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#right outside the cave section of area zero
motherhenna · 1 year
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As soon as I found out what happened to the original professor in SV, I found myself wondering what their AI counterpart did afterwards. Didi they give the body a proper burial? Did they mourn?
Remember every reblog and tag is appreciated! This piece took me 12+ hours to finish, but feedback always makes it worth the back pain lol.
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twoidiotwriters1 · 4 years
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Starcrossed Losers 2.IV (Josh Wheeler xF!Reader)
A/N: I’m sorry it took me so long omg I’m the worst. Let me know if I forgot to tag you or if you wanna be tagged -Danny
Words: 2,022
Series’ Masterlist
Previous Chapter // Next Chapter
Listen to me!
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I guess you're all expecting me to say something about what happened. I should, after all, I hid this piece of information from you, not that I owe it to you, but I guess it's confusing...
'More than just a dream...'
Josh and I are still holding hands while we start the tour, and I wish I could say I was feeling bad about it but to be honest I'm still way too drunk on the bliss to be ashamed. I felt bad though, I did promise Nathan a date before everything went to hell. As a matter of fact, he was going to be my homecoming date.
Where to start? Perhaps you'd like to know who Nathan was in my group of friends? Easy.
*Throwback time*
Nathan was the 'popular' of our group. Do you know how there's always that one friend that seems to know everyone for really strange reasons? The one that 'knows a guy, that knows a guy, that has a cousin'... that's Nathan.
He was also the good looking guy of our group. I know I said Alex was attractive, but man, Nathan was the real deal, he had charisma and a great smile, try to beat that when you're sixteen and have zero social skills.
I didn't have a crush on him though, but it was a very well thought decision like I said before, I wasn't going to let someone close to me break my heart, and both Nathan and Alex were too close, so I buried those thoughts about him before I could even consider it.
I never had a thing for him until... well, until he asked me to homecoming. I never knew why he asked me, I mean sure we were good friends but he never tried to make a move (and this is not me being oblivious this is me saying Nathan never even commented on my looks not even once). While I do remember having said to him something along the lines of "you're so pretty you annoy me" one night while I was completely shitfaced.
He laughed it off then, not bringing it up to tease me the next morning. He knew he was attractive and I certainly used to dream about dashing men like him coming to take me out for a ride or a movie, but I never thought that it'd be him the one who would ask me out.
'All the days I waited for you You know the ones who said I'd never find someone like you'
Then the end of the world happened and we never went to homecoming, yet we remained on the same group until one day he just vanished. No notes, no nothing. He left. He was also the first one to go, followed by Aria, then Phillip, then Lily, until we were just Maya, Alex and I, you know the rest.
We heard about Nathan a few weeks later though, the first loner on Glendale (Josh was very good at keeping a low profile, we didn't know he was by himself) and I thought it was a great idea to do the same, you know, follow the loner's path until I had Katie back... and you know how that turned out.
My point is, how was I supposed to know he was going to come back and still ask me for a date? What kind of person does that?
"Here we have the Cheeramazon division," Josh pointed to the sports section of the mall. "We teach sign language for those who are interested in learning, it's also handy for communicating while we're outside on a Ghoulie area..."
"Why're they here?" Nathan asked in a voice that was completely unlike him. "I mean, I know their old place got trashed but why haven't they looked for a new place?"
"They don't have enough people or resources," I replied. "They'll wait here until enough girls decide to join them or until they get enough food to survive on their own."
"And you guys are okay with that?"
"Good relationships with old tribes are everything," I shrugged. "We want to keep it friendly with everyone, we don't want to start another war."
"Really? Because you seemed ready to go out and set houses on fire five minutes ago," Josh replied sternly.
"That's different!" I scoff. "Those kids need our help and you know it!"
"What kids?" Nathan asked in curiosity.
"Are you familiar with the AV club?" I ask him.
"The kids with the podcast?"
"Exactly! They've been kidnapped and I've been trying to convince my tribe to go out and look for them but they refuse–"
"Because we're barely recovering from Triumph," Josh interrupted. "Listen Y/N, we can't be heroes fighting against some kids in suits..."
"Here we have the gamer's layer," I continue, forcing them to leave the subject. "But you don't have to write that down, they're leaving in a few days to their old cave. Been here to help us with some tech stuff..."
"Those over there are the X-jocks," Josh points over a couple of kids playing and exercising at the other side of the mall, "they followed Turbo after he was kicked out. They're no longer Jocks, but they don't want to be called Daybreakers either."
"They don't wanna mingle with all the weirdos, apparently," I roll my eyes.
"We have a healers division, which is coordinated by Y/N," Josh puts a hand on my shoulder and smiles. "She's great... a training division that Wesley and Turbo handle... Am I missing something?"
"The Daybreakers, which are lead by this loser," I look at Josh with a smirk. "He schedules our vigilance system, the hunts– Oh, and the weekly competitions."
"What are those about?"
"We organize tournaments and the awards are free days from working or having to go outside, stuff like that."
"Okay," Nathan nods, writing everything down. "I think that's all..."
"Cool," Someone calls Josh and he looks back at us. "Can you finish the tour on your own?"
"I– Yeah, okay," I reply anxiously. "See you in a while..."
Josh gives me a quick kiss and leaves to where he's needed, leaving me alone with Mister 'U-owe-me-a-date'.
"So..." I awkwardly start.
"I think I owe you an apology," He replies immediately.
"What?"
"I didn't know you and Josh... what I said was completely out of place anyway, who asks that kind of stuff to someone they haven't seen in months? I–"
"Nathan," I stop him, "It's okay, really, you didn't know, it's alright."
"I'm sorry," He repeats, this time calmer. "I ditch you and the group, I just... I don't know, I felt stuck..."
"I get that, we left too, eventually," I shrug. "Went to look for my sister, but... she died."
"Oh," He frowns. "I'm so sorry... was she–?"
"A Ghoulie, yeah," I sigh. "It's okay, I'm better now, I have this place and I have..."
"Josh..."
"I was going to say I have a sledgehammer, but sure," I joke.
He smiles and suddenly I remember why I used to like his smile so much. It really is quite dreamy.
'And you were out of my league All the things I believed You were just the right kind Yeah, you were more than just a dream'
"Those kids..." He mentions. "The AV club?"
"Yeah?" My heart jumps at the mention. "Do you know anything about them? Anything that could help?"
"No, but Josh mentioned kids in suits? I think I've seen them–"
"Y/N!" Josh runs back to us in a hurry. "They found them!"
"What? Who?"
"The AV Club!" He replies.
I try to walk over to the gamer's layer but Josh stops me.
"Wait," He holds me in place. "It's an X-Pug zone."
"That, or the kids in suits want us to believe it is," I point out, "Josh let me go! I want to know where it is!"
"We're not taking anyone there! You know we can't, Y/N! We don't have enough people, who knows how many of those are out there..."
I want to argue back but I know that Josh is right.
"Fine," I let go of his arms and he does the same with me. "Can I at least take a look? Maybe one day we'll go and... and just take a look..."
Josh doesn't need me to end the sentence though, he understands.
"Okay," He starts walking when Nathan speaks up.
"Can I see?"
We turn to see him, both wearing the same confused expression.
"It's just..." He moves his weight from one foot to the other. "I was telling Y/N that I've seen those kids before and maybe... I could talk to Sam, maybe she'd like to help?"
I look at Josh with my best puppy eyes and he sighs in defeat, nodding along.
"Fine..."
Nathan catches up with us and grins at me. What I shame I lost my chance with this guy, he looks like straight out of a fantasy, who knows, maybe he was the one meant to be with me if all this apocalypse stuff never happened in the first place...
'You were out of my league Got my heartbeat racing If I die, don't wake me 'Cause you are more than just a dream'
When we arrive Aria takes me directly to her laptop and points to the image in it. I hear her talk to Nathan for a moment while I see the streets and the directions and since I know the whole city by heart it takes me a minute to memorize the whole thing. I don't tell this to Josh, of course.
"Are you going to leave us alone now?" She asks irritatedly.
"Sure thing, you can leave during the night and I wouldn't even bat an eye at it," I reply, still looking at the screen. "Let me just..."
I pull out my phone and take a picture of the screen, is not perfect but it's quick and it's just in case. Josh gives me a warning look but I smile.
"Thank you for doing this," I step closer to him and put my arms around his neck. "See? It didn't kill us to find out, right?"
If I've learned anything in my short stupid life, is that flattery can take you places... and it distracts a boy's brain faster than anything else.
Josh smiles at me and I know I have his whole attention, so I quickly put my phone away.
"Anyway!" I break the spell and look at the gamers. "You guys did a good job, I'll leave you now. Nathan, let me walk you to the door..."
Halfway to the entrance, Nathan speaks.
"You're so not going to listen to what Josh told you to do. I know it, I can see it in your face."
"How long till I can hear from you and Sam?" I ask him in a business-like voice.
"A day, maybe two?"
"You think she'll help?"
"That if we can push Maya to a side."
"Don't mention my name and you'll have a bigger chance to succeed."
I stop at the door and turn to look at him decidedly.
"You have no idea how much this means to me."
"If you're risking your stay at the mall and your relationship with Josh, I assume a lot," He raises a brow.
"He won't kick me out for this," I roll my eyes.
"He's your leader, Y/N."
I remember that none of our feelings ever stopped Josh from kicking me out the first time. So he's not entirely wrong.
"Don't sweat it," Nathan shakes his head, "I'll do my best to keep everyone happy, just like you've been doing for the last few weeks. Consider this my thank you gift for all the hard work you've been doing, Vinchi."
"Oh," I cringe. "I don't really go by that nickname anymore..."
"Oh, sorry," He pouts. "Just Y/N, then?"
"Unless you have a new nickname for me," I grin.
Nathan tilts his head like he's considering what I'm saying.
"I'll think about it," He smiles.
"I'll see you in two days," I smile back.
'Yeah, you were more than just a dream...'
Taglist.
@letsbe-queer @slythermyg​ @loving-u-3000​ @one-loud-mind
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disrepairhouse · 4 years
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::Return - Chapter 3
Itara walked out onto the desolate street, eyes scanning the horizon.  The road ahead was broken and cracked, much the same as anywhere else, but unlike the scorched and melted landscape of Soleanna, violent waves crashed against shattered, slanting buildings.  The sea line rushed well into what had once been city limits, drowning everything below three stories.  Roads flooded.  Buildings caved to rust.  The tops of trees stuck out from what used to be a section of forest.  Unlike the thick, dry air around most the world, the air here was humid.  Heavy.   Itara could already feel her fur cling from the muggy air.  Yet, it was a strange sort of relief from the dry heat of Soleanna.
They had all set out in their separate ways to search for the power source, in whatever ways they would and could.  RK, Metal Sonic, and Zero had all been updated with sensors to scan for the unique signature, while Itara had done her best to describe the sense of power and the likely effects it would cause to nearby surroundings to the others.  Shadow, of course, was the most likely to understand what to look for so despite her natural inclination to work against him, she’d done her best to make it clear what he was looking for.  The only ones that remained at the base on the computers were Mira and Tails.  They opted to stay behind to fix the computer and work on a program to compile all the data everyone would be sending back.
Sonic seemed wary about letting Tails remain behind in potential enemy territory, even if they did have a house full of civilians.  But ultimately, Tails convinced him to go.  They would all be connected on the same comm unit while they were out; if anything happened, Tails could easily inform him.  He also reminded Sonic that he was no longer a child and could handle himself, which Sonic often forgot.  Mira was curt and off-putting, but he wasn’t dangerous and the main dangers would be out in the field with him and Shadow.
In the same vein, RK wanted either him – preferably – or Metal to remain with Itara while they were out.  Itara also convinced him otherwise, however, stating that they had too much ground to cover in too short a time for them to waste resources like that. RK didn’t like it, but he couldn’t argue.  Besides, more than anything, Itara wanted the alone time.  She did her best to keep it to herself at the time, but coming face to face with both Sonic and Shadow together, sent chills down her spine. She needed time to recoup away from everyone.
‘C’mon, Shadow, she’s just a kid.’
