Lifesize ruler inches

Hi all,
Sorry this is probably the most basic question and I have been googling it , but I am struggling to find a ruler that I need for a project I am trying.
It is my first one so I was trying to make it as easy as possible on myself and gathering all the little bits I need to make the cutting and sizing process as easy as possible. Does anybody in the UK have a brand of rulers that has the kind I am looking for?
I have found a couple, but they are either too short or not flat tipped? What does the flat tip matter for? The pattern I am following does come with a template but I thought a see through ruller would be easier, as I had issues not getting exact sizes right on my last table runner project.

https://minimalfreaks.co/2024/05/deep-house-top-100-may-2024/

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19. Gorge – Roots (Extended Mix) 06:18 123bpm 5A
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I recently bought some Bomb Dungarees in size 32. I have several other Outlier pants and shorts I bought a while ago that fit me well (still), in size 30 and 31. I got the new ones in 32 because I'm lifting a bit more now and I wanted to err on the side of larger.
So when I got them I was surprised to find that they were way too small. To be clear, I'm not complaining about them being too tight. My issue is that before ordering, I looked at the size chart, used that as a reference with other pants I have, and measured the ones I got, and they're pretty different from what the chart says.
Here are a few pics and numbers for comparison:
the size chart for Bomb Dungarees on the website
if I understand that right, size 32 should be 12.5 inches, measured at the upper thigh, from the crotch, horizontally to the edge, when the pants are laid flat.
Here's what they look like with a ruler:
pic 1
pic 2
I'm pressing the ruler down to make them lie flat and I lifted the other leg up so I could be as generous as possible (counting additional distance under the pants crotch, which I probably shouldn't), to make it as close to what it should be.
You can see that it's at most 11 inches, and probably even a bit smaller. Since they're lying flat, that means they're actually about 3 inches smaller in circumference. I don't want to sound like I'm nitpicking about fractions of an inch, so note that the smallest size on that chart (size 28) has a measurement (11.5") that's bigger than this. So it seems like the error covers the whole range of sizes.
I don't understand: is there something I'm missing about how we're supposed to measure that? I really like all the other Outlier clothes I've bought but it's strange that a company that's supposedly all about ~technical details~ seems to have one of the main things I need to know to wear the pants wrong. Is this chart just wrong? it's not encouraging that both the top opening and leg opening are labeled "top opening".

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First off, I just wanted to say good day to all of you descenders on a wonderful Saturday. I know you’ve been patient and waiting for this review to come so I won’t stall any longer, so let’s get to it.
Main Story
Opening with Wonderland, it starts off with a party, well the opposite actually. There in Wonderland, it’s called an un-party which is one of the things that runs in the big land. The Queen of Hearts takes dictatorship to a whole new level in an un-fun way, as in basically she made fun, any colors that isn’t red, black, white and gray and sugars and sweets illegal. You can’t even listen to any type of music except the national anthem “Hail the Queen of All Our Hearts” and a few military hymns. Speaking of hymns, that’s one of the new words I’m learning in this book, you’ll be seeing some words you’ve never heard of before and you’ll think, “huh, interesting”. To make sure that Queen’s laws were enforced, she demonstrated by taking way a boy who was taking some of the strawberry tarts from the dessert table. Why are there even desserts if they’re illegal you ask? To show how corruptible they are along with the presents that no one ever opens. She was so against desserts that she even lost her mind when she saw cupcakes. I honestly think those might be the biggest trigger from the looks of it. We might even learn why from the movie, who knows. Imagine that, you can’t even celebrate Birthdays since they’re illegal. All anyone can really do is standing around doing nothing and sleeping until someone wakes you up when it comes to un-parties, even the games are all about standing around the longest. And Red witnessed it all since she’s a guest of honor, being the princess and all that.
Red knew from the start that did not want to be like her mother who wanted her to be just like her, tyrannical and cold-hearted, unlike Mal who wanted to prove herself to her mother by doing what she tells her to do and to be the evilest of them all. She has heard about the Isle of the Lost and hear about where no rules are applied. Unfortunately for Red, she never knew what it’s like to run around wild and doing whatever she wants since by law, everything has to be perfect, including her. She’s never been outside of Wonderland since the Rabbit Hole was sealed after the War of the Roses , which happened when The Queen refused for Wonderland to conjoined with Auradon and there’s a holiday in honor of it. The Tea Ceremony commemorates that event in history. Every year, the Queen of Hearts uses those Tea Ceremonies to decree new laws like for example, locking away puppies and kittens until they’re properly trained, introducing red-card beheadings in the National Croquet league and banning dancing. This year will be a special one cause this time, The Queen will have Red make a decree, something she’s not found of.
In her school, it was just like any other day. But there’s one teacher she likes and that would be Maddox, the son of the Mad Hatter, whom surprisingly, The Queen has a soft spot for. Shocked? I know, me too. So during class, that’s when a new student comes in named Chester with the biggest smile ever. Anyone know who else had a smile that big? 😏. In case you haven’t figured it out already, he comes from a long line of Cheshires. Doesn’t say if a certain cat is his father, grandfather or even uncle, but he definitely has that family trait. Anyways, at first, Red was intrigued of him as he was different than the other Wonderland Kids. He was homeschooled until his family moved to the capital. They talked for a bit and was even assigned as partners for a project. Then at the end, they went through a whole DRINK ME this and EAT ME that, y’all know what I’m talking about if you’d seen Alice in Wonderland. That was when they became friends, which was also discouraged. I personally liked how despite everything, Red would know what it’s like to finally have someone she can talk to instead of feeling alone. That’s the start of her character growth. I know it was like that for me when I started having friends I can talk to about anything.
Now fast forward, she see The Queen doing royal training for Red, even teaching her “The Look”. Late at night, Red snuck out when Chester and his friend Ace, came to get see her. One of the things I know about Ace is that he has an uncle who is a solider card and don’t he him that often. And another is that his hair is jet-black and curly and that his hazel eyes sparkle in the soft light, at least in Red’s point of view😏. They went into the woods and eventually their conversation landed them to playing a party. While planning, The Queen wanted Red to do training after leaving early from school the next two weeks. She even brought to female graduates, Twee and Dora, who is the daughter of Dormouse. After all that, it came Friday when the Wonderland Party Commission (that’s what Red, Chester and Ace called themselves) host their party. Kids came, but all the party had was pizzas which was the only thing they got going for them. Then Solider Cards came and crash the party. The 3 teens were captured and the boys were brought to their homes. Red wasn’t even grounded cause her mother was too focused on the party. That’s telling Red that she needs to up her game. She then plans to go to Bramble Bay, where Chester’s family lived at since he told her that things were different.
Red cooked up a ruse to convince her mom that she’s going to the headmistress’ place for royal training, which wasn’t that hard to do. She and her friends then took a car Chester’s cousin provided for them, which happened to be the Headmistress’s car and drove off to Bramble Bay. They had disguise to look like the Duchess (Headmistress of Wonderland High) and her butlers to be let in Bramble Bay (travel must be approved). Once there, they explored the town square and found a restaurant that serves different food, even serves root beer. Then a girl was a bit hostile to Red as she knows who she is.
Next day, they drove off from the inn they stayed to find some kids to get ideas for their second party attempt until they collided with a cart full of barnacled gray shells someone was pushing. No one was hurt, but the car took a hit and it shows. Red and the boys still helped clean up the mess for the guy and he was on his way, but it didn’t go unnoticed by the girl they had an encounter with. She then knew Res wasn’t as bad as she thought. She introduced her self as Dee, sister of Twee, one of the two girl that were mentioned that was coaching Red during her training. She was nicer than Twee, even mentioned when she was leaving the capital after she couldn’t take it over there anymore, she couldn’t get her sister to come with. Then she mentioned of a place where the 3 teenagers can get their car fixed up. Once there, they mentioned to the two guys that own the place that Dee sent them, which makes them more friendly to them. You’re never going to guess who they are. It’s the reason why this certain chapter is probably one of my favorites, if not my top favorite. It’s Harry and Jace, the sons of Horace and Jasper, the henchmen of Cruella DeVil! If yall ever read the past books, you’ll know who I’m talking about. Harry and Jace were Carlos’ henchman as his mother commanded it. They even were a part of the Anti-Heroes Club until Dr. Facilier discovered the true purpose of the club and disbanded it. Now somehow, they ended up in Wonderland after the barrier was taken down by Mal and her friends, which raises more questions than answers, like how’d they got here if the Rabbit Hole was sealed after the War of the Roses. They then mentioned there’s another way out and that would be the Pool of Tears. As soon as they got an opportunity, they’ll leave and never come back to Wonderland ever, I mean why would anyone want to come back?
After the car was fixed, the crew went to meet with Dee to a shindig that’s happening at night. After a couple of weird knocks, they went in a things were quiet, but after the ok, the event got started and it was nothing that Red and the others ever experienced. This was giving her ideas, even after talking with Dee before Solider Cards do their monthly or so routine checkups that same night. The 3 friends flee discreetly and made their way out of town, but not before Chester dropped off a note to his aunt at the inn and getting their disguises while leaving the rest of their things behind.
Fast forward again, Red does her training with Twee and Dora then does something that was unacceptable like sitting on the floor and she commands them to do so. She basically asks them what do they really want in life, which probably got them second guessing their careers of being ladies of the court. She then discreetly without actually saying it, invites them to their second party by looking for the opportunity. The invitations were passed out once again, Red made a memo to the staff of the castle to clear out since Red decided that’s where the party is happening, I mean, why wouldn’t the staff clear out for a few hours by order of the princess herself. Why at the castle you wonder? Cause her mom wanted some good quality tea sets for the Tea Ceremony at the Looking Glass Mountain and she’s making the trip and won’t come back until Friday morning, which was the chance that cannot be looked away. Chester even found someone with a boom box. Red took the day off to set up lights, mirrors and decorations. Katy, granddaughter of the Caterpillar, yes the one smoking the Hookah lol, is the one with the boom box which she found in her grandpa’s storage and is ready to play the tapes that Red had gotten from Dee, who got those and other things that washed up from the sea near at Bramble Bay, the place that scared The Queen cause she can’t control it. Another person that is helping with the party is Bill, who was in Chester’s homeschooling group and was even taught how to cook by his aunt as she used to cook for the Duchess, so he was gonna cook for the party.
Before and during the party, you’ll notice some tensions between Red and Ace. That was happening before that night but now, it was more obvious. Like when Ace saw Red in her pale pink dress she put on. He was really captivated at her beauty, just as Red was when she notices his eyes. As the party was happening with every kid coming in colorful clothes that weren’t red, black, white or gray, Red gave a speech, though it didn’t seem to have an impact. Then Katy started playing one of the tapes and the song that first played, you guessed it, ‘Be Our Guest’ sunged by a young Ben and his glee club. Even though that wasn’t my favorite song from the album, I couldn’t help but play the song from my phone and listened to it as I read how Red and Ace danced with never having to dance before. At first, it was a lil challenge but they figured how to move to the beat with some snaps, some claps and some body movements and they were becoming decent dancers. More kids followed suit as some started off robotic like and others were moving smoothly. Katy then switches to a faster song. Honestly, I thought about it and played ‘Set it Off’ since that’s the first one that came to my head when she said a faster beat. Everyone was enjoying themselves to the song, even Red and Ace. They inched closer and closer to each other with one of Ace’s hands on top of Red’s. He said her name and he leaned even closer to her and when I stopped at when the guy on the song said “Three, Two, One, ugh!” The lights switched on, the music cut off and then a loud voice belonging to the Queen of Hearts herself boomed, “WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?!”
That’s when everyone run and panics when Solider Cards came from all sides. Red and the other two went to one of the secret passageways that was hidden underneath the castle. They escaped but then they camped for the night and planned on going to the Pool of Tears to hopefully able to swim their way out of Wonderland. As they went on to Vorpal Mountain to try to get to the Pool of Tears to leave Wonderland, the Armored Guard came out of nowhere hunting them down. While Red was looking on, Chester and Ace whispered something to each other then told Red they should split up and race to the Pool of Tears that way if one get caught, the others go for help. Red was climbing up but then that’s when she heard noises and saw that the Armored Guard got both Ace and Chester. They were more formidable than the regular solider cards. As she saw Ace got a cut from one of the arrows that was shot, she feared for their safety and realized that they planned all along to get caught so that way Red could escape. Now she wasn’t about to let her only friends that she’d known for two weeks get taken away. After running into a group of guys on her way back home and taking, well commanded, a horse from them, she made it back to the castle.
As she was infiltrating her own home, she discovers a general solider card at the entrance and he was alone. Red subdued him from the back and threw him to the ground. She couldn’t get the helmet off and used a bobby pin to unlock it in the keyhole on the back of his helmet. I could believe my eyes when I read that the person under the helmet was the same little boy, maybe 12 or 13, I’m not sure, but he’s younger than Red, that was taken away after he stole and probably eaten those tarts he and everyone was forbidden to eat. The boy was confused, like he doesn’t remember anything. Realizing what happens to people who don’t follow the rules faces punishments that she didn’t think were possible(neither did I), Red told the boy to run as fast as he can.
She puts on the armor that was taken off and the helmet to pass off as one of the guards. She walks in and her mother came asking if Red has been found, she shook her head and was talking about the Tea Ceremony tomorrow which is still happening, shocking Red. When the Queen left, Red went to the dungeons and see her friends behind bars. Sure, she was mad that they planned on being captured, but she was happy to see them again in the inside. Man, why do I like that people are mad but happy to see their loved ones? Lol. So anyways, she planned to have them in chains but not locked to pass off as her transferring them someplace else, but then solider cards came and blocked their way and moved over so that the Queen of Hearts can walk down and looked at Red’s face to tell her that she disappointed her. It was a trap to see if Red would really comes for Chester and Ace to see for herself if they are really her friends. To her, Red is weak for caring for them. She then had all three of them locked in the dungeon together.
Wondering what’s going to happen to them, the next morning solider cards came and lead them to upper floor. Eventually, they separated them, with Red wailing that she wanted to go with them. She was met with other noblewomen who forcibly gave her a makeover. She was dolled up and met with her mother on the terrace on the second floor, overlooking the gardens. As the Queen of Hearts stared hard and icy at her, Red immediately wanted to know what happened to Chester and Ace. The two boys mentioned were chained to a red platform by arms and legs on wheels. The Queen made her speech, mentioning Auradon and Alice and then moves onto Red’s two friends. Just like what happened with that boy, The Queen of Hearts demonstrated the power she has over Wonderland. And when I mean power, I mean POWER! When Ace looked up at Red and gave her what was his last smile to her, she was panicking with a fast heartbeat in her throat.
The Queen of Hearst raised her hands and basically change a spell in a different language. Light came from her palms and that’s when it happened. Red saw a general solider card that was in Ace’s place and he was in red armor, staff in hand and a silver helmet with a badge on his chest that has a scarlet A over a big, terrible heart. Red knew it was Ace and ran to him and touch him. He didn’t even look at her before he went to the Queen, pressed his fist to his chest and knelt before her. He joined with the other solider card and Red can’t tell the difference. Then she noticed a cat with chestnut fur, the same color as Chester’s floppy hair. Knowing it was Chester made her choke and it was then he gave a toothy grin which wasn’t the same as his usual smile and disappeared leaving a floating smile before it rode the breezy wind. Angry at her mother, who promised she wouldn’t hurt them, she did say she didn’t take their heads off.
Tears came out of my eyes when I read that part and everytime I think about it😢. Those poor boys! Their lives were just taken like that, not in death, but it might as well be. Red doesn’t even recognized them and vice versa. She knew that her two male companions, the first and only friends she made over the course of two weeks, are gone. Just like that in a blink of an eye. As much as Red wanted to leave, she knows right now she couldn’t, not after what her mom did. She blames herself for the predicament. She thought that if she never met them, they would still be here. While she was going through the dilemma, The Queen give her the laws she written down for Red to read out. From this point out, she would be indifferent, will have no more friends, was gonna learn more about being a ruler of Wonderland. As she was reading her first royal decree that Every gathering that has more than 2 Wonderlandians must have a pre approved purpose, Red swore that with the flame she has within her, she would light up, burn it down and paint the town red!❤️
And now, for the moment you’re all waiting for, the Special Bonus Exclusive Content!!!!
It starts off with the King and Queen of Auradon, Ben and Mal, as they rode off in a carriage on a rickety road to Camelot Heights as part of their tour around the United States of Auradon. There they met up with Jay, Evie and Doug and gave each other hugs! I know it’s not the same with “him” and it makes me sad to think about it, but he’ll always be in our hearts and we’ll remember for the great person he turned out to be. King Arthur greeted Mal and Ben soon after and mentions his son Artie will join with them later in the evening. Evie and Doug talks about next season’s styles as they found some great fabrics at the markets of Camelot Heights while Jay helped them carried the rugs from those said markets. Then Archimedes came into the scene and let me tell ya, he’s probably my favorite character in the part cause as King Arthur mentions, he tells it like it is 😂! The group began to walk down the hall until they made it to the legendary Round Table! That’s when King Charming and Queen Ella made their appearance and greeted Mal and Ben. And yes, they are Formerly named Prince Chaming and Cinderella! As Ben shushed Mal about how rocky the trip was and instead said it’s been smooth, the couple before them introduces their daughter, Chloe! Doug mentions she’s going to Auradon Prep next year and wants to know what she can expect. Archimedes tells them that the school used to be Merlin Academy and in a petty way, talks about how trouble it was when Merlin was headmaster. With at least Evie curious about what kind of trouble, Archimedes talks of cursed vines, stolen books, dragons and a mysterious disappearance. He was then going to talk about his parents as he knows the tea, Ella(or Cinderella if you prefer, honestly me too) gave him a regal stare that tells him to shut up while King Charming was enjoying himself as he watches his wife😂😂😂. But he did say something about unauthorized use of magic, trespassing in the dungeons, and an epic battle. When Mal, Evie, Jay and Doug talked about their experiences at Auradon Prep, Chloe tells them that she’s really into sport and wants to join tourney as a forward, exciting Jay more than he thought it did and Mal was a lil estatic when Chloe also says that she’s really into history. But that after when she mentioned that she was homeschooled all her life and had only a tutor and governess. And also, this part answers the question that many of you probably have been wondering and asking yourselves when they casted Chloe, Cinderella and King Charming. Yes, Chad is her brother. There is no alternate reality or none of that, just like I always thought and knew. I know Chad is white, but come on. Adoption is a thing and that’s really likely the case. It’s mentioned that he’s her brother after Chloe says that Chad never really talks to her about Auradon Prep to her, making Jay thinking it’s not really that hard to guess but when Chloe’s and Chad’s parents looked at him, he says he’s a busy young man. A quick save by the ex-thief as the couple smiled at him. But Chloe already knew how Jay really felt about her brother and she doesn’t blame him since he lived with him lol😂. As the last statement of the bonus content, Chloe mentioned of how there aren’t any more VKs at the school with Evie saying that they’re a dying breed now that the Villains and the VKs are free from the Isle. But then, Ben and Mal looked at each other knowing that there’s still more not in Auradon Prep, but in Wonderland!
And there you have it! That’s my full review on Beyond the Isle of the Lost Wonderland! It was a rollercoaster I tell ya. Watching Red developing into more of an independent character and learning about all the things she’s missing out on while being forced to be the perfect princess by her mother, The Queen of Hearts. She threw a party after the first failed attempt only to have her friends taken away from her, maybe forever. What’s worse is that she was falling for one of them. That probably hurts more than ever. But from the sounds of it, she’s going to do whatever it takes until she can take down her mother and take down Wonderland along with her. Can’t wait to see how this will play out in the movie! So remember, Descendants The Rise of Red will premiere on Disney+ July 12th! Don’t miss it!

