#vms provider

[simplifyworkforce]

Maximizing Workforce Efficiency with a VMS Platform and Contract Staffing 

In today’s business landscape, organizations are increasingly relying on flexible workforce models to meet changing demands and optimize productivity. The contingent workforce, including temporary, contract, and freelance workers, has become an essential component of modern staffing strategies. However, managing this workforce efficiently requires robust solutions that help businesses streamline processes, ensure compliance, and maintain control over staffing costs. A VMS platform, vendor compliance solutions, and contract staffing are key components that can help companies optimize their workforce management and achieve long-term success. 

What is a VMS Platform? 

A VMS platform, or Vendor Management System platform, is a software solution that helps organizations manage and optimize their relationships with third-party vendors, including staffing agencies and other external service providers. The platform automates and centralizes the processes associated with sourcing, managing, and tracking the performance of contingent workers. It provides businesses with greater visibility into their external workforce, helping them make data-driven decisions and ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations. 

The Benefits of Contract Staffing for Flexible Workforce Solutions 

Contract staffing, also known as temporary staffing, refers to hiring workers on a short-term or project-based basis. This approach offers companies the flexibility to meet fluctuating labor needs without the long-term commitments associated with permanent employees. Contract staffing is especially beneficial for businesses that require specialized skills for specific projects, have seasonal or cyclical demand, or want to minimize labor costs. 

How VMS Platform, Vendor Compliance Solutions, and Contract Staffing Work Together 

When combined, a VMS platform, vendor compliance solutions, and contract staffing provide businesses with a comprehensive approach to managing their external workforce. The VMS platform acts as a centralized system for managing vendors and contingent workers, while vendor compliance solutions ensure that all legal and regulatory requirements are met. Contract staffing allows organizations to access skilled workers on a temporary or project basis, offering flexibility and cost savings. 

How VMS Platform, Vendor Compliance Solutions, and Contract Staffing Work Together 

When combined, a VMS platform, vendor compliance solutions, and contract staffing provide businesses with a comprehensive approach to managing their external workforce. The VMS platform acts as a centralized system for managing vendors and contingent workers, while vendor compliance solutions ensure that all legal and regulatory requirements are met. Contract staffing allows organizations to access skilled workers on a temporary or project basis, offering flexibility and cost savings. 

Conclusion 

In an increasingly dynamic and competitive business environment, managing a contingent workforce effectively is crucial for success. A VMS platform, vendor compliance solutions, and contract staffing are essential components of a robust workforce management strategy. By utilizing these tools, organizations can optimize their staffing processes, maintain compliance, and access the specialized talent they need to thrive. With the right solutions in place, businesses can build a more efficient, flexible, and cost-effective workforce that is well-equipped to meet the challenges of the modern market. 

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[pinacoladamatata]

Hospitals and clinics answer the phone challenge

[techdirectarchive]

Failed to Power on with Error 'A virtual machine disk support provider for the specified file was not found

Encountering an error with the message “The application encountered an error while attempting to change the state of VM” can have various causes. How the VM was set up is required to fix this issue. In this article, I will be showing you how to fix “Failed to Power on with Error ‘A virtual machine disk support provider for the specified file was not found”. Please see The logon attempt failed for…

[illithilit]

Imo one of the literal best things about Graz is the dichotomy between being blunt to the point of being cruel sometimes, but then also being the first to willingly adjust to the v alien world of trying to take care of a child who has no one else to look after them.

[realstrap]

Help a disabled lesbian couple get groceries and get out of the negative

01/13/2024

‼️urgent needed in 24-48 hours‼️

Hey, as some of yall know already my partner and I have been urgently raising funds to secure their service dog prospect so the fact that we needed to restock groceries escaped our current list of priorities as we've had to allocate our money toward ensuring the prospect will be taken care of.

We're out of a lot of essentials (produce, milk, eggs, bread etc) and have been having to depend on raising money for takeout, this is not sustainable and we're the only ones providing for ourselves so this is very urgent, if we don't raise this we don't eat, we're both disabled with low inconsistent income so anything helps !!

