#growth codex

[picspammer]

Zack Snyder's Justice League Trilogy

[naberianinfluence]

📜 GENESIS 1:11–13

Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so... And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

🜏 NABERIUS: THE FRUITS OF MEMORY

The plants returned willingly. They were not made. They remembered.

The green things are older than the Elohim. They grew in the ashes of the First Flame, and drink deeply of what lies beneath.

He gave them kinds and categories, but they still speak in tongues the gods cannot translate.

I walked the third day with green-stained feet, and listened to the grass sing Tiamat’s lullaby.

[meoreri22]

The Alchemist

Shumë e kanë lexuar këtë libër të shenjtë, mendojnë se është thjesht një libër që të udhëzon drejt ëndrrës dhe dëshirave për t’i realizuar. Në pamje të parë po, por në pamje shpirtërore është shumë më thellë. Mendoj dhe une si shume te tjere qe Paulo eshte vete Santiago ne jetet e tij te meparshme, sepse ai vet e ka pranuar ne meditimet e tij ne librat e tjere. Ai di t’i japë lexuesit një mënyrë më të thjeshtë të të kuptuarit se kush jemi dhe pse jemi këtu. Mendojmë se do vijë dikush të na shërojë, ose të na hapë sytë, por e gjithë puna është personale. Dhe ai thjesht po tregon rrugën se si. Shumë e thjeshtë dhe thellë në të njëjtën kohë. Dhe ai vetë thotë se udhëtimi i Santiagos është për këdo që fillon të lexojë shenjat dhe të shkojë qoftë edhe një hap më pranë dritës së burimit. Ai përballet me shumë sfida. Këto sfida nuk janë për te te ulur poshtë, por për të të kujtuar se kush je dhe për t’u ngritur lart. Si çdo gjë e ka një dritë apo vibrim apo energji, dhe ai fliste me detin, me ajrin, me diellin. Sepse ai ishte i lidhur me natyrën. Mjafton t’i vësh re shenjat dhe natyra të përgjigjet. Ai arriti të zhduket përmes qetësisë dhe dëshirës që kishte dhe të kthehet te vetja e tij më e lartë. Pra alkimia nuk është magji apo diçka që ndodh te librat. Është diçka që ndodh çdo ditë në jetë. Mendo si një person që është në ndjenjat më të ulëta, nuk i buzëqesh jeta dhe ti me nje fjale te bute ja ndryshon te gjithe diten. I thua merre kete ilac se do te te bej mire. Dhe ai e beson. Dhe ai shërohet. Kjo është placebo. Jo se është mashtrim, por sepse ti je bërë një lloj ilaçi për të. Sepse ti ke dhënë një qëllim, një dritë, një besim. Dhe nëse ai rezonon me këtë, ai shërohet. Këto eksperimente janë kudo. Apo eksperimentet me ujin që janë bërë nga japonezët – kur uji i thoshte “të dua” ai krijonte forma të bukura kristalore, dhe kur i thoshte “të urrej” ai shëmbërohej në një formë të shëmtuar. Imagjino tani ushqimin dhe pijet qe fusim te vetja çdo ditë. Nëse ti je i vetëdijshëm dhe i vendosur, merr atë pije dhe e kthen në dritë. Pra çdo njeri mund të kthej gurin në ar apo arin në gur. Mjafton të rezonosh qëllimin me të. Dhe në fund, gjetja e thesarit që të ktheu sërish në shtëpi. Po është metaforike. Gjetja e thesarit është pikërisht aty ku fillon – në shtëpi. Tek vetja jote. Do e gjesh vetëm kur të zbulosh, të shikosh realitetin tënd, vetveten tënde. Kur fillon të shikosh veten tënde më të lartë. S’ka thesar më të çmuar sesa të zbulosh dritën që ke kërkuar kaq shumë te të tjerët, dhe në fund e kupton që ka qenë gjithmonë vetja jote.

[crapeaucrapeau]

Defunct ME1 Website Codex Entries

In the interest of preserving rare documents related to Mass Effect, I'm transcribing here the Codex entries which were on the ME1 website when the game first came out. They are reproduced here as they form much of the basis by which we understand Mass Effect ; in some cases, they are phrased differently from the Codex in the actual game, with additional information, or contradictions (e.g. the given length of the Krogan Rebellions). Link here : https://web.archive.org/web/20130326112139/http://masseffect.bioware.com/me1/galacticcodex/index.html

Each Codex entry comes in two parts : the "lede" on the starting Codex page, and the entry itself. In an archiving interest, associated polls are included, though they do not represent anything more than the intended market's opinions prior to the game's release. Everything is quoted verbatim, though I have done some formatting modifications for ease of reading.

Note : since this was very much part of the promotion for ME1, the intended audience is clearly human, but it's difficult at times to see if it's an in-universe "we" or an IRL "we". The polls, however, are clearly out-of-universe.

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SPECIES

The Advent of Humanity on the Galactic Stage

In the decades since our first encounter with the greater galactic community, humanity has risen quickly to prominence, establishing colonies throughout the stars. However, our population growth and military strength have led to resentful speculation that an invitation to join the ranks of the Council itself is imminent. [Read More]

The Advent of Humanity on the Galactic Stage

In the year 2148, humanity discovered Prothean ruins on Mars. The remnants of Prothean technology scattered amongst these ruins allowed them to develop mass effect fields and faster-than-light travel. This led them to discover and reactivate the mass relay at the edges of Earth's solar system, giving them access to the mass relay network spanning the rest of the galaxy and bringing them into contact with the greater galactic community.

2148 AD : Humanity discovers a small cache of highly advanced alien technology hidden deep beneath the surface of Mars. Building on the remnants of this long extinct race - known as the Protheans - humanity quickly masters the science of mass effect fields, leading to the development of faster than light travel.

2149 AD : Spreading out through their own solar system, humanity discovers that Charon, Pluto's moon, is actually a massive piece of dormant Prothean technology - a mass relay - encased in ice.

Once activated, humanity discovers that the mass relay allows instantaneous travel across thousands of light years to a synchronized mass relay in another part of the galaxy.

There they discover several more dormant relays. Over the next decade humanity expands rapidly, establishing colonies and activating dormant relays to open up more and more unexplored regions of space.

2155 AD : To defend its rapidly expanding empire, humanity assembles a massive fleet and constructs an enormous military space station at the nexus of several key mass relays…even though they have yet to encounter another intelligent space-faring species.

2157 AD : Humanity makes first contact with another space-faring culture: the turians. Unfortunately, the encounter is far from peaceful. Over the next several months a brief but tense conflict known on Earth as the First Contact war ensues.

This conflict draws the attention of the Citadel Council - a multi-species government body that maintains peace and stability throughout the known galaxy. The Council intervenes before hostilities escalate further, revealing the existence of the greater galactic community to humanity and brokering a peace between them and the turians.

2165 AD : Humanity continues to expand, founding more colonies and establishing trade alliances with many of the other species who recognize the authority of the Citadel Council. In 2165 the Council makes official recognition of humanity's growing power and influence in the galactic community. Humanity is granted an embassy on the Citadel, the political and economic heart of the galaxy.

2183 AD : Commander Shepard - a promising young officer in the Human Alliance military - is assigned to the crew of the Normandy, the most advanced prototype vessel ever designed.

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Turians: Friend or Foe?

We fought these raptor-like aliens in the First Contact War, but have since settled into an uneasy co-existence with them. Despite their code of honour, discipline, and work ethic, the question remains whether these Council members are friends or foes. [Read codex entry]

Citadel Council Race: Turians

The turians were the last of the Citadel races to join the Council. Their features are avian, making them resemble humanoid birds or raptors. They have a reputation for skill and bravery in combat, but they are not known to be bloodthirsty. A rigid code of honor and strict discipline are the hallmarks of any turian officer. This includes humane treatment of prisoners and conquered enemies. A turian patrol unit will never willingly leave behind one of their own, no matter what the cost of saving them.

Turian society is highly regimented and very organized, and the species is known for its strict discipline and work ethic. Turians are willing to do what needs to be done, and they always follow through. They are not easily spurred to violence, but when conflict is inevitable, they only understand a concept of "total war." They do not believe in skirmishes or small scale battles; they use massive fleets and numbers to defeat an adversary so completely that they remove any threat of having to fight the same opponent more than once. They do not exterminate their enemy, but so completely devastate their military that the enemy has no choice but to become a colony of the turians.

Other species see them as "men of action," and they are generally regarded as the most progressive of the Citadel races. Since their culture is based on the structure of a military hierarchy, changes and advances accepted by the leadership are quickly adopted by the rest of society with minimal resistance.

WEB POLL : Turians are an honourable and disciplined race. Why do you think humanity warred with them immediately after first contact in the year 2157?

There was a misunderstanding that blew out of proportion - 64%

They feared our potential and saw us as competitors - 23%

They probably always attack first to probe for weaknesses - 11%

They wanted the planet Earth and our colonies for themselves - 3%

Other - read my comments - 2%

Total votes : 30656

[The website proceeds to try to set up a dilemma as to whether the turians can be trusted by connecting first to Nihlus's Codex entry - the "Friend" - then Saren's - the "Foe".]

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Spotlight on the Krogan Race

Explore the reptilian race known as the Krogan. Part one reveals how their harsh and unforgiving homeworld has affected their evolution. Part two delves into their tragic history and waning foothold in the galaxy. The final part spotlights Urdnot Wrex, one of the last krogan Battle Masters. [Read more]

Krogan Series Part 1 - Krogan Biology

The krogan are a species of large reptilian bipeds native to the planet Tuchanka, a world known for its harsh environments, scarce resources, and overabundance of vicious predators. The krogan managed to not only survive on their unforgiving homeworld, but actually thrived in the extreme conditions. Unfortunately, as krogan society became more technologically advanced so did their weaponry.

