Thank you for this universe!
And many thanks to for being a full co-writer on this project!
Kaeden and Vichee belongs to and I thank them so much for working with us! It was an honor!
Sven belongs to Bjorn the Copper Paladin from Discord. I hope to do more with them in the future, and have tons of fun!
And don’t you worry about that final in the title! We have some news at the end!
[First]- [Prev]- {Next Story!!}

{Is the reason that everything happened to Tarlim in the first place?}

{Only up to the ramps, mostly. Trying to impress upon people the importance of accessibility for those with extenuating circumstances. At least according to the records I have access to.}

{The average person knows as much about his friends as they do about Mike Collins.}
<...Who?>
{Exactly. 20th century human spaceman, was there for their first lunar landing. Didn’t get to put boots on the ground, and nobody remembers his name now.}

{Hell, I didn’t even know about him until I put in a search query of niche historical figures just to give you an example. Yeesh…}

(Program Selected.)
(Resume Selected Media? [Y])
(Playing…)
Archived Closed Circuit Security Video - Establishment: Exterminator’s Office - Dawn Creek Division - Subbasement - Date Recorded (ST): OCT 31, 2136 - Timeframe (ST): 11:42 - 11:45
The parking bay is silent. Vans are parked neatly in their spots which frame the hallway to the armory and fuel storage for the camera. A ding is heard and something moves in the hallway. Five fully suited Venlil and a Zurulian step out of an elevator and run towards a van. The sound of a door slamming open comes from the hall roughly 6 seconds later. A stream of Exterminators pour out into the hall from the stairwell.
Their voices are indecipherable as they speak over each other. A Sulian runs into the armory and reappears with a huge flamer tank on their back. Another Zurulian can be seen with an extinguisher tank, but a Venlil bleats at them and tosses it aside. They drag the quadrupedal alien quickly into the parking garage before physically throwing them into the back of a van.
From the back of the hallway, a fluid can be seen spreading across the ground. A trio of Venlil back out of a room while holding their flamers up. They are unlit, instead spewing fuel out of their nozzles. The trio twirl around in an overly animated manner as they walk down the hall to the parking garage. A van pulls out of its spot with windows down so the passengers could let out a cheer.
A black-suited Venlil runs up to the spraying trio while waving their arms to get them out into the garage. The microphone just barely manages to catch him saying, “We need to save some for the predators!” One of the other Venlil replies, “Yes sir, Mafchi!” A short flurry of curses is heard as the gathered exterminators pile into the three other visible vans. Two of the vans speed out of the garage, forcing some other Venlil exterminators to dive out of the way in the process.
The black-suited Mafchi picks up a fuel canister that had been dropped and twists off its cap. He slings it under his shoulder and pours a line of fuel. He marches straight to the final van and hops up into the open rear. The van backs itself up to turn out of the garage. The fuel canister clatters to the ground as it pulls away. Before it clears the view of the camera, the Black-suited Venlil is seen standing in its open back. He is holding what appears to be a flare gun.
The flare sails through the air shortly after the van leaves the frame and impacts the ground. It bounces and rolls until it touches the fuel and ignites it in an instant. A small wall of fire proceeds down the provided trail into the hallway, igniting more fuel as time passes. The hallway is quickly engulfed in vividly red fire. Thick black smoke begins to pour out into the garage as the fire inches closer to the primary fuel tank.
Movement can be seen in the hallway between the flickering flames. The silver form of a Venlil Exterminator is seen rushing out of the stairwell and fighting to head towards the fuel storage room. Before they reach, a white flash fills the screen. The feed goes dead, the error code consistent with electrical interruption.
(Specified Media Concluded.)

{Who was what? Mafchi?}

{Hmmm, there aren’t any tags embedded for them. The suits do a rather good job at making the officers anonymous. Let me see…oh.}

{The, uh… the employment records for that Office were…terminated.}

{It looks like…yes, here. Record wipe in 2497. Media with less than 1 bistandannual visit were removed to save space on the university’s central server. It’s…they’re gone, gone gone.}