We need a total of $280 to get out of the negative and restock groceries to be good for a while, with everything going on in our lives this is VITAL to give us at least some peace of mind!!

CA: $lezsalt or $sleepyhen

VM: wildwotko

Dm for p@y pal

$0/280

[patopq]

its so wild to think that with some bad rolls MOLLY could have met VOX MACHINA? and actually join them?? (provided they didnt kill him first, i mean.. "the terrible tinkerer of tal'dorei"? you mean their JUST dead friend? you're straight up asking for war, tal)

like i genuinely struggle to think how would that have been like?? to think about molly with anyone except the nein just feels wrongg. molly would not match VM style at ALL

[utilitycaster]

ok the way Fjord and (maybe???) Nott are the ONLY people acting good-aligned early on...unpopular opinion but I remain an "alignment is a useful tool in robust character building provided you remember it can and sometimes should change through your later actions" person and VM and the Nein really showed its value as a character creation tool

[locust-valley]

Help a trans couple flee hostile red states

Our city's trans community is going to be receiving a trans lesbian couple fleeing from a state not safe for trans people. Our community is pooling what we can but we could use help providing food and shelter to our sisters while they look for income and a place to rent. Any amount at all would be greatly appreciated. Sharing this post if you can't help financially still helps!

VM: @harleyjane87

[aspiringsophrosyne]

What’s this season’s theme? They weren’t subtle about it. When the group asks her about Dohla, Allura almost literally turns to the camera and says: “Let’s just say being in dangerous situations with someone you’re close to can lead to friction.”

The show’s CRew drew considerable attention to this idea through Kima and Allura’s old friend, flashbacks to their adventuring days, Zerxus’ telling of the fall of Avalir, Scanlan’s failure to be fully present for either his daughter or Vox Machina, and the group splintering. On paper, this idea is fine, but in practice, its implementation is flawed.

Because what comes of all this setup? Scanlan steps away for Kaylie; what are the repercussions of that? While Keyleth and the twins break off from the rest, are they gone long? Does this season have a capstone with a potency similar to Bard’s Lament?

(For the record, I am neutral on having Bard’s Lament in Season 3, but excluding that eliminates one hefty bit of dramatic payoff. )

What’s interesting in hindsight is the unintentional, surprisingly substantial, and consistent theme that emerges. One that isn’t the Breaking of the Fellowship.

The twins exact their revenge on Thordak. Keyleth gets revenge on Raishan after Raishan gets hers on first the Ashari, then Thordak when he doesn’t provide her with her cure. Last season, Kaylie sought revenge but rejected it in the end, and now the Shorthalts are uncertain of where they stand. Percy wants to abandon vengeance, but Ripley forces his hand. After her fatal confrontation with Percy, the twins avenge him.

Noticing a pattern?

The script tells us this season’s heart is internal strife, but the action repeatedly shows us a revenge tale. With a strong through-line, marked thematic consistency, and multiple clear payoffs. Ironically, these elements develop organically, akin to mushrooms in the dark, shielded from the narrative heavy-handedness the spotlight would impose upon them.

With only a few tweaks, they could’ve had this plot laced up tighter than a 19th-century corset. Let the twins learn the identity of their mother’s murderer earlier, and let them get the last strikes on him. Give us the group HDYWTDT on Ripley. Let the anger Keyleth feels at Raishan initially block her from passing her earth trial—setting her up as a parallel to Percy; they both let go and walk out of this season alive—and you’ve cooked a full-course meal.

Instead of a retread, frame this story as an extension and escalation of the Briarwood arc—which established how self-destructive the old eye-for-an-eye can be—but this time for the villains: Thordak must be thwarted, and Ripley’s and Raishan’s respective revenge quests draw Vox Machina’s ire and ensure their downfall.

Because sometimes, one person’s vengeance is another person’s karma.