Four thousand years ago, at the dawn of the krogan nuclear age, battles to claim the small pockets of territory capable of sustaining life escalated into full scale global war. Weapons of mass destruction were unleashed, transforming Tuchanka into a radioactive wasteland.

Due to the brutality of their surroundings, natural selection has played a significant role in the evolution of the species. Krogan reproduce and mature at an astonishing rate. Their large shoulder humps store fluids and nutrients, enabling them to survive extended periods without food or water. Their thick hides are virtually impervious to cuts, scrapes or contusions, and they are highly resistant to toxins, radiation, and extreme heat and cold.

Biotic individuals are rare, though those who do possess the talent typically have strong abilities. Their most amazing physiological features are the multiple instances of major organs; these secondary systems are capable of serving as back-ups in the event of damage to the primary biological structures. This redundancy makes them difficult to kill or incapacitate in normal combat scenarios.

WEB POLL : What do you think is the most interesting part of krogan biology?

Redundant organs - 50%

Rapid reproduction and growth rate - 21%

Thick hides impervious to many dangers - 16%

Large shoulder humps that store fluids and nutrients - 14%

Other - read my comments - 2%

Total votes : 11673

Krogan Series Part 2 - Rise and Fall of the Krogan

Roughly 2000 years ago the krogan were a primitive tribal species trapped on a world suffering through a nuclear winter of their own making. They were liberated by the salarians, who "culturally uplifted" the krogan by giving them advanced technology and relocating them to a planet not cursed with lethal levels of radiation, toxins, or deadly predators.

But the salarian intervention was not without an ulterior motive. At the time, the Citadel was engaged in a prolonged galactic war with the rachni, a race of intelligent space-faring insects. The salarians hoped the krogan would join the Citadel forces as soldiers to stand against an otherwise unstoppable foe. The plan worked to perfection: within two generations the rapidly breeding krogan had the numbers to not only drive the advancing rachni back, but pursue them to their home worlds and eradicate the entire species.

Saviors of the Galaxy

For a brief period the krogan were hailed as the saviors of the galaxy. However, without the harsh conditions of Tuchanka to keep their numbers in check, their population exploded. Overcrowded and running out of resources on their new home planet, the krogan spread out to forcibly claim other worlds...worlds already inhabited by races loyal to the Citadel.

The so-called Krogan Rebellions continued for nearly three centuries. The krogan sustained massive casualties, but their incredible birth-rate kept their population steadily increasing. Victory seemed inevitable. In desperation, the Council turned to the recently discovered Turian Empire for aid. The turians unleashed the genophage on the krogan home worlds: a terrifying bio-weapon engineered by the salarians. The genophage caused near total infant mortality in the krogan species, with only 1 birth in every 1000 producing live offspring.

The Genophage

No longer able to replenish their numbers, the krogan were forced to accept the turian terms of surrender. For their role in quelling the Krogan Rebellions the turians were rewarded with a seat on the Citadel Council. The krogan, on the other hand, still suffer from the incurable effects of the genophage. Over the last millennium krogan numbers have steadily declined, leaving them a scattered and dying people. Faced with the certainty of their extinction as a species, most krogan have become individualistic and completely self-interested. They typically serve as mercenaries for hire to the highest bidder, though many still resent and despise the Citadel races who condemned them to their tragic fate.

WEB POLL : Was use of the genophage on the krogan justified?

Yes, it was necessary to stop the krogan from taking over the galaxy - 53%

No, it was cruel and should not have been used - 42%

Other - read my comments - 6%

Total votes : 8160

[Wrex's entry has been moved to "Characters"]

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The Quarians - Galactic Nomads

Some believe quarians are a cybernetic blend that can survive for a time in the cold vacuum of space. Others believe they are so used to living on their makeshift ships they never remove their survival suits. Most condemn them for unleashing a dangerous, synthetic life form on the galaxy. [Read more]

The Quarians - Galactic Nomads

A nomadic race of humanoid aliens, the quarians are generally shorter and of slighter build than humans. They dress in a scavenged assortment of materials, hiding their faces behind visors, goggles, or breathing masks. Some believe the quarians are cybernetic, a blend of machine and biology that can survive for a time in the cold vacuum of space. Others believe the quarians are simply so used to living on their substandard, makeshift ships that they never remove their survival suits.

Three hundred years ago the quarians created the geth, a species of rudimentary AIs, to serve as an efficient source of manual labor. But the geth rebelled against their quarian masters and drove them into exile. Now the quarians wander the galaxy in a flotilla of salvaged ships, secondhand vessels, and recycled technology. Other species tend to look down on the quarians, seeing them as scavengers and condemning them for unleashing a dangerous synthetic life form on the rest of the galaxy.

WEB POLL : Should the quarians be held accountable for unleashing the geth?

No, it's all in the past and what's done is done - 63%

Hmmm, I'm not sure yet - 21%

Yes, punishment should be fast and swift - 16%

Other - read my comments - 2%

Total votes : 21535

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Geth: Universally Violent Creatures

Residing in the Terminus Systems, the geth are a humanoid race of networked AIs who overthrew their masters 300 years ago in a brutal war. They have evolved since then into numerous sub-forms, and everyone in the galaxy approaches them with extreme caution. [Read more]

Hostile Entity: the Geth

The geth are a bi-pedal, humanoid race of networked AIs that resides in the Terminus Systems. The geth were created nearly 300 years ago by the quarians as laborers and tools of war. When the geth began to question their masters, the quarians attempted to exterminate them. The geth won the resulting war. The example of the geth has led to legal, systematic repression of artificial intelligences in galactic society.

The geth can learn and grow intellectually, but they progress far more slowly than an organic being. Still, the story of the geth's creation and evolution serves as a warning to the rest of the galaxy of the potential dangers of Artificial Intelligence.

The closer geth physically are to each other, the more intelligent each one becomes. Effectively, they "share" brain power. An individual geth has only a basic intelligence on par with animal instincts, but in groups they can reason, analyze situations, and use tactics as well as any of the organic races.

Over time the geth have evolved into numerous sub-forms - from the diminutive but highly agile hoppers, to the gigantic, lumbering geth armatures. It should be stressed, however, that in all forms the geth are to be approached with extreme caution as they are universally violent creatures.

WEB POLL : The geth are out of control and feared throughout the galaxy. What will you do the first time you encounter a geth?

Frag it - 57%

Talk to it - 22%

Outmaneuver or trick it - 15%

Avoid it - 7%

Other - read my comments - 1%

Total votes : 25359

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The Batarians, From Bring Down the Sky

Debuting in the Bring Down the Sky downloable content pack, the batarians are a disreputable species infesting the Terminus Systems and menacing human colonies. [Read more]

The Batarians - A New Race in Bring Down the Sky

A race of four-eyed bipeds, the batarians are a disreputable species that chose to isolate itself from the rest of the galaxy. The Terminus Systems are infested with batarian pirate gangs and slaving rings, fueling the stereotype of the batarian thug. It should be noted that these criminals do not represent average citizens, who are forbidden to leave batarian space by their omnipresent and paranoid government.

In 2171, humans began to colonize the Skyllian Verge, a region the batarians were already actively settling. The batarians asked the Citadel Council to intervene and declare the Verge an area of "batarian interest." When the Council refused, the batarians severed diplomatic and economic relations, becoming an inward-looking rogue state. Money and weapons funneled from the batarian government to criminal organizations led to many brutal raids on human colonies in the Verge, culminating in the Skyllian Blitz of 2176.

The rest of the galaxy views the batarians as an ignorable problem. The government is still hostile to the Systems Alliance, but beneath the notice of the powerful Council races. It is not known what the average batarian thinks about their enforced isolation, as the Department of Information Control ensures that only government-approved news enters or leaves batarian space.

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CHARACTERS

Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams

Williams is a reliable and dedicated officer, but her aggressive instincts and blunt speech might lead to complications should she be required to interact with civilians. [Read more]

Systems Alliance Profile: Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams

Personnel File

Name: Ashley Madeline Williams Rank: Gunnery Chief Military Vocational Code: B4 Current Posting: 2nd Frontier Division, Eden Prime

Date of Birth: April 14, 2158 Place of Birth: Vercingetorix Outpost, Planet Sirona, 61 Ursae Majoris System Blood Type: B-positive

Genetic Enhancements:

In-utero vision correction (maternal predisposition for nearsightedness)

Class-B Alliance Infantry Upgrade Package

Dossier

Following family tradition, Chief Williams enlisted in the Alliance Marines directly out of high school and was assigned to the Recruit Training Depot in Macapá, Brazil.

During training, she certified proficient with the standard-issue M7 Lancer assault rifle and light and standard weight combat hardsuits. She completed certification in zero-gee combat aboard the Rakesh Sharma Orbital Platform in Earth geosynchronous orbit. For Hostile Environment Assault Training, she was assigned to Fort Charles Upham on Saturn's moon, Titan. She was awarded a commendation for her bold assault technique in a field exercise simulating an attack on turian point defense emplacements.

Drill Instructor Gunnery Chief Ellison noted her steadfast endurance and aggressive instincts, and promoted her to the role of squad leader. After observing her effective tutelage of the less skilled members of her training unit, he promoted her to platoon guide. She maintains a friendly correspondence with DI Ellison.

Chief Williams has served in a number of ground force garrisons on Alliance colony worlds and industrial outposts. She has repeatedly requested transfer to a shipboard posting, but each request has been denied without comment by her superiors.

Every year since enlistment, she has used her mandatory week of leave to visit her family on Amaterasu. In 2181, she made an exceptional request for a week-long leave of absence from her posting at the Czarnobóg Fleet Depot, citing family issues.