First, you will need the material and tool.
https://preview.redd.it/aks1ks98rszc1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1c2d71d94a0d3adaeecf5b1dcf7e9e802c5bcf46

• leather

mine was 1/8 (4mm), it was necessary to be stiff to absorb the shock without collapsing and it was what i have on hand. if like me you didn't knew where to buy it, ask your local shoemaker, mine wasn't selling it but direct me to a seller on Facebook marketplace. my leather of 4"x7" cost me 100$Canadian.

• plywood

it will be your work surface, your straight line and your square. mine was 36" x 16"

• plier

it will be useful to thread the needle thru a hole if it is too hard. mostly use when you there is already a thread and you need a second pass in the same hole.

• waxed thread

buy the one you like, 150D seems a good gauge. the bigger, the harder to double thread.

• needle

don't buy the leather needle, they are way to big, mine were breaking too often. go to a sewing shop and look for what ever quality needle you can pass the thread to it's eye but small enough to not fight against the leather hole.

• drill bit

i can't remember the size....1/16??? as long as you can easily go thru the hole
https://preview.redd.it/fadtaa8l0tzc1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dc2556d88e53225e6045d49bc866a483332f172e
with the needle on single pass. you are fine

• leather dye

what ever you like but be careful to not buy something that will stain (wet or dry) your bag

• pencil
• ruler
• measuring tape
• utility knife

https://preview.redd.it/fz7egtn4wszc1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ad3405107ae0eaa7d17da7b4b26088cb56cedfec
https://preview.redd.it/ktacfe7p1tzc1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4c44e12c0b2a15c855d01b86521e9aec6474dfa1

• contact cement

it will help you glue together the leather than make some hole and sew it nice and easy. be careful of extra glue seeping out or it will show and will not correctly dye

• i don't know the name of this pliers in English. very useful to keep in place while the glue is drying

https://preview.redd.it/fadtaa8l0tzc1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dc2556d88e53225e6045d49bc866a483332f172e
to find the proper size of my sleeve, i did wrap my laptop with leather and mark the length used to wrap it. don't forget the extra length to overlap to sew it together! i forgot the exact measurement. i did the process again and it gave me 25" had an other 1/2 to take it in and out smoothly plus 3/4 overlap. we have grand total of 26" 1/4 (25" + 1/2 extra loose + 3/4 overlap)
the height will be to your taste. mine is at a diagonal to easily grab my laptop in and out, to make it easier to put it in one corner and slide in. and to somewhat protect the top corner (graphic card side). to put a number on that 15" x 11"3/4 of the cylinder sleeve, not the flat piece of leather.
https://preview.redd.it/bokmqh9n6tzc1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e010acf9caba3575141837751f4879b1e5c5a310
https://preview.redd.it/j77g9iyn6tzc1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9e6caecf7a027f5cc984701e9a6b77049205ce22
https://preview.redd.it/rr54aqpo6tzc1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=681668f6b5818c3c54df90b134ffff0e8386e5da
once you glued the overlap and it is dry, put your laptop in and measure how much of a diagonal you want. keep in mind, you need your laptop 1" off the base to sew your bottom piece of leather. like i say earlier, 15" top to bottom will fit your FW16 (14" wide) laptop perfect than 11"3/4 the short end. mark where the hole will be with a ruler and make hole at even and short distance (not too short to rip the leather while sewing) with your drill. sew your double thread (2 parallel thread) and sew back on the last 4 hole for extra durability (tug on your thread, you don't want it loose). Do not sew further than where your diagonal will go ( you don"t want to cut your continuous thread). To cut a diagonal, use you pencil and mark where you will cut, than use a utility knife over your plywood, it is much easier and safer to do multiple light pass to cut your leather.
here is the technique i use to sew leather https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFDo-dtr9mk
https://preview.redd.it/egfsedwz6tzc1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=908027b5a5c36b334fcc4c8abd7a39deb78b53e4
OK. you have a cylinder now! you need to cut and install the bottom piece of leather. cut a piece of 10" 7/8 x 3"
it will represent 1" of side wall X 1" bottom laptop support X 1" of side wall. glue one wall and start to sew at 1/8 from the bottom. second thread, sew it at 1" from the bottom. do the same on the other side. easy to say but hard on your finger.
https://preview.redd.it/67m8ed688tzc1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=285b4867ba96eda2e2cfa4ef77a00aadbf3014c1
congrats, you have a bear bone laptop sleeve.
now you need to mold your laptop to fit in. don't be scare but, your sleeve will be wet with your laptop in it for hours.
https://preview.redd.it/y8t88ryn8tzc1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ec8dfedd427d8ad0a5ee7064222ab51f5be7e3bb
put your sleeve in the sink and drench it with water. go to town! dry up the excess water, put your laptop in a thin but safe garbage bag (fold and tape your garbage bag for nicer result) than put you laptop in the sleeve. with your finger force the leather to take the laptop shape than compress it between with towel and book to dry while being compressed.
https://preview.redd.it/kxk6bd4j9tzc1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5d732a2a7767363599d32176305e71d91d0d2268
once it did take the shape of the laptop and is humid, put it in front of a fan or a dehumidifier and let it dry, remove the laptop and let it dry even more.
https://preview.redd.it/kxbzjjry9tzc1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3309842f87e73f007146283da5fa9a6725f91f4f
https://preview.redd.it/symc9sxz9tzc1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6c3b7e5fa79c4fc4a140e96490584e1047d20cf8
https://preview.redd.it/3fqrzqo0atzc1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8bd0a47e8b210921bf610b3d514c672042801496
don't put your laptop in the wrong orientation like i did in this picture, you want the laptop to always be in the same position from now on.
https://preview.redd.it/q0fdmox7atzc1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eb86e8d5033ee5d0b6fb087b64b8303c04d52180
find some leather dye, put multiple light coat with a clean rag. enjoy!
https://preview.redd.it/w0uemypeatzc1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=95ad20e6e458fda55efa9d782885e44a11122d38
https://preview.redd.it/8mlefe2fatzc1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a35a76d9810b878f0c6333d1eb072487bfb6ed3f
https://preview.redd.it/9rnysbdfatzc1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f0f1a78b66505ff8409f32cb2f4951c0aeb07507
https://preview.redd.it/hghjk6ofatzc1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=174219d8475f62139677a89142be9cab4bb33e53

