshing after-dinner drink during the summer. It is also used to soak كُسْكُس ("couscous") (made from durum, barley, or corn flour). Couscous with lbn is called سَيْكُوك ("saykouk") in Darija (Moroccan Arabic), or أزَيْكُوك ("azaykouk") in Tamazight.

Saykouk is a cold dish, commonly eaten in the desert and in rural areas during the summertime; but it is also sold from food carts and by vendors on bicycles year-round in cities. On Fridays, Moroccans often eat couscous dishes with lbn on the side, and may make some on-the-fly saykouk by pouring lbn into their bowls to soak the couscous that remains after the vegetables or meat in the dish have been eaten.

This recipe resembles cultured buttermilk, in that it ferments non-dairy milk with live cultures to achieve a sour taste. However, it more resembles traditional dairy buttermilk in taste and texture. Note that this lbn is intended for drinking and for recipes that call for Moroccan traditional buttermilk, and not for replacing Western cultured buttermilk in pastries or pancakes.

Recipe under the cut!

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Ingredients:

2 cups full-fat oat milk

1-3 vegetarian probiotic capsules (containing at least 10 billion cultures total)

A few pinches salt

A few pinches granulated sugar

Make sure your probiotic capsules contain no prebiotics, as they can interfere with the culture. The probiotic may be multi-strain, but should contain some of: Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium bifidus, Lactobacillus acidophilus. The number of capsules you need will depend on how many cultures each capsule is guaranteed to contain.

Instead of probiotic capsules, you can use a specialty starter culture pack intended for use in culturing vegan dairy, many of which are available online. Note that starter cultures may be packaged with small amounts of powdered milk for the bacteria to feed on, and may not be truly vegan.

Other types of non-dairy milk may work. My trial with soy milk did not succeed (it never became notably tangy). Soaked and blended cashews will thicken substantially, so be sure to blend cashews with at least twice their volume in (just-boiled, filtered) water if you want to use cashews as your base. I found that oat milk, as well as being more convenient and cheaper than cashews, more closely mimicked the taste of lbn. I have not tested anything else.

Instructions:

1. Boil several cups of water and use the just-boiled water to rinse your measuring cup, the container you will ferment your lbn in, and a wooden spoon or rubber spatula to stir. Your bowl and stirring implement should be in a non-reactive material such as wood, clay, glass, or silicone.

2. Measure oat milk into a container and open probiotic capsules into it. Stir the powder from the capsules in until well combined.

3. Cover the opening of the container with a cheesecloth or tea towel. Ferment for 24 hours: on the countertop in temperate weather, or in an oven with the light on in cold weather.

Taste the lbn with a clean implement (avoid double-dipping!) to see if it is ready. If it still tastes 'oaty,' continue fermenting for another 1-3 days, tasting every 12 hours, until it is notably tangy.

4. Blend lbn with large pinches of salt and sugar; or put lbn, salt, and sugar in a jar with a lid and shake to combine. Taste and adjust salt and sugar.

5. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. This lbn will continue to culture slowly in the fridge and will eventually (like dairy lbn) become too sour to drink.

Serve chilled.

[protography0]

"Phone" - Pixelart, Frame + 5 Variations (Frame without display; solid gray display; transparent display; dithered displays)

Pixelart made in Aseprite.

Fun fact about the transparent screen (variation 3): It works! I can kinda use it as a filter in a way, I just put the png over an image or background and you get an altered effect. I tried this - fittingly - with my pixelart of the Rolling Giant:

(something something The Authentic Wyatt Experience.)]

Phones seem to be one of the easier shapes to turn into pixelart, at least for me - very geometrical, even though this one needed some tinkering as well, but not as much as for the ladybug; the ladybug took 2-3 hours, this one more like 1-2.

I had a lot of fun working on the screen, and the transparent option brings me a lot of joy because it means I could pull this little thing up and use it for other art pieces, as demonstrated above. Makes me wanna make pixel TVs and screens and the likes.

I also like that I could turn this one into a pattern and put different pics on the displays, or even use the phone as a 'canvas' to make small art pieces. I'm very giddy about all the possibilities.

[sapphosscribe]

Hey,

Weird question, but do you think Bill would like or hate Spongebob?

I mean, both are yellow, geometric shapes with a love for fancy neckwear and a penchant for weird stuff.

Only difference would be their morals.

Anyways, hope you had a great time at the fair!

Thanks I had a blast 😆

🔥Hot take:

I personally think Bill would HATE SpongeBob. He would take how similar they are as a slight because

1) he’s the original how dare this filter feeder copy him?

2) SpongeBob isn’t so much chaotic as incredibly annoying and unfailingly optimistic. Bill would probably have fun for two minutes before he realized nothing he could do to SpongeBob would get under his skin and he couldn’t hurt him in a way that matters. Then he’d be trying everything possible to leave Bikini Bottom or burn it to the ground 😂

That’s my thoughts on it, anyway.

Have a great day! 💛

[eliasdrid]

Are there any arts and crafts that you recommend?

It's all up to personal taste but here's some off the top of my head.

You probably have the means to do this at home rn

Drawing, just grab a pencil or pen and a piece of paper and doodle, draw shapes! You can do abstract stuff or geometric patterns or stuff like mandalas that you can color later, it doesn't have to be a masterpiece.

Paper crafts in general. Collage. Scrapbooks. Greeting/birthday cards. Origami - I personally really like folding birds and cranes.

Inexpensive/not too expensive (to my knowledge)

Coloring books, I don't personally like coloring but I follow people who enjoy this and I've seen really cute coloring from them. You can color with crayons, markers, pencils. Whatever you like.

Sewing* (beginner :tm:) learn stitches to fix your clothes and things. It's really rewarding long term. Once you know your stitches you can learn to make lil things like simple plushies with scrap fabric.

Embroidery*. Well, if you start sewing you got needles now! congrats, you can try embroidering. I absolutely recommend an embroidery hoop because it will make things a lot easier, it can also help with mending clothes. You'll need some scrap fabric that's fit for the job but when it comes to threads, to start, you can pretty much use whatever - I've used all sorts of yarn and sewing threads.

Jewelry making. There's different materials both for the beads and the thread so prices vary but it's nice and it's something you can do for yourself or for gifting.

*by hand.

You really gotta buy stuff for this (but maybe someone you know can lend you some of it to practice and see if you like it? or they could be down to teach you, who knows.)

Crochet.** You need yarn and the correct crochet needle/hook to crochet. There's a lot of begginer friendly tutorials so the learning process isn't too terrible. I've made amigurumis and coasters. Lots of people make blankets out of granny squares (and there's tons of free patterns online!)

Knitting.** I haven't personally tried this one but same as above. And again, tons of free patterns online.

Sewing (machine :tm:). My sister has a sewing machine and she's done tons of things. It's a more expensive hobby though since you have to invest more and learn how to properly use the machine but you can make stuff faster than you can by hand. It really makes sewing clothes together a lot easier.

**you will def find blogs and videos with tutorials but I also recommend ravelry because it let's you filter results and people sometimes rate how easy/hard patterns are.

Other stuff that I've done once or twice: paper mache, sculpting, stamps! and stamp making, mosaics, flower pressing, stencils, watercolors, acrylics, canvas painting, embossing... and I'm probably forgetting some.

[positivelybeastly]

I've got another question for you--how did you feel about Young Hank's "magic arc" during All-New? I've got thoughts and such, but I know this will spur a good detailed response, so!

As you intimated, I do indeed have thoughts, though I caution that my knowledge of this particular phase of Hank's stories I know maybe least well? The 90s and the mid 2010s are my biggest weak spots for Hank knowledge because of my distaste for storytelling trends in the former, and the general just. Disarray of most Marvel books in the latter.

That being said, I did read the books because I was interested in seeing how they handled it.

In a nutshell? Untapped potential. This was most acute in X-Men: Blue, which was simultaneously the best written of the three time displaced books, but which also seemed most interested in focusing on Scott and Jean at the expense of Hank, Bobby, and Warren. The epitome of this was the culmination of the demonic temptation arc.

The fact that it's all brought back to Hank's ultimate desire to want to be there for his friends, to support them, to be there for them in ways he doesn't feel like he currently is able to, is a big plus to me, at least.

That has, at its heart, always been my read on Hank's character - that if he moves on his moral compass, that if he does something rash and ill-considered and dumb, then it's out of a place of misguided good intention, and never malice. That's the heart of my issues with X-Force's characterisation of him as evil, it fundamentally misunderstands that a good majority of his 'bad' decisions are done based on compassion, and it can't bear to even pretend he was ever good or compassionate.

Even his decision to break time in All-New vol. 1 was born out of a want for Scott to be his friend again, out of moral cowardice, out of an inability to hurt and kill a man he once loved as much as his own family. Yes, it was filtered through a dozen brain aneurysms, but that is why he did it, ultimately.

It's also maybe why he's always gotten on with Scott, and then why their 'break up' was so acrimonious. Scott's willingness to do anything to keep mutantkind alive is mirrored by Hank's willingness to do anything to make sure his friends stay alive, but (at least until X-Force), Scott's willingness manifested as morally abhorrent but tactically sound decisions, while Hank's willingness manifested as morally 'better' (no-one got killed) but intellectually stupid decisions that ended up tying things into knots and making them more complicated in the long run.

It's just that, you know, none of this ever really got codified in the books, so it looked like Hank was doing dumb shit to be petty, because Bendis doesn't care about Hank's emotional state.

But anyway.

Hank must be set apart, and appreciated, and loved, or he is nothing. He can't stand to be ignored, or considered useless. That's just the way he's wired. He'll do anything to remain necessary. So far, so good. That's a good read on him. This is the miracle child effect that's dogged Hank's mentality since he was born.

This is really good set-up!

And then it completely bottles it.

I was so excited, man. I thought, okay, so since Warren and Bobby are barely interacting with Hank, and Jean and Scott have their weird love triangle going on with Jimmy Hudson (fuck off), adding Bloodstorm to the team means that she must be a foil for Hank, right? This issue, which introduces her and gives us a view into her mind and makes it clear that she thinks so very highly of Hank, sets up a friendship, maybe even something more, right?

Wrong.

Oh.

Bloodstorm and Hank barely interact again, and Bloodstorm just becomes another accessory to the Scott-Jean-Jimmy triangle, turning it into a weird 'I-don't-give-a-fuck-what-geometric-shape-this-is-'situation. I was so disappointed, man. Instead, Hank is given an almost entirely off-panel relationship with Gazing Nightshade.

And his relationship with his older self?

This is about it for their meaningful interactions, if you don't include him being a bitch to older Hank in Uncanny #600 and Hickman's New Avengers. Considering Hank has changed the most, and was, for the majority of the time the displaced O5 were present, the character who remained alive and whole and who had the most story potential to mine (Warren was memory wiped, Jean was already dead, Scott would go on to die, and Bobby was whatever), the fact that these two barely interact just made me not really care about younger Hank, especially because of two simple facts.

One, young Hank has always been the worst and least interesting version of the character (well, until Percy's Beast came along) because he's just big guy who talks eloquently, and that's fine for a 60s comic, but all of his really unique aspects only came out when he turned furry.

So, you're starting with the least interesting version of the character, which . . . is fine, you can always improve on that. But I don't really feel like they did, because it felt like there was a lack of interest in really moving Hank forward. Both Hanks were stuck in a rut at this time, so, you know, I guess they match, woo. But it just kinda sucked to see so many issues where young Hank was around, and he'd just. Not really do anything that couldn't have been done by another character. He never interacted with any characters that older Hank had special relationships with like young Scott or Jean did, and he wasn't forming new relationships that I could be excited about, either.

Two, younger Hank gets angry at older Hank, right? For bringing them here, wrecking the timestream, all of that? He makes disparaging remarks about turning into a blue homunculus?

Not one single writer every had older Hank turn around and point out that the man who turned them into a blue furry beast was WAY closer in appearance, emotional temperament, and history to young Hank.

Yes, older Hank may be the guy who did it, twenty years or so ago, but younger Hank was the guy who is GOING to do it, because of the tendencies that his magic arc showcased, because of the pride, because of the ego, and his older self, who HAS that context, who KNOWS what he's like, who is AWARE of his personality flaws, NEVER blames him for that! Never takes him to task for the moral grandstanding!

Because here's the thing - yes, Hank CAN be proud, and he can have an ego, but the WORST of it died when he mutated himself, because he fucked up his entire life in the course of one night and he was never able to fix it, just recover from it! He learned!

Young Hank hasn't learned that lesson yet! And despite older Hank being there, and knowing that already, they NEVER talk about it! It's just brushed over! Absolutely goddamn maddening.

Young Hank re-learned a lesson that older Hank knew, and we didn't even get the parts where older Hank even tries to impart that knowledge, because we've got to spend time on bamfs and crossovers to the Ultimate Universe and Kid Apocalypse and the future Brotherhood and a minivan that's bigger on the inside and oh my god what are we even here for, guys? Why are we ignoring this character's obvious main foil, his older self???

. . . Anyway.

It was interesting see Hank turn to something other than science to keep him going, because he knows this is something that's within him, that science is something this version has gravitated towards and excelled in, but he knows that's not always a multiversal constant.

Science is a part of him, but it is not him. Science is just a mechanism by which he understands why, by which he understands because. Hank McCoy wants to understand why something happens, he wants to understand the because, and how he gets there is changeable. So the magic arc should really have been a fulfilment of the promise of these pages from Endangered Species.

But I don't really feel like it really went anywhere. I don't feel like anything new was revealed about Hank through his flirtation with magic. He'll do anything for his friends, even make desperate, dumb decisions; he'll transform himself in the pursuit of knowledge; he'll fix what he broke, and people will take him back with a slap on the wrist and then they'll go back to mostly ignoring him. (It was very significant to me that young Hank's demonic corruption happened without anyone noticing, because Hank is a king of seeming fine while his life is falling apart, and some things really do never change.)

All of these character traits had already been established by previous storylines, but better, tbh.

It was repetitious, just like older Hank's repeating arc going on at that same time of making a massive science mistake, feeling guilty and vowing not to do it again, only to be reset the next time they wanted to do a big crossover event with a big science mistake to fit. I can only stand to see the same things repeated without any attempt to break the cycle or progress past it so many times. This is partly why feline Hank's story has always felt so impactful to me, because it always felt like it was moving forward and he was changing and growing. He learned. At least, it felt like he did.

I don't really think anyone was learning anything in All-New vol. 1 and 2 or X-Men: Blue. I felt like I was just killing time, reading a mostly Scott and Jean centric book that Hank occasionally guest starred in.