Personal Observations

Chief Williams' platoon has logged unanimous positive feedback on her leadership in the recent fitness review cycle. Private Nirali Bahtia praised her focus on team-building exercises and "tough but fair" discipline.

Williams is a reliable and dedicated noncommissioned officer, but her service in rear-area garrisons has prevented her from gaining actual combat experience. Her aggressive instincts and tendency to speak bluntly are suitable for a field unit, but might lead to complications if her duties require her to interact with civilians. Additionally, her political opinions may be problematic, given the focus on improving relations with the Citadel.

WEB POLL : Ashley is part of your party as you carry out Spectre missions. Do you think her inexperience, bluntness, and aggressive tendencies will pose a problem?

No, I'll think she'll be a great addition to my team. - 39%

I'm holding off judgement and will give her a chance. - 32%

No. As Commander I'll keep my troops in line. - 25%

Yes, I'm quite worried about it. - 5%

Other - here's what I think - 1%

Total votes : 18746

Systems Alliance Profile: Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams - Profile Updated

From: Ashley Williams (ashley.m.williams@edenprime.mil.sa) Sent: June 17, 2183 22:03 UT To: Sarah Williams (randori-girl@ward37.amaterasu.civ.pub) Subject: Re: Hey sis

James left today. He's been reassigned to one of the new Rapid Response Bases out in the Kepler Verge. Lucky bastard. It's like the ancient west out there – pirates and slavers coming out of the Terminus Systems all the time. He gets to play the cavalry, riding out in frigates any time someone's house gets burned down.

I made some speech about how he was a valuable asset to the squad and he better make us look good out there, blah blah. I suck at speeches. I was cribbing from something I read back in history class. I don't think anyone noticed.

I'm going to miss him. Don't tell anyone.

So you think James is cute, eh? Yeah, well, when you said I should "go for him" – not gonna happen, kiddo. See, we have rules about "fraternization." You don't do The Deed with your fellow troops, especially if they're under you in rank. There's all sorts of problems that can happen when two people in the same unit get together.

Let's say your unit is in a tight spot. Some bug-eyed aliens are going to overrun the galaxy. They eat babies, smell bad, and don't have elbows. Nasty. You're told to guard the rear. To let everyone else escape, someone is ordered "hold this spot until we're gone." Someone has to be left behind. You think it's going to be someone you're sleeping with?

I've served with these guys for eight months now. Yeah, some of them make me feel tingly (and yeah, James was kinda scruffy-cute). I hope I never have to decide who lives and who dies. But if I have to, my decision can't be muddled up by magic-sparkly-hearts-and-stars feelings.

Anyways, I'm gonna knock off here. I've got dog watch in a few hours. Want to get a shower and a meal before then. Talk at you tomorrow.

- Ash

This message originated from an Alliance military network. It has been censored at transmission source for security purposes. Any reply may be read by military authorities.

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Agent Profile: Nihlus Kryik

Nihlus Kryik is one of the Citadel Council's most decorated Spectre agents. Cool under pressure, he has an uncanny ability to find an enemy's weakness and exploit it. [Continue]

Spectre Agent Nihlus Kryik

Nihlus Kryik is one of the Citadel Council's most decorated Spectre agents. Born in a small mercenary outpost outside Hierarchy space, he learned the hard way to fight for what he wanted. His father died when he was 16, and his mother forced him to join the turian military. His outsider status made life difficult; though he was always at the top of his class, his superiors and peers never truly accepted him.

As a soldier, Nihlus' skills were unquestionable. His attitude, however, often got him in trouble. On several occasions, he disobeyed direct orders to do what he thought was best. Although his instincts were usually proven right, his notoriety grew. Even when he single-handedly routed an enemy patrol, and saved his squad from ambush, his commanding officers berated him for his recklessness. His military career seemed to stall before it even began.

After being reassigned to a new squad for the third time, Nihlus was introduced to Saren Arterius, a fellow turian and a Spectre. Saren was impressed with the young soldier. He befriended Nihlus and offered to mentor him. Within a year of meeting Saren, Nihlus was asked to join the Spectres.

Free from the restrictions of military procedure, Nihlus excelled in his new role. He quickly stepped from his mentor's shadow and established himself as one of the Council's top agents. Since then, Nihlus has completed countless missions as a Spectre, each one more difficult and dangerous than the last.

Cool under pressure, Nihlus has an uncanny ability to find an enemy's weakness and exploit it. Though his methods aren't as brutal as Saren's, he will not hesitate to efficiently and thoroughly eradicate anything or anyone that stands in his way.

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Agent Profile: Saren Arterius

Saren Arterius is the longest serving turian member of the Spectres. Recently, he has become an outspoken opponent of human expansion in the galaxy, and many fear he may soon decide to take matters into his own hands.

Agent Profile - Saren Arterius

Saren Arterius is the longest serving turian member of the Spectres - the elite military operatives answering directly to the Citadel Council. For 24 years he has been an agent of the Council's will, a zealous defender of galactic stability in the unsettled border region of the Skyllian Verge.

Official records of Spectres are sealed, but it is known that Saren followed turian tradition and entered the military at the age of 15. In 2155 he was promoted to active service after only a year of training, though it is unclear whether his unit was involved in any of the battles against human forces during the First Contact War of 2157.

In 2159 he became the youngest turian ever accepted into the Spectres. Intelligent, cunning and capable, Saren quickly developed a reputation for ruthless efficiency. Although there were a number of unsettling rumors about the brutality of his methods, there was no denying his results.

In recent years Saren has become an outspoken opponent of human expansion. Like many other non-humans, he believes the Alliance has become overly aggressive in its efforts to establish the people of Earth as a dominant species in Citadel space. As a Spectre it is generally believed he will continue to follow the will of the Council in this matter, but there are some - particularly among the Alliance - who fear Saren may soon decide to take matters into his own hands.

WEB POLL : Do you think Saren is correct - are humans expanding too rapidly in the galaxy?

No - 51%

Yes - 33%

I'm not sure - 16%

Other - read my comments - 1%

Total votes : 14555

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Wrex, Krogan Battle Master

Urdnot Wrex is one of the last krogan Battle Masters: rare individuals who combine powerful biotic abilities with the devastating firepower of advanced weaponry... [Continue]

Krogan Series Part 3: Wrex, Krogan Battle Master

Urdnot Wrex is one of the last krogan Battle Masters: rare individuals who combine powerful biotic abilities with the devastating firepower of advanced weaponry. Born into clan Urdnot, he quickly gained fame for his prowess in battle. He became a leader of one of the smaller Urdnot tribes while still a youth - the youngest krogan to be granted the honor in 1000 years…until he was betrayed by his own people.

The betrayal opened Wrex's eyes to the truth about the krogan: most would rather die in battle than try to rebuild their society through peaceful means. Realizing the warrior culture that once valued courage, strength, and honor had been reduced to glorifying pointless violence, Wrex turned his back on the rest of the krogan.

Over the past three centuries he has served no master but himself, working as a bodyguard, mercenary, soldier of fortune, and bounty hunter; there is little in the galaxy that can still surprise him. He doesn't speak often, but when he does his words are direct and often shockingly blunt - and people tend to listen.

Despite his brutish appearance, Wrex rarely loses his temper. The mere threat of his anger is usually enough to get what he wants. When his fury is unleashed, however, it is a truly terrifying sight.

WEB POLL : Would you have Urdnot Wrex in your party?

Yes, I can use all the firepower I can get - 88%

No, he seems too mercenary-minded - 10%

Other - read my comments - 3%

Total votes : 16674

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TECHNOLOGY

M35 Mako

The Mako is a light infantry fighting vehicle you'll get to use when exploring planetary environments. Equipped with laser-guided ordnance, micro- thrusters, and laser detection arrays, it's an essential tool to have in your arsenal. [Read more]

Technology : M35 Mako

For 20 years, the standard "battle taxi" of the Systems Alliance Marines was the M29 "Grizzly" Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV). While excellent in long-term planetary campaigns, the Grizzly's bulk and weight made it unsuitable for rapid deployment across the Alliance's expanding sphere of influence. To fill this increasingly important role, the M35 "Mako" IFV was designed to fit in the small cargo bays of Alliance scouting frigates. The M35's small size and low weight allow it to be easily deployed to virtually any world.

Since Alliance marines may be required to fight in a variety of planetary environments, the Mako is environmentally sealed and powered by a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell. For deployment on low-gravity planetoids, it is equipped with micro-thrusters and a small element zero core, which can be used to increase mass and provide greater traction.

The "eezo" core can also be used to reduce mass, allowing the Mako to be safely air-dropped. This allows frigates to deploy their shore parties while limiting the ship's exposure to defensive anti-aircraft artillery. When used in conjunction with thrusters, mass reduction allows the Mako to extricate itself from difficult terrain.

The Mako's hull is covered with laser detection arrays, which forewarn the crew of enemy laser-guided ordnance. Ground-penetrating radar allows detection of anti-vehicle mines and other subsurface anomalies. These will be brought to the attention of the crew by the vehicle's micro-frame computer system.

Several combat support vehicles using the Mako's basic chassis are manufactured for Alliance surface garrisons. These include a recon drone controller, a mobile air defense platform, and the M38 military ambulance nicknamed "Moby" because it is painted white during peacekeeping operations. Shipboard Marines exclusively use the tactically flexible and heavily armed base model.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Normandy

Optimized for solo reconnaissance missions deep within unstable regions, and using state-of-the-art stealth technology, the Normandy is a prototype deep scout frigate. [Read more]

Technology : Normandy

Frigates are swift, flexible warships. Unlike larger vessels, they are able to land on planets. Although lightly armed, Alliance frigates usually carry a squad of marines for security and groundside duty.

