Lesson plan using pattern block animals
The Arxur Farmer IV
2024.06.07 22:02 Draconimur The Arxur Farmer IV
Hey everyone! Sorry for the long wait, the story is not abandoned, I just got a bit lost in other stuff and have fallen out with the world of NoP a bit. I will continue the story, through I can't promise a new chapter every month.
On another note, I am quite proud of this chapter, this is definetly my favourite one, and I enjoyed expanding on Velnils past and mental health. (And tormenting him, of course. Nah, just joking. xD)
Thank you for creating this beautiful universe!
Also thanks to for proofreading!
Criticism is very much welcome, let me know what you think!
Enjoy!
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Memory transcription subject: Velnil, Arxur deserter Date [standardized human time]: 25th of October, 2136, Middle of the night
CW: panic attack, hallucination, self harm
[Note: Dream state detected. Reliving memory. Proceed? (Y/N)]
[Y]
The cold seeped deep into Velnil’s scales as he trudged up the hidden path of the forest, up onto a small hill where a single, just barely alive tree stood still. There was no wind, no new smells and no sound. It was calm, eerily calm, forcing Velnil to periodically stop and look around, seeing if anyone had followed him.
Every time, there was nothing. It was just the empty forest, filled with dying trees and withered bushes. There were a few animal bones here and there sticking out of the ground, but he did not care enough to spare a glance at them.
As he ascended higher and higher on the small hill, he felt as his breathing slowly returned to normal from the usually used powerful intakes and blowouts. He took a slow, deep breath, as he arrived at the tree, letting the cold air run into his lungs, and calming down his beating heart. He was here again. The only question was if he was really alone or not.
“Frostbubble, are you there?” He asked, almost in a whisper as he looked around, moving towards the tree. It still felt strange to use this nickname, but if it kept her safe and happy, he was more than glad to use it.
“Aww, you did come, Velny.” The voice was almost sickeningly sweet for Velnil’s ears, but he knew it was because of everything he had been learning. The warmth in his chest was just another proof to it, as he noticed her lanky shadow climb down from the tree, keeping a small bag up with her tail as she did so. He felt a slight blush creep onto his face as she hopped down, and quickly approached him.
“How have you been? I hope they didn’t manage to rough you up too badly this time.” The care in her voice made Velnil shutter and relax at the same time, as her hand landed on his arm, caressing the scar he had first received for insubordination.
He was four back then.
“No. I’m okay, Zar… Frostbubble.” More warmth filled his chest at her wide toothed smile. “They didn’t get me this time. I managed to trick them.”
“So clever and cunning, Velny.” Her grating chuckle, while repulsive to his ears, was music to his heart. He felt a soft pressure on his hand as she took it, and began leading him to the other side of the tree, facing away from the facility, and out towards the dying wilderness. The view has always filled him with dread, seeing as nature had slowly withered away with his feelings, only to eventually be replaced by even more factories and facilities. It was truly as if the planet felt his pain, his suffering as he was slowly broken down, only to be replaced by the ideals and will of Betterment.
They sat down on the ground, neither of them caring about the cold, as they leaned back a bit, looking up at the night sky. Everything was so calm, yet Velnil couldn’t keep himself from looking around, listening for any noise that could tell him they were not alone.His anxiety only grew, until he felt a soft touch on his chin. He let his head be turned back towards her.
Her smile was horrible(line through) beautiful. The shine of her eyes as she looked at him so calmly, like they weren’t in constant danger of being found out and killed. It angered him, but at the same time, it filled him with a strange feeling. It was still so alien to him, he never felt it before, only when he was with her.
“We are safe here, Veln. Don’t worry so much about it. I am always watching and also making sure that no one is following you. You don’t need to turn around that often. Let yourself relax a bit.” It didn’t make any sense. How could he relax? They were out and about without the knowledge of the masters, they were going against the rules.
She is not even supposed to be here. She was never in the facility.
He opened his mouth, but couldn’t say anything as she closed it, playfully flicking one of her claws on his snout. He shook his head, incredulous about what just happened.
“I know that look, Velny. Relax, just for this once.” As she leaned forward, his heart rate spiked, the alien feeling shooting up like fire as warmth filled his face at the feeling of her nuzzling his snout. He leaned towards her, eyes half-lidded as he felt his muscles relax ever so slightly. Perhaps Zartha is right. He could relax with her, and not be on the lookout for any danger that may be around them.
“Maybe… maybe you are right, Frostbubble.” He mumbled, his eyes closing momentarily as his snout moved to rub at her throat, with a sharp intake of air coming from her.
“Veln, I…” Zartha stopped for a few seconds, prompting Velnil to lean back a bit to look at her. She looked… troubled? Unsure? No, it was something else. Her eyes fluttered while looking all around, as if searching for danger, but they always returned to him, at which point she flicked with her tailtip, until it snagged at her satchel.
“I made something for you.” Velnil cocked his head as he watched her pull out a thermos, quickly unscrewing its top. He watched as steam rose from the thermos, filling the air with a sweet scent, creating an even more serene atmosphere.
“It’s Trilltilla tea. It took a long time, but I wanted to make it for you.” Velnil watched as she presented the top part of the thermos for him. Slowly reaching out, he took hold of it, their hands touching as their eyes met. The shining in her eyes, the way her irises grew, her tail that wagged more and more. He was sure she felt the same strange feeling he felt, as his tail wagged as well, albeit slowly.
He then took hold of it properly, lifting it up to drink. There was no need to say thanks. She knew he was thankful for it.
“So, this is where you have been sneaking off.” Velnil jumped up and whipped around, the top of the thermos falling to the ground as its contents spilled. Next to the tree stood his master, with two burly arxur standing on either of his side. The scowl on his master's face told him everything. They saw everything, the two of them have been found out.
It was over for them.
Zartha slowly stood up, to which one of the arxur moves so quickly to her, it was almost a blur. A painful yelp came from her as she was punched in the gut, tumbling forward, but she wasn’t allowed to fall to the ground. The arxur kept her up, while his master and the other moved in.
“So, you must be Zartha. I have heard quite a lot of you. A disgrace to our kind, really.” His master’s voice was full of contempt. Velnil didn’t dare to speak, nor did he dare to move, lest he might lose his head.
Or worse…
“I’m no disgrace. The only disgrace here is how you trea-” She wasn’t allowed to finish. Master didn’t allow her. The arxur holding her punched her again, forcing the air out of her lungs.
“Tssk. Such a waste of resources. This one is unfixable.” As his master’s eyes landed on him, Velnil felt himself freeze under the glare. “But you will still be redeemed, boy. Oh, you will be. I will make sure of that. You are allowed to return to your dwelling, at this instant.” His heart didn’t want to, but his mind knew he must move. Velnil’s legs, almost like he was on auto-pilot, moved, one after the other, as he began making his way down. He heard as his master turned to address the other arxur.
“Find its father and wipe its disgrace off this world. Then find its mother, and make sure that woman brings a proper arxur into this world.” An acknowledging grunt was the only answer.
The cold seeped deep into Velnil’s scales as he made his way down the hill, the warmth escaping, leaving him with a cold, painful pressure on his rumbling stomach that yearned for her tea.
But it will never feel its warmth.
~~~
Growling, and pressure on his stomach was what woke Velnil up. On instinct, he striked with his right arm, his sharp claws swiping at nothing. His head swiveled around, with no need for his eyes to adjust to the darkness of the night, trying to find whatever was threatening him.
There was nothing.
Velnil began to work on calming his breathing as he tried to listen, focusing on the nightly sounds of the forest, seeing if he can hear the soft running of paws, or the strong thumps of human legs.
Again, there was nothing.
With a grumble, he rolled onto all fours, sniffing around and looking for any clues on what might have growled and pawed at him.
The sound repeated itself, this time however, Velnil felt the painful clamps of his stomach as it rumbled loudly, seemingly discontent with the lack of food inside of it. With the realization that he is just hungry - very much so -, Velnil got into a bipedal stance, and began making his way towards the farm.
Looking around as much as he could see of the sky, it must have still been well into the night. He could have just checked it on his holopad, but then his eyes would have to adjust to the dark again, and he would possibly give away his location - after all, he could never know if something or someone was watching him.
The night was annoyingly cold, but it was nothing like what he had to survive during his training. It molded him, made him stronger, able to ignore the cold seeping into his bones and keep on going.
He always had to keep going.
He promised it.
Velnil didn’t know how long he was walking when another rumble left his stomach, this time however, his mouth began to water at the enticing smell his nostrils had caught. It was a familiar smell, divine even, and the bigger breath he took, the more it filled his being, as the picture practically smashed itself into his mind.
Krakotl.
Yumm.
Dropping onto all fours, he made his way towards the source of the smell, taking great care to avoid stepping on a branch, or making any noise that might give away his position. He froze, and silently cursed himself at another rumble of his stomach. Do you want to be filled or not?! If so, be silent!
His stomach did not respond. Good.
Continuing to stalk forward, the smell started to become stronger as the wind carried it to him. Reaching another, much smaller clearing, he hid inside one particularly big bush, easily seeing out of it.
There, in the gentle moonlight kneeled a young, healthy looking krakotl. Its feathers reflected the moonlight beautifully, and he could make out some kind of red pattern on the otherwise greenish plumage that covered it. From scent alone he could tell that it was a female, possibly the same age, or maybe older than he was.
It was just the right age. He could feel himself salivating as he watched it do something, it had its back to him, he could jump out and just get it!
His muscles tensed as he prepared himself, but a sudden thought of realization of where he was exactly forced him to stop, tensing up even more as to not jump. Just then, the krakotl leaned back up, revealing what it had been doing.
Velnil felt himself recoil a bit at the sight of the familiar flower. How did the krakotl get it here?! Who even allowed it to plant that? Why…?
The slits of his eyes slowly rounded out as he watched the light of the moon shine onto the flower, prompting it to slowly unfurl, revealing five sickly green colored petals, with a bright blue colored inside. Velnil felt himself lowering onto the ground, his eyes becoming blurry - but why?
Reaching up, he felt something wet in his eye - tears. He was… crying? Why was he…
It is what she used to make tea for you that day. The memory hit him like a plasma bolt. The flower - Triltilla, or Lover’s poison as some used to call it, was a rare flower from the krakotl turned arxur colony world. Interestingly, the prey was the one that came up with the nickname for the flower - it was said that when the lover made tea from the petals, it’s effect depended on the care that was put into it - the petals had to be cleaned from any pollen, then cured and dried for the right amount of time, which was then followed by making the tea. If the maker of the tea put the proper care to it, it worked as sort of a love potion - it helped with maternity and helped the mates bond.
But if even the slightest mistake was made, if the maker wasn’t careful enough, the pollen, or not drying it for the proper amount of time greatly changed its effect - causing severe pain for whoever drank the tea, and in some cases, even death.
It was dumb. Of course it was, it came from a prey infested world that was cleansed by his ancestors!
And yet, that single flower was one of her favorites. He never truly understood why, but of course, how could he.
He was well into his training back then. He saw it as her weakness. One of her oh so many flaws that plagued her ability to live as a proper arxur.
Oh, because you always lived as a proper arxur? Came the sudden response to his thoughts, feeling another pang of pain from his stomach as he once again wiped a tear from his face. He forced back down a slight growl as he looked back up at the prey, his tongue running over his lips as he kneaded the ground beneath his paws. He wanted to to jump out, to strike, to once again taste his favorite food.
Could he really kill through?
A third, this time much louder rumble had escaped his stomach, it seemed this time the prey had heard it.
“Hello?” The prey’s head whipped around, staring at his general direction, as her soft trilling voice rang out. “Is anyone there?” Another question rang out, it sounded so young, and yet, he watched as his prey’s eyes slowly went over her surroundings, forcing Velnil to slightly pull back, and close his eyes until there was only a slight line visible.
As he imagined how it would taste, his tongue running over his lips, the krakotl took a tentative step forward, eyes still scanning the treeline.
“Lia, is that you?” As Velnil finally got over the fight inside his head, his hunger slowly winning, he prepared to pounce, his eyes opening more ever so slightly as his claws dug into the dirt a bit.
“Aw, damn it. How did you know?” Once again, Velnil almost stumbled out of his hiding spot as a sudden voice came from somewhere to his right. He watched as the prey turned their head towards the voice, as Velnil barely held back an angry hiss at the appearance of a female human.
The woman, referred to as ‘Lia’ seemed to be around [180cm] in height, as she made her way over to the krakotl with surprising silence. Light brown hair flowed down her back, tied into a ponytail. Similarly to other humans, she was also wearing fake pelts, with surprisingly light colored blue jeans and light green shirt.
For a second, Velnil wondered how the human does not shiver from the cold, but his mind quickly wound up with another question: how in the twisted wriss does she hunt in such light clothes? What other thing could she do here at a time like this?
“I didn’t. You scared the… Why are you even here?” The krakotl puffed its feathers up as it turned its head to its side to glare at the predator in front of it. Albeit the body language of the prey showed slight alarm and trepidation, its voice was surprisingly calm, maybe even reproachful. The human seemed to also take note of its voice, putting up her hands as she looked at the prey.
“Oh, I’m sorry miss ‘I go for a walk into the forest in the middle of the night’”. At this, the krakotl seemed to deflate, lowering their head a bit, but not for long, as the human stepped up to them, and brought their head back up with what he assumed was a gentle touch. “I just woke up to being cold, and after waiting a bit, and looking and not finding you, I became worried. Besides, what do you expect if my living, breathing blanket suddenly disappears?” The human chuckled, which was soon joined by the prey's own chuckling, extending a wing to strike at the human.
“Oh, hush, you! It’s not my fault your only protection is your strange pelts! Plus, why are you not wearing anything else, aren’t you cold?” A slight worry in its tone was sickening to listen to, as Velnil continued to watch the two interact, until the human female suddenly stopped, snapping their head towards his direction, accommodated by a cracking sound, which was then followed by the woman groaning, and massaging their neck.
“Shit.. That hurt…” She mumbled. Both the prey and Velnil seemed to jump slightly at the sudden movement, albeit for different reasons. As the prey started worrying over the human, Velnil pulled back even more, laying completely flat on the cold ground as his heart beat even faster. Impossible, this is impossible! The wind is coming from their direction, I was as silent as a night stalker, how could she know I’m here?!
His question wasn’t left unanswered, which confused him greatly.
“Are you okay? What was that?” Asked the krakotl for the third time, thankfully silenced by the human.
“Nothing, nothing, I just… I thought someone was looking at me. I could feel whatever it was.” At the answer, the krakotl tilted its head in confusion, clicking its beak a few times in contemplation.
“You… felt something staring at you? But… how? Aren’t you humans… you know?” The meek thing shrunk a bit again, but was quickly calmed by the human, who ran their hand over their back.
“Eh, it’s hard to explain, and it’s quite late. Let’s just say that sometimes we just get this… feeling of being watched. I have to say, it wasn’t the best idea to come out here without a flashlight, now that I think about it. This place gives me the creeps.” The human seemingly shuddered as she looked around, while the prey looked even more confused.
Before it could say anything however, the human sighed, and turned back to the krakotl.
“Anyways, we should probably head back, Suyla. I heard that tomorrow we will have a… not so good surprise. So we should probably, at the very least, get well rested.” At this, the krakotl seemed to realize something, as they huddled closer to the human, looking around with fear.
“Do you think that it’s… here?” It asked, its voice quivering a bit as the human put their hands on its back, trying to calm the prey.
“Well, I saw Rich arrive, so he must be already here somewhere.” At this point Velnil realized they were talking about him, and he held back a growl once again. He watched as the human led his catch away, leaving him with an empty stomach and an even sourer mood.
“NoT sO gOod SuUrPRisE..” Velnil mimicked mockingly, growling to himself after the human and his food left, grabbing and squeezing a handful of earth as he sulked. This is so dumb, as if the humans would be any better! They are weak and pathetic predators! Even he could take on a few of them! Probably.
Yeah, and you would get yourself killed. And prove them right.
Whatever! He thought to himself with a rumble. It’s not like I care about what they think.
Of course you don’t. Otherwise you would have to accept you are a-
Silence! Growled Velnil as he shook his head. For a few moments, he waited for a reply, but when it didn’t arrive, he raised his chin smugly.
He was about to get up to be on his way when he heard some rustling in front of him. Looking up, he noticed something that looked a lot like a sivkit, except it was wrong in almost every aspect, except for its eyes. He watched the animal approach the newly planted flower, and Velnil scoffed as the animal began to sniff at it.
Dumb prey. You don’t even know what that is, and you just approach it. As Velnil watched the animal, his eyes widened, and time seemed to slow down as he saw it open its mouth.
Oh no, you won’t. With a growl, he sprung from his hiding spot, his maw opening wide with razor sharp teeth as he caught the prey just before it could turn and run.
The metallic taste was a welcome sensation.
~~~
Velnil hummed a low tune for himself as he was walking back to his clearing, his hunger somewhat satiated as he let the cold air fill his lungs to their capacity. With his hunger sated for the foreseeable few hours, he could think a bit more clearly about his situation.
This place looked nothing like a farm. At least, not how a cattle farm would look like, but even those places had parts where they grew prey food to feed the cattle.
So if the humans are not going to keep cattle on this farm, apart from the alien one, why grow so much on such a big area? He knew humans can eat prey food, as revolting of a thought it was, they all could just eat more meat. Do they really care that much about the walking and talking prey that they don’t eat meat because of them?
Bah. Of course they care about their cattle. That way they won’t run away.
Though, the more he thought about it, the less sense it made. Do they really not eat the alien cattle that are here? Albeit he only just arrived, the animals didn’t seem to be scared at all. That woman - Lia, was his name, if he remembered correctly - even went out into the cold night to find her feathered ‘friend’.
Growling softly, he shook his head, banishing the line of thought to the back of his mind. He didn’t need to think about this - it was useless when it came to his survival. He knew the humans would do anything to save cattle - even if said cattle bombed them. If it needs to be, he can always take one as a hostage, and on the other hand - he probably could still get at least one of the prey riled up enough to attack him.
That will be spectacular.
But what else could he do? There was one saying he saw on a human website that described his current position quite nicely - He was a wolf among sheep. A wolf in sheep’s clothing. He had to get them to lower their guards, to not view him as a threat, but rather, one of those weak useless arxur who cannot do anything right.
Oh, you have experience in that, don’t worry.
“Shut. Your. Mouth.” He hissed to himself, stopping in his tracks as he looked forward. His arms shook slightly, but he forced his hands into fists to stop it.
What’s the matter, Velnil? Forgot about me so quickly? You hurt my - sorry -, our feelings.
“I said shut up!” Growling filled the air as Velnil leaned forward, the shaking moving to his shoulders.
Why should I? We are no longer in the Dominion. Betterment can’t get a hold of us. We are free.
“We are not free… We will never be.” growled Velnil suddenly turning to swiftly strike at a tree. He winced from the pain shooting through his right hand, but he didn’t care. He didn’t want to feel. He shouldn’t feel anything.
But we are. We ran away, fooled the humans, fooled their prey. We could go where we want. Or stay here. Live a new-
“This is NOT my home!” Velnil yelled. “This will never be. I am not free, just a damned prisoner of another species! I can never be as free as I want to be!”
And what would you call being free? Not like you would know it, of course. I can see it, after all. You know nothing about being free. You are just-
“Shut up! Shutupshutupshutup!” Velnil yelled as he began hitting his head against the tree, each time his body shaking in pain while the tree stood steadfast.
Unmoving.
Uncaring.
Emotionless.
With tears in his eyes, he slunk down against the tree, his breathing fast and uneven. The shadows danced around him, waiting in silence, waiting to pounce on his weak form. The sounds of the night sky became howls of predators, the ground further ahead opened up, the rotten, clawed hand of an arxur suddenly appearing at the edge of it, pulling it’s body up, revealing a set of familiar yellow eyes.
“V-veeeeelniiiilll” Groaned her corpse as she pulled herself up, taking a step closer. His breathing fastened as his eyes were trained not on her head, but her torn open neck.
“No… No… I- I didn’t…” His whines were left unanswered as her corpse took another step towards him, an arm reaching out as one of her eyes fell out, leaving the empty socket as a void to peer into and devour his weak soul.
“I didn’t want to!” He yelled, trying to crawl away, but the tree behind him didn’t let him. “I never wanted to! I-I-I wanted to keep you safe, but I-”
“Veeeeeel-” The corpse sighed out, before taking in a shallow breath - her torn open throat moving along with the action, opening to let air in, before she continued. ”-nyy.” Another step, then as he blinked, she was standing over him. A startled whine left him as he scooted back even more, pressing against the tree as she reached out.
“I’m sorry! I’m so fucking sorry, I wanted to save you, I did!” He screamed hiding away behind his arms as he shouted one last thing: “I loved you!”.
As he shrunk back even more, his breath slowed, his head became woozy as soon his consciousness began to slip away, hearing her speak one last time.
“Veeeeeelnnnyy.”
~~~
Velnil came back to consciousness with a start, head rapidly turning around as his breath hitched, until pain shot through his head. With a wince, he pulled himself up, gingerly touching his head - his scales were damaged, and blood was dried on his head. He winced slightly as pain shot through both his head and right hand.
Shit. They will definitely notice this… He thought to himself as he took a ragged breath. He looked where the hole had appeared - there was nothing, the ground was undisturbed. His gaze lingered on it, before he eventually turned, and continued to make his way towards his clearing, still in the darkness of the night, like nothing had happened.
It has been so long since the last one. Why now? Why is she tormenting me? His questions were left unanswered. He forced himself to stop, and after taking a deep breath, he looked around, listening for any nearby river or something. Sniffing around, he could feel the smell of water off in the distance, and so, he began making his way there.
I need to wash off the blood.
Within a few minutes, he had found a large river, the water flowing down with relative force. Kneeling down at its edge, he leaned forward, and began cleaning his head and hand with practiced, almost robotic movements. The proof of his weakness stinged and flared up at the cold touch of water, but he did not care. He watched as the water slowly took on a red hue, before disappearing down the river.
Within another few minutes, Velnil could easily make out the outline of the injury - it wasn’t too big, but it was most definitely noticeable, and will take days - if not a few weeks - to properly heal. He could hide it, since he was still somewhat bigger than everyone else - but then that would go against his plan on appearing meek and unsure about things.
Maybe I could use it. Play it off as having a bad night. Maybe I could get them to give me more food than they planned. The humans are very empathetic, I’m sure that after seeing this, they would feel bad enough for me to somewhat drop their guard. Maybe I can even fool some of the prey. Yes, that, being attacked by one should be enough for them to not view me as a threat.
Satisfied with the plan, Velnil got back up, and with a sigh and a few minutes of walking, he finally made his way back to the clearing. Lying down on the cold ground, he carefully rested his head atop his bag once again, looking at nothing in particular.
His next few minutes were filled with rolling around, unable to go back to sleep, as his thoughts were slowly but surely going back to the krakotl he saw. The green feathers, adorned by a red pattern, its yellow beak, and similarly yellow eyes.
Yellow eyes that stared deep into his soul.
The yellow eye that has fallen out of its socket, to leave an empty void to devour his soul.
Velnil forced his eyes shut, turning around again. Not again. He thought, forcing himself to think of other things - the taste of the prey animal he caught, his way towards Earth, the russif.
Eventually, within a gruesome few minutes, Velnil was finally granted the sweet release of sleep.
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submitted by Draconimur to NatureofPredators [link] [comments]
On another note, I am quite proud of this chapter, this is definetly my favourite one, and I enjoyed expanding on Velnils past and mental health. (And tormenting him, of course. Nah, just joking. xD)
Thank you for creating this beautiful universe!
Also thanks to for proofreading!
Criticism is very much welcome, let me know what you think!
Enjoy!
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First Previous Next
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Memory transcription subject: Velnil, Arxur deserter Date [standardized human time]: 25th of October, 2136, Middle of the night
CW: panic attack, hallucination, self harm
[Note: Dream state detected. Reliving memory. Proceed? (Y/N)]
[Y]
The cold seeped deep into Velnil’s scales as he trudged up the hidden path of the forest, up onto a small hill where a single, just barely alive tree stood still. There was no wind, no new smells and no sound. It was calm, eerily calm, forcing Velnil to periodically stop and look around, seeing if anyone had followed him.
Every time, there was nothing. It was just the empty forest, filled with dying trees and withered bushes. There were a few animal bones here and there sticking out of the ground, but he did not care enough to spare a glance at them.
As he ascended higher and higher on the small hill, he felt as his breathing slowly returned to normal from the usually used powerful intakes and blowouts. He took a slow, deep breath, as he arrived at the tree, letting the cold air run into his lungs, and calming down his beating heart. He was here again. The only question was if he was really alone or not.
“Frostbubble, are you there?” He asked, almost in a whisper as he looked around, moving towards the tree. It still felt strange to use this nickname, but if it kept her safe and happy, he was more than glad to use it.
“Aww, you did come, Velny.” The voice was almost sickeningly sweet for Velnil’s ears, but he knew it was because of everything he had been learning. The warmth in his chest was just another proof to it, as he noticed her lanky shadow climb down from the tree, keeping a small bag up with her tail as she did so. He felt a slight blush creep onto his face as she hopped down, and quickly approached him.
“How have you been? I hope they didn’t manage to rough you up too badly this time.” The care in her voice made Velnil shutter and relax at the same time, as her hand landed on his arm, caressing the scar he had first received for insubordination.
He was four back then.
“No. I’m okay, Zar… Frostbubble.” More warmth filled his chest at her wide toothed smile. “They didn’t get me this time. I managed to trick them.”
“So clever and cunning, Velny.” Her grating chuckle, while repulsive to his ears, was music to his heart. He felt a soft pressure on his hand as she took it, and began leading him to the other side of the tree, facing away from the facility, and out towards the dying wilderness. The view has always filled him with dread, seeing as nature had slowly withered away with his feelings, only to eventually be replaced by even more factories and facilities. It was truly as if the planet felt his pain, his suffering as he was slowly broken down, only to be replaced by the ideals and will of Betterment.
They sat down on the ground, neither of them caring about the cold, as they leaned back a bit, looking up at the night sky. Everything was so calm, yet Velnil couldn’t keep himself from looking around, listening for any noise that could tell him they were not alone.His anxiety only grew, until he felt a soft touch on his chin. He let his head be turned back towards her.
Her smile was horrible(line through) beautiful. The shine of her eyes as she looked at him so calmly, like they weren’t in constant danger of being found out and killed. It angered him, but at the same time, it filled him with a strange feeling. It was still so alien to him, he never felt it before, only when he was with her.
“We are safe here, Veln. Don’t worry so much about it. I am always watching and also making sure that no one is following you. You don’t need to turn around that often. Let yourself relax a bit.” It didn’t make any sense. How could he relax? They were out and about without the knowledge of the masters, they were going against the rules.
She is not even supposed to be here. She was never in the facility.
He opened his mouth, but couldn’t say anything as she closed it, playfully flicking one of her claws on his snout. He shook his head, incredulous about what just happened.
“I know that look, Velny. Relax, just for this once.” As she leaned forward, his heart rate spiked, the alien feeling shooting up like fire as warmth filled his face at the feeling of her nuzzling his snout. He leaned towards her, eyes half-lidded as he felt his muscles relax ever so slightly. Perhaps Zartha is right. He could relax with her, and not be on the lookout for any danger that may be around them.
“Maybe… maybe you are right, Frostbubble.” He mumbled, his eyes closing momentarily as his snout moved to rub at her throat, with a sharp intake of air coming from her.
“Veln, I…” Zartha stopped for a few seconds, prompting Velnil to lean back a bit to look at her. She looked… troubled? Unsure? No, it was something else. Her eyes fluttered while looking all around, as if searching for danger, but they always returned to him, at which point she flicked with her tailtip, until it snagged at her satchel.
“I made something for you.” Velnil cocked his head as he watched her pull out a thermos, quickly unscrewing its top. He watched as steam rose from the thermos, filling the air with a sweet scent, creating an even more serene atmosphere.
“It’s Trilltilla tea. It took a long time, but I wanted to make it for you.” Velnil watched as she presented the top part of the thermos for him. Slowly reaching out, he took hold of it, their hands touching as their eyes met. The shining in her eyes, the way her irises grew, her tail that wagged more and more. He was sure she felt the same strange feeling he felt, as his tail wagged as well, albeit slowly.
He then took hold of it properly, lifting it up to drink. There was no need to say thanks. She knew he was thankful for it.
“So, this is where you have been sneaking off.” Velnil jumped up and whipped around, the top of the thermos falling to the ground as its contents spilled. Next to the tree stood his master, with two burly arxur standing on either of his side. The scowl on his master's face told him everything. They saw everything, the two of them have been found out.
It was over for them.
Zartha slowly stood up, to which one of the arxur moves so quickly to her, it was almost a blur. A painful yelp came from her as she was punched in the gut, tumbling forward, but she wasn’t allowed to fall to the ground. The arxur kept her up, while his master and the other moved in.
“So, you must be Zartha. I have heard quite a lot of you. A disgrace to our kind, really.” His master’s voice was full of contempt. Velnil didn’t dare to speak, nor did he dare to move, lest he might lose his head.
Or worse…
“I’m no disgrace. The only disgrace here is how you trea-” She wasn’t allowed to finish. Master didn’t allow her. The arxur holding her punched her again, forcing the air out of her lungs.
“Tssk. Such a waste of resources. This one is unfixable.” As his master’s eyes landed on him, Velnil felt himself freeze under the glare. “But you will still be redeemed, boy. Oh, you will be. I will make sure of that. You are allowed to return to your dwelling, at this instant.” His heart didn’t want to, but his mind knew he must move. Velnil’s legs, almost like he was on auto-pilot, moved, one after the other, as he began making his way down. He heard as his master turned to address the other arxur.
“Find its father and wipe its disgrace off this world. Then find its mother, and make sure that woman brings a proper arxur into this world.” An acknowledging grunt was the only answer.
The cold seeped deep into Velnil’s scales as he made his way down the hill, the warmth escaping, leaving him with a cold, painful pressure on his rumbling stomach that yearned for her tea.
But it will never feel its warmth.
~~~
Growling, and pressure on his stomach was what woke Velnil up. On instinct, he striked with his right arm, his sharp claws swiping at nothing. His head swiveled around, with no need for his eyes to adjust to the darkness of the night, trying to find whatever was threatening him.
There was nothing.
Velnil began to work on calming his breathing as he tried to listen, focusing on the nightly sounds of the forest, seeing if he can hear the soft running of paws, or the strong thumps of human legs.
Again, there was nothing.
With a grumble, he rolled onto all fours, sniffing around and looking for any clues on what might have growled and pawed at him.
The sound repeated itself, this time however, Velnil felt the painful clamps of his stomach as it rumbled loudly, seemingly discontent with the lack of food inside of it. With the realization that he is just hungry - very much so -, Velnil got into a bipedal stance, and began making his way towards the farm.
Looking around as much as he could see of the sky, it must have still been well into the night. He could have just checked it on his holopad, but then his eyes would have to adjust to the dark again, and he would possibly give away his location - after all, he could never know if something or someone was watching him.
The night was annoyingly cold, but it was nothing like what he had to survive during his training. It molded him, made him stronger, able to ignore the cold seeping into his bones and keep on going.
He always had to keep going.
He promised it.
Velnil didn’t know how long he was walking when another rumble left his stomach, this time however, his mouth began to water at the enticing smell his nostrils had caught. It was a familiar smell, divine even, and the bigger breath he took, the more it filled his being, as the picture practically smashed itself into his mind.
Krakotl.
Yumm.
Dropping onto all fours, he made his way towards the source of the smell, taking great care to avoid stepping on a branch, or making any noise that might give away his position. He froze, and silently cursed himself at another rumble of his stomach. Do you want to be filled or not?! If so, be silent!
His stomach did not respond. Good.
Continuing to stalk forward, the smell started to become stronger as the wind carried it to him. Reaching another, much smaller clearing, he hid inside one particularly big bush, easily seeing out of it.
There, in the gentle moonlight kneeled a young, healthy looking krakotl. Its feathers reflected the moonlight beautifully, and he could make out some kind of red pattern on the otherwise greenish plumage that covered it. From scent alone he could tell that it was a female, possibly the same age, or maybe older than he was.
It was just the right age. He could feel himself salivating as he watched it do something, it had its back to him, he could jump out and just get it!
His muscles tensed as he prepared himself, but a sudden thought of realization of where he was exactly forced him to stop, tensing up even more as to not jump. Just then, the krakotl leaned back up, revealing what it had been doing.
Velnil felt himself recoil a bit at the sight of the familiar flower. How did the krakotl get it here?! Who even allowed it to plant that? Why…?
The slits of his eyes slowly rounded out as he watched the light of the moon shine onto the flower, prompting it to slowly unfurl, revealing five sickly green colored petals, with a bright blue colored inside. Velnil felt himself lowering onto the ground, his eyes becoming blurry - but why?
Reaching up, he felt something wet in his eye - tears. He was… crying? Why was he…
It is what she used to make tea for you that day. The memory hit him like a plasma bolt. The flower - Triltilla, or Lover’s poison as some used to call it, was a rare flower from the krakotl turned arxur colony world. Interestingly, the prey was the one that came up with the nickname for the flower - it was said that when the lover made tea from the petals, it’s effect depended on the care that was put into it - the petals had to be cleaned from any pollen, then cured and dried for the right amount of time, which was then followed by making the tea. If the maker of the tea put the proper care to it, it worked as sort of a love potion - it helped with maternity and helped the mates bond.
But if even the slightest mistake was made, if the maker wasn’t careful enough, the pollen, or not drying it for the proper amount of time greatly changed its effect - causing severe pain for whoever drank the tea, and in some cases, even death.