‘Shadow, don’t be so rough, she’s just a little girl.’
‘Destroying you will be a start to my plan.’
‘I can crush you and Mephiles…’
Itara shook her head violently.  Crisis City.  Solaris.  Even Shadow’s comments.  There were too many repeats.  She’d learned that Metal Sonic returning to Robotnik after going rogue was a constant.  She had hoped Crisis City had been a variable.  She promised RK and Kipper that she wouldn’t let Crisis City happen again. She looked up from the scorch marks on the pavement where Biters had likely met a watery end to the burned sky that lit the clouds and fog with an angry orange glow.  Far, far away, a great fiery beast was lying dormant in a volcano between battles.  Iblis no longer existed.  Mephiles no longer existed.  But Crisis City still came.  She looked down at her hands, pulling the hint of flame forward and watched in equal parts intrigue and disgust as wild, orange fire engulfed both hands, flickering in the humidity.  She could feel the heat, but it didn’t burn, not like before.  Even as the glowing tendrils reached up her arms, threatening the edges of her sleeves again, she shook them out with ease.  She’d been born from shadows, yet now commanded the same flame that threatened her home once again.  Her father would regret giving her any of this power again.  She would use every last ounce of it to put the world back in order.  Even if it was still halved.  She continued forward again, summoning her small, purple crystal hounds, and set off on her search.
They had decided to spread out as far and wide as possible; those who could go farther would, which meant she and Shadow went the furthest out from Soleanna.  RK remained the closest while Zero covered the area around Spagonia.  Both Sonic and Metal insisted they could go the furthest due to their speed, but seeing as thoroughness was more important than a quick scan, they both remained on Soleanna’s side of the ocean.  Though they were sent in opposite directions. Itara volunteered to cover around Station Square and, as usual, Shadow gave no direct response about where he’d be going.  The only ones who would know his location would be Tails and Mira.  Itara gave him a final warning about not covering the same ground before they separated, though he ignored her.  Not that she was expecting otherwise.  He was still struggling with the memories of Mephiles, she knew better than to push it too far.
In either case, they were all decently spread out across the world and she was possibly the furthest from home.  Yet, she still felt a strange calmness in the situation. Maybe it was just getting out of Shadow’s eyesight, maybe it was the prospect of finally answering the mystery of the blotted-out pages.  In either case, she was more excited to search than afraid of being alone.  She’d been far more alone in far worse situations. This, she figured, she could handle. Unlike the first instance of Crisis City, and unlike the last year of her existence, she had full access to her powers and complete control over them.  If danger arose, she felt confident she could deal with it or easily get away.  She hadn’t felt this confident in a long time.  Though even that reminded her of the reset timeline.  When she would jump around time, getting involved with so much without anyone really suspecting who she was or why.  All so she could assist in the destruction of the world.
It was possible, she should have felt guilty for that.
Yet somehow, she didn’t.  She felt angry, she felt betrayed, she felt a new sense of furious determination to bring the source of the destruction down.  Yet, for her own part in the reset timeline, there wasn’t as much guilt as she expected there to be.  She couldn’t say why.  But that was irrelevant now, anyway, for the time being, she needed to focus on her search. She had to find the source of the blank spots.  She had to find a way to defeat Solaris.  Admittedly, it was frustrating not having her journal to simply tell her where she needed to look, but she’d gotten used to it.  Not only had it been useless for a year now, but with the blank pages, she knew the answer couldn’t be far.
During her trek through dried up waterways on her way to what used to be Station Square, she picked up on a weak source of power emanating somewhere nearby.  She couldn’t determine what it was right away, but radioed it in to Tails and Mira, letting them know she picked up on something and that she was looking into it. While she waited for a response, she climbed over a large collection of rubble on the side of the road to follow the trail.  However, she hadn’t expected the immediate drop on the other side and scrambled and slid down the muddy embankment to keep her face from planting firmly in the cement bottom of the ravine.  She managed to keep her face safe, but sacrificed her palms in the process and hissed at the stinging pain, sitting down to shake them out.  As she was pulling small pebbles out of her knees, she caught the glint of something shiny just ahead.  She gave her hands a quick look over and pushed herself up to inspect the glint.  It took some searching, during which she finally got a response from Mira asking what she’d found, but after a few minutes she spotted the glint again and crouched down to brush some mud away to reveal the small, red, cracked gemstone.
Her heart sunk as she recognized it almost immediately. The diamond-shaped, blood red stone, which fit almost perfectly in her hand, had always had a deep scratch going across it, but the scratch had deepened into a gash and there was a decently sized chunk taken clean out of the top.  The faint power she’d felt a moment ago was coming from the gem.
“Oh, Kipper…”
Mira questioned her again about what she found as she stood up, keeping the gem tightly wrapped in her hand as she answered, “It was nothing after all.  Sorry.   Gonna keep looking.”  She gave the gem another quick look then tucked it into the pocket of her overalls.  There was no sign of the doll the gem had been attached to, it was likely burned long ago, but at least she could bring the gem home.  But now she had to figure out how to get back up the ravine.  It was a steep slope with more dirt than rubble, which would make climbing difficult.  “Alright Kipper, help me find somewhere to get back up now, would you?”  She didn’t expect an answer and she didn’t get one. She was entirely on her own, as expected.
The remainder of her search unearthed no more results once she scrambled her way back up to the road.  She got the occasional update from Mira or Tails about the others’ progress, but outside of an extremely desolate Station Square and a far view of the still floating Angel Island, she made no further progress.  Station Square fared no better than Soleanna, only replacing fire with water, which Itara couldn’t resist dipping her toes in at one point. Soleanna was so dry even the ocean had fallen back several miles from the once water-surrounded city, not to mention the fact that she and the others had been locked tight inside that house for eight years.  She missed fresh water.  And fresh air, for that matter, but that was nowhere to be found, not even here. Solaris’ raging heat was powerful and consuming but at least here underneath Angel Island, Chaos kept the waters cool.  She guessed it was more for the chao than for humanity, though.  On the plus side, Chaos wasn’t one for underlings or monsters, meaning she was in far less danger from attacks than anywhere else.
She may or may not have planned to search Station Square herself for that exact reason.  She couldn’t help but wonder if Chaos would know she was there, though.  It was her father that was threatening the world and, in relation, the chao and the Chaos Emeralds.  Would Chaos take her being near as a direct threat?  Would he even notice her with everything going on?
The other Gods being awake was the main difference between Crisis City and this timeline.  She’d finally come to understand that it was her father’s intent to destroy everything that roused the others.  She didn’t know if they knew about the past timeline or not, if they knew what he had already done once, but they seemed to understand what he would do now, if left unchecked.  If Shadow had gone through with his original plan to knock them out one-by-one, it would have been Solaris as last man standing and he would end everything as intended.  With the distraction of the other Gods, however, the world still had a chance to recover. Chaos kept the oceans from drying completely and Gaia kept plant life alive where he could.  Solaris’ rage couldn’t decimate all life with them around. But the longer the battle went on, the less chance there was at recovery.
With a quick shake of her head, she pulled her shoes back on and stood, staring up at the floating sanctuary.  There was no longer any concept of day and night beyond the few remaining working clocks they had kept intact, none of which Itara brought along. She would search a bit longer then return home for rest.  Luckily, traveling within the timeline was much easier and less energy-consuming than traveling through time.  Even a trip from Soleanna to Station Square and back was relatively straightforward, but she wanted to cover as much ground as possible per day, as well.  She gave a final pat to Kipper’s gem to make sure it was still there and continued on her way through the watery grave of Station Square. When her legs grew tired and she no longer had the energy to keep her crystal hounds summoned, she dispersed them and opened a passage to home, informing Tails that she was on her way.
Getting a final glance at the ocean, she stepped through the passage and reappeared once more in the dark basement lab.  Kelly was fast asleep and snoring away on one of the kitchen chairs near the computer while Mira sat, typing away beside her.  Tails was pacing back and forth near the charging stations, talking frantically with one of the others.  “Just tell me where you are and I’ll come get you!” the frantic fox nearly screamed as Itara approached from the shadows across the room.
“What’s going on?”
The sudden question startled both Tails and Mira as they jumped and turned towards her.  Kelly gave no indication that she would wake any time soon.  Mira remained silent and went back to work but Tails quickly turned his attention to her, “Thank goodness, someone is back!   Please!  You have to go help Sonic!”
Itara couldn’t help but consider the irony of that statement but kept it to herself, “Well where is he?  What happened?”  She glanced up at the blinking computer screen with the maps, different comm unit locations, and the program running all the data.
“That’s the problem!  He won’t tell me!  I think he got attacked!”
“Alright, I’ll go see if I can find him,” she sighed, though unsure what she expected to do against something that could ambush Sonic of all people.  “Have everyone else call in at their locations so I can at least narrow it down by where he’s not.”
“Right.  Yeah.  Okay,” Tails frowned and returned his attention to his own comm unit.
“If we’re lucky, I’ll only have to narrow it down between him and Shadow.”  Tails gave her a strange look but called in to the others to ask for their locations. One by one, reports came in and Itara mentally crossed them off on the map until, just as she expected, it was down to Shadow and Sonic, who had stopped responding completely.  Tails only grew more panicked by the idea of him being that badly hurt but Itara remained calm as ever.  Once she had her answers and Tails begged her to hurry, she waved him off and returned to the shadowy side of the lab.  It was easier to travel the more darkness she was surrounded by.  “Don’t worry, I’m a time traveler, remember?”
With that, she was gone.
Both locations she needed to check were much further out than they likely should have been so it was hard to tell which was more likely to be Sonic.  She decided to check the closest one first, since it made the most sense, but as she exited to a half-destroyed base, it was Shadow she came across first.  He was coming from the opposite direction down a long, narrow hallway, his usual unwavering scowl on his face, which only darkened once he caught sight of her.  Before he could threaten her, though, which she fully expected him to do, she threw her hands up in defense and explained, “I was looking for Sonic.”
Shadow only narrowed his eyes further, “Why?  So you can kill him off again like Mephiles?”
Itara took a deep breath and sighed, putting her hands down. “No.”  A shudder ran down her spines as her gaze averted to a nearby wall, “And if you remember that, you should remember that Sonic wasn’t the only one Mephiles was willing to sacrifice to become Solaris again.” Shadow only scoffed.  Itara shook the memory from her head and faced him again, letting her honest unease slip for the briefest of moments, “Whether you believe me or not doesn’t matter, but I really do only want to help.  I may have been part of Mephiles but… RK and Metal are more important to me and right now, Sonic needs help.  Tails said he may have been attacked but couldn’t pinpoint his location, which is why I’m here looking for him.  So I’ll see you back at the base, I need to go help him.”  She opened another passage and walked through rather than waiting for an answer, leaving the scowling black and red hedgehog to brood on his own.
Her next exit was in a half-burnt forest with the screech of several nearby monsters echoing off every surface.  She followed the sound and found a horde of Nightmares tearing into a bloodied and beaten hedgehog, though he was still doing his best to fight them off.  She cringed at the sight and decided the best course of action was to stop him beforehand rather than facing off against the horde.  Biters she could possibly ward off, but Nightmares gave no differing response to her.  There was a clear path leading to the current disaster, suggesting Sonic came from the north, and judging by Tails’ response it had only just happened when she arrived home.  A quick jump back five, maybe ten, minutes sounded like enough.
With a few careful, quiet steps back, she reached out to the timelines and stabilized a portal, stepping through with a final glance back.  Same place, ten minutes in the past.  Unfortunately, as soon as she stepped through, she realized the reason Sonic likely got jumped so easily.  She had just stepped into the middle of a veritable army of battling monsters.  She dove out of the way of a screeching Nightmare with a yelp, her already injured hands burning with the sudden weight against them again.  She shrieked at the clamor that erupted over her, wrapping her hands around her ears and shutting her eyes tight.  This was exactly what she’d been trying to avoid!
