#isaac of virtue

[monstercampus]

Archangel Professor & Isaac of Virtue - First Meeting

(cws: none)

Considering how many demons you've met at the school so far, it's a little shocking to hear from your harpy classmate that there's a chapel on campus. Especially since you haven't seen such a building anywhere in your tours, but you wonder if perhaps it's due to the sensitive nature of such a place. It's not exactly something you're planning on looking out for, but when she mentions it, the idea sticks in your head for the rest of class.

It's but a week later that you notice the distinct chiming of a bell on your way to the dining hall for lunch, the brisk Sunday morning chilly and damp but not enough to stop you from diverting your path to follow it. It entrances you in a way, leads you down a cobblestone path right up the steps of an enormous cathedral sat squarely in the midst of the university's sprawling gardens. It looms over you in an almost intimidating way, so tall and grand with the kind of elegant architecture you'd see in any travel magazine for some historically exotic vacation spot. As you venture through the tall but shockingly light front doors, your eyes lock on to the first thing that enters your vision; a being standing before the pulpit that stands as if he was awaiting your arrival, alongside a smaller companion that busies himself with organizing what looks to be the donations from a busy service. Once the doors squeal shut with a heavy thud behind you, he lifts his head to look over his shoulder, his feathery white wings flicking up in surprise before he regains himself and turns to face you fully with a grin.

The church itself resembles one you would probably see back home, but only in the symbolic sense alone. There are pews lined from back to front, a podium for one to deliver sermons, stained-glass windows at the far end and gorgeously decorated walls and floors lined with eternal candles that burn forever. But unlike back home, there's a touch of nature inside the chapel; a light breeze blows through the room and sends tiny glitters of stardust careening through the air, and while there certainly looks to be a roof from the outside, all you see upon looking upwards is a cover of clouds that obscures all that lies within. Unlike the gloomy skies outside, this artificial one glows with a rosy-pink hue that casts over the whole interior, giving the cathedral a dreamy edge-of-sunset glow that feels as though you're seeing through rose-tinted glasses.

The archangel–who you only recognize as such upon thinking back to your Holy World History classes–isn't at all what you thought they would look like. His blinding white two-piece suit is the only part of him that betrays any humanity; the rest of him is a mishmash of different features that don't seem to meld together. His hands float in tune with the movement of his arms but they aren't attached, rather there's an empty space between his wrists and palms. Where there should be a head, there's nothing but eyes; a faint cloud of tiny, sparkling bits of stardust seems to be the only thing that indicates the space where his eyes remain in place. And a pair of huge, heavenly wings sit folded up against his back, yet they're so large even on his tall frame that they scrape the ground and leave small, glowing scratches of gold that brighten before quickly fading into nothing.

His assistant, however, appears to be astoundingly human. The young man watches you through snow-white eyes and a fringe of soft, pale blond hair, which is otherwise perfectly combed down and trimmed at the neck. The suit he wears resembles his mentor's to a T, aside from the jacket he's missing that leaves him only in the perfectly creased pants and black dress shirt. Somehow, despite the very air emanating a holiness here, something about his particular gaze betrays…well, it holds a hint of lechery to it, especially as his attention flickers between meeting your eyes and catching the bared skin of your ankles beneath your jeans as you halt in front of them. Here, in this moment, you feel the heavy uncertainty weigh on your shoulders at standing before the judge and jury.

"Here only a moment, and already you tempt my steward." A voice booms authoritatively from the head of the cathedral, and at that, the archangel's assistant guiltily turns his eyes away from you, and you're left feeling shame heat your chest despite doing nothing wrong. "Is there anything of note that you require, human, or do you desire nothing but to waste my time?"

The severity of the tongue-lashing you've just gotten could send you into shock had you not grown used to the terrifyingly abnormal by now. You would expect a being of such grandiosity and holiness to address you with gentleness and love–but this archangel speaks with bitterness hot on his tongue, so stern you feel like a child being reprimanded despite not knowing what for.

"Professor, the human has no ill intentions. I believe the Dean instructed us to welcome them with open arms." The angel leans over to murmur those words quite conspicuously, clearly forgoing the guilt of his stare in favour of easing himself into that tense space between yourself and the archangel. In this chapel, you feel he may as well be the only one on your side. Yet, if it weren't wholly improper, you would be sure you'd see those dozens of eyes rolling as the archangel heaves a breathy sigh.

"Welcome to our esteemed campus. I thank you for defiling our holy ground without warning nor reason." Suddenly, as if godly in nature, a crack of thunder erupts and the clouds overhead grow dark and worrisome. Yet despite the frightening shift, neither the archangel nor his assistant bat an eye as if the ill omen is an everyday occurrence–though the former does huff quietly, clearly aware of who that warning was meant for. "...Pardon my faithless utterances. I beg your forgiveness."

You distinctly hear the angel at his side mutter something about someone upstairs giving them an earful for that. Although the archangel himself couldn't sound less uncaring about his own apology nor whether you'd accept it, you do, and in return the professor takes his leave with a sweep of his wings around his frame–just barely avoiding clipping you with his feathers as he takes off in a golden blur into the sky, diving upright into the sea of clouds above and disappearing completely.

In the silence that follows, the protégé himself sighs. In the absence of his superior, he introduces himself as the angel, Isaac of Virtue, and the professor as archangel Mikael, formerly Dominion. All hefty titles, yet without much more you desire to say or to see, you turn your eyes away from the brilliant light and move to take your leave of this chapel that clearly wishes not to welcome you.

But Isaac catches your wrist as you do so, his mentor's many eyes having turned away and vanished to attend to whatever is his business. His smile carries a gentler edge this time, just as cool and soft to the touch as his palm on your skin as it lingers there.

"Don't mind the professor's words, human. He's….well, he's ancient," Isaac chuckles, the lighthearted attempt at a joke doing what he hoped and drawing a small smile out of you. "He doesn't really mind humans as much as it seems. He's just…well, he's quite stubborn. Very set in his ways…" That last part comes out quiet and soft in the airy space between the pews. However, when he inquires about any questions you might have that he'd be happy to answer, only one comes to your mind at the moment.

"Um…do all angels…are they like..?" You gesture towards your own eyes, although your focus shifts above his head to spot the twinkling of something as the light refracts off of it. It's invisible to the naked eye, but you could swear you see some kind of halo shape hovering there in the prismatic glow.