It was dumb. Of course it was, it came from a prey infested world that was cleansed by his ancestors!
And yet, that single flower was one of her favorites. He never truly understood why, but of course, how could he.
He was well into his training back then. He saw it as her weakness. One of her oh so many flaws that plagued her ability to live as a proper arxur.
Oh, because you always lived as a proper arxur? Came the sudden response to his thoughts, feeling another pang of pain from his stomach as he once again wiped a tear from his face. He forced back down a slight growl as he looked back up at the prey, his tongue running over his lips as he kneaded the ground beneath his paws. He wanted to to jump out, to strike, to once again taste his favorite food.
Could he really kill through?
A third, this time much louder rumble had escaped his stomach, it seemed this time the prey had heard it.
“Hello?” The prey’s head whipped around, staring at his general direction, as her soft trilling voice rang out. “Is anyone there?” Another question rang out, it sounded so young, and yet, he watched as his prey’s eyes slowly went over her surroundings, forcing Velnil to slightly pull back, and close his eyes until there was only a slight line visible.
As he imagined how it would taste, his tongue running over his lips, the krakotl took a tentative step forward, eyes still scanning the treeline.
“Lia, is that you?” As Velnil finally got over the fight inside his head, his hunger slowly winning, he prepared to pounce, his eyes opening more ever so slightly as his claws dug into the dirt a bit.
“Aw, damn it. How did you know?” Once again, Velnil almost stumbled out of his hiding spot as a sudden voice came from somewhere to his right. He watched as the prey turned their head towards the voice, as Velnil barely held back an angry hiss at the appearance of a female human.
The woman, referred to as ‘Lia’ seemed to be around [180cm] in height, as she made her way over to the krakotl with surprising silence. Light brown hair flowed down her back, tied into a ponytail. Similarly to other humans, she was also wearing fake pelts, with surprisingly light colored blue jeans and light green shirt.
For a second, Velnil wondered how the human does not shiver from the cold, but his mind quickly wound up with another question: how in the twisted wriss does she hunt in such light clothes? What other thing could she do here at a time like this?
“I didn’t. You scared the… Why are you even here?” The krakotl puffed its feathers up as it turned its head to its side to glare at the predator in front of it. Albeit the body language of the prey showed slight alarm and trepidation, its voice was surprisingly calm, maybe even reproachful. The human seemed to also take note of its voice, putting up her hands as she looked at the prey.
“Oh, I’m sorry miss ‘I go for a walk into the forest in the middle of the night’”. At this, the krakotl seemed to deflate, lowering their head a bit, but not for long, as the human stepped up to them, and brought their head back up with what he assumed was a gentle touch. “I just woke up to being cold, and after waiting a bit, and looking and not finding you, I became worried. Besides, what do you expect if my living, breathing blanket suddenly disappears?” The human chuckled, which was soon joined by the prey's own chuckling, extending a wing to strike at the human.
“Oh, hush, you! It’s not my fault your only protection is your strange pelts! Plus, why are you not wearing anything else, aren’t you cold?” A slight worry in its tone was sickening to listen to, as Velnil continued to watch the two interact, until the human female suddenly stopped, snapping their head towards his direction, accommodated by a cracking sound, which was then followed by the woman groaning, and massaging their neck.
“Shit.. That hurt…” She mumbled. Both the prey and Velnil seemed to jump slightly at the sudden movement, albeit for different reasons. As the prey started worrying over the human, Velnil pulled back even more, laying completely flat on the cold ground as his heart beat even faster. Impossible, this is impossible! The wind is coming from their direction, I was as silent as a night stalker, how could she know I’m here?!
His question wasn’t left unanswered, which confused him greatly.
“Are you okay? What was that?” Asked the krakotl for the third time, thankfully silenced by the human.
“Nothing, nothing, I just… I thought someone was looking at me. I could feel whatever it was.” At the answer, the krakotl tilted its head in confusion, clicking its beak a few times in contemplation.
“You… felt something staring at you? But… how? Aren’t you humans… you know?” The meek thing shrunk a bit again, but was quickly calmed by the human, who ran their hand over their back.
“Eh, it’s hard to explain, and it’s quite late. Let’s just say that sometimes we just get this… feeling of being watched. I have to say, it wasn’t the best idea to come out here without a flashlight, now that I think about it. This place gives me the creeps.” The human seemingly shuddered as she looked around, while the prey looked even more confused.
Before it could say anything however, the human sighed, and turned back to the krakotl.
“Anyways, we should probably head back, Suyla. I heard that tomorrow we will have a… not so good surprise. So we should probably, at the very least, get well rested.” At this, the krakotl seemed to realize something, as they huddled closer to the human, looking around with fear.
“Do you think that it’s… here?” It asked, its voice quivering a bit as the human put their hands on its back, trying to calm the prey.
“Well, I saw Rich arrive, so he must be already here somewhere.” At this point Velnil realized they were talking about him, and he held back a growl once again. He watched as the human led his catch away, leaving him with an empty stomach and an even sourer mood.
“NoT sO gOod SuUrPRisE..” Velnil mimicked mockingly, growling to himself after the human and his food left, grabbing and squeezing a handful of earth as he sulked. This is so dumb, as if the humans would be any better! They are weak and pathetic predators! Even he could take on a few of them! Probably.
Yeah, and you would get yourself killed. And prove them right.
Whatever! He thought to himself with a rumble. It’s not like I care about what they think.
Of course you don’t. Otherwise you would have to accept you are a-
Silence! Growled Velnil as he shook his head. For a few moments, he waited for a reply, but when it didn’t arrive, he raised his chin smugly.
He was about to get up to be on his way when he heard some rustling in front of him. Looking up, he noticed something that looked a lot like a sivkit, except it was wrong in almost every aspect, except for its eyes. He watched the animal approach the newly planted flower, and Velnil scoffed as the animal began to sniff at it.
Dumb prey. You don’t even know what that is, and you just approach it. As Velnil watched the animal, his eyes widened, and time seemed to slow down as he saw it open its mouth.
Oh no, you won’t. With a growl, he sprung from his hiding spot, his maw opening wide with razor sharp teeth as he caught the prey just before it could turn and run.
The metallic taste was a welcome sensation.
~~~
Velnil hummed a low tune for himself as he was walking back to his clearing, his hunger somewhat satiated as he let the cold air fill his lungs to their capacity. With his hunger sated for the foreseeable few hours, he could think a bit more clearly about his situation.
This place looked nothing like a farm. At least, not how a cattle farm would look like, but even those places had parts where they grew prey food to feed the cattle.
So if the humans are not going to keep cattle on this farm, apart from the alien one, why grow so much on such a big area? He knew humans can eat prey food, as revolting of a thought it was, they all could just eat more meat. Do they really care that much about the walking and talking prey that they don’t eat meat because of them?
Bah. Of course they care about their cattle. That way they won’t run away.
Though, the more he thought about it, the less sense it made. Do they really not eat the alien cattle that are here? Albeit he only just arrived, the animals didn’t seem to be scared at all. That woman - Lia, was his name, if he remembered correctly - even went out into the cold night to find her feathered ‘friend’.
Growling softly, he shook his head, banishing the line of thought to the back of his mind. He didn’t need to think about this - it was useless when it came to his survival. He knew the humans would do anything to save cattle - even if said cattle bombed them. If it needs to be, he can always take one as a hostage, and on the other hand - he probably could still get at least one of the prey riled up enough to attack him.
That will be spectacular.
But what else could he do? There was one saying he saw on a human website that described his current position quite nicely - He was a wolf among sheep. A wolf in sheep’s clothing. He had to get them to lower their guards, to not view him as a threat, but rather, one of those weak useless arxur who cannot do anything right.
Oh, you have experience in that, don’t worry.
“Shut. Your. Mouth.” He hissed to himself, stopping in his tracks as he looked forward. His arms shook slightly, but he forced his hands into fists to stop it.
What’s the matter, Velnil? Forgot about me so quickly? You hurt my - sorry -, our feelings.
“I said shut up!” Growling filled the air as Velnil leaned forward, the shaking moving to his shoulders.
Why should I? We are no longer in the Dominion. Betterment can’t get a hold of us. We are free.
“We are not free… We will never be.” growled Velnil suddenly turning to swiftly strike at a tree. He winced from the pain shooting through his right hand, but he didn’t care. He didn’t want to feel. He shouldn’t feel anything.
But we are. We ran away, fooled the humans, fooled their prey. We could go where we want. Or stay here. Live a new-
“This is NOT my home!” Velnil yelled. “This will never be. I am not free, just a damned prisoner of another species! I can never be as free as I want to be!”
And what would you call being free? Not like you would know it, of course. I can see it, after all. You know nothing about being free. You are just-
“Shut up! Shutupshutupshutup!” Velnil yelled as he began hitting his head against the tree, each time his body shaking in pain while the tree stood steadfast.
Unmoving.
Uncaring.
Emotionless.
With tears in his eyes, he slunk down against the tree, his breathing fast and uneven. The shadows danced around him, waiting in silence, waiting to pounce on his weak form. The sounds of the night sky became howls of predators, the ground further ahead opened up, the rotten, clawed hand of an arxur suddenly appearing at the edge of it, pulling it’s body up, revealing a set of familiar yellow eyes.
“V-veeeeelniiiilll” Groaned her corpse as she pulled herself up, taking a step closer. His breathing fastened as his eyes were trained not on her head, but her torn open neck.
“No… No… I- I didn’t…” His whines were left unanswered as her corpse took another step towards him, an arm reaching out as one of her eyes fell out, leaving the empty socket as a void to peer into and devour his weak soul.
“I didn’t want to!” He yelled, trying to crawl away, but the tree behind him didn’t let him. “I never wanted to! I-I-I wanted to keep you safe, but I-”
“Veeeeeel-” The corpse sighed out, before taking in a shallow breath - her torn open throat moving along with the action, opening to let air in, before she continued. ”-nyy.” Another step, then as he blinked, she was standing over him. A startled whine left him as he scooted back even more, pressing against the tree as she reached out.
“I’m sorry! I’m so fucking sorry, I wanted to save you, I did!” He screamed hiding away behind his arms as he shouted one last thing: “I loved you!”.
As he shrunk back even more, his breath slowed, his head became woozy as soon his consciousness began to slip away, hearing her speak one last time.
“Veeeeeelnnnyy.”
~~~
Velnil came back to consciousness with a start, head rapidly turning around as his breath hitched, until pain shot through his head. With a wince, he pulled himself up, gingerly touching his head - his scales were damaged, and blood was dried on his head. He winced slightly as pain shot through both his head and right hand.
Shit. They will definitely notice this… He thought to himself as he took a ragged breath. He looked where the hole had appeared - there was nothing, the ground was undisturbed. His gaze lingered on it, before he eventually turned, and continued to make his way towards his clearing, still in the darkness of the night, like nothing had happened.
It has been so long since the last one. Why now? Why is she tormenting me? His questions were left unanswered. He forced himself to stop, and after taking a deep breath, he looked around, listening for any nearby river or something. Sniffing around, he could feel the smell of water off in the distance, and so, he began making his way there.
I need to wash off the blood.
Within a few minutes, he had found a large river, the water flowing down with relative force. Kneeling down at its edge, he leaned forward, and began cleaning his head and hand with practiced, almost robotic movements. The proof of his weakness stinged and flared up at the cold touch of water, but he did not care. He watched as the water slowly took on a red hue, before disappearing down the river.
Within another few minutes, Velnil could easily make out the outline of the injury - it wasn’t too big, but it was most definitely noticeable, and will take days - if not a few weeks - to properly heal. He could hide it, since he was still somewhat bigger than everyone else - but then that would go against his plan on appearing meek and unsure about things.
Maybe I could use it. Play it off as having a bad night. Maybe I could get them to give me more food than they planned. The humans are very empathetic, I’m sure that after seeing this, they would feel bad enough for me to somewhat drop their guard. Maybe I can even fool some of the prey. Yes, that, being attacked by one should be enough for them to not view me as a threat.
Satisfied with the plan, Velnil got back up, and with a sigh and a few minutes of walking, he finally made his way back to the clearing. Lying down on the cold ground, he carefully rested his head atop his bag once again, looking at nothing in particular.
His next few minutes were filled with rolling around, unable to go back to sleep, as his thoughts were slowly but surely going back to the krakotl he saw. The green feathers, adorned by a red pattern, its yellow beak, and similarly yellow eyes.
Yellow eyes that stared deep into his soul.
The yellow eye that has fallen out of its socket, to leave an empty void to devour his soul.
Velnil forced his eyes shut, turning around again. Not again. He thought, forcing himself to think of other things - the taste of the prey animal he caught, his way towards Earth, the russif.
Eventually, within a gruesome few minutes, Velnil was finally granted the sweet release of sleep.
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2024.06.07 22:00 enoumen A Daily chronicle of AI Innovations June 07 2024:🎥Kuaishou launches new Sora rival 🎧 OpenAI reverse engineers the workings of AI models 🤖New Chinese video generation model beats OpenAI’s Sora📊Nvidia is now the second-most valuable company, overtaking Apple 🔍OpenAI probes GPT’s inner workings
 | A Daily chronicle of AI Innovations June 07th 2024:🎧 OpenAI reverse engineers the workings of AI models🤖 New Chinese video generation model beats OpenAI’s Sora📊 Nvidia is now the second-most valuable company, overtaking Apple🚀Adobe’s launches AEP AI Assistant to help brands master customer🏆The most comprehensive benchmarking & leaderboard for image models is here!🧬AI used to predict potential new antibiotics in groundbreaking study🔒Meta gets EU complaints from 11 countries over use of personal data to train AI🔍The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Microsoft-Inflection AI deal🎥 Kuaishou launches new Sora rival🔍 AI RESEARCH: OpenAI probes GPT’s inner workingsEnjoying these daily updates, listen to our podcast at: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ai-unraveled-latest-ai-news-trends-gpt-gemini-generative/id1684415169🎧 OpenAI reverse engineers the workings of AI modelsIn new research, OpenAI has shared improved methods for finding a large number of "features"—patterns of activity in AI models that are human interpretable. They developed new state-of-the-art methodologies that allow scaling sparse autoencoders to tens of millions of features on frontier AI models.It demonstrated smooth and predictable scaling, with better returns to scale than prior techniques. And they could find 16 million features in GPT-4. The research also introduces several new metrics for evaluating feature quality. https://preview.redd.it/8odnzop6f75d1.png?width=550&format=png&auto=webp&s=4a89070e57fd2483d8950bb49972fdd7907f9953 OpenAI has shared the paper, code, and feature visualizations to foster further exploration. Why does it matter? It could bring us closer to understanding the inner workings of neural networks. This interpretability will eventually increase model trustworthiness and steerability. While OpenAI is being criticized for taking unnecessary risks with AI technology, this shows it is also keen on tackling the risk by making models more explainable. Source: https://openai.com/index/extracting-concepts-from-gpt-4 🤖 New Chinese video generation model beats OpenAI’s SoraKuaishou, a Chinese tech company, has introduced Kling, an AI model for video generation. It can make videos up to two minutes long at 1080p resolution and 30 frames per second, vs. Sora’s one-minute videos.Kuaishou claims Kling correctly simulates the physical properties of the real world, including complex motion sequences. Using a diffusion transformer, it can also combine concepts and create fictional scenes, such as a cat driving a car through a busy city. https://youtu.be/cpnKw9djT38 📊 Nvidia is now the second-most valuable company, overtaking Applehttps://preview.redd.it/1fibczsif75d1.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=9a575cbf6ddf4035a9a71fcd8be71401001fd346Kuaishou, a Chinese tech company, has introduced Kling, an AI model for video generation. It can make videos up to two minutes long at 1080p resolution and 30 frames per second, vs. Sora’s one-minute videos. Kuaishou claims Kling correctly simulates the physical properties of the real world, including complex motion sequences. Using a diffusion transformer, it can also combine concepts and create fictional scenes, such as a cat driving a car through a busy city. https://youtu.be/cpnKw9djT38 Nvidia rallied to record highs on Wednesday, with it’s stock market valuation hitting $3 trillion and overtaking Apple to become the world’s second most valuable company. This comes after Nvidia made a series of major announcements in the past week. However, Nvidia’s stock has surged 147% so far in 2024, with demand for its top-of-the-line processors far outstripping supply as Big Tech races to build out their AI computing capabilities and dominate the emerging technology. Microsoft remains the world’s most valuable company, with a market value of approximately $3.15 trillion. Why does it matter? Nvidia is now seen as a key company to watch to see how fast AI-powered tech is spreading across the business world, a shift that Nvidia’s founder, Jensen Huang, has declared as the dawn of the "next industrial revolution". Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6ppqd3j621o 🎥 Kuaishou launches new Sora rivalhttps://preview.redd.it/zx92zteof75d1.png?width=1292&format=png&auto=webp&s=e2d198c0415cf45326dc57427aa8287b9b07fb2fChinese tech firm Kuaishou just introduced KLING, a new text-to-video AI model capable of generating high-quality videos up to 2 minutes long with outputs that appear to rival OpenAI’s still-unreleased Sora. The details: KLING can produce videos at 1080p resolution with a maximum length of 2 minutes, surpassing the 1-minute Sora videos demoed by OpenAI. KLING’s demos include realistic outputs like a man eating noodles and scenic shots, as well as surreal clips like animals in clothes. The model uses a 3D space-time attention system to simulate complex motion and physical interactions that better mimic the real world. The model is currently available to Chinese-based users as a public demo on the KWAI iOS app. Why it matters: These generations are even more mind-blowing when you consider that Will Smith’s spaghetti-eating abomination was barely a year ago. With users still anxiously waiting for the public release of Sora, other competitors are stepping in — and the AI video landscape looks like it’s about to heat up in a major way. Source: https://x.com/rowancheung/status/1798738564735554047 ByteDance’s AI chip loopholeTikTok parent company ByteDance is renting advanced Nvidia AI chips and using them on U.S. soil, exploiting a loophole to sidestep restrictions on China’s AI chip exports. The details: Due to national security concerns, the U.S. government prohibits Nvidia from selling AI chips like the A100 and H100 directly to Chinese companies. The restrictions don't prevent Chinese firms from renting chips for use within the U.S. — ByteDance is allegedly leasing servers with chips from Oracle. ByteDance reportedly had access to over 1,500 H100 chips and several thousand A100s last month through the Oracle deal. Other Chinese giants like Alibaba and Tencent are also reportedly exploring similar options, either renting from U.S. providers or setting up US data centers. Why it matters: The AI race between the U.S. and China is only escalating — and it appears major players are going to get AI chips by any means necessary. While the U.S. tries to stall its rival’s progress with restrictions, it feels like a game of whack-a-mole that won’t stop China from reaching its AI goals.Source: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/chinas-nvidia-loophole-how-bytedance-got-the-best-ai-chips-despite-u-s-restrictions 🔍 AI RESEARCH: OpenAI probes GPT’s inner workingshttps://preview.redd.it/vc4mf38zf75d1.png?width=1292&format=png&auto=webp&s=96b7d57cb0e6b0fe805404ffa83dbb29688ddd22OpenAI just released a new paper detailing a method for reverse engineering concepts learned by AI models and better understanding ChatGPT’s inner workings. The details: The paper was authored by members of the recently disbanded superalignment team, including Ilya Sutskever and Jan Leike. ‘Scaling and Evaluating Sparse Autoencoders’ outlines a technique to ID patterns representing specific concepts inside GPT-4. By using an additional model to probe the larger model, researchers found a way to extract millions of activity patterns for further exploration. OpenAI released open-source code and a visualization tool, allowing others to explore how different words and phrases activate concepts within models. Why it matters: Much like Anthropic’s recent “Golden Gate Claude” and corresponding research, AI firms are still working to understand what’s truly going on underneath the hood. Cracking AI’s black box would be a big step towards better safety, tuning, and controllability of rapidly advancing models. Source: https://openai.com/index/extracting-concepts-from-gpt-4 New AI Job Opportunities on June 07th 2024:Harvey - Data Analyst: https://jobs.therundown.ai/jobs/61941124-data-analyst Meta - Applied AI Research Scientist - Reinforcement Learning: https://jobs.therundown.ai/jobs/61972838-applied-ai-research-scientist-reinforcement-learning DeepL - Corporate Communications Lead: https://jobs.therundown.ai/jobs/62073947-corporate-communications-lead Palantir Technologies - Enablement Partner: https://jobs.therundown.ai/jobs/61968165-enablement-partnerWhat Else Is Happening in AI on June 07th 2024🚀Adobe’s launches AEP AI Assistant to help brands master customerAdobe’s Adobe Experience Platform (AEP) is a real-time customer experience management (CXM) solution designed for enterprises. AEP AI Assistant is a gen AI chatbot hooked up to the AEP and an enterprise’s storehouse of advertising and customer data, brand assets, and content collateral (at their direction).Source: https://venturebeat.com/ai/adobes-new-aep-ai-assistant-is-here-to-help-brands-master-customer-data-and-outreach/ 🏆The most comprehensive benchmarking & leaderboard for image models is here!AI image models have achieved near-photographic quality. But how do they compare? Are the open-source alternatives on par with their proprietary counterparts? The Artificial Analysis Text to Image Leaderboard aims to answer these questions with human preference-based rankings.Source: https://huggingface.co/blog/leaderboard-artificial-analysis2 https://preview.redd.it/rosx9ex8g75d1.png?width=1600&format=png&auto=webp&s=0e1fb2e85712e3abaee6741719e874da0bb20ad1 🧬AI used to predict potential new antibiotics in groundbreaking studyScientists used an algorithm to mine the entirety of the microbial diversity that we have on earth – or a huge representation of that – and find almost 1million new molecules encoded or hidden within all that microbial dark matter.Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/jun/05/ai-antibiotic-resistance 🔒Meta gets EU complaints from 11 countries over use of personal data to train AIMeta rejected the criticism and referred to a May 22 blog in which it said it uses publicly available online and licensed information to train AI as well as information that people have shared publicly on its products and services.Source: https://www.reuters.com/technology/meta-gets-11-eu-complaints-over-use-personal-data-train-ai-models-2024-06-06 🔍The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Microsoft-Inflection AI dealThe FTC has sent subpoenas to tech giant and startup, asking whether their partnership evaded the required government antitrust review of the transaction. Microsoft picked off Inflection’s specialized workforce of AI researchers but didn’t purchase the company outright.Source: https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ftc-opens-antitrust-probe-of-microsoft-ai-deal-29b5169a Enjoying these daily updates, listen to our podcast at: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ai-unraveled-latest-ai-news-trends-gpt-gemini-generative/id1684415169 |
2024.06.07 21:59 green-sleeves What can we REALLY conclude about any of this afterlife stuff? (TW warning: contains critical analysis)
I always worry that my obsession with this subject is using up my time in the one life I have fussing about a life that simply may not be there. But I don’t know what to do about that, so the next best thing is to try to get to grips with what we appear to have, warts and all. In doing this, I believe the project requires brutal honesty, a setting aside of almost ALL our assumptions concerning the subject, and then a strong sober look at “ok, what do we have”. Do we have anything? Well, maybe. We also have some elephants in the house, which we seem very reluctant to look at, but which we have to look at if we want to deal with the realities here.
Elephant number one: 85% of people who pass near death have no near death experience. This is a biggie. How come the majority of people who come close have no experience? I don’t hold any truck with the idea that they are all secretly having experiences but “can’t remember them”. That is so obviously a damage limitation argument that I won’t waste any time on it. It would be one thing if 15% of people DIDN’T have an experience, but 15% being the people who DO is a serious problem.
Alright so let’s bite the bullet and assume that what we seem to have is what we actually have, only 15% have experiences. It does suggest that NDEs are the special case and not the norm. In other words, the norm is simply to pass across to whatever at actual death, assuming there is something to pass across to. NDEs seem aimed at the living and those who are returning to life.
Elephant number two: NDEs are not particularly prevalent in the elderly. You may not be aware of this, but look into it, if you doubt my word. Of course the elderly do score higher on deathbed visions, visitations in hospice, etc, but in actual NDES they score much lower. Again, so far as near death experiences are concerned at least, it seems the phenomenon has its eyes on the younger person, presumably when there is still some life left to be influenced.
Elephant number 3: We spend very little of our time talking about other life forms. And this is a serious failing. If there is going to be a cosmic truth featuring all consciousness, how could those forms be left out? Yet name me the experience that involves llamas, or sharks, or cobras, or wild boars. So are these creatures there in the afterlife or not? And if they are, what would they be? I think what this shows up is that we are asking the question in the wrong way. If there IS a way, then in some sense all of these shapes are temporary reflections of consciousness. It makes no sense to grant permanence to the shapes, only to the shaper (if anything)
Elephant number 4: There is no time. But what does this mean, really? It could mean one of several things. If time were considered an acting “force” then without this force you could not experience any of the phenomena of time, such as event or causation, in much the same way, if there were no gravity, we could not experience the phenomena of gravity, such as weight and being on a ground. It could also mean that we aren’t subject to time as an external force but time could still take shape if we started an event sequence. But this does mean that events would not be generally connected in a causal sequence. For instance, let’s say you and I in our spirit bodies went for a stroll by a spirit river. We couldn’t later have a “memory” of this event because there would be no general later.
Elephant number 5: suffering and pointless lives. This is a big one for me. It is plainly evident, for anyone willing to look, that many people’s lives consist of pointless suffering,, meaning that there is no one driving this goddamn show. As well, animals are just as prone to lives of short, pointless suffering as humans. Conceivably this suffering might contribute to long term evolution on this planet. It is difficult to see it contributing to much of anything else. Moreover, it makes a mockery of planned lives. Who is going to plan a life where their parents are shot by robbers while they are still an infant in the cot and then the infant dies of starvation because no one came until it is too late? (just one of many examples that could be taken).
So again, if we are to AVOID ASSUMPTIONS, are there any hopeful or positive takeaways from these facts?
Yes. 1) we are here. This is already something of a miracle. And if we can be here once then we could be here again, or for that matter somewhere else, again, in a different form. It’s not so completely impossible.
2) On the other hand, although we are here, our existence seems entirely spontaneous and unplanned. We seem to “pop up” like daisies in a field, and the daisies are either fortunate enough to be in a patch of sunlight and grow, or else unfortunate enough to be under a hoof and snapped before they’ve even had a chance to flower. That does not speak of planning to me. It speaks of a universe where raw consciousness is a “force” perhaps, but paradoxically not a very aware force. Or, at least not very aware yet.
submitted by green-sleeves to afterlife [link] [comments]
Elephant number one: 85% of people who pass near death have no near death experience. This is a biggie. How come the majority of people who come close have no experience? I don’t hold any truck with the idea that they are all secretly having experiences but “can’t remember them”. That is so obviously a damage limitation argument that I won’t waste any time on it. It would be one thing if 15% of people DIDN’T have an experience, but 15% being the people who DO is a serious problem.
Alright so let’s bite the bullet and assume that what we seem to have is what we actually have, only 15% have experiences. It does suggest that NDEs are the special case and not the norm. In other words, the norm is simply to pass across to whatever at actual death, assuming there is something to pass across to. NDEs seem aimed at the living and those who are returning to life.
Elephant number two: NDEs are not particularly prevalent in the elderly. You may not be aware of this, but look into it, if you doubt my word. Of course the elderly do score higher on deathbed visions, visitations in hospice, etc, but in actual NDES they score much lower. Again, so far as near death experiences are concerned at least, it seems the phenomenon has its eyes on the younger person, presumably when there is still some life left to be influenced.
Elephant number 3: We spend very little of our time talking about other life forms. And this is a serious failing. If there is going to be a cosmic truth featuring all consciousness, how could those forms be left out? Yet name me the experience that involves llamas, or sharks, or cobras, or wild boars. So are these creatures there in the afterlife or not? And if they are, what would they be? I think what this shows up is that we are asking the question in the wrong way. If there IS a way, then in some sense all of these shapes are temporary reflections of consciousness. It makes no sense to grant permanence to the shapes, only to the shaper (if anything)
Elephant number 4: There is no time. But what does this mean, really? It could mean one of several things. If time were considered an acting “force” then without this force you could not experience any of the phenomena of time, such as event or causation, in much the same way, if there were no gravity, we could not experience the phenomena of gravity, such as weight and being on a ground. It could also mean that we aren’t subject to time as an external force but time could still take shape if we started an event sequence. But this does mean that events would not be generally connected in a causal sequence. For instance, let’s say you and I in our spirit bodies went for a stroll by a spirit river. We couldn’t later have a “memory” of this event because there would be no general later.
Elephant number 5: suffering and pointless lives. This is a big one for me. It is plainly evident, for anyone willing to look, that many people’s lives consist of pointless suffering,, meaning that there is no one driving this goddamn show. As well, animals are just as prone to lives of short, pointless suffering as humans. Conceivably this suffering might contribute to long term evolution on this planet. It is difficult to see it contributing to much of anything else. Moreover, it makes a mockery of planned lives. Who is going to plan a life where their parents are shot by robbers while they are still an infant in the cot and then the infant dies of starvation because no one came until it is too late? (just one of many examples that could be taken).
So again, if we are to AVOID ASSUMPTIONS, are there any hopeful or positive takeaways from these facts?
Yes. 1) we are here. This is already something of a miracle. And if we can be here once then we could be here again, or for that matter somewhere else, again, in a different form. It’s not so completely impossible.
2) On the other hand, although we are here, our existence seems entirely spontaneous and unplanned. We seem to “pop up” like daisies in a field, and the daisies are either fortunate enough to be in a patch of sunlight and grow, or else unfortunate enough to be under a hoof and snapped before they’ve even had a chance to flower. That does not speak of planning to me. It speaks of a universe where raw consciousness is a “force” perhaps, but paradoxically not a very aware force. Or, at least not very aware yet.
2024.06.07 21:59 Terrible-Aioli-5971 Is this a good summer train plan ?
I used to run the 8 but I have moved down to the 4 so this is my first summer sprinting. I've looked around online pretty extensivly and I think I have a solid general guidlie. I was wondering if I could get it looked over.
Plan
Warmup:
Running section: - 3 laps, first slow, 2nd faster on straights, 3rd fastest on straights - 1 of 30,40,50, and 60m accelerations
Stretching section: - Head Circles x10 -Arm swings Front and Back 10/15times - Trunk Circles x 10 - Ankle & Wrist Circles x10 - Wave/Front Lunges each leg x2 - Eagles/Scorpions x8 - Heel Walking ( 1 minute each side) - High knees Drills 15m - Stride for 20m x 2 - Knee Circles x 6 - Front Grabs(knee into chest) (20m) - Twist grabs(shin toward chest) (20m)
Drills (20 meters) - A skips - B skips - C skips - High knees - Butt kicks - Anklings - Karyoka - Acceleration from 3 pt start (30,60,90) walk back
Monday: Top speed - Warmup - 5 minutes - 8 flying 30s, walk back rest, 90% Or - 10 flying 20s, walk back, 95% - 7 minutes - Stretch - Lift (Day one)
Tuesday: Tempo - Warmup - 5 minutes - Tempo 200s/300s 75%/70% x 6 Or - 4 laps of 150m in outs (50 hard, 50 float, 50 close) Or - 6-8 30 second low incline hill sprints, walk back - 7 minutes - core/hips - stretch
Wednesday: Active recovery - Warm up - 15-20 minute shakeout - 6x60m strides track/grass (emphasis on form) - 7 minutes down -Lift (Weaknesses and drills) - Fully body stretch - Rolling
Thursday: Acceleration - Warmup - 5 minutes - 6-8 by 30m acceleration (focus on form and staying relaxed) 1-2 minutes rest Or - 6 5-10 second hill sprints, walk back, 95% - 5-10 minutes - stretch
Friday: Form/Speed endurance (Late summer) - Warmup - 7 minutes - Block day Or - Mobility and drills (Check list) - 5 minutes - Stretch - Lift (Day 2)
Saturday: Rest - Fully body stretching - rolling
Sunday: Rest - Full body stretching - rolling
submitted by Terrible-Aioli-5971 to Sprinting [link] [comments]
Plan
Warmup:
Running section: - 3 laps, first slow, 2nd faster on straights, 3rd fastest on straights - 1 of 30,40,50, and 60m accelerations
Stretching section: - Head Circles x10 -Arm swings Front and Back 10/15times - Trunk Circles x 10 - Ankle & Wrist Circles x10 - Wave/Front Lunges each leg x2 - Eagles/Scorpions x8 - Heel Walking ( 1 minute each side) - High knees Drills 15m - Stride for 20m x 2 - Knee Circles x 6 - Front Grabs(knee into chest) (20m) - Twist grabs(shin toward chest) (20m)
Drills (20 meters) - A skips - B skips - C skips - High knees - Butt kicks - Anklings - Karyoka - Acceleration from 3 pt start (30,60,90) walk back
Monday: Top speed - Warmup - 5 minutes - 8 flying 30s, walk back rest, 90% Or - 10 flying 20s, walk back, 95% - 7 minutes - Stretch - Lift (Day one)
Tuesday: Tempo - Warmup - 5 minutes - Tempo 200s/300s 75%/70% x 6 Or - 4 laps of 150m in outs (50 hard, 50 float, 50 close) Or - 6-8 30 second low incline hill sprints, walk back - 7 minutes - core/hips - stretch
Wednesday: Active recovery - Warm up - 15-20 minute shakeout - 6x60m strides track/grass (emphasis on form) - 7 minutes down -Lift (Weaknesses and drills) - Fully body stretch - Rolling
Thursday: Acceleration - Warmup - 5 minutes - 6-8 by 30m acceleration (focus on form and staying relaxed) 1-2 minutes rest Or - 6 5-10 second hill sprints, walk back, 95% - 5-10 minutes - stretch
Friday: Form/Speed endurance (Late summer) - Warmup - 7 minutes - Block day Or - Mobility and drills (Check list) - 5 minutes - Stretch - Lift (Day 2)
Saturday: Rest - Fully body stretching - rolling
Sunday: Rest - Full body stretching - rolling
2024.06.07 21:55 Fun_Court3262 In today’s society, securing financial stability is a paramount concern for many individuals. That’s why numerous programs and resources promise to unlock the secrets to wealth creation. One such program gaining traction is Royal Wealth Hack. But can it truly transform your financial life?