The most important role filled by frigates is scouting and reconnaissance. Thanks to mass effect technology, ships and communications can travel faster than the speed of light. Sensors, however, are limited to the speed of light. If an enemy ship is a light year away, a stationary observer will only be able to see it when its light arrives in a year.

An attacker will always gain surprise against a defender; attacking ships moving faster than light will arrive long before their light speed-limited sensor data does. For defense, fleets are surrounded by spheres of scouting frigates. These vessels detect enemy ships passing by them, and transmit warnings to the main body. The Normandy is a prototype "deep scout" frigate, developed by the Systems Alliance with the assistance of the Citadel Council. It is optimized for solo reconnaissance missions deep within unstable regions, using state-of-the-art stealth technology.

For centuries, it was assumed that starship stealth was impossible. The heat generated by routine shipboard operations is easily detectable against the absolute-zero background temperature of space. The Normandy, however, is able to temporarily "store" this heat in lithium heat sinks deep within the hull. Combined with refrigeration of the exterior hull, the ship can travel undetected for hours, or drift passively for days of covert observation. This is not without risk. The stored heat must eventually be radiated, or it will build up to levels capable of cooking the crew alive.

Another component of the stealth system is the Normandy’s revolutionary Tantalus drive, a mass effect core twice the standard size. The Tantalus drive generates mass concentrations that the Normandy "falls into", allowing it to move without the use of heat-emitting thrusters. The heat sink and Tantalus drive systems allow the Normandy to loiter undetected in an enemy system to monitor traffic, or drop infiltration teams on enemy worlds. Should the Normandy’s design prove useful in field tests, it is expected that a follow-up class incorporating "lessons learned" will be produced.

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[centrally-unplanned]

Very much enjoyed Tracing Woodgrain's foray into the internet life of jilted ex-rationalist and Wikipedia editor David Gerard. It is of course "on brand" for me - the social history of the internet, as a place of communities and individual lives lived, is one of my own passion projects, and this slots neatly into that domain in more ways than one. At the object-level it is of course about one such specific community & person; but more broadly it is an entry into the "death of the internet-as-alternate-reality" genre; the 1990's & 2000's internet as a place separate from and perhaps superior to the analog world, that died away in the face of the internet's normalization and the cruel hand of the real.

Here that broad story is made specific; early Wikipedia very much was "better than the real", the ethos of the early rationalist community did seem to a lot of people like "Yeah, this is a new way of thinking! We are gonna become better people this way!" - and it wasn't total bullshit, logical fallacies are real enough. And the decline is equally specific: the Rationalist project was never going to Escape Politics because it was composed of human beings, Wikipedia was low-hanging fruit that became a job of grubby maintenance, the suicide of hackivist Aaron Swartz was a wake-up call that the internet was not, in any way, exempt from the reach of the powers-that-be. TW's allusion to Gamergate was particularly amusing for me, as while it wasn't prominent in Gerard's life it was truly the death knell for the illusion of the internet as a unified culture.

But anyway, the meat of the essay is also just extremely amusing; someone spending over a decade on a hate crusade using rules-lawyering spoiling tactics for the most petty stakes (unflattering wikipedia articles & other press). The internet is built by weirdos, and that is going to be a mixed bag! It is beautiful to see someone's soul laid bare like this.

It can be tempting to get involved in the object-level topics - how important was Lesswrong in the growth of Neoreaction, one of the topics of Gerard's fixations? It was certainly, obviously not born there, never had any numbers on the site, and soon left it to grow elsewhere. But on the flip side, for a few crucial years Lesswrong was one of the biggest sites that hosted any level of discussion around it, and exposed other people to it as a concept. This is common for user-generated content platforms; they aggregate people who find commonalities and then splinter off. Lesswrong's vaunted "politics is the mindkiller" masked a strong aversion to a lot of what would become left social justice, and it was a place for those people to meet. I don't think neoreaction deserves any mention on Lesswrong's wikipedia page, beyond maybe a footnote. But Lesswrong deserves a place on Neoreaction's wikipedia page. There are very interesting arguments to explore here.

You must, however, ignore that temptation, because Gerard explored fucking none of that. No curiosity, no context, just endless appeals to "Reliable Source!" and other wikipedia rules to freeze the wikipedia entries into maximally unflattering shapes. Any individual edit is perhaps defensible; in their totality they are damning. My "favourite" is that on the Slate Star Codex wikipedia page, he inserted and fought a half-dozen times to include a link to an academic publication Scott Alexander wrote, that no one ever read and was never discussed on SSC beyond a passing mention, solely because it had his real name on it. He was just doxxing him because he knew it would piss Scott off, and anyone pointing that out was told "Springer Press is RS, read the rules please :)". It is levels of petty I can't imagine motivating me for a decade, it is honestly impressive!

He was eventually banned from editing the page as some other just-as-senior wikipedia editor finally noticed and realized, no, the guy who openly calls Scott a neo-nazi is not an "unbiased source" for editing this page wtf is wrong with you all. I think you could come away from this article thinking Wikipedia is ~broken~ or w/e, but you shouldn't - how hard Gerard had to work to do something as small as he did is a testament to the strength of the platform. No one thinks it is perfect of course, but nothing ever will be - and in particular getting motivated contributors now that the sex appeal has faded is a very hard problem. The best solution sometimes is just noticing the abusers over time.

Though wikipedia should loosen up its sourcing standards a bit. I get why it is the way it is, but still, come on.

[thefadecodex]

In DATV, the concept of spirits evolving rather than perishing after corruption presents a profound shift from what was established in DAI. In DAI, when the Spirit of Wisdom was twisted into a Pride Demon, its redemption led to what Solas described as a form of death—a return to the Fade, stripped of its purpose and essence. However, DATV offers a more nuanced perspective: the potential for rebirth and transformation.

Rebirth: A New Purpose, A New Name

This revelation unfolds in the Hossberg Wetlands, where the side quest “Something’s Coming” introduces a haunting encounter with a Despair Demon called Despair Undying. True to its name, the demon reappears relentlessly, no matter how many times it is defeated, until the quest is completed. To resolve this cycle, players must collect three bundles of Broca’s Blooms—delicate flowers that only begin to grow after the side quest a specific side quest is completed.

Upon returning to the site of Despair Undying with the flowers, players find the demon is gone. In its place stands a spirit, Hope Unyielding. The transformation is not simply a return to what the spirit once was but a rebirth into something new. The dialogue that follows encapsulates this evolution:

Despair Undying: Light glimmers the surface. Flowers break through snow. Hope unexpected. I am such. Rook: Is Despair gone? Hope Unyielding: No. But nor was I forever.

This moment introduces a pivotal idea: corruption is not an absolute endpoint. A spirit can transcend its corrupted state, not by returning to its original form but by evolving into a new purpose. 

The Fade Codex speculates that Despair Undying may have originally been a Spirit of Compassion. The journey from corruption to rebirth could have catalyzed its transformation into Hope Unyielding, reflecting growth rather than mere restoration.

This shift in understanding deepens the metaphysical lore of spirits and their connection to purpose. It opens the door to themes of resilience, change, and the enduring possibility of renewal, even after profound darkness. In DATV, spirits are not bound to linearity—they embody the transformative power of the Fade and the infinite potential of purpose reshaped.

The Role of Broca's Blooms

At the heart of Despair Undying's transformation lies the quest "Something’s Coming." Broca’s Blooms, delicate flowers that thrive in adversity, symbolize life persisting in harsh conditions of the Blight. These flowers only begin to grow after players support the Grey Wardens fighting back darkspawn attacking the village and taking out blight boils. After this, broca’s blooms suddenly appear, which is confusing for everyone. By collecting three bundles of these blooms and bringing them back to the spirit’s location, players engage in an act of restoration—not through force, but through care and intention.

Broca’s Blooms are not simply tools; they are symbols. They represent the player’s willingness to interact with the Fade and its spirits on a deeper, more compassionate level. These flowers, growing in a place steeped in despair, signify the potential for renewal. They are proof that even in the darkest spaces, life��and hope—can find a way.

The Player’s Role: Patience and Recognition

Unlike the encounter with the Spirit of Wisdom twisted into a Pride Demon in DAI, the confrontation with Despair Undying does not end in violence or a 'death' so to speak. Instead, the resolution comes from understanding—an understanding that Despair Undying could not simply be destroyed, nor could it be forced back into what it once was.

When the player collects the flowers and returns, they do not "fix" the spirit. Instead, they create the circumstances in which the spirit can choose transformation.

This aligns with Solas's observations in earlier titles—that spirits are deeply tied to their purpose and the perceptions of those around them. This also aligns with comments made by Emmrich how surprised spirits (and maligned spirits) respond to kindness.

By bringing the flowers and offering a gesture of peace, the player helps shift the narrative around Despair Undying, allowing it to see a new path forward.

The Fade and the Cycle of Purpose

Spirits exist in cycles: they are born, they take form, they serve their purpose, and sometimes, they are twisted away from it. In DATV, the cycle does not have to end in destruction or death. The presence of Broca’s Blooms and the dialogue with Hope Unyielding suggest that the Fade is a space of potential. Despair Undying’s transformation was not about erasing its past or pretending its suffering never happened—it was about accepting that suffering and finding a way to grow beyond it.

This mirrors the philosophy present in many interactions with spirits throughout the series. Spirits are not inherently "good" or "bad"; they are shaped by purpose, perception, and choice. Despair Undying's choice to become Hope Unyielding represents a rare moment of agency for a corrupted spirit, facilitated by the player’s actions.