Isaac seems to understand your words without you speaking the rest of them, his grip loosening but not letting go–and with a nod, he proves his answer by closing his eyes. When he opens them again, three more pairs crack open down each of his cheeks and blink to take you into focus, the three extra sets surveying you independently with a heart-chilling shade of red irises. When you've gotten a good look, he's quick to blink again–and this time, only his primary pair of eyes reopen, the whites tinged a very pale pink before the colour soon drains away.

"I hope this was a show of good faith. We should be friends, no?" It's hard to disagree with such an innocently sweet expression staring back at you, so with little thought given to the verbal contract you're signing you agree with a soft "of course".

"Wonderful!" He finally releases you from his grip and claps his hands together, only afterwards ducking his head around out of habit to check if the archangel is listening. But at no sign of interruption above from the fiercely stern professor, he turns back around and produces a card from his sleeve that he presses into your palm. And with a cautiously big step back, Isaac extends his wings fully and takes off into the air, sending whips of a breeze to tousle your hair and clothes as he soars up into the cloud-covered ceiling.

As soon as he's gone, you turn the card around in your hands to take a look while hustling your steps out of the now-empty cathedral. On one side is nothing but a bit of gold engraving on the white cardstock, while the other side has a phone number beneath his name and university status. You can't help but notice how the golden ink moves within the card, lines writhing and intertwining within each other to spell new words out the longer you look at it.

"Isaac the Virtuous, aide to Archangel Mikael, envoy of angelic healing….friend of the equally virtuous–and charming–human."

[kindredbynight]

[video-game-kids-tournament]

Congratulations to all of our Round 1 winners!

And now to announce round two's matches

Round 2, Match 1: Clover (Undertale Yellow) vs. Isaac Moriah (The Binding of Isaac): May 26th

Round 2, Match 2: Haruka Sawamura (Yakuza) vs. Frisk (Undertale) June 2nd

Round 2, Match 3: Six (Little Nightmares) vs. Boniface ‘Bonnie' (In Stars And Time): June 9th

Round 2, Match 4: Niko (OneShot) vs. Kris Dreemurr (Deltarune): June 16th

Round 2, Match 5: Trucy Wright (Ace Attorney) vs. Gregory (Five Nights at Freddy's): June 23rd

Round 2, Match 6: Peri (NeverHome: Hall of Apathy) vs. Quark (Virtue's Last Reward): June 30th

Round 2, Match 7: Link (The Legend of Zelda) vs. Fran Bow-Dagenhart (Fran Bow) + Sol (I Was A Teenage Exocolonist): July 7th

Round 2, Match 8: Hat Kid (A Hat in Time) vs. Gin Ibushi (Your Turn to Die): July 14th

[inspectorspacetimerevisited]

Because Mona just happened to spill the tea, the BOOTH takes them to Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth and lands smack in front of Isaac Newton.

‘No time to explain. We’re just passing through.’

[j-august]

He acted as though youth were in itself a virtue and age a matter of negligence on the part of those who should know better.

Isaac Asimov, Foundation's Edge

[wifelinkmtg]

This was intended to be an essay about chivalry—its history, its uses, its various incarnations—medieval violence, the Romantic reinterpretation, the ideal of chivalry in the American South and its attendant lynch mobs. I would have talked about the chivalric triad: Knight, Innocent, Enemy—the way the Innocent serves as a fulcrum for the Knight to enact violence against the Enemy—the iterations of this triad in any number of places in our society, from the so-called sheepdog mentality trained into our police to the legion of revenge-fantasy Taken clones. I would have talked about the way Kierkegaard in Fear and Trembling incorporates chivalry with the sacrifice of Isaac, the theology of self-justified suffering that comes from that. I would have talked at some length about various portrayals of lesbian chivalry in media—Revolutionary Girl Utena, the Locked Tomb books, Signalis—how they use it, what they say about it, and whether at the end there is anything worth salvaging from this intrinsically violent way of relating to the world, to others, to oneself, to God.

I think a version of that essay might still be worth writing someday, but right now, there's something I need to talk about much more urgently. Right now, there's something I suspect you might desperately need to hear. Today I'm going to talk about Godzilla.

GODZILLA SAVED MY LIFE: A Polemic

Godzilla Minus One (2024) takes place in Japan in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. Its protagonist, Koichi, is a failed kamikaze pilot who in the opening scenes is repeatedly excoriated for his cowardice and dereliction of duty. When he returns home to a bombed and desolate Tokyo, his bereaved neighbor tells him, if people like you had done their duty, this would not have happened. The film spends the rest of its runtime doggedly refuting this idea. It says, out loud, that the relentless calculus of sacrifice that turns men into things to be spent has no place in this world, that it is needless and cruel. It is not subtle about this point. It is not trying to be.

I saw this movie in its black and white version in theaters in February, on the last day of its run. Its version of Godzilla inspires in me both terror and near-religious awe. It looms over the film, an echo both of the devastation of the war and of Koichi's guilt and shame, its presence inviting—demanding—the final consummation of the mission he abandoned.

I wept in that theater. I gripped my friend's hand and I sobbed. This is unlike me (unless I'm watching Gunbuster), and it took four days for me to work out why this Godzilla movie had affected me so profoundly.

arkansas kamikaze

and she looked, and behold! a beast rose from the sea, and against the beast he breathed glory in a Zero dive. his beatified smile shone from the wreck of the Little Rock Planned Parenthood clinic. and a great wind blew out of heaven, and she woke

and made breakfast, and watched her son wholly absorbed in Bonhoeffer, found her lipstick worn down to the nub for practice stigmata, and saw for a moment the dove descending, the tongue of fire over his head.

The thing about being raised in a right-wing fundamentalist family is that you are from birth being prepared to be a weapon, or a martyr, and there is really no difference between those two things. If my mother had had her way, I would have gone to a tiny far-right college and studied law for the sole and explicit purpose of getting Roe v. Wade overturned. She would, I believe, have settled for me bombing an abortion clinic. Certainly it would have been easier for her to reconcile with that than with what I became instead.

The other thing about being raised in a right-wing fundamentalist family is, some things stick. And it's very hard to notice, as your beliefs and values and identity undergo radical changes, that there is still a whisper in you that believes in the power of the glorious death, of the ultimate virtue of strapping explosives to your chest and walking into the halls of the Enemy. And when you feel helpless, when you watch systems and institutions that ought to prevent atrocities instead encourage them, that whisper grows louder and louder and louder.

Watching Koichi fly his last mission, watching him an instant before impact eject, and live—watching everyone live through the final confrontation because they had all rejected the calculus of sacrifice—allowed me to see also for the very first time this parasitic idea that had grown coiled inside me since infancy, allowed me to see where it had come from, its whole monstrous lineage, and then it allowed me to take hold of it and pull it out.