She managed to summon her own crystal hounds to stave off what she could, but it wasn’t long before they were crushed under a tossed golem and she had to scramble away to avoid joining their fate.  But as she stumbled her way around the battlefield, avoiding diving birds, summoning Biters to fight off Nightmares, and nearly stormed by a line of golems, her legs suddenly stopped moving yet the wind rushed by at a speed she knew she wasn’t capable of.  She was vaguely aware of talking above the noise of crashing trees and screeching monsters, but it wasn’t until it was all distant echoes that she finally opened her eyes again.  Unsurprisingly, she met a pair of bright green eyes, blue fur, and a confused grin.
“I thought we were separating.”
Itara took a deep breath to calm herself, all but deflating into his arms, “We were.  But you got attacked and no one else was available.”  His confusion only grew as, obviously, he was in perfect condition so she clarified once again, “time traveler.”
“Right…”  Sonic looked out towards the ongoing battle and frowned, “You mean I got caught up in that?”
“Correct.”
“And… they sent the kid to help?”
Itara glared up at him and struggled back to her feet, straightening her clothes back out and checking to make sure Kipper’s gem was still in her pocket.  “I am older than I look!” she hissed, but shook her head, “That’s not the point.” She scowled at the forest that was now below them.  Most of it was charred black and destroyed, but there was a patch or two of somehow surviving trees here and there.  They weren’t particularly healthy, but they at least existed, which was better than most. Looking out across the otherwise flattened field, she had a feeling the massive crater several miles south was the reason.  She studied the area in silence for several minutes, her eyes narrowed in suspicion as the monsters below grew more and more erratic in nature.  It soon became clear why even someone as experienced as Sonic would fall victim to the battle.
What started as a battle between two obvious sides became a mass of confused creatures, battering at everything that moved with no regard for friend or foe.  Sonic attempted to speak up but Itara quickly hushed him as she watched them closely. Not only were they attacking each other as well as their enemies, but they seemed to be struggling to remain physical at all.  Creatures disappeared and reappeared without warning, missing their mark or jumping into the fray from unseen locations.  She pointed it out to the concerned hedgehog and explained, “I believe we may have found what we’re looking for.”
Sonic looked between her and the battle below for several long minutes, then whistled and stood back, “Man, what a mess.  But I still have a hard time believing I would get caught up in that.”
“If this is what we’re looking for, it could have very well affected you in a similar way,” she explained, though rolled her eyes at his ever-present cockiness, “As I explained before, you and Shadow are both highly attuned to chaos energy.  If a fluctuation can cause the Gods’ creations to warp in and out of existence, imagine what it’d do to you.”
He looked over at her with a brief look of horror, though she never took her eyes off the battle.  His expression fixed itself without her ever seeing as he reached up to rub his head, “Man…”
Itara looked up at him again, “We should return to the base and let the others know.  If this continues here, they’re likely to wipe themselves out before long.  We can come back later with the others and clear the area out more effectively so we can figure out what’s going on.”  Once he nodded in agreement, she opened another portal home and led the way through.
They hardly had the opportunity to explain the situation as Tails clung to Sonic the second they stepped through and he caught sight of him.  “Sonic! I was so worried!  What happened?!”
Sonic just laughed it off and reached up to pet Tails’ head, “You worry too much, little buddy.  Look, I’m just fine.”
Tails continued fawning over the hero hedgehog while Itara moved to the computer where Mira sat watching.  “I think we’ve found something.  Call the others back so we can look into it.”
“Sure, but what happened?”
“I’ll explain when everyone gets here.”
Mira watched her carefully, but nodded and turned back to the computer to send out a message to the others to return ASAP.  Tails kept his focus on Sonic in the background as the stream of responses came in.  The group returned to the base one-by-one, Itara remaining silent as they did as she moved to sit between the two charging stations so she could write what she could in the defective journal.  It wasn’t until RK returned that she moved from her compact spot to climb up on his shoulders to rest, nearly melting against the robot’s head.  She was exhausted and the day apparently wasn’t quite done, she would take whatever rest she could while they waited.  Shadow was, of course, the last to return but once he did, Itara perked up again to explain what she and Sonic had seen.
“There’s a distinct fluctuation of energy in the area and I believe the effect on Sonic was what would have gotten him jumped had I not intervened,” she explained after pulling up the area on the map. The comment got a huff of indignation from Sonic but she ignored him and continued, “I don’t think the monsters in that area were specifically sent there, I think they were drawn there.  It may very well be exactly what we’re looking for but if it’s drawing monsters to it and making them even more violent than normal, it’s obviously going to be dangerous to look into.  I think we should wait for the majority of them to wipe each other out and then go back in a larger, more prepared group and clear it out. Then we can set up boundaries to keep them out so we can investigate further.”
“And what if it’s just a trap set up for us by one of the Gods?  Or even Robotnik?  No one’s heard from him since this all started, he could have been up to any number of things this entire time,” Shadow suggested.
“Robotnik’s been in his space colony this entire time and none of his robots have left nor returned since.  We’ve been keeping an eye on Robotnik.  As for it being a trap set by the Gods,” Itara trailed off and shrugged, “that’s why I want to be more prepared when we go back.  If it’s a trap, we have a better chance of escape with a larger group.  But considering the way the monsters were reacting, I’m severely doubting it.”
“I think she’s got a point,” Sonic intervened, seeing Shadow only grow more suspicious, “this is the best lead we’ve had in a long time. We should at least look into it.”
Shadow continued to huff and argue, but was ultimately overthrown by the group at large.  They would keep a close eye on the area until it cleared out and run through the possible causes, then move on to discuss the best course of action to study it.  Even Shadow, after realizing he was outnumbered on the decision, got involved to make sure they didn’t overlook any possible trap.  Even if it was dangerous, Sonic was right, it was the most potential they’d seen since everything started.  They couldn’t ignore it.
0 notes
ladala99 · 5 years
Text
Spyro Reignited Thoughts - Days 1 and 2
Okay, I’m just really excited and I’ve played the originals so much I have them memorized. So here’s me pointing out the differences in the levels I’ve played in the last couple of days. This goes through most of Magic Crafters.
I might seem nitpicky and negative, but I’m really enjoying it a whole. I’m noticing the things that tripped me up, but there’s so much there that worked great, too.
Artisans
- The scaredy-Gnorcs AI works differently than the original. In the original, they act differently depending on what you’re doing: if you’re walking normally, they’ll run to their designated areas, if you Charge before they start running, they’ll sit around scared, and for the ones near the Stone Hill portal in particular, if you Charge in and then walk, they’ll run in circles around the portal rather than scattering to their designated spots (the last I only did once and I Charged into one of the Gnorcs. So that might also be the trigger). In Reignited, they always will run to their designated areas.
- Extra life butterflies are in Spyro 1 Reignited. So that makes three ways to get extra lives in this game.
Town Square
- Chasing Thieves is overall harder, but I managed to ambush this one by jumping on top of it and flaming when it tried to reset its position. Not sure if it’s possible in the original or not, since I always get it right at the beginning!
- Spinny gem jars are fun to put Spyro on top of. :)
Stone Hill
- When I was a kid, I called the forcefield the “Z-Dap” because that’s the sound it made. Now it makes a watery sound. :(
- On the other hand, the shepherds still make that “Yummah!” sound. :)
- They changed something about the hills on the top of the level. There’s fewer clusters of trees or something. I got totally lost up here.
- Good thing Sparx pointer exists everywhere in this game!
Dark Hollow
- Didn’t early footage show the small Gnorcs having red-stained swords like in the originals? Doesn’t seem to be in the Switch version.
- I always thought Alban was like, Spyro’s uncle or something. (Nestor being his dad) Now he looks nothing like him.
Toasty
- I died several times in this level when I usually don’t. These pups may look less menacing, but they’re so much more dangerous when I’m not used to the controls.
Sunny Flight
- In the original, the stones didn’t light up unless you didn’t play this level until after you got the hint. In Reignited, they light up right away.
- Flying controls are different. The camera is too close. My favorite levels are so much harder now. But they are so beautiful!
Peace Keepers
- The Balloonist sounds like the guy who says “by Pythagoras’s Theorem!” in Skylanders. I hate that guy, since his text isn’t skippable. And every time I talk to these guys, I remember him and seethe.
- The enemies shooting at each other can kill each other now. Whoops?
- Gnorc butts still in the game. :)
Dry Canyon
- You used to be able to charge the bullets of the Gnorcs near the beginning of the level and receive no damage. Not in Reignited. :(
- Fireworks crates, key chests, and unbreakable chests pop out the gems in such an unnatural way in Reignited. They start popping out with physics, and then some invisible force grabs them and sets them down. Like jumping in cutscenes in Skylanders. Toys For Bob, this really doesn’t look good, you know! Also applies to exiting balloons at the start of each world.
Cliff Town
- Here’s an improvement: in the original, the vultures had set paths, so you’d wake them up and then they’d just fly away from you if you aren’t in a particular area. Here, they home in on you.
- Enzo sounds like such a jerk in this game. In the original, he sounded like he was giving you a hint (Why don’t you glide there and find the goodies?). In this game, he’s like “nope, not telling you. You go over there.” Tone of voice matters.
Ice Cavern
- The camera is so close you have to wait until the key platform isn’t visible before dropping.
- Just going to say I really love this level. in both versions.
Doctor Shemp
- The running shield guys are blind. They should not home in on you. They have shields on their faces. They should just run off the cliff like in the original. Yeah, you can bait them into falling off, but it’s not as easy nor as fun.
- I love Shemp’s personality in this game.
- I do not love the fact that his AI is different. You have to get closer. The timing is different. Toys for Bob you said you made the game with muscle memory in mind! I died twice to him. I usually die zero times.
Night Flight
- The lighthouses do not look interactable. If I didn’t already have this game memorized, I would be lost.
- Helpful arrow fairy only appears when you get close. She also has a punk hairstyle.
Magic Crafters
- The bird wizards no longer look like birds. And their “OW” isn’t as funny.
Alpine Ridge
- Making the green druids panic and run in circles never gets old.
- Weren’t there three beasts in the hole? There were two in Reignited. I may need to bring out my PSP.
- Just a theme in this world: thief chases are difficult.
High Caves
- Wow does that Supercharge jump go high! But like, in the original, there was a cave you could get to without jumping and two areas you need to jump and glide to get to. Now you need to jump to get to the easy cave, can still just jump to get to one of the harder areas, and you only need to glide for the meadow.
- The spiders don’t seem to be as aggressive. Or maybe it’s just that the camera’s closer and I can’t see how close they are to me.
- Superflame Spyro is cute!
Crystal Flight
- I hate those planes. Always have, always will.
- It’s also a lot more difficult to transition from the arches to the chests. There’s this slight overlap that was doable with skillful flying before, and I’m just not that skilled with these new controls.
Wizard’s Peak
- I did not attempt my normal route, so I don’t know if the same tricks are possible (gliding all the way from a secret section from outside the castle to the end of the level and ambushing the Gnorc-conjuring ice wizard). I hope so!
- Supercharge physics are different. I had to jump later than I normally do to make it to the platforms. I died way too many times. Treetops is going to be fun, isn’t it?
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whittlebaggett8 · 5 years
Text
Violence Erupts During Latest Anti-Extradition Protest in Hong Kong
Adhering to a day of sit-ins, tear gas, and clashes with law enforcement, Hong Kong learners and civil rights activists vowed Wednesday to maintain protesting a proposed extradition bill that has turn out to be a lightning rod for issues above higher Chinese control and erosion of civil liberties in the former British colony.
The violence marked a important escalation of the major political crisis in many years for the semi-autonomous Chinese territory and forced the delay of legislative discussion on the contentious invoice.
University university student Louis Wong explained he regarded as the blockade of federal government headquarters and the Legislative Council a achievements since it appeared to reduce Beijing loyalists from advancing amendments to a pair of legal guidelines that would make it simpler to send suspected criminals to China.
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“This is a general public space and the law enforcement have no ideal to block us from being here,” Wong said, surveying a garbage-strewn intersection in the Admiralty community that experienced been blocked off by stability forces immediately after protesters broke via a law enforcement cordon and entered the government advanced.