This comprehensive Royal Wealth Hack will delve deep into the program, analyzing its claims, exploring its contents, and ultimately helping you decide if it’s the right fit for your financial goals.
Royal Wealth Hack is a financial program designed to provide users with the tools, knowledge, and strategies needed to achieve financial independence. It’s the brainchild of a team of financial experts and entrepreneurs who have combined traditional financial principles with innovative strategies to create a holistic approach to wealth building.
At the heart of Royal Wealth Hack is its extensive library of educational content. This includes video tutorials, eBooks, webinars, and interactive modules that cover a wide range of topics, from basic budgeting to advanced investment strategies.
The program offers customized financial plans tailored to your individual goals, current financial situation, and risk tolerance. This personalized approach ensures that the strategies you learn are relevant and effective for your unique circumstances.
Royal Wealth Hack provides insights into various investment opportunities, including stocks, bonds, real estate, and even cryptocurrencies. You’ll get analysis and recommendations on emerging markets and trends to help you make informed investment decisions.
One of the most valuable aspects of Royal Wealth Hack is access to a community of like-minded individuals and financial experts. This support network can be incredibly helpful for sharing insights, seeking advice, and staying motivated on your financial journey.
The core philosophy of Royal Wealth Hack is that anyone, regardless of their starting point, can achieve financial independence with the right knowledge and tools.
The program emphasizes the importance of education, strategic planning, and continuous improvement. It encourages you to take control of your finances, make informed decisions, and adopt a proactive approach to building wealth.
The mysterious 8-second money hack, often touted in viral internet posts and videos, usually promises a quick and effortless way to amass wealth, typically through leveraging a loophole or an obscure financial trick. On closer inspection, these schemes frequently reveal themselves as misleading at best and outright scams at worst.
The allure of rapid financial gain plays on human psychology, exploiting the common desire for financial security and the aversion to prolonged effort and risk.
Analysis often uncovers that these hacks lack transparency, often requiring an upfront payment or personal information without clear, verifiable evidence of success.
The recurring patterns include the exploitation of legal gray areas, high-risk investments, or pyramid-like recruitment schemes, emphasizing the critical importance of skepticism and due diligence in financial ventures.
Comprehensive Education: The program’s extensive educational content covers a broad spectrum of financial topics, making it suitable for both beginners and seasoned investors.
Tailored Approach: The personalized financial plans ensure that the strategies are relevant and effective for your specific needs and goals.
Diverse Investment Insights: With insights into a variety of investment opportunities, you can diversify your portfolio and reduce risk.
User-Friendly Tools: The wealth-building tools are intuitive and easy to use, making financial management more accessible.
Community Support: Access to a supportive community can be incredibly motivating and beneficial for sharing experiences and advice.
Many users have reported significant improvements in their financial situations after using Royal Wealth Hack. For example, Sarah, a single mother of two, was able to overcome debt and build a robust investment portfolio. Before joining the program, she was living paycheck to paycheck with little to no savings. Through Royal Wealth Hack, she learned how to budget effectively, reduce her expenses, and invest wisely. Today, Sarah has a diversified investment portfolio and is on track to achieve financial independence.
John, a recent college graduate, used the program to navigate the complex world of student loans and early career finances. The personalized financial plan helped him manage his student debt efficiently while starting to build his wealth through smart investments.
Financial experts generally appreciate Royal Wealth Hack’s comprehensive approach to financial education and its emphasis on personalized planning. Dr. Emily Thompson, a professor of finance, notes that “Royal Wealth Hack provides a solid foundation for anyone looking to take control of their financial future. The combination of education, practical tools, and community support is a powerful formula for success.”
However, experts also caution that, like any financial program, success with Royal Wealth Hack depends on your commitment and discipline. David Lin, a financial advisor, says, “The strategies are sound, but they require consistent effort and a willingness to learn and adapt. It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme; it’s a structured path to financial independence.”
To get the most out of Royal Wealth Hack, consider these tips:
Set Clear Goals: Define your financial goals before starting the program. Having clear goals will direct your efforts and maintain your focus.
Be Consistent: Engage regularly with the educational content and tools. Consistency is key to internalizing the strategies and making steady progress.
Utilize the Community: Engage with the Royal Wealth Hack community. Sharing your experiences and learning from others can offer motivation and fresh insights.
Stay Disciplined: Financial independence requires discipline. Stick to your personalized plan and resist the temptation to make impulsive financial decisions.
Seek Professional Advice: While the program provides a wealth of knowledge, consulting with a financial advisor can help tailor the strategies even further to your specific situation.
When considering any financial program, understanding the cost and any available guarantees is crucial. Here’s what you need to know about the cost and money-back guarantee for Royal Wealth Hack.
The Royal Wealth Hack program is priced at $39. This one-time fee grants you access to the full suite of educational modules, personalized financial planning tools, investment insights, and the supportive community that comes with the program. Considering the comprehensive nature of the content and resources provided, this cost is relatively modest compared to many other financial education programs on the market.
Royal Wealth Hack also offers a 60-day money-back guarantee. This means you can try the program risk-free for 60 days. If, within this period, you find that the program does not meet your expectations or you are not satisfied with the results, you can request a full refund.
The 60-day money-back guarantee is designed to give you peace of mind, allowing you to explore the program and evaluate its effectiveness without financial risk. If you decide it’s not the right fit for you, simply contact their customer service to process the refund.
The Royal Wealth Hack offers a promising pathway to financial independence through its comprehensive educational content, personalized planning, and supportive community.
While it requires a financial investment and a significant time commitment, the potential benefits make it a worthwhile consideration for those serious about transforming their financial lives.
Success with Royal Wealth Hack ultimately depends on your commitment and willingness to apply the strategies consistently.
If you’re ready to take control of your financial future and invest the necessary effort, Royal Wealth Hack could be a valuable tool on your journey to financial independence.
>> Click here to get Royal Wealth Hack From the official website(Exclusive Special Discount)
submitted by Fun_Court3262 to Funologist [link] [comments]
Royal Wealth Hack is a financial program designed to provide users with the tools, knowledge, and strategies needed to achieve financial independence. It’s the brainchild of a team of financial experts and entrepreneurs who have combined traditional financial principles with innovative strategies to create a holistic approach to wealth building.
At the heart of Royal Wealth Hack is its extensive library of educational content. This includes video tutorials, eBooks, webinars, and interactive modules that cover a wide range of topics, from basic budgeting to advanced investment strategies.
The program offers customized financial plans tailored to your individual goals, current financial situation, and risk tolerance. This personalized approach ensures that the strategies you learn are relevant and effective for your unique circumstances.
Royal Wealth Hack provides insights into various investment opportunities, including stocks, bonds, real estate, and even cryptocurrencies. You’ll get analysis and recommendations on emerging markets and trends to help you make informed investment decisions.
One of the most valuable aspects of Royal Wealth Hack is access to a community of like-minded individuals and financial experts. This support network can be incredibly helpful for sharing insights, seeking advice, and staying motivated on your financial journey.
The core philosophy of Royal Wealth Hack is that anyone, regardless of their starting point, can achieve financial independence with the right knowledge and tools.
The program emphasizes the importance of education, strategic planning, and continuous improvement. It encourages you to take control of your finances, make informed decisions, and adopt a proactive approach to building wealth.
The mysterious 8-second money hack, often touted in viral internet posts and videos, usually promises a quick and effortless way to amass wealth, typically through leveraging a loophole or an obscure financial trick. On closer inspection, these schemes frequently reveal themselves as misleading at best and outright scams at worst.
The allure of rapid financial gain plays on human psychology, exploiting the common desire for financial security and the aversion to prolonged effort and risk.
Analysis often uncovers that these hacks lack transparency, often requiring an upfront payment or personal information without clear, verifiable evidence of success.
The recurring patterns include the exploitation of legal gray areas, high-risk investments, or pyramid-like recruitment schemes, emphasizing the critical importance of skepticism and due diligence in financial ventures.
Comprehensive Education: The program’s extensive educational content covers a broad spectrum of financial topics, making it suitable for both beginners and seasoned investors.
Tailored Approach: The personalized financial plans ensure that the strategies are relevant and effective for your specific needs and goals.
Diverse Investment Insights: With insights into a variety of investment opportunities, you can diversify your portfolio and reduce risk.
User-Friendly Tools: The wealth-building tools are intuitive and easy to use, making financial management more accessible.
Community Support: Access to a supportive community can be incredibly motivating and beneficial for sharing experiences and advice.
Many users have reported significant improvements in their financial situations after using Royal Wealth Hack. For example, Sarah, a single mother of two, was able to overcome debt and build a robust investment portfolio. Before joining the program, she was living paycheck to paycheck with little to no savings. Through Royal Wealth Hack, she learned how to budget effectively, reduce her expenses, and invest wisely. Today, Sarah has a diversified investment portfolio and is on track to achieve financial independence.
John, a recent college graduate, used the program to navigate the complex world of student loans and early career finances. The personalized financial plan helped him manage his student debt efficiently while starting to build his wealth through smart investments.
Financial experts generally appreciate Royal Wealth Hack’s comprehensive approach to financial education and its emphasis on personalized planning. Dr. Emily Thompson, a professor of finance, notes that “Royal Wealth Hack provides a solid foundation for anyone looking to take control of their financial future. The combination of education, practical tools, and community support is a powerful formula for success.”
However, experts also caution that, like any financial program, success with Royal Wealth Hack depends on your commitment and discipline. David Lin, a financial advisor, says, “The strategies are sound, but they require consistent effort and a willingness to learn and adapt. It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme; it’s a structured path to financial independence.”
To get the most out of Royal Wealth Hack, consider these tips:
Set Clear Goals: Define your financial goals before starting the program. Having clear goals will direct your efforts and maintain your focus.
Be Consistent: Engage regularly with the educational content and tools. Consistency is key to internalizing the strategies and making steady progress.
Utilize the Community: Engage with the Royal Wealth Hack community. Sharing your experiences and learning from others can offer motivation and fresh insights.
Stay Disciplined: Financial independence requires discipline. Stick to your personalized plan and resist the temptation to make impulsive financial decisions.
Seek Professional Advice: While the program provides a wealth of knowledge, consulting with a financial advisor can help tailor the strategies even further to your specific situation.
When considering any financial program, understanding the cost and any available guarantees is crucial. Here’s what you need to know about the cost and money-back guarantee for Royal Wealth Hack.
The Royal Wealth Hack program is priced at $39. This one-time fee grants you access to the full suite of educational modules, personalized financial planning tools, investment insights, and the supportive community that comes with the program. Considering the comprehensive nature of the content and resources provided, this cost is relatively modest compared to many other financial education programs on the market.
Royal Wealth Hack also offers a 60-day money-back guarantee. This means you can try the program risk-free for 60 days. If, within this period, you find that the program does not meet your expectations or you are not satisfied with the results, you can request a full refund.
The 60-day money-back guarantee is designed to give you peace of mind, allowing you to explore the program and evaluate its effectiveness without financial risk. If you decide it’s not the right fit for you, simply contact their customer service to process the refund.
The Royal Wealth Hack offers a promising pathway to financial independence through its comprehensive educational content, personalized planning, and supportive community.
While it requires a financial investment and a significant time commitment, the potential benefits make it a worthwhile consideration for those serious about transforming their financial lives.
Success with Royal Wealth Hack ultimately depends on your commitment and willingness to apply the strategies consistently.
If you’re ready to take control of your financial future and invest the necessary effort, Royal Wealth Hack could be a valuable tool on your journey to financial independence.
>> Click here to get Royal Wealth Hack From the official website(Exclusive Special Discount)
2024.06.07 21:49 makibo123 Blocking om Thanatos axe
I just played the game for the first time since the last update and I'm having trouble blocking with the aspect of Than. I haven't tried the other axe aspects to see what my experience will be with them but just now in the Chronos fight it seemed like the axe just wouldn't block. The animation for the special was there but Chronos was just hitting through it. Has anyone else had a similar experience. I know they tempered with the special speed but there were hits where he was hitting through the block in the middle of me channelling the omega special, so I don't think it was entirely me not being used to the new special speed.
submitted by makibo123 to Hades2 [link] [comments]
2024.06.07 21:47 Audio_Bengineer Help with couch/coffee table layout in Living Room
From Above
From Hallway/Gameroom/Bathroom
From Kitchen
From Entry
Measurements
Hey DesignMyRoom!
My wife and I are in the process of moving, and we got our new (inherited) couches and coffee table in our new space and are having a hard time figuring out a good configuration for them. The couches are very large and require power so it's tricky trying to place them without feeling like they're blocking the main arteries of the room. The pictures above are the best configuration we've found so far.
We plan on having a larger TV above the fireplace, and the console can stay or go depending on what's necessary. We don't really have another good spot for it in the house, but we'd rather have a functional living room than make sure we're using every piece of furniture we own. Any advice would be appreciated!
For reference, here's the measurements of the couches and coffee table:
Larger 2 piece couch: 6'9" long x 3'7" deep
Smaller 1 piece couch: 5'2" long x 3'7" deep
Coffee table: 3'11 long x 2' wide
submitted by Audio_Bengineer to DesignMyRoom [link] [comments]
From Hallway/Gameroom/Bathroom
From Kitchen
From Entry
Measurements
Hey DesignMyRoom!
My wife and I are in the process of moving, and we got our new (inherited) couches and coffee table in our new space and are having a hard time figuring out a good configuration for them. The couches are very large and require power so it's tricky trying to place them without feeling like they're blocking the main arteries of the room. The pictures above are the best configuration we've found so far.
We plan on having a larger TV above the fireplace, and the console can stay or go depending on what's necessary. We don't really have another good spot for it in the house, but we'd rather have a functional living room than make sure we're using every piece of furniture we own. Any advice would be appreciated!
For reference, here's the measurements of the couches and coffee table:
Larger 2 piece couch: 6'9" long x 3'7" deep
Smaller 1 piece couch: 5'2" long x 3'7" deep
Coffee table: 3'11 long x 2' wide
2024.06.07 21:45 Thebulldog4590 How to get the Humbug tone on a budget?
I plan on purchasing a Jazzmaster Vintera 60s soon so Ill have a somewhat similar guitar to what Alex Turner used on Humbug. But what pedals should I buy to get a humbug esk tone. Preferably something most similar to Dangerous Animals and Pretty Visitors. Any help is greatly appreciated!!!
submitted by Thebulldog4590 to arcticmonkeys [link] [comments]
2024.06.07 21:44 Jus17173 Depth of Madness - Chapter 2 - (Edge of Madness Book 2)
Book One: Edge of Madness - Chapter One Previous Next
I could pretend to be a whore. That's what Masutap thought as she stood before the gate leading to the fortress of the Highlord of the Eastlocal. Pretense was a thing she indulged in back when she'd been an ordinary woman, with ordinary ambitions. But as of now, things had changed. Things had changed drastically, for she was now a champion of the Goddess of Order. A champion who would do anything in her power to mock the very being that fed her power.
Power, yes. It was what she felt. Every time her eyes turned upon the world, she saw Order. Like bees in a hive, working towards a similar objective. Survival. Yes, they all wanted to survive. And that's where the power lay, in her ability to deny a thing's chance at survival, for when her eyes flashed red, things died.
"Pardon me sir." A man dragging a cart of coal said. She was standing in his way, she knew this of course, she'd known it since the time he'd decided to deliver the coal. She saw the strings of prophesy in the smallest of things, and oh what power lied in discernment, to see the past and the future in absolute clarity, the secret lay in following strands of Order. The Highlord of the Eastlocal always received a cart of coal at around this time every fifth day. He would serve as her witness. Coal. She smiled, remembering how Orgeeg had managed to penetrate into the Palace of Binoria, on a stack of coal. She recalled how Orgeeg thwarted her plans, then she remembered how small her plans had been.
"Pardon me... Uh lady?" She removed her cowl as the Coal merchant spoke. Her hair was longer now, she'd let it grow, it dangled askew of her ears. Dark and rich as her mother's once was. Masutap smiled at the man whose face was caked in coal dust.
"Today Shama dies! Tonight the Highlord of the EastLocal is no more!" Masutap said.
Twin daggers she had strapped to her waist were suddenly in her hands. The coal merchant stumbled back several steps, dragging the cart with him. The sun was dipping into the horizon, becoming a smeared red smudge upon the canvas of her perception. Her eyes flashed red, and the smeared smudge's light brightened, blanketing everything, making her see.
She spun and threw the dagger in her left hand. The knife whirled in the air and met the throat of a guard who was just cresting the upper walkway of the gate, he wore red leather that marked him as one of the royal guards of the Highlord. A shout sounded. The guards at the gate turned their attention to her. They were six of them, each of them dazed with the slow reception of understanding. The bubble they lived in, understanding it enabled her to see how blind humanity is. Like sheep, no wonder the Vigons ruled them so easily.
She was in their midst before they drew their swords from their scabbards. She drove the dagger into the throat of the first one, danced in a pirouette, thrust free the dagger and hurled it into the throat of another guard. Her hands were free, she curled her fingers into fists.
The Goddess Meena, Goddess of Order, spoke to her. **What is the purpose of this?*
"Oh, you'll see." Masutap said and drove a fist into the chest of one guard, her hand caved through the chest cavity, snapping the spine in half and emerging free of the Guards back. She paused for effect, the three remaining guards gawked at her. She pried her arm free of the corpse and met their panicked gazes. "Sound the alarm, you're too few to make me sweat. I need all of you. Gods! Come on you fucking cowards!"
Two of the three guards charged her, one took a swing at her head with a flat blade, the sharp edge missed her by a hair's breadth as she ducked. She brought up her knee and connected with the man's groin, raising him off the ground, legs held apart, face contorted in pain. He collapsed on the ground with a squeal akin to that of a dying rabbit. The other guard put on a stance of Grind, legs parted, right foot before the left. Knees bent. He brandished his sword before him, and the guard behind him ran off to sound the alarm. Masutap smiled.
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He slept on a bed filled with whores. Talisi women with their dark skin and white hair, Remu women with their sandy peppered hair and copper skin, Binorian women with their blonde hair and pale milky skin. He was their God and they flocked to him in worship. He owned all of them, from the frailest to the most able bodied. From the smartest to the daftest. They were all his.
The Highlord of the Eastlocal observed the head of the Talisi woman resting on his thigh, her breathing was deep, her dark naked breasts rising and falling with every inhale and exhale. Five other women slept around him, each as beautiful as the last.
Of all the men in the realm, I alone am the honored one. Shama thought. He caressed his bulging belly with his pudgy fingers the size of sausages. His appearance did pass as grotesque. Bloated, balding with a cleanly shaven head, wide of girth and bow legged. Yet, no man has conquered the bodies of women as he had done. Women who lusted after tall handsome men. Women who sought capable men with astounding intelligence. They all gave in to him, none could deny him and when they did, well, there were ways to make them yield.
An orgy at noon. That was the gist of it, and another orgy before the midnight bell. Life was good, life was beautiful. Shama had thought that after the death of King Vayin Vigon in the hands of the infamous Kolotian, Ishar, that his wealth will dwindle, that his status will come down a step. That the might of Binoria will be a fickle thing after their first loss at war. But of course, this wasn't to be. The Queen, Dahli Vigon, had received the blessing of Meena, passed down from her father. As long as one with the Jojoh Meena, the blessing of Meena, still ruled, then things will stay as they've always been. Dahli had taken over, ensuring that Binoria didn't fall into anarchy, ensuring the Vigon name remained revered. The beautiful blonde haired girl was now the most potent soul upon the realm. How he longed to have her in his bed, parting those pale thighs sinuated with muscle. She'd become quite the fair lady. And her presence oozed power.
Shama wanted her but a thought kept his desires at bay. She'd frowned at him at the recent Highlords meeting with the throne. Apparently, his tastes and businesses didn't bode well with her. The selling of flesh, that is what he partook in with the zeal of a drowning man reaching for a floating oar. Importing women from all over the realm, some came willingly, others reluctantly. But in the end they all came. Their dignity thrown away for the promise of gold vigons. They filled the whore houses and men flocked to them in throngs, lining his pocket with gold vigons
It was his inventiveness that brought him to the top, the Highlord of the Eastlocal was once a position few envied. But his eye, trained in the art of commerce, enabled him to transform the east of Binoria. Creating a network that not only benefited him, but also the crown. And in so doing, despite her frowns and her reluctance to treat with him, she still couldn't voice her displeasure. Dahli needed him, she needed him for the coin necessary to maintain her position upon the crown. To line the pockets of her Legions. She needed him, and one day he will have her. No woman can deny him, and if they did, there were ways to make them give in.
Suddenly, the twin oak doors leading to his bed chambers flew open. The Captain of the Red Guard, in charge of his safety, Shang, walked in. "Highlord." He said with a bow, the women around him stirred. Outside, a bell started ringing, slowly at first then with extreme vigor. Something is wrong. Shang's obvious panic was clear to see. The opened door allowed him to see several Red guards crowded at the door.
"What is the meaning of this?" Shama asked, his beady eyes on Shang. An inhuman scream sounded somewhere within the fortress. Shama's blood chilled in his veins.
"There's an intruder." Shang said while ravaging through the clothes on the floor. He lifted a red jerkin, two sizes too large, the right size for the Highlord. He threw it at Shama and the Highlord hastened to put it on. He ignored the bewildered looks of the naked whores.
"Intruders or intruder?" Shama asked as Shang led him out of his bed chambers. Another scream sounded, closer. The guards at the door, seven of them, crested around him as Shang led the way.
"A woman, she's alone." Shang said.
Shama gripped Shang's arm, halting him. "What do you mean by this? A singular woman causing... causing... this?"
"She's..." Shang hesitated.
"Speak! You fool!"
"She seems to be inhumanly strong and fast. I only saw her fight through a blockade of my brothers, without a sword. She tore my brothers— the Red Guards, to pieces." Shang's eyes became glazed, as if his mind was replaying the mayhem he'd bore witness to. Shama let go of his arm. The trembling was taking him again, starting at the soles of his feet, up his spine around his neck to his hands. It had been so long since he felt this, the animalistic fear confounded on the existence of an unknown, an unknown that sought to see him dead.
"Captain, what is your course of action?" Shama asked.
Shang seemed to shake himself free of his trance. "We're going to take you to the stables, get you on the fastest steed and—" A scream echoed through the halls of the fortress of the Highlord of the Eastlocal. Checking everyone in place.
"What of provisions?"
"There's no time." Shang said. He drew a flat blade from the scabbard at his side. The Guards all around mimicked him, the rustling of steel could be heard, and there, at the Western end of the fortress, screams sounded.
Shang started a brisk walk towards the East end of the Fortress. His boots, soles lined with metal, clancked upon the ground. Shama shuffled close behind Shang, panting like a mare in heat. The Red Guards around him stole glances to their rear, sweat woven with fear formed a sleek mask upon their startled faces. And in those eyes Shama was able to weigh how dire matters were.
A shout sounded from ahead, bringing Shang to an abrupt stop. "How—" His words caught in his throat as a woman caked in blood and gore emerged from the bend linking the hallway they were in to another hallway that led to the stables.
She stood before them and spread out her bloody fingers at Shama. "Highlord, nice to meet you." She waved. "Say, I hear you can show a woman a good time and I'm in quite the mood for a good time tonight."
Shama trembled, the woman seemed vaguely familiar. The angles of her cheekbones , that nose, those eyes. She resembled Dahli.
"Moran and Jesul to me!" Shang commanded. Two of the guards behind Shama moved forward to flank Shang on either side. "Employ any forms, ensure I get close to her so I may employ the form of Awe."
Awe— the grappling technique that ensured the limbs were pinned. Shama saw Shang's ploy. He needed to contain the woman so Shama could move past them and head for the stables. Shama cursed himself for the design of his fortress that allowed for only one route to the stables.
Shang, Moran and Jesul raised their broad swords. One raising it above the head in a form of Rage, the other bringing the blade level with his face in the form of Pride. Shang lowered his blade and the guards flanking him charged, he followed close behind. The woman let out a cry that could only be translated as one of glee. She charged them.
Moran brought his sword down on the woman but she slid on her knees, allowing momentum to push her beyond the reach of his blade. Jesul thrust at her, raising his right leg and angling the sword downwards at her face. But the woman dodged, spun upon the ground on the small of her back and kicked Jesul's leg from under him. Jesul fell and as he raised his head he met with the woman's fist, there was a loud crunch as his face caved in. His hand let go of the sword as his body became limp.
Shang saw the opening and dived at the woman before she could stand. The woman spread her arms wide, welcoming. Shang pounced but instead landed on the woman's upraised knees, she grabbed his leather armor by the collar and flung him behind her and onto Moran. Both of them collapsed on the ground.
She stood up and smiled at Shama.
"Who are you?" Shama asked.
"I'm Masutap, the sister of Queen Dahli." The woman answered.
"Men! Turtle formation! Swords out, save the Highlord! Move you fools!" Shang said as he picked himself up from the ground behind Masutap.
The men around Shama compacted closer. Their swords pointing at Masutap who regarded them with a smirk upon her face. They inched forward, hesitantly at first, then with confidence as they saw their Captain pick up his sword. They all came to a stand still when the eyes of the woman glowed a fierce red, as if she held the Jojoh Meena. And Shama, the Highlord of the Eastlocal, trembled before her gaze.
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Intuition, the immediate cognition without the use of conscious rational processes. It was simple for her, she dodged the sword thrusts and swipes easily. She turned either way, always beyond reach of the blades, always within striking distance. Her strength was a thing of beauty, somehow her frail wrists held the power necessary to crush a throat and crush a throat she did. She didn't tire, she didn't require forms of combat. The power of the Goddess of Order coursed through her veins and with it came rejuvenation.
The Red Guards pounced on her, seeking to put in place the form of Awe. But their efforts were in vain, she side stepped them easily, always on her feet. She saw an opening and like a river emptying into the Rankf sea she took it, delivering a punch to the side of a Guard's chest, feeling as ribs broke and punctured the lung.
**What is the purpose of this?* The Goddess Meena spoke within her mind. An ever present being whose words sought to throw her off, to calm the tempest raging within her. Masutap didn't want calm, she wanted fire and brimstone, she wanted Binoria to burn so their precious Queen will rule nothing but ash. She decreed this with a war cry, plunging into the midst of the Red Guards. She kicked two, flinging them across the hallway. One thrust with his blade but she caught it between her arm and side, she twisted the blade free of his grasp, gripped the hilt and decapitated the man in one swift motion.
She parried a strike to her left, danced free of two thrust then brought the blade down onto a Guard's head. She felt as the blade bit bone and she wasted no time in pulling it free. **What is the purpose of this?* Meena asked once more.
Masutap took three steps back to widen her periphery. "An inferno." She said as she flexed her sword hand. Suddenly, the Guard who was definitely their Captain, reached into the mass of clustered Guards pressed to the wall, away from her. And pulled the Highlord free of the men surrounding him.
"Form a blockade!" He screamed as he tagged and pulled at the distraught Highlord, leading him towards the end of the hallway. The remaining Guards blocked her vision of them. Like a fool she'd been too enthralled by the battle, allowing the Highlord to slowly slip past her, cocooned in the safety of the Guards in their turtle formation. He was making clear his escape and somehow, this aroused her, blowing upon an ember lodged deep within her until it sparked.
**What is the purpose of this?* Like a parrot, the Goddess repeated her question.
"An inferno." Masutap answered and lunged.
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He was sweating profusely, his breath caught in his throat, causing him to choke on air. He followed Shang, feeling the Captain of the Red Guard's displeasure at his inability to keep up. They descended a flight of stairs, taking three at a time. He almost collapsed but the Captain steadied him.
"Not far now my Lord. Just at that bend before us." Shang said. They took the bend and ran clear of the fortress. The horses were just ahead, they rushed to them. Shama took delight in the open air. The stables were void of people, Shama wondered where the stable hands were. They entered the stable and Shang dragged him to the first cubicle on the right where a saddled horse stood.
Shama hastily climbed onto the saddle with the aid of the Captain. Shang placed his Highlord's feet in the stirrups and moved to flank the horse. "Lord." He said, fighting for solid ground that will enable his words to come forth easily. "It has been an honor to serve under you." Shama smiled but his smile proved too little a gesture to carry the weight or their current predicament. "Ride hard for the Capital, ensure the Queen knows of all that's gone down here. I will stay back and hold her for as long as I can." Shang concluded with a crisp salute. The Highlord nodded and with the guidance of his captain upon the horse's reins, they exited the stable "She is a good steed, see the mark of her coat? She can take you far." Shang said once free of the stables. A scream sounded from within the fortress, horrid in its guttural screech. "Go now my Lor—" Shang's words died in his mouth as an explosion erupted at the first floor of the fortress, stone parted, breaking as easily as a clay vase, the window panels and the glass set in place erupted outwards with the stone. Three figures tumbled free of the eruption, tangled in the air, twisting with the fall. They landed, the woman on her feet, knees bent and a fist pressed to the ground, the other two guards lay insensate upon the ground, their bodies a mangled mess. Shang slapped the horse's hide and Shama took of in a gallop.
The Highlord turned back, watched as the woman rose free of the debri and charged Shang. The captain employed a form of Grind but the Highlord's view was hindered by a sharp turn around the cobblestones towards the gate of his fortress. The blood and bodies upon the ground unsettled the horse, forcing its pace to be more hurried and Shama was all the more grateful for it.
She has the Jojoh Meena! Shama thought with awe as the horse broke free of the fortress in a quick gallop that had him bouncing upon the saddle. His thighs felt the brunt force of his escape but he could do nothing but hold on for dear life. This is what I'm reduced to, at the end of the line dependency thrives, in old age your children are those you depend on. I never thought I'd come to rely on anyone throughout my life. Yet here I am, depending on a horse to save my skin. He turned his head back and heaved a sigh of relief. The fortress was dwindling within his periphery, he had made quick his escape. Shama will live to see another day. And when the sun rises and sets, I will bring judgment upon the woman whose very existence rivals my own. Masutap. I will hunt her, she will know no safety within the realm, she will never know peace or a good night's slee— Something unnerved him. There, at the entrance to the fortress, a figure appeared. Following the path charted by his horse. She hopes to outrun my horse? He tilted his head back and laughed. There is faith and delusion and she seems to be enamored by both. To think her capable of outrunning a horse. What a fool what a— His thoughts halted when he turned back, his mouth dropped, his jaw hanging loose. Masutap was catching up, he did not know how but she was gaining on him. She'd been a speck in the distance, barely visible against the backdrop of the fortress. But now her features were getting more defined and her limbs, they were a blur as she pushed forward with inhuman speed.
Panic drove Shama into action, he kicked his heels at the horse's flanks. Willing it to go faster. "Run you fool! Run!" He was frothing at the mouth as the horse went downhill, cutting his view of the one in pursuit. He gripped harder at the reins and screamed, slapping the horse's neck. He looked back to see Masutap emerge upon the hill and start a quick descent after him. He thought about guiding the horse into the wilderness and thought against it seeing that a gallop won't be possible with trees in the way. His only hope was in outpacing her for surely, even one with the Jojoh Meena must tire. He hoped Masutap would relent, he hoped her bloodlust would have proved sated by the guards who'd met their end by her. He hoped that he would live to see the sun climb into the sky one more time. Darkness was setting in and suddenly thoughts of the sun and it's warmth sprouted a yearning within him that made him weep. He turned his head back, she was a hundred paces away. The horse was tiring, it's gallop lazed in vigor. This is the end then, all those afternoons spent indoors hosting orgies. I should have spent them beneath the sun, I should have spent them in the sun He looked back once more, his horse barely keeping pace. The horse threw a shoe and Shama was flung off it. He tumbled onto the ground, his weight rested upon his twisted knee, the sharp pop of the joint led him into an anguished wail. The horse screamed, its fore limbs oddly twisted. The horse thrashed upon the ground and Shama rolled away. He felt weak, he felt defeated and most of all, he felt hopeless.
He lay there, watching the sky, the moon was up, barely half of it adorned the night. He wished it had been full, all those nights when he'd regarded the sky as one would a thing of no consequence. Now he found himself wishing he'd appreciated it more. In the end regrets rule the mind, for in its dying wails no sound of gratitude can be heard.
She came and stood above him, her face blocking the view of the sky. She breathed loudly and for a moment the only sounds around them were from the injured horse and her.
"Dahli will come for you." He opined despite the throbbing pain within his twisted leg.
"Shama, darling," Masutap said as she lowered herself to lie beside him. She chuckled. "Darling, that word. The Goddess Meena loves that word. She uses it a lot. I find it distasteful yet here I am. Calling you darling."
"I have not time for pleasantries." Shama interjected. "Cut my throat and be done with it."
Masutap sighed. "That's not a creative way to kill someone you know. No, how many women have suffered pain beneath you? I have to give answer to that and that means a show. I will drag you to your fortress, there I will strip you naked and castrate you. I will feed you your cock as the women whom you took advantage of watch. Then we'll douse you in Rankf Oil and set you alight."