Twenty days later, Aaron Bushnell set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC, in protest of the still-ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people. He was, like me, raised in a right-wing fundamentalist environment. He was, like one of my siblings, a member of the US Armed Forces radicalized by his experiences and his own conscience. People called him a hero and martyr—on this very site, in responses to the excellent Crimethinc piece circulating at the time, I saw people saying they felt like they should follow suit (even though the article in question explicitly and repeatedly warned against it!) As if the loss of a person of conscience and conviction could be anything other than a tragedy, as if anyone in power choosing to support the genocide could regard the death of one of their own soldiers as anything other than what soldiers are for, as if the moral response to a genocide could ever be to add another corpse to the mountain—and still I saw people lionizing him, praising his courage and his sacrifice, all but telling people to follow in his footsteps.

No. Aaron Bushnell was a suicide. He lived his whole life within organizations that taught him that he could purchase more with his death than he could ever accomplish with his life, and while we may praise his conscience, we can only mourn his loss and the grievous error that led him to it.

This is the thing about learning to see this parasite: you begin to see it everywhere. Our history for millennia is awash with human sacrifice: Abraham and Isaac, Jephthah and his nameless daughter, Agamemnon and Iphigenia, the crucifixion of Jesus—and later, litanies, row upon row of dead saints, stories of glorious last stands. The courageous martyred dead: blood and corpses, only and always, to Moloch.

In light of the recent US election, perhaps many of my American readers are feeling shock or horror or despair. I understand, and without blame, with love and gentleness, I tell you that this is because you have not correctly understood the scope of the problem. You imagine a discontinuity between the liberal version of American capitalism and imperialism and the fascist version of the same. No such discontinuity exists. Things will no doubt be different for us here in the US than they would otherwise be, and probably worse, but there is no distinction to be made between the genocide of yesterday and the genocide of tomorrow. The enemy is the same. The work is the same.

Above all else, this is to warn you: when you do this work, when you look for a place you can put your shoulder to the wheel, there will be people who want to spend their lives—or yours—like coin to purchase some great change immediately. Perhaps they mean well, and helplessness and desperation drives them to act without regard for the consequences. Perhaps they do not mean well. Do not follow these people. Perhaps they merely expect you to go to prison, and have no plan for how to support you after that. This is barely different. It is far better for you to languish in useless liberal nonprofits which will accomplish nothing of value than to attempt radical direct action with people with correct politics and no forethought, and end up dead or imprisoned—but these are not the only two options. Aaron Bushnell cannot ever again do anything for anyone. You can.

This is as much as I know for certain. I love you. Don't die.

-------

End Notes

It would not be unreasonable to ask me, in light of what I've said here about martyrdom, what I think of it in other cultural contexts, especially since a similar word is often used to refer to e.g. Palestinian people murdered by Israeli soldiers. The answer is nothing at all. Such people get to use whatever words they want to salvage whatever meaning and comfort they can.

Godzilla Minus One, as effective a movie as it is, was not solely responsible for the scales falling from my eyes. It was an important part of the process, but I doubt it would have sufficed on its own were I not in community with people I trust and talk to about such things. "Godzilla and also my trusted friends saved my life" is, alas, a worse title.

There will be a part two to this. Part one seemed more urgent.

[ghostwriterofthemachine]

waiting as virtue // waiting as vice

Wikipedia: Widow's Walk (accessed 2025) || Jane Yeh, "After the Attack of the Crystalline Entity" (2012) || John Hughes, Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) || Ram Dass, Be Here Now (1971) || Walter Martin & Paloma Muñoz, The Artists as Candles (1996) || John Roddam Spencer Stanhope, Penelope (1849) || Foster the People, "Waste," 2011 || David Lowery, A Ghost Story (2017) || Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler), The Ersatz Elevator (2001) || Pat Schneider, "The Patience of Ordinary Things" (2019) || Swinton O. Scott & Eric Kaplan, Futurama, "Jurassic Bark" (2002) || Carl Holsøe, Waiting by the Window (1898) || The Used, "Blue and Yellow" (2002) || Isaac Cordal, Follow the Leaders [often attributed as "Politicians Discussing Climate Change"], 2013 || Jennie Augusta Brownscombe, Love's Young Dream (1887) || Thomas Meyer, "Are You Going To Stay?" (2015)

[transbookoftheday]

Trans Books By Authors Of Color

Here are some trans books by authors of color you should read:

Book titles:

Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution by Kacen Callender

The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon

The Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang

The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa

Just Happy To Be Here by Naomi Kanakia

The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

The Subtweet by Vivek Shraya

Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore

Drag Me Up by R.M. Virtues

Unwieldy Creatures by Addie Tsai

Three Kings by Freydís Moon

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimons

[sitting-1n-silence]

Tools for working the Book of Oberon

Within the Book of Oberon (which you can read my introduction to here) operations call for a verity of tools. Some more obscure and easier to make or acquire than others. This list will focus on the core tools needed to begin practical use of this grimoire, made with methods described in this grimoire and modified based on practicality and my experience. Most of these tools can be created at once in the day and hour of mercury.

The Garments

Within Oberon there are a few notes about what the magician should be wearing. Suggesting white garments, made of linen, and sometimes having specific symbols marked on it. Or the attire of a priest. Other operations might request the use of a crown, but this won't be something I explore here. The BoO also gives a prayer to be said as the magi puts on his holy vestments.

While putting on the garment say the following:

Ancor, Amacor, Amides, Theodonias, Anitor, by the virtues of your holy angels, 0 Lord, I put on the garments of salvation, that this which I desire I will be able to bring about, through the most holy Adonay, whose kingdom endures for all the ages. Amen.

Should the magician choose they can also adorn the chest or cuffs of the garment with the following names of power to keep them safe from harm: [Note: I use a lamen instead]

+ Emanuell + Saboath + On + Messias + Sother + Agla + Adonay + Yana + You + Tetragramaton + Semephoron + Vay + Any + Eye + Ass + Essereayeey + Adonay + Sabaothe +

with the Hebrew letters "Yod-He-Vau-He."

Holy Water, Fire, Oil, and Incense

Within this grimoire there are various prescriptions for hallowing water, fire, oil, and the suffumigations. In almost all cases this water and oil are used in the consecration of the space and of other tools, the fire for lighting these incenses for suffumigation. So I'll be combing the blessing of these ritual implements into one simple spring of prayers, as well as give a few alternative blessings from the grimoire.