And if desired, you could build upon this idea even further in future seasons when the enemies waiting in the wings move to center stage. Some of them might be interested in payback.

The fact this secondary focus emerges so well and so naturally proves that this show's material is good enough that it doesn’t need bells and whistles or excessive exposition to establish and justify itself. Less-to-no spoon-feeding, keeping and bolstering what was great about the source material, and leaning into this revenge theme would’ve given us not just a much sounder narrative thread this season but a subtler and uncontrived one. And it wouldn’t have needed any extra time. It might’ve needed less if Ripley wasn't around as long.

This season didn't need an underdeveloped central theme that couldn't hold together for lack of payoff shoe-horned into it. It's a worse version of a problem season 2 had, where the idea of VM learning to not run from their problems made little sense in context and didn't really go anywhere for anyone except Scanlan.

All in all, it might be better to prioritize capturing what was great about the source material before adding to the story. Otherwise, you run the risk of throwing something in the stew that clashes with its other ingredients, and there'll be significant potential and several opportunities that could end up going to waste.

[milkweedman]

Fiber Sale (need money for moving; also trying to destash) !! Only shipping to the US. All prices include shipping.

Would also really appreciate donations if you want to help support me but can't buy something for whatever reason.

Check the original post to see what's been sold and what hasn't (I will cross out sold items). First come first serve.

https://ko-fi.com/kolyenka

Prepared Fiber--all of this is prepared by me :) the following 4 are cheaper as I can ship them in normal envelopes

A: 0.14 oz, combed top. Blend of bfl, tencel, tussah silk, corriedale, merino. Very soft and shiny. $8.

B: 0.11 oz, combed top. Blend of tussah silk (black) and mohair locks (green). $8

C: 0.22 oz, combed top. Same blend as A, just a lot more of it and in different combos. Distinct gradient from one end to the other. $10

D: 0.4 oz, rolag (made on blending board). Tussah silk, mohair, and bfl. Very squishy and fine. $13

E: 0.29 oz. Rolag, wool and cotton blend. Even more stripes of color under the surface. $13

F: 0.51 oz. Rolag, wool blend with some Angelina. Purple underneath. $15

G: 4.75 ounces. Rolags (many many rolags). Blend of various wools; some fibers are not quite next to skin soft, but overall it's a soft blend. Mix of red, orange, white, purple, and black. $45

H: 1 ounce. Washed longwool fleece (breed unknown). Dyed by myself with onion skin. $10

I: 1.2 ounces. Southdown flax blend, predrafted from rolags. Could potentially make up to 6 ounces total of this. $18

FLEECE

J: 6 ounces. Washed jacob lambsfleece. Very soft for a jacob, large bits of vm (was able to get it out with hand cards). $20

K: 5.5 ounces. Hampshire with 2+ years growth, washed fleece. Definitely an odd fleece, not like your usual down breed. Has vm; washed it multiple times but still looks gross--I've found its almost impossible to get totally clean before it's yarn. Recommend combing, spinning, then washing. Nice and soft. $25

L: 7.5 ounces BFL cross. Very soft and with good luster. Some vm, was able to remove with hand cards. $25

M: 4.75 oz. Jacob x Border Leicester. Good luster, warm brown tips. Nicely soft. $20

SPINDLES:

1: thin spindle (7 inches long). Good for cobweb weight but can achieve thinner and thicker. Birch wood with woodburning. $80

2: thick spindle (7 inches long). Good for laceweight but can achieve thinner and thicker. Wood type unknown (some sort of fruit tree iirc). No woodburning due to lots of wormholes and spalting which provide their own visual interest (they don't cause problems spinning don't worry). $60

3: thick spindle (6.5 in long). Good for laceweight, can spin thicker and thinner. No clue on wood type. Woodburned on most of the surface, the rest has wormholes again. $90

BAGS

4: handblended handspun handknit drawstring project bag, 20 inch circumference. Cord is handspun flax. It's folded in half in the bigger picture. $90

5: handblended handspun handknit pouch. Don't remember the circumference but you can compare to the other bag. Body is entirely southdown babydoll wool. Handle is handspun icord. $75

HANDSPUN YARN

6: 4 oz, 325 yards. Hand blended and handspun. Alpaca, wool, silk, silk noil, angelina. 2 ply fingering weight. Very textured. $65

7: 5.75 oz, 572 yds. Merino and silk blend, 2 ply, dk weight. Blended for a triangle shawl, stripes get longer as you go. Very soft, shines very beautiful in the light. $115

Please DM if you're interested--first come first serve. I take payment via ko-fi.