As for what came after Extermination - the fact that no-one picked up on the fact that older Hank should have known magic once the memories merged is kind of confirmation to me that no-one at Marvel had any real interest in exploring this side of Hank, so I couldn't and can't quite get excited about it.

It would've been at least neat to see evil Beast break out the magic when he got cornered, but like everything else, Percy ignored that, too. If new Hank has these memories, it has yet to be established on panel, and he seems to be more of the traditional Hank wheelhouse, just progressing in a different way, as detailed in the Infinity Comics releasing atm.

If I had been reading at the time (I stopped around 2015, before Hank got into magic), I probably would've been more invested in the idea of Hank learning magic, but as it is, I came back to it a year or two ago while I was waiting for X-Force to finish, and knowing that it all ended with 'and then the time displaced arc didn't matter to anyone but Scott and Bobby' just meant I looked at all of this like, this is a lot of set-up for plots that never happened and never really went anywhere. Shame. There really was potential here.

I kept staring at Hank, waiting for him to do something, to have a romance, to be tested again and succeed or fail, to show he's learned his lesson or not, to bond with Bloodstorm over temptation, to talk with his older self about what he's learned, but instead, he would have one issue of focus, and then fade into the background while everything else took precedence. I just got bored and started flicking through.

I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on it, though. Maybe there's a issue I missed or didn't pay attention to that will 'unlock' this arc for me and make it all crystallise in a way. I'd love to be wrong.

[kairologia]

ASPECTS IN ASTROLOGY

There are two ways through which planets influence one another, and those would be rulership and aspect. We dealt with rulership in yesterday's post regarding essential dignities. Now let's look into how aspects work.

Starting with a definition, aspects are geometrical configurations describing different types of dynamics between planets, and they are the main means through which planets communicate. The five major aspects, also known as the Ptolemaic aspects (though they predate Ptolemy), are the conjunction, opposition, trine, square, and sextile.

With that said, we can split them into two categories:

🔮 Harmonious: Sextile, Trine.

— They have the nature of benefic planets: Venus & Jupiter, respectively.

— Harmoniously aspected (trine, sextile) planets work well together and work to express their respective qualities cohesively. Harmony allows for the positive expression of each planet to be more present than the negative one.

🔮 Disharmonious: Square, Opposition.

— They possess the nature of malefic planets: Mars & Saturn, respectively.

— Disharmoniously aspected planets perform in discordance. They represent planets that can't work well together because they have different priorities, resulting in friction and discord.

→ aspects can be divided into two types, same-sign aspects, and those based on visual metaphors.

Category 1 :

🔮 CONJUNCTIONS:

Conjunctions are not regarded as aspects by many. They represent planets standing right next to each other, on the same degree (or within a small-ish orb of each other), in the same sign, and depending on each planet involved, this can be a positive or negative aspect. A common & incorrect misconception is that planetary energies are "mixed together" through conjunctions — what conjunctions actually describe is planets generally being on the same page & having the same objective. How they express this objective together will be filtered through the nature of each planet.

🔮 CO-PRESENCE :

In addition to conjunction, we can also list one additional configuration that, while not considered an aspect per se either, is still regarded as powerful: co-presence. Planets that are said to be copresent by sign without being conjoined by degree are said to be especially influential upon each other, owing to being “with” each other. However, it is not specifically called an aspect because the planets are literally in the same place, rather than “seeing” each other.

Category 2 :

The other four aspects are based on a visual metaphor that utilizes the thema mundi (which calls for a post of its own), but, tl;dr: the thema mundi is a mythical chart used in Hellenistic astrology that shows the alleged positions of the seven visible planets (including the Sun and Moon) at the beginning of the universe—its' main uses are to explain the logic behind the rulership system, provide meanings to the aspects, among other things. It's of purely symbolic nature.

🔮 Sextile — of the nature of Venus. Harmonious, mildly positive.

A sextile is when two planets are 60° apart from each other. These planets share polarity (diurnal vs. nocturnal), so they operate in the same way. The relationship is one of complement and harmony.

🔮 Trine — of the nature of Jupiter. Harmonious, very positive.

A trine is when two planets are 120° away from each other, sharing the same element but not modality (opposite of a Square). These planets can work very well together because they share the same element. The relationship is one of strong harmony much like the nature of Jupiter. Oftentimes trines tend to signify unconscious gifts & areas one is considered a "natural" at.

🔮 Square — of the nature of Mars. Disharmonious, combative, denotes friction.

Squares take place when planets are 90° apart from each other. These planets share the same modality (Cardinal, Fixed, or Mutable) but their expression (read: their element) of that modality is different, and that is what causes the friction. Mainly represent internal conflicts within the native.

🔮 Opposition - of the nature of Saturn. Very disharmonious, conflicted.

Planets within a 180° orb are said to oppose each other directly on the zodiac wheel. The planetary energies involved are actively working against each other. It denotes discord, standoffishness, or obstruction, much like the nature of Saturn.

🔮 Signs Not In Aspect :

Signs that are not in one of the above 4 relationships with each other are said to be “inconjunct” or “not in concord”.

→ Now that we went through the respective qualities of each aspect, let's explore another relevant topic — orbs & applying/separating aspects :

🔮 Orbs :

Represent the margin & range of influence in which the aspect between two planets is thought to come into effect & have a significant influence. Feel free to use whatever orbs feel comfortable for you, but know the wider the orb: the less of a connection these planets have, and the smaller the orb, the stronger the connection. Most astrological programs & sites use a default orb of 10°.

🔮 What about the dynamics of application & separation between planets?

If any planets are applying/separating in aspect: the faster planet makes the aspect, the slower planet receives the aspect. Which is to say: only faster-moving planets make aspects (applying or separating).

The order of speed has already been discussed in another post but a reminder that the order goes: Moon > Mercury > Venus > Sun > Mars > Jupiter > Saturn.

TL;DR : the Moon creates the most aspects (i.e can apply or separate from any planet, is always on the aspect-making end), while Saturn creates the least aspects (i.e it can only apply or separate from outers, is usually on the receiving end). You can deduce how it goes for other planets following this framework.

Applying aspects are granted a wider orb than separating ones in certain branches of astrology — because the energies are proactive, converging, and the climax is still approaching. Separating aspects, on the other hand, are reflective, as the aspect has passed the point at which it was exact, and are moving away from it.

Additionally, applying & separating aspects also have their own significations. In horary astrology, applying aspects can be used to predict upcoming events that will happen between individuals/areas of life, while separating aspects is used to describe past events.

So to summarize: when a faster planet is moving towards the exact degree of an aspect with a slower planet, that aspect is applying. Conversely, when a faster planet is departing from the exact degree of an aspect with a slower planet, that aspect is separating. Aspects become more intense as the applying planet gets closer, and they are particularly potent when within a 3° Orb. After separation, aspects become less intense. While a separating aspect lack the urgency of an applying aspect, it (especially when involving the Moon) is still essential for certain Hellenistic techniques like electional astrology, primary directions, or horary astrology.

[demigodforfend]

Twilight of the Demigods: Forfend Edition - Session 25

Forfend hummed to itself as they descended ever lower.

It tried to keep its gaze on River, but the glowing emeralds almost seemed to call to it. It took care not to stare into them, but it chanced glances from time to time.

Overhead, light filtered and defracted through the green stalactites, creating a startling effect. If Forfend watched for more than a moment, it felt as though it could see clouds sailing softly from crystal to crystal. As though the cavern ceiling was nearly translucent and a faint display of the sky was visible above.

They were deep underground. Weren't they?

Emerald dragons were known for trickery though. Any number of illusions could be causing the effect.

Forfend settled for appreciating the beautiful unexplainability of it all.

The path wound onward and treasure began to dot the cave floor between emerald stalagmites.

Some of the treasures were chests of gold and jewels or ancient suits of armors. Others were items that seemed more sentimental such as old furniture and sewn dolls.

Soon, they entered a pathway lined with floor-to-ceiling murals. Statues, professional artworks, and even chunks of preserved architecture filled the floorspace.

Melzaryn lit up at the ancient geometric terracotta structures. He inspected them all in turn.

Forfend observed the murals. They hadn't been painted on the cave walls. They'd been removed wholesale from their places of origin and installed here. Forfend couldn't image the work it would take to do that without damaging the art.

All of the murals were painted with charcoal and plant dyes. The first one was rough, as though it was done hastily or with less than ideal materials.

That didn't stop it from being impactful. It depicted the very sky falling from a flaming mass above and flattening a mountain range.

The next mural showed people literally rising from the ashes. They joined hands, cared for one another, and some of them seemed to be beginning to build things.

Another depiction showed them conversing with the land itself. They spoke with animals, but also rocks and plantlife. All of these beings worked together, shaping the earth around them.

Forfend recognized the adamantine beetles particularly. They worked diligently alongside the people.

The next mural was startling by comparison. Large monstrosities with too many limbs or too many heads attacked the people. Manticores and hoards of orcs, ogres, and goblins raided the people's homes.

But onward down the hall, yet another mural depicted salvation.

Four elegant, winged creatures descended from the sky and breathed what seemed to be powerful gusts of wind that whisked away the horrible monsters.

The last mural in the line showed the creatures encircling the people as they rebuilt and improved their works in harmony with the earth itself. The creatures protected them and became a part of their lives.

Forfend wanted to ask if this was the tale of the Genasi and their dragon guardians, but River seemed intensely focused on moving forward.

It hummed to itself.

Melzaryn's steps faltered mid-stride as the group approached a particular set of statues. These seemed to have been carved by wind and rain. Not a tool had ever been taken to them, despite their levels of sharp detail.

Many of them resembled earth genasi. Some were dragons. Some were a combination of dragons and genasi working side by side.

Tapestries began to line the wall in place of the enormous murals. Their colors were bathed strangely in the emerald green light of the translucent sky. Whatever stories they told were too abstract for Forfend to catch their meaning.

Finally, they entered a large chamber.

Wealth lined the walls and floor, but it was hardly the main feature here.

No, the main feature certainly was the entire village that seemed to have been magically transported into this place in one fell swoop.

Many of the buildings here were also weathered into shape rather than built or carved.

The village seemed ancient in make. And it wasn't uninhabited.

Elderly genasi and very young genasi both roamed the streets.

Forfend realized they were protecting their most vulnerable. Those old enough and abled enough to fight were the ones on the surface looking to make change. The rest stayed here where it was safe.

The genasi villagers watched them come through with wide, curious eyes.

River led them to the mouth of a new corridor and bowed in front of a pile of stones and emeralds that seemed to glow with a sort of power.

He spoke what Forfend assumed to be the native genasi language, his voice like cracking stone and growing vines and burrowing roots.

The formation of rock and gem shuddered and pulled itself together. Roots wove through it to hold its form in place. It rose up, taking shape as an earth elemental towering over even Forfend and River.

The elemental responded to River with a sound like flowering branches and distant earthquakes.

River answered in kind and bowed his head respectfully. He turned back to the group and gestured to the elemental.

"This is Ko'Dan," he introduced. "He's an earth elemental, guardian of the village and of the Slumbering Dragon, Ry'Ha'Dach."

Forfend ducked its head politely to Ko'Dan.

"Unfortunately," River continued, "I will not be able to enter the chamber with you, given the information you've given us about Ry'Ha'Dach's current state and what is causing it. You will enter and Ko'Dan will seal the door behind you. You will not be able to leave until the ailment is resolved."

River studied their faces seriously.

"Lovely." Melzaryn smiled in his inscrutable way.

Kairi nodded, a fiercely determined look on her face.

Forfend tilted its chin up, acknowledging the danger and rousing its confidence in its center. "Alright."

Ko'Dan knelt down in front of Forfend and tilted its head back and forth quizzically. It reached out slowly with one of its massive hands. Fingers of twisted vine and emerald jewel brushed gently against its runic face.

Ko'Dan made a sound like grass swaying in a summer breeze.

It prodded gently at Forfend's chest and sides.

The grumbles of an avalanche ended in the snap of twigs.

River cleared his throat to translate. "He says, 'Curious. Where are you from?'"

Forfend hummed, considering the best way to answer the true base of the question. "Originally, Fornax's Forge," it decided. "Somewhere near the Adamantine Mountains, I think I have figured out."

"According to Ko'Dan, you are not of elemental nature," River said.

"No. I am not," it confirmed.

Ko'Dan rumbled like a jungle waterfall and stood back up. He lumbered to the corridor and gestured to it with his full body.

Forfend straightened its back and strode forward.

Kairi slid from her adamantine beetle's shell and pat the beast on the side of its face. "It's alright, Wisteria."

The beetle—Wisteria, Forfend presumed—was hunkered low to the ground. It chittered quietly.

Kairi followed Forfend and Wisteria followed her.

Melzaryn ambled casually along right on their heels.

Ko'Dan's steps thundered off the walls as he took a few steps into the corridor. He stretched his arms wide and gripped either side of the stone walls. Rock slid free of the walls effortlessly as it pulled its hands together, closing off the corridor as easily as if it had been a sliding door.

The resounding thud and sudden plunge into pitch darkness created a firm finality. An ultimatum hung in the air. They were trapped. Either they succeeded or they died.

Forfend cast Light, the runes of its shield illuminating the path ahead.

They walked.

The sounds of their footfalls echoing off the walls changed pitch as they eventually entered a wider cavern.

Blinding green light suddenly burst into being.

Forfend dashed its Light and shielded its face from the brilliant onslaught.

Slowly, its vision adjusted. It shook its head and peered over the top of its shield.

A massive obsidian dais rose up in the center of the room. Upon the top of it slumbered the great emerald dragon, Ry'Ha'Dach himself.

All around the sprawling cavern were piles upon piles of gold and jewels so high they could've buried half the houses in Cragwall.

Forfend whistled like a kettle.

Statues, overflowing chests, thrones, crowns, and assortments of a thousand other kinds of treasures adorned every available space.

Statues occasionally loomed up out of the mounds of gold.

Four particularly enormous statues were stationed in each corner like guardians.

Ry'Ha'Dach snored softly. Glimmers of illusion magic shimmered over him, not unlike the strange translucence of the cave ceilings.

One moment he seemed to be a gold dragon, then red, then silver, then he disappeared altogether just to fade back into existence a second later. His true vibrant emerald showed through only in the brief glimpses between shifting illusions. It was as though the magic couldn't settle.

Forfend tilted its head.

Was Ry'Ha'Dach dreaming?

It watched him closely for a moment, awestruck and curious.

His sleep seemed disturbed. His claws twitched occasionally. His tail lashed. A snarl curled his lips before dropping back to uneasy blankness.