To consecrate the water:

I sprinkle you, O holy water, in the circle and in the place of almighty God, who made you blessed and consecrated, and has given power to his servant, especially to the priests to consecrate in his name, who is the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and I bless, invoke, and exorcise you, O water, in the name of God, and Mary his mother, and besides in his name and virtue and of all the saints male and female, with all the celestial assembly, in order that you, O water, may be consecrated through that God who has made you, and ordered you to be consecrated for our protection and defense against all temptations of the Devil, and against his assaults and snares, by the power of the Holy Ghost, who is merciful to us, and may it be deemed worthy everywhere and for everything, through Christ out Lord. Amen.

To consecrate the oil:

I exorcise you O creature of oil, by him through whom all things have been made, that all phantasms may immediately be ejected from you. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ + Be blessed oh creature of oil, and sanctified, through our Lord Jesus. Amen.

For the incense use the following blessing:

O God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, bless these creatures of spices, in order that the strength and virtue of their scents may grow, so that no enemies nor phantasms may be able to enter through our Lord Jesus Christ, God the Father, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

To exorcise and bless the vessel and fire for incense:

I exorcise you O creature of fire, by him through whom all things have been made, that all phantasms may immediately be ejected from you, so that it will be unable to harm anybody. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, God the Father, and the Holy Ghost. + Bless of Lord this creature of fire, and sanctify it, for the praise of your holy name, so that no harm may come from bearing or seeing it, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Glass/Crystal/Mirror

The grimoire provides 2 operations for making a magic scrying tool. I prefer the 2nd one for the fact that it's easier and shorter to preform. [Tho the first one is worth looking into as it also begins the work of creating a book for the magi, and to consecrate other necessary tools.] The procedure is for enchanting a scrying tool so that it's spirit provides clearly and honestly all things you want you know. It could be a glass receptacle, a crystal, or a mirror. I have made use of all 3 and found each to be equally as potent when properly enchanted. Once made this tool can be used when conjuring any spirit, but especially angelic ones. As well as for answering questions truly.

To hallow the spirit of a mirror:

Take a clean white cloth and place it on a fine table, atop that set your scrying tool of choice. Then say the following prayer,

0 almighty and eternal God, be present at these mysteries of your great kindness; be present at our devout invocations, so that you may deign to make this mirror worthy to be blessed in your name, which we strive to sanctify, to send out your spirit of blessing, and pour over it your blessed spirit, that what is to be done by our humble ministry may be accomplished by the effect of your power, although we are unworthy to perform such great mysteries. Yet as you do not abandon the gifts of your grace, so incline the ears of your goodness to our prayers, that this mirror which is blessed in your name, by the power of your holiness, may accept and become a perfect receptacle for accepting your angelic creatures in your holy name, to show a demonstration of the past, present, and future of a true and perfect knowledge, that we may be able to call upon your ineffable grace, without ambiguity or accusation, whatever it visibly manifests with rays to our eyes, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in unity with the Holy Ghost, God forever and ever. Amen.

Then the consecration,

0 God, who permitted this mirror to be made from fragile matter for the use of human kind, in order that he may judge by the illuminating rays, the different multi-layered appearances observed by looking at its different shapes; look kindly on the face of this mirror and multiply your blessings in it, that the inrush of your abundant grace gladdens the soul, as with the command of your greatness, in order that it may obtain grace from your Holy Ghost, which through the holy secret mixture of clarity and light, He (the Holy Ghost) may make this mirror fruitful, that a sanctifying energy being accepted and conceived in it, through your truthful angels, whom we intend to call upon through the power of your name, because of your usual mercy and nature, it may represent by looking at. Therefore O Lord, may all unclean spirits depart from this blessed mirror, most clear and true; may all devilish wickedness, delusions, and deceptions withdraw far from this mirror. May the creature of this mirror be free from all attacks, assaults, and purged of all deceits and immune to all treachery, and may the divine light surround it, so that all doubts and uncertainties are indicated, that your angels may reveal very clear that which is hidden or doubtful, so that anyone who gazes into this mirror may operate it in, O perfect Holy Ghost, and successfully understand what he asks about with certainty. Therefore I bless you, O mirror + by the living God, + by the true God, + by the holy God, + by the God who has granted you special power for showing appearances, so that being consecrated and strengthened you may accept and retain the power for which we have directed you. Be blessed and consecrated through Jesus Christ his only son our Lord, who has wished you to be consistently translucent and to send in the shapes and to demonstrate through different reflections with invocations to you almighty merciful God, be present with us, and infuse into this mirror the celestial harmony of your good clarity, speak with your mouth the benediction of this stone, so that thought you, for the common use of people, and may your angel be present in it to reliably answer our questions.

Put 5 drops oil on the surface of the mirror in the shape of a cross (4 points and one in the center) then say,

May the power of the Holy Ghost descend into this mirror. May it stir up the knowledge manifested in the mirror, that is may further the effect most gently, so that all doubts are resolved with certainty, so that all people gazing into this mirror may themselves enjoy true knowledge and perfect certainty, and command of the information and demonstration, through you, 0 Lord who lives and reigns and rules forever. Amen.

Now put 5 drops of oil on the right thumb, make a cross on the mirror connecting the prior drops of oil, and say the following,

Through this anointing may this mirror be consecrated, blessed, and sanctified, so that it may have the perfect power we desire for revealing the angels to us, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Next blow on the mirror for 5 seconds, then say,

Descend into this mirror so it may be consecrated, blessed, and sanctified, so that this mirror may have the perfect power we desire for revealing the angels to us, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Lastly way before the mirror;

I conjure you, O exhalation, by the name (insert name), by the Holy Mother, instilled by the concerns of the phantasm, be filled by the greatest breath, by the best practice, by all the infernal tributes, by the holy Mary Magdalene, by the blessed Margaret, by the head of the holy John the Baptist, by Peter and Paul, by the virtues of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you join this mirror to respond to everything that is asked.

Soon the spirit of the mirror shall appear to you as a voice, saying and will show what you ask. This is also your opportunity to get a spirit seal from this creature before sending them on their way. When you are ready bid the spirit license to depart, request that it comes back whenever called. This is the spirit of the mirror who will aid in bringing forth other spirits and answers when the magi desires them.

The Ring

Various points in the BoO mention the use of a magic ring, and there are various experiments for the construction of a magic ring. For the purposes here I'll be focusing on one specific conjuration for a ring. Instilling the ring to have power over spirits and to aid you in excising them.