• after 2 months of use. it feel so good to put the laptop in the sleeve IF the sleeve stay in the bag. on it's own, the sleeve buckle because it is too soft other wise in the bag, it is perfect.
• i wouldn't go tighter ( it is not a gun in a holster or a tool secured in a leather pouch). you want it to be wide enough to smoothly take your laptop in and out. same measurement is good and bigger is OK, but not tighter.
• the bottom shifted a bit, it doesn't look really good but doesn't affect the main purpose of the sleeve. absorb bottom impact. the sleeve stand just fine with the laptop,
• it is very gentle on the plastic and metal and haven't seen wear mark.

important to notice! your laptop might not fit in your backpack with 1 extra inch at the bottom.
that's it :)

We are playing a campaign set in my DM's homebrew world, a sort of Norse-esque world where we are sent by our village rulers to investigate an empty city.
Well, the city was infected by a plague and us three 3rd level PCs wander around town a bit. This story features me, a Viking, who is traveling with our gunslinger fighter, and we are both accompanied by the brains of this operation, a small, young, kinda weak Wizard named Fyod.
The other two examine the town hall, while I decide to look at the message board for the town and see if I can gather any info about this plague.
That was my first mistake.
While up in the town hall, 300ft away from me, the two see movement, and our trigger-happy gunslinger decides to crack a shot. They roll initiative.
They end up fighting an undead, frozen, reanimated corpse kind of guy, and my character rolls perception checks (with a -1) to see if I can notice the fighting. Well, it takes a good while before I do.
Gunslinger fires off a few shots, expending his grit points while doing so, and Fyod teleports across the hall with misty step before blasting the creature down to one health with scorching ray, and finishing off the kill.
After the fight is won, my character arrives, without having helped, which could have been useful due to me not needing to expend any spell slots, ability points, or anything that is finite, and instead, we now are left with a gritless gunslinger and a wizard who has one level 2 spell slot left (and some level ones).
DM: "You notice something wiggling in the body of the fallen creature"
Upon examining, three swarms of maggots (these are no ordinary maggots, they have large teeth and can burrow through things) emerge, getting ready to attack us.
Some quick things to know about the maggots: a. They are swarms. B. They move incredibly slow, and C. Their entire kit revolves around ensnaring you with an AOE difficult terrain before devouring you with some high damage attacks.
Well, none of us realized this. Our wizard gets hit immediately and is down to four health. We, in our infinite wisdom, do not have a healer, instead relying our our DM's benevolance to give our gunslinger a backstory ability to brew a healing kind of mead.
Fun fact: We managed to roll a combined initiative score of 17 through the three of us, a 7, a 6, and I got a four.
The wizard is freaking out when his turn arrives, so he uses his last level two spell slot to cast Rope Trick, before climbing into the pocket dimension that it creates. (You touch a length of rope that is up to 60 feet long. One end of the rope then rises into the air until the whole rope hangs perpendicular to the ground. At the upper end of the rope, an invisible entrance opens to an extradimensional space that lasts until the spell ends.
The extradimensional space can be reached by climbing to the top of the rope. The space can hold as many as eight Medium or smaller creatures. The rope can be pulled into the space, making the rope disappear from view outside the space.
Attacks and spells can't cross through the entrance into or out of the extradimensional space, but those inside can see out of it as if through a 3-foot-by-5- foot window centered on the rope.
Anything inside the extradimensional space drops out when the spell ends.)
Our DM rules that the swarm can climb the rope, but due to the extradimensional space only being able to hold 8 creatures, they said that 7 maggots could enter at a time with 7 health, and I assume that they would deal less damage due to swarm mechanics.
They also ruled that Fyod could design 8 squares on the battle mat to be his rope trick area, and once he moved in them, then they would be set. Fyod chose to do a straight line of eight squares to try and put as much distance between himself and the maggot swarm.
The issue is, our wizard, who was at four health, just got himself cornered by maggots in a maggot Thermopylae, forced to try and take them out seven at a time until either the swarm died or he did. Man put himself into the only position he could where no one else in our party could help him.
He wanted to pull up the rope but was too cornered by maggots to do so, and as a 14 base health wizard, couldn't take any opportunity attacks to do so.
While this is occuring, our gunslinger whips out a sword, but due to their -1 strength, it doesn't work out to well for them (they figured that in character it would not make sense to shoot bullets at maggots).
The wizard takes down the first seven maggots with a nice fire bolt, but the next swarm approacheth.
Gunslinger goes down to the maggots and makes a death saving throw, which our DM rules will be rolled behind the screen.
I attack the maggot swarm in front of me, we are all locked in, 1v1ing a swarm of maggots each in close quarters combat. This is when our wizard has the brilliant idea of, "Hey, maybe, since these things move so slowly, we should run away from them and shoot them from further away."
He then is lowered to one health point, and decides that he is gonna book it for the rope trick enterance, and try to get his body out of here if it's the last thing he does. Man passes an athletics check to dive out of the enterance, gets demolished by an attack of opportunity, and his dead body flies out of the space in the sky, falling to the town hall below, squishing a few maggots in the process.
Overall? We've probably dealt a combined twenty damage to these three maggot swarms.
I decide that I cannot 1v3 these maggot swarms, so I rush towards our gunslinger to try and save him. I take the opportunity attack and get dealt some damage, but that's ok, because I have the Viking Soldier archetype, granting me damage bonuses for the more damage i've taken.
I feed the gunslinger a healing mead, just in time to get attacked by the maggot swarm and hear my DM utter the infamous words,
"So, uh, does a nat 20 hit?"
I fall to the ground, weeping, but that's IRL. In game I'm reduced to three health, which is equal to my CON modifier, so with my class, I get a bonus d12 of damage to any attacks made.
I proceed to run away.
Upon finally getting my next attack? With a d12 of bonus damage?
I miss.
Meanwhile our wizard has been going behind the DM screen, and we don't know the results, but what we do know is that they're going up for the fourth time. They could die here. The roll is made. Silence follows.
We continue fighting.
The gunslinger shoots the maggots, I had previously drawn my bow as an action, still runnning in circles, trying to get across the town hall to my wizard to stabilize him, I finally arrive at my fallen brethren's side, and am left with a decision.
Is it funnier for my wizard to die because he tried some rope trick shenanigans and put himself into Custer's Last Stand but against some maggots?
I shoot the maggot swarm one more time.
I hit.
Our wizard makes a death safe in the die tower, in front of the board.
They roll a 10. Alive by mere inches.
The gunslinger goes down again after bringing a maggot swarm extremely low.
I shoot the maggots and they die.
We survived the encounter with a combined four health for the entire party.
This was session 2 of the campaign.
It was supposed to be easy.
Wizard earned himself an inspiration point for the idea of the Rope Trick.

Image compilation: https://i.imgur.com/TDSJJy8.jpeg or https://i.ibb.co/5LsKk57/8e93e27ff027.jpg
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So I realized I was below average early on I lost my virginity at 18 and my gf at the time pulled down my pants I was not her 1st at she was stunned and 1st I was like wow she must think I'm huge compared to her ex than she laughs when I said that and said your a lot smaller as she gave me head we ended up having sex but every time we fucked she'll not feeling she started to joke around about how small I was and eventually it became a huge turn on and than she would often compare my to her pinky it was such a turn on
bounus the best threeway I could of ever asked for eventually she told her bff and her bff wanted to see it so one time when we were hang out they ask if I could wip it out and explaining that my girlfriend ex was 7 inches and girthy and in high school they had a three way thinking I might get lucking with a three way two I pulled my penis out and they started laughing I got hard immediately and then the best friend grabbed a ruler 📏 my gf said fine ill measure it then here friend said if it's even close to 7 ill give you a three way as she laughed nope sorry 4.2 (name of bff) and to make it worst he last like 30 seconds than her BFF grin really he prejacks hahahaha at that moment I precummed and her friend got up and ask my gf if she could see and my gf BFF started to rub my cock I and when she said it's so thin to I'm so sorry for you I came and came hard I did

I have a regular size arms but a long torso. So shirts never ever never fit correctly.
I've tried everything , getting Tall size ( then the arms are too long), getting regular size ,then it shows my stomach. I have a bit of a gut (skinny fat) that I am losing so that adds another layer of complexity.
Only stores that seems to work 1 shirt out of 10 is Gap, bass pro shop and JC penny. I want quality shirts, so shopping at Bass pro shop is ok, but I can't and don't want to wear outdoors shirts everyday.
Do I need a Tailor ? or do I just spend an excessive amount of time shopping until something fits "right" Very random ,exhausting and frustrating process.
Here is my wish list:

1. to have shirts that feel, look and fit good according to me, and wearing something that fits a mannequin with a 10 inch torso.
2. 5 button downs , no tuck that is not too long / not too short , and doesn't have arms that look like a stretched out gorilla.
3. 5 polo shirts , nice stiff material that doesn't make me look like a bell.

Even the tailored websites really don't let you modify the key dimensions of a shirt , only adding things like a pocket and collar type. I've even taken a ruler to the store with me , and people look at me like I'm crazy, but the struggle is real!
is there even a solution , where do I even start ?