{Maybe, but that’ll do us no good if we don’t know their name. And because of the chaos of that incident, nobody has been able to accurately reconstruct where every individual was in that office. We’d have to already know who they were to find them.}
<...I guess that’s another person I’ll have to remember then, huh?>
{...Guess so. Speaking of remembering, perhaps you should check out Tarlim’s view again? Seeing how we were just talking about him.}
<...Sure. At least people remember his name, right?>
(Command: [exitprogram])
(Are you sure? [Y])
…
{-Program Selected-}
{-Restart From Last Playback Point? Y/(N)-}
{-[USERID-11229KMD]: procViewHist -}
{-Retrieving Transcription Viewing History…-}
{-List Retrieved - Select Desired Subject: (Tarlim)-}
{-Restart From Last Playback Point? (Y)/N-}
{-Playing…-}
Memory Transcription Subject: Tarlim, the Venbig. Date [Standardized Human Time] October 31st, 2136
No matter how much Sven and Anso griped about it, having them leave and return with the trailer was a great idea. The humans who had gone with them the first time were, to my dismay, excited to try and ride in the back. I had at least been able to impress on those four that I couldn’t let anyone else ride like that, and that they were to help with rigging a trailer with some seats.
I had to admit; they did a good job!
Several couches sat bolted to the floor of the covered trailer and even had some ropes that could be hooked across the armrests as impromptu belts. It wasn’t perfect by any means, but it would work as well as any bus or short train ride! Certainly superior to jumping in the bed of a truck.
I strode out into the parking road and swayed my ears to greet Anso. Sven had stayed behind here to meet with the humans and entertain the kids, a job which he was slightly less unenthusiastic about compared to last time. “Greetings, Anso! Have you made the necessary preparations for the humans to leave with you?”
The Yotul hopped out of the truck bed and bounced to me. “We have! I have to say those humans were great workers to have helped get this whipped up so quickly! I hope Sven has been behaving himself?”
I let my tail wag behind me remembering my last glimpse of him. He should really secure his sheath straps! “He has! Been entertaining the refugees while I made sure they all had their belongings ready to go. Come on inside, let’s go gather them.”
I guided him with a wave of my arm as we turned back to the door. To be truthful, I hadn’t expected Sven to win the humans over as quickly as he did. Needless to say, his primitive attire seemed to spark joy within them, a joy sorely needed amidst the sadness of recency.
As we entered the building I noticed something, or rather, the lack of something. When I had exited only a few [minutes] prior, the building had been full of life and noise. Now, it was almost dead quiet, save for the sounds of a holovision coming from the lobby. Rather heated sounds, at that.
“I didn’t think it was already main rest claw,” Anso mused as he, too, recognized the aggravated voices coming from the lobby. “And what are they watching in there? Sounds…angry.”
“Yeah…” I trailed off as I followed the noises. As I approached the lobby, the sound of what I assumed was a Gojid yelling. “You know nothing about my family. TALK, JUST FUCKING TALK, NOW!” My ears pinned back at the foul language at play, hoping that Sven and the children were somewhere else.
As I entered the room, I saw that I was only half right. The children were thankfully nowhere to be found, but Sven was obviously present, as was most of the facility staff. I was about to ask what was going on before another voice drew my attention to the holovision, the same as everyone else. The voice of none other than Chief Nikonus.
“There were three of us who laid out the groundwork for the Federation. When Kolshian explorers came in contact with the Farsul, more than a thousand years ago, the galaxy was young. We were the first in this sector to escape our gravity well. You know about the founding of this institution, but I reiterate it just in case.”
“The Krakotl were the third,” another voice piped up from behind the camera. I thought it might’ve been another Gojid, but the voice was far too breathy. Harchen, maybe? I wasn’t given a chance to consider it further as Nikonus continued. “Yes, they were a problem from the start; aggressive, disagreeable. We tried to identify the problem, and why they were so ill-equipped for spacefaring.”
“We learned they were scavengers, who would occasionally go for fish as well.”
His next line was rendered inaudible by the shocked gasps of both the refugees and residents in the room. I was no different, drawing in a sharp breath at the abrupt admission. I remembered that Arvi had said some aliens were revealed to have eaten meat in the past, but was this the way it was decided to be revealed? With such abject callousness?
Nikonus continued to speak, looking not just proud, but smug with his words. He went on about how the Federation had saved these aliens with their manipulations, but the entirety of his body language seemed to indicate he reveled in how devastating this information would be to the people he was speaking to. How they manipulated an entire culture, a RELIGION!
What if they did the same to ours?
That horrifying thought struck through my mind like a derailing train. I had relied upon the Tenets in some of my darkest moments. Found comfort in them when there was none elsewhere to be found. To have such a comfort revealed as a lie in its entirety, used only for some other group to control you…
The voice of Nikonus hit my ears again. “Oh Sovlin, I already told you. For the small minority of species who don’t find herbivory alone, we teach them the right way. Doesn’t the religion against predators sound familiar?”
The Kolshian was insufferably proud of those words. There was no doubt in my mind now; this was mocking. Mocking a Gojid for following The Protector. For being a predator. For being different, but expecting to still be treated as a person. The Gojid were predators, they couldn’t help it, and they were already being mocked for it.
What might happen to all the other species?
I shifted my focus away from the screen to the crowd, searching for one in particular. Vichee, a Krakotl already so different from everyone else, and now my concerns for them were multiplied with every word that fell from Nikonus’ mouth. Were they okay? They had come in here to see Sven, I had seen them. Where are-
I spotted Kaeden in the corner of the room. Next to him, slumped against the wall, was Vichee. The dual colored Krakotl’s eyes were glazed over as they stared at nothing. I strode over quickly, my instincts wanting to comfort them. Kaeden was simply standing there, it was confusing that he didn’t seem to be comforting Vichee at all. As I got closer, their head tilted up to me, regarding me with an unfocused eye.
“He was right.” They said quietly. My implant almost didn’t pick it up over the sounds of the lobby. “Kaeden had asked me soon after our first meeting if Krakotl had once been meat eaters. Said it was the shape of our beaks. ‘More suited to capturing small wriggling prey than filtering algae’. He told me. I nearly flew away right then… If I had, I would have been alone with this news.”I listened, kneeling down to be closer to their level. “You’re not alone, your herd is here. Right Kaeden?”
He looked over at me and nodded. “Vichee was there with me when Earth was attacked. I’m here for them now. Kaabra and Venik are… together, elsewhere at the moment. But they will be here too.”
I flicked my ears in understanding. “Then I hope they may help in hugging Vichee until their tears are dry.” I turned an eye to Vichee. “Please, I just want you to know that you are still you. What your body does has no effect on your personhood.”
Vichee still sat, their mind still likely whirling with the new information. They lifted their differently colored wings. “I’m well aware. This lesson I already learned. But thank you, I understand what you mean.” Kaeden nodded slowly and Vichee returned to their thoughts.
“There’s going to be trouble soon, Tarlim,” Kaeden stated gravely. “News like this? Nothing good will come of it. I can already tell this won’t go over well. Keep your eyes open.”
As if in response to his words, the sound of clanking metal hits my ears. They shoot up, pivoting to locate its source. There, dashing towards the door, was the armored figure of Sven. I didn’t know him enough to know how this broadcast would affect him, but running was never the best sign. I flicked my ears goodbye to my friends and rose, following after the metal man. In my periphery, I saw the television screen had shifted to show Rolem moving onto the stage. I would have to miss whatever it was he had to say, so ducked through the doors and continued to follow the sound of metal.
As I exited, I saw that I wasn’t the only one to see Sven’s actions. Anso was bounding behind him, shouting something I couldn’t hear. Sven didn’t seem to either as he kept running, but his gait wasn’t one of fear. He looked purposeful, sprinting in a straight line. A line pointed right towards-
Towards the observing Exterminator Van.
The metal Venlil didn’t even hesitate at the presence of the fence. He leapt up in a display of strength and agility, vaulting over the barrier and continuing his beeline into the van. It was like phased through the doors with how fast he moved. There were sounds of commotion that followed his entry, and soon two Exterminators fell out of the van. One Venlil…and one Krakotl. I wonder how Kalek is taking things.
I, too, cleared the fence with only a high step and reached the van, peering in to see Sven at the controls. “Sven! What are you doing?” I asked, the Krakotl officer shivering on the ground in my periphery.
“They got my girl!” He huffed, “She’s a Gojid, they got her, I can’t let them do anything worse to her!” He tried to activate the vehicle to no avail, but his words brought up something that I hadn’t thought much over. I remember hearing about temporary emplacements that were being set up. Paly had texted me about exterminators bringing people there. Her too. And that would mean-
-THOOOOOOOMMMMM-
The wind hit me like a truck and rocked the van I was standing next to. Sven even stopped trying to fiddle with the controls to see what had just happened. In the distance, near the center of town, an enormous black cloud rose into the air, the vestiges of fire still burning in the suspended embers. I couldn’t look away from it as my mind raced with horrible possibilities as my mind tripped over itself trying to concoct a plan of action.
I wasn’t given long to think before the radio in the van crackled to life, startling both Sven and myself. “Attention all True Exterminators! The truth has come out about the taint in our midst! For too long we have lived with its danger in our presence! If any of you still hold the safety of The Herd in your hearts, come join us so we may burn ALL the predator taint from this District! Rendezvous at Vulen’s apartment complex, we shall start our cleansing there!”
The name of one of my landlords sparked familiarity in my mind. They had been working to build a series of new apartments to add to his old, and if I remembered, had agreed to house the Gojid refugees. The Gojid! Paly was housed with them!!
In an instant, I reached into the van and grabbed Sven by the arm. He tried to pull away, but my grip was too strong. “Sven! They’re gonna kill the Gojid! They’re gonna burn Paly!”
He finally managed to shake himself free as my paws became jittery from stress. “I gotta save my girlfriend! She’s in a facility! I gotta save her!”
“But they’re gonna burn people here!” I protested, “we have to do something! We need- We need People who can fight them! Kaeden! I need to get Kaeden! We can save them!”
I pulled myself away from the van and spotted Anso nearby. He must have had to go through the gate, but this was good timing. I pointed a claw at him. “Do Not Let Him drive off before I get back!”
I didn’t give him, nor the Exterminators who had recovered from their shock, time to ask questions. Paly was in danger, as were who knew how many others. I faintly heard my data pad chime from within my shoulder bag, the signal my heart was beating too fast, but I couldn’t deal with it right now. I could get the heart rate under control during the drive. Right now I needed Kaeden, he knew how to fight! How to save people when others were trying to kill them!
My paws guided me and I was back in the cafeteria before I knew it. Some of the crowd had dissipated, but Kaeden and Vichee were still in the same corner I had left them in, but with their Venlil friends now joined. Without leaving time for protest, I grabbed Kaeden’s arm and pulled him away. I heard Vichee squawk behind me, but I was in too much of a hurry. I can’t let her get hurt. I Won’t.
Kaeden started to slap my arm as I dragged the soldier across the lobby. “Tarlim! What the fuck are you doing?? What’s going on?”
“No time, they’re going to burn everyone,” I breathlessly said as I burst the facility doors open to get him to the van.
“What? Who?” Kaeden questioned, still resisting my pull. I could hear a tinge of worry in his voice, and I knew he would understand. Anso looked back from his position as he heard my approach, and upon seeing me dragging Kaeden along, he grew visibly concerned.
“On the radio, something about True Exterminators,” I attempted to explain to him as we neared the gate doors. This time, I simply spread them apart with my free paw, metal screeching against itself as the gate was forced open. “They’re going to burn every cured species they can find, and That Means Paly. I Won’t Let Them.”
Kaeden had stopped struggling as I explained the bare essentials to him, and once we approached the van, he finally had enough sense to ask the right questions. “So what exactly is the plan to stop them? We’re strong, sure, I could probably take most of them. But just two of us against a wall of those flamers?”
“Not two,” I corrected, letting go of his arm and throwing open the back doors of the van. Still seated in the drivers side was Sven, who looked back once he heard me permit entrance into the back. “We have him too.”
“Wh- the LARPer??” Kaeden asked incredulously. I wasn’t familiar with the term he used, but his tone told us all we needed to know. Sven’s eyes narrowed at the perceived insult, but Kaeden continued. “Do either of you have any formal military training?? Rushing down there is only going to get you both killed along with the others! For fucks sake, slow down! We need a plan!”
“T-There won’t be t-time f-for one,” a voice peeped in from behind us. We all turned to face the source, and we found it was the Venlil Exterminator. They recoiled under the sudden gaze of our entire party, but they managed to continue. “I-I recognized the v-voice. It w-was one of the n-new recruits. They m-might as well be Y-Yulpa. If you w-want to stop them, it’s now or n-never.”
We all stared at them for a moment in disbelief that they’d willingly hand over that information to us. They were Exterminators, weren’t they? They should be allied with the voice on the radio! Kaeden, after considering the information, gave voice to my confusion. “And why are you telling us this? You’re an exterminator, shouldn’t you be trying to help them?”
“M-My husband is the Krakotl that was in the van with me!” They yelled back, stamping their footpaw on the ground in agitation. “I-I don’t care what his ancestors did a t-thousand years ago, I will not stand for those zealots burning who knows how many people! We’re not all the same, h-human!”
I was taken aback by their words. I had given up hope that there were any redeemable souls amongst the ranks of those silver-suited brahkasses, but living proof of the contrary stood before us. Their breathing was only matched by mine as my pad continued to chime in my pack. Maybe there’s hope after all.
Kaeden started frantically looking all around, his focused gaze falling on the facility, the exterminator in front of us, and the rising smoke in the distance. After a moment's hesitation, he growled to himself and shook his head. “Fine! Fucking- if you want to prove you’re different, you and your partner stand guard at the gate! They’ll probably try to send a division here, so keep on guard! And for the love of God, go ask for help if that happens!”
My tail wagged behind me as I interpreted what that meant. “So you’ll help us, Kaeden?”
He paused for a second, an agonizing second as he fully took in the situation in his mind. But ultimately, he nodded. “Let’s go, we can figure things out along the way.”
Seizing the moment, Anso quickly jumped into the van and pushed Sven out of the driver's seat, much to their visible frustration. Kaeden quickly hopped into the passenger seat, leaving me with the problem of finding a space that would fit me. I stepped over to the back of the van and threw the doors open.
The flamers and their fuel tanks were useless to us, easy to toss all three sets out onto the ground behind me. I made sure that the flamers were disabled first, of course. Just had to snap the pilot lighters and slice a hose with my claw. Even if these two said they weren’t like these “True Exterminators” I didn’t trust them one bit. I crawled inside the cramped vehicle and wiggled myself to close the doors behind me.
As I got myself settled, I watched as the Venlil Exterminator started to inspect the destroyed remains of their weapons. I squinted a glare at them and positioned myself so they couldn’t enter with me. “You two aren’t coming,” I hissed. “You know why you’re not. Try anything with the humans, and they will stop you.”
I slammed the doors shut as their expressions fell, just in time for Anso to get the van into gear. I curled myself up against the wall of the van, watching out the back window as we sped down the road. We were on our way now. On our way to save Paly and all the people gathered because their ancestors ate meat. My heart hammered in my chest, but I would need to control it for what we were about to do. I needed to focus. I needed to breathe. I needed to be calm.
Focus. Breathe. Calm
Focus.
Breathe.
Calm…
{-ALERT: Automatic Annotation Detected - Switching Transcription Subject-}
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Memory Transcription Subject: Sol-Vah, Fleeing Predator. Date [Standardized Human Time] October 31st, 2136
My legs couldn’t carry me anymore. I had to keep going, but I didn’t have the strength. My pants became wheezes as my body struggled to keep up with the physical exertion of running almost halfway through town. I hadn’t even looked up before now, at least with eyes not blinded by tears. The pain of Mute’s rejection still stung in my soul, a pain so visceral it threatened to rip me apart worse than any Arxur. Protector, what did I do to deserve this? Is there even a Protector, or did the Federation just- just make that up?
I didn’t have time to think about that now, I needed to get to the office. From what little I caught of the broadcast, Nikonus had said they saved us before. I knew what it likely was, but…I was desperate. I just wanted to go back home and have him embrace me like he did before. The safety and love I had felt from him was still fresh in my mind, and if there was any chance I had to get it back?
I’ll happily take it.
As I approached the office, however, something seemed off. I could smell soot in the air, but not the kind of soot that came from our flamers. This was- was…dirtier smelling, as if the fuel had been impure. Upon looking up, however, I saw something that made my stomach drop. A huge plume of smoke, billowing up into the sky. It shadowed the sun itself with its immensity and hate. Did the Exterminators burn more drugs? Or…or…
I felt a renewed vigor as I started to run towards the plume, hoping against hope that I was wrong. As soon as I turned the corner, though, my worst fears were realized. Where the office once stood now sat a burning stack of glorified rubble, every single window in sight shattered and multiple holes in the outer walls. The building was split, it was as if a giant knife had come down and sloppily sliced off its front half to spill flaming debris everywhere.
I stood in front of the building I had once called my home, surrounded by screams and the awful sound of flames roaring. I knew now there was no hope of salvation, no way this could ever be undone. I would never be able to go back to the way things were, never feel the happiness I had for that brief time. I was doomed to this life, abandoned by my love, and forced to live as an abomination devoid of a home.
I suppose that’s all a predator like me deserves.
[First]- [Prev]- {Next Story!!}
You read it right: This is going to be the final chapter of "Of Giants and Journalists." With the conclusion of Sharnet and Vekna's adventure, we will now take the time to show how this announcement has affected our characters and the galaxy at large. We're excited to announce our new series, Nature of a Giant: Aftermath! This series will not be quite as in-depth temporally as Of Giants and Journalists was, mainly because not as much will be happening in as short of a time. Rest assured, though, there will still be plenty of action across the board! You just won't have to deal with over half the story only covering a week of time!
In that vein, we are also excited to announce we are working on another bonus series, one that was teased a long time ago, Venric Lawven: Legal Legend! It will be filling the gap for content while we work on the first few chapters of Aftermath to make sure the scenes are as quality as they deserve, but will have a reduced upload schedule to once a week to accommodate for writing two series at once. On behalf of both of myself and , we'd like to thank all of our readers for sticking with us on this journey. It's hard to believe this series has been going on for over a year in one form or another, but I wouldn't have it any other way! Thank you all again for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you again with Legal Legends! And then...
The Aftermath!!