It goes as follows:

For 3 days prior to this rite abstain from impurity. You may eat and drink water, but refrain as best as you can from your vices. Place the ring you have chosen for this consecration on your altar. Where you will be celebrating 3 masses [note: I did not hold 3 masses over the ring I use. Instead, I simply prayed over them with psalms]. Then put the ring in a clean place [I wrapped mine in white cloth] and perfume it with fine fragrances.

On the 4th day say over the ring,

Hoccindinos + Osytheon + Stimulamaton + Elioram + Messias + Sother + Emanuel + Sabaoth + Adonay + Panthater + Primellus + Grabaton + by these holy names, and by other names which it is not permitted to name, I humbly urge you, that this ring which is here present, which the wise Solomon prepared and used in his experiments, and obtained effectual power over all demons and evil spirits, and he was able to exorcise them at his pleasure through the power of this ring, and he was able to bind them fast in all his experiments, and may it be salvation and protection to the associates, through you, 0 God, who are the refuge of all, and the virtue, glory, and power, through the eternal ages. Amen.

Lastly recite psalm 120, 112, and 129 over the ring. After this the ring will be ready to be used.

The Sword

Many rituals within the BoO call for the use of a sword. There are no clear consecrations for the sword in the book, so when I worked this grimoire I didn't worry about consecrating my sword. The sword I used was a metal blade sharp enough to cut, but not sharp enough to do any serious damage. Occasionally I substituted my sword for a white or black handled knife per the texts suggestion.

On occasions I do feel called to hallow my sword I use a simple exorcism based on others in the BoO. I would say the following while sprinkling my blade with holy water,

Creature of iron/metal I exorcise and bless thee in the names of the Father, the Son, and the Holy ghost. Amen. +++

Using holy oil I mark the sword with 3 "+" signs. One on the handle, one where the blade meets the handle, and the last one by the tip of the blade.

The Hazel Rods

These are treasure hunting tools first and foremost, but they can also be used to lead to you anything you wish. So should you find that through working this grimoire you need specific materia these may come in handy.

To make the hazel rods:

On the first Friday of an increasing moon before the sun has risen look for a hazel tree. Find branches that are about a year in age or less. Cut them in 4 stroke while saying,

In the name of the Father, I have sought thee. In the name of the Son, I have found thee. In the name of the Holy Ghost, I do cut thee

Followed by John 1:1, the Pater Noster 3 times, and 7 Ave Marias. Then say,

O Lord by whose providence mankind is increased, and all things have their being, humbly we beseech thee to put away from us all hurtful things, and that thou will grant to us that all things may be brought to good pass that we take in hand, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. Lord, hear my prayer and let my cry come unto thee. Let us pray. 0 Lord, by whose providence the earth and all therein was created, grant grace to these, thy creatures, that they may be unto me aiding, both now and at all other times as when I shall have cause to use them, so that the rather by them I may come to the knowledge of that thing I desire. This grant, good lord, I do beseech thee for thy dear Son Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. I conjure you, hazel rods of one year growing this day, by the ineffable names of God + Hely + Helyson + Orca + Tetragrammaton + that you bring me without all manner of deceit and craft unto the place where any treasure is hidden, or any other thing, and that by the virtue of the holy name of God written in you. I command you that you do not rule in vain. I adjure you, 0 hazels of one year's growth, by the three kings of Cullen, Jasper, Melchior, and Balthazar, that, as they being wise and prudent men, were conducted and led by a star where as they found Christ, that so you may bring me into the certain and sure place where any treasure is or metal is hid or hath any being, and that this be done. I bid and command you by the power of God the Father, who hath made you, by God the Son, who hath redeemed me, and by the Holy Spirit who hath sanctified me and all creatures. Amen.

On the first rod write "Arifax + Agla +" 3 times, and on the other write "+ Adonay + Raavarax" 3 times.

[monstercampus]

How do we spend time with the student body when we aren't bangin' like bunnies? Like, do we have a movie watch party with the werewolves, gaming marathon with Lidya, just a chill day with the Centipede? Playing sports, study group, etc. I am all for the fucking frenzy like everyone else, but I just wanted to know what are things we do together in our free time :v

Of course! There's lots to do around campus on a day-to-day basis, both organized by the university itself or just what the students like to do on their off time. It's a big part of monster culture to throw parties and hang out with people whether you know them really well or just met, so it's likely that you could be swept into a bush party or invited into someone's dorm to smoke or play board games without even knowing their names.

As for individual students, again, there's lots! With the werewolves being the jocks they are, they're most likely to go live it up at the frat parties and afterparties for the sports games or dances, so if drinking and partying in general is your thing you'll always have a group to go with you (and keep you safe!). Although you'll have to deal with their incessant clinginess when they inevitably get hangovers, and suffer through the touchiest cuddle piles imaginable if more than one or two of them are feeling nauseous or have headaches. If you've got plans the next day, definitely skip the hardcore partying with them the night before!

Lidya and Jude are probably the ones you'll hang out with the most since they're pretty much always available, and since nobody else really tends the arcade she can pretty much open and close it whenever she wants. So if you're in the mood, she'll open up a private or public gaming tourney and you can spend hours just hanging out, talking, and trying to beat each other at your favourite games, and once it gets late she'll get food delivered and you can watch a movie or something on the sofa in the backroom. The best part is that she's spent so much time tinkering with Jude's hardware that she's come up with a couple different devices to take him out into the real world! She has yet to make anything crazy like an android body (she's working on that as a future birthday gift) but for now she's got a keychain that has a modified USB and what looks like a little retro Tamagotchi; the USB is for her to plug into the arcade cabinets so she can upload his data and he can play alongside you guys, and the Tamagotchi has a pixely little version of Jude inside that she can take around so he doesn't get lonely. Whenever she's out of the arcade, there's a good 80-90% chance that she's got Jude with her, so if you wanna hang out you can do so pretty much anywhere! She can even plug him into the laptop she's got at her dorm, although the last time she did that he got ahold of some....ahem, sensitive file folders she wanted to keep private, so she'll only let him in there if you wanna watch something online with her in her room.

As for centipede, you hit the nail on the head! If Efraim's not in class he's usually getting high, so you can stop by his dorm day or night and get a free hit off him pretty much anytime. Don't get me wrong, there are definitely times when he's handsy or you can clearly tell he was planning on jerking off instead of entertaining company, but in general it's just harmless fun and you can just bum around his dorm doing nothing if you want. He's always in the mood to watch a movie or listen to music, and he's surprisingly not averse to cooking and not too bad at it either, so if you get hungry or you're just bored hell find something you two can make together to kill a couple hours. He does that a lot, you'll find--if there's a distinct lull in conversation or your mood shifts downward, he might offer, but most times he'll just quietly get up off the couch and go fix you something to eat. Even if it's just cutting an apple and some peanut butter or making you a sandwich, he fills time pretty well with putzing around the kitchen in the hopes of finding you something you really, really like. Do keep in mind that he's got roommates, however, and although Zombie can be a pretty amiable guy to share a space with...his slime roommate is less so. So if they're home, Efraim will probably try to keep your hangout to his bedroom to limit the distractions.