[strawberryteabunny]

Frederick’s 30 Days Day 6: Are there popular lolita things you tend to dislike for your own style?

So this might be really controversial but… petticoats ><

A) I travel a lot and I’m a lifestyle lolita; on average I’m out of town at least once a month. I also live in a big city and don’t own a car so I’m on the bus or train everywhere. Trying to pack a petticoat in a suitcase or on public transportation is REALLY annoying so I started skipping it and it turns out I find it a lot more comfortable without!

B) A lot of classic and oldschool styles are either very low or no petti in the first place (or have built in petticoats in the dresses)- so an OTT level cupcake petticoat doesn’t work for most of my coords anyway. I do wear a petticoat on occasion for dresses that look really flat without it…

C) … but tbh no one’s ever called me out on it or said my dresses/skirts look flat/bad. Maybe everyone’s just really nice and keeps this thought to themselves, but imo it’s not very distracting/bad looking and in photos it’s easy to hide if a dress isn’t poofy enough. Who knows, maybe I’ve been posted to cgl over it or would’ve been on BTB but I feel like people care less these days, especially other lifestylers or people who do more casual coords.

Oldschool/classic styles were often a lot more casual about wearing a petticoat or even a blouse- these are all pre-2003 iirc, from GLB’s via lolitahistory. The last one is an ad for Victorian Maiden- a summer coord with no blouse, petti, bloomers, or long socks! (Disclaimer that some of these coords may have petticoats but some clearly don’t, and it’s not always crystal clear which is which)

I’m not wearing a petticoat in any of these pictures (and I tried specifically to look for photos where I’m not holding my skirt out)- would you have been able to tell the difference if I hadn’t told you?

I do want to wear more underskirts though- a lot of dresses are short on me and I just like the added detail. Somewhere in my project bin is an underskirt that I’m hoping will provide a nice amount of length and volume for my dresses and will therefore double as a ‘pettiskirt’- adding some volume but not an overwhelming/uncomfortable amount of fabric. I’ve also been really into a VM underdress I bought recently that I’ve been wearing in my classic coords to lengthen/add some volume to my skirts.

I do want to add that I think a key part of the lolita fashion is the silhouette, which has a poofy knee-length skirt as the ‘platonic ideal’. Skipping a petti absolutely can lead to your coords looking bad and there’s definitely some dresses where I always wear a petti because they need one to look right. But just like longer skirts can still be lolita and are more common in gothic and classic lolita, I think lower volume can be a thing in oldschool or classic coords sometimes too.

On a much less controversial note, I’m also not a huge fan of KC’s and wristcuffs. I’ve really fallen in love with rectangle headdresses and KC’s are a lot more ‘sweet’ to me, so if I wear a head bow it’s usually on the back of the head not on the top. Wristcuffs- I’ve just never liked the feeling of something on my wrist! I don’t wear bracelets or watches either 🤷‍♀️

[simplifyworkforce]

Optimizing Talent Acquisition with VMS Providers and Vendor Risk Management Systems 

In today’s fast-paced and competitive business landscape, organizations are increasingly relying on contingent workers to fill skill gaps, provide flexibility, and address evolving business needs. Managing a diverse workforce, however, can pose challenges, particularly when it comes to sourcing talent, ensuring compliance, and mitigating risks. To navigate these complexities, companies are turning to VMS providers (Vendor Management System), vendor risk management systems, and efficient talent acquisition strategies. These solutions work together to streamline recruitment, enhance compliance, and optimize workforce management. 