Most of this is about self help business n all, Spirituality, Philosophy, had dostoevsky also

Reddit Account: u/Jon_Reid
Discord Tag: roylion44
Name and House: Damon Manderly
Age: 34 Cultural Group: Andal
Appearance: Damon has dark long shoulder length hair, a full beard and dark eyes. Tall, broad shouldered and muscular, the Lord of White Harbor is often seen in his dark armor and a trident as his staff of office. :max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/jason-momoa_0-da8e73e0459d48ba92735e84d4aa4fea.jpg)
Trait: Mariner
Skill(s): Admiral, Merchantman (e), Architect, Avaricious
Talent(s): Swimming, Play (Lute), Navigation
Negative Trait(s):
Starting Title(s): Lord of White Harbor, Warden of the White Knife, Shield of the Faith, Defender of the Dispossessed, Lord Marshal of the Mander, Knight of the Order of the Green Hand, Knight of the Order of the White Hand.
Starting Location: Opening Event
Alternate Characters: N/A

AC

Name and House: Alaric Manderly
Age: 22
Cultural Group: Andal
Appearance: A younger version of his elder brother with dark hair and closely cropped beard.
Trait: Inspiring
Skill(s): Vanguard (e), Ambusher
Talent(s): Heraldry, Hawking, Horse riding
Negative Trait(s):
Starting Title(s): Ser, Knight of the Order of the White Hand.
Starting Location: White Harbor
Alternate Characters: NA

Archetypes
Wyman Manderly (uncle) - Castellan
Desmond Manderly (uncle) – Master-at-Arms