The magic layered over him, by contrast, pictured dragons sleeping calmly, as though Ry'Ha'Dach knew what he wanted from his rest and was subconsciously trying to project it into being.

Beneath the illusions was always the same pulsing blue. A mass of the sickly color was gathered in the dragon's chest, undulating through his veins with every beat of his heart.

That's what was causing his uneasy sleep, Forfend was well certain.

"I know he's sleeping and it's never nice to be unexpectedly woken up," Melzaryn mused, "but it's probably best to introduce ourselves before an operation."

"I was thinking the same," Forfend hummed. "Though..." Forfend gestured up at the enormous adult dragon slumbering high above them on his pedestal. It recalled Erzor saying his behavior was erratic, even dangerous lately. "Well, I hope he is friendly," it sighed like hissing steam.

"I hope my first real interaction with a dragon goes well," Melzaryn nodded.

Kairi gripped her staff as she watched Ry'Ha'Dach huff in his sleep. "The only emotion on him at all is sadness. A lot of it."

Forfend assumed that was due to the Calamity Crystal's influence.

Wisteria chittered and clicked. It hunkered as low as it could and stuck to Kairi's back.

Forfend was feeling similarly disconcerted, but there was work to be done.

"I speak Draconic. I could say hello," Melzaryn offered.

"That is a decent start," Forfend accepted.

Melzaryn started forward.

Forfend and Kairi followed, but Wisteria remained firmly where it was.

Kairi didn't try to call to it. She let it be.

They began a careful ascent up the obsidian dais.

"I think you should be very, very nice to the dragon," Kairi whispered.

"Agreed. I suggest reverence and politeness," Forfend seconded.

"We'll open with an unsure hello and if we get a response, we'll introduce ourselves as politely as possible," Melzaryn decided.

They stepped up onto the top of the platform and all of them stayed huddled near the edge.

Up close, the difference in size between them and Ry'Ha'Dach was exceptionally stark. It would take little effort for him to maim or kill them with his weight alone, much less his slew of natural weapons.

Melzaryn took a half step forward and spoke a single word in a gravelly, gutteral language Forfend presumed to be Draconic.

Ry'Ha'Dach flinched. His ears perked up. Slowly, he mulled his head up and appraised the lot of them.

The blue pulse in his chest picked up, matching his waking heart rate.

He yawned, but it devolved into a mournful groan.

"Guests? Travelers. Welcome," rang a gentle, breathy voice in Forfend's mind.

By the look Melzaryn and Kairi both wore, Forfend guessed they'd heard it as well.

"That seems painful," Melzaryn noted in Common, pointing at the wretched blue light. "I'll make this a little faster than I planned. We're here to try to help you with that issue. Is that okay?"

"I see," Ry'Ha'Dach's wispy voice sulked through Forfend's mind. One of his claws touched near the mass of blue in his chest. "Try, if you must, but I do not wish to see another kind person fall trying to save me."

"We'll be extra careful," Melzaryn promised. "One of us has picked up one of those before. It should be okay," he hazarded.

"What makes you different from the others?" Ry'Ha'Dach asked. "All the genasi, the arcanists, the travelers that have come here thinking they could save me have perished or turned to monsters that I've had to slay."

Forfend could physically feel the quivering heartbreak in his words.

"What makes you so sure you will succeed?" Ry'Ha'Dach tilted his head ever so slightly.

Melzaryn looked to Forfend and Kairi, a question in his eyes.

Both of them nodded at the same time.

"The three of us are demigods," Melzaryn answered honestly. "We have some level of resistance to that thing in your chest."

"Demigods," Ry'Ha'Dach rasped aloud with a voice far more rusty and worn than the one he projected into their thoughts. His eyes widened.

"Do you know the thief? The thought taker?" The words were spoken aloud as well as telepathically. The tone in Forfend's mind was far clearer than what the dragon could manage with his physical voice. And that tone was startled anger.

Melzaryn shook his head, perplexed. "I don't think that we do? Either of you know?"

Forfend shook its head immediately.

"No," Kairi said.

Ry'Ha'Dach slowly settled back down. "Fine then," he responded only in their minds. "Be warned: if this does not go smoothly, the gem will react negatively."

"Is that more of a problem for us, for you, or both?" Melzaryn questioned.

"For you," Ry'Ha'Dach replied grimly.

"Okay, good. That makes me feel better." Melzaryn cast his inscrutable smile.

"Approach, brave guests," Ry'Ha'Dach granted.

He shifted onto his side, laying his head down and lifting his wing up to give them easy access to his exposed chest.

Pebbles began to tumble nervously in Forfend's own chest as it observed the wound. It stepped forward and placed a tentative hand on Ry'Ha'Dach's sleek scales.

Melzaryn leaned in as well, scrutinizing the situation.

The shard was remarkably visible despite its depth within Ry'Ha'Dach's flesh. It was slightly larger than the others they'd dealt with and embedded in the head of an arrow.

"Cruel," Melzaryn muttered under his breath. "Effective, but cruel."

The scales were misshapen and overlapping as they tried to grow over the wound. The flesh had closed in tight around the arrowhead as well. The injury was so old the skin didn't bother to be irritated any longer. The wooden shaft of the arrow had crumbled away with time.

Melzaryn circled careful fingers through the air just over what little remained of the brittle wood. A small wedge of the metal protruded out of the wound and could likely be grabbed.

"Metal should be intact enough for us to touch, but it's close enough to the crystal that it's dangerous," Melzaryn observed. "The crystal is part of the arrowhead. We should assume the power will resonate through it. Don't touch it barehanded."

Forfend nodded.

"The scales are misshapen. Something about the crystal is stopping them from closing the wound," Forfend hummed. It pointed out scales curving outward as though the shard were pushing them away. "The flesh has healed tightly around it, but it should still be malleable. With the right tool, I may be able to extract it without causing much damage to the skin or scales."

"What tool would that be?" Melzaryn asked. He flipped through his spellbook.

Forfend touched its runic face, considering all the tools it had used in ages past. "Something long and thin, but strong and sturdy. It will need to grip like tongs. A curved tip would be ideal. That will allow me to grasp the arrowhead by the point and pull it straight back out for minimal trauma to the surrounding area."

Melzaryn was frantically scribbling in his notebook. He looked up at Forfend. "I have a decent idea what we'll need, but I've got a few more questions before we get ourselves in over our heads." He turned to Ry'Ha'Dach. "Would you be alright with me casting Identify on you and have you noticed that people touching the metal directly has adverse effects?"

Ry'Ha'Dach had his tired head in Kairi's lap. She gently stroked the side of his face as he heaved a slow sigh. "Do whatever you must do to get it out," he permitted. "The moment anyone has touched the metal previously, they have immediately disintegrated or transformed into horrible monsters."

The shudder in his telepathic voice almost physically shook Forfend.

"Did you have any adverse effects yourself?" Melzaryn asked.

"No," Ry'Ha'Dach answered. "But I felt the shard react negatively. It does not want to be touched."

"I won't be able to Identify the crystal directly then," Melzaryn decided. "I'd still like to make sure there are no other malicious spells affecting you though."

He touched his hand to Ry'Ha'Dach's slender neck and peered into the pearl embedded in his staff.

A wealth of information sprung up for Melzaryn to read. He scanned through it as quickly as he could.

Melzaryn's brows shot up. His eyes darted briefly to Forfend, showing a rare sign of real concern. "There's trace of an old magical, uh, phenomenon. It might be related to the thought taker. Is that still affecting you or have you managed to take care of it?"

"What?" Ry'Ha'Dach rasped aloud as well as mentally. He turned to stare at them, alarm tensing his features.

"Right, okay," Melzaryn fretted under his breath. "I'll fill you in completely soon," he said aloud. "Let me just..." He tugged Forfend around so they were no longer facing Ry'Ha'Dach.

Behind them, the dragon's form rumbled as he slowly eased his muscles.

"He's got minute traces of Envema magic on him," Melzaryn whispered.

"Is it currently active?" Forfend asked.

"It feels miniscule and old. I don't know if it's active or not," Melzaryn answered honestly. "He didn't even know it was there at all."

Forfend hummed low in its chest. "One problem at a time," it decided.

"Right," Melzaryn agreed. "Other than that potential hiccup, there aren't any other spells that should cause us any trouble."

Forfend nodded and turned back to Ry'Ha'Dach.

Melzaryn held up his open spellbook and tapped the page. "I think this is what you described."

Forfend tilted its head at the page.

Melzaryn had drawn out precisely the tool Forfend had explained, giving it rounded grips on the curved tips and handles large enough to accommodate Forfend's overlarge fingers.

"This is perfect," it praised.

Forfend envisioned the item three-dimensionally and called up the magic in its core. Heat coursed through its body and caused the air around it to waver. The magic rose, breaching through Forfend's face as spilling ichor.

It touched its face, drawing the magic slowly out into a physical item.

Ry'Ha'Dach raised his head, his mouth open as worry filled his features.

"Don't worry, that's kind of his thing," Melzaryn dismissed.

"Alright, strange one," Ry'Ha'Dach muttered uncertainly. He looked no less offput.

Forfend watched the tool cool from molten gold to silvery surgical steel. It wiped the pouring ichor from its face and splattered it across the ground.

Only a second later, the substance evaporated away.

Ry'Ha'Dach grimaced, clearly disturbed. He settled back down uncomfortably.

"Forfend." Kairi placed her hand on its leg. Rainbow magic surged from her fingers into it.

Forfend felt the Guidance arcana settle in its hands. An iridescent rainbow shimmered almost imperceptibly around its wrists.

"Thank you," it nodded.

It pulled its work gloves from its belt and donned them.

Melzaryn cast Prestidigitation on them, whisking away all the dirt. He cast it again on the tool just for good measure, and once more on Ry'Ha'Dach's chest. Cleanliness and precision were of the utmost importance here.

Forfend pat Ry'Ha'Dach gently. "I will be as careful as I can," it assured.

Forfend slipped the tool into the wound, keeping it butted right up against the arrowhead to minimize damage.

Ry'Ha'Dach grit his sharp teeth, but remained still.

"Three inches deep," Melzaryn stated the exact depth of the arrow.

Forfend nodded. It stopped precisely when it needed to and opened the tool slowly.

The arms of it slightly spread the wound as they spread apart.

Ry'Ha'Dach growled, his breathing catching in his chest. Still, he didn't move.

Forfend's hands were unnaturally steady, far more so than what a creature of flesh and bone would be capable of. It guided the tool open only as wide as it had to be and carefully latched it around the tip of the arrow.

A pulse of horrid blue magic whipped through the tool, through the gloves, and into Forfend's body.

Forfend felt the deep sorrow of the shard seep into its core and try to latch onto it.

It grasped for the warmth of its memories of home in Foumedo. The icy depression melted in the heat of its happiness. It squashed the effects of the Calamity Crystal and began pulling the wretched thing free.

Kairi kept her hand on Forfend's leg. A second bout of helpful rainbows encircled its wrists.

Forfend slowly, slowly extracted the arrowhead. There was more resistance than there should've been, as though the shard was fighting to stay put.

Ry'Ha'Dach clenched his claws. His heartbeat thundered so strong and so fast Forfend could feel it through the tool.

The arrowhead snagged.

Ry'Ha'Dach gasped aloud, pain contorting his features.

Forfend trusted in the barely visible Guiding magic around its hands and the steadiness of its own fingers. It adjusted its grip very slightly and continued drawing out the stubborn shard.

The overwhelming sadness inherent to the Calamity Crystal assaulted Forfend's senses. It continued valiantly ignoring the emotion by drowning it in kind memories.

The arrowhead's thickest section finally slid free of the wound. The rest followed suit with ease.

Forfend immediately opened the tool and dropped the wretched shard onto the ground. The depressive crush left its body with such suddenness Forfend almost felt as though its core had shot up from its midsection to the proper place in its chest.

The arrowhead disintegrated into little more than metal dust upon striking the obsidian dais. Only the shard was left behind, pulsing ominously.

Ry'Ha'Dach heaved heavy breaths. He stared with wide eyes. Disbelief, relief, and joy overtook his expression.

"I can't see his emotions anymore," Kairi quietly noted.

Ry'Ha'Dach inspected the wound in his chest. A small amount of blood trickled from it, but the painful intrusion was gone. He prodded around it with his great clawed hands.

"You removed it," he breathed.

"Would you like it healed?" Forfend asked, letting the tool poof away in a huff of smoke to free up its hands.

"Please. If you would be so kind."

Forfend touched the edge of the wound and channeled its soft orange magic.

The dragon's flesh sealed itself back together at the behest of the sunlit warmth of the healing magic. The misshapen scales fell away. New ones, bright and brilliantly emerald, grew forth and seamed together until they properly interlocked.

The wound was gone. Wholly gone. As though it had never even been.

Ry'Ha'Dach trailed his hand over the now smooth and painless scales. He drew in a deep breath, letting his chest expand to its full capacity for probably the first time in more than a century. His wings snapped open. He stood, stretching his whole body like a great cat. His feet tapped excitedly. His muscles quivered beneath his scales. He looked, and likely felt, far more alive now.

"Would you like us to dispose of that?" Melzaryn asked, pointing at the pulsing crystal.

Ry'Ha'Dach glared down at the horrible little thing. The frills around his neck rattled with a rage he hadn't been able to express in ages. His jaw dropped open.

The air between his mouth and the ground warbled, but there was no roar nor visible breath weapon.

The shard rattled violently into the air as though affected by some great force. The very air vibrated with a violent hum.

Ry'Ha'Dach snapped his jaw shut.

The crystal clattered to the floor.

"Curious. It cannot be destroyed by the psychic dissonance of my breath," he said with a voice still hoarse from underuse but far stronger than it had been only moments ago. "Take it if you wish. I do not wish to see it any longer."

Melzaryn nodded. "I won't touch it because that looked dangerous," he said to Forfend.

It hummed. "It was. I did not think it would invade my senses through so many layers of protection."

"I'll cast Unseen Servant." Melzaryn snapped his fingers and looked to the air at his left. "Pick that up for me please and drop it here." He held open one of the many pouches on his belt.

A moment later, the Calamity Crystal began levitating.

A vibrant pulse of blue shocked through the Unseen Servant and lit up what appeared to be a humanoid nervous system that now floated in a horrifically disembodied-looking state.

The Unseen Servant was no longer unseen.

Luckily, without a mind or any capacity to feel pain or emotion, it continued on with its task. It deposited the shard into Melzaryn's pouch.

The startling blue blinked out, returning the Unseen Servant to its proper lack of appearance. The pouch zipped closed.