Author note: The Cryopod to Hell is a Reddit-exclusive story with over three years of editing and refining. As of this post, the total rewrite is 2,174,000+ words long! For more information, check out the link below:
What is the Cryopod to Hell?
Join the Cryoverse Discord server!
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...................................
(Previous Part)
(Part 001)
"Fifty million years?" Jason asks, as he looks at Lady Calanthra in shock. "That feels a little over the top!"
The Fairy Matriarch smiles at the young Wordsmith with kind eyes. "It is not as exaggerated as you believe, Jason. The Angels were formed from the dust of the Cosmos. They are many billions of years old. Even the Titans and Dragons are far older than my people, despite coming into existence well after their predecessors. In that respect, the annals of time would treat fifty million and ten million years as almost the same point of origination. A blink of an eye in the cosmic scale."
She lifts her chin up to deliver a playful smile.
"But also, you did not hear what I said properly. I said the fairies arrived in the Milky Way fifty million years ago. And that single word is what should make my story most interesting to you."
"Arrived..." Jason repeats. "You didn't 'evolve' like the Volgrim did. And if that's the case... then where did you arrive from?"
Instead of immediately answering his question, Calanthra licks her soft pink lips. "Mmm. Are you busy right now? I would like to invite you to speak to me in person on Pixiv. It will make things... more convenient to explain."
"You want me to travel across the galaxy right now?" Jason asks in surprise. "I... I guess I could. But I've never been to Pixiv before. I don't have a way to arrive there immediately, so I'll have to travel through space or take a Warpgate."
"Is that so?" She asks innocently. "And here I thought you might have put down one of those 'waypoints' of yours on our world."
"You know about Waypoints?" Jason asks, his expression incredulous. "How?!"
"I know a great many things about you, the Volgrim, and others that I would not normally reveal." Calanthra says mysteriously. "We fairies are more than meets the eye. We keep a low profile and deliberately blend among the so-called 'monsters,' but that does not mean we are like them. It merely allows us to blend in with the Milky Way's populace so that we do not provoke its native forces."
Jason nods slowly, but a deep suspicion wells up within his heart. "The more you talk, the more I begin to feel your people are a bit... sinister."
Calanthra shrugs. "I can see why you would think that. But I assure you, we fairies are quite benign. We hold no ambitions toward galactic conquest. Even if we wanted to act in such a gluttonous manner, we couldn't. Our species has been... limited."
"Limited, how?" Jason probes.
"We cannot become Cosmics." Calanthra says softly. "We were cursed by a powerful Ruler. The shackles placed upon us are forged through the Truths wielded by those Beyond Cosmic. Even your Wordsmithing would be void before such a power."
Jason nods slowly, not sure if he fully believes her, and in fact hoping she's exaggerating.
The fact some horrifying eldritch horror could seal his powers frightens Jason out of his wits. Against such might, what use is struggling at all?
"Well," Calanthra says, "since you have not set a Waypoint upon Pixiv, we'll just have to use the old-fashioned method. In fact, this transmission Crystal has two functions. Not only can it send and receive audio-visual transmissions, but it also has a Recall function built into it. If you can copy that function, you will be able to travel with it back to Pixiv to meet me in person."
"This crystal can travel all the way across the galaxy?" Jason asks, feeling the ability must surely be exaggerated. "I find that hard to believe."
"It is made from exotics native to Pixiv." Calanthra explains. "Besides, imagine how troublesome it would be if every time I finished conversing with someone, I had to send a courier to fetch my crystals back. Therefore, I build a homing function into every Fairy Transmission Crystal I send out in order to retrieve them later."
Jason nods. Her words make sense. If he conversed in such a manner, he'd probably do the same thing, too.
"Alright. So I just replicate this crystal's homing function, and I can pop over to say hi?"
"That's right." Calanthra says. "I will be awaiting your arrival."
She lowers her head, then her body rapidly dissolves into motes of light. The crystal hovers in midair for a second afterward, then plummets downward, landing in the grass with a soft thud.
Jason bends over. He picks it up, then stands and erases the chair behind himself from existence.
"Hmm..." Jason mutters softly. "Blinker's my good friend. Melia has treated humanity well. Calanthra seems fine... but I don't think I should go into a potential enemy's territory all alone. I don't know anything about Calanthra beyond what she's told me..."
Instead of teleporting directly to Pixiv, Jason takes a half-minute to jump back into Chrona's space and talk to Fiona and Blinker before he ultimately warps right back to where he was standing 30 real-time seconds before. He picks up the Transmission Crystal, holds it up, and utters a few words of power.
"Observe. Triangulate. Locate. Pinpoint. Activate."
An instant later, he vanishes from the spot and emerges where his Wordsmithing predicted he would; right at the entrance to a massive white castle carved out of limestone-like rock somewhere on Pixiv's western continent.
With night having fallen on the fairy's homeworld, Jason takes a moment to look around. He finds that this gigantic castle spans an area of twenty square kilometers, and a cursory sweep with his Wordsmithing identifies fewer than fifty thousand fairies inside. The sparse population makes him raise an eyebrow, but he realizes the fairies have always had trouble procreating, so their numbers are probably low in general.
The starry sky above catches Jason's attention. He looks up and becomes momentarily dazed, marveling at how much brighter and beautiful it is compared to Tarus II. With less light radiating from the castle than from Tarus II's main city, the light pollution levels are lower, allowing him to see far more of the cosmic brilliance above.
"Wow..." Jason mutters.
Surprisingly, aside from the castle, there isn't anything else in the area but a beautiful and pristine forest. With all fairies possessing wings, they don't have the mobility issues humans do, and can thus live further apart from each other.
Jason starts to step toward the castle, but as he does, a formidable power begins to press down upon his body. Startled, he backs away, and that feeling reduces.
What the heck?
Jason tries stepping toward the castle again, but this time more slowly. As he inches nearer, the power presses down harder and harder, allowing him to comprehend what it even is.
A gravity field... Jason thinks.
If he were to continue walking forward, the gravity would double, then triple, then continue growing stronger and strong until he collapsed into a shivering pile of flesh and bone.
Two words appear in Jason's head as he makes this connection.
Formation Magic!
One of the fairies' signature abilities makes its appearance, and the Wordsmith easily recognizes it thanks to years spent talking to Blinker. As one of the premier magical species, the fairies possess incredible means to fortify static positions with powerful countermeasures, as well as to provide themselves with unique utility effects other species, including the Volgrim, could never hope to replicate!
Jason takes a moment, then he utters a Word of Power.
"Neutralize."
However, contrary to his expectation, the gravity field doesn't disappear.
It only weakens!
He continues to feel it pressing down upon him, though its might becomes substantially less potent, allowing him to walk forward again.
Wordsmithing can't neutralize fairy magic? Jason thinks, silently shocked in his heart. Nothing has ever been capable of countering my magic before. This is unexpected...
He walks forward, arriving at the gate after a short minute. Abruptly, a woman appears before him, as if popping out of midair. She wears a pretty pink dress with jeweled green leaves embroidered into it at random, her dress's color matching her hair. Surprisingly, she appears quite young, perhaps only twenty years old by human standards.
Of course, considering she is a fairy, Jason dares not assume she is as young as she appears.
"Hi, Wordsmith!" The fairy girl says cheerfully. "The Matriarch told me you would be arriving soon. I thought that was interesting how you managed to negate most of the power of the Ninth Exterior Formation. Your magic is neat!"
Jason blinks. "You saw me?"
"Oh, sure. I was standing right here the whole time." She says. "I was just hiding inside an Invisibility Conflux. It's a simple trick, no big deal! Oh! I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Hefastria, but you can call me Hefa! It's nice to make your acquaintance!"
"Miss Hefastria." Jason says politely, nodding his head. "So you're here to take me to Matriarch Calanthra?"
"Yup!" Hefa says cutely, with a wink and a smile. Her wings flutter playfully as she looks him up and down. "It's not often a male gets to enter the Capital. This will be a treat for everyone!"
Jason follows after Hefa while she waves her hand to open invisible gateways past each Formation that blocks their path.
"There's no... men inside?" Jason asks.
"We only have half a dozen male fairies still alive." Hefa explains. "And non-fairies are strictly disallowed on Pixiv. Therefore, in the Matriarch's palace, there are only girls."
She shoots a suspicious glance at Jason.
"But don't get any ideas. Even if someone propositions you, you have to turn them down!"
"I'm married." Jason says, pointing to the ring on his finger. "And faithful."
"Married, huh?" Hefa says uncertainly. "What's that mean? Did someone cut off your... equipment?"
"What? No!" Jason gasps, feeling a cold chill down below. "It means I already have a wife. I have a female human I love very much!"
"Ohh, you have a mating pair already." Hefa says, relieved. "That's right! I remember reading somewhere about how humans tend to lean monogamous. How strange! Wouldn't you get bored after being stuck with the same lady for 100,000 years? Variety is the spice of life!"
"Humans don't typically live to 100,000 years..." Jason says slowly. "Or even a thousand years. Most barely make it to a hundred..."
"Seriously?" Hefa gasps, before smacking her forehead. "Right! Humans die super fast too. Jeez, your species is WEIRD! No wonder they rank among the Lower Seventy."
"The Lower Seventy?" Jason repeats.
"Yeah. The Lower Seventy Sentients of the Milky Way." Hefa helpfully explains. "You know, like Goblins, Harpies, Cats, Dogs..."
"Oh, come on." Jason retorts. "Humans are way better than cats and dogs."
"Ehh, I've seen the crystal-cordings of your wars. I wouldn't be so sure if I were you." Hefa says smugly.
The two travel further into the castle's interior land, and as they do, Jason blinks in surprise when the night sky abruptly vanishes, replaced instead with a brilliant sunny day!
Birds chirp in trees planted along the cobbled roadside. Dogs run around, barking playfully as they tussle with one another. More than a few fairy girls water their gardens as they stand outside their delightful rustic cottages, blinking their huge watery eyes as they look up and see a human male walking into their domain.
"Dogs?" Jason asks, looking at Hefa curiously.
"A fairy's best friend!" She chirps. "We found all sorts of cute critters on that Earth of yours, so we moved them here. I like raccoons the best. I have a dozen of them living at my manor!"
She notices the surprise on Jason's face. "What? Earth isn't special. We have all kinds of other creatures from across the galaxy that we moved here. It's easy for fairies to do."
"I see." Jason says, looking away from her to gaze at the paradise-like interior that was hidden by the external formations. "I'm a little surprised, is all. To think Pixiv was hiding such wonders from the rest of the galaxy."
"We live simple lives." Hefa says, her voice becoming more subdued. "After the Ancient Tragedies, we decided we would pursue our own happiness without harming the interests of the external galactic leaders. It's allowed us to keep our heads down."
"That's an admirable way of thinking." Jason praises. "If only there wasn't a Threat looming over our heads, maybe we humans could try something similar."
Hefa shakes her head. She looks at the Wordsmith with a hint of sympathy.
"From what I have heard, your people are far too warlike for that to ever be possible. Your storied history is nothing but violence stacked on violence. While a few might manage to pursue a simpler lifestyle, the vast majority never could."
"We may never know." Jason concludes.
After ten long minutes of walking, the two of them finally arrive at the main castle located in the depths of the capital city. Massive statues of ancient male and female fairies loom above them, towering hundreds of feet tall. As they walk inside, these statues face the walkway, each one striking heroic poses that serve to awe the viewer.
Jason's eyes flick from one figure to another, reminding him of the El-Dorado room inside the Labyrinth where he found the statues of the Three Kings.
"I take it these fairies were figures of some renown?"
"Most of them have died." Hefa says regretfully. "Many of them came from the Precursor Era, before the Great Migration. The Matriarch will likely tell you about them, if you wish to know more."
Jason frowns. Precursor Era? Great Migration? Hmm...
No doubt, it must have something to do with what Calanthra told him before.
The fairies 'arrived' in the Milky Way, huh? I think I'm starting to get an idea of what the Matriarch meant.
As they walk past the line of statues, two at the very end catch Jason's eye.
He looks at the one on the right. "That's Lady Calanthra, isn't it?"
"Yes. That is our Matriarch." Hefa says, smiling at him.
Jason's gaze moves to the left, where he spots a much older-looking woman, her body covered in powerful-looking armor distinct from all the fairies before. Unlike her predecessors who wore beautiful and dainty robes or other pleasantries, this woman on the left at the end appears quite fearsome!
"She is the Matriarch's mother." Hefa says respectfully. "She was the former Matriarch, Lady Erenia. Unfortunately, she passed away from grievous wounds after the Great Migration, passing her position to her daughter."
"Wow. She must have been a mighty warrior." Jason mutters.
"The strongest fairy to have ever lived." Hefa acknowledges. "I was never able to meet her myself, as I was born millions of years after her death. But I have seen her exploits in the record crystals. If it wasn't for Lady Erenia, our whole species might have perished..."
Before long, Jason and Hefastria reach their final destination, the banquet hall, where they spot hundreds of royal fairy princesses eating together, giggling as they sit at a table. Innumerable eyes sweep toward Jason as he arrives, and whispers go up around the giant table.
"A man?"
"A human. I heard he possesses magical power."
"He's fairly handsome. Do you think mother would let us...?"
"Not a chance. You know what she always says about men."
"Aww..."
Jason's attuned ears easily pick up some of the conversations, but he maintains a neutral expression.
These fairy girls sure seem horny. Jason thinks.
He looks around the table for Calanthra, but to his surprise, he only spots her when he turns his gaze off to the side. There, he spots a huge golden throne positioned in the back of the room atop a tall platform. He almost slaps himself for missing it, giving how distinctive it is compared to everything else.
Hefa stops walking, then gestures to him. "You go on ahead. I've completed my task."
"Oh, alright." Jason says. "Nice meeting you, Hefastria."
"You too!" She chirps, waving cutely before flitting away.
Jason approaches the throne, and a silly thought occurs to him. It's weird how the fairies are all human-sized. I always assumed they preferred to stay small, like Blinker. I'll have to ask Calanthra about that later.
When Jason reaches the throne, Calanthra smiles at him. "I'm surprised you didn't teleport directly here."
"I wanted to take the scenic route." Jason replies, bowing his head politely. "It's good to meet you in person, Matriarch."
"Just 'Calanthra' is fine." Calanthra says with a dismissive wave. "You and I can be said to be equals, given we are the respective rulers of our civilizations. Let us not stand on ceremony."
"If you insist." Jason replies, raising his head.
Calanthra waves her hand, and an illusion formation activates, shrouding the space around herself and the Wordsmith in an impenetrable veil of secrecy. Instantly, all the pretty fairy princesses vanish from sight, and Jason finds himself standing in a pitch-black void where he can only make out Calanthra's radiant form, as well as her throne.
"Please excuse me, but I must take certain precautions." Calanthra explains. "What I am about to tell you should not be leaked to the Volgrim, nor the demons. In fact, I'd prefer if you didn't even tell your wife, Wordsmith."
Jason frowns. "Not even Phoebe? Let me guess. This has to do with your 'arrival' in the Milky Way. I've already made some guesses of my own."
"That's right." Calanthra affirms. "This secret is extremely sensitive, and it could paint my people as a target. I cannot force you to remain silent, but I would like to know if you are willing to promise not to leak a word of what I'm about to tell you to another soul."
"You came to me first." Jason says. "I must assume you're taking a risk telling me this. So, on my honor as Humanity's Hero, I promise not to tell anyone, including my own wife."
Calanthra's body sags slightly in relief. "Good. Thank you, Jason. I appreciate that you would say that. There's no point bothering with a soul contract or whatnot. I also tend to believe that cooperation and mutual benefits are superior when it comes to solidifying alliances."
"Oh? You want an alliance with me?" Jason asks, his eyebrows rising in surprise.
"You, yes, but more importantly, humanity as a species." Calanthra explains. "Because of the recent developments you and your wife revealed on that debate stage, I have reason to believe humanity and the fairies can offer one another substantial benefits in the coming years."
She continues. "Ordinarily, I would not go to these lengths, but as you well know, the Plague only continues to encroach on the Milky Way's stability. Our future is in flux, and my people face just as much risk of going extinct as you humans, the demons, and the Volgrim too."
"It is only together, in a unified capacity, that the fairies and the humans working together can continue to survive in this unfathomably cruel cosmos."
Jason nods seriously. He crosses his arms and widens his stance.
"You've piqued my interest. I'm listening." He says.
"As you may have already guessed," Calanthra explains, "my people, the Fairies, are not from the Milky Way. We are also not fifty million years old. In fact, like the Angels, we are a Precursor Civilization. We have existed since the formation of this Eternity."
Jason's heart skips a beat hearing the truth comes from her lips. He doesn't allow the emotion to show on his face.
"You're as old as the angels?" He asks meaningfully.
"Indeed, we are." Calanthra affirms. "And once, we were just as powerful. We were Cosmics standing at the apex of strength in our home galaxy."
Calanthra lowers her eyes. A deep sense of loss dances in the light of her pupils.
"But that was a long time ago. Our reign ended with the arrival of the Dark Ones."
"The Dark Ones?" Jason asks. "From Andromeda? You're from Andromeda?"
"We are." Calanthra answers. "The fairies were once the supreme rulers of Andromeda, many billions of years ago. But we fell because of our own infighting and the arrival of a superior Apex Species. Now, we are but a shadow of our former selves."
She sighs softly.
"I wonder if you would like to give voice to the question on your mind, Wordsmith."
"I have a lot of questions." Jason says, nodding slowly. "But... I guess I'll start with the first one. If fairies were once Apex Cosmics, and if you have a humanoid form along with wings... does that mean you are related to the angels?"
Calanthra smiles. "The angels? We are not related to them, no."
She pauses.
"But... have you ever heard of... Convergent Evolution?"
Next Part