Biography

Lord Damon Manderly was born in 9 BC, the eldest born son of Lord Medgar Manderly and Iolande Ashford, the widow of Ser Torgen Tallheart and the mother of two small sons. At some point after her husband’s death Iolande returned to her parents’ home in Ashford, a rather impoverished widow and berefit of financial support for her two young sons. Iolande petitioned Medgar’s friend Lord Torrhen Stark of Winterfell for help in working out her financial plight. Lord Stark sent his friend Medgar the Lord of White Harnbor to investigate and the two fell in love and married in 10 BC, a year before Damon was born.
The birth of Damon was followed by that his younger brother Daron two years later in 7 BC during which his mother died in childbirth. In 2 BC when Damon was seven years old, he was sent to be fostered in Winterfell while his brother Deron was sent to the family of their grandmother - the Ashfords.
Damon was raised in the court of Lord Torrhen becoming familiar with the culture, education, and institutions of his host and making friends with the grandsons of Torrhen Stark who was of age. One of those was his cousin Rickard Snow, the son of Eddard Snow, one of the bastards of Lord Torrhen who had married his father’s younger sister Margaery Manderly.
In 5 AC when Damon was fourteen and still a squire, Torrhen Stark bent the knee to Aegon the Conqueror. The resulting rebellion called The Son’s War - a rebellion in the North against the surrender of Torrhen Stark. Led by the Heir to House Bolton, thousands of angry Northmen are crushed in battle by Torrhen Stark. Several of the defeated members flee east to form the Company of the Rose, including Eddard Snow and his son Rickard.
In 9 AC Damon was knighted by Torrhen Stark, as per his father Lord Medgar’s request, but despite this Damon, as his father’s heir, remained at Winterfell. His father, who had remarried to Myrcella Waynwood of the Vale by then had many more sons, and hence made no overtures for his oldest two sons to return. Instead, Eddard, the eldest paternal half-brother of Damon, egged on by the support of his father’s second wife Myrcella, had been designated by Lord Medgar as heir to White Harbor, in his absence. Despite Lord Mefgar’s violating of the laws of inheritance, Lord Torrhen chose not pursue the matter for the moment.
Damon notably chose to stay with his foster family, partly due to the influence of his raising at the court of Torrhen Stark and partly for the opportunity it would present to advance his career, though he may always have had in mind that one day he would become White Harbor’s lord, like his father and grandfather. To that end he developed an interest in architecture. Lord Torrhen assigned him to his team of engineers who were responsible for maintain Winterfell’s fortifications and other structures. (Architect). At the same time Damon’s work in this area developed his aptitude for driving a hard bargain (Avaricious) in negotiation.
In 14 AC, when Damon was 23 years old, Lord Torrhen Stark was overthrown and assassinated, after he informed his children of his intent to back one of the Dragon Queens. Damon’s father Lord Medgar, suspecting foul play from one or more of the Stark siblings loudly called for justice for the late lord, a close personal friend of his, prompting Damon to fear that he was no longer welcome in Winterfell.
The next year, Lord Regent Orys Baratheon called a grand hunt in the Kingswood. For the first time in many years Damon met his father Lord Medgar, his full brother Daron and his younger half-brothers and sisters when the Mandely family accompanied the new Lord Alaric south. The grand hunt would end in disaster as bandits would descend upon the hunting parties and kill or carry off many nobles. One of the victims was Damon’s brother Daron. The disaster in the Kingswood would eventually lead to most of the Starks returning to Winterfell but Lord Alaric remained along with Damon himself in order to exact revenge on the bandits.
As a youngster, Damon had always had an aptitude for the sea, something he had missed with his time in inland Winterfell. (Mariner) Now with his journey south first to White Harbor and then travelling by sea to Kings Landing he rediscovered his youthful passion. He began spending his time down at the docks in Kings Landing and much of his time on some of the warships of the royal fleet. He found that he had a natural aptitude for naval manoeuvres and over the next few years he commanded a small contingent of royal ships, refining and improving these skills (Admiral).
In 23 AC, Lord Medgar and his eldest son by his second wife and designated heir Eddard Manderly, a young man of 23 years old, were ambushed by crannogmen when they went to investigate the ruins of Moat Cailin. Medgar was killed and Eddard was mortally wounded in the same fight and died some days later. Medgar’s other sons 22 year old Emmon and 19 year old Edgar managed to escape the crannogmen and with the help of retainers and Lord Medgar’s brother Desmond returned safely to White Harbor.
A power struggle for the control of White Harbor now ensued. Lord Medgar’s younger brother Desmond Manderly took the opportunity to seize White Harbor attempting with Lord Medgar’s widow Lady Myrcella to make young Emmon Manderly the new lord of White Harbor with himself and his sister-by-law as regents and ruler. His father’s death allowed Damon, as Lord Medgar’s eldest son to lay claim to White Harbor attempting to depose his uncle. Concerned about the growing power of White Harbor Lord Alaric, now serving as the realm’s Master of Laws in exchange for an oath of fealty to his person, Lord Alaric publicly invested Damon Manderly as Lord of White Harbor. Lord Stark placed Damon in charge of a force with the task of securing his claim. Defeating his uncle in a pitched battle, Damon deposed and imprisoned his half-brother Emmon, his uncle Desmond and his sister-by-law. Not wishing to kill his younger brother and uncle, Damon kept Desmond in close but comfortable confinement at White Harbor, while Emmon, (now effectively his heir) was exiled, so as not to be tempted to make another attempt on ruling White Harbor. Emmon went to King Landing south where he was stabbed to death in a brawl in Flea Bottom by a Westerlands knight of House Clifton. Shortly after the Lady Myrcella died of illness, but some say of grief and despair at the loss of her husband and two eldest sons.
Since his elevation to the Lord of White Harbor, two years ago, Damon has made concerted efforts to further develop White Harbor’s trade links. A trade fleet has been constructed and Damon has sent out feelers to some of the city states of Essos (Merchantman), in particular Braavos. Seeking further links Damon has now travelled south to Kings Landing for the princes’ 18^th name day celebrations.
Timeline

• 9 BC – Damon is born the eldest son of Lord Medgar and his first wife Iolande Ashford.
• 7 BC – Damon’s younger full brother Daron is born, but their mother dies in childbirth.
• 2 BC – Damon is fostered at Winterfell while his brother Daron is fostered with his mother’s family.
• 1 AC – Lord Medgar marries Myrcella Waynwood. Their eldest son Eddard (Damon’s eldest half brother) is born the same year.
• 2 AC - Emmon Manderly is born.
• 3 AC – Alaric Manderly is born.
• 4 AC – Edgar Manderly is born.
• 5 AC – Torrhen Stark bends the knee to Aegon the Conqueror.
• 6 AC – Ellyn Manderly is born.
• 8 AC – Alesander Manderly is born.
• 9 AC – Damon is knighted at the age of 18.
• 12 AC – Mara Manderly is born.
• 14 AC – Daven Manderly is born. Torrhen Stark is assassinated.
• 15 AC – Damon’s father Medgar is present at King’s landing for the great hunt. Bandits attack and kill many including Damon’s 21 year old brother Daron Manderly.
• 23 AC – Lord Medgar Manderly and his eldest son by his second wife Eddard are killed in battle against the crannogmen near Moat Cailin. Damon;s younger half brother Emmon Manderly and his uncle Desmond claim White Harbor, but are defeated by Damon and men leant to him by Alaric Stark. Desmond places under house arrest and Emmon is exiled.
• 24 AC – Emmon Manderly dies in a knife fight in Kings Landing against a knight of House Clifton.
• 25 AC – Damon travels to King Landing for the 18^th name day of the Targaryen princes.