It may sound a little odd, but your yeti professor is pretty open to spending time together, too! Aryck holds baking lessons quite often and he's almost always in the kitchen, so if you're ever bored or looking to expand your culinary expertise he's usually around. You can even be his taste tester if you want, and hang around the classroom for an hour or two while he tests recipes and puts together his lesson plans for the next semester! It may feel a little awkward at first, but it turns into great fun once you open up to him a little more. A lot of the professors either spend much of their time on campus or are looking for assistance in some of their menial academic tasks, so you could probably find any professor you like and hang out with them awhile in exchange for some easy labour and snacks as a reward. The orc metalworking professor holds girls-only workshops weekly too, which is a great way to get to know the girls at school since they're all so friendly and are eager to make new friends! Go there once and you'll be invited to every sleepover and girl's night and brunch for the rest of the year! And of course, the resident doctor on campus is constantly cycling through "assistants" for his questionable medical trials, so if you're feeling brave you can come help him out and be treated to teatime afterwards.

The harpies are great fun, too! There's a group of them that live in the same dorm building as you do, and while they can be excitable and sometimes a little loud late at night, they're always eager to have company and will invite you in if you so much as pass by their door. They're not only great for parties or dances but they do a lot of studying together too, so they'd be happy to cram together for your exams and midterms! And they know all the professor's likes and weaknesses, so they'll get you any important info you may need if you have to appeal to them so they'll curve your grade. Plus, free snacks!

The university holds lots of intramurals for various sports all throughout the year, too, so even if you don't want to join a team or commit for a whole season you can still play with both the athletes and the casuals, and the pool is almost always open so swimming is a year-round option too. The werewolves and Priam do these a lot during the winter months when the football season is in a lull, so they'll always be up for pretty much any sport you wanna do and will be all too happy to show you how to play if you're a newbie. Plus, they've got rec rooms separate from the arcade in nearly every dorm building and in a few of the main academic buildings, which have the usual dartboards, pool tables, community game consoles, cards, board games, and D&D style books along with signup sheets to join oneshots or campaign groups. Many of the non-athletic clubs and groups gather in the rec rooms around campus, so it's a good way to get a feel for any extracurriculars you might wanna join! Antón runs a book club and Ollie's part of the chess team, for example, so if there's something you're interested in there's probably either someone you know that's in it or a professor you've got that's running it.

Of course, you could always attend sermons or the charity events the chapel holds too, if you feel so inclined--it may be intimidating to walk in knowing how the Archangel feels about you, especially where his protégé is involved. But Isaac would be more than happy to take your hand and show you around, and he'll stick to your side like glue during any events so you won't get caught alone with Mikael and have an interrogation thrown your way. He'll take the tongue-lashing happily in your stead once you're gone--he's used to the strict hand the high angels take anyways, and he's gone through the purity rituals so many times he could sleep through them at this point. If it means you're more likely to come around more often, he'll gladly sit through a lecture as many times as he needs to!

Also, whether you're a strong swimmer or can't swim at all, Nessie and the Kraken always somehow appear when you come to take a dip in the lake. Nessie's unashamedly competitive if you're good and will want to race and time how long you can hold your breath, but if you're not a swimmer at all, he and the Kraken will want very badly to teach you. It's more of Nessie's active guidance that you'll get as he holds you and shows you how to tread and paddle, but you can be reassured that if you ever get scared or the current pulls you down too far, the Kraken will rouse within moments and extend its tentacles from the depths to push you back up to the surface for air. If need be, it'll even carry you above the water and let you down once you're at the shore, or it'll let out that deep, rumbly cry to alert Nessie to your plight so he'll come splashing up to help you!

[kindredbynight]

Virtue overthrow

The gang has hunted down the Whight but the night is still full of surprises. And betrayals

Isaac has staked the whight and used his abilities to make a blade of his hand

Rey: Don’t!

Isaac: (overlapping with Fuego): don’t what/what?

Rey: Don’t kill it

Isaac & Serif: Why!!

Rey: I need this thing

Serif/Fuego: why?!

Isaac: You can’t have it

Rey: I was asked to get proof that this existed.

Serif: Take a picture!

Isaac: For who?!

Fuego casts mesmerise on Rey

Fuego: (quietly but intently) explain. Now

Rey: I need this to prove to the Camarilla that I’m worth it to them.

Serif laughs humourlessly: (to Isaac) do whatever you were about to do Isaac

He does so! Rey rails against it but Issac begins sawing at the neck of the whight. Serif takes a photo before it disintegrates.

[dragoneyes613]

"Here's the thing: It's good to be unpopular with a mob whose worldview has done away with the concept of right and wrong and decided, with a Nazi-like commitment to racial ideology, that you are Jewish and therefore you are white and therefore you are bad. It is good to be unpopular with people who spent the weeks after October 7 on the hunt for Jewish exaggeration, Jewish lies, Jewish crimes. It is good to be unpopular with people who cannot separate evil from power and virtue from skin color. (Unpopularity, for now, is your fate, unless you are willing to cosign your own humiliation and join the left's token "good Jews" who advocate against Zionism from the comfort of the diaspora for plaudits from the Squad.) We don't answer to them; we answer to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Rock of Israel and its Redeemer."

- Batya Unger Saragon, The Free Press, November 10

[zsakuva]

What would Xanthus, Elias, and Issac think about morality (as they seem to be the more morally ambiguous characters)? Like how do they feel about the concept of ‘doing the right thing’? They have all expressed the willingness to kill if necessary, but what that was a point of conflict with listener? What if morals in general were a point of conflict between the character and listener?

Morality as a shared concept is not universal, and is only derived from values that individuals and societies uphold. All three characters have their own subjective definitions of it, as well as their own standards and limitations they perform within.

Xanthus has lived four lifetimes and has seen things others couldn't dream of. His perception of the world has changed through the centuries, and this knowledge informs him of what actions he takes and how he views others. As a vampire, this surpasses human beliefs and values that may seem trivial to him.