Shama started weeping. And a new voice joined the fray, he wept, she heaved and the horse screamed.
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submitted by Jus17173 to HFY [link] [comments]
I could pretend to be a whore. That's what Masutap thought as she stood before the gate leading to the fortress of the Highlord of the Eastlocal. Pretense was a thing she indulged in back when she'd been an ordinary woman, with ordinary ambitions. But as of now, things had changed. Things had changed drastically, for she was now a champion of the Goddess of Order. A champion who would do anything in her power to mock the very being that fed her power.
Power, yes. It was what she felt. Every time her eyes turned upon the world, she saw Order. Like bees in a hive, working towards a similar objective. Survival. Yes, they all wanted to survive. And that's where the power lay, in her ability to deny a thing's chance at survival, for when her eyes flashed red, things died.
"Pardon me sir." A man dragging a cart of coal said. She was standing in his way, she knew this of course, she'd known it since the time he'd decided to deliver the coal. She saw the strings of prophesy in the smallest of things, and oh what power lied in discernment, to see the past and the future in absolute clarity, the secret lay in following strands of Order. The Highlord of the Eastlocal always received a cart of coal at around this time every fifth day. He would serve as her witness. Coal. She smiled, remembering how Orgeeg had managed to penetrate into the Palace of Binoria, on a stack of coal. She recalled how Orgeeg thwarted her plans, then she remembered how small her plans had been.
"Pardon me... Uh lady?" She removed her cowl as the Coal merchant spoke. Her hair was longer now, she'd let it grow, it dangled askew of her ears. Dark and rich as her mother's once was. Masutap smiled at the man whose face was caked in coal dust.
"Today Shama dies! Tonight the Highlord of the EastLocal is no more!" Masutap said.
Twin daggers she had strapped to her waist were suddenly in her hands. The coal merchant stumbled back several steps, dragging the cart with him. The sun was dipping into the horizon, becoming a smeared red smudge upon the canvas of her perception. Her eyes flashed red, and the smeared smudge's light brightened, blanketing everything, making her see.
She spun and threw the dagger in her left hand. The knife whirled in the air and met the throat of a guard who was just cresting the upper walkway of the gate, he wore red leather that marked him as one of the royal guards of the Highlord. A shout sounded. The guards at the gate turned their attention to her. They were six of them, each of them dazed with the slow reception of understanding. The bubble they lived in, understanding it enabled her to see how blind humanity is. Like sheep, no wonder the Vigons ruled them so easily.
She was in their midst before they drew their swords from their scabbards. She drove the dagger into the throat of the first one, danced in a pirouette, thrust free the dagger and hurled it into the throat of another guard. Her hands were free, she curled her fingers into fists.
The Goddess Meena, Goddess of Order, spoke to her. **What is the purpose of this?*
"Oh, you'll see." Masutap said and drove a fist into the chest of one guard, her hand caved through the chest cavity, snapping the spine in half and emerging free of the Guards back. She paused for effect, the three remaining guards gawked at her. She pried her arm free of the corpse and met their panicked gazes. "Sound the alarm, you're too few to make me sweat. I need all of you. Gods! Come on you fucking cowards!"
Two of the three guards charged her, one took a swing at her head with a flat blade, the sharp edge missed her by a hair's breadth as she ducked. She brought up her knee and connected with the man's groin, raising him off the ground, legs held apart, face contorted in pain. He collapsed on the ground with a squeal akin to that of a dying rabbit. The other guard put on a stance of Grind, legs parted, right foot before the left. Knees bent. He brandished his sword before him, and the guard behind him ran off to sound the alarm. Masutap smiled.
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He slept on a bed filled with whores. Talisi women with their dark skin and white hair, Remu women with their sandy peppered hair and copper skin, Binorian women with their blonde hair and pale milky skin. He was their God and they flocked to him in worship. He owned all of them, from the frailest to the most able bodied. From the smartest to the daftest. They were all his.
The Highlord of the Eastlocal observed the head of the Talisi woman resting on his thigh, her breathing was deep, her dark naked breasts rising and falling with every inhale and exhale. Five other women slept around him, each as beautiful as the last.
Of all the men in the realm, I alone am the honored one. Shama thought. He caressed his bulging belly with his pudgy fingers the size of sausages. His appearance did pass as grotesque. Bloated, balding with a cleanly shaven head, wide of girth and bow legged. Yet, no man has conquered the bodies of women as he had done. Women who lusted after tall handsome men. Women who sought capable men with astounding intelligence. They all gave in to him, none could deny him and when they did, well, there were ways to make them yield.
An orgy at noon. That was the gist of it, and another orgy before the midnight bell. Life was good, life was beautiful. Shama had thought that after the death of King Vayin Vigon in the hands of the infamous Kolotian, Ishar, that his wealth will dwindle, that his status will come down a step. That the might of Binoria will be a fickle thing after their first loss at war. But of course, this wasn't to be. The Queen, Dahli Vigon, had received the blessing of Meena, passed down from her father. As long as one with the Jojoh Meena, the blessing of Meena, still ruled, then things will stay as they've always been. Dahli had taken over, ensuring that Binoria didn't fall into anarchy, ensuring the Vigon name remained revered. The beautiful blonde haired girl was now the most potent soul upon the realm. How he longed to have her in his bed, parting those pale thighs sinuated with muscle. She'd become quite the fair lady. And her presence oozed power.
Shama wanted her but a thought kept his desires at bay. She'd frowned at him at the recent Highlords meeting with the throne. Apparently, his tastes and businesses didn't bode well with her. The selling of flesh, that is what he partook in with the zeal of a drowning man reaching for a floating oar. Importing women from all over the realm, some came willingly, others reluctantly. But in the end they all came. Their dignity thrown away for the promise of gold vigons. They filled the whore houses and men flocked to them in throngs, lining his pocket with gold vigons
It was his inventiveness that brought him to the top, the Highlord of the Eastlocal was once a position few envied. But his eye, trained in the art of commerce, enabled him to transform the east of Binoria. Creating a network that not only benefited him, but also the crown. And in so doing, despite her frowns and her reluctance to treat with him, she still couldn't voice her displeasure. Dahli needed him, she needed him for the coin necessary to maintain her position upon the crown. To line the pockets of her Legions. She needed him, and one day he will have her. No woman can deny him, and if they did, there were ways to make them give in.
Suddenly, the twin oak doors leading to his bed chambers flew open. The Captain of the Red Guard, in charge of his safety, Shang, walked in. "Highlord." He said with a bow, the women around him stirred. Outside, a bell started ringing, slowly at first then with extreme vigor. Something is wrong. Shang's obvious panic was clear to see. The opened door allowed him to see several Red guards crowded at the door.
"What is the meaning of this?" Shama asked, his beady eyes on Shang. An inhuman scream sounded somewhere within the fortress. Shama's blood chilled in his veins.
"There's an intruder." Shang said while ravaging through the clothes on the floor. He lifted a red jerkin, two sizes too large, the right size for the Highlord. He threw it at Shama and the Highlord hastened to put it on. He ignored the bewildered looks of the naked whores.
"Intruders or intruder?" Shama asked as Shang led him out of his bed chambers. Another scream sounded, closer. The guards at the door, seven of them, crested around him as Shang led the way.
"A woman, she's alone." Shang said.
Shama gripped Shang's arm, halting him. "What do you mean by this? A singular woman causing... causing... this?"
"She's..." Shang hesitated.
"Speak! You fool!"
"She seems to be inhumanly strong and fast. I only saw her fight through a blockade of my brothers, without a sword. She tore my brothers— the Red Guards, to pieces." Shang's eyes became glazed, as if his mind was replaying the mayhem he'd bore witness to. Shama let go of his arm. The trembling was taking him again, starting at the soles of his feet, up his spine around his neck to his hands. It had been so long since he felt this, the animalistic fear confounded on the existence of an unknown, an unknown that sought to see him dead.
"Captain, what is your course of action?" Shama asked.
Shang seemed to shake himself free of his trance. "We're going to take you to the stables, get you on the fastest steed and—" A scream echoed through the halls of the fortress of the Highlord of the Eastlocal. Checking everyone in place.
"What of provisions?"
"There's no time." Shang said. He drew a flat blade from the scabbard at his side. The Guards all around mimicked him, the rustling of steel could be heard, and there, at the Western end of the fortress, screams sounded.
Shang started a brisk walk towards the East end of the Fortress. His boots, soles lined with metal, clancked upon the ground. Shama shuffled close behind Shang, panting like a mare in heat. The Red Guards around him stole glances to their rear, sweat woven with fear formed a sleek mask upon their startled faces. And in those eyes Shama was able to weigh how dire matters were.
A shout sounded from ahead, bringing Shang to an abrupt stop. "How—" His words caught in his throat as a woman caked in blood and gore emerged from the bend linking the hallway they were in to another hallway that led to the stables.
She stood before them and spread out her bloody fingers at Shama. "Highlord, nice to meet you." She waved. "Say, I hear you can show a woman a good time and I'm in quite the mood for a good time tonight."
Shama trembled, the woman seemed vaguely familiar. The angles of her cheekbones , that nose, those eyes. She resembled Dahli.
"Moran and Jesul to me!" Shang commanded. Two of the guards behind Shama moved forward to flank Shang on either side. "Employ any forms, ensure I get close to her so I may employ the form of Awe."
Awe— the grappling technique that ensured the limbs were pinned. Shama saw Shang's ploy. He needed to contain the woman so Shama could move past them and head for the stables. Shama cursed himself for the design of his fortress that allowed for only one route to the stables.
Shang, Moran and Jesul raised their broad swords. One raising it above the head in a form of Rage, the other bringing the blade level with his face in the form of Pride. Shang lowered his blade and the guards flanking him charged, he followed close behind. The woman let out a cry that could only be translated as one of glee. She charged them.
Moran brought his sword down on the woman but she slid on her knees, allowing momentum to push her beyond the reach of his blade. Jesul thrust at her, raising his right leg and angling the sword downwards at her face. But the woman dodged, spun upon the ground on the small of her back and kicked Jesul's leg from under him. Jesul fell and as he raised his head he met with the woman's fist, there was a loud crunch as his face caved in. His hand let go of the sword as his body became limp.
Shang saw the opening and dived at the woman before she could stand. The woman spread her arms wide, welcoming. Shang pounced but instead landed on the woman's upraised knees, she grabbed his leather armor by the collar and flung him behind her and onto Moran. Both of them collapsed on the ground.
She stood up and smiled at Shama.
"Who are you?" Shama asked.
"I'm Masutap, the sister of Queen Dahli." The woman answered.
"Men! Turtle formation! Swords out, save the Highlord! Move you fools!" Shang said as he picked himself up from the ground behind Masutap.
The men around Shama compacted closer. Their swords pointing at Masutap who regarded them with a smirk upon her face. They inched forward, hesitantly at first, then with confidence as they saw their Captain pick up his sword. They all came to a stand still when the eyes of the woman glowed a fierce red, as if she held the Jojoh Meena. And Shama, the Highlord of the Eastlocal, trembled before her gaze.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Intuition, the immediate cognition without the use of conscious rational processes. It was simple for her, she dodged the sword thrusts and swipes easily. She turned either way, always beyond reach of the blades, always within striking distance. Her strength was a thing of beauty, somehow her frail wrists held the power necessary to crush a throat and crush a throat she did. She didn't tire, she didn't require forms of combat. The power of the Goddess of Order coursed through her veins and with it came rejuvenation.
The Red Guards pounced on her, seeking to put in place the form of Awe. But their efforts were in vain, she side stepped them easily, always on her feet. She saw an opening and like a river emptying into the Rankf sea she took it, delivering a punch to the side of a Guard's chest, feeling as ribs broke and punctured the lung.
**What is the purpose of this?* The Goddess Meena spoke within her mind. An ever present being whose words sought to throw her off, to calm the tempest raging within her. Masutap didn't want calm, she wanted fire and brimstone, she wanted Binoria to burn so their precious Queen will rule nothing but ash. She decreed this with a war cry, plunging into the midst of the Red Guards. She kicked two, flinging them across the hallway. One thrust with his blade but she caught it between her arm and side, she twisted the blade free of his grasp, gripped the hilt and decapitated the man in one swift motion.
She parried a strike to her left, danced free of two thrust then brought the blade down onto a Guard's head. She felt as the blade bit bone and she wasted no time in pulling it free. **What is the purpose of this?* Meena asked once more.
Masutap took three steps back to widen her periphery. "An inferno." She said as she flexed her sword hand. Suddenly, the Guard who was definitely their Captain, reached into the mass of clustered Guards pressed to the wall, away from her. And pulled the Highlord free of the men surrounding him.
"Form a blockade!" He screamed as he tagged and pulled at the distraught Highlord, leading him towards the end of the hallway. The remaining Guards blocked her vision of them. Like a fool she'd been too enthralled by the battle, allowing the Highlord to slowly slip past her, cocooned in the safety of the Guards in their turtle formation. He was making clear his escape and somehow, this aroused her, blowing upon an ember lodged deep within her until it sparked.
**What is the purpose of this?* Like a parrot, the Goddess repeated her question.
"An inferno." Masutap answered and lunged.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
He was sweating profusely, his breath caught in his throat, causing him to choke on air. He followed Shang, feeling the Captain of the Red Guard's displeasure at his inability to keep up. They descended a flight of stairs, taking three at a time. He almost collapsed but the Captain steadied him.
"Not far now my Lord. Just at that bend before us." Shang said. They took the bend and ran clear of the fortress. The horses were just ahead, they rushed to them. Shama took delight in the open air. The stables were void of people, Shama wondered where the stable hands were. They entered the stable and Shang dragged him to the first cubicle on the right where a saddled horse stood.
Shama hastily climbed onto the saddle with the aid of the Captain. Shang placed his Highlord's feet in the stirrups and moved to flank the horse. "Lord." He said, fighting for solid ground that will enable his words to come forth easily. "It has been an honor to serve under you." Shama smiled but his smile proved too little a gesture to carry the weight or their current predicament. "Ride hard for the Capital, ensure the Queen knows of all that's gone down here. I will stay back and hold her for as long as I can." Shang concluded with a crisp salute. The Highlord nodded and with the guidance of his captain upon the horse's reins, they exited the stable "She is a good steed, see the mark of her coat? She can take you far." Shang said once free of the stables. A scream sounded from within the fortress, horrid in its guttural screech. "Go now my Lor—" Shang's words died in his mouth as an explosion erupted at the first floor of the fortress, stone parted, breaking as easily as a clay vase, the window panels and the glass set in place erupted outwards with the stone. Three figures tumbled free of the eruption, tangled in the air, twisting with the fall. They landed, the woman on her feet, knees bent and a fist pressed to the ground, the other two guards lay insensate upon the ground, their bodies a mangled mess. Shang slapped the horse's hide and Shama took of in a gallop.
The Highlord turned back, watched as the woman rose free of the debri and charged Shang. The captain employed a form of Grind but the Highlord's view was hindered by a sharp turn around the cobblestones towards the gate of his fortress. The blood and bodies upon the ground unsettled the horse, forcing its pace to be more hurried and Shama was all the more grateful for it.
She has the Jojoh Meena! Shama thought with awe as the horse broke free of the fortress in a quick gallop that had him bouncing upon the saddle. His thighs felt the brunt force of his escape but he could do nothing but hold on for dear life. This is what I'm reduced to, at the end of the line dependency thrives, in old age your children are those you depend on. I never thought I'd come to rely on anyone throughout my life. Yet here I am, depending on a horse to save my skin. He turned his head back and heaved a sigh of relief. The fortress was dwindling within his periphery, he had made quick his escape. Shama will live to see another day. And when the sun rises and sets, I will bring judgment upon the woman whose very existence rivals my own. Masutap. I will hunt her, she will know no safety within the realm, she will never know peace or a good night's slee— Something unnerved him. There, at the entrance to the fortress, a figure appeared. Following the path charted by his horse. She hopes to outrun my horse? He tilted his head back and laughed. There is faith and delusion and she seems to be enamored by both. To think her capable of outrunning a horse. What a fool what a— His thoughts halted when he turned back, his mouth dropped, his jaw hanging loose. Masutap was catching up, he did not know how but she was gaining on him. She'd been a speck in the distance, barely visible against the backdrop of the fortress. But now her features were getting more defined and her limbs, they were a blur as she pushed forward with inhuman speed.
Panic drove Shama into action, he kicked his heels at the horse's flanks. Willing it to go faster. "Run you fool! Run!" He was frothing at the mouth as the horse went downhill, cutting his view of the one in pursuit. He gripped harder at the reins and screamed, slapping the horse's neck. He looked back to see Masutap emerge upon the hill and start a quick descent after him. He thought about guiding the horse into the wilderness and thought against it seeing that a gallop won't be possible with trees in the way. His only hope was in outpacing her for surely, even one with the Jojoh Meena must tire. He hoped Masutap would relent, he hoped her bloodlust would have proved sated by the guards who'd met their end by her. He hoped that he would live to see the sun climb into the sky one more time. Darkness was setting in and suddenly thoughts of the sun and it's warmth sprouted a yearning within him that made him weep. He turned his head back, she was a hundred paces away. The horse was tiring, it's gallop lazed in vigor. This is the end then, all those afternoons spent indoors hosting orgies. I should have spent them beneath the sun, I should have spent them in the sun He looked back once more, his horse barely keeping pace. The horse threw a shoe and Shama was flung off it. He tumbled onto the ground, his weight rested upon his twisted knee, the sharp pop of the joint led him into an anguished wail. The horse screamed, its fore limbs oddly twisted. The horse thrashed upon the ground and Shama rolled away. He felt weak, he felt defeated and most of all, he felt hopeless.
He lay there, watching the sky, the moon was up, barely half of it adorned the night. He wished it had been full, all those nights when he'd regarded the sky as one would a thing of no consequence. Now he found himself wishing he'd appreciated it more. In the end regrets rule the mind, for in its dying wails no sound of gratitude can be heard.
She came and stood above him, her face blocking the view of the sky. She breathed loudly and for a moment the only sounds around them were from the injured horse and her.
"Dahli will come for you." He opined despite the throbbing pain within his twisted leg.
"Shama, darling," Masutap said as she lowered herself to lie beside him. She chuckled. "Darling, that word. The Goddess Meena loves that word. She uses it a lot. I find it distasteful yet here I am. Calling you darling."
"I have not time for pleasantries." Shama interjected. "Cut my throat and be done with it."
Masutap sighed. "That's not a creative way to kill someone you know. No, how many women have suffered pain beneath you? I have to give answer to that and that means a show. I will drag you to your fortress, there I will strip you naked and castrate you. I will feed you your cock as the women whom you took advantage of watch. Then we'll douse you in Rankf Oil and set you alight."
Shama started weeping. And a new voice joined the fray, he wept, she heaved and the horse screamed.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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2024.06.07 21:40 Brando035 Why can't I build any other road types? (Roads of the Rim)
submitted by Brando035 to RimWorld [link] [comments]
2024.06.07 21:36 Psychseps A Love Letter to Notion
In the last six months, I did the full circle going from Apple Notes to trying to find a cross platform app — starting with Apple Notes -> OneNote -> Notion -> Obsidian and then back to Apple Notes.
Apple Notes does everything I want it to do but it has one huge flaw - it is Apple-only, which rules out my Windows Desktop. I have a MacBook pro from 2013 that has slowed down a lot and doesn’t offer the latest Notes features out of the box (updated to Sonoma using OCLP, got the features but at the expense of speed and battery power). So I have had very poor Windows experience on iCloud.com and slow Mac experience. Lots of people get around this by either upgrading their Apple devices, or using a cross-platform app like ToDoist, but I didn’t want a paid app - after all I was getting by using the native apps.
Then, I heard the CEO of Notion talk in this video. His ideas really resonated with me and I was impressed by his vision.
See, I am a tinkerer at heart, but when it comes to productivity, I have to have something that works. When Ivan talked about giving “Lego bricks” to adults to build a tool that they can use to do whatever they want and improve their productivity, that really resonated with me.
The mistake I made last time I tried Notion was going for the mobile app first. The experience is bad there unless you come to it from the Desktop app. Also the Notion Calendar app had not launched. So 3 days ago (June 4th, 2024) I watched a few YouTube videos to grab the basics of Notion’s block and database architectures. Then I dove straight in…
The lucky thing was that I came into this just after the recent quality of life improvements and, more importantly, the new Home page with its My tasks widget.
I wanted an app which I could use to organize my life and work using PARA and GTD methods and have been using a combination of Apple Notes, Reminders and Calendar. After Notion rolled out the calendar feature, and more recently its Home feature where you can bring in tasks from different databases, the whole thing clicked.
Here’s how it works: I have an Inbox where the Web Clipper sends things for me to Capture. I then have a Task List (which syncs to the Home page and my Google/Notion Calendar) with tasks that I have clarified to work on. It has reminders so I get notifications on iOS and also have the Notion Calendar widget, populated with my Tasks database items. Placed its Widget on the iOS home screen and BOOM, I can glance at my to-do list everywhere.
Then there is the two-way sync with calendar. Tasks go there automatically, any changes to date/time are reflected automatically. The appointments I set up there show up in my Notion Home page as well. Just brilliant.
Then there is Notion itself - I have now set up a Content page for all the articles/other media I want to keep, neatly organized and sortable. A books list. All the goodies you can achieve with a sea of templates. I thought the sheer number of templates and possibilities with Notion could be a distraction, but if you can keep your focus, you can build exactly what you want with this app to serve your needs. I am now overflowing with productive ideas about learning, blogging, vlogging, archiving, planning work projects etc. etc.
The app also has backlinks, although no graph view a la Obsidian or Roam - which I found to be a gimmick. So no problems there.
And then ton of other useful features — downloadable templates, standard hyperlink to share to non-users, publishing directly to web, support for many Markdown elements, version history, table of contents, export to PDF/CSV/Markdown formats, an API that helps integrate other apps, the community they fostered… the list just goes on and on.
Even the price is right -FREE for personal and limited with sharing. I may even pay for it given how much it can enable me to achieve.
Can it be better? Sure. Here’s what I really want to see to call this app perfect:
submitted by Psychseps to Notion [link] [comments]
Apple Notes does everything I want it to do but it has one huge flaw - it is Apple-only, which rules out my Windows Desktop. I have a MacBook pro from 2013 that has slowed down a lot and doesn’t offer the latest Notes features out of the box (updated to Sonoma using OCLP, got the features but at the expense of speed and battery power). So I have had very poor Windows experience on iCloud.com and slow Mac experience. Lots of people get around this by either upgrading their Apple devices, or using a cross-platform app like ToDoist, but I didn’t want a paid app - after all I was getting by using the native apps.
Then, I heard the CEO of Notion talk in this video. His ideas really resonated with me and I was impressed by his vision.
See, I am a tinkerer at heart, but when it comes to productivity, I have to have something that works. When Ivan talked about giving “Lego bricks” to adults to build a tool that they can use to do whatever they want and improve their productivity, that really resonated with me.
The mistake I made last time I tried Notion was going for the mobile app first. The experience is bad there unless you come to it from the Desktop app. Also the Notion Calendar app had not launched. So 3 days ago (June 4th, 2024) I watched a few YouTube videos to grab the basics of Notion’s block and database architectures. Then I dove straight in…
The lucky thing was that I came into this just after the recent quality of life improvements and, more importantly, the new Home page with its My tasks widget.
I wanted an app which I could use to organize my life and work using PARA and GTD methods and have been using a combination of Apple Notes, Reminders and Calendar. After Notion rolled out the calendar feature, and more recently its Home feature where you can bring in tasks from different databases, the whole thing clicked.
Here’s how it works: I have an Inbox where the Web Clipper sends things for me to Capture. I then have a Task List (which syncs to the Home page and my Google/Notion Calendar) with tasks that I have clarified to work on. It has reminders so I get notifications on iOS and also have the Notion Calendar widget, populated with my Tasks database items. Placed its Widget on the iOS home screen and BOOM, I can glance at my to-do list everywhere.
Then there is the two-way sync with calendar. Tasks go there automatically, any changes to date/time are reflected automatically. The appointments I set up there show up in my Notion Home page as well. Just brilliant.
Then there is Notion itself - I have now set up a Content page for all the articles/other media I want to keep, neatly organized and sortable. A books list. All the goodies you can achieve with a sea of templates. I thought the sheer number of templates and possibilities with Notion could be a distraction, but if you can keep your focus, you can build exactly what you want with this app to serve your needs. I am now overflowing with productive ideas about learning, blogging, vlogging, archiving, planning work projects etc. etc.
The app also has backlinks, although no graph view a la Obsidian or Roam - which I found to be a gimmick. So no problems there.
And then ton of other useful features — downloadable templates, standard hyperlink to share to non-users, publishing directly to web, support for many Markdown elements, version history, table of contents, export to PDF/CSV/Markdown formats, an API that helps integrate other apps, the community they fostered… the list just goes on and on.
Even the price is right -FREE for personal and limited with sharing. I may even pay for it given how much it can enable me to achieve.
Can it be better? Sure. Here’s what I really want to see to call this app perfect:
- Offline availability.
- OCR support for images/searchable PDFs and documents
- Design improvements to the mobile app - the Remind toggle and the Time dials are too far apart for example
- More streamlined design
- End-to-end encryption - unless it breaks features.
2024.06.07 21:34 HexKm Troubleshooters, (1/2) (Legacy Universe)
“This geriatric bunch in cold sleep?”
“Affirmative. But their records show that they have been in cold sleep multiple times. They should respond quickly to the resuscitation procedure.”
“But, why? Wouldn’t it be more merciful to leave them in stasis while the Jaxorians intercept us?”
“Yes, but Allyson says that these individuals are the ones who might get us out of this situation.”
“The Terran engineer? You’re trusting her?”
“In a zero-sum analysis, her suggestions have net positive outcomes.”
“Just for the record, I think this is a bad idea.” A pause. “Resuscitation sequence activated.”
“Duly noted. Alert me when they are awake.”
-=-=-=-=-=-
William Exeter hated the feeling of coming to after cold sleep. While the modern systems were better than those he first encountered, he still felt like his muscles were infused with lead and that he was suffering from a hangover that he never got the enjoyment of deserving. But hopefully this would be one of the last times he would ever have to use the procedure, and he could finally settle down.
As the capsule’s lid slid back, harsh light assaulted William’s eyes, and he squinted in an attempt to lessen the pain. The silhouette of a triangular head above him let William know that a Dravitian was checking on him. He swallowed and got his voice working so he could croak out, “I’m up, I’m up.”
“Ah, Mr. Exeter, yes? I am…” The insectoid started to come into better view to the Terran’s adjusting eyes. “Captain? Yes, Captain of this ship. I am… We all are in need of assistance.”
“Uh, what?” William’s croaking voice hid some of his annoyance. “Yeah, I’m Exeter. But if you’re going to get my help, you’re going to have to get me a Jolt. I’m still half asleep from the drugs.”
The Dravitian’s head tilted to the side in an obvious gesture of confusion, “You require an electrical discharge?”
And this was why William hated waking up among aliens. He had to explain everything to them. “A drink. ‘All the sugar and twice the caffeine.’ Bah!” He started to force his muscles into action and pushed up on his elbows, “Just get me a goddamned stimulant, okay?”
“Oh, yes. Yes. Of course!” The Dravitian’s head disappeared as the insectoid moved over to a wall-mounted workstation.
William turned his head and saw several other cold-sleep capsules with their lids open. He cleared his throat and then called out, “Venture crew, sound off...”
“Here!”
I hear you, Bill.”
From a nearby capsule there was a dry coughing, but a hand in a ‘thumbs-up’ gesture rose in response.
“Well, good, I won’t have to suffer alone.” William turned his head again and looked over the other closed capsules, “But they didn’t wake everyone, so something’s up. Try to shake this shit off and get ready, okay?”
There were murmurs of ascent and more dry coughs from the other capsules.
The Dravitian come back from the workspace and addressed William, “Stimulant beverages and some cakes are on their way, Mr. Exeter. While I know that you are still under the effects of the stasis pharmaceuticals, I do need to apprise you of our need. You know of the Jaxorians, yes?”
William’s brow furrowed, “What, those crab-guys who go around in those water-suits? Didn’t we beat them in that big war?”
The Dravitian pulled back a little, “It was a negotiated settlement, I believe, but yes, your descriptive words adequately fit the Jaxorian physiology.” He paused, “Well, the Jaxorians, and their rulers the Drasalites, are once again at war, and we are now targets. I would not have woken you , but our Terran engineer was sure that you could help.”
William frowned and shook his head, “We should have finished them once and for all when we had the chance, but we have to let the Soviets fail as Soviets, don’t we?” He sighed, “And we’re humans, dammit. Homo sapiens sapiens by fuckin’ scientific classification. We once lived on Terra, but our genus and species doesn’t change when we move to another-” He noticed the paling colors on the edges of the Captain’s chitinous facial plates and stopped his Duckman-esque rant, “Look, nevermind. How much time do we have?”
The insectoid paused, as if surprised be the direct question. “We estimate a cycle, if our engineer’s modifications to the engines hold. Our speed has been dramatically increased, but the Jaxorian ships still gain slowly. We will eventually be within the effective range of their weapons. Please, direct us.”
-=-=-=-=-=-
After some of the greasy-spoon diner-ish coffee and the supermarket quality yeast-raised, honey-glazed donuts, the four Terrans looked and felt better. William glanced at his colleagues, noting the wear of time on their bodies. He chuckled as the slightly altered movie quote of ’It’s not the years, it’s the light-years’ ran through his mind. But they’d been together ‘asleep’ much longer than they’d been awake, and they’d spent more of their ‘awake’ lives together than apart.
Tony Scarpetti’s pudgy fingers tipped his cup almost upside down as he tried to get the last drops of the coffee and granulated sugar sludge into his mouth. His once black hair was now mostly white, and his tough physique that ran circles around them on the soccer field had shrunk a bit, though he was still stocky.
Peter Hoffman had finally gotten control of his coughing, and was munching on ‘just one more’ donut, and William once again wondered where Peter fit all the food he ate in that short, diminutive frame. His signature mohawk had been fluffed up with fingers, but lacking styling gel and a razor to clean up the stubble that had grown out in cold sleep, it ended up looking more like a peaked mound than the sharp style that Peter would have usually rocked.
Alex (AJ) Johnson’s hair had finally receded so much that his braid only held back reddish hair from behind his ears, though his scraggly beard was long enough that he could probably have braided it as well. Always tall and gangly, his frame seemed a little more gaunt than William remembered, though it had been almost a decade of cold-sleep travel since they had last seen each other.
“Hey, Doctor Exeter?”
William turned his head toward the voice, and looked at the young woman with blonde hair striding toward the table where the four sat around their coffee and donuts. Her utilitarian grey coveralls had scorch-marks and grime all over, and there was some of the same on her exposed hands and face, but bright teeth were visible in her smile.
William nodded, “You must be the plucky human engineer who got us woken up before our alarm went off, huh?”
The woman nodded, still smiling widely and, as she got over to the table, thrust out her hand toward William in the manner of one who just remembered something. “Yeah, sorry about that, Doctor. I’m Allyson, and I’m the only Terran on the ship. Besides you guys, that is.”
William took the extended hand and shook it, being a little more gentle than he usually would have been, given the way that the woman’s grip and lack of fluid motion showed that she wasn’t experienced in shaking hands as a greeting ritual. But she had looked it up, and that counted for something. “Well, us humans have to stick together, right? You sure you want us geezers to help you out? Don’t you have some flashy alien tech to get away from these crab guys?”
Allyson grinned as the handshake seemed to go correctly and shook her head, “Well, if you had been four guys who weren’t from the Space Venture, I would have let you sleep and hoped that I could come up with some way to escape, but well… you are, and well…” She looked at the men around the table, “You guys solve problems, right?”
“Troubleshoot.” AJ corrected, his voice still a little rough. “We’re Troubleshooters. So we’re likely to be able to fix problems on the ship, but not necessarily the situation. It gives us an out on some problems…”
Allyson’s brow furrowed, but before she could say anything, William offered, “But we’ll try and get you out of this alive, okay?” He looked over toward AJ, “No need to haze the newb, ‘kay?”
AJ chuckled and nodded, going for another sip of his coffee.
Allyson looked between the two old men and shook her head. Weren’t these guys the stuff of legends? Why didn’t they act like it? But they were what she had. What the whole ship had. Oh, the ship, right. “And we don’t really have any xenotech. This is an old decommissioned TA vessel, a combat freighter, so it’s kind of structurally overbuilt for a freighter. It was the TAV Thuban, but after being bought up by a Dravitian company it’s now the CCV K’gara B’rak. That translates to something like ‘Ugly Worker Beetle’.”
William raised an eyebrow, “I thought those bugs didn’t like old ships?”
Allyson grinned, “They couldn’t build a new ship to these durability specs at anywhere near the sale price. I think that it vexes the Captain to no end.”
Tony finally set his cup down on the table, finished fighting with the sludge, and looked at at the woman with a playful grin, “Likely to be really upset once we get going, then…”
William grinned as well, “Well, we’ll get there as we get there. So, is Skynet running things here?”
The engineer blinked and cocked her head a little in her confusion, “Skynet? Um…” Her words trailed off as she tried to decipher the meaning.
William sighed, “Artificial intelligence. Is there one running the ship?”
Allyson shook off her confusion, “Oh, uh, no. Of course there are still core hook-ups, but the company didn’t recruit one. There are some smart systems, but they don’t come up to AI levels.”