"Fifty million years?" Jason asks, as he looks at Lady Calanthra in shock. "That feels a little over the top!"
The Fairy Matriarch smiles at the young Wordsmith with kind eyes. "It is not as exaggerated as you believe, Jason. The Angels were formed from the dust of the Cosmos. They are many billions of years old. Even the Titans and Dragons are far older than my people, despite coming into existence well after their predecessors. In that respect, the annals of time would treat fifty million and ten million years as almost the same point of origination. A blink of an eye in the cosmic scale."
She lifts her chin up to deliver a playful smile.
"But also, you did not hear what I said properly. I said the fairies arrived in the Milky Way fifty million years ago. And that single word is what should make my story most interesting to you."
"Arrived..." Jason repeats. "You didn't 'evolve' like the Volgrim did. And if that's the case... then where did you arrive from?"
Instead of immediately answering his question, Calanthra licks her soft pink lips. "Mmm. Are you busy right now? I would like to invite you to speak to me in person on Pixiv. It will make things... more convenient to explain."
"You want me to travel across the galaxy right now?" Jason asks in surprise. "I... I guess I could. But I've never been to Pixiv before. I don't have a way to arrive there immediately, so I'll have to travel through space or take a Warpgate."
"Is that so?" She asks innocently. "And here I thought you might have put down one of those 'waypoints' of yours on our world."
"You know about Waypoints?" Jason asks, his expression incredulous. "How?!"
"I know a great many things about you, the Volgrim, and others that I would not normally reveal." Calanthra says mysteriously. "We fairies are more than meets the eye. We keep a low profile and deliberately blend among the so-called 'monsters,' but that does not mean we are like them. It merely allows us to blend in with the Milky Way's populace so that we do not provoke its native forces."
Jason nods slowly, but a deep suspicion wells up within his heart. "The more you talk, the more I begin to feel your people are a bit... sinister."
Calanthra shrugs. "I can see why you would think that. But I assure you, we fairies are quite benign. We hold no ambitions toward galactic conquest. Even if we wanted to act in such a gluttonous manner, we couldn't. Our species has been... limited."
"Limited, how?" Jason probes.
"We cannot become Cosmics." Calanthra says softly. "We were cursed by a powerful Ruler. The shackles placed upon us are forged through the Truths wielded by those Beyond Cosmic. Even your Wordsmithing would be void before such a power."
Jason nods slowly, not sure if he fully believes her, and in fact hoping she's exaggerating.
The fact some horrifying eldritch horror could seal his powers frightens Jason out of his wits. Against such might, what use is struggling at all?
"Well," Calanthra says, "since you have not set a Waypoint upon Pixiv, we'll just have to use the old-fashioned method. In fact, this transmission Crystal has two functions. Not only can it send and receive audio-visual transmissions, but it also has a Recall function built into it. If you can copy that function, you will be able to travel with it back to Pixiv to meet me in person."
"This crystal can travel all the way across the galaxy?" Jason asks, feeling the ability must surely be exaggerated. "I find that hard to believe."
"It is made from exotics native to Pixiv." Calanthra explains. "Besides, imagine how troublesome it would be if every time I finished conversing with someone, I had to send a courier to fetch my crystals back. Therefore, I build a homing function into every Fairy Transmission Crystal I send out in order to retrieve them later."
Jason nods. Her words make sense. If he conversed in such a manner, he'd probably do the same thing, too.
"Alright. So I just replicate this crystal's homing function, and I can pop over to say hi?"
"That's right." Calanthra says. "I will be awaiting your arrival."
She lowers her head, then her body rapidly dissolves into motes of light. The crystal hovers in midair for a second afterward, then plummets downward, landing in the grass with a soft thud.
Jason bends over. He picks it up, then stands and erases the chair behind himself from existence.
"Hmm..." Jason mutters softly. "Blinker's my good friend. Melia has treated humanity well. Calanthra seems fine... but I don't think I should go into a potential enemy's territory all alone. I don't know anything about Calanthra beyond what she's told me..."
Instead of teleporting directly to Pixiv, Jason takes a half-minute to jump back into Chrona's space and talk to Fiona and Blinker before he ultimately warps right back to where he was standing 30 real-time seconds before. He picks up the Transmission Crystal, holds it up, and utters a few words of power.
"Observe. Triangulate. Locate. Pinpoint. Activate."
An instant later, he vanishes from the spot and emerges where his Wordsmithing predicted he would; right at the entrance to a massive white castle carved out of limestone-like rock somewhere on Pixiv's western continent.
With night having fallen on the fairy's homeworld, Jason takes a moment to look around. He finds that this gigantic castle spans an area of twenty square kilometers, and a cursory sweep with his Wordsmithing identifies fewer than fifty thousand fairies inside. The sparse population makes him raise an eyebrow, but he realizes the fairies have always had trouble procreating, so their numbers are probably low in general.
The starry sky above catches Jason's attention. He looks up and becomes momentarily dazed, marveling at how much brighter and beautiful it is compared to Tarus II. With less light radiating from the castle than from Tarus II's main city, the light pollution levels are lower, allowing him to see far more of the cosmic brilliance above.
"Wow..." Jason mutters.
Surprisingly, aside from the castle, there isn't anything else in the area but a beautiful and pristine forest. With all fairies possessing wings, they don't have the mobility issues humans do, and can thus live further apart from each other.
Jason starts to step toward the castle, but as he does, a formidable power begins to press down upon his body. Startled, he backs away, and that feeling reduces.
What the heck?
Jason tries stepping toward the castle again, but this time more slowly. As he inches nearer, the power presses down harder and harder, allowing him to comprehend what it even is.
A gravity field... Jason thinks.
If he were to continue walking forward, the gravity would double, then triple, then continue growing stronger and strong until he collapsed into a shivering pile of flesh and bone.
Two words appear in Jason's head as he makes this connection.
Formation Magic!
One of the fairies' signature abilities makes its appearance, and the Wordsmith easily recognizes it thanks to years spent talking to Blinker. As one of the premier magical species, the fairies possess incredible means to fortify static positions with powerful countermeasures, as well as to provide themselves with unique utility effects other species, including the Volgrim, could never hope to replicate!
Jason takes a moment, then he utters a Word of Power.
"Neutralize."
However, contrary to his expectation, the gravity field doesn't disappear.
It only weakens!
He continues to feel it pressing down upon him, though its might becomes substantially less potent, allowing him to walk forward again.
Wordsmithing can't neutralize fairy magic? Jason thinks, silently shocked in his heart. Nothing has ever been capable of countering my magic before. This is unexpected...
He walks forward, arriving at the gate after a short minute. Abruptly, a woman appears before him, as if popping out of midair. She wears a pretty pink dress with jeweled green leaves embroidered into it at random, her dress's color matching her hair. Surprisingly, she appears quite young, perhaps only twenty years old by human standards.
Of course, considering she is a fairy, Jason dares not assume she is as young as she appears.
"Hi, Wordsmith!" The fairy girl says cheerfully. "The Matriarch told me you would be arriving soon. I thought that was interesting how you managed to negate most of the power of the Ninth Exterior Formation. Your magic is neat!"
Jason blinks. "You saw me?"
"Oh, sure. I was standing right here the whole time." She says. "I was just hiding inside an Invisibility Conflux. It's a simple trick, no big deal! Oh! I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Hefastria, but you can call me Hefa! It's nice to make your acquaintance!"
"Miss Hefastria." Jason says politely, nodding his head. "So you're here to take me to Matriarch Calanthra?"
"Yup!" Hefa says cutely, with a wink and a smile. Her wings flutter playfully as she looks him up and down. "It's not often a male gets to enter the Capital. This will be a treat for everyone!"
Jason follows after Hefa while she waves her hand to open invisible gateways past each Formation that blocks their path.
"There's no... men inside?" Jason asks.
"We only have half a dozen male fairies still alive." Hefa explains. "And non-fairies are strictly disallowed on Pixiv. Therefore, in the Matriarch's palace, there are only girls."
She shoots a suspicious glance at Jason.
"But don't get any ideas. Even if someone propositions you, you have to turn them down!"
"I'm married." Jason says, pointing to the ring on his finger. "And faithful."
"Married, huh?" Hefa says uncertainly. "What's that mean? Did someone cut off your... equipment?"
"What? No!" Jason gasps, feeling a cold chill down below. "It means I already have a wife. I have a female human I love very much!"
"Ohh, you have a mating pair already." Hefa says, relieved. "That's right! I remember reading somewhere about how humans tend to lean monogamous. How strange! Wouldn't you get bored after being stuck with the same lady for 100,000 years? Variety is the spice of life!"
"Humans don't typically live to 100,000 years..." Jason says slowly. "Or even a thousand years. Most barely make it to a hundred..."
"Seriously?" Hefa gasps, before smacking her forehead. "Right! Humans die super fast too. Jeez, your species is WEIRD! No wonder they rank among the Lower Seventy."
"The Lower Seventy?" Jason repeats.
"Yeah. The Lower Seventy Sentients of the Milky Way." Hefa helpfully explains. "You know, like Goblins, Harpies, Cats, Dogs..."
"Oh, come on." Jason retorts. "Humans are way better than cats and dogs."
"Ehh, I've seen the crystal-cordings of your wars. I wouldn't be so sure if I were you." Hefa says smugly.
The two travel further into the castle's interior land, and as they do, Jason blinks in surprise when the night sky abruptly vanishes, replaced instead with a brilliant sunny day!
Birds chirp in trees planted along the cobbled roadside. Dogs run around, barking playfully as they tussle with one another. More than a few fairy girls water their gardens as they stand outside their delightful rustic cottages, blinking their huge watery eyes as they look up and see a human male walking into their domain.
"Dogs?" Jason asks, looking at Hefa curiously.
"A fairy's best friend!" She chirps. "We found all sorts of cute critters on that Earth of yours, so we moved them here. I like raccoons the best. I have a dozen of them living at my manor!"
She notices the surprise on Jason's face. "What? Earth isn't special. We have all kinds of other creatures from across the galaxy that we moved here. It's easy for fairies to do."
"I see." Jason says, looking away from her to gaze at the paradise-like interior that was hidden by the external formations. "I'm a little surprised, is all. To think Pixiv was hiding such wonders from the rest of the galaxy."
"We live simple lives." Hefa says, her voice becoming more subdued. "After the Ancient Tragedies, we decided we would pursue our own happiness without harming the interests of the external galactic leaders. It's allowed us to keep our heads down."
"That's an admirable way of thinking." Jason praises. "If only there wasn't a Threat looming over our heads, maybe we humans could try something similar."
Hefa shakes her head. She looks at the Wordsmith with a hint of sympathy.
"From what I have heard, your people are far too warlike for that to ever be possible. Your storied history is nothing but violence stacked on violence. While a few might manage to pursue a simpler lifestyle, the vast majority never could."
"We may never know." Jason concludes.
After ten long minutes of walking, the two of them finally arrive at the main castle located in the depths of the capital city. Massive statues of ancient male and female fairies loom above them, towering hundreds of feet tall. As they walk inside, these statues face the walkway, each one striking heroic poses that serve to awe the viewer.
Jason's eyes flick from one figure to another, reminding him of the El-Dorado room inside the Labyrinth where he found the statues of the Three Kings.
"I take it these fairies were figures of some renown?"
"Most of them have died." Hefa says regretfully. "Many of them came from the Precursor Era, before the Great Migration. The Matriarch will likely tell you about them, if you wish to know more."
Jason frowns. Precursor Era? Great Migration? Hmm...
No doubt, it must have something to do with what Calanthra told him before.
The fairies 'arrived' in the Milky Way, huh? I think I'm starting to get an idea of what the Matriarch meant.
As they walk past the line of statues, two at the very end catch Jason's eye.
He looks at the one on the right. "That's Lady Calanthra, isn't it?"
"Yes. That is our Matriarch." Hefa says, smiling at him.
Jason's gaze moves to the left, where he spots a much older-looking woman, her body covered in powerful-looking armor distinct from all the fairies before. Unlike her predecessors who wore beautiful and dainty robes or other pleasantries, this woman on the left at the end appears quite fearsome!
"She is the Matriarch's mother." Hefa says respectfully. "She was the former Matriarch, Lady Erenia. Unfortunately, she passed away from grievous wounds after the Great Migration, passing her position to her daughter."
"Wow. She must have been a mighty warrior." Jason mutters.
"The strongest fairy to have ever lived." Hefa acknowledges. "I was never able to meet her myself, as I was born millions of years after her death. But I have seen her exploits in the record crystals. If it wasn't for Lady Erenia, our whole species might have perished..."
Before long, Jason and Hefastria reach their final destination, the banquet hall, where they spot hundreds of royal fairy princesses eating together, giggling as they sit at a table. Innumerable eyes sweep toward Jason as he arrives, and whispers go up around the giant table.
"A man?"
"A human. I heard he possesses magical power."
"He's fairly handsome. Do you think mother would let us...?"
"Not a chance. You know what she always says about men."
"Aww..."
Jason's attuned ears easily pick up some of the conversations, but he maintains a neutral expression.
These fairy girls sure seem horny. Jason thinks.
He looks around the table for Calanthra, but to his surprise, he only spots her when he turns his gaze off to the side. There, he spots a huge golden throne positioned in the back of the room atop a tall platform. He almost slaps himself for missing it, giving how distinctive it is compared to everything else.
Hefa stops walking, then gestures to him. "You go on ahead. I've completed my task."
"Oh, alright." Jason says. "Nice meeting you, Hefastria."
"You too!" She chirps, waving cutely before flitting away.
Jason approaches the throne, and a silly thought occurs to him. It's weird how the fairies are all human-sized. I always assumed they preferred to stay small, like Blinker. I'll have to ask Calanthra about that later.
When Jason reaches the throne, Calanthra smiles at him. "I'm surprised you didn't teleport directly here."
"I wanted to take the scenic route." Jason replies, bowing his head politely. "It's good to meet you in person, Matriarch."
"Just 'Calanthra' is fine." Calanthra says with a dismissive wave. "You and I can be said to be equals, given we are the respective rulers of our civilizations. Let us not stand on ceremony."
"If you insist." Jason replies, raising his head.
Calanthra waves her hand, and an illusion formation activates, shrouding the space around herself and the Wordsmith in an impenetrable veil of secrecy. Instantly, all the pretty fairy princesses vanish from sight, and Jason finds himself standing in a pitch-black void where he can only make out Calanthra's radiant form, as well as her throne.
"Please excuse me, but I must take certain precautions." Calanthra explains. "What I am about to tell you should not be leaked to the Volgrim, nor the demons. In fact, I'd prefer if you didn't even tell your wife, Wordsmith."
Jason frowns. "Not even Phoebe? Let me guess. This has to do with your 'arrival' in the Milky Way. I've already made some guesses of my own."
"That's right." Calanthra affirms. "This secret is extremely sensitive, and it could paint my people as a target. I cannot force you to remain silent, but I would like to know if you are willing to promise not to leak a word of what I'm about to tell you to another soul."
"You came to me first." Jason says. "I must assume you're taking a risk telling me this. So, on my honor as Humanity's Hero, I promise not to tell anyone, including my own wife."
Calanthra's body sags slightly in relief. "Good. Thank you, Jason. I appreciate that you would say that. There's no point bothering with a soul contract or whatnot. I also tend to believe that cooperation and mutual benefits are superior when it comes to solidifying alliances."
"Oh? You want an alliance with me?" Jason asks, his eyebrows rising in surprise.
"You, yes, but more importantly, humanity as a species." Calanthra explains. "Because of the recent developments you and your wife revealed on that debate stage, I have reason to believe humanity and the fairies can offer one another substantial benefits in the coming years."
She continues. "Ordinarily, I would not go to these lengths, but as you well know, the Plague only continues to encroach on the Milky Way's stability. Our future is in flux, and my people face just as much risk of going extinct as you humans, the demons, and the Volgrim too."
"It is only together, in a unified capacity, that the fairies and the humans working together can continue to survive in this unfathomably cruel cosmos."
Jason nods seriously. He crosses his arms and widens his stance.
"You've piqued my interest. I'm listening." He says.
"As you may have already guessed," Calanthra explains, "my people, the Fairies, are not from the Milky Way. We are also not fifty million years old. In fact, like the Angels, we are a Precursor Civilization. We have existed since the formation of this Eternity."
Jason's heart skips a beat hearing the truth comes from her lips. He doesn't allow the emotion to show on his face.
"You're as old as the angels?" He asks meaningfully.
"Indeed, we are." Calanthra affirms. "And once, we were just as powerful. We were Cosmics standing at the apex of strength in our home galaxy."
Calanthra lowers her eyes. A deep sense of loss dances in the light of her pupils.
"But that was a long time ago. Our reign ended with the arrival of the Dark Ones."
"The Dark Ones?" Jason asks. "From Andromeda? You're from Andromeda?"
"We are." Calanthra answers. "The fairies were once the supreme rulers of Andromeda, many billions of years ago. But we fell because of our own infighting and the arrival of a superior Apex Species. Now, we are but a shadow of our former selves."
She sighs softly.
"I wonder if you would like to give voice to the question on your mind, Wordsmith."
"I have a lot of questions." Jason says, nodding slowly. "But... I guess I'll start with the first one. If fairies were once Apex Cosmics, and if you have a humanoid form along with wings... does that mean you are related to the angels?"
Calanthra smiles. "The angels? We are not related to them, no."
She pauses.
"But... have you ever heard of... Convergent Evolution?"