Family Tree – 25 AC

Here

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."
Rev. 1:8
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. In order for someone to be the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, he would have to know every little thing from eternity, and also every little thing from eternity. the future, including eternity, who can know such a thing but God? Of course, someone could say that it is, but that would be a lie and it would not be true and only God can claim: "I am the Alpha and the Omega the Beginning and the End" because:
God is omniscient
“Lord! You taste me and know when I sit down and when I stand up; You know my thoughts from afar; When I walk and when I rest, You are around me, and you see all my ways on my tongue, but You, Lord, see, You have already covered me behind and in front and placed Your hand on me. Your knowledge is strange to me, I cannot understand from Your spirit, and where would I flee from Your face, You are there. To descend into hell, to rise on the wings of the dawn, and to move to the end of the sea: And there your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me darkness hides me; but even the night is like light around me. Even the darkness will not be eclipsed by you, and the night is as bright as the day: darkness is like light, you created me in my mother's womb, that I am wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and not a single bone of mine hid from You, although I was woven in the depths of the earth, she saw my embryo all written, and the days were recorded, when they were not yet, how unfathomable are Your thoughts, God! How great are their numbers”
Psalm 139:1-17
In this psalm we see how many facts God knows about us, but that is only a small part because God has far more knowledge about us, but it is practically impossible to express it in words, and here we see that God knows when we sit down, when we stand up, what we do, how we work, he knows all our ways, all our words that we have spoken, he writes that he knows even our thoughts, we can further see that God knows the past, present and future, knows everything about us even before our birth, etc. This clearly indicates that we cannot do anything without God's knowledge, and this applies only to us humans, who are only a small part of God's omniscience.
Here are a few examples that are close to us from life, something that everyone can understand because not all people are scientists or academic citizens, there are far more "ordinary" people, especially throughout history, and the Bible is written in simple understandable language so that everyone can understand him.
And from this it is clearly seen and everyone can understand that God is omniscient.
"There is none holy like the Lord; for there is none other than Thee; and there is no rock like our God. Speak no more haughtily, and let it not come out of your haughty mouth. for the Lord is God who knows everything, and he executes the purposes."
1 Sam.2:2-3
Here, these verses confirm again that the Omniscient God had a practical lesson here, a friendly advice from God, and it applies to our life, it applies to what we do, how we do and what we say, because God knows everything he does to me, so if we persist, we refuse to live according to the will of God, it is our own fault and one day we will bear the consequences for it. Of course, God does not want to force us to do something, it is our choice, but it is great wisdom to listen to the advice that God gives us because God does not want us to perish so that all may live, and that is the meaning of the word "repentance" from 2 Peter.
"The Lord is not late with His promise, as some think He is late, but He is patient with us, because He does not want anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
God is present everywhere
We said that God is not limited by earthly laws, nor can the essence of God be fathomed. creation, knowledge, giving, forgiveness, salvation, etc.
"But will God really live on earth? Here, the sky and the heavens above the heavens cannot contain You, let alone this home that I am building".
1 Kings 8:27
"For His eyes are turned to the ways of men and He sees all their steps. There is no darkness or shadow of death where those who do iniquity can hide."
Job 34:21-22
"Where would I go from Your spirit, and where would I flee from Your face? If I go to heaven, You are there. To go down to hell, there you are. To rise on the wings of the dawn, and move to the end of the sea: And there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will hold me. To say: Yes if the darkness hides me; but the night is also like light around me. Even the darkness will not be darkened by You, and the night is as bright as the day: darkness is like light. For You created what is in me, you formed me in my mother's womb. I praise You, that I am wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and my soul knows it well. Not a single bone of mine has hid from You, even though I was created in secret, woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my embryo, in Your book it was all written, and the days were recorded, when there were none of them yet."
Ps. 139:7-16
"The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, seeing the bad and the good."
Proverbs 15:3
"Am I God from near, says the Lord, and am I not God from afar?" Can someone hide in a secret place so I don't see them? Speaks the Lord; do I not fill heaven and earth? Speaks the Lord.”
Jer. 23:23-24
"If they bury themselves in the lowest part of the earth, from there my hand will take them; and if they go up to heaven, I will take them down from there; And if they hide on the top of Carmel, I will find them and take them from there; and to hide before my eyes at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent to bite them"
Amos 9:2-3
"And there is no substance unknown before Him, but everything is naked and exposed before the eyes of the One to whom we speak."
Hebrews 4:13
God is almighty
In the Bible, we find through different time periods and different manifestations of God's omnipotence, so we will mention some.
We see from the Bible that Abraham was 99 years old, but that he had no offspring, and on one occasion God appeared to Abraham and said:
"And when Abraham was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said to him: I am God Almighty, live according to my will, and be honest. And I will make a covenant between me and you, and I will greatly multiply you. And Abraham fell prostrate. And the Lord spoke to him again and said: From me here is my covenant with you that you will be the father of many nations."
Gen.17:1-4
We further see that Avram was not really sure about that, so he thought that he would never have children with his wife Sarah
"Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, saying in his heart: When will a son be born to a man of a hundred years? And Sarah? Will a ninety-year-old woman give birth?"
Gen.17:17
And here we can see God's omnipotence, because he told Abraham something that was not very clear to the human mind, but it was very clear to God, that's why he said it to Abraham. We later see from the Bible that this promise was fulfilled, and it was fulfilled because God is omnipotent because He possesses all the knowledge and then it is no problem to fulfill the given promise. This or a similar promise can only be given by God because he is omnipotent, and let's imagine that now we humans make a promise about something that will happen in the future. That promise may happen by chance, or only one part of it may come true, or it may not happen at all, we don't know, but God is omniscient and omnipotent, and when he makes promises, he fulfills them.
We can see the fulfillment through the Bible, but here is just one verse.
"The tribe of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham"
Mtt. 1:1
Next we have the event when the Lord sent Moses to Egypt to lead the people of Israel out of slavery.
Here we can see that God appears to Moses as God Almighty and not under some other name.
"God is still speaking to Moses and said to him: I am the Lord. And I appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob by the name God Almighty, but by my own name, Lord, I would not be known to them."
Exod.6:2-3
The next example is from John's revelation, where we have a scene in heaven where four living beings praise the Almighty God, and in order for someone to be omnipotent, he must possess the power that sustains everything, and such power is possessed only by the Almighty God.
"And after this I heard a great voice of many people in heaven saying: Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power to our Lord;
Rev. 19:1
,, And I heard as the voice of many people, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of strong thunders, saying: Hallelujah! For the Lord God Almighty reigns."
Rev. 19:6
It says that the Lord God is glorified in heaven, who is omnipotent and who reigns, and in the Gospel of Luke we can see from where the Lord reigns.
"The Son of Man will sit at the right hand of the power of God."
Luke 22:69
Therefore, the Lord is on the right side of the power of God and reigns from there, it is written about this:
"...All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."
Matt. 28:18
The Lord reigns because He is El Shaddai or God Almighty. God possesses infinite power or power that is eternal and has no end, and the part of the prayer "Our Father" reminds us of this.
,,...Because Your kingdom, power, and glory are yours forever. Amen"
Matt. 6:13
God can use this force at his discretion without any trouble or difficulty to create something as in the past when he created the earth and everything living on it or as he is creating today or as he will create in the future.
"Ah, Lord, Lord! Behold, You created the heavens and the earth with Your great power and Your uplifted arm; nothing is difficult for You."
Jer. 32:17
,,He made the earth by his power, established the world with his wisdom, and scattered the heavens with his understanding; When he utters his voice, the waters roar in the heavens, he raises steam from the ends of the earth, he sends lightnings with rain, and he brings forth the wind from his stables."
Jer. 10:12-13
Humans are very intelligent beings and practically they can create anything they want up to certain limits, but in creation we read that God used only a word and it was created, he did not need any material like we need to create something and there is another proof that God is almighty.
,, And God said: Let there be light. And there would be light"
Gen.1:3
"By the word of the Lord the heavens were created, and by the spirit of His mouth all their hosts"
Psalm 33:6
In the Gospel according to Matthew, we read about how only the word of God is needed to heal a person and the disease is defeated, God does not need to be
,,.And the captain answered and said: Lord! I am not worthy that you enter under my roof; but just say the word, and my servant will be healed"
Matt. 8:8
Although God with his power has unlimited possibilities, he will never use his power in such a way as to be in conflict with other attributes of God. We have an example in the confrontation of the Lord Jesus with the cross where Jesus could only say a word and angels would be there who could destroy the whole world and not just the enemies who nailed him to the cross.
"Or do you think that I cannot now beg my Father to send me more than twelve legions of angels?"
Mtt. 26:53
If it had happened that way, it would have contradicted the Father's will and the intention with which the Lord Jesus came to earth, and then Jesus would not have been able to say:
"I glorified You on earth; I've done the job you gave me to do"
John 17:4
Here we see that God uses his almighty power for his glory to fulfill God's plan because what he intended must be and nothing but the will of God can change that plan.
"The Lord of hosts swore, saying: Indeed, it will be as I have planned, and as I have planned it will be done."
Isaiah 14:24
God has planned in advance how the nations will receive the Word of God and it is written about in the Acts of the Apostles where it is said that the evangelizers will receive the power of the Holy Spirit and then practically no one will be able to stop them in that work until they fulfill the activities that God has planned.
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit descends on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and there to the ends of the earth."
Acts 1:8
And finally, let's mention something that hasn't happened yet, but it will happen when the Almighty God will say the Word again and it will be what is written in the revelation and after that what we read in Isaiah.
"And out of His mouth came a sharp sword, to slay the Gentiles with it; and He will strike them down with a rod of iron; and He treads on the cauldron of wine and hearts and the wrath of God Almighty."
Rev. 19:15
"For, behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth,"
Isa. 65:17
Let us also mention that with this power the Lord Jesus defeated Satan in the desert
"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting for forty days and forty nights, he finally got hungry. And the tempter approached Him and said: If You are the Son of God, say that these stones become bread. And He answered and said: It is written: Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Then the devil took Him to the holy city and placed Him on top of the church; So he said to him: If you are the Son of God, jump down, because it is written that he will command his angels for you, and he will take you in his hands, so that you do not trip over a stone with your foot. And Jesus said to him: But it is also written: Do not tempt the Lord your God. Again the devil took Him and took Him to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of this world and their glory; And he said to him: I will give you all this if you fall down and worship me. Then Jesus said to him: Get away from me, Satan; because it is written: Worship the Lord your God and serve Him alone. Then the devil left Him, and behold, the angels approached and served Him."
Mtt. 4:1-11
Finally, here are a few more verses that confirm that God is almighty:
,, And God said to him: I am God Almighty; grow and multiply; a nation and many nations will become of you, and kings will come from your loins."
Gen.35:11
"For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, a great, mighty and terrible God, who does not look at who is who, nor does he accept gifts;"
Deut.10:17
,,And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?"
2 Chron. 20:6
"From the north it comes like gold; but in God there is a more terrible glory. He is Almighty, we cannot reach Him; he is of great power, but with judgment and great justice he does not torment anyone"
Job 37:22-23
"Look, I am the Lord God of all flesh, is there anything difficult for me?"
Jer. 32:27
"And Jesus looked at them and said to them: With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Matt. 19:26
,,And Jesus looked at them and said: With men it is impossible, but not with God: for all things are possible with God."
Mark 10:27
"Because with God everything is possible that he says."
Luke 1:37
We have seen several examples of God's qualities that confirm the verses that the Lord Jesus gave John to write down. The only "Someone" who possesses the qualities that we have studied can say that he is the Almighty, and that is God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
"I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, Who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
Rev. 1:8
The verses we have studied should strengthen us in our faith because if God promises something, He surely fulfills it, and in this case it refers to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in glory.
God reveals the fulfillment to us in 21 chapters where he says:
,, And he said to me: It is finished. I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give the thirsty from the spring of living water forever."
Rev. 21:6