William nodded, slowly and resignedly. He looked at the other older men, “Okay, so I guess I’ll be spending my time hacking while you guys get to have some actual fun.” He looked back to the engineer and started to get up out of his chair, feeling the ache in his lower back. “Well, let’s get me to a terminal, and rummage up some walkies so we can keep in contact.”
-=-=-=-=-=-
William glowered at the large touchscreen that sat angled on its adjustable armature, and muttered, “What fresh hell is this operating system?”
The Dravitian Captain at the nearby navigation station on the ship’s bridge looked over, “Sir, this is the newest release of the Efficient Interface. While you are viewing it in Terran Standard, it is optimized for the Dravitian language.”
William shook his head, “So other than these cosmetic changes that I can get to in settings, where can I actually get to control configurations?”
The Captain pulled back its head in surprise, “What? You can’t change the control configurations! They are all optimized!”
William sighed and shook his head, “You jammed the ‘economy’ button down, so we can’t get to the ‘power’ button. Right…” He tapped open the program that accessed the file storage and began examining what was there.
After a few minutes of the bridge crew watching the Terran scroll and tap and curse in a low voice, William let out a exuberant, “Got you, you bastard!” On the touchscreen, a simple text box came up, indicating that it was a Root Command Shell, with a blinking block cursor.
William’s fingers flew over the virtual keyboard on the angled touchscreen, and another window bloomed on the screen. He slid it off to the side, then continued to tap and another window popped up. He slid it off to the top corner of the screen. In each of the windows, progress bars slid slowly from one side to another, character strings rolling down past the bottom of the window, the screen indicator on the scroll bar on the side getting smaller and smaller as the list grew and grew.
The Captain leaned over from its workstation and observed the workings on the Terran’s screen, “What is all that? I’ve never seen this option in the interface.”
William chuckled, still typing commands in the first window, “Oh, it’s a command line interface. They just slapped your interface over the military OS, and that still had lots of useful modules and programs in archive. I can bypass the ‘pretty’ GUI you guys use and actually get to controls.” He paused, “Holy hell! They left a media archive in here. Let’s get that unpacked right now!”
A new window popped up on the touchscreen, with another progress bar. William brought up yet another window, and worked inside it, and the progress bars started to move across their respective windows faster.
The Captain cocked its head, “Sir, I find fault in your judgement that what we need in this situation is media. The Jaxorians are not known for their imaginative capabilities.” It paused, “And I think your tasks are slowing down the computational processors, which again, I find fault with in these circumstances.”
William chuckled, “Well, sure it will seem slower. I made all my operations high priorities for the processors. And you can’t expect us to do our best work in silence. We’ll need a good jam.”
-=-=-=-=-=-
Allyson led the three older men through the hatch into the huge engineering bay where the three reactors were lined up with the longitudinal axis of the ship. Aft of those, the floor fell away beyond a safety railing, so that the bulk of the four huge engines could be accessed by a network of ladders, platforms, and gantries. Most of the floor was clear, but here and there hatches, tools, and parts lay askew on the deck, and wires and tube of various sizes and colors snaked between components in a way that belied the hasty, jury-rigged engineering tasks that had been recently undertaken. A couple of insectoid engineers were working on maintaining parts of the unstable system.
“And this is the playground,” offered Allyson as she spread her arms to indicate the whole open area. “We’ve got four Hammond LS-V-3400 ion drives backed by three of the Niagara-class fusion reactors. I’ve, uh, removed some of the safeties on the engines and tweaked the safety specs on the reactors, so we’re making just over five percent above rated maximum speed.”
Tony walked away from the others to lean against the safety railing and take in the sight of the engines.
Peter glanced around the area, then noticed the machining and fabrication tools and sauntered over to inspect them, hands tucked in his pockets and his boots scuffing the floor.
The two Dravitian technicians looked up from their work momentarily, apraising the Terrans, but staying quiet.
AJ made his way over to the reactors, and frowned as he looked at the readouts showing that the reactors were running hot, right on the edge of red-line. “Cutting these pretty fine.”
Allyson nodded as she looked over toward the tall man and started slowly walking toward him, “Um, yeah. I couldn’t figure out a good way to get more output from the engines, so I was just trying to route more power through them. These are still safe, but they’ll be burning up the plating faster than they should.”
AJ nodded and continued perusing, leaning down to look into an open hatch and seeing how one of the patched in high-energy line had been connected.
Tony continued to watch the engines and called, “Hey, Allyson, these still work with Cherenkov dispersal for additional thrust?”
Allyson quickly changed her trajectory to veer away from reactors and back toward the engines, “Uh, yeah, they do. There are controllers in there that help to make the emissions more directional.” She got to the railing and pointed at an orange ring that was visible on each engine right near the aft bulkhead. “Those big electromags help control the dispersal. I have plans and simulations on the computer if you want to see how they work.”
Tony peered in the indicated direction, then nodded and turned toward Allyson, “Yeah, get me to a terminal with some VR goggles and I’ll take a lo-” His voice cut off at the sudden sound from the engineering bay’s speakers.
A syncopated drum beat sounded over the hum of the machinery, then came an almost gravelly yell-singing voice. ”Come on, feel the noise. Girls, rock your boys. We’ll get wild, wild, wild.”
Allyson’s surprised gaze swept up to the big speakers mounted in the corners of the room by the ceiling.
Grins and smiles grew on the faces of the three older men, and they all joined in with the words as an electric guitar sawed into being and the rest of the band added their voices to the lead singer on a response answer of “Wild, wild, wild!” And then the drums picked up and the rest of the instruments kicked in, bringing the song fully into swing.
The singer continued as Peter’s hands played air-drums over a CNC machine’s working space, ”So you think I got an evil mind. I tell you, honey, I don’t know why. I don’t know why.”
Allyson had never heard the song, but the beat was compelling, and it somehow invigorated the men in a way she hadn’t expected. Just out of cold sleep, in the midst of an inevitable chase, with such limited resources, they were singing along with smiles on their faces. AJ was tapping on a reactor interface, and Peter was almost dancing as he poked about her workbench storage space, going over her tools, a screwdriver and electric ratchet stem in his hands as drumsticks for his air-drums.
The Dravitian technicians huddled in a fearful pose at the sudden noise.
Tony grinned widely at Allyson’s surprise, and said loudly over the music, “William’s got good taste for montage music… Show me that terminal.”
-=-=-=-=-=-
The Captain looked over to the Terran’s workspace which was now exhorting somebeing to ‘get wild, wild, wild’ over and over again. It seemed to have some detrimental affect on the older Terran, as its head was bobbing up and down as it continued to work with the code. The insectoid in command just had to say something. “Excuse me, sir. Are you sure that the distracting audio stimulation is beneficial for you? It does not seem to be related to your current task …”
William glanced over at the Dravitian, “Look, bug-boy, the music keeps my endorphins up, and tricks me into thinking I still have all the energy of a teenager. You’re just lucky that I know what my crew likes, and that this archive is low on industrial music.” He pauses and types intensely, then continues, “So no, it’s not related, but if you really want a chance to get away from those crab-guys, this music tips the scales in our favor, okay?”
The Captain abruptly looked back to its console. “Affirmative answer, sir.”
William nodded to himself, and cocked his head as he read something off the screen. “So, a bunch of the cargo is plasma generators for terraforming?” He looked over to the insectoid who was pointedly not looking at him. “Are those things as dangerous as they sound?”
-=-=-=-=-=-
“Hey guys!” William’s voice echoed from the big loudspeakers in the engineering bay as the song came to an end.
“Yo boss!” Peter called up toward the ceiling from the tool bench where he had accumulated a selection of choice tools.
“I got control of the control code up here. Some of it’s military code under all this glossy shit. What have you guys got back there?”
Tony stood amidst a holographic simulation of an engine, and called out, “We got some damped down ion engines. The design is like the old McPherson Mark Five, and I think I can flare ‘em up the same way. Gimme six hours or so.”
AJ looked up toward the ceiling after Tony finished, “These fusion reactors are running flat out, Bill. I’m thinking about patching up a capacitor bank so we can push things farther, or at least have some extra power when we need it. Three or four hours, depending on how easy I can find the parts.” he paused, “And I’m officially putting in a request for you to put something dance-able on your wheel of steel.”
Peter called out, “And I’m just waiting for these slackers to tell me what they need. But I’m all tooled up for just about anything they want.” He grinned playfully at the other two.
William’s chuckle came over the speaker, “Gotcha. Those sound like good projects. We get a powerful flare, we’ve got a chance to run.” He paused, “Allyson, you there too?”
Allyson, still near the holographic engine display, had been turning her head this way and that to try and follow the conversation and understand what the forming plan of the ‘troubleshooters’ was. She forced herself to call out, “Yes, Dr. Exeter.”
William’s voice came from the speakers, “Okay, Allyson, I need you to take Pete down to Cargo Bay Three and help him uncrate all of the plasma terraforming engines you can find there. Pete, I want those things sky-side against the outer wall of Bay Two and fastened in place. If we need power for them, I want you to run a line back to AJ’s source, and it will need to be vacuum sealed. We’re likely to depressurize that bay so try not to make too many unnecessary holes, okay?” He paused, “And don’t worry, that bay has some speakers too. I won’t leave you silent …”
Peter grinned and nodded, then started to load tools onto a nearby hovercart. As he worked, he called out, “On it, boss! Do they have any Ramones or Dead Kennedys or anything with more energy in that jukebox? That’s my request, Mr. DJ.”
William’s voice carried his chuckle, “I’m on it, guys. I’ll keep you updated, you guys let me know the word. Out.”
As the beats of New Order’s Blue Monday started to bounce around the engineering bay, Peter looked over at Allyson, “Hey, give me a hand with some of this. We need to bounce!”
Allyson registered the words and jogged across the bay to the hovercart, “Sorry, sir, we have to ‘bounce’?”
Peter chuckled, still pulling tools from the bench to add to the load. “We have to get moving. Can we bring that welder and thermal lance, or is there a better option?”
Allyson let out a quiet ‘oh’, then shook her head, “There’s a backpack unit that can cut and weld. Much easier to move.” She pulled open a a nearby locker.
Peter grinned, “Oh, sweet! Are there two?”
submitted by HexKm to HFY [link] [comments]
“Affirmative. But their records show that they have been in cold sleep multiple times. They should respond quickly to the resuscitation procedure.”
“But, why? Wouldn’t it be more merciful to leave them in stasis while the Jaxorians intercept us?”
“Yes, but Allyson says that these individuals are the ones who might get us out of this situation.”
“The Terran engineer? You’re trusting her?”
“In a zero-sum analysis, her suggestions have net positive outcomes.”
“Just for the record, I think this is a bad idea.” A pause. “Resuscitation sequence activated.”
“Duly noted. Alert me when they are awake.”
-=-=-=-=-=-
William Exeter hated the feeling of coming to after cold sleep. While the modern systems were better than those he first encountered, he still felt like his muscles were infused with lead and that he was suffering from a hangover that he never got the enjoyment of deserving. But hopefully this would be one of the last times he would ever have to use the procedure, and he could finally settle down.
As the capsule’s lid slid back, harsh light assaulted William’s eyes, and he squinted in an attempt to lessen the pain. The silhouette of a triangular head above him let William know that a Dravitian was checking on him. He swallowed and got his voice working so he could croak out, “I’m up, I’m up.”
“Ah, Mr. Exeter, yes? I am…” The insectoid started to come into better view to the Terran’s adjusting eyes. “Captain? Yes, Captain of this ship. I am… We all are in need of assistance.”
“Uh, what?” William’s croaking voice hid some of his annoyance. “Yeah, I’m Exeter. But if you’re going to get my help, you’re going to have to get me a Jolt. I’m still half asleep from the drugs.”
The Dravitian’s head tilted to the side in an obvious gesture of confusion, “You require an electrical discharge?”
And this was why William hated waking up among aliens. He had to explain everything to them. “A drink. ‘All the sugar and twice the caffeine.’ Bah!” He started to force his muscles into action and pushed up on his elbows, “Just get me a goddamned stimulant, okay?”
“Oh, yes. Yes. Of course!” The Dravitian’s head disappeared as the insectoid moved over to a wall-mounted workstation.
William turned his head and saw several other cold-sleep capsules with their lids open. He cleared his throat and then called out, “Venture crew, sound off...”
“Here!”
I hear you, Bill.”
From a nearby capsule there was a dry coughing, but a hand in a ‘thumbs-up’ gesture rose in response.
“Well, good, I won’t have to suffer alone.” William turned his head again and looked over the other closed capsules, “But they didn’t wake everyone, so something’s up. Try to shake this shit off and get ready, okay?”
There were murmurs of ascent and more dry coughs from the other capsules.
The Dravitian come back from the workspace and addressed William, “Stimulant beverages and some cakes are on their way, Mr. Exeter. While I know that you are still under the effects of the stasis pharmaceuticals, I do need to apprise you of our need. You know of the Jaxorians, yes?”
William’s brow furrowed, “What, those crab-guys who go around in those water-suits? Didn’t we beat them in that big war?”
The Dravitian pulled back a little, “It was a negotiated settlement, I believe, but yes, your descriptive words adequately fit the Jaxorian physiology.” He paused, “Well, the Jaxorians, and their rulers the Drasalites, are once again at war, and we are now targets. I would not have woken you , but our Terran engineer was sure that you could help.”
William frowned and shook his head, “We should have finished them once and for all when we had the chance, but we have to let the Soviets fail as Soviets, don’t we?” He sighed, “And we’re humans, dammit. Homo sapiens sapiens by fuckin’ scientific classification. We once lived on Terra, but our genus and species doesn’t change when we move to another-” He noticed the paling colors on the edges of the Captain’s chitinous facial plates and stopped his Duckman-esque rant, “Look, nevermind. How much time do we have?”
The insectoid paused, as if surprised be the direct question. “We estimate a cycle, if our engineer’s modifications to the engines hold. Our speed has been dramatically increased, but the Jaxorian ships still gain slowly. We will eventually be within the effective range of their weapons. Please, direct us.”
-=-=-=-=-=-
After some of the greasy-spoon diner-ish coffee and the supermarket quality yeast-raised, honey-glazed donuts, the four Terrans looked and felt better. William glanced at his colleagues, noting the wear of time on their bodies. He chuckled as the slightly altered movie quote of ’It’s not the years, it’s the light-years’ ran through his mind. But they’d been together ‘asleep’ much longer than they’d been awake, and they’d spent more of their ‘awake’ lives together than apart.
Tony Scarpetti’s pudgy fingers tipped his cup almost upside down as he tried to get the last drops of the coffee and granulated sugar sludge into his mouth. His once black hair was now mostly white, and his tough physique that ran circles around them on the soccer field had shrunk a bit, though he was still stocky.
Peter Hoffman had finally gotten control of his coughing, and was munching on ‘just one more’ donut, and William once again wondered where Peter fit all the food he ate in that short, diminutive frame. His signature mohawk had been fluffed up with fingers, but lacking styling gel and a razor to clean up the stubble that had grown out in cold sleep, it ended up looking more like a peaked mound than the sharp style that Peter would have usually rocked.
Alex (AJ) Johnson’s hair had finally receded so much that his braid only held back reddish hair from behind his ears, though his scraggly beard was long enough that he could probably have braided it as well. Always tall and gangly, his frame seemed a little more gaunt than William remembered, though it had been almost a decade of cold-sleep travel since they had last seen each other.
“Hey, Doctor Exeter?”
William turned his head toward the voice, and looked at the young woman with blonde hair striding toward the table where the four sat around their coffee and donuts. Her utilitarian grey coveralls had scorch-marks and grime all over, and there was some of the same on her exposed hands and face, but bright teeth were visible in her smile.
William nodded, “You must be the plucky human engineer who got us woken up before our alarm went off, huh?”
The woman nodded, still smiling widely and, as she got over to the table, thrust out her hand toward William in the manner of one who just remembered something. “Yeah, sorry about that, Doctor. I’m Allyson, and I’m the only Terran on the ship. Besides you guys, that is.”
William took the extended hand and shook it, being a little more gentle than he usually would have been, given the way that the woman’s grip and lack of fluid motion showed that she wasn’t experienced in shaking hands as a greeting ritual. But she had looked it up, and that counted for something. “Well, us humans have to stick together, right? You sure you want us geezers to help you out? Don’t you have some flashy alien tech to get away from these crab guys?”
Allyson grinned as the handshake seemed to go correctly and shook her head, “Well, if you had been four guys who weren’t from the Space Venture, I would have let you sleep and hoped that I could come up with some way to escape, but well… you are, and well…” She looked at the men around the table, “You guys solve problems, right?”
“Troubleshoot.” AJ corrected, his voice still a little rough. “We’re Troubleshooters. So we’re likely to be able to fix problems on the ship, but not necessarily the situation. It gives us an out on some problems…”
Allyson’s brow furrowed, but before she could say anything, William offered, “But we’ll try and get you out of this alive, okay?” He looked over toward AJ, “No need to haze the newb, ‘kay?”
AJ chuckled and nodded, going for another sip of his coffee.
Allyson looked between the two old men and shook her head. Weren’t these guys the stuff of legends? Why didn’t they act like it? But they were what she had. What the whole ship had. Oh, the ship, right. “And we don’t really have any xenotech. This is an old decommissioned TA vessel, a combat freighter, so it’s kind of structurally overbuilt for a freighter. It was the TAV Thuban, but after being bought up by a Dravitian company it’s now the CCV K’gara B’rak. That translates to something like ‘Ugly Worker Beetle’.”
William raised an eyebrow, “I thought those bugs didn’t like old ships?”
Allyson grinned, “They couldn’t build a new ship to these durability specs at anywhere near the sale price. I think that it vexes the Captain to no end.”
Tony finally set his cup down on the table, finished fighting with the sludge, and looked at at the woman with a playful grin, “Likely to be really upset once we get going, then…”
William grinned as well, “Well, we’ll get there as we get there. So, is Skynet running things here?”
The engineer blinked and cocked her head a little in her confusion, “Skynet? Um…” Her words trailed off as she tried to decipher the meaning.
William sighed, “Artificial intelligence. Is there one running the ship?”
Allyson shook off her confusion, “Oh, uh, no. Of course there are still core hook-ups, but the company didn’t recruit one. There are some smart systems, but they don’t come up to AI levels.”
William nodded, slowly and resignedly. He looked at the other older men, “Okay, so I guess I’ll be spending my time hacking while you guys get to have some actual fun.” He looked back to the engineer and started to get up out of his chair, feeling the ache in his lower back. “Well, let’s get me to a terminal, and rummage up some walkies so we can keep in contact.”
-=-=-=-=-=-
William glowered at the large touchscreen that sat angled on its adjustable armature, and muttered, “What fresh hell is this operating system?”
The Dravitian Captain at the nearby navigation station on the ship’s bridge looked over, “Sir, this is the newest release of the Efficient Interface. While you are viewing it in Terran Standard, it is optimized for the Dravitian language.”
William shook his head, “So other than these cosmetic changes that I can get to in settings, where can I actually get to control configurations?”
The Captain pulled back its head in surprise, “What? You can’t change the control configurations! They are all optimized!”
William sighed and shook his head, “You jammed the ‘economy’ button down, so we can’t get to the ‘power’ button. Right…” He tapped open the program that accessed the file storage and began examining what was there.
After a few minutes of the bridge crew watching the Terran scroll and tap and curse in a low voice, William let out a exuberant, “Got you, you bastard!” On the touchscreen, a simple text box came up, indicating that it was a Root Command Shell, with a blinking block cursor.
William’s fingers flew over the virtual keyboard on the angled touchscreen, and another window bloomed on the screen. He slid it off to the side, then continued to tap and another window popped up. He slid it off to the top corner of the screen. In each of the windows, progress bars slid slowly from one side to another, character strings rolling down past the bottom of the window, the screen indicator on the scroll bar on the side getting smaller and smaller as the list grew and grew.
The Captain leaned over from its workstation and observed the workings on the Terran’s screen, “What is all that? I’ve never seen this option in the interface.”
William chuckled, still typing commands in the first window, “Oh, it’s a command line interface. They just slapped your interface over the military OS, and that still had lots of useful modules and programs in archive. I can bypass the ‘pretty’ GUI you guys use and actually get to controls.” He paused, “Holy hell! They left a media archive in here. Let’s get that unpacked right now!”
A new window popped up on the touchscreen, with another progress bar. William brought up yet another window, and worked inside it, and the progress bars started to move across their respective windows faster.
The Captain cocked its head, “Sir, I find fault in your judgement that what we need in this situation is media. The Jaxorians are not known for their imaginative capabilities.” It paused, “And I think your tasks are slowing down the computational processors, which again, I find fault with in these circumstances.”
William chuckled, “Well, sure it will seem slower. I made all my operations high priorities for the processors. And you can’t expect us to do our best work in silence. We’ll need a good jam.”
-=-=-=-=-=-
Allyson led the three older men through the hatch into the huge engineering bay where the three reactors were lined up with the longitudinal axis of the ship. Aft of those, the floor fell away beyond a safety railing, so that the bulk of the four huge engines could be accessed by a network of ladders, platforms, and gantries. Most of the floor was clear, but here and there hatches, tools, and parts lay askew on the deck, and wires and tube of various sizes and colors snaked between components in a way that belied the hasty, jury-rigged engineering tasks that had been recently undertaken. A couple of insectoid engineers were working on maintaining parts of the unstable system.
“And this is the playground,” offered Allyson as she spread her arms to indicate the whole open area. “We’ve got four Hammond LS-V-3400 ion drives backed by three of the Niagara-class fusion reactors. I’ve, uh, removed some of the safeties on the engines and tweaked the safety specs on the reactors, so we’re making just over five percent above rated maximum speed.”
Tony walked away from the others to lean against the safety railing and take in the sight of the engines.
Peter glanced around the area, then noticed the machining and fabrication tools and sauntered over to inspect them, hands tucked in his pockets and his boots scuffing the floor.
The two Dravitian technicians looked up from their work momentarily, apraising the Terrans, but staying quiet.
AJ made his way over to the reactors, and frowned as he looked at the readouts showing that the reactors were running hot, right on the edge of red-line. “Cutting these pretty fine.”
Allyson nodded as she looked over toward the tall man and started slowly walking toward him, “Um, yeah. I couldn’t figure out a good way to get more output from the engines, so I was just trying to route more power through them. These are still safe, but they’ll be burning up the plating faster than they should.”
AJ nodded and continued perusing, leaning down to look into an open hatch and seeing how one of the patched in high-energy line had been connected.
Tony continued to watch the engines and called, “Hey, Allyson, these still work with Cherenkov dispersal for additional thrust?”
Allyson quickly changed her trajectory to veer away from reactors and back toward the engines, “Uh, yeah, they do. There are controllers in there that help to make the emissions more directional.” She got to the railing and pointed at an orange ring that was visible on each engine right near the aft bulkhead. “Those big electromags help control the dispersal. I have plans and simulations on the computer if you want to see how they work.”
Tony peered in the indicated direction, then nodded and turned toward Allyson, “Yeah, get me to a terminal with some VR goggles and I’ll take a lo-” His voice cut off at the sudden sound from the engineering bay’s speakers.
A syncopated drum beat sounded over the hum of the machinery, then came an almost gravelly yell-singing voice. ”Come on, feel the noise. Girls, rock your boys. We’ll get wild, wild, wild.”
Allyson’s surprised gaze swept up to the big speakers mounted in the corners of the room by the ceiling.
Grins and smiles grew on the faces of the three older men, and they all joined in with the words as an electric guitar sawed into being and the rest of the band added their voices to the lead singer on a response answer of “Wild, wild, wild!” And then the drums picked up and the rest of the instruments kicked in, bringing the song fully into swing.
The singer continued as Peter’s hands played air-drums over a CNC machine’s working space, ”So you think I got an evil mind. I tell you, honey, I don’t know why. I don’t know why.”
Allyson had never heard the song, but the beat was compelling, and it somehow invigorated the men in a way she hadn’t expected. Just out of cold sleep, in the midst of an inevitable chase, with such limited resources, they were singing along with smiles on their faces. AJ was tapping on a reactor interface, and Peter was almost dancing as he poked about her workbench storage space, going over her tools, a screwdriver and electric ratchet stem in his hands as drumsticks for his air-drums.
The Dravitian technicians huddled in a fearful pose at the sudden noise.
Tony grinned widely at Allyson’s surprise, and said loudly over the music, “William’s got good taste for montage music… Show me that terminal.”
-=-=-=-=-=-
The Captain looked over to the Terran’s workspace which was now exhorting somebeing to ‘get wild, wild, wild’ over and over again. It seemed to have some detrimental affect on the older Terran, as its head was bobbing up and down as it continued to work with the code. The insectoid in command just had to say something. “Excuse me, sir. Are you sure that the distracting audio stimulation is beneficial for you? It does not seem to be related to your current task …”
William glanced over at the Dravitian, “Look, bug-boy, the music keeps my endorphins up, and tricks me into thinking I still have all the energy of a teenager. You’re just lucky that I know what my crew likes, and that this archive is low on industrial music.” He pauses and types intensely, then continues, “So no, it’s not related, but if you really want a chance to get away from those crab-guys, this music tips the scales in our favor, okay?”
The Captain abruptly looked back to its console. “Affirmative answer, sir.”
William nodded to himself, and cocked his head as he read something off the screen. “So, a bunch of the cargo is plasma generators for terraforming?” He looked over to the insectoid who was pointedly not looking at him. “Are those things as dangerous as they sound?”
-=-=-=-=-=-
“Hey guys!” William’s voice echoed from the big loudspeakers in the engineering bay as the song came to an end.
“Yo boss!” Peter called up toward the ceiling from the tool bench where he had accumulated a selection of choice tools.
“I got control of the control code up here. Some of it’s military code under all this glossy shit. What have you guys got back there?”
Tony stood amidst a holographic simulation of an engine, and called out, “We got some damped down ion engines. The design is like the old McPherson Mark Five, and I think I can flare ‘em up the same way. Gimme six hours or so.”
AJ looked up toward the ceiling after Tony finished, “These fusion reactors are running flat out, Bill. I’m thinking about patching up a capacitor bank so we can push things farther, or at least have some extra power when we need it. Three or four hours, depending on how easy I can find the parts.” he paused, “And I’m officially putting in a request for you to put something dance-able on your wheel of steel.”
Peter called out, “And I’m just waiting for these slackers to tell me what they need. But I’m all tooled up for just about anything they want.” He grinned playfully at the other two.
William’s chuckle came over the speaker, “Gotcha. Those sound like good projects. We get a powerful flare, we’ve got a chance to run.” He paused, “Allyson, you there too?”
Allyson, still near the holographic engine display, had been turning her head this way and that to try and follow the conversation and understand what the forming plan of the ‘troubleshooters’ was. She forced herself to call out, “Yes, Dr. Exeter.”
William’s voice came from the speakers, “Okay, Allyson, I need you to take Pete down to Cargo Bay Three and help him uncrate all of the plasma terraforming engines you can find there. Pete, I want those things sky-side against the outer wall of Bay Two and fastened in place. If we need power for them, I want you to run a line back to AJ’s source, and it will need to be vacuum sealed. We’re likely to depressurize that bay so try not to make too many unnecessary holes, okay?” He paused, “And don’t worry, that bay has some speakers too. I won’t leave you silent …”
Peter grinned and nodded, then started to load tools onto a nearby hovercart. As he worked, he called out, “On it, boss! Do they have any Ramones or Dead Kennedys or anything with more energy in that jukebox? That’s my request, Mr. DJ.”
William’s voice carried his chuckle, “I’m on it, guys. I’ll keep you updated, you guys let me know the word. Out.”
As the beats of New Order’s Blue Monday started to bounce around the engineering bay, Peter looked over at Allyson, “Hey, give me a hand with some of this. We need to bounce!”
Allyson registered the words and jogged across the bay to the hovercart, “Sorry, sir, we have to ‘bounce’?”
Peter chuckled, still pulling tools from the bench to add to the load. “We have to get moving. Can we bring that welder and thermal lance, or is there a better option?”
Allyson let out a quiet ‘oh’, then shook her head, “There’s a backpack unit that can cut and weld. Much easier to move.” She pulled open a a nearby locker.
Peter grinned, “Oh, sweet! Are there two?”
2024.06.07 21:32 WildVirtue I think the Unabomber's feelings of sadness about hunting reflect an existential crisis many meat eaters grapple with, what do peeps here think?
I tried using this idea as a launch pad for discussion in various vegan debate sub-reddits. But, I'd also just be curious if most vegans agree, and if there's anything people would like to add, like other interesting reading that comes to mind.
Many meat eaters grapple with reaching for weak justifications for their meat eating such as appeals to nature and struggle with even putting these weak justifications into words.
I think Ted was a famous example of a person on the extreme end of this spectrum of stubbornly simply getting his views on what is right and wrong from a descriptive reality of how less intelligent animals kill each other to survive, so his attempts at logic are interesting to compare and contrast to many meat eaters arguments, similarly his emotional existential grappling with not being able to come up with a coherent argument whilst intuitively feeling sad about the actions he was taking is also interesting to compare and contrast.
Quoting from one of Ted Kaczynski's (the Unabomber's) journals:
For me, I think yes it is a good thing, I feel sad partly because I relate to hunter-gatherers as people who could be offered lessons in how to grow enough diversity of vegan food at their own desired level of technology such that they would not need to hunt. I also hope one day some people might be motivated to do that for them in a responsible way that only improves their quality of life.
I understand a meat eater might feel sad for many reasons also, even if for example it's just because we have higher level technology today such that we can potentially kill some animals faster today with less pain and less stress. But even though we have the means to blow up an animals head with exploding bullets without the animal ever seeing it coming doesn't mean we always use such methods, nor do I think it would justify cutting short the animal's interest to live.
I find some nihilists & primitivists like Ted's response to this question the most fascinating, they wish they could have been born into a world in which no one experienced sadness about killing animals, but this just feels like desiring a black and white world because it would help them make sense of their place in the universe.
Maybe they fear that if they said yes its good some people feel sad, that the only other track society would be left to go down is exterminating all carnivores and building robot carnivore imitations for entertainment.
However, I think there is a middle ground in simply relating to ourselves as an omnivore species who are intelligent enough to one day desire to build a global vegan social contract. Where among each other we decide that we generally wouldn't like to encourage in any of our fellow humans the act of breeding and killing other sentient animals. For reasons of; 'it has the strongly likely outcome of damaging to an unacceptable degree many people's ability to be compassionate with one another'. So, not an indictment on the subsistence hunter-gatherers and non-human animals who hunt to survive, but an aspirational future goal for humans.
Finally, here is the long meandering letter by Ted I mentioned for anyone curious:
submitted by WildVirtue to Veganism [link] [comments]
Many meat eaters grapple with reaching for weak justifications for their meat eating such as appeals to nature and struggle with even putting these weak justifications into words.
I think Ted was a famous example of a person on the extreme end of this spectrum of stubbornly simply getting his views on what is right and wrong from a descriptive reality of how less intelligent animals kill each other to survive, so his attempts at logic are interesting to compare and contrast to many meat eaters arguments, similarly his emotional existential grappling with not being able to come up with a coherent argument whilst intuitively feeling sad about the actions he was taking is also interesting to compare and contrast.
Quoting from one of Ted Kaczynski's (the Unabomber's) journals:
Lately, to tell the truth, I’ve been getting a little sick of killing things. Neither the death struggles of the animal nor the blood bother me in the least; in fact, I rather enjoy the sight of blood; blood is appetizing because it makes rich soups. I enjoy the instant of the kill because it represents a success. But a moment afterward I often feel saddened that a thing so beautiful and full of life has suddenly been converted into just a piece of meat. Still, this is outweighed by the satisfaction of getting my food from the forest and mountain. Rabbits and grouse have beautiful eye; in both cases the whites don’t show and the iris’s are a lovely brown. And this grouse today I noticed that the pupil, black at first glance, is actually a deep blue, like clear, translucent blue glass.Also, in a letter to his brother, Ted wrestled with the question of; 'is it a good thing that some people feel sad about the animals killed painfully by hunter-gatherers?'
For me, I think yes it is a good thing, I feel sad partly because I relate to hunter-gatherers as people who could be offered lessons in how to grow enough diversity of vegan food at their own desired level of technology such that they would not need to hunt. I also hope one day some people might be motivated to do that for them in a responsible way that only improves their quality of life.
I understand a meat eater might feel sad for many reasons also, even if for example it's just because we have higher level technology today such that we can potentially kill some animals faster today with less pain and less stress. But even though we have the means to blow up an animals head with exploding bullets without the animal ever seeing it coming doesn't mean we always use such methods, nor do I think it would justify cutting short the animal's interest to live.
I find some nihilists & primitivists like Ted's response to this question the most fascinating, they wish they could have been born into a world in which no one experienced sadness about killing animals, but this just feels like desiring a black and white world because it would help them make sense of their place in the universe.
Maybe they fear that if they said yes its good some people feel sad, that the only other track society would be left to go down is exterminating all carnivores and building robot carnivore imitations for entertainment.
However, I think there is a middle ground in simply relating to ourselves as an omnivore species who are intelligent enough to one day desire to build a global vegan social contract. Where among each other we decide that we generally wouldn't like to encourage in any of our fellow humans the act of breeding and killing other sentient animals. For reasons of; 'it has the strongly likely outcome of damaging to an unacceptable degree many people's ability to be compassionate with one another'. So, not an indictment on the subsistence hunter-gatherers and non-human animals who hunt to survive, but an aspirational future goal for humans.