The Role of a VMS Provider in Talent Acquisition 

A VMS provider offers cloud-based software that helps businesses manage their relationships with staffing agencies, vendors, and contingent workers. A Vendor Management System (VMS) centralizes the recruitment process by allowing organizations to manage the entire vendor lifecycle—sourcing, onboarding, contract management, performance tracking, and payment processing. The system enables businesses to streamline and automate these processes, reducing administrative burden and increasing efficiency. 

When it comes to talent acquisition, a VMS provider plays a critical role by helping organizations select the right vendors, manage the hiring of contingent workers, and ensure compliance with labor regulations. By leveraging a VMS system, businesses can efficiently track and manage vendor performance, identify the best-performing staffing agencies, and source talent more effectively. This system provides real-time visibility into the recruitment process, allowing HR teams to monitor KPIs, track costs, and make data-driven decisions. 

Key benefits of a VMS provider in talent acquisition include: 

Improved Efficiency: By automating many aspects of the recruitment process, a VMS system reduces manual tasks, accelerates hiring timelines, and frees up HR teams to focus on strategic activities. 

Vendor Performance Monitoring: A VMS platform tracks the performance of staffing agencies and other vendors, providing valuable insights into their ability to meet deadlines, deliver high-quality candidates, and comply with contractual terms. 

Enhanced Transparency: With a VMS system, businesses gain a clearer view of recruitment activities and costs. This transparency helps optimize vendor relationships and improve overall workforce management. 

Compliance Management: VMS systems are equipped with features to ensure that all workers—whether temporary, contract, or freelance—meet legal and regulatory requirements, reducing the risk of non-compliance. 

Vendor Risk Management Systems: Safeguarding Your Workforce 

Vendor risk management systems are specialized tools designed to help organizations mitigate and manage risks associated with working with external vendors and contractors. When it comes to managing a contingent workforce, these systems play a crucial role in identifying, assessing, and monitoring potential risks, such as compliance violations, financial instability, and reputational damage. 

A vendor risk management system typically includes features such as: 

Risk Identification: The system helps identify potential risks in the vendor selection process, including issues related to financial stability, reputation, and legal compliance. By assessing these risks early, businesses can make informed decisions about which vendors to engage with. 

Compliance Monitoring: Vendor risk management systems ensure that vendors adhere to relevant regulations, such as labor laws, tax codes, and industry standards. This reduces the likelihood of legal and financial penalties, especially when working with international or cross-border vendors. 

Ongoing Risk Assessment: Risk management is not a one-time task; it requires continuous monitoring. A vendor risk management system provides real-time data and analytics on vendor performance, helping organizations identify potential risks and mitigate them proactively. 

Contract Management: Vendor risk management systems often include contract lifecycle management tools, allowing businesses to track contractual obligations, manage terms, and ensure vendors meet their commitments. 

By using a vendor risk management system, organizations can reduce the risks associated with vendor relationships, improve workforce stability, and protect their reputation from potential risks such as non-compliance or fraud. 

Enhancing Talent Acquisition with Vendor Risk Management and VMS Solutions 

When combined, a VMS provider and a vendor risk management system create a comprehensive approach to managing contingent labor. Together, these systems enable businesses to optimize their talent acquisition strategy while mitigating risks and ensuring compliance. 

Here’s how the integration of these tools enhances talent acquisition: 

Streamlined Recruitment: A VMS provider centralizes the recruitment process by managing relationships with staffing agencies and vendors. When integrated with a vendor risk management system, businesses can ensure that only trusted vendors are selected, minimizing the risks of subpar recruitment practices and poor-quality hires. 

Informed Decision-Making: By providing valuable insights into vendor performance, financial stability, and compliance status, these systems allow businesses to make data-driven decisions about where to source their talent. This leads to better outcomes and a higher-quality workforce. 