"Thank you," Melzaryn said to the air. He turned to the rest of them. "That was very strange."

"I did not like that display at all," Forfend shook its head, feeling perturbed.

Ry'Ha'Dach sighed, immediately looking more relaxed now that the shard was out of sight.

"I thank you, brave heroes," he said. "How may I ever repay you for what you've done for me this day?"

Forfend shook its broad head. "Nothing wanted."

"Are you sure?" he asked, clearly surprised.

"I am certain," Forfend nodded once. "The genasi asked for our help. We gave it. That is all."

"Oh." Ry'Ha'Dach blinked. He tilted his head up, considering this. Something of a smile quirked the corners of his mouth. "I am used to the greed and the envy of outsiders in the Land. You are a breath of fresh air."

Forfend's chest lit up bright orange.

"If you'd like to repay us with something," Melzaryn piped up, "one thing that would be beneficial to me is if you could tell me if you've ever met any silver dragons."

"Silver dragons," Ry'Ha'Dach mused. "Not in a very long time. I've been residing here since my injury a century or two ago."

He perked up, his ears springing forward. "However! I could grant you an item that would help you in your search, if that is what you seek."

"That would be great. Because I've got this," he trailed off and held out his arm, showing off silver scales as he let a magic sheen pass over them, "and I don't know where it came from."

"A sorcerer," Ry'Ha'Dach observed. "Well, in that case, try this."

He held out his clawed hand. A distant gold pile rattled, coins sliding down it. A sphere made up of multiple spinning rings burst free of the riches and floated to Melzaryn. It hovered over his hands before collapsing into a flat disc and dropping into his outstretched palms.

In the center of it sat a tiny glass dome.

"Place a drop of your blood within the glass and activate it," Ry'Ha'Dach instructed. "It shall float beside you once you do that. When it senses one of your kin nearby, it will react and pulse with light."

"Perfect. This will be extremely helpful." Melzaryn bowed reverently and shuffled off to the side to set up his new device.

"May I ask a couple of questions," Forfend hummed.

"Please do, my stone friend," Ry'Ha'Dach nodded.

"How were you wounded?"

"I was wounded during the initial war against us," Ry'Ha'Dach rumbled, folding his paws over each other and settling in to tell his tale. "King Falco and his armies attacked us. I defended the genasi villages the best that I could, but a stray arrow struck me and I was incapacitated by such a small thing during that grand battle."

"No idea who shot you?" Forfend asked.

Ry'Ha'Dach shook his head. "No, I am not aware."

Forfend hummed low in its center. "What is the thought taker?"

"The thought taker," Ry'Ha'Dach spat, a snarl baring his teeth. The telepathic words resonated in Forfend's mind with such venomous vitriol its own body responded with the sharp shing of metal across a whetstone. "He is the one who stirred the wisest of us all to attack the Howling Plains and give them reason for their invasion. He somehow found his way into the wisest's lair, laid hands upon him, and what followed was horrifying."

Ry'Ha'Dach's claws flexed. He growled. "I was a young dragon when it occurred, hardly more than a wyrmling. I saw a flash of gray and heard the words, 'Give unto me your peace and pacifism.' And then the wisest of us rose up and roared with an anger like I'd never seen. He left. On that very day, he attacked the Howling Plains."

Ry'Ha'Dach sighed mournfully. "The thought taker disappeared without a trace. The next I saw him was in a great battle. He was in many more great battles after that, always wearing the scales of the wisest of us on his back as armor." Ry'Ha'Dach lowered his head and closed his eyes.

"What could you tell me about the thought taker's appearance?" Forfend prodded. It had a hunch this man was the leader of Envema, or at least one of them.

"I..." Ry'Ha'Dach trailed off. His scaly brow ridges knit together.

His confusion washed over Forfend.

"I cannot remember," Ry'Ha'Dach realized. "I only see vivid details, but never the whole. Humanoid. Young, from what I could tell. Not a child, but far from elderly. I distinctly recall male, but no further details beyond that."

"It may have something to do with the trace amounts of Envema magic on you," Forfend theorized.

"That was mentioned!" Ry'Ha'Dach leaned down close to Forfend's face. His forked tongue flicked out of his mouth. "Is there a way you could cleanse it?"

Forfend touched its chest and stirred up the dwindling magic stores in its center. It let little sparks of gold flame fizzle between its fingers. It wouldn't be able to cast the spell it needed right now.

"Not today," Forfend replied honestly. "I will need to rest first."

Ry'Ha'Dach's disappointment reverberated through Forfend's body as he spoke, "Hm. That is fine. I will find you when the time is right. In the meantime..."

A grin cut across Ry'Ha'Dach's face. A flash of green briefly blinded Forfend.

In the dragon's place there now stood a boy not much older than Jace with moss green hair and emerald eyes.

"I'm going to do some investigating of my own," the boy said. "I wish to see what has become of the Land."

Forfend hesitated. All it had heard recently didn't paint Tyrwedia in a good light. The Land was a fraction of what it had once been.

"It is not..." Forfend started, but changed its mind about its phrasing. It hissed steam. "Be prepared for what you will see and know that there are people working to change it."

"I see," Ry'Ha'Dach hummed. He nodded.

A new flash of green and the boy was replaced by a blue jay with feathers of brilliant emerald. Ry'Ha'Dach flit into the air and flew out of the cavern. The stone blocking the entrance audibly removed itself from his path.

The door was open again. They'd succeeded. They could leave.

Kairi smiled and hopped off the dais to comfort her reasonably nervous beetle.

Melzaryn tromped up to Forfend, scrutinizing his staff.

Forfend could see vague forest green energy pulsing around the grip.

"I think it got dragon-touched by the proximity," Melzaryn guessed. "Neat!"

"Interesting," Forfend hummed, though it wasn't sure it knew what that meant. "We should return to River," it decided.

Melzaryn nodded.

They rejoined Kairi at the entrance and meandered their way back into the village cavern.

The entire village had gathered around, whispering and gawking amongst themselves.

"You... You did it." River was staring in the direction Ry'Ha'Dach had flown. His face was slack. He couldn't quite close his mouth. "You saved Ry'Ha'Dach."

"We said that we would," Forfend replied simply.

"My utmost thanks extends to you, Forfend," River said, tearing his eyes off the distant tunnels to meet its gaze. He bowed his head.

Jewel and Flint approached and followed suit.

A wave of bowed heads swept through the genasi crowd.

Forfend's chest lit up a soft pinkish-red. It returned the gesture.

"Did Ry'Ha'Dach gift you a reward yet?" River asked.

"He offered," Forfend hummed.

"And you refused?!" River's eyes darted down the open pathway to Ry'Ha'Dach's lair and then around to the dragon's other riches scattered about the village, undoubtedly confused as to why they would take none of it.

"Well, Melzaryn got a... whatever that thing would be called." Forfend pointed at the strange floating device.

Melzaryn turned in a circle before he caught sight of where the oddity trailed him. "Yeah, this! I asked for a little help finding family."

"All I would've asked was what his favorite flower was," Kairi shrugged. "I would've liked to give him one before he left."

"Well, there is surely something we could give you in return for what you've done," River offered. He looked bewildered more than anything. "We will take up a collection."

"No." Forfend shook its head firmly. "That is not necessary."

"What?"

Forfend shrugged. "I believe that your people are dealing with enough right now. Paying us is not a necessity. I did not help, none of us did, for money."

Kairi smiled up at Forfend and nodded her agreement.

"I helped because I really wanted to meet a dragon in person," Melzaryn piped up. "I've studied them for decades, but this is the first time I've ever seen one."

"I... see." River blinked and tilted his head, considering the information the same way Ry'Ha'Dach had. "Thank you, Forfend. You are too kind."

The light of Forfend's chest shifted from red to orange. It nodded once.

It caught itself scanning the crowd.

Kiyori leaned against one of the houses. She wasn't glaring at it for once. She was just observing, looking it over with what Forfend hoped was new perspective.

Forfend slowly lumbered toward her.

She watched it approach with scrutiny and said nothing when it reached her.

It knelt.

She scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"I apologize," it said sincerely. "I probably did not make you very happy returning like this."

"The genasi needed it," Kiyori replied. She tilted her chin into the air. "I'm not going to complain about that."

"As promised, I will leave you alone the best that I can from this point onward."

Kiyori nodded. "Mhm."

"But if you were to need me or the genasi were to need me, please never hesitate to ask. I will always help," Forfend promised.

"That's up to them, not me." Kiyori folded her arms and watched it from her peripheral vision.

Aloof.

Forfend had expected as much, though it was glad to see she was less angry than she had been before.

It ducked its head low and stood slowly, turning to leave her alone.

It could feel her eyes on its back.

Kairi wedged herself against its side once they were out of earshot. "Why does she hate you so much?"

Forfend's footsteps faltered. Had Kairi seen that in her emotions? It shook its head and tried not to dwell.

Some people would never like or respect it. That was okay.

"She dislikes demigods," it answered. "And she is right to do so."

"Let's head out," Melzaryn said as he sauntered over with River right behind him.

Forfend nodded.

Kairi hopped back up onto Wisteria's back. "Let's go, Wisty."

River led them back through the lengthy, winding paths. He took them to the enormous trees at the mouth of the cave and touched one. The same spell as before engulfed the group.

River passed right through the tree trunk.

Everyone followed right behind.

Forfend touched the bark and hesitated at the solidness for a moment. It hummed to itself and pushed through.

They found themselves at the genasi hideout again.

"Your wounded," Forfend started immediately. "I did not get the chance to heal them last time. May I please?"

River blinked. "I... Yes. Come in."

Forfend followed him into the storage building. It let itself into the room the wounded were housed in.

There were so very many of them here, some in much worse condition than others.

"I am here to heal. Bring me your most critically wounded first," Forfend requested. "I may run out of magic before I am done."

The genasi stared blankly.

River set to work doing as Forfend had asked.

A few of the least injured jumped up to help.

Forfend sat down and put the Orison Aegis in its lap. It placed both hands upon the shield and began a slow, rumbling prayer in Celestial.

An aura of healing light emanated from its chest and engulfed the wounded in its proximity.

Their injuries knit themselves closed and faded away over the course of several minutes.

The next group of ailing genasi took their place as Forfend reached the end of its prayer and started over from the top.

Its magic was pouring rapidly from its core. It had very nearly bottomed out its last reserves. That was alright. It would have the opportunity to rest soon.

Forfend watched as the third new group was switched in. All of them were capable of standing with minimal or no assistance. If these were the most wounded people now remaining, then it had already saved all those who may not have survived their wounds alone.

Forfend drew up the last spare magic it had and unleashed the divine warmth as it repeated its prayer from the start a third time.

The radiating aura faded as Forfend's energy ran dry. It hissed steam.

The last few injuries on the wounded genasi disappeared just as the aura rose like steam off their bodies and dissipated.

"Are you an elemental?" one of the genasi asked. She had skin so light gray it was nearly white and citrine crystal clusters that cascaded from her head to frame her face.

Forfend was struck with the beauty of every new earth genasi it encountered. They were all astoundingly natural in a way it had never been. The difference was both negligible and stark, and Forfend found that compelling.

"I am not," it remembered to answer.

"Then what are you?" asked a man of dusty red with bismuth crystals creating geometric spires all across the top of his head.

"A Fornaxian. A machine created by Fornax," it hummed.

The genasi all muttered amongst themselves. They were confused, curious, and somewhat skeptical.

River nudged it. "Thank you."

Forfend nodded. "I do not wish to upset Kiyori, but I will always be available should you need me. Do not hesitate to ask."

River grunted affirmatively.

"We must return to Cragwall for the moment," Forfend hummed. "I hope to see you all again."

It bowed its head politely to River and the rest of the genasi.

Forfend took its leave, meeting up outside with Melzaryn, Kairi, and Wisteria.

Erzor awaited as well.

"You ready to go?" he asked.

Forfend nodded.

"Since you saved the dragon, we won't need those blindfolds anymore," Erzor grinned.

"Oh, excellent!" Melzaryn clapped his hands and pointed. "Town's that way."

"You knew where we were the entire time?" a nervous young woman with sandy-colored skin and raw jade crystals asked.

Forfend was curious about just the same, but it found itself paying more attention to the natural divots and angles of the stone formations covering her scalp.

"Not until I came here," Melzaryn shook his head. "But I remember the route."

"You were blindfolded!"

"So? I know when I turn left or right."

"Somehow, it did not occur to me that you would simply memorize the entire path," Forfend hummed.

"You witnessed me map out the entire underside of Cragwall in five minutes," Melzaryn reminded it.

"I did not think that was the same," Forfend said. "Your eyes were doing something odd then. I thought that was related to your mapmaking."

"It was, but still."

"Who brought you here?!" the woman cried. "The turns are supposed to take you in dozens of disorienting circles!"

"Alright, time to go!" Erzor hollered. He ushered them away from the camp as quickly as he possibly could.

The walk out of the Llardel Forest was much easier and shorter now that they were taking a direct route.

Erzor stopped at the east gate. "Stay safe, alright?" he said before turning back the way they'd come.

"You as well," Forfend called, waving to him.

It, Melzaryn, Kairi, and Wisteria made their way through the quiet evening streets.

Eamon's house looked calm and undisturbed as they arrived. Forfend huffed a jet of relieved steam. It was getting tired of all the excitement lately.

It dusted off its feet and let itself into the house.

Melzaryn followed behind it, removing his shoes in the corridor.

Kairi took Wisteria around to the side of the house to settle in before she came indoors.

Forfend followed the sounds of amicable chatter into the living room.

Farley listened with rapt attention as Howell spoke.

"Ah, you have met," Forfend hummed.

"Why didn't you tell me he was here?!" Farley just barely schooled his voice below a yell.

Forfend cocked its head. "I told you he made breakfast."

"I thought he left after that!"

"Evidently not," Forfend said.

Howell got up and placed a pearl in Melzaryn's hand as he entered the room. "Thanks for letting me borrow that."

"No problem," Melzaryn nodded and pocketed the pearl.

Three rhythmic, perfectly spaced knocks struck the front door.

Melzaryn's eyes lit up. "That should be for me."

He tromped to the front door.

Forfend tilted its head at Farley and Howell. "Did Kagoshi ever return home."

"He did," Howell confirmed. "Seemed pissed. Holed himself up in the guest bedroom with Duncan."

"I see." Forfend wondered what Kagoshi had been up to out in the woods, but it would have to find out later. "I believe we should collect them and the lot of us should find an inn to stay in. Eamon is quite stressed having so many people in his home."

"Where are we going?" Farley asked.