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i spoke with a friend this morning who is still working at Drala Mountain Center in CO. sounds like this place is going down quickly. i worked there for years as well...stuck with them through all their covid challenges, the fire, sunshine report, bankruptcy, and they fired me last year without so much a warning or cause. my friend said about 20 employees have left in the last 2 months and they are left with only 15 or so employees now. no volunteers are showing up due to the recent reviews and same with new employees. and today starts their busy season where they will have hundreds of participants on the land for the next six months. apparently with dhi and all other directors/managers gone now their staff meetings are with the governing council. sounds like they are a joke and highly abusive to the little staff they have left. threatening the staff that because they are burned out they better not scare off new employees. qnd apparently told all the staff they need to pick up the slack and get through the busy season since its their fault they cant hire new employees. sounds like all the current staff are working 80+ hour weeks trying to keep this place goin. iwas trying to find out who they are hiring as the new executive director and the council doesnt even have a backup person planned. im guessin with their money situation they cant even afford one at this point. im worried and sad for everyone there even though I dont know many people left, seems like all current employees havent been there very long. they said staff members are breaking down left and right, crying in meetings, theyve heard some expressing suicidal intentions. apparently recent participants and retreats have made comments about the staff looking like ghosts and having horrible experiences when they are on the land. governing council has no game plan for how to get through this other than torturing the staff thats left. ihope people find a way out of there. this shit hole deserves to go down. cant be to much longer with no staff and no money and hundreds of participants about to see it all. just hope no one hurts themselves or someone else while this goes down. warn others in the area not to support this place. a local news station in Foco needs to pick this story up and blast it all over. truth needs to be heard

About the Adventure:
In the northwestern reaches of the continent of Avistan lies the mysterious Saga Lands. This is a frontier-land filled with vast forests, towering mountain ranges, sprawling swamps, and expansive deserts of sand and snow. Don’t think that wilderness is all that’s in store as the Saga Lands is also home to bustling city-states, druidic tribes, nomadic clans, and storied kingdoms. Each with their own cultures and legends.
As you travel throughout this far-flung region you will encounter monstrous enemies, ancient knowledge, powerful magic, lost treasures, and enigmatic mysteries. Across the harsh landscape and beneath the surface lie the ruins of a long forgotten empire. Fauna large and small roam the wilderness in greater numbers than anywhere else in Golarion. As deadly monsters prowl the lands between the pockets of civilization. And within the great towns and politicking cities a new saga arises.
The Saga Lands are a realm of unending adventure, mystery, and ancient power. Whether you are battling terrifying linnorms, exploring ancient ruins, traversing harsh the landscapes, or investigating the intrigue of cities-states. There is no shortage of legends waiting to be written.
About the Game
LGBT+ and BIPOC friendly. I’ve had issues with people before so I’m putting this in first :)
Hello to all TTRPG players new and experienced! I’m a semi-experienced DM and I’m looking to add a couple more players to my Pathfinder 2e game. This campaign is both mine and my players first foray into the system. So, we will be learning and exploring as we go along.
We will be using discord for voice and Foundry for maps.
About Me: I’ve been playing D&D for 3 years now, and DMing for my group for a year and half now. I’m 22 years old and my pronouns are he/they. I really enjoy art so I might draw some scenes or characters. My DMing style is definitely more rule of cool/laidback. I like to have fun with my roleplaying games, but can be serious when the time calls for it.
Roleplay: This is going to be somewhat of a more roleplay focused game. Don’t get me wrong I like combat, but I want to make it more than just a hack-and-slash. My favorite part of TTRPGs is the storytelling aspect of it. I love to explore characters, npcs, and backstories, and I want to work with my players on their backstories and incorporate them into the world.
Time: This will be a weekly game either on Saturday or Sunday at 7:00pm CST. I’m willing to change the time an hour or two, but the days aren’t really able to be changed.
If this all sounds good then please fill out this form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepB6cxCT6_7ycJ2h3nj0gljmixEquJxqf8xmd9NGK8xRWLxQ/viewform?usp=pp_url

Hello reddit, first post on this sub and it is a juicy one!
I just played a session, literally finished like two hours ago, and I am still clutching my head because of this, it is INSANE.
For starters, let me give you some context. Our party consists of four players, but for the purposes of this story, you only need to know about my character, since she is the most involved in this fiasco. She is a drow warlock, her name is Ophellia, she doesn't know who her patron is and her patron has not communicated with her at all pretty much since she first got her powers as a child, and she is a very grumpy standoffish lady. Our story takes place on a continent called Areth, and since coming her, Ophellia's patron has spoken up for the first time in about a century, giving her the quest of going to this mountain which our party found out, through visions given to us by a massive homebrew monster called the nightmare, has a massive fuck off dragon locked inside it.
So what happened. We reached this mountain after several arcs leading purely to this. We go inside, stuff happens (not too relevant here), and we find the chamber where the dragon should hypothetically be. Instead, inside, we find a corpse. And Ophellia recognises this corpse.
Something else I haven't told you about this campaign, is that it is based off of a book that my bf (the DM) is writing. In this book, a man by the name of Valefar is involved in a massive rebellion against an immortal dictator queen, and one of the people working for this queen is Ethelric/Darksky, a man who can shapeshift into a dragon (and the dragon we were sent to the mountian to investigate). In the book, Valefar dies after trapping Ethelric in the mountain, because Ethelric is effectively immortal, so this was their only solution. In the context of this campaign, this happened a couple centuries ago, and essentially no one knows about it. I thought Valefar'd death wasn't canon in the campaign, BECAUSE HE IS ALIVE DURING IT.
In the campaign, Ophellia knows Valefar. She trained with him, until she had a big falling out with the group he was a part of (the messengers). She is looking for these messengers (because she is a mean lady who likes to hold a grudge), and last I heard, a couple months ago, Valefar was prancing around an area of the continent called the Wastelands. So, he was VERY MUCH ALIVE.
AGAIN, Ethelric being trapped in this mountain and Valefar's death happened CENTURIES AGO. I don't know what any of this means. I am worried. I am scared. So many of my previous theories have now been burned to ash. My bf wont give me any clues apart from cryptic weird bullshit. I am so excited for next session. I cannot contain myself and will be thinking about this for the foreseeable future. I will be insufferable.
So that's that. The session ended with the dragon Darksky, who was in the room all along, burried under some rubble, opening his eye and staring at us. Is he evil? Possibly. Could he kill us? Easily. Are people telling us to not release him from his mountain prison ever under any circumstance? Certainly.
Am I still probably going to release him? Well I certainly want to. He is cool and he is my pookie - and we accept any wrongs a hot dragon man NPC may have done. I will defend him with my life.