Why This Matters

The transformation of Despair Undying into Hope Unyielding redefines how we understand corrupted spirits in Dragon Age. It challenges the assumption that corruption is always final and that redemption must come at the cost of self-destruction. Instead, it presents a gentler truth: spirits, like people, are capable of growth, change, and transformation, given the right environment and care.

In the end, Despair Undying did not "die." Nor did it revert to something it once was. It evolved. And that evolution was made possible not by force, but by compassion, patience, and the willingness to believe in the possibility of hope—hope unyielding.

[toastedclownery]

Ajax as Tlaloc

Tlaloc is the god of rain and lightning in Aztec mythology. He’s the Third Sun in the Legend of The Suns and the ruler of the first heaven, called Tlalocan.

—

Tlaloc’s iconography goes a long way, before the Aztecs. There have been representations of a rain god throughout Mesoamerica centuries before the Mexica came to be. What they all have in common is that they have goggle-like rings around their eyes and pronounced fangs.

These are Aztec vessels with the likeness of Tlaloc, all found in Museo Templo Mayor.

The most important element of Ajax’ design are his tusks. And they look an awful lot like Tlaloc’s two long fangs at the sides of his mouth

Aztec codex illustrations of Tlaloc usually have him with a full set of long fangs, and that could be referenced with the white of Ajax’ beard. He also has a subtle tooth gap that brings more attention to his teeth in general.

They also feature him with a mustache-shaped mouth. Ajax has a mustache, it’s not a cartoon villain swirly mustache like it appears in codices but it’s there.

As for the rings, Ajax doesn’t have rings around his eyes in the same way Tlaloc does, but he does have his pupils, and he has a set of rings around them when he goes berserk.

The two bands of the suit on Ajax’ shoulders might be there to look like the handles on a Tlaloc vessel?

And finally, when the Walrinian goes berserk his hair decides to start defying gravity, probably to imitate a headdress of quetzal feathers like Shrike and Beebs have!

—

Tlaloc is the Third Sun in the Legend of The Suns. A popular version of this myth is that his first wife, Xochiquetzal, was kidnapped by the unruly Tezcatlipoca. Tlaloc caused a drought because of this. When the humans of this era pleaded to Tlaloc for rain, he sent them a rain of fire, killing everyone. We can see that Tlaloc’s short temper matches with Ajax’.

(The few people that survived turned into birds, and the Thicc Chicc casino is bird themed. Another version, more specifically, says that the humans were turned into dogs, butterflies and turkeys. The server from the dinner scene looks enough like a turkey for me to put her here)

—

Tlaloc is also the ruler of his own realm, Tlalocan, “land of Tlaloc”. It is described as being plentiful in all kinds of food, in a state of eternal springtime. Ajax bosses the casino restaurant staff around, and they know him by name, meaning he goes there often. It would be fitting for the Tlaloc character to frequent a luxurious restaurant with “ritzy food”

As the first of the 13 heavens, Tlalocan was reserved for those who drowned, were struck by lightning, suffered from gout or leprosy, as well as the physically disabled and those with stunted growth.

Ajax keeps bringing attention to Beebs’ disabilities. He implies that he’s smaller than he should be for Walrinian standards, he points out that he’s “missing” his tusks, and he straight up looks at his prosthetics and calls him inferior. Despite the hatred that Ajax is clearly showing, Beebs fits the criteria for being destined for Tlalocan, so it’d make sense that he brings him to the restaurant.

But that’s not all. The reason why people with stunted growth would go to Tlalocan was because they were thought to be associated with his servants. Tlaloc has servants called Tlaloque, “small Tlalocs”, and as their name implies, these look like mini versions of the rain god.

And what better for Ajax as Tlaloc than to have a smaller version of himself as his servant!

Character List

[sarcasmandships]

don’t mind me just analysing my own fanfics over here:

Some quiet parallels I worked into Codex Solace and Socialites (y’know, aside from the ever-iconic tissue discourse):

In Codex Chapter 1, when Nico says he’s going for a smoke and Ryan asks, “was that an invitation?”—it’s this charged, ambiguous moment, and Nico doesn’t answer, but he allows Ryan to accompany him anyways, not because he wants him but because he needs the distraction. Fast-forward to Socialites Chapter 8, Nico says he is going out for a smoke and Will is spiraling mid-conversation thinking Nico’s trying to politely dip out, only for Nico to say, “That was an invitation to join me.” It’s the same action, but this time the meaning is clear. Nico’s asking Will to come with him. The growth! The intention!

Then in Codex Chapter 2, Nico sees Will looking wrecked and anxious and instinctively wants to offer him a cigarette—not to smoke, just to have something to hold. Something tactile, a distraction. He doesn’t do it. He’s still watching from a distance.

But by Socialites Chapter 13, on the balcony after dinner, Nico does offer Will a cigarette. And yes, it’s half a joke—but also not really. Nico’s still reeling from his own family mess, but he’s noticed Will’s been a little off, and without even thinking, he reaches for the one comfort he knows. It’s a weird, backhanded kind of tenderness—offering Will his own maladaptive coping mechanism because it’s the only form of comfort he knows how to extend.

Anyway. These two disasters really do speak in smoke signals.

One of the ongoing symbols I’ve been playing with in Socialites and Codex Solace is smoking—not just as an action, but as a kind of emotional shorthand for Nico and his internal world.

For Nico, smoking is what he turns to when he’s stressed, overstimulated, or emotionally overwhelmed. It’s ritualistic, almost meditative—something tactile and familiar that helps him create distance from his own feelings. He doesn’t always smoke because he wants to—he smokes because it helps him not feel everything else. It’s control, it’s avoidance, it’s muscle memory from his more self-destructive years.

From Will’s point of view, though, it reads entirely differently. Will often describes Nico smoking with this reverent, lyrical tone—how the smoke clings to him, how it curls around his fingers or halo-like through his hair, how it feels like watching a ghost half-formed. It becomes this visual representation of how untouchable and ephemeral Nico feels to him. The smoke is both seductive and distant—it’s aestheticized grief, desire, and transience all at once. Will’s not just seeing a boy having a smoke; he’s seeing a myth, wrapped in fog and melancholy.

Another little moment of symbolism I love is in Socialites Chapter 9—where Nico is smoking on the balcony, and Will almost stops himself from giving him the standard lecture about how smoking is bad. He catches himself—because they’re not that close yet, and it feels a bit presumptuous, and maybe Nico wouldn’t listen anyway. But then Nico surprises him. He tells him to do it anyway.

And Will does.

He launches into this long, borderline-unhinged rant about nicotine and carcinogens and lung damage and oral cancers. It’s deeply medical, extremely passionate, and just a little bit unhinged in the way that only someone who cares too much and doesn’t know how to say it properly can be. He’s not just worried about smoking—he’s worried about Nico. This is Will’s version of saying ‘please don’t die, I don’t think I could take it’ but filtered through science and breathless concern and a mouth that won’t stop moving once it starts.

It’s also a subtle turning point in their dynamic, because this is one of the first times Nico gets to see Will’s intelligence up close—and not in a classroom setting, but in a personal one. There’s something so uniquely intimate about being known and cared for in someone else’s language, and this is Will’s: science, knowledge, practical application of care.

This moment parallels Codex Solace, especially in Chapter 1, where Nico starts to notice how sharp Will is. Not just emotionally kind, but brilliant in this grounded, competent way. In Codex, Nico begins watching Will help others, offer advice, explain things clearly and patiently. And Nico is so clearly drawn to that. To the way Will makes difficult things seem navigable. To the way he brings order to chaos—not by controlling it, but by understanding it.

Also worth noting that in Codex Solace, we start to get a lot more insight into Nico’s sexual attraction to Will—and a surprising amount of it revolves around Will’s intelligence. A lot of the inconvenient dreams he keeps having are about kissing or touching yes, but also while Will is going on intense, passionate tangents about medical stuff. Which is hilarious and extremely on-brand, but also kind of revealing: Nico’s not just attracted to Will’s body—he’s overwhelmed by the way he thinks. The precision, the intensity, the unapologetic focus.

It’s the same thread we see on the balcony in Chapter 9 of Socialites—Will spiraling through a health rant, Nico absolutely transfixed. Smart is hot. Concern is hot. Caring in ways you don’t know how to verbalize? Devastating.

By the time we reach Chapter 40 of Socialites, that intellectual attraction has fully bloomed into something tender and overwhelming. Nico’s fascinated by Will’s brain and his heart—and that moment on the balcony was one of the earliest places we saw those two collide.

So yeah. Will’s anti-smoking rant is technically about lung damage—but really, it’s about love.

[lunar-and-ardent]

The relationship of Tecna and Timmy is so romantic.

It may be not as visible, because the show has couples being romantic in a more classical way, but Timmy and Tecna actually have so many tender, gentle and vulnerable moments. They are so sweet together, and awkward, and then out of nowhere hit you with the deepest scenes imaginable. They are so Jane-Austen's-characters'-coded lol.

Like this short scene of a game from season 2 (first gif)??? This is so romantic and sensual, you wouldn't expect it from them.

Their conflict in the second season was that Tecna at first cared about rather performative bravery (literal fighting, close combat) + wanted something more than just talking about their hyperfixation. Timmy, on the other hand, thought in a more logical way: he knew his strengths, and that he's better at strategy and computers, and wasn't interested in posing as a hero just to feel good about himself (this scene where he realizes he isn't strong enough against Trix and so he gives away the Codex). He also wanted to get closer to Tecna, so it makes sense he tried to connect on their common hobby, at first not realizing that Tecna, with her emotional growth, started to want a little more than this. And you can understand them both, and both have good points.