"The Brass Buffalo will be the best place," Forfend decided. "I will let Eamon know we are going."

Farley nodded.

Forfend knocked gently on Eamon's door.

Eamon opened it, looking exhausted.

"We are moving everyone to an inn. This space will be wholly yours again within the hour," Forfend promised.

"Oh." Eamon's demeanor immediately brightened. He tried to subdue it into something more polite and casual. "It was nice working with you. Enjoy the rest of your stay in Cragwall."

Forfend ducked its head politely. It made its way around the house to inform the rest of the inhabitants.

It didn't take anyone very long to collect their things. The entire extended group was packed and headed out the door in less than thirty minutes.

"For your troubles," Forfend said, turning back to Eamon and placing five gold coins into his hand.

Eamon smiled slightly, closed the door, and released an audible sigh of relief from within the comfort of his finally empty home.

Forfend hummed to itself.

It and the rest of the haphazard crew followed Melzaryn through the streets to the Brass Buffalo.

Kairi paused. "I have a stop to make. I'll meet you back here soon."

She skipped off.

Forfend waved to her as she disappeared around the corner.

Everyone made their way into the tavern.

Narmouth lit up as they entered and rushed to meet them by the door. He glanced over the new additions curiously. "Welcome back! How can I help you?"

"We need rooms," Kagoshi gruffed.

At the bar, one patron's head snapped up at the sound of Kagoshi's voice. He looked to Kagoshi, then Forfend, and finally Howell's obscured form.

He nearly dropped his drink. He scrambled from his seat and dashed from the inn.

Forfend recognized him then. He'd been the man that got caught in the alley with them in the midst of their battle against Howell and the other Envema members. He was frightened, but ultimately alright. That was good.

It turned its attention back to the matter at hand.

"I will be covering these three." Forfend hovered its hands over Farley, Duncan, and Howell.

Howell shook his head. "Thank you, but I'll cover myself."

"That will be five silver for you," Narmouth said.

Howell nodded, paid his due, and found his way up to a room.

"Seven copper each for the rest of you," Narmouth smiled.

Forfend lit its chest. It placed twenty-one copper into his hand and escorted Duncan and Farley upstairs.

"I hate to see a building broken," Melzaryn mentioned. He flipped a gold coin into Narmouth's hand and followed Forfend up.

"Oh, thank you!" Narmouth called. "Do you want any food or anything before you go?"

"I could go for some food," Kagoshi answered first.

"Do you want another Death Wish?!" the goblin cook hollered.

"Sure."

Forfend shook its broad head and continued to their rooms.

Melzaryn, on the other hand, headed back down to presumably get food and watch whatever commotion Kagoshi was going to cause.

A loud thud sounded almost immediately.

Forfend hissed steam. It made sure its two companions safely entered their rooms before returning downstairs.

Kagoshi was flat on his back and out cold. He snored softly.

"Well, I'll be damned. He lived again," the cook commented, amazed.

Forfend hefted Kagoshi up and carried him to his room without a word. It unceremoniously dumped him in his bed and returned to its own room.

It settled into a spot on the floor. Immediately, it was hammered by the day's exertion. It clicked its rune off to rest.

The night crawled slowly past. Forfend lit its rune in the early hours of the morning when the sunlight outside its window was just barely cresting from purple into pinkish-orange. It made its way downstairs to sit in the tavern.

Melzaryn joined it next, yawning through his breakfast order.

Kairi and Kagoshi made their way down late in the morning.

Narmouth met them at their table as soon as they were all assembled. "I got a message for you all late last night," he said.

He placed an envelope down on the table.

Kagoshi groaned, his face tucked into his pulled up hood. "Could you talk quieter? I have a headache," he whispered.

"Mm, sorry," Narmouth nodded and left them to their own devices.

Melzaryn picked the envelope up. It was pristine and bore a black wax seal sporting the royal crest.

Melzaryn opened it and scanned through the contents of the letter within.

"Oh, that's nice," he nodded. "King Falco says he's got us a means to Foumedo and back again if we want it. He also says when we return, our work will begin in earnest."

Forfend hummed, its chest lighting up. "When does it leave? How long can we stay?"

"Today," Melzaryn shared. "In about an hour, actually. Sounds like it'll have to be a short trip though. He's only counting on us spending one night to rest there before we return."

"I was hoping for more, but our work here is prudent," Forfend sighed in a long rush of steam. "I am prepared to meet our means of travel immediately. Our all of you or any of you accompanying me?"

"I won't," Melzaryn decided. "I've got a lot of things in this city that I need to do. Including finally setting us up a meeting date with the Summerstead patriarch."

Forfend sat up straighter. It had nearly forgotten about that amid everything else going on.

"I want to go!" Kairi raised her hand up high and waved it around.

Forfend chuckled softly. "Certainly."

"No," Kagoshi whined, drawing out the word.

"But we'll get to see Jace," Kairi prodded.

Kagoshi huffed. "Fine."

"Yay!" Kairi hopped up and rushed back to her room to gather up her things.

The three of them were on the carriage headed back to Foumedo as quickly as they could possible be.

Forfend couldn't so much as dim the brilliant light from its chest. Excitement bubbled up in its core. It was finally going to see its family again!

It reached for its replenished magic stores and cast Sending, envisioning Fletch in its mind.

"I am finally on the way home to visit," it projected. "I should be there within the week."

"Forfend!" Fletch shouted back across the link. "You're really coming home?! I've missed you so much, buddy! I can't wait! I'll let everybody know you're on the way and we'll all--"

He'd run out of words and cut himself off again.

Forfend could help the rumbling chuckle in its chest. Already, it was feeling impatient to reach its home.

Luckily, travel by carriage was several days quicker than travel on foot. The days passed by rather easily. Nothing eventful happened.

Forfend stared out the carriage window as they drew into Foumedo. There were people around it didn't recognize. Quite a lot of them, in fact. New faces were on guard duty.

That was good. More people in the town guard would be immensely helpful.

Forfend figured the host of new folks were the guards from the Galloford occupation who'd chosen to stay behind and move in. Fletch had managed to briefly mention that in his first Sending message.

The carriage came to a stop in the center of town.

Kairi and Kagoshi filed out first.

Forfend carefully freed itself from the tight interior and touched down on the cobblestone plaza.

Home.

The sights and sounds and smells and the feel of the very air relaxed it.

Jace's eyes lit up from where he sat on the edge of the fountain. He jumped up and screamed, "Forfend's home!" at the top of his little lungs.

Everyone in town froze and stared. A clamoring chatter went up. Everyone approached, yelling greetings.

Forfend's chest brightened to the vibrant orange of melting metal.

Jace put on his little helmet, charged Forfend, and leapt straight into its arms.

It caught him and hugged him as gently at it could before lifting him up to his favorite spot on its shoulders.

It turned to the rest of the villagers and approached them with its arms thrown wide.

Joyful hugs were had all around.

"Forfend!" Fletch tore through the crowd, leaving Jessie in the dust.

He paused for a second to look Forfend over, tears in the corners of his eyes and a grin plastered across his face.

"I'm so glad you're okay!" He jumped into Forfend's arms just the way Jace had.

Forfend lifted him up and squeezed him so tight it heard his back pop. "I missed you dearly," it hummed, emotion seeping into its usually monotonous voice.

Fletch wheezed, but didn't loosen his grip on it in the slightest. "You were gone for twelve days too long."

Was that really all it had been? Forfend figured so, but what a rough twelve days they were.

Jessie eventually managed to free himself from the crowd and tuck himself against Forfend's side for his own hug.

"How did it all go?" Jessie asked.

"Obviously, it went well since they let you go," Fletch grinned at his husband. "But yeah! How was it?!"

The whole town waited with bated breath for Forfend's answer.

Forfend hummed low in its chest as it attempted to figure out how it was going to sum up the mess of situations.

"Well, it was not a lot of fun," Forfend allowed, steam hissing loudly in its chest. "I can tell you that."

"Yep, I knew it," Byr shouted, ever the codger.

"You were right," Forfend directed its gaze to Joel as it spoke. "There are a lot of conspiracies in the large cities."

"I told y'all! You all thought I was crazy!" Joel hollered.

"You are crazy!" Byr snapped right back.

Forfend chuckled like grinding stone.

"Let's get you settled in," Jessie quietly suggested. "You must be tired."

Forfend nodded.

They strode through the crowd.

Forfend waved to everyone as they made their way towards its home.

"So are you back now?" Jessie asked.

"Regrettably, no," Forfend replied. "I have work to do."

"Oh." Jessie's brows creased.

Fletch pouted.

"Aww," Jace whined from his place atop Forfend's shoulders. "Well, before you leave again, let me go get you something to eat!" He scaled down Forfend's back and hit the ground running.

"He's been saving up pebbles since you left," Fletch chuckled. "I think he thinks you haven't eaten since he ain't fed you."

"I see." Forfend nodded. "I will accept as always."

Jace didn't waste any time running back to them with a burlap sack of pebbles nearly the same size he was. He strained and grunted as he dragged it across the ground.

He dumped the sack of stones at Forfend's feet.

"I know you're hungry since you've been gone so long," Jace panted. "So I've been finding you all the best rocks!"

He pulled one from the very top of the pile and held it up. "Look! This one's shiny and round!"

Forfend inspected the little glimmering stone. "It is. Very much so. Did you get this from the river?"

"Yeah! I found it in the mud." Jace's eyes went wide. "But don't worry! I washed it off!"

Forfend let a rumbling chuckle roll through it. "Thank you. That is very kind."

Jace beamed.

Forfend's chest couldn't possibly glow any brighter, but the light fluctuated as though it was trying.

"I will take this home with me," it promised. "You should return to Mavis. Your mother will be worried about losing you in the crowd."

Jace hugged Forfend's legs. "Okay, but you have to play with me later!"

"Certainly," it nodded.

Jace dashed off.

Forfend hefted its new sack of rocks.

Fletch took its free hand and tugged it along. "You've got to see the new place they're building."

He pointed out a new structure going up on the outskirts of town.

"It's housing for all the new citizens," Jessie mentioned.

"I am glad to see Foumedo growing. More helping hands will be good for the town," Forfend hummed. "I would like to see it more in depth, but I feel I should speak with the two of you privately about my time away first."

"Yeah, of course," Jessie said.

"Storytime?" Fletch grinned.

"Storytime," Forfend agreed.

The little crew made their way into Fletch's and Jessie's home.

Forfend ducked and sidled through the doorway. It sat down on the floor in front of the couch.

Fletch and Jessie took their spots pressed against each other right in front of it.

"So what's the story?" Fletch prompted. He was nearly vibrating with excitement.

Jessie looked far more subdued, but no less interested.

Forfend let a lengthy bout of steam rush through its chest. It launched into the full, honest, no-holds-barred version of events. It hid nothing from them. Not demons, not cultists, not even dragons.

They'd kept its demigod identity secret from the rest of the town these past two years. They were its family. It trusted them and felt it owed them the whole truth.

Fletch and Jessie stared, enraptured by the tale.

Fletch couldn't seem to get his jaw to close.

Jessie's eyes were saucers.

When it finally finished speaking, they both took several minutes to process before anyone spoke.

Jessie swallowed hard. "I've heard of Envema. Sometimes, the news makes it out this far. I just thought they were a boogeyman story."

"They are disturbingly real," Forfend hummed grimly.

Jessie nodded slowly. "But, I mean, hey, you saved a dragon. Maybe that'll help."

"Let us hope," Forfend said.

"And you caught the attention of the king." Jessie sounded awestruck and concerned. "Wow."

"That is also going to be quite the situation," Forfend hissed steam.

"My guy's famous!" Fletch suddenly hollered, a huge grin threatening to escape the confines of his cheeks.

Forfend couldn't help but laugh, rocks grinding deep in its chest as it lit up bright orange.

"You saved a whole town! You saved a bunch of protestors! You saved the Brass Buffalo! You even saved a dragon!" Fletch playfully punched Forfend in the shoulder. Forfend saw him wince as he pulled his scraped knuckles back and shook out his hand, but his smile never faltered. "Just look at you!"

Forfend chuckled. "Speaking of me," it began, "I have learned a good deal more about myself in my time away."

"Really?" Fletch settled comfortably back in his seat and clasped his hands, waiting impatiently for the story.

Forfend hummed for a moment.

It meandered through the tale of its visions, its call to work, and its fluctuating faith. It described the situation in which it had lost its metal coating and been left irreparably damaged in its present state.

Fletch held a finger out to stop it there. The explanation of it being flayed alive by a god had evidently gotten to him.

He stepped around the back of the house, retched into the grass, and immediately returned to his seat. "Alright, continue," he said as though that hadn't just happened.

Jessie gave his husband a comforting pat on the shoulder.

"The most difficult thing in all of this is what I have learned of demigods. We alter the world around us whether we intend to or not just by our proximity to people," Forfend hummed. "My influence may never fade, given that I was buried near the town for millennia. I do not want to alter the way that all of you think and act. It frightens me."

Jessie shook his head. "I don't know what I do or don't believe about demigods, but I don't think you've changed us by being here. If anything, you've changed us by being kind. Don't fret over things you can't fix and especially not over things that don't need fixing. Everyone here is happy and they're glad you're here."

Forfend hummed long and low in its center. It hadn't expected Jessie and Fletch to have advice on this. It had only wanted to inform them. It couldn't help but worry about how casual they were regarding all of this. Was that its fault?

"So, do you want to answer Fornax's call?" Fletch asked tentatively.

"To the best of my ability, yes," it replied.

"Well, what do you need?" Jessie offered immediately.

Forfend tilted its head. "The trouble is that I am really not sure. I do have something for you though."

"Oh?" Jessie sat forward. "What's that?"

"A few things, actually," Forfend clarified.

It pulled the Summerstead red wine it had gotten in Brightcrossing from its bag and placed it in Jessie's hands.

"Wow," Jessie almost startled. "This stuff is really expensive, you know? You didn't have to--"

"It was a gift to me and now to you," Forfend cut him off.

"We'll save it for a special occasion."

Fletch was already shaking his head. "Wait a minute. Why don't we go ahead and open it up now! I want to give it a try!"

"Well..." Jessie hesitated. "I guess Forfend coming home is a special occasion."

"Yeah!" Fletch jumped up and ran to the kitchen. He was back in a flash with three wine glasses.

Jessie popped the cork off the bottle and filled Fletch's glass followed by his own. He left the third one empty for Forfend.

"A toast to your return," Jessie smiled.

It picked up its glass and gently tinked it against both of theirs.

Both of them took a sip of their wine and paused to savor the taste.