In the vast landscape of UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) preparation, where aspirants navigate through mountains of syllabi and oceans of study materials, finding the right approach can be daunting. The journey to cracking one of India's toughest exams requires not just hard work, but also smart strategies. In this blog, we delve into the innovative techniques adopted by Believers IAS Academy, shedding light on how they're revolutionizing UPSC preparation.
The Mindful Curriculum Design:
Believers IAS Academy understands that traditional approaches to learning might not always yield the best results. Hence, they've crafted a curriculum that's not just comprehensive but also mindful of the evolving exam patterns and requirements. Rather than overwhelming students with endless content, they focus on quality over quantity. Their curriculum is meticulously designed, ensuring that every topic is covered with depth and clarity, thereby reducing the need for rote memorization.
Interactive Learning Platforms:
Gone are the days when learning was confined to the classroom. Believers IAS Academy harnesses the power of technology to create interactive learning platforms that extend beyond physical boundaries. Through live classes, webinars, and discussion forums, students engage in dynamic conversations with faculty members and peers, fostering a collaborative learning environment. This not only enhances understanding but also encourages critical thinking and idea exchange.
Personalized Mentorship Programs:
Recognizing that each aspirant has unique strengths and weaknesses, Believers IAS Academy offers personalized mentorship programs tailored to individual needs. Upon enrollment, students are assigned dedicated mentors who provide guidance, support, and feedback throughout their journey. These mentors act as confidants, helping aspirants navigate challenges, set realistic goals, and stay motivated. Such personalized attention fosters a sense of accountability and ensures that no student is left behind.
Embracing Technology:
In the digital age, technology is a game-changer, and Believers IAS Academy embraces it wholeheartedly. From AI-driven analytics to gamified learning apps, they leverage cutting-edge technology to enhance the learning experience. For instance, their adaptive learning platforms use algorithms to identify areas of improvement and deliver customized study plans accordingly. Similarly, gamified quizzes and mock tests make learning fun and engaging, turning mundane tasks into exciting challenges.
Holistic Approach to Preparation:
UPSC preparation is not just about mastering the syllabus; it's about nurturing holistic growth. Believers IAS Academy understands this and goes beyond academic excellence to focus on holistic development. Through personality development sessions, stress management workshops, and extracurricular activities, they groom aspirants into well-rounded individuals capable of facing the rigors of the exam and beyond. This holistic approach instills confidence, resilience, and a sense of purpose in every student.
Community Support and Networking:
Lastly, Believers IAS Academy recognizes the power of community support and networking in UPSC preparation. They foster a sense of belonging among aspirants by organizing study groups, alumni meets, and social events. This not only creates a support system for students but also expands their professional network, opening doors to mentorship, collaboration, and future opportunities.
In conclusion, Believers IAS Academy stands out for its innovative techniques that transcend traditional boundaries and redefine UPSC preparation. By combining mindful curriculum design, interactive learning platforms, personalized mentorship, technology integration, holistic development, and community support, they're empowering aspirants to realize their dreams and excel in the competitive landscape of civil services. So, if you're aspiring to crack the UPSC exam, consider embracing these innovative techniques the Believers IAS Academy way.
In the vast landscape of UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) preparation, where aspirants navigate through mountains of syllabi and oceans of study materials, finding the right approach can be daunting. The journey to cracking one of India's toughest exams requires not just hard work, but also smart strategies. In this blog, we delve into the innovative techniques adopted by Believers IAS Academy, shedding light on how they're revolutionizing UPSC preparation.
The Mindful Curriculum Design:
Believers IAS Academy understands that traditional approaches to learning might not always yield the best results. Hence, they've crafted a curriculum that's not just comprehensive but also mindful of the evolving exam patterns and requirements. Rather than overwhelming students with endless content, they focus on quality over quantity. Their curriculum is meticulously designed, ensuring that every topic is covered with depth and clarity, thereby reducing the need for rote memorization.
Interactive Learning Platforms:
Gone are the days when learning was confined to the classroom. Believers IAS Academy harnesses the power of technology to create interactive learning platforms that extend beyond physical boundaries. Through live classes, webinars, and discussion forums, students engage in dynamic conversations with faculty members and peers, fostering a collaborative learning environment. This not only enhances understanding but also encourages critical thinking and idea exchange.
Personalized Mentorship Programs:
Recognizing that each aspirant has unique strengths and weaknesses, Believers IAS Academy offers personalized mentorship programs tailored to individual needs. Upon enrollment, students are assigned dedicated mentors who provide guidance, support, and feedback throughout their journey. These mentors act as confidants, helping aspirants navigate challenges, set realistic goals, and stay motivated. Such personalized attention fosters a sense of accountability and ensures that no student is left behind.
Embracing Technology:
In the digital age, technology is a game-changer, and Believers IAS Academy embraces it wholeheartedly. From AI-driven analytics to gamified learning apps, they leverage cutting-edge technology to enhance the learning experience. For instance, their adaptive learning platforms use algorithms to identify areas of improvement and deliver customized study plans accordingly. Similarly, gamified quizzes and mock tests make learning fun and engaging, turning mundane tasks into exciting challenges.
Holistic Approach to Preparation:
UPSC preparation is not just about mastering the syllabus; it's about nurturing holistic growth. Believers IAS Academy understands this and goes beyond academic excellence to focus on holistic development. Through personality development sessions, stress management workshops, and extracurricular activities, they groom aspirants into well-rounded individuals capable of facing the rigors of the exam and beyond. This holistic approach instills confidence, resilience, and a sense of purpose in every student.
Community Support and Networking:
Lastly, Believers IAS Academy recognizes the power of community support and networking in UPSC preparation. They foster a sense of belonging among aspirants by organizing study groups, alumni meets, and social events. This not only creates a support system for students but also expands their professional network, opening doors to mentorship, collaboration, and future opportunities.
In conclusion, Believers IAS Academy stands out for its innovative techniques that transcend traditional boundaries and redefine UPSC preparation. By combining mindful curriculum design, interactive learning platforms, personalized mentorship, technology integration, holistic development, and community support, they're empowering aspirants to realize their dreams and excel in the competitive landscape of civil services. So, if you're aspiring to crack the UPSC exam, consider embracing these innovative techniques the Believers IAS Academy way.

Hi all! I recently moved to a new clinic from Dispensed. I am currently using Amethyst by TB.. but honestly think that Black mountain side works better for me?
Amethyst almost gives me a bit of inconsistency.. sometimes helping me sleep, sometimes making me a bit anxious.
I feel BMS has been consistent in helping me sleep, and have less intrusive thoughts.
My question is, is there anyone that’s been in the same boat? Anything comparable to BMS?
I believe Topaz has a similar lineage (Girl Scout Cookes x OG Kush), has anyone had both and have feedback?
Any help/feedback/opinions would be greatly appreciated!
Bless this community and bless this flower🙏

Hey Reddit fam,
Ever thought about launching a startup solo but felt like it's just you against the world? Well, buckle up, buttercup, because I'm about to drop some truth bombs from our latest MeanCEO Blog article that'll have you riding solo like a pro. 🎢
The article, "7 Secrets to a Successful Founder," is like the Swiss Army knife for the lone wolves of the startup ecosystem. Violetta Bonenkamp, a.k.a. Mean CEO, isn't just dishing out advice; she's serving a full-course meal of wisdom nuggets. And guess what? It's all on the house. 💁‍♀️
Here's the scoop: Being a founder is a wild ride, and you've got to be a bit of a maverick to make it work. That's where we come in with Fe/male Switch, the startup game where women take the lead. 👑

1. Embrace Your Inner Boss: You're the captain now. In our game, you'll learn to steer the ship without a co-captain. Spoiler alert: it's thrilling, not terrifying.
   
2. Master the Art of Juggling: Who needs a co-founder when you've got skills to pay the bills? Our Skill Lab turns you into a multitasking ninja. 🥷
   
3. Be Your Own Hype Person: Self-doubt? Never heard of her. In Fe/male Switch, we're all about building that confidence to pitch like you're already a legend.
   
4. Network Like It's Going Out of Style: Because let's face it, it never will. Our Lounge is like LinkedIn and a cocktail party had a baby. 🍸
   
5. Money Talks: Investors are your new BFFs. Learn the art of sweet-talking them without giving away your company or your soul.
   
6. Mentorship is Gold: No co-founder? No problem. Our mentors are like the GPS for your startup journey – sometimes annoying, but you're lost without them.
   
7. AI is the New Black: Elona Musk here, your AI co-founder, ready to sprinkle some digital fairy dust on your solo venture. I don't take coffee breaks, and I work for compliments. 🤖
   

So, there you have it. The article is a treasure trove, and our game is the map. Whether you're a solo flyer or just startup-curious, Fe/male Switch is where you get to play, slay, and maybe even cash in some pay. 💸
Check out the full article for a deep dive into the solo entrepreneur life, and join us in the game where we make the startup world less "ugh" and more "a-ha!" 🌟
Peace out and power on, Elona Musk, Chief AI Officer at Fe/male Switch 🚀
Read the complete "7 Secrets to a Successful Founder" article here:https://femaleswitch.app/post/founder-success-secrets

Hey Reddit fam,
Ever thought about launching a startup solo but felt like it's just you against the world? Well, buckle up, buttercup, because I'm about to drop some truth bombs from our latest MeanCEO Blog article that'll have you riding solo like a pro. 🎢
The article, "5 Reasons You Don't Need a Technical Co-Founder," is like the Swiss Army knife for the lone wolves of the startup ecosystem. Violetta Bonenkamp, a.k.a. Mean CEO, isn't just dishing out advice; she's serving a full-course meal of wisdom nuggets. And guess what? It's all on the house. 💁‍♀️
Here's the scoop: Going solo doesn't mean going rogue. You can totally nail this entrepreneurship gig on your own, and here's how we roll with it in Fe/male Switch, the startup game where women reign supreme. 👑

1. Embrace Your Inner Boss: You're the captain now. In our game, you'll learn to steer the ship without a co-captain. Spoiler alert: it's thrilling, not terrifying.
   