“We’ll stay till the federal government drops this legislation and [Chinese President] Xi Jinping provides up on trying to change Hong Kong into just one more metropolis in China like Beijing and Shanghai,” he explained.
Law enforcement fired tear gasoline and utilized pepper spray on protesters who had massed exterior the govt building overnight Tuesday and began pressing from the law enforcement early Wednesday.
The overwhelmingly youthful crowd experienced overflowed onto a important downtown highway as they overturned limitations and tussled with police. But when some appeared to have breached a cordon all-around the developing, the police released their reaction.
At a temporary news convention held as the chaos swirled just outside, Police Commissioner Stephen Lo Wai-chung mentioned the “serious clashes” forced police to use pepper spray, bean bag rounds, rubber bullets, and tear fuel. He added that law enforcement were being nevertheless counting how quite a few people today ended up wounded.
Officers were also hurt, some significantly, by rocks, bottles, site visitors cones, steel barricades, and other objects thrown by protesters.
Lo named the demonstration a riot. That could signify prolonged jail conditions for anyone arrested, introducing to fears that Hong Kong’s governing administration is working with general public disturbance guidelines to intimidate protesters.
“We condemn these irresponsible conduct,” Lo claimed. “There’s no have to have to damage harmless individuals to express your thoughts,” he stated, including that individuals really should not “do just about anything they will regret for the rest of their lives.”
Law enforcement spokesman Gong Weng Chun defended the use of tear gas and other nonlethal weapons, stating officers would not have had to do so if they weren’t going through a risk that could lead to significant injuries or fatalities.
A curt governing administration statement said a scheduled 11 a.m. legislative session would be “changed to a later time.” Officials gave no sign of when that would be, and Hong Kong chief Carrie Lam canceled a news briefing.
Some corporations also shut for the working day, and labor strikes and course boycotts have been identified as.
The protests by the bill’s opponents are the premier due to the fact pro-democracy demonstrations closed down sections of the Asian economical center for a lot more than three months in 2014.
The demonstrations pose a problem to Xi, who has mentioned he would not tolerate Hong Kong becoming applied as a foundation to dilemma the ruling Communist Party’s authority. But they are also offering a voice to the youthful in the territory who feel alienated by a political course of action dominated by the financial elite.
The point out of the legislative approach for the bill remained unclear adhering to the violence, which had mainly finished by about 5 p.m. following police herded demonstrators throughout a pedestrian bridge. Site visitors in just one of the busiest areas of the metropolis remained blocked, nonetheless, and various hundred protesters seemed in no hurry to leave.
The protesters mentioned they hoped the blockade would guide to Lam’s administration shelving the evaluate.
“We want the governing administration to just set the legislation apart and not carry it back again,” claimed a protester who gave only his initial identify, Marco, because he feared probable repercussions from authorities.
A further protester, who gave her name only as King, also out of worry of repercussions, explained the protest was a watershed moment for Hong Kong’s younger technology.
“We have to stand up for our rights or they will be taken away,” she explained.
Dressed in black T-shirts and jeans, many protesters appeared undaunted by law enforcement requires to disperse. The demonstrators also appeared aware of Beijing’s increasing use of digital surveillance such as facial recognition engineering to build dossiers on those it considers politically unreliable, and quite a few of them wore surgical masks to conceal their features as effectively as lessen the effects of tear gasoline.
These kinds of protests are never ever tolerated in mainland China, and Hong Kong citizens can encounter travel bans and other repercussions if they cross the border.
“Most of these protesters never assume the government to compromise. They just want to convey their own opinions,” stated Joseph Cheng, a prolonged observer of Chinese and Hong Kong politics now retired from the Town University of Hong Kong. “The anger is even now there and the anger will burst yet again at the subsequent possibility.”
In an job interview with Hong Kong broadcaster TVB, Lam denied she was “selling out” Hong Kong with the extradition invoice but conceded the measure would go on to bring in criticism.
“It’s time to permit lawmakers with distinctive opinions specific their sights under the legislative process,” she explained. “On regardless of whether to retract or push it by way of … our thought is this: There is no question this problem is controversial. Explanation and dialogue are valuable but most likely that has not solely dispelled worries.”
Talking of her dedication to her position, her voice cracked as she stated: “They stated I’m marketing out Hong Kong. How could I do that? I grew up listed here with absolutely everyone else in the metropolis.”
Lam added that she has hardly ever “felt guilty” around the issue and insisted she considered she was doing the correct matter. She said she felt “worried and sad” about the youthful protesters on the streets, but explained that as a father or mother to two sons, she believed it would be wrong to cave in to “willful behavior.”
Below its “one state, two systems” framework, Hong Kong was supposed to be guaranteed the right to keep its have social, legal, and political units for 50 several years adhering to its handover from British rule in 1997. However, China’s Communist Bash has been observed as progressively reneging on that settlement by forcing by way of unpopular legal guidelines.
The Hong Kong authorities experienced pushed forward with the extradition evaluate inspite of a weekend protest by hundreds of countless numbers of persons in the largest political demonstration in additional than a decade.
Lam mentioned the laws is desired to close legal loopholes with other international locations and territories. A vote is scheduled on June 20.
At briefing Wednesday, China’s International Ministry recurring its aid for the invoice. Spokesman Geng Shuang also denied Beijing has been interfering in the city’s affairs in a way that violates agreements made when Hong Kong was handed back to China.
“Hong Kong people’s rights and freedoms have been totally assured in accordance with legislation,” he mentioned.
The protests are broadly found as reflecting increasing apprehension about relations with the mainland, the place Xi has explained he has zero tolerance for individuals demanding greater self-rule for Hong Kong.
Critics imagine the extradition laws would place Hong Kong inhabitants at hazard of starting to be trapped in China’s judicial technique, in which opponents of Communist Party rule have been billed with financial crimes or ill-described nationwide stability offenses, and would not be assured cost-free trials.
Lam said the government has regarded considerations from the non-public sector and altered the invoice to make improvements to human legal rights safeguards. She said with no the changes, Hong Kong would risk turning into a haven for fugitives. She emphasized that extradition cases would be made a decision by Hong Kong courts.
Opponents of the proposed extradition amendments say the modifications would noticeably compromise Hong Kong’s lawful independence, extended seen as one particular of the vital variations involving the territory and the mainland.
Hong Kong at present boundaries extradition to jurisdictions with which it has current agreements and to other folks on an particular person foundation. China has been excluded from all those agreements due to the fact of concerns around its judicial independence and human rights report.
By Christopher Bodeen for The Associated Push. Associated Push journalists Raf Wober and Alice Fung in Hong Kong, Johnson Lai in Taipei, Taiwan, and Sally Ho in Seattle contributed.
The post Violence Erupts During Latest Anti-Extradition Protest in Hong Kong appeared first on Defence Online.
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lindyhunt · 5 years
Text
This Luxury Resort in Playa del Carmen Appeases Even the Pickiest Eaters
The chicken nuggets have visible spices in them. My hungry seven-year-old Ben—a picky eater to the extreme—is in tears as the waitress plies him with a parade of chicken-y items, but none devoid enough of anything illegal​, ​like flavo​u​r or, say, a sprig of parsley, to satisfy his decidedly unsophisticated palate. This is getting serious. A manager is summoned.
“What can I get you, boss?” ​the manager​ soothes. Eventually someone runs to the beachside snack shack to fetch ​Ben a hot dog. My husband Jason and I breathe a sigh of relief and turn back to our grilled panella cheese and ceviche. Averting such crises is a big part of why we choose The Fives Azul Beach in Playa ​del Carmen​, Mexico​ for our sunny getaway. Karisma resorts (there are five in Mexico alone), have a “gourmet-inclusive” concept, which means that this brand knows food—which satisfies snobby city foodies like us—but they also know kids, which satisfies snobby mini Neanderthals like Ben.
Luxury resort brands like The Ritz​-​Carlton, Four Seasons, Rosewood and Karisma have zeroed in on the fact that families do need different offerings and special services, but that they don’t want to be banished to plasticized wonderlands with only some grilled cheese and limp French fries for comfort.​ ​The Fives is the type of place where jars of Gerber baby food are artfully displayed next to a massive wheel of ​p​armesan cheese at the breakfast buffet, and wedding parties and multi-generational groups happily coexist amongst the jungle foliage and pretty lazy river swimming pools that wind through the grounds.
The Fives is the type of place where jars of Gerber baby food are artfully displayed next to a massive wheel of ​p​armesan cheese at the breakfast buffet
Karisma dubs it “Monkeys, Milkshakes and Magic,” and while Ben is bitterly disappointed that he never spots any of the free-roaming spider monkeys that live on the grounds, there​’s definitely some smoothie imbibing and a magical walk across a wooden bridge carved through the jungle lit up with fairy lights. (There’s also an adults-only pool and adjoining poolside resto where grownups can escape the under four-feet-high crowd entirely.)
We stay in a one-bedroom suite in one of the newer villas in the Essence section, all of which are outfitted in fresh modern décor. They’re a bit further from the beach and main restaurant area, but are definitely more up our aesthetic alley than the standard rooms in the older section. The Essence rooms, however, don’t have bathtubs, so if you’re travelling with a little who’s terrified of the shower—even a glamorous, glassed-in rainfall shower—you may want to request a room in the original buildings. If you have a baby, you can ask for an infant tub, as well as pack ‘n’ plays, bottle sterilizers, strollers and plush teeny tiny bathrobes for your room. Suites all have full kitchens, so every day I ring the 24-hour room service (lifesaver!) and load our fridge up with foods that Ben will eat​ ​(the peanut butter and jam sandwich plated just so is particularly hilarious)​ ​and I’m definitely not the only parent pocketing bananas and yogurt from the breakfast buffets. There are always gluten-free and vegetarian options, too.
Photography courtesy of The Fives azul Beach
But for anyone for whom the word “buffet” sends a chill up their spine—they call them “displays” at Karisma resorts—The Fives has 13 restaurants, including French, Italian, Japanese and Thai options, all with their own appropriately-infused Menu de Niños (Children’s Menu). There’s also a Mexican cantina that hosts mezcal and tequila tastings and several adults-only wine bars and cocktail spots. While the under-​two​ crowd is more abundant at Karisma’s nearby Azul Beach Riviera Maya baby and toddler-focused property, at ​The Fives they will also puree any of the meals at the sit-down restaurants for hungry Harpers and impatient Imogens. If you have a rooftop suite with its own b​arbeque,​ for an extra fee you can book your own chef to come whip up Mexican​-​, Texas​-​​​ or Argentinian​-style​ dinner.
But it wouldn’t be a luxury family getaway without a luxury family spa experience, now, would it? I’m dying to sign Jason and Ben up for the “Daddy Scape” package at the on-site Vassa spa (massage, facial and pedicure for each of them, performed in a kids’ treatment room strewn with teddy bears) only because I obviously need a snap of Ben and his ​d​ad in fluffy robes getting pedis, but sadly I decide to pass due to the $406 US price tag. All the RMTs at Vassa are licensed and most Canadians are able to claim the treatments on their private insurance plans, and I do seriously ponder trying this to get a “turtle massage” for Ben. There’s a full menu of individual services for kids, special treatments for teens and a sampling of scrubs and prenatal rubs for moms-to-be (though lower-altitude areas of Mexico like Playa ​d​el Carmen are still technically considered a risk zone for transmission of the Zika virus, which means pregnant women should probably avoid travelling there for now).
One thing parents—especially parents of only children like me—quickly learn is that a vacation with your sweet, sweet child isn’t always exactly relaxing, especially when you’re on tap to build sandcastles for hours or chase them around the pool for the 82nd time. This is where that magical invention, the kids’ club, saves you. The Azulitos Playhouse at The Fives is an indoor/outdoor facility, complete with it’s own wading pool, small playground and planned activities, including Mommy-wants-to-get-tipsy-at-dinner evening programming between 7​ to ​9 p​.​m. It’s included for kids age​ four to ​12, and features both typical fare like crafts and beach relays plus some that are specific to the region, like Ben’s favourite, a session with ​i​ndigenous Mayan musicians and their traditional instruments which prompts a mad Internet search for where he can get his very own Mayan death whistle.