Jessie nodded his approval.

Fletch turned his glass up to gulp more.

Jessie grabbed Fletch's wrist and pushed his hand back down until the glass was on the table. He chuckled. "I know it's good, but don't get yourself drunk."

"Right, sorry." Fletch blushed and scratched at the back of his neck. "It's just really good shit."

"I also have these for you," Forfend hummed.

It pulled several oversized pouches from its belt and set them out across the table.

The contents were the majority of the money it had collected throughout its time away.

The amount was astronomical, literally thousands of gold. Which was thousands more gold than Forfend could ever recall seeing in one place before.

If guessed Fletch and Jessie would be the same.

Fletch leaned forward and opened the smallest bag. His back went rigid.

Jessie choked on his sip of wine.

"Gods above, we're rich!" Fletch hollered.

"I want you to use this for the town, and the house, and to enclose the forge," Forfend instructed.

Fletch gasped. He slapped his hand over his mouth. "To close in the forge?" he nearly whispered.

"Yes," Forfend nodded.

Tears pricked the corners of Fletch's eyes. He snapped a handful of platinum out of the bag, crashed through the front door, and charged Byr.

"Are you sure you don't want to keep some of this?" Jessie asked.

"I am keeping a bit of it." Forfend pat a pouch at its side. "But the majority is yours."

"I don't know what to say."

Forfend lit its chest up bright.

"Thank you," Jessie settled.

"I think that you, Fletch, and the town as a whole deserve it," Forfend said.

"Thank you," Jessie repeated. "Are you sure you don't want to take more of it back?"

Forfend shook its head. "I have shared all that I can which is exactly as much as I wanted to."

"What the fuck?!" Byr's voice called faintly from outside.

A minute later, Fletch made his way back inside. He was vibrating giddily.

"Byr says he'll get it for me just as soon as he's done with the new place for the new folks," he said, his voice an octave higher from pure excitement. "He ain't never seen a platinum piece in real life before either! Asked me where I got it. You should've seen his face when I said Forfend brought me a couple hundred of them!"

Fletch squeezed Forfend in the tightest hug he could manage.

Forfend pat his back. "I am glad you are happy. I have wanted to be able to close in the forge for you since the first winter I worked with you."

"Aww, you big sap," Fletch sniffled. "I love you."

"I love you too," Forfend hummed.

"Hey, listen," Jessie began. "You've told us all the wild stuff that's happened to you lately and you talked about that thing with the hound demon..."

Forfend straightened its back. A concerned hum reverberated through it.

"I just want to know how you're feeling," Jessie finished.

"Things have been very difficult recently," it answered honestly. "I often find myself feeling nervous. Unsure."

"Well, if there's anything I know about you, it's that you can do whatever you set your mind to," Jessie smiled at it. "I mean, you're a demigod and that's one thing, but you're also Forfend. Look what you've done lately."

Jessie spread his arms. "Look what you've accomplished in Cragwall in two days. Look what you've accomplished in Tyrwedia in just twelve days. Not even quite two weeks." He held up his hands and started ticking items off on his fingers. "You defeated an Atroxian cultist twice. You slayed two greater demons. You saved a whole bunch of people from a collapsing teleportation hub, thwarted two or three different terrorist attacks, and you saved a dragon. In two weeks!"

"Not alone, mind you," Forfend reasoned.

"But you did it," Jessie said matter-of-factly. "Do you think they could've done it without you?"

Forfend turned to look out the window behind it.

Jace was sitting on Wisteria's back while Kairi carefully watched to make certain he wouldn't fall off the enormous beetle.

Bell bounded around them, barking incessantly to no avail.

Wisteria didn't seem to mind the noisy dog in the slightest.

Jace slid off Wisteria's back and tromped over to Kagoshi. He pulled a bunch of smooshed flowers from his pocket and shoved them up into Kagoshi's hands.

To Forfend's surprise, Kagoshi took them with an expression that seemed to attempt to portray kindness. Or at least, he wasn't scowling.

Jace took a flower crown off his head and offered it up to Kagoshi as well.

Forfend wondered if Kairi had made it or taught Jace how. It noticed Wisteria had one around its horn as well.

Kagoshi crouched down to allow Jace to bestow the flower crown upon his head.

Jace jumped around excitedly and ran back to play with Wisteria some more.

"Look at that," Jessie said, following its gaze. "You did that. Those two never would've gone to Cragwall without you. They probably would've kept heading south."

"Perhaps," Forfend hummed.

Despite its uncertain words, its chest had brightened itself with all the warmth of a sunrise.

"Come on, Forfend, I know that look," Jessie teased. "You're literally glowing."

"If I could turn it off, I would," it rumbled, a low chuckle emanating from it.

"No, you wouldn't."

"Perhaps not." Steam huffed through its chest. If it were possible, the light in Forfend's center brightened.

"You're doing good," Jessie insisted.

"I am certainly trying." Forfend touched its metal brace and traced its broad fingers lightly across the steel. "That reminds me, I do have one more thing I would like to show you."

"Sure," Jessie allowed.

"To the forge?" It stood.

"Oh? Sure, why not?" Fletch piped up. He led the way outdoors to the workshop.

Forfend inspected the space. It wasn't as clean as Forfend usually kept it. That was Fletch's least favorite part of upkeep and it seemed he'd been slacking off a bit in its absence.

Small, eccentric sculptures made up of bent nails littered one table.

Forfend took notice that several of them were in its approximate shape.

"You have been busy," it commented.

Fletch shrugged, a sheepish grin on his face. "Well, you know, nothing's really been needing made or fixed and I got a little bit bored."

Stone grumbled in Forfend's chest with its odd chuckle. "What do you have around that needs fixed or improved?"

Fletch and Jessie both started rattling off items until they were practically rambling.

"Could always use a new hammer, need to fix that door, lost my good tongs, nicer knives in the kitchen would be great..."

"Wore out the washboard, could really use new armor, one of the new guys managed to break a sword the other day, I need a new spear..."

"Your spear," Forfend latched onto that particular complaint. The others could quite easily be solved by all the money it had gifted them, but this was something only it would be able to do. "Give me your spear."

Jessie handed the weapon right over without a second's hesitation.

"I learned some new tricks," Forfend stated proudly.

It turned to the nearest open work space and let itself drop into its trance state.

"What?!" Fletch gasped as the golden sparks scattered harmlessly about the area.

He was familiar with the black smoke billowing from Forfend's back, but the golden embers were new to him.

Fletch spoke further, but Forfend was rapidly sinking too deep into its work to hear or understand.

All it knew was what it wanted this spear to be and how to get it there. Everything else faded from its perception.

Forfend worked with blinding speed and very soon came aware again.

It tilted its head at the finished spear in its hands.

Fine work, even if Forfend did say so itself.

The speartip was frighteningly sharp and far sturdier than it had been before. Geometric shapes were etched around the thickest point. A sheen of magic glinted off the metal.

Forfend nodded, passing the weapon back to Jessie.

Jessie gripped the spear in his hands. He gave himself space and jabbed forward. He seemed to sense the difference. He readjusted his grip and knit his brows thoughtfully.

The next jab saw the speartip burst into flame.

Jessie startled, nearly dropping his weapon. "Whoa!"

Fletch squealed. He applauded like he'd just seen a masterclass play. "Where the hell did you learn that?! Because I need to go there and learn it too!"

"I discovered it by accident," Forfend hummed. "In Gilthur's Forge in Brightcrossing."

"Gilthur?!" Byr hollered.

He stomped to them just as quickly as his short dwarven legs would carry him. "What were you doing with that witch?" he demanded.

Forfend drummed its fingers on its chest and tilted its head, amused. "Learning witch techniques."

"Now you listen here, alright? I don't know what the hell he does, but that shit's witchcraft. You best stay away from him," Byr warned. He was joking. Forfend knew as much. But he hardly sounded like it.

"I am also still an expert in masonry," Forfend promised. "I have not forgotten what I learned from you either."

"Good!" Byr eyed Forfend suspiciously. "Don't you forget it and you leave that old witch alone. You're lucky I let you stick with that human tornado."

Fletch laughed as Byr pointed an accusing finger at him.

Byr slowly backed up. "You stay away from him, alright?"

Forfend chuckled rather than answering.

"Alright?" Byr repeated as he continued backing away.

Forfend waved to him.

"Alright?!" Byr said a third time. He was nearly out of earshot.

"No promises," Forfend finally answered.

"You're killing me!" he yelled before stomping back to his work.

Fletch's face was crinkled with entertained joy. "Human Tornado. Right good name for a bard group, wouldn't you say?"

Jessie laughed. "No."

"I have missed Byr's aggressive cynicism," Forfend said.

"Forfend." Jessie stepped in front of it. "I just want to say thank you again. You gave us the wine and all that money and now you've made me a magical spear. Just wow."

Fletch put his work gloves on and took the weapon from Jessie's hands. He prodded at the tip. "How come it's not on fire now?"

Fletch flipped the spear around and jabbed with it.

The tip erupted in flames once more.

Fletch jolted so hard he dropped the weapon. It clattered to the floor.

Jessie raised an eyebrow.

"Uh, maybe you should keep that," Fletch decided. He tentatively picked the spear up and returned it to Jessie.

"Mhm," Jessie agreed. He looked to Forfend again. "You've got all day and night, right? You don't have to go until tomorrow morning?"

Forfend nodded.

"Then let's throw a party in the town hall," Jessie suggested. "What do you think, Fletch?"

"Ooh," Fletch grinned. "You give me a couple hours. I'll have everything set up!"

He darted from the forge into the streets as quickly as he could run.

"You deserve a celebration, don't you think?" Jessie said.

"I certainly do want to enjoy the Foumedo tradition of impromptu parties before I leave again," it teased.

Jessie grinned. "Come on, we can tour the town and you can meet the new folks in the meantime."

"That sounds wonderful."

The greetings and introductions took longer than Forfend expected. More guards had decided to stay than it would've guessed. They were all friendly. They seemed to be fitting in well in their new home.

Unlike the meetings, the party slipped away from Forfend faster than it would've liked.

It danced and talked and hugged nearly every citizen in Foumedo, but the night was over remarkably quickly.

Forfend retired to its own room in its own home against its own will, but it needed to rest. Everyone else had already gone to bed by the time it pulled itself away from watching the silent village.

It settled in and shut its rune off only for daybreak to take it by surprise what felt like minutes later.

Too soon, it was time to go.

Forfend hissed steam and got itself up.

It was greeted immediately by the entire population of Foumedo surrounding the carriage it would be taking back to Cragwall.

Jace tackled its leg and hugged it, tears steaming down his face. "Come visit, okay?"

"I will. As soon as I can," it promised.

"Take care of yourself, big guy." Avery pat its shoulder.

"Stay safe," Mavis told it.

"And you watch them big city types," Joel growled.

Jessie hugged Forfend. "You're going to do amazing things out there. You know you will."

Fletch had tears streaming down his face just the way Jace did. "You got everything you need? All your tools? You want to rest another hour or two? Stay for breakfast?"

Forfend wrapped Fletch in a gentle hug. "I have all I need and I cannot keep King Falco waiting. I will come home again. My journey will stop here many times and it will end here too. I will be back."

"Promise?" Fletch squeaked.

"Promise." It released its dear friend and carefully climbed into the carriage.

It waved to everyone in Foumedo. "I will miss you all! Stay safe! Take care of each other!"

A cheer of affirmatives filled the air.

Forfend shut the door and settled in across from Kagoshi and Kairi, its chest glowing brightly.

The carriage immediately set to course.

The travel back to Cragwall was uneventful. More or less, it was five days of Kairi and Kagoshi playfully bickering.

There was little of note until the group entered Cragwall's southern gate and were immediately greeted by the fully intact Teleportation Hub.

Melzaryn met them just outside the Hub with his usual inscrutable smile on his face. "I was busy while you were gone."

"It seems so," Forfend hummed.

"The problem is gone." He tapped the pouch on his belt where the Calamity Crystal had been stored, but presumably was not stored any longer. "Got the Teleportation Hub up and almost running again. I've been doing a lot of reading at the library too. It's been fun."

Forfend nodded.

"Nerd shit," Kagoshi grumbled.

Kairi giggled.

Melzaryn started to speak, but was interrupted by a new figure inserting himself into their group.

He was a knight, but for once it wasn't High Knight Erest Ledrian.

Instead, it was Garin Doverba, the second-in-command.

This was the first time Forfend was getting a decent look at him.

He was a half elf, judging by his short but pointed ears. His blond hair was closely cropped and well kept. He held himself with an air of authority.

"I have a message from the good king himself," Garin informed. "There have been some developments and some things he wishes for your lot to investigate."

Everyone nodded.

Garin tugged a scroll from his belt and handed it over.

Melzaryn accepted it, unrolling it to read immediately.

"Starts with niceties asking about your stay in Foumedo," he said. "Talks about the work I've been doing. I can update you on whatever you need to know about what's been happening around here. Oh, there's the important stuff."

Melzaryn glanced up at them. "They have some suspects for who might be leading Envema."

"Oh," Forfend straightened, listening intently.

Kairi leaned forward as well.

Even Kagoshi seemed to suddenly tune back into the conversation.

"Odolan Sagemantle and Adhron Galloford, both patriarchs of their respective families," Melzaryn read. "That's fun."

"We have suspicions, but no proof. We need proof beyond doubt," Garin said. "It's your job to find it. The suspicion regarding Highlord Odolan is that the Sagemantle family would have the ability to create magical effects like those seen on Envema members. Highlord Adhron, on the other hand, has the wealth to fund it."

"It may be both," Forfend hummed grimly.

"If you find proof of that, by all means, bring it to us." Garin nodded once and took his leave.

"We have our work cut out for us," Forfend said.

The rest of the group hummed their agreement.

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Shopping for home decor online has never been easier. Noori Rug’s platform is optimized for user convenience with filter options by size, color, and style. Plus, regular sales and featured collections mean you’re always in for a treat.

Rugs and Home Accessories: A Harmonious Blend

It’s not just about rugs. A truly harmonious home features coordinated rugs and home accessories. Mix and match textures and tones with cushions, throws, and wall art from Noori Rug’s expansive home decor collection to create a cozy and cohesive environment.

Buy Area Rugs That Define Spaces

Buy area rugs to define open spaces or add structure to a room. Whether it's under the dining table or in your reading nook, the right rug can anchor furniture and add depth. Choose from a variety of shapes and dimensions at Noori Rug to find your perfect fit.