He'll risk more because he's immortal, he'll do what he wants because he can compel people, but he's not unrestrained. Xanthus is calculative with his kills and his prey. He knows to rein in his hunger because missing people and dead bodies drained of blood alerts hunters. He knows who to befriend or compel for his own gain. In ways, Xanthus could be considered one of the most objective characters if faced with a hard situation as his own emotions aren't normally a part of the decision.

Concerning Love's morals, I think they're somewhat thrown out the window because they're dealing with a supernatural being who knows more than they ever could. It's hard enough to wrap your head around a person living for more than 400 years, but it's even harder to sift through all those conflicting morals around the world from societies that have come and gone.

In contrast, Elias, as the youngest carries morals from his parents and those around him. Killing for self-defence. Fighting to show his power. He was taught the way gang members are supposed to act even though he didn't want that life in the first place. He understands the brutality and violence of the life he lives, and twisting his own morals would undoubtedly keep him alive.

I think Barista understands that considering what they've currently been through. But this all depends on what their own morals are.

Isaac is also a product of what he was taught and witnessed. His morals in the beginning were developed from his mother who taught him patience and good virtues. But his life events twisted that, and his morals changed along with it. The 'right thing' does and doesn't exist for him; many of his clients want outcomes that require illegal means to get or do, and he has little problem doing this. It all depends on what will be sacrificed and if he's okay with dealing with that loss, whatever it may be.

Pickle likely has similar morals to Isaac considering what they've been through. But again, it all depends where they draw the line.

Someone's morals won't be tainted with murder if they believe it. Others may think killing an insect goes against their morals. What is right and wrong is a huge topic of discussion and extremely divisive, but I hope I was able to shed some light on these characters for you!

[blueinkedfrost]

Castlevania seasons 3 and 4 - Hector and Lenore.

Spoiler warning.

Image source

What are the key traits of a vampire? Ask five writers, get fifty-five answers, a lot of ink is spilt on this topic and that's good.

One of the most compelling definitions is, "A vampire is a powerful parasite, who cannot survive without murdering people." A vampire is a metaphor for the rich and greedy in human society, who break other people's backs and use and abuse others' labour to live long and comfortable lives at the expense of their suffering.

Castlevania vampires seem to live up (down) to that definition. Sure, they're able to drink animal blood, but they calculate that if Dracula's plan to murder all humans on Earth worked, then they too will starve to death even if some animals survive. They specifically need to devour humans to continue to exist. So the war between vampires and humans can't end. Bias alert: I am Team Human all the way.

Castlevania's Lenore was a child of war before she became a vampire. She decided to be a vampire diplomat. Peaceful negotiations when possible, so that everyone involved got some reward and left the table happy. She showed loyalty and affection to her vampire sisters and generally kept her word when she made a bargain. She fed on humans, but she kept it discreet. She even trimmed her nails instead of going around with claws like every other vampire.

Enter Hector, the human Forgemaster, with the ability to animate dead bodies into powerful night creatures subservient to his will. This is a unique ability that only humans can use. While they're often persecuted by other humans, Forgemasters are very valuable to vampires because their "night creature" armies are used more like "day creatures" since they don't die from sunlight exposure like vampires. Lenore was tasked to bring Hector under her sisters' control. She manipulated Hector into becoming her magically bound slave and told him that he was her pet. She gave him decent food, clothing, and creature comforts. Both sides of the relationship tripped over Stockholm syndrome and manipulation into something resembling friendship with a side of sexual attraction. (I think it's pretty explicit that some of Hector's manner to Lenore represented him trying to manipulate her. Hector was a prisoner, Lenore and her sisters abused him, so his escape attempts are obviously sympathetic.) When Hector finally escaped captivity, he asked his ally Isaac to keep Lenore alive as a favour.

Not long before Hector's escape, Lenore came to a realisation about her sister Carmilla. Centuries ago, Carmilla was turned into a vampire by a mad old vampire who abused her. At some point she killed him and seized power. She gathered three other female vampires and formed a ruling council: Striga the warrior, Morana the logistics manager, Lenore the diplomat, and Carmilla the leader and inspiring spark. Perhaps all four had similarly dark backstories at the hands of men. Either way, the four vampire queens of Styria managed to rule a small but stable kingdom for two hundred years. Then Dracula summoned Carmilla to his side while he was trying to kill every human on Earth. Carmilla realised he'd become another mad old man, so Carmilla betrayed him and kidnapped Hector to use for herself. Carmilla's new plan saw the end of Lenore's diplomacy: she was going to use Hector to make an army and conquer the world by force. Lenore didn't know at the time, but her act to enslave Hector was the last task she could ever complete in Carmilla's new world.

Lenore claims that the "vampire's virtue" is stability, since they are long lived. She desires stability and she achieved something like it for two hundred years. But Carmilla is hungry for the whole world. Carmilla's become a mad old woman as much as Dracula was a mad old man, and wants never ending power that will cause her and her sisters' lives to be nothing but endless fighting. Isaac defeats Carmilla and she dies while Lenore is captured.

Lenore fears being kept in a cage, even though it is the same fate she inflicted on Hector. But there's much more to her last decision than that fear.

One of Lenore's final lines is:

LENORE. Having been shown what I am, having found that I have been living a lie ...

Through Carmilla, Lenore came to understand that as a vampire she'll always hunger. She tried for stability and was less bloody and more thoughtful than the average vampire, but she would inevitably have followed the same way as Carmilla. Her cruelty to Hector was part of what she was.

LENORE. Power does nothing but eat. HECTOR. Like a vampire.

Lenore decides to kill herself by walking into the sunlight. Hector reaches out a hand to stop her, but chooses to let her go.

HECTOR. Be free, Lenore.

Looking at the sun, making a joke about how there's not much to it, turning back to Hector in her final moments, Lenore dies with dignity and dissolves into the dawn.

Lenore's character arc is a well written tragedy. Through Carmilla and Hector, she's awakened to what she is and will become - a murderous parasite with a never ending hunger. She finds the inner strength to end it all. I enjoyed watching her character's journey.

[religious-extremist]

I need guidance on something. I find myself committing sin (lying, anger) often - and I want to repent but I feel like it would be a lie to God because I know I will sin again, because I have fallen into these habits. I want to get better and seek God's forgiveness but I absolutely do not want to make false promises to God. I have asked other Christians about this but they all give me similar responses - "Just repent anyway, it's okay if you sin again," or "These sins are so minor, God doesn't care," or other things like this and it feels like being led astray to even consider these possibilities. I am asking you because I feel like an Orthodox Christian sticks more firmly to the Bible and not to modern interpretations of it.