One thing parents—especially parents of only children like me—quickly learn is that a vacation with your sweet, sweet child isn’t always exactly relaxing, especially when you’re on tap to build sandcastles for hours or chase them around the pool for the 82nd time.
For the under-​four​ set you can book babysitting for $20/hour per kid. Most activities are included, but some non-kids’ club fun, like the artist who had a whole table of paintable ceramics—including traditional sugar skulls—starts at an affordable $12 per piece. Ben and I each paint a skull, and they’re so pretty they end up being some of my favourite-ever holiday souvenirs. There’s also ​giant checkers and chess​ boards​ and ping pong tables under the trees. A small on-site gift shop has essentials like bathing suits, diapers, and, of course, inflatable pool swans, for sale. I don’t use the glossy gym, but I peek in and it looks lovely, and also peeking burns calories because you turn your head!
Photography courtesy of The Fives azul Beach
If you become terribly bored of all that horrible relaxing, you can also book a plethora of family-friendly excursions in the area, including some that launch right off the resort’s beach like parasailing—which they do with kids as young as five if they go with a parent. I try to talk Ben into this but he’s more of an “admire-from-the-ground” parasailer. Concierges can help book reservations with outside operators for everything from snorkelling and cave exploring jaunts to zip​-​lining and visiting Mayan ruins. (A visit to nearby Xel-Há, a sort of eco fun park, is a particularly good for families​.​)
It’s our last day, and Ben is crying again. First because there are ACTUAL PIECES OF STRAWBERRY in his homemade strawberry ice cream (it’s delicious, and if it’s originally your kid’s ice cream there are no calories in it) and second: “But I don’t want to leave Mexico!!” Life’s hard, kid. Have a gourmet chicken nugget.
0 notes
jessicakehoe · 5 years
Text
This Luxury Resort in Playa del Carmen Appeases Even the Pickiest Eaters
The chicken nuggets have visible spices in them. My hungry seven-year-old Ben—a picky eater to the extreme—is in tears as the waitress plies him with a parade of chicken-y items, but none devoid enough of anything illegal​, ​like flavo​u​r or, say, a sprig of parsley, to satisfy his decidedly unsophisticated palate. This is getting serious. A manager is summoned.
“What can I get you, boss?” ​the manager​ soothes. Eventually someone runs to the beachside snack shack to fetch ​Ben a hot dog. My husband Jason and I breathe a sigh of relief and turn back to our grilled panella cheese and ceviche. Averting such crises is a big part of why we choose The Fives Azul Beach in Playa ​del Carmen​, Mexico​ for our sunny getaway. Karisma resorts (there are five in Mexico alone), have a “gourmet-inclusive” concept, which means that this brand knows food—which satisfies snobby city foodies like us—but they also know kids, which satisfies snobby mini Neanderthals like Ben.
Luxury resort brands like The Ritz​-​Carlton, Four Seasons, Rosewood and Karisma have zeroed in on the fact that families do need different offerings and special services, but that they don’t want to be banished to plasticized wonderlands with only some grilled cheese and limp French fries for comfort.​ ​The Fives is the type of place where jars of Gerber baby food are artfully displayed next to a massive wheel of ​p​armesan cheese at the breakfast buffet, and wedding parties and multi-generational groups happily coexist amongst the jungle foliage and pretty lazy river swimming pools that wind through the grounds.
The Fives is the type of place where jars of Gerber baby food are artfully displayed next to a massive wheel of ​p​armesan cheese at the breakfast buffet
Karisma dubs it “Monkeys, Milkshakes and Magic,” and while Ben is bitterly disappointed that he never spots any of the free-roaming spider monkeys that live on the grounds, there​’s definitely some smoothie imbibing and a magical walk across a wooden bridge carved through the jungle lit up with fairy lights. (There’s also an adults-only pool and adjoining poolside resto where grownups can escape the under four-feet-high crowd entirely.)
We stay in a one-bedroom suite in one of the newer villas in the Essence section, all of which are outfitted in fresh modern décor. They’re a bit further from the beach and main restaurant area, but are definitely more up our aesthetic alley than the standard rooms in the older section. The Essence rooms, however, don’t have bathtubs, so if you’re travelling with a little who’s terrified of the shower—even a glamorous, glassed-in rainfall shower—you may want to request a room in the original buildings. If you have a baby, you can ask for an infant tub, as well as pack ‘n’ plays, bottle sterilizers, strollers and plush teeny tiny bathrobes for your room. Suites all have full kitchens, so every day I ring the 24-hour room service (lifesaver!) and load our fridge up with foods that Ben will eat​ ​(the peanut butter and jam sandwich plated just so is particularly hilarious)​ ​and I’m definitely not the only parent pocketing bananas and yogurt from the breakfast buffets. There are always gluten-free and vegetarian options, too.
Photography courtesy of The Fives azul Beach
But for anyone for whom the word “buffet” sends a chill up their spine—they call them “displays” at Karisma resorts—The Fives has 13 restaurants, including French, Italian, Japanese and Thai options, all with their own appropriately-infused Menu de Niños (Children’s Menu). There’s also a Mexican cantina that hosts mezcal and tequila tastings and several adults-only wine bars and cocktail spots. While the under-​two​ crowd is more abundant at Karisma’s nearby Azul Beach Riviera Maya baby and toddler-focused property, at ​The Fives they will also puree any of the meals at the sit-down restaurants for hungry Harpers and impatient Imogens. If you have a rooftop suite with its own b​arbeque,​ for an extra fee you can book your own chef to come whip up Mexican​-​, Texas​-​​​ or Argentinian​-style​ dinner.
But it wouldn’t be a luxury family getaway without a luxury family spa experience, now, would it? I’m dying to sign Jason and Ben up for the “Daddy Scape” package at the on-site Vassa spa (massage, facial and pedicure for each of them, performed in a kids’ treatment room strewn with teddy bears) only because I obviously need a snap of Ben and his ​d​ad in fluffy robes getting pedis, but sadly I decide to pass due to the $406 US price tag. All the RMTs at Vassa are licensed and most Canadians are able to claim the treatments on their private insurance plans, and I do seriously ponder trying this to get a “turtle massage” for Ben. There’s a full menu of individual services for kids, special treatments for teens and a sampling of scrubs and prenatal rubs for moms-to-be (though lower-altitude areas of Mexico like Playa ​d​el Carmen are still technically considered a risk zone for transmission of the Zika virus, which means pregnant women should probably avoid travelling there for now).
One thing parents—especially parents of only children like me—quickly learn is that a vacation with your sweet, sweet child isn’t always exactly relaxing, especially when you’re on tap to build sandcastles for hours or chase them around the pool for the 82nd time. This is where that magical invention, the kids’ club, saves you. The Azulitos Playhouse at The Fives is an indoor/outdoor facility, complete with it’s own wading pool, small playground and planned activities, including Mommy-wants-to-get-tipsy-at-dinner evening programming between 7​ to ​9 p​.​m. It’s included for kids age​ four to ​12, and features both typical fare like crafts and beach relays plus some that are specific to the region, like Ben’s favourite, a session with ​i​ndigenous Mayan musicians and their traditional instruments which prompts a mad Internet search for where he can get his very own Mayan death whistle.
One thing parents—especially parents of only children like me—quickly learn is that a vacation with your sweet, sweet child isn’t always exactly relaxing, especially when you’re on tap to build sandcastles for hours or chase them around the pool for the 82nd time.
For the under-​four​ set you can book babysitting for $20/hour per kid. Most activities are included, but some non-kids’ club fun, like the artist who had a whole table of paintable ceramics—including traditional sugar skulls—starts at an affordable $12 per piece. Ben and I each paint a skull, and they’re so pretty they end up being some of my favourite-ever holiday souvenirs. There’s also ​giant checkers and chess​ boards​ and ping pong tables under the trees. A small on-site gift shop has essentials like bathing suits, diapers, and, of course, inflatable pool swans, for sale. I don’t use the glossy gym, but I peek in and it looks lovely, and also peeking burns calories because you turn your head!
Photography courtesy of The Fives azul Beach
If you become terribly bored of all that horrible relaxing, you can also book a plethora of family-friendly excursions in the area, including some that launch right off the resort’s beach like parasailing—which they do with kids as young as five if they go with a parent. I try to talk Ben into this but he’s more of an “admire-from-the-ground” parasailer. Concierges can help book reservations with outside operators for everything from snorkelling and cave exploring jaunts to zip​-​lining and visiting Mayan ruins. (A visit to nearby Xel-Há, a sort of eco fun park, is a particularly good for families​.​)
It’s our last day, and Ben is crying again. First because there are ACTUAL PIECES OF STRAWBERRY in his homemade strawberry ice cream (it’s delicious, and if it’s originally your kid’s ice cream there are no calories in it) and second: “But I don’t want to leave Mexico!!” Life’s hard, kid. Have a gourmet chicken nugget.
The post This Luxury Resort in Playa del Carmen Appeases Even the Pickiest Eaters appeared first on FASHION Magazine.
This Luxury Resort in Playa del Carmen Appeases Even the Pickiest Eaters published first on https://borboletabags.tumblr.com/
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barbosaasouza · 6 years
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All Eyes of Odin Raven Locations in God of War
The mythical world of God of War is full of gods and diety, with the most powerful being Odin. He gets this power from his Eyes of Odin, ravens that keep a close eye on the happenings of the realms. If you want to get the upper hand – and of course unlock the Platinum Trophy – you’ll want to find all these ethereal green ravens and kill them.
All Eye of Odin Bird Locations
There are 51 Eye of Odin ravens to be found across Midgard, Alfheim, and Helheim, and all of them are supremely well-hidden. Tracking them down requires listening to the crystal-like sound they make and keeping your eyes peeled for a bird that looks a bit unusual.
Pro tip: Defeat the Valkyrie Queen to get the Retribution Axe Pommel. This thing gives the axe zero “drop” when thrown, making it go in a straight line – forever. It makes it exceptionally easy to hit those far away Eye of Odin ravens.
All Eye of Odin Ravens in Midgard
There are 43 Eye of Odin birds in Midgard, scattered across all the different regions. Finding them all requires accessing all the side-quest areas, such as Veithurgard and Konunsgard.
Wildwoods – 1
Eye of Odin 1
This Eye of Odin is located in the hidden chamber in the Wildwoods. To find it, start at Kratos’ home, go into the backyard, climb the wooden ladder, drop down into the next arena and turn left. You must know how to unlock hidden chambers to proceed. Go down the elevator inside and enter the arena. Look to the right and into the sky to see the Eye of Odin raven circling.
The River Pass – 6
Eye of Odin 1
This Eye of Odin can be found in The River Pass, specifically, the Wildwood’s Edge near where Kratos and Atreus fall through a rotten bridge, right before meeting Brok for the first time. When in the area below the bridge, look up to see the bird perched on tree branch. Alternatively, wait until you meet Brok on the bridge and turn around to spot the bird from another angle.
Eye of Odin 2
Another Eye of Odin can be found after Kratos and Atreus open their first circular door using a sand riddle and before the fight with the troll in the ribcage. You will pass through a cave with a hole on the right-hand side with sunlight pouring in. The Eye of Odin is at the top of this skylight and is extremely difficult to spot.
Eye of Odin 3
An Eye of Odin can be found in The River Pass where you fight a troll, in the area after Brok’s first shop, and after the sand riddle. This fight takes place in the middle of a ribcage, and it’s at the top of one of these ribcage bones where you’ll spot the bird.
Eye of Odin 4
Another Eye of Odin can be found in The River Pass in a burned and looted village between Kratos’ home and the Witch’s home. This area is found after Atreus’ shoots the magical boar. The bird is on top of the roof of one of the little houses.
Eye of Odin 5
Another Eye of Odin can be found in The River Pass, in front of the Witch’s house. Climb up the chain and walk along the path, the bird is perched on top of a rock past the Nornir chest.
Eye of Odin 6
The last Eye of Odin in The River Pass can be found in the hidden chamber below the Witch’s house. Ride the elevator down, and enter the arena and turn right, the bird is up high on a statue.