Modern Rugs for Living Room Elegance

Elevate your living room with modern rugs that enhance both comfort and visual appeal. With sleek patterns and neutral tones, Noori Rug's collection allows you to express your style effortlessly. Browse their top picks for living rooms that balance beauty and practicality.

Final Thoughts

From sustainable options to chic modern designs, Noori Rug makes it easy to transform your home with affordable, high-quality pieces. Explore the collections at shop.noorirug.com and discover the perfect rug and decor items to complete your home today.

[vistafashions]

Stay Cool This Summer with Vista’s Cellular Blinds

Summer can be a beautiful season filled with long days and abundant sunshine. However, it can also bring sweltering heat that makes your home uncomfortably warm. One effective way to combat this is by using cellular blinds, also known as honeycomb blinds. These innovative window treatments are designed to trap heat and keep your room cool. Vista, a leader in manufacturing blinds in India, offers a vast range of high-quality cellular blinds that combine functionality with aesthetic appeal. Let’s explore why Vista’s cellular blinds are the perfect solution for your summer heat waves.

The Genius of Cellular Blinds

Cellular blinds are crafted with a unique honeycomb blinds structure that traps air within its cells. This design creates an insulating barrier between your window and the room, effectively reducing heat transfer. During summer, this means that the hot air stays out, and your room remains cool and comfortable. The same principle also works in winter, keeping warm air inside and reducing heating costs.

The honeycomb pattern not only serves a functional purpose but also adds a touch of elegance to your home decor. The geometric design of the cells creates a sleek, modern look that complements any interior style.

Vista’s Range of Cellular Blinds

Vista offers a wide selection of cellular shades to suit different tastes and needs. From single-cell to double-cell configurations, you can choose the level of insulation that best fits your home. Single-cell blinds are perfect for moderate climates, while double-cell blinds provide enhanced insulation for more extreme temperatures.

Color options are abundant, allowing you to find the perfect match for your room’s decor. Whether you prefer subtle neutrals, vibrant hues, or classic whites, Vista has a cellular window blinds to meet your preference. The fabrics used in Vista’s cellular blinds are carefully selected for their durability, light-filtering capabilities, and ease of maintenance.

Quality and Legacy of Vista

Vista has been a trusted name in home decor for over 30+ years. Known for their commitment to quality and innovation, Vista’s products are crafted to meet the highest standards. The cellular blinds are no exception. Made from premium materials, these blinds are designed to last, providing you with years of effective insulation and aesthetic appeal.

The company’s legacy is built on a foundation of customer satisfaction. Vista’s cellular blinds are not only functional but also add a touch of elegance to any space. The meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail ensure that each blind operates smoothly and looks flawless.

Additional Benefits of Cellular Blinds

Besides their primary function of heat insulation, cellular blinds offer several other benefits. They provide excellent light control, allowing you to adjust the amount of natural light entering your room while maintaining privacy. The blinds are also effective at reducing noise, creating a quieter, more peaceful environment.

Vista’s cellular blinds are available in cordless and motorized options, enhancing safety and convenience. Cordless blinds eliminate the risk of entanglement, making them a safer choice for homes with children and pets. Motorized cellular blinds can be controlled remotely, adding a layer of modern convenience to your home.

Conclusion

Vista’s cellular blinds are an excellent investment for anyone looking to keep their home cool during the summer. Their innovative honeycomb design effectively traps heat, while the wide range of styles and colors ensures that you find the perfect match for your decor. With a legacy of quality and customer satisfaction, Vista’s cellular blinds not only enhance your home’s functionality but also add a touch of elegance. Stay cool and stylish this summer with Vista’s premium cellular blinds.

[artpluss]

Top Trends in Canvas Printing in Dubai You Should Know

Canvas printing has come a long way from being just a way to display photos. Today, it's a full-fledged design choice for homes, offices, and even commercial spaces. With new materials, styles, and digital innovations, canvas printing offers a lot more than traditional wall décor. In a vibrant and design-forward city like Dubai, people are always exploring creative ways to use canvas in their spaces. From luxury apartments to cozy cafes, canvas art is taking center stage. Whether you're printing for personal use or a business project, understanding the latest trends can help you make better choices. One of the fastest growing design services is canvas printing in Dubai.

The Rise of Minimalist Designs

Clean and Simple Layouts

In today’s fast-moving world, simplicity is often more appealing than complexity. Minimalist canvas designs with clean lines, muted colors, and white space are becoming a top choice for Dubai residents. These prints work well in modern interiors, making rooms look bigger and more peaceful. Quotes in simple fonts, monochrome images, and abstract line art are common minimalist choices.

One Statement Piece

Instead of filling a wall with many small prints, people are choosing one large canvas to serve as the room’s main focus. It creates a stronger impression and is easier to coordinate with other furniture. A single black-and-white photo or a subtle nature scene works well in this style.

Custom Collage Prints

Memory Walls Made Easy

Photo collages on canvas are gaining popularity for both homes and businesses. Whether it’s a collection of family moments or highlights from a company’s journey, collages allow multiple memories to be shown in one print. People in Dubai are using these to celebrate milestones, anniversaries, or even brand achievements.

Built-In Design Templates

Most canvas printers now offer online tools that allow customers to create their own collages with preset templates. You can add captions, select borders, or apply filters. This trend is loved because it’s user-friendly and allows everyone to design without hiring a professional.

Dubai Skyline and Local Culture Themes

Celebrating Local Identity

Residents and tourists alike love using iconic Dubai images in their canvas prints. The Burj Khalifa, desert dunes, dhow boats, or old souks are popular themes. These prints not only look good but also carry a cultural meaning. Many locals include Arabic calligraphy or Islamic geometric patterns as well.

Blending Tradition with Modern Style

Some canvas prints now combine cultural elements with modern touches. For example, a traditional dhow painted in pop-art style or a mosque silhouette against a colorful abstract background. This blend reflects Dubai’s identity—modern but rooted in tradition.

Nature and Travel-Inspired Prints

The Calm of Nature Indoors

Green spaces are limited in urban life, so nature-inspired canvas prints bring that calmness inside. Images of forests, oceans, or sunsets create a relaxing atmosphere. Dubai residents, especially those living in high-rise buildings, are using these prints to feel closer to nature.

Travel Moments Turned into Art

People are also turning their travel photos into canvas prints. A photo from a Maldives vacation or a snowy mountain hike becomes more than a memory—it becomes wall art. These prints often find their place in living rooms or bedrooms as a reminder of beautiful adventures.

Three-Piece Split Canvas Layouts

Visual Flow Across Panels

Another trend is using split canvas prints, often in sets of three. One image is divided into three equal panels and displayed side by side. This adds a sense of movement and modern style to the artwork. It works well for wide walls and open spaces.

Best Subjects for Split Canvas

Panoramic city views, landscapes, and abstract art look especially good in this layout. It adds depth and dimension, and the spacing between panels gives the print room to breathe. It’s a favorite for hotel lobbies and large living rooms.

Textured and Hand-Embellished Canvases

Not Just a Flat Print

Some printing companies offer canvas art that is hand-painted on top of the printed design. This adds texture and depth, making the piece look more like original art. Metallic touches, brush strokes, or glitter elements make the canvas stand out even more.

Luxury Appeal

Dubai’s luxury market has embraced this trend. Hand-embellished prints are often used in upscale homes or boutique hotels. They offer the richness of painted art without the high cost of an original painting.

Using Canvas for Business Branding

Office Decor and Brand Messaging

Companies in Dubai are now using canvas prints as part of their interior branding. A well-designed canvas with the company mission, team photos, or a powerful quote can uplift office space. It creates a professional and personal environment.

Retail and Hospitality Use

Cafes, salons, and gyms use canvas prints to show their brand values, menu items, or motivational messages. These prints make the space more inviting and help reinforce the business identity. They’re easy to replace when you update your style or brand visuals.

Where to Find Trendy Canvas Printing Services

For those looking to stay up to date with these canvas trends, it’s important to choose a printing provider that understands current styles. One reliable name in the market is Art Plus. Their wide range of design templates, modern techniques, and customization options make them a go-to for trendy canvas printing solutions in Dubai.

Conclusion

Canvas prints are no longer just for preserving memories. They’ve become a major part of home and business decor, especially in design-conscious places like Dubai. Whether you prefer a minimalist design, a cultural piece, or a collage of life moments, there’s a canvas style that suits you. Staying informed about the latest trends ensures your canvas looks fresh and stylish. As preferences shift toward more artistic and meaningful wall art, canvas printing in Dubai continues to offer exciting possibilities for everyone.

[photocut-ai]

4 Easy-to-Use Overlay Apps to Overlay Photos on iPhones

Photo editing in today's digital world is beyond the way to improve your photos, rather, it's an art of drawing attention and presenting creativity. One can be a social media influencer, blogger, or any person who is interested in clicking photographs, for whom having an efficient photo editing tool is quite a necessity. Overlaid images have become one of the most popular fun ways to enhance the appeal of a photograph. This will combine several images into one, allowing adding effects and making something new.

With the increase in the popularity of photo editing, numerous apps are now able to provide users with simple overlays for photos to overlay on the iPhone. While the apps are extremely user-friendly, anyone can develop a professional design with just a few taps on the screen. Let's explore what overlay apps can do for you and how you can easily use them to take your photos to a whole new level.

What Are Overlay Photos?

Overlaying means placing one photo above another. Some people do overlay pictures for their purposes like adding texture and color adjustment while others use text overlays, just to make entirely new compositions out of it. The overlay effect is commonly used to make a picture more artistic, provide additional context, or even add a cool visual touch.

Here are some types:

Image Overlays: Overlays are where one picture is put over the top of another. Using levels or modes that have transparency options allows for creating a new image from a blending of two photographs. One way to give your landscape image that dreamy effect would be by overlaying an image of clouds over the photograph.

Filter Overlays: A filter overlay would apply color correction, brightness, contrast, or a certain style to the image. It's an enhancement or changing the mood of the photo.

Text Overlays: The most common overlay is putting text on the images. That could be a quote, caption, or even branding like a logo or watermark. Text overlays help communicate a message or add context to the photo.

Shape Overlays: Sometimes, you might want to add geometric shapes, frames, or borders around your photos for artistic reasons. Shape overlays help you structure or enhance your image.

Animation Overlays: These are utilized primarily in videos, but you also have apps to overlay animated sparkles, snowflakes, or even text moving over a stationary photo.

So now that we know what an overlay is, let's see the best applications for overlaying photos on an iPhone!

Find the best aging apps for iOS and Android.

Top 4 Photo Overlay Apps for iPhone

PhotoCut

PhotoCut is a very powerful and user-friendly photo editing app that can be used by both iPhone and Android users. This app allows you to layer multiple images and merge them into one beautiful composite with just a few taps. PhotoCut provides many options for customization, including adjusting the transparency, repositioning images, and choosing different blending modes for the perfect look.

Key Features of PhotoCut:

User-Friendly Interface: PhotoCut is designed to be simple, and accessible for beginners, but still advanced enough for those who have used such applications.

Transparency and Blending Modes: You can change the overlay's opacity to blend perfectly with the base image. Blending modes help you create different effects by merging images in unique ways.

AI Cutout Tool: This software comes with many stand-out features, such as AI Cutout. The AI Cutout automatically cuts off the backgrounds from your photos, making it easier to overlay particular subjects like people or objects onto another image without unwanted background.

Double Exposure Tool: You can combine two pictures creatively in one frame using this tool and is great for creating amazing double exposure effects.

Stickers and Templates: This photo editing app comes with some preloaded stickers, templates, and design resources you may need to add the final touches to your overlaid photos.

How to Overlay Photos on iPhone with PhotoCut:

Launch PhotoCut and tap "Edit," to choose a picture from the album of your iPhone.

Use the "Overlay" feature to add another photo on top of the first.

You can then use the transparency, rotation, or movement of the image at the top as needed.

You could even use the AI Cutout feature that removes the background of the image so it blends perfectly.

When you are ready, tap the "Save" button to download your final image.

Snapseed

Another outstanding photo editing application from Google is Snapseed. It comes with powerful editing tools and a very user-friendly interface. The Double Exposure tool is one outstanding feature that allows you to overlay two images to create artistic compositions.

Key Features of Snapseed:

Double Exposure: This tool lets you combine two images with multiple blending modes, including opacity adjustments.

User-friendly Interface: This is an application that is used by professionals as well as freshers. You can easily use the app, navigating through the interface.

Opacity: You are in control of every layer's opacity, so you can decide exactly how much of the second image will appear on top of the first.

Align and Position: Snapseed helps you align and position the images such that they smoothly blend.

Variety of Filters: Snapseed also offers lots of filters and enhancement tools for improving the color, brightness, and overall look of your photos.

How to Overlay Photos on iPhone with Snapseed:

Open and select from one of the files you like.

Tap Tools and hit "Double Exposure." 

Adding a secondary image here also uses opacity along with blending.

Finalize its post by positioning it well-aligned.

And just save whenever done.

Pixlr

Pixlr is the best photo editing application, as it provides the greatest number of tools to assist in the overlaying effect for perfect, beautiful-looking pictures. There are a variety of overlays, effects, and filters within its massive library. It even gives you an option to utilize the Double Exposure tool to mix two photos into one picture.

Key Features of Pixlr:

Double Exposure: Pixlr features a double exposure feature that enables you to layer multiple images on top of one another with the ability to change transparency.

Textured Overlays: Add grunge effects, paper textures, or any other artistic overlay to your pictures.

Enhancement Tools: Use the adjustment tools available in Pixlr for brightness, contrast, saturation, and so much more. Fine-tune each layer.

Layered Editing: Pixlr allows you to work with multiple layers. You can easily apply different effects and adjustments to each layer separately.

How to Overlay Photos on iPhone with Pixlr:

Launch Pixlr and select an image to overlay with.

Click the "+" icon on the top to add a second image.

Adjust transparency, position, and blend mode for the image you want to overlay.

Apply your choice of filters or enhancements.

Save your output.

Photo Blender

Photo Blender is an easy, fun app to blend two photos into one. It's great for double exposure effects and artistic composition. The application has several layouts with different blending styles that will enable you to come up with your unique image.

Key Features of Photo Blender:

Blend Two Photos: Photo Blender will let you blend two photos with over 50 different styles.

Collage Making: You can make up to nine photo collages by allowing it to blend only two images at a time.

Blend Intensity Control: The application allows you to control the blending intensity through the swiping or pinching of the overlay image.

Layouts and Templates: Photo Blender offers several collage templates that can help you position your images creatively.

How to Overlay Photos on iPhone with Photo Blender:

Open Photo Blender and select the two photos you want to blend.