Finally, here is the long meandering letter by Ted I mentioned for anyone curious:
I doubt that the pigmies have any guilt, conscious or otherwise, about killing animals. Guilt is a conflict between what we’re trained not to do and impulses that lead us to do it anyway. Apparently there is nothing in pygmy culture that leads them not to kill or inflict pain on animals. What the pygmies love and celebrate is their way of life, and they see no conflict between that and killing for meat; in fact, the hunting is an essential part of their way of life — they gotta eat. We tend to see a conflict there because we come from a world where there is a gross excess of people who even apart from hunting destroy the material world through their very presence in such numbers. But to the pygmies — until very recently anyway — there’s been no need for “conservation”. The forest is full of animals; with the pygmies primitive weapons and sparse population the question of exterminating the game never arises. The pygmies problem is to fill his belly. The civilized man can afford to feel sorry for wild animals because he can take his food for granted. Some psychologists claim that man is attracted to “death” as they call it. Certainly young men are attracted to action, violence, aggression, and that sort of thing. Note the amount of make-believe violence in the entertainment media — in spite of the fact that in our culture that sort of thing is considered bad and unwholesome and so forth. Since man has been a hunter for the last million years, it is possible that, like other predatory animals, he has some kind of a “killer instinct”. It would thus seem that the pygmies are just acting like perfectly good predatory animals. Why should they feel sorry for their prey any more than a hawk, a fox, or a leopard does? On the other hand, when a modern “sport” goes out with a high-powered rifle, you have a different situation. Some obvious differences are: much less skill is required with a rifle than with primitive weapons; the “sport” does it fun, not because he needs the meat; he is in a world where there are too many people and not enough wildlife, and a rifle makes it too easy to kill too many animals. Of course, the fish and game dept. will see to it that the animals don’t get exterminated, but this entails “wildlife management” — manipulation of nature which to me is even worse than extermination. Beyond that, while the pygmy lives in the wilderness and belongs to it, the “sport” is an alien intruder whose presence is a kind of desecration. In a sense, the sport hunter is a masturbator: His hunting is not the “real thing” — it’s not what hunting is for a primitive man — he is trying to satisfy an instinct in a debased and sordid way, just like when you rub your prick to crudely simulate what you really want, which is a love affair with a woman. Of course there’s nothing wrong with jagging off to relieve yourself when you get horny — it’s harmless. But — even apart from the question of depletion of wildlife — the presence of “sports” in the wilderness tends to spoil it for those who know better how to appreciate nature.
2024.06.07 21:32 Laffytaffytitties How to handle toxic mother
Sorry for the rant but I need advice. I (27F) have had a pretty strained relationship with my mother most of my childhood. My mom was chronically stressed and depressed and was/is a workaholic. She belittled my sisters and I, called us names, and was pretty emotionally cold and absent from the time her and my bio father divorced when I was roughly 5. Before then I don’t remember much, but I do remember by father being the abusive one and my mother being a reasonably comfortable presence. My teenage years were destructive and I had very little self worth and that was compounded by my mom calling me chubby, stupid, a disappointment, and a slut on numerous occasions and having more responsibility than I should have in helping with my siblings. She was also physically abusive on occasion, one time I recall in particular towards my baby sister who was 2 at the time. I left for the military right out of high school. During this time my relationship with my mom was the best it had ever been and continued to be pretty good until I had my daughter a few years ago. My mother was very involved with my nephews and kept them overnight regularly when they were little so my mom kind of assumed it would be the same with my daughter. Seeing as my mother is still a workaholic and chronically stressed and a yeller and name caller, I don’t feel comfortable with my daughter staying at her house overnight or really for any period of time without me. I have expressed to my mother on numerous occasions that I don’t want my daughter around other kids when her dad or I cannot be there, particularly her older male cousins who have exhibited violent and inappropriate behavior towards animals and each other. The time that my mom has babysat for an hour so that I can build trust in her, my child came back with a burn mark on her forehead that my mother couldn’t really explain leading me to believe she wasn’t properly supervised. My mother has also tried to sneak time with all three grandchildren knowing that is against my wishes as a parent but said she didn’t know I don’t allow my daughter to spend time with the boys unsupervised even though I have expressed it several times. On the other hand I have a wonderful support system with my husbands family. They have their little squabbles but are respectful to one another and more importantly, they respect our choices as parents. We allow our daughter to stay over night with them almost every weekend and she absolutely loves it. Obviously this makes my mother bitter and resentful and at this point she makes no effort to have a relationship with me. Whenever she comes by my house she stops in and really only speaks to my daughter. My mother has changed quite a bit in that she’s not quite as angry as she was in my childhood but she is a shit stirrer. She uses her kids as therapists and complains about how my mistrust of her is making her depressed to everyone but me. My whole family treats me like I’m being cruel to her and I’m being unfair and depriving her or a relationship with her granddaughter. I have spoken to her about why but there has been no effort on her part to make a change so that I can start to trust her. She was a pretty crappy mom, she’s a better grandma but still has lost her shit on my nephews in the last year, admitting herself that she got explosive. I’m trying so hard to break these patterns in my parenting and be loving, attentive, and supportive of my baby girl because she deserves so much better than what I got. I’m just trying to protect her. I don’t know what to do other than distance myself entirely and move away again. Anyone in a similar situation, how did you handle it? Do I just stop trying all together? Do I try to give my mother the opportunity to redeem herself? Any advice appreciated
TL;DR my mother has made my whole family see me as a villain because I don’t let her have time with my daughter unsupervised due to her abusive history and disregard for my boundaries
submitted by Laffytaffytitties to family [link] [comments]
TL;DR my mother has made my whole family see me as a villain because I don’t let her have time with my daughter unsupervised due to her abusive history and disregard for my boundaries
2024.06.07 21:28 bluegemini7 In response to the person who asked about Barthandelus' motives in the first game, here is an overview of the history of the fal'cie, their plans, and the events of Final Fantasy XIII
Someone asked for an explanation of Barthandelus' motives in Final Fantasy XIII, and I wrote out an explanation but reddit will NOT let me post it as a comment, presumably because it's too long, so I'm posting it here. Use this is a refresher if you're feeling confused or lost after playing Final Fantasy XIII or need to be caught up on the somewhat convoluted lore.
Big spoilers for Final Fantasy XIII and a little bit of XIII-2 and Lightning Returns as well.
~~~~~
When the being that the fal'Cie call "The Maker" created the world, Gran Pulse, they created fal'Cie and humans both. The actual mechanisms by which that happens isn't explained in the first game but the important thing is that the Gods created fal'Cie and humans. It's important to remember that the Maker themself is NOT a fal'Cie, they're just the deities who created them, along with humans. Etro, Pulse, Lindzei, Bhunivelze, they're their own race of being simply called "gods." It is never clear who "The Maker" actually is: we know that Bhunivelze is the ACTUAL maker of Pulse, Lindzei, and Etro, but within the universe of the game, the developers have said that depending on the fal'cie who's talking, they either mean Pulse or Lindzei depending on where their loyalties lie. But don't get hung up on that: the Maker is the Maker, it doesn't actually matter which of the gods the particular fal'cie speaking is referring to, they all reside in the same place anyway, which is outside of this current realm.
Gran Pulse was the home of all living things, human, fal'cie, wild animals, etc. At some point, a contingent of fal'cie came together to create Cocoon, by ripping up massive chunks of the land and creating the floating sphere, and claimed they did so with the help of the goddess Lindzei, and began to tempt humans to join this floating paradise where they would be cared for and protected by the fal'Cie who served her there. The people of the world who worshipped the god Pulse saw this as heretical, and believed Cocoon to be a nest of vipers, and they went to war, the Pulse fal'Cie and their many l'cie fighting against Cocoon's fal'Cie who served Lindzei and had rebelled against their maker. This is the War of Transgression, so called because the Pulsians viewed the creation of cocoon as a "transgression" against their god Pulse. It is unclear if Pulse and Lindzei were DIRECTLY involved in this war, as it's implied that they, along with all the other gods, vanished long before civilization sprang up.
The reasoning behind all this was a lie: all fal'Cie, both Pulse and Cocoon fal'Cie, were working together. They never actually cared about which gods side anyone was on, or what humans worshipped, because humans were just animals to them, tools that they could use as l'cie to carry out their will. They invented the whole ruse about cocoon as a method of gathering human souls in one place. All the fal'Cie desperately missed their creators, the gods themselves, and wanted to find them, be reunited with them, but they had left this realm / dimension entirely, and gone on toward the "Unseen Realm," which is essentially what waits on the other side of death. Whenever a person does, their spirit passes through a doorway into the Unseen Realm, into Valhalla, where the goddess Etro places their soul inside of a new body in the mortal realm, and they're reborn. The fal'Cie reasoned that if they created a giant floating world, filled it with millions upon millions of humans, then they could bring the whole thing crashing down and kill all those humans at once, which would cause the gate to the unseen realm to open wide to accept the influx of souls traveling through from the mortal realm, and THIS would be the fal'Cie's chance to reach through the portal and call out to and reunite with the gods: Bhunovelze, Pulse, Lindzei, it didn't matter, they just wanted to be reunited with their creators.
As Barthandelus explains, fal'Cie are limited in what they're able to do individually. Some fal'Cie like Atomos dig and dig, excavating the land searching for Pulse, or some remnant of him. Some fal'Cie like Bismarck maintain water and aquatic life, some like Carbuncle generate food and electricity. So, fal'Cie take humans as their l'cie subjects because humans have free will and can do anything, especially when gifted with a fal'cies power. That's why they use humans as tools. In the War of Transgression, the Pulse fal'cie Anima (under orders from the Cocoon fal'cie Barthandelus) chose Vanille and Fang as their l'cie, and gave them the focus of destroying cocoon by transforming into the beast Ragnarok. It's important to remember Anima did this conspiring WITH the cocoon fal'cie, they weren't ever ACTUALLY on opposing sides, they just had the humans warring with each other to make them more easy to conscript and use as tools, because humans have free will and have to be manipulated to do a fal'cies bidding. Fang was ready to destroy cocoon if it would bring an end to the war and protect the people she loved, but Vanille couldn't bear the guilt of murdering billions of people, and she essentially chickened out, she refused to turn into Ragnarok, so Fang became Ragnarok herself - an incomplete, underpowered version of Ragnarok that was incapable of fully destroying Cocoon, just making a big dent in the side. The details of this get confusing in the game because Vanille is so consumed by guilt that she's lying through her teeth about what happened, and since Fang has lost her memory she lies to Fang and says that SHE (Vanille) was the one who scarred cocoon, when in fact it was the other way around. Fang does eventually figure out that this is a lie and calls her out on it, during the scene right before Vanille gets her Eidolon, Hecatonchier.
The fal'cies initial plan was to have Ragnarok destroy cocoon, and by bringing it down to the ground they would murder not only the billions of humans living inside cocoon but all of the humans down on the ground too, exterminating all the humans at once and ripping open a massive door into the unseen realm through which they could cross to reunite with their Maker. But the plan failed, because Vanille refused - even when put under dire circumstances, l'cie still have free will, and they can be compelled, but never outright FORCED, to do anything they refuse to do. So, Anima took the now exhausted Fang and the unwilling-but-somehow-still-mysteriously-crystallized Vanille (more on that later), stored them within the vestige, and conspired with Barthandelus to have the vestige pulled up from pulse during the post-war rebuilding efforts when the cocoon fal'cie were scooping up land from Gran Pulse to fix the exterior shell that had been battered.
Their first plan having failed, the fal'Cie waited until 500 years later (the exact reason they waited this long isn't clear, presumably it was so Barthandelus could quell people's fears long enough to get them back into a state of complacency where they were easier to control), and then when the time they've chosen comes, Barthendlus tells Anima to awaken Vanille and Fang to continue their focus to destroy cocoon, leading to the series of events we see in the game that causes the Purge, which is itself a means of both stoking terror in the people of cocoon and making them more willing to go to war against themselves and cause more mass death, and a means to gather new l'cie to do their bidding. Anima brands Serah a l'cie and tasks her with the focus of gathering more l'cie candidates who can become Ragnarok and destroy cocoon from within, which is why she turns to crystal when Lightning and the gang show up, her focus was completed.
Barthendelus failed in his first attempt to have Ragnarok (in the form of Fang) destroy cocoon from the outside, so his new plan is to destroy cocoon from within, by goading the l'cie into killing him so he can merge with Orphan, who is the heart of cocoon, and then compel the l'cie to kill Orphan. The reason Barthandelus went to the trouble of the Purge and stoking fear and outrage amongst the populace of Cocoon was to make them all so paranoid and ready to kill one another that he could plant information leading humans (in this case, the Cavalry) to destroy Orphan themselves, even though only a l'cie has the power to do so, but not knowing that, Lightning and the others will be forced to follow them there and end up killing Orphan when they realize they were too late to save the humans. Ultimately the group DOES kill Barthandelus, for their own stated reasons, which yes is very confusing since they seemingly know what will happen when they do, but they go through with it anyway, hoping that they will find some way against all odds to save cocoon, and rid the world of Barthandelus and his scheming, to prevent anything like this from happening again in the future. When Orphan dies, all of cocoons power goes out because all the cocoon fal'cie go dormant, and cocoon begins to plummet to the ground, ultimately saved by Vanille and Fang who finally do transform into Ragnarok but use that immense power to create a crystal pillar from the fires of the volcanoes within Pulse and the mass snowflake crystal shards scattered across Pulse from where the first shell was battered. Because of this action, both cocoon and Gran Pulse are saved, and the fal'cie have failed irrevocably at their goal of using billions of humans as a death sacrifice to open up the gate to the unseen realm, and they all go dormant.
The last piece of all this is the meddling of the goddess Etro, who intervened at several key points in events out of love and compassion for humans. When Vanille refused to transform into Ragnarok, Etro placed Vanille into crystal stasis so that she could not be compelled to complete her focus, which is why Fang ultimately had to do it alone, and was unsuccessful. This is also presumably why Fang's brand is "burned out," because she had already completed her focus, which was to become Ragnarok and at least try to destroy Cocoon. Etro intervenes again at the end of the game by sparing Lightning's party along with Serah and Dajh from their fate as l'cie crystals, but in doing so she screwed up the timeline, causing the massive splintering of events that leads to Noel's catastrophic future, the creation of paradoxes, and the ultimate method by which Caius will later manipulate events for his own ends.
There are still many unanswered questions. Why did Barthandelus need to go through the extra steps of fusing with Orphan in order to be killed? What actually happened to the humans of Pulse, who appear to have all been wiped out sometime between the war of transgression and now, leaving only fragmentary clues behind? Did the fal'cie always intend to die at the same time as the humans in order to pass through the gate themselves? Did any of the gods ever hear their pleas? Why did they all settle on such a convoluted plot rather than just creating l'cie of immense power and ordering them to murder each other? Why the added centuries of manipulation instead of something more direct? Ultimately, we're left with more questions than answers.
Everything to do with orphan is vague and abstract and never properly explained, and even the method by which Lightning and crew come back from being transformed into cie'th is never specified, unless that too is another intervention from the goddess Etro, taking pity on them and giving them another chance. As for the fal'cie themselves, no fal'cie ever directly interacts with humans again except for Cactuar, who makes a bond with Snow between the events of the first and second game and gives him the focus of protecting humanity. Way off in the third game, there is one single fal'cie still active and creating energy for the people of Snow's city, but apart from them we see a dormant (but still alive) Atomos resting forever in the sands, and the pieces of Titan strewn about from some unknown battle in which he was presumably destroyed.
So, in the end, there is an explanation, but it's an incredibly complicated one that is not very well told within the game. Even with all the datalog information it's incredibly hard to piece together, as are many characters motivations and histories. But I hoped this has helped to make it slightly less oblique.
submitted by bluegemini7 to finalfantasyxiii [link] [comments]
Big spoilers for Final Fantasy XIII and a little bit of XIII-2 and Lightning Returns as well.
~~~~~
When the being that the fal'Cie call "The Maker" created the world, Gran Pulse, they created fal'Cie and humans both. The actual mechanisms by which that happens isn't explained in the first game but the important thing is that the Gods created fal'Cie and humans. It's important to remember that the Maker themself is NOT a fal'Cie, they're just the deities who created them, along with humans. Etro, Pulse, Lindzei, Bhunivelze, they're their own race of being simply called "gods." It is never clear who "The Maker" actually is: we know that Bhunivelze is the ACTUAL maker of Pulse, Lindzei, and Etro, but within the universe of the game, the developers have said that depending on the fal'cie who's talking, they either mean Pulse or Lindzei depending on where their loyalties lie. But don't get hung up on that: the Maker is the Maker, it doesn't actually matter which of the gods the particular fal'cie speaking is referring to, they all reside in the same place anyway, which is outside of this current realm.
Gran Pulse was the home of all living things, human, fal'cie, wild animals, etc. At some point, a contingent of fal'cie came together to create Cocoon, by ripping up massive chunks of the land and creating the floating sphere, and claimed they did so with the help of the goddess Lindzei, and began to tempt humans to join this floating paradise where they would be cared for and protected by the fal'Cie who served her there. The people of the world who worshipped the god Pulse saw this as heretical, and believed Cocoon to be a nest of vipers, and they went to war, the Pulse fal'Cie and their many l'cie fighting against Cocoon's fal'Cie who served Lindzei and had rebelled against their maker. This is the War of Transgression, so called because the Pulsians viewed the creation of cocoon as a "transgression" against their god Pulse. It is unclear if Pulse and Lindzei were DIRECTLY involved in this war, as it's implied that they, along with all the other gods, vanished long before civilization sprang up.
The reasoning behind all this was a lie: all fal'Cie, both Pulse and Cocoon fal'Cie, were working together. They never actually cared about which gods side anyone was on, or what humans worshipped, because humans were just animals to them, tools that they could use as l'cie to carry out their will. They invented the whole ruse about cocoon as a method of gathering human souls in one place. All the fal'Cie desperately missed their creators, the gods themselves, and wanted to find them, be reunited with them, but they had left this realm / dimension entirely, and gone on toward the "Unseen Realm," which is essentially what waits on the other side of death. Whenever a person does, their spirit passes through a doorway into the Unseen Realm, into Valhalla, where the goddess Etro places their soul inside of a new body in the mortal realm, and they're reborn. The fal'Cie reasoned that if they created a giant floating world, filled it with millions upon millions of humans, then they could bring the whole thing crashing down and kill all those humans at once, which would cause the gate to the unseen realm to open wide to accept the influx of souls traveling through from the mortal realm, and THIS would be the fal'Cie's chance to reach through the portal and call out to and reunite with the gods: Bhunovelze, Pulse, Lindzei, it didn't matter, they just wanted to be reunited with their creators.
As Barthandelus explains, fal'Cie are limited in what they're able to do individually. Some fal'Cie like Atomos dig and dig, excavating the land searching for Pulse, or some remnant of him. Some fal'Cie like Bismarck maintain water and aquatic life, some like Carbuncle generate food and electricity. So, fal'Cie take humans as their l'cie subjects because humans have free will and can do anything, especially when gifted with a fal'cies power. That's why they use humans as tools. In the War of Transgression, the Pulse fal'cie Anima (under orders from the Cocoon fal'cie Barthandelus) chose Vanille and Fang as their l'cie, and gave them the focus of destroying cocoon by transforming into the beast Ragnarok. It's important to remember Anima did this conspiring WITH the cocoon fal'cie, they weren't ever ACTUALLY on opposing sides, they just had the humans warring with each other to make them more easy to conscript and use as tools, because humans have free will and have to be manipulated to do a fal'cies bidding. Fang was ready to destroy cocoon if it would bring an end to the war and protect the people she loved, but Vanille couldn't bear the guilt of murdering billions of people, and she essentially chickened out, she refused to turn into Ragnarok, so Fang became Ragnarok herself - an incomplete, underpowered version of Ragnarok that was incapable of fully destroying Cocoon, just making a big dent in the side. The details of this get confusing in the game because Vanille is so consumed by guilt that she's lying through her teeth about what happened, and since Fang has lost her memory she lies to Fang and says that SHE (Vanille) was the one who scarred cocoon, when in fact it was the other way around. Fang does eventually figure out that this is a lie and calls her out on it, during the scene right before Vanille gets her Eidolon, Hecatonchier.
The fal'cies initial plan was to have Ragnarok destroy cocoon, and by bringing it down to the ground they would murder not only the billions of humans living inside cocoon but all of the humans down on the ground too, exterminating all the humans at once and ripping open a massive door into the unseen realm through which they could cross to reunite with their Maker. But the plan failed, because Vanille refused - even when put under dire circumstances, l'cie still have free will, and they can be compelled, but never outright FORCED, to do anything they refuse to do. So, Anima took the now exhausted Fang and the unwilling-but-somehow-still-mysteriously-crystallized Vanille (more on that later), stored them within the vestige, and conspired with Barthandelus to have the vestige pulled up from pulse during the post-war rebuilding efforts when the cocoon fal'cie were scooping up land from Gran Pulse to fix the exterior shell that had been battered.
Their first plan having failed, the fal'Cie waited until 500 years later (the exact reason they waited this long isn't clear, presumably it was so Barthandelus could quell people's fears long enough to get them back into a state of complacency where they were easier to control), and then when the time they've chosen comes, Barthendlus tells Anima to awaken Vanille and Fang to continue their focus to destroy cocoon, leading to the series of events we see in the game that causes the Purge, which is itself a means of both stoking terror in the people of cocoon and making them more willing to go to war against themselves and cause more mass death, and a means to gather new l'cie to do their bidding. Anima brands Serah a l'cie and tasks her with the focus of gathering more l'cie candidates who can become Ragnarok and destroy cocoon from within, which is why she turns to crystal when Lightning and the gang show up, her focus was completed.
Barthendelus failed in his first attempt to have Ragnarok (in the form of Fang) destroy cocoon from the outside, so his new plan is to destroy cocoon from within, by goading the l'cie into killing him so he can merge with Orphan, who is the heart of cocoon, and then compel the l'cie to kill Orphan. The reason Barthandelus went to the trouble of the Purge and stoking fear and outrage amongst the populace of Cocoon was to make them all so paranoid and ready to kill one another that he could plant information leading humans (in this case, the Cavalry) to destroy Orphan themselves, even though only a l'cie has the power to do so, but not knowing that, Lightning and the others will be forced to follow them there and end up killing Orphan when they realize they were too late to save the humans. Ultimately the group DOES kill Barthandelus, for their own stated reasons, which yes is very confusing since they seemingly know what will happen when they do, but they go through with it anyway, hoping that they will find some way against all odds to save cocoon, and rid the world of Barthandelus and his scheming, to prevent anything like this from happening again in the future. When Orphan dies, all of cocoons power goes out because all the cocoon fal'cie go dormant, and cocoon begins to plummet to the ground, ultimately saved by Vanille and Fang who finally do transform into Ragnarok but use that immense power to create a crystal pillar from the fires of the volcanoes within Pulse and the mass snowflake crystal shards scattered across Pulse from where the first shell was battered. Because of this action, both cocoon and Gran Pulse are saved, and the fal'cie have failed irrevocably at their goal of using billions of humans as a death sacrifice to open up the gate to the unseen realm, and they all go dormant.
The last piece of all this is the meddling of the goddess Etro, who intervened at several key points in events out of love and compassion for humans. When Vanille refused to transform into Ragnarok, Etro placed Vanille into crystal stasis so that she could not be compelled to complete her focus, which is why Fang ultimately had to do it alone, and was unsuccessful. This is also presumably why Fang's brand is "burned out," because she had already completed her focus, which was to become Ragnarok and at least try to destroy Cocoon. Etro intervenes again at the end of the game by sparing Lightning's party along with Serah and Dajh from their fate as l'cie crystals, but in doing so she screwed up the timeline, causing the massive splintering of events that leads to Noel's catastrophic future, the creation of paradoxes, and the ultimate method by which Caius will later manipulate events for his own ends.
There are still many unanswered questions. Why did Barthandelus need to go through the extra steps of fusing with Orphan in order to be killed? What actually happened to the humans of Pulse, who appear to have all been wiped out sometime between the war of transgression and now, leaving only fragmentary clues behind? Did the fal'cie always intend to die at the same time as the humans in order to pass through the gate themselves? Did any of the gods ever hear their pleas? Why did they all settle on such a convoluted plot rather than just creating l'cie of immense power and ordering them to murder each other? Why the added centuries of manipulation instead of something more direct? Ultimately, we're left with more questions than answers.
Everything to do with orphan is vague and abstract and never properly explained, and even the method by which Lightning and crew come back from being transformed into cie'th is never specified, unless that too is another intervention from the goddess Etro, taking pity on them and giving them another chance. As for the fal'cie themselves, no fal'cie ever directly interacts with humans again except for Cactuar, who makes a bond with Snow between the events of the first and second game and gives him the focus of protecting humanity. Way off in the third game, there is one single fal'cie still active and creating energy for the people of Snow's city, but apart from them we see a dormant (but still alive) Atomos resting forever in the sands, and the pieces of Titan strewn about from some unknown battle in which he was presumably destroyed.
So, in the end, there is an explanation, but it's an incredibly complicated one that is not very well told within the game. Even with all the datalog information it's incredibly hard to piece together, as are many characters motivations and histories. But I hoped this has helped to make it slightly less oblique.
2024.06.07 21:21 throwra_wannasailawa My (55M) GF (64F) had an episode and we broke up, why can't I forget her?
We had been dating for a few months, my first real relationship since my separation (working on amicable divorce), and we became exclusive about 2 months ago.
Playing the field has not been difficult for me, I have kept myself in decent shape, etc., and have a fairly outgoing personality and slightly self-deprecating sense of humor which has served me well over the years before and now after marriage.
This woman I knew very casually from some years ago and we sort of lost touch for no valid reason (I was married at the time and I am not a cheater). I saw her getting out of her car early last fall, reached out a few days later and one thing led to another.
As I got to know her I learned she always quirky, but is a sweetheart and we were very compatible in various ways, putting it politely. She wasn't my type generally and has an adult special needs child who cannot live independently. Not exactly an easy sell on 50+ dating scene.
Little by little we began spending more time together and I began to fall for her. She was dating one other guy but swore it was casual, I keep away from people in a relationship.
Everything went fine, buy as fall turned into winter I noticed a lot of odd behavior. She would get into a full and go dark for a few days at a time, but was always reassuring that it was how she has always been and not to take it personally. Then she would go into what I can only describe as "overdrive" and go on a 24+ hour bender of mostly booze and stay up for two days. But in-between the two she was an angel, good heart, loved animals, we clicked politically and she was okay with my situation. Ms. In-Between is who I fell for.
So finally she was diagnosed bipolar and put on meds. They seemed to work and she realized she was better and said she would stay on them. She then didn't like the side effects and went off. Then she was diagnosed again and given different meds, same story with the same result.
The in-between periods started to get short and shorter and the drinking started to increase. Then a wave of paranoia hit. Her ex was hacking her electronics (100% he wasn't), the local cops were doing it (ditto, not happening) but it never rose beyond the level of her half-joking about it.
We planned a long weekend getaway, did a nice VRBO and after a few days it fell apart. She woke up one morning in a state, and couldn't find her medication (not prescribed for bipolar). She then started accusing me of hiding it. Of course after carefully searching the VRBO I found it, and was accused of hiding it so I could be a hero finding it. Then she laid some more bizarre accusations on me, we had some words, and she stormed off.
I saw her the next day at the airport looking haggard and somewhat intoxicated still in this weird state. She added a few more ridiculous accusations against me related to her phone. When we landed she basically took off. It was clear it was over (duh) and she even blocked me on her phone.
In between the storming off and seeing her again she sent me multiple screens of texts calling me all sorts of names, really personal (but not accurate) nasty insults about our sex life, etc.
We last saw eachother Tuesday. It's over, I need all those trouble like I need another hole in my head, I get that. She has an appointment with a new psych.later in June I was waiting to see if that worked but had in my mind this wasn't for me before our trip.
So why can I not get her put of my mind. She hasn't called or text me. I certainly am not going to reach out. But I am super down and feel a little lost. We used to text every day, starting with a hello in the morning until late at night. We were fine Monday and I am in disbelief how we went from so hot to not in literally 12 hours over nothing.
Sorry for the rant. I have never dealt with anyone on a personal level with serious, and clearly worsening, mental issues, but was really falling for her and she would tell me the same thing.
Anyone have any advice other than count my blessings it ended sooner rather than later?
submitted by throwra_wannasailawa to relationship_advice [link] [comments]
Playing the field has not been difficult for me, I have kept myself in decent shape, etc., and have a fairly outgoing personality and slightly self-deprecating sense of humor which has served me well over the years before and now after marriage.
This woman I knew very casually from some years ago and we sort of lost touch for no valid reason (I was married at the time and I am not a cheater). I saw her getting out of her car early last fall, reached out a few days later and one thing led to another.
As I got to know her I learned she always quirky, but is a sweetheart and we were very compatible in various ways, putting it politely. She wasn't my type generally and has an adult special needs child who cannot live independently. Not exactly an easy sell on 50+ dating scene.
Little by little we began spending more time together and I began to fall for her. She was dating one other guy but swore it was casual, I keep away from people in a relationship.
Everything went fine, buy as fall turned into winter I noticed a lot of odd behavior. She would get into a full and go dark for a few days at a time, but was always reassuring that it was how she has always been and not to take it personally. Then she would go into what I can only describe as "overdrive" and go on a 24+ hour bender of mostly booze and stay up for two days. But in-between the two she was an angel, good heart, loved animals, we clicked politically and she was okay with my situation. Ms. In-Between is who I fell for.
So finally she was diagnosed bipolar and put on meds. They seemed to work and she realized she was better and said she would stay on them. She then didn't like the side effects and went off. Then she was diagnosed again and given different meds, same story with the same result.
The in-between periods started to get short and shorter and the drinking started to increase. Then a wave of paranoia hit. Her ex was hacking her electronics (100% he wasn't), the local cops were doing it (ditto, not happening) but it never rose beyond the level of her half-joking about it.
We planned a long weekend getaway, did a nice VRBO and after a few days it fell apart. She woke up one morning in a state, and couldn't find her medication (not prescribed for bipolar). She then started accusing me of hiding it. Of course after carefully searching the VRBO I found it, and was accused of hiding it so I could be a hero finding it. Then she laid some more bizarre accusations on me, we had some words, and she stormed off.
I saw her the next day at the airport looking haggard and somewhat intoxicated still in this weird state. She added a few more ridiculous accusations against me related to her phone. When we landed she basically took off. It was clear it was over (duh) and she even blocked me on her phone.
In between the storming off and seeing her again she sent me multiple screens of texts calling me all sorts of names, really personal (but not accurate) nasty insults about our sex life, etc.
We last saw eachother Tuesday. It's over, I need all those trouble like I need another hole in my head, I get that. She has an appointment with a new psych.later in June I was waiting to see if that worked but had in my mind this wasn't for me before our trip.
So why can I not get her put of my mind. She hasn't called or text me. I certainly am not going to reach out. But I am super down and feel a little lost. We used to text every day, starting with a hello in the morning until late at night. We were fine Monday and I am in disbelief how we went from so hot to not in literally 12 hours over nothing.
Sorry for the rant. I have never dealt with anyone on a personal level with serious, and clearly worsening, mental issues, but was really falling for her and she would tell me the same thing.
Anyone have any advice other than count my blessings it ended sooner rather than later?
2024.06.07 21:18 gmSancty My Magic system asks the question: how much of yourself are you willing to sacrifice to become stronger?
The Life Weave:
- All living creatures possess a collection of energies referred to as "the Life Weave."
- The Life Weave corresponds to three things: The size of a creature's body, their general health, and the amount of echoes of creation (mana) they have innately stored inside of themselves.
- Adult man has more than a child which has more than a dog.
- Someone born healthy has a larger Life Weave than someone born sickly.
- Someone suffering from a chronic or terminal illness have suffer a reduction in the size of their Life Weave
- A person's Life Weave gains potency with the more [echoes they have stored within themselves.
- Esharans have slightly more on average than humans.
Abilities:
- Lifeweavers have the ability to draw upon one of their senses, physical, or mental attributes so that they may boost the power of another.
- Lifeweavers can consciously maintain their life force, slowing the aging process.
- Lifeweavers can focus on and enhance their body's processes, i.e. natural healing, getting over normal sickness/hangover, passing poison, etc.
- Roughly one in every three Lifeweavers are strong enough to manipulate the weave of others, allowing them to perform healing arts.
- Manipulating another creature's Life Weave is the one exception to the "minimal echoes" rule. The more extreme the process, the more energy is required.
- Healing a minor scrape may require only a little bit more, but working for hours to clean and repair a severed limb may take multiple whole vials of refined echoes
- The speed in which a wound may be healed is also relative to the formation of the subject's weave pattern. A bolstered weave will heal faster.
- It is impossible to regrow body parts once severed, but it is possible to reattach them or to repair injured organs provided they are mostly intact.
- Lifeweavers with the ability to manipulate the weave of others can also "snip" the threads of any being and give them to another. Whether stealing from another to bolster themselves or sacrificing a piece of themselves, the effect is never temporary.
- It is impossible to take back a thread that you have given to someone without snipping it out again, which means that snipping your own weave to give to someone else is an irreversible process.
- This ability is considered taboo and forbidden, though it has also allowed for miracles where a Lifeweaver was able to sacrifice a piece of themselves to pull someone else back from the brink of death.
Cost:
- Manipulating your own weave costs a baseline of echoes to perform, roughly only 1/5th of a small vial of refined echoes.
- Manipulating the weave of another requires a greater baseline of echoes, roughly double the baseline for yourself. The more extreme the alteration and the more drawn out the process, the greater the requirement to sustain the process.
- Pushing oneself too hard can be dangerous and result in damage.