Foothills – 2
Eye of Odin 1
Another Eye of Odin is located at the very edge of the Foothills before it becomes The Mountains near there wooden lift. Ride the lift to the top – or when you first reach the snowy mountain area turn left and go to the wooden lift – and look to the snowy peak beside the wheel to spot the Eye of Odin raven.
Eye of Odin 2
This Eye of Odin can be found inside the hidden chamber in the Foothills. Ride the elevator down, step toward the arena, but before you jump the gap, turn around and look above the doorway you just stepped through. The raven is on the rafter of the door.
The Mountain – 4
Eye of Odin 1
The first Eye of Odin you can find in The Mountain is shortly after the statue of the stag. Take the path on the right, through the narrow cave, and under the heavy stone Kratos must lift. Ahead of you is a bridge with a hole, along with a couple of spinning Nornir statues. Walk to the hole in the bridge and look on the wooden beams below to find the bird.
Eye of Odin 2
An Eye of Odin can be found deep within The Mountain, in the open cavern area where Kratos and Atreus ride the block up using the claw. Enter the cavern area and turn left to face a long corridor with a large dead animal in shackles on the ground. Climb the upper walkway near the dead beast to spot the Eye of Odin raven sitting across a broken bridge on a rock.
Eye of Odin 3
This Eye of Odin can be found in the main cavern area of The Mountain, the section with the claw that Kratos and Atreus ride to the top. Enter this cavern and go straight to find a tunnel, pass through the tunnel to find Brok and his shop on the left. Opposite Brok is a cliff with the raven circling in the air.
Eye of Odin 4
The final Eye of Odin in The Mountain can be found in the hidden chamber. Go down the elevator, enter the arena, and turn left to see the raven sitting on the ledge.
Lookout Tower – 1
Eye of Odin 1
This Eye of Odin can be found near the Vanaheim tower in Midgard, though this is technically the Lookout Tower. The easiest way to spot it is to walk along the bridge toward the Foothills and look over to the right toward the large statue of Thor. The raven is flying is circles above the lake.
Shores of Nine – 1
Eye of Odin 1
The only Eye of Odin that is technically in the Shores of Nine can be found by standing on the Niflheim Tower. This might only be possible once the water has been lowered twice. Take the elevator to the top and head to the side of the platform near the mystic gate to see a Viking shipwreck, at the stern of the ship is the Eye of Odin raven.
Forgotten Caverns – 2
Eye of Odin 1
This Eye of Odin is located in the north of the Lake of Nine, at the Forgotten Caverns. Dock the boat on the beach and approach the Nornir chest. To the left of the chest is the spinning pole with the rune bells, and on top of it is the bird.
Eye of Odin 2
This Eye of Odin can be found in the Forgotten Caverns once the water has been lowered a second time. Look for a tunnel in the side of the cliff through which to row the boat (behind the Svartalfheim Tower), and then stick to the left of the Yggdrasil dew to find a place to dock. Climb the rock wall to the top and then look back down to spot the raven.
Isle of Death – 1
Eye of Odin 1
There is only one Eye of Odin to be found on the Isle of Death, and it’s right near the dock on the north side of the island. Dock the boat and look to the left to see a chain (or a wall where a chain can be kicked down). There is a gap in the wall below a ship, it’s here you’ll see the raven.
Iron Cove – 1
Eye of Odin 1
This Eye of Odin can be found by locating the split shipwreck at the top of the Iron Cove and climbing its ladder to reach the deck. Look out to the west to see the Eye of Odin raven flying in circles.
Landsuther Mines – 2
Eye of Odin 1
An Eye of Odin can be found right as you enter Landsuther Mines. Climb the wooden ladder and before you jump down to the next area, the bird will be in front of you on a wooden beam above the mystic gate.
Eye of Odin 2
This Eye of Odin is found deep within the Landsuther Mines. Progress through the mines until you come across the Traveler and the dead Soul Eater, just past here is an open area with a raised pallet filled with blocks. At the top of this cavern is a bird perched on the rock wall.
Northri Stronghold – 2
Eye of Odin 1
This Eye of Odin can be found in the Northri Stronghold opposite Sindri.
Eye of Odin 2
Another Eye of Odin can be found in the area with the main ship. Climb onto the ship and look at the barred gate, the raven is sitting on one of the bars near the top.
Council of Valkyries – 1
Eye of Odin 1
This Eye of Odin can be found outside the Council of Valkyries, on the southern boat statue. To hit the raven, stand on the beach near the Helheim Tower or the beach at the Alfheim Tower and look to the figurehead of the boat to spot the raven perched on top.
Buri’s Storeroom – 1
Eye of Odin 1
The Eye of Odin on Buri’s Storeroom is difficult to spot and actually hit. Dock the boat on the beach and look to the left toward the gate. Beyond the gate is a cliff with a tunnel, the raven is flying through the tunnel and around the cliff in a circle.
Stone Falls – 1
Eye of Odin 1
The Eye of Odin at Stone Falls can be found by starting at the mystic gateway, jumping across the wooden bridge, and turning to face the waterfall. At the top of the waterfall is the Eye of Odin raven.
Volunder Mines – 1
Eye of Odin 1
Another Eye of Odin can be found near the entrance to the Volunder Mines in the south-east area of the Lake of Nine. Find the dock for Volunder Mines and walk around the shoreline, the bird is flying in circles above the water.
Cliffs of the Raven – 1
Eye of Odin 1
Eye of Odin can be found in the Cliffs of the Raven in the Lake of Nine. Dock the boat, move around the shoreline and look for wood barricading a crawlspace for Atreus. Break it, boost Atreus up, then climb the chain he throws down. Look over the edge toward the World Serpent, the Eye of Odin is on a rock nearby. This is also where you can find one of the Muspelheim ciphers.
Thamur’s Corpse – 2
Eye of Odin 1
The first Eye of Odin raven in the Thamur’s Corpse region is right near the mystic gateway at the dock. Standing at the dock, look behind the mystic gateway toward the wall to spot the bird hopping around.
Eye of Odin 2
The final Eye of Odin in Thamur’s Corpse can be found within the hidden chamber. Ride the elevator down and enter the arena, immediately look up to the branches of the tree to find the raven.
Fafnir’s Storeroom – 5
Eye of Odin 1
To find this Eye of Odin, head to Fafnir’s Storeroom which is located to the north-west of the Lake of Nine in Midgard. As you enter, you will find Sindri’s shop, just past him is the bird, circling in the air.
Eye of Odin 2
Another Eye of Odin can be found in Fafnir’s Storeroom right near the beginning of the region. As you enter the forest area, on the left is a waterfall with the bird sitting on a branch.
Eye of Odin 3
This Eye of Odin is a little tough to spot, but it’s sitting on the crossbeam of a cave system leading to a locked door in Fafnir’s Storeroom, in the main forest area.
Eye of Odin 4
Another Eye of Odin can be found in Fafnir’s Storeroom, deep in the inner cavern. To locate this bird, move through the forest and into the cave to reach a ledge to drop down into a circular room. The Eye of Odin is flying in circles above the center platform.
Eye of Odin 5
The last Eye of Odin can be found as you leave Fafnir’s Storeroom, or as you arrive, depends how perceptive you are (I wasn't very perceptive). Near the dock, look up at the wooden crane to spot the Eye of Odin raven sitting there.
Konunsgard – 5
Eye of Odin 1
Another Eye of Odin can be found in Konunsgard. As Kratos enters the area, drop down the chain and hug the left path and go past a poison lamp. You’ll come across a casket, and over the ledge behind it is an Eye of Odin bird.
Eye of Odin 2
This Eye of Odin is located beneath the dragon in Konunsgard, in the side of the cliff wall.
Eye of Odin 3
This Eye of Odin can be found just before the dragon tether statue in Konunsgard. The easiest way to find this raven is to start at the tether statue, looking to where the dragon would be, and turn right and follow the path up the hill, making sure to hug the right-hand wall. Climb the small ledge on the right up to a red casket and then look to the cliffs to the south – the Eye of Odin raven is hidden in the fog.
Eye of Odin 4
An Eye of Odin can be found in the lower area of Konunsgard behind a rock door locked by three Nornir runes with a lot of red crystals nearby. Unlock the door and go around the bend to the left. Drop the wooden bridge, stand on it and look to the right to see the raven on a rock.
Eye of Odin 5
The final Eye of Odin in Konunsgard can be found inside the dwarf king’s fortress. Open the door and take the first right to find a Jotnar shrine. Turn left and hop up the ledge, on the right is a casket. Above the casket is a hole in the top of the fortress, it’s here where the raven will be sitting.
Veithurgard – 3
Eye of Odin 1
The first Eye of Odin that can be found in Veithurgard is near the statue of Thor on the little island. Go to the island and look to the sky to see the bird circling the small landmass.
Eye of Odin 2
An Eye of Odin can be found directly below the dragon in Veithurgard behind a wooden barricade. Smash the barricades with the Leviathan axe to reveal the bird’s location.
Eye of Odin 3
The final Eye of Odin in Veithurgard can be found to the left of the large, rune-locked double doors to the left of the dragon. Face the huge doors, turn left and look behind the statue’s fallen head to find this last raven.
All Eye of Odin Ravens in Alfheim – 2
Eye of Odin 1
This Eye of Odin can be found after collecting the boat in Alfheim. Paddle through the water until you reach the Lake of Light. Head to the left and onto the beach, the green Eye of Odin bird is sitting on a platform along the cliff.
Eye of Odin 2
Another Eye of Odin can be found inside the Hidden Chamber of Odin in Alfheim. Ride the elevator down, enter the arena, and look up to the left to spot the bird sitting on the edge of the roof.
All Eye of Odin Ravens in Helheim – 6
Eye of Odin 1
Another Eye of Odin can be found when you visit Helheim. Walk straight from the entrance until you reach the circular roof, the bird is perched on a green gem above the area.
Eye of Odin 2
An Eye of Odin can be found in Helheim past the main bridge. Drop down to the left and then move down into the lower area. Look over the edge into the bottomless ravine to see the bird circling.
Eye of Odin 3
This Eye of Odin is located by following the main path through Helheim. Start at the main gate and work your way down the left, shimmy through the tunnel. Drop down to the lower area and then down further into the arena. There is a climbable wall that appears to lead to nothing, look behind the pillar to spot the bird sitting behind it.
Eye of Odin 4
Another Eye of Odin can be found in Helheim by using Atreus’ Shock Arrow. Continue down the main path, through the double doors, and to the section of bridge with walkways across it. There will be a door on the upper level on the left that is blocked by World Tree Sap, clear the path to find the bird inside on a stone pillar.
Eye of Odin 5
To find this Eye of Odin, head to Helheim and continue along the bridge until you arrive at the section with little bridges above the main one. Look to the right to see a path blocked by red sap, clear the path to reveal a chest, casket, and the Eye of Odin bird sitting on a stone.
Eye of Odin 6
An Eye of Odin can be found inside the hidden chamber in Helheim. Continue along the main bridge, through the double doors, until you reach a section of the bridge with paths cutting across it. Climb the block to the door that is covered with World Tree Sap, clear it and ride the elevator down into the hidden chamber. The bird can be sees high above the entrance to the arena as the elevator reaches the bottom.
After finding the last Eye of Odin, you should have unlocked the Allfather Blinded Trophy and scratched off another collectible from God of War’s to-do list. With that out of the way, make sure you know where to find all legendary chests and then swing by our God of War guide for more walkthroughs and collectible guides!
All Eyes of Odin Raven Locations in God of War published first on https://superworldrom.tumblr.com/
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fesahaawit · 6 years
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Net Worth Update: $840,243.99 (+$37,000)
Happy Net Worth Day!
As I was updating our numbers this month, it dawned on me that I have now tracked my net worth every single month for 10 years straight now. TEN YEARS!!! That’s 120 net worth reports in a row – crazy!
And in fact, a week from today is actually this blog’s 10 year anniversary too, which is a whole other win for someone who could barely hold down a job for 10 months no less 10 years, haha…
We’ll get to all that next week, but today we celebrate our *Net Worth Anniversary* by going back in time and pulling out the very first report we ever published!