Yidora still felt like she had been transported to another world. Since she had been taken from the surface and brought to the Antares she had been through meeting after meeting, brief after brief, so much so that she felt like her head was spinning constantly. She had amassed a small army of personnel, humans mostly, but the one thing she didn’t know how to say was what she was going to be saying today. It was terrifying, in more than one way. Her people, the twenty million planetside, were indeed looking to her to lead. She had thought it was a strange thing, in fact, she thought it was insane. Why her, when she was just as they were, no different. A few of the older members of her species, who even now sat around her, had told her a bit but it wasn’t enough to dispel the insanity of her situation for her. The Kellandro line, an unbroken line of nobility that had stretched back to the time of what the elders called the first cities, had ruled from before time was recorded. The Shesvie were not the Shesvie, without the Kellandro. In some ways it made her head spin, because even she knew about how important the Kellandro were to her people, she just never imagined that she was one of them. In fact, one of the last of them, unless another was found. It made sense in a way, the way her people looked to her now, expectations gleaming in their yellow eyes, their beaks held high, stiff neck muscles tense. In other ways it horrified her. She was not qualified to do this. She was not bred to do this. She was a cheap figurehead, and that’s all she felt like right now. Today it would be proven. She would come to the leader of this armada, say what she had to say, and then hope for mercy.
She had learned that her people had tried to secret her family, the bulk of them, into chua space. Indeed that’s how the humans had found her and known who she was and what she was, because from what records still persisted the Kellandro family had attempted to flee when the fleet battle at the Tyrana lane had been lost so decisively. The humans had been looking for her or someone like her the moment that they had first started securing shesvie from captivity. After the first human had come for her, they had brought her directly to this floating behemoth named Antares, and for the week and some days after her entire world had flipped on it’s head. The humans were patient, but she could tell there was something they’d much rather be doing. She knew what that something was too. They had been at war with the vral for decades of their solar years, and they were finally on the offensive. Something about the humans, and the chua who were with them, terrified her, and she didn’t know how to quantify this fear.
One of the eldars had made it a little clear for her. The fellow matriarch had told her that it was the unknown. When the Oversee… No, even internally she had to force herself not to think of them as that. When the vral had been over her, she knew exactly where she stood. She knew if she stepped out of line what exactly would happen. She knew that the vral would torment her for entertainment if she caught their eye. The humans though? What would they do?
Today she would find out. As the announcement system on Antares began to chime for readiness to enter hyperspace lane, she had stopped the briefing she was in the middle of. They had been appraising her on the amount of skilled laborers her people had, pitifully few. How much of her culture was simply gone? How much had been just erased? What made the shesvie the shesvie? She didn’t know, there was no way to know, and that was the tragedy of the entire situation. Her species had held twenty systems, fifteen of them populated. They had universities, they had culture, they had music and art. Where was it now?
Armed humans walked beside her to her left and right. If someone stepped in front of her procession, they loudly called to make a hole, or make way. She did her best to look dignified, but didn’t know if she was doing the part. They had tried to give her clothes to match what her people had once worn, but it just felt odd after spending so long wearing nothing but rags, if anything. One of the first things she learned the vral had stripped them of was their basic identity, which had been corrected from humanity by a sheepish looking woman. She didn’t know what to say to that. She didn’t know what to say when someone used their own species name as a marker for what made one who they were. The chua had been asked for a synonym, but they simply didn’t have a word for that, which she had come to know was a common thing for the pragmatic species. Yidora was nervous, more nervous than she had been in a long time. It was only getting worse the more they walked. She was used to the steel slab of the floor of her home, walking barefoot, feeling dirt between her toes. The padded and rubberized grips of her foot coverings now felt abjectly alien to her. Her feathers, for so long deprived of even the most basic care besides what she could do, had been cleaned and shined. She felt utterly foolish, an imposter of a ruler.
As she stepped onto the massive bridgewing of this warship, she turned her head left, then right. Around her was her staff. Two elders of her species, a dozen humans, and a chua who brought up the rear. Ahead of her, on the command dias, was the human known as Simmons. She was shorter than Yidora had expected, with a well kept grey mane of hair pulled tightly back. Some said that gray on a human head was a mark of age, but this human did not look old, not in the slightest. Yidora had gotten the feeling in the only other time she had met Simmons that she let her hair be gray simply to remind everyone that she was not young. Perplexing, but many things about the humans perplexed her. She tried not to look away as Simmons saw her. She knew very little about humans but she saw that the woman was fierce, and right now she looked like a storm of activity. She was triumphant, zealous, something was happening that Yidora didn’t know about she was sure of it. Simmons’ expression suddenly became starkly more friendly, less predatory, as she saw Yidora.
“Yidora Kellandros Grand Matriarch!” Simmons called out, even as her steps failed her. This was it. She felt a clump of dread form in her gizzard, her stones there fresh, but she felt her glands rubbing the rocks together. Simmons strode down the stairs separating them, stopping a few feet away. “I’m sorry I haven’t come down sooner, it’s a busy thing running a fleet, although that’s no excuse.” She crossed her hands behind her back, “I do apologize if I seem a bit rushed, we’re about to start a major operation, which of course you are welcome to observe…”
“We do not wish to join the Terran Front.” Yidora felt her beak part, felt the words tumble out of her, heard her human staff take in a breath, felt her hearts hammering against her ribcage. It took every ounce of willpower to keep her eyes on Simmons’ eyes. She waited for the anger, waited for the expression to turn.
“I see.” Simmons said, and Yidora could tell that she was off footed. Simmons’ eyebrows both raised and she looked off to the floor by Yidora’s feet. She was holding her breath, and knew it. “Well, I won’t say I’m not disappointed, but it’s something we thought might be a possibility. Very well then.” Yidora kept her breath in her chest, feeling her feathers begin to bristle. Simmons brought her arms forward and settled them on her hips, still looking off to the side. “Well ok then! That answers that question!” The human smiled at her, and Yidora felt herself exhale. The human was smiling? “Well, you’ll be pleased in any regard to know we are about to start the invasion of your people’s space to take it back.”
Yidora suddenly felt low, like she had done something wrong. She was silent for a few long seconds, and she felt her two shesvie elders coming to her side. The next question she had was burning in her head, but she didn’t know how to phrase it. Simmons looked off to the side as a uniformed man approached her and held up a hand, the gesture stopping him. She finally formed the question, remaining unmoving in her place. “May I ask what will become of us?” Simmons eyes raised back to hers, and the human motioned to the dias, then began walking. Yidora hesitated a moment then followed along behind her. As Simmons reached the table, she could understand nothing she was seeing. She had only seen a few star charts and hyperspace lanes over the last few days, and they were still alien to her. The markers next to those charts also meant nothing.
“Ok… So…” Simmons said, giving herself a moment to compose her thoughts, finally pointing at a point on a lane map. “This is us, and this…” she motioned to the next star in line, “... is the first system that we know to be populated.” Simmons tapped on the star, bringing up a rudimentary display for the planets in the system. “The second and third planets here, we know that before the vral invaded your homes they were inhabited. This one in particular, the third one, is the one we’re going after first. I’m taking the Antares in, alongside a good portion of the fleet. We are actually waiting for the scout of that system now.” Simmons motioned to Yidora, then back to the display. “Our intention is to take back those planets, and the offer is on the table to move your people from here to there, back into your home systems”
“What happens then?” Yidora asked, her clothes itching her, “What happens when you move us back, to us? What will you do with us?”
“Do?” Simmons asked, raising an eyebrow, then suddenly her face softened. “Oh.” She blinked once then shook her head once. “Oh ok, I’m sorry. I understand now.”
“I apologize, but are we to be your…”
“Neighbors.” Simmons said, then gave her a small smile. “You will be our neighbors. Don’t get me wrong, there has been some talk about what to do when we found your people. There was talk about simply rolling your people into the fold.” She said, turning to the panel beside her and tapping as she continued talking. “The chua convinced us otherwise, you’ll find they have a habit of that. So what we came up with was this.” She finished tapping as a document appeared on the screen.
“What is this?” Yidora asked, not quite willing, or indeed able, to tell Simmons that her ability to read was rudimentary at best.
“An outline. To be honest, we don’t know what state these worlds are going to be in. We don’t know, even now, the state of your people. Considering your wishes, some of this is going to be canceled out, but for the most part we intend to move your people off of that rock back to one that you historically owned. From there, our level of assistance is going to be up to you.” Simmons said, tapping her hand on the panel then looking back to Yidora. “If you want us to just leave, we’ll just leave.” Yidora pulled her head back in surprise. “Our goal though, is to get your people back on your feet irregardless. We’ve been finding out your needs, right now we’re looking to meet them. We have no intention of just abandoning you, we have no intention of forcing your people into anything.”
Yidora stared at Simmons, not quite believing what she was saying. “So if I told you that we just wanted to be left alone, you would just go? No questions asked?”
“Exactly, but we’d prefer not to. Your people are going to need… Well, everything.” Simmons motioned to her, “It’s not really my area of expertise, but from what I’m told you’re going to need doctors, teachers, engineers, all of it, until you are back to being self sufficient. The only thing that we’re going to ask for as far as I’ve learned is to establish a few resupply ports for the duration of this war.”
Yidora was silent a few long moments, then her head lowered almost imperceptibly. “I do not believe that we will ask you to leave immediately, if that is acceptable.” Simmons nodded, then she turned back to the panel, bringing up the map of the hyperlanes connected to their system. Yidora looked down at the map, still not understanding most of what she was seeing, but Simmons was watching her again. Simmons was looking down at the screen, a small smile on her face, but it wasn’t friendly. Yidora felt a chill run through her spine and clench against her hearts. She took a small step towards the table. “What of the humans on our world?” Yidora asked, “I know the vral were… Hard on them. Especially recently.” Simmons’ mouth tightened into a fine line, and Yidora watched her nose wrinkle, then twitch. Human faces were so intensely expressive,
“They are being cared for. They will be returned to Earth. The world they are from is a blasted rock now, so we will take them back to the homeworld. We’re going to see what we can do for them.” Simmons said, her voice flat, and for a moment Yidora could see a distance in her eyes, questions. Yidora wanted to ask questions, but it did not seem appropriate in the slightest. Yidora looked back to the screen, but a sudden shift in the mood got her attention. It was almost a smell coming off of the Fleet Marshal, and Yidora looked back to the woman only to be alarmed at the intense stare, her furrowed brows, the way her entire face had shifted. Yidora decided at that moment that she never wanted to be the subject of that stare, when the very subject of that stare spoke.
“Grand Matriarch Fleet Marshal..” Came a trilling voice, cool and melodious, and Yidora looked to her right to see a smaller, long necked avian. It’s feathers were stark white, it’s beak long and curved. “Forgive me for intruding, but I couldn’t hel…”
“Ambassador Tika, is there something we can do for you.” Simmons almost growled, so much so that Yidora’s feathers bristled and her heavily muscled shoulders tensed. The one she called Tika bowed it’s head, doing a small motion with it’s feet. Yidora knew it to be some sort of display, but had no idea what it could possibly signify. Behind the one Tika had addressed stood another three of the avians, similar in appearance to Tika, but smaller, the feathers covering them them soft blues and yellows. Tika, long neck curving, was holding a datapad. For some reason Yidora could tell that he was a male just by the way he positions himself. Yidora hoped she wasn’t wrong about that.
“Yes. Well. You see, I heard that you have found the shesvie…” Tika began, and Simmons head came up, his sentence cutting off before it had even fully formed. If looks could kill, Tika would have been a red mist. There was a history here, and Yidora didn’t know what that history was, but it was far from good. “... Well, I wanted to…” Tika’s body seemed to arch, his wings curling up behind him, his neck curling into an S shape, and Yidora took a small step back. Tika and Yidora were biologically as different as Tika was from Simmons on a practical level. Yidora was broad shouldered, as broad as a larger human male, Tika’s shoulders were narrow and tight with her body. Yidora’s beak was stout and broad, her neck thick and stiff, Tika’s was long and narrow. Yidora’s feathers were narrow, almost resembling a thick fur, Tika’s were broad, as if she could take to the skies. Still, Yidora saw what Tika was doing, how they were behaving, and it reminded her so much of a display of embarrassment she actually felt sorry for the smaller avian. “Well, I wanted to provide the Grand Matriarch with this.” Tika’s feet slowly pranced up and down, even as his hand came forward, offering the datapad. The avians behind him lowered their heads, a female by the look of it, turning their beaks away from Tika’s display.
Yidora took the datapad, not seeing anything displayed on it’s surface. “Thank you.” After a few moments of glancing to the avian and glancing back to the datapad she spoke again, “What is this?”
“Ah yes, well, we shared a border with your people and there was a fair amount of cultural exchange, so I compiled as much as I could get my in my roost!” Tika said, coming out of the stance and straightening. Yidora glanced at Simmons, who had an eyebrow raised. “This is the cultural index that was shared with us by your people. I am glad to say, the file is rather large.” Tika was properly preening right now. “I believe there is a good amount of literature, religious text, copies of art, architecture, so much interesting information that I positively filled the thing, as much as I could find!” Tika spread his wings and bowed low, the others of his species behind him following suit. “I do hope this is of interest to you.”
Yidora looked down at the datapad, her body feeling stiff, rigid. She felt a hand on her shoulder, a gentle one, then looked to the side to Simmons, who wore a small smile. Yidora looked back to Tika, who bowed again, flicking his wings hard and lowering his beak almost to the ground. “This is my people.” Yidora whispered, holding the fairly new datapad like a cherished artifact. “Do you need this back?”
“Not at all. In fact, I can make copies if you would like. I have it all stored on my terminal. I may be able to find more, if you would like?” Tika slowly raised from his graceful bow.
“I would like that.” Yidora whispered, then looked to Simmons, who gently rubbed her shoulder. Yidora knew nothing of her people besides the legends of the elders, most of whom never saw or experienced the life and sights that they spoke of. Wistful words of what once was, whispered to avoid the overseers attention, spoken by bent back ancients who yearned for a life that they had never experienced to ears that regarded the stories as long dead legends. She now held those legends in her hand, stored on a plastic composite data pad. “If you will excuse me.”
“Of course. We are about to begin our operation, feel free to visit the bridge any time Grand Matriarch.” Simmons voice was low, gentle. Yidora couldn’t take her eyes off of the datapad. She reached out her hand subconsciously, one of her shevise escort rushing forward to take it and guide her. Her mind was awash. In her hands she held the story of her people. This would be opened, analyzed, studied. Her spine straightened, her neck still bent towards the unpowered datapad. Her people had an identity, and it was here. Simmons watched as the shevise matriarch walked, a slow procession out of the bridge. Tika stood a few feet away from her, his wings tucked close to his side. Simmons waited until the burly avian was out of earshot, the door closing behind her before she spoke again. “Are you going to tell her about the slaves your people hold, or will I?” Simmons voice was cool, but it was missing the razor edge of spite that it normally held.
“I will.” Tika said, and Simmons raised her brow. Tika was faced towards the door, his wings drooping down, his feathers seeming to deflate for a few moments. “Kzia.” He trilled, and one of the turinika, coated with soft blue feathers, stepped forward. “It is time.” Simmons’ hands slid onto her hips, watching as the second turinika pulled a small recorder and walked slowly, pointing the recorder at both Simmons and Tika. Simmons looked between the two.
The one Tika had called Kzia made a small trilling noise. Tika looked from Kzia, back to the wall. “Live.” Kzia said. Simmons did not even have time to process that statement before the turinika ambassador turned, and his feathers flitted back to their normal luster. “Fleet Marshal Simmons.” Tika’s voice was suddenly strong, his body held rigid. “I must be the bearer of news I do not wish to speak of again.” Simmons was silent a moment, her eyes darting over to Kzia, then Hazard, who was working quickly at his console. He held his finger over his panel and looked to her earnestly.
‘You are being broadcast.’ Hazard mouthed to her, then he pointed at the console in front of him, making a slashing motion in front of his throat. ‘Cut it?’ He mouthed, pointing at the console once again. She didn’t understand what was happening, but she held up her hand with her palm out. He nodded, and leaned back. His supervising officer came to his side, leaning down as Hazard watched her intently.
While normally the scowl that seemed par for the course when dealing with the ambassador would have been stapled to her face, right now she was acutely aware that many eyes were on her. Also she was more than aware of the words that Tika was using. He had virtually crawled towards her the times prior. She stayed silent. Tika continued, “My people, the turinika, have refused to stand down from their stance on the members of your species that have been taken unjustly by the vral and sold to us, as well as the chua that are held.”
Simmons leaned back just a bit, both eyebrows raised now. For the first time since she had met the ambassador she didn’t feel like at the very least making a snide remark. “Understood.” Again, the language used kept her in check.
“Fleet Marshal, I am not only turinika, but I am also what is known as Taratanti within my people. We are the leaders, our words are to be respected. Our opinions are meant to be kept within the highest regard. Our counsel is meant to be heard, heeded, and acted on. My name is long, as due my station, my life, and my deeds.” He went silent for a few moments, assuming the stance that Simmons had seen him in so often over the past few days. His neck curved into the pronounced S shape, his entire body seeming to curl in on itself, his winges proffered up and bent like he was anticipating a blow. Simmons stood by watching, carefully keeping her expression neutral. A small group was gathering, and out of the corner of her eye she could see her officers setting up a perimeter around them. One of the armed guards of the bridge was standing by as well. The two turinika behind Tika stood in locked positions, their heads slightly lowered, their eyes shut.
“I regret to inform you, Fleet Marshal, that my words… Have been ignored. My opinions, disregarded.” Slowly Tika’s neck straightened, as did his body. “My counsel, dismissed. My name, my station, my life, and my deeds have all been discounted.” Tika bristled his feathers, and even Simmons didn’t need to guess what he was doing. He was puffing himself up, a display of prowess and pride. His chest and neck seemed to swell, and he spread his wings to their full wingspan. Suddenly his entire body went locked and rigid, his wings snapping up to reveal his full plumage. Even Simmons couldn’t say he didn’t appear noble at that moment.
“I am Tizikikoonazikiakakiatkata.” Heads across the bridge snapped towards them if they weren’t already looking as the turinika ambassador’s biology made his voice thunderous. Simmons stood her ground, for even though his voice was booming he was still in no way a physical threat to her. “I am the one who brokered the sale of your captured people, the chua people, the shesvie people, the billaxie people. The dumat people, the kolra people, and the wellorox people. For this, I am ashamed. For my government, I am ashamed. For my people. I am ashamed.” Simmons jaw clenched, keeping her face stone. Tika’s eyes were wide as he boomed his voice, his feathers beginning to tremble. “The error of my decision has been made clear. I declare it.” Tika’s voice turned suddenly bitter, spiteful, “But in error there must be correction. There must be redress! This has been denied to me! I carry this stain on me, forced on me by those who have ignored my words, turned away from my opinion, and rejected my council!” His entire body seemed to vibrate. Simmons clenched her jaw harder, and she glanced to Hazard, on the verge of giving the order to cut the transmission. She suddenly was shocked to realize that she was concerned for the turinika ambassador.
“I reject this stain, and those who have forced it on me. I will not wear it anymore!” Tika thundered, and the two turinika behind him stepped forward. “I refuse!” Suddenly the two turinika behind Tika reached up, grasping handfuls of the broad and beautiful feathers along Tika’s wings, and yanked.
Simmons face cracked and she half lunged forward, moving to shove the other two away. Tika’s head twisted down, his eyes locked with hers. The pain in them was intense. “I refuse!” He bellowed, and she caught herself. The two turinika continued to tear the feathers off of Tika’s body, a slow cascade of feathers falling like snow. Kzia suddenly made a loud keening cry, and Simmons looked towards her as Tika bellowed again. Kzia was still holding the recorder, but her grip was shaking violently, her neck trashing from side to side. One of the turinika strippig the plumage from Tika stopped and quickly moved to Kzia, taking hold of the recorder and pointed it straight once more. Kzia curled her wings around herself and lowered herself to the ground, making another long keening scream.
“Please take this.” The turinika who held the camera said, his voice shaky, looking to the humans watching. “I need to help him.” His voice dripped with raw emotion. Tika’s voice suddenly boomed again, his voice clouded with pain born physically and emotionally. Simmons glanced over, struggling to keep her composure, and nodded once to her Navigator. The officer reached over, gingerly taking the recorder, and not knowing what to do simply kept it in the direction it was pointed. A small screen showed Simmons and Tika, the turinika ambassador being stripped of his plumage, the feathers drifting to the ground as Tika roared his denial again. Kzia’s neck writhed, taking a step forward only to take a step back. Every so often she would make the same keening cry.
The second turinika joined the first, and Simmons watched in morbid fascination. Stories came to her head of monks setting themselves on fire, of samurai commiting ritualistic suicide, of religious fanatics commiting self mutilation. She wanted to stop this, but she stayed her hand, a quick glance showed that all eyes on the bridge were watching. Skin was showing through small fist sized holes, dark blue skin showing through. the wings a patchwork now. Some of the feathers were falling now stained with violet blood. Tika continued to show himself on display, but there was rapidly becoming nothing majestic about his appearance now. The two turinika continued to grab fistfuls of feathers, the plumage drifting to the floor. Tika gave one last booming roar that couldn’t be translated, and the two turinika who had been stripping his plumage both took one final handful, pulling hard. Stepping to either side of Tika, they held their fists up to either side of Tika’s wings and let the feathers fall.
Tika’s once majestic plumage, even by Simmons’ own opinion, was destroyed. The turinika in front of her now was an ugly thing, the plumage ruined and in patches. Simmmons could see the thin skin of Tika’s rib cage thudding on the right side with his rapid heartbeat. Slowly, Tika began to fold his wings down, and as he did the avian who had taken the camera from the one known as Kzia padded over to Simmons navigator, taking care not to step in the shot. Tika laid down in the ruins of his feathers and curled his head around his body. Simmons herself realized her mouth was hanging open and closed it. She looked to her navigator, who was giving the recorder to the turinika. The turinika turned the recorder on Tika and slowly walked up towards the ambassador, who was on the ground violently shaking. There was a chime heard as he pressed a button on the recorder. Simmons heard Hazard’s voice call out. “They’ve ceased transmission.”
Kzia rushed to Tika’s side and threw out her arms, hovering over him and covering him with her own plumage. Simmons took a step forward, then looked to the crew who was staring, many of them slack jawed. “Shows over!” She yelled, “Delay the op an hour, and get medical up here.” The crew responded almost immediately, if a bit drunkardly, as she reached Tika’s side she kneeled down. Kzia’s soft plumage was covering him so completely that she couldn’t see him underneath. Kzia’s neck was held stiff and straight, curved over her arching wings surrounding him, as if she was a mother protecting her chicks. Simmons tried not to step on the long feathers on the floor, tried not to step on the plumes of downlike feathers, but it was so widespread it couldn’t be helped. Kzia’s head snapped around at her, an angry hiss coming from her beak. Simmons didn’t pull back. Kzia’s beak was inches from her face, and she could see the dark blue eyes staring at her, but where she thought she had heard anger Simmons realized it must have been something else. Kzia’s eyes reflected abject sorrow.
“Don’t forget what he just did.” Kzia trilled, “Don’t ever forget.”
“What did he just do?” Simmons whispered, looking down at the small gap in her plumage covering Tika, seeing Tika’s ribs exposed underneath. “What in the hell did you all just do to him?” Kzia’s neck trembled back and forth, and she stretched her neck back over Tika’s body under her wings. There was a sound underneath, a soft trill, and Kzia slowly began to retract her wings, uncovering the brutalized form of Tika again. His wings had been nearly stripped bare, the only places he still had plumage was his neck and parts of his legs. The rest of his body was a savage patchwork. He laid in his own ruin, his eyes closing and opening slowly. As Kzia pulled away he started twitching, and Simmons sucked in a breath at his appearance. Even when she had begun the war, when Tika was laying there, covered in his own excrement, he hadn’t looked this pathetic. “Ambassador Tika, what did you just do.” She whispered.
“They’ll listen now.” Tika softly intoned. “They can not ignore this. They will not ignore this.” Tika’s body shook violently, and Simmons reached out a hand to place it on his curved back but pulled it back to her side. She just knelt there, watching him for a few long moments, then he softly trilled again. “Give it to her.” Tika motioned to Kzia, then gestured with his head to Simmons. Kzia was brooding nearby, but as soon as Tika spoke she retrieved a datapad, offering it to Simmons. “I am no longer an ambassador, Fleet Marshal.” Tika softly trilled out, and Simmons looked up as the bridge opened, several men and women running onto the bridge marked with medical green. She glanced at the datapad and was about to look back to Tika, but her attention snapped back to the pad itself. It had been auto translated but even she could read the watermark for sensitive documents.
“What did you do.” Simmons whispered, “What the hell have you done?”
“What decency demands.” Tika whispered back. “What must be done to atone. They will not be able to hide it now, and they won’t be able to brush it off.” Tika began slowly trying to push himself up, but he couldn’t rise, his body trembled too much. Simmons held up her hand, holding the medical team back a moment. “There will be unrest, but they will listen now. I have done all I can.” Tika laid his head back down in his discarded feathers. “Fleet Marshal, I apologize, but I must request political asylum.”