- Exerting a bolstered aspect too much or too often results in it's subsequent bolstering to be less effective. They will need to divert more to that aspect to receive a similar result.
- Prolonged absence of a pattern will begin to damage that aspect. Someone who uses their hearing too often may start to go deaf, or someone who sacrifices their physical strength to boost their mental acuity may begin to find their bodies withering away from atrophy.
- These costs are all in addition to the general cost of depleting one's own echoes without replenishing them.
- Symptoms such as increased risk of disease, mental illness, and psychosis can compound their effects when someone is without a particular corresponding thread.
Example Combinations:
- **Sacrifice Touch, Bolster Strength:** Numb the body to gain immense physical power.
- **Sacrifice Hearing, Bolster Sight:** Deafen oneself to gain superhuman vision.
- **Sacrifice Strength, Bolster Mental Acuity:** Weaken the muscles to enhance cognitive abilities.
- **Sacrifice Endurance, Bolster Reflexes:** Reduce stamina to heighten quickness in reactions.
- **Sacrifice Dexterity, Bolster Speed:** Sacrifice fine motor skills to enhance physical speed.
Individual aspects of one's mental acuity may be manipulated in order to bolster others:
- **Sacrifice Balance, Bolster Creativity:** Compromise equilibrium to unlock higher creative potential/ability to think outside the box.
- **Sacrifice Empathy, Bolster Critical thinking:** Reduce emotional sensitivity to be able to think more critically and clearly.
An excerpt from "[[The Great Chronicle]]," culmination of [[Proprietor Yeoz]]' life work. Published on the 1st day of the 1st month, 357 AA.
When the first form of Adon rained down from the heavens, so too came the power over living creation. Without Adon's touch, all would be lifeless and devoid of meaning. It is known that all living things have within themselves a network of energies that bestow upon them animation. The network of life-giving substances flow throughout the body and enable one to act, though for most it is not an active process. Throughout my work I shall refer to these energies as a weave, as they have been described first hand to myself, to be as a tapestry of one's life. To manipulate the weave is comparable to reknitting fabric.
For those blessed by His touch, this weave of energies is an ethereal wonder made manifest. It has been noted by many trained and untrained Inheritors that the weave is something known or felt, rather than explicitly seen. It is the opinion of some scholars, myself included, that this weave is a complex network of pathways throughout the body through which one's lifeblood is carried. A curious exception to this (and the basis of many arguments to the contrary) is that certain plants seem to poses the weave as well, despite not subsisting on the lifeblood. While the weave is unseen, it is entirely real and possesses all living and animate creatures that traverse this mortal realm. These Inheritors are commonly referred to as "Lifeweavers," though various cultures may have their own names and misguided origins for the practice.
The abilities of any such Inheritor vary from person to person and seem to be limited only by one's aptitude, imagination, and whatever threads they may know. Compared to other manifestations of Adon, the practice of manipulating the weave of life energies does not depend on the quantity of echoes called upon; The same quantity is needed regardless of task, only enough to "grasp the weave" as it is called. Once one has grasped the weave, they are limited only to the amount of material they have on hand. Just as the other manifestations, whatever echoes used in the process are released in the same manner.
One may bundle the weaves together to localize and enhance their output, allowing for supernatural feats. A particular threading of the weave may cause a single man to gain the strength of ten, or another allow one to hear even the heartbeats of a bird a hundred meters away. These boons come at a cost, however. One's body has a finite resource of weave and to reinforce one pattern is to borrow from another. Extreme exertion of the reinforced thread may cause one's being to become increasingly reliant on its elevated status while the borrowed pattern may begin to suffer atrophy. In layman's terms, not only will one's increased strength lose its potency, but too much use of a certain pattern will cause the user to begin to lose it altogether. In addition to the rethreading of patterns, the functions of the body can be altered as well in order to reduce aging or speed up the natural healing process.
Common threads that are recognized by most Lifeweavers are as follows: touch, hearing, sight, taste, smell, physical strength, speed, agility, endurance, and mental acuity. 'Mental acuity' serves as an umbrella category for the cognitive functions of one's mind including their capacity for memory, their reactiveness and clarity, their personal empathy and charisma, among others.
While considered taboo by some cultures, many Lifeweavers possess the ability to manipulate the weaves of other creatures as well. While the process is time consuming and stressful, this ability is what lead to the discovery of the healing arts. Unfortunately, complex rethreadment which could result in the restoration of hearing within the deaf or sight within the blind requires the most adept among all Lifeweavers and is an extremely rare gift.
As with many gifts, there are those who may abuse it. While they have been outlawed and declared forbidden by most civilized peoples, there are those who have been known to manipulate the weave on less than willing subjects. I will not document these processes in detail for fear of propagating the practice, but I will note the unfortunate practice of 'snipping,' wherein one may tear away the threads of another living being to temporarily boost their own. While it is fleeting, this process is the only known way to circumnavigate any personal cost associated with altering a weave.
2024.06.07 21:14 animal-girlie AITA for not wanting to go to MIL’s birthday last minute
Today, I found out that my mother-in-law’s birthday was going to be hosted at my sister-in-law’s house instead. The party is tomorrow. The second I found out, my heart sank to my bum and I knew I did not want to go nor was it worth the effort or mental burden to go.
Originally, MIL called and personally asked for me to be there at her birthday. I said of course and made myself “unavailable” that day for my shift job schedule. I was already wary because I have been low contact with my husband’s family for more than a year now. I entirely cut off ties with my SIL around that time. I said yes to my MIL instantly because I am doing it for my MIL and we still respect each other well; we just don’t see each other often or make the effort to do so. We just go with the flow.
Well it now turns out that the birthday party for MIL will be hosted at SIL’s house because “it has more space”. For over a month the plan was to have the party at MIL’s house and I was okay with it because I had nothing against her and I could easily slip away from the other toxic family members to another room in the house. Today, a day before the party, my husband randomly says “oh bad news the party is now being held at my sister’s house”.
I am angry for a number of reasons: 1) I am entirely no contact with that SIL, she even blocked me on all social media and blocked my phone number for standing up for myself (other family members agreed with me) 2) I know my husband will still go if I say I don’t want to go and it hurts to think he doesn’t stand up for me and try to make accommodations. For example, planning to take MIL and FIL for an intimate dinner with me, him, and our child instead. 3) my husband has known about the venue change for more than a week now and decided to just tell me now. 4) my husband’s way to make me feel better was “it’s okay though because my other sister and her boyfriend will be there so you can just talk to them” 5) SIL deliberately sends out invites last minute to my DH and DD for random cookouts but makes sure to exclude me. Not only does she exclude me, she makes sure that everyone else in the family is aware of it and will even post photos with backhanded comments about me or the situation. She just wants to rub it in my face and acts as if she’s the one that cut off ties with me but really I was the one that said enough is enough and cut ties with her.
I cut off ties with this woman because on more than one major occasion she has insulted me or disrespected me to save her face and hide her own insecurities. She has cursed me out in front of other people, trying to defend her husband (who in fact lied to her while I said the truth and he didn’t admit to it for a solid week). She also used my name as an excuse to justify her lack of courage and security in her marriage by claiming I told her to search her husband’s belongings for “contraband” which I never did. She also wrote a long persuasive essay via text to my husband about how toxic I am and why he shouldn’t be with me. That’s just a few off the top of my head. I am sick of these people and I’ve tolerated them for more than 7 years now.
Help! I don’t want to disrespect my MIL but I also want to stand my ground and respect my own boundaries. I also do not want to cause tension in my marriage, which is already rocky.
submitted by animal-girlie to AITA_Relationships [link] [comments]
Originally, MIL called and personally asked for me to be there at her birthday. I said of course and made myself “unavailable” that day for my shift job schedule. I was already wary because I have been low contact with my husband’s family for more than a year now. I entirely cut off ties with my SIL around that time. I said yes to my MIL instantly because I am doing it for my MIL and we still respect each other well; we just don’t see each other often or make the effort to do so. We just go with the flow.
Well it now turns out that the birthday party for MIL will be hosted at SIL’s house because “it has more space”. For over a month the plan was to have the party at MIL’s house and I was okay with it because I had nothing against her and I could easily slip away from the other toxic family members to another room in the house. Today, a day before the party, my husband randomly says “oh bad news the party is now being held at my sister’s house”.
I am angry for a number of reasons: 1) I am entirely no contact with that SIL, she even blocked me on all social media and blocked my phone number for standing up for myself (other family members agreed with me) 2) I know my husband will still go if I say I don’t want to go and it hurts to think he doesn’t stand up for me and try to make accommodations. For example, planning to take MIL and FIL for an intimate dinner with me, him, and our child instead. 3) my husband has known about the venue change for more than a week now and decided to just tell me now. 4) my husband’s way to make me feel better was “it’s okay though because my other sister and her boyfriend will be there so you can just talk to them” 5) SIL deliberately sends out invites last minute to my DH and DD for random cookouts but makes sure to exclude me. Not only does she exclude me, she makes sure that everyone else in the family is aware of it and will even post photos with backhanded comments about me or the situation. She just wants to rub it in my face and acts as if she’s the one that cut off ties with me but really I was the one that said enough is enough and cut ties with her.
I cut off ties with this woman because on more than one major occasion she has insulted me or disrespected me to save her face and hide her own insecurities. She has cursed me out in front of other people, trying to defend her husband (who in fact lied to her while I said the truth and he didn’t admit to it for a solid week). She also used my name as an excuse to justify her lack of courage and security in her marriage by claiming I told her to search her husband’s belongings for “contraband” which I never did. She also wrote a long persuasive essay via text to my husband about how toxic I am and why he shouldn’t be with me. That’s just a few off the top of my head. I am sick of these people and I’ve tolerated them for more than 7 years now.
Help! I don’t want to disrespect my MIL but I also want to stand my ground and respect my own boundaries. I also do not want to cause tension in my marriage, which is already rocky.
2024.06.07 21:14 gmSancty How much of yourself would you sacrifice to become stronger?
The Life Weave:
- All living creatures possess a collection of energies referred to as "the Life Weave."
- The Life Weave corresponds to three things: The size of a creature's body, their general health, and the amount of echoes of creation (mana) they have innately stored inside of themselves.
- Adult man has more than a child which has more than a dog.
- Someone born healthy has a larger Life Weave than someone born sickly.
- Someone suffering from a chronic or terminal illness have suffer a reduction in the size of their Life Weave
- A person's Life Weave gains potency with the more [echoes they have stored within themselves.
- Esharans have slightly more on average than humans.
Abilities:
- Lifeweavers have the ability to draw upon one of their senses, physical, or mental attributes so that they may boost the power of another.
- Lifeweavers can consciously maintain their life force, slowing the aging process.
- Lifeweavers can focus on and enhance their body's processes, i.e. natural healing, getting over normal sickness/hangover, passing poison, etc.
- Roughly one in every three Lifeweavers are strong enough to manipulate the weave of others, allowing them to perform healing arts.
- Manipulating another creature's Life Weave is the one exception to the "minimal echoes" rule. The more extreme the process, the more energy is required.
- Healing a minor scrape may require only a little bit more, but working for hours to clean and repair a severed limb may take multiple whole vials of refined echoes
- The speed in which a wound may be healed is also relative to the formation of the subject's weave pattern. A bolstered weave will heal faster.
- It is impossible to regrow body parts once severed, but it is possible to reattach them or to repair injured organs provided they are mostly intact.
- Lifeweavers with the ability to manipulate the weave of others can also "snip" the threads of any being and give them to another. Whether stealing from another to bolster themselves or sacrificing a piece of themselves, the effect is never temporary.
- It is impossible to take back a thread that you have given to someone without snipping it out again, which means that snipping your own weave to give to someone else is an irreversible process.
- This ability is considered taboo and forbidden, though it has also allowed for miracles where a Lifeweaver was able to sacrifice a piece of themselves to pull someone else back from the brink of death.
Cost:
- Manipulating your own weave costs a baseline of echoes to perform, roughly only 1/5th of a small vial of refined echoes.
- Manipulating the weave of another requires a greater baseline of echoes, roughly double the baseline for yourself. The more extreme the alteration and the more drawn out the process, the greater the requirement to sustain the process.
- Pushing oneself too hard can be dangerous and result in damage.
- Exerting a bolstered aspect too much or too often results in it's subsequent bolstering to be less effective. They will need to divert more to that aspect to receive a similar result.
- Prolonged absence of a pattern will begin to damage that aspect. Someone who uses their hearing too often may start to go deaf, or someone who sacrifices their physical strength to boost their mental acuity may begin to find their bodies withering away from atrophy.
- These costs are all in addition to the general cost of depleting one's own echoes without replenishing them.
- Symptoms such as increased risk of disease, mental illness, and psychosis can compound their effects when someone is without a particular corresponding thread.
Example Combinations:
- **Sacrifice Touch, Bolster Strength:** Numb the body to gain immense physical power.
- **Sacrifice Hearing, Bolster Sight:** Deafen oneself to gain superhuman vision.
- **Sacrifice Strength, Bolster Mental Acuity:** Weaken the muscles to enhance cognitive abilities.
- **Sacrifice Endurance, Bolster Reflexes:** Reduce stamina to heighten quickness in reactions.
- **Sacrifice Dexterity, Bolster Speed:** Sacrifice fine motor skills to enhance physical speed.
Individual aspects of one's mental acuity may be manipulated in order to bolster others:
- **Sacrifice Balance, Bolster Creativity:** Compromise equilibrium to unlock higher creative potential/ability to think outside the box.
- **Sacrifice Empathy, Bolster Critical thinking:** Reduce emotional sensitivity to be able to think more critically and clearly.
An excerpt from "[[The Great Chronicle]]," culmination of [[Proprietor Yeoz]]' life work. Published on the 1st day of the 1st month, 357 AA.
When the first form of Adon rained down from the heavens, so too came the power over living creation. Without Adon's touch, all would be lifeless and devoid of meaning. It is known that all living things have within themselves a network of energies that bestow upon them animation. The network of life-giving substances flow throughout the body and enable one to act, though for most it is not an active process. Throughout my work I shall refer to these energies as a weave, as they have been described first hand to myself, to be as a tapestry of one's life. To manipulate the weave is comparable to reknitting fabric.
For those blessed by His touch, this weave of energies is an ethereal wonder made manifest. It has been noted by many trained and untrained Inheritors that the weave is something known or felt, rather than explicitly seen. It is the opinion of some scholars, myself included, that this weave is a complex network of pathways throughout the body through which one's lifeblood is carried. A curious exception to this (and the basis of many arguments to the contrary) is that certain plants seem to poses the weave as well, despite not subsisting on the lifeblood. While the weave is unseen, it is entirely real and possesses all living and animate creatures that traverse this mortal realm. These Inheritors are commonly referred to as "Lifeweavers," though various cultures may have their own names and misguided origins for the practice.
The abilities of any such Inheritor vary from person to person and seem to be limited only by one's aptitude, imagination, and whatever threads they may know. Compared to other manifestations of Adon, the practice of manipulating the weave of life energies does not depend on the quantity of echoes called upon; The same quantity is needed regardless of task, only enough to "grasp the weave" as it is called. Once one has grasped the weave, they are limited only to the amount of material they have on hand. Just as the other manifestations, whatever echoes used in the process are released in the same manner.
One may bundle the weaves together to localize and enhance their output, allowing for supernatural feats. A particular threading of the weave may cause a single man to gain the strength of ten, or another allow one to hear even the heartbeats of a bird a hundred meters away. These boons come at a cost, however. One's body has a finite resource of weave and to reinforce one pattern is to borrow from another. Extreme exertion of the reinforced thread may cause one's being to become increasingly reliant on its elevated status while the borrowed pattern may begin to suffer atrophy. In layman's terms, not only will one's increased strength lose its potency, but too much use of a certain pattern will cause the user to begin to lose it altogether. In addition to the rethreading of patterns, the functions of the body can be altered as well in order to reduce aging or speed up the natural healing process.
Common threads that are recognized by most Lifeweavers are as follows: touch, hearing, sight, taste, smell, physical strength, speed, agility, endurance, and mental acuity. 'Mental acuity' serves as an umbrella category for the cognitive functions of one's mind including their capacity for memory, their reactiveness and clarity, their personal empathy and charisma, among others.
While considered taboo by some cultures, many Lifeweavers possess the ability to manipulate the weaves of other creatures as well. While the process is time consuming and stressful, this ability is what lead to the discovery of the healing arts. Unfortunately, complex rethreadment which could result in the restoration of hearing within the deaf or sight within the blind requires the most adept among all Lifeweavers and is an extremely rare gift.
As with many gifts, there are those who may abuse it. While they have been outlawed and declared forbidden by most civilized peoples, there are those who have been known to manipulate the weave on less than willing subjects. I will not document these processes in detail for fear of propagating the practice, but I will note the unfortunate practice of 'snipping,' wherein one may tear away the threads of another living being to temporarily boost their own. While it is fleeting, this process is the only known way to circumnavigate any personal cost associated with altering a weave.
2024.06.07 21:12 Sweet-Count2557 Maldives Island Google Map
 | Maldives Island Google Map We've all heard about the amazing wonders of the Maldives, that dreamy destination with its crystal-clear waters and pristine beaches.And now, there's a tool that allows us to navigate this paradise with ease - the Maldives Island Google Map. But it's not just any ordinary map; it's a virtual guide that unveils the secrets of this enchanting archipelago.From hidden lagoons to bustling towns, this map holds the key to unlocking the treasures of the Maldives.So, if you're ready to embark on a journey of discovery, join us as we explore the wonders that await on the Maldives Island Google Map.Key TakeawaysThe Maldives is a chain of coral islands and atolls in the Indian Ocean, known for its stunning beaches and rich marine life.Google Maps can be used to explore the Maldives, locate different islands and atolls, and even experience virtual street view of local neighborhoods and attractions.Pros of using Google Maps for the Maldives include its user-friendly interface, satellite view for stunning visuals, and real-time traffic information.However, there are also limitations such as the need for an internet connection, limited street view coverage, and potential inaccuracies in directions.Overview of the Maldives IslandLet's take a closer look at the beautiful Maldives Island chain and discover its captivating charm and natural wonders.The Maldives is a chain of coral islands and atolls in the Indian Ocean, consisting of 1190 coral islands grouped into about 26 atolls. With its clear, green waters and stunning views, the Maldives is a paradise for nature lovers and adventure seekers.One of the main attractions of the Maldives is its rich marine life. The Indian Ocean surrounding the islands is teeming with a diverse range of marine species. Snorkeling and diving enthusiasts will be delighted to explore the vibrant coral reefs and encounter colorful fish, sea turtles, and even dolphins. The Maldives is home to over 2000 species of fish, making it a perfect destination for underwater exploration.The Maldives is also known for its stunning beaches and crystal-clear waters. The white sandy beaches stretch for miles, providing the perfect backdrop for relaxation and sunbathing. The warm tropical climate and gentle sea breeze create an idyllic setting for a beach vacation.In addition to its natural beauty, the Maldives offers a unique cultural experience. The local population of about 300,000 inhabitants adds to the charm of the islands. The Maldivian people are friendly and welcoming, and visitors have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local culture through traditional music, dance, and cuisine.How to Access Google Maps for the Maldives IslandAfter exploring the captivating charm and natural wonders of the Maldives Island chain, it's time to discover how to access Google Maps for this stunning destination. Google Maps provides a convenient and user-friendly way to navigate the Maldives Islands, whether you're seeking the best spots for underwater photography, trying to find your way around the local neighborhoods, or planning to attend cultural festivals and events.To access Google Maps for the Maldives, simply open the Google Maps website or app. Once you're there, type 'Maldives' in the search bar to locate the country on the map. From there, you can zoom in and explore the different islands, atolls, and cities that make up the Maldives.One of the most fascinating features of Google Maps is the satellite view. By using this feature, you can see the stunning natural beauty of the Maldives Islands from above. The unique arrangement of the islands and the crystal-clear turquoise waters are truly a sight to behold.Another useful tool on Google Maps is the street view function. This allows you to virtually explore the local neighborhoods, resorts, and attractions on the islands. Whether you're looking for the best place to stay or want to get a sense of the local atmosphere, street view can provide valuable insights.In addition to navigation, Google Maps also offers real-time traffic information and directions. This can be particularly helpful when exploring the Maldives Islands and trying to find the best local transportation options.So, whether you're planning an underwater photography expedition, looking to immerse yourself in the local culture at festivals and events, or simply want to navigate the islands with ease, Google Maps is an invaluable tool for your Maldives adventure. Start exploring and let Google Maps be your guide to this paradise on Earth.ProsConsUser-friendly interfaceRequires internet connectionSatellite view for stunning visualsLimited street view coverageReal-time traffic informationPossible inaccuracies in directionsExploring the Main Attractions on the Maldives IslandAs we explore the main attractions on the Maldives Island, we're greeted with a breathtaking display of natural beauty and a myriad of exciting activities to indulge in. One of the main attractions that draw visitors to this paradise is its stunning beaches. The Maldives boasts picture-perfect stretches of white sand, fringed by crystal-clear turquoise waters. The beaches here are simply unparalleled, providing the perfect setting for relaxation and tranquility.But the beauty of the Maldives doesn't stop at its shores. The underwater world surrounding the islands is equally captivating. With its vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life, the Maldives offers some of the best snorkeling and diving opportunities in the world. Exploring the underwater world is like entering a whole new realm, where colorful fish dance among the coral gardens and graceful manta rays glide effortlessly through the water. It truly is a sight to behold.Aside from the stunning beaches and the underwater world, the Maldives also offers a range of other main attractions to explore. Luxury resorts dot the islands, offering world-class amenities and the ultimate in relaxation. Indulge in spa treatments, savor delectable Indian cuisine, or simply lounge by the infinity pool, soaking up the sun and the breathtaking views.As we venture further into the Maldives Island, we discover hidden gems such as local markets, where we can immerse ourselves in the vibrant culture and pick up unique souvenirs. We can also embark on island-hopping adventures, visiting different atolls and experiencing the distinct charm and beauty of each.Navigating the Beaches and Lagoons on the Maldives IslandNavigating the beaches and lagoons on the Maldives Island is like embarking on a captivating journey through a chain of coral islands and atolls in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives' 26 atolls and 1190 coral islands are spread across a vast area, offering diverse beach and lagoon experiences. Here are some ways to explore these stunning landscapes:Beach Activities: The Maldives is a paradise for beach lovers. With its crystal-clear, turquoise waters and soft, white sands, you can enjoy a range of activities such as sunbathing, beach volleyball, and building sandcastles. Take a leisurely stroll along the shoreline and soak in the breathtaking views.Coral Reefs: Explore the vibrant coral reefs that surround the Maldives Islands. Go snorkeling or diving to discover an underwater world teeming with colorful fish, turtles, and other marine life. The coral reefs offer a unique opportunity to witness the beauty and diversity of the ocean firsthand.Boat Tours: Since most transportation in the Maldives is done by boat, taking a boat tour is a must-do activity. Hop on a traditional dhoni or a speedboat and cruise along the coastline, hopping from one island to another. Enjoy the cool ocean breeze and marvel at the picturesque scenery as you navigate the beaches and lagoons.Spotting Marine Life: The Maldives is renowned for its rich marine biodiversity. Keep an eye out for dolphins, manta rays, and even whale sharks. Embark on a dolphin-watching excursion or join a guided tour to witness these majestic creatures in their natural habitat.Exploring the beaches and lagoons on the Maldives Island is a truly unforgettable experience. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the coral islands, indulge in beach activities, and embark on boat tours to discover the wonders of this tropical paradise.Discovering the Underwater World of the Maldives IslandEmbarking on a journey beneath the surface, we venture into the captivating underwater world of the Maldives Island. With its 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls, the Maldives offers a diverse array of underwater landscapes waiting to be explored. The country's capital city, Male, serves as a convenient hub for underwater excursions, with its map showcasing the intricate layout of atolls, cities, and towns, aiding in planning our underwater adventures.As we delve into the turquoise waters of the Maldives, we're greeted by an abundance of marine biodiversity. The stunning coral reefs that surround the islands provide a habitat for a wide variety of fish, turtles, and other marine creatures. Snorkeling adventures here are truly unforgettable, as we immerse ourselves in a world teeming with vibrant colors and fascinating underwater life.For those looking to capture the beauty of the underwater world, the Maldives also offers excellent opportunities for underwater photography. As we explore the coral gardens and swim alongside schools of fish, we can use these underwater photography tips to capture stunning shots: make sure to use a waterproof camera or housing, get close to your subjects to capture their details, and take advantage of natural light for vibrant and clear images.In the Maldives, the underwater world is a treasure trove waiting to be discovered. With its breathtaking marine biodiversity and opportunities for snorkeling adventures and underwater photography, it's a paradise for those seeking to explore the mysteries beneath the surface. So, grab your snorkel gear and dive into the enchanting waters of the Maldives Island.Finding the Best Resorts and Accommodations on the Maldives IslandWhen it comes to finding the best resorts and accommodations on the Maldives Island, there are a few top-rated options that stand out. These resorts offer luxurious over-water villas with stunning ocean views and direct access to the water.If you're on a budget, don't worry, as there are also some great budget accommodations available that still provide a comfortable and enjoyable stay.Top-Rated Maldives ResortsTo find the best resorts and accommodations on the Maldives Island, we can explore the top-rated options that offer luxurious experiences and breathtaking views. Here are the top-rated Maldives resorts:Luxury accommodations: The Maldives is renowned for its opulent resorts that offer world-class amenities and services. From private pools to personal butlers, these resorts provide a truly indulgent experience.Beachfront villas: Imagine waking up to the sound of waves crashing on the shore and stepping out onto your own private beach. Many of the top-rated resorts in the Maldives offer beachfront villas, allowing guests to enjoy direct access to the pristine white sands and turquoise waters.All-inclusive packages: For a hassle-free vacation, consider opting for an all-inclusive package. These packages often include meals, drinks, activities, and even spa treatments, ensuring that guests can relax and enjoy their stay without worrying about additional expenses.Breathtaking views: Whether it's a panoramic view of the Indian Ocean or a stunning sunset over the horizon, the top-rated resorts in the Maldives offer unforgettable vistas. Guests can indulge in the natural beauty of the islands from the comfort of their own luxurious accommodations.Best Budget AccommodationsAs we delve into the search for the best budget accommodations on the Maldives Island, let's uncover the hidden gems that offer affordable stays amidst the breathtaking coral islands and atolls of the Indian Ocean.The Maldives may be known for its luxury resorts, but there are also budget accommodations that provide a unique and cost-effective experience. Some of these accommodations are located on man-made islands specifically designed for tourism, offering a range of island activities such as swimming, snorkeling, and spotting marine life.However, it's important to consider the cultural experiences that come with staying in budget accommodations. Islamic cultural rules, such as restrictions on alcohol and attire, may impact the experience.Nonetheless, budget accommodations in the Maldives offer a fantastic opportunity to explore the natural beauty of the islands without breaking the bank.Exploring Local Cuisine and Dining Options on the Maldives IslandLocal cuisine on the Maldives Island offers a tantalizing fusion of Indian, Sri Lankan, and Arabian flavors, reflecting a rich culinary heritage that's sure to delight food enthusiasts. From mouthwatering Maldivian delicacies to popular seafood dishes, exploring the local cuisine provides an authentic dining experience.Here are some highlights:Maldivian Delicacies: Immerse yourself in the local culture by trying traditional Maldivian dishes. Garudhiya, a fragrant fish soup made with fresh tuna, is a must-try. The flavors of the fish, combined with aromatic spices, create a comforting and flavorful broth. Another delicacy is mas huni, a refreshing tuna and coconut salad. This dish combines flaked tuna, grated coconut, onions, chili, and lime juice, resulting in a delicious and satisfying meal.Popular Seafood Dishes: Being surrounded by the Indian Ocean, it's no surprise that seafood plays a significant role in Maldivian cuisine. Indulge in mouthwatering grilled fish, prawns, and lobster, expertly prepared by local chefs. The seafood is often seasoned with a blend of spices, giving it a unique and flavorful taste.Authentic Dining Experience: To truly experience the local cuisine, venture beyond the resorts and hotels and visit local cafes and family-run restaurants. Here, you can savor traditional Maldivian meals cooked with love and passion, providing an authentic dining experience. Interacting with the locals and witnessing their culinary traditions adds an extra layer of authenticity to your dining experience.International Dining Options: If you prefer a wider variety of culinary options, upscale resorts and hotels on the Maldives Island offer a range of international dining options. From Asian fusion to Mediterranean cuisine, you can explore different flavors and satisfy your taste buds.Whether you choose to indulge in Maldivian delicacies or explore international cuisines, the diverse dining options on the Maldives Island are sure to satisfy every palate. So, go ahead and embark on a culinary adventure that will leave you craving for more.Shopping and Souvenir Hunting on the Maldives IslandShopping on the Maldives Island is a delightful experience, offering a wide variety of handcrafted treasures and unique souvenirs waiting to be discovered. The island is home to vibrant local markets where visitors can immerse themselves in the rich culture and find authentic items that reflect the Maldivian heritage.Exploring these markets allows travelers to appreciate the traditional crafts that have been passed down through generations. One can find intricately designed wooden carvings, showcasing the skill and artistry of local artisans. These carvings often depict marine life, such as dolphins, turtles, and coral reefs, capturing the essence of the Maldives' natural beauty.For those looking to bring home a piece of Maldivian fashion, colorful sarongs are a popular choice. These garments, known as 'feyli,' are made from lightweight fabrics and feature vibrant patterns inspired by the island's flora and fauna. They're perfect for lounging on the beach or adding a touch of tropical flair to any wardrobe.Handwoven baskets made from locally sourced materials are also sought-after souvenirs. These baskets come in various sizes and shapes, making them versatile and practical for everyday use. They're a testament to the island's commitment to sustainable craftsmanship.A visit to the local markets wouldn't be complete without exploring the exquisite jewelry made from seashells and coral. These pieces are intricately designed, showcasing the natural beauty of the ocean. From necklaces and earrings to bracelets and rings, each jewelry item tells a unique story and serves as a reminder of the Maldives' breathtaking underwater world.Shopping for souvenirs in the Maldives Island isn't just about acquiring material possessions; it's an opportunity to support local craftsmanship and take home a piece of the island's soul. These authentic souvenirs serve as cherished keepsakes, reminding us of the beauty and cultural significance of the Maldives.Uncovering the Cultural and Historical Sites on the Maldives IslandNestled among the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean, the Maldives Island is a treasure trove of cultural and historical sites waiting to be uncovered. From ancient monuments to vibrant festivals, here are some of the highlights that showcase the rich cultural heritage of this island paradise:Cultural Preservation: The Maldives takes great pride in preserving its cultural traditions. Explore the local villages to witness traditional craftsmanship, such as intricate woodcarvings and exquisite lacquerwork. Visit the National Museum in Malé to delve into the country's history and discover artifacts that date back centuries.Historical Monuments: The Maldives is home to a number of historical monuments that offer a glimpse into its past. One such landmark is the Hukuru Miskiy, also known as the Old Friday Mosque, which is adorned with beautiful coral stone carvings. Another must-visit is the Malé Friday Mosque, an architectural marvel with its intricate coral patterns and ornate minaret.Traditional Festivals: Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of the Maldives by attending traditional festivals. The most prominent celebration is Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan. Witness the joyous festivities, which include feasts, music, dance, and traditional performances. Don't miss out on the Bodu Beru, a lively drumming performance that's a hallmark of Maldivian culture.Island Excursions: While the Maldives is known for its stunning beaches and luxury resorts, the islands also offer a chance to explore the local way of life. Take a trip to a local island and experience the warmth and hospitality of the Maldivian people. Engage in activities like cooking classes, fishing trips, and cultural tours to gain a deeper understanding of the island's heritage.Uncovering the cultural and historical sites on the Maldives Island is a journey that will leave you enriched and inspired. Embark on this exploration and let the Maldives weave its captivating tales of the past.Planning a Dreamy Honeymoon on the Maldives IslandIf you're dreaming of a romantic and unforgettable honeymoon, the Maldives Island offers the perfect destination to create cherished memories that will last a lifetime. With its 1190 coral islands grouped into about 26 atolls, the Maldives provides diverse landscapes and experiences for couples seeking a dreamy getaway.When it comes to honeymoon accommodations, the Maldives boasts an array of luxury