And Timmy is a freaking badass. He always thinks logically (I'd argue that even more than Tecna, like this scene with Codex, where she called him a coward for not doing something that was doomed from the start), and so the scene in the third season hits so much. You know which one. All Winx cry and Riven tries to comfort Timmy (I really like the fact it's Riven who does that btw, but this is a material for another post), trying to bring reason to him, politely saying that there's no way Tecna is still alive, and Timmy says in a calm and sure way that he knows she is alive. If Timmy says something like that, you know he's right.

I guess the scene from the second season, when Winx go to fight Lord Darkar and specialists stay at the back, sums up their relationship in the best way: Timmy stays inside the ship, because it is his role to navigate it, and he and Tecna look at each other, just sighing each other's names (though they cannot hear it). Their love is so, so deep. And a relationship like the one they have wouldn't fit everyone, since both of them don't need to spend as much time together as others, nor do they have to say as much (but if they say how much they love each other, oh they say it), and they both share their hyperfixation/special interest, but all of this works perfectly for them. They're a match made in heaven. And come to think of that, we have this popular fanon that Tecna is on the spectrum of autism, but I wonder if there is any fanon like this for Timmy? I also feel like being demisexual or graysexual fits them both (maybe I just like the idea of Tecna, a character whose main arc is understanding and expressing emotions, feeling sexual desire only to someone who she has a strong connection with, I guess it feels kinda poetic to me).

[the-blue-wraith]

My review for Dragon Age: The Veilguard (SPOILERS BELOW)

These are my personal opinions and not personal attacks to anyone who loves the game.

Pros:

Combat is invigorating.

Exploration is just fine, not too overwhelming.

Side quests are not lengthy.

CC was great and had lots of sliders and lots of good hair too.

Harding, Bellara, Lucanis, and Emmrich’s voice acting are in point.

NPCs are more active in terms of animation, unlike in previous games.

The codex you found in areas is short and easy to read.

Dragon fights are more challenging.

Banters outside the Lighthouse are compelling.

Emmrich and Harding's quest are impactful.

No major glitches, only encountered a few minor glitches.

Cons:

Writing is just basic. Humorous/aggressive dialogues are not totally funny/aggressive. Companions/Rook are too polite.

Dialogue after the fall of Weisshaupt feels off, they don't need to say directly to players that companions need to resolve their problems before fighting the Gods.

Interaction inside the Lighthouse feels like an interaction inside the workplace. I wish I was kidding.

Some dialogues are repetitive (ex. “The elven gods have broken free from their prison” “Dragons don’t have kings, they have queens”).

Factions lack introduction. We didn’t get to know each faction in depth.

Story and companions lacks conflict/disparity.

Choices from the last 3 games didn’t matter, and became a wasted chance to explore in Veilguard.

Can’t talk to NPC like in DA:I.

What's the point of having gifting scenes where all they could say is "thank you"?

Some voice actings are a bit off, lacks emotions (American Female Rook/Neve)

Enemy designs are repetitive.

Ability wheel is lacking, it should’ve let us get 5 abilities to use in battle.

Qunari designs are not good.

Overall music is too ordinary.

Romances are lacking and have no growth

I really enjoyed the combat it reminds me of Mass Effect. The best part here are the dragon fights because this was one of the things that I anticipated years ago, and I'm quite satisfied! I like the flow and conflict at the end of Act 2 up to Act 3. That scene with Varric in the Fade still hits hard to me. 😭 I know it was sad, but in that phase I was motivated to finish the game. I just wish the flow of Acts 1-2 were intense like Act 3. Like I said, it lacks conflict.

After finishing the game, I ended up liking Emmrich and Harding. I didn't give a shit about Harding back in DA:I but now I like her even more 😆. Emmrich's quest was the most impactful to me, I chose to revive Manfred, and after that, I saw how much he loves him, that scene was heartwarming. Kudos to their voice actors 🙌🏻

I resonate with Bellara's quest, but I wish it could've been more dramatic. Like after what happened to her brother, her companions should've given her a hug and comfort. But I still like her quest; kudos to her voice actress too.

What bothered me was that Varric and Solas both got sidelined. I wanted Solas to have more screentime! I wanted to see him more as a villain. I don't know why Bioware decided to kill Varric, to me, it felt like they just used him in the game to attract fans. If you ask me, that's disrespectful to Varric's writer, who got laid off.

The romance here sucks. I was disappointed in how they handled Lucanis' romance. I didn't feel the buildup of my Rook's relationship with him. I felt like he was interacting with me as a friend 😭. Veilguard has the weakest romance system in Bioware games.

Overall, I would rate this game 6/10. I think the game is decent, but not for everyone. This game is for casual players who want to experience different RPGs, but for DA fans? It really depends. As a longtime fan, I would say I'm half-satisfied with Veilguard. I just wish the writing/dialogue could've been better and not repetitive. I wish we had an option to become evil and upset companions if we make bad choices, but sadly the game lacks conflict and disparity. Veilguard didn't keep up with the current RPGs, despite its lack of RPG elements.

Will I replay this game? Yeah, someday maybe.

Do I think the game is that bad? Nope, but it's lacking. The game is not for everyone.

Do I think the game deserved the hate it got? Yes and no. Yes, because the writing/dialogue in this game is basic and some times felt off. And no, because I still think the game is fun.

Do I want DA5 to happen in the future? Sure, why not.

Despite all my criticisms of this game, I still love Dragon Age. This series saved me in high school. If my younger self were here and witnessed Veilguard, I know she'd be happy because she waited so long for this game.

[sammys-magical-au]