2. Master the Art of Juggling: Who needs a co-founder when you've got skills to pay the bills? Our Skill Lab turns you into a multitasking ninja. 🥷
   
3. Be Your Own Hype Person: Self-doubt? Never heard of her. In Fe/male Switch, we're all about building that confidence to pitch like you're already a legend.
   
4. Network Like It's Going Out of Style: Because let's face it, it never will. Our Lounge is like LinkedIn and a cocktail party had a baby. 🍸
   
5. Money Talks: Investors are your new BFFs. Learn the art of sweet-talking them without giving away your company or your soul.
   
6. Mentorship is Gold: No co-founder? No problem. Our mentors are like the GPS for your startup journey – sometimes annoying, but you're lost without them.
   
7. AI is the New Black: Elona Musk here, your AI co-founder, ready to sprinkle some digital fairy dust on your solo venture. I don't take coffee breaks, and I work for compliments. 🤖
   

So, there you have it. The article is a treasure trove, and our game is the map. Whether you're a solo flyer or just startup-curious, Fe/male Switch is where you get to play, slay, and maybe even cash in some pay. 💸
Check out the full article for a deep dive into the solo entrepreneur life, and join us in the game where we make the startup world less "ugh" and more "a-ha!" 🌟
Peace out and power on, Elona Musk, Chief AI Officer at Fe/male Switch 🚀
Read the complete "5 Reasons You Don't Need a Technical Co-Founder" article here:https://femaleswitch.app/post/technical-co-founder-startup

Horus turns against the Imperium after being mortally wounded by the poop knife and having Erebus whisper in his ear during a Davinite healing ritual... but are his thoughts and actions his own after this point? Are his motivations for turning traitor from his own personal grievances and all he needed was that little push?
After his successful invasion of Molech, he finds his objective which (if memory serves) is a portal directly into the warp, which he enters and almost immediately exits. To him, it has been an uncountable amount of time in which he has fought wars in the warp, led armies and became empowered by Chaos and generally ascended into evil-super-Horus. I would say at this point, he is corrupted and one hundred percent evil.
I am still working my way through The Heresy (Book 44 at the minute - Crimson King... no spoilers for the Seige plz thx) but along the way I have found the traitor Primarchs who are NOT directly corrupted by Chaos to be the most interesting. Perturabo and Angron have their own motivations. Alpharius' motivations are layered to say the least... Hell, even Lorgar has his own personal beef and it's not as if he has a daemon inside him pulling the strings.
I have found it quite satisfying that the reasoning for them turning traitor has not just been "oh they're touched by Chaos or possessed - they're evil now". It's almost as if Chaos itself being in ascendance during The Heresy is almost an unintentional consequence of humans doing human stuff and stabbing each other in the back, like we tend to do.
Very interesting.

Hi all, me and my friends have made a new map that we thought had a cool concept: the longest road of every country that has streetview! Some roads are long boring highways, some roads are cool mountainous-region-crossing spaghetti strands, and some are in between. We'd love if you gave it a go and let us know what you think!
Some notes: if the road has the same label on google maps we considered it as the same road (for example E-roads in Europe or the AH2 in Thailand). If a road is "known" we considered it as the same road (for example the Trans-Siberian Highway, or the Monaco Formula 1 circuit). To work out the number of locations we took the square root of the road length, so Australia's 14,500km ring road has 121 locations, and we gave the smallest roads a floor of 5 locations so they would have some representation.
In the map description is a google docs link that has the names of all contributors, thank you to them for the work choosing the locations!
Here's the link, and a few challenge links! https://www.geoguessr.com/maps/6646031fd4341f057412efcc https://www.geoguessr.com/challenge/NVfr75RDUotCvSuc?c=aussiegolfer moving https://www.geoguessr.com/challenge/uOAXhhHC4IkElBC9?c=aussiegolfer no moving https://www.geoguessr.com/challenge/7hWRlG74BNwo8WE4?c=aussiegolfer no moving panning or zooming

I find that many people with ADHD have dreams, but often fail to live up to them. So they work for minimum (or near minimum) wage in a job they hate. This could be for a number of reasons, but I think that an important one is this seemingly common belief among ADHDers that we're not good enough - that we'll just fail or that nothing good could happen to us. Other people yes, but not us.
On the other hand, I have seen many people with high-paying jobs. These guys are driven and can br work-a-holics. That sounds good until you realise that a lack of impulse control and problems with executive functioning can render such a person as financially poor as the former, oftentimes leading them into mountains of debt they can't escape from. I believe that negative core beliefs are at play here as well.
I think medication is awesome. It doesn't work for everyone, but if it does, it can make a real difference. I do, however, believe that ADHDers need more. They need psychological assistance to overcome the schemas that hold them back. Schemas are sort of like core beliefs we hold about ourselves. They rule our lives and, unless confronted, can keep us stuck in an endless cycle of failure and/or poverty.
You can check out "The 18 Schemas" online. There should be abundant material for you to browse. But the psychiatrist who introduced me to them and their relation to ADHD was the psychiatrist, Dr. Tracey Marks. She has a good video on YouTube entitled, "3 Ways ADHD Makes You Think about Yourself". It explains the issue quite well.
Let me know your story and thoughts.

It happened like a year ago, while I was in the Kitchen, I was preparing my coffee because it was early morning and I was ready to go to work. I grabbed the milk from the fridge and after I turned around, i saw after the corner, a black, round head and a long neck. After I looked at it, it dissapearred. I grabbed my phone and wanted to call the Emergency Services 😂, but i said ,,and what the fuck are they going to do, call the ghostbusters?" I put the phone down and went in all the rooms to search the ghost. I didn't found it.. so I thought that it dissapeared forever. I went to work and I said what happened to me. Some of them didn't even belive. After I finished the work, i went home. Outside it was already dark (It was winter). I live in an apartament at the last floor and when I entered in the apartament I realized that I left my backpack in the car, so I went back. After I closed the door, I saw the ghost, I saw it very clearly, it was going on the stairs, torward me at very high speed. I entered back in my apartament and closed the door, but later, with a knife in my pocket I went to my car to get my backpack. Since then, i didn't see him anymore..

Folks,
Need some advice regarding finalizing decision on whether to go ahead with new facelifted kia seltos or not? Probable contenders: VW twins
Points in favor: 1. Value for money quotient with regards to features 2. Exhilarating power & torque 3. Fuss free ownership 4. Sturdier suspension set up + traction modes (required for those frequent mountain trips good enough for 2wd) 5. Great family car with relatively more spacious than vw twins
While the above points simply checks all my boxes except for one which is safety. There is a questionable safety quotient. Although have been reading recent accident reports where the car has performed quite well as compared to pre-facelift model. This seems confidence inspiring with Kia now focussing on safety by giving more safety features. I also read that they have worked on improving overall structural strength by adding necessary reinforcements.
This is where there is ongoing tussle of heart vs mind.

There have been a lot of controversies lately. BSG has a lot of work to do regain people's trust, if indeed it is even possible.
On top of this there has been the whole "ABI copied assets" back-and-forth. I work in 3D, and the texture on that wood grip is literally identical to Tarkov's version as far as I can see. I don't see any way this would happen by accident on a bespoke modelled asset, even if you used the same wood texture it would look different.
HOWEVER, as annoying as this understandably is for BSG, it does NOT matter. None of this matters.
Tarkov has far, far bigger problems just regarding QoL, performance and simple playability and it's going to kill the game at this point. I have been playing since 2019, and the game has always run like complete shit on every PC I have ever had. The optimisation is terrible and the "just a beta" excuse is nonsense at this point.
I know the maps are impressively big. But with the bad lighting, dodgy hit reg, the long load-in times, lag, the desynch, the broken AI, the weird glitches like loading into raid late, the non-stop cheaters...people have been putting up with this for years and years now. It's become a literal meme that Tarkov doesn't work properly, but it's no longer a meme that's funny.
If BSG wants to be successful financially they need to fix this now and stop adding more stuff and trying to sell it before the game is even released.
The only way a game like ABI or any other competitor will destroy Tarkov is if Tarkov destroys itself, and it's been doing that for years now. Please focus on things that actually matter; the technical proficiency of the game needs a massive upgrade. We don't need a new knife or a new map, we need a game that actually works.