There are a few videos on this on youtube, and I recommend to watch them, but ultimately I am none the wiser after them when it comes to deciding which one to prefer. Of course, everyone knows the standard is 28-32mm, but there are some serious pros for going smaller, such as price (at the cost of fine detail), or tactical considerations, like the map becoming bigger with smaller minis, or even practical considerations like fitting more on the same sized table. As an example, with a 15mm mini, the usual 6 inches of movement would (or maybe should, in my mind anyway) also almost halve and become around 3.2 inches. It would take considerably more turns to go from one edge of your map to the other, putting an emphasis on right positioning and other methods to get around. They are also quicker to paint and allow for more room for error due to having fewer details anyway. Those fewer details might themselves be a pro as well, since you could more easily pass off the same mini as several different classes / etc.
The problem is the size, however. 15mm? I've been walking around the house with my metal ruler like a crazy person, trying to measure everything that might be close to that 15mm size so that I can get an idea for what I'm getting myself into. It isn't as bad as it appears, and looking at some 15mm models, there is still quite a lot of detail.
Nevertheless, I can't compare since I don't own any minis yet (which adds considerably to the analysis-paralysis), and for that reason, there are probably some hidden factors I forgot to consider.
What could go wrong with 15mm (or 20-25mm) minis compared to 28-32mm?
Does anyone here have any experience with this scale? Does it alter the gaming experience, and how? Any other information regarding smaller minis (especially 15mm and 1:72 (20-25mm)) would be welcome.