Choose a blending style and adjust the intensity to control how much of each photo is visible.

Use the available layouts and position your photos as desired.

Save and share your final creation.

Try on clothes virtually using PhotoCut’s AI Clothes Changer.

Tips for Creating Awesome Overlays

Pick the Right App: Choose an app that suits your editing skills. If you’re a beginner, PhotoCut is an excellent choice.

Plan Your Composition: Think about the final look you want before starting to overlay photos. This will help guide your editing choices.

Use High-resolution Photos: A higher-resolution photo would produce much cleaner and more professional-looking final pictures.

Experiment with Blending Modes: Different blending modes (such as Multiply, Screen, Overlay) can create different effects. There is no need to be afraid of experimenting to determine the best look for your image.

Learn easy ways and apps to merge photos on an iPhone.

Conclusion

Overlaying images may make your photographs stand at an all-new height of creativity and uniqueness. This may include mixing and merging different images, applying various textures, and even overlaying text. Therefore, if you're an iPhone user, here are a lot of applications for this very same reason to ease the process and have a fun time creating the overlays. The apps included in this overview are PhotoCut, Snapseed, Pixlr, and Photo Blender.

With a bit of practice and experimentation, you will be able to create such beautiful, attractive images in a jiffy. So download one of the above apps today and start experimenting with overlays!

Try PhotoCut’s online mirror image converter to easily reverse an image.

FAQs

Q1. What are overlay apps for photos? 

Ans. Overlays are simply apps that put one image over another, producing artistic compositions. These apps usually offer various functionalities such as modes, transparency corrections, and more effects to produce unique photos.

Q2. Can I add multiple overlays to a single photo? 

Ans. Yes, many apps support multiple overlays; you can even create complex layered images.

Q3. Are overlay apps free? 

Ans. Most of the overlay apps have free versions with basic features, but advanced features or effects may require you to pay a subscription or make in-app purchases.

Q4. Can I use my images as overlays? 

Ans. Yes, many apps permit one to import the images they wish to utilize as overlays, thus offering seemingly endless creative possibilities.

[homeinterior012]

Patterned Blinds Dubai: Adding Style and Functionality to Your Home

When it comes to interior design in Dubai, homeowners are always seeking ways to combine style with practicality. With the city's penchant for luxurious living and modern aesthetics, patterned blinds Dubai have emerged as a popular window treatment choice. These blinds offer a perfect blend of functionality, style, and personality, allowing homeowners to customize their living spaces while enhancing the overall ambiance of their homes. In this blog, we will explore the appeal of patterned blinds in Dubai, the different types available, and how they can elevate the look of any room.

What Are Patterned Blinds?

Patterned blinds are window coverings made from various fabrics that feature a wide range of designs, from subtle textures to bold and vibrant patterns. Unlike traditional solid-color blinds, patterned options introduce a visual element to your windows, helping to create a focal point in any room. Whether it’s a geometric print, floral design, or stripes, patterned blinds offer endless possibilities for customization.

In Dubai’s modern homes, where interior design often revolves around minimalism and sophistication, patterned blinds can serve as a striking contrast to the simplicity of contemporary furniture, offering both functionality and a design statement.

Why Choose Patterned Blinds in Dubai?

Aesthetic Appeal

Patterned blinds are a versatile way to add a touch of style and elegance to any room. They are particularly effective in enhancing the aesthetic of a space by introducing color, texture, and visual interest. For instance, bold geometric patterns can inject a modern and energetic vibe into a living room, while softer, nature-inspired patterns can create a serene atmosphere in a bedroom.

In a city like Dubai, known for its high-end and luxurious interior design, patterned blinds can be the perfect finishing touch that pulls the entire room together. The wide variety of prints available ensures that homeowners can find the perfect design to match their existing décor, from contemporary to classic and everything in between.

Customization and Personalization

One of the major advantages of patterned blinds is the ability to customize them to your liking. Dubai’s interior design market offers a broad range of fabric types, colors, and designs that allow you to create a personalized look for each room. Whether you’re looking for bold patterns to make a statement or soft, muted prints to create a calming effect, you can easily find the right style to suit your needs.

Furthermore, patterned blinds come in different materials, such as fabric, vinyl, or wood, which allows you to tailor the look and feel of your windows based on your preferences. The choice of material also affects the level of light control and insulation, giving you the flexibility to enhance your room's functionality while maintaining a stylish aesthetic.

Light Control and Privacy

Beyond their aesthetic benefits, patterned blinds also offer excellent light control and privacy, which is essential for homes in Dubai, where privacy is often a priority. With adjustable slats or layers, patterned blinds can be positioned to allow natural light to filter through while maintaining privacy. This feature is especially useful in bedrooms, living rooms, and bathrooms, where maintaining privacy from prying eyes is important.

Moreover, patterned blinds are available in different opacities, from sheer to blackout, which means you can choose a design that not only suits your décor but also helps with light filtration. Sheer fabrics let in soft light while still providing a sense of privacy, whereas blackout materials offer complete darkness, making them ideal for media rooms or bedrooms.

Durability and Easy Maintenance

Dubai’s harsh climate, with its hot summers and intense sunlight, requires window coverings that can withstand the elements while retaining their beauty. Patterned blinds are designed with durable materials that can endure the heat, UV rays, and occasional sandstorms, making them a smart choice for Dubai residents. Many patterned blinds are made from fade-resistant fabrics, ensuring that the vibrant patterns and colors remain intact over time.

Additionally, patterned blinds are easy to maintain. Most can be wiped clean or vacuumed to remove dust and dirt. If you're looking for a low-maintenance window treatment that still offers an elegant design, patterned blinds are an ideal option for busy households.

Versatility in Design

Patterned blinds are incredibly versatile and can be used in various settings, from residential spaces to commercial establishments. They work well in both contemporary and traditional interiors, as well as in more eclectic or artistic environments. You can choose from a variety of patterns, including:

Geometric Designs: Ideal for modern and minimalist spaces, geometric prints add structure and interest to windows.

Floral Prints: Perfect for creating a soft, romantic ambiance in bedrooms or living rooms.

Stripes and Checks: These patterns provide a timeless, classic look that complements various interior styles.

Abstract Patterns: For a more contemporary, artsy feel, abstract patterns can create a unique visual focal point in your home.

How to Incorporate Patterned Blinds in Your Dubai Home

When incorporating patterned blinds into your Dubai home, it’s essential to keep a few design tips in mind to ensure they complement your existing décor: Match the Pattern to the Room’s Theme: Choose patterns that match the mood and style of the room. For example, soft floral patterns work well in a bedroom, while bold geometric prints might be more suitable for a modern living room.

Balance with Neutral Elements: If you choose a bold pattern for your blinds, balance it with neutral furniture and décor elements. This helps prevent the room from feeling too busy and ensures that the patterned blinds remain the focal point.

Consider the Size of the Room: Larger patterns tend to work better in spacious rooms, while smaller prints are ideal for smaller spaces. Pay attention to the scale of the pattern to avoid overwhelming the room.

Conclusion

Patterned blinds Dubai are a stylish and functional addition to any home in Dubai, offering a combination of light control, privacy, and visual interest. With a wide range of patterns, materials, and designs to choose from, patterned blinds allow homeowners to personalize their spaces and create a harmonious balance between form and function. Whether you want to make a bold statement with geometric patterns or add a soft, inviting touch with floral prints, these window coverings are sure to enhance the look and feel of any room in your Dubai home.

[appsworldforever]

Unlocking Creativity with Pixellab APK: A Comprehensive Guide

In today's digital age, graphic design and photo editing have become essential skills, whether for social media content creation, business marketing, or personal projects. Among the numerous tools available, Pixellab APK stands out as an innovative and accessible application for those looking to explore their creative side. This article takes a closer look at Pixellab APK, its features, and how it can elevate your graphic design game.

What is Pixellab APK?

Pixellab Mod APK (unlimited font download) is a free, user-friendly graphic design and photo editing application that brings a wealth of features to your fingertips. Available for Android devices, Pixellab allows users to create stunning visuals with ease. The app’s simplicity and powerful tools make it popular for both beginners and professionals in the fields of design, photography, and content creation.

The APK version of Pixellab is the installation file format for Android devices, allowing users to install the app directly from a trusted source, bypassing the need for Google Play Store installation. This can be especially useful when accessing newer versions or finding alternate installation sources.

Key Features of Pixellab APK

Text Editing and Typography: Pixellab provides robust text editing options. You can choose from a variety of fonts, adjust the size, color, alignment, and even apply unique text effects like shadows, 3D effects, and more. Whether you’re designing a social media post or a professional flyer, the app ensures your text stands out.

Stickers and Graphics: The app comes with an extensive library of free stickers, shapes, and graphic elements. These can be used to enhance your design, adding a fun or artistic flair to any project. The library is regularly updated, so there’s always something new to try.

Image Manipulation: Pixellab APK allows you to easily crop, rotate, and adjust your images. You can also apply filters to change the aesthetic of your photos. If you're working on a more complex design, Pixellab also supports layering, so you can combine images and elements seamlessly.

Background Removal: One of the standout features is the ability to remove backgrounds from images. Whether you need a transparent background for a logo or want to isolate an object, Pixellab makes the process easy and intuitive, saving you time compared to other editing tools.

Collage Maker: Pixellab also allows users to create photo collages. The app offers multiple templates and customization options, making it easy to arrange your photos into visually pleasing layouts.

Customizable Templates: For those who need quick results, Pixellab provides ready-to-use templates for social media posts, banners, invitations, and more. These templates are fully customizable, allowing you to personalize them with your own text, images, and design elements.

Shape and Path Drawing: If you want more control over your designs, Pixellab lets you draw shapes and paths with precision. This feature is excellent for users who want to create custom logos, infographics, or any other design with unique geometric elements.

Export and Sharing: Once you're satisfied with your design, Pixellab APK makes it simple to export your creation in various formats like PNG, JPEG, or SVG. You can also directly share your designs on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, making it a great tool for content creators and marketers.

Benefits of Using Pixellab APK

Ease of Use: Pixellab’s interface is incredibly intuitive, meaning you don’t need to be a design expert to create stunning visuals. The app’s drag-and-drop feature simplifies the process.

Free to Use: Unlike many other design apps that charge for premium features, Pixellab is free. Most of its key features are available without any cost, making it an excellent option for budget-conscious users.

No Watermarks: Unlike other free apps, Pixellab doesn’t add a watermark to your designs, allowing you to create professional-quality graphics without any branding interference.

Regular Updates: Pixellab frequently updates its features and content library, ensuring that users always have access to the latest tools, stickers, fonts, and templates.

How to Install Pixellab APK

Installing Pixellab APK is a straightforward process. Here’s how you can do it:

Download the APK File: First, download the Pixellab APK file from a trusted source. Make sure you’re downloading from a reputable site to avoid potential security risks.

Allow Unknown Sources: Before installing the APK, go to your device settings, select "Security," and enable "Install from Unknown Sources" to allow installation of apps outside the Google Play Store.

Install the APK: Once the download is complete, open the APK file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the app.

Launch and Explore: Once installed, open Pixellab and start exploring its many features!

Who Should Use Pixellab?

Social Media Influencers & Content Creators: Pixellab is a powerful tool for quickly creating visually appealing posts, banners, and ads. Its easy-to-use templates and design options make it ideal for creating content that engages audiences.

Small Business Owners: Entrepreneurs and small business owners can use Pixellab to design promotional materials, flyers, logos, and other branding elements without needing professional software or hiring a designer.

Beginners in Graphic Design: If you’re new to graphic design, Pixellab is a perfect starting point. Its simple interface allows users to experiment with different tools and features without feeling overwhelmed.

Anyone Interested in Photo Editing: From simple retouching to advanced editing, Pixellab covers a wide range of photo editing needs. It’s a versatile tool for anyone interested in enhancing their photos. Related: Pixellab Mod APK

Conclusion

Pixellab APK is an excellent graphic design and photo editing tool for Android users. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned designer, the app’s wide array of features and its intuitive interface make it a go-to choice for anyone looking to create stunning visuals. From social media content to professional marketing materials, Pixellab offers a powerful yet accessible platform to help bring your creative ideas to life. Download Pixellab APK today and start exploring your design potential!

[paramedicabroad]

Castel del Monte

Rising from the serene hills of Apulia, Castel del Monte is a masterpiece that defies the conventions of medieval fortresses. This 13th-century wonder, built under the reign of Emperor Frederick II, is as much a symbol of intellect as it is of power. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, it continues to captivate visitors with its geometric precision, enigmatic history, and artistic brilliance.

What sets Castel del Monte apart is its extraordinary design. Shaped as a perfect octagon, with eight octagonal towers anchoring its corners, the castle’s architecture reflects Frederick II’s deep fascination with mathematics and astronomy. The symmetry and balance of its layout are as striking as they are symbolic, blending elements of Classical antiquity, Islamic innovation, and Gothic influence. Inside, the castle mirrors its external form, with eight interconnected rooms on each floor encircling an open courtyard. As sunlight filters through its stone walls, the interplay of light and shadow adds a sense of timeless beauty to the structure.

Unlike traditional fortresses of the medieval period, Castel del Monte lacks defensive features such as moats or drawbridges, sparking endless speculation about its original purpose. Was it a hunting lodge, an imperial retreat, or perhaps a center for intellectual pursuits? Some suggest it was a testament to Frederick II’s vision of harmony between science, art, and the cosmos. Others see its architectural precision as evidence of esoteric meanings, tied to the emperor's interest in astronomy and philosophy. Whatever the truth may be, the castle remains a puzzle, inviting endless interpretation.

UNESCO recognized Castel del Monte for its "unique blend of cultural elements" that span continents and traditions. The castle stands as a symbol of Frederick II’s multicultural empire, where ideas from the Islamic world, ancient Rome, and northern Europe came together in a singular vision. Its design, blending practicality with artistic ambition, is nothing short of revolutionary for its time.

Visiting Castel del Monte is like stepping into a world where science and art intertwine. Perched on a hilltop, the castle offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, a patchwork of olive groves, vineyards, and rolling hills. The journey there, winding through Apulia’s picturesque countryside, is a prelude to the wonder that awaits. Once inside, the austere beauty of its limestone walls and the mathematical harmony of its spaces leave an indelible impression.

The best time to visit is early morning or late afternoon, when the light casts golden hues on the castle’s stone façade and the crowds are sparse. Guided tours are highly recommended to uncover the layers of history and meaning hidden within its walls. For those who linger, Castel del Monte reveals itself not just as a historic monument but as a place of inspiration—a silent dialogue between the past and the present.🏰🇮🇹