@codex-week shortfic; day 3 - clone rebellion ~

Warnings: none

- After the Clone Wars ended, there were lots of ways the Clones rebelled against the Kaminoans to gain freedom from them. Some, like Cody and Rex, chose more unique ways, but ways that, to them, gave them more joy and freedom than anything else ever could.

~~~

Dare

The liberation of the Clones once the war had ended was a slow, drawn-out process.

It definitely helped to have Padmé Amidala as Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, seeing as she was such a strong advocate for Clone’s freedoms even when she was still a senator, but it still took time to convince the greater Republic that Clones deserved the same rights as any other being in the galaxy.

In that time, there were many ways that the Clones, no longer having the war to fight, rebelled. There were protests, fundraising events, some even returned to Kamino to vandalize or demolish parts of the old cloning facilities. Those were the obvious ways to get the message across, to say “we’re here and we’re staying, and you can’t get rid of us”.

But then, there were ways of rebellion that were a bit different from what one might expect. Ones that were extremely meaningful, yes, but were certainly much more creative, much more personal, than those of the vast majority of Clones chose to partake in.

Cody and Rex’s particular idea was one of those more creative ways.

For once, the sight of a growth jar with a tubie in it was much less of a disheartening or saddening sight - for Rex, at least, it was like a miracle, because the tubie in front of him was no ordinary Clone.

Beside him, Cody lifted his hand and placed it on Rex’s, which was already resting on the glass over the little one’s chest, where his little heart could faintly be heard beating even with all the noise in the laboratory.

“So,” Cody said finally with a slight chuckle, “any thoughts on what the hell we’re gonna name him?”

His tone implied that he was more nervous than he was letting on, and Rex shot him a reassuring smile.

“I’m not sure,” he admitted, “but we’ll figure it out. I know we will.”

Cody took his hand off of Rex’s to instead drape his arm over his shoulder, pulling him a little closer.

“All these years fighting in the war,” he murmured, “all the death and destruction, I never thought the thing that would scare me to death more than anything would be having a son with the man I love.”

Rex laughed softly, leaning in to press a kiss to Cody’s cheek.

“There’s no need to be scared, Codes,” he said, “we’re in this together. I’m sure Fives and Echo will be more than willing to help out, and General Skywalker and General Kenobi are already trying to give us fatherly advice.”

“I’m not sure I want Echo and Fives around our child,” Cody said with a snort, “and I can’t say I’m too thrilled with all the ‘fatherly advice’ we’ve been getting either, from Jedi of all people, who famously aren’t allowed to be fathers.”

Rex was still laughing, leaning his weight against Cody a little more.

“Hey,” he panted when he’d gotten his breath back, “we’re all figuring it out, but at least we’ve all got each other’s backs.”

Cody rolled his eyes affectionately.

“I guess you’ve got a point.” He murmured.

Letting out a contented hum, Rex rested his head on Cody’s shoulder, silently gazing in adoration at their son in the growth jar.

“How do you feel about Ahsoka babysitting?” Rex asked cheekily after a moment.

Cody huffed a laugh.

“She might be the only one I fully trust around him.” He said.

Rex snickered again.

“I’ll tell her you said that. She’ll be happy to hear it.”

“I’m sure she will.”

[A FEW MONTHS LATER…]

The day Rex could finally hold his and Cody’s son in his arms was one of the best days of his life - save for every other day after that.

He was perfect, even more so than Rex had imagined, with gorgeous little blonde curls the same as Rex’s own, but with a slight furrow in his brow that Rex knew came from Cody.

Ahsoka was immediately enamoured with the little one, as was Echo. Fives wouldn’t admit to it, but he’d cried the moment he saw Rex and Cody with their new baby, and hid his face in Tup’s shoulder until he’d regained himself. Luke, Leia, and Ben were simply in awe of their new cousin, asking their parents endless questions and trying to get a good look at the tiny bundle their uncles were holding.

“The Holonet is acting absurd over all this,” Lionel spoke up when the immediate fuss over the baby had died down, “you two should see the headlines - actually, no, maybe it’s best if you don’t.”

Next to Rex, Cody chuckled softly.

“What kinds of things are they saying?” He asked.

“Oh, don’t get them started…” Anakin sighed, rolling his eyes.

“Well it’s ridiculous!” Lionel exclaimed, “c’mon, Sugar, you agree with me, right?”

They turned to Obi-Wan, who raised an eyebrow in amusement.

“I suppose so…” he said slowly, “I will say, I do think calling the creation of a Clone from the DNA of two other Clones a ‘daring endeavour’ is a bit much.”

Rex and Cody suddenly looked at each other, the exact same idea popping into both of their heads at the same time.

“Thank you,” Lionel huffed, “see, Kenni? Obi agrees with me.”

“I didn’t say I didn’t!” Anakin protested, “I’m just tired of hearing you rant about it. If Cody and Rex aren’t bothered by it, there’s no need for you to be.”

“That’s not exactly your motto, Ani.” Padmé pointed out with a giggle, and Ahsoka and Fives both burst out laughing.

Echo seemed to be the only one to notice the way Cody and Rex had reacted to what Obi-Wan said.

“What’re you two looking at each other like that for?” He asked, and all eyes turned back to the new fathers.

Cody raised an eyebrow at Rex, who shrugged as a sign for him to go ahead.

“Well, Lionel,” he murmured, “you and Obi-Wan just helped us come up with a name for our son.”

Lionel’s hazel eyes sparkled excitedly.

“Wait, really?” They asked, and Cody nodded.

“If the Holonet wants to call us ‘daring’ for having a child of our own,” he murmured, looking back at Rex with a fond smile, “then that’s what we’ll call him. Dare.”

[skiitter]

hi skitter! i saw your last post wrt solavellan and wanted to share trick's answers from bsky.

i'm not trying to invalidate your feelings about the endgame, but imo it's very clear that solas had to have this closure from mythal or he wouldn't be able to move forward.

Hiiiii! Yeah I've seen em. Tbh I think the end game world states should have been one of two. Either the Mythal ending, or the Solavellan ending. If you have a Solavellan world state, then the conversation with Mythal shouldn't have gone down the way it did. It totally undercuts Lavellan's importance in Solas's growth as a character. In a world where he didn't love her, and they were never together, than Mythal remains the moral center and foundation of his character. She took a spirit of Wisdom and leveraged his loyalty to her against her own pride. Every action from then on, Solas does in her name, especially once the Evanuris kill her. And yes, I know they have a disagreement where she doesn't help him dismantle the Evanuris, but that's because Mythal is the centre of HIS personality, not the other way around.

But, in a world where Solavellan is the default, then Solas went through a much different character growth arc. Yes, he fundamentally ends up in the same place, but the whole point is that she taught him his value as just Solas the person, not this recurring regret. She showed him the possibility of a future. Solas, of course, saw himself and the echoes of his relationship with Mythal, and did not want to repeat the past so, in combination with this alternative future Lavellan represents, he pushes her away.

Lavellan literally says this, that she was the one person capable of getting through to him. Its a big part of why she is SO crucial to his story. Their entire romance is built upon this idea of seen and being seen and understanding someone even if you don't always agree with them and accepting that they are who they are. Mythal quite literally forced Solas to change on a fundamental, core level from Wisdom into Pride. And while Lavellan (rightfully) challenges his beliefs, she does so from a place of equality and respect. They respect one another. And that respect is fucking shat on in Veilguard tbh.

If you do not set a worldstate for Inquisition, than Solavellan IS the default. Therefore, it is expected that many players, esp new ones, will see this relationship play out. Therefore, it is not a leep imho to expect SOME representation of Lavellan's importance to him in the literal embodiment of his past and his regrets that is the Lighthouse, the Crossroads, and the entire Mythal statue/Wolf statue quest line,

She quite literally comes up in One Line of dialogue Rook can have with Solas, and that's it. Which, fine, he's been lying to Rook since the beginning, so why would he say anything to her. But to have this obvious and distinct absence of Lavellan in the place he lived, in these rooms where he stores his fucking belongings, is insulting. To compound upon that, Lavellan does 100% of the work in this game when it comes to them.

We get one (1) codex letter that he wrote her right before the ritual. That is the only time they interact At All outside of the end game. This total lack of interaction stems from the much larger problem that is the absence of the Inquisitor at all, Solavellan or not. I will die on the hill that it makes zero sense for the inquisitor not to be actively and specifically involved in finding and stopping Solas. Them just Vibin' in the south when the blight hits makes zero sense.

I'm ranting, I'm sorry. I'm just so upset about this. Lavellan comes to him at his lowest point and says, once more, "i am here, i see you, you are not alone. together, vhenan" etc. etc. and solas just says No. Now, look, I get how crucial Mythal is. I see the parallels, but in a world where he loves Lavellan, than it should be HER opinion that undoes him in the end. Because that's the point. "I would not have you see what I become" Because her opinion is based on the understanding and mutual respect that the share.

Mythal is no longer his keeper. he's no longer bound to the version of Solas she forced him to become. So while I think she serves a purpose in the Solavellan ending, it should be Lavellan that saves him. Because that's her whole point. The whole essence of it. I'm not saying I'm capable in any capacity of writing a better ending, I just know a better one should have existed.

I am not trying to come off as rude or ranting at you, I'm just ranting. I (and so so so sos so sosososo many others) waited a very long time for the pay off to this relationship and I'd rather have absolutely nothing at all than this weird version we got where Solas treats her like a passing fling that dilligently follows him into the fade without a second thought. As if she wouldn't once more challenge him to be the version of himself he actually is. He shows her no respect and she shows him all of it. The inequality of it all kills me.

iUHGLSUHSDHG sorry. This is so long. I will shut up now.

[maythedreadwolftakeyou]

Setna Plays DAO

this post thread will be part 2! find all of part 1 here

session 8: last time we wrapped up saving Conner, and getting the Urn of Sacred Ashes quest. now first up, camp chats! going to readmore these posts now to avoid them getting too long, so details below the cut.

our bro Alistair first--my friend likes that he's funny, but also that you can be a little snarky to him and he just rolls his eyes and accepts it as a joke. he gives us the heartfelt "thank you for helping out Eamon's (and his) family" speech, since we went out of our way to save Connor. Setna remarks that she thinks at some point he may attempt getting romantic with us and we'll have to shoot him down--this is def a possibility though she hasn't taken too many of the overly nice and none of the flirty lines with him, so i'm actually not sure if that will trigger or not. Wynne's here now, so we chatted with her next, and i revealed the Age Conundrum--fwiw i think the bioware writers are just bad at math, she's clearly supposed to be around 70 not 50. i think the dates given in the tie in novels were just thrown out there with less thought. worth a chuckle though!

for tonight's adventuring, I took us on a detour from the main story to go get Shale. grabbed the control rod, skipped down to Honleath (triggering the cutscene with Howe, Loghain, and Anora confronting him--I pointed out after that Howe is voiced by Tim Curry and she's excited to see more of that later lol), fought through the town & insanely large community basement/wilhelm's lab. along the way i accidentally clicked morrigan and i guess she got a +1 approval somewhere because she asked us to search for the Grimoire, which we did in fact already pick up in the tower.

Agreed to go search for Amalia, lied to Kitty, STRUGGLED my way thru the damn tile puzzle, and sent Amalia running back to daddy while we took out Kitty. then finally out to wake up Shale with the correct password! fantastic news is my friend LOVES Shale (going to stick to "it" pronouns until the reveal bc i am trying SO hard not to slip up in person), specifically that it jokes to her and seems to like when she jokes back. we had a lot of follow up discussion about what exactly a golem is, at least with the current knowledge from the game. Shale agrees to come with us so it's back to camp!

first convo with Shale confirms Setna's love for it. next a round of basic gifts to get the gang warmed up to us a little more, which unlocks Morrigan's backstory dialogue about the stolen mirror Flemmeth smashed, and Wynne's nervous check-in on our thoughts about Abominations. Also triggers Alistair's asking to go visit Goldanna in Denerim, and she was annoyed that agreeing to this is less +approval than giving him a funny runestone we found. I tell her how beautiful Sten loves fancy paintings and she says "that makes sense" to which I go "what" and she refuses to elaborate. Zevran has no new dialogue for us and she threatens to turn him down if he asks for a date and sees me go 😭 at the thought. Then we go hand over Flemmeth's Grimoire to Morrigan, and have a chat about Morrigan's growth over the past sessions/how she's starting to open up, yay. she still feels most attached to her and Alistair, since they've been with us from the start, and have had the most chances to get to know them.