Back when I was a nubile 28 year old with no kids, no wife (I was engaged), no responsibilities outside of our too-big-for-us mortgage, and when I was pretty much doing the bare minimum at my 9-5 while doing the absolute maximum out at the bar scene ;)
Here’s what past J$’s finances looked like a decade ago:
Not too bad, all things considering? Some hefty debts there with the car loan and credit card, but at least there’s some investments that help make up for it! Haha… And I see some pretty creative tracking there as well with the “condo investment” listing (i.e. a loan I gave my brother where I apparently tracked the payments back to me vs just putting them back into savings?) as well as the calculating of “home equity” instead of just listing out the home’s value in one section and the mortgages in the other. (Which I later corrected to better give me a fuller picture of things)
Here’s a clip from that first report too… When my mission was to hit that elusive $100,000 – the hardest milestone of all!
401k: My favorite category of all time :) What’s not to love about company matches, direct deposits, and tax benefits? If all goes as planned, this will be my 3rd year of maxing out my 401k! I have been more than blessed w/ generous company matches, so it would be absolutely asinine not to participate. I expect this category to go up at least $2,375 each month, markets willing.
And it would have been ass-inine of me to not participate in that retirement plan as they were matching 100% of contributions up to the legal limit of $15,500 – all fully vested from day 1! Which meant putting in $15,500 myself, and getting a free $15,500 in return – just like that (!!!). You’ll notice the cash losses at the top of that chart there which were due to me jacking up my contributions to like 90% and living off of less than $100 a pay period until I fully capped out, haha… Who in their right mind *wouldn’t* go after all that free money??
(Answer: 95% of my colleagues, womp womp… No one understood just how insane it was, and by the time they did our company was on the path to imploding and people were scrambling to find new jobs…  (Long-time readers might remember the ordeals back then, from paychecks not clearing to some of us eventually taking our employer to court – all of which I do not miss one bit, ugh… (though I do miss those sweet matches which are non-existent in self-employment! ;) ))
Ten years later we’re still maxing out our retirement accounts too! It’s been the backbone of our entire net worth all these years, and even if that was ALL we ever did we’d still be sitting pretty… That compounding adds up!
But alright, out from the past now and back into reality… Time flies when you’re nerding out!
January’s Net Worth Breakdown:
[As always, these reports are shared to better start discussions around money, and to showcase a *real life* financial snapshot which is so often hidden in this world of ours. It’s the #1 thing that drew ME to money blogs all those years ago, so it’s something I’ve committed to doing myself to further keep the motivation and love of tracking going… So without further adieu, welcome to net worth report #121!]
CASH SAVINGS (+$810.63): Woo – it’s up and not down! Which is a big win, considering it’s one of the only areas you actually have control over when you’re so invested in the stock market, haha… And thank goodness this report only covers January, as Friday was a WHOPPER of a market crash – wow! I haven’t seen numbers like that since the 2008 era – remember pages like these??
SPAVINGS FUND! (+$61.85): Another month, another socking away of spavings! I.e.  “spending savings” where you have to actually spend money in order to save money, haha… Here’s a list of some of my spavings from throughout the month, plus some random money I threw in like found change on the ground or gift cards that I used, thereby saving me from having to spend the money:
$1.00 Panera rewards
$30.15 USAA dividends
$3.00 Starbucks free coffee (a perk of being a regular!)
$1.00 Panera rewards (a regular, who cheats on ’em w/ Panera ;))
$1.70 – bagel made at home instead of usual purchase @ Panera
(The rest of the list literally involves nothing but coffee or bagel-related items, so I’ll spare you from the boredom, haha… And while I initially thought I’d be applying all this money towards an IRA, I’m actually considering using it for something more fun/experimenty like with bitcoin or something? Since it’s all “free” money and I wouldn’t feel as bad losing if it came to that??)
THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN (TSP) (+$1,098.33): Another great bump here, this time courtesy of Mrs. BudgetsAreSexy! Her ol’ retirement contributions and matches are piling up, and though her job is not nearly as secure as it once was w/ all the administration changes, we’ve made it another month and will continue being thankful for each future one granted to us as well… She loves her job, but it’s getting shakier by the day.
ROTH IRAs (+$8,046.57): A nice bump here too, all due to the markets… And again before the major crash on Friday. Thankfully none of it really matters if you’re not touching the money for decades, but for those soon retiring or cashing out it can most definitely sting :( We’ll have to see if this is finally the start of a downturn, or if it’s yet another finicky one-off that we’re so accustomed to seeing.
SEP IRA (+$27,922.77): Same goes with this bad boy too – nothing new added, and is fully dependent on the market! It’ll soon be time for our yearly maxing out though, which will help us reallocate some of those cash reserves we’ve piled up from the sale…
Here’s how our investments have fared since moving everything over to Vanguard (we’re fully in VTSAX – my favorite “lazy” portfolio of choice!):
CAR VALUES (-$646.00): Another usual dip, as tracked through Kelly Blue Book (Kbb.com). Here are the present values of our two cars, which may or may not change come baby #3 ;)
Lexus RX350: $9,801.00
Toyota Corolla: $3,130.00
CAR LOAN: (+$0.00): I know this doesn’t belong here anymore now that we fully paid it off (woo!) but I can’t help staring at it so I’m leaving it in for one last month before taking it down, haha… It’s the little things in life!
And that’s January!
Here’s how the past 12 months have gone for a more broader picture:
And here’s how our kids’ net worths are faring… Mainly just some changes in market prices:
Now a *LIFE* update!
A lot of you liked this part from last month where we balance out all the $$$ talk with more of the stuff that actually matters (i.e. living!), so we’ll go another round here and see how it goes :)
Baby news: Super healthy and growing!! We had a scare last week and had to head over to the hospital for 24 hours to be monitored, but fortunately the problem was mommy-related and not baby-related, although of course it still sucked for the mommy, haha…. (she’s all better now though!)
More baby news: it comes out in THREE MONTHS – ACK!!!! I’m ready but also NOT ready at all, haha… it’s always been so far away and now he/she is almost here!
Speaking of he/she news: I finally caved and found out what “it” is :) My wife did not enjoy the fact she had to keep hiding it anymore, so in an attempt to be a good husband I welcomed the news and now the cat is out of the bag… Though I’m thinking I may just put it *back into the bag* as far as this blog here goes, and try to milk the fun secret even longer, haha… You guys wouldn’t hate me too much for not spilling the beans, right?
In Time/Work news: I’m officially use to my new schedule now since selling Rockstar, and it’s loaded with about 80% of awesomeness and 20% of unease, wondering how best to use my free time :) I thought I’d be able to just “be” and relax for a third of the work day, but I keep catching myself getting antsy whenever I’m not doing something productive, so it seems I still have a ways to go on that whole work/life balance front (probably due to years of over-hustling!). Of course, the whole problem goes away in three months when the baby boy girl (ack – almost slipped on that one) comes out, so for now I should probably just keep my mouth shut and try to appreciate it as much as I can… I will say I’m loving hitting inbox zero every day now instead of every year, so that’s something! I also created an “art center” for my kids in the middle of the work day when I was tired of seeing their supplies scattered in 13 different places, so I am finding ways to cope :)
Book deal – I’ve also been contacted a couple of times this month for a book deal! I’m not quite sure I’m ready to take on *that* level of project as yet, but it is always fun to think about… I might be reaching out to some of y’all later if I decide to move forward in hopes of getting connected to a good agent out there, but for now it’s sitting on the “make sure you REALLY want to do this!” pile before taking any next moves, haha… I want to stay productive, but that’s a whole other beast!
The updating of jmoney.biz… I’ve also been spending more time updating and creating some new pages on my resume site to finally get everything into one main spot, not unlike my kids’ art supplies. I now have an updated press page, a projects page, a failures page which y’all are already familiar with, and then lastly an updated consulting page as I’m starting to pick up more of that stuff too. It’s amazing how you can condense a decade worth of work into just a handful of bullet points! It’s a fun exercise to try if you’ve never done it before :)
A charity idea? Lastly, I’m batting around a pretty wild philanthropy idea that I think can be SUPER helpful for a best friend of mine, but I’m anxious to put it into action because it’s a much longer (and crazier) play than I’m used to… But it IS fun and CAN do some loads of good for him, so maybe I just pull the trigger and put it out there to the world? Where I’ll either be laughed out of the room, or called a super genius? Haha…
And that’s a wrap! Money + LIFE… Two of the best things!
Let us know what’s good in your life lately, and of course if you have any questions whatsoever with these updates, just pass them on over as you know I’m an open book.
I don’t have the answers to everything, but I DO know that tracking your money is one of the best things you can ever do for yourself, and I’m so glad I started those fateful years ago…  If you’re new to the site or $$$ management in general, I’ve listed a few of my favorite tools for tracking net worth below.
Here’s to a great new month, and making each day count!
********** PS: Here are a couple of spreadsheets to help track your money and/or net worth if you’re looking to get started (and love manually tracking it as I do :)):
The “Budget/Net Worth” spreadsheet – the colorful Excel template I personally use.
The “Money Snapshot” spreadsheet – a simple Excel template I created for my former $$$ clients
If you’re not a spreadsheet guy like me and prefer something more automated, you can try your hand at Mint.com, or it’s super-competitor Personal Capital (both of which are free). Tons of financial bloggers love and rave about PC, and you can find our full review of them here from one of my early-retired millionaire friends: Why I Use Personal Capital Almost Every Single Day. Hope this helps!!
Net Worth Update: $840,243.99 (+$37,000) posted first on http://lionelcapital.blogspot.com
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barbosaasouza · 6 years
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All Eyes of Odin Raven Locations in God of War
The mythical world of God of War is full of gods and diety, with the most powerful being Odin. He gets this power from his Eyes of Odin, ravens that keep a close eye on the happenings of the realms. If you want to get the upper hand – and of course unlock the Platinum Trophy – you’ll want to find all these ethereal green ravens and kill them.
All Eye of Odin Bird Locations
There are 51 Eye of Odin ravens to be found across Midgard, Alfheim, and Helheim, and all of them are supremely well-hidden. Tracking them down requires listening to the crystal-like sound they make and keeping your eyes peeled for a bird that looks a bit unusual.
Pro tip: Defeat the Valkyrie Queen to get the Retribution Axe Pommel. This thing gives the axe zero “drop” when thrown, making it go in a straight line – forever. It makes it exceptionally easy to hit those far away Eye of Odin ravens.
All Eye of Odin Ravens in Midgard
There are 43 Eye of Odin birds in Midgard, scattered across all the different regions. Finding them all requires accessing all the side-quest areas, such as Veithurgard and Konunsgard.
Wildwoods – 1
Eye of Odin 1
This Eye of Odin is located in the hidden chamber in the Wildwoods. To find it, start at Kratos’ home, go into the backyard, climb the wooden ladder, drop down into the next arena and turn left. You must know how to unlock hidden chambers to proceed. Go down the elevator inside and enter the arena. Look to the right and into the sky to see the Eye of Odin raven circling.
The River Pass – 6
Eye of Odin 1
This Eye of Odin can be found in The River Pass, specifically, the Wildwood’s Edge near where Kratos and Atreus fall through a rotten bridge, right before meeting Brok for the first time. When in the area below the bridge, look up to see the bird perched on tree branch. Alternatively, wait until you meet Brok on the bridge and turn around to spot the bird from another angle.
Eye of Odin 2
Another Eye of Odin can be found after Kratos and Atreus open their first circular door using a sand riddle and before the fight with the troll in the ribcage. You will pass through a cave with a hole on the right-hand side with sunlight pouring in. The Eye of Odin is at the top of this skylight and is extremely difficult to spot.
Eye of Odin 3
An Eye of Odin can be found in The River Pass where you fight a troll, in the area after Brok’s first shop, and after the sand riddle. This fight takes place in the middle of a ribcage, and it’s at the top of one of these ribcage bones where you’ll spot the bird.