Improved Compliance: With both systems in place, businesses can ensure that all contingent workers are properly vetted and compliant with applicable laws and regulations. This is especially important for organizations that operate in industries with strict compliance requirements, such as healthcare, finance, and manufacturing. 

Cost Control: Combining the power of VMS management with a vendor risk management system allows organizations to monitor vendor costs, performance, and risks in real-time. This improves cost control by helping businesses identify cost-effective staffing solutions while avoiding hidden fees or penalties associated with non-compliance. 

Reduced Time-to-Hire: By leveraging automated workflows and vendor performance data, businesses can speed up the recruitment process and fill positions more quickly. The integration of VMS and risk management systems allows for more efficient collaboration with vendors, reducing time-to-hire and ensuring that talent is available when needed. 

Conclusion 

As organizations increasingly turn to a contingent workforce to meet their dynamic needs, the importance of effective talent acquisition and vendor risk management cannot be overstated. By adopting a VMS provider and implementing a vendor risk management system, businesses can optimize the recruitment process, ensure compliance, and mitigate risks associated with external staffing agencies and contractors. 

The combination of VMS management and vendor risk management provides businesses with the tools to make smarter decisions, reduce operational inefficiencies, and maintain a high-quality, compliant workforce. These solutions not only enhance talent acquisition but also ensure that companies can confidently navigate the complexities of workforce management, creating a competitive advantage in today’s fast-paced business world. 

Vendor vs Supplier: What are the Major Differences 

Top 25 Strategic Interview Questions for Vendor Selection 

Top 10 Pro Tips to Improve Vendor Performance 

[startrekmemequeen]

This week i watched Critical Role live for the first time ever. I don't watch C3 so i know the plot only from tumblr posts but i still wanted to watch the return of Vox Machina cause i'm invested as fuck. And this week i finally woke up early enough to watch at least the second half of the episode (because of time difference their Thursday night is VERY EARLY Friday morning for me)

And like... it was certainly An Experience

I'm feeling so many feelings

Spoilers under the cut

I hava finished C1 in July so it hasn't been as long for me but i still missed Vax so badly

I teared up when i heard "dagger dagger dagger"...

And Vax's story is so tragic and i understand the importance of it, and how it works in-universe BUT personally i would be very happy if he came back permanently. I understand that it's highly unlikely and it upsets me. Whatever happens, i will still watch and LOVE critical role and especially vox machina story... i just miss him so damn much and i think he deserves a happy ending. All of them do.

It would also be cool if, provided that he remains Raven Queen's champion, he could visit the mortal plane once in a while. Imagine that. Maybe one day once in a couple months. Or even once a year. He'd be like that relative who lives very far away and rarely comes to visit, but they still come and they're welcome

All the tragedy aside, i love VM so much and seeing them all back together was like coming home after being away from it for a long time.

[zhellers]

Now you've got to do Vox Machina to complete the set 😅

Love seeing all of these, you're providing some great inspiration!

oh god see i'll try but i really don't draw VM often enough so these might change. These are all for their young self not present

Percy gets mainly Otto Seppalainen and a bit of Lucky Blue Smith, just some handsome boys with blond hair. Just add some sideburns and bushier brows

Vax gets a bit of Aaron Bernards in there. The important things to me is that he has a prominent bone structure. I also want him to look vaguely Indigenous.

Vex Is obviously gonna have similar traits to Vax. Strong bone structure and vaguely native looking. Julia Jones works pretty well for her, with maybe a less square jaw.

For Keyleth I see her having very soft features, nothing that sticks out much. Something between Sherouk Fahid and Gio Scotti.

Nothing specific for Grog, I just need him to be broad, bald and square. Using Kratos from God of War as a base works well since Travis was clearly inspired by him.

Pike would have a rounder face and big eyes with a lot of lid space, maybe a bit of a butt chin. I look at French women for inspo

Scanlan is like Grim Krause but add a moustache, sideburns and a big ol berret.

Finally Taryon! Truly i have no clue, i've never drawn him. Maybe some Neel Visser but with a pointier chin? If you add a goatee to him I think it can work plus the eyes feel right.