There are a few videos on this on youtube, and I recommend to watch them, but ultimately I am none the wiser after them when it comes to deciding which one to prefer. Of course, everyone knows the standard is 28-32mm, but there are some serious pros for going smaller, such as price (at the cost of fine detail), or tactical considerations, like the map becoming bigger with smaller minis, or even practical considerations like fitting more on the same sized table. As an example, with a 15mm mini, the usual 6 inches of movement would (or maybe should, in my mind anyway) also almost halve and become around 3.2 inches. It would take considerably more turns to go from one edge of your map to the other, putting an emphasis on right positioning and other methods to get around. They are also quicker to paint and allow for more room for error due to having fewer details anyway. Those fewer details might themselves be a pro as well, since you could more easily pass off the same mini as several different classes / etc.
The problem is the size, however. 15mm? I've been walking around the house with my metal ruler like a crazy person, trying to measure everything that might be close to that 15mm size so that I can get an idea for what I'm getting myself into. It isn't as bad as it appears, and looking at some 15mm models, there is still quite a lot of detail.
Nevertheless, I can't compare since I don't own any minis yet (which adds considerably to the analysis-paralysis), and for that reason, there are probably some hidden factors I forgot to consider.
What could go wrong with 15mm (or 20-25mm) minis compared to 28-32mm?
Does anyone here have any experience with this scale? Does it alter the gaming experience, and how? Any other information regarding smaller minis (especially 15mm and 1:72 (20-25mm)) would be welcome.

Any idea how to change this to “normal” inch divisons (1/4 or 1/8)??
Its a nightmare whenever I need to accurately place stuff. I’ve been using custom guides to make grids as a workaround, but you have to do the math for every different size document - less than ideal, plus there’s a limit to how many columns/rows you can even use so the larger the document/finer the grid required the more quickly this becomes either not possible, or simply not a great solution since there are so many grid lines in the way.
Help!