Eye of Odin 4
Another Eye of Odin can be found in The River Pass in a burned and looted village between Kratos’ home and the Witch’s home. This area is found after Atreus’ shoots the magical boar. The bird is on top of the roof of one of the little houses.
Eye of Odin 5
Another Eye of Odin can be found in The River Pass, in front of the Witch’s house. Climb up the chain and walk along the path, the bird is perched on top of a rock past the Nornir chest.
Eye of Odin 6
The last Eye of Odin in The River Pass can be found in the hidden chamber below the Witch’s house. Ride the elevator down, and enter the arena and turn right, the bird is up high on a statue.
Foothills – 2
Eye of Odin 1
Another Eye of Odin is located at the very edge of the Foothills before it becomes The Mountains near there wooden lift. Ride the lift to the top – or when you first reach the snowy mountain area turn left and go to the wooden lift – and look to the snowy peak beside the wheel to spot the Eye of Odin raven.
Eye of Odin 2
This Eye of Odin can be found inside the hidden chamber in the Foothills. Ride the elevator down, step toward the arena, but before you jump the gap, turn around and look above the doorway you just stepped through. The raven is on the rafter of the door.
The Mountain – 4
Eye of Odin 1
The first Eye of Odin you can find in The Mountain is shortly after the statue of the stag. Take the path on the right, through the narrow cave, and under the heavy stone Kratos must lift. Ahead of you is a bridge with a hole, along with a couple of spinning Nornir statues. Walk to the hole in the bridge and look on the wooden beams below to find the bird.
Eye of Odin 2
An Eye of Odin can be found deep within The Mountain, in the open cavern area where Kratos and Atreus ride the block up using the claw. Enter the cavern area and turn left to face a long corridor with a large dead animal in shackles on the ground. Climb the upper walkway near the dead beast to spot the Eye of Odin raven sitting across a broken bridge on a rock.
Eye of Odin 3
This Eye of Odin can be found in the main cavern area of The Mountain, the section with the claw that Kratos and Atreus ride to the top. Enter this cavern and go straight to find a tunnel, pass through the tunnel to find Brok and his shop on the left. Opposite Brok is a cliff with the raven circling in the air.
Eye of Odin 4
The final Eye of Odin in The Mountain can be found in the hidden chamber. Go down the elevator, enter the arena, and turn left to see the raven sitting on the ledge.
Lookout Tower – 1
Eye of Odin 1
This Eye of Odin can be found near the Vanaheim tower in Midgard, though this is technically the Lookout Tower. The easiest way to spot it is to walk along the bridge toward the Foothills and look over to the right toward the large statue of Thor. The raven is flying is circles above the lake.
Shores of Nine – 1
Eye of Odin 1
The only Eye of Odin that is technically in the Shores of Nine can be found by standing on the Niflheim Tower. This might only be possible once the water has been lowered twice. Take the elevator to the top and head to the side of the platform near the mystic gate to see a Viking shipwreck, at the stern of the ship is the Eye of Odin raven.
Forgotten Caverns – 2
Eye of Odin 1
This Eye of Odin is located in the north of the Lake of Nine, at the Forgotten Caverns. Dock the boat on the beach and approach the Nornir chest. To the left of the chest is the spinning pole with the rune bells, and on top of it is the bird.
Eye of Odin 2
This Eye of Odin can be found in the Forgotten Caverns once the water has been lowered a second time. Look for a tunnel in the side of the cliff through which to row the boat (behind the Svartalfheim Tower), and then stick to the left of the Yggdrasil dew to find a place to dock. Climb the rock wall to the top and then look back down to spot the raven.
Isle of Death – 1
Eye of Odin 1
There is only one Eye of Odin to be found on the Isle of Death, and it’s right near the dock on the north side of the island. Dock the boat and look to the left to see a chain (or a wall where a chain can be kicked down). There is a gap in the wall below a ship, it’s here you’ll see the raven.
Iron Cove – 1
Eye of Odin 1
This Eye of Odin can be found by locating the split shipwreck at the top of the Iron Cove and climbing its ladder to reach the deck. Look out to the west to see the Eye of Odin raven flying in circles.
Landsuther Mines – 2
Eye of Odin 1
An Eye of Odin can be found right as you enter Landsuther Mines. Climb the wooden ladder and before you jump down to the next area, the bird will be in front of you on a wooden beam above the mystic gate.
Eye of Odin 2
This Eye of Odin is found deep within the Landsuther Mines. Progress through the mines until you come across the Traveler and the dead Soul Eater, just past here is an open area with a raised pallet filled with blocks. At the top of this cavern is a bird perched on the rock wall.
Northri Stronghold – 2
Eye of Odin 1
This Eye of Odin can be found in the Northri Stronghold opposite Sindri.
Eye of Odin 2
Another Eye of Odin can be found in the area with the main ship. Climb onto the ship and look at the barred gate, the raven is sitting on one of the bars near the top.
Council of Valkyries – 1
Eye of Odin 1
This Eye of Odin can be found outside the Council of Valkyries, on the southern boat statue. To hit the raven, stand on the beach near the Helheim Tower or the beach at the Alfheim Tower and look to the figurehead of the boat to spot the raven perched on top.
Buri’s Storeroom – 1
Eye of Odin 1
The Eye of Odin on Buri’s Storeroom is difficult to spot and actually hit. Dock the boat on the beach and look to the left toward the gate. Beyond the gate is a cliff with a tunnel, the raven is flying through the tunnel and around the cliff in a circle.
Stone Falls – 1
Eye of Odin 1
The Eye of Odin at Stone Falls can be found by starting at the mystic gateway, jumping across the wooden bridge, and turning to face the waterfall. At the top of the waterfall is the Eye of Odin raven.
Volunder Mines – 1
Eye of Odin 1
Another Eye of Odin can be found near the entrance to the Volunder Mines in the south-east area of the Lake of Nine. Find the dock for Volunder Mines and walk around the shoreline, the bird is flying in circles above the water.
Cliffs of the Raven – 1
Eye of Odin 1
Eye of Odin can be found in the Cliffs of the Raven in the Lake of Nine. Dock the boat, move around the shoreline and look for wood barricading a crawlspace for Atreus. Break it, boost Atreus up, then climb the chain he throws down. Look over the edge toward the World Serpent, the Eye of Odin is on a rock nearby. This is also where you can find one of the Muspelheim ciphers.
Thamur’s Corpse – 2
Eye of Odin 1
The first Eye of Odin raven in the Thamur’s Corpse region is right near the mystic gateway at the dock. Standing at the dock, look behind the mystic gateway toward the wall to spot the bird hopping around.
Eye of Odin 2
The final Eye of Odin in Thamur’s Corpse can be found within the hidden chamber. Ride the elevator down and enter the arena, immediately look up to the branches of the tree to find the raven.
Fafnir’s Storeroom – 5
Eye of Odin 1
To find this Eye of Odin, head to Fafnir’s Storeroom which is located to the north-west of the Lake of Nine in Midgard. As you enter, you will find Sindri’s shop, just past him is the bird, circling in the air.
Eye of Odin 2
Another Eye of Odin can be found in Fafnir’s Storeroom right near the beginning of the region. As you enter the forest area, on the left is a waterfall with the bird sitting on a branch.
Eye of Odin 3
This Eye of Odin is a little tough to spot, but it’s sitting on the crossbeam of a cave system leading to a locked door in Fafnir’s Storeroom, in the main forest area.
Eye of Odin 4
Another Eye of Odin can be found in Fafnir’s Storeroom, deep in the inner cavern. To locate this bird, move through the forest and into the cave to reach a ledge to drop down into a circular room. The Eye of Odin is flying in circles above the center platform.
Eye of Odin 5
The last Eye of Odin can be found as you leave Fafnir’s Storeroom, or as you arrive, depends how perceptive you are (I wasn't very perceptive). Near the dock, look up at the wooden crane to spot the Eye of Odin raven sitting there.
Konunsgard – 5
Eye of Odin 1
Another Eye of Odin can be found in Konunsgard. As Kratos enters the area, drop down the chain and hug the left path and go past a poison lamp. You’ll come across a casket, and over the ledge behind it is an Eye of Odin bird.
Eye of Odin 2
This Eye of Odin is located beneath the dragon in Konunsgard, in the side of the cliff wall.
Eye of Odin 3
This Eye of Odin can be found just before the dragon tether statue in Konunsgard. The easiest way to find this raven is to start at the tether statue, looking to where the dragon would be, and turn right and follow the path up the hill, making sure to hug the right-hand wall. Climb the small ledge on the right up to a red casket and then look to the cliffs to the south – the Eye of Odin raven is hidden in the fog.
Eye of Odin 4
An Eye of Odin can be found in the lower area of Konunsgard behind a rock door locked by three Nornir runes with a lot of red crystals nearby. Unlock the door and go around the bend to the left. Drop the wooden bridge, stand on it and look to the right to see the raven on a rock.
Eye of Odin 5
The final Eye of Odin in Konunsgard can be found inside the dwarf king’s fortress. Open the door and take the first right to find a Jotnar shrine. Turn left and hop up the ledge, on the right is a casket. Above the casket is a hole in the top of the fortress, it’s here where the raven will be sitting.
Veithurgard – 3
Eye of Odin 1
The first Eye of Odin that can be found in Veithurgard is near the statue of Thor on the little island. Go to the island and look to the sky to see the bird circling the small landmass.
Eye of Odin 2
An Eye of Odin can be found directly below the dragon in Veithurgard behind a wooden barricade. Smash the barricades with the Leviathan axe to reveal the bird’s location.
Eye of Odin 3
The final Eye of Odin in Veithurgard can be found to the left of the large, rune-locked double doors to the left of the dragon. Face the huge doors, turn left and look behind the statue’s fallen head to find this last raven.
All Eye of Odin Ravens in Alfheim – 2
Eye of Odin 1
This Eye of Odin can be found after collecting the boat in Alfheim. Paddle through the water until you reach the Lake of Light. Head to the left and onto the beach, the green Eye of Odin bird is sitting on a platform along the cliff.
Eye of Odin 2
Another Eye of Odin can be found inside the Hidden Chamber of Odin in Alfheim. Ride the elevator down, enter the arena, and look up to the left to spot the bird sitting on the edge of the roof.
All Eye of Odin Ravens in Helheim – 6
Eye of Odin 1
Another Eye of Odin can be found when you visit Helheim. Walk straight from the entrance until you reach the circular roof, the bird is perched on a green gem above the area.
Eye of Odin 2
An Eye of Odin can be found in Helheim past the main bridge. Drop down to the left and then move down into the lower area. Look over the edge into the bottomless ravine to see the bird circling.
Eye of Odin 3
This Eye of Odin is located by following the main path through Helheim. Start at the main gate and work your way down the left, shimmy through the tunnel. Drop down to the lower area and then down further into the arena. There is a climbable wall that appears to lead to nothing, look behind the pillar to spot the bird sitting behind it.
Eye of Odin 4
Another Eye of Odin can be found in Helheim by using Atreus’ Shock Arrow. Continue down the main path, through the double doors, and to the section of bridge with walkways across it. There will be a door on the upper level on the left that is blocked by World Tree Sap, clear the path to find the bird inside on a stone pillar.
Eye of Odin 5
To find this Eye of Odin, head to Helheim and continue along the bridge until you arrive at the section with little bridges above the main one. Look to the right to see a path blocked by red sap, clear the path to reveal a chest, casket, and the Eye of Odin bird sitting on a stone.
Eye of Odin 6
An Eye of Odin can be found inside the hidden chamber in Helheim. Continue along the main bridge, through the double doors, until you reach a section of the bridge with paths cutting across it. Climb the block to the door that is covered with World Tree Sap, clear it and ride the elevator down into the hidden chamber. The bird can be sees high above the entrance to the arena as the elevator reaches the bottom.
After finding the last Eye of Odin, you should have unlocked the Allfather Blinded Trophy and scratched off another collectible from God of War’s to-do list. With that out of the way, make sure you know where to find all legendary chests and then swing by our God of War guide for more walkthroughs and collectible guides!
All Eyes of Odin Raven Locations in God of War published first on https://superworldrom.tumblr.com/
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