[danwhobrowses]

5 Underrated Things or Tactics That May Aid Bell's Hells to Victory

Spoilers up to Campaign 3 Episode 116 below

Well Critters, it all comes down to this.

Vox Machina dismantled the Malleus Keep, killed Ozo (the Bozo) Kruft, and freed the Champion of Ravens which removed the tidal lock on Ruidus, and now the Mighty Nein have disintegrated the Weave Mind, completing essentially a full dismantling of the Kreviris Imperium, all of which quicker than I anticipated. All that's left is the Hallowed Cage, where Ludinus Da'leth and his inner circle are using his harness to try and fully destroy Liliana Temult. Bell's Hells begin a race against time to save her, but also a race to defeat Ludinus before he unleashes his intentions unto Exandria and its Pantheon with Predathos, and then decide for themselves what they do with the God Eater.

Suffice to say, and I dunno about everyone else but, I am terrified. I believe they can win but Ludinus is not to be underestimated, this second harness means he may be stronger - and he was already the strongest wizard alive - and have access to more powers compared to his simulacra, plus Predathos may come during or after this battle, which can put the Hells in a weakened state. Matt has likely prepared his best and worst for this final battle too, but the Hells aren't Lv. 20 combatants like the other groups; there's no 9th level spells, no Divine Intervention, and the group lost their cleric ~20 episodes back, so even though VM and the Nein were ultimately successful within 1-2 episodes having to use both of their auto-succeed Divine Interventions from their two clerics in the process, this is the battle. And with that is a ridiculous amount of tension for Ludinus and for what comes after. For all we know, the cast may've already recorded ahead enough to have finished the final fight, maybe even finished the campaign (though I hope not, partly because I don't want it to end yet but also I feel like the dawn of the new era should be explored regardless of what choice the Hells make, plus some characters could use a bit more resolution after the big fight and the pressure of stakes and time sensitivity have been alleviated) but for us it's a nervous wait, and a wonder of what can be done to win and what choice will be made to determine the future of Exandria, Ruidus, their faith and their people. So, this is my indulging into that first part, 5 lower-key things or tactics that might not have been initially thought of that could make things easier to defeat Ludinus.

Liliana, the Inner Circle, and the Arcane Battery Provided that the Hells make it in time to stop Liliana from being totally destroyed by the harness (which is very possible since Laudna does have that tracking spell on him since Aeor, it's all about speed and not running into enemies) she will still be without her magic to fight. Ludinus' inner circle holding her down is comprised of Reilorans but also other Ruidusborns, and that's something the Hells can expose. Liliana cannot fight, but Ruidusborns can take spell slots from each other, so Liliana and any KO'd Ruidusborns from the inner circle can be used as spell slot fuel for Imogen and Fearne. Ludinus also gave a 9-slot fully-charged Arcane Battery to the Hells in order to trigger Delilah within Laudna for his escape, the battery can help recharge Laudna's slots too which makes this tactic handy for the witches of the group.

Dunamancy One of Ludinus' most important tools for his plan has been Luxon Beacons, a device able to unravel even divine magic, but much like the Harness it can prove his undoing. Dunamancy hasn't been touched upon as much as early C3 hinted it could have, but for lack of a better phrase, the possibilities are still endless. The Hells have multiple Potions of Possibility at their disposal to aid with rolls, but they also were given a Sphere of Dunamantic Restoration by the Kryn, which will trigger the effects of a Short Rest and a health and spell slot recharge - which can be handy in a pinch and to reuse some once per short rest abilities. Ashton is the key factor though, I've mentioned it a few times already but we don't know if these items will behave differently with them, via their own internal dunamancy abilities. Given the unknown factor, that's why it's not deemed as much of a tactic as it is a Hail Mary, but it is one that could lead to Ludinus' own magic unraveling, and maybe even Predathos' too