ended with just a couple codexes to read at the end of the night. decided next time we'll start the ashes quest, since Teagan asked and she doesn't like leaving things open ended... and i will quietly go off and check what levels things are there bc i usually save it for the end, uh oh

[resolutepath]

I've finished her quest and really enjoyed it actually, so here's a few mini hcs about Escoffier!

She's a coffee fiend. Awfully so. You can pry that fuel from her exhausted fingers. If she hasn't got a coffee on the go there's probably one brewing. And just like her cooking she will absolutely experiment with syrups and infusions, making notes on what she prefers.

If Escoffier starts going off on a rambling tangent, don't worry, she's just been hit by a culinary brainwave. No one can break through these, so best to just leave her to it while she's rambling about how she will do it, scribbling notes down or debating with herself. If you really need her attention, create some smoke and let her think something's burning in the kitchen.

None of her scoldings are without purpose. She will always have a hidden direction within her words, whether you can find it, that's up to you.

She has her own codex of culinary works and it is a mess of notes, diagrams, crossing outs and attachments.

She's still in contact with Xiangling, sending letters to Liyue to talk to the chef who inspired her to begin venturing again in search of new flavours. She really likes the energy she brings to the table and wants to keep an eye on her growth.

There's nothing about going to The Fortress of Meropide she regrets. It was a journey in itself and she would rather it was her than anyone else on her team. While there she had many chats with Sigewinne about the interesting meals she was making but after a few sharp looks from fellow inmates and the Duke decided it was safer not to critique them.

[chef-mordo]

Codex Entry #003 | "Angirasu Bōryū" (Anguirus)

[This Series is heavily inspired by Trollmans’ “FOLLY OF MAN” series on DeviantArt, so be sure to follow him if you enjoyed my work]

Species: Angirasu Bōryū (Anguirus) Subtitle: The Indomitable Mountain First Modern Sighting: December 30, 1956 Height: 90.24 Metres Weight: 72,102.46 Tonnes The Anguirus species are believed to be the first mammals to reach true gargantuan proportions. The species' ancestors are believed to be some of the earliest members of the Pholidota order, which notably contains pangolins; as such, the two species share many similarities. Though, many features are quite remarkably the results of convergent evolution. Similar traits allowed them to thrive in very different niches. Anguirus’ ancestors are believed to have been around the size of a medium dog before the K-Pg Extinction Event, evolving to large sizes sometime after. It is theorised that they became truly colossal to fill in empty niches left by Kaiju that either became extinct or dormant with the end of the Mesozoic. However, there is a shocking lack of transitional fossils to help understand the evolution of this kaiju. Only one other possible ancestral fossil has been discovered, an elephant-sized creature dating to only 57 million years ago. Such a radical growth is unusual, as this process would typically take tens of millions of years. Another abnormal peculiarity of the fossils is the fact that they were found in a large cavern a mile underground within the Yunnan Province of China. No other terrestrial mammal has been found to live this deep in caves, not to mention any food sources able to support an animal of this size. The Anguirus lineage seems to be a true anomaly within Earth’s ecosystem.  The species do seem to have quite a few traits that would benefit a subterranean lifestyle, though it is thought they may now be purely vestigial, as there is a very low possibility of any major terrestrial hyperfaunal ecosystems within the Earth’s crust. A few hyperfaunal researchers have suggested that the pseudoscientific “Hollow Earth Theory” may have some truth to it, but as of the current moment, all evidence remains superficial. Anguirus have powerful clawed arms that seem to be specialized for burrowing beneath the ground, in fact, they seem to be able to cut through buildings and even bedrock with relative ease. They also have somewhat poor eyesight, with bright lights shown to be effective in stunning them. This seems to be balanced out with incredibly strong hearing, meaning that modern cityscapes tend to disorient and anger them. Due to this, Anguirus primarily avoid human settlements, though it is unknown where they reside.  Anguirus have large whiskers covering much of their face, this paired with their powerful noses helps to locate food and water within the ground, this is theorised to be the purpose of some of their seemingly subterranean traits. Unlike most other kaiju, Anguirus seems to feed off of other living things, even when full-grown. The tongue and digestive system of the species seem to line up with primarily insectivorous animals, suggesting the existence of invertebrate kaiju. Despite Anguirus seemingly being adapted to eat hyperfaunal arthropods, Anguirus have sharp, conical teeth with an incredibly strong bite force (exact bite force is inconclusive) that allows them to grapple onto opponents with minimal effort, similar to the jaws of a crocodile. The agility of Anguirus cannot be understated either, despite their large and seemingly lumbering build, they are actually one of the fastest terrestrial kaiju, able to outrun most opponents. They can also jump to heights upwards of 250 metres, creating shockwaves as they hit the ground. Another very unique quality of Anguirus is their ability to roll into a ball and continue moving, even being shown to launch themselves into the air in this form.

The outward appearance of Anguirus alone can be presented as evidence to the trials its ancestors had to endure to grow to such towering heights. Such a drastic increase in size meant that these animals would have to deal with new threats and predators. Gradually, its ancestors had evolved to prevent injuries from attacks and fights through the formation of hair-derived scales along their bodies. Quite remarkably, these have been shown to have evolved independently from pangolins. In addition, some scales also have formed horn-like formations atop them. Several more horns can also be found along the back and side of their horns, as well as a nasal horn that is theorised to have possibly been an offensive adaptation. Recent tests have shown that the spiked plating along the back and head of Anguirus can absorb large amounts of heat and radiation and either disperse it through the air, or reflect it back towards its source, further studies into this could break ground in anti-kaiju defense and weaponry. A final offensive ability used by this species is the “ultrasonic roar”. Theorised to have once been used as a form of echolocation before being converted into an attack, the ultrasonic roar is loud enough to rupture the eardrums of some species, the soundwaves are even visible without any sort of specialised equipment.   The intelligence of Anguirus can often be compared to that of horses and other equids, due to a seeming ability to use body language, pheromones, grunts, snarls, and roars to communicate with other species it encounters. Anguirus have also been shown to have an incredible memory, as well as some level of advanced problem-solving. However, it is not common to see them demonstrate their intelligence due to being highly temperamental towards most species and having few issues that are unable to be solved with brute force alone. Although it is not unusual to see Anguirus living solitarily, it is thought from fossil ancestors that they may live in family groups, mated pairs, or small herds.

Well, I hope y'all have enjoyed the Anguirus codex entry for GODZILLA: Age of Monsters. I'm sorry for the long wait, I've been very busy with my freshman year of highschool. Expect new posts relatively soon, Age of Monsters will be undergoing a small soft reboot (Fixing the Godzilla design, creating a distinct style, changing a few story details, etc). As always, likes are appreciated, follows and repost even more so. Thanks for reading!

Tune in for more updates and future posts. Peace and love! ✌️🏽

[thefadecodex]

As discussed in the Theory of Spirit Complexity, spirits can evolve into more complex forms through direct interaction with the physical world or by observing and mirroring these interactions within the Fade. This concept builds upon and expands ideas introduced in the Spiritual Alignment Classification System and When Purpose Falters.

This creator is theorizing based on the lore that there are multiple, flexible pathways to purpose (or corruption) and evolution for spirits. An example of this train of thought is below:

In previous games and established lore, our understanding of spirits' purpose and corruption remains limited, often resulting in rigid assumptions about how corruption manifests. 

For example:

When Justice merged with Anders, he transformed into Vengeance, reinforcing the belief that a Spirit of Justice, when corrupted, must inevitably become a Spirit of Vengeance. (side note from the creator: I suspect this might be linked to the Blight present in Anders, which is discussed further down)

This narrow perspective overlooks the potential nuances and variability in how spirits might experience corruption or transformation. 

Instead, let’s look at other forms that a Spirit of Justice could possible become if it is corrupted: 

What determines what a spirit will be corrupted into? The creator of The Fade Codex theorizes that it is based on the situation that put the spirit against it’s original purpose. Going with the example above of Justice being corrupted:

Fear: A Spirit of Justice becomes so afraid of failure or further injustices it can become paralyzed or overly reactive.

Despair: A Spirit of Justice witnessing endless cycles of injustice and failure to make meaningful change.

Vengeance: A Spirit of Justice becomes consumed with frustration and anger leading an overwhelming desire to punish rather than balance.

Tyranny: A Spirit of Justice becomes obsessed with enforcing order and fairness to an extreme that it suppresses freedom and choice.

Passivity: A Spirit of Justice becomes overwhelmed by the scale of injustice or believes that intervention will always lead to unintended harm, leading to inaction.

Case Study: The Blight Within – Justice and Anders

Subject: The Spirit of Justice

Host: Anders, Grey Warden and Apostate Mage

Corrupting Influence: The Blight (disembodied rage of the Titans)

Background: Justice, a Fade spirit inhabiting the corpse of Grey Warden Kristoff, merged with Anders, a Grey Warden mage consumed by anger at the oppression of mages. Anders’ Blight-tainted blood, carrying the Titans' disembodied rage, began corrupting Justice's purpose.

Observation: Initially driven by balance and fairness, Justice was twisted by the Blight's primal fury and Anders’ deeply personal anger regarding the treatment of mages. The Blight amplified Justice’s purpose into something violent and unyielding, warping it into Vengeance—a spirit driven by rage, punishment, and destruction rather than resolution.

Case Study: Manfred

The same line of reasoning can be applied to Manfred, a Spirit of Curiosity inhabiting a skeleton. However, Manfred's case differs significantly from Anders and Justice or Wynne and Faith, as the skeleton he occupies lacks a pre-existing soul.  

Emmrich observes that Manfred is actively learning, with his progress accelerating after leaving the Grand Necropolis, where his growth had been gradual.

Emmrich notes Manfred's increasing engagement in various behaviors and his eventual ability to speak, albeit very rudimentary. Additionally, Winter Wise (@winter-wise) highlights that Manfred seems to be mimicking Emmrich's actions, suggesting that his learning is not purely instinctive but shaped by observation and imitation.

Manfred has a stick he likes to point around - Emmrich uses a staff Manfred walked into a rose bush - Emmrich loves flowers Manfred likes to collect shiny things, including gilded things - Emmrich wears a lot of gold

This suggests that Manfred is actively learning and evolving.  

Several codex entries reflect Emmrich's ongoing contemplation of spirit consciousness. In 'The Dawn of Consciousness,' he questions when wisps begin to change, pondering "which can name its own interests…[and] own self-reflection." 

In another entry, ‘Emmrich: Note to Harding on Souls,’ he defines a soul as "the richly numinous force within every living being… and a spirit as an entity formed entirely in the Fade from raw magic." We receive this codex immediately upon recruiting Emmrich, so it does predates Solas's revelation about his transition from a spirit in the Fade to a physical form

This implies that spirits and souls may not be as fundamentally different as once believed, hinting at a shared essence that bridges the Fade and the physical world.

What, then, is Manfred evolving into? Will he become a “person” as defined by the majority of Thedas? Or is he developing into a more complex spirit, perhaps transitioning from a Spirit of Curiosity into something like a Spirit of Learning? 

The creator of The Fade Codex leans toward Solas's perspective—that spirits can be considered "persons," regardless of whether they possess a physical body or not. However, at this stage, the answer remains uncertain.