Eagerly awaiting your response, and please pray for me. :)

St. Porphyrios used to say, “Do not fight to expel the darkness from the chamber of your soul. Open a tiny aperture for light to enter, and the darkness will disappear.”

All habitual sins are rooted in the passions: lying and anger are the fruits of pride, which is the seed of corruption. It is necessary to struggle against them and not despair of our salvation. We cannot give up the fight against the desires of the flesh; it is impossible to be a Christian while indulging in the pleasures of sin.

God gives us the weapons we need to fight the passions through the Church; through frequent confession and communion; through prayer and fasting. I recommend you talk to an Orthodox spiritual father, as I am only a layperson, and a terribly sinful and foolish one at that!

The only way to avoid sin is to have perfect prayer, to have perfect stillness of the heart, to hold fast to Christ and keep Him in the center of your thoughts at all times. Have you ever heard of the Jesus prayer and the hesychastic way of life?

St. Macarius of Optina said, “Pray simply. Do not expect to find in your heart any remarkable gift of prayer. Consider yourself unworthy of it. Then you will find peace. Use the empty cold dryness of your prayer as food for your humility.”

I wish to say, his advice can be used to advance in all of the other virtues aside from prayer. Pray for God to keep you from sin, and if you find yourself falling into sin, use the shame of sin as food for your humility.

St. Isaac the Syrian also said, “As salt is needed for all kinds of food, so humility is needed for all kinds of virtues.”

While Elder Ephraim said, “Grass does not sprout in trampled ground; likewise, passions and wickedness do not sprout in a humble soul. As long as we lack humility, God will not stop humbling us through trials until we learn this important and most salvific lesson.”

So you might wonder, how can I gain humility? When you find yourself angry, look inwards and remember your sin against God. Remember the unmerciful servant, the fool who received forgiveness for his debt from the King and then assailed a fellow servant for owing him much less than what he, himself, owed the King. Pray for those who sin against you, and thank God for the persecution you face, because He allows you to face temptations in order to heal your soul of its passions.

“In order to abide in the love of God it is essential for anger and 'hate' to attain their maximum intensity but be directed against the sin that lives in me, against the evil active in me - in me, not in my brother.” St. Silouan exhorted.

Most importantly, no one can attain these virtues unless they are in obedience to a spiritual father. People fall into delusion thinking they can live a spiritual life outside of the Church, but in doing so, they follow the whims of their heart and nourish not their souls but feed the evil passion of pride in their hearts. Disobedience was the first sin committed by man in Paradise, and it is by obedience to a spiritual father that we free ourselves from the harsh judgment of God.

Please forgive me and pray for me, inadequate and late in my answer. You are welcome to send me a message if you wish to speak. It is hard for me to answer these questions adequately without conversation, the answer is so vast and encompasses so many facets of the spiritual life that cannot be explained in a short paragraph by a stupid person like me, so I recall instead what the saints have said.

The spiritual life is mystical, you must participate in the prayers, services, fasts, and sacraments of the Church in order to find answers; it is not something I can give to you with words, but it is an experience of God. “God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us!” The only way to know God is by divine revelation, not by mere will, and we find God revealed to us through His Church! “Taste and see that the Lord is good!” Indeed, He knocks at your door, only you must answer and meet the Bridegroom yourself.

I am praying for you. May the Panagia be with you! May God have mercy on us, my dear friend,

Prayer for the Granting of all Virtues by Saint Ephraim the Syrian

Grant me, O Son of the Good One, that for which my mind yearns, and join to it that which is pleasing to Thy will.

Grant that I may choose to do good and in no way deviate from Thy will.

Do not permit me to be a wicked and hypocritical disciple who violates Thy commandments.

Protect me from thinking that I can walk along Thy path merely for the sake of appearance and thus by my hypocrisy deceive those who see me, inciting them to proclaim me blessed.

Grant that my heart might please Thy greatness in secret, and that my just life might glorify Thee publicly.

May truth be a mistress to guide Thy worshipper; may it preserve me in chastity both near and far.

Deliver me from the misfortune of knowing Thy law, yet lacking the desire to please Thee.

Vouchsafe me the company of people who are simple, but experienced and wise in the performance of virtues.

My flesh is weak. Fortify it with Thy strength. Help me, break the arrows of the cunning enemy, and number me among the hosts of Thine heirs.

Grant me, O Lord, ever to be among Thy dominion and to do what is pleasing to Thee. And whenever I begin something good, do Thou, O Lord, give me strength to complete it.

I know, O Lord, that I have sinned against Thy will. Clearly do I see that I have transgressed Thy commands. But do Thou, who makest Thy sun to shine on the bad and the good, deign also to shine Thy light in my clouded mind. And sins — those murderers and robbers who have taken up residence inside of me — will be driven out by this Thy light.

The Evil One sees in me no wickedness that did not come from him, for it is because of him that I have become wicked. I am, however, conquered by him through my own free will. The Evil One has entangled me because I myself instructed him to do so.

The slothful and the timid run from Thy yoke; Thy love shames the negligent.

Praise be to Thy goodness, to that mother of all teachers. The blows that they deliver to bring the stubborn to their senses are perhaps quite painful, yet sympathetically do they offer healing to the penitent.

Worthy of veneration are Thy Father and Thy Holy Spirit, Who rejoices at our return!

[video-game-kids-tournament]

Thank you for all of your lovely submissions, and we have reached 32 contestants!

Now...

Our contestants!

Agent 8 from Splatoon 2/3

Basil from Omori

Bonnie from In Stars and Time

Clementine from The Walking Dead - A Telltale Game

Clover from Undertale Yellow

Cuno de Ruyter from Disco Elysium

Cuphead from Cuphead

Fran Bow-Dagenheart from Fran Bow

Frisk from Undertale

Gin Ibushi from Your Turn to Die

Gregory from Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach

Grimmchild from Hollow Knight

Haruka Sawamura from Yakuza

Hat Kid from A Hat In Time

Ib from Ib

Isaac Moriah from The Binding of Isaac

Jas from Stardew Valley

Klee from Genshin Impact

Kris Dreemurr from Deltarune

Link from The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker + Ocarina of Time + Majora's Mask + Breath of the Wild

Miles “Tails” Prower from Sonic the Hedgehog

Ness from EarthBound

Niko from OneShot

Peri from NeverHome: Hall of Apathy

Pico from Pico's School

Quark from Virtue's Last Reward

Razputin Aquato from Psychonauts

Six from Little Nightmares

Sol from I Was A Teenage Exocolonist

Sora from Kingdom Hearts

The Crying Child from Five Nights at Freddy's 4

Trucy Wright from Ace Attorney