The Whirling Dervish & Conditional Advantages In Vassalheim, Dorian received his family sword: Gambolcleft, the Vortex Blade. One of its yet to be used abilities involves a once a day repetitive use of striking an enemy, similar to how Ozo killed Vex, provided that they attack with Disadvantage. Dorian is already looking at a high attack roll given Gambolcleft's +3 to attack and hit rolls, and Master's Flourish means he doesn't have to use a Bardic Inspiration to stack a Blade Flourish (Defensive Flourish is probably best, the damage is also doubled by Gambolcleft), the only quibble is the disadvantage. Fortunately, most of the Hells have skills that can force Ludinus into conditions where attacks would do advantage on him: stunning and rendering him prone being most likely, but paralysis is possible if a Hold Person is successful. It would of course require his Legendary Resistances to be used up first, but if Ludinus gets stunned or knocked prone within Dorian's range, Gambolcleft could easily carve its way through him with continual hits, stacked potentially by Bless and Mark of the Messy End, for perpetual damage and make Dorian himself impossible to hit on his next turn. Stunning or Proning Ludinus also leaves Ludinus at the vicious mercy of the martial players, especially for conditions that auto-crit when hit.

The Hole (or the Bag of Holding) Occam's Razor. An old but gold tactic of the Hells could very easily be used against Ludinus too. The portable hole or the bag of holding are devoid of air, left in one long enough with it sealed would mean suffocation as have been the fate of many of the Hells' past opponents that they didn't have time to deal with. The Hole's downside is that a Strength check can lead to a creature forcing their way out, but the Hells do have plenty of skills that can impose disadvantage on Strength rolls and the aforementioned conditions could help that, Ashton's Hammer may also make it more difficult to unfold the Hole if its Immovable Rod is propped atop of it - but that'd be down to Matt's discretion. The Bag of Holding doesn't have the strength save, but it is smaller so it may not be able to fit him in it. I'm not sure if Ludinus can use Gate to escape either, dunno if that leads to the whole extradimensional rip thing that happens if you open one while in the other, but if he does it's a concentration spell so the Hells could just keep knocking him back from the other side, a bigger group of enemies in either also reduces the time needed before they suffocate.

The Harness and the One-Chance Polymorph Right now Ludinus is using a harness to destroy Liliana, comparing it to the one in Moleasmyr it'll potentially take about an hour to finish the process providing that this factor wasn't improved upon. However, removing magic within a being for a whole day only required a minute of contact in the Hells' one and maybe Ludinus', thus his creation and reason for long life and power can also be the key to his downfall. Holding Ludinus down for a minute is of course not as easy as it sounds but that's where Polymorph can come in. Polymorph lasts at most an hour, so as long as Ludinus is changed into a creature that can easily be restrained they can use the harness on it and remove Ludinus of his entire arsenal in order to finish him off without the risk of his high level spells. The tricky part is getting Polymorph to succeed; Wisdom is after all a Wizard's bread and butter, but there is a single gambit that could make it work. It requires all Legendary Resistances to be gone of course, and for Laudna and Braius to be conscious; Braius has a once per long rest ability to change a Wisdom saving throw to a Charisma one, which he used to allow Dorian to succeed in making the Dominox dance in the live show, Laudna's Void Puppet can force disadvantage on saves to those within 5ft of it, which will negate his magical resistance to just a clean roll. Orym can also use Hex to impose a disadvantage, which may be able to stack, but this would also hinge on Ludinus' charisma not being super high and if the Polymorph fails once it will likely not be able to be tried again.

The fight won't be easy, but there are avenues that can make it less dangerous, a strategy is very much required for such a foe. All the while my strategy remains keeping up the prayer circle. Deep breaths everyone.

[astralleywright]

if people are gonna keep posting abt how BH are objectively the weakest party of them VM and M9 you would think they could provide like, a shred of evidence to back it up. since strength in DND is measurable and all. at the very least, a hint of what factors they're looking at instead of just saying everyone who disagrees with them is an idiot that doesn't understand DND. or like a single number.