resorts and water villas that allow you to immerse yourself in the island's natural beauty. Imagine waking up to stunning views of clear green waters and experiencing the rich marine biodiversity right at your doorstep.To make your honeymoon even more special, the Maldives offers a range of romantic activities. From private beach dinners under the starlit sky to couples' spa treatments that will relax and rejuvenate you, there are plenty of options to ignite the spark of romance. Snorkeling and diving enthusiasts will be delighted by the opportunity to explore the Devata Coral Reef, known for its vibrant colors and abundant marine life.To make planning your dreamy honeymoon a breeze, many resorts in the Maldives offer honeymoon packages. These packages often include special perks such as candlelit dinners, couples' massages, and even sunset cruises. Whether you prefer a secluded and intimate experience or a more adventurous and active honeymoon, the Maldives has something for every couple.In addition to its breathtaking beauty and romantic offerings, the Maldives also provides a chance to immerse yourself in the local lifestyle. With most transportation done by boat, you'll have the opportunity to explore different islands and experience the authentic, non-touristy side of the Maldives.Tips for a Relaxing Spa and Wellness Experience on the Maldives IslandWhen it comes to finding the best spa treatments and serene wellness retreats on the Maldives Island, we've got you covered.From traditional Maldivian treatments to outdoor spa sessions with breathtaking ocean views, there are plenty of options to ensure a truly relaxing experience.Don't forget to take advantage of unique activities like underwater spa treatments or beachside massages for an extra dose of tranquility.Best Spa TreatmentsImmerse yourself in the ultimate relaxation and rejuvenation on the Maldives Island with the best spa treatments that will leave you feeling refreshed and revitalized. Here are some popular wellness activities and the benefits of holistic therapies to elevate your spa experience:Traditional Maldivian Massage: Experience a deeply relaxing treatment using coconut oil, known for its nourishing properties. This massage technique will help relieve tension and promote a sense of calm.Rejuvenating Seaweed Body Wrap: After a day of exploring the beautiful islands, indulge in a detoxifying and nourishing seaweed body wrap. This treatment will leave your skin feeling hydrated and revitalized.Luxurious Overwater Bungalow Spa: Treat yourself to a luxurious spa experience in an overwater bungalow, where you can enjoy stunning views and the soothing sounds of the ocean. Let the tranquil surroundings enhance your relaxation.Maldivian Sand Massage: Exfoliate and revitalize your skin with a Maldivian sand massage. This unique treatment promotes relaxation while leaving your skin smooth and radiant.Try these incredible spa treatments on the Maldives Island for a truly relaxing and rejuvenating experience.Serene Wellness RetreatsAre you looking for a truly relaxing and rejuvenating spa and wellness experience on the Maldives Island? Look no further than the serene wellness retreats scattered across the stunning coral islands and atolls of the Indian Ocean.These retreats offer a peaceful and tranquil environment, perfect for unwinding and finding inner peace. Immerse yourself in a range of spa treatments, from soothing massages to rejuvenating facials.Indulge in yoga retreats, where you can stretch and strengthen your body while surrounded by the beauty of nature. Practice meditation to calm your mind and find inner balance.These retreats also offer holistic healing practices, allowing you to connect with your mind, body, and spirit.Experience the ultimate relaxation and wellness getaway in the Maldives.Trying Exciting Water Sports and Activities on the Maldives IslandGet ready for an unforgettable adventure as we dive into the exhilarating world of water sports and activities on the beautiful Maldives Island. With its crystal-clear waters and stunning coral reefs, the Maldives offers a plethora of options for those seeking adrenaline pumping water sports and unforgettable experiences.Here are four exciting activities to try on the Maldives Island:Snorkeling Adventures: Immerse yourself in the vibrant underwater world of the Maldives through snorkeling. Swim alongside colorful fish, explore mesmerizing coral reefs, and witness the diverse marine life that calls these waters home. The Maldives offers numerous snorkeling spots where you can discover the beauty and tranquility of the underwater realm.Adrenaline Pumping Water Sports: If you crave excitement and thrill, the Maldives has you covered. Try your hand at jet skiing, where you can zoom across the clear blue waters, feeling the rush of the wind against your face. Or, take on the challenge of paddleboarding, parasailing, or kayaking, and experience the thrill of maneuvering through the picturesque island scenery.Romantic Sunset Cruises: For a more relaxed and romantic experience, embark on a sunset cruise. Sail into the golden hues of the setting sun, while sipping on a refreshing drink and enjoying the breathtaking views. Watch as the sky transforms into a canvas of vivid colors, creating a magical moment that will stay with you forever.Dolphin Watching and Fishing Trips: The Maldives is home to an abundance of marine life, including playful dolphins. Join a dolphin watching excursion and witness these majestic creatures in their natural habitat, leaping and gliding through the waves. Alternatively, go on a fishing trip and try your luck at catching some of the local fish, adding a thrilling element to your island adventure.Whether you're seeking adrenaline or romance, the Maldives offers an array of water sports and activities to suit every preference. Dive into the clear waters and create memories that will last a lifetime.Exploring the Local Wildlife and Nature Reserves on the Maldives IslandWhat hidden treasures of wildlife and nature can be discovered on the Maldives Island? The Maldives Islands aren't only known for their stunning beaches and crystal-clear waters but also for their rich biodiversity and commitment to wildlife conservation. With several nature reserves and a strong focus on eco-tourism, exploring the local wildlife on the Maldives Island is an experience like no other.One of the must-visit places for nature enthusiasts is the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve. This UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve is home to an incredible array of marine life, including manta rays, whale sharks, and vibrant coral reefs. Snorkeling or diving in these waters allows you to witness the beauty of the underwater world while contributing to its preservation.For those interested in birdwatching, the Maldives is a paradise. The islands are a vital stopover point for many migratory birds, offering a unique opportunity to observe rare species up close. The Hulhumale Wetland, located near the capital city of Male, is a popular spot for birdwatching, with over 70 bird species calling it home.To learn more about the local flora and fauna, a visit to the Maldives Wildlife Rescue Center is a must. This center focuses on rehabilitating and releasing injured or orphaned wildlife, such as sea turtles and birds. Visitors can participate in educational programs and gain a deeper understanding of the importance of wildlife conservation.Eco-tourism is a key focus on the Maldives Island, with many resorts implementing sustainable practices and offering guided nature walks and wildlife safaris. These activities allow visitors to explore the islands' unique ecosystems while minimizing their impact on the environment.Taking a Virtual Tour of the Maldives Island's Private Islands and RetreatsEmbark on a captivating virtual journey through the private islands and retreats of the Maldives, where breathtaking natural beauty and luxurious architecture await. With the advancement of technology, accessing virtual tours of these exclusive destinations has become easier than ever before. Let's dive in and explore the wonders that await you in the Maldives:Experience luxury resorts: Through virtual tours, you can step into the world of opulence and indulgence that the Maldives is known for. Immerse yourself in the stunning architecture of the private island resorts, where houses seem to float on the crystal-clear waters. Marvel at the elegant villas, complete with private pools, outdoor showers, and panoramic views of the Indian Ocean.Explore the vibrant marine life: The Maldives is renowned for its vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life. Take a virtual dive and witness the wonders of the underwater world. Swim alongside colorful fish, graceful manta rays, and even spot a majestic whale shark. These virtual tours provide an up-close encounter with the incredible marine biodiversity that surrounds the Maldives.Understand local customs: As you explore the virtual tours, you'll also gain insights into the rich cultural experiences offered by the Maldives' resorts. Learn about the Islamic customs and traditions that are an integral part of the Maldivian way of life. Discover the influence of these customs on the resorts' offerings, from traditional Maldivian cuisine to unique activities and experiences.Plan your future visit: While virtual tours provide a glimpse into the wonders of the Maldives, they also serve as a guide for planning your future visit. Take note of the resorts and retreats that capture your interest and start envisioning your dream vacation in paradise.Through accessing virtual tours, you can now indulge in the luxury, natural beauty, and local customs of the Maldives from the comfort of your own home. Start your virtual journey today and get ready to be enchanted by the wonders of this tropical paradise.Capturing Insta-Worthy Moments on the Maldives IslandAs we explore the enchanting Maldives Island, we're captivated by the countless opportunities to capture insta-worthy moments amidst its stunning natural beauty and unique experiences. From the moment we arrived, we knew that this tropical paradise was a photographer's dream.The Maldives Island offers a plethora of picturesque settings that are perfect for capturing sunset photography. Imagine standing on the soft white sand, feeling the gentle breeze on your skin, as the sky transforms into a vibrant canvas of oranges, pinks, and purples. It's a sight that will leave you in awe and your followers longing to be there with you.But the beauty of the Maldives doesn't end with its mesmerizing sunsets. Underwater photography is another must-do activity here. The crystal-clear, green waters provide the perfect backdrop for capturing vibrant coral reefs, tropical fish, and even majestic manta rays and whale sharks. Whether you're a professional photographer or just a hobbyist, the underwater world of the Maldives will leave you breathless and your camera roll full of stunning shots.In addition to its natural beauty, the Maldives Island is also known for its vibrant local festivals and events. Throughout the year, the island comes alive with celebrations of Maldivian culture, music, and dance. From the Bodu Beru festival, where locals showcase their traditional drumming skills, to the Eid al-Fitr celebrations marking the end of Ramadan, there's always something happening that's worth capturing and sharing with the world.Frequently Asked QuestionsWhich Country Is Maldives Located In?Maldives is located in South Asia, in the Indian Ocean. It's a stunning country consisting of 1190 coral islands grouped into about 26 atolls.We, as travelers, are captivated by its natural beauty and isolation. The Maldives offers a unique living experience, with its beautiful coral reefs and luxury resorts.The official language spoken is Dhivehi (Mahl), and the capital city is Male. Maldives truly is a paradise on Earth.Where Is Maldives in Google Earth?When exploring the stunning beaches of Maldives, we were amazed by the crystal-clear waters and powdery white sand.Snorkeling and diving allowed us to uncover the underwater wonders of Maldives, with vibrant coral reefs teeming with colorful fish and other marine life.And let's not forget about the luxury resorts in Maldives, where we indulged in world-class amenities, breathtaking views, and impeccable service.It's no wonder that Maldives is a dream destination for travelers seeking a tropical paradise.Where Is the Maldives Close To?The Maldives is close to India and Sri Lanka, making it an ideal destination for travelers looking to explore the Indian Ocean. With its stunning coral reefs, luxury resorts, and abundant marine life, the Maldives offers popular tourist attractions like swimming, snorkeling, and spotting unique sea creatures.The best time to visit is during the dry season from November to April, when the weather is sunny and the waters are calm, perfect for enjoying activities and water sports.How Many Islands Are in the Maldives?There are approximately 1,190 islands in the Maldives, making it a paradise for anyone seeking a tropical getaway.These islands offer a diverse range of tourist attractions, from stunning coral reefs to luxurious resorts.In addition to the natural beauty, the Maldives is also rich in local culture, with a 100% Islamic population.Underwater activities like swimming and snorkeling are a must-do here, as the marine life is abundant and breathtaking.ConclusionAs we explore the stunning Maldives Island on Google Maps, we're reminded of the extraordinary beauty that exists in the world.The captivating beaches, vibrant coral reefs, and diverse wildlife create a paradise that's truly awe-inspiring.Whether you're a local or a tourist, this interactive map allows you to immerse yourself in the wonders of the Maldives and discover its hidden treasures.So, grab your virtual snorkel and get ready for a journey of exploration and wonder on the Maldives Island. submitted by Sweet-Count2557 to worldkidstravel [link] [comments] |
2024.06.07 21:09 angrilynostalgic Didn't think I'd find newbie gains again - First 6 week test results.
So after like 6 years of very inconsistent "winging it" type training I thought I'd pretty much hit a plateau when I comes to strength. All my main lifts were stuck for about the last 2 years. I'd train maybe two or three times a week, not really seeing much results and would often get unmotivated and stop training for months.
Tactical barbell brought back newbie gains like I had back in high-school!! I thought I'd share my progress as motivation for anyone on the fence about TB to give it a try.
I did a Zulu block with BSQ/BP/DL/OHP cluster. I haven't gotten into conditioning yet but I've been slowly increasing my running. Started at 8km per week and now on 20km per week.
Test Results (calculated 1RM):
My deadlift had always trailed behind my squat because I had some bad form mistakes to correct. Deadlifting twice a week definitely helped correct those mistakes and now I feel way less strain on my lower back.
It probably doesn't mean a whole lot given my dogshit training routine prior to starting TB, and how heavy some others on here can lift, but it goes to show how much a proper training plan can do. I never thought I'd see the day Id need to buy more plates for my home setup but here we are! I'm officially using every plate I own for my DLs.
submitted by angrilynostalgic to tacticalbarbell [link] [comments]
Tactical barbell brought back newbie gains like I had back in high-school!! I thought I'd share my progress as motivation for anyone on the fence about TB to give it a try.
I did a Zulu block with BSQ/BP/DL/OHP cluster. I haven't gotten into conditioning yet but I've been slowly increasing my running. Started at 8km per week and now on 20km per week.
Test Results (calculated 1RM):
- Squat: 301lbs (+30lbs from 271)
- Deadlift: 315lbs (+50lbs from 265)
- Bench: 228lbs (+25 lbs from 203)
- Overhead press: 159lbs (+16lbs from 143)
My deadlift had always trailed behind my squat because I had some bad form mistakes to correct. Deadlifting twice a week definitely helped correct those mistakes and now I feel way less strain on my lower back.
It probably doesn't mean a whole lot given my dogshit training routine prior to starting TB, and how heavy some others on here can lift, but it goes to show how much a proper training plan can do. I never thought I'd see the day Id need to buy more plates for my home setup but here we are! I'm officially using every plate I own for my DLs.
2024.06.07 21:07 LeeCloud27 The Life of Hakurei - False Madness on Brightest Night - Part 2
Five Minutes of Recovery Later…
“Okay…Let me understand this again.” Reimu began. “Each of you noticed something was off with the moon so you decided to go investigate. And it so happened we all followed the same trail to the bamboo forest, and noticing how the night had remained stagnant the moment we laid eyes on one another we assumed we were behind the incident. Am I right?”
“Correct” Sakuya said, standing alongside Remilia. To her left and right were Marisa and Youmu, who respectively stood by Alice and Yuyuko while Yukari was by Reimu.
“Okay good, and considering we came all the way here to the bamboo forest of the lost means we can clarify none of us here has anything to do with the moon’s replacement. So, does anyone know where we might find our true culprits?”
No one spoke up, save for Youmu who timidly raised her hand.
“Um…Yuyuko-sama and I, when we entered the forest we noticed some lights east of here, but we were too caught up fighting to go check it out. It’s possible that may be where the culprit is hiding.”
“Oh, I noticed something too while making my way here, but it was a building; a mansion more specifically. I think the lights you’re referring to might be the mansion.” Alice said.
“A mansion?” Yukari wondered. “Strange, I never heard of a mansion existing in this part of Gensokyo.”
“Don’t tell me it’s another foreign noble who came from the outside.” Reimu said, making a small glance over at Sakuya and Remilia. “But now I know where to look next, so if you excuse me...”
Reimu moved past the group over the direction Youmu stated earlier, but Marisa rushed over and halted her path.
“Woah, hold on! What makes you think you can go over there alone, huh?” Marisa asked.
Reimu looked at her friend for a moment before replying, “I never said you couldn’t come, did I?”
Her statement made Marisa pause for a second, showing an expression that was enough to make Reimu laugh a little.
“C’mon, let’s go beat up whoever stole the moon.” Reimu patted Marisa’s shoulder and walked past her, as did Yukari. Marisa turned around, not going to let the misconception get the best of her, so she wrapped her arm around Alice’s waist and pulled her over while hopping on her broom.
“Marisa? What are you doing?” Alice asked with confusion.
“Hey, Reimu!” Marisa got Reimu’s attention, along with everyone else’s, “Last one there’s a Nuppeppo!” She declared before blasting forward, with Alice clinging on tight so as to not fall. Reimu saw Marisa fly past her, and instantly she knew the proper response.
“It’s on.” She said, running and soon flying as fast as she could to catch up with the blazing magician. The others did the same, not wanting to be left behind.
—
Somewhere in the Bamboo Forest, Rumia remained astray. She passed by the same boulder three times, and couldn’t tell which way was north. To make matters worse, she encountered a series of booby traps everywhere she tried to go. From constant pitfalls to makeshift ballistas that shot sharpened bamboo sticks; even coming across an anvil that hung high in the air above a plate of cheese for some reason. Nonetheless she managed to get through the traps, though much more fatigued.
“Ugh, I don’t know where I am, I nearly got punctured several times, and I can’t seem to find Reimu or the others.” Rumia complained as she continued flying across the stalks. “No wonder this place has the word ‘lost’ in its name. Hopefully I’ll find everyone soon.”
Despite her complaint, she kept moving forward, getting more lost as a result.
—
In an open area there laid a large old-fashioned mansion, surrounded by walls of bamboo at least ten feet tall. It looked like it was constructed the day before, despite its antique design. There was no wear or tear on the interior, no moss growing, no sign of decay anywhere. This mansion was known as Eientei, a home of rabbits and prominent figures, but mostly rabbits.
Standing by the mansion’s gate stood two figures in pink dresses with rabbit ears on their heads holding large wooden mallets. Though they looked human, they’re a species of youkai, commonly referred to as earth rabbits, or just rabbits. They lived in the mansion, spending their days relaxing and having fun, while also ensuring no one came to disturb their home. Their positions were that of gate guards, tasked to keep intruders out; however, unlike most guards they were inattentive. Their eyes drooped from the desire to sleep and thoughts of going in eating mochi with the rest of their peers further kept away their attention.
“When will we switch with the others?” The first rabbit guard said with a yawn.
“When when?” The second rabbit guard spoke. “I don’t like standing guard on night-shift, it’s boring.”
“Boring boring boring. Why can’t we have fun fun? I like to have fun fun with friends friends.” The first rabbit hopped a little.
“Friends. Friends.” The second rabbit tilted her head back and forth. “I want mochi. Mochi. Mochi.”
“I also want mochi mochi mochi. How how long must we wait wait? I don’t think any intruders will show up.” The first rabbit hopped and nodded her head.
“No no. No intruders, no intruders.” The second rabbit shook her head.
“Yes. No intruders-”
Suddenly zipping past the rabbit guards were a black-white and red-white, along with several figures donning different colored clothing of various degrees entering past the gate and breaking through the doors of the entrance hall into the mansion. Both rabbits gazed at the broken doors with stunned faces.
“Oh no.” The first rabbit said.
“No no no.” The second rabbit said.
The group consisting of humans, youkai, vampires and ghosts; whether partial or not, barged their way through the mansion. The rabbits who were casually roaming the place were caught off-guard by the speeding force of a three-quarter dozen. Many quickly fled out to safety, while those not as cowardly stood their guard with wooden mallets and bullets to spare. Yet despite their best defenses, they remained no match against what seemed to be an unstoppable force.
Further down the hallway, a couple rabbits, faster than others, ran to a particular rabbit that wore the same outfit as them, but had black wavy shoulder-length hair and wore a carrot-shaped necklace. Her name is Tewi Inaba, the White Hare.
“Tewi-sama! Tewi-sama! Bad bad news!” One of the rabbits hastily said.
“Very bad, very bad!” The other rabbit spoke as hastily as her peer. “Intruders intruders!”
“Intruders? Here?” The Earth Rabbit named Tewi looked at her subordinates with some disbelief.
“Yes yes yes! There are so many!”
“Very many very many!”
Based on their faces filled with anxiety and how often they looked back down the hall Tewi could tell they weren’t lying. Furthermore, her ears detected sounds of bullets being shot out, growing closer and louder. As was part of the deal she made long ago with the owner of the mansion, she knew there would come a time when she would have to defend the place, even if it meant giving herself so others would be safe.
“Okay, go warn Reisen and Eirin, and make sure the princess is safe too. I’ll try to hinder the threats.” Tewi said.The rabbits were concerned if their leader could handle so many people on her own, but at the same time they also saw her as commendable. They thanked her before making their way further down the hall.
“Okay Tewi…Stay calm and count on your luck.” She gave herself a little pep talk, taking a deep breath as she saw the figures coming over now. A few rabbits were trying to flee, but fell victim to their bullets. After a quick analysis of what she’s up against, she confirmed she was screwed.
Much further down the hall, another rabbit quickly and hurriedly went to every door she could find, placing seals left and right to ensure none could be opened. Though unlike most of the rabbits in Eientei, hers were longer and thinner, and she had long purple hair and red eyes. She also wore different clothes consisting of a black blazer, white buttoned shirt, a pinkish skirt and red shoes. Her name is Reisen Udongein Inaba, a Moon Rabbit.
“Okay, all the doors should be locked. Princess should now be safe.” She said with a hurried tone. “Master should have the preparations ready to send the intruders out. Just a little more time and-”
Her left ear twitched. She looked down the hall with further worry. Something drew near. She formed her hand into the shape of a gun, and her eyes glowed dimly. Then coming into her sight weren't the intruders, rather Tewi as she flew towards Reisen before falling face-first into the ground, sliding further till coming to a stop by her feet.
“Ow…” She let out a long cry of ache.
“Tewi! Are you okay!?” Reisen looked down at the other rabbit, her eyes wider than ever.
“I’m good, terrific. How about you, Reisen?” Tewi said with slight sarcasm. Reisen picked up her tone and got a bit angry.
“This is no time for jokes, what happened to the intruders? Are they coming this way?”
“Oh yeah, they’ll be here any second. Also, I think I broke a rib.”
“Eh? You broke a-”
She stopped speaking for a moment when she saw a butterfly-shaped bullet flying right at her. She quickly dodged and counterattacked by shooting a bullet out of her hand. The bullet flew right over where Yuyuko was, only to be cut in half by Youmu’s blade. Both Youmu and Reisen held their stances, staring at the other with an odd sense of respect for the other’s quick reaction. Soon after the rest of the incident resolving group arrived at the scene.
“Oh crap.” Tewi looked back and made an immediate decision. “I’ll leave the rest to you, Reisen!” She got back up and fled.
“T-Tewi!” Reisen called for her to come back, but it was no use.
“Is that the culprit, Yukari?” Reimu asked, to which Yukari shook her head no.
“No, she looks different from the other rabbits, but I don’t believe she’s who we’re looking for.” Yukari said.
“Maybe she’ll tell us if we incapacitate her.” Alice said, readying more dolls with strings.
“Let’s not knock her out then, we need her awake for interrogation.” Marisa stated.
“And if she doesn’t talk, we’ll make her by any means.” Sakuya said with a threatening voice.
“And when we’re finished, she’ll make for a wonderful stew later.” Remilia spoke.
“Mmmm, rabbit stew. Youmu, be sure to gather the necessary ingredients by the end of the week.” Yuyuko said with hunger. “Oh, and don’t forget to acquire some sparrows for tomorrow’s dinner.” Her request made Youmu look at her with bewilderment.
Reisen’s heart raced hearing what they had planned for her. She had to fight back now and give her master more time, so she did what only she could. She opened her eyes wide, causing a bright red glow which caught the group off-guard as they were blinded.
“Augh!!!” Some of them yelled, covering their eyes with their hands and arms. A few seconds later the light ceased, and when they uncovered their faces they were met with a dozen of the same person, all raising their hands as they let out bullets. The group, momentarily confused by the sudden number of copies, defended from the oncoming barrage, raising barriers while retaliating with bullets of their own. Soon it was like any other danmaku fight, with everyone zipping around trying to analyze the patterns of the bullets. A few of the Reisens were taken down, but most remained, still keeping the group on their toes.
While Remilia fought, she discerned something odd about her opponent. Her eyes, more keen than others, saw the differences in the copies, such as the length of the hair being a couple centimeters short, or the color of the skirt being less saturated. Making quick glances at the others, she pinpointed which was the real one, and immediately called her out.
“Sakuya! Attack that one!” She said, Sakuya looked over where Remilia pointed and saw the Reisen which Reimu and Yukari were up against. Reisen caught Remilia and Sakuya rushing at her with knives and bats. She knew she couldn’t hold her own against four people at once, so she had to retreat. She ran down the hall, as did her copies, all going separate directions. Reimu, Yukari, Sakuya and Remilia followed the original Reisen while Marisa, Alice, Youmu and Yuyuko followed a copy down a different part of the hallway, separating the group.
submitted by LeeCloud27 to touhou [link] [comments]
“Okay…Let me understand this again.” Reimu began. “Each of you noticed something was off with the moon so you decided to go investigate. And it so happened we all followed the same trail to the bamboo forest, and noticing how the night had remained stagnant the moment we laid eyes on one another we assumed we were behind the incident. Am I right?”
“Correct” Sakuya said, standing alongside Remilia. To her left and right were Marisa and Youmu, who respectively stood by Alice and Yuyuko while Yukari was by Reimu.
“Okay good, and considering we came all the way here to the bamboo forest of the lost means we can clarify none of us here has anything to do with the moon’s replacement. So, does anyone know where we might find our true culprits?”
No one spoke up, save for Youmu who timidly raised her hand.
“Um…Yuyuko-sama and I, when we entered the forest we noticed some lights east of here, but we were too caught up fighting to go check it out. It’s possible that may be where the culprit is hiding.”
“Oh, I noticed something too while making my way here, but it was a building; a mansion more specifically. I think the lights you’re referring to might be the mansion.” Alice said.
“A mansion?” Yukari wondered. “Strange, I never heard of a mansion existing in this part of Gensokyo.”
“Don’t tell me it’s another foreign noble who came from the outside.” Reimu said, making a small glance over at Sakuya and Remilia. “But now I know where to look next, so if you excuse me...”
Reimu moved past the group over the direction Youmu stated earlier, but Marisa rushed over and halted her path.
“Woah, hold on! What makes you think you can go over there alone, huh?” Marisa asked.
Reimu looked at her friend for a moment before replying, “I never said you couldn’t come, did I?”
Her statement made Marisa pause for a second, showing an expression that was enough to make Reimu laugh a little.
“C’mon, let’s go beat up whoever stole the moon.” Reimu patted Marisa’s shoulder and walked past her, as did Yukari. Marisa turned around, not going to let the misconception get the best of her, so she wrapped her arm around Alice’s waist and pulled her over while hopping on her broom.
“Marisa? What are you doing?” Alice asked with confusion.
“Hey, Reimu!” Marisa got Reimu’s attention, along with everyone else’s, “Last one there’s a Nuppeppo!” She declared before blasting forward, with Alice clinging on tight so as to not fall. Reimu saw Marisa fly past her, and instantly she knew the proper response.
“It’s on.” She said, running and soon flying as fast as she could to catch up with the blazing magician. The others did the same, not wanting to be left behind.
—
Somewhere in the Bamboo Forest, Rumia remained astray. She passed by the same boulder three times, and couldn’t tell which way was north. To make matters worse, she encountered a series of booby traps everywhere she tried to go. From constant pitfalls to makeshift ballistas that shot sharpened bamboo sticks; even coming across an anvil that hung high in the air above a plate of cheese for some reason. Nonetheless she managed to get through the traps, though much more fatigued.
“Ugh, I don’t know where I am, I nearly got punctured several times, and I can’t seem to find Reimu or the others.” Rumia complained as she continued flying across the stalks. “No wonder this place has the word ‘lost’ in its name. Hopefully I’ll find everyone soon.”
Despite her complaint, she kept moving forward, getting more lost as a result.
—
In an open area there laid a large old-fashioned mansion, surrounded by walls of bamboo at least ten feet tall. It looked like it was constructed the day before, despite its antique design. There was no wear or tear on the interior, no moss growing, no sign of decay anywhere. This mansion was known as Eientei, a home of rabbits and prominent figures, but mostly rabbits.
Standing by the mansion’s gate stood two figures in pink dresses with rabbit ears on their heads holding large wooden mallets. Though they looked human, they’re a species of youkai, commonly referred to as earth rabbits, or just rabbits. They lived in the mansion, spending their days relaxing and having fun, while also ensuring no one came to disturb their home. Their positions were that of gate guards, tasked to keep intruders out; however, unlike most guards they were inattentive. Their eyes drooped from the desire to sleep and thoughts of going in eating mochi with the rest of their peers further kept away their attention.
“When will we switch with the others?” The first rabbit guard said with a yawn.
“When when?” The second rabbit guard spoke. “I don’t like standing guard on night-shift, it’s boring.”
“Boring boring boring. Why can’t we have fun fun? I like to have fun fun with friends friends.” The first rabbit hopped a little.
“Friends. Friends.” The second rabbit tilted her head back and forth. “I want mochi. Mochi. Mochi.”
“I also want mochi mochi mochi. How how long must we wait wait? I don’t think any intruders will show up.” The first rabbit hopped and nodded her head.
“No no. No intruders, no intruders.” The second rabbit shook her head.
“Yes. No intruders-”
Suddenly zipping past the rabbit guards were a black-white and red-white, along with several figures donning different colored clothing of various degrees entering past the gate and breaking through the doors of the entrance hall into the mansion. Both rabbits gazed at the broken doors with stunned faces.
“Oh no.” The first rabbit said.
“No no no.” The second rabbit said.
The group consisting of humans, youkai, vampires and ghosts; whether partial or not, barged their way through the mansion. The rabbits who were casually roaming the place were caught off-guard by the speeding force of a three-quarter dozen. Many quickly fled out to safety, while those not as cowardly stood their guard with wooden mallets and bullets to spare. Yet despite their best defenses, they remained no match against what seemed to be an unstoppable force.
Further down the hallway, a couple rabbits, faster than others, ran to a particular rabbit that wore the same outfit as them, but had black wavy shoulder-length hair and wore a carrot-shaped necklace. Her name is Tewi Inaba, the White Hare.
“Tewi-sama! Tewi-sama! Bad bad news!” One of the rabbits hastily said.
“Very bad, very bad!” The other rabbit spoke as hastily as her peer. “Intruders intruders!”
“Intruders? Here?” The Earth Rabbit named Tewi looked at her subordinates with some disbelief.
“Yes yes yes! There are so many!”
“Very many very many!”
Based on their faces filled with anxiety and how often they looked back down the hall Tewi could tell they weren’t lying. Furthermore, her ears detected sounds of bullets being shot out, growing closer and louder. As was part of the deal she made long ago with the owner of the mansion, she knew there would come a time when she would have to defend the place, even if it meant giving herself so others would be safe.
“Okay, go warn Reisen and Eirin, and make sure the princess is safe too. I’ll try to hinder the threats.” Tewi said.The rabbits were concerned if their leader could handle so many people on her own, but at the same time they also saw her as commendable. They thanked her before making their way further down the hall.
“Okay Tewi…Stay calm and count on your luck.” She gave herself a little pep talk, taking a deep breath as she saw the figures coming over now. A few rabbits were trying to flee, but fell victim to their bullets. After a quick analysis of what she’s up against, she confirmed she was screwed.
Much further down the hall, another rabbit quickly and hurriedly went to every door she could find, placing seals left and right to ensure none could be opened. Though unlike most of the rabbits in Eientei, hers were longer and thinner, and she had long purple hair and red eyes. She also wore different clothes consisting of a black blazer, white buttoned shirt, a pinkish skirt and red shoes. Her name is Reisen Udongein Inaba, a Moon Rabbit.
“Okay, all the doors should be locked. Princess should now be safe.” She said with a hurried tone. “Master should have the preparations ready to send the intruders out. Just a little more time and-”
Her left ear twitched. She looked down the hall with further worry. Something drew near. She formed her hand into the shape of a gun, and her eyes glowed dimly. Then coming into her sight weren't the intruders, rather Tewi as she flew towards Reisen before falling face-first into the ground, sliding further till coming to a stop by her feet.
“Ow…” She let out a long cry of ache.
“Tewi! Are you okay!?” Reisen looked down at the other rabbit, her eyes wider than ever.
“I’m good, terrific. How about you, Reisen?” Tewi said with slight sarcasm. Reisen picked up her tone and got a bit angry.
“This is no time for jokes, what happened to the intruders? Are they coming this way?”
“Oh yeah, they’ll be here any second. Also, I think I broke a rib.”
“Eh? You broke a-”
She stopped speaking for a moment when she saw a butterfly-shaped bullet flying right at her. She quickly dodged and counterattacked by shooting a bullet out of her hand. The bullet flew right over where Yuyuko was, only to be cut in half by Youmu’s blade. Both Youmu and Reisen held their stances, staring at the other with an odd sense of respect for the other’s quick reaction. Soon after the rest of the incident resolving group arrived at the scene.
“Oh crap.” Tewi looked back and made an immediate decision. “I’ll leave the rest to you, Reisen!” She got back up and fled.
“T-Tewi!” Reisen called for her to come back, but it was no use.
“Is that the culprit, Yukari?” Reimu asked, to which Yukari shook her head no.
“No, she looks different from the other rabbits, but I don’t believe she’s who we’re looking for.” Yukari said.
“Maybe she’ll tell us if we incapacitate her.” Alice said, readying more dolls with strings.
“Let’s not knock her out then, we need her awake for interrogation.” Marisa stated.
“And if she doesn’t talk, we’ll make her by any means.” Sakuya said with a threatening voice.
“And when we’re finished, she’ll make for a wonderful stew later.” Remilia spoke.
“Mmmm, rabbit stew. Youmu, be sure to gather the necessary ingredients by the end of the week.” Yuyuko said with hunger. “Oh, and don’t forget to acquire some sparrows for tomorrow’s dinner.” Her request made Youmu look at her with bewilderment.
Reisen’s heart raced hearing what they had planned for her. She had to fight back now and give her master more time, so she did what only she could. She opened her eyes wide, causing a bright red glow which caught the group off-guard as they were blinded.
“Augh!!!” Some of them yelled, covering their eyes with their hands and arms. A few seconds later the light ceased, and when they uncovered their faces they were met with a dozen of the same person, all raising their hands as they let out bullets. The group, momentarily confused by the sudden number of copies, defended from the oncoming barrage, raising barriers while retaliating with bullets of their own. Soon it was like any other danmaku fight, with everyone zipping around trying to analyze the patterns of the bullets. A few of the Reisens were taken down, but most remained, still keeping the group on their toes.
While Remilia fought, she discerned something odd about her opponent. Her eyes, more keen than others, saw the differences in the copies, such as the length of the hair being a couple centimeters short, or the color of the skirt being less saturated. Making quick glances at the others, she pinpointed which was the real one, and immediately called her out.
“Sakuya! Attack that one!” She said, Sakuya looked over where Remilia pointed and saw the Reisen which Reimu and Yukari were up against. Reisen caught Remilia and Sakuya rushing at her with knives and bats. She knew she couldn’t hold her own against four people at once, so she had to retreat. She ran down the hall, as did her copies, all going separate directions. Reimu, Yukari, Sakuya and Remilia followed the original Reisen while Marisa, Alice, Youmu and Yuyuko followed a copy down a different part of the hallway, separating the group.